KEITH GROLLER'S NFL PICKS

On many levels, 2009 was a great year for me.

Got to be a Washington General for one night and "play'' basketball before a huge crowd and against the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters at Stabler Arena.

I got to have dinner, sort of, with Barry Bonds while on vacation at Disney World.

I got to cover another state championship girls softball team (Parkland) and enjoy seeing three area teams compete for state gold on the same day in Shippensburg (Becahi, Brandywine and Parkland).

I got to celebrate my 30th anniversary at The Morning Call with a wonderful "first story" reunion with the very nice Sheila O'Donnell.

I got my picture plastered all over the paper and even on some bus stops around the Lehigh Valley.

I appeared in a TV commercial with Mike Zambelli.

I got to see the very kind, heartwarming side of people after the passing of my beloved Punkin.

And thanks to both fans and harsh critics alike, Groller's Corner continued to be the No. 1 sports blog on www.mcall.com.

But one area was a disaster -- predictions.

I was horrible during the high school football season and even worse when I tried to beat the spread with NFL picks.

Before the year was out, I even participated in a college bowl poll -- one that I think at least half of the Valley is also participating in -- and even there, I am way out of the running with a mediocre 9-8 record.

So, now that I have had a New Year's Eve toast or two, and my pork and sauerkraut dinner for good luck, I am ready for better forecasting this year and we start with Week 17 of the NFL regular season, thankfully the last week of the 2009 regular season.

I was 12-3 outright last week to go go 152-86 overall, but just 6-7-2 against the spread, leaving me a pathetic 108-126-4 against the number for the season.

Here's hoping the new year means new results:

HOME TEAMS IN CAPS

BUFFALO (-8) 23, Indianapolis 17

CAROLINA (-7) 31, New Orleans 21

Jacksonville (+2) 24, CLEVELAND 20

DETROIT (+3) 28, Chicago 21

HOUSTON (-7) 31, New England 23

Pittsburgh (-3) 30, MIAMI 20

MINNESOTA (-8) 38, New York Giants 20

San Fran 49ers (-7.5) 24, ST. LOUIS RAMS 14

Atlanta (-2) 20, TAMPA BAY 17

Green Bay (+3) 24, ARIZONA 21

DENVER (-10) 23, Kansas City 10

Baltimore (-10.5) 17, OAKLAND 14

SAN DIEGO (-3) 20, Washington 9

Tennessee (-6) 28, SEATTLE 19

Philadelphia (-3) 26, DALLAS 24

Sunday Night

NEW YORK JETS (-9.5) 16, Cincinnati 14

Keith Groller