Articles by Cappers Picks related to online NFL betting, and handicapping nfl football matchups by vegas experts.
Defenses finally struck back in Week 3, as some fast-starting offenses finally hit the skids a little bit. The big story, though: the Lions and Bills doing the unthinkable and remaining undefeated.
Each week during the heart of the NFL season, and once or twice during the NFL Preseason, we’ll gather the troops around the roundtable and hash out the NFL Power rankings. We check out the stats, looks at the records, and, most importantly, we take a close, close look at the heart of each team.
In a division that features the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and the “Dream Team” Philadelphia Eagles, few would have guessed that the upstart Washington Redskins would be alone in first place in the NFC East heading in to week three.
Before the NFL regular season got underway, the majority of prognosticators had the New England Patriots and New York Jets clashing for the division title in the AFC East.
The Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to blame their quarterback following a 35-7 loss to the division rival Baltimore Ravens in which they turned the ball over seven times, including three interceptions and two lost fumbles from Ben Roethlisberger.
Metrodome – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sunday September 25 – 1:00PM
Moneyline:
Spread (ATS): Detroit -4
Over/Under: 45
Odds courtesy of 5DimesDetroitWow, what a performance by the Lions last week. Their hype machine was already humming but when you throttle a team like they did the Chiefs there was no choice for the media to crank it up a notch. After a brief respite at home they are back on the road to face Minnesota, a familiar opponent in an unfamiliar spot against the Lions – home underdog.
The one thing I would like to see Detroit do before I swallow the Kool-Aid is run the ball better. I love their offensive weapons and as long as QB Matthew Stafford is healthy they have a chance to compete with anybody. Their defense is really taking shape although their performance against Kansas City may be hard to repeat with regularity. This is not a smokescreen, the Lions are definitely a team on the come.
The line on this one has already gone up a half point to -4 on the Detroit side. Odds are it will continue to move until kickoff and I would definitely be willing to bet into it until at least -6.5. The Lions will lose eventually but the way they exceeded even last week’s loft expectations indicated this year’s club are the same old Detroit Lions. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Minnesota
The Vikings are in a very precarious position right now. At 0-2, especially in the NFC Central, their chances of making the playoffs this year are slim. They are expected to lose on Sunday and when I look at their schedule I am not sure who they can feel confident beating. This is surprising given that they still have Adrian Peterson and added Donovan McNabb in the offseason.
Against San Diego they were dominated and against Tampa they dominated, for a half. It is disappointing that a team like Minnesota wilted the way they did in the second half at home. It was the kind of performance that makes you think things might get worse before they get better…leading to the beginning of the Christian Ponder era.
This could be a real changing of the guard game for these two teams. Minnesota has won 13 straight home games against Detroit – a fact you can be sure the Lions staff are using as motivation. Last year these teams also met in week three a 24-10 victory by the Vikings at home where Adrian Peterson went off for a season high 160 yards. They are going to need some of that and then some to keep their streak going this week.
ATS Pick: Detroit -4
Over/Under Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Detroit 31 – Minnesota 21
Date/Time: Sunday, September 25, 4:15 PM ET
Venue: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
Broadcast: FOX
Cardinals vs. Seahawks Betting Lines from betonline.com:
Spread: Cards -3
Moneyline: Cards -190: Hawks +165
Over/Under: 43 points
The Arizona Cardinal travel to Seattle in Week 3 of the NFL season looking to keep the defending NFC West champs winless on the season. Arizona has looked decent this season and could be 2-0 heading into this game if not for a second half collapse against Washington last week. The Seahawks on the other hand have looked dreadful offensively but have been decent on defense. Sunday’s game will go a long way in determining which team is prime to make a run at the NFC West title and which team is destined to underwhelm this season.
