Tweet
Sports Wagers
San Diego –2 over N.Y. JETS
We’re never quite sure about the Chargers but facing this incompetent Jets team, we don’t have to be. With a precarious Mark Sanchez under center, coach Rex Ryan has invoked a run-first, manage the clock, play defense approach. That can work – if you can run. The Jets can’t. Their 3.3 yards per rush, ranking 31st in the league, clearly illustrates that. Sanchez cannot overcome this deficiency with his arm and having to face a team that can rack up points, the home team figures to be in a hopeless position for most of the afternoon. San Diego off to its best start in years and always gets stronger after their bye. Jets 24-6 win over Miami sure looks a lot prettier on paper than it actually was. The Jets three wins have come against Dallas in a game they had no business winning in followed by a victory over Jacksonville before last Monday’s win over Miami. When playing three quality teams, the Raiders, Ravens and Pats, the Jets lost them all by nine or more and now they’re coming off that Monday night win, meaning one less day to prepare of this quality intruder. Play: San Diego –2 (Risking 2.14 units to win 2).
ARIZONA +4½ over Pittsburgh
The schedule makers have once again been kind to the Steelers. Home games against the Seachickens, Titans and Jaguars have produced a perfect 3-0 mark and last week the Steelers had to hang on to beat the Jagwires by a measly four points. Leaving Pittsburgh hasn’t been as successful. The Steelers only road win was a narrow 3-pt win at still winless Indianapolis with losses occurring at Baltimore and Houston by a combined 52-17. While the Cardinals may not exactly be a formidable opponent, they are best as hosts and they’ve had an extra week to prepare. In its last two home games, Arizona held the Panthers and Giants to 56 and 57 yards, respectively on the ground. Additionally, the Steelers have the Patriots up next week followed by games against the Ravens and Bengals, thus, Pittsburgh is in real danger of overlooking this one. Play: Arizona +4½ (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).
Kansas City +6 over OAKLAND
As if Al Davis’ death wasn’t enough, the Raiders remained in the spotlight with the acquisition of discontented Carson Palmer from Cincinnati. While Palmer figures to help this club, it is difficult to fathom how he goes from sitting on the couch for months to being the starting QB for an unfamiliar team on less than a week’s notice. And it’s not like Oakland can turn to its defense until Palmer gets up to speed. Raiders have been outgained in all but two games, with one being in desperation mode during comeback attempt to New England. A lot of distractions in the Bay area while Chiefs are rested and ready for familiar foe. One thing we’ve learned over the years is that every team will suffer an emotional letdown at some point during the season and the Raiders have yet to do so. This looks like the week that occurs. Chiefs outright but we’ll play it safe and accept points. Play: Kansas City +6 (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).
The rest of the games with no wagers.
Chicago –1 over Tampa Bay
Seems fitting that these two will play in the city where Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde resided. Both squads have shown split personalities this season but given that both are on good behavior, prefer having Jay Cutler’s arm over a Tampa defense that has allowed six touchdown passes in its past three games. Also note that the Bucs are coming off intense filled win over Saints while Bears barely broke a sweat in a pasting over the Vikes. Play Chicago –1 (no bets)
Washington +2½ over CAROLINA
Skins looked brutal last week in one of the feature games of the week while the Panthers haven’t looked brutal all season. That display last week against Philly has many leaning Panthers and that could be a mistake based on one showing. Taking points with the Panthers is much wiser than giving any away. While Carolina did cover in its only game as chalk, that lone win was against a woeful Jacksonville group averaging just 12 points per game on offense. Combine that with a Redskins defense allowing just 16 points per game and Washington becomes the prudent pick. John Beck starts over Rex Grossman. Play: Washington +2½ (No bets).
CLEVELAND–3 over Seattle
Seahawks pulled huge upset in New York two weeks ago, upending the heavily favored Giants. Don’t expect lightning to strike twice. While the Browns don’t exactly instill warm and fuzzies, prefer them laying a small price at home to a Seattle squad that has covered just five times in past 23 attempts as the visitor. Play Cleveland –3 (No bets).
TENNESSEE –3 over Houston
Chris Johnson is too good of a runner to be held to a puny average of three yards per carry and with an extra week to acclimate to his blockers, we expect a breakout game from the young star. Texans figure to remain hindered without best offensive and defensive players, as both remain sidelined. Play: Tennessee –3 (No bets).
MIAMI –1 over Denver
Isn’t Halloween next week? Would hardly pay attention to this stinker but Tim Tebow will start for the Broncos and we’ll get to find out if he’s as unqualified as many believe him to be. Seems like coach John Fox caved in to the “mob mentality” to start Tebow after all the talk show whining and complaining and after all the church collection plates were cashed in for billboards. We doubt Tebow is the savior. It’ll be difficult for the Dolphins to be any worse than they were on Monday night and a strong response to that debacle is a a distinct possibility. So at a short price, we’ll lean to the Fish. Play: Miami –1 (No bets).
