Kerry Collins will have their hands full in week 1 vs. the Steelers, because when the Tennessee Titans played as a home or road team before playing the Houston Texans; the Titans have seen the UNDER go to 10-3-1 before playing the Texans since 2002.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers are a home team as a favorite playing in week 1; The Steelers are 9-2 straight up (SU) and the OVER is 10-1-0 for Mike Tomlin and his Super Bowl team.
Sunday, Sept 13
Denver at Cincinnati (1:00 PM)
Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson needs to step up his game, because 2008 was not a good season for number #85 and the Bengals have to focus on getting back to respectability they once had a few years ago in 2005 with an 11-5 record. When Cincinnati Bengals are a home favorite during Week 1 to 4; The Bengals are 9-20-1 ATS in this role.
Only time will tell if Jay Cutler’s escape to the Chicago Bears will prove to be a good or bad deal for the QB from Vanderbilt University entering his 4th NFL season. As for the Denver Broncos, when they played as Road Underdog during Week 1 to 4; The Broncos are 13-6-2 ATS and the UNDER is 15-6-0 since ’83.
Kansas City at Baltimore (1:00 PM)
The Ravens win with defense, but it’s the running game that impressed us last year, as Willis McGahee and Ray Rice did a nice job carrying the ball. In fact, when the Baltimore Ravens are a home team as a Favorite during the month of September; The Ravens are 23-6 SU in this spot.
The Chiefs have a new QB in town and all eyes will be on Matt Cassel. When the Kansas City Chiefs played as a road team as an Underdog and the total is between 37 to 41 during the month of September; The OVER is 11-5-1 for the Chiefs in this spot.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis (1:00 PM)
It’s hard to believe, but the Jacksonville Jaguars have only had 2 NFL coaches in their organization, Tom Coughlin and Jack Del Rio. However, Del Rio will need to turn the 2009 season around from their 5-11 seasons in ‘08! When the Jaguars played as a Underdog vs. division opponent during the month of September; The Jaguars are 6-2-2 ATS and 3-7 SU in this role.
Peyton Manning is like cheese, he gets better with age and they have the AFC East Dolphins on deck next Monday night. When the Indianapolis Colts team played as a Favorite before a Monday night game; The OVER is 7-3-0 for the Colts in this spot since ’83.
N.Y. Jets at Houston (1:00 PM)
The Jets have a new Head Coach and its Rex Ryan who comes over from the Baltimore Ravens and the Jets have a new QB in town, Marc Sanchez from the USC Trojans. But this is not a good stat for Ryan and the Jets, as the New York Jets are 0-8 SU as a road team as an Underdog when the total is between 41.5 to 44 during the month of September.
Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky are your likely starters in Houston who finished 17th in scoring in 2008. When the Houston Texans played as a home team when the total is between 41.5 to 44; The OVER is 10-2-0 for the Texans in this situation since 2002.
Miami at Atlanta (1:00 PM)
The Dolphins have a Monday night game on deck next week vs. the Colts. Here’s a nice angle for week 1. When the Miami Dolphins played as road team as an Underdog before a Monday night game; The UNDER is 7-1-1 for the Dolphins in this role since 1983.
Matt Ryan looked great last year and is making Falcons fans forget about Michael Vick. Plus, when the Atlanta Falcons are a Home Favorite and the total is between 41.5 to 44; The Falcons are 13-24-4 ATS in this role.
Philadelphia at Carolina (1:00 PM)
It should be an interesting year for the Panthers offense with Jake Delhomme back at the helm, as he might be under the scope this year to perform. Plus, John Fox will want to improve on his 7-9 SU record in 2008. Furthermore, when the Carolina Panthers are a Favorite vs. NFC East opponents; The OVER is 8-1-0 for the Panthers in this spot since 2003.
Donovan McNabb had a great second half in 2008 and will be looking for that quick start out of the gate in September vs. the Panthers in their first game. When the Philadelphia Eagles are a road team as a Underdog and it’s between Week 1 to 4; The Eagles are 23-11-1 ATS and 14-21 SU in this spot since ’83.
Dallas at Tampa Bay (1:00 PM)
Let’s see how the Cowboys do without Terrell Owens in Week 1 vs. the Buccaneers. When the Dallas Cowboys are a 3 or less points Underdog during Week 1 to 4; The Cowboys are 14-4-1 ATS in this situation.
Raheem Morris, who is only 32 years old, is replacing Jon Gruden as the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Plus, when Tampa Bay is a home team vs. a Conference Opponent and the total is between 41.5 to 44; The Bucs are 7-3-1 ATS in this spot.
