AMERICAN FOOTBALL BETTING: Bodog‘s Allen James previews all the major games taking place in week 15 of the NFL and outlines the key injury news and handicap spreads.
Bodog‘s Allen James previews all the major games taking place in week 15 of the NFL and outlines the key injury news and handicap spreads.
Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina Panthers: Delhomme has missed the past two games with a finger injury and is considered doubtful to return this week against the Vikings. Matt Moore would start again for Carolina, and he has been average at best so far as the Panthers have gone 1-1 with him under center. Carolina has opened as a 9-point underdog on Bodog’s NFL odds against a Viking team that could clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win.
Matthew Stafford, QB, and Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions: Stafford missed last week’s loss to Baltimore with an injured shoulder and is fully expected to do the same this week against visiting Arizona. There’s no doubt that Smith, the Lions’ leading rusher, is done for the year. He tore ligaments in his knee in the loss to the Ravens and will be forced to undergo surgery that could limit him getting back until well into the 2010 season depending on what doctors find. The Lions are 12-point home dogs on Bodog’s NFL odds against the Cardinals.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals: Fitzgerald was hurt in Monday night’s ugly loss to the 49ers, but an MRI showed no structural damage in his knee. Fitzgerald, who is 9 yards short of reaching 1,000 yards receiving this season, has said he is fine and will play against the Lions. Arizona is a 12-point road favorite on Bodog’s NFL odds.
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, John Henderson, DT, Rashean Mathis, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars: It’s all hands on deck for Thursday’s must-win game against the Colts for Jacksonville. Mathis, the team’s best cover guy but who has missed the past four games with a groin injury, was limited in practice Tuesday, but he said he feels better than he did last week and hopes to play. He may be a game-time decision. Henderson, who sat out Sunday’s game against Miami with a shoulder injury, and wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker, who started but wasn’t at full speed, both expect to play. There is no line yet on this game on Bodog’s NFL odds.
Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans: Young, 6-1 as a starter this season, is officially day-to-day with a hamstring injury he suffered in last week’s win over the Rams. Young is likely to play this week against Miami but probably won’t be 100 percent, according to coach Jeff Fisher.
Bruce Gradkowski, QB, Oakland Raiders: Gradkowski, who had led the Raiders on a mini-resurgence in the past few games, is for sure out this week against the Broncos with torn ligaments in his knees and probably is done for the season. It’s expected that former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, who has been terrible this season, will start against the Broncos, but as of this writing Raiders coach Tom Cable hasn’t ruled out going with No. 3 Charlie Frye. Oakland is a 14-point underdog on Bodog’s NFL odds against Denver.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, and Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: The rookie left last week’s win over the Giants with a foot injury and will not play this week against the 49ers. Maclin is second on the team with 46 receptions for 623 yards and four touchdowns. He could be replaced by former Kevin Curtis, who has been out since the second week of the season because of a knee injury. Westbrook, who has missed six of the past seven games with concussions, could return Sunday after practicing with the scout team last week. There is no line for the Eagles-49ers game yet on Bodog’s NFL odds.
Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Harvin, who might be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, had a recurrence of migraines last week and missed the game against the Bengals, but he is expected to practice Wednesday and play Sunday against Carolina on Sunday night. The Vikes have opened at -9 on Bodog’s NFL odds.
DeMarcus Ware, LB, Dallas Cowboys: Dallas also faces a must-win game and quite a challenge Saturday night in New Orleans against the unbeaten Saints. Ware, the Cowboys’ best pass rusher and sack leader with nine, left last week’s loss to the Chargers on a stretcher with a neck strain but has improved each day since then so far. Ware wants to play and the Cowboys will need their best defensive player against the high-scoring Saints, but it probably will be a doctor’s call late in the week.
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