Sports Gambling Hotline
Philadelphia -4 at WASHINGTON
Hard for us to make a case againt the still-alive for a playoff spot Eagles, as the take on the going nowhere Redskins.
Philadelphia sports a 3 game win, and cover streak as they head to D.C., while Washington has lost their last 3, and 5 of their last 6, going 0-5-1 against the spread along the way!
The Redskins offense has faltered mightily during their slide, as they have been held to 20-points or less in their last 6 games.
Philly has a score to settle here, as they were up 14-0 on Week 5 of the season, but wound up losing at home, 23-17 in a game that saw Brian Westbrook exit with injury.
The Eagles last 3 wins have all come by double-digits, and of their 8 wins this season, 6 of them have come by double-digits.
We have no issue laying the road wood with the Eagles as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Play on the Philly Birds minus the points.
5♦ PHILADELPHIA
Karl Garrett
New Orleans at DETROIT
It is very rare when the G-Man releases a NFL total, but that is exactly what I am going to do today, as I believe we are going to see a "sandlot slugfest" break out at Ford Field this afternoon.
New Orleans' playoff hopes were dashed in their Thursday night loss at Chicago last time out, but that hasn't stopped them from piling up the points in droves, as New Orleans has dented the dish for 24-points or better in 4 of their last 5 games, and 11 of their 14 games overall this season.
Not surprisingly, the Saints have gone OVER the total to a tune of 22-10-1 their last 33 games.
Detroit has the prospect of an 0-16 season staring them straight in the face, but their offense has been respectable of late, and the Lions have gone HIGH in 6 of their last 7 games this year.
Look for the points to pile up here. Play the OVER in New Orleans-Detroit on Sunday afternoon.
3♦ OVER
Chris Jordan
Houston -7 at OAKLAND
Let’s side with a Texans team that is closing the season by making a statement it could be the AFC’s surprise team in 2009.
Winners of four in a row on the field and five straight versus the oddsmakers, the Texans have rebounded from a horrendous 0-4 start to win seven of their last 10 games. Since they’ve won at Oakland each of the last two years – when, ahem, they weren’t even as close to being as good as they are now – I see no problem in siding with them minus the points.
Rookie Steve Slaton has ignited a running game now ranked 11th in the league at 116.4 yards a game. Overall, Houston's offense is ranked third in the league with an average of 381 yards a game. Wide receiver Andre Johnson has also become a feared playmaker as he leads the AFC leader in both catches (103) and receiving yardage (1,408). Take all those numbers and put them up against a putrid Oakland defense that's allowed an average of 34.3 points in three consecutive losses.
The Raiders have covered just 15 of their last 52 December outings and are 1-5 ATS as a home dog this season. The Texans have a great shot at finishing the year at 9-7 so I’m going to bank on a blowout win by the road team that should have no trouble getting it done by double digits.
3♦ TEXANS
Bobby Maxwell
New Orleans at DETROIT +7
This is pretty much it for the Lions. They are in their home finale and they are playing a Saints' squad that has nothing to play for and is missing the electric Reggie Bush. We'll grab the points and play Detroit in this one and hope they win it outright to avoid NFL history.
We don't expect the Lions to put up much of a fight in next week's season-ender in Green Bay, so they need to put it all on the line tonight. They've played much better of late including a 31-21 loss at Indianapolis last week when they were tied at 21-21 with about 10 minutes to play. QB Dan Orlovsky threw for 233 yards and a TD in the loss, but more importantly he didn't turn the ball over which kept them in the game.
The Saints are 1-6 on the road this season and last week's 27-24 OT loss in Chicago was the nail in the coffin that ended their season. and now this week they were told that Bush will be out the remainder of the season. And looking at QB Drew Brees, his numbers on the road are much different than at home. He's thrown for nine TDs and 12 INTs on the highway as opposed to 19 TDs and just four INTs at home.
It boils down to pride. And you've seen the Lions playing with a lot more heart the last few weeks as they try to avoid history. They don't want to go in the record books as the only team to not win a game in a 16-game season. Look for them to fight to the finish in this one. Grab the points with the Lions.
