Tag: NFL Betting Picks

Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday night’s Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears sports betting odds and lines, with Week 16 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.

The Chicago Bears (7-7) host the AFC West-champion Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) in the final edition of Sunday Night Football for the 2019 season. The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET at Soldier Field. We analyze the Chiefs-Bears odds and sports betting lines, while providing sports betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Chiefs at Bears: Week 16 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Chiefs secured their fourth straight division title with a 23-3 victory over the rival Denver Broncos last week. The Bears were eliminated from postseason contention in a 21-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
  • Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky threw for 334 yards in the loss. It was his second time in three weeks topping 330 yards after he failed to hit the 300-yard mark through 10 games.
  • The Chiefs defense has held their past four opponents to 17 points or less.
  • Kansas City hasn’t had a 100-yard rusher since Week 9. No player topped 50 rushing yards in any of the team’s last three games.
  • Chicago hasn’t had a player rush for 100 yards in a game since Week 8. It was the only game this season a Bears RB topped 100 yards.
  • The Chiefs have a turnover differential of plus-7 with 21 takeaways and 14 giveaways. Only the Green Bay Packers (2) have fewer interceptions thrown than KC (4).
  • The Bears are minus-2 in turnover differential with 18 giveaways against 16 takeaways.
  • Chicago is calling for a Sunday night temperature of 32 degrees with little chance of snow.

Chiefs at Bears: Key injuries

Chiefs: RB Damien Williams (ribs, illness) hasn’t played since Week 11 and is expected to be questionable for much of the week.

Bears: WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion), RT Bobby Massie (ankle) and LB Danny Trevathan (elbow) are questionable.

Chiefs at Bears: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 6:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Chiefs 24, Bears 17

Moneyline (?)

Play it safe and go with the CHIEFS (-218) on the road. Kansas City is 6-1 on the road and on a four-game winning streak overall. Chicago is 4-3 at home and coming off the Week 15 loss.

Kansas City is still competing for a top-two seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Chicago’s season is over and the Chiefs will roll through an unmotivated squad.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Chiefs to win outright returns a profit of $4.59.

Against the Spread (?)

Take the CHIEFS (-4.5, -110) with the points for a more profitable wager. They’ll need to win by at least 5 points for a $10 wager to net a profit of $9.09.

Chicago is just 4-10 against the spread overall while Kansas City is 9-5 ATS. The Chiefs cover the spread by an average of 3.7 points per game; the Bears fall 1.6 PPG shy of the line. The Bears failed to cover as a 4.5-point road dog against the Packers last week.

Over/Under (?)

The projected total of 44.5 is the highest for a Bears game since the total closed at 46.5 for their Week 1 date with the Packers. They fell well short of the number in that one with a 10-3 loss. It’s the Chiefs’ second-lowest total of the year, and they fell below a 43-point projection last week against the Broncos.

Take the UNDER 44.5 (-106) with the Chiefs defense rounding into form and the Bears offense topping 30 points just once since Week 3.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NFL betting record: 45-42

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons sports betting odds and lines, with Week 16 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9) and Atlanta Falcons (5-9) are both coming off victories in Week 15 and they’ll meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday of Week 16 for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. We analyze the Jaguars-Falcons odds and sports betting lines, while providing sports betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Jaguars at Falcons: Week 16 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Falcons upset the playoff-bound San Francisco 49ers by a 29-22 count on the road last week for their second straight win. It’s the second time all season they’ve won back-to-back games and they’ll be looking to string three Ws together for the first time since the final three weeks of last season.
  • The Jags snapped a five-game losing skid with their 20-16 road victory over the Oakland Raiders. They had lost each of their previous five games by two or more scores.
  • Atlanta ranks 15th in the NFL with 23.5 points per game. Jacksonville is 27th with just 17.9 PPG. The Falcons’ 370.3 yards of offense per game rank 11th. The Jaguars are 20th with 344.8 YPG.
  • The Jaguars and Falcons rank 23rd and 25th, respectively, in points allowed per game at 25.2 and 26.1. The Jags allow 10 more yards per game than the Falcons.
  • The Falcons have a turnover differential of minus-6 to the Jags’ minus-3 differential.
  • The Jags are tied for fifth in the league with 43 sacks. The Falcons are 29th with just 24 sacks. Atlanta has also allowed 43 sacks to the 36 given up by Jacksonville.

