The Bum's Preseason Best Bets + Wagering Tips !

[Letswinalot]

I don't mind one bit fellas....nice to see peoples opinions......go for it.......

You came close to a sweeper man, that sucked. I found my lucky charm my 98-99 Topps Chrome Refractor rookie of Paul Pierce lol. That card used to be worth 100 and now not much, so I took it from the hardcase and jammed it in my wallett... I hope it works out lol.

[StarDust Bum]

Your too funny WINSALOT.....

[Letswinalot]

Your too funny WINSALOT.....

LOL when I was 15 I was so happy pulling that card. Who do we like tonight Im with you, we got screwed last night and I have the lucky charm now.

[StarDust Bum]

Eagles And Patriots On Monday Night Football

It has been 11 days since the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots were on the gridiron, and both teams should be itching to go when they close out the second week of the NFL preseason schedule on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

Kickoff from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough is shortly after 8:00 p.m. (ET), and the Pats are 1-point favorites after opening at -3½. Monday's total has been bet up a couple of points to 41 at most establishments charted by Don Best Pro Odds.

Both teams are coming off narrow 1-point victories in their preseason openers. The Eagles rallied for a 24-23 home decision over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a clash of Keystone State crews. Philadelphia closed as a 1-point favorite after laying a field goal on the opening line. New England nipped New Orleans by a 7-6 count, with the Patriots giving up four points on the closing spread which opened -2½.

The final margin of victory was about the only thing the two games had in common. 'Under' bettors went home happy in the Saints-Patriots contest that never came close to the 37½-point mark after starting off at 40, while 'over' 35 wagers easily cashed in the Philly-Pittsburgh tilt.

It was a defensive struggle from the outset in Foxborough where the Saints got a 1st-quarter field goal to account for the only scoring in the first half. New England QB Tom Brady played just two series, one ending with him fumbling to help New Orleans set up its first field goal of the evening. Backup QB Brian Hoyer came on after that and eventually led the Pats on their only scoring drive of the game in the third, a 14-play, 87-yard performance that ended with a short TD strike to Britt Davis.

Michael Vick also saw just two series worth of action for the Eagles, both times three-&-out. A couple of long drives by Pittsburgh still had the Philly QB on the field in the second quarter, and Vick injured his left thumb on his final play. He is expected to be on the field Monday night when Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid says Vick will play at least the first half.

Mike Kafka relieved Vick and couldn't get anything going the rest of the second quarter, tossing one interception and also suffering a fractured left hand that will sideline him for possibly the rest of the preseason. Nick Foles, the rookie out of Arizona, came on in the second half for the Eagles and eventually got them on the board after they trailed 13-0 at halftime. Foles tossed two touchdowns and finished the day 6-of-10 for 144 yards. The 3rd-round pick is expected to play most of the second half on Monday and has ascended to No. 2 on the depth chart now with Kafka injured.

In addition to Kafka being out, Philadelphia will also be without LB Casey Matthews (ankle), DE Jason Babin (calf) and WR Riley Cooper (collarbone).

New England is reporting only a couple of minor injuries. First-string halfback Stevan Ridley suffered a minor knee injury during practice last week while wideout Jabar Gaffney is dealing with a thigh issue. Both players are expected to see limited action on Monday.

The Eagles and Patriots last met in the preseason three years ago when New England scored a 27-25 victory in Philadelphia. That game was played just after Vick signed with the Eagles to return to the NFL following a two-year suspension following the 2006 season.

Their most recent regular season encounter was last November, also in Philadelphia. New England spotted the Eagles 10 points before pouring it on Philly in a 38-20 rout. Brady threw for 361 yards and three TDs, two to Wes Welker, while Vick sat out with broken ribs.

[StarDust Bum]

Eagles vs. Patriots

August 19, 2012

The Eagles and Patriots close out an exciting second week of the preseason, as both teams look to keep up the fireworks on the field. We've seen plenty of 'overs' since Thursday night, cashing in 12 of 16 games, including two contests missing the 'over' by one point. New England and Philadelphia can fill up the scoreboard, but will Bill Belichick and Andy Reid be ready for a shootout?

The Pats started the preseason in lousy fashion from the offensive side, scoring just one touchdown in a 7-6 squeaker over the Saints at Gillette Stadium. New Orleans managed the cover as four-point underdogs just four days after beating Arizona in the Hall of Fame game. The lone New England touchdown came on the famous Brian Hoyer to Britt Davis connection in the third quarter, while Tom Brady completed four of seven passes for 30 yards. Hoyer and Ryan Mallett combined for 134 yards in relief of Brady, but Mallett committed one of New England's two turnovers with an interception.

