With a return to some more conventional bets, I came out ahead with a 3-2 record in Week 8. I was mildly criticized by one reader, however, for not having the onions to go with a certain money line bet, so I feel compelled to rectify that with a very modest straight-up pick. Here are your five winners for Week 9.
Minnesota -5 over Detroit
People are fading the Vikings a bit after their letdown performance against New Orleans on Sunday night. I get it, but I also saw the Vikings largely in control of the game until a fumble flipped the game just before the half. The Vikings offense is explosive, especially at home. The Lions offense can score, but they got a little worse with the trade of Golden Tate. I think the Vikings control this game from the jump, and with the spread sitting under 7, I feel pretty good about their chances of covering.
Carolina -6.5 over Tampa Bay
Vegas is obviously feeling a little Fitzmagic, but I'm not feeling Tampa's porous defense. Cam and company are going to steamroll these bums, and I'm not expecting the Bucs to be able to go up and down the field on the Panthers' stout defense. This is the easiest pick of the week. Panthers win by double digits at home.
Miami -3 over NY Jets
I made the opposite pick in Week 2 and it ended up burning me, so I'm flipping the script. Miami isn't a bad team, even with the lobster at QB. The Jets play like a flawed team with a mistake-prone rookie QB, so I'm not sure why they're only getting the standard three points as a road team. I'll lay the field goal all day when picking the superior team at home. Go fish.
Chicago -10 over Buffalo
I don't typically like laying this many points, especially on a road team, but this could be the last time I can take advantage of Nathan Peterman starting a football game and I'm feeling a little frisky. The Bears might be able to outscore Buffalo by 10 strictly through forced turnovers. This one gets ugly in a hurry. Chicago wins in a romp.
LA Chargers over Seattle (+107 ML bet)
Last week, I traded odds for a field goal and regretted it, so I'm going to go straight-up this time in lieu of taking 1.5 points. I've been championing Seattle all season as an under-the-radar quality team, but the Chargers are a different animal. They have play-makers on both sides of the ball and Philip Rivers is playing as well as ever. It should be a good football game, but I'm rolling with the Bolts to pull the road win.
Week 8 Results: 3-2 (+0.81 units)
Overall: 22-13-1 (+11.6 units)
Minnesota -5 over Detroit
People are fading the Vikings a bit after their letdown performance against New Orleans on Sunday night. I get it, but I also saw the Vikings largely in control of the game until a fumble flipped the game just before the half. The Vikings offense is explosive, especially at home. The Lions offense can score, but they got a little worse with the trade of Golden Tate. I think the Vikings control this game from the jump, and with the spread sitting under 7, I feel pretty good about their chances of covering.
Carolina -6.5 over Tampa Bay
Vegas is obviously feeling a little Fitzmagic, but I'm not feeling Tampa's porous defense. Cam and company are going to steamroll these bums, and I'm not expecting the Bucs to be able to go up and down the field on the Panthers' stout defense. This is the easiest pick of the week. Panthers win by double digits at home.
Miami -3 over NY Jets
I made the opposite pick in Week 2 and it ended up burning me, so I'm flipping the script. Miami isn't a bad team, even with the lobster at QB. The Jets play like a flawed team with a mistake-prone rookie QB, so I'm not sure why they're only getting the standard three points as a road team. I'll lay the field goal all day when picking the superior team at home. Go fish.
Chicago -10 over Buffalo
I don't typically like laying this many points, especially on a road team, but this could be the last time I can take advantage of Nathan Peterman starting a football game and I'm feeling a little frisky. The Bears might be able to outscore Buffalo by 10 strictly through forced turnovers. This one gets ugly in a hurry. Chicago wins in a romp.
LA Chargers over Seattle (+107 ML bet)
Last week, I traded odds for a field goal and regretted it, so I'm going to go straight-up this time in lieu of taking 1.5 points. I've been championing Seattle all season as an under-the-radar quality team, but the Chargers are a different animal. They have play-makers on both sides of the ball and Philip Rivers is playing as well as ever. It should be a good football game, but I'm rolling with the Bolts to pull the road win.
Week 8 Results: 3-2 (+0.81 units)
Overall: 22-13-1 (+11.6 units)