National Football League - Dunkel Index
NFL
Dunkel Index
San Francisco at Pittsburgh
The 49ers are hoping for their first 3-0 start since 1998, but face a difficult road through Pittsburgh. New coach Mike Tomlin has Pittsburgh looking more like the Super Bowl team of two years ago. The Steelers have allowed just 10 points this season -- 10 fewer than any other team in the league. Overall Pittsburgh is ranked third in total defense while holding opponents to just 222.0 yards per game. And the offense has been just as good, ranking in the top five in scoring (60 points) and rushing (195.0 yards per game). Willie Parker ranks third in the league in rushing (235 yards), including 126 against the Chiefs last weekend that pushed the Steelers' record to 14-1 when he tops the century mark. Keying on Parker hasn't helped, either, as QB Ben Roethlisberger has picked up five TD passes against only one INT, a reversal from last year's zero-TD, five-INT start. The Niners are fortunate to be 2-0 after close wins over Arizona and St. Louis in which the offense has struggled. That is likely to catch up to them on Sunday and makes the Steelers a good pick (-9) to cover according to Dunkel, which has Pittsburgh favored by 16. Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-9). Here are all of this week's picks.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Game 397-398: Indianapolis at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Indianapolis 139.397; Houston 136.458
Dunkel Line: Indianapolis by 3; 52
Vegas Line: Indianapolis by 7; 47 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+7); Over
Game 399-400: San Diego at Green Bay
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 134.277; Green Bay 135.053
Dunkel Line: Green Bay by 1; 49
Vegas Line: San Diego by 5 1/2; 43
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (+5 1/2); Over
Game 401-402: Minnesota at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 128.029; Kansas City 127.885
Dunkel Line: Even; 30
Vegas Line: Kansas City by 2 1/2; 33 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+2 1/2); Under
Game 403-404: Detroit at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 127.880; Philadelphia 129.978
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 2; 37
Vegas Line: Philadelphia by 7; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+7); Under
Game 405-406: Buffalo at New England
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 128.865; New England 142.566
Dunkel Line: New England by 14; 40
Vegas Line: New England by 17; 42
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+17); Under
Game 407-408: Miami at NY Jets
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 124.017; NY Jets 130.073
Dunkel Line: NY Jets by 6; 42
Vegas Line: NY Jets by 2 1/2; 35
Dunkel Pick: NY Jets (-2 1/2); Over
Game 409-410: San Francisco at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 124.439; Pittsburgh 140.319
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 16; 32
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh by 9; 38
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-9); Under
Game 411-412: Arizona at Baltimore
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona 124.960; Baltimore 131.851
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 7; 39
Vegas Line: Baltimore by 9; 35
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+9); Over
Game 413-414; St. Louis at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis 122.171; Tampa Bay 127.798
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 6; 44
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay by 3; 38
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-3); Over
Game 415-416: Jacksonville at Denver
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 131.755; Denver 131.879
Dunkel Line: Even; 30
Vegas Line: Denver by 3 1/2; 36
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (+3 1/2); Under
Game 417-418: Cincinnati at Seattle
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 132.394; Seattle 130.364
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 2; 56
Vegas Line: Seattle by 3 1/2; 50
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+3 1/2); Over
Game 419-420: Cleveland at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 121.871; Oakland 120.250
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1 1/2; 47
Vegas Line: Oakland by 3 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+3 1/2); Over
Game 421-422: Carolina at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 128.222; Atlanta 124.929
Dunkel Line: Carolina by 3; 39
Vegas Line: Carolina by 4; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+4); Over
Game 423-424: NY Giants at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 123.334; Washington 131.702
Dunkel Line: Washington by 8 1/2; 38
Vegas Line: Washington by 3 1/2; 40 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-3 1/2); Under
Game 425-426: Dallas at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 134.736; Chicago 134.948
Dunkel Line: Even; 45
Vegas Line: Chicago by 3; 41 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (+3); Over
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Game 427-428: Tennessee at New Orleans
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee 132.957; New Orleans 129.033
Dunkel Line: Tennessee by 4; 42
Vegas Line: New Orleans by 5; 45 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (+5); Under
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NFL
