Tom Herman's teams are 13-0 against the spread as an underdog. Tim Warner/Getty Images
Finished 2-1-1 last weekend, with the only loss being a $25 parlay. Overall a profit- and during the grind it out weeks of football season we will take it. Never force anything when you are down, and always try and analyze your mistakes and make corrections. Last week my mistake was an emotional bias towards the Chiefs – a line that told me to stay away or play Pittsburgh.
It is going to be a huge Saturday night in sports. USC/Notre Dame, Michigan/Penn State, and Astros Game 7. Flip between USC/Notre Dame and the Astros. No need to worry about Michigan throwing 5 interceptions. DVR that garbage QB play.
USC +4 @ Notre Dame – Notre Dame has burned me several times this year. However, I think people are too down on a USC team that really has not impressed all year. This game was a pick-em preseason. 4 points is too big of a swing for me. If Sam Darnold is right, this game is close, and USC can win.
Arizona State @ Utah -6.5 first half. – Utah is very physical and should over power a soft Arizona State team coming off one of their biggest wins in program history. Arizona State might be able to throw their way back into this one second half. I look for Utah to control the line of scrimmage and punch Arizona State in the mouth early. Hard to get up for Utah after last weekend.
Indiana/Michigan State Over 46- 9 of the last 10 times these two teams have played each other they have gone over 46. The only under was last year at 45.
Oklahoma State @ Texas +7- There are several trends that point to OK St – but Tom Herman has his team in the underdog role again. Herman is 13-0 ATS as a underdog dating back to his OC days at Ohio State. That’s a long time to cover.
Kansas +39 @ TCU – Disgusting, I know. Go searching for the last time TCU covered against Kansas… Next, find the last home game TCU covered. I’m playing Kansas. Something is wrong with me.
Ravens/Vikings Under 38 Both teams really struggle to score at times. Should be a low scoring game.
Any questions please hit me up on Twitter @jayoff288W
Wake Forest was the last game cut off my card for what it is worth.
Hope your weekend is profitable.
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NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.