Another week, another full day of football action. There are many exciting games all around the league, but some of them have more interesting lines than others. Those are the ones we focus on in today’s article.
The below sections cover our favorite bets on the day. It does that by explaining each line, going over who we like from that line, as well as the reasons or statistics behind every choice.
1. Giants (+110) @ Saints (-130), Pick (Giants +1.5)
The Giants might have kicked off the season as one of the most disappointing teams in the league, but they found new life last week. Jaxson Dart came into his first ever start with fresh legs and sparked a squad that appeared to be dead in the water. Not only did he lead an upset against the 3-0 Chargers, but he did it with plenty of fire.
The rookie quarterback didn’t have the best passing day (111 yards), but he ran well and found open receivers time and time again. The Giants defensive line also continued to wreak havoc. Both should be enough to beat the Saints.
New Orleans has had a tough season, and there’s no reason to expect it to get better. The Giants might be on the road, and without star receiver Malik Nabers, but they have a much better squad that’s completely reinvigorated. In games with tight spreads, we always roll with the team who has the momentum.
2. Broncos (+190) @ Eagles (-225), Pick (Eagles -4.5)
The Broncos are an interesting squad this year. Bo Nix has fallen off compared to last season’s form, but the defense remains stout and the running game is strong. Even so, the Eagles are a well-oiled machine that appear to be gelling at the right time.
Philadelphia isn’t just a power house, they are a power house that knows how to win games. They grind out the clock, play tough defense up front, and run the ball down their opponents’ throats. That style of game plan is exactly the script that Denver doesn’t want to see.
The Broncos also like grinding opponents down, but they don’t have the same personnel as the Eagles. They have some playmakers, but no one that can match Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. While this one might be close early by design, the Eagles should pull away down the stretch and cover the spread.
3. Titans (+360) @ Cardinals (-500), Pick (Cardinals -7.5)
It’s always hard giving away 7.5 points, especially when the team giving it is as up-and-down as the Cardinals. However, Arizona is at home this week against what could well be the worst team in the NFL.
The Titans don’t have much going for them. They have a rookie quarterback behind a team that hasn’t been able to get on the same page. The defense (ranked 2nd in points against) does a good job in the first half of games, but the offense (second worst in the league) is unable to get anything downfield or establish the run. That allows teams to wear them down over time.
This line mainly comes down to Kyler Murray. He struggles against elite teams, but will have plenty of chances. The Titans turn the ball over a lot, and the Cardinals are averaging one turnover per game. That dichotomy should give Arizona’s offense plenty of chances, and enable them to win by more than one touchdown.
4. Commanders (+125) @ Chargers (-145), Pick (Chargers -2.5)
We finish our bets today with what should be a very tight contest between the Commanders and Chargers. Both teams have had solid starts to the season. They have strong coaching staffs, love to air out the ball, and rely on great role players. The Chargers just have a few advantages that should allow them to cover.
The biggest is that this will be Jayden Daniels first start since getting injured. The dynamic quarterback relies on moving his legs and getting around in the pocket, both of which could be hindered. Most quarterbacks also tend to take a game or two to get back to true form, which could spell trouble against the Chargers strong secondary.
On top of that, Los Angeles (and Justin Herbet) loves to throw downfield. The Commanders give up the 12th-most yards per game to opposing teams, which means they could easily surrender some big plays. The game is going to be tight, but in such cases we like going with the better coach. That’s Jim Harbaugh in this one.
All lines courtesy of ESPN Bets.
Daily picks from betting experts on odds boosts and casino promos
