macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-favorites-and-the-dogs.html 

17 games on the 2011 schedule are up for debate

Zero.

That’s the number of games in which the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers are listed as underdogs for the 2011 season, according to the lines that were recently released by Cantor Gaming. Whether or not you agree, Aaron Rodgers(notes) and company have been installed as the favorite 14 times and as a pick ‘em twice.

Apparently, the current thought process in Las Vegas is that the Packers are going to be a tough out in 2011.


For those of you wondering, Cantor Gaming supplies the lines for the sportsbooks at the Hard Rock, Cosmo, Tropicana and M Casino and was the first entity in the business to release point spreads for all 256 regular season NFL games.

And while the Packers are laying points in almost every contest, the same can not be said for Cam Newton(notes) and the Carolina Panthers, who have been listed as the underdog for 15 of their 16 games this season.

While several of these numbers will no doubt change between now and kickoff, lets take a look at some of the biggest/most intriguing games on the 2011 NFL schedule and see if we can find some value…

WEEK 1: New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers
Line: Packers -5.5

Nothing against the Packers, but I think New Orleans is the play here. Last January’s loss at Seattle provides the motivation while the addition of Mark Ingram(notes) will mean more to this offense than most people realize.

WEEK 2: San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
Line: Patriots -6

Since 2006, the Bolts are 0-2 at New England (including the playoffs), losing by a combined 35 points. Keep in mind that since Norv Turner took over in 2007, San Diego has gone 6-8 in the month of September, while the Pats have gone 9-3.

WEEK 3: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Line: Eagles -3

Week 3 marks the first time the Birds and G-Men will get together since “The Comeback.” Philly has won six straight vs. New York (including the playoffs), all of which have come by six or more points.





WEEK 4: New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens
Line: Ravens -4

The Week 4 Sunday night game features two teams desperately looking to take the next step and earn a spot in the Super Bowl. The Ravens beat the Jets 13-3 in New York last season. Will Rex Ryan’s crew return the favor?

WEEK 5: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
Line: Packers -1

Matt Ryan’s(notes) 20-2 home record didn’t mean jack last January when the Packers came to town and blew out the Falcons 48-21 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Atlanta can’t be happy to be a home dog in this one.

WEEK 6: Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots
Line: Patriots -8

That’s a lot of points to give a team that went 6-2 against the spread once Jason Garrett took over for Wade Phillips. The Cowboys may be a bit undervalued heading into 2011.

WEEK 7: Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints
Line: Saints -2.5

The Saints have gone 17-7 at home over the last three years, but aren’t listed as a full 3-point favorite. Keep in mind the Colts are just 4-5 in their last nine road games. I have a feeling this line will go up closer to game time.

WEEK 8: Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos
Line: Lions -1

Pop the champagne bottles! The Lions haven’t been a road favorite since September 7, 2008 (Week 1) at Atlanta. Detroit went on to lose that game…as well as the next 15.

WEEK 9: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Line: Steelers -3.5

Including the playoffs, the Steelers are 10-2 in their last 12 games at Heinz Field against the Ravens, with six of those victories coming by seven or more points. It will be interesting to see if the sharps take the hook and move this game to Pittsburgh -3.





WEEK 10: Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Line: Buccaneers -3.5

Tampa went just 4-4 at Raymond James Stadium last season and only beat one time with a winning record all year. If Josh Freeman(notes) and co. get off to a slow start or Wade Phillips is able to revamp the Houston defense, this line will plummet.

WEEK 11: San Diego Chargers at Chicago Bears
Line: Pick

For as bad as Norv Turner is in the opening month of the season, keep in mind that his Chargers have gone 11-5 and won eight straight in the month of November. With this game opening at a pick, it’s clear that the Chargers should once again expect a lot of preseason backing from the public.


WEEK 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans
Line: Pick

Really? This game could feature rookie Jake Locker(notes) at quarterback and no Kenny Britt(notes). I may not be a big supporter of the Bucs entering 2011, but I’ll take them here giving no points to a Tennessee team that is going to struggle mightily in 2011. Remember, Tampa went 6-2 on the road last season.

WEEK 13: Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
Line: Patriots -6.5

Brady has dropped four of his last six games vs. Manning, but brought home a six-point victory last November at Gillette Stadium. One thing you can absolutely count on when these two teams meet is that you’ll get Peyton Manning’s(notes) best punch.





WEEK 14: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets
Line: Jets -7

The Jets are just 9-7 at home since drafting Mark Sanchez(notes), but Kansas City will be without offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who went back to the college ranks this past winter. Keep in mind that the Chiefs went 3-5 away from Arrowhead in 2010 and got hammered in road tilts at Denver and San Diego.

WEEK 15: Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers
Line: Chargers -1.5

The Ravens have won four of their last five meetings with the Chargers, which includes a 31-26 win in San Diego back in 2009. In addition, if you take away games with Pittsburgh, Baltimore is 9-1 in their last ten games in the month of December.

WEEK 16: New York Giants at New York Jets
Line: Jets -3.5

The Jets may be listed as the “home” team, but you can bet your ass the Big Blue faithful will show up on Christmas Eve for this one. How can you not like the Giants getting 3.5 points in their home stadium?

WEEK 17: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Line: Steelers -3

This line looks very enticing, especially when you consider the fact that Pittsburgh is 19-2 in their last 21 games with Cleveland. But keep in mind that if the Steelers have nothing left to play for, the starters could be sitting and the line could be moving. Still, I’d be willing to take the risk.

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaug

NationalFootballPost wrote:

Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (2h) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (3h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (4h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (9h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (9h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (9h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (13h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (13h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (14h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (14h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (15h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (15h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (15h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (16h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (16h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (17h) : umm... what?
wpr (17h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (17h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (17h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (17h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (17h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (23h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
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