Week 6 Results/Week 7 Predictions
Here are my Week 7 Predictions:

And here were my results from last week. As you can see, I did fairly well picking overall winners and working against the spread. My weakness seems to be my inability to guess the overall score. I took too many unders in games that I knew would have high scores.

Here are my Week 6 Results:

NFL Week 6 Betting
First let me make one announcement: I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANY PERSON USE THESE NOTES AS BASIS FOR CONDUCTING REAL BETS.

With that being said, here's how I think the games and lines will play out this week in the NFL. All spreads and lines taken from www.sportsbook.com.

For those of you who dont know:
Straight Up = Who will win the game, regardless of the point spread
Point Spread = Say the game is Eagles -11 Jets. This means that betting the Jets will result in a win if the Jets either 1) Win the game by any number of points or 2)Lose the game by less than 11 points. If the final score was Eagles 20, Jets 17, Jets Betters would win the point spread, but not the Straight Up.
Over/Under = The combined total points scored by both teams in a game. If the over/under of that Eagles-Jets game was 39.5, Under bettors would win since the total score was 37.

More questions, consult www.sportsbook.com

Otherwise, here are my picks:

Prediction Update: Week 5
Ok. So I learned an important lesson this past month. Picking Weekly Winners at the beginning of the season is about as easy as completing a marathon with no legs. So what I decided to do is the following: I'll continue with updates of my original picks at three more intervals: Week 5 (this week), Week 11 and Week 17. Additionally what I'll do from now on is pick weekly winners. I'll pick straight up, against the spread and the over/under then evaluate how well I would fair as a 900-man. I've decided to do this mostly because I just wathced Two For the Money and feel that picking teams instead of actually putting down my own money is easy.

ORIGINAL PICKS (Team Name, Predicted Record, Actual Record [at completion of Week 5])

AFC East
Patriots, 4-1, 4-1
Miami, 3-2, 1-4
Buffalo, 1-4, 2-3
Jets, 0-5 , 2-3

AFC North
Steelers, 3-1, 1-3
Bengals, 3-1, 3-1
Ravens, 2-3, 4-1
Browns, 0-5, 1-4

AFC South
Colts, 5-0, 5-0
Jags, 3-2, 3-2
Titans, 2-3, 0-5
Texans, 0-4, 1-3

AFC West
Broncos, 3-1, 3-1
Chargers, 3-1, 3-1
CHeifs, 2-2, 2-2
Raiders, 1-3, 0-4

NFC East
Philly, 3-2, 4-1
Giants, 2-2, 2-2
Skins, 1-4, 2-3
Cowboys, 3-1, 2-2

NFC North
Bears, 3-2, 5-0
Vikings, 2-3, 3-2
Lions, 2-3, 0-5
Packers, 3-2, 1-4

NFC South
Carolina, 4-1, 3-2
Atlanta, 3-1, 3-1
Saints, 2-3, 4-1
Bucs, 2-2, 0-4

NFC West
Seattle, 4-0, 3-1
Rams, 1-4, 4-1
49ers, 2-3, 2-3
Cardinals, 2-3, 1-4

Number Correct: 10
Off By One Game: 11
Way Off: 11

Week 1 Results
At the end of every week I'll run through my original predictions and tell you how I stand and how I am faring with winning and losing trends. Games in green font are ones I correctly picked and red font are incorrect picks.

Week 1 Results
Steelers over Dolphins, 28-17
Falcons over Panthers, 20-6
Ravens over Bucs, 27-0
Pats over Bills, 19-17
Bengals over Chiefs, 23-10
Rams over Broncos, 18-10
Saints over Browns, 19-14
Jets over Titans, 23-16
Eagles over Texans, 24-10
Seahawks over Lions, 9-6
Bears over Packers, 26-0
Jags over Cowboys, 24-17
Cardinals over 49ers, 34-27
Colts over Giants, 26-21
VIkings over Redskins, 19-16
Chargers over Raiders, 27-0

11-5 for the week. Not too bad for the first week.

