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Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-11-24 | 49ers v. Chiefs UNDER 47.5 | Top | 22-25 | Win | 100 | 105 h 38 m | Show |
Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between San Francisco and Kansas City at 6:30 pm et on Sunday. I had this total pegged at 45, maybe 45.5 if I'm being generous to the two offenses. Yet here we are, working with a total of 47.5 at the time of writing with the potential we see it bump up a half-point at some books in advance of Sunday's kickoff. We got the result we wanted in the late game on Conference Championship Sunday as the 49ers got shredded early before rallying for a wild 34-31 victory over the Lions (in which they would have covered the spread were it not for a late Lions touchdown). Note that the 'under' is 16-11 in San Francisco's last 27 games following an 'over' result and 6-3 in its last nine contests after giving up 30 points or more in its previous game, including a perfect 2-0 this season in that latter situation. There is reason to believe the Chiefs can move the football on this 49ers defense but I don't believe game script (this projects as a tightly-contested affair) will force Kansas City to play fast or bomb away. With that said, the Chiefs have attempted 30 or more passes 11 times going back to October 29th and didn't throw for 300 or more yards in any of those contests so even if they do throw the football more than we expect, it doesn't necessarily work against us. Andy Reid's team has evolved into one that relies heavily on its ground attack and short passing game to possess the football for extended stretches and effectively shorten proceedings. That's precisely how they went into Baltimore and upset the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game. I do suspect we'll see the 49ers continue to employ a run-funnel defensive gameplan in this contest in an effort to stamp out Kansas City's big-play potential through the air. The strength of this Niners defense is in the middle - a big reason it was so successful in keeping opposing tight ends under wraps all season long, and certainly in the playoffs. Kansas City TE Travis Kelce will draw plenty of prop bet money from recreational bettors leading up to Sunday's game and I don't think the sportsbooks mind that one bit. On the flip side, the Chiefs defense is elite. It presents challenges all over the field for the 49ers offense. While I'm higher than Niners QB Brock Purdy than some, he's going to have a difficult time trying to find his favorite target WR Brandon Aiyuk against the Chiefs lock-down corners. Meanwhile San Francisco TE George Kittle continues to deal with a nagging toe injury and might be best deployed as a decoy in this particular matchup. RB Christian McCaffrey will get his but he's essentially the only Niners skill position player that draws a favorable matchup here. There could be times where he's on an island trying to carry the Niners offense down the field. Again, any success McCaffrey has figures to keep the clock moving, effectively shortening this contest. The 'under' is 12-7 in the Chiefs last 19 games following a road win and a long-term 27-20 in their last 47 contests after an upset win away from home. Finally, we'll note that the 'under' is 4-1 in Kansas City's last five games following a bye week and 23-12 in its last 35 contests in that situation. Take the under (10*). |
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01-28-24 | Lions v. 49ers -7 | 31-34 | Loss | -110 | 21 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on San Francisco minus the points over Detroit at 6:30 pm et on Sunday. The Lions have needed everything they had in the tank to get past the Rams and Buccaneers in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Now they hit the road for the first time in the postseason and I believe it's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time as they take on the 49ers in Santa Clara on Sunday. Detroit is dealing with a cluster of injuries on its offensive line with Jonah Jackson and Frank Ragnow both banged-up. Keep in mind, the Lions offense already takes a hit at the best of times on the road, QB Jared Goff in particular. The 49ers defense presents a nightmarish matchup for most opposing offenses and this is no different. Playing from behind isn't the Lions strength but that's a situation I expect them to be in for much of the evening on Sunday. That likely means more of standout rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs, which doesn't seem like a negative on the face of it but veteran David Montgomery is the much better pass blocker and Goff will need all the help he can get against a ferocious 49ers defensive front. San Francisco QB Brock Purdy struggled mightily in the wet weather against the Packers last Saturday but should face no such difficulty with a flawless forecast in store this week. Purdy should be able to take the lid off the Lions leaky pass defense with WR Brandon Aiyuk. Whether or not WR Deebo Samuel can play isn't all that relevant as far as I'm concerned as the Niners can beat the Lions in several other ways, including with TE George Kittle who draws a smash spot against a defense that has had no success containing opposing TE's this season. RB Christian McCaffrey runs into a very tough matchup here but that's nothing new. He tends to exceed expectations on the regular in this type of contest. The Lions are just 14-20 ATS in their last 34 games following three straight wins. Meanwhile, the Niners are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a win but non-cover and 4-0 ATS in their last four contests after a victory by three points or less. Take San Francisco (8*). |
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01-28-24 | Chiefs v. Ravens UNDER 44.5 | Top | 17-10 | Win | 100 | 47 h 20 m | Show |
Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Kansas City and Baltimore at 3 pm et on Sunday. While there are plenty of offensive stars on display in this matchup, headlined by the quarterback showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, I actually expect points to come at a premium on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. I don't envision either team having a ton of success throwing the football. The Chiefs have done a tremendous job of containing mobile opposing quarterbacks over the years and job number one will be taking away Lamar Jackson's legs on Sunday. Of course Jackson is playing arguably the best football of his career right now so that's no easy task. I do think we'll see the Chiefs defense, which is relatively healthy considering the time of year, at least force the Ravens to go on long, methodical drives that may or may not end in 7's on the board. Meanwhile, the Baltimore defense should feast on a Chiefs offense that has been gashed by injuries on the offensive line. Not only that but RB Isaiah Pacheco, who has been the team's unsung hero down the stretch, is playing on a bad toe and ankle. I would anticipate Kansas City using its short passing game and expect to see Patrick Mahomes flushed out of the pocket and forced to run the football on plenty of occasions on Sunday. Again, long, clock-eating drives could turn out to be the story of the game. Note that the 'under' is 8-1 in the Chiefs last nine games following a win by three points or less and 9-5 in their last 14 contests following four straight victories, as is the case here. The Ravens have seen the 'under' go 10-6 in their last 16 games following a home win and a long-term 30-21 in their last 51 contests after a victory by 21 points or more. Take the under (10*). |
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01-21-24 | Bucs v. Lions OVER 49 | Top | 23-31 | Win | 100 | 51 h 49 m | Show |
NFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Tampa Bay and Detroit at 3 pm et on Sunday. This game has shootout potential. The same thing could have been said for the Lions matchup with the Rams last week but the scoring fizzled in the second half following a blazing hot start from the two offenses. Here, I expect both teams to score early and often. The Buccaneers draw a favorable matchup from an offensive standpoint but a tough one defensively. QB Baker Mayfield is playing the best football of his NFL career right now and were it not for a couple of drops on potential big plays to veteran WR Mike Evans last Monday, Tampa Bay probably would have approached 40 points against what was once considered an elite Eagles defense. Here, the Bucs draw a Lions defense that can't stop the pass. Yes, Detroit has snuffed out opposing ground attacks but that's not really what Tampa Bay is all about right now. We've already seen the Bucs offense thrive in previous indoor games this season, scoring 20 points in Minnesota, 26 in New Orleans, 37 in Houston, 20 in Indianapolis and 29 in Atlanta. QB Jared Goff and the Lions explosive offense should continue to cook in this plus matchup on Sunday. The Bucs will do what they do defensively and that involves plenty of blitzing. Goff should eat them up with quick passes, noting that the Lions possess a rock solid offensive line and one of the best blocking running backs in football in David Montgomery. It's a pick your poison type of situation for the Tampa Bay defense. The Bucs will have to hope their offense can keep pace all afternoon long. Note that the 'over' is 7-2 in Tampa Bay's last nine road games as an underdog of seven points or less, as is the case here at the time of writing. The 'over' is certainly flashing for the Lions noting that the 'over' has gone a perfect 5-0 in their last five games following a win by three points or less, 19-11 in their last 30 contests played indoors and a long-term 122-103 when coming off an 'under' result. Take the over (10*). |
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01-20-24 | Texans v. Ravens OVER 43.5 | Top | 10-34 | Win | 100 | 29 h 58 m | Show |
AFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Baltimore at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. This total has dropped considerably since opening in part due to weather concerns with cold temperatures and potentially gusting winds playing a factor. I'm not overly concerned. The first meeting between these two teams this season was a bit of a stinker as Baltimore rolled to a 25-9 victory. Needless to say, the Texans are a much different team now than they were then (that previous matchup came in Week 1). Rookie QB C.J. Stroud is the real deal. I like the way this Texans offense has evolved over the course of the season. As good as the Ravens defense is, it is by no means perfect. Baltimore has actually allowed 4.5 yards per rush this season. Going back to mid-October, the Ravens were torched for 120+ rushing yards in eight of their last 12 games. There's undoubtedly a path forward for the Texans offense here and I'm confident we'll see them play loose. Head coach DeMeco Ryans is defensive-minded without question but I like the way he let the offense cook down the stretch and certainly in last week's playoff opener against Cleveland. Note that Houston has scored 20+ points in nine of its last 11 games, only failing to reach that number in a game where Stroud suffered a concussion and then when he missed the next week. Of note, Baltimore will be without top CB Marlon Humphrey for this game, easing the matchup for Texans breakout WR Nico Collins as well. Enough about the Texans, let's talk about the Ravens electric offense. I don't think Houston is going to have many answers against a well-rested Baltimore offense. The Texans haven't performed particularly well against the pass, in fact they've been downright awful in that regard at times. They've also struggled to contain opposing quarterbacks on the ground, yielding seven rushing touchdowns over the course of the season. Everything is on the table for the Baltimore offense here and I don't expect it to take its foot off the gas pedal for one moment in this game. Note that the 'over' is 23-15 in the Texans last 38 games when seeking revenge for a loss by 14 points or more against an opponent. When that previous blowout loss came on the road the 'over' has gone 15-7 in their last 22 contests. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 6-3 in the Ravens last nine games following a loss against a division opponent, as is the case here. Take the over (10*). |
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01-20-24 | Texans v. Ravens -9.5 | Top | 10-34 | Win | 100 | 29 h 47 m | Show |
Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Houston at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. I don't think it can be understated just how well the Ravens were playing prior to resting their starters in Week 18 against Pittsburgh (they lost that game 17-10). They had won six straight games heading into that contest, going 5-1 ATS over that stretch. The wins were all impressive including a 37-31 victory over the Rams in a rainstorm in Baltimore, a 33-19 rout of the 49ers in Santa Clara and a 56-19 dismantling of the Dolphins at home. I love what the Texans have done this season. They're undoubtedly a team on the rise and C.J. Stroud is already being talked about as a top-five quarterback in the league (rightfully so). They're running into an extremely difficult matchup here, however. The Ravens aren't the type of team to take their foot off the gas and they have favorable matchups all over the field on offense. Not only has Houston struggled to defend the pass this season but it has had a miserable time containing running quarterbacks, having allowed a whopping seven rushing touchdowns to opposing signal-callers. Derek Stingley Jr. erased Amari Cooper in last week's blowout win over the Browns but he'll be hard-pressed to do so against anyone particular in the Ravens multi-pronged aerial attack on Saturday. With TE Mark Andrews trending toward playing trouble abounds for the second level of the Texans defense. Even if Andrews can't go, TE Isaiah Likely figures to go off. Note that Houston is 4-7 ATS in its last 11 games following an upset victory, as is the case here. In fact, the Texans are 7-16 ATS in their last 23 contests following an outright win as a home underdog. They're also 8-19 ATS in their last 27 games following three straight ATS victories. Meanwhile, the Ravens are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games following a loss against a division opponent. They're also 35-27 ATS in their last 62 contests following a home loss. Take Baltimore (10*). |
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01-15-24 | Steelers v. Bills -10 | Top | 17-31 | Win | 100 | 45 h 29 m | Show |
Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Pittsburgh at 4:30 pm et on Monday. UPDATE: This game has been moved to Monday. I’ll still be playing the Bills minus the points. Weather can be the great equalizer at this time of year and with high winds projected for kickoff of this Wild Card matchup on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, there are those that believe that will favor the underdog Steelers who are essentially playing with house money at this point. I think it's going to be a real struggle for Pittsburgh to score points in this game, regardless how the weather turns out. Buffalo somewhat quietly enters this game riding a five-game winning streak including a 21-14 victory in Miami last Sunday night to secure the AFC East division title and the Wild Card home game that goes with it. Unlike previous years, the Bills have been forced to essentially play playoff football for weeks just to get into the postseason. I think that actually works in their favor this year and while the road to the Super Bowl runs through Baltimore in the AFC, I believe the argument can be made that the Bills are playing as well as any team in the conference right now. Pittsburgh is in this game thanks to a three-game stretch at the end of the regular season that saw it face the Bengals (without Joe Burrow among others), Seahawks (who got worse as the season went on) and the Ravens (resting the majority of their starters). Note that the Steelers are just 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games following a road win. Meanwhile, Buffalo is 20-14 ATS in its last 34 home contests as a favorite of between 7.5 and 14 points. Take Buffalo (10*). |
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01-14-24 | Rams +3 v. Lions | Top | 23-24 | Win | 100 | 12 h 48 m | Show |
NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over Detroit at 8:15 pm et on Sunday. The Rams enter the playoffs playing as well as anyone over the last two months, winners of seven of their last eight games having gone 6-2 ATS over that stretch. They're in their sweet spot on Sunday as they've gone 25-18 ATS in their last 43 road games as an underdog of three points or less. Meanwhile, the Lions are just 12-19 ATS in their last 31 games following a double-digit victory over a division opponent, as is the case here. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell elected to play his starters in last Sunday's win over the Vikings and paid the price to a certain extent with standout rookie TE Sam LaPorta suffering an injury. He has actually been able to get in limited practice this week and is expected to play but it remains to be seen how effective he can actually be. Regardless, I don't believe this is a favorable matchup for the Lions. I don't think there's anything more dangerous than an experienced team that catches fire late in the season and goes on the road in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The pressure rests squarely on the Lions shoulders in their first home playoff game in three decades. Keep in mind, Detroit played another seemingly massive home game back on Thanksgiving Day against the Packers and was stunned 29-22 as a near-double-digit favorite. Few teams can match Detroit's personnel at the skill positions on offense but Los Angeles is one of them with the emergence of rookie WR Puka Nacua and RB Kyren Williams this season. Note that the underdog has gone 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings in this series. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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01-13-24 | Browns v. Texans OVER 44.5 | Top | 14-45 | Win | 100 | 9 h 10 m | Show |
