Blog

NFL
1:00 PM EST
Rotation # 358
Falcons -3.5 over Saints (loss)
The NFC South has been a mess yet again this season. The Bucs and the Panthers await the final score of today’s game to determine who will win the division and make the playoffs. Neither the Falcons nor the Saints has anything to play for, but over the last month, they have looked like the best two teams in the division. Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans are rooting for the Saints, and Panthers fans are rooting for the Falcons. I have been impressed with the Saints the last few weeks, but two of their wins came against the Jets and the Titans, and the other two came against the Bucs and the Panthers. It shows how weak the division is. The Falcons have a veteran QB in Kirk Cousins and perhaps the best running back in the NFL with Bijan Robinson. The Saints are coached by a first-year staff, with backup QB Tyler Shough under center. New Orleans best player, Alvin Kamara, is out again, and one of their best receivers, Chris Olave, will miss the game with blood clots in his lungs. The Saints have too many players on IR in their receiving room. The Saints are also shorthanded on the offensive line. Atlanta should have a bit more juice offensively in their own building. Take the Falcons.

NFL
1:00 PM EST
Rotation # 366
Jags -13.5 over Titans (win)
The Jaguars’ playoff scenarios are all over the map. Right now, Jacksonville is at the three seed spot, but they could drop all the way to number 7 or get the first seed. Jacksonville winning against an inferior opponent would ensure they start the playoffs as division champs and would get a home playoff game. The Titans would love to play spoiler, but I don’t think they have enough offensive juice, as they are thin at receiver. Their opening-day starters are hurt or no longer with the team. Not the ideal situation for rookie QB Cam Ward trying to develop as a pro. The Titans’ real problem is their secondary: they don’t have enough quality talent to compete, having shipped off key players or watching them in street clothes on the sidelines due to injury. Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence should have no issues putting points on the board. The Titans can’t keep up, and when they try, the mistakes will happen. Look for Jacksonville to pull away over the course of 60 minutes. Take the Jags.

NFL
4:25 PM EST
Rotation # 347-348
Jets/Bills Over 37.5 (win)
The Bills are holding the seven seed right now, and by kickoff, they will know how Houston, a 10.5 favorite, does against an eliminated Colts team with a QB making his first start. There is a high probability Buffalo will know at kickoff that they can’t be a five seed. The good news is that at the same time, the Bronocs, a 14-point favorite, are taking on a Justin Herbert-less Chargers team. If the Bills win their game today and the Chargers lose, they would be the six seed. I don’t know how motivated Buffalo will be against the Jets, but their offense needs a little confidence after last week. The Bills couldn’t have drawn a better opponent for that, as the Jets could make NFL history today by not registering a single interception all year, a record that can’t be broken. It certainly doesn’t help that Qwan’tez Stiffers and Brandon Stephens are out. The Jets are extremely thin in the secondary. Bills QB Josh Allen should have no issue picking them apart. Bills’ Daquan Jones will be out, as will linebacker Terrel Bernard. Joey Bosa is questionable to play with a hamstring injury. Buffalo has endured a lot of injuries on the front seven this season. Jets QB Brady Cook will get opportunities to put points on the board as he should throw the ball a lot with the running back room looking like a MASH unit. The total in this game is low based on the Jets’ secondary alone. Look what the Patriots just did to them. Look for a higher-scoring game. Take the Over.

NFL
8:20 PM EST
Rotation # 350
Steelers +3.5 over Ravens (win)
Two weeks ago, the Ravens were at home against the Patriots in a must-win game with the playoffs on the line. Derek Henry fumbled yet again, and, more importantly, QB Lamar Jackson suffered a severe back injury that forced him to exit in the first half. Jackson didn’t play last week, and is miraculously fine to play now? Pittsburgh had a chance to clinch the division last week at home against the Browns, but they failed. Baltimore has too many injuries on their front seven to trust them to hold any lead. The Steelers are without DK Metcalf due to a suspension. Somebody is going make the playoffs out of the AFC North tonight, but neither deserves it. There are a lot of question marks for both teams, but it’s hard to look past the one for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. It will be a cold night, which cannot help his back every time he gets hit. Jackson’s game is all about his mobility. It’s hard to trust him in this spot. The home crowd will be electric. Take the Steelers..