San Diego Chargers -4.5 (-110) - Sunday October 12th ‘08 8:15
San Diego is 22-10 ATS last 3 years against conference opponents. San Diego is 17-7 ATS last 3 years in all games when the total is between 42 1/2 and 49 points. San Diego is scoring 29.6 points per game overall this year and 36 points per game at home this season. Patriots are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Patriots are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. AFC. Patriots are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win. Patriots are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. Patriots are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Chargers are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Chargers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 6. Chargers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Chargers are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 home games. Chargers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Chargers are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games in October. Chargers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. Chargers are 20-7-3 ATS in their last 30 games following a SU loss. Chargers are 47-17-2 ATS in their last 66 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Chargers are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Chargers are 41-18-3 ATS in their last 62 games on grass. Chargers are 35-16-3 ATS in their last 54 vs. AFC. Chargers are 46-22-3 ATS in their last 71 games overall. We’ll recommend a small play on San Diego tonight! Thanks and good luck, Rocky 

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Philadelphia will send left hander Jamie Moyer to the mound in this game. Moyer sports a 16-8 record this season and a 3.73 earned run average. The Dodgers will be pitching Hiroki Kurodo who is 10-10 on the season with a 3.61 earned run average. 5dimes oddsmakers currently have the Los Angeles listed as -150 for this game versus the Phillies and the games over/under is at 8 runs.

Last game, Phillies scored four runs in back-to-back innings on Friday, beating the Dodgers by a score of 8-5 in Game 2 of this series. In that game Philadelphia was set as a -105 betting odds favorite with the posted number going over the posted total of 8.5 runs

Click Here For the Winning Pick for This Game

A Few Betting Trends to Consider in This Matchup:
Phillies are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
Over is 8-1-2 in the last 11 meetings in Los Angeles.
Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Phillies are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.

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Game: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
Date: October 12th 2008 1:00PM
Opinion: under 43.5
Condition: (must be 43 or better)

These teams have faced each other five times since 1993. All five of those games finished below the total. Those games averaged only 23.8 combined points and none produced more than 34. The most recent meeting came in December of 2005 and resulted in a 16-3 victory by the Bears. While all that’s “ancient history,” the Bears are again playing some solid defense. They allowed just seven points last week and have held four of five opponents to 20 points or less. Overall, they’re allowing 17.4 points, which is the sixth best mark in the league.

The Bears have been particularly stingy on the road, allowing an average of only 13.3 points in three games away from Chicago. All three of those games fell below the number bringing the ‘under’ to 6-2 in Chicago’s last eight road games overall. Looking back several years and we find the UNDER at a profitable 14-8 the last 22 times the Bears played a road game with a total in the 42.5 to 45 point range. Additionally, note that they’ve allowed an average of only 10 points in their two “dome games.”

The Falcons have also been respectable on defense. Through five games, they’re allowing 21.4 points. That’s slightly better than the current league average of 22.5. While the Bears have allowed fewer points on the road, the Falcons have been better defensively at home. In two games here, they’ve allowed an average of only 17.5 points.

One of the many stats I pay attention to is how many times a team runs the ball each game. As you know, when teams regularly run the ball, the clock has a better chance to keep moving. These teams both rank near the top of the league in that category. In fact, through five games both the Bears and Falcons are averaging exactly 33 rushing attempts per game. Only the Ravens (40.3) and the Redskins (33.6) have run the ball more frequently.

We know Chicago coach Lovie Smith has always liked to run the ball and first-year Atlanta coach Mike Smith had this to say: “We’re always going to set out to try to run the football. I think in the first five games we’ve done that.” That’ll likely be “easier said than done” in Week 6, as the Bears are allowing a mere 74 yards per game on the ground. That doesn’t mean the Falcons will quit trying though. I expect a heavy dose of Michael Turner and Matt Forte to help keep the clock moving and for the final combined score to finish below the generous number. Consider the Under.

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Miami Dolphins +3.0 (-110) - Sunday October 12th ‘08 1:00p
The Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans are certainly entering this game with different mindsets, as Miami is oozing confidence after upsetting the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers in consecutive games while the Texans are reeling from their late collapse vs. the Indianapolis Colts to fall to 0-4. Granted, Matt Shaub should be back at quarterback for Houston after Sage Rosenfels singlehandedly gave the that Colts game away, fumbling twice in the last five minutes to help Indianapolis overcome a 27-10 deficit. However, Shaub may be sick to his stomach again soon after this game starts, as the Dolphins have recorded 12 sacks this season and should be able to take advantage of what is still a suspect Texans offensive line. One way to slow down the Miami pass rush would be with an effective running game, but Houston lacks that right now despite a decent performance vs. a horrible Colts run defense last week. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have done a good job of controlling clock behind the running of Ronnie Brown the last two games, and we see no reason why they cannot have more success here vs. a Texans defense 32.5 points and 334.2 total yards per game. Quarterback Chad Pennington will not beat anyone deep, but he could be very effective off of play action here. The bottom line here is that the Dolphins are simply playing better football than Houston right now, and the fact that the Texans may been psychologically fragile right now is a nice added bonus. NFL Free Pick: Dolphins +3 (-110) - Courtesy of LT Profits