Wild Card Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Cleveland and Houston at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. I think the Browns can score at will in this game as they look to continue their upward trajectory with veteran QB Joe Flacco under center. Cleveland was a run-first team earlier in the season, rushing the ball more than 30 times in eight of its first nine games. It was a much different story down the stretch, however, as the Browns ran the football at least 30 times just once in their final eight contests. They'll undoubtedly deploy a similar strategy here as the Texans simply don't have the personnel in place to stop the pass. On the flip side, I don't think we can rule out the Texans staying competitive in this game. When they faced the Browns on Christmas Eve they scored 22 points despite accomplishing very little with Case Keenum and Davis Mills running the offense. The Browns defense simply hasn't travelled well this season, allowing at least 22 points in all eight road games with the 'over' cashing at a perfect 8-0 clip. Note that the 'over' is 29-15 in the Texans last 44 home games following consecutive 'under' results, as is the case here. I also strongly believe this game has the potential for 'splash' plays from the two defenses, potentially leading to points on the board. Flacco has admittedly been turnover-prone. C.J. Stroud, while the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year, will be up against a ball-hawking Browns secondary that looks like it will have the services of CB Denzel Ward after he tweaked his knee at practice earlier this week. Take the over (10*). |
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01-08-24 | Washington +5 v. Michigan | 13-34 | Loss | -105 | 24 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on Washington plus the points over Michigan at 7:30 pm et on Monday. It shouldn't be difficult at all for the Huskies to play the 'nobody believes in us' card in Monday's National Championship showdown against Michigan. You'd be hard-pressed to find many willing to pick Washington to win this game outright, that's for sure. I simply feel it's going to be tough for Michigan to go from winning 'that' game against Alabama in last Monday's Rose Bowl, in overtime no less, to getting right back up for what many believe to be a lesser opponent in Washington. Just think about everything the Wolverines have been through this season. Yes, winning a national title would represent a storybook finish but things don't always go as planned. Washington is no pushover. This is a team that seems to have gotten stronger with each passing game, first upsetting Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game and then defeating Texas in a thriller in the Sugar Bowl last Monday. Note that Washington is 7-4 ATS in its last 11 games as an underdog. Michigan is just 10-13 ATS in its last 23 contests after three straight ATS victories as a favorite. The Wolverines are also a miserable 1-5 ATS in their last six neutral site games when priced as a favorite of between 3.5 and 7 points, as is the case here. Take Washington (8*). |
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01-07-24 | Bills -2.5 v. Dolphins | 21-14 | Win | 100 | 22 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Miami at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. The Bills have been playing playoff football for the last month-plus as they desperately try to work their way into the postseason - a destination that was thought to be a sure thing earlier in the season. The Dolphins have already clinched a playoff spot but would certainly like to avoid tumbling down the AFC pecking order. Of course, their main focus right now is probably on avoiding any more injuries. I simply see two teams heading in opposite directions at this point. The Bills haven't been covering spreads but they haven't needed to to win games as double-digit favorites over the last two weeks. Note that those two ATS defeats do set up Buffalo well as it has gone a long-term 62-38 ATS following consecutive ATS losses. While the Dolphins may appear to be in a solid bounce-back spot off last week's drubbing in Baltimore, history says otherwise. Miami is just 13-23 ATS in its last 36 games following a loss by 21 points or more. Take Buffalo (8*). |
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01-07-24 | Seahawks -3 v. Cardinals | Top | 21-20 | Loss | -100 | 19 h 8 m | Show |
NFC West Game of the Month. My selection is on Seattle minus the points over Arizona at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. The Seahawks are of course in a must-win situation in Arizona on Sunday and while I'll rarely look to back teams on that premise alone, I do like the way this spot sets up for Seattle (which needs a victory and some help to get into the playoffs). First we'll note that Seattle has owned this series recently, going 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings. The road team is also a long-term 14-6-1 ATS in the last 21 matchups between these two teams. The Cardinals are in a big letdown spot here after upsetting the Eagles in Philadelphia last Sunday. Few expected them to be remotely competitive in that game. Of course, what worked last week may not work this week. The Cardinals ran wild on the Eagles. While the Seahawks haven't exactly played stout run defense, they do get back one of their best run stoppers in LB Jordyn Brooks from an ankle injury this week. Seattle is a long-term 121-100 ATS when coming off a loss and 62-45 ATS after giving up 30 points or more in their last game. The Cards are 7-11 ATS when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent and 15-19 ATS in their last 34 games after scoring 35 points or more in their previous contest. Take Seattle (10*). |
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01-07-24 | Vikings v. Lions OVER 46 | Top | 20-30 | Win | 100 | 15 h 3 m | Show |
NFC North Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Vikings defense held up better than most expected over the course of the season with Brian Flores' blitz-happy packages stemming the tide for much of the campaign. That hasn't been the case over the last three games, however. It seems that the book may be out on this incarnation of the Purple People Eaters. Minnesota has been smacked for 27, 30 and 33 points over its last three contests. The Vikes three opponents over that stretch - Cincinnati, Detroit and Green Bay - posted respective passing lines of 29-42-298, 30-40-246 and 25-34-193. According to head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions will play their starters on Sunday, despite being locked into the third spot in the NFC. Regardless who takes the field, I expect them to find success against the Vikes sagging defense. On the flip side, Minnesota will be going for it with a slim chance of reaching the postseason despite its embarrassing home loss against the Packers in primetime last Sunday. Teams haven't even bothered running against the Lions lately and the Vikings don't figure to stray from that strategy (they've run the football just 27 times over their last two games). More passing equates to more clock stoppages. I don't envision Minnesota possessing the football for long stretches on Sunday but I do think it can punch through with some big plays against this struggling Lions secondary. Take the over (10*). |
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01-06-24 | Steelers v. Ravens UNDER 34.5 | Top | 17-10 | Win | 100 | 9 h 10 m | Show |
AFC North Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Pittsburgh and Baltimore at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. This is obviously a must-win game for the Steelers and they'll also need help in the form of a Dolphins win over the Bills tomorrow night to clinch a playoff spot. While Baltimore will be resting its starters, I'm not convinced it will simply roll over in this divisional revenge game after dropping a 17-10 decision in Pittsburgh earlier this season. While the Ravens won't play the majority of their starters you can be sure they would still like nothing more than to end the Steelers season here. I do think it's in both teams best interest to effectively shorten this game. For the Steelers, they'll be looking to take the crowd out of the game and make this one as boring as possible in my opinion. The last thing they want to do is awaken the sleeping giant in this case. QB Mason Rudolph has been ultra-efficient through his first two starts but regardless who he is facing on the Ravens defense on Saturday, they'll be scheming up to stop him. Note that Baltimore has forced a whopping 10 turnovers over its last three games. For the Ravens, they simply want to get through this game unscathed. Backup QB Lamar Huntley has only appeared in mop-up duty so far this season. Last year, the final scores in his five games of extended action totalled just 19, 30, 16, 26 and 29 points. While the 'over' has cashed in each of Pittsburgh's last four games, the 'under' is a long-term 149-114 when it plays away from home. The 'under' is also 12-4 in the Steelers last 16 games following a victory. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 42-22 in the Ravens last 66 contests after scoring 25 or more points in consecutive games, as is the case here. Take the under (10*). |
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01-01-24 | Iowa +6 v. Tennessee | Top | 0-35 | Loss | -115 | 4 h 23 m | Show |
Bowl Game of the Year. My selection is on Iowa plus the points over Tennessee at 1 pm et on Monday. Talk about disrespect. Iowa enters the Citrus Bowl sporting a better record than Tennessee and is almost certainly bringing a more complete roster to the game than the Vols, yet here it is installed as a considerable underdog in a game that figures to be low-scoring (a situation that would certainly favor the Hawkeyes). Note that Iowa has reeled off four wins in its last five Bowl appearances (the lone loss came by just three points against Kentucky on this field two years ago to the day) and figures to be in a foul mood after a 26-0 drubbing at the hands of Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hawkeyes won't have standout TE Erick All or QB Cade McNamara but we know they're not all about offense anyway. I'm confident the Iowa defense will be fired up about facing Vols highly-touted blue chip freshman QB recruit Nico Iamaleava rather than Joe Milton in this matchup. Note that Iowa is an incredible 66-33 ATS in its last 99 games after losing ATS in two of its last three contests, as is the case here. The Hawkeyes are also 9-5 ATS in their last 14 games a neutral field underdog of a touchdown or less. Meanwhile, Tennessee is a miserable 42-61 ATS in its last 103 games following a home victory by 17 points or more. Take Iowa (10*). |
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12-31-23 | Bengals v. Chiefs -6.5 | Top | 17-25 | Win | 100 | 21 h 44 m | Show |
AFC Game of the Week. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Cincinnati at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. This is a massive bounce-back spot for both of these teams with the Bengals coming off a stunning beatdown in Pittsburgh and the Chiefs fresh off a Christmas Day upset at home at the hands of the hated Raiders. The difference here is, Kansas City has the personnel in place to bounce back. Cincinnati, in its current form, does not. The Bengals defense has been a massive disappointment this season, unable to stop the run or the pass. Needless to say, despite its struggles against Las Vegas on Monday, Kansas City has the pieces in place to explode on offense. This is a smash spot for Chiefs TE Travis Kelce in particular. With all signs pointing to Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco being good to go as well, we'll give Kansas City the green light on offense on Sunday. It's a different story for the Bengals as they try to squeeze as much as they can out of QB Jake Browning. He has regressed considerably and has yet to truly riff with elite WR Ja'Marr Chase, who is expected back this week. Note that the Chiefs are a long-term 63-47 ATS in their last 110 games after losing two of their last three contests, as is the case here. The Bengals are just 8-14 ATS in their last 22 games following a loss by 21 points or more against a divisional opponent, which is the situation they're in on Sunday. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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12-31-23 | Cardinals v. Eagles -12 | 35-31 | Loss | -110 | 17 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Arizona at 1 pm et on Sunday. This is a blowup spot for the Eagles offense as they face a weary Cardinals defense that just got tagged for 72 points in its last two games against the 49ers and Bears. Philadelphia is in line to feast offensively after hanging 33 points on the board without breaking a sweat against the Giants on Christmas Day. The Eagles defense is another story entirely. Philadelphia has been vulnerable at times defensively this season but I don't believe Arizona has the personnel in place to take advantage. TE Trey McBride is a bright spot to be sure and he's likely to get his in this particular matchup. Can anyone else pick up the rest of the slack though? I'm not convinced. You would be hard-pressed to find a weaker wide receiving corps than that of the Cards. QB Kyler Murray has made a respectable return but he's going to be in tough against the Eagles pass rush here. This is a game where Philadelphia should be able to jump ahead, much like they did against New York, but successfully salt away the win and cover on this occasion. Take Philadelphia (8*). |
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12-31-23 | Saints v. Bucs OVER 42 | Top | 23-13 | Loss | -110 | 17 h 7 m | Show |
NFC South Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between New Orleans and Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Saints have defied expectations from a totals perspective, at least on the road in recent weeks as the 'over' has gone 3-1 in their last four games played away from home. This is another promising spot for the Saints offense on the road against what has turned out to be a very beatable Buccaneers defense. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay offense has thrived with Baker Mayfield at the helm. With the Saints missing CB Marshon Lattimore once again, it's all systems go for the Bucs offense again. Note that the 'under' has cashed in four straight meetings in this series. We haven't seen four straight 'unders' between these two teams previously since 2014-16. In their next matchup on that occasion they combined to score 55 points. The 'over' is a long-term 63-54 with the Saints coming off a road loss, as is the case here. The 'over' is also 46-40 in Tampa Bay's last 86 games following an upset win. Take the over (10*). |
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12-30-23 | Lions v. Cowboys -5 | Top | 19-20 | Loss | -110 | 22 h 24 m | Show |
NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Detroit at 8:15 pm et on Saturday. The Cowboys are in a prime bounce-back spot as they return home following consecutive losses in Buffalo and Miami. Detroit on the other hand finds itself in a letdown spot after clinching the NFC North division with last week's win (and cover) in Minnesota. While I fully expect Dallas to crash and burn at some point in the playoffs, I do think it has plenty of upside over the next 2-3 weeks. Note that the Lions are a miserable 12-30 ATS in their last 42 road games following consecutive wins. Meanwhile, Dallas is a perfect 6-0 in its last six home games as a favorite of a touchdown or less. The Cowboys are also 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games following an ATS defeat, as is the case here. Take Dallas (10*). |
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12-30-23 | Toledo +3.5 v. Wyoming | Top | 15-16 | Win | 100 | 33 h 33 m | Show |
Bowl Game of the Week. My selection is on Toledo plus the points over Wyoming at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. This line has shifted considerably with the news that Toledo QB Dequan Finn has entered the transfer portal and will miss this game. I still like Toledo's chances of giving Wyoming all it can handle on Saturday afternoon. Note that the Rockets will be out to erase the memory of a disappointing loss in the MAC Championship Game against Miami-Ohio. There's no reason for the disappointment to linger as you could argue the Rockets still ended up with a higher-profile Bowl game. Wyoming closed out the regular season with consecutive blowout wins over Hawaii and Nevada. The Cowboys inability to step up in class turned out to be their downfall in the Mountain West Conference this season as they fell short against the likes of Air Force, Boise State and UNLV. I expect them to similarly have their hands full with a very capable Rockets squad here. Note that Toledo is 24-8 ATS in its last 32 games after scoring 14 points or less in its previous contest, as is the case here. Wyoming is 0-4 ATS in its last four games after posting a road victory by 28 points or more. Take Toledo (10*). |
