This is a 10* play on OVER.

So based on the overall body of work in the regular season, you would have to say that San Francisco has been the better team. Go back to the final few weeks of the regular season and the playoffs, and you can't say that. San Francisco was lucky in both playoff games against Green Bay and Detroit. Jared Goff and Jordan Love both had big games at San Francisco, and now the Niners defense faces the most dynamic duo in playoff history in a dome at a neutral site. Andy Reid off a bye week should have a full bag of tricks at his disposal, and the Chiefs should get their share of points. The Buffalo Bills ran all over the Chiefs in the divisional round, totaling 182 yards and two TDs on the ground. Expect San Francisco to have success in the running game.

Prop bets include:

Mahomes most passing yards -155

Kelce most receiving yards +280

Kelce anytime TD +100

CMC over 87.5 rush yards -130

CMC to win MVP +475

CMC 2+ TDs  +260

Mahomes over 25.5 rush yards  -125

49ers over 1.5 rushing TDs +170

MVP QBvsField = Field +200

This is a 10* play on KC.

So based on the overall body of work in the regular season, you would have to say that San Francisco has been the better team. Go back to the final few weeks of the regular season and the playoffs, and you can't say that. San Francisco was lucky in both playoff games against Green Bay and Detroit. It was questionable coaching decisions that cost the Lions, something that has normally been attributed to Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco gave up double digit leads against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, they allowed 21 unanswered points against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl and then there is the infamous Super Bowl loss to the Patriots when Shanahan was with Atlanta. The Chiefs coaching staff has dominated opponents in these playoffs, and the offense appears to have flipped a switch after struggling for the first half of the regular season. The Chiefs have the momentum, the better coach, and the better quarterback. I can't bet against that!

Prop bets include:

Mahomes most passing yards -155

Kelce most receiving yards +280

Kelce anytime TD +100

CMC over 87.5 rush yards -130

CMC to win MVP +475

CMC 2+ TDs  +260

Mahomes over 25.5 rush yards  -125

49ers over 1.5 rushing TDs +170

This is a 5* play on DET.

The Lions are coming off back to back wins, and plenty of momentum with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. Their defense has been suspect, but perhaps in a "bend don't break" fashion. The 49ers on the other hand got quite lucky that the Green Bay Packers missed a key field goal last week. Brock Purdy appeared to struggle at times, and the young QB is facing more pressure than he's ever faced. Jared Goff has been here before, and he's looked pretty solid throwing for 564 yards, three TDs on 74 percent passing in this post-season. I expect Detroit to get their share of points, and at least hang with San Francisco.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

The Chiefs offense was humming in a bad weather game in Buffalo last week, albeit against a banged up Buffalo defense. That being said, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce appear to have their swagger back. The Chiefs defense had no answers for Josh Allen and the Bills offense, and if it wasn't for a few bad drops by Bills receivers, Buffalo likely wins that game. After Josh Allen ran for 72 yards and two TDs, you would expect Lamar Jackson to run all over this banged up Kansas City defense. These teams have scored 48+ combined points in each of the last five head to head meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BUF.

Ever since the Bills overtime loss at Kansas City in the 2022 Playoffs, they have been waiting for this moment. They get the Chiefs, and this time they get the home field advantage. The Bills have won six straight, a winning streak that began with a 20-17 win at Kansas City. Josh Allen has a quarterback rating of 102.4 at home, and just 83 on the road. He ran for 74 yards and a TD against the Steelers. What do I expect from each member of the Buffalo Bills in this game? Whatever it takes!

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

The easiest way to lose a fortune betting the NFL is to bet based on last week's results. We just saw the Packers go into Dallas and run all over the Cowboys. The bad news for Green Bay is that Mike McCarthy isn't coaching the 49ers, and they aren't getting anything for free here. The 49ers held opponents to 17 points per game during the regular season, and opponents averaged less than 90 yards per game on the ground. Coming off a bye, we should see San Francisco cause all sorts of problems for Jordan Love. The Packers have their hands full with CMC, and when on offense I expect the 49ers to burn up plenty of clock.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB.

The Eagles are a complete mess, coming into the playoffs as losers of five of their last six. Jalen Hurts appears to be battling injuries, and he's thrown more picks (5) than touchdowns (4) over his last five starts. No AJ Brown for the Eagles, and the defense is banged up on the back end. They might even have to move a corner to safety if Blankenship can't go. The Bucs defense is 100 percent healthy, and Baker Mayfield will play despite a sore ankle and bruised ribs. This looks like a case of the wrong team favored, and I'll take the home dog plus the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Cleveland.

The Jets are coming off a dubious 30-28 home win over Washington. They blew a 20-0 lead, but hit the game winning 54 yard field goal in the final seconds. Trevor Siemian threw for 217 yards on 27-of-49 passing against the NFL's worst defense. Now the Jets are on the road on a short week, and they face the NFL's top pass defense. The Browns are on a roll since the arrival of Joe Flacco, who threw for 368 yards and three TDs in a win at Houston on Sunday. The Browns are 7-1 at home this season, and the Jets have failed to cover in three straight road games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SF.

A lot of people are picking these two teams to meet in the Super Bowl, but the Ravens appear to be a team due for some regression. San Francisco had it's three game losing skid in the middle of the season, but since then they appear to have forgotten how to lose. The Niners have covered in six straight, and they are 13-1 SU in their last 14 home games. This looks like a good spot to fade the Ravens.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Denver.

The 3-11 Patriots are likely going to find it tough to get up for a Christmas Even game on the road in Denver. This team has nine starters listed as questionable just 48 hrs prior to the game. We know there will be a wholesale change over the off-season, and we don't expect the compete level to be very high in these final few games. This is a Denver team that can still make the playoffs, but they need to win this game. Russell Wilson has thrown for 1,382 yards, 13 TDs and just one INT at home this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI.

What happened to the 10-1 Eagles? They are now the 10-3 Eagles after losing back to back blowouts versus San Francisco and Dallas. The good news is that they aren't playing the Niners or the Cowboys this week, and this looks like a potential "GET RIGHT" game for Philly. The Seahawks have lost four of their last five overall, and Geno Smith is banged up. Drew Lock came in and threw for 269 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs in the loss at San Francisco last Sunday. Lock has thrown as many picks (20) as he has TDs over his last three seasons. Smith has a groin injury that normally requires at least two weeks to heal, so even if he can play he would likely be limited.

