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Best Bet
1. Detroit Lions (-3.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings – Let’s continue with the feel good story of 2011. The Lions are off to a 2-0 start and will make it 3-0 this week. Detroit’s defense will harass QB Donovan McNabb all afternoon and keep RB Adrian Peterson from busting loose.
On the other side of the ball, even with the return of DT Kevin Williams, we expect Stafford and Co. to keep the good times rolling with another big time performance.
Expect Detroit to cover the point spread with a TD victory.
Next
2. Buffalo Bills (+9) vs. New England Patriots – Tom Brady and the Patriots will put up points. A lot of them. The problem is their defense will allow them too. The Bills offense is for real and we expect another shootout this week in Buffalo. We like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Co. to keep this game within reach throughout.
3. Oakland Raiders (+3.5) vs. New York Jets – The Jets travel cross country and are a little beat up on the offensive side of the ball. It’s doubtful C Mangold will play and Sanchez, on top of his early season struggles, is a bit dinged himself.
We like to Raiders to play fired up in their 2011 home opener and could easily pull out a win which would make for a solid money line bet (+160) too.
4. Seattle Seahawks (+3) vs. Arizona Cardinals – See money line bet.
The Rest
San Diego Chargers (-14.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs – The Chargers inexplicable early season struggles under Norv Turner are the only reason they wouldn’t win by more than two TDs. The Chiefs have been beaten 89-10 combined in their 1st two games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5) vs. Atlanta Falcons – Josh Freeman will be the deciding factor here. He alone is worth the 2 points. The Falcons are clearly not the same team as a year ago and they’re fortunate not to be 0-2.
The Bucs overcame a 17 point 2nd half deficit vs. the Vikings to pick up their 1st win of the season. Look for the confidence they gained to carry over…
Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) vs. St. Louis Rams – Unfortunately for the Rams, they’re staring at an 0-3 start to the season. Baltimore was caught in a trap game last week and unable to carry over their emotion from Week 1 (win over Pittsburgh).
The Rams are banged up and still learning how to win. It won’t happen on this day. Expect Baltimore to pull out the seven point victory.
Money Line Bet
Seattle Seahawks (+170) vs. Arizona Cardinals - This is really a game of two sub par teams in a horrendous division, and one that usually goes to the home team.
The Seahawks are off to a rough 0-2 and were dismantled last Sunday in Pittsburgh. However, a few key players could be getting healthy, namely WR Sidney Rice, and this is the Cardinals, a team that’s 1-1 and very beatable on the road.
Look for the 12th man to play its part in Seattle’s home opener and for the Seahawks to pull out a very close win.
* Pro Football 101 is 2-2 in the money line bet this year.
Mitchy33
September 26th, 2011 at 23:57
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awesome calls this week
Pro Football 101» 2011 NFL Suicide Pool Pick – Week 4
September 29th, 2011 at 00:31
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[...] 2. Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks – The Seahawks shouldn’t get too excited after their 13-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals, which we picked for our money line bet in Week 3. [...]