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12-30-23 | Ole Miss +6 v. Penn State | 38-25 | Win | 100 | 28 h 11 m | Show | |
My selection is on Ole Miss plus the points over Penn State at 12 noon et on Saturday. Ole Miss has to feel pretty good at itself for reaching the Peach Bowl with a 10-2 record this season. The Rebels only two losses came against Alabama and Georgia. I like their chances of hanging tough against Penn State here. The Nittany Lions closed out the regular season with consecutive blowout wins over Rutgers and Michigan State. Note that Ole Miss is a long-term 63-46 ATS against non-conference opponents and 11-4 ATS in its last 15 Bowl games. Penn State checks in just 8-15 ATS in its last 23 games following a shutout victory, as is the case here. On the fast track at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, I look for the Rebels offense to thrive. Take Ole Miss (8*). |
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12-29-23 | Notre Dame v. Oregon State +6.5 | 40-8 | Loss | -115 | 18 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Oregon State plus the points over Notre Dame at 2 pm et on Friday. I can't imagine this game means a whole lot to Notre Dame as a program. This is a team that wants to be playing for national championships, not second-rate Bowl game victories. The Irish put the clamps on Wake Forest and Stanford in their final two regular season games, rolling to lopsided victories. Their roster on Friday will be a far cry from the one that delivered those knockout blows, however. Oregon State will be missing plenty of key contributors from the regular season as well. I do think the Beavers will be playing with a considerable chip on their shoulder, however, as they look to avoid a three-game losing streak to wrap up the campaign (the 31-7 loss to rival Oregon in their regular season finale certainly stung). Oregon State will be making its fourth straight Bowl appearance having gone 2-1 SU in the previous three. Note that the Beavers are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 road games played with extended rest. Take Oregon State (8*). |
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12-28-23 | SMU v. Boston College +11 | 14-23 | Win | 100 | 2 h 13 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boston College plus the points over SMU at 11 am et on Thursday. SMU rolled to a double-digit win in the AAC Championship Game against Tulane but I expect it to have a tougher time getting up for this early start Bowl game against a 6-6 Boston College team. The Eagles will of course have the advantage of playing this game in their own backyard at Fenway Park in Boston. We'll simply fade a Mustangs squad that has reeled off nine straight wins, noting that they're 2-11 ATS in their last 13 road games after winning four or more games in a row. The Eagles check in 18-12 ATS in their last 30 games after suffering consecutive losses against conference opponents. Take Boston College (8*). |
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12-27-23 | Virginia Tech v. Tulane +10.5 | 41-20 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 54 m | Show | |
My selection is on Tulane plus the points over Virginia Tech at 2 pm et on Wednesday. Things didn't look all that promising for Virginia Tech after it got off to a 1-3 start this season. A lopsided win over Pittsburgh on the final day of September gave the Hokies some confidence and from there they scratched and clawed their way to six victories to gain Bowl eligibility. They're being favored by a considerable number of points on Wednesday as Tulane has a number of key contributors sitting out including do-it-all QB Michael Pratt. I like the spot for the Green Wave here, however, as they come in with a sour taste in their mouths after suffering a double-digit loss against SMU in the AAC Championship Game. Virginia Tech routed rival Virginia 55-17 back on November 25th. That's notable as the Hokies are a miserable 11-24 ATS in their last 35 games played away from home after a win by 21 points or more over a conference opponent, as is the case here. Tulane has reached six Bowl games since 2013, going 4-2 with the only double-digit loss coming by 11 points against Nevada in 2020. Take Tulane (8*). |
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12-26-23 | Kansas v. UNLV +13 | 49-36 | Push | 0 | 23 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on UNLV plus the points over Kansas at 9 pm et on Tuesday. The thinking here is that UNLV isn't ready to hang with the big boys having ended the regular season with a thud in consecutive losses against San Jose State and Boise State (in the Mountain West Conference championship game). I actually think the Runnin' Rebels draw a favorable matchup here with Kansas having yet to win a Bowl game in program history (0-9). The Jayhawks aren't a good defensive team, even if they did close out the regular season with a blowout win over Cincinnati. The Rebels will certainly be comfortable playing indoors at Chase Field in Phoenix, a reasonable facsimile for their own home field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Note that Kansas is a long-term loser at 156-197 ATS while UNLV has gone a perfect 8-0 ATS in its last eight non-conference affairs. Take UNLV (8*). |
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12-25-23 | Ravens v. 49ers -6 | 33-19 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on San Francisco minus the points over Baltimore at 8:15 pm et on Monday. Fresh off a fourth straight win, this one coming on the road against Jacksonville in primetime last week, we'll fade the Ravens here as they face the 49ers in what is being billed as a potential Super Bowl preview. San Francisco is rolling right now. Even last week when it didn't bring its 'A' game defensively, it still laid waste to the Cardinals by 16 points. That marked the Niners sixth straight victory having gone 4-2 ATS over that stretch. San Francisco has been a terrific bet playing with positive momentum as it checks in 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games after scoring 25 points or more in consecutive games, as is the case here. The Niners are also 24-12 ATS in their last 36 games following a win. Take San Francisco (8*). |
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12-24-23 | Cardinals v. Bears OVER 43 | Top | 16-27 | Push | 0 | 18 h 28 m | Show |
NFC Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Arizona and Chicago at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. On a surprisingly pleasant Christmas Eve in Chicago weather-wise, we'll call for plenty of points in this NFC matchup. The Cardinals dropped a 45-29 decision at home against the 49ers last week and draw a similar matchup against an improved Bears defense here. With that said, Arizona has scored 24 or more points in consecutive games and it positioned quite well to thrive with the Kyle Murray-to-Trey McBride connection working wonders for the offense. Chicago has the potential to light it up as well as it looks to bounce back following last week's blown opportunity in Cleveland. The Bears didn't keep their foot on the gas against the Browns and ultimately let Cleveland off the hook. Against a reeling Cardinals defense we can anticipate Bears QB Justin Field going off in this matchup. Note that the 'over' is 17-10 in the Bears last 27 games following an ATS loss. The 'over' is also 15-11 in the Cards last 26 games after giving up 40 or more points in their previous contest. Take the over (10*). |
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12-24-23 | Seahawks v. Titans OVER 41.5 | 20-17 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Seattle and Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday. With the Seahawks low-scoring victory over the Eagles on Monday Night Football still fresh in the minds of most bettors, we're working with a relatively low total in Sunday's matchup in Tennessee. The Seahawks will turn back to Geno Smith at quarterback for this contest. There's reason to believe Seattle's offense can thrive with a run-first mindset against a Titans defense that quite simply has no answers against the run right now, allowing 158 and 148 rushing yards in their last two games. Keeping the Titans defense honest with Kenneth Walker at the ground attack should serve to open things up for a red hot D.K. Metcalf and the Seahawks passing game. Speaking of turning back to veteran quarterbacks, the Titans will go back to Ryan Tannehill under center on Sunday. Much like the Seahawks against the Titans defense, Tennessee's ground game should roll against a very beatable Seattle run defense. Tennessee also catches a break with Seattle missing standout rookie CB Devon Witherspoon. Note that the 'over' is 40-23 in the Titans last 63 home games after losing two of their last three games ATS, as is the case here. The 'over' is also 21-10 in Seattle's last 31 games following an upset win at home. Take the over (8*). |
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12-24-23 | Lions v. Vikings +3 | Top | 30-24 | Loss | -100 | 71 h 59 m | Show |
NFC North Game of the Year. My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday. Easy call for us here as we'll back the underdog Vikings at home after they dropped a hard-fought 27-24 decision in Cincinnati last Saturday while the Lions rolled to a blowout in over the Broncos. Note that the home team has gone 6-1 SU in the last seven meetings in this series. Detroit is just one game removed from a 15-point loss in Chicago and checks in a miserable 17-32 ATS in its last 49 games as a road favorite. Minnesota on the other hand is 40-24 ATS in its last 64 games as a home underdog and 6-2 ATS in its last eight contests following a loss by six points or less. Take Minnesota (10*). |
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12-23-23 | Coastal Carolina +10 v. San Jose State | 24-14 | Win | 100 | 13 h 55 m | Show | |
My selection is on Coastal Carolina plus the points over San Jose State at 10:30 pm et on Saturday. The Chanticleers will be missing a number of key players that are currently in the transfer portal. I think we’re seeing an overreaction from the betting markets, however. The players that will take the field for Coastal Carolina will be desperate to avoid a third straight loss to close out the season. For a winning program like CCU that’s simply unacceptable. San Jose State started the season 1-5 before going on a run. Off an upset win over UNLV on the road we’ll fade the Spartans as they shift into the role of big favorite here. Take Coastal Carolina (8*). |
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12-23-23 | Bengals v. Steelers +3 | Top | 11-34 | Win | 100 | 9 h 51 m | Show |
AFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Cincinnati at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. These teams are quite clearly heading in opposite directions right now but I like the Steelers chances of snapping their three-game losing streak as they stare down consecutive road games in Seattle and Baltimore to close out the season. Remember, on November 26th the Steelers went into Cincinnati as road favorites and delivered a 16-10 victory. No Kenny Pickett this time around but Pittsburgh will be essentially facing the same Bengals led by QB Jake Browning but with no WR Ja'Marr Chase or nose tackle D.J. Reader. The Steelers offense has fallen on hard times and will now turn to third-stringer Mason Rudolph at quarterback. While that's not all that encouraging, I don't believe he'll be asked to do too much as the Steelers should be able to run all over the Bengals front line. Note that Pittsburgh is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games after giving up 30 or more points in its most recent contest while it is also 33-18 ATS in its last 51 home games following a double-digit loss. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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12-23-23 | Duke +7.5 v. Troy | Top | 17-10 | Win | 100 | 75 h 14 m | Show |
Bowl Game of the Week. My selection is on Duke plus the points over Troy at 12 noon et on Saturday. It can be difficult enough to get up for a pre-Christmas Bowl game, especially in today's college football landscape. For Troy, it enters this matchup riding a 10-game winning streak, having been favored in each of its last nine contests (make it 10 straight including this one). Much of the story around this game will be who isn't playing for the Blue Devils. I'm confident we'll see Duke rise to the occasion, however, and salvage the finale of a season that started off so promising back in early September. Remember, the Blue Devils opened the campaign with four straight victories, including a thrilling opening week victory over Clemson. The wheels came off from mid-October to mid-November but Duke didn't quit, managing to split its final four games, losing by a combined five points in the two losses over that stretch. Note that Troy checks in 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games after scoring 31 or more points in four consecutive games, as is the case here. Duke is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 lined non-conference games and 6-1 ATS in its last seven December Bowl games. Take Duke (10*). |
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12-22-23 | Central Florida -4.5 v. Georgia Tech | 17-30 | Loss | -110 | 58 h 2 m | Show | |
My selection is on Central Florida minus the points over Georgia Tech at 6:30 pm et on Friday. It appeared all hope of reaching a Bowl game was lost for Central Florida following a five-game losing streak that stretched from late-September through the end of October. That slide came in advance of a difficult four-game season-ending stretch that included matchups with Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Houston. Instead of folding the tent, the Golden Knights turned their season around, winning three of those four contests to gain Bowl eligibility. While an appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl may not be all that enticing to some teams, I expect the Knights to relish the opportunity to play a once-unlikely December game. It was an interesting season for Georgia Tech as it staged upset wins over Miami (whether that victory was deserving or not is up for debate) and North Carolina and gave in-state rival Georgia all it could handle in the final week of the regular season. I didn't come away overly impressed by the Yellow Jackets as a whole, however, and believe they'll have a difficult time keeping pace with the Knights offense on Friday. Note that these two teams actually met last season with UCF cruising to a 27-10 win at home. Revenge is generally a dish best served at home and in this particular rematch, the Yellow Jackets will once again travel to Florida. Take Central Florida (8*). |
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12-21-23 | Saints v. Rams -4 | 22-30 | Win | 100 | 82 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over New Orleans at 8:15 pm et on Thursday. The Rams nearly let the Commanders off the hook in Sunday's 28-20 win. They did hold on for the cover - their fourth straight ATS victory. Speaking of winning streaks, the Saints enter this game 'fat and happy' off consecutive blowout home wins over the Panthers and Giants. New York inexplicably elected to abandon its ground game against New Orleans' charmin-soft run defense and ultimately paid the price. I'm confident we'll see the Rams display a more balanced offensive attack here and wear down the New Orleans defense. There's little reason to have much faith in the Saints offense. They've run for 100+ yards just twice in their last six games and have topped 250 passing yards only once over that stretch (in a nine-point loss in Atlanta). Note that the home team is 8-1 in the last nine meetings in this series with none of those eight victories coming by fewer than six points. Take Los Angeles (8*). |
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12-17-23 | Cowboys +2.5 v. Bills | 10-31 | Loss | -110 | 28 h 44 m | Show | |
My selection is on Dallas plus the points over Buffalo at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. This is undoubtedly a game the Cowboys have had circled on their calendars since the start of the season - a long-awaited rematch with the Bills after dropping a 26-15 decision at home against Buffalo back in 2019. That most recent meeting between these two teams four years ago also featured the quarterback matchup of Josh Allen vs. Dak Prescott. Prescott threw for 355 yards in a losing effort on that day. He's been MVP-worthy this season and while Dallas is likely to stumble at some point, I don't see it coming here. Buffalo is fresh off a massive road win over the Chiefs last Sunday. I expect the Bills success to be short-lived, however, noting they haven't strung together consecutive wins since a three-game winning streak from September 17th to October 1st. Note that Buffalo is a long-term 57-90 ATS when coming off two ATS wins in its last three games, as is the case here. Take Dallas (8*). |
