Bet the Mortgage: Week 3, 2020

Two weeks in and Tony’s barely dipped into his wallet. He’s plugging along like he’s playing the nickel slots. Andy should heed that advice the way things are going. He’s on pace to be out of cash by week six. Here are the standings:

Andy: Yeah, it’s been ugly so far, but you know what they say. When you’re going through hell, keep on going. Or, don’t throw good money after bad. Or … you’ve got to know when to fold ‘em … Clearly we don’t know when to do that.

$1,000 – New England (-5, -110) vs Las Vegas – The Raiders are definitely improved, but they’ve got to be a little pissed at the schedulers about this one. They played a big, emotional home game at their new venue Monday night and now they have to travel east for an early Sunday game against a Bill Belichick-coached team coming off of a tough loss. I think the Patriots have a solid edge in this one.

$2,000 – Tennessee (-2.5, -110) at Minnesota – I really wish I’d gotten this one earlier, when, depending on who you believe or where you look, the game started as a pick ‘em or with the Vikings as a three-point favorite. Still, on top of everything else that had already been going wrong for the Vikings, starting LB Anthony Barr is now out for the season and the cornerback rotation likely includes a rookie starter, a first-time starter and, at nickel, a guy who has yet to play an NFL snap. Hello Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, Corey Davis, Adam Humphries and any other active Titan who will see the field. Welcome to my various DFS lineups this weekend.

$800 – Green Bay (+3, -110) at New Orleans – The Saints just don’t look like the Saints. And Aaron Rodgers has started the season on fire. I think Green Bay wins straight up.

$500 – Washington (+270 money line) at Cleveland – Ok, the Browns offense looked good last week against the Bengals. I think I might be able to look decent running an offense against the Bengals. The defense was suspect and Baker Mayfield, though better, still left enough plays on the field where Cincinnati could have won with an executed onside kick at the end. I’m not surprised the Browns are favored, but Ron Rivera has the Washington Football Team playing solid football and I would not be the least bit surprised to see Football Team win the football game.

Tony: I’m trying to dip into my wallet…no small bets here–apparently I just like to hover…unlikely to happen this week.  I took a quick side trip into our mythical sports book earlier in the week, to grab an early bet before the line moved too much further on my first game, and put down some big bucks.

$2,500 – Titans (-1.5, -110) over Vikings – I declared this earlier in the week, before the line moved. Actually, according to the site that I typically check, the Titans opened at +3.5, -105—a line that I think must have been opened before the season started…maybe before the Titans resigned Derrick Henry & Ryan Tannehill back. I’d still take the Titans at the (-3, +100) line I see right now, but I’d back off the bet a little bit.

$1,000 – Chicago (+3, +100) over Atlanta – Only hesitation is the road factor…but what I’d really like to do is put $1,000 on Atlanta for the first three quarters, and then push those winnings into Chicago for the end of the game. I’m not sure if this season is making it easier or harder to remember the Falcons for 28-3…they’re building a reputation that will get a coach fired.

$1,000 – Green Bay @ New Orleans: Over 52.5 (-105) – A few games that I would have taken at their opening lines, but they moved to where they logically should have been to start–so I’ll grab a total bet on this game, and hope that New Orleans & Green Bay can both keep hitting at least their season averages (29 and 42.5 respectively).

$700 – Cincinnati (+190 moneyline) over Philadelphia – Not a lot of great moneyline upsets this week, so I’ll take a smaller one that I’ve got a hunch on. The Eagles are still trying to get healthy, and the Bengals have shown some glimmer of hope under Joe Burrow.