GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 16 TOTAL

I think points will come at a premium for both sides at Foxboro this Saturday, and even though we're seeing a very low total I don't think the books can make this low enough. Buffalo is averaging only 20.9 ppg while the Pats have held opponents to 12.9 ppg and the Bills have scored 17 points in back-to-back games. As for New England, while it broke out for 34 points last time out, that was against the Bengals ... It had averaged only 17.6 ppg through its last five prior to that and the Bills defense ranks second to the Pats for points allowed at 15.9 ppg. 

Under is 7-0 in Bills last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 8-3 in Patriots last 11 home games. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED NFL TOTAL FOR WEEK 15

I think Sunday afternoon's matchup between the LA Rams and the Dallas Cowboys will be a relatively low-scoring affair. Dallas has averaged just 13 ppg through a three-game slide, and here it'll face a Rams defense that has been one of the best in the league since acquiring star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The under is 7-1 in the Rams last 8 games overall and 12-3 in their last 15 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 15 SIDE

The Carolina Panthers have dropped five in a row and have failed to cover the spread in four of those games. They are nowhere near the playoffs, have fired head coach Ron Rivera and turned the ball over four times in last week's 40-20 loss at Atlanta. There's little fight left in the team, and I don't see how Carolina will be able to keep pace with a Seattle Seahawks team that is 6-1 SU on the road and looking to bounce back from a humbling 28-12 loss at the LA Rams on Sunday Night Football. 

The Panthers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games in December while the Seahawks are 25-12-1 ATS in their last 38 games in December.

10* play on Seattle Seahawks. 

THURSDAY NIGHT JETS @ RAVENS *TOP PLAY*

This should be a game the Baltimore Ravens will be looking to win with as little effort as possible. Star QB Lamar Jackson is dinged up, and even though he's expected to play Jackson could be heading to the bench once/if the Ravens build up a comfortable lead. After that, they can lean on their defense to get the job done. 

The NY Jets do not have the players to challenge elite defenses and should find it difficult to move the ball against this vaunted Baltimore defense that has allowed an average of 12 ppg through its last five contests. 

Under is 9-4 in Jets last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 5-1 in Ravens last 6 games as a home favorite.

10* play on UNDER. 

GIANTS @ EAGLES MONDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The New York Giants have dropped eight straight since their 2-2 start to the season. They've put up a total of just 27 points through their last two games and scored just 13 against Green Bay's porous defense last time out. 

As for the Philadelphia Eagles, they're losers of three straight and had scored just 19 points through the first two prior to a particularly embarrassing 37-31 loss at Miami last time out. I expect the Eagles' defense to bounce back in a big way, and it should not have much to fear from a Giants' team that will have a rusty Eli Manning under center for the first time since Week 2 as rookie Daniel Jones is out with an ankle sprain. 

Moving the ball on the ground won't be easy against the Eagles' elite run defense, and I don't see the Giants putting many points on the board. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): MIKE'S BEST NFL TOTAL FOR 2018/19 REG SEASON!

The LA Chargers are 8-4 to the under this season. Last week's matchup at Denver saw 43 points scored between the two teams with a closing total of 39, but I'm extremely confident the total is set too high when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon. 

Points have been hard to come by for Jacksonville all season, but recent weeks have been particularly poor with an average of just 11.8 ppg through a four-game skid. Gardner Minshew will be back at the helm following a disastrous Nick Foles comeback, but I don't see him moving the ball freely against this competent Chargers defense that tranks 4th in the NFL against the pass with fewer than 200 passing yards allowed per game. 

Additionally, note that the Chargers are one of the slowest teams in the NFL taking almost 29 seconds between plays and the Jags are unlikely to push the tempo as a home dog. 

Under is 20-5-1 in Chargers last 26 games in December. Under is 9-2 in Jaguars last 11 home games.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 14 SIDE

The San Francisco 49ers dropped a 20-17 decision at Baltimore last week. They've played a tough schedule in recent weeks and are just 2-2 SU over their last four games. 

I think they're in for another loss here against a New Orleans Saints team that has averaged over 30 ppg through a three-game winning streak since putting up just nine points in a shocking double-digit home loss to Atlanta. 

We can also note that the Saints will have a decent rest advantage after coasting to a 26-17 win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving Thursday last time out while the Niners spent a lot of energy battling Baltimore on Sunday. 

The Saints clinched a playoff spot last week, but I think they'll keep pushing the pedal to the metal to give themselves a chance to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, which could be huge considering the Saints advantage in the Superdome. 

10* play on New Orleans Saints. 

TOP RATED COWBOYS @ BEARS THURSDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Dallas Cowboys took a 26-15 loss to Buffalo last week and their sputtering offense has scored a total of just 24 points over the last two games. Dallas still owns the top ranked offense at 432.8 yards per game, but moving the ball against a Chicago Bears team that ranks near the top of the league for most defensive categories and has allowed an average of just 17.3 ppg on the season won't be easy. As for the Bears offense, they scare no one with only Washington, the NY Jets and Miami averaging fewer total yards of offense per game. 

The cold Chicago weather won't do either team's offense any favors either, and we can note that under is 13-3 in Cowboys last 16 games in December and 4-0 in Bears last 4 games in December. Additionally, the under is 5-0 in Bears last 5 games as an underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* VIKINGS @ SEAHAWKS MNF BOOKIE BREAKER

The Seattle Seahawks enter this Monday Night Football contest with the Minnesota Vikings with a 9-2 record. Most of their games have been one-score affairs though, and while Minnesota has a tendency to come out flat in primetime games I still like the visitors to keep it close and cover the spread in this one. 

Minnesota will be well fresh and well-rested coming off its bye while the Seahawks might be bruised up following a physical matchup with Denver. Seattle's defense ranks 29th in the league against the pass, and Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins and receiver Stefon Diggs are clicking and synced up. Add running back Dalvin Cook to the mix and you have one of the most interesting offensive units in the league at the moment, even without injured star receiver Adam Thielen. 

Seahawks are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

10* play on Minnesota Vikings. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUNDAY SIDE

The Green Bay Packers took a humbling 37-8 beating by San Francisco last week.

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers threw for just 104 yards on 20-of-33 passing but should have much more success against a Giants side that ranks near the bottom of the league for passing yards allowed per game and allowed a mediocre quarterback like Mitch Trubisky to put up 278 passing yards last week. 

The Giants have dropped seven straight and have little incentive to win games. Quite the opposite is true for the Packers who are tied with Minnesota for the lead in the NFC North. 

Packers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight-up loss. Giants are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 home games and 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

10* play on Green Bay Packers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUNDAY AFTERNOON TOTAL

I expect points to come relatively easy for both teams when the 6-5 Indianapolis Colts host the 6-5 Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon. 

Tennessee has scored a total of 77 points in its last two games and QB Ryan Tannehill has a 10-4 TD/INT ratio since taking over from Marcus Mariota. The Titans churned out 219 rushing yards with four scores on the ground against Jacksonville last time out, and here they'll face a Colts D that has allowed 144.2 rushing yards per game on the season. 

As for the Titans D, it has allowed 52 points in the last two games and the Colts will be desperate for a win after losing three of their last four. 

Over is 5-0 in Titans last 5 games overall.

10* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED SUNDAY AFTERNOON SEAHAWKS @ EAGLES BEST BET

The Seattle Seahawks will travel to Philadelphia rested and well prepared following their bye week.

They beat the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers on the road last time out to improve to 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS away from home on the season, and I think they'll get the win here. 

Sure, Philadelphia is in "must-win" mode sitting 2nd in the NFC East at 5-5 on the season, but desperation can only take you so far. QB Carson Wentz was 20-for-40 passing for 214 yards in last week's 17-10 loss to the Patriots and he was sacked five times. Philly is without its top running back, so it's up to Wentz to move the chains, and here he's supposed to outduel MVP candidate Russell Wilson? I don't think so...

The Seahawks have been relentless in close games and we can also note that they're 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings with the Eagles.

10* play on Seattle Seahawks. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED NFL TOTAL FOR NOVEMBER

The Atlanta Hawks defense has improved a lot lately and they've held their last two opponents to a combined 12 points. 

The Falcons are still one of the worst teams in the league against the pass and allowed a mediocre QB like Kyle Allen to throw for 325 yards last week (but also picked him off four times). Here they'll face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that very much prefers to move the ball through the air and ranks 4th in the NFL with 285.6 passing yards per game. 

One of the few teams ahead of the Bucs in passing yards per game is Atlanta with its 300.3 pypg, and while Tampa Bay is one of the best teams at stopping the run, it is the second-worst in the league against the pass. 

I expect both teams to have plenty of success with explosive plays and a pass first, run second approach which also will stop the clock from running. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S COLTS @ TEXANS BEST BET

The Houston Texans took an embarrassing 41-7 beating by Baltimore last Sunday. I like them to bounce back in a big way here against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night. Note that the Texans are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS loss and 16-7-1 ATS in their last 24 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.

As for the Indianapolis Colts, they snapped a two-game slide with a dominant 33-13 win against Jacksonville in Week 11. Most of their damage was done on the ground as they rumbled for 264 rushing yards on 36 carries, but here it'll face a Houston team that has limited opponents to a respectable 102.2 rushing yards per game overall (86.8 rypg at home). 

Additionally, Houston will be looking to avenge a loss by a touchdown at Indianapolis on October 20. 

10* play on Houston Texans. 

MONDAY NIGHT CHIEFS VS. CHARGERS @ MEXICO CITY *TOP PLAY*

The Kansas City Chiefs have dropped four of six since a perfect 4-0 start to the season. They fell 35-32 at Tennessee last week, and I think they have a difficult task at hand tonight when taking on the LA Chargers in Mexico City Monday night. 

The Chargers battled themselves back in postseason contention with back-to-back victories, but their dreams of a playoff berth took a hit with a narrow loss to Oakland last week. They enter this game third in the division at 4-6 (all one-score losses), with KC and Oakland ahead of them at 6-4.  "I don’t think desperation ... I think urgency. Any other word you can think of ... I don’t think we feel desperate, although we know how crucial this game is." Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers told media. 

