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There are just three late afternoon games for 2009 Week 1 of the NFL season, however, all are important in that teams are looking to get off to a fast start. Of course, when you're betting, the games that mean more are the ones you have wagering tickets on. With that thought in mind, here's is a look at each of the late afternoon contests to choose from. Be sure to read these key tidbits before hitting the confirm button on your wagers at Sportsbook.com.
SAN FRANCISCO at ARIZONA
The defending NFC champs start another run at it on Sunday when they host division-rival San Francisco. Arizona was a pleasant postseason surprise, turning a 9-7 regular season mark into a Super Bowl berth. In 2009, the Cardinals will have the target on their backs and be fighting the dogged record of the Super Bowl loser in the follow-up year. One of the main reasons for the success last year was their record in divisional play, 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS. San Francisco has dreams of its own in the NFC West after winning five of its final seven games, riding the momentum of HC Mike Singletary taking over. This has been a very trendy head-to-head series, as the last five games have gone OVER the total, and the road team boasts a 4-3 SU & 7-0 ATS record in the L7.
WASHINGTON at NY GIANTS
Washington visited the Giants to kickoff the '08 season and the hosts won 16-7 as 4-1/2 point favorites. That New York team was a defending champ, the '09 version is a hungry club looking to avenge an early playoff ouster. The Giants were solid in '08, going 12-5 SU & ATS while landing the NFC's #1 seed in the playoffs. They have won five of the L6 games against the Redskins, both SU & ATS and are working on a stretch of four straight years with a winning ATS mark in divisional games. Washington is more of a victim of its division, coming off an 8-8 season in which they went UNDER the total in 12 of 15 games while scoring just 16.6 PPG, 28th most in the NFL. This series has been a big UNDER series in New York as well, eight of L9 meetings going that way.
StatFox Steve has an opinion on this game... When the Giants & Redskins opened the season a year ago in New York, the hosts were defending Super Bowl champions, yet only 4-1/2 point favorites in the game. They easily took care of business. Now, with what I deem to be a shrinking talent gap between the teams, the Giants are actually a bigger favorite to win in the '09 opener. I don't get it. The window of opportunity for success in the NFL is short. I believe the G-Men blew their chance a year ago. Take a look at this changeover system: Play Against - Any team (NY GIANTS) - solid team from last season - outscored opponents by 7 or more points/game. (70-37 over the last 10 seasons.) (65.4%, +29.3 units. Rating = 2*). I see a tight game coming here, one with all the intensity that a division rivalry brings. Regardless of who wins, take the points.
ST LOUIS at SEATTLE
All four teams in the NFC West Division are squaring off in Week 1, so the winners will get a leg up on the chase of the crown in '09. Seattle and St. Louis, after dominating the division for most of the decade, both now find themselves in the role of chaser, trying to unseat Arizona. The Seahawks will host the Rams on Sunday, playing as a sizeable 7-point favorite despite having gone 4-12 a year ago. They have won four straight games in this head-to-head series, both SU & ATS. St. Louis hit rock bottom with a 2-14 mark in '08, and has begun anew with former Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo as Head Coach. He hopes to reverse a trend that has seen the Rams start 0-4 SU & ATS in back-to-back seasons. They are also just 7-17 ATS in divisional play since '04.
Bet these games at Sportsbook.com
This is Carrie Stroup reporting for Gambling911.com.
