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Paul Leiner
100* Detroit +7.5
50* USC Pk
100* Detroit +7.5
50* USC Pk
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WUNDERDOG
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Game: Tennessee State at Western Kentucky (8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Western Kentucky -2.5 (-110)
The Tennessee State Tigers had an ominous debut as they were manhandled by St. Louis, where they managed to score just 37 points. The Tigers simply had no leadership or answers, and failed to have even a single player score in double figures. They must pick up the pieces, and square-off vs. Western Kentucky who dropped an 11-point decision to St. Joe's. The Tigers own just a 4-9-1 ATS mark in their last 14 as a +6.5 point or less dog, and has been a program full of struggles for many a year. The Hilltoppers have owned the Ohio Valley Conference where they now stand at 10-1 ATS in their last 11 meetings against them. I expect Western Kentucky to get their first win of the season, so I'll back them in this one.Comment
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David Banks
Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 10 of the 2011-12 NFL season comes to a close on Monday night at Lambeau Field where the Minnesota Vikings (2-6, 4-3-1 ATS) will look to earn their first divisional win of the season when they face the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers (8-0, 6-2 ATS) for the second time this season; kick-off for this NFC North clash is set to go live on ESPN at 8:30 ET.
Off a disappointing 6-10 SU finish a year ago, the Minnesota Vikings weren’t expected to make much noise heading into the 2011-12 NFL season. At 2-6 SU entering this week’s Monday Nighter in Green Bay, it’s safe to say the Vikes have lived up to expectations. Having said that, there’s a bit of optimism surrounding the franchise right now after the team covered each of its last two games heading into Week 9’s bye. Most of the excitement surrounds the ability of rookie QB Christian Ponder to look past his surroundings and perform like the first round draft pick the Vikings believed he was. The former Florida State Seminole has thrown for 554 yards at 7.19 yards per attempt to go along with a 3/2 TD/INT ratio since taking over for ineffective veteran Donovan McNabb . He completed 18-of-28 passes for 236 yards and a score against a semi decent Carolina defense in his first ever road start, and should find success once more against Green Bay’s porous pass defense (#31 at 299.6 YPG allowed) in this spot.
The Packers have hardly been tested in their quest to produce a perfect regular season resume. Sure, teams have been able to match scores with them, but the defending champs have found a way to come out on top every time en route to covering six of their eight games played to date. The defense gave them the added boost necessary to overcome a furious comeback by the San Diego Chargers, as it returned a pair of errant Philip Rivers passes for scores in the 45-38 road win and cover. QB Aaron Rodgers is in the midst of a historical season that’s already seen him throw for 2619 yards while completing better than 72 percent of his passes. He’s spread the pigskin around to his plethora of receivers and accumulated a whopping 24 TD passes to just three interceptions. He already torched the Vikings defense for 335 yards and three TDs in the division rivals first match-up in Week 7, so it’s safe to say he’ll do more of the same this time around considering Minnesota’s pass defense checks in ranked 30th in the league allowing 273.6 YPG.
Green Bay has won each of the L/3 meetings between these squads (2-1 ATS) with the ‘over’ cashing on two occasions. The Vikings were throttled their last visit to Lambeau falling 31-3 as three-point underdogs, but stand 7-3 ATS their L/10 overall trips to the “Land of Cheese”. Minny stands just 1-7 SU & 1-6-1 ATS when seeking revenge against an opponent, but checks in 3-1-1 ATS its L/5 when dogged. Green Bay’s 23-12 ATS the L/25 times it went of the board favored, but is just 1-2 SU & ATS its L/3 Monday night Appearances. The ‘over’ is 6-1 in these teams L/7 overall confrontations.
PICK: GREEN BAY / MINNESOTA OVERComment
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