Championship Sunday is here people and I’m nervous and excited to be writing this on location for the NFC Championship game. It’s truly hard to put into words what it means to not only be at the game but also that with one more win Washington will punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. Honestly there was a time under the old ownership that I thought something like this could never happen but here we are. Before we move onto today’s game I’m obligated to mention that we finished Divisional Weekend with a 1-1 Sunday. The Rams managed to cover for us but unfortunately the Ravens came up short because Mark Andrews clearly had money on the Bills. Once again the perfect week remains elusive but I got a really good feeling about this week. My hands are freezing so let’s get into it.

Commanders (ML) @ Eagles

JAYDEN. DANIELS. I’m not gonna spend my time telling you why you should bet on Washington just smarten up and jump on the bandwagon people. Like I said earlier Bick’s Picks is on location and will be in attendance.  That’s how confident I am that we’ll win. Let’s punch that ticket to the Super Bowl.

Commanders ML (+225)

Bills @ Chiefs(ML)

Patrick Mahomes. Yupp that’s the pick. Can’t bet against him until he loses. Not even gonna try to talk myself into the Bills especially since I had them losing last week. The Chiefs just seem inevitable and just things always seem to go their way. Jayden vs Mahomes sounds good to me.

Chiefs ML (-125)

ANYBODY. ANYWHERE. ANYTIME. Washington certainly proved the doubters wrong and did what I think many thought was impossible. Somehow a team that managed only 4 wins a season ago is now 1 win away from the Super Bowl. It’s truly hard to believe how quickly things have turned around for the franchise as decades of despair but we’ve been believers for awhile here at Bick’s Picks. I mean how could you not believe in Jayden Daniels. Calling him special isn’t even enough and he’s only just getting started. This Commanders win not only brought Dan Campbell to tears it also won our readers a fair bit of money for those smart enough to jump on the bandwagon. On top of that our parlay in the early game somehow hit, as the Chiefs gifted us an intentional safety in the final minute of the game to help cover our Texans +10.5. So not only did did Washington punch their ticket to the NFC Championship but we also had a perfect day here at Bick’s Picks. However we’re not done with Divisional Weekend yet as we’ve got two more matchups to bet on so let’s get into it.

Rams (+7) @ Eagles

You’re gonna notice these are brief because honestly I was pressed for time and it’s hard me to have anything but Washington on the mind. So I’ll keep this simple, Fuck the Eagles. Would be a lot of fun to face off one more time this season in the NFC Championship but I think I’ll enjoy watching them lose this game almost as much. Bias aside something about the way Hurts has been playing makes me think the Rams could pull this off. Their defense was relentless against the Vikings and if they can get Philly chasing at any point things could very interesting. No matter the outcome though Washington is ready for either of these teams.

Rams +7 (-105)

Ravens (-1.5) @ Bills

Once again keeping it simple I’m riding with Baltimore. I’m here in the city I gotta ride with the team. Not to mention friend of the blog and former intern JG was with me pulling for Washington so I have to return the favor. Ravens end of the day are the better team and I want the chance for a Battle of Beltway Super Bowl.

Ravens -1.5 (-102)

Divisional Weekend is here people and I don’t know about the rest of you but my excitement is once again at an all time high. Of course I’ve got a little anxiety but I’ll be honest after getting a playoff win under their belt I’ve convinced myself Washington can beat anyone. Forget just having hope that we can win, JD5 is already gifted us something greater and that’s belief. In season of broken records and improbable wins I truly believe that no matter the score, circumstances or opponent Jayden can give a chance to win. Speaking of wins we didn’t do that bad here at Bick’s Picks for Wild Card weekend. Technically we had a 4-2 record just picking the games but our greed got the better of us as our two Over bets went 0-2. The way I see it it’s more important that we get the games right anyways so hopefully we can keep doing that moving forward. It’s crazy to think we only got 7 games of football left this season but they should all be good ones, so buckle people and let’s get into it.

