Jeff Benton
Your Sunday freebie is the Under in the Miami-Buffalo game.
Miami played a rather high-scoring game last week, but that game was at home against the offensive-minded Patriots. The Dolphins game will be on the road, and Miami's track record away from home shows a 30-17-2 Under mark since 2012 when they pack their suitcases.
Buffalo was a winner in overtime last Sunday in a game that did just hold Under the total at Soldier Field. The Under has also been the play when these division rivals meet, as the low stands at 6-1-1 the past 8 series meetings.
Going to stick with the established series trends and play the Under in Miami-Buffalo.
3♦ MIAMI-BUFFALO UNDER
Gabriel Dupont
I will play the Tennessee Titans at home against the Dallas Cowboys.
The SMART INTANGIBLE with the Titans - Tennessee's defense is in after recording four sacks against the Chiefs, tied for third in the NFL. Plus, you have a situation where cornerback Jason McCourty tied a career-high with two interceptions in the game. Two words for those notes: Tony Romo. Get it?
The SMART INTANGIBLE working against the Cowboys - I know Dallas has won two of its last three against Titans, but this is a season the Cowboys will be lucky to win four games. Today the Pokes will face a defense that finished the first week of the season ranked third overall.
In conclusion, why TENNESSEE is my SMART PLAY in this game - Sorry, but there is not much mroe I can say except Dallas is a really bad team. It doesn't get much more than that, and when I see a cheap price to take advantage of when it comes to the Cowboys this season, I'll be going against them. This is a perfect opportunity, as Tennessee should win by about 7, to 10.
4♦ TENNESSEE
Chris Jordan
My free winner is on the NFC clash between the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, as I like the Under in this game, thinking we'll see a mistake-filled, slow-paced sluggish game that will keep this one low.
I probably should be taking the road chalk in this one, because little does anyone know, but the Cardinals are just as hot as defending Super Bowl champion Seattle, dating back to last season. The Cards have won eight of 10, including a win over the Seahawks and last week's season-opening, 18-17 wn over the San Diego Chargers.
The Cardinals will meet a Giants offense that struggled last week, when the offensive line played horribly, the running game was limited to a 2.4 yard per carry average and Eli Manning threw for 163 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He was also was sacked twice and hurried nine times.
Arizona has a good chance to shut the Giants down, the problem I have in laying points is the Cardinals are making a trip to the Eastern time zone off a short week, and last week's win over the Bolts was a come-from-behind victory. Thus, I'm not so sure the state of the Cardinals' offense until I see it perform, err, I will force it to play today and prove me wrong.
Until I see both offenses improve, I won't agree to a total higher than 40. Play this one low.
3♦ UNDER
Brad Wilton
As Al Davis would say "Just Win Baby!"
Green Bay in a "must win" situation now after losing at Seattle to open the season, especially with division road games at Detroit and Chicago on-deck.
With that being the case, then siding with the Packers is the way to go, but the question is can they cover this number against a New York team that is on a 6-3-1 spread run as the underdog their last 10.
I was not all that impressed with the Jets home win over the Raiders last weekend, as I didn't see too much going on offensively that would suggest once Aaron Rodgers gets his game cranking the Flyboys will be able to keep pace.
Green Bay went just 3-4 against the spread as the home favorite last season, but they had been 20-10 their 30 previous tries in that role.
Packers to stretch it at Lambeau today.
2♦ GREEN BAY
THE REAL ANIMAL SPORTS
New Orleans -6
I am not wild about road favorites generally but Cleveland is missing too many weapons. WR Gordon is suspended for the year. RB Ben Tate is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a sprained knee. I know Isaiah Crowell had 100-yards against the Steelers but let’s see him do it again. Tight end Jordan Cameron is doubtful with a shoulder injury. Cleveland enters on an eight-game losing streak and after watching the Steelers Thursday, I’m left wondering how you fall behind 27-0 to that team (last week)? The Saints were embarrassed defensively by Atlanta, but the Falcons are loaded offensively. If Rob Ryan can’t get the Saints defense to stop this rag-tag offense, he should resign immediately.
Wunderdog
Cleveland @ Detroit
Pick: Detroit -136
Cleveland has lost six of the last seven against Detroit, and the Indians are 0-4 in their last four against a team with a winning record. Cleveland is a bad road team and has Trevor Bauer (5-8, 4.12 ERA) going, who is 1-5 with a 5.20 ERA on the road. Bauer took the loss his last start, giving up four earned runs on four hits, while walking one, and fanning eight against the visiting Twins. He's allowed eight runs and five walks his last 13+ innings (0-2). Bauer has a 4.88 ERA against Detroit, a team ranked second in baseball in runs scored and slugging and tops in batting and on base percentage. The Tigers are 7-0 in their last seven home games against a team with a losing road record. The first place Tigers are also 7-2 in Justin Verlander's last nine home starts against the Indians, so grab home field. Play the Tigers.
