That was a disappointing end to the day after what was a disappointing start, sandwiched in-between by a pretty nice afternoon!! Just couldn't catch a break in the night-cap, as we pushed on our ULM play, lost the Over in the ASU/OSU game by a measly point after they were rolling to the Over through the first half and then the NBA came up deuces once again on the day, going 0-2 overall there, with the Kings biting us in the behind after we have been all over them to start the season. Ugh!! For some reason it would appear the tables have turned around here, but we are going to right that today!! While everyone else out there is getting killed, we are going to pick it up in the NFL once again this week. Let's go......
TODAY'S ACTION --
(NFL)
*2 UNITS* NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-7)
Remember a few weeks back when the Bengals were looking pretty good and went into New England trying to showcase themselves as one of the premier teams in the East? If you don't, they ended up being blown out, 43-17, to Brady and Co and ended up going into a tailspin in which they lost 2 of 3 games by a combined score of 67-17 and tied the 3rd game in that stretch with Carolina, 37-37. Looking over the Bengals schedule, their 5-3-1 ML mark is a little less impressive, when you notice that only 2 of their wins are against playoff-caliber teams, and both of those wins are against the same Baltimore Ravens squad. Their other 3 wins came against Jacksonville, Tennessee and Atlanta. Not only that, but the Bengals are coming in off a surprising 24-3 blowout loss at home against Cleveland last week, and they have been just as bad against the better teams this season, with the losses against the Patriots and Browns, as well as a 27-0 shutout loss on the road at Indianapolis. Brees and team should be plenty motivated for this one, as they lost in OT at home to the 49'ers last week, and are now teetering on the brink of disaster with a 4-5 ML mark so far in 2014. They had won 2 straight prior to that in blowout fashion, with a 28-10 win at Carolina and a 44-23 win against GB the week before. They are 3-1 ML and 2-2 ATS at home this season with all 3 wins coming by at least 6 points and two of those wins easily covering today's number. Go with the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS to COVER at home......
*2 UNITS* CHICAGO BEARS (-2.5)
A lot of love is coming in on the Vikings for this one and deservedly so with the way the Bears have been playing in recent weeks, but today should be a good day for Chicago to get off the schnide and pick up the win against a Vikings squad mired in off-field controversy and injuries. The Bears have given up 50+ points in each of their L2 games -- their bye week in-between those two losses -- and have been torched for a combined 69 points differential in the two losses against New England and Green Bay. The defense should get a bit of a rest against the rookie Bridgewater, who is looking to become the first rookie to win 4 games in his debut season for the Vikings. The Bears have won 5 straight inter-divisional home games against the Vikings, although they eeked out a 31-30 win at Soldier Field last season. The previous 3 wins there had seen the Vikings score 13 points or less in each game, while being outscored by at least 2 TD in each one. Today seems like a great day for a rebound in Chicago. Take the BEARS......
*2 UNITS* TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (+7.5) AND
*2 UNITS* UNDER 45.5 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ WASHINGTON 'SKINS
The Bucs haven't been nearly as bad as their record would indicate this season and I just can't find any reason whatsoever that this 'Skins team would be favored by -7.5 points over anybody in the league this season, except for maybe Jacksonville, whom they blew out 41-10 earlier this season. Yes, Tampa did lose to Atlanta by 10 last week, thus being swept by their division foe, but they have always managed to play Washington tight and tough throughout the history of this battle. The two teams last met up back in 2012, with the 'Skins escaping Tampa with a 24-22 win as a +1.5 dog. In fact, the previous 3 meetings between the two teams since 2009 have been decided by a combined total of 6 points, while the Underdog has managed to go 4-1-2 ATS in the L7 meetings dating back to 2005. In the 4 meetings held in DC since the 2000 season, Washington has never topped more than 20 points and oddly enough, the 'Skins have been held to exactly 16 points in each of the L3 meetings played at home. Against today's spread, Tampa would be a perfect 3-0 ATS in those 3 games, as they won 17-16 there in 2010, the lost 16-13 in 2009 and lost 16-10 there back in '04. I know, that is a long time ago, but it matches up to how these two teams are also currently playing as the Buccaneers have scored 17 points or less in each of their L4 games overall, playing to Under the total in each of their L3. Washington has looked much better in the L3 weeks and come into this one off their only loss in that span, a 29-26 loss at Minnesota last week, but they had an impressive 20-17 win at Dallas about 5 days prior to that and handled the Titans 19-17 in their last home game in Week 8. They have only one win this season by more than 3 points and that came all the way back in Week 2 against the even lowlier Jaguars, 41-10. Washington has posted an 0-3 ATS mark as the favorite since then. Tampa Bay comes into today's contest with 6 of their L9 games this season being ultimately decided by 6 points or less. Take the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS and the UNDER in this early contest.......
