That’s right folks, the chips have been pushed in and we have ourselves a winner takes all showdown in week 16! In an unprecedented move, Josh picked an even two games instead of the traditional odd number of games which lead to a split. This now means that last week’s point will rollover into this week for a double point opportunity and since we are currently tied with only one week remaining after this, if one man can capture a victory this weekend they will clinch the challenge crown. Gotta love the drama! Will Josh go back to the even picks strategy and potentially push to week 17? Or will he go for it all and take 1 or 3? Perhaps for the first time we’ll get a full slate 5 pick challenge. Josh has been surprisingly agile with his strategies throughout this competition so I cannot say I have a strong inclination as to how he will attack it. With CFB bowl season beginning this week I have decided to put together a separate post just for bowl games, thus they will not be included with the NFL picks here (Josh has approved this, as he wouldn’t dare touch a college pick with so much on the line). So with that being said, all I can do is put my 5 best picks out there and see what happens. I have built some good momentum leading into this colossal weekend so lets see what we’re made of. This is where the boys are separated from the men. Best of luck to Josh!
JOSH CHALLENGES:
HOU +3.5 @ TEN
I was thrilled to see Josh challenge this game, as it was my favorite pick of the week. Red hot Titans at home against the division rival Texans with first place in the division on the line. After getting embarrassed at home last week to the Broncos I felt good about Houston bouncing back and refocusing. Out of the gate, the Texans showed they were ready to go, marching down the field into the red zone on the first drive. An errant pass from Watson resulted in a Titans interception, wiping away the strong opening drive from Houston. The Texans defense and special teams would step up to bail out Watson, as they forced Tennessee to attempted a field goal on the following drive which they blocked. Now into the second quarter still even with no score, Titans were threatening with 1st and goal at the HOU 5 but an outstanding hit from the Texans defender on a slant pass deflected the ball right into the arms of Whitney Mercilus who returned it 86 yards. Texans turned this into a touchdown and after forcing a 3 and out on the ensuing drive, they would find the end zone again, grabbing a 14-0 lead going into the half. Titans came out in the 2nd half strong, tying the game up at 14, but Houston responded with 10 points of their own stretching the lead back to 10 at 24-14. A late touchdown from Tennessee made it 24-21 but that would be it and the Texans wrapped up the big win, taking control of the division.
1-0 Gus.
OAK -6.5 vs JAC
The logic behind this pick was purely motivation based. Both teams wallowing in disappointing seasons leaves the lone motivational factor being pride for the Raiders playing their last game at the Oakland Coliseum. Surely Gruden would have his guys fired up and ready to give the Oakland faithful a warm send off on their last home game before moving to Vegas. It would appear this was right on the money as Oakland controlled the game with a 16-3 lead approaching the 4th. A Lambo field goal made it 16-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter, which would hold until 5 minutes left when it all began to fall apart. Minshew would find Conley twice in the end zone on the Jaguars last two drives to steal away the cover and the win from Oakland, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of the Black Hole and myself. A golden opportunity to take a big advantage in the challenge slips away and keeps the score all square.
1-1. Challenge stays tied 7-7.
WEEK 15 RESULTS:
Pro picks – [3-2]
SEA -6 @ CAR
30-24 SEA – WIN
HOU +3.5 @ TEN
24-21 HOU – WIN
NE -10 @ CIN
34-13 NE – WIN
OAK -6.5 vs JAC
20-16 JAC – LOSS
LAR -1 @ DAL
44-21 DAL – LOSS
Overall Week – [3-2]
Season Record – [74-71]
Total Record – [116-104]
*DISCLAIMER: GUSTER’S GUARANTEES IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY WAGERS LOST IN RELATION TO ANY SUGGESTIONS MADE DURING THIS SEGMENT*
Week 16 NFL Picks
BAL -9.5 @ CLE
MIA +0.5 vs CIN
WAS -1 vs NYG
TEN +3 vs NO
KC -6 @ CHI
PICKS TRACKER
| NCAAF | NFL | Week | Season | Total | ||||||||
| Post # | Year | Week | W | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | W | L |
| 1 | 2018 | 6,7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| 2 | 2018 | 7,8 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 6 |
| 3 | 2018 | 8,9 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 18 | 12 |
| 4 | 2018 | 9,10 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 16 | 24 | 16 |
| 5 | 2018 | 10,11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 19 | 26 | 19 |
| 6 | 2018 | 11,12 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 23 | 32 | 23 |
| 7 | 2018 | 12,13 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 27 | 38 | 27 |
| 8 | 2018 | 13,14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 33 | 42 | 33 |
| 9 | 2019 | 1,2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 49 | 36 |
| 10 | 2019 | 2,3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 57 | 38 |
| 11 | 2019 | 3,4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 8 | 64 | 41 |
| 12 | 2019 | 4,5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 14 | 68 | 47 |
| 13 | 2019 | 5,6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 34 | 16 | 76 | 49 |
| 14 | 2019 | 6,7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 22 | 80 | 55 |
| 15 | 2019 | 7,8 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 40 | 30 | 82 | 63 |
| 16 | 2019 | 8,9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 43 | 37 | 85 | 70 |
| 17 | 2019 | 9,10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 48 | 42 | 90 | 75 |
| 18 | 2019 | 10,11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 53 | 47 | 95 | 80 |
| 19 | 2019 | 11,12 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 56 | 54 | 98 | 87 |
| 20 | 2019 | 12,13 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 59 | 61 | 101 | 94 |
| 21 | 2019 | 13,14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 64 | 66 | 106 | 99 |
| 22 | 2019 | 14,15 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 71 | 69 | 113 | 102 |
| 23 | 2019 | 15, 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 74 | 71 | 116 | 104 |
CHALLENGE TRACKER
| NCAAF | NFL | Picks | Weeks | |||||
| Week | Gus | Josh | Gus | Josh | Gus | Josh | Gus | Josh |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 6 |
| 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 7 |
| 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 7 |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 7 |
Wasted Talent 