BEN BURNS
Thursday Night "ROAST"
LIONS
Game: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions Game Time: 8/9/2007 7:30:00 PM Prediction: Detroit Lions Reason: I'm playing on DETROIT. Both these teams could use a positive preseason campaign. The Bengals have had another "troubled" offseason and could use some "good PR" for the team. However, the Bengals are just 1-3 SU/ATS in their preseason opener the past four seasons (0-2 SU/ATS on the road) and I don't expect them to be particularly hungry for their road opener against a non-conference opponent. The Lions, on the other hand, would love to give the home fans something to get excited about, after seemingly endless years of losing. I jotted down the following quote from Coach Marinelli after the Lions beat the Broncos in last year's preseason opener: "I love to win. If we're playing marbles, I'm going to get you." Marinelli hasn't had the opportunity for much winning with Detroit and I expect him to seize the opportunity to pick up a victory vs. the Lions' somewhat disinterested guests.
Larry Ness
Las Vegas Insider
My Las Vegas Insider is on the Det Lions at 7:30 ET. Kitna predicted 10 wins for the Lions in '07, a pretty heady claim considering the Lions' last winning season was in 2000 (9-7) and its last 10-win season came way back in '95 (10-6). The Lions have averaged a mere four wins per season since '00, going a combined 24-72! A for the Bengals, they followed their 11-5 season of '05 with a disappointing 8-8 mark in 2006. The Bengals stood at 8-5 after Week 14 but then lost at Indy 34-16, at Denver 24-23 (botched snap on extra-point try with 41 seconds left) when a win would have clinched a playoff berth and then lost at home to the hated Steelers 23-17 in OT in Week 17. If you can believe it, things only got worse in the off-season, as of-the-field troubles continue to plague this franchise. There are changes on the OL with LG Eric Steinbach gone (huge loss), as well as center Rich Braham from 2006. LT Levi Jones is rehabbing from off-season knee surgery and 12-year RT Willie Anderson has not been practicing. QB rotations are HUGE in the preseason and Detroit gets the big edge in this matchup. Kitna won't see much time but OC Martz is raving about NFL Europa star J.T. O'Sullivan. The last time he made such a fuss out of a nobody was Marc Bulger, so pay attention. Dan Orlovsky is still the favorite to be the No. 2 QB but there's competition and that's a good sign. Remember, the WRs are Roy Williams, Furrey (98 catches LY) and first-round pick Calvin Johnson. Also with RB Kevin Jones hurt, Tatum Bell, T. J. Duckett and Brian Calhoun will all look to prove something. The Lions won their Week 1 game last year over the Broncos and then lost their final three preseason games. HC Ron Marinelli knows he has a team that can compete in the weak NFC North and with his next two preseason games on the road at Cleveland and Indy, he'll want to get the Lions off to a winning start, here. As for the Bengals, they followed their 11-5 season in '05 by going 4-0 in LY's preseason. That approach didn't work, as the team fell apart down the stretch. So who knows what's going on there? Las Vegas Insider on the Det Lions.
Good Luck...Larry
WUNDERDOG
Game: Cincinnati at Detroit (Thursday 8/09 7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: Cincinnati +1.5
The Bengals are off a very dissapointing 2006 campaign. After winning 11 games and getting to the playoffs in 2005, they were snake-bit with Carson Palmer going down in the opening round vs. the Steelers. They had a shot at going deep into the playoffs and it all came to a crashing and sudden halt. Last season they took a big step backwards winning just 8 games and missing the playoffs. Carson Palmer wasn't nearly as good as he was in 2005. It shook their confidence a bit. 2005 was their first playoff appearance in 15 years and here they are potentially slipping back into mediocrity? As a result of this "fear," we think this team wants to get off on the right foot this year. Marvin Lewis has shown a desire to win in the preseason as this team went 4-0 last season and the Bengals are 67% overall in the preseason since his arrival. During camp he said, "With a fast start, there is not as much pressure." Last year in the preseason Cincinnati scored an unheard of 32.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Rod Marinelli went 1-3 last season (his first) with the Lions scoring 13 points per game. Read Marinelli's quotes and you get a clue as to what he uses the preseason for (working on issues, not winning): "The thing I want to accomplish as we get into camp is that it’s not just the 'what'. I’m also very interested in 'how'; the 'how' you do things. Your stance, your steps, your keys, your eyes, your vision; how to run a route, how to take a ball, all those things. The 'what' is key, but the 'how' is more important to me." Folks, he is saying that right now, the results (winning or losing) are less important than working on the fundamentals. Think about the mindsets of these two teams and ask yourself who is more motivated to start out 2007 on a winning note: Detroit who notched a big gratifying win over Dallas in their final game last season, with a coach who has shown he isn't about winning in the preason. Or the Bengals who lost to Pittsburgh in their finale to keep them out of the playoffs after starting the season with high hopes - a team with a coach who has won five straight preseason games. We like the underdog here.
FAO Sports
Take the Colts Aug. 9, 2007 at 8:00 PM EST.
The Colts are 5-1 ATS in their first preseason.
The Colts are a 4 to 4.5 point underdog, and should hold Dallas wiht in that number.
In first games of the preseason, the Colts have out scored their opponents by 19 PTS total in the 6 games since 2001.
