The Bum's Week # 11 National Football League Rated Games - Trends - News !!

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Texans face challenge after win over Bengals
November 17, 2015

HOUSTON (AP) The Texans knocked off undefeated Cincinnati and are now tied for first in the AFC South.

But Houston faces a quick turnaround before hosting the New York Jets on Sunday, and quarterback Brian Hoyer's status is in question after he left Monday night's game with a concussion.

Coach Bill O'Brien said that Hoyer was in the league's concussion protocol.

''We're hoping that he'll be able to play for us, but right now it's day to day,'' O'Brien said.

Hoyer was injured on a sack by Domata Peko on the third play of the second half. He did not lose consciousness and got to his feet quickly after the hit that drove his head into the ground. Hoyer remained in the game for the rest of the series, a span of five plays, before heading to the locker room.

O'Brien said it was offensive coordinator George Godsey who first noticed there was something wrong with Hoyer.

''He wasn't functioning correctly as to how we know he would usually function calling a play, receiving the play in, trying to communicate it to the offense,'' O'Brien said.

''So George pointed it out to me when the series was over. I went over to him and he just said: `Look I'm having trouble remembering the plays right now.' So that's kind of where it was at. That's when I ... put my ... stethoscope away and called the trainer.''

T.J. Yates took over after Hoyer was injured and his touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins was the difference in the game and the only touchdown of the night. Yates signed with Houston on Oct. 28 to replace Ryan Mallett, who was released after missing the team charter to Miami earlier in the season.

''That's a tough situation for a guy to go into, so one of the things that impressed me and really has always impressed me about him is his demeanor,'' O'Brien said. ''He's a very calm guy, nothing really fazes him.''

Yates was released by the Falcons on Sept. 4 and had been in Atlanta spending his days looking for receivers to throw to, working out and waiting for another chance when Houston picked him up.

When Yates entered the game in the third quarter on Monday night, it was the first time he'd appeared in a game since Sept. 18, 2014, with Atlanta.

But he had history with the Bengals after injuries forced him into the starting role as a rookie with the Texans in 2011 and he led them to their first-ever playoff win with a 31-10 victory over Cincinnati.

O'Brien said Yates didn't get a lot of snaps in practice last week, but had enough to ''go in and function'' He finished 5 of 11 for 69 yards. Despite his rust after not playing for so long, Yates was helped by the rapport he has with teammates from his previous stint in Houston.

''The locker room has a lot of respect for him,'' O'Brien said. ''A lot of these guys have played with him. As soon as he entered the huddle there was already that amount of respect for him and they knew that he would go in there and do his job.''

Hoyer and Yates are the only quarterbacks on Houston's roster, but O'Brien said they have no plans to add a signal caller this week.

The quarterback situation isn't Houston's only concern on offense. They also have to figure out a way to get their running game going. The Texans are averaging just 87.2 yards rushing this season, which ranks 28th in the league. They haven't been great in this area all season, but things have gone downhill since Arian Foster was lost for the season with an Achilles tendon injury on Oct. 25.

Alfred Blue has started the two games since Foster was injured, but has managed just 61 yards rushing in those games combined. Chris Polk and Jonathan Grimes have also received carries with Foster out, and O'Brien was impressed with Polk's work against the Bengals.

Polk had just four carries against Cincinnati, but had a key 13-yard gain, where he barreled over a couple of defenders, on Houston's touchdown drive.

NOTES: O'Brien expects outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney to return this week after he sat out on Monday night with a lower back injury.

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Bengals seem bothered by how they lost
November 17, 2015

CINCINNATI (AP) Ugly. Sloppy. Self-destructive. Ineffective. The Bengals seemed to be more bothered by how they lost their first game than by the loss itself.

They had a lot to do with the best start in franchise history finally hitting the wall.

Cincinnati played by far its worst all-around game on Monday night, resulting in a 10-6 loss to the Houston Texans in front of a less-than-capacity crowd at Paul Brown Stadium that was booing in the fourth quarter.

Yep. It was that ugly.

Defensive tackle Domata Peko said the players talked on the field as the clock ran out about how they'd let one slip away. ''We can't do that, especially here at home,'' Peko said.

It was a strange night in many ways.

For one, an 8-0 team couldn't fill its stadium for a Monday night game. The Bengals sold 61,381 tickets, leaving roughly 4,000 empty seats at Paul Brown Stadium. And the fans booed as the mishaps piled up.

- Andy Dalton was repeatedly off-target and finished with a passer rating of 61, his lowest of the season.

- Cincinnati had a season-low 256 yards overall.

- Tight end Tyler Eifert dropped two passes.

- The Bengals had nine penalties for 70 yards, repeatedly undercutting drives.

- Punter Kevin Huber had one kick travel only 22 yards.

- The defense allowed backup Texans quarterback T.J. Yates, who had signed with the club only a couple of weeks earlier, to lead a game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Even with all of that, they had a chance to pull it out. A.J. Green fumbled after making a catch for what would have been a first down at the Texans 23-yard line with 40 seconds to go. Two weeks earlier, they were in a similar predicament in Pittsburgh and Dalton threw a touchdown pass to Green for a 16-10 win.

''It was almost like Pittsburgh,'' said Dalton, who was 22 of 38 for 197 yards with an interception and three sacks. ''At the very end of that game, we put a drive together and we won. I felt that same vibe from everybody. But unfortunately, we didn't hold onto the ball.''

That's not all they didn't do.

The running game was inadequate again, which has been a long-running concern. Dalton picked up 30 yards on five runs, some of them off designed plays. Running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill managed only 51 yards on 15 carries.

Overall, the Bengals ran for 73 yards, their lowest total of the season. Two games earlier, they ran for only 78 in Pittsburgh. It's becoming a trend.

''It always hurts when you can't execute and do what you game-plan to do,'' Hill said. ''It's very disappointing.''

