Alternative Picks: Week 16, 2021

by Tony & Andy | Dec 24, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks

Andy worked really hard to climb out of a deep early hole to eventually claim the lead in Alternative Picks 2021. Then, in a week, he gave it right back.

Tony’s dominant performance in the first week sans byes for a while reclaimed the top spot by the slimmest of margins heading into the season’s last three weeks.

The lights were on late in Andy’s office this week as he … desperately tried to make sure all the necessary Christmas presents were purchased. What, did you think I was going to say he was poring over stats? Crunching numbers? Isn’t it clear at this point that both of these guys have been throwing darts all season.

Here are the picks.

1) Andy – Eagles over Giants – Can’t say I blame Tony for going 2 and 3 in this one. Lots of lopsided games, though at least a couple tricky ones. I don’t like putting NFC East games this high. They go haywire at times. But the Eagles have found their identity, while the Giants might be working with their third-string QB. On paper this one should be over early.

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Alternative Picks: Week 15, 2021

by Tony & Andy | Dec 16, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks

Neither side is crushing anymore – it’s pretty much a back-and-forth slog. But Andy’s hanging on to the lead and he put a couple more games between he and Tony in week 14.

It’s the last quarter of the season and the great teams are starting to separate a little bit from the not-so-great. Last week, for the first time in a while, results mostly matched what was expected in Vegas. Will that continue?

1) Andy – Cardinals over Lions – I just watched Arizona get beat by the Rams. They’re not flawless. But they’re really good. Detroit fights. But they aren’t really good. That will show here. (more…)

Alternative Picks: Week 14, 2021

by Tony & Andy | Dec 9, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks

Who needs Packers/Bears or Bucs/Patriots. This back-and-forth battle between brothers right here on Zoneblitz now looks like it may come down to the season’s final weeks. Tony snuck back in with a win in week 13, tightening things even more.

You can cut the tension with a (plastic kid’s) knife as we head into the final stretch of the season. What crazy result will turn up this week:

1) Tony – Green Bay over Chicago – The lines don’t all agree with me, but looks to me like another week of good matching up with good, and bad matching up with bad. This game does have the highest line, though, and deserves it. Never hoped to be more wrong. (more…)

Alternative Picks: Week 13, 2021

by Tony & Andy | Dec 2, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks

Andy is on a roll. A week after taking the lead in Alternative Picks he busts out another 9-6 win, even after botching his top pick of the week, Dallas over Oakland. Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to him.

Can Tony mount a comeback?

1 Andy – Buccaneers over Falcons – Tampa hasn’t been great of late, but Atlanta just doesn’t have the guns to hang with Godwin, Evans, Gronk, Fournette and, oh yeah, Brady, these days. This one will be over early. (more…)

Alternative Picks: Week 12, 2021

by Tony & Andy | Nov 24, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks

The comeback is complete. Andy has overtaken Tony.

Happy Turkey Day, folks. Here are their alternative picks.

1 Andy – Cowboys over Raiders – Do I really like this game? No. Do I trust Dallas? Not really. Is there a single game on the schedule this week that feels like an obvious choice for the top spot? Nope. So, I’m turning to the Vegas money lines. They say Dallas is the most likely team to win this week. So, here goes. (more…)

Alternative Picks: Week 11, 2021

by Andy | Nov 18, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks

We have a ballgame, folks. With huge wins two of the last three weeks, Andy has pulled within a single game in alternative picks. A month ago, it looked like he was going to get blown out of the water.

Will the rally continue? It’s not really been all that much just from Andy making better picks. Tony has fallen into a massive slump.

1) Andy – Buccaneers over Giants – Yep, two bad ones in a row for Tampa. Are we going to hear again that Tom Brady is done? I’ll believe it when I see it.
2) Tony – Titans over Texans – The Titans lost the best RB in the league, their WR2 has missed four games, and their second leading receiver in catches is a backup RB who has 43 touches on the year. So of course, they’re 8-2, and they get to play the Texans at home this week. (more…)