NFL BEST BETS
(315) NEW YORK GIANTS (+9.5, ov48.0)
(316) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-9.5, un48.0)
Sunday, Jan 03 2010, 10:00 AM PST
The (8-7 SU/7-8 ATS) NY Giants seem to have a ton of talent but are on a 3-7 SU/2-8 ATS skid. They
have the No. 10 ranked defense and a balanced offense ranked 6th, but were booed off the field
Sunday in an embarrassing 41-9 home loss to Carolina which kills their playoff hopes. They couldn’t
tackle or run the football. QB Eli Manning (27 TDs, 13 INTs) has been bothered by a bruised heel
and he has 11 picks the last nine games. Coach Tom Coughlin keeps making changes to an inconsistent
defense. They had a 45-38 home loss to the rival Eagles as Manning had 391 yards passing but the
defense was smoked again. The secondary has struggled often, as C.C. Brown was an absolute disaster
for three weeks before being replaced by Aaron Rouse. In five seasons under head coach Tom Coughlin
(excluding 2004, when Manning was a rookie quarterback), the Giants are 19-20 in the second half of
the year — and 23-23 when the postseason is included. In comparison, the team is 30-10 in the first
half of those seasons. Minnesota (11-4 SU/9-6 ATS) comes off an incredible 36-30 OT loss at Chicago
Monday night. They didn’t show up in the first half, made a wild comeback, only to lose as the
secondary was awful. More important, they keep blowing chances to lock up the No. 2 seed and now
it’s up for grabs with the Eagles, Vikings and Cardinals. That bye week is so important. Veteran QB
Brett Favre (29 TDs, 7 INTs) has been a solid game manager on an offense ranked 8th, tremendous
balance on both sides of the ball, with strong offensive and defensive lines. The ground game is
outstanding with RBs Adrian Peterson (1,329 yds) and Chester Taylor, plus there is speed at wide
out with WRs Bernard Berrian, 6-4 Sidney Rice and rookie Percy Harvin. The Vikings had a Sunday
night game at Carolina where they didn’t feel like showing up, a 26-7 skunking as a favorite, and
now the Monday night disaster at Chicago. CB Antoine Winfield was battling an ankle problem and
burned repeatedly. Two weeks ago the offense was in hibernation, getting outgained 397-237 by the
Panthers and their backup QB. RB Jonathan Stewart had 109 yards rushing on 25 carries, snapping
Minnesota's NFL-long steak of 36 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Minnesota is 7-0 SU/5-2
ATS at home – and needs this one. With both defenses shaky and plenty of weapons on offense, look
for a lot of scoring in the dome.
TAKE: NY GIANTS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (+9.5, ov35.0)
NEW YORK JETS (-9.5, un35.0)
Sunday, Jan 03 2010, 10:00 AM PST
The Jets upset win at the Colts means the Jets are in the driver's seat: If they beat the Bengals,
they are in. The Jets (8-7) earn a playoff berth with a victory over the Bengals. Cincinnati, which
has already clinched the AFC North, can only improve its playoff seeding from four to three with a
win over the Jets. The game has been moved to 8:20 PM EST. At 8-7, the Ravens still make the
playoffs if they win at Oakland in the regular-season finale. If the Ravens, New York Jets and
Denver all win - the 8-7 teams with the best conference marks - the Ravens and Jets would reach the
postseason. The Bengals (10-5 SU/6-8 ATS) are off a subdued clinch party. They won the AFC North
Sunday with a 17-10 win over the Chiefs as QB Carson Palmer's touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco
completed a 98-yard drive in the closing minutes. It came 5 days after burying teammate Chris Henry
as the wrung-out Bengals looked weary. The Bengals moved into the playoffs for only the second time
in the past 19 years. The teary practices and locker-room grief seemed to show against the Chiefs,
who stayed close in a mistake-filled game. They have been trying to run the football more taking
some heat off QB Carson Palmer (21 TDs, 12 INTs). RB Cedric Benson (1,251 yds, 4.4 ypc) is a
workhorse and back from a hip pointer. Palmer has fine targets with Ochocinco, veteran Laverneus
Coles and young Andre Caldwell. The offense ranks 17th overall, more conservative than in years
past, while the defense ranks 8th. The Bengals are without their top run stopper on the
defensive line after defensive tackle Domata Peko had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee three
weeks ago. Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga broke his left ankle Sunday, a blow to one of the
league's stingiest defenses. That will be of concern against a Jets’ team that is tops in
rushing. One area the Bengals will have to clean up is penalties. After being flagged nine times
for 55 yards in a 27-24 loss at San Diego, the Bengals are now second in the league in penalties
with 107 for 819 yards. Over the past five games, the Bengals have been penalized 53 times for 385
yards. Cincy is 4-3 SU/ATS on the road and on an 8-3 run under the total. The Jets (8-7 SU/ATS) are
riding a 5-7 SU/ATS run, up and down every week. The defense is good, the offense is erratic, great
at rushing the football but their rookie QB Mark Sanchez (12 TDs, 20 INTs) has struggled. They had
a crushing 10-7 home loss to the Falcons, but come off a 29-15 win at the Colts to remain alive in
the Wild Card race. The defense is No. 1 in the NFL under new Coach Rex Ryan while the offenses is
run-first behind RB Thomas Jones (1,219 yds) and rookie Shonn Greene (383). The loss of NT Kris
Jenkins (knee) for the year is a huge blow and is taking a toll: They allowed 139 yards rushing
in a 24-22 home loss to Jacksonville, 123 against the Bills. They are first in rushing offense (160
ypg), the passing game is a lowly 28th in the NFL (160 ypg). Probably not much scoring in the
Meadowlands cold.