**UPDATE** - so we are now less than 18 hrs from kickoff and we still have no clarification on Geno Smith, and breaking news that Jalen Hurts might not play due to illness. If it is Marcus Mariotta, note that his last game at Seattle he threw for 229 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT on 13-of-20 passing in a win with the Falcons last year. He also scored a rushing TD in the win. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Bills.

The Cowboys are flying high, winners of five straight. Four of those five wins came at home, and the one road game was at Carolina. They caught the Eagles in a tough spot, but this looks like a let down spot in an outdoor game in December in Buffalo. The Bills need this win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they are 5-1 at home. The Cowboys are just 3-3 on the road, and all three of their road wins came versus teams with a losing record.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DAL.

The Eagles had been getting it done with smoke and mirrors for weeks, but the bubble burst in a home loss to San Francisco on Sunday. Now they head to Dallas to face a well rested Cowboys team that has been firing on all cylinders. Dak Prescott has averaged well over 300 yards per passing per game over his last five. The Eagles rank 30th in the NFL against the pass, allowing over 260 yards per game. This is a mismatch, and a bad spot for the Eagles.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SF.

A rematch of last year's NFC Championship Game is also a revenge game for the Niners. The Eagles have already avenged their Super Bowl loss, and they have a string of wins in tight games that could have gone the other way. What goes around comes around, and this time I expect San Francisco to execute their revenge. They come in with extra rest, and a healthier team. The Eagles win over the Bills on Sunday appears a bit lucky, getting out-gained 505-378, with fewer first downs and less time of possession. I don't think the Eagles get away with that here in what looks like a let down spot against the Niners.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Denver.

I bet on Denver last week, and here is what I said before kickoff: "Everyone is a Vikings fan after they put together a five game winning streak. Keep in mind wins came over the Bears, Falcons, Packers, Saints and they caught the 49ers in a tough spot. Josh Dobbs has stepped in and done a great job since the injury to Kirk Cousins, and he previously played well for Arizona. It didn't translate into wins though, as the Cardinals were 1-7 with Dobbs as their starter. A road game against a Denver team that has also turned things around might be a reality check for the Vikings." Next up is the Cleveland Browns, and DTR. This looks like a tough spot for Cleveland, facing a hot QB on the road.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on JAX.

This is a huge revenge spot for Jacksonville, who lost 37-17 at home to Houston earlier this season. They have since won six of seven games, and that includes road wins at Pittsburgh and New Orleans. The Texans rank 2nd in the NFL in passing and CJ Stroud is making a case to be in the conversation for MVP. The 22 year old rookie has thrown four INTs in his last two starts, and he might be due for a let down here against the Jags. Jacksonville out-gained the Texans 404-366 in total yard, had 22 first downs to 15, and won the time of possession in the first meeting, but lost the turnover battle 2-0. It's payback time, and I expect the Jags to come on top in the area that matters the most, points on the scoreboard.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Denver.

Everyone is a Vikings fan after they put together a five game winning streak. Keep in mind wins came over the Bears, Falcons, Packers, Saints and they caught the 49ers in a tough spot. Josh Dobbs has stepped in and done a great job since the injury to Kirk Cousins, and he previously played well for Arizona. It didn't translate into wins though, as the Cardinals were 1-7 with Dobbs as their starter. A road game against a Denver team that has also turned things around might be a reality check for the Vikings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

San Francisco comes out of the bye week looking to get back on track. The defense should be in good shape with Chase Young making his debut. They have allowed just 16.5 points per game on the road this season. The offense is still a question with a pair of starters out on the offensive line. Brock Purdy has thrown five picks in his last three starts, and the Niners scored 17 in all three of those games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on LAC.

The 1-2 Chargers are a small home favorite against the 1-2 Raiders. Clearly the Chargers have a huge edge at QB with Justin Herbert versus Jimmy G. The Chargers have been more effective running the ball, and we should see Austin Ekeler back this week. Neither team has been great defensively but it's tough to see the Raiders keeping up in a shootout. LV was just 2-7 on the road last season, including a 24-19 loss at LA. Keep in mind the Raiders only win came by just 1-point against an 0-3 team that gave up 70 points last week.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on CLE.

Any decent bettor should know not to overreact to results in Week 1, and the Browns looked like World Beaters while the Steelers looked like trash. Sure we may see regression to the mean, but lets be real about who these teams are. The Browns have one of the highest ranked offensive lines, and maybe the most dominant running back in the NFL. Deshaun Watson is just a few years removed from being a Top 5 QB in the league, and he looked a lot more like that guy in Week 1 than he did last year. Kenny Pickett is still wet behind the ears, and I am not sure Najee Harris is a legit RB1. The Niners averaged 5.5 yards per carry at Pittsburgh last week, and the Steelers are going to have their hands full trying to contain Chubb.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CLE.

So the Bengals lost at Cleveland last year, which is nothing new. They have lost five straight at Cleveland, and the Browns are 8-2 straight up in the last 10 meetings. The bookmakers have the Bengals favored here, despite the fact that the underdog is 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings. The Browns still have the #2 ranked offensive line in the NFL according to PFF, and their QB situation should be better in 2023. Joe Burrow was sacked five times in last years loss at Cleveland, throwing for 232 yards with two TDs and an INT. The offensive line is still a concern for Cincinnati, and this figures to be a difficult matchup. I think the wrong team is favored here and I'll take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on KC.

The public is definitely backing Philly in the Super Bowl, with 66% of the tickets on the Eagles. There is no doubt that they have been the better team in the post-season. Philly should be able to control the line of scrimmage with superior and offensive and defensive line play. The thing is, that with two weeks to prepare for this game, a Hall of Fame coach like Andy Reid should be able to game plan and scheme to minimize that advantage. There's something to be said for experience, and the Chiefs have been here before. Kansas City knows what to expect, how to handle the media and everything leading up to the game. I am going to take a contrarian approach and go with the more experienced team with the superior quarterback.

GL,

Jesse Schule

SBLVII Props include: Over 51.5 rush attempts, Over 1.5 4th down conversions, Kelce anytime TD.

This is a 10* play on SF.

The Niners have the #1 ranked defense in the NFL, and they completely shut down Dallas last week. They are trying to become the first team in history to send a rookie QB to the Super Bowl. Mr Irrelevant looked pretty pedestrian against an elite Dallas defense. He threw for 219 yards on 19-of-29 passing, with no TDs or picks. While everyone is talking about the Niners rookie, the fact is that Jalen Hurts hasn't proved sh#t in big games. Remember it was Tua that walked off as a champion for Alabama, not Hurts. I'll take the best defense in football getting points in this spot all day.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on NYG.

