A quick review of the Gairzo’s philosophy on the first month of NFL handicapping... The truncated NFL preseason means teams have less time to evaluate talent, devise and implement game plans, and develop team cohesion, which is more important in football than any team sport. The first 2-4 weeks of the season, essentially, are an extension of the pre-season. New management, coaches, and player turnaround--any major upheaval--determine the ability of a given team--to adjust

23.) With the 23rd overall selection in the 2026 ATAU Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select, from Wilbur University, fullback, MISTER ED. Cowboys fans don’t seem too happy, Ozzie. –Why should they be? Flicka, Seabiscuit, then I’m on board. This guy ran a 4.2 forty, Chester! –C’mon, that’s pretty good - –FOUR HOURS AND TWO MINUTES!!!? Besides being slow, he really tears up the field and his mouth constantly gets him into trouble. Hold on, Ozzie, have you ever talked to the kid?

WELCOME TO DAY TWO--PICKS 12 THRU 22 --OF THE ATAU DRAFT... 12.) With the 12th pick in the 2026 All Time All Universe Draft, The Miami Dolphins take Maritime University free safety FLIPPER!!! You believe it, Ozzie? A team drowning in mediocrity finally gets a defensive franchise player ... — Well, not really, Oz, the real Flipper was actually a porpoise. Not a Dolphin? --Doesn ‘t matter, this kid loves to play, great balance, unreal backward step, good first move—definitel

THE ALL-TIME...ALL UNIVERSE DRAFT The following is largely a reprint of THE ALL-TIME, ALL-UNIVERSE DRAFT columns first published in 2009 on the, now defunct, deepintosports.com, then, later reprinted on my own blog, swimmingwiththesharks.net... The idea was inspired by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports columnist, Gene Collier, who, presently, also writes columns beyond sports for the PG. Gene’s most recent column can be found here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/gene-colli

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY Yours truly had such a bad outcome handicapping the NFL 2025 playoffs, going 4-8 in his picks... I’m happy I didn’t try to pick my nose; I might’ve poked my eye out! Here’s the pathetic tale of the Gairzo’s 2025 NFL post-season tape--this is the overall tally for both the regular and post-season. My poor showning in the playoffs turned a good handicapping year into a average one. As you can see, I’m hovering very near the .525 breake-even mark NFL 2025 PL

When: Sunday, January 25 at 6:30 pm ET Where: Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington Channel: FOX Moneyline: Seahawks -142, Rams +120 Spread: Seattle -2.5 Total: 46.5 Conference Championship game...Division Rivals... Tough call... My first thought--up until I wrote this post--after I considered the Rams performance throughout 2025 campaign--was to lean toward the better defense and the home team--with the unique home field example. (Just like I did for the AFCCG.) But the visit

When: Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 pm ET Where: Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado Channel: CBS / Paramount+ Patriots vs. Broncos Odds Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Wednesday, January 21. Look around for the best prices! Moneyline: Patriots -258, Broncos +210 Spread: Patriots -5.5 (-102), Broncos +5.5 (-118) Total: 42.5 When I first heard about Bo Nix’s, the Denver QB’s fractured ankle, I wasn’t alone in leaning heavily toward the visiting Patriots even wi

When: Sunday, January 18 at 3:00 pm ET Where: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts Channel: ESPN / ABC Total: Over 40.5 (-115), Under 40.5 (-110 Houston Texans @ New England Patriots. -3.5 40.5. [O] The Texans defense is dominating, and we don’t see the Pats having the offensive talent to overcome that dominance. From VSIN.com Houston has also been good in these types of games under DeMeco Ryans. The Texans are 10-2 against the spread when playing on the road in gam

NFL 2025 WEEK EIGHTEEN = 10 - 6 2025 OVERALL ATS = 145 - 124 - 3 .539 2025 OVERALL S/U = 173 - 98 - 1 - 3 .636 *** I also participate in a Weekly S/U Pick-’em league*** For the record, my .636 S/U percentage is also excellent. There were two weeks, your resident idiot didn’t get his picks in on time. For those two weeks, I gave myself an 8-8--which is below my 10-6 S/U average*** WEEKLY O/U = 1 - 4 O/U CUMULATIVE = 65 - 63 .508 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 1 -

SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND NFL 2025 WEEK EIGHTEEN = 10 - 6 2025 OVERALL. = 145 - 124 - 3 .539 WEEKLY O/U = 5 - 5 O/U CUMULATIVE = 64 - 59 .520 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 1 - 4 CUMULATIVE = 44 - 40 - 1 .524 GAME OF THE WEEK 9 – 8 LOCK OF THE WEEK 8 – 9 UPSET SPECIAL 8 - 9 O/U OF THE WEEK 11 – 6 STEELERS. 8 - 8 - 1 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 108 I handicap NFL games from various statistical and instinctual starting points. In the

NFL 2025 WEEK SEVENTEEN = 5 - 11 2025 OVERALL. = 135 - 118 - 3 .534 WEEKLY O/U = 5 - 5 O/U CUMULATIVE = 64 - 59 .520 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 1 - 4 CUMULATIVE = 44 - 40 - 1 .524 GAME OF THE WEEK 9 – 8 LOCK OF THE WEEK 8 – 9 UPSET SPECIAL 8 - 9 O/U OF THE WEEK 11 – 6 STEELERS. 8 - 8 - 1 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 108 - 99 . 522 GAME OF THE WEEK/STEELERS GAME Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5) 41.5. GW [O] One day

