Dawg Pound Daily bettor’s guide to the NFL: Week 8
By Roger Cohen
Oct 25, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Dan Campbell (C) looks on from the sideline during the second half against the Houston Texans at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 44-26. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Well, my hot streak of hitting five out of six straight plays vanished during Week 7 of the NFL faster than Donald Trump’s lead in the Iowa polls. At this pace, I’ll be the Herman Cain of prognostication by season’s end.
Only my New York Jets (+9) play won, and that too would have lost if New York hadn’t kicked a last-minute field goal to cut a two-score New England 10-point lead down to a touchdown. My “sure thing” Baltimore Ravens (+7.5) lost by the slimmest of margins on Monday night, 26-18, in the desert, and both the underdog Detroit Lions (+3.5) and Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) lost by multiple scores.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- 3 Cleveland Browns players who don’t deserve another season in 2023
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
Even my consistent 75 percent teaser clip fell short when New Orleans beat Indianapolis and Jacksonville survived against Buffalo in London. On the flip side, Seattle as predicted, destroyed San Francisco and, of course, St. Louis did likewise to the Cleveland Browns (or as multiple players blamed, the Browns “self destructed”).
Undeterred by falling poll numbers (like the Donald) I’m feeling great about this week’s tremendous picks:
- Is this Dan Campbell thing for real? I’m not sold yet but the Miami Dolphins (+8) will keep it close in New England on Thursday night.
- Speaking of (Old) England, a change of scenery may help the hot mess Detroit Lions (+5) against Kansas City – and those Europe games are always crazy.
- The New Orleans Saints giving points? Uh, no. New York Giants (+3.5).
- Phillip Rivers’ arm might fall off throwing for 600 yards, but in Charm City the Baltimore Ravens (-3) will not fall to 1-7 against the San Diego Chargers. (But then, that’s what I’ve been saying the last four weeks.)
- Call me Greg Hardy-like crazy, but the Dallas Cowboys (+8.5) might just upset an overrated Seattle Seahawks squad at Jerry World.
- Unlike Phillip Rivers’, Peyton Manning’s arm has already fallen off. But the Denver Broncos (+3.5) are the bargain of the year against the Green Bay Packers in the new Mile High.
On the teaser card (where you get an extra six points), let’s start with a freebie as the Browns will find another way to lose (maybe on Travis Coons‘ first miss) to the Arizona Cardinals. Then I’m going to go against my theory of not “doubling down” on my straight plays, but if I like Dallas, Denver and Baltimore against the line, I like them even more with an extra six points.
Season record: Straight 12-15-1. Teaser 16-8.