Packers Not Packing It In Green Bay is 4-12 ATS in dome games under Mike Sherman but 13-5 ATS when priced between +3.5 and +9.5. This might serve them well in their upcoming game at Atlanta as 9-point underdogs. Cheese Heads are coming off a 20-10 home loss to Pittsburgh but actually outgained the Steelers on the day. Five of seven Packers losses have come by 7-points or less and the Falcons have not carried a number this large on their wings all season.

Silver and Black Turn Red Oakland is 0-6 ATS their last six as a home dog and has Denver -3 coming to the Black Hole this week. The Broncos pose a tough test as they enter this game at 6-2 SU (5-2-1 ATS) on the season and 10-2 ATS their last twelve vs. divisional games. The Raiders must also recover from a crushing last second 27-23 road loss to Kansas City as a 3-point road dog last Sunday. The demoralizing setback dropped OAK to 3-12 ATS their last fifteen AFC West opposition. Norv Turner can you hear that sizzle? It is your butt on the hot seat below.

Identity Problem for Jaguars? Jacksonville is coming off an uninspiring 21-14 home win over the Terrible Texans. The lackluster effort marked a reoccurring pattern of play that might cost their backers this week against Baltimore. We are referring to the Jaguars tendency to play to the level of their competition. After nearly knocking off Indy prior to back-to-back wins over Cincy and Pittsburgh, the Jags have since put up consecutive stink bombs in a loss against St. Louis (who had four Pro Bowlers out) two weeks back and Houston this past Sunday. This tendency has manifested itself in the numbers too, as JAX is 3-0 ATS as a dog but just 1-3-1 ATS as a favorite with the Ravens +7.5 coming to town this week.

Chiefs Ripe For Letdown? Kansas City is coming off a dramatic last second 27-23 home win over Oakland. Apparently, the oddsmakers do not see the Chiefs matching that effort this weekend where they are a surprising road underdog at 3-5 Buffalo. These same Bills who are ranked 29th in offense and a puzzling 31st in rushing defense. Incidentally, the Chiefs rank 7th in both rushing offense and defense. This is a long road trip for Chiefs but on paper they own a rather significant edge in the all important line of scrimmage factor.

Giant Problem For Brad Johnson? In his first start since replacing Daunte Culpepper (who is out for the year with a knee injury), Brad Johnson threw for 136 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-14 home win vs. Detroit. But Vikings fans will need him to walk on water this week, as their team is 0-4 both SU and ATS on the road this year and now has a date with the Giants in the Meadowlands. Johnson will look to bolster an offense that has averaged just 8 PPG on the trail this season. The Vikings defense meanwhile has been just as pathetic, allowing 33.8 PPG away from the Twin Cities. NY for their part is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS as a host while outscoring their opponents 35 to 16 in this role.

Buccaneers Ship Sinking Carolina handed Tampa Bay and its struggling offense its first home loss in a 34-14 butt kicking. For the second straight week Chris Simms threw two picks and was sacked five times since taking over for injured Brian Griese. And Cadillac Williams also stalled for just 49 yards on 24 carries over this same stretch since missing the two prior games with injury. You might recall that Cadillac was the toast of the town after starting his NFL career with three straight 120+ yard rushing games. As the Bucs offense wastes the teams No. 1 rated defense, Washington comes to town next week with much better balance, ranking 11th in offense and 7th in defense.

T.O. Least of Eagles Problems Bill Parcells is 51-31 ATS as an underdog since the early 90s and stands a good chance to improve this mark against a vulnerable Eagles squad this Monday night. Philadelphia dropped to 4-4 SU and 2-6 ATS after falling 17-10 at Washington in game one of Post-Terrell Owns era. Dont blame the loss on a lack of Owens though. Filling in for the combustible malcontent, backup Reggie Brown did just fine, catching five passes for one touchdown and 94 yards. Once again, the Eagles non-existent running game, ranked dead last in the NFL, managed just 45 yards on the ground. Things will not get any easier this week against Dallas 6th rated rushing stop unit.

Just the Facts Maam Home favorites are now 48-40 ATS on the season while road favorites are slightly profitable at 18-15 ATS. If the company abacus is correct that means favorites overall are 66-55 ATS. Breaking down this further we find that favorites of -3 or less are a bookie busting 36-22 ATS! Home favorites of -3 or less check in at 26-16 ATS while road favorites of a field goal or less stand at 10-6 ATS. No wonder many bookmakers are not having a fun season! But keep in mind that those extravagant buildings lining the Las Vegas strip were not built on easy money. If history repeats itself, expect underdogs to make a big second half comeback.