There has been two weeks pass by of great NFL action and this week is going to be no different. There is only a limited time for teams to make their impact and this week is going to be no different. I wouldn't say that teams are beginning to shape their season but some are definitely not reaching their potential just yet and others are exceeding themselves. It has been a tough few weeks to try and pick a clear week but you cannot help but be excited at the potential match ups. Each week brings a new battle to our screens and hopefully some more money into our pockets. Lets take a look at the games that are thrown at us this week.
St Louis Rams @ Chicago Bears
The Bears have had a mix season to date and go into this game against the Rams with a 1-1 record (as do the Rams). As in seasons gone by though, the pressure is firmly on the shoulder of QB Jay Cutler. Some days he looks unbeatable and others he looks as though he is not cut out to make it in the NFL. He is the one thing standing in the way of the Bears being a title contender. If he gets his game right, they could go "all the way". Their last start was a dismal performance to the Packers where they lost 23-10 and only produce 163-yards on offence. As admitted by Bears coach Lovie Smith, "his squad is in for a very tough contest", as the Rams overcame a 15 point deficit to beat the Redskins. It was the sides first victory under new coach Jeff Fisher and it was a great performance that had their defence holding RG3 and the Redskins to only one score in the second half. Both sides go into this game with a few injuries to key players and both will probably be without their RB. All things considered, the Bears should get home very tightly in this contest.
TAB Sportsbet = Rams $3.75 Bears $1.25
Centrebet = Rams $3.45 Bears $1.33
Sportsbet = Rams $3.75 Bears $1.29
_______
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys started the season on fire, turning in a very dominating performance to hand the NY Giants a loss at home to begin the season. Romo was playing well and leading his offence around the park whilst the defence were defending their line very well and bringing a lot of pressure to the Giants and Manning. But then they went up to Seattle and were suffocated by a very stiff Seahawks defence and went down by 20 points and only managed one TD. This is the type of inconsistency that has plagued a very talented roster for some years now and they are well aware of what has to be done to rectify their performance. They will have no easy contest as they have to face a Buccaneers team that could very well be 2-0 had it not been for a horror 4th quarter where they gave up 25 points and went down to the Giants 41-34. Much like the Cowboys, they are aware of what went wrong and will be out for a better performance this week. They must restrict Romo but his eyes will be alight at the prospect of facing a defence that gave up a record 510-yards on passing to Manning. The problems on the defensive side of things pose a big problem for the Buccaneers and it is hard to have them in this game against a Cowboys team that should be refocused this week.
TAB Sportsbet = Buccaneers $4.00 Cowboys $1.22
Centrebet = Buccaneers $4.00 Cowboys $1.26
Sportsbet = Buccaneers $4.05 Cowboys $1.27
_______
San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings
The 49ers can thank their defence for the 2-0 start to the season that they have enjoyed as they have been good enough to restrict to teams to minimal yards (two great QBs as well is Rogers and Stafford). They can not afford to take their foot off the accelerator either and must put the Vikings to the sword. 49ers players seem capable of lifting to another level and their fans are starting to believe that they have a side that is capable of winning the Superbowl. The Vikings went down last week to the Colts by 3 points and it wasn't easy to take as the FG was kicked with 8 seconds remaining on the clock. They are back at home this week and have an impressive record here against the 49ers, a side that has not won at the Metrodome since 1992. Despite this, I still expect the 49ers to be too strong and take their season to 3-0.
TAB Sportsbet = 49ers $1.30 Vikings $3.35
Centrebet = 49ers $1.30 Vikings $3.60
Sportsbet = 49ers $1.31 Vikings $3.60
_______
Kansas City Chiefs @ New Orleans Saints
This game features two winless sides that are desperate to grab a victory before it is too late. Being 0-2 shouldn't ring any alarm bells just yet but if this is allowed to go one for to long, things might begin to snowball and they could find themselves at the wrong end of their respective divisions. The Saints are obviously still struggling with the suspension of players and coaches following the offseason controversy, but they are trying to make amends. Last week you thought that they would have been a good chance of beating the Panthers in Carolina but things did no go according to plan. Bree's wasn't at his best and he was picked off twice which placed even more pressure on a defensive unit that can leak points very easily. They can score a lot of points, they just have not been able to limit their opponents scoring. The Chiefs haven't exactly been at their best this season yet either. Last week they were thumped by the Bills despite QB Matt Cassell throwing 2 TD's. This all came after a poor performance against Atlanta. So is there any light at the end of the tunnel for the Chiefs? Not just yet. The Saints should get their season back on track with a win.
TAB Sportsbet = Chiefs $4.25 Saints $1.20
Centrebet = Chiefs $4.00 Saints $1.26
Sportsbet = Chiefs $4.25 Saints $1.24
_______
Philadelphia Eagles @ Arizona Cardinals
This is one of two games this week that features unbeaten sides. The Eagles have a lot of expectation riding on them and it all depends on the fitness of QB Michael Vick. Whilst they have managed to remain 2-0, they can consider themselves lucky having 9 turnovers in two weeks. They need to bring pressure towards Vick and force him into making mistakes. The Eagles offensive line will also have added pressure on them considering they have just lost their starting centre. Arizona have managed 7 sacks to date and will be aiming to add to this tally. The Eagles will also have to pressure Kevin Klob who was the starting QB for the Eagles back in 2010. As the story goes, he was injured in Week 1 and Michael Vick was given the starting role and has never look back since. He has now been traded away and finds himself at his new home up against his former side. The Eagles should get a win by a very slim margin but a win by the Cardinals would not shock. They can lift another level when at home and will need to establish a running game that releases pressure on Klob and his WR's.
TAB Sportsbet = Eagles $1.60 Cardinals $2.25
Centrebet = Eagles $1.57 Cardinals $2.45
Sportsbet = Eagles $1.52 Cardinals $2.57
_______
Atlanta Falcons @ San Diego Chargers
The second of the "undefeated clashes" promises to be a titanic battle between two sides that will be hoping to make the playoffs. It is a very interesting game that has people wondering where this game will be won. Falcons QB Matt Ryan is the highest rated QB so far this season and they boast 3 receivers who have run for over 120-yards so far this season. Whilst there is a greater emphasis on the passing game with a new offensive coordinator, they are narrowing down their options by having a running game that is ranked 28th overall and averaging less than 3.0-yards a carry. If they do not look to call upon this facet of their game, the Chargers defence will have a field day bringing mountains of pressure upon Ryan. To make matters worse, the Falcons may be without RB Mike Turner following his recent arrest. But the Chargers defence has not been the best this season and they need to limit the amount of points and yards they offer. If they are able to limit the Falcons, Chargers QB Philip Rivers has the opportunity to run riot over this game. He has the second best completion percentage at 73.9% (Ryan's is 70.3%) and they have been labelled "super unselfish" in the direction they sometimes take. This just sets the stage for a very interesting game. I am inclined to think that Charger's are a quality team yet still unproven and a waste of talent. Then again, the Falcons are yet to set the world on fire and playing at home, the Chargers just might have the edge over them.
TAB Sportsbet = Falcons $2.50 Chargers $1.50
Centrebet = Falcons $2.38 Chargers $1.60
Sportsbet = Falcons $2.47 Chargers $1.57
_______
Other winners that I am picking:
Browns
Detroit
Colts
Jets
Redskins
Broncos
Steelers
Patriots
Packers
Good luck!
Scooby
No comments:
Post a Comment