PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. SEATTLE
2. ARIZONA
3. SAN FRANCISCO
4. ST. LOUIS

COACHING CHANGES:
SEATTLE: JIM MORA JR.
SAN FRANCISCO: MIKE SINGLETARY
ST. LOUIS:  STEVE SPAGNUOLO

SEATTLE
LAST YEAR: 4-12
DIRECTION: UP

The Seahawks were perhaps the most disappointing team in the NFL last season at 4-12. They will give the ball to Julius Jones this year which should help. T.J. Houshmandzadeh will give them a major weapon at WR, and if all the components on offense stay healthy, the Seahawks will be much improved. Defensive changes should shore up the middle and up front, and this looks like a much-improved team.

BETTING THE SEAHAWKS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
They are 1-6 ATS on the road after playing St. Louis.

BETTING THE SEAHAWKS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
Out of the blocks, and off to the races, Seahawks 12-3 ATS at home in September. The Seahawks are also 5-0 ATS with a new head coach before playing Arizona.

ARIZONA
LAST YEAR: 9-7
DIRECTION: DOWN

The Arizona Cardinals made a quantum leap last year all the way to the Superbowl. That is a tough act to follow. With a defense that isn’t Superbowl caliber and a QB that could show decline at anytime, the Cards may struggle in 2009. But, the good news is, at least in their division, there is no one that stands very tall.

BETTING THE CARDS’ WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
The Cardinals have not been too kind to backers on MNF as they are 0-4 ATS as a favorite on Monday Night Football.

BETTING THE CARDS’ WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
Cashing in for the Holidays the Cards are 15-5 ATS in December home games this decade. Excellent offense rebounds big after being held to 10 points or less in their previous game. They follow by going 5-0 ATS.

NFL Picks Previews 2009: NFC WEST

Tags: Cavs predictions against the spread, NBA Picks 2010

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. PITTSBURGH
2. BALTIMORE
3. CINCINNATI
4. CLEVELAND
 
COACHING CHANGES:
CLEVELAND:  ERIC MANGINI

PITTSBURGH
LAST YEAR: 12-4
DIRECTION: DOWN

The Steelers grabbed the ring last year. They should be good again this season, especially inside a division that has a lot of question marks. But the Superbowl winners from the previous year, often find the next season to be very challenging motivationally. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers play with the same purpose, because the talent is unchanged.

BETTING THE STEELERS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
like many teams, the Steelers are not money before a division rival, and they now stand at 1-7 ATS before playing Cincinnati.

BETTING THE STEELERS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
They seem to make an exception before playing lowly Cleveland, as they are 8-1 ATS before the Brownies. Come to Pittsburgh in December? Uh, oh….Steel curtain just that, at 20-6 ATS this decade at home in December.
 

BALTIMORE
LAST YEAR: 11-5
DIRECTION: DOWN

The Ravens made a quantum leap last year over their disappointing ’07 season. Their defense was back to being good again, mainly because they found a QB in Joe Flacco, to give the offense a lift that allowed the defense to rest. The defense took some major hits, including coordinator Rex Ryan, and that will not bode well. It will be hard to duplicate what they did a year ago, but still a hopeful playoff-caliber team.

BETTING THE RAVENS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
The Ravens have not been road warriors as they have turned in just a 12-23 ATS mark in their last 35 on the road. The Ravens are just 9-20 ATS after a home game last 29.

BETTING THE RAVENS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
The Ravens have been unbeatable at home after playing a non-conference game, where they have cleaned the slate at 15-0 ATS.

NFL Picks Previews 2009: AFC NORTH

Tags: Cavs predictions against the spread, NBA Picks 2010

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. INDIANAPOLIS
2. JACKSONVILLE
3. TENNESSEE
4. HOUSTON
 
COACHING CHANGES
INDIANAPOLIS: JIM CALDWELL
KANSAS CITY: TODD HALEY
 

INDIANAPOLIS
LAST YEAR: 12-4
DIRECTION: DOWN

Tony Dungy is gone, replaced by Jim Caldwell and it remains to be seen how the Colts will respond. Peyton Manning showed some signs of the effects of being a QB in this league for a longtime. Although still a top-rated QB, Manning’s best days may be behind him, especially considering that Marvin Harrison is gone. Bob Sanders is the key to the defense, but he has trouble staying on the field. Still dangerous, but more question marks than usual.

