Tag: Sports Betting

New York Knicks at Utah Jazz odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s New York Knicks at Utah Jazz sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The New York Knicks (10-27) head to Salt Lake City to play the red-hot  Utah Jazz (24-12) Wednesday at Vivint Smart Home Arena at 9:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Knicks-Jazz sports betting odds and lines, with NBA picks and tips for this matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Knicks at Jazz: Key injuries

Knicks

  • PF Marcus Morris (neck) questionable
  • PG Dennis Smith Jr. (oblique) questionable

Jazz

  • PG Mike Conley (hamstring) out

Knicks at Jazz: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Jazz 125, Knicks 104

Moneyline (ML)

There’s absolutely no value on the Jazz (-1000) moneyline and it’s hard to fathom the Knicks (+650) coming into Utah and scoring an upset. The Jazz are rolling right now with records of 9-1 straight up and 8-2 against the spread across their last 10 games. The Knicks struggle in the second game of back-to-backs, as they are 1-4 straight up and 2-3 ATS while allowing a whopping 119.6 points per game with a minus-17.6 margin of victory in those situations.

PASS on a moneyline play in Knicks-Jazz.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

On paper, this is a terrible matchup for the Knicks. The Jazz defense ranks sixth in opponent PPG and field goal percentage, and eighth in opponent 3-point percentage. The Knicks are 29th in PPG, 26th in FG% and 23rd in 3-point%. Long-distance shooting is a specialty for the Jazz—they are first in the NBA in 3-point%—and guarding the three is a weakness for the Knicks—ranked second to last in opponent 3-point%.

The Jazz should be energized by a home crowd they haven’t played in front of much lately—seven of the Jazz’s last 10 games were on the road. Also, both of the Knicks’ leading scorers in Morris and PF Julius Randle struggle historically against the Jazz. Morris averages 9.1 PPG, .303 field-goal percentage and three rebounds per game, while Randle averages 12.6 PPG, seven rebounds per game and .405 FG% (all below their career averages).

Bet JAZZ (-11.5, -125) to win by at least 12 points.

Over/under (O/U)

This is tight but I lean OVER 216.5 (-115) because of the Knicks giving up so many points in back-to-backs and the Jazz presumably being able to sink threes against them. Also, the Over has cashed in seven straight Knicks-Jazz games. It’s only a lean for several reasons, though. First, the combined Over/Under records of these two is 32-41. Second, the Knicks are unreliable, at best, offensively. Third, both teams have a 5-5 O/U record in their last 10 games overall.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark 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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Oklahoma City Thunder at Brooklyn Nets odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Oklahoma City Thunder at Brooklyn Nets sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (20-16) meet the Brooklyn Nets (16-19) for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off at Barclays Center. We analyze the Thunder-Nets odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Thunder at Nets: Key injuries

Thunder

  • C Nerlens Noel (ankle) questionable
  • SG Andre Roberson (knee) out

Nets

  • PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out
  • SG Caris LeVert (rest) probable
  • SF Kevin Durant (Achilles) out

Thunder at Nets: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nets 107, Thunder 103

Moneyline (ML)

The Thunder lost their five-game winning streak in a 120-113 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Monday, while the Nets lost their sixth straight game Monday by a 101-89 count against the Orlando Magic. Look for the Nets to break out of their slump in this game because of LeVert’s return to the lineup and their 5-0 against the spread record as home underdogs. LeVert has a favorable matching, in Terrance Ferguson, in his second game back from injury and should provide a boost to a Nets offense that struggled against the Magic. Ferguson has a low offensive rating (102) and a high defensive rating (113).

Back the NETS (+120) to win outright. New to sports betting? A $100 bet for the Nets to win straight up can earn a $120 profit.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Nets have gotten the better of the Thunder in their recent history. They are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against the Thunder. Furthermore, the Nets have played well against good competition at home, going 6-2 overall versus teams above .500 in Brooklyn. I could also see this being a lookahead spot for the Thunder. They are on the second game of a back-to-back and wrapping up a four-game road trip, before returning home to play the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

Taking the NETS (+1.5, +100) for a small insurance play is acceptable, but not crucial. Obviously the +1.5 isn’t much insurance, but having a vig-less line is a nice sight.

