Sunday 10-14-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Bears vs. Dolphins Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

The Chicago Bears find themselves atop the NFC North on the strength of their first three-game winning streak in five years, this after mustering a total of 14 victories to finish in the division's basement in each of the last three seasons. Fresh off a bye, the Bears look to dominate their second straight Sunshine State foe on Sunday when they visit the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.

Mitchell Trubisky and Tarik Cohen enjoyed sterling performances in Chicago's 48-10 romp of Tampa Bay on Sept. 30, with the former throwing for a career-high six touchdowns and 354 yards while the latter had personal bests in receiving yards (121) and scrimmage yards (174). "When you have a good game, it naturally gives you confidence," Bears coach Matt Nagy said. "What you have to make sure you prevent is making sure that you (don't) get complacent with that and think it's just going to happen every week because it's not." Miami knows that all too well, as it has followed a three-game winning streak to start the season with back-to-back losses -- including a 27-17 setback to Cincinnati on Sunday. The Dolphins, who were outscored 24-0 in the fourth quarter and allowed two defensive touchdowns to the Bengals, carry an injury-riddled offensive line into their tilt against 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack and the Bears.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Bears -3.5. O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE BEARS (3-1): While Cohen had a career day in Chicago's last outing, Nagy noted that Jordan Howard will also get his fair share of carries. "Jordan understands what we're trying to do as a team," Nagy said. "And he also understands -- and we've talked -- that he has a major part of this offense. He has a big-time role. But if it's an advantage to us to go a different direction for that game or for that play or that series, we're going to do that." Mack has recorded at least a sack and forced fumble in each game this season while fellow linebacker Danny Trevathan has two sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery as well as an interception in his last three contests.



ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (3-2): Miami received some good news on the injury front as defensive end Cameron Wake appears on track to return to action after missing last Sunday's game with a knee injury. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil was able to participate in some individual drills while still in concussion protocol for an offensive line that has shuffled center Daniel Kilgore (triceps) and top free-agent guard (Josh Sitton) to injured reserve. Running back Kenyan Drake rebounded from a pair of three-yard rushing performances to amass 115 from scrimmage (46 rushing, 69 receiving) and a touchdown against the Bengals, although he'll face the Bears' top-ranked rush defense on Sunday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Miami leads the NFL with 10 interceptions, with CB Xavien Howard sharing the league lead with three.

2. Chicago, which has eight picks, owns an NFL second-best plus-6 turnover ratio.

3. Dolphins WR Kenny Stills leads the team with 241 receiving yards and three touchdowns, although he has just five catches for 57 yards in his last two games.

PREDICTION: Bears 23, Dolphins 20

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Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Seahawks vs. Raiders Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

The Oakland Raiders make their second visit to Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday and hope for a better result when they take the field as the home team against an old rival in the Seattle Seahawks. Oakland, which is off to a disappointing start in coach Jon Gruden's return to the sideline, dropped a 38-14 decision to Miami at Wembley in 2014.

The Raiders hoped to follow their first victory of the season - an overtime triumph over Cleveland - with another but were defeated 26-10 by the Chargers in Los Angeles last week. Seattle, which was one of Oakland's AFC West rivals from 1977-2001, came close to handing the Los Angeles Rams their first loss of the year last Sunday as it carried a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter before falling 33-31. The Seahawks, who were seeking a third consecutive victory, trail the Rams by three games in the NFL West. Seattle will be lining up against a former teammate in Marshawn Lynch, who retired from the team after the 2015 campaign but sat out just one year before returning to the NFL with the Raiders last season.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -2.5. O/U: 48

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (2-3): Seattle's ground game had plenty of success against the Rams, gaining 190 yards - including a career-high 116 by Chris Carson. That created opportunities for Russell Wilson, who threw three touchdown passes after being blanked in the Seahawks' 20-17 triumph at Arizona a week earlier. Wilson, who has gone three games without an interception, is tied with Tom Brady for the most TD tosses since the start of last season with 44 - including 10 this year.




ABOUT THE RAIDERS (1-4): Derek Carr's disappointing season continued last week as he threw his league-high eighth interception - three of which have occurred in the end zone. The 27-year-old has made only seven touchdown passes but ranks fifth in the NFL with 1,641 yards and first in the AFC with a 71.3 completion percentage. Defensive end Bruce Irvin, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seahawks, leads Oakland with three sacks - including one in each of his last two games - while wide receiver Jordy Nelson tops the club with three TD catches.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Seahawks veteran WR Brandon Marshall did not catch a pass last week and has just 10 receptions for 125 yards this season but has made 20 catches for 242 yards and a touchdown in his last three games against the Raiders.

