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NFL Week 8 Picks

December 2nd NFL news ... NFL Week 8 Picks at nflweek8-picks.com

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-8) at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-6)
2010-12-16

Sportsbook.com Line & Total: San Diego -9.5 & 44.5

Two California teams clinging to playoff hopes meet in a must-win situation for both teams on Thursday night. San Francisco is 5-8 and trails division leaders St. Louis and Seattle by one game. San Diego’s win over Kansas City last week put the 7-6 Chargers a game behind the Chiefs in the AFC West standings. Both teams have major injury problems. In addition to RB Frank Gore on IR (hip), the 49ers’ top two linebackers, Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes, are both suffering hand injuries and are both listed as questionable.

San Diego has a slew of offensive injuries. WR Patrick Crayton (wrist) is out, TE Antonio Gates (feet) is doubtful and WR Malcom Floyd (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game. The good news is that WRs Vincent Jackson (calf) and Legedu Naanee (hamstring) will both play against San Francisco.

The 49ers are playing much better football recently, winning five of eight games after starting the season 0-5. Alex Smith will start at quarterback again for San Francisco after completing 17-of-27 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 40-21 win over Seattle. Smith, who missed the previous five games with a shoulder injury, is tasked with moving the football against the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL. San Diego is only allowing 173 passing YPG with only one game of surrendering 300 passing yards.

Despite Gore’s injury, San Francisco has rushed the ball well in its past three games with 453 yards on 4.7 yards per carry. Brian Westbrook has 190 rushing yards in the three games and also caught six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown against Seattle last week. Rookie RB Anthony Dixon has also thrived in his increased role, gaining 147 yards on 37 carries (4.0 YPC) since Gore got hurt. TE Vernon Davis is now healthy and a much bigger factor in the offense with Alex Smith throwing him the football. Davis has nine catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns in his past two games.

The Chargers are also hot, winning five of their past six games (SU and ATS). After rushing for just 21 yards in a loss to Oakland, San Diego ripped off 207 rushing yards in the win over Kansas City, while holding the NFL’s top rushing offense to 48 yards on 17 carries. Mike Tolbert (16 rush, 66 yds, TD) and Ryan Mathews (16 rush, 65 yds, TD) had nearly identical numbers against KC, while Darren Sproles ran for 53 yards on just six carries. San Diego could have more success this week if Willis and Spikes are sidelined for San Francisco.


75% of action at Sportsbook.com is behind the home team Chargers against the spread.

The running game will be key if Gates and Floyd, the team’s top two receivers, are limited on Thursday. The duo has combined for 1,442 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns this year. Despite all the injuries in the passing game this season, San Diego still ranks second in the league in passing offense. QB Philip Rivers has thrown for 298 YPG with 26 TD and 11 INT and should have success against the 49ers’ 20th-ranked pass defense giving up 227 YPG. The Chargers have only won the turnover battle three times all season and have a minus-7 turnover ratio for the year.

Play Against - Home favorites of 3.5 to 10 points (SAN DIEGO) - after having won 2 out of their last 3 games, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a losing team in the second half of the season. (24-4 over the last 10 seasons.) (85.7%, +19.6 units.)

Play Under - Home teams where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points (SAN DIEGO) - after 1 or more consecutive wins against the spread, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a losing team in the second half of the season. (25-6 since 1983.) (80.6%, +18.4 units.)

Sportsbook.com has some great promotions they just opened for the holiday season, including our $1 Million College Bowl Bash & $10,000 NBA Survivor Pool.




INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-6) at TENNESSEE TITANS (5-7)
2010-12-09

Sportsbook.com Line: Indianapolis -4 & NFL Betting Lines 45.

The Colts try to avoid their first four-game losing streak since 2001 when they visit Tennessee, losers of five straight, on Thursday night. Both teams know their only shot to make the playoffs is to win their final four games to take the AFC South Division crown. While Tennessee is relatively injury-free, the Colts have a gaggle of injury concerns. RB Joseph Addai (neck), RB Mike Hart (ankle) and WR Austin Collie (concussions) are all out for Thursday’s game, while TE Jacob Tamme (knee) is questionable and WR Reggie Wayne (knee) is probable to play at Tennessee.

Colts QB Peyton Manning has thrown an uncanny 11 interceptions during the losing streak, but he has won three straight games against the Titans, throwing for five scores and just one interception in those contests. The big reason Manning is forcing the issue through the air is that the running game has been terrible without Addai and Hart. Over the past five games, the Colts are averaging a mere 55 rushing YPG on 3.0 yards per carry.

Sportsbook.com opened the Colts -3 & a ridiculous 92% of action is behind Indianapolis.

