The Cowboys and Zeke Elliot won, but the total went under. Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Fight-is to take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical contact or sometimes is used to describe a quarrel or argument.
To Fight: can also be used when campaigning determinedly for or against something, especially when trying to prove a point or show interest in a specific matter.
This week we saw both of these "fights" in the NFL.
In the mixed martial arts fight of the day, A.J Green attempted a chokehold on Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The two went to the ground where Green continued to deliver punches to the cornerback's helmet. Both were ejected for some reason when Ramsey didn't do nearly as much as Green did.
In the Cardinals vs. 49ers game, Carlos Hyde tried to stick up for his Quarterback after an unnecessary roughness call. Haason Reddick , Frostee Rucker and Hyde were all ejected from the game.
In the silliest fight of the weekend, Jameis Winston poked the back of Marshon Lattimore's helmet, resulting in the defensive back, shoving back Winston. Out of nowhere, Mike Evans comes flying in with a hit stick type creation, sending the players into a frenzy on the sideline. The most important factor here is Winston was out of the game with an apparent injury. Why is your play caller on the field starting fights?
In the other type of fight mentioned, we touch on the "fight" the Giants and others put up in their games this weekend. The average margin of victory this week was a dozen points. Eight of the thirteen games, were decided by double digits. The number would have been 10, but late scores by Baltimore and Miami helped the figure out.
So are teams "fighting" until the final whistle? In the Giants vs. Rams game, we saw New York give up fairly quickly. Two, turnovers converted into early touchdowns set the tone. What sticks out the most, has to be the 3rd and 33 score. A short Pass to Robert Woods broke out for a 52-yard travesty as the Giants Landon Collins took a horrid angle allowing the play to break open. Last time a thirty yard plus third down was converted? 1999. Shortly after, the levees broke completely, when Jared Goff hit Sammy Watkins with a 67-yard bomb again because of a bad play, this time a blown coverage by Eli Apple. The Giants never "fought" again in the game and gave up 51 points at home.
Play, action or Pass went 3-4-1 Week 9. We are now 10-9-2 for the year.
Rams-3 WIN
Jaguars -5.5 WIN
Cowboys/ Chiefs over 54 LOSS
Saints/ Buccaneers over 51 LOSS
Titans-3 PUSH
Saints Team Total over 28.5 WIN
Teasers: Sea/Colts - Sea/ Packers LOSS
In what could have been a winning week, The Seahawks squandered a fourpoint lead late in the 4th quarter, allowing the Redskins to strike on a four-play drive. Legion of whom?
From the cashier's window
Most bet Teams:
Eagles 80%
Raiders 77%
Saints 76%
Rams 73%
Seahawks 73%
The favorites took the week once again going 7-4-2 ATS and 9-4 straight up. What once was a world of barking dogs, the favorites have caught up quickly for the year and are now 60-63-6. In the last three Sundays, favorites are a combined 21-10-4 (68 %) ATS. One trend that did live on is that the four underdogs that covered all won the game outright. So when playing underdogs, play them outright also.
Largest underdog to cover: Redskins +8.5 (Moneyline+350)
As mentioned earlier, the Seahawks had a late 4 point lead and allowed Kirk Cousins to orchestrate a four-play drive to take the lead 17-14. Seattle kicker Blair Walsh also missed three field goals Sunday to add to the Seahawks debacle. For Seattle, this is a devastating blow to the momentum they were building up. The Redskins were missing four starters on the offensive line and three from the defensive front seven. Greg Manusky had the defensive unit ready, and they created pressure on Russell Wilson all game long.
Honorable mention: Colts +6 (Moneyline +210)
Largest Favorite to cover
Eagles -7
The Eagles once again showed why they are considered by many, to be the cream of the crop of the NFL. Philadelphia backers never had to sweat, as the Eagles came out early and the spread was never in doubt. As for Carson Wentz, he shined again vs. one of the NFL's top defenses. He only threw for 199 yards (4TD), but much had to do with the 31-9 halftime lead. The Eagles have now outscored opponents 64-9 in the first quarter this season, so look for chances to play them early in games.
Totals:
The over/under was 6-7 in Week 9 and 66-65-1 in 2017.
In another wild Primetime finish, over bettors were once again rewarded with a miracle. The game had a total of 43, and through three quarters with only 20 points on the board, over bettors were using their tickets as coasters. Things quickly changed and a pass interference call with 0:00 time on the clock, allowed the Packers to punch in a meaningless touchdown, driving the total across the magic number 43 (30-17).
Through 29 primetime games, the over is now 18-11 (62%)
SUPER BOWL ODDS
NE 4-1
Phi 6-1
Pit 7-1
KC 12-1
Sea 14-1
NO 15-1
Dal, LAR 16-1
Min 18-1
Jax, Car, Ten 30-1
Atl 35-1
Oak 45-1
For any questions or comments reach me at @JerryBoKnowz on twitter.
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Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points, Jeremy Sochan added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Saturday night in their home opener.
Wembanyama added seven rebounds and three blocks while shooting 10 for 17 from the field.
Chris Paul added three points and nine assists, including a drive and feed to Sochan for an open layup that put San Antonio up 104-99 with 1:35 remaining.
After trailing by 22 points in the first half, Houston was within one possession for much of the final minutes. The Rockets went on a 21-8 run in the opening six minutes of the final quarter, turning an 18-point deficit into a 95-90 lead for San Antonio.
Jalen Green had 27 points for Houston. Fred VanVleet added 18 and Dillon Brooks had 16.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston wasted a good finish with a poor start. After shooting 34% through three quarters, including 17% in the second period, the Rockets shot 60% in the final quarter.
Spurs: San Antonio went 2 for 13 on 3-pointers after opening the game 6 for 7.
Key moment
After struggling mightily at times last season to get the ball into Wembanyama’s hands around the rim, a pair of passes from Paul yielded much promise and thunderous celebrations. Paul’s first lob resulted in an alley-oop dunk for Wembanyama with 2:12 remaining in the first half that put the Spurs up 57-38. Paul and Wembanyama repeated the alley-oop dunk a minute later, giving the Spurs a 59-38 advantage.
Key stat
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has stressed the need for his team to be more physical and the Spurs responded, outrebounding Houston 57-46.
Up next
The Rockets face the Spurs again on Monday to close out a two-game set in San Antonio.