Maintaining with recent NFL tradition, the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers open the new season at home before a national television audience on Thursday night. Pittsburgh, fresh off its second crown in four years, hosts Tennessee in a fight of the AFC’s top two playoff seeds from 2008. Pittsburgh is a hefty 6 ½ point favorite and backed by 77% of bettors at Sportsbook.com.

The Titans (13-4, 14-4-1 ATS in 2008) defeated the Steelers 31-14 in Week 16 last season and captured the AFC South title with 13 victories.

Turnovers, a stifling defense, a deft running game and sound quarterback play from veteran Kerry Collins made the Titans the team to beat entering last year’s postseason. And even with menacing tackle Albert Haynesworth (Redskins) gone from a defense that ranked in the top six in most categories, Tennessee is certain to be a factor in a division any of the four clubs could win and is 7-0 ATS in September the last couple of years.

Pittsburgh‘s competition in the AFC North may only go one deep, with nobody outside of Baltimore expected to contend. The Steelers (15-4, 11-8 ATS) have essentially the same personnel and are a safe bet to pick up right where they left off as 27-23 winners over Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII. Ben Roethlisberger is primed to top last year’s numbers (3,301 yards, 17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions) with a new second tier of receivers in Limas Sweed and Shaun McDonald (Lions) to go with veteran Hines Ward and Santonio “Super Bowl MVP” Holmes. Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in the first game of a new season over the last six years.

Roethlisberger passed for 331 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions versus the Titans last Dec. 21 in a game that saw Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense allow just one scoring drive of more than 40 yards. That came midway through the third quarter when Tennessee went 79 yards on 11 plays and took the lead for good on Chris Johnson’s 21-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-inches.

Pittsburgh can expect a heavy dose of Johnson and LenDale White, but as the Titans showed in last year’s meetingm they won’t hesitate to pass, as Collins went 20-for-29. That means Justin Gage will see plenty of action after totaling 104 yards last season against the Steelers defense. Look for the Titans to want to clock Big Ben just like last season, when they sacked him five times. Though Haynesworth will be missed, he didn’t play in last year’s matchup.

The Titans are 6 ½ point underdogs, with total of 35 at Sportsbook.com and are 16-6 ATS when catching points and are 8-2 UNDER in September.

If the opening game is to be a joyous occasion in the Steel City, the offensive line has to give Roethlisberger time to throw and not have him running for his life. Look for Pittsburgh to test Tennessee defense with deep shots to Sweed and rookie Mike Wallace. Defensively, the Steelers have to keep Johnson inside the tackles and prevent him from bouncing out wide.

Pittsburgh is 39-18 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points and has played OVER in seven straight openers.

In the last six meetings between these AFC squads, the OVER is 6-1. The excitement starts at 8:30 Eastern on NBC for the NFL lid-lifter and the previous year’s Super Bowl champions are 9-0 and 7-1-1 ATS in first game of a new season.

Log onto Sportsbook.com for all of you NFL wagering this season. With the $100K Perfect Parlay and Reduced Juice Fridays Sportsbook.com gives the football bettor the best value around.

2009 PREDICTED FINISH

1) Philadelphia

2) N.Y. Giants

3) Dallas

4) Washington

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

2008 Record: 11-7-1 SU (0 ML Units), 12-7 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 8-10

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +1200, NFC Title: +500

Sportsbook Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 9.5 (-180) / Under 9.5 (+140)

StatFox Steve’s Take: Philadelphia lost a lot of well-known veteran talent in the offseason, but this is an organization that has shown a penchant for being able to keep the cupboard stocked. In fact, this may be one of the more talented Eagles’ teams of recent memory overall. Slight lean OVER.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

PHILADELPHIA is 24-15 SU & 26-11 ATS in its L39 games against the NFC West

PHILADELPHIA is 4-2 SU & 6-0 ATS as a road underdog over the L2 seasons

PHILADELPHIA is 20-18 SU & 28-10 ATS on the road in its L38 games revenging a loss vs opponent

PHILADELPHIA is on a 17-3 SU & 15-5 ATS run when playing with 2 weeks+ rest

2009 OUTLOOK

If Donovan McNabb played in the NBA, he’d already be grouped with the likes of Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley as superstars who could never get over the championship hunt. Though his path to the promised land was blocked by a dynasty earlier this decade–the Patriots–like the aforementioned threesome, he doesn’t exactly have a sparkling record when it comes to giving his team an opportunity. In five NFC Championship games McNabb is just 1-4. Make no mistake, the Eagles are going to make another run at the NFC Championship. What they lack in individual star power, they more than make up for with a potent blend of interchangeable pieces. Battle-tested, yet still relatively young, Philadelphia’s offseason upgrades will prove to be worth every penny.

