NFL AFC West Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Las Vegas at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I absolutely love the way this one sets up for the Chiefs, even as they play on a short week following Monday's sleepy win over the undermanned Patriots. Las Vegas has fallen on hard times following a hot start, and it's had everything to do with its schedule - which certainly doesn't get any easier here. I don't like the look of the Raiders offense right now at all, with RB Josh Jacobs stuck running behind a weak offensive line, and QB Derek Carr once again struggling to generate any productive plays down the field. Meanwhile, the Chiefs should feast on a Raiders defense that can't stop the run (they're giving up over five yards per rush this season) and are average against the pass. TE Travis Kelce should go off in this contest as he has traditionally owned the Raiders defense. Take Kansas City (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an absolute smash spot for the Ravens, who obviously have a bad taste in their mouths following Monday's dismantling at the hands of the Chiefs. Washington has been competitive in two of its three games this season, even winning one of them (we cashed with Washington in its Week 1 win over Philadelphia), but there have been some major red flags raised over the last two weeks. QB Dwayne Haskins is looking less and less like the answer for this offense, although he hasn't had much help from his supporting cast outside of WR Terry McLaurin. Here, he faces an elite Baltimore defense that is far better than it showed against Kansas City's 'next-level' offense on Monday night. The Ravens offense is in position to roll against a suddenly injury-plagued Washington defense that lost Matt Ioannidis and Chase Young last Sunday. Note that Washington has allowed nearly 400 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns through three games this season. Its secondary is arguably its weakest point and I'm confident Ravens QB Lamar Jackson will take full advantage of that leaky back-end in this one. With their next game coming at home against the winless Bengals next week, there's no reason for the Ravens to look past Washington. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on New York plus the points over Denver at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I'll plug my nose and back the Jets in this Thursday night stinker. The Broncos carried some optimism into training camp back in August but let's face it, injuries have completely derailed their season. While this is a winnable game, I'm not convinced Denver has the personnel to do it. Note that Broncos quarterbacks have gotten absolutely crushed through three games - sacked a combined 13 times. Now they turn to inexperienced Brett Rypien, who doesn't figure to fare much better behind a leaky offensive line. Meanwhile, the Broncos injury-ravaged defense has done little to slow opposing quarterbacks, allowing a 68% completion percentage and forcing just one interception compared to seven touchdowns. With WR Jamison Crowder expected back on the field, I do look for Jets QB Sam Darnold to make a last stand, so to speak, and perhaps save his head coach Adam Gase's job (for one week anyway). Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay minus the points over Denver at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Credit the Broncos for making things interesting against the Steelers last Sunday. In fact, Denver checks into this one sporting a perfect 2-0 ATS record. I don't expect the Broncos to make it three straight ATS victories here, however, as this is a nightmarish matchup, even at home. The Bucs got on track with a sloppy but generally lopsided win over the Panthers last Sunday. I do expect them to sharpen things up on both sides of the football, but particularly on offense as the season progresses. This is a true smash spot for their offense against a Broncos defense that has simply been decimated by injuries. Offensively, Denver is forced to turn to Jeff Driskel in a starting role after Drew Lock went down last week. Not only that but Driskel won't have elite WR Courtland Sutton to work with as he's injured as well. There's just little reason to have any optimism that the Broncos can sustain drives or consistently put points on the board, particularly against an underrated Bucs defense that has done a nice job of handling the Saints and Panthers through two games. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis minus the points over New York at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the points with the Colts on Sunday as they welcome the hapless Jets to Indy. Despite facing an injury-decimated 49ers squad, the Jets still went out and embarrassed themselves last Sunday, thankfully without their fans in the stadium. Now they draw a more unfavorable matchup as they travel to face a Colts squad that 'got right' in last week's rout of the Vikings. The Indy defense should absolutely feast on an undermanned Jets offense here. The Colts enter this game ranking third in the NFL in sacks with seven and should take advantage of a Jets o-line that is missing its anchor, C Connor McGovern. With the Jets giving up five yards per rush this season they're unlikely to slow the quickly-ascending rookie RB Jonathan Taylor. QB Philip Rivers isn't much more than a game-manager at this stage of his career, although I will point out that his numbers would look a little better were it not for a key T.Y. Hilton drop that would have resulted in a long touchdown last week. Here, look for the Colts to take care of the football on offense, capitalize on a number of short fields afforded by their defense and win in convincing fashion. Take Indianapolis (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Bengals in each of the last two weeks but were certainly fortunate to do so last week as Joe Burrow led his team on a late backdoor-clinching touchdown drive in Cleveland. There are obviously going to be some growing pains in Cincy, despite all of Burrow's upside. Here, I look for the Bengals to get blown out by what will be an extremely motivated 0-2 Eagles squad. Philadelphia has drawn a pair of tough matchups to open the campaign considering its injury-ravaged offensive line. Not surprisingly, QB Carson Wentz has taken a beating. The good news here is that the Bengals don't have much of a pass rush, having recorded just two sacks through their first two games. Look for Wentz to enjoy a solid 'get right' performance here while RB Miles Sanders takes care of the rest after shaking off the rust last Sunday. I'll gladly take the discount being offered to back the superior team in this matchup. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Houston at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Ravens last Sunday as they annihilated the overmatched Browns. After Cleveland showed some life on Thursday night, that win looks all the more impressive. Now Baltimore heads to Houston to face a Texans squad that I feel could turn out to be a punching bag this season. It's only a matter of time before Bill O'Brien's time is up in H-Town and this game should accelerate that clock. The Ravens run-oriented attack should absolutely feast on a Texans defense that was torched for 168 yards by the Chiefs backfield last week. Meanwhile, the Houston secondary is in shambles and should have no answers for the Ravens capable wide receiving corps. QB Deshaun Watson has to be wondering what his future holds in Houston following the departure of WR DeAndre Hopkins. While Will Fuller can serve as a Hopkins clone in some ways, he's obviously injury-prone and can't carry the passing game all on his own. The Ravens are positively loaded on the defensive side of the football and already proved they could contain Watson in last year's meeting. There's little reason to expect anything different this time around as it should only be a matter of time before Baltimore stretches out the margin. Take Baltimore (10*).

NFL AFC West Game of the Month. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Los Angeles at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

First off, it's worth noting that the SU winner has gone an incredible 18-1-1 ATS in the Chiefs last 20 regular season games. Here, I certainly expect to see the Chiefs prevail and with that being said, I'm confident they can cover the somewhat lofty number. While the Chargers have shown the ability to contain Patrick Mahomes in previous meetings, I'm not sure they're going to have any answers for the Chiefs ground game led by super rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I'm also not convinced Los Angeles will be able to finish enough drives with 7's on the board against a still-underrated Chiefs defense that's strength lies in its pass rush. Keep in mind, the Chargers will be without their o-line anchor in center Mike Pouncey for this one. That opens the door for the Chiefs front seven to get into the backfield with consistency in this one. The Chargers are in a state of change offensively going from immobile QB Phillip Rivers to the agile Tyrod Taylor. As we saw last Sunday, this is a unit that will likely go through some growing pains in the early going and I don't see this as an ideal matchup for them to move to 2-0 on the campaign. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on New York plus the points over Chicago at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll grab the generous helping of points with the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. We successfully faded New York in Monday's blowout loss to the Steelers but this is a fine bounce-back spot. Look for RB Saquon Barkley in particular to feast on what appears to be a bottom-tier Bears run defense. Chicago gave up 150+ total yards against the Lions below average stable of running backs last Sunday. After turning in the worst performance of his career to date, Barkley should be the focal point of the G-Men offense here. Credit Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears for rallying from a big fourth quarter deficit in Detroit last week but that had more to do with the Lions ineptitude than anything else. I look for Trubisky to struggle, even in a favorable matchup against a very average Giants defense. Outside of WR Allen Robinson, there's nothing all that imposing about the Bears offense. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While the Dolphins certainly have bright days ahead, it's going to continue to be a slog here in the early going this season. Miami made a new-look Patriots squad look awfully good last Sunday. I expect more of the same against a superior Bills team this week. Buffalo should absolutely have its way with a very beatable Dolphins defense. QB Josh Allen should absolutely be able to replicate Pats QB Cam Newton's performance against Miami as he possesses similar tools. Note that Miami gave up a whopping 217 rushing yards in last week's loss. It's only a matter of time before the Fins turn to Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, with the whispers getting a whole lot louder following vet Ryan Fitzpatrick's three-interception performance last Sunday. Buffalo boasts a truly elite defense and should have little trouble containing a banged-up Dolphins offense here. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia over Los Angeles at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We successfully faded the Eagles in last Sunday's loss in Washington but I won't hesitate to switch gears and back them as they return home to host the Rams this week. Philadelphia is expected to get some key cogs back on the field this week in the form of pass rush specialists Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham and right tackle Lane Johnson. If all three can play, that would be a huge boost to a team that is desperate for a strong bounce-back performance. RB Miles Sanders' absence was certainly felt in last Sunday's loss as well and all indications are he'll be back to full strength and on the field this week. I don't have a lot of faith in Rams QB Jared Goff, even after last week's strong showing against the Cowboys. This is a tougher matchup as Goff has traditionally struggled away from home. Despite their myriad of injuries, the Eagles still managed to hold the Washington Football Team to just north of two yards per rush in last week's loss. If the Rams can't get their ground game going here, I expect Goff to have a long afternoon. Take Philadelphia (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Tampa Bay minus the points over Carolina at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Panthers blew an excellent opportunity to earn a much-needed opening week win last Sunday against the Raiders (given their tough early season schedule they could be staring down an awful start). Here, I look for them to get blown out at the hands of a hungry Bucs squad. Tampa Bay fell short in last week's showdown with the Saints, largely due to the inept play of its offense. More on that in a moment. First, let's talk about the Bucs underrated defense, which held the Saints to just 6.4 yards per play last Sunday, picking up right where it left off following a red hot finish to last season. The Panthers offense obviously revolves around RB Christian McCaffrey but there's reason to believe he could be held in check here after Tampa Bay completely shut him down in both meetings last season. The Bucs offense looked out of sync in Tom Brady's debut last Sunday. This is a tremendous bounce-back spot, however, as the Panthers own one of the league's weakest defenses. The Raiders torched the Panthers for 34 points last Sunday. You know your defense has a problem when you're giving up nearly double-digit yards per play against QB Derek Carr. While Bucs WR Chris Godwin could miss this game after entering concussion protocol mid-week, this is very much a receiving corps by committee and I expect Tampa's wealth of pass-catchers to pick up the slack in his possible absence. I don't need to tell you that Tom Brady's motivation level will be sky-high (it always is) after getting somewhat called out by head coach Bruce Arians. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on Cincinnati plus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I can understand why the Browns are being favored by nearly a touchdown in this game - after all, this is a huge motivational spot for them coming off a beatdown at the hands of the Ravens (we won with Baltimore in that game) in the national spotlight against a division opponent they 'should' handle. I simply feel they're being asked to lay too many points in this spot as the Bengals showed me enough in a difficult matchup to support them for a second consecutive week. Give Bengals QB Joe Burrow a lot of credit for hanging in there against a very tough Chargers defense last Sunday. Highlights obviously included his touchdown run and his near game-tying (or winning) drive at the end of the fourth quarter. There was plenty to build off of following that performance and I'm confident we'll see him find more success against the Browns here. I also look for a big bounce-back performance from RB Joe Mixon who was relatively ineffective and even lost a fumble (his first since 2016). The Browns are a mess, and have been since the start of last season. While I do like their ground attack and feel they can have considerable success running the football against the Bengals non-existent run defense, I'm not sure QB Baker Mayfield has the composure to avoid a couple of costly mistakes that ultimately keeps this game within arm's reach for the Bengals. Take Cincinnati (10*).