Arizona did what it had to do in the offseason – they acquired the franchise quarterback that had been lacking since the retirement of Kurt Warner. Kevin Kolb has been good – completing 61% of his passes, throwing for 560 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception so far this year. Beanie Wells has been a great surprise as well. He has averaged 5.7 yards per carry, has 183 yards rushing on the season to go with two scores. Larry Fitzgerald caught 7 passes last week for 133 yards and a touchdown. What does all this mean? The Cardinals have a reliable, balanced offensive attack for the first time in years.
Arizona’s defense has been a major issue so far. They are 29th in the NFL allowing 466 yards per game and they have the 29th ranked pass defense allowing Cam Newton to throw for 422 yards in Week 1 and Rex Grossman to amass 291 yards passing last week. Strangely, the Cardinals are 11th ranked in points allowed so far.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
There is not a whole lot to like about the Seattle Seahawks so far this year but one glimmer of good news could change their fortunes. Sidney Rice appears on track to play his first game of the season on Sunday. He should help Tavaris Jackson and an offense that is dead last in the league with an average of 191.5 yards per game and last in scoring with an average of 8.5 points per game. The running game is stuck in the mud as well. The running backs have averaged just 47.5 yards per game this season thanks to underwhelming play and a lack of a quality offensive line. That O-line will be without Robert Gallery for 4-6 weeks – not a good sign for a team that has given up an incredible 10 sacks so far.
Seattle’s defense has been their only bright spot and could give the Arizona offense a challenge. They are 10th in the NFL allowing 313 yards per game and are 5th against the run allowing just 3.1 yards per carry so far. This unit hasn’t generated a turnover yet – an interesting stat considering how much that they have been on the field.
Betting Prediction: The Seattle Seahawks are traditionally good at home – Seattle is a tough building to conquer. The Hawks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home game but are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall. Arizona is 0-5 ATS in their last five games against the NFC West including 2 SU and ATS losses last season versus Seattle. The Cardinals are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as favorite.
Arizona is competitive for the first time in a few seasons, something the Hawks have not been able to show just yet. But at home, in their home opener, Seattle could be a different team. If the defense plays true to their form and the crowd is as big a part of the game as they have been, Seattle could be in line for their first win. Seattle’s offense gets a chance to right the ship against a brutal Cardinals defense in what should be a very close game at very least. The home team is 7-3 in the last 10 games in this series – I like the trend to continue!
Pick: Seattle Seahawks +3
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept.25 1 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA.
Broadcast: FOX
Giants @ Eagles lines by BetOnline.com
Point spread: Eagles -7
Over/Under: OFF
The New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles square-off this Sunday afternoon in a huge early-season NFC East showdown. Kick-off from the Linc is slated for 1 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
New York started the season on a bad note with a 28-14 loss to Washington as a 2.5-point road favorite, so this game becomes all that more important to avoid a 0-2 hole in the division. It bounced back last Monday night with a 28-16 victory over St. Louis as a seven-point home favorite, but is still looking for better consistency on both sides of the ball.
The Giants’ passing game took a major hit against the Rams when Mario Manningham was knocked-out of the game with a concussion and Domenik Hixon went down with a knee injury. Manningham is listed as questionable, but Hixon is gone for the year with a torn ACL. The game plan on Sunday will shift heavily towards a rushing attack that features both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, who should have success against an Eagles’ defense that has been extremely porous against the run so far.
The line on this game remains ‘OFF’ as we await word on whether or not Michael Vick will be ready to go after receiving a concussion in last Sunday night’s game against Atlanta. The Eagles came in as 2.5-point road favorites, but ended up falling 35-31 in a game that went ‘over’ the 48.5-point line. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
As of now Vick is expected to play, but if he cannot go then third-string quarterback Mike Kafka should make his first NFL start as Vince Young is still recovering from a sore hamstring. Kafka looked sharp against the Falcons, completing 7-of-9 attempts for 72 yards and almost pulled this game out late in the fourth, but if he does get the start you can expect Philadelphia to actually open as a mild underdog in this game.
