NFL Playoffs First Round
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AFC Wild Card Game
Kansas City Chiefs (9-7) at Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
Saturday, 1:30 pm Eastern
NBC
SBG Global Opening Line: Colts – 6.5
The Indianapolis Colts will try and shed their label as playoff chokers as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in one of the AFC Wild Card games this weekend. The Colts have reached the playoffs seven of the last eight seasons and have won four straight division titles but they have done nothing in the playoffs however, early betting at SBG Global has most smart money taking the Colts at home.
This year the Colts have struggled down the stretch and are not the favorites in the AFC. "I think we're definitely under the radar," head coach Tony Dungy said. "But that's not really a good thing. Usually when everyone thinks you're playing well, it's because you are." Peyton Manning has completed 72 percent of his passes and thrown for 769 yards and nine TDs with no interceptions in his last three games but most people are looking at his 3-6 record in the playoffs.
A big problem for the Colts this season has been their rushing defense, which ranks last in the NFL with 173.0 yards allowed per game. That could spell bad news against the Chiefs who have Larry Johnson. This season Johnson broke his own team record from a season earlier with 1,789 rushing yards. Johnson also carried the ball 416 times, breaking the NFL mark of 410 set by Atlanta's Jamal Anderson in 1998. Johnson ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs' 35-30 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday.
Indianapolis is a 7 point favorite with a total of 51 at SBG Global.
The Chiefs needed some help to get into the playoffs but they were the only team to win their must game. Tennessee, Cincinnati and Denver all lost. The Chiefs have not won a playoff game since 1994, when Joe Montana led them to a 28-20 win over the Houston Oilers.
Quarterback Trent Green has started only one game in the playoffs - Kansas City's 38-31 loss to the Colts in the 2003 postseason. "We have seven starters who have never been in a playoff game. Seven starters," Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards said. "This team we are playing has been in the playoffs five years in a row. They understand the tempo, they understand the mode. They understand what's getting ready to take place.”
The Chiefs are 0-3 all-time at the RCA Dome. The Chiefs are 7-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. The Chiefs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games. The Chiefs are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog. The Chiefs are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings between the two teams.
The Colts are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 playoff games. The Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
The Under is 4-1-1 in the Chiefs last 6 games as a road underdog. The Under is 6-2 in the Chiefs last 8 vs. the AFC. The Under is 10-4 in the Colts last 14 games in January. The Under is 9-4 in the Colts last 13 games as a home favorite.
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NFC Wild Card Game
Dallas Cowboys (9-7) at Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Saturday, 8:00 pm Eastern
NBC
SBG Global Opening Line: Seahawks - 3
The Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys look to put their recent struggles behind them as the meet at Qwest Field in Seattle in an NFC Wild Card game on Saturday. Seattle won the NFC West for the third straight season while the Cowboys finished behind the Eagles in the NFC East. Sources at SBG Global tell us that that even with the Cowboys not winning the division, the gambling public firmly believes that Tony Romo and company will pull out the win in Seattle.
Seattle is finally healthy with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and 2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander back playing together, but so far neither has looked like pro bowlers. Hasselbeck threw 15 interceptions this season despite playing only 12 games after missing time with a sprained knee. Alexander is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry and has seven touchdowns and three fumbles. The Seahawks finished 5-3 at home, losing their last two games after going 10-0 at Qwest Field last season. Seattle is fighting defensive injuries now as starting cornerback Kelly Herndon (broken ankle) and backup Jimmy Williams (knee) suffered injuries. They are already missing starting cornerback Marcus Trufant (high ankle sprain).
Dallas is coming into this game very disappointed as well. They lost three of their last four games and are coming off a home loss to pathetic Detroit. The Cowboys defense has given up 132 points in the last four games. "I can't tell you how disappointed I am. I really can't," coach Bill Parcells said. "This is the low point for me in a long time." The offense has looked shaky as well of late. Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo lost two fumbles, threw an interception, and was sacked four times last Sunday. His last five games have been poor as he has six TDs and eight interceptions for a 77.1 QB rating. Julius Jones finished the regular season with 1,084 rushing yards for his first 1,000-yard season, but he has only 91 yards and no touchdowns over his last three games.
Seattle is a 3 point favorite with a total of 46.5 at SBG Global.
Dallas has lost three of four games against Seattle since 2001, including a 13-10 defeat at Qwest Field last season. The teams have never met in the playoffs. The Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog. The Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 playoff road games.
The Seahawks are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite.
The Seahawks are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. the NFC.