My selection is on Tennessee minus the points over Denver at 10:10 pm et on Monday.

This game has blowout potential with the Broncos ill-equipped to handle the Titans underrated offense or claw their way back into contention should they fall behind early. Of course, Denver suffered a major blow with the season-ending ankle injury to Von Miller last week. The Broncos were already going to be undermanned defensively before Miller went down due to a number of defections on that side of the football during the offseason. Expect RB Derrick Henry to have a field day against the Broncos once-vaunted 'D'. Offensively, the Broncos have a new coordinator, not to mention an inexperienced quarterback who will be making just his sixth career NFL start - and he'll be doing so potentially without his top target in WR Courtland Sutton. While I do like the upside of rookie WR's Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, Hamler is dealing with an injury and Jeudy didn't exactly receive rave reviews during training camp. Maybe the Broncos will elect to go run-heavy but I suspect they'll only be banging their heads against the wall versus a stout Titans defense. Tennessee should be able to pin back its ears and get after QB Drew Lock all night long. Take Tennessee (10*).

NFL Monday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over New York at 7:15 pm et on Monday.

This really is a tough opening week matchup for the Giants as they try to turn the page on what has been a tough era of G-Men football. The Steelers are reloaded for another run with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger under center. All indications are that his arm is back at full strength as he looks to get the Pittsburgh offense back on track following a tumultuous 2019 campaign. Roethlisberger should feast on a Giants pass defense that was absolutely horrendous last season and doesn't figure to improve here in 2020. Even if Big Ben doesn't dominate, the Steelers should enjoy plenty of success on the ground against a New York defense that gave up just shy of 150 rush yards per game last season. There were signs of life in the Giants offense with rookie Daniel Jones at the helm last season. Of course, it helps that he has RB Saquon Barkley in the backfield but I question how much running room he'll find against the teeth of the Steelers defense. Meanwhile, the G-Men boast a below average group of wide receivers that won't instill much fear at all in the Steelers secondary. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Cincinnati plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'm more than happy to grab the points with an underrated Bengals team hosting an overrated Chargers squad on Sunday afternoon. I'm not sure the Tyrod Taylor-led Chargers have any business traveling across the country and being favored in this matchup. With issues on their offensive line and an unproven ground attack (Austin Ekeler is a terrific RB but more of a pass-catcher than runner), I believe they'll have trouble chewing up clock and ultimately putting this game to bed. It remains to be seen how effective Bengals QB Joe Burrow can be in his NFL debut against a tough defense but I'm confident he can do just enough (and not make the critical game-changing mistakes) to lead the Bengals to victory. I don't believe the Chargers bring any sort of intimidation factor to the table here, especially after losing one of their best defensive players in SS Derwin James to injury. The Chargers are still absolutely loaded with talent on defense but in today's NFL, that's rarely enough. Take Cincinnati (10*).

My selection is on Washington plus the points over Philadelphia at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I think it's a pretty good bet that few recreational players will want any part of the Washington Football Team on Sunday afternoon. After all, it was a truly tumultuous offseason in the nation's capital. With that being said, I believe this game is far closer to a pk'em than the oddsmakers are suggesting. Philadelphia isn't exactly on solid ground entering the new season. QB Carson Wentz was banged up throughout training camp and has major pass protection issues with two key cogs on the offensive line (Andre Dillard and Brandon Brooks) lost to injuries. It sets up a bit of a nightmarish situation against Washington's vaunted pass rush. Meanwhile, I'm higher on Washington QB Dwayne Haskins than some. I believe he and last year's breakout star WR Terry McLaurin can do plenty of damage right out of the gate this season, particularly against the Eagles beatable secondary. Philadelphia's defense isn't nearly as fearsome with the likes of Malcolm Jenkins and Nigel Bradham out of the mix. Take Washington (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'm not sure the Ravens are getting quite enough credit for their regular season performance a year ago, or hype entering the new season (thanks in large part to the love-in for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs). Baltimore has the potential to be even better this year after shoring up its run defense and making some savvy additions on offense during the offseason. The Browns underwent a coaching overhaul following a disappointing 2019 campaign but I'm not sure it's going to result in immediate positive returns. This is quite simply an awful opening week matchup against a loaded Super Bowl contender that carries a big chip on its shoulder following last January's early playoff exit. The Browns are dealing with a number of injuries and absences on the defensive side of the football which should have QB Lamar Jackson licking his chops entering this contest. Take Baltimore (10*).

NFL Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over San Francisco at 6:30 pm et on Sunday February 2nd.

I'm holding futures tickets on the Chiefs so this is really a no-brainer for me. There's nothing I've seen in the playoffs that has swayed me from the fact that Kansas City is destined to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 2nd. Yes, San Francisco has impressed and is without a doubt the 'it team' entering this contest - a true upstart that has reached this point far quicker than most expected under the guidance of head coach Kyle Shanahan. I'll give the Niners all the credit in the world for getting here, but let's not get too excited by playoff home wins over extremely flawed Vikings and Packers squads that simply didn't show up in Santa Clara. There's no question, the Niners will get the Chiefs best effort here. Kansas City has been steadily building to this point, with its defense showing up when it matters most and QB Patrick Mahomes taking his game to a completely other level in the postseason. Everything has broke right for the Chiefs in the playoffs with the Ravens getting upset by the Titans, even though I do believe Kansas City would have went into Baltimore and won regardless. Give me the Chiefs at a very discounted number here. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay plus the points over San Francisco at 6:40 pm et on Sunday.

Few are giving the Packers much of a chance here but I will. Green Bay got routed by San Francisco in its regular season meeting but I expect a much stronger performance from the Packers here. I find it a big surprising that the 49ers are actually laying more points in this matchup - a tougher one in my opinion - than they were against the Vikings last week. The Seahawks were a popular pick last week and the Packers managed to outlast them. Don't be surprised if we see a similar story unfold here as QB Aaron Rodgers writes another chapter in his storied career with a big performance against the Niners. Take Green Bay (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Green Bay at 6:40 pm et on Sunday.

I'll grab the points with the Seahawks in this one as I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair between these familiar NFC foes. Seattle checked all the boxes in last week's mild upset win in Philadelphia and should be well-positioned to continue its march toward the Super Bowl on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. RB Marshawn Lynch is only going to get stronger and more comfortable in the Seahawks offense with each passing week. QB Russell Wilson hit a bit of a slump late in the regular season but certainly showed signs of turning things around against the Eagles last week. The Packers earned a first round bye but I'm honestly not sure how good this team actually is. I do like their pass rush and WR DaVante Adams is obviously a beast, but outside of that the jury is out. Can QB Aaron Rodgers regain past form? That remains to be seen. I would rather have my money on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Sunday. Take Seattle (10*).

NFL Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Houston at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

Houston caught an extremely favorable draw last week as it hosted the Bills and ultimately needed everything in its bag of tricks to pull out an overtime victory. Now the Texans have to travel to face the rested Chiefs, who will have revenge on their minds after suffering a somewhat shocking loss against Houston right here at Arrowhead earlier this season. The Chiefs are a different team now than they were then. First of all, they have a defense. Second, Patrick Mahomes is healthy and has his full compliment of weapons at his disposal. The Texans defense doesn't match up well at all with the Chiefs multi-dimensional offensive attack. On the flip side, I fully expect to see Kansas City do a good job of keeping Texans QB DeShaun Watson in the pocket. Unlike the Titans, who came out and stunned the Ravens early in last night's game, the Texans offense will have a tough time getting off the ground here. This one has blowout potential. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Tennessee at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

I'll gladly lay the points with the Ravens on Saturday night as they begin what they hope will be a Super Bowl run against the Titans in Baltimore. This is an ideal spot to fade the Titans as the betting public is high on them following their stunning upset over the might Patriots in Foxborough last Saturday. I don't believe Tennessee is as good as it looked in that victory over New England. Let's face it, the Pats were a mess down the stretch and nothing changed at all in the Wild Card round. Here, the Titans will face a much tougher challenge, playing on the road for a third consecutive week off back-to-back victories in 'must-win' games. The Ravens weaknesses are few and far between. I don't need to tell you that QB Lamar Jackson is in line for another huge performance on Saturday night. I do think we'll see the Ravens defense move to the forefront after this game as well as they should absolutely dominate Titans QB Ryan Tannehill. RB Derrick Henry will get his but it won't be enough to keep the Titans within arm's reach of the AFC's number one seed. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over San Francisco at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the Vikings in last week's stunning upset of the Saints in New Orleans and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here as they head to the west coast to face the 49ers. I'm not sure we saw Minnesota's best game at the Superdome last Sunday but it still managed to pull out an overtime win. The overriding narrative here is that the 49ers defense will manhandle the Vikings Kirk Cousins-led offense. I'm just not convinced that will be the case. Yes, the Vikes haven't been as good on the road, and certainly not outdoors. But I believe this is a team with a big chip on their shoulder and that underdog mentality will serve them well again here. The 49ers have enjoyed a terrific season but are largely green when it comes to the postseason. I don't consider Levi's Stadium to be an intimidating venue for the opposition by any means. Give me all the points I can get with the Vikes here. Take Minnesota (10*).

NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Seattle at 4:40 pm et on Sunday.

The Seahawks are clearly in desperation mode having signed RBs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin prior to last week's narrow loss to the 49ers. While QB Russell Wilson always instills some level of confidence, the rest of the team does not. Seattle is banged-up on both sides of the football and now has to travel across the country to face an Eagles squad that has been surging despite all of their own injuries. Philadelphia's 'next man up' philosophy is nothing new. You of course will remember QB Nick Foles taking over for Carson Wentz and leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory just two years ago. We've seen guys like Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert and Greg Ward step up in a big way in recent weeks, and we should see more of the same here. The Eagles depleted secondary is certainly a concern but I'm not convinced the Seahawks offense can take advantage as Philadelphia's pass rush remains a strength and should have Wilson under duress all afternoon long. They'll be hard-pressed to advance beyond next weekend but I do look for the Eagles to secure a hard-fought victory here. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over New Orleans at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

No one is giving the Vikings much of a chance in this game but I actually expect a competitive affair. I'm confident Minnesota can move the football on this inconsistent Saints defense with its full compliment of offensive pieces rested and ready to go following what amounted to a bye in Week 17 with its playoff positioning already decided. On the flip side, I don't see this as an ideal situation for Saints QB Drew Brees - an early start afternoon matchup at the Superdome. I've never been all that high on Vikes QB Kirk Cousins but the stats don't like and he has always performed better in a dome setting, as is the case here. I'm not convinced the Saints will ever pull away in this contest, so I'll grab all the points I can get with the Vikings. Take Minnesota (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

I'm not too sure the Texans even belong in the playoffs, let alone hosting a game on Wild Card Weekend. DeShaun Watson essentially willed them to just enough wins this season to secure the division title in the AFC South. But we know the Texans have struggled in the playoffs before, and I expect a similar story to unfold here. The Bills bandwagon was all loaded up until they suffered a loss in front of a national audience two weeks ago. We actually won with the Patriots in that contest. Here, Buffalo finds itself in a far more favorable matchup. I don't think the Bills will have much trouble moving the football against a very beatable Texans defense - even as Houston welcomes DE J.J. Watt back to the fold. The Texans have struggled against the pass and struggled against the run this season, and the Bills can take advantage of both weaknesses with QB Josh Allen in line for a big performance. The real kicker here is that I expect to see Sean McDermott coach circles around Bill O'Brien. I'm not sure that advantage is being properly reflected in this pointspread. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an absolute 'lay down' spot for the Vikings playing on a short week with nothing to gain in the playoff picture. The Bears are expected to play their regular starters and should have plenty of motivation with a number of players looking to show up and show out to secure future jobs at the end of a miserable, disappointing campaign. Week 17 can be an extremely tough handicap but the reeling Bears are favored for a reason here in my opinion. Take Chicago (10*).

My selection is on New York over Buffalo at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I believe the Jets have some upside in this AFC East showdown on Sunday as the Bills are likely to rest most of their starters in Orchard Park. New York of course has plenty of players essentially auditioning for future roles. This matchup sets up beautifully for Jets RB Le'Veon Bell as he looks to put a disappointing campaign behind him and finish on a high note. Keep in mind, as I noted in my analysis of last week's play on the Patriots over the Bills, Buffalo has struggled against the run all season and with mostly backups on the field on Sunday, will have little chance of slowing Bell should the Jets choose to stick to the run. For the Bills, their focus is on the postseason, not the Jets. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on New England minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a blowout waiting to happen as the Patriots look to continue to 'get right' prior to the start of the playoffs. Last week's come-from-behind win over the Bills here in Foxborough was a step in the right direction. After facing an 'all hands on deck' Bills squad last week, the Pats should have little trouble brushing aside an undermanned Dolphins team. Miami obviously has nothing to play for but pride at this point and simply doesn't have the pieces or schemes in place on offense to put one over on New England. Look for the Pats to essentially eliminate the Fins passing game and pull away for the win and cover. Take New England (10*).

NFL Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Browns bandwagon cleared months ago but if there were any stragglers left on board, they surely jumped ship after last week's ugly loss in Arizona. I actually believe that sets us up with considerable line value as they return home to lick their wounds and host the rival Ravens on Sunday afternoon. There was plenty of drama created by last week's loss, with talk of certain players, WR Jarvis Landry included, telling the Cardinals to 'come get me'. Here, I think we'll see the Browns attempt to force-feed Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., even as they face a tough challenge in that of the Ravens. The real key to this game may be Browns RB Nick Chubb. I'm confident he'll have a monster performance against a very beatable Baltimore run defense. Let's not lose sight of the fact that Cleveland has already defeated Baltimore once this season - on the road no less. As much as the Ravens would like to get back at the Browns, as I've said before revenge is a dish best served at home. Baltimore and Lamar Jackson in particular look unstoppable right now, but it is laying an awful lot of points in a divisional road game in late December. Look for the Browns to pull up their socks and show some pride for one week - this is essentially their Super Bowl for 2019. Take Cleveland (10*).

NFL AFC East Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over Buffalo at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the Patriots in last Sunday's rout of the Bengals and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with them again here, as they return home to host the Bills in a big AFC East showdown. New England's offense remains somewhat broken, or so it appears. I do think we'll see Patriots OC Josh McDaniels scheme his way to some success against the Bills stout defense in this matchup, however. Note that while Buffalo's secondary has been rock solid, it has been vulnerable against the run, giving up 4.5 yards per rush this season. The Pats have no shortage of capable backs that could be in for breakout spots here. Buffalo escaped with a win in primetime in Pittsburgh last week but let's face it, QB Josh Allen didn't look good, and the Pats have had no trouble limiting him in previous matchups. There's absolutely no reason for the Pats to fear the Bills offense in this one, noting that they've held Buffalo to 16 points or less in four straight and six of the last seven meetings in this series. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay plus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Saturday.

I like the Bucs plus the points in this Saturday afternoon matchup. The Texans obviously need this one more than the Bucs, who are simply playing out the string, but to be quite honest, I'm not all that high on Houston. Yes, the Texans were able to pull out a big win in Tennessee last Sunday but now they have to stay on the road and play on a short week against a non-conference opponent that simply won't draw the same level of motivation. The Bucs are without their top two wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but don't think for a second that QB Jameis Winston won't continue to air it out. Not only that but the Bucs draw a favorable ground game matchup against a Texans defense that gives up over 4.6 yards per rush. I don't think Tampa Bay will ever be out of this one. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

NFL MNF Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Indianapolis at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This is an absolute smash spot for the Saints at home in primetime against the reeling Colts. This is precisely the type of spotlight game where Saints QB Drew Brees goes off. The Colts defense has become suddenly non-existent against the pass as they enter this game on the heels of three straight losses. Indianapolis has shown some semblance of a run defense but the Saints offense is more than versatile enough to negate that advantage. Meanwhile the Colts offense has become quite one-dimensional in the absence of WR T.Y. Hilton. While Hilton may return for this game it's difficult to predict how effective he can be after an extended absence. RB Marlon Mack returned last week but was limited and I would suggest that will probably be the case again this week. Look for a monster performance from WR Michael Thomas to pace the Saints offense and we might even see RB Alvin Kamara finally get back on track with a big game catching passes out of the backfield. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on New England minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a true 'get right' spot for the Patriots and I fully expect to see them blow the doors off the Bengals. Cincinnati couldn't follow up its first win of the season, falling to the Browns in Cleveland last Sunday. The Bengals have been playing better lately, thanks in large part to the re-emergence of RB Joe Mixon. I simply feel that we'll see the Pats take Mixon out of the equation in this one which should cripple the Bengals offense. The Brady-haters are out in full force these days but I do think Tom will turn in a solid performance here. That's not to mention the Pats ground game, which should shred the Bengals non-existent run defense. It's only a matter of time before New England puts this one away for good. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over New York at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I don't need to tell you that this is an absolutely amazing spot for the Ravens offense as they should shred a hapless Jets defense that is likely going to be without a pair of key cogs in Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams. Even with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dealing with an injured quad, there's no chance that the Jets slow him down here. Look for Jackson to run wild, while also feeding Hollywood Brown in what amounts to a blowout in the making. I do think the Jets will find some success offensively, simply due to the fact that the Ravens can't stop the run, but playing in catch-up mode, look for QB Sam Darnold to make enough mistakes to ultimately put this game out of reach for Gang Green. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The Eagles are a downtrodden football team but they have to feel pretty good about the fact that they're just a game behind the Cowboys for the NFC East lead and a very winnable matchup presents itself as they host the lowly Giants on Monday night. The G-Men are simply playing out the string at this point and will trot out QB Eli Manning in place of an injured Daniel Jones. Manning really is a wild card at this point but it's worth noting that the Philadelphia defense is capable of generating a ferocious pass rush. Manning hasn't been good under pressure in the latter stages of his career. Meanwhile, Eagles QB Carson Wentz should absolutely light up a weak Giants defense that has shown no semblance of a pass rush this season. The Eagles offense is getting healthier with WR Alshon Jeffery coming off a tremendous bounce-back performance against the Dolphins last week. I'm high on Philadelphia rookie RB Miles Sanders as well. He has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks and could be in for another big game here. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on Tennessee minus the points over Oakland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

It seems that the Titans have found their quarterback in Ryan Tannehill even if the real story has been RB Derrick Henry, who is absolutely running rampant right now and should continue his torrid pace against a weak Raiders defense on Sunday afternoon. Tennessee isn't about to overlook any opponent, even a reeling one such as the Raiders. Oakland is in a tough spot traveling back home following a beatdown at the hands of the Chiefs last Sunday. Look for the Titans to ultimately pull away for a comfortable win on Sunday afternoon. Take Tennessee (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an absolutely terrific 'get right' matchup for the Packers as they host the lifeless Redskins at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon. I don't see Washington offering any sort of resistance on the defensive side of the football while the Packers defense will be eager to bounce back and should feast on a miserable Redskins offensive line. The Redskins aren't the type of team capable of coming back and making things interesting after falling behind big, as I expect them to on Sunday afternoon. Look for a big game from Pack RB Aaron Jones, guiding Green Bay to a lopsided victory. Take Green Bay (10*).

NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Bills continue to get no respect in the betting marketplace, even after last week's rout of the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Here, I look for Buffalo to keep things close at the very least, and quite possibly win outright. Motivation will obviously be high for the Bills, not only are they hosting this year's 'it' team in the Ravens, but they'll have Doug Flutie making a rare appearance in Orchard Park to be honored as a Bills legend. Last week, Baltimore was able to overmatch the 49ers at home in a bad weather game, in an early start no less. The shoe is on the other foot this time around. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Seattle at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

There's not a lot separating these two teams so it's no surprise that we're dealing with a very tight field goal line ahead of their Monday night showdown. I'll grab the points with the underdog Vikings as they come in well-rested and poised to take advantage of a very beatable Seattle defense. The Seahawks own a tremendous home field advantage at CenturyLink Field but it's certainly worth noting that they've already lost games against the Saints and Ravens here at home this season. I don't feel that intimidation will be a real factor against an experienced Vikings group. Seattle comes in riding its longest winning streak of the season, which stands at four games. I believe there's a good chance it ends here. Take Minnesota (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on New York minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Jets are in excellent position to add to the winless Bengals' misery on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. The New York offense has been quietly racking up points in recent weeks and is an absolute smash spot against a very beatable Bengals defense on Sunday. Cincinnati has been one of the worst teams in the league defending the run this season which really opens things up with the Jets offense and RB Le'Veon Bell in particular. Jets QB Sam Darnold is on a redemption tour after a brutal start to the season and he's in line for another big performance here. Meanwhile, the Jets quietly own the league's best run defense which should severely limit what the Bengals can do offensively. QB Andy Dalton is back as the starter and while he may give Cincinnati a bit of a spark, I'm not sure it really matters at this point. His supporting cast is seriously lacking with WR Tyler Boyd one of the only bright spots. RB Joe Mixon has had a nice run the last couple of games but I don't expect him to play a big role in this one. Take New York (10*).

NFL Turkey Day Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Atlanta at 8:15 pm et on Thursday.

The Saints had a tough time pulling away from the Panthers on Sunday but ultimately did secure the victory thanks in large part to miscues in Carolina’s kicking game. I expect a much cleaner performance from the Saints this week as they travel to face the division rival Falcons in the friendly confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. I like the way the Saints offense has rounded into form with a healthy Drew Brees. There’s reason to believe they can even improve on their recent strong performances with Alvin Kamara in particular in line for a big breakout performance here. Meanwhile, the cupboard is getting pretty bare for the Falcons offense with a number of key cogs banged-up and now forced to play on a short week. The Saints have been able to generate a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and I’m confident they’ll be able to force Falcons QB Matt Ryan into some key mistakes in this contest as well. Atlanta’s ground game is by no means imposing with RB Devonta Freeman once again questionable to suit up. I don’t think there’s any question the offense is missing the likes of Mohamed Sanu and Tevin Coleman right now. I’m not convinced Atlanta can stay in this game for four quarters. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Detroit at 12:30 pm et on Thursday.

It might be time for the NFL to reconsider giving the Lions their annual home game on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, that time probably passed years ago. Mired in another disappointing campaign, there's little reason to have much confidence in Detroit here as it hosts Chicago. Of course, the Bears don't have a great deal of upside either but they do have more going for them than the Lions right now. The Chicago defense should feast on the Lions Jeff Driskel-led offense, with Driskel playing on a bad hamstring and coming off an absolute beating at the hands of the Redskins defense on Sunday. The Bears have done an excellent job of keeping opposing quarterbacks in the pocket and as long as they can continue to do that against Driskel, they'll be in fine shape on Thursday as he simply hasn't proven he can consistently move the chains through the air. There are obviously concerns when it comes to the Chicago offense but I'm not sure it will be asked to do too much in this one. QB Mitchell Trubisky is coming off one of his better performances, even though it did come against the lowly Giants. He draws another favorable matchup here against a banged-up Lions defense. Based on how I expect the Chicago defense to perform in this one, I think we will see Trubisky given some short fields to work with and do just enough to secure the win and cover. Take Chicago (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over Dallas at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Dallas bounced back with a win in Detroit last Sunday but it will find the going a lot tougher as it stays on the road to face the Patriots in Foxborough this week. Poor weather conditions are expected, which doesn't generally suit QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense well. While Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott draws a favorable matchup on paper, I feel the Pats will be content to concede yardage on the ground once again, but ultimately do another nice job of keeping the opposition out of the end zone. Offensively, the Pats are banged-up right now but the 'next man up' philosophy has always served them well, and I expect no different here. The Cowboys defense, while elite on paper, has disappointed for much of the campaign, including last week when it allowed Lions backup QB Jeff Driskel to move the football up and down the field. New England QB Tom Brady isn't 100% healthy but I'm anticipating a big performance from the GOAT once again. This is precisely the type of game Bill Bellichick's Patriots get up for and win by margin. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Philadelphia at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Eagles are in desperation mode as they host the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon off last Sunday's disappointing narrow loss to the Patriots. I believe Philadelphia will be hard-pressed to bounce back as it deals with a number of key injuries on the offensive side of the football. That's not to say the Eagles can't find some success offensively against a very beatable Seahawks defense, but with RT Lane Johnson officially out and RB Jordan Howard all but ruled out, they'll need a peak performance from QB Carson Wentz. Of course, Wentz doesn't have his full compliment of wide receivers at his disposal. The Seahawks offense has been outstanding all season and QB Russell Wilson should have a field day picking apart the Eagles overmatched secondary. I'm still not sure the Seahawks WR duo and now trio of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Josh Gordon get nearly enough credit. Take Seattle (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Denver at 1 pm et on Sunday.

With Denver nearly pulling off an outright upset as a double-digit underdog at Minnesota last week, it's understandable that the Broncos are only a short underdog against the Bills on Sunday. I believe the Bills are once again undervalued. There's little chance we'll see Buffalo overlook Denver, not after the Broncos gave the Vikings such a serious run last week. I don't like the scheduling spot at all for Denver as it stays on the road for a second straight week, heading to a less than appealing destination in Buffalo. The Bills defense should absolutely feast on the Broncos leaky offensive line, noting that Denver ranks bottom-five in the league in sacks per QB dropback allowed. For their part, the Bills are inside the top 10 in terms of sacks this season. QB Brandon Allen has held his own to this point, but I look for him to get exposed by Buffalo here. This isn't exactly an eruption spot for the Bills offense against a quality Broncos defense, but I do think we'll see them be given enough short fields to inflict some damage on the scoreboard. Based on how I expect the Bills defense to perform in this game, I really don't think we're going to need a whole lot from the offense to ultimately stretch out the margin and put this one out of reach. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis plus the points over Houston at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I'll grab the points with the Colts in a matchup where home field rarely means much and the underdog has thrived, going 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings. What more could you want from the Colts on the road this season? They opened the campaign with an overtime loss against the Chargers in Los Angeles before upsetting the Titans and Chiefs and then falling by just two points in Pittsburgh. Now they square off against a Texans squad reeling off last week's annihilation at the hands of the red hot Ravens in Baltimore. Save for a blowout win over the Falcons, Houston hasn't had an easy time finding the win column at home, with two of its three victories coming by a combined four points. I don't like the way the Texans defense matches up at all against the Colts passing game, which could get WR T.Y. Hilton back on the field on Thursday night. While the Colts defense will have its hands full with QB DeShaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins, I really don't feel that the Texans offense is all that imposing. Watson will need a monumental effort to bounce-back from last week's rough ride against the Ravens. Take Indianapolis (10*).

NFL AFC West Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over Kansas City at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

We missed the mark (barely) with the Chargers last week as they fell by just two points in Oakland. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with Los Angeles here, however, even if this does appear to be an even tougher matchup. First of all, I'm not sure it actually is a tougher matchup. The Raiders are far better than anyone could have anticipated and last week the Chargers found that out first hand. Unlike the Raiders, the Chiefs don't possess a quality defense. Nor does Kansas City have a consistently productive ground attack. QB Patrick Mahomes returned from injury and looked very 'Mahomes-like' in last week's narrow loss in Tennessee, throwing for a season-high as far as pass yards goes. I simply feel that the Chargers, with their excellent offensive balance led by the re-emergence of RB Melvin Gordon, can go blow-for-blow with Andy Reid's Chiefs, just as they did in their most recent meeting last season - a wild 29-28 victory at Arrowhead Stadium on a Thursday night in December. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Chicago at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

The Bears pulled out a 20-13 win over the Matt Stafford-less Lions last Sunday but now find themselves in a miserable spot traveling west to face the Rams in primetime on Sunday night. Chicago's offense is still broken as far as I'm concerned and the Rams have the ability to make the Bears completely one-dimensional by taking away their ground attack altogether. The addition of Jalen Ramsey gives the Rams the ability to take away their opponents' best weapon in the passing game and in this case, if they can limit WR Allen Robinson they should be able to absolutely cripple the Bears offense. Rams QB Jared Goff has been far from great this season and will likely be under duress for much of the night on Sunday. With that being said, I'm not sure Los Angeles will need to score points in bunches to pull away for a comfortable win here. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While this is being pegged as a tightly-contested shootout between MVP candidates DeShaun Watson and Lamar Jackson, I expect it to fizzle with the Ravens imposing their will and winning this one going away. This is arguably the toughest matchup Watson has faced this season, on the road no less. I question whether head coach Bill O'Brien's play-calling can get them there against an elite opponent like the Ravens, to be completely honest. This is a game where the Texans defensive absences, most notably J.J. Watt will really come back to haunt them. At 6-3 I do consider Houston to be a bit of a paper tiger while Baltimore is the real deal, having already taken down the mighty Patriots. Take Baltimore (10*).

NFL AFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I have no confidence in the Browns to string together consecutive wins at this stage of the season. Meanwhile, the Steelers have found their identity as a hard-nosed team that runs the football and plays an aggressive, opportunistic brand of defense. Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph certainly doesn't instill a great deal of confidence, but he is expected to have RB James Conner back at his disposal on Thursday night and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is in line for a big breakout performance against a Browns defense that has had no success defending receivers in the slot. The Browns have a quality defense and should be able to get after Rudolph in this one, but what about their offense? It's been a sputtering, turnover-prone unit and while RB Kareem Hunt gave them a boost in his debut, I'm not ready to say that the offense is back. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over San Francisco at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The 49ers have a giant target on their backs now as they remain undefeated heading into the second week of November. While the Seahawks and their lagging defense will face a tough challenge here, I'm confident they can at the very least take the Niners down to the wire in Santa Clara. We saw some vulnerability from the Niners defense last week against Arizona and I expect that to continue to be the storyline here on Monday as the Seahawks should find considerable success both on the ground and through the air. The San Francisco run defense in particular is in a tough spot with LB Kwon Alexander sidelined for the season with torn pec. That really opens things up for the Seahawks, whose offense is far more effective when it is able to mix in consistent gains on the ground. Offensively, the 49ers are coming off a fine performance but this is by no means a juggernaut. The Seahawks defense has been a swinging gate at times, but should rise to the occasion in this divisional affair. Take Seattle (10*).