The Chiefs have struggled to stop the run all season long, which is good news for Chargers RB Melvin Gordon who rumbled for a season-high 108 yards and a score last week.

This one is likely to go down to the wire, and I'm well happy to take the points on the Chargers. 

10* play on LA Chargers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 11 SIDE

The Arizona Cardinals are coming off three consecutive straight up losses, but they're 5-1 ATS over their last six games. That stretch includes a tight 28-25 home loss to the 49ers, and I like them to keep it close at San Francisco this week. 

The Niners fell in OT against Seattle last week, their first defeat of the season. I would not be surprised to see them come out flat here with no undefeated record to defend, and several of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's weapons are hurting. 

Will San Francisco bounce back with a win? Almost certainly, but I think the Niners will find themselves in a much closer game than they might expect. 

Cardinals are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC West. 49ers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. NFC West. Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.

10* play on Arizona Cardinals. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 11 TOTAL

The Atlanta Falcons have allowed 28.1 ppg on the season, but their defense has been playing much better in recent weeks. Last time out they held Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints without a touchdown in a 26-9 win, and here today they will face a Carolina team that scored just 16 points at Green Bay last week. On a positive note, the Panthers defense held Aaron Rodgers to just 233 passing yards without a touchdown, and I think they'll be able to slow down the Falcons prolific passing attack.

Under is 5-0 in Falcons last 5 vs. a team with a winning record. Under is 19-9 in Panthers' last 28 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Under is 9-2-1 in the last 12 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): STEELERS @ BROWNS SIDE THURSDAY NIGHT

I absolutely love the Pittsburgh Steelers as a road underdog at AFC North rivals Cleveland Browns on Thursday night football. 

Note that the Steelers are 10-4 ATS as an underdog dating back to the start of the 2016 season and a perfect 3-0 ATS on Thursday nights over that same timeframe. 

The Cleveland Browns have been arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL this season, and they had lost four on the bounce prior to last week's win over Buffalo. 

The Steelers have quietly won four straight and covered the spread in six of their last seven contests. They might be without their star QB, but the defense is playing at an elite level. "They (the defense) are playing like the ‘85 (Chicago) Bears," backup quarterback Mason Rudolph said following Sunday's 17-12 win over the Los Angeles Rams. "It seems like, every week, forcing turnovers every other series, it seems like."

10* play on Pittsburgh Steelers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 10 SIDE

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost four on the bounce SU and ATS following a 40-34 OT loss at Seattle last week. There were still a lot of positives to take away from that contest as they dominated the time of possession against a top team and QB Jameis Winston threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns without a pick. 

Meanwhile, I think the Cardinals will come out flat here after leaving it all out on the field in a 28-25 home loss to San Francisco last week. It's the closest any team has played the Niners on the season, but it was still not quite as close as the scoreline would suggest. 

Arizona's defense must be bruised up after spending almost 35 minutes on the field against San Francisco, so we can expect the Bucs to have good success against an Arizona defense that has given up 407.6 yards per game. As for when Arizona has the ball, it will have to try and navigate past the best defense against the run in the NFL without its RB David Johnson, so Cardinals dual-threat QB Kyler Murray might be in for a tough one here. 

10* play on Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 10 TOTAL

The Cincinnati Bengals have put up 17, 17 and 10 points in their last three games. Under is 6-2 in their eight games on the season and I think we'll see a relatively low-scoring affair when they host AFC North rivals Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon. I would not be surprised to see Baltimore come out flat here following a massive 37-20 win over New England last week, no facing a winless Cincinnati team and with Houston on deck. 

The Ravens picked up a 23-17 win over the Bengals home in Baltimore on Oct. 13 with a total closing at 47 points. The books have adjusted the total somewhat for this contest, but not enough if you ask me. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* CHARGERS @ RAIDERS BOOKIE BREAKER

The LA Chargers are right back in the playoff race following back-to-back underdog wins against Chicago and Green Bay. They're a small road favorite at Oakland Thursday night, and I think they'll make it three in a row. They've allowed a total of just 27 points during that winning streak, which can be compared to the Raiders who have surrendered 31 points per game over their last three contests. The Chargers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings and I expect their dominance over their AFC West rival to continue here. 

Additionally, the Chargers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games, 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games in November and 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 road games.

10* play on LA Chargers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 9 SIDE

The 3-4 Pittsburgh Steelers are coming into this contest as winners of two in a row, but I think we can all agree that it's not all that impressive to beat up on Miami and the LA Chargers. 

Here they'll face a very tough opponent in the 5-2 Indianapolis Colts who have won five of their last six and three in a row with quality wins over KC and Houston mixed in. The Colts have held opponents to just 16.3 ppg over a three-game stretch and the Steelers are not the greatest team moving the ball with backup QB Mason Rudolph at the helm. Additionally running back James Conner is banged up and at risk of missing this game.

Note that Pittsburgh has been outgained in all but two of its games (against Miami and Cincinnati), and often by triple-digits. 

The Steelers will play on a relatively short week and are just 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game. Additionally, the Colts are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games while the Steelers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

10* play on Indianapolis Colts. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 9 TOTAL

The Carolina Panthers defense will be ready for this one after giving up 50+ points to San Francisco last week. Note that the over/under is 4-11 in the last 15 NFL games where one of the teams conceded 50 points or more its last game. 

Here Carolina will face a Tennessee Titans team that has struggled all season long and will have Ryan Tannehill under center for a second straight week after benching Marcus Mariota. Tennessee's offense is among the worst in the league averaging only 5.0 yards per play and Carolina is only marginally better at 5.2 ypp. 

Both teams are much more accomplished on the defensive side of the ball, and Titans run defense should be able to if not stop, at least contain Panthers' star running back Christian McCaffrey. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 49ERS @ CARDINALS THURSDAY NIGHT *BEST BET*

Do not let the fact that the San Francisco 49ers put up 51 points against Carolina last week scare you. They had played four straight unders prior to that offensive explosion, and I think they'll let the defense pick up the slack here when playing on a short week at Arizona Cardinals Thursday night. 

Arizona and rookie QB Kyler Murray had put up impressive offensive numbers against weak defenses (Cincinnati, Atlanta, NY Giants) before getting exposed by New Orleans' elite defense in a 31-9 loss last week. The Niners lead the NFL in total defense and points allowed, so points will most likely be equally hard to come by for the home team in this one. 

Under is 9-3 in 49ers last 12 Thursday games. Under is 7-3 in 49ers last 10 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. Under is 7-1 in Cardinals last 8 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 8 ATS PICK

The 5-1 Buffalo Bills didn't look all that good in their 31-21 win over Miami last week, but I think there's an obvious explanation for that with complacency likely kicking in against such an inferior opponent. They may not have covered the 17-point spread, but they did get the W which at the end of the day is all that matters, and it didn't look like they had to spend a lot of energy earning it. 

The 3-4 Philadelphia Eagles on the other hand are coming off back-to-back draining road losses at Minnesota and Dallas, and they were badly outmatched in Sunday's 37-10 loss as a 3-point underdog to the Cowboys. Philly QB Carson Wentz completed only 16-of-26 passes for 191 yards with a TD and an INT, and here he'll come up against arguably the best defense in the league. 

While Buffalo isn't scoring all that many points (20.2 ppg), the Eagles defense has been atrocious lately and has given up 31.5 ppg in four road games.

It's a short trip for the Eagles this time, but it is nonetheless a third straight road game and I think Buffalo's D and the hostile environment at New Era Field will be too much for the visitors to overcome. 

10* play on Buffalo Bills. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED REDSKINS @ VIKINGS TOTAL

I think we'll see a low-scoring affair when the Minnesota Vikings host the Washington Redskins Thursday night. 

The Vikes have been putting up impressive offensive numbers in recent weeks, but QB Kirk Cousins has a tendency to do worse in primetime games and this should be no exception playing on a short week. There will simply be no reason for Minnesota to run up the score against a hapless Redskins team so the main focus (apart from getting the W) should be to come out of this contest as healthy as possible. Expect Minnesota to take a healthy lead and then bleed the clock dry on every possession. 

Under is 9-4 in Vikings last 13 games overall and 5-1 in their 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Under is 4-0 in Redskins last 4 games overall.

10* play on UNDER. 

PATRIOTS @ JETS MONDAY NIGHT AFC EAST SHOWDOWN *TOP PLAY*

NY Jets QB Sam Darnold missed three games from mononucleosis but came back with one of the best games of his career when he led the team to major upset against Dallas last week. 

We can however note that Darnold threw for just 175 yards and was sacked four times when he faced the Bills elite defense in his only other start this season on September 9. The Pats D is right up there with Buffalo's ranking near the top of the league in several defensive categories and the Jets left Gilette Stadium without an offensive touchdown in a 30-14 loss a couple of weeks ago.

Under is 9-0 in Patriots last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and 6-1 in the last 7 meetings and keep in mind that the Jets rank dead last in tempo taking almost 31 seconds per play. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S BEST SIDE FOR OCTOBER

The Cincinnati Bengals managed to cover the 10-point spread in a loss at division rival Baltimore with a late touchdown last week. They're however 1-7 ATS following a loss to a division rival over the last three seasons and I think they'll come up well short in this contest. 

Here they will be facing an angry Jacksonville team coming off a tough home loss to New Orleans. The setback meant that Jacksonville dropped 2-4 on the season, and it does not have the luxury of looking past 0-6 teams like the Bengals. 

While Jax struggled to move the ball against a feisty Saints defense, that should not be an issue here against a Bengals team that is one of the worst in the NFL giving up 426 yards of total offense per game and 184.5 ypg on the ground. Jacksonville is rather average on the offensive side of the ball, but it is very capable of moving the chains on the ground averaging a healthy 127.5 rushing yards per game.

