3* Cincinnati over MINNESOTA by 3
We went against the Favres last Sunday night on our Late Phone Service and were rewarded with a SU Arizona dog win. The knee- jerk reaction would be to back the Vikings as they return home to the comfy confines of Mall of America Field where they are a perfect 6-0 SU with 188 points (over 31 PPG) scored. Like we said on numerous occasions, our PLAYBOOK.com database doesn’t use the knee-jerk method of handicapping and neither do we. In fact, we have more evidence to make a case for the Bengals than the prosecutors had in the O.J. trial – the difference is we know how to use it. Our opening argument shows Marvin’s men checking in with a 4-0 ATS mark as dogs versus an opponent off a SU favorite loss. We also have proof that the striped ones are a perfect 2-0 this season against .700 or greater opposition this season. It gets better, much better. The underdog in Cincy games this season is a bulletproof 12-0 ATS and the Bengals, themselves, testify that they are an inconceivable 8-0 SU and ATS when taking points, including 6-0 SU and ATS this season alone. We mentioned earlier that the Vikings enter this fray between division leaders off a SU favorite loss and that’s not much of a defense for the Purple People Eaters as they are pale 0-10 ATS as favorites off a SU favorite loss. In closing, Minny HC Brad Childress doesn’t have an alibi for his feeble 0-6 career ATS mark at home in the season’s final four games. There’s no tampering with this evidence. You know what to do.
4* HOUSTON over Seattle by 14
The hard-luck Texans host the Seahawks with the clock winding down on their chances of securing a third-straight 8-8 season. A recent four-game losing skid brings Houston in at 5-7, despite the fact they are 7-5 ‘In The Stats’ this season. It is, though, the Texans’ time of the year as they are 8-1 ATS home in December when playing off a loss. It’s also Gary Kubiak’s time to shine with Houston 7-1 ATS at home during the final four games of the season under his lead. While Seattle enters off back-to-back SU and ATS wins, the fact of the matter is they were outstatted in both victories. Our ever-reliable database chimes in with this: 5-7 home teams in Game Thirteen are 11-2 ATS versus an opponent off back-to-back wins. Better yet, the Seahawks’ Jim Mora Jr. is 0-8 ATS in his NFL head-coaching career in games off back-to-back victories when facing an opponent off a loss of more than three points. Houston’s got the bones in its hands and is looking for 8 – the hard way
5* San Diego over DALLAS by 11
Here we go again, picking on the Cowboys during the stretch drive of the season. And why not... if the boot fits. December has been a month that has seen dreams turn to nightmares for Dallas, who is 2-13 ATS during the final month of the year on out behind QB Tony Romo. Worse, the Cowboys are a deplorable 4-13 SU and 1-15-1 ATS play as non-division favorites from Game Thirteen out since 1997. Compounding matters is Dallas’ dismal 1-6-1 ATS mark at home after engaging the Giants. San Diego enters on another of their patented 2nd half runs where they are 36-8 SU and 29-14-1 ATS in regular season games since 2004, including 8-1 ATS as a dog. The Chargers are also on a 15-game win streak in December. Can’t fade numbers like those with a team on a seven-game undefeated skein. Bolt the door; the Boys are back in town and another playoff boot- scootin’ boogie is playing in the background.
Marc Lawrence Playbook NL 12/13
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