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NHL Grand Salami - November

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI

Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
11/1 12 64 54 UNDER
11/2 7 36.5 39 OVER
11/3 1 5 7 OVER
11/4 12 65.5 56 UNDER
11/5 3 15.5 15 UNDER
11/6 10 54.5 56 OVER
11/7 5 26.5 26 UNDER
11/8 12 63.5 77 OVER
11/9 5 27.5 29 OVER
11/10 2 10.5 11 OVER
11/11 11 60.5 60 UNDER
11/12 2 11 18 OVER
11/13 9 49 53 OVER
11/14 6 32.5 28 UNDER
11/15 12 64.5 62 UNDER
11/16 6 31.5 33 OVER
11/17 1 5.5 6 OVER
11/18 11 60.5 65 OVER
11/19 2 11.5 11 UNDER
11/20 11 60.5 62 OVER
11/21 4 **PPD **PPD **PPD
11/22 13 69 74 OVER
11/23 4 - - -
11/24 4 - - -

NHL Preview: Wild (11-8) at Panthers (7-5)

Date: November 24, 2014 7:30 PM EDT

Wild coach Mike Yeo took away mostly positives despite Minnesota having its win streak snapped the last time out, but Zach Parise remains concerned about the club's power play.

Minnesota could have a tough time scoring in any situation if Roberto Luongo is in net for the host Florida Panthers on Monday night.

The Wild (11-8-0) had 15 goals, including four on the power play, during a four-game winning streak, but went 0 for 3 with the advantage in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

Minnesota scored on just two of 44 power-play chances through its first 14 contests and ranks near the bottom of the league with a 9.7 percent conversion rate.

"We aren't supporting each other very well (on the power play)," said Parise, who scored the game's first goal Saturday. "It's a lot of sitting around waiting for someone else to do something. We just stand around and look at each other. It has kind of been a theme for us."

Despite those issues, Yeo was pleased with the overall effort, especially defensively. Darcy Kuemper made 26 saves in his first loss in four starts, a stretch during which he has a 1.60 goals-against average.

"We gave up two goals against the team that scored the most goals in the league," Yeo said. "We gave ourselves a great chance to win this hockey game. We just needed to find a way to score another goal."

Luongo has been pretty stingy lately as well. He turned away 48 shots before Florida fell 3-2 to Nashville in a shootout Saturday and has stopped 76 of the last 80 he's faced.

The Panthers (7-5-6) earned at least a point for the fifth time in six games (3-1-2), getting goals from Rocco Grimaldi - the first of the rookie's career - and Nick Bjugstad 12 seconds apart in the final minute of the third period to force overtime.

"Louie was the star of the game and gave us a chance," coach Gerard Gallant said. "We never quit."

Luongo has faced at least 30 shots nine times this season for the Panthers, who rank in the bottom third of the league with an average of 31.1 allowed per game.

"It's the type of game I enjoy," Luongo said. "I was able to get in the game early, get a good feeling going. Unfortunately both of their goals were not really shots on net - they both deflected off our guys - but we battled in the last minute to tie it up, which was huge for us."

Bjugstad has five goals and three assists during a four-game point streak after totaling two goals and an assist through his first 14. He was pleased with Florida's final rush Saturday, but he also realized the surge came too late.

"We didn't play like we wanted to for awhile there," Bjugstad said. "We've got to play more consistent throughout the whole game."

Luongo is 5-1-1 with a 1.13 GAA and three shutouts in his last seven starts against the Wild, but he hasn't faced them since Vancouver acquired him in a trade last season.

Kuemper has never faced the Panthers, who have lost three of the last four meetings. Parise and Jason Pominville scored as the Wild won 3-2 last November to earn a split of the season series.

NHL roundup: Bouwmeester's streak ends
The Sports Xchange

The "Ironman" streak is over for St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

The 31-year-old was scratched from Sunday's game in Winnipeg after suffering a lower-body injury Saturday in Ottawa, ending the longest active consecutive games-played streak in pro sports at 737.

Bouwmeester last missed a game during the 2003-04 season when he skated with the Florida Panthers.


--The Boston Bruins assigned forwards Jordan Caron and Matt Lindblad to the Providence Bruins of the AHL.



--The San Jose Sharks recalled defenseman Matt Tennyson from the Worcester Sharks of the AHL.



--The Florida Panthers reassigned forward Rocco Grimaldi to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. Grimaldi, 21, scored his first NHL goal Saturday night in Florida's 3-2 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators.


---The Buffalo Sabres assigned goaltender Nathan Lieuwen to the Rochester Americans of the AHL.

NBA Preview: Suns (9-5) at Raptors (11-2)

Date: November 24, 2014 7:30 PM EDT

The Toronto Raptors are brimming with confidence thanks to the best start in club history.

The Phoenix Suns are also feeling good about themselves as they look to wrap up a long trip on a winning note.

One of these high-scoring teams will have its four-game win streak snapped Monday night in this matchup of franchises on the rise.

Two seasons ago, both these clubs finished in last place in their respective divisions. Now Toronto (11-2) is atop the Eastern Conference while Phoenix (9-5) is playing well in the highly competitive West.

