The Bills by 7? Funny.
Chief, Los Jefes de Kansas City have their defense turned around. The Lions will not have an easy time scoring on KC. Chiefs by 14.
The problem with betting a Philadelphia Eagles game is that the Eagles are erratic. I, being an Eagles fan, should have known better than to bet on the Packers winning. Thank you for the column and picks.
@Tom Buckley
With all due respect, your error was to bet against your own team. Never ever!
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This will be one of the best weeks for the Jets. They can't lose!
(since they have a bye)
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How are the Saints a 'real team' without their quarterback?
Shame on you for pretending they are. It's likely going to be another Cowboys victory against a less than decent team.
But at least you seem to be sticking to what appears to be the NFL mandate that despite being 3-0, no one, NO ONE, is to mention the San Francisco team in any way.
They don't show up in highlight reels, game summaries, post game discussions, ESPN. Nowhere.
It's like they don't exist.
What is up with that?
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@WeAreWeary Its called history. New Orleans has a history and its pretty good. They also have more than just a QB with other players being good to make up a bit for the loss of Brees though not totally. They are still in 1st place and a good chance to hang on to make the playoffs. If Brees comes back which is most likely they are still seen as a Super Bowl threat. They are a better bet to win the Super Bowl at the Vegas Sports Book than the 49ers figuring Brees is coming back by the odds. 49ers? They have beaten anybody? Buffalo is also 3-0 and does anybody see them as a Super Bowl threat? 49ers have to deal with the Rams and Seahawks both seen as a better teams than they are. saints have nobody in front of them in the division that is seen as a better team by the odds makers.
@WeAreWeary Maybe the Niners weren't mentioned because they have a bye this week...
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@WeAreWeary
Teddy Bridgewater is better than a QB2. He's in the lower tier of QB1s, but still, having him at the helm does not make the Saints a pushover. They still have weapons in the backfield and at WR, and Teddy can be good enough to win, especially at home.
Granted that the Pats played mediocre team in retrospect, their combined record at present being 0-9, but people forget that the Steelers started the season well within the top ten prior to their week 1 game with New England. And Roethlisberger was their QB throughout the game, his elbow injury occurring thereafter, which took him out in the second quarter of the following Seahawks game they barely lost.
I never, ever thought I'd see the Times running a column on NFL predictions vs. the spread. It's kind of like hearing Honda use "Sympathy for the Devil" in its TV commercials. But Hoffman may be the best at what he does, and his capsules are short and sweet and usually correct. Thank you!
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Now that Sports betting is legal it will be interesting to watch the TV ratings for games that are effectively over(certain winner) but the point spread is not yet resolved. Dog games should get better ratings under these circumstances.
What we're more likely going to see is that teams will kick (or attempt) last minute field goals or two point conversions to try to cover the spread despite losing.
Legalized gambling is going to have a bad effect on pro sports, just as it has had on many, many gamblers' lives.
Just one more reason for me to watch fewer games every year. I used to watch five games a week. This season, I've watched three full games and a couple of partial games in total.
The more NFL drama and nonsense, the fewer games I watch.
1
@WeAreWeary As if the NFL and gambling hasn't always been tied together. Now its just legal and government is the bookmaker. Sure gambling has had a bad effect of some peoples lives just like alcohol. But on many it doesn't and is just entertainment like alcohol. Ice Cream over indulgence has a bad effect on many also health wise. Teams will do what gives them the best chance to win PERIOD. A team losing by 6 and they are getting 4 by the spread, with a minute to go, will not kick a field goal by go for it on 4th down hoping to get into the end zone. I love people like YOU thinking what YOU watch or don't has meaning in the world. Most watched program last week on TV? Sunday Night Football.
1
What is the significance of the spread sometimes being an integer (e.g. -4) and sometimes being a fraction (e.g. -4.5)?
@Jake The difference between integer and fraction spreads is due to the probabilities of outcome. Most football scores end in 0,1,3,4,7. Therefore, if you're looking to set the odds for a spread, and, hypothetically, a game was 1(7)-1(3), then 4.5 and 4 makes a world of difference. Most of the spreads will vary around the most common integers 3,4,7, which shows why the lines are often set at +- 2.5, 4.5, 6.5.
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@Jake Bet the underdog at 4 and they lose by 4 its no bet for either side.. If it's 4.5 YOU win LOL LOL and those who bet the favorite lose. Those .5 can mean quite bit.