NEW YORK GIANTS

2008 Record: 12-5 SU (3.5 ML Units), 12-5 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 9-8

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +1000, NFC Title: +400

Sportsbook Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 10 (+125) / Under 10 (-155)

StatFox Steve’s Take: The only thing standing in the way of another 10+ win season in New York is the fact that the Giants play in the NFC East Division. Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington are all bound to get their share of wins in head-to-head play. I like New York to finish within one game either way of 10 wins.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

NY GIANTS are 17-4 SU & 18-3 ATS on the road against conference opponents over the L3 seasons

NY GIANTS are 12-20 SU & 9-21 ATS at home in its L32 November games

NY GIANTS are 7-1 SU & 8-0 ATS on the road vs. good offenses (>=24 PPG) over the L3 seasons

<NY GIANTS are 7-2 SU & 8-1 ATS vs. good passing QB (>7 PYA) over the L2 seasons

2009 OUTLOOK

Defense helped the New York Giants capture Super Bowl XLII over the New England Patriots, but it’s hard to forget the superhuman play of quarterback Eli Manning in that postseason. Fast forward to the 2009 playoffs, and coming off the best season of his career, Manning turned in a complete clunker, as the Giants lost in the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs to their most-hated rivals, Philadelphia. So what’s the moral of the story? Defense alone can’t and doesn’t, win championships. Failing to replace wide receivers Plaxico Burress and even Amani Toomer with some type of proven pass catchers may come back to bite the Giants. But playoff football is about running the ball and defense, two areas where the Giants are loaded. Their sights are set beyond the NFC East, and rightly so.

DALLAS COWBOYS

2008 Record: 9-7 SU (-7.05 ML Units), 7-9 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 9-7

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +1200, NFC Title: +500

Sportsbook Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 9 (-155) / Under 9 (+125)

StatFox Steve’s Take: I really don’t know what to make of Dallas’ chances in 2009. On one hand, they are rid of the apparent drain on the organization, T.O. On the other hand, is the talent in the organization simply overrated. The Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since Troy Aikman was in town. I’ll say 10 wins, but not enthusiastically.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

DALLAS is 9-33 SU & 13-29 ATS on the road in its L42 games as a underdog of 3.5 to 10 pts.

DALLAS is 13-22 SU & 11-24 ATS on the road in its L35 games in the last 4 weeks of the season

DALLAS is on a 23-1 SU & 18-6 ATS run at home vs. poor offenses (<=4.75 YPP)

DALLAS is on a 8-0 SU & ATS run when the line is +3 to -3

2009 OUTLOOK

Few teams can pack as much drama in a 16-game season the way Dallas did over the last two seasons. Funny thing is, now that the Cowboys are moving into a state-of-the-art new stadium, complete with the biggest high-definition jumbo screen in the world, the centerpiece of the soap opera, wide receiver Terrell Owens (Bills), is no longer on the roster. Now that Owens is gone, it’s put-up or shut-up time for quarterback Tony Romo, entering his third year as a starter with a woeful record of 5-10 in the months of December and January. His passing stats often look pretty, as he threw for 3,448 yards and 26 scores despite missing three games, but the end results come crunch time leave much to be desired. The loss of Owens may be considered addition by subtraction off the field, but a straight-up negative on it. Head coach Wade Phillips survived a lost 2008, but the way the stars are aligning, in Dallas and the NFC East, the Cowboys face an uphill battle against the Giants and Eagles.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

2008 Record: 8-8 SU (-2.75 ML Units), 6-8 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 3-12

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +4000, NFC Title: +1800

Sportsbook Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 8 (-115) / Under 8 (-115)

StatFox Steve’s Take: There are several inexperienced head coaches that I don’t trust in the NFL. The one with a year under his belt that I have in that group is Jim Zorn. I truly believe he was outcoached down the stretch last season and it cost his team a playoff berth. Well, the division didn’t get any easier in the offseason, and I don’t think the Redskins got any better either, despite overpaying for DT Albert Haynesworth. Under 8.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

Over the L2 seasons, WASHINGTON is just 3-4 SU & 0-6 ATS in non-conference games

WASHINGTON is 31-13 SU & 32-10 ATS in its L44 games vs. bad rushing teams (<90 RY)

WASHINGTON is just 6-14 SU but 15-5 ATS on the road in its L20 games vs. good rushing D (<90 RY)

Over the L3 seasons, WASHINGTON is on a slide of 5-10 SU & 2-11 ATS vs. losing teams

2009 OUTLOOK

Few players have seen their stock rise and fall as much as Washington quarterback Jason Campbell over the last year. A fast start in first-year head coach Jim Zorn’s West Coast Offense had the Redskins thinking playoffs, especially as Campbell completed his first 249 passes without an interception and the team opened up 6-2. Campbell didn’t throw his first interception until Week 9 against the Steelers, and that’s where the sky started to fall. After Washington limped down the stretch to a 2-6 record, Campbell’s job security was called into question. Owner Daniel Snyder reached into his pockets to pluck the biggest free agent on the market, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (Titans) and also drafted high-energy defensive end Brian Orakpo (Texas). Both moves helped quell the talk surrounding Campbell and provide upgrades to a defense that was fourth in the NFL in total yards (288.8 per game) and sixth in scoring (18.5 points per game). Haynesworth and Orakpo improve the defense, but the offense is where the problems lie. It’s going to take plenty of points to compete with Dallas, New York and Philadelphia in the NFC East. It could be bottom’s up for the Redskins.

Manager Bruce Boche has the pitching aligned exactly how he wants it to give San Francisco its best chance of winning. In order, it’s Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito and Matt Cain, this at least sounds daunting for Colorado. Lincecum (12-4, 2.43 ERA) lost last Sunday at Colorado 4-2, giving up room service pitch for home run and walking a season high five batters. Last year’s Cy Young winner is 4-0 with a sterling 1.36 ERA at AT&T Park in his last six outings and the Giants are 8-3 when the right-hander is pitching on four days rest.

