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NEW ENGLAND -6.5 over Denver: The way the Pats played last week, I see them going on a serious run and the Broncos will not stand in their way here. The Pats offense was in high gear last week, especially once they were down 21-7 ad that showed me the fire this team has when the play well. From that point on they outscored Buffalo 42-7. I know the Denver defense is tougher than that of the Bills, but when Brady is on their isn't a defense in the league that can stop him. Last year in the playoffs the Broncos were crushed by this team and I while Manning is an upgrade at QB for this team, I just don't feel that Denver has closed the gap enough to keep this one close. Denver has played two good offenses this year (Houston and Atlanta) and they allowed 58 combined points in the 2 games, so this defense can be exposed vs some good offenses and New England will expose them. The Pats allowed 28 points last week to Buffalo, but just 7 after they were down 21-7 and they have generally done well vs Peyton as he is 6-10 vs them and he had many more weapons at Indy than he has now. New England will look to make a statement with a big 14+ point win over a Denver team that just doesn't have enough defense to contain this offense.
4 UNIT PLAY
Tennessee +6 over MINNESOTA: I like the Titans in this spot. Jake Locker will be a good QB, but I feel the fact that Hasselbeck will be in there gives Tennessee a better chance of winning this one. Last week vs Houston Matt threw for 193 yards and a pair of TD’s in relief of the injured locker and he should have a good showing in this one vs a Minnesota defense that has really overachieved this year in facing pathetic offenses in Jacksonville and Indianapolis. Tennessee’s offense has not been great, but I feel that with Matt back there they have a better chance of putting up some points. The Titan’s weakness has been their pass defense that has allowed 285 ypg passing, but this Vikings are not a passing team and Minnesota Tennessee has limited the damage on the ground, allowing just 3.9 yards per carry, despite 136 ypg. I feel the titans should be able to Slow down Petersen enough to make Ponder try an beat them and that is not a role he is accustomed to. Minnesota is off BB wins vs San Fran and Detroit and have a road date with Washington and RG# on deck, so this could be a flat spot for them. Look for the Titans to have their best game of the year and keep this one very close, if not win outright.
3 UNIT PLAYS
POWER ANGLE PLAY
Kansas City/ Baltimore Over 47: The Baltimore offense has been very good this year, putting up 424 ypg and 30 ppg, plus they are 2nd in the league in yards per play at 6.4. Very impressive numbers for this offense and they will be taking on a Chiefs defense that comes in allowing 34 ppg and 6.1 yards per play (28th). This chiefs defense will not be able to keep up with the no huddle attack of the Ravens. On the other side when have a Chiefs offense that has been very good this year. Kansas City comes in averaging 420 ypg overall and 174 ypg on the ground. The Ravens do allow just 3.2 yards per carry, but KC is top in the league, gaining 5.6 yards per rushing attempt. That ground attack should suck in the Baltimore defense, giving Matt Cassell an excellent shot at exploiting a Baltimore defense that is 29th in the league vs the pass, allowing 296 ypg. Baltimore also allows 7.3 ypa (23rd), while Kansas City is a bit worse, allowing 7.9 per pass attempt, which is 28th in the league. Both of these offenses has been very good this year, and they should have good showings vs a couple of defenses that are struggling this year. Look for this one in the 50's. POWER ANGLE FOR THIS PLAY--- The last 4 years from game 5 on out all road favs of 4 or more that are off a Thursday night game have seen the Over go 15-2.
Buffalo/ San Francisco Under 45: Gotta like the Under here. the Bills just gave up 52 points last week so you know they will be looking hard to improve on that side of the ball this week. It also helps that they will be playing a bit more conservative of an offense in the Niners. San Fran likes to pound the ball, play field position and then rely on their defense to do the rest, especially at home. The Bills offense has been good at times this year, but they have yet to face a defense this good. The Niners come in 3rd in total defense and 4th in points allowed and last week they they a shutout at the Jets after struggling in their loss at Minnesota. The Niners allow just 4.7 yards per play and that will not allow the Bills some easy scores. On the other side the Bills defense has been torched, but mostly threw the air and the Niners are a rushing team, so I don't see a lot of up and down the field from the Niners in this one. Both teams will run the ball more than throw it in this one and that will eat a lot of clock. San Fran does play more of a conservative game at home and I feel that will keep the score in the 30's and not the 40's
Matchup: Green Bay at Indianapolis Time: 1:00 PM EDT (Sun) Play: Green Bay (-7 -110) Line Source: BetOnline.ag Posted on: October 3, 2012 @ 2:29:08 AM EDT
It doesn't matter that the Colts are coming off a bye and the Packers probably aren't going to have Greg Jennings.