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12-17-23 | Cowboys v. Bills OVER 49 | 10-31 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Dallas and Buffalo at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. Both of these teams delivered 'under' results last Sunday with the Bills upsetting the Chiefs on the road and the Cowboys laying waste to the Eagles at home. No offense is hotter than that of Dallas and QB Dak Prescott in particular. Ordinarily the Bills would pose a stiff defensive test but right now they're far too banged-up, missing key contributors at all three levels. Unless this game gets out of hand and the Cowboys take their foot off the gas, they should be able to get whatever they want on offense on Sunday. Buffalo's offense has been largely disappointing this season and while this is by no means a layup against a fierce Cowboys defense, I do think the Bills can find some success as they continue to build under the guidance of new coordinator Joe Brady. Brady has taken a different approach to the offense than we saw from Ken Dorsey. QB Josh Allen has been running more (effectively) and that's likely to continue against the Cowboys on Sunday. There's certainly a path for the Bills to stay competitive in this must-win game at home and that should lend itself to a high-scoring affair on Sunday afternoon. It's worth noting that the Cowboys haven't posted consecutive 'under' results all season. Take the over (8*). |
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12-17-23 | Bears +3 v. Browns | 17-20 | Push | 0 | 25 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Chicago plus the points over Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday. I generally anticipate games getting tighter and tighter at this time of year in Cleveland, where the December weather can be unpredictable and the Browns tend to go conservative in nature on offense. The Bears are quietly one of the hottest teams in the league right now, winners of three games in a row ATS and an impressive 6-2-1 ATS over their last nine contests. That's in stark contrast to the Browns, who have dropped two of their last three games both SU and ATS and narrowly avoided coughing up a back-door cover against the Jags (in a game where Jacksonville didn't bring anything close to its 'A' game) last Sunday. Cleveland has inexplicably thrown the ball 89 times in the last two games with Joe Flacco at quarterback. I'm confident fading Flacco and the Browns offense here as the veteran QB is likely to be under duress all afternoon long against a much-improved Bears pass rush. Take Chicago (8*). |
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12-17-23 | Falcons v. Panthers +3 | 7-9 | Win | 100 | 4 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on Carolina plus the points over Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday. The underdog has gone 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series and they don't get much uglier than the 1-12 Panthers. As bad as things have gone for Carolina it has actually dropped the cash in consecutive games just once over its last seven contests. Note that the Panthers are 26-12 ATS in their last 38 games following a double-digit loss against a division opponent, as is the case here. Carolina is also 18-7 ATS in its last 25 contests after scoring six points or less in its previous game. The Falcons have won just one of five road games by more than a field goal this season. Take Carolina (8*). |
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12-17-23 | Chiefs -8 v. Patriots | Top | 27-17 | Win | 100 | 24 h 25 m | Show |
AFC Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over New England at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Chiefs are a screaming buy right now coming off consecutive losses, both SU and ATS, especially given the nature of last Sunday's home defeat against the Bills in which QB Patrick Mahomes in particular felt his team was shafted by the officials (even though it clearly wasn't). The SU winner has gone a perfect 13-0 ATS in the Patriots previous contests this season and I look for that trend to continue here. New England does have the rest advantage having not played since a week ago Thursday in Pittsburgh, when it staged a 21-18 upset victory. That win was about as ugly as it gets as the Pats gained just north of 300 total yards of offense and made an early lead stand up against Mitchell Trubisky and the Steelers. I don't need to tell you that there's an ocean between facing Trubisky and Mahomes, even with the Chiefs offense struggling at times this season. Note that Kansas City is a long-term 55-36 ATS when playing on the road following a loss. Meanwhile, New England is just 4-14 ATS in its last 18 games as an underdog. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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12-17-23 | Giants +5.5 v. Saints | Top | 6-24 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 20 m | Show |
NFC Game of the Week. My selection is on New York plus the points over New Orleans at 1 pm et on Sunday. This spot sets up beautifully for the Giants in the sense that they have the ground game to gash the Saints and effectively shorten proceedings as a considerable road underdog. QB Tommy DeVito has grabbed plenty of headlines for his surprisingly efficient play. I don't expect him to be asked to do too much in this spot. The Saints are coming off a blowout win over the hapless Panthers but that victory had more to do with Carolina's inability to finish drives than anything else. Note that New Orleans is just 2-8 ATS as a favorite this season and 4-13 ATS in its last 17 contests following an ATS victory. Meanwhile, the Giants are a long-term 113-83 ATS on the road against NFC foes and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 contests as an underdog of between 3.5 and 9.5 points. Take New York (10*). |
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12-16-23 | California v. Texas Tech -3.5 | Top | 14-34 | Win | 100 | 33 h 57 m | Show |
Bowl Game of the Week. My selection is on Texas Tech minus the points over California at 9:15 pm et on Saturday. California closed out the regular season with about as big of a win as you can get in Berkeley, defeating rival UCLA 33-7, securing Bowl eligibility in the process. The Bears needed to use everything they had in the tank to earn a Bowl spot, winning their final three games. Of course, they were favored in two of those contests so it's not as if it was a monumental accomplishment. Here, I think Cal is in the wrong place at the wrong time as it runs into a Texas Tech squad that will be eager to make amends for an embarrassing 57-7 loss against Texas in its regular season finale. The Red Raiders picked up some nice wins this season including on the road against Baylor and Kansas and at home against TCU. There were some bad losses in the mix as well but as a whole I was more encouraged by the Red Raiders consistency than I was with the Bears. Note that the loss against Texas sets Texas Tech up well here as it has gone a perfect 8-0 ATS in its last eight games following a road loss against a conference opponent. Meanwhile, Cal is a long-term 20-25 ATS in its last 45 games following an upset victory. Take Texas Tech (10*). |
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12-16-23 | Broncos v. Lions -4.5 | Top | 17-42 | Win | 100 | 32 h 16 m | Show |
Non-Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Detroit minus the points over Denver at 8:15 pm et on Saturday. NFL teams don't often get a shot at a 'do-over' but this is about as close as it comes for the Lions as they host the Broncos in a pre-holiday primetime game after laying an egg on Thanksgiving Day against the Packers. Adding fuel to Detroit's fire is the fact that it's coming off another stunning defeat against a divisional opponent in Chicago last Sunday. Perhaps QB Jared Goff's struggles in that contest were predictable as he hasn't travelled well over the course of his career. Here, he and the Lions draw a smash spot against a Broncos team that's 'fat and happy' off a 24-7 rout of the Chargers (who lost QB Justin Herbert to injury in the game) in Los Angeles last Sunday. Denver has improved, that's for sure. The Broncos are in the playoff picture thanks to a 6-1 SU run. I think they're in the wrong place at the wrong time on Saturday, however. Note that Denver is 1-5 ATS in its last six games following an upset win and 2-5 ATS in its last seven road contests as an underdog of a touchdown or less. Detroit on the other hand is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games following a double-digit loss. The last time we saw it in that situation it delivered a 26-14 win over the Raiders in a primetime game on October 30th. Take Detroit (10*). |
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12-16-23 | New Mexico State v. Fresno State +3.5 | 10-37 | Win | 100 | 29 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on Fresno State plus the points over New Mexico State at 5:45 pm et on Saturday. Perhaps home field advantage is weighing heavily on this line with New Mexico State playing in its own backyard against reeling Fresno State on Saturday. If anything, I think it's the visiting Bulldogs that have a lot more to prove after their regular season ended with a thud with three straight losses to take it out of Mountain West Conference title contention. Fresno State had everything in front of it after a home win over Boise State on November 4th but it all unravelled from there. The Bulldogs are precisely the type of team I like to back come Bowl season. As much as it's thought that teams have a tendency to quit after a disappointing finish the campaign, once the ball is kicked off, they're often the teams that find their motivation and end up coming out on top. I would lump New Mexico State in the 'happy to be here' category as the Aggies were an afterthought at the start of the season but ended up winning 10 games including an eight-game SU and ATS winning streak from October 4th to November 25th and an upset win over rival New Mexico. Note that Fresno State checks in 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games after three straight losses against conference opponents, as is the case here. New Mexico State is a long-term 32-37 ATS in its last 69 games as a favorite. Take Fresno State (8*). |
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12-14-23 | Chargers +3 v. Raiders | Top | 21-63 | Loss | -100 | 24 h 55 m | Show |
TNF Game of the Year. My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points first half over Las Vegas at 8:15 pm et on Thursday. In a battle of backup quarterbacks with both teams missing a number of key contributors on offense, I'll grab the points with the Chargers in the first half. My issue with Los Angeles for the full game is head coach Brandon Staley's track record closing out football games. That's not to mention the fact that Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell will likely be on a short leash here and his presence is one of the main reasons I'm interested in fading Las Vegas. Should Jimmy Garoppolo get another shot at running the offense, I could see the Raiders getting a spark. I do think the Raiders will need to make considerable halftime adjustments to support their offensive line, which is missing a pair of starters due to injury. The Chargers are set up well to feast on that Raiders o-line in the first half. On the flip side, we'll likely see Los Angeles lean heavily on swiss army knife RB Austin Ekeler against a Raiders run defense that has been torched for 4.4 yards per rush this season. QB Easton Stick won't have his top target on the field in WR Keenan Allen but I do like Stick's arm, not to mention his mobility, which he flashed during his years with North Dakota State. Keep in mind, Stick has been with the Chargers since 2019 and has the advantage of being familiar with the playbook, something that O'Connell has seemingly struggled to grasp in his first season as a Raider. Note that Los Angeles is 15-5 ATS in the first half in its last 20 games following a double-digit upset loss, as is the case here. Meanwhile, Las Vegas is 0-6 ATS in the first half in its last six games when seeking revenge for a loss by seven points or less against an opponent, which is also the situation here. Take Los Angeles first half (10*). |
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12-11-23 | Packers v. Giants +6 | 22-24 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York plus the points over Green Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday. The Packers are coming off three straight wins including high-profile, high-visibility victories (and covers) over the Lions on Thanksgiving Day and the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football last week. We'll gladly step in and fade Green Bay as it plays on the road laying nearly a touchdown against the Giants on Monday. New York has quietly reeled off consecutive wins and enters this contest off its bye week. There's a path for success for the Giants here as the Packers can't stop the run and New York has a healthy Saquon Barkley capable of delivering a strong performance on Monday. Green Bay's offense has looked sharp over the last couple of weeks but will have to go on without WR Christian Watson. After committing at least one turnover in seven straight games, the Packers have turned in three straight clean performances. I'm thinking that changes here with the Giants defense having forced a whopping 11 turnovers over their last three contests. Take New York (8*). |
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12-10-23 | Vikings v. Raiders +3 | 3-0 | Push | 0 | 19 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on Las Vegas plus the points over Minnesota at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. The Vikings had their run. I think their season is all but done, even if their even 6-6 record indicates otherwise. They'll get a big boost with the return of WR Justin Jefferson this week but that's been more than factored into this line. Yes, Minnesota enters this game with a chip on its shoulder after consecutive losses but Las Vegas is in precisely the same position. There's no real shame in the Raiders last two losses as they came on the road against the Dolphins and at home against the Chiefs. Note that Las Vegas is 4-2 SU at home this season. The Vikings are an identical 4-2 on the road but just 1-1 with Josh Dobbs as their starting quarterback. I don't think there's much at all separating these two teams yet we're catching a field goal with the Raiders at home. Take Las Vegas (8*). |
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12-10-23 | Seahawks v. 49ers -13.5 | Top | 16-28 | Loss | -107 | 18 h 12 m | Show |
NFC West Game of the Year. My selection is on San Francisco minus the points over Seattle at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. The 49ers have won four straight meetings in this series by a combined score of 120-56. I don't envision the Seahawks closing the gap one bit on Sunday afternoon in Santa Clara. Seattle left it all on the field in last week's 41-35 loss in Dallas. I'm not sure how much Seattle has left in the tank following three straight losses that have dropped it to an even 6-6 on the campaign. QB Geno Smith is among those banged up heading into this matchup. There's a good chance we'll see backup QB Drew Lock at some point in this game. The 49ers have been a streaky team and I look for them to match their season-long three-game ATS winning streak here. This is a team that is still ascending offensively and essentially playing mistake-free football with just one turnover in its last four contests. Defensively, we've already seen the Niners absolutely wreck the Seahawks offense on Thanksgiving Night. Note that the Niners are a perfect 9-0 ATS in their last nine games against divisional opponents and 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games as a home favorite. Take San Francisco (10*). |
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12-10-23 | Jaguars v. Browns -3 | 27-31 | Win | 100 | 15 h 26 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday. This game is set up on a platter for the Browns as they return home off consecutive blowout losses in Denver and Los Angeles, even if the latter featured a rather misleading final score. Jacksonville is playing on a short week after getting punched in the mouth by the Joe Burrow-less Bengals on Monday night. QB Trevor Lawrence is banged up. Whether he plays or not remains up in the air but regardless, this is a difficult matchup for the Bengals offense against a Browns defense that surely has a bad taste in its mouth. Cleveland may turn to QB Joe Flacco again on Sunday. He actually provided some stability to the offense last week against the Rams. I do think we'll see the Browns go back to the basics this Sunday, letting their ground game and defense do the heavy lifting. Jacksonville is dealing with key injuries in its secondary that just might open the door for Flacco and the Browns passing attack to produce just enough big plays to finish the job. Take Cleveland (8*). |