Colorado (72-56, +12.6 units) has too quickly put behind the disappointment of losing series to front-running Los Angeles and refocus on the task at hand. The Rockies are 17-9 in August road games the last couple of years and have what they believe is the right pitcher to combat Lincecum in Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9, 3.36).  The righthander has pitched a minimum of eight innings in four of his last five starts, not allowing more than two runs and winning each game. He relishes the challenge of facing “The Freak”.

“I love challenges,” Jimenez said. “I’m positive when I have a challenge. I can’t wait to be in that position. Hopefully, everything’s going to be OK this time.” Jimenez has made nine straight starts allowing three or fewer runs and Colorado is 21-6 on the road against a right-hand starter.

Sportsbook.com has the Giants as -125 money line favorites, with the total Un6.5. San Fran is 8-2 when Lincecum pitches as a favorite and has won 41 of last 58 in favorite role. The Rockies have won just one of last seven as an underdog and are 7-20 when Jimenez is pitching as road dog and 1-5 if the opponent has winning record.

Game 1 Edge: San Francisco

San Francisco knew coming into the season, they would have to build this team around pitching and defense and the front office has been prophetic. The Giants are 14th in the National League scoring runs, a paltry four runs per game. Nobody knows this better than Barry Zito (8-11, 4.09). Though Zito has been criticized and dismissed as a non-talent more than Heidi Montag, this season Zito has looked like the pitcher the Giants spent 126 million for several seasons ago. In his last eight starts, the lefty has ERA of 2.08, yet is just 3-2, as he has received the poorest run support in the NL at just under three runs a game. Zito made a decision to stop worrying about avoiding bats and instead has gone after hitters, which has paid dividends for a pitcher needing confidence. The Giants have won five of his last six starts at home.

Colorado counters with Jason Marquis (14-8, 3.47), making this a rematch from Monday, when neither starting pitcher figured in decision. Marquis has ended being a key acquisition for the Rockies, pitching well when they were still trying to settle in and rock solid once they turned the corner playing outstanding baseball. Colorado comes into the series 52-25 in last 77 outings and they are 8-2 when Marquis faces a club with winning record.

Game 2 Edge: Colorado

As if things aren’t hard enough for San Fran, the status of their top two hitters Pablo Sandoval and Bengie Molina is day to day for this series. The Giants could certainly use them for the final game of the series, which is an afternoon affair. San Francisco is 24-19 playing matinees and will have Matt Cain (12-4, 2.39) taking the ball. It’s easy to be judgmental and see Cain hasn’t won a game since July 24, yet he has a 2.72 ERA in that span and allowed 36 hits in 46 1/3 innings, with a 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. The Giants are raising cane on opponents at home when Cain pitches with 11-2 record and they are 13-4 when favored. The Rockies will use Jason Hammel (8-7, 4.43) who pitches dramatically better away from Coors Field. Hammel is 6-4 on the road with 2.88 ERA, thought the team is .500 (6-6). Colorado is 25-18 in day ball and un-Rockies like 36-30 coming into the series on the road.

Game 3 Edge: San Francisco

Had my four series winning streak snapped last week, however feel good about this week’s selection. As good as Colorado has been since Jim Tracy took over as skipper, San Francisco could have just as easily won three of four last week in Denver. Sporting a National League-best 41-21 home record, the Giants are the play this weekend to close the gap in wild card race.

Sportsbook.com series odds:  Colorado +120, San Francisco -150

Green Bay at Arizona

The Cardinals are 3.5-point favorites at Sportsbook.com and need to start building confidence for the upcoming season. Arizona ALMOST won the Super Bowl, yet the fact remains they were 9-7 in the regular season in 2008 and were not considered an elite team when the playoffs began. In this contest, Warner and the first team offense want to put up points and will face Green Bay’s new 3-4 defensive scheme, which features a great deal of blitzing. This could mean check downs to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, along with some long passes facing one on one coverage.

The Packers have rebuilt their offensive line and though talk out of Green Bay is coach Mike McCarthy is satisfied with their progress, the Cards generated four sacks last week. Aaron Rodgers and the first team offense have been crisp. Last week the Pack built 24-0 halftime lead over Buffalo before cruising to 31-21 triumph. However, this is first road game which will alter dynamics. Arizona has thrived in this situation with a 6-0 ATS record in Week 3 and is 9-0 against the number if off a SU loss and opponent is off double digit win.

Tim Hightower has been outstanding for Arizona, nevertheless, they didn’t pay top draft pick Beanie Wells to sit on the sidelines and be injured. Watch the total in this contest, which presently is 41 points. The Redbirds are 10-2 OVER after scoring seven points or less in the first half in two straight games and Green Bay is 8-1 OVER when playing with six or less days rest.

Make Sportsbook.com the place for you NFL betting this season. With Reduced Juice Fridays and the most props on the planet, it is no wonder Everybody Bets on the NFL at Sportsbook.com.

Jacksonville at Philadelphia

Teams that don’t win a game in the preseason have averaged 7.3 wins a year once the real season begins since 1997, which is well below the expectations for both these clubs. Even worse, only one of the last 11 teams that were 0 for the preseason has made the playoffs.

