Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Saturday 8/11/18
Vikings vs. Broncos Preview and Predictions in NFL
NFL Previews 8th August 2018 By Charles Jay
The Minnesota Vikings were one step away from the Super Bowl last season, but that was a big step. Yes, Case Keenum had filled in very ably as the starting quarterback when Sam Bradford went down with an injury, but when push came to shove, his mistakes were the team's undoing against the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles. And truth be told, if not for a miracle play to beat the New Orleans Saints in the previous playoff game, Minnesota would have been eliminated in the first round, after chalking up the best defensive numbers in the league.
The Denver Broncos were thinking a bit differently. As they came to the conclusion that Trevor Siemian was not their future and that Paxton Lynch was not coming along the way they were expecting a first-round draft pick should they made the move to sign Keenum as the free agent signal-caller who could help them win the AFC West title. And the Vikings brought Siemian aboard as a backup.
NFL Football Previews and Predictions
You're not confused, are you?
Well, a couple of QB's may see some playing time against their former teams when these two get together at Mile High Stadium on Saturday night.
TV: 9 PM ET, NFL Network. LINE: Pick'em O/U: 34.5
ABOUT THE VIKINGS: Kirk Cousins was the most talked-about free agent quarterback on the market this past off-season, and the Vikings (13-3 SU, 12-4 ATS in 2017) decided to give him an $84 million contract. He will take some snaps in this game, but the offensive line is somewhat tattered, as center Pat Elflein and right guard will be out. Left guard Nick Easton is also not available. Whoever is put out there on the first-time offensive line, head coach Mike Zimmer says Cousins will leave the game when they do. Then it's backups Trevor Siemian and Kyle Sloter, who were with the Broncos last season. Last year Minnesota led the NFL in both scoring defense and total defense. And they added to that in the draft when they made cornerback Mike Hughes of Central Florida their first-round selection. And he's versatile, as he'll play the nickel as well as a corner spot. Hughes may also be employed on special teams, not only with returns but as a "gunner" as well. Linebacker Anthony Barr, a mainstay of the stop unit, has been the subject of trade rumors, because of the uncertainty surrounding a prospective contract extension, but Zimmer insists that he will not be traded. The Vikings would be well served by the healthy return of Dalvin Cook, who had run for 354 yards before going down with a knee injury in Week Four. Zimmer has said that he is "ready now" for the pre-season. The Vikings are listed as a -105 favorite to win the NFC North and +850 to win the Super Bowl.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS: Denver (5-11 SU, 4-11-1 ATS in 2017) was actually third in the league in total defense last season, but they were only 22nd in scoring defense because their inept offense left them with poor field position too many times. Siemian was unable to stretch the field for the most part. Keenum will start the game at QB, but play only a couple of series. Lynch will get time, and so will Chad Kelly, the guy to watch in this bunch. Kelly, the nephew of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, missed all of last season with a torn ACL after being the final player chosen in the draft. He has greatly impressed head coach Vance Joseph, who says "It doesn’t always look pretty, but he just makes plays.” The Broncos feel like they may have found a gem in the third round of the draft with Oregon running back Royce Freeman, who could thrive in this offense. Many RB's who were drafted after the first two rounds have found success in the Mile High city, and that includes the guy who just departed (CJ Anderson). But it is apparent that Devontae Booker was not going to be able to handle the load as a feature back, as he has averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in his first two seasons. It will be interesting to see how the Von Miller-Bradley Chubb combo works out as this pre-season progresses. Chubb, who was taken with the fifth pick in the draft, is slated to start on the opposite side of the line, which means the Broncos could have very imposing bookend pass rushers. “I’m tired of hitting my own teammates,” Chubb said. “It’s going to be fun and go out there and hit somebody else.” The Broncos are currently +475 to win the AFC West title and +2800 to win Super Bowl 53.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer developed a reputation for wanting to win pre-season games, as he's had a record of 13-4 straight-up and 12-5 against the number since his hiring. However, it should be noted that the Vikings were just 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS last year in the pre-season slate.
2. One thing the Broncos sorely need to do is improve their red zone TD percentage, which was last in the league in 2017. With Keenum at QB, Minnesota went from 29th in 2016 to 13th last year.
3. Pro Bowl guard Richie Incognito, who had announced his retirement, mentioned on TMZ Sports that he had gotten calls from Minnesota and Seattle, among others, about coming back. Zimmer flatly denied that - "No interest, and totally false. Tweet that." Incognito then called Zimmer a liar but later walked that back.
