EARN GANG OF GREEN
Tough travel will make Orange new slack
YOGI Berra was ruminating about baseball when he said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” Wonder how he would have adapted that famous saying for the NFL, where games aren’t necessarily over when they’ve ended. Some have ramifications that carry over into the following week, and we’re banking on that happening with the epic ChiefsBroncos on Monday night. JETS (Pick) over Broncos: Denver takes the long trip east for an early start (11 a.m. for Broncos body clocks) following the death struggle with Kansas City. It wasn’t so much that it was a hard-hitting battle, but having chased the fleet-footed Chiefs all night at high altitude has to have left a mark on the defense. Beyond that, the Jets have scored 12, 17 and 12 points in straight up/ against the spread losses since smashing the Lions, 48-17, on opening night. But it’s hard to get “beyond that” given the circumstances. Also, the tenor of this Jets offense will change if and when Todd Bowles takes the training wheels off of Sam Darnold. Jag uars (+ 3) over CHIEFS: Andy Reid’s team doesn’t have to travel cross-country, but it has an elite opponent laying in wait at Arrowhead. Having won Monday night to remain undefeated is a doublenegative for this betting situation. The Jaguars will be without Leonard Fournette, but knowing that going in is a plus for Doug Marrone, who will unleash the speed unit with T.J. Yeldon and Corey Grant on the suspect and tired Chiefs defense.
Giants (+ 6 ¹/₂) over PAN
THERS: Carolina has won and covered both home games this season, beating the Cowboys by eight and Bengals by 10. The previous two seasons, though, the Panthers were 5-8 ATS as favorites. This selection is more about the Giants, though. Olivier Vernon and Eli Apple change the whole script for defensive coordinator James Bettcher. And now t hat t he offensive line is doing a better job protecting Eli Manning, Pat Shurmur will be able to try to find the best combined usage of Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. BILLS (+ 4 ¹ /₂ ) over Titans: Tennessee has won its past three games by three points apiece. Every game’s a dogfight. Expecting the Bills to be live home underdogs in this spot. Dolphins (+ 6) over BEN
GALS: Even counting their destruction last week at New England,g, the Dolphins are 8-3-1 ATS in Ryan Tannehill’s past 12 starts. The Bengals are great underdogs, but this is a lot of points to give with TE Tyler Eifert out for the season and RBs Giovani Bernard and Joe Mixon banged up. Ravens (-3) over BROWNS: The Ravens are in a similar situation to the Chiefs, coming off a prime time, divisional road win. Not afraid to lay the small spread here, though, with a team that already has posted wins of 44, 13 and 12 points this season. This is a wellbalanced t e am whi c h , for that reason, may be less susceptible to a l et-
down. Also, the Ravens have won and covered nine of their past 10 visits to Cleveland. LIONS ( Pick) over Pack
ers: The Pack lost by two touchdowns at Washington in their lone road game this season, and except for their whitewash of the Bills last week, everything’s been a struggle. Matt Patricia had a strong game plan in defeating the Patriots, and would have left Dallas with a “W” if the defense didn’t get gashed by Ezekiel Elliott. STEELERS (-3) over Falcons: Atlanta gave up 80 points over its past two games, home losses to the Saints and Bengals. The defense appears injured beyond repair, and the best Falcons backers can hope for is an all-time shootout between Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger. Raiders (+5) over CHARGERS: The Raiders put up 45 points against a good Browns defense, and they should at least be able to hang around against a Chargers team that has yielded 30 ppg and doesn’t enjoy much of a home-field advantage.
Vikings (+3) over EAGLES: Rematch of the NFC title game. This time the Vikings have a better quarterback (Kirk Cousins over Case Keenum). Of course the Eagles have Carson Wentz back, but the team around him is hurting, with five key players — Derek Barnett, Fletcher Cox, Corey Clement, Alshon Jeffery and Darren Sproles — all missing practice midweek,
Cardinals (+4) over 49ERS: After losing their first two games by 18 and 34 points, the Cardinals fell in their next two by 2 and 3, covering both spreads. Thinking David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Josh Rosen can put together an effort that puts one in the win column finally.
Rams (-7) over SEAHAWKS: This legion now figures to be officially doomed now that Earl Thomas is gone with a broken leg. Can’t see them stopping this nuclear offense of the Rams, unless all of the 12th Men take the field.
Cowboys (+3) over TEXANS: Elliott is rolling with 127 and 152 rushing yards in the past two games. It also was encouraging for the Cowboys that they were able to beat the Lions last week without LB Sean Lee.
MONDAY
SA INTS ( - 6 ¹ /₂ ) over Redskins: Last November, the Saints erased a 31-16 defi- cit with less than six minutes to go and beat the ’Skins, 34-31 in OT. This game has been on Sean Payton’s radar since the schedule came out, so expect more of a 60-minute effort from the Saints here.
BEST BETS: Steelers, Ravens, Raiders.
LOCK OF THE WEEK: Steelers (Locks 3-1 in 2018).
LAST WEEK: 9-4-2 overall, 2-1 Best Bets.
THURSDAY: Patriots (W).