The Over is 7-1-2 in the Cowboys last 10 road games. The Over is 11-4-1 in the Cowboys last 16 games as a road underdog. The Over is 12-5 in the Seahawks last 17 night games. The Over is 7-3 in the Seahawks last 10 vs. the NFC.
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AFC Wild Card Game
New York Jets (10-6) at New England Patriots (12-4)
Sunday, 1:00 pm Eastern
CBS
SBG Global Opening Line: Patriots – 8.5
The New York Jets will try and win for the second time this season in New England as they take on the Patriots Sunday in an AFC Wild Card matchup. The Jets have been the surprise team in the NFL this season under first year head coach Eric Mangini. The Jets head coach was a former assistant under Bill Belichick at New England. New York is in the playoffs for the fourth time in six years but sources at SBG Global report that the gambling public is not riding the Jets wave with early money all over the Patriots.
Chad Pennington is coming off a great season and was named comeback player of the year in the NFL. He completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,352 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Jets had a backfield by committee led by rookie Leon Washington. The receiving corps was headed by Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. Defensively the Jets were led by linebacker Jonathan Vilma, safety Kerry Rhodes and defensive end Bryan Thomas.
New England is an 8.5 point favorite with a total of 37.5 at SBG Global.
The Patriots come into the game having won six of their last seven games. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 3,529 yards and 24 touchdowns. Brady is 9-2 as a starter against the Jets, throwing for 2,357 yards and 12 touchdowns with only five interceptions. New England's defense matched a franchise record by allowing just 237 points, but will be without safety Rodney Harrison who suffered a torn MCL in his right knee in the last game against Tennessee.
This is only the second time these two teams have met in the playoffs. The Jets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog. The Jets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the AFC East. The Jets are 2-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. The road team is 14-3-1 ATS in the last 18 meetings between the two teams.
The Patriots are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 playoff home games. The Patriots are 16-6-1 ATS in their last 23 vs. the AFC East.
The Under is 5-1 in Jets last 6 games as an underdog. The Under is 4-1 in Jets last 5 road games but the Over is 7-2 in the Jets last 9 vs. the AFC East.
The Under is 4-0 in the Patriots last 4 vs. the AFC East. The Under is 9-1 in the Patriots last 10 playoff home games. The Under is 11-3 in the Patriots last 14 games as a home favorite.
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NFC Wild Card Game
New York Giants (8-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Sunday, 4:30 pm Eastern
FOX
SBG Global Opening Line: Eagles – 6.5
Two teams going in opposite directions meet on Sunday in an NFC Wild Card matchup as the Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants. Philadelphia might be the league's hottest team while the Giants might be the coldest. But in an odd twist, reports from SBG Global tell us that most early money is taking the Giants with the points.
Jeff Garcia is playing like a pro bowler and has led the Eagles to a division title, something no one thought possible when Donovan McNabb went down with an injury. "We've worked hard over this past month to scratch and claw our way back," said Garcia. "It's very special to be among a group of guys like we have here that just continue to battle, continue to prepare, continue to focus week in and week out."
The Giants were 6-2 in early November before losing six of seven, but survived a 34-28 win at last-place Washington last week to qualify for the playoffs. "We've already jumped over the hurdle about being here and I think that is the important thing," head coach Tom Coughlin.
The Giants have one thing going for them and that is running back Tiki Barber who had a team-record 234 rushing yards and three touchdowns last week. Barber ran for 1,662 yards this season to rank fourth in the NFL. New York was 6-2 when he rushed for 100 yards, and 2-6 when he didn't. "My football career hopefully has four more games in it," Barber said. The bad news for New York is that Barber did not do that well against the Eagles.
He ran for 75 yards on 19 carries in Week 15. Barber was held to a season-low 51 yards on 21 attempts at Lincoln Financial Field on Sept. 17.
The Eagles are a 7 point favorite with a total of 46.5 at SBG Global.
New York has won its only two playoff meetings with Philadelphia, in 1981 and 2001.
The Giants are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. the NFC East. The Giants are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall. The Giants are 0-4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. The Giants are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Philadelphia.
The Eagles are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the NFC East. The Eagles are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 playoff games but they are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a home favorite.
The Over is 9-1-1 in the Giants last 11 road games. The Over is 6-1-1 in the Giants last 8 vs. NFC East. The Under is 4-0-1 in the Eagles last 5 playoff home games. The Under is 13-3-3 in the Eagles last 19 games as a home favorite. The Over is 6-2-1 in the Eagles last 9 vs. the NFC East. The Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between the two teams and it is 6-1-1 in the last 8 meetings in Philadelphia.
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