PREDICTION: Vikings 20, Broncos 14
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Chargers vs. Cardinals Preview and Predictions in NFL
NFL Previews 10th August 2018 By Charles Jay
The Los Angeles Chargers got off to a rough start last season, losing their first four games, three of which were very winnable. Then they got their act together and contended for a playoff spot by season's end. This year they are playing with a lot of expectations, and why not? They have one of the league's better defenses, not to mention a very capable veteran quarterback in Philip Rivers and a coach in Anthony Lynn who promotes a hard-nosed style of play. In a division (the AFC West) in which the Kansas City Chiefs are breaking in a new QB, the Oakland Raiders have a coach who's been out of action for ten years, and the Denver Broncos have been struggling with offense, the Bolts may have the most complete team of the four.
The Arizona Cardinals will have a new quarterback this season after Carson Palmer's retirement, and the likelihood is that it will be veteran Sam Bradford. But hotshot rookie Josh Rosen, the first-round draft pick out of UCLA, is waiting in the wings. This is a team that has been largely forgotten about in the NFC West, amidst the excitement surrounding the Los Angeles Rams' new acquisitions and the emergence of Jimmy Garoppolo with the San Francisco 49ers. But don't be surprised if Arizona is knocking on the door when all is said and done.
NFL Football Previews and Predictions
The Chargers and Cardinals will meet up on Saturday night at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, in what is the first pre-season game for both squads.
TV: 10 PM ET, Local coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Cardinals -2.5 O/U: 36
ABOUT THE CHARGERS: The Bolts (9-7 SU, 8-6-2 ATS in 2017) did not go through any major transitions, but one of their new acquisitions is turning out to be more important than was originally expected. The Chargers decided not to sign Antonio Gates, the Future Hall of Fame tight end, for another season, and then Hunter Henry, the incumbent starter, tore an ACL in the spring and is out for the year. So Virgil Green, who came over from Denver, is going to be the main guy they turn to at the position. He has caught four touchdown passes in seven years. The Chargers have great bookends to rush the passer in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, but you can add a newcomer to that mix. Uchenna Nwosu, the second-round draft pick out of USC, is getting everybody's attention in camp and is versatile; for instance, he defended more passes than any other linebacker in Division I college football last season. And Gus Bradley, who orchestrated some great defenses in Seattle before his abbreviated run as head coach in Jacksonville and is in his second year as coordinator with the Chargers, is going to put him to great use. There may be some competition to back up Rivers this season. Nic Shimonek of Texas Tech is admittedly a longshot, but Geno Smith, who had 30 starts for the New York Jets, finds himself challenged by Cardale Jones, who was the hero of Ohio State's national championship run in 2015. The Chargers are the +105 favorite to win the AFC West and +1750 to capture the Super Bowl championship.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS: The Cards (8-8 SU, 6-9-1 ATS in 2017) signed Bradford, who played only one game last season, to a free agent contract as a way of easing Rosen into the situation. A former Heisman Trophy winner as well as Rookie of the Year, Bradford needs to stay healthy to fulfill that role successfully, but if he is once again sidelined, new coach Steve Wilks will have to go to Plan B quicker than intended. Mike Glennon, another backup, did not work out well in Chicago last year, so that is not much of an insurance policy. On Saturday night, Wilks will likely only leave Bradford in the game for one series, as he would like Rosen to get some time with the starters. Also, you can expect that Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson will see less time than the other starters as well. Johnson is coming off a wrist injury that took him out in Week 1, but he had over 2100 yards from scrimmage two years ago. Arizona suffered a big blow early in camp, as starting center AQ Shipley, the team's only offensive lineman to play in every game the last two seasons, suffered a torn ACL and is out for the year. Mason Cole, a rookie drafted in the third round out of Michigan, will be the first-team center in his place, but it is open to competition. The Cardinals are priced at +950 to win the NFC West and +8500 to win the Super Bowl.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Keep in mind that in Bradford's last full season as a starter (2016), he set the one-season NFL record for accuracy, as he completed 71.6% of his passes for Minnesota. Drew Brees broke that record last year.
2. The Chargers play in the NFL's smallest stadium, the StubHub Center in Carson, which seats only 27,000 fans.
3. Nic Shimonek, who may see action as the Chargers' #4 QB on the depth chart, has sat behind four different quarterbacks who have been drafted and are on NFL rosters - Davis Webb and Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, and Jake Rudock and CJ Beathard at Iowa.
PREDICTION: Chargers 19, Cardinals 17
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