Football Betting: Divisional Playoffs

This Saturday's NFL Divisional Round offers up a couple of the most-anticipated playoff games we can remember.

The action kicks off with what should be a real gut-checker, as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens in a game that almost means more than just moving on in the playoffs (4:30 pm Eastern, CBS). And after that the Atlanta Falcons, somewhat unsung as the top seeds in the NFC, host the current darlings of many in the football media, the Green Bay Packers (8 pm Eastern, Fox).

We at BetJamaica.com started Pittsburgh out as a 3-point favorite over Baltimore, with the total posted at 36.5. A nice solid line for what should be a good defensive battle. And as of Friday morning the line has held steady at -3, although bettors now only have to give -120 on  the Steelers instead of -130 - so some action has been coming in on the Ravens. And the total has been bumped to 37.

We also started Atlanta off at -1 over Green Bay, with a total of 45.5. But we've been getting play on the Falcons, so we're now listing them at -2.5. And as bettors study the earlier meeting this season between these two teams, many are backing the UNDER. So we've dropped the total on this game to 43.5, which is a big move on our NFL betting board.

What can be said about these two games? The Ravens and Steelers are only the bloodiest rivalry in the league at the moment, and the Falcons and Packers present what a lot of folk... [More]

Football Betting: Wild Card Weekend

The NFL's second season starts Saturday with a couple of interesting Wild Card matchups.

In the NFC the Seattle Seahawks, division champions despite a losing record, open things up when they host the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints (4:30 pm Eastern, NBC). And the New York Jets try to get a little revenge from last year's conference championship game loss when they again visit the Indianapolis Colts (8 pm Eastern, NBC).

BetJamaica.com opened the Saints as 10.5-point road chalk over the Seahawks, with an OVER/UNDER of 44.5. And while the spread has held steady into Friday betting, the total has dropped to 44, possibly due in part to the weather forecast.

For those who think Seattle might pull off the upset Saturday, BetJamaica.com is offering the Seahawks at +450 on the moneyline.

We started Indy out at -3 over the Jets, and also with a total of 44.5. And both those numbers remained the same in early betting.

And for those who think New York could win straight-up, BetJamaica.com is listing them at +120 on the moneyline.

Seattle went 7-9 this season, which was enough to win the NFC West and get the four seed in the NFC. New Orleans, meanwhile, went 11-5 this season, which was only good enough to place second in the NFC South, and get a five seed in the NFC playoffs.

The big news out of Seattle... [More]

Football Betting: Rams/Seahawks

It's not exactly a clash of titans, but it is the only game of this last weekend of NFL regular-season action involving win-and-you're-in, lose-and-stay-home situations for both teams, as the St. Louis Rams rumble with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night at Qwest Field to decide the NFC West title (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

Earlier this week BetJamaica.com opened this game with St. Louis favored by a point, and the total set at 43. As of Friday morning the Rams have been bet up to -3, and the total has dropped to 41.5.

St. Louis is also listed at -155 on the BetJamaica.com moneyline, with the Seahawks getting +135 to win the game outright.

Coming off a 1-15 season the Rams went off this year getting +2,000 at BetJamaica.com to win the NFC West. But after an 0-2 start St. Louis, with a rookie starting at quarterback, fought back to get to 6-6. The Rams then dropped consecutive games to New Orleans and Kansas City, both division champions this season, but bounced back to beat San Francisco last week 25-17 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

After going a combined 9-23 the last two seasons Seattle began this season with a new head coach and getting +350 at BetJamaica.com to win the division title. The Seahawks started 4-2, then lost four of five, then beat Carolina in Week 13 to get to 6-6. Bu... [More]

Football Betting: Eagles/Vikings

The Philadelphia Eagles are flying high after pulling out a crazy comeback win last Sunday vs. the Giants. At the other end of the spectrum the Minnesota Vikings are down about as low as we can remember. And going by the performance the Vikings put on Monday night vs. Chicago, Sunday night's game vs. the Eagles at The Linc (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC) has all the makings of a real stinker.

