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NFL 2013: Week #12-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on November 22, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 6 Comments

We correctly predicted the Chiefs first loss of the season last week, but was way off on the J-E-S-T-S Jests-Jests-Jests who forgot to show up for their blowout game vs the Bills. We still managed to go 2-3 for the week however, and are looking to improve with these five best bets…

*Home team in Caps

GIANTS over the Cowboys- Always a nail-biter when we pick the Giants as they have not had a stellar season by any means. They HAVE been consistent however; first losing six in a row to start the season, then winning four straight. Dallas, with the league’s 32nd ranked defense, has allowed a league worst 439 yards per game which surely has Eli’s mouth drooling. We’re predicting a good day for RB Andre Brown as the game time temp will be in the 30’s while the winds at Met Life will be whirling at 25-30 MPH. It should also be an adventure for the field goal kickers…

#35 RB Andre Brown could have a banner day given the brisk winds & cold temps at Met Life Stadium forecasted for Sunday. Photo:Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

#35 RB Andre Brown could have a banner day given the brisk winds & cold temps at Met Life Stadium forecasted for Sunday. Photo:Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

CHIEFS over the Chargers- The hardest stadiums to play football in (in our opinion only) is Kansas City, Seattle, New Orleans, and Denver. The Chiefs will be looking to do two things; avenge their first loss last week to Denver by getting back on the winning track, and looking ahead to the following week when they will have a rematch vs the same Broncos. If their focus is a bit elsewhere this week, a Chief team at 80% will beat a Charger team at 100.

Panthers over the DOLPHINS- Carolina, arguably the hottest team in the NFL over the past six games (all wins) has gotten their early season woes under control now that Cam Newton has returned to the Cam Newton from last season. Although they are clicking on all cylinders we still see this game as being closer than you might think as Miami’s last six have been decided by a total of just 24 points.

There hasn't been a hotter team nor better QB than Cam Newton over the past month and a half and Sunday the Panthers look to make it 7 in a row. Photo: Associated Press

There hasn’t been a hotter team nor better QB than Cam Newton over the past month and a half and Sunday the Panthers look to make it 7 in a row. Photo: Associated Press

PATRIOTS over the Broncos- Even with the Patriots’ winning record at Foxborough during the Brady era, this is still a tough game to call. We lean towards New England because Denver will have it’s mind more on their rematch with Kansas City the following week. These two teams met in Foxborough in week 5 last year in a Patriots 31-21 win and another victory appears to be in cards.

49ers over the REDSKINS- After their bizarre loss to the Saints on that Ahmad Brooks penalty/fine, the Niners will be out for blood. They want this game so that they can stay in contention in the West and can’t see them losing to an NFC East team…ANY NFC team for that matter. Harbough will find a way to contain RGIII and S.F.’s defense is far and away much better than the ‘Skins. Lots of running in this one with two good backs facing each other in Morris and Gore.

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2013: Week #1-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on September 6, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

Here we are in our third year of posting our Five Best Bets; one of two of our most popular regular features during the football season. We’re glad to be back and wish all of you good luck!!

*Home team in CAPS

1. SAINTS over the Falcons- Saints head coach Sean Payton returns for his first game back following his year long suspension as of a result of the ‘Bountygate’ issues.  Lifetime, Payton is 10-2 against the Falcons and we see no reason why that shouldn’t turn into 11-2 come Sunday. Drew Brees and company have all the manpower they’ll need plus the added emotional lift they will garner from Payon’s return.

Head coach Sean Payton returns to the Saints' sidelines after a year away from the Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America. Photo:

Head coach Sean Payton returns to the Saints’ sidelines after a year away from the club. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America.

2. Chiefs over the JAGUARS- This will mark veteran head coach Andy Reid’s debut for Kansas City who were smitten with the turnover bug last season. This was a team that last year sent six players to the Pro-Bowl and we see no reason why the Chiefs won’t have the biggest turn around of any other NFL team this year.  Dwaye Bowe who is destined to make this a breakout season catching the rock from new Chief’s QB Alex Smith, along with Jamaal Charles, are just too much for the offensively challenged Jags and so a double-digit win should be in the offing for the Chiefs.

3. Bengals over the BEARS- We just don’t trust Jay Cutler especially this weekend as he’ll go up against arguably a team with a top ten defense in the league. This season there is no excuse why the ‘Dalton gang’ should not post double-digit wins. They have the offensive weapons including two sleepers in WR Mohammed Sanu and RB Giaovanni Bernard and a top five receiver in A.J. Green. The Bears defense which is always their cornerstone should keep this game close but the Bengals will win their first game of the season.

4. REDSKINS over the Eagles- Although we really don’t know what to expect from second year stud RGIII, just his presence and throwing arm should be more than enough to stifle the Maclin-less Eagles. If Michael Vick can stay upright it might make the score closer but with Vick, an injury is just one play away.  We’ll get a first-hand look at Chip Kelley’s new offense but with Alfred Morris, Fred Davis, Pierre Garcon and the rest of the ‘Skins offense, the birds will be flying south after this Monday-Nighter.

