NFL Football Weekly Previews

Thursday, November 8th

Indianapolis Colts (5-3, 5-3 ATS) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7, 4-4 ATS)
Time: 8:20 ET (NFL Network)
Opening Line: Indianapolis -3 (42.5) (Complete Week 10 NFL Odds)
Colts vs. Jaguars Preview: History is definitely on the side of the Jaguars when they hook up with the Colts on Thursday Night Football this week. They only have one win this year, and it was against this Indianapolis team at Lucas Oil Stadium. Since that point, the Jags have lost five straight, while the Colts have won four out of five to get right back in the thick of the fight for the playoffs. QB Andrew Luck is continuing his massive year, and whereas it is clear that Indy is on the right track for the future, QB Blaine Gabbert and the Jaguars have a lot of questions to answer. There are a ton of injuries in this game to speak of. We already know that TE Coby Fleener, DB Vontae Davis, DB Jerraud Powers, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, and LB Clint Session are going to be out, but joining them could be RB Montel Owens, DB Rasheen Mathis, and FB Greg Jones for Jacksonville, along with WR Donnie Avery, RB Donald Brown, DE Robert Mathis, and T Winston Justice for the Colts. The last three meetings have all been ugly meetings, and all three featured Jaguars victories and 'under' showings. The Colts have scored just a total of 33 points in the three games, but the Jags haven't exceeded 22 in any of those clashes either.

Sunday, November 11th

Detroit Lions (4-4, 4-4 ATS) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-4, 3-5-1 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (FOX)
Opening Line: Detroit -2 (47)
Lions vs. Vikings Preview: It's amazing to think that the Lions and Vikings are both .500 or better, but the two are battling it out to stay out of the gutter of the NFC North, the best division in football. It is clear that the winner of this game is going to still have a great chance of getting into the NFC playoffs, while the loser, though not nearly out of it, is going to be in a heck of a lot of trouble. Detroit has to be kicking itself for losing at home to the Vikes just a month ago, especially knowing how it happened. Minnesota had a punt return and a kick return for a touchdown in that game, and aside from that, there was a big question as to which one of these two teams was the better club. Minnesota has started to spiral just a bit since that point, while the Lions have picked up two straight wins and four straight covers. DB Bill Bentley was placed on IR this week for the Lions, but aside from that, they are as healthy as they reasonably could be coming into this showdown. The big injury for the Vikings is that of WR Percy Harvin, who has an ankle injury that will almost certainly keep him sidelined for at least the next week or so. The Lions are just 1-4-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series, though the win for the Vikings at Ford Field earlier this year did snap a three-game losing streak from an SU standpoint to the men from Motown.

Atlanta Falcons (8-0, 6-2 ATS) @ New Orleans Saints (3-5, 4-5 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (FOX)
Opening Line: Atlanta -2.5 (53.5)
Falcons vs. Saints Preview: The Saints have won three of their last four games, and they are charging back into the thick of the fight in the NFC playoff chase. Losing this game would be debilitating though, and it would all but wrap up the NFC South title already for the Falcons. Atlanta has made it through the first half of the season without any setbacks, and it is hoping to take down the Saints in one of its toughest road trips of the year. Expect to see plenty of points in this one, as QB Drew Brees and QB Matt Ryan are both amongst the most efficient signal callers that the game has to offer. Remember, when Matty Ice throws three or more TDs in a game, the Falcons never lose, and there is a good chance that he is going to be able to do that in this one. LB Sean Weatherspoon is likely to miss another game with his ankle injury for the Falcons, but aside from that, they are a relatively healthy bunch. New Orleans will likely be without RB Darren Sproles for the second straight game, though reports out of the Bayou are that the diminutive back could be back a lot earlier than the middle of December, as originally thought. This is the first of two meetings this year between these clubs. The Saints have claimed three in a row both SU and ATS in this series, including a 45-16 romp in December last year here at the Superdome in which there were almost 1,000 total yards of offense in the game.

