NFL Week 15 Bettor's Guide
M.D. Wright
12.16.09
Remember, the SCORE I call is based upon the spread, money lines and the Over/Under; so when I refer to my record versus the SU (Straight-Up picks) and ATS (Against The Spread), that is what it in reference to.
Let's go.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
***THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL***
Over/Under: 43
JAX: +3
IND: -175
JAX: +155
Hmmmm... the Jags usually give Peyton Manning fits, but I don't see it happening. And the Colts' D has been a fixture in all their games. That's why they're going to be a tough out for anyone not named San Diego.
Pick:
Indianapolis 31
Jacksonville 20
FINAL
-----------
Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints
The Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
***SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL***
Over/Under: 53.5
NO: -7
DAL: +260
NO: -320
The carnage continues for Dallas and their fans. How can they deal with all the December swoon talk? They're going to get blown out in this game, they always lose to Washington late and that game in Philadelphia won't mean anything unless the Iggles lose to San Francisco and Denver prior (which COULD happen, but Dallas was 8-3 and in the driver's seat just 3 weeks ago -- now they are in danger of going 8-8 and missing the playoffs altogether?)
SHEESH.
Keep in mind the Saints are gunning for that scoring record (needing to average 41 PPG in the last 3 games to do so) so they will finish off the Cowboys.
Pick:
Dallas 27
New Orleans 48
FINAL
------------
Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
Over/Under: 37
KC: -1.5
The Chiefs seemed poised to take a step forward before last week, but I dunno. The Browns have (at least what THEY call momentum) after last week's win vs. PIT. Vegas sets some ugly lines when the Chiefs are involved. Tough call. UNDER CITY though.
Pick:
Cleveland 13
Kansas City 17
FINAL
-------------
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
Ralph Wilson Stadium
Orchard Park, New York
Over/Under: 40.5
BUF: +7
NE: -330
BUF: +270
People are predicting a big game by Randy Moss and a blowout by New England. But consider this: the Bills all but manhandled the Pats in their first game this season. And consider this also: the Pats' offense isn't NEAR as potent when Moss is the focal point. They are only able to move the ball consistently because of Welker's action in the slot (and never being bumped off the snap for the love of EVERYTHING SACRED). The Bills will rough up Welker and they did a decent job on Moss before. Owens has awakened since Jauron was fired, so this game is going to be closer than some think. More like the first game with the Bills possibly FINISHING what they didn't finish the first time.
Pick:
New England 27
Buffalo 31
FINAL
----------
Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions
Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan
Over/Under: 47
DET: +12
ARZ: -700
DET: +500
The Cards had their Every-Fourth-Game Stinker last week, so you know what's coming.
Pick:
Arizona 51
Detroit 10
FINAL
-----------
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Over/Under: 42.5
PHI: -8
SF: +315
PHI: -390
The Niners do not travel well at all. Interesting enough, however, their back seven matches up very well with what the Iggles like to do in the air. Fans of the Cowboys (especially) and Giants are pulling for the Iggles to lose out and this will be one of the games where that will occur.
Pick:
San Francisco 27
Philadelphia 23
FINAL
----------
Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore, Maryland
Over/Under: 40.5
BAL: -11
CHI: +460
BAL: -620
Lofty numbers here by Vegas. They're trying to suck in a few people who got happy after seeing the Ravens score 48 Sunday against the lowly Lions? The Bears, while admittedly trash, are not total slouches, and the Ravens are by NO MEANS to be confused with being consistent or thoroughbreds. This game will be close. So just look at the numbers above and draw the conclusion.
Pick:
Chicago 24
Baltimore 23
FINAL
-----------
Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Diego Chargers
Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego, California
Over/Under: 43.5
SD: -6.5
CIN: +250
SD: -300
Again, NO ONE wants to play the Chargers now NOR in the playoffs. If the Bengals went out west and struggled with the Raiders, best believe they are gonna be in for it in this one.
