Alex Smart : NFL Betting Power Poll Week 6

1: Tennessee Titans (5-0 ATS, 5-0 SU) (LW: 1) Tennessee won the battle of the unbeaten ATS squads against the Ravens last Sunday and is the last team undefeated against the spread. They’re off this week before continuing with KC in Week 7.

Next Up: Bye

2: Washington Redskins (4-1 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 5) Ever since getting romped by the Giants on opening nights, the Skins have been spotless, beating the spread by an average of 8.3 points per game, including back-to-back upsets on the road against NFC East opponents. They’ve played down to the level of their opponents of late though, as they are 2-9-1 ATS in their L/12 against teams with losing records.

Next Up: Home vs. Rams (-13.5)

3: New York Giants (3-1 ATS, 4-0 SU) (LW: 4) The Giants pummeled Seattle last week, making a mockery of the fact that they were only favored by a touchdown. They hit the road this week, where they are 20-7 in their L/27 games.

Next Up: Away @ Browns (-9)

4: Chicago Bears (3-1-1 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 8) Chicago takes a big jump up the polls this week after throttling the hapless Lions last week. Either the oddsmakers still don’t respect the Bears, or they’re giving a lot of credit to the Falcons, as they are only slight favorites against the team with the longest odds to win the Super Bowl at the start of the season.

Next Up: Away @ Falcons (-1)

5: Baltimore Ravens (3-1 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 2) Baltimore had the Titans down and out in the 4th quarter, but let the Titans scored the final ten points to take their Week 5 betting match-up. They’ve earned the respect of the oddsmakers though, as they are only short underdogs in Indianapolis, a team that has historically owned them.

Next Up: Away @ Colts (+4.5)

6: Buffalo Bills (3-2 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 3) It was a dud week for Bills bettors out in the desert, but they’ll get a break for having to play back-to-back games a long way from home. They come back to Orchard Park next week after enjoying their bye this weekend.

Next Up: Bye

7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1 ATS, 3-2 SU) (LW: 7) “Buc ball” was on display in Denver last weekend, as Tampa Bay did just enough to cover the spread with a late touchdown to find the backdoor. They play Carolina this weekend, and are 6-2 ATS in their L/8 games against the NFC South.

Next Up: Home vs. Panthers (-1)

8: Carolina Panthers (3-1-1 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 13) Another week, another ‘W’ for Carolina bettors, who whitewashed Kansas City 34-0 last weekend. They’ll head to Tampa Bay this weekend with a chance to extend their lead in the NFC South to two full games.

Next Up: Away @ Tampa Bay (+1)

9: Atlanta Falcons (3-2 ATS, 3-2 SU) (LW: 14) Let’s hear it for the Falcons, who are now 3-2 and coming off of an upset in Green Bay. They’re ranked #2 in the NFL in rushing and #8 in total yards. The oddsmakers have responded by making Atlanta short underdogs at home against the Bears.

Next Up: Home vs. Bears (+1)

10: Philadelphia Eagles (3-2 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 6) The Eagles were shocked at home this weekend by the surging Skins and suddenly find themselves three games back of the Giants in the NFC East. They’ll hit the road this week, where they are 7-1 ATS in their L/8.

Next Up: Away @ 49ers (-4.5)

11: Oakland Raiders (2-2 ATS, 1-3 SU) (LW: 11) Even though Lane Kiffin is no longer the head coach of the Raiders, they hold their spot in the poll. They’re just 8-17 ATS in their L/25 though, and will hope for better in New Orleans this weekend.

Next Up: Away @ Saints (+9)

12: Miami Dolphins (2-2 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 21) Miami is the biggest mover of the weekend after pulling off their second straight major upset against a team that played in the AFC title game last year. Now they’re underdogs against a team that can’t hold a 17-point lead in the final four minutes, so it could be another chance to shoot up the poll.

Next Up: Away @ Texans (+3)

13: Arizona Cardinals (3-2 ATS, 3-2 SU) (LW: 19) After getting the wood laid to them in Giants Stadium against the Jets, the Cardinals took their rage out on the Bills by beating them 41-17. The #5 offense in the NFL has a big chance to make some noise in the NFC in they can knock off Dallas this weekend.

Next Up: Home vs. Cowboys (+5)

14: New Orleans Saints (3-2 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 9) It’s not often than a team returns two punts for touchdowns and loses, especially when Gus Frerotte is the opposing QB, but that’s what the Saints pulled off this week against the Vikes. They’re 6-2 ATS in their L/8 against this week’s opponent, Oakland.

Next Up: Home vs. Raiders (-9)

15: Indianapolis Colts (2-2 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 20) Sunday’s game with the Houston Texans was just how HC Tony Dungy drew it up. Fall behind by 17 points in the 4th quarter, then let Sage Rosenfels hand you a cover on a silver platter. They’ll look to get off the pine at home this week when the Ravens come to town.

Next Up: Home vs. Ravens (-4.5)

16: Dallas Cowboys (2-3 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 10) After coming out of the blocks like a house on fire to start the season, the Cowboys have dropped back to the pack after losing to Washington and appearing mortal against the Bengals are 18-point favorites. They’re just 1-7 ATS in their L/8 games against NFC foes and need to turn that around in a hurry to get back in the top half of the poll.

Next Up: Home vs. Bengals (OTB)

17: New York Jets (2-2 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 18) QB Brett Favre and the Jets were off last week, but return to action this week against the Bengals, who have covered the same number of games in Giants Stadium this year (1) as they have (1).

