Well, another week, another similar result. I think I’ve reached the conclusion that we’re really playing for positive points here (Sorry Amanda). Last week, Jim beat me by 3 (as I got my Lock of the Week incorrect, again). So here’s our season standings:

Matt: +6
Jim: +3
Kristen: +2
Amanda: -2

I’m ready to announce a plan for this challenge that could shake up the game forever (I wish I had Julie Chen available to read that). We’re going to repeat contestants. It’s simple really, there’s 17 weeks in the NFL season. So 8 people get two weeks of picks and then our top 2 performers square off in Week 17 to determine the ultimate prognosticator. If you want to be a guest picker, by all means, let me know. I just go week-by-week here. There’s no plan.

This week, we’re joined by David Roy Christian Machado (better known by his stage name of “Dave Machado”). David might not be a huge football fan. Or any kind of football fan. But if there’s one thing he is, it’s a computer sciencey guy. So he created some algorithms, punched up some real good C++ stuff, and came up with some solid Week 5 picks, even if he does greatly anticipate Wayne Gretzky hitting lots of grand slams for the Chicago Bulls this weekend.

Jason’s Picks:
Cincinnati (+9) over Baltimore
Buffalo (-6) over Cleveland
Washington (+3.5) over Carolina
Pittsburgh (-11.5) over Detroit
Kansas City (+9) over Dallas
Oakland (+16) over New York Giants
Tampa Bay (+15.5) over Philadelphia
Minnesota (-11) over St. Louis
San Francisco (-2.5) over Atlanta
Arizona (-5) over Houston
New England (-3) over Denver
Jacksonville (-3) over Seattle
Indianapolis (-3) over Tennessee *
New York Jets (PK) over Miami

David’s Picks:
Baltimore (-9) over Cincinnati
Cleveland (+6) over Buffalo
Carolina (-3.5) over Washington
Detroit (+11.5) over Pittsburgh
Dallas (-9) over Kansas City
Oakland (+16) over New York Giants
Philadelphia (-15.5) over Tampa Bay
St. Louis (+11) over Minnesota
San Francisco (-2.5) over Atlanta *
Houston (+5) over Arizona
Denver (+3) over New England
Jacksonville (-3) over Seattle
Indianapolis (-3) over Tennessee
Miami (PK) over New York Jets