Larry Ness' Las Vegas Insider-Total (8-2 L10 NFL Insiders, including 3-0 with totals!)-Sun
My Las Vegas Insider is on Az/NO Over at 1:00 ET. Both teams are 6-7 and still have a shot at that final wild card spot, currently held by 7-6 Minnesota. However, DO NOT expect these teams to play this game, "tight to the vest!" The Saints rush for a pathetic 90.5 YPG (3.7 per) and no longer have either Deuce or Reggie in the backfield. The Cards rush for even less yards, at 88.3 YPG (3.6 per). The Cardinals have a good chance of getting Boldin back this week and with Fitzgerald having an excellent season, Warner should have few troubles moving the ball (and scoring POINTS!) against the Saints' somewhat sad pass D (252.3 YPG / 23-11 ratio). As for New Orleans, why would they want to run? The Cards' D has been decimated by injuries and has allowed 32.8 PPG over the last four weeks. The team's best defensive player is out for the year (safety Wilson), as is CB Green and both pass-rushing DEs, Berry and Okeafor! Drew Brees was terrible as the Saints opened 0-4 (12.8 PPG), with one TDP and nine INTs! However, the last nine games (Saints are 6-3 while averaging 27.7 PPG!), he's completing 70 percent, has 22 TDPs with just six INTs and is averaging 286.1 YPG through the air. In the perfect conditions of the Superdome, this game could/should reach 70 points! Las Vegas Insider Az/NO Over.
Point Train
10-UNIT NFL GAME OF THE YEAR
Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) over PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Rating: 10 units
Jacksonville (+) over PITTSBURGH at 1:00 pm EST It?s being referred to as the New England Hangover. Teams coming off a loss to the Patriots are just 4-8 in the following game, with three of those four wins coming against the Jets and Dolphins, who are a combined 3-23 on the season. The Jaguars are no Jets or Dolphins. The last three New England opponents ? Buffalo, Philadelphia and Baltimore ? have all lost their following games, and by an average of 16.7 ppg. The Steelers will suffer the same fate in this game. Jacksonville has flown under the radar this season with New England and Indianapolis taking up a majority of the AFC headlines. But the Jags are sitting at 9-4 (9-4 ATS) this year and have won four of their last five games, with the only loss during that stretch coming on the road at Indy and by just a field goal. They have been very good on the road this year, going 4-2 (5-1 ATS) on the season. Those five covers have come by 9.8 ppg. A major key to Jacksonville?s success has been its efficiency on offense. The Jags don?t score the most or put up the most yards but they chew up clock and take care of the ball. They are seventh in the NFL with a plus-8 turnover margin, due in large part to quarterback David Garrard?s miniscule one total turnover this year. Behind the league?s second-ranked rush offense, Jacksonville is third in the league in time of possession. The Jags average 143.6 ypg on the ground with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew providing a solid 1-2 punch. Jacksonville?s 5th-ranked rush defense should be able to contain Pittsburgh?s vaunted running game. Despite a solid showing last week against New England, running back Willie Parker, who leads the NFL in carries, is starting to show signs of slowing down. He is averaging just 3.6 ypc over his last four games and will have his work cut out for him against the physical Jaguar defense. The Jaguars showed what they could do against Pittsburgh last year, limiting the Steelers to just 153 total yards, including just 26 on the ground, in a 9-0 win. There will probably be more points scored in this year?s meeting but that won?t change the final outcome. Jacksonville has covered each of the last four meetings with Pittsburgh and will do the same in this one. Ride with the Jags in Point Train?s 10-Unit NFL Game of the Year!
NFL UNDERDOG OF THE MONTH
Buffalo Bills (+5.5) over CLEVELAND BROWNS
Rating: 3 units
Buffalo (+) over CLEVELAND at 1:00 pm EST This is a very unusual spot for the Browns as they haven?t been favored by this much since 2003. As a matter of fact, Cleveland has been a favorite of 6 points or more just four times since reentering the league. With playoff pressure on the line and another potential playoff team in town, the Browns will have a tough time clearing the 5-point spread. The visiting Bills have surprised everyone this year in going 7-6 (8-4-1 ATS) on the season and currently sit just one game behind Cleveland for the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. Buffalo has covered nine straight games as an underdog of a six points or less. The Bills may not be the most talented team but they play hard every weekend. Their offense is improving each week under rookie QB Trent Edwards and it should have no problem scoring against Cleveland?s defense, which is ranked among the worst in the NFL. Ride with the Bills.