2. Lynch has been limited in practice this week due to a hip injury after gaining a season-low 31 yards on nine carries versus the Chargers.

3. The teams have split four meetings since Seattle moved to the NFC West, with the Seahawks posting a 30-24 home victory in the most recent matchup on Nov. 2, 2014.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 34, Raiders 24

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Steelers vs. Bengals Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

The Cincinnati Bengals are off to a hot start and sit in first place in the AFC North, but they are not taking that position for granted. The Bengals will try to make a statement and push aside one of their biggest rivals when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The Steelers were the easy pick to repeat as AFC North champions, but it was Cincinnati that exploded out of the gate by winning four of the first five games while scoring an average of 30.6 points - fourth in the NFL. "We handle things by blocking out all of the noise and continuing to grind," Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green told reporters. "Nobody gave us a chance when the season started. Why do they believe in us now? We're going to continue to keep playing and keep playing for each other." Pittsburgh is finally starting to build some positive momentum and thrashed Atlanta 41-17 in Week 5 while leaning on running back James Conner, who is stepping out of Le'Veon Bell's shadow while his more famous teammate is away from the team. "He is staying focused and working on his craft," offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert told reporters of Conner. "The way he handles himself, even before he was drafted, he carried himself as a professional. He earned a lot of respect from guys around here. We love him. We love his presence. We love him as a player. We hope he keeps building and gets the opportunity to showcase his talents."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Bengals -2. O/U: 52.5.

ABOUT THE STEELERS (2-2-1): A big issue during the team's 1-2-1 start was the play of the defense, but the victory over Atlanta marked a big step in the right direction for the unit. The Steelers held the Falcons to 62 yards rushing and sacked Matt Ryan six times, with linebacker T.J. Watt leading the way at three sacks and a forced fumble. "Everything we do is a team stat," Watt told reporters while heaping praise on the rest of the defense. "We realize that as a team, if we want to be great, we all have to do our job and accept whoever gets the play and be happy for everybody. ... I think it will be a great boost for us."




ABOUT THE BENGALS (4-1): Linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been in the middle of several controversial plays in games against the Steelers over the years, and his presence in the middle of the Cincinnati defense makes it a more dangerous unit. Burfict returned from a four-game suspension last week and recorded seven tackles while helping a defense that scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns in the 27-17 triumph over Miami. Burfict logged 34 snaps in the win and could see his playing time increase on Sunday despite his history against the Steelers, which includes past hits that injured Bell and star receiver Antonio Brown.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (knee) missed practice on Thursday while WR John Ross (groin) was limited.

2. Steelers S Morgan Burnett (groin) sat out the last three games and is unlikely to return on Sunday.

3. Pittsburgh is enjoying a six-game winning streak in the series, including four straight at Cincinnati.

PREDICTION: Steelers 35, Bengals 31

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cleveland Browns Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Chargers vs. Browns Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

The Cleveland Browns won one game during a two-season span, and it came against the then-San Diego Chargers on Christmas Eve 2016. Fast forward to 2018 and the Browns are looking to record their third victory in six games when they host the now-Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Cleveland recorded a 12-9 overtime triumph over Baltimore last week and is looking to win consecutive contests for the first time since a three-game winning streak midway through the 2014 campaign. "Oh, absolutely. That is why we are playing," Browns coach Hue Jackson said during a press conference. "Every game we play in, we are trying to win. The next step for us is to start winning back-to-back games, regardless of who the opponent is." The Chargers are looking for their third consecutive victory, but Philip Rivers sees the Browns as a tough test. "They're a few plays away from having won them all this year," the quarterback told reporters. "They probably feel they should have. Certainly had the opportunity to win them all, so it will be a heck of a challenge for us."

TV: 11 a.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chargers -1. O/U: 44.5

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (3-2): Rivers is off to a strong start with 1,495 yards and 13 touchdown passes against two interceptions, and was a stellar 22-of-27 for 339 yards and two scores in last week's 26-10 win over Oakland. Running back Melvin Gordon has scored six touchdowns (three rushing, three receiving) and ranks fourth in the NFL with 595 yards from scrimmage (334 rushing, 261 receiving). Defensive end Melvin Ingram recorded one sack and his first career interception in the win over the Raiders, and the defense is allowing an average of 26 points while playing without star defensive end Joey Bosa (foot).




