FiveStarPick.com is coming off a 3-1 ATS Divsional Playoff record and looks forward to this weekends line-up of games.  The focus of this preview is the matchup between Arizona (11-7 straight up, 11-7 against the spread) and Philadelphia (11-6-1 SU, 12-6 ATS).  The Cardinals have home field advantage and will enjoy a closed roof over University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner is a former Superbowl champion and will definately be a factor in these benign conditions.  He is 7-2 over his career in the postseason and has a 63% completion percentage with 2,712 yards, 19 touchdowns and a mere 12 interceptions. The Eagles are currently listed as 4-point visiting favorites, with the total set at 47.5.  But it will be turnovers that will make the differnce on Sunday.  After pummelling the Panthers last week, the Cardinals now have a +7 turnover ratio in the playoffs. The Eagles, on the other hand are at +1.

Arizona’s defense has improved dramatically in the post season.  Prior to the playoffs, the Cards gave up over 35 PPG.  In the playoffs, they have only allowed 19.3 PPG.  This tenacious ‘D’ has helped the Cards cover their last three games ATS.

The Arizona offese has scored less than 29 points at home only once this season and when Arizona has scored 30 or more points, the team has gone 8-1 SU and ATS.

Philly is 6-1 SU and ATS since McNabb was benched in Baltimore in Week 12.  Since then, the Eagles have busted up their opponents with 27.7 PPG and only relinquished 12 PPG to their opponents.  This will be the  Eagles 3rd road game in a row and one that will require the Eagles to travel across the country.  The birds have gone 2-0 SU and ATS this season out west beating San Francisco in Week 6 and Seattle in Week 9.

Here is an interesting trend to ponder…teams that knock off the defending Super Bowl Champs the week before are 0-10 SU and 1-9 ATS the following week.

Now let’s talk about past performances.  In one of his best games of the season, McNabb passed for 260 yards and 4 TDs beating Arizona 48-20 back on Thankgiving Day.  RB Brian Westbrook, added 110 rushing yards and 2 scores of his own.  But Westbrook reinjured his swollen left knee in the win over the Giants.  The Eagles are 5-4 SU and 7-2 ATS in their last nine head-to-head meetings versus Arizona.

So who covers the spread in the NFC Championship Game?  It’s time to step up your game, become a member of our family and find out.  Why not try our service out for 2-days and see if our talent for picking winners exceeds your expectations?  With over 2300 active members, you owe it to yourself to find out why FiveStarPick.com is the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net.  Our dime bettors won nearly $100K in 2008.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

The Philadelphia Eagles (9-6 straight up, 10-6 against the spread) and the Minnesota Vikings(10-6 SU, 6-10 ATS) will square off in today’s NFL Wilcard game and FiveStarPick.com will be giving its members the ATS winner.  Most Las Vegas sportsbooks have listed the Eagles as 3-point road favorites with the total set at 42. 

Last week Philadelphia laid the pipe to Dallas, winning 44-6, but what actually got the Eagles into the playoffs was Oakland beating Tampa Bay (in Tampa), 31-24, and Houston beating Chicago 31-24. It was the perfect storm for the Birds. The Vikings beat the Giants in Week 17, 20-19, by nailing a 50-yard field goal in the final seconds.  The Vikes failed to cover the 7-point spread (a FiveStar win). 

The trends show that Philadelphia is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 road games and Donovan McNabb is scoring 26 PPG on the road this season.  RB Brian Westbrook has rushed for 4 yards per carry in his last 5 games and has 189 receiving yards and 2 scores in the same five.  What’s more, Philly’s defense has held the opposition to 18.1 PPG on the season.

Week 13 was the turning point for this Eagles team.  After Reid benched McNabb in Week 12, he came back with a vengence beating Arizona in Week 13 (48-20).  The Eagles have since gone 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five. During this time, Philly outgained the Cardinals, Giants, Browns, Washington and Dallas in every single contest for a total of 550-yards.

