Sunday, December 27, 2009

Our Perfect Free NFL Picks

At least for one day, we think we'll have perfect Free NFL Picks. Why do we say that? Because we are betting on the Colts, who are bound to be continue their perfect season today.

Colts -4 1/2 over the Jets

Sure they'll rest their starters for part of the game, but we can't pass on this spread for the perfect Colts.

Good luck!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry X-mas Degenerates and Happy B-day to Us

Merry Christmas to all of our degenerates out there waiting for an NBA play to satisfy your craving on this holiday.

Many of you might not know this, but along with Jesus, today is also the day of Lemmy's birth. Stock Lemon was born on Christmas Day two years ago, and we've been delivering picks and analysis ever since.

So, as a Christmas present to you and a birthday present to us, here's our NBA pick for today.

Lakers -6 over Cavaliers

Christmas Day is Kobe Bryant's time to shine, just like whatever gifts you purchase with today's winnings! Good luck!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Whitewater Wins!


Well, it's official. We are hitting 100% of our Division III football bets all-time after Whitewater beat Mount Union yesterday.

We also won one of our bowl games and anticipate a play on the game tonight.

So far we are 67% (2-1) in bowl season. Stay with us throughout the bowl game schedule and don't forget to donate to our cause here at Stock Lemon like a few of you have done already!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Let's Go Bowling!

NCAA Football Bowl season begins today and we have a pick on both games!

Wyoming +10.5 over Fresno State

Central Florida +3 over Rutgers

It's a dog day afternoon to start bowl season... at least we hope so.
Good luck!

Free NCAA Football Division III Championship Pick

It seems like every year that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater meets Mount Union in the D-3 championship, and this year, we're going to take our pick.

Whitewater +4 over Mount Union

These teams are very evenly matched, and we'll gladly take whichever team is getting the points. In this case, it's the Warhawks of Whitewater over the Raiders of Mount Union.

Good luck and stay tuned for our FBS Bowl picks in a bit!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Tis the Season for Donating!

As you can tell, our picks have been few and far between as we get later into the NFL season. Don't worry, though, as we'll be all over the college bowl season, beginning tomorrow!

If you'd like to see more posts here at Stock Lemon, you can help! In this season of giving, we will accept any and all donations to help us fund a writing staff in the future! Just click on the donate button to the right and contribute any amount you would like. If you've frequented our site and found it useful over the past few years, don't be afraid to help us out!

Thanks and let's go bowling on Saturday!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Sunday Night Free NFL Pick!

It's been a little slow pick wise around here, which should turnaround as we really get into the NBA and NCAA Basketball. Don't worry, though, we aren't done with the NFL. Despite no picks earlier today, we do have a play on the Sunday nighter.

Vikings -3 1/2 over the Cardinals

Brett Favre is playing like he should have been with the Packers had he not been busy plotting out a plan to burn every bridge in Wisconsin. We'll ride the Vikings for the rest of Favre's revenge tour.

Good luck!

Match Play




A look at three of the week's best match-ups

Written by: MJK

Dallas Cowboys (8-3) versus New York Giants (6-5)

Both of these teams have been a bit of a façade this season.  The Cowboys come in with an 8-3 record and sit atop the NFC East standings.  They have looked strong in spurts but what once was a high-octane offense has seemed to slow to a crawl for the past month or so. Running back Marion Barber has not been the dominant physical presence that he has been in years past, and while Felix Jones and Tashard Choice bring a little electricity to the air nothing has really panned out on the ground as the team I am sure had hoped.  Wide Receiver miles Austin has shown flashes of the type of talent he can be,  but both he and Roy Williams are far from consistent on a game to game basis as neither of them have yet to produce against some of the leagues top secondary’s.  Even last week when Austin went off against the Oakland Raiders, he was covered by the smaller Chris Johnson rather than all pro Nnamdi Asomugha more times than not.

 The Giants on the other hand started off the season very strong and but now have lost 5 of 6 and are now reeling to hang onto any glimpse of hope for a playoff push.  This is a huge game for them.  Their secondary has been depleted all season long and more recently they have lost linebacker Antonio Pierce for an extended amount of time. Still, good teams find ways to win and the defensive replacements have not done a good job of holding the opposition in check.  Eli Manning continues to be bothered by a sore heel but has played relatively well considering.

If the Giants expect to win this game they will need to find ways to neutralize Dallas’ elite pass rush and pound the rock with Brandon Jacobs and company, something that has not been done with any effectiveness for a number of weeks. For the Cowboys it is simple. Play to their abilities. They are the better team in this game and if all else holds true than they should have no problem sending the Giants further into a tailspin.

