NFL Odds Preview for December 5, 2010: Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins (-4.5)

Betting Overview:

The Cleveland Browns appear to be on the right track. The NFL scores that rookie quarterback Colt McCoy was putting up while Jake Delhomme was out were impressive. But head coach Eric Mangini did the right thing and put Delhomme back in when he was healthy. The NFL predictions for this season may not have been too impressive for the Browns, but there may be playoff expectations in the Dawg Pound for next season. The Browns offense and defense are developing together, and that is always a healthy way for a bad team to get better.

It looks like the Miami Dolphins have peaked, and now head coach Tony Sparano is trying to piece together a winner out of what he has left. Quarterback Chad Henne was benched, but a season-ending injury to Chad Pennington has put Henne back in the starting role. The wildcat is still a staple part of the Dolphins’ offense, but now that every defense in the league has figured out it is no longer nearly as effective as it used to be. What is still effective in the Dolphins offense is running back Ricky Williams. Williams looked impressive in the Dolphins’ 33-17 win over the surging Oakland Raiders last week.

Offense:

The NFL betting world was not sure what to make of the Cleveland Browns offense before the season started. Quarterback Jake Delhomme was coming off some pretty poor seasons as the starter in Carolina, but the Eric Mangini offense seems to work for Delhomme and he looks comfortable throwing the ball behind a mediocre Browns offensive line. The best part for Cleveland is that Delhomme is helping to develop quarterback Colt McCoy into the Browns quarterback of the future. With running back Peyton Hillis finding a place in the Cleveland offense, the Browns look like they will be a threat in the future.

It seems like the Dolphins are either running out of options on offense, or Miami has decided that a traditional offense is more appropriate with a throwing quarterback like Chad Henne. Don’t forget that the Dolphins still have a deep threat in Brandon Marshall at wide receiver, and Marshall should be back in the line up before the end of the season. The Dolphins have the personnel for a coordinated and powerful running and passing attack without the wildcat.

Defense:

The Dolphins have a very good defense. The Miami defense is ranked sixth overall, but it is their play against the passing game that has sustained them to this point. If the Dolphins focus on stopping Delhomme, then Hillis will run right past them. This will be a war that the Dolphins will need to fight on two fronts, and they have the personnel to do it.

The Cleveland defense is young, aggressive and improving. Miami will miss Brandon Marshall in this game. The long ball would kill the Browns in this game, but Miami will have to rely on the running game and the Browns have an answer for Ricky Williams.

The Bottom Line:

The Dolphins will win this game, but it will be close. Ricky Williams will not have the game everyone is expecting him to have, but there is just enough balance in the Miami attack to come out of this game on top.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Miami Dolphins

Magnificent Viking debut of Leslie Frazier Against the Redskins

Great welcome from the Minnesota Vikings to Leslie Frazier in his debut as head coach at home, beating the Washington Redskins 17-13 in a tight marker.

The first blow was made by Redskins tight end Fred Davis as the quarterback of the red tribe sent a pass 10 yards for a touchdown.

But the Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre had a great performance in two key offensive that ended in scoring, hit 3 of 3 in the first possession, which resulted in a carry into the end zone from five yards of the graduate of Oklahoma Adrian Peterson, to bring the score tied at 7-7.

Peterson had to leave in the second quarter after an ankle injury, giving the opportunity to rookie Stanford running back Toby Gerhart (# 32).

Favre, 41, went 5-5 in their first offensive in the second half, culminating with a touchdown acarrero five yards of Gerhart, who finished the match with 22 runs for 76 yards (14-7).

Both NFL betting teams had two more field goals leaving the score 17-13.

In the last stretch of the meeting, on third and eight to move forward, just before the break of two minutes, "The General" ran to find the first down to run out the clock, and he succeeded to the noise of their peers.

Thus, at the National Conference, Washington is at 5-6 in the AL East while the Vikings broke a losing streak at nine games, less than a week after coach Brad Childress left the squad Minnesota and is in the North Division with 4-7.

Favre finished with 23 passes thrown, 15 completed for 172 yards, while McNabb was not the victory as a gift for his 34th birthday, on 25 November was a record full 35 pitches with 21 for 211 yards with one touchdown and a intecepción.

In the game, note is the Vikings' defensive line, who managed to catch McNabb 4.