ABOUT THE BROWNS (2-2-1): Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has energized the offense as the franchise is coming off a season-high 342-yard performance against the Ravens. "I have known that the Browns were not bad since the second I stepped foot into this franchise," Mayfield told reporters. "We had a special team from the get-go. Whoever we are playing has nothing to do with this team. We believe in this team that we have. Management has put together a great group of guys." Cleveland leads the NFL with 15 takeaways and has some impressive young pieces on defense in pass rusher Myles Garrett (five sacks) and cornerback Denzel Ward (league high-tying three interceptions).

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Chargers own a 16-9-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 19-10 home win in December.

2. Cleveland WR Rashard Higgins (knee) will be sidelined at least two weeks after being injured against the Ravens.

3. Los Angeles WR Keenan Allen (32 receptions) caught 10 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in last season's meeting with the Browns.

PREDICTION: Chargers 27, Browns 24

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Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 12th October 2018 by Gracenote
Bills vs. Texans Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/12/2018

The Houston Texans have found themselves in close games in each of their first five contests, and they've won the last two in overtime. They'll try to make it three victories in a row when they host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

After dropping their first three games by a total of 15 points, the Texans followed a 37-34 overtime triumph at Indianapolis with a 19-16 victory over Dallas last week. "Sometimes, just like these last two weeks, overtime wins, it went our way. The first three weeks, it didn't go our way," Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson told reporters. "So we just have to keep believing, keep pushing forward. That was just a situation where things just were not going our way, but now it is and we've got to keep it going." The Bills also eked out a win last week as Stephen Hauschka's 46-yard field goal gave them a 13-12 victory over Tennessee - their second triumph in three contests. Buffalo is 2-3 despite possessing the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL, which has yet to crack 300 total yards in a game.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Texans -10. O/U: 41

ABOUT THE BILLS (2-3): Buffalo's offense hasn't gotten off the ground, as LeSean McCoy has struggled to find running room and the passing game has not flourished under rookie quarterback Josh Allen. Allen has been effective running the ball but has thrown five interceptions and just two touchdown passes while being sacked a league-high 19 times. The defense has played inconsistently but was dominant in both of the team's wins, holding Minnesota to 292 total yards and limiting Tennessee to 221.



ABOUT THE TEXANS (2-3): Houston has moved the ball efficiently, ranking fourth in total offense, but is just 18th in scoring. Watson has topped 375 passing yards in each of the last three games and has gone over 300 in four straight, while DeAndre Hopkins leads the league with 594 yards on 39 catches. Houston's defense had a hiccup against the Colts, allowing a season-high 478 total yards, but returned to form last week to limit the Cowboys to 292.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Watson is the first player in NFL history with more than 1,500 yards passing and 200 rushing in the first five games of a season.

2. Houston ranks 31st in red-zone touchdown percentage (36.4) with only eight touchdowns in 22 trips inside the 20-yard line.

3. Buffalo has eight recorded takeaways in its last three games.

PREDICTION: Texans 24, Bills 13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Los Angeles Rams vs. Denver Broncos Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Rams vs. Broncos Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

The Los Angeles Rams look to maintain their unbeaten record when they visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Los Angeles has been soaring behind a unit that leads the NFL in total offense (468.4 yards per game) and ranks third in scoring (34.6 points) as it faces a Denver squad that has lost three straight games.

The disappointing Broncos are struggling on defense - allowing 26.2 points and 395.8 yards per contest - and star linebacker Von Miller (four sacks) is pointing the finger at himself as a main cause of the unit's issues. "I've got to get sacks," Miller told reporters. "That's what I do. I've got to get sacks. I've got 87.5 of them (in my career). I've played in games where I've gotten a lot of sacks and I've played in games where I haven't got any sacks. I'm going to have a little bit of both going forward." Denver allowed an astounding 512 yards in last week's 34-16 loss to the New York Jets and figures to have trouble slowing down the ferocious Rams, who have yet to score fewer than 33 points. Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff has completed 72.3 percent of his passes for an NFL-leading 1,727 yards to go with 12 touchdown passes against four interceptions.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Rams -7. O/U: 52

ABOUT THE RAMS (5-0): Goff is seeking his fifth consecutive 300-yard performance as he has completed 76.7 percent of his passes during the four-game stretch. Running back Todd Gurley has rushed for an NFL-leading seven touchdowns and ranks second in the league with 645 yards from scrimmage (415 rushing, 230 receiving). Defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh have registered three sacks apiece while linebacker Cory Littleton has recorded a team-high 43 tackles for a unit that ranks sixth in scoring defense at 19.6 points per game.




