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 (4-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-4), 1 p.m. Sunday
The Line: Bengals minus-2.5/Total: 47.5
What is the line telling you:
This line originally opened at Cincinnati minus-3, with a combined total set at 49.5, Since then, the market has dropped a half of a point and dropped two points on the total for the Bengals. Early on, the public action was on the Eagles. But as we know, most of the action does not come in until game day. With that said, most of this season the Cincinnati Bengals have been banged up on offense and defense. Coming into this matchup, this is the healthiest Cincinnati has been all season. The Eagles are also coming into this the healthiest they have been this season. Both teams come into this 2-0 from wins over the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. Neither team has beaten anyone good. But look at the Bengals’ season. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs by a point, 26-25, in Week Two, at Kansas City, and they lost to Baltimore, 41-38, in overtime. Those teams are the odds-on favorites to reach the AFC Championship. This Cincinnati team is good, even though it is 3-4. The Bengals are plus-12 in point differential, even though they are 3-4. The Eagles are only seven points better.
Bottom line:
This will be a very close game, but when you compare the quarterbacks, it is not even close. Joe Burrow is having a great season. He’s thrown for 1,759 yards and 14 touchdowns, against two interceptions, while Jalen Hurts has thrown for seven touchdowns and four interceptions. The team that has the ball last will win this game. I like the Bengals in this game to win the game and cover the spread. The Eagles are near the bottom of the NFL in turnover differential and the Bengals make less mistakes.
Prop bets for the game
Jalen Hurts over 219.5 Passing Yards, minus-114
Joe Burrow over 255.5 passing yards, minus-114
Joe Burrow over 1.5 touchdown passes, minus-125
AROUND THE NFL
Indianapolis Colts (4-3) at Houston Texans (5-2), 1:00 p.m. Sunday
The Line: Texans minus-5/Total: 46
What is the line telling you:
The price for this matchup opened with the Texans being a 6-point favorite, before dropping to Houston minus-5. The total went down from 48 to 46 in some shops.
Bottom line:
Vegas got it wrong on this one. If you remember in the beginning of the season, the Texans were 3-point favorites on the road in Indy and won by two. Now the Texans are 5-point favorites at home against a really banged up Colts team. If you look at the health score, Houston is plus-7 overall. They are the healthier team. The Texans have the better quarterback. The Texans minus-5 is the pick there. The price is wrong. Houston should win this by a touchdown or more. This line should be Houston minus-7.
(Betting lines via FanDuel are subject to change.)