Bet On NCAA Football – Broncos Aim To Continue Rolling Against Wolf Pack

Those who bet on NCAA football have seen Boise State dominate the WAC, as they’ve won seven conference titles since 2002, and they can clinch at least a share of one final title before they head to the Mountain West when they head to Nevada on Friday night. More importantly, the Broncos will likely jump up in the BCS rankings with a decisive win as they look for their 18th straight win on the road.

Boise State Nevada Betting – Friday, 10:15 PM ET

The No.4 Broncos (10-0, 6-0) got off to a slow start, but got back on track quickly for a 51-0 shutout of Fresno State at home. Kellen Moore was 27-of-38 for 333 yards, four touchdowns and a pick as the Broncos racked up 516 yards of offense, while holding Fresno State to a mere 125 yards, stopping them on 11 of 12 third-down opportunities. On the other hand, the Broncos converted 10 of their 13 chances to move the chains on third down, and any online football betting player will tell you how important that is to a team’s success.

The Wolf Pack (10-1, 5-1) raced out to a 31-3 halftime lead and never looked back in a 52-6 rout out New Mexico State at home, and turnovers were the story of this game. Nevada allowed New Mexico State to gain 309 yards, but they forced three turnovers and ran one pick back for a score. Colin Kaepernick was 15-of-27 for 251 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 35 yards and another score for the Wolf Pack, who had 494 yards of their own. The Nevada defense did a great job on third down, stopping New Mexico on 15 of 20 opportunities, and that also had a big hand in the win.

Your pay per head sportsbook has the Broncos as 14-point favorites on the road, and they’re 9-0 against the Wolf Pack in the WAC. In fact, the Broncos have won 10 in a row over the Wolf Pack, last losing back in 1998, which was at Nevada. The Wolf Pack are an extremely talented team, and they’ll probably hang with the Broncos for the first half due to Kaepernick’s ability to beat you with his legs as well as his arm. But the Broncos are just too strong, ranking second in the country in defense and fourth on offense, and they’re deeper than people give them credit for. That depth will allow them to wear down the Wolf Pack in the second half. Also, the Broncos prepare for every team the same, whether you’re Virginia Tech, Fresno State or Nevada, and that preparation will pay off in spades on Friday. Take Boise State to cover the sports betting spread.

NFL Betting Preview for November 25, 2010: Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Jets (-9)

Betting Overview:

NFL betting fans who love to gorge on Thanksgiving Day football were happy when a third game was added to the holiday schedule. The Cincinnati Bengals have very little to be thankful for this season as they have failed to live up to their preseason NFL predictions. The NFL scores racked up by the Bengals have shown a team that is out of sync on offense, and out of luck on defense.

The New York Jets touted themselves as the next Super Bowl champions before the season started, but few believed that a team with no depth could possibly go very far in the playoffs. To this point, the Jets have been incredibly fortunate not to have any major injuries to key players and that is what has made them the best team in the AFC. The Jets dominate on both sides of the ball, and have one of the best offensive lines in football. But the thing that has really carried the Jets to this point is that they make very few mistakes on offense or defense.

Offense:

The greatest fear of all other AFC teams is starting to materialize; Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez actually is turning into a pressure quarterback. In the dying seconds of last week’s game against the Houston Texans, Sanchez led the Jets to a game winning touchdown that looked like something Marion or Elway had orchestrated. A long bomb to Braylon Edwards followed up by a touch pass to Santonio Holmes sealed the game for the Jets. It is wins like that which are making the Jets into a Super Bowl contender.

The Bengals offense is just all off. Cincinnati went into the locker room at halftime against the Buffalo Bills up 31-14. That should have been lights out for the Bills, but Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is so fixated on getting the ball to wide receiver Terrell Owens that he is ignoring a wide open Chad Ochocinco. On one occasion in the Bills game, Ochocinco was standing all alone in the endzone as Palmer threw the ball over the middle and incomplete. Running back Cedric Benson is showing signs of giving up on the season, and Terrell Owens himself continues to put pressure on the offense to perform.

