Vegas Experts
NY Jets at Philadelphia Eagles
The better team is not favored here as the Jets look for their first ever win in Philadelphia. The Eagles have won back to back games only one other time this year, so we don't like their chances against a Jets defense allowing only 83 rushing yards per game during its current three-game win streak. The Jets are 11-3 ATS off a home win.
Play on: NY Jets
Michael Alexander
Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders
Play: Detroit Lions -1
DETROIT is 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a S.U. win
OAKLAND is 20-43 ATS in their last 63 games in December
OAKLAND is 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games as a home underdog of 0.5-3.0.
Bryan Power.
New England @ Denver
Play: New England 1st Half
Sure Tim Tebow is off to a remarkable 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS run as a starter. (Note I did play against the Broncos last week and held on for a cover at +3.5 w/ Chicago). However, with all those fourth quarter comebacks you have to figure that Denver has not been a good team to wager on in the 1st Half. You would be correct as they are 2-6 ATS in the 1H with Tebow as the starter, scoring 7 points or less in seven of those games and being shut out twice (including last week). The one game Tebow has lost thus far came against the only formidable offense they've faced (Detroit) and if there is one team that can put away the Broncos early, it is New England. The Patriots are averaging better than 20 points the L3 wks in the 1H and have reached double digits by halftime in every game but one this season. On the road this season, the Pats are averaging 17 PPG. Denver is averaging a terrible 4.8 PPG in the first half at home. Belichick and Brady have been thinking one thing all week & that's get up by a big margin early. 6* Play (1st Half) on New England.
OC Dooley
Chiefs +11.5
The oddsmakers had no choice but to inflate today’s money-line since Green Bay is still undefeated. But down the stretch run where the pressure of making history is mounting, the Packers have not been an automatic money maker for investors. Despite last week’s romp, the Packers have actually ALTERNATED “spread” wins-and-losses in FIVE consecutive contests and are due to for an ATS “defeat” this afternoon in what is their final road game of the regular season. To put a unique situation in proper perspective, today will be the final time that Green Bay will have to play on enemy turf until the Super Bowl (pending an expected undefeated playoff run). For those familiar with the home Kansas City, Arrowhead Stadium tends to be one of the LOUDEST venues in the entire league. Most reading this analysis are most likely aware that Kansas City fired their head coach early this week, which opens up another opportunity for now “interim” leader Romeo Crennel to make a positive impression. This is the same Crennel who used to be head coach at Cleveland, before the former Bill Belichick defensive coordinator was eventually given his walking papers. The Chiefs as a team have not only been ravaged by major injury this season, they were also adversely affected by the NFL lockout as now former head coach Todd Haley has always stressed offseason conditioning. Veteran Kyle Orton will be the starting quarterback for Kansas City this afternoon which is great news since the offense has generated only 8 points per game during the past month. As for Green Bay they have had the luxury of being extra cautious when allowing injured players to return to action. Top rusher James Starks (knee) will MISS a second consecutive contest, while star wideout Greg Jennings (67 receptions, 9 touchdown catches) is OUT for the remainder of the regular season. Starting Packer offensive lineman Josh Sitton (knee) appears likely to MISS a third consecutive contest. As mentioned above former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel is now the “interim” leader at Kansas City. Crennel-coached teams after allowing 30+ points in the prior outing have gone a sensational 13-2 ATS. In the past three years Kansas City as a team are 6-0 ATS when off a two-game road trip
WUNDERDOG
Loyola, Maryland at St. Bonaventure
Pick: St. Bonaventure -6.5
Loyola-Maryland brings an eight-game win streak into this one, but they step up in competition against a fine A-10 squad. The only time they stepped up was the opener, a 12-point loss at Wake Forest, 75-63, allowing 49% shooting and getting nine of their shots blocked. That's a concern again as St. Bonaventure has a big frontcourt with 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior All-America candidate Andrew Nicholson (15.3 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game) and 6-8 senior Da'Quan Cook (6 rpg). That loss to Wake should have been much worse, but Wake missed an astonishing 24 free throws! The Bonnies are 7-2 ATS in their last nine home games while the Loyola-Maryland Greyhounds are 2-6 ATS in their last eight road games against a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. St. Bonaventure is in its second game of a six-game stretch that will keep the Bonnies in the Empire State, so look for a huge effort by the rested home team. Play on St. Bonaventure.
Harry Bondi
Philadelphia -3 over NY Jets
This is simply a bad match-up for the Jets, who have been abysmal on the road, going 2-5 ATS their last seven away from home, and that includes a miraculous win and cover two weeks ago against Washington. Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense don't have the firepower to go head-to-head with the Eagles, who despite their record still have one of the most powerful offenses in the league when healthy. Philly is fourth in the NFL in total offense, No. 3 in rushing and this will be QB Michael Vick's second game back from injury. His mobility will give New York problems (remember what Tebow did to the Jets?), which should lead to some big plays. Philly is out of the playoffs, but will play loose and treat this like a playoff game. Lay the short number.