ABOUT THE BRONCOS (2-3): Coach Vance Joseph insists his team isn't going to panic as the Rams arrive while his club is mired in a tailspin. "We're not going to fall for the noise," Joseph told reporters. "We can't surrender to this. That's what the public thinks. We have no excuses. We've got to bounce back. We've got plenty of time, we've got a big game on Sunday, and I feel good about it." New quarterback Case Keenum (1,365 yards) has thrown more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (five) while the Miller-led defense ranks 30th against the run (139.6 yards).

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Rams have won each of the last three meetings.

2. Denver CB Adam Jones (hamstring) is looking like he will miss his second straight game after Joseph vowed on Thursday that he will play it safe in terms of the 35-year-old's health.

3. Los Angeles WRs Brandin Cooks (452 yards) and Cooper Kupp (438) are both in concussion protocol but progressing to where they likely will be available on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Rams 37, Broncos 23

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Jaguars vs. Cowboys Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

The Jacksonville Jaguars came up well short in a battle for AFC supremacy last weekend, getting wiped out by the high-powered and undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Jacksonville will look to shake off the lopsided defeat when it plays its second inter-conference game of the season with a visit to the struggling Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.

Although the Jaguars were unable to slow down the Chiefs, they figure to have an easier time against a Dallas offense that centers around running back Ezekiel Elliott. "We know the offense flows through the running back," Jacksonville linebacker Telvin Smith said. "They're going to try to get him going. We've just got to go out and execute and play." The Cowboys dropped a 19-16 decision in overtime at Houston last week to fall to 0-3 on the road and frustration has been building in the locker room. "We just got to play better on offense, we have to coach better, play better on the offensive line, better at all spots," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "Everyone has a piece of it, it's not just one area."

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Jaguars -3. O/U: 40.5

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (3-2): Jacksonville owns the league's top-ranked defense, permitting an average of 292.2 yards per game, but the unit was sliced up for 424 yards by Kansas City. Quarterback Blake Bortles was forced to go to the air 61 times and wound up throwing for a career-high 430 yards, but he also committed five turnovers and was sacked five times. "It's a trend that I talked about with the team today," Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said of the team's minus-7 turnover differential. "If we don't change that, we're going to be in trouble. We have to change that." T.J. Yeldon will again have to carry the ground game with running back Leonard Fournette set to miss his fourth game of the season.



ABOUT THE COWBOYS (2-3): Dallas ranks fifth in the league in rushing (135.8 yards) thanks to Elliott, but its offense is No. 28 overall and the passing game is a lowly 30th with 172.0 yards per game. Elliott was limited to a season-low 54 yards on 20 carries by Houston last week, but he still leads the NFL in rushing with 480 yards and had a team-high 22 receptions. Dak Prescott lost his two favorite targets in the offseason with the departures of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten and his No. 1 wideout is Cole Beasley, who is averaging 38.6 yards per game on 17 receptions. The Cowboys are tied for sixth in the league with 15.0 sacks, paced by defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, who has posted a team-leading 5.5.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Yeldon is one of four players in the AFC with at least 450 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.

2. Prescott has a 104.7 passer rating and has accounted for six TDs in his last four at home versus AFC foes.

3. The Jaguars signed RB Jamaal Charles this week.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 20, Cowboys 16

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Ravens vs. Titans Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

The Tennessee Titans are used to playing close games but wouldn't mind running it up a bit on the scoreboard. The Titans will try to reach 30 points for the first time this season and earn a key AFC win when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Each of Tennessee's first five games was within a touchdown at the finish - the last four within a field goal - due in large part to an offense that struggles to score and is ranked 29th in the league at an average of 17.4 points. "We've just got to make more plays," running back Dion Lewis told reporters. "Just got to bounce back man. That's what it's all about. Come ready to work, take the criticism, learn from the coaching, and try to be better to get ready for the Ravens." Baltimore is not the defense a struggling offense wants to see as it comes into the week first in the NFL in points allowed at an average of 15.4 after holding the opposition to 14 points or fewer in four of its five contests. "We have some good things that we're doing right now on defense," Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale told reporters. "We're doing very well. And we're still just ... (head coach) John (Harbaugh) always talks about chasing perfection, and that's where we're at. We're trying to ... We take nothing for granted, and we're going to keep just plugging away, plugging away, plugging away as a defense."

