Previously on NFL Underdogs…
I faded the defending champs in favor of the underdog Buccaneers, who not only came through as 3.5-point pups in Super Bowl LV but gave me my first Big Game payday since I picked up the reigns of this long-running column.
Over the past three seasons, I’ve gone 95-76-1 ATS, selecting only NFL point spread underdogs each week of the regular season and playoffs. And with the 2021 slate giving off that amazing new sneaker smell, we start the process all over again with my favorite NFL betting picks getting the points in Week 1.
Funny enough, we pick up where we left off, fading the Kansas City Chiefs in favor of a live underdog.
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The touchdown market has become one of the most popular and potentially profitable props in the NFL betting world. Each week, we’re going to throw down three to four units as we try to uncover some of the best weekly NFL TD props and dig into the matchups that surround them.
We’re taking some shots at the inaugural Week 18 TD board and hitting a newly-formed hybrid back, a slot receiver in a must-win game, and a backup running back.
Without further ado, our Week 18 touchdown prop picks.
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Hey look: a Week 16 TNF matchup featuring the Top 2 picks from last year’s draft going head-to-head!
Sure, I’m glossing over the fact that Zach Wilson has still not shown much indication that he is actually a franchise quarterback, but one outta two ain’t bad, right?
And that one, well hoo boy. Trevor Lawrence props have been fun to play lately, as he has been torching opposing defenses of late, and now we’re going to dip into his NFL player prop markets against the vaunted Jets defense.
Our Jaguars vs. Jets betting preview likes one of Lawrence’s targets to thrive, while my free NFL picks also like the Jags QB…
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The first four weeks of the 2023 NFL season have been a freefall for the Cincinnati Bengals, who bring a 1-3 record and banged-up superstar to the desert to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.
The health of Joe Burrow is the biggest catalyst for Cincinnati’s stumbles, with the standout quarterback limited due to a lingering calf injury. Burrow’s ineffectiveness under center has the Bengals’ offense in the toilet, clipping the claws of an otherwise high-octane attack.
That slow start for Cincinnati, and a 3-1 against the spread mark from Arizona, has flipped the Week 5 odds on its ear. The preseason point spread for this non-conference clash was as big as Bengals -7.5, but the line has slipped below a field goal as we head toward the weekend…
The Houston Texans’ playoff hopes are on the line as they face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but their fate is still in their own hands and they’ll be boosted by C.J. Stroud’s return.
The Texans managed to split the two games while Stroud was in concussion protocol, but they were second-best last weekend in a 36-22 loss to the surging Browns. Even so, Houston is in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South heading into Week 17.
Tennessee has had its own quarterback injury woes, but Will Levis is expected to be back under center for a Titans team that’s still playing hard despite a 5-10 record. The visitors’ last three losses have all come by a 3-point margin, including a 20-17 setback last weekend against the Seahawks.&nb…
NFL Week 2’s Sunday Night Football showdown between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans could be a glimpse into a future Super Bowl pairing.
Houston features 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud while Chicago holds high hopes for 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
I’m buying into the Williams hype to an extent as I look at the opening odds for Sunday Night Football and give my early Bears vs. Texans predictions and NFL picks for September 15.
Bears vs Texans predictions
Early spread leanBears +6.5 (-105 at bet365)
My analysis
This spread is bouncing around a touchdown, with some books opening at Houston Texans -7 and taking early Chicago Bears money to trim it down to -6.5 as of Tuesday m…
Some of the usual heavyweights rub shoulders with surprise packages in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup, which get under when France take on Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday.
That mouth-watering clash is followed by another packed with prime talent as Brazil face a Belgium team on the other side of their great escape against Japan.
On Saturday, with their penalty shoot-out hoodoo slain for now, England meet Sweden in Samara before hosts Russia aim to extend their dream run against perennial dark horses Croatia.
Along with the eight teams, five of our reporters remain in Russia. Here s who they think will go all the way.
Harry West – Brazil
We re at the business end of the World Cup now and I haven t seen a stronger side than Brazil. …
South Africa s 2010 readiness got a thumbs up on Monday after a successful Confederations Cup, with organisers confident that hitches will be ironed out ahead of the continent s first World Cup.
Security passed with no major incident, a critical concern with crime levels in South Africa among the world s worst, while the football curtainraiser was also praised for unifying South Africans 15 years after democracy.
The rehearsal, as this tournament has become known, has been very satisfactory. We are happy with the level of commitment shown by the organising committee and the government, FIFA boss Sepp Blatter told journalists.
The world football body gave organisers a 7.5 out of ten for the Confeds Cup, saying it hoped the score will rise to 10 by next year for…
Phil Foden sat out England s training session on the eve of the Euro 2020 final against Italy.
Manchester City midfielder Foden was absent due to a minor knock , with all other members of Gareth Southgate s 26-man squad present.
Southgate will address the media later on Saturday, when he is expected to give an update on Foden s condition.
The 21-year-old was named Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Young Player of the Year in 2020-21 after scoring 16 goals and supplying 10 assists in all competitions as City won the Premier League and retained the EFL Cup.
He began Euro 2020 on the right-hand side of England s attack, hitting the post during the early stages of the opening 1-0 win over Croatia.
But Foden was substituted during the lacklus…
Barcelona are LaLiga champions for the eight time in 11 seasons after completing a 1-0 victory over Levante and there can be no doubt who has been their star man.
Lionel Messi has once again led the way, scoring 34 times – including the decisive strike from off the bench on Saturday – and setting up another 13 in 32 appearances, while also making the difference with numerous late goals.
At the age of 31, the Argentina superstar s role has changed a little and Ernesto Valverde has done his best to afford him rests where possible.
That certainly appears to have aided Messi s productivity. He is thus far averaging a goal every 73.1 minutes, and if that figure were to remain, it would be the second most effective full campaign of his career.
But…