Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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10-07-18 | Rams -7 v. Seahawks | Top | 33-31 | Loss | -110 | 54 h 57 m | Show |
NFL Blowout Game of the Year. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Seattle at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. This has all the makings of a beatdown in favor of the undefeated Rams on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. First of all, Los Angeles has had an extra few days to prepare for this matchup following last week's impressive home win over the Vikings. You can be sure that head coach Sean McVay has some tricks up his sleeve as he'll see this as a big challenge playing in a hostile environment in Seattle and matching wits with a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Pete Carroll. The case can be made that QB Jared Goff has been the league's best quarterback so far this season which is really saying something given how well we've seen some of the veterans and young arms alike perform in the early going. There's little reason to expect any regression from Goff and the Rams offense here as they face a Seahawks defense that certainly isn't what it once was, and just lost safety Earl Thomas to a broken leg. The question is whether the Rams defense can hold up well enough against a highly-motivated Seahawks offense that has shown some improvement and welcomed back WR Doug Baldwin last week. My answer to that is, I'm not sure it matters how well the Seahawks offense performs as the Rams should do enough damage themselves to ultimately stretch out the margin in this one. Keep in mind, Seattle QB Russell Wilson has been admirable in his efforts but hasn't looked like the same dual-threat quarterback and continues to perform behind a leaky offensive line. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Vikings v. Eagles OVER 46 | Top | 23-21 | Loss | -110 | 54 h 45 m | Show |
NFL NFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Philadelphia at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. We won with the 'over' in the Vikings loss to the Rams last Thursday night and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. Entering the season most believed Minnesota's defense would be one of the best in the league but that simply hasn't been the case, due to injuries and otherwise. The Rams absolutely exposed the Vikings defense (if it hadn't been already) last week and I expect to see plenty of carry-over from that miserable performance against the Eagles this Sunday. Philadelphia continues to work QB Carson Wentz back into the fold and we saw considerable progression from him last week against the Titans. That was despite facing a Tennessee defense that has applied a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Despite their reputation, I don't believe the Vikes will have much success putting Wentz under duress here. I'm anticipating a big game from Eagles WRs Nelson Agholor and Alshon Jeffery in particular as they should have little trouble finding open field against what has become a porous Minnesota secondary. This is obviously a bit of a desperation spot for the Vikings who are quickly seeing their season crumble before them. With that in mind, we can expect them to throw everything they have at the Eagles, and that has to start with their offense, which is certainly capable of operating at a high level, just as we saw last Thursday night against the Rams. QB Kirk Cousins should be able to find success bombing away against an Eagles pass defense that continues to struggle without corner Rodney McLeod. The Eagles have been much tougher against the run but the Vikes haven't shown much interest in running the football anyway and there's a good chance they'll be playing from behind for much of the game on Sunday, leading to a lot more looks for stud WRs Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Take the over (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Raiders v. Chargers OVER 52.5 | Top | 10-26 | Loss | -110 | 54 h 33 m | Show |
NFL AFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Oakland and Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. I've seen enough evolution from the Raiders offense to warrant a play on the 'over' as they make the short trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers on Sunday afternoon. Oakland certainly didn't shy away from a shootout at home against the Browns last week, moving the football at will against an up-and-coming Cleveland defines. QB Derek Carr has turned things around over the last couple of weeks following a miserable start to the season. He certainly appears to be getting comfortable with veteran WR Jordy Nelson in the slot and last week we saw flashes of big play ability on a couple of ultimately failed hook-ups with WR Martavis Bryant. I like the matchups that Bryant and WR Amari Cooper draw against the Chargers secondary this week. Los Angeles will continue to struggle to keep opposing offenses at bay as long as LB Joey Bosa is sidelined and now will have to press on without another one of their top defenders in LB Kyzir White as well. Meanwhile, there's little reason to believe the Raiders defense will have any answers for the Chargers versatile offense. QB Philip Rivers likely won't have to worry about any sort of pressure on Sunday afternoon as no team has recorded fewer sacks than the Raiders this season. Look for Rivers to have a field day slinging the ball all over the field to his talented group of wide receivers. RB Melvin Gordon doesn't get enough credit for the work he does - perhaps overshadowed by another elite RB in the same city in Todd Gurley. Oakland checks in allowing almost six yards per rush and should also struggle to cover Gordon in the passing game. Take the over (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Ravens v. Browns UNDER 46 | 9-12 | Win | 100 | 51 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Baltimore and Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday. This is a bit of a tough spot for the Ravens playing their second straight division road game after posting an "upset" win in Pittsburgh last Sunday night. That probably wasn't really an upset at all as the Steelers continue to struggle in the early going this season. I do like the fact that Baltimore is catching Cleveland coming back across the country following a big missed opportunity in Oakland last Sunday afternoon. Baltimore continues to get healthier on defense, having welcomed back two of its best run-stoppers in LB C.J. Mosley and DT Michael Pierce last week. Now the Ravens will also get their top corner Jimmy Smith back from suspension and he should make an immediate impact against a Browns offense that probably isn't quite as good as it looked in last week's track meet in Oakland. Offensively, the Ravens have been generally solid but you really never know what you're going to get from QB Joe Flacco. The Browns defense certainly isn't as bad as it looked against the Raiders last Sunday. They seemed to wilt under the pressure of playing with sizeable leads, something they likely won't be afforded this week. A return home should certainly help their cause on the defensive side of the football as well. Take the under (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Broncos v. Jets UNDER 42.5 | 16-34 | Loss | -109 | 51 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Denver and New York at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Jets saw their two-game 'under' streak end last week in Jacksonville but it had nothing to do with their own offense. They were held to 17 points or less for a third straight game in that loss and while the Broncos do have some holes they can exploit on defense I'm just not sure they have the personnel in place to take advantage. On the flip side, I am confident we'll see a far better performance from the Jets defense than we did in Jacksonville, noting that they'll catch the Broncos traveling on a short week to play an early start Sunday matchup on the east coast. Denver continues to struggle to score with QB Case Keenum looking more and more like he may not be the right fit in this offense, or simply not capable of being an every-week starting QB in the NFL. Some of his misses were glaring on Monday night, most notably his sideline pass to a wide-open WR Demariyus Thomas that would have likely resulted in a game-winning touchdown. While I do like some of the pieces the Broncos have in place on offense, they lack explosiveness and the ability to string together scoring drives. Note that Denver has scored 23 points or less in all three games since opening the season with a 27-point performance (helped along by three key turnovers) against a depleted Seahawks defense. Take the under (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Giants v. Panthers OVER 43.5 | 31-33 | Win | 100 | 51 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Carolina at 1 pm et on Sunday. There's little reason to expect the Giants to offer any resistance against a steadily improving Panthers offense on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte. New York has been ravaged by injuries on the defensive side of the football and were it not for a number of mistakes from the Saints offense in the red zone in the first half of last week's game, it easily could have given up 40+ points. That's certainly concerning as the Giants hit the road to face a Panthers squad that is coming off their bye week. I'm not sure we'll need all that much from the Giants offense to get 'over' this very reasonable posted total. With that being said, in spite of Eli Manning's presence, I do believe the G-Men can put together at least a couple of touchdown drives, as they do draw some favorable matchups, most notably for WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. Meanwhile, RB Saquon Barkley is without question a stud and regardless the matchup should be able to get his in this contest. Note that the Panthers are giving up well north of five yards per rush this season. Take the over (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Giants v. Panthers -6 | 31-33 | Loss | -108 | 51 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on Carolina minus the points over New York at 1 pm et on Sunday. I'll lay the points with the Panthers as they get back on the field following their bye week with an ideal matchup. Were it not for the Saints stumbling in the red zone early in last week's game, the result could have been much worse for the Giants. It was bad enough as it was with the Saints ultimately pulling away for a 33-18 victory. Things won't get any easier for the New York defense here as it hits the road to face a Panthers offense that continues to evolve and improve, and one that will be getting some help on the offensive line with the return of RG Trai Turner. CB Janoris Jenkins is largely considered the only good thing the Giants have going for them on defense given all of their key injuries but even he has been lit up lately. Until the G-Men find a capable quarterback, they will struggle to contend in shootouts such as the one they're likely to get involved in on Sunday. Yes, they have a ton of star power and certainly talent across the board, but Manning continues to hold this unit back. While the Panthers defense is beatable, I'm just not sure the G-Men can put enough points to stay within arm's reach for four quarters on Sunday afternoon. Take Carolina (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Broncos v. Jets +1 | 16-34 | Win | 100 | 51 h 40 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York over Denver at 1 pm et on Sunday. I really like the way this situation sets up for the Jets as they come off an ugly loss in Jacksonville last week but catch the Broncos playing on a short week following a big missed opportunity against the divisional rival Chiefs on Monday night. Denver has shown positive flashes on offense but it's becoming more and more clear that QB Case Keenum may not be the right fit. Keenum missed on a number of throws on Monday night - none more glaring than the sideline route to Demariyus Thomas that likely would have resulted in a game-winning touchdown. Note that Denver has failed to score more than 23 points since opening the season with a 27-24 victory at home against a depleted Seahawks defense. While the Broncos have been able to hang their hat on their defense in recent years, that simply isn't the case here in 2018. They did a nice job of limiting big plays against the electric Chiefs offense on Monday but still found a way to give up 27 points. While they do possess a vaunted pass rush with Von Miller and rookie Bradley Chubb, they actually rank just 19th in the league in sacks. Chris Harris is a shutdown corner in the secondary but the rest of the Denver pass defense leaves a lot to be desired. The Jets offense isn't going to scare anyone and admittedly has major limitations but I'm not sure they'll be asked to do too much on Sunday afternoon. Look for the defense to carry much of the load as the J-E-T-S finally bring an end to their three-game losing streak and keep head coach Todd Bowles' job safe for at least one more week. Take New York (10*). |
