Scott RickenbachFOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
NEW JERSEY DEVILS (-125) over New York Rangers
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While the Rangers are coming off of a solid home win over Ottawa on Saturday, the Devils got crushed 5-2 by the Flyers that same night. We love riding New Jersey in a bounce back spot like this. Look for goalie Martin Brodeur and the entire club to bounce back here. The Devils are 124-90 over the last three seasons when they’re coming off a loss that game by a multiple goal margin. As for the Rangers, note that goalie Henrik Lundqvist has long had a reputation for being much stronger on home ice than on the road. The Rangers, when on the road with a total of 5.5, have gone a money-losing 20-33 over the last three seasons. There is definitely line value in this spot with the Devils laying a short price at home. We know there is going to be some adjusting on the part of the Devils early this season as Jacques Lemaire is now behind the bench. However, we also know that the Rangers really don’t have much in the way of secondary scoring and – just as they are not as good as their 5-2 win over the Senators Saturday, the Devils certainly aren’t as bad as their 5-2 loss against the Flyers Saturday! This is where you get early season value is a spot like this. The Rangers are projected to be among the weaker teams in the East this season while, conversely, the Devils should make a big push this season with Brodeur back between the pipes and a new system in place under coach Lemaire – whose philosophy fits in perfectly with the Devils long-standing tradition of a defense-first style. After getting “lit up” in game one, we absolutely expect the Devils to bounce back with a strong effort. So many times a game can “snowball” on a team and after New Jersey didn’t score on an early two man advantage against the Flyers it seemed that Philly got a big boost from that point forward while the Devils all of the sudden lost confidence. The Devils did play well early and, after a ugly home loss, we expect them to sustain a strong effort for the full three periods in this one against a hated rival. Even though the Devils are without Patrik Elias, the Rangers are without Sean Avery and we like the depth of the Devils lines moreso than what the Rangers possess. For the Rangers there is a big dropoff in talent level after the top two lines. The Devils did lose their last match-up against the Rangers in their season series last season but they had previously taken three straight in this series by a combined score of 15 to 7. That is the type of dominance we expect from the hungry Devils tonight. Brodeur was 12-3-1 with a 1.98 GAA at home last season while the Rangers Lundqvist is 89-40-15 at home but just 54-44-19 on the road in his career. Note that this equates to just 54-63 on the road in terms of winning tickets for Lundqvist and the Rangers. The Devils are offering great “low odds” value at home here. Play New Jersey on the money line as a 6* Regular Play selection.
Anthony Redd
15 Dime Packers
Chris Jordan
300♦ MINNESOTA
National Sports Service
3* Minnesota -4
Bob Balfe
Packers/Vikings Under 45.5
Both QB's are down playing the significance of this game, but the media and fans will judge the Packers decision to let Favre go on the outcome of this game. Favre is a little bit of a head case and you clearly can tell by the way he speaks that he is bitter, but still loves the Packers Orginization. Will he try to do too much? Same goes for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has yet to throw a pick all year, but he has been sacked more than anyone else this season. Minnesota is going to get after him and try to force mistakes that lead to turnovers. The Vikings will run Peterson as much as possible to try to wear down the Packers Defensive Line. Both defenses are outstanding and are being looked over because the talk is Favre vs Rodgers. I like Minnesota's Defense, but I also like how the Packers have the most takeaways in the league. Look for both QB's to come out with some jitters. Hopefully by the time they settle in the game will be on its way to a low scoing affair. Take the Under.
C-Star Sports
5000 Units Green Bay/Minnesota over The total
1000 Units Green Bay Plus the points over Minnesota
50 units Columbus/Vancouver over the total
BLACK WIDOW
6* Widow Wiseguy NFC North GAME OF THE YEAR Minnesota Vikings -3 He got this line on 10/01/09
Brett Favre has been waiting for this game for nearly two years. He isn't about to let Aaron Rodgers and company spoil his party, especially with his Vikings' teammates having his back. He has won over the hearts of his teammates after leading Minnesota to a come-from-behind 27-24 win over San Franciso last week, scoring the game-winning touchdown with only 2 seconds remaining on a 33-yard strike to Greg Lewis. Favre has always shined on the biggest stage, and now he has a complete team to where he doesn't have to carry the load. Minnesota is scoring 29.3 points per game, and they've put up 27 or more points in every game this season. 27 points will be more than enough to beat the Packers and cover this small spread considering the Vikings' stingy defense is allowing just 19.0 points per contest. Teams are putting up an average of just 260 total yards per game on Minnesota. The home team has won 3 straight and 4 of the last 5 in this series. Words cannot describe how loud it's going to be in the Metrodome Monday, which will make life very tough for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense. The Vikings outgained the Packers 361-184 at home last year, and that was without a QB the caliber of Favre. They rushed for 220 yards in that win, including 192 coming from star RB Adrian Peterson. Favre doesn't even have to make many plays for the Vikings to win and cover with Peterson carrying the load, but you know he's going to have a couple big plays up his sleeves before this one is all said and done. The Vikings will not let up once they get off to a big early lead, either. Take Minnesota and lay the points in a BLOWOUT! (Take Minnesota all the way up to -4 as a 6* Play, -4.5 or higher is a 5* Play)
JACK BURNET
30,000 Dime - Green Bay +4.5 over Minnesota
Minnesota should have lost to San Francisco last week, plain and simple. The Vikings are 3-0 but not impressive to me. Who cares about Favre and this whole storyline, it's all bullshit. Kick the ball and play the game. Let's talk defense. Dom Capers is now the new defensive coordinator and his 3-4 scheme has made a difference in Green Bay.