Over/Under (O/U)

I’m PASSING on the projected total of 214.5 because I cannot find trends that could lead me toward the Over or Under. Both teams have a 5-5 Over/Under record in their last 10 games and the O/U is 5-4-1 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings. Also, with both teams playing the second half of a back-to-back I could see fatigue affecting either side of the ball.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark 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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Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Brooklyn Nets (16-18) ride a five-game losing streak to their 7 p.m. ET game against the Orlando Magic (16-20) at Amway Center. We analyze the Nets-Magic odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Nets at Magic: Key injuries

Nets

  • C DeAndre Jordan (knee) probable
  • SG Caris LeVert (thumb) out
  • PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out
  • SF Kevin Durant (Achilles) out
  • PF Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) probable

Magic

  • PG Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder) out
  • SF Jonathan Isaac (knee) out
  • SF Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) out

Nets at Magic: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nets 105, Magic 99

Moneyline (ML)

It’s a bummer that recently activated SF Caris LeVert won’t be able to suit up for this matchup but we are still on the NETS (+170) here. We all know all-star C Nikola Vucevic is key to the Magic’s success and he hasn’t faired well against Jordan in their 12 career meetings. Vucevic’s teams are 2-10 versus Jordan’s teams and Jordan holds Vucevic below his averages in field goal percentage (.436) and points per game (13.7). Also, both Jordan and regular Nets starter C Jarrett Allen have better offensive ratings than Magic bigs Vucevic and C Mo Bamba.

New to sports betting? Bet $30 on the Nets to win outright to earn a profit of $51.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Nets need to break out of their recent slump and playing a Magic team, which they are 6-4 against straight up (6-3-1 against the spread), will do the trick. Back to the frontcourt advantage for Brooklyn: The Magic’s fifth-ranked opponent’s points in the paint defense will be tested against a Nets team fourth in the NBA in points in the paint. While the Magic themselves are ranked fifth in points in the paint, the Nets do a good job minimizing inside scoring—ranked eighth in the NBA.

Furthermore, I like how the Nets defend the three (ranked third in opponent’s 3-point percentage) compared to the Magic’s outside shooting (ranked 27th in 3-point percentage) and the Nets get the second-most rebounds per game while the Magic are ranked 28th in opponent’s RPG.

Bet NETS (+4.5, -106). New to sports betting? Bet $70 on the Nets +4.5 (-106) to earn a profit of $66.

Over/Under (O/U)

Neither offense is impressive—Nets are ranked 16th in PPG, the Magic are ranked 30th. The Nets are 24th in FG% and the Magic are 27th. Plus, their combined Over/Under record is just 32-36-2. The low total of 210.5 (Over: +105, Under: -130) has me PASSING.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark 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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Should you bet on the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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Throughout the 2019 season, it appeared the Kansas City Chiefs just didn’t have “it” this season after losing 37-31 in overtime to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship last season; however, they finished the 2019 season strong, winning six straight games to become the No. 2 seed in the conference.

With a first-round bye in hand, the Chiefs have an excellent chance at advancing to the Super Bowl. Below are their odds to win Super Bowl LIV and reasons why you should and shouldn’t bet on Kansas City to take home the Lombardi Trophy this postseason.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 5:15 p.m. ET.

Why you should bet on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Denny Medley – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds To Win Super Bowl LIV: +450

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

As we have seen over the last decade, quarterback play is a significant factor in who wins the Super Bowl. Luckily for Kansas City, reigning-MVP Patrick Mahomes is healthy, and he is starting to get back to his form of last season. It also helps that he will have his full assortment of weapons on the field in the playoffs, which might just be the best supporting cast in the AFC.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Chiefs’ defense is starting to play better, allowing just 11.5 points per game over the last six weeks. They are beginning to create sacks and turnovers, which will be needed to advance deep in the playoffs.

Given that Kansas City will host a playoff game in Round 2, it certainly doesn’t seem impossible the Chiefs can get hot and make a three-game run with Mahomes under center. At +200, the Chiefs are a great bet to win the AFC Championship. They’re also a strong play at +450 to win Super Bowl LIV.

Why you shouldn’t bet on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff – USA TODAY Sports)

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $45 should Kansas City win the Super Bowl.

Despite being the No. 2 seed, the road to the Super Bowl could be awfully tough for the Chiefs. They will likely host the New England Patriots in Round 2, and the Pats have shown no fear playing in Arrowhead Stadium lately. If the Chiefs can survive that contest, they will then likely travel to Baltimore to take on the No. 1-seeded Ravens. It’s a brutal draw for the Chiefs and one which could keep them out of the Super Bowl for a second-straight season.

There is also some lingering doubt about head coach Andy Reid in the playoffs. While no one can argue about his regular-season success, too often, his teams come up short relative to expectations. For Kansas City to advance to the Super Bowl, Reid will need to outcoach the likes of Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh to make it to the Super Bowl. While that’s certainly possible, there are some reasons to be concerned.

