Bet the Farm is Razzball’s weekly wagering column. Josh Carey and Zorboss compete against your picks in the comments. The rules?
– You start off with $1,000 (and can start playing along in the comments any time you want – even now)
– Every bet must be an increment of $10 up to your full bankroll ($1,000 or maybe more)
– You can bet on the over/under or spread for any NFL game (Yahoo Sports’ Odds page is a good place to pick your lines)
– Win, add $9 to your total for every $10 bet (you have to beat the rake). Lose, subtract $10. Push, keep it the same.
– Beat us over the entire season and win our admiration (Note: our admiration has a cash value of $0).
Zorboss’ Picks
Bankroll:Â $1342 (last week +$50)
Record:Â 27-13 (last week 3-1)
Locks: Â 7-3 (last week 0-1)
$40 New Orleans at Oakland Over 54.5: Good job New Orleans. If an over medallion actually existed, then not only would you be front runners to acquire said medal, but it would be proudly named after New Orleans, the Saint of the over. Your treat besides the metal around your neck? A match with a team who has allowed 55 and 42 points in their last two games. If you have fantasy players playing in this tilt, you are well on your way to a victory. #iwillbeteverysaintsgameover. Saints 42 Raiders 27.
$40 St. Louis -3.5 vs. New York: Even though the Rams have a 3-5-1 record, they have been competitive in all but two games in 2012; and the one game played overseas in the United Kingdom can be withdrawn from the argument, as a home game across the ocean doesn’t seem like a fair fight. Let’s be real about the tie last week versus the 49ers: the Rams should have won that game if not for a few bonehead mistakes. The New York Jets are a bad, check that, really bad team. If I were a jet – by jet I mean the flying machine and not the fan – I’d be demanding the Jets change their team moniker to something more suitable to their identity, like a hot air balloon or a hang glider.  The Jets will retreat on the first head butt thrown by the Rams. Rams 24 Jets 13.
$40 Tampa Bay -1 at Carolina: Is it just me or has Cam Newton – after a rookie year in which he looked like the fastest and strongest player on the field – regressed to a veteran one year away from retirement? I know the camera adds 10 pounds but seeing him live in person last week looked like he gained 20 pounds. You know who looks like the fastest and strongest rookie this year? Doug Martin. If the 2012 NFL draft took place today, would he be a top 5 pick? Me say yes. The Bucs beat the Panthers early on in the year and now are a team more experienced and in sync with each other. Same result, different score. Bucs 31 Panthers 24.
$80 Green Bay -3 (Lock) at Detroit: Do the Lions understand that an NFL game begins before the fourth quarter? I’m serious, do they? If Christian Ponder can guide his team to a fairly convincing victory over Detroit, then I’m scared to think what Aaron Rodgers might show them on Sunday. The Packers also come off a well needed bye week to rest and rehab some injured players. The Packers have won 9 out of the last 10 games between these two opponents, and the lone loss was a game where Matt Flynn came in to take over for an injured Aaron Rodgers. Score after the first three quarters: Packers 31 Lions 10. Score at the end of the game: Packers 34 Lions 27.
$20 Baltimore -3.5 at Pittsburgh: If I learned three things from attending the Chiefs vs. Steelers game last Monday night, it would be the following: One, never bet on games you attend just for the sake of entertainment. Two, Pittsburgh, while beautiful, is the worst city to navigate through. Three, if the game calls for a cold, windy, and rainy night, it is well worth the 40 bucks to buy the hat, gloves, and poncho at the concession shop, trust me. Without Big Ben, the Steelers are as lost as the out-of-towner trying to manoeuver around the streets and bridges of Pittsburgh.  Anybody want a Steelers branded set containing a warm hat, snug gloves, and an impenetrable poncho? Free of charge. Ravens 25 Steelers 18.
Total Wagered – $220
Josh Carey’s Picks
Bankroll: $1,326 (Last week: +$144)
Record: 26-18-1 (Last week: 4-0)
Locks: 7-2-1 (Last week: 1-0)
I really hate the lines this week. By far the toughest go of it we’ve had at any point this year with all the backup QBs mucking up things. Plus. Vegas being too scared to put an over/under out on the Monday Night game is incredibly frustrating. So, I’m playing it conservative to try and preserve my recent winning streak.
$40 Eagles at Redskins OVER 44 (LOCK OF THE WEEK): As I said in my FanDuel piece earlier this week, everyone I’ve seen posting on Twitter about the tape of Nick Foles has come away very impressed with his decision-making and pocket presence. Considering the sorry state of both of these defenses, you’d be hard-pressed to see this game go under, I think.
$30 Indianapolis at New England OVER 54.5:Â I’m not sure how I expect the game to end, but I sure as hell expect it to have fireworks as both quarterbacks carve up the opposing defenses. This will be a huge test for Indianapolis’ rookie signal caller though, which is the only thing keeping it out of ‘lock’ territory. We haven’t yet seen him perform in a game of this magnitude in his NFL career. Still, more fireworks than the Fourth of July could be expected.
$10 Houston -15 vs. Jacksonville: The Jaguars are just really, really bad without Maurice Jones-Drew. I’m not sure this one will even be close to the spread. But it is such a huge number and I’ve gotten burned on those already this year, so I’m not willing to make a huge wager on it.
Total wagered: $80