The Eagles also came off a one-point contest, but their game was a bit more exciting than New England's opener. Philadelphia edged Pittsburgh, 24-23 with a 51-yard field goal in the waning seconds by Alex Henery, as the Eagles managed a 'push' as one-point home favorites. The Eagles erased a 13-0 halftime deficit thanks to a pair of long touchdown passes by rookie Nick Foles, who threw for 144 yards on just six completions. Former Bills quarterback Trent Edwards also tossed a touchdown, while Michael Vick racked up six yards on three completions.

Philadelphia's expectations went through the roof during last season's training camp, but a 4-8 start ruined any dreams of a Super Bowl. The Eagles did manage four straight wins to end the campaign, but two weeks prior to that hot streak was a 38-20 defeat handed by the Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field. New England cashed as three-point road favorites, while the Eagles had to depend on Vince Young under center with Vick out due to injury. Young threw for 400 yards, but Philadelphia threw away an early 10-0 lead as New England cruised to a 21-13 halftime advantage with three unanswered touchdowns.

The second week of the preseason usually showcases more action from the starters, as the Eagles are expected to have their starters play into the third quarter. Vick will throw the ball more than four times, as opposed to the Steelers' game, while Foles is expected to see plenty of time in the second half after his impressive showing in the opener. The rotation should stay the same for the Patriots with Brady getting substantial time in the first half before giving way to Hoyer and Mallett.

The Eagles improved to 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in the preseason since last August, but Philadelphia owns a 3-5 SU/ATS record since 2008 away from Lincoln Financial Field in exhibition play. The Patriots have won just two of their seven previous games in the preseason, but are riding a mini two-game winning streak in Week 2 exhibition contests.

New England is listed as one-point favorites in most spots, while the total is set at 41. The game kicks off at 8:00 PM EST and can be seen nationally on ESPN.

Preseason Notes:

-- Nine of 15 road teams covered in Week 2 of the preseason, including the Colts on Sunday night as four-point underdogs at Pittsburgh. The Cowboys and Redskins each had opportunities to cash on the highway, but both NFC East rivals failed in different ways late. Dallas couldn't hold on to a 13-7 lead heading into the final quarter at San Diego in a 28-20 loss as three-point 'dogs, while Washington rallied from a 30-10 deficit at Chicago to take a late 31-30 advantage. Robbie Gould drilled a 57-yard field goal in the final minute to give the Bears a two-point triumph, saving Chicago backers from nearly having a heart attack.

[StarDust Bum]

NFL

Monday, August 20

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Philadelphia - 8:00 PM ET New England -3 500

New England - Under 40.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Green Bay Packers Pay Visit to Cincinnati Bengals

Don Best turns its attention to Cincinnati where the Bengals host the Green Bay Packers in NFL preseason football action at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday.

Green Bay is a 3-point favorite after opening at -2½, and the total has skipped up to 45½ from a 42½-point beginning. The full 3-point move up on the total is consistent with totals in Week 3 as football bettors really seem to like scoreboards to be busier. Don Best sports analyst Kenny White credits the league-wide shift to passing offenses for the expectations of more points.

"These coaches are sticking to their guns in preseason," White commented, "and they're throwing the football."

Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy has been running his passing game for years, and that has certainly translated into the Packers being a great 'over' bet in the preseason with 20 of their last 26 scrimmages going above the total.

Starters for both teams are projected to play the entire first half, which could also lead to higher scoring with the two quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Andy Dalton, on the field longer. Rodgers has yet to really get warmed up in preseason action going a combined 8-for-17 and 76 yards in the first two games. He has thrown for a TD and an interception, one of eight Green Bay turnovers so far this preseason.

Rodgers could have two of his favorite targets back for this game in tight end Jermichael Finley and wideout Greg Jennings. Finley has been nursing a quad injury while Jennings had concussion issues, and both are listed as probable for Thursday's showdown.

Another interesting sidebar story to this game is former Bengals RB Cedric Benson returning to Cincinnati to face his old mates. Benson would be hard-pressed to have a big game against the Bengals, according to White, as he learns a brand new system with the Packers.