Minnesota has a great defense against the run. Inside the Metrodome, the Vikings have allowed just 80.5 YPG and held opponents to 184.1 YPG through the air.   In addition, Minnesota allowed just 17.9 PPG inside their own building in 2008, helping this group go 6-2 at home.  What is strange is that even when the Vikings hold teams to 20 points or less, they are a weak 2-3 ATS with an overall record of 3-5 ATS overall at home.

The biggest achilles heal for both teams is red zone scoring.  Philly has a mere 49 percent success rate at scoring TDs from within the 20 and ranks 22nd in the league.  Minnesota has been even worse at 43 percent.

The Eagles have had great success against the Vikings in head-to-head action. In the last four clashes, Philly has gone a perfect 4-0, while a 9-1 ATS record in their last 10 meetings sets an unprecedented pace.

So who covers the spread in this NFL Wildcard matchup?  It’s time to step up your game, become a member of our family and find out.  Why not try our service out for 2-days and see if our talent for picking winners exceeds your expectations?  With over 2300 active members, you owe it to yourself to find out why FiveStarPick.com is the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net.  Our dime bettors won nearly $100K in 2008.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

Well…a very uncharacteristic Sunday in the halls of FiveStarPick.com.  Many of our clients lost a few dimes yesterday after a 1-4-1 performance and unfortunatley so did we, but friends, we have to move on!  Let’s start channeling our feelings from the 15 wins in a row we had last week and look forward to a few solid wins tonight.

Las Vegas sportsbooks list Philadelphia (7-5-1 straight up, 8-5 against the spread) as a 15 ½-point favorites tonight with the total set at 39. Gamblers can back the Browns to win on the money line at +700 (risk $100 to win $700).

Cleveland’s (4-9 SU, 6-6-1 ATS) season started with high expectations and since has turned to disaster. The Browns are down to 3rd-string quarterback Ken Dorsey after Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn both went on injured reserve.  In Dorsey’sfirst start since 2005 last week, Cleveland lost 28-9 at Tennessee last week.  The loss was Cleveland’s third straight and their fifth in the last six games. Dorsey struggled, connecting on only 22-43 passes for 150 yards and 1 INT.

Philadelphia crushed Arizona 2 weeks ago, 48-20, as a 3-point home favorite. One week after being benched, McNabb threw 4 touchdown passes against the Cardinals.  Then last week, the Eagles ended the Giants’ 7-game winning as a 6 ½-point underdog.  Brian Westbrook ran for 131 yards and had 6 catches for 72 yards. McNabb has thrown 5 TD passes and no interceptions since being benched.

So who covers the spread in tonight’s game?  Become a member today and find out.  You will quickly learn that FiveStarPick.com is a top NFL Handicapper.  NFL Monday Night Football picks are our specialty and have been since we started in the business in 1990.  We cannot believe that was 18 years ago.  Time flies when you’re making money.  Our membership has jumped from 1100 off-season members to over 2300 this football season and it’s for one reason and one reason only…we win!  We are the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net and we will never give you a play that we are not heavily on ourselves.  As a matter of fact, our NFL Picks are so strong that they can move the line up to a full point within seconds of being published to our members.  It’s time to come down off the fence and join for 1 year.  A membership to FiveStarPick.com is only $99.00 a month and it will pay for itself in the 1st week.  We are nearly 65% against the spread in 2008 and our forte, NFL Football Picks, are just beginning.  We also handicap college and pro baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf and racing.  You owe it to yourself to discover the benefits of membership.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

It’s any given Sunday in the NFL and FiveStarPick.com has been crunching stats, trends and injury reports since last Monday night.  The pros at FiveStarPick.com formulate their own point spreads and we believe there are 4 games today that Vegas has dead wrong.  The focus of our preview today is the Sunday afternoon game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles now have a healthy Donovan McNabb and their offense is firing on all cylinders. The Pittsburgh Steelers, on the other hand, are hoping Ben Roethlisberger will even be able to play.  In addition, the Steelers haven’t won on the road in Philadelphia in 43 years.

