Scott Spreitzer's Overall **NFL GAME OF THE YEAR!** (34-7, 83%) - Saturday
Pick(s):
(101) NEW YORK JETS vs (102) CINCINNATI BENGALS
Take (102) CINCINNATI BENGALS
I'm laying the points with the Bengals on Saturday afternoon, my NFL Game of the Year. Most figured Cincinnati would "mail it in" last week and they did. And thanks to the fact that they did struggle a bit down the stretch, I feel we're now getting great value with the much better team, which also happens to be at home. Cincinnati played with very little intensity and desire on both sides of the football last week. Subsequently, Jets' QB Mark Sanchez felt no pressure. This week's tilt will be much different. First of all, Sanchez has committed 29 turnovers this season, including fumbles and interceptions. He will be facing arguably, the best CB tandem in the league when Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph take the field. The pair were the first Cinci corners to each tally at least six interceptions in 24-years. They must be licking their chops to get this one started. The defensive line, and the stop-unit in general improved greatly over last season. They own the linebackers to take Sanchez' security blanket, TE Dustin Keller out of this game. And of course, the corners should have little trouble with Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards. The defensive line has done a great job at stuffing the run this season, and the unit received good news with the injury update on Domata Peko, who expects to start and play at 100%. With the other matchup advantages on this side of the ball, I am just as high on Cinci whether Peko plays or not. I truly expect the Jets' offense, behind the direction of the ridiculously turnover-prone rookie QB to have a tough time topping 10-points this week. Let's not forget that before the Colts and Bengals "laid down" for the Jets, the offense scored a grand total of just 83-points in their previous five games, for an average of 16.6 ppg. 26 of those points came against the hapless Buccaneer defense. You want a true read of this offense? Just take a look at the last time they played against a team that cared. That was three games ago, a 10-7 loss to Atlanta. The Jets couldn't muster a running game (3 yards per carry) and scored just seven points on a 65-yard TD, thanks to blown covereage by the Falcon defense. Sanchez finished that game with 1 TD, 3 INTs, and a passer rating of 49.7. Cincinnati's offense fooled many this season. Most were expecting a return to a high-flying, pass-happy attack. But they showed great balance, thanks in part to a strong run-blocking offensive line. The unit started 15 games together this season, and allowed 22 fewer sacks this season than they did in 2008, besides opening up consistent holes for the running game. Yes, I know the Jets' run defense owns superb numbers. But I don't believe they'll sustain the energy needed to overcome what I expect to be a mistake-filled contest by their offense. And which QB do you think is better prepared to handle blitz-schemes? Mark "INT waiting to happen" Sanchez? Or, the experienced Carson Palmer? I know who I want in a game with a line so short. Cincinnati is on a 7-1 ATS run against teams with a winning record. And NFL teams, in a line range that includes this number, and with a win percentage of .600 to .750 are 27-6, ATS, in revenge of a loss of 14 or more points. That's a combined, 34-7 situation. The matchups all side with Cinci. The QB situation is a huge advantage for the Bengals, and the "techs" are the icing on the cake. I'm laying the points with the Bengals, my NFL Game of the Year. Thanks! GL! Scott