NFL picks for Week 17: Finally, some interesting football

Maybe it’s the fatigue of covering a 14-1 team, but I just did not care about this college football bowl season.

I didn’t watch a second of my alma mater’s loss to Baylor. I’m not sure I’ve even seen any highlights. I had the two playoff games on TV but it was more background noise than anything.

I do believe in oversaturation, and I think that’s what we’ve reached with the bowl system.

But the next four or five weeks of the NFL season is my favorite. Almost every game has implications this week, be it playoffs or draft. I like that the NFL moved the Panthers to 4:25 p.m. to add some intrigue, for example.

Brace yourself in the coming weeks for more talk about expanding the NFL playoffs, too. People love to talk about it, but I don’t see it happening. The NFL’s postseason is the best in major sports, and they should keep it exactly like it is.

Last week: 9-6

Locks: 1-2

Season: 145-91

This week’s picks, with the home team in CAPS:

Lock No. 1

CAROLINA (minus-11 1/2) 24, Tampa Bay 17: I couldn’t believe this line when I saw it. I know the Panthers are 14-1 and the better team, but I don’t think they take down the Bucs by more than 11 points. That’s absurd.

Carolina is down its starting running back, receiver and free safety. Sure they killed the Bucs last time out, but I still believe Tampa Bay is the second-best team in the NFC South.

I think Carolina locks up homefield advantage, but it’s going to be close. We all need a little drama after this boring bowl season.

Lock No. 2

ARIZONA (minus-7) 28, Seattle 20: The Panthers will get no help from their friends in Glendale this week.

Arizona is remarkably hot. The Cardinals are playing incredibly well and there seems to be no stopping them.

The only thing that stands in Arizona’s way to Super Bowl 50 is a trip to Charlotte for the NFC Championship Game, and I absolutely believe that game is going to happen.

Lock No. 3

Pittsburgh (minus-11 1/2) 40, CLEVELAND 7: The Steelers may not make the playoffs this year despite 10 wins, but they’re going to try to get in with 10 wins and style points in Week 17.

It’d be a shame to see them shut out while a bad team like the Texans gets in. That’s the way the cookie crumbles, though.

The rest

N.Y. Jets 17, BUFFALO 10

New England 24, MIAMI 6

ATLANTA 38, New Orleans 35

CINCINATTI 20, Baltimore 10

HOUSTON 17, Jacksonville 7

INDIANAPOLIS 13, Tennessee 3

Washington 21, DALLAS 13

N.Y. GIANTS 35, Philadelphia 20

CHICAGO 28, Detroit 24

KANSAS CITY 24, Oakland 10

DENVER 30, San Diego 14

SAN FRANCISCO 17, St. Louis 14

GREEN BAY 21, Minnesota 20

This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "NFL picks for Week 17: Finally, some interesting football."