NFL Week 10 Betting – Schedule & Marquee Matchups

NFL Week 10 Betting Marquee Matchups:

Ravens @ Falcons (Thursday)

The season debut of the NFL Network Thursday Night Game of the Week is a five-star tilt, a clash that could very legitimately be a Super Bowl preview. It’s extremely hard to stack together back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in this modern age of pro football. The grind of one successful season makes it that much more difficult to do the deed the very next year. Therefore, if the New Orleans Saints can’t maintain their standard of success, the Atlanta Falcons could very well pick them off in the NFC South. With the NFC East less top-heavy than it used to be, and the NFC West in a state of disrepair, it stands to reason that the NFC South champion could very well be one of the two teams in the National Conference to get an all-important first-round bye in the playoffs. The group from Atlanta is intent on snagging that prize, and a win over Baltimore – one of the foremost AFC contenders for Super Bowl XLV – could signal the pro football world that the Falcons are ready to make their second appearance in the big game. Everyone rightly talks about the Ravens’ defense, but in this contest – at night, on the road, and coming off a short week – one should pay attention to how Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco performs. The Delaware dandy who was so solid in 2008, but then regressed in 2009, will need to keep a level head in this contest. He has to take advantage of short fields and throw daggers when his offense gets into the Atlanta red zone.

Bengals @ Colts

The NFL, in its wisdom, ensures that its best teams have to play the most daunting schedules the year after they go deep into the playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts finished with the best record in football in 2009, and as a result, their 16-game slate is filled with dates against division-winning ballclubs. This matchup with 2009 AFC North champion Cincinnati is just one of them. The Bengals’ defense is rugged and physical, and that will pose a challenge for Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. The key in this game is for Cincy and its own signal caller, Carson Palmer, to take advantage of any golden opportunities that fall into their laps. The Bengals’ defense can contain Indianapolis, but it’s not likely to shut down the Colts. Cincinnati will need 20 points to have a decent chance in this important confrontation.

Seahawks @ Cardinals

With the season roughly two-thirds over, it will be worth checking in on the progress of the thinner and less imposing NFC West. The no-longer-dominant Arizona Cardinals will have to claw and scratch every step of the way if they’re to retain their NFC West title. This game against coach Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks will say much about the character of the unfolding NFC West title chase.