From the best NFL games to bet this weekend, to the ones you should steer clear of, check out Sean Brennan's guide to get you through the weekend a winner. Then check out how the rest of our crew of pigskin experts see this weekend's action as they pick against the spread.
GIANTS at FALCONS
1 p.m., Ch. 5, Falcons by 1½, 51
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: So what does David Wilson have in store for an encore? It looks as though the rookie running back will have ample opportunity to provide more thrills as Ahmad Bradshaw's balky left knee could lead to Wilson's first NFL start. The Giants may need another big outing from Wilson and the rest of his playmates as the Falcons are not easily beaten at home. In fact this season they are 6-0 in the dome, and Matt Ryan has a rather impressive 32-4 home record in his career. Reason for optimism for Wilson and Big Blue's ground game? The Falcons give up rushing yards in big chunks, over 125 yards a game, which could translate into lots o'time of possession for Eli and Co., thus keeping the ball out of Mr. Ryan's capable hands. The Falcons are coming off their worst performance of the season, getting a thorough beatdown from the lowly Panthers, so you wonder if an 11-2 team has back-to-back stinkers in it. The Falcons also have a bit of revenge in mind after getting trashed, 24-2, by Big Blue in the playoffs last season. But Atlanta has a comfy cushion as far as home-field advantage, and with the Giants trying to hold off Dallas and Washington in the division, this is a must-win for Big Blue.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Giants and the over
JETS at TITANS
Monday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN, Titans by 1½, 42
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Maybe the Mayans could move Doomsday up a few days and none of us would have to be subjected to watching this storied matchup. OK, if they're going to play it anyway, maybe the Jets can continue their recent hot streak and keep alive their faint playoff hopes. To that end, this procession of NFL dregs the Jets have lined up late in the season (Cardinals and Jaguars the last two weeks, the Titans, Chargers and Bills to come) is just what the doctor ordered. While the Jets' offense has been difficult to watch (that's putting it mildly), the Gang Greenies defense has been pretty stout of late. Yes, it has faced some pretty weak teams, but the defense is keeping hope alive in Florham Park with three games to go. The Jets are now ranked third in pass defense and have not allowed a receiver to notch a 100-yard game this season. Bad news for you, Kenny Britt and Nate Washington. Let's face it, the Jets need to close out the regular season with three more wins and get lots of help from others (that means you Pittsburgh and Cincy). But hope stays alive at least another week in the Music City.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Jets and the under
New York Daily News
Our experts pick this week's games. See below for more experts picks!
PACKERS at BEARS
1 p.m., Packers by 3, 42½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Bears WR Brandon Marshall says he despises the Packers and it's all because they shut him down in Week 2 after Jay Cutler boldly predicted Green Bay's secondary would have no shot at quieting Marshall. But that probably makes sense to Marshall, who appears to be off his meds again. If there ever was a must-win for the Bears, this is it. A loss and the division title goes to the Pack. A win by the Bears and they pull into a tie with the Packers with Green Bay owning a better divisional record. Cutler and his sore neck, expect to play which may or may not be good news for Chicago, as he is 1-5 as a Bear vs. the Cheesemen. Green Bay, which will not have Charles Woodson but should have Clay Matthews, has won five in a row and seven of eight vs. the Bears. Cutler is in a must-win here. Maybe this time he actually answers the bell.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bears and the over
SEAHAWKS at BILLS
4:05 p.m., Seahawks by 5, 42½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: So what do you get for thrashing a divisional opponent by 58 points a week ago? An all-expense paid trip to Canada for a late-season game with the Bills. That will teach the Seahawks. The 'Hawks 58-point dismantling of the Cardinals last week set a franchise record for points in a game, beating by two their previous mark set in 1977 against — right, the Bills. The Seahawks finally notched their lone road win two weeks ago in Chicago and now get a shot at a Bills team that has not only dropped five of its last seven, but has been banished to Canada for this game. Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said this week, "We have to develop a killer instinct." Fitz, my man, you're 5-8. That ship has sailed and it will continue sailing this week against a Seattle team that will be looking to solidify a wild-card spot while also keeping one eye on the NFC West title; the Seahawks trail San Fran by just a game and a half.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Seahawks and the under
LIONS at CARDINALS
4:05 p.m., Lions by 6, 43½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: How bad are things in Arizona? Consider the Cardinals are coming off the worst loss in franchise history (58-0 to Seattle), it was the fourth-worst shutout in the last 72 years, and have a quarterback situation so dire that former Heisman Trophy winner and currently unemployed couch potato Vince Young tweeted Cards WR Larry Fitzgerald last week that he was available to lead the Cardinals' 32nd-ranked offense. This is the same Young who has allegedly squandered every nickel of his NFL money spending $5,000 a week at the Cheesecake Factory. Once the Lions step off the plane they're halfway to victory.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Lions and the under
