NFL Week 13 Preview
Coming up to the business end of the NFL season and a few extraordinary lines to pick through this week. This betting blog will each week preview and review the NFL action with a smattering of gambling advice.
Indy @ New England
Let’s kick off with the biggest line of the week. This was traditionally the most competitive and eagerly-awaited fixture of the season for the last decade; now we see the biggest line for four years. The Peyton Manning-less Colts have been hopeless this year, with the cynics suggesting that they are “tanking” the season to ensure they get the chance to sign red-hot college prospect Andrew Luck. But the New England Patriots are not the juggernauts of 2007 (nor even the juggernauts of 2010). They’ve already been upset by Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and the Giants this season, and there is NO WAY they should be laying 21. Grab the points and a dose of Pepto-Bismol and watch this one from behind the sofa.
Big Bet 1: IND + 21
Green Bay @ NY Giants
My first betting mentor always told me that the best bets were the ones that made you feel a bit uncomfortable, a bit sick. Well here’s another game where we’re going to do the exact opposite of what we feel like. We’re going to follow the NY Giants off the cliff again after their miserable losses to Philly and the Saints. Yes they are prone to second-half collapses and yes they have looked woeful in recent weeks. But this is a team with legitimate wins against the likes of Philly, Buffalo, Miami and New England (not a patsy among them) and they shouldn’t be getting a touchdown start at home against anyone- let alone an over-rated Green Bay team whose defence will have Eli licking his lips.
Big Bet 2: NYG + 7
NY Jets @ Washington
For those of you who complain that this betting blog only likes the “dogs”, here’s a favourite to get your teeth into. Yes, we’re going to “lay the chalk” with a Jets team that I have as good as any in the conference. Washington are truly hopeless- after a decent start they have looked miserable of late and laying just a “figgie” against a blue-chipper like the Jets is risible.
Big Bet 3: NYJ -3
Other Games to Watch
Chicago is battling the loss of its starting QB, but I’d be inclined to invest a small wager on them laying “only” a touchdown. At home against the Chiefs (who are very poor travellers), their running game, defence and special teams should be able to get the job done without a standout performance from their trigger man.
Taking on the Saints has been the road to the poorhouse of late, but 9 points sounds awfully high hosting a flawed but talented Lions squad. The Lions are no strangers to a noisy dome and I see them keeping this game within one score.
Anyway, best of luck with your big bets this week. Check back for more gambling advice and a review of these bets early next week. And the codeword for this week’s NFL special is “Captain”.
