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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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NFL 2013: Week #6-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on October 11, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 5 Comments

We had a monstrous week going 4-1 faltering  only to the imploding Atlanta Falcons on the last play of the game. The four wins now bring our season record to a respectable 15-10 entering week #6. We’ll need our two underdog selections (Browns & Saints) to come through in order to repeat week 5’s success. Here are this week’s Best Bets…

Home team in CAPS

BROWNS over the Lions- To say that the Browns have been on a proverbial roll would be an understatemnt as they have won their last three games. In other words they are undefeated since Trent Richardson was traded following the Browns 14-6 loss to the Ravens back in week #2. Cleveland is coming into this week’s contest with a full 10 days rest vs a Lions team that will not only have Calvin Johnson be a game-time decision but also one that gives up just under 400 yards of offense a game.  That’s a lot of real estate! Sticking with the Brownies…

JETS over the Steelers- The winless Steelers come into Met Life Stadium on Sunday to face the AFC offensive player of the week in Geno Smith as well as the team with the league’s second best defense. No easy task for Pittsburgh with their decimated offensive line that has allowed Big Ben Roethlisberger to be sacked 15 times in four games. Pulling out that last second 30-28 win over the Falcons last week, these 3-2 Jets look like they’re for real.

#7 Rookie Geno Smith unleashes one of his 3 touchdown passes (no INTs) vs the Falcons last week. Photo:Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

#7 Rookie Geno Smith unleashes one of his 3 touchdown passes (no INTs) vs the Falcons last week. Photo:Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TEXANS over the Rams- After two wins over the Chargers and the Titans in weeks one and two, the Texans, and in particular QB Matt Schaub, has regressed as they lost their next three, while getting pummled by the 49ers last week 34-3.  If Schaub can stop throwing his now famous Pick Sixes, and the Texans defense can step it up for this Sunday’s home game, they should be able to beat a Rams team that is not very good.

49ERS over the Cardinals- The Niners have come-on over their last two games, scoring a combined 69 points while only giving up 14. QB Colin Kaepernick has settled down following two shaky starts against the Seahawks and the Colts, both losses. We’re expecting a huge game from veteran TE Vernon Davis, RB Frank Gore, and the Niners D who will contain Carson Palmer and make him struggle to remain upright. ‘Blowout alert’ in this one…

Saints over the PATRIOTS- Never like to pick against the Pats, (we did it earlier this season and took the loss…) but the Saints are too good a team to just lay down and be manhandled up in Foxboro. As this post is going to publishing, TE Rob Gronkowski still had not been cleared for Sunday’s game and even if he plays it might be in a limited role. Meantime the Saints have beaten their last three opponents by a total of 53 points (24-21-and 8) and have a more cohesive unit than the Patriots especially on defense. When New England played against two good defensive teams this season in the Jets and Bengals, they were only able to put up 13 and 6 points respectively; not your typical Patriots offensive output. The Saints in a close one..

Saints Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan has brought a passion to the league's 6th ranked defense. Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports

Saints Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan has brought a new passion to the league’s 6th ranked defense. Photo: Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports

Our “Bro Bowl” Prediction

Posted by fantasyfurnace on February 2, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 24 Comments

We were spot on with our Giants pick in last year’s Super Brawl vs New England and look to start a trend with our selection this Sunday at 6:30 P.M. EST. We have stayed clear of a lot of the same news and stories that have been bandied about for two weeks in the media and have basically stuck to just facts and stats to come up with our decision. Here now is our take on the Big Game…

For starters, both teams are very well evenly matched which should bring us all a competitive & exciting game; the kind we’ve been spoiled with over the past several years. They both had similar regular season records. Frisco at 11-4-1 and the Ravens at 10-6. Both running backs are tops in the league and also have similar stats; Raven’s Ray Rice 1214 rushing yards and 4.7 YPC. Frank Gore finished the season with 1143 yards and 4.4. So no ‘clear cut’ edge in this department.

#27 Ray Rice and #21 Frank Gore had fairly even numbers going into this year's post-season. Photo: mademen.com

#27 Ray Rice and #21 Frank Gore had fairly even numbers going into this year’s post-season. Photo: mademen.com

In total offense, again, it’s pretty even with the 49ers at 361.8 yards per game vs 352.5 YPG for the Ravens. On defense the 49ers have an edge with 294.4 yards allowed per game while the Ravens check in at 350.9 YPG.

As far as sacks are concerned it’s a mixed bag. Niner’s Aldon Smith had 19.5 sacks in the regular season which was slightly more than doubled Ravens sack leader Paul Kruger who had nine, however, Smith has not recorded a sack since way back in week 13…

Even in kickoff returns it was ever so close when you check the numbers. Ravens speedster Jacoby Jones had a kickoff return average of 30.7 yards while the 49ers return man, LaMichael (don’t call me LeBron) James ended up with 29.8. No big disparity there.

#12 Jacoby Jones, scoring here vs the Broncos in the AFC Div. Playoffs, has just a 1 YPG more than LaMichael James of the 49ers. Photo: sfexaminer.com

#12 Jacoby Jones, scoring here vs the Broncos in the AFC Div. Playoffs, averaged just 1 more yard than LaMichael James of the 49ers on K.O. returns this season. Photo: sfexaminer.com

So who are we picking and why? We’re going with the Baltimore Ravens and essentially it’s for four reasons:

1. We like the way that another slightly above average team during the regular season (remember they lost 4 out of 5 at one point), has come on strong at the end of the season and has turned it up a notch by beating two pretty good road teams at Denver and New England. You have to get some recognition when you can beat Peyton Manning and hold Tom Brady scoreless in the second-half on the road. It’s reminiscent of the  Packers, Giants-on two occasions- and the Steelers runs for the championship. There is just something about teams that can get hot in the post-season that seems to be the trend of late.

2. The over-played out drama that Ray Lewis’ retirement announcement has brought to the table, has an intangible that could continue to help drive the Ravens towards a victory on February 3rd. Lewis has made his living fostering an energy level with his team using his passion and leadership qualities that has clearly resonated with his teammates. Emotional lifts can push a team or player to heights that otherwise might not be attainable. Think Indianapolis and how that team performed for coach Chuck Pagano recovering from Leukemia and Ravens WR Torrey Smith, who less than 24 hours after losing his brother in a motorcycle accident caught 6 passes for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns.

3. Sports, it is been said can be a ‘game of inches’. All sports! Should this Super Bowl be a close one, the overwhelming edge would have to go to K Justin Tucker who finished the season connecting on 30 of 33 field goals (91% average), while his San Francisco counterpart, veteran David Akers, missed 13 field goals while hitting just 29 of 42 for a 69% average. Little impact on a Super Bowl? Who can forget, for example, Bills K Scott Norwood’s 47 yard attempted field goal that went “Wide Right” with 8 seconds remaining vs the Giants in Super Bowl XXV?

#9 K Justin Tucker has had a stellar season while #2 David Akers has been struggling. Photo: espn.com

#9 K Justin Tucker has had a stellar season while #2 David Akers has been struggling. Photo: espn.com

4. The biggest and most stressful position in all of sports is quarterback. Joe Flacco has way more experience than Colin Kaepernick and that will be crucial in a game played on the largest stage there is.

Ravens are the pick here. Lets just hope for a competitive and exciting game!