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NFL 2014: Week #16-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on December 19, 2014
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 10 Comments

 

*Home team in CAPS

Chargers +1 over the 49ERS- The Niners have completely given up on head coach Jim Harbaugh and it has shown over the last three weeks, all losses, one of them to the lowly Raiders. Colin Kaepernick has been less than stellar in the last three contests garnering just 121, 174, and 141 passing yards. The Chargers are still fighting for a playoff spot and need this game too much to let S.F. have their way with them. Player to watch: Antonio Gates

Giants +5 1/2 over the RAMS- The Giants have been coming together as a team on the both sides of the ball. Odell Beckham Jr. leads all rookies in receiving yards (972) and touchdown catches (9). Eli Manning, thanks in part to Beckham, has shown signs of the Manning of old. Jason Pierre-Paul has six sacks in the past three games while Johnathan Hankings has collected 3.5. Rams are a huge step up in class from who the N.Y. football Giants have been facing of late, but they seem to be rallying around their beleaguered but much beloved coach, Tom Coughlin, second among active head coaches in career wins with 163.

#90 Jason Pierre-Paul and #95 Johnathan Hankings will bring their 16.5 sacks to St. Louis this week looking to add to their totals. Photo: Getty Images

#90 Jason Pierre-Paul and #95 Johnathan Hankings will bring their 16.5 sacks to St. Louis this week looking to add to their 2014 team leading totals. Photo: Getty Images

STEELERS -3 over the Chiefs- A little inconsistent at times this season, (remember their stunning loss to the Jets), the Steelers will need to stack the box this Sunday and contain Jamaal Charles and Kansas City’s prolific running game which, without scoring by their wide receivers this season is the Chiefs only real offensive threat. Blitzes and stunts thrown at QB Alex Smith on passing downs will help in that effort as well. We like the black & gold at home even giving up the three points.

Ravens -5 over the TEXANS- With the loss of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, Houston is down to Case Keenum or Thad Lewis as his backups. Neither, however will frighten the staunch Raven’s defense. The Texans have won, and handily, against some of the worst teams in the NFL this season. Teams such as the Raiders, Jaguars, Redskins and the Titans (twice). Baltimore, among the better teams they’ll face in the league, needs this game desperately and should win this one going away. Ravens DST should amass some nice fantasy points for those still in the fantasy playoffs this week.

The Furnace writes that #5 Joe Flacco and the Ravens defense will have no problem containing either of the Texans backup QBs this week. Photo: AP

The Furnace writes that #5  Joe Flacco and the Ravens defense will have little problem containing either of the Texans backup QBs this week. Photo: AP

Broncos -3 over the BENGALS- Denver, losers of only three games all season, are still playing for possible homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs should New England falter during their last two games. New Broncos weapon- running back C.J. Anderson along with the absence of Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict, make this a little easier for Peyton to pick up his 12th win of the season.

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NFL 2014: Week #5-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on October 3, 2014
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 4 Comments

After going through yet another one-sided Thursday night of football, here’s hoping this weekend’s menu of games prove to be a bit more competitive. We finished our third 3-2 week and are looking to improve. Here’s the picks we think will finally break the mold …

*Home team in CAPS

GIANTS -4 over Falcons- Big Blue seems to have turned things around after a dreadful 0-2 start. RB Rashad Jennings and TE Larry Donnell appear to be unstoppable in the first quarter of the season. The Falcons look good at home but just can’t seem to win on the road where they are already 0-2 this season. With two injured players on their Offensive line, look for Matt Ryan to look a bit uncomfortable in the pocket and maybe come face to face with JPP and the Giants defensive linemen.

#23 RB Rashad Jennings & #82 TE Larry Donnell have been a boon on offense for the Giants this season and will make a difference in Week 5's game vs the Falcons says THe Furnace. Photo: David Richard/Associated Press

#23 RB Rashad Jennings and #84 TE Larry Donnell (not shown) have been a boon on offense for the Giants this season says The Furnace. Photo: David Richard/Associated Press

Bears +2 1/2 over PANTHERS- The underdog Chicago Bears are due for a breakout game and this week, although on the road, they appear to have everything going their way. They get to face Cam Newton who was pummeled last week when Carolina went up against the Baltimore Ravens. Due to have some lasting effects from that game, Newton will have his two running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart probably watching the game from the sidelines as they are questionable for Sunday’s contest, forcing the club to be more one-dimensional.