Jacksonville has lost there two games by a total of four points and could just as easily be 2-0. Quarterback David Garrard has looked sharp and receiver Troy Williamson has been exceptional opposite of Tory Holt as the Jaguars new receiving core. The Jacksonville running game needs to find another gear after producing 127 yards the first two games. The Jags head to Philly as 7.5-point underdogs according to Sportsbook.com and they are 12-2 ATS in road games in the last two weeks of the preseason.

Coach Andy Reid stated Donovan McNabb will play the first three quarters and Kevin Kolb the final 15 minutes, but Mr. Vick will see time with the starters. The impression one has is Reid wants to start having upcoming regular season opponents start game-planning for the Eagles newest weapon. Of greatest concern to Philadelphia is the projected offense line starters have not played one down together and they are unlikely too this week either. Philly is only 2-7 ATS in their last nine third game of the preseason.

Miami at Tampa Bay

This Fox nationally televised contest will have a Florida flavor with the Dolphins at Tampa Bay. Miami has looked impressive in first starts and though Chad Pennington is the clear starter at quarterback, back-up Chad Henne is looking like the future of Fins football. The Dolphins have run the ball effectively (129.5 yards per game) and the defensive line has contained opponents rushing attacks. Curious to see if Tampa Bay goes after Dolphins’ safeties who are vulnerable to the pass. The Fish are 2.5-point underdogs and are 23-15-2 ATS in this spot.

Tampa Bay has split a pair of contests, winning as underdog last week against Jacksonville and is 7-1 ATS when the line is +3 to -3. New head coach Raheem Morris has not named a starting quarterback yet, with the front office putting out feelers to find out what Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich could bring back in trade. Both have obvious limitations and top pick Josh Freeman isn’t ready. Indecision is not good and the Bucs are 1-7 ATS after a win by three or fewer points.

St. Louis at Cincinnati

Whatever appeal this game has is lessened by the fact both starting quarterbacks might not see any action. Carson Palmer has an ankle issue and Marc Bulger a finger problem. That means a heavy dose J.T. O’Sullivan for Cincinnati and St. Louis counters with Kyle Boller.

The Bengals first unit has moved the ball no matter who has played quarterback and is averaging 6.4 yards per play. It has been breakdowns at the wrong times that have stalled drives and left them without any points. Expect this to be an area coach Marvin Lewis wants more production from, for a squad that is 1-7 ATS in Week 3.

The Rams are 2.5-point underdogs and have a lot to shore up before regular season begins. The entire defense has made multiple miscues in understanding new coach Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. He’s been preaching “Get low and stick ‘em” tackling, however too many defenders have fallen back to old ways and it will just take time. St. Louis is a sickly 1-9 ATS off a home loss.

2009 PREDICTED FINISH

1) San Diego

2) Oakland

3) Denver

4) Kansas City

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

2008 Record: 9-9 SU (-6.75 ML Units), 9-9 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 8-8

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +600, AFC Title: +4000

Sportsbook.com’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 10 (-140) / Under 10 (+110)

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

Over the L3 seasons, SAN DIEGO is 12-3 SU & ATS at home as a favorite of 3.5-10.5 pts.

SAN DIEGO is on a 6-0 SU & ATS run in December games

SAN DIEGO is 6-1 SU & 7-0 ATS vs. good passing QB (>7 PYA) over the L3 seasons

Over the L3 seasons, SAN DIEGO is 10-2 SU & ATS vs. good rushing teams (>130 RY)

2009 OUTLOOK

Just because you’re down, doesn’t mean you’re out. That mantra held true with the Chargers, who rebounded from a brutal 4-8 start to win their final four regular-season games and capture the AFC West Division. However, following a 23-17 wild-card round victory over Indianapolis, San Diego couldn’t maintain the momentum and folded like a deck of cards in a 35-24 loss at Pittsburgh. Defensive problems abounded for the Bolts, who lost linebacker Shawne Merriman after just one game. The lack of a consistent pass rush caused the Chargers to struggle against opposing quarterbacks, as they ranked 31st in pass defense, allowing a gaudy 247.4 yards per game. However, there are no such problems on offense for the Chargers. San Diego lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 27.4 points per game, the second-highest average in the league. And that was with running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates, two of the team’s biggest weapons, suffering nagging injuries all season long. If Gates and Tomlinson can stay healthy, there’s no stopping the Chargers. Philip Rivers has become one of the NFL’s top five quarterbacks, while the defense can only improve on last year’s poor performance. Having to play the Raiders, Chiefs and Broncos twice a year can only help.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

2008 Record: 5-11 SU (-0.25 ML Units), 7-9 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 5-9

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +7500, AFC Title: +4000

Sportsbook.com’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 5.5 (-155) / Under 5.5 (+125)

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

OAKLAND is 3-22 SU & 5-20 ATS on the road in its L25 December games

Over the L3 seasons, OAKLAND is 1-10 SU & ATS in non-conference games

Over the L3 seasons, OAKLAND is on a slide of 2-13 SU & 3-12 ATS vs. poor defenses (>=5.65 YPP)

Over the L3 seasons, OAKLAND is on a slide of 2-8 SU & 1-9 ATS when the line is +3 to -3