Pick:
Cincinnati 20
San Diego 41
FINAL
-----------
Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
InVesco Field
Denver, Colorado
Over/Under: 37.5
DEN: -14
Denver? 14 point favorites? ha. They are so wildly inconsistent. They got 3 INT off Peyton Manning Sunday, but still lost by 2 touchdowns. They will lose this game and SOMEHOW beat Philadelphia in Week 16. Go figure.
Pick:
Oakland 20
Denver 17
FINAL - OT
-----------------
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Qwest Field
Seattle, Washington
Over/Under: 39.5
SEA: -6.5
TB: +250
SEA: -300
The Seabags are a train wreck. As a matter of fact, this GAME is a train wreck, because you know the Bucs are a sick joke right now (after a minor "awakening" midseason).
Pick:
Tampa Bay 13
Seattle 17
FINAL
----------
Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Over/Under: 40.5
PIT: -2
GB: +110
PIT: -130
Exactly WHY are the Steelers favorites here? Even if they're only 2 point favorites? The Pack go in there and cause heads to roll (and spin) on both sides of the ball. Steelers get embarrassed at home in back to back weeks. WHO KNEW???
Pick:
Green Bay 34
Pittsburgh 23
FINAL
------------
Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
***SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL***
Over/Under: 43
CAR: +9
MIN: -450
CAR: +350
Win or lose, are Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall & Co. gonna be giving out grades for YOUNG SID RICE and YOUNG PERCY HARVIN after they torch them, or will they claim that Berrian "quit" ha?
Oh, and Adrian Peterson smacks everyone in the face who said he was wearing down this year. 200 yard game coming.
Pick:
Minnesota 38
Carolina 21
FINAL
-----------
New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
FedEx Field
Landover, Maryland
***MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL***
Over/Under: 44
WSH: +3
NYG: -140
WSH: +120
Appropriate lines here. Although the OVER may be a virtual lock with the way the Giants are able to score (and the Skins keep pace with teams that score -- see Saints and Eagles games of late). The Giants defense looks like a turnstile at Penn Station DEAR GOD. If the Skins had any semblance of an offense, I'd be legitimately worried. The Giants don't play well at night under Coughlin and DEFINITELY not on Monday Nights well, but it is a game they know they need and the Skins don't do anything particularly well for more than a quarter at a time (classic point: Jason Campbell, has good first halves and occasionally a good 3rd quarter, but falls apart like Jim Jones' "career" has since he broke up Dipset).
Pick:
NY Giants 34
Washington 24
FINAL
----------
***JETS GAME IS NOT POSTED, BUT WHEN IT IS, I WILL POST PICKS.
As politically incorrect as I wanna be.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Black Men & Education
Black Men & Education
M.D. Wright
12.16.09
Arrite, I'mma get off real quick no homo, but after reading one of my friend's blogs earlier, and having a conversation with one of my boys about my plight since I left my last real job (August 2005), I gotta get this off my chest.
What is wrong with America? Capital gains taxes through the roof, corporate taxes further alienating big business, making it tougher for those companies who WOULD create jobs (let's be real, most companies would continue to outsource even with capital gains back down to 15% and corporate taxes back below 40% -- they would only create jobs here with MASSIVE INCENTIVES to do so, and creating jobs and paying the underclass a "reasonable wage" is NOT an incentive to them, so don't be naive) to do so. Women land interviews at a rate of about 40% more than men do, and land jobs at an ALARMING 80% rate than men in 2009.
Think about that for a minute: For every job posting in 1997, there was an average of 2-3 people applying for and interviewing for it. Meaning, you had a good 33% chance of getting the job. Now for every job posting, about 12-15 people apply for and interview for it. Obviously longer odds. Here in New York City, those odds are even longer; with every job posting yielding 25-30 applicants who garner interviews.
Of those, you already see that most of the hired hands will be women and non-Black men.
