Sports Guy vs. Sports Dog
By Bill Simmons and Bailey
Page 2 staff

As the dog days of NFL predictions begin, Bailey The Sports Dog continues to extend his season-long lead on The Sports Guy.

Bill vs. Bailey
Seems like everybody thinks they can handicap NFL games, so Page 2 has decided to turn to its two experts in the field of prognostication. Each week we'll have Page 2 columnist Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, go head-to-head with Bailey the Sports Dog.

Simmons is a die-hard Boston sports nut who represents the common fan.

Bailey is a Samoyed husky-black Labrador cross with a nose for pigskin. He's lived in Colorado, Chicago and Seattle while loyally following college and pro football for the past 14 years.

Each week, Bill and Bailey will select their four best choices against the spread. We'll also keep a running score throughout the season.

Simmons will use his extensive football knowledge, the Internet and key newspapers to come up with his can't-miss picks. Bailey will choose between two dog treats representing teams in each matchup.

Of course, these are only predictions and not recommendations for wagering.

Bailey used a 3-1 Week 13 to run his overall record to 31-19-2. His only loss was mistaking the New York Giants for a football team before their loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Meanwhile, Bill Simmons went 2-2 to continue his .500 pace (25-25-2 overall).

Here are their Week 14 picks:

Bailey's Week 14 NFL predictions
Season record: 31-19-2; last week: 3-1
(As told to Jim Wilkie, editor for Page 2.)

Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Have to go with the underdog Steelers at plus 3 points in this game of the week.
-- The pick: Steelers 21, Ravens 20

Jacksonville at Cleveland
There hasn't been much joy in the Dawg Pound lately, but the visiting Jaguars will change that as the Browns cover at minus 2½ points.
-- The pick: Browns 27, Jaguars 14

Dallas at Seattle
Guess I was wrong about the Cowboys dogging it last week, but the Seahawks at plus 5½ points will still rub their noses in it.
-- The pick: Seahawks 31, Cowboys 10

St. Louis at New Orleans
Hmmm, I smell an upset on Monday. Saints at plus 6 points.
-- The pick: Saints 23, Rams 21

Bill Simmons' Week 14 NFL predictions
Season record: 25-25-2; last week: 2-2
So here's where I stand -- four weeks left, losing horribly to a dog, can't pick a game to save my life and I've officially moved into "People are reading this to see who I picked and go against me" territory. Not good times. Bad times.

Bailey
Bailey follows his nose in search of another winner.
San Diego at Oakland
The Chargers (4-point underdogs) haven't covered a game in like two months. Seriously. Look it up. Getting four at home, they're due. Good God, that's LaDainian Tomlinson's music!
-- The pick: Chargers 28, Raiders 27

Jacksonville at Cleveland
I'm not ready to write the Browns (2½-point faves at home) out the playoff picture quite yet... any team with a coach named Butch deserves to be taken seriously.
-- The pick: Browns 20, Jaguars 9

Minnesota at Detroit
I refuse to believe that the Lions can go 0-16. It just can't happen. It's never happened. Maybe this is the week -- getting 3 points at the Silverdome against the Vikes. By the way, I'm only trying on 50 percent of my picks this week.
-- The pick: Lions 37, Vikings 27

Pittsburgh at Baltimore
The game of the year. Baltimore (3-point favorites at home) tends to come through in these "We're gonna show you why we have these rings" games -- I'm not going against them until they lose one. And even if Kordell Stewart's been terrific this year... are you totally sold on him in Baltimore against the Ravens' D? Think about it ... fourth quarter ... 16-10, Baltimore ... now Stewart needs to make a play ... if you bet on Pittsburgh, would you feel even remotely comfortable with this scenario? Me neither.
-- The pick: Ravens 23, Steelers 10





ALSO SEE:

Bill Simmons and Bailey Archive

The Sports Guy's Mailbag

ESPN experts' picks for Week 14





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