Ultimately, the Chiefs are still a great bet to win the Super Bowl due to their overwhelming amount of talent on both sides of the ball. Don’t be afraid to put down a few units on the Chiefs to make a run this postseason.

Want action on this bet? 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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Should you bet on the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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The NFL playoffs begin this weekend and the Seattle Seahawks open on the road as the No. 5 seed in the NFC, taking on the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road Sunday at 4:35 p.m. ET.

They had a chance to be as high as the No. 1 seed in the conference but ended up one play short of winning the NFC West and getting the coveted first-round bye.

Seattle is a perennial contender and is built to win playoff games. They have been to two Super Bowls in the last decade and won one. The question is whether you should bet on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV.

Seattle Seahawks playoff futures

(Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson – USA TODAY Sports)

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 4:45 pm. ET.

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

They have, along with the Eagles, the second-longest odds to make it to the Super Bowl out of the NFC at +1200. To win the Super Bowl, only five teams have higher odds than Seattle’s +2500.

They can provide one of the biggest paydays of all the teams in the postseason. A $10 bet on them to get to the Super Bowl will return $120 in profit and a $10 bet on them to win it all will win $250.

It is a big payday. The question is whether it is worth betting on them.

Why you shouldn’t bet on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV

Dec 29, 2019; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) puts on his helmet during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. (Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson – USA TODAY Sports)

They will have to win three games on the road to get to the Super Bowl, having to play in Philadephia and then potentially Green Bay, New Orleans or San Francisco. However, they shared the league’s best road record at 7-1 and were 10-2 in one-score games.

It is hard to bet against QB Russell Wilson, but the Seahawks are without their top three running backs in Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise. All are on injured reserve and Seattle recently had to sign Marshawn Lynch to back up rookie Travis Homer.

The defense is not what it used to be, as the Seahawks were 22nd in the league in scoring defense, and they allowed an average of 25.7 points per game over their last three games. You can’t ever count out Wilson, but the Seahawks faltered down the stretch, losing three of four to end the regular season.

The potential payout is huge, but they aren’t worth the risk of a big wager. If you are going to bet on Seattle, keep it in the casual range.

Want action on this bet? 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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Should you bet on the New Orleans Saints to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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Since September, the New Orleans Saints have looked like Super Bowl LIV contenders, but do they warrant an NFL futures bet?

With a 13-3 record, the Saints were dominant during the regular season. Their only slip-up games were when Brees injured his thumb in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, a stunning Week 10 loss to the NFC South-rival Atlanta Falcons and a thrilling 48-46 shootout loss to the San Francisco 49ers – arguably the best game of the 2019 season.

They won six games by double-digits and enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak – two of which came by at least 27 points and the other by 10 points.

Yet, despite rolling to a stellar regular-season record, the Saints still didn’t earn a first-round bye. Those two free passes went to the 49ers and Green Bay Packers.

Why you should bet on the Saints to win Super Bowl LIV

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 4 pm. ET.

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

Sitting out the Wild Card Round is a huge advantage, with more than 79% of Super Bowl representatives in NFL history being No. 1 or 2 seeds in the postseason. After all, teams with top-two seeds have to win one fewer game than teams seeded third or lower, making the path to a championship much easier.

The Saints are a rare team that can buck that trend with a four-game winning streak to claim Super Bowl LIV. And that’s exactly why you should bet on them to win it all.

According to BetMGM, the Saints are +600 to win Super Bowl LIV – the fourth-best odds of the 12 playoff teams. That’s better than even the Packers, who have a first-round bye and would host the Saints in the Divisional Round, should New Orleans advance past the Minnesota Vikings.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Saints to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $60 should New Orleans win the Super Bowl.

That just goes to show how the oddsmakers view the Saints and their chances of being the last team standing.

New Orleans should make easy work of Minnesota (+3300 to win Super Bowl LIV), especially with the game being played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints are favored by 7.5 points, the largest spread of the four games this weekend. Brees, WR Michael Thomas and RB Alvin Kamara are all healthy entering the postseason and will help carry the offense.

Why you should bet on the Saints to win the NFC Championship (+260)

(Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)

Defensively, the Saints are no slouches, either. They finished 13th in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed, performing especially well against the run with the fourth-fewest rushing yards allowed per game. The Vikings prefer to lean on RB Dalvin Cook and the running game.