New York Giants (6-3, 4-4-1 ATS) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-5, 2-5-1 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (FOX)
Opening Line: New York -4 (48.5)
Giants vs. Bengals Preview: Hey Cincinnati fans, does this look familiar? The Bengals were four-point dogs last week and sharp as could be against the Broncos, but they ended up losing that game by eight points. This time around, the Giants are coming to town with the same four-point spread hanging over their heads, and they are going to try to get the job done in this cross-conference clash. QB Eli Manning has had two bad games in a row, and he only has a total of two TD passes in his last four games combined. The Giants have been outdone by at least 87 yards in three straight games, including last week against the Steelers when they were outgained by 167 yards in a 24-20 defeat. Cincinnati still hasn't beaten a foe that went on to make the playoffs in almost two full years' worth of games, and the team has lost four straight both SU and ATS coming into this one. Needless to say, time is running out to get back into the discussion for the postseason. WR Hakeem Nicks, LB Keith Rivers, LB Chase Blackburn, and TE Martellus Bennett have all been sidelined from practice this week and are listed as questionable for the banged up G-Men. Cincy isn't likely to have DB Jason Allen, who has a high ankle sprain and has missed five straight games. The home team has won the last six in this series, but the road team has covered each of the last three. Obviously, both of those factors aren't going to happen this weekend.

Oakland Raiders (3-5, 3-5 ATS) @ Baltimore Ravens (6-2, 3-5 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (CBS)
Opening Line: Baltimore -7.5 (46)
Raiders vs. Ravens Preview: The feeling here is that the Raiders and Ravens aren't separated by all that much in spite of the fact that they are nowhere near each other in the standings. Oakland still isn't out of the playoff race by any stretch of the imagination in spite of its iffy 3-5 record, while Baltimore isn't nearly safe in spite of its 6-2 record if it doesn't start to play some better ball. The argument could be made that it hasn't been the better team on the field in each of the last three games, and the Ravens have actually been outgained, at times by substantial margins in four straight overall. The Raiders have a massive problem at the running back spot, knowing that both RB Mike Goodson and RB Darren McFadden have high ankle sprains that could keep them out for quite some time. That means that RB Marcel Reece or RB Taiwan Jones will be the likely starting running back on Sunday. Though Baltimore is still missing some of its stars, a noticeable absentee from the injured list this week is that of S Ed Reed, who finally looks to be ready to go for the long run with no injuries. This has been a series that has historically been dominated by the Ravens/Browns. This franchise has won nine of the 10 games dating back to 1987, and it has gone 8-2 ATS in those outings. Three years ago though, the Ravens won a do-or-die game in Oakland to get into the playoffs, a 21-13 victory on the final day of the regular season. The Raiders however, stuck in front of the 10-point spread.

Buffalo Bills (3-5, 3-5 ATS) vs. New England Patriots (5-3, 5-3 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (CBS)
Opening Line: New England -11 (51.5)
Bills vs. Patriots Preview: The last time that the Bills beat the Patriots in Foxboro was way back in 2000, and since that point, the team is just 2-22 SU in 24 games. Pats have covered most of those, and that including earlier this year when they waltzed into Ralph Wilson Stadium and walked out with a 52-28 victory. It was one of the three games this year in which Buffalo allowed at least 45 points in a game, and the possibility is certainly there once again this week that that could happen once again. Of course, what we have to remember is that the Dolphins are right there with both of these teams in contention for the AFC East crown, and Buffalo could pull back within a game of New England with an upset at Gillette Stadium. The likelihood really isn't all that great though, and it would be a lot more of a surprise to see Buffalo win than to see it lose by 40. WR Stevie Johnson has a deep thigh bruise, but he should be back in the fold this week for the Bills, while DE Mark Anderson is unlikely to face his former team thanks to a knee injury. Eight players are listed as questionable for the Patriots, the biggest of which are TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle) and G Logan Mankins (calf), mainstays in this offense.

