BOB BALFE
Cincinnati Bengals -2.5
Football is back! Before I get to the pick, please note that all preseason plays should be 1/3 of your average wager. There will be a lot of guys who will be pumping gas next week that will see a lot of action in this game.
I think this will be a big year for both the Cowboys and the Bengals. Dallas is stacked on offense and the Bengals are moving in the right direction towards significantly improving their defense. Don't expect to see a lot of starters in tonight's game, however. Both teams should play a full series and then give way to the 2nd and 3rd stringers. The Bengals only have a 3 man QB rotation, which is helpful to allow a backup to get into a flow, that should help settle him down. Dallas, on the other hand, might play all five QB's on their roster.
Two strikes against Dallas in this game is their new field goal kicker, who has yet to prove himself in the league, and their lack of depth in their return game on special teams. At least one of those areas could be the difference in tonight's game. Cincinnati is placing a lot of focus on defense which is more important for teams trying to win preseason games. Dallas has a few injuries on offense and will want to be careful. Look for the Cowboys to play a lot of young guys tonight. It seems to me like the Bengals will be trying a little bit harder to produce a win for whatever that is worth in the preseason. Again, most coaches just want to keep their players healthy, especially when they have five preseason games. Take the Bengals -2.5.
Oakland Athletics -115
The A's got a big win last night and I expect the same tonight with Trevor Cahill on the mound. Cahill is having a great season and, at home, has pitched nearly perfect this year. In his last 24 innings, Cahill has only allowed 3 earned runs. Look for Oakland to win in a low-scoring game. Take the A's.
Cincinnati Bengals -2.5
Football is back! Before I get to the pick, please note that all preseason plays should be 1/3 of your average wager. There will be a lot of guys who will be pumping gas next week that will see a lot of action in this game.
I think this will be a big year for both the Cowboys and the Bengals. Dallas is stacked on offense and the Bengals are moving in the right direction towards significantly improving their defense. Don't expect to see a lot of starters in tonight's game, however. Both teams should play a full series and then give way to the 2nd and 3rd stringers. The Bengals only have a 3 man QB rotation, which is helpful to allow a backup to get into a flow, that should help settle him down. Dallas, on the other hand, might play all five QB's on their roster.
Two strikes against Dallas in this game is their new field goal kicker, who has yet to prove himself in the league, and their lack of depth in their return game on special teams. At least one of those areas could be the difference in tonight's game. Cincinnati is placing a lot of focus on defense which is more important for teams trying to win preseason games. Dallas has a few injuries on offense and will want to be careful. Look for the Cowboys to play a lot of young guys tonight. It seems to me like the Bengals will be trying a little bit harder to produce a win for whatever that is worth in the preseason. Again, most coaches just want to keep their players healthy, especially when they have five preseason games. Take the Bengals -2.5.
Oakland Athletics -115
The A's got a big win last night and I expect the same tonight with Trevor Cahill on the mound. Cahill is having a great season and, at home, has pitched nearly perfect this year. In his last 24 innings, Cahill has only allowed 3 earned runs. Look for Oakland to win in a low-scoring game. Take the A's.
I like the Bengals playing in their home state tonight with a whole bunch of former Cowboys taking this one personally. Dallas has proven that it doesn't take the first two weeks of the preseason seriously. In fact, the Cowboys are just 5-20 ATS in the first two weeks of the preseason since 1993, losing these games by an average score of 13.4 to 19.8. Cincy has taken the preseason much more seriously, going 12-7-1 ATS in the preseason since 2006, including 3-1 in their openers. Plus, favorites are 2-1-1 in the last 4 Hall of Fame Games. Take the Bengals.
FOXSHEETS
In past games, the underdog covered the spread 16 times, while the favorite covered the spread 4 times.
In past games, the underdog won the game straight up 14 times, while the favorite won the game straight up 7 times.
12 games went over the total, while 4 games went under the total.
5 STAR
DALLAS is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) when they commit 2 turnovers since 1993.
The average score was DALLAS 15.8, OPPONENT 20.7
DALLAS is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) when they are out-gained by their opponents by <=50 yards since 1993.
The average score was DALLAS 14.2, OPPONENT 20.3
TWO STAR
DALLAS is 5-20 ATS (-17.0 Units) in the first two weeks of the pre-season since 1993.
The average score was DALLAS 13.4, OPPONENT 19.8 -
In past games, the underdog covered the spread 16 times, while the favorite covered the spread 4 times.
In past games, the underdog won the game straight up 14 times, while the favorite won the game straight up 7 times.
12 games went over the total, while 4 games went under the total.
5 STAR
DALLAS is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) when they commit 2 turnovers since 1993.
The average score was DALLAS 15.8, OPPONENT 20.7
DALLAS is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) when they are out-gained by their opponents by <=50 yards since 1993.
The average score was DALLAS 14.2, OPPONENT 20.3
TWO STAR
DALLAS is 5-20 ATS (-17.0 Units) in the first two weeks of the pre-season since 1993.
The average score was DALLAS 13.4, OPPONENT 19.8 -
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