AFC Top 3 Matchups – Week 8
The current balance of power in the NFL has shifted heavily to the AFC through the first seven weeks of the 2010 season. In most power rankings they have four of the top five teams with Pittsburgh, New England, and New York (Jets) leading the way at 5-1. Add in Baltimore at 5-2 and Indianapolis at 4-2 and you could actually make an argument that the NFL’s top five teams are all in one conference.
Here is a look at my top three matchups in the AFC for Week 8 of the NFL season. All odds are provided by BetUS.com.
Miami @ Cincinnati (-2 ½) Over/Under: 43 ½
Miami needs to quickly put last week’s controversial 23-22 loss to Pittsburgh behind because at 3-3 another loss would pretty much take the Dolphins out of the AFC East division race. They will rely on a defense that is ranked 11th overall to shut the Bengals down.
Cincinnati at 2-4 is fading fast in the AFC North as last year’s six game division sweep is just a distant memory. The Bengal’s offense is ranked eighth overall, but they are ranked 16th in scoring; averaging 22 points a game.
The Dolphins are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games and 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog. The Bengals are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games overall. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of Miami’s last seven games against the AFC and in four of Cincinnati’s last five. Take the Dolphins and the points as the Bengals have settled back into their old mediocre selves.
Tennessee @ San Diego (-3 ½) Over/Under: 44 ½
Do not look now but Tennessee is starting to resemble the team that had the best record in the AFC in 2008 at 13-3. WR Kenny Britt’s breakout game (225 yards receiving and three TD’s) in the Titans 37-19 win over Philadelphia last week could be a sign of bigger and better things to come.
San Diego remains the biggest mystery in the NFL and exemplifies the fact that the only stat that matters is wins and losses. The Chargers have the first ranked offense and first ranked defense in the league and are tied with Denver for last place in the AFC West at 2-5.
The Titans are 0-6 ATS in their last six games against the Chargers, but San Diego is 2-8-1 in its last 11 games as a favorite. The total has gone ‘over’ in three of the last five games between these two teams. Take San Diego to cover the 3 ½ points by stopping the free-fall with a much needed win.
Houston @ Indianapolis (-5) Over/Under: 49 ½
Houston is going for the season sweep after beating the Colts on opening day 34-24 as a one-point home underdog. The Texans (4-2) will look to exploit a Colt’s defense that is ranked 26th against the run with rushing offense that is ranked fifth in the league behind second-year sensation RB Arian Foster.
Indianapolis (4-2) has the second ranked passing offense in the league, but Peyton Manning will need to find a way to replace the loss of the injured TE Dallas Clarke and WR Austin Collie who accounted for 44 percent of his 1916 total passing yards and 69 percent of his TD passes.
The Texans are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as a road underdog. The Colts are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Monday night games and 5-1 ATS in their last six games following a bye week. The total has gone ‘over’ in 10 of the last 11 meetings between these two teams and in six of the last seven games played in Indianapolis. Take the Colts to get the outright win to split the season series but stick with the Texans keep it close enough to cover plus the five points.
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