Tennessee is glad the Colts are forced to throw the football because the Titans can’t stop anybody on the ground. Tennessee has allowed 159 rushing YPG during its losing skid, including 258 to Jacksonville last week. The Titans have many more issues on the offensive side of the ball, failing to score an offensive touchdown in 13 straight quarters of action. Kerry Collins will start at QB again, despite his woeful performance against the Jaguars (14-of-32, 169 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT). RB Chris Johnson also needs to pick up his game, as he has gained a paltry 58 rushing yards in his past two games. He could find plenty of holes in a Colts defense surrendering 171 rushing YPG during their three-game losing skid.

These teams have been pretty evenly matched when they play in Tennessee, with Indianapolis 5-3 SU (4-4 ATS) in the past eight games at LP Field. These two trends show why home underdog Tennessee is the play for Thursday night.

Play On - Home underdogs or pick (TENNESSEE) - after 2 or more consecutive losses against the spread, in December games. (79-38 since 1983.) (67.5%, +37.2 units. Rating = 3*)

Play Against - Favorites (INDIANAPOLIS) - after gaining 99 or less rushing yards in 3 straight games against opponent after being outrushed by 100 or more yards last game.

(34-10 since 1983.) (77.3%, +23 units. Rating = 3*).

Play Over - Any team against the total (INDIANAPOLIS) - after allowing 25 points or more in 2 straight games against opponent after 2 straight losses by 10 or more points.

(31-8 over the last 10 seasons.) (79.5%, +22.2 units. Rating = 3*).

INDIANAPOLIS is 23-6 OVER (79.3%, +16.4 Units) off an upset loss as a home favorite since 1992. The average score was INDIANAPOLIS 23.6, OPPONENT 26.3 - (Rating = 3*).

Sportsbook.com has recently put up “Team Playoff Props”. Will the Colts make the postseason for the ninth consecutive year? The Yes is -120.


NEW YORK JETS (9-2) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-2)
2010-12-06

Sportsbook.com using Patriots -4 & 45
One of the NFL’s biggest rivalries is renewed, and these are two of the league’s hottest teams. The Jets dominated the second half and frustrated Tom Brady in beating the Pats 28-14 in Week 2. Since then, each team has gone 8-1 SU, with New England 5-3-1 ATS and the Jets 6-3 ATS. The Patriots offense is much more diverse since they traded Randy Moss, which should lessen the impact of shutdown CB Darrelle Revis. Both teams are relatively healthy, with Jets OT Damien Woody (knee), WR Jerricho Cotchery (groin) and DBs Marquice Cole (hamstring) and Dwight Lowery (concussion) all expected to play on Monday night.
The Jets have been true road warriors, carrying an eight-game SU winning streak away from home, including a 5-0 mark this year. New York ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (148 YPG), led by LaDainian Tomlinson (741 yards, 4.5 YPC, 5 TD). The future Hall-of-Famer has gained 770 total yards and five touchdowns in six career games against New England. The Jets’ passing offense has been inconsistent, but Mark Sanchez has averaged 279 passing YPG in his past four games, with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Sanchez had a huge day in the Week 2 win over New England, completing 70 percent of his passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Patriots pass defense currently ranks last in the NFL with 289 passing YPG allowed.
New England has won 25 straight home games with Tom Brady as the starting quarterback. With the Jets boasting the third-best run defense in football (86 YPG), Brady will look to air it out Monday night. Tom Terrific has been just that in his past six games, throwing for 250 YPG, 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions. For his regular-season career against New York, Brady has a 12-5 record and has thrown for 3,614 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Patriots have not turned the ball over in five of their past six games, while forcing 11 turnovers in those five contests.
Brady has also won six of seven at home versus the Jets. These three trends show why Brady and New England will win and cover on Monday night.
Belichick is 31-10 ATS (+20.0 Units) after having won 4 out of their last 5 games as the coach of NEW ENGLAND. The average score was NEW ENGLAND 25.9, OPPONENT 17.0 - (Rating = 4*).
NEW ENGLAND is 27-10 ATS (+16.0 Units) revenging a same season loss against opponent since 1992.
The average score was NEW ENGLAND 21.9, OPPONENT 19.0 - (Rating = 2*).


Play Against - Road teams (NY JETS) - solid team - outgaining their opponents by 50 or more yards/game, after allowing 200 or less total yards in their previous game. (44-18 over the last 10 seasons.) (71%, +24.2 units. Rating = 2*).
Sportsbook.com betting trends show that 75% of action on the spread is backing Brady & the Patriots tonight.
Bill Belichick is 8-0 UNDER (+8.0 Units) in home games when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 75%) in the second half of the season as the coach of NEW ENGLAND. The average score was NEW ENGLAND 21.1, OPPONENT 10.5 - (Rating = 3*).
Play Under - Any team where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points (NY JETS, NEW ENGLAND) - in a game involving two good offensive teams (335 to 370 YPG). (204-128 since 1983.) (61.4%, +63.2 units. Rating = 2*).



