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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 10: 15 picks
Right: 10 Wrong: 5 Pct: .666 |
YTD: 143 picks
Right: 81 Wrong: 62 Pct: .566 |
| 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 games (11/22/2001):
| Denver 24, *Dallas 17 |
| The Cowboys continue to run the ball effectively, but they can't do anything through the air -- which is too bad, because pass defense is the Broncos' weakness. Denver was a 42-23 winner in 1998. |
| Green Bay 21, *Detroit 19 |
| Even though the Packers spanked the Lions 28-6 on Opening Day, this is a tough pick, because 1) G.B. hasn't swept Detroit since '96 and 2) the Lions are 6-3 at home on Thanksgiving since '92. |
Sunday's games (11/25/2001):
| Atlanta 22, *Carolina 12 |
| Not a tough pick, because 1) the Falcons handled the Panthers in Week Two, 24-16, 2) Atlanta has won six of the last seven in the series, and 3) Carolina's offense and defense are both feeble. |
| Baltimore 20, *Jacksonville 13 |
| A month ago Ravens backup QB Randall Cunningham led two fourth-quarter TD drives as Baltimore nipped the Jaguars 18-17. The Ravens will make their fourth in a row over Jacksonville look easier. |
| *Cleveland 19, Cincinnati 14 |
| This is not only a key AFC Central game but an upset pick, because the Browns' offense has been AWOL. The Bengals' Corey Dillon ran for 140 yards in Cincy's 24-14 win over Cleveland in October. |
| *Indianapolis 24, San Francisco 21 |
| We're giving the Colts no more than a home-field edge, because in a battle of two high-powered offenses, the 49ers have the only capable defense. S.F. has won six of its last seven against Indy. |
| *Kansas City 25, Seattle 10 |
| Another upset, because the Chiefs should be hopping mad after collapsing against the Jets two weeks ago and then having to sit out last week. In '00 K.C. swept the Seahawks, 24-17 and 24-19. |
| Miami 21, *Buffalo 13 |
| The Dolphins' defense will win this one, because their offense is having problems -- even against defenses as weak as the Bills'. After losing twice to Buffalo in '99, Miami won twice last year. |
| *Minnesota 26, Chicago 20 |
| As the Vikings' offense sputtered, the Bears scored two late TD's to beat Minnesota 17-10 nine weeks ago. But Chicago isn't the team it thinks it is, and the Vikes will prove it through the air. |
| *New England 13, New Orleans 7 |
| Poring over stats may not help here; the Saints stand out on defense, but this is anybody's game. Don't expect a high-scoring affair like the last N.E.-N.O. clash, won by the Patriots 30-27. |
| Oakland 23, *N.Y. Giants 14 |
| If they've scouted correctly, both the Raiders and Giants will put the ball up, because they won't get far on the ground. Oakland won all three times they met in the '90s, most recently in '98. |
| *Philadelphia 20, Washington 9 |
| To make this closer than it looks, Redskins backs need to poke holes in the Eagles' suspect defensive line. In four of the past five seasons Philly has won first, then Washington has evened up. |
| Pittsburgh 22, *Tennessee 10 |
| In Week 7 the Steelers punished the Titans with one of the league's weakest passing attacks, 34-7. It's still weak, but Pittsburgh should complete its first sweep of Tennessee since '95. |
| *San Diego 28, Arizona 19 |
| After tough games with the Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders, the Chargers don't have a gimme here against a Cardinals team that likes to throw as much as they do. Arizona won last, three years ago. |
Monday Night (11/26/2001):
| *St. Louis 33, Tampa Bay 15 |
| The Buccaneers pulled off a thrilling last-minute Monday-night win over the Rams in '00, 38-35, but T.B. won't come close to matching that point total against the rejuvenated St. Louis defense. |
Open date: N.Y. Jets
* Denotes Home Team
* Note: Picks are straight up.
Broadway Joe