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Five Things You Need to Know for Sun., Oct. 14
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Five Things You Need to Know in Sports

Want to start your sports day off right? Looking for some action and the most exciting matchups of the day? The NFL is on tap so let's get right to it. Here is a brief look at the top five important matchups of the day.

1)Dallas (2-2) at Baltimore (4-1), 1pmET, M&T Bank Stadium

The Dallas Cowboys have been off since an embarrassing prime-time performance, losing 34-18 home loss to Chicago on Oct. 1. The Cowboys open a difficult portion of the schedule Sunday against a Baltimore Ravens team that hasn't lost a regular-season home game in nearly two years. Baltimore is coming off a sub-par performance at Kansas City, winning 9-6. Dallas is 1-7 ATS L8 on fieldturf. Baltimore is a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 44.

2)NY Giants (3-2) at San Francisco (4-1), 4:25pmET, Cadlestick Park

Last year, the 49ers won in the regular season, 27-20, but they fell in the NFC Championship game, 20-17 in overtime, so this is a bit of a revenge game. QB Eli Manning has thrown for at least 200 yards in 24 straight games. The 49ers have outscored their last two opponents by a combined 79-3. Giants' need their vaunted pass rush to show up as they've silent this year thus far. The need a better pass rush with a depleted secondary. Giants are 6-1 ATS L7 in series. The 49ers are a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 45.5. 

3)Minnesota (4-1) at Washington (2-3), 4:25pmET, FedEx Field

The Vikings are off to a great start and this would be a big one, against a feisty Washington team. The Skins will have Robert Griffin III at quarterback after a concussion suffered against Atlanta last week (24-17 loss). The Skins have at least 175 rushing yards in seven straight games but Minnesota does have the No. 6-ranked run defense. Washington is 0-4 ATS L4 in October. Washington is a 3-point favorite.

4)New England (3-2) at Seattle (3-2), CenturyLink Field

The Seahawks will take on one of the top offenses in the NFL. Seattle has been tough on opposing offenses at CenturyLink Field, where they beat Dallas, 27-7 on Sept. 16 and then handed Green Bay a 14-12 defeat eight days later. The Seahawks rank 5th in the NFL against the pass (192ypg) and third in the NFL against the run (66.6ypg). Seatte will stop the run but New England, who could get TE Aaron Hernandez back from injury, will just throw it to WR Wes Welker and TE Rob Gronkowski. Seattle is 4-1 ATS L5 home games. New England is a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 44.

5)Green Bay (2-3) at Houston (5-0), Reliant Stadium

The Texans are looking to start out 6-0. They average a league-high 35:28 time of possession and have a plus eight turnover margin on the strength of the strength of a ground game led by Arian Foster. Green Bay has won five straight Sunday night games with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. The Packers will likely play without top WR Greg Jennings (groin) again. Green Bay is 6-1 ATS L7 following a SU loss.  Houston is a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5.