The Raptors made a statement by rallying from 18 down to win 110-93 at Cleveland on Saturday. They went to the foul line 42 times and are averaging an East-leading 30.0 attempts per game.

Coach Dwane Casey is doing his best to make sure his players stay grounded.

'One day you're the statue, the next day you're the pigeon,' he said. 'I haven't heard one person in our locker room talk about where we are in the standings.'

Phoenix seeks its first five-game road win streak since Feb. 7-28, 2011. The Suns are 4-1 on this six-game trip after winning 122-96 over Philadelphia on Friday and 106-83 over Indiana the next night.

'We're getting a little bit of a rhythm,' coach Jeff Hornacek said. 'It's something about being on the road. These guys have come together and everybody is contributing.'

The Raptors are averaging an East-leading 106.9 points and the Suns are not far behind at 105.3. Toronto has five players averaging at least 10 points and Phoenix has six, with its bench averaging a league-best 46.5 points.

Both teams got big lifts from a reserve in their Saturday wins.

Gerald Green scored a game-high 23, raising his average to 14.2 to rank among the leader leaders among reserves.

"Just because you win four games in a row doesn't mean you're guaranteed to make the playoffs so we're just trying to use this to build on," Green said.

Not far behind him among the NBA's top bench players is Lou Williams, averaging 13.4 points. Williams scored a career-high 36 against the Cavaliers, also marking the most points by a reserve on any team this season.

"Just playing with confidence, making shots early on," Williams said. "I think my teammates did a great job once they saw that I had the hot hand, they kept coming to me, just created a spark off the bench."

The Raptors, who are 3-0 against West foes, are tied for the NBA's second-best home record at 8-1.

"I can't say enough about our fans, we have the best in the league," Casey said. "Our guys know it, you can feel it."

Phoenix has won 12 of its last 13 road games against East opponents, including all four contests this season. The Suns have captured eight of their last nine visits to Toronto.

Markieff Morris totaled 41 points and 25 rebounds and shot 65.4 percent last season as Phoenix swept both meetings. The Suns bench outscored the Raptors' reserves 106-46.

Underachieving Cavs fail to cover yet again
Stephen Campbell

LeBron James knew his homecoming wouldn't be a seamless transition. Perhaps he didn't expect it would be this bumpy.

Fresh off of a 110-93 home loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors, the Cavs now sit with a 5-7 straight up record. There wasn't any smiling on the Cavs bench in the fourth quarter as they watched the up-and-coming Raptors completely dominate them, and there certainly wasn't any cheering coming from their spread backers either.

With the loss, the Cavs have covered the spread in just four out of their opening 12 matchups. They closed as 3-point faves ahead of tip-off.

LBJ's squad will seek to right the ship at home Monday against the Orlando Magic. The line for the contest is currently off the board.

Rockets remain the top Under play in the Association
Stephen Campbell

The Houston Rockets have been playing some air tight defense this season, and as a result, are the NBA's top Under play.

The Under has gone 2-11 so far this season in Rockets games, in large part due to their 92.2 points allowed per game - the second lowest mark in the league.

The New York Knicks face off with Dwight Howard's club on the hardcourt in the Lone Star State Monday. At the time of writing, the total for the game was off the board.

NCAAB

Western Michigan scored 86.5 ppg in winning first two D-I games by 11 at Oakland, 16 over Drake; Broncos have an eFG% of 68.1%, third-best in country- they've made 46.3% from arc. San Diego has smallish senior guards; Toreros allowed 48.5 ppg in winning last two games after 81-75 loss to Boise State on neutral court in their opener.

Fresno State is 0-2 vs D-I teams, making 13.8% of 3's; suprisingly there are two teams in country shooting worse. Bulldogs lost at Pepperdine by 15, at Northern Arizona by 21. Evansville has all five starters back from LY; Purple Aces won at Miami OH by 19 in its D-I opener; they've got all five starters back from LY's team, that went 6-12 in Valley.

Hawai'i fired its head coach and an assistant in October for irregularities, but they upset Pitt 74-70, shooting 65% inside arc, after they were upset by High Point last week. San Francisco hasn't done much yet, beating a stiff team by 39 eight days ago. Dons have three starters back from 21-12 team that went 13-5 in WCC and is stronger up front than at guard.

Purdue won its first three games, holding three stiffs to 42.3 ppg in wins by 40-20-52 points; its the second-easiest schedule in country so far this year. Boilers are also in bottom 10 in country in experience. Kansas State beat couple stiffs by 30-10 points, then lost 69-60 at Long Beach State; Wildcats were 3-21 from arc, never led in game.

Arizona won its first three games, was down at half to Cal-Irvine in last game, but Anteaters have 7-6 center- Arizona is making only 33% from arc. Wildcats are lacking in experience but have senior PG. Missouri got beat by UMKC, then held Valpo/Oral Roberts to 52.5 ppg in wins by 15-14. Mizzou has new coach, young team.

San Diego State won first three games, including solid 53-49 win against Utah, but Aztecs made just 22.6% on arc, 42.2% ijnside it- they miss Shrigley's (elbow) outside shooting. BYU henerally has older players who are more poised vs pressure defense; Cougars scored 93 ppg in first two home games, 95-90 win over Long Beach, 91-62 over UALR.

