Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Oakland vs. Kansas City @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Oakland Raiders host the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oakland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Raiders defense showed some teeth in a 13-6 loss to San Diego last Sunday. Oakland limited Philip Rivers to 193 yards passing, sacking him twice and hurrying the Chargers QB multiple times. 2. Kansas City is in a tough situational spot, on a short week following a huge win over Seattle Sunday. Not only are the Chiefs ripe for a letdown after that win but they could also get caught looking ahead to the next two games – versus Denver and at Arizona. 3. Oakland is a desperate team, coming into this huge home game on Thursday night. The Raiders are highly motivated to snap their winless season against the Chiefs. The team has been practicing at night this week in order to ready for the primetime stage. Oddsmakers are adding to that motivation by handing Oakland a pile of points at home.
Play on Oakland as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Tennessee Titans host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tennessee with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Steelers defense has been a far cry from those stingy stop units of the past, allowing 240.3 passing yards per game. Pittsburgh has been burned on big plays, allowing 21 completions of 25 or more yards this season. The Titans have some home-run hitters on this struggling offense and will be going all out on national TV. 2. After two straight road games, and staring down a challenging final stretch of opponents in the final five weeks of the season, the Steelers could get caught looking past the Titans Monday and ahead to next week’s bye. 3. Pittsburgh has a tough time putting up points on the road. At home, the Steelers are averaging 35.6 points point game. However, away from Heinz Field, that production dips to 16.6 points per game. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger just isn’t the same on the road, throwing for an average of 355.2 yards at home compared to just 240 yards per road game. Four of his five total interceptions have come in opposing stadiums as well.
Play on Tennessee as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New England at Indianapolis @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Indianapolis Colts host the New England Patriots Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New England with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Patriots have had Andrew Luck’s number in their last two meetings. New England has picked off Luck seven times in those limited encounters, including four picks in last season’s AFC Divisional Round matchup. 2. The Patriots know the best way to stop the Colts is to keep Luck and the offense on the sidelines. New England has the perfect offense to do so, with underneath targets in TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Julian Edelman catching balls for short gains that keep the chains moving and clock ticking. The Pats dominated time of possession in their last meeting, holding on to the football for 35 minutes. 3. If the game does dissolve into a shootout, the Patriots have more than enough firepower to hang with Indianapolis. New England has averaged more than 40 points a contest during their five-game winning streak.
Play on New England as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Detroit at Arizona @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Arizona Cardinals host the Detroit Lions Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Detroit with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Cardinals lost No. 1 QB Carson Palmer to a knee injury and now are forced to ride backup Drew Stanton the rest of the year. Not only is the emotional letdown tough to recover from, but Stanton will face the NFL’s top defense with a front four that can quickly collapse the pocket and put pressure on the passer. Stanton is in over his head Sunday. 2. Speaking of the Lions defense, Detroit ranks tops in the NFL, giving up just 283.4 yards an outing, including only 71.3 yards on the ground per game. It hasn’t allowed a single 100-yard rusher so far this season, which means Arizona won’t be able to relieve some of the pressure on Stanton by giving RB Andre Ellington a heavy work load. The Lions are limiting foes to only 15.8 points per outing. 3. Detroit’s offense should be picking up steam in their second week with Pro Bowl WR Calvin Johnson back in the fold. Johnson was huge in his first game back from injury, reeling in seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Having that type of weapon forced the defense to send multiple guys at Johnson, leaving breakout WR Golden Tate in single coverage for big gains.
Play on Detroit as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on St. Louis vs. Denver @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The St. Louis Rams host the Denver Broncos Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on St. Louis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Rams pass rush has strung to life after laying dormant for the first half of the season. St. Louis has 16 sacks in their last four games, including eight against San Francisco and three against Arizona last week. Pro Bowl DE Robert Quinn’s return to form has been a big part of that resurgence, totalling six sacks in the last four games after going without one for the first five contests of the season. 2. Denver is playing its third straight road game in Week 11 with plenty of travel in between. The Broncos have gone all the way East to lose to the Patriots, then came all the way West to take down the Raiders. Now, Denver hops another plane to St. Louis to face a Rams team that is coming off its own three-game road run, and will be energized by the home crowd. 3. St. Louis is handing the ball to veteran QB Shaun Hill for this matchup after the magic wore off on Austin Davis. Davis wasn’t getting the job done and was turnover prone with five interceptions to only three TDs in his last three games. Hill is a capable backup who would have stayed the Rams No. 1 if not for a leg injury.
Play on St. Louis as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on OVER in New Orleans vs. Cincinnati @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The New Orleans Saints host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Saints are always a threat to light up the scoreboard at home, averaging 31.2 points inside the Superdome compared to just 25.2 on the road. New Orleans has gone Over the total in four of its last five home stands. 2. The Bengals will enjoy the fast turf inside the Superdome, especially with top WR AJ Green getting healthier. Green hasn’t exploded for a big game yet since returning from a toe injury. Cincinnati will target him early and often against a Saints defense that’s allowed 259.2 yards through the air per game this season – 24th in the NFL. 3. The Bengals defense was supposed to be a strength this season but they’ve allowed 391.9 yards per game – 30th in the NFL. Against elite QBs, Cincy has been burned for big scores, allowing Tom Brady and the Patriots to put up 43 and Andrew Luck and the Colts to score 27. The Bengals face another top-tier passer in Drew Brees Sunday.
Play on OVER in New Orleans as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on OVER in Miami vs. Buffalo @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Miami Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Buffalo’s offense stalled out versus Kansas City on the weekend, with rookie WR Sammy Watkins and RB Fred Jackson slowed by injuries. The Bills didn’t get much from these talents in Week 10 but are expecting them to be much healthier – and impactful – Thursday night. 2. Miami’s offense rumbled over a speed bump versus Detroit last Sunday, managing only 16 points against the NFL’s top defense. However, in the previous five games, the Dolphins averaged almost 31 points per game. We’ll see a return to form at home Thursday night. 3. Miami has looked to its run game to balance out the offensive attack. But with Buffalo boasting the eighth-best run defense in the league – only 96.1 yards against per game – and Pro Bowl tackle Branden Albert out with a knee injury, Miami could look to pass much more than usual Thursday night. The Dolphins have thrown the ball on just 58.11 percent of their snaps – 20th in the NFL – but turned to the air on 68.33 percent of their offensive plays versus the Lions.
Play on OVER in Miami as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Carolina @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the Carolina Panthers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Panthers offense is a mess, producing an average of just 12 points per game over the past three weeks. Carolina’s run game is gaining ground and the passing game managed only 151 yards in the loss to New Orleans last week. That’s not enough to keep pace with the Eagles high-octane offense. 2. Mark Sanchez gets the start for the injured Nick Foles in Week 10. Oddsmakers may be discounting Philadelphia for its backup passer, however, Sanchez has plenty of experience and Chip Kelly’s offense is a system that doesn’t need an elite passer. The Eagles won’t skip a beat with a new arm under center. 3. Philadelphia has taken care of business inside Lincoln Financial Field, covering the spread in five of its last seven home stands. The Eagles have also come through on the Monday night stage, covering in nine of their last 13 Monday nighters.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 10* (Top Play) on UNDER in Green Bay vs. Chicago @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on UNDER in Green Bay with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Chicago has turned to the turf in recent meeting with the Packers and will likely do the same Sunday night. The Bears defense has been terrible so it will be on the offense to chew up the clock and own time of possession, taking Aaron Rodgers and the Packers attack out of the equation. 2. Green Bay has some injury woes on the offensive line and that could open the door for the Bears defense. Chicago has to push Rodgers out of the pocket to limit his impact. Rodgers isn’t as mobile as usual, nursing a nagging hamstring injury heading into Week 10. 3. The Packers defense is getting some key starters back off the bye week. Corner Sam Shields, safety Morgan Burnett and defensive end Datone Jones are slated to return. The week off has given Green Bay some added time to sure up a stop unit that has allowed big gains. However, Green Bay knows that if it is to make a run at the Super Bowl it will need to tighten up on defense. Sunday night is a good starting point.
Play on UNDER in Green Bay as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 8* (Regular Play) on OVER in Oakland vs. Denver @ 4:05 p.m. ET
The Oakland Raiders host the Denver Broncos Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Oakland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Broncos continue to pile up the points, averaging 30.6 points a night on 407.6 yards per game. That’s led to a 6-2 O/U record on the year, including five straight Over winners. 2. Oakland showed it can score against the top defenses in the league with a 24-point effort in the loss to Seattle. The Raiders got some impressive drives out of rookie QB Derek Carr, who pass for two touchdowns against the Seahawks. Oakland won’t have to score much to tip this final score Over the number. 3. The Raiders defense is allowing 26.4 points per game this season. They limp into Week 10 with some serious injury concerns in the secondary, just in time to get picked apart by Peyton Manning and his talented receiving corps. In the four games versus the Raiders since Manning joined the Broncos, he’s passed for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns, completing 81 percent of his passes in those games.