Cincinnati has failed to cover the spread in both of its home games this season and took a 41-17 beating by the Niners as a home dog in Week 2. Jacksonville 2-1 ATS on the road with an impressive outright win at the Mile High in Week 4. 

10* play on Jacksonville Jaguars. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED CHIEFS @ BRONCOS TOTAL

I think the posted total is set way too high for this Thursday Night Football clash between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs at Mile High. 

The usually so high-scoring Chiefs have averaged only 21.5 ppg during an 0-2 SU and ATS slide. MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes has completed just 55 percent of his passes during that stretch and is visibly bothered by a lingering ankle injury. To be fair, he is not getting much help from a banged up offensive line and the Chiefs ground game is virtually non-existent. 

As for the Broncos they're trending in the opposite direction, and almost solely because of a defense that has been excellent in back-to-back wins. Note that they recorded seven sacks with three interceptions in last week's 16-0 shutout triumph over Tennessee. The Broncos do not bring much to the table offensively though, and when they do move the ball it will mainly be on the ground which will take time off the clock. 

The under is 13-2 over the last three seasons in Denver games with a total between 42.5 and 49 points and 11-3 L14 when facing a division rival. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S MAJOR WAGER TOTAL

The Atlanta Falcons have 99 problems, but scoring points ain't one. You would think that putting 32 points on the board would be enough to a W, but that was not the case for the Falcons as they took a 53-32 loss at Houston last week. 

Only KC's Patrick Mahomes has more passing yards than Atlanta QB Matt Ryan, and here Ryan will get to take shots against an Arizona defense that ranks in the bottom third against the pass and in the bottom five for total defense. The Falcons D is only marginally better and it allowed Houston QB Deshaun Watson to complete 28-of-33 passes for 426 yards and five touchdown passes in Week 5. 

Arizona will enter this contest feeling pretty good about themselves after accumulating 514 yards of offense in a 26-23 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie QB Kyler Murray ran for a career-high 93 yards and completed 20-of-32 passes for 253 yards without an interception.  

Over is 8-3 in Falcons last 11 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. Over is 14-6-1 in Falcons last 21 vs. a team with a losing record. Over is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.

It's a big number, but I expect both teams to score fast and easy until the very last possession. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): MIKE'S BEST BET ATS ~ HUGE 6-0 WEEK 5 & 21-8 (72%) NFL YTD

The New Orleans Saints are 3-0 since losing their future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees to a thumb injury. Their defense has been excellent in recent weeks, holding the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to fewer than 270 yards of total offense each.

I don't think the Saints will have any trouble to shut down the Jags with a rookie under center. The 23-year-old Gardner Minshew has received a lot of praise, and while he admittedly surpassed all expectations, note that the Jags are only 2-3 on the season. Minshew completed only 26-of-44 passes against Carolina, and he has been sacked seven times over the last two games. The Saints got to Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston six times last time out... 

As for Jacksonville's defense, it allowed Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey to run riot in a 34-27 Panthers win last week. The Saints have a balanced attack and are certainly capable of doing some damage on the ground. We can also note that Saints backup QB Teddy Bridgewater came alive with four touchdown passes in their Week 5 win over the Bucs. As far as backup quarterbacks in the NFL, it's hard to find anyone more experienced than Bridgewater with 32 starts under his belt. 

Saints are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games in Week 6 and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. Jaguars are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in October.

10* play on New Orleans Saints. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

The Minnesota Vikings didn't get on the scoreboard until the middle of the fourth quarter in last week's 16-6 loss to the Chicago Bears. 

Over/under is 29-41-4 in games where a team scored seven or fewer points last time out dating back to the start of the 2017 season, and I think this has all the signs of a low-scoring affair. 

The Vikes have struggled to protect QB Kirk Cousins who was sacked six times against the Bears and running back Dalvin Cook was completely shut down, finishing with just 35 yards on 14 carries. The Giants defense is of course not nearly as good as Chicago's, but it has been more vulnerable through the air which is not something Minnesota can exploit effectively. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Minnesota has been as solid as ever. It held Chicago to 269 yards of total offense and ranks sixth in the NFL with 312.8 yards allowed per game despite facing what I consider good offenses in three of its four games. The Vikings should be able to shut down Giants team playing without its star running back and a rookie QB (Daniel Jones) who threw two interceptions in a 24-3 win over Washington last week.

Under is 5-0 in Vikings last 5 road games. Under is 15-7 in Giants last 22 home games.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED MAJOR WAGER SIDE

Not only are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a letdown spot following a huge 55-40 road win at LA Rams, but they're also on the road for a second straight week. Extremely tough spot for any team and I like the New Orleans Saints to get the job done in back-to-back home games. 

The Saints have played reasonably well since losing star QB Drew Brees to a thumb injury and most recently defeated Dallas 12-10 on Monday night football. With the offense lacking, the Saints relied on their defense to beat the previously undefeated Cowboys and that same formula should work again in this game. 

I would simply not count on Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston to throw for four touchdown passes in back-to-back games. Note his 9/5 TD/INT ratio on the season and keep in mind that the Bucs were outgained 518-464 offensive yards against the Rams who won the first down battle 36-27. 

Tampa Bay managed to take full advantage of four Rams turnovers (three Goff interceptions), but their secondary gave up over 500 yards passing to Jared Goff and Saints backup QB Teddy Bridgewater is, even if not spectacular, at the very least serviceable.  

Additionally, we can note that the Saints are 22-5 ATS in their last 27 games in October.

10* play on New Orleans Saints. 

THURSDAY NIGHT RAMS @ SEAHAWKS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*'

We should see an angry and motivated Los Angeles Rams team heading to Seattle looking to bounce back from a 55-40 home loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The reigning NFC champions are as good as anyone on the offensive side of the ball but simply can't trust their defense to win games.

Rams' third-year quarterback Jared Goff threw for 517 yards with two touchdown passes and three picks in that contest and they're averaging a healthy 29.2 ppg on the season. Seattle has an elite rushing defense, but its secondary is mediocre at best. The Seahawks allowed Bengals QB Andy Dalton to pass for 418 yards plus a pair of scores in the opening game of the season. Since then they've faced two teams with backup QBs and one team with a rookie under center. 

Offensively, the Seahawks just put up 20 points in the first half alone against Arizona and I think the two teams will combine for enough points to push the final score over the total. As the clincher, we can note that both matchups last season saw 60+ points scored!

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S BEST NFL BET ATS FOR SEPTEMBER

Dallas will face its first real test of the season when it heads to New Orleans to take on the Saints in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for a Sunday night showdown. 

The Cowboys have had no trouble to beat up on three teams that are a combined 1-8 through the first three weeks of the season, but you can only beat what's in front of you and they're unlikely to stumble against an opponent playing without its star QB quarterback. 

The Saints are coming off a 33-27 win at Seattle, a great result considering that they were outgained by 250 yards. Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater managed just 177 yards on 19-of-27 passing while running back Alvin Kamara was held 69 yards on 16 carries. The defense/special teams saved the day with three touchdowns, but that's not something that'll happen every week.  

The Cowboys are coming off a 31-6 win over Miami and rank third in the NFL in total offense with 481.3 yards per game. They should have no trouble to take advantage of a New Orleans defense that ranks in the bottom five in the NFL with 436.3 yards allowed per game. 

Additionally, we can note that the Cowboys are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall. They're playing with a lot of confidence, and I don't see an upset happening. 

10* play on Dallas Cowboys. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUNDAY AFTERNOON TOTAL

This is a showdown between two teams that have struggled on the defensive end through the first three games of the season. Both sides are allowing an average of 31.3 ppg and 400+ yards of total offense. The Redskins have seen all three contests fly over the total, and I think this will turn into a shootout. 

The Giants are 1-2 on the season following a thrilling come-from-behind 32-31 win over Tampa Bay. Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones completed 65 percent of his passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns versus zero interceptions in his first career start. Make no mistake, this is a team that can move the ball and it ranks seventh in the NFL for total offense. 

Sure, the injury to Giants' running back Saquon Barkley is not ideal, but I don't think they'll have any trouble to move the chains against a weak Redskins secondary. 

The Giants have the worst pass defense in the league with 332.3 passing yards allowed per game and they allowed Bucs and they let a mediocre QB like Jameis Winston to throw for 380 yards. While Washington QB Case Keenum looked terrible against the Bears Monday night, keep in mind that he was up against one of the best defenses in the league. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOTAL

The Chicago Bears have opened the season 1-1 with both games being low-scoring affairs, and that's a trend I like to continue when they visit the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football. 

The Skins have looked suspect on the defensive side of the ball in first giving up 32 points to the Eagles in Week 1 and 31 points to the Cowboys last week. We can, however, note that Chicago has averaged just 9.5 points and 263.5 yards of total offense through the first two weeks. 

Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky really struggled in the 10-3 Week 1 loss to Green Bay and was not much better Sunday, throwing for only 120 yards at Denver. Note that Trubisky has completed just over 58 percent of his passes and he has yet to throw a touchdown pass this season ... Washington QB Case Keenum has put up decent numbers, but I doubt he can do it against an elite Bears defense that has held its opponents to 292.5 yards per game. 

Under is 7-0 in Bears last 7 games overall. Under is 6-1 in Redskins last 7 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED RAMS @ BROWNS ATS BET

*This pick was made ahead of Cleveland's Monday night matchup with the New York Jets.

The LA Rams have opened the season with a perfect 2-0 record after first beating the Panthers at Carolina before putting a 27-9 beating on New Orleans. Sure, they didn't run away with the game against the Saints until the second half and were fortunate that NO quarterback Drew Brees had to exit the game with an injury, but still a solid effort on both sides of the ball. 

The Cleveland Browns entered the season as a possible Super Bowl contender, but they looked nothing like it in their 43-13 home loss to Tennessee in Week 1. Note that the Browns gave up 182 penalty yards in the setback, something that could become a recurring theme with this talented but also young and inexperienced roster. 

