“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2024 Week 18 NFL Picks

January 4, 2025 Leave a comment

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 7 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, 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 18 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record three seasons ago, and 63.3% (178-103) two seasons ago, I ended up with 63.4% (180-104) last season. So that’s nine years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also had 85% right for Locks of the Week (17-3) and 42.1% for Upsets of the Week (8-11), so not only did I beat my 2022 percentages for both Locks and Upsets, but I have nine years in a row of Locks being over 70%.

I had a terrific Week 17, going 15-1 leaving me at 180-76 for the season (70.3%) and hit my Lock of the Week with the Bills (13-3 on the season), and my upset with the Raiders (8-8 on the season).

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 18…

Lock of the Week ➡ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-13.5) over New Orleans Saints

The Buccaneers are playing for a playoff spot, so you can be sure they’ll be firing on all cylinders. Baker Mayfield is in the midst of the best season of his career, already surpassing his previous passing yards total (4,279) and obliterating his previous passing TDs total (39) by a whopping 11 TDs. There’s no Chris Godwin, but Jalen McMillan has stepped in nicely and Bucky Irving has broken out in a big way as the 1A running back to Rasheed White. The Saints on the other hand are reeling from injuries, with Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave out in Week 17. Even if they come back, which may not be worth it if they’re not 100%, I’d be surprised to a see a listless Saints challenge the surging Bucs, particularly with Mayfield on fire and recently snubbed for the Pro Bowl. Lock in the Bucs.

Upset of the Week ➡ Jacksonville Jaguars (+5.0) over the Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have been eliminated from the playoffs behind the subpar play of Joe Flacco losing to the lowly Giants in Week 17. Anthony Richardson isn’t quite 100% yet, so it would be surprising to risk further injury in a meaningless Week 18 matchup. That means more Flacco on the horizon. The Jaguars have been surprisingly competitive with Mac Jones under center, in large part because rookie Brian Thomas has remained productive. They beat the Colts earlier this season and have won 2 of their last 4, so I think the Jags find a way to win, and like the potential for an “upset”.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Can you believe we’re at the final week of the regular seasons. Players sitting guys, teams locked up. Always a really hard week for picks. Let’s finish strong.

Wole’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out more of Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Let’s clear everything up for this final week.

On Saturday the Ravens will wallop the Browns and win the AFC North. The wrinkle could be a potential third game with Pittsburgh and I think that will happen because I think the Bengals stay alive for another 18-20 hours by beating the Steelers.

At 1 p.m. the Bucs will win the NFC South and the Packers will beat the Bears to give themselves a chance at the sixth seed.

Washington will find a way to beat the Cowboys and secure the sixth seed and will end up with the Bucs because the Rams resting everyone means they will lose to the Seahawks.

Cincinnati will need both Denver and Miami to lose at 4:25. The Broncos after squandering 2 chances to clinch a playoff will beat the Carson Wentz-led Chiefs to get into playoffs, disappointing the Dolphins who will win at the Jets.

The Chargers will beat the Raiders to move into the fifth seed and get the good draw of playing at Houston.

That just leaves the massive game Sunday night between Detroit and Minnesota. The winner gets the top seed and a bye past round 1. The loser is on the road at either Tampa or the L.A. Rams. Neither a very appetizing prospect.

In the end I just can’t buy Sam Darnold winning a shootout on the road against that rampaging Lions offense, even with all their injuries. So Detroit takes the top seed they’ve held since October and Minnesota faces a road game in week 1.