The interesting corollary here is actually rather complex and manifold. Especially within the Black community. You hear Black women flaunting their ability to be "Independent" now more than ever. You hear stories of good, hard (rather SMART-working, in my case, anyway), educated, innovative Black men getting put down because they don't have a bevy of material possessions or a cache of cash. But what these women forget is that guys like myself get passed over for jobs now or LOST our jobs so that many of these women would have the jobs THEY have today. Yet, we get accused of being "intimidated" by their education or success. I could see how that is valid in some men's cases, but for someone who simply isn't being given a shot, the sentiment is more "greatly annoyed" than "intimidated" (because not even multimillionaires and CEOs of Top 50 companies -- of whom I've met and interacted with on numerous occasions -- intimidate me; surely a woman who is at most my EQUAL is not going to do so, just because she is where I was 7 or 8 years ago financially and materially-speaking.
If you are a Black woman, it is not the time to put Black men down. It is the time to further ENCOURAGE and assist them in finding the right open door. Yet, the opposite is happening far more often.
Regardless of all this, one thing continues to FLUMMOX me -- how is it that I was able to get better job offers with a high school diploma and just a few college credits under my belt when I was applying for jobs in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn in the late 90s? Or when I was at Aetna and rival insurance companies were offering me several thousand just to jump ship -- but now that I have a Bachelors degree (REGARDLESS OF THE ECONOMY, because this was going on even when I was undergrad from 2005-2007 while things were still good)I can't even get an interview, much less the job?
Makes you think, huh?
DISCUSS.
M.D. Wright
12.16.09
Arrite, I'mma get off real quick no homo, but after reading one of my friend's blogs earlier, and having a conversation with one of my boys about my plight since I left my last real job (August 2005), I gotta get this off my chest.
What is wrong with America? Capital gains taxes through the roof, corporate taxes further alienating big business, making it tougher for those companies who WOULD create jobs (let's be real, most companies would continue to outsource even with capital gains back down to 15% and corporate taxes back below 40% -- they would only create jobs here with MASSIVE INCENTIVES to do so, and creating jobs and paying the underclass a "reasonable wage" is NOT an incentive to them, so don't be naive) to do so. Women land interviews at a rate of about 40% more than men do, and land jobs at an ALARMING 80% rate than men in 2009.
Think about that for a minute: For every job posting in 1997, there was an average of 2-3 people applying for and interviewing for it. Meaning, you had a good 33% chance of getting the job. Now for every job posting, about 12-15 people apply for and interview for it. Obviously longer odds. Here in New York City, those odds are even longer; with every job posting yielding 25-30 applicants who garner interviews.
Of those, you already see that most of the hired hands will be women and non-Black men.
The interesting corollary here is actually rather complex and manifold. Especially within the Black community. You hear Black women flaunting their ability to be "Independent" now more than ever. You hear stories of good, hard (rather SMART-working, in my case, anyway), educated, innovative Black men getting put down because they don't have a bevy of material possessions or a cache of cash. But what these women forget is that guys like myself get passed over for jobs now or LOST our jobs so that many of these women would have the jobs THEY have today. Yet, we get accused of being "intimidated" by their education or success. I could see how that is valid in some men's cases, but for someone who simply isn't being given a shot, the sentiment is more "greatly annoyed" than "intimidated" (because not even multimillionaires and CEOs of Top 50 companies -- of whom I've met and interacted with on numerous occasions -- intimidate me; surely a woman who is at most my EQUAL is not going to do so, just because she is where I was 7 or 8 years ago financially and materially-speaking.
If you are a Black woman, it is not the time to put Black men down. It is the time to further ENCOURAGE and assist them in finding the right open door. Yet, the opposite is happening far more often.
Regardless of all this, one thing continues to FLUMMOX me -- how is it that I was able to get better job offers with a high school diploma and just a few college credits under my belt when I was applying for jobs in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn in the late 90s? Or when I was at Aetna and rival insurance companies were offering me several thousand just to jump ship -- but now that I have a Bachelors degree (REGARDLESS OF THE ECONOMY, because this was going on even when I was undergrad from 2005-2007 while things were still good)I can't even get an interview, much less the job?
