Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 | 6:42 p.m.
For the first time since the second week of the season, there’s a new name atop the leaderboard in the Chase for the Golden Nerf.
Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton, surely said “Danke Schoen” after a 3-0 week against the point spread catapulted him to the top of the standings in the field of 16 Las Vegas celebrities and media personalities.
After a 2-4 start to the season, Newton has been correct on 15 of his last 24 picks during his ascension into the lead, in his second attempt to capture the Golden Nerf, having claimed the trophy in 2005 and 2008.
It’s a bunched field near the top, however, as Newton’s 17-13 record is in a virtual tie with Planet Hollywood headliner Marc Savard, who sits at 16-12-2. Longtime contest leader and Mirage headliner Terry Fator slipped into third at 16-14, while Raiding the Rock Vault star Andrew Freeman is fourth at 15-15.
Five others have either 13 or 14 wins and are well within striking distance as we head into the season’s final seven weeks in the coveted chase for bragging rights, in the name of a spray-painted foam football.
Sal DeFilippo’s picks (14-15-1):
Steelers +2 vs. Lions
Eagles-Redskins over 52½
Patriots +2½ at Panthers
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The media/celebrity picks:
Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas" (17-13)
Patriots +2½ at Panthers
Redskins +3½ at Eagles
Cardinals -6½ at Jaguars
****
Marc Savard, Comedy Hypnotist at Planet Hollywood (16-12-2)
Saints -3 vs. 49ers
Bears -3 vs. Ravens
Cardinals -6½ at Jaguars
****
Terry Fator, Mirage headliner (16-14)
Eagles -3½ vs. Redskins
Broncos -8 vs. Chiefs
Saints -3 vs. 49ers
****
Andrew Freeman, Raiding the Rock Vault performer at LVH (15-15)
Broncos -8 vs. Chiefs
Giants -6½ vs. Packers
Seahawks -13½ vs. Vikings
****
John Katsilometes, The Kats Report (14-15-1)
Saints-49ers under 47½
Bengals -6 vs. Browns
Seahawks -13½ vs. Vikings
****
Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas ambassador (14-15-1)
Lions -2 at Steelers
Bengals -6 vs. Browns
Chiefs +8 at Broncos
****
Carolyn Goodman, Mayor of Las Vegas (14-16)
Eagles -3½ vs. Redskins
Chargers -1½ at Dolphins
49ers +3 at Saints
****
Donny Osmond, Flamingo Las Vegas headliner (13-16-1)
Bengals -6 vs. Browns
Lions -2 at Steelers
Saints -3 vs. 49ers
****
Carla Pellegrino, celebrity chef and owner of Bratalian (13-16-1)
Eagles -3½ vs. Redskins
Chiefs +8 at Broncos
Seahawks -13½ vs. Vikings
****
Frankie Moreno, Stratosphere headliner (12-16-2)
Jets +1½ at Bills
Patriots +2½ at Panthers
Lions -2 at Steelers
****
Jason Feinberg, KVVU-TV morning personality (12-18)
Saints -3 vs. 49ers
Jaguars +6½ vs. Cardinals
Redskins +3½ at Eagles
****
Mark & Mercedes in the Morning, Mix 94.1 (11-16-3)
Broncos -8 vs. Chiefs
Patriots +2½ at Panthers
Saints -3 vs. 49ers
****
Claire Sinclair, star of Pin Up at Stratosphere (11-17-2)
Falcons -1½ at Buccaneers
Texans -7 vs. Raiders
Vikings +13½ at Seahawks
****
Kevin Janison, KVBC meteorologist (11-18-1)
Lions-Steelers over 47½
Eagles-Redskins over 52½
Seahawks-Vikings under 46
****
Dana White, UFC president (10-20)
Texans -7 vs. Raiders
Seahawks -13½ vs. Vikings
Patriots +2½ at Panthers
****
Carrot Top, Luxor headliner (8-20-2)
Eagles -3½ vs. Redskins
Chargers -1½ at Dolphins
Patriots +2½ at Panthers
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