Week 9 Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers
Chargers at Dolphins (-1 ½, 44 ½) – 1:00 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- The Chargers have dropped two straight following a 5-1 start, as San Diego fell short at Denver, 35-21. Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes in the loss, while the running game racked up just 61 yards. The loss drops San Diego to 2-2 on the road, as the Lightning Bolts failed to cover as an underdog for the first time in four tries.
-- The Dolphins return home following consecutive road victories at Chicago and Jacksonville. Miami cashed last Sunday as seven-point favorites, 27-13, even though the Dolphins didn’t pick up their first down until late in the first half. The Dolphins have covered nine of their past 14 games dating back to last November.
Previous meeting: Miami held off San Diego, 20-16 as 2 ½-point home underdogs last season, as the Chargers gained 435 yards in the loss. The home team has won each of the past four meetings, while the ‘under’ has hit in 10 straight matchups since 1995.
What to watch for: The Dolphins have covered just two of their past six in the role of a home favorite, including a loss to the Chiefs in Week 3. Under Mike McCoy, the Chargers are 7-2-1 ATS as a road underdog, while San Diego has cashed four of the past five as an away ‘dog against teams outside of the AFC West since 2012.
Eagles (-1 ½, 48 ½) at Texans – 1:00 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- Philadelphia and Arizona played one of the most entertaining games of the season, but the Eagles fell, 24-20 to suffer their second loss. The Eagles led 20-17 before allowing a 75-yard touchdown pass with less than 90 seconds remaining, as Nick Foles attempted 62 passes and threw for 411 yards in the defeat to remain one half-game behind the Cowboys in the NFC East.
-- The Texans rebounded from their meltdown at Pittsburgh in Week 7, as Houston trounced Tennessee as short road favorites, 30-16. Arian Foster found the end zone three times, while the Texans rushed for 212 yards to improve their mark to 4-4 on the season.
Previous meeting: The Eagles outlasted the Texans, 34-24 at Lincoln Financial Field back in December 2010 to cover as 8 ½-point favorites. Philadelphia put up the final 14 points of the game, as LeSean McCoy scored a pair of touchdowns and racked up 130 all-purpose yards. The Eagles are making their first trip to Houston since opening day of the 2006 season, as Philadelphia cruised past Houston, 24-10 as six-point favorites.
What to watch for: The Texans are riding a three-game streak to the ‘over,’ but has scored exactly 17 points in each of three contests against NFC East opponents this season. Under Chip Kelly, the Eagles are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in the role of a road favorite, as Philadelphia is laying points on the highway for the first time this season in four away contests.
Cardinals at Cowboys (-3, 45) – 1:00 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- Arizona held off Philadelphia, 24-20 as the Cardinals connected on touchdown passes of 75 and 80 yards in the second half. The Cardinals remain the biggest surprise in the league at 6-1, while improving to 4-0 at home and not allowing more than 20 points in four contests played at University of Phoenix Stadium.
-- The Cowboys were tripped up by the Redskins in overtime, 20-17, as Dallas failed to cover as nine-point home favorites. Tony Romo left the game with a back injury, but returned late in the fourth quarter, to no avail. Dallas’ six-game winning streak was snapped, while dropping to 2-3 ATS at home.
Previous meeting: These teams have hooked up four times in Arizona since 2006, with two of those games heading to overtime. The Cardinals knocked off the Cowboys, 19-13 in December 2011 as four-point underdogs, as Kevin Kolb hit LaRod Stephens-Howling for a 52-yard touchdown strike in overtime. Arizona heads to Dallas for the first time since 2005, as the Cowboys drilled the Cardinals, 34-13 to cash as 9 ½-point favorites.
What to watch for: Romo is listed as questionable with the back injury suffered on Monday, as the Cowboys have compiled a 7-22 ATS record as a home favorite since the start of 2010. In Bruce Arians’ short tenure as head coach of the Cardinals, Arizona has covered eight of 12 times in the underdog role.
Rams at 49ers (-10, 43 ½) – 4:05 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- The Rams couldn’t quite maintain their momentum from a Week 7 victory over Seattle, as St. Louis was trounced across I-70 in a 34-7 beatdown at Kansas City. St. Louis suffered its worst loss since a 28-point setback to Minnesota in the season opener, as the Rams have allowed at least 31 points in five games this season.
