NFL and college football betting picks for 5 straight days of playoff action
Jon Greenberg and Zac Jackson make their betting picks for the CFP and the NFL wild-card round.
It’s playoff time in America, do you know where your degenerate gamblers are? Probably in front of the TVs while staring at their phones. That’s where you’ll find Chicago columnist Jon Greenberg and Cleveland Browns beat writer Zac Jackson for the next five days.
JON GREENBERG (3-4 last week, 36-54-1): Well, when I’m right (Seattle -1.5, Carolina +2.5, Oregon -2.5), I’m right, and when I’m wrong (Ohio State -9.5, Georgia -6.5, Alabama +7), I’m really, really wrong.
At times, I felt like Krusty the Clown betting against the Globetrotters, especially with the Alabama game.
Whenever I place a bet it’s as if I’m Krusty saying he bet against the Harlem Globetrotters because he thought the Washington Generals were due. pic.twitter.com/H8VrRSQq2S
— Topé (@ConfirmedShoot) September 24, 2023
You, however, were right on target last week (except for the Miami under 14.5 team total as your bet of the century or whatever) as you inch toward finishing the year with a winning record.
Maybe I can blame it on my back? I suffered a pretty debilitating injury (by being old) last week, so I’ve been a little out of sorts. The Fiesta Bowl is tonight (Thursday)? We don’t have much time to catch up, so let’s get to work.
The Miami Hurricanes were underdogs in each of their two CFP wins, +2.5 at Texas A&M and +9.5 (!) against the Buckeyes at the Cotton Bowl. Now they’re 3.5-point favorites against Ole Miss.
Miami’s ATS performance as a favorite has been spotty this season, while Ole Miss is 2-1 ATS as a ‘dog. I took the Bulldogs last week because I was skeptical of the Rebels’ focus with several of their coaches pulling double duty at LSU. But I think spite helped push them along.
Meanwhile, Ohio State got crushed by Miami’s defense, with Julian Sayin getting sacked five times. Going through the box scores, Ole Miss has been pretty successful all season keeping the heat off quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (I think he’s also saved himself a lot with his escapability). That’s the key this week. If Rueben Bain and Co. get home, Miami wins easy. But I’m going to ride with the Rebels +3.5. I think they find a way to keep this dream season going. Everyone loves drama, and the Rebs winning without Lane Kiffin provides it.
As for Friday, I’m surprised the spread isn’t up to -4 yet. So I’ll take Indiana -3.5 over its longtime conference rival, Oregon. I can’t bet against the Hoosiers again.
I think everyone in the world is taking over 48.5 there. What about you? Would you take under 52.5 in Ole Miss-Miami?