The Bengals have a short week to get ready for another big test. They play Sunday night at Arizona (7-2), where Carson Palmer will be waiting to try to knock off his former team. The Cardinals are tied with Minnesota for second-best record in the NFC.

''We can't let there be any carry-over,'' Dalton said. ''That's not the team we are, and we know what we've done to this point. This game doesn't define our season. It doesn't define anything. We're still 8-1. We're still leading the division. We know where we are.''

The Bengals are still in great shape to make a fifth straight playoff appearance. They're up by 2 1/2 games over second-place Pittsburgh in the AFC North. The Steelers have their bye this week. They have to come to Paul Brown Stadium for a game on Dec. 13.

New England (9-0) has the best record and potentially the top seed in the AFC. The Bengals have the second-best record and potentially the No. 2 seed, with Denver and ailing quarterback Peyton Manning third at 7-2. The Bengals play a Monday night game in Denver on Dec. 28.

''We know everything is still out in front of us, and we know we need to find a way to go to Arizona and put on a good show and perform like we feel we should,'' linebacker A.J. Hawk said.

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Eagles have rotation they want at LB
November 17, 2015

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis has one of those problems coaches like to have when it comes to his inside linebackers.

Davis has three inside linebackers vying for time in the team's 3-4 scheme. He distributed it as equally as it could in last Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins, in which the defense played well enough to win.

DeMeco Ryans led the trio in snaps with 48, while Mychal Kendricks played 40 and Kiko Alonso, who missed six weeks earlier in the season with a knee injury, played 30.

''We're trying to get all three of them out there equally. We don't always dictate how it goes, sometimes it's based on the offense's personnel. But we want them all to play,'' Davis said. ''With Kiko we're still bringing him along. It's tough to hit them all exactly the same amount. But I think we're getting them all in there.''

Alonso, whom the Eagles acquired during the offseason from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for running back LeSean McCoy, has been eased back after the knee injury. Davis thinks now he's ready to go.

''We feel good about where he is, yes,'' Davis said. ''He came out the last game, and we felt pretty good about where he is. He played well in the game.''

The team hasn't been able to develop a rotation at outside linebacker, where starters Connor Barwin (64 plays) and Brandon Graham (51) are playing the vast majority of snaps. The third outside linebacker, 2014 first-round pick Marcus Smith, played just five snaps against the Dolphins after not playing at all the week before against the Dallas Cowboys.

''I don't think we're wearing those guys out,'' Davis said of Barwin and Graham getting a lot of snaps. ''We want to be on a rotation there, too. You'll see Marcus get more snaps this week, we're anticipating that anyway.''

Sunday, Davis' defense will see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. The Eagles coordinator has been impressed.

''As a rookie they're giving him some checks at the line and he's doing a good job with it. He's protecting the ball better, too,'' he said. ''I just got done watching the Tennessee game, where he turned it over a few times. He's gotten better. He's learned.''

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Thursday Night Football Betting Preview: Titans at Jaguars

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5, 24.5)

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans have a combined five wins between them, but they both remain in contention for a division title in the landfill known as the AFC South. The Jaguars improved to 3-6 following a stunning last-second win at Baltimore and are a win out of first place entering Thursday night's matchup versus the visiting Titans.

Jacksonville snapped a 13-game road losing streak thanks to blunders by the officiating crew and Ravens defensive end Elvis Dumervil, who was whistled for a facemask penalty as time expired to allow Jason Myers to kick the winning 53-yard field goal. The NFL later admitted that the Jaguars were offsides on the last play and never should have received the chance to attempt the decisive kick. Tennessee is 1-1 under interim coach Mike Mularkey after dropping a 27-10 decision to unbeaten Carolina on Sunday. Mularkey coached the Jaguars in 2012 but was fired after the team went 2-14 in his only season.

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network.

LINE HISTORY: The Jaguars opened as 3-point favorites and have been bet down slightly to -2.5. The total has also come down, since opening at 43.5 and is currently at 42.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Titans - CB P. Cox (probable Thursday, hamstring), NT S. Hill (probable Thursday, knee), LB D. Morgan (questionable Thursday, shoulder), RB D. Cobb (questionable Thursday, calf), WR K. Wright (out Thursday, knee), DL A. Woods (Out Thursday, ankle), CB B. Wreh-Wilson (out Thursday, hamstring), CB J. McCourty (I-R, groin), WR J. Hunter (I-R, ankle).

Jaguars - RB T. Yeldon (probable Thursday, foot), WR A. Hurns (probable Thursday, abdominal), WR B. Walters (questionable Thursday, concussion), S J. Sample (questionable Thursday, shoulder), LB D. Skuta (questionable Thursday, groin), DT M. Bennett (questionable Thursday, hamstring), RB T. Gerhart (questionable Thursday, groin), TE N. Jacobs (questionable Thursday, hamstring), RB B. Pierce (doubtful Thursday, Achilles), DT S. Marks (out indefinitely, tricep).

WEATHER REPORT: It could be a sloppy night for football in Jacksonville Thursday night. There is a 66 percent chance of rain at kickoff with temperatures in the high 60's. There will also be a 7-10 mile per hour wind blowing towards the southern end zone.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Titans (+4.5) - Jaguars (+4) + home field (-3) = Jaguars -3.5

ABOUT THE TITANS (2-7, 4-5 ATS, 5-4 O/U): Quarterback Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft who set an NFL rookie record for the most touchdown passes through eight games (13), lost another starting wide receiver as Justin Hunter suffered a fractured ankle in Sunday's loss. Rookie running back David Cobb could make his season debut for a ground game in need of a spark after managing only 64 yards on 21 rushes versus the Panthers. The Titans are fifth in the league with 27 sacks and have permitted the third-fewest passing yards (213.8) per game.

