The set-up: The Bengals run game is non-existent. Joe Mixon has been terrible. That puts added pressure onto Joe Burrow. The Eagles have also allowed six sacks and there's injury issues for the Bengals on the offensive line. Burrow has been great and he has decent receivers, it's just that the Bengals are entirely too one dimensional and Burrow simply doesn't have the experience yet to handle any of this.

The pick: Philadelphia is 0-2 ATS to open the season. Note: How NFL teams that start 0-2 ATS perform in Week 3:

Last 4 Seasons: 22-7 ATS (75.9%)

Last 10 Seasons: 47-28 ATS (62.7%)

This is a 10* PLAY-BOOK on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The set-up: Both teams are 2-0 SU, but Buffalo is 0-2 ATS. Here is a stat which this pick is primarily based upon:

How NFL teams that start 0-2 ATS perform in Week 3:

Last 4 Seasons: 22-7 ATS (75.9%)

Last 10 Seasons: 47-28 ATS (62.7%)

The pick: Additionally note that Buffalo is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a favorite, while the Rams are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight on the road when facing a team with a winning record. I think the Rams' inefficiences on the defensive end come back to haunt them here. Lay the points.

This is an 8* ATS SITUATIONAL DESTRUCTION on the Buffalo Bills.

The set-up: Miami is now 0-2 after a tough 31-28 setback at home to the Bills. The Dolphins looked good at times in that loss and pretty poor in others. Miami didn't look great in New England either in Week 1, losing 21-11. The Dolphins have the Seahawks at home next weekend, but they'll have to be careful to not look past this potentially dangerous Jaguars team, who I think will actually find a way to get the job done again here. Jacksonville is just 1-1 straight up, but it's so far 2-0 against the spread.  The Jags upset the Colts 27-20 at home in Week 1, before then falling 33-30 to Tennessee in Week 2. The Jags allowed four TD passes to Ryan Tannehill, but QB Gardner Minshew continues to be competitive each week. Last week Minshew was 30 of 45 for 339 yards, three TD's and two INT's. And with two straight difficult road games at Cinncinati and Houston respectively, this is a game which the lowly Jaguars would have had circled on their calendar before the season started as a "winnable" one. 

The pick: Miami's schedule is a difficult and I think it very well could have already thrown in the towel on the season. After the Seahawks at home next week it then has two on the road at San Francisco and Denver, followed by home games vs. the Chargers and Rams and then another road game at Arizona before then finally catching a break with back-to-back games vs. the Jets. Let's face it...neither of these teams is going to be in the playoffs, but I think that Minshew and the Jaguars are playing better through all three phases right now and despite no fans in the stands, I think they benefit greatly here in playing at home. The Jaguars are also 4-1 against the spread in their last five overall, while Miami is a pitiful 7-15 ATS in its last 22 on the road (and just 2-14 straight up in its last 16 away from friendly confines.)

This is a 10* BLOOD-BATH on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The set-up: I like Drew Brees and company to lay the hammer down in the new Las Vegas stadium. The Saints beat the Bucs 34-23 last weekend. Drew Brees had 180 yards passing and two TD's. TE Jared Cook had five receptions for 80 yards. The defense allowed 310 yards total, including 224 through the air. The Saints though sacked Tom Brady three times, while also posting two interceptions. The Raiders beat the Panthers on the road 34-30. Oakland posted 372 yards of offense, with Dereck Carr posting 239 yards and one TD. The Raiders though allowed 388 total yards of offense to a pretty terrible Carolina team. 

The pick: Note as well that the Raiders are just 16-34-1 ATS in their last 51 following a SU win and only 1-4 ATS in their last five after posting more than 350 total yards in their previous outing. The Saints though are 4-0 ATS in their last four as a favorite and I think their depth across all three phases will be too much for Carr and company to keep up to down the stretch. Lay the points.

This is a 10* ATS BLOOD-BATH on the New Orleans Saints.

The set-up: I think Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will love nothing more than an opportunity to run up the score and destroy Cam Newton and the Patriots on Sunday night. New England looked "ok" in its home win over the Dolphins, but its patchwork defense is going to be in trouble tonight. That said, there's no question that Newton and the Patriots' offense will have their opportunties tonight as well.

The pick: As note that the Hawks allowed 506 yards of offense to the Falcons last weekend and 25 points overall. Wilson had 322 yards passing and four TD's himself. This one has "over" written all over it!

This is a 10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the OVER Pats/Hawks.

The set-up: The Chiefs have had a few extra days off after they crushed the Texans on the Opening Thursday night and I don't think that's working in their favor. The Chiefs I think will also get caught "looking ahead" here to their big game at Baltimore next week. 

The pick: The Chargers did just enough to win a tough game vs. the Bengals in Week 1, but after the way Cincinnati played in Cleveland on Thursday in Week 2, it does make LA's defense look a lot better going into this matchup. And with a "cream puff" at home vs. Carolina next week, the Chargers are able to put their full focus onto their division rival. I think Tyrod Taylor controls this one while the Chargers are on offense and I love the home side to comfortably sneak in through the backdoor down the stretch.

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on the LA Chargers.

The set-up: The Titans are coming off a thrilling last second win on Monday Night Football in Denver, prevailing 16-14. The Titans failed to cover the spread and I think they're going to have a difficult time covering this large number as well. Jacksonville was a huge dog at home to Indianpolis, but Gardner Minshew and company ended up winning outright. Minshew is an interesting character and he'll be trying to make the most of every opportunity he's given. 

The pick: Tennessee was sloppy in its win last week and it also missed three field goals. RB Derrick Henry was pedestrian, as was QB Ryan Tannehill. And hanging your hat on the fact that the defense only allowed 14 points to a decimated Broncos' offense is nothing to be proud of in my opinion. The Jags aren't going to go down without a fight here and I look for them to comfortably sneak in through the back door as the game comes down the stretch. 

This is an 8* SUPER-BLOWOUT On the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The set-up: With Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford going head-to-head, some may think that this could be a very high-scoring affair, but I'm going to go the other way, as I expect these two division rivals to battle tough and I expect this total to fall "under" once it's all said and done. Detroit looked great for three quarters vs. the Bears last week, before then collapsing and allowing 21 unanswered points. I don't think that's going to happen twice. The Lions offense wasn't great, posting 23 points as Stafford had 297 passing yards and one TD. And again, through three quarters the defense looked great, before the "brain fart" in the fourth. 

The pick: The Packers dominated in their win last week, posting 43 points. Rodgers had 364 yards passing and four TD's. Minnesota's defense looked out of sorts last week though and I think Rodgers and the home side offense will have a much more diffiuclt time moving the ball vs. this highly motivated and focused Lions team. This number is a tad high. 

This is an 8* O/U PLAY-BOOK on the UNDER Lions/Packers.

The set-up: I think the Bears can build off their big fourth quarter last week. The Giants though looked inept vs. the Steelers in their 26-16 setback at home on Monday though and I think they'll struggle again here on the short week. QB Daniel Jones had 279 yards passing and two TD's. The defense allowed 229 passing yards and 113 rushing. 

The pick: The Bears overcame a 17 point second half deficit to get an impressive win in Detroit last SUnday. QB Mitch Trubisky had 242 passing yards and three TD's. Chicago allowed 288 yards passing, but I think the unit can improve at home here vs. Jones, who is down a few key pieces. Note as well that the Bears are 5-2 ATS in their last seven at home vs. teams with losing records, while New York is 0-6 ATS in its last six vs. clubs with winning records. Lay the points, expect a blowout!

This is a 10* NON-CONFERENCE DESTRUCTION on the Chicago Bears.

The set-up: Over-reaction after Week 1 is a major issue for casual bettors. The Browns got destroyed on the road in Baltimore in their first game of the year and the pundits are already out and ready to crucify them. The Bengals were put in a position to win my rookie QB Joe Burrow in their Week 1 loss to the Chargers, but a missed FG at the end of the game cost the team the OT chance. Granted, the Browns looked bad, but I'm not going to read too much into that performance, because even if Cleveland had been "firing on all cylinders," it wasn't likely going to win that game anyways. And the Browns knew that. In fact, I'd argue that they used it almost as a pre-season warm-up and I expect a much stronger performance from Baker Mayfield and company in Week 2. 

The pick: It's asking a lot of this young QB to now go on the road and try to win this "Battle of Ohio" vs. this desparate and veteran Browns club. I think Burrow is going to be in for a surprise tonight when he sees how difficult this Browns defense is on its home field. Additionally note that Cleveland is 7-2 ATS in its last nine after scoring six points or less and allowing 30 points or more in a loss in its last outing. Lay the points!

This is a 10* TOUCH-DOWN on the Cleveland Browns.

The set-up: Pittsburgh finished 8-8 last year after QB Ben Roethlisberger went down with injury in the second game. The Steelers have Big Ben back, but I think Pittsburgh still has many issues to address and resolve before I feel too comfortable in laying a large spread on the road, especially on Opening night. Granted, the Giants have more questions than answers as well, but I still think the pieces are in place for the home side to keep this one competitive. 

The pick: These teams averaged similar amount of points last year, but the Giants were a train-wreck defensively. New York picked up a few key pieces for the unit this year and I think it has a big opportunity here facing what should be a very "rusty" Roethlisberger. I like the dynamic offensive combination of QB Daniel Jones and RB Saquaon Barkley to at the very least, keep this one close enough for the home side to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. 

This is a 10* ATS BLOOD-BATH on the New York Giants.

The set-up: Tyrod Taylor starts as QB for the Chargers, while Joe Burrow will be under center for the Bengals. LA has issues with its offensive line, which doesn't look good for Taylor to start the season. The main back in LA is Austin Ekeler, who had 557 yards and three TD's last season. The Chargers' defense was its strength last year, but I think it'll have its hands full with this Bengals' offense which has something to prove in Week 1. 

The pick: AJ Green is back and ready to put on a show after an injury plagued 2019. RB Joe Mixon had 1,137 yards and five TD's last year. The defense finished ninth overall last year as well. Finally note that the Bengals are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven Week 1 contests, while the Chargers are a disappointing 1-5 ATS in their last six when playing the role of favorite. While the outright win isn't out of the question, I'll recommend to grab as many points as you can!

10* GAME OF THE MONTH on the Cinncinnati Bengals.

The set-up: The Ravens went 14-2 last year and they're one of the favorites to come out of the AFC this season. The Browns went 6-10, but they're expected to do a bit better thi syear. Cleveland has a new head coach though with a few new systems and I think that's going to translate into early struggles in this difficult road environment. I heard a lot of people suggest that the limited practice time heading up to the regular season would benefit the defenses, but I'll argue that veteran and well oiled offensive units can "flip the script" on that line of thinking and take advantage of defensive units which enter the season a step behind. Cleveland's strength last year was in fact its defense, but I think the unit is going to be in for a long day vs. Jackson and company. 

The pick: Baltimore is 4-1 ATS in its last five Week 1 games (the Browns are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 Week 1 games!), while Cleveland is 0-6 ATS in its last six on the road. Baltimore outscored its oppposition by an average of 15.5 points per game last year and all signs point to a similar "rocking chair" victory for it in Week 1 as well. Lay the points.

