‘Tis the season to cash some bets and stack some units. Under the tree this year we have a full card of winners, per usual. Q and Jake both remain over 50% on the year with our personal picks in NFL and I don’t see that slowing down anytime soon. Grab some eggnog and your favorite alcoholic beverage and win some money back that you spent on a crappy present for your nephew. Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.

Q’s Best Bets (20-18 Overall)
Indianapolis Colts @ Arizona Cardinals – Saturday, 12/25 (8:15 PM EST)
Pick: Cardinals -1

While I’m not super excited that Kyler’s big bounce back opportunity is coming against a solid Colts team, I do still think Kyler will remind the league of his talents in a big way this week after a lackluster performance against the Lions in week 15. The Colts and the Cardinals have definitely been on different trajectories as of late with the Colts making quite the playoff push and the Cardinals slowly but surely wasting their hot start to the season. Despite recent trends, big players make big plays in big games and Kyler Murray is 100% a big time player/this is a massive game in regards to the Cardinals mindset heading into the playoffs (assuming they make the playoffs). The Colts defense is solid but their offense will be missing all star Guard Quenton Nelson so I think the Cardinals defense should be able to somewhat keep Jonathan Taylor in check for most of the game. If that’s the case then it’s a battle between Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray… I’ll take Kyler all day in that case. 

Bills @ Patriots/Steelers @ Chiefs
Pick: 7 Point Teaser: Bills +10.5, Steelers +17.5 (-130 odds)

Most people in the Northeast will cringe over this comment, but I’m still not super sold on the Patriots being this elite force in the AFC East. I think the Bills will remind the league that they’re the top dogs in the division this weekend and I’m taking advantage of the erroneous amount of respect Vegas is giving the Pats while I still can. Don’t get me wrong… it’s impressive what Belichick has been able to do with this team (top notch defense, rookie QB, recent Brady breakup, etc.), but the Bills are simply a better team and they’ve also been here before. People tend to love an underdog story, hence the Patriots respect, but usually championships are won by teams that can endure and the Bills have done just that over the past few years. Any chance I can get to take a more veteran team over a young up and coming squad as we approach the playoffs (plus points), I’m going to jump all over that. Go Bills.

The Chiefs are riddled with illness/injuries at the moment and they really haven’t blown any teams out all year for the most part. Big Ben is determined to prove that he’s still got some gas left in the tank and the Chiefs defense is average at best. I’m expecting this game to be surprisingly close so 17.5 points is too much to pass up. Don’t be surprised when Najee Harris has a day against this struggling Chiefs rush defense which should also open things up for Big Ben down the field.

Lions @ Falcons/Buccaneers @ Panthers/Chargers @ Texans
Pick: 10 Point Super Teaser: Lions +17, Bucs +0.5, Chargers EVEN (-120 odds)

The Lions just beat the Cardinals, a true Super Bowl contender, and Dan Campbell is one of my favorite players coaches in a long time. The fact that Vegas is giving them points (even before the teaser) is honestly pretty surprising to me considering they’re playing a terrible Falcons team. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions win this game outright so, yeah, I’m ecstatic to take them at +17.

The Bucs are going to win this week, plain and simple. Tom Brady is too much of a diva to allow his team to lose two embarrassing games in a row (the Bucs were shut out by a wounded Saints team last week) and this just isn’t the year for Carolina. Both of these defenses are pretty solid but the Panthers can’t move the ball on offense whatsoever. This is by far my most confident leg of the teaser.

The Texans have played better as of late but it’s hard to think that will continue too much longer considering they don’t have much to gain playing well vs the alternative at this point. The Chargers on the other hand are playoff contenders and know it’s time to start playing your best football. They lost a heartbreaker in OT against the Chiefs last week and they only have so much time left to get into the postseason chaos. Backing the clearly better team here to win outright.

DPJ’s Best Bets (22-17 Overall)
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals – Sunday, 12/26 (1:00 PM EST)
Pick: Bengals -2.5

If you live under a rock, you probably don’t know that AFC North is very much up for grabs right now. All four teams are separated by a mere 1 game, with three to play. While the records seem close I think it’s pretty clear who the best team in the division is…it’s the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy proved in October that they are more then capabale of shutting down whatever Baltimore throws at them, and since then the Ravens have lost a ton of starters and Lamar is banged up. I don’t expect this one to be very close, the total is sitting at 45 right now and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a low scoring rock fight. Bengals 17-7 feels about right.

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots – Sunday, 12/26 (1:00 PM EST)
Pick: Patriots -2.5

The Bills got a much needed win from a reeling Carolina team last week. Shitty for them, they now get the pleasure of heading East to Foxboro to face a Pats team that will be absolutely fired up following a close loss to Indy. Bellichick should be whipping the guys into shape all week and I would expect a strong defense/battle in the trenches type of game from them. The Bills looked absolutely frustrated by the Pats game plan in the windy Buffalo game a couple weeks back. I wouldn’t expect this one to look entirely the same but I like New Englands chances. Pats by a FG+ smells right.

LA Rams @ Minnesota Vikings – Sunday, 12/26 (1:00 PM EST)
Pick: Rams -2.5

I am once again taking my biased-Rams-fan hat off and putting my unbiased-national-football-league-gambling-writer hat on. And it fits like a glove. Two weeks ago I was quite worried about these Rams but things have swung all the way back and I’m ready for to see them steamroll Minnesota. The Rams overcame some serious Covid shaninigans and cashed two big wins against division rivals SEA and AZ. They are now much closer to full strength and Minny has been playing soft teams for weeks. LA should have no problem torching this Vikings defense…I expect a high scoring affair of 50+ but more than anything like these Rams to win by a TD+.

Best of the Best Bets – DPJ & Q approved (13-18 Overall)
Chargers @ Texans/Steelers @ Chiefs/Buccaneers @ Panthers
Pick: 3 Team Parlay: Chargers Money Line, Chiefs Money Line, Bucs Money Line (-120 odds)

We still have a couple weeks left to juice these playoff bound teams with parlays and teasers, so here is another three teamer for our loyal readers. The extremely complicated premise remains the same, bet on the teams going to the playoffs when they are playing teams not going to the playoffs. 

The Chargers are flying to Houston to take on this awful Texans team. Aside from a very lucky win over the Titans their other two wins were against the world beating Jags. The Texans simply stink. 

The Chiefs are home for a matchup with the Steelers. This line being -10 against a Steelers team that is somehow still in the hunt should tell you all you need to know. KC is back back back. 

The Bucs seemingly play a bad team every week, and coming off a bunch of injuries they get a tune up game against the Panthers on Sunday. Yes, they have a lot of weapons out, but I still see Brady, Gronk, AB and Ronald Jones as more than enough to beat the awful Panthers. – DPJ

Other Action (62-60-4 Overall)

Dolphins @ Saints: Dolphins -2.5

Ravens @ Bengals: Total Points Under 46

Rams @ Vikings: Total Points Over 48.5

Buccaneers @ Panthers: Total Points Under 49.5

Risky Business (22-40 Overall)

Colts @ Cardinals: Kyler Murray Anytime TD Scorer (+180 odds)

Disclaimer: SidehustlebetsMJQ.com is not an online gambling operator or a gambling site of any kind. Our insights about sports/sports betting are purely for entertainment purposes only.