At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Cincinnati Bengals (477) plus the points versus the Baltimore Ravens (478). THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (2-2) won their second-straight game with their 27-15 victory against Miami as a 4-point favorite two Thursdays ago. Baltimore (2-2) has lost two of their last three games after their 23-20 loss to Buffalo as a 3-point underdog last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BENGALS PLUS THE POINTS: The Bengals have addressed the sack issues that plagued them in their opening two games. After getting sacked an unsustainable 13 times in their first two games, Joe Burrow has only been sacked three times in his last two games for just 20 yards. Cincinnati invested heavily to upgrade their offensive line in the offseason by bringing in center Ted Karras from New England, right guard Alex Cappa from Tampa Bay, and right tackle La’El Collins from Dallas. It may have taken some time after not enough work in the preseason for this group to start developing cohesion. But the other factor was that Burrow was simply holding on to the ball too long looking for his dynamic win receivers to get open. He has done a better job over the last two games in getting the ball out faster. Don’t underestimate the impact of Burrow’s appendectomy in August in slowing down his getting up to speed. But now over his last three games, Burrow has six touchdown passes and no interceptions while posting a 107 Passer Rating. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 287 yards last week — and Cincy has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a game where they gained at least 250 passing yards in their last game. Now Burrow plays a limping Ravens’ pass defense that he torched for over 900 passing yards against in his two games against them last year. Baltimore is last in the NFL this season by surrendering 315 Yards-Per-Game. Cincinnati has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after a point spread victory. They gained 371 yards against the Dolphins last week — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after generating at least 350 yards in their last game. The Bengals did give up 378 yards to Miami in that game — but they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games after allowing 375 or more yards in their last contest. Despite that yardage allowed, Cincinnati has been impressive on defense this season. They rank 8th in the league by holding their opponents to just 327.5 total Yards-Per-Game — and the five touchdowns they have conceded is the second-fewest in the NFL. The Bengals are 4th in the NFL by holding their opponents to 86 rushing YPG — and they are 4th in the league in 3rd Down defense. They are holding their opponents to just 17.5 PPG. Cincinnati goes back on the road where they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games — and they have covered the point spread in 7 straight road games with the Total set at 45.5 or higher. They have also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 14 road games as an underdog getting up to seven points. Baltimore only gained 295 total yards last week in a showdown with the Bills that many observers expected to be a scoring fest. The Ravens miss Marquise Brown at wide receiver who now plays for Arizona — he accounted for 91 receptions and 1008 yards last year. Rashod Bateman drops too many passes and has not been able to emerge as a legitimate number-one option. The passing attack now runs almost exclusively through tight end Mark Andrews — but the lack of threatening options on the outside is one of the reasons why the Ravens are averaging only 217 passing YPG. Baltimore has lost five straight games at home — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 home games when favored by up to seven points. The Ravens are also 11-27-2 ATS in their last 40 games in October. As seemingly always, injuries have hit this team hard. Baltimore has a long list of players out impacting their depth — and starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Bateman are out for tonight’s game. On defense, defensive tackle Michael Pierce is out and cornerback Marcus Peters is questionable.

FINAL TAKE: The Bengals scored 41 points in both their victories against the Ravens last year. While Baltimore has been planning for revenge all off-season, Cincinnati has covered the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games against AFC opponents — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against AFC North rivals. The Bengals have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in Baltimore against the Ravens. In Burrow, I Trust -- he should keep this game close (even if he does not lead his team to victory). 25* AFC North Game of the Month with the Cincinnati Bengals (477) plus the points versus the Baltimore Ravens (478). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Miami Dolphins (465) minus the points versus the New York Jets (466). THE SITUATION: Miami (3-1) returns to the field after their 27-15 loss as a 4-point underdog at Cincinnati back on September 29th. New York (2-2)  has won two of three after their 24-20 upset win at Pittsburgh as a 3-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE DOLPHINS MINUS THE POINTS: I needed to get the final active/inactive list for Miami before endorsing this play. The good news is that wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are both active and expected to play after both names popped up on the injured list this week. Left tackle Terron Armstead is also active. The bad news is that the Dolphins’ elite cornerback, Xavien Howard, is inactive — but we can live with that against Zach Wilson. Tua Tagovailoa is also out — but that was expected and Teddy Bridgewater is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league. Bridgewater has 63 career starts in the NFL. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 193 yards with a touchdown in relief last week against the Bengals. Miami is 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games after a straight-up loss. And while the Dolphins passed for 294 yards last week, they are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games after passing for at least 250 yards in their last contest. They did give up 371 yards to the Bengals — but they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after allowing 350 or more yards in their last contest. They stay on the road where they have covered the point spread in 5 straight games with the Total set in the 42.5-45 point range. They have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against AFC East rivals. New York has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a point spread victory. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson demonstrated some moments of brilliance in the fourth quarter last week — but the Steelers also displayed some exasperating defense late in that game (to ruin our play on them where at least a push seemed salvageable before they seemingly let the Jets score on late running plays even though it looked like New York was settling for a field goal to send the game into overtime … still bitter). But Wilson had plenty of shaky moments including two interceptions where his judgment was not good at all. I still worry about his lack of seasoning in the preseason after his injury — and the Jets are still on their fourth and fifth offensive linemen (if my math is right) after getting decimated by injuries at the position. New York has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games at home — and they are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games against AFC East opponents.

FINAL TAKE: Miami is 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games against the Jets — and they have covered 4 straight times against them playing against them at MetLife Stadium. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Discounted Deal with the Miami Dolphins (465) minus the points versus the New York Jets (466). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Denver Broncos (302) minus the points versus the Indianapolis Colts (301). THE SITUATION: Denver (2-2) had their two-game winning streak snapped with a 32-23 loss at Las Vegas as a 2.5-point underdog. Indianapolis (1-2-1) looks to rebound from their 24-17 upset loss to Tennessee as a 4.5-point favorite last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BRONCOS MINUS THE POINTS: Denver had allowed only 36 combined points in their first three games before a desperate Raiders team exposed them for 32 points on Sunday. The Broncos have bounced back to cover the point spread in 22 of their last 32 games at home after a loss on the road to a fellow AFC West rival. They have also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after allowing at least 30 points in their last game. For the season, Denver is still only giving up 17.0 Points-Per-Game and 284.8 total Yards-Per-Game. They return home where they have covered the point spread in 5 straight games against teams with a losing record on the road. Indianapolis gained 365 total yards in their last upset loss to the Titans last week — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after gaining at least 350 yards run their last game. And while the Colts have played all four of their Under the Total, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after playing at least three straight Unders. Matt Ryan is struggling under center with his new team. Indianapolis is last in the NFL by scoring only 14.3 PPG — and they are generating just 339.8 total YPG. The Colts offense has not scored more than 20 points in a game all season.

FINAL TAKE: Both of these teams are hit hard with injuries for this game being played on a short week. Denver will miss running back Javonte Williams — but at least they have Melvin Gordon along with capable veteran backups in Mike Boone and now Latavius Murray who they signed off the New Orleans practice squad. The Colts will be without running back Jonathan Taylor which is devastating for them since he may be the best back in the league — and backup Nyheim Hines is really more of a third-down back. Indianapolis is also dealing with some significant injuries on defense with linebacker Shaquille Leonard and safety Julian Blackmon out for this game. Indianapolis has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against fellow AFC rivals — and Denver has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games for Thursday Night Football. 10* NFL Thursday Night Discounted Deal with the Denver Broncos (302) minus the points versus the Indianapolis Colts (301). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Indianapolis Colts (301) and the Denver Broncos (302). THE SITUATION: Indianapolis (1-2-1) looks to rebound from their 24-17 upset loss to Tennessee as a 4.5-point favorite last Sunday. Denver (2-2) had their two-game winning streak snapped with a 32-23 loss at Las Vegas as a 2.5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Don’t blame the Colts' defense for the upset loss to the Titans — they held their AFC South Rivals to just 243 total yards. It was a -3 net turnover margin that did Indianapolis in for that game — and they have played 4 straight Unders after playing a game where they had a -2 or worse net turnover margin. Indianapolis is holding their opponents to just 297.0 total Yards-Per-Game. They have not allowed more than 24 points in any of their four games — and they are allowing just 21.3 Points-Per-Game. But the struggling Colts offense has not scored more than 20 points in any of their games this year — they are scoring 14.3 PPG and generating just 339.8 total YPG. Things will not get any easier for the Indy offense on a short week with running back Jonathan Taylor declared out for this game with an ankle injury. The Colts have played 3 of their last 4 games Under the Total after an upset loss to an AFC South rival as a home favorite. Additionally, they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Now after playing their last two games at home, they go back on the road where they have played 5 straight Unders — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after playing their last two games at home. Denver had only allowed 36 combined points in their first three games before a desperate Raiders team generated 385 yards and 32 points against them last week. But the Broncos have then played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after playing a game where they allowed at least 30 points — and the Under is a decisive 37-18-1 in their last 56 games after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. And while Las Vegas rushed for 212 yards in that game, they have then played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after allowing at least 150 rushing yards in their last game. They return home where they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total. The Denver defense is still allowing only 17.0 PPG along with 284.0 total YPG. But the offense has yet to gel with Russell Wilson under center as they have scored not more than 16 points in three of their four games — they are only generating 16.5 PPG and 335.8 total YPG. To compound matters moving forward, Denver lost their top running Javonte Williams to a torn ACL last week that will keep him out the season. The Broncos' offensive line is banged up with starting guard Quinn Meinerz out with a hamstring and starting right tackle Billy Turner questionable with a knee injury.

FINAL TAKE: Indianapolis has played 8 straight Unders against AFC opponents — and the Under is 35-17-1 in Denver’s last 52 games against fellow AFC opponents. While this is another low total, it would not be terribly surprising if at least one of these teams struggles to score 14 points. 25* NFL Thursday Night Football Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Indianapolis Colts (301) and the Denver Broncos (302). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (279) and the San Francisco 49ers (280). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (2-1) has won two in a row after their 20-12 win at Arizona as a 5.5-point favorite last Sunday. San Francisco (1-2) looks to bounce back from an 11-10 upset loss at Denver as a 1.5-point favorite last Sunday night.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TOTAL: The Rams gained only 339 total yards last week in their low-scoring victory against the Cardinals which had only 32 combined points scored. But Los Angeles did hold Arizona to just 70 rushing yards last week — and they have played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 90 rushing yards in their last game. Led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams are limiting their opponents to just 3.8 Yards-Per-Carry. The organization brought in middle linebacker Bobby Wagner to help their run defense in matchups like this one. The 49ers run the ball on 56% of their offensive snaps — so this stout run defense will likely slow the San Francisco ground attack down. Los Angeles has played 8 of their last 12 games Under the Total after a win on the road — and they have played 15 of their last 19 games Under the Total after winning two of their last three games. Additionally, the Under is 9-3-1 in the Rams’ last 13 games against teams with a losing record. The Under is 12-3-1 in their last 16 games in October. And in their last 5 games against NFC West foes, Los Angeles has played 4 of these games Under the Total. San Francisco has played 5 straight games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total after point spread loss. The 49ers struggled to run the ball with left tackle Trent Williams injured — they gained only 88 rushing yards last week and Williams has been ruled out for tonight’s game. San Francisco has played 5 straight Unders after not rushing for at least 90 yards in their last game. They return home where they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total. The Niners have also played 4 straight Unders against teams with a winning record. San Francisco does lead the NFL with only two three-and-out drives all season — so that means they should control time of possession with longer dives that will keep Stafford and the Rams’ high-octane offense off the field. On defense, they are the only team in the league to be holding their opponents to under 4.0 Yards-Per-Play. The injuries are mounting up for the Rams as well. They will be missing two starting offensive linemen in left guard David Edwards and center Brian Allen — and this group had already taken a big step back with the retirement of left tackle Andrew Whitworth in the offseason.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 4 of their last 5 meetings Under the Total — and they have played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total when playing in San Francisco. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (279) and the San Francisco 49ers (280). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the San Francisco 49ers (280) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (279). THE SITUATION: San Francisco (1-2) looks to bounce back from an 11-10 upset loss at Denver as a 1.5-point favorite last Sunday night. Los Angeles (2-1) has won two in a row after their 20-12 win at Arizona as a 5.5-point favorite last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE 49ERS MINUS THE POINTS: San Francisco was held back last week by a -3 net turnover margin on the road against the Broncos. Another full week of practice should help Jimmy Garoppolo get back up to speed with the offense after not even working with his teammates in the preseason after Trey Lance was given the starting quarterback job. He was solid last week by completing 18 of 29 passes for 211 yards with a touchdown and an interception — but some areas could be cleaned up. The 49ers have rebounded to cover the point spread in 24 of their last 31 games after suffering an upset loss on the road as the favorite. Additionally, San Francisco has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a point spread loss. Furthermore, the 49ers have played 4 of their last 5 games after not scoring more than 14 points in their last contest. They return home where they have covered the point spread in 5 straight games at Levi’s Stadium. Despite their losing record, San Francisco remains a very good team on both sides of the ball. They lead the NFL with only two three-and-out drives all season. On defense, they are the only team in the league to be holding their opponents to under 4.0 Yards-Per-Play. The 49ers have covered the point spread in 5 straight games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against fellow NFC West rivals. Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after a win on the road. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 16 games after winning two games in a row. The Rams did allow the Cardinals to gain 365 yards in that game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after giving up at least 350 yards in their last contest. And while they averaged 7.5 Yards-Per-Play last week, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after gaining at least 6.5 YPP in their last contest. The reigning Super Bowl champions have been sloppy to start the season — they have seven giveaways in their three games. Matthew Stafford has been the main culprit with five interceptions already — and this comes off a year where he threw 17 interceptions which were tied for the most in the NFL (and remember he had four pick-sixes last year). The injuries are mounting up for the Rams as well. They will be missing two starting offensive linemen in left guard David Edwards and center Brian Allen — and this group had already taken a big step back with the retirement of left tackle Andrew Whitworth in the offseason. The defense is down several defensive backs including starting cornerback Troy Hill. Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: San Francisco swept the two regular-season meetings between these two teams — but they will be motivated to avenge their 20-17 loss in Los Angeles against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games against the Niners — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games at San Francisco. The 49ers have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 18 games on Monday Night Football. 25* NFC West Game of the Month with the San Francisco 49ers (280) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (279). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Kansas City Chiefs (277) plus the point(s) versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (278). THE SITUATION: Kansas City (2-1) looks to rebound from their 20-17 loss at Indianapolis as a 4.5-point favorite last Sunday. Tampa Bay (2-1) comes off a 14-12 upset loss to Green Bay as a 2.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHIEFS PLUS THE POINT(S): We were on the Colts last week — and we were fortunate that Kansas City did not run away with that game. The Chiefs had several blunders on special teams including a muffed punt, a missed extra point, a missed 34-yard field goal, and a failed fake field goal attempt. Kansas City held Indianapolis to only 259 total yards — and they outgained them by +46 net yards despite only having their offense on the field for 26:28 minutes of that game. The Chiefs’ defense is playing quite well by holding their opponents to 21.7 Points-Per-Game along with 314.0 total Yards-Per-Game. They are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 road games against teams with a winning record at home. Kansas City has also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 11 games with the Total set in the 42.5 to 49 point range. Tampa Bay is getting healthy again at wide receiver with Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, and Russell Gage all expected to join Mike Evans on the field after he was suspended for last week’s game. But those injured players have not practiced this week so the passing game may not be in synch quite yet for Tom Brady. The Buccaneers have not scored more than 20 points this season — they are scoring just 17.0 PPG while averaging 297.3 total YPG. The issue for the Bucs is their beat-up offensive line. After the surprise retirement of All-Pro left guard Ali Marpet, the line is without Ryan Jensen, Aaron Stinnie, and Josh Wells — and Donovan Smith was limited in practice this week. They are using rookie Luke Goedeke at left tackle and the depth is razor thin. Tampa Bay cannot get their rushing game going as they have only gained 106 yards on the ground in the last two weeks after getting a mere 36 rushing yards last week. The Buccaneers do have a great defense that has only given up 27 points all season. They have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after not allowing more than 17 points in two straight games. They are also 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games in October.

FINAL TAKE: Kansas City has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games against teams not giving up more than 17 PPG — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Kansas City Chiefs (277) plus the point(s) versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (278). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Kansas City Chiefs (277) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (278). THE SITUATION: Kansas City (2-1) looks to rebound from their 20-17 loss at Indianapolis as a 4.5-point favorite last Sunday. Tampa Bay (2-1) comes off a 14-12 upset loss to Green Bay as a 2.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: After Arizona inexplicably opted to play a single-high safety while blitzing Patrick Mahomes in Week One, we have seen how the Chiefs’ offense will operate without Tyreke Hill when facing defenses that play two-safeties to take away the big plays of Patrick Mahomes with his set of weapons that now is without the speedster Hill. Why are defensive coordinators still opting to blitz quarterbacks like Mahomes who punish these tactics by getting the ball out to play-makers quickly against a now undermanned secondary? He completed 30 of 39 passes for 360 yards against the Cardinals. Things then changed when facing the Brandon Staley-coached Chargers that are willing to kill explosive quarterbacks like Mahomes by a thousand cuts by daring him to settle for shorter plays and longer drives. KC gained only 319 yards in their 27-24 victory which turned on a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown by the Chiefs’ defense. Against the Colts last week, Kansas City only gained 305 total yards while only being on the field for 26:28 minutes. In his last two games, Mahomes has completed only 44 of 71 passes for 483 yards. Now the Chiefs face Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers’ elite defense that held him to completing 26 of 43 passes for 243 yards in the Super Bowl two years ago when they only scored nine points in that 22-point loss. Kansas City has certainly improved their offensive line since then, but the elite secondary of Tampa Bay will still take away big plays against a Chiefs’ set of targets that is now without Hill. As it is, Kansas City has played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after getting upset on the road as a favorite — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss. The defense is playing quite well by holding their opponents to 21.7 Points-Per-Game along with 314.0 total Yards-Per-Game. They have held their last two opponents to 75 and 82 rushing yards — and they have then played 13 of their last 19 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 99 rushing yards in two straight games. But the Chiefs have not rushed for more than 98 yards in two straight games — and they have played 3 of their last 4 games Under the Total after not rushing for at least 100 yards in two straight games. Tampa Bay is getting healthy again at wide receiver with Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, and Russell Gage all expected to join Mike Evans on the field after he was suspended for last week’s game. But those injured players have not practiced this week so the passing game may not be in synch quite yet for Tom Brady. The Buccaneers have not scored more than 20 points this season — they are scoring just 17.0 PPG while averaging 297.3 total YPG. They have played 7 straight Unders after a loss — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after an upset loss. The Tampa Bay defense may be the best unit in the NFL. They held Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense to only 315 yards. They are giving up only 9.0 PPG along with 289.0 total YPG. But the issue for the Bucs is their beat-up offensive line. After the surprise retirement of All-Pro left guard Ali Marpet, the line is without Ryan Jensen, Aaron Stinnie, and Josh Wells — and Donovan Smith was limited in practice this week. They are using rookie Luke Goedeke at left tackle and the depth is razor thin. Tampa Bay cannot get their rushing game going as they have only gained 106 yards on the ground in the last two weeks after getting a mere 36 rushing yards last week. The Buccaneers have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after not rushing for more than 90 yards in their last game. Tampa Bay is averaging only 3.4 Yards-Per-Carry — and Kansas City has played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total against teams not generating more than 3.5 YPC.

FINAL TAKE: The Buccaneers have played 7 of their last 11 games Under the Total in expected close games when they are listed in the +/- 3-point range. Don’t be surprised if both teams try to control the clock — that is the Tampa Bay formula to keep Mahomes off the field and the Buccaneers will dare the Chiefs to run against their elite run defense. Long drives are a great recipe to cash under tickets. 25* NFL Sunday Night Football Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Kansas City Chiefs (277) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (278). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Seattle Seahawks (261) plus the points versus the Detroit Lions (262). THE SITUATION: Seattle (1-2) has lost two games in a row after their 27-23 upset loss at home to Atlanta as a 2.5-point favorite last Sunday. Detroit (1-2) comes off a 28-24 loss at Minnesota as a 5.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SEAHAWKS PLUS THE POINTS: The Lions have become America’s Loveable Losers after appearing on HBO’s Hard Knocks — and gamblers are currently infatuated with them after they have covered the point spread in all three of their games this season. But this is a team that is decimated with injuries at their skill positions on offense. Running back D’Andre Swift along with wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown (who has been fantastic) and D.J. Chalk are all out for this game. Quintez Cephus and Josh Reynolds will be the starting wide receivers for Detroit in this one. Quarterback Jared Goff has played very well at home at Ford Field for the Lions — but he now faces a Seahawks team that is quite familiar with him during his time in the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams. While he has a 6-4 record in his ten starts against Seattle, he has only thrown in touchdown passes and has 11 turnovers in those games. He has been sacked once every 19 pass attempts against a Pete Carroll defense. Detroit has been scoring points in bunches — the problem is that they are giving up even more points. The 31.0 Points-Per-Game they are giving up is last in the league — and they are also last in the NFL by giving up ten touchdowns in the Red Zone. All three of their games have seen at least 52 combined points scored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games after playing three straight games where 50 or more combined points were scored. Seattle has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after an upset loss — and they are a decisive 39-19-4 ATS in their last 62 games after a straight-up loss under Carroll. Additionally, the Seahawks have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a loss by six points or less — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after losing two in a row. We had the Seahawks last week and lost the play — despite their outgaining the Falcons by a 420 to 386 yardage margin. A late penalty when Seattle was driving may have been the difference in that coin flip game. Now they go back on the road where they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams who lack a winning record at home. And while the Seahawks have allowed 189 and 179 rushing yards in their last two games, they have then covered the point spread in 10 of their last 12 road games after giving up 150 or more rushing yards in two straight games. They have also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Detroit has not been favored by more than three points in over three years — and this remains a franchise that has failed to cover the point spread in 54 of their last 85 games when laying 3.5 to 9.5 points. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Discounted Deal with the Seattle Seahawks (261) plus the points versus the Detroit Lions (262). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers (264) minus the points versus the New York Jets (263). THE SITUATION: Pittsburgh (1-2) has lost two games in a row after their 29-17 loss at Cleveland as a 3.5-point underdog on Thursday, September 22nd. New York (1-2) looks to rebound from their 27-12 loss at home to Cincinnati as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE STEELERS MINUS THE POINTS:                                    Pittsburgh was only on the field for 23:51 minutes last week against the Browns for that Thursday Night Football game — and that game was closer than the final score indicated with Cleveland scoring a final touchdown on a fumble recovery that they scooped into the end zone. The Steelers actually had a 14-13 lead at halftime. Now after pulling off their Week One upset at Cincinnati, Pittsburgh needs this game to even their record at 2-2. With the extra days off from last week to rest and prepare for this contest, expect a spirited effort from head coach Mike Tomlin’s group. The Steelers have covered the point spread in 18 of their last 25 games after a double-digit loss to a fellow AFC North rival. They have also covered the point spread in 4 straight games after a point spread loss. Mitchell Trubisky completed 20 of 32 passes for 207 yards in the loss with no interceptions. What was encouraging for Pittsburgh in this game is that he threw the ball downfield a bit more. While I am expecting Trubisky to embark on a Hall of Fame career anytime soon, this is a quarterback with a career 30-23 record as a starter. Frankly, I worry more about offensive coordinator Matt Canada — the Steelers need to get their talented receiving corps more involved in the game and trust Trubisky (something Tomlin called on after their loss to New England in Week Two). Now after that short week, I expect a better offensive plan — and I also expect Pittsburgh to lean into deploying Trubisky’s mobility. Pittsburgh has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in October under Tomlin. They are also 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games at home at the newly renamed Acrisure Stadium. The Jets get second-year quarterback Zach Wilson back under center after he was out for about six weeks with the knee he injured early in the preseason. In the short-term, New York is swallowing a downgrade at quarterback going from the veteran Joe Flacco to Wilson — especially since the former BYU quarterback has been not practicing after not playing in the preseason. This situation is compounded by the decimation this team has already faced with injuries on their offensive line. The Jets are already on their fifth and sixth-string offensive tackles (in a league where depth at tackle is already lacking — for the good teams). Wilson was raw last year after not playing in a pro-style offense in college. His 69.7 Passer Rating was the worst in the NFL. He played better late in the season — but he needed the preseason to continue his development. He still has issues with his mechanics, footwork, decision-making, accuracy, handling the pass-rush, and his decision-making. Did I forget anything? I understand why the Jets are putting him out there even with their significant issues at offensive line, they need to give him time to grow — but if they wanted to win games in the short-term, the veteran Flacco would be out there, even with his limitations in his 15th season. Are the Jets going to ask Wilson to throw the ball 52 times as they did with Flacco last week? That is a recipe for a disaster — the kid is going to make mistakes. Wilson was 3-10 as a starter last year with only nine touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He was sacked 44 times behind a better offensive line — he got sacked every 9.7 pass attempts. New York has thrown the ball at least 45 times in each of their games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 13 games after attempting at least 40 passes in two straight contests. The Jets are 16-33-2 ATS in their last 51 games on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 15 road games as an underdog. New York has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE:  The Jets have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games at Pittsburgh. New York continues their rebuild after 11 straight seasons not making the playoffs versus a Steelers team that has not had a losing season under Tomlin. Maybe Wilson improves this season — but on the road with that offensive line after missing most of the preseason, it is going to be bumpy. 25* AFC Game of the Month with the Pittsburgh Steelers (264) minus the points versus the New York Jets (263). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Miami Dolphins (101) and the Cincinnati Bengals (102). THE SITUATION: Miami (3-0) remained undefeated this season after their 21-19 upset victory at home against Buffalo as a 4-point underdog last week. Cincinnati (1-2) comes off a 27-12 victory in New York against the Jets as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Dolphins upset the Bills last week despite being on the field for 19:20 minutes of that game. Miami’s defense was on the field for a whopping 90 plays run the south beach heat for that game — and now they are playing on a short week. After not rushing more than 34 times in any of their first three games this season, don’t be surprised if the Bengals commit to running the football more than they have all season to wear down this vulnerable Dolphins defense. This should be a heavy Joe Mixon game for Cincinnati as they attempt to burn the clock. This should lead to fewer offensive possessions for both teams. Miami only gained 212 total yards last week — and their 5.86 Yards-Per-Play average was far below their 6.6 YPP average this season. Look for Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to deploy the same two-high safety scheme with six or more defensive backs that stymied Patrick Mahomes and the potent Kansas City offense in the second half of the AFC Championship Game against Tua Tagovailoa. Anarumo will likely dare head coach Mike McDaniel to settle for running the football or that Tagovailoa can beat his defense by executing on long drives. Even if Miami moves the ball, Anarumo will try to ensure that the explosive plays that the Dolphins have relied on to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will be mitigated — and that should help our Under play. As it is, Miami has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after winning their last game. They go on the road now where they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total. And in their last 12 games in September, the Dolphins have played 9 of these games Under the Total. Cincinnati has played 5 straight Unders after winning their last game — and they have played 6 straight Unders after a point-spread win. And while Joe Burrow has his best game of the season by completing 23 of 36 passes for 275 yards against the Jets last week, the Bengals have then played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after passing for at least 250 yards in their last game. Anarumo’s defense has played well well to start the year by allowing just 18.3 Points-Per-Game and 310.7 total Yards-Per-Game. But the offense is averaging only 4.8 Yards-Per-Play with the problems continuing with their rebuilt offensive line. They have played 6 straight Unders in September.

FINAL TAKE: Cincinnati has played 6 straight Unders against AFC rivals — and the Under is 5-2-1 in their last 8 games for Thursday Night Football. Miami has played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total against AFC rivals — and the Under is 10-2-1 in their last 13 games for Thursday Night Football. 10* NFL Thursday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Miami Dolphins (101) and the Cincinnati Bengals (102). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Cincinnati Bengals (102) minus the points versus the Miami Dolphins (101). THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (1-2) comes off a 27-12 victory in New York against the Jets as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday. Miami (3-0) remained undefeated this season after their 21-19 upset victory at home against Buffalo as a 4-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE DOLPHINS: Miami comes off the emotional high of beating the Bills just four days ago — and they are ripe for a letdown for this game on the road being played on a short week. It’s rookie head coach Mike McDaniel’s first game preparing his team to play on a short week for Thursday Night Football. Even more challenging is that the defense was on the field for a whopping 90 plays in the Miami heat. If the Dolphins were playing on Sunday, then the defensive players would probably not even be practicing on Thursday — but now they are playing another game on this quick turnaround. As it is, Miami has failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 31 games after upsetting a fellow AFC East rival — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after upsetting a division rival as a home underdog. With the Dolphins' offense only on the field for 19:20 minutes of that game, they got outgained by the Bills by a 497 to 212 yardage margin — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 29 of their last 44 games on the road after getting outgained by 100 or more yards in their last game. Despite their 3-0 record, Miami is only generating 355.3 total Yards-Per-Game — and they have only gained more than 307 yards in one of their games. They are surrendering a whopping 413.7 total YPG — more than 76 YPG than they did last season when they ranked 15th in the NFL. The Dolphins have failed to cover the point spread in 32 of their last 45 games after allowing at least 400 YPG in their last three games including failing to cover the point spread just once in the last five circumstances when those conditions applied. Tua Tagovailoa has played great in the McDaniel offense getting the ball out to his playmakers — but he is far from 100% for this game dealing with a back and ankle injury. Miami has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games on the road with the Total set in the 45.5 to 49-point range. Cincinnati was flat against Pittsburgh in their opening game before falling behind at halftime against Dallas by a 17-3 score in their second game. But in their last six quarters, they have looked like the team that reached the Super Bowl by outscoring their opponents by a 41-15 margin. They should build off their momentum from their victory last week as they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, the Bengals have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after losing two of their last three games. And while their game with the Jets finished Under the 45.5 point Total, they have then covered the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games after playing an Under in their last game. Despite Joe Burrow not playing in the preseason as he recovered from his appendectomy and despite the continuing problem with sacks with Burrow getting mauled for 13 sacks in the first two games of the season, this team would still be 3-0 if not losing both of their first two games on the final play of the game. Burrow only took two sacks last week — and he has four touchdown passes and no interceptions in his last two games. He completed 23 of 36 passes last week for 275 yards — and Cincy has covered the points spread in 4 of their last 5 games after passing for at least 250 yards in their last contest. The Bengals are outscoring and outgaining their opponents this year — and their defense has played well by allowing just 18.3 PPG and 310.7 total YPG. They return home where they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games.

