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Sunday Night NFL – Chicago Bears at New York Giants

September 29, 2010 By

The Chicago Bears are 3-0 and the only unbeaten team in the NFC. The Bears, Chiefs and Steelers are the only remaining undefeated teams in the league. I fail to recall anybody calling out these three teams as undefeated going into Week 4. The Bears travel to New Giants Stadium for a Sunday night matchup with the Giants, looking to keep their undefeated title intact after their win against the Packers this past Monday night.

The Packers certainly helped the Bears by contributing more penalties (18 for 152 yards) than points (17). That stat, taken with the Lions’ Calvin Johnson non-touchdown in Week 1, may be why oddsmakers have the Bears as 4 point dogs against a reeling Giants team.

The Giants are looking to right their ship in a hurry, and they want to forget about last week’s game against Tennessee, where they out-gained the Titans by 200 yards, but had 11 penalties and 3 turnovers. The Giants have 10 turnovers on the year so far. They will need to pressure Jay Cutler into making hurried throws, which will bring out the Cutler of last year if they succeed. The Giants best receiver, Mario Manningham, is listed on the Giants injury report with a concussion and that will be a problem for the Giants as well if he can’t go.

Chicago’s return game got a boost when they moved Hester back to returning kicks, and he reinforced that view with a punt return for a touchdown Monday night. If the Bears’ receivers can continue to improve, and more importantly, the O-line continues to give Cutler time to make good throws, the Bears will be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC this year.

Here are some matchup trends to consider:
NY GIANTS are 1-8 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons

All games in this series since 1992
NY GIANTS is 4-2 against the spread versus CHICAGO since 1992
NY GIANTS is 4-3 straight up against CHICAGO since 1992
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1992

All games played at NY GIANTS since 1992
CHICAGO is 2-0 against the spread versus NY GIANTS since 1992
CHICAGO is 3-0 straight up against NY GIANTS since 1992
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1992

Filed Under: football betting, matchups, sunday night football Tagged With: ,

Monday Night NFL – Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

September 24, 2010 By

The undefeated Green Bay Packers travel to Soldier Field Monday night to take on the undefeated Chicago Bears. Chicago squeaked out a win against the Lions in week 1, and managed to defeat the Cowboys in Dallas week 2. The Packers handled the Eagles’ comeback, led by Vick, in week one and then solidly handled the Bills in week 2, scoring 21 unanswered in the 2nd half last week.

Jay Cutler is playing well for Mike Martz so far, drawing comparisons to Kurt Warner when the “greatest show on turf” was going on in St. Louis. Time will tell if the Bear’s o-line can continue to to give Cutler time to throw. Matt Forte isn’t drawing any comparisons to Marshall Faulk however – at least in the running game. Forte failed 4 times from goal-to-go against the Lions in week 1 and against the Cowboys ran for 29 yards on 10 carries.

The Packers passing game is close to where everyone thought it would be though they struggled a bit against the Eagles. Aaron Rodgers had no such trouble against the Bills. The bigger concern is the lack of a running game. With Ryan Grant out, Brandon Jackson failed to impress. The Packers are surely looking to acquire a back to bolster their run attack.

The offensive margins have narrowed between these teams, so much so that the key matchup will be Julius Peppers against LT Chad Clifton for the Packers. Clifton was only able to play part of the game against the Bills, leaving rookie Brian Bulaga to fill in. He did fine, but he won’t be at home Monday, and Peppers is a different animal.

Oddsmakers have made the Packers 3-point spread favorites for Monday’s game against the Bears (+3). Here are some matchup trends to consider:

GREEN BAY is 4-0 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
GREEN BAY is 3-1 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

Filed Under: football betting, matchups, monday night football Tagged With: ,

Sunday Night NFL – NY Jets at Miami Dolphins

September 22, 2010 By

Sunday night’s matchup between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium in Miami looks to be a key early matchup between AFC East rivals. The Jets could pull themselves into a tie for first place in the division with a win.

Darrelle Revis will not play according to Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who said Wednesday that Revis is out for Week 3.

“He’s itching to get back, but it’s too risky of a proposition to put him out there,” Ryan said.

This is a big developement for the Dolphins’ Brandon Marshall, the Dolphins No. 1 receiver, who in two games this year is leading the Dolphins with 12 catches for 124 yards. Marshall will likely be followed around the field by Antonio Cromartie in place of Revis.

For the Jets, Braylon Edwards’ DWI arrest early Tuesday morning will overshadow any momentum the team gained defeating the reigning AFC East Champion Patriots Sunday. Mark Sanchez thumped the Pats with 21/30 completions for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The game also will undoubtedly have special meaning for Jason Taylor, former Dolphin linebacker now playing for the Jets. This will be Taylor’s first game against his former team.

Oddsmakers have made the Dolphins 1-point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against the Jets. Here are some matchup trends to consider:

MIAMI is 3-1 against the spread versus NY JETS over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 3-1 straight up against NY JETS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

Filed Under: football betting, matchups Tagged With: ,