2♦ DETROIT
Troy -4' vs. Southern Miss, at New Orleans
Tonight we're at the Superdome in New Orleans for a play on Troy as the Trojans take on Southern Miss. in the New Orleans Bowl.
We will gladly lay the chalk with Troy in this one as the Trojans are going to blow out Southern Miss. Honestly the Golden Eagles don't belong in the postseason and they are lucky to still be playing. Tonight they get stomped by Troy.
Southern Miss was 2-6 and then rattled off four straight wins. They were allowing 35.8 points per game and had just lost five in a row. Then they started to play a little defense and won four straight and allowed just 35 points the final four games.
But Troy is a legit football program. They outscored their opponents 83-12 in their final two games and they had a 31-3 lead at LSU earlier this season before falling apart and giving up 37 points in the final 16 minutes and losing 40-31 to the Tigers as 16-point road 'dogs.
The Trojans won the Sun Belt Conference for the first time in school history and won six of their final eight games. Troy is on positive ATS streaks of 20-8 overall, 11-5 as a favorite and 12-4 after a straight-up win. Meanwhile Southern Miss. is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 as a pup.
Troy has got the offense to make this one a laugher. They have outgained their opponents in each of their last eight and will roll up the yards today. Sit back and enjoy this easy winner. Play the Trojans.
4♦ TROY
Jeff Benton
I hit my first freebie of the bowl season Saturday, as Colorado State rallied to upset Fresno State. I’m now on a 17-7 roll with free plays over the past 24 days, and that includes a 6-1 roll with NFL complimentary plays. Let’s improve both of those numbers on Sunday, as we’ll play the Titans-Steelers game UNDER the total.
Obviously, there’s not a whole lot of room for error here, as this total is about as low as you can possibly go. But given the way both of these teams play defense, given the cold weather that’s in the forecast and given the importance of this game – the winner gets the #1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs – I can’t envision any scenario in which either squad scores more than 17 points.
Pittsburgh has the NFL’s top-ranked defense across the board, as no team has given up fewer points (13.7 per game), total yards (238.7 per game), passing yards (163 per game) and rushing yards (75.8 per game) than the Steelers. Meanwhile, the Titans yield just 14.1 points and 281 total yards per game (187.6 passing ypg). What’s more, the Steelers surrender an average of just 3.2 rushing yards per carry and 4.7 yards per pass attempt, with Tennessee allowing 3.7 ypc and 5.3 yards per pass attempt.
The Titans have held 12 of their 14 opponents to 17 points or less, and they’ve given up 14 or fewer 10 times, including each of the last three weeks (13, 9 and 10) and five of the last six. As for the Steelers, their last five opponents have scored 10, 10, 10, 13 and 9 points – and that includes three offensively prolific foes in the Chargers, Patriots and Cowboys.
Much like the Steelers’ game at Baltimore last week (13-9 final), this one smells like a low-scoring, ball-control, very physical game to me. Play it UNDER the total.
4♦ Steelers-Titans UNDER the total
Scott Delaney
There are no hungry Lions in the NFL jungle this season, it's that simple. I don't want to hear anything about Detroit out for that first win, and being motivated to finish the season with at least one victory.
It won't happen against the Saints and Drew Brees, who is having a great season thus far with 4,332 yards and 28 touchdowns. New Orleans is averaging just over 400 yards a game on offense, and has scored 390 points on the season - 150 more than the Lions offense. That's huge.
So how anyone can honestly believe the Lions can keep up with this high-octance offense is beyond me.
Think about it: Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Jeremy Shockey out in the flat, then there's Pierre Thomas, who has had a fine season and seems to have control out of the backfield now that Reggie Bush is done. I'm sorry, but I don't see how the Saints offense will be stopped.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Matt Rivers
For Sunday take the home dog Seahawks.