Defense:

The Jets have one of the top defenses in the league. By all accounts, over the past three or four weeks, the Jets have the top defense in the league followed closely by the Green Bay Packers. The Jets have Antonio Cromartie and Darelle Revis shutting down both sides of the field in the passing game. That allows the defensive line to tee-off on the run and get to the quarterback. There is very little that an offense can do to trick or beat the New York Jets defense.

The Bengals defense completely collapsed against the Buffalo Bills last week. Cincinnati could not stop the run or the pass at all in the second half. Towards the end of the game it looked like the Bengals defense gave up and the Bills were walking into the endzone from 20 and 30 yards out. The best the Bengals can hope for in this game is to not get blown out, and in order to do that they need their defense to play a full game.

The Bottom Line:

The Cincinnati Bengals are a mess. The offense is arguing and the defense has given up. The New York Jets will not take very long to exploit the weak points of the Bengals and it is a possibility that this could be the most lopsided game of the season.

BSN Sports Pick: New York Jets

Kansas City Chiefs came back to Lead in the AFC West

The Kansas City Chiefs came back to lead in the AFC West and in the process remained undefeated Arrowhead Stadium from 31 to 13 after defeating the Arizona Cardinals.

The performance of the evening was that of Dwayne Bowe with two touchdown passes coming six consecutive games with at least one touchdown reception, a mark on the franchise, to accompany his 109 yards.

Arizona began with promise to take a lead early, but Thomas Jones was charged tip two touchdowns in a performance in which he totaled 71 yards. From there the result never again be in doubt despite a good game of Derek Anderson threw 295 yards and a touchdown in the final minutes of the game in Larry Fitzgerald.

The Cardinals posted their fifth straight loss and have dropped to 3-7, leaving the chance of being NFL betting champions of their division for the third consecutive time while the Chiefs (6-4) are still struggling to prove that their home has not been a fluke and that deserve the title of the West.

NCAA Football Betting – Defending National Champions Still Looking To Finish Strong

Despite the fact that they won’t get the chance to defend their national title, or get a shot at a third straight SEC championship, No. 11 Alabama is still looking to finish their season strong. The Crimson Tide will try to avoid looking too far ahead on their football betting schedule with a massive showdown in their finale against No. 2 Auburn looming after this week’s match up with Georgia State.

Georgia State Panthers @ Alabama Crimson Tide

Thursday November 18, 2010

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Online Sports Betting Odds: Alabama – 54.5

The Panthers represent an easy win for the Crimson Tide, who haven’t gotten many breaks this year with the toughest schedule in the country. Georgia State is 6-4 in the IAA Independents, and are overmatched against a powerful Alabama team that will have the chance to step out of the SEC spotlight before being thrust back in to it for their college football betting showdown with the Tigers.

NCAA Football Betting Preview: Georgia State

The Panthers are coming off of a 23-17 win over Lamar which ended a mini two-game slide that included losses at Old Dominion and South Alabama, but will have a tough time ending their season on a high note. 67-year old Bill Curry was back on the sidelines after a 14-year absence for the win, and will get the chance to close out the season against a school he helped lead to a national title in 1989. Although Georgia State is a huge underdog, Curry appreciates the experience his team will draw from playing a big school like Alabama as the Panthers build for the future.

NCAA Football Betting Preview: Alabama

After going undefeated since the 2009 Sugar Bowl, the Crimson Tide faced a couple of major obstacles this season with consecutive games against ranked opponents on multiple occasions. Alabama went 3-2 in those games, losing to South Carolina on the heels of wins over Arkansas and Florida before dropping a close decision to LSU before beating Mississippi State. Despite the tough pay per head schedule the Crimson Tide rank fourth in the country in points allowed, while Greg McElroy and reigning Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram both played major roles in dropping the Bulldogs last weekend. Alabama has the finale against Auburn circled as their own personal championship game, and this will be considered a tune up to make sure everything is ready for the big game.

The Match Up: Georgia State @ Alabama

The Crimson Tide’s season is down to two games, including an easy win against Georgia State this Thursday before a massive SEC showdown with the Tigers next week. Alabama players and coaches know that they won’t get the chance to defend their national title, but that should only serve as motivation to finish the season strong. The line is huge for this game, but there is every reason to believe that Alabama will still cover it.

