NFL Lines Picks Week 5 Results

Against The Spread 5 – 9

The Algorithm went in the tank with a 5 – 9 record against the spread.  Highlights included two moneyline picks:

• The Jets beating the Broncos 31 -21 in the Hackett Bowl.  The Jets went in as 3 point dogs and took the win back to NY.
• The Saints destroying the Patriots 34 – 0 in Foxboro.  The Saints were getting as much as +2.5 on the line.

The first half of the slate went ok as the Algorithm was 4 – 4 through the 1pm games on Sunday.  Then the wheels fell off with a 1 – 5 finish to the week including a bagel in both prime time games.

Over/Under Point Totals 8 – 6

Meanwhile, the second week of Over/Under point total predictions were trending in the right direction at 8 –  6.  The Algorithm did quite extremely well in predicting final point totals.  The Algorithm correctly predicted the final point totals in the Bills – Jags game 45, Broncos – Jets game at 52, and Vikings – Chiefs game at 47.  In fact, it was within a handful of point in almost every game with the exception being the 66 points in Lions – Packers (Prediction 43), and the measely 30 points scored in Raiders – Packers (predicted 50).

Pick of the Week – JETS on the Moneyline

It is not often you can predict that Zack Wilson will win a game.  Let alone a game on the road.  Let alone a football game on the road.  But Wilson defied all odds and went into Denver and came out with a 10 point, ahem, victory.  The Algorithm should probably just retire after this pick, but instead it seems to be going back to the well this week with the Jets against the Eagles.

Punk of the Week – BEARS @ COMMANDERS

If there was ever an omen to a bad week for the Algorithm, it had to be the 40 -20 whipping the Bears put on the Commanders in Washington on Thursday night.  The Algorithm and Vegas had Washington as 7 point favorites.  Losing by 20 is one thing, but this was a game that was over by halftime and never as close as the final score, which is still a whopping 20 points by a team that hadn’t won in a year.  Whatever happened to Riverboat Ron?  Did he sink when he decided to kick the FG against the Eagles and go to OT in Week 5.  I have to think that decision had a huge hangover effect and played into Washington coming out flat and laying a complete dud at home.