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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Howard Balzer

H-Bomb underdogs experience first losing week in Week 6

It was bound to happen after five weeks of unprecedented success, but it took a half-point loss for one of the three H-Bomb underdogs in Week 6 to fail to cover and help produce a 1-2 record.

Unfortunately, that was the game both Jess and I selected.

The Ravens were 6.5-point favorites over the Commanders and ending up winning 30-23.

The Browns did cover the 8.5 points against the Eagles while the favorite Texans covered against the Patriots. Also for the first this this season, no underdog won the game outright for a direct hit.

It’s still impressive after six weeks that underdogs of at least 6.5 points have covered 18 of 22 times and have won the game in 11 of those.

In Week 7, like last week, there are three eligible games:

  • Buffalo Bills -9.5 vs. Tennessee Titans
  • L.A. Rams -7 vs.  Las Vegas Raiders
  • Washington Commanders -8.5 vs. Carolina Panthers

The Bills and Commanders are only the fourth and fifth games this season with a line of eight points or more.

None of this week’s games are particularly attractive. Jess is dropping the bomb on the Rams, meaning he believes the Raiders will cover.

Call me crazy, and many often have, I’m going out on a long limb and saying the Panthers will cover. Talk about longshots. Carolina is 1-5 this season with a 36-22 win over Las Vegas. In their five losses, the Panthers have been outscored by 37, 23, 10, 26 and 18 points, for a combined score of 181-67.

Remember, this is for entertainment purposes only!

STANDINGS AFTER FIVE WEEKS

  • Jess Root: 4-2 (2 direct hits)
  • Howard Balzer: 4-2 (1 direct hit)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on SpotifyYouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

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