Free NFL upset pick & weekly college football picks

Final regular season home game for the Falcons, we discussed this one as a potential A-play. Yes, Atlanta has nothing to play for but pride, but make no mistake this is a prideful team. Carolina is fighting for their playoff lives; but Atlanta would love to knock em out for the year. Panthers have not played up to expectations this year, and their running game has fizzled down the stretch. There are slight fundamental matchup advantageous that favor the home team. We don't see Atlanta packing it in, so we're calling for them to pull the outright upset at home. Atlanta by 3.

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12/24/05

@Green Bay (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - WON

Everybody's on the Favre must go bandwagon... nothing will fire up a competitor more than telling him he's lost it. On Christmas day the boys by the bay will come to play... they'd like nothing more than to knock off the division champs, and we're getting a TD!

Underdog "Also likes": Tennessee(+), San Francisco(+)

COLLEGE Bowl Picks - ATS picks in bold:

UTEP vs Toledo - W

Arkansas St. vs Southern Mississippi - L

BYU(+)(ML) vs California

Navy vs Colorado St

Houston vs Kansas

Nevada vs Central Florida

Akron(+)(ML) vs Memphis

Rutgers(+) vs Arizona State (ASU by 10)

Boston College vs Boise State

Nebraska vs Michigan

Utah(+) vs Georgia Tech (should be a lower scoring affair)

Oklahoma vs Oregon

Virginia vs Minnesota

Northwestern (+)(ML) vs UCLA

Missouri vs South Carolina

South Florida vs NC State (NC by 10 in another lower scoring game)

LSU vs Miami Florida

Tulsa vs Fresno State

Iowa State vs TCU

Alabama vs Texas Tech (Red Raiders will light em up in the 2nd half)

Iowa vs Florida

Louisville(+) vs Virginia Tech (Everybody's on VT, but not Al, look for the other Bush to rush for a hundred - VT by 3)

Wisconsin(+)(ML) vs Auburn

Notre Dame(+)(ML) vs Ohio State (little or no line value)

West Virginia(+)(ML) vs Georgia

Florida State vs Penn State

Texas (+)(ML) vs USC: Big Al says the Longhorns have almost as good an offense as the Trojans, but Texas is a whole lot better on defense. This should be a good game, decided by single digits, so take the generous points. We like Texas, and won't be surprised to see them win the game outright.

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12/18/05

San Diego (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - WON

We've been discussing amongst ourselves for weeks that this is the spot where Indy is most likely to get tripped up. We're getting line value because of the Chargers loss last week. San Diego will come to play like it's "their Superbowl". They have the weapons and balance on offense to stay with the Colts. We expect this one will be close, and that whoever comes out on top will win by a mere FG.

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12/11/05

Kansas City (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - PUSH

The Chiefs get LT Willie Roaf back, and they're a different team altogether with him in the lineup. Cowboys Drew Bledsoe has been making some bad decisions down the stretch, and Chiefs secondary is starting to play better.

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12/03/05

Virginia Tech - Loss.

UCLA (+) - Loss

Tulsa (+)(ML) - WIN

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12/04/05

@Kansas City (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - WIN

This is basically a play-off elimination game for the Chiefs. KC has been banged up in the secondary at various times this year. Denver's long ball attack hasn't been clicking, and they don't have the downfield weapons to take advantage of the Chiefs primary vulnerability. Look for a lot of Larry Johnson between the tackles, to counter attack the strength of Denver's fast linebackers. Chiefs get it done here, KC by 3.

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11/25/05

Arizona (+)(ML) - W

Georgia - W

South Florida - L

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12//27/05

Chicago (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - WIN

The Bucs (not as good as their record indicates) have trouble stopping power rushing teams - and the Bears are that. Tampa QB Simms hasn't seen a defense like this all season. This one should come down to a FG, and the Bears have a shot at outright winning the game.

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11/12/05

Penn State - Big Al's POUNDER, MSU hasn't played well lately, and Lions have a chip on their shoulder - this one should be a very high scoring affair. PSU by 21 - WINNER

@North Carolina - Big Al's 2nd favorite POUNDER of the week - Lost

Vanderbilt(+)(ML) - Vols on hard times and 'Dores competitive.... WINNER

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11/6/05

Miami Dolphins (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - L

Punter beware: our NFL underdog pick has cost us 4 weeks in a row. Staff writer Dale Sims checks in with a contest we considered for A play status this week: Both teams could be starting back-up quarterbacks. No matter, the Fish have the stronger rush attack, and the stronger rush defense. If Miami doesn't fall behind they'll be able to commit to a ball control power rush attack. We like Miami to out right win what should be a running oriented attack by both teams.

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11/12/05

@Clemson (ML) - Win

@Michigan - Win

Kansas (+) - Lose

@Wake Forest (+) - Lose

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11/6/05

Arizona (+) - Underdog pick of the week - Lose

Punter beware: our NFL underdog pick has cost us 3 weeks in a row. That said Cardinals pass attack will be able to move the ball on depleted Lions secondary.

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11/5/05

@Kansas (ML) - Lose

Wake Forest (+)(ML) - Lose

Wisconsin (+)(ML) - Lose

Tulsa (+)(ML) - Win

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11/6/05

Green Bay (+) - Underdog pick of the week - Lose

Pittsburgh without Roethlisberger, and the Pack will stack the line and make Batch beam em with his arm. Steelers don't have the ball hawking secondary to take advantage of Favre's propensity to throw into coverage.

