Tag: NFL picks

Week 12 H-Bomb underdog pick vision is with a divisional matchup

Jess Root and Howard Balzer continue to pick one big underdog (6.5 points or more) to cover the spread in Week 12.

Jess Root made a bold move in Week 11 of the H-Bomb underdog pick of the week (games with spreads of at least 6.5 points), but it didn’t pay off.

We have been locked in a duel since the beginning of the season, but until this week I had never led. In 11 weeks of picks, we have been tied eight times and Jess led after Weeks 7 and 8.

It was his decision to drop the bomb on the 14-point favored Lions last week that dropped him one game behind after Detroit dropped its own 52-6 bomb on the Jaguars.

My pick of the Seahawks to cover the 6.5-point spread against the 49ers paid off, not only with the win but also adding another direct hit (outright win) to my ledger, which tied Jess in that column.

That turned out to be the only H-Bomb success of the week as favorites Miami over Las Vegas and Houston over Dallas joined Detroit in winning and covering the spread.

That 1-3 record reduced the overall mark to 30-14 for the season with 16 direct hits.

Here are the four eligible games this week:

  • Houston Texans -8 vs. Tennessee Titans
  • Miami Dolphins -7.5 vs. New England Patriots
  • Detroit Lions -7.5 vs. Indianapolis Colts
  • Kansas City Chiefs -11 at Carolina Panthers

With seven weeks remaining in the regular season, I could play dirty and simply pick the same game as Jess does since he gives me his pick before I write this riveting story each week. That would mean he couldn’t catch me. But, trust me, I wouldn’t do that purposely.

My H-Bomb history (I’ve been involved in a picks contest for close to 30 years) results in me usually going with my initial belief as I look at the eligible games. It doesn’t always happen, but usually there’s at least one game after which I say, “That’s the one.”

It turns out this week, for the fifth time this season, we are picking the same game: the Patriots to cover against the Dolphins. That means I will maintain that slim one-game lead when Week 13 rolls around.

Standings after 11 weeks

Howard: 8-3 (3 direct hits)

Jess: 7-4 (3 direct hits)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

NFL picks against the spread for Week 9 Thursday night game

Picks and predictions for the Thursday night Texans vs. Jets game.

Halloween night brings the first game of Week 9 as the Houston Texans, now playing without receiver Stefon Diggs as he is lost for the season with a torn ACL, are on the road to face the New York Jets.

Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Primer Video.

The Jets are favored in the game. What are the picks you should make with your wagers?

Texans at Jets picks and predictions

Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook

Moneyline:

  • Texans +120

Spread: 

  • Texans +2.5 (-105)

Total: 

  • Under 43 (-110)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Eagles vs. Bengals Week 8 pick gives Cincinnati nod

One expert Week 8 NFL pick likes the home team in Eagles vs. Bengals.

It isn’t easy to pick the Week 8 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles.

Both teams got off to brutal starts, mostly compared to expectations that they might be in the running for their respective conference’s top seeds.

The Bengals flopped to an 0-3 start before correcting course. The Eagles went 2-2 over their first four, then escaped the Cleveland Browns by just four points in Week 6.

Now, though, experts like CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco see the Bengals getting a win on Sunday:

Both of these teams seem to have righted things from their slow starts. The Eagles are playing consecutive road games, which will be a challenge after winning a division game last week. The Philadelphia defense will be challenged by Joe Burrow and the passing game. Look for Burrow to have a big day. The Bengals will take it to even their record.

The Bengals are favored, are at home and continue to get healthier on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the trenches.

But…the offense has regressed over the last two weeks against elite front sevens fielding by the New York Giants and those Browns. Now, starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is hurt and the Eagles happen to have some strong pass-rushers, too.

While it’s certainly a winnable game, especially with Joe Burrow under center, it’s no wonder the NFL picks and odds keep coming in by close margins for either team.

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H-Bomb underdogs experience first losing week in Week 6

Who are the big underdogs we think will cover the spread in Week 7?

It was bound to happen after five weeks of unprecedented success, but it took a half-point loss for one of the three H-Bomb underdogs in Week 6 to fail to cover and help produce a 1-2 record.

Unfortunately, that was the game both Jess and I selected.

The Ravens were 6.5-point favorites over the Commanders and ending up winning 30-23.

