Week 4 NFL Injury Report
As usual in the NFL, there’s plenty to report on the injury front in week 4 of the 2011 season. There are a lot of big names on both sides of the wire, in terms of recovering from injury and looking likely to play, while others are being sidelined for weeks, and in some cases, being placed on injured reserve for the rest of the year. Here’s the injury report for week 4, so you can keep track of the latest news, plan your picks and wagers, and update your fantasy squad.
One of the players on everyone’s mind is Michael Vick. Vick got beat up against the New York Giants last weekend, and at first it looked as if he broke his right hand, which is his non-throwing hand. Luckily though it was just bruised, and Vick says that he will be 100% and ready to play by game time on Sunday. That’s a big plus for the Eagles, who are a completely different team when Vick isn’t on the field.
Another of the league’s star quarterbacks, Peyton Manning, of course hasn’t stepped on the field this season. Now it’s looking as if he won’t take the field at all, and that he won’t be able to come back this year. He has not been placed on injured reserve though, which would completely derail any comeback hopes. The team is leaving open and is hoping for an outside chance at a December return for their leader.
One player who has had his season finished, adding to a growing list, is Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt. Britt had been emerging in the past seasons as a major force, but his 2011 campaign is over. Britt has a torn ACL and MCL, suffered in last week’s game against Denver, and he’s done for the year.
Meanwhile, some other players are returning to health and returning to their teams. Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora has practiced with the team this week for the first time since his knee surgery. His status for the weekend is still questionable. Meanwhile, linemate Justin Tuck underwent an MRI this week, but seems to be a lock to take the field for the G-Men, important for their defense. Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham, recovering from a concussion, has been recovering and has also practiced. According to him he is feeling better and is ready to return to the lineup as long as there are no setbacks.
Texans running back Arian Foster is getting healthier from his hamstring injury, and his coach is optimistic that he’ll be able to play this weekend, and optimistic that he’ll be fine going forward for the rest of the season. Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis missed last week’s game with an illness, but is healthy and ready to play in week 4. However, some of his carries may go to backup Montario Hardesty, who played well in his absence.
Those are just some of the major news and notes across the league in week 4. Lots of good news and bad news depending on who your team is, and be sure to keep on checking the latest updates for accurate statuses for all key players.
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Alabama vs Florida Predictions, Picks & Odds
The Alabama Crimson Tide visit the Florida Gators this weekend, and will have a primetime game at 8 pm eastern on CBS. While there’s other games between ranked teams this weekend, and even a match between two top 10 teams, there is no bigger game than this. Alabama vs. Florida has everything that you’d want in a college football game, and it’s the SEC at its best, as the conference once again looks stacked with multiple BCS title contenders.
In one corner, you have the Crimson Tide, 4-0 and number 3 in the country behind Oklahoma and LSU. Led by Nick Saban, this team is hungry, super-talented and appears super-focused. The strength of the team is undoubtedly in the defense, where Alabama leads the SEC in almost every single defensive category.
In all of college football, they are 2nd in points per game allowed, 2nd in yards allowed, and 4th in rush yards allowed. That doesn’t mean they are lagging on offense though. They have another Heisman caliber running back in Trent Richardson, big bodies on the line, and explosive skill players to bring in big passing plays and cause havoc in the special teams game. They are also a veteran collegiate team, with a complete host of players back from a team which was very good in its own right last season, and is still only two years removed from a national title.
In the other corner is the Florida Gators, number 12 in the country and sitting at 4-0, both coming as surprises to many who were expecting a tougher road for the Gators in their first season under Will Muschamp. While Alabama has the top ranked defense in the conference and one of the best in the nation, the Gators have the best offense in the SEC according to most statistics.
So this will be a battle of strengths, but one very important thing to note is that Florida’s record and stats may be much more inflated than Alabama’s. Florida has cruised past four games, and the only even moderately tough team on the list has been Tennessee, which was a home game for Florida. On the other hand, Alabama has already crushed both Arkansas and Penn State, with the Penn State victory coming on the road.
Looking at the official odds for the game, the Alabama Crimson Tide are favored by 3.5 points over the Florida Gators, even with the Gators being undefeated with a number 12 ranking and playing at home. The over/under has been set at 44.5 points, a nod to Alabama’s strength, their shutdown defense.
Florida is sitting pretty right now, but that’s in large part to their being untested so far this season. Alabama has already passed two tests, and they are still feeding off energy from last year’s disappointment. They are more experienced, and probably more talented, and they have national championship intentions. They are going to be too much for Florida to handle, and the Crimson Tide will keep their BCS march intact, beating the Gators on the road and covering the spread in the process.
