Odds Say Rice & Peterson To Gain Most Rushing Yards This Weekend

NFL News - January 14th, 2010 - Written by Bryan

Cedric Benson was a gleaming example of how a team can totally dominate in one facet of the game and still fall miserably short. Despite leading all rushers with 169 yards against the New York Jets in the first round of the 2009 NFL Playoffs last week, his Cincinnati Bengals lost 24-14 because they couldn't break through Darrelle Revis and the rest of New York's secondary.

Part of the problem was Carson Palmer's abysmal passing day, but Benson's day sent a clear message to bettors. When predicting the week's top rusher in this week's NFL Betting Lines, it's not always important to predict who will win.

Match-ups are just as important, and although the Jets have the league's top defense, they were a slightly-vulnerable eighth against the run in the regular season and couldn't keep a handle on Benson. It's unlikely New York will surrender those kinds of numbers again because the San Diego Chargers are the 31st-ranked rushing team.

But watch out for Ray Rice and Felix Jones. Both backs also topped 100 yards last week, and have favorable match-ups in the second round. Rice is the favorite because he shredded the New England Patriots in epic proportions, and the Indianapolis Colts are 24th against the run.

All-Pro Adrian Peterson is the second horse, but hasn't reached the century mark in eight weeks.

Jones and platoon-mate Marion Barber are the longshots at 8/1 and 12/1, respectively, because the Minnesota Vikings have the second-ranked run defense, which is the best remaining unit in the playoffs. No team has allowed fewer rushing touchdowns (5) than the Vikings, and playing in front of a home crowd can only help.

Beanie Wells (ARI)6/1
Tim Hightower (ARI)15/1
Ray Rice (BAL)9/4
Joseph Addai (IND)9/1
Marion Barber (DAL)12/1
Felix Jones (DAL)8/1
Adrian Peterson (MIN)5/2
Thomas Jones (NYJ)6/1
Shonn Greene (NYJ)5/1
LaDainian Tomlinson (SD)7/1
Darren Sproles (SD)15/1
Pierre Thomas (NO)10/1