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NFL
6*Houston (NFL)
4*San Fransciso (NFL)
3* Arizona (NFL)
NFL
6*Houston (NFL)
4*San Fransciso (NFL)
3* Arizona (NFL)
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Re: 12-28-08
PICK: Houston Texans
Your pick will be graded at: -2.5 betED
EXPERT: Lee Kostroski
TITLE: NFL 3-Pack - INCLUDES 9* Game of the Month!
REASON FOR PICK: PLAY ON 9* NFL Game of the Month - Houston (-) vs. Chicago, 1:00 PM EST
We see great value here on the Texans, who are playing for a second straight .500 record season and hoping the crush the Bears playoff hopes. Everyone will be on Chicago because they need to win to have any chance at the post-season. Problem is, those teams that "have to win" don't always do so. This will be one of those games.
Houston is 4-1 in their last 5 games with a hiccup coming last week against the Raiders. The Texans are 5-2 at home this season with their only two losses coming against the Colts and the Ravens. The Bears are playing on a short weeks rest after getting beat up in a very emotional win vs. their bitter rival Packers on Monday Night last week in -5 degree temperature. The Bears are also coming off three straight home games including back-to-back overtime wins needed just to stay in the playoff race.
The Bears offense was anemic in the first 3 ½ quarters of the Packer game on Monday night before finally turning it on in the final minutes. Chicago has failed to reach 300 total yards in each of their past 4 games. If the Bears hope to stay in this game vs. the Texans they will need a better offensive performance. Houston is 3rd in the league in total offense and 4th in passing offense with Andre Johnson leading the NFL with 1427 yards receiving. That's not good news for the Bears, who give up the 3rd most passing yards per game, allowing 235 yards passing per game.
Rookie running back Steve Slaton is averaging over 100 yards rushing per game in the past 6 games and that is a big reason the Texans are 4-2 in that stretch; if Slaton can have that type of productivity vs. the Bears on Sunday, expect a big offensive day from the Texans. The Bears are just 3-4 on the road this season with the wins coming against relatively weak opponents: the Lions, Rams and the week 1 Colts (Indy started the season 3-4 before winning 8 straight). Houston is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games and we expect that trend to continue against the Bears on Sunday.
Smart money is all over Houston here as the line opened pick-em and now the Texans are -3. That's despite a majority of the bets actually coming in on Chicago as expected. Take the Texans.
Best of Luck, Lee.Comment
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Re: 12-28-08
PICK: Arizona Cardinals
Your pick will be graded at: -7 SPORTSBETTING
EXPERT: Lee Kostroski
TITLE: NFL 3-Pack - INCLUDES 9* Game of the Month!
REASON FOR PICK: PLAY ON 4* Arizona (-) vs. Seattle, 4:15 PM EST
Last week Seattle had a very emotional home win vs. the Jets. Mike Holmgren coached his last game in Seattle and they sent him out in style with a 13-3 win. Players and coaches both mentioned that this was the biggest game for them because they wanted to send Holmgren out a winner. Now they have to travel to Arizona, a team in desperate need of a win to get back on track for the playoffs. Arizona has lost two straight games by a combined score of 82-21. The Cardinals are just 1-4 in their last 5 games and they will need (and get) a much-needed win to prepare for the playoffs.
Arizona is 5-2 at home this season; and they will be happy to return home after their snowy 47-7 loss @New England. The Cardinals were also without Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Boldin will be back this Sunday and we expect Warner, Fitzgerald and Boldin to all get back on the same page heading into the playoffs. Warner averages 288 yards passing per game on an offense that ranks 5th in total yards per game and 5th in scoring offense. This isn’t good news for the Seahawks, who have injuries all over their defense and rank dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game.
Arizona and Seattle last met on November 16 in Seattle. The Cardinals had no problems moving the football, amassing 458 total yards and 24 first downs, but settled for 4 field goals instead of touchdowns. They won 26-20 but it should’ve been a bigger margin of victory. Also in that game, Arizona allowed only 196 total yards to the Seahawks. We expect Arizona to dominate the stats again on Sunday and for the Cardinals to come out with another win. Seattle has lost the last two @Arizona and we expect that streak to continue. Go with the Cardinals.
Best of Luck, Lee.Comment
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Re: 12-28-08
PICK: San Francisco 49ers
Your pick will be graded at: -3 Belmont
EXPERT: Lee Kostroski
TITLE: NFL 3-Pack - INCLUDES 9* Game of the Month!
REASON FOR PICK: PLAY ON 5* San Francisco (-) vs. Washington, 4:15 PM EST
The Niners just signed Head Coach Mike Singletary, agreeing to bring him back for the 2009 NFL season. It’s no question that San Francisco has been playing much more inspired football since the defensive minded Singletary took over. They are 4-2 in their past 6 games (4 away games, 2 home games) and allowing just 16 points per game in that span. Expect Singletary to have the 49ers ready to play and finish out the season on a good note heading into the 2009 season.