Jaguars at Falcons: Key injuries

Jaguars WR DJ Chark (ankle) is hoping to return this week after sitting out Week 15.

Falcons DL Takk McKinley (shoulder) joined CB Desmond Trufant (arm) and WR Calvin Ridley (abdomen) on the Reserve/Injured list.

Jaguars at Falcons: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 7 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Jaguars 23, Falcons 20

Moneyline (?)

The Falcons (-334) are far too heavily favored at home following a colossal upset of the 49ers last week as 10-point underdogs. The JAGUARS (+260) are the play at an inflated number showing too much respect to the home side. Jags QB Gardner Minshew is now 3-2 on the road as a starter in his rookie season. The Jaguars are the better defensive club and offer the hope of nearly a 3x return on your investment.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Jaguars to win outright returns a profit of $26.

Against the Spread (?)

Liking the JAGUARS (+7.5, -125) to win outright, they’re also a fine play to cover the spread for the less-adventurous bettors. They’ll need to stay within 7 points in a loss, or win outright.

Both teams are coming off ATS wins as road underdogs. Jacksonville is 3-3 ATS as a road dog this season. Atlanta is 1-2 as a home favorite, where they fail to cover by 5.8 PPG.

Over/Under (?)

The Falcons hit the Over in each of their last wins. The Jags fell well short of a projected total of 46.5 last week against the Raiders. Atlanta is 6-8 against the Over/Under for the year, Jacksonville is 7-7. Take the UNDER 45.5 (-110) on a number seemingly propped up by the victories last week for both sides.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NFL betting record: 45-42

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers sports betting odds and lines, with Week 15 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.

The Chicago Bears (7-6) visit the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers (10-3) in the 200th meeting between the longtime rivals Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Lambeau Field (on FOX). We analyze the Bears-Packers odds and sports betting lines, while providing betting tips and advice on this Week 15 NFL matchup.

Bears at Packers: Week 15 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Bears have won three in a row, most recently knocking off the Dallas Cowboys 31-24 at home in the Week 14 Thursday game.
  • The Packers, who lead the division by a game over the Minnesota Vikings and currently sit in the No. 2 NFC playoff spot, are on a two-game win streak after beating the visiting Washington Redskins 20-15 last week.
  • A Chicago loss in Green Bay would eliminate the Bears from playoff contention if the Vikings win at the Los Angeles Chargers later Sunday.
  • The Bears are 3-3 on the road, but 4-9 Against the Spread (ATS) overall.
  • The Packers are 6-1 at home and 8-5 ATS overall.
  • The Packers won the first head-to-head meeting of the season, 10-3 in Week 1 at Soldier Field.
  • Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky has thrown for 2,440 yards and 16 TDs, but with 8 interceptions.
  • Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 3,260 yards with 23 TDs and 2 picks in 13 games.
  • The Bears defense ranks fourth in points allowed (17.8 PPG) and 10th in yards allowed (326.5 YPG).
  • While the Packers offense hasn’t been its usual self – ranking 23rd in yards (340.1 YPG) – the defense has been decent, ranking 13th in points allowed (20.8 PPG) but 22nd in yards allowed (367.9 YPG).
  • Aaron Jones leads the Packers ground attack, rushing for 779 yards with 12 TDs. David Montgomery has been the Bears’ main RB, tallying for 680 rushing yards with 5 TDs

Bears at Packers: Key injuries

Bears: WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion), TE Ben Braunecker (concussion), RT Bobby Massie (ankle), DE Roy Robertson-Harris (foot) and LB Danny Trevathan (elbow) are questionable. CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring) is probable.

