ATTN: Vick is out for 4 weeks!!

[dawgball]

Okay, so everybody is aware that the Falcons will be without Vick. Everyone also knows that Dallas looked great in the last exhibition game. This line still only being 2 points will probably look like candy at first. I feel that Atlanta wins this game by double digits due to their defense versus Quincy Carter at the healm and their talent at WR with a solid pocket passer.

Any opinions?

 

[Valuist]

I doubt everyone knows whether Dallas looked good in its last practice game. I realize some bet exhibition and there occassionally are good bets, but my rule of thumb: don't believe ANYTHING you see during the practice games. The scrubs are trying so they can make the squad but the regulars don't want to be there and usually don't care at all. Some of the better teams I've seen (85 Bears, 96 Packers) only won one exhibition game to precede their season.

I think the Parcells factor is why the line is where it is.

 

[dawgball]

I do think that Parcells factored in the line, but how could he not. If it was so dependent on that, though, why was the line in Atlanta's favor to start but now it has reversed. Before pre-season, the Bengals and Cowboys would have probably been a pick. The Cowboys have had a fairly productive ending of the off-season, and everyone at the very least knows a little something about how teams did in XNFL. Dallas was 2-2 with two blowouts. Atlanta was 0-4 with nothing going well after Vick's injury.

I feel that this has effected this line more than it should based on what you are saying. I don't think the way a team looks means much to the regular season, but there are those who do.

Valuist--you are not the type of player that I base opinions like this against. I do most of my NFL plays against public sentiment. Not Joe Public, but public sentiment. How is each team being regarded on ESPN and the other talking heads. I feel that using this as one of my tools has helped in the past. That being said, I feel that Atlanta getting points from Parcell's Cowboys is a good play.

Good luck to all!

 

[Valuist]

I wonder what the line would've been w/Vick in the lineup. I think if these 2 teams played late last year in Dallas, Atlanta would've been a 4 pt favorite. A 6 pt swing is huge; they say Jordan was worth 7 pts to an NBA line and there's much more scoring in the NBA.

Dallas used to be a big public favorite; public players loved em but you'd think that would've cooled off in the past 5 years. Maybe the under is the safest play here.

 

[freelancc]

when Vick was still in the lineup... some books had the line set at Atlanta -3 and Atlanta - 2 1/2

It would have gone up to -4 or -5 had Vick completed his preseason without injury..

 

[acehistr8]

dawg I agree. Atlanta is superior in every aspect of the game - even with Doug Johnson - at QB, RB, WR, TE Def and K. I'll take Doug Johnson over whoever Dallas starts and Atlantas defense I feel is underrated. I think the line is where it is one because its in Dallas, so that bumps it in their faver a few points and two Parcells. Otherwise I think ATL wins this game big.