New York Jets -8.0 - Sun Oct 12 ‘08 1:00p
A late decision has Cincinnati’s top gun QB Carson Palmer sitting this one out because of a sore elbow. Without the catalyst of their offense leading the way, the pedestrian Bengal attack is in big trouble, and should spend a great deal of time on the sidelines today because of their inability to move the chains. This will result in a tired Bengal D, that could be easily taken advantage of as this game progresses. Meanwhile, the NY Jets enter into this home game, rested and prepared to perform off a bye week. The Jets behind future hall of fame QB Brett Favre , have had time to get the playbook down. With everything now working in sequence the Jets, are capable of another one sided win similar to the one they served up on the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago , all be it though in a lower scoring manner. Final notes & Key Trends: The Jets are 6-0 ATS L/6 following a bye week. Projected score: NY Jets 28 Cincinnati 10 - Courtesy of Alex Smart

Jacksonville Jaguars +3.5 (-110) - Sunday October 12th ‘08 4:05p
This is as close to a must-win game for the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. the Denver Broncos as there can be at this relatively early stage of the year, while the Broncos have more of a comfort level with a two-game lead in the West. Jacksonville can ill afford to fall to 2-4 if they want any realistic chance of making the playoffs, and we feel they will have success vs. a bad Denver defense here, as we feel the Broncos performance vs. Tampa Bay last week was rather flukey. The Jaguars have had some offensive line problems, but they are luckily facing a weak Denver defensive front, so look for running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew to have to have big games this week, very similar to when they faced another soft front in the Indianapolis Colts a few weeks ago. Now the Broncos were prolific offensively early this year, but they are coming off of back-to-back sub-par efforts. The fact that they have maintained a two-game lead in the division is a negative here, as there will really be no urgency to improve on those last two weeks here, Instead, Denver may have one eye on their marquee battle with the New England Patriots next week. The combination of a more desperate Jacksonville team and a poor Broncos defense should be enough for the Jaguars to pull the upset. NFL Free Pick: Jaguars +3.5 (-110) - Courtesy of LT Profits

Carolina Panthers +1.5 (-110) - Sun Oct 12 ‘08 1:00p
The Carolina Panthers head south this weekend for a NFC South tilt with the Buccaneers. Right now the Panthers are leading the division at 4-1, but the Bucs can even things up with a win as they are sitting in second place at 3-2. We are going to go with Carolina at +1.5 on Sunday. The Panthers appear to be running on all cylinders as they head into Tamp Bay and one of the great aspects of this team is their consistency. Jake Delhomme is about as steady a hand as there is in the league at quarterback, and the team’s play reflects that week to week. This will be a tough, grind it out game for a couple of reasons, the first being that these two teams mirror each other in many ways, and the second is the fact that it is a division battle. The Panthers typically come out on top in these kinds of games and their ability to make big plays with the passing game gives them the edge here. Brian Griese is questionable for Tampa and if Garcia has to replace him, who knows where his psyche is at. The Panthers will force one of these two to win the game as I look for them to shut down the Bucs ground attack. Carolina has yet to allow a 100 yard rusher all season and I do not seeing it happening Sunday. The Panthers are averaging 207 yards passing per game while the Bucs are yielding 218.6 per game. Delhomme should be able to move the chains with Steve Smith who has had some success against Tampa in the past. The Carolina running game will also keep the Bucs defense honest and take some heat off of Delhomme. John Fox’s team also has the advantage over the Bucs in both the turnover and time of possession categories. Things to consider: The Bucs are 1-4 against the spread versus Carolina as a home favorite. Carolina is 9-1 against the spread and 8-2 straight up in their last 10 games as a road underdog versus an NFC South opponent. The Panthers are 4-0 against the spread and straight up as a road dog versus an NFC South foe with a spread of 0 to 3.5. Carolina is 7-1-1 ATS as an away dog coming off back to back straight up wins. Free Pick: Take the Panthers +1.5 (-110) - Courtesy of Matt Foust

