Week 3 is sneak peek into the start of NFL regular season

This is the week most NFL coaches enjoy in August, having preparation that is most similar to what the regular season will be like in a couple of weeks. For the most part, the starters will play in the third quarter and the intensity level is relatively high for football played this month, with jobs on the line at various positions and teams wanting to make a good showing. Week 3 starts with three contests, all with their own unique flavor.

Jacksonville at Philadelphia

If this was a TMZ.com piece, Michael Vick would be splashed all over and quotes and pictures would be seen. However this isn’t TMZ, this is about sports betting and what could lie ahead for a pair of teams without a preseason victory. Teams that don’t win a game in the preseason have averaged 7.3 wins a year once the real season begins since 1997, which is well below the expectations for both these clubs. Even worse, only one of the last 11 teams that were 0 for the preseason has made the playoffs. (Thanks Mr. East of Playbook.com for that info)


Jacksonville has lost there two games by a total four points and could just as easily be 2-0, be it for a bit more offensive execution. Quarterback David Garrard has looked sharp and receiver Troy Williamson has been exceptional opposite of Torry Holt as the Jaguars new receivers’ core. The Jacksonville running game needs to find another gear after producing 127 yards the first two games. The Jags head to Philly as 7.5-point underdogs according to Bookmaker.com and they are 12-2 ATS in road games in the last two weeks of the preseason.

Coach Andy Reid stated Donovan McNabb will play the first three quarters and Kevin Kolb the final 15 minutes, but Mr. Vick will see time with the starters. The impression one has is Reid wants to start having upcoming regular season opponents start game-planning for the Eagles newest weapon. Of greatest concern to Philadelphia is the projected offense line starters have not played one down together and they are unlikely too this week either. Philly is only 2-7 ATS in third game of preseason.

Miami at Tampa Bay

This Fox nationally televised contest will have a Florida flavor with the Dolphins at Tampa Bay. Miami has looked impressive in first starts and though Chad Pennington is the clear starter at quarterback, back-up Chad Henne is looking like the future of Fins football. He’s been confident and a real leader and his passes have more zip on them, something not seen since the guy doing the Nutri-System commercials was wearing a Miami helmet. The Dolphins have run the ball effectively (129.5 yards per game) and the defensive line has contained opponents rushing attack. Curious to see if Tampa Bay goes after Dolphins safeties who are vulnerable to the pass. The Fish are 2.5-point underdogs and are 23-15-2 ATS in this spot.

Tampa Bay has split a pair of contests, winning as underdog last week against Jacksonville and is 7-1 ATS when the line is +3 to -3. New head coach Raheem Morris has not named a starting quarterback yet, with the front office putting out feelers to find out what Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich could bring back in trade. Both have obvious limitations and top pick Josh Freeman isn’t ready. Indecision is not good and the Bucs are 1-7 ATS after a win by three or less points.

St. Louis at Cincinnati

Whatever appeal this game has is lessened by the fact both starting quarterbacks might not see any action. Carson Palmer has an ankle issue and Marc Bulger a finger problem. That means a heavy dose J.T. O'Sullivan for Cincinnati and St. Louis counters with Kyle Boller.

The Bengals first unit has moved the ball no matter who has played quarterback and is averaging 6.4 yards per play. It has been breakdowns at the wrong times that have stalled drives and left them without any points. Expect this to be an area coach Marvin Lewis wants more production from, for a squad that is 1-7 ATS in Week 3.

The Rams are 2.5-point underdogs and have a lot to shore up before regular season begins. The entire defense has made multiple miscues in understanding new coach Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. He’s been preaching "Get low and stick 'em" tackling, however too many defenders have fallen back to old ways and it will just take time. St. Louis is a sickly 1-9 ATS off a home loss.

