Have you ever been in a grocery store deciding between two cuts of meat and you choose the less expensive option to save money even though you know the alternative would have been more delicious? Or maybe you’re going to see your favorite artist perform live, but you have to bring your binoculars since you could only afford the nosebleeds. We’ve all been there, but what can you do about it in this economy? Well, if you want to make some extra money to splurge on yourself, I have three bets for this NFL Sunday that will fatten up your pockets.
Cowboys (-6.5)
This matchup features the two teams that had the best overall performances in Week 1. The Panthers had no answer for the Saints who won 47-10, and the Cowboys had their way with the Browns, winning 33-17. Both teams look like favorites to win their division, but the NFC East and NFC South are not equal. Don’t let recency bias blind you from the clear gap that exists between the Cowboys and the Saints. The Cowboys are playing with a chip on their shoulder to start the season, I am expecting nothing less than a blowout from this game. Last week New Orleans thrived on careless mistakes made by Carolina. They will not be so lucky this week playing against a very disciplined Dallas offense. Not much more to say about this one, I would be surprised to see Dallas win by less than double digits.
Bengals vs Chiefs Over 47.5
I’m going to be honest, when I first picked this game I intended to advocate for the Bengals (+5.5). However as I started writing my case I realized that my whole argument was based on how this game is going to be a shootout. So I figured rather than beating around the bush, I would just pick the over. The Bengals are recovering from their annual disappointing season opener, and I believe this offense is ready to get going. Even with Tee Higgins out and Tyler Boyd off the team, I trust Joe Burrow to move the ball down the field. This will be an exciting, fast paced game with a lot of big plays from both teams. While I do think the Bengals have a decent shot to cover, the best bet for this game is the over.
Browns (+3.5)
It’s hard to say who had a worse week last week, the Browns or the Jaguars. The Browns got demolished by the Cowboys in a game that was over in the 2nd quarter. The Jaguars, alternatively, gave up a double digit lead, scoring 0 points in the 2nd half, and losing on a last second field goal. Both teams have a lot to work on going into this week. When looking at this matchup, the biggest question that comes to mind is “how is Jacksonville going to score?” The reason they struggled to move the ball down field against the Dolphins is because they really don’t have a WR1. Gabe Davis is fine, but he can’t be the #1 option on a successful offense. Same goes for Christian Kirk. Brian Thomas Jr. may get to WR1 status one day, but for now he’s just a rookie. There is no one reliable to turn to when the offense needs a big drive. This is going to be an ongoing problem for the entire season, but it’s going to be especially problematic when facing this Cleveland defense. Don’t be surprised to see Jacksonville turn the ball over. It is worth noting that the Browns have some injuries that could put this pick in jeopardy. David Njoku is out with an ankle injury and Myles Garrett is questionable with a foot injury, having missed practice Thursday. Regardless, I expect a big bounce back from last week for the Browns. The Jaguars are not contenders, they are not going to win their division, they are not a playoff team.
All you have to do is follow these three picks and you can enjoy yourself a nice filet mignon Sunday evening. Enjoy!
