Eight teams still sport NFL betting perfection
Eight teams still sport NFL betting perfection
For fans, there are still three perfect teams on the season with the Giants, Bills and Titans unbeaten. For bettors, however, there are eight perfect teams against the numbers, with Tennessee again making the list. How many will still remain in either grou after Week 5? We'll know as soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Sunday Night matchup on NBC.
We’ve still got eight perfect teams in the NFL one month into the regular season. That’s from a handicapping perspective, of course. Here they are:
If that looks like a lot of Overs, it is. The Over is 35-24 on the season, and favorites are also cruising at 34-24-2 ATS. Those two trends team up quite nicely against the betting odds – the bigger the score, the more likely a spread is being covered. Let’s see if that holds up with these three Week 5 NFL matchups.
Seattle at N.Y. Giants (-7, 43)
Sunday, Oct 5, 1:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
There’s enough scattered opinion on this matchup that you can find the Giants as high as -9, although with juice in the +110 neighborhood. The total is between 43 and 44, so you have a choice depending on which side you prefer. Given what Seattle (1-2 SU and ATS) has done so far this year, I like the favorite and the over to continue paying off.
This betting line is volatile because it matches the situation on the ground. The Giants (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) hit their first roadblock of the season last week, needing overtime at home to beat Cincinnati (+13). The Seahawks got their first payday of 2008 by flattening St. Louis 37-13 as 9-point home faves.
There’s also the matter of the one-game suspension Giants WR Plaxico Burress is serving for “violating team rules.” Burress is the team’s No. 1 wideout and one of the best in the league; however, Domenik Hixon (six catches, 89 yards) has been playing well in spot duty and is ready to prove he’s more than just a special-teams guy. Seattle’s pass defense doesn’t have a lot of fight at the moment.
Buffalo at Arizona (PK, 44½)
Sunday, Oct 5, 4:15 p.m. (ET) CBS
Here’s another line that’s a little out of whack. The Cardinals were as high as -2 on Monday before crashing to even money. Depending on where you shop, you can get Arizona at -1½, or you can get this game as a pick ‘em. A 1-point margin of victory is a common enough occurrence (4.27 percent, according to a five-year sample) to consider playing the middle.
The wideout causing market chaos in this matchup is Arizona’s Anquan Boldin. He suffered a concussion last week against the Jets when he was speared by safety Eric Smith. Boldin may or may not play Sunday, depending on test results. Boldin is the league’s top receiver so far with five TD catches and 152 DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement). Like the Giants, however, the Cards are deep at this position with Larry Fitzgerald (108 DYAR) and Steve Breaston (52 DYAR).
While the Bills are drawing high praise for their 4-0 and 3-1 ATS start to the season, the Buffalo secondary will be without CB Terrence McGee after he sprained his MCL against the Rams. This is also bad news for Buffalo’s vaunted special teams, since McGee has been their star kick returner the past four seasons.
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville (-4, 36)
Sunday, Oct 5, 8:15 p.m. (ET) NBC
There are big-time problems for both offensive lines in this matchup. Pittsburgh is dead last in pass protection and not doing so hot keeping its running backs from getting creamed, either. The Steelers are down to Mewelde Moore in the backfield, which prompted them to go out and re-sign Najeh Davenport, who may not be in game condition by Sunday. Then again, he’ll be well rested. The rest of the Steelers had a short week off after playing Monday night against the Ravens.
Jacksonville’s offensive line is in the bottom half of the league in both run and pass protection, especially right up the middle. Houston had enough success containing Fred Taylor (25 yards rushing) and Maurice Jones-Drew (32 yards) to cash in last week; Pittsburgh’s defense could do the same and steal a payday, maybe even an outright victory.
For fans, there are still three perfect teams on the season with the Giants, Bills and Titans unbeaten. For bettors, however, there are eight perfect teams against the numbers, with Tennessee again making the list. How many will still remain in either grou after Week 5? We'll know as soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Sunday Night matchup on NBC.
We’ve still got eight perfect teams in the NFL one month into the regular season. That’s from a handicapping perspective, of course. Here they are:
- Tennessee 4-0 ATS
- St. Louis 0-4 ATS
- Denver Over 4-0
- San Diego Over 4-0
- Baltimore 3-0 ATS
- Detroit 0-3 ATS
- Houston Over 3-0
- Seattle Over 3-0
If that looks like a lot of Overs, it is. The Over is 35-24 on the season, and favorites are also cruising at 34-24-2 ATS. Those two trends team up quite nicely against the betting odds – the bigger the score, the more likely a spread is being covered. Let’s see if that holds up with these three Week 5 NFL matchups.
Seattle at N.Y. Giants (-7, 43)
Sunday, Oct 5, 1:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
There’s enough scattered opinion on this matchup that you can find the Giants as high as -9, although with juice in the +110 neighborhood. The total is between 43 and 44, so you have a choice depending on which side you prefer. Given what Seattle (1-2 SU and ATS) has done so far this year, I like the favorite and the over to continue paying off.
This betting line is volatile because it matches the situation on the ground. The Giants (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) hit their first roadblock of the season last week, needing overtime at home to beat Cincinnati (+13). The Seahawks got their first payday of 2008 by flattening St. Louis 37-13 as 9-point home faves.
There’s also the matter of the one-game suspension Giants WR Plaxico Burress is serving for “violating team rules.” Burress is the team’s No. 1 wideout and one of the best in the league; however, Domenik Hixon (six catches, 89 yards) has been playing well in spot duty and is ready to prove he’s more than just a special-teams guy. Seattle’s pass defense doesn’t have a lot of fight at the moment.
Buffalo at Arizona (PK, 44½)
Sunday, Oct 5, 4:15 p.m. (ET) CBS
Here’s another line that’s a little out of whack. The Cardinals were as high as -2 on Monday before crashing to even money. Depending on where you shop, you can get Arizona at -1½, or you can get this game as a pick ‘em. A 1-point margin of victory is a common enough occurrence (4.27 percent, according to a five-year sample) to consider playing the middle.
The wideout causing market chaos in this matchup is Arizona’s Anquan Boldin. He suffered a concussion last week against the Jets when he was speared by safety Eric Smith. Boldin may or may not play Sunday, depending on test results. Boldin is the league’s top receiver so far with five TD catches and 152 DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement). Like the Giants, however, the Cards are deep at this position with Larry Fitzgerald (108 DYAR) and Steve Breaston (52 DYAR).
While the Bills are drawing high praise for their 4-0 and 3-1 ATS start to the season, the Buffalo secondary will be without CB Terrence McGee after he sprained his MCL against the Rams. This is also bad news for Buffalo’s vaunted special teams, since McGee has been their star kick returner the past four seasons.
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville (-4, 36)
Sunday, Oct 5, 8:15 p.m. (ET) NBC
There are big-time problems for both offensive lines in this matchup. Pittsburgh is dead last in pass protection and not doing so hot keeping its running backs from getting creamed, either. The Steelers are down to Mewelde Moore in the backfield, which prompted them to go out and re-sign Najeh Davenport, who may not be in game condition by Sunday. Then again, he’ll be well rested. The rest of the Steelers had a short week off after playing Monday night against the Ravens.
Jacksonville’s offensive line is in the bottom half of the league in both run and pass protection, especially right up the middle. Houston had enough success containing Fred Taylor (25 yards rushing) and Maurice Jones-Drew (32 yards) to cash in last week; Pittsburgh’s defense could do the same and steal a payday, maybe even an outright victory.
