James Patrick Sports
Falcons vs. Saints
Play: 3* Over
New Orleans is virtually unstoppable at home as they have cashed winning Over the Total tickets at a (13-3) ATS rate of late. The Superdome will be a welcome venue as well for Atlanta QB Matt Ryan who is (11-3) in his career in games played indoors. Saints lead the NFL with an average of 39.7 ppg this season to date. Hope all the scoreboard bulbs are functioning for this one as the Black Birds and Saints light it up on Monday Night Football.
Falcons vs. Saints
Play: 3* Over
New Orleans is virtually unstoppable at home as they have cashed winning Over the Total tickets at a (13-3) ATS rate of late. The Superdome will be a welcome venue as well for Atlanta QB Matt Ryan who is (11-3) in his career in games played indoors. Saints lead the NFL with an average of 39.7 ppg this season to date. Hope all the scoreboard bulbs are functioning for this one as the Black Birds and Saints light it up on Monday Night Football.
DUNKEL NBA
New Jersey at Charlotte
The Bobcats look to build on their 6-2 ATS record in their last 8 games as a favorite between 5 and 10 1/2 points. Charlotte is the pick (-7) according to Dunkel, which has the Bobcats favored by 9. Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (-7). Here are all of today's picks.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST
Game 501-502: New Jersey at Charlotte
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 111.154; Charlotte 119.907
Dunkel Line & Total: Charlotte by 9; 185
Vegas Line & Total: Charlotte by 7; 177
Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (-7); Over
Game 503-504: New Orleans at New York
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 111.009; New York 116.297
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 5 1/2; 203 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 505-506: Houston at Utah
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 117.198; Utah 122.562
Dunkel Line & Total: Utah by 5 1/2; 198
Vegas Line & Total: Utah by 8 1/2; 206
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+8 1/2); Under
Game 507-508: Memphis at Sacramento
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 110.501; Sacramento 113.006
Dunkel Line & Total: Sacramento by 2 1/2; 207 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Sacramento by 1; 202
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (-1); Over
Game 509-510: Minnesota at LA Clippers
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 110.521; LA Clippers 112.643
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Clippers by 2; 190 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 8 1/2; 193
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+8 1/2); Under
New Jersey at Charlotte
The Bobcats look to build on their 6-2 ATS record in their last 8 games as a favorite between 5 and 10 1/2 points. Charlotte is the pick (-7) according to Dunkel, which has the Bobcats favored by 9. Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (-7). Here are all of today's picks.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST
Game 501-502: New Jersey at Charlotte
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 111.154; Charlotte 119.907
Dunkel Line & Total: Charlotte by 9; 185
Vegas Line & Total: Charlotte by 7; 177
Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (-7); Over
Game 503-504: New Orleans at New York
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 111.009; New York 116.297
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 5 1/2; 203 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 505-506: Houston at Utah
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 117.198; Utah 122.562
Dunkel Line & Total: Utah by 5 1/2; 198
Vegas Line & Total: Utah by 8 1/2; 206
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+8 1/2); Under
Game 507-508: Memphis at Sacramento
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 110.501; Sacramento 113.006
Dunkel Line & Total: Sacramento by 2 1/2; 207 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Sacramento by 1; 202
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (-1); Over
Game 509-510: Minnesota at LA Clippers
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 110.521; LA Clippers 112.643
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Clippers by 2; 190 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 8 1/2; 193
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+8 1/2); Under
DUNKEL NHL
Edmonton at NY Islanders
The Islanders look to take advantage of an Edmonton team that is 2-6 in the last 8 meetings. New York is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Islanders favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: NY Islanders (-120). Here are all of today's picks.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST
Game 1-2: Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 11.438; Philadelphia 12.543
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia (-170); 6
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-170); Over
Game 3-4: Edmonton at NY Islanders
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 11.913; NY Islanders 12.338
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Islanders by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: NY Islanders (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Islanders (-120); Under
Game 5-6 Los Angeles at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 12.030; Phoenix 11.711
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+125); Under
Edmonton at NY Islanders
The Islanders look to take advantage of an Edmonton team that is 2-6 in the last 8 meetings. New York is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Islanders favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: NY Islanders (-120). Here are all of today's picks.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST
Game 1-2: Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 11.438; Philadelphia 12.543
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia (-170); 6
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-170); Over
Game 3-4: Edmonton at NY Islanders
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 11.913; NY Islanders 12.338
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Islanders by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: NY Islanders (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Islanders (-120); Under
Game 5-6 Los Angeles at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 12.030; Phoenix 11.711
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+125); Under
THE SPORTS ADVISORS
NFL
Atlanta (4-2 SU and ATS) at New Orleans (6-0 SU and ATS)
The Saints shoot for their seventh straight victory to open the season when they welcome the Falcons into the Superdome for a prime-time battle between NFC South rivals.