ULTIMATE NFL PREDICTIONS
What better way to re-start my blog to post the most comprehensive NFL predictions I have ever considered. You may have watched ESPN in the last month or so and noticed a trend by so-called experts picking and evaluating which teams will win division titles and advance to the playoffs. Well I am here to add my name to the list of experts. What follows is my official predictions for the 2006-2007 NFL Season, which kicks off in less than 6 hours from the time I started writing this post.

Here we go:

Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers over Miami Dolphins
Carolina Panthers over Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Baltimore Ravens
New England Patriots over Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals over Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos over St. Louis Rams
New Orleans Saints over Cleveland Browns
Tennessee Titans over New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles over Houston Texans
Seattle Seahawks over Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears
Jacksonville Jaguars over Dallas Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals over San Francisco 49ers
Indianapolis Colts over New York Giants
Minnesota Vikings over Washington Redskins
San Diego Chargers over Oakland Raiders


Week 2
Dolphins over Bills
Panthers over Vikings
Bengals over Browns
Bears over Lions
Colts over Texans
Packers over Saints
Giants over Eagles
Ravens over Raiders
Falcons over Bucs
Seahawks over Cards
49ers over Rams
Broncos over Chiefs
Pats over Jets
Titans over Chargers
Cowboys over Redskins
Steelers over Jags


Week 3
Bucs over Panthers
Bears over Viks
Steelers over Bengals
Lions over Packers
Colts over Jags
Bills over Jets
Dolphins over Titans
Skins over Texans
Ravens over Browns
Seahawks over Giants
Philly over SF
Cards over Rams
Pats over Broncos
Falcons over Saints



Week 4
Falcons over Cards
Cowboys over Titans
Indy over Jets
Phins over Texans
Vikings over Bills
Panthers over Saints
Chargers over Baltimore
KC over SF
Rams over Lions
Raiders over Browns
Jags over Skins
Bengals over Pats
Seahawks over Bears
Philly over Packers


Week 5
Bears over Bills
Panthers over Browns
Lions over Vikings
Pats over Phins
Packers over Rams
Saints over Bucs
Indy over Titans
Giants over Skins
Chiefs over Cards
Jags over Jets
49ers over Raiders
Dallas over Philly
Chargers over Steelers
Broncos over Ravens


Week 6
Bills over Lions
Panthers over Ravens
Bucs over Bengals
Cowboys over Texans
Falcons over Giants
Saints over Philly
Rams over Seahawks
Skins over Titans
Steelers over Chiefs
Phins over Jets
Chargers over 49ers
Broncos over Raiders
Bears over Cards



Week 7
Bengals over Panthers
Jets over Lions
Phins over GB
Texans over Jags
Pats over Bills
Bucs over Philly
Steelers over Falcons
KC over Chargers
Broncos over Browns
Cards over Raiders
Vikings over Seattle
Indy over Skins
Cowboys over Giants


Week 8
Cards over Packers
Bengals over Falcons
Ravens over Saints
Titans over Texans
Jags over Philly
Seahawks over KC
Bears over SF
Giants over Bucs
Chargers over Rams
Broncos over Indy
Browns over Jets
Steelers over Raiders
Panthers over Cowboys
Pats over Vikings


Week 9
Falcons over Lions
Ravens over Bengals
Skins over Cowboys
Packers over Bills
Giants over Texans
Rams over KC
Bears over Miami
Bucs over Saints
Jax over Titans
Vikings over SF
Chargers over Browns
Broncos over Steelers
Indy over Pats
Raiders over Seahawks


Week 10
Titans over Ravens
Indy over Bills
Giants over Bears
Falcons over Browns
Vikings over GB
Jags over Texans
Dolphins over Chiefs
Steelers over Saints
Pats over Jets
Bengals over Chargers
Lions over 49ers
Skins over Philly
Raiders over Broncos
Cardinals over Cowboys
Seahawks over Rams
Panthers over Bucs



