NFL Picks Week 13: Bears To Beat Lions, Jets Over Patriots, Says Random Number Generator

The Random.org random number generators that I have been using at SB Nation Chicago to make NFL picks -- since I make no pretense of being an expert at this kind of thing -- had a better week 12 than week 11. After a bad start, missing all three Thanksgiving Day games (although nearly picking the upset as the Cowboys came close to upending the Saints), the random numbers picked eight of the remaining 13 games correctly for a .500 record for the week at 8-8, and an overall record of 35-37 since I began the picks in week eight.

Let me add that I'm very happy that it picked the Bears/Eagles game incorrectly! Also, the random number generators came pretty close on these two (on the first, getting the margin of victory within two, on the second, within one):

Prediction: Giants 24, Jaguars 20 Actual: Giants 34, Jaguars 28
Prediction: 49ers 41, Cardinals 21 Actual: 49ers 27, Cardinals 6

Onward with the picks for Week 13. Since, for the rest of the season, there's a Thursday night game each week, we'll be posting these picks on Wednesdays (and note, this week's Thursday pick is almost certainly wrong). As a reminder, here's how it works: I use random.org's list generator and its true random number generator to sort the teams playing in a random order, then generate random numbers to match with each team name as a score prediction. I have adjusted the number range to be 0-49. 49 is the highest number of points scored by anyone this year except for 59 now scored twice; by the Raiders a few weeks ago and the Eagles against the Redskins. Putting the range up to 59 would probably result in too many 50+ scores, so I'm limiting it to 49, seven touchdowns.

This week's caveat: I usually have to throw out a bunch of unlikely (or impossible) football scores; this week, just two -- the random generator came up with "4", and also "1". Remember also, we're not picking point spreads, just wins and losses.

Texans 33
Eagles 6

Jaguars 36
Titans 41

Bears 26
Lions 20

Bills 6
Vikings 19

Broncos 28
Chiefs 18

49ers 49
Packers 40

Saints 7
Bengals 47

Browns 13
Dolphins 38

Redskins 13
Giants 32

Raiders 24
Chargers 48

Cowboys 9
Colts 13

Rams 16
Cardinals 20

Panthers 44
Seahawks 24

Falcons 45
Buccaneers 3

Steelers 46
Ravens 36

Jets 20
Patriots 7

Some of these look pretty good, some... not so much (no, I don't really think the Bengals will beat the Saints by 40 points). As always, this is just for fun; SB Nation Chicago is not responsible for any real money you might lose from any legal wagers on these games.