Michael Cannon Money Train
20 Dime
COWBOYS
Take the Cowboys minus the points tonight over the Colts.
There’s going to be a discrepancy in the playing time between the Cowboys first-team unit and the Colts.
Indianapolis obviously won’t need to play their starters for more than 10-15 plays tonight. They are set at all positions on offense and coming off their Super Bowl season I think you’ll see a team that won’t really start getting into gear until probably the 3rd preseason game.
The Cowboys on the other hand are breaking in a new head coach in Wade Phillips and will play their starters for at least the first quarter. There is going to be a different philosophy on defense, where Phillips and new defensive coordinator Brian Stewart will install a more attacking, disruptive scheme than the one used by Bill Parcells.
The Cowboys need to play their starters more right off the bat in order to learn the new coach’s schemes.
I liken this game to the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday between the Steelers and the Saints. You saw a new coach, Mike Tomlin, who wanted his Steelers to start off on the right foot and I believe you’re going to see the same thing tonight with Dallas.
The Colts might be the victims of the dreaded Super Bowl hangover, so I see a definite edge with the Cowboys tonight.
Indianapolis carries a 2-6 ATS record in its past eight preseason games into tonight.
Take Dallas minus the points as they grab the win and cover.
5 Dime
BENGALS
Take Cincinnati plus the points over Detroit.
For all the pressure the Lions’ front office has to win this season, I don’t think you’ll see it reflected on the field tonight.
Detroit will only play their starters about 10-12 snaps and they don’t have much depth to carry over from there.
Cincinnati probably won’t play their starters much more, but they definitely enter this preseason with something to prove after a disappointing 8-8 finish last year.
The Bengals have better depth than the Lions and head coach Marvin Lewis will definitely want to impress in this first game after all of the off the field negatives his team drew in the offseason.
Cincinnati has won and covered five in a row in the preseason and I see them extending that streak tonight.
Take the points with the Bengals as they stay within the number and most likely win the game outright.
Larry Ness
Las Vegas Insider-NFLX (12-5 LY with NFLX sides / 3-1 with LV Insiders!)-Thursday
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
Detroit Lions
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.
Mike Rose
Indianapolis Colts @ Dallas Cowboys
Under 34.5
Thu Aug 9 '07 8:00p
The reigning champs get to play under the lights Thursday night in the first FOX televised NFL game of the season. This certainly would be a primetime match-up if it were the regular season, but I think I’d rather sit back and watch some ESPN coverage of the ’07 World Series of Poker. That being said, this one’s going to be a snoozer. The Colts first team offense will get their 10-15 plays at most, and then the back-ups will mop-up for the duration of the game. The final score has always been the least of HC Tony Dungy’s concerns when it comes to pre-season football, and I expect that notion to hold true here once again. The last thing he needs is to see his roster get decimated by any more injuries than he’s already having to deal with. Big “D” will have a much different look this season with the “Big Tuna” out and Wade Phillips in. Dallas performed very well under HC Parcells in the pre-season, but that doesn’t mean the team will play the same way under the new guys regime. In fact, word is that Dallas plans on doing a bunch of blitzing in this contest and throughout the pre-season. The Cowboys were a read-and-react defensive scheme under former HC Bill Parcells, but Phillips and new DC Brian Stewart bring in more of an attacking, disruptive philosophy. They also want defensive players to take third-down conversions personally, so expect the Cowboys to be mentally prepared on defense regardless of what string’s in and what quarter it’s in. If you’re heading into this one expecting to see fireworks, you’re going to be disappointed. There won’t be any long bombs to T.O. from Romo, or slant routes turned into 70 yard TDs by Harrison. Hit the ‘Under’ now before you lose any more value.
20 Dime
COWBOYS
Take the Cowboys minus the points tonight over the Colts.
There’s going to be a discrepancy in the playing time between the Cowboys first-team unit and the Colts.
Indianapolis obviously won’t need to play their starters for more than 10-15 plays tonight. They are set at all positions on offense and coming off their Super Bowl season I think you’ll see a team that won’t really start getting into gear until probably the 3rd preseason game.
The Cowboys on the other hand are breaking in a new head coach in Wade Phillips and will play their starters for at least the first quarter. There is going to be a different philosophy on defense, where Phillips and new defensive coordinator Brian Stewart will install a more attacking, disruptive scheme than the one used by Bill Parcells.
The Cowboys need to play their starters more right off the bat in order to learn the new coach’s schemes.
I liken this game to the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday between the Steelers and the Saints. You saw a new coach, Mike Tomlin, who wanted his Steelers to start off on the right foot and I believe you’re going to see the same thing tonight with Dallas.
The Colts might be the victims of the dreaded Super Bowl hangover, so I see a definite edge with the Cowboys tonight.
Indianapolis carries a 2-6 ATS record in its past eight preseason games into tonight.
Take Dallas minus the points as they grab the win and cover.
5 Dime
BENGALS
Take Cincinnati plus the points over Detroit.
For all the pressure the Lions’ front office has to win this season, I don’t think you’ll see it reflected on the field tonight.
Detroit will only play their starters about 10-12 snaps and they don’t have much depth to carry over from there.
Cincinnati probably won’t play their starters much more, but they definitely enter this preseason with something to prove after a disappointing 8-8 finish last year.
The Bengals have better depth than the Lions and head coach Marvin Lewis will definitely want to impress in this first game after all of the off the field negatives his team drew in the offseason.
Cincinnati has won and covered five in a row in the preseason and I see them extending that streak tonight.
Take the points with the Bengals as they stay within the number and most likely win the game outright.
Larry Ness
Las Vegas Insider-NFLX (12-5 LY with NFLX sides / 3-1 with LV Insiders!)-Thursday
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
Detroit Lions
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.
Mike Rose
Indianapolis Colts @ Dallas Cowboys
Under 34.5
Thu Aug 9 '07 8:00p
The reigning champs get to play under the lights Thursday night in the first FOX televised NFL game of the season. This certainly would be a primetime match-up if it were the regular season, but I think I’d rather sit back and watch some ESPN coverage of the ’07 World Series of Poker. That being said, this one’s going to be a snoozer. The Colts first team offense will get their 10-15 plays at most, and then the back-ups will mop-up for the duration of the game. The final score has always been the least of HC Tony Dungy’s concerns when it comes to pre-season football, and I expect that notion to hold true here once again. The last thing he needs is to see his roster get decimated by any more injuries than he’s already having to deal with. Big “D” will have a much different look this season with the “Big Tuna” out and Wade Phillips in. Dallas performed very well under HC Parcells in the pre-season, but that doesn’t mean the team will play the same way under the new guys regime. In fact, word is that Dallas plans on doing a bunch of blitzing in this contest and throughout the pre-season. The Cowboys were a read-and-react defensive scheme under former HC Bill Parcells, but Phillips and new DC Brian Stewart bring in more of an attacking, disruptive philosophy. They also want defensive players to take third-down conversions personally, so expect the Cowboys to be mentally prepared on defense regardless of what string’s in and what quarter it’s in. If you’re heading into this one expecting to see fireworks, you’re going to be disappointed. There won’t be any long bombs to T.O. from Romo, or slant routes turned into 70 yard TDs by Harrison. Hit the ‘Under’ now before you lose any more value.