Announcement

**Udog** · 09-03-2012, 10:16 AM

Guys,

I'm trying to get this thread started but, so far, there is not much available anywhere.

The Players Assoc. announced, on Saturday, that they will not show up if the replacement refs are still in place on Wednesday. There has been no progress since the statement was issued.

I will post the info as it comes out but we may not have any pro football this week. Here's hoping!

**Udog** · 09-03-2012, 10:17 AM

NFL

Week 1

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Trend Report
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Wednesday, September 5

8:30 PM
DALLAS vs. NY GIANTS
Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games
NY Giants are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
NY Giants are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing Dallas

Sunday, September 9

1:00 PM
BUFFALO vs. NY JETS
Buffalo is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Buffalo's last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Jets
NY Jets are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the NY Jets last 7 games when playing at home against Buffalo

1:00 PM
ATLANTA vs. KANSAS CITY
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas City's last 6 games when playing Atlanta

1:00 PM
MIAMI vs. HOUSTON
Miami is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Miami's last 8 games on the road
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Houston is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games

1:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS vs. CHICAGO
Indianapolis is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Indianapolis is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games
Chicago is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Indianapolis
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

1:00 PM
JACKSONVILLE vs. MINNESOTA
Jacksonville is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Jacksonville is 5-14 SU in its last 19 games
Minnesota is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home

1:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. CLEVELAND
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games on the road
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Cleveland is 3-8-1 ATS in its last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Cleveland's last 12 games

1:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. NEW ORLEANS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games
Washington is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games on the road
New Orleans is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
New Orleans is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing Washington

1:00 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. DETROIT
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing Detroit
St. Louis is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Detroit is 14-7 SU in its last 21 games
Detroit is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home

1:00 PM
NEW ENGLAND vs. TENNESSEE
New England is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
New England is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tennessee
Tennessee is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
Tennessee is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing New England

4:15 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. GREEN BAY
San Francisco is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Green Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games on the road
Green Bay is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games at home
Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Francisco

4:15 PM
CAROLINA vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina's last 5 games on the road
Carolina is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Carolina

4:15 PM
SEATTLE vs. ARIZONA
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Seattle's last 13 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Seattle's last 16 games when playing Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Arizona's last 17 games at home
Arizona is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Seattle

8:20 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. DENVER
Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Denver
Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Denver
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Denver is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh

Monday, September 10

7:00 PM
CINCINNATI vs. BALTIMORE
Cincinnati is 5-16 SU in its last 21 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
Baltimore is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Baltimore is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cincinnati

10:15 PM
SAN DIEGO vs. OAKLAND
San Diego is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
San Diego is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Oakland is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against San Diego
Oakland is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against San Diego

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**Udog** · 09-03-2012, 11:14 AM

NFL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 1

Wednesday
Cowboys @ Giants— Defending Super Bowl champs are 9-1-2 vs spread in their next season’s opener last 12 years (12-0 SU). Giants won last four home openers; since ’90, they’re 10-4 vs spread as favorite in home openers, but just 12-18-1 vs spread in last 31 games as a home favorite. Dallas owner Jones was mouthing off about “kicking the Giants’ ass; his Cowboys are 2-7 in last nine series games, losing 37-34/31-14 in LY’s meetings- they’ve lost three of last four visits here, losing by 21-7-17 points, but are 8-4 vs spread in last dozen games as road underdogs. Dallas is opening on road for fifth year in row. 14-8 vs spread in last 22 road openers, losing last two, by 6-3 points. 12 of their last 15 road openers went over total, as did four of Big Blue’s last five home openers. Average total in last six series games is 61.

Sunday
Colts @ Bears— Indy has new coach, new QB; they’re glorified expansion team, starting fresh, so they’re trends don’t mean as much, but they did cover four of five LY as double digit underdogs. Colts lost 34-24/34-7 in last two road openers, after having won nine of previous ten. Teams with rookie QBs figure to struggle on foreign soil early on. Chicago won 29-13 at Indy in last meeting in ’08, teams’ only meeting since Colts beat Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Since ’96, underdogs are 13-3 vs spread in Chicago’s home openers, with Bears just 2-8 vs spread as favorite; they’ve won six of last seven home openers, allowing 13.3 ppg last three years. Since 2007, Chicago is just 9-15-1 as home favorites, but they did cover last two tries when laying double digits. Five of Indy’s last seven road openers stayed under total.

Eagles @ Browns— Lot of commonality between coaching staffs; been rough summer off field for Coach Reid. Philly is just 4-6 as road favorite last two years, with six of 11 road wins by 7 or less points. Since being reborn in 1999, Browns are 1-12 in home openers, 1-11-1 vs spread; they were favored/even in five of the 12 losses- they’re 0-7 vs spread in last seven home openers, with under 8-4 in their last 12. 12 of those 13 home openers came in Week 1. Cleveland is 3-6 vs spread in last nine games as home underdog; they’re 3-7-2 vs spread v NFC teams last three years. Philly are 3-0 vs new Browns, scoring 35-34-30 points; they’ve won last three road openers, scoring 31+ points in last four. Since ’88, Philly is 14-8 vs spread in road openers; 6-4 as favorite, 8-4 as dog. Over is 3-0-1 in their last four road openers. Teams met in preseason two weeks ago, but Vick didn’t play.