Makes you think, huh?
DISCUSS.
NFL Week 15 Powre Rankings
NFL Week 15 Powre Rankings
M.D. Wright
12.16.09
As always, I have to remind people, this is less about rankings as it is about how the team is playing RIGHT NOW -- and if they're sliding or on a hot streak, that plays a role.
1. Indianapolis Colts.
Cruise mode. Their defense is so good that Manning had a terrible game and they still win easily. Until the Saints can afford to have an off game by Brees against a decent team, then they cannot overtake the Colts.
2. San Diego Chargers.
NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY THEM NOW NOR IN THE PLAYOFFS. They will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
3. New Orleans Saints.
I am done writing about them. The only relevant thing to them is possibly breaking the Patriots' PPG/points scored record set in 2007 without cheating to do so. They're one and done in the playoffs, with that loss looking more and more like it's going to come at the hands of either the Packers or Eagles.
4. Green Bay Packers.
They're as hot as anyone right now. Why? Because they finally figured out how to protect Rodgers. Their line holds a TON, though. Somehow they get away with it.
5. Minnesota Vikings.
Nice win Sunday, but that loss to Arizona looks even worse after the Cards lost to a desperate San Francisco squad.
6. Philadelphia Eagles.
For the love of all sacred, why don't teams bump Desean Jackson and Wes Welker? Welker keeps the Patriots offense moving (when they'd have a ton of 3 and outs otherwise with their paltry running game and one-dimensional scheme to get the ball to Moss), and the Iggles LIVE on big plays, otherwise, they stink. Sure, against a sieve of a defense such as the Giants they look like studs, but don't buy the fool's gold. In the playoffs, the Iggles will have to move the ball more methodically and won't be able to in 3 straight games.
7. Cincinnati Bengals.
How they win and CURSIN' hasn't had a good game (he's been clutch late in a few, which is really all that matters) all season is a testament to Cedric Benson and their defense.
8. Arizona Cardinals.
Bad loss. Further shows why they're not ready to step up into the elite.
9. New England Patriots.
Buffalo gets their revenge Sunday and puts a huge damper on the Patriots' playoff chances.
10. Dallas Cowboys.
The free-fall has begun. They won't sniff higher than 15 after this beatdown coming Saturday night.
11. Denver Broncos.
Hard to take them seriously.
12. Miami Dolphins.
WATCH OUT FOR THE FINS.
13. New York Jets.
The Jets may have something here if Sanchez comes back. If they have to rely on Thomas Jones too much, they may wear down. Huge plays by their secondary the past few games. Kellen Clemens should make every Jets fan nervous for the entire game.
14. New York Giants.
Sheridan and the players seem to be of two different minds. Top shelf talent, BOTTOM SHELF/WORST-IN-NFL results prove this. The offense, just as it has been since Coughlin got here (averaging 26 PPG during his tenure and yes, 26 PPG this year) isn't the problem. We can move the ball and score on anyone. But conversely, we can't stop anyone all of a sudden. We really miss Kenny Phillips. But more than that, playing Aaron Ross at Safety makes little sense to me. He has the speed that Johnson and Rouse don't, but he has CB instincts, not S instincts. Rouse and Johnson got caught peeking in the backfield against McNabb like there was an X-rated Peep Show going on back there DEAR GOD. Jackson is NOT as great as we make him look. The previous sentence explains why he was so open.
15. Baltimore Ravens.
Flacco has made some mind-numbing mistakes in 3 of their losses -- each late in games.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars.
Does reality begin to set in after that loss to Miami? The Jags are NOT 7-5 good. Not 7-6 good. This is a 4-9 team. I don't get it.
