in NFL Props
Super Bowl Hopefuls Collide as Dallas visits San Diego
by BetUS Staff
BetUS NFL betting odds: SAN DIEGO -3, Total 35.5
NOTABLE STAT: Dallas was second in scoring in 2007 (28.4 ppg)
KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: San Diego has covered its last nine games
The San Diego Chargers (11-5 SU & ATS), who have a "woulda, shoulda, coulda" story of their own from last year's playoffs, in an NFL game that starts at 10 PM ET at Qualcomm Stadium (natural turf) in San Diego.
In the BetUS NFL football betting odds, the Chargers are listed as a three-point home favorite, with a posted total of 35.5 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* DALL has lost three of its last four games SU
* DALL has won eight of its last 11 games SU
* DALL has played its last four games UNDER the total
* DALL has lost its last five games ATS
* DALL has won seven of its last eight road games SU
* DALL has covered two of its last six road games
* DALL has played six of its last seven road games OVER the total
* SD has won eight of its last nine games SU
* SD has covered its last nine games
* SD has won and covered its last seven home games
* SD has played five of its last seven home games UNDER the total
* DALL is 8-3-1 SU in its last 12 pre-season games
* DALL has covered eight of its last 12 pre-season games
* SD has won five of its last six pre-season home games SU
No one expects the Cowboys to put anyone at risk here. Tony Romo, who only a couple of years ago went the entire distance in a pre-season game, won;t see any significant action. I have to believe Brad Johnson, the former Tampa Bay and Minnesota QB who is going on 40, will not play much or play inspired when he does, because he is more or less assured of a roster spot as a backup.
That leaves inexperience at the helm. Richard Bartel, who began his career at SMU but ended it at Tarleton State, is a talent but a raw talent. The Cowboys also have Jeff Terrell, a Princeton graduate who played in last year's pre-season with Kansas City and completed 15 of 25 passes. In other words, there is neither a plethora of talent or a sizzling competition to spark things up on offense, although a couple of new performers who should add spice to the festivities are draft picks Felix Jones (running back) and Martellus Bennett (tight end). There was some talk about bringing Chad Pennington aboard as a backup, but that fizzled out in a hurry, especially when Jerry Jones squelched it.
San Diego, which had a winnable game at New England in the AFC championship game but had to deal with an injured Phillip Rivers and a reluctant (it seemed) LaDanian Tomlinson, is sitting out a number of players, as might be expected. Tomlinson has a groin injury, which might open things up for Darren Sproles at running back, now that Michael Turner has gone to Atlanta. Vincent Jackson has been held out of drills and he will not play either. Luis Castillo, the defensive tackle, will probably not play. Neither will center Nick Hardwick, tackle Marcus McNeil, tight end Antonio Gates and fullback Andrew Pinnock.
We'll be getting 15-20 snaps from Rivers, who is recovering from a knee injury. He'll be followed by Billy Volek and then Charlie Whitehurst, a third-string QB who has some talent. The Chargers are in better shape than the Cowboys at this position, and for purposes of this game. We will lay the points with San Diego, the three-point favorite in the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: SAN DIEGO -3 *
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
The 2008 and beyond!
(Charles Jay of www.ebookies.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)