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (3-6, 5-4 ATS, 6-3 O/U): Jacksonville and quarterback Blake Bortles received a lift when wideout Allen Hurns was back at practice Tuesday one day after visiting a sports hernia specialist in Philadelphia. Bortles, the third overall pick a year ago, set a franchise record by throwing for at least two TDs in each of his last five games, but he's also been held under 200 yards and failed to complete 50 percent of his passes twice in the past three games. Rookie running back T.J. Yeldon was in a walking boot Monday and missed practice Tuesday but insisted he will play.

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Jacksonville.
* Under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings.
* Titans are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four meetings in Jacksonville.
* Underdog is 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine meetings.

COVERS CONSENSUS: The public is backing Jacksonville in this AFC South showdown, with 62 percent of wagers on the Jaguars. As for the total, bettors think it will be a high scoring affair, with 65 percent of wagers on the over.

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TNF - Titans at Jaguars

November 19, 2015


It might wind up being the gift that keeps on giving, but that’s going to depend on whether Jacksonville continues to improve over the course of the next six weeks. Baltimore’s Elvis Dumervil provided the opportunity by irresponsibly sacking Jaguars QB Blake Bortles by his facemask, drawing a penalty that led to an untimed down with no time left on the clock. Rookie kicker Jason Myers came through with a 53-yard field goal, the longest game-winner in the NFL this season, giving the Jags a surprising 22-20 road victory on Sunday afternoon.

Consider it an early Christmas present.

Less than 24 hours later, the league apologized for its officials for the umpteenth time this season, pointing out the Jaguars offensive line wasn’t set and regretting that the final play was allowed to proceed in the first place. Dumervil’s sack and subsequent penalty should’ve never happened, but Jacksonville isn’t giving the win back. Since it plays in the worst division in football, an AFC South topped by co-leaders Indianapolis and Houston, the victory means it opens Week 11 only one game behind the pace. Last-place Tennessee visits, so the Jaguars are actually a 3-point favorite to move to 4-6, which would match their highest win total since ’11 and be the most victories produced in the Gus Bradley era with six contests still remaining.

The Titans come in with a 2-7 mark, tied with five other teams for the second-worst record in the NFL behind 2-8 Cleveland. They’ve already fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt, replacing him on an interim basis with veteran Mike Mularkey. Rookie Marcus Mariota has displayed flashes of brilliance but has also dealt with multiple nagging injuries, missing two games due to a sprained MCL. The No. 2 pick in this past April’s draft followed up a four-touchdown performance in New Orleans in his return to action with a flat effort at home in last week’s 27-10 loss to Carolina.

It probably tells you all you need to know about Tennessee’s fortunes that the most buzz it generated last week came as a result of a defense that was offended over Panthers QB Cam Newton celebrating too long in its end zone. In the grand scheme of things, Mariota winning AFC Player of the Week honors on two occasions and enjoying a promising first year makes this season a win, but the remaining seven games will serve as a proving ground for Mularkey and the remaining coaches and players.

One member of the offense who looks like a keeper due to Mariota’s affinity for him is tight end Delanie Walker, who leads the Titans in targets (56), receptions (45), receiving TDs (5) and receiving yards (508). Jacksonville has surrendered the ninth-most yardage against opposing tight ends, making Walker a key x-factor in this one.

Tennessee has surrendered the fifth-highest percentage of touchdowns per reception to opposing tight ends, so expect that position to play a major role in this Thursday night matchup. Julius Thomas was the Jags biggest offseason splash, leaving Denver to become the league’s highest-paid player at his position, signing a five-year $46 million contract. He fractured his hand in the preseason opener and was sidelined for the season’s first four games. Currently, he’s been dealing with a minor groin injury suffered in Week 7, but is ready to be more than a decoy. Thus far, he’s only had more than three receptions in a single game once and has a single touchdown in five appearances. Former Pro Bowler Marcedes Lewis has caught passes in five of the last six games, but the tight end tandem that new offensive coordinator Greg Olson envisioned hasn’t taken flight.

Despite that setback, second-year QB Bortles, the No. 3 pick of the ’14 draft, has demonstrated tremendous growth. His 19 touchdown passes are tied for seventh in the NFL with San Diego’s Philip Rivers, one behind New Orleans’ Drew Brees and two back of Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, New York’s Eli Manning and Oakland’s Derek Carr. His 11 interceptions rank fourth in the league since he still takes too many chances with the ball, entering this one with a streak of throwing a pick in five straight games. Some of that can be attributed to a young receiving corps, but a group led by Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns is making strides. Marqise Lee has been limited by hamstring injuries and rookie Rashad Greene has been bothered by a thumb ailment, but both are expected to go today. The collective youth of this group is one reason management decided to pass on taking Amari Cooper with this year’s No. 3 pick, taking Florida DE Dante Fowler instead. Fowler tore his ACL in the first hour of mini-camp and will miss the entire season.

The Jaguars have managed to pile up points despite allowing the league’s top rookie receiver to play for Oakland, averaging 26 points through the past five games as the ‘over’ has reigned supreme in four of the last five. Outside of Tennessee’s Week 9 34-point explosion in New Orleans, its offense has struggled mightily. The ‘under’ has prevailed in four of the last six for the Titans, who have only topped 13 points once during that stretch.

Thursday’s total opened at 44 and has dipped to 43 points at most betting shops. The ‘under’ has cashed in five straight midweek games but the last couple weeks could’ve easily went to the high side. VegasInsider.com NFL Totals expert Chris David weighs on this week’s number.

“Recent total history tells you that this game is a toss-up with the ‘over/under’ producing a 5-5 mark the last five seasons but the ‘under’ is on a 3-1 run. During this span, we’ve only seen 30 or more points scored twice by one team and the 20-point plateau has been eclipsed seven times. Despite those facts, it wouldn’t be surprising to see both teams get in the twenties in this matchup. Mariota has played much better on the road (10 TDs) than at home and he should have his eyes wide open facing the Jacksonville defense, especially after playing Carolina’s stout unit,” explained David.

