MIKE
CAR (-6.5) vs. TB
CAR 35-20 (CAR covers spread)
The Tampa Bay Bucs are a mess.
Along with being one of only two winless NFL teams, anonymous players are
heavily criticizing Head Coach Greg Schiano’s coaching style, calling it like
“being in Cuba.” RB Doug Martin’s season ending injury will surely hurt the
Bucs even more, putting a ton of pressure on rookie QB Mike Glennon and the
passing game. The Panthers are quietly asserting themselves as contenders in
the NFC, behind the play of Heisman Trophy winning QB Cam Newton. Newton and
the defense are the driving forces of this team, and will need to continue to
show up for them to make some noise in the NFC. RB DeAngelo Williams will be
the difference maker in this contest, racking up 100+ yards and a touchdown to
lead Carolina to a road divisional win.
DAL vs. DET (-3)
DAL 23-20 (DAL beats spread)
This one will not be as high
scoring as most people would expect. This is mostly because of the improved play
of the Dallas defense. Along with QB Tony Romo’s stellar play in the passing
game, especially with WR Dez Bryant, the Cowboys defense has shown up the last
two weeks to lead them to victory. The Lions are a high-octane offense who have
the capability of making big plays in the passing and running games with WR
Calvin Johnson and RB Reggie Bush. The determining factor in this game is if
Dallas RB DeMarco Murray can start and be effective. If he goes, expect Dallas
to beat the spread and come away with a tight win.
SF (-16.5) vs. JAC
SF 28-13 (JAC beats spread)
At least the Jaguars have not
lost by three touchdowns in the last two weeks. That’s the only positive I can
come up with for the 0-6 Jags. The 49ers are beginning to return to the form
that got them to last year’s Super Bowl, and that stout defense along with QB
Colin Kaepernick’s mobility and accuracy will carry them to a 5th
straight win. Oh, but they won’t cover the spread.
NYG vs. PHI (-5)
NYG 27-23 (NYG beats spread)
Albeit against a horrendous QB
Josh Freeman, who threw 33 incompletions and an interception, the Giants
defense played their most complete game of the season last week, holding RB
Adrian Peterson to 28 yards rushing (his lowest output since Week 11, 2011) and
the Vikings offense to under 300 yards. QB Mike Vick will be back in the
starting lineup for the Eagles, which has always caused major issues for the
G-Men. Corralling Vick, RB LeSean McCoy and WR DeSean Jackson is a headache for
any defense, but expect New York to build on its strong defensive play from a
week ago and get another clean game from QB Eli Manning in a big divisional
road win heading into their bye.
CLE vs. KC (-7.5)
KC 24-10 (KC covers spread)
The Browns are one of those teams
who does not have a viable quarterback option. After watching QB Brandon Weeden
underperform the last couple weeks, they have decided to give veteran QB Jason
Campbell a shot. Cleveland actually has weapons in the passing game this year
with the emergence of TE Jordan Cameron and WR Josh Gordon, but all for naught
as they don’t have someone behind center to help them on a regular basis. QB
Alex Smith and his Chiefs will go about their business by shutting down the
Browns and riding RB Jamaal Charles and a heavily tilted time of possession
clock to an 8th straight win to start the season.
BUF vs. NO (-11.5)
NO 41-24 (NO covers spread)
After a bye week to think about
that devastating, last-second road loss to New England, the Saints will come
storming back against a Bills team who has competed hard all year long. Even if
TE Jimmy Graham cannot go, I fully expect QB Drew Brees and the Saints offense
to feast on the Bills defense,who are giving up 25.4 points per game. QB Thad
Lewis has shown the ability to compete hard and make important plays for the
Bills since filling in for QB EJ Manuel. Expect him to do that in this one, but
the Saints are simply at another level.
MIA vs. NE (-7)
NE 21-17 (MIA beats spread)
Despite being 5-2 and leading the
AFC East, the Pats have not been overly dominant or impressive this season.
Most teams would love to be playing at a mediocre level but be winners of five
of seven. Miami has to quickly put that tough home loss vs. the Bills behind
them and turn their attention to another important divisional contest. In the
end, after the overtime loss to the Jets last week, I’m going to go with QB Tom
Brady over QB Ryan Tannehill in a close encounter.