Ray Rice, RB, Bal. versus Green Bay Packers run defense

The Packers have been a top 5 defense against the run all season long and will look to slow down one of this seasons breakout players in Ray Rice.  Rice is an all purpose yard machine, much like in the mold of a Maurice Jones-Drew. He has totaled over a 100 yards from scrimmage in all but two games this season and has compiled an astounding 61 receptions.  The complete package.  The Packers have played much better of late, riding on the coattails of an impressive shutout of the Cowboys a few weeks back. Still, they will be without Aaron Kampman and Al Harris in this game and will set back a defense known for its run support fixtures.  The rest of the defense has stepped what relatively well, but if any back can gash a defense it is Rice and his versatility. 

Tennessee Titans (5-6) versus Indianapolis Colts (12-0)

The Colts have staged impressive late game victory after impressive late game victory and one has to think it will catch up with them at some point. The team has needed to come back from fourth quarter deficits in their last five games. Either way they have gotten the job done until this point and will look to continue their win streak in whatever way possible.  The Titans on the other hand have won five straight on the back of quarterback Vince Young.  Along with Young, head coach Jeff Fisher has rallied the defensive troops as the unit has played much more inspired ball the past few weeks. They have still been giving up points, which is worrisome against this Indy team, but they have been playing with much more intensity and that can go a very long way.  I would still look for Peyton Manning to shred this secondary but if Vince Young can keep the game close as the Colts have been known to let teams do, the end result could be a very humbling one for Manning and the Colts.



Thursday, December 3, 2009

One City…Two Teams (and no I'm not talking about New York)



Written by: MJK
Five weeks ago the Tennessee Titans were coming off of their bye week a team searching for answers and above all else, their first victory.   This years rendition of the team made it so easy to forget that in 2008 they went 10-0 before losing their first game and went into the playoffs with the NFL’s best record at 13-3.   Fast forward to 2009.  Seven weeks go by and suddenly this juggernaut of a team from just one season prior sat at the bottom of the AFC South standings with a record of 0-6.  Head coach Jeff Fisher’s job security was suddenly being called into question. Under normal circumstances Fisher’s job security could be best described as bulletproof, one of the best and most tenured coaches the league has today.  The pieces to the puzzle just didn’t fit.  Lots of  questions were being asked about where the finger pointing should begin. 

Had Fisher lost his coaching edge? Did the loss of mammoth defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to free agency really make it so the team could not win a game? Had the rest of the NFL caught up to the Titans ground and pound offensive philosophy? Why was Kerry Collins unable to control and manage the game as he did in 2008? 

While all of these questions are fair and factual in their implications, one thing was definitely for certain…the team needed a spark.  Running back Chris Johnson has been one of the leagues most feared players since coming onto the scene last season, and he was one horse in the stable the team could rely on during its winless stretch to begin this year. He has been the most exciting player in the league this season and his gaudy stats (1396 rushing yards, 10 total TD’s and two games with 200+ yards from scrimmage) are simply jaw dropping.  With five games remaining, he has a decent shot at eclipsing the magical 2000 yard mark. The problem was, he needed a running mate. He got one in Vince Young. 
It is easy to appreciate all that quarterback Kerry Collins did for this team last season, but lets be honest…we are talking about a 37-year old dink and dunk thrower who’s offensive gameplan is relegated to check downs and 8 yard out patterns.  He was the master of game management.  But when his abilities as a game manager began to flounder, change was needed. When the Titans decided to make the change to Vince Young at quarterback, it seemed like it was long over due. Sure he has had his ups and downs (17 picks in 2007, reports of suicidal tendencies and bouts with depression) but the guy has a winning record in the NFL and all the talent in the world.

Since taking over the helm in Tennessee, Young has jumpstarted a team that was in dire need of a swift kick in the ass.  He has led the team to five straight wins and the team has scored 30+ points in 3 out of 5 of those games.  A far cry from the direction the 0-6 version of the team was headed in.  Most importantly, the team now has an outside chance of making the playoffs as a wild card team. This was almost unfathomable 6 weeks ago. There are a lot of exciting duos in the NFL that come to mind, but none possess the same kind of fireworks that Chris Johnson and Vince Young can while on the field together. 

What does all of this mean for VY? Well, obviously he needs to keep winning.  His talent and athleticism has never been in question.  His mental and emotional strength has however. He is riding the high of highs right now, and the true test will come when he faces adversity.  Will he be able to handle the limelight? It is quite apparent that his decision making and accuracy is markedly improved from seasons past, which makes him as dangerous an NFL player as anyone.  If he can harness the intangible of being able to pick himself up when he gets knocked down, the sky is the limit. If these last 5 games are any indication, he is well on his way.

I will never forget watching VY march down the field against USC in the National Championship game in what was probably one of the greatest individual performances in an athletic event I will ever see. So whether it is in college or driving 99-yards and threading the needle on a game winning touchdown pass against the Arizona Cardinals like he did this past weekend in the NFL…football is a better place when VY is at his best.