Steve Maltepes, known as “The Philly Godfather,” will impart his gambling wisdom on the Eagles and where the smart money is going on various pro football games each weekend this season. Maltepes is one of the nation’s hottest sports betting experts who appears weekly on national radio and has his own website, www.thephillygodfather.com [thephillygodfather.com].
Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) at Dallas Cowboys (3-5) at, 4:25 p.m. Sunday
The Line: Eagles minus-7.5/Total: 43.5
What is the line telling you:
This line originally opened as the Eagles minus-6 and has since crossed over to that key number of seven and rising to 7.5. Obviously, starter Dak Prescott will not be playing. The back-up, Cooper Rush, is 5-1 as a starter and very capable. He is also 5-1 against the spread since 2021. Dallas has scored 17 points or more in seven of its eight games. And in those seven, the Cowboys have scored 20 or more points in six of those games. Rush is one of the better back-ups in the league.
Bottom line:
The 7.5 points are too many in a division game. As we have talked about all season, teams favored by seven or more points have covered less than 30% of the time. As of right now, 85% of every ticket placed in Vegas and offshore have money down on the Philadelphia Eagles. You never really want to be on the public’s side. The Eagles will win this game, or they should win this game. But this Cowboys team is looking to keep pace with Washington and the Eagles. I like the 7.5 points. It is all about the price. You are buying a number, not a team. The Cowboys’ point differential is minus-4, while the Eagles are a plus-44. Both teams are 1-0 in the NFC East, but the Cowboys are playing for their season. The Eagles win, the Cowboys cover.
Prop bets for the game
A.J. Brown anytime touchdown, plus-115
Jalen Hurts over 200 passing yards, minus-110
Jalen Hurts two passing TDs, plus-170
AROUND THE NFL
Minnesota Vikings (6-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7), 1:00 p.m. Sunday
The Line: Vikings minus-7/Total: 44
What is the line telling you:
This game is trending towards Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence will not play. It will be a game-time decision. Even if he does not play, Mac Jones has thrown 46 touchdown passes over the last three seasons on some bad New England Patriots’ teams. Jones can play a little bit in this league. This line opened as the Vikings being 5-point favorites and has continued to go up. This game could reach 10.
Bottom line:
I would go over 43 points, if it reaches that. But wait for the spread to rise more. You can take the plus-7 on Jacksonville, and if Lawrence does not play, take the number going up. When Lawrence has played, the Jags have outplayed the market, going 5-4 against the spread. The Jags won last week against the spread. Jacksonville has been in games. The Jags are still playing hard.
(Betting lines are subject to change.)
