Five Best Bets

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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: Our Five Best Bets for Week #13

Posted by fantasyfurnace on November 26, 2014
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

We’re down to the last five weeks of the regular season and by now all those in Fantasy Leagues as well as NFL teams, are busy jockeying for a place in the playoffs. Enjoy the 3-game schedule on Thanksgiving Day (none of which are in our selections below) We wish a warm and happy Thanksgiving to all our readers and followers and their families!

*Home team in CAPS

Giants -2 1/2 over the JAGUARS- Can’t remember the last time the Giants made one of our picks but we had no choice this week as they go up against a team that’s , yep, actually is worse than them! If Eli, with new OC Ben McAdoo, can just call plays for budding superstar rookie Odell Beckham Jr. and RB Rashad Jennings all afternoon, it should be a long day for the struggling Jags. Giants by 17.

"The Catch", by Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. last week could possibly be one of the top ten best of all time writes The Furnace. Photo: NJ.com

“The Catch”, by Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. last week vs Dallas, could arguably be one of the top ten best of all time writes The Furnace. Photo: NJ.com

COLTS -9 1/2 over the Redskins- Could be much of the same story for the ‘Skins as they are playing a road back-to-back and just received the news that Robert Griffin III has been benched in favor of Colt McCoy (according to ESPN). The move had to be made as the Redskins receivers have completely lost their faith in RGIII. For those who think that the 9 1/2 points are too much to give, the Colts have won five of their seven wins by double-digits.

RAVENS – 5 1/2 over the Chargers- A few weeks back the Bolts got crushed by the Dolphins in Miami 37-0. If they think it will get any easier vs the Ravens this weekend they are in for a surprise. The Ravens are winners of their last four in Baltimore by 20, 28, 22, and 14.

Raiders +7 over the RAMS- Oakland seems to be the underdog every week, and at times double-digit ‘dogs. And rightly so for MOST 1-10 teams, but not these Raiders. On the road they have gone 4-1 against the spread against such teams as the Patriots, Seahawks and Chargers. Their defense has been respectable and they are now featuring a bonafide running back in Latavius Murray (concussion) who is improving and could be cleared to play in time for this game.

Dolphins -5 1/2 over the JETS- The Jets, unless you have been living on Mars for the past several weeks, are in a freefall with no safety net in sight. They have become the Bad News Bears of the NFL with sloppy play, silly penalties, and devoid of a quarterback who can stay upright. Michael Vick had a passer rating of 27.5 when he was removed in favor of Geno Smith on MFF vs the Bills.. The Fish on the other hand have six wins by 13, 24, 13, 14, 37, and 13. This game could be over by halftime.

The Furnace thinks that the Jets will sleep with the Fishes in Week 13. Photo: Paramount Pictures

The Furnace thinks that the Jets will “Sleep with the Fishes” in Week 13 vs the Dolphins. Photo: Paramount Pictures

NFL 2014: Our Five Best Bets for Week #11

Posted by fantasyfurnace on November 14, 2014
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 8 Comments

As a side-note for those of you in Fantasy Leagues, remember that this is the last week for making trades in most leagues. Good luck to all… Here now are this week’s Five Best Bets.

*Home team in CAPS

BROWNS -3 over the Texans- For Cleveland and their fans, this week is one of historic proportions as it is the first time a Browns team has been in first place in the AFC North this late in the season in 20 years! With quarterback Ryan Mallett making his first NFL start for the Texans, we’re surprised the spread is as small as it is especially with a banged up Arian Foster and Jadeveon Clowney.

Falcons (pick) over the PANTHERS- Normally the Falcons aren’t  a good bet when on the road but besides beating the Buccaneers by 10 last Sunday, Atlanta is just a better team than Carolina who is coming off of a 24 point loss to the Eagles on Monday night. Although the Panthers do not play in a dome the trip will be a short one for the Falcons, the weather should not be a factor and the Panthers have a short week. 

SAINTS -7 over the Bengals- What in the world has happened to Andy Dalton? If you saw his inept performance last Thursday night you saw him not only missing his receivers but missing them badly. Saints lost a tough one to the 49ers last week and should return to their typical winning ways at home this week against a Bengals team that appears to be on life-support right now.

#14 Andy Dalton just hasn't been the same this season & the Furnace says it won't get any better for him or the Bengals in Week 11. Photo: USA Today Sports Images

#14 Andy Dalton just hasn’t been the same this season & the Furnace says it won’t get any better for him or the Bengals in New Orleans in Week 11. Photo: USA Today Sports Images

PACKERS -6 over the Eagles- This game has all the makings of a good old fashion shootout in Green Bay with both clubs having high potent offenses. Aaron Rodgers is 26-1 in his last 27 at home as a starter when he plays more than a half. Throw out Philadelphia’s 27-13 win at Lambeau last year as Rodgers was injured. The “Sanchise” will face a team quite different from the lame Panthers that he saw in Week 10.

Raiders +10 over the CHARGERS- We’re picking the Raiders here for two reasons; they kept it close and covered the spread when they played the Patriots and the Seahawks and this is a 5-4 Chargers team that got crushed by the Dolphins 37-0 in their last game in Week 9.  

Last week: 3-2