Milwaukee lost its first three D-I games, allowing 78.3 ppg in losses by 10-2-14 points; Panther foes made 45.2% of their 3's, while Milwaukee is making just 52.4% on foul line. UL-Lafayette got drilled at Auburn in last game 105-80; they're 0-2 vs D-I teams, turning ball over 29.4% of time. also losing at Tulsa in 11.


Oregon State has new coach, no seniors who play; they allowed 48 ppg in winning first two D-I games, both by 13 points over Oral Roberts and Rice. Beavers turned ball over 25.4% of time so far. Oklahoma State won its first three D-I games by 28-22-14, beating two stiffs and Milwaukee by 14. Cowboys are forcing turnovers 24.8% of time (#40 in US).

Maryland allowed 51.7 ppg in winning first three games over stiffs, by 34-36-16 points; none of teams they beat are in top 200. Terrapins are shooting 41.7% from arc, noly 65% on foul line. Arizona State allowed 44.3 ppg in winning its first three,, also vs stiffs, with 68-44 win against LMU their best win. ASU's opponents are making 17% from arc.

Alabama scored 81 ppg in winning first three games, all at home- its best win was 81-67 over #132 Southern Miss. Crimson Tide is making 79% on foul line, #20 in country. Iowa State scored 87 ppg in winning its first two games, by 11-23 points over decent teams (Oakland/Georgia State). Cyclones haven't played since the GSU game a week ago.

VCU scored 92.7 ppg in winning its first three games, beating Tennessee by 16 on neutral floor, beating Toledo by 9. Rams are forcing turnovers 26.6% of possessions (#24 in US). VCU plays its bench 44% of minutes so young team is gaining experience. Villanova is 3-0 but struggled with Bucknell at home, escaping with 72-65 win.

Oregon has ton of new players; they're 3-0, winning first two games by 17 over Detroit, 10 over Toledo. Ducks hit road for first time after they made 39.2% from arc in three games. Michigan allowed 57.5 ppg in first two D-I games, beating Bucknell by 24, Detroit by 9. Wolverines made 40.5% of 3's, turn ball over only 12.9% of time (#8 in USA).

Murray State won by 19 at Middle Tennessee after losing to Houston at home by 3 as 12-point favorite in opener; Cougars visit Xavier squad that scored 90.3 ppg in winning first three games by 33-23-18 points, with SF Austin/Long Beach couple of decent victims. Musketeers are making 68.4% of its shots inside arc, #3 in country.

NFL line watch: Wait until closer to kickoff before backing Bills
By ART ARONSON

Each week during the pro football season, Art Aronson of AAA Sports looks at the NFL odds and tells you which spread to bet now, which one to bet later, and which total to watch as the week plays out.

Spread to wait on

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-4.5)

The Jets are long gone and out of things, but they haven’t packed it in as evidenced by their unlikely win over the white-hot Steelers a week ago. New York forced four turnovers in that game, and has had a week off to get ready for the 5-5 Bills. The extra half-point in this one makes it a hard swallow for backers on the Bills. Buffalo crushed the Jets in late October, but the Bills haven’t won since then, losing twice (KC, Miami) in five days. It’s in the Jets’ interest to turn this one into a taffy pull, so the fraction of a point could be very important. Hang on to see if the number changes before pulling the trigger.

Inside the Stats - Week 12
By Marc Lawrence

TRENDING IN THE NFL THIS WEEK

The Baltimore Ravens are 7-1 SU and ATS on Monday Nights versus NFC opponents.

STAT OF THE WEEK

The Buffalo Bills are 2-17 SU and 1-18 ATS in games after playing the Miami Dolphins when facing an opponent off a SU win.

Total Talk - Week 12
By Chris David

Under the Lights

Baltimore at New Orleans: Similar to the Cowboys, the Ravens will be playing with rest this Monday and there are some notable trends. Baltimore has watched the ‘under’ go 4-0-1 in its last five games off the bye and the defense has only allowed an average of 14 PPG in these contests. As mentioned above, New Orleans offense has been very inconsistent and the defense has regressed in year two under coordinator Rob Ryan. Knowing that Baltimore has scored 38, 38 and 29 in three wins against the NFC South this season, it’s hard to imagine the Saints slowing them down on MNF.

Fearless Predictions

Three-Team Total Teaser (9-Point, +100)
Over Cleveland-Atlanta 38
Over Baltimore-New Orleans 41
Under 57 Miami-Denver

NFL Prop Shop: Week 12's best player prop picks
By SEAN MURPHY

Most pass receptions

Eric Decker (New York Jets) vs. Sammy Watkins (Buffalo Bills)

We haven’t seen the Jets in a couple of weeks, but the last time we did, Percy Harvin was evolving as Michael Vick’s go-to guy. I believe we’ll see progression of that storyline in this neutral-site make-up in Detroit.

Eric Decker may be the Jets best all-around receiver, and he’ll certainly get his share of looks in the red zone, but I think he’ll deliver quality over quantity in this particular contest.