#10 QB RGIII will be back but might alter his game somewhat to stay away from further injury, however he still has a lethal, accurate arm. Look for him to be sliding following runs this season

#10 QB RGIII will be back but might alter his game somewhat to stay away from further injury, however he still has a lethal, accurate arm. Look for him to be sliding more following runs this season. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

5. Texans over the CHARGERS- Even with San Diego’s additions of Manti Te’o, Danny Woodhead, and an aging Dwight Freeny, the Texans, on the road in their first game of the season will win this one going away. WR DeAndre Hopkins was a smart pick up for Houston as he will distract some of the attention and double teams that seem to be always going the way of Andre Johnson, and will make a decent compliment to Johnson, someone the Texans have been looking for over the past few seasons.  Would not be surprised if RB Ryan Matthews sustains some sort of injury in this one.

NFL Playoff Predictions: A weekend for upsets…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on January 4, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 7 Comments

NFL WILDCARD WEEKEND!

The NFL playoffs are upon us and we’re taking our 51-29 regular season record into this weekend hopeful that we’ll be able to duplicate our 8-2 record in last year’s playoffs as well as correctly picking the eventual Super Bowl winner, finishing at 9-2. In order to be successful once again, we’ll need for some of the teams in the first round to upset their opponents; always a risk. Here’s who we like…

*Home team in CAPS

SATURDAY:

Bengals over the TEXANS- We are strong believers that the teams that peak the latest have the better chance at success. Case in point the Bengals have won 7 of their last 8 games of the regular season-their one loss coming at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys who, with 3:44 left in the fourth quarter kicked a 40 yard field goal for the win. By contrast, the Texans come into Reliant Stadium limping; losing 3 of their last four games including a rout by the Patriots and losses to the Vikings and Colts. Cincinnati has the offense in Andy Dalton, BJGE, A.J. Green and a stellar defense with Michael Johnson and Geno Atkins combining for 24.5 sacks on the season. The Texans are 4.5 point favorites, however we’re picking the Bengals to win this one outright.

PACKERS over the Vikings- The last time QB Christian Ponder met the Pack at Lambeau Field, he had 2 interceptions, threw for a meager 119 yards and managed a QB rating of only 41.9. In last season’s meeting at Green Bay, Ponder finished with one INT, 190 passing yards and a QB rating of 52.3. Temps are due to be dropping into the 20’s for Saturday’s game and Adrian Peterson, who has over 400 yards rushing in their two games vs the Packers this season, has been experiencing some abdominal injuries and so the hits he’ll be expecting will not bode well for the top MVP candidate. The Packers need to keep the ball out of A.P.’s hands however, as clearly Ponder won’t tear apart the Pack’s secondary given his past performances there. The Vikes have lost their last two games at Green Bay by a combined score of 68-21. Packers by double-digits…

#7 Vikings QB Christian Ponder has had a tough go of it at Lambeau Field and Saturday should be no exception. Photo: Adam Bettcher /Getty Images

#7 Vikings QB Christian Ponder has had a tough go of it at Lambeau Field and Saturday should be no exception. Photo: Adam Bettcher /Getty Images

SUNDAY:

Colts over the RAVENS- Talk about a team roaring into the post-season, the Colts are 9-2 over their last eleven and have won 5 of their last six, making them one of the hottest teams in the league. Of course, a lot has to do with their emotional state as head coach Chuck Pagano wages his battle against Leukemia. Now that he’s back on the sidelines, there will be a renewed intensity on the field by this group. Couple that with the steady maturation of first round pick Andrew Luck. He has done his best impression of last year’s version of Eli Manning by putting together seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. Throw in his 4,384 passing yards, an NFL rookie record, and you can see why we’re so high on the youngster. It should be a loud and emotionally charged game in Baltimore given the recent news of  17 year veteran MLB Ray Lewis’ impending retirement, but when it’s all over we look for the Colts to win this one outright. Not sure why the Ravens are 6.5 point favorites coming into this game losing 4 out of their last five…

#12 Colts QB Andrew Luck should have plenty of it vs the Ravens and with coach Pagano back on the sidelines to pull off the upset. Photo: vegassharps.com

#12 Colts QB Andrew Luck should have plenty of it vs the Ravens and with coach Pagano back on the sidelines to pull off the upset. Photo: vegassharps.com

REDSKINS over Seahawks- This could be the toughest game of the weekend to predict given that both teams come into this one with a combined 14-1 record over the last eight weeks. Both have very talented and able quarterbacks. However the odds-makers made the ‘Skins a home dog for this contest perhaps because they’re not convinced that RGIII is at 100% or maybe because of the 170 points that the Seahawks have put up over their last four games (even though two of their opponents were Buffalo and Arizona). We’re going with Washington here because of another reason; one less obvious. In the confines of CenturyLink Field, the Seahawks are 8-0 and part of that is due to the 12th man being their stadium that boasts one of the noisiest arenas in the NFL. However, they have lost 5 games on the road which, if nothing else, shows their vulnerability. Landover can get pretty rowdy as well and we love the combo of RGIII and Alfred Morris. ‘Skins in a close one.