[Willie Bee]

NE Patriots (-5½) vs Titans

Game Time: 08/17/2007 08:00 PM -
By: Ben Burns | sportspic.com

Both teams are coming off low-scoring losses in their preseason openers. But the Patriots have the home crowd behind them this Friday night and they'll cover number vs the Titans.

The Patriots are favored to win the Super Bowl this season and are arguably the best team in the league. I expect the Week 1 results to also cause them to be hungrier than the Titans who are likely somewhat satisfied with their performance.

Despite playing without Vince Young, the Titans led the entire way in their game vs. Washington, only to give up two fourth quarter touchdowns en route to a 14-6 loss. The Patriots were less impressive in their 13-10 loss to the Bucs. Only a late line move allowed them to earn a push against the closing line.

Looking back to last preseason and we find that the Patriots also opened their preseason on the road, also losing by a field goal. However, they responded with a 30-3 blowout home win (vs. Arizona) in Week 2. Don't be surprised if history repeats itself with the defending AFC East Champs coming away with another double-digit victory. Consider a play on New England.

Free Pick: Patriots -5½

[Hoja Verdes]

It might help people out to mention in your write-up "why" a team will cover rather than simply citing numbers from last year. Everyone knows just by the numbers alone, last year means nothing.

How 'bout the fact that Tom Brady could see triple to quadruple the amount of playing time this week? How bout the rest of the team. What stars didn't play much last week on both sides of the ball? Which are projected to play a lot more this week?

Give us a little substance, that write-up is about as unconvincing as they come.

[Willie Bee]

Panthers +3 at Philadelphia Eagles

Game Time: 08/17/2007 07:00 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com

John Fox and the Panthers are a perfect 7-0 in the preseason when installed as a dog of five points or less. Cash on Carolina Friday evening in Philadelphia against the Eagles.

After last year's disappointing 8-8 performance, Carolina coach John Fox will attempt to get his team out of the gates quickly and instill a winning attitude among his players. There is still a lot of talent on this team and a bounce-back season should be in store.

Carolina also enters this confrontation with Philly with a little bit of revenge on the agenda after losing as a 3-point favorite on this field during the regular season last year. Furthermore, while watching the Ravens pound the Eagles 29-3 in Philly's opening exhibition affair, I noticed that Eagles head coach Andy Reid and his staff looked uninterested in moving the chains. Instead, they concentrated on evaluating player personal. I'm expecting the Eagles to use at least one more game as a springboard to bigger and better things, which makes Philly fade material in this spot.

It should also be noted that Carolina, under head coach John Fox, has been one of the NFL's best underdog teams in the preseason -- the Panthers are 7-0 straight up and against the spread as an underdog of less than five points in the preseason.

Final Notes & Trends: Road teams coming off a SU underdog win in Game 1 are 21-8 ATS in Game 2. Underdogs with a winning record in the preseason against favorites with a losing record are 35-15 ATS. Since 1983, non-division Game 2 road dogs priced at +3 or more are 33-18-1 ATS, provided they opened the preseason as a guest. Play on the Panthers.

Free Pick: Panthers +3