Thursday Night "ROAST"
LIONS
Game: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions Game Time: 8/9/2007 7:30:00 PM Prediction: Detroit Lions Reason: I'm playing on DETROIT. Both these teams could use a positive preseason campaign. The Bengals have had another "troubled" offseason and could use some "good PR" for the team. However, the Bengals are just 1-3 SU/ATS in their preseason opener the past four seasons (0-2 SU/ATS on the road) and I don't expect them to be particularly hungry for their road opener against a non-conference opponent. The Lions, on the other hand, would love to give the home fans something to get excited about, after seemingly endless years of losing. I jotted down the following quote from Coach Marinelli after the Lions beat the Broncos in last year's preseason opener: "I love to win. If we're playing marbles, I'm going to get you." Marinelli hasn't had the opportunity for much winning with Detroit and I expect him to seize the opportunity to pick up a victory vs. the Lions' somewhat disinterested guests.
Larry Ness
Las Vegas Insider
My Las Vegas Insider is on the Det Lions at 7:30 ET. Kitna predicted 10 wins for the Lions in '07, a pretty heady claim considering the Lions' last winning season was in 2000 (9-7) and its last 10-win season came way back in '95 (10-6). The Lions have averaged a mere four wins per season since '00, going a combined 24-72! A for the Bengals, they followed their 11-5 season of '05 with a disappointing 8-8 mark in 2006. The Bengals stood at 8-5 after Week 14 but then lost at Indy 34-16, at Denver 24-23 (botched snap on extra-point try with 41 seconds left) when a win would have clinched a playoff berth and then lost at home to the hated Steelers 23-17 in OT in Week 17. If you can believe it, things only got worse in the off-season, as of-the-field troubles continue to plague this franchise. There are changes on the OL with LG Eric Steinbach gone (huge loss), as well as center Rich Braham from 2006. LT Levi Jones is rehabbing from off-season knee surgery and 12-year RT Willie Anderson has not been practicing. QB rotations are HUGE in the preseason and Detroit gets the big edge in this matchup. Kitna won't see much time but OC Martz is raving about NFL Europa star J.T. O'Sullivan. The last time he made such a fuss out of a nobody was Marc Bulger, so pay attention. Dan Orlovsky is still the favorite to be the No. 2 QB but there's competition and that's a good sign. Remember, the WRs are Roy Williams, Furrey (98 catches LY) and first-round pick Calvin Johnson. Also with RB Kevin Jones hurt, Tatum Bell, T. J. Duckett and Brian Calhoun will all look to prove something. The Lions won their Week 1 game last year over the Broncos and then lost their final three preseason games. HC Ron Marinelli knows he has a team that can compete in the weak NFC North and with his next two preseason games on the road at Cleveland and Indy, he'll want to get the Lions off to a winning start, here. As for the Bengals, they followed their 11-5 season in '05 by going 4-0 in LY's preseason. That approach didn't work, as the team fell apart down the stretch. So who knows what's going on there? Las Vegas Insider on the Det Lions.
Good Luck...Larry
WUNDERDOG
Game: Cincinnati at Detroit (Thursday 8/09 7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: Cincinnati +1.5
The Bengals are off a very dissapointing 2006 campaign. After winning 11 games and getting to the playoffs in 2005, they were snake-bit with Carson Palmer going down in the opening round vs. the Steelers. They had a shot at going deep into the playoffs and it all came to a crashing and sudden halt. Last season they took a big step backwards winning just 8 games and missing the playoffs. Carson Palmer wasn't nearly as good as he was in 2005. It shook their confidence a bit. 2005 was their first playoff appearance in 15 years and here they are potentially slipping back into mediocrity? As a result of this "fear," we think this team wants to get off on the right foot this year. Marvin Lewis has shown a desire to win in the preseason as this team went 4-0 last season and the Bengals are 67% overall in the preseason since his arrival. During camp he said, "With a fast start, there is not as much pressure." Last year in the preseason Cincinnati scored an unheard of 32.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Rod Marinelli went 1-3 last season (his first) with the Lions scoring 13 points per game. Read Marinelli's quotes and you get a clue as to what he uses the preseason for (working on issues, not winning): "The thing I want to accomplish as we get into camp is that it’s not just the 'what'. I’m also very interested in 'how'; the 'how' you do things. Your stance, your steps, your keys, your eyes, your vision; how to run a route, how to take a ball, all those things. The 'what' is key, but the 'how' is more important to me." Folks, he is saying that right now, the results (winning or losing) are less important than working on the fundamentals. Think about the mindsets of these two teams and ask yourself who is more motivated to start out 2007 on a winning note: Detroit who notched a big gratifying win over Dallas in their final game last season, with a coach who has shown he isn't about winning in the preason. Or the Bengals who lost to Pittsburgh in their finale to keep them out of the playoffs after starting the season with high hopes - a team with a coach who has won five straight preseason games. We like the underdog here.
FAO Sports
Take the Colts Aug. 9, 2007 at 8:00 PM EST.
The Colts are 5-1 ATS in their first preseason.
The Colts are a 4 to 4.5 point underdog, and should hold Dallas wiht in that number.
In first games of the preseason, the Colts have out scored their opponents by 19 PTS total in the 6 games since 2001.