Cincinnati enters the contest 2-0 on the preseason with Dalton enjoying a nice game last week in Atlanta against the Falcons. The former star at Texas Christian completed 8-of-14 passes for 125 yards and a score. However, the rushing attack was highlighted by scrambles from backup QBs Bruce Gradkowski and Zac Robinson who combined for the bulk of the 'ground attack' while the Bengals played without the halfback tandem of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott.

Neither Green-Ellis (foot) nor Scott (hand) is expected to see action in Thursday's game according to the Don Best injury report.

Kenny White points to the Cincinnati QB rotation as a big reason why the Bengals are 2-0 in the preseason. Gradkowski and Robinson provide great backup support for Dalton.

One key aspect of this game is Cincinnati's pass defense tightening up against a potent Packers air attack. The Bengals surrendered nearly 400 yards through the air against the Falcons last week, and both Rodgers and Graham Harrell could be anxious to try and pick the Atlanta stop unit apart. In particular, Bengals beefy safety Taylor Mays is one to watch over the middle and deep when the Green Bay offense is on the field.

Keep your eyes on the Don Best Pro Odds throughout the NFL season for important updates and line moves.

[StarDust Bum]

Titans Entertain Cardinals For Preseason Clash

The quarterback situation for both the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals is coming into focus. They meet Thursday night on ESPN to help start Week 3 of the NFL preseason.

Kickoff from LP Field in Nashville will be right after 8:00 p.m. (ET). The Don Best odds screen has Tennessee down to 3-point favorites after opening at 4½. The total has gone in the opposite direction, jumping from 39½ to 42½.

Week 3 of the preseason is always the closest to a regular season game as coaches play their starters the most. It’s being reported in the local Arizona media that the starters will play into the second half, and that’s true for Tennessee as well.

Arizona is already playing its fourth preseason tilt after starting with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio against New Orleans on August 5. The Cardinals are 0-3 against the spread, even failing to cover in their 31-27 home win over Oakland last Friday (as 4½-point favorites).

Quarterback Kevin Kolb started last game, but finished just 3-of-6 for 23 yards and was called scared in the pocket after the game by Raiders defensive end Tommy Kelly. John Skelton played just five plays in the second quarter, but was 3-of-3 for 23 yards and threw a short touchdown pass.

The 24-year-old Skelton is the starter this week and also very likely for the regular season. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound quarterback had a 68.9 rating in eight regular season games last year. The highly-paid Kolb has been a bust since being acquired from Philadelphia before last season.

Arizona’s quarterbacks should get some help from the preseason debut of running back Beanie Wells (knee). He’s not likely to play a ton though. Left tackle Levi Brown is out indefinitely after suffering a triceps injury last game. D.J. Young will get the first chance to protect Skelton’s blindside, but is a big drop-off.

Tennessee is 1-1 straight up and ATS in its two preseason contests, away games at Seattle (27-17 loss) and Tampa Bay (30-7 win). The latter came last Friday and a couple of Bucs turnovers in the second quarter made a big difference.

Quarterback Jake Locker got his first NFL start against Tampa Bay, but struggled at just 4-of-11 for 21 yards and an interception. Despite that effort, the second-year product from Washington has won the starting job over veteran Matt Hasselbeck and will get a big opportunity to make amends on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Locker has been the better quarterback in training camp and his mobility is a big plus. However, his accuracy was a question even in college. The doubt about him is one reason the spread has moved in Arizona’s direction.

Fortunately, Locker has a motivated running back in Chris Johnson, who wants to put his poor 2011 season behind him after his holdout. Johnson had two TD runs last week.

Locker won’t have wideout Kenny Britt to throw to until at least the regular season opener. His knee issues are compounded by a looming suspension for a DUI. Nate Washington was the leading receiver (1,023 yards) in the regular season last year with Britt’s injuries, but this receiving core doesn’t scare anyone, including Arizona.

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday Preseason Tips

August 22, 2012

The third week of the NFL preseason begins on Thursday with three contests on the card. Each team has different motives coming into this week, as some squads will play their starters through the first half, while others will try not to overdo it with its stars. We'll begin in Cincinnati with two teams that have put up significantly different results in the preseason.

Packers at Bengals - 7:00 PM EST

Green Bay is winless through two exhibition contests, as the Packers try to grab a victory as short road favorites at Cincinnati. Mike McCarthy's club followed up an opening week loss at San Diego with an ugly home defeat to Cleveland, 35-10 last Thursday. The Packers took an early 7-0 lead on an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson, but the Browns outscored Green Bay, 35-3 the rest of the way to cash outright as three-point underdogs (+150 on the moneyline).

