Seattle Seahawks NFL Football Season Win Projection http://gamblerstelevision.com/233613... 2008 will mark the final season for Seahawk head coach Mike Holmgren who announced his retirement from coaching following this season. Defensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcon head coach Jim Mora will take over the coaching duties in 2009. The Seahawks finished the regular season at 10-6 in 2007 and were eliminated from the playoffs by Green Bay. Oddsmakers have set the Seahawks season win total at 8 ½ games.
When you handicap season win totals you must, I mean must look at the schedule.
Schedule:
The Seahawks must play all 1st place teams from the NFC this season. They visit the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving and visit NFC South winner Tampa Bay while hosting NFC North winner Green Bay. Seattle will face all 4 teams from the AFC East with a difficult road game at Buffalo and an easier one at Miami while hosting the NY Jets and AFC Champion New England Patriots. Also on a difficult schedule is a road game at the Super Bowl champion NY Giants. Seattle struggled on the road in 2007 and finished with a 3-5 regular season record and a 42-20 horrible road loss at Green Bay in the playoffs.
Offense:
After a 4th consecutive NFC West title the Seattle Seahawks have revamped their running game. Gone is Shaun Alexander after a non-productive season rushing the football. The Seahawks brought in Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett via free agency. Jones will be an effective rusher and Duckett will as well but near the goal line and in short yardage situations. Holmgren went postal on the sidelines last year watching his team failing to gain short yardage on the ground on 3rd and 4th down plays on the road. Matt Hasselbeck is coming off a pro bowl year and proved he didnt need much of a running game to help lead his team to 10 wins during the regular season and a playoff victory at home against Washington. Hasselbeck will be without some of his weapons at wideout. Gone is D.J. Hackett who signed with the Panthers. Deion Branch could begin the season on the DL after undergoing off-season reconstructive knee surgery. Bobby Engram their best receiver is now a year older at 35 years old and was a hold out during voluntary minicamp seeking a contract renegotiation. Some of their backup youth will have to emerge at this position. With Charlie Frye now a backup in Seattle maybe Seneca Wallace could get some looks at wide receiver. The Seahwaks lost clutch place-kicker Josh Brown in free agency to the St Louis Rams and must be replaced. There is no clear front-runner for the position.
Defense:
The defensive unit is fast and did a great job of forcing turnovers as they finished +10 in that category in 2007. Their linebacking corps is among the best in football sporting 2 Pro Bowlers in Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson. Tatupu is great at stopping the run and Petersons speed and athleticism led to 9 ½ sacks and 2 picks in 2007. Leroy Hill adds size and toughness to this unit and is reaching his peak. The D line is solid led by Patrick Kerney and his NFC leading 14 ½ sacks last season.
And now to my Selection:
Seattle has one of the best home field advantages in football because they play in the loudest stadium in the NFL. This greatly aids their pass rush, as opposing offensive linemen and receivers are slower off the line as they are unable to hear the snap count. The Seahawks had a 7-1 record at home and won their playoff game at home to Washington. They should be favored in all but 1 home game on the season and thats their December 7th date with New England. A 7-1 home record is quite possible again in 2008. Two road games are very winnable at San Francisco and at Miami. That adds up to a 9-7 record.
Play Seattle over 8 ½ wins for the 2008 season.
Atlanta Braves @ Texas Rangers Baseball Preview http://gamblerstelevision.com/232162... Atlanta (Morton) (+115) @ Texas (Feldman) (-125) (2:05PM ET) (MLB PPV)
Rookie Charlie Morton was vying for an roster spot in spring training and just missed out on a spot opening the season in the Minor Leagues. Morton got called up and gave up 3 earned runs to the Angels over 6 innings in victory. He will be tested here in a really good hitters park against the Rangers bats who hit over .300 at home. Scott Feldman has faired well at home this season sporting an ERA of 3.32 in 5 starts and 2 relief appearances on the season. The Braves are only 10-25 in 35 road games this season and the play here is on the Rangers at 125.