Atlanta +3½ over DETROIT
How can we handicap this game without mentioning the handshake heard round the world? After all everybody hates losing so we totally understand Coach Schwartz getting torqued off over the handshake, the backslap, the yelling in the ear, the bouncing around the field like Daffy Duck at the end of an old Looney Tunes cartoon. Hey coach, this is the pros. It’s your job to help the team kick *** on the field. And when you do, act like you expected to. Save your “teenage girl at a Justin Beiber concert” routine for appropriate situations. Detroit needed three comeback victories before finally losing to the Niners last week. Lost in the Lions improbable start is their inability at stopping the run. If Matt Forte, Frank Gore and Adrian Petersen ran them over, Atlanta’s Michael Turner can certainly do the same. Falcons always comfortable indoors and taking points. Play: Atlanta +3½ (No bets).
DALLAS –13 over St. Louis
If Dallas loses this one, there may be an ‘Occupy Cowboys Stadium’ protest. Cowboys remain talented but have found novel ways to give away games. The ‘Boys have faced teams that are a combined 20-8 thus far while the Rams are a sorry bunch that have scored a league-low 49 points and those hits on Sam Bradford keep adding up. Play: Dallas –13 (No bets)
MINNESOTA +9 over Green Bay
The Vikings have finally opted to start a quarterback that wasn’t born in the 70’s. Rookie Christian Ponder gets the start for Minnesota and why not? He may have his hands full against the champs but there is enough room and enthusiasm in a divisional matchup to warrant our support. Play: Minnesota +9 (No bets).
NEW ORLEANS –14 over Indianapolis
This is the Saints’ only home game in a five-week span and they’ll surely be strutting their stuff for partisan crowd, especially after loss in Tampa last week. Indianapolis ’ overworked defense has yet to allow less than 23 points in a game, including 27 and 28 past two to Chiefs and Bengals respectively. Saints may score 56. Play: New Orleans –14 (No bets).
This week’s Survivor Pick:
NEW ORLEANS
Pick a team this week. There’s Dallas over St. Louis, Baltimore over Jacksonville, the Pack over the Vikes and then there’s New Orleans. A good rule of thumb is to avoid big favored road teams, as they’ve been a lot more prone to losses (over the years) than chalk at home and you can double that in respect to the prime time Sunday and Monday Night games. Thus, we would not take Baltimore, nor would we take the Packers. That leaves the Saints and Cowboys and looking ahead, Dallas has a whole slew of soft opponents coming up. The Saints are home after three weeks, it’s a prime time affair and Drew Brees is one of the top three QB’s in the game. The Saints are simply the best big favorite of the week. Our hope is that a lot of folks are on the other three and one of them loses.
San Diego –2 over N.Y. JETS
We’re never quite sure about the Chargers but facing this incompetent Jets team, we don’t have to be. With a precarious Mark Sanchez under center, coach Rex Ryan has invoked a run-first, manage the clock, play defense approach. That can work – if you can run. The Jets can’t. Their 3.3 yards per rush, ranking 31st in the league, clearly illustrates that. Sanchez cannot overcome this deficiency with his arm and having to face a team that can rack up points, the home team figures to be in a hopeless position for most of the afternoon. San Diego off to its best start in years and always gets stronger after their bye. Jets 24-6 win over Miami sure looks a lot prettier on paper than it actually was. The Jets three wins have come against Dallas in a game they had no business winning in followed by a victory over Jacksonville before last Monday’s win over Miami. When playing three quality teams, the Raiders, Ravens and Pats, the Jets lost them all by nine or more and now they’re coming off that Monday night win, meaning one less day to prepare of this quality intruder. Play: San Diego –2 (Risking 2.14 units to win 2).
ARIZONA +4½ over Pittsburgh
The schedule makers have once again been kind to the Steelers. Home games against the Seachickens, Titans and Jaguars have produced a perfect 3-0 mark and last week the Steelers had to hang on to beat the Jagwires by a measly four points. Leaving Pittsburgh hasn’t been as successful. The Steelers only road win was a narrow 3-pt win at still winless Indianapolis with losses occurring at Baltimore and Houston by a combined 52-17. While the Cardinals may not exactly be a formidable opponent, they are best as hosts and they’ve had an extra week to prepare. In its last two home games, Arizona held the Panthers and Giants to 56 and 57 yards, respectively on the ground. Additionally, the Steelers have the Patriots up next week followed by games against the Ravens and Bengals, thus, Pittsburgh is in real danger of overlooking this one. Play: Arizona +4½ (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).
Kansas City +6 over OAKLAND
As if Al Davis’ death wasn’t enough, the Raiders remained in the spotlight with the acquisition of discontented Carson Palmer from Cincinnati. While Palmer figures to help this club, it is difficult to fathom how he goes from sitting on the couch for months to being the starting QB for an unfamiliar team on less than a week’s notice. And it’s not like Oakland can turn to its defense until Palmer gets up to speed. Raiders have been outgained in all but two games, with one being in desperation mode during comeback attempt to New England. A lot of distractions in the Bay area while Chiefs are rested and ready for familiar foe. One thing we’ve learned over the years is that every team will suffer an emotional letdown at some point during the season and the Raiders have yet to do so. This looks like the week that occurs. Chiefs outright but we’ll play it safe and accept points. Play: Kansas City +6 (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).
