The second half of the 2023 season games began Thursday with the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears – not a matchup the NFL was particularly proud of, but it was on the schedule.
As the stretch run begins, this week’s picks spread across the board – a game to go Over, a game to stay Under, a road favorite taking care of business, the smallest home favorite making a stand, and the most under-the-radar Super Bowl favorite continuing to hand out beatings.
Note: Odds are provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
5
Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals: UNDER 43 points (-110)
Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo is the team’s MVP, because he has more field goals (20) than the offense has touchdowns (15). The Cardinals have scored 10 or fewer points in three of their last four games and were shut out last week. Kyler Murray is coming back, but he will need to shake off the rust with lesser weapons than when he went down last year. This game has the smell of special teams inclusion – punts and field goals.
4
Take Tampa Bay Buccaneers and lay 1 point (-110) vs. Tennessee Titans
The Bucs are 3-5 and riding a four-game losing skid, but they’ve had a chance to win the last three late – losing by three, six and two points. The Titans have turned the offense over to rookie Will Levis, who will have his ups and downs. The key factor here is that the Titans are on the road. Tennessee is 3-1 at home with the only loss coming to the Baltimore Ravens. But the Titans are 0-4 on the road and haven’t scored more than 16 points in any of them. The Bucs still have some elite players on both sides of the ball, and they need to step up.
3
New York Jets vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Take OVER 37 points (-110)
This line opened at 36 and has since moved up. It’s low for a reason. The Jets haven’t scored more than 20 points in their last three games and six of their last seven. On the flip side, the Raiders have hit over this number in six of their last eight games (and had 36 total against the hapless New York Giants last week). Both offenses have electric skill position players and the winner will be in the discussion for the last wild-card team. Look for both offenses to take chances for big plays. That usually results in points – good and bad.
2
Take Detroit Lions and lay 3 points (-110) at Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have been a frustrating roller coaster of a team, but one thing they do is lose to the teams that are supposed to beat them. Among their four losses are to the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. The Lions fit in that category of opponent. Detroit has quietly built a 6-2 record and is the textbook example of the type of team that bests the Chargers. The Chargers are 0-3 against clear-cut playoff teams this year and were 1-5 against them last season. It’s what they do.
1
Take Baltimore Ravens and lay 6.5 points (-110) vs. Cleveland Browns
When people discuss Super Bowl teams from the AFC, you hear chatter about the Chiefs, Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and even the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nobody seemingly talks about the Ravens, and they may be the best team in the league right now. Over their last three games, they’ve outscored their opponents 106-33. The Browns have won three of their last four, but their home meeting with the Ravens ended with a 28-3 loss. On the road? Good luck with that.
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