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on the Baltimore Ravens.

The set-up: I like the Packers offense, but "chemistry" is going to be an issue early on for both teams in my opinion. The Packers offense is a well oiled machine and I think it can calmly control the pace of this contest vs. the Vikings' defense, which has many new faces. Expect to see a heavy dose of Dalvin Cook for the home side, who had 1,135 yards and 13 TD's last year. 

The pick: Note that the "under" has hit in 15 of Minnesota's last 23 at home and in its last five at home vs. the Packers, while Green Bay has seen the total go "under" the number in seven of its last ten overall dating back to last season. I expect a highly competitve football game, but one which falls well below the number once it's all said and done.

This is a 10* TOTAL DESTRUCTION on the UNDER Packers/Vikings.

The set-up: The Texans are sizeable underdogs on Thursday night, but I think the visitors will be able to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. These two teams played twice last year. The Texans won 31-24 as a 3.5 point underdog in the first game, while the they lost 51-31 in the second (after having a 24-0 lead in the first half!) Houston went 10-6 last year and it now has a new head coach in Bill O'Brien. DeShaun Watson is gone, which is obviously a blow to the offense, but with DeShaun Watson under center and with David Johnson in the backfield and playing with a chip on his shoulder, Houston has a strong foundation to work with on the offensive side of the ball. Note Randall Cobb will have plenty of opportunity this season to fill the void left by Watson. Houston welcomes back defensive juggernaut JJ Watt, who is now fully recovered from his injury which saw him miss eight games last year. 

The pick: The Chiefs went 12-4 last year en route to the Super Bowl victory. KC is once again favored to win the Super Bowl this year, but after going over it's team O/U total for seven straight years and with a target on its back each and every week and with the most difficult schedule it's faced in a decade, I think that regression is imminent. Winning makes you complacent. Does Patrick Mahomes have the drive and determination that he had before he won the Super Bowl and the biggest contract in sports history? That remains to be seen. I think Houston is filled with talent that won't be rolling over on the national stage. Outright victory? I'm not calling for it, but everything to me points to this one coming right down to the wire.

This is a 10* BLOCKBUSTER on the Houston Texans.

The set-up: The Packers jumped out to an early lead vs. the Seahawks in the Divisional Round and then had to hold on for dear life for the victory. Green Bay took the foot off the gas, but it won't have that luxury this weekend in hostile territory. The Packers lost to the 49ers in the regular season, but I believe Aaron Rodgers and company have much more than just a "punchers chance" at winning this one outright. The 49ers beat the Vikings 27-10 last weekend. San Francisco has the home field advantage and the slightly better defense, but Green Bay still has the clear advantage at the QB position in my opinion. Jimmy Garropolo is putting together a great season, but would anyone out there claim that he's solely responsible for getting his team to this point? Rodgers' vast experience gives the Packers the upper-hand at the QB position in my opinion. 

The pick: Note as well that Green Bay is already 3-1 ATS as an underdog thi syear, while San Fran is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight after two or more straight wins vs. the spread, including only 1-3 ATS this season. Grab the points, expect a battle until the final moments.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Packers.

The set-up: The Titans have been giant killers in the second half of the season. Certainly that's been the case in the Playoffs so far as well, knocking off both the Patriots and the Ravens. The Chiefs mounted an incredible come from behind blowout victory over Texans last weekend, but at one point there was considerable panic from all KC fans. Yes, Patrick Mahomes and this Chiefs offense is scary. But the Titans counter that with great defensive play and by running the ball a lot while their offense, behind the bruising play of RB Derrick Henry. 

The pick: In fact, Tennessee exposed the Chiefs' weaknesses already this year with a 35-32 win in the regular season, as Henry went for 188 yards and two TD's on 23 carries. The Titans are excuting at a very high level and they haven't been "beating themselves." It's KC that's going to have to play another perfect game here if it wants to pull off another blowout win and I don't see that happening. I believe we're going to see a battle until the final moments, a "chess match" instead of a "track meet." Note as well that Tennessee has seen the total go under the number in four of its last five as a road dog, while KC has seen the total dip under in both games that it's played in after scoring 40 points or more in its last game. This number is too high.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the UNDER Titans/Chiefs.

The set-up: Is Russel Wilson a "better" QB than Aaron Rodgers right now? Probably. But not by much. Wilson managed to get the most out of his injured team and they took advantage of the fact that Philly' QB Carson Wentz got knocked out early with an injury. The Hawks looked tired now in my opinion. Note that last week they committed 11 penalties for 114 yards. WR DK Metcalf was a bright spot though with 160 receiving yards. I like Rodgers here at home and with a week off to prepare. The Green Bay furture Hall of Famer isn't the same player he used to be, but this is a spot in which I think he can take full advantage of. Note that Green Bay was sixth in red zone efficiency this year.

The pick: Additionally note that the Packers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight vs. teams with winning records and 5-1 ATS in their last six playoff contests, while the Hawks are just 2-6 ATS in its last eight games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game. When you add it all up, I think this one has blowout from start to finish written all over it. Lay the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Green Bay Packers.

The set-up: Houston advanced after beating the Bills 22-19 last weekend. The Texans looked down and out in that one early with a 16-0 deficit, but the team turned up the pressure on the defensive side and then Deshaun Watson and the offense managed to get the job done. Watson had 247 passing yards and one TD. Clearly the last thing the Texans can do is turn this into a "track meet" and expect to hang with Patrick Mahomes and company. Note that Kansas City’s rush defense ranked sixth in the league over the last three games of the season, allowing 87 rush yards per game. KC's pass defense was also No. 8 overall in the NFL this season. 

The pick: It's supposed to be cold and windy today, so with each team putting an added emphasis on establishing the run game and also taking into account the improved play on the defensive end from each team, I think this afternoon's contest sets up as a lower-scoring battle. Play the under.

10* TOTAL OF THE YEAR on the UNDER Texans/Chiefs.

The set-up: I like Tennessee to keep this one closer than expected. Derrick Henry is a beast and behind the improved play of QB Ryan Tannehill, the Titans won a very tricky game at Foxborough last weekend. Beating Bill Bellichick on his own field and after such a tragic loss in Week 17 as well is very impressive in my books. The Titans are playing really good football right now in all three phases. They won't be intimidated whatsoever after posting the Playoff win in New England vs. the defending champs either. And will "rest" lead to "rust" for LaMar Jackson and company? Jackson will have to carry the load here with a minor injury to RB Mark Ingram. This is significant in my opinion. 

The pick: Tennessee is a sharp 6-3 ATS in its last nine road games and 9-4 ATS in its last 13 as an underdog in the 3.5 to 9.5 points range, while Baltimore is a poor 3-6 ATS in its last nine as a home favorite in the 7 to 14 points range, including 0-2 ATS this season. I'm not calling for an outright, but all signs point to this one once again coming down to the wire.

10* PLAYOFF GAME OF THE YEAR on the Tennessee Titans.

The set-up: The Eagles finished 9-7, while the Hawks ended up 11-5. Seattle almost knocked off the 49ers at home in Week 17, but it just wasn't to be. The Eagles had to sweep their final four games to punch their ticket, including a win over the Giants in Week 17. The Hawks will be without the services of WR Jaron Brown, who suffered a torn MCL in the loss to San Fran. That's going to put added pressure on QB Russell Wilson to carry the load and manage the game today. He'll also be leaning heavily on his run game, as Marshawn Lynch looked stronger as the game progressed in his first action in a while vs. the 49ers. The Eagles are also dealing with injury to RB Miles Sanders, who is listed as questionable here. Carson Wentz may have TE Zach Ertz back in the line-up today, but like his counterpart, the veteran pivot will have to shoulder the responsibility today if his team is going to win this one. Both teams are going to rely on their run game to alleviate that pressure from their QB's though. Each is banged up on the offensive side as well. Ultimately though I feel that Wilson's experience and the Seahawks depth across the board will win the day between these two injured teams. 

The pick: Additionally note that Seattle is 4-1 ATS in its last five on the road and 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road favorite, while Philly is only 3-4 ATS at home this season and just 3-4 ATS when playing the role of underdog. For all the reasons listed above, I'm backing Seattle.

10* GAME OF THE MONTH on the Seahawks.

The set-up: The Saints have home field advantage and they have a chance to avenge the 2018 Minneapolis Miracle, in which the Vikes beat New Orleans on a 61 yard TD to send them to the Conference Championship game as time expired. Dalvin Cook is expected back for the Vikes, but after taking a whole month off with injury, I believe he'll be inconsequential this evening. Kirk Cousins has a 26:6 TD:INT, but I believe he'll have difficulties keeping pace with Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and the rest of the high-flying Saints this evening. 

The pick: New Orleans steam rolled Carolina 42-10 last weekend and I believe it carries that offensive and defensive momentum over into the Wild Card. Brees missed several games with injury and still finished with 27 TD's. Additionally note that Minnesota is already a poor 1-3 ATS as a road dog this year, while New Orleans is 7-3 ATS in its last ten as a favorite. I expect at least a ten point victory here, so lay the points.

8* DESTRUCTION on the Saints.

The set-up: Tom Brady and the Patriots have been terrible offensively over the last month or so, but they have a big opportunity to turn things around in the Wild Card. Do I think that Tennessee has a chance to steal this game in Foxborough? Of course I do, just look at what Miami did last weekend. The Patriots defense looks bad and so does it offense. The Titans won't be waiting for the home side to make the first mistake. They'll be looking to get an early score and then to keep the foot on the gas from start to finish. New England isn't going to win another Super Bowl either if it can't get its offense producing. From a situational stand point, I think this one definitely sets up as a higher-scoring shootout. 

The pick: But note as well that the Titans have seen the total go over the number in eight of their last 12 as an underdog int he 3.5 to 9.5 points range (including in three of four this year,) while the Pats have seen the total go over in three of their last four following a SU home loss. Look for this total to creep over this low number sooner, rather than later.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the OVER Titans/Pats.

The set-up: The winner of this game will win the NFC West. Forget that the Seahawks have "Beast Mode" as their RB now. Forget about what each team has done to this point, and please just look at these stats below, as they are what I'm basing my pick on entirely:

Seahawks in primetime:

16-4-2 ATS L22 at home

14-4-1 ATS L19 divisional games

14-2 ATS L16 as an underdog

Seahawks as a home underdog:

9-0 ATS L9 

Seahawks after an ATS loss:

9-1-1 ATS

The pick: 10* ELITE OF THE ELITE on the Seattle Seahawks.

The set-up: The 4-11 Miami Dolphins are at New England to take on the 12-3 Patriots. Miami and Ryan Fitzpatrick will be out to play spoiler here, so expect the visitors to open up the playbook from start to finish on offense (Fitzpatrick had four TD's in last week's 38-35 win over the Bengals.) The Patriots destroyed the Fish 43-0 in Week 2 and I believe that Tom Brady and company will be looking to end the season on a high-note as well. Brady has been shaky over the last month and the Pats just 4-3 SU their last seven. With one last chance for a tune-up, I think Brady puts on an exhibition today. 

