We got back on track with the NFL betting guide last week with a 3-0 performance. That runs the season total to 9-3 against the spread in our three games featured weekly in the NFL betting guides.
Here are three games we’re watching this weekend in the NFL.
Jacksonville at Tampa Bay (-3)
Neither of these teams are any good, which makes this game likely to generate very few viewers outside of these respective areas. And we’d argue it likely won’t be too many people even caring about this game in those parts of the country.
But with the Jaguars now playing their third consecutive road game, we’re confident in the Buccaneers taking care of business on Sunday.
This will be a game of contrasting styles. The Bucs like to run the football, while the Jaguars like to stop it. Tampa Bay doesn’t throw much, but Jacksonville doesn’t really stop teams from passing the ball.
And while the Jaguars have shown some ability to pass, the Bucs own the second-best pass defense in the NFL.
We like Jameis Winston to keep getting better and to find holes in the Jaguars defense. Look for Tampa Bay to win this one. — Go chalk with Tampa Bay
Denver (-5) at Oakland
Most experts will likely take the Raiders to cover this game based on their success earlier this season and this game being at home.
Not so fast, though.
We’ve been saying this all along this season about Oakland. The Raiders will have games where they will surprise people, like against Baltimore and on the road against Cleveland. Then there will be games like last week against the Chicago Bears where they lose.
We expect that inconsistency to remain this week and it will be tough to do anything against the Broncos’ defense. Denver is the best team against the pass this season, and while Oakland has shown the ability to move the ball fairly well on offense, it won’t find much room against the Broncos.
Oakland also is a dumpster fire in total defense, ranking second-worst in the NFL. The Broncos haven’t done much with the run this year, but last week they appeared to find a decent running game with Ronnie Hillman. If Denver can run just a little bit to keep the pressure off of Peyton Manning, this game won’t be close.
The Raiders will have to start to stop teams to be more consistent in competing against the better teams in the NFL. That won’t start this week. — Go chalk with Denver
New Orleans (+5.5) at Philadelphia
Are oddsmakers just waiting for Philadelphia to start turning it on?
We can’t understand this spread. The Eagles have looked good for about two halves — the second half against Atlanta and the first half against the New York Jets. Other than that, the Eagles have looked less than average.
It’s as if the betting public is attempting to get ahead of the Eagles getting on a roll, so that’s why the Eagles have to cover so many points against a team that just welcomed back its starting quarterback.
The Saints aren’t a great team and once again won’t win a NFC South title. But the Saints should compete against the Eagles and we wouldn’t be surprised if they won this game. In week 1 on the road with Brees as its starter, New Orleans went into the fourth quarter still within one possession against the Arizona Cardinals.
Neither team does much that great, other than possibly the Eagles on the defensive end at times. Both of these teams have disappointed this season, but don’t pick the Eagles based on them possibly getting the offense rolling again. It hasn’t happened so far and we don’t expect it to happen this week. — Go against the chalk with New Orleans
Other NFL games
Odds provided by Oddsshark
Chicago at Kansas City (-9.5)
Washington at Atlanta (-7.5) (Opening line has moved 1.5 points in Washington direction)
Seattle at Cincinnati (-3) (Opening line has moved 2 points in Cincinnati direction)
Cleveland at Baltimore (-7)
St. Louis at Green Bay (-9.5)
Buffalo (-3) at Tennessee
Arizona (-3) at Detroit
New England (-10) at Dallas (Opening line has moved 2.5 points in New England direction)
San Francisco at New York Giants (-7)
Pittsburgh at San Diego (-4) (Opening line has moved 1 point in San Diego direction)