Week 11
Ravens over Falcons
Bills over Texans
Bears over Jets
Bengals over Saints
Indy over Cowboys
Phins over Vikings
Pats over GB
KC over Oakland
Steelers over Browns
Panthers over Rams
Philly over Titans
Skins over Bucs
Cards over Lions
Seahawks over 49ers
Broncos over Chargers
Jags over Giants



Week 12
Phins over Lions
Bucs over Cowboys
Broncos over KC
Vikings over Cards
Panthers over Skins
Pats over Bears
Bengals over Browns
Texans over Jets
Jags over Bills
Falcons over Saints
Giants over Titans
Indy over Philly
Steelers over Ravens
Rams over 49ers
Chargers over Raiders
Seahawks over GB



Week 13
Bengals over Ravens
Cards over Rams
Skins over Falcons
Giants over Cowboys
Pats over Lions
Titans over Indy
Jags over Miami
KC over Browns
Bears over vikings
Jets over GB
Chargers over Bills
Saints over 49ers
Steelers over Bucs
Raiders over Texans
Seahawks over Broncos
Panthers over Philly



Week 14
Steelers over Browns
Falcons over Bucs
Chiefs over Ravens
Bills over Jets
Indy over Jags
Vikings over Lions
Phins over Pats
Cowboys over Saints
Panthers over Giants
Bengals over Raiders
Skins over Philly
Titans over Texans
GB over SF
Cardinals over Seahawks
Broncos over Chargers
Bears over Rams



Week 15
Seahawks over SF
Falcons over Cowboys
Browns over Ravens
Packers over Lions
Pats over Texans
Jags over Titans
Dolphins over Bills
Vikings over Jets
Giants over Philly
Panthers over Steelers
Bucs over Bears
Skins over Saints
Broncos over Cards
Chargers over KC
Rams over Raiders
Indy over Bengals



Week 16
Vikings over GB
KC over Raiders
Steelers over Ravens
Panthers over Falcons
Bears over Lions
Indy over Texans
Pats over Jags
Giants over Saints
Bucs over Browns
Bills over Titans
Skins over Rams
Cards over 49ers
Broncos over Bengals
Seahawks over Chargers
Dallas over Philly
Phins over Jets



Week 17
Giants over Skins
Philly over Falcons
Bills over Ravens
Panthers over Saints
Browns over Texans
Cowboys over Lions
Bears over Packers
Jags over KC
Indy over Phins
Pats over Titans
Raiders over Jets
Bengals over Steelers
Bucs over Seahawks
Vikings over Rams
Chargers over Cardinals
Broncos over 49ers



COMPLETE PREDICTED STANDINGS*
*Note, where applicable NFL Official Tiebreaking Procedures procedures were applied.

AFC

AFC EAST
1. New England Patriots, 13-3, Division Champs and 1st Round Bye
2. Miami Dolphins, 11-5, Wild Card
3. Buffalo Bills, 6-10
4. New York Jets, 2-14
AFC NORTH
1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4, Division Champs
2. Cincinnati Bengals, 11-5, Wild Card
3. Baltimore Ravens, 5-11
4. Cleveland Browns, 3-13
AFC SOUTH
1. Indianapolis Colts, 14-2, Division Champs and 1st Round Bye and Home Field Advantage
2. Jacksonville Jaguars, 11-5
3. Tennessee Titans, 6-10
4. Houston Texans, 2-14
AFC WEST
1. Denver Broncos, 13-3, Division Champs
2. San Diego Chargers, 10-6
3. Kansas City Chiefs, 7-9
4. Oakland Raiders, 5-11

