RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – The plot has thickened after Week 3 as some of our prognosticators ran into a brick wall. It was a tough weekend for teams from the Commonwealth as Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion all lost.
Amanda Malkowski is clinging to a slim one game lead after splitting her games last week while Will Armbruster used a strong 6-2 week to jump back into the coveted 8News Pigskin Picks Championship Trophy talk. From top to bottom, five games separate our prognosticators and we’ve still got a long season ahead.
For your Average Joe, this week’s games might be as hard to predict as this weekend’s weather. Have no fear though – your hurricane edition of the 8News Pigskin Picks are in.
Amanda Malkowski, 8News Good Morning Richmond Anchor (last week – 4-4, overall – 17-7)
L.C. Bird Skyhawks @ Monacan Chiefs
Pick: L.C. Bird Skyhawks
Both teams are really good this year, but L.C Bird is ranked higher, so I’ll listen to my 8Sports team!
Maine Black Bears @ Richmond Spiders
Pick: Richmond Spiders
Does Maine even have a team? Never heard of the Maine Black Bears in my life.
Pittsburg Panthers @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Pick: Virginia Tech Hokies
Ugh, tough call here. The Hokies looked bad last week but good the week before. Pittsburgh is okay but not anything to write home about. I’ll go Hokies on this one.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide
Georgia is the underdog here, but still a solid bet. They’re playing at home though. I’m still going to pick Alabama, but both teams are tremendous, so this should be a great game!
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
This game might not even happen because of the Hurricane. Neither team is good, let’s be honest. But I will go with the Eagles for my girl, Kerri O.
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: New York Jets
The Dolphins aren’t looking great. The Jets are looking better. Who knows?
New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Buffalo Bills
The Bills look great! I’m happy for Bills fans after so many bad seasons.
Cleveland Browns @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: San Diego Chargers
My girl Darrielle Snipes gave me some advice on this one. She thinks the Chargers will win because “the Browns can never get it right.” I concur.
Will Armbruster, 8News Digital Content Producer (last week – 6-2, overall 16-8)
L.C. Bird Skyhawks @ Monacan Chiefs
Pick: L.C. Bird Skyhawks
Unbeaten L.C. Bird has been ranked No. 1 in our 8Sports Top 10 all season long. At 4-0, the Skyhawks have shown no signs why we should go against them yet.
Maine Black Bears @ Richmond Spiders
Pick: Richmond Spiders
This had been a competitive rivalry over the years with Maine leading the all-time series against UR 13-12 against UR. I like the Spiders, who are fresh of a bye week, to pull even in the series.
Pittsburg Panthers @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Pick: Pittsburgh
Va. Tech let me down last week losing to ECU for the second year in a row (I wanted so badly to pick ECU, but had picked Tech to lose the week before against Purdue and figured my disliking the Hokies was clouting my judgment). Pittsburgh is one last-second field goal away from being 3-0.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama enters as the underdog here, and you never – I repeat NEVER – pick against Nick Saban when he’s an underdog.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
After a rocky start to the season, I like Philly to win its second on the row and get back to .500 (2-2). But don’t get too excited Eagles’ fans, back-to-back wins over the Jets and ‘Skins isn’t going to turn the season around just yet.
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: Miami Dolphins
I picked Miami as a potential sleeper this year, so I can’t envision them falling to 1-3 and two games behind the would-be 3-1 Jets.
New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Buffalo Bills
The battle of upstate New York… I love what Tyrod Taylor and the Bills are doing this season and like them to improve to 3-1 at home.
Cleveland Browns @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: San Diego Chargers
Who’s the starting quarterback for the Browns this week? That’s been the question in Cleveland since the late 90s.
Chip Brierre, 8News Weekend Sports Anchor (last week – 4-4, overall – 15-9)
L.C. Bird Skyhawks @ Monacan Chiefs
Pick: L.C. Bird Skyhawks
The Skyhawks have been unstoppable and Monacan is without Syour Fludd at quarterback. No matter how good Khalik Hamlin is, L.C. Bird as a whole always overpower teams with one star.
Maine Black Bears @ Richmond Spiders
Pick: Richmond Spiders
Spiders are off the bye week and back for their 2nd consecutive home game. The conference opener is no slouch with what head coach Danny Rocco calls an elite Maine defensive front seven. Still, Jacobi Green and Seth Fisher are two of the CAA’s best running backs and will get some room to run, which will open up the passing game for Kyle Lauletta. Only question mark is Spiders’ defensive line – only registered one sack so far this season, which has to change on Saturday.
Pittsburg Panthers @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Pick: Virginia Tech Hokies
Back at home for the Hokies. Even though Tech has some key injuries, I like the Hokies.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide
I’ve never, since Nick Saban became head coach in Tuscaloosa, seen Alabama lose back to back games. Georgia’s offense is prolific led by former UVA starting quarterback Greyson Lambert, who has been sensational at his new school, but he’s never faced a defense like Bama’s.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
This is a must win for both teams, and even though on paper Washington’s defense is playing better, the Redskins offense can look really, really bad. Case in point vs. the Giants last week. Despite some late scoring, without a solid running game, Kirk Cousins can sputter in a hurry. Eagles will use the Chip Kelly recipe for success (or chaos at this point?) to get the win they need, putting Washington back where it’s so comfortable… last in the NFC East.