Texans(+10.5) @ Chiefs (ML)

Now I know what you’re thinking and you’re probably right but I’m gonna tempt the parlay gods anyways. The way I see it there’s simply no way that the Chiefs lose but I’m hesitant to say they’ll cover the -8.5. They’ve played in so many close games this season that despite being 15-2 and aiming to three-peat many have questioned how good of a team they really are. Now personally you won’t see me questioning if they can win because Mahomes is just too damn good in postseason. He’s never lost in the Divisional Round going 6-0 as the starter and despite the doubters no matter what they’ve found ways to win this season. As for the Texans I had wrote them off in the Wild Card round and that was clearly a mistake. I still have my doubts about Stroud but that defense should be able to slowdown a Kansas City team who’s starters haven’t played since Christmas. So for those reasons I’m teasing out the Texans spread a little and pairing that with Chiefs moneyline because in the end I trust Mahomes gets it done.

Parlay Texans +10.5 & Chiefs ML (+138)

Commanders (+8.5)(ML) @ Lions

If you came here for advice on how to bet Detroit then you came to the wrong place. Truth be told I was hesitant to even include our spread but had to for those still not brave enough to jump on the Jayden Daniels bandwagon. I will of course acknowledge that the Lions have been pretty good this season enjoying their best season in franchise history. However great moments are born from great opportunity, and that’s what you have here tonight, boys. That’s what Washington has earned here tonight. One game; if we played them ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we run with them. Tonight we stay with them, and we shut them down because we can. Tonight, we are the greatest football team in the world. Their time is done. It’s over. I’m sick and tired of hearing about what a great football team the Lions have. Screw ‘em. This is our time. Now let’s go out there and take it!

Commanders +8.5 (-108)

Commanders ML (+380)

Washington finally actually did it people! After nearly two decades of no playoffs wins Jayden Daniels did what seemed in possible for so long. It’s honestly hard for me to explain/describe how meaningful this win was not only for me but our long suffering fan base. Of course it didn’t come easy as the Cardiac Commanders flair for the dramatics continued, winning the game with a field goal off the uprights as time expired. Now believe me I could write an essay about this game but as always this isn’t a Washington blog it’s a gambling blog. That said with Washington winning the moneyline bet hit but alas the Over did not. As for the earlier games, in the first game of the day the Bills dominated easily covering at home against Denver. However the midday matchup didn’t go the way I wanted it to. I was actually pretty spot on with my write up but my bias and unwillingness to bet the Eagles cost us. Jordan Love was absolutely terrible and despite the Eagles trying their best to keep it close, the Packers desire to lose was stronger. Now before we move on to the Divisional Round we got one more Wild Card to bet on so let’s get into it.

Vikings @ Rams (ML)

Once again this pick will be coming with a little bit of bias. A big reason I’m riding with the Rams is to support my cousin Jesse. There are fewer sports fans more passionate than him and I’d love to see his team get a win. That said I also actually like the Rams in this spot. Not only because the Rams proved they could beat the Vikings earlier in the season but also because I have no faith in Sam Darnold. In recent weeks we’ve seen him turn into the pumpkin we all thought he was. Also even though I enjoy slandering Matthew “Not in my Hall of Fame” Stafford he’s proven that he can win in the playoffs and he has all his weapons at full health. Now as for the bet itself I could’ve taken the +2.5 but scared money don’t make money and my plums are telling me the Rams win this one. So let’s end this Wild Card weekend with one more win.

Rams ML (+120)

It’s finally here people the gameday that I’ve been waiting for. Now I know I banged on enough yesterday about how important this Wild Card weekend is for me as a Washington fan so instead I’ll just complain about our 1-2 start to the postseason here at Bick’s Picks. For the first game I’ve honestly only got myself to blame, as I had a bad feeling about the Chargers and of course bet them anyway. But at the same time it’s not often that my tin foil hat doubts are so spot on. I mean I actually said that LA rarely coughs up the ball only for Herbert to throw a career high 4 interceptions, which were more than he did the entire regular season. In fact I was so off with that first game that I did start to worry a little for the Ravens. However Lamar and Henry quickly put those worries to rest by dominating the Steelers in the 1st half. Now before I praise them too much Baltimore once again did that thing where they take their foot off the gas and let teams back into the game. That might be a problem for them against tougher competition moving forward but yesterday it was just a problem for the Over. Watching the Over die a field goal short in a scoreless 4th quarter started making me think the fix was in once again. But hey we got a short memory here at Bick’s Picks and today is a far more important day so let’s get into it.

