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BetWWTS.com
Dogs looking to bark at home
Regardless of whether they?re the San Francisco 49ers or the Houston Texans, every home underdog is worthy of wagering consideration.
Why? Because it has long been established that home-field is worth three points. So, a team that?s a 3-point dog at home is, in reality, a 6-point dog, and that?s a significantly bigger spread to cover.
Don?t believe home-field means that much? Well, consider this: only six teams in the entire 32-team NFL have won more games on the road this season than they have at home.
That number gets even more dramatic when you look at the bottom two teams in each of the eight divisions. Of those 16 teams, only one has won more games on the road.
And which team is that? The New Orleans Saints. But the Saints haven?t truly had home-field advantage all year thanks to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Superdome.
In fact, one of their so-called ?home? games actually took place at Giants Stadium against the New York Giants. That was really a home game for the Giants, who easily won 27-10 as 3.5-point favorites.
It is almost always the league?s bottom-feeders that get pegged as home underdogs. Conversely, road favorites are typically the league?s powerhouses. This weekend, there are four such matchups.
In Houston, the Texans will be 6-point dogs when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
The Texans are 2-12 straight up (SU) and sit in the basement of the AFC South. The Jags are 10-4 SU and are second in the same division.
While the Jags will be motivated to secure a playoff spot come Saturday, the Texans will be equally motivated to play spoilers against a division rival.
And keep in mind the Jags, with backup QB David Garrard starting, barely beat the visiting 49ers 10-9 as 16-point favorites last week.
Despite being 2-12 SU, the Texans are 7-7 against the spread (ATS), and both of their SU wins have come at home. Last week, they beat Arizona 30-19 as 3-point home dogs.
In Cleveland, the Browns will be 7-point home dogs when they host the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
The Browns are 5-9 SU and are tied for last in the AFC North. The Steelers are 9-5 SU and are second in the same division.
Again, with a possible playoff spot on the line, the Steelers will be extra motivated come Saturday. But don?t count out the Browns, who will also be looking to play spoilers against a division rival.
And the Browns have shown some spark the past three weeks with rookie pivot Charlie Frye starting. Last week, they beat Oakland 9-7 as 3-point road dogs.
Three of Cleveland?s five SU wins this season have come at home.
In Green Bay, the Packers will be 6.5-point home dogs when they host the Chicago Bears (Sunday, 5:00 p.m. ET, Fox).
The Packers are 3-11 SU and sit in the basement of the NFC North. The Bears are 10-4 SU and are first in the same division.
Playing against a team that has been decimated by injuries, the Bears are in a perfect position to lock up a trip to the post-season on Sunday. However, the Packers also have a chance to be spoilers.
Furthermore, QB Brett Favre will undoubtedly be digging deep for some of his old magic so that he can end what is possibly his last NFL season on a positive note.
Two of Green Bay?s three SU wins have come at Lambeau this season.
In New Jersey, the Jets will be 5.5-point dogs when the host the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at alcohol-free Giants Stadium (Monday, 9:00 p.m. ET, ABC).
Having lost eight of their last nine, the Jets are 3-11 SU and sit in last in the AFC East. The Patriots are 9-5 SU and have clinched the division title.
The Jets are 3-0 ATS as home dogs this season, and all three of their SU wins have come at home. However, this weekend they will be playing against a team that has been surging of late.
With key players returning from injury, the Pats have won five of their last six games including three straight. Last week, they humiliated Tampa Bay 28-0 as 6-point home favorites.
The Jets can?t play spoilers since the Pats have already locked up a playoff spot, not that they?d have much of a chance anyway. The Jets are scoring the fewest points in the league (13.5 ppg).
Injuries have played a significant role in the team?s offensive struggles. Early in the season, they lost starting quarterback Chad Pennington as well as backup Jay Fiedler to injuries.
As a result, the team was forced to pull 42-year-old pivot Vinny Testaverde out of retirement. And after he got injured in Week 7, the Jets had to rely on third-stringer Brooks Bollinger.
If that wasn?t tough enough, the Jets also lost perennial 1,000-yard rusher Curtis Martin earlier this month due to a knee injury. Martin limped through the team?s first 10 games before ending his season three weeks ago.
