BIG $ (Pencil Storm Browns Beat Writer)
Currently crunching Shadeur Sanders prop bets. Happy Thanksgiving!
Jeremy Porter (Pencil Storm Co-Editor in Chief, rock and roll musician, Mexican fast-food enthusiast, proudly representing that state to the north in hostile online territory MICHIGAN GO BLUE!)
This Lions team is stressing me out. They escaped the lowly Giants with a bit of luck and by the skin of their teeth. They should be better than their performance or their standing in the NFC North shows. Still…. gotta take them at -2.5 against the Packers, who they’ll pass in the standings with a win. Jack White is doing the halftime show, so tune in for that!
Is it possible for both teams to lose the Chiefs-Cowboys game? The Cowboys embarrassed the Eagles last week with a great comeback against a better team. The Chiefs are embarrassing themselves this season struggling to stay above .500. I have to go with KC -3 here.
I love the Ravens, and I love them -7 against the Bengals.
The Black Friday matchup between the Bears and the Eagles will be a banger for sure! Glad it’s in Philly, and gotta root hard for the home team to beat our NFC North rivals. I’ll be dialed in after returning home from Record Store Day shopping.
MICHIGAN is +10 against the Buckeyes. This has been all the talk at the coffee machine in the Pencil Storm compound this week. On paper, there’s no way the Wolverines win this game, and I’m surprised the spread isn’t more. But that’s what I said last year and the year before. I am not beaming with confidence or talking any shit, but I can’t bet against them. GO BLUE!
Colin Gawel (Pencilstorm guy / musician solo and with Watershed)
Thanks to riding the JJ McCarthy sucks gravy train my coffers are in a good place. It looks like that heater is finally coming to an end as “Number Nine” suddenly came down with “concussion symptoms” this week. If I had any balls I would reverse course and put some $$ down on new Vikings QB Max Brosmer to have a big game vs the Seahawks. But I don’t so I won’t.
On paper the Buckeyes look better than UM but that hasn’t really mattered much recently and the Buckeyes injury situation is concerning. I hate to say it, but we really cannot afford to have top players re injured when dare I say……more important games await with the 12 team playoff. So I am staying away from this one. But if I had to bet, I would take OSU and lay the points.
Nothing this week jumping off the page for me though I suppose I would consider a Texas A&M and Ole Miss parlay to make Friday a little more exciting.
Brian Phillips (Former Radio Morning Show Host CD101)
New Mexico +1.5 vs San Diego State
Under the radar for sure, but perhaps the two most surprising teams in the nation. Especially those Lobos out of UNM. They're a fun team that's for sure. The Aztecs are 9-2, but I think they're a bit of a fraud. Their two losses saw them crushed by a weak Wazzu offense and their loss to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago was a real head scratcher. Give me the Lobos.
Indiana -28.5 at Purdue.
Name your number. Cignetti will beat it. This has the look of 56-3.
Saturday
Pitt ML vs Miami...
This is the kind of game Narduzzi wins and Mario loses. Add to it that the Canes still have a shot at the playoffs and it'll be 35 degrees at kick all point to Miami shitting down their legs. Am I crazy? Maybe, but this is just a Pitt spot.
Boston College ML at Syracuse
I realize BC is 1-10, but they've been playing hard and we all saw how terrible Cuse's QB is last week. In the battle of the corpses, I'll take the zombie that looks like it can still crawl from the grave.
Vanderbilt +2.5 at Tennessee
This is really just a bet on the Diego Pavia magic. The Commadores still have an outside shot at a playoff spot as well. If you don't think college football has changed very much, consider Vandy and Indiana.
Wisconsin -1.5 at Minnesota
Fickel has this injury ravaged squad playing hard. This has the look of 13-10 Badgers.
Penn State -13.5 at Rutgers
I'm looking at the Lions a lot like Wisconsin. They've stepped up and have a shot at a bowl. I expect a top effort against a team that probably gave whatever they had last week.
Oregon State +13.5 at Washington State
I expect my Cougs to win this rare in season rematch, but not even a month ago WSU had their worst offensive effort of the year in a 10-7 loss to the Beavs. Washington State's offense is not great. The defense however keeps getting better. This looks like a 20-13 sort of game. Don't join me in watching it. You have better things to do with your time.
Ben Galli (Pencilstorm NBA Beat Writer)
Took some time to get used to Thanksgiving and The Game being the same weekend, but now it's one of the best sports weekends out there.Thanksgiving football, Rivalry Weekend, and tournaments in both the NBA and NCAA.
Bengals at Ravens Over 51.5
I was wrong about Joe Brrr playing last week, but I'm doubling down this week. Ja'Marr Chase is back, too, and the Bengals' league-worst defense should have no problems letting the Ravens run roughshod over them. The Ravens D is also much-maligned, a perfect Thanksgiving nightcap for chasing the over.
LA Lakers Player Props
These Doncic-Reaves Lakers have been great for my play money. LeBron who?! I hit a 10-leg same game parlay recently and made good on a 7-legger Tuesday night. The Lakers host Dallas Friday night, and we know who's gonna show out. Conservatively, I'd say Luka is good for 30+ points, 8+ rebounds, 8+ assists, and 3+ threes. Reaves should go for at least 20+ points and 4+ rebounds, while LeBron should get you at least 15-6-6. Red Flagg: Stay away from rookies!
Ohio State -10.5 at Xichigan
The Buckeyes will cover for the 10th time this season. "Cheaters never won in the end" - Earle Bruce