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Matt Rivers 400,00* Total: Matt Rivers Sunday's Selection ...
Your Sunday 400,000♦ Winner: Go with the UNDER when Green Bay hosts Washington today. It's priced anywhere between 49 1/2 and 50 1/2 points as of 7:15 AM Eastern - and I'm taking the UNDER.
Both Green Bay and Washington were unable to run the ball effectively in their opening week losses against San Fran and Philly, respectively, and both were shredded defensively. Consequently I think you'll see the Packers make a concerted effort to get rookie Eddie Lacy a solid 20-25 carries today while the Redskins do the same with Alfred Morris, who was bottled up by the Eagles front line.
As for each team's defense, the Packers were powerless against San Francisco's passing attack while Washington was picked apart in every phase of the game by Chip Kelly's up-tempo attack. Again, I believe you find both teams looking for a renewed commitment defensively.
Expect inclement weather to play a big factor in this game as well. There is a 70 percent chance of rain at kickoff in Green Bay and it remains that percentage at 1 PM local time before dipping to 60 percent by 2 PM local and 50 percent by 3 PM when it should be finishing up. I cannot for the life of me think Washington is going to risk RG3's knee on too many read options, again opting to run Morris instead.
NFL -- 1:00 pm ET
2 Units
UNDER 46.5 Dallas at Kansas City
Dallas has offensive line issues and QB Tony Romo has bruised ribs. Both
spell trouble against a very good KC defense. Given the o-line problems &
Romo's injury, I expect Dallas to rely on the running game with DeMarco
Murray & quick passes to keep Romo from getting knocked around. KC's
offense is led by QB Alex Smith, so expect lots of running plays & short
passes from the Chiefs offense as well. The Dallas defense, a Cover 2
scheme under Monte Kiffin, is designed to keep everything in front of them.
Translation: Two deep safeties to keep from getting beat deep. This
generally forces teams to throw underneath, leading to longer,
time-consuming drives. Not that KC has a potent, quick-strike offense
anyway. This line has to be an over-reaction to Dallas putting up 36 points
on the Giants (points are common in that series) & the fact that KC put up
28 points in Jacksonville. But KC got 7 of those points on an INT return &
PAT. They also benefitted from a weak Jags offense that managed no points &
only 178 total yards of offense. Bottom line: I don't see one good reason
why these two teams will combine to score 47 or more points. Normal 2-Unit
bet on UNDER 46.5.
NFL -- 8:30 pm ET
3 Units (MAX BET)
UNDER 44.5 San Francisco at Seattle
These two teams are among the best in the entire NFL. They just happen to
be NFC West rivals, which means I expect a very tightly contested game. The
49ers offense torched the Packers defense last Sunday, but that was in San
Francisco. The Niners figure to be much more conservative on the road
against this tough Seattle stop unit. Whether they're more conservative or
not, the 49ers offense will struggle to score TDs in the "Home of the 12th
Man." Seattle is a very tough venue for visitors, but it will be even
tougher (and louder) for this nationally televised game. Seattle's offense
struggled in Carolina last Sunday & I can't see them faring too much better
against this 49ers defense. Very important game for these division rivals.
Defenses should dominate & field goals should be more common than TDs in a
game I see ending 19-16. 3* MAX BET on UNDER 44.5.
Larry Ness' 10* NFL Week 2 Goin' Over Total (won Week 1)
My 10* Week 2 Goin’ Over Total is on Jax/Oak Over at 4:25 ET. The rule of thumb in the NFL over the years has always been, a team is never as good as it looks in its best game, or as bad as it looks in its worst game. The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14 in 2012) are hoping the latter is true, as they lost in Week 1 at home to the Chiefs (also 2-14 last year), 28-2. It should come as no surprise that this “odd final score” marked the first time in NFL history that a game finished with a 28-2 final. Meanwhile, the Raiders gave a “game effort” at Indy last Sunday, before falling to the Colts by the score of 21-17. The Jags head to Oakland without starting QB Blaine Gabbert, who suffered a severe laceration on his throwing hand that required 15 stitches. Veteran Chad Henne will start against the Raiders. As for the Raiders, their second-year QB Terrelle Pryor makes his third career start, coming off a fairly impressive Week 1 performance. Pryor edged Matt Flynn for the starting job this August (that’s becoming a pattern for Flynn) and passed for 217 yards vs the Colts plus set a franchise record for a QB with 112 rushing yards. He was intercepted twice, including in the final minute when the Raiders were driving for a potential go-ahead score. but all-in-all, the Raiders had to be happy. Jacksonville only managed a safety in its opener as the offense produced 178 yards. Last year, the Jags finished 29th in total offense (299.3 YPG) and scored the third-fewest points in the league at 15.9 per. The Raiders, even with Carson Palmer throwing for over 4,000 yards in 2012, averaged a modest 18.9 PPG. It should come as no surprise that this game features Week 2’s lowest posted total (currently right around 39, as of 11:00 ET, Sunday morning). However, here’s something that may surprise you and why I’m playing this game over. Jacksonville’s eight road games in 2012 averaged 49.1 PPG and Oakland’s eight home games averaged 46.3 PPG, which included a Week 7 game when the Jags played here in Oakland vs the Raiders and won outright, 26-23 in OT. I say “déjà vu all over again!” Good luck...Larry Larry Ness' 10* Division G.O.Y (2nd of 8 TY / 1-0 start)