New Orleans brings the league’s top-ranked offense into this game, putting up 427.3 yards per game and a whopping 39.7 points per contest. QB Drew Brees is completing 67 percent of his passes for has 1,698 passing yards with 14 TDs and just five INTs. Last week in Miami, Brees had three-first-half turnovers as the Saints fell behind 24-3 at halftime before rallying for a 46-34 victory over the Dolphins, covering as six-point favorites as to remain perfect against the number this season.
Atlanta went to Dallas last weekend and fell 37-21 as a 5½-point underdog, snapping a two-game SU and ATS winning streak. The Falcons’ running game has been slowed with RB Michael Turner averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, more than a yard less than last season when he ranked second in the NFL with 1,699 rushing yards. The Falcons are surrendering just 19 ppg, which ranks 11th in the league, but they’re 25th in total defense, giving up 368.3 total yards per game, and 26th in pass defense (250.7 ypg).
These teams split last year’s two contests with the home team winning and covering in each. The Saints scored a 29-25 home win in December as a three-point favorites after Atlanta won 34-20 at home as a one-point chalk. New Orleans is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings and 4-1 in the last five played in the Superdome.
The Falcons are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 divisional games, but otherwise are on pointspread surges of 8-1 after a straight-up loss, 4-1 in November, 8-2 after a non-cover and 8-3 over the last 11 years in Week 8 contests. The Saints are just 2-7 ATS in the last nine years in Week 8 games, but they are currently riding ATS waves of, 18-7-1 overall, 7-1 at home, 18-5 as a favorite, 6-0 as a home chalk and 7-1-1 against the NFC.
The total has alternated in all six of Atlanta’s games this year, with last week’s game at Dallas soaring way over the number. The Falcons have stayed below the posted total in 38 of 56 road games and 18 of 25 November contests, but otherwise the “over” is on streaks of 5-1 against the NFC, 8-3 in Week 8, 10-4 after a non-cover and 10-3 after a straight-up loss.
New Orleans is on a plethora of “over” streaks, including 19-7-1 overall (4-2 this year), 15-5-1 at home (2-1 this year), 34-16-1 against NFC teams, 6-2 in divisional games and 16-6-1 as a favorite. Also, the over has been the play in each of the last three meetings between these squads.
Finally, the “over” is 18-5-1 in Monday Night Football games dating back to last season (7-1 this year).
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
WORLD SERIES
N.Y. Yankees (10-3) at Philadelphia (8-5)
The Yankees try to wrap up their record 27th world title when they send A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA) to the mound at Citizens Bank Park for Game 5 of the World Series against the Phillies and red-hot Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22).
With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees got to Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge for three runs to break a 4-4 tie, and closer Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to save a 7-4 victory in Game 4 on Sunday. Since suffering a 6-1 loss to Lee and the Phillies in Game 1 at home, New York has posted three straight multi-run victories, winning by the combined score of 18-10.
New York, looking for its 27th championship overall and first since 2000, have won three straight World Series games following a four-game losing streak on baseball’s marquee stage. The Yankees enter Game 5 on positive runs of 51-20 overall, 8-1 against the N.L. East and 7-0 in interleague road games. The only negatives for Joe Girardi’s team: a 4-8 mark in its last 12 playoff road games and 3-6 in its last nine World Series roadies.
The Yankees are 13-1 all-time when taking a 3-1 lead in the World Series. The last time a team overcame a 3-1 World Series deficit was the Royals in 1985, but New York has lost three straight games just twice since the All-Star break.