St. Louis Rams +14.0 - Sunday, October 12th ‘08 1:00p
Yes, the Redskins have won four straight games, including road upsets at Dallas and Philadelphia. But at no point in any of those four victories did the Redskins enjoy a two touchdown lead. The four victories were all decided in the fourth quarter, each coming by a touchdown or less. This is not an offense built for easy blowouts, nor does the obvious flat spot on their schedule following the two divisional road wins provide much fodder for the ‘blow out St Louis’ theory. And let’s not forget the absolute ineptitude of double digit favorites in the NFL this season. The league as a whole is a perfect 0-7 ATS when laying ten points or more. Speaking of ‘whole league’ angles, let’s not forget a key long term angle that supports a play on the Rams in this spot. Teams that are 0-4 SU or worse, coming off their bye week, as an underdog of six points or more are a truly phenomenal long term against the spread. They spend two weeks hearing about how much they stink – from friends, family, the local media – and then these winless teams off a bye tend to take out some of their frustrations upon their opponent. Throw in a coaching change in St Louis and we can clearly see that the Rams are poised for their single best showing of the season; a major step up for a team that has now lost eight consecutive games dating back to last year, the most recent seven defeats all coming by 17 points or more. With Marc Bulger back behind center for Jim Haslett’s squad here, look for the Rams to be competitive throughout, just as winless Cinci was in Dallas last week. Take St Louis. - Courtesy of Ted Sevransky

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies o8.5 (100) MLB Odds - Friday October 10 ‘08 4:35p

It may seem counterintuitive to look at the Over between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies today, given the pitching matchup and the easy Under in Game 1, but the talented starters today did not exactly close out the season strong.

Phillies starter Brett Myers was great vs. the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, allowing two runs and just two hits in seven innings, but remember that he has always pitched well vs. the Brewers, so that effort actually could have been expected.

In reality, Myers has just two Quality Starts in his last five outings, and yes, they both came vs. Milwaukee. If we factor out those two appearances, Myers allowed an ugly 18 earned runs and 27 hits in just 17.2 innings over the other three starts!

Now Chad Billingsley has not been nearly that bad, but he does have an uncharacteristic 4.15 ERA with a poor 1.56 WHIP over his last three starts. He also hardly fooled the Philadelphia hitters the only time he faced them this season, allowing 12 baserunners in six innings of a 5-0 loss.

Add all of this up and we foresee a somewhat higher scoring game here than many others expect.

MLB Free Pick: Dodgers, Phillies Over 8.5 (+100) - Courtesy of LT Profits

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UAB @ Houston o66.5 (-110)
Thursday October 9th ‘08 8:00p - Click Here for Odds

Tonight the UAB Blazers will take on a Conference USA rival in the Houston Cougars. Both of these teams have shown an ability to move the ball against lesser defenses, so, we are going with the over 66.5 game total.

Houston has continued to display a potent offense even with the departure of former coach Art Briles to Baylor. The Cougars are averaging 37.2 points per game and 545.2 yards per game. They have a particularly effective passing game with sophomore quarterback Chase Keenum leading the way. Keenum has thrown 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions; he also boasts an impressive 150 passer rating. The Cougars are posting a staggering 399 passing yards per game and they are also averaging 7.5 yards per pass.

UAB, while not possessing the same high powered offense that Houston does, can put points on the scoreboard. They are averaging 24.5 points per contest, but if you remove their efforts against two of the better defenses in the country (Tennessee and South Carolina) that average jumps to 32.75. And make no mistake, Houston’s defense is not anywhere near the class of the Volunteers or the Gamecocks.

This match-up is tailor made to be a scoring fest. Each team’s defensive weakness is their opponents’ offensive strength. UAB is very effective in the running game (174.2 rushing yards per game) and Houston cannot stop the run (212.3 rushing yards per game allowed). Houston, as mentioned, can throw the ball all over the field and UAB cannot stop the pass (283.2 passing yards per game allowed and 8.8 yards per pass allowed). Both teams could easily crest the 30 point mark (Houston definitely will) and a total in the high seventies or low eighties would not surprise me at all.

Things to consider: Houston put up 621 yards and 41 points on East Carolina last week despite turning the ball over four times. The Over is 7-2-1 the last four years when Houston played as a home favorite coming off of a win. Courtesy of Matt Foust