How can anybody back the Jets in this spot Sure New York is playing for the AFC East and the Seahawks have been horrific this season but Eric Mangini's squad has been atrocious out west this season at 0-3 and I really don't know why things will change today. Therefore laying this number all the way across the country once again is just silly.
The Jets were blasted in San Diego earlier in the season and then somehow lost to the dismal Raiders in the Black Hole. Then just a few weeks ago the men in green were awful once again in a defeat against a 49er team led by Shaun Hill. San Francisco even lost Frank Gore to an injury in that game and Brett Favre and the visitors still couldn't take advantage.
Sure Mike Holmgren's Seahawks have been horrible this season and are banged up once again here as Seneca Wallace will start instead of Matt Hasselback but Seattle proved they haven't fully quit with that comeback win in St. Louis last week and at home should be just fine here riding that win.
There is no doubt that the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets are the far more talented team with many more Pro Bowlers but for them to be laying a field goal plus in the Great Northwest against an athletic Quarterback is just too much.
If Favre and Jones and Cotchery and Coles and the rest of the talented visitors show up and play like they did in the wins in New England and Tennessee then certainly New York could get that first win out West but with all of the pressure on them as the Dolphins and Patriots are right there at the top of the division I am all about this home dog and expect history to repeat itself in another poor West Coast performance.
Jake Timlin
Your Sunday selection is the Miami Dolphins.
Clearly the better team and one that is still alive for the postseason I like the Dolphins in a statement game. I mean given that Miami must win today and who has won 7 of their last 8 games to even be in the playoff hunt I don’t see the Dolphins losing today. Not to a Kansas City team that lost 21 of their last 23 games and who is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 game at home. So while the Ravens win last night hurts Miami’s playoff chances lets be honest the only way Miami is was making the postseason is if they win their division by winning out. Well after Miami wins by at least a touchdown today the Dolphins will be half way there. Flat out Miami has more to play for and with that I like the Dolphins minus the points.
Tony Weston
Detroit is chasing history and is sitting at 0-14 SU, but is a decent 6-8 ATS this season, While the Lions are trying to avoid an 0-16 SU mark, they’ve been playing tough the last few weeks and were close to getting over on the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago, losing 20-16, but covering as a 10 1/2 point underdog.
Last week the Lions battled from 14-3 down and then from 21-10 down to tie up their contest against the Colts and were sitting at 21-21 with less than 9 minutes to play. But Detroit couldn’t close the game and lost 31-21 as a 16 1/2 point underdog.
Now the Lions battle a New Orleans Saints team that’s only 3-3-1 ATS on the road this season and has been outscored by an average of 28.1-22.4 points per game. Also, over their last five games on the road the Saints have gone 1-4 SU and 2-2-1 ATS.
The Lions will continue to battle until the end and keep this one close. Take the points and take the Lions at home today.
3♦ LIONS
Nostradamus
Troy St -4.5
Atlanta -3.5
Pittsburgh -2
Miami -3.5
SF/ST Lou Over 42
Tampa Bay -3.5
Minnesota -3
Brian Sherwood
DETROIT +7 over New Orleans
The Saints absolutely don’t want to be the only team that loses to the Lions this year but Detroit wants to win a lot more then New Orleans doesn’t want to lose. In fact, members of the 1976 Bucs (the 0-14 ’76 Bucs) have called some of the Lions and told them that if they go 0-16 they will never live it down and that it will stay with them forever. Some of those winless players went on to go as far as saying that they were embarrassed to go out in public. If the Lions lose this game and subsequently lose to the Packers in Green Bay next week, the 2008 Lions will be headed to the Football Hall of Fame and that’s a distinction that they absolutely do not want. The Saints were officially eliminated last week from playoff contention and besides that they’re one of the worst traveling teams in the league. After all that NFL teams go through in the course of a season and then to be eliminated it has to be tough to get up for a game like this one. Should the Saints lose, it’ll be forgotten real soon. Should the Lions lose go winless, it’ll never be forgotten and that alone will have this team playing their hearts out. The Lions want this one more then they want the Super Bowl. Also, Reggie Bush will not go and the Saints defense is a complete mess. Remember, the Lions pushed the Colts to the brink last week in Indy and they’ll absolutely compete here. Play: Detroit +7 (Risking 2.08 units to win 2).