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10/30/05

@Minnesota (+)(ML) - Loss

@Kentucky (ML) - Win

WSU (+) - Win

@ASU - Win

Also Likes (Thursday) Virginia Tech & Penn State, Stanford (+)

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11/6/05

Washington (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - Loss

Redskins are getting a FG at NY. This one has dogfight written all over it. Washington's been in every game they've played. They have a solid fundamental match-up advantage they can exploit with a deep pass attack vs. Giant's suspect secondary. The Washington run defense, and strength in the secondary should be the difference in this contest, which will likely be undecided going into the final minutes. We're getting the FG, and won't be surprised if the Skins win this game outright.

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10/30/05

@Maryland (+) Thursday - Loss

Auburn (+)(ML) - This should be a helluva game, and wouldn't surprise us Auburn pulls the outright upset - Win

Louisville - Win

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10/31/05

Buffalo (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - Lose

10/22/05 - Bills have a top notch secondary, and Raiders starting to look thin at receiver without Randy Moss and Ronald Curry. Oakland don't have or don't use a power rush attack that Buffalo has been susceptible to. On the other side Buffalo has a strong rush attack, and a solid deep WR matchup against Oaklands vulnerable secondary. Bills have a good shot at winning this one outright.

Tennessee (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - Downgraded NO PLAY

10-19-05 McNair is OUT - we don't like Volek without WR Bennett...

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10/23/05

@Baylor (ML) - Loss

Colorado (+)(ML) - Loss

@Navy - Loss

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10/24/05

NY Giants (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - Won

10-10-05 Monday: We wanted to get this pick posted early because we think the line value will fall very shortly. NY has some things they can do deep against Dallas. Don't think the Cowboys will be able to sustain their emotional high level of play for two consecutive weeks. In the previous 4 weeks of play each of the Cowboys games have been decided in the waning minutes inside the redzone - this contest looks to be a dogfight as well. This is a nice spot for NY, and we're getting line value due to the Dallas dominating effort against Philadelphia. This would be a nice spot to hit with 2% and the heavy FG, and 2% of bankroll on the ML. Giants QB Eli has been red-hot, and the Cowboys secondary is vulnerable over the top.

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10/09/05

Georgia (+)(ML) - WIN

@Vanderbilt (+) - LOSE

@Texas - WIN

Houston - WIN

Big Al's Pentagon opinion: To Airmen Capitan' Jason - NAVY is going to lay the wood to the Fly Boys.

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10/10/05

@Arizona(+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - LOSE

Carolina off a Monday night win where Brett Farve undressed Panther CB Chris Gamble. Arizona QB McCown has the receivers at his disposal to launch a similar aerial assault on the vulnerable Panther secondary. Carolina not one of those teams that travels well in the role of favorite. Denny Green always gets the most out of his talent, and he's catching the Panthers in a nice spot here.

Underdog Pick Also Likes: New Orleans, Dallas Cowboys.

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10/02/05

Tennessee - W

@Alabama (+)(ML) - W

Florida Atlantic (+) - L

Virginia Tech - W

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10/03/05

San Diego (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - WIN

San Diego travels well, and catch New England in a nice spot. Patriots have endured 4 significant injuries in two weeks, most notably at LT. Chargers have underrated blitzing outside linebackers, who should get to Brady once or twice. Pats don't have the measure of Brees (which they enjoy vs. Bledsoe, Manning, and now Roethlisberger). Chargers should come to play, and we wouldn't be surprised if they pull off the upset.

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9/25/05

@California - Loss

@Tulsa (ML) - WIN

North Carolina (+) - WIN

@Virginia Tech - WIN

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9/25/05

@Chicago (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - Loss

Before you dismiss this pick, consider this - Right now the Bengals are the hotshot media darlings team of the week. But just how long ago was it that everyone referred to them as the "Bungles"? Off a dramatic home victory against a Minnesota team with no soul - This week they are on the road against one of the most aggressive defenses in the league (the Bears defense is as good as the Ravens was once upon a time ago). Chicago has a strong rush attack, and a stout defense. When they're at home rookie QB Kyle Orton will not be such a liability - and the kid is savvy, he'll hurt the Bengals downfield if they put 8 in the box to stop the run. Chicago is the team we're going with this week as the most likely to pull off the upset. Bears by 3.

Also Likes - Arizona (+), Miami (+), Buffalo, San Diego, Tampa Bay

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9/17/05

@South Carolina (+) - L

@Air Force - L

@Clemson (+)(ML) - W

Idaho (+) - L

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9/18/05

@Tennessee (+)(ML) - Underdog pick of the week - ML Winner

Baltimore D ain't what it once was, they're vulnerable over the top - and McNair will take advantage. Titans will put 8 in the box to stop the run, and make journeyman QB Wright beat them through the air. Ravens don't have the precision pass attack, or downfield deep threats to take advantage of Titans significant secondary woes. Athletic CB Pacman gets his first start.

NFL Also Likes - NY Jets, Cincinnati, Houston(+), OVER Denver/San Diego

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9/10/05

@Wisconsin W

@Navy (+)(ML) P

Clemson (+)(ML) W

NFL PICKS

9/11/05

OVER Dallas/San Diego - W

9/8/05

Oakland (+)(ML) Thursday ESPN Telecast - Underdog pick of the week - Lost

NFL Also Likes - St. Louis Rams, New Orleans(+), Tennessee(+), UNDER ARI/NYG, Baltimore

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9/1/05 Thursday

@Maryland vs Navy: L

@NC State (ML)(+) vs Virginia Tech: L

@Washington vs Air Force: L

Kurt Schumacher, Senior handicapper at Football Forecasters.com sends his Top 25 ranked College and NFL picks to a weekly column at our local newspaper - the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. However, the picks we present here at FootballForecasters.com are the picks we officially stand by for record keeping purposes. This is because we have a deadline to meet at the local paper. We are a dynamic site and upgrade and downgrade our selections on these pages throughout the week - right up till kickoff.

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