Boston Bruins (115) Hockey Odds  - Thu Oct 9 ‘08 10:05p

The Boston Bruins were a surprise playoff entrant last year, thanks to a defensive-minded trapping style implemented by Coach Claude Julien and great goaltending. With very little personnel turnover in the off season, look for the Bruins to use that style to upset the Colorado Avalanche on the road on opening night. All-Star Tim Thomas is expected to get the start in goal here, and he is coming off of a breakout season where he has an excellent 2.44 GAA and a 92.1 percent save percentage. Now granted, he did not see as many shots as many other goalies do because of the Bruins suffocating defense, but that figures to be the case here again. The most important player on the ice tonight though may just be Patrice Bergeron, who was knocked out for the season in the first month last year with a concussion. Bergeron topped 70 points each of the previous two seasons, and he should provide the added offensive punch that they lacked last season. Meanwhile, the Avs are a year older and have very suspect goaltending. Also, they are not accustomed to facing teams like this in the much more wide open Western Conference. Yes, they were beset with injuries last year, but the corps of this team is still old and they just may back down vs. the Bruins physical style. This is a vote for defense over offense at an underdog price. NHL Free Pick: Bruins +115 - Courtesy of LT Profits

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South Carolina +1.0 - Saturday, October 11th ‘08 12:30p
Kentucky prepares to play host to South Carolina in a key SEC battle, after taking part in a hard fought emotional 17-14 loss against the Alabama Crimson Tide last week. That result and effort will have the Wildcats in a let down situation , making them susceptible to a slow start. Meanwhile, South Carolina behind QB Chris Smelley looked fantastic , upsetting Ole Miss 31-24 on the road last week , and will be primed to keep that positive momentum working for them in this spot. I am expecting Spurriers team to come out here with all guns blazing and take a early lead, against an excellent but tired D. This also makes the Gamecocks a viable first half bet. I know winning on the road in the SEC is tough to achieve, especially two weeks in a row, but thats what I am betting will happen. It must be noted Steve Spurrier led teams have owned this Wild Cat program in the past, winning 15 straight confrontations, including 8 in a row as a coach of the Gamecocks ( three straight against coach HC Rich Brooks. Projected score: South Carolina 21 Kentucky 17 - Courtesy of Alex Smart

Temple +8.5 (-110) - Saturday, October 11th ‘08 4:00p
The Temple Owls may be just 2-4 straight up, but they have been a gold mine against the spread at 5-1, with the only ATS loss being against national powerhouse Penn State on the road. Look for the Owls to gibe the Central Michigan Chippewas all that they can handle this week. Temple was very impressive last week, going into Oxford and upsetting the Miami-Ohio Redhawks 28-10 as seven-point underdogs. That marked the fourth time in their six games this season that the Owls have allowed 12 points or less, and it is noteworthy that unlike many other teams, they did not schedule any Division 1-AA teams during their early-season non conference portion. That defense is the very reason that Temple has been so successful vs. the number. Even with that 45-3 loss at Penn State, the Owls are allowing just 18.5 points per game. The reason they have won just two games outright is that the offense is only averaging 17.7 points, but that 28-point outburst last week was encouraging and they are facing a bad Central Michigan defense that is surrendering 30.6 points and 405.8 total yards per game. The Chippewas have still managed to go 3-2 SU and 2-2 ATS, thanks to an offense that is averaging 26.2 points, a figure that is skewed a bit by a still respectable 17-point performance at Georgia. However, the strength of the CMU offense is the passing game, and that just happens to be the strength of a Temple defense that is stingily allowing just 6.3 yards per pass attempt. We do not see the Chippewas getting a big lead at any point here vs. that defense, and their own defense is capable of allowing the Owls to reproduce the 28 points they scored last week, so look for a tight contest from start to finish. CFB Free Pick: Temple +8.5 (-110) - Courtesy of LT Profits

Rutgers +7.5 (-110) - Saturday, October 11th ‘08 12:00p
The Cincinnati Bearcats managed to beat a defenseless Marshall team last week with an inexperienced quarterback, but this Rutgers defense is much tougher in the Bearcats Big East opener. Third string quarterback and redshirt freshman Chazz Anderson will again get the start for Cincinnati here, and although he was a decent 16 for 26 vs. Marshall, he only passed for 158 yards. That approach will not work vs. a Rutgers group that actually contained West Virginia pretty well last week, and we are simply not convinced right now that Anderson is capable of having success downfield. Now the Rutgers offense has been disappointing, but that 24-17 loss at West Virginia was actually an encouraging effort, especially with the emergence of Kenny Britt, who had 151 receiving yards on 12 receptions. If the great Cincinnati defense has an Achilles Heel, it is a pass defense that is allowing 241.8 passing yards per game. Sure, their eight interception have helped cover up this deficiency, but as long as Knights quarterback Mike Teel passes to the right uniforms, Rutgers may actually be able to generate some offense this week.  If that is indeed the case, Rutgers should not only cover this contest, but they would have an excellent chance at an outright upset. CFB Free Pick: Rutgers +7.5 (-110) - Courtesy of LT Profits