NCAA Football Betting Pick: Crimson Tide – 54.5

NFL Game Preview for November 21, 2010: Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys (-7)

Betting Overview:

Things were going so well for the Detroit Lions just a couple of weeks ago. Yes the Lions only had two wins this season, but the NFL betting experts never expected them to win more than a couple anyways. The NFL scores the Lions were starting to put up, thanks to quarterback Matthew Stafford, were threatening to defy the NFL predictions that had the Lions winning four games or less this season. Then Stafford was lost for the season, and the Lions lost to the previously winless Buffalo Bills, and the season-ending tailspin has begun.

The Dallas Cowboys have seen their fair share of turmoil this season as well. Things got so bad in Dallas that owner Jerry Jones felt compelled to fire head coach Wade Phillips and replace him with assistant head coach Jason Garrett. But things are looking up for the Cowboys. They beat the New York Giants in week 10, and looked organized and inspired in doing so. The Cowboys won’t be making the playoffs, but at least they will now see which players want to be on the roster next season.

Offense:

It has become apparent that the Lions offense is lost without Matthew Stafford. Shaun Hill may be a competent backup, but there is something about the way that Stafford runs the offense that makes it so much more efficient when he is in there. Now that Stafford is out for the season, teams can key in on stopping rookie running back Jahvid Best. Shutting down the Detroit running game is how the Bills beat the Lions, and the Cowboys will use the same tactics.

When Dallas quarterback Tony Romo broke his collarbone, many Cowboys fans felt that the season was truly over. But Jon Kitna is a savvy veteran quarterback, and while he does not have the arm strength of Romo he does understand how to attack a defense. Kitna is using weapons like wide receivers Dez Bryant and Roy Williams to open up the opposing defense for the Dallas run game. The Dallas offense finally seems to be hitting on more than one cylinder and it is a good sign for Dallas fans.

Defense:

A team does not get to be 2-7 by accident, and the Detroit Lion’s biggest inconsistency is their defense. The Detroit defense is ranked 21st overall giving up an average of 353 total yards per game. The Lions defense is giving up 130 yards per game on the ground, and they are not showing an ability to get turnovers out of the opposing offense. Rookie defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh is impressive so far this season with six and a half sacks, but the rest of the Detroit defensive line only has seven sacks combined.

The Dallas defense has become famous, along with the offense, for mistakes that cost them the game. Bad penalties and an inability to stop the opposing offense in key situations has cost the Cowboys games this season. The Cowboys defense seemed to get things straightened out in the Giants game, but it will be interesting to see if they can keep it going all season long.

The Bottom Line:

The players in Dallas took the firing of Wade Phillips personally. While it may seem anti-climatic that they now feel inspired to win because he is gone, it does mean that the Cowboys can start to climb the standings and try to finish the season .500.

BSN Sports Pick: Dallas Cowboys

Bet On NCAA Football – Crimson Tide Look to Drown Bulldogs

If you bet on NCAA football, you may think that Mississippi State is one of the biggest surprises in the country, and you’ll probably be right. But the Bulldogs have a tall order in front of them on Saturday night when they head to Tuscaloosa, where they’ll face an Alabama team who will be angry after seeing their chances at a BCS-title repeat go up in smoke last week.

Mississippi State Alabama Betting – Saturday, November 13th, 7:15 PM ET

The No.19 Bulldogs (7-2, 3-2) won their sixth straight game with a 24-17 victory at home against Kentucky, forcing four turnovers out of the Wildcats. Chris Relf was 7-of-16 for 111 yards and a touchdown, while adding 79 yards and the game-winning score on the ground. Vick Ballard ran for 103 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs, who had 214 yards on the ground, but were still outgained 347-325. Their defense was opportunistic, picking off Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline three times, and all football betting players know that if you win the turnover battle, you’re likely to come away with a win.

The No.12 Crimson Tide (7-2, 4-2) fell just short in a 24-21 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge, and it burns even more because Alabama coach Nick Saban, who won a national title at LSU in 2003, was outcoached by counterpart Les Miles, who called a fake punt in the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide also had a couple of turnovers which didn’t help their cause, and they were outgained 433-325. Greg McElroy was 21-of-34 for 223, two touchdowns and a pick, while Mark Ingram ran for 97 yards and a score for the Crimson Tide, whose defense went soft early in the fourth quarter and allowed LSU to take over.

