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The Harmon Football Forecast is one of the most highly regarded and widely read sports features in the country, published in over 200 newspapers.
| Harmon Stat Pack | |
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Wk 5: 14 picks
Right: 8 Wrong: 6 Pct: .571 |
YTD: 72 picks
Right: 40 Wrong: 32 Pct: .555 |
| Harmon's archive | |
It all began when Bob Harmon began predicting college and NFL games in 1957. He devised a mathematical formula that picked winners correctly between 72 and 78 percent of the time; most seasons getting almost 75 percent of his picks right.
Today, Jim Harmon and his staff are the only forecasters who predict exact scores and chart every college and pro team.
Thursday's game (10/18/2001):
| *Jacksonville 17, Buffalo 13 |
| The Jaguars aren't exactly thriving, but the Bills are struggling on both sides of the ball. Buffalo got its first win in three tries against the Jags the last time they met, three years ago. |
Sunday's games (10/21/2001):
| Baltimore 20, *Cleveland 16 |
| In four straight losses to the Ravens, the most the Browns have managed to score on them is 10 points. But Cleveland's defense, too, is stopping people, so this could come down to a field goal. |
| Carolina 26, *Washington 17 |
| Here's the Panthers' chance to score some points, against a team struggling even harder than the Bills. Carolina will end the Redskins' perfect series record -- including a 20-17 win in 2000 -- at 5-0. |
| *Cincinnati 14, Chicago 7 |
| Just like last year, the Bengals are all run and no pass, so the Bears can at least keep this close with their dramatically improved rushing defense. These teams haven't faced off in six years. |
| *Detroit 22, Tennessee 19 |
| Having fought Rams, Vikings, Ravens and Buccaneers in the past two weeks, the Lions and Titans both probably think they can win this one. It's nearly a tossup, but Detroit gets the nod at home. |
| Green Bay 28, *Minnesota 21 |
| Their offense sometimes comes to life, but the Vikings can't do much to stop the Packers' superbly balanced attack. Last year G.B. took two typically close games from Minnesota, 26-20 and 33-28. |
| *Indianapolis 31, New England 13 |
| Three weeks ago the Patriots raced to a 23-0 lead over the Colts and stunned them 44-13, returning two intercepted Peyton Manning passes for TD's. But N.E. can't stifle Indy's offense twice. |
| Kansas City 21, *Arizona 19 |
| The Cardinals showed they were for real -- maybe -- by shocking the Eagles two weeks ago, but the Chiefs, who've won five of seven in the series, should be able to beat them by putting the ball up. |
| *New Orleans 24, Atlanta 15 |
| A key game in the NFC West -- who would've imagined that? -- which the Saints will win with defense. Talk about ending a dry spell: After losing 10 in a row to the Falcons, N.O. swept them in '00. |
| St. Louis 34, *N.Y. Jets 17 |
| Facing a defense that's best against the pass, the Rams can give the Jets fits -- and gain big chunks of yardage -- on the ground. St. Louis has taken five straight from N.Y., most recently in '98. |
| *San Diego 27, Denver 23 |
| A key game in the AFC West -- who would've imagined that? -- which the Chargers will win with ... a big play? Last year the Broncos swept S.D. for the third time in four seasons, 21-7 and 38-37. |
| *Tampa Bay 13, Pittsburgh 9 |
| With their productive running game, the Steelers will test the Buccaneers' run defense -- and Pittsburgh has some D of its own. T.B. defeated the Steelers for the first time the last time they met, in '98. |
Monday Night (10/22/2001):
| *N.Y. Giants 25, Philadelphia 19 |
| After a week off to agonize over their Arizona debacle, the Eagles no doubt can't wait to smack some Giants. But N.Y. has won nine in a row against Philly, including an '00 divisional playoff. |
Open date: Dallas, Miami, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle
* Denotes Home Team
* Note: Picks are straight up.
Broadway Joe