Selection: Texas -125
Chicago Cubs @ Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Preview http://gamblerstelevision.com/231312... Chicago Cubs (Dempster) @ Tampa Bay (Shields) (7:10PM ET) (MLB PPV)
The Cubs lost Alfonso Soriano to the 15 day DL but have good starting pitching and bullpen work to help them get through the month. Converted reliever Ryan Dempster leads the team in ERA at 2.81. It was another solid start for the right-hander as he gave up just 2 earned runs in a complete game victory over the Braves in his last start. Dempster has given up 3 runs or less in 12 of his 14 starts this season. James Shields home road splits have a good/bad pattern Shields in 7 starts on the road is 1-4 with an ERA just under 7 and is 3-1 at home with an ERA of 1.72 7 home starts. Both teams have solid bullpens and I expect a tight game here. Play this one under 8 ½ runs.
Selection: UNDER 8 ½ runs
Boston Celtics @ LA Lakers NBA Finals Playoffs Game 5 Over/Under http://gamblerstelevision.com/231300... From http://gamblerstelevision.com
NBA Playoffs Finals Game 5Boston Celtics @ LA Lakers Over/Under Selection (9:00PM ET) (O/U 191) (ABC)
Both games in LA have fallen under the total with no team reaching 100 points thus far. The Celtics have shown the ability to defend the Lakers and thats why LA is only averaging 89 points in two home games in this series. The Lakers face elimination and will bring their strongest defensive effort of the series. You will see floor burns, as the Lakers will do whatever it takes to stave off elimination at home. They will get pumped up by a forgiving crowd. I expect LA to be up by margin in this game and for Doc Rivers to toss it by the fourth quarter with a quick turnaround in game 6 on Tuesday. Remember there is a cross-country flight and only 1 days rest between game 5 and 6. The Celtics are the older team and if it gets away from them in the second half there will be no comeback on this night. Doc Rivers got what he wanted in LA and he will look to conserve his teams energy in the fourth quarter and there will be no fouling late to spoil the under. Bet against Celtics offense in this one. Play game 5 under 191.
Selection: UNDER 191.
Boston Celtics @ LA Lakers NBA Finals Playoffs Game 5 Preview http://gamblerstelevision.com/231301... NBA Playoffs Finals Game 5Boston Celtics @ LA Lakers Preview (-6 ½) (9:00PM ET) (ABC)
The Lakers face elimination after blowing a 24-point lead in their game 4 loss to the Celtics. Paul Pierce had a great two way game. He scored 20 points on 6-13 shooting and covered Kobe Bryant in the second half as the Celtics limited the Lakers to only 33-second half points. We have been riding Boston in LA because of their ability defend. The Celtics big men are just physically stronger than the Lakers big men. Now here is where things get tricky. The Lakers were a 9 ½ point favorite in game 3 at home and now get 3 more points from the linesmakers in game 5. The Celtics know if they drop game 5 they can go home and with two home games in their pocket need only win 1 for the title. If a game 6 were necessary they would have to fly cross-country and play with only 1 days rest. If the Celtics fall behind in this game Doc Rivers might just throw in the towel and keep his older troops fresh for game 6 Tuesday in Boston. Kobe Bryant is 29 years old now and if this were 5 years ago you could right off the Lakers in game 5. The Lakers will be all out to win to save face with their home crowd. The Celtics will be accommodating looking to conserve energy for a quick turnaround in game 6. The Celtics take their foot off the gas here and will not play with the same intensity of game 3 and 4 after getting 1 in LA. The Lakers pull away in the fourth. Play the LA Lakers at 6 ½.
Selection: LA Lakers 6 1/2
NBA Finals Playoffs Game 2 LA Lakers @ Boston Celtics Over/Under Selection http://gamblerstelevision.com/229406... From http://GamblersTelevision.com. Tony T Breaks down the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers and offers his selections on this edition of Tony Ts Sports Bets airing now on Gamblers Television.