Bills @ Jets— How will Gang Green utilize Tebow? How will Sanchez react if he struggles early and gets pulled? Fickle home folks could turn ugly if Jets stumble early vs Buffalo squad that lost last five games to Jets by average score of 30-14, losing last two visits here, 38-7/28-24. Bills are 7-3 in last ten tries as road dogs in road openers; since 2000, they’re 3-0 as Week 1 road dog. Buffalo is 12-6 as road underdogs in divisional games last six years. Six of their last eight road openers stayed under the total. Over last 20 years, Jets are 2-8 vs spread as favorite in home opener, losing 14 of 20 (2-1 last three years). Three of their last four home openers stayed under total. Jets covered five of last six season openers; since 2007, they’re 2-9-1 vs spread as a home favorite in divisional games. Bills trading for Tarvaris Jackson raised some eyebrows.

Redskins @ Saints— Lot of unusual variables here. How will Saints function without Payton/Vitt on sidelines? Who will make key 4th down calls? Redskins using rookie QB in hostile environment; tough way to start. Washington won its last six visits to New Orleans, with last visit in ’06. Road team won six of last seven series games. New Orleans won four in row and 11 of last 14 home openers, scoring 28.3 ppg in last four; they’re 6-2-1 vs spread in last nine as favorite in home openers, with 11 of last 15 staying under total. New Orleans won last five Sunday openers. Washington lost nine of last 12 road openers, losing last four, scoring 14 ppg. 1-5 vs spread in last six as underdog. Under is 8-3-1 in Washington’s last dozen road openers. Since ’07, Redskins are 18-12-3 as road underdogs. Since ’08, Saints are 19-9-1 as a home favorite.

Patriots @ Titans— Since 1998, Super Bowl losers are 0-13 vs spread (2-11 SU) in their next season’s opener. Teams’ first meeting since Patriots waxed Tennessee 59-0 on snowy October day in Foxboro three years ago, their fourth straight series win. Tennessee covered seven of last ten home openers, four of last five that were in Week 1; they’re 7-0 vs spread last seven times they were underdog in home opener, with last non-cover 34-17 (+5) vs Steelers in ’95. Patriots won last eight season openers (4-3-1 vs spread); they’re 6-6 in last dozen road openers, 1-2 in last three; since ’92, they’re 1-11 in road openers if they score 21 or less points, 7-1 if they score 23+. Four of their last six road openers went over total. Titans’ last three home openers went over total. Pats split two visits here, losing 24-7 in ’02, winning 40-23 in ’06.

Jaguars @ Vikings— New owner/coach/QB for Jaguars, who lost last four road openers (1-3 vs spread) by average score of 25-9, losing 38-13/32-3 in Week 2 road openers last two years. In their history, are solid 7-4 vs spread as underdog in road openers. Six of their last eight road openers stayed under total. First time in five years Vikings are opening season at home; Minnesota lost three of last four home openers, with all four decided by four or less points; since ’99, they’re 3-8 vs spread as favorite in home openers. You're reading ***************.com. Vikings won three of four series games, with none of four decided by less than 11 points. Only Jaguar win was 33-3 here in ’01. Since ’88, under is 16-7-1 in Metrodome home openers.

Dolphins @ Texans— High expectations in Houston after their first playoff appearance LY; they’re 6-0 vs Dolphins, with all three wins here by 3 or less points- only one of the six wins is by more than 7 points. Rookie QB gets the nod for Miami, which lost seven of last eight road openers (1-5-1 vs spread in last seven), with only win at Buffalo in ’10. Once-proud Fish are 0-4-1 vs spread in last five games as underdog in road opener. Texans won 34-24/34-7 in last two home openers, after losing six of first eight in franchise history; they’re 2-2 as Week 1 home favorite. Five of their last seven home openers stayed under total. Houston allowed 24+ points in seven of last nine home openers. Under is 13-5 in Miami’s last 18 road openers.

Rams @ Lions— Third offense in three years for young QB Bradford; main question is can rebuilt OL keep him on his feet? Rams are 15-65 last five years, worst 5-year stretch in NFL history; they hired former Titan HC Fisher to right ship. His DC in Tennessee was current Lion HC Schwartz, so team will play similar defenses. St Louis lost last ten road openers (1-9 vs spread) by average score of 26-12, with five of last six staying under total. Last time Rams won season opener was 18-10 home win (+3.5) over Denver in 2006. Detroit is 14-6-1 vs spread in last 21 home openers, but lost three of last four (32-35/48-3 L2 years). First time in six years they’re opening season at home. Three of last four home openers went over. Rams are 3-2 in last five series games; ’09 Rams’ only win came here, 17-10. ’10 Rams lost 44-10 here.

Falcons @ Chiefs— Home side won five of last six series games, all decided by 11+ points; Falcons have never won here, losing 38-10/14-3/56-10 (’04). Atlanta whupped KC 38-14 at home in last meeting (’08). Chiefs started 0-1 five of last six years. Chiefs are 4-8 in last dozen home openers, scoring 13 or less points in five of last six. KC is 2-6-1 vs spread last nine games where they were favored in a home opener. Atlanta lost last five road openers, scoring average of 8.6 ppg; they even lost at Pittsburgh one year when Big Ben was suspended. Since ’88, they’re 0-4 as favorite in road openers. You're reading ***************.com. Seven of last eight road openers stayed under total; under is 16-2-1 in Chiefs’ last 19 home openers.

49ers @ Packers—Green Bay won five in row, 13 of last 14 games vs 49ers, with only loss in ’98 playoff game; SF lost last eight visits here, with five of eight by 10+ points. Pack won/covered last five home openers, by average score of 27-18. This will be 13th time in 16 years they’re at home in Week 1.. Niners *** four of last five road openers, covered six of last eight; they’re 7-1-1 vs spread in last nine tries as road dog in road opener. Since ’94, they’re 2-6 vs spread in Week 1 road games. Four of Pack’s last six home openers stayed under; under is 3-1-1 in 49ers’ last five road openers. Niners were +28 in turnovers in magical ’11 run; they made lot of own breaks, but you’re not +28 without few bounces going your way—will that continue?

