January 1, 2007

2007 NFC Wild Card Playoffs Betting Odds: Cowboys vs. Seahawks

Carrie Stroup here.  In what will probably be the more sought after game Saturday December 6, 2007 NFC Wild Card Playoffs betting odds have the Seattle Seahawks favored by only -2 1/2 against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Unlike the underdog Kansas City Chiefs - also playing that day - the underdog Dallas Cowboys are getting little love from the betting public.  Heck!  Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that everyone and their mother and their grandmother were drooling over new starting quarterback Tony Romo?  Personal love life aside, he was being billed as the savior in Dallas.  The Cowboys lost during Week 17 to the lowly Detroit Lions (at home no less) and now must face the team that got beaten in last year's Super Bowl. 

Read more of "2007 NFC Wild Card Playoffs Betting Odds: Cowboys vs. Seahawks" here

2007 AFC Wild Card Playoffs Betting Odds: Chiefs vs. Colts

The 2007 AFC Wilde Card Playoffs betting odds have the Kansas City Chiefs on the road facing the Indianapolis Colts.  Who would have ever imagined early on in the season that the Colts would actually be playing in a Wild Card game?  This was after all the last undefeated team.  But since that time, Indianapolis has looked rather unimpressive - to say the least, losing to the likes of Houston.  In fact, the Colts have lost 4 of their last 7.

But if there is a silver lining to this scenario, it is that Indianapolis has a legitimate shot this year of winning more than one Playoffs game.

Read more of "2007 AFC Wild Card Playoffs Betting Odds: Chiefs vs. Colts" here

December 31, 2006

AFC Playoff Picture as of December 31, 2006:  (See NFC Playoff Picture below as well)

As the league plays the final week of its season more than a third of the league is still in contention for the final three playoff spots available.

Read more of this article here

NFC Battle of the Birds Falcons vs. Eagles

Will history repeat itself this Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons fly up to Philly to take on the Eagles? Jim Mora was an acclaimed coach the last time Atlanta played at Philadelphia in the 2004 conference championship game after the Falcons won the NFC South division. Two years later, the heat is on Mora, with his future with the Falcons uncertain, and his dirty birds playoff hopes are even more uncertain. The Falcons close a disappointing regular season Sunday at Philadelphia, but Mora's fate and the team's playoff hopes could be decided before the game begins. The Giants would eliminate the Falcons by winning at Washington on Saturday. Even if the Giants lose, Carolina would end Atlanta's playoff hopes by beating New Orleans early Sunday. The Falcons-Eagles game has been moved to a 4:15 p.m. kickoff.

70% of sports bettors were siding with the Eagles in this one.  Philadelphia was a -8 favorite at betED.com (see website here)

Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank said last month a second straight 8-8 finish is unacceptable. When asked about Mora's status after the Falcons' 10-3 loss to Carolina last Sunday, Blank reminded reporters about his November statement. By declining the chance to elaborate, Blank appeared to indicate he still would not accept a .500 record. If 8-8 isn't sufficient, then Mora's only hope may be for the Falcons to upset the Eagles, earn a wild-card berth by having Carolina, Green Bay and the New York Giants lose or tie this weekend, and then win at least one playoff game.

In the last meeting between the teams on September 12th, 2005 in the Georgia Dome, Falcons RB Warrick Dunn rushed 21 times for 117 yards and QB Michael Vick ran for a score in a 14-10 Atlanta victory in the season opener against the defending NFC Champions. Despite the disappointing 7-8 record, the Falcons are first team in NFL history with a RB-QB tandem with 1,000 yards each, RB Warrick Dunn (1,082) and QB Michael Vick (1,022). Vick became the first NFL QB to go over 1,000 rushing yards in a season last Sunday vs. Carolina. Vick rushed for 68 yards and one TD in the last game vs. the Eagles while Dunn had 117 yards. RB Justin Griffith has three TDs (two receiving and one rushing) in his last two games and TE Alge Crumpler was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and has six TDs in his last 10 games. WR Michael Jenkins has a TD catch in six of his last 10 games and CB DeAngelo Hall's 308 interception return yards since 2005 is the most in the NFL during that stretch. Hall had an interception and 38 return yards in the last game vs. the Eagles.

Eagles QB Jeff Garcia is 4-1 with nine TDs and two interceptions for a 106.0 passer rating in his five starts in place of injured Donovan McNabb. Garcia, completed 15 of 23 passes for 238 yards and one touchdown (with one interception) while improving his record to 4-1 as the Eagles' fill-in starter. Philadelphia RB Brian Westbrook who had his sixth 100-plus yards rushing performance of the season with 26 carries for 122 yards, noted the Eagles still "have to come together for next weekend" against Atlanta. Coming off a loss at Texas Stadium on Monday with a 23-7 victory are hungry for another win. With a 5th consecutive win; the Eagles would clinch an NFC East title on New Year's Eve…interestingly enough, only a month ago even a playoff berth appeared unobtainable.

I remember the nail-biter match between the Eagles and the Falcons. Had the dirty birds won, I would have been shaking my tail feather in Jacksonville for the Superbowl! I have a feeling history is going to repeat itself with this one, clearly its just not the year of the Falcons.

