Walk the Line – 12/19/13 – NFL Wk. 16 picks

Just because MSU’s Fall 2013 semester is over doesn’t mean Dan Krier & Ryan Smith don’t incessantly talk about sports picks on a constant basis. Wow they do.

Take a journey into Walk the Line print edition for NFL Week 16 and the Las Veas Bowl to boot. Though Dan & Ryan don’t always agree on outcomes, they can surely agree on one thing: winning means being right.

Here we go…

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WALK THE LINE with Dan Krier & Ryan Smith

December 21, 2013 – NCAA Football

Las Vegas Bowl (December 21, 2013; 3:30pm EST; ABC)

Fresno State vs. USC -6

o/u 63

DK pick – 38-35 Fresno St.

DK Comment: There’s Fres-NO way the Bulldogs and Derek Carr don’t cover in a high-scoring affair that sees a USC team in limbo waiting for Steve Sarkisian and sleepwalking in Vegas. Instead it’s offensive coordinator Clay Helton at the helm for the Trojan’s second-consecutive bowl loss. I wish I was there, but not for this game.

RS pick – 38-31 USC

RS Comment: Lane Kiffin is gone and the Trojans are 6-2 since, so I expect them to continue their winning ways against Fresno State. (Nuff said!)

 

 

December 22, 2013 – NFL Week 16

1) New Orleans @ Carolina -3 (1pm)

o/u 46.5

DK pick – 31-24 Carolina

DK Comment: A warm day in Charlotte means Cam Newton will lead the offense while the defense does enough to hold Drew Brees back in a game that goes over as New Orleans continues to struggle away from the Superdome.

RS pick – 27-24 New Orleans

RS Comment: The team who has been in pressure situations before will win a game that will most likely decide the NFC South. New Orleans handled Carolina 31-13 two weeks ago and will bounce back after a 27-16 loss in St. Louis last week.

 

2) New England @ Baltimore -2.5 (4pm)

o/u 45

DK pick – 22-17 Baltimore

DK Comment: Late-surging Baltimore stands their ground at home versus the overrated and over-injured Patriots. FG’s galore again for the Ravens, so this game stays under.

RS pick – 21-17 Baltimore

RS Comment: Despite being 10-4, New England has been unimpressive all season long. With victories by a combined 9 points over Buffalo, NYJ, Houston and Cleveland, New England could be one and done come playoff time. On the other hand, Baltimore is riding a 4-game win streak and seeks to snag the last playoff spot in the AFC. I like Flacco to hone his inner Eli Manning and take a mediocre Ravens team red hot into the playoffs.

 

3) Chicago @ Philadelphia -3 (8pm)

o/u 56

DK pick – 33-27 Philadelphia

DK Comment: Chicago looked disgusting in their lucky win versus Cleveland last week. Philly fans will remind the team to try hard in this season’s last home game as they prepare for Dallas and the NFC East Title matchup in Week 17. This game goes over because the Bears defense doesn’t like tackling people.

RS pick – 31-23 Philadelphia

RS Comment: Bears defense ranks 32nd in the league and LeSean McCoy was quoted as saying, “I feel like I have to put the team on my back this week.” In other words, watch out Bears fans, the NFC North will continue to be ugly. Is there any way that no team can win the division this year?

 

4) Indianapolis @ Kansas City -7 (1pm)

o/u 45

DK pick – 20-17 KC

DK Comment: KC is offensive minded lately, but they won’t be able to fire up in 26-degree temps. Indy is 9-5, and they will put up a good fight in a potential playoff preview.

RS pick – 27-17 KC

RS Comment: Indy has been up and down for the last 7 weeks, neither winning nor losing two consecutive weeks in a row.  After a 25-3 win last week against Houston, it looks like Indy is on course for a big “L” in Arrowhead on Sunday. Chiefs win handily in hopes to stay alive in the race for the AFC West.

 

5) Dallas -3 @ Washington (1pm)

o/u 53.5

DK pick – 37-31 Dallas

DK Comment: High scoring, warm December day (72-degrees) in D.C. Do the Cowboys have cobwebs remaining from the meltdown against Green Bay? The Redskins are bad enough for it to not matter.

RS – 31-30 Washington

RS Comment: It’s December so look for the Cowboys to do what they do best come the holiday season: lose.

 

6) NY Giants @ Detroit -9 (4pm)

o/u 49

DK pick – 27-23 Detroit

DK Comment: Which team can prevail in the “Who’s Worse Bowl”? Giants win that (by losing) yet there’s a cover here in the works. NYG sees a chance to grab some late 2013 stats and keeps it close.

RS – 28-24 Detroit

RS Comment: Detroit wins by default only because Eli will throw one more head-shaking pick than Stafford. Nine points is too many to give a team that has lost 4 of 5, no matter how incompetent the opponent.

 

7) Pittsburgh -1 @ Green Bay (4pm)

o/u 51.5

DK pick – 20-10 Pittsburgh

DK Comment: Super Bowl XLV is rolling around in its grave at the sight of this tragedy. Pittsburgh gives Matt Flynn a taste of some real D and shuts him down in an ugly rainy affair.

RS pick – 20-17 GB

RS Comment: Mike Tomlin tries to trip Eddie Lacy as time expires but whiffs and GB goes ahead as the clock runs out.

 

8) Denver -10.5 @ Houston (1pm)

o/u 53

DK – 49-21 Denver

DK Comment: Peyton Manning pads his season stats against a Texans team that wanted the 2013 NFL Season to end 12 weeks ago. Yes, it’s going over.

RS pick – 35-17 Denver

RS Comment: Not only is Houston 2-12, they’ve lost 12 in a row. More than bad enough for Peyton to take care of in 3 quarters and enjoy the 4th quarter off.

Dan Krier & Ryan Smith are hosts for Impact Sports.