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10-07-18 | Falcons v. Steelers -3 | 17-41 | Win | 100 | 51 h 40 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday. While the sky seems to be falling on the Steelers right now, the fact is, they're still just 1-2-1 on the season and far from out of the AFC North race, which I expect to remain wide open all season long. But if Pittsburgh wants to remain a player in that race, a win this week is critical. The Steelers draw an A+ matchup here, particularly on offense, as the Falcons defense is quite simply running out of options due to a multitude of injuries across the board. We've seen the Falcons get lit up in three consecutive games now and things don't figure to finally work themselves out here, even with the Pittsburgh offense looking very much out of sync in the early going this season. On the flip side, the Atlanta offense will undoubtedly continue to move the football and put points on the board against a porous Steelers defense. However, there will come a time in this game where one of these teams will need to come up with a key stop to seal the victory and I simply feel that Pittsburgh is in better position to accomplish that feat. It's worth noting that the Falcons will be playing outdoors for the first time since way back in Week 1 in Philadelphia. You may remember their offense didn't look nearly as explosive in that game as it has in the last three games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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10-04-18 | Colts v. Patriots OVER 50.5 | 24-38 | Win | 100 | 23 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Indianapolis and New England at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. This may look like a high posted total but it's not really all that high by today's NFL standards. The Colts may not appear all that imposing on offense with WR T.Y. Hilton and TE Jack Doyle sidelined and Andrew Luck still working his way back into form but we certainly saw positive signs from Luck last week as Indy finally 'lifted the lid' so to speak on their now-healthy quarterback. The Colts will be facing a middle of the road, not to mention banged-up New England defense - one that surprisingly held up well against the Dolphins last Sunday, allowing only a late fourth quarter touchdown. Indy does have a couple of offensive weapons that can thrive in this matchup in pass-catching RB Nyheim Hines and TE Eric Ebron. The Patriots couldn't be catching the Colts defense at a better time. Indianapolis has had to play a lot of football over the last couple of weeks and has a number of key defenders either listed as out or questionable to play in this one. Tom Brady will get arguably his favorite target back on the field this week as WR Julian Edelman returns from suspension. TE Rob Gronkowski may not be healthy but I'm not sure it matters. The emergence of RB Sony Michel last week gives the Pats another strong element to their offense. Playing at home for the second straight game following a blowout victory only helps their cause. Take the over (10*). |
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10-01-18 | Chiefs v. Broncos OVER 54 | 27-23 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 40 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Kansas City and Denver at 8:15 pm et on Monday. I'll back the 'over' in Denver on Monday night as AFC West rivals the Chiefs and Broncos go head-to-head. Kansas City is of course built for 'overs' with an electric, high-scoring offense and a porous defense. The Chiefs have been lit up both on the ground and through the air through three games this season and nothing figures to change as they face a versatile Broncos offense on Monday night. Denver's offense got derailed in Baltimore last Sunday but faces a more favorable matchup at home here. Note that the Broncos lost breakout rookie RB Phillip Lindsay relatively early in last week's contest. He figures to make an impact against a Chiefs defense that has allowed over five yards per rush to opposing running backs this season. Broncos QB Case Keenum is in a strong bounce-back spot here and should continue to build on his solid rapport with WR Emmanuel Sanders against a very beatable Chiefs secondary. Meanwhile, Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes should have a field day throwing on a Broncos secondary that has really struggled this season. Gone are the days of Denver absolutely shutting down opposing passing games. While it does boast a solid pass rush, Mahomes has shown the ability to beat whatever opposing defenses have thrown at him and I expect nothing different here. This is certainly a high total by NFL standards but it's warranted in my opinion. Take the over (10*). |
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10-01-18 | Chiefs v. Broncos +4.5 | 27-23 | Win | 100 | 22 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Denver plus the points over Kansas City at 8:15 pm et on Monday. You can certainly make the argument that this is a bigger game for the Broncos than it is for the Chiefs. Kansas City is off to a perfect 3-0 start and could put two games between itself and Denver with a win on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Broncos have scored just 34 points over their last two games combined, checking in with a 2-1 record. The common line of thinking is that they'll have trouble keeping up with the high-flying Chiefs offense on Monday night. I'm not so easily convinced. Denver brought in QB Case Keenum in the offseason and he has certainly looked good at times this season and should only get better with time as he gets acclimated with the offense. We've already seen him develop some nice chemistry with WR Emmanuel Sanders. Note that while the Broncos struggled offensively last week in Baltimore, they lost rookie RB Phillip Lindsay relatively early in the game after he threw a punch. His presence does add another element to this offense and should serve Denver well on Monday night. Two games back he ran for over 100 yards on only 14 carries against Oakland. The Chiefs defense has been virtually non-existent so far this season and this certainly doesn't appear to be an ideal bounce-back spot for that unit. I'll grab all the points I can get with the home underdog here. Take Denver (10*). |
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09-30-18 | Ravens v. Steelers OVER 50 | 26-14 | Loss | -107 | 55 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Baltimore and Pittsburgh at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. We've seen three straight relatively low-scoring Sunday Night Football matchups to start the season but I look for a different story to unfold this week. While we were previously accustomed to seeing defensive slugfests between the Ravens and Steelers, that hasn't really been the case in recent years. Both of these teams are built on the strength of their offense right now, not necessarily by design in the Ravens case, and that should lead to another high-scoring showdown on Sunday night. The Ravens will get cornerback Jimmy Smith back from suspension in their next game, which is really a game too late as they're in line to get lit up by a loaded Steelers passing game here. We've yet to see Antonio Brown really go off, although we did see signs of it happening this past Monday in Tampa. This should be the game where AB does put up some monster numbers against a vulnerable Ravens pass defense. I also look for Steelers RB James Conner to take a more prominent role, not just running the football, but in the passing game as well. The Ravens offense has really taken off over the last seven or eight games going back to last season. While they're not flashy by any means with Joe Flacco under center, they continue to put up points on a consistent basis. Here they'll be facing a bottom of the barrel Steelers defense that hasn't been able to do anything to limit opposing passing games this season. Even on Monday night, when it looked like Pittsburgh had the game in the bag, they let the Bucs bomb away and ultimately pull within a field goal in the fourth quarter. Expect a high-scoring, back and forth affair at Heinz Field on Sunday night. Take the over (10*). |
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09-30-18 | Saints v. Giants OVER 50.5 | 33-18 | Win | 100 | 51 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between New Orleans and New York at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. This one sets up as yet another shootout involving the Saints, who stay on the road to face the Giants. New Orleans owns one of the worst defenses in the entire league right now - a stark contrast to what we saw from the Saints a year ago. Now they'll have to face a Giants offense that found its footing in last week's win in Houston. Eli Manning did a much better job of getting the ball out quickly and utilizing the short passing game, leading to a 27-point outburst against the Texans. Manning and the Giants offense draw another favorable matchup here. The question is, can the G-Men slow down the Saints explosive offense. After suffering a hiccup against an underrated Browns defense, the Saints bounced back in a big way last Sunday, lighting up the scoreboard in Atlanta. There's little reason to expect any regression here, noting that the Giants have had no success generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season. Given a clean pocket, Brees should have no trouble carving this New York defense. Perhaps no offensive player is performing as well as Saints RB Alvin Kamara right now and he is in for another big day both on the ground and through the air on Sunday. Take the over (10*). |
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09-30-18 | Browns +3 v. Raiders | 42-45 | Push | 0 | 51 h 38 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Oakland at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. I'll approach this play with a bit of caution as the hype train has certainly left the station as far as the Browns go following last week's big come-from-behind win over the Jets in front of a national audience. With that being said, I do believe they draw a favourable matchup against the Raiders here. The Cleveland defense in particular should have little trouble slowing a plodding Raiders attack that simply doesn't have a lot going for it this season. The Browns run defense has been solid, allowing just under 3.7 yards per rush this season while they've also given opposing running backs nothing in the short passing game. Meanwhile their pass defense has been stout as well with rookie corner Denzel Ward leading the way. It's not as if they've faced an easy slate of QB's either, going up against Big Ben and Drew Brees along with Sam Darnold. While I don't expect Browns rookie QB Baker Mayfield to light it up in his first career start, I do feel he can do enough to secure a victory. Note that the Raiders haven't been able to generate any pressure against opposing quarterbacks and that isn't likely to change against Mayfield. Even if they do, his mobility should serve him well in this matchup. Look for another big game from Browns WR Jarvis Landry here. Take Cleveland (10*). |
