NFL UPDATE…TECHNICIAN’S CORNER FOR DEC. 8-12 by The Gold Sheet’s, Bruce Marshall

CLEVELAND at PITTSBURGH (Thursday, December 8)…

Browns only 4-16 last 20 on board but have covered two of their last three this season. Steelers won and covered both meetings handily a year ago, though Brownies covered both in 2009. Steel 7-2 vs. spread last 9 on board at Heinz Field since late LY. Although Steelers look in good shape for a return to the postseason, they need to finish ahead of Baltimore in AFC North to win division (due to a pair of losses to Ravens) and perhaps give themselves a chance at a first-round playoff bye.  Otherwise they’re probably looking at the road for all playoff games, which, it must be noted, didn’t stop the 2005 Steelers from winning the big oneTech edge-Steelers, based on team trends.

INDIANAPOLIS at BALTIMORE…Colts no covers seven of last eight TY and just 3-11 vs. spread last 14 on board since late LY. Ravens 6-0 SU, 4-1-1 vs. line at M&T Bank Stadium TY. Baltimore 8-4 “over” last 12 since late LY. Old Baltimore vs. new Baltimore!  For Ravens, the goal is to stay at least level with Steelers in AFC North, because Baltimore wins any tiebreakers between the two based upon its pair of wins over Mike Tomlin’s team in the regular season.  The difference is huge, with Baltimore in line for a first-round playoff bye and home-field in the Division Round as opposed to no bye and a road game (likely vs. the AFC West winner) in the first round.  So don’t expect much let-up from the Ravens.  Colts did manage a cover last week at New England with a belated fourth-quarter rally behind new QB Dan Orlovsky.  Can the Colts be trusted again?  Tech edge-Ravens and slight to “over,” based on team trends.

HOUSTON at CINCINNATI…Texans have won and covered last six in 2011, also “under” 8-4 TY. Houston 10-3 vs. spread last 12 on board since late LY. Marvin Lewis 7-4-1 against points this season, but Bengals only 1-2 as home chalk TY, 2-5 in role since LY, 2-11 since 2009. There is a substantive underdog case to be made for the Texans, who have won and covered their last six in 2011, and now 11-3 vs. the spread their last 14 since late last season.  But now Houston is on the road with rookie third-string QB T.J. Yates against a hungry Cincy side still very much in the AFC wild card race despite recent losses to the Steelers (twice) and Ravens.Tech edge-Texans, based on team trends.

OAKLAND at GREEN BAY…Raiders 5-1 vs. line away in 2011, and have covered six of last seven as road dog. Pack, however, on 18-game unbeaten run with 13-5 spread mark that span. Pack 4-1 “over” at Lambeau TY, Oakland “over” 17-11 since 2010.  Packers closing on in perfect regualr-season mark and could have NFC home-field edge in playoffs locked up by next week, whiel Raiders in dogfight with Denver for top spot min AFC West.  Tech edge-“Over” and Raiders, based on “totals” and team trends.

KANSAS CITY at NY JETS…Chiefs own one of many streaking “totals” trends at moment, “under” in seven straight. Jets, however, “over” 8-4 TY, 22-9 since LY, 26-10 last 36 since late 2009. Chiefs 7-2 as dog TY.  KC still matehmatically alive in AFC playoff picture, while Jets are one of fiver AFC teams sitting at 7-5 and a shot at the second wild card (Ravens or Steelers likely get the other).  Tech edge-Chiefs, based on team trends.

MINNESOTA at DETROIT…Lions only 2-5 SU and vs. line last seven TY after opening with five straight wins. Vikes, however, no covers last 4 TY and 9-17-1 against spread since 2010. Vikes “over” 5-2 last 7 TY.  Minnesota has long been eliminated rom playoff picture, while sinking Lions now have work to do to secure  an NFC wild card.  Tech edge-“Over,” based on “totals” trends.

NEW ORLEANS at TENNESSEE…Saints only 2-4 vs. line away TY and 3-8 against points last 11 as visitor. Titans “under” last 4 and 5 of last 6 TY.  Titans one of several AFC teams at 7-5 and in the wild card mix.  Meanwhile, Saints have pulled clear in NFC South and now aim at San Francisco to overtake 49ers for confernece’s second seed (and first-round bye) in playoffs.   Tech edge-Titans, based on Saints’ extended road spread woes.