The Indianapolis Colts rank 27th in the NFL in rushing TDs allowed, and they play on the road in New York Sunday. It's a must win game for the Giants, and we are sure to see plenty of Saquon Barkley. Nick Foles was definitely not the answer for the Colts, throwing for 143 yards and three INTs in a loss to the Chargers last week. The Colts are playing on a short week, and they have nothing to play for. The Giants lost at Minnesota last week, and they are 6-0 ATS in their last six coming off a loss. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Tampa. 

As bad as things appear to be in Tampa Bay, the Bucs are still the favorite to win the NFC South. This team still has plenty to play for, while it looks like the Arizona Cardinals will be waiving a white flag here this week. Arizona officially eliminated from the post-season, and down to their third string QB. Trace McSorley has thrown for 166 yards and three INTs on just over 50 percent passing in limited action this year. Given the QB situation, it's hard to see the rest of the team being too invested in this meaningless game. Expecting the Cardinals offense to struggle to move the chains, that should lead to more possessions for Brady and company. Despite the loss, Brady threw for 312 yards and three TDs last week. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 2* play on MIA.

The Dolphins appear to be badly in need of some home cooking, coming off a road trip that resulted in three consecutive losses at San Francisco, LA and Buffalo. They host Green Bay, and the Packers could be in a let down spot coming off a home win over the Rams on Monday night. The Packers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games, and they have failed to cover in five of their last seven coming off a win. The Dolphins are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 home games, and they are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 home games versus a team with a losing road record.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on SF.

The 49ERS will look to clinch the NFC West with a win in Seattle on Thursday. They have won back to back games since Jimmy G went down, scoring 68 points in those contests. SF has plenty of weapons, but without Deebo Samuel they might lean a little more on Christian McCaffrey. He faces a Seattle defense that ranks 30th in the NFL in rushing touchdowns allowed. McCaffrey scored a pair of TDs last week, and if you exclude his 49ers debut where he only played a limited role, he's found the endzone six times in six games since arriving in San Francisco. The 49ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games, and they are 6-0 in their last six versus the NFC West.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Under.

The last game played at Gillette Stadium saw the Patriots score just three points up until the final five seconds of regulation. They were quite fortunate that they held the Jets to just three points on just 103 yards of offense. They were even luckier to return a punt for a touchdown to walk the game off for the win. They host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, and both these teams boast Top 5 scoring defenses each allowing just 18 points per game. The weatherman says it's going to be cold with rain and wind (if you can trust the forecast several days out). The Pats have held opponents to three points or less in three of their last four games. I think 21 points will be enough to win this game

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on BUF.

So ever since the Chiefs won the coin flip and marched down the field to score a walk off TD in last year's playoff win over the Bills, we've all been waiting for this rematch. Tyreek Hill had 11 catches for 150 yards and a TD in that game, and he's not going to be there for Patrick Mahomes this time around. The Bills are 4-1, and in their only loss (versus Miami) they had a 497-212 edge in total yards, 31-15 edge in first downs. Buffalo comes in with the league's #1 ranked offense, and the #1 ranked defense. Josh Allen leads the league in passing yards, and QBR. I don't bet on games just because revenge is a factor, but I truly believe that the Bills have improved and the Chiefs have regressed. The added motivation certainly doesn't hurt.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on LV.

The Chiefs are the better team here, but they are in a tough spot. Everybody is already talking about next Sunday's rematch versus Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and it's impossible to expect KC to be 100% focused on their opponent here this week. The Raiders are 1-3, but all three of their losses came by less than seven points. Derek Carr and Davante Adams are still developing chemistry, but Adams is coming off a nine reception 100+ yard game against Denver. Josh Jacobs ran for 144 yards and two TDs on 28 carries in the win over the Broncos. The Chiefs have failed to cover in eight of their last 10 versus a team with a losing record. This game looks like it could be a shootout, but I'll take the points with a live dog.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Minny.

Turn on the TV and all the analysts will tell you how bad Kirk Cousins is in Monday Night Football games. i honesty think that's a ridiculous thing to believe, that he is significantly worse on Monday than he is on Sunday afternoon. While he's 2-9 straight up in Monday night games, his QBR in those games is actually pretty good. His chemistry with Justin Jefferson and new head coach Kevin O'connell looked pretty good last week. The defense looked equally as impressive, holding Aaron Rodgers to 195 yards and an INT, and sacking him twice. The Eagles don't look bad either, but at the end of the day they beat the lions and still gave up a ton of points. Jalen Hurts was flirting with an intentional grounding penalty all day. My read here is that the Vikes are getting points, and they have the better QB, RB, WRs, coaching is a wash, hard to say who's got the better defense. I'll take the dog.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is play on Under.

Posted this Sunday night before the news broke that Dak would be out for several weeks. The line has since been bet down by more than a TD which sort of kills off any value for clients.

DO NOT PLAY **ERROR**

This is a 10* GOY play on Under.

The Cowboys have looked like Super Bowl favorites at times, but they haven't been at their best lately. Don't be fooled by their big win over the Eagles, in a game that Philly rested all their starters. Perhaps a more accurate indicator would be their home loss to Arizona a week earlier. They host a San Francisco team that poses a similar challenge. The Niners are going to try to punch the Cowboys in the mouth. What that means is, they will look to run the ball and control the clock, keeping the ball out of the hands of Dak Prescott. The Niners have failed to reach the total in five of their last six playoff games. The under is 8-3 in the Cowboys last 11 games overall, and Dallas is 1-5 ATS in their last six playoff games. The total for this contest is higher than it had been in each of the last six head to head meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Rams.

The Cardinals are undefeated, and Kyler Murray has been playing like an MVP candidate. This week looks like a tough spot for both Arizona and QB Kyler Murray, on the road at the Rams who ranks 1st in scoring defense and first against the pass allowing just 190 yards per game last season. Murray has really struggled against the Rams, throwing for 4TDs and 4 INTs in four career starts against them. The Rams won all four of those games, and the Rams are 9-1 straight up and 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings. The under is 13-3 in Cardinals last 16 road games, and Arizona has failed to cover in five straight versus a team with a winning record. The Rams are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games as a home favorite, and the under is 13-3 in Rams last 16 games as a home favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

1

This is a 7* play on LA.

