How 'bout a nice, clean "TNF" cash to get our football week started?! Beautifully threaded the needle with that one. Hopefully, that's a sign of things to come this weekend. Happy December! It's a massive weekend on the gridiron.
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Washington
This game is tonight, and most of the nation seems to be behind Bo Nix and Oregon to take it to Washington and this vulnerable passing defense. We totally get that, and the stakes here are as high as it gets, as whoever wins this feels like a lock for the College Football Playoff.
Ultimately, we have to take Washington +9.5 here. Michael Penix Jr. is no slouch, and the Huskies are undefeated and beat Oregon earlier this year. We backed the Huskies a few weeks ago when they were 'dogs and we'll do it again.
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia
While neither Georgia nor Alabama are as strong this season as we've gotten used to them being, this is still the marquee matchup of the weekend. A Crimson Tide win would be an absolute nightmare for the CFP committee, and thus be quite fun to watch unfold.
However, Carson Beck from Georgia feels like a better quarterback than Jalen Milroe, and this Bulldogs defense has yet to give up more than 23 points in a game. We're going to be on Georgia -5.5.
Big Ten: Michigan vs. Iowa
This is one of the more bizarre combinations you'll ever see in a championship game as it relates to the spread (Michigan -22.5) and over/under (34.5). Basically, oddsmakers are suggesting a game around 28-6 for the Wolverines.
We prefer taking over 34.5 in this one. Iowa is so often in low-scoring games because they run a risk-averse offensive style. They have nothing to lose here against the undefeated Wolverines, so we should see them test out some more aggressive plays. Last year, the total between these two hit 41, and the year prior saw 45 total points.
Michigan has scored 30+ points in all but one game this year, they could hit this total on their own.
We'll also note there are some big games in the Big 12 (Texas vs. Oklahoma State) and ACC (Florida State vs. Louisville). It's going to be a great few days of football!
Tua Tagovailoa over 277.5 passing yards (-115 DK)
Nine straight quarterbacks have gone over their passing yards prop against Washington, so we'll gladly follow that trend with Tua Tagovailoa this weekend. Tua has 320+ yards in two of his last four games, and Washington's secondary has been just atrocious this year. Miami should move the ball with ease.
Philadelphia Eagles moneyline (+136 DK)
This line feels disrespectful. Philadelphia is 10-1 and has beaten Dallas, Kansas City and Buffalo in successive weeks. It's at home against a San Francisco team that it dominated on both sides of the line last season in the NFC Championship Game.
Maybe you think the Brock Purdy injury tainted that blowout performance, but the fact is, the Eagles defensive line was the reason the game unfolded as it did. Philly has the better offensive line, and if you think its players aren't aware of all the trash that the 49ers talked about last season, you're sadly mistaken. Load up the 10-1 home underdogs with confidence.
Dallas comes back to win over Seattle on 'TNF' — The Dallas Cowboys advanced to 9-3 on Thursday with a 41-35 come-from-behind victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Dak Prescott led the way once again, tossing three touchdowns and firmly cementing himself into the MVP conversation. He's vaulted up to +475 on the board, fourth behind Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. As for Seattle, the late collapse dropped them to 6-6, its third straight loss. The Seahawks are currently the seventh seed in the NFC, tied with Minnesota, with Green Bay, Los Angeles and New Orleans lurking at 5-6. The Seahawks have a rough schedule coming up and are now +155 to make the playoffs. The Vikings (-120), Packers (-120) and Saints (+100) all have better odds than Seattle.
Tyrese Haliburton wraps up historic November matched only by Michael Jordan and LeBron James — Sharing any sort of statistical feat with just MJ and LeBron is a good thing, right? That's what Indiana's guard Tyrese Haliburton now has after his monstrous November for the Pacers. Haliburton averaged 28.6 PPG, 11.7 APG, 53% from the field and 47% from three, joining MJ and LeBron as the only players to ever average 25 and 10 with 50 and 40% shooting in a month. Haliburton is currently +3000 to win MVP. We're down for a sprinkle.
Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll, the guy who won $8K on a $20 NFL parlay. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.
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