“Also, Jacksonville’s identity is an ‘over’ team. They have a weak defense, no running game and a quarterback that is capable to make big plays. The Jaguars have seen the ‘over’ go 6-3 this season.”

Balance will be key to Jacksonville’s attack, so having running back T.J. Yeldon healthy enough to anchor the ground game will be key. He’s been in a walking boot and hadn’t practiced, so his being listed as ‘questionable’ with a foot injury is legitimate. If he can’t play, carries will likely go to Toby Gerhart and Denard Robinson since top backup Bernard Pierce is considered ‘doubtful.’

Tennessee’s most significant injury concerns come on the defensive side as top corner Jason McCourty and promising Blidi Wreh-Wilson are out again. McCourty (groin) has been placed on IR. Corner Perrish Cox insists he'll be able to play through a hamstring injury, but you can expect the Jags to test just how healthy he is if he's out there. Defensive end Derrick Morgan, Tennessee's most effective pass rusher, is 'questionable' with a shoulder injury. Receivers Kendall Wright (knee) and Justin Hunter (leg) have been ruled out, so rookie Dorial Green-Beckham is expected to play a major role beside veteran Harry Douglas and Walker.

The Titans and Jaguars have split their last dozen meetings, with the last meeting going to Jacksonville at home last December. The division rivals will square off in Nashville on Dec. 6.

Afternoon showers are expected to be a part of the forecast in North Florida, but there's a good chance the rain will clear out by kickoff.

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Public Fades - Week 11
November 19, 2015

The second half of the NFL season is underway with only two undefeated teams left as the Patriots and Panthers each won on the road last week, while the Bengals were tripped up at home by the Texans to suffer their first loss. Thirteen teams in the league own records of 5-4 or 4-5, as we’ll focus on a pair of 4-5 clubs to go against this week in this edition of “Public Fades.”

Both the Eagles and Chiefs are on the outside looking in for a playoff spot, but both teams are favored in Week 11 against squads that are likely not heading to the postseason. Tampa Bay and San Diego are each below .500, but the Buccaneers weren’t considered to be much of a threat for the playoffs, while the Chargers have been one of the biggest disappointments in the league at 2-7.

Buccaneers at Eagles (-5 ½, 45) – 1:00 PM EST

Tampa Bay won just two games last season, but have doubled that total prior to Thanksgiving, which is an accomplishment for a team with a rookie quarterback. Jameis Winston led the Bucs to their fourth win of the season last Sunday in dramatic fashion, scoring on a one-yard touchdown run in the final minute to sneak past the Cowboys, 10-6. Tampa Bay is seeking back-to-back wins for the first time this season, but Lovie Smith’s team has compiled a solid 3-1 ATS record away from Raymond James Stadium, which includes outright wins at New Orleans and Atlanta.

The Eagles squandered a 16-3 lead in a 20-19 setback to the Dolphins as six-point favorites last Sunday, while quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a concussion and is listed as doubtful for Sunday. Philadelphia has won three consecutive games off a loss, but owns a 3-4 ATS mark in the favorite role. Mark Sanchez is expected to start at quarterback for the Eagles, as the former Jet won three of his first four starts last season before going 1-3 in his final four outings.

So why back the Buccaneers?

VegasInsider.com handicapper Joe Nelson feels Tampa Bay continues to be a team to watch out for, “The Buccaneers have wins in three of the last five games plus a one-point defeat in that run as Tampa Bay is looking like a competitive team, if not a dark horse wild card contender. Tampa Bay ranks 14th in the league in total offense and 7th in the league in total defense as the statistical profile has been superior to that of the Eagles. The only two convincing wins for the Eagles where the offense looked impressive came against the Giants and Saints, the two teams that rank 31st and 32nd in the league in total defense as Chip Kelly’s offense has mostly fallen well short of expectations.

NFL expert Antony Dinero says the quarterback edge goes to the Bucs, “Despite preseason expectations being drastically different, the fact is the Eagles and Bucs have identical records. Winston has been a better QB than Bradford over the last month and now draws a matchup with Sanchez. Despite his track record, Sanchez may be a better fit for Philadelphia’s offense due to his mobility, but he’ll be making his first start since last season’s disappointing finish and faces a Bucs defense that gave up just six points against the Cowboys last week and have made a living creating turnovers of late. With top Eagles’ tackle Jason Peters still slowed by a back injury and potentially absent again, Philly’s offense may continue to struggle.”

Chiefs (-3, 44 ½) at Chargers – 4:05 PM EST

San Diego has fallen short many times this season, losing close contests to Pittsburgh and Chicago at home, while dropping a late decision at Baltimore to slip to 2-7. The Chargers haven’t been a team to make money off of either, covering three of nine times, but the Bolts have managed to cash in each of their past two opportunities as an underdog. Mike McCoy’s team is off the bye week, while going 1-2 SU/ATS last season when listed as a home ‘dog. Through nine games, the Chargers have amazingly played just once against a division foe, falling to the Raiders as a 3 ½-point home favorite in Week 7 in a 37-29 setback.

The Chiefs have rebounded from a 1-5 start to win three consecutive games to try and salvage their season. Kansas City is playing its second straight road contest against a division opponent, cruising past Denver last Sunday, 29-13 as 3 ½-point underdogs, while intercepting Peyton Manning four times. During this three-game winning streak, the Chiefs haven’t allowed more than 13 points in any game, while yielding 18 points or less in five consecutive contests.

So why back the Chargers?

