5 Bets to Make this Week—Pigskin Style
It’s an all-football issue of 5 Bets this week with two NFL games, two college games, and a Canadian Football League contest.
Sure, there are other sports this weekend, including baseball and auto racing, but it’s the first week of the NFL season and football is going to be the sole focus of this week’s 5 Bets.
I’m going to predict two pro games, one featuring a star returning to his former team.
Two games in college football are also on my betslip. One is a resurging SEC team, while the other is trying to be dominant in the Pac-12.
And just to show I’m not a snobby American, I take a gander at a key game in the Canadian Football League.
5 Bets to Make this Week
- Miami Dolphins -3.5 over New England Patriots
- Denver Broncos -6.5 over Seattle Seahawks
- Florida Gators ML -210 over Kentucky Wildcats
- USC Trojans -9.5 over Stanford Cardinal
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers -7.5 over Saskatchewan Roughriders
Miami Continues Mastery over Patriots
Sunday, 10 a.m. PT, CBS
I don’t know why but the New England Patriots always seem to have trouble when they play the Miami Dolphins, especially on the road. The Dolphins won last year at home, 33-24, and have been victorious in 2020 (22-12), 2018 (34-33), and 2017 (27-20).
Now Miami hosts New England on Sunday and the line is 3.5 points in their favor. The Dolphins made some improvements on the offensive side of the ball, including wide receiver Chase Edwards.
The Patriots still have to prove to me that Mac Jones is the answer at quarterback. He is a great game manager, but I don’t see him able to carry this team to a victory.
I think Miami continues their home dominance over the Pats.
Prediction: Miami -3.5 over New England at Unibet
Wilson has Successful Denver Debut
Monday, 5:15 p.m. PT, ESPN
Quarterback Russell Wilson left the Seattle Seahawks to go to the Denver Broncos and now his new team will face his old one on Monday Night Football. It’s a great storyline and one that should come out in Wilson’s favor in his return to Seattle.
Wilson has some weapons with receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler. I believe he will find them often against a Seattle secondary that is good but not great.
Meanwhile, Seattle has tabbed Geno Smith as Wilson’s replacement. Definitely a step down and it will show on Monday, especially against a Denver defense that should pester Smith in the pocket.
The line opened at four points but quickly shot up to 6.5. Get it quick before it bumps up again.
Prediction: Denver -6.5 over Seattle at Caesars
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Florida Gets Payback over Kentucky
Saturday, 4 p.m. PT, ESPN
Last year, the Florida Gators went on the road to play the Kentucky Wildcats and were upset. This year they are back in Gainsville, where Kentucky hasn’t won since 1979.
The Gators are led by Anthony Richardson. The quarterback saw his Heisman Trophy odds go from +6000 to +1800 after his winning performance against Utah. It also earned Florida a big move on the AP Top 25 rocketing up to No. 12.
Kentucky will have to stop the very mobile Richardson on Saturday if they’re going to have any chance of winning. Richardson and company ran for 283 yards against a very capable Utah run defense.
The Wildcats will make Richardson throw the ball but that shouldn’t be a problem. He definitely is a legit dual threat.
With that said I don’t like the line of 5.5. Laying that many points makes me nervous. The odds aren’t great but I am going to go with the Gators on the moneyline.
Prediction: Florida ML -210 at bet365
USC Piles up Points at Stanford
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. PT, ABC
The USC Trojans have had trouble with the Stanford Cardinal in the past, losing four out of the last five times in Palo Alto. This team will try to shed that image on Saturday.
Both the Trojans and Cardinal won big last week. USC throttled the Rice Owls 66-14, while Stanford beat up on the Colgate Raiders, 42-10.
While USC head coach Lincoln Riley is known for his offense, the defense got 21 of the 66 points last week. Stanford had three fumbles and an interception last week. I like the Trojans’ defense to have similar results as USC scores often to keep this game out of reach.
Prediction: USC -8.5 at BetMGM
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Blue Bombers Keep Rolling Against Roughriders
Saturday, 2 pm. PT, TSN, ESPN+
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have one loss on the season, losing in overtime to the Montreal Alouettes on August 11. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are 6-6.
The Roughriders did play the Blue Bombers tight in the first meeting last week, losing 20-18. The rematch, however, should turn out a little more in Winnipeg’s favor.
Blue Bombers quarterback Cody Fajardo didn’t get a passing TD in the last game but that will change. Expect Fajardo to have a big game and Winnipeg to easily cover the 7.5 points.
Prediction: Winnipeg -7.5 over Saskatchewan
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