NFL Against the Spread Online Betting ESPN Night Game
The Minnesota Vikings (3-1) at The New Orleans Saints (2-3)
Against the Spread: Vikings 2-2-0 | Saints 1-4-0
Game Time: 8:30 PM ET ESPN
Opening NFL Betting Line: Vikings -3 -116 Over/Under 50 -101o -109u
Current High NFL Betting Line: Vikings -4.5 -105
Current Low NFL Betting Line: Vikings -3.5 -103 to -110
Over/Under 51.5 to 52.5 -105 to -115
The Vikings are a dominating force on the offensive side, but are suspect defensively. They have the best passing game in the NFL but have yet to get a real ground game going. The good news in this game is bigger than just wide receiver Randy Moss and quarter back Daunte Culpepper. It's also the fact that the Vikings can stop the run, whereas the Saints can't stop much of anything. This is going to be of real help in this match-up. If they can keep the running game somewhat in check then it's a no brainer. Tight end Jermaine Wiggins is expected to play and that just adds one more threat and another spot that the Saints are going to have to worry about.
The Saints have got to be the streakiest team in the NFL. You just never know what team is going to show up. They have talent all around with quarter back Aaron Brooks, wide receivers Joe Horn, Donte' Stallworth and Jerome Pathon. Tight end Boo Williams is nothing to sneeze at and when running back Duce McAllister is healthy he can produce decent numbers. They are going to have corner back Mike McKenzie in their starting lineup but I don't see that as really stopping the passing attack of the Vikings, and they are going to be without linebacker Derrick Rodgers. Bottom line New Orleans just doesn't gel, and I blame the coaching. With the kind of talent they have they should not be as hit or miss as they are. They are 28th against the rush, and 21st against the pass, and their offensive numbers are almost the same (27th rush, 12th pass). I see those numbers dropping lower after tonight's game.
My Online Betting Action: The Minnesota Vikings -3.5
Sunday, October 17, 2004
NFL Pick of the Week Against the Spread Online Betting Week 6
Continued...the afternoon games. For the early games -->NFL Betting Week 6
The Denver Broncos (4-1) at The Oakland Raiders (2-3)
Against the Spread: Broncos 1-2-2 | Raiders 2-3-0
Game Time: 4:15 PM ET
Opening NFL Betting Line: Broncos -1.5 -107 Over/Under 44 -102o -108u
Current High NFL Betting Line: Broncos -2.5 -110
Current Low NFL Betting Line Broncos 0 -115
Over/Under 43 -110
The Denver Broncos are playing mediocre football. Running back Quentin Griffin has not shown what was expected after his play in week 1. He's been held to 66, 7 and 66 yards in his last three games. Granted week 3 saw Griffin injured and his replacement Reuben Droughns did get 193 yards, so maybe Griffin would have had another bust out game similar to the 156 yard ram and jam game that he had against a similarly weak rushing defense of the Chiefs. But I still don't know. Quarter back Jake Plummer is consistently looking better in the yardage category but still lingers around the 58% mark in completions and as in week 1 when pressed to throw the ball a lot had 2 INTs. I'm not saying that they are a bad football team obviously they are not. I'm simply stating that they have room for improvement if they plan to take their division. They are off to a decent start with a defense that is ranked 10th against the rush and 2nd against the pass and an offense that is 11th across the board. All that said they are playing against AFC West division rival Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders and in particular, playing in Raider Nation, is just not feared anymore. Yeah the fans still dress up in their silly outfits, and yell and scream and taunt. But the team doesn't have what it takes to use that intimidation to their advantage. They are banged up in all the wrong places, QB Rich Gannon is gone (likely forever), upstart running back Justin Fargas is questionable and did not practice again Friday, running back Tyrone Wheatly is still doubtful and also did not practice this week. So that leaves them with a starting core that looks roughly like this QB Kerry Collins(2 tds 7 ints), RB Amos Zereoue, FB Zack Crocket, WR Jerry Rice, WR Jerry Porter, TE Doug Jolley. Situationally they will bring in WR Alvis Whitted and/or Doug Gabriel. I'm sorry Raiders fans, that just doesn't scare me much. And it's not likely to scare the Broncos much either. In to the stats Denver and Oakland are about even in points scored at 19+/-. But there is a big discrepancy in points allowed. Denver – 14.8 per game, Oakland – 23.8. With Oakland's weaker than average defense this is going to be the reason that I lay money on this game. The margin is tighter than it should be. -2 in Denver's favor is a hole based on public perception of the Raiders.
My Online Betting Action: The Denver Broncos -2
The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at The Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Against the Spread: Steelers 3-2-0 | Cowboys 2-2-0
Game Time: 4:15 PM ET
Opening NFL Betting Line: Cowboys -3 EVEN Over/Under 38 -105
Current High NFL Betting Line: Cowboys -3 -110
Current Low NFL Betting Line: Cowboys -3 -102
Over/Under 38.5 - 39 -110
I took the Steelers last week against all advice because I think that quarter back Ben Roethlisberger would not be taken as a serious threat by the Cleveland defense. I was right Cleveland didn't and lost. Beating in nearly every category, time of possession, total yards, yards passing, yards rushing. Roethlisberger threw for 3 Tds and one pick. While being hammered by Cleveland DE Ebenezer Ekuban, he managed to get off a nearly perfect stike to wide receiver Plaxico Burress. He was mobile and his running game was able to momentarily freeze the defense allowing his receivers to find gaps and get behind their corners. Now I know what you are saying, “...it was the Browns...”, and you're right. My point is simple though, Ben Roethlisberger does not look like a rookie, he looks like a seasoned veteran, and one that has to be taken seriously or he will hurt you. Parcels knows this...