When breaking down Kansas City’s recent hot stretch, Nelson says the Chiefs have taken advantage of teams in precarious spots, “The win streak deserves some scrutiny as they beat the Steelers with Landry Jones making his first ever start, then beat the lowly Lions in London, and had a 5-0 turnover edge in last week’s win over Denver. The Chiefs were coming off the bye week before last week’s critical division win, the same scenario that the Chargers are in this week. San Diego is the NFL’s most prolific passing offense while ranking fourth in the league in total offense despite being a middle-of-the-pack scoring team. Going back to 1998, the Chargers are 13-4 S/U hosting the Chiefs with a 10-7 ATS record and they haven’t been a home underdog in this series since 2005 while going 4-0 ATS as a home underdog vs. the Chiefs since ’98.”

NFL handicapper Vince Akins says don’t take too much stock in the Chiefs’ victory at Denver last week, “In that game, KC started as a six-point dog before that line was pushed down to 4.5 points, but either way it was an upset and almost entirely driven by the five easy interceptions they had in the win. However, when a team pulls off an upset that is turnover driven, that is not something that can be often sustained. Teams that won as at least three-point dogs last game where they benefited from at least four turnovers are just 113-142 ATS (44%) the next game and commit more turnover than they force on average in these follow-up games.”

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2015 NFL page

Week 11

Titans (2-7) @ Jaguars (3-6)-- Since 2010, Jax is 8-1 vs spread when favored-- this is only second time they've been favored since '12. Titans lost three of last four visits here, losing by 2-5-8 points. Jax won two of last three games, all of which were decided by 5 points or less; they're 1-2 SU at home, with only win by 3 over Miami- this is their first home game in 32 days. Tennessee losing seven of last eight games but is 2-2 SU on road this year, with losses by 14 at Cleveland, 14 at Houston. Titans averaged 9.5/7.1 ypa in two games since coaching change, but WR Hunter (leg) is out for year now. Underdogs are 4-1 vs spread in AFC South games this season. Three of last four Titan games stayed under; four of last five Jax games went over total.

Redskins (4-5) @ Panthers (9-0)-- Carolina is 7-2 vs spread this season, 3-2 at home; they allowed 20+ points in five of last seven games, ran ball for 119+ yards in last eight games. Panthers won last three series games; seven of last nine in series were decided by 4 or less points. Washington is 4-0 when it scores 23+ points, 0-5 when it doesn't; they're 1-3 as a road dog, losing away games by 11-6-14-17 points. Redskins lost last three visits here, by 3-3-13 points. Underdogs are 1-3 vs spread week after playing Saints; favorites are 1-4 week after playing Titans. NFC East non-divisional underdogs are 6-8 vs spread, 2-5 on road; NFC South favorites are 10-7, 6-4 at home. Three of last four Redskin games, five of last seven Panther games went over total.

Raiders (4-5) @ Lions (2-7)-- Detroit split last four games since 0-5 start; they've changed lot of coaches/GM, but they're off first win at Lambeau since '91- teams are 2-5 SU week after playing Packers. Since 2007, Raiders are 6-18 vs spread when favored, 0-2 this year; Oakland is 4-1 when scoring 27+ points, 0-4 when they score less- this is Raiders' first tilt this year on artificial turf- they're 9-3 vs spread on carpet last 5+ years. Four of Detroit's last five foes scored 28+ points. Lions won last three series games by 10-1-15 points; Raiders are 2-3 in visits here. NFC North teams are 14-9 vs spread out of division, 1-3 as home dogs; AFC West teams are 12-15, 1-3 as road faves. Over is 3-0-1 in last four Raider games, 4-1 in last five Lion games.

Cowboys (2-7) @ Dolphins (4-5)-- Romo expected back under center for Dallas, which lost all seven games in his absence- wouldn't expect miracles here- how good is his conditioning? Miami is 3-2 since coaching change; they're 0-4 when allowing 27+ points, 4-1 if allowing less- Fish are playing just third home game- they split pair of one-sided games. Dallas lost last three road games, by 6-7-4 points; their only road win was at Philly, where Miami won last week. Pokes won last two series games 37-20/20-19; they've won last two visits here. Teams are 0-6 SU week after playing Bucs, 5-3 after playing Eagles. NFC East squads are 8-13 vs spread out of division; AFC East teams are 12-9-1. Miami ran ball for just 73.3 ypg in last three games. Over is 5-3 in last eight Dolphin games.

Colts (4-5) @ Falcons (6-3)-- 40-year old backup QB Hasselbeck gets nod for Colts, who won his other two starts (over Jags/Texans). Indy won/covered eight of last ten post-bye games; they're 13-2 in last 15 games vs Falcons, winning seven of last eight here, but their last visit here was in '07. Atlanta won last six post-bye games (5-1 vs spread); they limped into bye, losing three of last four games after 5-0 start- their last two wins are by 6 in OT, 3 points. Falcons were -6 in turnovers in last five games, after being +6 in first four. Colts are 2-3 SU in last five games, but 4-0 vs spread as an underdog. Four of last five Indy games went over; four of last five Falcon games stayed under. NFC South non-divisional favorites are 10-7, 6-4 at home; AFC South underdogs are 9-7, 5-5 on road.

Rams (4-5) @ Ravens (2-7)-- St Louis was so putrid last week (0-12 on passes 10+ yards downfield) they're switching to Keenum at QB here. Rams are 22-102 on third down in last eight games; Welker's first game didn't help any, but it will in time. All eight Ravens games have been decided by 8 or less points; Ravens are Rams are 3-0 in division games, 1-5 in all others; they're 1-2 as road dogs this year, losing on road by 14-14-3 points. Home side won four of last five series games (Ravens 3-2). Underdogs are 0-2 week after playing Chicago; favorites are 1-2 after playing Jaguars. NFC West non-divisional road teams are 4-7 against spread; AFC North home teams are 6-5. Six of last eight St Louis games stayed under; three of four Raven home games went over.

