Tuley’s Takes Today: Saturday recaps, Sunday NFL best bet (1/23)

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We’ve had some nice winning days already in 2022, but Saturday moved to the top of the list in the Tuley’s Takes home office as we had the dog in both upsets in the NFL divisional playoff games.

We were on the right side with the Bengals %plussign% 3.5 against the Titans as they led most of the game and I would have considered it a “bad beat” if we had somehow lost the cover with a late Tennessee TD. The 49ers %plussign% 6 was a bigger sweat as the Packers drove for a TD and a 7-0 lead on their opening possession and the 49ers weren’t covering for more than half the game, but then the blocked punt turned that game around and led to the outright upset.

 

Top NFL Resources:

Let’s recap all of Saturday’s major sports betting results – including an oddity in the NBA where the faves swept straight-up but the dogs covered the spread in all 3 games – and then update our picks on Sunday’s NFL divisional playoff games.

Saturday’s recaps

NFL: 49ers upset the Packers 13-10 Saturday night in their NFC divisional playoff game on Robbie Gould's 45-yard FG as time expired. The 49ers closed as 6-point road underdogs and %plussign% 220 on the money line as the game stayed way Under the betting total of 47.5 points. Earlier, the Bengals beat the Titans 19-16 in their AFC divisional playoff game on Evan McPherson's 52-yard FG as time expired. The Bengals did it after closing as 4-point road dogs and %plussign% 181 on ML as that game also stayed way Under its betting total of 48.5 points.

More NFL: Dogs went 2-0 SU and ATS on the day (after dogs went 1-5 SU and ATS in the wild-card round) and Unders went 2-0. Faves still lead 5-3 SU and ATS so far in the playoffs. Unders dominating at 6-2.

NBA: Faves went 3-0 SU on Saturday, but dogs actually swept 3-0 ATS as the Thunder (%plussign% 12 in 94-87 loss at the Cavaliers), Kings (%plussign% 8 in 133-127 loss at the Bucks) and the Pacers (%plussign% 13 in 113-103 loss at Suns) all covered in SU losses. Unders went 2-1.

CBB: In Saturday's two games between Top 25 teams, No. 2 Auburn beat No. 12 Kentucky 80-71, covering as a 3.5-point home favorite, and No. 24 Tennessee beat No. 13 LSU 64-50, but it was NOT an upset as the Vols closed as 6-point home faves.

NHL: Faves went 8-3 Saturday with upsets by the Sabres (%plussign% 120 in 6-3 win vs. the Flyers), Devils (%plussign% 140 in 7-4 win vs. Hurricanes) and Oilers (%plussign% 105 in 5-3 win vs. Flames). Overs went 6-5.

Sunday’s Takes

For the reasons why I like each pick, see my regular “Tuley’s Takes” column in Point Spread Weekly or the NFL Best Bets file on VSiN.com. In this column, we’re more focused on the timing of our bets and whether to jump in ASAP or to wait for a better number closer to game time.

Two-team, 6-point teaser on Rams %plussign% 9/Bills %plussign% 8: In Sunday’s doubleheader, I like the Bills better than the Rams as far as underdogs, but I love them together in this teaser. Some books have already dropped the Buccaneers to -2.5, but that’s OK to tease the Rams up to %plussign% 8.5. With the Chiefs still hovering between -1.5 and -2, the Bills are in prime teaser territory up to %plussign% 7.5 or %plussign% 8.

Good luck today (and every day!).