Throughout the 2021 season, a panel of Sportsnet’s NFL contributors will preview each week’s slate of games from a gambling perspective. Staff writer/host Donnovan Bennett, staff writers Emily Sadler and Mike Johnston, plus fantasy writers Andy McNamara and Matt Marchese will pick one FAVOURITE, one UNDERDOG, one OVER, one UNDER, including their personal LOCK, as they attempt to beat the odds
One of the top gambling storylines of the 2021 NFL season continues to be the consistent success of underdog and under bettors with underdogs and unders both going 9-5 in Week 10.
Week 11 features three games with double-digit spreads and two with totals of 50 or more points, non more heavily anticipated than the Dallas Cowboys visiting the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Sportsnet.ca panel got their collective butts kicked by the books last week, going a combined 6-14, but they’re looking to bounce back with several of them targeting various bets in the huge Cowboys-Chiefs contest.
Here are the Week 11 picks.
Donnovan Bennett, staff writer/host
2021 record: 22-18-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 6-4-0
Patriots (-7) at Falcons
Steelers (+6) at Chargers
Cardinals at Seahawks UNDER 49
Cowboys at Chiefs OVER 56
Two of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the league do battle. By throwing for 400-plus yards and five TDs for the third time in his career, Patrick Mahomes tied Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana for the most in league history, but he’s facing a QB playing at an even higher level. Dak Prescott has an absurd 71.4 completion percentage and 17 TDs inside the pocket this season. That’s complemented by a runner in Ezekiel Elliott that has broken off 18 rushes of 10 yards or more, seven rushing TDs for 4.7 yards per carry leading an offence that turns out 139.6 rush yard per game. The only way this one isn’t extremely high scoring is if the respective offensive drives are so long it bleeds clock and keeps possessions down.
The Patriots are quietly 5-1 in their last six games after a 1-3 start. Their defence is second in the NFL allowing just 17.7 points per game and 17 takeaways this season tied for fourth in the NFL and is about to face a banged-up Falcons offence on a short week.
Emily Sadler, staff writer
2021 record: 21-18-1
Last week: 1-3-0
Locks: 4-6-0
Saints at Eagles OVER 43.5
Dolphins at Jets UNDER 45
Saints (+1.5) at Eagles
Patriots (-7) at Falcons
Whew, last week was a tough one for the Falcons. Good thing they’ve got lots of time to recover now ahead of a matchup totally void of any humiliating history or hard feelings, right? Logic (and Atlanta’s up-and-down, flip-flop season) tells me they’re now due for a rebound, but I’m locking up the Patriots to win this salt-meets-wound matchup because New England is rolling and I’m finally jumping on board.
Mike Johnston, staff writer
2021 record: 18-22-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 5-5-0
Dolphins (-3) at Jets
Colts (+7) at Bills
Football Team at Panthers OVER 43
Packers at Vikings UNDER 49
With so much firepower on each NFC North rival’s roster it’s easy to picture this being a shootout, but with playoff races beginning to tighten, I expect a lot of running and stout defence – especially from the Packers.
Andy McNamara, analyst/fantasy sports writer
2021 record: 22-18-0
Last week: 1-3-0
Locks: 3-7-0
Packers at Vikings OVER 49
Lions at Browns UNDER 44.5
Patriots (-7) at Falcons
Cowboys (+2.5) at Chiefs
Is the Chiefs offence finally back to its explosive self after a 41-point outburst? Before last weekend, Kansas City averaged a meagre 12 points during their previous three outings. Now they host arguably the hottest team in the NFC with an offensive attack that can rival KC’s and spread the ball around to more playmakers. The Cowboys defence is middle of the pack (15th) in total yards allowed per game, while the Chiefs are 26th. Advantage goes to the visitors. LOCK IN Dallas!
Matt Marchese, radio host/producer/fantasy football writer
2021 record: 14-26-0
Last week: 0-4-0
Locks: 3-7-0
Ravens at Bears OVER 45.5
Bengals at Raiders UNDER 49.5
Steelers (+6) at Chargers
Bengals (-1) at Raiders
Bengals are coming off the bye and a bad loss to the Browns before that, so they’ll be fired up to play the hapless Raiders who have lost two in a row. Cincinnati is 4-0 against the spread in the last four meetings against Las Vegas and look to get back into a playoff spot with a win.
BONUS STAT: The Steelers are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven matchups on the road against the Chargers and look like they’ll get Ben Roethlisberger back under centre.
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