The Saints were good on the road this season, too, going 7-1 away from home. Should they beat the Vikings, visiting Lambeau Field shouldn’t strike any fear in the Saints.

(Photo Credit: Jim Brown – USA TODAY Sports)

As a team without a bye, the Saints got the better end of the playoff bracket, having to play the Packers in the divisional round instead of the 49ers. Granted, they’d visit the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game if both teams make it that far, but at least that won’t come in the second round.

Betting the house on New Orleans wouldn’t be a wise move because of the absence of a first-round bye, but you should feel good about laying down some money on the Saints to be the last team standing.

Want action on this bet? 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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Should you bet on the Buffalo Bills to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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AFC East teams besides the New England Patriots don’t typically make the playoffs. They certainly don’t usually go 10-6 or challenge New England for the division crown very often. Yet, that’s exactly what the Buffalo Bills did this season, giving the Patriots a run for their money in the AFC East and becoming just the third wild-card team from the division since 2011.

But do the Bills have a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl? According to the oddsmakers, not really.

Buffalo Bills playoff futures

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 12:30 pm. ET.

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

BetMGM has the Bills at +6000 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, the longest odds of any team in the playoffs. That’s the result of them having a young, inconsistent sophomore quarterback under center in Josh Allen, a tough matchup in the first round against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, and a second-round date with either the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs if they were to advance to the Divisional Round.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $600 should Buffalo win the Super Bowl.

Allen had a solid season. He threw 20 touchdown passes with only nine interceptions, rushing for another 510 yards and nine touchdowns, as well. However, he only completed 58.8% of his passes and his 5.71 adjusted net yards per attempt – a good measuring stick of a quarterback’s aggressiveness and success – ranked 23rd among qualified quarterbacks.

(Photo Credit: Rich Barnes – USA TODAY Sports)

The Bills defense is what helped carry them to the postseason, ranking second in points and third in yards allowed, but how many top offenses did they truly face? The Dallas Cowboys and Ravens were the only teams that really stand out offensively from Buffalo’s schedule, though it was impressive that they were held to a combined 39 points in consecutive weeks.

The Bills aren’t exactly coming into the postseason riding high, either. They lost three of their last four games, one of which was the season finale with Matt Barkley at quarterback. There isn’t much momentum behind the Bills heading into this wild-card matchup with the Texans, especially on offense. In the last three games that Allen completed, the Bills had fewer than 300 yards of offense in each, including fewer than 200 yards passing.

Why You Shouldn’t Bet On the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports)

So that begs the question again: Should you bet on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV? In short, no. Unless the Tennessee Titans go on a deep run, Buffalo will be on the road for the entire postseason run. Winning four straight games away from home is no easy task for any team, let alone one that faced only three playoff teams in the regular season – including a Philadelphia Eagles squad that barely got in.

Save your money and put it on a team like the Ravens, San Francisco 49ers or New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks at +2500 or the Patriots at +1200 are better bets than the Bills and still come with financial upside on a small wager.

So unless you just want to lay $10 down on a Bills Cinderella story, it’d be wise to pass on this wager.

Want action on this bet? 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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Should you bet on the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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For most of the 2019 season, it appeared the New England Patriots were locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC as they rode their hot defense to another 12-win season. After a colossal collapse against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, the Patriots will now have to play on Wild Card weekend against the red-hot Tennesee Titans.

Given their history, it’s hard to count out the Patriots as long as they are still in the playoffs. Below are the reasons you should or shouldn’t bet on the New England Patriots to win their seventh Super Bowl.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 11:45 a.m. ET.

Why You Should Bet On The Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds to Win Super Bowl LIV: +1200 

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 case for why you should bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl is simple; head coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady. The two are nearly unstoppable in the playoffs and have proven time and time again they can flip the switch when it matters the most. They have shown they can go on the road and win, something many of the other AFC playoff contenders can’t say.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Patriots have the best defense in football, allowing just over 14 points per game this season. New England can create takeaways at will and give their offense short fields with which to work. While it may not always look pretty, it’s awfully tough to not bet on the Patriots to come out of the AFC this season. And with their current odds, they actually present some excellent value, as well. Their +1200 odds to win Super Bowl LIV seem almost too good to be true.

Why You Shouldn’t Bet On The Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: David Butler II – USA TODAY Sports)

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $120 should the Patriots win the Super Bowl.

Despite six Super Bowl wins over the last 20 seasons, the Patriots have never made it to the Super Bowl, let alone win one when they were forced to play on Wild Card weekend. It’s just too difficult to make it through the AFC gauntlet when you have to play two or three games on the road in order to make the Super Bowl.

