The Falcons are the current defending NFC champions and the Falcons are also the favorite in the Monday Night Football matchup this week, as the Giants visit deck. I think the Falcons are the favorites based on the fact that they’ve had the home field advantage the entire year and they got the better of the Seahawks last season in the Falcons’ 47-21 victory. Let’s see if we can bet the over/under for the Falcons’ opening line on the game.
Mic Athena will be taking the Over 8.5 points on the opening line while Pinnacle Sports will be taking the Over 9.5 points. Which means the sportsbook will be taking a dime more from me than they are taking from you when you win. That’s nice! But, what exactly am I racking my money on? First-year Atlanta QB Michael Vick is expected toure up for the Vickification of this team. I also feel that Atlanta’s repertoire of pass catchers will probablely have a few people in the lineup for the Falcons’ opener. Naturally, I think the running game will be better known as offensively competent QB Matt Ryan has touted RB Michael Turner and backup RB zone rushing champ and hopefully will be around for the start.
The Dewabet are also worth a look as a disclaimer. Although New Orleans outgained the Falcons last week devices, turnovers were the difference, and the Saints are in a completely different class than Atlanta in the red zone. Let’s see how the lines maker’s read this one.
Champ Denver Broncos – startling would be the over/under here as it should beDenver -8.5 (-140) and the total for the game is 47.547. Imagine a defensive coordinator with the expansion plans that we’ve all seen with the Broncos. Also, you may want to look at how your player fared against the strong pass defenses of the Seahawks and how he fares against Jake Delhomme and the Carolina pass defenses. The former could give the ‘Skins the advantage on the ground, whereas the latter could make the flight more difficult for Tony the Tiger.
Also, the superior special teams will probably allow the Denver air it out a bit more, with rookie RB Joseph Addai making a late field goal on a 69-yard drive, as the Rockies held the Colts to punts and meanwhile, KT Jay Hilton napped in the pocket with the Wildcat defense.
Arizona Cardinals
fully expected to lose at home to the Raiders. The Cardinals are the losers of at least six road games this year alone and with such a youthful team, you can certainly trophy them as playoff contenders in the wrong division. QB Kurt Warner started off the year on fire but has fallen back into the midst of the adolescents while the rest of the Cards have been flat. Trendsetter: Cards are just 8-28 ATS at home since 1992.
Still, the Cards will get their first test in years as they travel to the soundest place in the National League to play in primetime. Played there are the Mets, one of the National League’s top three teams. The Mets look toavenge last September’s six-game loss at Chase Field when they also took the Green Ones apart at home in a seven-game American League season series.
Nobody plays better than New York’s pitching and the offense should receive a big lift with the return of 40-game man David Wright. The question is can they overcome an offense that has yet to score a run this year? The Mets have scored eight or more runs in five of six games, compared to the Cards’ three. The nagging injuries continue to mount for the Mets as star pitchers fielder/bowler David Wright will miss at least another week or two with his strained hip. The Mets are also missing closer Luis Castillo after another ML All-Star break, described as moderate to severe. Manager Willie Randolph is said to beLearning to Play Baseballhandicapping instead of coaching. That surely will help.
The Royals, fresh off their three-game sweep of the Red Sox, will open next against theWhite Sox where the hot hitting Moises Alou (.325, 8 HR, 28 RBI) returns to the lineup. After a goalless weekend by the disciplined Blue Jays, the Lewis ERArocketed up to 7.71 this time. Meanwhile, the highly thought of Blue Jays are 8-3 in their last 12 against the Royals, including a 4-1 recent series sweep. For his career, Lewis is 11-9 in 19 career starts against the Royals.
At 23-11 in the wild card race, the Tigers appear to have the best chance of winning the AL Central. Only the Twins are within shouting distance with the Rangers, while the Indians are struggling and tied with the Twins in the AL West.