Betting expert @SBJohn12 previews this week’s NFL MNF matchup and gives out his favorite bets!
Week 13 comes to a close with our third Monday night doubleheader this year, our second thanks to COVID delays. We just need to go to this permanently right? We’ve seen shotgun scheduling all year in college football and the NFL, an early and a late Monday night game is what we need. One game on Thursday, eight games at noon, four games at 315, one game Sunday night, two games on Monday, who says no? You can hire me for $690 an hour Roger. On to tonight’s matchups!
Our first game is between the undefeated Steelers and the ever-scrappy Football Team, who are trying to ride Alex Smith’s historic comeback to a playoff berth in the dumpster fire NFC East. This will be a great test for the mental fortitude of Pittsburgh, facing a team who’s won 3 of 5, fresh off a Thanksgiving Day feast at JerryWorld. Because of this, Washington will be coming off ten days rest, while Pittsburgh has a quick turnaround with only five days off. I don’t think Washington has the firepower to keep up with Pittsburgh, but the Steelers are going to have to adjust defensively after the season-ending injury to Bud Dupree. CB Steven Nelson is also Doubtful, and of course Ben Roethlisberger has his obligatory Questionable as well. Both defenses are top ten in red zone scoring percentage, third down conversion rate, and YPP, but Football Team’s unit is unquestionably healthier going in to tonight.
The primetime game tonight is another decent game between the Bills of Buffalo and the Niners of San Francisco, displaced to Glendale. On paper, this seems like a great matchup for Buffalo, who have one of the best offenses in the league this year. But this game has a lot of “lookahead” potential for Buffalo, with the Steelers coming to Buffalo for the Sunday night game next week. When was the last Sunday night game in Buffalo? I’m 30 and I honestly can’t remember, can’t be within the last ten years, right? Regardless, the Bills are off to the West Coast to face the banged-up Niners, who just keep chugging along with injury after injury; and now have been displaced for at least the rest of the month to Arizona. Fortunately for San Francisco, Deebo Samuel was back last week and looked fantastic, and they will need him in a big way to keep pace tonight.
We split last Monday night’s bets as we watched in horror as Pete Carroll’s addiction to getting cute at the goal line reared its ugly head again. We’ve only got a handful more opportunities this year, we’ve got to make them count! I can’t believe I’m typing this, but I’m liking an NFC East team against the league’s only undefeated. Call me a masochist, I am just not a believer in Pittsburgh. It’s tough to say “they haven’t played anyone” after sweeping Baltimore, but I’ll do it anyway (and I’ll say the same tomorrow after they inevitably win 41-13 tonight). I think the rest is a big factor with such inconsistent scheduling this year, and with fewer practices this week, it’s going to be tougher to implement new personnel in Pittsburgh’s defense. In Arizona, I like the Bills to win a squeaker, and don’t think Nick Mullens will have enough to keep pace. Buffalo’s defense has taken a step back this year, and this is a great opportunity to shut down a backup QB and gain some momentum before next week’s matchup with the Steelers.
Monday Night Football Bets
Washington +12.5/Buffalo +7 6-point teaser -110
Buffalo ML +100
Washington ML +240 .5x
Season Total: 25-28-2 -3.57x