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South Florida vs Pittsburgh Predictions, Picks & Odds
This Big East showdown between undefeated South Florida, the number 16 team in the latest poll, and the stumbling 2-2 Pittsburgh Panthers will be the big Thursday night game on ESPN. There are many intriguing stories and background angles that one could take with this game, but ultimately, it’s all settled on the football field. And one of those background stories is the opposite direction these two teams are headed in on the field of play.
The South Florida Bulls are a team on the rise behind head coach Skip Holtz. They scored a huge road win victory over Notre Dame in the first week of the season, and since then they have cruised past three overly matched opponents. Now they sit at 4-0, atop the Big East, the sole remaining undefeated team in the conference, and they have been rising in the polls.
As they have cruised past their overmatched opponents in the past few weeks, they have piled up points and yards, and have ascended to the 6th team in the country in terms of total offense, 10th in yards per game, and 10th in points per game. However, even as USF seems to be on the rise, they have lost 3 straight games to Pitt.
Pittsburgh is 2-2 and has lost their last two games. Both were close calls however, as Iowa defended their home turf and won by just 4 points, and then Notre Dame came back from behind and beat the Panthers tightly 15-12 last weekend. So now they’re at 2-2 and they have to battle, scrape and claw just to stay in the thick of things in their conference. A third straight defeat here as conference play begins would be devastating for the Panthers.
Looking at the official odds for the game, Pittsburgh is at home and is the 2.5 point underdog. Even on the road, the undefeated Bulls will be favored by a few points. If you want to bet on the game with straight odds, the Bulls are at -140 and the Panthers are at +120. The over/under for the game has been set at 52 combined points.
With UConn and Pitt both at 2-2, and West Virginia having lost their first game of the season, this game is crucial for South Florida. A big win here on the road to advance to 5-0 would put them in commanding position, and well on track towards the Big East’s BCS berth. A loss and the conference would be tight and bundled up as it was last season, and that’s exactly what Pitt wants in order to survive in the race.
Ultimately, USF is a football team that has a great combination of youth and experience, and finally has some momentum to match the real belief that they have in themselves. Look for South Florida to go on the road and score the big win, staying undefeated and dealing a crushing blow to the season for Pittsburgh.
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Week 4 NFL Predictions, Picks & Odds
The action is continuing to heat up across the NFL, with some surprise teams making big waves by staying undefeated and scoring big wins, and some other teams floundering away, unable to find their grooves. While Week 3 featured lots of divisional games, week 4 is devoid of them, so you won’t find some of the typical rivalry games, although there are some intriguing matchups to consider, and you can find predictions for every week 4 match right here.
At Dallas -2.5 Detroit
The Lions are one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the NFL, and the Cowboys are coming off a close and hard fought win over the Redskins. Both teams are riding high right now, and while the Lions may be riding higher, the Cowboys are playing at home. If Romo can stay upright you should like them to defend their home turf.
New Orleans -7 At Jacksonville
Jacksonville has not looked very good this season, and with their rookie QB Gabbert now being the starter, they have been struggling to generate offense and put up points. That’s not a problem for the Saints, and they should put up plenty of points as they cruise to a big road win and cover the spread.
At Philadelphia -7 San Francisco
Philadelphia is a big favorite at home over the San Francisco 49ers. Do they rebound in a big way after a bad loss to the Giants, or do they fall into a bit of a rut, and get plagued by injuries? Philadelphia won’t want to fall to 1-3 and will find a way to get the win at home, although covering the spread may be difficult.
At St. Louis PK Washington
It’s a pick ‘em game as the Redskins head into St. Louis. The Redskins have looked better than the Rams so far this season, but the Rams are also going to be desperate to make up for their sloppy play and avoid digging an even bigger hole for themselves. The Rams have gotten some wins over the Redskins in recent years, and will do so again this season.
At Cleveland -1 Tennessee
The Titans hit the road to visit the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland just squeaked out a close win over the Miami Dolphins, and they will play just well enough to get the win at home once again behind Colt McCoy, and hopefully a healthy Peyton Hillis.
Buffalo -3 At Cincinnati
Considering that Buffalo is off to a sensational 3-0 start with big come from behind wins, including last week’s over the New England Patriots, you would think they would be bigger favorites than 3 points. Cincinnati is too young and inexperienced, while the Bills seem to have turned the page into a confident team that expects to win, so the Bills will do just that and cover on the road.
Minnesota -1.5 At Kansas City
This is the battle between two teams who could not have had worse starts to the season than they’ve had. Minnesota has given up three halftime leads, and the Chiefs have been blown out, made late mistakes, and lost key players to injury. Those injuries will make the difference as the Vikings win on the road and the Chiefs continue to sputter.