My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Minnesota at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

The Cowboys are on an uptick right now fresh off a win over the Giants on Monday night. They're in another favorable spot here, back at home in a primetime affair against a solid but vulnerable Vikings squad. I expect the Minnesota offense to struggle at times in this one as it tries to deal with a healthy and improving Cowboys defense. Offensively, Dallas went through a bit of a lull but things appear to be back in order now and at home in a favored role, I look for it to open things up and ultimately pull away for a convincing victory on Sunday night. Take Dallas (10*).

NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on the Jets plus the points over the Giants at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Things literally can't get any worse for the Jets after they lost at the hands of the winless, supposedly taking Dolphins last week in Miami. I fully expect to see Gang Green bounce back against the rival Giants on Sunday, noting we cashed a ticket fading Big Blue just this past Monday night with the Cowboys. This is an absolute smash spot for the Jets offense against a vulnerable Giants defense playing on a short week. Jets QB Sam Darnold has not played well at all but I still believe he has the tools to succeed in the NFL and I'm confident he'll enjoy a breakout performance against the G-Men and their non-existent pass rush and swiss cheese secondary. Not only is Darnold and the Jets passing game in line for a bounce-back but we should see a big performance from RB Le'Veon Bell as well. Game script kept him from exploding against the Dolphins last Sunday but if the Jets are able to build a lead here, Bell should go off. Take the Jets (10*).

NFL TNF Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles over Oakland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

The Chargers have suddenly found their footing, registering back-to-back wins at Chicago and at home against Green Bay and I look for them to keep it rolling as they face the rival Raiders in Oakland on Thursday night. I really like the way things have come together for the previously underachieving Chargers offense, most notably with RB Melvin Gordon busting out with a big performance against the Packers last Sunday. The door is wide open for this unit to really explode against a beatable Raiders defense on a short week. Oakland does pose a challenge with its own emerging offense but I'm confident the Chargers defense will rise to the occasion. RB Josh Jacobs is the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year but the offense can still only go as far as QB Derek Carr takes it as far as I'm concerned. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Dallas minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

It's been a disappointing campaign so far for the Cowboys but they remain in the driver's seat in the NFC East and coming off their bye week I look for them to handle the Giants at the Meadowlands on Monday night. I have no confidence in the Giants defense to slow the Cowboys offense here. Dallas got healthy on its offensive line thanks to the bye and that should open the door for QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott to turn in monster performances here. Saquon Barkley will undoubtedly get his, just as he did in the first meeting between these two teams this season, but I'm not convinced rookie QB Daniel Jones will follow suit. Dallas is a perfect 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings in this series, including a win here when it rested its starters in Week 17 last year. Take Dallas (10*).

My selection is on Denver plus the points over Cleveland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

I really like the value we're getting with the Broncos as a home underdog on Sunday afternoon against the disjointed Browns. Cleveland really has no business laying points against anyone right now. It hasn't lived up to expectations on either side of the football and will likely have trouble traveling to altitude in Denver on Sunday. The Broncos have an efficient running game and a solid defense, a recipe for success as a home underdog. Yes, QB Joe Flacco is sidelined but is backup Brandon Allen really a downgrade? Flacco simply hasn't been a good fit in this offense. I like the upside of the Broncos receiving corps led by Courtland Sutton. Look for Denver to do enough to stay inside the number on Sunday. Take Denver (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over Green Bay at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Everyone is extremely high on the Packers right now, and for good reason as they're fresh off another statement road win in Kansas City last Sunday night. I just don't like the way this spot sets up for Aaron Rodgers and co. as they stay on the road and head to the west coast to face what has to be a desperate Chargers squad on Sunday. Los Angeles has been highly disappointing this season but there's no question the Chargers still have the talent on board to turn things around. This is obviously a huge step-up spot in a non-conference tilt with a marquee opponent. I'm confident we'll see the Chargers ground attack really get rolling against a beatable Packers run defense. That should set the tone for the rest of the Los Angeles offense, and effectively open things up for QB Philip Rivers. The Chargers defense hasn't been great but could be catching the Packers in a letdown spot off last Sunday night's peak performance. Take Los Angeles (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Year. My selection is on New York minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Everyone is down on the Jets right now but this is a true 'get right' spot against the tanking Dolphins in Miami, and I look for Adam Gase's squad to take full advantage. I absolutely love the 'squeaky wheel' narrative with elite RB Le'Veon Bell calling for more work in advance of Sunday's matchup. Bell will undoubtedly get fed in this one and should absolutely dominate a non-existent Dolphins run defense. QB Sam Darnold has been ridiculed after his 'seeing ghosts' appearance on Monday Night Football but he should have no trouble carving up the Fins struggling secondary on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Jets defense is serviceable against the Miami offense - which took another step back in a miserable second half in Pittsburgh on Monday night. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Arizona plus the points over San Francisco at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

Most believe a 49ers win is a foregone conclusion in this one as San Francisco checks in with an unblemished record on the season while the Cardinals are coming off a beatdown at the hands of the Saints in New Orleans last Sunday. I don't believe the Niners are built to cover these big pointspreads, however, and here will face an improving Arizona squad that has won three of its last four games and hasn't allowed a first quarter touchdown in its last two contests. The Cards are likely going to be missing their top two running backs for this one but did acquire Kenyon Drake from the Dolphins earlier this week and it really hasn't mattered who they have plugged in at running back, they have performed well. San Francisco will be content to win this division road game, let alone cover the spread. We'll grab the points with a hungry Cards squad that has gone an impressive 5-3 ATS to date. Take Arizona (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City plus the points over Green Bay at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

The last time we saw the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football they suffered a shocking loss to the Colts. That was with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Now Kansas City enters this primetime showdown with journeyman QB Matt Moore under center and few are giving it much of a chance against the red hot Packers. I don't expect the Chiefs to simply roll over. Kansas City has been all over opposing quarterbacks this season and Sunday should be no different against the Packers mediocre offensive line. Note that the Chiefs will have DT Chris Jones back at their disposal, and his presence should really limit the Packers ability to rip off big gains on the ground. Green Bay's passing game has held up well in WR DaVante Adams absence, but this could be the contest where that starts to turn. Defensively, the Packers have been abused by opposing rushing attacks, allowing just a tick shy of five yards per rush this season. That opens the door for the Chiefs limited offense in the absence of Mahomes. As we saw last Thursday night against an elite defense in Denver, even Matt Moore is able to find some success with the talent of WR Tyreek Hill on the field. I'm not sure the Chiefs offense will even be asked to do too much to keep this one competitive, but they might just come through regardless. Take Kansas City (10*).

NFL Non-Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Houston minus the points over Oakland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

The Raiders are in a really tough spot here, still on the road at the tail-end of what has been an excruciatingly long stretch of games away from home and coming off an epic beatdown at the hands of the Packers last Sunday. Things don't figure to get any easier in Houston on Sunday as the Texans enter a terrific bounce-back spot off last week's divisional loss in Indianapolis. QB DeShaun Watson and the Texans offense should have a field day against the Raiders undermanned defense, which dealt top CB Gareon Conley to Houston earlier in the week. The Raiders haven't exactly waved the white flag just yet, but at 3-3 the time is coming. Offensively, Oakland has been better than expected but with RB Josh Jacobs limited and possibly even sidelined by a shoulder injury, it will be in a really difficult situation here. Jacobs has been a dynamic playmaker but the Raiders don't have much depth in the backfield. While I'm not all that high on the Texans defense, I do think they'll be playing from ahead for much of the day on Sunday, and can gameplan aggressively against mistake-prone QB Derek Carr. Look for Houston to eventually stretch out the margin in this one. Take Houston (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This one has blowout written all over it as the Rams aim to follow-up last week's 'get right' win over Atlanta and head across the pond for what should be a much-needed distraction in what has been a bit of a tumultuous start to the season. The Bengals are awful. They can't stop the run, continue to deal with key injuries in the secondary, and sport an uneven offense that has been completely handicapped by an ineffictive offensive line. We can count on Rams QB Jared Goff to turn in a second straight solid performance facing little pressure against a non-existent Cincinnati pass rush. Meanwhile, the Rams backfield tandem of Todd Gurley and Darrell Henderson should run wild against a Bengals defense that allows just shy of five yards per rush this season, effectively putting this game away in the second half. Take Los Angeles (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on New York plus the points over Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Jets are coming off a dreadful performance on both sides of the football on Monday night against the Patriots. I do feel they'll bounce back here, however, as they head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. The Jags defense has been exploited by opposing running backs this season as they check in allowing just shy of five yards per rush. Off a poor offensive showing on Monday, look for the Jets to feed RB Le'Veon Bell in this one. On the flip side, the Jets defense has been exceptional against the run, allowing just north of 3.2 yards per rush. That should severely limit what the Jags are able to do offensively, as despite all the Gardner Minshew hype, QB Leonard Fournette has been, and will continue to be the key to their offense. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Washington at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

It seems as if big pointspreads have become the norm in these primetime games and this Thursday’s contest is no different. Once again, I’m not sure the oddsmakers can set the line high enough as the Vikings should have little trouble brushing aside the lowly Redskins. Washington has such little upside at this point it’s almost laughable. WR Terry McLaurin has arguably been its lone bright spot and while he should get his in this matchup with a beatable Vikings pass defense, that’s no reason to jump off the Vikings in a game that has true blowout potential. We’ve already seen Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan orchestrate an offensive gameplan centred around the rushing attack, and more specifically RB Adrian Peterson. That gameplan just isn’t likely to work against a Vikings front that has been terrific against the run this season. With the ‘Skins likely to fall behind early, they may be forced to air it out but their comeback potential is limited given the fact that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer knows former Minnesota QB Case Keenum’s tendencies and limitations. Minnesota will be without WR Adam Thielen for this game and while that’s a major hit, I still see this as a blow up spot for the Vikes offense. QB Kirk Cousins will be given clean pockets all night long against a Redskins defense that hasn’t been able to get to opposing quarterbacks at all this season. Meanwhile, RB Dalvin Cook is in line for another monster performance against a defense that can be run on and has gone nothing to eliminate short passing plays to opposing running backs. With the Vikes likely to dominate the time-of-possession battle, it’s only a matter of time before this one gets out of hand. Take Minnesota (10*).

NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Dallas at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

I absolutely love the way this spot sets up for the Eagles as they try to bounce back from last week’s tough loss in Minnesota. Philadelphia continues to perform at an elite level offensively, despite the fact that it has dealt with a number of key injuries at the wide receiver position this season. QB Carson Wentz remains one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league and he’s set to expose an injury-ravaged Cowboys defense on Sunday night. Dallas is coming off back-to-back devastating losses, with the most recent being particular painful at the hands of the lowly Jets. With WR Amari Cooper likely to miss and RB Ezekiel Elliott busy running into piles there’s little reason to have much confidence in the Cowboys offense right now. Head coach Jason Garrett is on the hot seat again and I’m not sure that we’ll see the team rally around him this time around. While everyone was singing the praises of Cowboys first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore earlier this season, things have gotten stale in a hurry. Look for the Eagles pass rush to take advantage of the Cowboys injuries on the offensive line (Tyron Smith and La’El Collins are expected to miss) and make life difficult for QB Dak Prescott all night long. The case can be made that the wrong team is favored in this one. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on Jacksonville minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a dream bounce-back matchup for the Jaguars off last week’s ugly home loss against the suddenly defensive-minded Saints. The Bengals sit at 0-6 on the season and come in off another tightly-contested loss against Baltimore last week. Off that physical affair on the road I’m not sure how much this injury-riddled squad will have left in the tank this Sunday, nor do I believe its motivation will be all that high against the Jags. No team pressures the quarterback less than the Bengals and that should open the door for a big game from Jags QB Gardner Minshew, who fell out of favor with the bandwagon crowd following last week’s brutal performance against the Saints. Even if Minshew can’t get things going through the air, RB Leonard Fournette should have no trouble exposing a truly awful Bengals run defense. Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s defense catches a favorable draw here against Cincinnati and its dreadful offensive line. Look for the Jags pass rushers to find their way into the Bengals backfield all afternoon long. WR Tyler Boyd is one of the Bengals only offensive pieces that catches any sort of favorable matchup in this one. Yes, Jacksonville dealt CB Jalen Ramsey earlier in the week but he hadn’t been on the field since September anyway. If anything, I see last week’s loss to the Saints as a rallying point for the 2-4 Jags. Take Jacksonville (10*).

NFL AFC South Game of the Month. My selection is on Indianapolis minus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Texans upset win in Kansas City is still fresh in the minds of bettors while the Colts win on that same field the week previous has been all but forgotten, leading to a favorable line for the home side in this AFC South showdown on Sunday. The bye week came at the right time for Indianapolis as it is expected to have MLB Darius Leonard and WR T.Y. Hilton back at full speed this Sunday. Meanwhile, the Texans defense is in a really tough position with an injury-ravaged secondary, preparing to face Hilton, who has been a real thorn in their side over the years. While I have a lot of confidence in Texans QB DeShaun Watson, not to mention WR DeAndre Hopkins, I have little confidence in anyone else on the Houston offense, nor in play-caller and head coach Bill O’Brien. I simply see this as an excellent spot to fade the Texans off a huge win last week as they head on the road to face a better-coached, and still underrated Colts squad on Sunday afternoon. Take Indianapolis (10*).

NFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Detroit plus the points over Green Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

Simply put, I'm not sure the Packers are as good as their 4-1 record, or last week's high-scoring win over the Cowboys would seem to indicate. They'll be without WR DaVante Adams again on Monday night and with their defense sagging, I'm not sure they'll be able to get past the Lions without a serious fight. Detroit was written off by most before the season even began, and certainly following an ugly season-opening tie in Arizona. Since then, Detroit has been somewhat inconsistent, but has managed to battle its way to a 2-1-1 mark and can gain ground on the division rival Packers with a win here. I like the way the Lions underrated offense matches up against the Packers suddenly struggling defense and on the flip side, I also think the Detroit defense can give QB Aaron Rodgers some serious heartburn here. RB Aaron Jones went off against the Cowboys last Sunday but don't count on a repeat performance here as Matt LaFleur seems determined to give RB Jamaal Williams his share of touches as well, even if it may be to the detriment of the offense. The Lions have two wins to their credit at Lambeau Field since 2015 so there's no real intimidation factor at play here. Take Detroit (10*).

NFL Thursday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over New York at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the Patriots as a massive road favorite last Sunday in Washington and there’s little reason to jump ship as they return home on a short week to host the injury-riddled Giants on Thursday night. New York is expected to be without arguably its two best offensive players in this one as RB Saquon Barkley and TE Evan Engram are sidelined with injuries. That leaves rookie QB Daniel Jones in a really tough position going up against a fierce Patriots defense that should have little trouble exposing the Giants offensive line. Even when Jones does have time in the pocket he’ll have few options to work with down field. Maybe WR Golden Tate goes off in his second game back but I highly doubt it. It’s also worth mentioning that WR Sterling Shepard will miss this game after suffering an ugly concussion last week. Offensively, the Pats should be able to do whatever they want against one of the weakest defenses in the league. New York has had an extremely difficult time slowing down any opposing offense other than the lowly Redskins this season and continues to deal with a number of key injuries. The Patriots really didn’t get rolling until the second half against the Redskins last Sunday but still managed to put 30+ points on the board. Expect a sharper performance from Tom Brady and co. here as they roll past the G-Men in Foxborough. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on New England minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The oddsmakers really can't set this line high enough as the Patriots should have little trouble disposing of the Redskins in Washington on Sunday. This could be the end of the line for 'Skins head coach Jay Gruden. The team is in further turmoil this week after word got out that Gruden didn't want the team to draft QB Dwayne Haskins. Colt McCoy will get the start under center this week but your guess is as good as mine as to whether he'll finish the game. The Patriots defense has arguably been the best in football this season and should absolutely feast on a miserable Redskins offensive line. Washington's only real bright spot this season has been WR Terry McLaurin but he's dealing with a hamstring injury and questionable to play after missing last week's game. Even if he can go, he'll face the daunting challenge of Pats CB Stephon Gilmore's coverage here. I'm not even sure we'll need a lot from the New England offense but this is a really nice bounce-back spot off of last week's hard-fought, low-scoring win in Buffalo. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Cincinnati at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

After cashing with Pittsburgh in an ATS but not SU victory in San Francisco last Sunday, I like the Steelers to cover the number again, albeit as a favorite this time around. This is an excellent matchup for the Steelers defense to absolutely tee off on a Bengals offensive line that has struggled to open up running lanes for Joe Mixon while also allowing opponents to get a ton of pressure on QB Andy Dalton. Should the Steelers build a lead they'll be able to pin their ears back and force a key turnover or two as this game progresses. On the flip side, the Steelers offense will likely go back to basics here and let RB James Conner go to work against a Bengals defense that has surrendered a whopping 5.2 yards per rush this season. Last week's matchup wasn't good for Steelers QB Mason Rudolph but he should bounce back against a much more favorable draw here. Cincinnati has not done a good job of generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks, recording just five sacks so far this season. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

NFL NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Tampa Bay at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

This game has blowout written all over it as the Rams return home following a business-like 20-13 win in Cleveland last Sunday night. Los Angeles used a supreme defensive effort to hold off a hungry Browns squad in that one but here should be able to get loose offensively, particularly through the air against a struggle Bucs pass defense. On the flip side, I don’t see the Bucs accomplishing much in this one with the Rams outstanding secondary likely to take care of business against the dynamic duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Tampa Bay’s ground game is a virtual non-factor and playing from behind on Sunday isn’t likely to change that. Look for another dominant performance from the Rams as they remain undefeated with another convincing win. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Perhaps due to their weak defense and the surprising start of the Lions, the Chiefs remain a relatively short road favorite in Detroit on Sunday afternoon. We won with the Lions in their upset victory in Philadelphia last week but that had more to do with the Eagles laundry list of injuries than anything else. This may be a showdown between two undefeated teams but they really couldn’t be at much more opposite ends of the spectrum offensively. The Chiefs just keep rolling along and catch the Lions in a tough spot with a number of key injuries on the defensive side of the football, the least concerning of which to CB Darius Slay. QB Patrick Mahomes should be in for another monster performance in ideal conditions at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon. Kansas City’s struggles defending the run will likely encourage the Lions, already a ‘run-first’ team, to pound the football on the ground here, but it’s the wrong move in my opinion as Detroit simply won’t be able to keep pace with an explosive Chiefs offense by running the football. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

This is a tough spot for the Browns, returning home on a short week to face one of the league's best teams, and potentially doing so without a number of key cogs. Cleveland enters this game banged-up after Monday's win over the Jets, losing TE David Njoku and OLB Christian Kirksey to injuries in that game. The Rams come in relatively healthy and off an easier-than-expected home win over the Saints thanks to Drew Brees' injury. The Browns will certainly be up for this opportunity to prove that all of the preseason hype was warranted but the fact is, they haven't looked very good through two games, and I don't believe they can hang around for 60 minutes against a vastly superior team. Yes, Rams QB Jared Goff has struggled in games such as this, on the road in primetime, but that has little bearing here as he's a more experienced quarterback now and figures to have learned how to better handle these situations. Los Angeles is well-positioned to move to 3-0 on Sunday night. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over San Francisco at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Most are quick to write off the Steelers after losing QB Ben Roethlisberger for the season in last week’s home loss to the Seahawks. I’m not sure we’re going to see much of a dropoff in offensive production with backup QB Mason Rudolph at the helm, however. It’s not as if Big Ben was lighting it up for the Steelers in early action this season. In fact, it was Rudolph that gave the team a major spark and moved the football at will after entering last week’s game. It appears Steelers RB James Conner will be good to go this week after an injury scare. Even if he can’t, the Steelers have excellent depth at the position with Jaylen Samuels a dynamic playmaker as well. San Francisco came up with a nice blowout win in Cincinnati last week, moving to a surprising 2-0 on the season. Let’s not get carried away with that result, however, as the Bengals figure to be a bottom-tier team. The Steelers aren’t about to completely shut down the 49ers offense on the road this week, but I do look for them to bounce back from consecutive awful performances against the Patriots and Seahawks in what was certainly a difficult two-game slate to open the campaign. Simply put, we’re being given too many points in a game that could go either way. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on Seattle minus the points over New Orleans at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

