NFL Rankings - 20 Nov

Each team has now played 10 games, and the playoff push has begun. The AFC is more wide open than the NFC, with only 6 teams currently owning winning records, but the NFC could have some good races too. In addition to my regular rankings and game predictions, I've also predicted which teams I feel will make the playoffs based on their current ranking and remaining strength of schedule, and I've included that with their projected records below. Here are my current league rankings, with ESPN's Power Rankings in parentheses and teams grouped by similar level of performance.

TW. (LW) Team (Record) Result (ESPN)
1. (2) New England (7-3) W (8)

2. (5) San Francisco (7-2-1) W (3)

3. (1) Denver (7-3) W (7)

4. (3) Houston (9-1) W (1)

5. (9) Green Bay (7-3) W (4)
6. (8) Seattle (6-4) BYE (12)

7. (4) Chicago (7-3) L (6)
8. (6) Baltimore (8-2) W (5)

9. (7) Atlanta (9-1) W (2)
10. (11) Tampa Bay (6-4) W (10)
11. (12) NY Giants (6-4) BYE (9)
12. (16) Cincinnati (5-5) W (17)

13. (17) Minnesota (6-4) BYE (14)
14. (13) New Orleans (5-5) W (13)
15. (10) Dallas (5-5) W (16)
16. (14) San Diego (4-6) L (21)
17. (18) Detroit (4-6) L (19)
18. (22) Arizona (4-6) L (25)
19. (23) Washington (4-6) W (18)
20. (15) Pittsburgh (6-4) L (11)
21. (27) NY Jets (4-6) W (22)

22. (20) Buffalo (4-6) W (24)
23. (21) Saint Louis (3-6-1) L (26)
24. (19) Carolina (2-8) L (29)
25. (24) Cleveland (2-8) L (30)

26. (25) Indianapolis (6-4) L (15)
27. (26) Tennessee (4-6) BYE (23)
28. (29) Miami (4-6) L (20)

29. (28) Philadelphia (3-7) L (27)

30. (32) Jacksonville (1-9) L (31)

31. (30) Kansas City (1-9) L (32)

32. (31) Oakland (3-7) L (28)

New England took over the top spot after blowing out the Indianapolis Colts and rookie sensation Andrew Luck 59-24. The Patriots 3 losses have come by a total of 4 points, and two of them were at Seattle and Baltimore, both of which will likely make the playoffs. The other loss, to Arizona, is becoming more of a head-scratcher each week, but their win over the Broncos in week 5 is looking better and better. They still host two of the league's best teams, Houston and San Francisco, before the season ends, but they should be favored since they will be at Foxboro.

The New York Jets were the only thing that stood between me and a perfect week of picks, as they pulled off an upset at Saint Louis that was tough to see coming. They aren't likely to get their first winning streak of the season, though, since they are headed to New England this week, and the Patriots are the league's hottest team so far.

Oakland has been slipping lower and lower each week as they continue to lose nearly every game, with only two wins in the last two months, both over the two teams with the league's worst records. Oakland hasn't even gotten within 10 points of an opponent this month, and they probably still won't against the Cincinnati Bengals this week, who have caught their second wind lately.

Dallas has entered the easy portion of their schedule finally, but they played down to the level of their competition this week, playing extra time just to defeat the Cleveland Browns by a field goal. A week ago it looked like the Cowboys had a pretty good shot at the playoffs, but now it's not looking quite as likely that they can keep up with teams like the Redskins and Saints.

Playoff Predictions

NFC

(1) San Francisco (12-3-1)
(2) Atlanta (12-4)
(3) Green Bay (11-5)
(4) NY Giants (10-6)
(5) Chicago (10-6)
(6) Seattle (10-6)

AFC

(1) Houston (14-2)
(2) Denver (13-3)
(3) New England (12-4)
(4) Baltimore (12-4)
(5) Pittsburgh (9-7)
(6) Cincinnati (8-8)

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

Thursday

Houston at Detroit - Texans by 5
Washington at Dallas - Cowboys by 6
New England at NY Jets - Patriots by 11

Sunday

Minnesota at Chicago - Bears by 8
Oakland at Cincinnati - Bengals by 20
Pittsburgh at Cleveland - Browns by 1
Buffalo at Indianapolis - Colts by 1
Denver at Kansas City - Broncos by 20
Seattle at Miami - Seahawks by 11
Atlanta at Tampa Bay - Buccaneers by 3
Tennessee at Jacksonville - Titans by 1
Baltimore at San Diego - Ravens by 2
San Francisco at New Orleans - 49ers by 7
Saint Louis at Arizona - Cardinals by 6
Green Bay at NY Giants - Packers by 1

Monday

Carolina at Philadelphia - Panthers by 3

NBA

Toronto at Philadelphia - 76ers by 7
New York at New Orleans - Knicks by 12
Brooklyn at LA Lakers - Lakers by 7

College Basketball

(1) Indiana vs. Georgetown - Hoosiers by 9
Savannah State at (7) Florida - Gators by 33
Butler vs. (9) North Carolina - Tar Heels by 30
(11) UCLA vs. Georgia - Bruins by 18
Saint Louis vs. (12) Kansas - Billikens by 5
Longwood at (14) Creighton - Bluejays by 71
Boise State at (15) Michigan State - Spartans by 15
Campbell at (22) Cincinnati - Bearcats by 38
Middle Tennessee at UCF - Blue Raiders by 6
USC-Upstate at Santa Clara - Broncos by 43
McNeese State at Mississippi - Rebels by 36
Wofford at Richmond - Spiders by 27
Fairleigh Dickinson at Illinois State - Redbirds by 49
Illinois at Chaminade - Fighting Illini
Louisiana Tech at Chattanooga - Bulldogs by 13
Presbyterian at Wisconsin - Badgers by 41

Prediction Results

NFL: 13-1 (.929) 101-58 overall (.635)
Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 14-13 overall (.519)
NBA: 3-4 (.429) 100-52 overall (.658)
College Basketball: 5-3 (.625) 103-23 overall (.817)
Upsets: 2-1 (.667) 7-9 overall (.438)