The rest of the games with no wagers.
Chicago –1 over Tampa Bay
Seems fitting that these two will play in the city where Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde resided. Both squads have shown split personalities this season but given that both are on good behavior, prefer having Jay Cutler’s arm over a Tampa defense that has allowed six touchdown passes in its past three games. Also note that the Bucs are coming off intense filled win over Saints while Bears barely broke a sweat in a pasting over the Vikes. Play Chicago –1 (no bets)
Washington +2½ over CAROLINA
Skins looked brutal last week in one of the feature games of the week while the Panthers haven’t looked brutal all season. That display last week against Philly has many leaning Panthers and that could be a mistake based on one showing. Taking points with the Panthers is much wiser than giving any away. While Carolina did cover in its only game as chalk, that lone win was against a woeful Jacksonville group averaging just 12 points per game on offense. Combine that with a Redskins defense allowing just 16 points per game and Washington becomes the prudent pick. John Beck starts over Rex Grossman. Play: Washington +2½ (No bets).
CLEVELAND–3 over Seattle
Seahawks pulled huge upset in New York two weeks ago, upending the heavily favored Giants. Don’t expect lightning to strike twice. While the Browns don’t exactly instill warm and fuzzies, prefer them laying a small price at home to a Seattle squad that has covered just five times in past 23 attempts as the visitor. Play Cleveland –3 (No bets).
TENNESSEE –3 over Houston
Chris Johnson is too good of a runner to be held to a puny average of three yards per carry and with an extra week to acclimate to his blockers, we expect a breakout game from the young star. Texans figure to remain hindered without best offensive and defensive players, as both remain sidelined. Play: Tennessee –3 (No bets).
MIAMI –1 over Denver
Isn’t Halloween next week? Would hardly pay attention to this stinker but Tim Tebow will start for the Broncos and we’ll get to find out if he’s as unqualified as many believe him to be. Seems like coach John Fox caved in to the “mob mentality” to start Tebow after all the talk show whining and complaining and after all the church collection plates were cashed in for billboards. We doubt Tebow is the savior. It’ll be difficult for the Dolphins to be any worse than they were on Monday night and a strong response to that debacle is a a distinct possibility. So at a short price, we’ll lean to the Fish. Play: Miami –1 (No bets).
Atlanta +3½ over DETROIT
How can we handicap this game without mentioning the handshake heard round the world? After all everybody hates losing so we totally understand Coach Schwartz getting torqued off over the handshake, the backslap, the yelling in the ear, the bouncing around the field like Daffy Duck at the end of an old Looney Tunes cartoon. Hey coach, this is the pros. It’s your job to help the team kick *** on the field. And when you do, act like you expected to. Save your “teenage girl at a Justin Beiber concert” routine for appropriate situations. Detroit needed three comeback victories before finally losing to the Niners last week. Lost in the Lions improbable start is their inability at stopping the run. If Matt Forte, Frank Gore and Adrian Petersen ran them over, Atlanta’s Michael Turner can certainly do the same. Falcons always comfortable indoors and taking points. Play: Atlanta +3½ (No bets).
DALLAS –13 over St. Louis
If Dallas loses this one, there may be an ‘Occupy Cowboys Stadium’ protest. Cowboys remain talented but have found novel ways to give away games. The ‘Boys have faced teams that are a combined 20-8 thus far while the Rams are a sorry bunch that have scored a league-low 49 points and those hits on Sam Bradford keep adding up. Play: Dallas –13 (No bets)
MINNESOTA +9 over Green Bay
The Vikings have finally opted to start a quarterback that wasn’t born in the 70’s. Rookie Christian Ponder gets the start for Minnesota and why not? He may have his hands full against the champs but there is enough room and enthusiasm in a divisional matchup to warrant our support. Play: Minnesota +9 (No bets).
NEW ORLEANS –14 over Indianapolis
This is the Saints’ only home game in a five-week span and they’ll surely be strutting their stuff for partisan crowd, especially after loss in Tampa last week. Indianapolis ’ overworked defense has yet to allow less than 23 points in a game, including 27 and 28 past two to Chiefs and Bengals respectively. Saints may score 56. Play: New Orleans –14 (No bets).
This week’s Survivor Pick:
NEW ORLEANS
Pick a team this week. There’s Dallas over St. Louis, Baltimore over Jacksonville, the Pack over the Vikes and then there’s New Orleans. A good rule of thumb is to avoid big favored road teams, as they’ve been a lot more prone to losses (over the years) than chalk at home and you can double that in respect to the prime time Sunday and Monday Night games. Thus, we would not take Baltimore, nor would we take the Packers. That leaves the Saints and Cowboys and looking ahead, Dallas has a whole slew of soft opponents coming up. The Saints are home after three weeks, it’s a prime time affair and Drew Brees is one of the top three QB’s in the game. The Saints are simply the best big favorite of the week. Our hope is that a lot of folks are on the other three and one of them loses.
Comment