Big Super Saturday and your thoughts requested

A dandy of a 4-0 day should put a smile on everyone’s face. Found a MLB system that is 21-5 this year alone. The Top Trend is perfect and in afternoon action. Slick Rick’s Free Play goes for four in a row. Good Luck

What I thought about yesterday – This whole Mike Vick thing has me confused. On one hand he served hard time, which pays his debt to the courts, but what about society? Is a person that drowns and hangs dogs really mentally right? Oh sure he could play football, but people that are considered crazy do sick things like that. Don’t bring up the Stallworth deal either, it is completely different. Though he was over the drinking limit, he hit someone who was walking illegally and Florida attorney’s agreed that proving him guilty would have been 50-50 at best. Yes, somebody died, but Stallworth can NEVER legally drive again, period. Let me know what you think.

In case you haven’t heard, the first one is out – Better hide your beagle, Michael Vick’s an Eagle.
Now on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Baseball System-1) PLAY AGAINST all underdogs like San Diego with a money line of +100 or higher who are nasty offensive team scoring 4.1 runs a game or less, against a solid NL starting pitcher (ERA 3.70 or lower), with an overused bullpen that pitches more than 3.2 innings per game. In 2009, this system is 21-5, 80.7 percent.

Free Baseball Trend -2) The Chicago Cubs are 11-0 at Wrigley Field after scoring eight runs or more this season, winning by 3.2 runs per game.

Free Baseball Selection -3) Slick Rick betting the Mets use the cain against the Giants and Matt Cain for the win.

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Topics from The House of Sports

Philly Shows The Love

Former Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, Tony Kornheiser’s replacement in the ESPN Monday Night Football broadcast booth, had his debut upstaged at last night’s Arizona-Pittsburgh game by breaking news that the Philadelphia Eagles had signed QB Michael Vick to a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Once the highest-paid player in the NFL, Vick’s well-documented fall from grace following his conviction on dog-fighting charges came to an end on July 27 when Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted his suspension. Since then, there’s been a media feeding frenzy over where or if Vick would be an object of interest for any team this season. Former Eagles QB Ron Jaworski, who shares MNF analyst duties with Gruden, was seemingly aghast over the hire. “What are they thinking?” sputtered Jaworski. “What is going through Donovan McNabb’s mind right now?” Gruden then responded with the evening’s best zinger when he declared, “Jaws, I know why you’re so upset. You think Michael Vick is gonna head right into Philadelphia and sell more #7 jerseys in one season than you did in your entire career!” Gruden then offered a classy “welcome back” to the former Atlanta QB, stating that Vick had accepted responsibility for his actions, served his sentence and was following the proper channels to revive his career. We couldn’t agree more…

Bronson Speaks

USA Today Sports currently features an interesting profile of Cincinnati pitcher Bronson Arroyo. According to the post, Arroyo dips into a grab-bag of pills and supplements on a daily basis – despite the fact that some of them could trigger a positive test under baseball’s current drug policy. “A lot of guys in the locker room think I’m out of my mind because I’m taking a lot of things not on the (MLB-approved) list,” Arroyo says. “I take 10 to 12 different things a day, and on the days I pitch, there’s four more things. But I haven’t failed any tests, so I figure I’m good.” And regarding media reaction to the seemingly endless hoopla over performance-enhancing drugs, Arroyo is equally outspoken. “As far as looking at Manny Ramirez like he’s Ted Bundy, that’s crazy. At the end of the day, you think anybody really cares whether Manny Ramirez’s kidneys fail and he dies at 50? People just want to see their team win games. Then they go home and have a cookout with the family. No big deal.” Bronson apparently took the proper supplements last night: he pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout in a 7-0 win over Washington. Better living through chemistry!

Rebel Rousers

No doubt about it… the Ole Miss Rebels are the media darlings of the 2009 college football season. Mississippi was the only team to beat BCS Champ Florida last year (in The Swamp, no less!) and closed out the season with a 6-game win streak that included a sound beating of Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. Ranked #10 in the initial USA Today coaches’ preseason poll, Ole Miss now faces a challenge from which few have emerged unscathed – breaking the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx! Yes, QB Jevan Snead and C Daverin Geralds are featured on the cover of SI’s SEC preview issue, one of four national covers currently being circulated. Will the Rebs be able to handle their overnight success or will they fall victim to The Curse? Las Vegas thinks they have a good shot at staying in the limelight, tabbing the Ole Miss Over/Under for season wins at 9 games.

Courtesy of the House of Sports.