2009 OUTLOOK

The Raiders continue to make offseason headlines. It’s between September and December where they’ve struggled over the last six years with a pitiful record of 24-72. Coming off a five-win season that saw Tom Cable replace Lane Kiffin as head coach after four games, the Raiders were their usual bold selves on draft day but not so much in the free-agent market. The big additions were rookie receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland), veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia (Buccaneers) and offensive tackle Khalif Barnes (Jaguars). Even if all the pieces fall into place it’s not likely Cable’s guys will challenge to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002. As long as the offense grows around quarterback JaMarcus Russell, he should be ready to take the Raiders to the next level by 2010. It would come as a surprise if they challenged for a playoff spot this season, or even finish .500, but if Miami can go from 1-15 to a division champion anything has to be considered a possibility.

DENVER BRONCOS

2008 Record: 8-8 SU (-4.2 ML Units), 4-12 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 9-7

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +4000, AFC Title: +2000

Sportsbook.com’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 7 (+165) / Under 7 (-210)

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

DENVER is 11-9 SU but just 3-17 ATS as a home favorite over the L3 seasons

DENVER is 9-8 SU but just 3-14 ATS vs. division opponents over the L3 seasons

DENVER is on a 0-7 SU & ATS run vs. poor defenses (>=5.65 YPP)

Over the L2 seasons, DENVER is just 2-5 SU & 0-7 ATS when coming off a game scoring >=30 pts.

2009 OUTLOOK

It was three in a row and the old heave-ho for Mike Shanahan, as he was fired after Denver failed to make the playoffs for the third straight season. Shanahan, who had spent 14 years at the helm, saw his team lose three straight games after an 8-5 start to get edged out by the Chargers for the AFC West title. Enter Josh McDaniels, the former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the Patriots. Soon after being signed to a four-year contract to become the Broncos’ head coach, McDaniels caused a major controversy, as franchise quarterback Jay Cutler caught wind of McDaniels’ desire to bring Patriots signal-caller Matt Cassel to Denver in a potential three-way trade with New England and Tampa Bay. While the trade fell apart, the breach and hard feelings could not be repaired. Cutler said he didn’t trust the coach and organization, and on April 2, the Broncos traded Cutler to the Bears for quarterback Kyle Orton, first-round picks in 2009 (Robert Ayers) and 2010, along with a third-round pick in 2009, which was traded to the Steelers. McDaniels better be ready for growing pains, especially on defense. The additions of Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill will help the secondary, but the front seven leaves a lot to be desired. The offense will be deeply affected if Brandon Marshall is out for an extended period of time. While Cutler leads the Bears to an NFC North title, Orton leads the Broncos to a distant second-place finish behind the Chargers.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

2008 Record: 2-14 SU (-8.65 ML Units), 8-8 ATS

2008 Totals (Over-Under): 8-8

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +6000, AFC Title: +3000

Sportsbook.com’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 6 (-115) / Under 6 (-115)

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES

Over the L2 seasons, KANSAS CITY is 3-8 SU but just 9-2 ATS on the road against conference opponents

KANSAS CITY is just 1-7 SU but 7-0 ATS in its L8 games as a underdog of 10.5+ pts.

KANSAS CITY is 37-23 SU & 37-21 ATS in its L60 September games

KANSAS CITY is 4-25 SU & 8-20 ATS on the road in its L29 games vs. good offenses (>=24 PPG)

2009 OUTLOOK

A new regime has taken over in Kansas City, which had the league’s youngest roster and ran out of gas late in most games. It held the lead in eight of its 14 losses. For the first time in two decades, someone other than Carl Peterson is calling the personnel shots from One Arrowhead Lane. Scott Pioli was pried away from New England and chose former Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley to lead the young Chiefs following the dismissal of Herm Edwards. Pioli and Haley have quite a rebuilding project on their hands and have to hope Matt Cassel, acquired from the Patriots, along with veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel for a second-round draft choice, is the long-term answer at quarterback. The Chiefs have fallen off a cliff since reaching the postseason in 2006 and can’t be expected to challenge for a playoff spot for at least another year. Questions outweigh answers on both sides of the ball by a wide margin, so Haley will be hard-pressed to match the success of last year’s rookie coaches in the league.

The Week 2 NFL preseason card thickens with a trio of wagering options at Sportsbook.com on Friday night. The showcase contest is Tennessee at Dallas, which will be on Fox starting at 8 Eastern. Kansas City will make the trip north to Brett Favre country (now west of Wisconsin) to face the Vikings and former division rivals Atlanta and St. Louis will collide near the shores of the Mississippi River.

Tennessee at Dallas

Dallas gave their usual halfhearted first game effort (2-5 SU and ATS), in being whacked by Oakland 31-10. Quarterback Tony Romo should see increased playing time in preparation for the regular season. Dallas will look to control Tennessee’s running game since they are 0-11 ATS when they allow 125 to 150 rushing yards.

Tennessee already has wrapped up two wins in August and would gladly take a third if the Cowboys want to go thru the motions again. The storyline for the Titans is this: will Vince Young be able to build on last week’s crisp performance (9-14 for 131 yards, TD)? Sportsbook.com has Dallas as 2.5-point favorites with the total at 37 points. Tennessee is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) as a road underdog, while the Cowboys are 2-9 ATS at home when the total is between 35.5 and 38 points.

