Another winning week. It’s been a great NFL season, but sadly at the sacrifice of CFB.
We’ve been dabbling with Bowl Games and found some success, but still don’t feel totally confident in making any of these small bowls official picks. We thought about including Michigan, but don’t all align on it (Greg likes Bama). Steak and I will be live sweating our bet on the Twitch Stream Monday. Be sure to follow the page and tune in: Degen Twitch
Let’s end the season strong.
Current Record YTD:
NFL: 52-33-1 (+13.77 Units)
CFB: 41-42-2 (-4.86 Units)
NFL WEEK 17
Packers at Vikings -1.5 Total 44.5 (Degens Best Bet)
The Vikings have been a tricky team to bet on. We had them +3 in Cincy and got the push. Then last week a lot of sharps were on them and got burned. Nick Mullens just has his moments where he looks like a deer in the headlights, which is a really polite way of saying “fucking idiot”. Now Minnesota has decided to go back to Jaren Hall, the rookie QB out of BYU…
Hall has gotten some playing time this season, but I can’t act like that has anything to do with my pick here. I don’t even know his stats (just looked them up though, not bad!). This is more about fading the Green Bay Packers - specifically the defense.
The Packers defense is BAD. I mean incredibly bad. Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry might be the worst in the NFL. I know he has a bit of an excuse because they’ve been decimated with injuries, and the team is very young, but I don’t care. He stinks. I mean think about what Green Bays defense has done the past three weeks:
at Giants: Allow 24 points in a loss to Tommy Cutlets, who just got benched.
vs Bucs: Baker Mayfield becomes the first QB EVER to throw for a perfect passer rating at Lambeau.
at Panthers: Carolina scores 30 points and has 26 first downs.
I don’t care who is playing QB for the Vikings - I think Kevin O’Connells offense will be able to take advantage of this atrocious defense. While I see some potential with Jordan Love, I think I’d still also rather be backing a Brian Flores defense. SKOL.
The Pick: Vikings ML (-115)
Lions at Cowboys -4.5 Total 52.5
Congratulation to the Detroit Lions! They just won their division for the first time since 1993. The Lions still have plenty to play for as they are tied for the #1 seed, albeit behind the 49ers and Eagles with the tiebreaker. Kudos to Dan Campbell for taking this group from lovable losers → competent '→ legitimate contenders.
The Cowboys return home after an uninspiring two game losing streak on the road. They have been an absolute wagon at home and I’m not about to oppose them in this spot. This line feels pretty high and I think it’s a signal that the ‘Boys are about to get back on track.
The Pick: Cowboys -4.5 (-115)
Dolphins at Ravens -3.5 Total 46.5 (Steaks Best Bet)
What a wild ride the MVP race has been this year. Every time someone emerges as a favorite they immediately fall off a cliff. Well, now Lamar Jackson is the favorite and the Ravens are riding high after a Monday Night blowout over the 49ers.
Steak says the trend continues, and the line would agree. Putting the Ravens at just over a FG feels a bit like bait especially when you consider the Dolphins troubles against top tier opponents. Waddle is out but we don’t care - Fins up!
The Pick: Dolphins +3.5 (-120)
Steelers at Seahawks -3.5 Total 41.5
Back to the well we go with… Mason Rudolph? In back to back weeks the Seahawks have had last minute TD drives to pull out the victory, and we think it might be wearing them own a bit. This game isn’t a playoff matchup, but it will certainly feel like it. The winner isn’t in but the loser is likely eliminated.
Everything is far from OK in Pittsburgh, but somehow this team just refuses to die. Maybe Mason realized what Mitch and Kenny didn’t - just get the ball to Pickens!
The Pick: Steelers +3.5 (-115)
Patriots at Bills -13 Total 40.5
M-A-F-I-A! We faded the Bills as big favorites last week against the Chargers based on the Brandon Staley firing. After barely winning that game, they come out as an even bigger favorite against a Patriots team who is starting to look competent. In our opinion, the line is telling us the story.
This one has bloodbath written all over it as the Bills look to keep their playoff hopes alive and possibly make a run at defending their AFC East crown.
The Pick: Bills -13 (-110)
RECAP:
NFL
Vikings ML (-120) Degen’s Best Bet
Cowboys -4.5 (-115) Dino’s Best Bet
Dolphins +3.5 (-115) Steak’s Best Bet
Steelers +3.5 (-115)
Bills -13 (-115)