NFL Betting: AFC Showdowns Highlight Week 10 in The NFL

|

Sports Betting NewsHeading in to the 2011-12 NFL season, the defending Super Bowl finalist Pittsburgh Steelers were joined by the New England Patriots and New York Jets on the list of teams considered legitimate contenders to compete for an AFC Championship this season. However, nobody could have predicted that at this point in the season that those teams would be joined at the front of the playoff race by the Cincinnati Bengals, which have been one of the biggest surprises of the year and now have the chance to make a statement in the first of two crucial division games this sports betting weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

For as good as the Bengals have been this season, the pay head fact that they haven’t proved anything against the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens so far is testament to the fact that their record has to be taken with a grain of salt. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Buffalo Bills are the only team with a winning record that Cincinnati has beaten so far. The Bengals will be tested this weekend against a tough Pittsburgh team that comes in to this game looking to bounce back from their second loss of the season to the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers played much better last weekend than they did in their opening loss to Baltimore, but it still wasn’t enough as they came up short once again. Ben Roethlisberger and company will provide Cincinnati with a real NFL test as they look to get back on track before their bye week, and it will be interesting to see how they hold it together.

NFL Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers - 3

New England Patriots @ New York Jets (-1.5)

Sunday, 8:30 PM ET

After leading the AFC out of the gate with five wins through their first six games, the Patriots have come crashing down to earth in an incredible fashion, with losses in consecutive weeks to both the Steelers and New York Giants. While the defense has been as awful as it could be under head coach Bill Belichick, the offense has made their share of mistakes over the past couple of weeks, including two interceptions from Tom Brady in last week’s loss. Brady told reporters after that defeat that this would be a true test of the team’s character, and it will be interesting to see how they respond against a talented Jets’ team that has really taken off in recent weeks. New York has won three straight and this meeting against another division rival could not have come at a better time. The Jets’ defense is back at the level they played at when they made it to the AFC Championship game in consecutive seasons, and the offense may finally be catching up with quarterback Mark Sanchez leading the intertops way.

NFL Betting Pick: New York Jets – 1.5

South Florida Bulls vs. Syracuse Orange Odds and Analysis

|

Gambling AdvisorThe South Florida Bulls and the Syracuse Orange will fight to pick up a victory on Friday at Carrier Dome.

Wasn’t it philosopher George Santayana who said, ‘those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ (Then again, maybe it was Gambling Advisor blog proverb from back in the day.)

Well, we clearly remember South Florida laying points on the road earlier this season at Pittsburgh and Connecticut and we weren’t about to repeat the mistakes we made analyzing those matchups.

We used the Bulls in both games (even as a 5* Best Bet against UConn) but quickly wised up last week as we grabbed Rutgers and the points versus visiting USF.

We’ve been known to be Taurus the Bull-like stubborn, but fool us twice, shame on us.

And despite a lifetime series history that favors South Florida (5-1 SU and ATS, including 3-0 SU and ATS at the Carrier Dome), there’s no shame in backing tonight’s Homecoming dogs under the Friday night lights as the Orange are already 2-0 SU and ATS this season in weekday tilts.

Toss in USF’s unprepared 2-9 ATS weekday log and you can see why we have no interest in backing a favorite who is coming off an overtime loss.

Or a coach (Skip Holtz) that is at his best when taking points (28-11-1 ATS) – not laying them (17-25 ATS).

Skippy and his Bulls may ‘squeeze’ out the SU win but, like our trips to a China shop, we’re not buying any of it. You know what to do.

Sportsbooks currently have the Bulls listed as 4-point favorites versus the Orange, while the game's total is sitting at 52½.

South Florida most recently:

When playing in November are 5-5

When playing on turf are 6-4

After outgaining opponent are 5-5

When playing within the conference are 3-7

Syracuse most recently:

When playing in November are 2-8

When playing on turf are 6-4

After outgaining opponent are 3-7

When playing within the conference are 4-6

NFL Week 10 Preview: New Orleans Saints (-1) vs. Atlanta Falcons

|

Latest Sports NewsSports Betting Overview

The Atlanta Falcons have not cared whether it was home or on the road all season long. The Falcons are 2-1 at home and 3-2 on the road and it is currently riding a three-game winning streak. A few weeks ago, all NFC football fans were wondering what was wrong with the Falcons and would we ever see the Atlanta team that had such potential the past couple of years. The Atlanta defense has toughened up a little and now the Falcons trail the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South standings by one game. After this game, the Saints get its bye week. The Saints could either go into its bye with a commanding lead in the NFC South, or it could be watching the Falcons very closely to see if it will be a dogfight to week 17.

The Saints have had another one of those up and down seasons, and most of downs have come on the road. The bookie software shows the Saints with a 2-3 record on the road compared to a 4-0 record at home. The Saints know it has to start winning on the road if it wants to go deep into the playoffs. But the Saints are having all kinds of problems playing defense on the road. Opposing teams have been able to run and pass against a New Orleans defense that is normally pretty stalwart at home. The Saints need to figure out its inconsistencies to stand toe-to-toe with a much-improved Atlanta team.

Atlanta Falcons

The price per head services know that the Falcons are riding an impressive winning streak into this game, but not many betting experts are buying the notion that the Atlanta defense can stop the New Orleans offense. A bodog review of the Saints’ running game shows a dramatic improvement since the addition of rookie running back Mark Ingram. But even the chance that Ingram will not play in this game due to a leg injury has not changed people’s minds. The Falcons have had problems with effective passing games all season long, and the New Orleans Saints have one of the most effective passing games in all of football.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints seem to have problems putting pressure on the opposing quarterback when it plays on the road. The linebackers fall back in coverage more often on the road and leave the defensive line to put on pressure and stop the run almost by itself. When the Saints try to bring up the linebackers to help on the pass rush, it gets beat over the middle. The NFL scores from past Saints’ road games put a huge highlight on an issue that Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense are hoping to exploit in week 10.

The Bottom Line

Both of these defenses are susceptible to the big play either on the ground or through the air. That brings this game down to a shoot out on offense, which the Saints would win. Matt Ryan and the Falcons can hang with the Saint’s offense for maybe a half, but by the second half Drew Brees and the Saints should be pulling away in this game.

Sports Betting News Pick: New Orleans Saints

 

©2009-2012 Gambling Advisor blog | Gambling News at OGB