NFL Betting Week 6 – Thanks For Nothing, McNabb
Each week during the heart of the NFL season, and once or twice during the NFL Preseason, we’ll gather the troops around the roundtable and hash out the NFL Power rankings.
Ok, so I got caught up in the windmill of Philadelphia fandom for a second. I’m back to my senses now and a second half collapse by the Eagles certainly helped expedite that process. Dallas is still the obvious favorite, but what about the Giants, who shellacked the Seahawks 44-6? We know who the worst are (I’m looking right at you Cincinnati and Houston), but who’s the best?
1. Dallas Cowboys (4-1)
The Cowboys improved their record, but fell to 2-3 ATS. It’s not the talent that is in question here. It’s the Cowboys ability to blow people out of the water. The defense gets to prove how good they really are as the Cowboys visit the surging Cardinals as 6-point road favorites.
Next Game: Dallas -6.5 vs. Arizona
2. Tennessee Titans (5-0)
Chris Johnson and the Titans are like the ugly chick at school with the big tits and the great legs. Everything else is awesome, except for how unsexy this team is. Especially with Kerry Collins, the Titans are worrisome bets at best. Worry no longer. The titans are 5-0 ATS this season and are 2-3 against the O/U. A stiff run defense, and an aging quarterback will always give this team favorable football betting odds. The question is whether or not you’re feeling dangerous enough to stay on this ship…
Next Game: BYE WEEK
3. New York Giants (4-0)
Sure they have a soft schedule, but throttling bad teams still gets notice. The Giants are on a 9-1 ATS tear and now get to shine in the spotlight of Monday Night Football. Eli Manning was without Plaxico Burress, so Brandon Jacobs took over scoring two touchdowns on another balanced with for the dangerous Giants. Keep doubting them if you want to, but the last time we didn’t believe in the New York Football Giants, they won the Superbowl.
Next Game: NYG -8 vs. Cleveland
4. Denver Broncos (4-1)
The Broncos shakes any semblance of defensive ineptidue by spanking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Champ Bailey forced a gorgeous fumble, and knocked out Brian Griese, to bully the Broncos to a decisive victory over the Bucs. The 16-13 win wasn’t enough to cover, but the Broncos are becoming a dangerous threat against good teams. They’re 1-3-1 ATS, but are still a team that can score with the best of them. Now that they’re playing defense, with Champ Bailey leading the charge, the Broncos are turning doubters like me in to betting believers.
Next Game: Jax vs. Denver -3
5. Carolina Panthers (4-1)
I’ve been knocking the Panthers for month. But with Jake Delhomme proving his one of the lone survivors of Tommy John surgery, and the defense emerging as a viable threat, the Panthers deserve your attention. They’ve lulled the oddsmakers in to believing that they suck (hell, I fell for it) and are now 3-1-1 ATS. With two solid running-backs and a defense that believes it can stop anyone, don’t fall asleep on the Panthers just yet.
They have to prove that they are the cream of the crop in the NFC South by beating the Bucs this weekend. That’s not an enviable task by any stretch of the imagination, but their recent success against the Bucs has the NFL betting trends leaning in their favor for now.
Next Game: Carolina vs. Tampa Bay -3
6. Washington Redskins (4-1)
After getting spanked by the Giants in the season opener, the Redskins have thundered back in to contention with a decisive come from behinder over the Eagles. The Skins are now 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games and face their biggest task of the season thus far – a double-digit monster spread against St. Louis in Washington. Let’s see what they’re made of.
Next Game: St. Louis vs. Washington -15
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)
Are they better than most teams on this list? Absolutely. Does a guts win over the Jaguars boost their credentials? For sure. Am I still worried about betting on an inconsistent team that will continue to get lopsided spreads down the stretch considering how good they’re supposed to be? Damn right.
The Steelers are 2-3 ATS and are 1-2 ATS when favored this season. Big Ben Roethlisberger unloaded this past weekend against a tattered secondary, but they are still without Willie Parker, who has proven to be the only steady offensive ground threat they have. As we move forward, the Steel Curtain defense will have to do more and more. They’re worth keeping an eye on, but the Colts are quickly showing that they’re not going to fade anytime soon.
Next Game: BYE WEEK