BetJamaica.com started this game out earlier this week with Philly favored by 14 points, and the total set at 44. As of Friday morning the Eagles are still giving 14 points, and the total sits at 43.5.

So far this NFL betting season double-digit favorites are 16-3 straight up but only 9-10 vs. the BetJamaica.com pointspreads.

In a big NFC East Divisional showdown last week Philly rallied from 31-10 down midway through the fourth quarter to win 38-31, scoring four TDs in the last seven-plus minutes, the final blow coming on that ridiculous punt return by DeSean Jackson on the last snap of the game.

So the Eagles, at 10-4, can clinch the NFC East division title with a win Sunday night. Philly is also still in the running for one of the top two seeds on the NFC playoff bracket.

Minnesota, meanwhile, embarrassed itself Monday night in Minneapolis, getting pounded by the Bears 40-14 on a 50th anniversary night celebration, outdoors at the U of M's new field, and with Bud Grant and other... [More]

Football Betting: Patriots/Packers

The New England Patriots in recent weeks have made a pretty good case as to being the best team in the National Football League. The Green Bay Packers, on the other hand, suddenly find themselves in serious trouble as far as making the playoffs goes. And Green Bay might be shorthanded at quarterback when the Pack and the Patriots hook up on Sunday Night Football this weekend at Gillette Stadium (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

The Packers, at 8-5, are only a game back of Chicago in the NFC North, and they're a game out in the race for the two NFC Wild Card spots. And they host the Bears the final game of the season. But none of that will matter if QB Aaron Rodgers, who absorbed his second concussion of this season last Sunday, can't play. His status for Sunday night is uncertain, and that's why BetJamaica.com is holding off on putting a line on this game.

Green Bay lost at Detroit last Sunday 7-3, failing on a 4th-and-1 in Lions territory driving for the winning score in the final minute. Packers backup QB Matt Flynn didn't look too bad, going 15-for-26 for 177 yards in relief of the injured Rodgers, but he threw a terrible interception in the Detroit end zone late in the third quarter that kept Green Bay from adding to a 3-0 lead.

New England, meanwhile, has won its last two games, over the Jets and Bears, by a combined score of 81-10. So at 11-2 the Patriots lead Pittsburgh by a game and a tiebreaker in the battle for the... [More]

Football Betting: Eagles/Cowboys

Last January the Dallas Cowboys punked the Philadelphia Eagles twice in a week, once on the final Sunday of the regular season and again six days later in an NFL Wild Card game. This year, as these NFC East rivals get ready to meet for the first time this season, the Cowboys have been relegated to the role of spoiler. And you can bet they'd love nothing more than to gum up the works of Philly's playoff drive Sunday night at Cowboys Stadium (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

Back on Monday BetJamaica.com opened the Eagles as 3.5-point favorites for Sunday's game over Dallas, with a total of 51. The line later dropped to three, but since has been re-upped to 3.5. And the total now sits at 50.5.

Philadelphia is also moneylined at -200, with the Cowboys getting +170 to pull off the upset.

Dallas, as you might have heard, will not make the playoffs this season. The Cowboys lost seven of their first eight games, saw their starting quarterback go down with a broken shoulder, and fired their head coach. However, since replacing Coach Phillips with interim Coach Garrett, the Pokes have won three of four games, beating the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday 38-35 in overtime. And they probably should have won the one game they lost, by a field goal on Thanksgiving to New Orleans.

Philly, meanwhile, started 4-3 this season, and went through a couple of changes at QB. But the Eagles have won four of their last five games, beating Hou... [More]

Football Betting: Steelers/Ravens

It hasn't been going on all that long, but the Pittsburgh Steelers/Baltimore Ravens rivalry has certainly become one of the more intense in the league. And Sunday night's latest edition at the place some folks call the Bird's Nest (8:20 Eastern, NBC) again comes with some high stakes, and should be a bruiser.

Earlier this week BetJamaica.com opened this game with Baltimore favored by three points, with an OVER/UNDER of 38.5. As of Friday morning the line has remained the same, but the total has been bet up to 40.

