Pro Football Baltimore Ravens at NY Giants (O/U 42) (1PM ET) (CBS)
We will have a hard-hitting physical contest at Giants Stadium on Sunday. The Giants pass rush is fierce and I expect the Ravens to be very careful with Joe Flacco here. Quick drops and throws will be the passing attack for the Ravens. They cannot let Flacco sit in the pocket because he will be vulnerable here. The Ravens will try and try to establish a ground attack to keep the pressure off of Flacco. The Ravens point output will be low and will lean on their good rush defense to stay in this game. With two good defenses on the field it becomes a field position game and if the Giants are up by two scores they will try and work clock in the second half. Play this one under 42.
A tough spot here for Cal having to face two of the best defenses in the nation in USC and Oregon St in successive weeks and on the road. Cals quarterbacks Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley have not been accurate and their receivers are not doing a good job getting open. Golden Bears running back Jahvid Best couldnt run on USC and will have problems against this good Beavers defense. Cal has lost 7 of their past 8 road contests with their only victory against a woeful Washington St squad. Jacquizz Rodgers has been good on the ground for the Beavers. Cals defense will wear out against Oregon Sts ground attack in the second half in this game. Take Oregon St 3.
Pro Football NY Jets at New England Patriots (-3.5) (8:15PM ET) (NFL Network)
This is a big game in the AFC East with both teams sitting at 6-3 on the season. New England took for the first matchup 19-10 back in week 2. But this is a much different Jets team from week 2 and one that has won 3 straight. The Patriots are facing a good Jets defense that can bring pressure on Cassell and stop the run. Nose tackle Kris Jenkins is plugging the middle for NY. And speaking about the run the Patriots running backs are banged up. On defense Adalius Thomas has an arm injury and looks to most likely will miss this game for New England. The Jets are working with Favre to limit his mistakes and his play and decision-making has improved the past two weeks. The Patriots secondary will have problems here against a strong-armed quarterback. Take NY Jets +3 ½.
NBA Best Bet Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers (-9) (8:00PM ET) (TNT)
The new look Denver Nuggets hit the road against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The big trade last week saw guard Chauncey Billips move from the Detroit Pistons to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson. The Nuggets bigs have gotten banged up as Kenyon Martin suffered a wrist injury and Chris Anderson has been lost for 2 weeks with a broken rib. Lebron has played outstanding basketball on the early season as he averages 28 points per game in the young season. His path to the basket is a bit easier with the injuries to the Nuggets big men. Carmello Anthony is weak defensively and the Cavaliers will cover this pointspread with easy baskets in the paint. Take Cleveland –9.
Pro Football Monday San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (-9.5) (8:35PM ET) (ESPN)
Kurt Warner is playing outstanding football. He is hitting on nearly 70% of his passes and has had big games at home this season. The Cardinals put up an average of 34 points in their 3 home games on the season. And they have done it against some pretty good teams in Dallas, Miami and Buffalo. San Francisco’s secondary will have problems containing the excellent Cardinals receiving corps and running back Tim Hightower is coming off a 109 yard rushing performance last week. Arizona playing on Monday Night Football will have its fans up and 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill will have problems with the crowd noise in this spot. This will be Hill’s first start of the season and first under a Mike Martz system. Good luck. San Francisco quarterbacks have been sacked 34 times on the season. Look for an inspired performance here from the Cardinals in front of the home folks on Monday Night against a bad, bad 49ers team. Take Arizona –9 ½.
Pro Football Best Bet NY Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-3) (8:15PM ET) (NBC)
The Philadelphia defense can wreck havoc with passing attacks when they can force team into down and distance on third downs. But the Giants have the formula to nullify the Eagles blitzing behind a power running game. Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward are averaging over 5 yards per carry and that will keep the Eagles crowd out of this game. On the other side of the ball the Giants pass rush will bring the heat on McNabb and could force errant throws. The Eagles secondary will bite on play action and Eli will make big plays downfield. My Best Bet for Sunday NFL is taking the NY Giants +3 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The NY Giants are at Philadelphia with the Eagles a 3 point favorite. The Giants run duo of Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward are averaging over 5 yards per carry. That’s the formula to beat Philadelphia and keep them off balance on defense. The Eagles want to blitz but the Giants can run on any down and distance for big gains. The Eagles secondary will bite on play action and Eli will make big plays in the passing game. Tease NY Giants 7 points to +10.
Pro Football Best Bet Teaser Play #2.
Carolina Panthers are at the Oakland Raiders with the Panthers 8 ½ point favorites. The Oakland offense is awful right now as JaMarcus Russell cannot move this team. The Panthers are balanced on the ground with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Steward proving the ground attack with Steve Smith and company through the air. The Raiders are in turmoil and the Panthers will continue the misery for Raider fans. Tease Carolina 7 points to –1 ½.
Your Best Bet NFL 2 team NFL Teaser is teasing NY Giants to +10 with Carolina at –1 ½.
Selection: Tease NY Giants +10 with Carolina –1 ½.
Pro Football Sunday Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (-2 ½)(1PM ET) (FOX)
Vikings pass rusher Jared Allen is banged up and this could have an impact in this game. Aaron Rodgers behind his exceptional receiving talent will exploit the Vikings pass defense. Minnesota gives up 232 yards through the air. The Packers could stack the box here against the Vikings running game because Green Bay has a good secondary and the Vikings possess below average wide receivers. Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy has never lost to the Vikings. Behind the Packers passing attack and good secondary take Green Bay +2 ½.
Pro Football Sunday Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (-3.5) (1:00PM ET) (CBS)
New England’s running backs have been banged up and the Patriots will need good balance attacking this good Buffalo Bills defense. Matt Cassell has been improving but he will be facing a strong defense here after facing 5 weak defenses in succession. The Bills will get Marshawn Lynch the ball early in this game to set up their passing game. Lynch was unavailable in the first half with illness. When Bills quarterback Trent Edwards has the support of his running game he prospers with the pass. The Patriots will have problems running on the Bills with Marcus Stroud in the middle. I expect the Patriots to be very conservative here with Cassell facing a tough defense and I don’t expect too many downfield throws here. This game will be a classic divisional struggle with much on the line here. Its comes down to a late field and that means you win no matter who wins on the underdog. Take Buffalo +3 ½.
College Football Saturday Penn St Nittany Lions at Iowa Hawkeyes (O/U 42 ½) (8PM ET) (ABC)
Penn St is coming off a bye here with two weeks to prepare for Iowa. I expect Penn St behind quarterback Darryl Clark to make plays in the passing game against Iowa. The Hawkeyes gave up over 250 passing yards to Illinois and Wisconsin the past two weeks. Northwestern had success through the air against Iowa gaining 282 passing yards. Penn St scored in the high 40’s against Michigan and Wisconsin and put up 38 on Illinois. This game will go over the total. Play Penn St and Iowa over 42 ½.
