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Andey Iskoe
Sunday, Sept. 16
Bucs +7½ at Giants (44): This becomes an important game for the defending Super Bowl champs who seek to avoid an 0-2 start with both losses at home. Tampa played an efficient game in defeating Carolina but face a much stiffer test here. New York has the more mature offense and is capable of extending late. GIANTS.
Cards +13½ at Patriots: (48): Arizona may well start Kevin Kolb at QB after starter John Skelton was injured. West Coast teams traveling east have often had trouble with the early starts and it’s questionable if the rather pedestrian Arizona offense can trade points. Laying double digits hazardous against a decent defense. UNDER.
Vikings -1 at Colts (43½): QB Andrew Luck makes his regular season home debut for the Colts and seeks to rebound from the rude welcome to the NFL he received last week in Chicago. Minnesota struggled and needed OT to get past weak Jacksonville. Indy should show steady improvement and this is very winnable. COLTS.
Saints -2½ at Panthers (50½): Both of these NFC South rivals lost as favorites last week and the loser of this game falls to 0-2. Carolina’s rushing game (13 yards on 10 rushes) was abysmal in the loss at Tampa Bay. The Saints appear to be the team more likely to rebound from a subpar effort and worth backing laying a FG or less. SAINTS.
Chiefs +3½ at Bills (44½): Both teams lost as short underdogs last week. Both offenses appear capable of both big plays and time consuming drives. Neither defense distinguished itself last week. Buffalo’s running game was dealt a blow with an injury to RB Fred Jackson that could lead to a greater emphasis on passing. OVER.
Ravens +3 at Eagles (44): Baltimore’s defense is aggressive, which could be both a benefit and a hindrance. The Philly defense intercepted Cleveland rookie QB Weeden four times which also kept scoring down. Both of these offenses are capable of finishing off drives with touchdowns or field goals. OVER.
Raiders -3 at Dolphins (40½): Oakland has a shortened work week and is another West Coast team heading east for an early starting game. They are the more talented team but are in a negative situation. This could be one of Miami’s few favorable spots and chances to win a game this season, making the points worth taking. DOLPHINS.
Browns +7 at Bengals (40½): Cleveland’s decent defense will be their strength as the offense figures to struggle with limited talent. The Bengals also have a solid defense in addition to a balanced offense. It’s hard to back the Browns even as big divisional underdogs. Expect the defenses to outperform the offenses. UNDER.
Texans -7½ at Jaguars (41½): Houston won both games last season, by 10 and 6 points. The Jags have more areas in which to improve over their opening week effort and RB Maurice Jones-Drew should be more effective after ending his holdout just a week prior to their opening game. JAGUARS.
Cowboys -3 at Seahawks (42½): Dallas has extra rest. Seattle played well in defeat in Arizona as rookie QB Russell Wilson showed poise and nearly led the Seahawks to a last second game winning TD. Seattle strong at home and there is concern about Dallas’ ability to string together back to back strong efforts. SEAHAWKS.
Redskins -3 at Rams (45½): Washington did very little wrong in its impressive upset of New Orleans and has a chance to start 2-0 with a pair of road wins. Both offenses are capable of big plays and we should see plenty of points in what could be a shootout. OVER.
Jets +6½ at Steelers (41½): The Jets shocked almost everyone with their 48 point outburst against Buffalo. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger tossed a late interception that was returned for a touchdown to cement Denver’s 31-19 win. Steelers aware of what the Jets plan to do with Sanchez/Tebow combo. STEELERS.
Titans +5 at Chargers (44½): The Titans should be concerned with their running game after rushing for just 20 yards on 16 carries against the Pats. The Chargers have a huge edge at QB with Philip Rivers against the still inexperienced Jake Locker. Barring major injuries on Monday night, the spot is favorable for the hosts. CHARGERS.
Lions +6½ at 49ers (46½): The 49ers have the more disciplined defense. QB Alex Smith manages the 49ers offense well and has a solid group of receivers in addition to a solid ground game. Laying close to a TD is not an overreaction to last week. Niners appear to have just continued from where they left off last season. 49ERS.