Despite dropping the last three games in this series, Philadelphia is still 19-8 in the playoffs since the beginning of last year’s run to the World Series title, including winning 11 of 14 playoff games at Citizens Bank Park. Additionally, the Phillies are on positive runs of 36-17 overall at home, 21-7 on Monday and 4-1 in the fifth game of a season. On the downside, Charlie Manuel’s squad has lost 12 of 16 interleague games (all versus the A.L. East) and 17 of 22 interleague contests at home, including the last eight in a row.
New York has now taken four of seven against Philadelphia this year, including a three-game interleague series in the Bronx in May. Going back to 1999, the Yankees are 11-6 against the Phillies. The visitor has won nine of the last 12 head-to-head matchups, with the Yankees going 6-1 in their last seven at Citizens Bank Park.
Burnett, who is pitching on three days’ rest tonight, dominated Philadelphia in Game 2 on Tuesday, squandering a run on four hits while striking out nine over seven innings en route to a 3-1 victory, the first postseason win of his career. Including three starts in the first two rounds, Burnett has given up 10 runs (all earned) in 25 1/3 innings (3.55 ERA). However, three of those starts came at home (1.86 ERA). In his one postseason road outing, Burnett got rocked for six runs on eight hits in six innings at the Angels, with the Yankees losing 7-6.
Take away the loss at the Angels, and New York has won six straight games behind Burnett, and the right-hander has yielded two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight outings. He’s 8-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 18 road starts this year, with the Yankees splitting those 18 games, compared with 6-3 with a 3.26 ERA in 19 home starts (with New York going 15-4). Including the Game 2 victory, Burnett is now 6-8 with a 4.51 in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Phillies.
Lee twirled a complete-game masterpiece at Yankee Stadium in Game 1, outdueling CC Sabathia in leading Philadelphia to a 6-1 victory. The lone run the lefty gave up was unearned and came in the bottom of the ninth inning. He scattered six hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out 10. Lee is 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA in four playoff starts (two earned runs allowed in 33 1/3 innings) with three walks allowed against 30 strikeouts. In his two postseason starts at Citizens Bank Park, Lee has surrendered one run in 17 innings.
Since being traded to the Phillies at the end of July, Lee has gone 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA in 16 starts, including 5-2 with a 3.13 ERA in nine outings at Citizens Bank (with Philadelphia going 7-2). Against the Yankees in his career, Lee is 5-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 10 starts, including 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three games this season.
The first five meetings between these teams this season had stayed under the total but Games 3 and 4 in Philly soared over the posted price.
The Yankees are 4-0-1 “over” in their last five road games, but otherwise they’re on “under” rolls of 7-4-1 overall, 17-8 in interleague play, 16-8 versus the A.L. East and 16-6 in the World Series and 16-6-2 after a victory. Also, the under is 22-13-2 in Burnett’s starts this year, including 6-2 in the last eight. Meanwhile, Philadelphia still carries “over” trends of 20-6-2 overall, 8-2-1 in these playoffs, 5-0-1 at home, 10-1-1 after a defeat and 4-1-1 against the A.L. East.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES and UNDER
NBA
Houston (2-1 SU and ATS) at Utah (1-1 SU and ATS)
The Rockets will try to make it three in a row when they travel to Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City for a matchup with the Jazz.
Houston lost its opener in Portland on Tuesday, then went to Oakland and beat Golden
State on Wednesday 108-107 as a five-point underdog followed by Saturday’s 111-107 home win over the Blazers as a 2½-point ‘dog. On Saturday, newly acquired Trevor Ariza had 33 points to lead the way, with PG Aaron Brooks adding 28 points and eight assists.
Utah dropped its opener on Wednesday in Denver, 115-104 as a five-point underdog, then scored a 111-98 win over the Clippers on Friday as a nine-point favorite in its home-opener. The Jazz’s one-two punch of Deron Williams (21 points and nine assists) and Carlos Boozer (20 points and 12 rebounds) did the damage against Los Angeles.
The home team has won seven straight in this series (4-3 ATS), dating back to their 2008 playoff series. In last year’s four meetings, Houston won both games at home but split them at the betting window, while Utah did the same.
