Indianapolis Colts vs Miami Dolphins 1st Half week 9
Published November 4, 2012 | 
First half Miami Dolphins vs Indianapolis Colts week 9
Not much scoring activity early in the game but the Dolphins are first with points on the board with a field goal midway through the first quarter and the score goes to 3 to 0.
A nice drive by the Colts this possession and they have gotten a first down in Dolphin territory. They go for a deep pass and although incomplete it draws the flag and get the first down and it’s first and goal at the 10.
The Colts make the play on 3rd down and get the completion in the end zone and put the points up and take the lead back from Miami. The score is 7 to 3 Colts lead.
The Dolphins very quickly get back into Colts terrirtory early in the second quarter and are threatening to score again. And they do just that with a 31 yard pass to Charles Clay and the Dolphins get back on top with a score of 10 to 7.
The Colts answer with a great play and a pass to Shawn Smith in double coverage and he makes the grab and gets the completion and they are in Miami territory. Miami is able to stop them this drive and the Colts take the field goal and it is now a tied game with just over 9 minutes left in the first half.
Well it’s a back and forth game on points and the Dolphins get back into the end zone again. They have managed to score on each possession so far today and take the lead back at 17 to 10.
The Colts have the ball and just over 4 minutes to go in the quarter to even the score back up before the end of the half. Indianapolis did make it to mid field but miami is able to stop them and they miss a 54 yard field goal.
Miami is set to get the ball back just before the two minute warning. Each team has 2 time outs left. Good defense from the Colts and they broke up a 3rd down play by the Dolphins and force them to punt for the first time in the game. Indianapolis still has time outs and roughly a minute plus to get into scoring distance.
They are unable to get a touchdown but do manage to get into field goal range and take the points from a 47 yard field goal. The half time score is 17 to 13 with Miami in the lead.
Will NY Giants Make Spread over the Pittsburgh Steelers
Published November 4, 2012 | Will the Favorite New York Giants make the point spread against the Pittsburgh Steelers?
As of today the Giants are 3 point favorites over the Steelers at Bet Online Sportsbook. William Hill has them at 3.5 points.
The Steelers defense will be going after Eli Manning, quarterback for the Giants, from the very beginning of the game and will keep up this pressure throughout the game as much as possible.
Will they get a sack? Maybe, but keep in mind that he is the least sacked quarterback in the League so far this year.
On the offensive side Pittsburgh will be looking to strike with their passing game early. This is very important to them since their running game really needs improvement. And besides the rushing yards that Roethlisberger will get I do not think that they will be able to get much of a running game going on and will have to rely on their passing game.
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a good arm and in fact both he and Eli Manning were drafted the same day a few rounds apart so this game is a bit of a personal rivalry between the two. I think though that the Giants defense will do a good job in the secondary and will limit the choices Roethlisberger has in open receivers.
The Giants have a bit of momentum heading in to this game as they have won the last 4 games where as Pittsburgh has won 3 of their last 4.
I think the toughest part of the gfame that will be the deciding factors in today’s game will be how well the Steelers can defend the secondary. They will have to work to keep Manning receievers busy but may have an uphill battle since they do not play much man-to-man coverage and play more zone coverage which gives the receivers more opportunity to get free of defenders. It did work well for them against the Redskins last week but I don’t see it happening today.
To answer the question at the top, yes I think they will beat the spread actually. In fact I will extend that spread a bit and pick the Giants by 5.
You can see the latest odds on the matchup tool located on the left navigation or visit one of our recommended sportsbooks such as Bet Online or William Hill (non US players).
Clemson Tigers against Duke Blue Devils 2nd half
Published November 3, 2012 | Clemson continues to dominate Duke in second half of football game
The first possession of the 3rd quarter for Duke is much the same thing we have seen during the first part of the game and that is missed opportunities and they go 3 and out.
Then on the next Clemson drive we see a nice play from the ense and the Blue Devils intercept the ball. Duke is unable to get points from it and punt again. Then on the next drive the Tigers control the ball very well and take it in for points again. The score is now 49 to 17.
Duke finally gets points in the second half and take a field goal. The score is now 20 Duke to 49 Clemson.
With just under a 30 point lead on the next possession by Clemson, they go to Stoudt a different quarterback to give Boyd a rest. He has some impressive stats from the game so it only make sense to give another quarterback some work.
Early in the 4th quarter the Tigers are still playing football like it’s the beginning of the game and get another touchdown. This makes the score 56 to 20.
Another possession by Duke with no results and it’s time for the Tigers to have another drive. They actually get shut down and punt for the first time in the game. Duke is forced to kick again.
Not hurting their position in any way the Tigers do not convert on this drive and turn the ball over in downs. Unable to get points the Clemson Tigers take the win with a final scor 56 to 20.
Clemson Tigers against Duke Blue Devils half time
Published November 3, 2012 | Clemson takes a comfortable lead to the locker room at half time against Duke
Duke answers with another touchdown at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. That makes the score Clemson 28 to Duke 17. The Blue Devils so far have shown they are not being shaken by Clemson’s lead, although it appears that both sides are somewhat lacking in defense.