Odds to win the 2007 AFC Championship have the obvious choices favored, but what about the red hot Tennessee Titans and their $50,000 payout potential?
 

Odds to win the 2007 AFC Championship have the San Diego Chargers an easy favorite at +145 odds (or a $145 payout on a $100 bet) heading into the final week of the 2006 NFL regular season.  All odds available at BetCRIS.com - the oldest established online sportsbook catering to the US market.

Lock into these odds here now otherwise these odds to win the 2007 AFC Championship are subject to change beyond December 30, 2006.

The Baltimore Ravens - looking real good all season long - pay nearly $300 on a $100 bet if they win the 2007 AFC Championship and participate in a second Super Bowl of this decade.

The Bengals could clinch a Playoff spot and if they go all the way, the payout would be $5500 on a $100 bet. 

The Colts are looking like a let down but make no mistake about it, this is still a very good team that was originally favored to win the 2007 AFC Championship.  Now, they have excellent value at +475 (equivalent to a $475 payout on a $100 bet).  Lock into these odds by December 30, 2006 to ensure they do not change.

Likewise, the New England Patriots also pay out $475 for every $100 bet.

The Denver Broncos, who may be getting their act back together now, pay out $3500 for every $100 bet.

And give a big round of applause to those Tennessee Titans who during Week 16 of the NFL managed to go 8-7 after starting the season 0-5.  Now that's impressive!  And they've won six straight - against good teams no less.

Young improved to 8-4 as a starter and has led the Titans to six straight wins as they attempt to become the first NFL team to qualify for the playoffs after starting the season 0-5.

Tennessee still needs help, and must win its season finale when it hosts New England.

The $50,000 payout odds being offered by BetCRIS.com heading into Week 17 probably do not have that book sweating just yet.  

Tennessee, which is bidding to become the first team in NFL history to reach the postseason after losing its first five games, will need the Steelers to win at Cincinnati and the Chiefs to take care of visiting Jacksonville at the same time that the Titans are scoring a victory over the Patriots. If all of that goes according to plan, Jeff Fisher's club would then require the 6-9 49ers to go into Denver and prevail.

The Bengals beating the Steelers is not hard to imagine and the depending on which Jaguars team shows up in Kansas City, Jacksonville beating the Chiefs is not out of reach either.  But it's the 49ers in Denver that seems tough to fathom. 

Judging by how well the Titans have played in recent weeks and who they have beaten, a win against the Patriots is also attainable. 

All odds below can be bet online here

Denver Broncos: Odds to Win the 2007 AFC Championship

Heading into Week 17 of the NFL, the Denver Broncos odds to win the 2007 AFC Championship were listed at +3500.  That is some great value considering the Broncos appear to be getting back on track just in time to make a post season appearance.  The payout should they take the AFC?  $3500 on a $100 bet at BetCRIS.com - the oldest established online sportsbook catering to the US market.

Following a four game skid, the Broncos have won their last two with new starting quarterback Jay Cutler.  One of these games included a nail biter at home against the Cincinnati Bengals who missed on an extra point attempt.  Denver, however, started the season off strong and at one time appeared to be one of the more likely teams heading to the 2007 Super Bowl. 

Fortunately, the only thing standing in the way of Denver's chances at a Playoff appearance is the San Francisco 49ers. 

The Denver Broncos are within a victory of making the playoffs for a franchise-record fourth straight time.

“I couldn’t care less,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “All I care about this year: getting this win and getting into the playoffs.”

Of greater concern to Bailey and many of the Broncos is what they see as a setup game with the 6-9 San Francisco 49ers.

“You look back and there are a lot of teams that slip up in these kind of games they should win,” Bailey said. “They’re playing for the playoffs and they take teams lightly and you can’t do that.

“I think what teams like the 49ers take heart in is winning,” Bailey said. “Those guys have a lot of pride, a lot of talent and they don’t want to come out and lose just because we are fighting for more than what they are fighting for.”

A win against the 49ers is an easy way into the Playoffs.  The Broncos can still get in the hard way should Kansas City lose to Jacksonville at home.

Carrie Stroup here.  Not only did the Indianapolis Colts fail to cover during Week 16 of the NFL, they lost outright to the Houston Texans.  What the heck?!?!

The Colts have lost 5 of their last 7 against the spread.  Overall, Indianapolis is 8-7 ATS this season, so the Colts loyalists in theory should be slightly ahead with their betting on this team.

It was pretty much a mixed bag for sports bettors and bookies this past weekend.

Sportsbook.com (see website here) enjoyed some big wins with losses that included the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and the San Diego Chargers (failing to cover the -4 1/2 line).

Sports bettors on the other hand pummeled online bookies like Sportsbook.com with big wins from the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs.

As the regular NFL season winds down it is time to start focusing on the Playoffs.  Watch for our extensive NFL Playoff Betting Odds coverage throughout the next few weeks, including all the latest odds to win the odds to win the AFC Championship , odds to win the NFC Championship and Odds to win the 2007 Super Bowl.

