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Saturday Wildcard games:
Houston -4 vs Cincinnati - this is a spread where I think a lot of people are going to back Cincinnati. They'll compare rookie QBs and Dalton has been the most impressive, right?? Well he's been terribly inconsistent. They'll say well Cincy has a run defense that will match up with Houston's run game, and though Cincy does have a good run defense, but for the last six weeks, they've been giving up nearly five yards per carry (4.8); and that decline coincided with DT Pat Sims going down with an ankle injury. Meanwhile on the other side of the ball, Houston's Arian Foster has been averaging over 4.4 yards a carry in the same timespan. You can throw other stats out like: Cincy is 1-7 SU vs teams over .500 this year, Cincy is 0-7 SU and 1-5-1 vs playoff teams, including 0-3 on the road. Andy Dalton doesn't do well vs top 10 pass defenses (3-5 ATS), and Houston will have their defensive play-calling genius Wade Phillips back for this one. (Isn't it completely remarkable how the difference of a year makes? Many of us were betting against Houston because they had the worst defense (or bottom three) in the league. Wow, what a turnaround.) You just have to think Kubiak will do everything in his power to not put it on his rookie QB late in the game, and that may be taking a shot or two down field early.
Detroit Lions +11 at New Orleans Saints - another fade of the Saints, eh Andy? Yeah, not usually a profitable venture as of late... I'm going to look at the game played just a few weeks ago. The Lions were hanging tough and in the game until the lack of discipline (all day really) really took its toll. Multiple offensive pass interference penalties, and there was the banged up Matthew Stafford. They did not have Louis Delmas and Ndamukong Suh. Also looks like Corey Williams and Aaron Barry will be back in action as well. You have to think the way the Lions have resurrected themselves this year - finally getting all phases rolling, and overcoming adversity (the Suh suspension and Best injury), the worst thing to derail a season would be the continual lack of discipline. I have to think Schwartz drills that into his player's minds all week long. I expect the Lions to make it a close game.
Both for four units. Good luck guys.
Houston -4 vs Cincinnati - this is a spread where I think a lot of people are going to back Cincinnati. They'll compare rookie QBs and Dalton has been the most impressive, right?? Well he's been terribly inconsistent. They'll say well Cincy has a run defense that will match up with Houston's run game, and though Cincy does have a good run defense, but for the last six weeks, they've been giving up nearly five yards per carry (4.8); and that decline coincided with DT Pat Sims going down with an ankle injury. Meanwhile on the other side of the ball, Houston's Arian Foster has been averaging over 4.4 yards a carry in the same timespan. You can throw other stats out like: Cincy is 1-7 SU vs teams over .500 this year, Cincy is 0-7 SU and 1-5-1 vs playoff teams, including 0-3 on the road. Andy Dalton doesn't do well vs top 10 pass defenses (3-5 ATS), and Houston will have their defensive play-calling genius Wade Phillips back for this one. (Isn't it completely remarkable how the difference of a year makes? Many of us were betting against Houston because they had the worst defense (or bottom three) in the league. Wow, what a turnaround.) You just have to think Kubiak will do everything in his power to not put it on his rookie QB late in the game, and that may be taking a shot or two down field early.
Detroit Lions +11 at New Orleans Saints - another fade of the Saints, eh Andy? Yeah, not usually a profitable venture as of late... I'm going to look at the game played just a few weeks ago. The Lions were hanging tough and in the game until the lack of discipline (all day really) really took its toll. Multiple offensive pass interference penalties, and there was the banged up Matthew Stafford. They did not have Louis Delmas and Ndamukong Suh. Also looks like Corey Williams and Aaron Barry will be back in action as well. You have to think the way the Lions have resurrected themselves this year - finally getting all phases rolling, and overcoming adversity (the Suh suspension and Best injury), the worst thing to derail a season would be the continual lack of discipline. I have to think Schwartz drills that into his player's minds all week long. I expect the Lions to make it a close game.
Both for four units. Good luck guys.
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