The Ravens are also listed at -155 on the BetJamaica.com NFL betting moneyline, with the Steelers getting +135 to win the game outright.

Pittsburgh is coming off a fortunate 19-16 overtime win in Buffalo last Sunday. The Steelers ran for 206 yards and led almost the entire game, but coulda/shoulda lost on a Bills bomb that was dropped in the end zone.

Baltimore, meanwhile, looked rather uninspired last Sunday in beating Tampa Bay 17-10.

Nonetheless, both these teams have won two games in a row, and they're tied for the lead in the AFC North, both at 8-3. The Ravens, though, own the tiebreaker, having beaten Pittsburgh 17-14 back in Week 4 at Heinz Field.

Baltimore took advantage of the absence of suspended Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger that day to get that important victory. Pittsburgh led early 7-0, but the Ravens led 10-7 at the half. The S... [More]

Football Betting: Chargers/Colts

The San Diego Chargers look like they're making another of their late-season runs. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts, who have won at least 12 games for seven seasons in a row, seem vulnerable. That's the situation as these two AFC powers get ready to meet at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday Night Football (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

BetJamaica.com opened this game with Indy favored by three points, and the total set at 51.5. And as of Friday morning both those numbers remained the same.

The Chargers got off to another one of their slow starts this season, losing five of their first seven games. But they're recovered to win three games in a row, most recently rocking Denver on Monday night 35-14. So San Diego now lurks just a game back of first-place Kansas City in the AFC West.

Indy, meanwhile, is tied with Jacksonville for the lead in the AFC South, although the Jags own the tie-breaker thanks to a 31-28 Jacksonville win over the Colts back in Week 4. Last Sunday Indy fell behind New England 31-14 in the fourth quarter, rallied to get within three points, then saw QB Peyton Manning throw an interception in field goal range to lose 31-28.

Statistically speaking, the Chargers lead the league in total yardage at +147 YPG, while the Colts come in at +44 YPG. But while San Diego is outgaining opponents on the ground by a +25 YPG margin, Indy is getting outrushed by 48 YPG. And teams that win the ground-game battle have ... [More]

Football Betting: Giants/Eagles

Michael Vick is the hottest thing in the NFL since, well, maybe Michael Vick, about five years ago. The quarterback put on a helluva show Monday night in DC, and he'll try to do something similar when he and his Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants in a fight for first place in the NFC East on Sunday night (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

Earlier this week BetJamaica.com opened the Eagles at -3 for Sunday night's game, with an OVER/UNDER of 48.5. And as of Friday morning the only change had been the dropping of the hook off the total.

Philly is also moneylined at BetJam at -195, with the G-Men getting +165 to win straight up.

Philadelphia started this season 2-2, but thanks in large part to some great play from Vick, has won four of five since. Monday night the Eagles scored touchdowns on their first five possessions on their way to a 59-28 thumping of the Redskins.

The Giants opened the season 1-2, then won five straight. But last week New York got caught peeking past Dallas, and it cost them, as the G-Men fell at home to the Cowboys 33-20.

So the Eagles and Giants are tied for first place in the NFC East, each at 6-3, one game back of the Atlanta Falcons in the battle for the best record in the conference.

Hard to believe that 21 months in prison can make a quarterback a better player, but in Vick's case it's true. Before serving time Vick had completed less than 54% of his passes as a pro, an... [More]

Football Betting: Steelers/Patriots

Sunday Night Football has given fans and bettors some pretty good games so far this year, and this week's edition should be more of the same as the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots battle at Heinz Field in what could be a preview of this season's AFC Championship.

BetJamaica.com opened Pittsburgh at -4.5 for this game, with the OVER/UNDER at 45. The Steelers then got bumped to -5, but as of Friday morning they'd been reinstated at -4.5.

Pittsburgh is also listed at -220 on the BetJamaica.com NFL betting moneyline, with New England getting +180 to win the game outright.