West Virginia -23.5 (-110) - Saturday October 11th ‘08 12:00p
Greg Robinson’s beleaguered Syracuse Orange hit the road this week to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown. West Virginia is also suffering through a disappointing season considering their pre-season expectations, but regardless of the Mountaineers ills, we are going with them minus the 23.5 this Saturday. The Orange are just 1-4 in Robinson’s fourth year and the way their schedule shapes up, it is likely that they may not win another game. Syracuse has exactly one team strength and that is their ability to run the ball. Unfortunately for them, that will not get you very far. Consider that the ‘Cuse are being out gained by an average of 173.8 yards per game and you get the picture. West Virginia is a particularly awful match-up for Syracuse in that their strength is running the ball (226.6 rushing yards per game) and the Orange would have trouble stopping sloth from averaging four yards per carry (206 rushing yards per game allowed). Also, the Mountaineers are 3-0 at home and have won by an average of 19.33 points per game against competition better than Syracuse. Note: WVU quarterback Pat White went out of last week’s game versus Rutgers but he is set to start this weekend. Things to consider: The favorite in this series is 12-4 ATS since 1992. Free Pick: Take West Virginia -23.5  (-110) - Courtesy of Matt Foust

New Mexico St @ Nevada Reno o67.5 (-110) - Saturday October 11th ‘08 4:00p
This Saturday the Nevada Wolf Pack is set to host fellow WAC member, the New Mexico State Aggies. Given the history of this match-up and the current state of these two respective teams, we are going with the over 67.5. Nevada, while just 3-2 on the year, is producing points in bunches and also allowing them at a rather healthy clip as well. The Wolf Pack has scored exactly 49 points in all three of their wins (their two losses came against Texas Tech and Missouri) and they figure to get close to that number or exceed it this week versus the Aggies. They also figure to let the Aggies visit the end zone in regular intervals considering that they are allowing 31.6 points per game. New Mexico State is allowing 368 yards per game, 222.8 of which are coming on the ground. This plays right into Nevada’s game plan and strength as they are producing an astounding 306.6 rushing yards per game. Conversely, the Wolf Pack have a great deal of difficulty stopping the pass (332.2 passing yards allowed per game), and it just so happens that is what the Aggies do really well (321.8 yards per game through the air). These two have averaged a total of 71 points per game in their last seven meetings and they have scored over 67.5 in six of those seven games. - Courtesy of Matt Foust

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The NFL is a league of parity, and across the board the talent level is relatively equal. “On any given Sunday” is a phrase that has merit because there is enough skill and talent on every team to win against any opponent on a given day. No doubt some teams like St. Louis (0-4) and Detroit (0-4) are playing as poorly as their statistical profiles warrant. Both teams have also destroyed their betting backers thus far going 0-4 Against-the-Spread (ATS).  But Cincinnati’s near miss overtime loss at the NY Giants and close contest at Dallas combined with winless Kansas City’s victory over Denver as a 9.5-point underdog proves that even the biggest and ugliest ‘Dogs can have their day with good effort and execution against top-level teams.

Cincinnati (0-5) is still winless, yet after opening with a pair of losses the Bengals were competitive in defeat and cashed ATS playing two of the NFL’s best teams on the road at the NY Giants (+13) and Dallas (+16). The Bengals have actually been a 1-point favorite in their three other contests, and the loss of quarterback Carson Palmer for the Browns game clearly hurt their chances for victory. Houston (0-4) is the other winless team, and the Texans literally gave away a certain victory last Sunday with a 27-10 lead in the final five minutes. The 31-27 Colts win had most Texans betting backers (+3 or +4 late) wanting to ring QB Sage Rosenfel’s neck. The Texans have had to battle the tough travel schedule and also deal with the devastation of Hurricane Ike to the Houston area. Houston has played two strong, physical defensive teams in Pittsburgh and Tennessee that also like to pound the ball on the ground offensively. Their two other opponents usually feature strong stop units, but both Indianapolis and Jacksonville are down defensively this season while also struggling with injuries. Looking at Houston’s remaining schedule, it doesn’t appear the Texans will ever be a double-digit underdog this season. Yet they must shore up a run defense that allows 140 rushing ypg and stop turning the ball over. Houston is tied with Detroit for the leagues worst turnover differential (–6), and the Texans have three turnovers in three games this season, and two in the other contest versus the Titans.

If you look at the NFL betting card this week, you’ll notice there are two big underdogs; Detroit (+14) at Minnesota and St. Louis (+13.5) at Washington. Statistically, you really can’t make much of a case for the Lions or Rams this week, as they rank as the bottom two defensive teams in the league. However, double-digit favorites have fared poorly this season, going 0-7 ATS, although Carolina did close as a 10-point favorite in some places last week and they crushed the Chiefs 34-0. The Rams have been a 9 or 9.5-point underdog in all four contests this season, and have lost each game by at least 17 points with three losses by 24 or more.