*2 UNITS* OVER 51 DENVER BRONCOS @ ST. LOUIS RAMS AND
*2 UNITS* DENVER BRONCOS (-9)
Just can't help but think that this one is going to get out of hand in a hurry today and expect the Broncos to cover somewhere around 31+ points of this total if the Rams season is an indication anyway. The Rams have allowed all but 3 of their 9 opponents to top the 31 point mark in 2014, while allowing 3 of their 4 opponents at home to hit that mark. They haven't been all that bad on the offensive side of the ball either in STL, as besides their season-opening 34-6 loss to Minnesota, they have put up 31 against Dallas, 17 against San Francisco and 28 in a win against Seattle in their last game at home. The Vikings game was also the only home game so far in 2014 in which they didn't cash the Over also. As you know, Denver continues to light up the scoreboard with a 41-17 win at Oakland last week, with 3 of their L4 games overall seeing at least one team hit 40 points. Besides the win at OAK last week, Denver lost to New England, 43-21, the Broncos then beat SD, 35-21, and started off the 4-game stretch with a 42-17 win over San Francisco. Run with the OVER and DENVER in this mismatch......
*2 UNITS* SAN FRANCISCO 49'ERS (-3.5)
Sigh. Both of these teams have been absolute head-scratchers in 2014 as the Giants have been downright brutal, losing 4 straight games ML and ATS, with none of those losses coming by less than 10 points. Three of those games were on the road however, with a 38-17 loss at Seattle last week. The 49'ers have seemed to have been almost that bad with every week surrounded in turmoil and controversy it seems, and after a 3-week stretch prior to last week in which they lost prior to and immediately after the bye-week, it appeared all was officially unwell in San Fran land. But they responded in fine fashion last week, notching a nice victory in New Orleans in OT and should have enough in the tank to beat a battered New York squad coming in off 4 straight double-digit losses. That puts New York at a horrendous 0-6 ML and ATS against teams with a winning record in 2014, with all 6 of those losses also coming by double-digits. Aldon Smith will be back on the defensive side of the ball for the 49'ers after a season-long layoff mandated by the league, and should be all over Eli in his first game of real action in nearly a year. On the other side of the ball, the Giants allowed Russell Wilson to go for over 100 yards on the ground in their meeting, so you know it will be on Kaepernick's mind to top that number. And the G-men should make it happen. Take the SAN FRANCISCO 49'ERS in today's match-up......
*2 UNITS* ARIZONA CARDINALS (-1) AND
*2 UNITS* OVER 41 DETROIT LIONS @ ARIZONA CARDINALS
This line has gone down quite a bit both in favor of the Under and the Lions, but we are anticipating that to be due to a little bit of an overreaction to the Carson Palmer injury. However, the Cardinals should still have enough production on the field to get it done in the end. The two teams have played in each of the last 2 seasons, with Arizona coming up big with home wins in both of the previous meetings, 25-21 in 2013 and 38-10 in 2012. Both teams are red hot on the field, with each of the teams on winning streaks of 4+ wins or more (Arizona has won 5 in a row), but the recent trends in play for both teams suggest Arizona will be alright here. Not only has Arizona now posted 5 straight ATS wins, but they are 7-1 ATS in their L8 games this season, while also having picked up a 4-0 ATS mark in their L4 games on their home turf. Meanwhile the Lions come into this one having dropped 4 straight on grass, while also posting an 0-4 ATS mark in the L5 meetings played in Arizona and a 1-4 ATS mark in the L5 meetings between the two teams. Home team also holds a dominating 9-0 ATS mark in the L9 meetings between the two teams. Go with the ARIZONA CARDINALS and the OVER in this one......
*2 UNITS* OVER 54.5 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ GREEN BAY PACKERS
This one just seems like it is going to have a ton of points. We may have an additional play in this game, but for now, take the OVER in this one.......
There you have it!! That is our action for this SUPER SUNDAY in the NFL!! We will be back, possibly even with an additional play or two before the 4 PM EST / 1 PM PST games, so make sure to check back to your emails. If you do not receive an email, there are no additional plays. But for now.....
Best of luck to all today!! Let's get that money!!
PORT PORT SPORTS