Jets (5-4) @ Texans (4-5)-- Houston is tied for first in AFC South; they've won last couple games, not allowing TD either game. Hoyer had concussion Monday; unsure of his status- #3 QB Yates would take his place- they cut their #2 QB. Jets are +12 in turnovers in five wins, -9 in four losses; they lost last two road games, allowing 32 ppg. Texans allowed only 467 TY last two games, 159 on ground; they allowed 9 or less points in three of four wins, are 1-5 allowing double figure points. Houston turned ball over twice in last four games (+7) Favorites are 1-4 vs spread week after playing the Bengals. AFC East teams are 12-9-1 vs spread out of division, AFC South teams 10-14. Four of last five Jet games, four of last six Houston games went over total.

Packers (6-3) @ Vikings (7-2)-- Unlikely scenario has Minnesota in first place here; they've won five games in row, covered last eight; they're 4-0 at home, allowing 14.5 ppg. Packers lost last three games, with no sacks; they had 23 sacks during 6-0 start. Green Bay is 9-1-1 in last 11 games with Minnesota; five of their last six series wins were by 9+ points. Must be noted that this is Green Bay's first game on carpet this year; they're 1-7 vs spread in last eight games on fake grass. Packers lost last two road games, but both foes were unbeaten at time; Peterson looks like old self; Vikings ran ball for 148.8 ypg in last four games. Throw in Bridgewater's mobility and thats why they've improved. Five of last six Green Bay games stayed under total; over is 4-2-1 in last seven Minnesota games.

Buccaneers (4-5) @ Eagles (4-5)-- Looks like Sanchez starts at QB for fading Philly, after they blew early 16-3 lead at home last week. Eagles are 4-1 if they score 24+ points, 0-4 if they score less- they've split four home games. Tampa allowed 30+ points in four of last six games; they're 3-1 as road dogs, losing by 10 in Houston, 1 in Washington. Philly won last three games with Bucs by 19-2-11 points. NFC East non-divisional home favorites are 1-4 vs spread; NFC South underdogs are 6-4, 4-3 on road. Teams are 5-2 week after playing Miami, 2-4-1 week after playing Dallas. Seven of last nine Philly games stayed under total; four of last six Tampa games went over. Tampa Bay covered four of last five games overall. Philly scored TD on defense/special teams in three of its four wins.

Broncos (7-2) @ Bears (4-5)-- Osweiler gets first NFL start in his 4th year; he's thrown 54 career passes. Arizona State was 6-7 the only year he was their starter. Denver fired Fox 10 months ago; now they meet again here, with former Bronco QB Cutler leading a Bear squad that won four of last six games after an 0-3 start. Chicago has allowed six TDs on offense or special teams, two more than any other team; they're 1-3 at home with only win 22-20 over Oakland. Broncos lost last two games after a 7-0 start. AFC West teams are 6-8 vs spread on road outside its division; NFC North teams are 7-4 at home. Three of last four Chicago games went over total. Osweiler's backup is Northwestern rookie Siemian. Teams split 14 series games overall, with last two going to overtime.

Bengals (8-1) @ Cardinals (7-2)-- Carson Palmer once threatened to quit rather than play for the Bengals; now he plays here against them, for 7-2 Cardinals who have 3-game lead in NFC West after 39-32 win in Seattle LW. Redbirds are 21 of last 33 on third down; in only two losses, they were -3 in turnovers both games. Cincy is 11-3-1 in last 15 games as a dog; they're on short week after Monday night loss at home to Texans. Home side won nine of last ten series games; Bengals lost 28-7/17-14 in last two visits here, with last visit here in 2003. Seven of nine Arizona games went over total; last three Bengal games stayed under. NFC North teams are 13-11-1 vs spread out of division, 6-5-1 as dogs NFC West favorites are 6-7, 3-4 at home. Don't tell CBS, but this is a potential Super Bowl matchup.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Titans (2-7) at Jaguars (3-6)
Date: November 19, 2015 8:25 PM EDT

Mike Mularkey lasted one season as coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's uncertain how long he'll be in charge of the Tennessee Titans.

Coming off his first loss with the Titans, Mularkey faces the host Jags as a head coach Thursday night for the first time since they fired him following the 2012 season.

After going 2-14 with Jacksonville three years ago, Mularkey was let go when the team decided it needed "an immediate and clean restart."

'I wasn't sure I'd ever get another one after what happened in Jacksonville," he said.

"It's very hard to create a culture. You are coming in there, and everything is new. It was a situation where a new owner came in, hired a new GM, and they wanted to go in a different direction. But I just wish we would have had more time."

In his second season as a Tennessee assistant, Mularkey got that chance after Ken Whisenhunt was fired Nov. 3. Five days later, the Titans (2-7) snapped their six-game skid with a 34-28 overtime win at New Orleans.

The Titans lost 27-10 to undefeated Carolina on Sunday, but were competitive before the Panthers scored the only 10 points of the fourth quarter.

'We went out there and gave it our all, and we're going to keep our heads up," linebacker Avery Williamson told the Titans' official website.

With the team seemingly responding well to the change, the rest of this season represents a chance for Mularkey to earn the Titans' job full-time.

"We'll get an opportunity to see him perform as a head coach," team president Steve Underwood, also serving on an interim basis, said earlier this month. "But we'll cast a wide loop looking for candidates for a successor head coach. We've made that clear to Mike, he understands that, but it's a great chance for him to have an audition."

Mularkey doesn't want Thursday's matchup to be about him.

"I just want these guys to win,' Mularkey said. 'That's important to me. It has nothing to do with who we're playing. It's just a matter of winning.'

Doing that won't be easy without a better offensive performance, as Tennessee managed 242 yards and a season-low 11 first downs against the Panthers' top-10 defense. A week after throwing four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Saints' struggling defense, Marcus Mariota was picked off once and didn't have a TD.

Mariota, however, has been sacked once in two games under Mularkey after being dropped 19 times in his first five.

