If you remain alive and kicking/ticking, you have to be perspiring as your choices dwindle. Then, there are the lucky few who have won their knockout pools already and are swimming in green or have been fortunate enough to be among the few left and agreed to take a knee and split the pot.
Don’t think about it
Houston at Tennessee. Which Texans team shows up, the scintillating one or the one that stinks it up against the Broncos? If you have to wonder, there is no way to choose. The Bears visit the Packers in an NFC North slugfest. Chicago is playing better and weather conditions won’t bother either squad. Watch it with interest and don’t sweat it. The Eagles come off a short week after barely beating the Giants. Washington is playing better and remember this team raced to a huge lead over Philly before folding in the first meeting. The Jaguars are at the Raiders. Talk about a game that creates no interest. The Cowboys have been awful. The Rams are surging. However, the game is in Texas and both teams have flickering playoff dreams. Watch it and don’t risk your season. The Bills are at the Steelers in a game between teams with their eye toward the postseason. Way too balanced and risky a game to try and pick the winner. Could there be a game with less predictability than the Bucs at the Lions? The only thing for sure is Jameis Winston will throw for 300 yards and multiple picks.
Tempting fate
The Colts have been on and off. The Saints are home again after the brutal loss to the Niners. The lure is to pick New Orleans figuring it won’t lose another game at home. However, the Saints have played many tight contests at the Superdome in 2019 and this could prove to be another one. The Cardinals have been awful lately and play host to the Browns. Are you seriously going to take sides in a battle between two Heisman winners from Oklahoma? The Vikings need to win to stay in the NFC North and Wild-Card fray. However, the Chargers remarkably got healthy last week against the Jaguars. Teams that find their way have a habit of continuing to do so. Simply not worth the chance.
Let the bettor beware
The Chiefs are playing well, again. They play host to a Denver team they crushed in the first meeting. However, the Broncos have found their stride with Drew Lock at QB. It figures to be an easy KC victory. Then again, in Week 14 the Texans looked like a lock against Denver and fell behind 38-3. The Dolphins are at the slumping Giants. Will it be Eli Manning or Daniel Jones against Ryan Fitzpatrick? A short week for Big Blue and the Fish get their second straight at MetLife. Will they go 0-2 or 1-1? It’s too hard to figure. Will Lamar Jackson be 100 percent for the Ravens against the Jets on Thursday? If the frontrunner for MVP is the least bit tender or hurting it could be an incredible risk to play a Baltimore team that could go to a rusty RG III.
Go for it
Of course, if you do have New England left against Cincinnati it is a no-brainer to pick the Patriots. Taping the team aside, this smells like a game when Bill Belichick and Co. unload on a feeble foe. The Panthers have been absolutely awful, so Seattle is another team that is so tempting to grab. Don’t think the Seahawks will have trouble against a Carolina team that has lost its way long ago. You could also stay with an NFC West juggernaut as the 49ers figure to feast on the Falcons.