Packers: TE Jimmy Graham (wrist), WR Geronimo Allison (knee), RG Billy Turner (knee) and CB Kevin King (shoulder) are questionable.

Bears at Packers: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Nov 28, 2019; Detroit, MI,; Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky looks to pass against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. (Photo Credit: Tim Fuller – USA TODAY Sports)

NFL odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Thursday at 1:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Packers 24, Bears 16

Moneyline (ML)

It’s no surprise the Packers (-209) are favored at home, but I’m not interested in making a 2-to-1 type bet, where every $2.09 wagered only would profit $1 if Green Bay prevails. I’m going to focus on the spread instead. The Bears are +170 where every $1 wagered would profit $1.70 if Chicago wins.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The PACKERS (-4.5, -106) are the STRONGEST PLAY. Green Bay has won the last three vs. the Bears at Lambeau and have won 9 of the past 11 head-to-head meetings at home. Plus, Rodgers is 18-5 vs. the Bears in his career. Chicago (+4.5, -115) last won at Green Bay Nov. 26, 2015.

Every $1.06 wagered on the Packers to win by 5 points or more would profit $1 if they do so.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 41.5 (-125) is worthy of a small play. The Bears are 5-8 O/U on the season, 2-3 O/U on the road and 0-2 O/U as a road underdog. The Packers are 6-7 O/U overall and 3-4 O/U at home – they’ve been favored in every home game.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s December record: 5-1. Strongest plays: 3-0.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFL Best Bets: Three best underdog locks for Week 15

Our weekly NFL underdog betting staple continues into Week 15 where Ken Pomponio features three teams likely to upset their underdog odds

Another big week for underdogs (10-6 against the mid-week point spreads) meant another strong week here as we notched our third straight winning weekend with a 3-0 mark.

As expected, one of my three Week 14 underdog selections won outright with the host Los Angeles Rams beating the favored Seattle Seahawks 28-12 on Sunday night, despite being 2.5-point home ‘dogs midweek.

But we saw TWO of our underdogs win straight up as rookie quarterback Drew Lock and the Denver Broncos dominated the host Houston Texans (7.5-point favorites) in a shocking 38-24 win.

The third of our three picks, the 12.5 -point underdog Washington Redskins, hung tough as expected in a 20-15 road loss on the frozen tundra of Green Bay.

That all ups our season record here to a nice, shiny and – best of all – profitable 26-16.

Now we move on to a Week 15 slate that doesn’t appear as promising at first (or even fourth) glance, looking like a rare 2019 week of favorites. Regardless, we’ve found three ‘dogs to back, utilizing, as usual, Wednesday’s posted point spreads at BetMGM.com.

Here goes …

Chicago Bears (+4½) at Packers

Photo Credit: Benny Sieu – USA TODAY Sports

Don’t look now but Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears have rebounded from a 3-5 start to win four of their last five and inch onto the fringe of the crowded NFC playoff chase.

The 7-6 Bears are 4-9 against the spread, but seven of those losses have come as favorites. Now they’re getting the third-most points they’ve received all season.

The Pack? They’ve won two straight since coming out on the wrong side of a 37-8 beatdown against the 49ers in Week 12 and, at 10-3, are fighting for the NFC North title and a possible first-round postseason bye.

Green Bay, though, is 4-3 ATS as a home favorite this season. And despite the Packers’ 10-3 win in Chicago in the season opener, Trubisky & Co. should be able to keep the rematch within the number, even if they wind up falling short in the latest installment of this storied rivalry.

Dallas Cowboys (+1½) vs. L.A. Rams

Photo Credit: Quinn Harris – USA TODAY Sports

Yeah, we’re going against all the momentum and trends on both ends and side with embattled coach Jason Garrett and the ‘Boys here.

Dallas has dropped three straight, four of five and seven of 10 overall since a 3-0 start, but the club is still somehow tied for the NFC (L)East lead.

