Sunday, January 01, 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (NFL) - 8:20 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -1/-110 Baltimore Ravens Rating: 9* Mike's 9 Star Sunday Night Football Late Steam (WIN off the BUY) I'm looking for QB Tyler Huntley to execute much better in this heated divisional rivalry. I question what Pittsburgh has left in the tank off that emotional win versus Las Vegas @ home. Baltimore has the better ground game & defense so I'll give them the nod here! Let's go to Inner Harbor to play the BALTIMORE RAVENS (buying to a strategic + 3 1/2) as my 9 Star Sunday Night Late Steam Play! New Orleans Saints vs. Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) - 1:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: +5.5/-110 New Orleans Saints Rating: 9* Mike's 9 Star NFL Sleeper Play (WIN) (ML DOG WIN) Hey, don't forget that this New Orleans pass defense (6th ranked in the NFL) isn't too shabby! I also look for the turnovers to continue for Philadelphia whose been turning it over a lot more frequently the past few weeks & has lost one of the key cogs as in RT Lane Johnson for now. Let's remember that still stuck in the Mardi Gras mouths are the 2 losses in Philly the last 2 seasons by 40-29 (LY) & 24-21 (2YrsAgo). Face it, the numbers don't lie. The Eagles @ home & coming off a divisional road game stand @ a not-much-left-in-the-tank 4-8 SU & ATS. On the other hand, the Saints play the momentum as when they are coming off a SU road dog win, they come back very strong with a 9-2 mark both SU & versus the number. Let's go to Lincoln Financial Field to play the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (buying to + 7 1/2) with a little pasta on the ML as my 9 Star NFL Sleeper Play! Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans (NFL) - 1:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: +3.5/-110 Houston Texans Rating: 9* Mike's 9 Star Underdog Play of the Week (LOSS) I don't care how bad the Texans' record is (2-12-1), this team under HC Lovie Smith has far from given up. The last 3 weeks has seen them get nipped by Dallas 27-23, by KC 30-24 in OT & won outright @ Tennessee 19-14 last week. While the Jags & HC Doug Pederson are rolling right now, this game isn't a pivotal game like their showdown for the division next week when they host Tennessee for the AFC South title. The numbers don't lie for this game either as teams off 3 straight underdog SU wins that are now favored have gone a ticket-ripping 3-11-1 ATS from Game 10 out. With Jacksonville ranking 27th in defensive yards allowed & NO sense of urgency, I feel the 60 minutes of laser focus will be hard to come by since what's on the line up next. Let's go to NRG Stadium to play the HOUSTON TEXANS (buying to + 7 1/2) with a sprinkle of pasta on the ML as my 9 Star Underdog Play of the Week! Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions (NFL) - 1:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: +5.5/-110 Chicago Bears Rating: 8* Mike's 8 Star Public Missed Perception Play (LOSS) The Lions have scratched & clawed their way to a 7-8 SU record & much alive for that last #& NFC Wild card spot looking to overtake Washington whose @ 7-7-1. I just don't see how you trust this team who ranks dead last (32nd) in total defense. Chicago & QB Justin Fields aren't playing in sub-degree temperatures & rank 1st in the NFL in rushing offense. Detroit's QB Jared Goff has played brilliant. But let's face it, this team just isn't suited for laying a boat load of points. This is a heated rivalry & I don't see anyone getting embarrassed. The Bears have won 4 consecutive games @ this venue including a nail-biting 16-14 win last season. Let's go to the dome @ Ford Field to play the CHICAGO BEARS (buying to + 10 1/2) as my 8 Star Public Missed Perception Play! Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) - 4:25 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: +6.5/-110 Los Angeles Rams Rating: 8* Mike's NFL Ugly Pig Play of the Week (LOSS) There's 2 things to consider here. The Los Angeles Chargers are in the playoffs already & they really don't have nay home field advantage here. After playing 15 games, HC Brandon Staley's squad have won a grand total of 2 games by more than 6. Those victories were against the Houston Texans & the Indianapolis Colts. Since there is always that threat that owner Dean Spanos could axe Staley if they have a quick exit from the playoffs, I feel Staley's going to be conservative & rest some personnel so he gets that all-important playoff "W" which will be the first since the 2018 Anthony Lynn squad won @ Baltimore 23-17 as 3-point dogs. It looks like HC Sean McVay has opened up the playbook for the newly-inserted QB baker Mayfield to his liking. With a healthy RB in Cam Akers, this team should be able to hang around & maybe pull off the upset since pressure has long been off them. Let's go SoFi Stadium in Ingelwood, CA to play the LOS ANGELES RAMS (buying to + 10 1/2) as my 8 Star Ugly Pig Game of the Week! Mike Handzelek's 2022-23 NFL Overall Record: 36-27 for a mediocre 57% Mike's NFL Last 6 Weeks: 19-11 for 63%
 

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