NFL MATCHUPS WEEK 12
GREEN BAY (10-0) -6 ½ AT DETROIT (7-3)(5 ½) – This is going to be one of the best Thanksgiving Day games in Detroit in some time. At least it means something for the Lions for a change. Green Bay has won 16 games in a row dating back to last season and a Super Bowl victory. Detroit started off 5-0 this season only to go 2-3 in its past 5 games. The Packers are a better team than the Lions for sure, but how much better in Detroit remains to be seen. Both teams are almost mirror images of each other offensively. Neither team really relies on the run too much and both give up more yardage on the ground than they make themselves. The Packers are deeper personnel wise and have Aaron Rodgers. Even though Matt Stafford is a good QB, he’s still young and makes mistakes He’s been picked off 10 times this season. He has an injured finger that is supposedly getting better. Their last two home games, the Lions lost to San Francisco and Atlanta, which proves that the home field advantage there isn’t much of one. The Packers are better than both of those teams. Indoors, Aaron Rodgers’ numbers are unbelievable, something like a 125 QB rating when it’s 72 degrees and no wind. I’M TAKING THE PACKERS MINUS THE POINTS AND THE OVER FOR 4 STARS EACH. Everyone in the country is probably on the same numbers, but I don’t care. If Detroit is going to keep it close (and last weekend they scored 49 points), they’ll have to score at least 31 points in this game. I don’t see Detroit slowing the Packers offense down unless Rodgers gets hurt. Green Bay has played better at home than on the road, but the road doesn’t seem to cause them many problems. CALL 1-800-466-4748 for an updated evaluation of the game after 8 a.m. on THANKSGIVING!
DALLAS (6-4) – 7 OVER MIAMI (3-7)(44) – I HAVE THE COWBOYS RATED AT OK ++. I HAVE THE DOLPHINS RATED AT OK. The Cowboys are sitting at the top of the NFC East after their 3rd straight win over the Washington Redskins last week in overtime. We lost on the Cowboys ATS but they didn’t play all that well and the Redskins blew a couple of chances to win the game outright. This is a perfect opportunity for the Boys to blow a home game against a team that really isn’t all that bad. However, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, DeMarco Murray, and Dez Bryant probably won’t let that happen. However, when you take a look at the number of points that Miami’s defense has given up the last 5 games (18, 20, 3, 9, and 8) you have to say that it’s impressive. Dallas scored 27 points against a decent Skins defense last week, but barely beat a team that Miami handled at home the week before. Reggie Bush should be good on the Dallas turf and Miami’s defense should be able to keep the game close. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME AT THIS TIME. CALL 1-800-466-4748 FOR MY RELEASE ON THANKSGIVING AFTER 11 A.M.
BALTIMORE (7-3) – 3 OVER SAN FRANCISCO (9-1)(39) – For the first time in the history of the NFL, two teams with head coaches that are BROTHERS will face off in a game. Not only are the two head coaches brothers, but their father was a college head coach and scout in the NFL also. It doesn’t get any better than this for a proud mom and dad who will be in attendance in Baltimore tomorrow night. After moving to the 49ers from Stanford University, Jim Harbaugh has proven to be exactly what San Francisco has needed to turn around their franchise. Their defense has played exceptionally. Alex Smith, who some believed would never be a good NFL quarterback is doing a great job at the helm of this offense, which runs more than they pass. The 49ers have covered the spread all but two games this season. They are a FORCE. Frank Gore is a bit knicked up with a sore knee and ankle, but they have an exceptional backup RB in Kendall Hunter. Vernon Davis is one of the top TE’s in the league. Michael Crabtree is improving slowly and Alex Smith seems comfortable throwing to any number of different receivers on his team, including offensive linemen. The Ravens have been inconsistent, but their defense is solid. Ray Lewis sat out last game but did a great job of coaching from the sidelines against the Bengals. Ray Rice has a 4.2 ypc average but needs more touches for sure. He is also their leading receiver. Joe Flacco has struggled at times this season and it looks like Anquan Boldin is slowed by an injury. TE Ed Dickson out of Oregon is a solid receiver at TD and becoming a favorite of Flacco’s. The 49ers have looked at times like world beaters and really haven’t played a bad game yet this season. I HAVE A THEORY AND HERE IT IS!! Look, these guys are brothers and neither one of them wants to lose, but the one brother who CAN’T AFFORD ANOTHER LOSS is John Harbaugh. The 49ers have all but wrapped off the NFC West and their playoff berth. The 49ers are on a short week (so are the Ravens) and even if they have the better of the two teams, I feel that the advantage on Bird Day is with the home team. The 49ers are UNDEFEATED on the road. I look for them to lose their second game of the season against the Ravens in Baltimore. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE RAVENS MINUST THE 3 POINTS TO WIN AND COVER AT A GAME THAT I WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING MY TURKEY DAY NIGHT WITH THE HARBAUGH FAMILY AND MAKE THAT JUST ONE MORE GREAT SPORTING EVENT I’VE BEEN AT IN MY LIFE. 3 STARS NOTHING BIG. Gonna be a big time DEFENSIVE PLAY SO HAVE FUN WITH THE UNDER TOO.