EAGLES -7 over Rams- The Rams will be a far easier opponent this week for the Eagles who almost beat the 49ers in San Francisco in Week 4. They will take their frustrations out on a Rams team that has one of the worst defenses in the league, giving up 34 points in two of their three games this season. Philadelphia should win this one by at least two touchdowns or more.

COLTS -3 1/2 over Ravens- This should be a highly contested contest with the Ravens, winners of three in a row, traveling to Indianapolis. The Colts have been lighting up the scoreboard of late albeit against far inferior teams like the Jaguars and Titans, by a combined 85-34. The Colts will be home, have Andrew Luck, and if they don’t allow Baltimore to force them into making too many untimely turnovers, they should capture the victory.

#12 Andrew Luck throwing a pass vs the Ravens Jan 6, 2013 in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game will be will be the difference-. maker this Sunday

#12 Andrew Luck throwing a pass vs the Ravens Jan 6, 2013 in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game will be the difference-. maker this Sunday. Photo: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Chiefs +6 over 49ERS- As we mentioned earlier, San Francisco barely escaped with their victory over the visiting Eagles in Week 4, garnering a ton of breaks in that game however the Chiefs are a much more talented group. There is also a hidden agenda of one Alex Smith looking for some sweet revenge over his former headcoach Jim Harbaugh. Kansas City might not win the game but getting six is enticing enough for us to jump on this traveling underdog.

 

NFL 2013: Week #10-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on November 8, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 9 Comments

Clearly an off-week for the Furnace last weekend as the Dolphins ‘Walk-Off’ safety in their OT win over the Bengals, and the Jets upsetting of the Saints, both did us in. It seems we’re a lot like the Jets; doing well in odd weeks and poorly in even ones which should bring us some success this week.

*Home team in CAPS

Bills over the STEELERS- These are two pretty bad teams with just 5 wins between them after nine weeks of football. We’re picking the Bills because their defense (which did not allow the 9-0 Chiefs one offensive touchdown last week) is better than the Steelers. Big Ben has thrown nine interceptions and has been sacked 31 times this season. The Steelers gave up 55 points to the Patriots last week, 34 to the Vikings and 40 to the Bears earlier in the year. E.J. Manuel returns on Sunday which is another plus for Buffalo.

#7 Ben Roethlisberger getting sacked earlier in the season, one of 31 this season, will face a Bills defense that got to seldom-sacked Alex Smithtwice last week. Photo: Tom Uhlman/AP

#7 Ben Roethlisberger getting sacked earlier in the season, one of 31 so far, will face a Bills defense that got to seldom-sacked Alex Smith twice last week. Photo: Tom Uhlman/AP

 Bengals over the RAVENS- The Bengals should have won their fifth game in a row on Halloween but instead took a heartbreaking OT loss at the hands of the Dolphins on a safety. Tough game to call this week as the Bengals are on the road and are dealing with the losses of MLB Rey Manualuga and DL Geno Adkins. Since they will have a full 10 days in between games, Cincy should be more rested and prepared for Sunday’s contest.

COLTS over the Rams-  Another tough game as the Colts have not been overpowering in their wins of late taking their last three by six, six, and three points. However they have wins against some top caliber teams including Denver, S.F., and Seattle to their credit and frankly in a game that pits Andrew Luck against Kellen Clemens, we’ll go with Luck…

49ERS over the Panthers- Carolina has been a force winning their last four in a row as Cam Newton, a former 1st overall pick, has reminded us of how explosive a quarterback he can be after a stunning 2012-’13 season. The 49ers who have a five game winning streak of their own have put up 35-34-32-31-and 42 points in those five. It will be a challenge for the Panthers to put up those kind of numbers against a defense as stingy as S.F.’s.

Texans over the CARDINALS- Case Keenum, third string backup to Matt Schaub, has been the most exciting thing to happen in Houston since the Rockets had the Twin Towers, Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, both playing back in the 80’s! Keenum and the Texans almost defeated the Colts and the Chiefs in his two games, losing them both by a combined 4 points. In the two games Keenum has started, the  25 year old threw for 621 yards, had 4 touchdowns, 0 INTs and a 118.0 QB rating. He will be the reason the Texans will snap their six-game losing streak this Sunday.

#7 2nd year undrafted QB Case Keenum has a cannon for an arm throwing for at leat 25 yards five times in his two games. AP Photo

#7 2nd year undrafted QB Case Keenum has a cannon for an arm throwing for at leat 25 yards five times in his only two games. AP Photo