Being the underdog in this series might not be the worst thing in the world as they are 11-2 against the spread in the last 13 games, but Philadelphia’s best chance to extend its current winning streak over the Giants to seven games is with Vick at the helm. The Eagles have not only won the last six games straight-up but against the spread as well. The total has gone ‘over’ in three of the last four games.
Assuming that Vick is ready to go, look for Philadelphia to win this game, but if the spread is eventually set at 4.5 points or more, take the Giants to cover with the points.
The Pick: Philadelphia 28 New York 24
Date/Time: Monday, Sept.26 8:30 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington. TX
Broadcast: ESPN
Redskins @ Cowboys lines by BetOnline.com
Point spread: Cowboys -5.5
Over/Under: OFF
The Washington Redskins will look to put some early distance between themselves and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East when the two square-off under the prime-time lights at Cowboy Stadium on Monday Night Football. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m. and it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Washington is off to a surprising 2-0 start and currently sits alone in first-place in the division with the other three teams knotted at 1-1. The Redskins up-ended another division rival, the Giants, 28-14 on opening day as 2.5-point home underdogs and squeaked by Arizona 22-21 as 4.5-point home favorites this past Sunday. The total went ‘over’ the 39.5-point line against New York, but stayed ‘under’ the 44.5-point line against the Cardinals.
Rex Grossman has stayed true so far on his prediction that the Redskins would win the division despite their +2000 odds by directing an offense that has been perfectly balanced between the pass and the run. Washington is averaging 270.5 yards per game through the air and 123 yards a game on the ground.
Tony Romo was goat in Dallas’s 27-24 loss to the New York Jets as a 6.5-point road underdog after two fourth quarter turnovers cost his team the game. Last week he was the hero after leading the Cowboys to a fourth-quarter comeback in a 27-24 overtime victory over San Francisco as three-point home favorites despite breaking a rib that actually punctured his lung. Both games went ‘over’ the total. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
While it appears that Romo will be able to start on Monday night, the line on this game is currently ‘OFF’ until it is made official. Even if he cannot go and John Kitna gets the start, Dallas has some other injury concerns in its receiving corps with Miles Austin definitely out and Dez Bryant questionable with a bruised thigh. Running back Felix Jones and cornerback Terrence Newman are also listed as questionable for this one.
The Redskins are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games against the Cowboys overall and a perfect 4-0 ATS in its last four trips to Big D. The total has stayed ‘under’ in four of the last five meetings, but has gone ‘over’ in three of the last five games in Dallas.
Regardless of Romo’s status, this is shaping up as another three-point game for the Cowboys, so if the line creeps higher than that, take the Redskins and the points.
The Pick: Dallas 23 Washington 20
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, September 25, 2011
Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Dolphins vs. Browns Gambling Odds from BetOnline
Spread: Browns -2.5
Moneyline: Browns (-140) Dolphins (+120)
Over/Under: 41
The Miami Dolphins have lost 11 of their last 12 home games, so maybe they should be glad to hit the road for the first time this season. The Dawg Pound isn’t what it once was, but Cleveland Browns Stadium still isn’t an easy place to play. The Browns lost at home against the Bengals in week one, but they rebounded with a win at Indianapolis last week. Can the Dolphins get into the win column or will the Browns beat them for a second straight year?
Miami allowed 612 yards of total offense in week one against the Patriots. The defense played much better last week, but the offense only gained 306 total yards against the Texans. The Dolphins have just one takeaway over the first two games, but they have committed three costly turnovers. The offense has struggled when they get into the red zone, and that has really held this team back.
Chad Henne is the starting quarterback again this year, despite the fact that he isn’t popular at all with the fan base in Miami. Henne was very good in the opener against New England, but he was a little shaky last week. Daniel Thomas had a breakout game last week against the Texans. He and Reggie Bush will share time in the backfield this season. Brandon Marshall is still one of the best wide receivers in football, and the Dolphins need to get him the ball more often. The defense has some stars, but they need to perform more consistently.
