Goldie’s Best Bets Week 17: Ride the Tua, Dolphins Wave

Goldie:

All Time Record: 267-135-1          

Vs. Spread: 200-202-1

 

21-22 Season:  141-80-1               

Vs. Spread: 111-113-1

 

Week 16 Record: 10-5                

Vs. Spread: 5-10

 

Guarantee Record: 15-15

Upset Record: 16-13              

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 33-13              

21-22 Season: 17-12       

Week 16: 0-2

 

Goldie’s Guarantee AND UPSET of the Week

Cleveland Browns (7-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1)

Vegas Picks: CLE -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Steelers Win 23-20

I have been one of the Browns strongest supporters this season, but this week I’m changing my tune. Both teams fighting for their playoff lives under the bright lights of Monday night should be a thriller. I love love love the fact that Pitt is at home. All signs are pointing towards this being Big Ben’s last home game in Pittsburgh. I believe he puts on one more show for the home fans. The sheer emotion that will be bumping through that building is enough for me to pick the Steelers as the UPSET AND the GUARANTEE of a loaded week 17 slate!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: DAL -6.5

Arizona Cardinals (10-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (11-4)

Vegas Picks: DAL -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 34-28

Don’t let the 10-5 Cards record fool you. Since their 7-0 start ‘Zona has very much fallen back to earth and do not look like the same team as when they started. They’ve surrendered the division lead to the Rams, and now they’re just thankful they’ll make the playoffs. Also, the Cowboys dropped a cool 56 points on Washington last week. I think their offense is fine. How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: NO -6.5

Carolina Panthers (5-10) @ New Orleans Saints (7-8)

Vegas Picks: NO -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Saints Win 24-17

Jeffy likes a pair of -6.5s this week as his locks, and who can blame him betting against Carolina. Talk about hitting the self-destruct button! The Carolina Panthers started this season 3-0 and have completely fallen apart since, being outscored by 80 points during their five game losing streak. N’awlins takes care of business in the dome!

 

Rest of Week 17:

 

Miami Dolphins (8-7) @ Tennessee Titans (10-5)

Vegas Picks: TEN -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 26-23

Lots of storylines surrounding this one. First, this is Ryan Tannehill’s first matchup with the team that drafted him (and eventually traded him), and he gets a shot to severely injure Miami’s playoff hopes with a win. The other side of that coin is Tua gets a chance to prove the Dolphins front office right with a win against the man he was brought in to replace (and be better than). My pick reeks of Miami bias, but how can you bet against a team who’s won seven straight games? Fins go into Tennessee and UPSET the Titans!

 

Los Angeles Rams (11-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (8-7)

Vegas Picks: LAR -6

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 27-23

For the third consecutive week Lamar Jackson’s health has a huge barring over my pick in the Ravens game. Tyler Huntley showed he was a capable backup against the Packers, but capable enough to defeat one of the strongest defenses in the league? I don’t know about all that. Safe play is to pick the Rams here, but giving Crows a solid upset shot, especially if Lamar plays. 

 

Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

Vegas Picks: KC -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 28-24

Big playoff implications on the line in this one as Chiefs look to lock up No.1 seed and Bengals look to clinch their division. Chiefs have rattled off eight wins in a row and enter as the hottest team in football, but the Bengals are not far behind them. This Joe Burrow led team has really started to prove themselves with some quality wins this year (4-0 vs PIT/BAL), but I just can’t go against the red hot Chiefs. Especially with Travis Kelce coming back from Covid reserve. However, Burrow has a chance to really establish himself with the upper echelon of QBs with a win against the almighty Patty Mahomes. 

 

New York Giants (4-11) @ Chicago Bears (5-10)

Vegas Picks: CHI -6

Goldie’s Take: Bears Win 21-13

It’s been 16 weeks picking games this season, and I’ve yet to pick the Bears once. UNTIL TODAY! I’ve picked the Giants to cover multiple times in the past few weeks and they continue to fail me. Chicago should look to build off the thrilling win they had last week in Seattle. Been waiting all season to emphatically yell, “DA BEARS!”

