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.
* * *
STEELERS at GIANTS
4:25 p.m., Ch. 2, Giants by 3 ½, 47 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: The Steelers are coming off back-to-back wins for the first time this season and have finally edged over the .500 mark for the first time. Kind of strange to be talking about the Steelers in such terms, no? One other thing about Pittsburgh – they are 14-1 vs. rookie QB sunder defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau after last weekend's win over RGIII and the Skins. Unfortunately for the Steelers, they not only will not be facing a rookie QB this week, but arguably the best quarterback in captivity in Eli Manning. The Giants have won four in a row and have a very comfy lead in the NFC East and should not be unnerved by a Steelers team that is already 2-0 vs. the NFC East this season. The Giants offensive line is working like a well-oiled machine as Eli has been sacked just six times in eight games. With Pittsburgh having managed just 12 sacks through seven games, I'm betting Eli won't have to 'Shout' out any grass stains again this week.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Giants and the under
BRONCOS at BENGALS
1 p.m., Broncos by 3 ½, 47 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Speaking of Mannings, Cincy will be facing the 'other' one and that's usually not a recipe for success for the Bengals, or as they are more widely known - America's Team. Peyton Manning comes into the game with a career 5-0 record vs. Cincy as it prepares for back-to-back Manning weekends with the Giants next on the Bengals docket. "We're really going to find out what this team is made of," Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said. What they have not been made of lately are wins. The Bengals have dropped three straight while Dalton, with 10 interceptions on the season, has seen three of them returned for touchdowns. Bright note? The Broncos are just 1-10 in their last 11 trips to the Eastern Time Zone since the 2009 season and with the clocks set to "fall back" Saturday night, Cincy fans are pinning their hopes on Peyton's internal clock being all screwed up. So they have that going for them. Unfortunately, the Manning Curse looks to continue this week as Denver begins to run away and hide in the weak AFC West.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Broncos and the under
RAVENS at BROWNS
1 p.m., Ravens by 3 ½, 42 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: If there is a bigger Jekyll-and-Hyde team in the NFL than the Ravens, we have yet to see them. While Baltimore comes into this game toting a 5-2 record and the penthouse view in the AFC North, the Ravens at home are an entirely different bird than the one on the road. So far this season Baltimore has posted just one road win this season, that at woeful Kansas City in which the Ravens squeaked by with a 9-6 win. They were also embarrassed in their last roadie, a 43-13 spanking in Houston. But fear not, Ravens fans for we bring you the Cleveland Browns. The Brownies defense has already yielded 22 touchdowns in their first eight games this season (they allowed 31 all of last year) and have lost nine straight games to the Ravens since 2008. And with a Brownies defense that allows over 131 rushing yards a game, Cleveland can expect a heavy diet of Ray Rice here. Yes, Baltimore's defense has been wretched vs. the run of late, but with Cleveland managing just 86 yards a game, here's thinking the Ravens log a rare road win here.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Ravens and the under
CARDINALS at PACKERS
1 p.m., Packers by 11, 44 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: That's a pretty high number attached the Pack this Sunday which begs the question: exactly what did they do in squeaking out a tight win against those juggernaut Jaguars to deserve such a number. The short answer is nothing. Green Bay's running game seems to have been missing almost as long as Hoffa, their defense is banged up and their vaunted receiving corps will again be without Greg Jennings and might still be a Jordy Nelson short. Of course this could be the week that the Packers front seven start to once again pad their sack totals as the Cardinals offensive line has allowed opposing defenders an up-close meet-and-greet with Cardinals quarterbacks 39 times this season. John Skelton, may we introduce Mr. Clay Matthews.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Cardinals and the under
DOLPHINS at COLTS
1 p.m., Dolphins by 2 ½, 43 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Fresh off their Sunday spanking of the punch-less Jets, the Dolphins look to make it two straight on the road. And this seems to be the part of Miami's schedule that could lead to them heading into December with a solid hold on a postseason spot. Yes, the Colts have been one of the nicer surprises with their 4-3 start after their first road win last week in Tennessee, but Miami's run defense has kept it in virtually every game and with two OT losses, the Dolphins could have been this close to being 6-1.With an AFC-best three-game win streak, and upcoming games vs. Tennessee, Buffalo and Seattle, here is where Miami begins to make its move.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Dolphins and the under
