JEFF BENTON
Your Sunday freebie is the Over in the Vikings-Packers game.
I know the points have been hard to come by for Green Bay since their leader Aaron Rodgers went down on that Monday nighter against Chicago,but there is nothing like seeing the Minnesota defense (allowing 32 ppg game) for any ailing offense.
I expect Green Bay to get their points in this one, as I am just not sold on this Vikings defense which will never be confused with the "Purple People Eaters" of the 1970's. Minny has played Overs in 8 of their 10 games this season, and that includes a 44-31 shootout in Minnesota back on October 27th.
Adrian Peterson has had some monster games facing Green Bay in his career, so let's look for the points to add up, and for Over which is on a 7-3 series surge to be the way to go.
Vikings-Packers Over the total.
3* MINNESOTA-GREEN BAY OVER
BRAD WILTON
Nothing like coming out of your bye week and suffering your first loss of the season, and that is exactly what the then 9-0 Kansas City Chiefs did on Sunday night in Denver. Now with Denver once again on the docket for next Sunday at Arrowhead, you watch as the Chiefs get caught in this "sandwich" game against the Chargers.
I am backing the Bolts as your comp play, as San Diego comes in riding a 3 game straight up and against the spread losing streak after getting off to a 4-3 start before their bye week.
The numbers look good for an underdog play here, as the Chargers did sweep the Chiefs last season, and have won 4 of the past 5 series meetings straight up against Kansas City.
Also consider that the Chiefs are just 2-3 against the spread at home this season, and you can see why I feel this game may well be decided by just a field goal tops.
Grab San Diego plus the points.
1* SAN DIEGO
BRETT ATKINS
My free winner for Sunday is on the Tennessee Titans laying a single point in Oakland against the Raiders, in a game that might end up as close as the oddsmakers have prescribed.
Would you believe it if I told you both these teams still remain alive in the playoff race? Crazy, right? Well, despite their losing records, they're in the hunt for the sixth and final seed in the AFC playoffs. While the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets are currently tied for that spot at 5-5, there are seven teams close behind with four wins - including the Raiders and Titans.
So which team is capable of pulling out the must-win here? Well, you see where I'm headed, cause my money is on the Titans. Though I liked them long before I knew this, it certainly helped my argument when I read the Raiders had ruled four players out of the game, including leading receiver Denarius Moore and star running back Darren McFadden. Also out will be defensive end Jason Hunter and strong safety Tyvon Branch.
Every little bit helps, but let's be real, the Titans are the right side no matter which way you slice it just based on their defensive unit. Tennessee has allowed an NFL-low seven touchdown passes by opponents, and just one over the past six weeks. Of course, that means opponents have been able to get it done on the ground. But even though the Titans have allowed 15 touchdowns rushing, including 10 in the past four games, the Raiders aren't going to be that effective without McFadden.
Fact is, since Tennessee has now lost five of six following its 3-1 start to the season, and plays the first of three straight on road today, it has no choice but to step up in this game.
Take the Titans here, as they roll to the win in Oaktown.
3* TENNESSEE
SCOTT DELANEY
My free winner for Sunday is on the Over in the Tennessee/Oakland game, as I have a feeling we're going to see a high-scoring affair. With both teams still in the running for a playoff spot, and the Raiders coming in banged up on both sides of the ball, Tennessee will be all about getting right to the scoreboard upon kickoff.
The Titans have gone over in seven of their 10 games this season, so high-scoring games are not unusual. In six of their 10 games they've scored at least 20 points, and in their last three contests they've put up 28, 27 and 27 points. On the flipside, they've also allowed a lot of points, as they've given up at least 29 points in three of their last four games.
Oakland, despite being without its top receiver and running back, will have no choice but to respond offensively if the Titans force its hand. This is the first home game for the Raiders since a 49-20 loss to Philadelphia to start the month, but make note Oakland is 2-2 in its last four contests. It also comes in after a 28-23 win at Houston last week.
While the over has come in five of the last seven meetings, the Titans have gone over in four straight, while he Raiders have soared past the number in seven of their last November contests.
Take the high road with this game, as the Over cashes your ticket.
5* OVER Titans/Raiders
CRAIG DAVIS
Free play on the NY Giants over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys received the kiss of death the other day when Jerry Jones announced that Jason Garrett would return in 2014 as the head coach. What?!?!?! The season isn't even over yet and he's already announcing Garrett, his puppet, is coming back? Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?
Meanwhile, all the Giants have done is win four straight games and actually put themselves right back in the playoff picture in the NFC East.
These two teams met in Week 1, with Dallas eeking out a 36-31 win, although they led by 18 at one point in the game. That was then and this is now... and now the Giants are starting to get healthy and starting to run the football better.
Now the Dallas Cowboys are starting to play like the basket case they have been for the past decade, and injuries haven't helped either. The defense keeps suffering injuries to key players, and you simply can't afford injuries when your defensive coordinator is Monte Kiffin.
Dallas has never really been much of a cold weather team, and it's going to be violently cold in the Meadowlands today. They aren't running the ball like Garrett and Bill Callahan promised they would, and Romo is going to be a sitting duck back in the pocket if the Cowboys think they can throw it 50 times.
Take the Giants over the Cowboys as your free play of the day.
3* N.Y. GIANTS
Sean Michaels
10-5 roll with comp plays with today's selection Baltimore (-3 1/2) at home against the Jets.
I'm not convinced Baltimore is that good, especially after blowing a 10-0 lead at Chicago in last Sunday's weather-delayed, overtime loss which was preceded by a lucky overtime win against the Bengals the previous week. But I know for certain the Jets are nothing special with Mr. Turnover, Geno Smith, at quarterback in his rookie year. Eight TD passes versus 16 interceptions and he's been sacked 34 times.