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens - 2.5. O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE RAVENS (3-2): Baltimore saw its offense slip in a 12-9 overtime loss at Cleveland last week and attention to detail is what offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg would like to see improve. "There are some things that you have to do to win a game, and then there are some things that you just have to stay away from or you give the game away, and we did several of those things," Mornhinweg told reporters. "Just big picture, the thing, we talked about it as a team. If you look at it, the last two ball games, we've fumbled down there on the goal line and thrown an interception on the goal line. These are things that good teams just stay away from." Quarterback Joe Flacco is averaging 45.4 pass attempts but is up to three interceptions and three fumbles on the season.




ABOUT THE TITANS (3-2): Tennessee has a secret weapon against Baltimore in the form of defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who spent the previous six seasons in the same position with the Ravens. "I know guys always say it's another game. It's not another game (to me)," Pees told reporters. "First of all, it is a game we have to (win) to be 4-2 to keep a lead in our division, that's the most important thing. And second of all, any time you play somebody that you know and know well and respect, it is always an emotional game." Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is hoping another week practicing against Pees' defensive will give him an extra edge and help overcome a 14-of-26 performance for 129 yards and an interception in last week's 13-12 loss at Buffalo.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Titans LT Taylor Lewan (foot) was a full participant in practice on Thursday and is expected to play Sunday.

2. The Ravens have gone over 123 minutes of game time without scoring a touchdown.

3. Mariota threw for 218 yards and a pair of TDs in Tennessee's 23-20 home win over Baltimore last season.

PREDICTION: Titans 24, Ravens 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NFL

NFL Previews 11th October 2018 by Gracenote
Chiefs vs. Patriots Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/11/2018

Five Super Bowl championships and three NFL Most Valuable Player awards has Tom Brady in the conversation of greatest quarterback of all time, but he may be taking a back seat in his upcoming matchup. Patrick Mahomes is off to a sizzling start to the season and will look to keep the Kansas City Chiefs perfect when they visit the Patriots on Sunday night.

Mahomes leads the NFL with 14 touchdown passes in his first season as a starter and is the talk of the league after guiding Kansas City to a 5-0 start for the second year in a row. "Pretty much everything," New England coach Bill Belichick said when asked what impresses him about Mahomes. "He gets the ball to all of his receivers quick, quick release, sees things quickly, can extend plays, got a great arm, got a fabulous arm, can throw the ball out of the stadium. He makes good decisions, accurate, gets the ball out on time." The Patriots have won two straight following a slow start as Brady threw for a season-high 341 yards and three touchdowns in last week's win over Indianapolis to become the third quarterback to reach 500 career scoring passes. "I was a Cowboys fan when I was younger, so being from Texas, I wasn't necessarily a fan of him winning all the time," Mahomes said of Brady. "But you definitely respected his game and how he played. When you have that much success, it takes a bunch of hard work, so you respect that."

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Patriots -3.5. O/U: 59.5

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (5-0): Mahomes failed to throw a scoring pass for the first time and tossed his first two interceptions of the season in last week's 30-14 win over Jacksonville, but he still threw for over 300 yards for the fourth straight game. Tight end Travis Kelce has a team-high 28 catches and three touchdowns while speedster Tyreek Hill is next with 27 receptions and three scores. Kareem Hunt has come alive with four rushing touchdowns in the last three games and burned New England for 148 yards and a score to lead the Chiefs to a 42-27 win at Gillette Stadium in his NFL debut in 2017. Kansas City forced five turnovers and had five sacks last week, but it allows an NFL-worst 461.8 yards per game.




ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (3-2): After a pair of double-digit defeats at Jacksonville and Detroit, New England has found its offensive stride by scoring 38 points in wins over Miami and Indianapolis. The passing game got a lift last week as Julian Edelman (seven catches, 57 yards) returned from a four-game suspension and recent acquisition Josh Gordon made his Patriots debut with two receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. That opens up more room for tight end Rob Gronkowski and rookie running back Sony Michel, who has scored in each of the past two games while rushing for 210 yards. New England's defense is middle of the pack against the run and pass and ranks 30th in the league with only 7.0 sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Brady can become the first quarterback in history to notch 200 career regular-season wins.