Peyton Hillis is in the cover of this year’s Madden NFL game, and he continues to show just how good of a runner he is on a weekly basis. Hillis is faster than most people realize, and he fights for every last yard better than any other back in the league. Colt McCoy is the signal caller for the Browns. McCoy did a nice job in his rookie campaign with the team, and he is off to a pretty good start this year as well. The team would like to see him improve on his completion percentage, which sits at just 56.9%, but he is doing a good job taking care of the football. Josh Cribbs is the Browns best play maker, and the team needs to find more ways to get the ball in his hands.
D’Qwell Jackson leads the team with 16 tackles so far this year. Phil Taylor is second on the team with 7 tackles. Taylor was the Browns first round draft pick in this year’s draft, and he has looked good in his first two games with the team. The Browns secondary is young, but they are very talented. Cleveland currently ranks second in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. The front seven needs to improve against the run. As a whole, this defense seems to be slowly improving.
Both teams will try to run the football as much as possible in this one. Last year’s game finished at 13-10, and I think this year’s matchup will be another low scoring contest.
Free NFL Pick: Dolphins/Browns under 41
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, September 25, 2011
Venue: Paul Brown Stadium
Broadcast: FOX
49ers vs. Bengals Gambling Odds from 5Dimes
Spread: Bengals -2.5
Moneyline: Bengals (-145) 49ers (+125)
Over/Under: 40.5
Jim Harbaugh was the biggest coaching name to join the NFL this year. Harbaugh will take his San Francisco 49ers on the road for the first time this year to face Marvin Lewis and the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. Neither team is expected to be very good this year, but both have quite a bit of young talent. Which team will come out on top this Sunday?
Alex Smith was the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. It’s pretty amazing that he is still with the Niners given that he has underperformed for so long, but it seems Jim Harbaugh has faith in him. Smith has had underwhelming numbers in the team’s first two games, but he has done a solid job of taking care of the football. Frank Gore missed a lot of time last year with an injury, and he has started the season slowly in 2011. Gore is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry through the first two games. Ted Ginn Jr. returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the 49ers week one win, and the team will likely try to get the ball in his hands more often this week. Braylon Edwards is listed as doubtful and Michael Crabtree as questionable for this game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The 49ers defense is currently ranked first in the NFL against the run. Ray McDonald does a great job plugging the gap in the middle. Patrick Willis is one of the best linebackers in the league. The secondary is a bit of a question mark, and the 49ers will likely miss Nate Clements, who now plays for the Bengals.
Andy Dalton has been very good in his first two NFL starts. The rookie has thrown three touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two games of the season. The Bengals are really counting on Dalton being a solid quarterback for many years to come, and fans have to be encouraged by his early success. Cedric Benson is averaging 4.4 yards per carry in the Bengals first two games. A big key to the Bengals offensive success or failure this year will be the running game.
Cincinnati is really counting on the defense to lead the way this year. The Bengals have a very talented group of linebackers as well as some impressive talent at the cornerback spots. Nate Clements is now a Bengal, and Leon Hall is one of the better corners in the league. This defense was mediocre last year, but if the Bengals want to be competitive this year the defense will have to rise toward the top of the NFL.
The Bengals and 49ers are not very good at this point, and both defenses are ahead of the offenses. I think both teams will stop the run well and keep this one low scoring.
Free NFL Pick: 49ers/Bengals under 40.5
The Tennessee Titans proved to the football world that they are more than ready to challenge for this year’s AFC South title, and will get another chance to prove they are capable when they host a beat up Denver Broncos on Sunday in Music City.
Venue/Stadium: LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
Time/Date: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 25, 2011
NFL Odds From: 5 Dimes
Spread (ATS): Titans -7.5
Over/Under: 42.5
With the Colts out of the way and probably out of contention for the rest of the season, the Titans followed up its awkward 16-14 loss at Jacksonville, with an extraordinary 26-13 victory over Baltimore last weekend that made the Ravens vaunted defense look like a Pop Warner team.
