Our Insights on 20 NFL Bets to Watch Across Today’s Slate

We also look at where bettors have money in the NFL and NBA

In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: Who are you taking today?

2. Bets to Watch: Insights on 20 NFL bets

3. Game of the Day: Bears looking to prove themselves

4. By the Numbers: Where bettors have NFL money today

5. Overtime: Could the ACC actually miss out on the CFP?

1. Leading Off

This morning we’re trying something different: We want to know what Sportmoney readers think about some of the biggest NFL matchups on today’s slate. Who are you taking in these games? Make your picks:

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2. Bets to Watch

Packers' Defense is 3rd in Opponent Yards per Carry, 1st in Opponent Yards per Pass

By Chris Farley

Packers -6.5 (-103 at Bookmaker)
This is a weird spot for both teams considering their poor performances last week. The jury is out on J.J. McCarthy and it's…

3. Game of the Day

Bears Look Stay Atop NFC North as Easy Schedule Comes to an End

The Bears quietly won three in a row and are shockingly on top of the NFC North at 7-3. Chicago has benefited from a soft schedule, though, as the Bears haven’t beaten a team that currently has a winning record. They’re favored to do that today against the Steelers, who come to town clinging to a one-game lead in the AFC North and Aaron Rodgers questionable to play.

Steelers (6-4, 2-2 Away) vs. Bears (7-3, 3-1 Home)
1pm on CBS

The Odds

• Spread: Steelers (+2.5, -105), Bears (-2.5, -115): 61% of the money and 58% of the bets are with Chicago

  • PIT (road): 1-3, CHI (home): 2-2

• Moneyline: Steelers +120, Bears -142

• Total (45.5): Over -110, Under -110

  • PIT: 5-5, CHI: 4-6

Head-to-Head

Players to Watch

• Bears QB Caleb Williams: 194-325 (59.7%), 2,329 yards, 13 TD, 4 INT, 89.9 rating

• Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (Q): 192-289 (66.4%), 1,969 yards, 19 TD, 7 INT, 97.7 rating

• Bears WR Rome Odunze: 39 receptions (75 targets), 600 yards, 6 TD, 33 first downs

• Steelers WR DK Metcalf: 37 receptions (62 targets), 551 yards, 5 TD, 26 first downs

• Bears S Kevin Byard III: 53 tackles (38 solo), 5 interceptions, 6 pass deflections, 4 stuffs

• Steelers LB Payton Wilson: 84 tackles (51 solo), 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 2 pass deflections, 4 stuffs

4. By the Numbers

Bettors Backing Patriots, Seahawks to Keep Perfect Road ATS Record Alive

NFL

• Patriots (-7.5, -110) vs. Bengals (+7.5, -110): 83% of the money and 70% of the bets are with New England

  • ATS — NE (road): 5-0, CIN (home): 2-3

• Jets (+13.5, -106) vs. Ravens (-13.5, -114): 80% of the money and 67% of the bets are with Baltimore

  • ATS — NYJ (road): 2-1-1, BAL (home): 2-3

• Seahawks (-13.5, -104) vs. Titans (+13.5, -118): 88% of the money and 77% of the bets are with Seattle

  • ATS — SEA (road): 5-0, TEN (home): 2-3

• Giants (+12.5, -105) vs. Lions (-12.5, -115): 90% of the money and 76% of the bets are with Detroit

  • ATS — NYG (road): 3-3, DET (home): 3-1

• Browns (+3.5, -104) vs. Raiders (-3.5, -118): 58% of the money and 74% of the bets are with Cleveland

  • ATS — CLE (road): 0-5, LV (home): 2-3

NBA

• Heat (+1, -110) vs. 76ers (-1, -110): 65% of the money and 61% of the bets are with Philadelphia

  • MIA: 11-4-1, PHI: 8-4-3

• Magic (+4.5, -110) vs. Celtics (-4.5, -110): 55% of the money and 65% of the bets are with Orlando

  • ORL: 9-8-0, BOS: 6-9-1

• Hornets (+7.5, -110) vs. Hawks (-7.5, -110): 68% of the money and 56% of the bets are with Atlanta

  • CHA: 7-9, ATL: 9-8

• Trail Blazers (+15.5, -110) vs. Thunder (-15.5, -110): 68% of the money and 58% of the bets are with Oklahoma City

  • POR: 8-8, OKC: 9-8

• Lakers (-9.5, -110) vs. Jazz (+9.5, -110): 79% of the money and 67% of the bets are with Los Angeles

  • LAL: 11-4, UTA: 8-7

5. Overtime

In the News 

• After a college football Saturday without as much chaos as normal, CBS Sports has a new set of bowl projections out this morning. The biggest upset of the day, Pitt over No. 16 Georgia Tech, could mean the ACC doesn’t get a team in the playoff.

• Max Verstappen not only won the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a double McLaren disqualification brought him even with Oscar Piastri for second — just 24 points behind leader Lando Norris. Verstappen, who has won four straight drivers’ championships, has two races to complete what would be a miraculous comeback (there are 58 points available).

• Texas quarterback Arch Manning totaled six TDs in a win over Arkansas: 4 passing, 1 rushing and 1 receiving. But because of the lack of upsets yesterday, the Longhorns’ path back to the CFP is all but gone.

• Clippers guard Chris Paul is set to retire after this season, his 21st in the NBA. The 40-year-old is a 12-time NBA All-Star and 4-time First Team All-NBA awardee, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and a 2008 and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA.

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 11:30am: Arsenal vs. Tottenham on NBC

• 1pm: Steelers vs. Bears on CBS (or Colts vs. Chiefs on CBS)

• 4:25pm: Eagles vs. Cowboys on FOX

• 7pm: Avalanche vs. Blackhawks on NHL Network

• 8:20pm: Buccaneers vs. Rams on NBC