Are you looking for a vote of confidence when picking spreads, money lines and the under/ over in the NFL? Let me be that football wizard who has seen the prophecies of victory and has the ability to put your precarious souls at ease. Almost 20 years of sports wagering experience is proudly listed on the resume, as well as playing in my 21st season of fantasy football(definitely a self-proclaimed pioneer). But enough about this guy. In this weekly column, I'll offer up anything from sportsbook's outcomes, moods and reflections, as well as offer words of advice and knowledge on betting strategies. Additionally, for every game, I'll have my picks for the spread, moneyline and under/ over ready to go. And if you're good(or I just happen to be feeling generous), I'll offer up one of my tantalizing, high-odds 'Nicks Picks', a ticket too good to be true. Anyway, if for some reason any of Nick's Picks let you down, I'm cool with you telling your bookie it was all my fault. Yeah... right.
'HIT-LIST, JUST IN' - Or more accurately, my current NFL 'sh*t-list', here are a few teams I'm avoiding putting action on and why. First up, the Kansas City Chiefs. Talk about a pathetic train-wreck of a season that started with so much potential. All those points from all those explosive players... gone without a trace. And I'm tired of blowing my flow(wait, that might not have come out right) on those hapless red coats. What a waste of Hill, Hunt and Kelce's talents. Second stink bag on the list is the Seattle Seahawks. It's the Russell Wilson show in the Pacific Northwest, unfortunately deeming this team a one-act play. Are they going to cover the spread or not? Are they gonna show up against weaker competition? Who knows. Only R. Wilson has the answer... you get the picture. Some might not believe I have the Jacksonville Jaguars on the list, but I sure do. Look, I understand their defense is playing at an insane level right now. However, since Leonard Fournette has been banged up and inconsistent in the offense, they just haven't been able to score consistently enough to assure me that they will cover the spread in any given week. P.S. I'm finishing this week's column as the Washington/ Dallas game is in the first half. My picks on this contest were made before it started, you can trust me. If not, just look at the faith I've had in the Cowboys in the past weeks. Yeah, I'm not a fan of the so-called, 'America's Team'. Black and Gold!
NOTE: I HAVE ALTERED THE POINT VALUES ON VARIOUS SPREADS TO INCREASE ODDS OF WINNING CERTAIN GAMES. OBVIOUSLY, THE PAYOUT WILL BE LESS THAN CHOOSING THE POINTS A SPORTSBOOK PROVIDES. THOSE CHANGED BY ME WILL BE LISTED IN BRACKETS.
NICK'S PICK OF THE WEEK: 3 GAME PARLAY | GB -2.5 | NYJ (+3.5) | MIN +131
WASHINGTON REDSKINS @ DALLAS COWBOYS - WAS -1.5 | WAS -122 | UNDER 47
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS - GB -2.5 | GB -110 | OVER 45
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ BUFFALO BILLS - NEP -8.5 | NEP -395 | UNDER 48
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS @ NEW YORK JETS - NYJ (+3.5) | NYJ +144 | OVER 44
DENVER BRONCOS @ MIAMI DOLPHINS - MIA +1.5 | MIA +109 | UNDER 39.5
MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ ATLANTA FALCONS - MIN (+3.5) | MIN +131 | OVER 47
DETROIT LIONS @ BALTIMORE RAVENS - DET (+3.5) | DET +144 | UNDER 43.5
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ CHICAGO BEARS - CHI (-2.5) | CHI -172 | UNDER 41
HOUSTON TEXANS @ TENNESSEE TITANS - TEN -6.5 | TEN -272 | OVER 43.5
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - JAX (-8.5) | JAX -417 | UNDER 41
CLEVELAND BROWNS @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS - LAC (-13.5) | LAC -870 | OVER 43.5
LOS ANGELES RAMS @ ARIZONA CARDINALS - LAR (6.5) | LAR -278 | UNDER 44.5
CAROLINA PANTHERS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - NOS -4.5 | NOS -215 | OVER 48
NEW YORK GIANTS @ OAKLAND RAIDERS - OAK (-6.5) | OAK -360 | UNDER 42
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - PHI -5.5 | PHI -232 | UNDER 47.5
PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS - PIT -4.5 | PIT -214 | UNDER 43.5
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
SPREAD 11-4
MONEYLINE 12-3
TOTAL O/U 7-8
YTD RESULTS:
SPREAD 93-73
MONEYLINE 107-59
TOTAL O/U 83-83