Odds to Win the 2007 NFC Championship - Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are suddenly looking like legitimate contenders to win the 2007 NFC Championship following their big win on the road against the Dallas Cowboys.  Odds to win the 2007 NFC Championship for the Philadelphia Eagles heading into the Christmas Day game were listed at 12 to 1. 

Nine.com (see website here) was likely to shorten those odds further following Christmas.  Nine.com  is matching all new signup deposits between $50 and $250 (for example: if you deposit $200, Nine.com will add $200 to your new online betting account).  Offer ends December 31, 2007

Garcia took the Eagles to scores on four of their first five drives and the Philadelphia defense humbled Romo in a 23-7 victory Monday that secured at least a wild-card berth.

The Eagles (9-6) can win the division for the fifth time in six years by beating Atlanta at home Sunday. Philadelphia also could clinch if Dallas loses its finale to Detroit.

"It's not about looking too far in the future, it's about playing today," Garcia said. "Hey, Philadelphia -- Merry Christmas!"

The only way the Cowboys (9-6) can win the NFC East is by beating the Lions and by the Falcons knocking off the Eagles.

One thing settled by this game is that New Orleans clinches the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.

Philadelphia is enjoying a stunning turnaround for a club that was 5-6 going into December after Garcia lost his first start in place of an injured Donovan McNabb.

Now Garcia and the Eagles have won four straight. The last three have come on the road against division foes, the exact patch of the schedule that was supposed to bury Philadelphia.

"Last year, we had a lot of injuries and we had other things going on. This year, we stuck together through all those things, through all the naysayers," veteran safety Brian Dawkins said. "We knew what we could do, continued to push each other. We're doing what people didn't expect, but everyone in the locker room expected it."

2007 AFC Championship Betting Odds - 2007 NFC Championship Betting Odds

2007 AFC Championship betting odds and 2007 NFC Championship betting odds have changed dramatically since the start of the season yet one can still find great value as of December 24, 2006. 

The 2007 AFC Championship betting odds are quite appealing due to the competitive field.  Even though the San Diego Chargers have positioned themselves as the team to beat, there are probably four other solid AFC teams that can do just that.  Therefore, the Chargers would pay out slightly better than even odds while other AFC teams would pay out substantially more.

The final game of the season for the Packers will be played in Chicago - Brutal - except for the possible scenario in which the Bears have little more to play for and decide to rest up a chunk of their key players.  The result could be a Green Bay 8-8 finish.

Chicago Bears Odds to Win the 2007 NFC Championship

The Chicago Bears odds to win the 2007 NFC Championship are pretty substantial as the Bears hold a huge lead in the NFC.  But that might not matter once in the post season as there have been concerns over the quarterback situation with Chicago.

Despite the Bears wide lead in the NFC, they are only an even favorite at online sportsbooks like BetCRIS.com (see website here)

The next shortest odds to win the 2007 NFC Championship belong to Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys at +250.  The New Orleans Saints come in next at +350 (or bet $100 to win $350).  The Seahawks come in next at +1700, just to give some idea of the wide disparity in the NFC.

Heading into Week 16, the Bears were expected to breeze through a road game against division rivals, the Detroit Bears.  They were -5 1/2 favorites at BetCRIS.com and this was by far the most lopsided matchup in terms of betting activities with 91% on the Bears.

And if you think the disparity the Bears and everyone else in the NFC is big, Charles Bricker of the Sun Sentinel, doesn't believe any of the NFC teams (including the Bears) belong in the upcoming Super Bowl.

"The more you look at the best teams in the NFC, the more disturbing it is to think that one of them -- the Bears, Cowboys, Saints, Seahawks, even the Eagles -- are going to the Super Bowl.

"San Diego, Baltimore and Indianapolis all are better than any NFC club, and it doesn't seem right that only one of them can reach the championship game.

"You could also argue that the Bears, at 12-2, would be a strong representative for the NFC, but the two Chicago losses are to AFC teams, New England and Miami. In those losses, the Bears' defense gave up a combined 650 yards.

"New Orleans? Great offense, but they've given up too many big plays. Dallas? Young quarterback Tony Romo is showing some inconsistency now, and there is no defense in the red zone. Seattle? It has lost to the 49ers and Cardinals the last two weeks."

Updated betting odds on teams vying to win the 2007 AFC Championship are presently available with the San Diego Chargers an easy favorite - but far from a guarantee.

The Baltimore Ravens are the surprise that really should not have been the surprise with terrific odds to win the 2007 AFC Championship.  Heading into this season, the Baltimore Ravens were seen as a team that would make terrific progress and were earmarked early for a post-season spot.  The only real surprise we suppose is just how improved a team the Ravens would become.  Their odds to win the 2007 AFC Championship were greater than anyone could ever have anticipated.

Baltimore Ravens Odds to Win the 2007 AFC

Ask any NFL analyst and they will probably tell you the single best player in the league right now is LaDainian Tomlinson and the single best team is the San Diego Chargers.  Actually the Chargers are probably the best because of Tomlinson. 