WASHINGTON +5 over Philadelphia
It’s definitely not going to be easy to pull the trigger on the Skins here, as their stock has crumpled to a season low. In fact, of all the teams in the NFL, nobody’s stock has fallen quicker. By contrast, the Eagles stock has dramatically risen over the past month and wagering on the NFL is all about picking the right spot. So, what we have here is an Eagles team that is at its season high point playing against a Skins team that is at its season low point. I’ve said it a million times over and it’s worth repeating that the absolute worst time to bet on a team is when everyone else is on them too and their stock is high. This one is twofold in that everyone is also betting against Washington right now too and that makes this one doubly dangerous. The books were fully aware that they were going to get overloaded with Philly money and they came out with a very appealing line for Eagle backer. Also note that the whole world saw the Eagles crush the Brownies on Monday night and that, too, has added to the appeal of the Eagles. A Skins team that lost to Cincinnati last week and that can’t move five yards on anyone has no appeal whatsoever and this is a classic case of the oddsmakers trapping you into playing the wrong side. I’m urging you to lay off the Eagles this week. Wait til Sunday to bet this one cause we’ll likely get six points and I’ll update it Sunday morning. Play: Washington +5 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
Carolina +3 +1.05 over NY
This is a case of one team getting too much credit while nobody believes in the other team despite the great roll they’re on to go along with a great record. Let’s start with the Panthers. They’ve been playing under the radar the whole season and it might surprise you to know that they’ve won seven of their last eight games. They’ve suddenly become one of the more potent offenses in the game and that’s due to a running game (DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart have combined for 1,980 yards and 23 rushing TDs so far this season) that is as powerful as any out there and then some. Playing a December game in New York fits right into that deadly running attack and you can be damn sure they’ll pound the ball on the ground all day. The Panthers have scored 30 or more in five of those eight games and the defense is beginning to pick it up too. Carolina held the Broncos to 10 lousy points last week in another romp. As for the Giants, well, they’re way out of sorts and Eli Manning has taken giant leaps backwards. Brandon Jacobs is hurting bad and although he may go he ios just not the same either. The Giants have dropped two straight to Philly and Dallas and those were games they wanted desperately yet they fell way short in both. The Giants had a great run indeed and everyone is expecting them to snap out of now. However, it’s not a light-switch we’re talking about that can be turned on at any time, as the Giants have found out the last couple of weeks. The Giants are considered a great team indeed, perhaps the best in the business and I would have agreed with that three weeks ago. However, things change quickly in this league, just ask the Cowboys, Redskins, Falcons, Dolphins, Seahawks and Eagles and right now the Giants are just not that same dominant team, not even close. Play: Carolina +3 +1.05 (Risking 2 units).
RANDALL THE HANDLE'S NFL SELECTIONS
THE BEST
49ers @ Rams
Line: San Francisco by 5 ½
The Rams are bad. If they could, Iraqi journalists would throw shoes at them. A horrendous season finds them playing out the string to a forgettable campaign. That said, the visiting Niners are hardly worthy of being road favourite’s here. San Francisco’s recent covers have been while taking points, not spotting them. Rams have a healthy running back, the 49ers do not. This is St. Louis’ final home game and they get a chance to exit on a positive while redeeming earlier loss to Niners.
TAKING: St. Louis +5 ½
RISKING: 2.16 units to win 2
Steelers @ Titans
Line: Pittsburgh by 1 ½
Other teams might find the grueling schedule that Pittsburgh has endured lately to be too arduous. Not the Steelers though. They thrive on it. Bring on the Titans. Bring on an overrated opponent that remains the only obstacle standing between the Black and Gold hosting all playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl. Bring on a team that relies on defence without two of its main components, as both Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth will miss this one.
