Will NFL dogs make comeback?
Favorites ruled NFL Week 8, going 11-2 straight up and against the spread.
That’s not exactly the kind of week Dave “Dog or Pass” Tuley likes to see. He finished 1-4 ATS — and he’s looking to bounce back asap as Week 9 kicks off tonight with Ravens (-7.5) at Dolphins (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon).
The Dolphins were our lone ATS winner in Week 8. That was partly a play against the Falcons, who we felt shouldn’t have been favored by more than a touchdown, but also because we felt the Fish were being thrown under the bus with coach Mike McDaniels on the hot seat and Tua Tagovailoa’s recent play, and that they could still be dangerous like a wounded animal fighting for its life. I feel the same way with this Thursday nighter. Added to that, Lamar Jackson is returning for the Ravens and everyone seems to assume the Ravens’ offense will get back to normal, like when Jackson was 100 percent. I’m not so sure and certainly willing to back the Dolphins getting more than a TD at home.
>> Tuley’s Takes on every Week 9 game
Zach Cohen takes a pass on the side, but has a play on the Total (51.5):
These are two of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Dolphins are currently 27th in the NFL in EPA per play allowed (0.114) while the Ravens are 30th (0.148). Also, both of these teams are in the league’s bottom five when it comes to Dropback EPA per play allowed. I’m just not sure either secondary can be trusted to come away with consistent stops against two passing offenses that can be very dangerous.
>>More from Zach on tonight’s matchup and player props.
Money Moves host Stormy Buonantony is the special guest on Beating The Book with Gill Alexander and regulars Todd Wishnev and Will Hill. >>Listen. >>Watch.
Josh Appelbaum’s TNF Sharp Report will be posted later this morning.
Steve Makinen will post his Best Bets mid-afternoon.
Want a heads-up when those hit? Turn on VSiN’s push notifications.
More MNF resources
>Opta AI prop projections for the game.
>Betting Splits. Note: The Circa splits are down. We’re working with Circa to get them back up and running.
>VSiN Pro subscribers have access to our NFL picks page with plays from hosts and guests.
QB update: Joe Flacco (shoulder) is 50-50 to play against the Bears on Sunday. On the news, the line moved from Bengals +1.5 to +3.
Everything we do on Week 9 will be posted here, including Steve Makinen‘s Analytics Report.
Get the DonBest Pro and College Football Rotation Guide covering games through the Super Bowl.
World Series payday Friday?
The +175 Blue Jays started Game 5 of the World Series with two homers and went on to beat the Dodgers 6-2 Wednesday. Trey Yesavage set a Series rookie record with 12 strikeouts.
That means Toronto is one victory from winning the title and Dave Ross, host of VSiN By The Books (7-10 a.m. ET) with Jensen Lewis, is one victory from winning $66,000. Dave used a $3,000 voucher he earned in a blackjack tournament at Circa to bet on the Jays at 22-1 back in July.
I checked in with Dave before he went to sleep last night:
The most fun ride I’ve had for an extended period ever. Futures are the best. It’s like watching a boy become a man. You can tell I don’t have children 🤣
Yes, I can.
Game 6 is Friday in Toronto with Kevin Gausman for the Jays (+122) vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers (-149).
Group of Five CFP shot on line
Adam Burke sets up tonight’s college football menu:
Tulane vs. UTSA is a very compelling game in the American Conference, seeing as how the Group of Five CFP bid is likely to come from there. Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina is the other game, made compelling by the fact that Marshall, despite letting their head coach and about half of the program walk away, is better than expected.
Wednesday college football steam alerts from DonBest Sports:
Tulane -3.5 vs. UTSA
Marshall-Coastal Carolina Under 56
Get real-time steam alerts from the DonBest Screen. Sign up now for a 7-day free trial at go.donbest.com. Use the promo code VSIN10 for 10% off your initial subscription.
Everything we have on Week 10 will be here.
Sovereignty out of Breeders’ Cup Classic
With Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Sovereignty out because of a fever, Mike Somich and Aaron Halterman share their revised thoughts on the race — and their longshots for the card — on a new episode of the VSiN At The Track podcast. >>Listen. >>Watch.
We have Win-Place-Show selections with confidence scores from Somich, Dave Tuley and Ed Sehon — all organized in a 4-page PDF that you can print out. >>Download here for just $9.99.
If you want to do your own handicapping, go to our horse racing page for race previews.
1/ST BET Survivor Contest: Make your picks against the spread in two pro football matchups and select a top-three finisher in eight featured Breeders’ Cup races for your shot at up to $10,000 in cash prizes. Enter today. The entry deadline is today, 30 minutes before TNF start.
Special 1/ST BET offer: Deposit and bet $200 on the Breeders’ Cup at 1/ST BET with promo code VSINBC and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a VIP Vegas Experience at Circa — including a two-night stay, a $250 food and beverage credit, your own cabana at Stadium Swim, and a behind-the-scenes visit to the VSiN studio. Plus, when you deposit and bet just $100, you’ll score a one-year VSiN Pro subscription. Sign up today.
“Mr. Ed” has picks for today’s card at Churchill Downs.
Quick Hits
NBA: Look for Best Bets from Zach Cohen and Steve Makinen‘s Analytics Report around mid-morning on our NBA page. Our new Opta AI NBA player props projections are here.
NHL: VSiN hockey analyst Jonathan Davis will post his Best Bets around mid-day.
College Basketball: The 194-page VSiN College Basketball Betting Guide is available for download.
