|
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 | |
|---|---|
|
Wk 7: 14 picks
Right: 8 Wrong: 6 Pct: .571 |
YTD: 99 picks
Right: 50 Wrong: 49 Pct: .505 |
| 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.
Sunday's games (11/04/2001):
| *Atlanta 22, New England 18 |
| How clueless have we been in sizing up the Falcons and Patriots? Heading into last week we were right on only one prediction involving each team. But Atlanta has won four straight in the series. |
| Baltimore 17, *Pittsburgh 14 |
| The Steelers have one of the league's best running games, but that alone won't get them past the run-stopping Ravens. For the past two seasons these teams have beaten each other as visitors. |
| *Chicago 19, Cleveland 15 |
| With both the Bears and Browns showcasing much more defense than offense, this matchup is anybody's guess and could be a battle of field goals. They haven't met since a Cleveland win in 1992. |
| *Green Bay 24, Tampa Bay 10 |
| Despite their 14-10 loss to the Buccaneers four weeks ago -- as we predicted -- the Packers have turned into the team T.B. thought it would be, with a solid offense and defense. So, no Bucs sweep. |
| Indianapolis 28, *Buffalo 13 |
| In Week 2 the Colts scored TDs on three straight first-half possessions and went on to rout the Bills 42-26. Indy will win its fourth in a row over Buffalo for the first time since '76-'77. |
| Jacksonville 14, *Tennessee 9 |
| The Jaguars made the Titans their second consecutive victim not allowed a TD, 13-6, in late September, which now seems like a long time ago. Jacksonville has swept Tennesee only once, in '97. |
| *Miami 26, Carolina 7 |
| Their offense may not be setting the AFC on fire, but the Dolphins' defense can certainly stop anything the Panthers throw at them. Miami was a 13-9 winner three years ago in their only meeting. |
| *New Orleans 27, N.Y. Jets 14 |
| Both the Saints and Jets are at their offensive best when they run the ball, but N.Y. has been helpless against the run, while N.O. has been shutting it down. The Saints won last, in '95, 12-0. |
| *N.Y. Giants 32, Dallas 12 |
| If the Giants hope to be contenders, they need to work on their mediocre passing game, but the Cowboys' secondary can keep it that way. Last year N.Y. swept Dallas for the first time since '97. |
| Philadelphia 21, *Arizona 13 |
| If the Eagles hope to be contenders, they can't lose twice to the likes of the Cardinals, who snuck past them 21-20 in Week 4. But Arizona has swept Philly in two of the past three seasons. |
| *San Diego 29, Kansas City 16 |
| Closer than it looks? The Chiefs move the ball best through the air, which is the Chargers' (relative) defensive weakness. S.D. and K.C. have beaten each other at home three seasons in a row. |
| *San Francisco 30, Detroit 17 |
| The 49ers' blockers and backs may overwhelm the Lions' defensive line, but Detroit can make a game of it by putting the ball up against S.F.'s middling secondary. The 49ers won last, in '98. |
| Seattle 20, *Washington 12 |
| Though they face a predictably run-oriented offense, the Redskins are as ineffective against the run as the Lions. Seattle, a 24-14 winner over Washington three years ago, needs this one badly. |
Monday Night (11/05/2001):
| *Oakland 35, Denver 28 |
| This'll be a wild one, matching confident clubs that love to pass but don't defend well against it. The Broncos have won seven straight in the series, but the Raiders thrive on Monday nights. |
Open date: Cincinnati, Minnesota, St. Louis
* Denotes Home Team
* Note: Picks are straight up.
Broadway Joe