Mariota won't have Justin Hunter available after the third-year receiver suffered a season-ending ankle injury Sunday. He had 22 catches for 264 yards and a TD.

Rookie running back David Cobb could make his debut after he was inactive against Carolina, having been eligible for that game following his activation from the injured reserve/eligible to return list. Tennessee was held to 64 rushing yards after gaining 112 against the Saints.

Jacksonville (3-6) yielded 89 rushing yards against Baltimore and snapped a 13-game road skid with Sunday's 22-20 victory. It looked as if the Jaguars' road woes would continue when Blake Bortles was brought down by Elvis Dumervil as time expired. However, Dumervil was called for a facemask penalty and Jason Myers followed with a winning 53-yard field goal.

Each of the Jaguars' three game-winning drives have been helped by a significant penalty.

'This is professional sports; there's a lot of luck involved,' tight end Julius Thomas said. 'Unfortunately this year, we've had some balls bounce away from us. To have some things go our way is great.

"It's hard to get wins in this league, so we'll take them however they come."

The Jaguars have won two of three, but they're banged up. In addition to foot and thigh problems, receiver Allen Hurns is dealing with a sports hernia. Hurns has caught a TD in a team-record seven straight games.

Running back T.J. Yeldon is being evaluated for a foot injury. The rookie has averaged 3.9 yards per carry while gaining 125 in two games since rushing for 115 in a 34-31 win over Buffalo on Oct. 25.

Jacksonville defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks could miss the remainder of the season with torn right triceps muscle.

Tennessee will be without cornerback Jason McCourty, nose tackle Al Woods and possibly cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson due to injuries. The Titans could have cornerback Perrish Cox back after he missed last week's contest with a hamstring injury.

Bortles has thrown at least two TDs in five consecutive games but at least one INTs in each of those. He passed for a touchdown, wasn't intercepted and gained 50 yards rushing to help Jacksonville to a 21-13 Thursday night home win over Tennessee on Dec. 18.

[StarDust Bum]

NFL (PROFESSIONAL)

DUNKEL'S HIGHLIGHTED GAME

Tennessee at Jacksonville - Thursday November 19, 2015
The Titans head to Jacksonville tonight to face a Jaguars team that is 8-19-1 ATS in its last 28 home games. Tennessee is the pick (+3) according to Dunkel, which has the Titans favored by 1 1/2.

Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (+3).

Oakland
@
Detroit
Game 453-454
November 22, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: Oakland
130.142
Detroit
131.627
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Detroit
by 1 1/2
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Oakland
by 2 1/2
48
Dunkel Pick: Detroit
(+2 1/2); Over


Dallas
@
Miami
Game 455-456
November 22, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: Dallas
131.928
Miami
128.758
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Dallas
by 3
50
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Miami
by 1
47
Dunkel Pick: Dallas
(+1); Over


Indianapolis
@
Atlanta
Game 457-458
November 22, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: Indianapolis
127.298
Atlanta
134.786
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Atlanta
by 7 1/2
44
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Atlanta
by 5 1/2
47 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta
(-5 1/2); Under


St. Louis
@
Baltimore
Game 459-460
November 22, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: St. Louis
130.563
Baltimore
129.456
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: St. Louis
by 1
38
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Baltimore
by 2 1/2
41 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis
(+2 1/2); Under


NY Jets
@
Houston
Game 461-462
November 22, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: NY Jets
129.334
Houston
134.616
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Houston
by 5 1/2
44
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: NY Jets
by 2 1/2
41 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston
(+2 1/2); Over


Green Bay
@
Minnesota
Game 463-464
November 22, 2015 @ 4:25 pm

Dunkel Rating: Green Bay
140.400
Minnesota
137.254
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Green Bay
by 3
48
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Minnesota
by 1
44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay
(+1); Over


Tampa Bay
@
Philadelphia
Game 465-466
November 22, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: Tampa Bay
126.106
Philadelphia
135.067
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Philadelphia
by 9
41
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Philadelphia
by 5 1/2
45 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia
(-5 1/2); Under


Denver
@
Chicago
Game 467-468
November 22, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: Denver
135.869
Chicago
132.788
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Denver
by 3
37
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Chicago
by 1 1/2
41 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Denver
(+1 1/2); Under


Cincinnati
@
Arizona
Game 469-470
November 22, 2015 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating: Cincinnati
137.554
Arizona
140.059
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Arizona
by 2 1/2
51
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Arizona
by 5
48
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati
(+5); Over


San Francisco
@
Seattle
Game 471-472
November 22, 2015 @ 4:25 pm

Dunkel Rating: San Francisco
125.434
Seattle
140.880
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Seattle
by 15 1/2
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Seattle
by 12 1/2
40
Dunkel Pick: Seattle
(-12 1/2); Over


Washington
@
Carolina
Game 451-452
November 22, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating: Washington
130.347
Carolina
141.526
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Carolina
by 11
41
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Carolina
by 7
45 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Carolina
(-7); Over

Kansas City
@
San Diego
Game 473-474
November 22, 2015 @ 4:05 pm

Dunkel Rating: Kansas City
133.331
San Diego
132.410
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Kansas City
by 1
48
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Kansas City
by 3
44
Dunkel Pick: San Diego
(+3); Over


Buffalo
@
New England
Game 475-476
November 23, 2015 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating: Buffalo
137.643
New England
141.509
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: New England
by 4
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: New England
by 7 1/2
48
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo
(+7 1/2); Over

[StarDust Bum]

NFL > (309) TENNESSEE@ (310) JACKSONVILLE | 2015-11-19 20:25:00 - 2015-11-19 20:25:00
Play AGAINST TENNESSEE in All games when playing with 6 or less days rest
The record is 6 Wins and 26 Losses for the last three seasons (-24.9 units)


