NFL Week One Wagering Action – St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles, (8-8 SU, 8-8 ATS, 7-9 O/U) may have struggled to reach .500 in 2007 while hitting the .500 mark right on the nose with their so-so, 8-8 straight up record in the BetUS Sportsbook last season, but Philadelphia’s struggles were nothing like those of their NFC counterpart, the St. Louis Rams, (3-13 SU, 5-11 ATS, 7-9 O/U) who recorded a pathetic 3-13 record under head coach Scott Linehan last season.
While the teams will meet in this Week One NFL betting matchup, each club has its eyes on a different prize heading into the 2008 regular season opener.
While Philadelphia hopes to get back amongst the elite teams in all of football, after experiencing mostly success under head coach Andy Reid for the better part of the last decade, the Rams are hoping to just get back to respectability after struggling all season long in 2007.
St. Louis posted unimpressive statistics across the board for the BetUS NFL online sports wagering community while ranking 24th in overall offense, averaging just 297.5 total yards per game, including an atrocious 95.4 rushing yards per game, (25th) and 16.4 points per contest, (28th).
Defensively, the Rams also struggled, ranking just 22nd overall while giving up a whopping 27.4 points per game, (31st) and going just 5-11 against the spread, (ATS).
The Eagles, on the other hand, ranked 10th in passing last season and have pro football’s best all-around running back in the explosive Brian Westbrook, whose 1,333 yards with an impressive 4.8 yards per carry average helped the team rank eighth in overall rushing.
Defensively, the Eagles were not the same dominant unit they’ve perennially been under ingenious defensive coordinator Jimmie Johnson. The defensive line has one Pro Bowler in Trent Cole and not much else at all while starting linebackers Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither also leave a lot to be desired.
Philadelphia ranked a surprising 10th in overall defense last season, but allowed a ton of big plays as they ranked 18th in pass defense, allowing 215.9 passing yards per game.
St. Louis grabbed former Virginia defensive end Chris Long with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft to help address some of their defensive problems and added four veteran offensive players to help improve the team’s mediocre unit.
Philadelphia plans on stopping the pass much better in 2008 and landed arguably, the game’s best cornerback in former New England Patriot, Asante Samuel.
Analysis: The Eagles are clearly the correct pick in this matchup as they should be able to cover the eight-point spread at home against a St. Louis Rams team that is likely in its last season under Linehan, a head coach I believe is more suited to a coordinator’s position than as any team’s top man.
I say take the Eagles to cover the spread against the Rams in what should be a rousing home opener for Philadelphia’s wild-eyed, crazed football wagering fans.
NFL Free Picks: Eagles -7 Points
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