CINCINNATI (9 - 8) at BALTIMORE (13 - 5) - 9/10/2012, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 105-138 ATS (-46.8 Units) against conference opponents since 1992.
CINCINNATI is 56-83 ATS (-35.3 Units) versus division opponents since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 2-1 against the spread versus BALTIMORE over the last 3 seasons
BALTIMORE is 3-1 straight up against CINCINNATI over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SAN DIEGO (8 - 8) at OAKLAND (8 - 8) - 9/10/2012, 10:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all games where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 35-64 ATS (-35.4 Units) in games where the line is +3 to -3 since 1992.
OAKLAND is 20-38 ATS (-21.8 Units) in home games versus division opponents since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 3-1 against the spread versus SAN DIEGO over the last 3 seasons
OAKLAND is 3-1 straight up against SAN DIEGO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CINCINNATI vs. BALTIMORE
Cincinnati is 5-16 SU in its last 21 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
Baltimore is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Baltimore is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cincinnati
SAN DIEGO vs. OAKLAND
San Diego is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
San Diego is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on the roa
Oakland is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against San Diego
Oakland is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against San Diego
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Cincinnati: 11-1 Over vs. conference opponents
Baltimore: 6-1 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less
San Diego at Oakland
San Diego: 23-10 ATS away with a total of 45.5+ points
Oakland: 13-28 ATS as a home underdog of 7 points or less
Week 1 Preview
Bengals @ Ravens — Baltimore won last seven home openers (5-2 vs spread), with none of wins by less than seven points; since 1988, they’re 8-3 vs spread in Week 1 home games. Ravens covered four of last five home openers vs divisional opponent. Cincinnati is 4-3 in last seven road openers; they were dog in three of four wins, favored in two of three losses (underdogs covered five of their last six road openers). Since ’88, are 6-5 vs spread as Week 1 underdog. Four of Bengals’ last five road openers went over total; over is 5-1-1 in Ravens’ last seven home openers, but seven of last nine series games had totals of 37 or less. Ravens won both meetings LY, 31-24/24-16, but are still just 6-9 in last 15 series games, albeit 3-1 in last four played here.
Chargers @ Raiders — Allen is fourth head coach in five years for Oakland, but Palmer had full camp and should be better this year under center. Raiders won three of last four series games after losing 13 in row to Bolts before that. San Diego won seven of last eight visits here, with only loss 35-27 in ’10. Chargers lost four of last five road openers, allowing average of 30.6 ppg, giving up 35+ points in three of the four losses; they’re 4-9 vs spread last 13 times road opener was in Week 1. Over is 13-7-1 in San Diego’s last 21 road openers. Raiders lost last four times they opened season at home, with three losses by 15+ points- they’re 9-5 in last 14 home openers, winning last two after losing previous seven. Four of their last five home openers went over the total. Average total in last four series games is 52.
Armadillosports.com
MNF Doubleheader
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Week 1 of the NFL wraps up with a doubleheader involving AFC divisional matchup on Monday night. The Raiders and Chargers wrap up the evening at the Black Hole in Northern California as the two AFC West rivals look to make a move up the division ladder this season. We'll start in Baltimore with a pair of playoff teams from last season hooking up, as Cincinnati plays with double revenge.
Bengals at Ravens
Baltimore staved off Cincinnati twice in the final seven weeks of last season, winning each matchup by eight points or less. The Ravens made it all the way to the AFC Championship before falling short in a 23-20 defeat at New England, as Baltimore had several late opportunities to tie and even win the game. John Harbaugh's team has huge expectations once again in 2012, while plenty of questions surround the Bengals to see if this team can duplicate last season's success.
Cincinnati seemed like it was headed for a last-place finish in the AFC North when Carson Palmer refused to report to camp. The Bengals turned to rookie Andy Dalton, who helped lead Cincinnati to its first playoff berth since 2009 with a 9-7 record. Most of the damage was done against non-playoff competition, as the Bengals went a perfect 9-0 in this situation. However, all eight (including playoffs) losses came to teams that qualified for the postseason, including the two defeats to the Ravens.
