Here we are, Week 17. After everything we’ve been through this season I can honestly say I’m a little sad it’s coming to an end. I’ll have more of an assessment of the year after the Bills close out the schedule this weekend, but all things considered, it wasn’t that bad of a year.

Before we get to picks, here’s a look at the season standings with the Buffalo News guys. After a terrible start on my first season picking games against the spread, I’m back in contention with the guys who pick every year. It took me six or seven weeks to really get the hang of things, but I’ve done fairly well since then.

Season Standings (best bets)
Northrop 124-101-5 (11-5)
Sullivan 122-103-5 (11-5)
DiCesare 119-106-5 (9-7)
Wilson 110-115-5 (12-4)
McKissic 108-117-5 (8-8)
Gaughan 107-118-5 (8-8)
Game Seven 100-124-5 (11-4-1)

I’m pretty good at my best bets, and if you’re wondering why I have one less game, it’s because I didn’t pick last week’s Saturday game. You don’t have to tell me that my record isn’t very good. I’m aware. But I hate losing. This week is my best shot to gain ground, and I’m considering taking drastic measures (picks continue in the playoffs, but there are far fewer games).

Gaughan, McKissic and Wilson are the three I’m closest to catching, and really the only three I have any possible shot of catching. So with my picks this week, I’m going to include their picks as well. I may have to pick some teams simply to play devil’s advocate, opening up a chance to gain ground.

That’s not cheating, that’s pulling the goalie.

Bills (+1) @ Jets–Jets
Guaghan- Bills
McKissic- Jets*
Wilson- Bills

Oakland (+3 1/2) @ Kansas City–Oakland
G-KC
M-KC
W-KC

Miami (+4) @ New England–Miami
G-NE
M-NE
W-NE

Tennessee (+10) @ Indianapolis—Titans
G-Indi
M-Indi
W-Indi

Jacksonville @ Houston (+3)–Jacksonville
G-Houston
M-Houston
W-Houston

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland (+5 1/2)–Cleveland
All- Pittsburgh

Cincinnati (+9 1/2) @Baltimore–Cinci
All- Baltimore

Minnesota (+3 1/2) @ Detroit–Joe Webb
G- Detroit*
M- Detroit
W-Minnesota

Giants @ Washington (+4)–Washington
All-NYG (W*)

Chicago (+10) @ Green Bay–Bears
G- GB
M- Chicago
W- GB

Dallas (+5) @ Philadelphia–Eagles*
G-Eagles
M-Eagles
W-Dallas

Carolina (+14 1/2) @ Atlanta–Carolina. I hope Jimmy Clausen throws for 800 yards.
All- Atlanta

Tampa Bay (+7 1/2) @ New Orleans–Tampa
G- TB
M-N.O.
W-TB

St. Louis @ Seattle (+3)–Rams (sorry #7and9divisionchamp)
G-STL
M-Seattle
W-STL

Arizona (+6) @ San Fransisco–49ers
G-Arizona
M-SF
W-Arizona

San Diego @ Denver (+3 1/2)–Tebow
G- Denver
M-SD
W- SD

Last week:

New England at Bills (+8)–Pats.
New England 34-3. Win

Dallas at Arizona (+6 1/2)

Detroit (+3 1/2) at Miami–Lions
Lions 34-27. Win

Minnesota (+14 1/2) at Philadelphia–Vikings.
Vikings 24-14. Win

Washington (+7) at Jacksonville–‘Skins. Sloppy one.
Washington 20-17 (OT). Win

San Francisco (+2 1/2) at St. Louis–49ers.
Rams 25-17. Loss

Seattle (+6 1/2) at Tampa Bay–Tampa
Bucs 38-15. Win

Jets (+1) at Chicago–Bears
Bears 38-34. Win

Baltimore at Cleveland (+3 1/2)–Remember last week when I asked if a line was serious and I lost? Maybe I learned something. Browns.
Guess not. Ravens 20-10. Loss

Indianapolis at Oakland (+3)–Colts
Indi 31-26. Win

Tennessee (+5) at Kansas City–This is where I usually lose on KC and other people make money on the Titans. Titans.
Yea well people are stupid. KC 34-14. Loss

Houston at Denver (+3)–Like Tebow and Lloyd, dislike everyone else. Texans.
Denver 24-23. Houston is a joke. Loss

Giants (+3) at Green Bay–GB
Pack 45-17. Win

San Diego at Cincinnati (+7 1/2)–SD
Bengals 34-20?? Trying to help the Bills draft selection I guess. Loss

New Orleans (+2 1/2) at Atlanta–Saints
Saints 17-14. Win

Needed a good week and went 9-5.