Saturday, September 29, 2012

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 4 vs. Giants

It is hard to believe that the new NFL regular season is entering just its fourth week and the Eagles are aleady at a crossroads in Sunday night's game against the Giants, but to me that clearly seems to be the case.

Last year, the Birds opened-up with a pretty routine win over St. Louis and then dropped a 35-31 shootout against Atlanta on the road. They came into the following game as nine-point favorites at home against New York and got their doors blown off in a 29-16 loss. Things went from bad to worse with losses to San Francisco and Buffalo and suddenly the whole season was lost.

I do not know about you, but last Sunday's debacle in the desert shook my confidence in this year's Eagles to the core. Suddenly their offensive line has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese and the defensive secondary is once again a liability with the kind of talent that should make it a strength.

This week's game against the Giants will go a long way towards proving one of two things; either the first three weeks were just an anomaly of the true talent and ability of this team or we are on the brink of watching another dream team turn into a nightmare.

The following is a link to my complete preview and prediction for Sunday night's game as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports Services where I use their Unit Betting System to put a confidence value on my pick.

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 4 vs. Giants

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

NFC Top Three Matchups- Week 4 Handicapping Report

Every week I take a detailed look at the top three matchups in the NFC as way to get ready for this Sunday's games. At the top of this week's list is Sunday night's Giants vs. Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Last week I went way out on a limb with a 4-Unit play on the Birds and we all know how that worked out. When I handicapped that matchup, I focused more on the Eagles potential as opposed to their current form. After turning the ball over nine times in the first two games, I just assumed they would do a much better job against Arizona. While Philly looked horrible in the first half, it was still just one play away from grabbing all the momentum with a late score in the first half. Instead, another crushing turnover by Michael Vick turned a very managable 17-7 deficit at the half into a 24-0 hole that this team had no chance of climbing out of.

For this Sunday night's game, you have to take into consideration the current form of both teams which does not paint of pretty picture for the Eagles' chances to come away with a win. Remember back to last September when Philadelphia was a nine-point favorite at home against New York in late September and it got spanked 29-16. That loss marked the beginning of the end for the 2011 season. Unfortunately, I have that sinking feeling that we might be headed down that same road again.

The following is a link to Week 4's top three NFC matchups in an article that was originally posted on Bang the Book.

NFC Top Three Matchups- Week 4 Handicapping Report

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 3 vs. Cardinals

With a Sunday night showdown against the Giants and a trip cross-state to Heinz Field to face the Steelers looming on the Eagles schedule in the next two weeks, this Sunday's battle of the birds in the Arizona desert is almost a must win.

After two thrilling one-point victories over Cleveland and Baltimore, the Eagles have an excellent shot at starting the season at 3-0 for the first time in a decade. However,they will never get there if they continue turn the ball over at an alarming rate of 4.5 times a game while committing an average of 14 penalties a game as well. I am content to take those first two wins and run, but the real Eagles we all know and love need to show up over the next three weeks in order to avoid things going south in a hurry.

That all starts this Sunday with much more consistent performance from Michael Vick, who finally decides to show up for all four quarters and not just the last two minutes of the game. The offensive linemen will also start keeping their hands to themselves and the defensive backs will stop draping themselves all over the opposition's wide receivers more than five yards down the field.

My bold prediction for this week is that it all finally comes together for the Eagles as they show the Cardinals as well as the rest of the league that they are a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball with a victory that was never in doubt.

The following is a link to my complete preview and prediction for Sunday's game as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports Service.


Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 3 vs. Cardinals

Thursday, September 20, 2012

New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers Thursday Night Football Preview & Precition

The New York Giants are back in action tonight in a Week 3 Thursday Night Football prime time tilt against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. This matchup should privide an excellent chance to gauge how well the Giants' defense does containing a mobile quarterback in preperation for the Eagles' Week 4 clash against their NFC East foes on Sunday Night Football.

The following is a link to my complete preview and prediction for tonight's game in an article that was originally posted on Bang the Book


New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers Preview & Prediction

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

NFC Top Three Matchups- Week 3 Handicapping Report

Each and every week I put together a handicapping report for Bang the Book covering the top three matchups in the NFC. While I stop short of actually making a pick, the information contained in the article often times paints a very clear picture as to which team should come out on top against the spread.