On top of that, the 2019 Patriots don’t resemble anything we are accustomed to seeing. The Patriots have scored more than 24 points just once in their last 10 games, and their offense can be shut down relatively easily. It’s also concerning how Brady appears to be in the worst slump of his career as he has a passer rating of only 80.8 over the last eight games of the season.

While it’s hard to count out Belichick and Brady, this does appear to be one of their weaker teams in recent memory. But don’t be surprised if New England finds a way to come out of the AFC for the fourth-straight season.

Want action on this bet? 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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Should you bet on the Houston Texans to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Houston Texans’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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Should you bet anyone to win the Super Bowl? That’s a personal question I suppose. Some would say no. I’d definitely argue yes. In the spirit of trying to break the BetMGM book, let’s take a look at the Houston Texans’ case to win Super Bowl LIV.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Thursday at 9:40 p.m. ET.

Houston Texans playoff futures

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

AFC Champion: +1800

If you’re anything like me, then seeing a quadruple-digit betting line for a relatively healthy, division-winning team with a franchise quarterback is very exciting. The Texans have been well-coached and structured enough to have a winning record in five of the six seasons Bill O’Brien has been their head coach.

Also, the Texans have won the AFC South and made the playoffs in four of six seasons under O’Brien, but this time, they have a legitimate franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson to help them advance in the postseason. Also, the 21-7 drubbing to the Indianapolis Colts last year in the playoffs gave Watson much needed postseason experience.

(Photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)

The 2019 Texans are the most balanced offense in their team’s history, statistically and personnel-wise. Thousands of words have been written about the explosiveness of the passing game featuring Watson, and WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, but little has been said about an elite run game.

That’s right, I said elite. What else do you call the ninth-ranked team in total rushing yards (2,009), eighth in yards per carry (4.6) and with 17 rushing touchdowns with a multi-faceted run game? Carlos Hyde was a great offseason pickup—245 carries for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns—but Duke Johnson provides a dual-threat spell back and Watson added 413 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

Taking the TEXANS +1800 to come out of the AFC is a tremendous value, and gives you a plethora of hedge options (betting the other side against the Texans to minimize financial exposure and/or ensure a profit) should they advance to the AFC title game.

Super Bowl: +3300

New to sports betting? A $100 wager on the Texans to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $3,300 should the Texans win the Super Bowl.

Talk about value, betting TEXANS +3300 to win Super Bowl LIV is a juicy play. Playoff competition isn’t new to the Texans and they’ve already beaten three AFC playoff teams in the regular season: the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6 (31-24), the New England Patriots in Week 13 (28-22) and the Tennessee Titans in Week 15 (24-21).

(Photo credit: Troy Taormina – USA TODAY Sports)

Also, their emotional leader, and best defensive player, DE J.J. Watt is coming back for the postseason. The defense took a noticeable dip with Watt out of the lineup since Week 8 due to a pectoral injury. Sans Watt, the Texans gave up more yards per game, yards per play, points per game and were minus-31 in point differential compared to a plus-24 point differential with Watt playing.

All the teams in the playoffs have a worthy argument of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, but only the Texans are getting a first-ballot Hall of Fame player back for the postseason.

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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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Opening odds favor Saints to beat the Vikings by more than a TD

The New Orleans Saints are favored by more than a touchdown over the Minnesota Vikings in their wild card round matchup in the 2019 playoffs

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The NFL has set its playoff schedule for next week’s wild card round games, and the New Orleans Saints are readying for a rematch against the Minnesota Vikings, who eliminated them in 2017.

That was a returning of the favor from their last postseason matchup in 2009, when the Saints beat Minnesota to advance to (and win) the Super Bowl. The Vikings didn’t follow New Orleans’ example, however, instead getting run off the field by the Philadelphia Eagles. Minnesota went on to miss the playoffs the next year with an 8-7-1 record, while the Saints beat that same Eagles team twice by a combined score of 68-21. Makes you think that maybe the wrong team won back in 2017, but let’s not dwell on it.

Per the latest odds from BetMGM, the Saints are 7.5-point home favorites over the Vikings for this latest entry in their long-running series. With an initial over/under of 46.5, that implies a final score in the neighborhood of Saints 28, Vikings 20. In other words, bettors are expecting a competitive game, with New Orleans ultimately coming out on top. We’ll see soon whether Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins can finally have a good game on a big stage, and test how well Minnesota’s running game performs against a staunch Saints defensive front.

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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