Play on OVER in Oakland as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 8* (Regular Play) on Detroit vs. Miami @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Detroit Lions host the Miami Dolphins Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Detroit with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Lions return not only WR Calvin Johnson Sunday but also dynamic RB Reggie Bush. Those additions to the offense should kick start this Lions scoring attack that has been stuck in mud most of the season. 2. Miami rolls into Sunday on a three-game winning streak but that record seems a bit inflated. The Fins beat a Bears team fighting itself, took down the hapless Jaguars and had a favorable setting against a Chargers team that had to cross the country for an early 1 p.m. ET kickoff – 10 a.m. their time – last Sunday. Detroit will expose that paper winning streak Sunday. 3. Detroit’s defense is the top stop unit in the league right now and will clamp down on a Dolphins offense that has had issues protecting its passer at times. The Lions are holding foes to just 15.8 points on 290.4 yards per game.
Play on Detroit as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 10* (Top Play) on NY Jets vs. Pittsburgh @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The New York Jets host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on NY Jets with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New York’s defense has gone unnoticed by many but is still coming to play each and every Sunday. The Jets are giving up only 319.4 yards per game – sixth in the NFL. The pass rush has totaled 25 sacks on the season and face a Steelers offensive line that is known for giving up big QB hits. Pittsburgh has allowed Ben Roethlisberger to get sacked 23 times this year. 2. New York has a rushing attack that can grind out yards and keep Roethlisberger on the sidelines. The Jets are among the best teams in the league in time of possession and freezing out the hot hand of Big Ben is their best game plan Sunday. 3. This is a desperate Jets squad looking to snap an eight-game losing skid. Head coach Rex Ryan is on a very hot seat and the players are sick of dealing with all the bad press surrounding this skid and the future of its coach. Expect an agitated Jets squad to come out strong and put Pittsburgh on its heels.
Play on NY Jets as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Cleveland at Cincinnati @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bengals host the Cleveland Browns Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Cleveland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Browns have built some confidence against some weaker opponents, picking up wins over Tampa Bay and Oakland recently. But this team has also beaten quality clubs like Pittsburgh and New Orleans along the way. Books aren’t giving Cleveland much respect in this Ohio rivalry. 2. The Bengals are likely to be without RB Giovani Bernard, who is a true game breaker for this offense. Cincinnati was able to survive without him against the lowly Jaguars last week, but Cleveland knows this team very well and the lack of Bernard’s ability to run and catch the ball takes a major cog out of the Bengals attack. 3. Cleveland has played Cincinnati tough in recent meetings, covering the spread in three of their previous five clashes with a push in that span. The underdog has also been the sharp play when these AFC North rivals collide, cashing in 11 of the last 14 meetings between these Ohio teams.
Play on Cleveland as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 10* (Top Play) on UNDER at NY Giants vs. Indianapolis @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The New York Giants host the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Under in NY Giants with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Giants’ best plan of attack is to slow down the Colts high-scoring attack by keeping Andrew Luck and his talented group of receivers off the field. New York has the offense to do it, and will go with a run-heavy attack and the short, quick-hit passes on their new West Coast offense. That will eat up the clock and limit the amount of damage Indianapolis can do. 2. The Colts were embarrassed on defense by the Steelers last week, giving up 55 points on 639 total yards. Indianapolis is tightening the bolts on this stop unit and has focused on improving the stop unit this week. Expect a stout effort from the Colts defenders Monday night. 3. The Giants are back home for the first time in four weeks, playing back-to-back road games before enjoying a bye in Week 8. New York’s defense has played well inside MetLife Stadium, allowing just 17 and 20 points in its last two home stands – wins over Houston and Atlanta respectively. The G-Men welcome another indoor team to East Rutherford, where the temperatures will dip into the 40s. The Colts haven’t had the best success in outdoor venues, putting up only 24 points in Denver, and managing 34 points – 14 of those in garbage time – at Pittsburgh last week.
Play on UNDER at NY Giants as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Pittsburgh with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Steelers come into this Sunday Night Football rivalry matchup fueled by revenge. Pittsburgh took one of the chin from Baltimore in Week 2, losing 26-6. The Black and Yellow look to return the favor in Week 9. 2. Pittsburgh is playing some of the best football in the league right now. The Steelers handled the Texans on Monday Night Football two weeks ago and erupted for 55 points in a blowout win against the Colts last Sunday. Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU and ATS in its last six games but is still not getting the respect it deserves from the oddsmakers and presents great value inside Heinz Field Sunday night. 3. Baltimore’s secondary is without corner Jimmy Smith Sunday night and goes up against Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown for 787 yards and eight touchdowns the last two games. Antonio Brown will command the attention of Lardarius Webb, which leaves some mismatches in the passing game. Pittsburgh will spread the ball around, hitting up RB Le'Veon Bell and TE Heath Miller for key gains, and will keep the Ravens defense guessing.
Play on Pittsburgh as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on OVER in Seattle vs. Oakland @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seattle Seahawks host the Oakland Raiders Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Seattle with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Seahawks haven’t been the same over the past three games, losing twice and barely scratching out a win at Carolina last week. Seattle returns home looking to right the ship, and will want to put on a good show for the 12th Man at CenturyLink Field. 2. The Seahawks offense has sputtered during that three-game span, especially the rushing attack. Seattle managed 119 yards versus Carolina last week – well below its season average of 148.4. The Raiders won’t put up much of a fight, allowing 130.1 yards rushing an outing. 3. Oakland may seem completely outgunned in this matchup, but Seattle’s stop unit is not the same on that rolled to a Super Bowl victory last season. The Seahawks defense is allowing 350.3 yards per game and goes up against an Oakland team that has had success passing the ball behind rookie QB Derek Carr, who has five touchdowns and only one interception in his last three games. Carr has gone up against some of the top corners in the game and hasn’t backed down. Over bettors will only need a couple scores from Oakland to blow this total out of the water.
Play on OVER in Seattle as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego at Miami @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Dolphins host the San Diego Chargers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Diego with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chargers cross the country for this early kickoff on the heels of back-to-back losses. However, while many see this as a tough spot for the Bolts, San Diego is motivated to snap this mini skid and go into a much-needed bye week on a positive. 2. San Diego returns RB Donald Brown in Week 9, which isn’t making much of a blip on the radar. But this is a huge plus for the Chargers, who have been operating with a makeshift rushing game the past few weeks. Having Brown back takes some of the pressure off QB Philip Rivers, who has been an early MVP candidate. The defense won’t be able to drop back in coverage with the threat of the run back in the Bolts game plan. 3. Miami is bound for a letdown after two wins over struggling offenses. The Dolphins took road wins from Jacksonville and Chicago, giving up a total of just 27 points in those two games. San Diego, which ranks 10th in scoring (25.6 ppg) and boasts the eighth-best pass game (267.5 ypg) is a major step up in competition for Miami. The Dolphins have allowed an average of 30 points in their three losses this season.
Play on San Diego as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Houston @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Houston Texans host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Houston may be able to pull off a couple of impressive defensive touchdowns here and there, but this team doesn’t have the firepower to hang with Philadelphia. If the Eagles get ahead, the gap will be too larger for Houston to overcome with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB and the offense being forced to abandon the run. 2. Philadelphia’s defense has shown up in recent weeks, especially against the run. The Eagles struggled to contain opposing rushers to start the year but have given up an average of just 94 yards on the ground in their last three, including putting the breaks on Arizona’s ground game last week. Philadelphia’s speed on defense will be able to quickly close up any gaps, and limit the amount of daylight Arian Foster sees. 3. Houston has been terrible against the pass this season and run into a budding passing combo in Eagles QB Nick Foles and WR Jeremy Maclin. Maclin reeled in 12 balls for 187 yards receiving and two touchdowns against Arizona last week and has found the end zone six times this season.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Carolina vs. New Orleans @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Carolina Panthers host the New Orleans Saints Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New Orleans hits the road for a big letdown spot after a huge win over the Packers last week. The Saints are a wretched bet away from the Big Easy, going 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road tilts. New Orleans puts up 24.5 points per game away from home, compared to 33.7 inside the Superdome. 2. The Saints defense is still among the worst in the league and gets even worse on the road. New Orleans is giving up 31.2 points per road game – ranked fourth worst in the NFL. They give up a 123.5 rushing yards per road game and face a Carolina attack that can chew up the turf – and returns RB DeAngelo Williams this week. 3. Carolina is tough team to top at home, especially against the spread. The Panthers are 3-1 ATS inside Bank of America Stadium this season and have gone 9-2-1 ATS in their previous dozen home contests. Carolina showed it can still contend with the top teams in the NFC, losing a tight one to Seattle last week, and need a win over the Saints to stay on top of the NFC South. The Panthers have covered in nine of their last 12 against the Saints.
