Good read on tonights Pre-season games by Chance Harper
Colts & Bears get right back to business
08/24/2007 08:54 AM
By: Chance Harper
After their Super Bowl 'rematch' on Monday, both the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears are playing on a short week at home this Saturday against the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers respectively. The Seattle Seahawks, meanwhile, look to get back on track after a blowout loss in Green Bay last week.
Now we’re starting to see something that looks more like a real football game.
Colts & Bears get right back to business
The starting units should be on the field for the first half or even longer this weekend as the NFL exhibition season rolls into Week 3. The top two quarterbacks will require the attention of handicappers, as will any key position battles yet to be determined.
There are another nine games on the Saturday slate, plus the Sunday nighter, so let’s winnow things down to the home favorites this time.
Detroit at Indianapolis (-6)
Saturday, Aug 25, 7:00 p.m. (ET)
The Colts opened as 4½-point faves, but that spread didn’t take very long to start creeping up. Detroit has gotten excellent production out of both Jon Kitna (115.0 passer rating) and Dan Orlovsky (99.4), while Peyton Manning’s backup, Jim Sorgi, has thrown a pair of interceptions.
The Colts are 1-10 SU and 2-9 ATS in their last 11 preseason games; however, Kitna’s status for Saturday is uncertain due to back spasms, and Orlovsky is doubtful with turf toe. Watch for plenty of J.T. O’Sullivan and freshly-inked rookie Phil Horvath in this one.
San Francisco at Chicago (-6)
Saturday, Aug 25, 8:00 p.m.
Rex Grossman didn’t look too sharp in Indy last week, mishandling snaps and causing Bears fans no shortage of angst. Brian Griese and Kyle Orton, meanwhile, have been excellent in their preseason outings, but with this being Week 3, Grossman will have every opportunity to boot the ball around some more.
The Niners, on the other hand, have full confidence in Alex Smith (120.7 passer rating) in what is shaping up to be a breakout campaign. Rookie OT Joe Staley has also been impressive enough to earn a starting job, as has LB Patrick Willis.
Minnesota at Seattle (-7)
Saturday, Aug 25, 9:00 p.m.
Hitting the magic 7-point mark has turned a lot of bettors into Vikings fans this week. Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger have yet to throw a TD pass, but they have also gone pick-free while completing at least 60 percent of their attempts.
Seattle has problems with injuries and personnel changes on the offensive line, so coach Mike Holmgren has kept Matt Hasselbeck off the field for the most part. That will change on Saturday, as Holmgren plans to keep the first unit on the field into the second half. Still, the ‘Hawks are 3-7 ATS at home in exhibition play. The Vikings are 8-3 ATS on the road.
Cleveland at Denver (-6)
Saturday, Aug 25, 9:00 p.m.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel is pulling out some of the tricks from the old New England 'mess with the press' bag. He’s already named Charlie Frye the starter for this matchup, but he just won’t say the magic word: Quinn, as in Brady Quinn.
Reading between the lines, though, the rookie from Notre Dame will be featured against the Broncos and might even get the starting nod over Frye come the regular season. None of Denver’s QBs have done particularly well thus far, and Cleveland got paid in four of its last five away games.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (-3)
Sunday, Aug 26, 8:00 p.m., NBC
Sunday’s contest is the only one where the home team is a small favorite; not coincidentally, it’s also the only one where the chalk isn’t scaring away bettors. The Steelers have the benefit of that extra Hall of Fame game, and enjoy an outstanding 1-2 QB punch in Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch.
As for the Eagles, they’ve been thrown for a bit of a loop with the release of popular LB Jeremiah Trotter, one of their few experienced players at that position. Other veterans are now looking over their shoulders -- not a good mindset to take on the road, even if it is just across the turnpike.
Colts & Bears get right back to business
08/24/2007 08:54 AM
By: Chance Harper
After their Super Bowl 'rematch' on Monday, both the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears are playing on a short week at home this Saturday against the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers respectively. The Seattle Seahawks, meanwhile, look to get back on track after a blowout loss in Green Bay last week.
Now we’re starting to see something that looks more like a real football game.
Colts & Bears get right back to business
The starting units should be on the field for the first half or even longer this weekend as the NFL exhibition season rolls into Week 3. The top two quarterbacks will require the attention of handicappers, as will any key position battles yet to be determined.
There are another nine games on the Saturday slate, plus the Sunday nighter, so let’s winnow things down to the home favorites this time.
Detroit at Indianapolis (-6)
Saturday, Aug 25, 7:00 p.m. (ET)
The Colts opened as 4½-point faves, but that spread didn’t take very long to start creeping up. Detroit has gotten excellent production out of both Jon Kitna (115.0 passer rating) and Dan Orlovsky (99.4), while Peyton Manning’s backup, Jim Sorgi, has thrown a pair of interceptions.
The Colts are 1-10 SU and 2-9 ATS in their last 11 preseason games; however, Kitna’s status for Saturday is uncertain due to back spasms, and Orlovsky is doubtful with turf toe. Watch for plenty of J.T. O’Sullivan and freshly-inked rookie Phil Horvath in this one.
San Francisco at Chicago (-6)
Saturday, Aug 25, 8:00 p.m.
Rex Grossman didn’t look too sharp in Indy last week, mishandling snaps and causing Bears fans no shortage of angst. Brian Griese and Kyle Orton, meanwhile, have been excellent in their preseason outings, but with this being Week 3, Grossman will have every opportunity to boot the ball around some more.
The Niners, on the other hand, have full confidence in Alex Smith (120.7 passer rating) in what is shaping up to be a breakout campaign. Rookie OT Joe Staley has also been impressive enough to earn a starting job, as has LB Patrick Willis.
Minnesota at Seattle (-7)
Saturday, Aug 25, 9:00 p.m.
Hitting the magic 7-point mark has turned a lot of bettors into Vikings fans this week. Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger have yet to throw a TD pass, but they have also gone pick-free while completing at least 60 percent of their attempts.
Seattle has problems with injuries and personnel changes on the offensive line, so coach Mike Holmgren has kept Matt Hasselbeck off the field for the most part. That will change on Saturday, as Holmgren plans to keep the first unit on the field into the second half. Still, the ‘Hawks are 3-7 ATS at home in exhibition play. The Vikings are 8-3 ATS on the road.
Cleveland at Denver (-6)
Saturday, Aug 25, 9:00 p.m.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel is pulling out some of the tricks from the old New England 'mess with the press' bag. He’s already named Charlie Frye the starter for this matchup, but he just won’t say the magic word: Quinn, as in Brady Quinn.
Reading between the lines, though, the rookie from Notre Dame will be featured against the Broncos and might even get the starting nod over Frye come the regular season. None of Denver’s QBs have done particularly well thus far, and Cleveland got paid in four of its last five away games.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (-3)
Sunday, Aug 26, 8:00 p.m., NBC
Sunday’s contest is the only one where the home team is a small favorite; not coincidentally, it’s also the only one where the chalk isn’t scaring away bettors. The Steelers have the benefit of that extra Hall of Fame game, and enjoy an outstanding 1-2 QB punch in Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch.
As for the Eagles, they’ve been thrown for a bit of a loop with the release of popular LB Jeremiah Trotter, one of their few experienced players at that position. Other veterans are now looking over their shoulders -- not a good mindset to take on the road, even if it is just across the turnpike.
