2018 Week 17 NFL Picks

December 28, 2018

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head to head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 3 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! But this year we’ll have their picks up right HERE each and every week, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 17 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

Last year I ended up with a 62% record for the season, so that’s three years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I had a decent Week 16, getting me to 155-83 (65.1%). And I intend to keep you at 62%+, as well as keep you ahead of Ryan.

So far this season I’m 15 for 16 on Locks of the Week and 8 for 16 for Upsets of the Week. Let’s see what I can do for you for Week 17…

Lock of the Week => Kansas City Chiefs (-14.5) over Oakland Raiders

I don’t think I need to tell you that the Chiefs have the BEST offense in the NFL per DVOA. The Raiders, on the other hand, have the third WORST defense in the NFL. Sure, The Raiders at times can be surprising, and they were within a TD last they met the Chiefs about a month ago. But the Chiefs are at home in Arrowhead this time, and are motivated to end the season strong, so I don’t think they’ll have much issue beating the Raiders.

Upset of the Week => Chicago Bears (+5.0) over Minnesota Vikings

Oh, come on. How did the NFC North Champion Chicago Bears become 5 point underdogs to the Minnesota Vikings? I suspect part of it is motivation, as the Vikings need to win to get into the playoffs, and part of it is homefield advantage, as Vikings fans are sure to be out in force for this “win and in” game. But the Bears have the BEST defense in the NFL, in part because they have the most takeaways (INTs and fumble recoveries) of any team this season. The Vikings are no slouch being the 4th best defense in the NFL, and arguably he Bears best receiving option outside of Tarik Cohen, Allen Robinson, will be out this week, but I think the Bears managed to finish strong through ball control, as they have the 4th highest average time of possession per game (31:38) this season, and actually having the highest average time of possession per game over the last 3 (34:14).

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Update – With Ezekiel Elliott resting, and others likely to sit throughout the game, I’ve changed my pick to the Giants over the Cowboys.

Ryan Whitfield’s Picks

Ryan’s Thoughts:

It is both unbelievable and discouraging that Ha Kung and I have posted the same exact score for the last four weeks. Now, we’re looking at the final 28 games of the year and I need to make up a five-game differential. Needless to say, it’s now time for a mammoth come back.

Lock of the Week: Patriots Vs Jets

As you all know (as steady listeners of the podcast), I am very down on this year’s Patriots team. With that said, they have too much on the line Sunday to do anything besides handle business against their divisional foe. Jets will play them hard in the first half per usual, but the Patriots will prevail and pull away down the stretch.

Upset of the Week: Colts @ Titans

Marcus Mariota says he is Optimistic he will start this Sunday against the Colts, but even if he does, how effective can he be? I’ve loved this Colts team all year and I have them on the list with the Ravens and Seahawks of teams I expect to disrupt this year’s playoffs. In order for that to happen the Colts need to go into Nashville and take care of business. I’m expecting the best performance out of this Colts team all season.

Follow me on Twitter – @RyanWhitfieldNE

Scott King’s Picks

Wally’s Picks

Ray’s Picks

Dolphins / Packers / Patriots / Saints / Giants / Buccaneers / Texans / Chargers / Rams / Vikings / Steelers / Seahawks / Eagles / Browns / Colts

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Final week of the year. As a Redskins fan, thank goodness the season is about to end.

Jacksonville at Houston/N.Y. Jets at New England: Neither home team should lose against a divisional rival but at least the Jets have shown the ability to put up points with Sam Darnold. Pats will want to help there defense with Sony Michel and run themselves into a bye.

San Francisco at L.A. Rams/Chicago at Minnesota: Philadelphia should thrash Washington so the Eagles fate will come down to how competitive the 49ers are at the Coliseum. The Bears coaches will say different but if the Rams jump out to a big lead is there any point in keeping Mitch Trubisky, Khalil Mack on the field? If it’s close that’s different. Don’t think it will matter to Chicago whether they play Minnesota or Philly next week. Kirk Cousins doesn’t blow it this time and the Vikings sneak in.

L.A. Chargers at Denver/Oakland at Kansas City: The Chargers might do similar to the Bears and pull starters when they see what the Chiefs will do to the Raiders at Arrowhead. Oakland used up all their emotional energy in the final (?) home game on Monday night. Kansas City simply can’t lose this game and won’t. Chargers will still probably win because the Broncos don’t have Philip Lindsay and look like they’ve quit on likely coaching casualty Vance Joseph.

Cleveland at Baltimore/Cincinnati at Pittsburgh: The Steelers should smack their favorite pinata, the Bengals. So that would set up a scenario that’s almost too perfect. Cleveland with a chance to sink the Ravens playoff chances and to go from 0-16 to a winning season in 1 year. If the Browns pull it off Gregg Williams would become the permanent head coach and the city would party like they had won the championship. It’s just too perfect and since I haven’t been that good this Christmas and neither have most of you then it won’t happen. And John Harbaugh and the Ravens deserved to be rewarded for their boldness in sticking with Lamar Jackson.

Indianapolis at Tennessee: First things first, a tie in this game would put the Steelers into the playoffs. For those assuming an easy Colts win remember that with Blaine Gabbert at QB, the Titans beat the Texans in Nashville. This game will come down to which running back gives there quarterback a threat to work off. Derrick Henry or Marlon Mack. In the end Colts just edge it, in part because the Titans only barely snuck past the Redskins last week and Indianapolis has roared home this season.

One final thing to clean up in the late games. Seattle flattens Arizona to take the five seed and ensure a trip to Dallas in week 1.