Play on Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington (+) @ Dallas @ 8:30 PM ET The Washington Redskins visit the Dallas Cowboys Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. On paper this game might look like it should be "all Dallas" but the Cowboys haven't fared well in this role in more ways than one. First off, as a large favorite of 6 or more the Cowboys have failed to cover the spread 7 times in a row. That includes their match-up against the Texans earlier this year when we successfully played against Dallas with Houston. Secondly, the Cowboys are an amazing ugly 1-9 ATS in their last 10 Monday night games. 2. Teams are always up for facing the team that had the long-standing moniker of "America's Team". Factor that in with facing them in primetime on national TV and the fact that it's a Monday nighter and you have all the right reasons for a team to be sky high with emotions when facing the Cowboys. It's no wonder that Dallas has lost the money in 9 of their last 10 MNF games. 3. The Redskins are an ugly 2-5 on the season but they are a double digit dog in this one and are coming off of a confidence-building win over the Titans last week. Dallas is caught in a bit of a sandwich spot here too. They are off of a big win over another division rival, the Giants. New York was trying to climb back into the NFC East race so that was a huge win for the Cowboys. It's also hard for Dallas not to get caught to looking ahead to their game next week, they are hosting the Cardinals and Arizona entered Sunday's action as the only NFC team other than the Eagles or Cowboys with just one loss on the season. Statistically the Redskins defense has been solid this season and their offense has been soli through the air. Their ugly record is what is helping to give us line value in this one and we'll gladly take it. Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans vs. Green Bay @ 8:30 a.m. ET
The New Orleans Saints host the Green Bay Packers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Saints find themselves at home in a must-win game on the Sunday night stage after letting a victory slip away at Detroit last Sunday. New Orleans can boost itself back into the mix in the NFC with a win against Green Bay in Week 8 – an opportunity this veteran team will jump at. 2. The Packers have a dinged up secondary, with injuries to starting CB Sam Shields and SS Morgan Burnett leaving them thin against a potent Saints passing game. Drew Brees is savvy enough to pick on any replacements and with TE Jimmy Graham getting healthier, Green Bay could have some bad mismatches in coverage Sunday night. 3. This is the Saints at home in primetime – a potent combo for bettors. New Orleans is a completely different team inside the Superdome, averaging 33.72 points per game there over the last four seasons – compared to just 24.38 points per road game in that span. The Saints are a perfect 6-0 on Sunday Night Football under head coach Sean Payton heading into this primetime matchup.
Play on New Orleans as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Arizona @ 4:05 p.m. ET
The Arizona Cardinals host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles are coming off a much-needed bye week, allowing head coach Chip Kelly to tinker with his up-tempo attack. Philadelphia boasts the third-best offense in the NFL – averaging 30.5 points per game – but still has plenty of room for improvement. 2. The Cardinals defense is able to overwhelm opponents with its speed, but rarely does Arizona run into an offense that is quick than it. The Eagles attack will neutralize the Cardinals’ greatest strength on defense and sap the energy out of the stop unit. 3. While the Eagles offense gets all the headlines, the defense has been even better. Philadelphia just shutout the Giants 27-0 before the bye week and has proven it is a threat to score even without the football. The Eagles have three defensive scores and also pose a big threat on special teams, with two blocked punts equalling touchdowns and scores on punt and kick returns this season.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on OVER in NY Jets vs. Buffalo @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The New York Jets host the Buffalo Bills Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in NY Jets with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Jets have been a value Over play this season, topping the total in four of their last six outings, including back-to-back Over paydays heading into Sunday. New York’s offense continues to be dismissed, despite putting up 25 points against the Patriots last Thursday. 2. Buffalo’s running game took a hit with injuries to CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson. That leaves the Bills to lean heavily on their passing game, which is finding its footing under QB Kyle Orton and rookie WR Sammy Watkins. A pass-heavy playbook is an Over bettors’ dream, with big gains and constant clock stoppages. 3. These AFC East rivals have paid out for Over backers in recent meetings, topping the total in four of their last five clashes. The Over has also been the smart play when the Jets and Bills meeting in New Jersey, where the Over has hit in four straight games.
Play on OVER in NY Jets as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Atlanta vs. Detroit @ 9:30 a.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons face the Detroit Lions in London, England Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Atlanta with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Falcons offense has sputtered the last three weeks, bottoming out in a 29-7 loss to Baltimore last week. Atlanta is looking at this overseas trip as a chance to wake up the scoring attack, which features one of the best receiving tandems in the league, in Julio Jones and Roddy White. Expect those playmakers to shine on this big stage. 2. Detroit has also struggled to score the football in recent weeks. The Lions haven’t been the same offense with WR Calvin Johnson on the sidelines and even if the dynamic wideout is playing, he’ll be less than 100 percent. Detroit has managed only 17.5 points per game the last six weeks, and only 16 points per game away from the Motor City. 3. Atlanta has covered the spread in four of their previous five meetings with Detroit, including three straight victories SU and ATS going back to 2008. The Falcons have outscored the Lions 88-55 in that span.
Play on Atlanta as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego at Denver @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Denver Broncos host the San Diego Chargers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Diego with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chargers have been a thorn in the side of the Broncos in recent years. The Bolts went into Mile High and won last December and took Denver to the brink in the postseason, covering the spread in both of those road games. Going back further, San Diego has come away with the cash in 11 of their last 17 clashes with their AFC West rivals, including two pushes in that span. 2. Denver is ripe for a letdown Thursday, coming off a one-sided win over San Francisco on Sunday Night Football. The short week won’t help things, either. Neither does a trip to New England the following week. 3. San Diego is one of the best time of possession teams in the NFL, chewing up an average of 32:37 per game – fifth best. Although the Bolts couldn’t control the football versus Kansas City last week, San Diego will look to sit on the ball and ice Peyton Manning on the sideline. In the win over Seattle, the Chargers dominated the clocked with 42:15 TOP. And, in their win at Denver in 2013, the Bolts burned through 38:49 in TOP. Expect a patient San Diego offense to take their time and limit how much action the Broncos potent pass game gets.