FINAL TAKE: Cincinnati has covered the point spread in 7 straight games against teams with a winning record. They enjoy a significant situational edge against a Dolphins team coming off an emotional high but likely to be gassed by the second half tonight. 25* AFC Game of the Month with the Cincinnati Bengals (102) minus the points versus the Miami Dolphins (101). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Dallas Cowboys (489) and the New York Giants (490). THE SITUATION: Dallas (1-1) looks to build off their 20-17 upset victory against Cincinnati as a 7.5-point underdog last Sunday. New York (2-0) pulled off their second-straight upset win in a 19-16 victory at home against Carolina as a 1-point underdog last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Giants only managed to gain 265 yards last week against the Panthers despite being on offense for 35:57 minutes of that game. The Giants averaged a meager 3.96 Yards-Per-Play last week. But they were able to win the game because of their defense which held Carolina to only 275 total yards. New York has played twenty-two of their last thirty games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 11 of their last 12 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. They have also played 18 of their last 24 games Under the Total after a close win at home where they won by no more than a field goal. They stay at home where the Under is 19-7-1 in their last 27 games including 8 straight Unders. Dallas has played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. They go on the road for the first time this season where they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total. The Cowboys are dealing with many injuries on offense -- headlined by quarterback Dan Prescott being out with his right thumb injury. The receiving corps is not at full strength with Michael Gallup reported to not be ready to play tonight and tight end Dalton Schultz likely out this week with a knee. The offensive line is banged up as well. This group is a far cry from the unit that led the NFL by scoring 31.2 Points-Per-Game last season.

FINAL TAKE: The Giants have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total against fellow NFC East opponents — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total for Monday Night Football. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Dallas Cowboys (489) and the New York Giants (490). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Dallas Cowboys (489) plus the point(s) versus the New York Giants (490). THE SITUATION: Dallas (1-1) looks to build off their 20-17 upset victory against Cincinnati as a 7.5-point underdog last Sunday. New York (2-0) pulled off their second-straight upset win in a 19-16 victory at home against Carolina as a 1-point underdog last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COWBOYS PLUS THE POINT(S): New York opened their season with a 21-20 upset win at Tennessee in a game when they stole the game by converting a late 2-point conversion. But both of their wins have been by a combined four points. They were outgained by a 275 to 265 margin in yardage last week against the Panthers despite being on offense for 35:57 minutes of that game. The Giants averaged a meager 3.96 Yards-Per-Play last week. They only scored six points in the first half against Carolina after getting shutout in the first half against the Titans. New York has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after not scoring more than seven points in the first half in two straight games. Additionally, the Giants have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after an upset victory — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a point spread win. They return home where they are just 10-22-1 ATS in their last 33 games at MetLife Stadium. New York has also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against fellow NFC East opponents — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games with the Total set in the 35.5 to 42-point range. Dallas outgained the Bengals last week by a 337 to 254 yardage margin despite only having their offense on the field for 26:12 minutes of that game. While I am not buying the hype from the owner/general manager Jerry Jones about how good Cooper Rush is, it is hard to deny that he has been steady when given the opportunity to play under center for this team. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 235 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. In his five games last year which included one start, he completed 30 of 47 passes for 422 yards with three touchdown passes and only one interception. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore did a good job of helping to put Rush into a position to succeed by getting the ball to playmakers. Dallas has a great rushing combination in Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. The Cowboys go on the road for the first time this season — but they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games away from home. Furthermore, Dallas has covered the point spread in 20 of their last 27 games against NFC East rivals — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in September. The Cowboys have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 appearances on Monday Night Football.

FINAL TAKE: Rookie head coach Brian Daboll has done a nice job in motivating his team and getting them to believe in themselves — but I expect the bubble to burst tonight against a team with a better overall roster. Dallas has won nine of their last ten meetings with the Giants. They have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games against them — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against them in the Meadowlands. 25* NFC East Game of the Month with the Dallas Cowboys (489) plus the point(s) versus the New York Giants (490). Best of luck for us — Frank. 

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Denver Broncos (488) plus the point(s) versus the San Francisco 49ers (487). THE SITUATION: Denver (1-1) got their first win of the season with their 16-9 victory at home against Houston as a 10.5-point favorite. San Francisco (1-1) comes off a 27-7 win against Seattle as an 8.5-point favorite last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BRONCOS PLSU THE POINTS: The problem for Denver is getting their offense going under rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Denver is last in the NFL in Red Zone offense. They have yet to score a touchdown in their six Red Zone drives. They are scoring just 16.0 PPG — but they are generating 391.5 total Yards-Per-Game so moving the ball is not the problem. The Broncos are outgaining their opponents by +148.0 net YPG. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has been limited in practice sessions this week but it looks like he will attempt to take the field tonight. Denver ranked third in the NFL last year by allowing only 18.9 Points-Per-Game — so their continued good play on defense should continue. San Francisco has failed to cover the point spread in 38 of their last 60 games on the road after a win by two or more touchdowns. They held the Seahawks to only 36 rushing yards last week — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 19 of their last 25 games on the road after not allowing more than 50 rushing yards in their last game. The 49ers did gain 373 yards of offense against the Seahawks last week with Jimmy Garoppolo playing most of that game after the injury to Trey Lance. Garoppolo was solid by completing 13 of 21 passes for 154 yards against a Seattle defense that did not game plan for him — and I do expect him to be rusty after not taking part in even the most basic of preseason practices with the team when the organization was planning on trading him. The Niners' game plan will be to run the football with them averaging 182 rushing YPG this year. But the offense will be without both Elijah Mitchell and rookie third-round draft pick Tyrion Davis-Price to injuries meaning Jeff Wilson will be the primary ball carrier. He averaged only 3.7 Yards-Per-Carry last year. San Francisco has held their first two opponents to 204 and 216 total yards this season — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after not allowing more than 250 yards in two straight games.

FINAL TAKE: Hollywood Sports regulars already know that I was not as high on Denver and Russell Wilson as others early in the season. But I think the hype train against their rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett has now gone overboard. Like Indianapolis and Tennessee earlier today, I expect the Broncos to have corrected a lot of their problems in this third week of the season — and I do not think it will be a seamless transition for the Niners back to Garoppolo after he was dumped and did not practice with the team in the offseason. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Denver Broncos (488) plus the point(s) versus the San Francisco 49ers (487). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (487) and the Denver Broncos (488). THE SITUATION: San Francisco (1-1) comes off a 27-7 win against Seattle as an 8.5-point favorite last Sunday. Denver (1-1) got their first win of the season with their 16-9 victory at home against Houston as a 10.5-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The 49ers held the Seahawks to just 216 yards in their victory last week. The Niners once again have one of the best defenses in the NFL. After ranking third in the league by allowing only 310.0 total Yards-Per-Game last season, they are giving up just 210.0 total YPG this year along with only 13.0 Points-Per-Game.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Washington Commanders (476) plus the points versus the Philadelphia Eagles (475). THE SITUATION: Washington (1-1) looks to rebound from their 36-27 upset loss at Detroit as a 1-point favorite last Sunday. Philadelphia (2-0) has won their first two games of the season after their 24-7 victory against Minnesota as a 2.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COMMANDERS PLUS THE POINTS: Washington is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games after a straight-up loss. And while they allowed 425 yards to the Lions, they are then 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing 350 or more yards in their last contest. The Commanders did game 396 yards in the losing effort — and they are 13-4-1 ATS in their last 18 games after gaining at least 350 yards in their last contest. Carson Wentz should be motivated to play at his best in this game in this revenge contest against the organization that drafted but then abandoned him. He is having a great season so far this year. He is second in the NFL by averaging 325.0 passing Yards-Per-Game — and his seven touchdown passes is tied for first in the league. Washington returns home where they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games. Philadelphia has been the talk of the league all week after their dominant win against the Vikings on Monday Night Football — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when playing on a short week on Sunday after a game on Monday. The Eagles are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games after a victory by 14 or more points. They are also 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after scoring at least 30 points in their last contest. Philly goes back on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games on the road. They have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games in September.

FINAL TAKE: Washington lost both games to the Eagles last season — but both games were played late in the season in December and January when Philadelphia had transitioned to their run-first heavy RPO system. It is a certainty that Washington head coach Ron Rivera dedicated hours and hours devising schemes to address this unique offensive attack — look for plenty of cornerback and safety blitzes from the Commanders to force Jalen Hurts into quick run/pass decisions this afternoon which is something Minnesota failed to do earlier this week. The Eagles are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games against their fellow and familiar NFC East rivals. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Matinee with the Washington Commanders (476) plus the points versus the Philadelphia Eagles (475). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Indianapolis Colts (472) plus the points versus the Kansas City Chiefs (471). THE SITUATION: Indianapolis (0-1-1) looks to rebound from their 24-0 upset loss at Jacksonville as a 3-point favorite last Sunday. Kansas City (2-0) returns to action after their 27-24 win against the Los Angeles Chargers as a 4-point favorite for Thursday Night Football last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COLTS PLUS THE POINTS: Indianapolis has been a train wreck so far this season. They entered the fourth quarter of their opening game at Houston trailing by a 20-3 score before scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime — but they fired their kicker when he failed to convert the potential game-winning kick in that game as they settled for the tie (ie: half-win). The Colts then managed only 218 yards in getting shutout last week against the Jaguars. Their -3 net turnover margin did not help their cause last week. All of the sudden, Matt Ryan looks old — he has four interceptions and been involved with five fumbles. Injuries have played a role with linebacker Shaquille Leonard out and the wide receiver corps depleted last week. The good news for head coach Frank Reich is that he expects both Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce to return to action after being out last week — so getting these targets back will help Ryan. While the 37-year-old’s arm strength has declined, he did still complete 67.0% of his passes last year for 3968 yards for a bad Atlanta team. After getting shutout last week, this is a “put-up or shut-up” game for this team. Look for the Colts to play their best game of the season against the Chiefs. This remains a team that was 9-8 last year while outscoring their opponents by +5.8 Points-Per-Game. Indianapolis has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games after a loss to an AFC South rival. Additionally, the Colts have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after an upset loss — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a point spread setback. Furthermore, Indy is 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after not scoring more than 14 points in their last game. This team needs to show more urgency earlier in the game to not dig themselves a hole and require them to abandon Jonathan Taylor and their running game. The Colts only rushed for 54 yards last week — but they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after not rushing for at least 90 yards in their last game. After playing the first two games of the season on the road, Indianapolis returns home for their first game of the year at Lucas Oil Stadium where they are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. The Colts have also covered the point spread in 16 of their last 22 home games when an underdog getting 3.5 to 7 points. Kansas City was in danger of getting upset at home last week before they picked off a Justin Herbert pass at the goal line and returned it 99 yards for the game-winning touchdown. That was a 14-point swing. The Chiefs got outgained, 401-319, in the victory. Kansas City has failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 17 games after a win at home — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a narrow win by a field goal or less at home. And while Kansas City has scored 71 combined points in their first two games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 16 games after scoring at least 25 points in two straight games. I don’t have many bad things to say about the Chiefs — as I expected, Patrick Mahomes is doing a great job spreading the ball around in the post-Tyreek Hill era. But stopping the run can be an issue for this team — they ranked 21st in the league by allowing 117.6 rushing YPG last year. The defense will be without linebacker Willie Gay for this game as he serves out a suspension. Defensive end Mike Danna did not practice on Thursday and is questionable to play with a calf — and he is one of the team’s best run defenders. Running teams like the Colts are the type of team that can give Kansas City problems. The Chiefs have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 24 games when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points. They shave also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in September.

FINAL TAKE: Kansas City just wants to leave Indianapolis with the win rather than cover the point spread — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams with a losing record. Indianapolis has covered the point spread in 21 of their last 31 games against teams with a winning record. The Colts have looked as bad as any team in the league in the first two weeks — but they still may have the best roster in the AFC South and this is an urgent situation for them. 25* NFL Underdog of the Month with the Indianapolis Colts (472) plus the points versus the Kansas City Chiefs (471). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Cleveland Browns (302) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (301). THE SITUATION: Cleveland (1-1) looks to bounce back from a 31-30 upset loss at home to the New York Jets as a 6.5-point favorite last week. Pittsburgh (1-1) looks to rebound from a 17-14 loss to New England as a 3-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BROWNS MINUS THE POINTS: Cleveland has allowed 27.5 PPG despite holding both opponents to 331.5 total YPG. They still have an outstanding defense that ranked 5th in the NFL by holding their opponents to 311.5 total YPG. JaDeveon Clowney will miss this game due to injury but Myles Garrett is expected to play after missing practice on Thursday. And despite not having the services of Deshaun Watson, the offense has been fine under veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett. The Browns are scoring 28.0 Points-Per-Game while generating 380.0 Yards-Per-Game after scoring 26 points in their opening game victory against Carolina. Cleveland has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 after losing at home — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after scoring at least 25 points in two straight games. And while their first two games have finished Over the Total, they have then covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after playing two straight Overs. The Pittsburgh offense is held back by an offensive line that is still a work in progress — and they are not getting challenging defenses with their vertical passing game under quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Steelers are scoring only 18.5 Points-Per-Game — and seven of those points came from a pick-six in their opening week upset win at Cincinnati. Pittsburgh has only managed two offensive touchdowns from the 255.0 total Yards-Per-Game they are averaging. Pittsburgh has played their first two games Under the Total — and not only have they failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 18 games after an Under but they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after playing two straight Unders. They get outgained by -133 net yards last week against the Patriots — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games after getting outgained by at least 100 yards in their last game. New England passed for 252 yards against the Steel Curtain defense last week — and they are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games after giving up at least 250 passing yards in their last game. And in their last 7 games with a low Total set in the 35.5 to 42-point range, Pittsburgh has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of these contests.

FINAL TAKE: Cleveland got swept by the Steelers in their two games last year — so preparing for this game so an urgent concern for head coach Kevin Stefanski. The Browns have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games on Thursday Night Football. The reliable combination of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt should make the difference in this game. 10* NFL Thursday Night Discounted Deal with the Cleveland Browns (302) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (301). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (301) and the Cleveland Browns (302). THE SITUATION: Pittsburgh (1-1) looks to rebound from a 17-14 loss to New England as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Cleveland (1-1) looks to bounce back from a 31-30 upset loss at home to the New York Jets as a 6.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The low total in this game is daring bettors to take the Over — but let’s not take the sugar. The Steelers managed only 243 total yards last week in the narrow loss to the Patriots — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total after not gaining at least 250 yards in their last game. They have also played 4 straight Unders after not scoring more than 14 points in their last game. The Pittsburgh offense is held back by an offensive line that is still a work in progress — and they are not getting challenging defenses with their vertical passing game under quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Steelers are scoring only 18.5 Points-Per-Game — and seven of those points came from a pick-six in their opening week upset win at Cincinnati. Pittsburgh has only managed two offensive touchdowns from the 255.0 total Yards-Per-Game they are averaging. Pittsburgh has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total on the road after a narrow loss by three points or less. Furthermore, they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Now they go back on the road where the Under is a decisive 44-18-1 in their last 63 games. Additionally, the Steelers have played 6 straight Unders in the first month of the season — and they have played 4 straight Unders against fellow AFC North opponents. Cleveland has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a loss — and they have played 26 of their last 34 games at home Under the Total after losing their last game. And while their first two games of the season have finished Over the Total, they have then played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after playing two straight Unders. The Browns are allowing 27.5 PPG despite holding both opponents to 331.5 total YPG. Cleveland still has an outstanding defense that ranked 5th in the NFL by holding their opponents to 311.5 total YPG. JaDeveon Clowney will miss this game due to injury but Myles Garrett is expected to play after missing practice on Thursday. Cleveland has held their first two opponents to 54 and 93 rushing yards — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 99 rushing yards in two straight games. And while the Browns generated 405 yards against the Jets last week, they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. Cleveland returns home where they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total for Thursday Night Football.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 5 of their last 7 meetings Under the Total — and they have played 7 of their last 9 encounters Under the Total when playing in Cleveland. It may be scary to play the Under with the number so low — but that is the point. Both teams will likely struggle to score touchdowns in the Red Zone. 25* AFC North Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (301) and the Cleveland Browns (302). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Philadelphia Eagles (292) minus the points versus the Minnesota Vikings (291). THE SITUATION: Philadelphia (1-0) comes off a 38-35 win at Detroit as a 6-point favorite last Sunday. Minnesota (1-0) defeated Green Bay by a 23-7 score as a  2.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE EAGLES MINUS THE POINTS: Philadelphia generated 455 total yards against the Lions with 215 of that production coming on the ground. Jalen Hurts completed 18 of 32 passes for 243 yards — and he added 90 yards on the ground on 17 carries with a touchdown. This season is the first year Hurts has had the same offensive coordinator for a second straight season since when he was playing in high school — don’t be surprised if he has a breakout season. The Eagles are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games after a game where they gained at least 150 yards rushing the football. Philly returns home where they are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite. Minnesota may be due for a letdown after their emotional victory against their arch-rivals in the Packers. But the Vikings have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a win by 14 or more points. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. Kirk Cousins had a great game against Green Bay by completing 23 of 32 passes for 277 yards — but Minnesota has failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games after passing for at least 250 yards in their last contest. But here comes a prime-time game where Cousins tends to shrink in the national spotlight. He has lost nine of his eleven career starts on Monday Night Football.

FINAL TAKE: The Vikings have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 16 games when playing on Monday Night — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when playing the Eagles in Philadelphia. 10* NFL Minnesota-Philadelphia ABC-TV Special with the Philadelphia Eagles (292) minus the points versus the Minnesota Vikings (291). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Minnesota Vikings (291) and the Philadelphia Eagles (292). THE SITUATION: Minnesota (1-0) comes off a 23-7 victory at home against Green Bay as a 2.5-point favorite last Sunday. Philadelphia (1-0) defeated the Lions in Detroit last Sunday by a 38-35 score as a 6-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 32 passes for 277 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions in the victory against the Packers last week. He seems to be more comfortable under new head coach Kevin O’Connell who was his quarterback coach in Washington in 2017.

At 7:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Tennessee Titans (289) and the Buffalo Bills (290). THE SITUATION: Tennessee (0-1) looks to bounce back from their 21-20 upset loss to the New York Giants as a 5.5-point favorite last Sunday. Buffalo (1-0) comes off a 31-10 victory on the road in Los Angeles against the Rams as a 1-point favorite in the season-opener on September 8th.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: Ryan Tannehill played well in the losing effort last week — he completed 20 of 33 passes for 266 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Over is 11-4-1 in the Titans' last 16 games after passing for at least 250 yards in their last game. They have also played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a loss at home. Tennessee did give up 238 yards on the ground to the Giants — and they have played 20 of their last 28 games Over the Total after allowing at least 150 rushing yards in their last game. And while that game finished Under the 44-point Total, they have played 9 of their last 12 games Over the Total after playing an Under in their last contest. They go on the road where they have played 12 of their last 15 games Over the Total — and they have played 7 of their last 9 road games Over the Total as an underdog. Furthermore, the Titans have played 6 of their last 7 games Over the Total on the road when the Total is set in the 42.5 to 49-point range. Buffalo gained 413 total yards last week in their win against the Rams — and they have played 8 of their last 9 games Over the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. They have also played 12 of their last 18 games Over the Total after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. And while they held the Super Bowl champions to just 243 yards last week, they have then played 9 of their last 10 games Over the Total after allowing no more than 250 yards in their last game. That game finished Under the 51.5-point Total — but the Bills have played 9 of their last 14 games Over the Total after playing an under in their last game. Buffalo thrived in frustrating Matthew Stafford with a constant pass rush that rotated in eight players on their defensive line. But defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will not have that luxury tonight with defensive tackles Ed Oliver and Tim Settle declared out for tonight’s game, leaving the team with just Daquan Jones and Jordan Phillips as healthy defensive tackles. The Over is 19-9-1 in the Bills’ last 29 games after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a victory by at least two touchdowns. Furthermore, Buffalo has played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after a point-spread victory. They have also played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total against fellow AFC rivals.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams played a barn-burner last season in which Tennessee pulled off a 34-31 upset win at home as a 6-point underdog. The Titans have played 5 of their last 6 games Over the Total when playing on Monday Night Football. Tennessee has played 7 of their last 8 games Over the Total when playing on turf — and Buffalo has played 20 of their last 27 games Over the Total when playing on turf. With Tennessee desperate to not fall to 0-2, expect another barn-burner. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Over the Total in the game between the Tennessee Titans (289) and the Buffalo Bills (290). Best of luck for us — Frank.

 At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Chicago Bears (287) plus the points versus the Green Bay Packers (288). THE SITUATION: Chicago (1-0) won their opener with a 19-10 upset win against San Francisco as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday. Green Bay looks to rebound from their 23-7 loss at Minnesota as a 2.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BEARS PLUS THE POINTS: The Packers should be more effective on offense this week after Aaron Rodgers was ineffective in his first game playing without his security blanket Davante Adams. But Rodgers is clearly not comfortable with the two rookies the team drafted, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, and he does not have the same confidence in veterans like Sammie Watkins or Randall Cobb as he did with Adams. Unlike Patrick Mahomes who had his group of wide receivers spend time with him in Fort Worth, Texas to bond and develop some passing chemistry with him, Rodgers did whatever he does in the offseason that is away from football. His tough-love approach to freeze out Watson after he dropped a likely touchdown pass from a bomb from Rodgers in his first target in the game was not the best way to nurture his confidence. The passing game is going to be a work in progress for the Packers for a while. Granted, injuries played a role last week with both starting tackles, David Bakhtiari and Elton Jenkins, not playing and wide receiver Allen Lazard — perhaps the top receiver for the team this season — also out with an ankle. Lazard took part in practice but was limited on Friday — if he plays, he will probably not be 100%. It looks like Jenkins will play but not sure about Bakhtiari who was limited in his first practice this week on Friday. It’s still far from ideal for this team with their best players banged up learning to live life without Adams. Green Bay’s formula for success will be to run the football behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon — but the Bears know this. San Francisco stymied the Packers in the playoffs last year by keying on Adams and Jones. As he enters the “get off my lawn” stage of his career, Rodgers has not demonstrated that he is willing to give what the defense gives him. As it is, Green Bay has failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 21 games after a double-digit loss to a divisional rival. And while their defense allowed 395 yards to the Vikings last week, they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after giving up at least 350 yards in their last game. The Packers have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when favored. Chicago has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games after a win at home. And while they got outgained by -127 net yards last week to the 49ers, they have then covered the point spread in 4 straight games after getting outgained by at least 75 yards. And in their last 10 games with the Total set in the 35.5 to 42 point range, they have covered the point spread 7 times — and they are 3-1 ATS in those circumstances when playing on the road.

FINAL TAKE: Despite their 6-11 record last year, the Bears only got outgained by -9.3 net yards last season. Green Bay only outgained their opponents by +37.4 net YPG last year — their 13-4 record overall was buoyed by a 6-3 record in games decided by one possession. The Rodgers-to-Adams connection played a large role in that overachievement. I’m not selling my Packers stock, long-term, but beating division rivals by more than a touchdown is a tough business — and I don’t think Green Bay is stable enough to get that done, especially when all they really want (and need) is to win the scoreboard. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Chicago Bears (287) plus the points versus the Green Bay Packers (288). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Chicago Bears (287) and the Green Bay Packers (288). THE SITUATION: Chicago (1-0) won their opener with a 19-10 upset win against San Francisco as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday. Green Bay looks to rebound from their 23-7 loss at Minnesota as a 2.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Packers should be more effective on offense this week after Aaron Rodgers was ineffective in his first game playing without his security blanket Davante Adams. But Rodgers is clearly not comfortable with the two rookies the team drafted, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, and he does not have the same confidence in veterans like Sammie Watkins or Randall Cobb as he did with Adams. Unlike Patrick Mahomes who had his group of wide receivers spend time with him in Fort Worth, Texas to bond and develop some passing chemistry with him, Rodgers did whatever he does in the offseason that is away from football. His tough-love approach to freeze out Watson after he dropped a likely touchdown pass from a bomb from Rodgers in his first target in the game was not the best way to nurture his confidence. The passing game is going to be a work in progress for the Packers for a while. Green Bay’s formula for success will be to run the football behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon — and for Rodgers to continue their touches in the passing game. Expect longer possessions from them tonight as they burn the clock. But the Packers need to play better on defense after they allowed the Vikings to generate 6.5 Yards-Per-Play and 395 total yards against them. The Green Bay defense should be a strength after they drafted two of the hot shots from the Georgia defense in the first round of the NFL draft, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and linebacker Quan Walker, to help a group that ranked ninth in the league by allowing 328.2 Yards-Per-Game. The Packers have played 9 of their last 12 games Under the Total after a loss by 14 or more points. They have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after not scoring more than 14 points in their last game. Kirk Cousins passed for 269 yards against them — just under 50 passing YPG above their season average last year. But Green Bay has played 15 of their last 21 games Under the Total after allowing at least 250 passing yards in their last game. Chicago only gained 204 yards last week in their upset win against the 49ers. That mark along with their 3.8 Yards-Per-Play average was the lowest offensive numbers in the league last week. The Bears have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after an upset win as an underdog. They have also played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. The second-year quarterback completed 8 of 17 passes for 121 yards dealing with the rainstorm conditions in the south of Chicago during that game — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after not passing for more than 150 yards in their last contest. He lacks reliable weapons in the passing game outside of wide receiver Darnell Mooney. But expect more solid defensive efforts from this team moving forward under a defensive head coach in Matt Eberflus who inherited a defense that ranked sixth in the NFL by allowing 316.7 total Yards-Per-Game. The Bears have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total in the first month of the season. Chicago has played 37 of their last 58 road games Under the Total as an underdog getting 7.5 to 14 points — and Green Bay has played 5 of their last 7 home games Under the Total when favored.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams last played on December 12th when Green Bay won by a 45-30 score at Lambeau Field in a game that Fields was under center for the Bears. Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry can use that game tape to slow down Fields this time around. The Packers did respond to their 38-3 loss to New Orleans in the opener last year by returning home to Lambeau where they crushed Detroit by a 35-17 score — but he had Adams in that game who caught eight of his nine targets for 121 receiving yards. Rodgers is going to continue to eye-roll at his wide receivers failing him tonight because he wants the world to know that it is not his fault (it never is) — so expect more offensive drives that settle for field goals rather than five touchdowns. 25* NFC North Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Chicago Bears (287) and the Green Bay Packers (288). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the New England Patriots (275) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (276). THE SITUATION: New England (0-1) looks to rebound from their 20-7 loss in Miami to the Dolphins as a 3-point underdog last Sunday. Pittsburgh (1-0) comes off a 23-20 upset victory in overtime at Cincinnati as a 7.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PATRIOTS PLUS THE POINTS: New England fell behind early and went into halftime trailing by a 17-0 score. One of those Dolphins’ touchdowns came from a fumble recovery on the Patriots' 2-yard line that they scooped a returned into the end zone. New England had a -3 net turnover margin. It was a disappointing effort — and the critics of Bill Belichick were quick to use this first game as evidence that he is past his prime. Look, I’m not a fan of Matt Patricia — but his impact as the team’s offensive coordinator is overblown. Belichick started as a wide receiver’s coach in the 70s. Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris coached the offensive side of the ball when on the Atlanta Falcons’ staff during the Dan Quinn era. Coaches like Belichick simply think that “coaching is coaching” — and that a defensive coach moving to the other side of the ball is akin to a prosecutor moving into private practice as a defense attorney. It is simply too early to pass judgment — especially when Belichick has declared on many occasions that he does not finish the installation of the offense each season until the end of September. So, let’s not overreact. New England has often struggled when playing at Miami. Tom Brady lost ten of his eighteen starts on the road against the Dolphins when playing for the Patriots. In those ten losses, New England scored just 17.5 Points-Per-Game and averaged 293.5 total Yards-Per-Game. In Brady’s trip to Miami in 2006, the Dolphins shut him out while holding him to 189 total yards. For the record, the Patriots finished 12-4 that season before losing to Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game. New England only ran the ball 22 times against the Dolphins — and the strength of this team will be them running the ball and leaning on their outstanding defense. The Patriots were second in the league by allowing 17.8 PPG. Belichick is not receiving enough credit for leading his team into the playoffs last year with a rookie quarterback. They outscored their opponents by +9.4 PPG with them generating 27.2 PPG and ranking 15th in the NFL by averaging 353.4 total YPG. It is telling that despite all the naysayers about this team this week, the bookies still list New England as the road favorite for this game. The Patriots have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 25 games after a double-digit loss to a divisional rival. And while they held the Dolphins to just 65 rushing yards, they have then covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after not allowing more than 75 rushing yards in their last game. Additionally, New England has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games in Week Two of the regular season under Belichick — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games when favored. We were on Pittsburgh last week — and it was great to see them benefit from a +5 net turnover margin including a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Steelers got outgained by -165 net yards. It was a huge win for this team — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after an upset victory as an underdog. Pittsburgh has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games after a victory by seven points or less. The Steelers only gained 267 yards of offense with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky averaging just 5.1 Yards-Per-Attempt in the passing game. They allowed the Bengals to gain 432 total yards — and not only have they failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after allowing 400 or more yards in their last game but they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games after getting outgained by at least 100 yards in their last contest. Now Pittsburgh returns home where they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a losing record on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games with the Total set in the 38.5 to 42 point range. Furthermore, the Steelers will be without T.J. Watt who is on Injured Reserve after tearing his pectoral muscle last week.

