NFL Week 10 Picks w/College XC Update
It is an interesting NFL year on the HOTPO beat. The Washington Commanders have gone from being one of the worst teams in the NFL to a division leader with an MVP-candidate quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts have gone from being a mediocre team to a flailing team with a quarterback controversy.
Comparing the two teams shows you the importance of having a general manager who can assess talent and build a subordinate leadership team that can develop a winning culture.
After owning the Commanders for one year, Josh Harris took this offseason to make wholesale changes. Washington brought in Adam Peters as the new general manager, reseeded their entire administrative staff from talent evaluation to player “health & performance,” hired a proven coach who constructed a coaching staff of experts, signed two dozen free agents and nailed multiple draft picks including QB Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick. This new cohort has quickly established a culture of brotherhood and continues to show on-field improvement every week.
Indianapolis, on the other hand, continues to double down on questionable leadership and talent. While Colt GM Chris Ballard has made some excellent draft picks and got the Colts to the playoffs two times in seven completed seasons, he has missed on virtually every coaching hire and looks to have missed badly on his latest quarterback draft selection. This past offseason, Indianapolis resigned many of their own free agents from a mediocre team virtually guaranteeing the same substandard performance.
The Commanders are looking at a bright future and the Colts are looking like they need to make wholesale changes that are very hard to do successfully. It just so happens that the Commanders made their turn around look easy. It isn’t easy to do at all and that has Colt fans shaking their heads in “here we are again” frustration.
Week 10 Picks
New York Giants (-6) vs. Carolina Panthers, in Munich, Germany: I am trying to convince some loyal subscribers to participate in a Sunday morning brunch to watch this potentially historically awful game together. Carolina traded two receivers (Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo) this week which will limit QB Bryce Young’s (or maybe Andy Dalton’s) already limited options. If you don’t get an invite to a brunch, it’s OK – you won’t be missing much if you miss this game. – GIANTS
New England Patriots at Chicago Bears (-6): Chicago isn’t covering themselves in glory having lost two in a row, but they are still 4-4. New England has lost seven of eight and have the worst offense in the NFL. As pointed out by Bernd Buchmasser in the Pats Pulpit blog, Patriot QB Drake Maye plays behind a bad offensive line and the Bears have play makers at all three levels on defense. – BEARS
Buffalo Bills (-4) at Indianapolis Colts: I can’t believe this line is only four points. Indianapolis can’t get good play from Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco at quarterback. The 29th rated Colts defense facing the Bills QB Josh Allen might be an even bigger problem though. – BILLS
Minnesota Vikings (-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars: Minnesota did not play great in their 21-13 victory over Indianapolis last weekend to move to 6-2. Jacksonville hasn’t played great all year and are currently 2-7. The Jaguars 31st ranked defense will likely get shredded by QB Sam Darnold and the Vikings 11th ranked passing attack. – VIKINGS
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-8.5): When you think of Kansas City, you may still not think of defense, but that has been the side of the ball carrying them since last year. Denver brings a similarly strong defense to this matchup. Chief QB Pat Mahomes is the clear favorite to handle a tough defense compared to the Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix. – CHIEFS
Atlanta Falcons (-3.5) at New Orleans Saints: I highlighted in my NFC South season preview that New Orleans coach Dennis Allen had a career 0.343 winning percentage and that he was on the hot seat. The Saints are now 2-7 and Allen got fired this week. The Saints aren’t turning it around this week versus the 6-2, division-leading Falcons. – FALCONS
San Francisco 49ers (-5.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay is having a hard luck run having lost three in a row. The Buccaneers are dealing with multiple injuries to their receiving corps and TE Cade Otton is now the primary target for QB Baker Mayfield. San Francisco is also dealing with a slew of injuries, but they are coming off a bye week and Tampa Bay is on a short week after losing Monday to Kansas City, 30-24. – 49ERS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Commanders (-3): Pittsburgh is a solid team coming off a bye week. Under coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are 13-4 coming off a bye with seven straight wins coming off a bye going back to 2017, according to a Steelers Now report published by Yardbarker. That being said, Washington is better statistically on both sides of the ball and at home. – COMMANDERS
Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers (-7.5): Los Angeles is 5-3, but have only beaten one winning team – Denver at 5-4. Good competition is not a problem the Chargers have this week. Tennessee is 2-6 and playing like their record. – CHARGERS
New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals (-1): Arizona is on a three-game win streak and now leading the NFC West. New York still has an outside shot at the playoffs, got a good game from QB Aaron Rodgers last week, and are starting to get solid production from WR Garrett Wilson. The Cardinals have a bad defense (25the overall, 24th against the pass), but there are five Jet offensive lineman on the injury report – this is a coin flip decision. – JETS
Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5) at Dallas Cowboys: Philadelphia is on a four-game winning streak and very highly rated on both sides of the ball (6th offensively, 3rd defensively). Dallas is on a three-game losing streak, lost QB Dak Prescott to injury last week and is basically imploding. Honestly, the Jason Kelce affair is more interesting than this game. – EAGLES
Detroit Lions (-3.5) at Houston Texans: This is what I predicted to be the Super Bowl matchup, but one of these teams is struggling of late. Houston has lost two of three and didn’t look good beating Indianapolis 23-20, Oct. 27. John Breech of CBS Sports, in his always excellent weekly “grades” report, highlighted Texans QB C.J. Stroud was sacked eight times in their loss to the Jets Halloween night and it was the fifth time this year he has been sacked three times in a game. – LIONS
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Rams (-1): Miami is playing more competitively since the return of QB Tua Tagovailoa two games ago, but still lost both games. Los Angeles is playing better after a slow start and are currently on a three-game winning streak. I will likely be in bed for this one anyway. – RAMS
College XC Update
The Radford women's and men's cross country teams competed in the Big South Conference Championship meet, Nov. 1, in Charleston, S.C.
The women earned an impressive 3rd place finish with junior Kate McLearen leading the way at 17:46.2 over the 5K course for an overall ninth place finish. McLearen earned Big South All-Conference, Second Team honors for her effort.
The men came in fourth of the nine teams with freshman Azrael Cabuso pacing the men at 24:56.7 over the 8K course for an overall 13th place finish. Cabuso, also, earned Big South All-Conference, Second Team honors.
Junior Liam McDonald was named the Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year and sophomore Mia Farley earned All-Academic Team honors.
Coverage of the championship meet allowed the HOTPO staff to once again bring you unmatched insight on the sports world, but also linkup with more of our loyal subscribers. We are always here for the greater HOTPO community. NOTE: one Radford runner is loosely affiliated with the HOTPO staff.
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