TAKING: Pittsburgh –1 ½ -1.17
RISKING: 2.34 units to win 2
Bengals @ Browns
Line: Cleveland by 3
Both teams require a GPS to find the end zone but at least the Bengals have some able bodied personnel. The Browns do not. Cleveland is down to a 3rd string quarterback, is missing its best receiver, has seen the injury bug make its way to the defence and are guided by a sitting duck coach. Cincinnati has displayed some fight with its best football coming against the rugged NFC East, including upset win over Redskins last week. This sorry host cannot be a favourite.
TAKING: Cincinnati +3 -1.18
RISKING: 2.36 units to win 2
DUNKEL
Detroit at Atlanta
The Pistons look to take advantage of an Atlanta team that is just 4-7 ATS as a favorite. Detroit is the underdog pick (+4) according to Dunkel, which has the Hawks favored by only 1. Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+4).
Game 501-502: Detroit at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 119.656; Atlanta 120.503
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 1; 184 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 4; 186
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+4); Under
Game 503-504: New York at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: New York 119.220; Boston 132.654
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 13 1/2; 206 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Boston by 14 1/2; 209
Dunkel Pick: New York (+14 1/2); Under
Game 505-506: Dallas at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 120.363; Washington 113.106
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 7; 205
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 6; 200
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-6); Over
Game 507-508: Cleveland at Oklahoma City
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 127.115; Oklahoma City 115.292
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 12; 196
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 13 1/2; 191 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (+13 1/2); Over
NCAAB
Clemson at Miami (FL)
The undefeated Tigers (11-0) face a tough road test against a Miami team that is 15-8 ATS over the last three seasons as a favorite. The Hurricanes are the pick (-3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has Miami favored by 6. Dunkel Pick: Miami (FL) (-3 1/2).
Game 509-510: Youngstown State at NC Charlotte
Dunkel Ratings: Youngstown State 47.006; NC Charlotte 62.013
Dunkel Line: Charlotte by 15
Vegas Line: Charlotte by 17
Dunkel Pick: Youngstown State (+17)
Game 511-512: Pittsburgh at Florida State
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 76.474; Florida State 65.137
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 11
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh by 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-7 1/2)
Game 513-514: Clemson at Miami (FL)
Dunkel Ratings: Clemson 69.358; Miami (FL) 75.022
Dunkel Line: Miami (FL) by 6
Vegas Line: Miami (FL) by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (FL) (-3 1/2)
Game 515-516: Washington State at Idaho
Dunkel Ratings: Washington State 67.117; Idaho 58.736
Dunkel Line: Washington State by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 517-518: Marist vs. Columbia
Dunkel Ratings: Marist 49.539; Columbia 45.967
Dunkel Line: Marist by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 519-520: Virginia Tech at St. John's
Dunkel Ratings: Virginia Tech 63.598; St. John's 64.238
Dunkel Line: St. John's by 1
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 521-522: Murray State vs. Oral Roberts
Dunkel Ratings: Murray State 53.808; Oral Roberts 53.119
Dunkel Line: Murray State by 1
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 523-524: Wright State vs. South Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Wright State 54.113; South Florida 56.834
Dunkel Line: South Florida by 3
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 525-526: Norfolk State vs. Middle Tennessee State
Dunkel Ratings: Norfolk State 37.085; Middle Tennessee State 56.519
Dunkel Line: Middle Tennessee State by 19 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 527-528: UC Irvine vs. Missouri State
Dunkel Ratings: UC Irvine 44.571; Missouri State 60.217
Dunkel Line: Missouri State by 15 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 529-530: Loyola-MD at UC Davis
Dunkel Ratings: Loyola-MD 44.637; UC Davis 54.112
Dunkel Line: UC Davis by 9 1/2
Vegas Line: UC Davis by 7
Dunkel Pick: UC Davis (-7)
NFL
Game 105-106: Pittsburgh at Tennessee
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 142.511; Tennessee 143.242
Dunkel Line: Tennessee by 1; 32 1/2
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh by 2 1/2; 34 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (+2 1/2); Under
Game 107-108: Miami at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 127.551; Kansas City 127.835
Dunkel Line: Even; 44