The Colts are a young team in total transition. Making things harder for the Colts is they have injuries on their offensive line and in their secondary. They also are down their well-liked first year head coach, Chuck Pagano, who is undergoing treatment for leukemia.
The Packers got their offense back in gear. Aaron Rodgers is going to put up plenty of points playing indoors against such a vulnerable defense.
Andrew Luck is going to be an elite quarterback. But right now he's a rookie and he's going to encounter problems with an improved Packer defense and their savvy defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who will be mixing up different looks and blitzes. The Colts are going to have problems containing Clay Matthews.
Green Bay hasn't been sharp on both sides of the ball. But now the Packers are stepping way down in class after playing the 49ers, Bears, Seahawks in Seattle and high-powered Saints.
This is the time to lay the wood with Green Bay.
Matchup: Buffalo at San Francisco Time: 4:25 PM EDT (Sun) Play: San Francisco (-9 -115) Line Source: BetOnline.ag Posted on: October 2, 2012 @ 2:24:52 AM EDT
I'm going to ride the Jim Harbaugh pointspread marching and lay this number before it reach double-digits. The 49ers are a fantastic 17-5-1 (77 percent) ATS in their last 22 games.
The Billls are a soft team playing the most physical opponent. Not only is this a grass game, but the Bills also are making a long trip reducing their practice time. Buffalo's confidence is down, too, after being steamrolled once again by the Patriots.
The 49ers return home after two weeks on the road. The 49ers' defense is top-rate. Their ground attack is much better than New England's and the Patriots gashed the Bills for 277 yards on the ground, averaging 6.1 yards per run. The Bills also struggle with tight ends and Vernon Davis is one of the best. He's averaged a touchdown per game in his last nine games.
Making matters worse for the Bills is they are not healthy offensively. Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller are coming off injuries. The Bills are likely to be without two starting offensive linemen, too, as left tackle Cordy Glenn and right guard Kraig Urbik were injured against the Patriots.
Matchup: Tennessee at Minnesota Time: 4:25 PM EDT (Sun) Play: Tennessee (+6 -115) Line Source: Bet Phoenix Posted on: October 5, 2012 @ 6:02:09 AM EDT
The improved Vikings have been one of the feel-good stories during the first month of the season.
But now it's time to step in against Minnesota. The Titans won nine game last season. They are better off with veteran Matt Hasselbeck behind center in this matchup.
Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has been drawing some nice publicity, but he's still a dink-and-dunker helped tremendously by Adrian Peterson and multi-talented Percy Harvin. The Titans' run defense is going to pick up with the return to health of middle linebacker Colin McCarthy.
The Titans outgained the Texas by 28 yards last week. They held Arian Foster in check. They can do the same with Peterson. Tennessee has been hurt by a minus 6 ratio. Expect fewer turnovers with the more experienced Hasselbeck in charge.
Chris Johnson showed signs of breaking out of his season-long funk as he rushed for 141 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, against an outstanding Houston defense.
The Titans aren't as bad as their record. The Vikings have been overachieving. Expect a correction to come in this game. Member Plays
Matchup: Baltimore at Kansas City Time: 1:00 PM EDT (Sun) Play: Kansas City (+7 -135) Line Source: Heritage Posted on: October 4, 2012 @ 2:06:34 PM EDT
This number has been bouncing around from as low as Chiefs plus 5 up as high as plus 7 with big juice. My handicap is to the Chiefs here. But finding the right number is just as important.
I would play the Chiefs at plus 6, too, but at a smaller amount than at 6 1/2 or 7. Pinnacle has been at 6 minus $1.04, which has kept the market down. There's no rush to play this game, though, at plus 6. Wait and shop and you'll get a 6 1/2 if you can't find one now. Perhaps even a plus 7 at juice that isn't too high if you happen to have a lot of outs.