Tennessee Titans (3-6, 3-6 ATS) @ Miami Dolphins (4-4, 4-4 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (CBS)
Opening Line: Miami -6 (44)
Titans vs. Dolphins Preview: The Titans are in some trouble right now, and there is a real chance that their season could fall apart after last week's dismal 51-20 loss to the Bears. It completed a two-game mini sweep of games at home for the visitors, and that really took any hopes of making the playoffs and put it out the window. Head Coach Mike Munchak has to know that he is on the hot seat right now after this, and a loss in Miami would only further push him to the brink with the Titans on bye next week. Miami lost a crucial one last week to the Colts, but this is still a season that could be successful. Getting into the playoffs is not totally out of the question as a Wild Card, and heck, if Buffalo does happen to beat New England, the Fins will be tied for first place in the AFC East. It looks like this will be the last game for QB Matt Hasselbeck to start, as QB Jake Locker figures to be back in Week 12. He hasn't been ruled out for this week, though. LB Will Witherspoon and WR Kendall Wright both have nagging injuries that could keep them on the sidelines as well. The home team has won four straight SU, but is just 2-2 ATS in the last four meetings of these two AFC foes. The Titans haven't covered a home game in this series since their days in Houston, though it should be noted that this is only the third visit of the Dolphins to Nashville.

San Diego Chargers (4-4, 4-4 ATS) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4, 6-2 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (CBS)
Opening Line: Tampa Bay -3 (47.5)
Chargers vs. Buccaneers Preview: If you're a fantasy football player and you have RB Doug Martin on your team, you've almost certainly won each of your last two weeks. The frosh from Boise State has had a remarkable season, and he is all of a sudden in line to be one of the best running backs on the entire campaign. Head Coach Greg Schiano has done a yeoman's job of getting the Bucs to 4-4 this year, though we have to remember that it was the second half of the season last year when they went on their massive skid. San Diego beat the Chiefs last week in what probably amounted to be a game that saved Head Coach Norv Turner's job. Still, the offense has been terrible, and it is going to need to be much, much better to keep up with Tampa Bay. The receiving corps is still thinned out by the losses of WR Eddie Royal, WR Richard Goodman, and WR Robert Meachem, all of which figure to sit for a second straight week. The Bucs are relatively healthy, as they haven't suffered any further damage to players since losing G Carl Nicks for the season a few weeks ago. The Bolts are 6-1 ATS in the last seven in this series, and that includes a visit here to Tampa Bay in 2008 when the Chargers won 41-24 to help complete a comeback to get into the playoffs.

Denver Broncos (5-3, 5-3 ATS) @ Carolina Panthers (2-6, 4-4 ATS)
Time: 1:00 ET (CBS)
Opening Line: Denver -4 (47)
Broncos vs. Panthers Preview: The Panthers took a big step in the right direction last week when they went on the road and beat the Redskins, but they have a tremendously bigger challenge this time around versus QB Peyton Manning and the Broncos. It will be interesting to see how the hometown crowd treats Denver Head Coach John Fox, who of course, brought the Panthers to their one and only Super Bowl appearance several years ago. Denver has a change to really put the pedal to the metal to put away the rest of the AFC West, but it is on a tough assignment this week. The team had to travel all the way to Cincinnati last week, and now it had to waste two more full days to travel to get back to Tobacco Road for this one against one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league in QB Cam Newton. We still don't know when and if DB Tracy Porter will be back after his seizure symptoms that have cost him a month's worth of games. G Chris Kuper has a leg injury that could sideline him this week. LB DJ Williams is still going to be suspended for just one more game, but he has to be chomping at the bit to get back on the field. WR Kealoha Pilares suffered a season ending shoulder injury last week and has been placed on IR for the Panthers, and that's news that is made even worse by the fact that WR David Gettis and WR Brandon LaFell both have injuries that have them listed as questionable this week. These two teams have only met three times ever, with the home team going 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in those efforts. Two of the three meetings were decided by 20+ points.