The Rams are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall while the Browns are 7-18-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record and 9-21 ATS in their last 30 home games. 

I'm not saying the Browns won't have their fair share of good games this year, but I doubt they'll keep it close against last season's Super Bowl finalist. 

10* play on LA Rams. 

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TITANS @ JAGS BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Tennesse Titans dominated Cleveland Browns in Week 1 but failed to make it a 2-0 start to the season when they came up short in a 19-17 loss to Indianapolis last time out. 

I think they'll bounce back here in Jacksonville Thursday night, facing an 0-2 Jaguars team that had big trouble to generate any kind of offense in its 17-16 loss to Houston on Sunday. 

With Nick Foles (and several other offensive pieces) out, the Jags have to rely on rookie QB Gardner Minshew under center. The 6th round pick has not embarrassed himself, quite far from it, but moving the ball against this solid Titans defense won't be easy.

As for the Jacksonville defense, it gave up 126 yards on 30 rush attempts to the Texans, and Tennessee can do plenty of damage on the ground with dual-threat QB Marcus Mariota and RB Derrick Henry who ranks 6th in the NFL with 165 yards on the season. 

We can also note that the Jaguars are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game and 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 games overall. 

The Titans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings and won both last season's contests straight up, including a 9-6 triumph here in Florida. 

10* play on Tennessee Titans. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUNDAY SIDE

The Dallas Cowboys had little trouble to take advantage of one of the worst defenses in the league when they opened the season with a decisive 35-17 victory against the New York Giants. 

Here they'll face a Washington side that gave up 32 points on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, and I like Dallas in to win and cover the spread. 

The Redskins kept it relatively close against Philly, losing by only five points as a 10-point dog, thanks to QB Case Keenum. He was one of the big surprises in Week 1 as he lit up Philly's defense for a career-high 380 passing yards and three touchdown passes, but Keenum likely to come crashing back to earth here against one of the league’s top defenses. 

Dallas has the advantage of both sides of the ball, and I don't think Washington's home field advantage will make up for that. We can also note that Dallas has won four of the last five meetings by five points or more. 

10* play on Dallas Cowboys. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUNDAY TOTAL

The New England Patriots limited Big Ben and the Steelers and to three points and 308 yards of offense last week. We won with the under in that Sunday night matchup, and I'm going back to the well as I don't see this turning into a shootout. 

Miami looked awful on both sides of the ball in its 59-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 1 so there's not really a surprise to see the reigning champions favored by almost three touchdowns here. We can, however, note that Miami usually plays them tough, particularly here at Hard Rock Stadium where they won outright as a 9.5-point underdog last year. 

The bookmakers obviously expect a very different result in this contest, and I also expect the Pats to take a comfortable lead and then control the clock and possibly remove their starters to minimizing the risk of injuries. Also, I don't think Bill Belichick wants to embarrass Dolphins coach Brian Flores who was defensive play-caller for the team that won the Super Bowl last year.

Under is 7-0 in Patriots last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Under is 8-2 in Dolphins last 10 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.

10* play on UNDER. 

TEXANS @ SAINTS MONDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The New Orleans Saints have dropped five straight season openers, and while they should win this one straight up I still think the visiting Houston Texans will keep it close until the very end. 

Houston's Deshaun Watson is coming off a big season, and the third-year quarterback should be even better and more mature this year. He has a reliable target in DeAndre Hopkins and talented running backs to hand over the ball to. 

As for New Orleans, Drew Brees is back under center for his 19th season, and while he's surrounded by talent season openers are always a bit iffy. Brees won't have to worry about 2014 top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney who was traded to Seattle on Saturday, but Houston still has a tough defense. "We have a lot of guys out there," J.J. Watt said. "Obviously it's tough to lose a player like that, but we have a lot of guys out there than can step up can make plays."

The Saints meanwhile will open the season without two of their top interior defensive linemen as Sheldon Rankins (injury) and David Onyemata (suspended) will sit this one out. 

10* play on Houston Texans. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S STEELERS @ PATRIOTS BEST TOTAL BET

The defending Super Bowl champions New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers for one of the best inter-divisional rivalries in the NFL Sunday night. If you expect late-night fireworks I think you'll be disappointed as this looks like a low-scoring contest. 

Note that five of New England's last seven season openers have gone under the total and, four of its last five meetings with the Steelers failed to surpass the closing number. They clashed once last year, a game the Steelers won 17-10. 

Pittsburgh has since lost/got rid of star wide receiver and troublemaker Antonio Brown, and while it's almost certainly the right call in the long run, it'll be hard to replace him in the short term. Instead, we now find Brown with the Pats, which certainly puts an extra interesting spin to this matchup ... 

We'll see two aging quarterbacks in Tom Brady (42) and Ben Roethlisberger (37) under center, and while I'm certainly not saying either is done yet, they might need a couple of games to get the old legs going following the off-season. 

Under is 36-16 in Steelers last 52 road games and 11-3 in their last 14 games on fieldturf. Under is 5-1 in Patriots last 6 games on fieldturf.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S BILLS @ JETS BEST BET ATS

The New York Jets host the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the NFL season this Sunday. The home team will surely close as a favorite, but I'm happy to take the points on the visiting Bills in this matchup. 

Keep in mind that Buffalo boasts one of the best defensive units in pro football and gave up just 294.1 yards per game last year. Sure, the Bills were more effective stopping the pass than the run and the Jets have an outstanding running back with a point to prove in Le’veon Bell, but can new head coach Adam Gase get the best out of his team in Week 1? 

The Bills have two very capable running backs of their own in 36-year-old veteran Frank Gore, third-round draft pick Devin Singletary and T.J. Yeldon, who was acquired as a free agent in the offseason, and second-year QB Josh Allen must feel the pressure to step up his game this season. 

The Bills are a solid 10-4 ATS in their last 14 season openers while the Jets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games in September. I think Buffalo will start better and its defense will keep the team in this game until the very end.

10* play on Buffalo Bills. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUPER BOWL LIII BEST BET

The BIG GAME is finally here; New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams for all the marbles in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

The Pats have played high-scoring contests throughout the postseason, and I expect another shootout here against an explosive Rams team that averaged 32.9 ppg through the regular season. 

New England's 41 year old signal caller Tom Brady showed that age is just a number as the GOAT had little trouble to march his team down the field when it really mattered in the AFC Championship Game. 

The Patriots and the Chiefs combined for 38 points in Q4 alone of their AFC Championship clash, with 24 of the points coming in the last 3:32 of the quarter. We could very well see a similar scenario here with two clutch quarterbacks more than capable of marching down the field when it really matters. 

Over is now 7-1 in Patriots last eight playoff games and this Patriots team will have to score plenty of points here to have a shot at winning. 

10* play on OVER. 

MIKE'S TOP RATED SUPER BOWL LIII BEST BET ATS

The BIG GAME is finally here; New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams for all the marbles in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

The Pats have played high-scoring contests throughout the postseason, and I expect another shootout here against an explosive Rams team that averaged 32.9 ppg through the regular season. 

New England's 41 year old signal caller Tom Brady showed that age is just a number as the GOAT had little trouble to march his team down the field when it really mattered in the AFC Championship Game. 

The Patriots and the Chiefs combined for 38 points in Q4 alone of their AFC Championship clash, with 24 of the points coming in the last 3:32 of the quarter. We could very well see a similar scenario here with two clutch quarterbacks more than capable of marching down the field when it really matters. 

Over is now 7-1 in Patriots last eight playoff games and this Patriots team will have to score plenty of points here to have a shot at winning. Rams have a talented team, but I highly doubt the experienced duo of Brady/Belichick will lose two Super Bowls in a row. 

10* play on New England Patriots. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S AFC CHAMPIONSHIP BEST BET ATS

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game Sunday afternoon. Both teams are coming off blowout victories in the Divisional Round, but I think KC's home field advantage will be too much for the Pats to overcome in this contest. 

New England was just 3-5 SU and ATS on the road during the regular season, including three double-digit losses. Here it'll face Kansas City defense that may have ranked ranked 31st in the league during the regular season, but allowed just 266 yards and 15 first downs in last week's 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts. 

The Chiefs owned the No. 1 offense in the regular season and 23-year-old first-year starting QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 358 yards and four passing touchdowns against the Pats in Week 6. The Patriots won that contest 43-40, but I expect the Chiefs to execute revenge here when it counts. 

10* play on Kansas City Chiefs. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED NFL PLAYOFFS TOTAL

The over/under is 5-11 in the New England Patriot games this season and they've allowed 12 points or fewer in each of their last three at home (16.6 ppg against in Foxboro on the season).

Here Pats coach Bill Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for the LA Chargers, and I think he'll have his defense on point leading to a low-scoring contest. 

The Chargers have stepped it up defensively in recent weeks and have seen four of their last five go under the total. They held Baltimore to 229 yards of offense in a 23-17 win in the opening round of the NFL playoffs last week but mustered also only 243 yards themselves. 

Chargers QB Philip Rivers has a poor career record against NE and he was sacked 32 times during the regular season. We can note that the Pats forced eight turnovers in the final three games of the regular season and there will be a lot of pressure on Rivers to deliver as RB Melvin Gordon is struggling with a knee injury he sustained during last week's wild-card win. Gordon rested at practice on Wednesday and is unlikely to be 100 percent by Sunday.

Under is 8-1 in Patriots last nine games overall. Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S BEST NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND ATS BET

We cashed in big with the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round, and I'm happy to take a touchdown+ on them here in their NFC Divisional round matchup with the LA Rams. 

Ezekiel Elliot just won his second rushing title with 1,434 yards and the Cowboys rumbled for 164 yards on 34 carries in their 24-22 win over Seattle last week. Here they'll face a LA Rams defense that allowed a league-worst average of 5.07 yards per rush this season.

The Rams can do plenty of damage on the ground themselves, but their star running back Todd Gurley (league-best 21 TDs) sat out the final two games of the regular season with a knee injury and it's worth noting that Dallas boasts the fifth-best run defense in the league. 