Baltimore finished a perfect 6-0 SU and 4-1-1 ATS against division opponents in 2011, as the lone 'push' came at home against Cincinnati. The Ravens led the Bengals, 31-14 with 14 minutes remaining in regulation, but Cincinnati scored the final 10 points of the game. In fact, Dalton took the Bengals down the field for a potential game-tying touchdown in the final minutes, but the Ravens' defense held for the win.
Six weeks later, Baltimore cashed as a three-point road favorite, 24-16 at Paul Brown Stadium in the last game of the regular season. Ray Rice broke off a pair of long touchdown runs, as the game went 'over' the posted total of 37½, the sixth 'over' in eight regular season road contests for the Ravens. The ATS loss as a home underdog was just the fifth in the last 15 for the Bengals, dating back to 2008.
Since posting a perfect 6-0 SU record in 2009, Cincinnati owns a 4-8 SU and 4-7-1 ATS mark against division opponents. Both victories last season inside the AFC North came against the lowly Browns, while getting swept by the Ravens and Steelers, both consistent playoff teams.
The Ravens are listed as seven-point home favorites, while the number is slowly rising to 7½ at several outlets. The total hasn't moved much since 41 was posted months ago, as it sits at 41½. The game can be seen at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN.
Chargers at Raiders
San Diego finished short of the playoffs for a second straight season after putting together an 8-8 campaign in 2011. The Chargers wrapped up last season with a victory over the Raiders, 38-26 as 2½-point road underdogs, as San Diego finds itself at the Black Hole to open up 2012. The Silver and Black went 8-8 for the second consecutive season, but will have Palmer for a full campaign under center after getting picked up last October from Cincinnati.
The Raiders split six divisional contests last season following a perfect 6-0 SU/ATS record in 2010 against AFC West rivals. All three losses inside the division came at home, all by double-digits to the Broncos, Chiefs, and Chargers. Following the defeats to Kansas City and Denver at O.Co Coliseum, Palmer picked up his first win in a Raiders' uniform at San Diego, a 24-17 victory as seven-point underdogs. That triumph jump-started a three-game winning streak for Oakland, but the Raiders stumbled to a 1-4 finish in the final five contests.
The last loss came to the Chargers, who managed to break the 30-point plateau for the fourth time in five games to conclude the season. Norv Turner's squad stumbled to a 6-10 ATS record, as the lone ATS cover as a road underdog for the Lightning Bolts came at Oakland (1-3 ATS in that role). In six Monday night games since 2009, the Chargers are 2-4 ATS and 3-3 SU, while failing to cover in each of the last four openers.
San Diego will be without running back Ryan Mathews, who suffered a clavicle injury early in the preseason. The Chargers were a middle of the road team in rushing last season (116.5 yards/game), while ranking 20th in rushing defense. The Raiders ran for 191 yards in the victory at San Diego last season, but Darren McFadden missed the game with a leg injury.
Oakland is listed as a one-point favorite at most outlets, but several books have the game listed as a pick-em. The total is set at 46½, as late kickoff comes at 10:15 PM EST and will be seen nationally on ESPN.
Bengals at Ravens: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Cincinnati at Baltimore (-7, 41)
The Cincinnati Bengals made noise by becoming the third AFC North team to qualify for the playoffs last season. The Bengals will test their mettle right out of the chute on Monday when they visit Baltimore to open their season against the reigning division-winning Ravens. Quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green made the Pro Bowl after their stellar rookie campaigns. The two young guns will need to continue that chemistry if the Bengals are going to unseat the Ravens, who won both meetings between the clubs in 2011.
Baltimore saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion after former Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff's 32-yard field-goal attempt went awry in the waning moments of the team's AFC Championship Game loss to New England. The Ravens will look to dust themselves off behind dynamic back Ray Rice, who led the team in both rushing (1,364 yards) and receiving (704) while leading the league in yards from scrimmage (2,068). For his efforts, he received a $40 million contract in the offseason. Coach John Harbaugh's club will begin the season with a heavy heart after longtime owner Art Modell passed away Thursday morning at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Modell moved the then-Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996.