TAKE: NY JETS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-6.5, ov40.5)
ST. LOUIS RAMS (+6.5, un40.5)
A forgettable finale. San Francisco (7-8 SU/10-4-1 ATS) has been a cover-machine, playing hard for
fiery coach Mike Singletary, but they have lost 7 of the last 11 games after starting the season
3-1. The stats are very weak, ranked 28th in total offense and 19th defensively. QB Shaun Hill (8
TDs, 3 picks) is benched so QB Alex Smith (17 TDs, 12 picks) is running the offense, ranked 22nd in
passing. He has fine targets in TE Vernon Davis and rookie WR Mike Crabtree, but they are a
run-first offense under power RB Frank Gore/rookie Glen Coffee, and new OC Jimmy Raye. The 49ers
are off a 20-6 rout of the hapless Lions, getting 6 turnovers. The offense had just 310 total
yards. The 49ers have scored more than two offensive touchdowns in any game only seven times. "For
us, it's extremely important to finish (8-8) for many different reasons," Singletary said. "We want
to win. We are not going to be in the playoffs. What do you do, fold the tent and go home? I know
the character of these guys. They're disappointed, but at the same time, we have an opportunity in
these games." The Rams (1-14 SU/7-8 ATS) have had bad luck for new Coach Steve Spagnuolo. The
offense lost QB Marc Bulger (5 TDs, 6 picks) four weeks ago to a fractured left leg and is still
out. Backup QB Kyle Boller (3 TDs, 6 picks) has been lousy and hurting (thigh), so have gone
with rookie QB Keith Null of late. He was terrible with 5 picks and 1 TD in a 47-7 loss at
Tennessee and threw 3 picks and one TD in Sunday’s 31-10 loss at Arizona as the offense only had
238 yards. In the loss to Tennessee the defense was gouged for 446 yards (160 rushing). The Rams
went with Null again in a 16-13 home loss to Houston, but don’t be fooled: They were outgained by a
whopping 419-237 as Matt Schaub torched the secondary for 367 yards. WR Danny Amendola, Brandon
Gibson, Donnie Avery and Ruvell Martin aren’t doing a good enough job of getting open and totaled
just 88 yards. This is still a run-first offense ranked 27th overall. RB Steven Jackson didn’t
play the last game with back problems. The offensive line has two starters inactive and center
Jason Brown (right knee) has been hurting. The Rams have been outscored 87-16 in the first quarter.
The defense is 29th in the NFL. The Rams are on a 1-24 SU, 11-14 ATS run and have scored only 15
TDs. The Rams are also 6-41 SU, 18-29 ATS the last two+ years.
TAKE: SAN FRANCISCO
ATLANTA FALCONS (-2.5, ov41.5)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (+2.5, un41.5)
The Falcons (8-7 SU/10-5 ATS) have had a shaky defense all season, which explains an 8-6 run over
the total. But at least QB Matt Ryan (20 TDs, 10 picks) and RB Michael Turner are back after
missing three games to injuries. They are on a 2-0 SU/ATS run. They had a nice 10-7 win at the NY
Jets as Ryan threw a 6-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez on fourth down with 1:38 left, plus
Sunday’s 31-3 home rout of the Bills as Ryan had 3 TDs, no picks and the ground game had 157 yards.
The defense has been a concern all year, replacing 5 starters, and they rank 26th overall, though
they picked off Mark Sanchez three times. Atlanta has lost 6 of 10 after a 4-1 start and is on a
5-0 run under the total. Atlanta is 2-5 SU, 4-3 ATS on the road. The Buccaneers (3-12 SU/6-9 ATS)
are taking their lumps with rookie QB Josh Freeman (9 TDs, 16 picks), their first round pick from
Kansas State under new head coach Raheem Morris. Freeman has some good targets to work with in TE
Kellen Winslow, WR Antonio Bryant and rookie WR Sammie Stroughter. Freeman had 2 picks and no TDs
Sunday, but you wouldn’t know it as the Bucs come off a stunning 20-17 win in overtime at
top-seeded New Orleans as the offense had 439 yards. The ground game was the story (176 yards), as
RB Cadillac Williams had 129 yards rushing and Connor Barth kicked a 47-yard field goal in
overtime. The defense allowed 373 yards and has been weak all season. The offense was terrific in a
24-7 upset win at Seattle, as Freeman threw for 205 yards, 2 TDs and one pick. The defense was
awful, however, giving up 380 yards (256 passing): The Bucs are 29th in total offense, 25th in
defense. The previous two games Freeman was awful, imploding with 5 picks in a 16-6 loss at
Carolina and 3 more in a 26-3 home loss to the NY Jets. Tampa Bay has been outscored 108-31 in the
first quarter this season (down 14-0 to the Saints, too). Most alarming is the Tampa Bay defense
has been shredded, allowing 462 yards (344 passing) to Dallas, 438 (218 rushing) to Buffalo, 397
(226 rushing) to NY and 277 yards to conservative Washington, 266 yards rushing to Carolina, 307
passing to New England, 170 yards rushing to Green Bay, 199 rushing to Miami, 157 rushing to
Carolina and 175 rushing to the NY Jets. The Bucs are on a 3-16 SU, 7-12 ATS run going back to last
season.
TAKE: ATLANTA
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