-- The 49ers are fresh off the bye week, looking to recover from the 42-17 at the hands of the Broncos two weeks ago. San Francisco allowed its most points since Super Bowl XLVII against Baltimore (34) in January 2013, while the Niners had their three-game SU/ATS winning streak snapped.
Previous meeting: These NFC West rivals met just three weeks ago at the Edward Jones Dome, as the 49ers erased an early 14-0 deficit to stomp the Rams, 31-17 as 3 ½-point favorites. Colin Kaepernick shredded the St. Louis defense for 343 yards and three touchdowns, as the Niners improved to 5-1-1 SU and 4-3 ATS in the past seven matchups.
What to watch for: St. Louis owns a dreadful 3-8 SU/ATS record in its past 11 games in the role of a road underdog, as one of those victories came back in Week 2 at Tampa Bay. Since 2011, the 49ers have bounced back at home off a loss pretty well, posting a 7-1 SU and 4-4 ATS record, but some of those ATS defeats came as a double-digit favorite.
Broncos (-3, 54 ½) at Patriots – 4:25 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- Peyton Manning continued to pile on his newest record of most touchdown passes in league history with three more in Denver’s 35-21 home victory over San Diego. The Broncos failed to cash their first three games this season, but have turned into ATS gold recently with four consecutive covers, all of at least 6 ½-point favorites.
The Patriots are also rolling with four straight wins following a 2-2 start, as New England obliterated Chicago at home, 51-23 as 5 ½-point favorites. Tom Brady tossed five touchdowns, while the Patriots scored 31 points in the second quarter to eclipse the ‘over’ for the fifth consecutive contest.
Previous meeting: Denver eliminated New England in the AFC Championship game this past January, 26-16 as five-point home favorites. The Broncos racked up 509 yards of offense, avenging a 34-31 overtime loss in Foxboro last November, as Denver blew a 24-0 lead.
What to watch for: Since Manning arrived in Denver back in 2012, the Broncos have taken care of business as a road favorite, posting an incredible 10-3 ATS record. Amazingly, this is the second time in less than a month that New England is receiving points at home, as the Patriots were last a home underdog prior to this season in 2005 – against Manning’s Colts and lost 40-21.
By Kevin Rogers
Chargers at Dolphins (-1 ½, 44 ½) – 1:00 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- The Chargers have dropped two straight following a 5-1 start, as San Diego fell short at Denver, 35-21. Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes in the loss, while the running game racked up just 61 yards. The loss drops San Diego to 2-2 on the road, as the Lightning Bolts failed to cover as an underdog for the first time in four tries.
-- The Dolphins return home following consecutive road victories at Chicago and Jacksonville. Miami cashed last Sunday as seven-point favorites, 27-13, even though the Dolphins didn’t pick up their first down until late in the first half. The Dolphins have covered nine of their past 14 games dating back to last November.
Previous meeting: Miami held off San Diego, 20-16 as 2 ½-point home underdogs last season, as the Chargers gained 435 yards in the loss. The home team has won each of the past four meetings, while the ‘under’ has hit in 10 straight matchups since 1995.
What to watch for: The Dolphins have covered just two of their past six in the role of a home favorite, including a loss to the Chiefs in Week 3. Under Mike McCoy, the Chargers are 7-2-1 ATS as a road underdog, while San Diego has cashed four of the past five as an away ‘dog against teams outside of the AFC West since 2012.
Eagles (-1 ½, 48 ½) at Texans – 1:00 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- Philadelphia and Arizona played one of the most entertaining games of the season, but the Eagles fell, 24-20 to suffer their second loss. The Eagles led 20-17 before allowing a 75-yard touchdown pass with less than 90 seconds remaining, as Nick Foles attempted 62 passes and threw for 411 yards in the defeat to remain one half-game behind the Cowboys in the NFC East.
-- The Texans rebounded from their meltdown at Pittsburgh in Week 7, as Houston trounced Tennessee as short road favorites, 30-16. Arian Foster found the end zone three times, while the Texans rushed for 212 yards to improve their mark to 4-4 on the season.
Previous meeting: The Eagles outlasted the Texans, 34-24 at Lincoln Financial Field back in December 2010 to cover as 8 ½-point favorites. Philadelphia put up the final 14 points of the game, as LeSean McCoy scored a pair of touchdowns and racked up 130 all-purpose yards. The Eagles are making their first trip to Houston since opening day of the 2006 season, as Philadelphia cruised past Houston, 24-10 as six-point favorites.
