(Don’t) Bet the Mortgage: Week 10, 2020

It doesn’t erase the sting of eight previous crappy weeks, but the writers at least finished in the black together last week. The bankrolls are down, but the egos can be fed for a week. I’m not confident enough in this result, however, to drop the “Don’t” from the name of this segment.

Andy – Whew. A little breathing room at least, finally. Still haven’t hit on an upset bet all season.

$800 – Seattle at Los Angeles Rams: Over 55.5 (-110) – I didn’t realize until hearing the stat on the radio yesterday that Seattle is on pace to give up the most passing yards in history by a full 1,000 yards. The Seahawks will get their points. I suspect, after hearing that, the Rams will, as well. I don’t know who will win, but it will be full of fireworks.

$800 – Chicago (+2.5, -105) vs Minnesota – The Vikings notoriously struggle in Chicago and, in the last couple years, stakes on the line or not, the Bears have had the Vikings’ number. This line opened with the Bears a 2-point favorite. Not sure why it’s swung in the other direction, but I think Chicago wins this outright.

$1,000 – Tampa Bay (-4.5, -110) at Carolina – While I think the Panthers are actually on the right track, I think Tom Brady will react strongly to suffering the worst loss of his 127-year career. Antonio Brown has another week in the system and the Bucs will win handily.

$300 – San Francisco (+320 money line) at New Orleans – The Saints were dominant Monday night against Tampa Bay. The 49ers are beat up and struggling big time. But New Orleans is prone to the occasionally bad day and San Francisco can still put a good one up every now and again. Likely? No. But one of the few games this week where the result would qualify as a true upset.

Tony

$1,500 – Buffalo (+2, -105) at Arizona – The line on this game is ranging from +1/+102 to +2.5/-110.  I’m going to take it right in the middle—I think Buffalo wins outright, but at this point in this contest, a +120 on the money line doesn’t do much.

$1,500 –  Baltimore (-7.5, +105) at New England – The Patriots had to scramble to beat the Jets on Monday night, and the Ravens seem like a powder keg ready to go off at any minute.

$1,000 – Seattle at LA Rams: Over 55.5 (-110) – It opened at 53.5, and I’m honestly surprised it’s not higher yet. The Rams are capable of putting up 40+ on the Seahawks porous defense, and Seattle is capable of putting up 40+ on pretty much anyone—asking them each to score 28 points isn’t a stretch at all.

$400 – Cincinnati (+290 money line) over Pittsburgh – I almost took the Steelers in place of the Ravens above, but remembered that Ben Roethlisberger was on the COVID list. I am assuming that he’ll be cleared before the game, and I know he’s got experience playing without practice before, but that was prior to his body breaking down some, and when he had a different stable of talent around him. Ultimately, I think the Steelers should win this game, but without a plethora of good upsets to pick this week, I’ll take my chances here.