NFL Playoff Previews
Written by Greg Waters
Sat, 9 Jan 2010
Category sportsbook
Feedback Rating - no votes
The college football season concluded on Thursday night but never fear football fans, there is still pigskin to wager on.
The NFL playoffs begin this weekend with the New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, followed by the Baltimore Ravens against the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots
With QB Tom Brady, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year, behind center, the Patriots are always a threat to win the Super Bowl — they are currently listed at +900 to win it all.
However, New England’s passing game took a big hit in its final game of the regular season when WR Wes Welker suffered a season-ending knee injury.
While Welker doesn’t possess the talent of, say, a Randy Moss, he led the entire league with 123 receptions and was second with 1348 receiving yards.
Also, having Welker in the lineup kept opposing secondaries honest as they had to focus on both Moss and Welker.
All isn’t doom and gloom though as New England will welcome back defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren.
The Patriots are 3-point home faves for Sunday’s game against Baltimore and the Total is set at 43.
Tried, tested, and true late in the season, New England is 13-2 straight up in its last 15 home games in January and is 9-5-1 against the spread.
As well, the Pats’ last 13 January home games have resulted in 11 Unders and a pair of Overs.
New England has owned the Ravens ever since the team relocated to Baltimore from Cleveland, going 3-0 SU and ATS at home and in five meetings overall, the Pats are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS.
Online sportsbooks saw the early money come in on the Ravens, pushing the line down to -3. Heading into the weekend Baltimore had 56% of all the volume bet at SPORTSBETTING.com.
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys aren’t immune from the injury bug either as LB DeMarcus Ware (back) and RB Marion Barber (left knee) have both seen limited action in practice this week but according to ESPN Dallas, are expected to play against the Eagles on Saturday.
The playoff game will be a rematch of the final game of the season when the Cowboys defeated Philadelphia 24-0, easily covering as field goal favorites in front of a raucous home crowd.
This time around, Dallas is a 4-point home fave with a Total of 45.
However, in their last 10 home tilts against the Eagles, the Cowboys are only 3-7 ATS.
In Philly’s last 20 games when an underdog of 4-points or less, they have a record of 15 Overs and 5 Unders.
Bettors are getting their money down on the Over and the home team, but only slightly. This line hasn’t moved since it opened last Sunday night. Right now online sportsbooks are reporting 60% action on the home team Cowboys and 65% on the Over.
Enjoy all the playoff action.
link: http://wheretobet.com/redirect/sportsbetting.com-205/all