Pro Football Best Bet NY Giants at Washington Redskins (+3) (1PM ET) (FOX)
Road favorites are covering 2 out 3 times on the season. What can you say about these road warrior NY Giants. 17-2 against the spread in their past 19 NFC road games. They are getting done in all phases of the game: Offense, defense and special teams. No leaks at all. On the other side of the ball the Redskins are struggling offensively for points. Seattle has able to mount pressure against Jason Campbell last week. They put up only 20 points against the second worst passing defense in football in Seattle in that contest. They scored 10 points or less in games against the Giants, Cowboys and Steelers this season. My Best Bet for Sunday NFL is taking the NY Giants –3 against the Washington Redskins.
Pro Football Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (-1) (4:15PM ET) (FOX)
There are health concerns for the Steelers. Willie Parker has a bad knee and Santonio Holmes is recovering from a concussion he took from a hit against Cincinnati last week. Matt Cassell back-to-back 400 yard passing games. That’s impressive but remember he has outstanding wide receivers and is getting time to throw the ball. When you look at the Steelers 3 losses on the season it was against their toughest opponents in Indy, NY Giants and Philadelphia. Lets face it they have played some bad offenses in Cincinnati twice, Washington and Cleveland. Then they played the Chargers in bad weather so those defensive stats are reflective of their schedule and a bad weather game. Big Ben is not getting good protection from his offensive line and with Willie Parker banged up the Patriots could sit in coverage and play the pass. And that means Roethlisberger will sit and wait and wait in the pocket and he will take sacks and get hit. Take New England –1.
College Football Saturday Oregon Ducks at Oregon St Beavers (-3.5) (7PM ET) (Versus)
A win and Oregon St will make the Rose Bowl but in the Civil War Oregon St has a huge health concern. Jacquizz Rodgers has a sprained shoulder and didn’t practice on Monday is doubtful. That’s a huge story in this game with Jacquizz Rodgers not healthy against Oregon. Oregon put up 500 yards against a pretty good defense in Arizona last time out. Oregon is coming off a bye and have had 2 weeks to prepare. Oregon is very balanced on offense as Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount have led the Ducks to a 268 yards a game ground attack. When asked Jeremiah Johnson has delivered at quarterback with no picks in his past 2 games. With an injured Jacquizz Rodgers the game rests more on the shaky quarterback duo of Lyle Moevao and Sean Canfield. Oregon’s speedy secondary will expose the weakness of Oregon St at QB. Take Oregon +3 ½.
College Football Nevada Wolfpack at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (+4) (2:30PM ET) (ESPN PPV)
Nevada needs this game to get to 7 wins and a bowl berth. Louisiana Tech already has their bowl berth with a 7-4 record. Tech beat Utah St and New Mexico St on back to back weeks facing about the two worst programs from college football. Now they will be challenged and Tech after their win last week are assured of a bowl berth and will let down in this spot. Nevada plays with more purpose in this one and their pistol offense will be tough to defend. Nevada went to Fresno St this season and earned a 41-28 victory and beat their rival UNLV on the road 49-27. So they have got the job done on the road this season. Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick gets the job done here. Take Nevada –4.
College Football Kansas Jayhawks vs Missouri Tigers (-14) (12:30PM ET) (FOX NET)
Missouri put up 36 last year and 42 two years ago against Kansas. This season the Jayhawks lost a lot of their playmakers on offense and their defense has performed poorly. The Tigers still possess their starting quarterback Chase Daniel and an explosive offense. We saw Texas Tech score 63 and Nebraska 45 on the Jayhawks defense. Missouri big here. Take Missouri –14.
Pro Football Thanksgiving Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (O/U 46 ½) (4:15PM ET) (FOX)
The pressure is off of Seattle. They are talking about Seattle in a spoiler’s role now in he Seattle newspapers. They are not going to make the playoffs as they sit at 2-9 on the season. So now there will be less intensity from Seattle in this matchup and expect the Seahawks to play with not much to lose. They will look to hone up their offense and most likely slack off defensively in the process. I expect a high scoring affair in this contest as Dallas’ defense gave up over 13 yards a reception against San Francisco last week. Tony Romo is rounding back into form with his receivers. Seattle’s passing defense is second worse in the league. Ya, they are worse than the Rams and Lions. Play Seattle and Dallas over 46 ½.
Pro Football Thanksgiving Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions (+11) (9:30AM PT) (CBS)
You know even when teams try and give Detroit football games they just cant seem to take it. Tampa spotted the Lions a 17-0 lead and saw it evaporate which resulted in 38-20 loss. 4 of Detroit’s 5 home games resulted in losses by the Lions by 13 points or more with their closes margin being 8 points. Man that’s bad. We have an angry Titans team entering Detroit fuming after their embarrassing defeat to the Jets last week. Tennessee’s running backs will have a field day on this Detroit defense. Kerry Collins will also have success through the air like most of the teams in the NFL have had against the hapless Lions. Tennessee holds a 2 game lead in the AFC for home field throughout the playoffs so there is plenty to play for Tennessee. The Titans defense will dominate Detroit. Forget about taking the points with Detroit on Thanksgiving. Tennessee blowout victory here. Take Tennessee –11.
Pro Football Best Bet Chicago Bears at St Louis Rams (O/U 43) (1PM ET) (FOX)
This game will be played in a dome so weather will be no factor. Here is another fact. The Rams are 6-1 to the over in their past 7 home games thanks in part to their bad defense that ranks near the bottom against the run and pass. The Bears secondary gives up nearly 250 yards per game against the pass. Bears running back Matt Forte will have a huge game here and will set up scores in the passing game against this poor Rams secondary. On the other side of the ball Rams quarterback Marc Bulger will air it out and have success against the Bears pass defense. Look for each coach to attack each others weakness and that would be to pass, pass, and pass some more. With a lot of passing the game extends and that plays perfectly for my play on the over. My Best Bet for Sunday NFL is playing the Chicago Bears and St Louis Rams over 43.
Pro Football Sunday New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (-2) (1PM ET) (CBS)
Matt Cassell is playing improved football and passed for 400 yards against the Jets a week back. He has also thrown only 1 pick in his last 3 ball games. In their first meeting the Patriots were embarrassed badly and expect the New England coaching staff to be fully focused throughout practice and the game because there is much at stake in this game. If New England loses they would lose a tiebreaker with Miami having lost both games against them should they finish tied at the end of the regular season. So in effect with both teams at 6-4 New England would fall 2 games back of Miami with a loss here. It’s highly unlikely that a division opponent will sweep Bill Belichick even with Matt Cassell in for Tom Brady. I just don’t see it happening. This is a feel play. Take New England +2.
Pro Football Sunday NY Jets at Tennessee Titans (-5.5) (1PM ET) (CBS)
The Jets defense has played excellent football as this unit gives up only an average of 81 yards per game on the ground. Nose tackle Kris Jenkins is plugging up that middle very well for the Jets. The Jets run defense will force Kerry Collins into obvious passing downs and the Jets can bring the pass rush to force stops. Kerry Collins does not have talented wide receivers to throw downfield so the Jets can have some success defensively to stay competitive much like Green Bay did a few weeks back. Favre has done a good job of managing the team and limiting mistakes. If the game lands 3 or 4 you win no matter who wins. Take the points in this one. Take the NY Jets +5 ½.
