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NFL 2014: Week #2- The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on September 12, 2014
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 7 Comments

The Furnace (3-2) was just 1/2 point away from going 4-1 in Week #1, a week that saw it’s share of upsets. We’re going with two home underdogs in Week #2 and look to improve on last week’s mark.

*Home team in CAPS

BILLS +1 over Dolphins- The Dolphins are coming off of their stunning upset of the Pariots at home last week while the Bills collected their first win of the season at Soldier Field. So while both teams will be looking to remain undefeated at 2-0, we’re giving the edge to the home town team in Orchard Park and think that RB Fred Jackson will have a big day..

Patriots -3 over VIKINGS- Two stats on the Patriots are very telling; they have won their last 11 road games as the favorite and are 32-4 straight up after a loss since 2003. We simply cannot see them dropping to 0-2. The Vikes, winners in Week #1, beat the lowly Rams but now go up in class.

#12 Tom Brady & the Pats, after winning their last 11 road games straight up, will garner their 1st win in Week #2, says the Furnace. Photo: Charles Krupa

#12 Tom Brady & the Pats, after winning their last 11 road games straight up, will garner their 1st win in Week #2, says the Furnace. Photo: Charles Krupa

BUCS -5 1/2 over Rams- The disappointing Bucs, one of the few teams we think will be one of the most improved this season, and one of our selections in Week #1, have their home opener against a Rams team that was overwhelmed 34-6 in their home opener. The Bucs, clearly a more talented group, should have a similar day going up against Austin Davis, the Rams likely starting QB.

CHARGERS +6 over Seahawks- San Diego, our second home ‘dog, will be facing the NFL’s best pass defense as well as the best overall defense. So why are we touting the Bolts? Since 2001, only 10% of the teams who began the season 0-2 made it to the postseason. How’s that for incentive for S.D.? It won’t be an easy task for Philip Rivers and company, but if he can keep the turnovers to a minimum, and the Chargers can sustain some sort of a ground attack, then it should be interesting.

49ERS -7 over Bears- As this week’s picks went to post, WR’s Brandon Marshall (ankle) and Alshon Jeffrey (hamstring) did not practice & were questionable for Sunday night’s game. Given that the 49ers secondary is all banged up, they didn’t seem too upset when they learned that the bulk of Chicago’s receiving corps could be on the sidelines this week. S.F.’s pass rush should bother Jay Cutler enough for him to throw a pick or two & Frisco should win their home opener handily.

Bears WR's Brandon Marshall & Alshon Jeffery remain Questionable for Sundays game vs the 49ers. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune

Bears WR’s Brandon Marshall & Alshon Jeffery remain Questionable for Sundays game vs the 49ers. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune

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NFL 2013: Week #3-The Furnaces Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on September 20, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 16 Comments

Last week’s record: 3-2 Season to date: 6-4  Although we wanted to stay away from the NFC East given their total ineptitude this season,  we find ourselves with one selection from that putrid division. It’s our first Best Bet this week and we’re hopeful it will begin a winning trend this weekend.

Home team in CAPS

1. Giants over the PANTHERS- This is almost a deja vous game given that the G-Men went into Charlotte after a so-so 1-1 beginning to last season and completely overwhelmed Carolina 36-7. Fearing that they could conceivably be 0-3 after this meeting, we expect more of the same this Sunday. Several of the Panthers defensive backs are playing with some sort of handicap which will allow Eli to have his prototypical kind of game. If Ramses Barden can have a career day against Carolina last year, then imagine what a healthy Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Reuben Randle can do. Expect the Giants to play a bit harder hoping to grab a win for their coach who lost his 63 year old brother John earlier this week in a freak accident while stepping out of a cab.

2. Chargers over the TITANS- San Diego, our second underdog selection in as many picks, has shown little defense over the first two weeks  but Philip Rivers has been off to one of his best starts in years throwing for seven touchdowns against just one lone interception. The Chargers have put up 61 total points in the first two games which were decided by 3 points each week. In his career Rivers has a 5-0 record against the Titans and we look for his sixth win on Sunday.

#17 Philip Rivers will need his offensive line to keep the Titans, and their 7 sacks on the young season, from disrupting his game. John R. McCutchen/San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images:

#17 Philip Rivers will need his offensive line to keep the Titans, and their 7 sacks on the young season, from disrupting his game. John R. McCutchen/San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images:

3. VIKINGS over the Browns-  The Vikes, looking for their first win of the season as they faced and lost to two of their division rivals on the road in Weeks 1 and 2, will have a much easier time of it in their home opener on Sunday against the “rebuilding” Cleveland Browns. The debut of newly acquired Willis McGahee will be overshadowed by what we think will be Adrian Peterson’s best game of the season to date. The Vikings need this game because they play their next contest across the pond in London vs the Steelers and then will have to play 12 consecutive games after their week 5 bye to end the season.

