Finally into the real stuff, and away from those pesky, nasty, horrible exibitionists....(ended up about 3-12 I think! :com: )
Carolina v. Atlanta under 39 (1.99)
Atlanta still relies heavily on their ground game to move the ball as Vick just isn?t accurate enough as a passer to be a consistent down field threat.
Carolina have one of the best run stopping units in the game, and they looked to have continued that form this season, allowing just 3.1 y/c in the pre-season.
In fact the defense has looked very good early. In the FIRST HALVES of the NFLX games when starters on both sides played most minutes they have not allowed a TD?just 3 (50 yard FG.), 3 (50 yard FG!), 3 and 6 points.
Smith questionable for the Panthers will hurt their passing game?still, they will be a run first team anyway, esp. against Atl?s questionable run D.
Last year?s meeting in Charlotte was 24-6, and Smith had 7/65 and a TD.
I expected this line to be 37 or lower.
Cleveland v. NO. under 36 (1.94)
Neither of these teams have a big play in them!
Frye has had a terrible start to the year, throwing for just 3.9 y/pass in the pre-season!! Put most of that down to a very make-shift starting O-line, but there doesn?t look to be any improvement ahead.
Brees is coming off shoulder surgery, so there will be very little down field passing (NO have already said as much). Much of their game will involved short, dump off passes, and of course a heavy dose of Reggie Bush.
The good news for Cleveland is that they went out of their way to improve their run D this season by getting in Washington and McGinest?and early days, but they allowed just 3.3 y/r in the pre-season, so things look to be on the right track.
Should be lots of time consuming drives, and although one team may get some scoring done, it?s tough to see them both rack up any points.
TB v. Baltimore under 34 (2.01)
Seems the obvious pick. 2 very solid defenses, 2 weak offenses.
Simms has decent potential but will struggle against this Raven unit that returns as formidable as ever. They allowed just 1 offensive TD in the first halves of the pre-season games, and will worry Simms into making quick throws. Also expecting a large dose of the Cadillac, which will chew up plenty of clock.
Tampa are much the same. They allowed just 2 TD?s in 8 quarters of ?real? pre-season action, and certainly pride themselves on their defense.
McNair could be a decent addition to the Ravens, but it will take a few games to get the timing right, so he could struggle straight up, esp. away at one of the best D?s in the NFL.
Arizona -7.5 (1.93)
San Fran had a grand total of TWO sacks in pre-season?both by guys who got cut!
Obviously they weren?t showing everything they had up front, but it does point to a severely lacking pass rush this season?and if Warner gets time in the pocket to look downfield this one gets real messy.
Warner, Fitzgerald, Boldin, James?the Cards suddenly look very dangerous indeed!
Last season ?Zona won the meeting at home 31-14?and all 14 points came from the defense! Obviously SF will improve this season, but so have ?Zona.
First game at home, new stadium, high hopes?the Cards put the foot down and win big.
NYG +3 (2.06)
New York were 8-1 at home last year?1 loss to Minni by 3 points (21-24), but 21 of their points came from defense and special teams!!
Indi score big, and simply out-blast most teams, but they still have one major weakness?they can?t stop the run. Early indications are that it?s even got worse, allowing 5.5 y/r in the pre-season! Barber will have a massive game here, keeping the pressure off baby brother, keeping older brother on the sidelines, and more importantly putting the Giants on the scoreboard.
On the other side of the coin, James gone, and can anyone fill the hole? They gained a horrible 2.3 y/r in the pre-season!!...so tough to see where the run comes from.
Can Payton carry the load without a decent running game? Probably, but it will be a whole lot tougher!
Giants a big live home dog here, imo.
SD @ Oakland under 43
People still seem to holding out hope for this Raider offence, but I just can't see Brooks being the answer.
A totally reshuffled O-line from last season, with a rookie starting at right guard, can't exactly help his (or the running game's) cause.
Last season's match-up @ Oakland was 27-14...Oakland were down 0-14 early and ended up throwing the ball 48 times!!
Not sure Rivers can step in and be as much of a threat as Brees either, so I'm sure Oakland will be keyed on LT, and force Rivers to throw esp. early, and I'm sure they'll bring plenty of heat aswell.
Either way, it can't be a bad thing. If they create a few 3rd and outs great, but if Rivers does step up for a couple of early strikes, SD are perfectly built for Marty-ball, and running out the clock protecting a lead.
