Bay Area foes scuffling for top draft pick
The Battle of the Bay Area in prime time is more like a skirmish for a high pick in next April’s draft, perhaps even the first overall selection.
Yep, that’s how bad the Raiders (1-6) and 49ers (1-7) have been so far. When they meet on Thursday night, how much of the nation will show interest is problematic. How much the folks by the bay and its environs would care is debatable. San Francisco is a three-point favourite. Opportunity knocks this week for ... Raiders, 20-13 Los Angeles Chargers (+1½) at Seattle Seahawks getting physical, remain resourceful, should handle this one at home.
❚ Best Bet: Seahawks, 27-20 Pittsburgh (+3) at Baltimore Steelers hitting their stride in time for big rivalry renewal.
❚ Upset Special: Steelers, 23-20 Los Angeles Rams (+2) at New Orleans Saints will put the Big Hurt on unbeaten Rams in the Big Easy.
❚ Saints, 36-32 Atlanta (+2) at Washington Strange line; Redskins should be bigger favourite. What does Las Vegas know?
❚ Redskins, 21-20 Houston (+2½) at Denver Texans are far better, but altitude a factor here.
❚ Texans, 28-22 Tampa Bay (+7) at Carolina Panthers coming off two impressive victories.
❚ Panthers, 35-30 Chicago (-8½) at Buffalo Wonder if Bills will be favoured again this season.
❚ Bears, 22-6 Kansas City (-8½) at Cleveland K.C.’s not exactly the team for any new coach to make debut against.
❚ Chiefs, 30-24 Green Bay (+6) at New England Packers aren’t scared of anyone. Neither are Patriots.
❚ Patriots, 37-27 Detroit (+4) at Minnesota First of three straight division tests for Vikings.
❚ Vikings, 27-24 Tennessee (+6½) at Dallas, Monday night Man, has Tennessee been a disappointment.
❚ Cowboys, 20-19 New York Jets (+3) at Miami As usual, New England’s patsies are sinking in AFC East.
❚ Dolphins, 30-16
2018 RECORD:
❚ Last Week: Against spread (8-6). Straight up (12-2)
❚ Season Totals: Against spread (56-58-4). Straight up: (81-38-2)
❚ Best Bet: 3-5 against spread, 7-1 straight up
❚ Upset special: 5-3 against spread, 4-3-1 straight up