Play on San Diego as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Rickenbach Monday NFL: *10* Pittsburgh (-) @ 8:30 ET - The Texans are earning respect this season after last year's debacle. But that is helping to give us some line value here. After opening up at a -4 this line has come down to a -3 and people are overlooking the fact that the Texans are 1-15 straight-up in their last 16 games as an underdog. In other words, it's easy to lay a small number against a team that has performed so poorly in the underdog role. The Texans are also 0-3 ATS on Monday Night Football in the prior two seasons. Though the Steelers fell short against Cleveland last week the result on the scoreboard was not reflective of the fact that the Steelers actually had more first downs than the Browns. Pittsburgh will be fired up nonetheless after an embarrassing 31-10 result in what was the 4th road game in 5 weeks for the Steelers. Pittsburgh is happy to be back home as this is just their 3rd home game this season. The Texans gave up over 450 yards of offense to the Colts last week while the Steelers held Cleveland to just 8 completed passes Sunday! Both of these teams run the ball well but the Steelers possess the much better defense and the line value is big here as people are overvaluing the Texans return to respectability this season while also undervaluing how solid this Steelers team still is (especially at home) because of the false final last week - Steelers played much better than 31-10 final would indicate. Grab the line value with a small home favorite that is very angry and fully prepared to put up a huge performance on their home field in primetime action.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* Denver (-) @ 8:30 ET - San Francisco is 2-1 on the road this season after coming back from a big deficit to beat the Rams in St Louis last week. Now, on a short week after MNF the 49'ers must travel to the high altitude of Denver and the Niners haven't traveled well this season. Yes they beat the Rams but they were down on the scoreboard for much of that game and San Francisco was also outgained in each of their two prior road games this season. Now they face one of the league's best teams and we get line value with the Broncos at home in this one. Denver has won all 3 of their home games by at least a TD this season and the margin should have been in even greater in their wins over Indianapolis and Kansas City. Late scoring was the difference in each one of those games. The Broncos are 18-6 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last 3 years combined. The 49'ers history of performance after playing on Monday Night Football is not good as they are 14-24 ATS. Also, when it's back to back road games and the latter road game is in the thin air of Colorado, the uphill climb is even steeper. Look for Denver to take it to San Francisco early and often in this one. Back to back primetime affairs will be tough for the Niners as this is a Sunday Night match-up. While the Broncos have had this game circled since failing to get the job done in their other biggest game so far this season...the loss at Seattle. Denver earns some respect back with a huge home win here.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* New York Giants (+) @ 4:25 ET - This is the perfect spot to fade the public. Everyone saw Dallas upset the defending super bowl champs in Seattle last week. Then, on Sunday night, everyone saw the Giants lay and egg against the Eagles in a game where New York was dominated by Philadelphia in every facet of the game. This is precisely why this line has climbed as high as a full touchdown. In a divisional match-up where the Giants will be looking to get back in the NFC East race and the Cowboys will get caught still celebrating their huge road win to the West Coast, this one sets up perfectly for a play on the underdog. Note that home favorites who played at Seattle in their prior game have covered the spread just 3 times in the last 16 times this has occurred. Also note that Dallas is an ugly 3-9 ATS at home when they are off of a win. This is the week when the hype catches up to the Cowboys as the Giants have had this divisional match-up circled after losing both games to Dallas last season. After tough start to the season, the Giants offense was rolling for 3 straight games before they ran into a fired up Eagles time in primetime Sunday night action last week. Don't let the result fool you from last week, the Giants offense will bounce back and the defense will be fired up after hearing all about Romo and Murray all week long heading into this match-up. Look for the Giants to improve to 8-3 ATS in the month of October as they fight the Cowboys all the way in this one and have a good shot at the outright upset.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *10* Oakland (+) @ 4:25 ET - Here is another case of an ugly home dog worth the investment. The Raiders are still winless on the season but they are off of a very strong effort against the surprising Chargers last week and now Oakland is hosting an over-rated Cardinals team. Yes, Arizona has a solid record so far this season but they have been outgained in 3 of their last 4 games and it's only because of a positive turnover margin that they've achieved the record they have on this young season. We liked what we saw from QB Carr last week and the Raiders run game also got going. With Arizona having QB issues and dealing with many injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders will surprise many this week as we're grabbing the points but expecting the outright win. Note that Arizona has big games coming up against 5-1 Philly and 5-1 Dallas and the Cardinals will get caught overlooking an improved Raiders team here. Look for Arizona to drop to 3-8 ATS in the month of October while the Raiders improve to 6-2 ATS in October games and win for the 5th time in their 6 all-time meetings with the Cardinals. Arizona has been giving up a ton of yardage in recent weeks and the Raiders should enjoy another huge effort on offense just like last week against the Chargers.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* Jacksonville (+) @ 1 ET - Cleveland's 31-10 victory over Pittsburgh looks impressive on the scoreboard but the yardage in the game was nearly equal and the Steelers actually had more first downs. In other words, the play on the field certainly wasn't reflected in the final numbers on the scoreboard! This is helping to give solid line value to the Jaguars in this one. Yes, Jacksonville is winless on the season but they almost notched their first victory at Tennessee last week. The Jaguars actually had 27 first downs compared to just 14 for the Titans. The gritty effort by the Jaguars on the road is indicative of the fight that these Jags team still has in them and getting to take on the Browns in the warmth and humidity of Jacksonville in October will also help the Jaguars in this one. Look for Cleveland to get caught still celebrating their huge divisional win over the Steelers from last weekend. The Jaguars do have a solid defensive line that excels at the pass rush and the Browns recently lost their all pro center, Mack. Look for the Browns to drop to 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a losing record.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *10* OVER the total in Green Bay @ 1 ET - These teams are a combined 9-3 to the over this season and another high scoring affair should be on tap here. Green Bay's QB Rodgers is on fire this season and should have no trouble with a Carolina secondary that has allowed over 900 yards of passing in their last 3 games. The Packers secondary also is in bad shape here as they are battling injuries plus the Green Bay defense is known for trouble with mobile quarterbacks. Carolina's QB Newton appears to be healthy and, like Green Bay, the Panthers have been displaying a potent aerial attack on opponents this season. Carolina is 5-2 to the over the last 3 seasons when they are a road dog of +3.5 to 9.5 points. Also, 8 of the 11 all-time match-ups between these clubs have gone over the total and that includes 4 of the 5 all-time match-ups in Green Bay. With sunny weather and moderate winds and mild temperatures expected in Green Bay Sunday afternoon look for both offenses to excel. The fact that each defense just faced physical teams (Miami and Cincinnati) also helps the cause here as each defense is showing some wear and tear after last Sunday's battles. Green Bay has scored 107 points the last 3 weeks. Carolina has scored 68 points the last 2 weeks. The offenses stay hot in this one.

Thursday NFL *8* New York Jets + the points @ 8:25 ET - Taking big dogs in games where weather has potential to be a strong factor is a smart play. Weather can be the great equalizer. That said, a lot of rain is expected in Foxboro Thursday and it's not expected to let up until the latter stages of this game Thursday night. Though the New York Jets have looked ugly this season, a primetime divisional match-up will have them fully focused and the weather is likely to help neutralize a solid Patriots offense. Note that New England is just 7-10 ATS the L3YR when they enter a game off of two or more consecutive wins. The Patriots enter this game off of wins against the Bengals and Bills but now face a Jets team that has covered three of it's last four match-ups with the Pats. Yes, the Jets are an ugly 0-5-1 ATS this season but that is also what is helping to drive the line value in this one. New England was installed as a huge home favorite here and the weather could be a deterrent to the Pats being able to impose their will against the Jets Thursday night. With New York sitting at 1-5 on the season this is truly their biggest game of the year remaining on their schedule. The only other primetime game the Jets have scheduled is a Monday night game later in the season against a Dolphins team that is only 2-3 on the season. With that said, expect a fully focused effort from the Jets in this one as they will pull out all the stops to remain competitive against a hated division rival. Play the New York Jets plus the points as a regular *8* play Thursday night.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on St. Louis vs. San Francisco @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The St. Louis Rams host the San Francisco 49ers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on St. Louis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Niners continue to struggle on offense, despite a surplus of talent. San Francisco is averaging only 22 points per game. The 49ers have been able to run the ball but will need to air it out to cover this spread Monday – averaging only 207 passing yards per game. Colin Kaepernick has seven passing TDs to four INTs this season. 2. Rams QB Austin Davis is playing beyond his years, passing for 1,129 yards and completing 67.8 percent of his throws. He’s coming off a 375-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Eagles last week. He’s put up 702 yards and six TDs in the past two games. 3. This Rams offense has been able to keep the chains moving on third down, boasting a 46.15 percent success rate. Davis has been a rock on third downs, completing 70.3 percent of his passes and connecting for five of his touchdowns. St. Louis will pick up those needed yards and milk the clock, wearing down the Niners defense.
Play on St. Louis as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. NY Giants @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles offense has hit a bit of a speed bump in recent weeks. They were shutout versus the 49ers and managed two touchdown against the Rams last week. Chip Kelly has worked with QB Nick Foles in improving his execution and RB LeSean McCoy is anxious to have a breakout game after struggling to live up to his standards. 2. Philadelphia doesn’t need to have the football to score. The Eagles have scored four non-offensive touchdowns – two off blocked punts – and go up against a Giants team that has been prone to mistakes in the past. 3. New York’s already thin rushing corps took another knock when RB Rashad Jennings went down with a knee injury. That leaves rookie RB Andre Williams to shoulder the load. The Giants offense may be forced out of its game plan if Williams can’t gain ground, leaving Eli Manning open to the Eagles’ lightning-quick blitz packages. Philadelphia has 11 sacks on the season, including four against St. Louis last Sunday.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Seattle vs. Dallas @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seattle Seahawks host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Seattle with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Dallas has leaned on the run game this season, jumping on the back of DeMarco Murray and taking some of the pressure off Tony Romo to produce. Murray goes up against the top run stop unit in the league, throwing a major wrench in the Cowboys’ game plans. 2. Dallas’ linebacker corps is banged up with Bruce Carter and Rolando McClain listed as questionable this week. While it looks like at least one of the two will play Sunday, they’re facing a bruising back in Marshawn Lynch – who hits just as hard as any linebacker – and a sleek dual-threat QB in Russell Wilson. Those two combined for 194 yards on the ground against the Redskins last Monday. Dallas ranks 20th against the run, giving up 122 rushing yards per game. 3. Seattle is coming off a less-than-stellar effort against Washington – a game that was much closer than the final score indicated - and is looking to return to form in front of its frenzied home fans. The Seahawks have covered in 40 of their previous 18 games in front of the 12th Man, with one push in that span.