NFL > (309) TENNESSEE@ (310) JACKSONVILLE | 2015-11-19 20:25:00 - 2015-11-19 20:25:00
Play AGAINST TENNESSEE using money line in All games when playing with 6 or less days rest
The record is 6 Wins and 26 Losses for the last three seasons (-24.9 units)

[StarDust Bum]

NBA ATS

NBA > (703) MILWAUKEE@ (704) CLEVELAND | 2015-11-19 20:05:00 - 2015-11-19 20:05:00
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND against the spread in All games in November games
The record is 9 Wins and 28 Losses for the last three seasons (-21.8 units)

----------------------------

NBA MONEYLINE

NBA > (703) MILWAUKEE@ (704) CLEVELAND | 2015-11-19 20:05:00 - 2015-11-19 20:05:00
Play ON CLEVELAND using money line in Home games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 18 Wins and 4 Losses for the last two seasons (+13.8 units)

NBA > (703) MILWAUKEE@ (704) CLEVELAND | 2015-11-19 20:05:00 - 2015-11-19 20:05:00
Play ON CLEVELAND using money line in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 31 Wins and 14 Losses for the last two seasons (+19.4 units)

NBA > (701) SACRAMENTO@ (702) MIAMI | 2015-11-19 19:35:00 - 2015-11-19 19:35:00
Play ON MIAMI using money line in All games in a home game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points
The record is 59 Wins and 11 Losses for the since 1992 (+36.15 units)

NBA > (705) GOLDEN STATE@ (706) LA CLIPPERS | 2015-11-19 22:35:00 - 2015-11-19 22:35:00
Play ON GOLDEN STATE using money line in Road games in November games
The record is 10 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+9.45 units)

-----------------------------

NBA TOTALS

NBA > (701) SACRAMENTO@ (702) MIAMI | 2015-11-19 19:35:00 - 2015-11-19 19:35:00
Play UNDER MIAMI on the totalin All games after a non-conference game
The record is 7 Overs and 27 Unders for the last two seasons (+19.3 units)


NBA > (701) SACRAMENTO@ (702) MIAMI | 2015-11-19 19:35:00 - 2015-11-19 19:35:00

Play UNDER MIAMI on the totalin All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 14 Overs and 37 Unders for the last two seasons (+21.6 units)

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TEN at JAC 08:25 PM

JAC -3.0 TRIPLE PLAY

U 42.5 TRIPLE PLAY

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TEN at JAC 08:25 PM

JAC -3.0 TRIPLE PLAY

U 42.5 TRIPLE PLAY

[StarDust Bum]

SuperContest Picks - Week 11
November 21, 2015

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest is the biggest, most prestigious, challenging pro football handicapping contest in the country. The fees are $1,500 per entry, and it’s all a 100% payback. Contestants must pick 5 pro football games against the spread each week for the entire 17-week season. The individual that has the best record after the season will be deemed the winner.

The LVH Casino at Westgate Las Vegas Resort is a hotel, casino, and convention center, which is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. LVH SuperBook vice-president Jay Kornegay is in charge of the SuperContest.

This year's contest has 1,727 entries, which is an all-time record. The winner of this year's top prize will be given a check for $906,675, plus the top 50 finishers will collect cash prizes too.

Each week throughout the season, we'll post the Top 5 Consensus Picks in the SuperContest on Saturday afternoon and list all of the selections for each matchup.


Through ten weeks of the season, the Top 5 Consensus Picks have gone 27-21-2 (56%) in the SuperContest.

Week 11

1) Dallas (515)

2) N.Y. Jets (514)

3) Green Bay (414)

4) Cincinnati (410)

5) Minnesota (409)

SUPERCONTEST WEEK 11 MATCHUPS & ODDS

Away Team Selections Home Team Selections

Tennessee (+3) 89 Jacksonville (-3) 90

Washington (+7) 264 Carolina (-7) 372

Oakland (-2) 354 Detroit (+2) 342

Dallas (PK) 515 Miami (PK) 199

Indianapolis (+5.5) 287 Atlanta (-5.5) 256

St. Louis (+2) 225 Baltimore (-2) 262

N.Y. Jets (-2) 514 Houston (+2) 135

Green Bay (+1) 414 Minnesota (-1) 409

Tampa Bay (+5.5) 285 Philadelphia (-5.5) 236

Denver (+1) 404 Chicago (-1) 364

Cincinnati (+5) 410 Arizona (-5) 315

San Francisco (+12.5) 147 Seattle (-12.5) 211

Kansas City (-3) 354 San Diego (+3) 369

Buffalo (+7) 270 New England (-7) 318

[StarDust Bum]

Gridiron Angles - Week 11
November 21, 2015


NFL PLAY ON ATS TREND:

-- The Panthers are 12-0-1 ATS (11.6 ppg) since September 29, 2002 when they had a negative turnover margin in each of their last three games.

NFL PLAY AGAINST TREND:

-- The Redskins are 0-12 ATS (-9.6 ppg) since January 2013 as a dog of more than a point after allowing 95-190 rushing yards last game.

TOP NFL PLAYER TREND:

-- The Ravens are 7-0 OU (14.71 ppg) since September 21, 2014 as a favorite after Joe Flacco threw for at least 250 yards as a favorite the last time they played this team.

NFL ATS SYSTEM:

-- Teams which allowed at least a 72 yard run last game are 60-42-1 ATS. Active on Oakland.

NFL O/U OVER TREND:

-- The Lions are 20-0-1 OU (8.8 ppg) since December 16, 2001 as a dog after allowing at least seven points less than expected last game.

NFL O/U UNDER TREND:

-- The Panthers are 0-11 OU (-10.7 ppg) since 2000 as a home favorite of no more than nine points after a win where they had at least 23 first downs.

NFL BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:

-- The Panthers are 9-0 ATS at home when they played on the road last week and they have a road game next week.