LA finished the regular season 2nd in the league in scoring offense with 32.9 points per game and QB Jared Goff has plenty of weapons, but I still think the visitors will be able to slow things down with their running game and make this a close contest. 

Rams are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine home games vs. a team with a winning road record and 1-5 ATS in their last six playoff games.

10* play on Dallas Cowboys. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* WILD CARD WEEKEND TOTAL

We won with our NFL regular season total of the year on Bears @ Vikings in Week 17, and I'm going with another big bet on the under in a Bears game in Wild Card Weekend. 

The Eagles took full advantage of Chicago's win over Minnesota to sneak into the postseason with a 24-0 win over the Redskins at Washington. Pretty big QB concerns here for Philly though with Carson Wentz definitely out and backup Nick Foles banged up after taking a hit on the ribs last week. 

The Bears own the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL, but they have been held to 15 points or fewer in two of their last four games and haven't scored more than 24 in any game during that stretch. They own the No. 11 rushing offense in the NFL but Philly is good at stopping the run allowing 96.9 ypg. 

Under is 6-2 in Bears last eight home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S WILD CARD WEEKEND BEST ATS BET

The Seattle Seahawks own the No. 1 rush offense in the NFL this season, but their pass offense is nowhere near as good as previous years and Russell Wilson has been sacked plenty. 

Here the Seahawks will run into a Dallas defense that ranks 5th in the NFL against the run giving up just 3.8 rushing yards per game, and the Cowboys should come out with extra motivation as the seek to avenge a 24-13 loss at Seattle in Week 3. 

Dallas has since added WR Amari Cooper to the roster and he has connected very well with QB Dak Prescott; in eight games with Dallas, Cooper has caught 53 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns. Add a prolific running game that will face a Seattle D which has given up 4.9 yards per rush attempt this season, and I think we have identified significant advantages for Dallas on both sides of the ball. 

Dallas is 7-1 at home while Seattle is 4-4 on the road (winning at Arizona, Detroit, Carolina and beating Oakland in London). As you can see, the Seahawks have not won on the road against a team near Dallas caliber and I'm well happy to back the home team in this matchup. 

10* play on Dallas Cowboys. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) ATS

The winner will "literally" take it all when the Tennessee Titans host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night; the winner will advance to the postseason while the loser will see its year end. 

Titans QB Marcus Mariota's status for this contest is questionable (as of the posting of this pick on Tuesday) after leaving Tennessee's 25-16 win over Washington last week with a shoulder stinger. 

With or without Mariota, I don't see the Titans keeping up with this high-octane Colts offense guided by Andrew Luck who threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns in a dramatic win over the Giants last Sunday. Luck tossed three touchdown passes in a 38-10 win over Tennessee last month. 

The Titans are 6-1 SU at home this season, but only 5-14-1 ATS in their last 20 home games vs. a team with a winning road record and the Colts are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 meetings.

10* play on Indianapolis Colts. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): REGULAR SEASON TOTAL

There's no secret that two of the NFL's top defensive teams will clash at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Sunday afternoon, but I still think the books have set the total too high. Note that under is 21-16 (56.8%) in games with a total closing under 42 points in NFL this season. 

Chicago owns the league's fourth-best defense and has the No. 3 seed in the NFC locked in. They must defeat the Vikings and hope for the 49ers to defeat the LA Rams in Los Angeles to jump into the No. 2 seed, not impossible but at the same time not very likely either... They've been held to a total of 53 points through their last three games and under is 8-1 in Bears last nine games in December.

The Vikings rank third in overall defense and will be highly motivated as they can clinch a wild card with a victory (or a tie). "For us, playoffs have already started," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said. "We know that we have to win this game in order to get into them. There has to be heightened sense of energy and focus and study time. You have to make sure that your bodies are rested and understand it is going to be a physical football game on Sunday."

I expect Minnesota to take an early lead and then controlling the clock. Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings and I think the circumstances call for another low-scoring affair.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL) TOTAL

The Chicago Bears tenacious defense has allowed a total of just 23 points through the last two games. The Bears have already clinched a postseason berth but I think they'll still put up a fight here as they look to improve their seeding in the NFC playoffs. 

The San Francisco 49ers have no shot of making the postseason but have held Denver and Seattle to a combined 37 points in back-to-back wins. They're allowing 23.0 ppg home at Levi's Stadium which is well below their 26.6 ppg season average overall. 

Under is 8-3 in Bears last 11 vs. a team with a losing record and 7-1 in their last eight games in December. Under is 11-3 in 49ers last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL) ATS REGULAR SEASON

The red hot Cleveland Browns look determined to finish a season with a winning record for the first time  since 2007.

They have won four of their last five games and even have a shot at their first playoff berth since 2002. I don't think they'll have any trouble to take down the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday afternoon.

The Bengals are coming off a 30-16 triumph over the tanking and banged up Oakland Raiders, and received some home cooking in their last home game of the season.

They had however lost five straight games prior to that, and Cleveland owns a big psychological advantage after beating the Bengals 35-20 at Paul Brown Stadium on Nov 25. 

10* play on Cleveland Browns. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The New Orleans Saints are averaging 34.4 ppg on the season, but they've been held to a total of 38 points through their last two games. At the other end of the field, they've held five consecutive opponent to 17 or fewer points. Each of their last four have gone under the total and I expect a relatively low-scoring contest here when they visit Carolina Monday night.

The slumping Panthers have lost five in a row and scored more than 21 points just once during their skid. They rank 2nd in the NFL with 1,786 net rushing yards on the season but here the Panthers will run into the very best rush defense in the league, allowing just 3.6 yards/rush attempt. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL)

The New England Patriots should be extremely fired up for this one after a wild loss at Miami last week. The Pats were on the verge of clinching their 10th consecutive AFC East title before losing to a last-second stunner. 

I think they'll be back in business and take out their frustrations on the Steelers here Sunday afternoon. 

Pittsburgh has lost three in a row SU and ATS and has struggled to slow down opposing QBs. Derek Carr was allowed to throw for 322 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 24-21 Oakland win last week, not very encouraging for Steelers backers considering Patriots QB Tom Brady is coming off a 358 yard outing with three TD passes. 

Patriots are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games in December and 5-0 SU and 4-0-1 ATS vs. the Steelers since 2013.

Steelers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games in December and have covered the spread in only three of their last 11 at home. 

10* play on New England Patriots. 

CHARGERS @ CHIEFS AFC WEST BOOKIE BREAKER

The LA Chargers look like a solid underdog when visiting Kansas City Chiefs in a matchup between the two teams with the best records in the AFC. 

KC has failed to cover the spread in four straight games and needed overtime to get past Baltimore last Sunday. The Chiefs gave up 132 yards on the ground and could be in big trouble here if Chargers RB Melvin Gordon takes the field after missing two games with a sprained right knee. 

"I've been grinding hard to get back and we're still trying to decide what we're going to do," Gordon said Tuesday (via ESPN.com). "I know Coach is trying to be careful and doesn't want me to further hurt myself or things like that. So we'll see where that goes, but I'm a lot stronger and more confident than I was last week."

Note that KC is banged up as well; wide receiver Tyreek Hill (foot) and running back Spencer Ware (shoulder/hamstring) are both in danger of missing the game. 

The Chargers have won three in a row and they're a solid 5-1 SU and ATS on the road this season. They're likely to be extra fired up here seeking revenge for a 38-28 home loss to the Chiefs back in September. 

10* play on LA Chargers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) ATS

The Houston Texans are the hottest team in the NFL coming off nine straight wins, a streak that started with a 37-34 OT win over the Colts.

The Texans had no trouble whatsoever to take care of business against Cleveland last week (29-13 triumph) and look like a solid home favorite here against Indianapolis in Week 14. 

The Colts had won five straight before losing all momentum with a deflating 6-0 loss at Jacksonville last week. They managed just 265 yards of total offense in the defeat and QB Andrew Luck was sacked three times.

This figures to another tough matchup for Luck and the rest of the Colt as they'll be coming up against one of the best defenses in the league. Houston ranks 4th in the NFL for points allowed and is tied for third with 41.0 sacks.  

Houston could clinch a playoff berth and the AFC South division title with a win here so there's plenty of motivation for the home team on top of trying to keep the winning streak alive.

10* play on Houston Texans. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The New England Patriots put a 38-7 beating on Miami at Foxboro back in September. 

Their scoring has slowed down since though and the Pats have averaged only 20.3 ppg through their last three games. 

It's no coincidence that two of those games where on the road where NE is averaging 21.7 ppg on the season, and here it'll face a Miami team which has held opponents to 20.5 ppg in six games at Hard Rock Stadium. Offensively, Miami does not pose much of a threat and ranks 29th in the NFL for total offense with 302.1 ypg. 

Under is 8-2 in Patriots last 10 road games. Under is 5-0 in Patriots last five  games overall and 4-0 in Dolphins last four games overall.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The Minnesota Vikings limited Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers to a season-worst 198 yards and sacked him four times in last week's 24-17 win. They're allowing just 276.6 ypg since Week 4 and I think they'll give Tom Brady and the New England Patriots offense plenty of problems here on Sunday. The Pats have scored a combined 37 points through their last two games with each of their last four going under the total. 

Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) SIDE

The LA Rams are coming off their bye week and look primed to put a massive beating on Detroit Sunday afternoon. 

The Lions season is all but over after losing four of their last five and they lost by a touchdown against the Bears on Thanksgiving. Here they'll face a Rams team which has lost just one game all season (to New Orleans) and we can note that the Rams are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a bye week.

The Rams rank 2nd in the NFL for total offense with 448.6 yards per game and QB Jared Goff threw for 413 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-51 win over the Chiefs in Week 11. Running back Todd Gurley was limited by an ankle issue against the Chiefs but is expected to be fine for this matchup; bad bad news for Detroit. 

10* play on LA Rams. 