NFC
NFC EAST
1. New York Giants, 11-5, Division Champs
2. Washington Redskins, 9-7
3. Dallas Cowboys, 8-8
4. Philadelphia Eagles, 5-11
NFC NORTH
1. Chicago Bears, 11-5, Division Champs
2. Minnesota Vikings, 10-6, Wild Card
3. Green Bay Packers, 7-9
4. Detroit Lions, 3-13
NFC SOUTH
1. Carolina Panthers, 14-2, Division Champs, 1st Round Bye, Home Field Advantage
2. Atlanta Falcons, 9-7, Wild Card
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-7
4. New Orleans Saints, 4-12
NFC WEST
1. Seattle Seahawks, 11-5, Division Champs, 1st Round Bye
2. Arizona Cardinals, 9-7
3. St. Louis Rams, 5-11
4. San Francisco 49ers, 2-14


PLAYOFFS


Wild Card
AFC
(#4) Steelers over (#6) Bengals, Score: 34-21
(#5) Dolphins over (#3) Broncos, Score: 21-20
NFC
(#6) Falcons over (#4) Bears, Score: 38-28
(#3) NY Giants over (#5) Vikings, Score: 23-7

Divisional
AFC
(#1) Colts over (#5) Dolphins, Score: 24-13
(#4) Steelers over (#2) Patriots, Score: 20-17 OT
NFC
(#1) Panthers over (#6) Falcons, Score: 38-24
(#2) Seahawks over (#3) NY Giants, Score: 13-6

Conference
AFC: Steelers over Colts, Score: 23-17
NFC: Panthers over Seahawks, Score: 27-20

Super Bowl XLI
Steelers over Panthers 31-24

Thats, right. I'm calling for the repeat.

Darkness The Movie: How $10 could have been better spent.
So for the Christmas break I decided to set out on an adventure of sorts - first to Pittsburgh where I spent Christmas Eve, Christmas and the day after Christmas with my cousins and family. Next I dropped by my townhouse in Fairfax to pick up a mattress and move it back to my house in Newport News where I spent the next two days drinking and playing poker with a great group of friends. Then we drove up to VA Tech to spend the New Year with our great friend Laura - more about that later. I figure I should take you through the ups and downs of my Winter 2004 break and may you draw from these experiences and learn from them, lest you suffer the humiliation and agony I went through. On the positive side you may wish to copy and repeat the more splendid events that took place. Anyway, do with this information what you will but know that I am no way responsible for your personal mental or physical injury.

I had to work at FIA the night of the 23rd. From 7pm until 11pm. After going out to IHOP with Robert and drinking a few hoddels of coffee I set out for Pittsburgh. After reaching the PA Turnpike and realizing it was almost 4 AM I decided that falling asleep at the wheel for the next 2 hours at 65 MPH would be a bad idea so I pulled off at a rest stop, turned off my engine and fell asleep. I awoke an hour later by the sound of my phone alarm going off. Naturally I shut the damn thing up and fell back asleep. I was barely asleep when I heard what sounded like a rock falling on the pavement. I turned over and glanced eye-to-eye with a male truck driver (mid 40s, large and balding) looking at me through the window and holding a cup of coffee. This was probably the quickest I have ever woken up in my life. In fact I'm going to submit my design for an alarm clock that features a random stranger staring at you, waiting for you to feel his silent presence over your sleeping body..... maybe not. But never the less I made to my Aunt's (pronounced Ant not Unt like all you southern folks say it) house right before the sun rose - and promptly fell asleep for the next 7 hours.

I woke and ate dinner twice; once at my aunt's and once at my dad's parents'. This was probably the biggest highlight of visiting family - other than the actual social engagement - is the vast quantities of food everyone has spent hours preparing just so your poor college soul and gorge on deviled eggs, turkey, ham, pork, potatoes, gravy, party potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, pirogies, jello molds, dinner rolls, and cookies and cake. Damn was the food delicious.

The next day, Christmas, I spent the morning with my parents and sister exchanging gifts and laughter and smiles. Good times. The evening was spent with my mom's parents' where we exchanged hugs, laughter and passed around beers. Good times. So after most the uncles had been drinking for a while me and my cousins decide to go to the movies to see "The Darkness" (not the band) with that chick who played Rouge in the X-Men movies. It was fun going to the theaters - I mooned my cousin's friends and we sat down in the theater acting all goofy and shit. Good times. Then the movie started. After the next 2 hours my soul was sucked from my body, crushed with a meat mallet, thrown in a blender, set on puree, poured into a pot and boiled, fed to an old woman at a nursing home, shat out and used to grow magical shrooms which were them eaten by the bastards who made this horrible excuse for a movie!

