Despite winning four straight games, neither the Bengals nor the Ravens are the hottest team in the NFL.
After their bye weeks, the Jaguars, who are among the top-10 Super Bowl favorites, will take on the 49ers at home on Sunday in an attempt to extend their winning run to five games.
San Francisco is a 3-point favorite despite having lost and failed to cover three straight games. The 49ers were the top pick by Westgate SuperBook vice president Jay Kornegay, who has led the Review-Journal NFL Challenge with a 28-15-2 record (65.1 percent) and is 8-2 against the spread the past two weeks.
According to Kornegay, “The Niners are coming off a much-needed reset.” Conversely, the Jaguars have one of the weakest pass-blocking lineups in the entire NFL. The 49ers are now stronger in that area after adding Chase Young. The Jaguars will not be happy with that matchup.
“The Niners are still among the top three or four teams in the league, in my opinion, despite the three losses. Their coaching staff is fantastic. They’re probably going to make some changes.
I questioned bookmakers about their shrewd plays and expert handicappers on their top football picks.
The selections in this column are 44-23 (65.7 percent) on the season and went 10-7 ATS the previous week.
Sharp acts
Director of South Point Sportsbook Chris Andrews said he placed smart wagers on the following teams: the Lions -2½ (now -3), the Texans +7 (now +6¬), the Saints -2¬ (now -3), and the Ravens -6 (now -6½).
According to Ed Salmons, vice president of risk at SuperBook, the Westgate also accepted aggressive bets on the Lions, the Steelers -3 (which is still -3) and the Cardinals +2½ (which is now +1½).
In addition, the SuperBook accepted well-informed college football wagers on Illinois -6 (now -6½), Pittsburgh -2 (now -3), Temple +7½ (now +7), and North Carolina -11 to -13½ (now -14½).
NFL wager to win
In the final three weeks of the RJ NFL Challenge, professional handicapper Kelly Stewart is 14-5-1 ATS and tied for second place at 25-19-1. The Broncos (+7½) against the Bills on “Monday Night Football” is her best wager.
“Monday night is the ideal time to try and middle this game. Stewart (@kellyinvegas) stated, “Tie the Bills -1½ into teasers and come back with the Broncos getting over a touchdown.” The Broncos narrowly defeated the Chiefs and survived the Packers before their bye. Has this group made progress lately? Perhaps. However, this isn’t a wager on them. This wager is made against the shattered and bruised Bills.
“After a loss, this team usually comes back to win. however, by narrow margins, and against opponents like the Giants, Denver, and Bucs. Look for Russell Wilson to dunk and dunk his way to an ATS victory, as Buffalo’s defense is utterly destroyed.
Top college picks
Leading the RJ College Challenge with an ATS record of 27-21-2 is professional handicapper Dana Lane. Kentucky (+11) is his preference over Alabama.
“It seems like a trap, this number. Lane (@DanaLaneSports) stated, “I thought Alabama would be within two touchdown range.” “I believe the Wildcats will run the ball, which they do rather well even if they rely more on passes than passes. The Cats will cover this number if Ray Davis, the running back, is a factor.”
Paul Stone, a professional bettor from Texas, believes Colorado will cover as a 10½-point home underdog versus Arizona.
Arizona has defeated ranked opponents in three straight games while being the underdog in the betting. The team is headed by redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Fifita.
Now, the Wildcats, who have dropped five straight games, are double-digit road favorites against coach Deion Sanders and the struggling Buffaloes in Boulder.
Stone (@PaulStoneSports) stated, “Arizona is red hot, but now changes roles and bears the burden of being a double-digit favorite on the road.” “Colorado has definitely cooled off, but in its last two games, it has allowed backdoor touchdowns with late touchdowns. I think the points are just too appealing because this game would have been available three weeks ago.
Salmons took Georgia State +3 (now +2) in his wager.
He remarked, “I liked Appalachian State as a team early in the year, but they just seemed to underachieve.” “Last week, they managed to put together a solid performance. Georgia State appears to be moving in the other way. App State has always been the favorite series in all of time. Points for me, I felt that was a fair wager.
Additionally, Salmons bet Navy +4 (now +2½) against Alabama-Birmingham.
He stated, “It probably would have been Navy -1 or -2 if you lined this game two weeks ago.” “Never before has UAB played Navy. The other league teams are all accustomed to Navy.