Washington started the season 6-2, but since then they have gone just 2-5. The Redskins just got a much-needed win against Philadelphia to stop a three game losing skid. They now have to travel to the west coast for an ultimately meaningless game vs. the suddenly inspired 49ers. Washington will likely have the mentality of a ‘good team’ that is going to miss the playoffs; therefore “what is there left to play for?” Expect the Redskins to be flat and for the Niners to take advantage of that and get the big win on Sunday.
Washington’s offense has turned off in the second half of the season. After averaging 21 points per game in their first 8 games, the Redskins have put up an average of just 10.8 points per game in their last 7 games (including 10 points or less in 5 of 7). Jason Campbell was supposed to have a breakout season under quarterback friendly Head Coach Jim Zorn, but he has failed to meet expectations. Campbell has thrown for just over 3000 yards with 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions (with just 4 touchdowns and all 6 interceptions coming in the 2nd half of the season).
Washington is just 3-12-2 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a losing record and just 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. San Francisco is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall and we expect these trends to continue into Sunday. Look for the more inspired 49ers to get the win over the team with nothing to play for. Go with the Niners.
Best of Luck, Lee.Comment
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Re: 12-28-08
AL DEMARCO
Sunday's Pick
15 Dime - Cardinals
8-0-1 With 15 Dime Releases
If ever there was a team that needed to right its ship immediately with the playoffs just a week away, it's an Arizona squad that's lost four of five since punching its ticket to the postseason, including consecutive blowouts at the hands of Minnesota at home and New England in the snow on the road last Sunday. But coming to Glendale is just what the doctor ordered, a visit from a Seattle team that's coming off a huge upset of the Jets last weekend in coach Mike Holmgren's final home game.
Forget about this game being anti-climatic for the Seahawks following Holmgren's Seattle swan song. Where a fast-fading Brett Favre was unable to seriously challenge the NFL's worst pass defense last week in the snow, Kurt Warner, who is coming off a miserable 30-yard effort in the snow versus the Patriots, will come out firing against a porous secondary that's allowed 65% completions and 21 touchdown passes in 15 games versus just eight interceptions. And Warner will have the added luxury of playing inside a dome.
In the season's first meeting, in week 11, Warner had a magnificent game, completing 32-of-44 passes for 395 yards as Arizona carried a 26-7 lead into the fourth quarter before giving up a couple of garbage scores that allowed Seattle to make it a respectable - from a scoreboard perspective, at least - final of 26-20.
The Cardinals have failed to compete against top notch foes this season, getting crunched by the likes of the Patriots, Eagles, Jets and Giants. But against weaker competition, they've excelled, going 6-1 ATS versus clubs with a losing record such as Seattle. In any case the addition of S. Mingee back to the Cardinals secondary will provide a defensive edge. Mingee was injured during the Thanksgiving game against the Eagles.
There is no love lost between these two squads; Arizona felt the Seahwawks ran up the score in last December's 42-21 division-clincher in Seattle. The Cardinals relished the opportunity to earn a measure of revenge when they earned their first road win in the series in five years in the season's first meeting; another chance awaits them today with more at stake as it's imperative that their offense gets back on track prior to next weekend's playoff opener.
FYI - I've released this play early because so many other teams have their playoff fates ultimately in the hands of other clubs and I believe this game is underpriced and will become more attactive as the weekend progresses, meaning the public will jump on the Cardinals and push this price upward.
Speaking of the line.... As I post this play late Friday afternoon, Arizona is -6 to -6 1/2. If this line moves to -7, I would suggest you buy down the 1/2 point to 6 1/2 so you win if Arizona wins only by a touchdown.
If this line moves to -7 1/2 - even after shopping around - definitely buy down the 1/2 point to -7 so you get a push if Arizona only wins by a touchdown.Comment
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Re: 12-28-08
JEFFERSONSPORTS
65-34 in College Hoops (66%)
47-26-2 in the NFL (64%)
NFL
SAN FRANCISCO -2.5 -130
Psychology plays a huge roll in sports . Here we have the Redskins who have totally bombed out towards the end of the year playing against a team that is playing for their head coach and has been playing a lot better. Several 49er's have said that this game will be for Coach Singletary. With critical injuries to the Redskins off. line the 9er's now have the advantage in the trenches as well. Hill is starting to play better at Q for San Fran and this is definitely a tale of two teams going in opposite directions. I also like the fact that the 49er's will have a ton of motivation but will not have the added pressure of a "have to win" game. They should be relaxed and motivated. We will buy the half point and need just a FG for the win. Good luck, SF-2.5 -130Comment
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