The pick: Miami has seen the total go over in four of five in trying to revenge a loss vs. an opponent already this season, while NE has seen the total soar over in three of its last four as a home favorite in the 14.5 to 21 points range. Considering the situational and trend based factors listed above, I absolutely believe that this number is low.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the OVER Miami/New England.

The set-up: Both teams are headed to the playoffs, but each is fighting for a better spot. In a game which I see being decided by whichever of these hungry sides has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to grab the points. Green Bay beat Minnesota 21-16 at home and I do indeed feel that another outright victory isn't out of the question here either. Green Bay beat the Bears 21-13 last weekend and with a victory here it can wrap up the division crown. Look for veteran QB Aaron Rodgers to continue his brilliant season, so far he has 24 TD's and just two INT's. Also RB Aaron Jones had two TD's last weekend. 

The pick: The Vikes have won eight of their last ten, led by the great play of QB Kirk Cousins, who has 25 TD's and only five INT's. Also note, Minnesota is now already in the playoffs, having clinched after the Rams last outright to the 49ers yesterday. Finally note that Minnesota is just 2-11 ATS in its last 13 MNF contests, while GB is 6-1 ATS in its last seven vs. teams with winning records. Grab the points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Green Bay Packers.

The set-up: The Chiefs have a lot to play for, as while they've clinched the division, they're still gunning for home field advantage. The Bears are 7-7 and have fallen out of playoff contention. Is the thought of playing "spoiler" here an actual factor we can take into consideration? I don't think so. The Bears are out and now they face a non-conference power house. Yes Mitchell Trubisky has something to prove, but I don't think his slightly improved play of late is going to be enough here. 

The pick: The Chiefs have rebounded from a tough stretch and they're looking sharp on both sides of the ball, averaging 28.1 PPG, while the defense has recorded 14 INT's and 39 sacks this season. Additionally note that Chicago is just 1-4 ATS in its last five vs. teams with winning records, while KC is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a favorite. I'm laying the points and expecting a complete lop-sided destruction.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the KC Chiefs.

The set-up: The Cards destroyed the Browns 38-24 last weekend, their first victory in months. Suffice it to say, I think they'll have a more difficult time moving the ball this afternoon in the frigid Pacific Northwest. Expect to see a heavy dose of RB Kenyan Drake again here though as last weekend he rushed for 137 yards and four TD's vs. the Browns. With San Francisco's loss to Atlanta last weekend (although it managed the slim victory over the Rams), means that Seattle controls its own destiny in the NFC West. QB Russell Wilson has been the beneficiary of a strong run game this year and I expect the home side to control the ball/clock while on offense today as well. 

The pick: It works great from a situational stand point in my opinion, but also note that the Hawks have seen the total go under the number in seven of their last ten after scoring 30 points or more in their previous contest, while the Cards have seen the total go under in four of their last five off an upset win as an underdog. This number is a tad high.

10* TOTAL ELITE OF THE ELITE on the UNDER Cards/Hawks.

The set-up: I'm expecting a hard-fought, but ultimatley lower-scoring game between these NFC rivals on Saturday night. The 49ers have a playoff spot locked up, but they're coming off a poor perfomance/loss at home to the Falcons. LA has its back against the wall, needing to win out after it most recently got dominated on the road by the Cowboys. The strength of LA though has not been on the offensive side of the ball this season, with QB Jared Goff taking a major step back, but rather on the defensive end where the unit has allowed 17 points or fewer in six of the last eight games. San Francisco has been unbelievable this year, winning big in New Orleans, but also looking poor at other times. The defense is banged up, but I think that Jimmy Garropolo and company won't try to push the issue here, as they look to sit back and control this one in all three phases. Situationally in my opinion, it definitely sets up as a lower-scoring affair. 

The pick: But note as well that LA has seen the total go under the number in three of four vs. division opponents already this year, while San Francisco has seen the total dip below the posted number in six of its last eight following a home loss. This number is a tad high in my opinion.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the Rams/49ers UNDER.

The set-up: Buffalo's won ten games for the first time in more than 20 years and it's headed back to the playoffs. The Patriots have also already clinched. Each team though is still jockeying for better playoff positioning. The Bills' young QB Josh Allen has made significant strides since the first time he faced New England earlier in the year and I believe he has a legitimate shot at avenging that setback. Note that when they played Tom Brady the first time, they kept the hall of fame QB in check by allowing him only 150 yards on 39 attempts. The Bills have been tremendous at home, but they come in the under radar here afte rgoing 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight away from friendly confines.

The pick: New England has an 11-3 record, but Brady looks a step behind (he's thrown for less than 190 yards in three of his past four games.) The defense has looked shaky at times over the last month as well. Additionally note that the Bills are 4-1 ATS in their last five in revenging a close loss by seven points or less to an opponent, while NE is just 1-5 ATS this season vs. teams with winning records. I'm grabbing the points.

10* BLOOD-BATH on Buffalo.

The set-up: The 6-7 Indianapolis Colts can keep their wild card hopes alive with an improbable upset win today. How will Indy pull that off? Certainly not by trying to keep pace with Drew Brees and the high-flying home side. The Colts have lost four of five, but they'll be laying everything on the line tonight in an effort to pull off the victory. The offense is still without dynamic WR T.Y. Hilton. Indy has to play to its strengths here, with plenty of running and short dump passes by Jacoby Brissett. Of course, the strength of the Colts still lies on the defensive end. 

The pick: The Saints threw everything they had at the 49ers last week, but New Orleans came up on the short end of a high-scoring shootout. New Orleans' defense was exposed by the 49ers, but clearly the unit catches a break today facing the Colts much more conservative offensive game-style. Note as well that Indy has already seen the total go under the number in 11 of its last 14 vs. teams with winning records and in six of its last seven after three or more consecutive losses, while New Orleans has seen the total dip below the number in five of its last six after scoring 25 points or more in three straight games. This number is high.

10* SUPER TOTAL on the UNDER Colts/Saints.

The set-up: The Bills three-game win streak ended with a 24-17 loss at home to the Ravens. Buffalo is seeking its tenth win of the year for the first time since 1999, but the Bills will have their hands full with this Steelers team which enters having won three straight. Last week the Steelers got the job done vs. the Cards by running hte ball for 141 yards by committee. Pittsburgh also held Arizona to just 240 yards of offense. The Bills love slowing things down though and wearning out teams. Buffalo only averages 21.3 PPG, but it only allows 16.3. QB Josh Allen has 17 passing TD's and eight rushing. 

The pick: Note that the Bills have seen the total dip under the number in all six games they've played in as an underdog, while Pittsburgh has een the total go under in three of four as a home favorite this season. I'm banking on a classic hard-nosed, lower-scoring defensive battle. Play the under.

10* TOTAL ELITE OF THE ELITE on the UNDER Bills/Steelers.

The set-up: The Rams are 8-5 and they enter this one having won two straight. The Cowboys have lost two straight and they're now in a tie with the Eagles for the NFC East lead at 6-7. Jared Goff has looked better for the Rams over his last two games, thanks in large part to the improved play of RB Todd Gurley. But it's now do or die for the Cowboys, who come in actually having lost seven of their last ten. 

The pick: But despite that, Dallas is still in a tie for the NFC East lead heading into Week 15 with the Eagles. I think Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliot can match pace with their counterparts today. I think Dallas has the better defense and I believe it'll be the more "desperate/hungry" side as well. Additionally note that LA is a poor 8-12 ATS in its last 20 after scoring 25 points or more in two straight games, while Dallas is 6-1 ATS in its last seven after having lost three out of its last four SU. Look for the Cowboys to finally get back on track and expect the Rams to finally take a step back.

8* SUPER SPECIAL on the Dallas Cowboys.

The set-up: Denver still has a mathematical shot at making the playoffs, but it has to win out and also get some outside help. It's obviously never going to happen, but I love playing on highly motivated teams and clearly the visiting side fits that bill here. The Chiefs on the other hand have already clinched the division, so a minor letdown here mentally is definitely in the cards as well in my opinion. Denver comes to town on a role as well after two straight wins, most recently steam-rolling the Texans 38-24 on the road. Rookie QB Drew Lock had 300 yards vs. the Texans last week and the Chiefs' secondary is a lot worse. 

The pick: Clearly it won't be a cake walk, as KC enters having won three straight. With a tough road game in Chicago next week, KC could be caught looking past its opponent this afternoon as well. Finally note that the Broncos are 6-1 ATS in their last seven as an underdog in the 3.5 to 9.5 points range, while KC is 0-3 ATS in its last three as a home favorite of 7.5 to ten points. I'm banking the Broncos fighting tooth and nail and because of that, I'm grabbing the points.

10* GAME OF THE MONTH on the Denver Broncos.

The set-up: Eli Manning is back under center for the Giants, who enter at 2-10 and nothing to play for. Manning is purely playing for pride, but I think the future hall of famer is going to predictably struggle in this difficult road venue. The Eagles are on the ropes and need to basically "win out" the remainder of the season and get outside help to play the playoffs (5-7). Eagles' QB Carson Wentz has 20 TD's and seven INT's, but he's also been sacked 30 times. New York has 26 sacks. Philly only allows 91 rushing yards per game though, so the Giants' already one-dimensional offense is going to become even more so on the National Stage. From a situational stand point, this one definitely sets up as a lower-scoring affair in my opinion. 

The pick: Additionally note that New York has seen the total dip under in three of its last four as a road dog in the 7.5 to ten points range, while Philadelphia has seen the total go under in 11 of its last 17 as a home favorite, including in two of three this season. This number is a tad high.

10* TOTAL COACH'S CORNER on the UNDER Giants/Eagles.

The set-up: Every season for the last decade or so, the Patriots will lose a couple of games and all of the pundits come out and say that Tom Brady has lost a step, or he doesn't have a good enough defense or enough weapons around him. New England has for the most part amassed its 10-2 record because of its hard-nosed defensive play, but a lot of that is due to the level of competition its faced. Brady and the offense have struggled a lot this season, including in last week's 28-22 loss to the Texans. The Chiefs have re-found their footing and enter having won two in a row, most recently destroying the Raiders 40-9. 

The pick: Unlike Brady, Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes continues to excel, so far he has almost 3,000 yards passing to go along with 20 TD's to just two INT's. New England's offense has failed to score more than 22 points in each of its last three games, so the revenge-minded Chiefs offense definitely catches a break in the second matchup. KC is also 5-1 ATS in its last six as a road dog, while NE is already 0-2 ATS this year in all contests when the line is set between +3 and -3. Bank on Mahomes finally getting over the hump here and for the Patriots to also finally get exposed for their ineffeciencies on both sides of the ball. That said, grab the points.

9* PLAY-BOOK on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The set-up: I have the Bills at 5.5. Whether you have 5, 5.5 or 6, I love this play. So far the Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have passed almost every test this year, but I think they're in trouble here this weekend vs. this under the radar Bills team which continues to get little respect from the oddsmakers. The Ravens have a "cream puff" at home vs. the Jets next weekend, followed by games vs. the Browns and then at home vs. the Steelers. Both teams have superb defenses, so I'm calling that area a "wash." Jackson have been phenomenal, but Bills' QB Josh Allen has gotten progressively better each week as well and he's been particularly sharp over the last month. 

