By now, you know the drill. This is our annual Thanksgiving article and, as per tradition, I want to thank everyone who reads my work for reading my work.
I don’t throw this around lightly and, despite how I view myself as a writer, I’m not sure that I can properly convey thanks through the written word. The reality is that I am touched, every year, when I see people excited to return to Sporfolio. That never gets old, and it’s a constant reminder that someone out there enjoys what I’m writing — or picking — enough to stick around. That “someone” is you, and I owe you a sincere, heartfelt thank you.
Thank you.
I’ve written this type of introduction for many Thanksgiving columns in the past, but this year feels a little different because of how well the picks have done. Normally, I’m thanking you for remaining confident in me as we navigate a particular season — all of which have their ups-and-downs. This time, the picks have carried us like a wave that pushes us toward the shore. We simply need to ride it.
Still, we don’t have seasons like this without seasons like those in the past where your support had been a necessity. If you didn’t stick with my work then, I don’t know where I’d be with the picks today. If my readers were only dependent upon winning every week every year, then I’d have no readers. It’s because of your understanding of what I write that I can even continue to write.
This year is the culmination of years past and the confidence you have instilled in me that the system will work. Not always. Not in every setup. But eventually, the trends that have delivered will deliver again.
Thank you, always, for the support.
Below are predictions for each game against the spread. Spreads have been taken from various websites and are subject to change. The spread in parenthesis denotes the selected team. Spread is listed as advertised number and odds at either DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Caesar’s Sportsbook, or SugarHouse Sportsbook. All efforts were made to provide picks at -110 or better, with some stretching to a -125 if no reasonable advertised spread was found.
*Confidence Picks – 2021 Season: 33-27 (Last Week: 3-2)
(2020 Season: 53-42-3) (2019 Season: 57-43-3) (2018 Season: 63-48-4) (2017 Season: 53-48-4) (2016 Season: 53-67-3) (2015 Season: 69-45-2) (2014 Season: 61-46-2)
(7-Year Total: 409-339-21)
All Picks Against Spread – 2021 Season: 99-64-2 (Last Week: 9-6)
(2020 Season: 132-128-7) (2019 Season: 142-118-7) (2018 Season: 137-118-12) (2017 Season: 137-119-11) (2016 Season: 123-136-8) (2015 Season: 143-117-7) (2014 Season: 149-114-4)
(7-Year Total: 963-850-56)
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
How many times do I have to write it? The Detroit Lions may not win a game all year — I’m sure they will, but it’s more dramatic to pretend that they won’t — but they will compete. To the best of their ability, anyway. Sure, it isn’t much, but let’s remember that the spreads know the extent of the Lions’ ability. To say that they are reaching their capacity is fair.
How long can this continue, in either direction? How long can the Lions keep playing comparatively well without winning? How long can they compete without unraveling?
To the specific situation laid out in front of us, how will Detroit perform in its annual home game on Thanksgiving?