Quarterback Matt Hasselback proved that there’s still some gas left in the tank, throwing for 358 yards and a touchdown, while Kenny Britt followed up last week’s big performance with nine more catches for 135 yards and a touchdown reception.
Hasselbeck has thrown for 621 yards – third in the AFC behind Tom Brady and Philip Rivers – with three touchdowns and two interceptions. (take that Pete Carroll)
In the meantime, the Titans are still looking to get their running game back in order, as preseason holdout Chris Johnson, rushed for only 53 yards on 24 carries against Baltimore.
The Titans defense outplayed the Ravens forcing two interceptions and collecting three sacks to further establish themselves a formidable foe.
Meanwhile over in Denver, the Broncos also rebounded after losing at home to the Raiders in the season’s first Monday Night Football matchup, sweating out a narrow 24-22 win over the Bengals. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Five Denver starters missed the game, including wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. That left just three receivers, including Eddie Royal, who left the game with an injury in the first half. Denver backup quarterback Tim Tebow was called upon to come in as an emergency wide receiver but did not make any catches in his season debut.
Despite the Broncos dropping like flies, the good news is that running back Willis McGahee, who started in place of the injured Knowshon Moreno, posted 101 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals.
The Broncos will need a repeat performance from McGahee, who will likely shoulder most the load as Moreno, if he returns, will not be 100 percent.
The Denver defense has also suffered its share of knocks, as Pro Bowl corner Champ Bailey is expected to miss his second straight game. They unit has endured however, with a solid rushing defense that allowed just 72 yards against Cincinnati just one week after holding Oakland to under 200.
Matt’s Prediction: Tennessee 21, Broncos 17 – Denver has won three straight over the Titans, including a 26-20 victory at Tennessee for their only road win in 2010. However, I look for Johnson to get back on the rails, making the difference as Tennessee establishes the running game and wears down Denver’s defense.
The undefeated New York Jets mauled the Jaguars in their last outing, and now head to the West Coast take on a fiery Oakland Raiders who be focused on erasing a heart wrenching loss to the Bills their last time out.
Venue/Stadium: Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA
Time/Date: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 25, 2011
NFL Odds From: Bet Online
Spread (ATS): Jets -3 1/2
Over/Under: 41
New York’s success on Sunday came primarily from its defense that dominated the Jaguars, holding them to just 203 total yards while intercepting Jacksonville’s Luke McCown four times and dropping him in the end zone for a safety en route to a 32-3 victory on Sunday.
The Jets collected 15 points off turnovers, while they themselves were held to a measly 283 total yards of total offense.
QB Mark Sanchez led the charge, and 17 of 24 for 182 yards with a pair of touchdown passes and interceptions, while the Jets struggled on the ground picking up just 101 yards.
Shonn Greene did cap off a third quarter drive with a one yard touchdown run.
However , those numbers could rise against a Raiders defense that did all but leave the stadium entirely, blowing a 21-3 halftime lead that included the game-winning touchdown with 14 seconds remaining, as they fell to the Bills 38-35.
The blame can be solely placed on the Raiders defense in this one, surrendering 481 total yards to go along with 35 second half points. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
In the meantime, the offense held up its end of the bargain, scoring 35 points and 454 yards behind a rock-solid performance from QB Jason Campbell who a career game, completing 23 of 33 passes for 323 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
Darren McFadden continued to be Oakland’s go-to guy, rolling up 143 total yards with both a rushing a receiving touchdown.
These types of matchup are always tough on bettors, as you never really know which team will show up, as both the Raiders and Jets have proven this in the past.
But this is a new season, and Oakland looks to be much-improved from where they were a year ago, while the Jets continue to make their own improvements after a remarkable 11-5, campaign in 2010 that included a magical postseason run that included wins over the Colts and Patriots.
