1 UNIT” NFL SIDE (Cowboys -8’ at home versus Panthers in a 8:35 eastern kickoff on ESPN):
Even though one of the league’s most popular teams are involved, the line on tonight’s game has actually dropped from an opening figure of 9’ points which gives us a little value with Dallas. Of course the Cowboys brand new billion-dollar pleasure palace was unveiled last Sunday Night on National-TV and the home team ended up losing outright. One of the main reasons why tonight’s line has dropped is because this is basically a make-or-break game for Carolina who was a divisional champion just one year ago. The Panthers once proud defense has taken a serious hit as a pair of tackles have already been lost for the entire season with Leonard Lewis (broken ankle) being the latest casualty. Basically the lack of pressure delivered by the defensive line has exposed the secondary which is one of the reasons why the Panthers have allowed on average a whopping 33 points per game so far. Of course matters are not helped with all of the TURNOVERS (9) that have been committed by the offense which right now is the most in the entire NFL. Dating back to that fateful home playoff loss of a year ago, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme alone has accounted for 12 turnovers with most of them being critical interceptions at inopportune times. My database research indicates that Carolina’s sluggish 0-2 start is actually critical to handicapping this particular contest. In the past 12 years Dallas has cost bettors a lot of money (30-45 SU/29-51-4 ATS) when facing opponents with a “winning” record. That pattern so far in 2009 has held true as the Cowboys covered the spread against a struggling team (Tampa) and lost the spot a week ago (Giants) on National-TV against a winning opponent. There have already been rumors floating that if Carolina decides at some point to fire head coach John Fox that current CBS broadcaster and former Steelers coach Bill Cowher is anxious to take over the team. Cowher lives in the state of North Carolina and it appears that he has been willing to wait until the Panthers make a head coaching move. I want all of you to be aware that there is some statistical risk with the Cowboys this evening as they have actually “failed” to cover the spread (0-7) the last seven times they have been cast as a Monday home favorite. But Dallas can ill afford to lose consecutive home games and there will actually not be as much pressure as a week ago when they opened a brand new facility which in turn brings a lot of expectations attached. Yesterday we saw a Tennessee squad off a sensational 2008 campaign fall to 0-3 and tonight we have a similar scenario involving Carolina despite all of their talent.
O.C. Dooley 9/28
Reply With Quote