Sports Betting
New Years Eve’s Best ESPN BET Bets: Steelers-Seahawks, Islanders-Penguins, Packers-Vikings
After going 11-1 since Tuesday, we hit a rough patch yesterday going 0-3. Penn St was completely outclassed by Ole Miss. Drew Allar is not the answer at QB for the Nittany Lions. Wyoming was able to win at the gun but they failed to cover in Craig Bohl’s last game. His ugly style of coaching will not be missed by me. To top that off, Dallas/Detroit failed in multiple red zone goal line opportunities and the Over never had a chance. We move to 76-56-2 on the year.
Though I will not give any official winning picks for the 1pm NFL games today, I do have some leans I would like to throw out there. Beginning with Dolphins/Ravens, I like the Over to cover along with the Raven’s spread. I expect a shootout like their game last year but with injuries both along the offense and defense for Miami I believe the Ravens will be able to pull away in the end.
Amongst other favorites, I like the Rams, Texans, Bears and Bills to cover, along with the Buccaneers as well. As far as underdogs, look for the Cardinals to hang tough with the Eagles given the Cards head coach was previously the defensive coordinator for Philadelphia. This is a hold your nose pick, but I like the Panthers to cover vs Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence isn’t playing and the Jaguars have been sliding even with their star QB in the lineup.
As for the 4:00 PM slate, I really like the Chargers and potentially win outright against the Broncos. The Russell Wilson saga could affect the Broncos, even if some of the players don’t really like Russ. I know Sean Payton doesn’t. I also can see the Bengals hanging around with the Chiefs; I do really like the Over in this game given the fact that Cincinnati’s defense can’t stop anyone like giving up 34 points to Mason Rudolph and the Steelers.
Now time for the winning picks!
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks (-4.5) O/U 40.5 4:05 PM on FOX
After saving Christmas in Pittsburgh, can Mason Rudolph deliver a shiny New Year? Well, if he does, Rudolph will do something that has only been accomplished once by a Steelers quarterback and for the first time since 1983: win a game in Seattle.
The Steelers have made 8 trips to the Emerald City, losing 7 of those games. Their win in 1983 came with Cliff Stoudt under center. Neither Terry Bradshaw nor Ben Roethlisberger won a game in Seattle. Pretty crazy.
Breaking this streak may have gotten easier with the news that Seahawk linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks are sidelined for this game. That means an old friend will start at linebacker for Seattle: Devin Bush. He replaced Brooks in the lineup last week and recorded 5 solo tackles. If you see a prop for Bush total tackles today, take it.
Patrick Peterson has done well filling in at safety but will be without Minkah Fitzpatrick again. That is not the recipe for success with the passing games Seattle has. My pick for this game will not be the spread, rather the Over. With the injuries to both defenses, this game can easily turn into a shootout. As far as touchdowns go, look for Diontae Johnson, Jaylen Warren and Tyler Lockett to find the end zone. Expect a lot of points in this one.
Over 40.5 Covers, Pittsburgh Steelers 21 Seattle Seahawks 24
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins (-110) O/U 6.5 6:00 PM on SportsNet Pittsburgh
The Penguins will once again crossover a Steelers game when they take the ice tonight at 6 vs the New York Islanders. The Pens blew out the Islanders and covered the over on their own last week in New York. Will we have another blow out tonight?
Not exactly in my opinion. As with last night’s official pick on the Pens game, I will be taking the under in this game. Alex Nedeljkovic will be in net tonight, as Tristan Jarry started last night in their win versus the Blues. Nedeljkovic has been very solid in net during his limited action.
I believe the Islanders will play this game a lot more tightly than last week. And with the Penguins on a back-to-back, their legs might not be what they should be. Under is the play.
Under 6.5 Covers, New York Islanders 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 3
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (-1) O/U 43 8:20 PM on NBC
Two teams trying to keep their playoff hopes alive meet in a divisional clash on Sunday Night Football. The Vikings will continue their quarterback carousel since they lost Kirk Cousins as rookie Jared Hall gets his first start at home. He did not look very good in his only start of the year at Atlanta, but inactives on the backend of the Packers defense could help elevate his play.
Green Bay will be without both of their starting corners for this game: Eric Stokes and Jaire Alexander. Stokes is out with an injury while Alexander was suspended for this game due to an incident before the Panthers. Who will cover Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? I expect both to have a big game and find the end zone.
This game has all the makings of a shootout. Jordan Love has proven he can lead this offense and score at will. This game can go either way but I really like the over in this game. We will roll into the New Year with a winner.
Over 43 Covers, Green Bay Packers 27 Minnesota Vikings 24
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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