Panthers @ Buccaneers— Curious to see how Newton does with full off-season program under his belt; teams didn’t have that last season, but he was still terrific as rookie, beating Bucs 38-19/48-16 in two meetings. Carolina lost last three road openers, allowing 28-31-28 points; they failed to cover last three as dog in road openers, after covering nine of first 10 (9-4 as dog overall in road openers). Tampa Bay lost five of last six season openers; since ’88, they’re 4-6 vs spread as dogs in home openers, 7-6-1 as favorite. Bucs are 4-6 in last ten home openers; over is 3-1-1 in last five, after 12 of previous 15 stayed under. Carolina’s last four road openers went over the total. Oddly, Carolina won seven of last nine visits here.

Seahawks @ Cardinals— Home side won four of last five series games; Seattle lost five of last six visits here, with losses by 6-3-13-11-3 points. Since ’00, Hawks are 4-8 in road openers, allowing 6-0-7-6 points in wins; they lost last five road openers (0-6 vs spread in last six) by average score of 29-14. Home team won their last five season openers. You're reading ***************.com, America's favorite website. Arizona has been better in home openers since they got the dome; winning five of last six home openers, but since ’88, are still just 3-10 vs spread as favorite in home openers, with five of last six going over total. Under is 19-5 in Arizona’s last 24 home openers, but 2-3 in last five.

Steelers @ Broncos— Denver KO’d Steelers from playoffs 29-23 with OT TD last January; now they’ve upgraded from Tebow to Manning at QB. Fox lost eight of his last nine home openers; before he got to Denver, Broncos had won 11 straight Mile High openers (8-3 vs spread). Manning won seven of last eight home openers, covering six of last 10 as favorite. Over is 3-1-1 in Denver’s last five home openers. Pittsburgh is just 4-8 in last 12 road openers, 4-3 in last seven, scoring average of just 10 ppg in last five, with four of those five staying under total- they scored 14 or less points in four of those five games. New OC Haley said to have installed more run-happy offense, which may explain why Big Ben didn’t get his shoulder fixed. Since ’88, they’re 4-5 in Week 1 openers on road. Steelers are 5-10-1 all-time in Denver, 3-4 vs Broncos in playoffs.

Monday
Bengals @ Ravens— Baltimore won last seven home openers (5-2 vs spread), with none of wins by less than seven points; since 1988, they’re 8-3 vs spread in Week 1 home games. Ravens covered four of last five home openers vs divisional opponent. Cincinnati is 4-3 in last seven road openers; they were dog in three of four wins, favored in two of three losses (underdogs covered five of their last six road openers). Since ’88, are 6-5 vs spread as Week 1 underdog. Four of Bengals’ last five road openers went over total; over is 5-1-1 in Ravens’ last seven home openers, but seven of last nine series games had totals of 37 or less. Ravens won both meetings LY, 31-24/24-16, but are still just 6-9 in last 15 series games, albeit 3-1 in last four played here.

Chargers @ Raiders—Allen is fourth head coach in five years for Oakland, but Palmer had full camp and should be better this year under center. Raiders won three of last four series games after losing 13 in row to Bolts before that. San Diego won seven of last eight visits here, with only loss 35-27 in ’10. Chargers lost four of last five road openers, allowing average of 30.6 ppg, giving up 35+ points in three of the four losses; they’re 4-9 vs spread last 13 times road opener was in Week 1. Over is 13-7-1 in San Diego’s last 21 road openers. Raiders lost last four times they opened season at home, with three losses by 15+ points- they’re 9-5 in last 14 home openers, winning last two after losing previous seven. Four of their last five home openers went over the total. Average total in last four series games is 52.

**Udog** · 09-04-2012, 07:06 AM

NFL
Dunkel

Week 1

Dallas at NY Giants
The Cowboys look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 games in Week 1. Dallas is the pick (+4) according to Dunkel, which has the Giants favored by only 2. Dunkel Pick: Dallas (+4). Here are all of this week's picks.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Game 451-452: Dallas at NY Giants (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 132.092; NY Giants 134.165
Dunkel Line: NY Giants by 2; 49
Vegas Line: NY Giants by 4; 45
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (+4); Under

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Game 453-454: Indianapolis at Chicago (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indianapolis 125.338; Chicago 136.387
Dunkel Line: Chicago by 11; 46
Vegas Line: Chicago by 9; 42
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-9); Over

Game 455-456: Philadelphia at Cleveland (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 135.307; Cleveland 129.423
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 6; 45
Vegas Line: Philadelphia by 9; 41 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+9); Over

Game 457-458: Buffalo at NY Jets (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 127.000; NY Jets 128.394
Dunkel Line: NY Jets by 1 1/2; 36
Vegas Line: NY Jets by 3; 42
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+3); Under

Game 459-460: Washington at New Orleans (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 129.226; New Orleans 136.744
Dunkel Line: New Orleans by 7 1/2; 47
Vegas Line: New Orleans by 9 1/2; 50
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+9 1/2); Under

Game 461-462: New England at Tennessee (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New England 138.120; Tennessee 134.776
Dunkel Line: New England by 4 1/2; 50
Vegas Line: New England by 6 1/2; 47
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (+6 1/2); Over

Game 463-464: Jacksonville at Minnesota (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 125.523; Minnesota 128.384
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 3; 35
Vegas Line: Minnesota by 4 1/2; 38
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (+4 1/2); Under

Game 465-466: Miami at Houston (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 129.483; Houston 143.005
Dunkel Line: Houston by 13 1/2; 47
Vegas Line: Houston by 10 1/2; 43
Dunkel Pick: Houston (-10 1/2); Over

