Perry Perspective: NFL Feature Dec. 2
from
BetWWTS.com
Key divisional matchups highlight weekend slate
Besides Indianapolis and Denver, which teams are for real in the NFL this season? Twelve weeks into the season and it?s still hard to tell.
That should change this weekend when some of the contenders will inevitably separate themselves from the pretenders. In particular, there are three key divisional matchups to pay attention to.
In the AFC North, the game to watch will be the Cincinnati Bengals (8-3 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) taking on the Steelers (7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) in Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
The Steelers were spanked 26-7 by the Colts last week and are amidst a mid-season slump having lost their last two games.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to the lineup last week after having missed three games due to knee surgery. The second-year pivot looked rusty versus Indy passing for only 133 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
The defeat was Big Ben?s first on the road as a professional, and although he struggled, it was the Steelers? rushing game that struggled most.
Pittsburgh?s primary offensive weapon is its rushing attack, but it managed only 86 yards on the ground last week. The week before, it was even worse managing just 69 yards in a 16-13 loss to Baltimore.
The Steelers should have an easier time of it on Sunday against the Bengals, who are significantly weaker than Colts and Ravens against the run. Cincy is allowing an average of more than 122 rushing ypg (25th overall).
The Steelers? defense continues to be strong allowing just 17 ppg, third overall in the NFL. And they?re going need all the defense they can muster when they face the Bengals, who are scoring more than 26 ppg, fifth overall.
We currently have the Steelers listed as 3.5-point home favorites. The total is set at 42.5. Together both teams are 9-13 on the OVER/UNDER.
Over in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys (7-4 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) will battle the New York Giants (7-4 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) for first place in the East (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
New York is coming off a heart-breaking overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on the road. The Giants had three opportunities to ice the game but kicker Jay Feely missed three consecutive field goal attempts.
New York has now lost two of their last three games including a home loss three weeks ago to Minnesota. That was actually the team?s only loss at Giants Stadium where they are 6-1 this year.
The Giants? potent offense is currently logging more than 27 points per game, third highest in the NFL. A driving force behind that production has been quarterback Eli Manning and running back Tiki Barber.
Manning is fast becoming a superstar having racked up more than 2,600 yards and 20 TDs, and Barber is having a career year rushing for more than 100 ypg.
On defense, New York has been fairly solid against the run, but weak against the pass, which should benefit Cowboys pivot Drew Bledsoe who is thriving under his old coach Bill Parcells.
Bledsoe?s QB rating and completion percentage are the highest they?ve been in his career.
Defensively, the Cowboys have been stingy allowing a little more than 17 ppg, fourth overall.
Dallas has won three of its last four games but is also coming off a gut-wrenching overtime loss. Their loss came at home on Thanksgiving to Denver, 24-21.
We currently have the Giants listed as 3-point home favorites in Sunday?s game. The total has been set at 42. Dallas is 4-6-1 on the OVER/UNDER, New York is 5-6.
The third game to keep an eye on will take place in Carolina where the Panthers (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) will host the Atlanta Falcons (7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) in an NFC South tilt (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
The Panthers lead the division having won seven of their last eight games. Despite some shortcomings on offense, Carolina appears to be living up to preseason expectations.
Atlanta currently sits in second in the division tied with Tampa Bay. Although the Falcons rolled over the Lions on Thanksgiving, they have not had a strong November having lost two of four games.
Most of Carolina?s success can be attributed to team?s defense which is tied with Dallas for fourth in points allowed. The Panthers have been especially vicious on the running attack allowing just 82.4 ypg, third fewest in the league.
That does not bode well for the Falcons who rely heavily on the running game to put points on the board. Atlanta leads the league in rushing, posting more than 183 ypg.
Obviously, quarterback Michael Vick is a big part of this equation, along with RB Warrick Dunn, who is rushing for just under 100 ypg.
