Outdoors Central

NFL football odds are constantly a challenge to handicap but football betting fans have had more than their share of puzzling outcomes to begin the season. NFL football odds handicappers continue to be confounded by each the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos at the start of the 2009 football betting season.

The Broncos have been one in the biggest surprises this year against the NFL football odds because the improved to 4-0 both straight up and against the football betting board using a 17-10 win over the equally surprising Dallas Cowboys.  The Cowboys were expected to become a NFC contender this year but continue to be an online betting disappointment at 2-2.

The Baltimore Ravens had been not really prepared to establish dominance against the NFL football odds versus the established power of the AFC as they lost at New England 21-27 and failed to cover as 3-point dogs.

New England’s new AFC East rival also got a reality check against the NFL football odds last week as the New York Jets lost their first game of the season for the Saints in New Orleans 10-24 as 6.5-point dogs.

The Oakland Raiders continue to rival Kansas City and St. Louis because the worst team in the league against the NFL football odds as they were hammered at Houston 6-29 as 9.5-point dogs and face the prospect of their coach being arrested for breaking the jaw of an assistant in training camp last August.

The Chicago Bears continue to impress against the NFL football odds as they won their third consecutive game 48-24 to acquire the money as 11.5-point home favorites against Detroit.  Chicago has confirmed their status as a legitimate NFC title contender.

The very best team in the NFC continues to be the New York Giants who scored a 27-16 win more than the Kansas City Chiefs as 9.5-point road chalks against the NFL football odds.  Kansas City has looked so bad that some have accused them of tanking their games.

The San Francisco 49ers showed the heart of a champion last week as they bounced back from their heartbreaker at Minnesota using a 35-0 shutout win over the St. Louis Rams as 10-point house chalks against the NFL football odds. Indianapolis also looks like super material right after their 34-17 win more than Seattle as 12-point home favorites.

NFL betting lines handicappers will have their choice of two young, up and coming contenders in the NFL betting matchup between the 49ers and Texans from Houston. NFL betting lines opened with the Houston Texans as 3 point favorites having a NFL betting total of 44 in this inter-conference affair.

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a significantly required bye week immediately after their worst performance with the year versus the NFL betting lines in a 10-45 house loss for the Atlanta Falcons on October 11.  The 49ers now have a NFL betting record of 3-2 straight up and 4-1 against the NFL football betting board.

The Houston Texans are coming off their best win in the season using the NFL betting lines as they beat the Cincinnati Bengals 28-17 as 4 point road dogs last Sunday.  The Texans now have a NFL betting lines record of 3-3 each straight up and against the spread.

San Francisco 49ers best draft pick Michael Crabtree is expected to get a substantial function in this matchup using the NFL betting lines as he has now had 3 weeks of practice with the team.  Crabtree is expected to give the 49ers a significantly required game breaker on offense. The Texans 3-3 start is tied for the most effective in team history. Houston entered the season as a preferred with the NFL betting lines to make the playoffs for the first time ever.

Houston quarterback Matt Schaub comes with an impressive QB rating of 102.7 with 1810 yards passing plus a 14/5 touchdown to interception ratio.  Houston’s ground attack ought to strengthen substantially, however, if the Texans are to have success with the NFL betting lines.  The Texans rank 30th in rushing yards and that is putting more pressure on Schaub.

The 49ers defense will present an excellent challenge for the Texans as it ranks 13th in points allowed and 7th against the rush.  Coach Mike Singletary stresses a hard hitting punishing defense.

The 49ers will have to have better offensive production for achievement using the NFL betting lines as they rank 29th in total yards so far.  Quarterback Shaun Hill has a mediocre 80.7 QB rating but brings intangible skills to the job because the 49ers win with him. San Francisco has gotten the money in 4 out of their last 5 road games even though the Texans have paid out gamblers in 4 out of their last 6 games at home.