 

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) @ New England Patriots (9-6)

Vegas Picks: NE -16

Goldie’s Take: Pats Win 24-9

Pats at home after a tough loss to division rival Buffalo Bills, and they’re facing the Jaguars of all teams? Poor poor Trevor Lawrence. Bill is going to pull out all the stops to confuse this NFL newborn. Defense wins the day, and Pats coast past Jags at home.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) @ New York Jets (4-11)

Vegas Picks: TB -13

Goldie’s Take: Bucs Win 35-14

The stark difference in talent is evident in this one, plus this is about the time of year where Tom Brady seems to elevate his game to another level. PLUS Brady has owned the Jets his entire career. This one reminds me of when a big time college team schedules a game against a Bethune Cookman or Umass Amherst early in the season to get the team tuned up for the season. This is similar, except Brady and the Bucs will use this matchup with the Jets to get tuned up for the playoffs.

 

Atlanta Falcons (7-8) @ Buffalo Bills (9-6)

Vegas Picks: BUF -14.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 28-17

Buffalo has to be feeling themselves a bit after regaining firm control of the AFC East in a huge road win in New England. Meanwhile, Atlanta was struggling to put away the lowly Lions at home. The Bills are clearly the favorite here, however the Falcons are still somehow alive in the playoff race so they should play hard. Bills should get the win but not ruling out a possible trap game after such a momentous win.

 

Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) @ Indianapolis Colts (9-6)

Vegas Picks: IND -8

Goldie’s Take: Colts Win 27-20

Indy has been one of the hottest teams in the league for awhile now. Another big win last week in Arizona shows even more that the Colts are the real deal. The emergence of Johnathan Taylor has given this team a strong identity. Colts keep the train rolling with a big win against Carr and the Raiders. 

 

Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) @ Washington Football Team (6-9)

Vegas Picks: PHI -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Eagles Win 31-24

This game just means more for the Eagles. Philly has put themselves in position to clinch a playoff berth this weekend with a win and some help. Washington, on the other hand, just got steamrolled by the Cowboys in a game where the No Names allowed Dallas to drop a 56 burger. Jalen Hurts also had over 300 yards on this same Washington defense a few weeks ago. I’ve been calling Philly to grab that last NFC spot for weeks now. Birds on a 4-1 run, should make it 5-1 with a win in the nation’s capital this Sunday.

 

Denver Broncos (7-8) @ Los Angeles Chargers (8-7)

Vegas Picks: LAC -8

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 30-24

Chargers look to bounce back in this one after a shocking loss to the lowly Texans. Now their playoff hopes have seriously been put in jeopardy. Speaking of playoff hopes seriously in jeopardy, a loss here would effectively end the Broncos season. Should be a good game but like Herbert and the Chargers to get the win at home, especially with Denver without Teddy Bridgewater. 

 

Houston Texans (4-11) @ San Francisco 49ers (8-7)

Vegas Picks: SF -12.5

Goldie’s Take: 49ers Win 28-20

Niners control their own destiny in the NFC playoff race so all that they’re focused on is beating the 4-11 Houston Texans. At home. Things are looking good for San Fran. However, Texans have quietly won two in a row including an impressive victory last week over Justin Herbert and the Chargers. Also, Niners will most likely be without starting QB Jimmy Garrapolo, should be interesting to see how rookie Trey Lance fairs in his replacement. Picking Niners to get the win, but picking Texans to cover. 

 

Detroit Lions (2-12-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-10)

Vegas Picks: SEA -7

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 28-16

Seattle has easily been the most disappointing team in the NFL this season. Eliminated from playoff contention with three games left is very unlike Pete Carroll/Russell Wilson led teams. Lions have played hard all season despite not having all that much talent, but without Jared Goff and going on the road? Here I go again trusting the Seahawks brand even though they’ve let me down time and time again this season. 

 

Minnesota Vikings (7-8) @ Green Bay Packers (12-3)

Vegas Picks: GB -13

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 34-14

Vikings without Kirk Cousins and Adam Theilen in this one is why the betting line has ballooned to 13 points, but I’m STILL trusting the Packers. Green Bay hasn’t lost at home all season and have a chance to lock up the number 1 seed in NFC with a win. Vikings have won two straight against the Pack, but I can’t trust Sean Mannion (who was just elevated off Covid list Friday) to go in and compete with the Packers. Green Bay takes care of business at Lambeau to continue their home perfection.