The Rockets went 4-0 ATS in their last four Monday games last season, but otherwise they are on negative ATS streaks of 1-4 on the road, 2-5 after a straight-up win and 12-27-1 after a spread-cover. Utah is on negative pointspread slides of 6-13 overall, 4-9 at home, 0-6 after a straight-up win, 1-5 after two days off and 3-8 as a home chalk, but the Jazz are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 Monday games and 25-12 in their last 37 against Southwest Division squads.
Houston is on a plethora of “under” streaks dating to last season, including 10-4 overall (but 1-2 this year), 10-4 against the Western Conference, 4-0 on Mondays, 5-2 as a road ‘dog and 7-1 when getting one day off. Utah has topped the total in 12 of 17 overall (2-0 this year), 13 of 19 against the Southwest Division and five of six after a straight-up win, but it is on “under” stretches of 13-3 at home and 11-5 as a favorite. Finally, the under has been the play in 13 of the last 19 series meetings in Salt Lake City.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
NFL
Atlanta (4-2 SU and ATS) at New Orleans (6-0 SU and ATS)
The Saints shoot for their seventh straight victory to open the season when they welcome the Falcons into the Superdome for a prime-time battle between NFC South rivals.
New Orleans brings the league’s top-ranked offense into this game, putting up 427.3 yards per game and a whopping 39.7 points per contest. QB Drew Brees is completing 67 percent of his passes for has 1,698 passing yards with 14 TDs and just five INTs. Last week in Miami, Brees had three-first-half turnovers as the Saints fell behind 24-3 at halftime before rallying for a 46-34 victory over the Dolphins, covering as six-point favorites as to remain perfect against the number this season.
Atlanta went to Dallas last weekend and fell 37-21 as a 5½-point underdog, snapping a two-game SU and ATS winning streak. The Falcons’ running game has been slowed with RB Michael Turner averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, more than a yard less than last season when he ranked second in the NFL with 1,699 rushing yards. The Falcons are surrendering just 19 ppg, which ranks 11th in the league, but they’re 25th in total defense, giving up 368.3 total yards per game, and 26th in pass defense (250.7 ypg).
These teams split last year’s two contests with the home team winning and covering in each. The Saints scored a 29-25 home win in December as a three-point favorites after Atlanta won 34-20 at home as a one-point chalk. New Orleans is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings and 4-1 in the last five played in the Superdome.
The Falcons are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 divisional games, but otherwise are on pointspread surges of 8-1 after a straight-up loss, 4-1 in November, 8-2 after a non-cover and 8-3 over the last 11 years in Week 8 contests. The Saints are just 2-7 ATS in the last nine years in Week 8 games, but they are currently riding ATS waves of, 18-7-1 overall, 7-1 at home, 18-5 as a favorite, 6-0 as a home chalk and 7-1-1 against the NFC.
The total has alternated in all six of Atlanta’s games this year, with last week’s game at Dallas soaring way over the number. The Falcons have stayed below the posted total in 38 of 56 road games and 18 of 25 November contests, but otherwise the “over” is on streaks of 5-1 against the NFC, 8-3 in Week 8, 10-4 after a non-cover and 10-3 after a straight-up loss.
New Orleans is on a plethora of “over” streaks, including 19-7-1 overall (4-2 this year), 15-5-1 at home (2-1 this year), 34-16-1 against NFC teams, 6-2 in divisional games and 16-6-1 as a favorite. Also, the over has been the play in each of the last three meetings between these squads.
Finally, the “over” is 18-5-1 in Monday Night Football games dating back to last season (7-1 this year).
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
WORLD SERIES
N.Y. Yankees (10-3) at Philadelphia (8-5)
The Yankees try to wrap up their record 27th world title when they send A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA) to the mound at Citizens Bank Park for Game 5 of the World Series against the Phillies and red-hot Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22).
With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees got to Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge for three runs to break a 4-4 tie, and closer Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to save a 7-4 victory in Game 4 on Sunday. Since suffering a 6-1 loss to Lee and the Phillies in Game 1 at home, New York has posted three straight multi-run victories, winning by the combined score of 18-10.
New York, looking for its 27th championship overall and first since 2000, have won three straight World Series games following a four-game losing streak on baseball’s marquee stage. The Yankees enter Game 5 on positive runs of 51-20 overall, 8-1 against the N.L. East and 7-0 in interleague road games. The only negatives for Joe Girardi’s team: a 4-8 mark in its last 12 playoff road games and 3-6 in its last nine World Series roadies.