Detroit has allowed a league worst 429 yards-per-game (ypg), 6.7 yards-per-play (ypp) and minus (-6) in turnover differential. They are tied with the Rams for the fewest turnovers forced (2). They have been equally inept against both the run and pass. The Lions allow 180 ypg rushing at 5.0 yards-per-rush (ypr). Detroit has allowed an incredible league-high 11 runs of 20 yards or more. Needless to say, facing the Vikings and Adrian Peterson in Minneapolis this week doesn’t look too promising. The pass defense is just as poor, allowing a league high 9.4 yards-per-pass-play (yppp), over 67% completions and 249 passing ypg. Detroit has only registered four sacks this season, ahead of only the Chiefs and Bengals with three each. The Lions have not played too tough a schedule yet either in losing both home games against division opponents Green Bay and Chicago while losing badly on the road at San Francisco and Atlanta.

Remember, Detroit ended last season on a 1-7 straight-up run. That makes them 1-11 since the second half of last season, and despite the horrific defensive performance, the Lions offense has been a major disappointment also while ranking no. 26 in the NFL. Detroit is no. 31 in rushing offense, averaging just 72 ypg on the ground and just 4.6 yards-per-play overall. Of course, the Lions have faced big deficits early in each of their four games and have led for a grand total of 2 minutes and 24 seconds this year. What the heck was this Detroit team doing during their bye week? With two weeks to prepare for division rival Chicago, the Lions managed just 185 yards total offense. They went three-and-out on their first three possessions and were only 2-13 on third down conversions. They were whipped soundly and embarrassed at home by the Bears, 34-7. Nobody, not the players, coach Rod Marinelli or new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto has been able to adequately explain the offensive woes. Against the Bears, the Lions opened in their regular two-receiver set then took their best player, Calvin Johnson, out on the second play. The next series, they came out with three receivers and tried the no-huddle offense they installed three weeks ago after not working on it once during training camp. For much of the game, they looked unprepared and struggled with miscommunications. The Lions do have three rookie starters (right tackle Gosder Cherilus, running back Kevin Smith and fullback Jerome Felton) and a fourth player (right guard Manny Ramirez) making essentially his NFL debut. Coach Marinelli said the no-huddle was a no-brainer not to do, and the Lions will “pull back” on their scheme this week against Minnesota.

Perhaps betting against this Lions team is a no-brainer. However, check back tomorrow for more NFL winless team notes and a look at how the big NFL underdogs have fared long-term Against-the-Spread.

Week 6 NFL Football Power Rankings-Ratings Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional Sports Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting on football this weekend be sure to buy Alex’s expert NFL Picks.

1: Tennessee Titans (5-0 ATS, 5-0 SU) (LW: 1) Tennessee won the battle of the unbeaten ATS squads against the Ravens last Sunday and is the last team undefeated against the spread. They’re off this week before continuing with KC in Week 7.
Next Up: Bye

2: Washington Redskins (4-1 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 5) Ever since getting romped by the Giants on opening nights, the Skins have been spotless, beating the spread by an average of 8.3 points per game, including back-to-back upsets on the road against NFC East opponents. They’ve played down to the level of their opponents of late though, as they are 2-9-1 ATS in their L/12 against teams with losing records.
Next Up: Home vs. Rams (-13.5)

3: New York Giants (3-1 ATS, 4-0 SU) (LW: 4) The Giants pummeled Seattle last week, making a mockery of the fact that they were only favored by a touchdown. They hit the road this week, where they are 20-7 in their L/27 games.
Next Up: Away @ Browns (-9)

4: Chicago Bears (3-1-1 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 8 ) Chicago takes a big jump up the polls this week after throttling the hapless Lions last week. Either the oddsmakers still don’t respect the Bears, or they’re giving a lot of credit to the Falcons, as they are only slight favorites against the team with the longest odds to win the Super Bowl at the start of the season.
Next Up: Away @ Falcons (-1)

5: Baltimore Ravens (3-1 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 2) Baltimore had the Titans down and out in the 4th quarter, but let the Titans scored the final ten points to take their Week 5 betting match-up. They’ve earned the respect of the oddsmakers though, as they are only short underdogs in Indianapolis, a team that has historically owned them.
Next Up: Away @ Colts (+4.5)

6: Buffalo Bills (3-2 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 3) It was a dud week for Bills bettors out in the desert, but they’ll get a break for having to play back-to-back games a long way from home. They come back to Orchard Park next week after enjoying their bye this weekend.
Next Up: Bye

