It's getting closer to Christmas time, and what better way to save some cash to stuff the stockings than by Beating the Bookie?  That's right, it's time for Beat the Bookie: NFL (free) Picks for Week 14 (2008)!  This week, we'll be jolly backing Chicago, New England, Dallas and Tampa Bay.

Last week was a holliday week, so we celebrated it by picking the 3 Thanksgiving Day games.  We made bank taking Dallas and Tennessee to cover (and boy did they!), but stumbled a bit with the Cardinals.  Still, 2-1 wasn't a bad way to spend the hollidays, but now it's time to start padding that wallet so we can build up extra gift money!

As always, you can post your comments below. Don't forget that YOU, TOO!! can post your very own weekly picks, and other sports blogs, here on RotoJoe.com for free!  Just sign up and post!

Week 14 NFL Picks:

Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears (-6.5)
Jacksonville is coming off of back-to-back-to-back loses, and they're running right into another one.  Here's a story of a struggling team from Florida with 3 wins on the year looking to find their first win in almost a month in Chicago in December.  Yeah, not going to happen.  The Bears were beat up in Minnesota last week, but they'll return home this week and give their fans something to cheer about in the cold.  Give the points, bears cover.
Give the points, take the Bears (by 8)

New England Patriots (-4.5) at Seattle Seahawks
I'm sure there's some cool stat showing how poorly teams perform going from coast to coast, but I didn't look it up for this pick.  All I did was see Seattle, and -4.5, and I'd take pretty much anyone in this spot.  The Pats will be playing with a mission.  Their loss last week squanders a chance to tie the Jets for tops in their division, and also places them 1 game behind Baltimore and Indy in the wildcard race - two teams they'll lose to in a tiebreaker if tied.  Give me Cassel, and give the Seahawks the 4.5 points.  Besides, this really doesn't look like the week Seattle will get their first win since October.
Give the points, take the Patriots (by 7)

Dalls Cowboys (+3) at Philadelphia Eagles
Hmm...didn't we play this game last week?  Good offensive team on the road in Philadelphia, so we took the points and were beaten silly by McNabb's return to form.  Yep.  But, just to show that I'm fair and biased....I still don't like McNabb, and think last week was not the norm.  Plus, I like the Cowboys more than the Cards, so let's try this again.  Romo and company roll to their fourth win in a row while I watch this game biting my nails hoping McNabb doesn't prove me wrong again!
Take the points, but the Cowboys win outright (by 3)

Tampa Bay Bucs (+3.5) at Carolina Panthers
D. Williams and J. Stewart are on a roll.  The Panthers put up 35 points against the Packers last week, and they're looking for more against inter-divisional rival Tampa Bay.  No doubt they'll be looking to avenge the 27-3 beat down they received earlier in the year in Tampa.  But, don't count out the Bucs.  They had a nice win against New Orleans last week, and even though the Saints' run attack isn't as good as the Panthers, the Bucs defense should be able to keep Williams and Stewart out of the end zone more than the Packers did.  This is a battle for the division, as both teams weigh in at 9-3, but only YOU will emerge victorious...that is if you take the points and take the Bucs.
It's close.  I think the Bucs cover, but they might lose by 3.  Since I have to pick, I'll say the Bucs win (by 3)

NOTE:
In last week's picks, Roto Jones was 2-1, bringing the current year-to-date record to 12-6.