Randall the Handle
BEST BETS
Seahawks (8-4) at Jaguars (8-4)
LINE: JACKSONVILLE by 2½
Fighting for a division or a playoff spot is foreign to the Jaguars while it is old hat for the Seahawks. Seattle grounded the high-flying Eagles last week when schooling them on what December football is all about. Battling with the Rams for the NFC West, Seattle will be full throttle once again as it looks to improve on its incredible 18-5 December record since QB Russell Wilson took over in 2012. The Jaguars like to rely on their stellar defence while utilizing RB Leonard Fournette offensively to eat up yards and clock. Despite Seattle’s vast defensive injuries, it is deep and adept at stopping the run. The Jags have played just two NFC teams this season and were favoured in both before losing straight up to Seahawks’ division mates Rams and Cardinals respectively.
TAKING: SEAHAWKS +2½
Vikings (10-2) at Panthers (8-4)
LINE: MINNESOTA by 2½
Even though this is Minnesota’s third road game in a row, it may provide the least resistance. The Vikes were at Detroit on short week for early Thanksgiving Day game before travelling to Atlanta to dispose of the Falcons. Now rested, they get a troubled Carolina team that the Vikes manhandled 22-10 on this very field a year ago and that was against a much healthier version of the host than today’s roster offers. QB Cam Newton has little support as he is the team’s best runner while his substandard passing abilities are to a depleted receiving corps. Meanwhile, the Vikings have won nine straight games, covering eight in a row and doing it with strong play both offensively and defensively. Carolina taking home points may have some appeal but they’ve covered just three of past 11 played here.
TAKING: VIKINGS –2½
Packers (6-6) at Browns (0-12)
LINE: GREEN BAY by 3½
The Packers were still hopeful of a playoff berth until Seattle upset Philadelphia last week. Now having to leapfrog two teams and trailing the wild-card entry by two games, Green Bay’s chances are greatly diminished. While they anticipate the possible return of Aaron Rodgers next week, it could be moot should the Packers lose here. Such a scenario would not surprise us. No team wants to go winless. Surprisingly, coach Hue Jackson has kept the Browns attentive despite Cleveland’s 0-12 record. This could be their best shot at a victory as they play two of final three away while hosting Baltimore next week. WR Josh Gordon provided a spark in spirited effort against the Chargers. Cleveland deceptively adept at stopping the run. That combo might be good enough on this day.
TAKING: BROWNS +3½
THE REST
49ers (2-10) at Texans (4-8)
LINE: HOUSTON –3
Not only is Houston weak at the most important position on the field, but QB Tom Savage has one of the worst offensive lines in the league trying to protect him while hopelessly attempting to create lanes for Texans’ runners. Such deficiencies explain why Houston has lost four of five, exceeding 16 points only once in a win over faltering Arizona. Injuries on the defensive side have also taken their toll. The 49ers have had a rough year but the arrival of Jimmy Garoppolo has shined some light at the end of their tunnel as the ex-Patriot was solid in his debut last week and the team noticeably perked up in a win over the stingy Bears. Texans can’t go consecutive games as 7 or more underdogs to a field goal favourite without us taking advantage.
TAKING: 49ERS +3
Redskins (5-7) at Chargers (6-6)
LINE: LA CHARGERS by 6
After playing back to back Thursday games, the Redskins travel here with a much needed 10-days of rest. It seems Washington enjoys these trips to the west coast as it has won a pair of excursions here, upsetting both the Rams and the Seahawks respectively and taking points in each. While we respect the sudden surge by the Chargers, they tend to be a bit erratic as evidenced by their well-publicized docket of close games. Needing them to win by a converted touchdown is a hefty asking price for a team that is just 1-3 against the spread on this field when favoured. Few teams are as beat up as the Redskins and even though QB Kirk Cousins is a gamer, there are a lot of holes to fill on his team’s roster. We’ll lean Washington’s way but with guarded optimism.
