Vegas Blows NFL Point Spreads [Archive]

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Noah.Dreams

12-21-2006, 02:06 PM

Vegas seems to have really blown the point spreads this week. I think all of these are questionable.

So answer me this gentlemen! Which one is a sure bet?

Giants over Saints by 3 - I'll take the Saints to win
Steelers over the Ravens by 3 - I'll take the Ravens to win
Jaguars over the Patriots by 3 - I'll take the Patriots to win
Bears over Lions by 5 - I'll take the Bears by 14
Cowboys over Eagles by 7 - I'll take the Cowboys by 14

Kevhugh

12-21-2006, 05:02 PM

I think they're pretty good lines for suckering in some bettors...but the only "sure thing" (which obviously doesn't exist) is the Steelers/Ravens game IMHO.

Noah.Dreams

12-23-2006, 07:24 AM

I would agree with you except for two issues: 1) Nair has stitches in his throwing hand, 2) Cowher may inspire the Steelers in his last game at Three Rivers Stadium.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -The Pittsburgh Steelers have known for weeks that Sunday's game against Baltimore would be their last at home this season. A 2-6 start has a way of making the playoffs look out of reach.

What they don't know is if it will also be Bill Cowher's final home game as their coach, too.

Cowher is weighing whether to retire - he may have already decided to do so - but is refusing to discuss his future until the season ends. His undecided status adds an element of intrigue to what already is one of the NFL's best rivalry games, even though the Steelers (7-7) are long shots to reach the postseason.

"I'm not going to elaborate on it," Cowher said. "We're talking about the Baltimore Ravens."

Remarkably, this is only the third time since 1969, the year before the AFL-NFL merger, the Steelers have gone into their final home game not knowing who would coach them the following season.

Chuck Noll strongly hinted he might retire late in the 1991 season, then did so the day after Christmas. In 1999, the Steelers dropped seven of their final eight amid a rift between Cowher and director of football operations Tom Donahoe. Donahoe was ousted, but Cowher returned, and the Super Bowl-winning coach's status hasn't been in doubt since.

There is considerable doubt now. Cowher's family has relocated to a home in Raleigh, N.C., and he seems to be struggling with whether he wants to keep coaching or be with his family year-around in the city he has chosen to live.

Few in the organization expect this to be Cowher's final NFL season - he is only 49, and seemingly has a lot of coaching left in him. If he passes up the final season of his contract in 2007, it would not be a surprise to the Steelers if he is back with another team on a different sideline as early as 2008.

Ravens coach Brian Billick doesn't know what Cowher plans to do. But he understands why his rival might be looking to get out of the game, if only briefly, after 15 seasons as a head coach and seven more as an NFL assistant.

"Am I surprised that any coach gets worn out? No," Billick said. "The track record for head coaches and heart disease, heart attacks and mental breakdowns and all that stuff is pretty high. The job is not easy to do and Bill has been at it a long time. No one has done it any better."

Cowher's players insist his status has not affected their season, although the Steelers have one more loss than in the previous two seasons combined.

"Nobody talks about it until you guys bring it up," Ben Roethlisberger told a group of reporters.

Maybe that's why no Steelers player has mentioned wanting to beat the AFC North champion Ravens (11-3) any more than usual because Cowher may not coach them in Heinz Field again.

Noah.Dreams

12-23-2006, 07:38 AM

AFC

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (12-2)

Have clinched the West title. Can clinch a first-round bye with a win at Seattle or a loss by Indianapolis. Can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a loss by Baltimore.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-3)

Have clinched the South title. Can clinch a first-round bye with a win at Houston and a loss by Baltimore.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-3)

Have clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch the North title with a loss by Cincinnati.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-4)

Can clinch the East title with a win or tie at Jacksonville or a loss or tie by the New York Jets.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-6)

Can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Denver and losses by Buffalo and the New York Jets or with a win of its own and losses by Buffalo and Jacksonville.

DENVER BRONCOS (8-6)

Can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Cincinnati and losses by Kansas City and the Jets or a win combined with losses by Kansas City and Jacksonville.

- Jacksonville (8-6), Buffalo (7-7), Tennessee (7-7), Pittsburgh (7-7) and Kansas City (7-7) can still make the playoffs but cannot clinch this weekend.

NFC

CHICAGO BEARS (12-2)

Have clinched the North title, a a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-5)

Have clinched the South title. Can clinch a first-round bye with a win against the Giants and a loss by Dallas.

DALLAS COWBOYS (9-5)

Have clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch the East title with a win against the Eagles.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-6)

Can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Dallas. Can also clinch with a tie and a loss by either the Giants, or Atlanta.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-6)

Can clinch the West title with a win or tie against San Diego or a loss or tie by San Francisco.

NEW YORK GIANTS (7-7)

Can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by Minnesota and Atlanta and wins by Philadelphia and Seattle.

- Green Bay (7-8), Carolina (6-8), San Francisco (6-8) and St. Louis (6-8) can still make the playoffs but cannot clinch this weekend.

Noah.Dreams

12-24-2006, 04:51 PM

Week 16 results - Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

Saints 30, Giants 7 - Giants over Saints by 3 - I'll take the Saints to win
Ravens 31, Steelers 7 - Steelers over the Ravens by 3 - I'll take the Ravens to win
Patriots 24, Jaguars 21 - Jaguars over the Patriots by 3 - I'll take the Patriots to win
Bears 26, Lions 21 - Bears over Lions by 5 - I'll take the Bears by 14

Monday Night Football.... Cowboys over Eagles by 7 - I'll take the Cowboys by 14

shanksta13

12-24-2006, 04:53 PM