Zolak & Bertrand: The Football Card – Week 5
The crew owns a record of 12-8 after Week 4 with Beetle, T-Bone, and Hardy all coming off wins. Zo and Milliken weren’t so lucky. Just a quick refresher on last week’s picks:
Zo had taken the Bengals (-2.5) over the Titans. Beetle picked the Ravens (-2.5) to cover against the Browns. Hardy put his money on the Bills (-2.5) against the Dolphins. T-Bone put his hopes in the Jaguars (3) against the Falcons and finally Milliken had the Chiefs (-8.5) over the Jets.
One of the biggest questions we get each week is what betting lines do we make our picks from. In past years, sports betting wasn’t allowed in Massachusetts, but that barrier has finally been broken down. Check out Bet MGM to see the exact same lines the guys are looking at.
Scott Zolak (3-1): Ravens @ Steelers – Ravens (-4.5)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 27: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on after the preseason game against the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Zo isn’t a fan of the Steelers offense whatsoever. Even with the Ravens going on the road, he sees this as a looming beatdown for Mike Tomlin and his crew as they try to get Kenny Pickett back on track.
Beetle (3-1): Cowboys @ 49ers – 49ers (-3.5)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 22: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi’s Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The 49ers have been the best team in the NFL to start the season and that won’t change on Sunday against the Cowboys. Just because Mike McCarthy and his squad railroaded the Patriots a week ago, doesn’t mean anything against a roster with this kind of talent. The loss of Trevon Diggs looms big in matchups like this.
Hardy (3-1): Saints @ Patriots – Patriots (-1)
Oct 1, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Patriots have been getting the crap kicked out of them to start the year, but Hardy thinks they’ll get their second win of the season on Sunday. Mac Jones has to show some fight with his career on the line. The losses of Christian Gonzalez and Matt Judon are scary, but if J.C. Jackson is suited up, he should provide a bit of a spark for the defense against an injured Derek Carr.
T-Bone (3-1): Jets @ Broncos – Jets (+2.5)
Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
T-Bone doesn’t care about the Broncos comeback last week. Both teams have been a disaster to start the season, but the Jets have some momentum after Zach Wilson put on a show last week. He bets the Jets keep this game close, even while dealing with the altitude in Denver.
Milliken (0-4): Saints @ Patriots – UNDER 39.5
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 01: Kyle Dugger #23 of the New England Patriots celebrates an interception for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Milliken is desperate for a win, so he’s putting his money on two of the worst offenses in the NFL not being able to put points on the board. Patriots and Saints are the only teams in the NFL not to score 20 points in a game yet. Add in Derek Carr still battling a bad shoulder and a struggling Mac Jones that was benched last week, and this should be a low scoring affair.
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Check out R.J. Bell’s thoughts on our picks:
4 simple betting tips you need to know, according to Dan Lifshatz
LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 02: The betting line and some of the nearly 400 proposition bets for Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos are displayed at the Race & Sports SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on February 2, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The newly renovated sports book has the world’s largest indoor LED video wall with 4,488 square feet of HD video screens measuring 240 feet wide and 20 feet tall. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
People attend a soft opening of the Mohegan Sun Sportsbook Thursday where a 140-foot video wall has been built at the 11,000 square-foot betting area.
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