My 10* AFC North Game of the Year is on the Bal Ravens at 1:00 ET. It’s become a tradition this past decade, that the previous year’s Super Bowl champ gets to open defense of its title in the following year’s season at home (typically on Thursday). There was ‘fly in the ointment’ in 2013, as the Ravens had a scheduling conflict with the Baltimore Oriole on September 5. So, instead of opening at home against the Broncos, who Baltimore had upset in last year’s divisional round in Denver, the Ravens were scheduled to “return to the scene of the crime” (as viewed by Broncos fans) and open in Denver. You all saw what happened! Peyton Manning tied an NFL record with seven TD passes, as the Broncos won 49-27, handing Baltimore the worst season-opening loss for a defending Super Bowl champion in history and the 49 points were the most ever scored against a Ravens defense in the team’s decorated history. As for the Browns, they lost a season-opener for the NINTH consecutive season last Sunday, falling 23-10 at home to the Dolphins. Cleveland is now 1-14 in season opening games, since returning to the NFL in 1999. The two division rivals (a term I use in name-only), meet Sunday in Baltimore, as the Ravens get their much-anticipated home opener. I mention that Cleveland and Baltimore are division rivals in name only due to the fact that since John Harbaugh has come to Baltimore as its head coach (the same year Flacco was drafted and assumened the QB job as a rookie), the Ravens are a PERFECT 10-0 SU against the Browns, going 7-3 ATS, outscoring them on average, 25.1-to-12.2 PPG. The Baltimore Ravens NEED to move on from a horrible start to their season and just why won’t the Browns play the perfect foil? Brandon Weeden threw 53 times last week against the Miami defense, and got sacked SIX times, while getting “hit” about 10 more times. He threw three INTs (all in the first half) and the only help he got from his running game was 47 yards on 13 attempts by Trent Richardson, the only Cleveland player to have a rushing attempt. Cleveland’s defense faced a Miami running game (without Reggie Bush) that totaled just 20 yards in 23 attempts, yet still lost by 13 points! Miami’s second-year QB Ryan Tannehill completed 24-of-38 passes for 272 yards (one TD / one INT), so just think what Flacco may do here. Flacco couldn’t keep pace with Peyton but did throw for 362 yards and two TDs in Week 1. He’s coming off one of the NFL’s best-ever postseasons (11 TDs and 0 INTs for 1,140 yards in four games with a 117.2 QB rating) and likely is chomping at the bit to get back on the field, as is the entire Baltimore team. "The great thing about it is -- and we all know this -- it's week to week in this league, and it's going to be that way," coach John Harbaugh told the Ravens' official website. "What we need to do is take care of our business. If we take care of our business, we're going to be in the hunt and make it interesting, and if we don't, we're not." As Baltimore CB Corey Graham said, "I'm pretty sure this game couldn't come fast enough!" The Browns are in the WRONG place at the WRONG time!
The fourth week of Premier League fixtures concludes with Liverpool traveling to face Swansea Monday. Liverpool gaffer Brendan Rodgers makes his return to face the club he took to the Premier League.
We talk to Aron Black at Bet365 to find where action is.
Swansea v Liverpool (+250, +240, +125)
Why bet Swansea: The Swans will be looking for a positive result with Liverpool in Wales for this matchup. Even the home draw will suffice for coach Michael Laudrup. In their two previous trips to face the Welsh club, Liverpool were not able to score a goal. Swansea is currently a reasonably healthy side and are coming off a very nice 2-0 victory away to West Brom.
Key players out/doubtful: Neil Taylor, Jonjo Shelvey, Nathan Dyer
Why bet Liverpool: The Reds have collected nine points from three games and have done so as star goalscorer Luis Suárez serves his suspension for trying to eat Branislav Ivanovic's arm. Daniel Sturridge has been in form collecting three goals to open the season and holding midfielders Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva have been excellent in front of the back four.
Key players out/doubtful: Sebastián Coates, Aly Cissokho, Glen Johnson, Luis Suárez
2012-13 fixture result: Swansea 0, Liverpool 0
Key betting note: If Liverpool win, it will be the first time the club has opened a Premier League campaign with four-straight victories.
Where the action is: "A tough game to choose a side for punters in this one. Inevitably, Liverpool is and will see action, but the draw and Swansea are also seeing plays. The draw is looking the most likely, but Liverpool may just have enough to scrape away a close win."
Seahawks fans will attampt to set crowd noise record
The noisiest crowd in the NFL will attempt to set enter the Guinness Book of World Records for "loudest crowd roar at a sport stadium."
The Seattle Seahawks boast a raucous home crowd which gives the team a decided edge in home games and with the San Francisco 49ers in town Sunday night, they'll crank it up a notch. Or 12.
The crowd at CenturyLink Field will attempt to break the 131.76 decibel level set by fans of Turkish soccer team Galatasary in 2011.
The Seahawks were 8-0 SU at home last season and 7-1 ATS in those home games and oddsmakers believe CenturyLink Field is worth a lot to the Seahawks.
"In my opinion, four to six points," says Peter Childs of Sportsbook.com. "For teams like the 49ers, they play there every year so I would error on the low side and say four points. For a team like the Cowboys or an AFC team that only plays there once every four years or periodically, five to six points. Throw in an inexperienced QB or a young offensive line, and you could argue it’s even worth more than six. The Seahawks have the biggest home field of any NFL team, period!"
The Seahawks are currently 3-point home faves Sunday night.
Seabass Report for Sunday(all football):
100 unit teaser UNDER Miami and UNDER Green Bay
100 UNDER KC
100 Minnesota
100 San Diego
100 Arizona
200 Jacksonville
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