The Bucs are heavy favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions, and many are talking about a possible perfect regular season. They could be a favorite in every single game they play this season, but this game here in LA is the one spot on the schedule that could give them trouble. The Rams are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS loss, and they are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games in September. If anyone is going to get Tom Brady off his game, it would be Aaron Donald and the LA defense that has three INTs in the first two weeks.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

The Rams had the NFL's #1 ranked scoring defense last season, while the Bears ranked #1 in scoring defense back in 2018. We should expect a low score here on Sunday night. The Rams brought in Matt Stafford, and he brings high expectations of an improved offense. The Rams offense has struggled since Todd Gurley left, and their current stable of running backs looks a bit lackluster with Cam Akers out and Darrell Henderson banged up. The Bears are trotting out Andy Dalton at QB in Week 1, and that looks like a recipe for disaster against this Rams pass rush. The under is 13-5 in the Bears last 18 games as a road underdog, and the under is 14-3 in the Rams last 17 home games. These teams have failed to reach the total in six of the last eight head to head meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bills.

The Steelers perfect record went up in smoke in last week's loss to the Redskins, and playing on the road in Buffalo this week looks like a let down spot for a Steelers team that is a little banged up. With an 11-1 record the Steelers can afford to be complacent, and they might not be able to match the intensity of a hungry Buffalo team. The Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their last five games in December, while the Bills are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as a home favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland has run over it's opponents this season, and last week they ran for 231 yards in a 10-7 win over Houston. The final score is a little misleading, as Cleveland never trailed in the game, and only allowed a late touchdown when the game was already out of reach. Nick Chubb wisely passed on a potential TD at the end of the game, allowing the Browns to kneel and run out the clock. The Eagles gave up over 150 yards and three rushing TDs in a loss to the Giants last week, and they have to be having second thoughts about the future of Carson Wentz. Baker Mayfield has his fair share of critics, but so far this season he has a higher QBR (71.4) than Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Phillip Rivers. He's within a few decimal points of Tom Brady (71.8). The recipe for success in Cleveland is less is more for Baker Mayfield. Expect that trend to continue and the Browns to run all over Philly in Week 11.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Cleveland.

There is a lot of talk about how good the Colts are on defense, and we will find out just how good they really are this week. Their stats are skewed afte playing teams with a combined record of 5-11. I don't think Indy has any business being a road favorite at a 3-1 Cleveland team that is 2-0 at home and has averaged 31 points per game this season. The Browns running game has been dominant, unlike any team that the Colts have faced this season. Baker Mayfield takes a lot of flack for throwing a lot of picks, but let me tell you he has a long way to go to catch up to Phillip Rivers. Rivers has thrown three INTs in four games so far, and he's struggled to protect the football his entire career. In fact, he's thrown 201 INTs in 232 career starts. He's averaged an INT per game over the last three seasons.

Take CLE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco 49ERS.

The Chiefs come into Super Bowl LIV as favorites, despite the fact that San Francisco has a better record. The 49ers are statistically better both on offense and defense, and they appear to have very few weaknesses. One thing that San Francisco doesn't have is Patrick Mahomes. There is no doubt that Mahomes is the one player that is most likely to directly influence the result of this game. As difficult as it is for me to bet against Mahomes, I am more than a little concerned about just how much pressure he will be facing. The 49ers don't need a great game from their quarterback, or any single player. If their defensive line can control the line of scrimmage the way they did against Green Bay, Mahomes might not be able to save the Chiefs. Kansas City has been very impressive in these playoffs, but let's not forget that they fell into a big hole in both their wins over Houston and Tennessee. It might not be so easy to come from behind against this San Francisco team.  

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the 49ers.

The Packers took advantage of a banged up Seattle team at home, and they barely hung on in the second half of that game. Seattle outscored them 20-7 after halftime, and they will need to avoid another blowout loss in San Francisco. The 49ers beat them by 29 points in San Francisco earlier in the season. Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times and threw for just 104 yards on 20-of-33 passing. As much as you could call this a revenge game, the Packers might not be equipped to do anything about the ferocious San Francisco pass rush. The Packers are thin at several key positions, and they have a rookie head coach. An interesting stat to keep in mind is that over the last five seasons, seven times we've seen Conference Championship games featuring teams that played during the regular season. The team that won the first meeting has won six of those seven games.

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers will be four point favorite at home versus Seattle, and this is a game that figures to be decided in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks beat the Packers by a score of 27-24 at home last year, and the last time these two teams met in the playoffs the Seahawks won in overtime in a thriller. As much as Green Bay has the home field advantage, the Seahawks won seven of eight games on the road this season. The Seahawks are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 road games. At this point it appears that Russell Wilson is a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers, and the defense looked great in Philly last week. The Packers deserve to be the favorite, but it might be wise to take the points in a game that could go either way.

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TEN@BAL to go Under the total.

The Titans held the Patriots scoreless in the second half at Foxboro on Wild Card Weekend, and Derek Henry ran wild. Mike Vrabel will likely look to continue to pound away with his power running game, especially given the weather here in Baltimore. The Ravens are perfectly comfortable running the ball, and with both teams leaning on the run we should see the clock run. The Ravens defense held opponents to just over 17 points per game this season, while Tennessee allowed just over 20 points per game. Lamar Jackson tore up the league this year, but it remains to be seen if that success will translate in the post-season. It didn't last year, in a 23-17 loss to the Chargers. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes for 194 yards, 2 TDs and an INT. Both his touchdowns came in garbage time after the Ravens trailed 23-3 in the fourth quarter. The under is 5-1 in the Titans last six playoff road games, and the Ravens have gone under in six straight home playoff games.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on NYG.

If you checked last Sunday's scores, you might think that the Eagles beat the Cowboys last week? Well I watched that game quite closely, and let me tell you that Dallas beat the Cowboys. Poor decisions from head coach Jason Garrett beat the Cowboys. A boat load of dropped balls by the Dallas receivers beat the Cowboys. On a crucial 3rd and 1 late in the game, with Dallas having an opportunity to take the lead, they ran a toss to Tony Pollard that lost yards. Zeke Elliott was on the bench. Philly is a mess, banged up in the secondary and in their receiving corps. Zack Ertz has fractured ribs, and they come into New York asked to cover a bunch of points. My money is on Danny Dimes and Saquon to terrorize this Eagles team, and I think the Giants win outright.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cleveland Browns.

