Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on New York Jets -3.5
Off a blowout loss to Denver as a big favorite, I like the Jets to bounce back this week against the lowly 49ers. The Jets are a solid 4-2 SU and ATS on the road this season while the 49ers are just 2-4 SU and ATS at home. Plays on road favorites; good rushing team (125-150 ry/g) against an average rushing defense (95-125 ry/g) after 8+ games are 24-6 ATS the last 5 seasons. The Jets are 8-1 ATS after a loss by 10 or more points over the last 3 seasons and 6-0 ATS in road games in December games over the last 3 seasons. The 49ers are only 1-8 ATS vs. good offenses scoring >=24 PPG over the L3 seasons. San Fran will not be able to keep up on the offensive side of the football against a Jets team in a big bounce back spot. Lay the number.
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Arizona Cardinals -14
Off back-to-back losses and with an extra few days to prepare, I like the Cards to blow the Rams out of the water on their home field. Arizona is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in division games this season while the Rams are 0-3 SU and ATS. Arizona won at St. Louis by 21 points early in November and will win by at least as many in this bounce back spot. St. Louis is just 3-14 ATS in road games vs. good offensive teams - scoring 24 or more points/game since 1992, losing these games by an average score of 15.9 to 33.0. Lay the number.
John Fina
Selection: Minnesota Vikings -10.5
Reason: Put us donw on the Minnesota Vikings -10.5 for our Free NFL Selection on Sunday. The notion that the Detroit Lions could actually go 0-16 this season was at first a joke, but it is now looking like the winless team that is 0-12 as of Thanksgiving Day has nothing to be thankful for and the half hearted gaffe could become a reality. The loss to the Titans on Nov. 27th was a mortifying defeat for Detroit, losing 47-10 in front of the entire country. The Lions allowed Tennessee 292 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground as Detroit was simply unable to stop the run. The Lions offense was just as bad, being shown up by the opponents defense which managed to nearly outscore them. While Detroit is looking like a lost cause to say the least, the Minnesota Vikings fall at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Vikings managed to pull ahead of the rest of the division teams with a victory over Chicago by 20 points. That Victory put Minnesota in a one game lead in the division, with the Lions matchup this week and then Arizona, the Falcons, and the Giants remaining. In light of that schedule, it is obvious that this weekend’s game against Detroit is going to be the least pressured. This is also good timing for the Vikings since they may very well be without Pat and Kevin Williams. The Williams brothers were integral to the defensive line with Kevin having 8 ½ sacks and 48 tackles and Pat with a record of 1 sack and 38 tackles over 12 games. The return of these two is uncertain, pending a full hearing regarding accusations of drug use. Viking QB Gus Frerotte, who has bounced back unexpectedly to start 3-0 against Detroit, has won all but 3 of his 10 starts so far this season. The Viking offense in general has had a successful history against Detroit, including RB Adrian Petersons who is looking to secure a third consecutive game vs. the Lions with 100 or more rushing yards. In his last two, Peterson has an average of 113.5. Overall, Peterson has rushed for 859 yards and six touchdowns in his last 7 games. Peterson is also the leagues’ best, with an average of 102 rushing yards per game since he began his NFL career in the ‘07 season. Over twelve games, Peterson has 1,311 yards over 12 games which gives him the honor of the NFL’s lead running back. RB Chester Taylor rushed for 123 yards against Detroit and has had 2 TDs in his last two games. Another NFL record belongs to a Viking where WO Bernard Berrian is tied in a 99 scoring catch. Berrian has had 20 touchdown passes in his career, with 14 of 20 of those catches being by at least 30 yards. The last time Berrian rivaled Minnesota, he caught five passes at a career high of 131 yards and a score. What it all comes down to is that considering Detroit’s abysmal season and the Vikings upward momentum, losing to a 0-12 team would put Brad Childress in a very bad spot if Minnesota fails to win this. The Vikings are very close to winning the division and going to the playoffs, so losing to this team would be devastating on so many levels. When all is said and done, Minnesota should be able to get a blowout win today! Take the Minnesota Vikings -10.5!
Rob Homyak
5 units Arizona Cardinals
Arizona comes into this game with 3 days extra rest. St. Louis is 0-5 ATS in div play. St. Louis hasn't scored more than 16 in its last 6 games. Arizona need one more win to clinch NFC West. Arizona has won the last four games between the teams by a combined 150-83 score.Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.Cardinals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC West.Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.Rams are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 vs. NFC.Rams are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games on grass.Rams are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC West.Rams are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings.Road team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
ATS Lock Club
6 units Jets -3.5
5 units Baltimore -5
4 units Pats -6.5
4 units Green Bay -5.5