Bills are ’dogs who should be favorites
Dave Tuley, senior reporter at VSiN.com, is in his fourth season with The Post’s Bettor’s Guide. His handicapping pieces appear in VSiN’s online magazine, Point Spread Weekly.
Bills (+3) over CHIEFS: I love Patrick Mahomes as much as the next football fan, but I’m not so sure the right team is favored here. The oddsmakers obviously have to stick with their power ratings and also the public’s desire to bet the Chiefs, but Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense (No. 5 in yards per game) is playing just as well if not better than the Chiefs (No. 2 in yards per game, but committing too many turnovers) so far this season. Buffalo’s defense (with two shutouts and ranking No. 1 in yards allowed per game with the Chiefs ranking No. 31) is far superior. But, hey, we’ll take any points they’re willing to give us.
Lions (+9) over VIKINGS: The Lions are clearly the best 0-4 team in the NFL (though Jaguars are the only other winless team), but they’re also better than several 1-3 teams. They covered in losses to the 49ers (barely) and Ravens (should have won that game), and the loss to the Packers was more competitive than the 35-17 final score indicates. I was disappointed they came up short against the Bears, but I’m back on them this week against a Minnesota team that looked awful in an ugly 14-7 loss to the Browns. Now, maybe we’re not giving the Cleveland defense the credit it deserves in holding the Vikings down, but we expect the Lions to be able to stay within a touchdown.
LAST WEEK: 1-1, Cardinals (W), Vikings (L)
SEASON: 5-3.