MINNESOTA at NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, September 9)... Vikes have covered five straight vs. Saints dating back to ‘01, including LY’s NFC title game and the Saints’ infamous gold jerseys game in ‘02. Last five in series "over" as well. Saints have won and covered 4 of last 5 openers and are "over" 17-7 last 24 at Superdome. Vikes "over" 12-6 last 18 away. Tech edge-"Over," based on "totals" trends.
CAROLINA at NY GIANTS... First reg.-season game in new stadium for Giants. Big revenge for Giants after late-season 41-9 loss to Carolina effectively KO’s them from playoffs. Coughlin just 2-9 vs. line down stretch LY after G-Men had recorded spectacular 32-11 mark in previous 43 spread decisions. Giants also 11-4 "over" LY and "over" 16-9 as host since ‘07, John Fox only 9-10. Tech edge-Giants and slight to "over," based on extended team and "totals" trends.
MIAMI at BUFFALO... Ugh! Chan debut for Bills. Bills have won and covered last 5 vs. Dolphins at Orchard Park (Miami won at Toronto in 2008). Sparano, however, is 11-4 vs. line his last 15 away. Tech edge-slight to Bills, based on series trends.
ATLANTA at PITTSBURGH... Steelers weren’t "over" as much at home LY, but still "over" 30-13 last 43 at Heinz Field. Steel just 2-5 vs. line at home for Tomlin LY and 4-10 as chalk in ‘09. Steel has won SU last 7 openers and had covered 4 in a row prior to non-cove rin opener LY vs. Titans. Falcs 11-5 vs. line LY and they’re "over" 7-4 last 11 away. Tech edge-Falcs and "over," based on team and "totals" trends.
DETROIT at CHICAGO... Last 3 and 6 of last 8 "over" in series. Lovie just 5-9 as Solider Field chalk since ‘07. Note thast Lions slipped to 1-5-2 vs. line away LY after covering last 6 on road in winless SU 2008 campaign. Tech edge-"Over," based on "totals" trends.
CINCINNATI at NEW ENGLAND... Belichick far from an automatic go-with at Gillette Stadium lately, just 9-12 last 21 as home chalk. Belichick also just 1-3 vs. line last 4 openers. Belichick also just 18-23 vs. number last 41 spread decisions. Marvin Lewis 9-2 his last 11 as dog. Tech edge-Bengals, based on recent trends.
CLEVELAND at TAMPA BAY... Bucs 1-7 vs. line at home LY and 1-10 vs. number last 11 off Dale Mabry Highway. Bucs also "under" 17-10 their last 27 as host. Browns closed ‘09 with 7 straight covers. Tech edge-Browns and slight to "under," based on team and "totals" trends.
DENVER at JACKSONVILLE... McDaniels opened with 6 straight covers LY before faltering, but was still 5-3 vs. line away. Broncos also "over" 5-3 away LY and 10-6 away since ‘08. Del Rio a poor 9-23 vs. line since ‘08 (5-11 LY) and just 3-13 against number as host since ‘08. Jags also "over" 7-4 last 11 at home. Tech edge-Broncos and "over," based on team and "totals" trends.
INDIANAPOLIS at HOUSTON... Nine of last ten meetings "over" in series. Some very close games lately in series, with Indy covering only 2 of last 7 meetings, although Colts have beaten Texans six straight. Colts 8-1 vs. line last 9 reg.-season road games. Houston 4-1 as home dog for Kubiak since ‘07 with the loss coming LY vs. Colts. Tech edge-"Over," based on "totals" trends.
OAKLAND at TENNESSEE... Teams haven’t met since ‘07, at which point Raiders had covered 3 straight. Raiders 7-5 last 12 as road dog for Tom Cable. Tale of two seasons LY for Titans, but note they’re just 3-9 their last 12 as chalk. Titans also "over" 10–4-1 last 15 at home. Tech edge-slight to "over," based on "totals" trends.
GREEN BAY at PHILADELPHIA... Teams haven’t met since ‘07. Birds "over" 10-2 last 12 at Linc. Pack is 33-17 vs. line last 50 on board since late ‘06 and 18-8 its last 26 away from Lambeau. If Packers dogs note 13-4 mark as "short" since ‘07 (9-3 away), but Pack also 8-4 as road calk since ‘07. Tech edge-Packers and "over," based on team and "totals" trends.
SAN FRANCISCO at SEATTLE... Pete Carroll Seattle debut. Singletary 9-4-3 vs. line LY and 14-6-4 last 24 on board since late ‘08. Singletary also "under" 15-6 last 21. Seahawks had been much better vs. line at home (15-8) than at home (8-17) the past three seasons for Holmgren and Mora, Jr. Seattle also "under" 11-3 last 14 at Qwest Field. Tech edge-"Under" and 49ers, based on "totals" and team trends.
ARIZONA at ST. LOUIS... Cards have won last 7 in series SU and have covered 4 of last 5 vs. Rams. Last four "under" in series as well. Arizona, however, was 0-3 as road chalk in ‘09. Rams "under" 13-8 last 21 on board and are 7-14 as home dog since ‘07 (3-5 in role LY). Tech edge-"Under" and slight to Cards, based on "totals" and series trends.
DALLAS at WASHINGTON... Shanahan’s Washington debut. Last 3 and 4 of last 5 "under" in series. Teams have split spread decisions the last two years but Skins 5-2 vs. number past 7 meetings. Wade Phillips only 5-10 vs. line last 15 on road. Skins were only 2-6 vs. line at home LY and just 5-11 as host past two years for Jim Zorn. Skins also "under" 19-9 last 28 at FedEx Field. Tech edge-"Under," based on "totals" trends.
BALTIMORE at NY JETS (Monday, September 13)... Rex Ryan vs. old employer! Note John Harbaugh 23-13 vs. line past two seasons for Ravens, 12-8 vs. line on road. Baltimore also "under" 17-9 last 26 overall. Rex only 3-4 as home chalk LY. Tech edge-Ravens and "under," based on team and "totals" trends.
SAN DIEGO at KANSAS CITY...Norv just 5-9-1 vs. line in first five games of season the past three years for Bolts. Sort of the Oregon State of the NFL. Norv also just 3-5 last 8 as road chalk, and no covers in opener past two years. Norv, however, won and covered big on both meetings vs. KC LY. Chiefs just 2-6 vs. line at home for Todd Haley in his debut LY, and KC "over" 9-5 LY. KC also "over" 16-7 last 23 for Haley and Herm Edwards. Tech edge-"Over," based on "totals" trends.
