<u>THE 10 BEST GAMES TO BET</u>
GIANTS at VIKINGS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Vikings by 3 ½, 48
HANK’S HONEYS: Many kudos to Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale however every of the Giants’ spectacular victories have been gained the identical method and this isn’t it. The Giants have but to show they’ll win a shootout. They have confronted three explosive offenses (Eagles, Lions, Cowboys) and misplaced all of them. In all probability, they aren’t going to have the ability to grind it out in opposition to this offense on this indoor carpet, particularly with nobody to match up with Justin Jefferson. Yes, the Vikings’ protection has been slightly putrid however once more, the Giants’ offense, with a subpar receiving corps, isn’t constructed to take full benefit of it. Love the over as properly.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Vikings and the over.
LIONS at PANTHERS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Lions by 2 ½, 44 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: The Lions, SU winners of six out of seven, are simply higher … by a mile. Carolina can’t presumably commerce factors with Detroit’s offense. While the Panthers match up properly in opposition to the Lions’ run protection, the Lions have been drawing the opposition into their sort of fast-paced recreation. Jared Goff, who has thrown 219 straight passes with out an interception, will be capable of decide on CB Keith Taylor Jr., who was overmatched in opposition to Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers receivers final week. Good luck with Detroit’s large play trio of Amon-Ra St. Brown, D.J. Chark and Josh Reynolds.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Lions and the over.
BILLS at BEARS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Bills by 8 ½, 40 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: The Bills have been a nasty guess all yr, persistently overvalued, recognizing large numbers they by no means cowl. Now they’re in the course of a Dolphins-Bengals sandwich in opposition to an overlookable foe. It additionally appears to be like like a doable snow recreation in frigid circumstances and whereas that gained’t trouble Buffalo, it might preserve the rating down and switch it right into a run-first recreation, the place Justin Fields can actually sustain with Josh Allen. Chicago was additionally a nine-point underdog final week in opposition to the Eagles and so they weren’t completely out-matched. If there’s one development this yr, it’s that blowouts simply don’t appear to be occurring wherever within the league.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bears and the underneath.
TEXANS at TITANS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Titans by 5 ½, 35 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: The Titans are extraordinarily banged up and that’s not good for a group that depends on bodily soccer. QB Ryan Tannehill is completed for the season together with OL Dillon Radunz, leaving rookie Malik Willis’ blind facet protected by the unsteady Dennis Daley. Mike Vrabel goes to should play much more conservatively to eek out a win however Derrick Henry isn’t seeing many holes recently. The Texans don’t have anything to lose and are enjoying that method. They try to win video games and alter the tradition. Spoiling their rivals’ playoff probabilities can be a giant step towards that.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Texans and the underneath.
BENGALS at PATRIOTS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Bengals by 3 ½, 41
HANK’S HONEYS: It couldn’t have been a nice week of apply for the Patriots after actually throwing that recreation away in probably the most un-Belichickian method possible. Now it’s on to Cincinnati once more for the HC of the NEP and there’s little doubt they may come out razor sharp. The Patriots can get after the QB and Joe Burrow’s safety isn’t all the time good. While there’s a lot to love in regards to the red-hot Bengals, together with a 7-2 ATS document when favored by 3 ½ factors or extra, that is their fourth highway recreation in six weeks and it will likely be performed within the components with a showdown with the Bills on faucet the next week.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Patriots and the over.
SEAHAWKS at CHIEFS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Chiefs by 9 ½, 49
HANK’S HONEYS: Here’s a stat for you. Favorites of seven or extra factors are 14-36-2 ATS on the yr. The Chiefs are all the time overvalued however they don’t all the time deliver their finest in non-big recreation conditions. The Seahawks’ protection will be terrible however are they any worse than the Texans’ protection the Chiefs performed final week? Not anticipating fireworks from Patrick Mahomes as a result of Andy Reid will possible attempt to check Seattle’s run protection. Tyler Lockett is out however the Chiefs face a tough matchup in opposition to D.Ok. Metcalf. It’s all sufficient to maintain the guests hanging round.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Seahawks and the over.