The Yankees are 13-1 all-time when taking a 3-1 lead in the World Series. The last time a team overcame a 3-1 World Series deficit was the Royals in 1985, but New York has lost three straight games just twice since the All-Star break.
Despite dropping the last three games in this series, Philadelphia is still 19-8 in the playoffs since the beginning of last year’s run to the World Series title, including winning 11 of 14 playoff games at Citizens Bank Park. Additionally, the Phillies are on positive runs of 36-17 overall at home, 21-7 on Monday and 4-1 in the fifth game of a season. On the downside, Charlie Manuel’s squad has lost 12 of 16 interleague games (all versus the A.L. East) and 17 of 22 interleague contests at home, including the last eight in a row.
New York has now taken four of seven against Philadelphia this year, including a three-game interleague series in the Bronx in May. Going back to 1999, the Yankees are 11-6 against the Phillies. The visitor has won nine of the last 12 head-to-head matchups, with the Yankees going 6-1 in their last seven at Citizens Bank Park.
Burnett, who is pitching on three days’ rest tonight, dominated Philadelphia in Game 2 on Tuesday, squandering a run on four hits while striking out nine over seven innings en route to a 3-1 victory, the first postseason win of his career. Including three starts in the first two rounds, Burnett has given up 10 runs (all earned) in 25 1/3 innings (3.55 ERA). However, three of those starts came at home (1.86 ERA). In his one postseason road outing, Burnett got rocked for six runs on eight hits in six innings at the Angels, with the Yankees losing 7-6.
Take away the loss at the Angels, and New York has won six straight games behind Burnett, and the right-hander has yielded two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight outings. He’s 8-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 18 road starts this year, with the Yankees splitting those 18 games, compared with 6-3 with a 3.26 ERA in 19 home starts (with New York going 15-4). Including the Game 2 victory, Burnett is now 6-8 with a 4.51 in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Phillies.
Lee twirled a complete-game masterpiece at Yankee Stadium in Game 1, outdueling CC Sabathia in leading Philadelphia to a 6-1 victory. The lone run the lefty gave up was unearned and came in the bottom of the ninth inning. He scattered six hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out 10. Lee is 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA in four playoff starts (two earned runs allowed in 33 1/3 innings) with three walks allowed against 30 strikeouts. In his two postseason starts at Citizens Bank Park, Lee has surrendered one run in 17 innings.
Since being traded to the Phillies at the end of July, Lee has gone 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA in 16 starts, including 5-2 with a 3.13 ERA in nine outings at Citizens Bank (with Philadelphia going 7-2). Against the Yankees in his career, Lee is 5-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 10 starts, including 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three games this season.
The first five meetings between these teams this season had stayed under the total but Games 3 and 4 in Philly soared over the posted price.
The Yankees are 4-0-1 “over” in their last five road games, but otherwise they’re on “under” rolls of 7-4-1 overall, 17-8 in interleague play, 16-8 versus the A.L. East and 16-6 in the World Series and 16-6-2 after a victory. Also, the under is 22-13-2 in Burnett’s starts this year, including 6-2 in the last eight. Meanwhile, Philadelphia still carries “over” trends of 20-6-2 overall, 8-2-1 in these playoffs, 5-0-1 at home, 10-1-1 after a defeat and 4-1-1 against the A.L. East.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES and UNDER
NBA
Houston (2-1 SU and ATS) at Utah (1-1 SU and ATS)
The Rockets will try to make it three in a row when they travel to Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City for a matchup with the Jazz.
Houston lost its opener in Portland on Tuesday, then went to Oakland and beat Golden
State on Wednesday 108-107 as a five-point underdog followed by Saturday’s 111-107 home win over the Blazers as a 2½-point ‘dog. On Saturday, newly acquired Trevor Ariza had 33 points to lead the way, with PG Aaron Brooks adding 28 points and eight assists.
Utah dropped its opener on Wednesday in Denver, 115-104 as a five-point underdog, then scored a 111-98 win over the Clippers on Friday as a nine-point favorite in its home-opener. The Jazz’s one-two punch of Deron Williams (21 points and nine assists) and Carlos Boozer (20 points and 12 rebounds) did the damage against Los Angeles.
