One week in the green and its straight back to being a dumpster fire this season. Last week my picks finished a combined 2-4. Atlanta and the Rams were my two correct predictions. While the Bills, Jets, Steelers and Jaguars all failed to cover. Entering week eleven my record now sits at 27-32-1 on the year. It’s going to take a bulldozer to pull me out of this mess. With only six weeks remaining I’ll need to go on a serious streak to end the year with a respectable record. Take it or leave it, here is who I’m riding this weekend.

SILVER PREDICTIONS

BALTIMORE RAVENS (-2) VS GREEN BAY PACKERS

Brett Hundley won his first football game last weekend in Chicago. It was an impressive performance, but only one thing will carry through from that game last weekend – Hundley has a hamstring injury.This is tragic for the Packers chances in this game. If Hundley does suite up it is well documented that he relies heavily on his legs to move outside of the pocket. He is not exactly comfortable standing tall in the pocket. If Hundley’s hamstring injury is serious enough and he has to sit out then back-up-back-up Joe Callahan will be called upon to be the signal caller this weekend. It really is a double edged sword this weekend for Green Bay. They face a strong Ravens defense that has is coming off their bye week with two weeks of preparation for this game. While the offense is set to reportedly welcome back Danny Woodhead which gives them a huge boost. Woodhead caught 78 third down passes last season and converted 51% of them. He is a game changer for the Ravens, I expect we see a heavy dose early and often. Take Baltimore and lay the points here.

FINAL SCORE – RAVENS 24 – PACKERS 10

DETROIT LIONS VS CHICAGO BEARS (+3)

Chicago hurt me last weekend but I’ll gladly take them here with the points at home. Since the beginning of the 2016 season the Bears are a league best 8-1 against the spread as home underdogs. They thrive in this environment and should be ready for a surging Lions team. Detroit has won two straight but are 2-4 against the spread as road favourites since 2014. They narrowly covered the spread in Cleveland last weekend and are in a great letdown spot here. Weather is expected to be a factor for this game while Stafford hasn’t been at his best when playing at Solider Field in the last couple seasons. He’s thrown two interceptions and zero touchdowns in his last two trips. After a back-to-back solid performances from Detroit they disappoint this weekend. Take the points and Chicago at home.

FINAL SCORE – LIONS 13 – BEARS 15

GOLD PREDICTIONS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS VS MAIMI DOLPHINS (+1)

This matchup was supposed to take place in week one but was postponed due to hurricane Irma. Neither team has impressed this season but I’ll be taking the home team in the battle of Florida on Sunday. This is the exact situation in which Jay Cutler seems to step up and go off. Cutler never shows up to play against good competition, but when facing weak opponents Cutler finds a way to have a breakthrough game. With Tampa Bay ranking 32nd in the league defensively on third down conversions and 29th with only 14 sacks this season, Miami should win this game behind their home crowd. On the opposite side of the ball, it should help the Dolphins secondary to see Ryan Fitzpatrick as the signal caller for Tampa Bay this weekend – Fitzpatrick has a record of 2-7 on the road since 2016, and is 0-2 versus Miami during that same stretch. Look for Miami to squeeze out an ugly win.

FINAL SCORE – BUCCANEERS 23 – DOLPHINS 27

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-7) VS OAKLAND RAIDERS

For a second consecutive season the Raiders are playing in Mexico. The biggest thing that I’ve heard on sports talk radio this week regarding this game was the elevation difference and how it will affect this game. Azteca Stadium is 7,280 feet above sea level. When you compare that to Denver which is 5,280 feet above sea level, the highest NFL stadium, there is major difference. This will most certainly affect the players and this to me screams advantage Patriots. New England is coming off their bye week and last played in week nine in Denver. Instead of flying home the Patriots stayed in Denver and trained all week under the high elevation, preparing them for this game. As for Oakland, they are in a must win situation. But have major issues on the defensive side of the ball ranking 31st in opponent 3rd down conversions and 32nd to completion percentage. It is no secret they are swiss cheese and nobody in the NFL can expose your deficiencies better than Tom Brady. Since 2013 the Patriots are 6-3 against the spread following a bye week. They should improve upon that this weekend. Lay the points and take New England in Mexico.

FINAL SCORE – PATRIOTS 34 – RAIDERS 26

PLATINUM PICKS

LOS ANGELES RAMS VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-2.5)

This is the marquee game of the weekend. Two teams that both lead their divisions and are multiple games above .500. Los Angeles has definitely been the biggest surprise of the year with their new head coach. But the Rams have also had a ridiculously soft schedule to this point. Entering week eleven the Rams opponents this season have a combined 32-46 record. Minnesota is their first real test, and I expect the Vikings defense to shut-down the Rams offensively. Minnesota enters 5th in points allowed per game, (18.3) 3rd in yards per play, (4.7) and 2nd in touchdowns allowed per game (1.7). They have shut-down every single opponent when playing at home this season. In five home games this season not a single offense has eclipsed 20-points, they are 4-1 as a team, and in every victory have won by an average of 12-points. Look for Minnesota to continue to roll this weekend. A good defense almost always gets the best of a strong offense, this should be proven again on Sunday.

FINAL SCORE – RAMS 19 – VIKINGS 26

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-5.5) VS DALLAS COWBOYS

The Cowboys are going to seriously miss Ezekiel Elliot, and last week was a perfect example. They were held to only 7-points in Atlanta without their superstar running back. This weekend they are at home facing division rivals Philadelphia, a team that has won seven straight. The Eagles are the hottest team in the NFL, while Carson Wentz would easily be voted the MVP of the league if the season finished today. Even though the Cowboys have home field advantage in this game I don’t see how they slow down the train that has become Philadelphia. The Eagles are fresh off their bye week entering this matchup, which means Jay Ajayi has had plenty of time to learn the playbook and could be set for a huge game with the Cowboys giving up an average of 4.3 yards per carry on this season (24th). When you consider this and the fact Dallas will be without Sean Lee for this game, the Eagles could put up another number. This game is going to be high scoring and I don’t see how the Cowboys keep pace without Elliot in the backfield. Take the Eagles with confidence on Sunday Night.

WEEK ELEVEN NFL PREDICTIONS – 2017