BETTING THE COLTS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
Cashing in early, the Colts await playoffs and are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 in week 16 & 17.

WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
Houston has never given to much resistence, and the Colts have followed their game against the Texans with a 10-2 ATS mark.

JACKSONVILLE
LAST YEAR: 5-11
DIRECTION: UP

What a tough year for the Jags. But this year has a whole lot of promise. They added Torry Holt to give them a deep threat for Gerrard and beefed up the offensive line as well. The defense will be solid, and I expect this team to make a good sized leap forward.

BETTING THE JAGUARS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
NOT AVAILABLE

BETTING THE JAGUARS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
The Jags seem to get an influx of energy before playing their rivals Indianapolis, and Tennessee. The Jags are an impressive 22-3 ATS before playing those two. Answering the bell, the Jags are 9-1 ATS mark in their last 10 season openers.

NFL Picks Previews 2009: AFC SOUTH

Tags: Cavs predictions against the spread, NBA Picks 2010

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. NEW ENGLAND
2. BUFFALO
3. MIAMI
4. NEW YORK JETS
 
COACHING CHANGES: 
NEW YORK JETS: REX RYAN
 

NEW ENGLAND
LAST YEAR: 11-5
DIRECTION: UP

One can only think that the direction of this team will be up with the return of Tom Brady. The Pats, even without him last year won 11 games, and anything less than or equal to that would certainly be considered a disappointment. Fred Taylor will help the running game, and two new corners to assist the defense won’t hurt.

BETTING THE PATS WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
The Pats are always facing bigger than life numbers, and as a favorite of 10+ they have now gone 1-7 ATS.

BETTING THE PATS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
They tend to rise up before playing against division rival Buffalo, having gone 9-2 ATS prior to doing battle with the Bills. Division kingpin, the Pats turn in a 28-13 ATS mark against the AFC East.
 

BUFFALO
LAST YEAR: 7-9
DIRECTION: DOWN

The Buffalo Bills took a gamble as they needed an offensive weapon, so they brought in Terrell Owens. The problem is that he is aging, and has been a distraction everywhere he has gone. The Bills will be counting on a couple of rookies in key defensive spots – never good in the NFL.

BETTING THE BILLS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
The Bills have an intense rivalry with Miami. In the game immediately following, they have been just 3-20 ATS.

BETTING THE BILLS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
The Bills have been solid as a home dog converting at a 7-3 ATS mark in their last 10. Winter onset in Buffalo means back the Bills, who are 22-11 ATS in their last 33 November home games.

NFL Picks Previews 2009: AFC EAST

Tags: Cavs predictions against the spread, NBA Picks 2010

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. SAN DIEGO
2. OAKLAND
3. KANSAS CITY
4. DENVER

COACHING CHANGES:
DENVER: JOSH MCDANIELS
KANSAS CITY: TODD HALEY
OAKLAND:  TOM CABLE
 

SAN DIEGO
LAST YEAR: 8-8
DIRECTION: UP

The Chargers had a funny year, but went from 4-8 all the way to the playoffs. This is a talent-laden team beset with injuries a year ago, and should be poised to challenge at the top of a weak Western Conference. The roster is loaded with talent, and healed from injuries. This could become a dangerous, hungry team this season.

BETTING THE CHARGERS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
The Chargers don’t do well as heavy chalk coming in at 1-5 ATS as a 10+ point favorite

BETTING THE CHARGERS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
Chargers in charge as a home dog turning in a 4-0 ATS mark in their last four. Travel weary? Not the Chargers, who are 7-2 ATS after playing on the East coast the week before.
 

OAKLAND
LAST YEAR: 5-11
DIRECTION: UP

The Raiders will have yet another new coach to try and turn things around. JaMarcus Russell has a year of seasoning under his belt. The key will be Darren McFadden, if he becomes a top running back in his second year, the Raiders’ offense will be much better. If the defensive front grows with experience, the defense could be respectable.

BETTING THE RAIDERS – WHEN THEY ARE BAD:
The Raiders have no homefield advantage as they are now 0-9 ATS as a home favorite. Finale fizzle, as the Raiders, are just 4-18 ATS last 22 years in their home finale.

BETTING THE RAIDERS – WHEN THEY ARE GOOD:
Playing in Kansas City, they are 5-1 ATS in their last six visits.

NFL Picks Previews 2009: AFC WEST

Tags: Cavs predictions against the spread, NBA Picks 2010