Game 467-468: St. Louis at Detroit (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis 120.837; Detroit 134.336
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 13 1/2; 49
Vegas Line: Detroit by 8; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-8); Under

Game 469-470: Atlanta at Kansas City (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 135.107; Kansas City 130.099
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 5; 46
Vegas Line: Atlanta by 2 1/2; 42
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-2 1/2); Over

Game 471-472: San Francisco at Green Bay (4:25 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 138.100; Green Bay 138.121
Dunkel Line: Even; 48
Vegas Line: Green Bay by 5 1/2; 45 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+5 1/2); Over

Game 473-474: Carolina at Tampa Bay (4:25 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 125.515; Tampa Bay 126.430
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1; 37
Vegas Line: Carolina by 3; 40
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (+3); Under

Game 475-476: Seattle at Arizona (4:25 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 133.680; Arizona 128.587
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 5; 36
Vegas Line: Seattle by 2 1/2; 40 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-2 1/2); Under

Game 477-478: Pittsburgh at Denver (8:20 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 131.635; Denver 134.522
Dunkel Line: Denver by 3; 47
Vegas Line: Denver (-1); 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-1); Over

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Game 479-480: Cincinnati at Baltimore (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 130.845; Baltimore 134.774
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 4; 43
Vegas Line: Baltimore by 6; 41 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+6); Over

Game 481-482: San Diego at Oakland (10:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 131.176; Oakland 132.310
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 46
Vegas Line: San Diego by 1 1/2; 48
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+1); Under

**Udog** · 09-04-2012, 07:09 AM

NFL
Short Sheet

Week 1

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Dallas at NY Giants, 8:30 ET NBC
Dallas: 0-6 ATS vs. division opponents
NY Giants: 26-12 Over in the first two weeks of the season

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Indianapolis at Chicago, 1:00 ET
Indianapolis: 13-4 Over as a road underdog of 7.5 to 10 points
Chicago: 5-11 ATS as a home favorite of 7.5 to 14 points

Philadelphia at Cleveland, 1:00 ET
Philadelphia: 7-13 ATS vs. AFC North opponents
Cleveland: 11-2 Under playing on grass fields

Buffalo at NY Jets, 1:00 ET
Buffalo: 9-2 Over as an underdog
NY Jets: 5-15 ATS at home in the first two weeks of the season

Washington at New Orleans, 1:00 ET
Washington: 11-3 Under as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points
New Orleans: 9-0 ATS as a home favorite

New England at Tennessee, 1:00 ET
New England: 20-7 Over vs. conference opponents
Tennessee: 8-3 ATS as a home underdog of 3.5 to 7 points

Jacksonville at Minnesota, 1:00 ET
Jacksonville: 5-1 Under in September
Minnesota: 0-8 ATS with a total of 35.5 to 42 points

Miami at Houston, 1:00 ET
Miami: 12-4 Under last season
Houston: 11-3 ATS playing on grass fields

St. Louis at Detroit, 1:00 ET
St. Louis: 0-6 ATS as a road underdog of 7.5 to 14 points
Detroit: 11-3 ATS in the first half of the season

Atlanta at Kansas City, 1:00 ET
Atlanta: 18-9 Under as a road favorite of 3 points or less
Kansas City: 27-12 ATS at home vs. non-conference opponents

(TC) San Francisco at Green Bay, 4:25 ET
San Francisco: 6-0 ATS in the first half of the season
Green Bay: 8-1 Over in home games

(TC) Carolina at Tampa Bay, 4:25 ET
Carolina: 10-2 Over vs. conference opponents
Tampa Bay: 4-12 ATS last season

(TC) Seattle at Arizona, 4:25 ET
Seattle: 2-7 ATS away with a total of 38.5 to 42 points
Arizona: 6-0 Over at home in the first half of the season

Pittsburgh at Denver, 8:25 ET NBC
Pittsburgh: 5-1 Under as a road underdog
Denver: 1-5 ATS as a home favorite

Monday, September 10, 2012

Cincinnati at Baltimore, 7:00 ET ESPN
Cincinnati: 11-1 Over vs. conference opponents
Baltimore: 6-1 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less

San Diego at Oakland, 10:15 ET ESPN
San Diego: 23-10 ATS away with a total of 45.5+ points
Oakland: 13-28 ATS as a home underdog of 7 points or less

**Udog** · 09-04-2012, 07:28 AM

Where the action is: NFL Week 1's biggest line moves

Tracking line moves during Week 1 of the NFL season is a different animal than any other week on the schedule.

Most games have had spreads available since the spring and have been influenced by a summer’s worth of stories, injuries and action.

With the 2012 NFL season finally kicking off this week, we dissect the biggest line moves of Week 1 with help of Mike Colbert, race and sportsbook director for Cantor Gaming.

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (Open: Arizona -1, Currently: Seattle -3)

Arizona opened as a slight home favorite but its issues nailing down a starting QB during the preseason pushed a lot of money towards Seattle. Football bettors are banking on the Seahawks, even though they're going with rookie QB Russell Wilson under center for Week 1.

“We’ve taken a boatload of money on Seattle. It’s one of our biggest decisions,” Colbert told Covers. “The Seahawks are going with Wilson, which I think is a good decision but it’s also a question mark. We’re not quite at -3 yet. I don’t think we’ll get there but if we do, people will start buying back on Arizona.”

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (Open: New York -6, Currently: New York -3)

A poor performance from New York in the preseason and a growing buzz around Buffalo has sliced this Week 1 spread in half. Cantor’s Las Vegas books opened with the Jets -5.5 and have been bet all the way down to a field goal. And Colbert doesn’t see it stopping there.

