Thanksgiving Special

For those of you last week who took my advice on the Ravens game, I sincerely hope you waited until the spread had risen to 3. If you did, then my Sunday picks were a sexy 12-2 including 4-0 on my bold picks, but reality is reality- I went 11-5 last week and 3-1 on my bold picks bringing me to 84-74 overall and 23-20 on the bold picks so far this season.

I'd like to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving. Now for a few special people I'd like to thank.

My parents, especially my dad- not only did my dad get me started as a football fan, but this blog would never be possible if it weren't for everything he's given and taught me.

The Giants' 17-14 Super Bowl Win over New England- I've had the upper hand in trash-talking against every Massachusetts friend ever since that glorious, glorious night. Thank you Football Gods.

The Number 27- If the New York Giants had a mascot, he would look a lot like #27, Brandon Jacobs. Past that, the Yankees just won their 27th world series. Multiple family members grew up on #27 of various streets and my grandfather from World War II came home on a ship numbered 27. The number has been in the family for generations... until I was born on February 7, 1989. The sum of the digits in the year is 27. February 7 equates to 2-7. This year the Super Bowl is on February 7, as I turn 21. I'll stop now to save karma points.

All of the readers and commenters on the blog both on the website and off- You guys give me motivation to keep writing.

Carol Ann, Leigh, and Stef- haven't met you, but thanks... A LOT

Bill Simmons- You gave me motivation to start writing.

My friends and family and the fact that we are in good health.

Finally, to everyone like the Tuohy family featured in The Blind Side. For those of you who have made a difference in someone's life, especially those of you unrewarded for doing that, you make the world a better place.

Now for the picks

LIONS +12.5 over Packers
With all the talk about whether or not Detroit is still worthy of hosting a Thanksgiving game, I feel like a fire has been lit under several Lions players. They're coming off a great comeback win over a Browns team that played one of their best games of the season. Compare that to Green Bay who let San Francisco almost sneak away with a game that should've been over at halftime. I think Green Bay comes out flat in this one.

COWBOYS -13.5 over Raiders
Oakland has won three games this season. After beating Kansas City, the Raiders laid an egg at home against Denver and lost by 20. After beating Philadelphia, the Raiders laid a bigger egg at home and lost 38-0 against a Jets team minus Kris Jenkins that gave the Jets their only win since September. Tom Cable is not the coach to teach a team how to handle prosperity, especially on a short week. Expect lots of penalties with Cable and Phillips on the sidelines.

Giants -6 over BRONCOS
May the Kurse of Kern kontinue! Broncos and Titans are a combined 10-0 (Against The Spread and straight up) with Brett Kern and a dismal 0-10 (ATS and SU) without him. Kevin Gilbride called his best game of the year last week for the Giants although Bill Sheridan is still making it too easy. I'd much rather see the Giants keep 7 back in coverage and give the deepest and most dangerous D-Line in the league a couple more seconds to get to Kyle Orton. It will work. I'm waiting to see it happen. I'd also like to inform those of you who think I'm biased by ranking the Giants 4th, let me remind you that the Giants have been the underdog according to the Vegas point spread only twice, against Dallas and New Orleans. Both games were on the road; adjusting to a neutral field would have made the Giants one point favorites in each. This team is never more than a couple breaks away from a solid win, against anybody.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.