Harmon-cbssportsline forecast

[Bills 4 life]

Harmon Forecast

The Harmon Football Forecast is one of the most highly regarded and widely read sports features in the country, published in over 200 newspapers. It all began when Bob Harmon began predicting college and NFL games in 1957. He devised a mathematical formula that picked winners correctly between 72 and 78 percent of the time; most seasons getting almost 75 percent of his picks right. Today, Jim Harmon and his staff are the only forecasters who predict exact scores and chart every college and pro team. Week 16 - Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005 Atlanta 24 *Seattle 20 - The Falcons should, but probably won't, take advantage of this last pre-playoffs chance to breathe some life into their passing offense against a weak secondary. Seattle outlasted Atlanta 30-24 in OT in 2002. *Baltimore 22 Miami 6 - The Ravens, like the Falcons, are good on the ground but lousy through the air, though that's bad news for the Dolphins' pass-focused defense. Miami beat Baltimore in a kickers' battle in OT last year, 9-6. *Carolina 27 New Orleans 17 - Desperation should liven this up: The Saints' passing offense can keep them in it, but their defense can't. John Kasay booted a team-record six field goals as Carolina cruised past N.O. in Week 13, 32-21. Green Bay 21 *Chicago 14 - They put an end to the Packers' seven-game series streak in September, 21-10, but the Bears haven't swept G.B. in 13 years. If the Pack can't shut down Chicago's offense, though, it'll have wild-card trouble. *Houston 26 Cleveland 13 - With a faltering passing attack, the Texans will have to beat the Browns on the ground, while Cleveland's hope of an upset is Houston's mediocre secondary. The Browns won their only previous matchup, in '02. Indianapolis 25 *Denver 20 - If the Broncos' secondary can keep Peyton Manning from blowing things wide open, Denver has a chance here, because its offense can run Indy ragged. The Colts stomped the Broncos in last year's playoffs, 41-10. Jacksonville 23 *Oakland 18 - Forced to rely on passing because they're the league's weakest running team, the Raiders have no way of surprising the Jaguars' defense. These teams have faced off only twice, most recently seven years ago. Minnesota 24 *Washington 21 - The Redskins' D may make the Vikings look like postseason pretenders, or Minnesota may blow them out -- or Washington may score at will. In other words, who knows how their first matchup since '98 will go? *New England 32 San Francisco 9 - As their horrific season ends, the 49ers can challenge the Patriots only through the air; otherwise they're thoroughly overmatched. For what it's worth, N.E. has beaten the 49ers only twice in nine tries. *N.Y. Giants 17 Dallas 16 - The Giants were a different team in October, when they clubbed the Cowboys 26-10 and found themselves 4-1, matching their '03 win total. Twelve weeks later, for all the wrong reasons, this may be a great game. N.Y. Jets 20 *St. Louis 17 - Pass-happy St. Louis is a useful pre-playoffs opponent for the Jets, whose secondary will have to be at the top of its game if they hope to advance. The Rams took their sixth in a row from N.Y. three years ago. *Philadelphia 24 Cincinnati 18 - Facing a Bengals offense that's shown some recent improvement and with a week off to look forward to, the Eagles shouldn't ease up two weeks in a row. Philly got past Cincy 16-7 the last time they met, in '00. Pittsburgh 14 *Buffalo 13 - This showdown of the AFC's top two defenses is a tossup, because the Bills know how much the Steelers depend on the run. Pittsburgh's 20-3 win three years ago was its fifth in the last six games of the series. *San Diego 35 Kansas City 28 - Five weeks ago the Chargers and Chiefs cut loose for 31 points in the fourth quarter as S.D. outslugged K.C. 34-31, the Chargers' first victory in K.C. in eight seasons. The rematch looks just as entertaining. Tampa Bay 16 *Arizona 14 - The Cardinals will be stuck on the ground against the Buccaneers' defense, but they're tough(er) to beat at home, and T.B. loses consistently on the road. The Bucs won last, tying their series at 7-7, in '97. *Tennessee 20 Detroit 15 - A passing game that ranks in the top third of the NFL should be all the Titans need to get past the Lions, who rank in the bottom third in just about everything. Tennessee was a 27-24 winner three years ago. * - Home Team

[Turf]

Nice job.

But Buffalo wins at home this week. We fall in the 25% error category.

[Billz_fan]

Nice job.

But Buffalo wins at home this week. We fall in the 25% error category.

I agree, the team shows up for this game. Everybody !

Add to that the home game playoff atmosphere and the Steelers are in for a fight.

I don't see the Bills winning a close game though. I think the Steelers take a close game.

Bills 27-10

[billsburgh]

I agree, the team shows up for this game. Everybody !

ESPECIALLY THE 12TH MAN THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE BILLS

[TheBrownBear]

It appears his predictions do not take the "resting" factor into account.

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

What mathematical equation did they use for teams seeded sitting their players at the half?

[Jan Reimers]

Picking straight up, i.e., without those pesky point spreads, many of us can get 75% of the games right.

[mybills]

I'll bet they're wrong about the Jets game, too.

[Tatonka]

boy if that was the outcome and denver lost and so did we..

i will be one sour SOB for a while.

[jamze132]

Those predictions seem pretty realistic.