FINAL TAKE: While Belichick tends to struggle on the road against the Dolphins, he has a great track record when coaching against Tomlin. New England has beaten Pittsburgh in five of their last six meetings with the average score being 30-18.7 — they have a +68 net point differential in those six games. The Patriots have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 trips to Pittsburgh. The last time New England began the season 0-2 was in 2001 which happens to the season Brady took over as the team’s quarterback. 25* AFC Game of the Month with the New England Patriots (275) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (276). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Los Angeles Chargers (103) plus the points versus the Kansas City Chiefs (104). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (1-0) began the regular season with a 24-19 victory against Las Vegas as a 4.5-point favorite on Sunday. Kansas City (1-0) opened the season with a 44-21 win at Arizona as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHARGERS PLUS THE POINTS: Los Angeles has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a victory against an AFC West rival in their last game. The Chargers flexed their muscles on defense by holding the Raiders to just 320 yards of total offense. Linebacker Khalil Mack looked rejuvenated in a Chargers uniform after being signed in the offseason from Chicago. He joined linebacker Joey Bosa to combine for 16 hits on Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr. I am expecting a significant bump in the play of this Los Angeles defense in the second season under head coach Brandon Staley. The team hopes to have free agent cornerback J.C. Jackson take the field tonight after he missed Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. The former New England star is one of the best cover corners in the league. Losing Keenan Allen to a hamstring injury is significant — but with the addition of Sony Michel who was cut by Miami, look for the Chargers to run the ball more with a rotation of Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, and Michel. I definitely expect Staley to have his defense play a two-high safety zone that frustrated Patrick Mahomes last season. Inexplicably the Cardinals opted to play a single high safety and bring the blitz early and often against Mahomes last week. I like Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph — but I would sure like to hear his rationale for bypassing the two high safeties and opting to blitz on 53% of the Chiefs’ dropbacks. Mahomes punishes the blitz. Opposing defenses found success against him by playing that two-high safety zone defense that takes away the deep ball. With Justin Herbert under center, the Chargers are consistently live underdogs — even on the road. Los Angeles has covered the point spread in 21 of their last 29 road games with the Total set at 49.5 or higher — and they are 36-16-4 ATS in their last 57 road games as an underdog. They have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games in September. Kansas City has failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 17 games after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. And while the Chiefs generated 33 first downs and controlled the clock for 34:42 minutes in their easy win against the Cardinals, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after playing a game where they gained at least 24 first downs and controlled the clock for at least 34 minutes. They return home where they have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 14 home games with the Total set at 49.5 or higher — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight home games when favored by 3.5 to 7 points. Additionally, Kansas City kicker (and fantasy gem) Harrison Butker is out for this game — they activated Matt Ammendola from the practice squad to kick field goals and extra points (which does not hurt our case for the Chargers).

FINAL TAKE: The Chargers will not be intimidated playing at Arrowhead Stadium — they are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games on the road against the Chiefs including last season when they upset them by a 30-24 score as a 7-point underdog on September 26th. 10* NFL Thursday Night Discounted Deal with the Los Angeles Chargers (103) plus the points versus the Kansas City Chiefs (104). Best of luck for us — Frank.   

At 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Chargers (103) and the Kansas City Chiefs (104). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (1-0) began the regular season with a 24-19 victory against Las Vegas as a 4.5-point favorite on Sunday. Kansas City (1-0) opened the season with a 44-21 win at Arizona as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Chargers flexed their muscles on defense by holding the Raiders to just 320 yards of total offense. Linebacker Khalil Mack looked rejuvenated in a Chargers uniform after being signed in the offseason from Chicago. He joined linebacker Joey Bosa to combine for 16 hits on Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr. I am expecting a significant bump in the play of this Los Angeles defense in the second season under head coach Brandon Staley. The team hopes to have free agent cornerback J.C. Jackson take the field tonight after he missed Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. The former New England star is one of the best cover corners in the league. The Chargers have played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total after a win by six points or less. They have also played 10 of their last 11 games Under the Total in September. The LA offense was not dynamic last week against the Raiders as they only gained 355 total yards — down more than 35 yards from their season average last year. They did control time of possession for 32:32 minutes in that game which will probably be their formula tonight. Wide receiver Keenan Allen has been declared out with a hamstring injury which will make Mike Williams the primary option and elevate Joshua Palmer into the starting lineup. Losing Allen is significant since Williams had seven drops last year and Palmer lacks down-the-field speed. Allen is the glue to this group. With the addition of Sony Michel who was cut by Miami, look for the Chargers to run the ball more with a rotation of Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, and Michel. I definitely expect Staley to have his defense play a two-high safety zone that frustrated Patrick Mahomes last season. Inexplicably the Cardinals opted to play a single high safety and bring the blitz early and often against Mahomes last week. I like Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph — but I would sure like to hear his rationale for bypassing the two high safeties and opting to blitz on 53% of the Chiefs’ dropbacks. Mahomes punishes the blitz. Opposing defenses found success against him by playing that two-high safety zone defense that takes away the deep ball. Now I do believe Mahomes put himself in a much better position than say, Aaron Rodgers, to be patient and take what the defense will give him this season in the first year without Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs generated 33 first downs and controlled the clock for 34:42 minutes in their easy win against the Cardinals. Mahomes had a fantastic statistical afternoon — going 30 of 39 for 360 yards with five touchdown passes — but the drives were not as quick-strike without Hill. And, hey, what do ya know? The defense benefited from the long drives as they held Kyler Murray and the Arizona offense to just 282 total yards. Kansas City has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a double-digit win on the road — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after gaining at least 24 first downs while having the offense on the field for at least 34 minutes in their last previous game. The Chiefs ranked 8th in the NFL last year by allowing 21.4 Points-Per-Game — and they performed much better when they acquired Melvin Ingram midseason which allowed them to move Chris Jones back to defensive tackle. While Ingram is now gone, they drafted Purdue’s disruptive defensive tackle George Karlaftis in the first round to replace him and keep Jones at his preferred inside position. Additionally, Kansas City kicker (and fantasy gem) Harrison Butker is out for this game — they activated Matt Ammendola from the practice squad to kick field goals and extra points (which does not hurt our case for the Under).

FINAL TAKE: Both games between these two teams had at least 54 combined points scored — so I understand the arguments for the Over. But Staley is leaning-in to light boxes to defend against the pass which begs opposing offenses to run the ball. The Chargers allowed opponents to average 5.5 Yards-Per-Carry against their light boxes last year. I expect Kansas City to have success on offense — but with long drives and less explosiveness. It does not take much in the game script to get off the pace to finish Over 54 points. And then when you add the short week for both teams and my expectation that Staley calms down on his zeal to go for it on every fourth down, look for a lower-scoring game than expected. 25* AFC West Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Chargers (103) and the Kansas City Chiefs (104). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Denver Broncos (481) and the Seattle Seahawks (482). THE SITUATION: Denver (0-0) begins their Russell Wilson era after finishing 7-10 last year. Seattle (0-0) begins the post-Russell Wilson era coming off a 7-10 season.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Many pundits consider the Broncos as a Super Bowl favorite after their heavy investment in Wilson as their franchise quarterback. Yet this is a flawed football team that has endured five-straight losing seasons. There are depth concerns at wide receiver after Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. Wilson is getting a downgrade at wide receiver after enjoying the talents of Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Jerry Jeudy did not have a touchdown pass last year and Courtland Sutton has failed to seize the mantle as a number one receiver for this team. If Wilson has lost a step with his mobility and has to rely more on his dropback skills, he may not be quite as good as he was in the past. His size prohibits him from making certain throws on the field. That is not a death knell — Drew Brees was quite effective even in the latter years of his career. But Wilson does not have Brees’ accuracy. Wilson tends to not see open receivers and can be too “all-or-nothing.” Maybe that changes with a better offensive line — but he is adjusting to a new system. Yes, Wilson had input in the offense to have it tailored to his expectations — but that was exactly what we heard last year when Carroll hired Shane Waldron as his offensive coordinator from the Los Angeles Rams (Sean McVay! Sean McVay!). As it is, Denver has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total on the road — and they have played 7 of their last 8 road games Under the Total as a road favorite. The Under is also 37-17-1 in the Broncos’ last 55 games when favored. And in their last 4 games in September, Denver has played all four games Under the Total.  Seattle is definitely experiencing a downgrade at quarterback in moving to Geno Smith. What Smith does offer is the elimination of any pressure to force the passing game to make the quarterback happy as has been the case in the past. Seattle is going to run the football and attempt to control time of possession — the formula that helped Denver produce their good defensive numbers in the past. While the offense averaged only 56.1 plays per game, the defense was on the field for 70.6 plays per game. That -14.5 net difference was the 4th worst in the NFL since 1950. It is that dynamic that Carroll gets to address with Wilson gone. He wants to play lower-scoring games that remain close — and he is confident he can outcoach his opponents in the fourth quarter. Seattle has played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Seattle has played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total on Monday Night Football — and Denver has played 4 straight Unders on Monday Night Football. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Denver Broncos (481) and the Seattle Seahawks (482). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Seattle Seahawks (482) plus the points versus the Denver Broncos (481). THE SITUATION: Seattle (0-0) begins the post-Russell Wilson era coming off a 7-10 season. Denver (0-0) begins their Russell Wilson era after finishing 7-10 last year.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SEAHAWKS PLUS THE POINTS: Many pundits consider the Broncos as a Super Bowl favorite after their heavy investment in Wilson as their franchise quarterback. Yet this is a flawed football team that has endured five-straight losing seasons. There are depth concerns at wide receiver after Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. Wilson is getting a downgrade at wide receiver after enjoying the talents of Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Jerry Jeudy did not have a touchdown pass last year and Courtland Sutton has failed to seize the mantle as a number one receiver for this team. The Denver defense is overrated with good frontline numbers bolstered by a ball control offense. The Broncos' offense under head coach Vic Fangio ranked 5th in the league by averaging 29.45 seconds per play last year. Their opponent’s average starting position was on the 26.0-yard line, the second-best mark in the league. Denver ranked 3rd in the NFL by allowing only 18.9 Points-Per-Game but they also lead the league by holding their opponents to just 16.2 drives per game. They ranked 8th in total defense — but the DVOA metrics at Football Outsiders ranked their defense as 20th in the league which is probably a more accurate measure as to what to expect this season. Now a rookie head coach takes over the team with first-time offensive and defensive coordinators. Maybe this team makes a deep playoff run — but at the very least I expect some growing pains. Maybe Nathaniel Hackett will be an instant success — but I remain puzzled how he is the boy genius as the Green Bay offensive coordinator who gets none of the blame for the Packers' postseason issues while all the blame goes to Aaron Rodgers and head coach Matt LaFleur. Seems pretty convenient  — and Sutton and Jeudy were innocent victims of bad quarterback play. And, of course, Russell Wilson is the only reason why Seattle enjoyed nine-straight winning seasons with Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll holding him back from even more success because he simply would not “let him cook.” To buy into the Denver hype, one must be willing to assess all blame elsewhere. I’m skeptical that it is that simple. If Wilson has lost a step with his mobility and has to rely more on his dropback skills, he may not be quite as good as he was in the past. His size prohibits him from making certain throws on the field. That is not a death knell — Drew Brees was quite effective even in the latter years of his career. But Wilson does not have Brees’ accuracy. Wilson tends to not see open receivers and can be too “all-or-nothing.” Maybe that changes with a better offensive line — but he is adjusting to a new system. Yes, Wilson had input in the offense to have it tailored to his expectations — but that was exactly what we heard last year when Carroll hired Shane Waldron as his offensive coordinator from the Los Angeles Rams (Sean McVay! Sean McVay!). As it is, Denver has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games on the road. They have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when favored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games on the road when favored. And in their last 6 games on Monday Night Football, the Broncos are 1-4-1 ATS. Seattle needed the influx of young talent after years of decline in the quality on the roster. Wilson’s big contract did not help the organization’s ability to manage the salary cap. The Seahawks had their first top-ten draft pick in a decade in the spring — and they brought in several rookies who will make an impact tonight. Seattle had 9.3 wins using the Pythagorean model — so this was probably a better team than their 7-10 record suggests. They lost five of their eight games decided by one scoring possession. They outscored their opponents by +1.7 Points-Per-Game. Yes, moving to Geno Smith at quarterback is a downgrade to Wilson with the team likely to draft a rookie in the first round to become their franchise quarterback next year. But Smith did have a Passer Rating of 103.0 last year as compared to Wilson’s 103.1 Passer Rating (albeit playing through an injury). What Smith does offer is the elimination of any pressure to force the passing game to make the quarterback happy as has been the case in the past. Seattle is going to run the football and attempt to control time of possession — the formula that helped Denver produce their good defensive numbers in the past. Rashaad Penny rushed for 671 yards with seven touchdowns in his final seven games last year — and he averaged +2.1 yards-per-carry above the metrics expected yards-per-carry. The offensive line has been significantly upgraded with free agent Austin Blythe from Kansas City at center and two early draft picks in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas joining the mix. The defense will be better simply by being on the field less. While the offense averaged only 56.1 plays per game, the defense was on the field for 70.6 plays per game. That -14.5 net difference was the 4th worst in the NFL since 1950. It is that dynamic that Carroll gets to address with Wilson gone. No, this is not a Super Bowl team — but the rebuild begins and this defense shapes up to be sneaky better than expected. The Seahawks have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 23 games as an underdog. They have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games at home with the Total set in the 42.5-49 point range.

FINAL TAKE: Wilson will feel some pressure returning to Lumen Field — and he is the one with Super Bowl expectations. Seattle has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games in September — and no one knows Wilson better than Carroll who has had the entire offseason to prepare to defend against his former quarterback. 25* NFL Monday Night Football Game of the Month with the Seattle Seahawks (482) plus the points versus the Denver Broncos (481). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (479) and the Dallas Cowboys (480). THE SITUATION: Tampa Bay (0-0) comes off a 13-4 season after losing at home to the Los Angeles Rams by a 30-27 score in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. Dallas (0-0) lost in the NFC wildcard round in a 23-17 loss at home to San Francisco.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: Tampa Bay has significant offensive line issues after former Pro Bowler Ali Marpet retired in the offseason and then center Ryan Jensen got injured during the preseason. But the Buccaneers still have All-Pro Tristan Wirfs at right tackle — and they signed Shaq Mason from New England to replace Market at guard in the offseason. Tampa Bay’s starting offensive line should still be fine — the bigger problem is the lack of any margin for error when it comes to injury since the depth has been depleted. It certainly helps to have Tom Brady under center who not only is one of the best ever with his footwork in his pocket but also has the veteran savvy to manage a pass rush. Brady missed much of the preseason for his mysterious mid-camp “sabbatical” — but the reports out of camp were that he was quite good in his abbreviated time with the team. He will not have wide receiver Chris Godwin tonight — but he still has a loaded wide receiver room that added Julio Jones and Russell Gage in the offseason along with tight end Kyle Rudolph to complement Mike Evans and Scottie Miller. The Buccaneers have played 5 of their last 6 opening games to a new season Over the Total. Dallas has played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total in September. While I am concerned about the injuries on their offensive line, this is still going to be a team that generates at least 25 Points-Per-Game. They led the NFL last year with a 31.2 PPG scoring average — so if there is some drop-off, this team should still be reliable with Overs. I am expecting the Regression Gods to visit this team when it comes to the play of their defense in the second year under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. They led the NFL with 34 takeaways last year. The Cowboys have played 13 of their last 19 games at home Over the Total.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams played to a 31-29 barnburner in the opening week last season in Tampa Bay. I expect a similar level of scoring in this rematch. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with Over the Total in the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (479) and the Dallas Cowboys (480). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (479) minus the points versus the Dallas Cowboys (480). THE SITUATION: Tampa Bay (0-0) comes off a 13-4 season after losing at home to the Los Angeles Rams by a 30-27 score in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. Dallas (0-0) lost in the NFC wildcard round in a 23-17 loss at home to San Francisco.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCCANEERS MINUS THE POINTS: Tampa Bay has significant offensive line issues after former Pro Bowler Ali Marpet retired in the offseason and then center Ryan Jensen got injured during the preseason. But the Buccaneers still have All-Pro Tristan Wirfs at right tackle — and they signed Shaq Mason from New England to replace Market at guard in the offseason. Tampa Bay’s starting offensive line should still be fine — the bigger problem is the lack of any margin for error when it comes to injury since the depth has been depleted. It certainly helps to have Tom Brady under center who not only is one of the best ever with his footwork in his pocket but also has the veteran savvy to manage a pass rush. Brady missed much of the preseason for his mysterious mid-camp “sabbatical” — but the reports out of camp were that he was quite good in his abbreviated time with the team. This is a redemption season for Brady and this team after they seemed to lose focus last year after winning the Super Bowl. The Bucs were flat in the first half when hosting the Rams in the playoffs before almost pulling off a big rally in the second half. The sting of that loss and the reset this organization made by elevating Todd Bowles from defensive coordinator to their head coach should motivate this team. Brady will not have wide receiver Chris Godwin tonight — but he still has a loaded wide receiver room that added Julio Jones and Russell Gage in the offseason along with tight end Kyle Rudolph to complement Mike Evans and Scottie Miller. The Buccaneers’ defense should be outstanding after ranking 5th in the league by allowing 20.8 Points-Per-Game. Injuries played a role in their Super Bowl hangover last year — but this team still outscored their opponents by +9.3 Points-Per-Game. Tampa Bay has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games when favored — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against NFC opponents. The Buccaneers have also covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games with the Total set at 49.5 or higher. Dallas has even more troubling offensive line issues. Left tackle Tyron Smith injured his hamstring in the preseason which will keep him out indefinitely — and the Cowboys have historically seen a significant dip in their scoring output when Smith is not available. Frankly, quarterback Dan Prescott is likely playing behind the worst offensive line since being drafted by Dallas. His early success with the team came with him playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Only right guard Zack Martin remains from those units (with Smith injured). They cut right tackle La’El Collins in the offseason. The Cowboys will be relying on rookie first-round draft pick Tyler Smith at left tackle — but he committed 12 penalties in his 12 starts for Tulsa last year. Jason Peters may eventually be their left tackle after he was signed off the street — but the 40-year-old is on the practice squad getting into shape. The Dallas wide receiver room lost two key contributors in Amari Cooper and Cedric Wilson in the offseason — and they will not have the injured Michael Gallup for this game. The Cowboys have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 13 home games with the Total set at 49.5 or higher.

FINAL TAKE: Dallas has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range — and the Buccaneers have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. In Brady, I Trust for this one. 25* NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Month with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (479) minus the points versus the Dallas Cowboys (480). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Green Bay Packers (475) plus (or minus) the points versus the Minnesota Vikings (476). THE SITUATION: Green Bay (0-0) comes off a 13-4 season where they lost to San Francisco in the NFC Divisional Playoff round by a 13-10 score. Minnesota (0-0) missed the playoffs after an 8-9 campaign last year.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PACKERS PLUS (OR MINUS) THE POINTS: Don’t be surprised to see Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers come out with a chip on their shoulder in this game after an offseason where the team was being discounted after making the decision to not pay the big contract to wide receiver Davante Adams. Certainly, the Packers will miss his 123 receptions for 1553 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. But the Green Bay offense stalled at times last year even with Adams. Green Bay lost at home in the NFC Championship Game despite the 49ers failing to score an offensive touchdown. It was the second-straight time that Aaron Rodgers saw his team get upset at home at Lambeau Field in the postseason. Rodgers has won two-straight Most Valuable Player Awards, but he underachieved in the playoffs for the second-straight season. Since leading Green Bay to the Super Bowl twelve years ago, Rodgers has a 7-9 record in his 16 playoff games. Firing Mike McCarthy and bringing in a head coach who had lunch once with Sean McVay was supposed to be the solution for the Packers’ offense when they hired  Matt LeFleur in 2019. But despite a 39-10 regular season record, the offense has stagnated for this team in the playoffs. The now 38-year-old veteran seems to have become finicky in his later years in the league. His “trust” factor with his wide receivers seems to be much higher than it is for Tom Brady and Peyton Manning back in his day who both seemed to need to a few workout sessions before being comfortable in throwing the ball to (wide open) secondary targets. Of course, Brady and Manning are notorious for vigorous offseason programs designed to facilitate this trust and comfort. That’s not necessarily Rodgers’ thing. He seems to need years of experience and familiarity with his wide receivers before he develops trust. That helps explain why he drew a line in the sand last year for management to support his wishes by acquiring former Packer Randall Cobb as a free agent from Dallas despite his being on the wrong side of 30 years-old. Cobb caught 28 balls for 375 yards last year. It is easy to understand why Rodgers would key-on Adams. The now-former Packer has great hands with a huge catch-radius and runs very precise routes. But when it becomes clear to everyone — including the 49ers defense and the bettors backing the Packers in the NFC Championship Game — that Rodgers is either going to throw the ball to Adams, running back, Aaron Jones, or an occasional lob to the 37-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis, good defenses are capable enough to stop that. Like a parent hiding the video game console to get their child to do their home work, Rodgers will have to find new receivers to move the ball downfield if he wants to counting to throw the football in 61% of their snaps. Allen Lazard has potential to step up as a primary option (although his availability is in question for this afternoon’s game). Second round pick Christian Watson from North Dakota State has demonstrated flashes of brilliance in college. Amari Rodgers is a second-year player from Clemson who was drafted with fanfare but only caught four balls last year. Sammy Watkins was signed as a free agent from Baltimore with still tremendous albeit unfulfilled upside. Cobb is still around, as is Jones and A.J. Dillon catching balls out of the backfield. Green Bay is going to run the ball and lean on their outstanding defense that may be the best group they had since their last Super Bowl. And Rodgers will throw the ball to open receivers from the schemes of LaFleur and his adjustments at the line of scrimmage. This remains a team that has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games on the road. They have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games in September. Minnesota was outgained by -19.8 net Yards-Per-Game last season. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 16 games at home. They have a rookie head coach in Kevin O’Connell who is implementing new schemes on both sides of the ball. I expect a bumpy road for this team out of the gates. And while I have heard the narrative that Minnesota will finally “Let Kirk Cook” regarding Kirk Cousins getting an offensive coach who will not hurt his feelings and make him feel insecure. But wasn’t that what he had in Washington with head coach Jay Gruden? How did that work out? Maybe the “You like that!” guy who put his team at risk for missing games last year by not getting vaccinated is exactly the type of player who needs some tough love rather than 100% affirmation? O’Connell comes from the Sean McVay school as the Rams offensive coordinator last year. How many interceptions did Matthew Stafford throw on Thursday (answer: three)? Maybe, just maybe, 100% positive reinforcement is the formula  for a ton of interceptions for guys like Cousins.

FINAL TAKE: Green Bay will remember their embarrassing 38-3 loss to New Orleans in the opening week of last year’s season. They have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against NFC North opponents. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Discounted Deal with the Green Bay Packers (475) plus (or minus) the points versus the Minnesota Vikings (476). Best of luck for us — Frank. 

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers (461) plus the points versus the Cincinnati Bengals (462). THE SITUATION: Pittsburgh (0-0) begins the post-Ben Roethlisberger era coming off a 9-7-1 campaign where they made the playoffs but got soundly defeated at Kansas City in the AFC Wildcard round by a 42-21 score. Cincinnati (10-7) comes off their 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.

THE SITUATION: Not many are giving the Steelers much of a shot this year with many publications picking them fourth in the AFC North with their season victory total topping out in the eight-win range. But Pittsburgh continues to have confidence and the resolve of a winning franchise that sets their own standards. They have not had a losing season in the 15 years under head coach Mike Tomlin. The reports out of training camp were that they were an angry and focused group looking to prove something after their three-touchdown loss to the Chiefs. They are the only team in the NFL to engage in tackling each and every day in practice during the preseason. The retirement of Roethlisberger provides the team the opportunity to reset themselves and look in new directions.  Offensive coordinator Matt Canada appears anxious to modernize the offense with plenty of quarterback run option plays  — something they can deploy with Mitchell Trubisky. I am not expecting Trubisky to play like a Hall of Famer. However, a year removed from his exit from Chicago does have him looking in a better light after the disastrous coaching job Matt Nagy did with Justin Fields last year. Remember, Trubisky had a career 29-21 record with the Bears despite Nagy. Pittsburgh also has a big edge in this opening game with the element of surprise since the Bengals lack game tape of how the new offense will operate. The Steelers have an underrated wide receiver room with Deontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, tight end Pat Freiermuth, and the preseason rookie phenol, George Pickens. With Trubisky under center, Pittsburgh has a quarterback with the arm strength to open up the vertical passing game — something Roethlisberger could not do in the twilight of his career. The defense should be a strength of the team. For the fifth straight season, they led the league in sacks. Despite dealing with a host of injuries, the Steel Curtain improved over the final six weeks of the season where they forced 17 turnovers. Pittsburgh loves spots like this where they are discounted — they are 35-15-2 ATS in their last 52 games as an underdog. Furthermore, they are 19-6-2 ATS in their last 27 games under Tomlin when an underdog against an AFC North rival. I thought Cincinnati should have won the Super Bowl if not for the ill-advised running back rotation of head coach Zac Taylor which convinced him to keep Joe Mixon off the field in crucial down-and-distance situations against the Los Angeles Rams. I love Burrow — but the offense was too often boom-or-bust which I think is a function of Taylor’s play-calling (one of many offensive “geniuses” head coaches who would better serve to let their offensive coordinator call plays so that they can full attention to the game management responsibilities of a head coach. The Bengals brass attempted to upgrade the offensive line with three free agent signings along with a fourth-round draft pick. The group should be better — but since Taylor is a Sean McVay disciple (save for relying on play-action which would have helped the suspect offensive lines of the past perform better), he did not play his offensive line together much in the preseason leaving cohesion issues against hostile competition still an issue. The Cincinnati defense was middling last year — they ranked 18th in total defense by allowing 350.8 total Yards-Per-Game. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is one of the best in the business in play design — but the talent of this unit remains a concern. They ranked 26th in passing yards allowed and 24th in the passing defensive DVOA metrics by Football Outsiders. They ranked 26th in completion rate allowed which may be a problem against a Steelers’ offense that likes to get the ball to their speedy receivers in space to take advantage of YAC (yards after the catch). And then there is the fact that the loser of the Super Bowl has failed to cover the point spread in 18 of the last 22 opening weeks to the new season.

