The NFL Thread

8-2 record so far this weekend +5.8pts so far with 2 games to play brilliant weekend so far..

A 10 for 2 weekend for me for 7.8 pts profit which have more than halfed my previous weeks losses (maybe I've figured this season out....) only 7.19pts down now..

Didn't get a chance to post these up earleir so I will no, not doing as well as last week:

Indianapolis -2 @1.95
New Orleans -6.5 @1.95
Houston -6 @ 2.0
Buffilo +2.5 @ 2.0
NY Giants -9.5 @1.95
Pittsburgh -3.5 @2.05
San Frascisco -3 @2.0
San Diego -3.5 @2.0
Atlanta +5.5 @ 2.0

4-4 from the games that are done so far and +0.05 pts, profit for the week all comes down to Atlanta who host Green Bay...

A Few Picks for Sunday/Monday

Atlanta -4 @ 1.95
Chicago -3 @ 2.2
Indianapolis +7 @ 1.95
New England -6.5 @ 2.0
New Orleans -5.5 @ 1.95
NY Jets -7 @ 2.0

I've not really been around much here, but thought I'd drop in and say that teh 30.0 on Betfair for the Bears for the Super Bowl is phenominal value. Anyone who's not sure the 4 divisional winners (North, South, East and West) from each conftence (National and American i.e NFL and AFC) are joined by the two teams with the best over all records in the playoffs. It may sond bigheaded but I can see the bears being unbeaten till christmas (and to bounch back after they lose to green bay the following week)

Considering that they are currently in a wild card spot 30.0 is too big for them and will make a great trade.

The standings are below - Every one else is 3-6 or worse.



1. Green Bay Packers NCN 9 0 0 1.000 320 186 134 39 4-0 5-0 3-0 1.000 7-0 1.000 2-0 9W 5-0
2. San Francisco 49ers NCW 8 1 0 .889 233 138 95 23 4-1 4-0 1-0 1.000 6-1 .857 2-0 7W 5-0
3. New Orleans Saints NCS 7 3 0 .700 313 228 85 35 4-0 3-3 3-1 .750 4-3 .571 3-0 2W 3-2
4. New York Giants NCE 6 3 0 .667 218 211 7 27 3-1 3-2 1-1 .500 3-3 .500 3-0 1L 3-2
5. Detroit Lions NCN 6 3 0 .667 252 184 68 28 2-2 4-1 2-1 .667 4-3 .571 2-0 1L 2-3
6. Chicago Bears NCN 6 3 0 .667 237 187 50 25 4-1 2-2 2-2 .500 6-3 .667 0-0 4W 4-1
7. Dallas Cowboys NCE 5 4 0 .556 223 182 41 22 4-1 1-3 1-1 .500 4-2 .667 1-2 2W 3-2
8. Atlanta Falcons NCS 5 4 0 .556 212 196 16 24 2-2 3-2 1-2 .333 4-4 .500 1-0 1L 3-2
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers NCS 4 5 0 .444 156 233 -77 15 3-3 1-2 2-1 .667 3-4 .429 1-1 3L 1-4

One loss is on the cards of course Pete, when they play the mighty Raiders ( we will do you a favour and beat the Lions as well ), but I do see your point. Any team that runs the ball well and can create turnovers ( plus an X Factor in Devin Hester ) has always got a chance. Still not utterly convinced by the Niners, but the Pack do look good

Sky have picked the Bears / Raiders game as well Pete, which I think is right, given the play off implications

Excellent, I look forward to it. This Weeks bears games on ESPN aswell so all in all a good couple of weeks, and hopefully with flexible scheduling we'll get a few more games picked up either by Sky or Ch4.

Just looking at my picks for thsi weekend, and I've picked 5 games, 3 of which I've picked NFC North teams in...

Chicago -3.5 vs San Diego @ 1.95 (ESPN 9pm)
Detroit -7 vs Carolina @ 2.01
Miami -1.5 vs Buffalo @1.95
Philidelphia +5 at NY Giants @ 1.95 (CH4 1am)
Green Bay -14 vs Tampa Bay @1.95

Of course if Green Bay and Detroit get turned over then you won't hear me complaining (unless the still win but just dont cover the spread!)

Landed 4/5 with green bay winning but not by the massive 14 that was needed. Disaster for the bears though as it seems QB Jay Cutler has broken his thumb. The bears playoff hopes could now rest firmly in the hands of Matt Forte for the next few weeks.