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: New York Jets
I refused to watch the Dolphins game last week as former Hokie Tyrod Taylor tore up Miami in their home-opener of their newly renovated Sun “Lifeless” stadium. After predicting Miami would win the AFC East this season, I’ve lost faith just like EVERY OTHER SEASON EVER as a Miami fan. The only advantage either team has is that both have to play in jolly old London town. And even though I hate Dolphins losing to the Jets almost as much as losing to the Patriots (both fans fill Miami’s stadium, making it essentially a home game for them), Jets look good, defense is great and their “in sync.” Ugh…Jets.
New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Buffalo Bills
The Giants offense came together the way I had envisioned at the beginning of the season, lots of short passes that bring down the DBs to open things up for Odell Beckham Jr. Likewise for the Bills, Tyrod Taylor has been a revelation in Buffalo! As has Karlos Williams at RB (picked up off the waiver wire SCORE!). In a battle of upstate and jersey, Buffalo’s defense is better, and we all know the classic sports cliché! “Defense wins championships” or in this case the game.
Cleveland Browns @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: San Diego Chargers
San Diego is my pick for our station’s eliminator pool. Why? Phillip Rivers vs. a reeling Browns secondary with three receivers who have each scored once already this season. It will be a game of matchups that the Chargers already hold advantage over.
Mitch Carr, 8News Sports Director (last week – 3-5, overall – 14-10)
L.C. Bird Skyhawks @ Monacan Chiefs
Pick: L.C. Bird Skyhawks
The Skyhawks this year are the most dominant team in the area.
Maine Black Bears @ Richmond Spiders
Pick: Maine Black Bears
Great D-line for Maine plus a young quarterback for Richmond plus a driving rain storm equals a win for the Black Bears.
Pittsburg Panthers @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Pick: Virginia Tech Hokies
Losing on the road to ECU is tough, but beating Tech in Lane Stadium without your best player is tougher. Pitt RB James Conner has a torn MCL and won’t play the rest of the season. Advantage Hokies.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide
I don’t care about his numbers; I don’t believe Greyson Lambert is that good. Georgia also runs a pro-style attack, and that’s exactly what Alabama is geared to stop. Also…Georgia never wins the big game.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Washington Redskins
This game should be a wet one, and the Eagles can’t run the ball. The Redskins can.
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: Miami Dolphins
This Miami team is better than it has played so far, and I think they’ll start to show it as the season continues.
New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Buffalo Bills
No Lesean McCoy, no problem. Karlos Williams has scored a TD in each of his first three games. The Giants aren’t very good.
Cleveland Browns @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: San Diego Chargers
The Browns couldn’t be the Raiders on a west coast swing, and they won’t be the Chargers either. Second prediction (bonus point?): rookie running back Melvin Gordon scores his first career touchdown.
Robb Crocker, 8News Digital Content Manager (last week – 6-2, overall 13-11)
L.C. Bird Skyhawks @ Monacan Chiefs
Pick: L.C. Bird Skyhawks
If L.C. Bird wins, I will buy everyone ice cream. When I mean everyone though, I mean just me.
Maine Black Bears @ Richmond Spiders
Pick: Richmond Spiders
Spiders are coming off a bye and have the home field advantage.
Pittsburg Panthers @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Pick: Virginia Tech Hokies
I’m very hesitant to pick the Hokies after they failed to beat ECU. Pittsburgh has some injury issues and Tech has something to prove and will have a rabid (and wet) home crowd — should be a formula for success for the Hokies in a close one.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide
Great situation for former UVA QB Greyson Lambert, who has proven you can go back home (as Cavalier fans rejoice). This will be a close one, decided by a late field goal, because ‘Bama has a tendency to play down to their opponents. Nick Saban won’t let the Tide drop two SEC games in a row.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Washington Redskins
There was a rumor floating around on Thursday that this game might be played in Detroit. Hasn’t Detroit been through enough? If the game is played at FedEx Field (which is more than likely), where the opponents have the home field advantage, I still think the Redskins will pull one off. The conditions will be perfect to just run the ball – and that is about all the Redskins do well this year. This game might be the Redskins last chance at a win.
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: Miami Dolphins
I’m waiting for the real Dolphins to show themselves. We saw the real Jets last week. Advantage Fish…
New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Buffalo Bills
The Giants are a hard team to figure out. For 58 of the 60 minutes against the Cowboys, three quarters against the Falcons and against the Redskins (all the time), this team looks like they could be competitive. But with two late collapses, this team can’t be trusted. In addition, the Bills are much improved and have a coach who has everyone in Western New York believing.
Cleveland Browns @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: San Diego Chargers
I’m going to try to break this game down as best I can as far as the X’s and O’s go. The Browns are bad. There. Comprehensive, technical, and concise — and it’s really hard to argue with that logic.
Kerri O’Brien, 8News Investigative Reporter (last week – 3-5, overall – 12-12)
L.C. Bird Skyhawks @ Monacan Chiefs
Pick: L.C. Bird Skyhawks
This one will be close but I am going L.C. Bird
Maine Black Bears @ Richmond Spiders
Pick: Richmond Spiders
Just feel like they have a better program.
Pittsburg Panthers @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Pick: Virginia Tech Hokies
Panthers are without their starting Qb and running back Connor. I have to think that will jam them up. Otherwise I would have went with the Panthers.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Georgia Bulldogs
They look strong and their mascot is the cutest!
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
Not just because this is my team but they looked a lot better with that W over the Jets and even though the Skins beat the Rams, they still look bad.
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: New York Jets
I think they rebound after that Eagles loss and I think they are a really good team. Jets D is solid! Not sure how they let the Eagles win. Miami is struggling, Tannehill looked awful last week.
New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Buffalo Bills
Ah, the Giants are just a mess!
Cleveland Browns @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: San Diego Chargers
The Browns don’t even know who their QB is.