New Orleans stays on the west coast for a second straight week after suffering a loss against the Rams in Los Angeles last Sunday afternoon. The Saints will have to go forward without their heart and soul, QB Drew Brees, and that doesn’t bode well as their backups Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill represent a major dropoff in talent (and likely production) as far as I’m concerned. Head coach Sean Payton wouldn’t even confirm that Bridgewater is his starter for this game and that’s not encouraging. Yes, the Saints still have plenty of talent, but this is a tough draw against a Seahawks squad that is off to a terrific start to the season. Seattle’s defensive strength has been against the run in the early going this season, holding the opposition to 3.75 yards per rush. If the Seahawks can keep Saints RB Alvin Kamara in check in this one that will obviously go a long way toward securing a victory. New Orleans hasn’t shown any semblance of a run defense through two games, giving up nearly six yards per rush and things aren’t going to get any easier now that LB Alex Anzalone is sidelined. The Seahawks offensive balance should give the Saints defense fits in this game and it’s hard not to like what we’ve seen from QB Russell Wilson who is off to one of the best starts of his career. He and WR Tyler Lockett are completely in sync right now and the Saints will be hard-pressed to keep them in check here. Take Seattle (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Oakland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Fresh off an ugly loss against the rival Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday this is an ideal ‘get right’ spot for the Vikings back home against the Raiders. Oakland got manhandled by the Chiefs in a game that could have been even more lopsided had Kansas City not taken its foot off the gas last week. Now the Raiders have to travel two time zones east for an early 12 noon local start on Sunday afternoon. There’s not much to get excited about when it comes to the Raiders offense and this is a brutal matchup against what will be a highly-motivated and ultra-talented Vikings defense. Minnesota employs a ‘run-first’ offense to be sure, but that’s fine as RB Dalvin Cook has arguably been the best back in football so far this season. He should have little trouble putting this game away when called upon on Sunday afternoon but before that look for QB Kirk Cousins to bounce back from last week’s no-show in Green Bay with an efficient afternoon under center. Take Minnesota (10*).

My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This is essentially a must-win game for the Browns facing a Jets squad that will be missing its starting quarterback Sam Darnold among others. While New York does still have some upside with RB Le'Veon Bell cleared to play after undergoing an MRI on his shoulder last week, we can count on the Browns focusing their entire defensive gameplan on taking Bell away and forcing backup QB Trevor Siemian to beat them. Note that Bell played 100% of the snaps in the Jets Week 1 loss against Buffalo. It's hard to say if he'll be as explosive here given he didn't play a single snap a year ago. Cleveland's offensive line is terrible. Let's get that straight. I do believe we'll see QB Baker Mayfield turn in a strong bounce-back performance here, however, as his terrific wide receiving corps should have a field day against a weak Jets secondary. RB Nick Chubb is more than capable of putting this game away against an undermanned Jets run defense that is missing a couple of key cogs in C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams. Take Cleveland (10*).

AFC West Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Oakland at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the ‘over’ in the Chiefs season-opening win in Jacksonville and I won’t hesitate to get involved in their Week 2 game as well, laying the points in this spot. Kansas City looked every bit as dominant offensively as it did a year ago last week against the Jaguars, putting up 40 points without barely breaking a sweat. With that being said, the news wasn’t all good as the Chiefs did lose WR Tyreek Hill to an injury that will cost him at least a month of action. It’s obviously not the end of the world, however, as Kansas City is by no means short on offensive depth. WR Sammy Watkins turned in one of the best performances of Week 1 and now it might just be rookie WR Mecole Hardman’s turn to bust out. Regardless how the Chiefs choose to attack the Raiders defense, I’m confident they’ll have plenty of success, noting that they scored 75 points in two meetings with Oakland last season. The Raiders are coming off a win but I certainly didn’t come away overly impressed as they were essentially handed that game by the Broncos, who simply didn’t show up. QB Derek Carr was efficient in the win but again relied on a slow-paced, conservative offensive gameplan – something that simply isn’t going to translate success against a Chiefs squad that can seemingly score at will. Oakland’s Monday night victory was probably the best thing we could have hoped for as it helps to keep this line in check. The Chiefs have blowout potential most weeks and this one is no exception. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Denver minus the points over Oakland at 10:15 pm et on Monday.

The Raiders are saying all the right things after releasing Antonio Brown on Saturday, suggesting they're better off without all the drama Brown had stirred up. It's all smoke and mirrors as far as I'm concerned though. This is a bad Raiders squad, and one that gets considerably worse without Brown. Oakland will have little hope of keeping QB Derek Carr upright without their two starting guards, especially considering they'll be facing the Broncos vaunted pass rush led by sophomore Bradley Chubb and all-world Von Miller. I don't have a great deal of faith in QB Joe Flacco at this stage of his career but I also don't think he'll be asked to do too much for Denver on Monday night, or this season in general. Look for the Broncos to grind away on offense while their defense takes care of the rest, earning them a key AFC West win to open the season. Take Denver (10*).

NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over New England at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

This really is the start of a new era for the Pittsburgh Steelers with both RB Le'Veon Bell and WR Antonio Brown join new teams in the offseason. It's a fresh start for the franchise as far as I'm concerned and while they've certainly struggled here in New England over the years, I am confident they can give the Patriots all they can handle to open the 2019 season. With WR JuJu Smith-Schuster being shadowed by Pats CB Stephon Gilmore I expect the Steelers offense to center around RB James Conner in this game. He was used sparingly in the preseason but looked even stronger than he did during his breakout campaign in the absence of Bell last year. The Patriots certainly aren't immune to slow starts (remember they lost their home opener against the Chiefs following their Super Bowl win two years ago). I'm high on the Steelers defense entering this season and look for them to give Tom Brady some headaches on Sunday night. It's worth noting that New England's usually rock solid offensive line has suffered a couple of key losses and will have its work cut out for it trying to keep the Steelers vaunted pass rush at bay. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on Dallas minus the points over New York at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

I'm confident that the Cowboys will absolutely go off offensively against what projects to be a bad Giants defense on Sunday afternoon. On the flip side, the Dallas defense will get to tee off on Giants QB Eli Manning - quite possibly for the last time as rookie Daniel Jones is ready to take over the starting job at a moment's notice. Giants fans may hold out hope that Saquon Barkley can keep them competitive in this Week 1 NFC East showdown but should the G-Men fall behind early, he'll undoubtedly be relegated to pass catching duty against the Cowboys zone. I'm generally not all that high on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense but I'm certainly willing to make an exception here. Prescott should be given all the time he wants to operate with the Giants pass rush a non-factor (especially after losing Olivier Vernon in the offseason). Zeke may be back but you can count on rookie preseason standout Tony Pollard getting some action here as well, and I'm confident both Cowboys backs will produce and ultimately put this one away with time to spare. Take Dallas (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We’ve seen a considerable adjustment to the spread in this game since opening but I’m not sure the oddsmakers can set the line high enough. The Dolphins may not plan on ‘tanking’ (according to rookie head coach Brian Flores) but you wouldn’t know it by the fire sale they’ve employed in recent weeks. This is a team largely void of top-level talent at all skill positions on offense and supported by a defense that just isn’t going to be very good. Meanwhile, the Ravens ceiling is extremely high this year with a number of key players on both sides of the football set up well for breakout seasons. This is the perfect matchup for Baltimore to tee things up as QB Lamar Jackson and the offense should have little trouble controlling proceedings and ultimately putting this game away in the second half. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Eagles defense should absolutely feast on an overmatched Redskins offense on Sunday afternoon. It’s hard to figure the logic behind starting Case Keenum under center given his recent track record, and the lack of talented offensive weapons around him. The Redskins are very much ‘hoping for the best’ until rookie Dwayne Haskins can take over the starting job. This is a nightmarish matchup for an extremely weak Washington offensive line as perhaps no team can bring the heat on opposing quarterbacks like the Eagles defensive front. Eagles QB Carson Wentz is set up to get off to a terrific start here. While the Redskins have a couple of studs in the secondary, they can’t cover everyone and I certainly anticipate Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson having big games on Sunday afternoon. It’s highly likely that the Eagles defense will be setting their offense up with short fields all day long, and I’m confident we’ll see Wentz take full advantage. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on New England minus the points over Los Angeles at 6:30 pm et on Sunday.

I have a lot of respect for the Rams. I don't believe the missed pass interference call in that win over the Saints tarnishes their appearance in the Super Bowl one bit. But here's the thing - motivation has probably never been higher for the Patriots and Brady and Belichick in particular. I simply don't see this New England squad losing back-to-back Super Bowls, plain and simple. I will say that if the Rams had a healthy Cooper Kupp I may actually be leaning their way here. His absence means that much. RB C.J. Anderson has stolen some of Todd Gurley's thunder for the Rams but I don't expect Belichick's approach to waver one bit - he'll key on Gurley in this one and force Anderson and ultimately QB Jared Goff to beat them. I do expect Goff to play well in this game and the fast track in Atlanta does favor the Rams and their incredible team speed. With that being said, the Patriots come in with a big chip on their shoulder, whether self-manufactured or not, and I look for them to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy once again. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over New England at 6:40 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Chiefs last weekend and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play this week as they host the Patriots in the AFC Championship. Home field means a lot in this matchup. We saw the Chiefs fall just short in a Sunday nighter in Foxborough earlier this season. I give Kansas City credit for sticking around in a hostile environment on that night. Not a lot went right for the Chiefs at times in that game, but they ultimately came just a hair short of pulling off the upset. Now the shoe is on the other foot as Kansas City gets New England at Arrowhead Stadium where it owns one of the strongest home field advantages in football. The Chiefs have been a completely different team here at home, particularly on the defensive side of the football. After manhandling the Colts surging offense last week, I believe they're in excellent position to contain Tom Brady and company this Sunday. On the flip side, the Chiefs can score on anyone and while the Patriots defense is playing well and has certainly been an opportunistic bunch, I'm confident in Kansas City's ability to mix things up through the air and on the ground and ultimately hang a crooked number on the scoreboard on Sunday. The Patriots absolutely annihilated the Chargers last week but won't be spotted a big early lead again here. The Chiefs get their revenge and advance to the Super Bowl. Take Kansas City (10*).