Broncos @ Bills (-7.5)

First off sorry Pip but also this might be a good thing for you. My luck with predicting Broncos games has been all over the place. Frankly I feel I’ve mostly been wrong with Week 18 being a perfect example. However this week is much different than a home game against a team resting all their starters. The Bills are well rested, have much more playoff experience and haven’t lost at home all year. I have no desire to slander Denver but I just get the feeling this one could get out of hand. Beating Kansas City and making the playoffs for the first time in a decade kinda felt like the Broncos’ Super Bowl so I’m getting “they’re just happy to be here” vibes from this team. That doesn’t bode well against a Buffalo team with Super Bowl aspirations. I do think Patrick Surtain and company could slow Allen down some but I doubt Bo will be able to do enough to keep up. Also look for Von Miller to make a big play at some point. The dude always shows up in the postseason and you gotta think he will against his old team.

Bills -7.5 (-115)

Packers (+5.5) @ Eagles

I won’t lie, I’m very conflicted about this pick. My gut and heart is saying Packers but my brain is saying Eagles. Either way the Quarterback Injury Bowl has a bunch of question marks but unfortunately there seem to be more surrounding Jordan Love and his elbow. Love is already prone to gifting a ball or two to the opposition and if his accuracy is off at all due to injury things could go from bad to worse. On the other side Hurts has missed time due to concussion protocol and there’s some worry he could be rusty. Couple that with the fact that the Eagles’ pass attack has just been somewhat off this season. Thankfully for Philly they’ve got Saquon Barkley and one of the best offensive lines in football. Simply put if they commit to the run and Siriani pulls his head out of his ass for long enough they should not only win this game but also cover. Thing is I’m not convinced they’ll do that and Green Bay has enough postseason experience that I feel comfortable betting they’ll keep it close. Plus I’d rather lose my money than bet the Eagles today. Let’s go Pack. 

Packers +5.5 (-112)

Commanders (ML) @ Buccaneers (O 50.5)

JAYDEN DANIELS. That’s the write up. The kid has gotten us this far and if we’re gonna keep winning it’ll be because of him. But in all seriousness this under-appreciated rivalry should be a helluva game. Now some of you might be questioning why I called this game a rivalry but for those who don’t know this will actually be the 4th postseason game between these two teams. That might not mean much to some but to be honest we don’t make it that often so the fact we’ve matched up with them so often gives this game extra some juice. Not to mention the last time Washington won a playoff game was 19 years ago against Tampa so I’m quite literally betting this is our time. You’ll notice I’m also in on the Over because I’m expecting a shootout. Nothing ever seems easy for these two teams but it’s always interesting and I’m betting it’ll be exciting till the clock hits triple zeros. So feel free to jump on the JD5 bandwagon if you’d like or simply bet the Over. Either way, best of luck to Bucs fan and friend of the blog Mike McCarthy, here’s hoping it’s my turn to brag for a few years.

Commanders ML (+136)

Over 50.5 (-118)

Wild Card weekend is here people and I gotta say my excitement and my anxiety is at an all time high. It’s not often I get to enjoy a postseason with my dog in the fight but I’ve also never seen a Washington team win this many games. Some of our readers might not think much of 12 wins in a season but that it’s something our fan base hasn’t seen since 1991. Now I’ll admit we had to pull a few rabbits out of our hat and sometimes our ass to get that many wins but like All Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin said, we have a flair for the dramatics. However despite getting the win over Dallas last week those dramatics weren’t enough to get a win for Bick’s Picks. We unfortunately ended the regular season with another stinky 1-3 week. Thankfully the Seahawks and Rams made sure the Over hit with ease but nothing else went our way. As aforementioned the Washington didn’t cover their team total for the Lock, the Tiersducken did parlay things and Chiefs quite literally laid down and died for the Broncos. But that’s the past and the second season begins today. We have arguably the best week of the postseason upon us so let’s get into it.