The following is a link that will take you directly to this week's top matchups.

NFC Top Three Matchups- Week 3 Handicapping Report

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 2 vs. Ravens

It is only Week 2 of the 2012 NFL regular season and the Eagles already face a watershed game in their home opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Last week's escape against Cleveland raised far more questions with this year's Birds than it answered. They completely outplayed the Browns on paper but once again turnovers and penalties proved costly in a 17-16 squeaker in a game they were favored to win by nine points on the road,

It took a last minute drive to get by a team it should have beaten by three touchdowns. While most of the blame fell on Michael Vick's shoulders, and rightly so, the entire team continued to shoot itself in the foot much in the same way it did all last season and well all remember how that turned out.

Sunday afternoon can go one of two ways; really good or really bad. The really good route would be a win over a team that everyone is crowning as the best in the AFC based on a 44-13 beatdown of Cincinnati on Monday night. Even if the Eagles lose this game but keep it close to the end would be a moral victory. Really bad would be a blowout in front of the home-town crowd. If Philly plays the way it did last week things will get ugly fast with the bleachers clearing out by the end of the third quarter.

I am going with option one for Sunday's game. I actually have the Birds coming-up just short against a very balanced Ravens team as they are probably still a week or two from returning to peak form. If I am right, there should be no head-hanging as long as they play to their ability. My heart is obviously pulling for the win, which would make the Browns' game a distant memory and send the Birds soaring to the top of the ranks in the NFL. That is just the way it works in this league.

The following is a link to my complete breakdown of Sunday's game in an article that was originally posted on Doc's Sports Service as part of my ongoing series that provides a preview and pick for every Eagles game this season utilizing their Unit Betting System.

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 2 vs. Ravens

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Thursday Night Football-Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers

The NFL Network kicks off an entire season of Thursday Night Football with a classic NFC North showdown between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. The Bears clobbered the Indianapolis Colts 41-21 on opening day and is now in position to go two games up on the Packers in light of Green Bay's 30-22 opening-day loss to San Francisco at home.

The following is a link to my complete preview and prediction for Thursday night's game in an article that was originally posted on Bang the Book. Be sure to check back later in the week for my preview and pick for this Sunday's home opener at Lincoln Financial Field between the Ravens and the Eagles.


Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers Week 2 Preview & Prediction

Friday, September 7, 2012

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 1 vs. Browns

When the Eagles take the field this Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium it will either be the start of something big or Andy Reid's swan song with a team he has coached since the late 90's. Only Jeffery Lurie knows for sure what level of success it will take for Reid to keep his job, but he has gone out of his way to put the winningest coach in franchise history officially on the 'hot seat' before his team's first snap of the new season.

Lurie's attitude is more than justified but, in a very Jerry Jones-like fashion, it was just plain stupid to make his feelings public. Reid is well aware of the situation and would be the first to tell you that last season's performance in light of the overall talent on this team was unacceptable. He has also been down this road before and has always been able to get his team to respond with a much better performance the following season. Throw in a couple of years when he squeezed a hell of a lot more out of a sub-par team and it all adds up to a pretty damn good job over the past 13 years.

This year's whole shooting match starts with the Birds heading into Cleveland as nine-point favorites. This means that things could get hairy right off the bat if this game is not a blow-out. A close win would raise a yellow flag while a loss would be devastating. Not to worry, this game will not be close, primarily because of the Eagles' defense, which is ready to fly.

The following is a link to my complete preview of Sunday's game in an article that was originally posted on Doc's Sports Service along with a pick that utilizes their specialized 'Unit Betting System'.


Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 1 vs. Browns

Thursday, September 6, 2012

NFL Betting Trends- Updated Super Bowl Odds

Last year at this time the Eagles were one of the top favorites to not only win the NFC but the Super Bowl as well. Jeff Lurie went on a multi-million dollar spending spree to bring in some of the top free agents on the market that offseason in hopes of providing the missing pieces for a championship run. Well we all know how that turned out.