4. SAINTS over the Cardinals- Although the Saints have opened the season at 2-0, they haven’t shown the offensive explosiveness that they are accustomed to. Over their first two games this season they are averaging a pedestrian 19.5 points per game while last year, by the time game three rolled around, they were averaging 29.5 PPG. The Cardinals have two key players that have minor injuries going into this game in Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) and Rashard Mendenhall (toe). The Saints who missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008, will have Sean Payton on the sidelines and their home crowd in the stands plus a healthy Drew Brees, which is all they’ll need to put away the Cards.

5. Bears over the STEELERS- All signs point to the Steelers winning this game. They have the home crowd, they’re hungry after losing their first two games, and Ben Roethlisberger is 15-1 straight up at home against the NFC in his career. However, we are sticking with the visiting Bears and sacks are one of the reasons why. For starters, the Steelers have only one sack so far this season while last year they averaged almost 3 per game. Jay Cutler on the other hand, a quarterback that usually ends up on his posterior, has only been sacked once in his two home games as the offensive line has been shored up and are protecting Cutler who has been effective and efficient with wins over the Bengals and the Vikings. If he can keep his interceptions down (he has 3 over his first 2 games and had 14 last season), then we think the Steelers can be had with a less than potent running game, the loss of Heath Miller, and a quarterback that’s been sacked 7 times in two games.

The Titans sacking Big Ben in one of their 5 Scott Boehm/Getty Images North America in Week 1.

The Titans sacking Big Ben in one of their 5 sacks in Week #1. Photo: Scott Boehm/Getty Images North America

2013: Week #1-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on September 6, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

Here we are in our third year of posting our Five Best Bets; one of two of our most popular regular features during the football season. We’re glad to be back and wish all of you good luck!!

*Home team in CAPS

1. SAINTS over the Falcons- Saints head coach Sean Payton returns for his first game back following his year long suspension as of a result of the ‘Bountygate’ issues.  Lifetime, Payton is 10-2 against the Falcons and we see no reason why that shouldn’t turn into 11-2 come Sunday. Drew Brees and company have all the manpower they’ll need plus the added emotional lift they will garner from Payon’s return.

Head coach Sean Payton returns to the Saints' sidelines after a year away from the Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America. Photo:

Head coach Sean Payton returns to the Saints’ sidelines after a year away from the club. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America.

2. Chiefs over the JAGUARS- This will mark veteran head coach Andy Reid’s debut for Kansas City who were smitten with the turnover bug last season. This was a team that last year sent six players to the Pro-Bowl and we see no reason why the Chiefs won’t have the biggest turn around of any other NFL team this year.  Dwaye Bowe who is destined to make this a breakout season catching the rock from new Chief’s QB Alex Smith, along with Jamaal Charles, are just too much for the offensively challenged Jags and so a double-digit win should be in the offing for the Chiefs.

3. Bengals over the BEARS- We just don’t trust Jay Cutler especially this weekend as he’ll go up against arguably a team with a top ten defense in the league. This season there is no excuse why the ‘Dalton gang’ should not post double-digit wins. They have the offensive weapons including two sleepers in WR Mohammed Sanu and RB Giaovanni Bernard and a top five receiver in A.J. Green. The Bears defense which is always their cornerstone should keep this game close but the Bengals will win their first game of the season.

4. REDSKINS over the Eagles- Although we really don’t know what to expect from second year stud RGIII, just his presence and throwing arm should be more than enough to stifle the Maclin-less Eagles. If Michael Vick can stay upright it might make the score closer but with Vick, an injury is just one play away.  We’ll get a first-hand look at Chip Kelley’s new offense but with Alfred Morris, Fred Davis, Pierre Garcon and the rest of the ‘Skins offense, the birds will be flying south after this Monday-Nighter.

#10 QB RGIII will be back but might alter his game somewhat to stay away from further injury, however he still has a lethal, accurate arm. Look for him to be sliding following runs this season

#10 QB RGIII will be back but might alter his game somewhat to stay away from further injury, however he still has a lethal, accurate arm. Look for him to be sliding more following runs this season. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

5. Texans over the CHARGERS- Even with San Diego’s additions of Manti Te’o, Danny Woodhead, and an aging Dwight Freeny, the Texans, on the road in their first game of the season will win this one going away. WR DeAndre Hopkins was a smart pick up for Houston as he will distract some of the attention and double teams that seem to be always going the way of Andre Johnson, and will make a decent compliment to Johnson, someone the Texans have been looking for over the past few seasons.  Would not be surprised if RB Ryan Matthews sustains some sort of injury in this one.