Sammy Watkins has been relatively quiet, but with the Bills desperate to bounce back, he’ll be the focal point of the offense Monday.

Take: Watkins

MNF heads to the "Big Easy"

BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-4) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-6)
Line & Total: New Orleans -3, Total: 50

The Saints look to prevent a three-game home losing streak when they host the Ravens on Monday night.

Baltimore is coming off its bye week and has dropped two straight road contests, while New Orleans is still reeling after a brutal 27-10 home loss against the Bengals last week that followed a 27-24 home loss to San Francisco. The Saints’ offense has as many turnovers (four) as touchdowns during this losing skid.

They could have trouble scoring again, as they’re playing a Ravens team has held five 2014 opponents to 17 points or less and is 8-2 (SU and ATS) when coming off its bye week over the past 10 seasons.

New Orleans is 0-8 ATS in home games off an upset loss by 14+ points as a favorite since 1992. They team is also 6-18 ATS against AFC North division opponents since then. However, the Saints are also 6-0 ATS in home games after gaining 75 or less rushing yards in their previous game over the past three seasons.

These clubs have met just five times since 1996 and Baltimore is 4-1 (SU and ATS) in those games. They also won-and-covered in their lone trip to New Orleans in this span, prevailing 35-22 in 2006. Baltimore doesn't have a ton of injuries coming off a bye week, but it did just place

CB Jimmy Smith (foot) on IR and has three players considered questionable in WR Michael Campanaro (hamstring), C Jeremy Zuttah (leg) and OT Jah Reid (hand). The Saints have a slew of offensive injuries including WR Brandin Cooks (thumb), RB Pierre Thomas (ribs) and S Rafael Bush (leg) who are all out indefinitely. OT Zach Strief (concussion) and RBs Khiry Robinson (forearm) and Edwin Baker (concussion) are all listed as questionable for Monday night.

The Ravens have had a week to prepare for their matchup with the Saints in New Orleans and they have been a good team when coming off of their bye in the past. This Baltimore defense has been hit-or-miss this season, but allowed just seven points to the Titans in its last game. This unit has been great in stopping the run, allowing just 84.5 rushing yards per game (5th in NFL) but will need to be ready to defend against a Saints team that prefers to beat teams through the air.

On offense, RB Justin Forsett (721 rush yards, 5 TD) has been this team’s most consistent weapon. Forsett rushed for a season-high 112 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Tennessee on Nov. 9 and should be in for a huge day against a subpar New Orleans rushing defense. QB Joe Flacco (2,521 pass yards, 17 TD, 8 INT) threw for just 169 yards against the Titans, but he didn’t toss any interceptions and did find the end zone once. Flacco is prone to high-turnover games and will need to take care of the ball in this one. As long as the Ravens are winning the battle in time of possession, they should have a great chance of beating this struggling Saints team.

New Orleans is having an extremely down year and has not even been finding success when playing at home, where it has been dominant in years past. QB Drew Brees (3,071 pass yards, 19 TD, 10 INT) is on pace to throw for 30 touchdowns this year, which would be his lowest season total since his 28 TD tosses in 2007.

However, Brees has won seven straight Monday night home games, where he's completed 72% of his passes for 2,324 yards (332 per game) on 10.3 YPA, 25 TD and 3 INT.Brees really struggled to get points on the board for his team against the Bengals and will now operate without versatile rookie WR Brandin Cooks who leads all Saints wideouts with 550 receiving yards on 53 catches.

RB Mark Ingram (618 rush yards, 6 TD), who had rushed for 100 or more yards in three straight games prior to last week, gained only 67 yards in the loss to Cincinnati. Ingram got 23 carries in that game, but the Saints just could not create any running room for their talented back. TE Jimmy Graham (59 rec, 623 yards, 7 TD) was also a non-factor for the Saints last game, receiving a season-low three targets. They’ll need to feature him much more heavily against the Ravens.

On defense, the Saints have just not gotten stops when they have needed to. They allowed the Bengals to convert 9-of-13 third downs and will need to do a better job of making plays that can ultimately get their defense off the field sooner. This unit ranks 30th in the NFL in third-down defense, 24th in passing defense (255.2 YPG allowed) and T-19th in rushing defense (114.7 YPG allowed).

Betting Recap - Week 12

Overall Notes

NFL Week 12 Results

Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 9-3
Against the Spread 5-7

Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 9-3
Against the Spread 7-5

Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 5-7


NFL Overall Results

Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 114-57-1
Against the Spread 83-83-4

Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 100-69-1
Against the Spread 84-83-3

Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 84-85-3


Biggest Favorite to Cash

Indianapolis (-13.5) led Jacksonville at halftime, 6-3, but the Colts exploded for 17 points in the second half to cover in a 20-3 victory. The Colts improved to 4-0 inside the AFC South, but they weren't the only double-digit favorite to cash.

Philadelphia (-11) jumped out to a 17-0 advantage over Tennessee before the Titans cut the deficit to 27-17 at halftime. The Eagles opened things up in the second half with three field goals in the fourth quarter to knock off the Titans, 43-24, while sweeping the AFC South.