FINAL TAKE: Cincinnati dominated Pittsburgh in their two meetings last year — winning both games by a combined 65-10 score. Tomlin certainly used this as a constant reminder to his team in the preseason. The Steelers have still covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against division rivals. Expect a close game. 25* AFC North Underdog of the Month with the Pittsburgh Steelers (461) plus the points versus the Cincinnati Bengals (462). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Buffalo Bills (451) and the Los Angeles Rams (452). THE SITUATION: Buffalo (0-0) comes off an 11-6 season where they lost on the road at Kansas City by a 42-36 score in the AFC Divisional round. Los Angeles (0-0) are the reigning Super Bowl Champions after beating Cincinnati in the Super Bowl by a 23-20 score.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL:  The Bills are favorites in the betting market to win the Super Bowl this season with the expectation being that they will have a chip on their shoulder after their heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs when their defense allowed a game-tying field goal with just 13 seconds left in regulation. After Kansas City scored a game-tying field goal to force overtime, they won the coin flip and Patrick Mahomes did not let Josh Allen get the ball again by leading the Chiefs on a touchdown drive that ended the game — and prompted a change in the NFL overtime rules (by kicking the can on the inevitable “but why can’t the other team get one more chance” dilemma when removing the clock, even if for good reasons). Allen and the Bills’ offense should be loaded for bear this season. They were 3rd in the NFL last year by scoring 28.4 Points-Per-Game — and they were 5th by generating 408.4 total Yards-Per-Game. Allen was transcendent in the playoffs last year with nine touchdown passes and a Passer Rating of 149.0. The interesting thing about him is that he tended to save his best games for the national spotlight. According to the metrics at Football Outsiders, while he had a DVOA of 27.8% for the season overall, that mark rose to a 43.5% clip when playing in prime-time games on national television. Nine starters return on offense — and while offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is the head coach for the New York Giants, his quarterback coach and now offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has been considered one of the brightest young offensive minds in the game. He should have more reliable weapons to compliment Stefon Diggs in the passing game this season. Gabriel Davis had a breakout game against the Chiefs in the playoffs with four touchdown catches. Buffalo added slot receiver, Jamison Crowder, from the New York Jets in the offseason. The Bills have played 10 of their last 14 games Over the Total on the road including four of their last five games away from home — and they have played 7 straight Overs on the road with the Total set at 49.5 or higher. They have also played 10 of their last 13 games Over the Total when they are listed in the +/- 3-point range. Los Angeles was tied for 7th in the NFL by scoring 27.1 PPG last year — and they scored 26.8 PPG in their four playoff games. Reports from the Rams camp were that they were one of the most impressive teams in the preseason practice — and the injured right elbow that has been nagging quarterback Matthew Stafford is not an issue (at least for this week). Stafford should be even better the season year in head coach Sean McVay’s system — and Cam Akers should be more effective at running back after a disappointing postseason where he averaged just 2.6 Yards-Per-Carry after his quicker-than-expected return from the Achilles injury that kept him out for the regular season. The team is without Robert Woods and Odell Beckham from the wide receiver group but they did add Allen Robinson from Chicago in the offseason. The defense still has Aaron Donald — but this unit may take a step back after losing Von Miller and Sebastian Joseph-Day from the front seven. The Rams ranked just 17th in the league last year by allowing 344.9 total YPG. Los Angeles has played 8 of their last 10 games Over the Total as an underdog — and they have played 5 straight Overs in September.

FINAL TAKE: The Bills led the NFL in scoring defense and total defense — but those numbers were propped up by a fairly easy strength of schedule against some of the weakest offensive units in the league. Tennessee scored 34 points against them, Indianapolis scored 41 points, and Tampa Bay put up 33 points before the playoff game with Kansas City who scored at will against them in the second half. Six games against the other three AFC East teams along with games against the NFC South (Atlanta, New Orleans, Carolina), along with Jacksonville, Houston, Washington, and Pittsburgh is an ideal recipe for inflated defensive numbers. I think both teams will suspect that 30 points will be needed to win and make their in-game decisions accordingly — making the Over a self-fulfilling prophecy. 25* NFL Thursday Night Football Total of the Month with Over the Total in the game between the Buffalo Bills (451) and the Los Angeles Rams (452). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Buffalo Bills (451) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (452). THE SITUATION: Buffalo (0-0) comes off an 11-6 season where they lost on the road at Kansas City by a 42-36 score in the AFC Divisional round. Los Angeles (0-0) are the reigning Super Bowl Champions after beating Cincinnati in the Super Bowl by a 23-20 score.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BILLS MINUS THE POINTS: The Bills are favorites in the betting market to win the Super Bowl this season with the expectation being that they will have a chip on their shoulder after their heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs when their defense allowed a game-tying field goal with just 13 seconds left in regulation. After Kansas City scored a game-tying field goal to force overtime, they won the coin flip and Patrick Mahomes did not let Josh Allen get the ball again by leading the Chiefs on a touchdown drive that ended the game — and prompted a change in the NFL overtime rules (by kicking the can on the inevitable “but why can’t the other team get one more chance” dilemma when removing the clock, even if for good reasons). Allen and the Bills’ offense should be loaded for bear this season. They were 3rd in the NFL last year by scoring 28.4 Points-Per-Game — and they were 5th by generating 408.4 total Yards-Per-Game. Allen was transcendent in the playoffs last year with nine touchdown passes and a Passer Rating of 149.0. The interesting thing about him is that he tended to save his best games for the national spotlight. According to the metrics at Football Outsiders, while he had a DVOA of 27.8% for the season overall, that mark rose to a 43.5% clip when playing in prime-time games on national television. Nine starters return on offense — and while offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is the head coach for the New York Giants, his quarterback coach and now offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has been considered one of the brightest young offensive minds in the game. He should have more reliable weapons to compliment Stefon Diggs in the passing game this season. Gabriel Davis had a breakout game against the Chiefs in the playoffs with four touchdown catches. Buffalo added slot receiver, Jamison Crowder, from the New York Jets in the offseason. The Bills have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in September. Los Angeles returns to SoFi Stadium where they had the advantage of playing the Super Bowl against one of the weakest opponents in years (decades?) in the Bengals (apologies to Joe Burrow — and we covered with Cincinnati!). Cincinnati had a below-average offensive line and just a middle-of-the-road — but they still were in a position to win that game before head coach Zac Taylor bungled his play-calling and kept Joe Mixon off the field on crucial third and fourth downs. And remember that Matthew Stafford is not the new Baker Mayfield selling everything he can in advertisements (with his T-Mobile smirk dogging Detroit seemingly on perpetual loop) — if only the 49ers’ Jaquiski Tartt catches the wounded duck of a pass he threw up in the 4th quarter of the NFC Championship Game. Remember, Stafford led the NFL with 17 interceptions last year — and four were returned for pick-sixes. He becomes a national goat (the bad kind, not the G.O.A.T. kind) if Tartt catches that ball. This is a game defined by moments — and the Rams were beneficiaries of many fortunate breaks while winning their final three playoff games by just a field goal last year. Los Angeles only outgained their opponents by +27.2 Yards-Per-Game last year — and the roster has sustained some significant losses.

FINAL TAKE: It will be foolish to be committed to a “Fade Rams” campaign — it always is shortsighted to become an ideologue to these initial assumptions. Besides, we bet for or against numbers — not for or against teams. For this opener, I think it is the Rams who are overvalued against a Bills team not laying a field goal. 10* NFL Thursday Night Discounted Deal with the Buffalo Bills (451) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (452). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Cincinnati Bengals (102) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (101) in the Super Bowl. THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (13-7) advanced to the Super Bowl with their 27-24 upset win at Kansas City in overtime as a 7-point underdog on Sunday (January 30th). Los Angeles (15-5) joined them later that evening with their 20-17 victory against San Francisco as a 3.5-point favorite. This game takes place in the Rams’ SoFi Stadium, making them the de-facto home team.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BENGALS PLUS THE POINTS: The best player on the field in the AFC Championship Game was Joe Burrow. The stats say he completed 23 of 38 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He miraculously avoided defensive tackle, Chris Jones, twice on a crucial play to run for a first down in the second half — part of the 25 yards he added on the ground. But his biggest influence remains in his unwavering belief that he will lead his team to a victory. This is what he did at LSU — and he is already doing it in Cincinnati. It is time to jump on board — and the evidence is staring at us. The Bengals have nine games this season against teams who made the playoffs. They won and covered the point spread in 7 of those contests. They beat and covered the point spread twice against Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Pittsburgh — and they beat and covered the point spread on the road against the AFC top-seeded team in Tennessee (that beat Kansas City, Buffalo, San Francisco, and these Rams in Los Angeles during the regular season). Furthermore, their two losses to playoff teams were against Green Bay and the 49ers by just a field goal in each occasion. The debate over whether or not this Bengals team is battle-tested is over. And while I was already sold on Burrow, the convincing case made by Cincinnati in their victory against the Chiefs was the play of their defense in holding Patrick Mahomes to just a field goal in the entire second half for the second time this month. The Bengals have not allowed more than 21 points in five of their last seven games — those two exceptions were against Kansas City in games where they still pulled off the victory. Cincinnati has now covered the point spread in 5 straight games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after playing a game that finished Under the Total. Additionally, the Bengals have covered the point spread in 6 straight games after a point spread win — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games if they are riding a point spread streak of at least three games (they enter the Super Bowl on a 7-0 ATS run). Cincinnati has also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 12 road games with the Total set at 45.5 or higher. The Bengals have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 road games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 5 straight games as a dog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points. Cincinnati is a dangerous underdog playing with house money this early in Burrow’s career after entering the season with 150-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay, and the rest of this Los Angeles team, on the other hand, have the weight of the world on them to win the Super Bowl. For the second straight season, a team will be playing in their home stadium for the Super Bowl — but I do not see the Rams enjoying the same advantage as the Buccaneers did last season. Los Angeles did not have the home crowd edge in their two games with the 49ers this month — it is highly unlikely they will have an overly partisan crowd advantage now. Staying at home in Los Angeles leaves this Rams roster full of big personalities with plenty of distractions that did not exist in Tampa Bay last year — and they do not have a Tom Brady providing executive leadership either. Playing at home may play into the pressure issues the Rams are already facing. Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games at home when favored by 3.5 to 7 points. Regarding Stafford and his ability to handle pressure, if Jaquiski Tartt does not drop the wounded duck of a pass that he threw midway through the fourth quarter, the Niners might/probably win that game. The last time McVay had his team in the Super Bowl, they only scored three points in their 13-3 loss to New England in 2018. Looking at the team trends evidence, the Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 16 games after winning two games in a row. And while they have won six of their last seven games, they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after winning five or six of their last seven games. Stafford did pass for 337 yards against San Francisco — but Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after passing for at least 300 yards in their last game. The Rams played ten games against teams who made the playoffs this season — but they won only five of those contests (after winning three games in the postseason) while failing to cover the point spread in 6 of these games.

FINAL TAKE: Underdogs have covered the point spread in 5 of the last 6 games in this postseason starting in the divisional round of the playoffs. While I don’t consider that actionable evidence by itself, I do think it is illustrative that this NFL season has consisted of flawed teams competing for the championship. I don’t think either of these teams would fare well against the recent Super Bowl winners — but maybe that assessment is still under-appreciating what the Bengals have accomplished. Cincinnati has the edge at quarterback. 25* NFL Game of the Year with the Cincinnati Bengals (102) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (101). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengals (102) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (101). THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (13-7) advanced to the Super Bowl with their 27-24 upset win at Kansas City in overtime as a 7-point underdog on Sunday (January 30th). Los Angeles (15-5) joined them later that evening with their 20-17 victory against San Francisco as a 3.5-point favorite. This game takes place in the Rams’ SoFi Stadium, making them the de-facto home team.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford may get most of the attention for both these teams — but both of these offensive head coaches value their running game to help their underrated defenses. The Bengals controlled the Time of Possession by being on offense for 35:56 minutes against the Chiefs to hold them just under 40 yards below their season Yards-Per-Game average. Cincinnati has held five of their last seven opponents to no more than 21 points. The Bengals have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after a close win by six points or less — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Cincinnati has covered the point spread in seven straight games — and they have payed 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after covering the point spread in at least three games in a row. And while their game with Kansas City finished below the 54.5. point total, they have then played 8 of their 11 games Under the Total after playing their last game Under the Total. This is a true road game for the Bengals playing the Rams in their SoFi Stadium — and they have played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total on the road. They have also played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total when the Total is set at 49.5 or higher. Los Angeles has held six of their last eight opponents to no more than 23 points after their victory against the 49ers — and they only gave up only 27 points in those other two contests. The Rams have played 14 of their last 20 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. And while Los Angeles has won six of their last seven games, they have then played 9 of their last 10 home games Under the Total after winning four or five of their last six games. The Rams have played 20 of their last 27 games Under the Total at home — and they have played 7 of their last 9 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on the road.

FINAL TAKE: Los Angeles has played 17 of their last 21 home games Under the Total when favored — and Cincinnati has palled 6 of their last 7 road games Under the Total as an underdog. 25* NFL Non-Conference Total of the Year with Under the Total in the Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengals (102) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (101). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Los Angeles Rams (324) minus the points versus the San Francisco 49ers (323) in the NFC Conference Championship Game. THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (14-5) won their fifth game in their last six with their 30-27 upset win at Tampa Bay as a 2.5-point underdog on Sunday. San Francisco (12-7) won their fourth straight game with their 13-10 upset victory at Green Bay as a 6-point underdog on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RAMS MINUS THE POINTS: This is just a very tough set of circumstances for the 49ers. To advance to the Super Bowl, they have to pull off their fourth straight upset while playing their fourth straight game on the road. While I appreciate that the Niners are a veteran team that runs the ball and plays stout defense — two skill sets that tend to travel — the wear and tear of all that travel is bound to take a toll on San Francisco. They have a ceiling in their passing game with Jimmy Garoppolo, who had the opportunity to win a Super Bowl a few seasons ago if he could successfully execute Kyle Shanahan’s plays in the fourth quarter against Kansas City. Garoppolo only passed for 130 yards with no touchdown passes and an interception against the Packers last week — and the 49ers have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 18 games after not passing for more than 150 yards in their last game. They have failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games after covering the point spread in three straight games. And while the Niners have not allowed more than 27 combined points in the playoffs, they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after not allowing more than 17 combined points in their last two games. Los Angeles has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread win. They return home where they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 home games when favored by seven points or less. They have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games at home with the Total in the 45.5 to 49 point range. Additionally. the Rams have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the NFC — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in the playoffs.

FINAL TAKE: Los Angeles has lost their last six games against San Francisco after following up their 31-10 loss on the road to the Niners on November 15th with their 27-24 loss in overtime at home in the final week of the regular season on January 9th. The Rams have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games when attempting to avenge a same-season loss. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Los Angeles Rams (324) minus the points versus the San Francisco 49ers (323). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (323) and the Los Angeles Rams (324) in the NFC Conference Championship Game. THE SITUATION: San Francisco (12-7) won their fourth straight game with their 13-10 upset victory at Green Bay as a 6-point underdog on Saturday. Los Angeles (14-5) won their fifth game in their last six with their 30-27 upset win at Tampa Bay as a 2.5-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The 49ers grinded out a low-scoring game where they only managed 212 yards while failing to score an offensive touchdown — but they held the Packers to just 263 total yards. San Francisco has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. They have played 23 of their last 32 games Under the Total after not gaining more than 250 total yards in their last game. They held Green Bay to just 67 rushing yards last week — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after not allowing at least 90 rushing yards in their last game. The Niners’ improvement on defense corresponds with the decision to move Arik Armstead into the interior of their defensive line. Since Week Nine, San Francisco is second in the NFL to Tampa Bay with 222 pressures on the quarterback. And after allowing 4.4 rushing Yards-Per-Carry in the first eight weeks of the season, the 49ers held their opponents to just 3.6 Yards-Per-Carry since — and their two playoff opponents have only averaged 3.5 YPC. Armstead thrives against the Rams. In his five games against them, he has 23 tackles, four hits on the quarterback, three sacks, two more tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and two knockdowns on passes. Armstead’s partnership with Nick Bosa allows the Niners to only rush three or four rushers — and this approach stymies Matthew Stafford and the Sean McVay offense. When only rushing three or four defenders, San Francisco still generates pressure in the 30% of their pass rushes in their two games against the Rams this season. Stafford has a 140 Passer Rating when blitzed this season — he chews up a defense with fewer defenders. But the Niners only blitzed 12.5% of the time against Stafford in their first two games. While holding Los Angeles to just 17.0 PPG, they sacked Stafford seven times while inducing four interceptions from three or four-man pressure. San Francisco has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total in the playoffs. Los Angeles has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after playing a game on the road where both teams scored at least 24 points. They held the Buccaneers to just 51 rushing yards — and they have played 16 of their last 23 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 90 rushing yards in their last game. And while Tom Brady passed for 308 net yards against them last week, they have played 5 straight Unders after allowing at last 250 passing yards in their last game. The Rams return home where they have played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total — and they have played 6 of their last 8 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on the road. They hold their guests to just 19.7 PPG at home at SoFi Stadium.

FINAL TAKE: These are two teams very familiar with the approaches of the two offensive head coaches. This is the third matchup between these two teams in 11 weeks. San Francisco has played 6 of their last 7 road games Under the Total as an underdog — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total as an underdog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points. Los Angeles has played 17 of their last 21 home games Under the Total when favored. 25* NFL Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (323) and the Los Angeles Rams (324). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 3:05 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Cincinnati Bengals (321) and the Kansas City Chiefs (322) in the AFC Conference Championship Game. THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (12-7) won their fifth game in their last six contests with their 19-16 upset win at Tennessee as a 4-point underdog on Saturday. Kansas City (14-5) won their 11th game in their last 12 contests with their 42-36 victory in overtime against Buffalo as a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Chiefs have played seven straight Overs which might compel some technical handicappers to endorse the Under for this game. With the Total set at 54.5 in most spots, the number is not artificially inflated by bettors expecting the roulette wheel to continue to land on red. Kansas City has had eight of their 19 games see a Total of 54 or higher — and another four of their games were just a point lower at 53 or 53.5. A Total in the mid-50s is the standard operating procedure for the Chiefs. This is a team that has scored 42 points in each of their playoff games this postseason — and if they approach that number this afternoon, we are already in Over territory. Kansas City has played 4 straight Overs after playing at least three straight Overs in their previous games — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Over the Total after playing a game where at least 60 combined points were scored. Additionally, the Chiefs have played 6 straight Overs after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 straight Overs after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. Furthermore, Kansas City has played 4 straight Overs when playing at home as the favorite — and they have played 4 straight Overs against teams with a winning record. Safety Tyron Mathieu is expected to play this afternoon according to the Chiefs’ comments yesterday afternoon. While that will help in their pass defense, I concluded that the Bengals will likely have to abandon their attempts to control the Time of Possession to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field. Cincinnati’s banged-up offensive line has contributed to them having just a 51% success rate in Power Rushing situations — the second-worst mark in the NFL. The Kansas City run defense improved in the second half of the season after the acquisition of defensive end Melvin Ingram, which allowed them to move Chris Jones back to his preferred spot on the interior of the line. After ranking 30th in Run Defense in the first half of the season according to the DVOA metrics at Football Outsiders, they improved to 15th in that metric over the second half of the season. The Bengals ran the ball just 19 times for 60 yards in their meeting on January 2nd. Cincinnati has played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a win on the road. And while the Bengals have won five of their last six games, they have then played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total after winning four or five of their last six games. They did give up 353 yards to the Titans last week — and they have played 5 straight Overs after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game.

FINAL TAKE: Cincinnati upset Kansas City in Week 17 in a 34-31 victory where they rallied from a 28-17 halftime deficit to win the game as a 3.5-point underdog. Joe Burrow completed 30 of 39 passes for 446 yards with four touchdowns to lead the Bengals to the victory. After failing to score more than a field goal in the second half, look for Kansas City to get off to a fast start again — but with Burrow keeping up again but with the offense abandoning the run. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Discounted O/U Deal with Over the Total in the game between the Cincinnati Bengals (321) and the Kansas City Chiefs (322). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 3:05 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Kansas City Chiefs (322) minus the points versus the Cincinnati Bengals (321) in the AFC Conference Championship Game. THE SITUATION: Kansas City (14-5) won their 11th game in their last 12 contests with their 42-36 victory in overtime against Buffalo as a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday. Cincinnati (12-7) won their fifth game in their last six contests with their 19-16 upset win at Tennessee as a 4-point underdog on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHIEFS MINUS THE POINTS: Kansas City’s ability to survive their instant-classic with the Bills should only embolden them to reach the Super Bowl for the third straight season. They should build off their momentum as they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after a straight-up win. And while they have covered the point spread in both their playoff games as a favorite this postseason, they have then covered the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games after covering their last two games as the favorite. The Chiefs did surrender 422 yards to Josh Allen and the Bills — but they have then covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. Kansas City has a significant experience edge with this team playing in their fourth straight AFC Championship Game. It starts with Patrick Mahomes who owns an 8-2 record in the postseason with his two lone losses being to Tom Brady. In his eight playoff games at home, Mahomes is 7-1 with 23 touchdown passes, just one interception, and a Passer Rating of 120.5. In the playoffs this year, Mahomes is completing 76% of his passes for 782 yards with 10 touchdown passes and one interception in his two games. The early-season problems he was encountering with two-high safety looks are long gone. The emergence of two dangerous counter options to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill have helped. In the last five games, wide receiver Byron Pringle had 24 receptions from 33 targets for 232 yards with five touchdowns. Running back Jerick McKinnon has 33 touches for 220 yards in the two playoff games. And Mahomes brings two additional important intangibles to these playoff games. First, he is more likely to do damage with his legs. He ran the ball seven times for 69 yards against the Bills. In his ten playoff games, he has 52 rush attempts with a 5.8 Yards-Per-Carry average with five touchdowns — as opposed to the 3.8 rush attempts he averages per game in the regular season with only eight touchdowns in those 63 games. Second, Mahomes protects the football. He has thrown only one interception in his last 192 pass attempts. In his postseason career, he throws an interception once in every 77 throws and he has never fumbled. Kansas City hosts this game at Arrowhead Stadium where they will enjoy a significant home-field edge with a very loud crowd disrupting Joe Burrow. The Chiefs have covered the point spread in 6 straight games at home — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games when favored by 7.5 to 14 points. They have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 playoff games at home. Cincinnati is happy to be in this position — but they might impact their sense of urgency. The Bengals have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after an upset win. I love Burrow — but they beat a flat Titans team last week that was the lowest-rated number one or two seed according to the DVOA metrics at Football Outsiders. Cincinnati only outgained their opponents in the regular season by +5.1 net Yards-Per-Game. On the road, the Bengals are getting outgained by -18.1 net YPG despite playing only two playoff teams away from home in the regular season (and they got outgained last week to the Titans). Burrow was sacked nine times against the Titans with head coach Zac Taylor failing to change schemes to offer him more short or intermediate routes (or a screen pass!) rather than condemning him to yet another coverage sack. Cincinnati does not have a good offensive line. And I think the Chiefs’ have a significant advantage with Andy Reid along with his coordinators Eric Bienemy and Steve Spagnuolo. The Bengals are an organization that is 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games in the playoffs.

FINAL TAKE: Kansas City will not take this Bengals team lightly after getting upset by them in Cincinnati on January 2nd by a 34-31 score as a 3.5-point underdog. The Chiefs blew a 14-point lead in that game while committing 10 penalties and too many mental errors in that game. Mahomes has won four of his five opportunities in the playoffs to avenge a regular-season loss to their opponent — and Kansas City has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games when avenging an upset loss. 25* AFC Game of the Year with the Kansas City Chiefs (322) minus the points versus the Cincinnati Bengals (321). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Buffalo Bills (317) and the Kansas City Chiefs (318) in their AFC Divisional playoff game. THE SITUATION: Buffalo (12-6) is on a five-game winning streak after their 47-17 win against New England as a 4.5-point favorite last Saturday. Kansas City (13-5) has won ten of their last eleven games after their 42-21 victory against Pittsburgh last Sunday as an 11-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Bills are scoring 33.4 Points-Per-Game in their last five games — and they have scored at least 27 points in six straight games. They have played 8 of their last 9 games Over the Total after a double-digit victory. Now they go on the road where they are scoring 30.8 Points-Per-Game — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total. Buffalo has also played 6 straight road games Over the Total with the Total set at 49.5 or higher — and they have played 6 straight road games Over the Total as an underdog. They have also played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total against teams with a winning record. Kansas City has played 5 straight Overs after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 straight games Over the Total after a point spread victory. They have also played 4 straight Overs after scoring at least 30 points in their last contest. They host this game where they have played 7 of their last 10 home games Over the Total when favored — and they have played 5 of their last 7 home games Over the Total in the playoffs.

FINAL TAKE: This is a rematch of the Bills’ 38-20 upset victory in Kansas City on October 10th as a 2.5-point underdog. The Chiefs have played 4 straight Overs when attempting to avenge a same-season loss. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with Over the Total in the game between the Buffalo Bills (317) and the Kansas City Chiefs (318). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Kansas City Chiefs (318) minus the point(s) versus the Buffalo Bills (317) in their AFC Divisional playoff game. THE SITUATION: Kansas City (13-5) has won ten of their last eleven games after their 42-21 victory against Pittsburgh last Sunday as an 11-point favorite. Buffalo (12-6) is on a five-game winning streak after their 47-17 win against New England as a 4.5-point favorite last Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHIEFS MINUS THE POINTS: After an early-season slide where they lost four of their six games, this Kansas City team was driven to redeem themselves from losing in last year’s Super Bowl are clicking on all cylinders now. They have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, the Chiefs have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after scoring at least 30 points in their last game — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after scoring at least 40 points in their last game. Kansas City seized the better record over the Bills in the regular season which allows them to host this crucial showdown. Patrick Mahomes has won six of his seven starts at home at Arrowhead Stadium while averaging 310.3 passing Yards-Per-Game. He has thrown 20 touchdown passes to just one interception in his seven home playoff games while posting a 120.1 Passer Rating. Head coach Andy Reid will give him the green light to run the ball more given the winner-takes-all stakes of this game. The Chiefs’ defense has been tough at home as well as they hold their opponents to 17.9 Points-Per-Game and just 337.6 total Yards-Per-Game. Kansas City has covered the point spread in 5 straight games at home — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 playoff games at home. The Chiefs have also found themselves yet another weapon on offense with the emergence of running back Jerick McKinnon. The former Vikings and Niners player had 18 touches for 143 yards from scrimmage against the Steelers last week while giving Mahomes a nice weapon in the screen passing game. Kansas City has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games when favored — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. The Chiefs have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning record. Buffalo propped up their stats with some blowout wins (mostly against lesser opponents) this season. But they lost all five of their games decided by one-scoring possession — one of the biggest reasons why I side with Mahomes versus Josh Allen tonight. The Bills are just 1-3-2 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. And while they enjoyed a +2 net turnover margin last week against the Patriots, they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after posting a +2 or better net turnover margin in their last game. But now they go on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 16 road games after winning at least four games in a row. And while Buffalo has covered the point spread in four of their last five games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 17 road games after covering the point spread in four of their last five games.

FINAL TAKE: This is a rematch of the Bills’ 38-20 upset victory in Kansas City on October 10th as a 2.5-point underdog. The Chiefs left many points on the field with many mental miscues and a few bad bounces that ruined drives. KC was also missing defensive stars Chris Jones and Charvarius Ward to injury in that game — and they had yet to acquire Melvin Ingram from Pittsburgh. After adding Ingram to their defensive line, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo moved Jones back to his preferred inside position on the line — and the defense immediately improved. The Chiefs have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing with revenge from an upset loss. 25* NFL Divisional Playoff Game of the Year with the Kansas City Chiefs (318) minus the point(s) versus the Buffalo Bills (317). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (316) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (315) in their NFC Divisional playoff game. THE SITUATION: Tampa Bay (14-4) has won four in a row and eight of their last nine with their 31-15 victory against Philadelphia as a 7.5-point favorite on Sunday. Los Angeles (13-5) won their sixth game in their last seven with their 34-11 victory against Arizona as a 3-point favorite on Monday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCCANEERS MINUS THE POINTS: Tampa Bay should build off their momentum as they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a straight-up win. And while their game with the Eagles finished just Under the 47.5 point total, they have then covered the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games after playing a game that finished Under the Total in their last game. The Buccaneers get to host this game at Raymond James Stadium where they are 8-1 this season with a +16.1 net point differential. They score 33.0 Points-Per-Game and average 409.8 total Yards-Per-Game at home while holding their opponents to just 16.9 PPG and 328.9 total YPG. Tampa Bay has covered the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games at home — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. Furthermore, the Buccaneers have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games when favored. Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a win by 14 or more points. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. And in their last 9 games after winning at least five or six of their last seven contests, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 8 of these games. The Rams will be without left tackle Andrew Whitworth for this game which will put pressure on Matthew Stafford without the All-Pro protecting his blindside. Los Angeles goes back on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 6 road games with the Total set in the 45.5-49 range. Interestingly, the Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on grass.

FINAL TAKE: Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record — and Tampa Bay has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams with a winning record. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Discounted Deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (316) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (315). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (315) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (316) in their NFC Divisional playoff game. THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (13-5) won their sixth game in their last seven with their 34-11 victory against Arizona as a 3-point favorite on Monday. Tampa Bay (14-4) has won four in a row and eight of their last nine with their 31-15 victory against Philadelphia as a 7.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Rams score 27.4 Points-Per-Game — and they have scored 28 or more points in six of their last eight games. The Over is 9-4-1 in Los Angeles’ last 14 games after a straight-up win — and they have played 13 of their last 16 games Over the Total after a victory by double-digits. Furthermore, the Rams have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after holding their last opponent to no more than 14 points. And while their win against the Cardinals finished Under the 48.5 point total, Los Angeles has then played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total after playing an Under in their last game. The Rams travel east for this game — the Over is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games on the road. Los Angeles has played 8 of their last 9 road games Over the Total as an underdog — and they have played 4 of their last 5 road games Over the Total with the Total set in the 45.5. to 49 point range. Additionally, the Rams have played 10 of their last 11 games Over the Total as an underdog in all situations — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games Over the Total against teams with a winning record. Tampa Bay has played 13 of their last 16 games Over the Total after a win by 14 or more points — and they have played 14 of their last 20 games Over the Total after a point spread win. They stay at home where they are scoring 33.0 PPG and averaging 409.8 total Yards-Per-Game. The Buccaneers have played 13 of their last 19 games Over the Total when favored — and they have played 8 of their last 12 home games Over the Total when favored by up to seven points. Furthermore, Tampa Bay has played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 19 of their last 27 games Over the Total with the Total set in the 42.5 to 49 point range.

