Category: NFL

The Cincinnati Bengals will try to get the monkey off their back when they travel to Heinz Field tonight for a match-up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams sit at 0-3 and the Bengals have lost 8 straight to the Steelers, but if they are going to buck the trend, tonight will be it. Pittsburgh has lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season and Mason Rudolph is not the solution. The Steelers are averaging only 16.3 points per game and their featured Running Back, James Conner, has a total of just 92 yards overall and is averaging only 2.9 yards per carry. The Bengals play caller, Andy Dalton, is ranked second in the league in passing yards, with a total of 979, and should have a big night tonight. The Steelers pass defense ranks 30th in the League and they are allowing an average of 302.7 yards per game. The Bengals are currently being spotted 3.5 points in this one. Cincinnati has been covering on the road, with a record of 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games, and they are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 against the AFC.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CINCINNATI BENGALS +3.5

Both the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears sit at 2-1 on the season and the Division rivals will clash today when the Bears host the Vikings at Soldier Field. Both teams have formidable defenses, with the Bears surrendering an average of 13 points per game and the Vikings averaging 15.7. Minnesota has the best Back in the league, Dalvin Cook, and he should be able to wear down the Bears’ defense, which will open up passing lanes for Kirk Cousins who is due for a big game. Cook has 375 yards in the first 3 games and is averaging 6.6 yards per carry . Chicago racked up 31 points last week but that was against a really bad Washington Redskins team. Prior to that, they mustered just 16 points against Denver and only 3 against Green Bay. Currently, Minnesota is +1.5. Take the points and the Vikes.
TODAY’S PICK: MINNESOTA VIKINGS +1.5

Once again, the Buffalo Bills will be in the state of New Jersey but this week they will face the New York Giants. The Bills’ second year quarterback, Josh Allen, is the real deal and he proved that last week against the Jets. Buffalo was down, 16-0, to start the second half and he rallied the Bills to a 17-16 win. The Giants fell to the Cowboys last week, 35-17, and their pass defense looked shaky. They allowed an average of 16.2 yards per completion and 7 of those were for 20 yards or more. On the flip side, the Bills’ pass defense has been stingy. They have allowed 210 passing yards or less over their last 9 games and that could pose a problem for Eli. Despite Allen’s 4 turnovers last week, Buffalo still found a way to win. Allen should be able to move the chains against New York’s questionable defense and if he hangs on to the ball, the Bills head back to Orchard Park 2-0 to start the season. Buffalo is laying 2, with a money line of -130. Don’t sweat the points.
TODAY’S PICK: BUFFALO BILLS M/L

The Denver Broncos will travel to the Black Hole tonight to face their arch rival, the Oakland Raiders. This could be the Raiders’ last home stand at the Coliseum so you know they will want to put on a show for the Raider Nation. In Derek Carr’s last 3 outings against Denver, he has thrown 4 TDs with no interceptions, has a passer rating of 122.8, and the home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
TONIGHT’S PICK: OAKLAND RAIDERS +3

The Sunday night game will be at Heinz Field with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Los Angeles Chargers. Philip Rivers was spectacular last week, but let’s not forget who the Chargers opponent was, the Arizona Cardinals. The Chargers are 8-3 on the season, but only one of those wins was against a team that currently has a winning record, the Seattle Seahawks, who are barely over 500, at 6-5. Los Angeles is averaging 27.4 points per game on the road but tonight they will be without their standout running back, Melvin Gordon, who has rushed for 802 yards with 9 TDs and that will hurt. The Steelers are 7-3-1 and can light it up at home, averaging 35.4 points per game. Le’Veon Bell’s replacement, James Conner, has been getting it done with 849 rushing yards and 10 TDs. The Steelers have won 6 of their last 7 and are always a force at home. If the Curtain, who have been prone to turnovers this year, hold on to the ball, they should get the win. Consider the Steelers on the money line.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH STEELERS M/L

The Buffalo Bills will be a home dog today when they host the reeling Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags have lost 6 in a row and are just 1-3 on the road. The Bills will have their rookie quarterback Josh Allen back in the lineup. This kid is a true competitor and can make things happen. Buffalo hasn’t forgotten last season when they lost to the Jags in the Wild Card game and would love nothing more than to put a dagger in these guys today. The Bills will be well-rested after coming off a bye from last week and will have 80,000 Western New Yorkers in the stands to back them up.
TODAY’S PICK: BUFFALO BILLS +3

The Carolina Panthers will be well rested when they head to the Motor City today to take on the Detroit Lions. Carolina will look to bounce back from the throttling Pittsburgh put on them their last time out and when you need to get back on track, Detroit is always a good opponent. The Lions are 3-6, with an offense that is ranked 23rd in the league, and they are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games against teams with a winning record. The Panthers come into today’s game with a record of 6-3 and are ranked 3rd in the league in rushing, averaging 138.4 yards per game, and that does not bode well for Detroit who is weak against the run. Carolina is resilient. After a straight up loss, they are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games. Lay the 4 and take Newton and Company.
TODAY’S PICK: CAROLINA PANTHERS -4