Slightly off topic but do you guys have any opinions on the Cleveland Browns - and its owner at all ?

Don't know a deal about Randy Lerner, but he seems to keep quite a low profile. Seems quite popular in Cleveland as his family bought football back to the city ( The previous franchise had upped sticks and moved to Baltimore ) From all accounts he is a tough businessman but also quite the philanthropist Football wise the team has not done a lot in recent years, but it is always a tough place to visit.

It's thanksgiving and that means one thing. Live triple header on sky sports 3!

10-0 Green Bay go to Detroit to defend their unbeaten record. Last.time green bay were 10-0 was almost half a century ago, and it all fell.awry on a thanksgiving visit to Detroit..

Miami are at Dallas and are given a 7pt start at 1.95. That should be enough in what should be a close one.

San Francisco go to Baltimore in what will be the NFLs first match where two brothers are opposing head coaches. Add to that that both.are in.contentio ffor a playoff spot and there.could well be fireworks at their parents 50th wedding anniversary party tomorrow. I'm on san Francisco +3 at 2.15

Green Bay are now 11-0 after their win over Detroit. Dallas beat Miami by 1pt with a last play of the game FG in a game that couldn't have been closer and to land the first Thanksgiving bet

5 picks for tomorrow:

Arizona Money Line @ St Louis - 2.15
Atlanta -9 vs Minnesota - 1.95
Tennessee -3.5 vs Tampa Bay - 2.17
San Diego -6 vs Denver - 2.04
Kansas City +10.5 vs Pittsburgh - 1.95

And of course its Raiders v Bears at 9 on Sky Sports, Samoan you're going down!

As Pete says it is OAKLAND v CHICAGO tonight live on SS3. The Bears are without QB Jay Cutler, but the Raiders are without star running back Darren McFadden. There are also injuries amongst the Raiders receiving corps and I doubt if both of Darius Heyward - Bey and Denarius Moore will play. Game really could go either was and with Jacoby Ford also out the Bears definitely have the advantage on Special Teams. I can certainly envisage Devin Hester returning one a long way and the Raiders coverage will have to be solid. Due to the uncertainty amongst the receivers CHAZ SCHILLENS is a decent bet to score 1st. I have backed him along with MARCEL REESE and KEVIN BOSS. For the Bears there are worse bets than EARL BENNETT at 14's.

I will let Pete tell you the result of the CHICAGO v OAKLAND match and instead concentrate on tonight's clash between SEATTLE and PHILLY. Season looks over for both, but I do expect a narrow Philly win. Betting wise, not getting too involved but LEON WASHINGTON ( Seattle ) and VINCE YOUNG ( QB Philly ) both have some appeal as first touchdown scorers, both being available at 20's.

Thats the end of the regular season and I thought i'd share with you all my picks for for Championships and Superbowl. In the AFC its got to be New England, the 2.1 is a little stingy though. If you fancied an Upset I would have to say third favourtites Pittsburgh at 5.0 (I make them the second best team in the confrence)

In the NFC don't believe the Green Bay hype. New Orleans at 4.33 are the best team in the confrence and are massively over priced because Green Bay went 15-1 on an easy schedule. That is also my pick for the superbowl at 6.3 on betfair, 6.0 with the books, The New Orleans Saints!

Do think the NFC looks stronger and think the winner will come form one of these teams. Pats won't be far away, but their D will have to step it up.

As for our 2 teams Pete, I think both were capable of making the post season, but key injuries stopped their momentum. Oakland were pretty poor in the red zone and not having their key play - maker in Darren McFadden was a huge problem. Chicago were in with a big shout, but any team losing their QB and star running back in quick succession, would struggle. The irony of Marion Barber ( going out of bounds to stop the clock against Denver, when they had no time - outs left and then fumbling in OT ) being one of the reasons the Raiders missed the play - off's is not lost on me, but to be fair we just needed to win our final game and failed miserably. Changes will need to be made and the points conceded to the better teams shows how far we still have to go.

It is gutting that Denver made it on the back of miracle comebacks and other teams unforced error's, but I did have a horrible feeling, that it was their season. On this not the Saturday Night Live Tim Tebow sketch is definitely worth a look.

Its utterly shocking that Denver made it, and sorry Samoan, but San Diego were robbed. The other team I feel bad about missing out is the Eagle to the Giants but that was all their own doing and despite not making the playoffs they are still probably in the best 5 teams in the league.