Sunday Locks (NFL Week 8)
Bengals (-11) @ Jets, O/U 42.5
I swore I’d never pick the Jets again after last week, no matter the situation, no matter the points. But this one is really testing me. I like the Bengals, but 11 points on the road? I don’t love it, but I’m laying it.
Picks: Bengals -11 (Deadbolt), UNDER 42.5 (Padlock)
Titans @ Colts (-3), O/U 51
This line confuses me. I get that the Colts are playing good football after an atrocious start to the season. You know who else is playing maybe the best football in the league right now? The Titans. These two teams play very competitive games and know each other very well. In fact, this is already their second matchup of the season with the Titans winning the first in Week 3 by 9. I’m taking the points with the Titans here.
Picks: Titans +3 (Deadbolt), OVER 51 (Deadbolt)
Dolphins @ Bills (-14), O/U 49
The Bills get nice easy home division game coming off of their bye. They’ll handle the Dolphins in this one, but 14 is a ton of points, especially in a division game. I’m not confident, but I’m taking the Dolphins here with the points.
Picks: Dolphins +14 (Padlock), OVER 49 (Padlock)
Rams (-16.5) @ Texans, O/U 47
For the second straight week, the Rams get a bottomfeeder in the league and are favored by 3 scores entering the game. They didn’t cover last week, but that was in large part due to every risk the Lions took working out in their favor. It’s tough to envision the Texans having the same sort of success, so I’ll lay the points with the Rams here.
Picks: Rams -16.5 (Padlock), OVER 47 (Padlock)
Eagles (-3.5) @ Lions, O/U 48.5
The hot underdog pick of the week seems to be the Lions, and I get it. They’re clearly better than their 0–7 record says they are. They’ve caught so many bad breaks this year that the public seems to be rooting for them. Their coach is incredibly likable. They’re home. And the Eagles also stink. All that said, the Lions have done this all season long. They’ve looked very competitive and played their guts out, and then followed it up with a stinker. They did it against the Bears in Week 4 and then the Bengals in Week 6. That’s the only thing giving me pause here, but I’ll still take the points with the Lions.
Picks: Lions +3.5 (Padlock), UNDER 48.5 (Deadbolt)
Steelers @ Browns (-4), O/U 42
A revenge game for Big Ben, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the Steelers who got absolutely annihilated in January by this Browns team. Is Baker playing? Is he not playing? I don’t think that matters. This should be a very competitive game, and I respect Tomlin enough to think his team will be ready to rock here. Give me the Steelers with the points.
Picks: Steelers +4 (Padlock), UNDER 42 (Deadbolt)
Panthers @ Falcons (-3), O/U 46.5
Two teams headed in opposite directions. The Panthers enter this game losers of 4 straight following their 3–0 start to the season. The Falcons enter this game winners of 3 of 4 following their 0–2 start to the season. With no rhyme or reason to it, I’m going to buck the trend here and take the Panthers with the points.
Picks: Panthers +3 (Padlock), OVER 46.5 (Padlock)
49ers (-4) @ Bears, O/U 39.5
This will be an ugly game between two solid defenses with very bad offenses, hence why the total is under 40 points, which is rare. I’m curious if the 49ers can figure it out since I do still think of these two teams, they’re the one who has a shot to figure it out and get into playoff contention. But 4 points at home in a low scoring game is a lot. I’ll take the Bears.
Picks: Bears +4 (Padlock), OVER 39.5 (Padlock)
Patriots @ Chargers (-4.5), O/U 49.5
There’s not many games that I feel all that confident about this week, but here’s one of them. The injury to Austin Ekeler is one to watch, and could very well be the difference here. I still think the Patriots stink, and that the Chargers are very good. Coming off of their bye, I’ll lay the points with the Chargers.
Picks: Chargers -4.5 (Deadbolt), UNDER 49.5 (Deadbolt)
Jaguars @ Seahawks (-4), O/U 44.5
The Jaguars have to be feeling good having two weeks to enjoy their first win of the season the last time they played. The Seahawks have sorely missed having Russell Wilson leading the charge as they’ve now lost three straight. The only bright side of the Wilson injury has been that their defense seems to have accepted the challenge as they’ve had their best two games of the season these last two weeks. I expect this to be a low scoring game, and typically in those games I want the points. That’s the case here, so give me the Jaguars.
Picks: Jaguars +4 (Deadbolt), UNDER 44.5 (Padlock)
Buccaneers (-4.5) @ Saints, O/U 50.5
People are still high on this Saints team. Not me. The Bucs are rolling. No reason to think that’ll change here. Give me Tampa.
Picks: Buccaneers -4.5 (Deadbolt), OVER 50.5 (Padlock)
Football Team @ Broncos (-3.5), O/U 44.5
Someone has to win this game, right? Losers of 7 straight combined, Washington and Denver are two teams going nowhere. It’ll be tough for either of these teams to generate offense, so once again, give me the points. I’ll take the Football Teams.
Picks: Football Team +3.5 (Deadbolt), UNDER 44.5 (Deadbolt)
Cowboys @ Vikings (-3), O/U 51.5
Dak Prescott’s status is all that matters in this one. If he plays, I expect the Cowboys to win. If he doesn’t, I expect the Vikings to destroy them. The line has moved in the favor of Dak not playing, and that seems to be the popular opinion. I could kick myself for this pick if he suits up, but I’m going with the Vikings here laying the points.