Kansas City at Minnesota

Whatever the reasons for Favre’s return, coach Brad Childress has believed since last season the former Packer and Jet quarterback is better than what he’s had on his roster. Sage Rosenfels is now the backup and in all likelihood, Tarvaris Jackson and John David Booty are playing for a roster spot.

The Vikings defense bottled up Indianapolis last week (142 total yards) and is 5-1 ATS after allowing 200 or less total yards in their previous game. Minnesota is a three-point favorite on the home turf and will sell more tickets for this encounter than anticipated.

With last week’s 16-10 home loss to Houston, Kansas City is now 5-16 and 4-16-1 ATS since 2004 in the preseason. New coach Todd Haley and Chiefs front office won’t say anything publicly, but there has to be a few furrowed brows after Matt Cassel was outplayed by both Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen in Week 1. Kansas City has failed to cover six straight Week 2 assignments and is 3-12 ATS off a home loss.

Atlanta at St. Louis

New Coach Steve Spagnuolo will be on the home team sidelines in St. Louis for the first time Friday. The always intense former defensive coordinator was pleased with the play of the offensive line that helped generate 6.6 yards per attempt on 29 carries in 23-20 win as four-point road underdogs against the New York Jets. Everything isn’t perfect in Rams-land however, as starting quarterback Mark Bulger fractured his pinkie on his throwing hand in practice this past Monday, and is presumed out two weeks. That means the reins are turned over to Kyle Boller as first choice, along with Brock Berlin and Keith Null. With top receiver Donny Avery already out bettors have pounced on Atlanta, taking them from one-point underdogs to three point favorites.

The Falcons backups couldn’t hold a 23-10 lead midway thru the third quarter at Detroit and were passed on the last play of the game 27-26. Matt Ryan and the rest of the first team are expected to see extended minutes this week; however, the play of the Atlanta reserves is of note if the Birds face injuries during the regular season. The Falcons are 20-8 ATS after playing their last game on the road and are 6-1 against the number playing the second of two consecutive road encounters.

Football Betting Returns Thursday

Sportsbook.com is ready as the second week of the NFL Preseason gets underway with a pair of contests involving mostly elite teams. The headliner will be Philadelphia at Indianapolis, which is a Fox Sports telecast, with New England hosting Cincinnati in the other game.

This is often a solid wagering week, as coaches start to really formulate what kind of squad they will put together. Teams coming off losing efforts typically want to rebound, while clubs that won might be inclined to let up a bit and don’t give their best efforts.

The Eagles are one such team that is tastier than a Philly cheesesteak in Week 2 of the preseason. Coach Andy Reid is in his 11^th season in the City of Brotherly Love and doesn’t place much stock in August football. This is preparation time and his goal is to put together the most talented roster he can, with hopes of winning the NFC East and returning to Super Bowl.

In the first game, Reid is reviewing as many players as possible and winning is an afterthought as six consecutive losses (0-6 ATS) prove. However, Reid isn’t foolish and has picked his spots, just like the man he worked under, Mike Holmgren did at Green Bay and Seattle. Reid has shown proclivity of wanting to win off first preseason loss and the Eagles are 7-3, with outstanding 9-0-1 ATS record this week, which includes 5-0 SU and ATS run since 2004.

Indianapolis is an established power in the AFC, yet having a new head coach does bring change. The Colts are notoriously a poor preseason team, with a 3-16 record and 5-13-1 ATS mark since 2005. Among the questions about Indianapolis: would new coach Jim Caldwell run a different camp than his predecessor Tony Dungy or would preparing for the regular season still be tantamount? The early answer suggests more of the same, with the Colts totaling a dismal 142 yards of offense last week in 13-3 loss to Minnesota. Without Jim Sorgi as backup quarterback, the fall is precipitous after Peyton Manning, with Curtis Painter and Chris Crane.

Sportsbook.com odds-makers know these facts and have established Philadelphia as three-point road favorites with a total of 36. Indianapolis is just 1-8 on home turf with 1-7-1 ATS mark; however, they are 11-2 ATS after a loss by 10 or more points. The action starts at 8 Eastern and Michael Vick is not expected to even make the trip for Philly, making it less of a story this week.

Thirty minutes earlier in the New England area, the Patriots welcome the Bengals. Tom Brady will look to continue his recovery process, this time in front of the home folks. The former Michigan man was 10 of 15 for 100 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while showing little rust. He’ll be matched against a Cincinnati defense not known for stopping the run or the pass.

The line on this encounter has moved significantly, with Cincy signal caller Carson Palmer unlikely to see the field after suffering a moderate high ankle sprain in 17-7 loss to New Orleans. New England opened as 4.5-point favorite and the swiftly moved to a to -7. The injury means extensive playing time for backups J.T. O’Sullivan and Carson’s brother Jordan Palmer.

New England is 21-13 ATS as preseason chalk and they are 10-2 against the spread at home after one or more consecutive straight up wins under Bill Belichick. For underdog players, the most encouraging news is the Pats fit a negative system that states to play against home favorites of 3.5 to 10 points in conference games, off a road win. Teams in this spot are 5-20 ATS, winning by 2.8 points per game.