At Chicago -6.5 Carolina
The Bears are big favorites to win over the Panthers at home. They should be able to disrupt Newton and his offense with some good blitzes and schemes, and they’ll rebound from their big loss to the Packers by taking care of business against the Panthers. Carolina might keep it close those and beat the spread.
At Houston -4 Pittsburgh
The Houston Texans are four point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have shown weaknesses on both sides of the ball this season, but they are going to bring an every down intensity that the Texans won’t be able to match in this game. Steelers get the upset road win in this match.
Atlanta -4.5 At Seattle
The Falcons have found themselves in an unexpectedly bad position so far, losing two games after losing only three games all of last season. The Seahawks have one of the best home field advantages in the NFL, but the Falcons are a better team and they are in big need of a win, so they’ll find a way to get it.
NY Giants -1.5 At Arizona
The G-Men are favored to go to Phoenix and beat the Cardinals. If they can bother Kevin Kolb as much as they bothered his former teammate, Michael Vick, then they’ll win the game. Look for the Giants to continue their winning ways, making big plays when it counts on both sides of the ball.
At San Diego -7.5 Miami
The Chargers are heavy favorites with the Miami Dolphins coming into town. The Chargers will win this game against struggling Miami, but they may not cover the spread. Pick the Dolphins against the spread as it will be a closer than expected game.
At Green Bay -13 Denver
Green Bay is a huge favorite to beat the visiting Denver Broncos. With the way they can put up points and how many offensive weapons they have, that shouldn’t be a surprise. But a 10 point win for the Packers would still see the Broncos beating the spread, so take the Broncos with the points.
New England -4.5 At Oakland
This is a huge game for both teams, as the Raiders want to continue proving their merits and the Patriots need to bounce back from a bad loss. Tom Brady won’t have a second game like he did last week, and the Patriots won’t let themselves lose two in a row, so they’ll get the road win and cover the spread.
At Baltimore -3.5 NY Jets
Baltimore gets to welcome the Jets and former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, along with many former Ravens players. This should be a very close game, and the deciding factor has to rest with the team who has home field. The Ravens have also shown to be a more versatile offensive team so far.
At Tampa Bay -10 Indianapolis
Just as with last week, the Indianapolis Colts are 10 point underdogs in a big primetime match. They almost squeaked out a win but still beat the spread when the Steelers came to town. This time, on the road, they’ll keep it close once again, beat the spread and maybe even get their first win of the season over the Tampa Bay Bucs.
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Monday Night Football: Washington vs Dallas Predictions, Picks & Odds
The Monday night game for week 3 in the NFL season is a big one, as it features the Washington Redskins visiting the Dallas Cowboys. This is a huge rivalry game, and games between the Cowboys and the Skins rarely disappoint. Not only that, but suddenly the Redskins are looking like contenders, so they aren’t just playing for respect and rivalry, they’re playing for NFC East positioning, even early in the season.
The Redskins defeated the New York Giants in week 1 and then barely edged out the Arizona Cardinals in week 2. That’s 2-0 for head coach Mike Shanahan, and quarterback Rex Grossman, who has taken a ton of flack but has been playing very solidly so far. Grossman predicted this team would win the division and everyone dismissed him, but if the Redskins can keep up their play so far, then they will be a real threat to make the playoffs.
Also key for Washington has been new running back Tim Hightower, who gives them a balanced attack and a legitimate threat to tote the football. The defense has been looking very good so far, and they have some rookies contributing plus some free agent acquisitions. It’s a new and improved squad all over the lineup, and it has gotten them two big wins so far.
The Cowboys have had a wild ride in just two weeks. They lost late against the New York Jets in week 1, and Tony Romo received all the blame for his costly turnovers at the end of the game. Then they won late in week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, coming from behind and winning in overtime, and then Romo received all of the credit and tons of praise for leading the team to victory late and also playing through injury, including a cracked rib and punctured lung.
Both of these teams are going to be nice and fired up for this game. It’s a hated rivalry matchup, it’s a Monday night primetime showcase, and it’s an early season, important NFC East battle. The official odds show the Cowboys as 4.5 point favorites at home to defeat the Redskins. The over/under for the game is at 46 points.
The Cowboys have a lot of really positive momentum right now after their late comeback win last weekend. That’s going to make a difference for them here, and they should be firing on all cylinders right from the start. The Redskins are going to keep this close, but ultimately they will lose to their rivals on the road.