Biggest Underdog to Cash

The Redskins (+9.5) haven't had the best luck against the number this season, but managed to cover at San Francisco in a 17-13 setback. Washington actually led, 13-10 in the fourth quarter before San Francisco pulled ahead for good. The Redskins entered this matchup at 1-6 ATS the prior seven games, as the lone cover in this stretch came as a 9.5-point underdog at Dallas in a Week 8 overtime triumph.

The Vikings (+7.5) scored a late touchdown for the backdoor cover against the rival Packers in a 24-21 home loss. Despite the defeat, Minnesota managed to hang with a Green Bay team that blew out the Vikings in Week 5 at Lambeau Field, 42-10.

Home/Away

In the early games, home teams went 4-3 SU and 5-2 ATS. The Falcons and Texans each lost as a favorite, while the Vikings were the lone underdog to cash in a loss.

Late games watched the hosts put together a 4-0 SU and 1-3 ATS mark. The Seahawks (-7.5) took advantage of a beat-up Cardinals' offense in a 19-3 win to become the only favorite in these late kicks to cover. The Chargers, Broncos, and 49ers all won by four points or less in non-covers.

Including Thursday’s result, home teams went 9-3 SU and 5-7 ATS in the first 12 games.

Lacking a Charge

San Diego (-5) managed a 27-24 victory over a feisty St. Louis team at home, but the Chargers haven't covered in their last six games. The Lightning Bolts were ATS darlings to start the season by posting a 5-0 ATS mark, but the six-game ATS skid is currently the worst stretch in the league.

Patriot Games

New England won its seventh straight game by disposing of Detroit, 34-9 as seven-point home favorites. How hot are the Patriots? New England has covered six times during this hot streak and have won six times by 15 points or more in this stretch to improve to an AFC-best 9-2 on the season.

Chicago Fire

The Bears looked like one of the biggest disasters in the league following blowout losses to New England and Green Bay. Chicago rebounded with back-to-back home victories over Minnesota and Tampa Bay. On Sunday, the Bears overcame a 10-0 deficit to beat the Bucs, 21-13 as 4.5-point home favorites to move their mark to 5-6 as they head to Detroit on Thanksgiving afternoon.

About Time

Oakland finally broke into the win column on Thursday night following an 0-10 start by holding off Kansas City, 24-20. The Raiders covered consecutive games for the first time this season, while cashing at +260 on the money-line.

Who Wants It?

The NFC South may not have an above .500 team make the postseason.

New Orleans 4-6 (Plays Monday vs. Baltimore)
Atlanta 4-7
Carolina 3-7-1
Tampa Bay 2-8

The Falcons have been terrific in divisional play, winning all four games against the NFC South.

Totals

The ‘under’ went 5-2 in the first seven games on Sunday afternoon. Six of the results were clear-cut, while the Browns needed a late field goal at Atlanta to go 'over' the total of 48.5 in a 26-24 victory. The 'over' went 2-2 in the late games, as the Broncos rallied past the Dolphins, 39-36 (47 total) in by far the highest-scoring contest of the day.

Notable streaks that were extended and came to a close are listed below.

The Redskins have hit the 'under' in four of their past five games.

Philadelphia has seen the ‘over’ go 4-0 in its last four.

The ‘under’ has cashed in five straight for Tampa Bay.

Green Bay finished 'under' the total for the first eight games.

The Patriots finally went 'under' following a seven-game streak of 'overs.' The New England offense has scored 34 points or more during all seven wins in this hot streak.

MNF - Ravens at Saints
By Kevin Rogers

Heading towards Thanksgiving week, NFL fans receive a major treat with a pair of games on Monday night to close out Week 12. Granted, one of the games involves the Jets, but it’s just another contest to bet on against the Bills in Detroit. We’ll take a look at that AFC East battle, while Baltimore and New Orleans is the showcase game down in the Big Easy.

Ravens at Saints (-3, 50) – 8:30 PM EST

New Orleans didn’t lose a home game in 2013 and started 2014 with a 3-0 record at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. However, the Saints stumbled in back-to-back home losses to the 49ers and Bengals to drop to 4-6 on the season, but are still somehow in first place of the NFC South after the Falcons were tripped up by the Browns on Sunday.

The Saints put up their lowest point total of the season in a 27-10 defeat to Cincinnati as 8 ½-point home favorites, while allowing Andy Dalton to torch the New Orleans defense for three touchdowns. Drew Brees didn’t a throw an interception for just the third time in 10 games this season, while going three straight contests without eclipsing the 300-yard mark.

The Ravens are fresh off the bye week, as John Harbaugh’s team is right in the thick of the tight AFC North race. Baltimore begins Monday’s action in last place behind Cincinnati (7-3-1), Pittsburgh (7-4), and Cleveland (7-4), but to be fair, the Ravens own a solid 6-4 record and will be a half-game behind the Bengals with a win at New Orleans.

The last time the Ravens took the field, Baltimore held off Tennessee in Week 10 as 10 ½-point home favorites, 21-7. Justin Forsett rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the win for the Ravens, while Baltimore’s defense limited Tennessee to 210 yards. Baltimore has won four straight home games since losing the season opener to Cincinnati, while snapping a two-game skid following losses to the Steelers and Bengals.

