Sports Picks & Predictions

I've been saying it all season. Ravens are the best team in the NFL. Ravens are healthy and rested. They haven't been on the road since Christmas. Ravens are healthier, stronger and faster.

We all know the narrative of Mahomes playing his first road playoff game. Buffalo has won and covered the L2 in the series. Buffalo plays great at home. KC is 0-8 after a win of 14 or more points their L8 in that scenario.

Fade the trendy dog. Everyone loves GB, but the line has moved to the key number of 10. GB is playing with house money, but SF has been here before. And they have a bad taste in their mouth from last seasons early exit.

Baltimore is rested and at home. Texans have looked good but now they're facing a team they already lost to. Texans like to throw the ball downfield. Ravens are good at defending the long pass. Good story for Texans but it ends here.

We've seen this total drop and have great betting splits. Bucs were 11-6 to the under this season. Both QBs are injured. No Brown for Philly. Eagles are 7-2 to the under on the road. The L3 games in the series went under. The L2 in the series at TB have gone under. TB is 9-1 to the under after allowing 3 or less points in the 1H the previous game. TB is 12-4 to the under in this total range.

Tickets are fairly even. Steelers look like an offense behind Rudolph. Steelers are 7-2 ATS as a dog. Steelers have won their L3. Buffalo has been winning but they're close victories. Bills aren't blowing teams out. The weather should play a role and a low scoring game helps the large dog.

I get that GB has dominated this series and have won their L3. But the Dallas team is different. Especially at home where they're 8-0. Dak Prescott played well in the WC round last year and I expect this offense to move the ball at home. Dallas should be able to have a balanced attack against GB. Dallas defense will give Jordan Love fits with pressure.

When these teams faced off last time Houston was missing pieces. They're healthy now. Flacco looks good but he'll make mistakes against a defense that loves to take the ball away. Cleveland is a different team on the road. Houston gets the job done.

We've been backing Washington all season. This team has been disrespected and they are once again. I've been preaching that they were the best team all season. Michigan is probably the most complete team but Michigan's strengths clash with Washington's. Penix will be the best QB Michigan has seen all season. Washington has the best offensive line in football. Michigan is known for putting pressure on the QB but Penix gets rid of the ball fast to his great receivers. Michigan offense relies on the run game but that's one area the Washington teams excels at. McCarthy is not good enough to keep in in a shootout. Personally I think Washington has the coaching edge. Washington is undefeated with DeBoer as an underdog and against ranked teams. They will be comfortable in this setting.
DeBoer will have this Huskies team ready.

We've seen this total rise. This game will have a playoff feel. GB needs a win to get in and Chicago will be looking to play spoiler and end their season strong. Both teams are coming off 30 point games. Both teams trend to the over. GB has seen their L4 games go over. Feilds might be playing for his job. I expect points.

Texans went from a dog to favorite. The market likes them. Both teams are similar. Neither team was supposed to be here but one of these teams will be in the playoffs with a win. Colts strength is the run but the Texans are one of the best run stop teams in the league. Colts give up a ton of yards and Stroud should be able to shred this soft defense.

We see line movement in our favor. Washington has the motivation here. They've been disrespected all season and are once again here. We've been winning with the Huskies. I'm backing them again.

I'm fading the popular dog. Michigan is the best team in CFB. They get over the hump this season and play for a championship. Michigan defense is better than any that Alabama has seen.

SF is upset after an embarrassing loss to the Ravens. For some teams the ultimate let down spot is the end of the season. And that's exactly what Washington is looking forward too. 49ers should be able to do whatever they want against this team.

Lions have clinched the North and probably at it's current seeding regardless of how the rest of the season plays out. Complacency will be a problem. Dallas on the other hand have lost two straight. They head back home where they've been dominant. These teams did face off last season. Dallas sacked Goff 5 times and created 4 turnovers.

Wyoming went dog to favorite. Toledo is going to have trouble. Whoever starts at QB for them will be green. Possibly fifth string freshman. Wyoming wants to be here.

The motivation for either team shouldn't be high as people are calling this the "Snub Bowl". Both teams have a ton of opt outs. UGA defense should care about this game. FSU is not in good shape.

The motivated side is Kentucky. Clemson has a ton of opt outs especially on the defensive side. I questioned their motivation before the opt outs came rolling in. Kentucky wants to win. Sprinkle the ML

Kansas St is beat up from opt outs. But regardless NC St is the better team here.

We've seen this line drop. Miami has a ton of players transferring and opting out. Rutgers is excited to be here.

UNC is more impacted by opt outs. WVU wants to be here. UNC is 6-7 ATS in bowl games since '04.

Ranked dog against an unranked opponent. Tulane is down a lot of players. We have line movement and great betting splits.

Both teams are strong offensively. Both teams are motivated. Rice is a consistent team. They'll keep this game close.

We have line movement in our favor. Raiders went from a shut out to a 63 point explosion. Their high deflates quickly.

NE doesn't want to play a cold road game on Christmas Eve. Both teams will look to run the ball. NE defense is stingy against the run. Denver defense is not. But NE has problems throwing the ball. Expect a grind on both sides. This will be another prime time snoozer. Both teams trend to the under. Especially NE on the road.

Trevor Lawrence is expected to play. He's played every game. They're riding a 3 game losing streak. TB on the other hand have been on a hot streak winning their L3. This TB team matches up well with Jax. Jax's defensive strength is stopping the run. TB is not a run first team. They like to throw the ball. They should be able to move the ball on this defense. TB will be happy to return home as they played their L2 games on the road.

