Spears NFL MNF

[Spearit]

I had a nice weekend and decided to share my thoughts on the games tonight.


Teaser Time

Minny/Wash Over 28.5
San Diego +4

Most of the public is not very high on Wash since Portis went down but actually he will play tonight after all. Backup role - whatever- but he will be on the field. Minny on the other hand may be a sleeper this year. However, the public has been all over Minny driving the price on Wash from -7 to -4.5. Minny looked good in the preseason and Wash did not. Home teams were like 4-10 yesterday and dogs ruled just as well.
Generally- Monday create an adverse angle on such games that were on Sunday night as memory serves me.
Yes Minny looked good at the end of last year and in the pre-season and I really want to say they will exorcise a few demons tonight. But that is not the way I believe it unfolds.
Brunell wants to spread the ball tonight and Wash must stop Minny's defensive line presence. I believe Wash has some weapons and will come to play. Minny has Brad Johnson and both QB's have the best ratings against an interception occurring. So the first part of a tease is Over 28.5.

In the game at Oakland, I see Phillip Rivers in his debut with a fine supporting cast. Moss lines up for the Raiders. I see a game with emphasis on offense 34-24. Raiders have been SD bitch so lets take SD. Oakland having loss ATS last 4 times facing SD.

[yuri]

Thanks Spear. Good luck as always!

[keawe]

Goodluck today Spear!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lsufan]

Good Luck Spearit

[moondog22]

best of luck Spearit

[longnex]

good luck

[BillMill71]

Good Luck Spear

[Pitt37]

Looks Solid!!!

I love teasers!!!

GL

[vondie]

GL spear...i'm begining to think teasers are the only way to win in the nfl....nail those winners tonight

[Tinman1960]

Nice Write Up Spear Thanks

[Kaptain]

gl Spearit---kapt

[Dennis14072]

gl spearit!

[***THA FIX***]

Good Luck!!!

[zeib10]

Good luck Spear

[Spearit]

Mnf #2

MNF Jags and Steelers.
I am of course a big Jags fan. I stay away from hype and care not what the public is on- however, the games were ruled on Sunday by the high percentages on the teams. Squares and sharps all ruled---Vegas lost big.

I am 1-0 on last weeks winner. In this game tonight, I am playing the following:

Jax/Pitt Under 18.5 (First Half) -
This line may change to higher total -if Roth is guaranteed to play------so wait for the bettor line.

Jacksonville is 2-0 in its last 2 games with Pitt but Roth was missing from on. Roth has a lot of heart but Jax hits hard coming from Del Rio's school of hard knocks. Mike Tice (former Minny Coach) joins our Offensive machine now and Leftwich
always starts slow and even with emphasis this year to get out of the box early by the Jags- Pitt will grind this game on both lines. I believe Pitt has targeted Leftwich and Fred Taylor to constantly be harassed and cover downfield against Williams and Matt Jones.

Note: Last week- Dallas QB Drew Bledsomuch was horrific and it wasn't due to the Jags as much as he just sucked. Though I can not bet against my Jags - they are not in a very good health state right now. I also do not believe the Steelers are the team they were last year either- but defense rules- and the Jags are hurtin'.

Pittsburgh always emphasizes the run under Cowher. They don't have Jerome Bettis to punish and wear down defenses anymore, Willie Parker showed he could handle an increased workload in the Miami game. He is a speedy back that carried the ball a career-high 29 times for 115 yards, many of them coming in the second half. Parker runs behind an offensive line that is good and is led by perennial All-Pro left guard Alan Faneca.

Jacksonville's defense is anchored by one of the league's best tackle tandems in John Henderson (70 tackles, 3 sacks in '05) and Marcus Stroud (42 tackles, 1 sack in '05), although Stroud has been hobbled by a sprained right ankle which limited his playing time last week. The duo enables underrated middle linebacker Mike Peterson (131 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 INT in '05) to roam freely and make plays. The Jags held Pittsburgh to 73 rushing yards in last year's meeting, although Roethlisberger did not play because of a knee injury and the passing game suffered greatly with the departed Tommy Maddox at the helm.