What to watch for: The Texans are riding a three-game streak to the ‘over,’ but has scored exactly 17 points in each of three contests against NFC East opponents this season. Under Chip Kelly, the Eagles are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in the role of a road favorite, as Philadelphia is laying points on the highway for the first time this season in four away contests.
Cardinals at Cowboys (-3, 45) – 1:00 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- Arizona held off Philadelphia, 24-20 as the Cardinals connected on touchdown passes of 75 and 80 yards in the second half. The Cardinals remain the biggest surprise in the league at 6-1, while improving to 4-0 at home and not allowing more than 20 points in four contests played at University of Phoenix Stadium.
-- The Cowboys were tripped up by the Redskins in overtime, 20-17, as Dallas failed to cover as nine-point home favorites. Tony Romo left the game with a back injury, but returned late in the fourth quarter, to no avail. Dallas’ six-game winning streak was snapped, while dropping to 2-3 ATS at home.
Previous meeting: These teams have hooked up four times in Arizona since 2006, with two of those games heading to overtime. The Cardinals knocked off the Cowboys, 19-13 in December 2011 as four-point underdogs, as Kevin Kolb hit LaRod Stephens-Howling for a 52-yard touchdown strike in overtime. Arizona heads to Dallas for the first time since 2005, as the Cowboys drilled the Cardinals, 34-13 to cash as 9 ½-point favorites.
What to watch for: Romo is listed as questionable with the back injury suffered on Monday, as the Cowboys have compiled a 7-22 ATS record as a home favorite since the start of 2010. In Bruce Arians’ short tenure as head coach of the Cardinals, Arizona has covered eight of 12 times in the underdog role.
Rams at 49ers (-10, 43 ½) – 4:05 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- The Rams couldn’t quite maintain their momentum from a Week 7 victory over Seattle, as St. Louis was trounced across I-70 in a 34-7 beatdown at Kansas City. St. Louis suffered its worst loss since a 28-point setback to Minnesota in the season opener, as the Rams have allowed at least 31 points in five games this season.
-- The 49ers are fresh off the bye week, looking to recover from the 42-17 at the hands of the Broncos two weeks ago. San Francisco allowed its most points since Super Bowl XLVII against Baltimore (34) in January 2013, while the Niners had their three-game SU/ATS winning streak snapped.
Previous meeting: These NFC West rivals met just three weeks ago at the Edward Jones Dome, as the 49ers erased an early 14-0 deficit to stomp the Rams, 31-17 as 3 ½-point favorites. Colin Kaepernick shredded the St. Louis defense for 343 yards and three touchdowns, as the Niners improved to 5-1-1 SU and 4-3 ATS in the past seven matchups.
What to watch for: St. Louis owns a dreadful 3-8 SU/ATS record in its past 11 games in the role of a road underdog, as one of those victories came back in Week 2 at Tampa Bay. Since 2011, the 49ers have bounced back at home off a loss pretty well, posting a 7-1 SU and 4-4 ATS record, but some of those ATS defeats came as a double-digit favorite.
Broncos (-3, 54 ½) at Patriots – 4:25 PM EST
Week 8 Recap:
-- Peyton Manning continued to pile on his newest record of most touchdown passes in league history with three more in Denver’s 35-21 home victory over San Diego. The Broncos failed to cash their first three games this season, but have turned into ATS gold recently with four consecutive covers, all of at least 6 ½-point favorites.
The Patriots are also rolling with four straight wins following a 2-2 start, as New England obliterated Chicago at home, 51-23 as 5 ½-point favorites. Tom Brady tossed five touchdowns, while the Patriots scored 31 points in the second quarter to eclipse the ‘over’ for the fifth consecutive contest.
Previous meeting: Denver eliminated New England in the AFC Championship game this past January, 26-16 as five-point home favorites. The Broncos racked up 509 yards of offense, avenging a 34-31 overtime loss in Foxboro last November, as Denver blew a 24-0 lead.
What to watch for: Since Manning arrived in Denver back in 2012, the Broncos have taken care of business as a road favorite, posting an incredible 10-3 ATS record. Amazingly, this is the second time in less than a month that New England is receiving points at home, as the Patriots were last a home underdog prior to this season in 2005 – against Manning’s Colts and lost 40-21.