The pick: The road ahead though is not quite as "easy" for the Bills, who have back-to-back road games at Pittsburgh and New England. Neither of those games are going to be "easy." This game isn't going to be "easy" either, but Buffalo clearly has to be looking at this contest as a "must win" game. In fact, I'm banking on it! Of course Jackson and company really "want" to win this one, but would anyone fault the second year pro and Baltimore for finally having a "letdown" here and looking ahead to that much more winnable game at home next week? Baltimore managed the SU win over the 49ers last weekend, but not ATS. I think it stumbles here as well (additionally note that Baltimore is just 8-10 ATS in its last 18 after one more loss vs. the spread, including 1-3 ATS this season, while Buffalo is already a perfect 4-0 ATS this year as an underdog.) The bottom line is that I think the Ravens do indeed finally have their letdown, while I expect Buffalo to risk life and limb in front of the home town crowd. While the outright is possible, in the end let's grab the points.

10* GAME OF THE YEAR on the Buffalo Bills.

The set-up: So why should we expect a "shootout" on the short week? Chicago isn't known for its offensive prowess and Dallas has been inconsistent on that side of the ball all year as well. Despite that though I think this number is low, as I expect these two still playoff hopeful sides to not sit back and wait for the other to make the first mistake. Instead, I look for each to attack from start to finish. Chicago picked up a huge win over Detroit last week and at 6-6 its stil alive in the NFC playoff race. And for Dallas, it comes in off a putrid performance at home vs. the Bills and another loss here will be a major setback. At 6-6 the Cowboys still have a one game lead in the NFC East. 

The pick: Note as well that the Cowboys have already seen the total go over the number in four of five as a road favorite this year, while the Bears have seen the total eclipse the posted number in their last three off a no-cover where the team won as a favorite. These starting QB's have something to prove and if not now...when? Look for this one to go over sooner, rather than later.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the OVER Boys/Bears.

The set-up: Seattle owns an 11-5 edge the last 16 in this series, including having won five straight. Clearly Minnesota has revenge on its mind. The Vikes come out of their bye in need of a win with a difficult schedule ahead. Minnesota will look to grind this one out in my opinion, as the Hawks allow 101.5 rushing yards per game and Vikes' RB Dalvin Cook already had 1,017 rushing yards and 11 TD's on the ground, along with another 455 receiving yards. 

The pick: Seattle will have seen the 49ers lose last night, so a victory here keeps it in pace for the conference title as well. The Hawks face a difficult task vs. a Vikings' defense which concedes only 94.2 RYPG. Note that the Vikes have seen the total go under in seven of their last ten as a road dog, while the Hawks have seen it dip below the posted number in four of their last five after four or more straight SU victories. Two great offenses, but the situation and numbers both point to a lower-scoring defensive battle. Play the under.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the UNDER Vikes/Hawks.

The set-up: The Texans are in a dog fight in the AFC South, while at 10-1 the Patriots are well on their way to defending their Super Bowl title once again. Houston comes in off a crucial win over the Colts and I think DeShaun Watson can put the pressure on Pats' QB Tom Brady, who has looked poor over the last month. Overall Brady has averaged only 5.1 yards per attempt passing. The Patriots are going to need Brady to step up here though, as several key players on the defensive side are dealing with a flu bug this week. 

The pick: Brady faces a Texans' secondary which has been ravaged by injury though, so this sets up well for the veteran to bounce back. Watson and the Texans though will smell the blood in the water and I expect the home side to come out firing here as well. Neither side has played to many high-scoring affairs this year, but I believe the overall situation that each finds itself in coming into this contest has this one looking like a "shootout," instead of a "chess match." Play the over.

10* TOTAL PLAYBOOK on the OVER Patriots/Texans.

The set-up: San Francisco is 10-1 and the Ravens are 9-2. Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson has been unbelievable, but I think the second year pro will have a difficult time today vs. the 49ers top ranked defense. Jimmy Garropolo and the 49ers come in off a complete game destruction of the Packers. 

The pick: The Ravens have looked fantastic, but I think they'll have a real fight on their hands here. San Francisco matches up extremely well with Baltimore and Kyle Shannahan has made all the right calls in the early going as head coach (note as well that SF is already 2-0 ATS this season as a road dog, while Baltimore is just 1-3 ATS as a home favorite. In a contest which I envision coming down to whichever of these talented teams has its hands on the ball last, I'm grabbing the points.

10* GAME OF THE MONTH on the San Fran 49ers.

The set-up: Normally the Saints like to dominate teams by running them off the field with their fast paced offense, but I don't think they'll run up the score here on the short week. The Falcons have major issues across the board and New Orleans is going to be able to sit back and control this one and look for the host to make the first mistake. The Saints held on for a crucial 34-31 win over Carolina last weekend and they're in the drivers seat for the No. 2 spot in the NFC. The Falcons are out of contention and come in off a 35-22 loss to the Bucs last weekend. 

The pick: Note that the Saints have seen the total go under the number in 12 of their last 17 after a home victory, while ATL has seen the total dip below in four of five at home already this season. On the short week and on Thanksgiving night, expect these defenses to be the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries.

10* play on the UNDER Saints/Falcons.

The set-up: Dallas just lost in crushing fashion to the Patriots, while the Bills enter having won three of four. Dallas is 6-5 and Buffalo is 8-3. The Bills domianted the Broncos 20-3 last weekend. Buffalo QB Josh Allen has gotten significantly better in my opinion over the last few weeks and combined with veteran RB Frank Gore, the Bills' offense is underrated. Their defense though is ranked among the best in the league, allowing only 288.6 YPG. 

The pick: The Cowboys are loaded with talent as well and while this is definitely a huge game for the team, I think they'll be pushed to the brinking once again. Note that Buffalo is already 4-0 ATS on the road this year and 2-0 ATS as a dog, while Dallas is just 4-5 ATS in its last nine after allowing 14 points or less, including only 1-2 ATS this season. Grab the points.

10* play on the Buffalo Bills.

The set-up: Chicago got the better of Detroit 23-16 last year. You'll often hear players that have to play on Thanksgiving that they "take it differently" or it means more etc. Despite their win/loss record of just 3-7, the Lions have a chance to knock the Bears out of playoff contention with a victory today. Detroit's also out to avenge a 23-16 loss last November and a 20-13 road setback in Chicago on November 10th. The Bears clearly won't be going down without a fight after they clawed their way to an ugly 19-14 win over the Giants at home last weekend. 

The pick: Whether the Lions go with Jeff Driskell or David Blough, the game-plan will be the same; throw the ball early and often. The Lions rely on their passing game to generate offense, averaging 289.5 receiving yards per game. There doesn't have to be much scoring for this total to over the number. The Bears' Trubisky has already beaten Detroit this year and I think he also pushes the pace. This one has "over" written all over it.

8* play on the OVER Bears/Lions.

The set-up: The Ravens have a firm grip on the AFC North at 8-2. Baltimore comes in having won five straight, but I think it'll have its hands full with this desperate home side, which must now win tonight after both Seattle and San Francisco prevailed. The Rams made it to the Super Bowl last year, but if they don't win this game tonight, then they won't have the opportunity to try and do it again. 

The pick: LA only allows 89 rushing yards per game and the Ravens count on RB Mark Ingram to open things up for Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson. Jackson's been having a great year, but note that he's been sacked 18 times this year and LA already has 29 sacks under its belt. LA has actually won three of its last five, most recently a 17-7 victory over Chicago. Note as well that the Rams are 7-3 ATS in their last ten following a SU victory, while Baltimore is a poor 12-16 ATS in its last 28 as a favorite. In a game which comes down to the wire, let's grab the points.

10* BLOOD-BATH on the Rams.

The set-up: New England is 9-1, while the Cowboys are 6-4. This is a season-defining game for Dallas and I think it'll find a way to pull off the outright upset. New England's defense has been great, but the offense has been poor. Tom Brady looks as if he's definitely lost a step this year and facing this aggressive Cowboys' defense, I think he and his line will get exposed here. I'll also argue that the Patriots' opponents have been sub-par so far to open the season, so their defensive numbers are skewed in my opinion. 

The pick: The Dallas defense is ranked seventh in the NFL and I look for it to be a difference maker today. I also like Dak Prescott to push the pace and to get the better of Tom Brady. In my opinion, the stage is set for a big upset. 

8* play on the Cowboys on the MONEY LINE.

The set-up: The Browns faced some stiff competition over the first half of the season, but they remain in the playoff picture after last week's win over the Steelers. Cleveland will now look to take advantage of a Dolphins team which has struggled on the road this year. The Fish are 2-8 overall, most recently getting crushed 37-20 at home by the Bills. Dolphins' QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has some arm injuries coming into this one. He's been sacked 24 times this year and the Browns have posted 30 sacks this season. 

The pick: The Browns have won two in a row, and while they'll be without Myles Garrett on the defensive side of the ball, the good news is that the Browns are healthier now than they've ever been before. OBJ is primed for a big game here in my opinion, as I look for Baker Mayfield and company to push the pace from start to finish. Note as well that Miami is just 7-12 ATS in its last 19 as a road dog, while Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last five off a home victory. Lay the points, expect a blowout!

8* play on the Cleveland Browns.

The set-up: In the past this feels like a spot in which the Raiders would classically "crap the bed." But I think this Raiders team is "different" this season. Oakland has EVERYTHING to play for here, now tied with the Chiefs for the AFC West lead after handling the Bengals last weekend. Oakland's defense has been stout and it'll be out to get after Jets' QB Sam Darnold, whose offensive line is ranked 26th in the league. RB Josh Jacobs is a question mark for Oakland, but look for QB Derek Carr to take advantage of this Jets' secondary which allows over 270 passing yards per game. 

The pick: Darnold doesn't have a lot to work with and his offensive line is atrocious. Additionally note that the Jets are just 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight vs. the AFC, while Oakland is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 after one or more straight loss vs. the spread. No upsets here, expect a decisive win and cover.

8* play on the Raiders.

The set-up: The Steelers are coming off a loss to the Browns. Pittsburgh's season is on the line here and while the 0-10 Bengals may not win this one outright, I do think the home side catches the right team at the right time to pull out its first victory. Pittsburgh is better than Cincinnati in two of three phases, but I certainly think that its QB Mason Rudolph is a major liability. Last week Rudolph threw four INT's. Also note that Pittsburgh is dealin with injuries to JuJu Smith-Schuster and RB James Conner. And to make matters worse, the Steelers lost center Maurkice Pouncey after last week's brawl with the Browns. Pittsburgh has had to deal with plenty of off-field distractions this week and I believe all of these add up to a major "letdown" here this weekend. 

The pick: Joe Mixon and the Bengals won't be going down without a fight today. Note as well that the Bengals are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five after scoring 14 points or less in two straight games, while the Steelers are only 3-7 ATS in their last ten as a road favorite. For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

10* DESTRUCTION on the Cincinnati Bengals.

The set-up: The Colts come in off a win over the Jaguars, but I think they'll struggle here vs. a Houston team which enters off a loss to the Ravens. While Indianapolis will have Jacoby Brissett under center, note that it'll be without the services of top RB Marlon Mack, who suffered a broken hand. This is a major hit to an offense which relies on a strong run game to open things up for Brissett. 

