Betting NFL Football – The Game Plans
Betting NFL Football – The Game Plans
For serious football bettors, here is breakdown of what to look for from key NFL football games and what these teams will be attempting to accomplish.
(457) ATLANTA at (458) NEW ORLEANS FOX
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8 / 1:00 E
Falcons Game Plan: The last thing Atlanta wants to do is get in a shootout with New Orleans and will try and run the ball and pick their spots to throw to their talented receivers. The Birds offense line is still not a physical group, which is why they don’t want to get behind the chains for third and long and expose Matt Ryan. The Falcons defense has issues with talented tight ends and Jimmy Graham fits that bill.
Saints Game Plan: With head coach Sean Payton back, look for the swagger to return for New Orleans. One of his priorities will be to juice up the running game after averaging 98.6 yards a game and ranking 25th in the NFL. Drew Brees will take care of the passing game for New Orleans. Defensively, the Saints’ new 3-4 scheme was put in after they allowed an NFL-record 7,042 yards last season and it will be tested by one of the NFL’s top offenses. Though, running back Steven Jackson no longer has the burst, when he gets started, the yards pile up which could hurt the Saints.
Key number: New Orleans is 7-15 ATS as home favorite since 2003.
(463) CINCINNATI at (464) CHICAGO CBS
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8 / 1:00 E
Bengals Game Plan: This is an important year for Andy Dalton and this is right opportunity on the road to show his teammates and coaches he’s elevated his game. With Chicago again reshuffling their offensive line, look for Cincinnati to dial up the pressure in obvious passing situations. The Bengals secondary will focus their attention on Brandon Marshall when Jay Cutler needs a first down.
Bears Game Plan: Chicago has to establish RB Matt Forte as a running threat and receiver right from the start to get the Bengals off-balance. This keeps DE Geno Atkins from chasing Culter and protects the young O-Linemen. Defensively, the Bears approach rarely changes, playing Cover-2 and looking to strip the ball all the time. Without Brian Urlacher, watch for how the Bears cover the middle-deep zone against the Bengals.
Key number: Cincinnati is 13-5 ATS in September road games.
(467) SEATTLE at (468) CAROLINA FOX
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8 / 1:00 E
Seahawks Game Plan: If Seattle is truly an elite team in the NFC, it starts by winning on the road. Seattle has not posted a winning away record since 2005 and will test Carolina with RB Marshawn Lynch in an attempt to control the tempo of the game. The Panthers are still a run first team and this is where the athletic Seahawks front seven has to take over and make Cam Newton an uncomfortable pocket passer.
Panthers Game Plan: Cam Newton was wildly inaccurate when these teams met last year and anything close will prevent Carolina from a possible upset. A solid Panthers O-Line has to win the majority of battles on first and second down for DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert to set up play-action passing game. The Cats defense line will be called upon to cover up for a weak secondary against QB Russell Wilson. If the names Luke Kuechly, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis are being called a lot, Carolina can contain Seattle’s offense.
Key number: Seattle is 0-6 ATS in road games in the first month of the season under Pete Carroll.
(475) GREEN BAY at (476) SAN FRANCISCO FOX
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 / 4:25 E
Packers Game Plan: The Green Bay season ended last year against San Francisco and it starts anew versus the very same team. What to look for first is what Packers defensive coaches learned after Colin Kaepernick set a single-game league record for a quarterback with 181 rushing yards in the postseason meeting. The Pack has more size on defense, but this will be an immediate test. While Aaron Rodgers is an amazing quarterback, he’s not actually played a single down this season with receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Will it matter early?
49ers Game Plan: With Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco will have a few wrinkles to attempt to catch Green Bay off guard defensively. The Niners are the vastly more physical team and will immediately try and establish that edge in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The 49ers are still among the best defensive teams in football and in both wins over the Pack last season; they had Green Bay receivers taking a peek before the pigskin arrived. Expect more of the same from heavy hitters in the San Fran secondary.
Key number: San Francisco is 11-3-1 ATS under Harbaugh as a home favorite.
(477) NEW YORK GIANTS at (478) DALLAS NBC
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8 / 8:30 E
Giants Game Plan: The Giants defense is in flux and if there is one aspect we learned during the preseason, the New York linebackers are having problems with underneath routes. Hello Jason Witten, who regularly piles up the yards against Giants anyways. Eli Manning will get a firsthand look the Cowboys new 4-3 defense and has the weapons to exploit Dallas. Big Blue always arrives in Big D with of confidence and has no fear of the starred helmets.
Cowboys Game Plan: The top priority of the Dallas preseason was assembling a running game of substance to take the pressure off Tony Romo, who is actually a better quarterback when he doesn’t throw the ball as frequently. While nobody knows how the rebooted Dallas D will play, the G-Men have several questions on the offensive line due to injury and it will be up to the Cowboys front seven to make them pay.
Key number: The Giants have won and covered four straight in Dallas.