2. Mahomes is bidding to become the sixth QB since 1970 to win each of his first seven career starts.

3. Gronkowski needs three catches to become the fourth tight end with 500 receptions in fewer than 110 games.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 33, Patriots 30

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Houston Astros vs. Boston Red Sox Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 14th October 2018 by Gracenote
Astros vs. Red Sox Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/14/2018

The Boston Red Sox came into the American League Championship Series with serious questions about their pitching and did nothing in Game 1 to quell concern. The Red Sox will try to bounce back and even the best-of-seven series at one win apiece when they host the Houston Astros in Game 2 on Sunday.

Boston ace Chris Sale allowed just one hit but yielded two runs and walked four batters while needing 86 pitches to get through four innings before handing things over to a bullpen that proved to be overmatched. Red Sox pitchers issued 10 walks and hit three batters in the 7-2 setback, tying a franchise record for most free passes in a postseason game. The Astros were content to let Boston pitchers beat themselves before receiving a few key hits from the likes of George Springer, Carlos Correa, Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel to remain undefeated in the 2018 playoffs. The Red Sox will turn to another star pitcher with a less-than-stellar postseason resume when David Price attempts to record his first playoff win as a starter while going up against Houston All-Star Gerrit Cole on Sunday.

TV: 7:09 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (0-1, 16.20)

Cole followed a fantastic first season in Houston by dominating in his lone start in the AL Division Series, registering 12 strikeouts over seven innings while allowing one run and three hits to defeat Cleveland. The former No. 1 overall pick by Pittsburgh, who went 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts against Boston during the regular season, is in the LCS for the first time in his career. "It's exciting," Cole told reporters. "It's what you work really hard for and you dream about, you know, to come into situations like this. And when you're doing it at this type of venue, with this type of history and this type of - I know what the atmosphere - I haven't done it, but I have a feeling it's going to be just like buzzing the whole time."



Price could not make it through the second inning against the New York Yankees in the ALDS, as he was ripped for three runs on three hits - two homers - and a pair of walks en route to a loss. The former AL Cy Young Award winner did not allow a run in two relief appearances spanning 6 2/3 innings against Houston in the 2017 ALDS but is 0-9 with a 6.03 ERA in 10 career postseason starts. "It's different baseball," Price told reporters regarding the playoffs. "It is. It's fun. I enjoy it. Haven't been successful the way that I know I can be and will be, but I look forward to getting out there tomorrow."

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox MGR Alex Cora was ejected from Game 1 for arguing balls and strikes.

2. Houston 3B Alex Bregman is 5-for-10 with seven walks and seven runs scored this postseason.

3. Boston LH batters Andrew Benintendi, Brock Holt and Jackie Bradley Jr. combined to go 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts in the series opener.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Red Sox 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

San Jose Sharks vs. New Jersey Devils Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NHL

NHL Previews 13th October 2018 by Gracenote
Sharks vs. Devils Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/13/2018

It's only two games into the season, but the league's best goal differential entering the weekend belonged to the New Jersey Devils. That's right, the Devils, who will continue their season-opening homestand against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday afternoon while trying to build on a 6-0 rout of defending Stanley Cup champion Washington.

New Jersey opened the campaign as the home team in a 5-2 victory over Edmonton in Sweden before putting on a show in its actual home opener by mauling the Capitals, who had scored 18 goals in their first three games. "We want to play offensively, but for us to continue to get better as a team and become a team that could be difficult to play against night in and night out, there were things we wanted to do better defensively," Devils coach John Hynes told reporters. "The team has shown defensive structure." San Jose has alternated wins and losses as it enters the finale of a five-game road trip, getting shut out by the New York Islanders, scoring eight goals to crush Philadelphia and squandering a late lead in an overtime loss to the New York Rangers. The Sharks have dominated the Devils over the last two seasons, winning all four meetings by a combined score of 17-3 while posting a pair of shutouts.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, NBCS California (San Jose), MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (2-2-1): Defenseman Erik Karlsson has yet to provide the impact expected when he was acquired from Ottawa, as he has been on the ice for five of the 10 even-strength goals allowed by San Jose and owns a minus-4 rating. "It's just getting used to teammates," coach Pete DeBoer told reporters. "And some system stuff. Every coach stresses different things. I'm sure we stress some different things than he's been used to. You try to fit in. You try to do those things. He's got a lot on his plate, but we're only five games in." Karlsson missed Saturday's practice due to illness.



