2009 NFL: Week 7 Preview
by Lenny Del Genio

Here are some key NFL betting angles for this week’s games. They are designed to aid you in your own handicapping ventures as we factor them into our own handicapping acumen, although they are not the sole basis for the plays. Be sure not to miss our 25* NFL Non-Conference of the Year on Sunday!
San Diego (-5.5) at Kansas City (44) – The Chargers are now officially the league’s biggest disappointment after losing at home Monday night to Denver. Already trailing the first place Broncos by 3.5 games, it will take another miraculous rally to win the AFC West, a run they may not have in them. The Chiefs are at the bottom of the division and won for the first time last week. San Diego swept the season series last year, winning both games by just a single point. The favorite is 12-5 SU head-to-head, but 5-12 ATS. KC is 4-7 ATS L11 in the home dog role, but 9-3 SU/8-4 ATS here vs. the Lightning Bolts.
Indianapolis (-14) at St. Louis (45) – A matchup of one of the league’s best against one of its worst. The oddsmakers probably couldn’t set this line high enough. The Rams average home loss this year has come by 23.5 PPG. The Colts could be flat coming out of a bye, but note that Manning and co average 33.4 PPG L10 post-bye week games. Believe it or not, but this will be just the third time the Colts have been road chalk the past five seasons and they are 2-0 SU/ATS in those games outscoring foes by 43 PPG.
Chicago (42.5) at Cincinnati (-1) – This is an interesting battle that has seen the line move significantly in favor of the Bears. This is Chicago’s first visit to Cincy since a 24-0 win in 2001. Bengals have covered five straight vs. the NFC. Interesting battle to watch is Cedric Benson vs. the Bears run defense, which ranks 6th in the NFL in yards allowed and held Falcons RB Michael Turner to 30 yards on 13 carries. Benson, a former Bear, is coming off his worst performance of the season.
Green Bay (-9) at Cleveland (41) – Packers first visit to Cleveland since 1995, the Browns final year before taking a three-year hiatus. We think Green Bay will hand 1-5 Browns their lunch. Only thing working against them is a potential huge lookahead to the rematch with Brett Favre and the Vikings next week. Cleveland has covered six straight October games, but is just 1-9 SU its last 10 home games. About a dozen Browns players have been stricken with the flu.
Minnesota (46) at Pittsburgh (-6) – Apparently, everyone is banking on the Vikings losing for the first time here as they are up to 5.5-point underdogs. Underdogs have covered six of the last seven years in Pittsburgh pre-bye week games. The Vikings have covered all three road games. The Steelers have covered just one game all season, but are 40-19 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points. They are, however, just 2-5 ATS as a non-conference host.
New England (-15) vs. Tampa Bay (44.5) – This game is being played in London, in what has become one of the NFL’s lamer traditions. The Patriots have failed to cash the last nine times they’ve been double-digit favorites. Tampa Bay, still winless, has its bye next week and is 6-1 SU/ATS heading into an off week.
San Francisco (44) at Houston (-3) – Interesting matchup with the Texans laying three points for homefield advantage. San Francisco is off a horrible 45-10 home loss to Atlanta and its bye week. They will be getting RB Frank Gore back from injury and also (finally) signed 1st Round DC Michael Crabtree, who will start here. This is the 49ers first ever visit to Reliant Stadium and note that prior to Singletary’s arrival, they went 0-5 SU/1-4 ATS in post-bye week games. Houston has alternated wins and losses (SU and ATS) through six games, which is pretty much the story of the franchise.
NY Jets (-6) at Oakland (34.5) – The Jets were lousy on the West Coast last year, including a 16-13 loss at Oakland. Believe it or not, but if the Raiders were to win here, they would actually have a better record than the Jets, who started 3-0. Oakland has the worst passing attack in the league, but you probably already knew that. Jets QB Sanchez threw five interceptions last week. Home team is 5-0-2 ATS L7 home to home meetings.
Buffalo (36.5) at Carolina (-7) – This looks like a pretty unattractive game. Both teams average less than 17 PPG. With a win here,the Panthers can square away their record after starting 0-3. Buffalo has visited here just one time, in 1998, and won 30-14. Carolina has covered three straight vs. the AFC.
New Orleans(-6.5) at Miami (47.5) – Let’s see if the Saints can avoid the letdown off the big win over the Giants last week. This begins a brutal stretch for the Dolphins, winners of two straight, as they have the Giants and Patriots on deck. They are just 4-8 ATS L12 as a home dog. New Orleans has covered six straight non-conference games.
Atlanta (47.5) at Dallas (-4.5) – Interesting NFC battle. Road teams are 6-0 SU/ATS in the Cowboys L6 post-bye week games. Dallas averages 7.0 yards per play on offense , best in the NFL, yet are fortunate to have a winning record. The Falcons could really establish themselves with a win, but are 0-6 ATS off BB wins.
Arizona (46) at NY Giants (-7) – No team, perhaps in league history, has done worse in the Eastern Time Zone than the Cardinals. The Giants are off their first loss of the season, in humiliating fashion, to the Saints. G-Men are 13-4 ATS their last 17 games as chalk.
Philadelphia (-7) at Washington (37.5) – The game itself will essentially be treated as a backdrop to the Jim Zorn situation. This is the first time all season that Washington will be facing a foe that comes in having won a game. Philadelphia is off an unforgiveable loss at Oakland last week, 13-9, as two-touchdown favorites. This is their first division game of the year and they are 5-1 ATS L6 vs. the NFC East.
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