Read More of This Article Here

Scout.com reports that the Baltimore Ravens are 5-1 at home this season, haven't lost to Cleveland at home since 2002 and the Browns haven't scored more than 17 points in their seven previous trips here. Plus, the Browns are 0-5 in the division and the Ravens need this game to clinch a playoff berth and keep up their pursuit of home-field advantage in the playoffs. They should be sufficiently motivated. The Browns have the NFL's 29th-ranked defense and the 30th-ranked offense.

That's good news unless you are looking for the Ravens to cover.

Sports Betting Odds

Our best line in this matchup comes from the folks at BetED.com (see website here) one of the few online gambling websites to list the Ravens with a line of -11 compared to some sportsbooks with a line of -12 1/2.

Some more things to consider via Scout.com: Can the Ravens contain Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards? These are the Browns' chief downfield threats, and both had an impact against Baltimore in their previous meeting. Winslow is battling nagging injuries, though, and only registered 19 yards against the Steelers. In the first meeting with the Ravens, they combined for 12 receptions and 208 yards. However, that was with Frye under center and he's unlikely to play today because of a bone bruise in his right wrist.

Even though underdogs have been winning outright, at a rampant pace this season, the public keeps pounding the favorites no matter who they are playing. Take the Tennessee Titans for instance; since starting the year 0-5, they have been on an absolute tear winning six out of their last eight games. More impressive, five of those outright victories have come despite being the underdog by an average of 7.7 points. Needless to say they have covered eight out their last nine games.

Read more of this article here

After a pummeling at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, commentators blamed the Indianapolis Colts lack of a running game and poor defense for the loss.

"Peyton Manning may be among the best quarterbacks in history, but none of that matters if the rest of the team can't get the job done," said one commentator.

Widely favored to win the 2007 Super Bowl despite never having much luck in the post season, the Colts are likely to provide a double edged sword come late Sunday and Monday morning when most online gambling websites release their updated betting odds on which team will win the big game.

Indianapolis will probably be demoted a few notches, which means excellent value in terms of payout should they ultimately win the 2007 Super Bowl.  But the real value gets assigned to the "other" teams, none of whom are "sure things" to reach the Super Bowl.

By "sure thing" we mean teams with the best likelihood - and essentially the best odds - of going deep into the post season.  These teams include the likes of New England, Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore and San Diego.

The Chargers are certainly looking like a "sure thing" these days, but they are led by a first time starting quarterback as are the Dallas Cowboys.  The Peyton Mannings and Tom Bradys of the world usually come alive during the post season (though Manning hasn't had much support help during his career).

Meanwhile, the Patriots got shut out in Miami on Sunday while the NFC Wildcard race continues to be a toss up.  The New York Jets had an opportunity to inch closer to New England's record, but lost badly at home against the upstart Bills.

Interestingly enough, some of the biggest threats closing out the season are coming from teams that probably stand a zero chance of getting into the post season.  These include the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans, each left for dead just weeks ago but potentially hitting the .500 mark next week (an impressive feat considering neither were anywhere near that mark just a few weeks back).

VIP.com (see website here) continues to update its 2007 Super Bowl future betting odds.  They announced an exclusive promotional offer for all Sports911.com readers - a 100% signup bonus for new customers until December 31, 2006 (restrictions apply).

In this week's match up of the NFC South, one team is fighting for a playoff berth and the other is likely to miss the postseason for the third time in four years. The Atlanta Falcons (6-6) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 24-14 victory at Washington last week, but they've been so inconsistent it's difficult to forecast how they'll fare the rest of the way, even against the struggling Tampa Bay Bucs (3-9) on Sunday. The Falcons trail New Orleans (8-4) by two games in the NFC South and are one of four NFC teams in contention for playoff berths at 6-6. After Tampa Bay, they'll face NFC East leader Dallas and wild-card contenders Carolina and Philadelphia.

The Atlanta Falcons are a -3 1/2 favorite in this one at Sports Interaction (see website here)

The Buccaneers lead the all-time series over the Falcons, 15-11 and have won three of the last four games over Atlanta. In the teams last meeting September 17th in the Georgia Dome, the Falcons set a franchise record with 306 rushing yards, Dunn had 134 yards against his former team, Vick had 127 and Norwood finished with 45 as the Falcons averaged 7.0 yards per carry landing a 14-3 Atlanta victory. The Falcons got out to a 14-0 lead, thanks to a one-yard TD run by Vick and a four-yard TD catch by FB Fred McCrary. The Bucs' only points came on a 22-yard field goal by K Matt Bryant as time expired in the first half.

The Falcons are the only team in the NFL with two players over 900 rushing yards. Running back Warrick Dunn with 952 yards and QB Michael Vick with 929. Vick needs 40 yards to become the NFL's single-season leader for rushing yards by a quarterback, surpassing Bobby Douglass, who had 968 for Chicago in 1972. Vick has six TDs (5 passing, 1 rushing) in his last three games vs. the Buccaneers. K Morten Andersen (2,428 points) needs seven points to set the all-time NFL scoring record. RB Jerious Norwood had a career-high 107 rushing yards last week at Washington, including a 69-yard TD run. He became the first player in NFL history to score his first two career TDs from 69 or more yards. Three time pro-bowl starter TE Alge Crumpler leads NFL tight ends with 11 catches of 20 or more yards. He has six TD receptions in the last seven games. CB DeAngelo Hall has three interceptions and 143 return yards in past two games vs. Tampa Bay. His 308 interception return yards since 2005 is the most in the NFL during that stretch.