FINAL TAKE: The Rams won the first meeting between these two teams on September 26th in a 34-24 victory with the Total set at 55. That was the 5th straight Over between these two teams. The Buccaneers have played 8 of their last 11 games Over the Total when avenging a loss where they allowed at least 28 points. 25* NFC Divisional Playoff Total of the Year with Over the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (315) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (316). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (303) and the Green Bay Packers (304) in their NFC Divisional playoff series. THE SITUATION: San Francisco (11-7) won their third straight game and fifth of their last six contests with their 23-17 upset win at Dallas as a 3.5-point underdog in the wild card playoff round last Sunday. Green Bay (13-4) take the field again after their 37-30 upset loss at Detroit as a 4-point favorite to close out their regular season on January 9th.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The 49ers have scored at least 23 points in nine of their last ten games after their victory in Dallas last week. San Francisco has played 9 of their last 13 games Over the Total after a point spread win. They stay on the road where they have played 12 of their last 18 road games Over the Total with the Total set at 45.5. or higher. The Niners have also played 9 of their last 12 road games Over the Total as an underdog — and they have also played 6 of their last 9 games Over the Total when an underdog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points. Green Bay has played 7 of their last 10 games Over the Total after a point spread loss — and they have also played 7 of their last 9 games Over the Total after allowing at least 30 points in their last game. The Packers return home where they have played 6 of their last 7 games Over the Total against teams with a winning record on the road. Green Bay has scored at least 30 points in six of their last seven games. They have played 8 of their last 11 games Over the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 7 straight games in the playoffs Over the Total.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 4 of their last 5 meetings Over the Total — and they have also played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total when playing in Lambeau Field. 10* NFL Saturday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Over the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (303) and the Green Bay Packers (304). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Green Bay Packers (304) minus the points versus the San Francisco 49ers (303) in their NFC Divisional playoff series. THE SITUATION: Green Bay (13-4) takes the field again after their 37-30 upset loss at Detroit as a 4-point favorite to close out their regular season on January 9th. San Francisco (11-7) won their third straight game and fifth of their last six contests with their 23-17 upset win at Dallas as a 3.5-point underdog in the wild card playoff round last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PACKERS MINUS THE POINTS: Even assuming that Jimmy Garoppolo is close to full strength with his nagging thumb and shoulder injuries that have kept him questionable to play all week, this is a very challenging set of circumstances for the 49ers. They have pulled off two straight upset victories in must-win circumstances after reaching the playoffs in Week 18 with their underdog win in Los Angeles against the Rams. This is the third straight game on the road for the Niners — and that is a ton of air travel for a team that has flown back home after their last two wins. Now San Francisco travels across the country east for the second straight week — albeit on a short six-day week as well. As it is, the 49ers have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after playing at least two straight games on the road. And while San Francisco has covered the point spread in three straight games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after covering the point spread in two straight games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in their only three games in the last three seasons under head coach Kyle Shanahan when they had covered the point spread three games in a row. I do worry about an even 100% Garoppolo if asked to keep up with Aaron Rodgers tonight. How will he perform in weather conditions in the single digits and probably below zero with the wind chill? He struggles when put off script — he is completing just 54% of his passes in the second half in playoff games when off script with a low Passer Rating of 49 in those situations. Green Bay is rested and ready for the challenge — and they should be feisty after getting upset by the Lions. Granted, head coach Matt LaFleur rested starters in the second half of that game — but the Packers went into halftime trailing by a 17-13 score despite Rodgers playing the entire first half. Green Bay has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 12 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 19 of their last 26 games after a point spread loss. They have also covered the point spread in 6 straight games after getting upset in their last game — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games after allowing at least 30 points in their last contest. The Packers get some reinforcements back on defense with linebacker Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus and cornerback Jaire Alexander all expected to return to action tonight. The offensive line also gets starters David Bakhtiari, Billy Turner, and Josh Myers back from injury. Rodgers will not mind the frigid temperatures — he has a 29-1 record straight-up when the temperature is no higher than 32 degrees. Against playoff teams this season, Green Bay has a 5-0 record with Rodgers throwing 10 touchdown passes with only one interception. The Packers are 8-0 at home in Lambeau Field this season with a +15.8 net point differential. Rodgers has 20 touchdown passes and just one interception in those games with the offense scoring 30.6 PPG. The Green Bay defense has held their opponents to just 16.8 PPG. The Packers have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games at home — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. Green Bay has also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 playoff games at home.

FINAL TAKE: Dealing with the physical style of play that the 49ers bring to the table under Shanahan had been a problem for the Packers — highlighted by their 37-20 loss in the playoffs two years ago when they gave up 285 rushing yards. But that game was in San Francisco — and Green Bay has won both meetings with the Niners since including a 30-28 victory back at Levi’s Stadium on September 26th. The 49ers have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games when motivated by revenge. 25* NFL Saturday Night Television Game of the Year with the Green Bay Packers (304) minus the points versus the San Francisco 49ers (303). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Cincinnati Bengals (301) plus the points versus the Tennessee Titans (302) in their AFC Divisional Round playoff game. THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (11-7) advanced from the AFC Wild Card playoffs with their 26-19 win against Las Vegas as a 6-point favorite last Saturday. Tennessee (12-5) returns to action after their 28-25 victory at Houston as an 11-point favorite on January 9th in their final regular-season game.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BENGALS PLUS THE POINTS: Cincinnati should continue to build off the momentum they have built late in the season. The Bengals have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games after a point spread victory. And while they allowed 385 yards to the Raiders last week, they have then covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow has passed for 525, 446, and then 244 yards last week in his last three starts (he did not play in the Bengals’ final regular-season game against Cleveland). He has 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions in these last three starts — and completed at least 70.6% of his passes with at least a 110.4 Passer Rating in each of those three games. Burrow may have the best trip of wide receivers in the NFL with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd of the Bengals. Cincinnati has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games on the road as an underdog. The Bengals have also covered the point spread in 4 straight games against teams with a winning record. Tennessee is on a three-game winning streak — but they were almost upset for the second time this season by the lowly Texans in their narrow three-point win to end the regular season. The Titans have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win where they failed to cover the point spread as the favorite. Tennessee only outgained their opponents by +12.7 net Yards-Per-Game. Their record was propped up by a 6-2 record in games decided by one possession. The analytics do not look at this team well. Not only do the DVOA metrics at Football Outsiders consider the Titans the weakest top seed in the conference playoffs ever, but they also rank below all previous AFC or NFC playoff second seeds.

FINAL TAKE: I do take DVOA with a grain or two of salt. That metric does not attempt to incorporate Time of Possession finding it either too not relevant or difficult to measure its impact accurately. That is a problem when attempting to assess the value of a running team like Tennessee. And the Titans have not been at full strength on offense for most of the season. But Julio Jones has largely been a disappointment even when on the field this season — and there sure seems to be an assumption that running back Derrick Henry can simply flip the switch and immediately return to midseason form. I am skeptical he can be that good. I know that the Titans are 8-0 straight and ATS when head coach Mike Vrabel has at least eight days to prepare. But the Bengals have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games in the second half of the season against teams with a winning record. I’m siding on Burrow as an underdog against Tannehill. 10* NFL Saturday Afternoon Discounted Deal with the Cincinnati Bengals (301) plus the points versus the Tennessee Titans (302). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Cincinnati Bengals (301) and the Tennessee Titans (302) in their AFC Divisional Round playoff game. THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (11-7) advanced from the AFC Wild Card playoffs with their 26-19 win against Las Vegas as a 6-point favorite last Saturday. Tennessee (12-5) returns to action after their 28-25 victory at Houston as an 11-point favorite on January 9th in their final regular-season game.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: While the Titans’ offense has not been at full-strength often this season, Ryan Tannehill will have all his weapons this afternoon with running back Derrick Henry and wide receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones all expected to play. Tennessee scored 27.3 Points-Per-Game even at less than full strength on offense in their four victories against playoff teams in San Francisco, the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City, and Buffalo. The Titans enter the postseason averaging 27.3 PPG in their last three games after scoring 34 and 28 points in their last two contests. Tennessee has played 10 of their last 15 games Over the Total after scoring at least 25 points in two straight games. The Titans are on a three-game winning streak — and they have played 13 of their last 15 games Over the Total after winning three of their last four games. Tannehill completed 23 of 32 passes for 287 yards with four touchdown passes while leading the offense to 425 total yards in their final regular-season game. Tennessee has played 11 of their last 17 games Over the Total after gaining at least 400 yards in their last game — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after passing for at least 250 yards in their last contest. The Titans have also played 23 of their last 33 games Over the Total after a straight-up win where they failed to cover the point spread. And while the Texans gained 353 yards against the Tennessee defense, the Titans have played 8 of their last 11 games Over the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. Davis Mills led a Houston offense that passed for 289 yards in that game. While Tennessee has a potent pass rush, their defensive backs do get burned — they rank 25th in the NFL by allowing 245 passing YPG. Here comes perhaps the most dynamic trio of wider receivers in the NFL in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd of the Bengals. Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow has passed for 525, 446, and then 244 yards last week in his last three starts (he did not play in the Bengals’ final regular-season game against Cleveland). He has 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions in these last three starts — and completed at least 70.6% of his passes with at least a 110.4 Passer Rating in each of those three games. Cincinnati has played 6 of their last 7 games Over the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after a point spread win. And while the Bengals have won four of their last five games, they have then played 5 of their last 6 games Over the Total after winning at least four or five of the last six games. But the Cincinnati defense did give up 385 yards to the Raiders last week — and they have played 5 straight Overs after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. The injuries to defensive tackles Larry Ogunjobi and Mike Daniels further expose a suspect defense that already ranked just 25th in the weighted DVOA metric at Football Outsiders.

FINAL TAKE: Cincinnati has played 5 of their last 6 trips to Nashville to play the Titans. The Over is 12-5-1 in Tennessee’s last 18 games against teams with a winning record. The Titans will score their share of points in this game with their weapons back in tow — but Burrow should be able to keep things interesting for the Bengals. Expect a higher-scoring game. 25* AFC Total of the Year with Over the Total in the game between the Cincinnati Bengals (301) and the Tennessee Titans (302). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Arizona Cardinals (151) and the Los Angles Rams (152) in their NFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: Arizona (11-6) has lost four of their last five games after their 38-30 upset loss to Seattle as a 5-point underdog on Sunday. Los Angeles (12-5) had their five-game winning streak snapped with their 27-24 upset loss at home to San Francisco as a 3.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Arizona was hit hard by injuries in the second half of the season including playing three games with quarterback Kyler Murray. The loss of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has hurt the offensive significantly — but it does look like defensive end J.J. Watt will be available to play some snaps tonight. The decline on defense corresponded to Watt’s shoulder injury.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Arizona Cardinals (151) plus the points versus the Los Angles Rams (152) in their NFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: Arizona (11-6) has lost four of their last five games after their 38-30 upset loss to Seattle as a 5-point underdog on Sunday. Los Angeles (12-5) had their five-game winning streak snapped with their 27-24 upset loss at home to San Francisco as a 3.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CARDINALS PLUS THE POINTS: Arizona took a step back in the second half of the season with five losses in their last eight games after an 8-1 start. I thought the Cardinals were overvalued after that fast start (and I am not the biggest Kliff Kingsbury fan) — but they are bit undervalued in this spot. Arizona was hit hard by injuries in the second half of the season including playing three games with quarterback Kyler Murray. The loss of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has hurt the offensive significantly — but it does look like defensive end J.J. Watt will be available to play some snaps tonight. The decline on defense corresponded to Watt’s shoulder injury. The pressure appears to be off this team — and that makes them dangerous. They have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread loss. The Cardinals defense should play better after allowing the Seahawks (emboldened in the role of the spoiler in what Pete Carroll described as their “Super Bowl”) to generate 431 yards with a 7.70 Yards-Per-Play average. Arizona has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after allowing at least 30 points in their last game — and they have covered the point spread in 6 straight games on the road after allowing at least 400 yards in their last game. And in their last 38 games after allowing their last opponent to average at least 7.0 YPP, they  have covered the point spread in 27 of these contests. The Cardinals played their best football on the road where they were 8-1 with an average winning margin of +10.8 net Points-Per-Game. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s unit holds their home hosts to just 18.9 Points-Per-Game and 319.0 total YPG. They are 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 road games with the Total set at 45.5 or higher. They have also covered the point spread in 6 straight road games as the underdog. Furthermore, Arizona is 19-7-2 ATS in their last 28 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 6 straight games as an underdog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points. The Cardinals had a 5-2 record against the playoff teams — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of these 7 games. Los Angeles only won twice in their seven games against playoff teams — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of those 7 games against playoff teams. The Rams took a 17-3 lead into the first half last week against the 49ers before getting outscored by a 24-7 margin in the second half. Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after taking a two-touchdown lead or more in the first half of their last game. The Rams have also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread loss. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 straight games after winning five or six of their last seven games. Despite pundits wanting to believe in the high-ceiling of this LA All-Star team, there are significant flaws. Matthew Stafford has demonstrated that perhaps he was not an innocent victim during his time playing for the Detroit Lions after committing nine turnovers in the last four games. He has thrown four pick-sixes this season — yet head coach Sean McVay continues to call plays that put his new shiny toy at quarterback in the best position to succeed. Stafford struggles against pressure up the middle — and that is an area where the return of Watt could make a big difference. The season-ending injury to Robert Woods has played a role in Stafford’s inconsistent play in the second half of the season. He has thrown 11 interceptions in since Week 10 — and his Yards-Per-Attempt in the passing game has dropped a full yard to 7.6 YPA over that span. While Stafford was lighting up the league with a Passer Rating of 111.6 in the first nine weeks of the year, he only had a Passer Rating of 93.7 in the final nine weeks. A decline of the running game has not helped with Darrell Henderson going on Injured Reserve. Los Angeles has only ran for 73 and 64 yards in their last two games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 33 games after not rushing for more than 75 yards in two straight games. The defense has underperformed expectations as well. They allowed 449 yards to San Francisco last week — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. They stay at home where, as Stafford’s wife will attest, they will not necessarily have a vociferous crowd advantage. Arizona fans will travel as Niners fans did last week. The Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with a winning record on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 playoff games at home. Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games when favored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning record.

FINAL TAKE: Arizona upset the Rams in LA in the first meeting on October 3rd by a 37-20 score. Los Angeles won the rematch on December 13th in Glendale by a 30-23 score as a 3-point favorite. The Cardinals have covered the point spread in 22 of their last 32 games when playing on the road motivated to avenge a loss to their opponent. 25* NFL Wild Card Playoff Game of the Year with the Arizona Cardinals (151) plus the points versus the Los Angles Rams (152). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Kansas City Chiefs (150) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (149) and in their AFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: Kansas City (12-5) won their ninth game in their last ten in a 28-24 win at Denver as an 11-point favorite on Saturday. Pittsburgh (9-7-1) has won two games in a row to sneak into the playoffs after their 16-13 victory in overtime at Baltimore as a 3-point underdog last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHIEFS MINUS THE POINTS: Pittsburgh seemed resigned that their season was over after they upset the Ravens last week — but the Colts getting upset by the Houston Texans changed their playoff odds dramatically. Now Big Ben Roethlisberger and this Steelers’ team is playing with proverbial house money — but the casinos on the strip also give away “house money” for a reason. As it is, Pittsburgh has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after an upset win. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and the have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a point spread victory. And in their last 5 games after not allowing more than 15 points in their last game, the Steelers have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of these games. Pittsburgh lost five of their seven games against teams who made the playoffs — and they failed to cover the point spread in 5 of those 7 games. They got outscored in the regular season by -3.2 net Points-Per-Game — and they were outgained by -45.7 net Yards-Per-Game. The Steelers are also just 2-6-2 ATS in their last 10 playoff games — and they are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games in the Wild Card round. Kansas City has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games after a win against an AFC West rival - and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a straight-up win. The Chiefs have also covered the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games at home with the Total set in the 42.5 to 49 point range. Kansas City has won six of their nine games against playoff teams this season — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against these playoff teams.

FINAL TAKE: Pittsburgh will be looking to avenge a 36-10 loss in Kansas City on December 26th when they were 10-point underdogs. The Steelers are 2-3 ATS in their last 5 opportunities to avenge a same-season loss — so I am not assigning them much value on that front. The Chiefs have an extra day of rest to prepare for this game — and I expect the game script where Kansas City takes a lead and Roethlisberger will need to rally his team with his arm will produce the events where the double-digit point spread is covered. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Kansas City Chiefs (150) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (149). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (149) and the Kansas City Chiefs (150) in their AFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: Pittsburgh (9-7-1) has won two games in a row to sneak into the playoffs after their 16-13 victory in overtime at Baltimore as a 3-point underdog last Sunday. Kansas City (12-5) won their ninth game in their last ten in a 28-24 win at Denver as an 11-point favorite on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Steelers made the playoffs on the strength of their defense. They held their last two opponents to just 27 combined points — and three of their last four opponents have not scored more than 14 points. The formula for success tonight for Pittsburgh will be give rookie running back Najee Harris plenty of carries in the attempt to slow this game down to a crawl. The Steelers have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 17 points in two straight games. Additionally, they have played Pittsburgh has played 15 of their last 19 road games Under the Total after a win on the road against an AFC North opponent. The Under is 9-4-1 in their last 14 games after a straight-up win — and the Under is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. And in their last 10 games after winning three of their last four (as they have), the Steelers have played 7 of these games Under the Total. But scoring will be an issue for this Pittsburgh team that averages just 20.2 Points-Per-Game and 315.4 total Yards-Per-Game. Those numbers drop to 19.5 PPG and 312.1 total YPG in their eight games on the road. The Under is a decisive 38-15-1 in their last 54 games on the road — and they have played 29 of their last 41 road games Under the Total with the Total set in the 45.5 to 49 point range. The offense has not picked up during this last season run — they have only scored 19 or fewer points in three of their last four games while not scoring more than 20 points in five of their last seven games. In their last 5 games as a double-digit underdog, the Steelers have played 4 of these games Under the Total. Kansas City has played 7 of their last 11 games Under the Total after playing on the road in a game where both teams scored at least 24 points. The Chiefs have played their last two games on the road where they did not cover the point spread — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after not covering the point spread in two of their last three games. They have also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after completing a two-game road trip. They allowed 6.87 and 8.05 Yards-Per-Play in their last two games on defense — but they have then played 7 straight games Under the Total after allowing at least 6.0 YPP in two straight games. The defense has been a bright spot for this team in the second half of the season — they have held seven of their last ten opponents to 17 points or less with four settling for single digits. They return home where they have played 14 of their last 17 home games Under the Total when favored by 10.5 to 14 points. Kansas City has also played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total when a double-digit favorite. And in their last 5 games in the wild card round of the playoffs, the Chiefs have played 4 of these games Under the Total.

FINAL TAKE: Kansas City dominated the Steelers in a 36-10 victory at Arrowhead Stadium on December 26th last month. These teams have played 4 of their last 5 meetings in KC Under the Total despite that game sneaking over the 44 point total. Pittsburgh has played 7 of their last 11 games Under the Total when playing with revenge from a loss where they allowed at least 35 points. 25* NFL Wild Card Playoff Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (149) and the Kansas City Chiefs (150). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Dallas Cowboys (148) minus the points versus the San Francisco 49ers (147). THE SITUATION: Dallas (12-5) enters the postseason having won four of their last five games after their 51-26 win at Philadelphia as a 6.5-point favorite last Saturday. San Francisco (10-7) has won two in a row and seven of their last nine contests after their 27-24 upset win at Los Angeles against the Rams as a 3.5-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COWBOYS MINUS THE POINTS: Dallas should build off the momentum they continued last week in their easy victory against an undermanned Eagles team. The Cowboys have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after a point spread win. Dallas has also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a game where at least 60 combined points were scored. The Cowboys earned the right to host this game where they are outscoring their opponents by +14.3 net Points-Per-Game. The 49ers may be 6-3 on the road — but Dallas has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. They have also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 12 games against NFC opponents. Dak Prescott has his offense clicking right now as they averaged 424.4 total Yards-Per-Game in their last three games — and they Cowboys have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after averaging at least 400 Yards-Per-Game over their last three games. Prescott gives Dallas a significant advantage at quarterback in this game. He has thrown 13 touchdown passes without an interception in his last four starts. The 49ers primarily play cover-3 zone defenses — and Prescott has generated 30 explosive passing plays against zone defenses this season. Furthermore, Prescott has completed 97 of 174 passes for 1357 yards with 17 touchdown passes and just three interceptions against Cover-3 this year. His Passer-Rating of 106.4 against Cover-3 is the fourth best mark this season for all quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 pass attempts. Then there is Jimmy Garoppolo who continues to demonstrate a ceiling to his potential at quarterback. His 10 interceptions he has thrown out of play-action this season have been infuriating. And Jimmy G simply lacks a credible vertical threat for the 49ers. In his 33 passes of more than 20 yards in the air, he has completed 11 of them for 392 yards with three touchdowns but three interceptions. His Passer Rating of 71.8 on passes of 20 or more air yards ranks 28th in the league. Just as importantly when it comes to dictating defensive schemes. Garoppolo only throws it 20 or more yards in the air in 7.8% of his attempts. That number is tied with Tau Tagavailoa and just ahead of Andy Dalton and Daniel Jones in a neighborhood that does not smell of deep playoff run. Garoppolo did completed 23 of 32 passes for 316 yards last week against the Rams while leading the Niners offense to 449 total yards. But San Francisco has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after passing for at least 300 yards in their last game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 16 games after gaining at least 400 yards in their last game.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the New England Patriots (143) plus the points versus the Buffalo Bills (144) in their AFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: New England (10-7) has lost three of their last four games after a 33-24 upset loss at Miami as a 6-point favorite last Sunday. Buffalo (11-6) won their fourth straight game with their 27-10 win against the New York Jets as a 16-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PATRIOTS PLUS THE POINTS: The Bills enter the postseason feeling very good about themselves after holding the hapless Jets to just 53 total yards of offense. But Buffalo has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a win by 14 or more points — and they are just 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after a point spread win. The Bills have also failed to cover the point spread in 20 of their last 28 games after winning at least four games in a row. But the pressure is on this team and quarterback Josh Allen to reach the AFC Conference Championship Game — at least. Allen enjoyed his nest postseason last year — but remember that those games were played without packed stadiums. The weight of expectations could become heavy on Allen especially with this being a home game. In that respect, facing off against the Patriots in this opening round for the third time this season might very well be the worst-case scenario for this franchise. The Patriots’ defense was tough to score against especially on the road they allowed only 16.0 PPG and 284.1 total YPG. Bill Belichick has had great success in frustrating Allen in his career. Allen completes only 57.1% of his passes against New England in his career while averaging just 215.9 passing YPG and a QBR of 82.7. Allen has not been great in his career in cold weather despite his college experience at Wyoming and his strong arm. His career completion percentage of 62.3% drops to 50.3% in his five games played in below-freezing temperatures. He averages only 166.6 passing YPG in those games with six touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Belichick should have the Patriots ready to play in this game. The Patriots have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 24 of their last 31 games after allowing at least 30 points in their last game. New England is a tough opponent in the playoffs under Belichick — they have covered the points spread in 10 of their last 14 postseason games including four of their last five playoff games on the road.

FINAL TAKE: While it will not be as windy as the first game between these teams in Buffalo, it will be colder with temperatures dropping into the single digits. Belichick out-coached Sean McDermott in that game — it is hard to match his big-game experience when dealing with the elements like what will be experienced tonight. The Patriots have a situational edge with Belichick calling the shots — expect him to channel the Bill Parcels philosophy of letting the other guy start making coaching mistakes. New England has covered the point spread in 33 of their last 50 games when avenging a loss. The Patriots have also covered the point spread in 14 of their last 17 trips to Buffalo. 10* NFL Saturday Night Discounted Deal with the New England Patriots (143) plus the points versus the Buffalo Bills (144). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the New England Patriots (143) and the Buffalo Bills (144) in their AFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: New England (10-7) has lost three of their last four games after a 33-24 upset loss at Miami as a 6-point favorite last Sunday. Buffalo (11-6) won their fourth straight game with their 27-10 win against the New York Jets as a 16-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Quarterback Josh Allen may garner most of the headlines for the Bills — but don’t sleep on the Buffalo defense under head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. The Bills have held their last three opponents to just 15.3 Points-Per-Game and 202.0 total Yards-Per-Game. Buffalo has allowed just 25 combined points in their last two games. Additionally, the Bills have not allowed more than 21 points in four straight games as well as six of their last seven contests. Buffalo hosts the third meeting between these AFC East rivals where they have played 5 of their last 7 home games Under the Total when favored. And while the Bills have covered the point spread in three of their last four games, they have then played 8 of their last 9 home games Under the Total after covering the point spread in at least two of their last three games. Buffalo has also played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total in January. McDermott and Frazier should have their best game plan yet to challenge Patriots’ rookie quarterback Mac Jones. Throw out the first game between these two teams when Jones only attempted three passes in the wind and cold in Buffalo (although that effort does not inspire confidence). In the rematch on December 26th which the Bills won by a 33-21 score as a 1-point underdog, Jones completed only 14 of 32 passes for 145 yards with two interceptions. The former Alabama quarterback might have hit a wall to close out the season. Since Week 14, Jones only completed 59.9% of his passes as compared to his 67.6% completion percentage for the season. Jones was much more effective when playing at home as well where completed 68.1% of his passes while averaging 249.1 passing Yards-Per-Game with 16 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. His Quarterback Rating at home is 97.5. But on the road, while Jones’ completion percentage only drops to 66.8%, he averages just 194.9 passing YPG with six TD passes and six interceptions — and his QBR falls to 85.4. Jones will not have Isaiah Wynn protecting his blind side either with the left tackle out with a hip and ankle injury. The Patriots were content to grind out lower-scoring games on the road with their defense that allowed only 16.0 PPG and 284.1 total YPG. Bill Belichick has had great success in frustrating Allen in his career. Allen completes only 57.1% of his passes against New England in his career while averaging just 215.9 passing YPG and a QBR of 82.7. Allen has not been great in his career in cold weather despite his college experience at Wyoming and his strong arm. His career completion percentage of 62.3% drops to 50.3% in his five games played in below-freezing temperatures. He averages only 166.6 passing YPG in those games with six touchdown passes and seven interceptions. The Patriots have played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total as an underdog — and they have played 4 of their last 5 road games Under the Total as a dog.

FINAL TAKE: New England has palled 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total when playing with revenge — and they have played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total when avenging an upset loss. The Under is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings between these two teams — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing in Buffalo. The temperatures will be in the single digits for this game although the wind will not be nearly the factor that it was in the first game between these teams this season. Weather conditions must be considered in relation to the subsequent Over/Under number — but suffice to say that frigid temperatures harden the football which negatively impacts placekicking and makes it harder to catch the football. In other words, freezing temperatures certainly do not help produce higher-scoring games. 25* AFC East Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the New England Patriots (143) and the Buffalo Bills (144). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:35 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Las Vegas Raiders (141) and the Cincinnati Bengals (142) in their AFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: Las Vegas (10-7) won their fourth game in a row with their 35-32 upset victory in overtime against the Los Angeles Chargers as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Cincinnati (10-7) had their three-game winning streak snapped in a 21-16 loss at Cleveland as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Raiders had only scored more than 17 points twice in their previous nine games before reaching 35 points in overtime against the Chargers last Sunday night. Las Vegas has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. The Raiders have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after an upset victory as a home underdog. Las Vegas has also played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a game where at least 50 combined points were scored. The Raiders go back on the road where they have played 5 of their last 8 games Under the Total. Weather will be a factor with temperates expected to drop below freezing with a chance of snow. Quarterback Derek Carr has played five games when the temperature was under at 37 degrees or less: the Raiders never scored more than 17 points in all five of those games. Cincinnati has played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss. The Bengals won the first meeting between these two teams by a 32-13 score as a 2-point road favorite in Las Vegas on November 21st — but that was a low-scoring contest before Cincinnati scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to pull away. The Bengals only generated 288 total yards in that game — 73.5 yards below their season average. Quarterback Joe Burrow completed 20 of 29 passes but for only 148 yards with Raiders’ defensive coordinate single-high safety coverage and the lowest-blitz rate in the NFL frustrated Burrow with so many pass defenders. Las Vegas is still successfully generating a pass rush with Max Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue without blitzing. The offensive line is an area of weakness for the Cincinnati offense as the 51 sacks that Burrow has suffered is the most in the NFL. The Bengals have played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total when playing in January.

