Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The five best NFL player prop bets to make for the upcoming week.
Four teams are going to be cut down to two, and the prop bets highlighted for this week include all four of them. There’s one tight end achieving and one underachieving, a wide receiver with a number too low to pass up and another whose ask is just too high, and Mr. Irrelevant proving his relevance
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Shannon Sharpe calls Kayshon Boutte a “dumdum” after recent arrest
Shannon Sharpe wasn’t in the mood for holding back when talking about New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who was recently arrested on illegal online gambling charges.
Boutte faces one misdemeanor count of underage gaming and a felony count of computer fraud. He is accused of creating a fake account for gambling while representing himself as 21 years old or older when he was actually underage.
The former LSU star wideout allegedly placed over 8,900 bets with some involving LSU games. However, the fake names used had Boutte’s first and last name in them.
During an episode of “Nightcap” with Chad Johnson, Sharpe named Boutte as the “dumdum of the day.”
“…Now, normally Ocho, when you’re doing something illegal, you try to go out of your way, I’m not going to use my name,” said Sharpe. “If I’m robbing banks or something, I’m going to use a stolen car. I’m not going to use my car. Let me tell you what dumdum did.
“Now you would think, you know you’re not supposed to be gambling, illegal gambling or to definitely not be gambling on college football or your game. Guess what dumdum did. Guess what his username was. …His username to place these illegal bets was Kayshon Boutte.”
Per WAFB 9, Boutte arranged to turn himself in before posting a $6,000 bond and being released. There has been no word yet on whether he’ll face disciplinary action from the NFL.
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The five smartest wagers to take to the pay window for the Conference Championships.
And then there were four.
The AFC and NFC Conference Championship games are upon us and you have storylines-a-plenty coming in. The two top seeds are both healthy favorites, but in the 49 years of playoff seeding since 1975, only 14 Super Bowls have featured the two top-seeded teams – just 28%.
The deletion of one team getting a bye in each conference has played a part in unleveling the playing field. Both No. 1 seeds are the only ones to get a week off, and they played on Saturday at home in the Divisional Round, giving them an additional day of recovery and preparation against teams that have already had to win twice.
The nagging question is whether you believe history will repeat itself two years in a row, and the teams with the bye make it pay off with a trip to the Super Bowl.
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Use our staff’s weekly pick’em against the spread and straight up for the win.
NFL picks are provided for straight up (moneyline) and against the spread (ATS) NFL pick pools.
Each week’s spread picks are graded by the line as of when the person entered their picks. This will create situations in which a movement of the line can result in two participants having the correct pick but with different teams chosen during an individual game.
New BetMGM customers can sign up today and get a First Bet Offer up to $1,500 using bonus code USAT. Just download the BetMGM app, deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game. If your first bet loses, you will receive bonus bets in the amount of your bet (up to $1,500). Just make sure you use bonus code USAT when you sign up. Bet Now!
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. CO, DC, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MS, NJ, NV, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, New York or Ontario.
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2023 Season-long rankings: moneyline
DMD – David Dorey, SG – Steve Gallo, HS – Harley Schultz, CC – Cletis Cutts, CJB – Cory Bonini, HCG – HC Green, KH – Kevin Hickey
A snapshot look at the NFL betting lines and odds for Conference Championships sports betting and DFS action.
A good way to start your weekly homework for DFS (daily fantasy sports) play is to analyze the Vegas odds for the Conference Championships.
These guys have a long history of making money off of setting the right game spread and points scored. So it can be an early indicator of teams to target due to high-scoring potential, and teams to avoid for the opposite reason.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
OFF = No odds currently listed.
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The five best NFL player prop bets to make for the upcoming week.
As the NFL reduces the number of teams that can win the Super Bowl from eight down to four, this week’s prop bet picks touch all four games.
The picks include a rookie sensation putting up numbers (but not a “W”), one San Francisco 49ers receiver scoring a touchdown while another underachieves (again), a veteran running back helping control a game, and a young running back taking his talents on the road in the playoffs for the first time.
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The five smartest wagers to take to the pay window for the Divisional Round.
For my money, with the potential exception of the first two days of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, there is no greater two days in sports than the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. Six teams had to earn their way there. The two best teams are rested and surrounded by friends waiting for somebody to come to their house trying to take it away from them.
This week’s picks mix it up, taking a game to go Over, one to go Under, both teams rested from their bye making a statement, and an underdog looking to continue its January dominance.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
Use our staff’s weekly pick’em against the spread and straight up for the win.