ABOUT THE DEVILS (2-0-0): Kyle Palmieri ignited the rout of the Capitals by scoring twice in the opening period, becoming the first player in franchise history with two goals in each of the first two games of the season. "When Kyle is playing well, he's moving his feet, he's tenacious, hard on the puck, and he has a shoot-first mentality," Hynes said. "When he's not playing his best, sometimes those elements aren't in his game, but it's nice to see him getting rewarded." Keith Kinkaid has turned aside 38 of the 40 shots he's faced in winning both his starts.

OVERTIME

1. Sharks LW Evander Kane, who leads the team with four goals, has scored 11 times in 28 career games against the Devils.

2. Kinkaid is 1-2-0 with a 2.58 goals-against average versus San Jose.

3. The Sharks have converted only two of their 18 chances on the power play.

PREDICTION: Sharks 3, Devils 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Anaheim Ducks vs. St. Louis Blues Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NHL

NHL Previews 14th October 2018 by Gracenote
Ducks vs. Blues Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/14/2018

After beginning the season with a three-game winning streak, the Anaheim Ducks look to avoid a third straight setback when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. Anaheim lost to Arizona in a shootout on Wednesday before dropping a 5-3 decision at Dallas three nights later.

Rookie forward Kiefer Sherwood scored his first career goal as the Ducks built a 3-0 lead against the Stars before yielding five straight tallies - one fewer than the amount they surrendered in their first four contests. The Blues enter the contest with a three-game point streak (1-0-2) after falling 4-3 in overtime at Chicago on Saturday. St. Louis scored three consecutive goals after yielding the first two but was unable to hold the lead as it suffered its second overtime loss to the Blackhawks in eight days. Brayden Schenn netted his first two tallies of the season and David Perron recorded his team-leading fourth for the Blues, who are 6-for-20 on the power play after converting two of their four opportunities on Saturday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE DUCKS (3-1-1): Sherwood was not the only player on the team to notch his first point in the NHL on Saturday as Sam Steel and Isac Lundestrom each registered an assist against Dallas. The rookies have been necessary members of Anaheim's lineup as Corey Perry, Patrick Eaves and Ondrej Kase have yet to play this season due to injuries while Ryan Kesler and captain Ryan Getzlaf each have appeared in only two games thanks to ailments. The Ducks lost another forward on Saturday as Carter Rowney took just one shift before exiting with an upper-body injury.



ABOUT THE BLUES (1-1-2): Perron has scored four goals in his last two games after registering 16 in 70 contests with Vegas last season. The 30-year-old left wing, who signed a four-year contract as a free agent in July, is on his third tour of duty with St. Louis as he spent the first six seasons of his career with the club after being selected in the first round of the 2007 draft and returned as a free agent for the 2016-17 campaign. Schenn, who set career highs last season with 28 goals, 42 assists and 70 points - leading the team in the latter two categories, tops the club with five points in four contests.

OVERTIME

1. Three of Perron's four goals have come on the power play.

2. Anaheim RW Jakob Silfverberg, who leads the club with six points, is five goals shy of 100 for his career.

3. Each team has seen only five of the 22 skaters that have appeared in a game thus far fail to record a point.

PREDICTION: Blues 3, Ducks 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Winnipeg Jets Preview and Predictions 10-14-2018 in NHL

NHL Previews 13th October 2018 by Gracenote
Hurricanes vs. Jets Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/13/2018

The Carolina Hurricanes have yet to come away without a point this season and hope to continue that trend when they visit the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night. Carolina, which began the campaign with an overtime loss, opened its three-game trek by edging Minnesota 5-4 in the extra session on Saturday for its fourth consecutive victory.

Sebastian Aho capped a four-point effort 2:57 into overtime with his second goal of the contest as the Hurricanes improved to 2-0-0 on the road. The 21-year-old Finn has landed on the scoresheet in each of Carolina's five games, registering three multi-point performances as he shares the team lead in tallies (four) and assists (six) while topping the club in points. Winnipeg has alternated wins and losses in the early going as it kicks off a six-game homestand. The Jets, who are coming off a 3-0 setback in Nashville, have scored a total of three goals in as many contests since posting a 5-1 victory at St. Louis in their season opener.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FS Carolinas, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet 360 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (4-0-1): Captain Justin Williams notched a pair of assists versus the Wild to remain even with Aho for the team lead and scored his first goal of the season with 69 seconds left in the third period to forge a tie. The 37-year-old right wing recorded his second three-point performance of the campaign on Saturday and has collected all seven of his points over the last three contests. Veteran center Jordan Staal also is off to a strong start as he has scored a goal in four of his first five games.