Just as I mention a lack in defense and Duke makes a great play and strips the ball away from Hopkins after a pass and the Blue Devils force a fumble and recover the ball. This is a good opportunity for Duke to put themselves back into the game first half and cut Clemson’s lead a bit.
Duke is unable to capitalize on the possession and has to punt the ball back to the Tigers in a failed attempt at what could have been the possession to turn the first half around for Duke.
And a touch down pass to Bryant and the Tigers score again. The score is now 35 to 17. Duke must convert on their next possession so they can keep the football game to a two possession lead.
And they are unable to. In fact on third and long when they needed to the most, Clemson is able to penetrate well and gets the sack forcing a kick The Tigers have a comfortable lead at 35 to 17 and get the ball back.
Again another big defensive play and Duke makes an interception and gets another shot by their offense. With 3 and a half minutes left in the half Duke was not able to convert a 3rd down so they end up punting.
Clemson is able to add even more points on the board before the end of the half.
Duke’s last possession of the half is a must convert. They get the ball back with just under 2 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. They fail once on the conversion once again and punt the ball with only 21 seconds left in the half.
Clemson ends the half with 42 points and 6 touchdowns and in fact they gain over 470 yards in the first half. The half time score is 42 to 17.
Clemson Tigers against Duke Blue Devils
Published November 3, 2012 | The Clemson Tigers are 12 and 1/2 point favorites against the Duke Blue Devils
The lines on the Clemson Tigers has them at more than 12 point favoriites.
Clemson starts the game with a big running play and a forst down on the first play of the football game. The next play is a running play also and then a short pass and another first down on the next. It’s clear that Clemson certainly wants to establish a bit of a run game early to give them more breahting room for play action.
A few plays later and the Tigers are in the end zone with an impressive first drive of the game. Clemson takes the early lead at 7 to 0.
Duke also starts with an explosive ruushing play on their first possession and gets a first down on the first play. Not able to convert on a third down after getting into their opponents terrirtory the Blue Devils take the field goal and the score is at Clemson 7 to Duke 3.
Clemson has been very consistient so far this game and is able to get into the end zone once again on their next possession and extends their lead bringing the score to 14 to 3.
An impressive catch and run by Duke and they are keeping the game interesting and the score is now at 14 to 10. If Duke continues to play like this there is no way Clemson will beat the spread.
And another pass to Hopkins and Clemson score again. The offense has certainly arrived to this game and Clemson, especially Deandre Hopkins is having a great game so far. That is 3 touchdowns for him tonight. Score is now 21 to 10 with the Tigers in the lead.
The Tiger defense had a better run on the next Duke posession and for the first punt on the game Clemson gets the ball back for the first time that did not follow a Duke score.
And just as we are just about to reach the end of the first quarter, Clemson is able to score again. The score is 28 to 10 and Clemson has shown how much it means to be one of the best teams able to convert 3rd downs.
Why the Green Bay Packers are favored to win against the Arizona Cardinals
Published November 2, 2012 | Will the Favorite Green Bay Packers win against the Arizona Cardinals?
The simple answer is they are just playing better football.
Comparing the two quarterbacks you can see fairly simply that Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the Packers has more potential to have an explosive game and put points on the board. He has been having a good season and the Packers have won the past few games.
When you compare that to the fact that the Cardinals have lost the last 3 games then the momentum is clearly on Green Bay’s side.
You might be asking at this point, “What about quarterback Kevin Kolb and his receivers Andre Roberts and Larry Fitzgerald for the Cardinals?” Yes I agree they have some potential and it’s true that Kolb is now over 1100 yards passing, but Kolb is still out this week due to a rib injury. At the present time it is not known when he will return this season.
That means that Arizona will have to rely on the backup quarterback John Skelton. His percentage the past 2 games has been reasonable, but this is his 3rd season and I just don’t think he has shown he has what it takes to make the big plays against the Packers defense.
I think that outside line backer for the Packers; Clay Matthews and company, D.J. Smith, Tramon Williams, Sam Sheilds and the rest of the defensive line will just be too much for Skelton and he will be hurried and be forced to make passing decisions on the move and make key mistakes and the incompletes will mount up early in the game.
It’s also true the the Packers have had hurt players to deal with. Some of their top receivers are out due to injuries. Greg Jennings is out due to having surgery on a hamstring injury and Jordy Nelson has not been practicing the past few days so it is not known if he will play on Sunday. This is not good but luckily the Packers have other receivers to go to such as Randall Cobb and James Jones.
In fact I think the Green Bay will take an early lead in the first half of the football game and will hold that lead throughout the entire game.
I think the biggest threat to the Packers offense will be a combination of the blitz and trying to force Rodgers into making mistakes in hopes to force an interception or at least incomplete passes. This will not be easy for them since Rodgers handles himself well both in and out of the pocket, it will be up to his receivers to make the plays.
Although it may take a possession or two to get the rythym down I see the Packers with a clear win over the Cardinals and see no reason why they would have too much trouble making the point spread. Last I checked this was sitting with Green Bay as 10 point favorites and although this is a bit overly confident I think they will make this.