The Bucs got off to a 0-4 start, and with quarterback Chris Simms out for the season after having his spleen removed; Tampa Bay has gone with rookie Bruce Gradkowski at the position. He leads all rookie NFL quarterbacks with 9 TD passes. In three starts vs. NFC South teams, he has thrown for 5 TDs and 2 interceptions. Tampa Bay RB Cadillac Williams has eight games with 100 or more rushing yards. He has posted a pair of 100-yard games vs. Atlanta in his last three outings vs. the Falcons. Tampa Bay has dropped five of its past six, playing progressively worse in each of the defeats. The Bucs have struggled to score points, and last week became the first team in 73 years to avoid a shutout with a field goal on the last play of the game when Bryant kicked a 27-yarder in their 20-3 loss to Pittsburgh. Atlanta, however, remembers the last time it went to Tampa Bay with playoff hopes. In the last game at Raymond James Stadium last year on Christmas Eve, the Bucs beat the Falcons, 27-24 in overtime. In that game, Bryant's 41-yard FG with 15 seconds remaining in OT eliminated the Falcons from playoff contention.

As much as I want to go with the Falcons, because by record they seem to be the clear leader. Something tells me that the Bucs have nothing to lose, but something to gain by knocking the dirty birds out of the playoffs for two seasons in a row.

Bet This Game Here

While the betting action on the early -7 1/2 line appeared evenly balanced between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, nearly 90% of those betting this game were all over the Saints to win outright with the money line, which at press time paid out close to $300 for every $100 bet.  Dallas was the home favorite in this game.

Meanwhile, BetGameDay.com (see website here) continued its holiday season 100% FREE MATCH PLAY BONUS up to $200, which entitles anyone who opens a new online sports betting account to receive a matching bonus up to $200.  For example, if you were to open your online betting account with $200, BetGameDay would place $200 into your account for you to bet with.  SEE DETAILS HERE  This offer expires December 31, 2006 at midnight.

The Dallas Cowboys are now being considered serious contenders to win the 2007 Super Bowl  BetGameDay.com had the Dallas Cowboys listed with 6 to 1 odds of winning the 2007 Super Bowl heading into Week 14 and these odds are subject to change dramatically, especially with a Cowboys win on Sunday.

The New Orleans Saints, we should point out, had odds of 14 to 1 of winning the 2007 Super Bowl.

"Right now, Dallas, led by Tony Romo and Terrell Owens, is looking just as good as any other team in the league," commented Sports911.com Senior Sports Handicapper, Tyrone Black.  "They were a team with troubles early on unlike some of the current contenders.  This means they still offer terrific value to win the 2007 Super Bowl in terms of a hefty payout."

In this case, $600 for every $100 bet.

The San Diego Chargers are now the new favorites to win the 2007 Super Bowl heading into Week 14 of the NFL with odds equivalent to 3 to 1.  The Indianapolis Colts had odds of 4 to 1.

The other day Sports911.com discussed how the New York Jets could actually pull off a victory in the AFC East against the New England Patriots based on improved performance and both team's remaining schedules.

At BetCRIS.com (see website here) we find that the New York Jets had odds of winning the AFC East set at +1100.  That equates to an $1100 payout for every $100 bet.  New England was a -4000 favorite - hardly worth betting with that number.

The good news for the Jets is that they play a relatively "soft" schedule to close things out with home games against Buffalo and Oakland and road games verses the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings.  Each of these are winnable on paper since technically we are talking about four teams with losing records.

The Miami Dolphins, however, are much improved and this is hardly a "guaranteed win" by any stretch of the imagination.  But with that said, New England also plays the Dolphins.  In fact, three of the Patriots remaining four games are on the road and their schedule is far less generous than the Jets.

Aside from a home game against Houston, there is that road game in Miami then two big ones to close the regular season.  One, a game in Jacksonville that could still matter.  Lastly, a game in Tennessee that probably would not have mattered just a few weeks ago if not for the fact that the Titans are knocking off "power houses" left and right of late.  And with Vince Young, this is not the same Tennessee team we saw earlier in the season.

Despite many inconsistencies and this team essentially coming undone, nearly 90% of the sports betting public is jumping all over the Atlanta Falcons and Michael Vick in their game against Tampa Bay.

This one has sat steady at Atlanta -3 on the road.

BetGameDay.com (see website here), which is offering a 100% cash signup bonus for all new accounts up to $200 until December 31, has not moved the line off of -3.  Atlanta also has odds of 18 to 1 of winning the NFC.

After drawing a 10,000 fine for an obscene gesture following a home loss to New Orleans on November 26, Michael Vick threw for two touchdowns and ran for 59 yards to lead the Falcons to a 24-14 victory at Washington last Sunday.