NYJ vs. CIN (-6)
CIN 24-23 (NYJ beats spread)
The Bengals are starting to make
a habit out of winning close, last-second games. Unfortunately for the Jets, I
see them doing the same in this one. K Mike Nugent will have to hit a 46-yard
game-winner with less than a minute to go to preserve this one for the AFC
North leading Bengals. The Jets defense will limit QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J.
Green to a degree, but they will make enough key plays to put themselves at a
surprising 6-2 through the halfway point of the season.
PIT (-3) vs. OAK
PIT 17-14 (PIT covers spread)
Look out. The Steelers haven’t
set their tee times yet, and will continue to make their push with their third
consecutive win. Oakland is never an easy place to play, especially with QB
Terrelle Pryor and the Raiders showing at least some promise through six games.
In the last two weeks, Pittsburgh has gotten back to playing their brand of
football. Physical defense with a mix of run and pass on the offensive side of
the ball is a recipe for success. It will continue this week, as QB Ben
Roethlisberger will lead his team to a game-winning drive late in the 4th
to squeak out a road win, putting the Black and Gold at a respectable 3-4.
WAS vs. DEN (-13)
DEN 31-24 (WAS beats spread)
I don’t trust the Denver defense.
They have struggled mightily in recent weeks, and will do so against the
Redskins and QB RGIII, whose is growing in confidence. Having said that, QB
Peyton Manning will not allow the losing streak to hit two, and will have a
strong showing against a suspect Washington defense (22nd against
the pass). The Skins will do enough to make this one interesting and beat the
spread.
ATL vs. ARI (-2)
ATL 28-24 (ATL beats spread)
Glendale is always a difficult
place to go into and get a win, but Atlanta will do exactly that this Sunday
afternoon. QB Matt Ryan paced the Falcons to a much-needed victory last week
vs. the Bucs, while the Cardinals suffered an expected home loss to NFC
powerhouse Seattle. Life without one of the best receivers in football is
tough, but Ryan still has enough weapons at his disposal to get it done here.
QB Carson Palmer is not a reliable quarterback when games get close, and he
will cough up a turnover late in this one to seal it for the visiting Falcons.
GB (-9.5) vs. MIN
GB 38-17 (GB covers spread)
Boy, that was about as ugly as it
gets Monday night for the Vikings. In their quarterback carousel, they’ll hand
the ball to QB Christian Ponder this Sunday night. QB Aaron Rodgers has less
weapons than usual at this point in the year, and will hope TE Jermichael
Finley can suit up. RB Adrian Peterson will rebound with a nice effort on the
ground, and Ponder will make a few plays to WRs Jerome Simpson and Greg
Jennings to keep this one close in the first half. The second half will be a
different story, as Rodgers will torch the Vikings defense through the air and
RB Eddie Lacy will do his part on the ground to lead Green Bay to a road win.
SEA (-11.5) vs. STL
SEA 33-14 (SEA covers spread)
With QB Sam Bradford sidelined
for the rest of the season, the Rams decided to contact 44-year old retired QB
Brett Favre to fill his shoes. Favre appropriately declined the offer, and the
Rams will be forced to start backup QB Kellen Clemens, who hasn’t started a
game since 2011. They also signed much-maligned QB Brady Quinn from the Jets
this week to “bolster” their quarterback situation. None of that really matters
here as the Rams, who have shown some promise this season, will be no match for
arguably the best team in the NFC. QB Russell Wilson is playing at an elite
level, and poses several problems for opposing defenses. If WR Percy Harvin,
who has not played all year, can play and contribute to Seattle, then expect
the Seahawks to run away with this one on Monday night.
ADAM
Panthers(-6.5) vs Buccaneers
24-17 Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have built up some momentum over the
past two weeks and will ride it for a third consecutive week. Look for Cam
Newton to continue his strong play as well as the Panthers D to force Mike
Glennon into at least one turnover. Glennon has relied on Vincent Jackson over
the past two weeks and I see these two hooking up for a score Thursday night
despite losing to the Panthers. I'd take the Panthers to cover the spread.
Bills vs
Saints(-11.5)
30-14 Saints
Coming off their bye week, the Saints will be ready to go.
