The NFL season is down to three games and two of them are on Sunday and 5 Bets has thoughts on both the AFC and NFC Championships.
I also take a look at an Italian soccer match up in Serie A with a team that is fresh off a scandal that cost them 15 points in the standing.
The PGA Tour is back at Torrey Pines in San Diego and I like a golfer that had a strong finish at his last event.
I managed to sneak in an NHL pick for my last bet. A team from the east has been running hot lately and I expect that to continue.
5 Bets to Make this Week
- Philadelphia Eagles -2.5 over San Francisco 49ers
- Cincinnati Bengals -1.5 over Kansas City Chiefs
- Monza-Juventus +325 to tie
- Collin Morikawa +1400 to win Farmers Insurance Open
- New Jersey Devils -118 over Nashville Predators
Eagles Win Tight One over 49ers
There is nothing more I would like to see than Brock Purdy lead the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl over the Philadelphia Eagles. I just don’t believe it’s going to happen.
Purdy’s backstory has been incredible, coming from out of nowhere to take the 49ers to the NFC Championship game. It is definitely one of the best feel good stories of the year.
Now, however, he is going from comfy Levi’s Stadium to the hostile environment of Lincoln Financial Field and some of the most aggressive fans in all of sports.
How Purdy does will depend in large part to how coach Kyle Shanahan manages the offense. If they can succeed with short passes to George Kittle and Deebo Samuels they have a chance.
The Eagles, though, look like a team of destiny. This line went from opening at a pick ‘em to Philadelphia -2.5, so I’m not the only one who has this opinion.
Prediction: Eagles -2.5 over 49ers (-110 at UniBet)
Watch: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, FOX, FuboTV
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Chiefs can’t Survive Mahomes’ Wobbly Ankle
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ankle injury has been the main topic of the team’s AFC Championship showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
What I think people should be talking about is how the Bengals have basically owned Kansas City the last eight times these two teams have met.
Cincinnati defeated the Chiefs three times in 2022, including last year’s AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. They won four of the last five and seven of the last eight.
That was with Mahomes on two good legs. How do you think he’s going to fare with one bad wheel? We might be seeing backup Chad Henne out there and if that happens, the Bengals will cruise to their second straight Super Bowl appearance.
Prediction: Bengals -1.5 over Chiefs (-110 at Caesars)
Watch: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS, FuboTV
Juventus Still Reeling from Scandal
The Juventus soccer team found itself in a scandal regarding transfers and were docked 15 points by the Italian Football Association’s governing body.
That knocks the team from third place to 10th in the Serie A standings. While no players were suspended, current team administrators. Because of the penalty, however, several players might be available to transfer to another team.
While Manager Massimiliano Allegri said nothing has changed, the team drew a tie in their first game after the penalty was announced. Will the shock of the drop in the standings affect the players or will they bounce back and try and salvage the season?
Now they face Monza for the second time in 10 days on Sunday. The last time the two met was in the Round of 16 in Coppa Italia and they won 2-1.
This might be a different result. Monza is +525 on the moneyline to upset Juventus but I believe a draw is more likely. The odds are still attractive for a tie at +300.
Prediction: Monza-Juventus ML (+300 at Bet365)
Watch: Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, Paramount+, FuboTV
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Morikawa Fresh after Break
Collin Morikawa’s last event was the Tournament of Champions in Maui three weeks ago and the 25-year-old finished second. He should be ready to start his mainland portion of the tour’s West Coast Swing at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open.
It couldn’t be a better place. In 2021, when the US Open was at Torrey Pines, Morikawa finished tied for fourth.
That was on a much tougher golf course. Torrey will still play tight, but Morikawa’s driving accuracy, which is third best on Tour, and his greens in regulation percentage of 78.8%, also third, will definitely work to his advantage.
Plus, at +1400 odds the value is just too tempting to pass up.
Prediction: Morikawa win Farmers (+1400 at BetMGM)
Watch: Thursday-Sunday, various times, Golf Channel, ESPN+, FuboTV
Devils Win Again on Road
Before starting their three-game road trip, the New Jersey Devils took a 3-2 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. They look for two wins in a row on Thursday against the Nashville Predators.
The offense for the Devils has been really strong. They rank sixth in the NHL in goals scored and have scored four or more goals in six of their last 10 games.
Nashville won the first meeting this season against New Jersey but has really struggled lately, both on offense and defense. They are 27th in goals scored per game. Defensively, they are 13th in goals against per game.
I think the Devils will make it two in a row on Thursday.
Prediction: Devils ML over Predators (-118 at BetRivers)
Watch: Thursday, 8:05 p.m. ET, Bally Sports South, FuboTV
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