The Jets have been winning with their defense, but that won't be enough today at Baltimore against a Ravens' team that is in a must-win mode.
Baltimore is 4-0 ATS at home this season. I would go ahead and buy down the half-point on the Ravens if your price is between -3 and 4 1/2.
2♦ BALTIMORE
EZWINNERS
San Diego Chargers +4
This is a real flat spot for Kansas City. The Chiefs got off to a red hot start this season and exceeded everyone's expectations with their 9-0 start, but their are coming off of their first loss of the season after losing their big showdown with the Broncos in Denver last week 23-13. To make matters worse, they host those same Broncos again next week in a rematch so there is a good chance that they will be looking ahead to that game instead of giving their full focus on the 4-6 Chargers. San Diego might only be 4-6, but this is a dangerous team. Quarterback Phillip Rivers is playing at a very high level and San Diego is 4th in the league in passing yards. The Chargers have lost a lot of close games and easily could be 8-2 at this point. This has become a must win for San Diego to have any shot of making the playoffs and Kansas City is just 1-11 against the spread as a division favorite since 2007. Take the points.
Arizona Cardinals -3
These two teams are going in opposite directions. Arizona is riding a three game winning streak and is playing well on both sides of the ball. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has nice chemistry with wide receiver Michael Floyd and the Arizona defense has held their last three opponents under 300 total yards of offense. The Colts are 7-3 on the season but are trending downward since their big win over Denver when they lost Reggie Wayne to injury. In their last three games they have ugly wins over Houston and Tennessee and were hammered by St. Louis and in all three of those games the Colts were outgained. The loss of wide receiver Reggie Wayne is huge for this Colts offense and with the way this Cardinals secondary covers will make it hard for Indy's receivers to get open. Also, current Arizona head coach Bruce Arians won coach of the year last season filling in for Indy's Chuck Pagano so he knows this Colts team very well. Lay the points.
New England Patriots +2
The Patriots find themselves as underdogs for the second straight week, but this time they are in the rare role as a home underdog at Foxboro. This will be only the second time in the last eleven years that the Patriots are catching points at home. Tom Brady and company still have to be pissed off over the ending to last weeks game where a flag that was thrown in the end zone that would have give the Pats one more play from the one yard line was picked up. This week Peyton Manning and company come to town along with ex patriot Wes Welker and you can be sure that Bill Belichick will be ready. Belechik is one of the best in the NFL at game planning and you can be sure that he will look at the tape of Denver's loss to Indianapolis and have an excellent game play. New England's offense got a boost last week in the running game with the return of running back Shane Vereen and Brady has all of his receivers healthy with the return of Gronk and Amendola to the lineup. Take the points.
River City Sharps
Rams -1
The Rams host the Bears in this NFC showdown and this situation sets up nicely for them coming off a bye, while Chicago had to go into OT last week in a win over Baltimore. Chicago’s defense is banged up and ranked 31st in the league against the run, having had a 100 yard rusher against them the last 3 in a row and last 4 out of 5. Since Zac Stacey took over as the starting RB, the St Louis ground game has stabilized and they will need to pound the Chicago defense today for Kellen Clemons to be effective. But it looks like they have started to get WR Tavon Austin integrated into the offense as he had 2 long TD strikes against Indy. Josh McCown, has played well filling in for QB Cutler, but he will face a stout St Louis front 4 who can get after the QB, especially on turf. We really like the Rams here, rested and in a noisy dome at home.
OC Dooley
Patriots +2.5
This is the second consecutive week where both the league and NBC will hit ratings gold. It was one week ago on the primetime stage when Kansas City took their undefeated record into Denver and promptly failed to cover the spread as an underdog. The situation for the Broncos this week is different as they are the ones having to travel and they will be facing an angry opponent as New England’s Monday Night clash at Carolina ended infamously with a controversial call in the endzone. There is no questioning the fact that Denver is the NFL’s best “regular” season squad as they are on an amazing “20-1” overall tear, but that loss just happened to come against none other than Tom Brady and the Patriots. Checking the history books when Brady has opposed Peyton Manning with the support of the HOME fans, Brady (6-2 record) has held the upper hand. Arguably it is Brady that has more weapons this evening as Rob Gronkowski has returned to health along with other top receiving option Danny Amendola. On the flipside now ex-Patriot Wes Welker has had to deal with concussion issues dating back to last Sunday. The big weather story in the league today is high WINDS and severe COLD which will not benefit Peyton Manning (high ankle sprain) who has been dealing with a very painful injury for weeks. While Denver is coming off consecutive “divisional” contests and are in for arguably a bit of an emotion letdown, New England when up against AFC West competition are striving to COVER SEVEN IN A ROW.
Wunderdog
Eastern Washington at UC Irvine
Pick: UC Irvine -7
UC Irvine (3-3) is hosting the tourney with a dynamite uptempo offense, 34th in the nation in points scored (87.3 ppg), and third in assists with 20.8 per game. Irvine shoots over 52% from the field because of a terrific frontcourt of 6-8 Will Davis II (13.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and 7-6 freshman Mamadou Ndiaye (9.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg). The Anteaters are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games, and face an Eastern Washington team a long way from home while playing its third game in three nights. They beat a struggling Long Island team yesterday, and had three starters play 31 or more minutes. The Eagles are 6-17-2 ATS following a win, and 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 non-conference games. Their leading rebounder is 6-4 guard Drew Brandon, so this team will struggle up front against the home team. Play UC Irvine.