Since 2013, the Saints own a 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS at home off a loss, as the only defeat in this situation came last week to the Bengals. However, New Orleans is just 3-6 ATS this season in the role of a favorite, while going 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS in the last eight times as a home favorite of 3 ½ points or less dating back to 2011.

These teams last met in 2010 in Baltimore when the Ravens knocked off the Saints, 30-24 as one-point favorites. New Orleans racked up just 269 yards, as Brees threw three touchdown passes in the loss. Baltimore won its previous visit to the Big Easy back in 2006, blowing out New Orleans, 35-22, as the Ravens returned two interceptions for touchdowns, as the Saints scored two late touchdowns to make the score look closer.

The Ravens have lost in each of their two opportunities as a road underdog this season, falling at Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, while not covering each time. Baltimore is playing on Monday night for the first time since last December, when the Ravens outlasted the Lions, 18-16. The Saints are in the Monday spotlight for the first time this season, while splitting games against the Dolphins and Seahawks in 2013.

Jets vs. Bills (-2 ½, 42) – 7:05 PM EST

Due to most of western New York being snowed in for nearly a week, this AFC East matchup needed to be moved to Detroit’s Ford Field. The Bills barely were able to practice this week due to the conditions, as Buffalo makes its second trip to Detroit this season, beating the Lions, 17-14 in Week 5. Now, Buffalo hopes not to get tripped up by a Jets’ team with nothing to lose.

New York picked up just its second win of the season in a Week 10 home upset of Pittsburgh, 20-13. The Jets snapped an eight-game losing streak as Rex Ryan’s club jumped out to a 17-0 lead behind a pair of Michael Vick touchdown passes. New York managed just 275 yards, but it was enough to pick up its first victory since Week 1 against Oakland, while forcing four Pittsburgh turnovers.

The Bills grabbed a 9-3 third quarter advantage at Miami last Thursday night, but the Dolphins scored the final 19 points in a 22-9 victory. Buffalo was held to 54 yards on the ground, while losing to Miami for the first time in the past four meetings. Doug Marrone’s team dropped to 5-5 on the season, putting a major nail in Buffalo’s playoff coffin with six teams ahead of them for two Wild Card spots in the AFC.

The last time the Bills saw the Jets in Week 8 at Met Life Stadium, Buffalo dominated New York, 42-23 as three-point underdogs. Kyle Orton completed just 10 passes, but four of those went for touchdowns as the former Purdue standout connected with four different receivers for scores. The Jets turned the ball over six times, including four interceptions of Vick and Geno Smith. After losing six straight meetings to the Jets, the Bills have grabbed three of the past four matchups.

Where does the advantage lie in this contest, being played at a neutral site? When the Vikings and Giants met in Detroit back in 2010 after the Metrodome roof collapsed, New York routed Minnesota, 21-3 as 4 ½-point favorites. Granted, that’s just a one-game sample size, but it’s hard to imagine the advantage lies with the Bills after all the uncertainty and lack of practice all week.

NFL game roundup: Brady, Patriots roll over Lions
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady, playing on the 14th anniversary of his first NFL snap, handled the top-ranked defense in the NFL and led the New England Patriots to their seventh straight win, a 34-9 rout of the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Brady, who relieved quarterback Drew Bledsoe at the end of the Detroit rout on Thanksgiving Day almost a decade-and-a-half ago, threw for 349 yards and two first-half touchdowns to tight end Tim Wright. It was the 63rd 300-yard game of Brady's career, tying him with Dan Marino for third place on the NFL's all-time list.

Running back LeGarrette Blount, re-signed by the Patriots on Tuesday after his release by the Pittsburgh Steelers, also scored two touchdowns, both on short runs and the first on his first carry. He added a 23-yard run in the third quarter and a 33-yarder in the fourth and finished with 78 yards on 12 carries.

The win was the Patriots' 15th straight at home, six of the wins this season, and was also New England's 14th straight over the AFC North, the longest current streak by any team against any division. It also ensured the Patriots (9-2) of their 14th consecutive winning season, third-most ever by an NFL team.

The Lions, who came in No. 1 in the league in scoring and rush defense, failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week and fell to 7-4 with their second straight loss.

Brady, who finished 38 of 53, was picked off at the Detroit goal line by safety James Ihedigbo in the third quarter -- only the third red-zone interception of Brady's career to go with 140 red-zone touchdown passes. He has 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions during the winning streak -- and Sunday became the sixth quarterback in NFL history with 7,000 pass attempts.

"Everyone is linked together," Brady said, "so we all feed off each other -- offense, defense, special teams."


Broncos 39, Dolphins 36

DENVER -- Peyton Manning threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns, C.J. Anderson had 27 carries for 167 yards and a score as Denver rallied to beat Miami.

Manning extended his streak for games with at least one touchdown pass to 50, the longest active streak in the NFL. He hit Demaryius Thomas with scores of 5, 14 and 5 yards, and another to Wes Welker from 2 yards out to help the Broncos erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Thomas had 10 catches for 87 yards.

Anderson's 10-yard run with 5:01 left gave the Broncos (8-3) their first lead of the game at 32-28. Denver safety T.J. Ward's 37-yard interception return of Ryan Tannehill's pass set up Welker's insurance TD catch.

