3 Teams on Upset Alert in NFL Week 18
Each week we peruse the NFL odds board and choose three live underdogs with upset on their minds.
Below we have identified several sharp plays so you can bury your bookmaker and bring home the cash in the final week of the season!
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, January 9th, 1:00 pm ET at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
This is likely to be Ben Roethlisberger’s swan song and it’s astounding that the line is this steep on the Ravens. Baltimore may have the home-field advantage but they are 5-3 straight up and against the spread at M&T this season. Good but not overwhelming.
Will Lamar Jackson play and if so, how close to 100 percent will he be? And lastly, we should note that this Ravens’ offense has been stuck in neutral over the last eight weeks, averaging just 19.1 points per game. Considering that, and the fact that the Steelers defeated the Ravens, 20-19, just about a month ago, doesn’t a 5 ½ point head start seem generous?
Well, it does to us, and knowing Big Ben is taking his final regular-season bow, wouldn’t you think the entire team would be in overdrive for this one? We do and we also noted that the Pittsburgh defense never looked more dominating than they did last week in their 24-14 victory over Cleveland, registering a whopping nine sacks with T.J. Watt racking up four all by himself.
Oh, and there is also a potential playoff berth on the line but Pittsburgh would need a win on Sunday to make it a possibility. All this adds up to the Steelers being a major upset in the making. Grab the points and put a few bucks on the moneyline while you’re at it. And whatever you do, don’t forget to check out the bookie busters over at Bookmakers Review and their NFL Week 18 parlay!
Upset Alert: Steelers +5 ½ (-110) or +195 on the moneyline at BetOnline
Washington Football Team vs. New York Giants
Sunday, January 9th, 1:00 pm ET at MetLife Stadium, Rutherford, NJ
Yes, the Giants have looked pathetic recently and got waxed, 29-3, last week in Chicago. But look who they are playing this week and consider that this is the same team that was eviscerated, 56-14, by the Cowboys just two weeks ago, and is suddenly a touchdown favorite on the road. Really?
We should also note that these two teams tangoed earlier in the season and Washington came away a 30-29 winner in DC. And while the Giants have been unable to generate much offense recently, the WFT is not exactly a juggernaut. In fact, Washington has averaged a paltry 16.8 points per game. Now you could counter that the Giants’ offense has been stagnant but this is not a ringing endorsement of New York, it’s a fade against Washington, most notably because they are laying seven points in hostile territory against a team they only beat by a point earlier in the season.
Upset Alert: Giants +7 (-110) or +260 on the moneyline at Bovada
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, January 9th, 4:25 pm ET at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
We are not sure who will start for the 49ers as of this writing but it would seem that Trey Lance would get the nod based on an excellent second-half performance last week, and due to Jimmy Garoppolo’s thumb still hindering his mechanics.
And that’s a good thing all the way around because the potential the 49ers saw in Lance, drafting him as the third overall pick in the draft, is manifesting with each play he calls. The 21-year-old rookie is getting more comfortable in the pocket and he should do well against the Rams’ 20th ranked passing defense.
The four-point head start we are getting with San Francisco looks like solid value to us, especially if we analyze Matthew Stafford’s recent performances. Over his last three starts, he has tossed six touchdown passes and six interceptions. It’s no secret Stafford has chronic back pain and it appears that the grind of a 17-game season is taking its toll. Back the Niners and cash a ticket!
Upset Alert: 49ers +4 (-108) or +180 on the moneyline at Heritage