After losing 21-7 at Cleveland two weeks ago, you might call this a revenge game for the Steelers. The truth is that they might not have the personnel to compete with Cleveland. This isn't the same team that has won five of their last six overall. They will miss their leading rusher, their top wide receiver and they have a third string quarterback under center. Cleveland is now looking for a fourth straight win, and Baker Mayfield has turned his season around. He's thrown seven TD passes with just one INT in his last three starts. The Browns are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six versus Pittsburgh.

Take CLE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Cowboys.

During the Brady and Belichick era, no matter who the Patriots played on any given Sunday, they could always say they have the better quarterback. Now 10 games into the 2019 season, and it's a tough argument to make that Brady is better than Dak (currently). Even in a 28-24 loss to the Vikings, Prescott threw for 397 yards and three TDs. While Zeke has been underperforming, Prescott has been carrying the Cowboys. The Patriots on the other hand have had to lean on their defense, and Belichick's genius. The result has been an offense that is ranked 17th in the NFL in total yards. The Cowboys rank 1st overall in total yards. New England is tough to beat at home, but I think they are being asked to cover too many points here against a dangerous opponent.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the NYG.

The Cowboys will be a huge road favorite in New York on Monday night, despite the fact that Dallas has lost three of it's last four overall. The Giants are just 2-6, but they have improved tremendously since Daniel Jones took over at QB. They are coming off four straight losses after Jones won his first two starts, but both of their last two losses came in games decided by less than seven points. Saquon Barkley was injured for two of the last four losses, but perhaps for the first time Jones will have his star running back at full strength. The Cowboys have lost two of three road games including a loss in New York to the Jets. They have no business being favored by more than a TD here.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the #NYG.

The Giants are just 2-4, but they still have a shot in the NFC East, with Dallas and Philly sitting at just 3-3. The Cardinals on the other hand aren't going anywhere, with a stranglehold on last place on the NFC West. Both Daniel Jones and Kyler Murray have given their teams reason to be optimistic about the future, but Jones has showed the world why he was drafted 6th overall in the first round, and he's been more consistent than Murray. When you consider what he's had to work with, his performance is even more impressive. This week he's going to have Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram back. He's going up against an Arizona defense that ranks 30th in the NFL against the pass. While the Giants defense is stastically just as bad, they have played tougher opposition, and they have scored significantly more points of their own. This is a tough spot for an NFC West team traveling to the East Coast for an early game. All signs point to a blowout win for the Giants.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Pittsburgh.

I was impressed with the Steelers last week in San Francisco. That was a game they were not supposed to win, but they came ever so close. Mason Rudolph played well, gaining confidence in the second half. This might be a battle of two 0-3 teams, but the Steelers are in a lot better shape than Cinci. At this point there's nothing left to be positive about if you are a Bengals fan.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Seattle.

The New Orleans Saints travel across the country to play in Seattle, where the Seahawks have been quite formidable over the last decade. With Drew Brees sidelined by a thumb injury, the Saints have annouced that they intend to split the snaps between Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill. While some might think that sounds "dynamic", to me it reeks of desperation. They don't have the confidence in Bridgewater to name him the starter, and their offense is likely to be a shambles. Their defense wasn't impressive in a Week 1 win over Houston, giving up over 400 yards, and last week's loss to the Rams wasn't much better.

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PIT@NE to go Under the total.

The first Sunday Night Football game of the season features a pair of Super Bowl contenders and a couple of aging Hall of Fame quarterbacks. You might think that these teams have lit up the scoreboard in previous meetings, but that hasn't been the case. Four of the last five meetings have gone under the total dating back to 2013. The last time these teams met the Steelers won by a score of 17-10 last December. Big Ben threw for 235 yards, two TDs and a pair of INTs in the win. Brady was even more pedestrian, throwing for 279 yards, a TD and an INT in the loss. The Steelers have managed to find ways to win without LeVeon Bell and Antonio Brown, but there is no denying that they aren't as talented as they once were. The Patriots will be getting used to life without Gronk, and Sony Michel should play a bigger role in this year's offense. The Patriots have failed to reach the total in four of their last five at Foxboro.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on New England.

Why do you think the Rams beat the Saints? Are you one of those conspiracy theorists that believes the only reason the Rams are playing in the Super Bowl is because a referee missed a call at the end of the NFC Championship Game? If that's what you believe, then I think you are missing something. You have to give credit where credit is due, and I think it's fair to say that Jared Goff outplayed Drew Brees. I also think it's pretty clear that Sean McVay outcoached Sean Payton. I don't think the Rams can count on winning the quarterback battle or the coaching battle here against Brady and Belichick. My money is on experience over youth, and I expect Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to turn back the clock.

Props include:
- Todd Gurley anytime TD.
- Sony Michel anytime TD.
- Gronkowski over 3.5 receptions.
- Tom Brady over 1.5 TDs. 

Take NE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colts.

Patrick Mahomes will probably win the MVP Award this season, but there is no way anybody can convince me that he's a better quarterback than Andrew Luck. I've seen rookie quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Robert Griffin and Jameis Winston go from boom to bust overnight. The fact is that Mahomes walked into an offense that was already one of the league's best when Alex Smith was the quarterback. Players like Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt have contributed to the success of Mahomes. Without Hunt, the Chiefs haven't been the same. They were held to just 10 points in the first half of a loss at Seattle, and they needed a miracle to beat the Ravens at home. Mahomes was outgunned by Phillip Rivers in a home loss to the Chargers. Now he faces a veteran gunslinger in Andrew Luck, and a Colts defense that has allowed 10 points per game over their last six overall. The Chiefs 28th ranked run defense faces a running back that ran for 148 yards and a TD on 24 carries against the Texans last week.

Take Indy.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Chicago Bears. 

Can you believe that the Eagles are back in the playoffs, and last year's Super Bowl MVP is once against playing like one of the league's best quarterbacks. Nick Foles is capable of being great (at times) but let's not get carried away when we compare him to other great quarterbacks. The Bears have wins over the Packers and the Seahawks, and Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have been consistently great for their entire careers spanning the better part of the last decade. Nick Foles on the other hand has had a handful of great games in an otherwise mediocre career. He comes into Chicago nursing sore ribs, and he's in serious danger of taking a beating today. I like the Bears to win big at Soldier Field.