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09-30-18 | Bucs v. Bears OVER 46 | 10-48 | Win | 100 | 46 h 12 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘over’ between Tampa Bay and Chicago at 1 pm et on Sunday. As long as the Bucs continue to play a hyper-aggressive style of offense and no defense whatsoever, they’re an automatic ‘over’ play, even against a quality defensive opponent such as the Bears. Chicago is coming off back-to-back low-scoring games but those results were definitely matchup-driven as they came against the Seahawks and Cardinals. Here, they’ll face their toughest challenge since wilting in the second half against the Packers back in Week 1. Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky hasn’t exactly been lighting up opposing defenses – far from it, in fact – but he does draw a favorable matchup here and I like the effort Chicago made to get RB Jordan Howard more involved not only on the ground but in the passing game as well last week. He works as a focal point of this offense. Meanwhile, Trubisky continues to build a stronger rapport with TE Trey Burton and has clearly found a favorite target in WR Allen Robinson. There are enough positives to take away from the Bears offense over the first three games to believe that they can put up some points against the Bucs. Tampa Bay will undoubtedly continue to bomb away in hopes of baiting the Bears into a shootout here. This could be Ryan Fitzpatrick’s last start for a while should he falter so we can be confident knowing that he’ll go down swinging at the very least. Note that it's been made official on Friday that Bears corner Prince Amukamara will not play on Sunday. Take the over (10*). |
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09-30-18 | Bengals v. Falcons OVER 53 | Top | 37-36 | Win | 100 | 49 h 36 m | Show |
NFL Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the ‘over’ between Cincinnati and Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday. We won with the ‘over’ in the Falcons wild overtime loss to the Saints last Sunday and I’ll go right back to the well with the same play here. The Bengals aren’t known for their offense, but they’ve performed pretty well in the early going this season and even if WR A.J. Green can’t go due to his groin injury this week, I still believe they’ll be able to put plenty of points on the board, due in large part to the mess of injuries the Falcons are dealing with on the defensive side of the football. Atlanta got torched by the Saints offense last week and will be in tough trying to slow down a versatile Bengals offense as well. The absence of Deion Jones and Keanu Neal is obviously key, but Takk McKinley’s injury can’t be understated either. The good news for the Falcons is that they have an offense capable of thriving in a shootout. Everyone was quick to criticize the Falcons red zone offense following their opening game in Philadelphia but since then, all they’ve done is go 8-for-8 ending drives with touchdowns inside the 20-yard line. With the Bengals still missing LB Vontaze Burfict, Falcons RB Tevin Coleman should have a field day on Sunday. And the Falcons have mismatches all over the field at wide receiver, especially with the emergence of rookie Calvin Ridley. Expect to see he and Julio Jones go off in this matchup with a below average Bengals pass defense. Perfect conditions inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium only add to the strength of this play. Take the over (10*). |
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09-30-18 | Bucs v. Bears -3 | Top | 10-48 | Win | 100 | 48 h 28 m | Show |
NFL NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Sunday. I really like the way this one sets up for the Bears on Sunday afternoon. We cashed a ticket fading the Bucs in their ‘closer than the final score indicated’ loss to the Steelers on Monday night and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well here. We certainly saw some regression from the Bucs offense in that matchup with a terrible Steelers pass defense. The magic seemed to run out for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and I really believe this will be his last start for Tampa Bay for a while with the Bucs heading into their bye week after this and Jameis Winston ready to return to the field. While I’m not a big fan of the Bears offense with Mitchell Trubisky at the helm right now, I’m not sure it really matters here as Chicago should have little trouble moving the football against a weak Bucs defense. The Bears have enough talent around Trubisky, namely RB Jordan Howard and WR Allen Robinson, to put up some points on Sunday afternoon. This is a well-coached football team that is still slowly learning a new offense. There will come a week where we see a breakout performance, and this just might be it. I like the fact that the Bears defense should be able to completely take away the Bucs already non-existent ground game and force Fitzpatrick into more mistakes. Take Chicago (10*). |
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09-30-18 | Dolphins v. Patriots OVER 48.5 | Top | 7-38 | Loss | -110 | 16 h 20 m | Show |
NFL AFC East Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Miami and New England at 1 pm et on Sunday. I'll back the 'over' in Foxborough on Sunday afternoon. We missed the mark with the 'over' in the Patriots stunning blowout loss in Detroit last Sunday night but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. The Pats always seem to bounce back from bad games, let along back-to-back bad games, as is the case here. The fact they're returning home for the first time since Week 1 certainly helps their cause. Note that New England always seems to score 30+ points against the Dolphins and while Miami has held up well defensively in the early going this season, it's worth noting it has faced the likes of Tennessee, New York (Jets) and Oakland. This will be its toughest test to date by far. Xavien Howard is a stud in the secondary for the Fins but he can't cover everyone. Look for Tom Brady to spread the football around in this contest. On the flip side, the Patriots defense has been getting gashed against the run and will be vulnerable against Miami's underrated RB Kenyon Drake. The Pats simply don't have the personnel to win games with defense right now and even against a middle of the road Dolphins offense, I don't expect to see them turn in a standout performance. Miami has enough playmakers around QB Ryan Tannehill to put some points on the board in this one. Take the over (10*). |
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09-27-18 | Vikings v. Rams OVER 49 | Top | 31-38 | Win | 100 | 34 h 25 m | Show |
NFL Thursday Night Total of the Month. My selection is on the ‘over’ between Minnesota and Los Angeles at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. I’ll back the ‘over’ in Los Angeles on Thursday night. We won with the ‘over’ in the Rams victory over the Chargers last Sunday and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. While the Vikings have seen the ‘under’ cash in two of their first three games this season, the fact is, all three of those contests just as easily could and probably should have gone ‘over’ the number. A lot of points were left on the field in their opener against the 49ers as San Francisco in particular had a tough time finishing drives – keep in mind that was against a Vikings defense that was virtually at full strength, and at home no less. The Vikes followed that up with a wild 29-29 tie in Green Bay before returning home in a massive sandwich spot against the lowly Bills, shockingly dropping that game in blowout fashion. There’s no question Minnesota was caught looking past Buffalo and wasn’t sharp on either side of the football. The Vikes know they’ll need to be a lot better, particularly on offense, in order to hang with the red hot Rams on Thursday night. Los Angeles has gotten better offensively with each passing game this season. There really was no stopping Sean McVay’s offense last Sunday as the Rams moved the football at will against a banged-up Chargers defense. Now they face another quality defensive opponent, but one that is also missing a number of key cogs. I look for Rams WR Cooper Kupp in particular to have a big game in this spot after being generally held in check by the Chargers last week. He owns a considerable advantage against Vikings slot corner Mackensie Alexander in this one. The Vikings will be without their best pass rusher in Everson Griffen this week and are banged-up in the secondary as well. For a team that hasn’t performed particularly well defensively on the road, that spells major trouble against the Rams outstanding offense. I do believe the Vikes can hang in there on the strength of their offense, however, and they certainly have ‘bomb away’ potential should they fall behind. Dalvin Cook may be sidelined again on Thursday, but it should be the Minnesota passing game that exploits a couple of mismatches on the perimeter with Rams' corners Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib sidelined. Take the over (10*). |
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09-24-18 | Steelers +1 v. Bucs | 30-27 | Win | 100 | 24 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday. I'll back the Steelers on Monday night as they try to get past all of their issues on and off the field and earn their first victory of the season. The sky is not actually falling in Pittsburgh right now. Le'Veon Bell remains out of the mix and Antonio Brown certainly wasn't happy with the way last week's game played out, but this is still a team that has suffered just one loss - that coming against perhaps the league's hottest team in the Kansas City Chiefs. With a win here the Steelers can right the ship and while the Bucs have gone 2-0 so far, I believe they present a favorable matchup for Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay took advantage of a struggling Saints defense in Week 1 and then caught the Eagles at home last week, without their starting QB Carson Wentz. Perhaps we shouldn't be all that surprised by Tampa Bay's 2-0 start. Tampa Bay will put its share of points on the board, but in the end, I don't believe it will be enough. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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09-24-18 | Steelers v. Bucs OVER 54 | 30-27 | Win | 100 | 24 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday. I don't see where the stops come from in this non-conference showdown on Monday night. The Steelers have been absolutely torched by two offenses at opposite ends of the spectrum in the Browns and Chiefs. The Bucs enter this matchup absolutely rolling on offense, and playing an extremely aggressive style that should bode well against a weak Steelers defense. The problem for Tampa Bay is, it will be going up against a supremely talented, not to mention highly motivated Steelers offense. We've yet to see Pittsburgh's best offensively but I believe there's a good chance we witness just that on Monday night. RB James Conner has had little trouble filling the absent Le'Veon Bell's role. Meanwhile, we can anticipate a big game out of WR Antonio Brown following last week's frustrations. Take the over (10*). |
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09-23-18 | Patriots v. Lions OVER 53.5 | Top | 10-26 | Loss | -104 | 24 h 34 m | Show |