The pick: The Texans not only want to bounce back after last week's loss to the surging Ravens, but they also play with revenge here after losing to the Colts by 7 in Indianapolis earlier in the year. Houston has had plenty of difficulties over the years with the Colts and while the struggled last week, I think this one sets up well for a bounce back performance. The short week favors the home side and I'll point out that Indy is in fact just 12-15 ATS in its last 27 as an underdog and 0-2 ATS in its last two "Thursday night" games, while Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last six in revenging a road loss vs. an opponent and 2-0 ATS in its last two Thursday night games. Lay the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Texans.

The set-up: This game is being played in Mexico City. Both teams enter off hard-fought and very close losses. KC fell 35-32 to Tennessee, while LA lost 26-24 to the Raiders. I think another "battle" is on our hands here and in a contest which I envision coming down to the final moments, I'll grab the points. KC has lost three of its last five and I believe its ripe for the picking here. Patrick Mahomes has 18 TD's and one INT so far, but I think he'll struggle in this difficult road venue vs. this desperate Chargers team which needs to win, or be eliminated from playoff contention. 

The pick: KC is just 2-6 ATS In its last eiht after a loss by six points or less and just 6-10 ATS in its last 16 after an ATS loss, while LA is 11-6 ATS in its last 17 as an underdog. While I wouldn't be shocked by an outright upset, in the end I'll recommend to grab as many points as you can.

10* DESTRUCTION on the LA Chargers.

The set-up: The Bears are 4-5 and the Rams are 5-4. Each has struggled mightily this year, but both have an opportunity to get things heading in the other direction with a victory here today. It's an important game for both struggling teams and I envision this one being a wide open "shootout," rather than a low-scoring "chess match." LA had its two game win streak snapped in a 17-12 loss to the Steelers last week, while the Bears snapped a four-game slide with a 20-13 victory over the Lions. While both those games were low-scoring and while each has struggled to put points on the board, I think the stage is now set for Bears' QB Mitchell Trubisky and Rams' pivot Jared Goff, to shine. 

The pick: Chicago is getting a balance on offense now with its run game, as David Montgomery has 235 yards and three TD's over his past three weeks. Trubisky himself will benefit here from a Rams' defense which is allowing 240 yards per game through the air. The Bears are even worse against the pass though, allowing 253 yards per game through the air. Neither team is going to win this game on the ground. As stated off the top, I think the stage is now set for these two QB's to be the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries. Play the over.

10* NFL TOTAL OF THE YEAR on the Bears/Rams OVER.

The set-up: Last year the Eagles needed to run the table near the end of the season to even make the playoffs and after a terrible start this season, that's the case again in 2019/20. The Pats though come in off their bye week and ready to take out their frurstrations after falling 37-20 to the Ravens two weeks ago. The Eagles though continue to defy the odds and they enter playing their best ball of the season after two straight victories. From a situational stand point, I absolutely believe this one sets up as a higher-scoring shootout. 

The pick: But note that the Pats have seen the total go over in three of their last four after their bye-week as well, while Philly has seen the total soar over in three of four as an underdog already this year. When taking into account the situational and trend based factors listed above, I'm expecting this one to fly over the number soon, rather than later.

8* play on the Pats/Eagles OVER.

The set-up: The 49ers beat the Cards 28-25 back on November 1st, and then lost 27-24 to the Seahawks last weekend. San Francisco's perfect season is now firmly in the rear view mirror and clearly teams are finding ways to score on it. Arizona comes in off a 30-27 setback and Tampa Bay and while its playoff hopes are slim, clearly the team isn't throwing in the towel on the season. 

The pick: Note as well that the Cards have lost three games by six or fewer points and in their season opener against Detroit they tied. If a few plays went the other way, Arizona could have many more wins under its belt right now. Note as well that San Fran is a poor 1-5 ATS in its last six vs. teams with losing records, while the Cards are 5-1 ATS their last six on the road. I think the outright win is possible as well here. That said, in what I expect to be another highly competitive affair, let's grab the points.

8* play on the Cardinals.

The set-up: Atlanta inexplicably beat the Saints 26-9 last week. QB Matt Ryan is suiting up today for the Falcons and I don't think that's going to do the offense any favors. Both teams will be fighting for a victory here, but what was most impressive last week for ATL was clearly its defensive play. 

The pick: The Panthers appeared to have gotten things figured out with rookie QB Kyle Allen, but the team has come back down to Earth of late, winning one of their last three and getting outscored 95-59 in the process. Carolina has to double down on the defensive side of the ball today and the unit does catch a break facing the Falcons "on again, off again" offense. Note that ATL has seen the total go under in 14 of its last 17 vs. teams with winning records, while Carolina has seen the total dip under in seven of its last tne vs. teams with losing records. This number is a tad high.

8* play on the Falcons/Panthers under.

The set-up: The Colts are ripe for the picking here in my opinion after their loss to Miami last week. Indy hopes to have QB Jacoby Brissett under center, but I think the uncertainty surrounding this is definitely not doing the home side any favors today. The Jags on the other hand finally welcome back Nick Foles under center and I think the Super Bowl MVP is going to be the difference here. Also note that the Jags are fresh off their bye week. From a situational stand point, there's no question this one sets up great for the outright upset. 

The pick: Additionally note that Jacksonville is already 3-1 ATS on the road this season and 7-3 ATS in its last ten off an upset loss as a favorite, while Indy is just 3-3 ATS at home and only 7-11 ATS in its last 18 after playing a game at home. The outright is possible, but in the end let's grab the points.

8* play on the Jags.

The set-up: The Broncos beat the Browns at home and then had their bye-week off to prepare for this one. Broncos' QB Brandon Allen has a golden opportunity for the rest of the season to try and get his own personal stock to rise and with nothing to lose here, I think the visitors "open up the playbook" this afternoon. 

The pick: The Vikes are known for their hard-nosed defense, but it's been the offense which is mainly responsible for Minnesota's surge over the last few weeks. Cousins most recently went for 220 yards passing and two TD's vs. the Cowboys. I think Denver pushes the pace and I expect the Vikes' progression to continue here as well. This number is just a tad low.

8* play on Broncos/Vikes OVER.

The set-up: Two of the best teams in the AFC collide in this one and while each possesses a unique and explosive signal caller under center, I believe it'll be the defensive units which become the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries. Baltimore has a string of tough games upcoming and I think the home side gets caught looking ahead. The Texans come in out of their bye, but clearly the game plan will be to try and keep the ball out of Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson's hands as much as possible. Overall Houston allows just 21 PPG. 

The pick: The Ravens' defense is also underrated, conceding only 21 PPG themselves. Houston has seen the total go under in 12 of its last 15 after a win by 21 points or more, while Baltimore has seen the total dip under in six of its last seven off a win vs. a division rival. Expect these two hungry sides to battle to lower-scoring under once it's all said and done.

8* play on the UNDER Texans/Ravens.

The set-up: New Orleans is 7-2, but it comes in off a terrible 26-9 loss at home to The Falcons. Tampa Bay is only 3-6 and it broke a four-game slide with a 30-27 win over the Cardinals last time out. Yes the Bucs are allowing the most receiving yards in the NFL this year, but they catch Drew Brees clearly still working through some issues. I have every confidence that Brees will eventually return to his normal dominating self, but I believe he will in fact struggle again here today. Note that Tampa has the BEST rushing defense, which turns the Saints into an incredibly one-dimensional team. 

The pick: The Saints are also better against the run than pass, but after last week's poor effort, New Orleans also catches a break here facing Jameis Winston, who enters with a poor 17:14 TD:INT. Note that the Saints have seen the total go under in six of their last seven as a road favorite, while TB has seen the total dip under in three of its last four as a home dog in the 3.5 to seven points range. Expect these two struggling teams to continue to struggle with consistency and play the under.

10* play on the Saints/Bucs UNDER.

The set-up: It's a big game for both teams. Cleveland picked up a win over the Bills last Sunday to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. Another victory here on Thursday night vs. a red hot Steelers team which has won four straight will be paramount in keeping that dream alive. Pittsburgh has won four straight. Both teams have struggled to put points on the board and each has been carried by its defensive play to this point. But I think the narrative on that will change tonight on the short week. 

The pick: Note as well that Pittsburgh has seen the total go over the number in five of its last six after allowing 14 points or less in its previous game (including 2-0 this year), while Cleveland has seen the total soar over in four of its last five following a home victory. So far these starting QB's have been terrible this year, but each will be given the green light to operate tonight. I think this number is just a little low.

10* TOTAL DESTRUCTION on the OVER Steelers/Browns.

The set-up: These are the top two teams in the NFC West. They're quite possibly the best two teams in the entire NFC overall as well. The 49ers are undefeated at 8-0, while Seattle is 7-2. Last week San Francisco's vaunted defense looked pretty ordinary in the 49ers closer than expected 28-25 victory in Arizona. Now the 49ers have to contend with another mobile QB, except this one is putting up MVP numbers and has a ton of experience. The Hawks aren't going to sit back and wait for San Francisco to make a mistake, they'll be going after San Fran's defense again at every opportunity. 

The pick: Wilson has 22 TD's and just one INT so far, so San Fran's defense isn't going to get too many opportunities anyways. I think from a situational stand point, this one absolutely sets up as a higher-scoring shootout. Additionally note that Seattle has seen the total go over the number in interestingly nine of its last 11 after a win by six points or less, while San Fran has seen the total soar over in eight of its last ten as a favorite. For all the reasons listed above, play the over.

10* TOTAL PLAYBOOK on the OVER Hawks/49ers.

The set-up: The Cowboys are off a 37-18 Monday night win over the Giants. Dallas' QB Dak Prescott threw for three TD's. But now the Cowboys face the red hot Vikings, led by Dalvin Cook, who had 71 yards in his team's close 26-23 loss to Kansas City. Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins had 222 passing yards and three TD's in a losing cause. Overall the Vikes are No. 1 in stopping the run and they've only allowed two rushing TD's all season. 

The pick: Dallas has won two in a row, but with back-to-back tough road games in Detroit and New England upcoming, clearly this is a tough stretch for the home side. Note that Dallas WR Amari Cooper didn't practice on Thursday and he's a game time decision here. NOte as well that Minnesota is a sharp 8-2 ATS in its last ten following a SU loss (including 2-0 ATS this season,) while Dallas is just 5-6 ATS in its last 11 after two or more consecutive victories. I think Minnesota's defense is not getting enough credit here. Grab the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Minnesota Vikings.

The set-up: Carolina is 5-3 and the Packers are 7-2. Carolina has won five of six since Cam Newton got injured and Kyle Allen took over. Panthers' RB Christian McCaffrey is having an unreal season and he led the charge in an impressive victory over the Titans last weekend. The Packers will have to keep pace with their surging visiting side and Aaron Rodgers and company certainly won't be lacking for motitavtion after laying an egg in San Diego last weekend. 