Take CHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Chargers.

Lamar Jackson has turned things around for the Baltimore Ravens, who might not have made the playoffs without him. I am not convinced he is the quarterback of the future for this franchise though, as I have seen this script before. It seems like nobody remembers his teammate RGIII early in his career in Washington. As exciting as it is when he eludes defenders and picks up big gains with his athletic ability, he's nothing short of a disaster in the passing game. He matches up against a potential future Hall of Famer in Phillip Rivers, and heaven forbid if he needs to rally his team late (as Rivers has done countless times in the past). The Ravens defense is statistically the best in the NFL, but they almost didn't survive in a must win game against the Browns last week. Baker Mayfield lit them up for 376 yards and three scores. I expect Rivers to be just as good here in this Wild Card game.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Indianapolis Colts.

The Titans may have won four straight, but those wins came against the Jets, Jags, Giants and Redskins. Not only have they built their winning streak against some of the weaker teams in the NFL, many of those wins were far from impressive. They trailed at home against the Redskins last week, and they were losing 16-6 at the half in a home win over the Jets a few weeks ago. The Colts have won eight of their last nine overall, including a 38-10 win over Tennessee. They led 24-3 at halftime in that game, and Andrew Luck threw for 297 yards and three TDs on 23-of-29 passing. The Colts last road game was a 24-21 win over the Texans in Houston, and they led 17-7 at the half in that game. If Marcus Mariota is healthy enough to start this game, he might not finish it. The Titans leading receiver Corey Davis is also banged up, and keeping up with Andrew Luck is going to be a tough ask for Tennessee.

Take IND.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Vikings.

I took Minnesota +3.5 when they lost 25-20 at Chicago a few weeks ago. A missed two-point conversion at the end of the game cost me the cover. Here is what I said before kickoff: "The Bears have looked really good this season, coming into this weekend's home game against the Vikings with a 6-3 record, sitting first in the NFC North. The Vikings are hot on their heels, and at 5-3-1 they have navigated a much tougher schedule. Two of those three losses came against the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the league (Saints and Rams). Coming off a bye week, Minnesota is as healthy as it has been all year. Dalvin Cook is back, and he had over 100 yards from scrimmage in the win over Detroit. Minnesota has had success on the road, they are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games. The most significant number to me is ZERO! That's the number of wins Chicago has versus teams with a winning record this season. The Bears are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 versus teams with a winning record." The Bears have since won four of five games, including road wins at Detroit and San Francisco. This will be the Bears first road game against a team with a winning record. They have lost at Miami and at New York (Giants). It's hard to beat a team twice, and that is going to be especially true given what's at stake for the Vikings here.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on KC@SEA to go Under the total.

The Seahawks return home with a bitter taste in their mouth after losing in overtime at San Francisco. They might just get back on track against a Chiefs team that appears to be vulnerable. I bet against the Chiefs last week, and here is what I said prior to their loss to LA: "The Chiefs offense has been flying high all season, but they come into Thursday's home game against the Chargers a little banged up. They lost one of their most dangerous weapons when they released Kareem Hunt, and Spencer Ware has been pretty mediocre filling his place. Now they might not even have Ware or Sammy Watkins for this game, and if my memory serves me correctly I seem to recall Tyreek Hill limping off the field with a sprained ankle in overtime on Sunday." Patrick Mahomes gets a lot of attention with his "no look" passes, and the rest of his "hot dog" antics. He could be in for a rough ride here in a cold weather game in the Emerald City.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* (GOY) play on PIT@NO to go Under the total.

The Steelers got it done with their defense in a 17-10 home win over New England last week, keeping their playoff hopes alive. The Saints high flying offense has been grounded in recent weeks, losing to Dallas, scoring three points in the first half at Tampa, and then last week they trailed Carolina 7-6 at halftime. The bookmakers seem to be ignoring that here in this game with a total between 55-60. This is a big game for both teams, and both defenses are dialed in. I'll fade the inflated number.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LAC.

I bet on the Chargers on TNF last week, and they pulled off an amazing comeback to beat the Chiefs. Here is what I said prior to that game: "The Chargers defense has been solid all year, and they rank in the Top 10 in the league versus the pass, allowing just 225 yards per game. The Chargers have covered the spread in four straight road games, and the road team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven head to head meetings" The Ravens played the Chiefs a week earlier, and they lost in overtime by a score of 27-24. Lamar Jackson played well in Kansas City, throwing for 147 yards and two TDs on 13-of-24 passing. He had thrown three picks and just one TD pass in his previous three starts, and he had a mediocre game against a terrible Tampa Bay team last week. I don't think this rookie can keep his team in the game against Phillip Rivers and a Chargers defense that ranks among the best in the NFL. A healthy Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon will be a huge boost for the home team.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Panthers.

Most people still consider the Saints to be the best team in the NFL, but if there is one weakness it is Drew Brees on the road. A week after losing to Dallas, the Saints put up just three poins in the first half at Tampa Bay. They went on to rally for a win and cover in the second half of that game, but tonight they face a different monster. Cam Newton and Riverboat Ron are still alive in the playoff hunt, and they won't be an easy out here at home in Carolina.

Take CAR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* GOY play on the Vikings.

The Seahawks are rolling, coming into Monday's home game against the Vikings riding a three game winning streak. Two of those three wins came by just three points, and none of those games were against a team with a winning record. The Vikes are coming off a loss to the Patriots at Foxboro, and they really need to get back on track here in Seattle. Minnesota has won two of it's last three on the road, and the one loss came by just five points against the Bears. A missed two-point convert cost the Vikes the cover in that game. This should be a good game between two evenly matched teams, and I'll take the points with a desperate Minnesota team.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on WAS@PHI to go Over the total.

When I saw the total open at 43 for Monday's game between Washington and Philly, I assumed that bad weather must be in the forecast in the City of Brotherly Love. That's not the case though, and I think the bookmakers are overreacting to the injury to Alex Smith. The Redskins are still tied for first place in the division, and it's not like Alex Smith was lighting it up when they were winning games. Smith averaged 206 yards per game on 62.5 percent passing, averaging 6.6 yards per pass. McCoy has completed 60 percent of his passes, and has averaged 6.4 yards per pass. On Thanksgiving Day in Dallas, he threw for 268 yards and two TDs, but was picked off three times. He matches up against a Philly team that is very thin in the secondary, and I expect him to have some success moving the ball. These teams actually have a history of playing high scoring games, going over in four of the last five meetings, and four straight meetings in Philly. The total for this game is far lower than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings. I'll fade this low number.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@NO to go Over the total.

