Posted on
1/18/2008 8:56:47 PM
NFL Football Betting – Lawrence Maroney’s Rushing Yards
By Charles Jay
We know that Lawrence Maroney topped the 100-yard mark in New England's first playoff win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. How much of a factor will be in this, the AFC Championship Game, where his Patriots are a 13.5-point favorite against San Diego, according to the BetUS NFL football betting odds?
BetUS NFL Betting Props
AFC Championship Game - January 20
LAWRENCE MARONEY
Under 75.5 yards -130
Over 75.5 yards -110
Well, let's put it this way - it's not that Lawrence Maroney was forgotten during the regular season; he just wasn't exactly on the front burner. But there was a couple of reasons for that. Obviously, with the acquisition of Randy Moss, Donta Stallworth and Wes Welker, the Pats were going to be throwing the ball a lot more, and that they did. But also, there were some injury concerns for Maroney, who had off-season shoulder surgery.
Maroney, only third player in Big Ten history to rush for 1000 yards or more in each of his first three seasons, shared time in the backfield at the University of Minnesota with Marion Barber. When he came to the NFL last year as a rookie, he split time with Corey Dillon, very effectively I might add. And the Pats wanted to make sure that when he was going to take the load on primarily by himself that he would be ready.
He is.
Maroney missed three games this year, due to a groin injury. But in the games where New England has decided to use him as a focal point, he has come through with sizzle. In three of the last four games, he has rushed for over 100 yards. Against Miami in Week 15 he had a career high of 156 yards. Against Jacksonville in the playoff game, he had 122 yards on 22 carries. The Pats knew they could use in in the late going, when the weather got colder, and now he's fresh.
He is also fully capable of getting haflway to the posted figure (75.5) on just one play.
According to his college coach, Glen Mason, "In recent history, he was the best guy that I’ve been around that could pull away from a good defense. Once he got through that first line, he was gone."
We see Maroney as a key weapon as New England goes up against that San Diego pass rush. he is the player who is going to make the defense play with some balance, by offering up some offensive balance of his own.
We're looking for a very productive game for Maroney, which is why we're moving in the direction of the "over." That's OVER 75.5 yards, as posted in the BetUS NFL football betting props.
JAY'S PLAY: OVER 75.5 YARDS (-110) ***
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)