PHILADELPHIA at MIAMI…Miami on 6-game cover streak and has won and covered last three at Sun Life Stadium after dropping previous seven spread decisions at home. Dolphins also “under” ten of last eleven TY. Fading Birds 3-8 against spread last 11 in 2011, and Andy Reid now 6-14 vs. line asince late 2010.  Neither of these two involved in playoff discussions.  Tech edge-“Under” and Dolphins, based on “totals” and team trends.

NEW ENGLAND at WASHINGTON…The Shan at one time held a nice edge on Belichick, having won and covered 5 of 6 meetings before losing 41-7 with his Broncos at Foxborough in 2008. Shanahan “over” last three TY after “under” 13-3 previous 16. Belichick “over” 24-7 last 31 since late 2009.  Skins effectively out of any NFC playoff chatter, while Patriots have puleld clear in AFC East and seek first-round bye in upcoming postseason action.  Tech edge-“Over,” based on Belichick “totals” trends.

ATLANTA at CAROLINA…Falcs have won and covered last three vs. Panthers since LY, all by near-identical scores (31-10, 31-10, and 31-17!). Cam 4-2 vs. points as host TY but only 2-3 vs. line last 5 in 2011.  Atlanta now losing sight of Saints in NFC South but continues to be in mix for a wild card spot, whiel Carolina looms only as a potential spoiler at this point.  Tech edge-slight to Falcons, based on recent series trends.

TAMPA BAY at JACKSONVILLE…Jags “under” 10-2 TY, but have only covered three of last eleven games on board in 2011. Bucs fading, 0-6 SU and 1-5 vs. line last five TY.  These two have long since been on the outside of playoff discussions in their respective conferences.   Tech edge-“Under” and slight to Jags, based on “totals” and team trends.

SAN FRANCISCO at ARIZONA…First meeting went to SF by a 23-7 count on Nov. 20. 49ers 10-1-1 vs. line TY. Cards have covered 5 of last 6 TY and are “over” 5-2 their last seven at Glendale. 49ers have won and covered last five meetings. San Francisco has sewn up NFC West but still has work to do to secure a first-round playoff bye with New Orleans on its heels.   Tech edge-slight to 49ers and “over,” based on team and “totals” trends.

CHICAGO at DENVER…Broncos 6-1 SU and vs. line with Tebow as starter this season. Denver has also won and covered five in a row, also note three “unders” last four after after extended “over” trending prior (22-7 “over” previous 29). Bears had won and covered five in a row prior to losing and failing to cover last two minus Jay Cutler. Chicago now in desperate trouble as it seeks to earn an NFC wild card berth, while surging Denver leads AFC West on tiebreaks at moment over Raiders.   Tech edge-Broncos and slight to “under,” based on recent trends.

BUFFALO at SAN DIEGO…Bolts 1-6 SU and vs. line last seven TY, Bills no wins last 5 and just 1-4 vs. spread in those games. Norv “under” 5-1 at home TY and “under” 8-1 last nine at Qualcomm, although Chan “over” 8-5 since late 2010.  Both retain mathematical playoff hopes but realistically seem destined to miss out on postseason action.   Tech edge-slight to “under” and Bills, based on “totals” and team trends.

NY GIANTS at DALLAS…NYG no wins last four TY (1-3 vs. line in those), but Eli 5-2 SU and vs. line last 7 meetings vs. Dallas, and Coughlin 23-9 last 31 as dog (though no covers last two in role). Dallas 2-4 as home chalk TY, 3-9 in role since LY. “Overs” last four in series, Dallas “over” 18-10 since LY, Coughlin “over” 26-16 since ’09.  Serious NFC East and playoff implications, especially for Giants, who effectively drop from serious postseason talk with a loss.  A win and G-Men control fate in NFC East, with a rematch upcoming vs. Dallas in the final regular-season week.  Tech edge-“Over” and Giants, based on “totals” and team trends.

ST. LOUIS at SEATTLE (Monday, December 12)…Seahawks have quietly covered 8 of their last 10 TY. Pete Carroll 10-5 vs. spread as host since LY. Seattle also 8-1 vs. line last nine in series. Rams just 2-11 last 13 on board since late LY and 1-7 last 8 vs. spread away. Rams also “under” 12-5 last 17.  Seattle not yet mathematiclaly out of NFC wild card mix, although Hawks are likely to be sitting out any playoff action along with the Rams and others.   Tech edge-Seahawks and slight to “under,” based on team and “totals” trends.