Betting NFL Football – The Game Plans
Betting NFL Football – The Game Plans
For serious football bettors, here is breakdown of what to look for from key NFL football games for Week 5 and what these teams will be attempting to accomplish to win the contest.
(419) NEW ENGLAND at (420) CINCINNATI CBS
SUNDAY OCT. 6 / 1:00 E
Patriots Game Plan: With Cincinnati only allowing 3.8 yards a carry, look for New England to come out throwing. With Tom Brady gaining more confidence in all his receivers and Danny Amendola having a good chance to return, this give Brady another useful weapon. The Patriots begin life without DT Vince Wilfork and have to rely on a couple rookies to fill his spot. If CB Aqib Talib limits A.J. Green the way he held Julio Jones in check, New England can win this game.
Bengals Game Plan: Quarterback Andy Dalton has to show more poise in the pocket and be more accurate with his throws. The Patriots will no doubt blitz Dalton to see how he reacts under duress. The third-year QB has to connect at a high rate and convert on third downs for the Bengals. Cincinnati should run between the tackles with no Wilfork and be patient to try and wear down the Patriots up the middle. The Bengals have two quality pass-catching tight ends, use them. The defense has to give more effort after a sluggish showing against the Browns. The defensive line has to get in Brady’s face coming right at him, since it is known he detests pressure where he cannot step into throws.
Key sports betting number: Cincinnati is 2-10 ATS off a loss by 10 points or more to a division rival.
(421) SEATTLE at (422) INDIANAPOLIS FOX
SUNDAY OCT. 6 / 1:00 E
Seahawks Game Plan: The Seahawks offensive line was a wreck last week gaining only 270 total yards. This week, they deal with DE Robert Mathis, who has with 7.5 sacks for a team tied for eighth overall in slamming down quarterbacks. The Seattle offense will still be predicated on giving the pigskin to Marshawn Lynch and use play-action passing. The Seahawks defense will see something they do every practice, a team which prefers the running game and wisely picks its spots to pass. In the Seahawks favor is the best secondary in football.
Colts Game Plan: Indianapolis is known for playing smart football and they have only committed two turnovers this season and cannot hand Seattle their first loss by being generous.
Offensively, the Colts have to be able to run the football and control the tempo to their liking. The Seahawks secondary is big and physical, which could mean using running backs early in the game as pass catchers. Keeping QB Russell Wilson in the pocket and not allowing him to scramble for first downs or to extend plays behind the line of scrimmage is also crucial for the Colts if they hope to pull the upset.
Key sports betting number: Indianapolis is a home underdog and is 11-2 ATS off a road blowout win by 21points or more.
(425) NEW ORLEANS at (426) CHICAGO FOX
SUNDAY OCT.6 / 1:00 E
Saints Game Plan: New Orleans arrives in the Windy City on a short week. Drew Brees and the passing game has been hitting on all cylinders this season at 338 yards a game, so there’s little reason to think they will not have success against a Bears defense that ranks 23rd in stopping the forward pass (277.8 YPG). What Brees and company have to do is protect the ball, since Da Bears have 14 takeaways. Defensively, the Saints have to pressure Jay Cutler, who has been sacked just six times, and force him into bad decisions, which he is prone to do like last week.
Bears Game Plan: Chicago is not built for shootouts like they were involved in last week in Detroit and must avoid versus New Orleans. The Bears need to use Matt Forte extensively in the running game and short passing game. Although New Orleans is 4-0, the Saints have seldom been as good off the carpet as evidenced in their come from behind win against a beastly Buccaneers bunch. Ball control is the best way to keep Brees off the field. If the Bears can execute ball control and play physical defense on a slower track, this is the formula for an upset.
Key sports betting number: New Orleans has been moved to a favorite and they are 12-2 ATS vs. defenses allowing 235 or more passing yards a contest.
(433) DENVER at (224) DALLAS CBS
SUNDAY, OCT. 6 / 4:25 E
Broncos Game Plan: At this juncture, Denver looks exactly like the 2007 New England Patriots, unstoppable. With how Peyton Manning and the offense are clicking, it is not really a question of a game plan, rather just repeating what they are doing and making adjustments along the way. Last week the Broncos run defense has gouged for 160 yards, they should fewer problems with a more traditional running game like Dallas and they only permitted 2.3 yards a carry the first three games versus this type of opposition.
Cowboys Game Plan: A couple of Dallas players were talking tough saying they don’t fear Manning. Best advice, shut up guys. The Cowboys must move the ball on offense, extend drives and score touchdowns and not settle for field goals. They must take advantage of their opportunities because execution is Denver’s calling card and if Tony Romo and the offense cannot match the Broncos, turn out the lights. Defensively, they must pressure Manning because the secondary is not good enough to cover for very long. How ordinary has Dallas become? They are 2-2 this year, coming off a pair of 8-8 seasons and in their last 260 contests, they are 130-130.
Key sports betting number: With Denver presently at -9, they are 10-1 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points.
(435) HOUSTON at (436) SAN FRANCISCO NBC
SUNDAY, OCT. 6 / 8:25 E
Texans Game Plan: Houston’s top rated defense has to keep QB Colin Kaepernick in the pocket and not allow him to hurt them with his feet as Russell Wilson did (77 yards on 10 carries) last Sunday. The secondary has to shadow Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis and force Kaepernick to find other receivers. On offense, QB Matt Schaub needs to be more consistent. He and the offense have yet to put together four solid quarters of football, which is why they are 2-2. Coach Gary Kubiak has to use Ben Tate more if Arian Foster does not have that day.
49ers Game Plan: San Francisco returned to form in the slamming St. Louis 35-11 by running the ball and setting up the pass. The 49ers might have gotten a false sense of security from beating Green Bay in the opener, but the fact is they got to a Super Bowl by playing physical and defeating opponents in the trenches. Houston’s defense has the players to limit what the Niners like to do, but will they be mentally as tough? This is where San Fran can win and cover, winning the mental side of the game.
Key sports betting number: Houston is 3-11 ATS in road games off a home loss.
