GAME INFO:

Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals
Game Date/Time:  Sat, Jan 3, 2009 4:30 pm EST : University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona
TV: NBC

THE TEAMS AGAINST THE SPREAD
The Falcons are 8-8 ATS overall, 5-3 ATS away, 1-0 as the favorite and 0-0 as the away favorite

The Cardinals are 9-7 ATS overall, 5-3 ATS at home, 7-3 as the underdog and 3-0 as a home underdog

THE LINE (subject to change)
Atlanta is the favorite by 2 points. The Over/Under is 51 1/2 points

THE PREVIEW
The Falcons played well down the stretch winning 3 of their last 4, but the one negative was Matt Ryan throwing 5 interceptions in his final 4 games. He had just 6 in his first 12 games. The Cardinals do not have a good pass defense and he is forecasted for a strong game with 250 passing yards and a rating of 91 in simulations. However, there is a 52 percent chance he throws 1 or more interceptions and the Falcons win just 35 percent of these simulations. If Ryan throws no interceptions the Falcons have a 58 percent chance of winning. Michael Turner was phenomenal at home this year averaging 129 yards on over 5 ypc, but on the road he averaged just 83 yards on 3.9 ypc. He is forecasted for a good, but not great game with nearly 90 yards. If Turner can dominate on the road like he were at home and have 100+ rushing yards the Falcons have a 68 percent chance of winning. The Cardinals are getting a great 300+ yard, 2 TD performance form Kurt Warner. Both Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are averaging over 90 receiving yards in simulations and there is a 42 percent chance that both have at least 75 yards.

The Arizona Cardinals 5-5 in their last 10 games – losing to playoff teams.  In that stretch they have only beaten the Seahawks and Rams twice and San Francisco once. They lost to New England, Philadelphia and Carolina on the road and to the Giants and Vikings at home.  The Falcons are 7-3 in their last 10 games but have beaten teams like Carolina, San Diego and Minnesota. 

THE PREDICTION
Arizona Cardinals 28  Atlanta Falcons Falcons 24

Expect Kurt Warner to have the game of his life. And the Cardinals will prevail to an overperforming Atlanta Falcons team. Remember, the Cardinals are 7-3 as ATS underdogs and 3-0 ATS as underdog at home during the 2008 regular season.
The Atlanta Falcons are 0-8 ATS after two or more consecutive wins over the last three years.

Take the Cardinals and the 2 points – and take the over in the parlay bet

GAME INFO
Teams: Cleveland Browns Vs. Tennessee Titans
Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008
Time: 1:00 P.M. EST
Venue: LP Field, Nashville, Tenn
TV: CBS

SPREAD
Tennessee Titans ( -10 1/2 ) Under/Over (37 1/2)
The spread has actually shrunk from 14 points to 10 1/2

TEAM STATS
The Cleveland Browns are 4-8 this year. They are 3-2 on the road, 1-3 in the AFC North and 3-6 in their conference. They have score only 213 points while giving up 247.

The Tennessee Titans are 11-1. They are 5-1 at home, 4-0 in the AFC South and 7-1 in their conference. They are in first place in the AFC. The Tians have scored 304 points while giving up only 175.

PREVIEW
This is a contest that clearly looks to be lopsided and unless the Titans shoot themselves in the foot, it will be tough for the Browns to come up with a victory. The Browns did play well defensively in last week’s loss and could make it a game, if the Titans don’t play at a high level. But with so many critical injures — QB Brady Quinn, QB Derek Anderson and TE Kellen Winslow — Tennessee could dominate this contest. Look for Cleveland to play hard and the Browns’ coaching staff will be creative in developing its game plan, including a Wildcat-type philosophy.

KEY INJURIES
The Cleveland Browns are without their two starting quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. TE phenon Kellen Wiislow is also out. It looks like the Titans could dominate this contest.

MORE INFO
The Tennessee Titans completed a late run to the playoffs last year with a victory in the final game of the NFL regular season. This season, the Titans don’t have to wait until the last minute to make plans for January. Tennessee can wrap up its first division title since 2002 on Sunday when it hosts Cleveland, the team it beat out for the AFC’s final wild card berth a year ago. The Browns and Titans were both 9-6 heading into Week 17 last season.

PREDICTION
Tennessee Titans in a blowout. 31-6
Cleveland is out of the playoff race and are going with an untested quarterback. The Titans can wrap up the Division title with a win on Sunday.

Oakland Raiders (3-9, 2-4) vs San Diego Chargers (4-8, 3-3) 

Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 2008
Kickoff:  8:15 PM ET
Location: Qualcom Field

The Line: San Diego giving 8 points    Under/Over 42 1/2

Matchup
Oakland is 3-9.  They have scored 172 points while giving up 265. They are 2-4 on the road and 2-3 in their division

San Diego is 4-8. They have scored 290 points while giving up 274. They are 3-3 at home and 2-1 in their division.

PREVIEW 
The San Diego Chargers haven’t had a losing season in five years. It’s been just as long since their last loss to the Oakland Raiders. Possibly the most disappointing team of this NFL season wants to make sure neither of those streaks end Thursday night, with the Chargers hosting the Raiders and looking to avoid putting their slim playoff hopes at risk this weekend.

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
San Diego leads 11-4

MORE INFO
Both of these teams lost last week, and with the Broncos’ victory over the Jets, the lowly AFC West looks to be all but wrapped up. Neither the Chargers nor the Raiders have much hope for a wild-card berth. The Chargers were beaten at home by Atlanta in just about every area of the game, while Oakland lost to a Chiefs team that had just one win for the season. San Diego won the first contest 28-18 in Week 4, and both teams will be playing for pride on a national stage.

KEY FACTORS
If the Chargers lose they are out. Raiders are already out.  Chargers are playing for their lives.

Chargers are on a three-game losing streak, equaling the longest he’s seen since joining the Chargers in 2004. San Diego hasn’t dropped four straight since an 0-5 start in 2003, and one of those losses was a 34-31 defeat in Oakland.

The Raiders (3-9) have lost all 10 meetings since that game, and only one of the last seven has been decided by fewer than 10 points.

AGAINST THE SPREAD
Just as expected, considering the Chargers beat the Raiders in their visit to Oakland in September by 10 points (28-18).  When wagering on these betting numbers, keep in mind that Oakland is 2-4 against the spread in its last 6 games and has won only 4 of its last 25 games on the road. Meanwhile San Diego is 9-4 against the spread in its last 13 games at home, but 10-1 against the spread in its last 11 games when playing Oakland. Also, the total has gone UNDER in 7 of the Chargers last 8 games when playing at home against the Raiders.

PREDICTION
Chargers 35-21