The pick: Rogers has 17 TD's and just two INT's this season. That includes having three straight games with multiple TD's and not INT's. Kyle Allen did not look good in the game on the road vs. San Francisco, and clearly Lambeau is going to be a difficult task for the rookie as well. These offensive units are "firing on all cylinders" and I expect them to be the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries. Play the over.

9* TOTAL PLAY-BOOK on the over Panthers/Packers.

The set-up: The Cards are off a tough 28-25 home loss to the 49ers, while Tampa Bay lost a heart-braker in a 40-34 OT setback vs. the Seahawks in Seattle. While each club comes in off a high-scoring loss in its last action, I believe the stage is set for much more of a defensive affair in this one. Arizona is in third in the NFC West, but it's still won three of its last five games. The season is on the line here for the Cards essentially this weekend. Note that Cards' QB Kyler Murray has 2,229 passing yards with nine TD's and four INT's, while also posting 313 rushing yards. Also note that Murray has suffered 29 sacks. 

The pick: Tampa's lost four in a row and it hasn't won a game at home all year. Head coach Bruce Arians is an offensive minded coach and clearly he's not going to be happy coming into this one. Arians won't go down quietly though. Tampa QB Jameis Winston has 2,407 passing yards with 16 TD's and ten INT's. Winston has suffered 30 sacks this year. Look for the home side intstead to lean heavily on RB's Peyton Barber (277 yards, three TD's) and Ronald Jones Jr (381, three TD's), while on offense. Finally note that Arizona has already seen the total go under the number in three of its four games on the road this year, while TB has seen the total go under the number in seven of its last ten as a home favorite. This number is a tad high.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the UNDER Cards/Bucs.

The set-up: It's a big game for both of these hungry AFC sides. The Chargers are 4-5 and the Raiders are 4-4. Funnily enough, the Chargers could be heading to London next year, while the Raiders are on their way to Vegas. LA though is coming off back-to-back wins over the Bears and Packers and with its season essentially on the line, it's safe to say that Philip Rivers and company won't be "sitting back" and waiting for the home side to make a mistake. Melvin Gordon missed the first few games because of a contract dispute for LA, but the big RB is now finally back into "game shape" and it's opened things up considerably for Rivers to properly operate. 

The pick: The Raiders' defense is injured and it gave up more than 400 yards and three TD's to the Lions in their latest outing. Note that Oakland has allowed at least 24 points in all but one game this year. DeShaun Watson torched the Raiders' secondary and it gave up six TD's to Aaron Rodgers the week before that. Derek Carr is also going to be given the "green light" to air things out as Oakland's offense will once again have to carry the load this week. I think these two gun-slinging QB's become the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries. This number is a tad low.

10* TOTAL PLAY-BOOK on the OVER Chargers/Raiders.

The set-up: Dallas smashed New York 35-17 in Week 1 when Eli Manning was under center. The Cowboys have been hit or miss this year, but they're coming off an impressive 37-10 win over Philadelphia in Week 7, a team which was just as hungry as desperate as they were. Dallas is coming off a Week 8 bye as well, so it's been planning and preparing for this crucial contest for a while now. New York though isn't sure what's going on, most recently losing 31-26 on the road to the Lions. At 2-6, the Giants' season is already over and they can now start preparing and planning for next year. 

The pick: New York is just 1-5 ATS in its last six at home, while Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road favorite in the 3.5 to 7 points range. Breaking down individual player matchups or what each team's defensive and offensive numbers are is not important tonight. The situational factors combined with these strong trends make Dallas the savvy call in my professional opinion. Lay the points.

10* BLOOD BATH on the Dallas Cowboys.

The set-up: Has New England been "tested" this year on the defensive side of the ball? So far the Patriots are putting up historic numbers defensively, but many pundits claim that they've yet to face a "real" offense. Baltimore's versatile pivot Lamar Jackson definitely is a challenge for any team, but I still believe that the Pats' unit will be more than "up for it." Note that Baltimore may be 5-2, but it's schedule certainly hasn't been "murderers row" to this point either. And will rest lead to rust? The Patriots are pounding out convincing wins each and every week, but the Ravens will have to quickly try to regain their form after the extra time off. Clearly the home side will have to get out and push the pace of this one if it has any hopes of pulling off an upset vs. the Pats' strong defense today. 

The pick: Note that New England has seen the total in five of its last seven as a road favorite of three points or less, while Baltimore has seen the total soar over in six of its last seven after allowing 17 points or less in two straight. The overall situation combined with these strong O/U trends make the "over" the correct call here.

10* SUPER TOTAL on the OVER Pats/Ravens.

The set-up: What do you base your picks on? For me, I like to remain flexible and don't follow any one single methodology. The Raiders have been arguably the biggest "surprise" team in the NFL this year, a lot more competititve than what most thought. But in my opinion, this one sets up as a "trap/letdown" for the home side. And that's because the Raiders haven't actually played a "home" game in the last five weeks (the only time in the last five weeks that Oakland was the "home" side was its game in London three weeks ago.) Now the players return home to their own beds and their families finally and I think that it's going to have a detrimental effect to their play on the field today.

The pick: Oakland has lost two straight as well. The Lions though come off a crucial 31-26 win over the Giants last weekend and they'll be laying everything on the line here as they try to keep pace with the Packers. Note as well that Detroit is 8-2 ATS in its last ten as a road dog and 8-2 ATS in its last ten vs. clubs with losing records, while Oakland is a terrible 3-5 ATS in its last eight as a favorite and only 3-7 ATS in its last ten non-conference games. A great situational play on the Lions this weekend.

10* GAME OF MONTH on the Detroit Lions.

The set-up: This is a "make or break" game for both teams in many respects. The Titans are 4-4 and the Panthers are 4-3. The Panthers were on a four-game win streak until last week's 51-13 setback to San Francisco. Tennessee enters off a 27-23 win over Tampa Bay. Ryan Tannehill was 21 of 33 for 193 yards and three TD's for the Titans last weekend. Panthers' QB Kyle Allen has filled in admirably for Cam Newton, entering with a 4-1 record and I think these two hungry QB's lay everything on the line today for their teams as they get out to push the pace from start to finish. 

The pick: Tennessee has seen the total go over in its last four as a road dog of seven points or less, while Carolina has seen the total soar over in nine 13 as a home favorite. This number is a tad low.

8* pick on the OVER Titans/Panthers.

The set-up: The Eagles come in off an impressive 31-13 win at Buffalo last weekend and I believe they carry that momentum over here. The Bears are trending in the opposite directoin after last week's 17-16 loss to the Chargers, their third straight.  

The pick: The Bears have been solid overall defensively, but they're ranked No. 27 on the offensive side. I believe the Bears' defense suffers a letdown here after three weeks of disappointment. The Eagles look rejuvenated after last week's performance and note that they're 8-2 ATS in their last ten vs. teams with losing records. Conversely note that the Bears are only 1-4 ATS in their last five off an upset loss as a favorite. There's no way the Eagles "look past" their opponent today, as this is a "must win" for the home side. Look for the Eagles to deliver the knock out blow to the Bears' playoff hopes today.

8* pick on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The set-up: Pittsburgh's won two straight over suspect competition, but I think it'll struggle here vs. the Colts defense. Indianapolis enters having won three straight, and I also believe that Pittsburgh's suspect defense will struggle in slowing down Jacoby Brissett's steady attack. Overall the Colts average 22.6 PPG and they allow 21.6. 

The pick: The Steelers average 21 PPG and they allow 20.6. Much of the Steelers success has come with RB James Conner shouldering the load, but he's questionable for this one and if he does play, one has to wonder about his health? Additionally note that the Colts are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 after one or more straight losses against the spread (including 2-0 ATS this season), while the Steelers are a poor 8-11 ATS in their last 19 at home and a terrible 0-3 ATS in their last three after playing on Monday Night Football. Grab the points.

8* pick on the Indianapolis Colts.

The set-up: I got down early and have a favorable line in this one, but regardless, I like San Francisco to come in focussed on the task at hand and to once again run up the score quickly in this one as it then gets ready to play Seattle the following week. Clearly this is a big game for Arizona, as it sits at 3-4 and another loss will essentially take it out of the running for a playoff spot with both Seattle and San Francisco in its division. But San Francisco's depth on the defensive side of the ball and it's strong run game is going to prove to be too much for Cards' rookie QB Kyler Murray today. 

The pick: Arizona enters off a tough road loss to the Saints and I don't think the home side has gotten over that setback. It's interesting to note as well that San Fran is 2-0 ATS in its last two Thursday night contests, while Arizona is interestingly 0-3 ATS in its last three following a two game road trip. No upsets this week, lay the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the San Francisco 49ers.

The set-up: The last few Monday/Thursday games have been terrible matchups and this one follows suit. With nothing to play for though, I think the Fish simply go through the motions tonight and I look for the Steelers to "control" this one while on offense, instead of trying to run up the score and "run" this downtrodden visiting side off the field. Miami is back to Ryan Fitzpatrick under center for this one. The Steelers beat the Chargers two weeks ago and then they had their bye week. Mason Rudolph is back after suffering a concussion scare for Pittsburgh, but he'll be asked to do nothing more than to manage this game vs. the winless Dolphins, who are now in the hunt for a few top playoff picks. 

The pick: Note as well that Miami has seen the total go under the number in nine of its last 11 off a road loss, while Pittsburgh has seen the total dip below the posted number in seven of its last ten after covering the spread in two or more straight games. I'm banking on a low-scoring affair on Monday night.

10* TOTAL PLAY-BOOK on the UNDER Fish/Steelers.

The set-up: The Packers come in off a big 41-24 win over the Raiders at home, but I think they'll have their hands full with this desperate home side. Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes is a big question mark this weekend and if he does play, one has to wonder how effective the dynamic pivot really will be? Matt Moore is a "clock manager," so expect to see a heavy does of LeSean McCoy and the running game from the home side will on the offensive end. 

The pick: The Packers' strength this year has been on the defensive side of the ball though and Moore is clearly going to be under pressure here as well. Additionally note that GB has seen the total go under the number in nine of its last 14 vs. teams with winning records, while KC has seen the total go under in seven of its last eight after having lost two of its last three games outright. This one has defensive battle written all over it, play the under.

10* play on the UNDER Packers/Chiefs.

The set-up: This is Oakland's fifth straight game on the road, a trip which has included a trip to London. I admit that the Raiders have been better than I thought they'd be this year, but I think they're going to suffer a predictable letdown here vs. this focused home side, which comes in off a 30-23 loss to the Colts. The Raiders got crushed 41-24 at Green Bay last weekend and now they face a similar type offense in DeShaun Watson and the Texans. 

The pick: Oakland allowed five TD's to Aaron Rodgers last weekend and they average 21 PPG, while conceding 27.5. The Texans on the other hand average 26 PPG, while allowing 23. Oakland is also a poor 5-13 ATS in its last 18 on the road (including 1-2 ATS this year), while Houston is 3-1 ATS in its last four after a two-game road trip. I like Watson to domiante this porous Raiders' secondary. Lay the points.

10* play on the Houston Texans.

The set-up: Both teams have had to deal with adveristy this year. The Bucs though have the better QB in place in this one and I think Jameis Winston will in fact be the difference maker in this one. The Titans managed a win over the Chargers last week, but I think they take a predictable step back here. Winston struggled in his last start vs. the Panthers, but he'll look to Chris Godwin to try and turn things around this week; Godwin has 662 yards and six TD's through the first six games this year. 