Vegas Butcher
Buffalo Bills -1
Divisional game, under-valued home team, and an opponent coming off a big home upset win. This is a great spot to back the Bills. Sure Miami looked ‘good’ last week, but New England wasn’t able to stop the run whatsoever (193 yards for 5.5 RY/A) which enabled Tannehill to look ‘better’ than his usual mediocre self. Bills have a stout D-line and excellent secondary, so I don’t expect things to be as easy offensively for Miami. On the other side, the Dolphins are missing a number of their key linebackers and Buffalo’s run-game should be the difference in that one. Buffalo’s run-game shredded the Bears in week 1 and I expect them to be just as effective at home. Bills are 3-1 ATS in the last 4 meetings and 2-0 SU/ATS at home in the last two years. Miami is getting way too much respect in this one.
New England Patriots -3 -120
The Patriots had ZERO consecutive losses last year and you would have to go back to Week 2 and Week 3 of the 2012 season to find the last time this team lost 2 games in a row. It just doesn’t happen very often with this team. I’m banking on it NOT happening again today. Belichick is still a premier coach in the game, Brady is still one of the most competitive players in the league, and overall the Pats are one of the better bounce-back organizations in all of football. New England’s run-D looked horrendous last week, but with Peterson out of the lineup, the matchup won’t be as challenging. Matt Asiata (AP’s backup) has a 3.8 RY/A average in his career so clearly he’s not as dynamic of a playmaker. Of course this will provide more opportunities to Patterson which is a risk, but I’m counting on Belichick to effectively game-plan for this. Don’t forget that the Pats are familiar with Cassell and should be able to figure out ways to neutralize him in this matchup. New England gets back to their winning ways tonight.
OC Dooley
NY Giants -1.5
There has been a major last second line swing in this contest with official word that Arizona starting quarterback Carson Palmer (shoulder) is OUT. The starting signal caller is now the same Drew Stanton who has NOT thrown a pass in the regular season since way back in 2010. The Cardinals already were in a difficult position having to travel on a “short week” following a Monday appearance. Not only was Arizona on Monday Night football where they failed to cover the spread in a very close contest that went right down to the wire, they were the LATE kickoff which gives them even LESS preparation time. The Cardinals are now without their #1 quarterback after traveling several time zones just to participate in this affair
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
San Francisco/Chicago Under 48: The Bears do have an explosive offense, but not today as it looks as if at least one of the big WRs will be sidelined for this one, while the other is not at 100%. That should mean allot of running by Matt Forte, which will in turn keep the clock moving. On the other side we have a San Francisco team that will look to pound away all day at a Chicago run defense tat was last in the league vs the rush last year and then allowed the Bills 193 yards rushing in their opener. The Niners first team offense didn't look good in the preseason and even though they put up 28 points last week vs Dallas, they were set up with short fields, had a defensive TD and put up just 316 yards in the game. Very hard to see this one as a high scoring affair, especially with allot of running from both teams.
Anthony Michael
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers will be extra motivated for this one as they open up a brand new stadium in this game. San Fran has covered the last 8 times they have hosted the Bears and they have covered their last 5 home openers. The Bears have failed to cover their last 7 games against Western Division teams and Cutler just can't be brimming with confidence off of his performance at home against the Bills. Lay this number with 'Frisco to be a winner.
Joe Gavazzi
San Francisco 49ers -7
We will stay with the momentum of the better team with the better running game and defense. 341 passing yards may be a glamorous statistic for the Bears, but it is far more meaningful that they were outrushed 33/193 to 18/86 in their Game 1 (23-20) home loss to Buffalo. It is becoming increasingly apparent that this team may have done little to improve one of the worst defenses in the league. Later in the day, San Fran proved why they are a fundamentally sound team. Profiting from 4 Dallas TOs, the 49ers ran 30 times for 124 yards, while allowing Dallas just 302 total yards. That pointspread victory has boosted the record of HC Harbaugh to 36-16-5 ATS. Recently, the 49ers are 16-6 ATS home favorite. It’s a big night for the 49ers and their fans, as they open their home stadium, working hand in glove to make this home/road dichotomy is Chicago’s recent mark of 8-16 ATS as road underdog. Play the momentum of Week 1 for this comfortable victory.