Chargers (-3) @ Texans

The only thing that gives me pause about this game is that almost everyone loves the Chargers. My tin foil hat always gets me worried about riding with the public. But even though the fix is probably in, I’m jumping on the bandwagon. The Texans haven’t looked right all season limping into the playoffs by winning the perennially sad AFC South. Meanwhile Jim Harbaugh might just be what the snakebitten Chargers have needed. They might not be the most electric team but they rarely cough up the ball and quietly have a defense that’s allowed the least amount of points per game. So I’m definitely leaning the Bolts in this postseason opener.

Chargers -3 (-105)

Steelers @ Ravens (-8.5) (O 44.5)

Historically this matchup has delivered us some absolute slobberknockers but the way things are going for these teams it might just be a bloodbath. That’s why I’m willing to tempt fate with such a big spread. Just like the early game this one features two teams trending in opposite directions. Similar to the Texans, Russ and company have limped into the postseason losing their last 4 games losing control of the AFC North. Meanwhile Baltimore seized this opportunity to steal back the division by winning their last 4 games. Getting hot at the right time is sometimes all that matters, nevermind the fact the Ravens are simply the better team. Of course there’s a chance Pittsburgh could slow down Lamar and Tractorcito, they proved they could early this season at home but that was then and this is now. So I’m jumping on the Ravens without hesitation and what’s more I’m sprinkling some the Over because how could I resist betting a Baltimore Over one more time.

Ravens -8.5 (-115)

Over 44.5 (-115)

Week 18 is here people which means our first full season of Bick’s Picks is coming to an end. Unfortunately it wasn’t a banner year for us as we have a 35-43 record going into this final week. However if you’ve followed us this season you’d know my inability to pick parlays shoulders much of the blame. My parlay record is a dismal 2-15 for the season leaving me with a decent 33-28 record without them. There’s a chance parlays could be left off the blog next season but the way I see it it’s not like I could do worse next season right? Now before I get ahead of myself and dump on parlays too much, it bears mentioning that the Tiersducken actually got its first win last week. Maybe some arbitrary bias was just what my parlays needed all along. On top of that the Eagles ran over the Cowboys on their way to covering the Over and even though it was so much closer than it needed to be Washington answered the call covered for the Lock in OT. Alas the perfect week was not meant to be as not even Chuba Hubbard actually playing was gonna save the Panthers from getting blown out by Baker and the Bucs. As always we shouldn’t dwell on our losses for too long after all we got one more chance for a perfect week so let’s get into it.

Life’s Too Short to Bet the Under

Seahawks @ Rams (38.5)

Just like last week this Sunday slate once again is giving us a bunch of low totals to choose from with 5 games under 40 and only two games with totals projected over 45. Now I’m sure many of you are aware these low totals are a result of teams resting players or simply having nothing to play for. I tried my best to find a game with some juice and a low total but this was the best I could come up with. Despite the Rams resting Stafford and some other starters this matchup features teams with winning records and that’s enough for me. Although they were eliminated from the postseason the Geno and the Seahawks have some significant financial incentives to play for. Then on the flip side I don’t see the Rams just rolling over against a division rival. These teams have played some low scoring affairs in recent weeks but I think a more laid back Week 18 works in the Overs favor.

Over 38.5 (-108)

Fade Dawgs

Chiefs (+10.5) @ Broncos

Sorry Pip I gotta do it. Sure the Broncos desperately need this win and sure the Chiefs are starting Wentz and all the backups but I simply can’t ignore a 15-1 team with a double digit spread. Denver should win this game and Vegas seems to believe they will but I think they’ll have to sweat it out. Sure a bunch of starters are out for the Chiefs but Andy Reid will still be holding his Waffle House menu on the sidelines. Reid is 5-0 since 2007 when his team is a double digit underdog and I highly doubt this Kansas City team will just roll over for a division rival. I hope the Broncos punch their postseason ticket but I don’t think they cover the spread if they do.

Chiefs +10.5 (-105)

The Tiersducken

Jayden Daniels. Need I say more?