The Eagles will need to score plenty of points if they want to hang with the Saints at the Superdome on Sunday. That's even more true given all the injuries in the secondary for Philly. Carson Wentz might have some success against a Saints defense that was lit up for 391 yards by Jared Goff in a 45-35 win in their last home game. The Saints have scored 40+ in three of their four home games this season. These two teams have gone over the total in six of the last eight head to head meetings, and Philly won the last meeting by a score of 39-17. I expect the Eagles to score their share here in a shootout in the BIG EASY!

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The Rams bring an 8-0 record into the Super Dome, and this game has all the signs of a let down spot for an undefeated team. LA is actually a favorite against the 6-1 Saints, and that's a little shocking when you consider it's Jared Goff versus All Time Passing Leader Drew Brees. The Saints haven't just been winning, they have beaten the likes of Minnesota and Baltimore on the road during their six game winning streak. The Rams got off to a slow start in last week's home win over Green Bay, a game that could have easily gone the other way. Anybody who knows anything about betting the NFL, would know that almost every team is capable of having a bad game. There's only one team in NFL history to have a perfect season (72 Dolphins). Chances are that the Rams will lose a game, and this looks like the spot for exactly that to happen.

Take NO.

GL,

Jesse Schule.

This is a 10* play on NO@MIN to go Under the total.

The Vikings defense hasn't been as good this year as it was when they beat New Orleans 29-19 in Week 1 last year. They also won a thriller in the playoffs, winning on a walkoff TD by Stephan Diggs making it 29-24 (still less than 55 points). That game likely should have finished 24-23 if it wasn't for a miracle 61 yard play. New Orleans looks to be vastly improved on the defensive side of the ball this season, and I think this total appears grossly inflated.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on Denver.

The Broncos aren't rolling over for anybody at home in Mile High Stadium. We saw that two weeks ago when the Broncos held a 10-point advantage in the fourth quarter versus the Kansas City Chiefs. While Kansas City rallied to win that game, it was a lot closer than some might have expected. This week the Rams will travel to Denver, and they are asked to cover even more points than the Chiefs. The Rams have been impressive on offense, but they gave up 31 points to the Vikings and the Seahawks in each of their last two games. LA has yet to be punished for their poor play on defense, coming into Sunday's game with a 5-0 record and the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. This looks like a bit of a tricky spot though, and asking them to cover more than a TD seems a little overly optimistic. I'll take Denver plus the points.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cleveland Browns.  I had this game circled back in the beginning of the summer, and since then the money has really come in on the Browns. While it's been a long time since the Browns have actually won a game, they are expected to be a lot better here in 2018. Tyrod Taylor might not be your favorite quarterback, but he's a pretty solid bet as an underdog when you are looking to cover the points as a home dog. Taylor's biggest asset is his dependability, protecting the football and not making many costly mistakes. In a rivalry that has  seen three straight games decided by four points or less, an improved Browns team at home getting points is quite attractive. The Le'Veon Bell situation has gone from bad to worse, with members of the offensive line publicly blasting Bell for putting himself above the team. The Steelers have failed to cover in five of their last seven season openers, and I think they'll have their hands full here in Cleveland.  Take CLE.  GL,  

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Super Bowl to go OVER the total.

While neither of the Conference Championship games saw a combined total of as many as 48 points, both those games were played outdoors in adverse weather conditions in the dead of winter. The Super Bowl will be played indoors, where we last saw the Saints and Vikings tally a combined 53 points in the divisional round of the playoffs. Rather than each team coming in a week removed from their previous game, both teams get a full two weeks to rest, practice and draw up a game plan. The Patriots game plan in their epic come from behind win over the Jags, was to force Blake Bortles to beat them. While they did a pretty good job of containing Leonard Fournette (76 yards on 24 carries), Bortles had one if his best games all year, throwing for 291 yards and a TD on 23-of-36 passing. The Eagles let Nick Foles air it out early and often in their win over the Vikings. Foles threw for 352 yards and three TDs on 26-of-33 passing. He had a lot of success with big plays, and it makes sense for Philly to have the same approach here against the Pats. These two teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over in four of the last five head to head meetings. The Patriots have gone over the total in eight of their last 10 post season games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Vikings.

The New Orleans Saints hung on to beat the banged up Carolina Panthers last weekend, but they head out on the road to play at Minnesota this Sunday. The Vikings have the advantage of an additional week off to rest and prepare for the Saints. Drew Brees did all the heavy lifting last week, throwing for 376 yards with two TDs and an INT on 23-of-33 passing. The running game failed to gain any traction, and the Panthers held New Orleans to just 41 yards on 22 attempts. Things have changed since the Vikings beat the Saints by a score of 29-19 in Week 1, but the Vikings defense hasn't slipped up at all. Minnesota has held four of it's last five opponents to 10 points or less, and the Vikes rank first overall in total defense. A lot of people will talk about the quarterback matchup between Case Keenum and Drew Brees, and the knee jerk reaction is to say that the Saints have a huge advantage. Keenum hasn't played like a backup quarterback stepping in to be a game manager, he has a higher QBR than Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. The Vikings are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 home games versus a team with a winning road record, and I think their defense will make enough plays to get past the Saints here at home.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the New England Patriots.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have now won eight in a row, and they have narrowly avoided disaster in three straight weeks. Brett Hundley, Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco have lit up the Steelers defense for 28, 20 and 38 points in the last three weeks. Chris Boswell has kicked game winning field goals in the dying seconds in all three of those games. The New England Patriots are visiting Steel Town this week, and Tom Brady is a different animal than the previously mentioned mediocre signal callers. The Pats have owned the Steelers in recent years, winning four straight since 2013, all of those victories coming in games decided by at least seven points. They could be catching the Steelers at a good time, as they have been decimated by injuries to several key defenders. Leading tackler Ryan Shazier suffered a serious spinal cord injury in the win at Cincinnati. After clinching the AFC North with the come from behind win over Baltimore, this could be a let down spot for the Steelers. The Patriots are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games, while the Steelers have failed to cover in four of their last five when coming off a win.