It goes against all logic to take that resume over that of the suddenly surging Rams, who have won three of four to move to 8-5 and into the wild-card hunt, but sometimes the ugly ‘dog is the right ‘dog, and we’ll bank on the Cowboys avoiding a third straight home loss.

Buffalo Bills (+2½) at Pittsburgh Steelers

Photo Credit: Rich Barnes – USA TODAY Sports

The 8-5 Steelers are a truly impressive 7-1 since a Week 5 overtime home loss to the Ravens dropped them to 1-4, and they’ve done so with the backup-QB combo of Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph at the helm.

Still, only one of Pittsburgh’s eight wins – a 17-12 Week 10 triumph over the visiting Rams – has come against a team currently sporting a winning record.

The 9-4 Bills own a rather similar resume with only one of their nine wins – a Week 5 victory over the then-Marcus Mariota-quarterbacked Tennessee Titans – coming against a team currently sitting above .500.

But in a Sunday night matchup of AFC wild-card front-runners possessing strong defenses, we’ll take the better QB (Josh Allen) and the points on the road in a mild upset.

Want action on these games? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles odds, lines, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles sports betting odds and lines, with Week 14 NFL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The New York Giants (2-10) are trying to play spoiler in Week 14 against NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles (5-7). With a win, the Eagles will pull into a tie with the Dallas Cowboys atop the division at 6-7. Kickoff will be at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday Night Football from Lincoln Financial Field. We analyze the Giants-Eagles sports betting odds and lines, with picks and tips for this matchup.

Giants at Eagles: Week 14 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Giants are 10-3 against the spread over their last 13 road games and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games as underdogs.
  • In their last six meetings, the Giants are 4-2 ATS vs. the Eagles despite losing five games in a row and five of the last six straight up.
  • New York has lost eight games in a row, including four by at least 18 points.
  • The Eagles are 2-5 ATS and straight up in their last seven games.
  • In the Eagles’ last five home games, the total has gone Under four times.
  • The total has gone Under in seven of the Eagles’ last nine home games against the Giants.

Giants at Eagles: Key injuries

Giants QB Daniel Jones is doubtful to play due to an ankle injury. Eli Manning will start in his place. WR Golden Tate (concussion) and TE Evan Engram (foot) returned to practice Thursday and are making progress.

Eagles WR Nelson Agholor (knee) and RB Jordan Howard (shoulder) are questionable. DE Derek Barnett also has an ankle injury and is questionable.

Giants at Eagles: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 11 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Eagles 23, Giants 17

Moneyline (?)

With the door wide open in the NFC East, the Eagles can’t afford to slip up here. They must win this game, and they should. Coming off a loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Eagles won’t have another embarrassing performance – especially at home.

Take the EAGLES (-417) to win outright.

Against the Spread (?)

Here’s where the real value lies. The Eagles are favored by 9.5 points over the Giants, who will be led by Manning. The uncertainty at QB for the Giants could wind up being a good thing.

Take the GIANTS (+9.5, -115) to cover the spread and keep the game relatively close.

Over/Under (?)

The projected total of 47.5 is one of the highest totals of the week, which seems hard to believe. Neither team has a particularly explosive offense and the final score should fall well short.

Bet the UNDER 47.5 (-121).

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFL Best Bets: Three best underdog locks for Week 14

Our weekly NFL underdog betting staple continues into Week 14 where Ken Pomponio features three teams likely to upset their underdog odds

One of our three picks from a 2-1 Week 13 provided a snapshot of getting the best of the line.

We jumped on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week ago as 1.5-point underdogs against the host Jacksonville Jaguars. We weren’t alone as the bets were pouring in on the Bucs, and by the time kickoff rolled around Sunday, Tampa Bay was a field-goal favorite.

It didn’t matter in the end as the Bucs won and covered easily by a 28-11 score. By jumping in ahead on the right side of a massive 4.5-point line swing – which moved, mind you, without the influence of a key injury – is nothing short of vital when betting the ultra-tight NFL.

