NFL Week 11 Betting Preview

In week 10 the Chicago Bears, after an inept first half display, bounced back in the second half against the New York Giants to go to an 8-1 record ahead of a congested NFC play off chasing pack. In the AFC the Indianapolis Colts squeaked past the Buffalo Bills to preserve their unbeaten nine game start, and maintain their hopes of emulating the unique season long unbeaten achievement of the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Elsewhere a remarkable game played out in Cincinatti where the San Diego Chargers scored 41 points in the second half to beat the Bengals 49-41, led by all time great running back LaDanian Tomlinson. It remains the case, as in many recent years, that the AFC contains more talent and more flair teams whilst the NFC fare is much more humdrum in comparison.

Week 11 sees a crucial game, live on Channel Five in the early hours of Monday morning, in the AFC West. The 5-2 San Diego Chargers visit the 5-2 Denver Broncos in a game that will go a long way to determine the divisional winners. This should be a corker. The Chargers are overloaded with offensive weapons but are looking slightly suspect on defense with injuries and suspensions taking their toll in recent weeks. The Broncos are much more a workmanlike team with a stingy defense and an offense that does just enough to back them up. It is an even money game to my mind, and The Broncos are priced at modest odds on (4/5) to reflect home advantage. In these games I'll usually look to back the underdog. Here that's the Chargers at 11/9.

Indianapolis visit the Dallas Cowboys this week in what will be a real test of whether they can remain unbeaten. Dallas are an enigmatic team. They are full of talent but skilled in finding ways to lose close games. If they fire, they could go close. They have a tough defense, particularly against the run but play too conservatively for my linking. On offense the likes of Terrell Owens, Julius Jones and Jason Witten will let us establish whether the Colts defense is a cut above the disappointing units that have prevented them winnng superbowls in previous years.

I was tempted to pick the Cowboys to win this. I thought I would get a juicy price to do this. However I was severely disappointed to see them best priced skinnily at 21-20 to beat an unbeaten team! Amazingly the odds makers have priced the Colts up as high as 7-8 to beat an inconsistent team! That will do for me, the value is too good to turn down.

Finally in a battle of basement teams the Detroit Lions visit the desert and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams are poor but the Lions have been showing signs of improvement in recent weeks. They have a talented running back, Kevin Jones and a potential superstar Wide Receiver Roy Williams both brought to the franchise by many years of early draft picks. The Cardinals have talent too but are in disarray and due a coaching change. The Lions should win this game. They are at least a cohesive unit playing for their coach. They are priced odds against (11/9) to do so.

Selections:

San Diego Chargers to beat the Denver Broncos at 5/4 (UkBetting)
Indianapolis Colts to beat the Dallas Cowboys at 7/8 (expext.com)
Detroit Lions to beat the Arizona Cardinals at 11/9 (Pinnacle)

Ed note: Make all your NFL week 11 bets at Pinnacle Sports

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