Machine Plays: 5-2
I have every reason not to take the Eagles: Vick is out, Asante Samuels is out and RB McCoy is banged up. Yet, I am taking them tonight. Why? Because Kolb is the hungriest man on the field, while Singletary is the dumbest coach on an NFL sideline. Singletary sticks with Alex Smith even though Smith has a passer rating of 66 and has thrown 7 interceptions. Carr is sitting on the bench wondering where the hell the wizard and Dorothy are. Smith has never excelled at the NFL level, he is a failed experiment who is nothing without Gore behind him. But Gore is not breaking long ones anymore. The 49ers are only averaging 79 rushing yards per game, which means the pressure is on Smith.
The Eagles defense --based on how I analyze stats and not just "league averages"--is light years ahead of the 49ers, and that will show tonight when Nate Allen gets his 4th inerception. Although Samuels is out, the Eagles will be able to make up for it with Reid's crazy blitzes forcing Smith into bad throws. On offense, Kolb is more than capable. His rating last year was 89 and he averaged 7.7 yards per play against a great 65% completion rate. Remember, he was going to be the starter this year and now he is. McCoy will play despite having sore ribs, and he is electric. He is averaging 5.5 yards per play from scrimmage.
Under normal circumstances (with Vick and Samules in) the Eagles would be favored in this game by 7-9 points. Now, with those guys out, the line has swung to 49ers -3, even though they average only 298 yards per game. I don't think so! Andy Reid has won four straight against the 49ers, I'll take the points!
Message to 49ers: there's my money on the table. You're in your own ballpark against a banged up team. Prove to me you can win. If you can, you deserve my money. I'm betting you can't.
EAGLES +3.5
I have every reason not to take the Eagles: Vick is out, Asante Samuels is out and RB McCoy is banged up. Yet, I am taking them tonight. Why? Because Kolb is the hungriest man on the field, while Singletary is the dumbest coach on an NFL sideline. Singletary sticks with Alex Smith even though Smith has a passer rating of 66 and has thrown 7 interceptions. Carr is sitting on the bench wondering where the hell the wizard and Dorothy are. Smith has never excelled at the NFL level, he is a failed experiment who is nothing without Gore behind him. But Gore is not breaking long ones anymore. The 49ers are only averaging 79 rushing yards per game, which means the pressure is on Smith.
The Eagles defense --based on how I analyze stats and not just "league averages"--is light years ahead of the 49ers, and that will show tonight when Nate Allen gets his 4th inerception. Although Samuels is out, the Eagles will be able to make up for it with Reid's crazy blitzes forcing Smith into bad throws. On offense, Kolb is more than capable. His rating last year was 89 and he averaged 7.7 yards per play against a great 65% completion rate. Remember, he was going to be the starter this year and now he is. McCoy will play despite having sore ribs, and he is electric. He is averaging 5.5 yards per play from scrimmage.
Under normal circumstances (with Vick and Samules in) the Eagles would be favored in this game by 7-9 points. Now, with those guys out, the line has swung to 49ers -3, even though they average only 298 yards per game. I don't think so! Andy Reid has won four straight against the 49ers, I'll take the points!
Message to 49ers: there's my money on the table. You're in your own ballpark against a banged up team. Prove to me you can win. If you can, you deserve my money. I'm betting you can't.
EAGLES +3.5