Category: NFL (Page 31 of 1282)

      Can the Kansas City Chiefs keep it going?

      October 27, 2013 /

      The Kansas City Chiefs had the top pick in the latest NFL draft, and now they’re sitting at 7-0 with everyone calling Andy Reid a genius. But are they really that good, and does this make them a good bet in Vegas?

      Andy Reid deserves a ton of credit for turning around this team. Everything revolves around the defense, where the Chiefs already had a lot of talent. They play very aggressive defense and they’v been causing a ton of turnovers. With the defense being the core, Reid went out and got Alex Smith to fit into his natural role as a game manager. The Chiefs love to run the ball, and then they don’t ask Smith to take any chances. This conservative approach has been critical to their success so far this season.

      Still, is this sustainable? With an excellent defense they of course will be a contender all season long. But will they keep getting the critical turnovers? There’s always some luck associated with that. The Chiefs have had the good fortune of playing some terrible football teams. Also, they’ve faced a string of backup quarterbacks in Case Keenum and Ryan Fitzpatrick, and this week they get Jason Campbell. Later this year reality may set in as they will face Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning twice, Philip Rivers twice and RG3.

      Then we have the issue of the offense. How long can they ride Alex Smith and his low yards per attempt numbers?

      If you look at the NFL lines this week you’ll see the Chiefs as a 7.5 favorite over the Cleveland Browns. This game is interesting for a number of reasons. With Campbell starting, it’s really impossible to predict what we’ll see with the Cleveland offense. If he’s rusty or plays like he did last year, the Chiefs will have another win to celebrate. But if he can be a competent quarterback like the guy who was 4-2 in 2011 with the Raiders before getting hurt, then the Browns be come a formidable opponent.

      The Browns do have an aggressive defense, and DC Ray Horton has promised to let them get more aggressive this week now that they’re healthy. And while he didn’t say it, Alex Smith is no Aaron Rodgers. The Browns will likely stack the box and blitz often in order to stuff the running game and dare Smith to throw passes downfield.

      So be careful of this game. With the large spread this one seems like a coin flip that will turn on the unpredictable play of Jason Campbell. And if you’re in a n elimination pool, then this is a classic trap game. It should be a fun one to watch.

      NFL

      Bud Light NFL Fans Superstition Survey

      October 26, 2013 /

      Bud-Light-Most-Superstitious

      Bud Light – the official beer of the NFL – recently conducted a survey to find the most superstitious fans in the NFL.

      More than 9,500 interviews were fielded among the 32 NFL team fan bases, including approximately 300 fan interviews per team.

      More than 50 questions were asked and, out of that, an “NFL Fan Superstition Index” formed. The index calculates the superstition level of each NFL fan base by each fan’s game-day habits – everything from wearing dirty jerseys, chanting and kissing team trinkets to superstition consistency and true belief levels – and aggregates those into a score from 0 to 100. In addition to ranking the teams, the survey also gathered open-ended responses from fans about their individual superstitious activities.

      The result is a fascinating glimpse inside the minds of NFL fans who will do whatever it takes for the win. After all, it’s only weird if it doesn’t work:

      – Super Bowl and superstition champions: Baltimore Ravens fans rank as the most superstitious in the NFL.
      – That’s dedication: Carolina Panthers fans are four times more likely than the average NFL fan to have a relationship end due to their game-day superstitions (8% versus the NFL fan average of 2%).
      – New Orleans Saints fans are most likely to say a certain saying, phrase, cheer or song for the win (37%).
      – New York Jets fans are most likely to try to curse or jinx the opposing team (37%).
      – Some quality me time: Detroit Lions fans are most likely to engage in superstitious activities alone (30%).
      – Lucky duds: Oakland Raiders fans are most likely to wear the same article of clothing (51%) or same hat or non-clothing accessory (38%) to boost team performance.
      – Arizona Cardinals fans are most likely to grab a Bud Light for the win; 27% incorporate the official beer sponsor of the NFL into their game-day superstitions or rituals.

      To check out stats relating to YOUR favorite NFL team, follow this link.

      Humor, NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      College Football Week 7, NFL Week 6 Free Picks

      October 12, 2013 /

      No. 25 Missouri vs. No. 7 Georgia, 12:00PM ET
      The Tigers are back in the AP top 25 for the first time in two years and are coming off a 51-28 drubbing of Vanderbilt on the road last Saturday. Quarterback James Franklin has looked sharp in the early going and has weapons at his disposal in Henry Josey and dynamic playmaker Dorial Green-Beckham. On the other side, No. 7 Georgia barely escaped Knoxville with a victory last weekend and is severely banged up offensively. The Bulldogs will be without running backs Keith Marshall and Todd Gurely, as well as recievers Michael Bennett and Justin Scott-Wesley. And while quarterback Aaron Murray has put on a show in back-to-back weeks, the defense still has plenty of holes after losing a handful of starters to the NFL draft back in April. Georgia is tough to beat in between the hedges, but look for Mizzou to keep things tight.
      FREE PICK: MISSOURI +7.5

      No. 9 Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss, 8:30PM ET
      Two weeks ago there was plenty of chatter surrounding the 3-0 Rebels as they headed into Tuscaloosa. But following a 25-0 blanking at the hands of Alabama and a 30-22 upset last week versus Auburn, Ole Miss has once again fallen off the map. On the other side, A&M has completely regrouped following its loss to Alabama. The Aggies thumped a hapless SMU squad 42-13 before out-pacing Arkansas 45-33 two weeks ago in Fayetteville. Kevin Sumlin’s team is well rested coming off the bye and more importantly his defense has started to show signs of life. The spread is too low for this game, as “Johnny Football” and Co. should roll.
      FREE PICK: TEXAS A&M -6