Log on now to Sportsbook.com for all of your NFL Preseason wagering. And don’t forget to enter the NFL Opening Day Getaway promotion where you can turn your preseason bets into an all inclusive trip to NFL’s opening weekend in the city of your choice.

The Steelers swept their three division rivals a year ago en route to their record sixth Super Bowl title. Pittsburgh allowed the fewest points in the NFL, and that dominating defense will allow it to keep the Steel Crew at the top of the heap, despite a mediocre offense. Head coach John Harbaugh has Baltimore moving in the right direction, and young quarterback Joe Flacco proved his mettle by leading the Ravens to two playoff victories on the road. Cincinnati finished an ugly campaign on a high note by winning its final three games, but can Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco play nice together? It won’t matter unless the defense can step it up a notch. Cleveland has a new coach in former Jets sideline boss Eric Mangini, but the same problems remain. The Browns rushed for just six touchdowns last year, and Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn will be battling for the starting quarterback job all summer long.

Sportsbook.com’s Predicted Order of Finish:
1) Pittsburgh
2) Baltimore
3) Cincinnati
4) Cleveland

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

2008 Record: 15-4 SU (11.1 ML Units), 11-8 ATS
2008 Totals (Over-Under): 11-8

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +1000, AFC Title: +450
Sportsbook’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 10.5 (-140) / Under 10.5 (+110)

StatFox Steve’s Take: Pittsburgh managed to win another Super Bowl despite less than stellar play from its offensive line. The Steelers couldn’t protect QB Ben Roethlisberger and couldn’t run like usual either. I also think the personnel losses in the offseason outweigh the gains. Unless the defense is record-setting once again, I have a hard time seeing this team beat 10.5 wins.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES
PITTSBURGH is 25-17 SU & 28-10 ATS in their last 42 games vs. excellent teams (>75%)
PITTSBURGH is 37-12 SU & 35-14 ATS in their last 49 games vs. good passing QB (>7 PYA)
Over the last three seasons, PITTSBURGH is on a slide of 5-7 SU & 2-10 ATS when coming off a game scoring >=30 pts.
Over the last two seasons, PITTSBURGH is just 1-6 SU & 0-7 ATS on the road when coming off a win

2009 OUTLOOK
The last time Pittsburgh was the defending champion, in 2006, it stumbled out of the gate with a 2-6 start and finished .500 and out of the playoffs. One thing they have going for them this time around is a much softer schedule. After tackling the league’s toughest slate, head coach Mike Tomlin’s team will play one of the three easiest based on last year’s records. On paper, only Baltimore appears capable of challenging the Steelers for AFC North supremacy. No team had won back-to-back division titles before last season when Pittsburgh went 12-4, including 6-0 against their biggest rivals. Lawrence Timmons takes over for Larry Foote at inside linebacker which could make the defense even scarier, if you can believe that. They know all too well what can happen in the wake of a championship, and there’s no reason to believe they’ll fail to get 10 wins and go deep in the playoffs as long as no serious injuries arise.

BALTIMORE RAVENS
2008 Record: 13-6 SU (8.55 ML Units), 14-5 ATS
2008 Totals (Over-Under): 11-8

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +2000, AFC Title: +900
Sportsbook’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 8.5 (-185) / Under 8.5 (+145)
StatFox Steve’s Take: After last year’s successful season, I believe it is Baltimore, not Pittsburgh, who is the team to beat in the AFC North. The Ravens’ StatFox Power Rating is #1 in the NFL, their Outplay Factor Rating was #2 in ’08. That adds up to double-digit wins once again.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES
BALTIMORE is 54-15 SU & 42-25 ATS in their last 70 games as a home favorite
BALTIMORE is on a 0-7 SU & ATS skid on road when the total is 38.5-42
Over the L3 seasons, BALTIMORE is on a slide of 5-7 SU & 2-10 ATS vs. bad rushing D (>130 RY)
BALTIMORE is on a 15-3 SU & 14-4 ATS run at home vs. poor defenses (>=5.65 YPP)

2009 OUTLOOK
It’s been feast or famine for the Ravens since they won Super Bowl XXXV. They’ve reached the playoffs four times since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and also suffered through a couple of horror shows, most notably in 2007 when they plummeted to the bottom of the AFC North after a 13-win campaign. Nobody expected the Ravens to dust themselves off so quickly. Yet with a rookie head coach (John Harbaugh) and a rookie quarterback (Joe Flacco) they not only earned a wild-card berth by going 11-5 but played for the conference championship. It’ll be interesting to see what Flacco, the only first-year signal-caller to win two playoff games, can do for an encore. With a better grasp of what defenses will send his way, along with an improved offensive line, Flacco should be able to avoid the sophomore jinx. If the defense can overcome the loss of its beloved coordinator (Rex Ryan) and difference makers like Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard, who are with the New York Jets, the Ravens could make back-to-back playoff appearances for the second time in franchise history.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

2008 Record: 4-11-1 SU (-3.9 ML Units), 7-9 ATS
2008 Totals (Over-Under): 5-10

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +7500, AFC Title: +4000
Sportsbook’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 7 (-130) / Under 7 (+100)