Vegas Line: Miami by 4; 40
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+4); Over
Game 109-110: Arizona at New England
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona 128.575; New England 137.396
Dunkel Line: New England by 9; 42
Vegas Line: New England by 7 1/2; 45
Dunkel Pick: New England (-7 1/2); Under
Game 111-112: Cincinnati at Cleveland
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 121.924; Cleveland 128.895
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 7; 29
Vegas Line: Cleveland by 3; 32
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-3); Under
Game 113-114: Philadelphia at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 135.569; Washington 132.188
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 3 1/2; 37
Vegas Line: Philadelphia by 5 1/2; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+5 1/2); Under
Game 115-116: San Francisco at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 124.976; St. Louis 120.819
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 4; 47
Vegas Line: San Francisco by 5 1/2; 43 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (+5 1/2); Over
Game 117-118: Atlanta at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 137.140; Minnesota 138.032
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1; 45
Vegas Line: Minnesota by 3 1/2; 43 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+3 1/2); Over
Game 119-120: New Orleans at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 129.495; Detroit 123.925
Dunkel Line: New Orleans by 5 1/2; 54
Vegas Line: New Orleans by 7; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+7); Over
Game 121-122: Carolina at NY Giants
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 139.532; NY Giants 141.733
Dunkel Line: NY Giants by 2; 32
Vegas Line: NY Giants by 3; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+3); Under
Game 123-124: NY Jets at Seattle
Dunkel Ratings: NY Jets 132.123; Seattle 128.613
Dunkel Line: NY Jets by 3 1/2; 42
Vegas Line: NY Jets by 5; 44
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+5); Under
Game 125-126: Houston at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 132.017; Oakland 127.975
Dunkel Line: Houston by 4; 41
Vegas Line: Houston by 7; 44
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+7); Under
Game 127-128: Buffalo at Denver
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 128.172; Denver 132.598
Dunkel Line: Denver by 4 1/2; 48
Vegas Line: Denver by 7; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+7); Over
Game 129-130: San Diego at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 132.154; Tampa Bay 138.776
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 6 1/2; 47
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay by 3; 43 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-3); Over
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22
Game 131-132: Green Bay at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Green Bay 129.413; Chicago 136.605
Dunkel Line: Chicago by 7; 38
Vegas Line: Chicago by 4; 41
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-4); Under
NCAAF
Game 209-210: Troy vs. Southern Mississippi
Dunkel Ratings: Troy 88.330; Southern Mississippi 82.456
Dunkel Line: Troy by 6; 44
Vegas Line: Troy by 4; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Troy (-4); Under
Tony George
Steelers -1
Without Haynesworth and Vandern Bosch on defesne, the Titans are not the same team. While I have been stymiede all year by the Steelers killing me on premium plays and winning ugly, they do find a way to win, and the Pro Bowl snub to Rothlesburger will have him wanting to make a statement. With the defense of the Steelers being better, in a big game, you simply have to take the better defense and go with a team here who is 6-1 on the road and the better defense and better QB in this matchup.
Jorge Gonzalez
Tampa Bay/San Diego Under 42 1/2
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been especially tough on defense this season at home with a record of 6-0. The main reason for the success there has been the play of their defense. The Buccaneers are giving up just 12.7 points per game. The last four straight home games for Tampa bay have gone under the number. The Chargers offense is just not the explosive offense it once was. The Chargers are averaging just 20.3 points of offense on the road this season. The defense has also stepped it up over the last three games giving up just 16.7 points per game. The Chargers are 5-0 under against teams with a winning record and 4-0 under after throwing for 250 or more yards in their previous game. The Chargers have done quite a bit of traveling this season and was in a similar situation when they play the Miami Dolphins 10 weeks a ago. The Chargers had to travel cross country and play an early game that they ended losing 17-10. Tampa Bay is a better team than Miami and is in the playoff hunt. Look for this to be a low scoring game.