If you’re a fan of defense, this will be well worth the price per head if you have a ticket to the game, where the Crimson Tide are a 13.5-point favorite. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally in terms of scoring defense (Alabama is fifth, Mississippi State is ninth), so it should be a low-scoring affair. The Crimson Tide are 5-2 SU in their last seven at home against the Bulldogs, but only 2-5 ATS, and while we think Alabama will win the game, we think Mississippi State to keep it to within a touchdown. The Bulldogs are 71st against the pass, but we don’t know if the Crimson Tide can take advantage of it. McElroy hasn’t been as sharp as he was in last year’s run to the national title, and that’s partly because the running game hasn’t been as strong. We’re taking Alabama to win straight up, but go with Mississippi State if you want to go against the online sports betting spread.

NFL Game Odds Preview for November 14, 2010: Minnesota Vikings (-1) vs. Chicago Bears

Overview:

NFL observers were betting on some level of drama surrounding the Minnesota Vikings (3-5) this season. The Vikings did use a private jet to fly to Brett Favre’s house and convince him to play one more season. But the NFL betting experts were probably not counting on more coaching drama from head coach Brad Childress and the quick visit of wide receiver Randy Moss.

The football betting enthusiasts also did not know what to make of the Chicago Bears (5-3) in the preseason. The NFL predictions surrounding the Bears were favorable. The Bears had linebacker Brian Urlacher back from injury, they picked up defensive lineman Julius Peppers and they also brought in running back Chester Taylor to help the offense. But the Chicago offense is still sputtering, and many are starting to wonder if the problem does not start with quarterback Jay Cutler.

Offense:

Why the Chicago Bears have the 27th ranked passing game in the NFL is a mystery. It could be the same problem that the 29th ranked passing game is having; the quarterback and the offensive line are inconsistent. Quarterback Jay Cutler only has nine touchdowns this season to go along with seven interceptions. But Cutler is getting sacked an average of three times a game. That indicates that the Bears offensive line is having all kinds of problems protecting for the pass, and opening up holes in the running game.

The Minnesota Vikings thought they had the perfect replacement for oft-injured wide receiver Percy Harvin when they brought in veteran receiver Randy Moss. But after insulting the Vikings caterer, and initiating a Patriots love-fest after the Vikings lost to the Patriots in week eight, the Vikings decided that they did not need the services of Randy Moss any longer and let him go. Luckily for the Vikings, Brett Favre is starting to really warm up and push Minnesota into the win column. It looks like some of that Favre magic still exists.

Defense:

The Vikings have the fifth-ranked defense in the NFL allowing an average of only 305 total yards per game, but they have had problems putting pressure on the quarterback. In their week nine win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings defense finally found its way to the quarterback and registered six sacks. Up to that game, the Vikings had only six sacks all season long. The Minnesota secondary looked a little confused against the Cardinals, but they brought it together in the fourth quarter to help force overtime.

The Bears defense is as intimidating as it has always been. The Bears are ranked third against the rush allowing an average of only 84 yards per game on the ground. Even with the addition of Peppers and a healthy Urlacher, the pass defense on the Bears is ranked 19th. The Bears have a problem giving up the big pass play at least once or twice a game, and if they give that play up early to Favre then it could open the flood gates.

The Bottom Line:

The Bears struggled to hold on and beat the Buffalo Bills in week nine while the Vikings came back from two touchdowns back to force overtime and beat the Cardinals. Momentum can sometimes account for a lot in the NFL, and the Vikings are carrying a lot of momentum into this game.

BSN Sports Pick: Minnesota Vikings

NCAA Football Lines – Ducks Defend Top Spot in BCS Against Visiting Huskies Saturday

It took eight convincing wins to finally capture the top spot in the Bowl Championship Series rankings, but for number-one Oregon, there is an understanding that it will take just one loss for everything they have built this season to crumble. After watching four number-one teams lose their spots in the past five weeks, the Ducks are primed to make a statement in their debut as the top-ranked team in the country, welcoming the Washington Huskies to Eugene this Saturday.

Washington Huskies @ Oregon Ducks

Saturday November 6, 2010 – 3:30 PM ET

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon

Online Sports Betting Odds: Oregon - 36

The Huskies are coming off consecutive college football betting losses to number-18 Arizona and number-13 Standford that dropped their record to 2-3 in the conference, but now get the toughest team of them all in Oregon. A 35-34 double overtime win over number-24 Oregon State now seems like nothing more than a distant memory, and the Huskies may need a miracle to keep this one close.