Matt’s Prediction: Jets 28, Oakland 21 – New York did very well on the road last year, and while I expect the Raiders to keep the Jets defense on its toes, I expect New York to grind away at the Raiders defense, snatching this one by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Time/Date: 4:15 PM EST Sunday, September 25, 2011
NCAA Odds From: BetOnline
Moneyline: Atlanta +110 / Tampa Bay -130
Spread (ATS): Tampa Bay -1.5
Over/Under: 45.5
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview
The Bucs have not had much success against the Falcons in the last few years, losers of 5 straight against Atlanta, but they have a ton of confidence after last week’s comeback win. However, the Falcons also had a good comeback against a better team and they are also the defending NFC South champion. NFL lines has Tampa Bay as slight 1.5-point favorites in this game with a total of 45.5 points.
Both teams came back to get their first win if the season last week with the Bucs beating the Minnesota Vikings 24-20 and the Falcons beating the Philadelphia Eagles 35-31.
Tampa and Atlanta both have 1-1 ATS records so far on the season and each also have an Over/Under record of 2-0.
Tampa was totally dominated in the first half against the Vikings being out-gained 284 yards to 62 yards and they must get off to a better start and this is especially the case since the Falcons have such a dynamic offense. Bucs’ QB Josh Freeman came alive in the 2nd half and overall passed for 243 yards with 1 TD and 1 pick. The Bucs have a decent WR corps and at least they will be up against an Atlanta pass defense that gave up 314 passing yards to Philly last week.
One key player in this game is the Bucs’ RB LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for 71 yards and 2 key 2nd half TD in the win over the Vikings and for the game averaged a solid 5.5 yards per carry. The Falcons’ defense gave up 133 rushing yards last week, but if they can contain the Tampa rushing offense they will win this game since Freeman will, likely, not carry the Bucs with his arm. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Yeah, the Falcons have had their issues on defense, but their offense is solid and the Bucs keep them from lighting up the scoreboard? Tough call. Matt Ryan has WR’s Roddy White, Julio Jones, and TE Tony Gonzalez and RB Michael Turner, who rushed for 114 yards in the comeback win over the Eagles.
The Bucs rank 19th defending the pass and 31st defending the run and stopping Turner may be more important in this NFC South match up. Why? Well, Ryan has 5 TD and 8 TD in his 6 games against Tampa Bay, but the Falcons have won 5 of those games.
Betting Trends
Atlanta has covered the spread in 4 of their last 5 road games and in their last 6 road games they have an Over record of 5-0-1.
Tampa Bay has covered the spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a win and in their last 5 home games they have an Over record of 4-0-1.
Jason’s Pick: In an interesting betting trend the road team has covered the spread in 5 straight games between these 2 conference rivals and that trend will continue. The Falcons have given up 9 sacks so far this season, but the Bucs will have trouble getting to him this Sunday and they will also not keep Atlanta from lighting up the scoreboard.
Date/Time: Sunday, September 25, 4:05 PM ET
Venue: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Broadcast: CBS
Ravens vs. Rams Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Ravens -3 ½
Moneyline: Ravens -195: Rams +170
Over/Under: 41.5 points
Both the Baltimore Ravens and the St. Louis Rams will be looking to rebound from underwhelming performances in losses last week when they square off on Sunday in St. Louis. While the Rams loss wasn’t entirely unexpected, the Ravens loss at Tennessee was shocking to say the least. With redemption on their minds, Baltimore has to be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Rams team that has been decimated by injuries and has frankly been underwhelming in both of their contests this year.
Baltimore had a bad game last week in Tennessee. The offense gained a total of just 229 yards while committing three turnovers while the defense gave up a staggering 432 yards – 358 through the air. We’ll give them an early season mulligan knowing that Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and the Ravens defense will be fired up to take the field and erase the memories of the huge letdown of last week.