Play on Seattle as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on OVER in Oakland vs. San Diego @ 4:05 p.m. ET
The Oakland Raiders host the San Diego Chargers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Oakland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chargers are down to a fourth stringing running back, leaving them no choice but to air it out – which sound great to Over bettors. Philip Rivers could be the best QB of the 2014 season, completing an impressive 70.3 percent of his passes. 2. Oakland has had two weeks to tinker with its stumbling offense. The Raiders fired Dennis Allen and brought in Tony Sparano on an interim basis. He’s already injected this team with new life and is preaching a faster-paced attack. 3. San Diego has nearly eclipsed a few totals on its own this season, putting up an average of 26.6 points per game and boasting the seventh most-potent pass game in the league (281.2 yards per game). These teams have topped the total in five of their last seven clashes in the Bay Area.
Play on OVER in Oakland as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on OVER in NY Jets vs. Denver @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The New York Jets host the Denver Broncos Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in NY Jets with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Denver lost RB Montee Ball to injury last week, leaving the Broncos very weak in the rushing game. Peyton Manning will be making extra throws Sunday, which is never a bad thing for fans of the Over. 2. The Broncos hung 41 points on the Arizona Cardinals defense last week, nearly topping the 47-point total by themselves. Denver faces a downtrodden Jets stop unit that is wearing thin. New York has been stout against the run but hasn’t been able to slow down opposing passers, facing the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Philip Rivers and Jay Cutler in recent weeks. Now, it goes against possibly the greatest QB of all-time in Manning. 3. After getting shutout by the Chargers in Week 5, the Jets offense has nowhere to go but up. A simplified attack, featuring a lot of RB Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson should be able to find the end zone a few times. New York could sneak a few more points across the line with Denver looking ahead to next week’s home date with San Francisco.
Play on OVER in NY Jets as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Indianapolis at Houston @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indianapolis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Houston Texans live and die through their defense. If the stop unit can create chaos and force turnovers – often times scoring on those turnovers – the pressure is off a lack lustre offense to produce. Unfortunately for Houston, the Colts do a good job protecting the football. Indianapolis only has two fumbles on the season, those actually coming last week against the Ravens. A reinforced lesson on securing the ball this week will limit those mistakes Thursday. 2. The Texans offense is banged up coming into a short week. Receiver Andre Johnson and RB Arian Foster were both question marks to play in Dallas last Sunday and now have a closing window to heel up before Thursday. Foster was very vocal about his disdain for the weekday games in the media, still playing on a tender hamstring that has him limited in practice this week. Johnson also missed practice with an ankle injury but is expected to play. 3. While the Colts offense is getting all the headlines – and very well should be leading the league in scoring (31.2 ppg) – the defense has done a great job pressuring opposing passers and picking up 12 sacks on the season. Indianapolis had four sacks versus the Ravens in Week 5. Houston QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled with interceptions with good protection – tossing six INTs to just five TDs – so things could get ugly when the Colts pressure forces him to throw some wayward passes.
Play on Indianapolis as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 8* Monday (Regular Play) on Washington vs. Seattle @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Washington Redskins host the Seattle Seahawks Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Seahawks have enjoyed a bye week to prepare for this Monday nighter but Washington has also had an extended period to ready for the defending Super Bowl champs. The Redskins played the Thursday night game last week, giving them 11 days off to tinker with their sets and pound out a game play for the Seahawks, who make a cross-country trip to DC. 2. The Washington pass rush is one of the best in the league. Featuring the likes of Jason Hatcher, Ryan Kerrigan, and Brian Orakpo, the Redskins front seven will throw the kitchen sink at Seattle QB Russell Wilson and try to get him on the run. The front seven has also swallowed up opposing rushers, giving up only 87 yards on the ground per game this season. Washington is going to take the lanes away and force Seattle to throw the ball. 3. In their loss to San Diego, the Seahawks were dominated in time of possession, allowing the Chargers to hang on to the football for more than 42 minutes. Washington will take a similar plan of attack, leaning on RB Alfred Morris to ground and pound against the defense and chew up as much clock as possible. The Redskins have had success when Morris gets the lion’s share of the offensive workload and head coach Jay Gruden has hinted at a healthy dose of the run game Monday night.
Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 10* (Top Play) on New England vs. Cincinnati @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The New England Patriots host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New England with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. It seems like the betting market is ready to write off the Patriots after their embarrassing loss on Monday Night Football. New England found itself in a tough spot last Monday – a spot even the best of teams would struggle in. The Pats were playing their third road game in four weeks and it happened to be at one of the toughest venues in the NFL, Arrowhead Stadium. A return home for a primetime game is just what Belichick, Brady & Co. need. 2. There is reason to panic in New England. The Patriots run the risk of falling off the pace in the AFC and can’t afford to let these home games slip away. New England are a solid bet at home, covering in seven of its last nine inside Gillette Stadium. 3. The Bengals have built a 3-0 record against some shoddy defensive clubs. They were able to knockoff the Falcons and Titans, who ranked 29th and 28th respectively in points against, and took down AFC North rival Baltimore which ranks among the bottom of the league in pass defense (260.2 yards per game). Cincinnati gets a test versus a Patriots defense that boasts one of the better linebacker corps in the NFL. They’ll be able to pressure QB Andy Dalton –something opponents haven’t been able to do - and snuff out the short pass to RB Giovanni Bernard.
Play on New England as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 10* (Top Play) on OVER in San Diego vs. NY Jets @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The San Diego Chargers host the New York Jets Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in San Diego with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Diego has been a different offense at home this season. It hung 30 points on the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks and their vaunted defense in Week 2’s upset then scored 33 against the hapless Jaguars last weekend – both games going Over the total. The Bolts are burning opponents for 392 yards per game and have averaged 22.5 first downs at home, compared to just 17.5 on the road. The Over has paid in four of the Chargers last five home games, going back to last season. 2. The Jets got out a lot of bad blood during a players-only meeting for their offense following last week’s loss to the Bears. New York hasn’t had trouble moving the chains – ranked 11th in total yards (366) – but can’t seem to get out of their own way when it comes to the red zone. A potent ground game is picking up steam behind RB Chris Ivory and veteran Chris Johnson. Ivory is a threat to run or catch and could get more touches inside the 20-yard line, taking the ball out of Geno Smith’s shaky hands. San Diego happens to be the worst red-zone defense in the NFL, allowing opponents to score a touchdown on 85.71 percent of their ventures inside the 20-yard line. 3. The Jets defense is undoubtedly their biggest strength but this Chargers team knows how to wear down an opposing stop unit and strike for big gains. San Diego is among the top teams in time of possession, holding on to the ball for an average of 32:51. With the rushing corps banged up, the Bolts don’t have much choice but to air it out more than usual. They passed on 39 percent of their snaps last week after throwing on just over 32 percent of their plays in the three games prior. San Diego ranks fifth in passing yards per game, tossing it up for an average of 282.2 yards.
Play on OVER in San Diego as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Denver vs. Arizona @ 4:05 p.m. ET
The Denver Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Denver with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona is expected to start backup Drew Stanton in place of the injured Carson Palmer Sunday. While Stanton was solid in his last outing, this Denver defense has had two weeks to prepare for the backup. The Broncos’ pass rush is picking up steam with eight sacks in the first three games and will look to make life uncomfortable for Stanton and the Cardinals offensive line. 2. Peyton Manning has had two week to stew over the overtime loss to Seattle in Week 3. Manning brought the Broncos back and forced the added time but didn’t get a chance to take the field in OT. He’s hungry to erase that loss and get Denver back on track. The Broncos have covered in each of their last six games coming off a loss. 3. Arizona’s defense doesn’t have the pass rush to disturb Manning. The Cardinals have just three sacks on the year and have allowed 244.7 passing yards per game – ranked 18th in the NFL. This defense needs the pass rush to hurry the opposing QB in order to force mistakes and create turnover chances for the secondary, and that isn’t happening. This is an overly aggressive pass defense that could get burned by Manning’s pump fakes and passing prowess.
Play on Denver as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Houston at Dallas @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Dallas Cowboys host the Houston Texans Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Houston with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Cowboys are a bit of a shocker to start the season 3-1, coming off a massive victory over New Orleans on Sunday Night Football last week. This Dallas team is ripe for a letdown in Week 5, especially with Texans fans migrating to Arlington and spoiling the Cowboys already-weak home-field advantage inside AT&T Stadium. 2. Dallas’ three wins have come against struggling defensive squads. It’s only real test on that side of the ball was San Francisco in Week 1, and all the Niners did was pick off Tony Romo three times and forced three Cowboys fumbles – recovering one. The Texans thrive on turnovers caused by the pass rush, as we saw from J.J. Watt & Co. against Buffalo last Sunday. 3. Dallas’ defense has played beyond itself in the last three games. The Cowboys, which ranked dead last in the league in defense in 2013, are still pretty much the same unit minus the injured Sean Lee and some departed stars. They’ve been able to create more turnovers, and have gotten extra down time with the offense running the ball more often than last season. It’s easy to look good when you’re not on the field. Houston’s defense will make for quick three-and-outs and force this shaky Dallas stop unit to play added minutes. Expect the other cleat to drop for Big D’s ‘D’ Sunday afternoon.
