After a mediocre 8-8 week against the spread in Week 16, Del will be looking to close out the 2015 season on a high note. Another good week will put Del above the .500 mark for the season, which is obviously the goal. Through 16 weeks, Del has gone an impressive 22-14 in his top picks of the week. Hopefully we can make that number even better before wrapping up the season.
Here are Del’s Week 17 picks against the spread, with analysis after the sheet.
(ATS = Against the Spread, SU = Straight Up)
With news surfacing that Alex Smith has suffered a lacerated spleen and the Chiefs will be starting Chase Daniel, Del expects San Diego to be favored by the time kickoff rolls around on Sunday. The Chiefs are starting an ice-cold quarterback and the Chargers should be riding high after their incredible come-from-behind victory against the 49ers last week. This game has playoff implications, and Del has to go with Philip Rivers despite the tough spot playing at Arrowhead Stadium.
Some people will think Del is crazy for taking the Patriots as a top pick in a week where they have absolutely nothing to play for, but this is Bill Belichick we’re talking about. New England has not looked particularly sharp on offense over the past few games — especially against the New York Jets last weekend. If Belichick rests his starters, they’ll head into a second-round playoff game having not played in in three weeks. That’s not going to happen.
The way Del sees it, the Patriots will either blow the doors off the Bills early and Belichick will pull his starters, or they’ll struggle again early and The Hoodie will keep them in so they can work it out. Either scenario sounds like a Pats cover.