The Cowboys are looking to come off a disappointing loss to the N.Y. Giants last week. They were made to look like chumps on both offense and defense. They came into this game as a near top ranking team in both regards and walked away, well, shamed. Head coach Bill Parcels will not tolerate that kind of game play and is going to come out swinging this week against the Steelers. They are going to get the wrath that is left over from this weeks practice. Trust me he has plenty of wrath to go around. Suffice it to say that you couldn't have paid me enough to have had to be one of his plays this past week. Defensively they dropped to 19th overall, offensively to 9th. That's gonna change, and it's going to be at the expense of the Steelers.
My Online Betting Action: The Dallas Cowboys -3
Be back with the ESPN Night Game and Monday Night Football Match-ups...
Continued...the afternoon games. For the early games -->NFL Betting Week 6
The Denver Broncos (4-1) at The Oakland Raiders (2-3)
Against the Spread: Broncos 1-2-2 | Raiders 2-3-0
Game Time: 4:15 PM ET
Opening NFL Betting Line: Broncos -1.5 -107 Over/Under 44 -102o -108u
Current High NFL Betting Line: Broncos -2.5 -110
Current Low NFL Betting Line Broncos 0 -115
Over/Under 43 -110
The Denver Broncos are playing mediocre football. Running back Quentin Griffin has not shown what was expected after his play in week 1. He's been held to 66, 7 and 66 yards in his last three games. Granted week 3 saw Griffin injured and his replacement Reuben Droughns did get 193 yards, so maybe Griffin would have had another bust out game similar to the 156 yard ram and jam game that he had against a similarly weak rushing defense of the Chiefs. But I still don't know. Quarter back Jake Plummer is consistently looking better in the yardage category but still lingers around the 58% mark in completions and as in week 1 when pressed to throw the ball a lot had 2 INTs. I'm not saying that they are a bad football team obviously they are not. I'm simply stating that they have room for improvement if they plan to take their division. They are off to a decent start with a defense that is ranked 10th against the rush and 2nd against the pass and an offense that is 11th across the board. All that said they are playing against AFC West division rival Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders and in particular, playing in Raider Nation, is just not feared anymore. Yeah the fans still dress up in their silly outfits, and yell and scream and taunt. But the team doesn't have what it takes to use that intimidation to their advantage. They are banged up in all the wrong places, QB Rich Gannon is gone (likely forever), upstart running back Justin Fargas is questionable and did not practice again Friday, running back Tyrone Wheatly is still doubtful and also did not practice this week. So that leaves them with a starting core that looks roughly like this QB Kerry Collins(2 tds 7 ints), RB Amos Zereoue, FB Zack Crocket, WR Jerry Rice, WR Jerry Porter, TE Doug Jolley. Situationally they will bring in WR Alvis Whitted and/or Doug Gabriel. I'm sorry Raiders fans, that just doesn't scare me much. And it's not likely to scare the Broncos much either. In to the stats Denver and Oakland are about even in points scored at 19+/-. But there is a big discrepancy in points allowed. Denver – 14.8 per game, Oakland – 23.8. With Oakland's weaker than average defense this is going to be the reason that I lay money on this game. The margin is tighter than it should be. -2 in Denver's favor is a hole based on public perception of the Raiders.
My Online Betting Action: The Denver Broncos -2
The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at The Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Against the Spread: Steelers 3-2-0 | Cowboys 2-2-0
Game Time: 4:15 PM ET
Opening NFL Betting Line: Cowboys -3 EVEN Over/Under 38 -105
Current High NFL Betting Line: Cowboys -3 -110
Current Low NFL Betting Line: Cowboys -3 -102
Over/Under 38.5 - 39 -110
I took the Steelers last week against all advice because I think that quarter back Ben Roethlisberger would not be taken as a serious threat by the Cleveland defense. I was right Cleveland didn't and lost. Beating in nearly every category, time of possession, total yards, yards passing, yards rushing. Roethlisberger threw for 3 Tds and one pick. While being hammered by Cleveland DE Ebenezer Ekuban, he managed to get off a nearly perfect stike to wide receiver Plaxico Burress. He was mobile and his running game was able to momentarily freeze the defense allowing his receivers to find gaps and get behind their corners. Now I know what you are saying, “...it was the Browns...”, and you're right. My point is simple though, Ben Roethlisberger does not look like a rookie, he looks like a seasoned veteran, and one that has to be taken seriously or he will hurt you. Parcels knows this...
The Cowboys are looking to come off a disappointing loss to the N.Y. Giants last week. They were made to look like chumps on both offense and defense. They came into this game as a near top ranking team in both regards and walked away, well, shamed. Head coach Bill Parcels will not tolerate that kind of game play and is going to come out swinging this week against the Steelers. They are going to get the wrath that is left over from this weeks practice. Trust me he has plenty of wrath to go around. Suffice it to say that you couldn't have paid me enough to have had to be one of his plays this past week. Defensively they dropped to 19th overall, offensively to 9th. That's gonna change, and it's going to be at the expense of the Steelers.
My Online Betting Action: The Dallas Cowboys -3
Be back with the ESPN Night Game and Monday Night Football Match-ups...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)