Good Luck all
Carolina v. Atlanta under 39 (1.99)
Atlanta still relies heavily on their ground game to move the ball as Vick just isn?t accurate enough as a passer to be a consistent down field threat.
Carolina have one of the best run stopping units in the game, and they looked to have continued that form this season, allowing just 3.1 y/c in the pre-season.
In fact the defense has looked very good early. In the FIRST HALVES of the NFLX games when starters on both sides played most minutes they have not allowed a TD?just 3 (50 yard FG.), 3 (50 yard FG!), 3 and 6 points.
Smith questionable for the Panthers will hurt their passing game?still, they will be a run first team anyway, esp. against Atl?s questionable run D.
Last year?s meeting in Charlotte was 24-6, and Smith had 7/65 and a TD.
I expected this line to be 37 or lower.
Cleveland v. NO. under 36 (1.94)
Neither of these teams have a big play in them!
Frye has had a terrible start to the year, throwing for just 3.9 y/pass in the pre-season!! Put most of that down to a very make-shift starting O-line, but there doesn?t look to be any improvement ahead.
Brees is coming off shoulder surgery, so there will be very little down field passing (NO have already said as much). Much of their game will involved short, dump off passes, and of course a heavy dose of Reggie Bush.
The good news for Cleveland is that they went out of their way to improve their run D this season by getting in Washington and McGinest?and early days, but they allowed just 3.3 y/r in the pre-season, so things look to be on the right track.
Should be lots of time consuming drives, and although one team may get some scoring done, it?s tough to see them both rack up any points.
TB v. Baltimore under 34 (2.01)
Seems the obvious pick. 2 very solid defenses, 2 weak offenses.
Simms has decent potential but will struggle against this Raven unit that returns as formidable as ever. They allowed just 1 offensive TD in the first halves of the pre-season games, and will worry Simms into making quick throws. Also expecting a large dose of the Cadillac, which will chew up plenty of clock.
Tampa are much the same. They allowed just 2 TD?s in 8 quarters of ?real? pre-season action, and certainly pride themselves on their defense.
McNair could be a decent addition to the Ravens, but it will take a few games to get the timing right, so he could struggle straight up, esp. away at one of the best D?s in the NFL.
Arizona -7.5 (1.93)
San Fran had a grand total of TWO sacks in pre-season?both by guys who got cut!
Obviously they weren?t showing everything they had up front, but it does point to a severely lacking pass rush this season?and if Warner gets time in the pocket to look downfield this one gets real messy.
Warner, Fitzgerald, Boldin, James?the Cards suddenly look very dangerous indeed!
Last season ?Zona won the meeting at home 31-14?and all 14 points came from the defense! Obviously SF will improve this season, but so have ?Zona.
First game at home, new stadium, high hopes?the Cards put the foot down and win big.
NYG +3 (2.06)
New York were 8-1 at home last year?1 loss to Minni by 3 points (21-24), but 21 of their points came from defense and special teams!!
Indi score big, and simply out-blast most teams, but they still have one major weakness?they can?t stop the run. Early indications are that it?s even got worse, allowing 5.5 y/r in the pre-season! Barber will have a massive game here, keeping the pressure off baby brother, keeping older brother on the sidelines, and more importantly putting the Giants on the scoreboard.
On the other side of the coin, James gone, and can anyone fill the hole? They gained a horrible 2.3 y/r in the pre-season!!...so tough to see where the run comes from.
Can Payton carry the load without a decent running game? Probably, but it will be a whole lot tougher!
Giants a big live home dog here, imo.
SD @ Oakland under 43
People still seem to holding out hope for this Raider offence, but I just can't see Brooks being the answer.
A totally reshuffled O-line from last season, with a rookie starting at right guard, can't exactly help his (or the running game's) cause.
Last season's match-up @ Oakland was 27-14...Oakland were down 0-14 early and ended up throwing the ball 48 times!!
Not sure Rivers can step in and be as much of a threat as Brees either, so I'm sure Oakland will be keyed on LT, and force Rivers to throw esp. early, and I'm sure they'll bring plenty of heat aswell.
Either way, it can't be a bad thing. If they create a few 3rd and outs great, but if Rivers does step up for a couple of early strikes, SD are perfectly built for Marty-ball, and running out the clock protecting a lead.
Good Luck all
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