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NFL Wagering Online - Week 14 NFL Betting Recap
by Robby Maddux
San Diego 34
NFL betting festivities kicked off Thursday with ''The Game of the Weak'', as the San Diego Charges, who's by far the biggest flop of the year with virtually no postseason chances, hosted the hapless Oakland Raiders.
With a miracle needed to get to the playoffs at 5-8 (5-7-1 ATS), the Chargers beat their archrivals SU 34-7 for the 11th consecutive time in a series dating to the birth of the AFL in 1960. The Chargers' victory snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time SU and ATS in seven games. Meanwhile, the Raiders fell to 3-10 (5-8 ATS) en rout to posting double-digit losses for the sixth straight year. They are now a dubious 22-71 SU during that span.
Chicago 23
After failing to cover four times in the last five games, Chicago reclaimed recent lost funds with a 23-10 money-making win over Jacksonville on Sunday to move to 7-6 (6-6-1 ATS). It was a much needed win for the Bears following Week 13's loss to Minnesota, who's atop the NFC North by one game over Chicago.
Kyle Orton finished 20-for-34 with 219 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against a Jags team that's dropped four in a row and six of seven SU and ATS. Jacksonville will be at home next week where they're 0-6 ATS. Overall, they are 3-10 ATS as the biggest money-shredders in the NFL, feeding from the bottom of the AFC South at 4-9.
Detroit 16
The Vikings' December money woes continued as they fell to 6-14 ATS during the month, posting a 20-16 non-cover win as double-digit favorites over the pitiful Lions. The men in purple also fell to 2-6 ATS on the road. That's something to keep in mind when Minnesota travels to Arizona on Sunday. The win over the Lions keeps Minnesota in first-place in the NFC North one game ahead of Chicago.
In addition to the strong possibility of making history as the NFL's first 0-16 club, Detroit is a wallet-flattening 6-15 ATS in their last 21 games overall. The Lions actually had several chances to erase its goose egg against Minnesota, but after blowing one of its best opportunities of the season to earn a win, they seem destined to making dubious history.
The Lions finish the year at Indianapolis, at home against New Orleans and at Green Bay. Detroit has lost 20-of-21 games SU and are a hideous 31-94 since 2001, as owners of the league's worst losing percentage (.248) over an eight-year span dating back to 1950.
Green Bay 21
Texans' Matt Schaub was sidelined four games due to a knee injury, but returned on Sunday away from home to throw for a career-high 414 yards in Houston’ 24-21 victory over Green Bay. The Texans piled up 549 yards of total offense, leading to the Packer’s third consecutive SU and ATS loss that most likely ends their playoff chances at 5-8. But they do maintain a faint pulse to still be alive as the last NFC team barely eligible for a wild-card spot. The Houston cover moves them to 5-1 ATS in their last six games played in December. The Packers fell to 5-3 ATS in their last eight games overall and are now 7-6 ATS on the year.
Indianapolis 35
Should the Bungles have really even made the trip to Indy to play this game? Or the better question is: Did they really think they had a chance at winning? I guess their 1-11-1 record doesn't call for an answer. Even spotted two TDs they couldn't cover and have now dropped the cash in three straight, but somehow have managed a 4-9 ATS season mark. Indy easily took care of business with the 35-3 most lopsided win of the season.
It was the Colts' sixth consecutive SU win, which will soon be seven with Detroit coming to town on Sunday. Indy's win over Cincinnati keeps them in position for the top wild-card spot in the AFC, though; Tennessee’s victory over Cleveland officially ends their chances at claiming the AFC South. It'll be the first time since 2002 the Colts haven’t won the division title. Indy's cover win improved its home ATS mark to 2-6.
New Orleans 29
Saints' fans must be wondering if Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Deuce McAllister running back debate ever go away. Just give the trio touches and they'll produce. In the 29-25 win over Atlanta, New Orleans racked up a season-high 184 yards rushing, running them to a cover and 6-1 ATS home mark. Drew Brees was 18-of-32 for 230 yards and two TDs.
The win puts New Orleans at 7-6 and keeps their slim playoff hopes alive. NFC South teams are 23-2 SU overall at home and 9-0 in home divisional games. It was a costly loss, literally, for the Falcons who fell two games out of first at 8-5 in their division with three to play.
NY Giants 14
Despite the Giants' 20-14 loss to Philly, they wrapped up the NFC East title when Pittsburgh beat Dallas and are the NFL's second-most profitable teams at 10-3 ATS, despite the chaos surrounding Plaxico Burress. The Eagles defense held the Giants to a season-low 211 total yards of offense, limiting New York’s league-leading rushing game to 88 yards. It was a much deserved and needed win by Philly that keeps them in the NFC wild-card picture at 7-5-1.
The Eagles improved to an impressive 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games. Donovan McNabb finished 19-of-30 for 191 yards but the biggest Philly offense stud was Brian Westbrook, who collected 131 yards on a season-high 33 carries and catching six passes for 72 yards. One of Westbrook's catches was a 40-yarder that surpassed Harold Carmichael (9,042) as the Eagles’ career leader in yards.
Tennessee 28
With Ken Dorsey, the Browns starting a third different quarterback in as many games, under center for Cleveland against the NFL's best SU and ATS team, a Tennessee SU win was the nearest thing to a sports betting lock there was on Sunday. Despite the Titans committing 13 penalties and three turnovers, they still won by 19 for a cover that put them atop the ATS money earned list at 10-2.
