Betting NFL Football – The Game Plans
Betting NFL Football – The Game Plans
For serious football bettors who like betting NFL football, here is breakdown of what to look for from key contests for Week 8 and what these teams will be attempting to accomplish to win the contest.
(211) DALLAS at (212) DETROIT FOX
SUNDAY OCT. 27 / 1:00 E
Cowboys Game Plan: This will likely be a high scoring affair as both starting quarterbacks already have 15 touchdown passes. Dallas will have to continue to be aggressive and utilize the running game to sustain balance on offense. This would allow them to slow the Lions pass rush and take shots downfield to receivers Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams against a suspect secondary. Defensively, the Cowboys must contain Reggie Bush running and receiving and place QB Matt Stafford in obvious passing situations. It almost goes with saying they have to limit Calvin Johnson’s big plays.
Lions Game Plan: Job number one for Detroit is manufacturing pressure, because if Romo has the time he needs, he will pick apart the Lions secondary. Whether it’s more blitzing or tighter coverage, the Detroit has to be better on defense. Offensively, the Lions have to re-start the run game. For some reason the Detroit coaches have been running Bush up the middle and not trying to get him on the perimeter where he more effective. In their four wins, the Lions average 114 yards on the ground. In the three losses, they’ve averaged 63 yards. Stafford should have time to throw down the field with Dallas not having their starting defensive ends.
Key sports betting number: Dallas is 5-14 ATS after one or more wins the last three seasons.
(217) BUFFALO at (404) NEW ORLEANS CBS
SUNDAY OCT. 27 / 1:00 E
Bills Game Plan: For being an ordinary team, Buffalo does not have to prepare at least offensively to do anything different. They have the fifth-best rushing attack in the NFL with the Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller and they will look to take advantage of the Saints run defense which is tied for last in the league in yards per carry allowed at 5.1. However, both backs are hobbled, which means the offensive line has to do its job even better. Fill-in QB Thad Lewis has provided a spark, but will face a ferocious pass rush and noisy atmosphere. About the only good news for the Buffalo defense is TE Jimmy Graham probably won’t go, but with Drew Brees, there is more than enough to worry about.
Saints Game Plan: New Orleans is back from a bye and Brees has to be salivating to go against Buffalo’s defense which ranks 28th against the run and 21st against the pass. Watch for the Saints to come out throwing, mostly short to start and see how the Bills react. Defensively, New Orleans ranks 22nd against the run and will shoot the gaps and have their linebackers play contain to prevent long bursts. Defensive coordinator Robb Ryan will want to test Lewis’s cool on third and longs and heat up the pass rush.
Key sports betting number: New Orleans is 15-3 ATS as a home favorite since 2011.
(221) N.Y. JETS at (222) CINCINNATI CBS
SUNDAY OCT. 27 / 4:05 E
Jets Game Plan: New York upset New England by exposing their depleted front seven and rushing the ball circa 1970’s style, a whopping 52 times. Behind among the best offensive lines in the league, the Jets controlled the clock which helped QB Geno Smith play more under control. New York probably will have this be as part of their game plan; however, it will be tempting to go after an injury-riddled Bengals secondary in flux. On defense, coach Rex Ryan will be out to rattle Andy Dalton from the get-go to throw off his timing, especially to A.J. Green.
Bengals Game Plan: Watch for Cincinnati to throw underneath to their talented tight ends to limit the Jets pass rush if they just bring four. If this works, Gang Green will undoubtedly want to squeeze Dalton into tighter spaces by more blitzing, leaving the possibility of more 1-on-1 matchups down the gridiron. Do not expect the Bengals to bother to run a great deal versus the Jets stout run defense. On defense, look for the Bengals to bring plenty of pressure after not having any sacks last week. Geno Smith has 11 interceptions and there aren’t many deep threats.
Key sports betting number: Consider this; Cincinnati is 4-14 ATS after a two-game road trip.
(225) WASHINGTON at (226) DENVER FOX
SUNDAY, OCT. 27 / 4:25 E
Redskins Game Plan: This is not the ideal week for Washington to be without suspended FS Brandon Meriweather and possibly SS Reed Doughty and DE Stephen Bowen, facing Peyton Manning and the Denver offense. The Redskins defense is already an abysmal 29th in yards per pass and 28th in yards per rush and its only hope is to get hits on Manning like Indianapolis did. The Washington offense is emitting signs of coming together and if QB Robert Griffin III can target his receivers, they can have success against the NFL’s worst pass defense.
Broncos Game Plan: With the total having grown to 57, does that mean the first to 30 points wins? With potent offenses and porous defenses, the scoreboard operator will not have much idle time. The Denver O-Line will have to protect Manning in much better fashion and not let him get knocked around like last week. The Washington defense is not nearly as physical as the Colts, which should give Broncos receivers more room to roam. This is no mystery, DC Jack Del Rio has to made adjustments to his defense because how they are playing the pass with this cast will lead to failure, maybe not here, but against teams who can match their skill level across the board.
Key sports betting number: Denver is 8-1 ATS vs. passing defenses allowing a completion percent of 64 percent or higher since Manning arrived.
(229) GREEN BAY at (230) MINNESOTA NBC
SUNDAY, OCT. 27 / 8:30 E
Packers Game Plan: Green Bay defenders were no doubt saddened to hear Josh Freeman was not going to start for Minnesota after his outlandish showing on Monday night. Chances are Christian Ponder will still work for the improving Packers defense, being able to rush the passer effectively and ranking third against the run. They will prioritize stopping Adrian Peterson, who has often tormented the Pack in the past. Even with all the personnel losses, the Aaron Rodgers-led offense continues to flow. Though the Pack does not have the usual array of targets to throw to, taking on the Vikings No. 29 pass defense will be too tempting for Rodgers.
Vikings Game Plan: Minnesota’s plan will be to establish the run and eliminating turnovers. Ponder has been turnover-prone in his short stint in the NFL and plays significantly better when A.P. has space to run. This is hard to imagine, the Vikings are 19th in rushing and the Packers are 6th. Look for Minnesota to make Greg Jennings the main receiver, since he will be extremely motivated to stick it to his old team. The Vikes defense has to begin to make more plays and show consistency. They play well for period, make one mistake and it rolls into conceding points instead of buckling down.
Key sports betting number: Green Bay is 12-2 ATS versus the NFC North of late.