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12-10-23 | Panthers +6 v. Saints | 6-28 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on Carolina plus the points over New Orleans at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Panthers are playing with absolutely nothing to lose down the stretch. Frank Reich was already fired. Most have already given up on QB Bryce Young, at least in his rookie season. They're coming off five consecutive losses, having gone 1-3-1 ATS over that stretch. I think they rise to the occasion in this revenge spot, however, noting that the Panthers are a long-term 41-23 ATS when seeking revenge for a home loss against an opponent, as is the case here. The Saints are a miserable 1-8 ATS as a favorite this season. I simply feel they're regressed into a team that simply isn't built for the fast track at the Superdome. Note that New Orleans is 6-16 ATS in its last 22 games played indoors, including an ugly 1-7 ATS mark this season. The Saints check in having allowed 100+ rushing yards in seven straight games and I think that opens the door for the Panthers to effectively shorten proceedings on Sunday, and stay inside the lofty pointspread. Take Carolina (8*). |
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12-09-23 | Army v. Navy UNDER 28.5 | 17-11 | Win | 100 | 8 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Army and Navy at 3 pm et on Saturday. The long 'under' streak in this storied rivalry came to an end in 2021 and last year's game found its way 'over' the total as well thanks to overtime (only 20 points were scored in regulation time). While we're dealing with an incredibly low posted total for the 2023 edition, I'm still willing to take a flyer on the 'under'. Between these two teams during the regular season we saw six shutouts pitched one way or another. Both teams actually opened up their offenses a little more this year, electing to sling it around the field a little bit rather than strictly operating option-based attacks. With that being said, Army comes into this game on a three-game winning streak and it essentially took passing out of its vocabulary in those three contests, connecting on just 8-of-17 throws for 119 yards. Last time out against Coastal Carolina, the Black Knights attempted just two passes (and didn't have a completion). This has all the makings of a chess match. Navy showed incredible patience over the course of the season, relying on its knack for turning over its opponents while methodically wearing down the opposition on offense. Even though the Midshipmen did throw it a lot more than we're accustomed to seeing, they still topped out at 163 passing yards and that came against an FCS opponent in Wagner. Take the under (8*). |
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12-07-23 | Patriots v. Steelers -6 | 21-18 | Loss | -107 | 23 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over New England at 8:15 pm et on Thursday. Talk about an ugly Thursday night matchup but we can only bet what's in front of us and I like the way this one sets up for the Steelers. Pittsburgh dropped a lopsided decision against the Cardinals at home last Sunday. Some were stunned by that defeat. I wasn't. The Cardinals actually have a lot going for them right now - the same can't be said for Bill Bellichick's Patriots. The Pats are essentially jockeying for draft positioning at this point and in pretty good shape in that regard. Rhamondre Stevenson's presence was one of the only things that would have led me to believe New England could stay competitive in this game but now he's sidelined as well. For the Steelers, we'll see Mitchell Trubisky under center. That's a drop-off from Kenny Pickett to be sure, but not an insurmountable one. The Steelers will once again lean on their ground game and defense to win this game anyway. Note that Pittsburgh has yet to lose consecutive games SU or ATS this season. They'll avoid that fate here as well. Take Pittsburgh (8*). |
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12-03-23 | Chiefs -5.5 v. Packers | 19-27 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 3 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Green Bay at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. The Packers caught the Lions flat-footed on Thanksgiving Day. It almost seemed as if Detroit thought Green Bay would simply roll over but that was far from the case. Here, I expect the Chiefs to be business-like in their approach once again, noting they're a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last seven road games against non-conference opponents. As expected we heard plenty of 'what's wrong with the Chiefs?' whispers following their 21-17 home loss to the Eagles on MNF a couple of weeks ago. After a sluggish start in Las Vegas last Sunday, Kansas City eventually rolled to a two-touchdown victory. I expect plenty of carry-over from that flawless second half performance on Sunday night in Green Bay. This is another 'get right' spot against a Packers squad that just isn't as good as it looked in posting consecutive wins over the last two weeks. Take Kansas City (8*). |
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12-03-23 | Browns +4.5 v. Rams | 19-36 | Loss | -110 | 126 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. I'm not ready to write off the Browns just yet. Yes, they're coming off a disheartening loss to the Broncos in Denver last Sunday in a game that completely got away from them. I fully expect them to bounce back this week as they stay on the road to face the Rams, who are in a fairly obvious letdown spot off consecutive wins, including a blowout victory in Arizona last week. Are the Rams as good as they looked against the Cardinals? Probably not. Are the Browns as bad as they appeared against the Broncos? Certainly not. Keep in mind, prior to that loss in Denver, Cleveland had reeled off three consecutive wins SU and four in a row ATS. Yes, the Browns offense remains extremely limited but I think their defense can do a lot of the heavy lifting on Sunday, ultimately creating enough splash plays to give their offense some short fields to work with. Note that the Rams are a woeful 3-10 in their last 13 home games as a favorite of seven points or less. Meanwhile, Cleveland is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games against NFC opponents and 6-3 ATS in its last nine contests as an underdog priced between +3.5 and +9.5 points, as is the case at the time of writing. Take Cleveland (8*). |
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12-03-23 | Panthers +3.5 v. Bucs | Top | 18-21 | Win | 100 | 18 h 60 m | Show |
NFC South Game of the Year. My selection is on Carolina plus the points over Tampa Bay at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. I really like the way this spot sets up for the visiting Panthers as they look to come away with something positive after firing head coach Frank Reich. Carolina has appeared lifeless this season, winning just once in 11 games. Needless to say, when a head coach gets fired, the players tend to take it upon themselves to show up and show out the next week. Tampa Bay had its four-game ATS winning streak snapped with a 27-20 loss at Indianapolis last Sunday. The once-stout Bucs defense has now allowed 24 points or more in four of its last five contests. Note that Tampa Bay is a miserable 7-20 ATS in its last 27 games following consecutive road defeats while Carolina is a long-term 142-117 ATS in an underdog role. We've seen an incredible 12 straight meetings in this series decided by more than a field goal but I think there's a good chance that this one goes down to the wire on Sunday. Take Carolina (10*). |
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12-03-23 | Cardinals +7 v. Steelers | 24-10 | Win | 100 | 15 h 10 m | Show | |
My selection is on Arizona plus the points over Pittsburgh at 1 pm et on Sunday. I'm just not ready to buy in to the Steelers being installed as considerable favorites against any opponent, let alone a Cardinals squad that's fresh off an embarrassing 37-14 rout at the hands of the division rival Rams last week. Arizona has now dropped back-to-back games but is still 3-2 ATS over its last five contests. The Steelers picked up a massive come-from-behind win in Cincinnati last Sunday but let's not start planning the parade just yet. That came against a Joe Burrow-less Bengals squad. Note that Arizona is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games when priced as a road underdog of between 3.5 and 7 points, actually outscoring opponents by an average margin of 3.6 points in that situation. I think the pacific time zone team playing an early game in the east angle is overblown and will grab all the points I can get with the Cards on Sunday. Take Arizona (8*). |
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12-03-23 | Broncos v. Texans OVER 47 | Top | 17-22 | Loss | -115 | 4 h 22 m | Show |
Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Denver and Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday. It's all systems go for the Texans with breakout wide receivers Tank Dell and Noah Brown expected to play on Sunday in this critical home matchup against the Broncos. We know what the Houston offense is capable of and it should push the Broncos defense much harder than either of their last two opponents did in the banged-up Vikings and Browns (both of those games were played in Denver). On the flip side, Denver's offense is no longer the plodding, methodical unit taking what it can get. The Broncos have reeled off five straight wins, scoring 24 or more points in three of their last four contests. Finally with at true RB1 in Javonte Williams and a rejuvenated WR duo in Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, the Broncos can give the Texans defense some problems in this game. Note that the 'over' is 29-14 in the Texans last 43 home games following consecutive 'under' results, as is the case here. Take the over (10*). |
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12-02-23 | Louisville +1.5 v. Florida State | Top | 6-16 | Loss | -105 | 22 h 13 m | Show |
Conference Championship Game of the Year. My selection is on Louisville plus the points over Florida State at 8 pm et on Saturday. Really tough spot for Florida State here as it marches on without Jordan Travis and possibly its backup quarterback as well against a Louisville squad that will be looking to play spoiler on Saturday in Charlotte. The Seminoles survived their first test without Travis, defeating rival Florida 24-15 last Saturday. This is a much tougher matchup, however, as they go up against a Cardinals squad that dropped a 38-31 decision against Kentucky last week but checks in 10-2 on the season and a perfect 10-0 ATS in its last 10 games following an ATS loss. Florida State can only lean on its defense so much, noting that it mustered just 224 total yards on offense in last week's victory. Last year, Louisville let the Seminoles off the hook at home, blowing a 21-14 halftime lead in an eventual 35-31 defeat. Expect the Cardinals to get their revenge here. Take Louisville (10*). |
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12-01-23 | Oregon -9.5 v. Washington | 31-34 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 22 m | Show | |
My selection is on Oregon minus the points over Washington at 8 pm et on Friday. The Ducks have to be happy to be afforded the opportunity to avenge their only loss suffered this season on Friday against Washington. Oregon actually dominated most of the way against the Huskies back on October 14th in Seattle, racking up over 500 yards of total offense, but Washington came up with the critical plays late and ultimately secured a wild 36-33 victory. I don't expect this game to be as tightly-contested. The Pac-12 Championship Game was introduced in 2011 and since then we've seen plenty of blowouts. In fact, eight of the 12 games have been decided by 18 or more points. While Oregon's offense kept humming down the stretch, we saw some regression from Michael Penix and the Huskies. Washington could only muster 22 and 24 points in its final two regular season games against Oregon State and Washington State, completing just 31-of-61 passes for 366 yards in those contests. That's not how you want to be playing leading up to a showdown with mighty Oregon, especially when the Ducks have been spotted an extra day of preparation (they last played on Black Friday in a glorified scrimmage against rival Oregon State). Take Oregon (8*). |
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11-30-23 | Seahawks +9 v. Cowboys | Top | 35-41 | Win | 100 | 58 h 60 m | Show |
NFC Game of the Week. My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Dallas at 8:15 pm et on Thursday. The Cowboys have rattled off three straight wins, both SU and ATS, but those came against three of football's worst teams in the Giants, Panthers and Commanders. While the Seahawks are reeling off back-to-back losses, they're still 6-5 on the season and I expect them to give the Cowboys all they can handle on Thursday night. Seattle ran into an incredibly difficult matchup last week, playing with a number of key contributors banged-up on a short week against the red hot 49ers. I do think the extra couple of days off will help the Seahawks here. Note that Dallas is a long-term 17-38 ATS when coming off five or six ATS wins in its last seven games, as is the case here. It is also 7-19 ATS in its last 26 games following a win by 28 points or more and 14-28 ATS in its last 42 contests following a home victory by 21 points or more. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are a long-term 59-35 ATS when coming off consecutive losses and 43-22 ATS in their last 65 games after scoring 17 points or less in back-to-back games. Regardless what has separated these two NFC foes over the years, the Seahawks have stayed competitive. You would have to go back eight meetings, all the way to 2011, to find the last time Dallas defeated Seattle by more than seven points. The underdog has gone 5-2 ATS in the last seven matchups in this series. Take Seattle (10*). |
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11-26-23 | Chiefs -8.5 v. Raiders | 31-17 | Win | 100 | 55 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Las Vegas at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. With whispers of 'what's wrong with the Chiefs' swirling following Monday's loss to the Eagles - their second defeat in their last three games - we'll confidently back Kansas City to rebound against the division rival Raiders on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs ran into an elite opponent on Monday and paid the price for their mistakes in a 21-17 defeat. Yes, Kansas City's offense has sputtered but I see this as a 'get right' spot against the Raiders on Sunday. The Chiefs should be happy to see the black and silver on the other side of the field as they've scored 40, 32, 35, 41, 48, 30 and 31 points in the last seven meetings in this series. Las Vegas has performed admirably for rookie head coach Antonio Pierce but I'm also not sure that they've taken any opponent's best punch. They're likely to get just that here as Kansas City aims to rebound. Note that the Raiders are a woeful 8-23 ATS in their last 31 games following three straight ATS victories, as is the case here. Take Kansas City (8*). |
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11-26-23 | Jaguars v. Texans +2 | 24-21 | Loss | -110 | 52 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Houston plus the points over Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Jaguars rarely beat the Texans. They did blow out an awful Houston team last January but that marked their only victory in the last 11 meetings in this series. Earlier this season, the Texans went into Jacksonville and pounded the Jags 37-17. I see little reason why this ascending Texans squad can't deliver another win on Sunday. Despite failing to cover the spread in last week's 21-16 win over the Cardinals, I came away impressed by Houston once again. The Texans were in a prime letdown spot in that contest, fresh off a big upset win over the Bengals in Cincinnati the week previous. If it weren't for them shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers deep in Cardinals territory that result would have been far more lopsided. Jacksonville predictably rebounded from an embarrassing 34-3 rout at the hands of the 49ers the week previous by shredding the reeling Titans last Sunday. Note that the Jags are a long-term 10-27 ATS when coming off a game in which they outgained the opposition by 150 or more total yards, as is the case here. Take Houston (8*). |
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11-26-23 | Steelers -1 v. Bengals | Top | 16-10 | Win | 100 | 51 h 26 m | Show |