We currently have the Panthers listed as 3-point home favorites. The total has been set at 43. The Falcons are 6-5 on the OVER/UNDER, the Panthers are 5-4-2.
from
BetWWTS.com
Key divisional matchups highlight weekend slate
Besides Indianapolis and Denver, which teams are for real in the NFL this season? Twelve weeks into the season and it?s still hard to tell.
That should change this weekend when some of the contenders will inevitably separate themselves from the pretenders. In particular, there are three key divisional matchups to pay attention to.
In the AFC North, the game to watch will be the Cincinnati Bengals (8-3 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) taking on the Steelers (7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) in Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
The Steelers were spanked 26-7 by the Colts last week and are amidst a mid-season slump having lost their last two games.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to the lineup last week after having missed three games due to knee surgery. The second-year pivot looked rusty versus Indy passing for only 133 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
The defeat was Big Ben?s first on the road as a professional, and although he struggled, it was the Steelers? rushing game that struggled most.
Pittsburgh?s primary offensive weapon is its rushing attack, but it managed only 86 yards on the ground last week. The week before, it was even worse managing just 69 yards in a 16-13 loss to Baltimore.
The Steelers should have an easier time of it on Sunday against the Bengals, who are significantly weaker than Colts and Ravens against the run. Cincy is allowing an average of more than 122 rushing ypg (25th overall).
The Steelers? defense continues to be strong allowing just 17 ppg, third overall in the NFL. And they?re going need all the defense they can muster when they face the Bengals, who are scoring more than 26 ppg, fifth overall.
We currently have the Steelers listed as 3.5-point home favorites. The total is set at 42.5. Together both teams are 9-13 on the OVER/UNDER.
Over in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys (7-4 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) will battle the New York Giants (7-4 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) for first place in the East (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
New York is coming off a heart-breaking overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on the road. The Giants had three opportunities to ice the game but kicker Jay Feely missed three consecutive field goal attempts.
New York has now lost two of their last three games including a home loss three weeks ago to Minnesota. That was actually the team?s only loss at Giants Stadium where they are 6-1 this year.
The Giants? potent offense is currently logging more than 27 points per game, third highest in the NFL. A driving force behind that production has been quarterback Eli Manning and running back Tiki Barber.
Manning is fast becoming a superstar having racked up more than 2,600 yards and 20 TDs, and Barber is having a career year rushing for more than 100 ypg.
On defense, New York has been fairly solid against the run, but weak against the pass, which should benefit Cowboys pivot Drew Bledsoe who is thriving under his old coach Bill Parcells.
Bledsoe?s QB rating and completion percentage are the highest they?ve been in his career.
Defensively, the Cowboys have been stingy allowing a little more than 17 ppg, fourth overall.
Dallas has won three of its last four games but is also coming off a gut-wrenching overtime loss. Their loss came at home on Thanksgiving to Denver, 24-21.
We currently have the Giants listed as 3-point home favorites in Sunday?s game. The total has been set at 42. Dallas is 4-6-1 on the OVER/UNDER, New York is 5-6.
The third game to keep an eye on will take place in Carolina where the Panthers (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) will host the Atlanta Falcons (7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) in an NFC South tilt (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
The Panthers lead the division having won seven of their last eight games. Despite some shortcomings on offense, Carolina appears to be living up to preseason expectations.
Atlanta currently sits in second in the division tied with Tampa Bay. Although the Falcons rolled over the Lions on Thanksgiving, they have not had a strong November having lost two of four games.
Most of Carolina?s success can be attributed to team?s defense which is tied with Dallas for fourth in points allowed. The Panthers have been especially vicious on the running attack allowing just 82.4 ypg, third fewest in the league.
That does not bode well for the Falcons who rely heavily on the running game to put points on the board. Atlanta leads the league in rushing, posting more than 183 ypg.
Obviously, quarterback Michael Vick is a big part of this equation, along with RB Warrick Dunn, who is rushing for just under 100 ypg.
We currently have the Panthers listed as 3-point home favorites. The total has been set at 43. The Falcons are 6-5 on the OVER/UNDER, the Panthers are 5-4-2.
