NFLX HANDICAPPING TIP #6 – MOTIVATION BY SUPERIOR OPPONENT
Today’s NFLX Handicapping Tip is:
Play ON a team looking to prove themselves against a conference champion.
Depending somewhat on the personality of the respective coaches, last year’s conference champions are not generally good risks during the following preseason. It’s motivation. Champion players tend to regard preseason games as being nothing more than a necessary evil on the way to the “real†games. Their opponents, on the other hand, will have extra incentive to play well and win the game.
We picked our spot last year to fade the World Champion Patriots when we made the Giants a STAR SELECTION as a 6-point underdog at New England. The PRO INFO SPORTS GAMEDAY INVESTMENT e-LERT analysis included the following:
“Even the Giants reserves will be excited to prove themselves here against the champs…Last year, the Pats were in an identical situation, hosting their final preseason game 7 days before their home opener. They rested all starters and got beat 31-0 by the 4½-point underdog Jaguars. Just as Jacksonville showed up to compete with the Super Bowl winners, so should the G-men.â€
As Yogi Berra would say, “it was déjà vu all over again.†The underdog Giants spanked the Patriots, 27-3, as the money was in the bank by halftime of this game.