NFL Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Los Angeles at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

We cashed a ticket fading the Saints last week as they escaped with a narrow win over the Eagles. I won't hesitate to switch gears and back New Orleans this time around as they try to defeat the Rams for the second time this season, and advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly a decade. Give the Rams credit as they made the red hot Cowboys look rather punchless in last week's dominant victory at home. But now they face a much tougher challenge as they travel to New Orleans, where the Saints own an incredible home field advantage. We didn't see the Saints bring their 'A' game offensively last week, but their defense more than made up for it with a particularly strong finish, keyed by a critical interception in the game's final minute. While the Saints run defense has been terrific this season, I do think the Rams will make some gains on the ground in this one. With that being said, I believe this game comes down to whether Rams QB Jared Goff can get it done against the Saints secondary, or at least keep pace with the legend on the other side in Drew Brees. I don't see it happening. The Saints offense has another gear that I expect to see it reach this Sunday. Unlike last week when their performance was a little disjointed, I look for New Orleans to come out strong and ultimately pull away for a win and cover to advance to the Super Bowl in Atlanta. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over New Orleans at 4:40 pm et on Sunday.

The Eagles got blown out of the water the last time they faced the Saints right here in New Orleans back on November 18th. However, much like last year, these Eagles are looking a lot different in January. QB Nick Foles has stepped in and relished the underdog role once again this year and I really do feel he’s a guy the entire team rallies around and they believe they can win with him under center. I liked some of the wrinkles the Eagles added to the offensive playbook against the Bears and it’s not as if they’re taking a step up in class, at least as far as the defense they’re facing goes, here in New Orleans. Playing against that vaunted Bears defense on the road was no easy task and the Eagles found a way to do just enough to secure a victory. The Saints are certainly tough to beat here at the Superdome but we don’t actually need the Eagles to win outright to cash this ticket. Keep in mind, during the regular season we saw the Buccaneers win outright and the Browns, Rams and Steelers all give the Saints serious scares here in New Orleans. If we know one thing about the Eagles, they’re not going to back down from a challenge and I’m confident they’ll find a way to hang around in this ball game. There are key matchups the Philadelphia offense can exploit against a good but not great Saints defense, enough so that they can stick around should this turn into a shootout. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on Dallas plus the points over Los Angeles at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

I’ve been a bit slower than most to come around on the Cowboys and did cash a ticket with the Seahawks (barely) in Dallas last Saturday night. With that being said, I see this as a fine matchup for Dallas and actually believe it is capable of pulling off the outright upset. The Rams look like the classic case of a team peaking too early. They closed out the regular season with just two wins in their last four games, and those victories came against the Cardinals and 49ers. As far as I’m concerned, this is a team that peaked in that classic Monday night shootout victory over the Chiefs back in mid-November. Playing last week might have actually been best for the Rams as it would have given them an opportunity to keep building. Instead they go from a standing start against a surging Cowboys squad that believes it can beat anyone right now. Dallas’ offense runs through RB Ezekiel Elliott and I’m confident he’s in for a big game against this beatable Rams defense. I really like what the Cowboys have going for them with Elliott consistently moving the chains and a tremendous defense that doesn’t give up many easy yards. The Rams have had time to add plenty of wrinkles to their offense and we’ll undoubtedly see that on Saturday night but I’m confident in Dallas’ ability to take some punches but remain on its feet. Take Dallas (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Indianapolis at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the Colts in last week’s blowout win in Houston but I won’t hesitate to go the other way and back the Chiefs as they kick off what they hope will be a Super Bowl run on Saturday afternoon. First of all, we know that Kansas City owns one of the strongest home field advantages in football playing at Arrowhead Stadium. For the Colts this will be their third consecutive road game in as many weeks while the Chiefs enjoyed a much-needed off week to open the playoffs. I’ve been high on Indianapolis for much of the season but there’s no question it benefited from a favorable schedule and here takes a big step up in class against a hungry, talented and highly-motivated Chiefs squad. Note that the Chiefs have been a far better defensive team at home, where they hold the opposition to around 18 points per game compared to north of 30 ppg on the road. The Colts offense is good but not great. That unit has certainly been buoyed by the schedule they’ve faced. The same goes for the Colts defense, which runs into a true juggernaut here. I’m confident we’ll see the Chiefs march up and down the field all afternoon long on Saturday. There were concerns after the Kareem Hunt suspension and subsequent release but as we’ve seen across the league in recent years, running back has become somewhat of a ‘plug-and-play’ position and I like what I’ve seen from a rejuvenated Damien Williams in the backfield. Maybe the Colts keep up in a track meet but I’m more confident in the Chiefs getting enough stops on defense as the game progresses to secure a comfortable victory. Take Kansas City (10*).

NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Los Angeles at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll lay the points with the Ravens in this matchup as they catch the Chargers in a favorable matchup, playing an early afternoon game on the east coast on Sunday. The Ravens have already proven they can beat the Chargers, and they did so on the road no less, back before Christmas. Baltimore simply isn’t the same team it was earlier in the season. Since installing QB Lamar Jackson as the starting quarterback, the Ravens have gone run-heavy, in fact they’ve been the most run-heavy team in the league, playing keep-away against every opponent they’ve faced. I expect nothing different here, and I like the fact that they’re facing a Chargers squad that seemingly peaked too early this season, perhaps doing so on that Thursday night win in Kansas City in early December. I have a lot of confidence in the Ravens ability on both sides of the football, with their defense putting together an incredible body of work over the course of the entire season. Their ability to step up and finish off a surging Browns offense on the final season-saving drive last Sunday afternoon was tremendous. Look for them to build off of that performance here. Maybe I would have more confidence in Los Angeles were it not for all of the injuries do-it-all RB Melvin Gordon has dealt with. This is quite simply a beaten up Chargers offense right now, and one I can’t see walking into Baltimore and stealing a win on Sunday. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Dallas at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the points with the Seahawks as they have an excellent shot at ‘upsetting’ the Cowboys in Dallas. The Cowboys inexplicably showed up and played their starters most of the way on the road against the Giants last week (save for RB Ezekiel Elliott) and ultimately pulled out a victory on a miraculous Cole Beasley touchdown pass in the game’s final minute. Now they face a much tougher challenge and do so with a lot of pressure on them to win. Seattle is essentially playing with house money at this point. The Seahawks have exceeded all expectations after cleaning house and getting off to a sluggish start to the season. I love the evolution we’ve seen from the Seahawks offense over the course of the season with RB Chris Carson taking on a feature role. That should serve them well as they go against a Cowboys run defense that is good but not great, and showed signs of wearing down during the stretch run. Unlike the other west coast team on Wild Card Weekend (Chargers), the Seahawks benefit from getting a primetime game, and only have to travel two time zones east at that. Take Seattle (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis plus the points over Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

The Colts are arguably the league’s hottest team entering the playoffs and after winning with them last Sunday night in Tennessee, I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as they travel to face the Texans on Wild Card Saturday. The argument can certainly be made that the Colts are the healthier team entering this matchup and I really like the advantage they have with their passing game against a Texans pass defense that looks a lot better on paper than it does on the field. Houston really benefited from a favorable schedule as far as facing elite passing offenses goes. Here, it will face an uphill climb against a red hot Andrew Luck, who has done a tremendous job spreading the football around in this Colts offense. Defensively, the Colts quietly had one of the better units in the league over the course of the regular season, and this is a group that really came together down the stretch. The Texans are capable of putting some points on the board this game, but I believe they will be playing from behind much of the way, and I’m not convinced that they can make enough clutch plays down the stretch to secure a win. Take Indianapolis (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis minus the points over Tennessee at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

A classic 'win and you're in' scenario sets up here as the Colts and Titans play to decide who marches on to the postseason. I have no problem backing the Colts as a road favorite here as they catch a banged-up Titans squad that has gone about as far as RB Derrick Henry has carried them down the stretch. Keep in mind, the Colts have been stout against the run lately, giving up just north of 3.2 yards per rush over their last seven contests. This game should fall in the hands of Andrew Luck and the Colts offense and with a balanced approach, I believe they can thrive against a Titans defense that is certainly stout, but will be missing one of its key cogs in DT Jurrell Casey. Save for an egg laid in Jacksonville earlier this month, the Colts have been the hottest team in football for the last two-plus months. I believe they're a playoff team and look for them to put a stamp on it in Tennessee on Sunday night. Take Indianapolis (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Oakland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the 'under' in the Raiders Christmas Eve win over the Broncos, and came close to backing Oakland in that game as well. I won't hesitate to switch gears and go against the Raiders as they close out the regular season on the road at Arrowhead on Sunday afternoon, however. The Chiefs have fallen on some tough times down the stretch, dropping three of their last five games heading into this one. Keep in mind, their losses came on the road against the Rams and Seahawks and at home against the Chargers so there was really no shame in any of those defeats. In that mix was also a narrow road win over the Raiders. The relatively close nature of that contest should help keep their guard up on Sunday afternoon. Not as if they need any extra motivation as they're playing for the number one seed in the AFC and could incredibly fall as many as four spots if things don't go their way this week. With the Raiders in a clear letdown spot, and heading into one of the most hostile environments in the NFL, I believe the oddsmakers have this one right. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on New York minus the points over Dallas at 1 pm et on Sunday.

At the tail-end of a long, frustrating season, we should see the Giants go all out to end their campaign on a high note and perhaps give their faithful something to smile about heading into 2019. The gameplan should feature a ton of Saquon Barkley and he should have a field day against a Cowboys squad that has absolutely nothing to play for here. Jerry Jones has said that his 'Boys will be putting their best foot forward here, but I don't see it happening. Expect Dak, Zeke and others to see a series or two of action at most. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Not that we needed any further evidence that the Packers are intent on ending this season on a positive note, but we got it last Sunday in New Jersey as they rallied back late and defeated the Jets in overtime. Now they get another prime opportunity to build on those positive vibes as they return home to face the division-rival Lions. Detroit has won just twice over its last nine games and hasn't scored more than 17 points in a game since mid-November. Even against a very beatable Packers defense, I don't expect the Lions offense to get much done this week either. Having lost three straight meetings in this series, look for the Packers to go all out for the 'W' on Sunday afternoon. Take Green Bay (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We missed the mark with the Bills a couple of weeks ago as they won but failed to cover at home against the Lions. I expect a stronger offensive performance this time around as QB Josh Allen should have a field day against this Miami defense. The Bills defense has quietly been one of the most consistent units in the NFL this season. While we're dealing with a slightly higher number than I would like, I do think we'll see Buffalo control proceedings in this one as Miami peaked in that wild win over the Patriots three weeks ago but has gone in the tank since, going 0-2 ATS, losing those games by a combined 58-24 score. Take Buffalo (10*).