FINAL TAKE: The Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams after the game in November finished well below the 51-point total. 10* NFL Saturday Afternoon Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Las Vegas Raiders (141) and the Cincinnati Bengals (142). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:35 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Cincinnati Bengals (142) minus the points versus the Las Vegas Raiders (141) in their AFC wild card playoff game. THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (10-7) had their three-game winning streak snapped in a 21-16 loss at Cleveland as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday. Las Vegas (10-7) won their fourth game in a row with their 35-32 upset victory in overtime against the Los Angeles Chargers as a 3-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BENGALS MINUS THE POINTS: Las Vegas benefited from Chargers’ head coach Brandon Staley misreading analytics by taking silly chances like going for it on 4th-and-2 on their own 18-yard line to pull the upset last week. Coaching mistakes like that helped the Raiders overcome getting outgained by 94 net yards — but a +2 net turnover margin helped even that game as well. The result had a feel of Las Vegas winning their Super Bowl by giving the home fans their first taste of the playoffs since the club moved from Oakland — made all the sweeter given all the turmoil this team has encountered this season starting with the removal of Jon Gruden as their head coach. An emotional letdown is likely — especially for a team that has pulled off three straight upset wins to reach the playoffs. All four of their games during their current winning streak were decided by just a field goal — and they have benefited from a 7-2 record in games decided by one scoring possession including a 4-0 mark in games that went to overtime. In other words, the Raiders are a few breaks going against them from being an 8-9 (or worse) football team. There were outscored by -3.8 Points-Per-Game this season — and they were outscored by -4.1 PPG when playing on the road. And on the road this teams goes under very challenging circumstances coming from a long overtime game on Sunday Night Football to the opening playoff context on Saturday afternoon — and they have to travel across the country to boot! As it is, Las Vegas has failed to cover the point spread in 24 of their last 31 games after an upset win as a home underdog — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 13 games after upsetting a divisional rival as a home underdog. The Raiders have also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a close win by three points or less — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games after allowing at least 30 points in their last game. Las Vegas has also failed to cover the point spread in 20 of their last 28 games after covering the point spread in each of their last three games. They go on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 33 road games after winning four or five of their last six games. Weather will be a factor with temperates expected to drop below freezing with a chance of snow. Quarterback Derek Carr has played five games when the temperature was under at 37 degrees or less: he lost all five games with the Raiders never scoring more than 17 points. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow grew up in Ohio — so he is used to the cold weather. Burrow comes into this game rested after the Bengals clinched home field in the opening round of the playoffs two weeks ago. Their team dominated by second-stringers still were competitive against the Browns — and Cincinnati has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread win. The Bengals have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a straight-up loss. Additionally, Cincinnati has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points.

FINAL TAKE: These teams played in Las Vegas on November 21st when the Bengals scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to pull away with a 32-13 victory. The Raiders have failed to cover the point spread in 40 of their last 61 when avenging a loss where they allowed at least 28 points — including six of these last nine circumstances. 25* AFC Wild Card Playoff Game of the Year with the Cincinnati Bengals (142) minus the points versus the Las Vegas Raiders (141). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Chargers (481) and the Las Vegas Raiders (482). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (9-7) snapped a two-game losing streak with their 34-13 win against Denver as an 8.5-point favorite on Sunday. Las Vegas (9-7) is on a three-game winning streak after their 23-20 upset win at Indianapolis as an 8.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Raiders have played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total after an upset loss as a road underdog — and they have played 32 of their last 48 games Over the Total when playing at home after a win on the road. Las Vegas has only allowed 15.7 Points-Per-Game in their last three games — but they have benefited from some favorable opponent quarterback situations during their winning streak. They beat a Cleveland Browns team ravaged by COVID three weeks ago who had to resort to three-stringer Nick Mullens at quarterback. They faced Broncos’ backup quarterback Drew Lock two weeks ago — and they then got Carson Wentz not at 100% last week after the unvaccinated quarterback returned from his inevitable case of COVID. They return home where the Over is 6-1-1 in their last 8 games against teams with a winning record on the road. The Over is also 11-2-1 in their last 14 home games as an underdog. The Raiders do expect to play tight end Darren Waller and running back Josh Jacobs who are both listed as questionable — so that should help their offensive attack. Los Angeles has scored at least 28 points in five straight games. Since Week 11, the Chargers lead the NFL in total offense and rank second in scoring. They are scoring 30.3 PPG and averaging 395.3 total YPG in their last three games. Second-year quarterback Justin Herbert leads the NFL in third-down effectiveness — and that includes Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Los Angeles has played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a win by at least 14 points — and they have played 8 of their last 9 games Over the Total after scoring at least 25 points in two straight games. They go back on the road where they have played 13 of their last 19 games Over the Total — and they have played 4 of their last 5 road games Over the Total when favored.

FINAL TAKE: The Chargers have played 4 straight Overs against AFC foes — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Over the Total in January. Las Vegas has played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total against fellow AFC West rivals. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Over the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Chargers (481) and the Las Vegas Raiders (482). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Los Angeles Chargers (481) minus the points versus the Las Vegas Raiders (482). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (9-7) snapped a two-game losing streak with their 34-13 win against Denver as an 8.5-point favorite on Sunday. Las Vegas (9-7) is on a three-game winning streak after their 23-20 upset win at Indianapolis as an 8.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHARGERS MINUS THE POINTS: The Raiders come off two straight upset wins after they beat Denver at home by a 17-13 score as a 1-point underdog two weeks ago. Las Vegas has benefited from some favorable opponent quarterback situations during their winning streak. They beat a Cleveland Browns team ravaged by COVID three weeks ago who had to resort to three-stringer Nick Mullens at quarterback. They faced Broncos’ backup quarterback Drew Lock two weeks ago — and they then got Carson Wentz not at 100% last week after the unvaccinated quarterback returned from his inevitable case of COVID. The Raiders have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a win by three points or less — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 18 of their last 25 games after a narrow win by a field goal or less on the road. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after winning at least two games in a row. Las Vegas got outgained in yardage by the Colts, 362-326. The Raiders have been fortunate with a 6-2 record in games decided by one scoring possession. They are getting outscored by -4.2 Points-Per-Game on the season. They only managed to rush for 85 yards last week — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after not rushing for more than 90 yards in their last game. Las Vegas has not been an effective team on offense — especially after Jon Gruden was let go by the franchise. The Raiders rank 25th in Third Down Percentage and 29th in Red Zone Scoring. They expect to play tight end Darren Waller and running back Josh Jacobs who are both listed as questionable — but it remains a question how effective they can be playing through their injuries. Las Vegas is scoring only 18.7 Points-Per-Game and averaging 332.0 total Yards-Per-Game in their last three games — and they have scored more than 17 points just twice in their last eight games. They are 4-4 at home despite getting outscored by -4.4 PPG. The Raiders have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games at home. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. Los Angeles has scored at least 28 points in five straight games. Since Week 11, the Chargers lead the NFL in total offense and rank second in scoring. They are scoring 30.3 PPG and averaging 395.3 total YPG in their last three games. Second-year quarterback Justin Herbert leads the NFL in third-down effectiveness — and that includes Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Los Angeles has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against AFC West opponents — and they are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games in January. They have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 road games against the Raiders.

FINAL TAKE: Las Vegas wants to avenge a 28-14 loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles on October 4th — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 22 of their last 29 games when playing with revenge from a loss by at least 14 points. 25* NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Year with the Los Angeles Chargers (481) minus the points versus the Las Vegas Raiders (482). Best of luck for us  — Frank.

At 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (479) and the Los Angeles Rams (480). THE SITUATION: San Francisco (9-7) won their third game in their last four contests with a 23-7 win against Houston as a 14-point favorite on Sunday. Los Angeles (12-4) is on a five-game winning streak after their 20-19 win at Baltimore as a 7-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The news I was waiting on has just been confirmed this afternoon — the 49ers will be without left tackle Trent Williams. The future Hall of Famer who has probably been the most effective left tackle in the game this season is out with an elbow injury that left him questionable all week. Not only does that hurt in the protection against Aaron Donald in the San Francisco passing game, but Williams plays a vital role in the Niners’ run-blocking. Jimmy Garoppolo will be the starting quarterback despite his painful thumb injury — but it remains a question how effective he can be with this injury. Garoppolo playing this game probably speaks more to the readiness of rookie quarterback Trey Lance. While he is uber-athletic, Lance holds on to the ball too long and lacks a firm grasp of playing the position at the NFL level after not playing in almost two years after taking last year off with North Dakota State. As it is, the 49ers have only averaged 20.4 Points-Per-Game in their five divisional matchups this season. San Francisco has played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a win at home — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a win at home by double-digits. The 49ers have also played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after winning two of their last three games. San Francisco’s defense has been playing well — they have held their last four opponents to no more than 23 points. They have held their last three opponents to 13.3 PPG and 266.0 total Yards-Per-Game. The 49ers have played 5 of their last 7 road games Under the Total — and they have played 4 straight road games Under the Total as a road underdog. San Francisco has also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total on the road with the Total set at 45.5 or higher. Furthermore, the Niners have played 5 of the last 6 games Under the Total against winning teams — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total as an underdog. Los Angeles has held their last five opponents to no more than 23 points — and they lead the NFL in sacks which make the loss of Williams on the offensive line for San Francisco a game-changer. the Rams have held their last three opponents to 17.3 PPG and 300.3 total YPG. Matthew Stafford completed 26 of 35 passes for 309 yards in their win against the Ravens last week — but they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after passing for at least 250 yards in their last game. The Rams have played 13 of their last 18 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. And in their last 6 games after winning four or five of their last six games, Los Angeles has played all 6 games Under the Total. The Rams go back home where they have played a decisive 16 of their last 21 games Under the Total — and they have played 17 of their last 21 home games Under the Total when favored. Los Angeles has also played 5 of their last 6 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on the road.

FINAL TAKE: The Rams will be motivated to avenge a 31-10 loss in San Francisco on November 15th — and they have played 31 of their last 47 games Under the Total when avenging an upset loss to their opponent. These two teams have played 4 of their last 5 meetings Under the Total. 25* NFC West Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (479) and the Los Angeles Rams (480). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Baltimore Ravens (472) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (471). THE SITUATION: Baltimore (8-8) is on a five-game losing streak after their 20-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams as a 7-point underdog on Sunday. Pittsburgh (8-7-1) has won two of their last three games after their 26-14 upset win against Cleveland as a 1-point underdog on Monday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RAVENS MINUS THE POINTS: Both of these teams have slim playoff hopes still alive — the winner of this game needs Indianapolis to get upset by Jacksonville as a two-touchdown underdog. That is not likely to happen, of course. And it sure looked like the Steelers put everything into their Monday night win against the Browns in what was Ben Roethlisberger’s likely last game at home in Heinz Field. An emotional letdown appears imminent. As it is, Pittsburgh has failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 straight games after a point spread win. Additionally, the Steelers have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. Pittsburgh is just 2-5 on the road with an average losing margin of -9.6 Points-Per-Game. They allow their home hosts to score 29.6 PPG and generate 398.0 total Yards-Per-Game. I have little doubt that head coach John Harbaugh will have his team ready to play. The Ravens want to end their losing streak — and they would love to end Roethlisberger’s career with a loss. Baltimore has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up loss. It will be Tyler Huntley under center with Lamar Jackson still nursing his ankle injury. The backup has played well in Jackson’s absence — he has completed 67.5% of his 162 passes with 955 passing yards and another 222 rushing yards on a 6.3 Yards-Per-Carry average in six games. Baltimore is 5-3 at home this season — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 home games. The Ravens have also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. And they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games in January.

FINAL TAKE: Pittsburgh won the first game between these two teams by a  20-19 score as a 4-point underdog on December 5th. Baltimore has covered the point spread in 3 of their last 4 opportunities to avenge a same-season loss. 25* AFC North Game of the Year with the Baltimore Ravens (472) minus the points versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (471). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Dallas Cowboys (469) minus the points versus the Philadelphia Eagles (470). THE SITUATION: Dallas (11-5) had their four-game winning streak snapped with their 25-22 upset loss at home to Arizona as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday. Philadelphia (9-7) is on a four-game winning streak after their 20-16 win at Washington as a 6.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COWBOYS MINUS THE POINTS: Injuries and COVID plays a defining role in this game — but it is Philadelphia that is impacted more heavily. The Eagles have 11 players on the COVID list. Running back Miles Sanders is out with a hand injury — and Philly may only have rookie Kenneth Gainwell healthy and available in their backfield tonight. Right tackle Lane Johnson is dealing with a knee - and Jalen Hurts is less than 100% with an ankle injury. Given that Philadelphia has already clinched a wildcard spot in the NFC playoffs but they cannot secure a home game next week and have little idea who they will be playing, rookie head coach Nick Sirianni may opt to rest key players including Hurts. As it is, the Eagles have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after winning two games in a row. And while Philadelphia has only allowed 26 combined points in their last two games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games after not allowing more than 17 points in two straight games. This is the 4th time this season that the Eagles are playing at home as an underdog — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 3 of those games. Dallas has some COVID issues themselves most notably with rookie sensation Micah Parsons out for this game. Running back Tony Pollard is questionable with a foot injury — and Ezekiel Elliott has been saddled with a knee injury for much of the season. Wide receiver Michael Gallup is out the season with a torn ACL. But Dallas still has quarterback Dan Prescott along with wide receivers Cee Dee Lamb and Amari Cooper. And the Cowboys have plenty to play for despite having clinched the NFC East title when ensures them no worse than the fourth seed. Losses by Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday would put the Cowboys in the position to take the second seed in the NFC playoffs — so head coach Mike McCarthy needs to play for the win tonight. Dallas has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread loss. They go back on the road where they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight road games when they are favored. Furthermore, the Cowboys have covered the point spread in 29 of their last 43 road games when favored by 3.5 to 7 points — including seven of these last nine occasions. Dallas has covered the point spread in 8 of their 11 games this season when favored in the 3.5 to 9.5 point range. And in their last 5 games with the Total set in the 42.5 to 49 point range, the Cowboys have covered the point spread all 5 times.

FINAL TAKE: Dallas has covered the point spread in 19 of their last 26 games against NFC East opponents — and Philadelphia is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games against divisional rivals. The Cowboys have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against the Eagles in Philadelphia. 10* NFL Saturday Night Discounted Deal with the Dallas Cowboys (469) minus the points versus the Philadelphia Eagles (470). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Dallas Cowboys (469) and the Philadelphia Eagles (470). THE SITUATION: Dallas (11-5) had their four-game winning streak snapped with their 25-22 upset loss at home to Arizona as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday. Philadelphia (9-7) is on a four-game winning streak after their 20-16 win at Washington as a 6.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Injuries and COVID play a defining role in this game. The Eagles have 11 players on the COVID list. Running back Miles Sanders is out with a hand injury — and Philly may only have rookie Kenneth Gainwell healthy and available in their backfield tonight. Right tackle Lane Johnson is dealing with a knee - and Jalen Hurts is less than 100% with an ankle injury. Given that Philadelphia has already clinched a wildcard spot in the NFC playoffs, but they cannot secure a home game next week and have little idea who they will be playing, rookie head coach Nick Sirianni may opt to rest key players including Hurts. As it is, the Eagles have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a win on the road — and they have played 13 of their last 17 home games after a victory where they did not cover the point spread as the favorite. Philadelphia has played 16 of their last 21 home games Under the Total after a win by seven points or less against an NFC East rival — and they have played 25 of their last 36 home games Under the Total after a win on the road against a divisional opponent. Additionally, the Eagles have played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after winning two in a row — and they have played 16 of their last 24 games Under the Total after winning two in a row against NFC East foes. They return home where they have played 11 of their last 16 home games Under the Total with the number in the 42.5 to 49 point range — and they have played 7 of their last 9 home games Under the Total as an underdog getting up to seven points. Philadelphia does not have too much luxury to rest all their starters on defense given roster limitations. They have not allowed more than 18 points in five straight games — and they have held their last three opponents to 14.3 Points-Per-Game and 247.0 total Yards-Per-Game. Dallas has some COVID issues themselves most notably with rookie sensation Micah Parsons out for this game. Running back Tony Pollard is questionable with a foot injury — and Ezekiel Elliott has been saddled with a knee injury for much of the season. Wide receiver Michael Gallup is out the season with a torn ACL. But Dallas still has plenty to play for despite having clinched the NFC East title when ensures them no worse than the fourth seed. Losses by Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday would put the Cowboys in the position to take the second seed in the NFC playoffs — so head coach Mike McCarthy needs to play for the win tonight. Outside of their 56-point outburst against a Washington team ravaged by COVID and playing after limited practice time, Dallas has not scored more than 27 points in four of their last five games. The Cowboys have not given up more than 20 points in six of their last eight contests. Dallas has played 21 of their last 30 road games Under the Total after a loss by three points or less. The Cowboys have also played 8 of their last 9 road games Under the Total with the number set in the 42.5 to 49 range.

FINAL TAKE: Dallas won the first meeting between these two teams by a 41-21 score. Philadelphia has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total when avenging an upset loss on the road to their opponent. These two teams have also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total when playing in Philadelphia. 25* NFL Saturday Television Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Dallas Cowboys (469) and the Philadelphia Eagles (470). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Cleveland Browns (131) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (132). THE SITUATION: Cleveland (7-8) has lost three of their last four games after their 24-22 loss at Green Bay as a 7.5-point underdog. Pittsburgh (7-7-1) has lost two of their last three games after their 36-10 loss at Kansas City as a 10.5-point underdog last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Browns have not scored more than 24 points in six straight games after their 22 points against the Packers last week. But the Cleveland defense has not allowed more than 24 points in five straight games. The Browns have lost two in a road despite covering the point spread in both those games. They have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after losing but covering the point spread as an underdog in their last two games. Cleveland did gain 408 yards in Green Bay last Saturday — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. Despite their yardage numbers last week, the Browns are still only averaging 311.3 total Yards-Per-Game in their last three games and just 20.0 Points-Per-Game. Cleveland stays on the road where they have played 4 of their last 6 games Under the Total with the number in the 42.5-45 point range. The Browns have played 33 of their last 50 games Under the Total in the final two weeks of the season. Pittsburgh has not scored more than 20 points in five of their last six games. They have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after not scoring more than 14 points in their last game. Additionally, they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a loss — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. The Steelers have also played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after allowing at least 30 points in their last game. They return home where they are allowing only 20.5 PPG — but they are only scoring 20.1 PPG. Pittsburgh has played 5 of their last 6 home games Under the Total when favored — and the Under is 8-2-1 in their last 11 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. In their last three games, the Steelers are scoring only 19.0 PPG and averaging just 282.0 total Yards-Per-Game.

FINAL TAKE: Cleveland will be motivated to avenge a 15-10 loss at home to Pittsburgh on October 31st — and they have played 12 of their last 19 games Under the Total when playing with revenge from an upset loss. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Cleveland Browns (131) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (132). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers (132) minus the points versus the Cleveland Browns (131). THE SITUATION: Pittsburgh (7-7-1) has lost two of their last three games after their 36-10 loss at Kansas City as a 10.5-point underdog last Sunday. Cleveland (7-8) has lost three of their last four games after their 24-22 loss at Green Bay as a 7.5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE STEELERS MINUS THE POINTS: Pittsburgh still has a narrow path to make the playoffs — but the chances are remote so the weight of playoff expectations are not likely to be heavy. Instead, tonight’s game is being viewed as Big Ben Roethlisberger’s final game at home at Heinz Field. It should be a wild and emotional night for the fans and the team that will want to send out the future Hall of Fame a winner. Roethlisberger loves playing against his childhood team. Big Ben has a 24-2-1 against the Browns in his career with 42 touchdown passes and just 22 interceptions. He has a career Passer Rating of 94.2 against the Browns. Even better, the Steelers have a perfect 14-0 record at home against Cleveland under head coach Mike Tomlin. They should play well tonight after getting handled by the Chiefs last week. Pittsburgh has covered the point speed in 5 of their last 6 games after a point spread loss. They have also covered the point spread in 10 of their last 15 games after a loss by at least 21 points. The Steelers fell behind early and went into halftime with a 23-0 score — but they have then covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after trailing by at least 14 points at halftime of their last game. Pittsburgh had a -2 net turnover margin in that game as well — but they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a game where they had a -2 or worse net turnover margin. The Steelers should also play better defense — they have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 22 games after allowing at least 30 points in their last game and they have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 22 games after allowing at least 35 points in their last game. Pittsburgh does get back T.J. Watt back on defense — and they have a 7-2 straight up record this season when Watt plays at least 60% of the snaps on defense. The Steelers are 5-2 at home this year — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when favored at home by up to three points. Cleveland may be flat after getting eliminated from the playoff race after yesterday’s results. As it is, the Browns have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 20 games after a straight-up loss — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 11 games after a loss on the road. And while Cleveland has covered the point spread in two straight games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after covering two of their last three games. The Browns stay on the road where they are just 2-5 this season — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 16 games on the road with the Total set in the 42.5 to 49 point range. Cleveland has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in the last two weeks of the season. They are also just 11-28-1 ATS in their last 40 games against AFC North opponents.

FINAL TAKE: Cleveland will be motivated to avenge a 15-10 loss at home to Pittsburgh on October 31st. The Browns have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when playing with same-season revenge — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games on the road when avenging a loss where they did not score more than 14 points. 25* NFL Monday Night Football Game of the Month with the Pittsburgh Steelers (132) minus the points versus the Cleveland Browns (131). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Minnesota Vikings (129) plus the points versus the Green Bay Packers (130). THE SITUATION: Minnesota (7-8) had their two-game winning streak snapped last week with their 30-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams as a 3.5-point underdog last Sunday. Green Bay (12-3) is on a four-game winning streak with their 24-22 victory against Cleveland as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE VIKINGS PLUS THE POINTS: It has been a mystifying season for Minnesota with all eight of their losses decided by one-scoring margin — and they have held a lead at one in each of those games. But the Vikings have been consistently resilient under head coach Mike Zimmer. Minnesota has covered the point spread in 43 of their last 62 games after a straight-up loss. The Vikings will have to rely on backup Sean Mannion at quarterback with Kirk Cousins out after a positive COVID test. Minnesota is going to rely heavily on running back Dalvin Cook who was removed from the COVID list and will play tonight — but he will be running against a Packers run defense that ranks second-to-last in the NFL by allowing opposing rushers to average 4.8 yards-per-carry. The Vikings have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 road games — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 road games against teams with a winning record at home. Despite enjoying a +4 net turnover margin at home last week against the Browns, the Packers only managed to gain 311 yards in their narrow victory against a Cleveland team hit hard by COVID. Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 34 passes but for only 202 yards. Green Bay needs to tighten up on defense after allowing the Browns to gain 408 total yards in that game. They seized an early lead and took a 21-12 advantage into halftime before only scoring a field goal in the second half. The Packers have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after winning their last game as a favorite but failing to cover the point spread as a favorite. And while Green Bay will be motivated to avenge their 34-31 loss at Minnesota where they were a 1-point favorite, they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when avenging an upset loss to their opponent.

FINAL TAKE: Head coach Mike Zimmer has had success slowing Rodgers down in his coaching career. Zimmer has led Minnesota to a 6-4-1 record against the Packers in his last 11 games as head coach of the Vikings. Getting 13 or so points in a divisional rivalry is a ton -- especially for this talented Minnesota roster that plays everybody close. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Minnesota Vikings (129) plus the points versus the Green Bay Packers (130). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Minnesota Vikings (129) and the Green Bay Packers (130). THE SITUATION: Minnesota (7-8) had their two-game winning streak snapped last week with their 30-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams as a 3.5-point underdog last Sunday. Green Bay (12-3) is on a four-game winning streak with their 24-22 victory against Cleveland as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Despite enjoying a +4 net turnover margin at home last week against the Browns, the Packers only managed to gain 311 yards in their narrow victory against a Cleveland team hit hard by COVID. Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 34 passes but for only 202 yards. Green Bay needs to tighten up on defense after allowing the Browns to gain 408 total yards in that game. They seized an early lead and took a 21-12 advantage into halftime before only scoring a field goal in the second half. Expect a similar game script against a Vikings’ team playing without Kirk Cousins. Mistakes may be the biggest threat to the Packers tonight — so they are likely to rely heavily on their running game and be satisfied with grinding out a lower-scoring game that re-establishes the confidence of their defense. Green Bay allows only 17.7 Points-Per-Game and 338.9 total Yards-Per-Game at home at Lambeau Field. They have played 4 of their last 6 home games Under the Total against teams with a losing record on the road — and they have played 4 of their last 5 home games Under the Total when favored. The Packers have also played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. Minnesota will have to rely on backup Sean Mannion at quarterback with Cousins out after a positive COVID test. The former Oregon State has not taken a snap in a regular-season game since 2019. In his career, he has completed only 57.5% of his 74 NFL passes with a mild 6.0 Yards-Per-Attempt average. The Vikings are going to rely heavily on running back Dalvin Cook who was removed from the COVID list and will play tonight. Head coach Mike Zimmer will want to shorten the game by burning time off the clock — and he has had success slowing Rodgers down in his coaching career. Zimmer has led Minnesota to a 6-4-1 record against the Packers in his last 11 games as head coach of the Vikings. Green Bay has only scored more than 23 points against Zimmer’s Minnesota teams twice in their last six encounters. The Packers average 21.6 first downs per game with their offense on the field for 32:34 minutes per game — and the Vikings have played 12 of their last 19 games Under the Total in the second half of the season against teams who average at least 32 minutes in Time of Possession and 21 first downs per game. Green Bay only averages 0.7 turnovers per game with Rodgers rarely throwing interceptions — and Minnesota has played 6 straight games Under the Total against opponents who do not commit more than 0.75 turnovers per game.

FINAL TAKE: The Vikings have played 5 of their last 8 games Under the Total against teams who are winning at least 75% of their games — and the Packers have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total against teams with a losing record. 25* NFC North Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Minnesota Vikings (129) and the Green Bay Packers (130). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Philadelphia Eagles (113) and the Washington Football Team (114). THE SITUATION: Philadelphia (8-7) has won three in a row with their 34-10 victory against the New York Giants as an 11-point favorite last Sunday. Washington (6-9) is on a three-game losing streak after their 56-14 loss at Dallas as a 10-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Football Team is a mess on offense right now after posting their three lowest yardage totals in the last three weeks. They managed only 224 total yards against the Cowboys on December 12th before picking up just 237 yards against the Eagles in a 27-17 loss in Philadelphia on December 21st. Washington only gained 257 yards last week in their debacle in Dallas. The Football Team wants to run the ball to set up the pass but they have only gained 148 yards on the ground in their last two games. To compound matters, star running back Antonio Gibson has been declared out for this game due to COVID. The Football Team has played 5 straight Unders after not scoring more than 14 points in their last game. Additionally, they have played 11 of their last 16 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total after a loss by 14 or more points. Washington has also played 14 of their last 18 games Under the Total after a loss by 21 or more points to an NFC East foe. At least the Football Team should play better on defense after getting embarrassed last week. Dallas generated 497 yards of offense against them — but Washington has played 10 of their last 13 games Under the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. They have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after allowing at least 30 points in their last contest. Philadelphia has not allowed more than 18 points in four straight games. They should stymie the Football Team this afternoon with their stout run defense that ranks fourth in the league by allowing only 3.9 Yards-Per-Carry. Philly held the Giants to just 108 passing yards and 192 total yards last week — and they have played 4 straight Unders after not allowing more than 150 passing yards in their last game. The Eagles held Washington to just 237 total yards two weeks ago — and they have played 14 of their last 18 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 350 yards in two straight games. But look for the Philly offense to struggle — they have played 55 of their last 79 games Under the Total after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. Jalen Hurts is not 100% with an ankle issue that has limited him to just 45 rushing yards on ten carries in his last two games. Hurts is also regressing in the passing game. Since Week 11, he is completing only 58.2% of his passes which is 26th in the NFL during that span. He has thrown only three touchdown passes with four interceptions since Week 11 — and his Passer Rating of 73.7 since that time ranks 24th in the league. He will also be without his best running back in Miles Sanders who is out with a hand injury. The Eagles have played three straight Overs — but they have then played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after playing two straight Overs and they have played 25 of their last 36 games Under the Total after playing at least three Overs in a row.

FINAL TAKE: Washington is a mess at quarterback with the league seeming to get a book on journeyman quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Head coach Ron Rivera suggested both Heinicke and Kyle Allen could play today. I do expect a spirited effort — and the Football Team has played 13 of their last 16 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record. 25* NFC East Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Philadelphia Eagles (113) and the Washington Football Team (114). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Miami Dolphins (481) and the New Orleans Saints (482). THE SITUATION: Miami (7-7) won their sixth straight game last Sunday in a 31-29 victory against the New York Jets as a 10.5-point favorite last Sunday. New Orleans (7-7) won their second-straight game with their 9-0 upset win at Tampa Bay as an 11.5-point underdog last Sunday night.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Dolphins held the Jets to just 228 yards last week — they have held their last three opponents to just 14.3 Points-Per-Game and 225.3 total Yards-Per-Game. Miami has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a straight-up win. And while they gained 379 yards against New York, they also had their offense on the field for 34:22 minutes in that game. The Dolphins averaged only 5.49 Yards-Per-Play in that game. Miami has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. They go back on the road where they average only 19.5 PPG. They have played 5 of their last 7 road games Under the Total when favored. Miami’s defense leads the NFL during that span in Expected Points Allowed per snap. New Orleans has 20 players out because of COVID including quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian. Head coach Sean Payton is on to his fourth-string quarterback in rookie Ian Book. The former Notre Dame star is an interesting project — but he left South Bend with a ceiling to his talents and there is a reason that there was little to no consideration of using him at quarterback up until tonight despite all the attrition at this position starting with the season-ending injury to Jameis Winston. In the preseason, Book completed 9 of 16 passes for 126 yards and an interception. Payton is an offensive wizard — but Book lacks Hill’s mobility to run the “Cam Newton Carolina” offense and his passing skillset is similar to Siemian’s but without the NFL experience. The Saints have Alvin Kamara back — but the Dolphins are likely to put eight men in the box to slow him down and dare New Orleans to beat them with Book’s arm (with a suspect receiving corps still missing Michael Thomas). New Orleans also remains without their starting tackles with Ryan Ramczyk out with COVID and Terron Armstead still dealing with a knee injury. That is not a good sign for a team that ranks second to last in the league over the last six weeks in Expected Points Added per snap on offense. New Orleans managed only 212 total yards in their upset win against the Buccaneers. They have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after failing to gain at least 250 yards in their last game — and they have played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total after not scoring at least 250 yards in their last game. Furthermore, the Saints have played 12 of their last 16 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total after a point spread win.