7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1 ATS, 3-2 SU) (LW: 7) “Buc ball” was on display in Denver last weekend, as Tampa Bay did just enough to cover the spread with a late touchdown to find the backdoor. They play Carolina this weekend, and are 6-2 ATS in their L/8 games against the NFC South.
Next Up: Home vs. Panthers (-1)

8: Carolina Panthers (3-1-1 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 13) Another week, another ‘W’ for Carolina bettors, who whitewashed Kansas City 34-0 last weekend. They’ll head to Tampa Bay this weekend with a chance to extend their lead in the NFC South to two full games.
Next Up: Away @ Tampa Bay (+1)

9: Atlanta Falcons (3-2 ATS, 3-2 SU) (LW: 14) Let’s hear it for the Falcons, who are now 3-2 and coming off of an upset in Green Bay. They’re ranked #2 in the NFL in rushing and #8 in total yards. The oddsmakers have responded by making Atlanta short underdogs at home against the Bears.
Next Up: Home vs. Bears (+1)

10: Philadelphia Eagles (3-2 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 6) The Eagles were shocked at home this weekend by the surging Skins and suddenly find themselves three games back of the Giants in the NFC East. They’ll hit the road this week, where they are 7-1 ATS in their L/8.
Next Up: Away @ 49ers (-4.5)

11: Oakland Raiders (2-2 ATS, 1-3 SU) (LW: 11) Even though Lane Kiffin is no longer the head coach of the Raiders, they hold their spot in the poll. They’re just 8-17 ATS in their L/25 though, and will hope for better in New Orleans this weekend.
Next Up: Away @ Saints (+9)

12: Miami Dolphins (2-2 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 21) Miami is the biggest mover of the weekend after pulling off their second straight major upset against a team that played in the AFC title game last year. Now they’re underdogs against a team that can’t hold a 17-point lead in the final four minutes, so it could be another chance to shoot up the poll.
Next Up: Away @ Texans (+3)

13: Arizona Cardinals (3-2 ATS, 3-2 SU) (LW: 19) After getting the wood laid to them in Giants Stadium against the Jets, the Cardinals took their rage out on the Bills by beating them 41-17. The #5 offense in the NFL has a big chance to make some noise in the NFC in they can knock off Dallas this weekend.
Next Up: Home vs. Cowboys (+5)

14: New Orleans Saints (3-2 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 9) It’s not often than a team returns two punts for touchdowns and loses, especially when Gus Frerotte is the opposing QB, but that’s what the Saints pulled off this week against the Vikes. They’re 6-2 ATS in their L/8 against this week’s opponent, Oakland.
Next Up: Home vs. Raiders (-9)

15: Indianapolis Colts (2-2 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 20) Sunday’s game with the Houston Texans was just how HC Tony Dungy drew it up. Fall behind by 17 points in the 4th quarter, then let Sage Rosenfels hand you a cover on a silver platter. They’ll look to get off the pine at home this week when the Ravens come to town.
Next Up: Home vs. Ravens (-4.5)

16: Dallas Cowboys (2-3 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 10) After coming out of the blocks like a house on fire to start the season, the Cowboys have dropped back to the pack after losing to Washington and appearing mortal against the Bengals are 18-point favorites. They’re just 1-7 ATS in their L/8 games against NFC foes and need to turn that around in a hurry to get back in the top half of the poll.
Next Up: Home vs. Bengals (OTB)

17: New York Jets (2-2 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 18) QB Brett Favre and the Jets were off last week, but return to action this week against the Bengals, who have covered the same number of games in Giants Stadium this year (1) as they have (1).
Next Up: Home vs. Bengals (-6)

18: Green Bay Packers (2-3 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 12) Aaron Rodgers started under center despite a shoulder injury for the Pack, but it didn’t seem to matter against Atlanta. The Falcons offense ran up and down the field on the Green Bay defense, which must regroup in a hurry for their meeting with Seattle this week. The Pack are 10-3-1 ATS in their L/14 road games.
Next Up: Away @ Seahawks (+1)

19: Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 25) There isn’t a more beat up team in the NFL than the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they showed grit and tenacity against the Jags on Sunday Night Football. RB Mewelde Moore picked up the slack of the injured Willie Parker and Reshard Mendenhall well, but he’ll likely take a backseat to Parker when the Steelers return to action in two weeks.
Next Up: Bye

20: San Diego Chargers (2-2-1 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 15) Apparently HC Norv Turner wasn’t watching any tape of the Fins against New England before his Chargers hopped on the plane to Miami. Miami ran 12 direct snaps and blew the San Diego rush defense apart. Now they’re favored by six points against the Pats, a team that beat them to go to the Super Bowl last year.
Next Up: Home vs. Patriots (-6)