The Bengals return home after knocking off the Falcons, 24-19 as four-point road underdogs. Cincinnati overcame a 13-10 halftime deficit with a pair of touchdowns in the second half, including the go-ahead score from Bruce Gradkowski to rookie Mohamed Sanu. The most impressive connection of the game went to Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, as the two second-year standouts were part of a 50-yard touchdown strike early in the second quarter. Cincinnati's defense overcame 391 yards passing by Atlanta, one week after limiting the Jets to just 57 yards through the air.

Green Bay is nearly an automatic 'over' team in the preseason the last few years, cashing eight of 10 times. The Packers own a 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS record the previous four games played in the third week of the preseason, while three of those victories came away from Lambeau Field. The Bengals are 2-0 ATS this preseason following a 1-5 ATS run from 2010-11, but Cincinnati has cashed four of the last five exhibition games at Paul Brown Stadium.

Jaguars at Ravens - 7:30 PM EST

Jacksonville has turned into the biggest surprise this preseason with wins over the Giants and Saints, in spite of Maurice Jones-Drew sitting out due to a contract dispute. The Jaguars go for their third straight victory against a Ravens' club that dropped a 27-12 home decision to the Lions last week, as Baltimore didn't manage a single touchdown in the loss.

The Ravens entered last Friday's contest on a four-game preseason winning streak dating back to last August, but Matthew Stafford torched the Baltimore defense for a pair of touchdown passes. Baltimore scored less than 12 points for just the second time in the last 14 exhibition games, while moving to 9-5 to the 'under' in this stretch. John Harbaugh is expected to play his starters into the third quarter, while Jacksonville's starters will likely play the first three quarters.

The Jaguars are going against the grain from a historical standpoint as far as their performance this preseason. Jacksonville finished 2011 with an 0-4 ATS exhibition season, while failing to cover in this season's opener as 2 ½-point 'chalk' over the Giants.

Cardinals at Titans - 8:00 PM EST

The nationally televised game on ESPN takes place in Nashville as both Arizona and Tennessee are coming off victories last week. The Cards held off the Raiders as 4 ½-point home favorites, 31-27, while failing to cover in spite of owning a seven-point lead or more for most of the game. Arizona has failed to cash through three preseason contests, as Ken Whisenhunt's team is 2-4-1 ATS the last seven games in the exhibition season.

The Titans rebounded from a 27-17 defeat at Seattle in the preseason opener, as Tennessee knocked off Tampa Bay, 30-7 last Friday night. Mike Munchak's club cashed as three-point road underdogs, but Jake Locker did not impress in his first preseason start by going 4-for-11 for 21 yards and an interception. Locker is set to start against the Cardinals, while being slated to be under center in the season opener against New England. The Titans did receive plenty of help on the ground last Friday by rushing for 216 yards, including a pair of scores from Chris Johnson.

In Munchak's short tenure, the Titans are 4-2 SU/ATS in the preseason, while cashing the 'over' in four of six exhibition contests. The most impressive number for the Titans is the nine-game winning streak they are riding in the preseason at LP Field since 2007, the longest in the league.

[StarDust Bum]

Titans host Cardinals Thursday night

ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-2)

at TENNESSEE TITANS (1-1)


NFL Preseason Game
Kickoff: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Tennessee -3, Total: 42½

Two teams getting closer to resolving quarterback controversies clash on Thursday night when the Cardinals visit the Titans.

Arizona has yet to decide whether Kevin Kolb or John Skelton will be its starting quarterback when the regular season begins, but Tennessee head coach Mike Munchak already announced that second-year pro Jake Locker would start in Week 1 instead of veteran Matt Hasselbeck, who took the opening snap in all 16 games last season for the Titans. The Cardinals have struggled so far in the preseason (0-3 ATS), especially on defense where they have allowed 54 points and 640 total yards in the past two contests. Meanwhile, Tennessee is coming off a huge road win, throttling the Buccaneers 30-7 thanks to a defense that allowed just 81 total yards (-1 net passing yards). The Titans are historically a tremendous preseason team, winning 15 of their past 22 contests (68%), while the Cardinals are just 6-9 in the preseason since 2009. The pick here is TENNESSEE to win and cover at home.