Dating back to last season, Tennessee has won 15 of their last 16 games and with their 28-9 win against the Browns, they earned the AFC South title for the first time since 2002. They maintained at least a two-game lead with three to play for home-field advantage in the AFC postseason and clinched a first-round bye when San Francisco upset the Jets later in the day. It was Cleveland's third straight loss and fifth in six games, going 1-4-1 ATS during that span.
Buffalo 3
Miami continued their remarkable turnaround from last year with 16-3 win against the rapidly collapsing Bills. In winning for the sixth time in seven games, the Dolphins moved into a three-way tie for the AFC East lead with New York and New England at inexplicably 8-5. The cover win ended a Fins' four-game ATS skid.
This game was appropriately played in Toronto, considering Buffalo performed like a CFL team in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a ninth straight season. Dolphins' Chad Pennington shredded pass coverage of the Bills, going 23-of-29 for 181 yards and a TD. Pennington became the third Dolphin in franchise history to rack up 3,000 yards passing in a season and first since Jay Fiedler in 2001. It was Miami's first third straight road win since 2005 and they are now a respectable 4-2 ATS away from home.
Denver 24
Incase you're an online NFL wagering fan and haven't heard, Kansas City is terrible! However, they've mysteriously been able to produce a 7-6 ATS record. But at 2-11 go ahead and pencil the Chiefs in for the top-rated quarterback prospect in this Spring's draft? Matthew Stafford? The Broncos 24-17 non-cover win over the SU ''Griefs'' places them on the verge of ending a three-year playoff drought. They lead second-place San Diego by three games in the middling AFC West. Jay Cutler completed 32-of-40 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, both of them to Brandon Marshall, dropping their dismal home ATS record to 5-18-1 ATS in their last 23 and overall ATS number to 10-26-1.
San Francisco 24
You have to give the 49ers credit for playing like a bunch of contenders, despite only playing for pride at 5-8, in their 24-14 over the Jets under mad-man head coach Mike Singletary. The win comes versus a Jets team falling apart faster than any team not wearing a Buffalo uniform. Brett Favre is playing like his age and the Jets defense got carved up by Shaun Hill who threw three TDs.
The San Francisco quarterback improved to 4-0 as a starter at home, going 28-of-39. Favre went 20-of-31 for 137 yards and ran for a score, but didn’t throw a TD pass. New York is now 3-9 ATS versus teams under .500, as they find themselves back into a three-way AFC first-place tie. That is not good news if you're a sports betting fan supporting the reeling J.E.T.S.
Seattle 21
The Patriots nearly lost on the road to a pathetic team from the NFC West, but they hung on for a 24-21 win over Seattle. Matt Cassel was 26-of-44 for 268 yards passing and a touchdown, meanwhile, receiver Wes Welker went off for another 12 catches for 134 yards and the Pats forged a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East. Seattle lost for the sixth consecutive time and has its worst record at 2-11 since a franchise-worst 2-14 season in 1992, despite backup quarterback Seneca Wallace finishing 20-for-28 with 212 yards passing and a career-high-tying three TDs in the ninth start of his six-year career. The Seahawks are now 6-2 ATS in their last eight games in December.
Arizona 10
The Rams are so bad that Kurt Warner can come out and have one of his worst games of the season and still lead his club to a 24-point win. Credit an opportunistic defense that forced three turnovers and scored two defensive touchdowns on a Darnell Dockett fumble return and a Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie interception return to put the game away, 34-10. Arizona beat St. Louis for the fifth straight time and extended the Rams’ losing streak to seven games, going 1-6 ATS during the winless streak. Warner threw for 279 yards and the Cardinals clinched the NFC West championship to earn their first playoff berth since 1998 and first divisional title since they won the NFC East in 1975.
Pittsburgh 20
A 13-3 fourth-quarter Dallas lead turned quickly into a 13-13 tie, and turned even quicker into a 20-13 loss thanks to Deshea Townsend's 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in the closing moments. Pittsburgh is now looking much better in the AFC playoff chase. The Steeler’s league-leading defense lifted them to their fourth victory in a row, going 3-1 ATS during the winning streak, and ended Dallas’ three-game winning streak SU and ATS. It was a game the Cowboys desperately needed to win to make the NFC playoffs as a wild card. Dallas is now 0-7 ATS in their last seven games in December and 17-29 SU in the month since 1996, meanwhile, Pittsburgh is 24-9 in December since 2001 and 10-4 ATS.
Baltimore 24
The Ravens used big plays on defense and just enough offense to put away the Redskins Sunday night, 24-10. Ed Reed scored on a fumble return and set up another touchdown on an interception. And Ray Lewis and company shut down Clinton Portis to the tune of 32 yards rushing. Washington drops to 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight games overall. With their seventh win in eight games, the Ravens enhanced their wild-card chances and remained one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North. Baltimore hosts the Steelers next Sunday. BetUS NFL odds list Baltimore the early 2-point favorites.
Carolina 38
Week 14 was capped off with a great MNF sports betting event, as the Panthers seized control of the competitive NFC South with a 38-23 win over Tampa Bay to be sole leaders at 10-3 in the division. Carolina moved to within a game of the Giants, who the Panthers visit in two weeks, as they hold their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. As well, the Panthers improved to 7-2-1 ATS in their last ten home games. Jeff Garcia lost to Carolina for the first time in six starts despite throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked five times and the Bucs fell to 7-4 ATS in their last eleven games against NFC South foes.