The home team has won seven straight in this series (4-3 ATS), dating back to their 2008 playoff series. In last year’s four meetings, Houston won both games at home but split them at the betting window, while Utah did the same.
The Rockets went 4-0 ATS in their last four Monday games last season, but otherwise they are on negative ATS streaks of 1-4 on the road, 2-5 after a straight-up win and 12-27-1 after a spread-cover. Utah is on negative pointspread slides of 6-13 overall, 4-9 at home, 0-6 after a straight-up win, 1-5 after two days off and 3-8 as a home chalk, but the Jazz are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 Monday games and 25-12 in their last 37 against Southwest Division squads.
Houston is on a plethora of “under” streaks dating to last season, including 10-4 overall (but 1-2 this year), 10-4 against the Western Conference, 4-0 on Mondays, 5-2 as a road ‘dog and 7-1 when getting one day off. Utah has topped the total in 12 of 17 overall (2-0 this year), 13 of 19 against the Southwest Division and five of six after a straight-up win, but it is on “under” stretches of 13-3 at home and 11-5 as a favorite. Finally, the under has been the play in 13 of the last 19 series meetings in Salt Lake City.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Jim Feist's 5* Monday Night Football Side
11/02 05:35 PM PT / 8:35 PM ET
NFL (233) ATLANTA FALCONS (234) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Take: (233) ATLANTA FALCONS
Reason: The Falcons (4-2 SU/ATS) are talented and playing fairly well, though their new-look defense gets all it can handle here. They have excellent balance on offense behind QB Matt Ryan (11 TDs, 6 picks), RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White and newcomer 33-year old TE Tony Gonzalez. TE Gonzalez had 73 and 71 receiving yards in the first two games, leading the team each time, and 55 yards in an impressive 45-10 win at San Francisco. The Saints (6-0 SU/ATS) are the team to beat in the NFC. After a 48-27 rout of the NY Giants, shredding the top defense in the NFL with 493 yards, they came from a 2-TD halftime deficit Sunday to beat Miami, 46-34. QB Drew Brees (14 TDs, 5 picks) has been sensational, with WRs Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and TE Jeremy Shockey, plus RB Reggie Bush as a pass catcher out of the backfield leading an offense averaging 38 ppg. They scored 46 points Sunday even though Brees had his worst day of the season, with three interceptions and five sacks. Both of these teams are built for playing indoors and both should get their points. The Falcons have the balance on offense to stay with this club. Yes, the Saints shredded the top defense they faced in the Ny Giants. However, after Sunday's Giants performance against Philadelphia, we have to now take that thrashing with a grain of salt. The Falcons are getting lots of points and should stay close.
11/02 05:35 PM PT / 8:35 PM ET
NFL (233) ATLANTA FALCONS (234) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Take: (233) ATLANTA FALCONS
Reason: The Falcons (4-2 SU/ATS) are talented and playing fairly well, though their new-look defense gets all it can handle here. They have excellent balance on offense behind QB Matt Ryan (11 TDs, 6 picks), RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White and newcomer 33-year old TE Tony Gonzalez. TE Gonzalez had 73 and 71 receiving yards in the first two games, leading the team each time, and 55 yards in an impressive 45-10 win at San Francisco. The Saints (6-0 SU/ATS) are the team to beat in the NFC. After a 48-27 rout of the NY Giants, shredding the top defense in the NFL with 493 yards, they came from a 2-TD halftime deficit Sunday to beat Miami, 46-34. QB Drew Brees (14 TDs, 5 picks) has been sensational, with WRs Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and TE Jeremy Shockey, plus RB Reggie Bush as a pass catcher out of the backfield leading an offense averaging 38 ppg. They scored 46 points Sunday even though Brees had his worst day of the season, with three interceptions and five sacks. Both of these teams are built for playing indoors and both should get their points. The Falcons have the balance on offense to stay with this club. Yes, the Saints shredded the top defense they faced in the Ny Giants. However, after Sunday's Giants performance against Philadelphia, we have to now take that thrashing with a grain of salt. The Falcons are getting lots of points and should stay close.