Their offense should be firing on all cylinders. While the Bills were able to
squeak by the Dolphins last week, I don’t see that happening this week. Saint
for the win in this one covering the spread.
Browns vs Chiefs(-7.5)
21-13 Chiefs
With Jason Campbell starting in this one for the Browns I
have to go with the Chiefs. Not that I wasn’t going to anyway. With the best
passrush in the NFL, and being at home, the Chiefs should be just fine here
against the Browns. After people who chose the Chiefs to cover the spread last
week were furious that the Chiefs took a knee on the Texans 1 yard line to end
the game last week, I see the Chiefs covering the spread this week and
improving to 8-0 after this one.
Cowboys vs
Lions(-3)
34-31 Cowboys
This one already has the medias coverage already with Dez
Bryant saying. Earlier this week, that he is as good as Calvin Johnson. I think
this one will be a shootout. Calvin Johnson should be able to run all over the
Cowboys secondary but I also think Tony Romo and Dez Bryant will have their way
against the Lions D. Johnson will show his supremacy over Dez Bryant, but the
Cowboys come out with the win and beat the spread.
49ers(-16.5) vs Jaguars
27-10 49ers
This game being played in London
doesn’t change anything. The Jaguars are still awful. 49ers will continue to
pound the ball down their opponent’s throat and roll to their 5th straight victory narrowly covering the
16.5 point spread.
Dolphins vs Patriots(-7)
21-16 Patriots
The Patriots will not lose two
straight division games. They will protect their home turf and be able to apply
constant pressure to Ryan Tannehill. Rob Gronkowski will look better than he
did last week against the Jets and will link up with Brady for a score. This
one will be a tight game between two teams who need a win after divisional
losses the previous week. Patriots come through here with the win but don't
cover the spread.
Giants vs Eagles(-5)
23-20 Eagles
With Mike Vick back as starting QB for the Eagles, their
fast paced offense should be able to have their way with the Giants defense.
While the Giants were finally able to get their first win last week against the
Vikings, I don’t seem them being able to get past Philadelphia here. Eagles win
but I don't see them covering the 5 point spread.
Jets vs Bengals(-6)
21-17 Bengals
My heart says Jets but my brain says Bengals. With the
Bengals being at home and the Jets not fairing so well on the road this year, I
think Andy Dalton and AJ Green find a way to pull out the victory against a
very tough Jets defense. Jets cover the spread but Bengals get the win. Also,
last week I picked the Jets to lose and they won so hopefully the same will
happen this week.
Steelers(-3) vs Raiders
13-7 Steelers
The Steelers have won two games in a row and will ride that
momentum to a third straight victory. This will not be the most watched game
this week but look for Ben Roethlisberger to lead the Steelers to their third
win. Steelers will cover the spread.
Redskins vs Broncos(-13)
38-22 Broncos
Coming off their first loss of the
year and being that they will be at home, I see the Broncos bouncing back in a
big way against the Redskins and their questionable secondary. Peyton Manning
continues to be the MVP candidate that he has been all year and puts last weeks
loss behind him. Broncos win big and cover the 13 point spread.
Falcons vs Cardinals(-2)
21-17 Cardinals
Both of these teams have big
problems going into week 8. I’m going with the Cardinals here being that they
are at home. I see them being able to neutralize Tony Gonzalez and Harry
Douglas and taking advantage of the Falcons weak O line. Cardinals sneak by the
Falcons and cover the spread.
Packers(-9.5) vs Vikings
28-10 Packers
Christian Ponder is starting? Going
to pick the Packers here. The Vikings looked terrible on Monday night against
the Giants last week. Aaron Rodgers will lead the Packers to a big victory
unless Adrian Peterson is able to find the endzone a few times on Sunday to
keep this one close. Still, I see the Packers holding on for the win and
covering the spread.
Seahawks(-11.5) vs Rams
26-10 Seahawks
New starting QB Kellen Clemens will struggle against the
Seahawks defense. Clemens’ struggles against the Seahawks defense will give
Russell Wilson great field position throughout Monday night and will make for
an easy divisional win for the Seahawks. Seahawks cover the big spread on
Monday Night Football.
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