Andy Iskoe NFL Side Sun, 09/08/13 - 1:00 PM
double-dime bet - 470 DET -4.0 (-110) vs 469 MIN
Many things had to break just right for Minnesota to make the Playoffs last season and they basically all did. Detroit was unable to follow up a 10-6 2011 season that marked the Lions' first appearance in the Playoffs since 2000, falling to 4-12 and losing 8 straight to finish the season. As RB Peterson goes, so go the Vikes and you can be sure defensive coordinators spent the offseason breaking down the strengths and few weaknesses of Peterson. Detroit's acquisition of RB Bush may be the single most important impactful addition in the league as it gives the Lions tremendous offensive balance. Although the Lions won't be able to totally contain Peterson they will challenge Vikings QB Ponder to beat them. That should be tougher than it was last season. The Lions have solid defensive front that should harass Ponder and perhaps lead to turnovers. If Detroit can avoid the "stupid" penalties that plagued them in past seasons the talent is there for the Lions to make the Playoffs.
double-dime bet - 470 DET -4.0 (-110) vs 469 MIN
Many things had to break just right for Minnesota to make the Playoffs last season and they basically all did. Detroit was unable to follow up a 10-6 2011 season that marked the Lions' first appearance in the Playoffs since 2000, falling to 4-12 and losing 8 straight to finish the season. As RB Peterson goes, so go the Vikes and you can be sure defensive coordinators spent the offseason breaking down the strengths and few weaknesses of Peterson. Detroit's acquisition of RB Bush may be the single most important impactful addition in the league as it gives the Lions tremendous offensive balance. Although the Lions won't be able to totally contain Peterson they will challenge Vikings QB Ponder to beat them. That should be tougher than it was last season. The Lions have solid defensive front that should harass Ponder and perhaps lead to turnovers. If Detroit can avoid the "stupid" penalties that plagued them in past seasons the talent is there for the Lions to make the Playoffs.
Wunderdog Sports Free Pick
Game: Toronto at Minnesota (2:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: Minnesota -103 (moneyline) at BetPhoenix
In an even game, according to the oddsmakers, Toronto has an uneven starter going in Esmil Rogers (4-7, 4.76 ERA); with the team 2-7 his last nine starts. This is a tough situational spot for the Blue Jays, the end of a six-game road trip which saw them out in Arizona before this. Rogers is 3-4 on the road with a 4.55 ERA as opponents hit .290 off him. Minnesota goes with starter Andrew Albers, who has had his struggles on the road, but he loves this park. Albers has a 2.74 ERA at home in 23 innings this season, where opponents hit .193 off him. Play the Twins.
Game: Toronto at Minnesota (2:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: Minnesota -103 (moneyline) at BetPhoenix
In an even game, according to the oddsmakers, Toronto has an uneven starter going in Esmil Rogers (4-7, 4.76 ERA); with the team 2-7 his last nine starts. This is a tough situational spot for the Blue Jays, the end of a six-game road trip which saw them out in Arizona before this. Rogers is 3-4 on the road with a 4.55 ERA as opponents hit .290 off him. Minnesota goes with starter Andrew Albers, who has had his struggles on the road, but he loves this park. Albers has a 2.74 ERA at home in 23 innings this season, where opponents hit .193 off him. Play the Twins.
OC Dooley:“1 UNIT” LATE AFTERNOON NFL TOTAL (Packers at 49ers UNDER 49 in a 4:25 eastern kickoff telecast on FOX): The last time these pair of high-profile squads faced each other was in a memorable playoff shootout where San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick set an all-time NFL record with 181 yards rushing enroute to an extremely high scoring 45-31 triumph. It was exactly a year ago in week-one when these two squads also hooked up in a high scoring 30-22 affair even though at the time Alex Smith was the 49ers starting quarterback. Of course following an infamous mid-season concussion Smith lost his starting role and is now no longer with a team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl. It was at this time a year ago when San Francisco was a “defense first” team that essentially had only a caretaker at the quarterback position. That all changed with Kaepernick being thrust into the spotlight but the bottom line is that if the Niners want to be a legitimate contender to go “all the way” they must shore up a defense that in the final three appearances down the stretch allowed a whopping average of near 30 points per pop. Both offenses even with star quarterbacks begin a new campaign dealing with injuries and attrition including Green Bay that saws top receiver Greg Jennings leave for free agency. Projected top running back DuJuan Harris (knee) has already been lost for the season as well as starting offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga. As for San Francisco elite receiving options Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham begin a new campaign on the injured list. Even though San Francisco was 7-2 “above” the total at home last year while Green Bay is 12-4 “above” the spot in the past sixteen clashes versus NFC West competition, this total has actually dropped from an opening offshore figure of fifty-and-a-half points which to me speaks volumes