Look for the Cowboys to win and to even both of their records to 2-1, with many more important divisional showdowns to come before the season is done with. They should beat the point spread in the process, although the Redskins could make this one go down to the wire. Ultimately, Romo will find a way to grit it out, through the injury, and get the W his team needs again.
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NFL Week 3: New York Jets vs Oakland Raiders Predictions, Picks & Odds
The New York Jets vs. the Oakland Raiders in week 3 is a very intriguing showdown. The off the field personalities are enough to make this one you’ll want to tune into. In one corner, you have the trash talking Rex Ryan, the loudest-mouthed coach in the league, and one that has no problem getting into a war of words, bragging, and most importantly, beating you down on the field. In the other corner though are the Raiders with all of their drama, Al Davis “just win baby” persona, the black hole fans in Oakland and more.
The Raiders want to make a push to get into the postseason in 2011. New head coach Hue Jackson was brought in just for that reason, after the Raiders went 8-8 last year, which is good for them really, but wasn’t good enough for Davis. That records include a 6-0 run against the division, and a 2-6 record against everyone else. So far, the Raiders are continuing with their trend.
They beat the division rival Denver Broncos in week 1, and then lost on the road to a non divisional opponent in the Buffalo Bills. To start being more consistent, they will need Jason Campbell to continue playing smart and to start making even bigger plays. They’ll also need to rely heavily on the explosive Darren McFadden, who has finally shown in the last year that he was worth his high draft status as long as he can stay healthy and get out and perform.
The Jets are sitting at 2-0, first surviving the Dallas Cowboys in the opener, and then crushing the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend. Both of their first two games were at home, so they did what they were supposed to do and got the win. Now though they have to travel across the country and they have to go on the road to play an Oakland team which is fired up. So who will emerge victorious?
Looking at the official numbers for the game, the New York Jets are 3.5 point favorites to defeat the Oakland Raiders. The over/under for the match is 41.5 points. The Jets are definitely the superior team, and they have Super Bowl aspirations. But how real are the Raiders, and what are we supposed to expect from them week in and week out?
The Raiders are going to be very intense and focused on this game, as they want to avoid slipping to 1-2, and they want to show that they can compete with some of the better teams in the conference. It’s going to be up to their defense to see if they can make some plays. If they can get Mark Sanchez to commit a few turnovers, then they can score the upset. If the Jets keep the ball safe though and put out their own typically strong defense, then the Jets will win on the road. The game could go either way, and look for it to swing in one direction or the other depending on the turnover battle.
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Week 3 NFL: New England vs Buffalo Predictions, Picks & Odds
If you circled a week 3 match between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills as an important AFC East showdown, then you’re lying to yourselves. Nobody really predicted Buffalo to be 2-0 after two weeks, and riding high after two big wins, looking like a team that could actually make some noise. Of course, everyone expected the Patriots to be good, and they look to be on their way to another excellent regular season.
The Bills brought in a lot of people that other teams had given up on or never even gave a chance to. Their new imports on defense have made a big difference for them. But one of the huge difference makers has been the quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has been accurate and he’s been making plays, and he’s also been playing good when it matters the most, as he helped the team rally late to beat the Oakland Raiders last weekend.
Of course, the Patriots were the team that made all of the headlines this offseason with their acquisitions of Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. But largely, the guys already on the team have been the ones playing the best. Tom Brady is off to another excellent start, and it’s his tight-end tandem that has been receiving the bulk of his attention and really making life difficult for opposing defenses.
Wes Welker is also up to his usual tricks, and Belichick has been putting together a lot of unique defensive alignments and offensive plays as well. So, it’s the Patriots that we all know, and they have their sights already set to about 12 or 13 wins and a number 1 or 2 playoff seed. The defense still has some questions though, and they’ll be much improved if Haynesworth really plays as he is capable of playing. The combination of him and Vince Wilfork is simply hard to fathom, about 700 lbs of play making force right in your face every snap.
The Patriots will be 9 point favorites to head on the road and beat Buffalo. The over/under for the game is at 53.5 points. So how real do you think the Bills are? If they’re a 6 or 7 win team that’s just off to a good start, then of course New England is going to crush them. On the other hand, if they really have what it takes to compete in the AFC East right now, then they are not going to go down easily against the Patriots here.
The Patriots beat the Chargers by 14 at home last weekend, and Miami by 14 on the road in the first week. So 14 is the magic number for them, but Buffalo is better than Miami right now, and New England has to go on the road to face them here. Look for the Patriots to win, but win by a touchdown, as the Bills beat the spread and keep the game interesting until the fourth quarter.