SAINTS @ COWBOYS THURSDAY NIGHT BOOKIE BREAKER (10* TOP PLAY)

The New Orleans Saints are coming off a successful two-game homestand during which they beat Philadelphia and Atlanta by a combined 55 points. They have won five consecutive games by double digits and I think they'll keep rolling here in the first of what will be three consecutive road games when visiting Dallas Thursday night. 

The Saints are a phenomenal 9-2 ATS on the season, and while the Cowboys have covered the spread in three straight games I just don't see them keeping up with the Saints explosive offense. Cowboys are 2-7 ATS in their last nine home games vs. a team with a winning road record and Saints are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 meetings.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has been sacked a league-high 38 times and I don't see Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliot having much success at moving the chains against a solid Saints rush defense which hasn't allowed an individual player to rush for 100 yards for more than a calendar year. Even Rams' Todd Gurley managed just 68 yards rushing in a 45-35 loss to New Orleans on Nov 4. 

10* play on New Orleans Saints. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) SIDE

The Philadelphia Eagles should be extremely fired up for this matchup with NFC East rivals NY Giants as they look to bounce back from a 48-7 beating in New Orleans last time out. 

The Giants are obviously are nowhere near as good as the Saints, and they're in a letdown spot after back-to-back triumphs and claiming a 38-35 home win over the Buccaneers last week. NY won despite giving up 510 total yards of offense, and we can expect a big game for Philly QB Carson Wentz who threw three touchdown passes in a 34-13 win over the Giants in New York on October 11.

Philadelphia has covered the spread in 14 of the last 21 meetings and is in need of a win here to save its season. I think the home team will come through and win in blowout fashion. 

10* play on Philadelphia Eagles.  

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The Atlanta Falcons are coming off back-to-back losses despite giving up a total of just 50 points in the two contests combined. They've failed to break 20 point scored in each of those games and here it'll face a New Orleans side which has allowed a total of only 21 points through its last two games. 

The Saints are the highest scoring team in the league and have scored 45+ points in three straight games, but even while the first meeting of the season finished with a total of 80 points scored I highly doubt this contest will break 60 considering both teams recent results. 

Falcons are just 1-3 SU and ATS away from home this season and under is 6-2 in their last eight road games. Under is 4-1 in Saints last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

10* play on UNDER in New Orleans. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The LA Chargers are among the league's hottest teams having won six on the bounce and permitted only 66 points over their past five games for an average of 13.2 ppg. Here they'll face a Denver team which has won just one of its last seven games and been held to 20 points or fewer in five of its nine games on the season. 

The Broncos defense is still pretty solid though and linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb have combined for 17 sacks, the most by a pass rushing duo in the NFL this season. We can also note that they're coming off their bye so they've had plenty of time to figure out how to stop the Chargers. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL)

This is a major let down spot for the Tennessee Titans after putting a 34-10 beating on the Patriots last week. They're 16-34-2 ATS in their last 52 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game and here the Titans will face AFC South rival Indianapolis which has won three on the bounce and is 16-5-1 ATS in its last 22 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. 

The Colts have averaged 36 ppg during their current winning streak. QB Andrew Luck has thrown for 10 touchdowns during that stretch and at least three TD passes in each of his last six outings. 

Prior to a couple of losses to the Titans last year, Indy had claimed 11 straight victories over Tennessee. The Colts have covered the spread in six of the last seven when holding home field advantage and that's a trend likely to continue.

10* play on Indianapolis Colts. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL SIDE)

This is just an awful spot for the Tennessee Titans, playing on a short week and in a let down situation following a 28-14 beatdown of the Cowboys as a 7-point dog at Dallas Monday night. 

Here the Titans will face a New England side off six straight triumphs while going 5-1 ATS. The Pats have scored 30+ points in five of those games with the lone exception a 25-6 walk in the park victory at Buffalo. Are the Patriots unbeatable? Certainly not, but I'm confident they'll win this by at least a touchdown. 

Patriots are 16-5 ATS vs. a team with a losing record and also 16-5 ATS in their last 21 road games.

10* play on New England Patriots. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL SIDE)

The Seattle Seahawks stumbled out of the gate, but they've won four of their last five including an impressive upset victory at Detroit last week. 

The Seattle defense has allowed only 17 points through its last two games and I think the Seahawks will be too much for the visitors to handle in this matchup. 

The Chargers are coming off their bye week and have four straight triumphs under their belt but were actually outgained by the Titans despite winning 20-19 last time out. They allowed Tennessee to rumble for 164 yards on the ground which could spell trouble here against a Seahawks side which ranks fifth in rushing and accumulated 176 yards on the ground against Detroit last week. 

Chargers QB Philip Rivers is having a big season, but the way Seattle's D has played lately I think it'll be able to contain him. We can also note that Chargers leading rusher Melvin Gordon missed their last contest and it's unclear whether he'll be back from his hamstring injury. 

10* play on Seattle Seahawks. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL TOTAL)

I'm confident we'll see a low-scoring game when the Denver Broncos host the Houston Texans Sunday afternoon. 

Houston owns one of the best run defenses in the league while Denver limited KC to just 49 rushing yards last week. On top of that, both teams rank in the top half against the pass and Denver is tied for second in the NFL with 24 sacks on the season.

We can also note that Houston will have to do without wide receiver Will Fuller who will miss the rest of 2018 with a torn ACL. 

Under is 1-3 for Houston on the road and also 1-3 for Denver at home on the season. Under is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) - MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 8 ATS *BEST BET* 

The Washington Redskins are coming off back-to-back wins over Dallas and Carolina to improve to 4-2 on the season. Here they'll face a NY Giants team which is tied for the worst record in the league at 1-6 with the 49ers and Cardinals. 

The Giants will play on a short week following a 23-20 setback at Atlanta Monday night. Rookie running back Saquon Barkley failed to reach 100 total yards for the first time in his professional career and is likely in for another tough matchup Sunday afternoon.

Washington ranks No.3 in the NFL against the run giving up only 87.3 ypg and held Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott to 31 yards overall on 14 carries last week. 

New York couldn't exploit an Atlanta D which had given up 32.0 points per game heading into Monday, and I'm more than happy to back the hotter team with the better defense in this contest.

10* play on Washington Redskins. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* ATS ANNIHILATOR *BEST BET*

The reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles found their groove last week and delivered a 34-13 beatdown at New York Giants. Here they'll face a Carolina Panthers team which took a 23-17 loss at Washington in Week 6, and I like Philly to win and cover the spread in this matchup. 

We can note that Carolina is 0-2 on the road this season while Philly is 2-1 at home, the lone loss a 23-21 setback to Minnesota in Week 5. 

Philly QB Carson Wentz has been getting better and better throughout the season and finally looks fully recovered from a devastating knee injury that he suffered last year. Wentz threw for three TDs last week and owns an 8-to-1 TD/INT ratio on the season. 

The Panthers can do plenty of damage on the ground with their 4th ranked rushing offense, but the Eagles are 2nd at stopping the run and I think Philly has the edge in this game, particularly with the momentum from last week's blowout win. 

10* play on Philadelphia Eagles. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* WEEK 6 TOTAL

The undefeated LA Rams are coming off a 33-31 road win at Seattle. While spectators might hope for another shootout at Denver on Sunday, I expect to see this game stay under this somewhat bloated total. 

The Broncos have lost three straight and struggled to put points on the board during their skid, managing only 14 against the Ravens, 23 against the Chiefs and most recently 16 against the Jets. Rams defense hasn't been as terrific as it can be in recent weeks, but LA is still giving up an average of only 19.6 points on the season, good for seventh in the NFL. Additionally, the Broncos are likely to try and move the chains primarily on the ground which will eat time off the clock. 

Under is 8-2 in Broncos last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Under is 9-3 in Rams last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Chicago Bears should be well rested and ready to go as they're coming off their Week 5 bye. They trounced Tampa Bay 48-10 last time out and have now won three straight since losing their season opener at Green Bay.

The Miami Dolphins are trending in the opposite direction, coming off back-to-back losses to the Pats (38-17) and the Bengals (27-17). QB Ryan Tannehill threw two picks against Cincinnati and he has five INTS and four fumbles on the season. I expect him to get roughed up plenty by Chicago defensive end Khalil Mack who has recorded a sack and fumble in four straight games. 

The Dolphins offense rank rank 30th in the NFL with an average of only 288 total yards per game and here it will come up against arguably the best defense in the NFL with Chicago giving up an average of only 294.5 yards of total offense. We can also note that Miami is highly unlikely to have any kind of success running the ball against a Bears rush defense that ranks #1 in the NFL.

Bears QB Mitch Trubisky was outstanding his last time out, massing 354 passing yards with six touchdown passes against the Bucs. Miami’s rush and pass defense both rank 20th in the NFL and I think points will come fast and easy for the visitors. 

10* play on Chicago Bears. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S BEST NFL SIDE FOR OCTOBER

I really like the Cincinnati Bengals as a home favorite against Miami Dolphins Sunday afternoon. 

The Bengals are coming off an impressive 37-36 win at Atlanta and they've scored at least 34 points in each of their three wins this season. QB Andy Dalton keeps putting up big numbers and torching defenses. He completed 29-of-41 passes for 337 yards with three TDs and an INT against Atlanta and has passed for 1197 yards with 11 TDs and six INTs on the season. 

I don't think the Bengals will have any trouble to pile up the points against a Miami team that was off to a 3-0 prior to getting exposed in a 38-7 loss to the Patriots last week. The Dolphins managed just 172 yards of total offense while giving up 449 yards of total offense in the defeat. Miami ranks 30th in the league in total offense and should not be able to keep up with this explosive Bengals team. 

Dolphins are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games and 3-8 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Bengals are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

10* NFL Game of the Month Side: Cincinnati Bengals ATS. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR WEEK 5

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a solid 26-14 win at Pittsburgh. They shut out the Steelers in the second half and held one of the most potent offenses in the league to just 284 yards, 14 first downs and 19 rushing yards. On the season, Baltimore is giving up only 16.8 ppg. 

