Free NFL Picks Pick Up Steam

We had mixed results in week one of the NFL season, eventually finishing a record nine-game card with a losing 4-5 record.

The volume of picks will likely be reduced as we become even more selective with a usually picky Free NFL Picks system, so don't expect to have such a crazy Sunday every week.

After an 0-1 start on Thursay, our Free NFL Picks wound up 4-4 on Sunday for an unspectacular 4-5 week.

The Packers 21-15 win over the Bears on Sunday night salvaged our day with a -3 1/2 spread. Prior to the nightcap, the Vikings crushed the -4 1/2 spread and the Browns with a 34-20 win; the Cowboys covered a -6 spread in a 34-21 victory over the Buccaneeers; and the Broncos, who already had a +4 1/2 cover secured, went on to a miraculous 12-7 triumph over the Bengals.

In all, we had a good end to a shaky weekend, but we look forward to a winning week two.

Week One Free NFL Picks: Part Two

Maybe it's because it's week one and we're playing some games that we wouldn't if we weren't so jacked up about the start of another NFL season, or maybe these games are just as easy as they appear. Either way, we're just following our Free NFL Picks system that went 58% last year and are hoping for better results this year.

In addition to the four picks in Part One and one on Thursday, we have four more picks--nine total! In all, we're playing eight of the 16 games this week, a Stock Lemon record. We'll find out if that's a good or bad thing on Sunday.

Vikings -4 1/2 over the Browns

Colts -7 over the Jaguars

Cowboys -6 over the Buccaneers

Packers -3 1/2 over the Bears

Good luck and enjoy the first Sunday of the NFL season!

'76 Buccaneers Not About to Bow to '08 Lions

We noticed something strange when reading on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' official website about the team's plans to wear throwback jerseys this year.

Per the article:

"That led to a memorable 0-16 season for the inaugural Buccaneers, not an accomplishment to be celebrated, by any means, but not a time to be forgotten, either."

The 2008 Detroit Lions become the first team to go 0-16, and the 0-14 Buccaneers of 1976 won't even let them have that!

Sorry Bucs, but you'll have to wait until after this season to steal the Lions' thunder.

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-20

We continue to work hard during the weekend, as for the second day in a row, we're revealing the next four picks in our 2009 NFL Mock Draft, rather than just three. So go ahead, check out the other installments of our mock draft on the upper right-hand side of our site, and then check out these next four picks. 

In this edition, it's all about reaching, baby. 

17. Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

The reaching begins with the Jets selection of Freeman. We don't think Freeman will be a bad quarterback in the league, but this pick is the definition of drafting for need. The Jets don't have a legitimate quarterback, and Freeman is available to fill that void. The Jets could make a move out of this pick to try and get one of the top two quarterbacks, but we think they'll end up sticking around and taking the player that falls to them (and would likely fall to them if they picked 15-20 spots from now). 

18. Broncos: Brian Cushing, LB, USC

Let the reaching continue! Though some might say that us calling this pick a reach is reaching on our part. A lot of people really like Cushing for his leadership and consistent play, but we're not sure his skills will translate at the NFL level. The Broncos are banking on those skills translating as they look to re-tool their defense for the 3-4. Cushing is a relatively safe pick and probably will do alright in the NFL, but we don't see a whole lot of potential or upside (terms that draft experts love to use). Depending on how much the Broncos like him, they could look at Cushing with their earlier pick in the first round--which would definitely be a reach. Either way, except defense out of the Broncos with both the 12th and 18th picks in the draft. 

19. Buccanneers: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

Jerry is a reach here in the draft because his position isn't all that great in this particular draft. There are about five legitimate defensive tackles available this year, and team's will be reaching for most of them. Jerry fits into the 4-3 front in Tampa, who need another inside man on the defensive side of the ball and have been said to be targeting Jerry. Jerry is a high effort guy, but he doesn't have the talent you might except from pick No. 19. 

20. Lions: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

Alright, this one actually isn't a reach. The only reason it might qualify as such is because it gives us back-to-back Ole Miss players selected in the draft, which is just plain crazy. Ole Miss isn't exactly known for producing NFL talent, but Oher definitely has what it takes to be a dominant left tackle in the league. The Lions will be lucky if he falls to them, as he's been mentioned as high as the top 10. If the Lions end up getting their quarterback (that one is a reach) and a left tackle for years to come, this could be a very good draft for the 0-16 club. 

We hope you enjoyed all eight of this weekend's picks, and we hope you'll stay with us throughout the week as we put the finishing touches on our 2009 NFL Mock Draft. 