LINE: Ravens -6. O/U: 41.
WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s. Winds will be blowing lightly out of the north.
ABOUT THE BENGALS: Former New England running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis replaces Cedric Benson as the bell cow in the backfield. Green-Ellis, who has yet to fumble in his NFL career, rushed for 11 touchdowns last season and 24 since 2010. Dalton threw for a season-best 373 yards in Cincinnati's 31-24 loss to Baltimore on Nov. 20. In addition to Green, tight end Jermaine Gresham creates matchup problems for defenses and will look to build on his career-best six touchdown receptions last season.
ABOUT THE RAVENS: Veteran linebacker Ray Lewis continues to provide an imposing presence after leading the club in tackles (95) for the 14th time in his career. Speaking of veterans, safety Ed Reed has tormented the Bengals in his career by recording nine interceptions. The team, however, will need to overcome the loss of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs (career-high 14 sacks in 2011), who is sidelined with a torn right Achilles tendon.
TRENDS
* Bengals are 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven games vs. AFC opponents.
* Under is 4-0 in Baltimore’s last four home games.
* Bengals are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Ravens are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six home games.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Baltimore has high hopes for younger stars such as promising wide receiver Torrey Smith, who had a breakout game against Cincinnati. He amassed a season-best 165 yards on Nov. 20.
2. Cincinnati CB Dre Kirkpatrick, who was the 17th overall pick of the 2012 draft, will sit out with a bone spur near his right knee.
3. Ravens QB Joe Flacco doesn't put up gaudy numbers, but the young quarterback has won 44 of his 64 games that he has started since entering the league in 2008.
Chargers at Raiders: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (-1, 46.5)
The Oakland Raiders begin their latest quest for an elusive playoff berth under new coach Dennis Allen on Monday night when they host the San Diego Chargers in the season opener for both teams. Oakland has not reached the postseason since 2002, when it lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Raiders went 11-5 that year, their last season with a winning record.
Oakland has shown improvement of late, going 8-8 each of the last two seasons following seven straight campaigns with fewer than six victories. It has won nine of its last 12 games against AFC West rivals but has had little success against San Diego recently, losing 14 of the last 17 overall meetings and seven of eight at home. The Chargers, whose 38-26 road triumph in the 2011 season finale cost the Raiders the division title, have missed the playoffs each of the last two years after claiming the AFC West four consecutive times.
LINE: Raiders -1. O/U: 46.5.
WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for clear skies and temperatures in the low-60s Monday night in Oakland. Winds will be light out of the south.
ABOUT THE CHARGERS: Philip Rivers is the main factor for San Diego. Last season, the veteran joined Drew Brees and Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks in league history to throw for 4,000 yards in four or more straight campaigns. However, he also threw a career-high 20 interceptions. Rivers has performed well against division rivals since becoming the club's starting QB in 2006, posting a 26-10 record. The Chargers hope to have running back Ryan Mathews in the lineup Monday. Mathews, who suffered a broken clavicle in the preseason, returned to practice Monday but has yet to be cleared for contact.
ABOUT THE RAIDERS: Full seasons from two key offensive players could help Oakland get back to the postseason. Quarterback Carson Palmer appeared in only 10 games last year after being acquired from Cincinnati, throwing for 2,753 yards and 13 touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Darren McFadden was limited to seven contests in 2011 due to a foot injury. He has yet to play a full season since being drafted fourth overall in 2008. Defense was Oakland's sore spot last season as it became the sixth team since 1970 to surrender 2,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards in one campaign.
TRENDS
*Chargers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings in Oakland.
*Underdog is 6-0 ATS in their last six meetings.
*Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings between the teams in Oakland.
*Raiders are 4-0 ATS in their last four games in September.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Palmer's top two career passing performances have come against the Chargers. He threw for 440 yards versus San Diego in 2006 while with the Bengals and registered 417 yards in the 2011 season finale.
2. Oakland is 36-15-1 in home openers, the third-best mark in the NFL.
3. Rivers has thrown for 24,137 yards since becoming San Diego's starter, ranking behind only Brees (28,394).