NFL betting lines may not be affected, but the Atlanta Falcons are looking for a new kicker. They have not been pleased with kicker Jason Elam this season and recently brought in Steve Hauschka, Sam Swant, Shane Andrus and Brandon Coutu for tryouts. The Falcons are 11.5 point home favorites in football odds against Tampa Bay this Sunday.
NFL betting lines show that Elam has made only 10 of 16 field goals this season. That ranks him 30th in the league with a 62.5 percent success rate as NFL betting lines stats show. He has missed three field goals from 30 to 39 yards and that is just inexcusable. He missed a 35-yarder in Sunday’s overtime loss to the New York Giants. Elam is a long-time veteran but it appears he has lost his accuracy and leg strength this season after making 29 of 31 attempts last NFL betting lines season.
In other NFL betting lines news, the Tampa Bay Bucs have made a defensive change after last week’s disaster against New Orleans. Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris demoted defensive coordinator Jim Bates. Morris will handle the defense in this week’s NFL betting lines contest against Atlanta. The Bucs are 26th in the NFL in total defense, allowing just over 378 yards per NFL betting lines game. They’re last in rushing defense as football odds stats show. They have allowed 294 points and that is the second worst NFL betting lines number in the league. It is not likely to get much better this week against Atlanta.
Morris has looked in over his head as a head coach this NFL betting lines year. Before the football odds season even started he dismissed offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski and that has proven to be a bad move. Now he is messing with the defense and that probably won’t work.
Also in news that could impact NFL betting lines this week, the Bengals are looking for running back Cedric Benson to return against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals are heavily favored in football odds against the Browns but as last week proved, anything can happen. The Bengals were big favorites in NFL betting lines against the Raiders and lost. The Bengals are likely to go with Bernard Scott and Benson on Sunday and Larry Johnson may also see some carries in this football odds matchup against the Browns.