FINAL TAKE: The Total is in the high-30s for this game which makes it very hard to take the Under — but that is one of the motivations for the bookmakers to list the Total this low. The Army-Navy game earlier this month had a Total drop into the 30s — and Army won that game by a 17-13 score. That is only one example — but is illustrative that these numbers get this low for a reason. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Miami Dolphins (481) and the New Orleans Saints (482).  Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Miami Dolphins (481) minus the points versus the New Orleans Saints (482). THE SITUATION: Miami (7-7) won their sixth straight game last Sunday in a 31-29 victory against the New York Jets as a 10.5-point favorite last Sunday. New Orleans (7-7) won their second-straight game with their 9-0 upset win at Tampa Bay as an 11.5-point underdog last Sunday night.

REASONS TO TAKE THE DOLPHINS MINUS THE POINTS: If the Dallas Cowboys (unfortunate, for us) blowout victory against Washington last night re-affirmed to me, it is to not underestimate the physical, mental, and emotional toll COVID outbreaks have on teams. Not that we should become zombies to simply fade teams dealing with significant outbreaks — and good luck finding matchups where only one team is dealing with that problem — but it is certainly a factor. We hope that Omicron is resulting in milder cases, but we just don’t know yet (the “analytics” are too early to evaluate). And we think professional athletes are in the best position to overcome. But dudes are still getting sick for a few days. A momentum swing like an early interception (as from last night) can play into the game script putting one team on defense for an extended period — and then suddenly a team dealing with the challenges and complications from COVID all week can find themselves on their heels. New Orleans has 20 players out because of COVID including quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian. On defense, stalwarts in linebackers Demario Davis and Kaden Ellis along with strong safety Malcolm Jenkins who all played important roles in shutting out Tom Brady last week are now out as well. Head coach Sean Payton is on to his fourth-string quarterback in rookie Ian Book. The former Notre Dame star is an interesting project — but he left South Bend with a ceiling to his talents and there is a reason that there was little to no consideration of using him at quarterback up until tonight despite all the attrition at this position starting with the season-ending injury to Jameis Winston. In the preseason, Book completed 9 of 16 passes for 126 yards and an interception. Payton is an offensive wizard — but Book lacks Hill’s mobility to run the “Cam Newton Carolina” offense and his passing skillset is similar to Siemian’s but without the NFL experience. The Saints have Alvin Kamara back — but the Dolphins are likely to put eight men in the box to slow him down and dare New Orleans to beat them with Book’s arm (with a suspect receiving corps still missing Michael Thomas). Besides all that, the Saints are in a letdown spot after the shocking shutout victory against the Buccaneers. New Orleans has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after an upset win as an underdog of six or more points against an NFC South rival. The Saints have covered the point spread in their last two games but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a point spread win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after covering point spread expectations in two of their last three games. New Orleans benefited from a +2 net turnover margin against Tampa Bay — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 37 of their last 56 home games after enjoying a +2 or better net turnover margin in their last game. The Saints return home where they are just 1-4 this season while getting outscored by 27.8 Points-Per-Game and surrendering 402.0 total Yards-Per-Game. New Orleans has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games this season — and they have failed to cover the point spread 14 of their last 22 home games with the Total set in the 35.5 to 38 point range. The Saints also remain without their starting tackles with Ryan Ramczyk out with COVID and Terron Armstead still dealing with a knee injury. That is not a good sign for a team that ranks second to last in the league over the last six weeks in Expected Points Added per snap on offense. Miami’s defense leads the NFL during that span in Expected Points Allowed per snap. Admittedly, the Dolphins have been feasting on the lesser teams in the league with less than ideal quarterback situations — but this is a team that is confident with a formula for success. And this team is pretty healthy with few COVID cases. Miami has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games after a victory at home. They had covered the point spread in five straight games before their narrow win over the Jets last week - and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after covering the point spread in three of their last four games. The Dolphins have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after scoring at least 30 points. Tua Tagovailoa has found a rhythm under center as of late — he has completed 100 of his 129 passes in his last four games for a 77.8% completion percentage with 943 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, and just three interceptions. And while Miami allowed just 228 yards to the Jets last week, they have then covered the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games after not allowing more than 250 yards in their last game.

FINAL TAKE: The Dolphins have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games under head coach Brian Flores in December. 25* NFL Monday Night Football Game of the Month is on the Miami Dolphins (481) minus the points versus the New Orleans Saints (482). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Washington Football Team (479) plus the points versus the Dallas Cowboys (480). THE SITUATION: Washington (6-8) lost their second straight game in a 27-17 loss at Philadelphia as a 10-point underdog on Tuesday. Dallas (10-4) won their third straight game with a 21-6 victory in New York against the Giants as an 11.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE FOOTBALL TEAM PLUS THE POINTS: Washington is a tough out under head coach Ron Rivera. The Football Team has covered 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record — and they are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog. They have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in the second half of the season. They did allow 519 total yards to the Eagles on Tuesday — but they are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. They stayed competitive against Philadelphia with their +2 net turnover margin — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after owning a +2 or better turnover margin in their last game. Washington managed only 237 yards in that game with Garrett Gilbert signed just days earlier as an emergency quarterback. They are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after not gaining more than 350 yards in their last game. The good news for the Football Team is that starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke and backup Kyle Allen have been cleared off the COVID list to play tonight. Dallas is just 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. But injuries are slowing this team down on offense. The biggest loss is Tyron Smith at left tackle — he might be the most important player on the team outside of Dak Prescott. Running back Ezekiel Elliott has been slowed with injuries this season. The Cowboys do get running back Tony Pollard back tonight but it remains a question how effective he will be with his foot injury. Dallas has not scored more than 27 points in four of their last five and six of their last eight contests. They did benefit from a +3 net turnover margin against the Giants last week — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after winning the turnover battle in their last game.

FINAL TAKE: The Cowboys won the first meeting between these two teams just two weeks ago in a 27-20 victory in Washington on December 12th. The Football Team has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games when motivated to avenge a loss at home to their opponent. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Washington Football Team (479) plus the points versus the Dallas Cowboys (480). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Washington Football Team (479) and the Dallas Cowboys (480). THE SITUATION: Washington (6-8) lost their second straight game in a 27-17 loss at Philadelphia as a 10-point underdog on Tuesday. Dallas (10-4) won their third straight game with a 21-6 victory in New York against the Giants as an 11.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Cowboys continue to excel on defense after holding the Giants to just 302 total yards. Dallas forced four turnovers in the game — they lead the NFL with 31 takeaways and 21 interceptions. They have held their last three opponents to just 14.3 Points-Per-Game and 310.3 total Yards-Per-Game. The Cowboys have played 5 straight games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total after a point spread victory. And while Dallas has won four of their last six games, they have then played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after winning four or five of their last six contests. But injuries are slowing this team down on offense. The biggest loss is Tyron Smith at left tackle — he might be the most important player on the team outside of Dak Prescott. Running back Ezekiel Elliott has been slowed with injuries this season. The Cowboys do get running back Tony Pollard back tonight but it remains a question how effective he will be with his foot injury. Dallas has not scored more than 27 points in four of their last five and six of their last eight contests. They have also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total when favored. Washington only managed 237 yards in their loss at Philadelphia. Granted, the Football Team had journeyman Garrett Gilbert under center — but he played well in completing 20 of 31 passes for 194 yards in numbers that looked similar to what Taylor Heinicke was providing them. Heinicke and backup QB Kyle Allen have been cleared to play — but Heinicke has not practiced all week. Aaron Rodgers is the exception that proves the rule that quarterbacks can avoid practice all week and still have their “A-Game” on Sunday. COVID has limited Washington’s ability to prepare and even game-plan. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner had to tentatively prepare three approaches since he had no idea if it would be Heinicke, Allen, or Gilbert again under center. These two teams played just two weeks ago in a 27-20 victory for the Cowboys in a game where the Football Team only gained 224 yards with both Heinicke and Allen getting snaps. Washington is scoring only 18.3 PPG and averaging 253.o total YPG in their last three games. They have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a point spread loss — and they have played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after losing two in a row. And while the Football Team surrendered 519 yards to the Eagles last week, they have played 10 of their last 13 games Under the Total after giving up at least 350 yards in their last game. Washington stayed competitive by forcing turnovers and not giving the ball up themselves — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after playing a game where they had a +2 or better net turnover margin. They have also played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after not gaining at least 250 yards in their last game. They stay on the road where they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total as an underdog. And in their last 17 games against teams with a winning record, the Football Team has played 14 of these games Under the Total.

FINAL TAKE: Washington has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against NFC East rivals — and Dallas has played 5 straight Unders against teams from the NFC. 25* NFC East Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Washington Football Team (479) and the Dallas Cowboys (480). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (475) and the Kansas City Chiefs (476). THE SITUATION: Pittsburgh (7-6-1) has won two of their last three games after a 19-13 win against Tennessee as a 1-point favorite last Sunday. Kansas City (10-4) has won seven straight games after their 34-28 win in Los Angeles against the Chargers as a 3-point favorite on December 16th.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Pittsburgh eked out that game with the Titans despite only gaining 170 total yards. They have then played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after not gaining more than 250 yards in their last game. The Under is also 8-3-1 in their last 12 games after a straight-up win — and they have played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after winning two of their last three games. The Steelers enjoyed a +4 net turnover margin in that game which was the third straight game where they won the turnover battle — and they have then played 12 of their last 15 games Under the Total after having a +1 or better net turnover margin in at least two straight games. The Under is also 6-1-1 in their last 8 games after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. They go back on the road where the Under is 37-14-1 in their last 52 games — and they have played 11 of their last 16 road games Under the Total with the number in the 42.5 to 49 point range. Pittsburgh has played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total in December. Kansas City has played 10 of their last 16 games Under the Total after a win on the road. Patrick Mahomes completed 31 of 47 passes for 410 yards in the win — but the Chiefs have played 5 straight Unders after a game where they passed for at least 250 yards. Kansas City did allow 192 rushing yards in the game — but they have played 37 of their last 55 games under the Total after allowing at least 150 rushing yards in their last game. The Chiefs have played two straight Overs — but they have then played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after playing two straight Overs. The Kansas City defense is playing much better at this part of the season — they have held six of their last seven opponents to no more than 17 points. They return home where they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total.

FINAL TAKE: The Chiefs have played 14 of their last 17 home games Under the Total when favored by 10.5 to 14 points. Pittsburgh has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total as a double-digit dog. And in the last 8 meetings between these two teams, the game finished Under the Total 6 times. 25* NFL Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (475) and the Kansas City Chiefs (476). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Minnesota Vikings (468) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (467). THE SITUATION: Minnesota (7-7) has won two in a row after their 17-9 win at Chicago as a 7-point favorite last Monday. Los Angeles (10-4) has won three in a row with their 20-10 win against Seattle as a 7.5-point favorite on Tuesday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE VIKINGS PLUS THE POINTS: This is a challenging situation for the Rams traveling east to play in Minnesota on a short week — made all the worse with a COVID outbreak on the team. Star left tackle Andrew Whitworth is out to significantly impact an offensive line that was already dealing with COVID issues. As it is, Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a double-digit win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after a win by 10 or more points at home. The Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. Additionally, Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after winning two games in a row — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 14 games after winning three of their last four games. And while the Rams have covered the point spread in three straight games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after covering the point spread in three straight games. Minnesota only needed 193 yards of offense in their victory against the Bears on Monday. The Vikings have still covered the point spread in 19 of their last 26 games after failing to gain at least 250 yards in their last game. They return home where they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning record on the road — and they are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 home games as an underdog. They will be without running back Delvin Cook who is on the COVID list — but backup Alexander Mattison is more than capable in his absence. The team does get back wide receiver Adam Thielen who was out last week on the COVID list.

FINAL TAKE: Minnesota has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning record — and Los Angeles has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when favored. Don’t be surprised if the Vikings pull the upset — but take the points for some insurance. 10* NFL Don’t Need the Points (but take the points) Underdog Special with the Minnesota Vikings (468) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (467). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Buffalo Bills (471) and the New England Patriots (472). THE SITUATION: Buffalo (8-6) snapped a two-game losing streak with their 31-14 victory against Carolina as a 14.5-point favorite last Sunday. New England (9-5) had their seven-game winning streak end last Saturday with their 27-17 loss at Indianapolis as a 1-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Bills should build off their momentum from last week as they have played 8 of their last 12 games Over the Total after a double-digit win at home. The Over is also 16-7-1 in their last 24 games after a straight-up win — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games Over the Total after a point spread victory. Additionally, Buffalo has played 7 of their last 9 games Over the Total after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. Now they go back on the road where they are scoring 30.4 Points-Per-Game and averaging 397.7 total Yards-Per-Game. The Bills are missing two wide receivers this afternoon with both Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley on the COVID list — but they do get Emmanuel Sanders back from a knee injury that kept him out last week and they still have Stefon Diggs. Buffalo will be missing a key piece on defense with linebacker Star Lotulelei for reasons only detailed as “personal.” Buffalo has played 5 straight Overs on the road — and the Over is 4-1-1 in their last 6 road games against teams with a winning record at home. The Bills have also played 7 straight Overs as an underdog. New England gained 365 yards last week in their loss to the Colts — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones completed 26 of 45 passes for 299 yards with two touchdown passes in a losing effort — a far cry from the mere three passes he threw against the Bills the prior week. Now Jones returns home to Foxboro where he has been more prolific with head coach Bill Belichick seemingly more comfortable to let him air it out. Jones is completing 70.7% of his passes with a 267.1 passing YPG mark with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions and a Quarterback Rating of 102.5 in his seven starts at home. In his seven starts on the road, Jones’ completion percentage drops to 66.8% with a 185.4 passing YPG mark with five touchdown passes and five interceptions and a QBR of 84.5. The Patriots are scoring 30.0 PPG and averaging 388.4 total YPG at home. They have played 4 straight Overs when playing a home — and they have played 11 of their last 15 home games Over the Total when getting up to three points as an underdog. Running back Damien Harris is expected to play this afternoon with his improving hamstring. New England did give up 226 rushing yards last week to the Colts — and they have played 11 of their last 17 games Over the Total after allowing at least 200 rushing yards in their last game. They have also played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total against teams from the AFC.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams played on Monday Night Football back on December 6th in the cold and heavy winds in Buffalo in a game the Patriots won by a 14-6 score. The temperatures in Foxboro today will be in the 40s with the winds in the low-teens — so the offenses should be able to function much better in this rematch. 25* AFC East Total of the Month with Over the Total in the game between the Buffalo Bills (471) and the New England Patriots (472). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Arizona Cardinals (456) minus the points versus the Indianapolis Colts (455). THE SITUATION: Arizona (10-4) has lost two straight games after their 30-12 upset loss in Detroit as a 13-point favorite last Sunday. Indianapolis (8-6) won their fifth game in their last six contests with their 27-17 win against New England as a 1-point favorite last Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CARDINALS MINUS THE POINTS: The Cardinals have now suffered two straight upset losses after beginning last week with a 30-23 upset loss at home to the Los Angeles Rams as a 3-point favorite on Monday Night Football. Arizona has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after getting upset in two straight games as the favorite. The Cardinals have also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a loss by 14 or more points — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread loss. Additionally, Arizona has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after not scoring more than 14 points in the last game. The Cardinals did generate 398 yards in the losing effort to the Lions — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. Indianapolis has won two games in a row after their triumph against the Patriots last Saturday — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after winning two games in a row. The Colts have covered the point spread in their last two games as well as four of their last six games — but they have failed to cover the point spread in7 of their last 11 games after covering the point spread in two games in a row and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games after covering the point spread in four or five of their last six games. The defense for Indianapolis has played great during this stretch as they have only allowed more than 17 points once in their last six games. But the Colts did give up 284 passing yards to the Patriots and Mac Jones last week — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after allowing at least 250 passing yards in their last game. Indianapolis gained only 275 yards in that game with 226 of them coming from their rushing attack. It will be difficult for Indy to replicate that performance on the ground tonight with them missing three starting offensive linemen. Quenton Nelson and Mark Glowinski are on the COVID list while Ryan Kelly is taking personal time after the death of his child. The pressure will be on Carson Wentz to make plays with his arm after he completed only five passes in his 12 attempts for 57 yards last week. The Colts have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after not passing for more than 100 yards in their last game.

FINAL TAKE: Arizona has covered the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games with the Total set in the 42.5 to 49 point range. 10* NFL Indianapolis-Arizona NFL Network Special with the Arizona Cardinals (456) minus the points versus the Indianapolis Colts (455). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Indianapolis Colts (455) and the Arizona Cardinals (456). THE SITUATION: Indianapolis (8-6) won their fifth game in their last six contests with their 27-17 win against New England as a 1-point favorite last Saturday. Arizona (10-4) has lost two straight games after their 30-12 upset loss in Detroit as a 13-point favorite last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Colts only managed 275 yards in their victory against the Patriots last week. Carson Wentz only attempted 12 passes for a mere 57 yards in the win. Indianapolis has played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after not passing for at least 100 yards in their last game. The Colts did rush for 226 yards last week — and they have played 5 of their last 8 games Under the Total after rushing for at least 200 yards in their last game. It will be difficult for Indy to replicate that performance on the ground tonight with them missing three starting offensive linemen. Quenton Nelson and Mark Glowinski are on the COVID list while Ryan Kelly is taking personal time after the death of his child. The Indianapolis defense should keep them in this game — they have not allowed more than 17 points in four of their last five games. They did allow 284 passing yards to Mac Jones last week — but they have then played 5 straight Unders after surrendering at least 250 passing yards in their last game. The Colts go back on the road where they are allowing only 17.7 Points-Per-Game and 303.7 total Yards-Per-Game this season. Arizona has played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Additionally, the Cardinals have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a double-digit loss — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total after an upset loss by 10 or more points. Arizona has suffered two straight upset losses after getting beat by the LA Rams by a 30-23 score as a 3-point favorite the previous week. The Cardinals have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after getting upset in two straight games. Furthermore, Arizona has played 4 straight Unders after not scoring more than 14 points in their last game. They have also played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total after allowing 30 or more points in their last game. The Cardinals are only allowing 20.3 PPG this season — but they are scoring just 22.7 PPG in their last three games.

FINAL TAKE: Indianapolis has played 29 of their last 41 games Under the Total in December. 25* NFL Network Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Indianapolis Colts (455) and the Arizona Cardinals (456). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Cleveland Browns (453) and the Green Bay Packers (454). THE SITUATION: Cleveland (7-7) lost their second game in their last three with their 16-14 loss to Las Vegas as a 2.5-point underdog on Monday. Green Bay (11-3) won their third straight game with their 31-30 victory at Baltimore as a 9.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Browns activated both Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum off the COVID list — so they will not have to rely on third-string quarterback Nate Mullens this afternoon after he completed 20 of 30 passes for 147 yards against the Raiders. Mayfield gets the starting nod — but he will likely be rusty and has not practiced much with the team in the last two weeks. Cohesion on offense will likely be a problem for him. While the quarterbacks and wide receiver Jarvis Landry return to action, Cleveland is still missing key pieces from their starting offensive unit. The offensive line is hit hard with let tackle Jedrick Wills, Jr., and center J.C. Tretter out with COIVD — both losses are tough to swallow and the loss of Tretter should not be underestimated since Mayfield will be working with a new center to coordinate plays at the line of scrimmage. The Browns were already without starting right tackle Jack Conklin who is out the season with a right knee injury. And kicker Chase McLaughlin is on the COVID list which means head coach Kevin Stefanski will be relying on Chris Naggar despite him never having taken a kick in an NFL game. This is all happening to an offense that scores only 20.9 PPG — and they averaged just 16.0 PPG and 262.7 total Yards-Per-Game in their last three games. Cleveland only gained 236 yards last week against Las Vegas — and they have played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total after not gaining more than 250 yards in their last game. The Browns do get some key players on defense back for this game. Cornerback Denzel Ward returns from a groin injury and safety Grant Delpit was removed from the COVID list. Despite all their attrition of late, Cleveland has only allowed 18.0 PPG in their last three games. And the Under is a decisive 44-18-3 in their last 65 games in December. Green Bay has played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total in December. The Packers have played 12 of their last 16 games Under the Total after a win on the road. Furthermore, they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after winning two in a row — and they have played 5 straight Unders after winning three games in a row. They allowed 354 yards to the Ravens in their narrow win last week — but they have then played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. And while they have scored at least 31 points in each of their last four games — but they have then played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after scoring at least 25 points in three straight games. They return home to Lambeau Field where they are holding their guests to just 17.0 PPG and 327.3 total YPG. Aaron Rodgers is missing some important players on offense as well for this game with right tackle Billy Turner and wide receiver Randall Cobb out with injuries.

FINAL TAKE: Green Bay has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points. Cleveland has played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total when an underdog in the 3.5 to 9.5 range. 10* NFL Saturday Afternoon Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Cleveland Browns (453) and the Green Bay Packers (454). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Tennessee Titans (452) plus the points versus the San Francisco 49ers (451). THE SITUATION: Tennessee (9-5) lost their third game in their last four in a 19-13 loss at Pittsburgh as a 1-point underdog on December 19th. San Francisco (8-6) has won five of their last six games after a 31-13 win against Atlanta as a 9.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TITANS PLUS THE POINTS: The Titans went into halftime with a 13-3 lead against the Steelers but did not score in the second half in their loss last week. A -4 net turnover margin spoiled Tennessee winning the yardage battle by a 318 to 170 margin. They did rush for 201 yards in the setback with D’Onta Foreman running the ball 22 times for 108 yards — and that is a good sign for this team if they can avoid fumbling the ball three times like they did last week. Tennessee has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after rushing for at least 200 yards in their last game. The Titans have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a loss on the road. Injuries have depleted the skill position players on offense — but the running game is still functioning even without Derrick Henry and after getting wide receiver Julio Jones back last week, wide receiver A.J. Brown is expected to return to the field this week after dealing with a chest injury. Tennessee has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games as an underdog. San Francisco has failed to cover the point spread in 37 of their last 58 games on the road after a win by at least 14 points. And while they have covered the point spread in their last two games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after covering the point spread in two straight games. The Titans are dealing with injuries on their offensive line with three players out including two starters — but they can move some players around to still form a capable starting five which will now likely include their second-round draft pick, Dillon Radunz. The Niners are dealing with several missing pieces on defense including recent injuries to two of their starters at linebacker (and Dre Greenlaw has been declared out). I concluded the impact of the losses still offers us value relative to the line.

FINAL TAKE: San Francisco travels east on a short week to Nashville — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 appearances on Thursday Night Football. 10* NFL Thursday Night Discounted Deal with the Tennessee Titans (452) plus the points versus the San Francisco 49ers (451). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (451) and the Tennessee Titans (452). THE SITUATION: San Francisco (8-6) has won five of their last six games after a 31-13 win against Atlanta as a 9.5-point favorite on Sunday. Tennessee (9-5) lost their third game in their last four in a 19-13 loss at Pittsburgh as a 1-point underdog on December 19th.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The 49ers gained 397 total yards last week in their victory against the Falcons. They have scored at least 30 points in four of their last six games and five of their last eight contests. San Francisco has played 8 of their last 11 games Over the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 8 of their last 10 games Over the Total after a point spread victory. The Niners have also played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. Even without an injured Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco ran for 162 yards against Atlanta. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is using wide receiver, Deebo Samuel, out of the backfield to great success. In Samuel’s last five games — all victories for the 49ers where they have scored at least 26 points (he did not play in their loss to Seattle on December 5th) — he has run the ball 33 times for 247 yards with six touchdowns including a score in each of those five games. Running back Jeff Wilson ran the ball 21 times for 110 yards with a touchdown in his best game of the season after missing the first half of the year to an injury. The 49ers have played 6 of their last 7 games Over the Total after gaining at least 150 yards in their last game — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games Over the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last contest. Now San Francisco goes back on the road where the Over is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games when favored. The Titans went into halftime with a 13-3 lead against the Steelers but did not score in the second half in their loss last week. They did rush for 201 yards in the setback with D’Onta Foreman running the ball 22 times for 108 yards. Tennessee has played 9 of their last 12 games Over the Total after rushing for at least 150 yards in their last game. Tennessee returns home where the Over is 8-3-1 in their last 12 home games against teams with a winning record on the road — and they have played 6 of their last 9 home games Over the Total as an underdog. Injuries have depleted the skill position players on offense — but the running game is still functioning even without Derrick Henry and after getting wide receiver Julio Jones back last week, wide receiver A.J. Brown is expected to return to the field this week after dealing with a chest injury. The Over is 19-7-1 in the Titans’ last 27 games against teams with a winning record. And in their last 13 games in December, Tennessee has played 9 of these games Over the Total. The Titans are dealing with injuries on their offensive line with three players out including two starters — but they can move some players around to still form a capable starting five which will now likely include their second-round draft pick, Dillon Radunz. The Niners are dealing with several missing pieces on defense including recent injuries to two of their starters at linebacker (and Dre Greenlaw has been declared out). I concluded the impact of the losses still offers us value relative to the line.

FINAL TAKE: The Titans have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total when playing on a Thursday night — and the 49ers have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total when playing on a Thursday. 25* NFL Thursday Night Football Total of the Year with Over the Total in the game between the San Francisco 49ers (451) and the Tennessee Titans (452). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Seattle Seahawks (337) and the Los Angeles Rams (338). THE SITUATION: Seattle (5-8) has won two games in a row with their 33-13 win at Houston as a 10-point favorite last Sunday. Los Angeles (9-4) has won two games in a row after their 30-23 upset victory at Arizona as a 3-point underdog last Monday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Seattle has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a point spread win — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a win by 14 or more points. The Seahawks generated 453 yards of offense against the Texans — and they have played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. Seattle did allow 380 yards to Houston — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last contest. They stay on the road where they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total. The Seahawks have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 13 of their last 16 games Under the Total against fellow NFC opponents. And in their last 8 games in December, the Under is 5-2-1. Los Angeles has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a win by 14 or more points. The Rams do get Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey back from the COVID list to bolster their defense. They return home to SoFi Stadium — and they have played 11 of their last 14 home games Under the Total. Los Angeles has also played 16 of their last 21 home games Under the Total when favored. Furthermore, the Rams have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total in December.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 4 of their last 5 meetings Under the Total — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing in Los Angeles. 10* NFL Tuesday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Seattle Seahawks (337) and the Los Angeles Rams (338). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Washington Football Team (339) and the Philadelphia Eagles (340). THE SITUATION: Washington (6-7) ended their four-game winning streak with a 27-20 loss to Dallas as a 6.5-point underdog on December 12th. Philadelphia (6-7) has won three of their last four games with a 33-18 victory in New York against the Jets as a 5-point favorite on December 5th.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The 47 combined points scored in the Football Team’s loss to the Cowboys included a fumble recovery touchdown for both teams. Washington only managed 224 total yards in the loss — and they have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after not gaining more than 250 yards in their last game. The Football Team has played 4 straight Unders after a loss — and they have played 4 straight Unders after a point spread loss. Washington will be without Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen tonight as with players who did not get cleared to be removed from the COVID list — so it will be Garrett Gilbert under center after he was signed to the team on Friday. The Football Team is not going to ask Gilbert to do much tonight with his limited arm strength and lack of familiarity with the offense. Washington is going to attempt to run the football and shorten the game. The good news for the Football Team is they are getting their defensive line room back who tested positive for COVID including Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis. But they are missing skill position players on offense like wide receiver Curtis Samuel and third-down running back J.D. McKissic. They go on the road where they have played 5 of their last 7 road games Under the Total as an underdog. Washington has also played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total against teams with a losing record — and they have played 6 straight Unders in December. Philadelphia has played 15 of their last 22 games Under the Total after a point spread win. They have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a bye week. The Eagles will be content to grind this game out as they have evolved into a running team with second-year pro Jalen Hurts under center. Philadelphia rushed for at least 176 yards in six straight games after generating 185 yards against the Jets — and they have played 15 of their last 21 games Under the Total after rushing for at least 150 yards in their last game. They return home where they have played 14 of their last 20 games Under the Total — and they have played 13 of their last 16 home games Under the Total when playing a team with a losing record on the road.

