Bet the Mortgage: Week 17, 2019

Tony keeps plugging along, taking at least a little of the mythical casino’s cash every week. Andy’s hot streak has cooled a bit, but he’s still comfortably ahead for the season, as well.

Andy: One more week of this, then we pack up our mythical winnings and … head home? Was thinking go big or go home, but it’s hard in week 17 figuring out teams’ respective motivations.

$2,000 – Philadelphia at NY Giants: Over 45 – I’m shocked this number isn’t higher. I think this game could get into the 60s.

$2,500 – New Orleans (-13, -109) at Carolina – 2019 started decently enough for Carolina. But a 5-3 record at the season’s midway point has devolved into a seven-game losing streak, three of which have been by 26, 20 and 32 points. They gave the Saints a game in the first meeting, but there’s nothing to play for against New Orleans, which is still fighting for playoff seeding.

$1,500 – Atlanta (+1, -105) at Tampa Bay – Atlanta has been pretty good the second half of the season. This also could be a high scoring game, but I feel solidly that the Falcons will at least pull out the win here.

$300 – Giants (money line +180) vs Philadelphia – The Eagles have plenty of motivation. A win locks up the NFC East and, believe it or not, a home playoff game. However, they’re down to practice squad WRs and a rickety defense against a team that is playing care free football and tossing the pig around well. This could go either way.

Tony: Not sure that either of us has ever been in this territory before–playing with all house money in week 17.  Of course, the big question is, do you play it safe and head home way ahead, or go for the big, big win?

$3,500 – New Orleans (-14, -109) at Carolina – I’m getting to the sports book later than Andy, and paying for it on the odds–but his logic is sound on this one.

$2,500 – Washington (+12.5, -110) at Dallas – I’m less confident about this one, but what has Dallas done in the last month to be worthy of a double digit point spread?

$2,500 – Buffalo (-1, -110) over NY Jets – This has me baffled…there are some books that have Buffalo as a 1 point underdog–despite the fact that they’re supposedly not resting starters, and the Jets are 6-9–for real and against the spread. Buffalo is also 9-5-1 against the spread. Not like I think the Bills are a legit Super Bowl contender–but if they can’t win today, they arguably don’t even deserve the playoff spot.

$1,000 – Houston (+300 moneyline) over Tennessee – The Texans are also reportedly not sitting anyone (other than Will Fuller, who once again hurt himself). Like the Bills, if things get ugly, I suppose they might have a quick hook–and I realize Tennessee is playing for their playoff spot–but the Texans are 10-5, and the Titans are 8-7–and they’re in the same division. How this went from opening at -105/-111 slightly favoring Houston to -380/+300 is mind boggling to me.