Free NFL Picks Get Back to 60%

After a 3-1 day, our Free NFL Picks are back up to 60%, in case you can't read the title of this post. Clearly, the picks have been solid but struggly with consistency, as our week-by-week results show. Here's how we got back up to 21-14-2 on the year:

Dolphins 17, Raiders 15 (+10 1/2)

Titans 24, Jaguars 14 (+3)

Buccaneers 19 (-4), Vikings 13

Bengals 13 (+9), Eagles 13

The Dolphins have been playing well, but for them to be double-digit favorites proved to be a stretch, even against the Raiders. The Titans made us look like idiots, but the Bucs had a field goal day against the Vikings. Meanwhile, we're happy to be a part of the first tie since 2002, especially since we were guaranteed a cover once the game headed to overtime. And here's the aforementioned weekly breakdown:

Week 1: 3-2

Week 2: 2-1

Week 3: 2-1

Week 4: 2-1

Week 5: 0-0-1

Week 6: 3-0
Week 7: 0-3
Week 8: 1-2-1
Week 9: 4-0

Week 10: 1-3

Week 11: 3-1
Total: 21-14-2... 60%

It doesn't look like we have a play for tomorrow, but be sure to check back tomorrow for confirmation. And then come back all week, just to make sure we didn't have a pick. And then be sure to check back all year. Just, keep coming back, you know, to be safe. We'll try to get this thing more consistent for you.

Week 11 Free NFL Picks

We have four Free NFL Picks for Sunday, three of them dogs. Here's the card:

Raiders +10 1/2 over the Dolphins

Jaguars +3 over the Titans

Buccaneers -4 over the Vikings

Bengals +9 over the Eagles

Our Picks have been pretty solid so far this year and although we usually don't end up with a whole lot of underdogs, we have a decent amount of faith in this week's picks.

Good luck!

Broncos Are Our Only Free NFL Pick Today

Usually we have at least three Free NFL Picks a Sunday, but this weekend our computer shows just one pick, and it's Jay Cutler and the Broncos.

Broncos -3 over Buccaneers

Denver is solid at home, which is why we like this as our only play today.

Good luck!

Saints and Panthers Give Us 2-1 Week in NFL

We hadn't really realized it initially, but we were all about the NFC South this week. We bet on the Panthers to beat the Falcons, then took the Saints to win and the Buccaneers to lose. That's all four NFC South squads accounted for.

So how did it turn out? Our bookies bank accounts went south.

The Saints took it to the 49ers 31-17 to cover a -4 spread, as Drew Brees and New Orleans found a way to get it done in our biggest play of the week. Elsewhere, the Panthers knocked off the Falcons 24-9 to cover the -6 1/2 spread.

We should have stuck with the favorites, though, as the Bucs topped the Packers 30-21. We took the more talented team over the more emotionally invested team (with the death of Bucs' kicker Matt Braynt's infant child earlier this week), and we paid for it.

Still, a 2-1 week still means extra cash in our pockets. Strangely enough, this is the third straight 2-1 week for our Free NFL Picks, following a 3-2 week, so we've had a winning weekend in all four weeks of the young NFL season to date. Our picks are now 9-5 for 64%.

Here's a look at our Free NFL Picks week-by-week:

Week 1: 3-2

Week 2: 2-1

Week 3: 2-1

Week 4: 2-1

Total: 9-5... 64%

Of course, we'll have more Free NFL Picks next weekend--and we'll try to do even better than 2-1.

Saints Highlight Our Free NFL Picks Today

Sunday is here and we have three Free NFL Picks for you today. Our biggest of the three plays is Reggie Bush and the Saints running by the 49ers at home, but the other two plays look solid as well.

Saints -4 over 49ers

Panthers -6.5 over Falcons

Packers +1 over Buccaneers

Good luck!

Bet Favre

We've stayed away from covering any Brett Favre news this off-season, and are probably the only ones to be able to claim as much, but we're breaking our silence now.

Why? To review some Favre-related prop bets offered earlier in the season. Here are a few props offered by BetUS back on July 9, courtesy of Doc's Sports.

Favre to start a game for the Packers in 08/09 Regular Season

Yes 10/11

No 10/11

Lemmy says: With the Packers now talking to the Jets and Buccaneers about a possible trade, it looks like No will be the winning bet.

Odds that he un-retires and plays next season:

5/1

Lemmy says: If you didn't buy Favre's tears at his retirement press conference, you'll be able to buy five times as much of whatever you want by taking this bet.

Odds on which team Favre would return to:

1/10 Green Bay

5/1 Any Other

Lemmy says: Once again, bookies were not expecting a trade scenario, which now seems likely. Though this story has gotten pretty annoying, it's also very dramatic and interesting--and really, it's only just beginning.