Marshall's four TD catches lifts AFC over NFC
Football Betting Lines
01/29/2012 - Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall caught a Pro Bowl-record four touchdown passes, as the AFC downed the NFC, 59-41, Sunday at Aloha Stadium.
Marshall had six catches for 177 yards -- the second-most in Pro Bowl history, hauled in a pair of dazzling second-half touchdown passes from Bengals rookie Andy Dalton and earned MVP honors for the effort.
Ben Roethlisberger, elevated to AFC starter due to Tom Brady's upcoming Super Bowl appearance, threw for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the victors, while Philip Rivers had a pair of TD passes and a pick.
Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees both threw two touchdowns without and interception for the NFC, while the Saints' signal caller went 0-for-1 on extra point attempts.
Panthers rookie Cam Newton, pitted against Dalton for the entire second half, threw two touchdowns but had three interceptions -- two to San Diego's Eric Weddle -- in a rough Pro Bowl debut. Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald nearly matched Marshall, reeling in six passes for 111 yards and three scores in defeat.
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chauncey Billups scored a season-high 32 points as the Los Angeles Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter to take a 109-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Chris Paul added 25 points, six rebound
<< Morgan leads U.S. over Canada in CONCACAF final
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Morgan scored twice and set up two goals
for Abby Wambach, leading the U.S. women's national team to an easy 4-0 win on
Sunday over Canada in the final of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
The
<< Lakers continue dominance over T'Wolves
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant scored 35 points and pulled
down 14 rebounds, as the Los Angeles Lakers recorded their 16th straight
victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 106-101 decision.
Pau Gasol added 2
<< Mavericks sneak past Spurs in OT
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Mavericks squandered an 18-point
third-quarter lead, but Jason Terry scored four of his 34 points in overtime
to lead the Mavericks to a 101-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at
America
<< Teague leads Hawks past Hornets
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Teague netted a career-high 24 points,
leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 94-72 drubbing of the struggling New Orleans
Hornets at New Orleans Arena.
Willie Green finished with 16 points off the bench a
Philadelphia, PA (The Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Every year around this time I harp on how folks should not wager on a touchdown being the first score of the Super Bowl. Even though Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson hooked up for a TD pass for th
Sixers entertain reeling Magic at WFC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers shoot for their third straight win
this evening when they continue a seven-game homestand against the Orlando
Magic at the Wells Fargo Center.
Philly has been incredible at home this season at 10-2 a
Santos downs Tijuana to take Clausura lead >>
Tijuana, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cristian Suarez and Juan Rodriguez scored
in the second half as Santos downed Tijuana, 3-1, on Sunday to move into sole
possession of first place in Mexico's Clausura.
Santos entered the week level on po
Missouri visits Texas in pivotal Big 12 affair >>
Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Missouri Tigers and Texas Longhorns square
off for the second time this season, when the two meet in a Big 12 Conference
clash tonight in Austin.
Missouri is an impressive 19-2 on the season, and both losses
Heat finish homestand against hapless Hornets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat are coming off a big win over Chicago and
hope that they can keep the momentum going tonight versus the New Orleans
Hornets in the finale of a three-game homestand.
In what could have been an early playoff p
NFL Football Betting
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.