Money Where Your Mouth Is Week 8

Money Where Your Mouth Is Week 8

This a weekly column that puts our expertise to the test, as we show a couple of the bets that we are placing on specific games, or prop bets offered by the many sports books and casinos. Of course we are a fantasy football advisory,  but we also take pride in our pick’em pool strategies. Our goal is to help you win pools & money, but if you can’t afford to place bets…don’t!

San Fransisco 49er’s+ 13.5

How fast things have changed for the 49er’s. After starting strong, San Fransisco has gone from 3-1 to 3-3 and have looked vulnerable in areas that they once seemed to dominate. The emergence of Alex Smith last week has sparked a little hope amongst fans; Smith rallied back against the Texans in what looked like a blowout. The first overall pick from the ’05 draft put up a games worth of stats in the second half, but still fell short by a field goal. This week bookies have set the bar very high for the 49er’s… almost too high. 13 and a half points (you might be able to find more) is kind of an insult to the San Fransisco bunch, and we believe the Colts are in for a rude awakening.

Injuries can’t be ignored when you’re talking about offensive talent. The Colts have quite a few bumps and bruises that they are trying to play off, but their inability to move the ball might surprise many this weekend. Peyton Manning is a brilliant quarterback and can make anyone look like a superstar, but this season the Colts are lacking their usual firepower. With injuries to Anthony Gonzalez and rookie Donald Brown, not to mention the nagging groin injury to Reggie Wayne, we think this game will be a lot closer. The Colts will still win, but winning by two touchdowns is not likely. Take the 49er’s and the points.

Philadelphia Eagles +1

McNabb vs. Manning: both teams have good offenses, both have great defenses, so who’s the favorite? The spread has moved in this game all week, but one point bouncing back and forth from team to team means nothing. The Eagles and Giants will have men on the field playing hurt in this game, but that’s nothing new. So what is the most important storyline in this game?

Home field advantage.

The Eagles fans have been waiting for a big game to come their way all year. The Saints were in town in week 2, but with Kevin Kolb starting, people were just hoping for the best. This week is the first divisional game to come to Philadelphia all season and it’s week 8? With the World Series also in town on the same day… the city will be going ballistic! Throw in the Halloween factor and fans will be loud and crazy with noise that should give the Eagles an edge in this one. Take the Eagles straight up.

Atlanta Falcons+ 9.5

Falcons vs. Saints is divisional match-up that speaks volumes on how the season will unfold for both these teams. The Saints are running away with the NFC South, and if the Falcons want to go to the playoffs they can either pray for a Wild Card or take out the Saints at the top of the division. While the Falcons are a couple games back, you know this match-up has been circled on their calendar for weeks.

The knock on the Falcons this season has been their lack of production on the road in the “big games”. Dallas and New England were losses on the road, in which the Falcons were 3.5 and 4.5 point underdogs. In both of those games the Falcons didn’t cover the spread, but with 9.5 in your back pocket and the fact that the Saints and Falcons played to a close back and forth shootout last year in New Orleans, we like the dirty birds.

Spreads are based on previous types of match-ups and games; the Falcons are getting more points this week as they have fallen short twice on the road, but those who watched the Patriots and Cowboys games know that mental mistakes cost them points. We think after the Saints were exposed in Miami, defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder for the Falcons will have more to work with for this huge Monday night game. Take the Falcons and the points.

Last Week: We’ve skipped a couple weeks, as upsets are in fashion.

Overall: 6-3

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