21: New England Patriots (2-2 ATS, 3-1 SU) (LW: 26) The New England of new is starting to look like the New England of old. The Pats responded to a humiliating defeat against Miami by beating San Fran 30-21. They’re underdogs this week for the first time since the ’07 playoffs.
Next Up: Away @ Chargers (+6)

22: San Francisco 49ers (2-3 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 16) Oddsmakers showed a lot of confidence in the Niners against the Pats, but they learned their lesson when New England pounded San Fran 30-21. They come back to conference play this week, where they are just 4-10 ATS in their L/14 games.
Next Up: Home vs. Eagles (+4.5)

23: Denver Broncos (1-3-1 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 17) The Broncos left the backdoor wide open for the Bucs last week. They notched another victory, winning 16-13, but once again, failed to cover the spread for their bettors. They’ve now failed to cover the spread in three straight games, though they are 2-1 SU in those games.
Next Up: Home vs. Jaguars (-3.5)

24: Cleveland Browns (2-2 ATS, 1-3 SU) (LW: 22) The Browns enjoyed their bye this week, but are back on the field against the defending champs on Monday night. The Giants put up 44 points last week, only two points less than what the Browns have scored all season.
Next Up: Home vs. Giants (+9)

25: Minnesota Vikings (2-3 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 29) Minnesota won a sloppy match-up with the Saints on ESPN’s MNF, notching their second win for Vikes bettors this year. It must be a frightening thought for anyone who plans on backing Minnesota this week that Gus Frerotte is favored by almost two full touchdowns against anyone… then they’re comforted by the fact that the Lions are coming to town.
Next Up: Home vs. Lions (-13.5)

26: Cincinnati Bengals (2-3 ATS, 0-5 SU) (LW: 30) It’s back-to-back covers for Cincinnati bettors after putting up a strong effort in Dallas. The bottom line for HC Marvin Lewis is that the Bengals are still 0-5 SU, and will try to break that streak against the Jets, who have covered two of the L/3 meetings with Cincy.
Next Up: Away @ Jets (+6)

27: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 23) NFL bettors ran the line in Jacksonville’s game with Pittsburgh from 3 up to 5, but were all incredibly disappointed by the effort the Jags put into their 26-21 loss. It could be another long week for Jacksonville, as Denver is 4-2 ATS in their L/6 against the Jags.
Next Up: Away @ Broncos (+3.5)

28: Kansas City Chiefs (2-3 ATS, 1-4 SU) (LW: 24) The Chiefs scored 33 points against Denver two weeks ago, but thanks to their 34-0 loss in Carolina last week, they’ve only scored 32 in their other four games combined. They’re off this week, but the reward for HC Herm Edwards is a meeting with the Titans in Week 7.
Next Up: Bye

29: Houston Texans (1-3 ATS, 0-4 SU) (LW: 28) Just when Texans bettors were lined up to cash their tickets, Sage Rosenfels happened. The backup QB fumbled twice and threw an interception on the team’s final three drives, coughing up a 17-point lead in just over two minutes of game time against the Colts, providing one of the roughest football betting breaks you’ll ever see. For some unknown reason, Houston is a favorite this week to pick up their first victory of the season against the resurgent Dolphins.
Next Up: Home vs. Miami (-3)

30: Seattle Seahawks (1-3 ATS, 1-3 SU) (LW: 27) Someone needs to wake Matt Hasselbeck out of this nightmare. For the fourth straight game to start the season, the All-Pro caliber QB has failed to reach 200 yards passing, and his team only has one victory to show for it. Even though a 44-6 loss to the Giants will sting for awhile, it’s a better memory than when Hasselbeck yelled, “We want the ball and we’re gonna score!” against this week’s opponent.
Next Up: Home vs. Packers (-1)

31: St. Louis Rams (0-4 ATS, 0-4 SU) (LW: 32) In the ongoing battle between the Rams and Lions for the cellar in the power poll, it is St. Louis who earns the nod this week in the #31 hole, only because Detroit looked worse against Chicago than the Rams did against the bye week. They’re 4-17 ATS in their L/21 games against teams with winning opponents, so they could be back in the dungeon again next week.
Next Up: Away @ Redskins (+13.5)

32: Detroit Lions (0-4 ATS, 0-4 SU) (LW: 31) It’s never a good sign when the members of the media are asking your head coach whether he should quit or not, but that’s what Lions HC Rod Marinelli went through this week. Getting shlomped at home by a divisional rival has that effect sometimes, though. They’re now 1-11 ATS in their L/12 games and should be proud to be behind the Rams now in the power poll.
Next Up: Away @ Vikings (+13.5)