TAKING: REDSKINS +6
Jets (5-7) at Broncos (3-9)
LINE: NY JETS by 1
The Jets are fun to watch. The Broncos are not. The Broncos are actually sad and pathetic. They can’t score at all and now a once proud defence may have spit the bit after surrendering 35 points to the offensively inept Dolphins. The 2017 season can’t end soon enough for this host. The pointspread here confirms what we’re saying. How can the Jets be favoured at Mile High? The answer is that no one will spot points with this Denver team unless they were hosting the Browns. Hey, let’s not insult the Jets here. They have exceeded expectations this season, giving you your monies worth almost every Sunday. Josh McCown has had back-to-back 300+ yard games and he can make this a third against downtrodden host that has dropped eight straight. In this price range, fading the Broncos is the only sane play.
TAKING: JETS –1
Titans (8-4) at Cardinals (5-7)
LINE: TENNESSEE by 3
Not prepared to spot road points with underwhelming Titans as their pedestrian style is not conducive to doing so. In Tennessee’s past three road games, it scraped by Cleveland in overtime and narrowly defeated the lowly Colts with a 40-17 pasting by the Steelers thrown in for good measure. The Cardinals will have the luxury of hosting their third consecutive game here and fourth of past five. No shame in losing to superior Seahawks and Rams but were able to upend Tennessee’s AFC South co-leading mate Jacksonville by a 27-24 count when taking home points. The Titans rely on their ground game to control the pace with their seventh ranked unit (24th in passing) but that plays into Arizona’s strength as its run defenders are ninth best, allowing under 100 yards per game. Teams from Tennessee’s tepid division don’t scare anyone, Arizona included as Cards have defeated six of past seven foes from that meagre group.
TAKING: CARDINALS +3
Eagles (10-2) at Rams (9-3)
LINE: LA RAMS by 2½
After a soft go that included the Niners, Broncos, struggling Cowboys and punchless Bears, the Eagles received a dose of reality when stymied by the Seahawks last week. Now Philly must prove that they can play with the big boys as they head west once again, this time to Los Angeles to face a potent Rams’ team. This L.A. bunch is tops in the league in scoring while the defence is an adequate group that can slow down its opposition (seventh best in points allowed). The Rams have held seven of past eight opponents to 20 points or less, including third highest scoring Saints. It won’t help Philadelphia’s cause that TE Zach Ertz is likely to miss this game as he is an effective tool in the Eagles’ offence and a fave target of QB Carson Wentz. Spotting less than a field goal works for us here.
TAKING: RAMS -2½
Ravens (7-5) at Steelers (10-2)
LINE: PITTSBURGH by 5
Pittsburgh will have a tough time with this familiar foe after Monday night’s bruiser. The Steelers limp into this one without their defensive leader as LB Ryan Shazier was a key casualty from the aforementioned game. DB Joe Haden remains out and even though the Ravens are not known for their proficiency on offence, not having either of those guys in Pittsburgh’s lineup should allow the experienced arm of Joe Flacco to exploit some opportunities. It will also aid Baltimore’s run game, boosted by the sudden emergence of RB Alex Collins. The Steelers are on an eight-game win streak but they’ve had a propensity for keeping games close, failing to cover in three of last four as the favourite. Prefer revenge minded Ravens and their strong defence in this vulnerable spot for the home side.
TAKING: RAVENS +5
Patriots (10-2) at Dolphins (5-7)
LINE: NEW ENGLAND by 11
Do we want to get behind the Dolphins here? Not really. Are we anxious to lay 11 road points in a divisional matchup in prime time? Not quite. Obviously, the Patriots are the superior club in this contest. The two just played each other two weeks ago when New England was able to cover as a 17-point favourite in a 35-17 final. The Pats can’t let up either as they must keep pace with Pittsburgh for AFC home field privileges for playoffs. But as luck would have it, Brady and Co. will visit the Steelers next week and that could serve as a slight distraction for the Patriots in this one. While New England is the best in the business at replacing players, the absence of TE Rob Gronkowski (one-game suspension) changes the game plan as the Pats are thin at the position. We’re going to accept this wealth of points but we’re already regretting it.
TAKING: DOLPHINS +11
Lions (6-6) at Buccaneers (4-8)
NO LINE: Status of Detroit QB Matthew Stafford is undetermined.
Colts (3-9) at Bills (6-6)
NO LINE: Status of Buffalo QB Tyrod Taylor is undetermined.
