Michael Cannon
NY Jets at BUFFALO -5'
Take the Bills as the home chalk over the Jets.
Buffalo let me and my paying clients down last Sunday when they fell to the Dolphins, but I’m climbing back on them at home over the Jets.
The Bills have the better offense, defense and special teams, so there’s no real secret why I’m backing them. Trent Edwards can and will manage this game after suffering a spate of late turnovers in last week’s loss.
Speaking of turnovers, the Jets’ Brett Favre looks like he’s returning to his pre-2007 form after tossing three picks last week against the Chiefs. Anyone who watched that game knows the Jets didn’t deserve to win, but they managed to pull it out in the last minute against one of the sorriest teams in the league. At home no less.
The Bills are on a 3-0 SUATS run in this series and are 7-2 ATS in the last nine matchups, including 4-1 ATS at home. Buffalo is also on overall ATS runs of 4-0 after a non-cover, 4-1 after a SU loss, 14-4 on turf, 12-4 at home and 7-2 as a division home chalk.
The Jets are in ATS slides of 1-4 against the AFC, 2-7 after a SU win and 2-6 on turf.
Look for Favre to have another turnover-filled game while the Bills tighten it up at home.
Take Buffalo minus the points.
3♦ BUFFALO
Green Bay at TENNESSEE -4
Take the Titans as the home chalk this afternoon over the Packers.
I keep waiting for the linemaker to adjust and install the Titans as a heavier chalk, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Tennessee is on an incredible 7-0 SUATS run this year, and at this price today that record looks to remain intact.
Green Bay has had trouble stopping the run this year, and that’s the Titans MO. LenDale White and Chris Johnson pace the Titans ground game, and Kerry Collins has directed an efficient, if unspectacular, passing game.
Tennessee also gets after it on defense, and with the pressure they’re capable of bringing I don’t see how the Packers are going to stay within the number.
The SU winner is 15-1-1 ATS in Tennessee’s last 17 games and 24-0-1 in Green Bay’s last 25 contests going back to the 2007 season-opener.
As the last undefeated team in the NFL, the Titans are playing for that as much as they are the top seed in the AFC.
Take Tennessee minus the points as they grab the home win and cover.
3♦ TENNESSEE
Tony Mathews
Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Houston/Minnesota Over 47
Houston’s offense has been pumping out points in their last 5 games with at least 27. QB Matt Schaub has shown some of his best performances and proved his excellent skill capacity lately. Andre Johnson has been the best wide receiver in the last 4 games, brining in 41 passes for 593 yards during that period.
Minnesota has a good chance of losing their best right defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams who might be suspended for steroid use. Houston running back Steve Slaton has been exceptional for the Texans and if the Williams brothers aren’t in the game he’ll have plenty more room to run. Minnesota has already lost their key linebacker E.J. Henderson to injury.
Despite these nice advantages for the Texans, their defense is weak especially in the secondary. This is good news for Vikings QB Gus Frerotte who has proved to be more valuable than what was first thought. In the past few weeks, Freotte threw for a minimum of 220 yards and wide receiver Bernard Berrian is an excellent target. The value of running back Adrian Peterson to the Vikings is obvious. Peterson, the National Football Conference’s premier runner, will be too much to handle for the Houston.
In 8 of their last 9 games, the Texans have gone ‘over’, and this week’s dome atmosphere with its artificial turf only makes things better for Houston’s scoring potential.
Take the Houston Texans/Minnesota Vikings Over 47