1. Jayden Daniels

2. Bo Nix

3. Drake Maye 

4. Michael Penix Jr

6. Caleb Williams 

6. Spencer Rattler

Rather than bore you with a paragraph of hyperboles I’ll just say that I’m so thankful to have Jayden Daniels as my quarterback. In just one season he’s already led Washington to at least 11 wins which we haven’t seen since our Super Bowl winning 1991 season. Needless to say, I’m a very happy man. As for the rest of the list they get to stay exactly where they are. I will tip my cap to Penix for forcing OT and playing a pretty good game against Washington but man that lefty delivery can be kinda gross. As for the picks I’ll keep it real simple. Everyone sucks but Jayden. You’ll notice Drake Maye is absent but that’s only because pretty much all of his props are unavailable. Vegas seems to think he might not play for long but either way he escapes the wrath of my interception predictions. Fade it, dread it or avoid it, here’s the last Tiersducken of the season.

Tiersducken Parlay: Jayden Daniels 2+ Passing TDs, Michael Penix Jr. Over .5 Interceptions, Spencer Rattler Over .5 Interceptions, Bo Nix Over .5, Caleb Williams Over .5, (+2146)  

Bick’s Stone Cold Lock of the Century of the Week

Commanders (Over 26.5) @ Cowboys

Oops! Would you look at that my bias is showing again. Truth be told there were a handful of bets I considered but my brain has been saying Beat Dallas all week. Now typically this would be a spread bet but when creeped to a full 7 points I thought this was the better bet. Sure Washington is on to the playoffs but they still have seeding to play for and I think the players are eager to get some revenge for losing earlier in the season. All the starters who are healthy are playing and there’s no reason that the offense shouldn’t be all gas and no brakes in an effort to blow out Dallas. Add that with the fact Trey Lance is starting there’s no reason we shouldn’t win and hit this total.

Commanders Team Total Over 26.5 (+102) 

Week 17 is still here people and simply put, yesterday could have gone better. As always I stand by my picks but we would have been better served just waiting till Sunday as we went 0-3 for Saturday slate. Maybe it’s because I didn’t give a proper shoutout to everyone in attendance (sorry Benjamin!) but the Pats simply never showed up. Last week I was on the Patriots Over when I shoulda been on the spread and this week I was on the spread when I shoulda been on the Over. Next up was Broncos +3.5 and if you watched that game you know why that was such a bad beat. So many opportunities to win that bet only to have Tee Higgins steal all our money in the last minute of overtime. Then the nightcap was just an annoying bet as the Rams won in the end but of course we didn’t cover the -6.5. At least the interception Kyler Murray threw off of Trey McBride’s face was a pretty neat way to end the game. Some of you were smart enough to have the foresight to fade me but if you didn’t, don’t worry we got plenty of games to chase our losses with today so let’s get into it.  

Life’s Too Short to Bet the Under

Cowboys @ Eagles (37.5)

This Sunday slate is giving us a bunch of low totals to choose from with 5 games with totals under 40. The thing is most of these games are gross and to be honest this one is no exception. A QB matchup between Cooper Rush and Kenny Pickett is not anything either of these teams wanted to see but here we are. On top of that CeeDee Lamb was also ruled out for the rest of the season which lowers the star power even more. However despite how ugly this game suddenly is, this total has dropped way too low for me to not jump. So hold your nose and take a dive with me.

Over 37.5 (-110)

Fade Dawgs

Panthers (+10) @ Buccaneers

Last time we rode with Carolina some degenerate had staked $3.1M on the Eagles ML so we had to fade. To my knowledge there aren’t any insane bets on Tampa but nevertheless this number is too big for me to ignore. I honestly had to double check that they weren’t dealing with some big injury because they’ve been playing too well for this to be over a touchdown. Chuba has been running like a man possessed and the Bryce Young resurrection has helped the Panthers cover 6 of their last 7 games. Sure Baker Mayfield is 4-0 in this rivalry but we don’t need Sir Purr and company to win, we just need them to cover.

Panthers +10 (-121)

The Tiersducken

I won’t lie, I really wanted to make this list all Jayden’s name because after that 5 touchdown performance against the Eagles he separated himself from the pack and locked up the Rookie of the Year award. Philly fans will cry Kenny Pickett but JD5 is the one who was able to shake off 6 team turnovers and lit up one of the best defenses in football to steal an unexpected victory. However as I’ve said before this isn’t a Washington blog so I have to give the others their due.