The Patriots opened this year with a win over Cincinnati, then lost at the Jets, then won five straight to get to 6-1. But New England ran into a buzzsaw last week and got clobbered at Cleveland 34-14, allowing the Browns to run for 230 yards. So the Pats enter this weekend tied with the Jets atop the AFC East at 6-2.

The Steelers opened this season with three straight wins without QB Ben Roethlisberger. A home loss to Baltimore was then followed by two more wins, before Pittsburgh lost at New Orleans. And Monday night the Steelers picked up a divisional victory, holding off the Bengals in Cincy 27-21.

So Pittsburgh, at 6-2, is a half-game up on second-place Baltimore in the AFC North.

And with both the Steelers and Patriots winning six of their first eight games, Sunday night'... [More]

Football Betting: Packers/Cowboys

When the NFL schedule came out months ago, Sunday night's matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC) looked like a possible preview of a conference championship game.

Today, not so much. Because while Green Bay has weathered multiple injuries to get to 5-3 and the top of the NFC North, Dallas has devolved into the biggest disappointment in the NFC.

And now the Cowboys must soldier forward without starting quarterback Tony Romo, who got his collarbone broken in a loss to the Giants two Monday nights ago.

So in a game that, on most other occasions, would probably be lined at right around a field goal, instead BetJamaica.com is chalking the Packers at -7.5. Green Bay is also moneylined at -350, with Dallas getting +290 to pull the outright upset.

And the total has been bet up from 44.5 to 45.5.

The Packers looked like they were in a bit of trouble just a week ago, battling numerous injuries, losing three of four games, and heading to New York (alright, New Jersey) to take on a very good Jets team that was coming off a bye week. Luckily for Green Bay, the Jets looked like they were half asleep, and the Pack came away with a 9-0 shutout victory. In doing so, Green Bay took over first place in the NFC North.

Dallas, on the other hand, started 0-2 this season, but looked like they might have recovered after winning a game at Houston. Instead, the P... [More]

Football Betting: Steelers/Saints

The New Orleans Saints seem to be suffering through a bit of a Super Bowl championship hangover. And unfortunately for them, a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday night at the Superdome (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC) might not be the remedy.

New Orleans began defense of their league title well enough, with wins over Minnesota and San Francisco. The Saints then lost in overtime to Atlanta, and needed to rally to beat Carolina. They then went to Arizona and turned the ball over four times in losing to the Cardinals. New Orleans then looked better in winning at Tampa Bay, but last week, as double-digit home favorites over Cleveland, the Saints turned it over four times again and got beat 30-17.

So after starting 13-0 last year, New Orleans is now 4-3 this season. Which puts them in third place in the NFC South, but just a game behind the division-leading Falcons.

Pittsburgh started this year with QB Ben Roethlisberger on suspension, and still managed to win three of the four games he missed. And since his return the Steelers have won two in a row, beating the Browns 28-10 and, last week, Miami 23-22 (with help from the officials).

So Pittsburgh leads the AFC North by a half-game over the Baltimore Ravens.

BetJamaica.com opened this matchup earlier this week as a pick 'em, with an OVER/UNDER of 44. BetJam then posted Pittsburgh as a 1-point favorite, and dropped the total a half-point, to 43.5. Later th... [More]

Football Betting: Vikings/Packers

NFL night games attract a lot of betting action at BetJamaica.com, and that undoubtedly will be the case this Sunday night when the Green Bay Packers welcome their old friend Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings back to the not-yet-frozen tundra at Lambeau Field for a big NFC North rivalry game (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

As of Friday morning BetJamaica.com was listing Green Bay at -2.5 over Minnesota, and the total sits at 44. The Packers are also giving -145 on BetJam's moneyline, with the Vikes getting +125 to win the game straight up.

Green Bay, losers of two straight games in OT, is 3-3 this season, and trails the Chicago Bears by a game in the NFC North. Minnesota, meanwhile, beat Dallas last Sunday to get to 2-4. So they trail Chicago by two games in the division standings.

Statistically speaking, Minnesota ranks 14th in the league in total yardage at +8 YPG, while the Packers rank 12th at +17 YPG. But the Vikes are outrushing opponents by 22 YPG, while Green Bay is getting outrushed by 10 YPG.

