You guys hear anything? Pretty normal week in digital media right?
Let’s get to the important stuff.
Picks went 5-1 in the wild-card round, and were perfect heading into Monday night with only the Eagles left to let me down. Of course I had a parlay set to cash for $1,000 should Philly come through. Of course they didn’t. That’s gambling baby.
The Eagles came out and it was immediately clear that they simply did not want to be playing that game. I had several friends reach out with advice to cash out. There advice was well intended, and ultimately correct, but I do not cash out bets early. I hedge when possible. But personally, the pain I would potentially feel after cashing out early on a winner would far outweigh any joy I got from occasionally guessing right on when to bail on a bet.
Also, they don’t offer you cash outs at a real casino. It’s against good manners.
Anyways I hedged on the Buccos for $100 so it wasn’t a total loss. Let’s get to it. Home team gets the asterisk.
LAST WEEK: 5-1
POSTSEASON: 5-1
Ravens* (-9.5) over Texans
I am here to believe in the Ravens playoff run. The Texans were fantastic last weekend, but that was at home, against a Browns team that was playing inflated football for a month—the balloon popped. It happens.
Lamar Jackson finally shakes the playoff doubters with a stellar performance, Ravens defense holds Houston in check.
Packers (+9.5) over 49ers*
Aaron Rodgers always had a grudge against the 49ers for passing over him in the draft. He went 0-4 against San Francisco in the postseason in his Packers career.
It would be extremely funny to me, narratively, if Jordan Love just strolled in and beat a 49ers team that has looked more dominant than any that put Rodgers in the ground.
I do my best not to wish bad things upon bad people. It’s just not like a mentally healthy space to exist in. But I am pretty cool with frustrating things happening to frustrating people, and lol come on wouldn’t it be funny if Rodgers just had to sit there and eat that sort of result?
Lions* (-6) over Buccaneers
The number feels a little scary but the Lions are better than the Buccaneers. Take care of business guys there is no reason to trip over yourselves now. Ride this wave as far as you can.
Chiefs (+2.5) over Bills*
I’ve seen all the stats about Patrick Mahomes as an underdog, and that’s not the reason I’m backing him here. If anything, that kinda feels like another bubble bound to burst soon to me. I don’t love this pick.
But the Chiefs defense is legit, and the Bills were able to skate through last week with little pressure from Mason Rudolph and the Steelers. It’s just a different beast man.
All that said, don’t bet this one until Sunday, as it feels like there’s a chance this line rolls back to a solid 3, which would obviously be a much better play.