The NFL is all about when you play a team - and the timing is right for Kansas City in this matchup.
This is a flat spot for Baltimore. The Ravens just played three straight prime time games. They scored a huge home revenge win against New England two weeks ago followed by a short turnaround last Thursday with a hard-played home victory against division rival Cleveland. That was their fourth game in 18 days. Up next after this game for Baltimore is a home game against Dallas. The Ravens have failed to cover the last four times they've faced an opponent with a losing record.
The Ravens' defense isn't nearly as intimidating on the road and it's down this season minus their best pass rusher, Terrell Suggs. The Ravens can be run on to to the outside. Jamaal Charles is healthy again. A healthy Charles could be the most dangerous runner in the league. He's rushed for 325 yards in his last two games as he gets nearer to being 100 percent from last year's season-ending knee injury.
The Chiefs have outgained their opponents by 375 yards, an average of 87.5 yards per game. But are just 1-3 due to an NFL-worst 15 turnovers. Matt Cassel is in danger of losing his starting job. Cassel is never going to be an elite quarterback, but he can be a competent game-manager. He has the league's No. 1 ground attack behind him and a solid No. 1 receiving target in Dwayne Bowe.
Baltimore wins with its offense these days not its defense. The Chiefs have the pass rushers with Tamba Hali and Justin Houston to disrupt Joe Flacco's timing, especially playing in noisy Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs are a desperate team playing at home. They have talent and the stats to prove it. They just need to protect the ball.
Guaranteed Plays
Matchup: San Diego at New Orleans Time: 8:30 PM EDT (Sun) Play: New Orleans (-3 -125) Line Source: Bet Phoenix Posted on: October 2, 2012 @ 2:12:41 AM EDT
The Saints aren't going to make the playoffs. Not starting 0-4 and in a tough division. But they will be up for this nationally televised home game against an overrated foe.
Thanks to Drew Brees, the Saints still have an elite offense. Brees is at his absolute finest when playing at home. In his last nine games at the Louisiana Superdome, Brees is 236-of-351 (67 percent) for 3,029 yards and 32 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
Yes, Brees does miss the coaching acumen of Sean Payton. But Brees still is on pace to throw for 5,400 yards and 40 touchdowns. The Saints are going to put up plenty of points on the Chargers. The key question is can the Saints' defense stop anyone?
The Saints lack talent on defense. They are not good tacklers, nor pass rushers. But they will get after Philip Rivers, spurred on by their home crowd in this matchup. This wil be the Saints' Super Bowl game.
Left tackle Jared Gaither is back to protect Philip Rivers' blind side. Gaither is a hupe upgrade for San Diego. But he is rusty after missing training camp, preseason and the first three games of the season with back problems.
The Chargers do not have a strong early-season history. Norv Turner has had much better teams at San Diego than this one. Still, his record with the Chargers during September and October is just 20-20.
San Diego is 3-1, but the lone time it stepped up in class it was buried. That came at home against the Falcons, who won 27-3. Victories against bad foes - Raiders, Titans and Chiefs - don't impress me. The Chargers were out-gained by the Chiefs, but won easily because of six Kansas City turnovers.
Bob Balfe
MLB Free Picks
Cardinals -105 over Nationals
Wainwright/Gonzalez
This is all new for the Nationals. The playoffs are nothing like the regular season and you have one of the most clutch teams facing a team that just is getting their feet wet. This is a bad draw for the Nationals and I expect the playoff experience of the Nationals to take over today. Look for St. Louis to shock the Nats. Take the Cardinals.
A’s +145 over Tigers
Milone/Fister
The A’s are playing great baseball, are great against right handed pitching and were a good road team. The Tigers were so so against left handed pitching and I really like Tom Milone and this Oakland Bullpen. This game has tremendous value. Oakland is hot and I like them as the dog. Take the A’s
Stanford failed to cover and the A’s failed to win yesterday, but at least the Reds showed some concern for Hondo’s investment portfolio, grabbing the opener in SF to limit the overall damage to 1,105 nolls.
Today, Mr. Aitch will back the very best of his NFL selections -- 10 units apiece on the Steelers, Bengals and Panthers. Also, 10 on CC to be letter-perfect against the O’s.
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