NFL picks are provided for straight up (moneyline) and against the spread (ATS) NFL pick pools.
Each week’s spread picks are graded by the line as of when the person entered their picks. This will create situations in which a movement of the line can result in two participants having the correct pick but with different teams chosen during an individual game.
New BetMGM customers can sign up today and get a First Bet Offer up to $1,500 using bonus code USAT. Just download the BetMGM app, deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game. If your first bet loses, you will receive bonus bets in the amount of your bet (up to $1,500). Just make sure you use bonus code USAT when you sign up. Bet Now!
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. CO, DC, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MS, NJ, NV, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, New York or Ontario.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
2023 Season-long rankings: moneyline
DMD – David Dorey, SG – Steve Gallo, HS – Harley Schultz, CC – Cletis Cutts, CJB – Cory Bonini, HCG – HC Green, KH – Kevin Hickey
A league-wide view into the best wagers to make for NFL Divisional Round action.
There is no better time in the NFL than the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The two top dogs are waiting. Everyone else earned their way to this spot. Let’s go! In the Wild Card Round, typically a couple underdog teams make it to next round. In the Divisional Round, there is always one. The question is which one? The NFL rarely goes all-chalk.
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The Ravens are understandably big favorites (9 points at -110 for both teams). They’re well rested having laid down in Week 18 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. When they’ve played all their guys, Baltimore won its last six games and 10 of the last 11. The Texans are great story, but the Ravens are assassins. They beat the Texans by 16 points in Week 1 and six of Baltimore’s last seven wins have been by double digits. Take the Ravens and lay 9 points (-110).
The Over/Under is the lowest of the week (44 points at -110 for both Over and Under). Week 18 excluded, the Ravens have scored more than 30 points in eight of their last 10 games, including against the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins. The Texans have enough big-play ability to keep up for a while, just not 60 minutes. Take Over 44 point (-110).
The 49ers are the biggest favorites of the week (9.5 points at -110 for both teams). There’s a good reason for it. Their wins this season have come by 23, 7, 18, 19, 32, 31, 13, 18, 23, 12, 16 and 17. When you’ve hit 11 of 12 times, it’s hard to walk away from that pay window. Take the 49ers and lay 9.5 points (-110).
This is the highest Over/Under of the week (50.5 points at -110 for both). While both offenses are capable of putting up big numbers, if you’re of the belief that the 49ers are going to win, they’re going to take the air out of the ball in the second half, especially if the Packers can’t stop it. Take Under 50.5 points (-110).
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The Lions are solid favorites (6.5 points at -110 for both teams). This is more because of the Buccaneers than a Lions juggernaut. The Bucs played five regular-season games this year against teams that made the playoffs. They lost them all. Too many things have to happen right for the Bucs to cover this point. Take the Lions and lay 6.5 points (-110).
This Over/Under (48.5 points at -110 for both). The Lions have the best offensive line in the NFL. Dan Campbell is a newbie realist. If Detroit gets ahead by 10 points, they grind one 15-play drive that makes this number really hard to hit. Take Under 48.5 points (-110).
The Bills are a disrespected home playoff favorite (2.5 points at +100 Chiefs, -120 Bills). Since 2021, Josh Allen is 3-2 against the Chiefs – all on the road. He’s 3-0 in the regular season and 0-2 in the playoffs. The Chiefs have become like Muhammad Ali – you keep betting on him until you shouldn’t. Getting two-and-a-hook keeps multiple game scenarios in play. Take the Chiefs plus 2.5 points (+100).
Few would think the Over/Under would be this low (46 points at -110 for both teams). But, in their last two meetings, the point totals have been 44 and 37. That’s not a fluke. Both teams have discovered the running game, and with Buffalo’s defense so depleted in the back seven, both teams need to win by any means necessary. This has a 23-20 vibe more than it does a 35-31 likelihood – both which involve nine scoring drives. Take Under 46 points (-110).
A snapshot look at the NFL betting lines and odds for Divisional Round sports betting and DFS action.
A good way to start your weekly homework for DFS (daily fantasy sports) play is to analyze the Vegas odds for the Divisional Round.
These guys have a long history of making money off of setting the right game spread and points scored. So it can be an early indicator of teams to target due to high-scoring potential, and teams to avoid for the opposite reason.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
OFF = No odds currently listed.
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