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Green Bay vs Chicago Predictions, Picks & Odds
One of the best NFL games of week 3 will be the Green Bay Packers going on the road to visit the Chicago Bears. Not only are they longtime divisional rivals with a clear distaste for one another, but it’s also a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game. The Packers of course won the game and then went onto a Super Bowl victory as well. This year, both teams are vying for early season positioning and it should be a great, tough battle.
Of course, everyone knows the story of that championship game. The Bears were playing at home and Jay Cutler got injured, then received a ton of criticism for not coming back into the game, but also for not seeming to care or be a vocal supporter on the sidelines. His teammates stuck by him though, and he simply has that much more of a chip on his shoulder this year to prove all of the doubters wrong.
Green Bay has been looking for good so far this season as they have cruised off to a 2-0 start. They defeated the New Orleans Saints in their opener, and then defeated the better than expected Carolina Panthers last weekend. The offense is extremely potent with quarterback Aaron Rodgers calling the plays, and all of his playmakers healthy and on the field at once. He could go to five or six people on any play it seems like that and see success, and anybody could have a big game at any time.
The Bears have had two up and down performances this year so far, and that sounds familiar with the start of their year in 2010. They began the season with a great win at home over the Atlanta Falcons, where they really dominated. Then last weekend they traveled to New Orleans and they suffered a pretty big loss. Of course, so much in the NFL depends on what happens the week before, how desperate a team is at any given time, and in some situations, home field really factors in as well.
The Green Bay Packers are 3.5 point favorites to visit Soldier Field and defeat the Chicago Bears. The over/under for the game is 45.5. The Packers are definitely the better team compared to the Bears, but the Bears have the desperation factor, not to mention home field. Chicago wants to avoid going 1-2 as their divisional rivals jump to 3-0, and they need to defend their home turf.
Therefore, don’t be surprised to see the Bears pull off the upset here and defeat the defending Super Bowl champions. The Packers will have a chance for revenge at home later in the season, but right now, the Bears need this game more, and will have a few things working in their favor. It will likely be an ugly affair, and the defenses could definitely keep the points total under the line, but if Jay Cutler can do just enough than the Bears will get the upset win.
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Florida vs Kentucky Predictions, Pick & Odds
If you looked at the records of the two schools heading into this match and knew they were both in the SEC without knowing what schools they were, you’d assume you would have a very close and competitive game on your hands. But then you see it’s actually number 15 Florida at 3-0, and it’s the unranked Kentucky at 2-1. If this was a basketball game Kentucky would be handily favored, but in the football domain, the Gators own the Wildcats, having won 24 straight games over them.
In the first year for Will Muschamp, the Gators were expected to be good but to be a team in transition. Competing for an SEC championship seemed out of the question. But the early returns have been plenty positive. Of course, that’s what facing Florida Atlantic, UAB and Tennessee in three straight weeks will do for you. The first two were blowouts where Florida surrendered just 3 points combined, but Tennessee kept it close on the road, losing by just 10. Quarterback John Brantley has been playing very well and appears to have taken a leadership position with the team.
Because of the opposition they’ve faced so far, Muschamp’s Gators have the number 1 rushing defense in the country, and the number 6 scoring defense in the country. Muschamp is a defensive guy and the Gators are improved over last season, however, those numbers won’t hold up for the rest of the year.
They probably will hold up over the Wildcats however. They beat two overmatched opponents in their first two weeks, and lost last weekend to Louisville. Now they play Florida, LSU and South Carolina in three straight weeks, so they could wake up with their heads spinning and a 2-3 record before they know it. Kentucky has been hoping to get the football program back to a higher level than they’ve been, but they are up against it hard in the SEC, and Florida is rolling right now.
That’s why when you look at the point spread, you’ll see that Florida is a 19.5 point favorite on the road. The over/under for the game is 43 points. For one thing, you should take the over on that, as Florida will likely put up 30 or 35 all on their own, at least. In terms of whether or not they should cover the spread, they beat Kentucky 48-14 last season and have beaten them two dozen times consecutively. However, they only beat Tennessee at home last weekend by 10.
So you might want to get sneaky and pick Kentucky to beat that large point spread, but they certainly don’t have much of a chance at winning here. The Gators want to keep cruising as they gear up for some big showdowns coming up on the calendar, and the Wildcats are simply overmatched, with a terrible track record playing Florida as well. Don’t be surprised if Florida covers, but it’s also easy to envision a 10-15 point win as Kentucky plays tough but comes up well short.
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Sports Betting Picks ScheduleSimply choose a sport from the drop down arrow on the right to see what Premium and Free Sports Predictions are available on a certain game. Bet with confidence today!NFL Schedule: Feb 05
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