ABOUT THE JETS (2-2-0): Kyle Connor has picked up where he left off last season, scoring a goal in each of his first three games to lead the team. The 21-year-old left wing, who was the 17th overall pick in the 2015 draft, netted 31 tallies in 76 games in 2017-18 - his first full campaign in the NHL. Patrik Laine, a 20-year-old Finn who was drafted second overall in 2016, has been kept off the scoresheet in three straight games after notching a goal and an assist in the season opener.

OVERTIME

1. The Hurricanes have matched the best start in franchise history - which was recorded in 1995-96, when the Hartford Whalers collected four wins and a tie over their first five games.

2. Winnipeg has gone 11-for-11 on the penalty kill over two games since allowing three goals in five short-handed situations at Dallas on Oct. 6.

3. Aho and 18-year-old RW Andrei Svechnikov, who was the second overall pick in last June's draft, have registered two game-winning goals apiece for Carolina.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Hurricanes 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

1. NSA(The Legend) NFL - Jets under 47
2. Vegas Line Crushers NFL - Steelers under 50
3. VegasSI.com NFL - Cardinals over 44
4. SportsAction365.com NFL - Rams -6.5
5. Gameday Network NFL - Dolphins +6
6. PointSpreadReport.com NFL - Cardinals over 44
7. InsiderSportsAction.com NFL - Jets -2.5
8. Lou Panelli NFL - Bills +10
9. Gerry "Big Cat" Andino NFL - Falcons -3.5
10. VegasSI.com Platinum Info Club NFL - Ravens -2.5
11. William E. Stockton NFL - Rams -6.5
12. Vincent Pioli NFL - Patriots -3.5
13. Steve "Scoop" Kendall NFL - Ravens -2.5
14. SCORE NFL - Falcons -3
15. East Coast Line Movers NFL - Patriots -3.5
16. Tony Campone NFL - Falcons -3
17. Chicago Sports Group NFL - Rams -6.5
18. Hollywood Sportsline NFL - Patriots over 59.5
19. VIP Action NFL - Bills +10
20. South Beach Sports NFL - Dolphins +6
21. Las Vegas Sports Commission NFL - Cowboys +3
22. NY Players Club NFL - Seahawks -3
23. Fred Callahan NFL - Chargers +2
24. Las Vegas Private CEO Club NFL - Patriots over 59.5
25. Michigan Sports NFL - Steelers +2
26. National Consensus Report NFL - Cardinals +10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
Indianapolis

Colts are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Colts are 30-12 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Colts are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 games following a straight up loss.
Colts are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Colts are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Colts are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in October.
Colts are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Colts are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games on fieldturf.
Colts are 4-11-3 ATS in their last 18 games in Week 6.
Colts are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. AFC.

N.Y. Jets

Jets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Jets are 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 games in October.
Jets are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Jets are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games on fieldturf.
Jets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Jets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC.
Jets are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Jets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.

OU Trends
Indianapolis

Over is 4-0 in Colts last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 4-0 in Colts last 4 games in Week 6.
Under is 8-1 in Colts last 9 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Colts last 7 road games.
Over is 5-1 in Colts last 6 games in October.
Under is 5-1 in Colts last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 8-2 in Colts last 10 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 8-2 in Colts last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 11-3 in Colts last 14 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 10-3 in Colts last 13 games overall.
Under is 11-4 in Colts last 15 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Colts last 11 vs. AFC.
Under is 8-3 in Colts last 11 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.

N.Y. Jets

Under is 6-0 in Jets last 6 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 5-0 in Jets last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-0 in Jets last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
Under is 5-0 in Jets last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-0 in Jets last 5 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Jets last 6 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Jets last 5 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Jets last 7 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 5-2-1 in Jets last 8 games in October.
Over is 5-2 in Jets last 7 home games.
Under is 5-2 in Jets last 7 vs. AFC.
Over is 5-2 in Jets last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 7-3 in Jets last 10 games on fieldturf.

Head to Head

Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in New York.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Colts are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Colts are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings in New York.