“The Bills are one of the sexy teams to start the year,” he says. “They have one of the best defensive lines out there. They’re really good up front. A lot of this depends on (QB Ryan) Fitzpatrick and how he plays. You’re going to see 2.5 on this one. Then you’ll get some buyback on the Jets.”

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans (Open: Houston -7, Currently: Houston -11.5)

According to Colbert, this is the biggest decision in terms of one-sided action the favorite for Cantor in Week 1. They opened Houston at -6.5 back in the spring and didn’t take any serious money until the line moved to -9.5.

“It’s all Texans,” says Colbert, who currently has Houston -11. “A lot of this has to do with the Dolphins' quarterback situation, going with (rookie QB Ryan) Tannehill. Some smart guys think Miami is willing to give away a few wins just to build him up and give him time.”

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints (Open: New Orleans -11, Currently: New Orleans -9)

In the wake of "Bounty Gate", football bettors have been slowly fading the Saints for their Week 1 date against the Redskins and rookie sensation Robert Griffin III. Colbert says there are more bets riding on the dog and understands why.

“I’m not really high on the Saints and I think it’ll hurt them not having (suspended head coach Sean) Payton on the sidelines,” he says. “We’ll know right away what kind of team the Saints are going to be this year. I think 9.5 or 10 points is too many.”

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (Open: Denver -3, Currently: Pick)

Cantor’s books have gone up and down with this Week 1 spread. They opened Denver -1 and went to Pittsburgh -1 then to Denver -2.5 before settling at Denver -1 again. Some online books are dealing this Sunday Night Football showdown as a pick’em.

“This is a revenge game for the Steelers but they're without James Harrison and Ryan Clark has the sickle cell issue, Mendenhall is hurt. I kind of like Denver,” says Colbert. “This game has been bet pretty even so far but I could see it moving slightly to Denver -2.5.”

**Udog** · 09-04-2012, 07:30 AM

NFL

Week 1

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Tale of the tape: Cowboys at Giants
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Take a quick glance at the tale of the tape for Wednesday night’s NFC East showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants:

Offense

The Cowboys’ offense will be seeking revenge after a disappointing 2011 campaign that saw Dallas drop both games to New York, including a devastating loss in Week 17. Tight end Jason Witten is undergoing a CT scan on his spleen Tuesday to determine his availability for the season opener. The seven-time Pro Bowler has said he’s ready to go and will suit up if he’s cleared by doctors. Quarterback Tony Romo still has two lethal weapons at wide receiver in Dez Bryant and Miles Austin to throw the ball to if Witten remains sidelined.

It’s no secret the Giants’ offense revolves around quarterback Eli Manning. The two-time Super Bowl champion is a year removed from throwing almost 5,000 yards and recording 29 touchdowns passes. The big question on Wednesday will revolve around the health and effectiveness of his favorite target Hakeem Nicks. The wideout underwent surgery to repair a broken toe in May and is still experiencing discomfort during practice.

Edge: Cowboys

Defense

The Cowboys will debut a new, beefed up secondary against the Giants. Dallas signed coveted free-agent cornerback Brandon Carr in the offseason and also selected the top corner in this year’s draft, Morris Claiborne. Mike Jenkins, a 2009 Pro Bowl cornerback, will be a game-time decision as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury that has kept him off the field for the entire preseason.

The Giants are nursing all kinds of injuries on defense. Cornerback Terrell Thomas was placed on season-ending IR and Prince Amukamara is doubtful with an ankle injury. The Cowboys will be looking to exploit the depleted Giants secondary, but Justin Tuck and Jason-Pierre Paul should still be able to shut down the running game and get pressure on Romo.

Edge: Giants

Special teams

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has said Dez Bryant is still in the mix to return punts in the opener, but the team has yet to finalize its kick and punt returners. Bryant was ineffective last season, averaging 6.7 yards per return.

The Giants don’t have an overly impressive return game, but kicker Lawrence Tynes was perfect in the preseason, nailing all eight of his field goal attempts and punter Steve Weatherford unleashed two hulking 55-plus yard punts last week against New England.

Edge: Giants

Word on the street

“The offensive line we have is fairly experienced. They’ve played a lot of games in this league. We’re going to put a plan together and we’re going to go play football ... So we’re excited to see them play against a really, really formidable defensive line the Giants have. It’ll be a great challenge for us and we’re excited about it.” Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett on the team's five starting linemen that have yet to take a snap in tandem during the preseason because of injuries.

"Michael (Coe) can run, he is very fast. Michael is physical and is not afraid. And Michael has a very strong mentality. If he doesn't have success on a play, we can chew his (rear) out and he'll come back and make a play for you. So I like his mental makeup also." Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell on Michael Coe's ability to defend Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. Coe will start at corner in place of the injured Prince Amukamara.

Covers Consensus: 61 percent of contest players like New York -4.

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**Udog** · 09-04-2012, 07:33 AM

NFL

Week 1

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Cowboys at Giants: What bettors need to know
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Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (-4, 46)

THE STORY: The New York Giants begin the defense of their Super Bowl championship on Wednesday, when they open the 2012 season against the Dallas Cowboys. New York's 9-7 record was enough to win the mediocre NFC East last season, clinching the title with a 31-14 triumph over Dallas at home in Week 17. The Giants rolled past Atlanta and upset the 15-1 Packers in Green Bay before needing overtime to top San Francisco in the conference championship game.

For the second time in five years, New York defeated New England in the Super Bowl, earning its fourth league championship. That gives Dallas even more incentive to take down its hated division rival in the season opener.