New York Jets (3-5, 5-3 ATS) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-4, 6-3 ATS)
Time: 4:05 ET (CBS)
Opening Line: Seattle -6.5 (38.5)
Jets vs. Seahawks Preview: The offense for the Jets has struggled and struggled mightily over the course of the whole season, and this is a bad matchup against a Seattle team that has played as well on the defensive side of the ball as any team in the league, especially here at CenturyLink Field. QB Russell Wilson and QB Mark Sanchez are probably amongst the worst five starting quarterbacks in the league, and that's why this is a rare 'total' posted in the 30s. However, we do have to note that the Seahawks have scored at least 24 points in three of their last four games, something that we really didn't know they were capable of doing this year. Both RB Bilal Powell and RB Joe McKnight are questionable for the third straight game, while LB Bart Scott figures to play with his toe injury. Seattle is probably going to remain without DT Jaye Howard and WR Braylon Edwards, both of which have leg injuries that have hampered them. The Jets have covered four of the last six in this series, though the only game that the Seahawks won in this series in that stretch came in the last clash in 2008, a 13-3 win right here at CenturyLink Field. New York has scored at least 32 points in three of the last five meetings, including when QB Vinny Testaverde scored a touchdown by getting his helmet across the goal line in a crucial 1998 tilt that helped implement instant replay across the league.

St. Louis Rams (3-5, 5-3 ATS) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-2, 5-3 ATS)
Time: 4:25 ET (FOX)
Opening Line: San Francisco -11 (38.5)
Rams vs. 49ers Preview: No team is implied to score fewer this points than the Rams, who, according to the oddsmakers, should only be scoring about two touchdown against the Niners. Even that many points might be tough, knowing that St. Louis hasn't scored more than 20 points in a game since Week 2 of the campaign. The 49ers have gone over 131 minutes of game time without allowing a touchdown defensively, and the team hasn't allowed a TD in four of its last five games. Needless to say, this is going to be a brutal matchup for QB Sam Bradford and company. The good news is that WR Danny Amendola is going to be back in the lineup this week for the first time since Week 5, and he is still the team's leading receiver. The bad news though, is that the 49ers are healthy and are ready to pounce. This could become an ugly game, just as last year's 26-0 win for the 49ers was in this venue at Candlestick Park. The 49ers just barely escaped a Week 17 tussle with St. Louis last year though, a 34-27 win on the road as 12.5-point underdogs.

Dallas Cowboys (3-5, 3-5 ATS) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-5, 1-6-1 ATS)
Time: 4:25 ET (FOX)
Opening Line: Pick 'Em (44.5)
Cowboys vs. Eagles Preview: This certainly isn't going to be the prettiest game on the board, but it is the one that most of us are going to get a chance to see nationally in the 4:00 ET hour on Sunday. The loser is going to be on life support at just 3-6, and that would likely leave it three games out from the Giants atop the NFC East and two back with a ton of teams to hop over in the chase for the Wild Card spots. It could also be a case where the losing coach gets fired, as there might not be two hotter seats than the ones that Jason Garrett and Andy Reid are sitting on for the Cowboys and Eagles respectively. QB Tony Romo can't seem to stop turning the ball over, and QB Michael Vick can't figure out how to get out of the way of his own shoddy offensive line. This figures to be another game where RB DeMarco Murray sits for the Cowboys, and LB Dan Connor still has a neck injury that will probably keep him sidelined as well. Philly has covered and won two in a row in this series after going just 1-4 SU and ATS over the course of the previous five meetings dating back to the start of the 2009 season.

Houston Texans (7-1, 6-2 ATS) @ Chicago Bears (7-1, 5-3 ATS)
Time: 8:20 ET (NBC)
Opening Line: Chicago -1 (41)

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