BetWWTS.com
Dogs looking to bark at home
Regardless of whether they?re the San Francisco 49ers or the Houston Texans, every home underdog is worthy of wagering consideration.
Why? Because it has long been established that home-field is worth three points. So, a team that?s a 3-point dog at home is, in reality, a 6-point dog, and that?s a significantly bigger spread to cover.
Don?t believe home-field means that much? Well, consider this: only six teams in the entire 32-team NFL have won more games on the road this season than they have at home.
That number gets even more dramatic when you look at the bottom two teams in each of the eight divisions. Of those 16 teams, only one has won more games on the road.
And which team is that? The New Orleans Saints. But the Saints haven?t truly had home-field advantage all year thanks to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Superdome.
In fact, one of their so-called ?home? games actually took place at Giants Stadium against the New York Giants. That was really a home game for the Giants, who easily won 27-10 as 3.5-point favorites.
It is almost always the league?s bottom-feeders that get pegged as home underdogs. Conversely, road favorites are typically the league?s powerhouses. This weekend, there are four such matchups.
In Houston, the Texans will be 6-point dogs when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
The Texans are 2-12 straight up (SU) and sit in the basement of the AFC South. The Jags are 10-4 SU and are second in the same division.
While the Jags will be motivated to secure a playoff spot come Saturday, the Texans will be equally motivated to play spoilers against a division rival.
And keep in mind the Jags, with backup QB David Garrard starting, barely beat the visiting 49ers 10-9 as 16-point favorites last week.
Despite being 2-12 SU, the Texans are 7-7 against the spread (ATS), and both of their SU wins have come at home. Last week, they beat Arizona 30-19 as 3-point home dogs.
In Cleveland, the Browns will be 7-point home dogs when they host the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
The Browns are 5-9 SU and are tied for last in the AFC North. The Steelers are 9-5 SU and are second in the same division.
Again, with a possible playoff spot on the line, the Steelers will be extra motivated come Saturday. But don?t count out the Browns, who will also be looking to play spoilers against a division rival.
And the Browns have shown some spark the past three weeks with rookie pivot Charlie Frye starting. Last week, they beat Oakland 9-7 as 3-point road dogs.
Three of Cleveland?s five SU wins this season have come at home.
In Green Bay, the Packers will be 6.5-point home dogs when they host the Chicago Bears (Sunday, 5:00 p.m. ET, Fox).
The Packers are 3-11 SU and sit in the basement of the NFC North. The Bears are 10-4 SU and are first in the same division.
Playing against a team that has been decimated by injuries, the Bears are in a perfect position to lock up a trip to the post-season on Sunday. However, the Packers also have a chance to be spoilers.
Furthermore, QB Brett Favre will undoubtedly be digging deep for some of his old magic so that he can end what is possibly his last NFL season on a positive note.
Two of Green Bay?s three SU wins have come at Lambeau this season.
In New Jersey, the Jets will be 5.5-point dogs when the host the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at alcohol-free Giants Stadium (Monday, 9:00 p.m. ET, ABC).
Having lost eight of their last nine, the Jets are 3-11 SU and sit in last in the AFC East. The Patriots are 9-5 SU and have clinched the division title.
The Jets are 3-0 ATS as home dogs this season, and all three of their SU wins have come at home. However, this weekend they will be playing against a team that has been surging of late.
With key players returning from injury, the Pats have won five of their last six games including three straight. Last week, they humiliated Tampa Bay 28-0 as 6-point home favorites.
The Jets can?t play spoilers since the Pats have already locked up a playoff spot, not that they?d have much of a chance anyway. The Jets are scoring the fewest points in the league (13.5 ppg).
Injuries have played a significant role in the team?s offensive struggles. Early in the season, they lost starting quarterback Chad Pennington as well as backup Jay Fiedler to injuries.
As a result, the team was forced to pull 42-year-old pivot Vinny Testaverde out of retirement. And after he got injured in Week 7, the Jets had to rely on third-stringer Brooks Bollinger.
If that wasn?t tough enough, the Jets also lost perennial 1,000-yard rusher Curtis Martin earlier this month due to a knee injury. Martin limped through the team?s first 10 games before ending his season three weeks ago.