NCAA Football Betting Preview: Washington

Potential NFL betting first round pick Jake Locker didn’t help his stock in last weekend’s 41-0 shutout loss to Stanford, completing just seven passes for 64 yards while throwing away two interceptions. Locker was outplayed by Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck, and will need to regain his confidence in a hurry in order to help the Huskies avoid a second straight blowout loss. The running game will need to be better as well however, as Chris Polk has struggled to get much going in recent weeks. Part of the problem has been the offensive line, which has been inconsistent all year, and those issues may come down to talent and depth more than anything else. The Huskies have allowed an average of 34.1 points per game this year, which doesn’t inspire confidence heading in to a game against the top-ranked offense in the country.

NCAA Football Betting Preview: Oregon

A 52-32 win over rivals USC served as the metaphorical passing of the torch for the recognition to the Trojans as the best team in the conference. The Ducks’ high-powered offense steamrolled through the USC defense with LaMichael James showing the nation how he has averaged a phenomenal 7.1 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns this year. Meanwhile, quarterback Darron Thomas continues to provide Oregon with the dual-threat option from under center with 23 combined touchdowns. The Ducks have just one ranked opponent left on their schedule in number-15 Arizona, and will be tough to stop now four wins away from clinching the conference and BCS title game spot.

The Match Up: Washington @ Oregon

While 36 points is a lot to give any team, the Ducks are on a sportsbook bonus mission and given what the Cardinal were able to do to Washington, it doesn’t seem unreasonable for the spread to be so high. Oregon’s offense will smash through the Huskies defense both on the ground and through the air, and by the time this one is over the Ducks will be three wins away from a national title shot.

BSN Sports Pick: Oregon – 36

NFL Odds Preview for November 7, 2010: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons (-9 ½)

Betting Overview:

Has anyone even noticed that the Atlanta Falcons (5-2) are leading the NFC South over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints (5-3)? Has anyone even noticed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) are in second place in the NFC South and also leading the New Orleans Saints? The Buccaneers have been feasting on weaker teams to this point, but they do hold a victory over the up and coming St. Louis Rams.

This divisional game is extremely important to the Falcons. If Atlanta is going to wrestle the torch away from the Saints and take over the NFC South, then they will have to win as many divisional games as possible. This game will help give the Falcons the upper hand in any tie-breaking situations at the end of this season, and that may come into play as the playoffs get closer.

Offense:

The Falcons are led by steady quarterback Matt Ryan. To this point, Ryan has 1,714 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. He had a rough start to the season, but with the help of veterans like receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez, Ryan has been able to turn the Atlanta offense back around. Running back Michael Turner has racked up 587 yards so far this season on his way to another 1,000+ yard season.

The Buccaneers are an interesting study because much of the NFL scores they put up to win games are done on special teams and not on offense. While the Bucs are exceeding any of the NFL predictions that came out in the preseason, they always look like they are living on borrowed time. They pulled out a win in week eight in the last minute against the Arizona Cardinals and, while the Bucs record is impressive, a quick look at who they beat to get the record instantly brings up questions about the quality of the Tampa Bay team.

Defense:

The Atlanta defense is getting better, but it still allows a lot of yards through the air. The Falcons pass defense is ranked 27th in the league allowing an average of 260 yards per game. However, the Atlanta run defense is ranked sixth in the league only allowing teams an average of 96 yards per game. The Buccaneers very limited running game will get shut down by the Falcons, and that will force Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman to take control and try to win the game for the Bucs.

The Buccaneers are 30th against the run allowing an average of 149 yards per year on the ground. This is a perfect invitation for Michael Turner to soften up the Tampa Bay defense on the ground, and then have Ryan attack the Bucs through the air. This could be a very long day for the Buccaneers defense.

The Bottom Line:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been able to take advantage of the mistakes made by others so far this season, but the Falcons play disciplined football. With few mistakes to capitalize on, the Buccaneers may find themselves unable to compete against Atlanta.

BSN Sports Pick: Atlanta Falcons 21-10