The Browns did cover the 8.5 points against the Eagles while the favorite Texans covered against the Patriots. Also for the first this this season, no underdog won the game outright for a direct hit.

It’s still impressive after six weeks that underdogs of at least 6.5 points have covered 18 of 22 times and have won the game in 11 of those.

In Week 7, like last week, there are three eligible games:

  • Buffalo Bills -9.5 vs. Tennessee Titans
  • L.A. Rams -7 vs.  Las Vegas Raiders
  • Washington Commanders -8.5 vs. Carolina Panthers

The Bills and Commanders are only the fourth and fifth games this season with a line of eight points or more.

None of this week’s games are particularly attractive. Jess is dropping the bomb on the Rams, meaning he believes the Raiders will cover.

Call me crazy, and many often have, I’m going out on a long limb and saying the Panthers will cover. Talk about longshots. Carolina is 1-5 this season with a 36-22 win over Las Vegas. In their five losses, the Panthers have been outscored by 37, 23, 10, 26 and 18 points, for a combined score of 181-67.

Remember, this is for entertainment purposes only!

STANDINGS AFTER FIVE WEEKS

  • Jess Root: 4-2 (2 direct hits)
  • Howard Balzer: 4-2 (1 direct hit)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

NFL picks: Cards Wire staff predicts Cardinals-49ers outcome

NFL picks: Cards Wire staff predicts Cardinals-49ers outcome

The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers will kick off Sunday afternoon from Levi’s Stadium at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time. The Cardinals are big underdogs.

Who will win?

Cards Wire staff makes their predictions.

Cardinals-49ers Week 5 staff picks and predictions

Jess Root

As much as this could go sideways because the Niners run the ball well and convert on third down regularly. However, after getting embarrassed last week and with a banged-up Niners team, I expect the offense to keep up. It won’t be enough, so I am guessing the Cardinals cover the  spread and lose.

49ers 31, Cardinals 27

Howard Balzer

It’s body blow after body blow for the Cardinals. With the expectation that tight end Trey McBride would be active for Sunday’s game, he was then listed as questionable Saturday with an injury to his ribs of unknown severity. Also Saturday, kicker Chad Ryland was elevated from the practice squad, leaving the status of Matt Prater up in the air. While the 49ers have some injury concerns, everything has to go right for the Cardinals to make this a competitive game. They might have to hope the Niners players wilt in the Santa Clara heat.

49ers 28, Cardinals 14

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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NFL picks: ‘H-Bomb’ underdogs continue their hot streak

A look at the performance of big underdogs this season and who are the big underdogs in Week 5.

Week 4 had continued success for NFL underdogs as three of the four teams that were given 6.5 points or more covered and one won the game outright.

Notable is that the one favorite that covered was the 49ers, which were 10.5-point favorites over the Patriots. That is the only one of the 17 H-Bomb eligible games this season that had a double-digit spread.

The one direct hit was the Broncos defeating the Jets, while the Jaguars covered against the Texans and the Chargers did the same with the Chiefs.

Jess Root and I both won our picks as Jess went with Jacksonville and my support went to the Chargers.

Overall, the underdogs’ record after four weeks is 15-2 with nine outright victories.

We are both faced with a meager week for eligible games:

  • 49ers -7.5 vs. Cardinals
  • Seahawks -6.5 vs. Giants

As a side note, nine of the games being played Sunday have lines of three points or less.

Jess will drop the bomb on the 49ers, in a game that will played in Santa Clara with a temperature expected in the high 90s. I will go with the Giants to cover, despite the gutsy performance by the Seahawks in their Monday night game loss to the Lions.

As it is often said, the NFL is a week-to-week league and that’s what we are both banking on.

STANDINGS AFTER FOUR WEEKS

Jess           3-1 (1 direct hit)

Howard         3-1 (0)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Experts split on Steelers vs Cowboys

This week’s game between the Steelers and Cowboys is just about too close to call.

Despite their rich history in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys haven’t squared off that often in the regular season. So this week’s Sunday Night Football showdown promises to be a great one.

The Steelers currently sit at 3-1 and are hoping to bounce back after being handed their first loss of the season against the Indianapolis Colts. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys are 2-2 and are hoping to win a second game in a row.

On paper these two teams are fairly close. Both teams are dealing with injuries at key spots and trying to keep pace with the rest of their division foes.

NFL pundits and experts are just as torn on this week’s matchup as anyone as proven by this week’s expert picks. NFL Pick Watch. They aggregate expert picks from all over the internet and put them into one place.

This week the experts are leaning toward the Steelers but only slightly. 52 percent of the pundits are going with Pittsburgh but 48 percent are picking Dallas. It can’t get much closer than that.

As far as our prediction, we are picking the Steelers to rally after their first loss and pick up a huge road with over the Cowboys. Steelers 24, Cowboys 17

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NFL Week 5 picks: Experts heavily favoring Packers over Rams

There’s little doubt which team NFL experts like in Sunday’s Rams-Packers matchup at SoFi Stadium

Oddsmakers have not been kind to the Los Angeles Rams this season, listing them as underdogs in each of their first four games. They’ll make it five weeks in a row on Sunday when they face the Packers, who are currently favored by three points on the road against the Rams.

Experts aren’t giving the Rams much of a chance, either. The majority of them are picking the Packers to win outright on Sunday, and they’re also taking Green Bay to cover the spread.

According to Tallysight, 88% of experts are picking the Packers to beat the Rams this weekend and 76% are taking Green Bay to cover the three-point spread. More than half of experts expect a low-scoring game, with 56% picking the under (48.5 points).

It was a similar story in Week 3 when the Rams took on the San Francisco 49ers. That week, 96% of experts picked the 49ers to win outright and 65% took them to cover the spread as road favorites. We all know what happened on that fine Sunday, as the Rams came back to stun the 49ers in a 27-24 win at SoFi Stadium.

Can the Rams pull off the upset again at home? Green Bay won’t be an easy opponent, so Los Angeles will need to play much better than it has in recent weeks.

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NFL picks against the spread for Week 4 late afternoon games

These are Jess Root’s betting game picks for the four late afternoon games in Week 4.

In Week 4, there are eight early games on Sunday kicking off at 1 p.m. ET. Another four start at 4:05 p.m. ET (games on FOX) or 4:25 p.m. ET (games on CBS).  If you are one to place a wager or two on NFL games, this info is for you.

Below are my NFL picks against the spread for all those late afternoon games. I have selections for the winners on the moneyline, the spread and the total.

Odds come from BetMGM Sportsbook.

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NFL picks against the spread Week 4 early games

Commanders at Cardinals

  • Moneyline: Cardinals -175
  • Spread: Cardinals -3.5 (+100)
  • Total: Over 50.5 (-110)

Patriots at 49ers

  • Moneyline: 49ers -650
  • Spread: 49ers -10.5 (-105)
  • Total: Under 40.5 (-110)

Browns at Raiders

  • Moneyline: Browns +110
  • Spread: Browns +2 (-110)
  • Total: Over 37 (-110)

Chiefs at Chargers

  • Moneyline: Chiefs -400
  • Spread: Chargers +7.5 (-110)
  • Total: Over 39.5 (-110)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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NFL picks: H-Bomb eligible games continue on a roll for the underdogs

A look at the games where teams are favored by at least 6.5 points in Week 4.

It was another banner week for underdogs with four of the five winning their games outright for H-Bomb direct hits: Giants over the Browns, Broncos over the Bucs, Rams over the 49ers and Commanders over the Bengals.

Unfortunately for Jess Root and me, the one we both picked that didn’t even cover was the Patriots in their desultory loss to the Jets.

Amazingly, of 13 overall eligible games in three weeks (6.5 points or more), that is the only loser the other 12 teams have covered and eight won the game.

However, it’s time to look forward and see if we can return to our winning ways.

This week has four eligible games with lines from BetMGM:

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  • N.Y. Jets (home) -7.5 over Denver Broncos
  • Houston Texans (home) -6.5 over the winless Jacksonville Jaguars
  • San Francisco 49ers (home) -10.5 over New England Patriots
  • Kansas City Chiefs (road) -7.5 over L.A. Chargers

Jess has faith in the Jaguars and is picking them to at least cover. I considered the Broncos, but will have confidence that quarterback Justin Herbert will be healthy and help the Chargers cover.

STANDINGS AFTER THREE WEEKS

Jess           2-1 (1 direct hit)

Howard         2-1 (0)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.