Game of the Week. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Steelers dropped a heart-breaker in Cleveland last week and proceeded to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada in a move that was a long-time coming in the eyes of most. Here, I look for Pittsburgh to take full advantage of a Joe Burrow-less Bengals squad that enters this game reeling off back-to-back losses. It's been a lost season for Cincinnati by most accounts. It started the campaign with consecutive losses (and went 0-3-1 ATS in its first four games) with Joe Burrow hobbled with a calf injury. There was a brief resurgence once Burrow got healthy but now he's out for the season, leaving undrafted backup QB Jake Browning to run the offense. That spells trouble against a ferocious Steelers defense that has proven it can win games all on its own this season. Pittsburgh has a new offensive coordinator but won't put too much on the offense in this particular game as it is well-positioned to win ugly. Notably, the Steelers have owned this series in Cincinnati over the years and even when they've fielded weaker teams, they've still managed to split the last four meetings in this stadium. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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11-25-23 | California v. UCLA -9 | 33-7 | Loss | -110 | 39 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on UCLA minus the points over California at 10:30 pm et on Saturday. While many will consider this to be a big-time letdown spot for UCLA coming off last week's 'upset' win over rival USC, I don't necessarily see it that way. A little bit of the shine was taken off that win thanks to the Trojans recent swoon. While it was a much-needed victory for the Bruins given they entered riding a two-game losing streak, I don't expect it to knock them off course or cloud their focus entering Saturday's regular season finale against Cal. The Bears need a win to gain Bowl eligibility but given they've won just once in the last six meetings in this series - that coming when the Bruins were mired in a down year in 2019 - I don't think it's in the cards for them this season. The Bruins have all but stamped out opposing ground attacks this season, allowing a minuscule 2.2 yards per rush, and that's precisely the area Cal needs to excel at in order to find success. Note that the Bears have thrown for 300+ yards just twice this season and not since Week 4 in a 27-point rout at the hands of Washington. UCLA hasn't thrown for 300 or more yards at all this season but the Bruins figure to feast on the ground against a Cal defense that 125 or more rushing yards in five of its last six contests. Note that the Bears are a long-term loser at 32-40 ATS in their last 72 lined games following consecutive ATS wins, as is the case here. Meanwhile, UCLA checks in a profitable 60-47 ATS in its last 107 lined contests after losing two of its last three games ATS. Take UCLA (8*). |
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11-25-23 | Georgia -23.5 v. Georgia Tech | Top | 31-23 | Loss | -110 | 35 h 28 m | Show |
Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Georgia Tech at 7:30 pm et on Friday. I'm not a big believer in 'look-ahead' spots. That's the thinking behind some backing the underdog Yellow Jackets here with Georgia headed for an SEC Championship Game showdown with Alabama next week. I do think there's some merit in the 'letdown' angle, however, and that's precisely the situation Georgia Tech is in here after it gained Bowl eligibility with last week's win over hapless Syracuse. The Yellow Jackets can't stop the run - they've been torched for a ridiculous 160+ rushing yards in all but one of their 11 games this season and have given up 200+ on seven different occasions. There's reason to believe the top-ranked Bulldogs can get whatever they want offensively in this game while their defense is more than capable of taking care of the rest against a mistake-prone Yellow Jackets offense. Last year's meeting between these in-state rivals was closer than expected. I don't believe this one will be. Take Georgia (10*). |
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11-24-23 | Utah State -4.5 v. New Mexico | 44-41 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Utah State minus the points over New Mexico at 3:30 pm et on Friday. It may be Senior Day but New Mexico finds itself in a massive letdown spot at home against Utah State on Friday. The Lobos put forth arguably their best performance of the season in a big upset win at Fresno State last week. Keep in mind, they're just one game removed from dropping a 42-14 decision at Boise State and the last time we saw them play here at University Stadium they were wrecked 56-14 by UNLV. Utah State needs a victory here to become Bowl eligible and I think it's important not to knock the Aggies down too many notches after last week's blown opportunity in a 45-10 loss on the blue turf in Boise. Prior to that, Utah State had been playing some of its best football, reeling off consecutive wins at San Diego State and at home against Nevada. While it's been an up-and-down year to be sure, I've seen enough growth from this Utah State squad (since a 39-21 beatdown at Air Force in mid-September) to believe it's deserving of going Bowling. Take Utah State (8*). |
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11-23-23 | 49ers v. Seahawks OVER 44 | Top | 31-13 | Push | 0 | 12 h 29 m | Show |
NFC West Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between San Francisco and Seattle at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. The 49ers are coming off consecutive 'under' results, a curious outcome considering they've gotten as healthy as they've been all season on offense over that stretch with Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel among those returning. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are fresh off a very low-scoring affair against the Rams as they dropped a 17-16 decision in Los Angeles. I expect a different story to unfold on Thursday with a higher-scoring result than most are expecting. The Niners should feast on a Seahawks defense that has been relatively soft against the run and in the middle of the field. Yes, Seattle boasts a tremendous cornerback duo in Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon but that hasn't stopped opponents from attacking it relentlessly through the air. On the flip side, the Seahawks offense is admittedly banged up. QB Geno Smith is expected to play but is certainly at risk of sitting at some point due to his shoulder injury. As strange as it sounds, I like Seattle's offense with backup QB Drew Lock at the helm - especially as an 'over' bettor as his presence generally leads to plenty of 'splash' plays, often to his team's detriment. Seahawks home games have been considerably higher-scoring (47.2 points per game) than their road affairs (39.6 ppg) this season and I look for that trend to continue here. Take the over (10*). |
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11-23-23 | Ole Miss v. Mississippi State OVER 54 | Top | 17-7 | Loss | -110 | 32 h 27 m | Show |
SEC Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Ole Miss and Mississippi State at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. This matchup produced only 46 total points last season in a game that had a closing total of 63 points. So that potential shootout fizzled but I don't believe this one will. Ole Miss has been involved in its share of high-scoring affairs this season but its most recent contest reached only 38 points in a blowout win over Louisiana-Monroe. In general, most of the Rebels games have either involved them lighting it up or the opposition doing so. There's really been no in-between. Here, Ole Miss should break off its share of big plays on the ground against a Mississippi State defense that has been matador-like against the run when it's mattered most - for example it is just one game removed from getting ripped for 246 yards on 45 rush attempts against Texas A&M. The Bulldogs offense hasn't been all that electric this season. It's largely been a disappointment, in fact. However, Mississippi State has also run up against a pretty brutal schedule since Week 4, facing the gauntlet of Alabama at home, Arkansas and Auburn on the road, Kentucky at home and Texas A&M on the road with a couple of gimme non-conference matchups mixed in (the Bulldogs scored 41 points in wins over Western Michigan and Southern Miss). Note that the 'over' is 11-3 in Mississippi State's last 14 lined home contests, leading to an average total of 59.4 points. Take the over (10*). |
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11-23-23 | Commanders +12.5 v. Cowboys | Top | 10-45 | Loss | -110 | 29 h 16 m | Show |
NFC East Game of the Year. My selection is on Washington plus the points over Dallas at 4:30 pm et on Thursday. The Cowboys enter this Thanksgiving Day divisional matchup with the Commanders riding a season-long two-game SU and ATS winning streak - that's right, season-long. As well as Dallas has played, consistency hasn't really been its calling card. The same goes for Washington and QB Sam Howell in particular. Howell is coming off a dreadful performance against the lowly Giants last Sunday, at home no less. The Commanders were upstaged by New York third-string QB Tommy DeVito, turning the football over a whopping six times in a 31-19 defeat. I do look for Washington to bounce back with a much sharper performance here, noting that it is a long-term 35-19 ATS when playing on the road after losing five or six of its last seven games, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of just 2.3 points in that situation. The Cowboys are a woeful 16-38 ATS in their last 54 contests after winning five or six of their last seven games ATS, which is also the situation here, outscoring foes by only 2.6 points on average in that spot. Take Washington (10*). |
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11-21-23 | Bowling Green -1 v. Western Michigan | Top | 34-10 | Win | 100 | 26 h 54 m | Show |
MAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Bowling Green minus the points over Western Michigan at 7 pm et on Tuesday. I like the way this situation sets up for visiting Bowling Green as it looks to head into Bowl season on a high note with a win in Kalamazoo on Tuesday. The Falcons gained Bowl eligibility thanks to a four-game winning streak from October 14th to November 8th. They saw that streak snapped at the hands of Toledo last week, albeit by the slimmest of margins (one point). I don't expect any sort of letdown, even as they've fallen out of contention for the MAC Championship. This is an experienced, well-coached team under Scott Loeffler and I like their chances of bouncing back against a Western Michigan squad that is simply playing out the string. While the motivation should certainly be there for the Broncos on Senior Night, not to mention the fact that they're coming off an ugly shutout defeat against Northern Illinois that ended their hopes of reaching a Bowl game, that doesn't mean the execution will be. The Broncos have been wildly inconsistent in their first year under head coach Lance Taylor. Western Michigan's offense has shown flashes of brilliance but will need to be extremely careful against a turnover and sack-happy Falcons defense on Tuesday. Last year, Bowling Green held Western Michigan to just nine points in a four-point victory. This time around, I think we see a lot more production out of the Falcons offense on their way to a seventh victory on the campaign. Take Bowling Green (10*). |
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11-20-23 | Eagles +3 v. Chiefs | 21-17 | Win | 100 | 11 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Kansas City at 8:15 pm et on Monday. This is a rematch of last February's Super Bowl - a game where the Eagles were favored but ultimately fell by a score of 38-35. Revenge is of course a factor on Monday, but it's not really what this play is all about. I simply feel the Eagles are the superior team and suspect we'll be hearing whispers of 'what's wrong with the Chiefs?' throughout the week before they almost certainly 'get right' with a two-game road jaunt to Las Vegas and Green Bay. The bye week came at the right time for the Eagles as it gave QB Jalen Hurts a chance to rest his ailing knee. The Philadelphia defense also comes out of the bye arguably as healthy as it has been all season. The Eagles have been a curious study on defense this year as they've dared teams to beat them through the air, all but stamping out opposing ground games entirely. Here, the Chiefs will likely get their yardage through the air but I question how many drives they can end with 7's rather than 3's. It's worth noting that Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes has thrown just 17 touchdown passes through nine games this season - a far cry from the 41 he amassed last season. While Chiefs head coach Andy Reid's post-bye week success has been well-documented, I expect his spectacular record in that situation to be put to the test here. Take Philadelphia (8*). |
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11-19-23 | Seahawks +2 v. Rams | 16-17 | Win | 100 | 21 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. The revenge-minded Seahawks will look to clean things up after a shaky but victorious performance at home against the Commanders last week. You may remember the Rams dominated the Seahawks in Seattle back in Week 1. They're unlikely to catch Seattle flat-footed again here, however. The Rams have appeared in complete disarray during their current three-game SU and ATS slide and I'm not convinced their bye week will help them out in any way. The Seahawks would be well-advised to take advantage of this winnable matchup as their schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher with their next four games coming at home against the 49ers (on Thanksgiving), at the Cowboys, at the 49ers and at home against the Eagles. Take Seattle (8*). |
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11-19-23 | Cowboys v. Panthers +11 | 33-10 | Loss | -120 | 17 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on Carolina plus the points over Dallas at 1 pm et on Sunday. As difficult as it is to do, we'll fade the Cowboys off their 49-point explosion against the hapless Giants last week. The Panthers have just one victory both SU and ATS this season, that coming on October 29th against the upstart Texans. Note that while they're 1-3 at home this season, only one of those losses came by more than eight points. Meanwhile, the Cowboys check in 2-3 SU on the road this season with their lone win by more than three points coming way back in their Week 1 rout of the Giants. Note that Dallas is 2-13 ATS in its last 15 road games following an ATS win as a double-digit favorite, as is the case here. The Panthers are 23-10 ATS in their last 33 home games after scoring 17 points or less in consecutive games, which is also the situation on Sunday. Take Carolina (8*). |
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11-19-23 | Cardinals +6 v. Texans | Top | 16-21 | Win | 100 | 17 h 16 m | Show |
Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Arizona plus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday. I really like the setup for the underdog Cardinals here as they look rejuvenated with QB Kyler Murray back at the helm and catch the Texans in a massive letdown spot off last Sunday's stunning road win in Cincinnati. Arizona has proven to be a 'tough out' under rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon this season and last week's offensive breakout led by Murray and fast-emerging TE Trey McBride has it brimming with confidence heading into this 'spoiler' spot against the upstart Texans. Houston has been involved in three straight barn-burners - all decided by three points or less. While this team may never' hit the wall in their first season under the guidance of head coach DeMeco Ryans, I do think they get tripped up at some point during this three-game homestand, noting they've yet to notch more than two victories in a row this season. Arizona checks in 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games as a road underdog of seven points or less while Houston is 21-38 ATS in its last 59 contests following an upset victory. Take Arizona (10*). |
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11-19-23 | Steelers v. Browns -2 | Top | 10-13 | Win | 100 | 17 h 39 m | Show |
AFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over Pittsburgh at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Browns have undoubtedly had this game circled on their calendar since the Steelers stunned them in a 26-22 victory in Pittsburgh on September 18th. The Steelers gained only 255 total yards in that game but turnovers were the story. The Browns have now lost QB Deshaun Watson to a season-ending injury but I don't expect them to fold the tent as a result. Everything is still in front of Cleveland after last week's upset win in Baltimore as it sits at 6-3 on the season in a crowded AFC North. This is a key spot with a sneaky-difficult two-game road jaunt to Denver and Los Angeles (vs. the Rams) on deck. Take Cleveland (10*). |
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11-18-23 | Washington v. Oregon State | Top | 22-20 | Loss | -110 | 32 h 4 m | Show |
Pac-12 Game of the Week. My selection is on Oregon State minus the points over Washington at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. It's been an incredible 10-0 start to the season for Washington and it deserves all the credit for that flawless record. I do expect it to fall for the first time on Saturday, however, as it heads to Corvallis to face a revenge-minded Oregon State squad. The Beavers dropped last year's matchup against the Huskies 24-21. That was in Seattle. Oregon State sports a perfect 5-0 record at home this season, most recently crushing Stanford by a 62-17 score last Saturday. I don't think the Beavers defense gets enough credit, overshadowed by that explosive offensive that showed up against the Cardinal last week. The Huskies have been in close game after close game lately and have certainly shown signs of wear defensively, allowing 108 points over their last three contests. Take Oregon State (10*). |