NFL Sunday Night Football Total of the Month. My selection is on the ‘over’ between New England and Detroit at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. This has all the makings of a high-scoring shootout on Sunday Night Football. The Patriots defense isn’t an elite group to begin with and things have gotten worse on the injury front with both Trey Flowers and Patrick Chung expected to miss this week’s game. While the Lions are off to a miserable 0-2 start, they have continued to bomb away with Matt Stafford throwing for well over 600 yards and four touchdowns (to go along with four interceptions). There’s a good chance the Lions will be playing from behind again on Sunday night, which opens the door for another aerial assault from Stafford to his fantastic trio of wide receivers in Tate, Jones and Golladay. I don’t think Lions fans should have any false hope that their team can slow down Tom Brady and the Patriots offense here. Detroit’s two best defensive players, Ezekiel Ansah and Darius Slay are both expected to miss this game. That leaves the Lions defense completely exposed in this particular matchup. Brady should have little trouble carving up this Detroit secondary in particular, and will have no shortage of motivation after suffering that ugly loss in Jacksonville last Sunday. Expect to see both offenses keep their foot on the gas pedal for four quarters in ideal conditions indoors at Ford Field. Take the over (10*). |
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09-23-18 | Chargers v. Rams OVER 47.5 | 23-35 | Win | 100 | 20 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘over’ between the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. I’ll back the ‘over’ at the L.A. Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. As long as linebacker Joey Bosa remains sidelined, the Chargers defense will continue to struggle. He’s out again this week and that leaves them in a really tough spot against one of the league’s best offenses in the Rams. There’s little reason to expect the Chargers to offer any sort of resistance against Todd Gurley and head coach Sean McVay will continue to put Jared Goff in position to succeed with a wealth of talented weapons around him. The interesting thing is that the ‘under’ has actually cashed in each of the Rams first two games. That has had more to do with the opposition than anything else, as they’ve gone up against two of the league’s more limited offenses in the Raiders and Cardinals. They’ll face their first real test here as the Chargers can score. Missing Corey Liuget from the offensive line certainly hurts their cause, but I still expect to see them manufacture a number of scoring drives against this tough Rams defense. Look for Keenan Allen in particular to turn in a big performance after not being asked to do very much against the lowly Bills last Sunday. Take the over (10*). |
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09-23-18 | Saints v. Falcons OVER 53 | 43-37 | Win | 100 | 17 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘over’ between New Orleans and Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday. I really like the way this one sets up as a shootout at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon. We’ve actually cashed a number of ‘under’ tickets in this series over the years but I won’t hesitate to switch gears in this particular matchup. The Saints were somewhat surprisingly held to only 21 points against the Browns last Sunday, at home no less. That has most wondering whether they can get rolling again in this tough divisional road game. I don’t think the Saints will have any problem shaking loose offensively in this one, as they go up against a Falcons defense that is banged up, missing Keanu Neal and Deion Jones. Those injuries can’t be understated, especially when you consider the way the Saints like to attack. Look for another big game from New Orleans RB Alvin Kamara, who should be able to enjoy similar success to what we saw from Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey last week, when he caught 14 passes. I will say it’s hard to have a lot of faith in the Saints defense right now. Were they just a flash in the pan last season? It’s really too early to tell, but there’s no question the Falcons offense will look to attack early and often and I like the way they mixed things up last week, moving away from Julio Jones a little bit, particularly in the red zone after drawing so many questions following that disappointing Week 1 loss in Philadelphia. That’s not to say Jones won’t make a big impact here. He always seems to bring his ‘A’ game against the Saints and we should see a similar story unfold here. Take the over (10*). |
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09-23-18 | Packers v. Redskins OVER 45 | 17-31 | Win | 100 | 16 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘over’ between Green Bay and Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Redskins were involved in another low-scoring affair last week, putting only nine points on the board against the Colts. That of course came on the heels of a shutout victory in Arizona the week previous. Those two ‘under’ results are giving us some value with the ‘over’ here in Week 3 as Washington faces its toughest test of the season so far against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Green Bay is coming off a wild 29-29 result against the Vikings last Sunday. While Rodgers didn’t look completely comfortable early on in that game he eventually settled in, completing 30-of-42 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown. I expect to see him expand on those numbers here. I liked the fact that TE Jimmy Graham got going with six catches for 95 yards against the Vikes. He should have continued success against the ‘Skins in this spot. The Washington offense couldn’t get anything going against an improved Indianapolis defense defense last week but will be taking a step down in class here. There are going to be games where the Redskins offense really struggles this season. With that being said, I see this as a matchup they can exploit. The Packers are not all that stout over the middle and Washington has a QB in Alex Smith that excels in the short passing game, with a couple of targets that could be in for big days in TE Jordan Reed and pass-catching RB Chris Thompson. After failing to reach the end zone last week, putting 6’s on the board will clearly be a point of emphasis for Jay Gruden’s squad against the Packers. They know that ending drives with field goals won’t be enough to outlast Aaron Rodgers and that mentality lends itself to a relatively high-scoring affair at FedEx Field on Sunday afternoon. Take the over (10*). |
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09-23-18 | Saints +2 v. Falcons | 43-37 | Win | 100 | 16 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Falcons did well to avoid an 0-2 hole to open the season with a big home win over the division-rival Panthers last Sunday. I’m not sure they’ll fare so well this week, however, as they welcome another NFC South opponent in the New Orleans Saints. To say that injuries are piling up at key positions for the Falcons would be an understatement. Safety Keanu Neal, linebacker Deion Jones and running back Devonta Freeman were already sidelined and now guard Andy LeVitre has been placed on IR as well. On the flip side, the Saints roll into town generally healthy, although still missing suspended running back Mark Ingram. New Orleans has taken an interesting path to 1-1, suffering a surprising loss to the Bucs in its opener before rebounding with a less than inspiring win over the Browns last Sunday. The identical 1-1 starts certainly ramp up the importance of this game for both of these squads but I believe the Saints are in better position to move on-up on the .500 mark here. The Falcons generally concede underneath passing routes to opposing running backs and were subsequently lit up by Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey last week. There’s little reason to expect anything different against perhaps an even better pass-catching back in Alvin Kamara this week. On top of that, Saints WR Michael Thomas should find plenty of open field against the Falcons undermanned secondary and Drew Brees is undoubtedly in line for a big bounce-back performance following last week’s relatively poor showing. On the other side of the football, the Saints defense is better than it has shown so far this season. It took a step in the right direction last week but still suffered some lapses, including that game-tying touchdown hook-up between Tyrod Taylor and Antonio Callaway last week. The Falcons multi-dimensional offense poses a tough challenge but I’m confident the Saints defense will make enough plays to secure a victory. Take New Orleans (10*). |
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09-23-18 | Raiders v. Dolphins -3 | Top | 20-28 | Win | 100 | 16 h 18 m | Show |
NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Miami minus the points over Oakland at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Raiders are in a truly tough situation here. After starting the season on the west coast with a home game against the Rams, they traveled to the thin air of Denver last week and now have to trek across the rest of the country for an early start in Miami on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins have generally had a solid home field advantage early in the season and already 1-0 SU and ATS at home here in 2018. I like the Dolphins chances of improving to a somewhat improbable 3-0 this week. We’ve seen this story unfold before. Remember, back in 2016 the Dolphins enjoyed plenty of success with the Adam Gase-Ryan Tannehill combo. When asked to be more or less a game manager, Tannehill has proven that he can succeed. In fact, the Fins are 9-1 in Tannehill’s last 10 starts. The Raiders couldn’t have played much better than they did last Sunday in Denver but they still fell short in the end. I can’t see them getting back to that level of effort and execution in their second straight road contest this Sunday. Their offense did show some positive signs against the Broncos, but let’s face it, the Denver defense isn’t what it once was, especially against the pass. I actually feel the Fins can hold up much better than the Broncos did against Derek Carr and the Raiders passing game. On the other side of the football, the Raiders don’t have the personnel in place to get after opposing quarterbacks which sets up nicely for Tannehill. Look for him to have a field day against this Oakland defense, and for the overlooked Miami ground attack to ultimately salt away another victory. Take Miami (10*). |
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09-20-18 | Jets v. Browns UNDER 40.5 | 17-21 | Win | 100 | 23 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘under’ between New York and Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. This is certainly a low posted total by today’s NFL standards but I have a tough time envisioning a game between these two teams eclipsing the number. The Jets absolutely exploded in their Week 1 win at Detroit, on Monday Night Football no less, and it’s apparent that most bettors are willing to give them a pass for last week’s stinker at home against the Dolphins. We won with the ‘under’ in that 20-12 loss this past Sunday and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. Sam Darnold certainly looks like he has a bright NFL career ahead of him, but it’s still awfully early to be anointing him as the ‘next big thing’. He’ll face another tough challenge here, preparing for an underrated Browns defense on a short week. Simply put, I don’t see the Jets really expanding the playbook for Darnold in this particular matchup. Meanwhile, Cleveland is just trying to win a football game right now. The Browns have scratched and clawed their way to two near-misses against the Steelers and Saints, with little help from their offense, and certainly not from their kicking game. Like Darnold, Tyrod Taylor will be up against it here, even though the Jets don’t offer much of a pass rush - they will present some varied looks in the defensive backfield. I actually expect Taylor to have more success running the football than he will throwing it on Thursday night, which will help keep the clock moving. While special teams and defensive scores can always ruin an ‘under’ bet in this point range, I’m not going to let that steer me away from making this play on Thursday night. Take the under (10*). |
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09-17-18 | Seahawks v. Bears UNDER 43 | 17-24 | Win | 100 | 24 h 4 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Seattle and Chicago at 8:15 pm et on Monday. I'll back the 'under' at Soldier Field on Monday night. Both of these teams were involved in relatively high-scoring affairs last week, with the 'over' going a perfect 2-0. I expect a different story to unfold on Monday night. The Seahawks got a big day from TE Will Dissly last week against Denver. That was about the only positive to come from the Seattle offense on that day. Keep in mind, the Bears have a stout defense that limited Packers TE Jimmy Graham to just two catches for eight yards last week. Seattle is in tough here without WR Doug Baldwin. This is a bottom-tier offense with a tremendous starting QB in Russell Wilson. I'm not sure he'll be able to do enough to help the Seahawks hang a crooked number on the board on Monday. On the flip side, it's just too early in the Matt Nagy era for the Bears to really unleash their offense. We saw them sputter in the second half against the Packers last Sunday and I don't expect a sudden explosion here. The Seahawks are undermanned defensively but they'll show up on Monday night. Take the under (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Raiders v. Broncos -6 | 19-20 | Loss | -110 | 32 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Denver minus the points over Oakland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. Are the Raiders as bad as they looked in the final three quarters of Monday’s blowout loss to the Rams? In a word, yes. While they’ll have no problem getting up for this matchup with the division-rival Broncos I don’t believe they’ll be able to hang around for four quarters. The Broncos have long been a tremendous ‘play-on’ team at home in September and while they didn’t earn the ATS cover last week against Seattle, they did show me enough to believe they’re worth a play again here against the Raiders. It was a pretty sloppy performance from Broncos QB Case Keenum all things considered. With that being said, he still managed to spread the football around and prove that he’s developed some nice chemistry with his wide receivers, Emmanuel Sanders in particular. I look for the Broncos defense to play even better than it did a week ago, and the same goes for the Denver ground attack on offense. To be honest, I’m not sure where the Raiders go from here. Their offense looks broken (TE Jared Cook was the only bright spot on Monday night) and their defense is seriously downgraded after trading away Khalil Mack. This number could be even higher in favor of the Broncos in my opinion. Take Denver (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Lions v. 49ers OVER 48 | 27-30 | Win | 100 | 32 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘over’ between Detroit and San Francisco at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. I’ll back the ‘over’ in Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon. I leaned hard to the ‘under’ in the 49ers season-opener in Minnesota last week but ultimately decided to lay off. That one ended up finishing pretty close to the number despite a low-scoring first half, and the final total certainly could have been much higher were it not for missed opportunities by both sides. Here, I’m anticipating a bit of a shootout. The Lions couldn’t have looked any worse than they did in Monday’s blowout loss to the Jets. I do expect a bounce-back of sorts here, at least from the offense. Matt Stafford is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in football for a reason. Despite his awful performance on Monday, he’ll come back airing it out against a vulnerable 49ers defense on Sunday. The same goes for 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo. He was good but not great but was also facing an elite Vikings defense, on the road no less, in last week’s season-opener. Expect to see him do a better job of finishing drives against the Lions awful defense in this matchup. Outside of Darius Slay the Detroit secondary is among the worst in the league. The ‘Niners should have little trouble taking advantage. Take the over (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Cardinals v. Rams -13 | 0-34 | Win | 100 | 32 h 9 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Arizona at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. I had just two regrets following Week 1 of the NFL season and one of them was not laying the points with the Rams on Monday night. As the betting public piled on with the Rams and the Raider-bashing reached monumental levels I really did believe there may have been a chance we were missing something with Los Angeles. That wasn’t the case as the Rams absolutely obliterated the Raiders following a sluggish first half. Now L.A. gets another very winnable matchup at home against another team that looks to be out of answers less than two weeks into the season in the Arizona Cardinals. There was a time when the Cards owned one of the strongest home field edges in football but those days are gone. It sounds like they’re going to give QB Sam Bradford another go this Sunday and I don’t expect that decision to end well. Even with a healthy David Johnson in the backfield Arizona was unable to get anything going in a shutout loss against the Redskins last week. Now the Cards face an even tougher challenge, on the road no less. The Rams certainly aren’t known to hold anything back when it comes to calling offensive plays. I expect to see them put their foot on the gas for four quarters against a division opponent here. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Texans -2.5 v. Titans | 17-20 | Loss | -110 | 29 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on Houston minus the points over Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday. Both of these teams enter Week 2 with winless records but it’s the Texans that have a lot more upside moving forward. Houston ran into a really tough opening week matchup, facing the Patriots on the road in a revenge situation (for New England) after upsetting them in Foxborough last season. Not surprisingly, the Texans came up empty this time around with the Pats taking away their best weapons in DeShaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans will do no such thing this week as they limp into this matchup following a storm-delayed loss in Miami last Sunday. Tennessee is dealing with a number of key injuries and is in serious danger of this season spinning away from it even if we are only into the second week. An injury to Marcus Mariota causes a serious downgrade to this offense as a whole, especially after the Titans got very little production from their running game against a middle of the road Dolphins defense last week. There’s really no intimidation factor at play here. The Texans have the veterans on board to right the ship, especially on the defensive side of the football. Take Houston (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Dolphins v. Jets UNDER 43.5 | Top | 20-12 | Win | 100 | 30 h 38 m | Show |
NFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the ‘under’ between Miami and New York at 1 pm et on Sunday. We missed the mark with the ‘under’ in the Jets season-opening win in Detroit (we weren’t close with that play) but won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as New York returns home to host the Dolphins this week. Everyone is singing Sam Darnold’s praises but he will face a much tougher test here than he did against the Lions defense, which was an absolute joke on Monday night. Not only that but Darnold will be working on a short week of preparation following the Monday nighter. Expect another solid but perhaps not spectacular game from the rookie QB. Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill did a nice job of managing the game against the Titans last Sunday and will have to play smart again this week as he faces an opportunistic Jets defense. Don’t count on Tannehill airing it out early and often in this contest. I would count on Miami serving the Jets with a heavy dose of their RB tandem in Kenyon Drake and Frank Gore in an effort to control time of possession. This total is actually a couple of points higher than it should be in my opinion. Take the under (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Eagles -3 v. Bucs | 21-27 | Loss | -114 | 29 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Sunday. We won with the Eagles in last week’s season-opener against Atlanta although that winning ticket certainly didn’t come easy. I look for Philadelphia to have an easier time of it this Sunday as they head south to Tampa to take on the surprisingly 1-0 Bucs. Philadelphia didn’t get much at all from QB Nick Foles against the Falcons but perhaps that was to be expected after he was banged up in the preseason. While I’m not convinced Foles bounces back in a big way here, I do believe the Eagles have enough on offense, and a stout enough defense to outlast the Bucs. Tampa Bay turned a lot of heads by upsetting the Saints in New Orleans last Sunday. I don’t think there’s any question that the Saints overlooked the Bucs in that matchup. Perhaps ‘overlooked’ is not the proper term, but they certainly didn’t bring the proper level of compete – particularly on the defensive side of the football. There will be no catching the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles off guard here. They know what the Bucs are capable of after last week’s 48-point explosion. That’s an effort that just isn’t likely to be repeated. In a much lower-scoring affair than we saw with Tampa Bay last Sunday, I’ll lay the short number with Philadelphia. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Browns v. Saints -9 | 18-21 | Loss | -110 | 29 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday. Let’s face it; Week 1 didn’t go well for the Saints, who lost as a big favorite, at home against a division opponent no less. I fully expect to see them bounce back here in Week 2 as they draw a favorable matchup with the Browns. Cleveland battled to a 21-21 tie with the Steelers last Sunday. Pittsburgh essentially handed that game to the Browns on a silver platter late in the fourth quarter and into overtime but Cleveland was unable to claim victory. Tyrod Taylor certainly didn’t look 100% healthy and also somewhat improperly utilized in the offense. I’m not sure we’ll see much change in that regard this week and the Saints defense will certainly be licking its chops after getting caught flat-footed by an aggressive Bucs offense last week. The New Orleans offense had little trouble shredding Tampa Bay last Sunday and I would expect more of the same against Cleveland. RB Mark Ingram’s absence didn’t have much of an impact as Alvin Kamara picked up the slack and then some with a monster performance. Look for Drew Brees to utilize TE Benjamin Watson against a vulnerable Browns defense this week. And of course the Saints wide receiving corps is as explosive as it gets. This has all the makings of a rout. Take New Orleans (10*). |
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09-16-18 | Chiefs v. Steelers -4.5 | Top | 42-37 | Loss | -110 | 30 h 32 m | Show |
NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Kansas City at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Steelers avoided complete embarrassment thanks to a blocked field goal at the end of overtime in Cleveland last Sunday but there’s no question it was an ugly start to the campaign for the Black and Gold. I have no doubt that we’ll see a much sharper effort from the Steelers, on offense in particular, as they host the Chiefs on Sunday. We won with Kansas City last week in Los Angeles but we were fortunate to cash that ticket as the Chargers were able to march the ball up and down the field against what certainly appeared to be a weak Chiefs defense. I’m not sure we’ll see Kansas City right the ship on that side of the football traveling across the country to face the Steelers in their second straight road game to open the season. You have to think heading into this two-game jaunt that the Chiefs would have been more than pleased to earn a 1-1 split. While they’d undoubtedly like to earn the 2-0 sweep now that they have the first one in their back pocket, I simply feel that the Steelers will be the hungrier squad on Sunday afternoon. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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09-10-18 | Rams v. Raiders OVER 47.5 | 33-13 | Loss | -106 | 12 h 13 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Oakland at 10:20 pm et on Monday. We saw a low-scoring affair between these two teams in Week 2 of the preseason, as the Rams prevailed by a 19-15 score. Of course, we can throw that result out the window as Los Angeles sat its offensive stars throughout the preseason schedule. I'm expecting a wild, high-scoring contest on Monday night. Everyone is down on the Raiders right now. The Khalil Mack trade obviously has a lot to do with that. But even on offense, few are expecting much from Oakland. I believe that's precisely why the 'over' is a solid play tonight. The Raiders still boast plenty of talent on offense with QB Derek Carr, RB Marshawn Lynch and WR Amari Cooper. As far as I'm concerned all three of those players have a lot to prove this season and will see this showdown with the vaunted Rams defense as a really good opportunity to show that they're not going to be doormats this season. On the flip side, I'm not concerned at all about the Rams offensive starters not seeing game action in August. They'll be ready to go and in their second year under head coach Sean McVay's guidance I expect continued improvement and refinement in this offense. Take the over (10*). |
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09-10-18 | Jets v. Lions UNDER 45 | Top | 48-17 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 41 m | Show |
NFL MNF Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Detroit at 7:10 pm et on Monday. I'll back the 'under' in the first half of Monday's NFL double-header in Detroit. The Jets won their preseason opener by a 17-0 score over Atlanta but followed it up with three straight losses, scoring a grand total of just 38 points in the process. Sam Darnold takes over at quarterback but I certainly don't expect the Jets to throw him right into the fire in his first career road start, on Monday Night Football no less. Look for a heavy dose of the Jets running game in this one as they count on a combination of that and solid defensive play to shoot for an opening week victory. The Lions put up 33 points in their 'dress rehearsal' game in Week 3 of the preseason but that had little to do with the Detroit starters, with QB Matt Stafford completing just 9-of-18 passes. I'm not all that high on this Lions offense, even with the addition of veteran RB LaGarrette Blount, who should alleviate some of their concerns on the ground. I actually believe it will be the Detroit defense that shines in this contest. Take the under (10*). |
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09-09-18 | Bears v. Packers -7 | 23-24 | Loss | -109 | 34 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Chicago at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. I’ll lay the points with the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday night as they host the rival Bears, who many are expecting big things from this season. I’m not as high on the Bears as most. There’s been a lot of talk leading up to the season surrounding just how exciting this Chicago offense will be but time will tell whether it plays out that way on the field or not. For now, the Bears have a tough opening week matchup against a Packers squad that starts the season with a renewed sense of confidence and most importantly, a healthy and well-paid Aaron Rodgers. Yes, the Bears boast a terrific defense, one that got even stronger with the addition of Khalil Mack. But Mack is just getting acclimated with this group and I believe it will take some time for the unit to completely mesh. I like what the Packers bring to the table on both sides of the football. Some see the departure of WR Jordy Nelson as a bad thing but I actually believe it will prove to be a positive for Rodgers and the offense. The Pack still have a solid WR corps and while their backfield doesn’t have much in the way of star power, I think it will do enough to relieve some of the pressure on Rodgers. We’re being asked to lay a considerable number of points with the Packers but I actually believe the line could be even higher. There are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the Bears and I think their best football will be played from late September on. Take Green Bay (10*). |
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09-09-18 | Seahawks v. Broncos -3 | 24-27 | Push | 0 | 28 h 25 m | Show | |
My selection is on Denver minus the points over Seattle at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. I’ll lay the points with the Broncos on Sunday afternoon as they welcome the Seahawks to open the 2018 season. You probably haven’t heard much about the Broncos leading into this season as the Chiefs and Chargers have grabbed most of the headlines in the AFC West. I believe Denver is an excellent sleeper pick to win the division, but it needs to start here in September. Sure, there are some expected growing pains on offense with Case Keenum taking over at quarterback but I believe he’s more than capable of playing well, if not carrying the team. Here’s a guy that almost certainly has a big chip on his shoulder after being allowed to walk away from the Vikings in the offseason after showing so much promise in Minnesota last year. The defense is the real star of the show in Denver and that unit draws a favorable matchup here with the Seahawks at less than 100% on offense. QB Russell Wilson will make plenty of plays with his arm and his feet but his supporting cast seems to be getting weaker with each passing year. Meanwhile, the Seahawks defense is in a bit of turmoil due to the Earl Thomas situation and in transition with the departure of Richard Sherman in the offseason. There are simply too many question marks for me to support the Seahawks here, and too much upside to ignore with the Broncos. Take Denver (10*). |
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09-09-18 | Chiefs +3.5 v. Chargers | Top | 38-28 | Win | 100 | 30 h 44 m | Show |
NFL Underdog Game of the Week. My selection is on Kansas City plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. I'll grab the points with the Chiefs on Sunday as they open the 2018 season with an AFC West showdown with the Chargers. Los Angeles is receiving plenty of hype entering the new season with some even picking it to reach the Super Bowl. I'm not nearly as high on the Chargers. The Chiefs actually haven't lost a game to the rival Chargers since way back in 2013. I don't believe this is the Kansas City team to end that streak. I see the Chiefs as a team with a lot of upside entering the new season. QB Pat Mahomes may be a first-year starter but he certainly played like a veteran in the preseason and gained a lot of knowledge working behind a true pro in Alex Smith last year. Some believe that RB Kareem Hunt was a one-year wonder, but I'm confident that he'll give the Chiefs a lot out of the backfield once again this season. Meanwhile, WR Tyreek Hill has been getting better with each passing season and certainly looked in sync with Mahomes in the preseason. Defensively, the Chiefs do have some question marks, and they'll obviously be facing a tough challenge in the Chargers offense on Sunday, but I'm confident we'll see them play well. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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09-09-18 | Texans v. Patriots UNDER 51 | Top | 20-27 | Win | 100 | 27 h 53 m | Show |
NFL AFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Houston and New England at 1 pm et on Sunday. I'll back the 'under' in Foxborough on Sunday afternoon. We saw a wild, high-scoring affair between these two teams last year as the Patriots came back to win by a 36-33 score. That has most bettors anticipating another shootout on Sunday afternoon, but I'm not so easily convinced. The Texans were certainly a better defensive team than they showed in that game against the Patriots last season. I believe they have the potential to be even better on that side of the football this year. Meanwhile, the Patriots offense is missing a number of key cogs from a year ago and while they should cruise to another AFC East title, I'm not sure they're going to be the offensive juggernaut we've seen in years' past. Defensively, the Pats were shredded by Texans QB DeShaun Watson in what was really his 'coming out party' a year ago. Expect New England to do a better job of containing Watson this time around. I don't anticipate either team generating much on the ground in this one, and while that can sometimes mean we're in for an air show, I do have confidence in both secondaries to hold up well here in Week 1. Note that the closing total in this matchup last year was just 44.5 points at most books. We're dealing with a much higher number this time around - I'm not sure it's warranted. Take the under (10*). |
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09-06-18 | Falcons v. Eagles -2 | Top | 12-18 | Win | 100 | 48 h 36 m | Show |
NFL Thursday Night Game of the Month. My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Atlanta at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. The defending Super Bowl champions have gone an impressive 11-3 SU since the NFL went to the Thursday night kickoff in the early-2000's. Of course, we saw the defending champion Patriots fall to the Chiefs last year, but I don't expect history to repeat itself with the Eagles here. It's certainly worth noting that the SU winner has gone an incredible 77-7 ATS in the Eagles last 84 games overall. We're dealing with a very short pointspread here, largely due to Philadelphia's numerous injury concerns - most notably absent from this game will be QB Carson Wentz. Nick Foles didn't look great in the preseason and also suffered an injury of his own but has put in a good week of practice with the Eagles first unit and I'm confident he'll hold his own against the Falcons on Thursday night. The Falcons are a solid team without question, but I don't believe they're the Super Bowl contender that most make them out to be. RB Devonta Freeman wilted at times over the course of last season while WR Julio Jones isn't the unstoppable force he once was. The addition or rookie WR Calvin Ridley will help, but I don't expect him to make all that much of an impact in this contest. The Eagles haven't lost a meaningful game at home since December 11, 2016. Look for them to make the key plays down the stretch in this one to secure a big opening night victory. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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02-04-18 | Eagles +5 v. Patriots | 41-33 | Win | 100 | 46 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over New England at 6:30 pm et on Sunday. I’ll grab the points with the Eagles on Sunday but I’m not sure that we’ll need them. The Eagles haven’t come out of nowhere to go on a run and reach the Super Bowl. They’ve been in pole position in the NFL virtually all season long. Yes, losing Carson Wentz hurt, but as we’ve seen it was by no means the end of their story. Perhaps it was only the beginning. Nick Foles has gone through some ups and downs in limited action as the Eagles starting QB this season but heading into this game, he’s in-sync with the rest of his offense and more than capable of slaying the dragon that is the New England Patriots. I have a lot of respect for Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick in particular. I’m certainly not in the category of ‘Patriots hater’ in which so many folks seem to reside these days. But this is as beatable of a Patriots team as we’ve seen over the course of their dynasty in my opinion. It seems as though we see a classic Super Bowl every other year, at least as far as recent history goes, so after last year’s thriller you would assume we’re in for a bit of a snoozefest this time around. But I don’t need to tell you that a trend like that is nothing more than a fluke. Expect an ultra-competitive game on Sunday evening in Minneapolis. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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01-21-18 | Vikings v. Eagles UNDER 39 | 7-38 | Loss | -102 | 22 h 1 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘under’ between Minnesota and Philadelphia at 6:40 pm et on Sunday. We’re dealing with a very low total by today’s NFL standards in this one, but I believe it’s warranted. The Vikings were ultimately involved in a high-scoring affair on paper in last week’s thrilling victory over the Saints, as the two teams combined to score 53 points, with 19 of those points coming in the final 3:01 of the fourth quarter. Up until that point, that game could have been classified as a defensive slugfest. Here, I’m expecting more of the same, minus the late explosion. Of course, the venue has to be considered here as the game will be played outdoors rather in the perfect offensive conditions we saw in Minnesota. I expect both teams to lean heavily on their ground attack, with a few shots through the air sprinkled in. We’re talking about two elite defensive teams, and it’s not as if we’re going to see a sudden identity shift with a trip to the Super Bowl hanging in the balance. Both quarterbacks deserve all the credit they’ve been receiving this week, but I don’t think we’ll see either squad put it all on their shoulders in this spot. Take the under (10*). |
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01-21-18 | Jaguars v. Patriots -7 | Top | 20-24 | Loss | -118 | 19 h 31 m | Show |
NFL Conference Championship Game of the Year. My selection is on New England minus the points over Jacksonville at 3:05 pm et on Sunday. I’ll lay the points with the Patriots on Sunday as they host the upstart Jaguars with the AFC Championship on the line. The Jags are getting plenty of support following last week’s impressive wire-to-wire victory over the Steelers. That performance made it easy to forget their ugly 10-3 home win over Buffalo on Wild Card weekend. While there’s a lot to like about the Jags, I believe their run comes to an end here. The Patriots weren’t really tested in last week’s rout of the Titans. This is a team that certainly didn’t need any more extra motivation but it got just that when the story came out regarding dissension in the ranks between Brady, Bellichick and Kraft. While the Jags have the type of defense that should give the Pats some headaches, I simply feel that New England has too many weapons to contend with for four quarters. And on the other side of the football, you can count on New England to come up with a gameplan to take away Jacksonville’s motor, RB Leonard Fournette, and force QB Blake Bortles to beat them. That’s not a story that ends well as far as I’m concerned. As nice as it would be to see some new blood representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, I don’t see it this year. Take New England (10*). |
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01-21-18 | Jaguars v. Patriots UNDER 46 | Top | 20-24 | Win | 100 | 18 h 29 m | Show |
NFL Conference Championship Total of the Year. My selection is on the ‘under’ between Jacksonville and New England at 3:05 pm et on Sunday. I’ll back the ‘under’ on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough. Both of these teams lit up the scoreboard in their respective Divisional Round games last weekend. The Jaguars were buoyed by a number of Steelers turnovers and took advantage of excellent field position throughout the game, an advantage they’re not likely to enjoy against the Pats this Sunday. Meanwhile, New England faced no resistance against a middle of the road Titans defense last Saturday night. Jacksonville’s defense is undoubtedly on another level by comparison. That’s not to say they’ll shut down the Pats vaunted offense by any means, but we don’t really need them to with the total set where it is. While the New England offense gets most of the credit, we’ve seen the defense come up big time and time again and I expect no different here as they take away Jacksonville’s best offensive weapon, RB Leonard Fournette, and force QB Blake Bortles into obvious passing situations. I believe there’s a good chance we see the winning side score in the 24-27 point range here, which puts us in good position to cash our ticket. Take the under (10*). |
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01-14-18 | Saints +5 v. Vikings | Top | 24-29 | Push | 0 | 28 h 41 m | Show |
NFL Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Minnesota at 4:40 pm et on Sunday. We cashed our Wild Card Game of the Year with the Panthers plus the points over the Saints last Sunday but I won't hesitate to switch gears and back New Orleans as it hits the road to face the Vikings this week. The Vikings are obviously highly-motivated as they try to become the first team to ever appear in a Super Bowl on their home field. I'm not convinced they get there, however, and believe they'll be in for a serious battle against the Saints on Sunday. QB Case Keenum had a tremendous regular season but the playoffs are a completely different animal. The Saints opportunistic defense is brimming with confidence right now and will undoubtedly throw everything it has at Keenum. While I do have a lot of respect for the Vikings on both sides of the football, I simply feel that they're overvalued, due in large part to their double-digit win over the Saints way back in Week 1. Take New Orleans (10*). |
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01-14-18 | Jaguars v. Steelers OVER 41 | Top | 45-42 | Win | 100 | 24 h 12 m | Show |
NFL Divisional Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Jacksonville and Pittsburgh at 1:05 pm et on Sunday. I'll back the 'over' at Heinz Field on Sunday afternoon. The Jags certainly didn't put their best foot forward offensively against the Bills last Sunday, QB Blake Bortles in particular. However, they still managed to win the game, and now they have a shot at accomplishing something truly great in Pittsburgh. I look for a much better showing by Bortles and the offense in general. Keep in mind, RB Leonard Fournette ran wild against the Steelers back in early October, gaining 181 yards and punching in a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions against the Jags defense on that afternoon, but I expect a much different story to unfold this time around. Big Ben will have all-world WR Antonio Brown back at his disposal, and with Martavis Bryant stepping up down the stretch as well, this aerial attack is truly loaded. We're dealing with a low total, but I don't believe it's warranted. Take the over (10*). |
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01-13-18 | Falcons v. Eagles UNDER 41.5 | 10-15 | Win | 100 | 20 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Philadelphia at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. This is a low total when it comes down to it but I'm not sure it's been set low enough. The Falcons are the best 'under' bet in the league this season. Despite all the talent they possess, their offense continues to struggle to find consistency. There's little reason to expect them to suddenly light it up against an elite, well-rested Eagles defense on Saturday. On the flip side, I have little faith in the Philadelphia offense with Nick Foles at the helm. Like the Falcons, they do have plenty of talent, but without Carson Wentz, I don't believe they're going anywhere. The Falcons defense is an underrated unit to be sure, and I'm confident they'll show up again in the divisional round. Take the under (10*). |
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01-13-18 | Falcons -3 v. Eagles | 10-15 | Loss | -100 | 20 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on Atlanta minus the points over Philadelphia at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. It almost seems as if the Eagles have suddenly become the trendy pick in this matchup on Saturday. When Philadelphia lost Carson Wentz for the season I immediately felt that they would be fade material should they host a playoff game, and here we are. The Falcons have been inconsistent this season but gained a lot of confidence in holding off the Rams in Los Angeles last Saturday. I'm still not sure we've seen Atlanta's best effort this season, but what better spot than this for it to step up. Even if they had Carson Wentz, the Eagles would still not have much experience, and I'm still not sure they would be a sure thing to move on to the conference final. The Falcons didn't enter the postseason with high expectations and I'm still not sure folks are expecting much from them. Meanwhile, the Eagles have all the pressure in the world to go out and win a football game in front of the home faithful. Unfortunately they haven't been presented with an ideal situation. Take Atlanta (10*). |
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01-07-18 | Panthers +7 v. Saints | Top | 26-31 | Win | 100 | 21 h 31 m | Show |
NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Carolina plus the points over New Orleans at 4:40 pm et on Sunday. The Panthers are a trendy sleeper pick in the NFC entering these playoffs, and rightfully so in my opinion. I like the way this matchup sets up for them, even off an ugly showing in Atlanta last Sunday. Of course, prior to that, Carolina had reeled off three straight wins, scoring 84 points in the process. While the Panthers may not have the start power outside of Cam Newton on offense, this unit is capable of doing some damage. The Saints failed to end their regular season on a high note, falling by a 31-24 score in Tampa last Sunday. In fact, they went just 3-3 SU over their last six games. One of those wins did come against the Panthers right here in New Orleans, and it came by a 10-point margin. I can’t help but feel we see a tighter contest this time around as these two familiar divisional foes do battle. Take Carolina (10*). |
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01-07-18 | Bills +9 v. Jaguars | 3-10 | Win | 100 | 17 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Jacksonville at 1:05 pm et on Sunday. It’s hard not to get behind the Bills considering all the franchise has endured over a long playoff drought. I believe they draw a favorable matchup here against another team unfamiliar with recent playoff success in the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills won their way into the postseason by taking three of their final four regular season games. Meanwhile, the Jaguars limp into the playoffs on the heels of back-to-back losses against the 49ers and Titans on the road. A return home should give them a boost here, but will it be enough to secure a victory, let alone a cover? I’m not so sure. This has the makings of a sneaky-good Wild Card tilt with neither team going away quietly. Take Buffalo (10*). |
