Jess Root made a bold move in Week 11 of the H-Bomb underdog pick of the week (games with spreads of at least 6.5 points), but it didn’t pay off.

We have been locked in a duel since the beginning of the season, but until this week I had never led. In 11 weeks of picks, we have been tied eight times and Jess led after Weeks 7 and 8.

It was his decision to drop the bomb on the 14-point favored Lions last week that dropped him one game behind after Detroit dropped its own 52-6 bomb on the Jaguars.

My pick of the Seahawks to cover the 6.5-point spread against the 49ers paid off, not only with the win but also adding another direct hit (outright win) to my ledger, which tied Jess in that column.

That turned out to be the only H-Bomb success of the week as favorites Miami over Las Vegas and Houston over Dallas joined Detroit in winning and covering the spread.

That 1-3 record reduced the overall mark to 30-14 for the season with 16 direct hits.

Here are the four eligible games this week:

• Houston Texans -8 vs. Tennessee Titans
• Miami Dolphins -7.5 vs. New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions -7.5 vs. Indianapolis Colts
• Kansas City Chiefs -11 at Carolina Panthers

With seven weeks remaining in the regular season, I could play dirty and simply pick the same game as Jess does since he gives me his pick before I write this riveting story each week. That would mean he couldn’t catch me. But, trust me, I wouldn’t do that purposely.

My H-Bomb history (I’ve been involved in a picks contest for close to 30 years) results in me usually going with my initial belief as I look at the eligible games. It doesn’t always happen, but usually there’s at least one game after which I say, “That’s the one.”

It turns out this week, for the fifth time this season, we are picking the same game: the Patriots to cover against the Dolphins. That means I will maintain that slim one-game lead when Week 13 rolls around.

Standings after 11 weeks

Howard: 8-3 (3 direct hits)

Jess: 7-4 (3 direct hits)

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