3* Arizona Cardinals -1 -110
This is where the majority of bettors lose their ass in the NFL and a concept that the public just never can seem to wrap their minds around.
What have you done for me lately?
The public only remembers what happened last week, and MAYBE the week before, so it is no wonder why everyone thinks Atlanta is such an easy play. No doubt that the Arizona Cardinals, all the way out there on the west coast, have wrapped up the division a month ago and have been out of sight out out of mind. Meanwhile, those Falcons on the east coast and that high profile rookie QB of the Year Matt Ryan and Michael "Burner" Turner have won games when they needed to and won over the media and the hype.
It wasn't that long ago when everyone thought Arizona was a top 5 team in the NFL. They wrap up the division long ago, went into cruise control, and everyone forgot about them.
This is a team that has been literally waiting for the playoffs to start. No doubt, the Cardinals played in one of the weakest divisions in football, but this is not college. Strength of schedule does not matter the way it does in college. This is the NFL and every win and every game is big.
Arizona, besides their built-in homefield advantage of being 3 time zones away from Atalanta, is a good home team anyway. And this is a team that can score points in bunches. They have a reliable, veteran QB in Kurt Warner who is enjoying a near MVP season, and the most explosive playmakers at WR in the NFL. Their run game has been bad, but when they get in the red zone they love to feed Hightower, who has been very effective.
Rookie QBs on the road in the playoffs have a very bad record, and there is a reason for it. Rookie QBs who have started in the playoffs are just 2-6 since 1970, and that includes a list of names like Marino, Roethlisberger, and Kosar. So the idea that Matt Ryan is a God of a rookie with no flaws doesnt matter here. Those rookies are 0-4 on the road.
The pace of the game picks up in the playoffs, where these pampered millionaires are playing for contracts and professionalism during the season, they play for pride in the playoffs.
Ryan not only has to go on the road in the playoffs, but he has to bring his team and franchise, banking on him to do well to the west coadt. AND he will get involved in a game that will likely turn into a shootout.
Arizona scores points in BUNCHES and "Burner" Turner's rushing average on the road isnt very good compared to how he rushes at home. So if that holds true, and Turner is slowed in this game like he has been all year on the road, then this game will go directly into the hands of Matt Ryan in obvious passing situations. I think Turner will be slowed today not only because of this trend, but because the Cards are very healthy, well rested and focused for this game.
Look, here is the bottom line. You want to bet on GREAT teams to go on the road and win in the playoffs. It takes a GREAT team to overcome these types of obstacles, it takes a GREAT team to win this type of game. People are talking like the Falcons are the 85 Bears all of the sudden. The hype is ridiculous. Not only are the Falcons not a great team, they have an inexperienced QB. Dont overvalue the Falcons here, they have played good football but they arent a great team and not the type of team that can go on the west coast and win a playoff game with a rookie QB vs. a team that is well rested, focused and can score points in bunches.
Arizona 34
Atlanta 21
This is where the majority of bettors lose their ass in the NFL and a concept that the public just never can seem to wrap their minds around.
What have you done for me lately?
The public only remembers what happened last week, and MAYBE the week before, so it is no wonder why everyone thinks Atlanta is such an easy play. No doubt that the Arizona Cardinals, all the way out there on the west coast, have wrapped up the division a month ago and have been out of sight out out of mind. Meanwhile, those Falcons on the east coast and that high profile rookie QB of the Year Matt Ryan and Michael "Burner" Turner have won games when they needed to and won over the media and the hype.
It wasn't that long ago when everyone thought Arizona was a top 5 team in the NFL. They wrap up the division long ago, went into cruise control, and everyone forgot about them.
This is a team that has been literally waiting for the playoffs to start. No doubt, the Cardinals played in one of the weakest divisions in football, but this is not college. Strength of schedule does not matter the way it does in college. This is the NFL and every win and every game is big.
Arizona, besides their built-in homefield advantage of being 3 time zones away from Atalanta, is a good home team anyway. And this is a team that can score points in bunches. They have a reliable, veteran QB in Kurt Warner who is enjoying a near MVP season, and the most explosive playmakers at WR in the NFL. Their run game has been bad, but when they get in the red zone they love to feed Hightower, who has been very effective.
Rookie QBs on the road in the playoffs have a very bad record, and there is a reason for it. Rookie QBs who have started in the playoffs are just 2-6 since 1970, and that includes a list of names like Marino, Roethlisberger, and Kosar. So the idea that Matt Ryan is a God of a rookie with no flaws doesnt matter here. Those rookies are 0-4 on the road.
The pace of the game picks up in the playoffs, where these pampered millionaires are playing for contracts and professionalism during the season, they play for pride in the playoffs.
Ryan not only has to go on the road in the playoffs, but he has to bring his team and franchise, banking on him to do well to the west coadt. AND he will get involved in a game that will likely turn into a shootout.
Arizona scores points in BUNCHES and "Burner" Turner's rushing average on the road isnt very good compared to how he rushes at home. So if that holds true, and Turner is slowed in this game like he has been all year on the road, then this game will go directly into the hands of Matt Ryan in obvious passing situations. I think Turner will be slowed today not only because of this trend, but because the Cards are very healthy, well rested and focused for this game.
Look, here is the bottom line. You want to bet on GREAT teams to go on the road and win in the playoffs. It takes a GREAT team to overcome these types of obstacles, it takes a GREAT team to win this type of game. People are talking like the Falcons are the 85 Bears all of the sudden. The hype is ridiculous. Not only are the Falcons not a great team, they have an inexperienced QB. Dont overvalue the Falcons here, they have played good football but they arent a great team and not the type of team that can go on the west coast and win a playoff game with a rookie QB vs. a team that is well rested, focused and can score points in bunches.
Arizona 34
Atlanta 21
ope:
