Eagles/Saints 8:40: The Saints are clearly lacking leadership in a number of areas as they enter tonight. As I indicated before the season started, New Orleans would sorely underachieve; tonight, they'll remain underachievers. The Saints are in the bottom of the league in rushing and defensively they can't stop the run (alarming 170.1 ypg yielding). DC Spagnuolo doesn't have the personnel here that he had with the NY Giants in 2007; consequently, with the exception of great LB Vilma, the mediocre Saints' defense continuously blow assignments failing to adapt to stunts and blitzes that don't fit their abilities or comprehension. The Eagles are underachieving too, and their defense is strugglng as they adapt to a brand new DC. However, their personnel is still quite good and have corners (Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha) who can lock down #1 wideouts. Sure Brees will attempt to do it all for the Saints, especially with Sproles out, but at the end of the night, the more well rounded and better Eagles should prevail. Eagles' Reid a sweet 7-1 ATS as a dog off back-to-back SU/ATS losses. Saints a money burning 1-12 ATS as a home favorite of less than 8 points off a double-digit SU loss.

Steelers/Giants 4:25: Steelers' defense is not the dominant force it was in recent years; especially on the road. The Steelers may have the league's top rated pass defense but they've produced just 13 sacks and yield 4.1 ypc on the ground. Today, they will be sorely tested against Eli Manning and his outstanding receivers. And with Polamalu on the sidelines, defensive secondary leakage and limited sacks are in the offing. On the other hand, the Giants' sack totals are rising and the G-Men are overdue to jump start an underachieving defense. Pittsburgh is a mere 1-7 ATS on the road and 1-7 ATS off a SU win. Giants usually find a way to get up for top tier opponents as their 9-1 ATS mark against teams above .500 suggests. NYG the call.

Panthers/Redskins 1:00: I anticipate a higher scoring game and I think that favors the Panthers here. The Panthers are a sweet 69-9 ATS when they score at least 27 points. The Redskins' defense has been porous and should allow the Panthers, which have been locked down by a series of great defenses over the last four weeks, to break loose. In this series, the road team is 7-2 ATS and the dog is 8-1 ATS. Panthers the call.

Panthers/Redskins 1:00: The Redskins sport the worst defense in the NFL and no improvement should occur today. The 'Skins Orakpo, Carriker and Meriweather are still out and the turnover laden Panthers are overdue to heat up offensively; after all, they've faced some pretty good defenses, including Atlanta, Seattle, Dallas and Chicago the last four weeks. The Redskins should not give nearly as much resistance. On the other hand, the Redskins' offense is productive with Morris pounding the rock and Griffin III doing his thing. Redskins are 6-1 O/U at home and Carolina sports a 13-6-1 O/U mark vs NFC opposition. "Over" it is.

49ers/Cardinals 8:40: On the verge of jumping on the Cardinals at 7.5 on account of Harbaugh's 0-3 ATS mark on the road vs division opponents and the fact that Arizona played this division series tough in recent years. And the Cardinals' defense has been strong -- yielding just 16.9 ppg this season. However, much concern about the Arizona offense which lacks a run game and has trouble protecting their QB. This season, the Cardinals' offensive line has given up numerous sacks, knockdowns and hurries on Kolb and Skelton. And tonight, the Cardinals' face one of the most formidable defensive fronts in the game. We'll look for the well rested 49ers to wear down the Cardinals over the course of this game. And SF sports a strong 9-1 ATS mark on MNF as a road favorite against division opponents. On the other hand, Arizona sports a poor 1-6 ATS mark at home vs division. SF the call.

Lions/Bears 8:40: Well rested Bears come into this one on a nice little roll. They spanked their last two foes on the road and should be up for division rival Detroit, whom they covered 7 of the last 8 times. The Bears' defense has been outstanding and should create problems for the penalty stricken Lions. Lions were fortunate to win in OT at Philly last week despite 16 penalties. They remain undisciplined under Schwartz -- stemming from the last three years. Detroit has yet to establish a run game (19th) and it won't start here vs the #1 run stop unit in the NFL. QB Stafford has some great targets to go to, including Calvin Johnson, but the fierce rush of Chicago may create problems for him getting the ball there. On the other hand, Jay Cutler has had outstanding games vs Detroit (105.4 rating) and should stay hot with Forte in good health. Forte has collected 975 yards over 8 games vs the Lions. Bears a sweet 5-1 ATS on MNF and should deliver against the road struggling Lions (1-6-1 ATS road). Bears the call.

Washington/Giants 1:00: The G-Men are heating up and we'll stay on them. Coming off a SU dog win against a division opponent, the Giants are 5-1 ATS. NY is a sweet 19-7-1 ATS in October. And Eli Manning should carve up a Redskins' secondary without safety Jordan Pugh (concussion). Washington is last in the league in pass defense and should have trouble with Manning and his elite receiving corps. Defensively, NY adds DT Canty back to the mix to help contain RG III. And the Giants have a sour taste in their mouth about getting swept last year in this series. NY is 7-1 ATS at home with division revenge. Redskins are just 1-5 ATS off a SU win. NY the call.

Buffalo/San Francisco 4:25: The 49ers have significant edges in key categories. SF's defense is fundamentally sound and take pride in limiting offenses. Buffalo is thin at RB with Spiller and Jackson coming off injuries. A limited run game against a staunch run stop unit will not bode well for struggling Bills' QB Fitzpatrick who has already thrown seven interceptions. On the other hand, Buffalo's defense has not reached preseason expectations and Harbaugh should find ways of exploiting soft areas in it. SF is 7-2 ATS against non-division opponents at .500 or greater. SF the call.

Eagles/Steelers 1:00: Pittsburgh is coming off a bye and should have sorted out their defensive problems. Palomalu and Harrison will give added strength to the struggling defense. We'll look for Pittsburgh to play much better at home where they won their only game of the season. Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS off a bye week and 9-0 ATS off a SU loss. They're also 5-1-1 ATS after allowing 30+ points. The Eagles, however, are just 1-6 ATS as a non conference dog of less than 9 points. Steelers the call.

Cardinals/Rams 8:25: Arizona playing great but defensive injuries and a sluggish run game should catch up to them here. Arizona's tough defense is getting thin and should struggle as we anticipate Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson getting the Rams' run game going. Consequently, we'll look for sluggish Sam Bradford to improve on his performance. On the other hand, the struggling Arizona run game (29th in the league) should enable St. Louis to be creative defensively and force turnovers. The Rams are 4-0-1 ATS at home against a team with a winning road record. They're looking at double revenge from last year's sweep. And this division series has been competitive. Edge to the Rams.

Browns/Ravens 8:20: We'll grab the Browns based on a few key factors: Road team 5-0 ATS last 5. The Browns covered their last 4 road tilts and they're 4-0 ATS as a dog off back to back SU losses. Moreover, they're 6-0 ATS after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Furthermore, the Browns haven't beaten the Ravens since 2007 -- a span of 8 straight losses. However, they're 5-0 ATS on the road with revenge. The Ravens are coming off a last second win over New England and could easily downplay the winless Browns. The Ravens' defense has been slow to adapt to new DC Pees system and yields plenty of passing yards and points. Despite the Browns missing a few key skill players, OC Childress has enough weaponry to move the football. And the Browns' defense is respectable under DC Jauron. Remember, the Ravens have failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 home games and just 1-6 ATS at home vs losing road teams. Browns the call.

Green Bay/Seattle 8:35: Seattle was labeled as another also ran after falling to Arizona week 1. But Arizona proved to be no joke as they notched their third straight win in big fashion yesterday. Seattle came back strong last week with a dominant win over Dallas. Strong defense and a conservative but productive offense has been their mantra. Marshawn Lynch eats ground and Russell Wilson plays smart in Darrell Bevell's offense. Seattle's stadium gets extremely loud and won't be an easy game for Green Bay. The Packers are 0-4 ATS on the road in MNF action. Seattle, however, sports an NFL best 17-8 SU on MNF. Moreover, Seattle is a sweet 10-1 ATS at home before a division road game. The Pete Carroll formula we'll roll with for another week.

Steelers/Raiders 4:25: Raiders' defense has not gotten any better. Their run stop unit is struggling and they're very thin at cornerback with starters Spencer and Bartell out. With Steelers' QB Roethlisberger finding success in the new offensive system under OC Haley, we'll look for vertical threats Antonio Brown and Wallace to have big games. And RB Mendenhall should help create success in the passing game. On the other hand, the Raiders offense is slow to adapting to OC Greg Knapp's system. Star RB McFadden can't shake loose and QB Palmer has not had success against Pittsburgh with a 4-8 mark and a sluggish 76.7 rating. Raiders just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games. We'll grab Pittsburgh.

Jets/Dolphins 1:00: New Jets' OC Sparano was fired as the Dolphins' HC last year. He has a good feel for this year's Dolphins personnel and should be able to exploit some of the Dolphins' defensive weeknesses. The Jets sport a strong 11-3 ATS mark in Miami. We'll look for NY to clamp down on Reggie Bush, who is off to a strong season. And with CB Revis (concussion) back, rookie QB Tannehill should not have the receiver seperation he did against the soft Oakland corners. Jets the call.

Broncos/Falcons 8:35: Both of these offenses appear to be in good rhythm. Atlanta took what KC showed them and sliced their secondary to pieces. And although RB Turner did not fare well, the passing game was hot; as a result, Denver's defense could easily over-compensate for Atlanta's prolific pass game while RB Turner gets cooking to open up the passing game even more. On the other hand, Peyton Manning has the Denver offense running well and the loss of Atlanta CB Grimes (knee) will create problems for the Falcons' secondary. Atlanta is 5-1 O/U in September and 13-3-1 after allowing 150 yards rushing previously. Denver is 5-0 O/U on field turf. We'll look for the offenses to stay hot tonight.

Browns/Bengals 1:00: Good value with a Browns team that pestered Vick last week. The Browns' offense should take a more conservative stance to limit mistakes from rookie QB Weeden. We'll look for Trent Richardson to get untracked today. The Browns have been competitive in this series and looking to avenge the series sweep last season. Browns are 6-0 ATS w/ revenge following a SU loss. The Bengals are a pitiful 1-12 ATS as a favorite off a SU/ATS loss. And on a short week of prep should run into problems here. The dog in this series covered 9 of last 10.

Bears/Packers 8:20: Last Sunday, the Packers didn't drop off that sharply from last year, they just ran into a very good opponent (SF). On the other hand, the Bears looked like Super Bowl champions against a rebuilding Indianapolis team. My money is going on GB tonight. The Packers are a sweet 10-0 ATS off a SU favorite non-division loss against an above .500 division opponent. The Bears have had trouble with Green Bay at 2-7 ATS. Chicago has Pro Bowl CB Tillman hobbling with a leg injury. That should be trouble against Aaron Rodgers and his talented receiving corps despite the questionable status on Jennings. Even without Jennings, Driver gets more playing time and that's a good trade-off. GB defense better than how they played last week. We'll grab GB here.

Chargers/Raiders 10:15: The Chargers have more stability in their program and should get off to a rare good start for the second year in a row. It's no secret that Norv Turner has been horrific as a head coach in the first few weeks of the season. Turner and the Chargers won last year's opener but didn't cover the -9 spread. Tonight, however, with low expectations from Turner, the Chargers are in the rare dog role early in the year and we'll grab the value. The Chargers are 8-2 ATS at Oakland and should deliver. Phillip Rivers is one of NFL's most underrated QBs and he has enough weaponry to go to despite the loss of Vincent Jackson. Rivers is 36-15-1 in home openers. On the other hand, the Raiders are once again in a rebuilding mode with major changes from the top and will need yet more time for it to filter down to the players. Chargers the call.

Steelers/Broncos 8:25: Peyton Manning puts the Broncos immediately in contention for a championship. He's surrounded by a good cast and will have free reign on decision making -- like he should. Defensively, with Jack Del Rio as the DC and a host of playmakers at his disposal, the Broncos should continue to be strong on that side of the ball. On the other hand, the Steelers' offense may be slow out of the gate adapting to new OC Todd Haley's offense, especially on the road. And FS Ryan Clark's (sickle cell trait) absence leaves a veteran void there against the game's greatest QB. Denver the call.

49ers/Packers 4:25: Pieces are in place for SF to pick up where they left off last season. Defense should remain strong and will give Aaron Rodgers trouble. On the other hand, SF upgraded its offensive personnel with free agent acquisitions Moss, Manningham and super quick RB out of Oregon LaMichael James. QB Alex Smith should continue to progress in Harbaughs' system. And Harbaugh is a sweet 7-2 ATS against .500 or greater non division competition. 49ers train keeps rolling.

Cowboys/Giants 8:30: We were all over the Giants last year as they gathered momentum and delivered our 5* in the Super Bowl; however, their off-season losses (coaches/players) out-weigh their incoming personnel -- at least early in the year. On the other hand, the Cowboys focused on improving their defensive personnel in the off-season, including glaring weakness -- secondary. Based on what we've seen in the pre-season, they'll be better equipped going into this one. In addition, the Cowboys should have Dez Bryant and Miles Austin healthy along with RB DeMarco Murray. TE Witten practiced in pads and should see action too. We'll look for Romo to finally notch a cover/win here. Cowboys are a strong .663 in openers and post a high winning % on extended rest in recent year. Dallas the call.

NYG/NE Patriots 6:30: Four years ago the Giants completed one of the most stunning upsets in Super Bowl history. That team had many similarities that this year's G-Men have.

The 2007 version had a stuggling period during the regular season and turned up the heat down the stretch rolling into the post season on their magical run to Super Bowl prominence. This year's Giants, made a similar run with strong defensive play, including a vicious pass rush, a rolling run game, and great play from Eli Manning and his receivers.

This year, Eli Manning is having a banner year. He's engineered numerous 4th quarter comebacks and now much wiser on how to read coverages and maneuver in the pocket. And his 1000+ yard receivers Cruz and Hicks are outstanding. And let's not forget about the Giants' under-rated TEs Pascoe and Ballard who don't get nearly enough credit; after all, they're overshadowed by Gronkowki and Hernandez. We'll look for Pascoe and Ballard to work the shaky hook area of New England's secondary. Of course, we're counting on the NYG run game to be productive to open that hook area.

On the other hand, the Patriots' key receiver - Gronkowski is still recovering from the high ankle sprain he sustained against Baltimore. His ankle got contorted in a way that is unable for the human body to heal in limited time (less than 2 weeks). And as a tight end, you need to drive off your lower limbs hard to be an effective blocker; in addition, your ankle maintains stability on starts and stops in pass patterns -- both in which I believe Gronkowski should be a step slow. And a step slow in the NFL is not good -- any way you look at it. Given the Giants' fierce pass rush from their d-line lends creativity to their defensive coordinator who doesn't have to send 'backers or secondary players on blitzes.

Bottom line, we'll look for the NYG pass rush to do similar damage to Brady that they did years ago and that's despite a seemingly healthy NE offensive line. And with Coughlin's well rounded bunch, including specialty teams, playing at a high level going into this one, we'll stay on them here.

NY Giants/San Francisco 6:30: A close call. NY is playing incredibly well. Their defensive front is healthy, the running game is cooking, and Eli Manning is having a storied season with his talented targets. However, I like SF on account of the consistency they've maintained over the entire season.

SF's defense has been in the top tier from the start of the season -- a carry over from last year's bunch. Justin Smith has been unblockable by any one man. Aldon Smith is having a huge year. I am concerned about LB Patrick Willis (knee), however, he is questionable. Nevertheless, the SF secondary has been solid and well disciplined, which will be a requisite against Manning and his plethora of targets.

Offensively, Alex Smith has blossomed into a good quarterback. Obviously he needed the right system, surrounding cast and coaching -- who utilized his strengths (that QB power late in last week's game was nothing short of brilliant). And RB Frank Gore is healthier this time around unlike the first meeting earlier this year in which he had 0 yards on 6 carries. We'll look for SF's coaching staff to find the weakness in the Giants' defensive game and exploit it tonight.

Technically, SF is a sweet 19-6-3 ATS in their last 28 home games. This series has gone 5-2 ATS to the home team and we'll stay on SF.

Baltimore/New England 3:00: Baltimore's offense looked very sluggish against the Texans last week. More specifically, Joe Flacco had trouble in the pocket locating receivers. The Texans' top ranked defense was surely a formidable challenge and one of the worst ranked defenses -- statistically -- appears to have tightened its screws after last week's knockout of Denver.

Much of the blame for the poor offensive production has been on Joe Flacco. I believe more of the blame should be on OC Cam Cameron whose relationship with Flacco has eroded. Consequently, tension is growing between them and confusion, uncertainty and doubt lead to mistakes and little production. We'll look for New England's defense to be ready this time for Ray Rice -- who ran all over them in January of the 2010 AFC Wild Card round at New England.

Baltimore should have difficulty stopping NE's Tight Ends Gronkowski and Hernandez. And too much focus on them leads to Branch and Wes Welker (knee) open. Brady is well versed, he's getting good protection and the Baltimore pass rush was quiet last week. Consequently, that leads to the Patriots frequenting the end zone this time around.

Technically, the Ravens are just 1-4 ATS as a playoff dog in this spread range. The home team has covered 4 of the last 5 in this series. We'll lay a TD with NE.

NYG/Green Bay 4:30: The Giants are peaking at the right time. They resemble the 2007 Giants which went on a playoff road tear capped by upsetting the then undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

This year's Giants team is getting healthy as the offensive line is mending (Clifton, Bulaga) and they're now opening holes for the Giants' horses, which wasn't there earlier in the season. Consequently, Manning, who already was having a stellar year, is having an even easier time locating his talented receivers. The Packers' defense, although a ball hawking unit, is statistically the worst defense in the NFL. They feast off turnovers to fuel the offense. However, the Giants have been holding on to the ball well lately and it will be tough for GB to slow them down.

On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers and the GB offense operates in precision fashion carving up defense after defense. However, they face the most formidable defensive front line in the NFL. When you can rush the passer well with four and drop seven in coverage, it makes it difficult for opposing QBs to find open receivers in less than 2.5 seconds.

Giants are a dangerous 6-0 ATS on the playoff road under Coughlin and 19-8 ATS on the road against a team with a winning home record. The road team is 5-2 ATS in this series and the dog is 4-1 ATS. Giants looking at sweet revenge from their December 4th competitive 38-35 loss. NY the call.

Houston/Baltimore 1:00: I realize that Baltimore is well rested and getting back a few key players. However, Houston got back to their winning ways last week with a sound running game and great defense. Houston should be competitive here.

The Texans have covered 4 of their last 5 road tilts and should play hard with revenge in mind from their earlier season loss. In that game, top receiver Andre Johnson did not play. He shook off the rust last week against Cincinnati and should do more damage here. T.J. Yates has been a functional reserve QB; the primary reason is on a account of solid offensive line play and a running game. Kubiak has a well designed offensive system that compliments RB Foster's talent and makes it easy for QBs to work play action off.

On the other hand, Ravens' OC Cameron has made questionable decisions in play calling and has a cold relationship with QB Flacco. The Ravens' offense is stagnant at times and Flacco does not have a great resume as a playoff QB. The Texans' #1 ranked defense behind DC Phillips can make uncertainty in an offense disastrous. We'll look for Houston's defense to continue their strong play and keep the Texans in it.

Denver/New England 8:00: The Broncos' coaching staff has done a tremendous job in utilizing their players' strength; the most obvious, Tim Tebow running a college style offense. And last week, it was brilliant going after the soft spot in the secondary of Pittsburgh, who were without their starting free safety.

Tonight, we'll look for the Broncos and undying will of Tebow to hang around. Tebow's fierce competitiveness and selfless team play has become infectious to his teammates; consequently, Denver is a dangerous team as each member has a bit more heightened awareness in the film room and a bit more adrenaline flow on the playing field. Defensively, they're equipped with two outstanding pass rushers in Von Miller and Dumervil. We'll call for Denver to get more pressure on Brady this time around.

As for NE, they've lost playoff openers at home in each of the past two seasons and failed to cover in their last 5 home playoff games. And as a double-digit home favorite, NE is a money burning 3-14 ATS. And throw in the fact that Belichick is a mere 1-7-1 ATS following a bye week, we'll take the points.

New Orleans/San Francisco 4:30: 49ers had a week to diagnose the Saints' explosive offense and figure out a viable defensive plan; after all, they had plenty of success all season long defensively. And the Saints have had a recent history under Payton stumbling on the road in the playoffs: in 2006 they lost at Chicago in the NFC Championship and last season they stumbled at Seattle in the first round.

This season, the Saints fell to Green Bay, Tampa Bay and St. Louis on the road. And their offense has scored an average of 9 ppg less at outdoor stadiums this season. We'll look for the fierce front line of SF led by Justin Smith to get pressure on Brees and limit his effectiveness. And lets not forget that SF has the #1 run stop unit in the NFL.

On the other hand, the SF offense is in good hands with HC Harbaugh. He'll have a strong game plan to counter New Orleans' blitz happy schemes. There is enough talent and discipline on the SF offense to move the football.

The 49ers are a sweet 5-1 ATS as a home dog in this spread range. The Saints have stumbled in January at 4-10 ATS and just 2-5 ATS on Saturdays. SF the call.

Pittsburgh/Denver 4:30: Based on Steelers injuries in key offensive positions, I feel we get decent value with the home team here.

The Steelers come into this one banged up in key positions: Roethlisberger aggravated his ankle injury --sustained in week 14-- last week in the win over Cleveland. Moreover, the Steelers' starting RB Mendenhall tore up his knee and out. If that weren't enough, their starting center Pouncey. The Denver defense plays the run reasonably well and Pittsburgh may have difficulty moving the football with backups Redman (2 fumbles last week) and John Clay. The relentless pass rush of Denver may give Roethlisberger trouble -- for his mobility is limited on that tender ankle.

Offensively, Denver's lethargic offense won't light up the scoreboard vs the top defense in the NFL. However, the Broncos have a go-to back in 1200 yard rusher McGahee. And although Tebow did not play well the last two games (4 INTs, 2 lost fumbles), he is a fierce competitor and that is worth something in a big game. The Steelers' defense forced the fewest turnovers in the league this year and we'll look for the Broncos to hold on to the ball and stay in this one.

Technically, the dog in this series is 4-1 ATS. Steelers are just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games. And keep in mind that home playoff dogs are 14-3 ATS. Denver the call.

Falcons/Giants 1:00: I respect what Eli Manning has done this season. He was sensational in guiding NY to the playoffs. And he is thankful for Victor Cruz, who has been the breakout performer of the year. However, the Giants' run game is a concern (last in the NFL at 89 ypg), and defensively, despite their awesome front line sack quartet, they give up a lot of yardage through the air. Furthermore, they're frequently penalized and specialty teams are suspect.

Sure, the Falcons have their share of flaws but are dangerous as a dog here, where they're 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS. And the dome friendly Falcons couldn't have asked for better weather this time of year -- mid 40s with light wind and no precipitation. Falcons are eager to attain their first playoff win in the Mike Smith era and should play hungry. The Falcons have a solid run game with RB Michael Turner to keep the sack happy front line from racing up the field each play. And the Falcons' offensive line has gelled in the second half of the season (2nd fewest sacks allowed). QB Matt Ryan has a talented receiving corps, including a game breaking vertical threat in Julio Jones.

Falcons are a sweet 7-3 ATS on the road against a team with a winning home record. The Giants, however, have been a money burning venture as small home chalk at 1-6-1 ATS. Falcons the call.

Detroit/New Orleans 8:00: Still see value with the total despite the high number. The Saints are putting up 41 points per game at home and now that their offense is in fine tune rhythm, I don't see the Lions's defense slowing them down. On the other hand, the Saints' defense has its share of weakness and Stafford, who's thrown for 5000+ yards, has the surrounding cast to help the Lions keep pace on the scoreboard.

Detroit sports a 10-4-1 O/U mark as a dog; they're also 34-16-1 O/U on the road. The Saints control a 6-1-1 O/U mark in playoff games.

I the first meeting, the Lions committed 11 penalties for 107 yards. That clearly took points off the board for Detroit. That was stressed over their prep this week. We'll look for a cleaner Detroit team tonight as they effectively trade points with the Saints to clear the "over".

Bengals/Texans 4:30: Playoff dogs in this round are 6-2 ATS and I'm not going to fight that trend here. I believe QB Andy Dalton, who's 3-0 throughout his high school and collegiate career at Reliant Stadium, will show up with a strong performance while the Bengals' defense delivers.

Cincinnati has a respectable offense when healthy. Dalton has been successful this season because of a solid supporting cast. Julio Jones can stretch the field, TE Gresham is fearless over the middle, and RB Benson is an underrated horse who should do damage against an over-aggressive Wade Phillips' defense. We'll look for the Bengals' smart OC Gruden to make the right calls today and put the Bengals in position to win.

Houston's offense struggled down the stretch of the season and should carry over into this one. The Bengals gave the Texans a rough time in the first meeting. Yates threw the last second TD pass to claim victory at Cincinnati. Today, I think he'll have a rougher time against the respectable Cincy defense that should shut running lanes down better than last week against Ray Rice. Houston's RB Foster has been limited in success recently. Without Foster running well in inside/outside zone, Yates won't have success in play action.

Furthermore, the Bengals are more consistent in special teams play. We'll look for the Bengals to get revenge and move to 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.

Cowboys/Giants 8:30: This series has gone "Over" in five straight and should be another high scoring affair with the Giants' QB Manning, who torched the Cowboys' secondary in the first season meeting, having his arsenal full of skill players to go to. On the other hand, Romo is not short on weaponry to go to as well: Dez Bryant, Witten, Austin, Felix Jones (probable).

Both of these defenses have their share of weakness. And before long, their offenses' usually find it and exploit it. Dallas has been struggling all year in the secondary (23rd in league defending the pass). Manning has had some monster games against that secondary. The NYG defense can rush the passer; however, their aggressiveness is also an Achilles heal (28th in league in points allowed and yards). Romo and company should work it.

Technically, these teams have combined for a range of 53 to 71 points over the last five meetings. With the weather at a balmy 48 degrees and limited wind, I see no indication of these offenses slowing down.

Ravens/Bengals 4:15: Bengals are a physical football team that should be extremely competitive here; after all, they're playing with revenge (31-24 loss Nov 20) and dangerous as a revenge dog at home at 6-2 ATS and will have a full capacity crowd for the first time all season. Moreover, they will be healthier in a lot of areas where Baltimore won't be.

Cincinnati will have their big time rookie playmaker -- A.J. Green (missed Nov 20) as a target for QB Dalton this time around. He and Jerome Simpson, who's had some big games against Baltimore, will work the beat up Baltimore secondary. Moreover, RB Benson has been one of the few backs that have given Baltimore fits over the years. Baltimore's offense won't have Boldin (knee) this time around and Cincy's defense should nut up this time around. And the Bengals have played rock solid specialty teams this year and that should help as well.

Baltimore has had trouble on the road against physical teams this year: Tenn, Jacksonville, Seattle, San Diego beat them up this year as hosts. Cincy is 5-1 ATS at home vs Baltimore. Cincy is 5-1 ATS as a small home dog while Baltimore is a sluggish 2-5 ATS as a small road favorite. Cincy the call.

Chargers/Raiders 4:15: This series has consistently been lower scoring in San Diego but higher scoring in Oakland (4-0 O/U). I'll opt for a continued higher scoring affair at this location with in rhythm offenses against suspect defenses.

Oakland needs a win here to punch a ticket to the playoffs and should have an effective offensive plan against a banged up SD defense. The Chargers' defense was exposed last week against Detroit. And now that SD is officially eliminated, we'll look for some of that mid-season defensive aggressiveness to diminish.

On the other hand, I don't see ultr competitive QB Rivers laying an egg here. He may not have Vincent Jackson (groin) to go to, but he's still surrounded with plenty of weaponry. And Oakland has been dismal stopping the run for most of the season (allow 5.1 ypc). Chargers' running back Matthews can set the tone to allow Rivers to work effective play action.

Oakland is on an 8-3 O/U run at home. SD is 8-2-1 O/U on the road. With the series at 4-0 O/U in Oakland, the table is set for another "over" here.

Carolina/New Orleans 1:00: New Orleans should go full throttle here with a first round bye still attainable. We'll look for Brees and company to continue their dominant point producing totals at home (40.6); after all, they're facing a lower tier defense that allows a generous 29 ppg on the road. On the other hand, Cam Newton and the Panthers' offense continues to produce. New Orleans has had their share of defensive breakdowns against quality offenses and should be yielding here.

The Panthers are 8-2 O/U as a road dog in this spread range. They're on a current 3-1 O/U run and should continue their fast paced get and give point accumulation.

New Orleans controls a 9-1 O/U mark off a win of 14+. They're also 6-2 O/U in January and 12-4 O/U against a team with a sub-par record on the road. "Over" it is.

Falcons/Saints 8:30: Value dissipating from Saints after 6-0 ATS tear. Falcons, seeking to avenge their November 13th loss, had a few extra prep days to heal and detail. We'll look for the Falcons to steal one in New Orleans.

This series has been highly competitive with the dog covering 5 straight and the road team covering 4 of the last 5; moreover, the last 4 games have been decided by 3 points. The Falcons' Michael Turner has turned in some big performances (265 yards and 2 TDs) in his last two visits to New Orleans. I expect him to get rolling enough to allow Matt Ryan to get into a groove with his talented receiving corps (Roddy White, Julio Jones, TE Gonzalez) that's capable of putting a dent in the vulnerable New Orleans' secondary.

I do realize that Brees has been a surgeon against his last 5 defensive secondaries; however, Atlanta's defense is improving as the season progresses. The defensive coaches have made great adjustments -- case in point -- against Carolina where they shut them out in the second half after getting torched early in the game.

Atlanta sports a 9-1 ATS mark as a December dog against an opponent off a non-division game and back-to-back SU wins. They're also 8-2 ATS in December and 7-3 ATS off a SU win of 14+. Atlanta the call.

Bears/Packers 8:30:The Packers now have an incentive to win this game and compete for home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs after Seattle was unable to beat SF. We'll look for GB to respond favorably today off last week's loss.

Green Bay will add James Starks back in the fold to help boost their run game. And the Packers have had success working in reserves when key players go down. We'll bet that they'll once again work in a successful rotation for injured WR Jennings and RT Bulaga. On the other hand, the Bears have had trouble transitioning successfully upon injury. QB Hanie was unable to succeed Jay Cutler and they'll have to turn to journeyman Josh McCown. He will have difficulty getting into rhythm with his limited weaponry in the complicated offense under OC Martz; especially with limited prep time with the first team and vertical threat Knox out and all purpose RB Forte still on the shelf.

Technically, GB is 7-0 ATS off non-division SU favorite loss against a .500 or greater opponent. GB is also 4-0 ATS off a SU loss. Chicago, on the other hand, sports a money burning 1-13 ATS mark in December against an opponent off a SU/ATS loss.

Detroit/Dallas 4:15: The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East with a win today and a loss by the NYG. We'll look for Dallas to deliver as they play with revenge from the 34-7 humiliation in Philadelphia in October.

The Cowboys are catching the Eagles gaining momentum off two strong wins; however, not giving a ringing endorsement to the Philly defense under DC Castillo. Schemes are puzzling at times and corner -- Asante Samuel is nursing a bad hamstring. The Cowboys' QB Romo has been hot since that Philadelphia debacle -- throwing 18 TD passes to just 2 interceptions. On the other hand, the Eagles' offense is potent with many weapons but DC Ryan is very capable of installing a good game plan and utilizing it with limited personnel. He is simplifying much of his schemes and the Cowboys defense is now playing better -- reacting as opposed to thinking too much.

Technically, the Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in this series and should deliver.

Chargers/Lions 4:05: The Chargers have gained momentum and we won't stand in their way. QB Rivers is now playing great as he is in tune with his talented receivers and on the same page with Norv Turner. Rivers is an electric 19-2 in December.

Rivers success is attributed to the productive run game as Ryan Matthews has stormed to 1000+ rushing yards. We'll look for more of the same today. Rivers should find his talented targets working off play action.

The Lions are a mere 1-4 ATS at home and on an 0-3-1 ATS slide as their value continues to erode. The Chargers, however, are a dangerous 18-8-2 ATS as a road dog. We'll look for SD to continue their December sizzle.

Jacksonville/Tennessee 1:00: This series has gone 0-4 O/U and we'll look for more the same. Two teams that have respectable defenses but offenses that sputter.

Tennessee's QB Hasselbeck hasn't been that sharp lately and RB Chris Johnson is laboring with a hamstring injury; conequently, we'll look for the Jag's defense to limit their end zone appearances. On the other hand, Jax continues to be stuck in neutral offensively with RB Jones-Drew being a high percentage of their offense. Tennessee's run stop unit is respectable and should be able to contain him and struggling rookie QB Gabbert -- who doesn't have a vertical threat.

Technically, Tennessee is 0-8 O/U in their last 8 games and 0-4 O/U off a loss. They're also 1-4 O/U as a home favorite in this spread range. The Jag's are 1-6 O/U on the road and 1-5 O/U as a road dog in this spread range. Under the call.

Steelers/49ers 8:30: SF has shown resilience off losses this season under Harbaugh and I expect them to bring their best game tonight. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has major position voids on both sides of the ball: QB Roethlisberger nursing a high ankle sprain and key defensive component -- Harrison is suspended. And with Baltimore and Tennessee losing, the Steelers were given a pass into the playoffs; psychologically that could impede their performance against the hungry 49ers who are eager to get back in the win column after a subpar effort last week. They'll do it with tenacious defense, great specialty teams, and sturdy, productive work offensively.

SF's defense has been outstanding this year and especially stingy in the red zone where Pittsburgh has known to struggle. That may even be more difficult with a hobbling Roethlisberger staring down the best interior lineman in the NFL Justin Smith. And SF's defense has been great at creating turnovers all season. Surely the Steelers' offense will be tested tonight.

Alex Smith, who had his worst game of the season last week, should bounce back with a strong effort here. Gore will need to get cooking in the run game again. He should have his chance against a banged up Steelers' defense and the missing Harrison.

Technically, the big trend: In December, Pittsburgh is 0-11 ATS on the road against an opponent off a SU/ATS away loss. And Pittsburgh hasn't handled the road dog role well at 1-4 ATS. SF sports a strong 17-6-3 ATS mark at home and should deliver here.

San Diego (+3) for 2 Units **
Baltimore/San Diego 8:30: It is that time of the year when SD gets cooking. You cannot discount Phillip Rivers' 22-2 SU record in December nor San Diego's 20-1 SU mark over the final four weeks of the season. The Chargers are coming off two strong outings to move themselves back in the playoff race. We'll look for continued progress tonight.

After weeks of mistake laden football, SD has cleaned up its game with Rivers throwing no interceptions and RB Matthews not putting the ball on the carpet. Baltimore offers a tough test with a formidable defense; however, they've shown their vulnerability on the non division road with losses to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle. SD's well balanced and explosive offense will sorely test Baltimore's sometimes overly aggressive defense, which gives up the big play. On the other hand, the SD defense has tightened the screws in recent weeks and should continue to play well. Safety Eric Weddle has seven interceptions this season and gives a big boost to the secondary.

Norv Turner maybe a mediocre NFL coach but brings an occasional strong trend to this one: he's 10-1 ATS when his team is over .500 at home against an opponent off back-to-back favorite roles. Baltimore is a money burning 4-17 ATS as a road favorite off back to back SU wins. Wtih SD at 7-3 ATS as a home dog, we'll ride the hot December Rivers/Chargers.

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*Best Bet* Detroit Over (47') for 3.5 Units ***'
Detroit/Oakland 4:05: Strong "over" trends, shaky defenses, and good offensive rhythm by both of these teams equate to a higher scoring game today. And respectable value with the 'total' based on the recent numbers posted by these ball clubs.

Both of these teams' defenses have been shaky in recent weeks and should run into more trouble today. Over the last three weeks, the Lions have given up 29 ppg, including 28 last week to offensively challenged Minnesota; over the same time span, Oakland has allowed 33 ppg. Oakland's HC Jackson has a healthy run game with Bush to help Palmer work some play action against a Detroit defense that has suddenly become vulnerable to big plays and can't stop the run (141 ypg / 5.6 ypg last 3 weeks). On the other hand, accurate and smart QB Stafford should continue to pick apart the Oakland secondary that was a mere inanimate object on the field for Aaron Rodgers to work around. And RB Kevin Smith should be good to go to give some life to the Detroit run game against the soft Oakland run stop unit (172 ypg / 5.4 ypg last 3 weeks).

Technically, Detroit is 7-1 O/U in its last 8 road games, 5-0 O/U on grass surfaces and 14-6-1 O/U in December. Oakland, which is on a 4-0 O/U run, is 7-3 O/U at home, 9-4 O/U off a SU loss and 12-3 O/U in December. "Over" it is.

Cincinnati (-7) for 2 Units **

Cincinnati/St. Louis 1:00: Cincinnati has been competitive for the most part this season and has deliverd the goods against the lightweights of the league. We should see more of that today; after all, they face a beat up St. Louis team coming into this one on a short prep week (off MNF). And the Rams will have to use a journeyman QB Kellen Clemens who has had just five practices with the Rams. In late October, we saw a similar situation take place in Oakland where their starter (Jason Campbell) went down and they brought in Carson Palmer for the next game on their home field. Palmer had limited practice time and it showed that Sunday as lightweight Kansas City made life miserable for Palmer in a route.

Cincinnati brings a tenacious defense that can get after the passer to St. Louis. St. Louis will try to get the run game going with RB Jackson; however, the patchwork offensive line may not hold up well against a pretty good Cincinnati front. And third and long does not equate well with an aggressive defense against a shaky offensive line and a new QB in the system. On the other hand, Cincy's QB Dalton has been a steady performer. He has good supporting cast with RB Benson and receivers A.J. Green and TE Gresham. St. Louis is very thin in the secondary with their lone veteran Justin King questionable with a shoulder injury. And despite the injuries, the Rams' defense hasn't been that bad. However, they can only hold the fort down for so long before caving in. And I see that scenerio developing today with an offensively challenged bunch.

The Bengals are a solid 6-1-1 ATS on the road and should end their slide here with a convincing win.

Seattle (+3') for 2 Units **
Seattle/Chicago 1:00: Last year the Seahawks went to Soldier Field and stole a 23-20 outright. Their second attempt at Soldier Field last year wasn't successful -- a 35-24 loss in the playoffs when Cutler sliced and diced the Seahawks secondary. However, the Bears' Caleb Hanie doesn't bring Cutler's ability to the field.

Hanie has yet to win a game as the Bears' starter. And since Cutler went down, the Bears are putting up a measly 11 ppg on the board. In recent weeks, Pete Carroll's defense has been ball hawking in the secondary and savage-like rushing the passer; consequently, that equates to the Bears' offense stuck in neutral today. Moreover, Marion Barber has not brought the versatility to the field that Forte (injured) did. And with Devin Hester nursing a sprained ankle, limited big play potential exists for Chicago's offense. Seattle's offense has been infused by Marshawn Lynch, who has rattled off four consecutive 100+ rush games. He is making life easier for QB Tarvaris Jackson who has had his best QB rating ever over the last few weeks. The Bears' defense can only do so much without sufficient production from their offense. And the Bears are showing little signs of improvement offensively.

Technically, the Seahawks have covered 7 of their last 8 against NFC opposition and on a current 5-1 ATS tear overall. Seattle is also an impressive 8-2 ATS as a non-division road dog against a team off back to back SU losses. We'll ride Marhawn Lynch and the Seahawks.

Dallas (-7) for 1.5 Units *'

Dallas/TB 8:20: Both teams have problems. Cowboys can't hold a lead late in the 4th quarter while TB can't hold onto the football nor stop anyone. We'll grab the lesser of two evils -- Dallas, which is still in the playoff hunt. TB's sloppy brand of football on both sides of the ball goes beyond on-field performance and will need a new coaching staff to come in to correct.

TB has talent in LeGarrette Blount who is a nightmare for any defensive back once he breaks into the second level. However, he's having trouble holding on to the ball; as a matter of fact, the Bucs have given the ball away 31 times this season. QB Josh Freeman has thrown 18 interceptions. They'll face a Cowboys' defense that is struggling. That may help. Although, the Bucs' defense should remain pathetic. Tony Romo has had some huge games against TB recording a 147.2 passer rating. He and a now healthy receiving corps should light up the Bucs' struggling secondary that isn't athletic enough to play man coverage nor disciplined enough to play match up zone coverage. Furthermore, Felix Jones should have a big game against the Moses defense of TB. A parting fo the Red Sea is a crevice compared to this bunch which gives up 6.1 yards per carry.

The Bucs are 5-16 ATS as a home dog and haven't shown any bite coming off losses at 1-5 ATS. Dallas, however, is 15-7 ATS after allowing 30 + points. The Cowboys should go to 5-1 ATS in this series.

Jacksonville/Atlanta 8:25: The Jaguars, after averaging a measly 14.8 ppg for the season, finally put some points on the board last week in a 41-14 whitewash of TB; however, Jax forced seven turnovers in that game -- an unlikely scenerio tonight against an Atlanta team that's usually sharp at home and in a fight for a wild card birth.

Jacksonville heavily relies on RB Maurice Jones-Drew to fuel their offense. Rookie QB Gabbert is only as good as Jones-Drew's success running the football. The Jag's won't have an easy time running against the fifth ranked run stop unit in football that allows just 95 rushing yards a game.

Atlanta's offense might be slowed some too. RB Michael Turner, who ignites the Falcons' offensive attack, is nursing a groin injury. The Jag's defense is respectable and plays well on field turf (allows 17.8 ppg). They play the pass pretty well and limit big plays. We'll look for them to limit the big play effectiveness of explosive receivers Julio Jones and White.

Technically, Atlanta is on a 1-8 O/U run, 0-7 O/U off a SU win, 0-5 O/U at home. The Jaguars are 0-5 O/U as a road dog. This series is 0-4 O/U. We'll stay Under.

St. Louis/Seattle 8:30: Seattle's Pete Carroll has a horrible record as an NFL coach off a SU/ATS win against a sub .500 opponent. I surely will tread lightly with him as a favorite off a double digit win. Yet I can't find a competitive advantage in taking the points with a beaten down Rams squad. The Rams have displayed little offense for most of the season, even when QB Bradford was healthy. Now that he is nursing an ankle injury and his backup Feeley is out, surely Brandstater (has yet to take an NFL snap) is not the answer. He got most of the snaps this week in practice and should start. He will have to face the much improved Seattle defense that registered nine sacks and eight interceptions over their last four games. Bradford was sacked five times by Seattle last month. Tonight, given the Seattle stadium noise (registered loudest in the NFL), Brandstater has little to rely on other than Steven Jackson who has been stuck in neutral lately and virtually no success vs Seattle.

On the other hand, the Seattle offense has gotten it rolling behind RB Marshawn Lynch who has been outstanding as of late. He and Seattle have pounded out five 100+ yard efforts on the ground over the last five games. The Rams' defense has allowed a generous 158 ypg rushing (worst in NFL). Consequently, mediocre QB Jackson can look great under those circumstances. And given the extra rest, Seattle has had time to heal up offensive line injuries. And a bye week is always great at this time of year, providing you're in the hunt for the playoffs in which Seattle still is.

Technically, Seattle has dominated this series at 7-1 ATS / 4-0 ATS at home. Seattle sports an 8-2 ATS mark as a home favorite in this spread range and should continue their roll. But we won't go heavy on this one.

Giants/Cowboys 8:30: Both of these teams have aggressive pass rushers, aggressive defensive schemes, and explosive offensive personnel; that usually results in big plays. And we'll look for big plays to fuel the over here. The Giants are equipped with rangy and fast receivers to give the weak Cowboys' secondary trouble. And Victor Cruz has been a nightmare for most secondaries this year. On the other hand, the Cowboys' receiving corps is getting near full capacity as Miles Austin returns. He along with Dez Bryant and TE Witten give QB Romo plenty of options to go to against a depleted Giants' secondary. Dallas has gone 11-4 O/U in their last 15 home games. This series has gone "over" four consecutive times. And NY is 7-2 O/U in December and 20-7-1 O/U against NFC opposition. We'll stay "over" here.

Indianapolis/Baltimore 1:00: Kudos for the Indy cover last week as Orlovsky directed late scoring drives for the backdoor cover. Baltimore, however, will not be as yielding. Baltimore leads the NFL in sacks and should bring heavy pressure on QB Orlovsky, especially since the Colts rank in the bottom tier of the league running the football. And few teams run successfully on Baltimore to begin with. I don't see Indianapolis having success moving the football; consequently, the Colts' defense, which has given up about 30 ppg on the road, will suffer. Baltimore's Ray Rice is finally getting an opportunity to show his versatility. He is being fed the football and making the best of it in recent weeks. Today, he should have more success running the football against a Colts' makeshift linebacker crew as injuries have taken its toll. Baltimore is a strong 7-1 ATS in week 14 and should make mince meat out of the punch-less Colts.

Tennessee (+4) for 2 Units **New Orleans/Tennessee 1:00: Much acclaim has gone to Drew Brees and the Saints in recent weeks after a few blowout wins; however, the Titans are quietly racking up money wins (4-0 ATS) and keeping themselves in the playoff hunt. We'll look for the Titans to take advantage of the Saints' road struggles where they've gone 1-3 ATS in their last 4 as a traveler. It was inevitable that Chris Johnson and the Tennessee run game got cooking, as I stated weeks earlier.

Falcons/Panthers 1:00: The Falcons are in dire need of a win to stay in the Wild Card race. We'll look for Atlanta to bring their "A" game to Carolina. They've covered 4 of the last 5 in this series. What gives the Falcons the edge is defense. The Falcons have been able to get key stops in the red zone and are 3rd in the league against the run. It surely won't be easy to stop Cam Newton and company where they've dropped 35, 27 and 38 points, respectively the last three weeks on opposing defenses. But where Carolina falters is defense. And that will be problematic against Michael Turner who has accumulated 651 yards and 11 TDs in 6 games vs the Panthers. He should help fuel Matt Ryan's pass game with his strong receiving corps. And remember, Ryan is 8-2 in December as a starter.Technically, Falcons are a sweet 18-6 ATS off a SU loss and 10-1 ATS coming off an AFC opponent against a division opponent with revenge. The Panthers struggle in the dog role at 4-11 ATS and should succumb the season series today.

Cleveland/Pittsburgh 8:20: The offensively challenged Browns, which have scored 17 points or fewer 10 times this year, should have difficulty moving the football with a gimpy Colt McCoy (knee) and his running mate Hillis (hip). There is limited weaponry on Cleveland and Pittsburgh's normally ferocious defense would have to be asleep at the wheel to come off the hinges tonight in NFL Prime Time action. I find it an unlikely scenario. Pittsburgh is 8-3 ATS at home off a home game and 7-1 ATS at home against a less than .500 division opponent. The Browns have continued a recent disturbing trend of sluggishness off losses under Shurmur. Cleveland is now on an ugly 2-10-1 ATS mark off a SU loss. And they've struggled in Pittsburgh at 2-5 ATS. With the Browns' defense struggling to stop the run (290 last week), the Steelers can get their December power run game cooking and allow big Ben to comfortably work his magic. Steelers the call.

San Diego/Jacksonville 8:30: On paper, this game seemingly belongs to San Diego. The talent disparity gap is wide and the Chargers are an outstanding December team at 20-2 SU. However, this game will go to the gridiron where the Chargers have swayed away from their usual trend by winning early (4-1 SU but 2-3 ATS) and have yet to show their usual mid-season surge.



San Diego is an eroding team and the players are tuning out lame duck Norv Turner. The Jaguars have already let loose their HC Del Rio. Interim HC Mel Tucker immediately lit a fire under their arses and as a result: the drills in practice were crisper as players moved into a higher gear. The Jaguars do have a solid defense to hang their hat on. We'll look for them to force turnovers and set good field position for the struggling offense led by one man show Jones-Drew. QB Gabbert needs to find TE Mercedes Lewis who has been a virtual no show this season. San Diego's defense has been sluggish on the road (28 ppg allowed) and their specialty teams' remain in the lower tier of the league.



Jacksonville sports a dangerous 9-2 ATS mark at home off back to back SU losses and can win games on MNF (ask Baltimore). San Diego is a money burning 2-8-1 ATS as a road favorite, 1-4 ATS on week 13, and failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 MNF appearances. With the home team at 4-0 ATS in this series, we'll grab the Jaguars.

St. Louis/San Francisco 4:15: Usually well organized teams with a clear cut winning
philosophy bounce back after losses. SF appears to be cut from that mold with Harbaugh
as their leader. SF sports a nice 11-4-3 ATS mark following an ATS loss.

SF, after facing the tough as nails defense of Baltimore last week, should get their offense
cooking against the soft Rams' defense. St. Louis has the worst run stop unit in the league
(allow 159 yards per game / 5.1 ypc) and should have trouble stopping Frank Gore, who
should easily eclipse Joe Perry as SF's all time leading rusher. Moreover, his bruising
running should aid Alex Smith in restoring his confidence after getting sacked 9X last week.

St. Louis, however, should continue to run into problems; after all, QB Bradford (ankle) is
unlikely to start as the Rams struggle with offensive balance. A.J. Feeley is not the answer
against one of the top defenses in the NFL.

The Rams struggle as a double digit dog at 6-15 ATS and should add to their 2-10 ATS
slide. After all, SF has control of this series at 7-3 ATS and sports a 7-0-1 ATS mark at
home. SF the call.

Dallas/Arizona 4:15: The Cowboys have a recent history of struggling in December at 5-13
ATS. And although Dallas won its last two games SU, they had to rally late to close out the
game and failed to cover. And I see them having trouble here.

Arizona has some explosive talent, including Beanie Wells, Fitzgerald and electrifying return
specialist Patrick Peterson. Dallas' defense has a thin secondary and now that Kevin Kolb is
back in action, should struggle against Arizona's talented receiving corp. Arizona has
enough offensive weaponry to hang around today.

Technically, the Cardinals are a solid 8-1 ATS against a non-division opponent off
back-to-back SU wins. And they're a dangerous 15-5-1 ATS as a home dog of 3' to 10
points. With Dallas at 1-4 ATS as a road favorite of 3' to 10 points, we'll sit on Arizona here.

Baltimore/Cleveland 4:05: This season, Baltimore has gotten a reputation playing down to
its level of competition. After all, they've suffered defeats on the road to Tennessee,
Jacksonville and Seattle. Today, we'll look for Baltimore to have learned their lesson and
handle prosperity as a top tier team should.

Baltimore's defense was dominant on the 24th against SF. They should turn in another
knock out performance against the struggling Cleveland offense. And given the few extra
rest days, we'll bet that the Ravens made good use of their time; after all, they're 8-1 ATS
with extended rest. We'll look for the Ravens to pound the ball successfully with Ray Rice;
consequently, Flacco shold have success with play action.

Technically, Baltimore is 7-0 ATS off an NFC game vs an opponent off a SU loss. They're
also 8-1 ATS off a double digit ATS win vs an opponent off a SU loss. The Ravens are 5-1
ATS in this series and should continue to own it. Cleveland is a mere 1-7-2 ATS at home.