Sports Betting
Saturday’s Best ESPN BET Bets: Bengals-Steelers, Penguins-Senators, Las Vegas Bowl
We came back to Earth yesterday with a 1-2 after three straight 3-0 days. Marist was able to cover against Notre Dame, they fought hard to get that cover. Though I predicted Georgia Tech would beat UCF, our over pick never got home. UCF raced out to an early lead but completely went off the rails when GT started controlling the clock. The Blackhawks raced out to an early lead but ended up losing to the Canadiens. We are 60-48-2 on the year.
With such an action back day of both Pittsburgh sports and football, we will have our usual leans for days like this. We have a deep bowl schedule today. Lots of games on the schedule. In the early games, I like Duke to cover as an underdog and Arkansas St to win as a favorite. Both Duke and Troy have interim coaches today and I believe there is some value on Duke given the +6.5 spread. Butch Jones, the Arkansas St head coach, hasn’t lost a bowl game since 2008 while Northern Illinois has lost 7 straight bowl games.
I hate that Air Force was paired up with James Madison for their bowl game. The Falcons have been a very good bowl team over the past few years, but have struggled down the stretch in 2023. James Madison appears in their first game as a member of the FBS but they will be using interim coaches as well. I lean JMU but I don’t love it.
In the night cap, look for the over in San Jose St/Coastal Carolina to cover. San Jose St should also cover the spread. In the NFL game tonight, the Bills should be able to cover against the hapless Chargers. Look for James Cook to have another big game and Gabe Davis as well. Each will find the end zone.
Now onto the Winning Picks!
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Cincinnati Bengals (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers O/U 38 4:30 PM on NBC
I will be in attendance for this clash of AFC North rivals. It will be my first regular season/playoff game at Acrisure Stadium since I worked at KDKA. Ironically, my last game was the Steelers last home playoff win vs Miami.
Mason Rudolph gets the start after Mitch Trubisky just wasn’t cutting it. It is fitting that Rudolph gets his first start of the year right before Christmas. Mason has proven he can throw the deep ball in his time with the Steelers. The question is can he do anything else at a high level?
For the Bengals with no Chase, look for Tyler Boyd to have a big game and find the end zone. Trent Irwin should have a larger role too. Both will find the end zone. As for the Steelers, look for Calvin Austin and George Pickens to get a deep shot, maybe find the end zone. Jaylen Warren is due for a big game as well.
I am going to take the Steelers to cover. Don’t know they get there, I just feel Rudolph will deliver a Christmas miracle. That’s what a Rudolph does right?
Steelers Cover +3, Cincinnati Bengals 20 Pittsburgh Steelers 21
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators (-115) O/U 6.5 7:00 PM on SportsNet Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh sports fans have a dilemma tonight. Do they flip over to the start of the Penguins game when the Steelers game is still going on? Well, if the Steelers perform like they have the last three weeks, people will be changing the channel. And why wouldn’t you with the way Sidney Crosby is playing.
To me, Crosby is playing some of his best hockey in years. To be fair, he has always played at an elite level. But at age 36, he is playing a lot younger than his age. Crosby was able to score when they faced Ottawa at home in October, but the Penguins fell 5-2. This time, however, the Pens have a bit of an edge here given the Senators recent schedule.
The Senators return home after a long trip out west where they didn’t win a game, falling to the Blue, Stars, Golden Knights, Coyotes and Avalanche. They played 5 games in 7 days, yuck, and this will be their 6 game in 9 days.The Penguins have only played 3 games in the same span.
The Pens take advantage of this and beat the road weary Senators.
Penguins Moneyline -105, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 Ottawa Senators 2
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Northwestern Wildcats vs Utah Utes (-6.5) O/U 42.5 Las Vegas Bowl 7:30 PM on ABC
Kyle Whittingham used to be the king of bowl games. The Utah were once a year in and year out lock to win a bowl. But the Utes have been on a bowl losing streak since 2018, and that started with the team that they will face in the Las Vegas Bowl: the Northwestern Wildcats.
I remember that game very well, the Holiday Bowl. I bet the Wildcats as an underdog and on the moneyline and walked away with a big win. The same thing happened the next season Texas faced off as an underdog against Utah in the Alamo. Again, Texas won as a big underdog in that spot against Utah.
Will the same happen in this game? I think it will. Utah played in back-to-back Rose Bowl games in the last few seasons and playing in Las Vegas has to be a let down, especially since they have played in the PAC12 title game here recently. For Northwestern, I see all the motivation in the world.
The Wildcats weren’t supposed to be here. After Pat Fitzgerald was fired after the hazing investigation, Northwestern was left for dead. Now they are in a bowl game with all the motivation in the world. The pick here will be Northwestern to cover, but I firmly believe they win outright.
Northwestern Covers +6.5, Northwestern Wildcats 24 Utah Utes 23
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