NFL 2025 WEEK SIXTEEN = 12 - 4 2025 OVERALL. = 130 - 107 - 3 .549 WEEKLY O/U = 3 - 5 O/U CUMULATIVE = 59 - 54 .522 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 4 - 1 CUMULATIVE = 43 - 36 - 1 .544 GAME OF THE WEEK 9 – 7 LOCK OF THE WEEK 8 – 8 UPSET SPECIAL 8 - 8 O/U OF THE WEEK 10 – 6 STEELERS. 8 - 7 - 1 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 102 - 90 . 531 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE--Especially my MAGA friends, who I hope will always be my friends... We had

NFL 2025 WEEK FOURTEEN = 10 - 4 2025 OVERALL. = 109 - 96 - 3 .532 WEEKLY O/U = 4 - 2 O/U CUMULATIVE = 53 - 47 .530 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 4 - 1 CUMULATIVE = 36 - 33 - 1 .522 GAME OF THE WEEK 7 – 7 LOCK OF THE WEEK 7 – 7 UPSET SPECIAL 7 - 7 O/U OF THE WEEK 9 – 5 STEELERS/+ 6 - 7 - 1 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 89 - 80 . 527 GAME OF THE WEEK Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks -1.5. 44.5 [O] GW Rams 38 Seahawks 37 LOCK

When: Thursday, December 18 at 8:15 pm ET Where: Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington Channel: Prime Video (Amazon) Rams vs. Seahawks Odds Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook accurate as of Tuesday, December 16. Look around for the best prices! Moneyline: Rams -110, Seahawks -110 Spread: Rams +1.5 (+102), Seahawks -1.5 (-122) Total: Over 44.5 (-105), Under 44.5 (-115) Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks -1.5 42.5. GW [O] This puppy is one of those rare TNF games featuring divi

NFL 2025 WEEK FOURTEEN = 10 - 4 2025 OVERALL. = 109 - 96 - 3 .532 WEEKLY O/U = 4 - 2 O/U CUMULATIVE = 53 - 47 .530 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 4 - 1 CUMULATIVE = 36 - 33 - 1 .522 GAME OF THE WEEK 7 – 7 LOCK OF THE WEEK 7 – 7 UPSET SPECIAL 7 - 7 O/U OF THE WEEK 9 – 5 STEELERS/+ 6 - 7 - 1 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 89 - 80 . 527 ME VS. THEM About this time, every year, we publish our percentages and compare them to the so called exp

When: Thursday, December 11 at 8:15 pm ET Where: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida Channel: Prime Video (Amazon) Moneyline: Buccaneers -230, Falcons +190 Spread: Buccaneers -4.5 (-105), Falcons +4.5 (-115) Total: Over 44.5 (-115), Under 44.5 (-105) Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4.5 44.5. LW [O] Not much to process in this matchup. Safe bet these two squads can make an off-season tee time at the golf course. At least the Buccaneers can cling to the hop

NFL 2025 WEEK THIRTEEN = 5 - 11 2025 OVERALL. = 100 - 92 - 3 WEEKLY O/U = 4 - 5 O/U CUMULATIVE = 51 - 45 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 2 - 3 CUMULATIVE = 32 - 32 - 1 GAME OF THE WEEK 6 – 7 LOCK OF THE WEEK 7 – 6 UPSET SPECIAL 6 - 7 O/U OF THE WEEK 8 – 5 STEELERS/OTHER 5 - 7 - 1 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 84 - 77 -1 ============================================ GAME OF THE WEEK/STEELERS Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens -6 42.5

When: Thursday, December 4 at 8:15 pm ET Where: Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan Channel: Prime Video (Amazon) Cowboys vs. Lions Odds Moneyline: Lions -170, Cowboys +142 Spread: Lions -3 (-112), Cowboys +3 (-108) Total: Over 54.5 (-108), Under 54.5 (-112) 2025 has been the most difficult season to handicap in the last 10 years. Right now, Da Bears and Patriots are the one seeds in their respective conferences--the two squads playing tonight would be golfing if the season ende

NFL 2025 WEEK TWELVE = 9 - 4 - 1 2025 OVERALL. = 95 - 81 - 3 WEEKLY O/U = 6 - 2 O/U CUMULATIVE = 47 - 40 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 3 - 1 - 1 CUMULATIVE = 30 - 29 - 1 GAME OF THE WEEK 6 – 6 LOCK OF THE WEEK 7 – 5 UPSET SPECIAL 6 - 6 O/U OF THE WEEK 7 – 5 STEELERS/OTHER 4 - 7 - 1 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 77 - 69 -1 ============================================ Happy Thanksgiving to everyone--May God Bless you with a happy, peacef

NFL 2025 WEEK ELEVEN = 8 - 5 - 2 2025 OVERALL. = 86 - 77 - 2 WEEKLY O/U = 5 - 2 O/U CUMULATIVE = 41 - 38 WEEKLY SPECIALS = 4 - 1 CUMULATIVE = 27 - 28 GAME OF THE WEEK 5 – 6 LOCK OF THE WEEK 7 – 4 UPSET SPECIAL 5 - 6 O/U OF THE WEEK 6 – 5 STEELERS/OTHER 4 - 7 PREMIUM PICKS CUMULATIVE = 69 - 65 ============================================ We had another good week , even with two pushes. Our record on all games, 86-77-2, is