Seymour fined for Right-Hook to Roethlisberger
2010-12-06

In the 2009 season, the Oakland Raiders only won five games, meaning they went 5-11 last season. This year, things appear to be turning around, even just a little, as the Raiders are 5-6, a marked improvement over last year. In fact, the Raiders were riding a three game winning streak. In order for that streak to have had any chance of staying alive, they shouldn’t have played the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Big Ben and the gang put up 35 points against the Raiders, and only spotted them three points for a blowout of mega proportions in Pittsburgh.
Well, these things happen, and I was more than excited to hear that the Raiders were playing the Steelers, because I knew this sort of thing would happen. Blowouts happen, especially to teams run by Al Davis and Tom Cable and playing the Steelers. However, it wasn’t the final score that caused the Raiders to slip back into their pathetic ways. NFL betting is also jumping ship on the Raiders, they are so up and down that betting on them is a risky proposition.
Defensive lineman Richard Seymour, clearly and easily out of frustration, smacked Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger following a 22 yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger, thus increasing the Steelers’ lead to 21-3 in the second quarter. Hey, I know why Seymour hauled off and laid one on Big Ben: He was frustrated, pure and simple. Frustrated because his team was losing by 18 points and it wasn’t even halftime, frustrated because he’s in a Raiders uniform, frustrated that he’s forced to live in that God-awful city, and frustrated because he’s in a Raiders uniform. Still, despite all the frustration, emotions have to be kept in check. This isn’t high school, or prison, so grow up. It’s understood that some of the offensive lineman for the Steelers were running their mouths, and that’s enraging, but that’s still no reason to hit someone.
Seymour hit Roethlisberger while Seymour was arguing with the offensive lineman of the Steelers. Big Ben came over to separate the group, so that his team wouldn’t receive a penalty, and then boom! Big Ben goes down like a sack of laundry. Seymour didn’t even hit the guy he was arguing with, and that just shows the immense lack of discipline that runs amuck within the Raiders organization. The NFL released Seymour’s punishment for the hit on Monday: A $25,000 fine, but no suspension, which is good news for the Raiders I guess, but bad news for the next quarterback.
In NFL betting are you looking at the Raiders? At www.sportsbook.com you will find all your NFL betting needs. Get into the action today.


Andre Johnson and Finnegan fined for fight
2010-12-06

The Houston Texans crushed the Tennessee Titans 20-0 in Sunday’s game. Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson crushed Titans corner back Cortland Finnegan in an all-out brawl during the fourth quarter of that game.
The NFL announced today that both Finnegan and Johnson have been fined $25,000 for Sunday’s fight. But they were not suspended. This is very important news for NFL betting fans. Without Johnson the Texans would be a risky bet going forward.
“He kept doing little things and I told him: ‘Just because you’re frustrated, you need to stop what you're doing. I guess he thought it was funny,” said Johnson after the game, which he caught nine passes, including one for a touchdown.
Finnegan started it all by jabbing at Johnson’s neck and face mask at the line of scrimmage. Johnson then proceeded to end it by ripping off Finnegan’s helmet, spun each other around, allowing Johnson to land two solid hits to the back of Finnegan’s head and one to the neck.
Johnson, usually soft-spoken, a gentle giant if you will, had apparently been putting up with Finnegan all day, and when Finnegan began to get physical, that’s when he lost control: “It's just a buildup of things over plays. I just lost my cool.” After the game, Johnson was apologetic, saying: “I would like to apologize to the organization, our owner, and my teammates. What happened out there today was not me. I just lost my cool and I wish that I could take back what happened, but I can’t. It’s over and done with now.”
While Johnson sought forgiveness and demonstrated regret over his actions on the field, Finnegan was no where to be found after the game, and did not comment on the incident. Interestingly enough, this isn’t Finnegan’s first run-in with the laws and regulations of the National Football League, and these two have actually mixed it up before. Last season, Johnson was fined $7,500 for taking Finnegan to the ground by the facemask.
Earlier this season, Finnegan was fined for personal fouls in three consecutive games and warned by the league to watch his behavior after the whistle.
What’s really interesting is that the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans do in fact play each other one more time this season, so we’ll see how high the fines go after that game. NFL betting is hot and the season is winding down. Get into the fire today at www.sportsbook.com where everybody bets!