FINAL TAKE: The Eagles have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against NFC East opponents — and Washington has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against divisional rivals. 10* NFL Over/Under Situational Special with Under the Total in the game between the Washington Football Team (339) and the Philadelphia Eagles (340). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Seattle Seahawks (337) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (338). THE SITUATION: Seattle (5-8) has won two games in a row with their 33-13 win at Houston as a 10-point favorite last Sunday. Los Angeles (9-4) has won two games in a row after their 30-23 upset victory at Arizona as a 3-point underdog last Monday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SEAHAWKS PLUS THE POINTS: After struggling initially after his faster-than-expected return from a finger injury, Russell Wilson has regained his old form after completing 17 of 28 passes for 260 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions in the win against the Texans. Wilson is completing more than 70% of his passes with a Passer Rating of 109 in his last three starts. He has averaged 246 passing Yards-Per-Game in those contests with six touchdown passes and just one interception. The Seahawks are 35-17-3 ATS in their last 55 games after passing for at least 250 yards in their last game. While this game was originally postponed because of a COVID outbreak in the Rams’ locker room, it is now Seattle that has been hit harder with positive cases. The Seahawks are without a handful of players including wide receiver Tyler Lockett, running back Alex Collins, cornerback D.J. Reed, and right tackle Brandon Shell. The absence of Lockett hurts but Wilson still has D.J. Metcalf as a prime target. The loss of Collins is not as big a deal with the emergence of running back Rashaad Penny who rushed the ball 16 times for 137 yards last week. The line has moved to account for the players Seattle will not have tonight — but they still have Wilson who usually makes them dangerous underdogs. The Seahawks have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 21 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games as a dog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points. Seattle has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 road games with the Total set in the 42.5-49 point range — and they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 15 road games as an underdog. The Seahawks have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in December. Seattle is also a dangerous dog since they protect the football — they are tied for the fewest giveaways in the league. The national punditry seems to believe the Rams have solved all their problems after beating and covering the point spread in their last two games against Jacksonville and the Cardinals last week. We had LA against Arizona in that game — but the Rams have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 straight games after a win by at least 14 points. Los Angeles has also failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games after winning two games in a row — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after covering the point spread in two straight games. Furthermore, the Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after scoring at least 30 points in their last game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after not allowing more than 15 points in their last game. Consistency has not been a hallmark for this team under head coach Sean McVay. And problems remain — a +2 net turnover margin helped them overcome betting outgained by 89 yards to the Cardinals. Arizona generated 447 yards against them — and the Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 28 of their last 42 home games after allowing at least 400 yards in their last game. Los Angeles still has many players out on the COVID list including starting tight end Tyler Higbee — but they do expect to get Von Miller back.

FINAL TAKE: The Rams have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams with a losing record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when favored. 25* NFC West Underdog of the Month with the Seattle Seahawks (337) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (338). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Minnesota Vikings (331) and the Chicago Bears (332). THE SITUATION: Minnesota (6-7) won their third game in their last five contests with a 36-28 victory against Pittsburgh as a 3.5-point favorite on Thursday Night Football last week. Chicago (4-9) lost their second straight game win a 45-30 loss at Green Bay as an 11.5-point underdog last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: Chicago is dealing with some significant injuries on defense. Several players are on IR including linebacker Khalil Mack and Danny Trevathan. Defensive end Akiem Hicks and linebacker Roquan Smith are questionable. This attrition has played a large role in the Bears giving up 88 combined points in the last two weeks. They gave up 439 total yards to the Packers. Chicago has played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a point spread loss. Despite two interceptions last week, rookie quarterback Justin Fields has played well as the Bears’ starting quarterback. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 224 yards with two touchdown passes and another 74 rushing yards. Chicago has played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total as an underdog. They have also played 4 straight Overs in December. Minnesota has played 47 of their last 67 games Over the Total after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. They gained 458 yards against the Steelers last week — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. Pittsburgh gained 375 yards against the Vikings' defense — and Minnesota has also played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. The Vikings have allowed at least 28 points in four straight games — and they have played 7 of their last 9 games Over the Total after allowing at least 25 points in two straight games. Minnesota has also scored at least 26 points in six straight contests — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Over the Total after scoring and allowing at least 24 points in three straight games. They go on the road where they have played 8 of their last 9 games Over the Total — and they have played 7 of their 9 road games Over the Total when favored. They have also played 9 of their last 10 road games Over the Total with the Total set in the 45.5 to 49 point range.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams last played on December 20th last season when the Bears upset the Vikings on the road by a 33-27 score as a 3-point underdog. Minnesota has played 8 of their last 10 games Over the Total against teams from the NFC North. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Over the Total in the game between the Minnesota Vikings (331) and the Chicago Bears (332). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Chicago Bears (332) plus the points versus the Minnesota Vikings (331). THE SITUATION: Chicago (4-9) lost their second straight game win a 45-30 loss at Green Bay as an 11.5-point underdog last Sunday. Minnesota (6-7) won their third game in their last five contests with a 36-28 victory against Pittsburgh as a 3.5-point favorite on Thursday Night Football last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BEARS PLUS THE POINTS: Chicago has lost seven of their last eight games — but they have the opportunity to play the role of spoiler tonight. The Bears have not covered the point spread in four straight games — but they have covered the point spread in 21 of their last 29 home games after not covering the point spread in three straight games. They have also covered the point spread in 15 of their last 23 games after not covering the point spread in four straight games. Chicago has suffered -4 and -3 net turnover margins in their last two games — but they have then covered the point spread in 10 of their last 11 games at home after enduring a -2 or worse net turnover margin in two straight games. They host a Vikings team that is just 2-5 on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. Despite two interceptions last week, rookie quarterback Justin Fields has played well as the Bears’ starting quarterback. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 224 yards with two touchdown passes and another 74 rushing yards. Minnesota has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after winning their last game at home. The Vikings have also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after playing a game at home where both teams scored 24 points. And while Minnesota has played four straight Overs, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games after playing at least four straight Overs. They allowed the Steelers to gain 375 yards last week — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. And while the Vikings have gained 426 and 458 yards in their last two games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games after gaining at least 375 yards in their last game. They go back on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 road games with the Total set in the 45.5 to 49 point range — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 road games against teams with a losing record at home. Furthermore, Minnesota has failed to cover the point spread in 7 straight games against teams with a losing record. They have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games when favored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points.

FINAL TAKE: The Vikings have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games on Monday Night Football — and Kirk Cousins has lost nine of his ten starts in prime-time. The Bears have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games on Monday Night Football. They have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 meetings with Minnesota — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 opportunities to host the Vikings at Soldier Field. 25* NFC North Game of the Month with the Chicago Bears (332) plus the points versus the Minnesota Vikings (331). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (330) minus the points versus the New Orleans Saints (329). THE SITUATION: Tampa Bay (10-3) won their fourth straight game with their 33-27 victory against Buffalo as a 3.5-point favorite last week. New Orleans (6-7) snapped a five-game losing streak with their 30-9 win at New York against the Jets as a 4.5-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCCANEERS MINUS THE POINTS: Tampa Bay should build off their momentum as they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games after a victory. The Buccaneers have scored at least 30 points in all four of their wins on this streak — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after scoring at least 30 points in at least three straight games. Tampa Bay is a perfect 6-0 at home with an average winning margin of +19.0 Points-Per-Game — so I am comfortable laying double-digits. They have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 14 home games - and they habit veered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 home games when laying 7.5 to 14 points. The Buccaneers do have Vita Vea back on their defensive line who helps them become very tough to run on. Tampa Bay is third in the NFL by allowing only 91.2 rushing YPG — it will be a challenge to run the ball against this team without a credible passing attack. The Saints’ pass attack has averaged only 180 YPG in their last three games with a low 5.9 Yards-Per-Attempt average and a 55.4% completion percentage. The Bucs will be able to put eight defenders in the box in this rematch. New Orleans has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up loss — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games after a point spread win. A big concern for New Orleans in this game is their anemic offensive under quarterback Taysom Hill. The Saints are scoring only 17.7 PPG while averaging 313.0 total Yards-Per-Game in their last three games. New Orleans has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the NFC.

FINAL TAKE: The Halloween meeting between these teams was a game that Jameis Winston started but got injured in before Trevor Siemian came off the bench to play one of his best games in his career in unusual circumstances. Brady will be motivated to make a statement in these revenge circumstances — and the Buccaneers have also covered the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games as a double-digit favorite. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (330) minus the points versus the New Orleans Saints (329) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (330). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the New Orleans Saints (329) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (330). THE SITUATION: New Orleans (6-7) snapped a five-game losing streak with their 30-9 win at New York against the Jets as a 4.5-point underdog on Sunday. Tampa Bay (10-3) won their fourth straight game with their 33-27 victory against Buffalo as a 3.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Saints held the Jets to just 256 yards last week in a strong defensive effort. New Orleans has played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 9 points in their last contest. Additionally, the Saints have played 11 of their last 15 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. And in their last 8 games after a win by 14 or more points, New Orleans has played 7 of these games Under the Total. They stay on the road where they are allowing only 18.3 PPG and 300.5 total Yards-Per-Game. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen does a good job devising schemes against Tom Brady — his zone defense limits the effectiveness of the crossing routes that the Buccaneers love and New Orleans has the players to generate an inside pass rush which gets Brady out of his rhythm. The Saints contained Brady to completing just 60.8% of his passes which averaged only 6.05 Yards-Per-Attempt in their two meetings last season. Brady put up better numbers in their first meeting this season on October 31st — but he did throw two interceptions in a 36-27 upset loss when the Bucs were laying 3.5 points. The bigger concern for New Orleans in this game is their anemic offensive under quarterback Taysom Hill. The Saints are scoring only 17.7 PPG while averaging 313.0 total Yards-Per-Game in their last three games. Hill is an effective runner — but he is limited in the passing game. New Orleans operates an offensive akin to the Cam Newton offenses with Carolina — and that does mean longer possessions of offense as they attempt to win the Time of Possession battle. The Saints were on offense for 38:52 minutes against the Jets after rushing for 202 yards — and they have played 20 of their last 29 games Under the Total after rushing for at least 150 yards in their last game. Tampa Bay did allow 173 rushing yards last week to the Bills — but they have then played 9 of their last 10 games Under the Total after allowing 150 or more rushing yards in their last game. The Buccaneers do have Vita Vea back on their defensive line who helps them become very tough to run on. Tampa Bay is third in the NFL by allowing only 91.2 rushing YPG — it will be a challenge to run the ball against this team without a credible passing attack. The Saints’ pass attack has averaged only 180 YPG in their last three games with a low 5.9 Yards-Per-Attempt average and a 55.4% completion percentage. The Bucs will be able to put eight defenders in the box in this rematch. Josh Allen led a Bills offense to average 6.4 Yards-Per-Play last week — but Tampa Bay has played 6 straight Unders after a game where they allowed at least 6.0 YPP. Furthermore, the Buccaneers have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total against NFL opponents — and they have played 4 straight Unders against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: The Halloween meeting between these teams was a game that Jameis Winston started but got injured in before Trevor Siemian came off the bench to play one of his best games in his career in unusual circumstances. These teams have played 10 of their last 13 games Under the Total when playing in Tampa Bay. 25* NFC South Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the New Orleans Saints (329) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (330). Best of luck for us — Frank.

Mistake ... wrong game.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Dallas Cowboys (313) and the New York Giants (314). THE SITUATION: Dallas (9-4) has won two in a row after their 27-20 win at Washington as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. New York (4-9) lost their third game in their last four in a 37-21 loss at Los Angeles against the Chargers as a 9.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Dallas held the Football Team to just 224 total yards in the victory last week. They have held five of their last six opponents to no more than 30 points. The Cowboys have played 4 straight Unders after a straight-up loss — and they have played 4 straight Unders after a point spread loss. They have also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 250 yards in their last game. They go back on the road where they are scoring only 23.9 PPG — a far cry from their 29.2 PPG scoring average overall this season. The offense will be without their glue on the offensive line in left tackle Tyron Smith — and running back Tony Pollard is questionable with a foot injury.  The Cowboys have played 4 straight games Under the Total on the road — and they have played 6 of their last 7 road games Under the Total when favored. New York only managed 316 yards last week with backup Mike Glennon under center. He completed only 17 of 36 passes for 191 yards in the loss. The Under is 9-3-1 in the Giants’ last 13 games after a straight-up loss — and the Under is 20-7-1 in their last 28 games after a double-digit loss. Additionally, the Under is 11-3-1 in New York’s last 15 games after a point spread loss. The Giants allowed the Chargers to gain 423 yards — but they have then played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last game. New York enters that game not allowing more than 20 points in five of their previous six games. They return home where they score just 16.5 PPG and average 288.7 total YPG — but they do hold their guests to just 18.0 PPG. The Under is 10-1-1 in the Giants’ last 12 games at home — and the Under is 8-0-1 in their last 9 home games as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Daniel Jones is out once again — so the Giants offense is again in the hands of Glennon. Rookie wide receiver and playmaker Kadarius Toney is also unavailable on the COVID list. New York has played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total in December. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Dallas Cowboys (313) and the New York Giants (314). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the New England Patriots (311) and the Indianapolis Colts (312). THE SITUATION: New England (9-4) won their seventh game in a row with their 14-10 upset win at Buffalo as a 3-point underdog. Indianapolis (7-6) has won four of their last five games after their 31-0 victory at Houston as a 10-point favorite on December 5th.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Patriots have played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total after a straight-up win. New England held the Bills to just 230 total yards in that game — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after holding their last opponent to no more than 250 total yards. They have also played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones has not been as impressive when playing away from home. At Gillette Stadium, Jones is averaging 267.1 passing YPG with 13 touchdown passes and five interceptions. He has a Quarterback Rating of 102.5 in those seven home games. But in his six games on the road, Jones sees his QBR drop to 87.7. Even after tossing out his 2 of 3 passing performance in the wind in Buffalo in his last game, Jones is still only averaging 196 passing YPG in his other five road games with just three touchdown passes and three interceptions. New England has played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total on the road. Indianapolis held the Texans to just 141 total yards in their last game to outgain them by +248 net yards. They have then played 15 of their last 22 games Under the Total after outgaining their last opponent by at least 200 net yards. The Colts return home where they have played 37 of their last 54 games Under the Total in the final four weeks of the season — and they have played 28 of their last 40 games Under the Total in December.

FINAL TAKE: I suspect both teams will attempt to take the air out of the ball by running the football and burning time of the clock to keep their defenses fresh. Even ignoring the wind game in Buffalo — the Patriots have averaged 34.5 rushing attempts in their last four road games. The Colts have averaged 38 rushing attempts per game in their last three contests. 10* NFL Saturday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the New England Patriots (311) and the Indianapolis Colts (312). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Indianapolis Colts (312) minus the points versus the New England Patriots (311). THE SITUATION: Indianapolis (7-6) has won four of their last five games after their 31-0 victory at Houston as a 10-point favorite on December 5th. New England (9-4) won their seventh game in a row with their 14-10 upset win at Buffalo as a 3-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COLTS MINUS THE POINTS: Indianapolis should build off their momentum as they have covered the point spread in 31 of their last 45 games after a double-digit win against an AFC South Rival. The Colts generated 389 yards against Texas to outgain them by +248 net yards. Indy has covered the point spread in 33 of their last 51 games after outgaining their last opponent by at least +150 net yards — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. The Colts' offense has started to crank with Carson Wentz more comfortable running head coach Frank Reich’s offense. Indianapolis has scored at least 30 points in seven of their last eight games. Since Week Six, this team leads the NFL in points scored and touchdowns and they are second in rushing yards. They held Houston to just 141 total yards — and they are 24-7-1 ATS in their last 32 games after not allowing more than 250 yards in their last game. They have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after not allowing more than 14 points in their last game. They return home where they are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. The Colts may only have two wins in their seven games against teams with a winning record — but they have also covered the point spread in 19 of their last 28 games against teams with a winning record. New England had failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after a game where they did not score more than 14 points. Some might be surprised that the red hot Patriots are the underdogs in this game — but it relates to rookie quarterback Mac Jones’ home/road splits this season. At home, Jones is averaging 267.1 passing YPG with 13 touchdown passes and five interceptions. He has a Quarterback Rating of 102.5 in those seven home games. But in his six games on the road, Jones sees his QBR drop to 87.7. Even after tossing out his 2 of 3 passing performance in the wind in Buffalo in his last game, Jones is still only averaging 196 passing YPG in his other five road games with just three touchdown passes and three interceptions. New England ran their way to victory against the Bills in that game as they gained 222 yards on the ground. But the Patriots are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after rushing for at least 150 yards in their last game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after rushing for at least 175 yards in their last contest. New England is also just 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games in December under head coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots will be without Damien Harris in this game as he is out with a hamstring injury.  

FINAL TAKE: The Colts surge has been led by running back Jonathan Taylor — they are 7-0 straight-up when he rushes for at least 100 yards. The Patriots have a great defense — but they are vulnerable against the run as they allow 4.4 Yards-Per-Carry and rank 18th in the NFL by giving up 114 rushing YPG. 25* AFC Game of the Month Indianapolis Colts (312) minus the points versus the New England Patriots (311). Best of luck for us — Frank. 

At 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Los Angeles Chargers (302) plus the points versus the Kansas City Chiefs (301). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (8-5) won their third game in their last four with their 37-21 win against the New York Giants as a 9.5-point favorite last week. Kansas City (9-4) has won six straight games after their 48-9 win against Las Vegas as a 10-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHARGERS PLUS THE POINTS: I thought Los Angeles was in a letdown situation last week against a Giants team that had been playing well on defense — but the Chargers dominated with 423 yards of offense which helped them win the yardage battle by +107 net yards. Los Angeles had a +2 net turnover margin in that game — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after enjoying a +2 or better net turnover margin in their last game. The Chargers stay at home where they are scoring 30.6 Points-Per-Game and averaging 408.4 total Yards-Per-Game. Los Angeles has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread 4 of their last 5 games as an underdog. The Chargers are not at full strength with rookie left tackle Rashawn Slater out due to his being on the COVID list. Wide receiver Keenan Allen was out with COVID last week — but he is back. Running back Austin Ekeler should also be able to play despite an ankle injury. Kansas City has failed to cover the point spread 6 of their last 7 games after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. The Chiefs benefited from a +5 net turnover margin to easily defeat the Raiders last week. Kansas City has won the turnover battle in five straight games — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after enjoying a +1 or better net turnover margin in five straight games. The Chiefs will likely be without defensive tackle Chris Jones who is on the COVID list with the team not optimistic he can clear the protocols in time for tonight’s game. The Kansas City’s defense made their transformation this season when Jones moved back to defensive tackle after the team picked up defensive end Melvin Ingram from Baltimore. The Chiefs will also be without starting linebacker Willie Gay, Jr. who is on the COVID list, and starting cornerback L’Jarius Sneed who is dealing with a personal family issue. Kansas City has failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games against AFC opponents.

FINAL TAKE: The Chiefs are just 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games against the Chargers. 10* NFL Thursday Night Discounted Deal with the Los Angeles Chargers (302) plus the points versus the Kansas City Chiefs (301). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Kansas City Chiefs (301) and the Los Angeles Chargers (302). THE SITUATION: Kansas City (9-4) has won six straight games after their 48-9 win against Las Vegas as a 10-point favorite on Sunday. Los Angeles (8-5) won their third game in their last four with their 37-21 win against the New York Giants as a 9.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Chiefs have played 7 straight Unders on the road after a double-digit victory. Kansas City has also played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. And in their last 7 games after scoring at least 30 points, the Chiefs have played 5 of these games Under the Total. Kansas City may not have pass rusher, Chris Jones, tonight after testing positive for COVID earlier this week. There is an outside chance that Jones can be cleared to play tonight if he is asymptomatic with two negative tests — if so, then the Under looks even better. But the Chiefs defense is playing better for reasons outside of Jones moving back to defensive tackle since the midseason acquisition of defensive end Melvin Ingram. Year after year, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo oversees the steady improvement of his unit as the season moves on. Kansas City has held their last three opponents to just 9.0 Points-Per-Game and 323.0 total Yards-Per-Game. While they will miss Jones, the defense will not fall apart without him if he does not play. Spagnuolo’s group has held their divisional opponents to just 15.5 PPG and 336.3 total YPG  in their four games this season. They held the Raiders to just 44 rushing yards last week — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 90 rushing yards in their last game. Now Kansas City goes back on the road where they have played 7 of their last 10 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning record at home. The Chiefs have also played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total when favored. Los Angeles has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a straight-up win. Justin Herbert completed 23 of 31 passes for 275 yards in the win against the Giants — but the Chargers have played 10 of their last 12 games Under the Total after passing for at least 250 yards in their last game. Los Angeles has also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. The Chargers stay at home where they have played 19 of their last 25 home games Under the Total with the Total set at 49.5 or higher. The Under is also 14-6-1 in their last 21 home games against teams with a winning record on the road — and they have played 11 of their last 14 home games Under the Total as an underdog. Los Angeles’ defense has been playing better as of late after holding their last three opponents to 23.7 PPG and 324.7 total YPG — that is -2.1 PPG and -23.7 net YPG below their season averages. They have also held their three divisional games this season to 22.0 PPG and 327.3 YPG. The Chargers have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total against AFC West foes. The Under is also 20-9-1 in their last 30 games in December. Los Angeles’ offense is not at full strength with their star rookie left tackle Rashawn Slater out tonight and running back Austin Ekeler not at 100% with a high ankle sprain. Ekeler will play but not get a full workload.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total when playing in Los Angeles. 25* AFC West Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Kansas City Chiefs (301) and the Los Angeles Chargers (302). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (129) and the Arizona Cardinals (130). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (8-4) ended a three-game losing streak with a 37-5 victory against Jacksonville as a 14-point favorite last Sunday. Arizona (10-2) has won two games in a row after their 33-22 win at Chicago as a 7.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Rams held the Jaguars to just 197 yards in their victory last week. Los Angeles has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a win by at least 14 points — and they have played 4 straight Unders after a win by at least 21 points in their last game. The Rams have also played 9 of their last 10 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 250 yards in their last game — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 14 points in their last contest. Los Angeles has also played 15 of their last 19 games Under the Total after the first month of the season. And in their last 10 games against fellow NFC West rivals, the Rams have played 7 of these games Under the Total. Arizona has played 10 of their last 16 games Under the Total after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. The Cardinals have also played 12 of their last 18 games Under the Total after playing a game where at least 50 combined points were scored. And while Arizona’s victory was a 23-13 win at Seattle, they have played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total after winning two games in a row by double-digits. The Cardinals return home where they are scoring only 22.6 PPG and averaging just 335.6 total YPG. Arizona has played 19 of their last 28 home games Under the Total when favored. They have also played 8 straight Unders on Monday Night Football.

FINAL TAKE: The Cardinals won the first meeting between these two teams by a 37-20 score in Los Angeles as a 3.5-point underdog. The Rams have played 31 of their last 46 games Under the Total when avenging an upset loss to their opponent. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (129) and the Arizona Cardinals (130). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Los Angeles Rams (129) plus the points versus the Arizona Cardinals (130). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (8-4) ended a three-game losing streak with a 37-5 victory against Jacksonville as a 14-point favorite last Sunday. Arizona (10-2) has won two games in a row after their 33-22 win at Chicago as a 7.5-point favorite last week.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RAMS PLUS THE POINTS: Los Angeles dominated the Jaguars last week by outgaining them by +221 net yards. The Rams have covered the point spread in 21 of their last 30 road games after scoring at least 35 points in their last game. Los Angeles covered the point spread for the first time in their last six games — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after covering the point spread just once in their last three games. The Rams have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after losing two of their last three games. What was encouraging from the Jaguars game was that Los Angeles ran the ball 28 times for 128 yards. That was the most rushing attempts and yards for the Rams in four games. They will be without Darrell Henderson tonight with him being on the COVID list — but Sony Michel is capable in taking on the lead back role. Their 6.3 Yards-Per-Play average is the best in the NFL — and they average 6.3 YPP on the road with the offensive execution not dropping off. Los Angeles is 4-2 on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 road games as an underdog getting up to seven points. The Rams are also 25-12-1 ATS in their last 38 games in the NFC — and they are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games in December. Arizona has won three of their last four games — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7games after winning three of their last four games. The Cardinals host this game where they are just 3-2 this season with an average winning margin of +1.4 net Points-Per-Game. They are only scoring 22.6 PPG at home. Arizona has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games at home — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 home games with the Total set at 49.5 or higher. The Cardinals have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 home games when favored by up to seven points — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. Additionally, Arizona has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 appearances on Monday Night Football.

FINAL TAKE: The Cardinals won the first meeting between these two teams by a 37-20 score in Los Angeles as a 3.5-point underdog. The Rams have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning record. Los Angeles is 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games against the Cardinals — and they have covered their last 6 games against them in Arizona. 25* NFC West Game of the Month with the Los Angeles Rams (129) plus the points versus the Arizona Cardinals (130). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Chicago Bears (127) plus the points versus the Green Bay Packers (128). THE SITUATION: Chicago (4-8) lost their sixth contest in their last seven games after their 33-22 loss at home to Arizona as a 7.5-point underdog last Sunday. Green Bay (9-3) won their second game in their last three with a 36-287 upset win against the Los Angeles Rams as a 2-point underdog on November 28th.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BEARS PLUS THE POINTS: Chicago outgained the Cardinals by +72 net yards last week but a -4 net turnover margin dug them into a hole they could not climb out. Andy Dalton threw four interceptions in the game — and he will not be playing tonight with Justin Fields recovered from the rib injury that kept him out last week. Fields is playing better since offensive coordinator Bill Lazor took over calling the plays for him — he is not allergic to calling plays that take advantage of Fields’ mobility. The Bears have not covered the point spread in three straight games — but they have then covered the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games after not covering the point spread in their last three games. Chicago signed fullback Ben Mason off the Baltimore practice squad which is a good indicator that they are going to offer Fields an extra blocker and threat with the football out of the backfield after he thrived in a similar role in college at the University of Michigan. The Bears have outgained their last three opponents by +88.3 net Yards-Per-Game. Green Bay has failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games after a bye week. And while the Packers have covered the point spread in ten of their twelve games this season, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after covering the point spread in at least eight of their last ten games. They stay at home where they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. Green Bay may be 5-0 at home — but they are only outgaining their guests by +33.8 net Yards-Per-Game.

FINAL TAKE: The Packers gained only 323 total yards in their 24-14 win at Chicago on October 13th. While the Bears may be getting outscored by -7.1 net PPG this season, Green Bay has failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 18 games at home in the second half of the season when hosting a team getting outscored by at least -6.0 PPG. 10* NFL Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Chicago Bears (127) plus the points versus the Green Bay Packers (128). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Chicago Bears (127) and the Green Bay Packers (128). THE SITUATION: Chicago (4-8) lost their sixth contest in their last seven games after their 33-22 loss at home to Arizona as a 7.5-point underdog last Sunday. Green Bay (9-3) won their second game in their last three with a 36-287 upset win against the Los Angeles Rams as a 2-point underdog on November 28th.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Don’t blame the Bears' defense for the loss against the Cardinals — despite injuries, they only surrendered 14 first downs and 257 total yards to Arizona. Giving up 192 yards in returns yards on special teams played a big role. That is something that will be easier for Chicago to clean up this week. The Bears have played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 20 of their last 27 games Under the Total after a double-digit loss at home. Chicago is holding their last three opponents to just 265.0 total Yards-Per-Game. But the Bears are scoring only 16.8 Points-Per-Game and averaging 298.8 total YPG — and now they go back on the road where those numbers drop to 14.3 PPG and 287.3 total YPG. The Bears have played 4 of their last 5 road games Under the Total — and they have played 16 of their last 21 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning record at home. Chicago has also played 16 of their last 23 road games Under the Total as an underdog. Green Bay has played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. Additionally, while the Packers gained 399 yards against the Rams defense two weeks ago, they have then played 4 straight Unders after gaining at least 350 yards in their last game. Los Angeles gained 353 yards against them — and Green Bay has played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after allowing at least 350 yards in their last contest. The Packers stay at home at Lambeau Field where they are holding their opponents to just 14.4 PPG. And the dynamic offense led by Aaron Rodgers is only scoring 27.8 PPG at home while averaging just 23.6 PPG on the season. Green Bay has played 5 of their last 6 home games Under the Total against teams with a losing record on the road. They have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total when favored — and they have played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total in December.

FINAL TAKE: Don’t be surprised to see the Packers running the ball a ton tonight as they look to rev up their two-headed monster of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon for the playoffs — and that likely means fewer offensive possessions. Green Bay has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total against teams won are winning 25-40% of their games — and Chicago has played 10 of their last 13 games Under the Total against teams winning 60-75% of their games. 25* NFC North Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Chicago Bears (127) and the Green Bay Packers (128). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:05 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the New York Giants (123) and the Los Angeles Chargers (124). THE SITUATION: New York (4-8) has lost two of their last three games after a 20-9 loss at Miami as a 6.5-point underdog last Sunday. Los Angeles (7-5) has won two of three with a 41-22 upset win at Cincinnati as a 2.5-point underdog last week.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Under is 3-0-1 in the Giants’ last 4 games after a straight-up loss — and the Under is 11-2-1 in their last 14 games after a point spread loss. Additionally, New York has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after failing to score more than 14 points in their last game. The Giants have only scored 32 combined points in their last three games — and they will have backup quarterback Mike Glennon under center this afternoon with Daniel Jones out with a neck injury. The Giants stay on the road where they have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total — and they have played 11 of their last 15 road games Under the Total as an underdog. Los Angeles has seen the Under go a decisive 34-16-1 in their last 51 games after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a point spread win. Furthermore, the Chargers have played 4 straight games Under the Total after scoring at least 30 points in their last game. Los Angeles returns home where they have played 19 of their last 28 games Under the Total — and they have played 16 of their last 23 home games Under the Total when favored. The Chargers have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: The Under is 20-8-1 in Los Angeles’ last 29 games in December — and New York has played 5 straight Unders in December. 10* NFL Sunday Afternoon Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the New York Giants (123) and the Los Angeles Chargers (124). Best of luck for us — Frank.