JAGUARS at DOLPHINS
1 p.m., Dolphins by 7, 37½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: It's the hottest ticket in town! Chad Henne's triumphant return to South Beach, back to where it all began! It's the biggest thing to hit South Florida since the Early Bird Special! Sadly few are excited about Chad's return, and with Miami's 5-8 record and another playoff-less January to look forward to, Dolphins fans could care less. But as bad as things are going for the Fish (1-5 in their last six), it's far worse being a Jaguar. The Jags' run defense allowed 232 rushing yards to the Bills two weeks ago and another 166 to the Jets last week. Finally Reggie Bush has reason to rejoice in this Battle of Irrelevant Florida Teams.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Dolphins and the under
VIKINGS at RAMS
1 p.m., Rams by 3, 38½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Two teams with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread meet with the loser done. The surprising Rams have been solid at home where they are 4-3 with wins over the Redskins, 49ers and Seahawks. But now they are the latest contestants to try to stop Adrian Peterson from running amok. All Peterson has done in his last seven games is run for 1,101 yards and he needs to average just over 130 yards a game from here to eclipse 2,000 yards. Not bad for a guy who many thought would be a shell of himself after his brutal knee injury. It's the Rams' final game in front of the home fans but here I have to say, "Yo, Adrian."
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Vikings and the under
BRONCOS at RAVENS
1 p.m., Broncos by 2½, 48½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Yes, the Broncos are on a nice roll, having won eight straight, but they haven't exactly gone through a Murderer's Row in that streak with only Cincinnati owning a winning record of the eight teams. But that should change here. The Ravens might be the most vulnerable nine-win team in the league as they are just 4-3 in their last seven games, which includes a loss to the lowly Browns while some of their wins have come against the same Browns, Raiders and Chargers. This will be a good test for the Broncos, who have already clinched their division but are still in the running for the AFC's No. 1 seed.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Broncos and the over
STEELERS at COWBOYS
4:25 p.m., Steelers by 2, 44½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: You have to think of last week's loss to the Chargers as an aberration. It happens. But put the Steelers up against an NFC team, and the old Black and Gold come to life. Already this season Pittsburgh is 3-0 vs. the NFC East and since 2003 it owns a robust 29-6 record vs. the NFC. Two things here: Tony Romo and the Cowboys have not exactly been world beaters at home (they're just 3-3 in Big 'D') and now the Steelers come to town toting the league's No. 1 defense which allows just 93.2 rushing yards and 169.2 passing yards a game. Considering that the Cowboys' ONLY 100-yard rushing game came in Week 1, I'd say advantage: Steelers.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Steelers and the under
49ERS at PATRIOTS
8:20 p.m., Ch. 4, Patriots by 5, 46½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: For the second week in a row the Patriots will host the NFL's marquee game of the week. It didn't turn out too well for the Texans last week when the Pats handed them a 42-14 beatdown. But this time it might be a little different. Now Tom Brady and Co. will get a look at what all the fuss is about with San Fran's Aldon Smith. All Smith has done is register a franchise-record 19½ sacks so far — three off Michael Strahan's NFL record. Tom Brady has never beaten the Niners in his career, and the Niners have responded to a loss or a tie this year with two straight wins each time. This would be Win No. 2 after their loss to the Rams. Just saying.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: 49ers and the under
BEST OF THE REST
CHIEFS at RAIDERS
4:25 p.m., Raiders by 3, 43½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Raiders and the under
PANTHERS at CHARGERS
4:05 p.m. Chargers by 3, 45½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Panthers and the over
BUCS at SAINTS
1 p.m., Saints by 3½, 54½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Saints and the over
REDSKINS at BROWNS
1 p.m., Redskins by 1½, 37½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Redskins and the over
LOOK DON'T TOUCH
COLTS at TEXANS
1 p.m., Texans by 9, 48
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: The Texans are looking to lock up the division and it would behoove them to do it this week. One, it would banish the taste from last week's dreadful loss in New England and, two, if Andrew Luck (above) and the Colts win here and are within one game when these two meet again in Week 17, well, the Texans have never won in Indy. Take care of business.
CAN'T HELP YOURSELF: Texans and the under
THIS WEEK'S BEST BET
Lions: How bad are the Cardinals when the Lions are a best bet?
LAST WEEK: 7-8-1
OVERALL: 94-105-9
BEST BETS: 8-6
OVER/UNDER: 102-105-1
No comments:
Post a Comment