COMMANDERS at 49ERS
Saturday, 4:05 p.m., Niners by 7 ½, 38 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: It’s not a good suggestion to identify greater than a full TD in opposition to a group at present within the playoffs with the whole so low. It’s true the 49ers have the very best protection within the league however the Commanders, now determined, have a reasonably stout protection too (fourth finest within the league in yards allowed), in addition to sufficient playmakers on offense to maintain this shut. The 49ers have already clinched the NFC West and have however a slim probability to seize the No. 1 seed so it’s possible that Deebo Samuel sits this one out. Both Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey are working via accidents as properly whereas Washington may see the long-awaited return of Chase Young to the go rush combine. The hook settles it.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Commanders and the underneath.
EAGLES at COWBOYS
Saturday, 4:25 p.m., Cowboys by 5 ½, 46 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: Are the Eagles that a lot worse off if Gardner Minshew replaces Jalen Hurts? Minshew has an excellent soccer IQ and has already gained video games within the NFL surrounded by far much less expertise than he has on the Eagles. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been torched for 63 factors by the Texans and Jaguars the final two weeks. They have holes within the secondary for A.J. Brown to take advantage of and should face a bodily offensive line that may win the battle up entrance to spark that working recreation. Then there’s Dak Prescott’s inevitable interceptions in opposition to a superb go rush and the secondary that leads the league in them. This many factors to the very best group in soccer? Really?
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Eagles and the over.
PACKERS at DOLPHINS
1 p.m., Dolphins by 4 ½, 49 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: Tua Tagovailoa’s current struggles started in opposition to the 49ers, who jammed his receivers on the line, negated their velocity and tousled Tua’s rhythm. It’s a blueprint that has led to a few straight defeats. In comes Aaron Rodgers with a reprieve to what as soon as appeared like an extended season. He’ll be primed to point out the child a factor or two. The Packers’ tender run protection is a priority however the Dolphins’ working recreation is inconsistent. It’s extra possible that Rodgers will coax Miami right into a shootout.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Packers and the over.
CHARGERS at COLTS
Monday, 8:15 p.m., Chargers by 3 ½, 46
HANK’S HONEYS: There’s no telling how the Colts are going to react to their historic collapse. But with the season already going south and with Jonathan Taylor, their finest participant, gone for the yr, issues are leaning towards “not well.” With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams on the sphere collectively, Justin Herbert is enjoying his finest soccer of the season with an eye fixed on the playoffs. The Colts’ protection, fairly stout all season, has surrendered 93 factors over the previous two weeks and has been collapsing underneath its personal weight late in video games. At this level, Nick Foles isn’t going to kick-start the Indy offense.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Chargers and the over.
* * *
<u>LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH</u>
RAIDERS at STEELERS
Saturday, 8:15 p.m., Steelers by 2 ½, 39
HANK’S HONEYS: It’s only a recreation to keep away from. Franco Harris’ passing goes to take a lot away from the celebration of the Immaculate Reception, which most likely would have given the Steelers a lift. Now there’s a lot unknown. Both groups have been unpredictable and untrustworthy. Then throw the climate on high of it and also you don’t understand how the ball goes to bounce. The underneath might be the way in which to go. If we should, we’ll rely on Mike Tomlin’s potential to tug issues collectively whereas fading the dome group and relying on the Raiders to throw away any momentum they gained from final week’s loopy win. Far from immaculate.
CAN’T HELP YOURSELF? Steelers and the underneath.
* * *
<u>BEST OF THE REST</u>
FALCONS at RAVENS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Ravens by 7 ½, 35 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Falcons and the underneath.
SAINTS at BROWNS
Saturday, 1 p.m., Browns by 2 ½, 32 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Browns and the over.
BRONCOS at RAMS
4:05 p.m., Broncos by 1 ½, 36 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Broncos and the underneath.
BUCS at CARDINALS
8:20 p.m., Bucs by 6, 40 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bucs and the over.
* * *
WEEK’S BEST BET: Chargers. Bolts beat Colts.
LAST WEEK: 5-10-1 ATS, 9-7 OVER/UNDER
OVERALL: 101-118-5 ATS, 117-105-2 OVER/UNDER
BEST BETS: 9-6
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com