The “Guinea” Pick of the Week
November 8th, 2009
I am not sure if this is the proper spelling of the derogatory term for Italian American, but it isn’t really important. The Guinea Pick of the Week came about from my Colombian friend at work. We are in a football Pick’Em Pool at work and each week, in his very thick Colombian accent, he asks me for my Gimme Pick – a definite “gonna happen” pick in the weekly football match ups. However, with his accent it sounds like he is saying Guinea Pick. Of course , as everyone will soon find out, I am a sarcastic ass and make a big deal of him calling me a Guinea. We have worked together for years so I don’t phase him when I threaten to go to HR.
This inspired me to start my newest weekly post, The “Guinea” Pick of the Week. Every week during football season I will post ( bright and early from now on) my pick of the week. If this takes off I will expand to other sports after football ends.
Here is how it works, every Sunday morning I will examine a football match-up and give my pick. This pick is with the spread that gets locked in my football pool on Wednesday. It is either an upset or a favored team covering an usually big spread. No easy way out picks but rather a pick that forces me to go out on a limb.
The first match-up I am choosing is Houston @ Indianapolis with Indy giving Houston 9.5 points. Houston is (5-3) this year and Indy is (7-0). I am picking Houston to not just cover the spread, but to win outright. Houston is a very solid team who is hot right now. Houston has won 3 in a row highlighted by a win against Cincinnati (5-2) in Cincy. Indy’s schedule has been pretty week so far winning against only one winning team, the Arizona Cardinals (4-3) who are very inconsistent. Historically, Houston always plays Indy tough despite not being very talented. This year Houston, a very popular playoff pick, comes in with a team that is solid at most positions. They can run and pass on offense with great underrated players like WR Andre Johnson and RB Steve Slaton. The Houston line protects QB Matt Schaub well allowing him an extra second or two to find his receivers. Houston defends the pass well, which is Indy’s strength, however, Houston is poor against the run. This bodes well for the Texans because the Colts are last in the league in rushing. Indy comes into the game with some key injuries on the defense and special teams highlighted by the losses of K Adam Vinatieri, S Bob Sanders, and CB Marlin Jackson. Houston comes into the game with many injuries as well, but have had their reserves overachieve and have still maintained a relatively high level of play.
Guinea Pick of the Week: Houston to win outright against Indianapolis (-9.5)
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