Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I am thankful for my new system, although I am not thankful that Sam outed it last week. Yes, I flip a coin on every game. Heads the home team, tails the visiting team. And it proves once again that nobody knows anything about who will win football games (especially against the spread). There are no experts. The most knowledgeable people in the sport can’t stay over .500, and people who know nothing can win all the time (did I just admit I know nothing?).

I once won an office pool (for points, if anybody asks, not money) by having my wife make my picks for me. She picked Purdue because she likes their chicken, and won.

So, my system went 11-5 last week and closed the gap to a single game on Sam the Outer, who was 9-7. Which also means I’m doing as well with coin flips as the Jets.

We’re a couple of days early here because of the three Turkey (and we mean holiday, not played by turkeys) games.

Try to not eat too much tomorrow.

Standings
Sam 91-80-3 —
Carp 90-81-3 1GB

WEEK 13

LIONS (+11) over Titans
Seahawks (+12 1/2) over COWBOYS
Cardinals (+3) over EAGLES
REDSKINS (+3 1/2) over Giants
JETS (-7 1/2) over Broncos
BILLS (-7) over 49ers
BUCS (-3 1/2) over Saints
PACKERS (-3) over Panthers
Dolphins (-8) over RAMS
Ravens (-7) over BENGALS
Colts (-4 1/2) over BROWNS
CHARGERS (-5) over Falcons
Steelers (+1) over PATRIOTS
RAIDERS (-3) over Chiefs
Bears (+3) over VIKINGS
TEXANS (-3 1/2) over Jaguars

11:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sam says:

First, let me say that I’m thankful for Carp, of course, but also for all of you. Readers are the best part of this job, because you’re the ones that care – about the teams, about the players and about the words that I, and others, put in the paper each day. I say it in every e-mail correspondence I have with those who contact me, but I’ll repeat it again here: Thanks for reading.

I’m also thankful for family, friends and the guy who invented stuffing. Hope everyone here has a tremendous holiday.

Now, on to the picks …

LIONS (+11) over Titans
COWBOYS (-12 1/2) over Seahawks
EAGLES (-3) over Cardinals
Giants (-3 1/2) over Redskins
Broncos (+7 1/2) over JETS
BILLS (-7) over 49ers
BUCS (-3 1/2) over Saints
Panthers (+3) over PACKERS
Dolphins (-8) over RAMS
Ravens (-7) over BENGALS
Colts (-4 1/2) over BROWNS
Falcons (+5) over CHARGERS
PATRIOTS (-1) over Steelers
RAIDERS (-3) over Chiefs
VIKINGS (-3) over Bears
Jaguars (+3 1/2) over TEXANS