Tannehill was 26-for-36 for 228 yards and three touchdowns for the Dolphins (6-5). He also ran for another score.


Packers 24, Vikings 21

MINNEAPOLIS -- Eddie Lacy rushed for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Green Bay over Minnesota.

After starting the season 1-2, Green Bay won its third consecutve game and for the seventh time in their last eight games. Combined with Detroit's loss in New England, the Packers (8-3) claimed sole possession of first place in the NFC North.

Lacy scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and a 15-yard shovel pass from Aaron Rodgers midway through the fourth quarter, giving Green Bay an 11-point lead with 8:29 to play.

On the following drive, the Vikings (4-7) drove 79 yards in 14 plays, capped by a 5-yard scoring pass from Teddy Bridgewater to receiver Greg Jennings. Bridgewater connected with receiver Charles Johnson for the two-point conversion to trim Minnesota's deficit to a field goal.

Rodgers was 19 of 29 passing for 209 yards and two scores, connecting on a 1-yard pass to tight end Richard Rodgers in the second quarter.


Seahawks 19, Cardinals 3

SEATTLE -- Seattle overcame seven sacks and a quiet day from running back Marshawn Lynch to beat Arizona while keeping the NFC West race alive.

Seattle (7-4) moved to within two games of the division-leading Cardinals, who had a six-game winning streak snapped. Arizona (9-2) had just 204 total yards in the loss.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson completed 17 of 22 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown, while kicker Steven Hauschka made good on 4 of 5 field-goal attempts. Wilson added a team-high 73 rushing yards but was also sacked a season-high seven times.

Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell had three sacks, all of which came before halftime.

Lynch was held to just 39 rushing yards on 15 carries, missing action with a sore back. It marked his lowest total since San Diego held Lynch to 36 rushing yards in a Week 2 win over the Seahawks.


Browns 26, Falcons 24

ATLANTA -- A remarkable five-minute stretch saw Cleveland quarterback Brian Hoyer go from the biggest of goats to hero in a thrilling win over Atlanta.

Hoyer threw two ugly interceptions in the final five minutes to give up the lead, but shook it off and led a last-minute drive to set up Billy Cundiff's game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.

The Falcons took advantage of the last of Hoyer's picks and drove for Matt Bryant's 53-yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining to seize the lead.

Starting at the Browns' 20-yard line, Hoyer completed 4 of 5 passes and marched the Browns (7-4) to the Falcons 19-yard line to put Cundiff in position to win the game.

The Falcons (4-7) had their two-game winning streak stopped.


Bengals 22, Texans 13

HOUSTON -- Buoyed by a second consecutive strong defensive effort on the road, Cincinnati churned out a victory over Houston,

One week after limiting the Saints to one touchdown in New Orleans, the Bengals (7-3-1) kept the Texans' offense out of the end zone.

Cincinnati's defensive might, particularly in the fourth quarter while clinging to a one-possession lead, served as a perfect complement to the two-headed ground attack fashioned by running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, plus a career day from fourth-year receiver A.J. Green.

Green finished with 12 receptions for 121 yards while serving as the primary threat for quarterback Andy Dalton (24-for-35, 233 yards, one touchdown, one interception). Bernard and Hill combined for 35 carries, 132 yards and a touchdown.

The Texans (5-6) amassed just 248 total yards and only 64 on the ground.



Colts 23, Jaguars 3

INDIANAPOLIS -- The first half left lots to be desired, but Indianapolis used a dominating third quarter to defeat Jacksonville.

Trent Richardson's 1-yard touchdown run with 8:31 remaining in the third quarter, and Andrew Luck's 73-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton at the 6:08 mark extended a 6-3 halftime lead to 20-3 against the offensively challenged Jaguars (1-10).

Indianapolis (7-4) began another third-quarter drive that culminated with Adam Vinatieri's 32-yard field goal on the fourth quarter's first play for a 23-3 advantage.

Luck finished 21 of 32 for 253 yards and the third-quarter TD to Hilton.


Eagles 43, Titans 24

PHILADELPHIA -- Rookie Josh Huff returned the opening kickoff a team record 107 yards for a touchdown to springboard Philadelphia over Tennessee.

The victory sets up a showdown for first place in NFC East when the Eagles (8-3) travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. The Titans (2-9) have lost nine of 10 games after upsetting Kansas City in the season opener.

Fans who were late getting to their seats missed the most explosive play of the game. Huff took the opening kickoff, broke through a seam on the right side and found running room down the sideline. Two Titans had a chance to tackle him, but Huff stiff-armed kicker Ryan Succop and then Brandon McGhee before finishing off the scoring play, the longest kickoff return in Eagles history.

Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez threw for 307 yards and one touchdown in his third start for the injured Nick Foles.


Bears 21, Buccaneers 13

CHICAGO -- Chicago awoke after a lethargic first half, scoring three third-quarter touchdowns -- two of them on runs by Matt Forte following takeaways -- to come from behind and defeat Tampa Bay.

It was the second straight game in which the Bears (5-6), who haven't scored in the first quarter in six games in a row, spotted an opponent a 10-0 lead and rallied to win by the same 21-13 score.

