Wentz, Eagles get edge vs. Rams
Philly offense good bet, especially in run game
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz could pass for the twin brother of Prince Harry, but Philadelphia bettors were made paupers in Sunday’s 24-10 loss at Seattle.
That’s been a rarity this season, as Wentz and the Eagles remain NFL royalty at the betting windows, tied with the Vikings for the league’s best record against the spread at 9-3.
Philadelphia also is tied with Minnesota for the NFC’S best record overall at 10-2 and needs to get back on the winning track to keep pace in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
The Eagles are 1½-point underdogs at the Los Angeles Rams (9-3) after opening as 2½-point favorites. Philadelphia has been underdogs in only three other games, winning outright at Carolina and at the Los Angeles Chargers while losing in Week 2 at Kansas City.
The Eagles outgained the Seahawks by 115 yards in a tough night game in Seattle, but Wentz, who passed for 348 yards, lost a fumble at the 1-yard line.
Philadelphia, which stayed on the West Coast this week, should find the atmosphere a bit more inviting on a Sunday afternoon at the Los Angeles Coliseum, where Eagles fans will be in abundance.
In a showdown of the league’s two highest-scoring teams and the top two picks in the 2016 NFL draft, we’ll back Wentz over Rams quarterback Jared Goff, whom Los Angeles selected No. 1.
Besides quarterback, Philadelphia has the edge in the running game and on defense, with the No. 1 rushing defense and No. 3 total defense. The high-flying Rams were slowed this season by similar stout defenses in losses to the Vikings and Seahawks and a win over the Jaguars.
The Eagles, who have the NFL’S No. 3 offense and defense, are second in the NFL in rushing and the Rams are 27th in run defense. Look for Wentz and company to bounce back.
Four more plays for Week 14 (home team in CAPS):
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Minnesota is riding an eight-game win streak and seven-game cover streak and needs to keep winning to clinch home-field advantage in the playoffs, which culminates with Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. The Vikings, who have a top-five offense and defense, completely shut down the Falcons in a 14-9 victory and also grounded the Rams in a 24-7 victory. Cam Newton is the NFL’S 25th-rated passer, and Case Keenum is No. 8. Minnesota is on an extended 40-15 ATS tear.
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This is purely a play on emotion, as we expect an inspired effort from Eli Manning in his return to starting quarterback and from New York’s defense, which wants to win for interim coach Steve Spagnuolo, its beloved former defensive coordinator. Before Dallas’ rout of the Redskins, it had been outscored 92-22 in three straight losses without Ezekiel Elliott.
Vikings (-2½) over PANTHERS: GIANTS (+4) over Cowboys: 49ers (+3) over TEXANS:
■ San Francisco has found its franchise quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, who completed 26 of 37 passes for 293 yards and directed five scoring drives — albeit for five field goals — in Sunday’s 15-14 win at Chicago. Houston was already banged up before it added several more players to its injured list while suffering its fourth loss in five games at Tennessee.
■ The sharp money is on Kansas City in this crucial AFC West clash of 6-6 teams. Oakland was in dire need of a win in the first meeting and got one in a wild 31-30 comeback. Both teams are desperate for a win here, and we’ll go with the Chiefs, who have covered four of the past six meetings and six of nine and are on a 7-1 ATS run vs. the AFC West. The winner of Kansas City games is 12-0 ATS this season.
■ 2-3 against the spread ■ 33-32
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.
CHIEFS (-4) over Raiders: Last week: Season:
The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall provides the Review-journal with NFL tech notes and trends from Goldsheet. com:
■ Detroit at Tampa Bay: The Lions lead the league with a 9-3 over-under record this season. The Buccaneers are on a 4-10-1 slide against the spread. Edge: Over and slight to Lions.
■ Chicago at Cincinnati: The Bengals are on a 4-0 ATS spurt but are on an 11-18-1 ATS slide overall in the regular season. The Bears are on an 0-4 spread skid and 5-1 under run. Edge: Under.
■ Indianapolis at Buffalo:
The Colts are on a 4-0 under surge, but the over is 11-3 in their past 14 road games. The over is 4-1 in the Bills’ past five home games. Edge: Over.
■ Seattle at Jacksonville:
The Seahawks are on a 2-6-1
ATS slide on the road and 4-1 under run away from home. The Jaguars are on a 5-1 under spurt after an extended 27-12 over run. Edge: Slight to under.
■ Oakland at Kansas City: The Raiders are on an 8-3 ATS run at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs are on a 1-6 ATS skid, and Oakland is on a 2-7-1 spread slide. Edge: Raiders and over.
■ Minnesota at Carolina: The Vikings have won their past eight games and covered their past seven. The Panthers are on a 3-8 ATS slide at home. Minnesota is on a 4-2 over uptick. Edge: Slight to Vikings and over.
■ Green Bay at Cleveland: The Browns are on an extended 9-28-1 spread skid. The Packers have covered their past two road games with Brett Hundley and are on a 4-1 over run. Edge: Packers and slight to over.
■ San Francisco at Houston: The Niners are on a 5-2 ATS run on the road after a win at Chicago. Each team is on a 4-1 under run. Edge: Under and 49ers.
■ Washington at Los
Angeles Chargers: The Chargers are on a 6-2 ATS uptick. The Redskins are on a 12-5 ATS run on the road and riding an extended 25-8 over run. Edge: Over and slight to Redskins.
■ New York Jets at Denver: The Broncos are on a 0-8 slide straight up and ATS. The Jets are on a 7-2-1 ATS surge. Edge: Jets.
■ Tennessee at Arizona: The Titans are on a 1-4 ATS skid on the road. Tennessee is on an extended 20-10-1 over run, and the Cardinals are on a 3-0 over spurt. Edge: Over and slight to Cardinals.
■ Philadelphia at Los
Angeles Rams: The Eagles saw their nine-game win streak and eight-game cover streak end in last week’s loss at Seattle. The Rams are on a 6-1 run straight up and ATS. The Eagles are on a 9-4-1 over run on the road. Edge: Over.
■ Dallas at New York Giants: The Giants are on a 1-4 spread skid at home. The under is on a 5-2 spurt in New York games and on a 14-6 run overall. The past three meetings have gone under. Edge: Under.
■ Baltimore at Pittsburgh: The Ravens are 4-1 ATS as a true visitor this season (doesn’t include loss to the Jaguars in London) and have covered the past two meetings at Heinz Field. The under is on a 5-2 run in the series and is 8-3-1 in Steelers games this season. Edge: Ravens and slight to under.
■ New England at Miami (Monday): The Patriots are 7-1 ATS during their eight-game winning streak. The Dolphins are on a 1-4-1 ATS skid but have won three of the past four meetings in Miami. The Dolphins are on a 6-0 over run and a 19-9 over uptick overall. Five of the past seven meetings have gone over. Edge: Patriots and over.
Las Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall is editor of The Gold Sheet (Goldsheet.com).