The pick: The Titans' QB situation is even worse though, as Marcus Mariota has been benched for Ryan Tannehill, who has looked decent in one game and poor in the other. Tampa Bay though is a pefect 3-0 ATS in its last three after two straight division contests, while Tennessee is just 8-12 ATS in its last 20 following a SU win (including 0-2 ATS this year.) Look for Winston to settle down here and find a way to get the job done here. 

8* play on the Bucs.

The set-up: I got down early on this one before it was confirmed that Matt Ryan wasn't going to play. Regardless, after losing five straight I think the Falcons and Matt Schaub find a way to get the job done here. Seattle allows 357 yards per game and Falcons' WR Julio Jones had 560 receiving yards and four TD's. 

The pick: Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett have been a deadly duo so far this year for the Hawks, but after Seattle's win at home over the Ravens last week and with a game at home vs. the Bucs before a road contest at division leading San Fran and its bye, I think this contest definitely sets up as a letdown spot for the visitors. Additionally note that Seattle is stil a poor 4-7 ATS in its last 11 as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points, while ATL is a perfect 4-0 ATS in its last four after five or more consecutive losses. I think Schaub is in fact a "good" thing for this Falcons team, as I look for the veteran backup to play his heart out here. Grab the points.

8* play on the Falcons.

The set-up: The Jags won this contest 31-12 last year and I expect a similar sort of beatdown here as well. New York is just 1-5 and it enters off a 33-0 loss to the Patriots on Monday Night Football. The Jags on the other hand enter off a 27-17 win over the Bengals and I have no reason not to think that they can't keep that momentum rolling here vs. this similar pathetic competition. Last week New York posted six turnovers, including two fumbles and it was flagged eight times for 60 yards. The Jags have 21 sacks and four INT's already this year and I believe they're going do some serious damage to Sam Darnold and this Jets' offensive line. 

The pick: Leonard Fournette had 131 yards rushing in last week's victory for the Jags and I think he'll be a difference maker at home this week as well. Overall the Jets have just seven sacks and five INT's on the year, so Jags' QB Gardner Minshew and Fournette will plenty of opportunities to make some dynamic plays this weekend. Additionally it's interesting to note that the Jags are 7-2 ATS in their last nine after posting 150 yards rushing in their previous game, while New York is just 1-5 ATS in its last six after allowing 30 points or more in its previous game. I expect a lop-sided rout from start to finish. Lay the points.

8* play on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The set-up: This non-confernece matchup means more to the 3-4 Eagles than it does to the 5-1 Bills in my opinion. I do indeed believe the the "hungrier" side will find a way to get the job done in this one. Buffalo has been carried so far by its defense, which is ranked third in the league by allowing only 15.2 PPG. That said, Josh Allen and the home side only average 20.2 PPG on the offensive side. The Eagles can't look past this game after falling 37-10 to the Cowboys last time out. 

The pick: While the Eagles looked poor offensively last week, I think that Carson Wentz and Philly get back on track here. The Bills offense has been terrible as well and there's opportunity for the visitors to steal this one outright. Further note that Philadelphia is still 10-6 ATS in its last 16 as an underdog, while Buffalo is only 1-2 ATS this year as a favorite. Desperation breeds motivation. Grab the points.

8* play on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The set-up: Denver opened the season with four straight close losses, but then it posted back-to-back victories, before then regressing again with a 30-6 loss to KC last week. Denver's defense has been decent and I think it'll come up big here on the road. 

The pick: The Colts have played to many close games as well, but after a 30-23 win over the Texans last week, I think Indy has a predictable letdown this week. The Broncos are also 4-1 ATS in their last five off a divisional contest, while the Colts are just 3-6 ATS in their last nine following a home win. I think the "hungrier" team finds a way to get the job done here. Grab the points.

8* play on the Denver Broncos.

The set-up: New England is 6-0 and New York is 1-4. The Patriots pulled away for a 35-14 home win over the Giants, while the Jets enter off their first victory of the year in a 24-22 win over the Cowboys. I expect a more conservative style of play from the Pats in this contest though as they look to avoid the upset and to "look past" these suddenly confident Jets. New York only allows 358 total yards of offense, with 262.2 through the air and a paltry 95.8 on the ground. 

The pick: The strengh of the Jets is indeed on the defensive side of the ball and while the Patriots have an unreal offense, it is in fact their defense which is also "stealing the show" in New England this year. So far the Pats allow only 234.7 YPG this season, which includes an average of 161 through the air and only 73.7 on the ground. Note that New England has seen the total go under the number in 14 of its last 20 on the road and in 14 of its last 19 as a road favorite, while the Jets have seen the total dip under the number in nine of 13 as a home underdog in the 7.5 to 14 points range. Look for this one to stay under once it's all said and done.

10* TOTAL MADNESS on the UNDER Patriots/Jets.

The set-up: Baltimore is ranked 17th on the defensive side of the ball. The Ravens though have a big question mark in the WR position this week with Marquise "Hollywood" Brown listed as questionable. The Seahawks are getting unreal play from QB Russell Wilson, who has 16 TD's so far and no INT's. The Hawks defense isn't what it used to be, but so far it's been better than average by posting 12 takeaways YTD. 

The pick: Note that Baltimore has interestingly seen the total dip under the number in 11 of its last 15 after having won two out of its last three games SU, while Seattle has seen the total go below the posted number in 11 of its last 17 as a favorite. This number is high in my opinion.

10* TOTAL PLAYBOOK on the UNDER Ravens/Hawks.

The set-up: This is a big game for both teams. Each of these teams had huge expectations coming in, but each has struggled mightily to open the 2019/20 campaign. The Chargers are off a 24-17 home loss to the Steelers, while the Titans fell 16-0 in Denver. While Philip Rivers had 320 yards and two TD's last week for the Bolts, he also had two INT's. And now he faces the leagues second best pass defenses which concedes just 217 passing yards per game. Also note that Rivers has been sacked 12 times already this year. 

The pick: Marcus Mariota is out and Ryan Tannehill is in for the Titans this week. Tannehill makes his first start for his new team and I expect the pivot to make the most of this opportunity. LA though is just 5-6 ATS in its last 11 vs. teams with losing records, while Tennessee is 6-2 ATS in its last eight off a road loss. I think the Titans superior defense is the difference here and I like Tannehill to make the most of this opportunity. Lay the points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Tennessee Titans.

The set-up: After two straight wins, I think that Kyler Murray and the Cardinals take a step back here in this difficult road venue. The Cardinals most recently scored the upset 34-33 win over the Falcons. The Giants are now led by Daniel Jones and they most recently were destroyed by the Patriots on Thursday night. The Cards' offense has been decent of late, but the defense has taken a step back. 

The pick: The Giants welcome back starting RB Saquon Barkley to the line-up, which is obviously a huge boost to New York's offense. Also note that Arizona is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight after a win by six points or less, while New York is 3-1 ATS in its last four after two straight loss by ten points or more; I'm laying the short points!

9* BLOOD-BATH on the New York Giants.

The set-up: Oakland comes in off its bye week after beating the Bears in London. This is the Raiders fourth game out of five straight away from home and I think they'll struggle in this difficult non-conference road venue. In the win over Chicago, QB Derek Carr had zero TD's and zero INt's. Also note that the Raiders come to town with question marks surrounding their top two receivers, as Dwayne Harris and Tyrell Williams are both listed as questionable.

The pick: Oakland allows 24.6 PPG as well this year. Green Bay escpaed with a win over Detroit last week, but the Lions lead the league in several defensive categories. Green Bay's defense is conceding just 19.2 PPG and the Packers are 5-1 ATS in their last six following an ATS loss. The Raiders on the other hand are just 1-4 ATS in their last five vs. teams with a winning record. Lay the points.

8* SMOKE-JOB on the Packers.

The set-up: Patrick Mahomes is the same player, but this isn't the same Chiefs team which we saw last year. The defense was always a weak point and it remains a weak point now as well. But the offense isn't "clicking" like it once was and penalties and poor special teams play have led to back-to-back losses for KC. After starting 0-4, the Broncos have now won two in a row. The revenge angle comes into play here for the home side as well, as it's lost seven straight in this series (it's interesting to note though that Broncos' new QB Joe Flacco is 2-0 vs. the Chiefs for his career.) 

The pick: KC allows over 400 yards per game on defense, which is 29th in the league overall. Also note that Mahomes is in fact nursing a sprained ankle and he's playing without the services of LT Eric Fisher. The KC run game is also non-existent, averaging only 87 YPG. Denver's defense has been a strength of late and I think the unit is going to have another big night tonight. Finally note that the Broncos are interestingly 10-2 ATS in their last 12 Thursday night games, while KC is only 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight following an ATS loss. I'm grabbing the points.

10* PLAY-BOOK on the Denver Broncos.

The set-up: Detroit is 2-1-1 and Green Bay is 4-1. The Lions have looked decent on both sides of the ball, with wins over the Chargers and Eagles and nearly getting by the Chiefs last time out. Green Bay smoked the Cowboys in Dallas last weekend, but after the Cowboys lost to the Jets yesterday, I'm taking that victory with a proverbial "grain of salt." Detroit also comes in focussed and healthy after its bye week. 

The pick: The Lions defense has been impressive, shutting down Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, while also holding Patrick Mahomes without a TD. Green Bay has been terrific defensively as well, so I'll call that department a "wash." I think that Lions' veteran QB Matt Stafford has enough tricks up his sleeve to put the pressure on Aaron Rodgers and company. In a game which I envision being decided by whichever of these hungry teams has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to grab the points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Detroit Lions.

The set-up: The Steelers are 1-4 and the Chargers are 2-3. This is a "must win" game for both teams. But I like Philip Rivers and company on their own soil here. Note that this is a revenge game as well for the home side after it fell 33-30 in Pittsburgh last season. Both teams enter off losses. Pittsburgh' backup QB Mason Rudolph suffered a concussion last weekend and he's listed as doubtful here. While the Pittsburgh defense picked off Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson three times last week, I don't expect that kind of sloppy play from Rivers at home and after last weekend's poor 20-13 loss at home. 

The pick: The Chargers have actually been quite stingy defensively, allowing only 334.8 total yards of offense per game. Pittsburgh allows 229.8 passing yards per game, but now they'll have to deal with LA RB Melvin Gordon, who has finally returned from his holdout. Too many question marks surrounding Pittsburgh here, while the conditions are unquestionably correct for a big bounce back for LA in my opinion. Lay the points with confidence.

10* GAME OF THE MONTH on the LA Chargers.

The set-up: Tennessee is 2-3 and Denver is 1-4. Most likely neither team will see the playoffs. That said, each still has a shot if they can win this game today. This is an important game for both sub-.500 teams and as such, I look for more of a wide open affair. Last week the Titans lost 14-7 to the stingy BIlls. The Broncos saved their season (mathematically) with a 20-13 road win over the Chargers this past Sunday and I expect them to build off that performance with their best effort at home so far. 