Vick enters this contest needing 71 rushing yards to become the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 1,000 on the season.

The Bucs are 7-3 over their last 10 in this series against the Falcons.  A more important stat, however; Tampa has won three of its last four at home, and against decent teams including Cincinnati and Philadelphia.

Each week we look for teams that are favored heavily by the betting public and look even more closely to see if the online bookmakers have a strong opinion on that particular game by not moving the line.  This is a perfect situation to suggest the bookmakers at least believe strongly that Tampa can cover here.

Our team ratings have Tampa able to win by one point.

We like Tampa Bay +3 at BetGameDay.com (see website here)

Remember you can check out all our FREE PICKS from previous weeks in our posting forum that show how we have performed.....and - yes - we've done pretty well.

Carrie Stroup here with your AFC Wildcard Race report.  Theoretically, the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars or the Denver Broncos can still win the AFC, and the payout would be astronomical.  The Jets for example would pay $2000 on a $100 bet at Sportsbook.com (see website here)

Logically - and I tend to be a girl who thinks logically - The Chargers, Patriots, Ravens and those good 'ol Colts have the best shot with the least favorable odds, yet even the Colts pay out $2 for every $1 bet.

Let's take a closer look at what is transpiring.

NFC Playoff hopes…all tied up.  There are four teams in the NFC that hold the record of 6-6: The Eagles, Giants, Panthers and Falcons. 

It's that time of year for every NFL fan's two favorite pastimes, watching their team on Sundays and watching the scoreboard for every other team involved with their own in the playoff hunt.  Oh, and to make the holiday season all the more merry, BetGameDay.com (see website here) has announced an amazing 100% cash bonus offer when you join between now (December 5, 2006) and December 31, 2006.  The maximum cash bonus that can be received is $200.  Happy Holidays for sure!

The Falcons' 24-14 victory at Washington along with Dallas' 23-20 victory over the New York Giants further tightened the bunch of clubs looking for the two Wild Card spots in the NFC. The two spots were held by the Panthers who were 6-5 going into Monday Nights match up and the Giants who are 6-6 after yesterday's loss. The Falcons are seventh in the NFC conference standings due to their 27-14 loss to the Giants back in Week 6. Philadelphia evened their record at 6-6 with a victory Monday Night over the Panthers causing a four-way tie for NFC spots five and six with four games remaining. According to Elias Sports Bureau in New York, the order of the 6-6 teams #5 N.Y. Giants, #6 Philadelphia, #7 Atlanta and #8 Carolina.

The Falcons hold the tiebreaker over Carolina after the 20-6 opening weekend victory in Charlotte and the Eagles victory moved the Falcons to second place in the NFC South on that tiebreaker with the Panthers. A Monday Night victory for the Panthers would of kept Carolina one game ahead of the Falcons, dropping the Eagles to 5-7. Leaving Carolina as the current #5 seed while the Giants would be the #6 seed and the Falcons #7. But that is a case of shoulda, coulda woulda. The top four spots in the playoffs go to the division winners. Other than the NFC South, the other three races have a clear leader. Chicago has already clinched the NFC North, Dallas leads the NFC East by two games and Seattle leads the NFC West by three games.

A very key game in this equation could be in the Georgia Dome against the Panthers on Christmas Eve, but that’s a far ways off. But it could boil down to whose been naughty and whose been nice…no offense to my boy Mike Vick, shooting the bird to your fans is not exactly nice in Santa’s eyes! Vick and the Falcons can help themselves with a victory on Sunday in Tampa Bay to keep the pressure on everyone else. For the Falcons all four of the remaining games are key, three of them being NFC opponents, Dallas, Carolina and Philly round out the final four games. Although the Bucs are 3-9, they’re always tough in Raymond James Stadium and since they are out of the playoff picture, they’re looking to take the playoffs away from someone else. For the scoreboard watchers, the Giants travel to Carolina on Sunday. Since Philly won against the Panthers, their game at NFC East rival Washington would also go on the must-see list. Also remember, the Saints could be a huge help for the Falcons in the season's final weeks as they play the Giants on the road in Week 16 and host Carolina in Week 17. The Saints are 7-4 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The 49ers are 5-6 and are second in the NFC West, two games behind Seattle. Three quarters of the NFL season are in the books and the final quarter of December action will decide who gets January football with February dreams.

Take a look at this Sundays match ups listed below, take notice that all 8 teams are NFC teams, 4 of those teams are fighting for a lead in a their division.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay
N.Y. Giants at Carolina
Philadelphia at Washington
New Orleans at Dallas

Take Advantage of BetGameDay.com's FREE CASH BONUS Before the Offer Expires December 31, 2006

T'is the season when we look at NFL teams that might not be so great on paper but enjoy a tremendous home field advantage due to weather.  Case in point this weekend: The Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills.

It should be no surprise that the Green Bay Packers would be favored by a point in their home game against the New York Jets who are 6-5 on the season verses the Packers 4-7.  While the Jets may be accustomed to the cold and wind, nothing in the Meadowlands can quite compare to what this team will be up against in Green Bay come game time. 