LIONS at JAGUARS
1 p.m., Lions by 3 ½, 44 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Jags coach Mike Mularkey this week said his1-6 Jags are but four or so plays away from being the 4-3 Jags. Sure Mike, and I'm three numbers away from winning LOTTO and not having to write about Mike Mularkey and the Jags. No Maurice Jones-Drew (foot) again this week which makes the Jags even more appealing, no? On the other side, this might be the only "gimme" for the Lions in the next month with games with Minnesota, Green Bayand Houston lurking. The Lions won late vs. Seattle last week on a Matthew Stafford TD pass with 20 seconds to play, his fourth career game-winning pass with under a 1:00 to play. Matt will need no such heroics here.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Lions and the under
BILLS at TEXANS
1 p.m., Texans by 10, 47 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: As a glass-half-full kind of guy, here's what I take away from the Bills being ranked 32nd (that's dead last) against the run this season: you can't be any worse and there's nowhere to go up but. Unfortunately for the Bills, it's not likely to get any better this week in Houston, where Arian Foster awaits. Buffalo is allowing 176.9 rushing yards a game, including six yards per attempt. They have also allowed 12 runs of 20 yards or more. So with three weeks left before Thanksgiving, it looks like Christmas has come really early for Foster. Mario Williams triumphant return to Houston does not go all that well for the Bills.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Texans and the under
COWBOYS at FALCONS
8:20 p.m., Ch. 4, Falcons by 4 ½, 47 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Last Sunday's frustrating loss to the Giants has left Cowboys owner Jerry Jones looking at the season clock tick away. "Our clock is running and it's starting to get urgent. We are starting to run out of opportunities." Yes, Jerry, you are. And now you face the league's last unbeaten team so it might behoove you to not fall into a 23-0 hole to start the game, find your running game and maybe stop the other guys run offense. Sadly for Dallas, Atlanta found its running game last week and with Tony Romo's (13interceptions) wayward aerials continuing to put the 'Boys in the hole well, Jerry, it's later than you think.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Falcons and the over
EAGLES at SAINTS
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ESPN, Saints by 3 ½, 52 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: The Saints loss in Denver last week pretty much put the cork in the bottle as far as New Orleans' postseason hopes. This week the Eagles are pretty much in that same position as a loss would all but end Philly's chances of meaningful January football and probably Michael Vick's days as a starter. Let's face it, if Vick can't muster more of an offense here against a Saints defense that has given up over 400 yards in seven straight games, then he's in the wrong line of work. But the Eagles have been nothing special on the road with a 1-2 mark with their only win being a one-point victory in Cleveland on opening day. Philly, the end is near.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Saints and the under
BUCCANEERS at RAIDERS
4:05 p.m., Raiders by 1 ½, 45 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Despite a sub .500 record the Raiders are in the thick of the AFC West divisional race, just a game behind Denver. Oakland has a tremendous opportunity to reach the .500 mark against a Bucs team that will be hurting at cornerback due to Eric Wright's suspension and Aqib Talib's move to the Patriots. That should open things up nicely for Carson Palmer. Palmer will need to have success as the Bucs run defense limits opponents to just 3.1 yards per carry. But the reason the Raiders are riding a two-game winning streak has been the play of their defense, which sacked KC quarterbacks three times last week in a10-point road win. Fear the Black Hole.
IF I WERE BETTING MAN: Raiders and the under
* * *
BEST OF THE REST
PANTHERS at REDSKINS
1 p.m., Redskins by 3 ½, 46 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Panthers and the under
VIKINGS at SEAHAWKS
4:05 p.m., Seahawks by 5, 39 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Vikings and the under
* * *
LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH
BEARS at TITANS
1 p.m., Bears by 3 ½, 43 ½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: This is going to come down to whether the Bears offensive line can keep Jay Cutler on one piece. Cutler, by many accounts, is not the most likeable guy in the league. He's also been sacked 25times this season, including six times last week vs. Carolina. Coincidence? Here's hoping Jay is on good terms with his O-Linemen this week.
WEEK'S BEST BET
Falcons. Atlanta won't go unbeaten this year – but they make it through Week 9 unscathed.
LAST WEEK: 7-7
OVERALL: 48-67-3
BEST BETS: 4-4
OVER/UNDER: 52-66
No comments:
Post a Comment