Fueled by a 4-1 Week 16, Colin Cowherd enters the holiday on a high note.
Sports betters who followed his Blazin’ 5 selections are also singing his praises since they double their money on the FOX Bet app when three of his five picks cover.
While his picks were good for the pocketbook, they went against the two PA NFL teams. Cowherd picked the Jets (+3) to cover versus the Steelers, a win as the Jets won outright. His only wrong pick of the week was the Cowboys (-2) against the Eagles.
It’s a bit curious Cowherd picked the Cowboys, though. He talked up Carson Wentz throughout the week calling him the “closest thing to Patrick Mahomes” and, well, let’s call it praising his ability to work with practice squad graduates.
A hotter-than-chestnuts on an open fire 4-1 performance puts Cowherd’s Blazin’ 5 at 9-7 for the season with an overall record of 42-36-3. So, even if he gets all of his picks wrong next week, he ends the regular season above .500.
Colin Cowherd’s Week 16 NFL picks
Baltimore Ravens (-9) vs. Cleveland Browns
Colin’s pick: Baltimore
Colin’s final score: Ravens 33, Browns 20
Cowherd said: “We talk a lot about Baltimore’s offense but their defense has been absolutely sensational since Marcus Peters arrived. They’re getting a pass rush during their ten-game winning streak. They’re first, second or third in virtually everything including quarterback hits per game. Baker Mayfield has looked very gun shy in the last six weeks. He’s tired of getting hit. Cleveland is a team that allows you to run the football. Teams average 135 yards on the ground. The last time they played they didn’t have Marcus Peters. Nick Chubb was unbelievable. Moral of the story, September is not December.”
Actual final score: Ravens 31, Browns 15
Did Colin win?: Yes
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins (+1)
Colin’s pick: Miami
Colin’s final score: Dolphins 24, Bengals 20
Cowherd said: “Really like Miami here. It’s close to a pick ’em. Miami is at home on holiday weekend. I don’t think Cincinnati is that well-coached. I think Miami is not great but well-coached. After their disastrous start Brian Flores comes in, new team, he’s trying to figure out his personnel. The last seven games they are 3-4. In their last ten they are 7-3 ATS. Since Week 9, Ryan Fitzpatrick has twice as many touchdown passes as interceptions, he’s completing about 63% of his throws. He’s a great transition quarterback. He’s not a franchise guy but he’s a gamer and he went to Harvard. It’s one of the rare times I love what is considered a bad football team.”
Actual final score: Dolphins 38, Bengals 35
Did Colin win?: Yes
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets (+3)
Colin’s pick: Jets
Colin’s final score: Jets 26, Steelers 23
Cowherd said: “Everyone sold their stock after Sam Darnold’s ‘ghost’ comments against New England. Even in losses Darnold’s playing very very well. Since Week 9, he has a 62% completion percentage, 12 TDS, 4 picks, 95 passer rating, two rushing touchdowns. That’s with the worst offensive line in football. He’s not the issue. I love the Steelers front seven but Devlin Hodges, in the four games he’s played, he’s got more interceptions than touchdowns. The Jets have shown at home, remember the Dallas game, where they are pretty impressive. I think Pittsburgh’s been exposed as a totally limited offense.”
Actual final score: Jets 16, Steelers 10
Did Colin win?: Yes
Dallas Cowboys (-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Colin’s pick: Cowboys
Colin’s final score: “Dallas by a touchdown”
Cowherd said: “Carson Wentz is having a much better year than everybody says but here’s the thing about Philadelphia, they can’t beat you over the top. The last couple of weeks against average teams, their defense can’t take the ball away. This is what worries me. If you just let Dak do his little comeback patterns and Zeke runs the ball, Dallas can dominate time of possession. The last couple of weeks, Philadelphia defensively has been awful. Dallas is 5-0 this year when they rush for over 172 yards and Zeke has owned the Eagles defensive front. I love Fletcher Cox but he hasn’t had a great year by Fletcher Cox standards. The Cowboys offensive line is healthy. The Dallas staff gets fired if they don’t win. There is unbelievable urgency. I think Dak’s injury forces Dallas to not get cute and run the football.”
Actual final score: Eagles 17, Cowboys 9
Did Colin win?: No
Kansas City Chiefs (-6) vs. Chicago Bears
Colin’s pick: Chiefs
Colin’s final score: Chiefs 30, Bears, 21
Cowherd said: “I’ll easily swallow the points here. What is Chicago playing for? Kansas City has sneakily become the second hottest team in the league after Baltimore. The last four games they are 4-0 and 4-0 ATS. Since their bye week their defense has been really good. Since Week 12, their defense is number one in fewest points allowed and fifth in fewest yards allowed. In the Bears last ten games they are 2-8 ATS. When they do win it’s ugly. They game has to be played a certain way for Chicago to win. I think Andy Reid privately is thinking ‘we got healthy at the right time, we got hot at the right time.’ This is a team that went into New England and won a football game. I don’t think they played flawless football.”
Actual final score: Chiefs 26, Bears 3
Did Colin win?: Yes
Blazin’ 5 Week 16 record: 4-1
Blazin’ 5 overall record: 42-36-3
Blazin’ 5 record (requires winning three out of five games): 9-7