It will be 22 degrees and feel like 14 degrees with an 11 mph Northwest wind and snow showers.  That's Brett Favre's type of weather!

Then there is Buffao where the Bills will face off against arguably one of the best teams in the NFL right now, the San Diego Chargers.

It won't be as cold, but it will be cold enough...at least for a team that's not used to the elements.

While the temperatures in Buffalo are forecast to be around 35 degrees at game time, The San Diego Chargers will be forced to contend with temperatures that feel more like 26 degrees.  Winds will be blowing at around 14 mph.

Since 1985, the home team has won 5 of 6 in this series.  So weather and history are on the Bills side for sure.  The Bills are looking to hit .500.

You can bet on these games over the internet at YouWager.com (see website here)

If you plan on betting the Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots game today keep in mind that there are two lines available, at least heading into the afternoon. 

Sportsbook.com (see website here) had the line at New England -3 while betED.com (see website here) displayed a line of Chicago +4.

"Basically if you are looking to bet the favorite, New England, you would want to consider betting the game at a place like Sportsbook.com.  Chicago you would want to place your bet at betED.com or another online sportsbook offering it at +4," commented Sports911.com Senior Handicapper, Tyrone Black. 

As for who is betting what, 71% of the action thus far has been placed on the New England Patriots.  Caesars moved the line up to New England -4 while the Mirage has been a bit more conservative, moving the line to -3 1/2.  Sportsbook.com has held steady at New England -3 throughout the week and heading into Sunday afternoon.

The Chicago Bears are at the tail end of a three game road trip, having won two tough bouts at the Meadowlands verses The Giants and The Jets, respectively. 

"The perception here among sports bettors is that the Bears cannot possibly win the third consecutive road trip, especially against such a dominating team like the New England Patriots," Black said.

The Chicago Bears were listed with 7 to 2 odds of winning the 2007 Super Bowl at Sportsbook.com (see website here) while the New England Patriots were listed with odds of 8 to 1. 

Remember also that Sportsbook.com is offering a 15% cash signup bonus when  you join this holiday weekend.  Offer ends at 11:59 pm ET Sunday Night November 26.
 

After his four touchdown performance Sunday night against the Broncos, San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson not only became the fastest player to 100 career TDs, but now stands only five scores behind the single-season touchdown record. Needing only six scores in his final six games to eclipse Shaun Alexander’s single-season mark of 28 touchdowns, barring injury, it’s almost guaranteed that Tomlinson will set a new standard for finding the end zone. With the Chargers’ running back scoring at a record-setting pace, PinnacleSports.com (see website here) today announced odds on the total number of touchdowns scored by LaDainian Tomlinson in the 2006 regular season.

The largest sports betting site on the Internet, PinnacleSports.com has posted a unique over/under line on how many times Tomlinson will find the end zone this season. After scoring an NFL best 19 times in his last six games, the oddsmakers at PinnacleSports.com believe LT will easily surpass Alexander’s year-old record of 28 touchdowns and set the number on Tomlinson’s regular season scores at an unbelievable 32.5. Bettors may wager on the Charger’s All-Pro back either exceeding 32.5 touchdowns on the season or falling short of that mark at -108 (i.e., win $100 for every $108 bet).

“With 23 total touchdowns in his first 10 regular season games, LaDainian Tomlinson is in hot pursuit of the single-season touchdown record,” said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. “Although the thought of anyone scoring 32.5 touchdowns was previously unimaginable, LT has proved nothing can keep him out of the end zone by scoring 19 times in just six games.”

Learn more about PinnacleSports.com Here


Current Odds: *All Odds Subject To Change*



How Many Regular Season Touchdowns Will LaDainian Tomlinson Score?

Over 32.5 touchdowns -108

Under 32.5 touchdowns -108

San Francisco 49ers quietly make impact: Huge payout possible for bettors

It's a team that was given +30000 odds of winning the 2007 Super Bowl (payout would be $30,000 for every $100 bet).  By October 28, the oddsmakers at Betmaker.com (see website here) had San Francisco with odds of +12500 to win the NFC Championship. 

The best value of all with a decent size payout: San Francisco 49ers +2650 to win the NFC West.  These odds are certain to change now that San Francisco comes into Week 12 with a 5-5 record.

A glance at the upcoming schedule suggests that the 49ers' will finish the season 8-8 with tough games on the road against New Orleans, Seattle and Denver. 

The Niners are 1-3 on the road so far, beating only a weak Detroit team.  But aside from the .500 record, beating an okay Vikings team and last year's Super Bowl participants the Seattle Seahawks has truly given this team hope. 

Frank Gore ran circles around Shaun Alexander, and then the San Francisco 49ers' defense finished off another surprising victory for a long-suffering club that's finally on the rise.

Gore rushed for a franchise-record 212 yards, and San Francisco's maligned defense stopped the Seattle Seahawks three times in the final 4½ minutes of the 49ers' third straight victory, 20-14 Sunday.

What looks like it will be an 8-8 record by season's end can quickly turn into a 9-7 record.  Playing on the road in Denver will be tough but that is the last game of the season, quite possibly meaningless for the Broncos. 