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11-18-23 | UNLV v. Air Force -3 | 31-27 | Loss | -110 | 28 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Air Force minus the points over UNLV at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. UNLV has enjoyed a tremendous season and would appear to be catching Air Force at the right time as the Falcons have lost each of their last two games SU and ATS. With that being said, I don't believe this is a favorable matchup for the Runnin' Rebels stylistically-speaking, and look for the Falcons to prevail. Air Force's defense continues to play well but the offense has been stuck in the mud over the last couple of games. I'm confident the Falcons can bounce back against a beatable UNLV defense here, noting that the Rebels have allowed 120+ rushing yards in four of their last five games, despite game script favoring them in most contests. It hasn't mattered what UNLV has thrown at Air Force defensively in the last couple of seasons, with the Falcons racking up nearly 1,000 total yards while scoring 90 points in two meetings. Take Air Force (8*). |
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11-18-23 | Utah v. Arizona UNDER 46.5 | Top | 18-42 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 36 m | Show |
Pac-12 Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Utah and Arizona at 2:30 pm et on Saturday. Both of these teams are coming off high-scoring games last week but I expect a different story to unfold as they match up in Tucson on Saturday. Utah is a better defensive team than it has shown in recent weeks but keep in mind it has run into USC, Oregon and Washington - three of the top offensive teams not just in the Pac-12 but in the country - in the last four games. Here, it draws a more manageable matchup in Arizona. The Wildcats have been rolling offensively but aren't likely to overwhelm the Utes talented defense. On the flip side, Utah has yet to complete 20 or more passes in a game this season, clearly missing QB Cam Rising. The Utes figure to lean on their ground attack again this week, although they'll be facing a Wildcats defense that has been stout against the run, holding opponents to just 3.2 yards per rush on the campaign. Take the under (10*). |
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11-17-23 | Colorado v. Washington State -4.5 | 14-56 | Win | 100 | 51 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on Washington State minus the points over Colorado at 10:30 pm et on Friday. Washington State's current slide has really come out of nowhere. The Cougars got off to a terrific start this season before dropping six straight games and now even Bowl eligibility is in doubt as they need to win out, knowing that a very difficult matchup against in-state rival Washington lies ahead next week. Nevertheless, I do look for Washington State to finally turn in a complete performance and right the ship against a similarly sliding foe in Colorado on Friday. The Buffaloes have actually managed to win each of their last three games ATS but that's of little consolation as they've lost four in a row SU and will also need to win out to go 'Bowling' with a tough road tilt against Utah on deck next week. I simply like the Cougars advantages on defense here. They can't stop the run but that's by no means Colorado's m.o. on offense. Washington State did shine offensively last week against California, nearly pulling off a furious fourth quarter rally. It should be able to get loose again versus a Buffaloes squad that appears to be running out of gas having been licked for 124, 218, 195 and 211 rushing yards over their last four games. Take Washington State (8*). |
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11-16-23 | Bengals +3.5 v. Ravens | Top | 20-34 | Loss | -110 | 25 h 57 m | Show |
TNF Game of the Month. My selection is on Cincinnati plus the points over Baltimore at 8:15 pm et on Thursday. I can't help but feel the Bengals got caught overlooking the upstart Texans last Sunday, as many other teams have, or almost have this season. That loss snapped Cincinnati's four-game winning streak and put it in tough position here as it needs a win to avoid following three wins behind Baltimore in the AFC North standings. I do think the Bengals are one of those teams where the 'revenge' angle matters. We saw it in play to a certain extent a few weeks ago as Cincinnati went on the road and defeated San Francisco (after dropping a heartbreaker against the Niners at home in Joe Burrow's rookie season two years ago). Here, the Bengals will be looking to avenge an earlier 27-24 home loss against the Ravens, when Joe Burrow clearly wasn't right dealing with a calf injury earlier in the campaign. Baltimore also got caught overlooking its opponent last Sunday as it dropped a last-second decision against the division-rival Browns. While I don't believe the Ravens are as bad as they looked in the second half of that game, I also don't think they're as invincible as they appeared during their recent four-game winning streak. Home team has meant plenty in this series with the hosts winning four of the last five matchups. With that being said, you would have to go back three meetings here in Baltimore to find the last time the Ravens defeated the Bengals by more than two points. Take Cincinnati (10*). |
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11-13-23 | Broncos v. Bills -7 | 24-22 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Denver at 8:15 pm et on Monday. The Bills have now dropped the cash in five straight games after last week's 24-18 setback in Cincinnati. While their offense bogged down in that game, their banged-up defense actually held up well against an elite offense. If there's one thing the Broncos have done well lately it's run the football but Buffalo has actually done a tremendous job of snuffing out opposing ground attacks over its last three contests, yielding just 3.6 yards per rush. Denver, on the other hand, has been torched on the ground, allowing a ridiculous 6.1 yards per rush on the road this season. If the Bills can get their ground game going early on Monday, it could be lights out in a hurry as Josh Allen draws a smash spot against the Broncos 'one-trick pony' pass defense here. Buffalo desperately needs to take advantage of this two-game homestand that also includes a date with the Jets next week before a brutal stretch that includes road games against the Eagles, Chiefs and Chargers and a home contest against the Cowboys. Take Buffalo (8*). |
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11-12-23 | Commanders v. Seahawks -6 | Top | 26-29 | Loss | -105 | 27 h 54 m | Show |
NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Seattle minus the points over Washington at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. I generally look to fade the Commanders off a win at the best of times but here we have their opponent in a smash spot as well as the Seahawks return home following a lifeless performance in Baltimore last week. Washington has relied heavily on dual-threat QB Sam Howell to keep its offense afloat without a ground game to speak of this season. That spells trouble in situations such as this, however, where the Commanders are likely to be playing from behind. Seattle has struggled to lift the lid off its offense in recent weeks after showing so much promise early in the campaign (it scored exactly 37 points in consecutive games against Detroit and Carolina in September). This looks like a potential breakout spot against a Washington squad that has already allowed 30+ points on five different occasions this season and certainly didn't get any better defensively but cutting ties with pass-rush specialists Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Note that Washington is averaging a woeful 14.5 points per game the last six times it has come off an upset win on the road, as is the case here. Take Seattle (10*). |
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11-12-23 | Lions -3 v. Chargers | 41-38 | Push | 0 | 27 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Detroit minus the points over Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. The Chargers have taken full advantage of back-to-back favorable primetime matchups against the Bears and Jets but now take a big step up in class as they host the rested Lions on Sunday afternoon. Detroit is coming off its bye week which gave it the opportunity to get healthy on offense with RB David Montgomery, LG Jonah Jackson and C Frank Ragnow set to return. That's positive news for QB Jared Goff, especially when you consider Montgomery can not only produce yards on the ground and through the air but is also one of the league's best blocking backs. The Chargers offense is predicated on balance which doesn't bode particularly well here with the Lions allowing just 3.7 yards per rush this season. Only one of Detroit's eight opponents has managed to rush for 100 or more yards this season. With eight of the Lions last nine games coming indoors, they're well-positioned to take flight and I think it all starts with this road tilt on Sunday. Take Detroit (8*). |
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11-12-23 | 49ers v. Jaguars OVER 45 | Top | 34-3 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 53 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between San Francisco and Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday. The 49ers come out of their bye week and look to snap a three-game losing streak in Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon. With WR Deebo Samuel and LT Trent Williams set to return it should be all systems go for the 49ers offense. Note that San Francisco turned the football over three times in each of its last two games with a number of potential scoring drives going awry as a result. The Niners still scored 17 points in each of those two contests and should be able to improve on that production here. Jacksonville has scored 20 or more points in five straight games and I don't expect it to go away quietly on Sunday. You can be sure QB Trevor Lawrence hasn't forgotten a stinker of a performance at home against the Niners during his rookie season in 2021. That was back when Jacksonville was guided by head coach Urban Meyer and Lawrence's weapons included the likes of RB James Robinson and WRs Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault Jr. The fact that the Jags even scored 10 points on that day was admirable. Take the over (10*). |
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11-11-23 | Florida +15 v. LSU | 35-52 | Loss | -110 | 25 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on Florida plus the points over LSU at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. The Gators are running out of real estate if they want to gain Bowl eligibility this season as they have this game followed by a difficult road test against Missouri and a home date with rival Florida State left on the schedule. I look for them to give the Tigers all they can handle on Saturday in the Bayou. Florida was routed against Georgia two weeks ago and then fell just short as a favorite against Arkansas last Saturday. It's been a rough ride for the Gators and while they're by no means an elite team, they do have enough talent to hang with most teams in the SEC on a good night. The Tigers had reeled off three straight wins, both SU and ATS before it all came crashing down against rival Alabama last Saturday. As a whole, LSU has been a disappointment this season, losing three games and going a modest 5-4 ATS along the way. The Tigers have had their hands full with the Gators essentially every year since 2011, when they crushed Florida by a 41-11 score. This doesn't look like the LSU team that suddenly regains complete control in this series. Take Florida (8*). |
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11-11-23 | Washington State +2.5 v. California | Top | 39-42 | Loss | -105 | 22 h 30 m | Show |
Pac-12 Game of the Week. My selection is on Washington State plus the points over California at 4 pm et on Saturday. I'm not out on Washington State just yet. The Cougars have lost five games in a row, going 1-4 ATS over that stretch but I think they're in a smash spot against Cal on Saturday. The Golden Bears have dropped four games in a row and are a woeful 3-6 ATS on the campaign including 1-6 over their last seven contests. Washington State's recent slide has really come out of nowhere as it started the campaign with four straight wins and also gave UCLA and Oregon all it could handle in a couple of October road games. That's why I'm not ready to give up on the Cougars. Cal has employed a matador-like defense, yielding 203, 317, 128 and 153 rushing yards over its last four games. The Bears have been torched for 369 and 444 passing yards over the last two contests. Enough said. Take Washington State (10*). |
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11-11-23 | Northwestern v. Wisconsin UNDER 43 | Top | 24-10 | Win | 100 | 21 h 6 m | Show |
Big Ten Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Northwestern and Wisconsin at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. While Iowa is getting all the attention for its extremely low-scoring games in the Big Ten this season, Wisconsin isn't far behind - or shouldn't be moving forward anyway. The Badgers have scored 14 points or less in three of their last four games as they deal with a cluster of key injuries on the offensive side of the football. Their defense has been less impacted and checks in having held eight of nine opponents to 24 points or less this season. Northwestern has shown flashes on offense but has stagnated as usual for the most part. The Wildcats are coming off a 10-7 loss to Iowa last week. In four road games this season Northwestern has produced 7, 14, 9 and 7 points. Wisconsin has scored 35 and 42 points in the last two meetings in this series but I don't expect it to come close to that level of production on Saturday. Take the under (10*). |
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11-10-23 | Wyoming v. UNLV -5.5 | Top | 14-34 | Win | 100 | 64 h 41 m | Show |
Mountain West Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on UNLV minus the points over Wyoming at 10:45 pm et on Friday. While few are paying much attention, the Runnin' Rebels have a special thing going in Las Vegas this season. They're off to a 7-2 start to the campaign and still have more runway in front of them with three games left on the schedule, including this matchup with Wyoming on Friday night. UNLV demolished New Mexico State by a 56-14 score last Saturday, on the road no less. It's been a case of no Doug Brumfield, no problem for the Runnin' Rebels offense as backup QB Jayden Maiava has stepped in and performed admirably. UNLV boasts a multi-pronged offensive attack that is a handful for the best of defenses and I certainly wouldn't put Wyoming in that category. Yes, the Cowboys have come up big at times this season, most recently last Friday as they secured Bowl eligibility with a 24-15 home win over Colorado State. This isn't a team that travels well, however, noting that Wyoming has gone 0-3 away from home this season, albeit against tough opposition in Texas, Air Force and Boise State, losing those three games by a combined 53 points. Cowboys QB Andrew Peasley continues to struggle, noting that as a team, they've completed more than 18 passes in a game just once this season and that came in a contest where they threw for just 199 yards against Fresno State. Last Friday, the ground attack exploded led by RB Harrison Waylee but again, those performances have been few and far between this season. Wyoming has owned this series for the most part, taking the most recent two meetings by 36 and 31 points. Those came back in 2019 and 2020, however. The Runnin' Rebels are a much different team right now and I look for them to prove it again in front of a national audience on Friday night. Take UNLV (10*). |
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11-09-23 | Virginia v. Louisville -20 | 24-31 | Loss | -110 | 37 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Louisville minus the points over Virginia at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. Ordinarily I wouldn't want any part of backing a team coming off consecutive blowout wins, playing at home against an opponent that doesn't exactly draw a great deal of motivation. Here, I'm willing to make an exception, however. Virginia reeled off five straight ATS wins from late September through October but that streak ended with a thud in a 45-17 home loss against Georgia Tech on Saturday, ending the Cavaliers faint hopes of becoming Bowl eligible. There was no way the Yellow Jackets were going to be caught sleep-walking in that matchup after Virginia upset North Carolina and nearly did the same against Miami, both on the road. I'm not about to chalk the Cavaliers up as road warriors, however, and I see this as a complete mismatch against Louisville. The Cardinals have quietly been one of the best defensive teams in the country this season, all but snuffing out opposing ground attacks entirely, which really puts a wrench in what the Cavaliers want to do on Thursday. Louisville also knows how to take the air out of the football and put games away after building a lead here at home, notching victories by 28 points over Boston College, 13 points over Notre Dame, 23 points over Duke and most recently 31 points over Virginia Tech last Saturday. The schedule will get much tougher for the Cardinals over the final two weeks of the regular season as they travel to Miami before hosting in-state rival Kentucky. Look for Louisville to make the most of this ramp-up game on Thursday, noting that it is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 lined home contests while Virginia is a woeful 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games after winning five or six of its last seven contests ATS, as is the case here. Take Louisville (8*). |
