Arizona Cardinals (+4) over Cincinnati Bengals -- The Bengals need this game for their playoff lives, but with a rookie quarterback it will be tough to handle all of the pressure.  Arizona is playing well and will revel in being a spoiler.  Cincinnati is heading in the right direction long-term, but their good season will come to an end with this disappointing loss.  Prediction:  Arizona 24  Cincinnati 20

San Diego Chargers (+2.5) over Detroit Lions -- The Chargers are on fire at the right time of year, but it may be too little too late.  Detroit controls its own destiny to the playoffs, but they are also inexperienced and volatile.  Ndamukong Suh will be back, but the Lions’ aggressive defense will allow Philip Rivers to pick them apart.  Prediction: San Diego 37  Detroit 31

Denver Broncos (-3) over Buffalo Bills -- Tebow Time makes its way to western New York where the Bills haven’t won in two months.  Denver controls its own destiny in the AFC West so they will be fired up in support of their messiah.  The Bills have mailed it in but will probably make this one closer than it should be.  Prediction:  Denver 23  Buffalo 14

Carolina Panthers (-7.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- The Panthers are ending the season strong and giving people something to really look forward to in 2012.  The complete opposite can be said about Tampa Bay who has lost 8 in a row.  The Bucs have taken some major steps backwards and won’t have an answer for Cam Newton and company.  Tampa’s once vaunted defense has been lit up for over 70- points the past two weeks.  I see more of the same.  Prediction:  Carolina 34  Tampa Bay 19

Jeff Mans of Fantasy Alarm (www.fantasyalarm.com)

Philadelphia Eagles (+2) at Dallas Cowboys – Not only do I think the Eagles will win this game but I am feeling like its going to be a blowout in big D.  The NFC East is a mess and it is just like life to somehow have the Eagles back in the mix for the division lead despite playing horribly all season long. 

New England Patriots (-9) vs Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins had been playing real well for a stretch but after getting beat up by the Eagles then the firing of Tony Sparano that run is over.  The Patriots have too much firepower on offense for the Dolphins to keep up with and thus lay the nine points and take the home team. 

Carolina Panthers (-7) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs are just plain awful and I really can’t see how they won as many games as they have this season.  The Panthers are one of those teams you put in the back of your memory bank so that before next year you can tell everybody you know that this 5-11 team is going to be a legitimate playoff contender.  They will think you are a genius and of course you are because you read and listen to Fantasy Alarm!

Jacksonville Jaguars (+7.5) at Tennessee Titans – The Titans just got beat down by the previously winless Colts last week.  Both Matthew Hasselbeck and Chris Johnson are banged up as well for the Titans which will make it extremely tough for them to cover the spread.  I say Jacksonville will keep it close. 

San Diego Chargers (+2.5) at Detroit Lions – I don’t know what it is about Phillip Rivers in December but at this point you just have to believe in the guy, right?  Detroit has been beaten up at home at times this season so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if they lose this week. 

Want to know a little bit more about each participant?  Really?  You do?  Why?  Well, in that case, we profile each competitor. 

Michael Stein of Fantasy Judgment is the Supreme Court Justice of the Fantasy Football world. Stein is the man to go to if you have any sort of issue in your fantasy football league. Fantasy Judgment is the site you need if you have a rogue commissioner who is pulling things over on your league, a trade that just seems to be really fishy, or any other kind of shenanigans that can take a good fantasy league and make it turn badly. Not to mention the fine work that he does for us here at Fantasy Alarm. Michael Stein fared quite well for himself last year in his first foray into the Five Game Parlay as he came in second place, not far behind the championship. Even with that said, Stein picks like he has had a lobotomy, so be careful before you put any of your hard earned money on any selections that he makes!

Jonesy will be bringing the noise and the comedy flavor to the Five Game Parlay as Fantasy Alarm's resident comedian and an executive producer of The Fantasy Alarm Show.  Jonesy is responsible for many of your favorite bits and songs on The Fantasy Alarm Show such as the Burress Song, "Oh, Manny!" and "80 Yards and a TD" about Ryan Grant, as well as Deep Fantasy Thoughts. Jonesy was a close third in last year's competition and was in it right to the end.  He is out to show that he is more than just a pretty face, I mean just a funny face, I mean wait.  Well, he's out to show he knows his football.  I'm not sure if he does or not, but he will at least make you laugh along the way.

Jeff Mans is one half of the duo that comprises The Fantasy Alarm Show, and yes he is the one that talks the most.  Mans has been playing fantasy football for nearly 15 years, and is known to throw a buck or two on a football game now and then.  He was the winner of the inaugural Five Game Parlay, but threw up all over himself last year as he came in a distant last place.  Jeff is looking to turn his fortunes around in 2011 and reclaim the title that he feels is rightfully his.  Will the frosted tips on his hair and his wacky chest pubes help him pick games and lead him back to glory?  Only time will tell!

Jeff's one year old son Xander Mans joins the crew for the first time this year as he has said that he is tired of hanging around his mom and two sisters and needs to start bonding with the guys!  However, Xander is also a smart young man as he has already figured out what a deadbeat his poor father is. I will be calling the young lad each week to make his picks and will be reporting on what he tells me here in this article. In our first talk he has told me that he will squash the four of us like Cheerios between his teeth and will pee in the face of anyone who thinks they can pick better than he.  A confident young man, Xander is the darkhorse to win the whole competition.

Ryan Hallam makes up the second part of The Fantasy Alarm Show, as he is the voice of reason, sensibility, and of course, has all of the looks, wit, and charm. Hallam pulled the big turnaround in Year Two of the Parlay and led the competition from wire to wire.  Throughout his life he has watched football, but for some reason picking games against the spread was never his strong suit.  But things have changed for Ryan in the past year to eighteen months and all of a sudden the tide has swung the momentum in his favor.  Look for Hallam to continue his dominance and repeat as champion of the Five Game Parlay!  Oh, did I mention he was the smart and good looking one out of the group too? Just checkin'.

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