The Cowboys, who were a disappointing 8-8 last year, have not had much success against the Giants of late, losing five of their last six meetings. New York has eclipsed the 30-point mark in each of its last six victories in the all-time series.

Officiating could be a factor as replacement officials will be used to start the season for the second time in 12 years. The league locked out its regular officials in June, and a new agreement with the referees union has yet to be reached.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC.

LINE: Giants -4. O/U: 46. Oddsmakers opened the defending Super Bowl champs as 3-point favorites back in April. The spread has jump a point at most books and the total has also moved from 47 to 46 points.

ABOUT THE COWBOYS: The injury-riddled receiving corps appears to be rounding into shape. Dez Bryant sat out the final two preseason games with right knee tendinitis while Miles Austin didn't play at all after having hamstring problems last season and in training camp. Both are expected to be ready for the Giants. Tight end Jason Witten, who suffered a lacerated spleen in the preseason opener on Aug. 13, practiced in pads Saturday for the first time since the injury and hopes to be medically cleared for Wednesday's contest. As a precaution, Dallas claimed tight end Colin Cochart off waivers from Cincinnati and released third-string quarterback Stephen McGee.

ABOUT THE GIANTS: With a second Super Bowl ring on his hand, Eli Manning enters the year with more confidence than ever before. That also is because of a trio of receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon that arguably is the best in the league. Nicks is returning from offseason foot surgery and sat out practice Sunday but insisted he will play. New York also added talented tight end Martellus Bennett, whose growth was stunted in Dallas as he spent four seasons behind Witten. Linebacker Michael Boley, who missed the entire preseason with a strained hamstring, practiced for the first time Saturday and hopes to be on the field against the Cowboys.

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Over is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings in New York.
* Cowboys are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight meetings in New York.
* Cowboys are 1-5 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Cowboys own the league's best winning percentage in season openers with a .663 mark (34-17-1). The Giants also are among the leaders at .592 (49-33-5).

2. New York is five victories away from becoming the third team in NFL history to reach 650 wins. It will join Chicago (712) and Green Bay (679) in the elite group.

3. Witten, who has missed just one game in his career, owns the second-longest consecutive games streak among active TEs at 139 contests. He sat out a game as a rookie in 2003 due to a broken jaw.

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**Udog** · 09-05-2012, 10:15 AM

Football lines that make you go hmmm...

If the Week 2 college football schedule wasn’t already littered enough with puzzling pointspreads, football fans get their first taste of NFL action and a few more head scratchers.

Each week, we take a quick glance at the football odds making bettors go “hmmmm…”, whether it be the opening lines, early action or mid-week adjustments:

NCAAF

UCF Knights at Ohio State Buckeyes (-17.5, 50.5)

This Week 2 matchup pits two programs under NCAA lock and key. Both UCF and OSU are suffering through bowl bans for underhanded dealings but, despite the lack of a postseason prize, it would appear that keeping up appearances is more important to the Buckeyes and new head coach Urban Meyer.

This spread opened as low as -17 OSU online and is sitting as high as -18 at the LVH in Las Vegas. The Knights are a quality C-USA squad, but last week’s one-sided win over Akron was more the Zips’ fault than anything – three fumbles, two inside their own 10-yard line.

Duke Blue Devils at Stanford Cardinal (-14, 58.5)

This battle of brains may be the Super Bowl of the debate team calendar but the ACC-vs. Pac-12 football contest is the “Late Night Degenerate Special” in Week 2, with a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The Cardinal escaped with a “W” and little else versus San Jose State last Friday, but is still an elite program and will tighten the bolts following the Week 1 scare.

The Blue Devils were impressive – for Duke standards – in a blowout win over FIU. However, they did allow Golden Panthers RB Kedrick Rhodes to rumble for 130 yards and a score and now face Stanford RB Stepfan Taylor. Duke was second last in rushing defense in the ACC last year, giving up 180.67 yards per game on the ground.

NFL

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers (-5.5, 45)

The Niners were the sexy offseason pick to win the Super Bowl this summer, marching all the way to the top of the futures board at some Las Vegas books. So why would San Francisco be a 5.5-point pup in Green Bay for Week 1?

Sure, the Packers are still the Packers and Lambeau is Lambeau. But, in a battle of Super Bowl faves, wouldn’t you expect a tighter spread than touchdown books were giving the 49ers when this game opened back in the spring? This line has come down from that opening but still seems a little hefty, which is why some markets are dealing Green Bay -5 at plus money.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (-1, 44.5)

Depending on where you wager, this spread has been up and down more than Prince Harry’s pants during a Vegas bender. At certain Nevada books, the line moved all the way to Steelers -1 before going back to Denver -2.5. Some online books have it tagged as a pick’em.

Pittsburgh is missing some key cogs on defense and despite this being a “revenge” game following last year’s postseason shocker, the Broncos are very much a different team with Peyton Manning calling the shots at the line. Denver has moved up the futures board in a hurry this offseason but it appears that respect isn’t translating to Week 1’s odds.

**Udog** · 09-06-2012, 12:24 PM

Monthly money: Best and worst NFL bets in September

Handicapping NFL games in September can be tricky, especially for bettors have been anxiously waiting to place wagers on football after sweating out the dog days of summer.

Nonetheless, the London Olympics are in the books and the pig is in the air, meaning the sweltering days of summer will soon be history.

Let’s take a quick look at how teams in the NFL have fared during the opening month of September since 1990.

Listed below are the GOOD and BAD ATS (Against The Spread) September performers. Teams had to beat the spread 66.7 percent or more of the time, or lose to the spread 33.3 percent or less of the time, in order to qualify for the list.

