NFL December Preview

It is time for the NFL to enter the month of December and that means it is time for the “haves” and the “have nots” to show their true “colors”. This can certainly help you come up with some extra “green”.

Haves:

Indianapolis had their hiccup against Dallas and yet they still were just a play away from winning that game. The Colts put points on the board like no other and they still have a chip on their shoulder from last year. That was evident this past week against the Eagles as they will keep putting the pressure on teams even when they are up by a good margin. Keep your eyes on the over in Colts games and don’t be afraid to lay the wood even if they are high single or low double digit favorites. Their defense might not be the greatest but their offense doesn’t get worried if they fall behind. Peyton Manning knows how to lead them back.

The same can be said for Seattle. Most everybody seems to be getting healthy. Just like the Colts, the Seahawks believe they have something to prove. They also enter the month two games behind the Bears and believe me they would much rather have to only go to Chicago with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Dallas seems to have righted the ship with Tony Romo at quarterback. As long as the mistakes stay away the Cowboys will be tough to beat and they certainly have weapons on both sides of the ball.

Baltimore also seems to be rolling but there is one key difference with the Ravens compared to the aforementioned teams. Baltimore does not possess nearly as explosive of an offense as the previously listed teams. However, the Ravens do have a defense that can shut teams out so points will not come as easy in their games. That said it would be wise to keep an eye on the under and beware of large spreads in games involving Baltimore.

Have Nots:

Philadelphia definitely will struggle on offense without McNabb. However, the Eagles defense has been a big disappointment as they truly have not played up to par. Garcia is serviceable so they can still score some points and they are not likely to be favored too many times this month. They will need to be faded in spots but don’t be afraid to also go with them if the number looks high and their opponent is in a “lookahead situation” or a “sandwich spot”.

Bottom feeders like Cleveland, Detroit and Tampa Bay should really be avoided at all costs. Even when you think you know what you are getting the problem is that when the season really has no meaning neither does a teams play! Teams like this are always at a risk of being blown out but they also can very often fight for that last second meaningless score that effects the ATS outcome!

Miami might think they have a chance to still get in the playoffs but they truly do not. This certainly makes them a “have not” even though this team came on strong last year for meaningless games. This season is different as they no longer have a first year coach. Still, with the talent that is there they could make a little late season noise again this year. Watch for the Dolphins anytime they are dogs or small favorites but beware of the situations their opponent is in as that could be the real key in their games.

San Francisco falls into the same category as the Dolphins except they do not have the same level of talent. They have had some success so far and they see a chance to move out of the “laughingstock of the league” category. As they continue to strive to do just that this could make them a nice dog team down the stretch so don’t overlook the 49’ers.

Hopefully these “tidbits” add a few winning tickets to your bankroll down the stretch run in the NFL. As always, best of luck from Rickenbach’s Players Advantage!

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