MARLBORO, NY – MeetTheMatts.com is a different type of sports website destination, as we all know by now. On Sundays, where else can you get Free NFL Picks with a twist? The top-rated Favorite, Underdog, Over and Under for your gambling exploits. Last week I tried to hit the ground running but wound up even at 2-2. This week I intend on improving, as I have crunched numbers, measured the intangibles, and listened to my gut to give you these winners and NFL Nuggets.
FAVORITE: There’s never more overreaction in sports like what we see in the NFL after Week 1’s games. Start 0-1 and fans are being begged to come off the ledge. Win a game in prime-time convincingly and start printing those playoff tickets. What I’m saying here is calm down folks–even you NY Giants fans. (Go Cowboys!) The odds-makers always know more than we do and it takes the savviest of gamblers to find the games on the schedule where they are expecting one team to walk away with a huge victory. One such game is today’s tilt between Minnesota and Pittsburgh. The Vikings are fresh off their Monday Night dismantling of the defensively inept Saints in Minnesota while the Steelers were tooth and nail in a three-point win over the upstart Cleveland Browns. I realize that the Steelers enjoy one of the greater home field biases in the NFL but to be installed as a touchdown favorite over a defensive unit like the Vikes seems a bit much. Don’t fall for the trap being set here by betting the Purple People Eaters. Double digit win for the Steel Curtain. The pick PITTSBURGH -6 over Minnesota.
UNDERDOG: The same way I listened to my gut in selecting the Cowboys over the Giants last week is the same way I’m picking against them today. Traditionally Dallas does not do well in Denver. Not many teams do for that matter but even when the ‘Boys have had vastly superior teams than the Broncos, they often fall short. Dallas outplayed the Giants but settled for four field goals against a tough Giants defense and face another stalwart “D” in the Broncos. Denver held on for dear life against the Chargers on Monday Night and blew beating the spread, as the game ended in a “push” against the spread. Don’t hold a grudge this week as the Mile High crew take this contest by ten points in an outright win. The pick DENVER +2.5 over Dallas.
OVER: I’m going against the odds here by predicting an ‘over’ involving two teams that were among the offensively challenged in Week 1. Remember about overreacting here. The Seattle-San Fran game is one where the heavily favored Seahawks can hit the over themselves so any contribution the Niners make to the scoreboard is gravy. The pick San Fran/SEATTLE OVER 42.
UNDER: I’ve seen the scenario too many times in football and other sports–when two potent offenses meet the defenses usually show up to keep things under wrap. The total in the New England-New Orleans game is rising steadily but at 57 points as this is written, I’m taking a ride on the UNDER. The same way Minnesota ran the ball so effectively versus the Saints, the Pats can do the same with a stable of good running backs and work some clock. The Saints passing game isn’t impressing me these days either. The pick New England/NEW ORLEANS UNDER 57.
That’s it for me today. Come back tomorrow for a man who still thinks J.P. Losman is an awesome QB, DJ Eberle. And please follow us on Twitter – @CheesyBruin & @MeetTheMatts, @Matt_McCarthy00, Instagram @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.