All results were extracted from the 2012 PLAYBOOK Football Preview magazine.

SEPTEMBER GOOD MONTH PERFORMERS:

Dallas • 21-9 ATS as underdogs

The Cowboys are America’s team and almost always have enough talent to compete, if not win as often as their fans or oddsmakers think. Dallas is known for big plays and that is usually why they come through when catching points early in the season.

Kansas City • 22-10 ATS vs. division opponents

The Chiefs have long been known to focus their attention on AFC West encounters, both home and away. The rivalries in this division are about as fierce and full of hate as any in football and Kansas City has always made it their business to keep it personal.

Keep an Eye On:

Denver • 13-7 ATS as underdogs

The Broncos used to enjoy a tremendous home-field advantage, but have only had one winning regular season in Denver since 2006. They have been a much better wager when catching points.

SEPTEMBER BAD MONTH PERFORMERS:

Arizona • 10-21 ATS at home, 7-15 ATS when favored

The further Kurt Warner is removed from the Arizona franchise, the lower the Cardinals continue to sink. Even when the Redbirds had pretty good teams in recent years, they were slow out the gate, even at home.

Carolina • 7-14 ATS as favorites

John Fox was a successful head coach in Charlotte for the most part, but he was more known for how his teams closed the year than how they began them. Carolina has always been a far better road underdog than a favorite.

Cincinnati • 11-25 ATS at home, 10-20 ATS when favored

Bengals fans have been apathetic towards ownership, despite the team reaching the playoffs three times in the past seven seasons. The franchise averaged just over 49,000 patrons per game last season, last in the NFL. The days of the “The Jungle” are long gone and the Bengals’ home-field edge could bankrupt football bettors.

Cleveland • 2-5 ATS as favorites

When your talent level is in the lower 20 percent of the league, winning games is a problem. Positioning teams like this as favorites can be very profitable, as long as you are betting the other side. Cleveland does not deserve to be giving points to anybody at this juncture.

St. Louis • 13-26 ATS away

This is our second Kurt Warner reference, but it’s apparent what his impact was on two franchises after he departed. The Rams have assembled mediocre players for years and are clearly not capable of taking their act on the road in the first quarter of the season.

Keep An Eye On:

Chicago • 11-20 ATS as favorites

Previously, Chicago played more home games early in the season in order to have fewer cold-weather games in the northern part of the country. The Bears were often not equipped to handle being favored.

Oakland • 11-20 ATS vs. division opponents

The days of “Commitment to Excellence” with the Raiders went out like Al Davis’ leisure suits. AFC West rivals still derive pleasure from kicking Oakland’s posterior to this day.

Pittsburgh • 9-17 ATS as underdogs

The Steelers have been notorious slow starters, often peaking late in the season and taking a few early lumps since the Chuck Noll days in Pittsburgh.

St. Louis • 12-23 as favorites

Even when the Rams were the “Greatest Show on Turf” under Dick Vermeil, the St. Louis defense allowed too many points, making them a crummy choice as a favorite.

**Udog** · 09-08-2012, 10:28 AM

NFL poolies betting cheat sheet: Week 1

Want to handicap Sunday's NFL action but don't have time to research every game? Check out our NFL poolies cheat sheet for all your football wagering needs. We give you quick-hitting notes on all of Week 1's action.

Indianapolis colts at Chicago Bears (-10, 43.5)

Chicago won the teams' last meeting during the 2008 Kickoff Weekend. Forte raced 50 yards for a touchdown and linebacker Lance Briggs returned a fumble 21 yards for a score as the Bears posted a 29-13 victory on Sept. 7, 2008. The Colts are 0-4 ATS in their last four games in Week 1.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings (-4, 39.5)

Minnesota is listing four-time Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson, who is ahead of schedule in his recovery from torn anterior and medial collateral ligaments, as a game-time decision despite Peterson telling reporters he's ready to play. The Jaguars are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games in Week 1.

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (-2.5, 38.5)

The Bills are 5-1 against the spread in the last six meetings at New York, but the Jets have won seven of the past eight overall meetings, including 28-24 in Week 12 last season.

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans (-11.5, 42.5)

Houston has won all six matchups against the Dolphins, including a 23-13 victory at Miami last season. However, the underdog is 5-1 ATS in those six meetings.

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans (+5.5, 47)

The Patriots have won six of the last eight games in the series, going 5-3 ATS and 6-2 O/U in that span.

St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions (-9, 45.5)

The Rams averaged a mere 179.2 passing yards last season, 23rd in the league. Detroit was 22nd versus the pass, allowing 239.4 yards through the air each week. The over is 4-1 in Lions' last five games overall.

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints (-9, 50.5)

Washington leads the all-time series 15-8 and has won eight of 11 meetings in New Orleans. The Saints won the most recent meeting 33-30 in overtime in 2009. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns (+9.5, 43.5)

Running back Trent Richardson, the No. 3 overall pick, has yet to take a snap after undergoing knee surgery last month but is expected to play Sunday. He will be part of an untested backfield with rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, the 22nd overall selection.

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs (+2.5, 43.5)

The Falcons are 23-0 when Ryan has a quarterback rating over 100. Opposing QBs recorded an average passer rating of just 79.1 - seventh lowest in the NFL - versus Kansas City last season. The under is 12-2 in Chiefs' last 14 home games.

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers (-5, 46.5)

The Packers have 52 wins on kickoff weekend, tied with Chicago for the most ever. Packers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games in Week 1 and 9-1-2 ATS in their last 12 meetings with the Niners.