The Jaguars finished seventh in the NFL in passing yards allowed (184.1) last season and picked off embattled Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe three times in Week 1. A quality secondary is headlined by outstanding corner Rashean Mathis (6 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PD last week), who was the hero of last year's meeting when he intercepted an ill-advised Maddox pass and raced 41 yards for a game- ending touchdown. Emerging free safety Deon Grant also had a pair of pass breakups against the Cowboys. Jacksonville did suffer a significant loss along the defensive line last week, as end Reggie Hayward (33 tackles, 8.5 sacks in '05), the team's best pass rusher, suffered a season-ending rupture of his Achilles' tendon. Versatile veteran Rob Meier (35 tackles, 6 sacks) should be able to fill in capably, but Hayward's injury seriously compromises the team's depth. Opposite end Paul Spicer (37 tackles, 7.5 sacks) is also suffering from a strained groin and is questionable for Sunday.

Pittsburgh was able to move the ball effectively through the air against Miami, but the Steelers still haven't developed a proven second wideout opposite the ultra-reliable Hines Ward (5 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD last week).

Second-year tight end Heath Miller (3 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD last week) is quickly becoming the team's second option and had a game-changing 87-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the win over the Dolphins. However, the Steelers need to get more production from Cedrick Wilson and rookie Santonio Holmes, who combined for just one catch for six yards in Week 1, for the offense to operate at peak efficiency.

Jacksonville isn't a team that puts up eye-popping numbers on offense, but it's an efficient group that seems to get the job done more often than not.

Quarterback Byron Leftwich (23-of-34, 237 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT last week) is a lot like Roethlisberger, and not just because both came out of the Mid American Conference. Neither dazzles fantasy owners with stats, but they are extremely efficient signal-callers who know how to win. The Jags don't have a superstar receiver either, although 2005 first-round pick Matt Jones (5 catches, 71 yards last week) appears to be inching closer towards big-time status. Reggie Williams, a former No. 1 pick as well, helped keep the chains moving versus Dallas with six catches for 47 yards, including a key six-yard touchdown grab in the final seconds of the second half. That could be a sign the third-year pro is finally turning the corner after back-to-back disappointing seasons.

Leftwich's success last week was aided by a good performance by his offensive linemates, who yielded just one Dallas sack. If they can do the same against a Steelers' unit which is one of the best pass-rushing teams in the NFL, the Jags stand a good chance of victory. It's a task easier said than done, however, against defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's blitz-happy scheme.

Outspoken outside backer Joey Porter backed up his big talk with a monster game in the opener, coming up with two sacks along with a game-sealing 42-yard interception return for a touchdown. That was one of two Pittsburgh picks of Miami quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who did manage 262 yards despite completing just 18-of-37 throws.

However, Pittsburgh's forte on the defensive side of the ball is stopping the run, and not many teams do it better. The Steelers ranked third in rushing yards allowed (86.0 ypg) last season and bottled up the Dolphins' Ronnie Brown, who mustered just 30 yards on 15 carries, in the opener. Nose tackle Casey Hampton (42 tackles) is one of the best at his position and no defensive back supports the run any better than All-Pro Troy Polamalu, who had 10 tackles, an interception and forced a fumble against Miami. Inside linebackers James Farrior (7 tackles, 1 sack last week) and Larry Foote (101 tackles, 3 sacks) specialize in stuffing opposing backs.

Jacksonville had just 78 yards on the ground and averaged a paltry 2.4 yards per rush against the Cowboys' 3-4. Del Rio, who values a strong run game, would certainly like to see those numbers improve. Veteran Fred Taylor was unspectacular yet somewhat effective versus Dallas, producing 74 yards on 21 carries and scoring a five-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars did rank 10th in the league with an average of 122.4 rushing yards per game last year.

Good Luck and play the first half under and enjoy the game.
Plaese note that Leftwich came alive and stepped up his play in the second quarter against Dallas- one quarter earlier than last year. I am still hanging with the defense, field management and field goals.