Here we are at week eleven and I have another week with only a little time so with a great Monday night game to look forward to and some truly really horrible lines it’s time to make some picks, but before facing them there’s the important matter of this week’s trivia question.

‘For week 11 I’m offering a bit of a curved ball, if that’s not too muffled a metaphor. I want to know now many of the 32 teams do NOT have a Professional Cheerleading squad.

Is it      A, 0 – 5;           B, 6 – 10;         C, 11 – 15;       or D, 16+’

Now, I’m searching my memory banks on this as I know there are a few teams that haven’t got cheerleaders. Certainly the Bears don’t have any, nor I believe do the Steelers and Browns, or the Packers for that matter and I have sneaky feeling about the Giants but is that it and have I even got those ones right? I’m going to select B and plump for six to ten as an informed guess, but I just hope my memory isn’t playing tricks on me.

‘I think it’s going to be very few, and I’m worried Dad is up to one of his tricks and trying to catch us out on wording, specifying ‘Professional’. I don’t pay all that much attention to the cheerleaders during the game (honest, your honour!) but they tend to show them coming back from at least one ad break most games, so I’m going to go very low and say A 0-5.’

Cowboys @ Falcons (-3.5)

By DVOA the Falcons are better in two phases of the game, it is just that their defence is the worst in the league whilst the Cowboys are coming off a good win in Philadelphia. They are next to each other in overall DVOA and whilst the Cowboys have been inconsistent all season, the Falcons have won three of their last four games. I really hate this line and so I’m going to grab the extra half point and hope – so much for being quick!

Gee’s Pick:      Cowboys
Dan’s Pick:      Cowboys

Bengals @ Ravens (-3.5)

The Bengals have been bad in recent weeks, not helped by injuries across the team but the Ravens have also lost three straight and there is a possibility that Lamar Jackson will start at quarterback for the Raven. The Ravens rate as a much better team by DVOA and their losing streak can be attributed to playing the Saints, Panthers and Steelers and I have a nasty feeling about this one. Hoping to be proved wrong, I’m picking the Ravens in this one.

Gee’s Pick:      Ravens
Dan’s Pick:      Ravens

Panthers @ Lions (+3.5)

The Panthers may have got thoroughly beaten by the Steelers last week on Thursday night, but they are a much better team than this iteration of the Detroit Lions and I fancy that they re-assert that this week.

Gee’s Pick:      Panthers
Dan’s Pick:      Lions

Titans @ Colts (-2.5)

This is a cracking matchup between two teams who are fighting for relevancy in the AFC and the Titans caught many people’s eyes with a great win against the Patriots last week. However, there is just 0.3% difference in their overall DVOA and with the Colts at home I’m going to back Andrew Luck given how good he’s been and I’ve got half a point back.

Gee’s Pick:      Colts
Dan’s Pick:      Titans

Buccaneers @ Giants (-0.5)

I am really not sure what to do about this one with the Buccaneers generating five hundred yards but just three points on offence last week, and the Giants winning on Monday night football against the 49ers. However, with the Giants being 10% better in DVOA and only giving up half a point at home I’m going to back them, even though another win won’t help them in their search for a quarterback in next year’s draft.

Gee’s Pick:      Giants
Dan’s Pick:      Buccaneers

Steelers @ Jaguars (+5.5)

The Steelers have really asserted themselves as AFC challengers after a faltering start and this week travel to a Jaguars team who are imploding after last season’s success. I’m pretty sure the Steelers will have revenge on their mind after last season’s playoff loss at the hands of the Jaguars. This is a lot of points to be giving away on the road, but frankly given the Jags haven’t won since week four this doesn’t look to be the spot for them to turn it round.

Gee’s Pick:      Steelers
Dan’s Pick:      Jaguars

Texans @ Washington (+2.5)

This is a horribly tricky line for me as the Texans have won six straight and are coming off a bye whilst not being wholly convincing and travel to Washington to face a team winning despite a raft of injuries and a solidly average set of DVOA rankings. However, the Texans only need a field goal to cover this line and I can’t believe that Washington can keep producing wins from out of nowhere. Can they?

Gee’s Pick:      Texans
Dan’s Pick:      Texans

Broncos @ Chargers (-7.5)

I really like this LA Chargers team and I expect them to win this game, but they don’t exactly have a great home advantage and the Broncos have kept themselves in a lot of games this season, including against the Chiefs in their last road game and divisional games can always be funny. However, the Broncos also traded away Demaryius Thomas before the trade deadline and so I’m really in two minds about this one, but in the end this line is just too big for me to lay the points.

Gee’s Pick:      Broncos
Dan’s Pick:      Broncos

Raiders @ Cardinals (-3.5)

This is an interesting line given that the Raiders are actually 0.6% better in overall DVOA ranking than the Cardinals but it is a testament to the five straight the Raiders have lost and how bad they have looked since they beat the Browns. I think it likely the Cardinals get the win but this line feels too big but I really don’t want to back the Raiders and so I’m taking the radical step of not doing so as I think the Cardinals are in a much better place right now.

Gee’s Pick:      Cardinals
Dan’s Pick:      Raiders

Eagles @ Saints (-8.5)

The Saints have been sweeping all before them whilst the Eagles have lost their last three home games and may have won two home games sprinkled between those losses, but they were against the Giants and imploding Jaguars. This a huge line and makes nervous, but in the last three weeks the Saints put up fifty against the Bengals and beat the Vikings and Rams by ten points so I don’t see the Eagles changing things.

Gee’s Pick:      Saints
Dan’s Pick:      Saints

Vikings @ Bears (-2.5)

This is one of the matchups of the week and if you are giving me points to take the Vikings that is what I am going to do despite Chicago’s recent success. I don’t think the Bears have been fraudulent, and they could very easily win the game, but I think the smart play is to take the points until we’ve seen Trubisky really compete against a better defence than the Lions, Bills, or Jets.

Gee’s Pick:      Vikings
Dan’s Pick:      Vikings

Chiefs @ Rams (-2.5)

This is the game of the week and one that everyone is looking forward to. It has been moved back to LA from Mexico City after complaints about the state of the pitch from both teams. The Rams have looked a little wobbly in recent weeks and have just lost Cooper Kupp for the season to an ACL tear but it is the defence that really worries me. The extra half point is really tempting for the Rams, but as good as Sean McVay is, Andy Reid is no slouch either and I just fancy that getting points the Chiefs are the side to play. Regardless of the result we should all be the winners unless there’s a bad injury so here’s hoping the game lives up to the hype and both teams get through healthy as this really could be a Super Bowl preview.

Gee’s Pick:      Chiefs.
Dan’s Pick:      Rams