Written by Chris Hutchison

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Green Bay struggles at home against the Gabberts.  The Bears almost blow it vs. the Cams.  The only pick that everyone got right last week was the Browns in the home upset over the Riverses.  Thank you, crappy Cleveland weather and thank you, Robert Meachum.

As the days tick down to my wife's delivery day (appropriately "D-Day") and the end of sleep as I know it, the boys and I find ourselves at 55-62 (DJC), 54-63 (BT), and 53-64 (Me) after BT went 8-6 and DJC/Me went 6-8 in Week 8.  So, midway through the season, we are in a dead heat of mediocrity.  It's like watching Seth Rogen try to dunk.  Yes, boys and girls, it's that enthralling.

BT finished the first half with an Executive Lock record of 4-4, so even those "sure things" were as ordinary as a Steelers fan at a Golden Corral.

Clearly, I was just using the first 8 weeks to gauge the teams, to discover their tendencies, before unleashing a can of whoopass the size of Super Storm Sandy on those poor unsuspecting fools.  If you can't take this week's picks to the bank, then I don't know what to tell you (it would probably be something like "lucky you" though).

All odds are from VegasInsider.com:

Illinois at OSU -27.5

Me - Indiana taught me not to take Ohio State when the line is this large, especially against "lesser" opponents.  Pick: Fighting Illininini

DJC - Too many points.  Pick: Fighting Illinois People

BT - Not enough points. Bucks by 40!  Pick: Buckeyes

BAL at CLE +3.5

Me - That extra half point seals the deal, as I think it very likely that Cleveland loses this game by a FG.  Pick: Browns

DJC - Pick: Ravens

BT - They might actually win 2 in a row.  Pick: Browns

DEN at CIN +3.5

Me - Denver seems to be coming on quite a bit right now, especially Defensively.  The Bengals, however, are subverting to their natural form, which is a sub-.500 team.  Pick: Broncos

DJC - Pick: Broncos

BT - Pick: Broncos

ARI at GB -11

Me - The Cards rode their D and just barely enough QB play from Kevin Kolb to a 4-0 record, but that O Line and Kolb's absence are now taking a toll.  There isn't a worse overall Offense in the league - John Skelton is lame, every RB that they have (none of which were all that good in the first place) is hurt, and their ONLY receiving weapon is Larry Fitzgerald, who teams can just double and triple-team and stymie Arizona without even much effort.  Even with Green Bay looking very beatable (yet again) last week, I have to think they can cover this. Pick: Packers

DJC - Pick: Packers

BT - Pick: Packers

MIA at IND +2.5

Me - Even if Ryan Tannehill doesn't play, Matt Moore isn't much of a dropoff (if any), and Miami is really surprising how solid they are everywhere else.  Yes, I know the Colts are 4-3, but they are coming off back-to-back very losable games against less-than-stellar competition.  The Fins will shut down Indy's toddler Offense.  And what the hell is with DJC's obsession with Coby Fleener?  Pick: Dolphins

DJC - Fleener is awesome.  Pick: Colts

BT - I’m a believer - the Fins are for real. Miami in the Executive Lock of the Week.  Pick: Dolphins

BUF at HOU -10

Me - Part of me really want to take the Bills since 10is a large number in the NFL and it's not like Buffalo is terrible.  Except against good teams.  Then they're not so good.  Pick: Texans

DJC - Pick: Texans

BT - Again, not enough points.  Pick: Texans

CAR at WAS -3

Me - Carolina went into Chicago and really dominated a good team last week, but found a way to lose anyhow.  They've gotta snap out of this thing at some point.  This is the week.  Pick: Panthers

DJC - Pick: Panthers

BT - Pick: Redskins

DET at JAX +3.5

Me - So I'm sitting here, trying to figure this one out, and my attention keeps drifting.  The Jags played the Packers... this keyboard could use a good cleaning.  Stupid space bar is sticking.  Ummm... the Lions only seem to come on at the end of games... you know what I haven't had for a while?  A mess of chile cheese burritos from Taco Bell.  I probably shouldn't have 'em, but damn do they sound good.  Pick: Jaguars?

DJC- Pick: Lions

BT- Ugly game.  Pick: Lions

CHI at TEN +3.5

Me - I like Matt Hasselbeck OK, but he always seems to make a mistake or two every game, and the Bears have the kind of Defense that will take advantage of that.  Pick: Bears

DJC - Pick: Titans

BT - I can’t figure either of these teams out.  Pick: Titans

MIN at SEA -5

Me - At home, the Seattle D will make Christian Ponder look like a punk, much the way that the lesser Tampa D did last week.  Sorry, Minneapolis, but the fairy tale is over.  Pick: Seahawks

DJC - Pick: Vikings

BT - Seattle is tough at home.  Pick: Seahawks

TB at OAK -1.5

Me - I keep telling anyone who will listen (which is a short list indeed) that Tampa is better than people give them credit for.  No one will notice yet again after they beat a Raider team that everyone is also ignoring, but The Truth Is Out There.  Pick: Buccaneers

DJC - Tough to travel cross country.  Pick: Raiders

BT - Another ugly game.  Pick: Raiders

PIT at NYG -3

Me - Urg, a couple weeks ago I would've felt great about this one, but the Steelers have looked good beating the Bengals and Redskins in the last 2.  Wait... Bengals... Redskins... both meh to bad teams... which New York is not.  Pick: Giants

DJC - Pick: Giants

BT - Fantasy dilemma. Should I start Eli or Rapistberger?   Pick: Giants

DAL at ATL -4

Me - The Cowboys will probably outplay Atlanta and yet find a way to lose by 10.  They're that inept.  Pick: Falcons

DJC - Pick: Falcons

BT - Dallas surprises in the upset special of the week.  Pick: Cowboys

PHI at NO -3

Me - These two teams are a walking, talking toss-up.  It's in New Orleans, so... Pick: Saints

DJC - Pick: Saints

BT - Wow this looked like a meaningful game of playoff teams when the schedule came out. Now neither will make it.  Pick: Aints