17. Tennessee Titans.
They still put Vince in 3 games too late. Had he been in sooner, they'd be 9-4.
18. Houston Texans.
Kubiak has to go. Too much talent to continue the same start slow/go on a little run/fade/win meaningless games late in the season trend. This is 3 straight years.
19. Atlanta Falcons.
UGH.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thank God we won't have to listen to their fans in the playoffs. The fake ones, that is, since those are the ones you hear most.
21. San Francisco 49ers.
Season saving win. If for only one week ha.
22. Chicago Bears.
DEAR GOD LOVIE SMITH SHOW SOME EMOTION, 5!!!
23. Carolina Panthers.
They are great talent evaluators at the WR position, ha. But as Bill Belichick said Monday, (which was gold) "they would say that (Moss quit), but they haven't really won many games this year. They do an awful lot of talking, but they've lose a lot of games" (paraphrasing).
24. Buffalo Bills.
Spoiler mode begins Sunday.
25. Seattle Seahawks.
The Seabags are SOFT.
26. Oakland Raiders.
Watch out for the Raiders next year. SERIOUSLY!
27. Washington Redskins.
We appreciate having them on MNF next week to help us fine tune what we've been doing wrong on defense.
28. Kansas City Chiefs.
Just when I thought they were going to build on this...
29. Cleveland Browns.
HA.
30. Detroit Lions.
Cue the Jim Mora rant (one of the lesser known versions) from '92.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I don't know what kind of statement the Bucs' front office was trying to make by hiring Morris and gutting the team. How did they expect the man to fare? Not even a veteran coach could have done anything with this mess. So he's going to get fired and probably not even get serious consideration for a job until he's 52? I'm sick of them doing this to Black guys. Always putting them in positions to fail and when they don't work magic, they get chased out of town. He's no Tony Dungy (who, while admittedly having MUCH MORE talent with Sapp, Brooks, Dunn, Lynch, etc., was able to turn around the NFL-worst Bucs to winners -- which Gruden benefitted from, BTW).
32. St. Louis Rams.
YIKES. Just flat out YIKES. If not for Steven Jackson, they'd be pushing for back to back 0-16 seasons in the NFL.
M.D. Wright
12.16.09
As always, I have to remind people, this is less about rankings as it is about how the team is playing RIGHT NOW -- and if they're sliding or on a hot streak, that plays a role.
1. Indianapolis Colts.
Cruise mode. Their defense is so good that Manning had a terrible game and they still win easily. Until the Saints can afford to have an off game by Brees against a decent team, then they cannot overtake the Colts.
2. San Diego Chargers.
NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY THEM NOW NOR IN THE PLAYOFFS. They will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
3. New Orleans Saints.
I am done writing about them. The only relevant thing to them is possibly breaking the Patriots' PPG/points scored record set in 2007 without cheating to do so. They're one and done in the playoffs, with that loss looking more and more like it's going to come at the hands of either the Packers or Eagles.
4. Green Bay Packers.
They're as hot as anyone right now. Why? Because they finally figured out how to protect Rodgers. Their line holds a TON, though. Somehow they get away with it.
5. Minnesota Vikings.
Nice win Sunday, but that loss to Arizona looks even worse after the Cards lost to a desperate San Francisco squad.
6. Philadelphia Eagles.
For the love of all sacred, why don't teams bump Desean Jackson and Wes Welker? Welker keeps the Patriots offense moving (when they'd have a ton of 3 and outs otherwise with their paltry running game and one-dimensional scheme to get the ball to Moss), and the Iggles LIVE on big plays, otherwise, they stink. Sure, against a sieve of a defense such as the Giants they look like studs, but don't buy the fool's gold. In the playoffs, the Iggles will have to move the ball more methodically and won't be able to in 3 straight games.
7. Cincinnati Bengals.
How they win and CURSIN' hasn't had a good game (he's been clutch late in a few, which is really all that matters) all season is a testament to Cedric Benson and their defense.