This rare four-star FoxSheets trend also supports the Titans:

Play Against - Road teams (ARIZONA) - after 3 or more consecutive preseason losses against the spread. (33-7 since 1993.) (82.5%, +25.3 units. Rating = 4*).

Thursday marks the sixth preseason meeting all-time between these clubs. After splitting the first four matchups, the Cardinals beat the Titans 24-10 on the road in 2010. Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt will start Skelton on Thursday and let him play at least the first half. So far in the preseason, Skelton is 10-of-15 for 90 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, which is considerably better than Kolb, who is just 5-for-15 for 47 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT with four sacks (15.1 QB rating). Allowing sacks will continue to be a major concern for Arizona after losing starting LT Levi Brown for at least three months with a torn triceps. But the injury news isn’t all bad for Arizona, as both RB Beanie Wells (knee) and TE Jeff King (quadriceps) will make their preseason debuts on Thursday. WR Andre Roberts (neck) is also expected to return to action after missing last week’s game, and RB Ryan Williams should see a greater workload after carrying the ball five times for 25 yards in his first action of 2012 last week. Williams missed all of his rookie season with a torn right patellar tendon.

Locker will play the entire first two quarters and then manage one or two drives to open the second half before giving way to Hasselbeck. Locker’s promotion has been a bit surprising considering how poor he’d played in the preseason. He’s completed just 11-of-24 passes (45.8%) for 101 yards (4.2 YPA), 0 TD and 1 INT in the two games. Hasselbeck has connected on 9-of-14 throws (64.3%) for 74 yards, but has tossed two interceptions and zero touchdowns. No. 3 QB Rusty Smith has been the team’s most efficient signal caller, going 12-for-19 for 162 yards (8.5 YPA), 1 TD and 0 INT. Although top wideout Kenny Britt is still recovering from last year’s torn ACL, Tennessee’s star player, RB Chris Johnson, has looked strong. Johnson has rushed for 54 yards on 15 carries (3.6 YPC) and two touchdowns, helping his team rumble for 301 yards on 5.0 YPC in the two preseason games.

[StarDust Bum]

NFLX
Dunkel

Week 3

Green Bay at Cincinnati
The Packers look for their first preseason win as they travel to Cincinnati on Thursday. Green Bay is the pick (-3) according to Dunkel, which has the Packers favored by 5. Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (-3). Here are all of this week's picks.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23

Game 251-252: Green Bay at Cincinnati (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Green Bay 127.403; Cincinnati 122.210
Dunkel Line: Green Bay by 5; 42
Vegas Line: Green Bay by 3; 45
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (-3); Under

Game 253-254: Jacksonville at Baltimore (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 120.222; Baltimore 130.310
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 10; 44
Vegas Line: Baltimore by 7; 41
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-7); Over

Game 255-256: Arizona at Tennessee (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona 122.509; Tennessee 126.411
Dunkel Line: Tennessee by 4; 39
Vegas Line: Tennessee by 3; 42
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (-3); Under

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Thursday, August 23

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Green Bay - 7:00 PM ET Green Bay -3 500
Cincinnati - Over 44.5 500

Jacksonville - 7:30 PM ET Jacksonville +6.5 500
Baltimore - Under 41 500

Arizona - 8:00 PM ET Tennessee -3 500
Tennessee - Over 41.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Chicago Bears In New York To Meet Giants

The Chicago Bears will be showing off their new offensive weapons when they meet the Super Bowl champion New York Giants in Week 3 of the NFL preseason on Friday night.

The Don Best odds screen opened with New York as 4-point home favorites, but it’s now down to three. The total has increased two points from 39 to 41. CBS will have the national broadcast from MetLife Stadium at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

The Bears are 1-1 straight up and against the spread this preseason, both at home. They started with a 31-3 loss to Denver and rebounded with a 33-31 victory over Washington last Saturday. The Bears led 30-10 in the fourth quarter, but let up the lead and needed a late 57-yard field goal by Robbie Gould for the win and cover of the 1-point spread.

Quarterback Jay Cutler missed the Denver game because of his son’s birth, but was 7-of-13 for 122 yards against the 'Skins last week. The offense has been infused with receiver talent with Cutler’s former Broncos teammate Brandon Marshall aboard in addition to second-round pick Alshon Jeffery. They had 61 and 62 receiving yards respectively last week.

