A chilling effect on points
The Saints will head to Green Bay without quarterback Derek Carr (hand), running back Alvin Kamara (calf) and receiver Chris Olave (head).
Thus a 14-point spread, one of the largest this season.
VSiN.com senior editor Zach Cohen offers another way to go on this game if you need the action and are not sure what to make of Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler.
If you have to play a side or a total in this game, you might want to go with the Under. The Under is 4-1 in the five games New Orleans has played under interim coach Darren Rizzi, and the Saints have scored 20 or fewer points in four of the five games. I don’t see an offensive explosion coming against this defense, especially in freezing cold conditions.
More MNF resources
>Look for Josh Appelbaum‘s Sharp Report later this morning.
>DraftKings/Circa Betting Splits: At the top of this email, the chart shows a comparison of the betting splits from DraftKings and Circa Sports. Keep an eye on them for late action.
>VSiN Pro Picks from hosts and their guests.
Turning the page: The Commanders’ 36-33 upset of the Eagles was the big story coming out of Sunday’s Week 16 action. The Eagle lost QB Jalen Hurts (concussion) in the first quarter, so his Week 17 status will be fluid. The Eagles were favored by 11.5 vs. the Cowboys on the lookahead line, but that has dropped to -7.5. VSiN.com managing editor Adam Burke looks at the early Week 17 line moves, based on what happened on Sunday.
Contest Corner: Circa Survivor is down to 45 entries with 21 pending on the Packers. Four were eliminated with the Cardinals’ 36-30 loss to the Panthers and one more on the Bucs’ 26-24 loss to the Cowboys.
Bowl predictions
We have two bowl games today . . .
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA, 11 a.m. ET (ESPN)
>>Adam Burke’s analysis prediction.
Book Taylor, a listener from South Carolina, has the VSiN Fan Bowl Pick, presented by Omaha Steaks.
Why such a big movement in the point spread from the opener of UTSA -6.5? The Chanticleers will be playing at their home stadium in Myrtle Beach, but have lost their top two quarterbacks to the transfer portal. Instead, Tad Hudson will get the start, though he has yet to appear in a game this season. UTSA will have its personnel ready, minus a possible opt-out from DL Joseph Evans, who declared for the draft.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Chanticleers will need to lean on their running game and senior Brayden Bennett, son of legendary South Carolina running back Brandon Bennett, who played six seasons with the Bengals. Bennett averaged 6.5 yards per carry on the season. USTA will be ready as it ranked 21st in rushing yards allowed per game at 116.4.
UTSA prefers to attack through the air with quarterback Owen McCown. McCown, a transfer from Colorado, is the son of former NFL quarterback Josh McCown. McCown passed for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns. Owen will spread the ball around as seven players have 20 or more receptions on the season. Coastal Carolina yields 229.8 yards per game through the air.
I need a quarterback in bowl games. The Coastal Carolina running game is good, but UTSA will be up for the task. Give me the better coach, quarterback and rush defense and the Roadrunners.
Book sent this pick in when the line was -10, but it is at -11 or -11.5 now.
More from Book: I listen to VSIN at work and in the car. My favorite show is Make it Rain with Adam Schein. I also love Prop Points as I get ready to create my DFS slates. I read VSIN content on the web to get great advice throughout the week.
Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
>Adam’s analysis and prediction.
Brent LaLonde, a frequent Circa visitor and longtime VSiN subscriber from Ohio, has our fan pick.
Both teams will feature backup quarterbacks as NIU starter Ethan Hampton transferred to Wake Forest and Fresno’s Mikey Keene is in the portal and in talks with Michigan. Left behind are two uninspiring offenses (Fresno is ranked No. 78, nationally and NIU is ranked No. 94) forced to rely even more on their running games – and that does not bode well for the Bulldogs, whose ground attack was among the nation’s worst at just 96.6 yards per game.
Fresno State interim coach Tim Skipper did an admirable job after Jeff Tedford stepped down in July due to illness, but his team lost four of its last five and it doesn’t look like the Bulldogs will “Win one for the Skipper” in his last game before Matt Entz takes over.
Northern Illinois didn’t do much this year other than beat Notre Dame, but the Huskies did hold its opponents to 18.4 points per game and should be able to stifle the Huskies in a rematch of the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, won by NIU 40-17.
Take Northern Illinois minus-3.5 in an ugly dogfight on the Blue Turf.
Thanks to Omaha Steaks, I’m sending our two handicappers a gift certificate worth more than $275.
(If you don’t want to submit your pick but Omaha Steaks sound good, you can get $30 off your next order and 50% off sitewide. Visit omahasteaks.com/VSIN and enter the code VSIN30 to get this limited-time offer. Minimum purchase may apply.)
Fan Bowl Preview Record: 6-3-1.
Steve Makinen has plays on both games.
Today in college basketball
Greg Peterson has posted his Best Bets for today’s menu.
>Adam Burke‘s top plays will be up later today.
Quick Hits
NBA: Zach Cohen will post his Best Bets by mid-morning.
NHL: Look for Jonathan Davis‘ picks by mid-day on our NHL page.
This is The VSiN Daily newsletter for Monday, December 23. Sign up for this free email and get picks and insights delivered to your in-box every morning.