1. Jayden Daniels

2. Bo Nix

3. Drake Maye 

4. Michael Penix Jr

6. Caleb Williams 

6. Spencer Rattler

As you can see the tiers remain the same this week as no one did good enough or bad enough to move. I’ve already covered Jayden’s greatness but props to Bo for a solid albeit a losing performance against the Bengals yesterday. I won’t bash Drake Maye too much because he was banged up but I’m not gonna try to put lipstick on 40-7 pig of a loss. Penix looked solid enough in his debut but the Giants blow so I’m taking that with a grain of salt. Then I’m just lumping the last two losers together because that’s what Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler deserve. As for the picks we only got 3 players left to play so maybe the Tiersducken has a chance! But who are we kidding, it’s a parlay right? So why not let my bias take the reins. So let’s say Jayden throws a pair of TDs and the other two throw a pick. 

Tiersducken Parlay: Jayden Daniels 2+ Passing TDs, Michael Penix Jr. Over .5 Interceptions, Spencer Rattler Over .5 Interceptions (+472)  

Bick’s Stone Cold Lock of the Century of the Week

Falcons @ Commanders (-3.5)

After that biased Tiersducken did you expect anything else for the Lock? Much like the previous times I’ve put Washington as my Lock, it’s me challenging them to take care of business. Win and we’re in the playoffs. It’s that simple. This is our last home game and this is Penix’s first road start. This is an opportunity we can’t squander. Sure part of me is spooked by failures past but that was before Jayden. Anything is possible with that kid under center so let’s get this win so we’re not sweating out Week 18.

Commanders -3.5 (-102) 

Week 17 is here people I hope all our readers had a Merry Christmas and are having a Happy Hanukkah. Now I did promise a Christmas blog but since I was hungover/sick/dead it just happens to be coming a few days late. In case you missed it, I know I basically did, there have been 3 games before we even got to the weekend slate. The outcomes for those games were somewhat predictable which was a missed opportunity for the blog but at the same time it was some ugly football. The NFL might be learning there could be something to the phrase “too much of a good thing”. However much like the NFL I’m gonna ignore detractors like Lebron and lean into football every day. So even though Bick’s Picks didn’t deliver on Christmas we’ll have plenty of picks to choose from this weekend. Now before we dive into those picks we have our obligatory recap of shame. Sure the Vikings barely came through for the Lock but the Over, the Dawg and the Tiersducken all fell short. As a man of honor I have to admit my mistakes and give credit where credit is due, the Pats +14 was the move all along. Now they didn’t get the win for Jeff and Shellie but they sure gave Buffalo a helluva game and the wings alone sounded worth the trip. As for this week we’ll be splitting into two picks two blogs so that’s enough banter let’s get into it.

Christmas Hangovers

Chargers @ Patriots(+6), Broncos(+3.5) @ Bengals, Cardinals @ Rams(-6.5)

I figured since I’m celebrating the holiday with my family today, what better way to make up for missing Christmas games by picking all the Saturday games instead? For the first game of the day Bick’s Picks will once again be supporting friends of the blog who are in attendance, shout out to Brady, Jon and Josh D. However I know attendance juju alone can’t justify a pick and the real reason I’m riding with the Pats is impressed by the game the Pats gave Buffalo last weekend. Maye continues to flash franchise QB potential and the defense might’ve cost Josh Allen the MVP award. I think they hang tough and possibly steal a win against a soft west coast team on a rainy December day in Foxboro. The next game has lots of juice as the Broncos and Bengals are fighting for their wildcard lives. Not to mention I really like the number. +3.5 jumped out at me right away and even if Denver fails to win outright I think they keep it within a field goal against a Cinci team that is 0-7 against teams with winning records this season. Then we end Saturday with the game I probably feel best about and that’s the Rams. With the Cardinals officially eliminated from playoff contention I got the feeling this could get ugly. Sure LA lost badly in Arizona earlier in the season but that was without Puka and Kupp. These teams are going in completely different directions and I’m betting that continues. I plan to bet each of these games on their own so parlay at your own risk because you know how those go here.

Patriots+6 (-125)

Broncos +3.5 (-120)

Rams -6.5 (-112)