Detroit at New Orleans (1:00 PM)
Well, they change uniforms during the offseason, let’s hope it can help them get a win in 2009! When the Lions are a +10 or more points Road Underdog; The Lions are 2-36 SU in this spot since 1983.
The Saints drafted Malcolm Jenkins a Defensive back from THE Ohio State University and he’s looking to make an impact for his head coach Sean Payton. Plus, when the Saints played as a -10.0 or more Home Favorite; The Saints are 1-11-0 ATS in this role.
Minnesota at Cleveland (1:00 PM)
Brett Favre, Tavaris Jackson or David John Booty, whoever is at QB for the Vikings this season, must feel good they have Adrian “ALL DAY” Peterson running the football. In fact, when the Minnesota Vikings played as Favorite before playing the 0-16 2008 Detroit Lions; The Vikings are 19-8 SU in this spot.
The Browns have a new Head Coach in town and it’s no other then ex-NY Jets field general and now Head Coach Eric Mangini and it should pay off for Brown fans, but it doesn’t look good in week 1! When the Cleveland Browns played as Home Underdog and the total is between 37 to 41; The Browns are 2-9 SU and the UNDER is 7-3-1.
Washington at N.Y. Giants (4:15 PM)
The NFC East is one of the best divisions in Football and it doesn’t get any better for NFL Week 1, when you have the Redskins and Giants hooking up at the Meadowlands. When the Washington Redskins are a road team as an Underdog and the over/under is between 37 to 41and it’s before a Home Game; The Redskins are 6-22 SU in this situation.
Eli Manning brought his Giants to a 10-6 season and they will need another quality receiver if they want to get back to the Super Bowl. The Giants are 7-3 for 70% as a home team during the month of September before playing their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.
San Francisco at Arizona (4:15 PM)
Mike Singletary brings his competitive spirit and leadership to a 49ers team who needs to find its championship ways as they were in the eighties. When the Niners are an Underdog and they have the Seahawks on deck; The 49ers are 2-8 SU in this situation since ’83.
The Arizona Cardinals gave football fans a great show in the Super Bowl and look for Kurt Warner to try to bring back his Cardinals to the Super Bowl in ‘09/2010. The Cardinals are 10-6 SU as a home team as a Favorite During the month of September.
St. Louis at Seattle (4:15 PM)
West Texas A&M QB Keith Null will give veteran Marc Bulger a run for his money for the starting job in St.Louis. When St. Louis Rams teams are a +7 to +9.5 Road Underdogs vs. Division foes; The Rams are 0-11 SU in this situation.
Mike Holmgren is gone and we will see if the year learning curve Jim Mora had under Holmgren was worth the wait! Seattle is 9-3 SU as a Favorite during the month of September vs. division opponents.
Chicago at Green Bay (8:30 PM)
It doesn’t get any better for NBC for Week 1 of the NFL and if you’re making your NFL Picks, you may want to consider the packers in this spot. As the Bears are 6-30 SU as a road underdog when the over/under is between 41.5 to 44!
Now that the Green Bay Packers have a year under their belt with Aaron Rodgers as their QB, look for the Wisconsin natives to put more pressure on winning then just accepting that it was a learning year for the new gun slinger. The Packers are 2-7-2 ATS when they are a -3.0 or less home Favorite in the month of September.
Monday, Sept 14
Buffalo at New England (7:00 PM)
Now that Terrell Owen has the key to the city of Buffalo, let’s see if he can gel with his new QB Trent Edwards and compliment their running game with Marshawn Lynch. When the Buffalo Bills are a road underdog during the month of September and the total is between 44.5 to 47; The Bills are 5-1-0 ATS in this spot since ’83.
It was a good year for the Patriots, even without their all star QB Tom Brady and it will be interesting to see if he’s comes out rusty in Week 1. The UNDER is 14-7-1 for the Patriots when they are a home team as a Favorite and they play the New York Jets the following week.
San Diego at Oakland (10:15 PM)
Just give the football to LT and then watch the Raiders self destruct like usual and it will be nice to see Sean Merriman back in the Chargers line up again. Pick the Chargers in NFL Week 1, because the Chargers are 9-3 straight up as a -7.0 or more Favorite during Week 1 to 4.
How long do you think it will take Al Davis to sign Michael Vick once his team gets off to a 0-5 start? When the Oakland Raiders played as home team as a Underdog between Week 1 to 4; The Raiders are 2-7-0 ATS and SU in this role.
