Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Sundays NFL Games: Who will win? 12/09/04, page 1

OAKLAND at PITTSBURGH
Oakland has only covered once in its last 10 road games. Oakland is 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings with Pittsburgh, including a 27-7 loss a year ago as a five-point road dog in early December. As a pup of five or less, the Silver & Black is on a 1-8-1 spread slide. Pittsburgh has covered just twice in its last 11 home openers. It has, though, covered six of its last eight against teams from Oakland's division.

Totals Tip: Oakland played under in six of eight road games in 2003.

TAMPA BAY at WASHINGTON
Tampa Bay won 35-13 as a three-point road chalk at Washington in mid-October last year. Since he arrived in Tampa in 2002, Jon Gruden has covered five of seven as a dog. Washington was only 1-5-2 ATS at home last year under the leadership of the departed Steve Spurrier. The first time Joe Gibbs took over the coaching duties in Washington in 1981, the team failed to win or cover in each of its first five games.

BALTIMORE at CLEVELAND
Baltimore has covered 14 of its last 20 division openers. Over the last two years, the club is 9-5-2 against the number when laying points. Since re-entering the league in 1999, Cleveland is 1-4 SU/ATS at home against Baltimore. This will be the sixth straight year Cleveland has opened at home as it is 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in the previous five games.

Totals Tip: Cleveland has stayed under in 12 of its last 16 at home versus division foes.

JACKSONVILLE at BUFFALO
Jacksonville, which has covered five straight season openers, lost 38-17 to Buffalo as a three-point home dog in Week 2 last year. Jax has lost nine straight games away from home, and is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight on the road when playing with revenge. Buffalo has covered just seven of its last 20 as a home chalk. It has covered six of its last seven when laying points in September, though.

Totals Tip: Buffalo has stayed under in 14 of its last 16 home games, including all eight last season.

CINCINNATI at NEW YORK JETS
Cincinnati has covered five straight against non-division conference opponents. It covered four of six as a road dog in 2003. The straight-up winner was 13-2-1 ATS in Cincinnati games a year ago. New York has covered just three of its last 13 as a September chalk. The Flyboys are also only 8-19 ATS in their last 27 as a non-division home favorite.

DETROIT at CHICAGO
The straight-up winner in this long rivalry has covered in 15 of the last 18 meetings. Also, five of the last seven meetings have been decided by a field goal or less. Detroit, which has lost 24 consecutive road games, covered in four of its eight highway setbacks in 2003. Chicago was a nice 6-2 ATS at home last season. It covered the three-point number in beating Detroit 24-16 in last October's Windy City showdown.

Totals Tip: Five of the last six in this series have stayed under.

ARIZONA at ST. LOUIS
Arizona went 0-8 SU/ATS on the highway a year ago and is just 3-13 versus the spread away from home since 2002. The home team has covered in 13 of the last 14 involving the Redbirds. St. Louis beat Arizona 37-13 as a 12-point home chalk last September. Mike Martz's club went 6-1-1 ATS at home in 2003, and has covered seven of its last 10 home openers.

Totals Tip: Arizona has sailed over in 11 of its last 16 on the road, while St. Louis has topped the total in 13 of its last 19 at home.

SEATTLE at NEW ORLEANS
Seattle has covered just twice in its last 10 games when laying points on the road. It opened at home last year against visiting New Orleans, covering the three-point spread in a 27-10 win. New Orleans is on a 15-25 ATS run as a home pup, but has gone 5-1 SU/ATS in its last six home openers. It has also covered four of its last five non-division home games.

SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

San Diego went 5-9 against the spread as dog in 2003. It's also a mere 1-8 versus the number in its last nine non-division conference games. Houston covered six of eight home games last season. It has won and covered its first game in each of its first two years of existence.

NEW YORK GIANTS at PHILADELPHIA
New York had covered nine of 12 meetings in this series before Philadelphia won and covered both meetings in 2003. In mid-November last year, the G-Men lost 28-10 as a three-point road dog at Philly. It was the second of eight straight losses (0-6-2 ATS) New York absorbed to close the year. New York, though, has covered four of its last five road openers. Philadelphia has covered five of its last six against avenging teams. It failed to cover in its first three games last year and has won straight-up just once in its last five season openers.

Totals Tip: The under is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings.

DALLAS at MINNESOTA
Dallas dropped its last four as a dog in 2003 by margins of 16, 12, 26 and 19 points. The Pokes, however, have covered six of their last eight as a September pup. The favorite went 11-2-1 ATS in Dallas' final 14 games a year ago. Minnesota has cashed the Vegas ticket in six of its last eight September conference games. It covered four of six against playoff teams a year ago.

ATLANTA at SAN FRANCISCO
Atlanta has covered six of its last seven season openers. These two teams were division rivals from 1966-2001 and the straight-up winner is 17-4-1 ATS in the last 22 meetings. Atlanta, which is 23-15 ATS as a chalk since 1997, is only 1-6-1 against the number in its last eight trips to San Fran. San Francisco has covered four straight as a home dog, but has failed to cover in six of its last seven openers.

KANSAS CITY at DENVER
Kansas City, which failed to cover its final four games in 2003, is 0-3 SU/ATS in its last three trips to Denver. KC is also 0-4-1 against the number in its last five meetings with its division rival. But, Dick Vermeil's squad has covered 11 of its last 16 as a road dog. Denver is just 6-9 ATS in its last 15 as a home chalk, but has covered nine of its last 10 division home games. The Ponies have also scored the ATS win in four of their last five home openers.

Totals Tip: The last five games in this series have gone over. And Kansas City has topped the total in 22 of its last 33 outings overall.

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[Edited on 12/9/04 by TRD]