Sunday, Sept. 16
Bucs +7½ at Giants (44): This becomes an important game for the defending Super Bowl champs who seek to avoid an 0-2 start with both losses at home. Tampa played an efficient game in defeating Carolina but face a much stiffer test here. New York has the more mature offense and is capable of extending late. GIANTS.
Cards +13½ at Patriots: (48): Arizona may well start Kevin Kolb at QB after starter John Skelton was injured. West Coast teams traveling east have often had trouble with the early starts and it’s questionable if the rather pedestrian Arizona offense can trade points. Laying double digits hazardous against a decent defense. UNDER.
Vikings -1 at Colts (43½): QB Andrew Luck makes his regular season home debut for the Colts and seeks to rebound from the rude welcome to the NFL he received last week in Chicago. Minnesota struggled and needed OT to get past weak Jacksonville. Indy should show steady improvement and this is very winnable. COLTS.
Saints -2½ at Panthers (50½): Both of these NFC South rivals lost as favorites last week and the loser of this game falls to 0-2. Carolina’s rushing game (13 yards on 10 rushes) was abysmal in the loss at Tampa Bay. The Saints appear to be the team more likely to rebound from a subpar effort and worth backing laying a FG or less. SAINTS.
Chiefs +3½ at Bills (44½): Both teams lost as short underdogs last week. Both offenses appear capable of both big plays and time consuming drives. Neither defense distinguished itself last week. Buffalo’s running game was dealt a blow with an injury to RB Fred Jackson that could lead to a greater emphasis on passing. OVER.
Ravens +3 at Eagles (44): Baltimore’s defense is aggressive, which could be both a benefit and a hindrance. The Philly defense intercepted Cleveland rookie QB Weeden four times which also kept scoring down. Both of these offenses are capable of finishing off drives with touchdowns or field goals. OVER.
Raiders -3 at Dolphins (40½): Oakland has a shortened work week and is another West Coast team heading east for an early starting game. They are the more talented team but are in a negative situation. This could be one of Miami’s few favorable spots and chances to win a game this season, making the points worth taking. DOLPHINS.
Browns +7 at Bengals (40½): Cleveland’s decent defense will be their strength as the offense figures to struggle with limited talent. The Bengals also have a solid defense in addition to a balanced offense. It’s hard to back the Browns even as big divisional underdogs. Expect the defenses to outperform the offenses. UNDER.
Texans -7½ at Jaguars (41½): Houston won both games last season, by 10 and 6 points. The Jags have more areas in which to improve over their opening week effort and RB Maurice Jones-Drew should be more effective after ending his holdout just a week prior to their opening game. JAGUARS.
Cowboys -3 at Seahawks (42½): Dallas has extra rest. Seattle played well in defeat in Arizona as rookie QB Russell Wilson showed poise and nearly led the Seahawks to a last second game winning TD. Seattle strong at home and there is concern about Dallas’ ability to string together back to back strong efforts. SEAHAWKS.
Redskins -3 at Rams (45½): Washington did very little wrong in its impressive upset of New Orleans and has a chance to start 2-0 with a pair of road wins. Both offenses are capable of big plays and we should see plenty of points in what could be a shootout. OVER.
Jets +6½ at Steelers (41½): The Jets shocked almost everyone with their 48 point outburst against Buffalo. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger tossed a late interception that was returned for a touchdown to cement Denver’s 31-19 win. Steelers aware of what the Jets plan to do with Sanchez/Tebow combo. STEELERS.
Titans +5 at Chargers (44½): The Titans should be concerned with their running game after rushing for just 20 yards on 16 carries against the Pats. The Chargers have a huge edge at QB with Philip Rivers against the still inexperienced Jake Locker. Barring major injuries on Monday night, the spot is favorable for the hosts. CHARGERS.
Lions +6½ at 49ers (46½): The 49ers have the more disciplined defense. QB Alex Smith manages the 49ers offense well and has a solid group of receivers in addition to a solid ground game. Laying close to a TD is not an overreaction to last week. Niners appear to have just continued from where they left off last season. 49ERS.
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