Cleveland is coming off a 45-42 loss at Oakland, but such high-scoring games are usually few and far between for the Browns. The highest scoring team through their first three games put just 21 points on the board and I expect their D to step up again here after a subpar outing. Note that under is 7-1 in Browns last eight games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.

The Browns have had plenty of success on the ground this season, entering this contest ranked 2nd in the league with 152.8 rushing yards per game. The bad news for them is that Baltimore's rush defense ranks 4th, allowing only 82.5 ypg and I'm still not convinced that rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield can hurt a defense like Baltimore's. 

10* NFL Total of the Week: BAL @ CLE UNDER. 

CHIEFS @ BRONCOS MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL *TOP PLAY*

The Kansas City Chiefs are travelling to Mile High City undefeated 3-0 on the season. They're the league's highest-scoring team having scored 38 points or more in each contest and average a healthy 295.0 passing yards per game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has 16 touchdown passes and no interceptions. 

Denver has struggled to stop the pass, and while KC has surrendered 30.7 points per game I don't think the Broncos have the weapons to hurt them. Note that Denver quarterback Case Keenum has passed for just three touchdowns against five interceptions and he's coming off a season-low 192 yards passing at Baltimore.

Chiefs are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall and 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games. Broncos are 7-18-2 ATS in their last 27 games overall and 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven home games. Chiefs are 5-0 ATS in their last five meetings and 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings in Denver.

10* play on Kansas City Chiefs. 

NFL GAME OF THE MONTH (10* TOTAL)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been involved in two shootouts already this season, and I'm confident we'll see a high-scoring game when they host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night. 

The Ravens opened the season with a 47-3 thumping of Buffalo and have scored 50 in their last two games combined to make it a season average of 32.3 ppg. Baltimore averages 292 ypg through the air and Pittsburgh ranks among the worst against the pass, giving up 288.0 yards per game. 

Offensively the Steelers are doing just fine and their 453.3 yards of total offense per game is 2nd only to Tampa Bay. Ben Roethlisberger has found the end zone seven times and thrown for 1,140 yards and James Connor has been the go-to man in the backfield with 222 yards and two scores. 

Over is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings at Pittsburgh and the Steelers won last season's meeting at Heinz Field 39-38.

10* NFL TOTAL OF THE MONTH: OVER. 

NFL GAME OF THE WEEK (TOP RATED 10* SIDE)

The Houston Texans will be desperate for a win here after opening the season with three straight losses. They're 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games in Week 4 and should get the job done when visiting the Colts Sunday afternoon. 

Houston's offense has been a bright spot and ranks eighth in the NFL with 397 total yards per game. The Colts D gave up 379 total yards in a 20-16 road loss to the Eagles last week and I think Houston QB Deshaun Watson will tear them apart in this contest. Watson notched 385 passing yards with two TD’s against one INT against the Giants last week and we can also expect Houston to do a lot of damage on the ground against a Colts’ D that allows 106.0 rushing yards per game.

The Colts offense rank in the bottom 10 of the NFL in several offensive categories and collected only 209 total yards last week. Colts QB Andrew Colt owns a poor 5:3 TD/INT ratio on the season and their running game is among the worst in the league. 

Great value on the visitors. 

10* NFL SIDE OF THE WEEK: Houston Texans. 

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOBALL ~ VIKINGS @ RAMS *TOP PLAY*

The LA Rams will host the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Thursday night. The Rams are coming into this game undefeated while the Vikings are coming off their first loss of the season following a 2-0 start. 

The Vikings took an embarrassing 24-16 loss as a 16.5-point home favorite against the Bills last week. Perhaps they underestimated the Bills and took a win for granted. That won't happen here though, and there's plenty of talent in this Minnesota team which is considered a serious Super Bowl contender. 

I like the Purples to bounce back with a big performance here against an LA Rams team which no doubt is good, but also overrated by the public and the bookmakers after opening the season with routs of Oakland, Arizona and most recently LA Chargers. Take the points on the visitors. 

10* play on Minnesota Vikings. 

TOP RATED 10* STEELERS @ BUCS MONDAY NIGHT MONEYMAKER

The winless Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled big time defensively through their first two games.

The Pitt D allowed Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes to throw six touchdown passes last week and Tampa Bay QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has opened the season with consecutive 400-yard, four-touchdown performances.

Fitzmagic has been awarded NFC Offensive Player of the Week in both weeks and should have another big game Monday night.

Note that the Steelers have covered the spread only once since linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal injury in December and their top cornerback Joe Haden is banged up. 

10* play on Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

NFL GAME OF THE WEEK (10* SIDE)

The Baltimore Ravens annihilated the hapless Bills in their season opener, but they came out flat at Cincinnati last week and failed to fully climb out of an early 21-0 hole, eventually losing 34-23. 

I think the Ravens are in for a tough game here against the Denver Broncos who have opened the season with home wins over Seattle and most recently Oakland. 

Denver has looked solid on the defensive side of the ball and limited the Raiders to just 92 rushing yards last week. Baltimore has not posed much of a threat on the ground through the first two games which means the Broncos can focus on shutting down Baltimore QB Joe Flacco who was sacked four times against the Bengals.

Offensively the Broncos are dangerous on the ground and rank 2nd in the NFL in rushing with 314 yards on the season. Case Keenum is perhaps not an elite QB, but note that this Baltimore D allowed Bengals Andy Dalton to throw for 265 yards and four touchdowns last week. In addition, Baltimore cornerback Jimmy Smith is facing a multi-week suspension from the NFL because of an apparent violation of the league's personal-conduct policy.

Broncos are 7-2-2 ATS in their last 11 games in September. Ravens are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games in Week 3.

10* NFL Game of the Week (side): Denver Broncos.

NFL GAME OF THE MONTH (10* SIDE)

The Minnesota Vikings opened the season with an easy 24-16 home win against the 49ers while the Green Bay Packers just barely beat the Bears 24-23 at home Monday night. 

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers left the game with a knee injury but returned in the second half to help the Packers come back from a 20-0 deficit. 

We can however note that Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy either could not or would not say anything specific Monday regarding his starting quarterback's knee injury or his status for Week 2. 

Rodgers will most likely be banged up even if he makes it to the field, and that simply can't be good against a Minnesota team which features among the best passing defenses in the league. 

I like the Vikings to win this game no matter Rodgers' status. 

10* NFL SIDE GAME OF THE WEEK: Minnesota Vikings. 

MONDAY NIGHT RAMS @ RAIDER 10* BEST BET

The Oakland Raiders are coming off a 6-10 campaign and I think they're in for a tough season here after trading away linebacker Khalil Mack to Chicago. The LA Rams meanwhile finished with an 11-5 record last season and are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley forms a formidable one-two punch on offense and Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh leading the defense. 

10* play on LA Rams. 

10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a perfect 5-0 preseason, and I think they'll ride the momentum to easy victory against the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 1 of the regular season. 

The Bills salvaged a 2-2 preseason record with a 28-27 win at Chicago last week, but this is a team without much talent and the they're still undecided whether to start Josh Allen or AJ McCarron under center. The Bills will need to rely on running back LeSean McCoy, but the Ravens aggressive D has an advantage all across the board and should be able to keep the Bills caged.

There will be few surprises from the Ravens and John Harbaugh know exactly where he has his team after five preseason games. They have a strong go-to QB in Joe Flacco and a solid running game which ranked 11th in the NFL last year. Buffalo finished the 2017 season with the fourth worst rushing defense in the NFL and gave up plenty of yards during its preseason games. 

Also, let's not underestimate the home field advantage here with a hostile crowd guaranteed to make it difficult for the visitors.  

10* NFL Game of the Week: Baltimore Ravens. 

TOP RATED 10* FALCONS @ EAGLES *BOOKIE BREAKER*

The Phildelphia Eagles managed to overcome a late season-ending ACL injury to their star QB Carson Wentz last year and went all the way to beat New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. They could always lean a stingy defense that ranked first against the pass and third against the run in 2017, and I think the same will be true here in 2018. 

Wentz will miss the season opener against Atlanta Falcons, and the Eagles are also dealing with injuries to their receivers. We can also add in the fact that running back Jay Ajayi was held out in the final two games of the preseason and I think it's fair to assume that points will be hard to come by for the Eagles. Atlanta has an explosive offense, but I expect Philly's D to shut down the Falcons effectively. 

Under is 7-0 in Falcons last 7 games overall. Under is 9-4 in Eagles last 13 games in Week 1. Under is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) - MIKE'S SUPER BOWL LII BEST BET

The New England Patriots failed to cover the spread in their 24-20 win over Jacksonville in the AFC Championship Game, and I predict another tight affair when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on Sunday. 

The Eagles have managed to overcome a season-ending injury to their star QB Carson Wentz, as backup QB Nick Foles has been able to get the job done backed up by a solid defense that has allowed a total of just 17 points here in the postseason. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Philadelphia Eagles. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) - MIKE'S AFC TITLE GAME BEST BET

We won with the Jacksonville Jaguars as my NFL Game of the Month when they defeated Pittsburgh outright in the Divisional Playoff, and I'm gonna back them to at the very least cover the spread again here against the New England Patriots in the AFC Title Game. 

The Pats had little trouble with Tennessee their last time out as Tom Brady was able to exploit Titans linebackers and safeties who had struggled much of the year in coverage, but here they'll face arguably the best defense in the NFL. We can can also note that the Jags feature the top-ranked running game in the league, led by Leonard Fournette who was tremendous in Sunday’s win against Pittsburgh accumulating 109 rushing yards on 24 carries with three scores.

The Pats' Tom Brady is 7-0 lifetime against the Jaguars including two playoff victories, but the last encounter was back in 2015 and this Jacksonville team is cut from a different cloth, especially on the defensive side of the ball. 