And teams that outrush their opponents this season are 64-26 straight up and 59-27 against the BetJamaica.com pointspreads.

No team in the league has been as hard hit by injuries as Green Bay. The Packers have already lost four starters for the season, and a handful of others are considered questionable for Sunday night's game... [More]

Football Betting: Colts/Redskins

A couple of the classic NFL franchises, who don't meet very often, get together this Sunday night when Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins host Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts at FedExField in Landover (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

Back last Sunday night we at BetJamaica.com opened the Colts as 3-point favorites for this Sunday night's game over the 'Skins, with an OVER/UNDER of 44.5. But while the line has remained the same through this week, the total has seen some fluctuation. It dipped to 43 in early betting, but then got bet back to where it started. And it since has been dropped a half-point, to 44, where it sat as of mid-Friday morning.

We've also got Indy listed at -170 on the moneyline, with Washington getting +150 to win this game outright.

The Colts are 3-2 so far this season, with wins over the Giants, Broncos, and Chiefs, and losses to the Texans and (on a 59-yard field goal at the gun) Jaguars. Indy is also 3-2 vs. the BetJamaica.com pointspreads, and they've played 3-2 on the OVER/UNDER, as Colts games have averaged 47 points.

The Redskins are also 3-2 this year, with wins over Dallas, Philly, and Green Bay, and losses to Houston and St. Louis. And Washington is 3-2 ATS and 2-3 on the totals as 'Skins games have averaged just 36 points.

The Colts rank third in the league in total offense, averaging 397 YPG so far this season, while the... [More]

Football Betting: Eagles/Niners

NFC playoff hopefuls before the season started, the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are not exactly where they'd like to be a quarter of the way through this season. The Niners are winless, and Philly has a carousel at quarterback.

So San Fran will be looking for its first win and the Eagles will be looking for a good performance from their young QB when the two teams hook up at The Stick on Sunday Night Football this weekend (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

Earlier this week BetJamaica.com opened San Francisco as a field-goal favorite for Sunday night's game, with an OVER/UNDER of 38. As of Friday morning the Niners are listed at -3 at -130, with the Eagles getting the three points at +110. And the total has held steady in early betting.

San Fran is also giving -175 on the BetJam NFL betting moneyline, with Philadelphia getting +155 to win that game outright.

The Niners are probably the biggest disappointment in the league so far this season. BetJamaica.com sent San Fran off this season as -170 favorites to win the NFC West, and with a regular-season wins OVER/UNDER of nine. But the 49ers are 0-4, losing 31-6 at Seattle, 25-22 at home to New Orleans, 31-10 at Kansas City and, last Sunday, 16-14 at the buzzer in Atlanta.

Philly started the post-McNabb era with a 27-20 home loss to Green Bay, and lost new QB Kevin Kolb to a concussion. Then, with Michael Vick... [More]

Football Betting: Bears/Giants

After another full slate of Sunday games the NFL gives us a matchup between two of the oldest outfits in the league Sunday night when the surprisingly 3-0 Chicago Bears hit Jersey to take on the disappointingly 1-2 New York Giants (8:20 Eastern, NBC).

As of Friday morning BetJamaica.com was listing the Bears as 4-point underdogs for Sunday night's game, with an OVER/UNDER of 43.5. Chicago is also getting +175 on the BetJam NFL betting moneyline, with New York giving -210 as the favorites.

The Bears opened this season with that controversial 19-14 win at home over Detroit, although they did  out-gain the Lions that day 463-168. Lovie's boys then went down to Dallas and came away with a 27-20 victory. And last Monday Chicago turned a late Green Bay fumble into the game-winning field goal, beating the hated Packers 20-17. So da Bears remain as one of the last three undefeated teams in the league, and they lead the NFC North by a game over the Pack.

New York opened its season and its new stadium with a 31-18 win over Carolina. But the Giants then got their butts kicked 38-14 on a Sunday night in Indianapolis, and last week lost at home to Tennessee 29-10. So the G-Men are not off to the start they had hoped for, coming off an 8-8 season last year. Still, they're only a game out of the lead in the NFC East.