Play on Houston as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Green Bay vs. Minnesota @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Green Bay with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Packers got their groove back against the Bears this past weekend, with the offense finally waking up and producing 38 points on 358 yards of offense – 302 coming from the arm of Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay knows that Minnesota is a much-improved defense but there are too many weapons on the Packers attack and this unit is starting to click. 2. Green Bay’s defense had its moments in Week 4. It was bowled over by the run game but managed to lock down the Bears potent passing game for just 17 points while picking off two passes and forcing three fumbles. The Packers stop unit won’t be taking on the same threats against Minnesota, which trots out a rookie QB on a bum wheel and running game missing its biggest star. Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was impressive in his first career start, is nursing an ankle injury and had a short week to recover. If he does play, you can expect Green Bay to throw pressure at the young passer in order to move him around and test that injury. 3. Minnesota has improved with Mike Zimmer taking over, but stopping the run remains a sore spot for the stop unit. The Vikings have allowed 113.2 yards on the ground per game despite playing opponents not known for their dominant ground games. The Packers can do some serious damage and take pressure off Rodgers with Eddie Lacy gaining ground. He only carried the ball 17 times against the Bears and has been relatively quiet to start the season – rushing for 161 yards and one touchdown. Lacy is primed for a breakout game and Thursday night is the perfect stage. He had 110 yards and a touchdown and 94 yards and a score in the two games against Minnesota last season.
Play on Green Bay as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Kansas City vs. New England @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Kansas City Chiefs host the New England Patriots Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Kansas City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The oddsmakers are giving New England far too much credit in this Monday matchup when the truth is the Patriots have done nothing of note so far in 2014. They’ve beaten two terrible teams – Minnesota and Oakland – and couldn’t cover the 14-point against the Raiders last week. New England lost on the road in Miami in Week 1 and now heads to one of the toughest venues in the NFL – Arrowhead Stadium. 2. Tom Brady is showing his age in 2014, passing for just 632 yards through three games with a dismal 58.8 completion rate and 82.9 QB rating. The Patriots offense doesn’t have the deep ball threats it used to and Brady doesn’t have the arm strength or accuracy to take advantage of his open targets. Kansas City won’t have any issues plugging up the short passing lanes, currently ranking 10th against the pass and allowing just 223.7 yards through the air per game. 3. The Chiefs offense is starting to gain traction, scoring 34 points against Miami in Week 3. Kansas City returns RB Jamaal Charles from an ankle sprain this week, giving them a dynamic rushing attack with fellow RB Knile Davis emerging as a true red-zone threat. They also get speedster De'Anthony Thomas in the mix after he missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. New England’s defense has put up some impressive numbers against weak opponents but will be exposed against a loaded KC offense Monday night.
Play on Kansas City as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans at Dallas @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Dallas Cowboys host the New Orleans Saints Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New Orleans needs a big game after starting the season with back-to-back losses. The Saints were able to take a win over a beleaguered Vikings side last week, and ride momentum into Sunday Night Football. While New Orleans has struggled away from home, the Saints will be comfortable inside the fast track of AT&T Stadium which will have a large cheering section for the opposing side – which is always the way in Arlington. New Orleans always seems to shine on the primetime stage too, and has been a moneymaker on the Sunday night broadcast in the past. 2. Dallas defense hasn’t been truly tested yet. Remember, this stop unit ranked dead last in the NFL last season and didn’t improve at all. The Cowboys have played three offensively-challenged teams in San Francisco, Tennessee, and St. Louis, and now go up against a power Saints attack that will bully the soft Dallas secondary with bigger stronger receivers. 3. The Cowboys have been able to find offensive success behind RB DeMarco Murray, who leads the NFL in rushing through three weeks. However, the Cowboys could be quick to abandon the run if – and when – they get down on the scoreboard to the Saints. That puts the ball in the hands of Tony Romo, who is not the same potent passer he was before undergoing back surgery this offseason. Romo is having a tough time hitting his targets on deep routes and has already been picked off four times this season.
Play on New Orleans as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at San Francisco @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The San Francisco 49ers host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles roll into Levis Stadium with a ton of momentum, starting the season 3-0. The scary thing is that Philadelphia has not yet played a complete game. The Eagles have found themselves playing from behind in all three weeks, but with a challenge like San Francisco on the road, expect Philadelphia to put in its first full four-quarter effort Sunday. 2. Philadelphia has been stellar in the final 15 minutes of games. While they’ve had to battle back on the scoreboard, the Eagles have dominated the fourth quarter after wearing down opponents with their up-tempo offensive pace all game. The 49ers have been the opposite. San Francisco has fallen apart at the end of games and has failed to score a single point in the fourth quarter in each of its first three games. 3. The Niners defense hasn’t been able to absorb the losses of Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman, allowing opponents to air it out for 226.3 yards per game and registering only four sacks. The Eagles will stretch the linebackers out with their dynamic passing game, hitting LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles for quick tosses then setting up downfield strikes. McCoy has yet live up to his top billing, and a big stage like this seem like the perfect place for the playmaker to have his breakout game.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Carolina at Baltimore @ 1 p.m. ET
The Baltimore Ravens host the Carolina Panthers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. This matchup features two teams who lean on the run but don’t necessarily have the horse to execute that game plan Sunday. However, while Baltimore struggles to find legs behind the injured Bernard Pierce, the Panthers welcome back DeAngelo Williams. Williams gives Carolina balance on offense and will chew up some clock, keeping the ball out of the hand of the Ravens offense and wearing down a thinning defensive unit. 2. Carolina was supposed to struggle with the pass game this season but rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin and TE Greg Olsen have stepped up, giving the Panthers legit weapons downfield. Cam Newton is getting healthy and should improve on a pass game that ranks 10th overall in the NFL, averaging 259.7 passing yards per game. 3. This Carolina defense is ready to rebound from a poor outing against Pittsburgh last week. The Panthers, who boast one of the top stop units in the league, allowed 37 points to the Steelers in Week 3. However, Ron Rivera are his defense have been working on fixing any leaks and are eager to erase that embarrassing performance. With the Ravens run game banged up, Baltimore will need to lean on the pass more to move the chains. The Panthers can get aggressive and throw a lot of pressure at QB Joe Flacco. Carolina has eight sacks for far this season, and led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2013.
Play on Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on OVER in NY Jets vs. Detroit @ 1 p.m. ET
The New York Jets host the Detroit Lions Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in NY Jets with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Detroit is one of the most power offensive attacks in the NFL but has stalled the past two weeks. The Lions hung 35 points on the Giants in Week 1 but have since scored a combined 26 points the past two games. Don’t expect those numbers to stay down much longer. There is too much fire power on this depth chart and QB Matt Stafford will be much more efficient after a sloppy two interception game versus Green Bay last week. 2. The Jets’ offense, which ranks eighth in the NFL at 376 yards per game, could be much better if not for their terrible play in the red zone. New York has missed out on numerous scoring opportunities due to careless play and turnovers inside the 20 but take on a Lions side that hasn’t protected their end zone all that well. Detroit ranks among the bottom of the league in red-zone defense, allowing opponent to score a touchdown on 62.5 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line. Those missed opportunities will turn into points Sunday. 3. Neither teams’ secondary is going to shut down opposing WRs, especially New York’s pass defense which limps into Week 4. The Jets are missing CB Dee Milliner and it looks like Detroit star WR Calvin Johnson will play after returning to practice Friday. The Lions secondary is a bit overrated heading into this matchup. Detroit benefitted from a terrible game from Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers and heavily depends on the pass rush to pressure the passer. When the front seven can’t get to the QB, the secondary is exposed for big gains.
Play on OVER in NY Jets as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington vs. NY Giants @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Washington Redskins host the New York Giants Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Redskins went toe-to-toe with NFC East frontrunner Philadelphia in Week 3, showing they have the offensive pace to put big numbers on the board. The Redskins lost 37-34 but covered as 4-point underdogs and enter Week 4 averaging 27 points per game – fifth most in the NFL. 2. On the other side of the field, the Giants continue to suffer growing pains with their new offense. New York more than doubled its production through the first two weeks last Sunday, scoring 30 points in a win over Houston. They’ll get a test against a very aggressive Washington stop unit that, while failing to record a sack Sunday, had plenty of hard hits on Eagles QB Nick Foles. 3. The Redskins have had a full week for QB Kirk Cousins to work with his first-team receivers and develop better chemistry on the field. Cousins proved he could handle the start load, passing for 427 yards and three touchdowns Sunday. The Giants secondary looked strong last week but was going up against Texans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. New York has allowed 258.3 passing yards per game and faces a Washington downfield attack with plenty of weapons, as well as a dominating RB in Alfred Morris to keep them honest.
Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on OVER in NY Jets vs. Chicago @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The New York Jets host the Chicago Bears Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in NY Jets with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bears showed just how dangerous their offense can be with a comeback win on Monday Night Football last week. Chicago erupted for 21 points in the fourth quarter and will be looking for a much stronger start against the Jets Monday. Top WRs Brandon Marshall and Alson Jeffery, both battling injuries, are expected to play Monday. 2. New York has exceeded expectations on offense already through two weeks of football. The Jets hung with the Packers for most of Week 2’s contest, putting up 24 points in the loss. New York is getting steady play from QB Geno Smith and the running tandem of Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory is providing pop on the ground. 3. Neither side has been impressive on defense in the opening games of the schedule. Chicago gave up 20 points in the first half versus San Francisco and was rolled by Buffalo, which isn’t known for its scoring prowess. The Jets couldn’t stop the Packers last week, allowing 31 points, and had moments of weakness against the Raiders in Week 1.
Play on OVER in NY Jets as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Pittsburgh at Carolina @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Carolina Panthers host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Pittsburgh with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Steelers have been aching to get back on the primetime stage after getting embarrassed on Thursday Night Football by the rival Ravens last week. Pittsburgh is a proud franchise, so that one-sided loss has been fueling the fires heading into this Sunday finale. The Steelers have also covered in five straight meetings with the Panthers. 2. Carolina was able to lock down Detroit’s potent pass attack in Week 2, allowing only seven points and snuffing out potential scoring drives by forcing turnovers. However, the Steelers aren’t just able to do damage down field and are returning to their ground-and-pound roots thanks to versatile RB Le’Veon Bell, who tops the NFL in yards from scrimmage. The Panthers will have a tough time tracking Bell, who has been a real weapon in the short passing game. 3. The Panthers rushing attack limps into Sunday Night Football. De’Angelo Williams is dealing with a thigh injury, Mike Tolbert is nursing a sore chest, and Fozzy Whitaker could be out with a quadriceps injury. Jonathan Stewart is the lone heathy RB on the depth chart but isn’t used to shouldering the entire load. Pittsburgh will be able to ignore the banged up ground game and attack Cam Newton, forcing him to rush his progressions. Newton was sacked five times versus Detroit and could really feel the heat against a Pittsburgh defense that is dying to prove itself.
Play on Pittsburgh as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on OVER in Miami vs. Kansas City @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Miami Dolphins host the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Kansas City has been slow out of the blocks when it comes to scoring in 2014. After averaging 27.9 points per game – third most in the NFL – last season, the Chiefs have totaled just 27 points in the first two games of the season. There’s just too much firepower on this team not to have a breakout on the scoreboard. Running back Jamaal Charles practiced Friday and looks like he’s going to play despite a high ankle sprain, adding a dynamic option to KC’s attack. Quarterback Alex Smith is taking responsibility for the slow start and will spark a scoring turnaround in Week 3. 2. Miami showed its offensive prowess with 33 point against the Patriots in Week 1. The Dolphins suffered a letdown trap at Buffalo last week but with the Fins returning home to South Beach, the offense should continue to put up respectable numbers. Miami is missing RB Knowshon Moreno, so the playbook could lean toward the pass more – never a bad sign for Over backers. 3. Kansas City has some emerging weapons in RB Knile Davis and TE Travis Kelce who lead the team in rushing and receiving respectively. These are two relatively unknown talents when compared to the Chiefs’ other stars. With the Miami defense keying in on Charles, Smith and Bowe, KC’s depth on offense will show up and continue to put up big numbers out of nowhere. This total is one of the lowest on the Week 3 board but it is players like Davis and Kelce who will make the difference for Over backers.
Play on OVER in Miami as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on OVER in Detroit vs. Green Bay @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Detroit with this Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Lions are all about the air attack, passing the football on almost 64 percent of their snaps. Detroit busted a tired against a tough Carolina defense in Week 2 but now returns home to the fast track inside Ford Field, looking to put that poor showing behind them and light up the scoreboard in this NFC North rivalry. 2. Green Bay exploded for 31 points in Week 2’s win over the Jets. After struggling against the Seahawks dreaded defense in the season opener, the Packers were able to find room down field with Aaron Rodgers passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Green Bay should do more of the same against a weak Detroit secondary. 3. Green Bay’s defense continues to be a sore spot for the Cheeseheads. The Packers allowed Seattle to put up 36 points on nearly 400 yards in Week 1, then gave up 24 points to the Jets on 312 yards last Sunday. That soft stop unit has helped Over backers cash in during both Green Bay games this season. The Packers have also topped the total in four straight road games going back to last season.
Play on OVER in Detroit as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Washington @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the Washington Redskins Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Redskins offense gets a bit of a facelift with Kirk Cousin stepping in for the injured Robert Griffin III. Cousins doesn’t have the ability to break off big gains with his legs, so Philadelphia can use its speed and pressure the passer. Washington may also be without top WR DeSean Jackson. Even if Jackson does play, he doesn’t have much chemistry with Cousins and won’t have much of an impact at less than 100 percent. 2. The Eagles have needed comebacks in both their wins this season – an issue head coach Chip Kelly is well aware of. Look for Philadelphia to come out strong and try to put this game out of reach early, rather than scramble for the second-half rally. 3. Philadelphia has too many weapons for Washington to handle. Running back LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles are the most explosive playmaking backfield in the NFL, breaking off big gains on the ground and off the short pass. The Redskins were able to get to a hampered Jaguars offense last Sunday but this Eagles offense is on another level and will wear out the Washington defenders before the whistle blows for halftime.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) OVER in Atlanta vs. Tampa Bay @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Atlanta with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Don’t be put off by the mere 10 points Atlanta posted in its loss to Cincinnati in Week 2. This offense is fast and furious, and can put up points in a hurry. The Falcons fell flat after such a huge win over New Orleans in Week 1. In that victory, they put 37 points on the scoreboard and aired it out for 448 passing yards. Atlanta is back home on the fast track at the Georgia Dome looking to strike again for huge gains in Week 3. 2. Tampa Bay’s defense is very overrated right now. New head coach Lovie Smith was supposed to toughen up this stop unit, which has a surplus of talent on the roster. But, there have been growing pains and the Bucs have been picked apart by two backup QBs in the past two weeks. Now, Tampa Bay takes on Matt Ryan and perhaps the most talented receiving corps in football (Roddy White questionable), and could be missing star DT Gerald McCoy, who is nursing a broken hand, along with middle LB Mason Foster, who is out with a dislocated shoulder. 3. The Falcons defense is nothing to write home about either. Atlanta gave up 34 points to the Saints in a Week 1 shootout and allowed the Bengals to hang 24 points on them despite having their top receiver- AJ Green – leave with injury early into the game. The Falcons were bullied by Cincinnati RB Giovanni Bernard, who amassed 169 total yards of offense, and now face a Bucs ground game featuring big-play threat Bobby Rainey and bruiser Doug Martin, who is expected to return Thursday.
Play on OVER in Atlanta as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Indianapolis @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Indianapolis Colts host the Philadelphia Eagles Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles got their wake-up call last week, falling behind 17-0 to the Jaguars before storming back for a 34-17 win and the cover. Philadelphia can’t afford another slow start versus the Colts, so expect the Eagles to come out firing on Monday Night Football. 2. The Colts defense was rolled by Denver in the first half of their Sunday night loss in Week 1, giving up 24 points in the first two quarters. While Indianapolis crawled back into that game, the defense got some help from poor chemistry between Peyton Manning and receivers Andre Caldwell and Emmanuel Sanders. Philadelphia is the only other offense in the NFL on par with Denver and will expose the Indy defense for big gains Monday. 3. The Eagles defense was a bit underrated in Week 1 after allowing Jacksonville to take an early lead. However, those scores came on turnovers and offered the Jaguars a short field. Philadelphia tightened up and the defense pitched a shutout in the final two quarters. Expect the Eagles stop unit to continue to improve Monday night.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on OVER in San Francisco vs. Chicago @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The San Francisco 49ers host the Chicago Bears Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in San Francisco with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Niners cut the ribbon to their new home – Levis Stadium – on Sunday Night Football and will be looking to give the Bay Area faithful a show. Expect an amped up San Francisco squad to come up and put that shiny new scoreboard to the test. 2. Chicago is one of the most explosive offensive clubs in the NFL. Receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are both nursing injuries but should play Sunday night, looking to erase last week’s loss to the Bills. The Bears have plenty to prove on Sunday and take on a 49ers defense missing some key players, with Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman out of action. That should help keep the pressure off Jay Cutler and open up the field for dynamic RB Matt Forte. 3. Chicago is going to have to score plenty of points if it wants to be competitive in Week 2. The Bears defense remains the major weak spot for this franchise, allowing Buffalo to pile up 193 yards on the ground and watching Buffalo second-year QB EJ Manuel complete 16 of 22 passes for 173 and a score. Now, Chicago takes on San Francisco dual-threat Colin Kaepernick and a depth chart loaded with playmakers.