StatFox Steve’s Take: This team faces a very difficult first five weeks of the season and thus I believe will be very fortunate to reach the 7-win mark.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES
Over the last 2 seasons, CINCINNATI is 2-9 SU & ATS on the road against conference opponents
CINCINNATI is on a 0-6 SU & ATS run as a underdog of 3.5 to 10 pts.
CINCINNATI is 11-19 SU & 8-22 ATS at home in their last 30 games in the first month of the season
Over the last three seasons, CINCINNATI is 1-9 SU & ATS vs. good defenses (<17 PPG)

2009 OUTLOOK
While the Bengals started to clean up some of their tired act off the field, they didn’t enjoy too many positives on it until the second half of 2008. With quarterback Carson Palmer absent for all but four games, they didn’t visit the win column until Nov. 2 and finished with double-digit losses for the first time since ’02. But for all the problems Cincinnati endured, it enters the new season riding a three-game winning streak that saw the defense allow a total of 19 points. Head coach Marvin Lewis can use the positive finish as motivation when training camp breaks. The absence of T.J. Houshmanzadeh (Seahawks) is sure to be felt, but the offense will be productive as long as Palmer plays. Everything comes down to Palmer’s elbow. If he’s good for the full 16, the Bengals will put up points in spite of a questionable backfield and win between six-to-nine games. If the injury flares up again, Lewis will be hard-pressed to keep his team out of the AFC North basement barring major improvement on defense.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
2008 Record: 4-12 SU (-5.3 ML Units), 6-9 ATS
2008 Totals (Over-Under): 6-9

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: +7500, AFC Title: +4000
Sportsbook’s Regular Season Wins Prop: Over 6.5 (+100) / Under 6.5 (-130)
StatFox Steve’s Take: The Browns have questions marks at positions all over the field and are beginning anew under Eric Mangini in 2009. This all adds up to a rebuilding season, one which will not produce more than six wins.

TOP STATFOX HANDICAPPING ANGLES
Over the last two seasons, CLEVELAND is 8-1 SU & ATS as a favorite
CLEVELAND is on a 12-3 ATS run vs. winning teams
CLEVELAND is on a 7-0 SU & ATS run when coming off a road loss
CLEVELAND is 5-1 SU & 6-0 ATS on the road when coming off a road loss over the last three seasons

2009 OUTLOOK
Even the NFL schedule makers thought Cleveland would contend for a playoff spot in 2008 off the heels of a 10-win season. They placed the Browns in five primetime games and turned out half of their victories came under the lights. So after an embarrassing 4-12 campaign that ended with a thud (31 points scored in a six-game losing streak), both general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel were let go. Eric Mangini, fired by the New York Jets, is the Browns’ fourth head coach since they re-entered the league in 1999. He and new general manager George Kokinis will try to get the most out of a roster filled with question marks. On paper, the schedule isn’t as difficult but nothing will come easy for the Browns. Mangini would be wise to nip any quarterback controversy between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn in the bud and give the offense every opportunity to jell and forget about last year’s finish. Six victories would be considered a step in the right direction.

The first thing you need to consider about tonight’s game is that Carolina has owned New York in the preseason. The Panthers have won five of the six all-time meetings between the teams, both straight up and against the spread. Carolina’s offense has scored between 20 & 34 points in all of the last five meetings. The StatFox Game Estimator says the Panthers will score 23 tonight, so look for that nice scoring trend to continue.

Another important factor that you need to know is that in general, Carolina has historically put more stock in preseason success than the Giants. This is important because both teams’ head coaches have been around for awhile. Since ’93, New York is 12-games under .500 in exhibition games while Carolina is 1-game over .500. In fact, when it comes to facing NFC opponents, the Panthers boast an impressive 11-8 straight up and 13-4 against the spread record.

For the Giants, quarterback Eli Manning, running back Brandon Jacobs, and the rest of the first-string is expected to appear in a limited capacity on Monday night. Backups David Carr, Andre’ Woodson and rookie Rhett Bomar (5th Round, Sam Houston State) areexpected to follow the signal-caller in the lineup.

Defensively, all eyes will be on end Osi Umenyiora, who will make his return to the field after missing all of 2008 with a knee injury suffered in the preseason. Umenyiora will head up a defensive group now coordinated by Bill Sheridan, who was elevated from linebackers coach after Steve Spagnuolo took the head position with the St. Louis Rams.

For the Panthers, Jake Delhomme, who last threw six interceptions in the 33-13 playoff loss to Arizona, will start Monday’s contest before yielding to reserves Josh McCown and Matt Moore.

Defensively, a familiar-looking Panthers unit will be guided by an unfamiliar face, ex-Colts coordinator Ron Meeks, who takes over for Mike Trgovac.

Finally, don’t forget that there are many other wagering options to consider for this Monday night affair than simply the pointspread. The First Half Total has some promise, at least as judged by a powerful FoxSheets Super Situation. The system reads as follows:

• Play Over – Any game where the first half total is 17.5 or less – when playing on Monday night. (28-8 since 1993.) (77.8%, +19.2 units. Rating = 2*).

Tonight’s first half total is right around 17. Considering Carolina’s preseason scoring trends discussed earlier, this near-80% system looks even better.

Make Sportsbook.com the place for all of you NFL wagering this season. Also, be sure to enter the ‘NFL Getaway’ promotion with a chance to attend NFL’s opening weekend in the city of your choice.