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Brian Torchia - 2021-22 Overall Record 20-13 (7-6 NCAA, 15-7 NFL)
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bucs -8
Sunday @ 1 PM
The Eagles head into this matchup winning four of their last five games, but I think that's a little misleading. The four teams they beat in that span are the New York Jets, New York Giants and the Washington Football Team twice. Not exactly the top class of the league. They also are 0-6 this season against teams that made the playoffs (1-5 against the spread), with one of those losses being to this Tampa Bay team.
By now, we're all aware of what Bucs quarterback Tom Brady is capable of in the playoffs. From his years in New England and last year's Super Bowl run with Tampa, winning in the playoffs is just what he does. Plus, he has been far better at home this season than on the road. I just think the Bucs are going to be too much for Philly to handle and expect them to cruise to an easy win against a team that has been better on paper than in reality.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs - Under 46.5
Sunday @ 8:15 PM
These two teams squared off three weeks ago in what was a convincing beatdown by the Chiefs, 36-10. The Steelers offensive struggles have been well documented this season and that game was no different. They should feel fortunate to have even reached double digit points with their performance that day. While they come into this game off of two wins, I'm not sure the offense has dramatically improved enough to get them over that total this time around either.
With that being said, I do think they can keep this game close. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore the Steelers' defense to shreds the first time around but I'm not so sure that will be the case this time. I fully expect the Steelers to come out with a better defensive scheme to limit this high-flying offense. And with the Steelers offense being what it is, I can easily see this being a defensive battle by both teams. Therefore, I think this game gets under the 46.5 total once again.
Antonio Wolfe - 2021-22 Overall Record: 22-24-1 (14-12-1 NCAA, 8-12 NFL)
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills - Under 44
Saturday @ 8:15 PM
Typically I try to outsmart the weather when it comes to these types of games. I try to wait for the total to come so far down that I eventually take the Over as a way for me to feel smarter than the rest. This has not been successful for me in the past.
Therefore, I am just going to trust that it is very difficult to play football in terrible weather. And in this case, the weather is supposed to be brutal. I mean, of course it is. It's Buffalo in January. It is supposed to be one of the coldest games played in NFL history. In addition to Josh Allen having a history of struggling in the cold, the Patriots have shown they are happy to run against the Bills in bad weather in the past and rely on their defense. I expect the same tomorrow.
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams - Rams -4
Monday @ 8:15 PM
The Arizona Cardinals are not taking enough heat for their late season collapse. The Steelers and Mike Tomlin took a lot more for the end of last season than the Cardinals are for this one. However, the collapse has been equally as quick and embarrassing.
After starting off 7-0, the Cardinals have lost six of their last ten games, and three of those losses were to the Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks. They are not playing good football right now. Neither are the Rams, but the Rams are just a better football team in general. They have a better defense than the Cardinals and have more weapons for Matthew Stafford since Kyler Murray's best weapon, Deandre Hopkins, is injured.
Cody Flavell - 2021 Overall Record: 3-5 (2-0 NCAA, 1-5 NFL)
Raiders vs Bengals (Sat 4:30 PM)
Pick: Raiders +5.5
A quick look through my settled bet slips would show that
I have been a huge Bengals backer this season. Sometimes it worked in my favor.
Other times my blind faith bit me in the behind. Such is betting, though,
right? I wasn’t on the Raiders much this year but they did cover
their final three spreads of the season after a brutal stretch where they had
lost six of seven against the spread.
I’m taking the Raiders this weekend for the sole fact
that Derek Carr and the Raiders played in a de facto playoff game on Sunday
night while Joe Burrow got the weekend off in the Bengals game. Both quarterbacks will be making their playoff debut and
Carr’s momentum going into this strikes me as something I’d like to ride.
Burrow is an electric quarterback but he’s been taken out of his rhythm with a
week off.
Plus they’re still the Bungals until proven otherwise.
The Marvin Lewis stench is obviously gone but they’ll always be seen as the
playoff failures who haven’t won since 1991. I’m not suggesting the Bengals will lose outright but I
will take the Raiders to keep it close and eventually cover the 5.5 points.
SF vs DAL Same Game Parlay
Parlay: SF +3, Deebo Samuel anytime TD, Ezekiel Elliott
anytime TD, u51.5 (+1996)
With FanDuel doing their “Bet & Get” tiered same game
parlay promotion, I decided to cook up a parlay of my own that I may place as
part of the promo. These odds are boosted a bit by the fact that I’m taking
two touchdown scorers to go along with my under but it feels like a lot of
value right?
Samuel is the focal point of the 49ers offense with them
using him in both the passing and running game. He’s a massive weapon for that
team. His presence as well as Jimmy Garropolo’s recent solid play make for a
team I would not want to face in the playoffs. Dallas’ playoff woes are well documented and while
they’ll be in the safe confines of AT&T Stadium, the 49ers coming in and
winning would not be a shock to many.
A $10 bet would return over $200 if you include your
stake. I really like this parlay especially for its value. Go take advantage of
the bonus cash FanDuel is handing out and make up your own! Share them with me
@LetsTalkPIT.