Bettors might want to watch for the Giants to kick away from Bears returner Devin Hester, after the sp... [More]

Football Betting: Jets/Dolphins

As the New York Jets have shown us already this season, fortunes can change very quickly in the National Football League.

The Jets, and the circus that surrounds them, finish off a Week 3 of Sunday football when they travel to Miami for an early-season AFC East battle with the 2-0 Dolphins (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

Earlier this week BetJamaica.com opened Miami as a 1-point favorite for Sunday night's game, with an OVER/UNDER of 35. As of Friday afternoon the line had remained the same, while the total had been bumped a half-point, to 35.5.

The Jets are also getting +115 on the BetJam NFL betting moneyline, with the Dolphins giving -135.

New York began this season as one of the hot picks to click among experts and bettors alike, going off at +135 to win the AFC East and +500 to win the AFC at BetJamaica.com. But the Jets opened with a thud, losing 10-9 at home to Baltimore and looking bad doing it. New York then quickly fell behind the Patriots last Sunday, and the season looked lost. But the Jets sucked it up and scored the last 21 points of the game to beat New England 28-14, and looked like they had returned to contender status.

However, the Jets are also now dealing with a couple of key personnel problems. CB Darrelle Revis, who held out much of training camp, tweaked a hammy last week chasing Randy Moss, and is out for this weekend. And WR Braylon Edwards got... [More]

NFL Betting: Sunday Night Football

In what's already been an interesting start to the NFL season, Sunday Night Football gives us a battle between brothers this week when Eli Manning and his New York Giants pay a visit to Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts at the Oil Can (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

The Giants are 1-0, having opened this season with a 31-18 win over Carolina at their new Meadowlands home last Sunday. New York trailed at the half, but outscored the Panthers 17-2 in the second half for the victory. The G-Men outrushed Carolina 118-89 and outgained the Panthers 376-237, although they did turn the ball over four times. And they covered the BetJamaica.com pointspread as 5.5-point home favorites. The game also played OVER its total of 40.5.

Indy is 0-1 after opening with a 34-24 loss at Houston Sunday, allowing the Texans to run for 257 yards. In playing catch-up for most of the game, the Colts ran the ball just 10 times, for a total of 44 yards, and threw it 57 times. Indy lost outright as one-point road favorites, and the game played OVER its total of 47.5 thanks to four touchdowns in the final nine minutes.

Earlier this week BetJamaica.com opened the Colts as 5.5-point favorites for Sunday night's game over the Giants, with an OVER/UNDER of 47. As of Friday afternoon Indy had been dropped a half-point to -5, while the total had been bet up to 48.5.

The Colts are also listed at ... [More]

NFL Betting: Sunday Night Football

The King is back; King Football, that is.

Sports bettors' favorite game is back on the boards at BetJamaica.com, with the opening weekend of the National Football League’s 2010 regular season. And after a good slate of season openers Sunday afternoon, NFC East rivals provide a nightcap when the Dallas Cowboys visit their old friends, the Washington Redskins, on Sunday Night Football (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).

As of Friday morning BetJamaica.com is listing the Cowboys as 3.5-point road favorites for Sunday night's game, with an OVER/UNDER of 40. Dallas is also moneylined at -190, with the Redskins getting +160 to win the game outright.

The Cowboys are coming off a division title last season, and their first postseason victory since the last days of their near-dynasty of the 1990s. And Dallas is a popular choice among experts and the betting public to go even further this season. As opening day nears the Cowboys are listed as +110 favorites to win the NFC East again this year, and they're getting +450 to win the NFC championship and +1,000 to win Super Bowl 45 on their home field in February.

Washington is coming off a dismal 4-12 season, and enters this year with another new head coach, Mike Shanahan, and a new starting QB, Donovan McNabb. In early NFL futures betting at BetJam the 'Skins are getting +550 to win the NFC East this season, +2,000 to win the NFC, and +4,200 ... [More]