And how about 10-6?  New Orleans is one of this season's biggest surprises for sure (and the more high profile surprise teams) but they have proven vulnerable at times (getting beaten this weekend at home against the Bengals). 

And then there is always 11-5.  Since the 49ers have already beaten Seattle, they can most certainly do it again. 

The Seahawks come into Week 12 with a record of 6-4.  They too have played poorly on the road and hardly look invincible. 

On paper it appears Seattle can go 10-6...but in theory so can the 49ers.  A home loss against the Chargers is likely but Seattle also has three road games and none of those are "givens", not even the final game of the season in Tampa, a team that will be playing to garner the last remaining win.

Betmaker.com (see website here) should have the latest odds to win the NFC West up by Monday November 20.

Carrie Stroup here!  And one of the most anticipated games of the week is the Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets.  Heck!  There are so many great games I'm going to be glued to my sofa for sure.

On the Chicago Bears -6 1/2 line, close to 60% of the betting pubic has action on the Bears yet the money line shows a whole different story.  71% of those betting the money line felt the Jets can win outright.

The good folks at  Sportsbook.com (see website here) seem to be trying to get everyone betting on the Jets with a decent size line movement from Bears -5 1/2 to -6 1/2.

San Diego Chargers a good bet to win 2007 AFC Championship

The San Diego Chargers have proven time and time again to be one of the most consistent teams of the season and with odds to win the 2007 AFC Championship set at approximately 6 to 1 (or a $100 bet pays out $600), the Chargers offer excellent value.

Take a look at San Diego's last 9 games of the regular season played.

11/12/06 @CIN W 49-41
11/5/06 CLE W 32-25
10/29/06 STL W 38-24
10/22/06 @KC L 27-30
10/15/06 @SF W 48-19
10/8/06 PIT W 23-13 W 
10/1/06 @BAL L 13-16
9/17/06 TEN W 40-7
9/11/06 @OAK W 27-0

The two losses were on the road against winning teams.  Both were losses within three points.  Last week's huge comeback on the road against Cincinnati proved how solid a team the Chargers are.

Week 11 offers San Diego quite a challenge on the road against the Denver Broncos.  "Sharp action" appeared to be heavy on the side of San Diego with PinnacleSports.com (see website here) moving the line from Denver -3 to -1.  Pinnacle was one of the only online bookmakers offering Denver at -1 whereas the majority of sites were still offering this one at -2 1/2. 

Our own team power ratings have Denver able to win by 1 point but we won't be touching this game.  The bookmakers seem to be opinionated on a San Diego Chargers win here....at least against the spread (which at Pinnacle isn't much of a spread).

Denver has dominated the last 10 games, winning 7.  Even more interesting, the home team has won 8 of 10. 

Sun 11/19 Odds to win 2007 AFC Championship Odds courtesy of PinnacleSports.com (see website here)

10:00 AM 101 Baltimore Ravens +692
102 Buffalo Bills +30000
103 Cincinnati Bengals +5000
104 Cleveland Browns +20000
105 Denver Broncos +636
106 Houston Texans +30000
107 Indianapolis Colts +150
108 Jacksonville Jaguars +2500
109 Kansas City Chiefs +4000
110 Miami Dolphins +25000
111 New England Patriots +598
112 New York Jets +5000
113 Oakland Raiders +30000
115 Pittsburgh Steelers +4000
116 San Diego Chargers +593
117 Tennessee Titans +30000

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Indianapolis Colts may finally get a loss on road against Cowboys

With nearly 90% of sports bettors backing the Indianapolis Colts on the road in Dallas, the online sportsbooks aren't exactly moving this line very much.  And what is the line?  It's Dallas PK (in other words even odds).

Some sites like Bodog.com (see website here) have gone as far as to move this line to Dallas Cowboys +1 1/2.  Obviously if you are liking the Cowboys in this one, Bodog.com is the book to place your bet.

Keep in mind, the Colts have played relatively close games on the road.

PinnacleSports.com (see website here) meanwhile had placed odds on which team the Colts will suffer their first regular season loss against prior to last weekend's game. 

When Will the Colts Suffer Their First Regular Season Loss?

Nov 12th vs. Buffalo 5/1
Nov 19th @ Dallas 2/1
Nov 26th vs. Philadelphia 6/1
Dec 3rd @ Tennessee 17/1
Dec 10th @ Jacksonville 7/1
Dec 18th vs Cincinnati 12/1
Dec 24th @ Houston 41/1
Dec 31st vs. Miami 26/1
Colts Finish 16-0 6/1

Current odds show the following:

Nov 19 at Dallas Cowboys -110
Nov 26 vs. Philadelphia Eagles +575
Dec 3 at Tennessee Titans +1700
Dec 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars +863
Dec 18 vs. Cincinnati Bengals +1700
Dec 24 at Houston Texans +4250
Dec 31 vs. Miami Dolphins +2550
Indianapolis Colts finish the year 16-0 +547

Dallas is now an even favorite at PinnacleSports.com so perhaps the sharpest online bookmaker believes Dallas will beat the Colts.

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