BetUS NFL Point Spread: Pittsburgh -2.5, O/U: 42
At the beginning of the season, this was supposed to be a game that could have decided who would have won the AFC North. Instead, a win by either team won’t even guarantee a playoff spot at all. The Ravens, sitting at 8-6, have a much better chance than Pittsburgh to make it to the postseason.
NFL Point Spread: New England -8, O/U: 44
Jacksonville threw everything they had at Indianapolis last week but still fell to the Colts, 35-31. The Jags have lost three of four, and instead of being in prime playoff position, are a member of the not-very-exclusive “7-7 Club” in the AFC.
Sunday, December 20 th – Giants Stadium, East Rutherford – 1:00 PM ET
NFL Point Spread:
The Atlanta Falcons, once a playoff threat, are on a two-game losing streak and are two games back of Dallas for the sixth seed in the NFC. But there are legitimate excuses to the Falcons unfortunate cold streak. Injuries to Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, their two biggest offensive stars, have sucked the life out of what was supposed to be a promising season.
Sunday, December 20th – LP Field, Nashville – 1:00 PM ET
NFL Point Spread: Tennessee -3, O/U: 40
Miami is coming off a 14-10 win over Jacksonville last week and are riding a modest two-game winning streak. After starting the season 0-3, Miami have quietly won 7 of 10 and are right back into the hunt for not only a Wild Card spot but a spot atop the AFC East as well.
Sunday, December 20th – 1:00 PM ET Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
NFL Point Spread: Steelers -1.5, O/U: 41
Raise your hand if, five weeks ago, you felt that the Green Bay Packers, and not the Pittsburgh Steelers, would be a lock for the playoffs entering this week 15 collision. It’s been a stunning month for both of these teams – pleasantly for Mike McCarthy’s Pack Attack, and horrifyingly so for young Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin – as two proud franchises have swerved in perpendicularly opposite directions.
Thursday, December 10th
Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH – 8:20 PM ET
NFL Point Spread: Steelers -10, O/U: 36
Amazingly enough, the Cleveland Browns had a better week than the defending (not-for-long) Super Bowl champions. No, Cleveland didn’t win a game (let’s be reasonable here!), but the Browns played San Diego gallantly before bowing to the Chargers, 30-23.
Sunday, December 6th – 1:00 PM ET
Georgia Dome, Atlanta
NFL Online Betting Spread: Eagles -5.5, O/U 44
Michael Vick returns to Atlanta. Perhaps this is a big deal? Vick may not be starting, or even get much playing time, but his return to the Georgia Dome is a big event to Falcons fans.
Sunday, December 6th – 1:00 PM ET
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville
NFL Betting Spread: PICK, O/U 46.5
Both teams need a win to preserve any hope in the AFC Wild Card chase. A loss for either team could mean an early end to the season. Jacksonville has the easier schedule and a better chance, despite last week 20-3 embarrassment against San Francisco. The Jags have won four straight at home, and their next three games (including this one) take place at Municipal Stadium.
Sunday, December 6th – 1:00 PM ET
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
NFL Point Spread: Colts -6.5, O/U: 47
The Colts beat the Tennessee earlier in the year, but these are not the same Titans. These Titans have won five straight and employ a quarterback who’s playing out of his freaking mind. In the five games since taking over, Vince Young is undefeated, has thrown four touchdowns and just one pick.
NFL Point Spread: Jets -3, O/U: 37
Thursday, December 3rd
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada – 8:20 PM ET
Both the Jets and the Bills injected some life into their sluggish and unsatisfying seasons on Sunday, posting ugly but entirely effective wins over turnover-prone opponents. The Jets plucked four interceptions from Jake “Santa Claus” Delhomme – one of them a pick-six – to turn back the Carolina Panthers, 17-6. The Bills – under their new coach, interim boss and former defensive coordinator Perry Fewell – grabbed four interceptions from Miami quarterback Chad Henne to race past the Dolphins, 31-14.
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Sunday, November 29 th – 1:00 PM ET
Reliant Stadium
NFL Point Spread: Colts -3, O/U: 47
The 10-0 Colts have looked anything but perfect the past couple of weeks. After just barely scratching out a win against New England (thanks to Bill Belichick’s now infamous fourth-and-two call), the Colts had another close victory last week, 17-15 over Baltimore.
Sunday, November 22nd – 4:15 PM ET
Invesco Field – Denver, CO
NFL Point Spread: NA
This AFC West movie script sounds awfully familiar. In 2008, the San Diego Chargers stood at 4-8 after 12 games. They beat Oakland to move to 5-8, but found themselves three games behind the Denver Broncos with three games left to play.
Sunday, November 15th – Qualcomm Stadium – San Diego, CA – NFL Point Spread: Chargers -1, O/U: 47
The San Diego Chargers are playing their second consecutive game against an NFC East opponent. If this contest is anything like the Bolts’ 21-20 victory against the New York Giants, California football fans will be in for an exciting and entertaining affair.
Sunday, November 15th – University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ
NFL Point Spread: Cardinals -9, O/U: 47
The Seattle Seahawks might have won their third game of 2009, but they looked very bad doing so. Coach Jim Mora’s bunch fell behind the lowly Detroit Lions, 17-0, before anyone’s seat was warm last weekend at Qwest Field.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, November 8th – 1PM ET
Paul Brown Stadium – Cincinnati, OH
NFL Point Spread: Ravens -3, O/U: 43.5
For two teams who have played only seven games, this rates as a very important battle on the first full weekend of November. Playoff berths often come down to in-division tiebreakers, so as the Ravens and Bengals stage their second showdown of the season, the stakes are very high.
Sunday, November 1st – Cowboys Stadium – Dallas, TX
NFL Point Spread: Cowboys -9.5, O/U: 46
These are two teams headed in opposite directions. Seattle briefly held out hope for its season after throttling Jacksonville, 41-0, on Oct. 11, but coach Jim Mora’s club was brought to earth a week later, in a 27-3 loss at the hands of NFC West-leading Arizona.