Selecting the Bucs and the Tennessee Titans, another outright underdog road winner last week, while falling short with the Minnesota Vikings in a Monday night shootout in Seattle, upped our season record to 23-16 through 13 weeks.

Now we tackle the Week 14 card, looking for a third straight winning week. As usual, we’re looking at Wednesday’s posted point spreads from BetMGM. Here goes …

Washington Redskins (+12.5) at Green Bay Packers

Photo Credit: Jeremy Brevard – USA TODAY Sports

We’ll start with a straight formula, by-the-numbers play more than anything else as we note double-digit favorites have won 19 of 22 games outright this season but are only 10-12 against the mid-week spreads, including 1-4 over the last month.

Improving rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins and Washington have won two straight after a 1-9 start while Green Bay is coming off a get-right, 31-13 rout of the host New York Giants and just may be looking ahead a little to a crucial closing three-game stretch against NFC North foes.

We’re definitely not expecting Aaron Rodgers and Co. to slip up on the frozen tundra, but we’ll go with the D.C. visitors to somehow come up with a cover.

Denver Broncos (+7.5) at Houston Texans

Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy – USA TODAY Sports

Yeah, we know we’re playing with fire, going with another rookie quarterback on the road in the Broncos’ Drew Lock in only his second career start, but this is more a play against the Texans than anything else.

Wizard QB Deshaun Watson and Houston are coming off a massive, 28-22 upset win over the nemesis New England Patriots Sunday night, and it’s easy to see how the focus probably won’t be as sharp facing a visiting 4-8 Denver squad.

The numbers make our case as the Texans are only 1-4 ATS as favorites (as opposed to 5-2 as underdogs) this season while the usually-plucky Broncos are 6-3 as underdogs and 7-5 ATS overall, including 6-2 over their last eight outings.

That all makes the safe bet a narrow Houston win.

L.A. Rams (+2.5) vs. Seattle Seahawks

Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian – USA TODAY Sports

The NFC West-leading Seahawks are an impressive 6-0 on the road this season while the Rams have struggled at home, winning only two of five games in L.A. so far.

But coach Sean McVay is 3-2 against the Seahawks since taking the Rams’ reins in 2017, and one of the losses was a crushing 30-29 road defeat in Week 5 as PK Greg Zuerlein‘s 44-yard potential game-winning field-goal attempt sailed right with 11 seconds remaining.

Beating the Rams usually comes down to pressuring and flustering QB Jared Goff, but Seattle ranks in the league’s bottom quarter in sack percentage and quarterback hits while surrendering the fourth-most passing yards per game at 269.3.

Look for the 7-5 Rams to win outright in what could turn into a shootout Sunday night and boost their wild-card hopes.

Want action on these games? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Week 12 matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5) visit the winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-10) Saturday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Paul Brown Stadium. We analyze the Steelers-Bengals odds and sports betting lines, while providing betting tips and advice on this Week 12 NFL matchup.

Steelers at Bengals: Week 12 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Steelers will have more than a week off after having a five-game winning streak snapped in a 21-7 loss at the Cleveland Browns in Week 11’s Thursday night game – the Steelers were 3-point underdogs.
  • The Bengals lost – but covered as 13-point dogs – at the Oakland Raiders 17-10 Sunday
  • The Steelers are 1-3 on the road and 6-4 against the spread (ATS) overall.
  • The Bengals are 0-4 at home and 4-6 ATS.
  • Both teams are 3-7 against the Over/Under this season.
  • The Steelers won the first head-to-head meeting of the season 27-3 at home Sept. 30.
  • Steelers QB Mason Rudolph has thrown for 1,551 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, completing 62.3% of his passes.
  • In his two starts, Finley has thrown for 282 yards with one TD and two picks, while completing 47.5% of his passes.
  • The Steelers defense is 13th in points allowed (20.2 PPG), while the Bengals are 28th (27.6 PPG).