The running back position also added bruiser Michael Bush from Oakland, who is very good in the red-zone. He had two rushing TDs last week, one less than the newly-extended Matt Forte had in the entire regular season last year.

There are some questions with the offensive line, especially at left guard and tackle, but there’s a lot of to be excited about under new offensive coordinator Mike Tice.

Defensively last week, the Bears did well against Robert Griffin III (5-of-8, 49 yards) in the first half before the backups got carved up by fellow rookie Kirk Cousins (18-of-23, 264 yards, three TDs), mostly in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee injury) hasn’t played in the preseason and is hoping to be back for opening week.

The Giants are technically playing their first home game this season, but they beat the Jets (26-3) last Saturday at MetLife as the ‘away’ team. It was the G-Men’s latest show of dominance over their shared tenant and hated rival, coming on the heels of a huge regular season win last December.

Tom Coughlin’s guys are now 2-0 ATS this preseason after an opening 32-31 loss at Jacksonville as 2½-point underdogs.

The Giants had seven sacks last week going against the not-so-impressive duo of Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, plus a severely injured Jets receiving core. Cutler and company will be a far bigger challenge on Friday, especially with Jason Pierre-Paul (two sacks last week) expected to sit out with a back injury.

The Giants didn’t light it up offensively last week behind either Eli Manning (62 passing yards) or backup David Carr (83 passing yards). One of the touchdowns came on an interception return. It doesn’t help that receiver Hakeem Nicks (foot) was out and is doubtful again for Friday.

The running back position is also banged up with Ahmad Bradshaw (hand) questionable. Rookie first-round pick David Wilson could start, and the duo could split carries once the real action begins on September 5 vs. Dallas.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday Betting Notes

August 24, 2012

Philadelphia at Cleveland

Since the teams are set to square off when it counts on Sept. 9, this dress rehearsal will feature little that can be deemed conventional for a third preseason game. Michael Vick wasn't going to see much action, if any, but is now completely 'out' after taking a nasty hit to the ribs from New England's Jermaine Cunningham on Monday night. Nick Foles will try and continue his big week, playing about a half with Philadelphia's first and second units. With Mike Kafka still out, Trent Edwards will close out the game for the visitors.
Brandon Weeden is also going to see a half, according to head coach Pat Shurmur, but we're not likely to see anything but basic offense given the impending regular season opener. Colt McCoy, still on the trade block, will get time to showcase his skills. First-rounder Trent Richardson has been out since getting his knee scoped earlier this month, so with his status still unclear, don't count on backup RB Montario Hardesty getting much work. Brandon Jackson, coming off a field day against his ex-team, Green Bay, has a chance to rack up more preseason numbers.

The Eagles won't expose top weapon LaSean McCoy much, but it's an important game for rookie RBs Bryce Brown and Chris Polk, who both had nice fourth quarters against New England. Dion Lewis will play the McCoy role first, while Mardy Gilyard and Damaris Johnson will attempt to do their best DeSean Jackson's impersonation in an effort to open some eyes.

Atlanta at Miami

According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Falcons new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is going to try and give Michael Turner an opportunity to stretch his legs in this third preseason game. It makes sense, since the passing game has flexed its muscle throughout the preseason. Turner and backups Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling are likely to get increased play. Snelling has been out for a lot of camp because of a right leg injury, so this is a chance for him to get up to speed against live bullets.

Ryan Tannehill has already been named the first opening day rookie starter in Dolphins history to polarizing reviews. Those that oppose the baptism-by-fire approach are lining up to say he'll be ruined for life if thrown to the wolves in Week 1, particularly with a receiving corps that boasts more question marks than the old-school Frank Gorshin-played Riddler's suit. Atlanta is looking to flex some muscle in the secondary, so this first half bears watching. Matt Moore is set to take over and play the bulk of the second half.

HBO's "Hard Knocks" has created a faction rooting for or against Dolphins backups, which will make the fourth quarter interesting even no matter what the score is. With popular Eric Steinbach having retired, there's healthy competition to fill a vacancy up front, while receiver Chris Hogan has assumed people's champion status in many minds as he attempts to earn a spot. Falcons backups, many fighting for their own lives, will undoubtedly welcome the possible increased exposure.

New England at Tampa Bay

As detailed on Monday with so many regulars taking the night off, the Patriots were looking forward to a week of joint practices and this dress rehearsal as their most serious work this preseason. Tom Brady has played the equivalent of a single quarter thus far, so this will likely be his one opportunity to do serious in-game work. New Bucs coach Greg Schiano wants to take advantage of this opportuity to see exactly where his team stands against one of the game's best teams, especially since they're not going in cold having held joint practices with them all week.

