NFL Week 17 Picks

Sometimes I think the universe is trying to tell me something.

The Pittsburgh Steelers denied us another payday last week, beating the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 as 3-point home favorites and prompting me to cause grave bodily harm to my television set. That's the second straight push the Steelers have put on my table. And it's our second straight 1-2-1 ATS week here at the Raine Anger Management Studio. We're 32-29-3 ATS on the season going into the Bizarro Universe known as Week 17. Who will show up to play?

Jacksonville at Cleveland (-1)
No, the Jags (7-8 SU, 5-10 ATS) aren't eliminated from the AFC Wild Card race, but c'mon. The right combination of four 8-7 teams has to lose Sunday. I don't think that's going to motivate anyone in Jacksonville, nor will the idea of playing in the snow in Cleveland. The Browns (4-11 SU, 9-6 ATS) will want to win at home and showcase their skills with the Mike Holmgren Era on the horizon.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay (+2.5)
Here's a classic Week 17 matchup. The Falcons are already eliminated in the NFC at 8-7 (10-5 ATS). They're playing on the road against the Buccaneers (3-12 SU, 6-9 ATS), who, like the Browns, will be auditioning for jobs in 2010 as rumors of Bill Cowher's return to the NFL swirl around Tampa. Besides, the Bucs have won two in a row SU and ATS. Hot stuff.

New England at Houston (-7.5)
The Texans (8-7 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) have a significantly greater chance of getting into the playoffs than Jacksonville, needing specific combinations of two teams to lose Sunday. That should be enough to get an honest effort from them against a Patriots team (10-5 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) with nothing on the line. Also, as Pittsburgh LB LaMarr Woodley pointed out, the Steelers are eliminated if both New England and Cincinnati lose their Week 17 games. Hmmmm…

Cincinnati at N.Y. Jets (-10)
The Bengals (10-5 SU, 7-8 ATS) have even more motivation to lose Sunday to the Jets (8-7 SU and ATS). That would set up a Wild Card game against - drum roll, please - the very same Jets. Cincinnati doesn't have to worry about pleasing the home fans in this situation (neither does New England). The only caveat: NBC won't be pleased if the Bengals lay an egg on Sunday Night Football.