The Sports Bookie Blog

NFL & NCAAF Weekend Game Preview And Analysis

September 25th, 2009

Here’s a second take on the Week Three NFL Betting action, this time from the team at Bodog Sportsbook.

It looks so easy watching it on television – just advance the ball 10 yards, and you get four downs to do it. But football teams in the pros and in college have to design increasingly complex offensive strategies to move the ball downfield against defenders that get bigger, faster, and stronger every year. It can take a game or two to work the bugs out. Not coincidentally, the over was the winning football bet in both the NFL (9-7) and FBS (34-30) last week.

We’ll see if the nation’s offenses continue to mature this week. All times are Eastern; for the latest football betting lines, visit Bodog Sports.

Saturday: No. 9 Miami-Florida at No. 11 Virginia Tech (3:30 p.m., ABC)

The Hurricanes (2-0 SU and ATS) are 3-point road favorites and getting plenty of attention in their return to the national spotlight. The offense is rolling with QB Jacory Harris (five touchdowns and five picks in two games) earning some early Heisman buzz as a sophomore. And QB Tyrod Taylor finagled a win for Virginia Tech (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) last week against Nebraska. But the Cornhuskers run defense was good enough to cash in as a 5-point puppy, and Miami is also stout against the run. Taylor picked up negative yardage in each of Tech’s two ATS losses. The ‘Canes are 1-7 ATS in their last eight yearly visits to Lane Stadium, with the under at 5-2.

Saturday: Iowa at No. 5 Penn State (8:00 p.m., ABC)

Last year’s 11-win season (7-4-1 ATS) and trip to the Rose Bowl put at least a temporary end to the questions surrounding the abilities of Penn State’s octogenarian coach, Joe Paterno. The Lions are off to another strong start at 3-0, but only 0-3 ATS, failing to cover spreads of nearly 30 points in each game. They’re laying only 10 points (–105) this week, and it’s to the only team that beat them in the regular season last year, the Hawkeyes (3-0 SU, 2-0 ATS). Iowa will blitz Penn State QB Darryl Clark (eight TDs, three INTs) and take advantage of the holes in his offensive line. That should keep the game fairly close as Iowa attempts to mask its own deficiencies in protecting QB Ricky Stanzi (five TDs, three INTs). The underdog is 7-2 against the football odds in their last nine matchups.

Sunday: Tennessee at N.Y. Jets (1:00 p.m., CBS)

The Jets are one of this year’s early and pleasant surprises at 2-0 SU and ATS under first-year head coach Rex Ryan and first-year QB Mark Sanchez (91.3 passer rating). The Titans, on the other hand, are 0-2 (1-1 ATS) after losing to Pittsburgh and Houston by a field goal. The spread for this matchup is also Jets –3 (+105) with a low, low total of 37. Without the gigantic and versatile Albert Haynesworth on the defensive line, Tennessee’s pass rush has taken a step back this year, while Sanchez is getting excellent protection from left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

Sunday: New Orleans at Buffalo (4:05 p.m., FOX)

The Bills have been even more surprising than the Jets, nearly upsetting the Patriots (-13) in the season opener and beating the Buccaneers (+4) quite handily. QB Trent Edwards (104.9 passer rating) has responded nicely to the simplified playbook of new offensive co-ordinator Alex Van Pelt, although he has been sacked six times already. The Saints’ offense exploded in a pair of easy wins over the Lions (+14) and the injured Eagles (+2.5). That gives us a massive total of 52 points for Sunday’s matchup with the Bills getting six points (-105) on their own field. Buffalo is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 home games as an underdog.

Sunday: Indianapolis at Arizona (8:20 p.m., NBC)

Although Peyton Manning (110.3 passer rating) has a pair of 300-yard passing games and a pair of victories under his belt, the Colts (1-1 ATS) are gaining very little on the ground and were fortunate to win both times. The Cardinals (1-1 SU and ATS) rebounded from a poor opener to beat Jacksonville (–3) in one of QB Kurt Warner’s finest games ever: 24-for-26, 243 yards, two TDs. The Cards are also getting positive results from first-round pick Beanie Wells (5.2 yards per carry). They’re 2.5-point home faves on Sunday night with a total of 48.

Football season is in full swing – and the Bodog Sportsbook has all the Football lines to keep you going!

Entry Filed under: NCAAF College Football,NFL Football,Sports Betting,US Football