As dominant as the Brady-run Patriots offense can be, there's still roles to be carved out. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will return to the mix after joining Brady as inactives, but another performer set to get into the mix is potential downfield threat Brandon Lloyd. Look for New England to see how he fares against Aqib Talib and prized rookie safety Mark Barron, slated to play his second contest.

Tampa is expected to let its starters open the second half, but may be careful with LaGarrette Blount, who suffered a scary episode landing awkwardly last week. He returned to practice Monday and will join Josh Freeman in the backfield behind first-string left tackle Donald Penn, who will debut after missing the first pair of preseason games with a calf sprain. It will be interesting to see how he and maligned right tackle Jeremy Trueblood deal with impressive rookie Chandler Jones and Vick-killer Cunningham. TE Dallas Clark is also slated to see the most in-game reps he's seen to date since joining the Bucs.

San Diego at Minnesota

No, Adrian Peterson won't play, though it's a great sign that he's getting through non-contract practices without any knee swelling. The Vikings are still crossing their fingers he'll be ready for the opener and are attempting to get Christian Ponder more comfortable. His ability to continue clicking with Percy Harvin and impressive newcomer Jerome Simpson will go a long way in how effective the team can be early as Peterson shakes off rust.

The Chargers are going to be in discovery mode after losing arguably their top receiver, Vincent Brown, in last week's comeback victory over Dallas. That said, it might not be Philip Rivers out there auditioning the wideouts for very long, since uncertainty up front has Norv Turner thinking twice about exposing his All-Pro quarterback. Center Nick Harwick and left tackle Jared Gaither won't play, while left guard Tyrone Green is questionable after missing most of the week with a sore foot. Charlie Whitehurst, who shined against the Cowboys, would joing rookie Jarrett Lee in getting the bulk of the snaps against the Vikings.

With Brown out, it's up to a host of newcomers to separate themselves and impress the San Diego coaching staff, as head coach Norv Turner, offensive coordinator Hal Hunter and legendary receivers coach Charlie Joiner all have to come to a consensus. First-year Chargers Robert Meachem, Eddie Royal, Roscoe Parrish, Michael Spurlock and rookie Taylor Embree are attempting to standout alongside likely new No. 1 Malcom Floyd.

Chicago at N.Y Giants

Victor Cruz and the no-name gang remain Eli Manning's targets with Hakeem Nicks still out, so it remains to be seen how much Tom Coughlin exposes his two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Left tackle Will Beatty is out and it appears undersized veteran Sean Locklear is set to fill the void, but even given the likelihood that will continue to be the case entering the Sept. 5 season opener, it's still up in the air as to how long Manning will be out there with a compromised first-team offense.

It helps New York's cause that Brian Urlacher remains out of action after getting his knee scoped on Aug. 14. The gossip around Bears camp this week involved the Pro Bowl linebacker heading to Europe this past spring, a story that simply adds to the speculation that there's a lot more going on with him physically than he's letting on. Insisting he'll be ready Week 1, Urlacher remains out of preseason action and won't be a factor here. Defensive tackle Stephen Paea and safety Major Wright will also miss the contest. Both Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs are slated to participate in the first half.

Jay Cutler also gets an opportunity to do more work with his first-team offense after he, Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall skipped the opening preseason encounter and marched down the field in last week's meeting with the Redskins. Another name to watch is rookie Alshon Jeffery, who has looked dominant as an x-factor at receiver.

Seattle at Kansas City

It's Russell Wilson's world right now, and everyone including Matt Flynn is just living in it. Signed as the team's biggest free agency splash in March, Flynn may end up a backup despite signing a three-year $26 million contract. It's going to depend on how the rookie looks running with the regulars, an opportunity Pete Carroll is affording Wilson after watching him dominate reserves in consecutive weeks, twice bringing the Seahawks victories with dominant performances. If he remains the explosive dual threat he's been to date against Kansas City, it's very possible that Flynn winds up a very expensive clipboard-holder come Week 1. The former Packer was held out of Thursday's practice with arm soreness.

