NFL Betting: Packers Look To Stay Perfect; 49ers Right Behind Them in NFC

Unlike in previous years when teams such as the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers pulled away from the rest of the pack in the AFC and made it hard for other teams to catch up, this year that trend has shifted over to the NFC. The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers are undefeated and well out in front in the NFC North, while the San Francisco 49ers are closing in on clinching their division with nine wins through 11 games. Here is a quick look at three key NFC matchups for this betonline week.

St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers (-13)

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Unlike a year ago when the Seattle Seahawks were able to clinch their division with a 7-9 record, San Francisco won’t let the NFC West be the joke of the conference this season, as they look to finish with the second-best record at the least. It will be impossible for the 49ers to catch the Packers until they start losing games, but a division title and home field advantage won’t be that terrible of a consolation prize if they don’t catch up. San Francisco has succeeded by playing every game as though it were a playoff game, and with an extra couple of days of rest will approach this game with that same urgency. Running back Frank Gore leads the league’s seventh-ranked rushing attack while the 49ers’ defense leads the league in stopping the run, two key fundamentals to winning in the NFL.

NFL Betting Pick: San Francisco 49ers - 13

Dallas Cowboys (-4.5) @ Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

It seems as though even when the team is winning the Cowboys can’t seem to do it without giving their fans a rough time. Last week’s 20-19 win over the Miami Dolphins was the latest of four straight wins for the new NFC East leaders, and while the New York Giants continue to struggle, owner Jerry Jones won’t let his boys take anything for granted. Running back DeMarco Murray has been a revelation as the missing piece that the offense needed, so look for him to get a ton of pay head touches against the league’s 20th-ranked rush defense and help open things up for quarterback Tony Romo to go over the top.

NFL Betting Pick: Dallas Cowboys – 4.5

Green Bay Packers (-7) @ New York Giants

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Giants may be going through more than a slump after suffering their third straight loss, as opponents finally seem to be catching up to what made New York so successful earlier in the year. New York’s rushing attack ranks dead last in the NFL even though defenses are now keying in on quarterback Eli Manning and focusing on defending the pass, so until they can find a way to move the ball on the ground they will struggle to win. That won’t change against the defending Super Bowl champions as Aaron Rodgers and company look to move one step closer to sports betting perfection, with the chance to show just how good they are on the biggest stage once again.

NFL Betting Picks : Green Bay Packers - 7

Week 12 Monday Night Game A Preview Of NFC Championship?

The final game of week 12 of the 2011 NFL betting lines
season could foreshadow the NFC Championship game if all goes according to plan. Featuring the New York Giants travelling to New Orleans to play the Saints, the Monday night game represents one of the more important games of the season. After all, it was only three weeks ago, that price per head football enthusiasts were led to believe that the Giants were for real this season. Now three weeks later coming off back to back losses, the Giants enter the confines of New Orleans, to face a Saints team coming off a bye week and are undefeated at home this season. Here is a preview of one of the biggest games of the season.

In what can be best described as a must win game for the New York Giants; tonight’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints will be no easy feat. As we noted, the Giants are losers of their last two contests, meanwhile, the Saints are not only undefeated at home, but also winners of their last two contests. The Giants are one game back of the Cowboys for the division lead, but overall are eighth in the NFC standings. Meanwhile, the Saints are first in the NFC South standings by one game over the Atlanta Falcons.

Entering tonight’s game, the Saints are a seven-point favorite, and quarterback Drew Brees leads the NFL with 3,326 passing yards through the first 10 games of the regular season. To put that number into perspective, consider, that it is the most passing yards through the first 10 games of the season, since the AFL NFL merger in 1970. Brees favorite target this year has been tight end Jimmy Graham. Through the first 11 games of their season, Graham has passed Jason Witten as the top tight end in the bookie software league, as he has 62 receptions and 873 yards.

On the Giants side of things, look for quarterback Eli Manning to go to the air often this game, as the run game has all but dried up. Ahmad Bradshaw is done for the year after breaking a bone in his foot, and backup Brandon Jacobs has shown, that he is not an all-purpose back. While Brees favorite target is a tight end, Manning’s favorite target is a fourth string wide receiver in Victor Cruz. Despite being picked off four times in hi last two games, Manning and Cruz have connected 25 times.

What’s more, this game could turn into a gunfight, as both Brees and Manning love to take to the air. Manning is showing this season, that he is far and away the best quarterback the Giants have ever had. His 120.5 passer rating in the fourth quarter, shows that there is no better pivot when the game is on the line. But hopefully, the Giants won’t need Manning to show off his skills in the fourth quarter of tonight’s game.