NFL SUNDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
Washington Redskins (+4.5) over NEW YORK GIANTS
Rating: 3 units
Washington (+) over NY GIANTS at 8:15 pm EST The Redskins have been playing in close games all season and this NFC East battle with the rival Giants will be no different. Eleven of Washington?s 13 games have been decided by single digits with only one of its seven losses coming by more than eight points. The Redskins may not win this game outright but you can be sure they?ll take it down to the final whistle. Backup QB Todd Collins will be making his first start since the 1997 season in this game but don?t let that fool you. Collins knows the Washington offense better than anyone as he?s been running it for years, either in Washington or Kansas City. He proved his worth last week in relief of Jason Campbell, completing 75% of his passes for 224 yards and two TDs. The Giants have had teams scorch them through the air this season and the Redskins are capable of doing the same. New York QB Eli Manning appears to be falling into the second-half swoon that has plagued him throughout his career. He has completed just 50% of his passes with six INTS and just two TDs over his last three games. He also may not have much of a running game behind him. Starter Brandon Jacobs is nursing a bad hammy while primary backup Derrick Ward is on the injury list with a leg issue. The Redskins are 6th in the NFL with just 94.6 rushing yards allowed per game and won?t allow the Giant running attack to get going. The Giants have struggled at home this year, going just 3-3 (3-3 ATS) on the season. Additionally, they are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games as the favorite and 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 home games overall. Expect Collins to lead the Redskins deep into the game, taking this one down to the wire. Ride with Washington.
JEFF ALEXANDER
Take Dallas Cowboys
1 Unit on Dallas -10 The Boys nearly went down at Detroit last week. We feel that scare gets them dialed in at home Sunday and poised for a big win. Philly has struggled since its near win over the Patriots with Seattle and the New York Giants then winning on Philly?s home field. The Eagles are just 1-4 straight up and ATS in division games this season while the Cowboys are 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against the number. Dallas is 6-1 in home games this season and 5-2 ATS in those contests. The Boys have been one of the best covering teams in the league this year at 9-4 ATS in all games this season. Some of Dallas? success can be contributed to the fact that it is one of the healthiest teams in football. The Boys are at least two TD?s better than the Eagles Sunday.
DAVE PRICE
Take Tennessee Titans
1 Unit on Tennessee -3.5 Well make this play against the struggling Chiefs who have now lost 6 straight games and 5 if their last 6 ATS. Last weeks 41-7 loss to Denver tell me that the Chiefs have had enough and they are ready for the offseason. Tennessee showed its true colors by fighting and clawing last week before losing in OT to a red hot Chargers team. Well see that same fight this week in K.C. The fact that the Chiefs cannot score the football plays right into the hands of Titans backers here. Tennessee is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 on the road vs. teams scoring less than 17ppg. The Chiefs are just 2-5 at home this season and 1-5 ATS in home games. Well lay the points here.
Al DeMarco
Sunday's Pick
100 Dime - Cowboys
Arthur Ralph
Superpick
Green Bay Packers
Ken Jenkins
3 units GB/STL over
3 units Tenn
3 units AZ/NO ove
The Pres
5 units GB/ Stl over
3 units No/ AZ over
3 units NO
3 units TB/Atl under
3 units Philly
3 units PH/Dal over
3 units NYG/Wash under
OC DOOLEY
4* CAROLINA
3* PHI/DALLAS UNDER
2* ST LOUIS
2* BUFFALO
2* NEW ENGLAND
Kelso
50* Clev
10* Indy
5* Philly
3* Under Clev
ATS LOCK
5 Giants -4
5 Over 48 1/2 Arizona
4 Baltimore -3
4 Indy -10
Hoops
4 L Monroe -9
3 Old Dominion -2
Charlies Sports
Oakland+10' (500* )
Jets+21 (30*)
Cleveland-5' (20*)
Miami+3' (20*)
Carolina+7 (10*)
Tennessee-4 (10*) free play
cokin 3* vtech hat: illst sy"ballst pass nba nfl: 3* sd hat: seatt wind: az tto: bills un
feist: 5* tenntech ic: unc pl: ballst nba: 5* l;akers ic: port tot: port ov nfl: 5* bills un ic: jax un pl: sea,tb pb: tenn tot: jets un
scotty: 5* unc tko: illst nba: tko: port nfl: 5* sd tko: wash,jax ko: clev 10* phil un 5* gb ov
MIKE LINEBACK
5* New York Jets Spread +21.5 for Game -120 (1/2 pt. buy)
4.5* Jacksonville Total Points UNDER 35.5 for Game -101
4* Jacksonville Jaguars Spread +3.5 for Game -125
4* Buffalo Total Points UNDER 37.5 for Game -115
Rain, Snow & high winds are involved in all our
games. As a result, games should be decided on the ground. More punts vs. field goals because wind will take many field goal attempts out of picture.Hence, more 4th down attempts should/will be attempted for first downs. In turn, eating up more of the clock. Red zone efficiency for allteams’ should be negatively effected. Twenty-one points in any NFL contest is obscene, yet alone a rivalry game, with familiar personnel and coaching with adverse weather conditions to boot. Regardless of Pats motivations, the Jets still have some pride and will line up and give it their best shot. In addition, there is still a lot of pressure on New England to sustain their undefeated season. I would be shocked if NE covers this number on Sunday. As always, best of luck…
LENNY 20* STEVENS
20 star pittsburgh
20 star carolina
10 star atlanta
10 star baltimore
Insider Sports Report
4* Seattle -7.5 over Carolina (NFL)
4* N.Y. Giants -4.5 over Washington (NFL)
3* Green Bay/St. Louis (NFL) OVER 44.5
3* Jacksonville +3.5 over Pittsburgh (NFL)
Rainman/Allstar Sports
5* San Diego
3* Tampa Bay
3* Pitt
1* Green Bay