I know many of you remember my shtick on WZZO with Bearman and Keith. I know you do because people still yell, “Gaaaaryyy Laubach!!”, when I see them around the Valley. Some woman even yelled it when I was getting on an elevator on a cruise ship somewhere in the Atlantic. I would chit-chat with Bearman and Keith on Monday mornings and make my NFL picks on Friday mornings. My picks were often spot on and it was always a fun time.
Someone at RCN thought it would be a good idea to continue offering up my thoughts on a weekly blog and make NFL picks each week – thus, “Gary’s Guesses”. It seemed like a good idea at the time and for many years I looked like I knew what I was doing. Until this season -it has been almost impossible to confidently pick any NFL game.
Sure, I can always pick the Browns to lose (1-21 the past two seasons) and the Patriots to win (although they just eked out a win over the Jets so even the Patriots are a bit shaky). As I prepare to make picks again this week, how do I account for:
The Packers losing Aaron Rodgers?
The Giants beating Denver Sunday night without any notable receivers and still being just 1-5?
The Ravens who look like a different team every week (they just lost to the Bears)?
Speaking of the Bears, how do I deal with a team that is almost a sure bet to lose, except when they don’t, like this week?
Dallas losing Ezekiel Elliott this week through Thanksgiving, given that they are only 2-3 with him?
The Falcons losing two straight to lesser teams?
The Cardinals – did you see them against the Eagles?
The 0-6 49’ers, who have lost their last five games by 3 or fewer points?
A decent Oakland team that has lost 4 in a row?
The Lions looking good and then not?
The Dolphins, Lions, Texans, Jets, Jaguars, Chargers, Saints, Steelers, Rams, etc.?
Despite my misgivings and going 10-18 the past two weeks, I will make my guesses again. But my confidence is certainly shaken. I hope no one is using my picks as their picks. I am on the verge of just using a Ouija board. I couldn’t do any worse. One of my friends, a Steelers fan, implores me to pick them to lose every week knowing they would then win.
In fact, except for the Browns, who I can count on to lose every week, the most dependable team right now looks like (dare I say it), the Eagles! And now, I have just jinxed them!!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- NFL officiating sure creates controversy every week. Take a look at this call that cost the Jets a touchdown against New England:The Jets lost by 7.
- http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=21033522
- #2 Clemson lost to Syracuse in a shocker, 27-24, which allowed Penn State to move up to #2 without even playing a game. Can they stay there with Michigan at home, Ohio State, and Michigan State on the road up next? Win those three in a row and no one will doubt their ranking.
- Speaking of Penn State, Saquon Barkley was back home in Whitehall this past weekend and attended the Whitehall-Bethlehem Catholic game on Friday night. He was kind enough to grant us an interview during our broadcast. He was his usual modest self and, in fact, was hoping not too many people would know he was there. He told us he did not want to detract from the game. Truth be told, he is a bit too famous these days not to be noticed. He graciously signed autographs.
- I am enjoying the baseball playoffs after watching very little during the regular season. The starting pitching is awesome, almost unhittable. Defense has been outstanding. The games are extremely tense right up to the last out. The pace is still a bit taxing, however.
- I am happy to report that Mike Joseph and I are in the Colonial League this Friday night with a great match-up: Notre Dame at Saucon Valley. Game two on Friday is Nazareth at Liberty, an important game in the AAAAAA district picture. Saturday the Lafayette Leopards, tied at the top of the Patriot League at 2-0 will take on the Bucknell Bison at 3:30. At 7:00, Bethlehem Catholic takes on Freedom.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 6-8; OVERALL – 49-41 – 54%)
Week Seven
KANSAS CITY
TENNESSEE
JACKSONVILLE
PITTSBURGH
MINNESOTA
JETS
BUFFALO
CAROLINA
NEW ORLEANS
RAMS
DALLAS
SEATTLE
DENVER
NEW ENGLAND
PHILADELPHIA
