Chopping Lines: Winning With a Porpoise

READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, NFL Betting

7 p.m.

Miami Dolphins (2-3)

Best Line: MIA -1, KC +2

Is Miami’s home advantage that big that they’re favored in this game? It would seem that way. Even though the Chiefs haven’t exactly been the complete package on both sides of the ball as previously advertised, it still seems like the line should be reversed. However, we we took the Chiefs as three point dogs to the Broncos on that Monday night at Denver and paid severely for it. And tonight’s game has a similar look to it. We’re playing total line read into this one and taking the Dolphins as favorites. All this hurricane hoopla has to account for something and it honestly looks as if Saban’s team might be a little more prepared than the Chiefs.

PICK!: MIA -1

NFL Betting: Jets Rendered “Unbettable” After Loss, Drama

READ MORE: Miami Dolphins, NFL Betting, New York Jets

This is something that could only happen to the New York Jets. It seems every year they’re either poised for greatness or a major collapse. This year is appearing to be the latter, as after last week’s 27-7 trouncing by the Kansas City Chiefs, Covers’ experts are alerting bettors to stay as far away from the Jets as humanly possible until the team gets its myriad issues worked out. But this weekend’s match-up against the rival Miami Dolphins has them at early 6 point favorites. Yet, still stay away:

“I would like to be anti-Jets,” says (Covers’ expert Dave)Malinsky, “but I don’t think this is a bettable game.

“The problem becomes a line value standpoint - if they had played this game in the opener, the line would have probably been around eight, or even higher. The Dolphins could have lost by six or seven and covered. As a result of the team’s performances last week, two key numbers have been taken away – the six and the seven.

Jets Soap Opera Renders Them Unbettable [Covers]
Miami at New York Jets [Covers]

Chopping Lines: If You Get Real Quiet, You Can Hear Joe Robbie Spinning In His Grave

READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Miami Dolphins, NFL Betting, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(Guest Selection by The Venetian)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1-0)

Best Line: Miami -3

What better way to end a day repairing that hole in your roof and gunning down looters than heading on out to Dolphins Stadium for some preseason NFL? Anyone? The Dolphins, coming off a scintillating eight-turnover performance against the Steelers last weekend, look to continue their quest to find the quarterback to lead them to the promised land. Gus Frerotte, who hasn’t started regularly since 1997, seems to have the slight edge over A.J. Feeley, who never could unseat Koy Detmer from McNabb’s backup role before being traded to Ft. Lauderdale. On the other hand, Sammy Morris is your starting tailback! Plus, you have David Boston and Ricky Williams in your locker room. What could possibly go wrong?

The Buccaneers will attempt to dodge downed power lines and flooded-out amphibians on Alligator Alley for their annual cross-state trek into Katrina-ravaged South Florida. Chucky’s bringing the brittle remnants of a salary-cap ravaged former Super Bowl champ along with him, but a few new faces, notably Michael Clayton and Cadillac Williams, hope to return the Bucs to their recent glory. Unfortunately, as it seems to be with at least half the NFL this year, the QB situation is sketchy with shaky retread Brian Griese, so far, managing to hold off perennial third wheel and practice MVP, Chris Simms. The defense is better than average, but aging and low on depth, so don’t expect too much.

The one saving grace for this one might be that there is so much competition for positions on the two teams that we’ll see some sincere effort. Convinced, yet? Neither are we.

Venetian PICK!: Buccaneers

Chopping Lines: Monday Night With Saban and Company

READ MORE: Chicago Bears, Chopping Lines, Miami Dolphins, NFL Pre-Season Betting

8 p.m.

Chicago Bears (-3)

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Miami Dolphins

Best Line: Miami +3

For the Miami Dolphins the Nick Saban era begins tonight in the annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game on Monday night (ABC, 8 p.m. ET) in Canton, Ohio. The defensive-minded rookie NFL head coach from LSU has something to prove to his players and fans. Another person with something to prove is the Dolphins’ RB Ricky Williams and Bears QB Rex Grossman. Williams left football last year and Grossman hasn’t seen action since week 3 when a knee injury knocked him out for the season. He is expected to run the Bears’ offence for 15-20 plays. Does this mean we’ll catch a glimpse of 14 year veteran from Illinois Jeff George tonight? Not really. Head Coach Lovie Smith will give us a dose of stud rookie QB Boilermaker Kyle Orton. How Orton plays tonight could very well be the difference in a meaningless preseason win or a loss.

The Dolphins and Bears are coming off of disappointing seasons last year and are not without questions with their top draft picks. Both team’s running backs Ronnie Brown in Miami and Cedric Benson in Chicago are holdouts; which gives them not a lot of preparation time when they do return with one month until the regular season kicks off. For the Dolphins, a pre-season battle between QB’s A.J. Feeley and Gus Frerotte will determine the club’s starting QB. Another focus for Nick Saban will be the rookie LB out of Florida Channing Crowder. He was dominant as a Gator and left early for the NFL draft this year. A win in this year’s Hall of Fame game would be fitting after this weekend’s induction of Miami QB Dan Marino. We see Saban making an immediate impact in his first NFL pre-season game.

PICK! MIAMI DOLPHINS +3