NFL Betting: NFC Remains Wide Open Heading in To NFL Week Nine

Despite all of the rhetoric and rambling, not much has changed in the NFC this season. While the East and South divisions are still incredibly competitive, the West division is once again a joke with the suddenly surging San Francisco 49ers among the best teams in the NFC at 6-1. The long road to the postseason still has several stops along the way which will determine the contenders from the pretenders, continuing in week nine with a ton of action to look forward to this NFL Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) @ Washington Redskins

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The 49ers seemingly came out of nowhere to win six of their first seven games, including a couple of big upset wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions to establish their place in the early NFC power rankings. San Francisco will look to extend their current winning streak and to six games and extend their division lead this weekend against the struggling Redskins, who have lost three straight following their bye week, and have major issues at the quarterback position with veteran journeyman John Beck currently the team’s No. 1. The biggest question mark heading in to this game is why the sports betting spread is so low even after big wins over the Bucs, Lions, and Cleveland Browns, as it appears as though the oddsmakers still aren’t sold on the 49ers this season.

NFL Betting Pick: San Francisco 49ers – 3.5

Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys (-11.5)

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

After losing two of their previous three games, the Cowboys simply couldn’t keep up with the explosive Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, but will get the chance to catch their breaths this week. With the exception of last weekend’s 34-7 loss, Dallas has been excellent defending the run, and that should make things easy for them in a must-win game against the Seahawks this weekend. Seattle ranks 31st in the NFL running the ball and 24th in the passing game, and for some it remains a mystery how they have gotten to two wins. That total won’t change this NFL picks week against the Cowboys, as Tony Romo and the boys look to bounce back in a big way.

NFL Betting Pick: Dallas Cowboys – 11.5

St. Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals (-3.5)

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The pay head roof caved in on the Cardinals following a quick start to their eventual 30-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which they actually led 24-6 at the half. Arizona will hope to get off to a fast start again this week but avoid the collapse that they suffered last week when they take on the Rams, which finally got in the win column last week in surprising fashion as they topped the New Orleans Saints 31-21 with backup quarterback AJ Feeley leading the offense. That won’t happen again this week against a desperate Cardinals’ team.

NFL Betting Pick: Arizona Cardinals – 3.5

College Football Odds: Central Michigan vs. Kent State Betting the Spread

It’s not surprising that the worst of the MAC games (is there really a best?) takes place on a Friday when most of us are out hitting the happy hours.

The Central Michigan Chippewas fight against Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday November 4th at Dix Stadium.

What’s shocking, however, is that you can actually watch this game on ESPN2.

We guess there’s only so many times you can see ‘World Series of Poker’ reruns (the cards never seem to change).

With the November Nine (final table) set for the following Tuesday, we’re actually surprised that ESPN execs didn’t have it pushed to replace this college football bluff.

And speaking of frauds, how about that Central Michigan defense that is in complete shambles, allowing 444 YPG to FBS foes this season?

That’s 112 more yards per game than Kent’s under-the-radar stop-unit, which has held three opponents to season-low yardage in 2011.

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And despite a 4-11 ATS record on weekdays, this meaningless MAC affair will find us backing the defensive home dog that appears to be making strides under first-year HC Darrell Hazell.

In other words, we can’t lay points with a visiting team on a 4-14 SU run that arrives with the nation’s 80th-ranked defense and is playing its 10th straight game without rest. Take it or leave it.

Central Michigan are listed as 1½-point favorites against the Kent State, while the game's total is sitting at 43.

Central Michigan most recently:

When playing in November are 6-4

When playing on turf are 4-6

After being outgained are 3-7

When playing within the conference are 3-7

Kent State most recently:

When playing in November are 3-7

When playing on turf are 3-7

After being outgained are 3-7

When playing within the conference are 4-6

Who Is Left in The Bottom Out For Andrew Luck Sweepstakes?

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers close out week eight of the Breeders Cup betting NFL season tonight in Kansas City. With eight weeks set to be in the books, there are still plenty of teams in the mix for the first overall draft pick in April 2012. Known by price per head users as the ‘Suck For Luck’ sweepstakes, for the first time in the long history of the NFL, there are not one but two teams that could finish without a win this season. The teams at the bottom of the standings are playing for the opportunity to draft Stanford Cardinals quarterback Andrew Luck. Here is a look at who is left in the Suck for Luck bookie software sweepstakes.

Entering this past Saturday’s thrilling affair between Stanford and USC, Andrew Luck entered the game as the consensus number one pick on many scouts draft boards. However, this weekend, featured, Luck going up against USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley, who is considered to be the next best option, should a team miss out on Luck. The duo put on a brilliant display, as Stanford, walked away with a 56 – 48 victory in triple overtime over the Trojans.

Indianapolis Colts (0 – 7) – The Colts are an NFL picks to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes, as they have literally been the worst all around team in the NFL this season. Indianapolis had to start the season without franchise quarterback Peyton Manning, who suffered a setback, recovering from offseason neck surgery. As a result, the Colts elected to sign former Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, as opposed to former Minnesota Viking and Green Bay Packers great Brett Favre. Unfortunately, Collins would also succumb to injury, and now the Colts are stuck with Curtis Painter this season. For this reason, the Colts offense has been unable to muster much offense, as Painter is an awful quarterback, averaging two interceptions a game.

Drafting Andrew Luck, in theory, would allow the Colts to have a solid insurance plan, should Manning still need time to recover next season. Worst case scenario, the Colts draft Luck, and he has to learn under the guidance of Manning for a few years, similar to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers a few years ago.

Miami Dolphins (0 – 7) – Theoretically, NFL fans would believe that the Colts are a lock to draft Luck this season. But, with that being said, the Miami Dolphins are doing everything in their power to find a way to draft Luck. The last few weeks, should have both ended in victories for Miami, but the team would blow the game in the final few minutes both against Denver last week, and the New York Giants this past weekend. If Miami drafts Luck, you can guarantee he’ll be the opening day quarterback in 2012.