NFL Football Betting - Week 4 Preview
Thursday, September 30, 2010
by BetUS.com
The NFL Football betting has never been the easiest course to plot, with razor-sharp lines and tons of public opinion. And with a wacky opening three weeks of the schedule, filled with shocks and surprises, Week 4 looks about as simple to navigate as the Bermuda Triangle.
In the midst of all this confusion, value is appearing with neither books nor bettors knowing which side is up. Here's a look at three of the most interesting matchups on the Week 4 board:
- Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5, 34.5)
Football fans have been waiting for the Pittsburgh Steelers' bubble to burst since Week 1. However, they keep pushing forward, despite a suspended Ben Roethlisberger and an injured Dennis Dixon. Third-string quarterback Charlie Batch did enough against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 to give the Pittsburgh defense a chance to win, 38-13, as a 2-point road favorite.
The Steelers stop unit is keeping the team afloat, allowing an average of only 11 points.
The Baltimore Ravens will be the biggest test for Pittsburgh this season. They're coming off a win over the Cleveland Browns, getting three touchdown catches from receiver Anquan Boldin in a 24-17 victory, but failing to cover the 12-point spread.
Baltimore may be without star running back Ray Rice on Sunday after he left Week 3's game with a knee injury.
Bettors can expect this line to swing towards the Steelers if Rice is ruled out for Sunday. The total may also dip from its current stand of 34.5 points. While these teams boast notoriously-tough defenses, they have played under the NFL Football betting totals in just one of their past eight head-to-head meetings, going 6-1-1 over/under since December 2006.
[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetUS Sportsbook? Find out more exciting details HERE.]
- Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles (-6, 42.5)
This NFC East showdown is the most hyped game on the Week 4 board. Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb returns to Philly for the first time since being traded to the Washington Redskins this offseason. Add to this dramatic storyline the ongoing saga of Michael Vick as Philadelphia's No. 1 QB and bettors are staring down a very public game that has already taken early action.
BetUS Sportsbook have moved the Eagles from 6.5-point home favorites to -6 as of mid-week. It seems sharp action is siding with McNabb and the Redskins, despite their terrible loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 3. Washington fell 30-16 to the worst team in the NFL, scoring only three points in the second half and failing to cover as 4.5-point road chalk.
The Skins' biggest issue on offense is the lack of a running game, which is averaging just over 74 yards per outing.
The Eagles' offense is blossoming under Vick. The dual-threat QB has kept defenders guessing with his surprising accuracy and quick feet, totaling more than 900 total yards of offense heading into Week 4. However, those numbers came against poor defenses and will be tested against Washington's 3-4 scheme Sunday.
- Chicago Bears at New York Giants (-4, 44)
Despite a 3-0 start (2-1 ATS), early NFL bettors are fading the Chicago Bears' chances of reaching 4-0 on Sunday Night Football.
Books have moved the Bears from 3-point pups to +4, coming off their emotional win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in Week 3. Chicago is in a definite let-down spot against a very desperate New York Giants squad.
New York has looked horrible in its last two games. It took one on the chin from the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, then lost 29-10 to the Tennessee Titans last weekend, failing to cover as a 3-point home favorite. The Giants offense has combined for just 24 points in the last two weeks and watched a huge passing day from Eli Manning go down the tubes after two interceptions and a fumble.
Tom Coughlin's seat is starting to steam in the Big Apple and could be an outright inferno if his past success against Chicago has any bearing on Week 4's outcome.
The Giants are 1-3 straight up and against the spread versus the Bears during Coughlin's time as head coach, with his most recent loss to Chicago coming in 2008. Manning was just 7-of-10 for 51 yards in that 17-3 loss as 3-point road dogs.
Check out the latest football game lines in the BetUS Sportsbook, click here.
Related Articles
- Aengus Moorehead NFL Football Week 5 Betting Picks
- NFL Betting News: Indianapolis Colts with no Surprise Pick Andrew Luck
- NFL Picks: Hapless Minnesota Vikings Visit Pesky Washington Redskins
- Week 15 Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles Poised To Spoil NY Jets Party
- Falling Philadelphia Eagles Crashland West To Meet Seattle Seahawks
Category
Tags
anquan boldin - baltimore ravens - charlie batch - chicago bears - dennis dixon - donovan mcnabb - eli manning - michael vick - monday night football - new york giants