Take NE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers have now won seven in a row, but four of their last five wins have come in games decided by less than a touchdown. Their come from behind win at Cincinnati on Monday night came at a significant cost. Leading tackler Ryan Shazier was carted off the field with a serious injury, and it was a particularly physical game, heading into a short week. The Ravens have won four of their last five, and the one loss during that span came by a field goal at Tennessee. Joe Flacco has been playing better of late, throwing for 269 yards and a pair of TDs on 23-of-36 passing in last week's win over the Lions. The Ravens have won two of their last three in Pittsburgh, with the one loss coming in a close game (31-27) last December. In fact four of the last five meetings between these teams have been decided by seven points or less. The Ravens have been a strong play in divisional matchups, covering in 10 of their last 12 versus AFC North opponents.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Chargers.

The Chargers have won three of their last four against the Cowboys, and two of those three wins came in Dallas. They catch the Boys at a good time, as Ezekiel Elliott is serving a suspension, and LT Tyron Smith and LB Sean Lee have missed the last two games. Lee won't play versus the Chargers, while Smith remains questionable, and is also likely to miss another game. Dak Prescott is finding life in the NFL a whole lot tougher without the security of Elliot running behind the best offensive line in football. He threw for just 145 yards and three INTs on 18-of-31 passing in the loss to the Eagles. The Chargers have won four of their last six games, and Philip Rivers is playing as well as he ever has. The veteran threw for 251 yards and a pair of TDs on 20-of-32 passing in the 54-24 win over the Bills last week. The Chargers defense ranks in the top 10 in the NFL against the pass, and they rank 3rd in the league in sacks. That's terrible news for Dak Prescott who has been sacked 12 times in the last two weeks. There are so many problems for Dallas to address, and just a few days between games. It seems like Mission Impossible for America's Team.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles are flying high after picking up Jay Ajayi from the Dolphins. The best team in the NFL got better, while the overrated Cowboys lost their star running back. It's not just the loss of Elliot, but their star left tackle and their best linebacker are also expected to miss this game. Ajayi was brilliant in his debut, running for 77 yards and a TD on just eight carries. Wentz has plenty of weapons to work with, while Dak will be expected to carry the load without much help. The Cowboys are a disaster waiting to happen, and I think their season goes up in smoke on Sunday night.

Take PHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NE@DEN to go OVER the total.

The Broncos defense used to be called the "no fly zone", but after giving up 51 points in a loss to the Eagles, that nick name is no longer appropriate. The Broncos host the Patriots this week, and with very little left to play for, I expect another half-hearted effort from the defense. The Patriots come in as winner of four straight, and they've played a lot better defense of late. This looks like it could be a tough game for New England to get up for, and the Pats have failed to cover in six of their last eight at Denver. History tells us to expect plenty of scoring when the Patriots are coming off a bye week, as the over is 6-1 in the last seven such situations. New England leads the NFL averaging 302 passing yards per game. As well as they've played defensively in recent weeks, they still rank below average allowing 22.4 points per game this season. I expect to see a high scoring game on Sunday night.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Lions.

The Lions have lost three straight, but I like their chances of getting back on track on Monday night in Green Bay. The Packers were getting by on smoke and mirrors and Aaron Rodgers magic, but since his injury the reality has set in. Green Bay tried to lean on it's running game in a home loss to New Orleans, and they might look to do the same here. The Lions are one of the best in the NFL when it comes to defending the run, ranking 5th in yards allowed per attempt. Brett Hundley has completed just 52 percent of his passes, with four INTs and just one touchdown pass since coming in to replace Aaron Rodgers. Detroit has an opportunistic defense that can really take advantage of rookie mistakes. Darius Slay and Glover Quinn each have three INTs, and they will be looking to add to those starts here in Green Bay. The Lions may have a losing record, but they should have scored a game winning TD that was controversially reversed against Atlanta, and the potential game winning drive against Pittsburgh stopped short on the five yard line last week against Pittsburgh. Mathew Stafford threw for over 400 yards against the Steelers #1 ranked pass defense, and he should have plenty of success against a banged up Packers defense.

Take DET.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both the Chiefs and the Texans won in dramatic fashion last week, but after blowing out Tennessee, Houston looks primed to suffer a let down. They face the league's only remaining undefeated team, led by the #1 ranked quarterback and the NFL's leading rusher. Despite impressive offensive performances against New England and Tennessee, Houston still has plenty of issues. Kansas City has won three of their last four versus the Texans, and two of those wins came at Houston. The Chiefs have covered the spread in five of their last seven at Houston, and the road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between the two teams. Kareem Hunt comes in averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and he's already scored six TDs in four games. He should have another big game here on the road at Houston.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Tennessee Titans.

My biggest play of Week 1 was on Oakland, and they won by double digits at Tennessee. The Titans played well in that game, they were just matched up against a tough opponent. They head out on the road this week, playing the Jags in Jacksonville. After upsetting Houston by a score of 29-7, some people think the Jags might be for real. Blake Bortles almost lost his job this pre-season, and he failed to impress throwing for just 125 yards with a TD and an INT on 11-of-21 passing in Week 1. Leonard Fournette ran for 100 yards, but averaged a rather pedestrian 3.8 yards per carry. In my opinion, the only thing we learned about Jacksonville in Week 1 was that if you turn the ball over four times, give up a pair of defensive/special teams TDs, they will probably beat you. The Titans offensive line held up, allowing Marcus Mariota to throw for 256 yards on 25-of-41 passing against Oakland. He was sacked just once, and ran for 26 yards and a TD on three carries. The Jags have failed to cover in four of their last five home games, and they are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 2. The Titans should roll here.

Take TEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NE@ATL to go UNDER the total.

When the Falcons played the Packers in the NFC Championship game, we saw the highest total in the history of the NFL Playoffs. We saw a lot less scoring than expected in the first half of that game, but both teams exploded to score 41 combined points in the second half. Here is what I said prior to that game: "In order for both teams to score 30+ points, everything has to go right offensively. There's plenty that can go wrong. An injury to a key offensive player (heaven forbid one of the quarterbacks). We could see several drives cut short by turnovers (fumbles or INTs). Or one or both teams could be heavily penalized. Offensive holding penalties, offensive pass interference, unsportsmanlike conduct etc." The Patriots defense ranks 1st in the NFL in points allowed, so we shouldn't expect Atlanta to score at will the way they did against the Packers. While I expect a high scoring game, this number is so inflated, I believe there's a good chance that these teams come up just a little short of the total.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule