NFL Week 10 Betting Previews and Picks

The playoff picture is changing week by week. The New Orleans Saints appeared to be in very good position for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs last week but took a loss in New York. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers were making an ascent up the standings until starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers was lost to a broken collarbone on Monday Night Football. While those teams slipped down the pecking order, the Carolina Panthers are now a central player in the NFC’s chase for a wild card spot thanks to a four-game winning streak and the Philadelphia Eagles put themselves back in the hunt for the NFC East championship with a record-setting 49-20 win in Oakland. That’s how fluid things are right now.

Here’s the inside scoop on Week 10 of the NFL season.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens

Game Line: Bengals -1, 44.5 O/U

The Bengals didn’t handle prosperity very well in a road game on Halloween in Miami. They must now play another road game against a team that’s in a must-win situation. The Baltimore Ravens are 3-5 halfway through their season and NFL online betting handicappers know that they’ll need a minor miracle to somehow get back to the playoffs to defend their Super Bowl title. Winning here against the leader in the AFC North Division is an outright necessity for the Ravens. Since Cincinnati’s star pass rusher, defensive tackle Geno Atkins, is out for the rest of the season, the Bengals will miss the one piece that could have made life particularly difficult for Baltimore. Expect a close and low-scoring game in which Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton once again struggles on the road. He’s not the same quarterback compared to the version that performs on his home field.

[geo-link-us link=”http://nflob.old/go/bovadabet.php”]Free Pick: Take the Ravens and the under. Ravens 20-17.[/geo-link-us][geo-link-ca link=”http://nflob.old/go/bodogbet.php”]Free Pick: Take the Ravens and the under. Ravens 20-17.[/geo-link-ca]

Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco 49ers

Game Line: 49ers -6, 42.5 O/U

This is a meaningful game not just for the 49ers but for the surging Panthers, who have won four straight games to move to 5-3. One has to say the obvious: the Panthers have been taking care of business over the past month but they’ve been beating terrible teams. Carolina has dispatched Minnesota, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta – none of those teams have anything more than three wins at this stage of the season. Now, the Panthers have to go out and beat a big-boy team in the form of the 49ers. Those who bet on the NFL know that San Francisco got off to a terrible start but has won its last five games to re-establish itself as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Panthers get to play San Francisco and then the New England Patriots in consecutive weeks, so the experts who give out NFL betting tips will find out if this team is really legitimate. Right now, skepticism is the appropriate stance because the Panthers seem to be a product of their record. San Francisco should take care of them without too much drama or intrigue.

[geo-link-us link=”http://nflob.old/go/bovadabet.php”]Free Pick: Take the 49ers -6 and the over. 49ers 34-24.[/geo-link-us][geo-link-ca link=”http://nflob.old/go/bodogbet.php”]Free Pick: Take the 49ers -6 and the over. 49ers 34-24.[/geo-link-ca]

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

Game Line: Broncos -7, 57 O/U

The San Diego Chargers are coming off a game where they had a second-and-goal from the Washington six-inch line in the final half-minute of this past Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins… and they could not score a game-winning touchdown. The Chargers eventually lost in overtime and while that loss might motivate them to play better against the Denver Broncos, it could also present the kind of pain that might reduce their confidence precisely when they need it the most. The Broncos are coming off a bye week, which means that Peyton Manning should be a stronger version of himself. Manning was playing with two sprained ankles before the bye week. He should be able to step into his throws and that should give Denver’s offense the rhythm it needs in order to be successful. Expect a ton of points in this game, which is why we see a high total on the NFL betting odds, with Denver establishing a comfortable working margin in the fourth quarter as it often manages to do.

[geo-link-us link=”http://nflob.old/go/bovadabet.php”]Free Pick: Take the Broncos -7 and the over. Broncos 41-30.[/geo-link-us][geo-link-ca link=”http://nflob.old/go/bodogbet.php”]Free Pick: Take the Broncos -7 and the over. Broncos 41-30.[/geo-link-ca]

Dallas Cowboys @ New Orleans Saints

Game Line: Saints -7, 53 O/U

In the Week 10 set of offerings, this game feels like one in which the Saints are poised to deliver a blowout. New Orleans is kicking itself after losing to the New York Jets and now know that Carolina can take away the NFC South from them if they’re not careful. Head coach Sean Payton is likely to rip into his team and make every adjustment necessary to fix the Saints’ problems. One should also note that Dallas looked very unconvincing in a narrow last-minute win over Minnesota this past weekend. The Cowboys continue to look like an 8-8 team despite playing in the NFL’s weakest division, the NFC East. Look for the Saints to win straight up and cover the NFL point spread.

[geo-link-us link=”http://nflob.old/go/bovadabet.php”]Free Pick: Take the Saints -7 and the over. Saints 45-27.[/geo-link-us][geo-link-ca link=”http://nflob.old/go/bodogbet.php”]Free Pick: Take the Saints -7 and the over. Saints 45-27.[/geo-link-ca]

Home Dog with the Best Chance to Win is… The Atlanta Falcons

The NFL knows that Seattle has a pretty good team and a really good defense, but the league is also aware that this team just doesn’t handle road games well – not on offense. The Seahawks are barely getting by with a patchwork offensive line and quarterback Russell Wilson is making too many mistakes in the face of pressure. The Seahawks are asking for a loss and even though Atlanta is a below-average team, the Falcons will get up for this game and treat it as a big deal. This is a great spot for an outright win from a home dog.

Home Dog of the Week: Falcons +6

Most Important Injury Of The Week Is…

Aaron Rodgers. The Packers were already without Randall Cobb and Jermichael Finley. Now they’re without their star quarterback, who is simply irreplaceable. The Packers have overcome a lot of injuries but this is one that will likely cost them some wins.

7-Point Teaser of the Week: Titans -6 and Giants PICK

We’ll shift the NFL lines in the Titans favor as they face a Jacksonville squad that continues to implode. Teasing the Titans down by seven points allows us to get it under the key number of a touchdown.

For our other play, we’ll shift the NFL odds with the Giants in the hopes that they’ll look even better now that a bye week has given them a measure of improved health. Oakland probably won’t have Terrelle Pryor at full strength under center and while he should play, he won’t likely be as effective after sustaining an injury against Philadelphia.