Dunkel Index
San Francisco at Pittsburgh
The 49ers are hoping for their first 3-0 start since 1998, but face a difficult road through Pittsburgh. New coach Mike Tomlin has Pittsburgh looking more like the Super Bowl team of two years ago. The Steelers have allowed just 10 points this season -- 10 fewer than any other team in the league. Overall Pittsburgh is ranked third in total defense while holding opponents to just 222.0 yards per game. And the offense has been just as good, ranking in the top five in scoring (60 points) and rushing (195.0 yards per game). Willie Parker ranks third in the league in rushing (235 yards), including 126 against the Chiefs last weekend that pushed the Steelers' record to 14-1 when he tops the century mark. Keying on Parker hasn't helped, either, as QB Ben Roethlisberger has picked up five TD passes against only one INT, a reversal from last year's zero-TD, five-INT start. The Niners are fortunate to be 2-0 after close wins over Arizona and St. Louis in which the offense has struggled. That is likely to catch up to them on Sunday and makes the Steelers a good pick (-9) to cover according to Dunkel, which has Pittsburgh favored by 16. Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-9). Here are all of this week's picks.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Game 397-398: Indianapolis at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Indianapolis 139.397; Houston 136.458
Dunkel Line: Indianapolis by 3; 52
Vegas Line: Indianapolis by 7; 47 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+7); Over
Game 399-400: San Diego at Green Bay
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 134.277; Green Bay 135.053
Dunkel Line: Green Bay by 1; 49
Vegas Line: San Diego by 5 1/2; 43
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (+5 1/2); Over
Game 401-402: Minnesota at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 128.029; Kansas City 127.885
Dunkel Line: Even; 30
Vegas Line: Kansas City by 2 1/2; 33 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+2 1/2); Under
Game 403-404: Detroit at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 127.880; Philadelphia 129.978
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 2; 37
Vegas Line: Philadelphia by 7; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+7); Under
Game 405-406: Buffalo at New England
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 128.865; New England 142.566
Dunkel Line: New England by 14; 40
Vegas Line: New England by 17; 42
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+17); Under
Game 407-408: Miami at NY Jets
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 124.017; NY Jets 130.073
Dunkel Line: NY Jets by 6; 42
Vegas Line: NY Jets by 2 1/2; 35
Dunkel Pick: NY Jets (-2 1/2); Over
Game 409-410: San Francisco at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 124.439; Pittsburgh 140.319
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 16; 32
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh by 9; 38
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-9); Under
Game 411-412: Arizona at Baltimore
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona 124.960; Baltimore 131.851
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 7; 39
Vegas Line: Baltimore by 9; 35
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+9); Over
Game 413-414; St. Louis at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis 122.171; Tampa Bay 127.798
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 6; 44
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay by 3; 38
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-3); Over
Game 415-416: Jacksonville at Denver
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 131.755; Denver 131.879
Dunkel Line: Even; 30
Vegas Line: Denver by 3 1/2; 36
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (+3 1/2); Under
Game 417-418: Cincinnati at Seattle
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 132.394; Seattle 130.364
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 2; 56
Vegas Line: Seattle by 3 1/2; 50
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+3 1/2); Over
Game 419-420: Cleveland at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 121.871; Oakland 120.250
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1 1/2; 47
Vegas Line: Oakland by 3 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+3 1/2); Over
Game 421-422: Carolina at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 128.222; Atlanta 124.929
Dunkel Line: Carolina by 3; 39
Vegas Line: Carolina by 4; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+4); Over
Game 423-424: NY Giants at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 123.334; Washington 131.702
Dunkel Line: Washington by 8 1/2; 38
Vegas Line: Washington by 3 1/2; 40 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-3 1/2); Under
Game 425-426: Dallas at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 134.736; Chicago 134.948
Dunkel Line: Even; 45
Vegas Line: Chicago by 3; 41 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (+3); Over
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Game 427-428: Tennessee at New Orleans
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee 132.957; New Orleans 129.033
Dunkel Line: Tennessee by 4; 42
Vegas Line: New Orleans by 5; 45 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (+5); Under
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