FUCK THIS MOVIE!!!! NEVER GO SEE IT!!!! IT WILL RAPE YOU AND LEAVE YOU WITH NOTHING BUT A SORE ASS AND TEARS RUNNING DOWN YOUR CHEEKS!!!

I would rather have taken the $10 I spent to see this sack of shit film, taken the singles one by one, soaked them in kerosene, forced them into my rectum then lit them on fire than to have seen this god forsaken movie!

In short, "The Darkness" is the worst movie ever. Don't believe me? Then find out for yourself. But remember... I warned you.

LaRouche the Douche Fights Against Democracy
Lyndon H. LaRouche is the most frightening, liberal, close minded, arrogant, idiotic political contender of our time - with the exception of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Moore (god forbid that propaganda spewing pile of crap ever decides to run for an office). LaRouche, a Virginia native who lives in Leesburg, ran for the Democrat Convention's nomination for President in 2004. Although wielding solid funding he was unable to gain more than 5% in any state primary/convention.

Interestingly enough, LaRouche himself is unable to cast a ballot and vote - his December 17, 1988 conviction of Conspiracy and Mail Fraud in Alexandria in his group's solicitation of $34 million in loans since 1983.

His proximity to Northern Virginia and the limited success of the LaRouche Youth Movement has led students at George Mason University and nearby institutions to be frequently visited by LaRouche supporters who litter the campus with pamphlets and brochures. They also attempt endlessly to engage students in debates upon why joining the LaRouche Youth Movement is more important than attending class. Granted, I for one rarely attend class myself, but for valid reasons - either I'm studying/writing papers for other classes or doing my own independent research (on occasion I do sleep through class). I'm sure many a Mason student remembers Fall 2003 when flyers and pamphlets were distributed depicting California Governor Candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger being anally raped by Vice President Dick Cheney, who in turn was being anally raped by Adolph Hitler. In this flyer LaRouche supporters were justifying their stance against the Republican Hollywood Actor with the argument that both Schwarzenegger and Hitler were born in Austria and that the "Fascism of Dick Cheney" is taking control of America and will lay waste to California unless immediate action is taken.

Man, what a fucking douchebag! Now, anyone who will approach me and engage in conversation will find, within a few minutes, my political leanings favor (for the most part) the political platform of the Democrat Party. However I, unlike millions of my Democratic brothers and sisters, understand the fine line dividing sound political doctrine and fascist anti-American bullshit.

As I walked towards the George W. Johnson Center this afternoon set on a quest for a fine cup of hot chocolate from Jazzman's Cafe I was stopped by a LaRouche supporter who (in the span of 20 seconds) questioned my patriotism, demanded the full details of my daily schedule, and condemned the practice of gaining a higher education. The following is a brief illustration of the encounter:

Me (enter JC courtyard between fountains and clock).

LaRouche Supporter (standing in front of banner upon which is written "Let's make Cheney's 2nd term 25-Life"): Hello, there... why aren't you fighting against this corrupt government?

Me: I have to get to class. (A blatant lie, but I really do hate talking to these people).

LaRouche Guy: You can skip your class to discuss the need to replace this government - where are your civil obligations? (then hands me copy of LaRouche Newspaper "The New Federalist")

Annoyed Me: I'll read it but I have to go to class, I can't skip it.

LaRouche Asshole (Yelling at me as I enter the JC): Oh, so I see that protecting this country and your rights isn't important to you! I can't.....

At this point his voice has faded away as the door closes behind me.

Well I still wield the copy of "The New Federalist" - serving as an outlet for LaRouche's "Executive Intelligence Review (EIR)", an information gathering organization. The publication can be purchased for $20/year at 50 issues. Or as I will be advertising: "KINDLING and TIMBER: $20/stack".