This season, the Birds are once again near the top of the list to finally break through and win it all, but Eagles Nation is not jumping in line to drink the Kool-Aid just yet. There is a certain cautious optimism surrounding this year's team, but I do not think anyone is completely sold on the vision of Lurie and Andy Reid hugging it out while holding up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XLVII. If the Eagles reel off five or six straight wins to start the season things might change, but lets just get by Cleveland this Sunday to start.

While I have yet to make an official pick, I honestly believe that Philly will make it back to the NFC Championship Game (which is hopefully good enough to keep Reid around for a few more years) but unfortunately that game is going to be played in Green Bay. I cannot see the Packers losing at home in the playoffs two years in-a-row. I am not giving up hope of a Super Bowl run, but I am also not booking any flights to New Orleans in early February either.

The following is a link to an updated look at a few teams whose stock is on the rise and a few in decline in terms of the current odds to win the Super Bowl this season. It was originally posted on Bang the Book.



NFL Betting Trends- Updated Super Bowl Odds

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

NFL Week 1 Picks- Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

The 2012 NFL regular season kicks off this week and while we will have to wait until Sunday afternoon to watch the Birds take the field against Cleveland in their season opener, this Wednesday night the Dallas Cowboys will pay a visit to MetLife Stadium to square off against the New York Giants in a crucial early season NFC East showdown.

I like the Giants in this one, but this will a hard-fought, low-scoring battle until the bitter end. Both team's offense sputtered in the preseason and could take a few games to completely shake off all the rust, so look for defense to dominate this game.

Injuries have also been an issue for each team with a number of key players such as wide receiver Hakeem Nicks for New York and tight end Jason Witten for Dallas most likely out of the starting lineup for Wednesday night.

The following is a link to a closer look at this matchup along with my pick for the game in an article that was originally posted on Bang the Book.

Check back later in the week for my complete preview of Sunday's Eagles vs. Browns game, but for now we will have to be content with watching the Cowboys and Giants beat-up on each other on Wednesday night.

NFL Week 1 Picks- Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Saturday, September 1, 2012

2012 NFC East Odds & Preview

The 2012 NFL regular season kicks off this Wednesday night with a classic NFC East showdown between the Cowboys and the Giants making it the perfect time to wrap-up my divisional previews with a look at the NFC East as a whole.

Lately it seems that there is always something hanging over the Eagles' heads going into a new season. Last year it was the whole 'Dream Team' fiasco coupled with a disgruntled DeSean Jackson crying about his salary. This year it is the team owner Jeffery Lurie giving long-time head coach Andy Reid a very public win-or-else ultimatum just days before the season opener against Cleveland. Reid is well aware that given the overall talent he has on this team that an 8-8 record is unacceptable. He does not need the added pressure of being placed on the hot seat before the Birds even get out of the gate.

Personally, I think it is much to do about nothing as one thing Reid is extremely capable of doing is blocking out the outside world when it comes to doing his job. Fortunately for Andy and for Eagles' fans, he will be back next season after Philly notches the NFC East title with an 11-5 record and makes a deep run all the way to a sixth NFC Championship Game during his tenure.

The New York Giants will suffer from a bit of a Super Bowl hangover but still play well enough to match last season's record of 9-7. What they will not match is a dramatic run in the postseason as it will be one and done in the playoffs this time around.

Another team facing the potential wrath of its owner is the Dallas Cowboys. If the Cowboys miss the playoffs again this season, I could easily see Jerry Jones blow the whole thing up with wholesale changes. This year will be a true test to see how head coach Jason Garrett and quarterback Tony Romo hold up to the pressure. Dallas will win its share of games but in the end the result will be the same; an 8-8 record and a ticket to another early offseason.

Lurking in the shadows is the Washington Redskins with first-round pick Robert Griffin III in place as the team's new franchise quarterback. This guy is going to be fun to watch but he might just become a one-man show on an offense that is devoid of any other players that can match his level of play. The Redskins' defense will once again keep them in most of the games they play. This all adds up to a slightly better record of 6-10 this year.

The following is a link to my preview of the NFC East in an article that was originally posted on Bang the Book.

2012 NFC East Odds & Preview