The Patriots are 2-6 ATS in their last eight Conference Championships games and while they're likely to win this game outright, I absolutely think they're asked to cover way too many points. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Jacksonville Jaguars. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL)

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense put up another outstanding performance when the Jags recorded a 10-3 home win against the Bills in the Wildcard game last week. I think their tremendous D will keep this AFC Divisional playoff matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers a close game, and getting a touchdown here is well worth a max bet.

This will be the second meeting of the season and Jacksonville won the first encounter 30-9 here at Heinz Field in Week 5. The Jags forced five interceptions from Ben Roethlisberger in that matchup and limited the Bills to 263 total yards (including only 133 passing yards) and picked off the Buffalo QB twice last week.   

Jacksonville has allowed only 15.9 ppg on the season while the Steelers defense wasn't particularly sharp in the final stretch of the regular season, giving up rather big numbers to Baltimore, New England and Cleveland among others. Jacksonville features the top-ranked running game in the NFL led by Leonard Fournette who accumulated 181 rushing yards in the triumph over Pittsburgh earlier this season. 

We can also note that Pittsburgh star receiver Antonio Brown is questionable after he missed the last two games of the season with a lower leg contusion suffered against New England on Dec. 15.

My NFL Game of the Month is a 10* play on Jacksonville Jaguars. 

TOP RATED 10* PANTHERS @ SAINTS ATS ANNIHILATOR

The New Orleans Saints have already defeated the Carolina Panthers twice this season, the most recent a 31-21 triumph here in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome back in December. They're coming off a 31-24 loss at Tampa Bay but are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game and 23-4 ATS in their last 27 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Panthers fit the bill coming into this contest with a 5-3 road record for the season, but they took a 22-10 loss at Atlanta in their regular season finale and are 0-6 ATS in their last six meetings with New Orleans.

The Saints own the league’s No. 2 offense and they've been able to torch Carolina on the ground in both meetings this season, gaining 148 and 149 yards respectively. New Orleans’ defense meanwhile turned in two of its best performances of the season against the Panthers. 

My selection is a 10* play on New Orleans Saints. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL)

I think Atlanta Falcons plus the points look like excellent value here in their Wild Card game against the LA Rams. The Falcons have been in playoff mode for weeks while the Rams need to find a way to light their fire again after sitting QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley, WR Cooper Kupp and DL Aaron Donald in the regular-season finale (a 34-13 loss to the Niners).

The Rams have had a tremendous season considering this is a team that finished 4-12 last season, but they're still unproven in the playoffs while Atlanta has plenty of experience. 

Sure, Atlanta QB Matt Ryan has had a poor season, but this is still pretty much the same offense that carried the Falcons to the Super Bowl last year and its defense really stepped up in its 22-10 triumph over Carolina in the regular-season finale. 

My NFL Wild Card Game of the Week is a 10* play on Atlanta Falcons. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL)

The San Francisco 49ers will be looking to close out the season with a fifth consecutive victory. They've looked like a completely different team since installing Jimmy Garoppolo under center and scored 44 points on one of the top defenses in the league in Jacksonville last week. 

"Since Jimmy G. got here, things have been a lot different," 49ers running back Carlos Hyde said. "Things have been feeling really good around here. It's been a good vibe. That energy in the locker room right now is really good. Guys are teeing off that and ready to play." 

I expect the Niners to keep rolling here when they visit the LA Rams Sunday afternoon. 

The Rams have played well lately, coming off back-to-back triumphs at Seattle and Tennessee to make it four win their last five games. They've clinched the NFC West championship and at least one home playoff game already though, and coach Sean McVay is expected to sit most of his key players here to ensure their health for the postseason. Quarterback Jared Goff, star defensive lineman Aaron Donald and even MVP candidate running back Todd Gurley are all expected to get some rest. 

The Rams defeated the Niners 41-39 at San Francisco back in September. Expect revenge for the Niners today. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on San Francisco 49ers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) 

The Carolina Panthers (10-4) are coming off impressive back-to-back triumphs against Minnesota and Green Bay to make it six wins through their last seven games. There's no time for rest though as they enter the week with the same record as the Saints at the top of the NFC South, but losing the head-to-head tiebreaker. 

Here they'll host a Tampa Bay Buccaneers that stood up well in Monday night's 24-21 loss to the Falcons, but this will be tough playing on short rest, facing a Carolina offense that is firing on all cylinders and averaged 32 points through its last five games. 

The Panthers have had plenty of success running the ball all season (4th in the NFL with an average of 135 rushing yards per game) and accumulated 151 rushing yards against Green Bay. The Bucs were just torched for 201 rushing yards by Atlanta. 

These two teams squared up in Week 8, a game the Panthers won 17-3 while holding Jameis Winston to only 210 passing yards with zero touchdowns against two interceptions.

Motivation beats class, but the Panthers have the advantage in both aspects in this matchup with the 4-10 Bucs just looking to play spoiler in their last two games of the season. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Carolina Panthers. 

TOP RATED 10* MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL MONEYMAKER

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been torn apart defensively in recent weeks, giving up a total of 84 points through three consecutive losses while going 0-3 ATS. Here they'll host an Atlanta Falcons team that has won four of its last five games (lone loss against Minnesota) to put itself in a position where it still controls its own playoff destiny. The math is simple; If the Falcons win out in their last three games they will claim the NFC South title. 

The Falcons defeated the Bucs 34-20 home in Atlanta on Nov. 26 in a matchup where Matt Ryan was 26-of-35 for 317 yards while receiver Julio Jones had 12 receptions for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay's defense has struggled on the pass rush all season and ranks 32nd in the NFL with 17 sacks.

Buccaneers are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games overall. Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. Favorite is 7-2 ATS in their last nine meetings.

My selection is a 10* play on Atlanta Falcons. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL)

The New England Patriots took a shocking 27-20 loss as a 10.5-point underdog at Miami on Monday, but I really expect them to show up here at Pittsburgh in a matchup that will likely decide home field advantage in the AFC.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won eight in a row, but they've needed late field goals to defeat Cincinnati and Baltimore the last two weeks. The Patriots are 8-1 ATS in their last nine road games vs. a team with a winning home record and had covered the spread in six straight games before last week's defeat. The Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last five overall.

Bill Belichick won't allow the Pats to lose this game, especially after the debacle at Miami last week. 

My NFL GAME OF THE YEAR is a 10* play on New England Patriots. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NO-BRAINER

The New England Patriots will be without suspended Rob Gronkowski, but I still they'll put away the Dolphins at Miami Monday night relatively easy. The Phins had lost five straight before defeating the reeling Broncos 35-9 last week. Miami took a 35-17 beating by the Pats on Nov. 26 and here it'll face a fired up Tom Brady looking to bounce back from a sub-par outing (not a single touchdown pass) in last week's 23-3 win at Buffalo. The Pats defense has been outstanding lately while Miami conceded a staggering 177 points during its five-game slide. 

Patriots are 10-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record and 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine Monday night games. Dolphins are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record and 0-8 ATS in their last eight Monday night games.

My selection is a 10* play on New England Patriots. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL)

The Baltimore Ravens have quietly won three in a row to move to the second wild card spot in the AFC. They'll visit the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night, and I think Baltimore should be able to keep this a close game. Note that the Ravens are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games against AFC North rivals and 9-3-2 ATS in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. 

Pittsburgh came back from being down 17-0 to beat the Bengals 23-20 Monday night thanks to a last second field goal. Here it'll have to do without linebacker Ryan Shazier who was carted off the field early in that game with a back injury. I did not like what I saw from the Steelers on Monday, and we can note that they're just 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game.

My selection is a 10* play on Baltimore Ravens. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) 

I expect both teams to pile up the points when the 8-3 New Orleans Saints host the 8-3 Carolina Panthers in an important battle for first place in the NFC South Sunday afternoon. 

The Panthers are riding a four-game win streak and they've scored a total of 80 points in the last two games alone. Over is 9-3 in Panthers last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and the Saints fit the bill entering this contest with a 4-1 home record. They've averaged 31.2 pgg home in the Superdome and the Saints will be eager to bounce back from a 26-20 loss at the Rams last Sunday after winning eight straight games prior to that setback. Over is 4-0 in Saints last four games following a straight up loss and 13-5-1 in their last 19 home games.

Carolina’s defense has allowed plenty of passing yards in recent games and the Saints QB Drew Brees has averaged 313 passing yards with 12 touchdowns against three interceptions in his last four encounters with the Panthers.

The Saints won the last meeting 34-13 at Carolina back in Week 3 and five of the last six meetings have gone over the total. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on CAR @ NO Over. 

NFL GAME OF THE WEEK

The San Francisco 49ers picked up their first win of the season in a 31-21 home triumph against the Giants in Week 10 before enjoying their bye week. I think they'll put a good fight when hosting the Seattle Seahawks Sunday afternoon.

San Francisco Quarterback C.J. Beathard is coming off his best game of the season as he threw for for 288 yards with two touchdowns against one interception. Their defense ranks 29th in scoring defense and 27th in total defense, but they've looked better on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks. We can also note that their biggest weakness is defending against the run, but the Seahaws does not pose much of a threat on the ground with QB Russell Wilson accumulating nearly three times as many rushing yards as offseason acquisition Eddie Lacy. 

Seattle has dropped two of its last three games and it took a 34-31 home loss to the Falcons last week. It won just 12-9 when hosting the 49ers in the season's first meeting and this should be another tight affair.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on San Francisco 49ers. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK

The Philadelphia Eagles had reeled off seven straight wins before entering their bye week, and I think they'll pick up right where they left off and take down the Cowboys at Dallas Sunday night.

The Cowboys will have to do without their star running back Ezekiel Elliot due to suspension, and they really missed him in last week's 27-7 loss at Atlanta. They had won three straight prior to that, but their offense became way too one-dimensional without Elliott and QB Dak Prescott is likely to be under heavy fire once again here against a solid Philadelphia D.  

The Cowboys are just 2-8 ATS vs. a team with a winning record and I don't see them hanging around with the 8-1 Eagles. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Philadelphia Eagles.