The St. Louis Rams are in familiar territory. They have started 0-2 the last five seasons and judging by their play thus far and the injuries that the team has sustained, there is a realistic chance that the team goes 0-3. Both Steven Jackson and Cadillac Williams are highly questionable for Sunday’s game leaving Jerious Norwood and Quinn Porter as the only healthy running backs in the organization – ugh!. Danny Amendola is still out and his replacement Greg Salas doesn’t quite look ready for prime time. Sam Bradford is a Stud, make no mistake about it. But without tools to work with, his talents are being wasted. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Injuries will affect the Rams again this week on offense but there is one area in which they can improve. They can stay away from penalties for which they have 17 of this season – 8 for a huge 85 yards last week.
Defensively, the Rams looked OK last week, or maybe it was an out of sync Eli Manning that made them look that way. St. Louis will be without its two starting corners once again this week making for a patchwork group on defense to match that of the offense.
Betting Prediction: The Baltimore Ravens have been incredible in responding to a loss. They have won eight straight games following a defeat. The St. Louis Rams are 4-1 SU at home versus the Ravens and 4-2 ATS in their last six overall versus Baltimore. However the Rams are a miserable 5-17 SU in their last 22 games at home and are just 1-5 ATS in their last six on home turf.
To beat a motivated and pissed off Baltimore Ravens squad, a team has to be at full strength and playing at a very high level. The Rams are neither of those. Baltimore’s defense will be strong as ever on Sunday and Ray Rice could potentially have his best game of the year against an undermanned Rams team. This one won’t be close folks! The Rams are in serious trouble.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens -3 ½
Soldier Field – Chicago, Illinois
Sunday September 25 – 4:15PM
Moneyline: Green Bay -200, Chicago +170
Spread (ATS): Green Bay -3.5
Over/Under: 45.5
Odds courtesy of 5Dimes
Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers got a bit of a scare last week from Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. It was a surprise as the veteran Pack was supposed to show the rookie a thing or two about life in the NFL. Instead he showed that Green Bay is hardly invulnerable, in fact they may have a defensive issue or two after getting shredded through the air a couple of times already this season.
It is possible that the Packers might have been looking ahead to this week when they play the hated Chicago Bears. Don’t forget it was the Bears that won the division last year beating Green Bay at home during the regular season (thought the Packers got even in the playoffs). Neither team has played a division game this year so whoever wins this one will have a significant leg up on the other.
There is no doubt that the Packers are a good team but the reason many thought they could repeat as champs is because they have great balance. That hasn’t been the case as their defense has performed well below expectations. They are giving up an average of 400 yards through the air. That number will likely come down after facing Chicago but it is an indicator that the Pack are not as far ahead of the pack as we originally thought.
Chicago
It looked like the Chicago Bears dominated Atlanta more than they really did in the opener so it should not have come as a surprise when they got beat by almost the same score at New Orleans last week. This Bears team really isn’t all that good so it should not be surprising to see drastic home/road splits, especially when they are playing at a team with a distinct home field advantage like the Saints. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The biggest problem the Bears have is on the offensive line. Last week they gave up 7 sacks to New Orleans and you can bet the Packers will dial up the pressure again this week. We all know that Jay Cutler and pressure are not a good combination in terms of producing winning football for Chicago. The line also has trouble getting a push up front making running back Matt Forte more of a threat in the passing game than running the ball. Green Bay’s defense has been exposed so far this season but I don’t think the Bears have the personnel to do it to the same extent as New Orleans and Carolina.
Being at home is an advantage for the Bears as they have won 3 of 5 at Soldier Field against Green Bay. If they want to have success on Sunday they need something special out of their defense and return ace Devin Hester as their is no way their offense can stay with Green Bay’s. The 3.5 points seems like an easy number for the Green Bay side.
ATS Pick: Green Bay -3.5
Over/Under Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Green Bay 30 – Chicago 21
