Wanna Bet: NFL Week 1-The Early line-Opening Day

As the money comes in from the big players in Vegas and elsewhere, the lines move. Sometimes they move in a favourable direction, and then again, there are those times you wish you had got some of your loot on the early line and caught that game at 6.5 before it went to 7 or caught it at 2.5 before it jumped to 3. A push, mind you is never horrid, but it isn’t positive units in your account!

These numbers are from Bet365 sports book. I personally like to move a few lines up and down as well, changing your odds and so forth can be beneficial, teasing a few games here and there can be the difference between chalking a ticket or having to go and get your credit card and refill your account during the obvious cursing which comes with losing cash and the fact that you didn’t assess properly.

Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers -6.0 O/U 35

The Super Bowl champs are hosting a Titans team that was all the rage last year and was looking to finish the season undefeated after ripping off ten straight wins with its massive two-headed monster running attack, not to be the case. Pitt went on to take it all and will look to start off the season with a home win, where they are dominant year in and year out.

Tough test for both teams, Steele towns O-line and their QB Benny Boy are sack susceptible and I would look for the likes of Jevon Kearse, Kyle Vanden Bosch and new edition Jovan Haye to make up for the sacks the Titans lost in Albert Haynesworth, sacks don’t happen because of just one guy. The Titans had 44 and only gave up 12, those numbers may sway a tad but should be similar.

On the other side of the ball the Steel Curtain is up and as solid as ever finishing last year second against the rush and first against the pass, ranking them number one overall in total defence.

The fact that the Titans are sack happy and will look to show that they are not missing Haynesworth  may meen they come after Big Ben too much which will open up the screen to Parker which could equal big play yards. Roethlisberger is healthy physically, mentally, well who knows, but if all the off-field stuff is snuffed he should see an overall increase from last years numbers in the air and in his rating.  

The Titans last game ending their season was a 13-10 loss against the Ravens in the AFC divisional playoffs, a team Pitt beats year in and year out, though they were both squeakers last year 23-20 in Pitt and 13-9 in Maryland. The Titans did beat the Steelers last year in Tennessee 31-14 and I look for Pitt to redeem themselves.

Big Ben tore it up in the loss going 25-39 for 329 yards and 2 TDs, while on the other side Justin Gage had 104 yards and a TD, Pit was held to 73 net rushing yards while the Titans were the first team to put up 300+ yards against the Steelers in the 2008 season, another reason for revenge.

Tennessee is 4-2 SU playing in Pitt in the last six games. The total has gone over the number seven of the last eight games when playing at home against Tennessee.

Personally I’m not going to go big, first week, though people seem to, not to mention first game, but for something to add to the excitement, not that it needs it, I’m going to throw a little something something on it.

With all the running and defensive play this game is sure to see and the lack of a receiving core on the Titans team the clock should be ticking along and time should be the factor that affects the score.

Pitt wins a tight one 20-17 gaining a little redemption for last years drubbing and the score stays under 37.5. For a safe play take Pitt -2.5 and the under at 37.5 that will give you +123 on your money $100 = $123.

Ship it send it chalk it and lock it, from the King of Roncesvalles to your sports books, good luck boys. All the Best!

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