NFL Betting – Jets in over their heads in San Diego

NFL betting players have watched coach Rex Ryan make some comments about his New York Jets, saying that they should be the favorites for the Super Bowl. That’s a lot of confidence to show in your team, and now they’ll have to prove it when they head to San Diego this Sunday.

Jets vs Chargers odds – Sunday, January 17, 4:40 PM ET

For the second week in a row, the Jets’ defense dominated in a 24-14 win over Cincinnati, holding the Bengals to 281 yards, including only 110 yards through the air. A lot of this had to do with the job Darrelle Revis did on Chad Ochocinco, limiting the receiver to two catches in two games. Ryan thought Revis was jobbed out of the Defensive Player of the Year award, which went to Green Bay’s Charles Woodson, but he should just be happy to have the premier cover corner in the game. Mark Sanchez was 12-of-15 for 182 yards and two touchdowns in his playoff debut.

The Chargers had a bye week for winning the AFC West, and there wasn’t a hotter team in the league as San Diego won their final 11 games of the season. Philip Rivers led a pass-happy offense, throwing to Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates, while LaDainian Tomlinson grinded out yards, but the big-play ability is gone. The defense would bend, but not break, usually coming up with big plays when they’re most needed.

Bookmakers odds have the Chargers as a seven-point favorite, and they’ve won their last two meetings with the Jets, who don’t back down from anyone. Sanchez will be back in southern California, where he grew up and went to school at USC. However, the Chargers will do their best to stack the line and stop the Jets’ running duo of Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. This will put pressure on Sanchez, who may try to do too much in his homestate. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Rivers will be able to deal with the Jets’ pressure, and look for Gates to be a big target as Revis will probably cancel out Jackson’s big-play ability. The Jets have a great foundation in Ryan, a rookie coach, Sanchez, a rookie pivot, and Revis, who is only in his third year, but it stops in San Diego.

Bet NFL football: Chargers -7

NFL Betting – Vikings Will Get Act Together For Cowboys

Everyone knows that the Minnesota Vikings had a late-season collapse, which doesn’t bode well for the playoffs. The good news for them is that they had a bye week to clear their minds.

NFL betting fans know that the Vikings lost three of their last five games after a 10-1 start but they ended the year with a big home win over the New York Giants and they had a bye week to heal up some injuries. Now that they have their focus back, they should be able to top the Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings

Gambling Advisor blog Pick : Vikings -2.5

Last Week

The Vikings had an off week and gave a number of key players some time to rest while the Cowboys were busy.

The Cowboys had a big monkey on their back last week as they faced off with the Philadelphia Eagles. They hadn’t won a playoff game since 1996 and head coach Wade Phillips was basically coaching to keep his job. The Cowboys played extremely well and got a big, easy win.

Everything worked well for them as the Eagles turned it over regularly and overall, just collapsed. The story might be a little different this week as they head out on the road against a team that is rested and likely to be crisper.

This Week

The Cowboys Vikings odds have the Vikings as the home favorite and rightfully so. The Vikings were 8-0 at home this year and they played their best football there. Sure, many people point to the Vikings late season struggles but keep in mind that their losses against Arizona, Carolina and Chicago all came on the road. The Vikings are still perfect at home.

Dallas has been hot but this will be their toughest opponent in their recent stretch. Look for Adrian Peterson to get his wheels churning and for Brett Favre to look sharp after the bye.

For Dallas, their big win was last week and they are overly content with that. They celebrated like their first playoff win since 1996 was a Super Bowl win and their focus may not be as strong for this game as it was the last one. That could be a big difference.

Throw in a couple of Romo mistakes and the Vikings will win and cover.

NFL Picks: Vikings -2.5

NFL Betting – Packers To Roll Cardinals For A Second Straight Week

The Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals are matching up for a second week in a row but the NFL lines for this contest are a little different. Last week, the Packers were a three-point favorite as the Cardinals rested – or tried to rest – their starters. This week, the Cardinals opened as a three-point favorite but the line has shifted into the Packers favor as several Cardinals injuries have surfaced. Don’t expect to see a blowout once again but you can still expect a Packers win.

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

Gambling Advisor blog Pick : Packers -1

Last Week

Sports handicapping experts saw the Packers roll up the Cardinals 33-7 last week but the bigger loss for the Cardinals was not the game. Rather, it was the loss of a few key players who shouldn’t have been playing in the first case.

Receiver Anquan Boldin sprained his ankle and knee in Week 17 and is highly questionable for this week’s contest. While the Cardinals are 5-1 without Boldin in the last two years, they are still a much more lethal team with him in the lineup.

The Cardinals also lost cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a knee bruise in Week 17 and while he’s more likely to play, he will still be limited by the injury. That’s on top of Antrel Rolle, who is dealing with a thigh injury, being questionable and left tackle Mike Gandy being out.

This is a lot for any team to deal with and the real question that needs to be answered is why were key players in the game if the game plan was to rest the starters.

This Week

The Cardinals are in a tight spot but they are at home and they have the experience. Unfortunately, the Packers are playing lights out football right now and are healthier.

Beyond that, they also have the better defense as their third-ranked unit led the league in rush defense, interceptions and turnover margin. The Cardinals unit simply can’t compare in those aspects.

The Packers offense is going to be tough to contain for the Cardinals and while this won’t be a blowout again, it’s likely to produce the same result as the Packers have too many edges. Look for a close Packers win on the road.

NFL Picks: Packers -1