Steelers at Bengals: Key injuries

Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion, knee) is doubtful, while RB James Conner (shoulder) and WR Diontae Johnson (concussion) are questionable.

Bengals WRs A.J. Green (ankle) and Auden Tate (concussion) are questionable.

Steelers at Bengals: Odds, betting lines and prediction

NFL odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Thursday at 5:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Steelers 24, Bengals 10

Moneyline (ML)

The Bengals (+225) may win eventually, but it won’t be against the STEELERS (-286), who have won nine straight in this AFC North rivalry. The -286 price is expensive, but if you’re willing – every $2.86 wagered will profit $1 if Pittsburgh wins – go for it.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The STEELERS (-6.5, -110) are worth a small play. As mentioned, they’ve had a few extra days off and should be fired up after the Browns loss. The Bengals might be playing for pride, but they’re 0-4 ATS at home and with the way their season is going, the home fans likely won’t show up in force.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 38.5 (+100) is the STRONGEST PLAY. Both teams struggle to score, ranking in the bottom third of the NFL. The Steelers are 24th, averaging 22.0 points per game, while the Bengals are 30th at 14.7 PPG. The past two head-to-head meetings totaled 30 and 29 points, respectively, and the last eight matchups are 2-6 O/U.

Plus, the Under is 7-1 in the Steelers’ last eight games after a loss, and the Under is 8-1-2 in the Bengals’ last 11 games inside the AFC.

New to sports betting? The +100 is an even bet. Every $1 wagered profits $1 if the two teams combine for 38 or fewer points.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet atBetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s plays since Nov. 6: 7-6. Strongest plays: 4-2.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFL Best Bets: Three underdog locks for Week 12

Our weekly NFL underdog betting staple continues into Week 12 where Ken Pomponio features three teams likely to upset their underdog odds

Thanksgiving is only a week away and we’re quickly cutting to the chase in the 2019 NFL season.

Believe it or not, every team will have only five games remaining after this weekend, and each one takes on added significance with postseason berths and draft positioning on the line. We will see if that means more favorites come through in the win column – and, for our purposes, against the point spread – as the stakes grow higher.

Last week, favorites posted a season-best-matching 9-5 mark against the mid-week lines, and we were able to forecast only one (the Arizona Cardinals) of the five covering underdogs, moving our season record to 19-14.

The Week 12 pickings look slim at the outset, but come up with three dogs we must, utilizing Wednesday’s point spreads from BetMGM.

Indianapolis Colts (+3.5) at Houston Texans

(Photo Credit: Thomas J. Russo – USA TODAY Sports)

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett was back Sunday, and so was the Colts’ mojo as they snapped out of a two-game skid with a 33-13 rout of the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. This week, Brissett looks like he may get back his top weapon in wideout T.Y. Hilton.

The Texans, meanwhile, came off their Week 10 bye and were summarily smashed by Lamar Jackson and the red-hot Baltimore Ravens 41-7 on the road. The rout highlighted the Texans’ growing defensive deficiencies as they’ve surrendered 24 or more points in five of their last six outings.

That includes a 30-23 road loss to Brissett and the Colts in Week 7 – Indy’s fifth win in the last six series meetings, including a 21-7 road playoff triumph last January in the Wild Card Round.

Also factor in the success of Thursday night underdogs and their 8-3 record against the spread this season, and there is ample reason to back the visiting Colts Thursday night.

Dallas Cowboys (+6.5) at New England Patriots

(Photo Credit: Raj Mehta – USA TODAY Sports)

Yep, we’re playing with fire again, siding against the Patriots who are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games dating back to Week 17 of last season.

The New England defense is allowing a league-low 10.8 points per game but has famously feasted largely on a group of bottom-feeder teams and injury-addled offenses.

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are anything but, ranking fourth in the league with an average of 28.6 points per game and have the requisite run-pass balance to pose a serious challenge.

Overshadowed by a dominant defense, Tom Brady and his offense simply haven’t been their usual potent selves and have managed only five offensive TDs over the last three games.