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01-07-18 | Bills v. Jaguars OVER 39.5 | 3-10 | Loss | -115 | 4 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Buffalo and Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday. I'll back the 'over' in Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon. We saw two relatively low-scoring affairs in Wild Card action yesterday but I expect to see a different story unfold as the Bills battle the Jags in this one. There are a lot of questions around whether either of these playoff rookie quarterbacks can perform on the postseason stage. I'm actually confident we'll see both turn in solid performances. It's easily overlooked that the Jags offense actually came to life down the stretch with the emergence of a number of young WR talents. On the flip side, Bills QB Tyrod Taylor has played with a chip on his shoulder since being benched earlier in the campaign. While I have respect for both defenses, I don't see them ruling the day on Sunday. We're working with a low total in this spot. Take the over (10*). |
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01-06-18 | Falcons +6 v. Rams | 26-13 | Win | 100 | 24 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on Atlanta plus the points over Los Angeles at 8:15 pm et on Saturday. I really do like the Rams, and we cashed plenty of tickets backing them over the course of the regular season. The playoffs are a different animal, however, and I look for the Falcons experience, and hunger after losing in such devastating fashion in last year’s Super Bowl to carry them through this Wild Card showdown. With that being said, I’ll grab all the points I can get with Atlanta rather than back it on the moneyline in this spot. The Rams are certainly worthy of respect from the betting marketplace – the fact they’re favored is no mistake on the part of the oddsmakers. But here I look for the Falcons to do a good job of stacking the box against Todd Gurley and forcing Jared Goff to turn in a lights out performance in his first playoff appearance. The Rams will be hard-pressed to come away with a win, let alone cover the spread in this contest. Take Atlanta (10*). |
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01-06-18 | Titans +9 v. Chiefs | 22-21 | Win | 100 | 20 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on Tennessee plus the points over Kansas City at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. I’ll grab the generous helping of points with the Titans as they square off against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Tennessee certainly didn’t impress down the stretch, winning just one of its final four games, but that turned out to be the one that mattered as its victory over the Jaguars last Sunday catapulted it into the postseason. Keep in mind, of the Titans most recent three losses; none came by more than five points. Their last blowout loss came back on November 16th, when they faced the less than inviting task of heading to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on a Thursday night following a gritty 24-20 win over Cincinnati four days earlier. The Chiefs closed out the regular season on a high note, winning their last four games, but as a franchise they haven’t won a playoff game in what seems like an eternity and I’m not totally convinced we see a reversal of fortunes here. Sure, they ‘should’ win this game. Covering the lofty spread may be a different story entirely. Take Tennessee (10*). |
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01-06-18 | Titans v. Chiefs UNDER 44.5 | Top | 22-21 | Win | 100 | 20 h 58 m | Show |
NFL Wild Card Total of the Year. My selection is on the ‘under’ between Tennessee and Kansas City at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. I’ll back the ‘under’ as the NFL Playoffs kick off in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. While the Chiefs did close out the regular season with their offensively seemingly humming along, the fact is, neither of these offenses was all that consistent this season. Note that the Titans haven’t allowed more than 27 points in a game since Week 11, when they suffered a 40-17 loss in Pittsburgh, playing just four days after a 24-20 home win over the Bengals. Meanwhile, the Chiefs allowed 15 points or less in their last three games that mattered (they gave up 24 points in last week’s meaningless win over the Broncos – we won with the ‘over’ in that contest). There’s really no need to overthink things here. I’m just not sure that either quarterback really gets rolling, nor do I believe the ground games will run wild in the first of this weekend’s four Wild Card matchups. Take the under (10*). |
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12-31-17 | Chiefs v. Broncos OVER 37.5 | Top | 27-24 | Win | 100 | 19 h 28 m | Show |
NFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Kansas City and Denver at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. I'll back the 'over' in Denver on Sunday afternoon. I'm confident we'll see both offenses open things up in this somewhat meaningless Week 17 matchup. The Chiefs will give rookie Patrick Mahomes a chance under center and I believe we'll see him perform well. Meanwhile, the Broncos offense has been a mess all season long but can take a step toward next season with a strong finish in front of the home faithful. Both defenses have had their ups and downs this season, but in reality there have been more downs than ups. Familiarity generally lends itself to lower scoring football games, but I believe the oddsmakers have gone too low with this total. Take the over (10*). |
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12-31-17 | Cowboys -3 v. Eagles | Top | 6-0 | Win | 100 | 17 h 46 m | Show |
NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Philadelphia at 1 pm et on Sunday. I'll lay the points with the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon, even as they are simply playing out the string against the division rival Eagles. I expect questions to linger whether the Eagles are the real deal with the playoffs on the doorstep. Of course, Carson Wentz remains sidelined and Nick Foles did little to inspire confidence in Monday's narrow win over the Raiders. The Cowboys will certainly be looking to take out their frustrations on Philadelphia here, following a no-show at home against the Seahawks in a must-win game last Sunday. Look for the 'Boys to close out the season on a positive note. Take Dallas (10*). |
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12-25-17 | Raiders v. Eagles -10 | 10-19 | Loss | -105 | 24 h 9 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Oakland at 8:30 pm et on Monday. I have no trouble laying the points with the Eagles in this matchup. The Raiders have all but packed it in for the season after back-to-back losses to the Chiefs and Cowboys. That dropped them to 1-4-2 ATS over their last seven contests. The Eagles are just 1-2 ATS over their last two games but that only serves to keep this line in check on Monday night. I expect to see QB Nick Foles have another big game against a vulnerable Raiders defense, leading Philadelphia to a lopsided victory. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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12-25-17 | Steelers v. Texans OVER 44.5 | 34-6 | Loss | -110 | 20 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Pittsburgh and Houston at 4:30 pm et on Monday. I'll back the 'over' in Houston on Christmas Day. This game has shootout written all over it. Last week, the Texans fell behind early and never recovered, scoring only seven points in a blowout loss in Jacksonville. I do expect to see them bounce back against an undermanned Steelers defense, however. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh was held down, relatively speaking, by New England last Sunday but should have little trouble responding here in Houston. Look for a big game from Le'Veon Bell, not to mention the Steelers receiving corps, even without Antonio Brown. Take the over (10*). |
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12-24-17 | Jaguars v. 49ers OVER 42 | Top | 33-44 | Win | 100 | 20 h 43 m | Show |
NFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Jacksonville and San Francisco at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. The betting marketplace still hasn't caught up with these two rejuvenated offenses, at least considering this relatively low posted total. The Jags have seemingly come out of nowhere to become a contender in the AFC this season and while their defense has led the way for much of the campaign, it has been their offense that has really shouldered the load lately. A host of emerging talents at wide receiver have helped lift up QB Blake Bortles and I expect to see continuation of that strong play here in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the 49ers have found their QB of the future in Jimmy Garoppolo. In fact, he's proving to be their QB of the present as well. This will be Garoppolo's toughest test since taking over the starting job for the Niners, but I'm confident he'll exceed expectations. Take the over (10*). |
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12-24-17 | Lions v. Bengals +3 | Top | 17-26 | Win | 100 | 17 h 52 m | Show |
NFL Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on Cincinnati plus the points over Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday. I really like the way this ones sets up for the underdog Bengals at home. The future is cloudy for the Bengals as a franchise as long-time head coach Marvin Lewis has one foot out the door. But for this week, the spot sets up well as the Lions come in off of back-to-back wins against the lowly Bucs and Bears. Cincinnati should get a boost offensively with the expected return of RB Joe Mixon. After appearing lifeless in the last couple of weeks, I'm confident we'll see the Bengals offense get rolling against a vulnerable Lions defense on Sunday afternoon. The Lions have their sights set on a playoff berth in the NFC but I believe we'll see their hopes spoiled in resounding fashion. The last time we saw the Bengals play with some pride was the first half against Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football three weeks ago. Expect more of that type of play on Sunday. Take Cincinnati (10*). |
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12-24-17 | Bills v. Patriots -11.5 | Top | 16-37 | Win | 100 | 17 h 44 m | Show |
NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on New England minus the points over Buffalo at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Bills are on a nice little run having posted three wins in their last four games both SU and ATS. However, I believe that run grinds to a halt here in Foxboro. The Patriots escaped with a 27-24 win in Pittsburgh last week to take back control of the AFC. Now I expect to see them play loose back at home, and ultimately deliver a lopsided win over the Bills. Keep in mind, Buffalo has just one road win in the last two months and that came at the expense of the Chiefs, who were coming unraveled at the time. It won't be so fortunate in this spot as the Pats seem to have been galvanized by that shocking Monday night loss in Miami two weeks ago. We're being asked to lay double-digits here for a reason. Take New England (10*). |
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12-23-17 | Colts +14 v. Ravens | 16-23 | Win | 100 | 20 h 10 m | Show | |
My selection is on Indianapolis plus the points over Baltimore at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. I'm not sure this is going to be the cakewalk that most are expecting for the Ravens on Saturday afternoon. The Colts were lifeless in last week's home loss to the Broncos, but now they've had a couple of extra days to prepare for the Ravens, and they'll be catching Baltimore on the heels of three straight ATS wins, and in a clear letdown spot. Baltimore has quietly put together a fine season at 8-6 SU and 8-5-1 ATS, but I'm not sure the Ravens are quite as good as their record indicates. I believe they're vulnerable without Jimmy Smith against a Colts offense that can move the football through the air. The fact is, we're likely not going to need much from the Colts offense in order to cover this lofty spread. Take Indianapolis (10*). |