Hi all:
Here's a selection of Recommended Plays for the NFL:
RECOMMENDED PICK
Broncos (+3) @ Dolphins, 1 p.m. EST
Pick: Dolphins
Denver is just 2-3 SU on the road, with its wins over Arizona and Dallas. On the other hand, Miami has taken advantage of the home field, posting a 3-1 SU record with the only loss to the Jets, a team the Dolphins can't beat anywhere. Denver has allowed 30.75 ppg on the road in its last four trips away from Mile High and is playing beat up -- WR Rod Smith might not play, and even if he does he won't be at full strength, further weakening a once-great offense. The Broncos scored just 10 points against Washington two weeks ago and were unimpressive on offense against Dallas last week despite scoring 26 points. The Dolphins haven't been dominating on defense the last few weeks, but at home they've allowed more than 15 points just once, and the Jets needed to run back two INTs for TDs to do that.
RECOMMENDED PICK
Vikings (+7?) @ Steelers, 1 p.m. EST
Pick: Steelers
The Vikings have quit, and there is just absolutely no reason to back them in a real game of football. The Steelers will beat the Vikings up, and it won't take long before Minnesota just rolls over in this one. Not only are the Vikings disappointingly bad at 4-6 SU, they are even fooling the oddsmakers with a 3-6 ATS record. Pittsburgh keeps rolling along at 8-2 SU/7-2-1 ATS, and in three home games against losing teams, the Steelers have outscored their foes 70-21, allowing only one TD each game. The Vikings have lost three straight on the road by double digits, each score getting progressively worse. Dating back to last season, here's the Vikings last seven road results -- 11/11/01 @ Philly, L 41-14; 10/28/01 @ TB, L 41-14; 10/7/01 @ NO, L 28-15; 9/23/01 @ Chi, L 17-10; 1/4/01 @ NYG, L 41-0; 12/24/00 @ Indy, L 31-10; 12/10/00 @ SL, L 40-29. OUCH! If you can find this without the hook, you're even better off.
RECOMMENDED PICK
Bucs (-5) @ Bengals, 1 p.m. EST
Pick: Bengals
Will Tampa Bay experience a MNF hangover? After putting forth their best performance of the season by going into St. Louis and winning convincingly, the Bucs must take to the road and face Cincinnati in middling weather conditions. Believe it or not, the Bucs seven-point win in St. Louis last week was their only road win of the season by more than today's five-point spread. Just 3-3 SU on the road, Tampa Bay can really set itself up for the home stretch by improving to 6-5 SU with just one road game remaining. The Bengals have been getting worse over the last month, scoring less each game until being shut out by Cleveland last week. But that might play into our handicapping hands, as it is wise to play on any team that has scored 30 or less points in its last three games -- Cincinnati has scored just 20. The Bucs are 0-4 ATS this season when favored by more than three points, so we have plenty of reasons to go with the Bengals.
Good luck,
Mike
PS -- I see the Pittsburgh line up to 9 at the book I got these lines from early this morning. That is due to QB Daunte Culpepper most likely being out. Even if he plays he will be hampered. Vikings will be destroyed today no matter what, just like every other road game they play.
Here's a selection of Recommended Plays for the NFL:
RECOMMENDED PICK
Broncos (+3) @ Dolphins, 1 p.m. EST
Pick: Dolphins
Denver is just 2-3 SU on the road, with its wins over Arizona and Dallas. On the other hand, Miami has taken advantage of the home field, posting a 3-1 SU record with the only loss to the Jets, a team the Dolphins can't beat anywhere. Denver has allowed 30.75 ppg on the road in its last four trips away from Mile High and is playing beat up -- WR Rod Smith might not play, and even if he does he won't be at full strength, further weakening a once-great offense. The Broncos scored just 10 points against Washington two weeks ago and were unimpressive on offense against Dallas last week despite scoring 26 points. The Dolphins haven't been dominating on defense the last few weeks, but at home they've allowed more than 15 points just once, and the Jets needed to run back two INTs for TDs to do that.
RECOMMENDED PICK
Vikings (+7?) @ Steelers, 1 p.m. EST
Pick: Steelers
The Vikings have quit, and there is just absolutely no reason to back them in a real game of football. The Steelers will beat the Vikings up, and it won't take long before Minnesota just rolls over in this one. Not only are the Vikings disappointingly bad at 4-6 SU, they are even fooling the oddsmakers with a 3-6 ATS record. Pittsburgh keeps rolling along at 8-2 SU/7-2-1 ATS, and in three home games against losing teams, the Steelers have outscored their foes 70-21, allowing only one TD each game. The Vikings have lost three straight on the road by double digits, each score getting progressively worse. Dating back to last season, here's the Vikings last seven road results -- 11/11/01 @ Philly, L 41-14; 10/28/01 @ TB, L 41-14; 10/7/01 @ NO, L 28-15; 9/23/01 @ Chi, L 17-10; 1/4/01 @ NYG, L 41-0; 12/24/00 @ Indy, L 31-10; 12/10/00 @ SL, L 40-29. OUCH! If you can find this without the hook, you're even better off.
RECOMMENDED PICK
Bucs (-5) @ Bengals, 1 p.m. EST
Pick: Bengals
Will Tampa Bay experience a MNF hangover? After putting forth their best performance of the season by going into St. Louis and winning convincingly, the Bucs must take to the road and face Cincinnati in middling weather conditions. Believe it or not, the Bucs seven-point win in St. Louis last week was their only road win of the season by more than today's five-point spread. Just 3-3 SU on the road, Tampa Bay can really set itself up for the home stretch by improving to 6-5 SU with just one road game remaining. The Bengals have been getting worse over the last month, scoring less each game until being shut out by Cleveland last week. But that might play into our handicapping hands, as it is wise to play on any team that has scored 30 or less points in its last three games -- Cincinnati has scored just 20. The Bucs are 0-4 ATS this season when favored by more than three points, so we have plenty of reasons to go with the Bengals.
Good luck,
Mike
PS -- I see the Pittsburgh line up to 9 at the book I got these lines from early this morning. That is due to QB Daunte Culpepper most likely being out. Even if he plays he will be hampered. Vikings will be destroyed today no matter what, just like every other road game they play.
