By Kyle Soppe
Two unbeaten teams remain in the NFL, and it figures to stay that way as both teams are home this week. Green Bay gets the Rams, and while they are off a bye week, they are simply less talented. The Lions face a tougher task in the 49ers, but the game being played at home is huge for Detroit.
A couple of prop bets to give you something extra to root for. Higher total: Calvin Johnson points vs Dolphins: Brady + Romo pass attempts vs Al Davis age. Over/Under: 3 wins for AFC North teams this week: 4 “Eli faces”
Saint Louis (+15) @ Green Bay – Packers 31-17
San Francisco @ Detroit (-4) – Lions (aka the “Megatron’s) 27-20
Jacksonville (+12) @ Pittsburgh – Steelers 24-14
Philadelphia (-1.5) @ Washington – Eagles 31-24
Carolina @ Atlanta (-3.5) – Falcons 27-17
– Note: Falcons are 1-4 ATS while Newton has the Panthers at 4-0-1 ATS
Indianapolis (+7) @ Cincinnati – Colts 21-20
Buffalo @ New York (-3) – Giants 24-17
Houston (+7.5) @ Baltimore – Ravens 24-20
Cleveland (+5.5) @ Oakland – Browns 21-17
Dallas (+7) @ New England – Patriots 31-27
New Orleans (-4) @ Tampa Bay – Saints 28-23
Minnesota @ Chicago – Da Bears 24-14
Miami @ New York – Jets 24-13
ATS (year) 40-36-1
Straight Winners (year) 49-28
Out of 13 games, I’ve the road team winning ATS in 8. As Drew mentioned in the podcast, we’ve got a match up of unbeaten teams ATS in San Fran and Detroit. Desperation strikes in Philly and Atlanta, as both teams could use a solid win to restore confidence. For those interested, we have had only 2 states in the past 31 years hold both the MLB and NFL titles at the same time (1979- Pittsburgh and 2004- Boston/New England). The Brewers and Tigers are still alive and kickin’ in baseball, while both states have unbeaten NFL teams. It’s early, but it’s worth noting.
Is Detroit -San Fran the game of the week?
Never thought I’d live to say this, but yea, it has to be. The 49ers have dominated against the run this year, but Detroit doesn’t exactly rely on that. On the other hand, the 49ers like to pound the ball, which plays right into Detroit’s strength. This is an interesting match up, as Detroit was pegged as a sleeper by most, while San Fran wasn’t. Are the 49ers as good as we saw last week? This week should tell us. Don’t rule out the possibility of a under prepared Detroit team. They are on a short week, which never helps. And they haven’t had many “game of the week” match ups in the last decade.
This is a huge week for the NFC East. The Giants have a tough but injury depleted Bills team at home. That would seem like it favors the G-men – but the Giants lost to the Seahawks at home with their second string quarterback.
Somebody call Kenny Loggins, because it is Danger Zone time in the Meadowlands!!
Why haven’t we been talking about the Redskins?? Not only do they have a chance to take ahold of first place, but they can bury the Eagles with a win this week. I have a huge Redskins fan that sits across from me at work. One of these weeks I am going to get him on here.
Cowboys/Patriots… Get me a Budweiser, because here we go. Something tells me this is going to be a high scoring game.
The “Uh-oh, they’re throwing deep, something potentially superhuman is about to happen!!!!!” torch has been belatedly passed from Randy Moss to Calvin Johnson.
Jim Harbaugh is this season’s “Wow, I always forget that a new coach can single-handedly swing a team’s season!” coach. I love the “Who’s got it better than us?” chant, I love the way the guys are reacting on the sideline to big plays, and I love reading articles like this. Let’s move on before I talk myself into Alex Smith getting 4½.
Your husband, boyfriend, father, uncle, nephew, son or grandson is going to annoy you more than usual on Thanksgiving. Can you believe “Packers at Lions, 12:30 ET, Thursday” has a chance to be the single best game of the entire 2011 season? I’m already trying to come up with the best way to tell my wife, “Look, I know we don’t have any family here, and I know you’re cooking today for me and a few of Grantland’s West Coast transplants, and I know we have two kids … but I’m gonna be out of commission for the entire morning and that’s just how this is gonna play out.” Unless Matthew Stafford If He Stays Healthy gets injured soon, I have a worse chance of being married in December than Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore do.
Will the Giants defense please report to the Meadowlands, STAT!!!
Smitty – thank you for sending out that APB.
Now, you might want to send one for the ‘Skins.
Oh man, the 49ers have committed 16 penalties.
And they still have a chance to win this game. What a defensive struggle. But we all know that defense doesn’t win championships. 🙂
58:00 – Smith completes as many passes (16) as his team commits penalties, and they have fewer points (15). Doesn’t matter.
Vintage Brady….Vintage.
Smitty – I hope you do not have a Tom Brady poster in your bedroom.