Pre-Season Week 2 Thursday

[htx_nguyen]

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

NFL PRESEASON

Cincinnati (0-1 SU and ATS) at New England (1-0 SU and ATS)

Patriots? fans should get to see Tom Brady on the field at Gillette Stadium for the first time since he injured his knee in the regular-season opener last year when New England entertains the Bengals.

Brady took 24 snaps and played virtually the entire first half a week ago in New England?s 27-25 win in Philadelphia as a three-point underdog. Brady is expected to start this game but likely won?t play as long as last week as coach Bill Belichick is trying to identify his backup. A preseason battle has ensued between second-year pro Kevin O?Connell and five-year NFL veteran Andrew Walter, so expect to see each for a good amount of time in this one.

Cincinnati?s starting QB Carson Palmer will sit this game out after injuring his ankle in last week?s 17-7 loss at New Orleans as a three-point road underdog. That leaves No. 2 quarterback J.T. O?Sullivan as the starter, and he?s slated to play at least through the middle of the second quarter, with Palmer?s brother, Jordan, taking over the play-calling duties the remainder of the contest.

The Patriots were winless in August last year, both SU and ATS, and they haven?t had a winning preseason since going 4-0 SU and ATS in 2003. At home, they are 4-6 SU and ATS in preseason action the last five years, including 1-3 SU and ATS the last two Augusts in Foxborough.

The Bengals have been the picture of preseason mediocrity since coach Marvin Lewis took over in 2003, going 12-13 SU and 13-12 ATS. However, even with last week?s loss to the Saints, they are 4-3 SU and 5-2 ATS as a visitor the past three years in August (all as an underdog), winning both road games last preseason.

The over is 7-4 in New England?s last 11 preseason games (4-1 at home).

ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER


Philadelphia (0-1 SU and ATS) at Indianapolis (0-1 SU and ATS)

The Eagles have been making headlines all week, but the reason for those headlines will not be in the building when they take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for a battle with the Colts.

Philadelphia signed former Falcons QB Michael Vick a week ago but due to his suspension, he is unable to play in the preseason until next week. Eagles coach Andy Reid said QB Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia starters will play the first half tonight. From there, expect to see current third-string QB A.J. Feeley play the entire second half with backup QB Kevin Kolb still out with a knee injury and Vick unable to suit up.

Indianapolis? starting offense was on the field for just six plays in Friday?s 13-3 home loss to the Vikings as a four-point home underdog, with starting QB Peyton Manning getting sacked on three of the six plays. New coach Jim Caldwell announced Manning and the rest of his starters will be on the field for about 20 plays this week. With longtime backup QB Jim Sorgi still out injured, expect rookie QB Curtis Painter to get the majority of the snaps in the second half, with another rookie ? former Boston College QB Chris Crane ? seeing mop-up action late in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles lost 27-25 at home to the Patriots in their exhibition opener, falling as three-point home favorites. They?ve had just one winning preseason in Reid?s decade-long tenure at the helm, also managing just three .500 exhibition campaigns in this stretch. Philly is just 2-8 SU and 4-6 ATS in exhibition road games the last five years.

Including last week?s 10-point loss to Minnesota, the Colts are now 3-16 SU and 5-14 ATS in preseason play since 2005. During this stretch, Indianapolis has lost eight of nine preseason home games both SU and ATS and is 3-8 ATS as an underdog.

Indy is holding out 10 players from this week?s game, including six starters, while the Eagles are leaving eight regulars at home, including four of their projected starters on the offensive line.

The Eagles have topped the total in eight of their last 10 exhibition games while Indianapolis has stayed under the total in four straight preseason contests.

ATS ADVANTAGE: PHILADELPHIA

[Mr. IWS]

[RedHottG2]

Thanks man!

[Cappers Talk]

Good luck!