The Chicago formula of winning with takeaways was familiar to Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith, who led the Bears to the NFC championship in 2006 but was fired following the 2012 season. Under Smith, the Bears' defense worked hard at forcing turnovers and was always among the league leaders.

Until Sunday, it was not that way this season -- the Bears had forced just 14 takeaways in 10 games before getting four against the Bucs (2-9).


49ers 17, Redskins 13

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Wide receiver Anquan Boldin caught nine passes for a season-high 137 yards and a touchdown, leading San Francisco over Washington.

The 49ers drove 75 yards in eight plays for the game-winning touchdown, a 4-yard burst by running back Carlos Hyde with 2:59 to play, putting them ahead 17-13.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick completed 20 of 29 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown with one interception for the 49ers (7-4), who won their third consecutive game. San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught five passes for 58 yards.

Running back Alfred Morris rushed for a season-high 125 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries for Washington (3-8), which lost its third straight game. Quarterback Robert Griffin III had a rough day, completing 11 of 19 passes for just 106 yards and no touchdowns. He was sacked five times.


Chargers 27, Rams 24

SAN DIEGO -- Safety Marcus Gilchrist intercepted St. Louis quarterback Shaun Hill at the goal line with 56 seconds left to preserve San Diego's victory.

With the win, the Chargers (7-4) tied the Chiefs for second place in the AFC West. The Rams (4-7) failed to follow up on last week's upset of the Broncos.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews rushed for a touchdown and game-high 102 yards. Quarterback Philip Rivers was 29 of 35 for 291 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.

Hill struggled, completing just 18 of 35 passes for 198 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.


Cowboys 31, Giants 28

East Rutherford, N.J. -- Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant scored two touchdowns in the second half to give his team a comeback win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Dallas took the lead from New York on 14 unanswered points -- the first score on a 45-yard touchdown catch by receiver touchdown Cole Beasley, the second on Bryant's first touchdown of the game.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo finished 18 of 26 for 275 yards with four touchdowns to help his team improve to 18-8 in games played following their bye week.

New York is now mathematically eliminated from having a chance to run the table and win the NFC East division title.

New York will visit Jacksonville next week while Dallas will have a short week to get ready for a Thanksgiving game at home against the Eagles.

Jets or Bills? NFL bloggers debate who will cover Monday night

Monday night features a pair of games after the New York Jets-Buffalo Bills matchup had to be rescheduled due to some insane weather in western New York.

The teams will now play at Detroit's Ford Field after Buffalo was blanketed in snow, but the Bills have already had success in the Motor City as they defeated the Lions 17-14 on Oct. 5.

The Jets finally snapped an eight-game skid and entered their bye on a positive note. They'll be keen to keep the good times rolling as 1.5-point underdogs against the Bills

In order to get a grasp on this primetime matchup, we’ve enlisted the help of those who know these teams the best. Expert NFL bloggers Joe Caporoso of New York blog Turn on the Jets and Matt Warren of Buffalo blog Buffalo Rumblings strap on the pads and debate which team will not only win, but cover the spread Monday night.

WHY NEW YORK WILL COVER

Joe Caporoso is the Owner/Editor-In-Chief of Turn On The Jets. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter @TurnOnTheJets.

Detroit Jets City

NFL players are creatures of habit and the Buffalo Bills have had themselves a bizarre week of cancelled practices and traveling out of a blizzard. It wouldn't be surprising to see them get off to a slow start in a suddenly neutral site that could be a somewhat Jets heavy crowd, as local radio stations are encouraging Lions fans to take advantage of free tickets and cheer against old Head Coach Jim Schwartz.

A More Polished Vick and Harvin

Mike Vick and Percy Harvin made their share of plays against the Bills in their previous match-up. However, it was Harvin's first game as a Jet and Vick came off the bench for an ineffective Geno Smith and still had three turnovers. Vick has now settled in as the starter and hasn't had a turnover since. Harvin is also further acclimated to the offense and should allow the Jets get to the edge to avoid the Bills monstrous interior.

A More Settled Secondary

It may have been a one game mirage, but the Jets got strong games from safety Jaiquawn Jarrett and corner Marcus Williams against Pittsburgh, neither player was a contributor in this team's previous matchup. Hopefully, their presence will lead to steadier pass defense against Sammy Watkins.


WHY BUFFALO WILL COVER

Matt Warren is the senior editor of Buffalo Rumblings. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter @BuffRumblings.

Jets' Turnover Troubles

The Bills beat the Jets by 20 points in their first game without even trying to score touchdowns offensively. The Jets turned it over six times and Buffalo eventually just tried running out the clock and kicking field goals.

Secondary Musical Chairs

The Jets have had to shuffle around their secondary making it easier for a guy like Sammy Watkins to hurt them. Watkins had 157 yards and a touchdown against them in the earlier meeting (and it would have been two if he hadn't celebrated early).

Action Jackson

Fred Jackson should be fully healthy, something we haven't been able to say in a month. He's the heart and soul of the offense and it's no coincidence they were 1-2 without him scoring a combined 22 points in the last two weeks.