Week Nine Previews

Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers

My Prices – Raiders 2.55 Steelers 1.64 

Vegas Line – Steelers -4

Injuries have crippled the Steelers offensive line with Maurkice Pouncey and Kelvin Beachum both injured and with Le'Veon Bell tearing his MCL last week things don’t look to good in Pittsburgh. Bell is quite possibly the most complete running back in the NFL and he's so crucial to this team's success because of what he does as a receiver and a pass protector. 

I don't trust the Steelers to block very well in this contest, which could mean curtains against a defensive line comprised of Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith. Oakland will bring the pain on Ben Roethlisberger frequently and to be honest Roethlisberger won't be able to do anything about it.

The Raiders also have a top 5 ranked ground defence and with Bell absent the Steelers will have trouble moving the ball on the ground.

The Oakland offence features two units that have played to a very high level this season. QB Derek Carr has been awesome and his main target rookie WR Amari Cooper has caught everything thrown his way, add that to a very strong offensive line that rarely allows sacks and you have a very good combination and a solid base on which to build your attack.

Pittsburgh's pass rush is mediocre and I'm not sure the Steelers will be able to pressure Carr behind his offensive line. That means that Oakland’s aerial attack will be in full effect and they should have enough in hand considering how banged up the Steelers are to cover the spread. I’m taking the Raiders +4 at 1.95 with Bet365.

St. Louis Rams at Minnesota Vikings

My Prices – Rams 2.20 Vikings 1.80

Vegas Line – Vikings -2.5

Both teams will be aware that the result of this contest could have major wild-card implications come the end of the regular season and a tight game seems likely.

Over the last three weeks the Rams performances have improved week on week, there defensive line has come on in leaps and bounds, there defence is the 4^th best in the NFL on my defensive rankings and in rookie RB Todd Gurley they have a bonafide future hall of famer on the offensive side of the ball.

The Vikings run defence will hold no fears for Gurley in this match up as its very poor, standing at 26^th against the rush in my rankings, this won’t be good enough and I think he stands a very good chance of going over 100-yard’s yet again.

Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater is not in a good place right now he had an awful game last week where he missed multiple touchdown throws to open receivers and he’s not going to get a lot of time in the pocket here as the Rams pass rush is awesome ranking 4^th against the pass in my defensive rankings, the Vikings also don't have the best blocking so Teddy’s going to be under a lot of pressure all afternoon. 

Minnesota’s Pro Bowl RB Adrian Peterson has enjoyed a solid first half to the season but faces a defence here ranked 3^rd against the run and which hasn’t given up more than 56 rushing yards to any team since Week 4, he could be in for a difficult afternoon.

I like taking the improving team here against a team that in my opinion is over rated and will drop away after having a very easy schedule up until now. So it’s the Rams +2.5 at 1.86 with Matchbook for me.

Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers

My Prices – Packers 1.76 Panthers 2.30

Vegas Line – Packers -2.5

Another match with potential play-off implications here as a Panthers victory will give them a two-game lead for the NFC’s number 1 seed, while a Packers victory will slide them past the Panthers into the number 1 seed spot.

Green Bay are coming off a very poor performance against a solid Denver defence. Carolina are also defensively sound, against the pass especially (ranked 2^nd) and they have a very solid pass rush which will disrupt QB Rodgers and force him to throw under pressure into Carolina's brilliant secondary, so the Packers need to establish Eddie Lacy and the ground game as the Panthers run defence is mediocre at best.

The Panthers receivers seem to drop a lot of passes and Green Bay’s pass defence is top 10 so it wouldn’t be wise to be throwing the ball a lot but the Packers defence is very poor against the run(ranked 25^th) so Carolina need to establish their ground game which is top 3. This looks like a very good match up for the Panthers and RB Jonathan Stewart should continue his good form.

I make the Panthers -1.5 point favourites here and this spread makes no sense whatsoever to me, Green Bay led by Aaron Rodgers are good enough to burn us but the Panthers are a underrated, unbeaten home side who remind me a little of the Seattle side of a couple of years ago and they can take a big step in clinching the number 1 seed in the NFC here and I’m taking the points and backing Carolina +2.5 at 2.04 with matchbook.