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11-06-23 | Chargers v. Jets +3.5 | 27-6 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York plus the points over Los Angeles at 8:15 pm et on Monday. I'll take my chances grabbing the points with the Jets in what projects as a relatively low-scoring affair on Monday night in New Jersey. Note that these two teams were involved in a high-scoring shootout the last time they met in 2020. On that day, the Jets nearly staged a massive upset (as 10-point underdogs) on the road, with Joe Flacco starting at quarterback, despite Chargers QB Justin Herbert completing 37-of-49 passes for 347 yards (Los Angeles won by only six points). We've already seen the Jets employ smart strategies in similarly tough home matchups this season, holding the likes of Buffalo and Philadelphia to just 16 and 14 points in a pair of upset victories. Jets QB Zach Wilson is likely to be under duress all night long but I have confidence in RB Breece Hall and WR Garrett Wilson's ability to come up with enough big plays to keep the Chargers defense honest. Los Angeles hasn't been able to find a consistent ground attack this season, making it unlikely it will be able to 'take the air out of the football' should it build a lead in this contest. The Jets have done a tremendous job of stamping out opposing passing games, allowing 268 passing yards or less in all seven games to date. Take New York (8*). |
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11-05-23 | Cowboys v. Eagles -3 | 23-28 | Win | 100 | 27 h 1 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Dallas at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. The Cowboys seem to generally have a small margin for error when they step up in class for games such as this one, particularly on the road. They turned in a near-perfect performance at home against the Rams last Sunday, particularly on the defensive side of the football, yet still only forced one turnover. The 'well has run dry' so to speak in that department as they've failed to force more than a single turnover in any of their last three games - something I do think they'll need to do in order to reach the win column on Sunday. While something like turnovers isn't really predictable, I do think we can count on the Eagles to put a supreme focus on taking care of the football on Sunday after they coughed it up a whopping eight times over the last three games (they still won two of those three contests). The Cowboys check in a woeful 13-27 ATS in their last 40 games after recording a home win by 21 points or more. Worse still, they're a long-term 16-37 ATS after delivering five or six ATS wins in their last seven games, which is also the situation here (5-2 ATS this season). The Eagles are 8-1 ATS in their last nine contests as a home favorite of a touchdown or less, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 11.1 points. Meanwhile, the home team has gone 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings in this series with the lone road cover over that stretch coming by way of Dallas in a regular season finale where it was favored by 6.5 points in 2022 (Gardner Minshew started that game for Philadelphia). Take Philadelphia (8*). |
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11-05-23 | Cowboys v. Eagles UNDER 47 | Top | 23-28 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 20 m | Show |
NFC East Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Dallas and Philadelphia at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. These two offenses balled out last Sunday as the Cowboys exploded for 43 points in a rout of the Rams while the Eagles rallied to secure a 38-31 road win over the Commanders. I expect nothing of the sort in terms of offensive production on Sunday as Dallas heads to Philadelphia. The Cowboys lived in the Rams backfield last Sunday, ultimately leading to plenty of mistakes and short fields for the offense. It's unlikely they'll enjoy the same level of success against an elite Eagles offensive line here. Philadelphia got away from its ground game last week but that was almost entirely game-script dependent as it trailed much of the way, ultimately running the football just 22 times. It was a similar story a few weeks ago against the Jets in New York. Here, I look for a far more run-centric approach from the Eagles in a game where they've been installed as a home favorite. Note that the 'under' has gone 9-1 in the Cowboys last 10 games where the line was posted between +3 and -3, as is the case here. The 'under' is a long-term 50-20 in the Eagles last 70 games after their previous contest totalled 60 or more points and 17-6 in their last 23 home games after a win by seven points or less against a divisional foe, with both of those situations in play here. Take the under (10*). |
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11-05-23 | Seahawks v. Ravens UNDER 44 | 3-37 | Win | 100 | 24 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Seattle and Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday. We'll call for a Ravens letdown offensively after they scored 30+ points in each of their last two games. With that said, I'm not convinced the Seahawks are set up favorably here either as they come off last Sunday's thrilling come-from-behind win over the Browns. Seattle's offense appeared to be cleared for takeoff out of the gates this season but save for some flashes of brilliance (ie. the game-winning drive last Sunday), hasn't really lived up to expectations. Since scoring 37 points against Carolina on September 24th - its second straight game scoring 30+ points - Seattle has been held to 24, 13, 20 and 24 points over its last four games. The Seahawks lone tough defensive opponent over that stretch was Cincinnati and they were held to just 13 points in that contest. Both teams want to run the football consistently and I think this game stays tight enough all the way that they'll stick with pounding the rock - an 'under' bettor's best friend. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 14-5 in the Ravens last 19 games as a favorite and 9-2 in their last 11 home contests. Take the under (8*). |
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11-05-23 | Dolphins v. Chiefs OVER 50 | 14-21 | Loss | -110 | 49 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Miami and Kansas City at 9:30 am et on Saturday. The Chiefs have seen the 'under' cash in four straight games entering Sunday's much-anticipated clash with the Dolphins in Germany. I look for a different story to unfold as this game has shootout potential. Miami did welcome back Jalen Ramsey, earlier than expected, from a knee injury last week, bolstering their defense. I still consider the Dolphins defense to be beatable and am confident we'll see the Chiefs rebound offensively following last Sunday's dismal showing in Denver. The Broncos defense has proven to have Kansas City's number in two meetings this season. The last time Miami lined up against Kansas City back in 2020 it was tagged for 33 points in a six-point home defeat. The Fins aren't likely to shy away from a shootout here. There's optimism that Terron Armstead could return to strengthen their offensive line. Even if he can't go, I look for Miami's offense to put forth a better showing than we saw in its most recent spotlight game against Philadelphia two weeks ago. The Chiefs defense has held up incredibly well this season, but has shown signs of sagging a bit lately, yielding 115, 139 and 153 rushing yards over its last three games. If the Fins can get their ground attack rolling downhill the sky's the limit for their passing game on Sunday as the Chiefs simply don't have the personnel to match up against the duo of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill (spoiler alert: No team does). Take the over (8*). |
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11-04-23 | Stanford v. Washington State -13 | Top | 10-7 | Loss | -110 | 36 h 19 m | Show |
Pac-12 Game of the Week. My selection is on Washington State minus the points over Stanford at 9 pm et on Saturday. The Cougars have fallen on hard times after a terrific start to the season, dropping four games in a row while going 1-3 ATS over that stretch. They looked like they simply ran out of gas in their second straight road game last week as they lost outright as four-point favorites in Tempe. I like the bounce-back spot for Washington State here as it hosts Stanford, which gave mighty Washington all it could handle as a big underdog in Seattle last Saturday. The Cardinal are still just one game removed from a 42-7 home loss against UCLA. There was also a 42-6 beatdown at the hands of Oregon in late September. In other words, the Cardinal are extremely inconsistent. I was high on Washington State at the start of the season and despite its rough ride recently, I still believe this team has the potential to make some noise down the stretch, culminating with a big opportunity to play spoiler against rival Washington in the Apple Cup on November 25th. Note that the Cougars are a long-term 16-6 ATS in their last 22 games when coming off a contest where they didn't force a single turnover, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 13.4 points in that situation. Take Washington State (10*). |
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11-04-23 | Florida State v. Pittsburgh +21.5 | Top | 24-7 | Win | 100 | 32 h 34 m | Show |
ACC Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Florida State at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. Florida State is rolling right now having won eight straight games to open the campaign including each of its last three ATS. I look for its ATS winning streak to come to an end on Saturday, however, as it faces a bit of a tough spot to get up for against a 2-6 Pittsburgh squad. We know the Panthers will be up for this one after nothing went right for them in last week's 58-7 drubbing in South Bend. Keep in mind, Pitt had been playing competitive football - the last time we saw it on this field it laid waste to a good Louisville team by a 38-21 score. Of its six losses this season, last week's was the first to come by more than 17 points. There's a level of unfamiliarity between these two conference foes, noting they've met only twice all-time with the most recent coming in 2020 (Pitt won that game 41-17 in Tallahassee). Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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11-04-23 | Arizona State v. Utah -11 | 3-55 | Win | 100 | 29 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on Utah minus the points over Arizona State at 2 pm et on Saturday. The Utes were crushed 35-6 at home against Oregon last week. They're not a team built for coming back from big deficits, not with QB Cam Rising sidelined, and it showed as that contest got away from them in a hurry. Here, I expect a much different game script to unfold as Utah looks to bounce back at home against Arizona State. The Sun Devils are in a certain letdown spot after snapping their six-game losing streak with an upset win at home against Washington State last week. Arizona State is still going nowhere this season and will be hard-pressed to find another win on its remaining schedule. I look for the Utes to clamp down defensively while their offense rebounds following last week's putrid performance (they had scored exactly 34 points in consecutive games entering that contest). Take Utah (8*). |
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11-03-23 | Boston College v. Syracuse UNDER 51 | 17-10 | Win | 100 | 23 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Boston College and Syracuse at 7:30 pm et on Friday. I think everyone wants to believe in this Syracuse offense but it's just not there this season. The Orange have been held to 34 points in their last four games combined. That's no fluke. They're quite simply playing awful football right now. I do have faith in the Syracuse defense, led by its back-end, here at home, however. The Orange have allowed 38+ points in three straight games. This is a matchup they can handle though. Boston College mustered only 21 points in last week's win over lowly Connecticut. The Eagles have found their ground game and they're willing to hang their hat on it right now having rushed for 200+ yards in four straight games and 300+ in two of those contests. Defensively, the Eagles have incredibly held all but one of their eight opponents to 18 pass completions or fewer. Take the under (8*). |
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11-02-23 | TCU v. Texas Tech OVER 59.5 | Top | 28-35 | Win | 100 | 11 h 20 m | Show |
Big 12 Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between TCU and Texas Tech at 7 pm et on Thursday. We're working with a considerably lower posted total than we saw in last year's matchup between these two teams. After all, that game reached 'only' 58 total points and both teams are coming off dismal offensive showings in their most recent game. I do think we'll see plenty of points on the board on Thursday, however, as this game has shootout potential. Few opponents have bombed away on the TCU defense this season. But we know it's possible as Colorado ripped the Horned Frogs for 38-of-47 passing for over 500 yards back in Week 1. While it has been somewhat game-script dependent, Texas Tech is coming off a pair of games in which it aired it out 49 and 37 times. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders ground attack has churned out 153 or more rushing yards in seven straight games. TCU won't shy away from slinging it all over the field either, noting that it has completed at least 21 passes in all eight games so far this season with three 300+ passing yard games. The Horned Frogs have racked up over 100 rushing yards in all eight games this season. Neither team has had a tendency to hold onto the football for long stretches with both averaging right around 27 minutes per game in terms of time of possession. I think that quick-strike potential will be there all night long in Lubbock. Take the over (10*). |
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10-29-23 | Bengals v. 49ers OVER 43.5 | 31-17 | Win | 100 | 20 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Cincinnati and San Francisco at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. I really like the way the Bengals set up in this game as they look to avenge a 2021 home loss against the 49ers. With that being said, I have plenty of respect for the oddsmakers and believe the 49ers are favored by nearly a touchdown for a reason on Sunday afternoon. So that leaves us well-positioned for points on the board as the Bengals check in healthy off their bye week and the 49ers appear in better shape back at home with QB Brock Purdy having shaken off the possible concussion he suffered on Monday against Minnesota. Speaking of injuries, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey looked no worse for wear on Monday and he'll be up against a Cincinnati defense that has been Charmin-soft against the run this season, yielding just shy of 5.0 yards per rush. San Francisco would be well-suited to employ a quick-strike offensive gameplan with Trent Williams likely to sit once again. Getting the ball out quickly will be paramount for Brock Purdy but keep in mind, the Bengals defense is loaded with ball hawks in the secondary, capable of leading to splash plays that either put points directly on the scoreboard or lead to short fields for a very capable Cincinnati offense. I think this is a game Bengals QB Joe Burrow has had circled. As I mentioned, the last time these two teams met in 2021, Burrow threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-23 home loss against a Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers squad. Of note, Deebo Samuel ran the football eight times for 37 yards and a touchdown in that game but was rendered ineffective in the passing game. Samuel won't play on Sunday but McCaffrey can certainly fill the void out of the backfield. The duo of George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk went off for 19 (yes 19!) catches for 213 yards and two touchdowns in that 2021 meeting. Take the over (8*). |
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10-29-23 | Browns v. Seahawks -3.5 | 20-24 | Win | 100 | 18 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on Seattle minus the points over Cleveland at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. Really tough spot for the Browns here after they 'left it all on the field' in last week's wild, high-scoring win in Indianapolis. The Seahawks had what amounted to a scrimmage at home against the Cardinals and should be no worse for wear entering this game. In fact, Seattle is expected to be stronger with WR D.K. Metcalf likely to return. The Browns lost key backup RB Jerome Ford last week so it's the Kareem Hunt show this Sunday. That's not to mention the fact that QB P.J. Walker with his pop-gun arm will remain under center against a ball-hawking Seahawks secondary. Take Seattle (8*). |
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