After three games, the Packers are allowing less than 4 yards per rush and facing Adrian Peterson, who gashed them for 192 and 103 yards in the two meetings a season ago, will be the real test tonight.
The Packers are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings and 5-1 ATS in their last six games in Minnesota. The underdog is 16-5 ATS in their last 21 meetings and the road team is 11-3 ATS in the last 14 matchups. I'm not impressed with Minnesota and this should be a filed goal game either way. Expect the Packers to win this one.
Teddy June
10* Minn Vikings
ATS
3 Units Green Bay +5
BEN BURNS
I'm taking the points with GREEN BAY. I'm taking the points with GREEN BAY. This line has climbed from its opener and I feel that's provided us with plenty of value with the visiting Packers. As you're probably well aware, this game has some major implications in the suddenly competitive NFC North division. Then, of course, there's the Favre vs. Rodgers and Favre vs. GB story-lines... The betting public has quickly fallen back in love with Favre, forgetting about last year's late-season meltdown with the Jets. Rodgers isn't getting as much attention, but he's still highly capable - arguably even more so. Let's not forget that he threw for more than 4000 yards with 28 touchdowns last season. Both defenses are very capable. The Vikes have slightly better overall stats. However, they've allowed two of three opponents to reach 20 points. The Packers, on the other hand, have held two of three opponents to 17 points or less. Both teams are 2-1 ATS. The Packers are 1-0 ATS on the road though while the Vikes are 0-1 ATS at home. The Packers, 6-1 ATS their last seven 'dome games,' are 10-3 ATS in division games the past two seasons. During the same stretch, the vikes are just 4-8-1 ATS in their divisional games. Looking at last year's meetings and we find that both were close. The Packers won by five points when the teams played at Lambeau - Rodgers' debut as a starter. The game here at Minnesota was even closer, as it was decided by just a single point. Looking back a bit further and we find that the Packers have won five of the last six meetings and that they've gone 4-0 ATS the last four of those. In fact, the Vikings have only beaten the Packers three times since 2005 and all three victories came by a field goal or less. I expect tonight's important game to also come down to the wire and feel that having more than a field goal to work with is generous. *10 Main Event
I'm playing on GB and Minnesota to finish UNDER the total. With the Favre vs. Rodgers QB matchup, most are expecting a shootout and that's provided us with a very high total. I believe that its too high. Yes, both teams have seen the 'over' go 2-1 to start the season. However, a closer look reveals that all four of those 'overs' came when these teams played outside the NFC North. Both teams have seen the 'under' go 1-0 when matched up against divisional foes. Many were expecting the Week 1 Packers/Bears (Rodgers vs. Plummer) clash to be high-scoring, as that game had an over/under line which was very similar to this evening's game. I played the 'under' in that one though and the teams combined for only 36 points. The Vikings saw their lone divisional game (Week 2 at Detroit) finish with 40 points. Yes, both quarterbacks are more than capable and its also true that both of them probably are a little extra motivated for tonight's big head to head matchup. That said, I also have a lot of respect for both these defenses and also believe that both those units will be fired up for tonight's big game. Additionally, even though Favre will get all the attention, the Vikes will still be running the ball with regularity. The Vikings are fourth in the league in total defense, allowing just 259.7 yards per game. They're allowing 19 points per game. The Packers are allowing 21 per game. However, they've held two of their three opponents to 17 points or less. The Vikes have seen the UNDER go 19-10-1 the last 30 times that they played a home game with a total ranging from 45.5 to 49 points. I expect those numbers to improve as the shootout many are expecting never materializes and the final combined score stays below the generous number. *9 NFC TOW
Inside Corner
3 Units Vancouver -141
MustWinSports
5 DIME GREEN BAY/MINNESOTA UNDER
Stu Feiner
Green Bay +4.5
John Ryan
10* Minnesota Vikings