The pick: Both teams are ranked in the lower half on the offensive side of the ball, but I think that Derrick Henry and Marcus Mariota push the pace of this one on the road, similar to their Week 1 destruction of the Cleveland Browns. Joe Flacco and Phillip Linday come off their best performance for the Broncos and there's no reason not to think that they won't be given the green light here as well. Note that Tennessee has seen the total go over the number in five of its last six as a road dog of 7 points or less, while Denver has seen the total eclipse the posted number in four of its last five as a home fav of three points or less. The situation points to this total flying over this low number sooner, rather than later.

10* TOTAL COACH'S CORNER on the OVER Titans/Broncos.

The set-up: LA opened the year 3-0, but it's since 0-2. San Francisco enters are 4-0 after Monday's destruction of the Browns at home. I've been surprised by the 49ers so far, but I have a hard time seeing the team maintaining this level of play, especially vs. this now hungry Rams team, which comes in off a last second controversial loss to another division rival Seattle just last week. 

The pick: Despite their recent issues, the Rams' offense still ranks sixth in the league. Additionally note that San Fran is a poor 0-2 ATS in its last two after playing on MNF, while LA is 6-2 ATS in its last eight off a divisional contest. I think the "hungrier" team finds a way to get the job done in this one.

8* play on the LA Rams.

The set-up: Cleveland fell flat on Monday Night Football in San Francisco, but it still has a very genuine shot at competing for the division crown if it can string a few wins together. First things first is Seattle, which comes off a thrilling victory over the Rams at home. Seattle's weakness the last few years has been its play on the road and while the victory over LA looks impressive on paper, the Rams have looked plain terrible this season. This is a trap game for Seattle and it has to be careful to not look past its hungry opponent.

The pick: Baker Mayfield and the Browns are better team when they run the ball and try to control things while on offense. It's when they're playing from behind or trying to be too fancy that the Browns struggle. I expect a very conservative style of play from the home side today as it looks to once again limit its stupid mistakes. Note that Seattle has seen the total go under the number in five of its last six as a road favorite of seven points or less, while Cleveland has seen the total dip under in ten of its last 13 as a home dog. This number is high, play the under.

8* play on the under Hawks/Browns.

The set-up: A trip across the pond is going to lead to a lower-scoring under in this one. This is the second meeting of the season between the divisional foes and in the first one the Bucs won a low-scoring 20-14 affair. Tampa comes in off a loss to New Orleans by a score of 31-24, while the Panthers have won three in a row since losing to the Bucs. The Panthers have been getting exceptional play from QB Kyle Allen, but I think the rookie will be more effected by anyone on this trip to London. Look for Carolina to once again lean heavily on RB Christian McCaffrey, who in fact leads the league right now with 587 rushing yards and 31 catches for 279 yards. Also note that the Panthers have been great defensively since the loss to Tampa, posting 16 sackes over their last three games. 

 The pick: Tampa's pass defense has been terrible, which was completely evident in last week's loss to the Saints and Teddy Bridgewater. The Bucs though do rank second against the run, a unit which is clearly going to be tested early and often today by McCaffrey. The Panthers only average 264 yards per game through the air, so Tampa's porous secondary catches a break today. When you add up all of the above factors, the savvy call in this one is on the under in my opinion. 

8* play on the under Panthers/Bucs.

The set-up: Clearly I'm not calling for the outright victory. New York has several injuries and is a big underdog for a reason. The Patriots and Tom Brady continue to roll and come into this one undefeated. New England's defense is dominating as well. I simply feel though that the Pats are going to get caught "looking past" their lowly opponent today, leaving the backdoor open just enough to allow the hungry visiting side to sneak in down the stretch. The Giants had their two-game win streak snapped in last week's 28-10 home loss to the Vikes, while the Pats enter off a 33-7 road win over the Skins. 

The pick: Daniel Jones is no Brady, but he's been a lot better than Eli Manning (760 yards, four TD's and three INT's.) Brady had 348 yards, three TD's and an INT last week, but he was also sacked four times. While the Giants offense is banged up, the defense is actually a strenght of the team now (13 sacks and five INT's.) With the Jets up next weekend, I think the Patriots come out and get caught looking ahead to that one as well. As stated off the top, clearly I'm not calling for the outright win, but I do expect a more competitive battle than what this spread would suggest.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the New York Giants.

TThe set-up: The Browns hit the West Coast looking to pull off the slight upset and in my opinion, they definitely have a legitimate shot at doing just that. The 49ers are 3-0, but they've been off since a win over the Steelers in Week 3. Cleveland is 2-2 and it enters off its best performance of the sason, smashing the Ravens 40-25. It took a few games for the Browns' offense to find its footing, but I have no reason not to believe that it can't continue to progress each week. Cleveland RB Nick Chubb had 165 yards and three TD's, while QB Baker Mayfield had 342 passing yards and a TD.

The pick: Jimmy Garapollo had 277 yards passing, a TD and an INT in his victory over the lowly Steelers, but note that the Browns concede just 215.2 YPG through the air. Additionally note that San Fran is a terrible 0-6 ATS in its last six following its bye week, while the Browns are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven road game vs. a team with a winnng home record. Grab the points.

10* ATS BLOOD-BATH on the Cleveland Browns

The set-up: The Colts are 2-2 and the Chiefs are 4-0. KC managed a 34-30 road win in Detroit last time out, while Indianapolis got caught looking ahead to this game after last week’s upset loss at home to the Raiders. I think a similar thing is going to happen here to the now content home side and while I’m not predicting any outright upsets or anything, I do think that the Chiefs come out and try to “control” this one, rather than run their opponent off the field with a frantic pace from start to finish. And clearly Jacoby Brissett and company can’t turn this one into a “track meet” and expect to beat the high-flying Chiefs at their own style of game. Instead, the visitors will also definitely be out to “control” this contest while on offense. So from an overall situational stand point, there’s no question non my mind that this one sets up as more of a defensive chess match, than a wide open shootout. 

The pick: However also note that Indy has seen the total go under the number in 13 of its last 19 after one or more SU losses, while KC has seen the total dip under the posted number in three of its last four as a favorite of ten points or more. This number is a tad high.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the UNDER Colts/Chiefs.

The set-up: Both teams enter off their first losses of the year. Green Bay has had some extra time off to prepare for this one though after playing on Thursday night Football. Green Bay had a shot at beating the Eagles, but QB Aaron Rodgers threw an INT on the three-yard line (lost 34-27.) You can’t win them all though, but the good news for Packers fans is that the defense has so far been great, ranked seventh in the league in allowing only 17.2 PPG (last year the defense allowed 25 per contest.) 

The pick: The Cowboys looked pretty ordinary in their 12-10 loss on the road in New Orleans vs. a Drew Brees-less Saints side. I’ll argue that the Cowboys are 3-1 right now because of a weak schedule. Also note that the Cowboys took a major hit on the injury front by losing their two best offensive lineman in Zack Martin and Tyron Smith (both questionable this weekend.) Green Bay is 3-1 ATS in its last four after playing on a Thursday game, while Dallas is just 1-4 ATS in its last five after allowing 14 points or less in its previous game. I’m grabbing the points.

9* SITUATIONAL ATS SMOKE-JOB on the Green Bay Packers.

The set-up: This is a big game for both division rivals. The Ravens are 2-2 and the Steelers are 1-3. Baltimore enters off a loss to the Browns, while the Steelers enter off a 27-3 home win over the Bengals. I think that Baltimore is the much more focused side today though after losing two straight, while everything points to an immediate return to mediocrity for the Steelers in my opinion. 

The pick: Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph did enough to earn the win vs. the lowly Bengals last week and RB James Conner also had a big night statistically, but previous to that each had struggled up to that point. And now they face a veteran Ravens defense which is playing with a chip on its shoulder. Note that Pitts is just 2-7-1 ATS in its last ten Sunday following a MNF contest, while Baltimore is a sharp 4-1 ATS in its last five on the road. Lay the points.

8* EARLY DESTRUCTION on the Baltimore Ravens.

The set-up: The Raiders continue their five week road journey with a “home” game in London England vs. the Bears today. After winning three straight, I think the Bears’ chemistry takes a hit here with the jump across the pond. It’s not going to be easy on the Raiders obviously either, but at 2-2 the team can’t afford to look past the 3-1 Bears today. Also note that two of Chicago’s last three victories have come over the Broncos and Redskins. Last week Chicago held on for a 16-6 win over the Vikings. 

The pick: A big blow to the Bears as well is the loss of starting QB Mitchell Trubisky to injury, meaning that Chase Daniel will make his fifth start on Saturday. The Raiders looked a lot better in their 31-24 win over the surging Colts on the road last weekend I don’t see any reason not to think that the team can’t build off that performance. Oakland QB Derek Carr was 23 of 31 for 189 yards and two TD’s and I expect the veteran to push the pace early. Everything points to a letdown here for the Bears in my opinion. That said, let’s grab the points.

9* SUPER SHOCKER on the Oakland Raiders.

The set-up: The Cardinals are 0-3 and the Bengals are 0-4. Both teams have an ultra slim shot at even making the playoffs after their respective poor starts, but I still think that a healthy Cardinals team has much more in the tank than their reeling opponent. Arizona has played some incredibly difficult teams to open the year and it’s remained/looked competitive. The Bengals have been a train wreck and Cards’ QB Kyler Murray will finally have time to operate this afternoon. 

The pick: The Bengals lost 27-3 to the Steelers on Monday Night Football, as veteran QB Andy Dalton was 21 of 27 for 171 yards, zero TD’s, one INT and eight sacks. Note that Cincinnati is just 1-4 ATS in its last five home games vs. teams with a losing road record, while the Cards a solid 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight road contests. Grab the points.

10* PLAY-BOOK on the Arizona Cardinals.

The set-up: I think this is a great “situational” play. I’d consider myself primarily a “situational” handicapper. And that’s definitely the approach I take when looking at Over/unders in all sports. I do indeed feel this one sets up great as a lower-scoring defensive battle, rather than a high-scoring shootout. The short week isn’t going to help either team obviously. LA is coming off an atrocious loss to Tampa Bay at home, unable to slow down Jameis Winston and company defensively, while also failing completely on the offensive side. Note that Jared Goff threw three INT’s last week and the run game produced only 23 yards total. Goff threw the ball 62 times! If the Rams have any hopes of getting back on track, clearly they have to establish the run game. 

The pick: Seattle’s three wins have come against the Bengals, Steeler and Cardinals. Are the Rams better than these teams? Probably. Seattle had a complete meltdown at home to New Orleans two weeks ago, so clearly it won’t be looking past or taking anything for granted today facing co-division leading LA this evening. As stated off the top, from an overall “situational” stand point, I absolutely believe this one sets up as a lower-scoring under. But note that the numbers/trends support our theory as well, as note that LA has seen the total dip under in 16 of its last 24 after allowing 40 points or more in its previous game, while Seattle has seen the total go under in four of its last five after scoring 25 points or more in three straight games. With each team looking to establish the run while on offense and to limit its overall mistakes and when also taking into account these strong trends/stats, everything points to the under as the savvy call in this one.

10* NFL TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the UNDER Rams/Hawks.