Play on OVER in San Francisco as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on OVER in Green Bay vs. NY Jets @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers host the New York Jets Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Green Bay with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Packers are out to rebound from a tough outing last Thursday, getting rocked by the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Green Bay wants to prove to its fans – and the rest of the NFL – that it’s still a Super Bowl contender, and will look to strike early and often in its home opener. 2. New York impressed plenty of bettors in Week 1, especially second-year QB Geno Smith, who threw for 221 yards on 23 for 28 passing. New York’s ground game complemented that with a total of 212 yards rushing, getting great production from veteran Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory. This Jets attack is much more potent than people were predicting. 3. Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy is probable to play Sunday after suffering a mild concussion last Thursday. While having the bruising back will give the Packers a more dynamic offense, don’t expect them to lean on him too much against a Jets defense that allowed just 25 total yards rushing in Week 1. The Packers offensive playbook will be pass-heavy, keeping the chains moving and the scoring high.
Play on OVER in Green Bay as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Tennessee vs. Dallas @ 1 p.m. ET
The Tennessee Titans host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tennessee with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Titans ride a wave of momentum into Week 2 after crushing Kansas City 26-10 in Week 1. Tennessee was undervalued in that game and is undervalued again this Sunday. The Titans have turned the corner with a solid defensive unit and an offense that is finding its footing. 2. Dallas was dreadful on offense in Week 1, turning the ball over four times in the 28-17 loss to San Francisco that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate. Tony Romo was responsible for three of those turnovers, forcing three INTs while trying to do too much with the football. Romo is the driving force behind this Cowboys team but isn’t the same player since undergoing another back surgery this offseason. 3. The Titans were able to rumble for 162 yards on the ground in Week 1, getting great production from the RB corps. Tennessee will employ another ground-heavy attack Sunday, wearing down a thin Cowboys defense that ranked dead last in the NFL last season. This should open up the passing game for QB Jake Locker to strike for big gains downfield, easily covering this spread Sunday.
Play on Tennessee as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Baltimore with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Ravens are a desperate team at home on Thursday Night Football. Baltimore could drop back in the AFC North standings, with the Steelers and Bengals picking up wins in Week 1. Expect that desperation to help overcome a very trying week for Baltimore in the wake of the Ray Rice release. 2. The Steelers looked solid in the first half of their win against Cleveland Sunday but fell apart down the stretch and narrowly dodged a bullet. Pittsburgh allowed 24 second-half points to a lackluster Browns offense and needed a last-second 41-yard field goal to hold on to the win, failing to cover as 5.5-point home chalk. 3. The Ravens actually outgained the Bengals in their Week 1 loss, getting solid production from third-string RB Justin Forsett and developing some chemistry between QB Joe Flacco and veteran WR Steve Smith. Baltimore can turn the switch to a run-heavy playbook that can control the clock and slow down the pace of the game, going against the grain for Pittsburgh’s no-huddle attack. Look for the Ravens to dominate time of possession and wear down the Steelers stop unit, just like it did in the second half versus Cleveland.
Play on Baltimore as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) OVER in Detroit vs. NY Giants @ 7:10 p.m. ET
The Detroit Lions host the New York Giants Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Detroit with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Lions have one of the most high-powered offense in the NFL. Not only is Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson a near unstoppable tandem but Detroit added a second speedy threat in WR Golden Tate and still have playmaking RB Reggie Bush catching passes in the flat. The Lions are primed to put up some fireworks on the scoreboard Monday night. 2. Neither team is strong defensively when it comes to the secondary. New York retooled its pass defense this offseason but it has yet to be seen if those were actual improvements. Detroit has a very strong front seven but weak in the secondary and will allow big gains if the pass rush can’t get to the quarterback. The Lions are built to outgun opponents, not to stop them. 3. New York’s first teamers struggled to produce in new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s West Coast attack during the preseason but the Giants have been tinkering with the offensive playbook all summer long and things are starting to fall into place for the G-Men. Oddsmakers are banking too much on those exhibition results and have set this total far too low. The Giants will be forced to lean on the pass, with the running game still trying to find its footing. That, coupled with Detroit’s pass-happy attack, is a perfect blend for Over backers.
Play on OVER in Detroit as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Denver vs. Indianapolis @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Denver Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Denver with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Peyton Manning and the Broncos haven’t forgotten what happened in Indianapolis last year, getting edged 39-33 by the Colts. Indy was one of the few teams, outside of Seattle in the Super Bowl, to rattle Manning, sacking him four times and picking him off once. Denver will look to return the favor, and erase a dismal effort in the Super Bowl, in this revenge spot. 2. The Colts have some serious issues on the offensive line heading into Week 1. The pass protection has been plagued by injury and could leave them inexperienced at keys spots for one of the biggest games of the year. Denver won’t have to fear the non-existent rushing game and will be able to bring heavy pressure on Andrew Luck. 3. The Broncos defense was the chink the armor for a talented Denver squad last season, so the front office boosted the stop unit with some big free-agent signings. Veteran linebacker DeMarcus Ware and corners Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward are huge additions to Jack Del Rio’s defense, which is out to make a big statement on Sunday Night Football.
Play on Denver as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on San Francisco at Dallas @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Dallas Cowboys host the San Francisco 49ers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Francisco with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Francisco just watched the rival Seahawks – pretty much the only team standing between them and the Super Bowl – destroy the Packers Thursday night. The Niners know they must keep pace with Seattle if they want to get back to the NFC title game, and it starts in Week 1 with a strong showing at Dallas. 2. The Cowboys had a historically bad defense in 2013, allowing 415.3 yards per game – worst in the NFL. Dallas did nothing to correct those problems this offseason, and actually may have gotten worse after watching DeMarcus Ware head to Denver and losing LB Sean Lee to another injury. 3. San Francisco had trouble getting the wheels turning on offense this preseason but came alive in the final two games of the exhibition schedule. Dual-threat Colin Kaepernick had a bevy of targets downfield and the running game has overcome injuries with the emergence of Carlos Hyde. The 49ers have too many weapons for the Cowboys to contain Sunday afternoon.
Play on San Francisco as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on OVER in Chicago vs. Buffalo @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Buffalo Bills host the Chicago Bears Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on OVER in Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Bears head coach Marc Trestman is in Year 2 on the job in the Windy City and there are big expectations for his high-octane offense this season. Chicago was the second-highest scoring team in the NFL last year – behind only Denver – and growing pains and an injury to QB Jay Cutler stalled development. Now, the Bears have had two full offseasons to fine tune the playbook and should be even more explosive in 2014. 2. The Bills secondary is a hurting unit heading into Week 1. Top corners Stephon Gilmore (groin) and Leodis McKelvin (offseason hip surgery) have been limited in preseason action and have a tough task ahead with Chicago’s WR duo of Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. Trestman is smart enough to attack those weak links and will test just how healthy the Buffalo secondary really is. 3. The Bears defense was among the worst in the NFC last season, allowing opponents to post nearly 30 points on 394.6 total yards per game. Chicago didn’t do much to correct the issues with its stop unit this offseason, entering 2014 with questions in the pass rush and secondary. The Bears are a team that is going to outgun opponents – not shut them down. That’s good news for Over bettors in Week 1.
Play on OVER in Chicago as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Green Bay at Seattle @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Green Bay with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Packers have a lot to prove on Thursday night. Green Bay can make a major case for the Super Bowl with a win over the defending champs in Seattle. And it all starts with the running game. The Packers were able to establish the run in the preseason behind RN Eddie Lacy and will control the tempo of the game and keep the Seahawks defensive guessing with a strong effort from their second-year back. Lacy should have plenty of room with Seattle guarding against Aaron Rodgers and an explosive passing playbook. 2. After such a dominant performance in the Super Bowl, the betting public is all over the Seahawks in Week 1. This line has been puffed up all summer long, with most shops offering Week 1 odds for a while now. Green Bay is getting little respect for a team that can seriously give Seattle a run for its money in the NFC this season. Bettors are getting a steal on the Cheese Heads at this price. 3. While Seattle’s defense gets a lot of the headlines, the Packers improved their stop unit this offseason. Green Bay added veteran Julius Peppers to an already stacked linebacker corps and return star Clay Matthews, who was slowed by a hand injury in 2013. The Packers have the horses to get to Russell Wilson and chase down Marshawn Lynch.
Play on Green Bay as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.