Clement's Weekly Picks and Prognostications...Turkey Day Edition

Enjoy all the fixins and all the family (or good luck avoiding one or both of them) on your Thanksgiving Day.

If at all else, there’s always some NFL and NCAA action to wet your appetite. Not sure about “leftovers” though…

NFL Picks: [17-13-1]
Green Bay @ Detroit [+3.5]










Credit: Yahoo! Sports

For the first time in recent memory, the Lions won’t be the underachieving squad trying to pull the Turkey Day upset. Despite two tough losses in a row (with zero rushing game), the Lions have a winning record and are legit wild-card contenders. Green Bay won’t allow themselves to look forward to next Thursday (hosting the also 9-1 Cowboys). In fact, Favre and the soon-to-be 10-1 Pack will straight wallop the Lions mainly due to a set of stud CBs shutting down the phenom Lion wideouts.

New York Jets @ Dallas [-14]












Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Despite notching a home upset over the Steelers (woot!), the Jets get no respect. Tough times continue for a 2-8 team. Interestingly enough, the Steelers struggled most to run against a particular terrible Jets “rush D”. While Dallas hasn’t run the ball too well in recent weeks, their passing game is too much to handle for the Jets. Tony Romo will show Jets second-year QB Kellen Clemens a few tricks inside the pocket. Mainly, Romo will show why it’s nice to not have DeMarcus Ware on your bad side…or worse, your blind side. The Jets will score first and potentially keep it close for a half, and then be soundly walloped throughout the second half in a crushing defeat.

Atlanta @ Indianapolis [+11.5]














Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Obviously a game made for television well before the Vick dogfighting scandal broke, the Falcons are stuck with two bad quarterbacks and a lot of aging defenders. While Harrison is likely to sit, Peyton Manning has too much pride to not take advantage of a nice few extra days off following this game. The season will only get longer for Bobby Petrino, especially after a double-digit drubbing from the bruised and battered yet resilient Colts.

NCAA Picks: [12-6]
#11 USC vs. #7 Arizona State [+3]















Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Arizona State has plenty on the line. For starters, they win and they’re Rose Bowl-bound. However, there’s another team in the mix who doesn’t feel like getting shut out of the BCS, even if it isn’t the title game for the second straight year. While I’ve picked USC time and time again this season, the Sun Devils have squeaked out victory over victory as of late. In the end, I’ll stick with the Trojans…again.

3 Must Starts and Must Sits
START
…This Week…
Indianapolis D: Yep, a D start. The Falcons love to give up the defensive TD. They LOVE IT!
Julius Jones: You obviously want to start Barber III, but also peg Jones as the Jets rush D is nothing short of putrid (despite playing quite stoutly against Willie Parker last Sunday).
Alge Crumpler: As bad as the Falcons are, he is the only legit play.

SIT
…This Week…
Chris Baker: Even if your tight end depth is shaky, he won’t be a redzone target this week.
Warrick Dunn: The Indy D might be a little tired, but Dunn will be too.
Kevin Jones: Only in a flex league with 3 starting RB slots would I consider using the former Hokie, who may be lucky to crack 25 yards with his recent play.

Enjoy your holiday everyone.

Until next time…