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (+1, 41)

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is 4-1 SU against Arizona in his coaching career, however the Seahawks are 1-5 ATS in their last six meetings in Arizona.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1, 46.5)

The Panthers (6-11) have the worst Week 1 record in the NFL while the Buccaneers (14-22) are fourth-worst. That said, the Panthers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings with the Bucs.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (-1, 44.5)

Denver QB Peyton Manning is 2-1 with six touchdowns and four interceptions in three career regular-season games against Pittsburgh. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings between Denver and Pittsburgh.

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-6.5, 41)

The Bengals are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six meetings with their AFC North rivals and 3-1-1 ATS in their last five trips to Baltimore.

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (-1, 46.5)

Oakland is 36-15-1 in home openers, the third-best mark in the NFL. The Raiders have gone 5-1 ATS in their last six games with the Bolts.

**Udog** · 09-09-2012, 09:16 AM

NFL

Week 1

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49ers at Packers: What bettors need to know
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San Francisco at Green Bay (-5, 46.5)

Two teams coming off postseason disappointment face off in one of the premier games of the NFL's opening weekend when the San Francisco 49ers travel to Green Bay to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Green Bay is bent on redemption after squandering a 15-1 regular season by bowing out in its first playoff game, while the 49ers will try to make the next step this season after a 20-17 overtime loss to the Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the NFC title game.

It's also a matchup of contrasting quarterbacks, though both were effective in their own right in 2011. Rodgers had one of the best seasons in NFL history with 4,643 passing yards, 45 touchdowns against only six interceptions and a league-record 122.5 rating. San Francisco's Alex Smith also blossomed, but he did so by becoming an effective game manager, passing for 3,144 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Packers lead the all-time series between the traditional NFL powers 30-25-1 and have won the past nine meetings, including all three under coach Mike McCarthy.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX.

LINE: Packers -5. O/U: 47.

ABOUT THE 49ERS (2011: 13-3): San Francisco upgraded Smith's receiving corps by adding Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and rookie A.J. Jenkins and added some depth in the backfield by signing Brandon Jacobs and drafting LaMichael James. The 49ers also return virtually everyone from a defense that ranked second in points allowed and fourth in total yards allowed last season.

ABOUT THE PACKERS (2011: 15-1): Green Bay didn't do much in the offseason, and it didn't need to. The Packers were dominant in 2011 until the playoffs, and they have the pieces in place to make a deeper playoff run this year. The Packers' biggest change was letting running back Ryan Grant go to free agency and replacing him with Cedric Benson, who is coming off his third consecutive 1,000-yard season.

TRENDS

* Packers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games in Week 1.
* Over is 4-0 in Packers’ last four games vs. NFC opponents.
* 49ers are 1-9-2 ATS in their last 12 meetings.
* San Francisco is 0-3-1 ATS in its last four games in Green Bay.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Packers have 52 wins on kickoff weekend, tied with Chicago for the most ever.

2. Smith has won 14 of his past 17 starts, and the 49ers are 10-0 when he has a rating of 100.0 or better.

3. The 49ers led the NFL with a plus-28 turnover margin last year, the second-best mark in the NFL since 1970.

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**Udog** · 09-09-2012, 09:18 AM

NFL

Week 1

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Sunday Night Football: Steelers at Broncos
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Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (-1, 46)

Peyton Manning moving to the Denver Broncos and his recovery from multiple neck surgeries was one of the big stories of the offseason. On Sunday night, Manning and the Broncos will get a real look at just how far the four-time NFL MVP has come in his recovery when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers. This version of Denver, with Manning instead of Tim Tebow under center, is very different from the team that knocked the Steelers out of the playoffs last winter - at least offensively. The defense, which sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times and picked him off once, remains largely intact. The Steelers will throw a defense at Manning that led the NFL last season while surrendering only 171.9 passing yards per game.

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC.

LINE: Broncos -1. O/U: 44.5

ABOUT THE STEELERS (2011: 12-4): Pittsburgh finished 21st in scoring at 20.3 points in 2011 and let offensive coordinator Bruce Arians leave in the offseason, replacing him with former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. The first order of business for Haley will be protecting Roethlisberger and his running backs, who have been operating behind a line with several holes. Roethlisberger has been sacked 122 times in the last seasons. Haley has installed sets with two tight ends and a fullback to help with protection and provide extra weapons beyond wide receivers Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace. The defense returns intact and a year older, though starting free safety Ryan Clark will miss the opener due to a sickle-cell trait that is aggravated at high altitude.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (2011: 8-8): Tebow provided plenty of excitement for Denver fans in 2011, but Manning brings the prospect of consistent production from the passing game. Wide receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas give Manning a strong set of targets while Willis McGahee and Lance Ball headline the running game. Thomas provided the picture that the Steelers saw all offseason, breaking for an 80-yard touchdown in overtime in the playoffs. The less-talked about addition to the Broncos was former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, who takes over as defensive coordinator. Del Rio has a pair of ends in Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil that combined for 21 sacks last season. Each pulled down Roethlisberger once in the playoff win.

TRENDS

* Steelers are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.
* Under is 6-1 in Steelers last seven games overall.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Broncos defense will not have LB D.J. Williams, who has been suspended six games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

2. Manning is 2-1 with six touchdowns and four interceptions in three career regular-season games against Pittsburgh.

3. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 4-1 in season openers.

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**Udog** · 09-09-2012, 01:37 PM

Guys,

It's about 30 minutes til kick-off and there's still no NFL long sheets available. I'll look once more before kick-off but I think there is no long sheet for Week 1.

Announcement

NFL Trends and Indexes - Week 1 (Wednesday, September 5 - Monday, September 10)

NFL Trends and Indexes - Week 1 (Wednesday, September 5 - Monday, September 10)

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