By: Evan Brunelle
Each week, I’ll be offering my wisdom to try and decipher Las Vegas’ easiest and most difficult football and basketball lines, along with some other picks.
Last Week:
Locks: 1-1
Rats: 1-1
Just for fun: 3-4
NFL Lock of the Week: Texans -4 vs. Panthers, Sunday 1PM ET
The Texans have been impressive so far this season, with solid defensive play and borderline elite play from Deshaun Watson. DeAndre Hopkins continues to be one of the top receivers in the league.
The Panthers on the other hand, have not been so impressive. They got into the win column last week against a bad Cardinals team, but even with a young and talented receiver in D.J. Moore, along with Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, Cam Newton, whether he plays or not, will not be able to get them the ball.
Lock it up. Texans are the pick.
CFB Lock of the Week: Washington State @ #19 Utah Over 56, Saturday 10 PM ET
Both teams are coming off brutal losses, as Washington State blew a massive lead against abysmal UCLA and lost in overtime. Utah also fell in a 30-23 loss against USC.
None of that matters in this game. Two high-powered PAC-12 offenses squaring off in a late night game, and the total is only 56? That’s a joke.
Points, points, and more points. Lock it in. Over is the pick.
NFL Rat Line of the Week: Jaguars +3 at Broncos, Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
I mean, I don’t even know what to say.
This has to be the dumbest line I’ve ever laid eyes on. Gardner Minshew is a tank, and this Jacksonville team is far better than Denver. In my humble opinion, the Broncos are not so far behind the Dolphins as the worst team in the league. They STINK.
With that being said, there’s no doubt in my mind they cover the spread. Because Vegas knows. Always.
Broncos -3 is the pick and I don’t know why.
CFB Rat Line of the Week: Rutgers @ #20 Michigan -27.5, 12 PM ET Sunday
Michigan has been a let down yet again this season, as they were once again widely predicted to make the Playoff. Meanwhile, in their three games, they have struggled in a win against Middle Tennessee State, barely escaped Army, and got absolutely PUMPED by Wisconsin last week. I’m sick of believing in them as a fan. Watching them run HB Stretch 12 consecutive plays under a new offensive coordinator who claimed he would change their style is getting sickening, while a once proud defense gets shredded repeatedly.
Rutgers is also awful, but under the circumstances, I would take them to cover this large spread against a struggling Michigan team. However, that is in normal circumstances, and when is college football ever normal?
Never. That’s when.
It kills me to say it, but Michigan -27.5 is the way to go.
Just for fun: NFL
Giants -3, Seahawks -5, Saints/Cowboys over 47
Just for fun: CFB
USC +10, Oklahoma -27, Navy +10.5, Auburn -11, and yes, you’re reading this correctly: Northwestern ML +1180 over Wisconsin.
Cover photo via: Sports Illustrated
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