We've seen this total drop from an open of 44. Tannehill is expected to start for Titans. When he was healthy they scored one or less TDs in 4 losses. Seahawks will look to establish a run game. Both teams trend to the under.

We have line movement in our favor and great betting splits. Utah had a disappointing season and probably lack motivation. Northwestern was a surprisingly good team. They're happy to be here and are playing with house money.

L25 rematch games the Bengals are 18-6-1 ATS. Bengals won their L3 while covering two with a push. Kenny Pickett is not good. Mitch Trubisky is bad. Mason Rudolph shouldn't be in the NFL. Both teams are in the playoff hunt but only one team is playing well enough. Jake Browning has been good. I'm not worried about Jamar Chase being out. The Bengals have plenty of offensive weapons.

Georgia St has a ton of opt outs. They've also lost their L5 games.

Both teams are similar. Two good offenses against two bad defenses. Both starting QBs are expected to play. This total keeps moving up which shows signs of a shootout. GT has played the tougher schedule and has made a game with stronger opponents. Most notably staying within a TD to UGA. Haynes King will be the difference in this game.

Saints have won 2 in row, but against bad opponents. Rams have not been bad. They have been scoring points and winning games. McVay is 10-1-1 ATS in home December games. NO has long travel on a short week. Saints offense is going to have trouble keeping up with the Rams.

Marshall has a lot of opt outs but this defense is strong. UTSA scores a lot of points but the offense has struggled down the stretch.

We've seen this total drop. Seattle will look to establish the run game. Eagles trend to the under on the road. The under is 7-2 L9 in the series.

ODU is the better team and the more motivated team.

Look ahead line had Jax as the favorite. Eye test says no. We open at 3. This season Baltimore is 4-0 after not covering the prior week. Baltimore is good on the road. Jax has had their troubles at home winning only 2 games. Jags haven't looked good recently. Ravens just played in horrible weather. It'll be a delight going to Jacksonville.

The public loves the Cowboys and rightfully so. But this line is moving towards Buffalo. Cowboys are dominant at home. They're going to have to travel to Buffalo which is a hard place to play. Cowboys are susceptible on the road.

We have great betting splits. 3 of the L4 in this series has been under the total. Cleveland has trended to the under at home. Both teams have a strong defense. Both QBs will have trouble moving the ball. This should be a ground and pound game.

The public likes Denver but the line keeps moving towards Detroit. Denver is on a short week and playing their third road game in a row. Detroit matches very well with Denver. Expect Detroit to use the run game efficiently and tire the Broncos defense.

Sure UCLA has more talent. They also have a lot of opt outs. Both teams have QB issues. Boise has the motivation here. They've ended the regular season strong and I expect that momentum to carry. The game is in California but Broncos fans will show up. The Mountain West champion is 2-0 in the LA Bowl.

We have movement in our favor. We have great betting splits. The weather is supposed to be awful in Orlando. We'll be seeing backups at QB on both teams. Miami played good defense down the stretch. Expect the same in this game.

Herbert was taken out against Denver with a finger injury. This line will move. The price is right.

GB is overvalued here because of their upset against KC. Giants have been playing better and GB should see some regression. Giants won this game last season at Lambeau.

I get why people like the Bears. They took Detroit down to the wire the last time they faced off giving up the lead with 4 minutes left. They're also trending in the right direction. Detroit is looking for that #1 seed. Chicago won't stop them. Detroit had a bounce back win after losing to GB. How has Chicago been in rematch games? 2-12 ATS their L14. As rematch host they are 1-11 SU, 3-9 ATS. Lions handle business and cover this small number.

This number has moved too much. These service academy teams are known for running the ball and chewing clock. But these two teams throw the ball. Both teams have averaged full game totals above 40. 3 of the L4 games in this series would've went over this total. Weather shouldn't be an issue.

We've seen this line fall from 6.5. Mitch Trubisky will be the QB for an already bad offense. Patriots are the worst offensive team in the league. Both defenses play well. Steelers will have trouble scoring enough points to cover this spread.

Jordan Love has looked good recently. GB has won 3 of their L4. GB is coached well and has a balanced offense. GB defense is not great, but this KC offense isn't either. This is the contrarian side but we've seen line movement in our favor. KC is also in a look ahead spot as they play Buffalo next week.

We have line movement in our favor. Detroit gets the extra rest after losing to the Packers on Thanksgiving. Detroit will be motivated to get back on track. NO is injured on both sides of the ball. This offense has trouble scoring points and now will be without Olave. No defense has not been good recently. They'll be happy to be home, but Detroit will be happy to be playing indoors. Look for Goff to limit his mistakes.

SMU has been dominant in conference. SMU defense is underrated. SMU ranks 7th in opponents yard per play and sack rate. They're also 14 in defense success rate. I get that Stone is out but Jennings is good. He also has some experience. Tulane defense is not good and SMU should have success in the pass game.

These teams played earlier in the season. Toledo won 21-17. We have good betting splits. Miami is strong defensively (25th) and special teams. Toledo also has a strong defense (32). Toledo won the MAC last season and are playing a true road game. But Miami plays a strategically slow pace and should stay within the number. Toledo is Miami's only loss in their L11 so they'll be looking to show that was a fluke. Sprinkle the ML as well.

We've seen this total drop and I expect it to drop more before kickoff. This is the same total we saw when these two teams matched up last season. Washington is undefeated but they look like they're running out of gas. Oregon on the other hand has looked great on both sides of the ball. Both teams trend to the under. Oregon will flirt with the 30s but I don't see this Washington offense getting to 20 against this Oregon defense.