Upon opening the paper and reading the essays/articles inside I found a somewhat sobering feeling coming over me. Not all the articles were fascist and proporting the LaRouche philosophy. Some were actually well written works addressing political issues the popular media leaves behind or ignores.

But what gets me the most is that while LaRouche talks of the pupperterring and the control over George Bush's actions by the shadow government, upon the front page of the November 22, 2004 issue of The New Federalist in big, bold letters are the words: "LaRouche to Bush: Give Me Condi's Job and I'll Get You Through the Next 4 Years". In this article, LaRouche attacks the president on a number of issues (including "The President has known mental problems" original bold) while saying on the "Louisiana Live" radio show, "I would tell him [Bush], first of all let's get rid of Cheney. He's probably guilty, but he's got a health problem; let's get him out of there, just for your safety. And, in the meantime I suggest you take it easy: Give me Condoleezza Rice's job, let me guide you through the next four years, and you'll get the best deal you possibly could get - and the American people too!"

In short, I hate Lyndon LaRouche. He is political evil incarnate and probably holding the spawn of Satan somewhere in his black, self-loathing, fascist heart.

On a lighter note....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!

May the turkey be plentiful and the football be righteous!

Off to Pittsburgh, where "moral values means listening to Myron Cope and always, always voting for Cowher."

The South: America's Jock Itch
Now, I'm not one to condemn the United States, but I have to say that when I came across this site I was not only taken aback by the statistical relevance but also experienced a revelation of sorts.

You see, the south - and by south I really mean the Uber-Christian, shotgun toting', hillbilly folk of the Midwest and deep south who assert that they are the only real Americans in this country - has contributed to America's culture and well being in a positive light.

Of course, I am referring to the great historical and contemporary achievements of the south - country music, the Civil War, an increasing influx of illegal immigrants, vast quantities of corn and wheat, and the passion of college sports surpassed only by their domination over the physical abilities of black athletes while maintaining a crippling education system.

I blame the south's ancestor's for the present day dismal shape of American culture and politics - if only they had understood that enslaving people is wrong - and instead of spending their hard earned (and by hard-earned I am referring to their fantastic ability to drive out Native Americans and claim a section of land for their own) money on more slaves, used it to pay for the labor they were so graciously given.

I guess the Christian Coalition is right.... Americans (I mean white men with land) are the sole heirs to His Kingdom and we must do everything we can to make His (or our interpretation of) vision a reality.

So we, as Northerners, are forced to pay high taxes while reaping few of the benefits all because America has an red itch in its crotch and has to continually buy ointment to cool it off!

We, as Americans, can do better - honestly! C'mon Forrest and Bubba, I know you guys can do something worthwhile for your country.... I believe in you!

Also, in an unrelated post, I would like to refer you to AIM Screen name "Jakified" question: Is assisted suicide unconstitutional? Expect a response shortly, Jake.

The Most Addicting Online Game Ever
This game is called "Squares" and you can find it at Ebaumsworld. It is incredibly addicting and never-ending, much like the "helicopter game" at Ebaumsworld.

My High Score is 16,780 so far.... try to beat that!


Here's a link to Squares:
Sqaures

And just for the hell of it, Helicopter

John Kerry's Concession
I don't care what the red states say: it takes a real man of courage to realize the difference between continuing the good fight and shooting the horse. John Kerry made the correct decision to concede the election to George Bush at 2 PM on November 3rd.

Mathematically, he would have needed a miracle to occur for a victory in Ohio. Behind 135,000 votes and with only 155,000 provisional ballots (90% of which would be approved) and no more than 20,000 recount votes Mr. Kerry would have needed an outstanding majority to even come close to win Ohio.

Senator Kerry's speech is available here In Text Form or for the audio, click Here.

To all those who said that conceding was something only "a bitch" would do, I may point out your ignorance in the mathematical possibilities for Kerry winning Ohio.