In 2008, McNabb has had incredible numbers.  He is 46-70 for 642 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs and has a passer rating of 114.  He threw for 281 yards and a TD Monday night at Dallas, but a crucial turnover led to a Cowboys touchdown and a 41-37 loss. 

Rookie WR DeSean Jackson had 6 catches for 106 yards against the Rams, then had 6 more catches for 110 yards against Dallas.  Jackson could have had a touchdown if he hadn’t acted like such a punk and dropped the ball at the 1 yard line during a premature end-zone celebration.  Dude…  Despite the rookie mistake, McNabb feels confident that he has a new weapon in DeSean.

FiveStarPick.com loves to handicap the NFL.  It is our specialty and we have been steadily getting more proficient every year since we started in the business in 1990.  We cannot believe that was 18 years ago.  Time flies when you’re making money.  Our membership has jumped from 600 off-season members to over 1900 this football season and it’s for one reason and one reason only…we win!  We are the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net and we will never give you a play that we are not heavily on ourselves.  As a matter of fact, our NFL Picks are so strong that they can move the line up to a full point within seconds of being published to our members.  It’s time to come down off the fence and join for 1 year.  A one year membership is only $99.00 and it will pay for itself in the 1st week.  We are nearly 65% against the spread in 2008 and our forte, College and NFL Football Picks, are just beginning.  You owe it to yourself to discover the benefits of membership.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

It’s Week 2 in the NFL and everyone is looking forward to the Monday Night Football matchup between two of the NFL’s top teams.  Both the Eagles and the Cowboys are coming off lopsided wins in Week 1, and with all the T.O./Donovan drama leading up to this game, “you betta get yo popcone ready cuz its gonna be sho.”

Las Vegas sportsbooks have opened Dallas (1-0 straight up, 1-0 against the spread) as a 7-point favorite with the total set at 47.5. Philadelphia (1-0 straight up, 1-0 against the spread) crushed the Rams last week 38-3 as a 9-point favorite. Donovan McNabb completed 21-of-33 passes for 361 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs. Desean Jackson had 6 catches for 106 yards and Greg Lewis had 5 catches for 104 yards. Hank Baskett had 2 catches that totaled 102 yards, including a 90-yard TD catch in the 2nd Quarter.

In Dallas’ opener, they manhandled Cleveland 28-10 as a 6.5-point favorite. Tony Romo threw for 321 yards and 1 TD; a 35-yard TD pass to Terrell Owens.  Owens had 5 catches for 87 yards, TE Jason Witten had 6 catches for 96 yards and WR Patrick Crayton snagged 6 catches for 82 yards. RB Marion Barber rushed for 80 yards and 2 TDs, while the rookie Felix Jones ran for 62 yards and 1 TD on 9 carries.

Philadelphia was the quintessential road underdog last season, cashing in all 4 outings. The Eagles won 3 of those games outright only losing to the Patriots in a 31-28 Sunday night nail-biter.

FiveStarPick.com loves to handicap the NFL.  It is our specialty and we have been steadily getting more proficient every year since we started in the business in 1990.  We cannot believe that was 18 years ago.  Time flies when you’re making money.  Our membership has jumped from 600 off-season members to over 1900 this football season and it’s for one reason and one reason only…we win!  We are the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net and we will never give you a play that we are not heavily on ourselves.  As a matter of fact, our NFL Picks are so strong that they can move the line up to a full point within seconds of being published to our members.  It’s time to come down off the fence and join for 1 year.  A one year membership is only $99.00 and it will pay for itself in the 1st week.  We are nearly 65% against the spread in 2008 and our forte, College and NFL Football Picks, are just beginning.  You owe it to yourself to discover the benefits of membership.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com