8. Arizona Cardinals.
Bad loss. Further shows why they're not ready to step up into the elite.
9. New England Patriots.
Buffalo gets their revenge Sunday and puts a huge damper on the Patriots' playoff chances.
10. Dallas Cowboys.
The free-fall has begun. They won't sniff higher than 15 after this beatdown coming Saturday night.
11. Denver Broncos.
Hard to take them seriously.
12. Miami Dolphins.
WATCH OUT FOR THE FINS.
13. New York Jets.
The Jets may have something here if Sanchez comes back. If they have to rely on Thomas Jones too much, they may wear down. Huge plays by their secondary the past few games. Kellen Clemens should make every Jets fan nervous for the entire game.
14. New York Giants.
Sheridan and the players seem to be of two different minds. Top shelf talent, BOTTOM SHELF/WORST-IN-NFL results prove this. The offense, just as it has been since Coughlin got here (averaging 26 PPG during his tenure and yes, 26 PPG this year) isn't the problem. We can move the ball and score on anyone. But conversely, we can't stop anyone all of a sudden. We really miss Kenny Phillips. But more than that, playing Aaron Ross at Safety makes little sense to me. He has the speed that Johnson and Rouse don't, but he has CB instincts, not S instincts. Rouse and Johnson got caught peeking in the backfield against McNabb like there was an X-rated Peep Show going on back there DEAR GOD. Jackson is NOT as great as we make him look. The previous sentence explains why he was so open.
15. Baltimore Ravens.
Flacco has made some mind-numbing mistakes in 3 of their losses -- each late in games.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars.
Does reality begin to set in after that loss to Miami? The Jags are NOT 7-5 good. Not 7-6 good. This is a 4-9 team. I don't get it.
17. Tennessee Titans.
They still put Vince in 3 games too late. Had he been in sooner, they'd be 9-4.
18. Houston Texans.
Kubiak has to go. Too much talent to continue the same start slow/go on a little run/fade/win meaningless games late in the season trend. This is 3 straight years.
19. Atlanta Falcons.
UGH.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thank God we won't have to listen to their fans in the playoffs. The fake ones, that is, since those are the ones you hear most.
21. San Francisco 49ers.
Season saving win. If for only one week ha.
22. Chicago Bears.
DEAR GOD LOVIE SMITH SHOW SOME EMOTION, 5!!!
23. Carolina Panthers.
They are great talent evaluators at the WR position, ha. But as Bill Belichick said Monday, (which was gold) "they would say that (Moss quit), but they haven't really won many games this year. They do an awful lot of talking, but they've lose a lot of games" (paraphrasing).
24. Buffalo Bills.
Spoiler mode begins Sunday.
25. Seattle Seahawks.
The Seabags are SOFT.
26. Oakland Raiders.
Watch out for the Raiders next year. SERIOUSLY!
27. Washington Redskins.
We appreciate having them on MNF next week to help us fine tune what we've been doing wrong on defense.
28. Kansas City Chiefs.
Just when I thought they were going to build on this...
29. Cleveland Browns.
HA.
30. Detroit Lions.
Cue the Jim Mora rant (one of the lesser known versions) from '92.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I don't know what kind of statement the Bucs' front office was trying to make by hiring Morris and gutting the team. How did they expect the man to fare? Not even a veteran coach could have done anything with this mess. So he's going to get fired and probably not even get serious consideration for a job until he's 52? I'm sick of them doing this to Black guys. Always putting them in positions to fail and when they don't work magic, they get chased out of town. He's no Tony Dungy (who, while admittedly having MUCH MORE talent with Sapp, Brooks, Dunn, Lynch, etc., was able to turn around the NFL-worst Bucs to winners -- which Gruden benefitted from, BTW).
32. St. Louis Rams.
YIKES. Just flat out YIKES. If not for Steven Jackson, they'd be pushing for back to back 0-16 seasons in the NFL.
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