The Rams are a 2.5 pt favorite for tonight's game. I am trying to decide whether I should place some money on them or not. Would you? By the way, does anyone here place bets on football games at www.sbgglobal.com ?
As someone that loves a bet....Ive decided to let this game pass. You could make a great case for and against both sides.
I am going with the Bucs tonight. St Louis' offense has been sputtering, and I dont know if it will get any better against Tampa's D. Plus the game is in Tampa Bay.
Counter that with the fact the Bucs have not played well in some of their big games....and I'd class this as a BIG game. Also the Rams offence is such that they could just explode at any point. If I was forced to put money on this game....I'd go with the Bucs. But that falling back on home field advantage and the fact that the Bucs will try to throw the Rams recievers around as much as possible and the Rams dont like that.
Here is the preview from Covers.com -- my favorite gambling information website. Rams vs. Bucs By Trevor Stewart As surprising as it may sound, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be happy to take on the Super Bowl champs from two years ago in a Monday Night Football showdown. The Bucs were one of only three teams to beat the St. Louis Rams straight up (SU) last season and they're 3-0 against the spread (ATS) versus the Rams over the last two years. Tampa Bay hosted the Rams last year in the Sunshine State and sent them packing with a 24-17 cash-snatching performance as a 10-point road 'dog. St. Louis will visit Raymond James Stadium in hopes of capturing its first SU and ATS win, after a 2-0 start. The squad is in danger of going 0-3 SU for the first time since 1987. The Rams haven't won a game SU since last year's NFC championship game, nor have they covered the number since their win over the Green Bay Packers the previous week. That makes for an ugly 0-7 SU run and painful 0-8 ATS stretch, which includes this year's preseason. The Rams have been outscored 39-47 in their two losses, while moving the ball for just 339.5 yards. The Tampa Bay defense is coming off a dominating performance in Week 2, as the Bucs shutout the Baltimore Ravens 25-0 as a 4 1/2-point 'chalk' .The Buccaneers defense contributed nine points against the Ravens to help Tampa Bay pull to an even 1-1 SU and ATS mark. The Rams ground attack has stumbled to a measly 62 yards per game on average this season. Last year, Tampa Bay held Rams star RB Marshall Faulk to a paltry 55 yards on 12 carries. Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp dominated on 'D', as he sacked St. Louis QB Kurt Warner twice. The defense also picked off Warner on two occasions. That game will no doubt be on Warner's mind, as he's thrown for only one touchdown pass in two games and turned the ball over three times in Week 2. He's been sacked a total of four times. Oddsmakers have the Rams as 2 1/2-point favorites and the 'total' is set at 43 1/2. My Pick: Bucs +2 1/2
I'd normally lean towards the Bucs but +2.5 isn't much to have against the Rams. I'd stay away, the Rams could easily win by a FG or more. Ahh, screw that. I want the Bucs to win but their offense is TOO SORRY and the Rams D should be good enough to make the Bucs throw when they are expected to throw--which the Bucs can't do with any proficiency. Meanwhile the Rams have 4 better offensive playmakers (Faulk, Warner, Bruce, Holt) than anyone from the Bucs, take the Rams if you can get it with less than a FG.
They are all vets and they know what to do. Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, and Barber are all pro-bowlers, and Dungy taught them well.
Has anyone ever seen Borat (same guy who plays ali-G) from Channel 4 in England? This reminds me of the interview where he goes to the boat race and the old guy is telling him to back the bucks and he will back the rams. Anyway I say you have to take the rams at 2.5, less than a fg. That would give you the highest probablility of success.
The theory that having a crappy right tackle would impact both Warner's and Faulk's production this year turns out to be right. Still, Faulk and Warner drafted in top 3 picks of many fantasy drafts, and Rams picked for superbowl by many. I still like Eagles because of addition of Freeman. But the AFC is a complete mystery. Sadly enough, I wouldnt have touched this game. I thought it would have been closer. My buddy lost a grand on it. Bummer.
If the Bucs keep playing that good (decent offense and great D) they will go deep in the playoffs. They looked really impressive to me tonight.
