I don’t have a long spiel to set up the ol’ betting column this week. If you’re somehow basing your gambling decisions on my recommendations, well, it sucks being broke. Trust me, I know the feeling.
NFL picks against the spread 2017, Week 10: Bet on the Bills and Bears this week. Seriously.
Picks against the spread for every game this week.
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Alright, let’s get straight into the action. Same rules as usual, home teams in all caps. I get all the odds and spreads and whatnot from our good friends over at OddsShark.
Looks at these big damn spreads!
LIONS (-11) over Browns
Big spreads entice you to bet on the underdog. And why wouldn’t you? You see a team like the Lions favored by a whopping 11 points, and that just looks like easy money. There’s no such thing. Cleveland has covered the spread exactly twice this season, against the Titans and the Steelers. The Browns have only done it three times in their last 16 road games.
Yes, an 11-point spread is attractive, but don’t bet on the Browns.
Steelers (-10) over COLTS
Lol. The Colts chased off one of their last good players, CB Vontae Davis, this week. Oh, and they screwed up his medical diagnosis too.
RAMS (-11.5) over Texans
Tom Savage, get to know Aaron Donald. He’s going to destroy you.
Patriots (-7.5) over BRONCOS
Two months ago, the Broncos’ defense by itself would prevent such a big spread. But that unit has caught whatever shittiness is ailing the offense.
Dolphins (+10) over PANTHERS
Three weeks, three primetime games for the Dolphins. Hmmm, hard to believe the NFL’s ratings are down.
The Panthers are the most underwhelming 6-3 team in the NFL. Carolina’s defense is keeping them in the mix, but at a meager 18.7 points per game, I don’t think the offense can cover. Plus, Carolina is 0-5 against the spread in their last five against the Dolphins.
Trash team vs. trash team
49ERS (+2.5) over Giants
Good news, 49ers, it looks like you can get your first win of the season! That would put them at 1-9 on the year, but a respectable 5-5 against the spread.
BEARS (-5.5) over Packers
The Packers fell apart even faster than I thought they would without Aaron Rodgers. But I’m sure Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers can come up with a plan to beat the Bears the week ... right?
Bengals (+4.5) over TITANS
I would like to rescind every comment I made in August about the Titans being the team to watch this year.
Jets (-2.5) over BUCCANEERS
Josh McCown versus Ryan Fitzpatrick. Can’t wait.
Games of slightly greater interest
JAGUARS (-5) over Chargers
You know the Jags’ defense is lights out. So is the running game, and Leonard Fournette is back this week. But here’s the biggest surprise about the Jaguars: Blake Bortles is playing okay, like, above average even.
And if you weren’t already Jaggin’ off, you will be soon. This is their toughest game until Week 14. It’s the Browns, Cardinals and Colts after this one.
Vikings (-1.5) over WASHINGTON
I just don’t trust Washington to win consistently enough to pick them this week.
BILLS (+3) over Saints
This is the game of the week, hands down. The Bills will have Kelvin Benjamin in uniform for the first time, and he’ll be seeing plenty of Marshon Lattimore. New Orleans’ defense might be the key in this one. But I’m picking the Bills because it’s Drew Brees in Buffalo, outside, with the high temperature forecast to be just 42 degrees.
Never pick against the narrative.
Cowboys (+3) over FALCONS
The Falcons don’t just have a Super Bowl hangover, they’ve got a Super Bowl overdose.