Next Up: Home vs. Bengals (-6)

18: Green Bay Packers (2-3 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 12) Aaron Rodgers started under center despite a shoulder injury for the Pack, but it didn’t seem to matter against Atlanta. The Falcons offense ran up and down the field on the Green Bay defense, which must regroup in a hurry for their meeting with Seattle this week. The Pack are 10-3-1 ATS in their L/14 road games.

Next Up: Away @ Seahawks (+1)

19: Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 25) There isn’t a more beat up team in the NFL than the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they showed grit and tenacity against the Jags on Sunday Night Football. RB Mewelde Moore picked up the slack of the injured Willie Parker and Reshard Mendenhall well, but he’ll likely take a backseat to Parker when the Steelers return to action in two weeks.

Next Up: Bye

20: San Diego Chargers (2-2-1 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 15) Apparently HC Norv Turner wasn’t watching any tape of the Fins against New England before his Chargers hopped on the plane to Miami. Miami ran 12 direct snaps and blew the San Diego rush defense apart. Now they’re favored by six points against the Pats, a team that beat them to go to the Super Bowl last year.

Next Up: Home vs. Patriots (-6)

21: New England Patriots (2-2 ATS, 3-1 SU) (LW: 26) The New England of new is starting to look like the New England of old. The Pats responded to a humiliating defeat against Miami by beating San Fran 30-21. They’re underdogs this week for the first time since the ’07 playoffs.

Next Up: Away @ Chargers (+6)

22: San Francisco 49ers (2-3 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 16) Oddsmakers showed a lot of confidence in the Niners against the Pats, but they learned their lesson when New England pounded San Fran 30-21. They come back to conference play this week, where they are just 4-10 ATS in their L/14 games.

Next Up: Home vs. Eagles (+4.5)

23: Denver Broncos (1-3-1 ATS, 4-1 SU) (LW: 17) The Broncos left the backdoor wide open for the Bucs last week. They notched another victory, winning 16-13, but once again, failed to cover the spread for their bettors. They’ve now failed to cover the spread in three straight games, though they are 2-1 SU in those games.

Next Up: Home vs. Jaguars (-3.5)

24: Cleveland Browns (2-2 ATS, 1-3 SU) (LW: 22) The Browns enjoyed their bye this week, but are back on the field against the defending champs on Monday night. The Giants put up 44 points last week, only two points less than what the Browns have scored all season.

Next Up: Home vs. Giants (+9)

25: Minnesota Vikings (2-3 ATS, 2-3 SU) (LW: 29) Minnesota won a sloppy match-up with the Saints on ESPN’s MNF, notching their second win for Vikes bettors this year. It must be a frightening thought for anyone who plans on backing Minnesota this week that Gus Frerotte is favored by almost two full touchdowns against anyone… then they’re comforted by the fact that the Lions are coming to town.

Next Up: Home vs. Lions (-13.5)

26: Cincinnati Bengals (2-3 ATS, 0-5 SU) (LW: 30) It’s back-to-back covers for Cincinnati bettors after putting up a strong effort in Dallas. The bottom line for HC Marvin Lewis is that the Bengals are still 0-5 SU, and will try to break that streak against the Jets, who have covered two of the L/3 meetings with Cincy.

Next Up: Away @ Jets (+6)

27: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3 ATS, 2-2 SU) (LW: 23) NFL bettors ran the line in Jacksonville’s game with Pittsburgh from 3 up to 5, but were all incredibly disappointed by the effort the Jags put into their 26-21 loss. It could be another long week for Jacksonville, as Denver is 4-2 ATS in their L/6 against the Jags.

Next Up: Away @ Broncos (+3.5)

28: Kansas City Chiefs (2-3 ATS, 1-4 SU) (LW: 24) The Chiefs scored 33 points against Denver two weeks ago, but thanks to their 34-0 loss in Carolina last week, they’ve only scored 32 in their other four games combined. They’re off this week, but the reward for HC Herm Edwards is a meeting with the Titans in Week 7.

Next Up: Bye

29: Houston Texans (1-3 ATS, 0-4 SU) (LW: 28) Just when Texans bettors were lined up to cash their tickets, Sage Rosenfels happened. The backup QB fumbled twice and threw an interception on the team’s final three drives, coughing up a 17-point lead in just over two minutes of game time against the Colts, providing one of the roughest football betting breaks you’ll ever see. For some unknown reason, Houston is a favorite this week to pick up their first victory of the season against the resurgent Dolphins.

Next Up: Home vs. Miami (-3)

30: Seattle Seahawks (1-3 ATS, 1-3 SU) (LW: 27) Someone needs to wake Matt Hasselbeck out of this nightmare. For the fourth straight game to start the season, the All-Pro caliber QB has failed to reach 200 yards passing, and his team only has one victory to show for it. Even though a 44-6 loss to the Giants will sting for awhile, it’s a better memory than when Hasselbeck yelled, “We want the ball and we’re gonna score!” against this week’s opponent.

Next Up: Home vs. Packers (-1)

31: St. Louis Rams (0-4 ATS, 0-4 SU) (LW: 32) In the ongoing battle between the Rams and Lions for the cellar in the power poll, it is St. Louis who earns the nod this week in the #31 hole, only because Detroit looked worse against Chicago than the Rams did against the bye week. They’re 4-17 ATS in their L/21 games against teams with winning opponents, so they could be back in the dungeon again next week.

Next Up: Away @ Redskins (+13.5)

32: Detroit Lions (0-4 ATS, 0-4 SU) (LW: 31) It’s never a good sign when the members of the media are asking your head coach whether he should quit or not, but that’s what Lions HC Rod Marinelli went through this week. Getting shlomped at home by a divisional rival has that effect sometimes, though. They’re now 1-11 ATS in their L/12 games and should be proud to be behind the Rams now in the power poll.

Next Up: Away @ Vikings (+13.5)