      Steelers at Jets, 1:00PM ET
      It was impressive to watch Geno Smith lead the Jets to a huge road victory over the Falcons on Monday Night Football, but suddenly the national media has made him into Randall Cunningham. Thanks to a rash of injuries the Falcons were without their starting running back, left tackle, middle linebacker, one of their outside linebackers, one of their starting defensive ends and were forced to play a hobbled Roddy White and Julio Jones because their reciveving corps is so thin. In other words, what the Jets did was impressive but they didn’t exactly beat the same Atlanta team that came within 10 yards of going to the Super Bowl last year. The Steelers are coming off their bye and thus, should have had plenty of time to regroup and iron out their issues on both sides of the ball. While it’s shocking to see the Giants at 0-6 on the year, it would be even more surprising to watch the Steelers fall to 0-5.
      FREE PICK: STEELERS +1

      Rams at Texans, 1:00PM ET
      The Texans are in the middle of a freefall because quarterback Matt Schaub can’t protect the football. He’s had an interception returned for a touchdown in four straight games and has seemingly lost his confidence. That said, Houston’s running game has remained effective and its defense still boasts the likes of Brian Cushing and J.J. Watt, who is the best interior defensive lineman in the league. The Rams are coming off a win over the winless Jaguars but they still struggle with penalties, third down conversions on both sides of the ball, and run defense. Sam Bradford has also reverted back into a check-down machine and should be under constant duress in Houston. Look for the Texans to get back on track on Sunday.
      FREE PICK: TEXANS -7.5

      College Football, NFL

      College Football Week 6, NFL Week 5 Free Picks

      October 5, 2013 /

      LSU vs. Mississippi State, 7:00PM ET
      Zach Mettenberger joined the Heisman race with his stellar performance last Saturday versus Georgia. Unfortunately for him and the rest of the Tigers, the defense was downright brutal trying to defend Aaron Murray and the UGA offense. LSU has issues in its defensive backfield and it uncharacteristically didn’t generate any pressure with its front four last weekend. The Tigers are 0-3-1 against the spread in their last four conference games, while the Bulldogs are 5-1 against the number in their last six home games and 5-1 ATS in their last six home games versus a team with a winning road record. Take the value with the home dog.
      FREE PICK: MISSISSIPPI STATE +7

      Arizona State vs. Notre Dame, 7:30PM ET
      While Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix remain some of the best defenders in the country, Notre Dame’s defense hasn’t been nearly as impressive this season as it was a season ago. Meanwhile, junior quarterback Taylor Kelly has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of Arizona State’s first four games and junior transfer Jaelen Strong has racked up 433 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Fighting Irish could have a difficult time keeping up on the fast track of Cowboys Stadium and their offense isn’t nearly consistent enough to keep pace. Brian Kelly’s squad is 0-5-1 against the spread in its last six games overall and 0-3-1 ATS in its last four games versus a team with a winning record. Lay the points with ASU.
      FREE PICK: ARIZONA STATE -6

      Lions vs. Packers, 1:00PM ET
      The Lions are coming off a statement game against the Bears but they’ve always struggled in Green Bay. They’re 0-4 against the spread in their last four games versus the Packers and 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 trips to Lambeau Field. Detroit has also had trouble over the years away from Ford Field, and is 1-4 against the number in its lat five road games. Green Bay should be well rested coming off the bye and is well aware that it can’t fall further behind in the NFC North. Expect Aaron Rodgers’ best effort and for the Pack to win in a rout.
      FREE PICK: PACKERS -7

      Saints vs. Bears, 1:00PM ET
      The Saints are firing on all cylinders offensively, while Rob Ryan has made an immediate impact for their defense. Despite injuries, Ryan is getting the most out of his players and is generate consistent pressure on a weekly basis. That said, the Saints are coming off a short week of practice and had to leave a day early for Chicago because of inclement weather. Not only has their routine been affected, but they’re also taking on a Bears team that will be plenty pissed off after their ugly performance a week ago in Detroit. The Bears are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game, while the home team is 4-0-2 ATS in the last six meetings between these two teams.
      FREE PICK: BEARS PICK’EM

      Keep tabs on the latest football lines at www.canadiansportsbooks.ca.

      College Football, NFL

      Bucs release Josh Freeman

      October 3, 2013 /

      The ridiculous Josh Freeman drama has ended, at least in an official sense, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have finally released him.

      The Greg Schiano debacle continues, however. Schiano has become a caricature of the blustery college coach who pulls all sorts of stunts to make himself look tough to his players, only to end up alienating all of them on his way to the unemployment line. It was obvious even before this clown pulled off the victory-formation fiasco last year.

      The fact that he chased away Josh Freemen might be the least of his mistakes though, as Freemen was good but also inconsistent. He really needs to improve before anyone will consider him a championship-caliber quarterback, and there’s no guarantee he ever will. For his own sake, he might want to focus on getting a great backup job in a place like Green Bay where he can learn under Aaron Rodgers or maybe in San Francisco where he can be an ideal backup to Colin Kaepernick.

      We haven’t heard the last of this story. I suspect Schiano won’t survive the season.

      NFL

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