Another huge theme to watch from the Seahawks side is how Terrell Owens handles what is likely a make-or-break situation for the veteran former All-Pro. After dropping a sure touchdown from Flynn last week and failing to come up with a catch despite five targets in his Seattle debut a week ago, speculation is that his new team might run out of patience with him before the regular season even begins. With Braylon Edwards out-performing T.O and mainstays Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin getting healthier, this could be make-or-break for the controversial wide receiver. That definitely brings snarky implications to "get your popcorn ready."

Kansas City's Dwayne Bowe will see his first and potentially only preseason action after ending his holdout last Friday. It's unknown just how long the Chiefs top target will work with the first team and QB Matt Cassel, but there is plenty of curiosity regarding what type of shape he's in entering a critical season that will determine whether he'll eventually sign long-term with the only franchise he's ever played for. Bowe signed the equivalent of a one-year deal and will join a potentially explosive offense featuring last year's top pick Jonathan Baldwin, newcomer Kevin Boss and has seen Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki return from knee injuries.

[StarDust Bum]

Bears and Giants clash on Friday night

CHICAGO BEARS (1-1)

at NEW YORK GIANTS (1-1)


NFL Preseason Game
Kickoff: Friday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: New York -3, Total: 41

Two teams coming off high-scoring wins square off in their third preseason game of 2012 when the Bears visit the Giants.

Chicago improved tremendously from its opening game (31-3 loss to Denver) to last week when it scored 33 points in a two-point victory over Washington. After allowing 32 points to Jacksonville in preseason Week 1, New York’s defense certainly showed up in the Big Apple showdown last week, a 26-3 drubbing of the Jets. The Giants sacked Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow a combined seven times in that victory, holding the Jets to a paltry 148 total yards. Meanwhile, the Bears gave up 416 yards in their win over the Redskins. History shows that Chicago is a pathetic 3-13 ATS (19%) off a preseason home win since 1993, and although the Bears are 15-7 all-time in this preseason series, the Giants crushed them last year at MetLife Stadium, 41-13. The pick here is NEW YORK to win and cover.

This rare four-star FoxSheets coaching trend also backs the Giants in this matchup:

Tom Coughlin is 11-0 ATS (+11.0 Units) after 2 or more consecutive wins against the spread in all preseason games he has coached since 1993. The average score was Coughlin 28.1, OPPONENT 16.1 - (Rating = 4*).

Chicago’s offense played very well last week with 307 passing yards. Starting QB Jay Cutler went 7-of-13 for 122 yards, and backup Jason Campbell finished 9-of-15 for 141 yards. The other two signal callers didn’t fare nearly as well though, with Josh McCown and Matt Blanchard combining to go 5-of-14 for 71 yards during a fourth quarter in which the Bears were outscored 21-3. Although Chicago didn’t score a touchdown through the air, newcomer Brandon Marshall gained 61 yards on a pair of catches, while two rookie pass catchers also had big games. WR Alshon Jeffery tallied three receptions for 62 yards and TE Evan Rodriguez caught three balls for 49 yards. Another newcomer, Michael Bush, scored two rushing touchdowns against Washington, while starting RB Matt Forte saw his first preseason action with a solid four carries for 16 yards. In addition to LB Brian Urlacher (knee) being out, Chicago’s defense lost a couple players in the secondary in last week’s win, as starting FS Chris Conte (dislocated shoulder) and rookie FS Brandon Hardin (neck injury) both left the game early and will not play on Friday.

Despite the lopsided score against the Jets, the Giants did not score an offensive touchdown until midway through the fourth quarter. Starting QB Eli Manning was a lackluster 7-of-14 for 62 yards and 1 INT, while backup David Carr finished 5-of-9 for 83 yards. Third-stringer Ryan Perrilloux threw the 14-yard touchdown pass and completed his only other throw for 23 yards. But the main concern for New York’s offense was a running game that mustered a meager 58 yards on 32 carries (1.8 YPC). Rookie David Wilson and veteran D.J. Ware combined for just 41 yards on 19 carries (2.2 YPC), a big dropoff from their production two weeks ago against Jacksonville, when they totaled 73 rushing yards on 12 carries (6.1 YPC). On the injury front, top WR Hakeem Nicks is still recovering from a broken foot and will be joined on the sidelines by starting LT Will Beatty (back injury). Defensively, New York will be without interior linemen Chris Canty (knee), Marvin Austin (back) and Shaun Rogers (leg), and will also be missing LB Michael Boley (hamstring), CB Terrell Thomas (knee) and rookie CB Jayron Hosley (turf toe).