It's been a little while since I've written about my gambling shenanigans, but I'm back, baby! It's been an up-and-down and very stupid football season, but I'll continue to try to make money off of it while it's still here. Let's take a look at what's happening in Week 6.
Bengals (+7.5) @ Colts
Joe Burrow notched his first win a couple weeks ago against the hapless Jaguars, and then quickly got folded by the Ravens' ferocious defense. Indy has been similarly nasty on D, so I can't imagine the rookie will have much more success going against the Colts. I would've preferred this number at 7, but it is what it is, and I'm not going to shy away from it. Colts roll.
The Pick: Colts -7.5 over Bengals
Texans (+3) @ Titans
Tennessee is coming off a short week, which could explain this otherwise preposterous line. The Thumbtacks are the real deal, delivering a thorough beatdown to the formidable Bills. After a game like that, it's hard to see how the Texans have any shot in this one, even with the Titans' proclivity for getting into trouble with the rona. Those issues seem to be behind the Tennessee, and they're going to be stiff-arming Houston all afternoon.
The Pick: Titans -3 over Texans
Browns (+3) @ Steelers
The Browns are on a nice little hot streak, winning four straight and sitting pretty at 4-1. Having said that, the Steelers are better. Like, way better. Baker Mayfield is playing better ball, but he's still making some mistakes and is dealing with a rib injury. It feels like a recipe for disaster in Cleveland, but hey. You can't complain about being 4-2 if you're a Browns fan. They're a legit playoff contender, but they're getting humbled in this one. Yinzers win big.
The Pick: Steelers -3 over Browns
Packers (-1) at Buccaneers
This could be a preview of an NFC postseason game, so obviously it's appointment television. Green Bay is riding high with the resurgence of that BAAAAD MAN Aaron Rodgers. Side note: two YouTube links in the same write-up? What is this, amateur hour? But I digest. The Packers are looking like a real deal NFC contender this year, and not the fraud team they were last season. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has shown potential to be the best team in all of football, but injuries and a learning curve have had them looking inconsistent at times. Bettors likely would've had the Bucs as favorites if not for their poor showing against the Bears last Thursday, but I'm not going to let recency bias take hold and sway my pick. Instead, I'll ask the GOAT himself.
Hey Tommy, how many wins will Tampa have after this week?
Well, there you have it. Brady never gets these things wrong. Bucs win in a squeaker.
The Pick: Buccaneers +1 over Packers
Clemson (-27) @ Georgia Tech
Yes, I'm picking a college game. I'm also being a jerk and picking against Evan's alma mater. In a just world, I would lose all of my money this week for being such a bad person, but 2020 has proven that the normal rules do not apply. If the Houston Astros can get caught cheating, whine about how they're really the victims, finish under .500, and still be a game away from winning the American League Pennant, I can bet against a friend's school and win money. Yes, I'm bitter. Deal with it.
Evan and I both agreed on the pod this week that this line is very generous to Georgia Tech. Only getting 27 points against Clemson is a level of respect that probably should be reserved for teams that were not picked to finish in the cellar of the ACC. Maybe the nerds can buck the odds against Trevor Lawrence and company, but I'm laying the 27 and taking all of the bad karma.
The Pick: Tigers -27 over Yellow Jackets
Eric's Ticket
Two leg parlay: Steelers -3 over Browns and Titans -3 over Texans
Colts -7.5 over Bengals
Buccaneers (ML +100) over Packers
Clemson -27 over Georgia Tech
Week 5 record: 2-3 (-1.2 Units)
2020 Record: 8-12 (-5.2 Units)
-Eric Meyer (@QuagMeyer67)