The Cowboys may not pull off the outright upset in Foxborough, but they have more than enough to make this Sunday afternoon national showcase game a close one.

Green Bay Packers (+3.5) at San Francisco 49ers

(Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson – USA TODAY Sports)

After bouncing back from their first loss of the season, the Niners are tied with the Pats for the league’s best record at 9-1.

But whether it’s been a rash of key injuries or the up-and-down play of QB Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers have covered only once in their last five outings and are 5-4-1 overall ATS on the season.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, meanwhile, are only one game behind the Niners at 8-2 and have been at their best in their biggest games, beating the division-rival Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, and winning on the road in Dallas and against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now comes their biggest test yet – a prime-time NFC playoff-seeding showdown in San Francisco – and we give Rodgers and Co. more than a puncher’s chance to not only cover but come away with the outright road upset.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Bengals-Raiders odds: Oakland double-digit home favorite

Previewing Sunday’s Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders Week 11 matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

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The winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-9) visit the Oakland Raiders (5-4) Sunday for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at RingCentral Coliseum (on CBS). We analyze the Bengals-Raiders odds and sports betting lines, while providing betting tips and advice on this Week 11 NFL matchup.

Bengals at Raiders: Week 11 preview, betting trends and notes

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets. 

  • The Bengals lost at home to the Baltimore Ravens 49-13 last Sunday, failing to cover as 10.5-point underdogs.
  • The Raiders beat the Los Angeles Chargers 26-24 at home last Thursday as a 1-point underdog. RB Josh Jacobs’ 18-yard touchdown run with 1:02 remaining capped Oakland’s late winning drive.
  • The Bengals are 3-6 against the spread (ATS) and 3-6 against the Over/Under (O/U).
  • Bengals rookie QB Ryan Finley made his first career start last week, completing 16 of 30 passes for 167 yards and one TD with one pick.
  • Raiders QB Derek Carr has thrown for 2,202 yards with 14 TDs and four interceptions this season.
  • The Bengals have won the last three vs. the Raiders, dating back to 2012.
  • The Raiders average 23.1 points per game, ranking 15th. The Bengals are 29th (15.2 PPG).
  • The Raiders are 26th by points allowed (26.7 PPG), while the Bengals are 28th (28.8 PPG).

Bengals at Raiders: Key injuries.

Bengals: WR A.J. Green (ankle), OT Bobby Hart (shoulder), RG Alex Redmond (ankle), DT Geno Atkins (knee) are questionable. RB Giovani Bernard (knee) is probable, while CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) is out.

Raiders: FS Lamarcus Joyner (hamstring) is doubtful, while C Rodney Hudson (ankle), DE Josh Mauro (groin) and CB Trayvon Mullen (illness) are questionable. Jacobs (shoulder) is probable.

Bengals at Raiders: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Nov 10, 2019; Cincinnati, OH; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley made his first career start in Week 10. (Photo Credit: Joe Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports)

NFL odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Raiders 42, Bengals 13

Moneyline (?)

AVOID. The Raiders will win this one, but the moneyline price of -625 is too low for my tastes – every $6.25 wagered on an Oakland win profits $1.

The Bengals are +450 – wagering $1 to win $4.50 should they win outright – but you’re better off donating your cash to a worthy cause.

Against the Spread (?)

The RAIDERS (-10.5, -115) are worth a play. They’re 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games; however, they haven’t won a game by more than eight points this season. The Bengals (+10.5, -106) have lost their last three games by a combined 60 points.

Over/Under (?)

The OVER 48.5 (-115) is worth a small-unit play … but just like I suggested last week with Cincy, the STRONGEST PLAY is the 1st-half OVER 23.5 (-134). The Bengals are terrible against the run, ranking last in the league by allowing 173 yards per game. Oakland could score three TDs before halftime.

New to sports betting? Bet $13.40 to win $10 that 24 or more points will be scored by halftime.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s November record: 6-4. Strongest plays: 2-1.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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