In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: The NFL teams with the toughest remaining schedules

2. Bets to Watch: Insights on 10 bets across the World Series and NBA

3. NFL Preview: Chiefs vs. Bills showdown highlights close of the first half of the season

4. Public Money: Bettors sticking with Dodgers after 18th-inning win in Game 3

5. Overtime: Ohtani set a postseason record by reaching base in all 9 of his at bats last night

1. Leading Off

It took 399 minutes and 609 pitches (using 19 combined pitchers), but the Dodgers took control of the World Series after a Freddie Freeman walk-off home run in the 18th inning gave Los Angeles a 2-1 series lead over Toronto. The game ended just before midnight on the West Coast. The series continues today with a 5pm local time first pitch and Shohei Ohtani on the mound.

Last week we took a look at season win totals for the NFL teams with the weakest remaining schedules. Today we’re highlighting the 10 toughest schedules left and the least difficult opponents those franchises have remaining, per Tankathon. Six of the 10 teams are currently under .500, so their fans should buckle up for a long season:

1. Texans (3-4) — 7.5 wins (Over -165, Under +140): TEN, LV, ARI

2. Cardinals (2-5) — 5.5 wins (-155 over, +130 under): CIN, ATL, HOU, DAL

3. Commanders (3-5) — 7.5 wins (Over -140, Under +120): MIA, NYG, MIN, DAL

4. Chiefs (5-3) — 11.5 wins (Over +100, Under -120): TEN, LV, HOU, DAL

5. Vikings (3-4) — 6.5 wins (Over -155, Under +130): NYG, BAL, WAS, DAL

6. Colts (7-1) — 12.5 wins (Over +115, Under -140): ATL, HOU (2)

7. Giants (2-6) — 5.5 wins (Over +105, Under -125): LV, WAS, MIN, DAL

8. Panthers (4-4) — 7.5 wins (Over +150, Under -180): NO (2), ATL

9. Bears (4-3) — 8.5 wins (Over +125, Under -150): CLE, NYG, CIN, MIN

10. Raiders (2-5) — 5.5 wins (Over +150, Under -180): CLE, NYG, HOU, DAL

The AFC East-leading 6-2 Patriots now have the easiest remaining schedule by far, with two games against the Jets and matchups with the Dolphins, Giants, Ravens, Bengals, and Falcons still to come.

—Abe Rakov

2. Bets to Watch

Insights on 3 World Series Bets and 7 NBA Plays Tonight

By Jack Dougherty

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays over 8 runs (-120 at BetMGM)
Game 4 is going to be a challenge for both managers, especially in the bullpen department. In last night’s 18-inning thriller, the Dodgers and Blue Jays had to…

3. NFL Preview

Week 9: First Half of the Season Ends With Chiefs vs. Bills Heavyweight Matchup

All eyes will be on one matchup in Week 9: The Chiefs vs. Bills at 4:25pm on CBS. Kansas City is a 1.5-point favorite on the road and is the current Super Bowl favorite at +500 (Buffalo has the fourth-best odds at +800).

Four Games to Watch

• Chiefs (5-3, 1-2 Away) vs. Bills (5-2, 3-1 Home): Despite the pedestrian record, Kansas City gains the fifth-most yards per game while giving up the fourth-least, while Buffalo found its rhythm against the Panthers after losing two in a row.

  • Kansas City (-1.5, -110), Buffalo (+1.5, -110):

• Broncos (6-2, 2-2 Away) vs. Texans (3-4, 2-1 Home): Denver has won an NFL-best five straight and just drubbed Dallas, while Houston has the league’s top-ranked defense yards per game-wise and are coming off their best win of the season (vs. San Francisco).

  • Denver (+1.5, -115), Houston (-1.5, -105):

• Colts (7-1, 2-1 Away) vs. Steelers (4-3, 2-2 Home): Indianapolis has the league’s best record but not a ton of believers (+470 to win the AFC), while the Steelers have lost two in a row after starting the season 4-1.

  • Indianapolis (-3, -115), Pittsburgh (+3, -105):

• Panthers (4-4, 1-3 Away) vs. Packers (5-1-1, 3-0 Home): Green Bay got a statement win in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, while the Panthers are trying to shake off a blowout loss to an angry Bills squad and have a disrespectful spread in this one.

  • Carolina (+12.5, -112), Green Bay (-12.5, -108):

The Rest of the Schedule

• Ravens (2-5, 0-2 Away) vs. Dolphins (2-6, 1-2 Home)

• Bears (4-3, 2-2 Away) vs. Bengals (3-5, 2-2 Home)

• Vikings (3-4, 2-2 Away) vs. Lions (5-2, 3-0 Home)

• Chargers (5-3, 2-1 Away) vs. Titans (1-7, 0-3 Home)

• Falcons (3-4, 1-2 Away) vs. Patriots (6-2, 2-2 Home)

• 49ers (5-3, 3-2 Away) vs. Giants (2-6, 2-1 Home)

• Jaguars (4-3, 1-1 Away) vs. Raiders (2-5, 1-2 Home)

• Saints (1-7, 0-3 Away) vs. Rams (5-2, 2-1 Home)

• Seahawks (5-2, 3-0 Away) vs. Commanders (3-5, 2-1 Home)

• Cardinals (2-5, 1-2 Away) vs, Cowboys (3-4-1, 2-0-1 Home)

Byes: Browns, Buccaneers, Eagles, Jets

4. Public Money

Ohtani Heads to Mound for Game 4, Bettors Are All-In on the Dodgers

5. Overtime

In the News 

• Shohei Ohtani produced another historic game, reaching base nine times in the Dodgers’ 18-inning win. Ohtani was 4-4 with two home runs and five walks, including four-straight intentional free passes, and will head to the mound today to start Game 4 in Los Angeles.

• Vikings backup quarterback Carson Wentz is having season-ending shoulder surgery, and opening-day starter J.J. McCarthy is expected to be back for Minnesota’s game this Sunday in Detroit. Ravens starting quarterback Lamar Jackson looks set to be under center for a Thursday Night Football tilt against the Dolphins after missing the past three games.

• Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin is a top choice for a few teams looking for a new head coach, but with a playoff run expected, will they wait to interview him? Kiffin’s Rebels are 7-1, ranked 7th in the AP Poll and should be significant favorites in their final four regular season games.

• The NHL’s Frozen Frenzy is back tonight, with all 32 teams in action on ESPN and the ESPN App. ESPN2 will air a NFL RedZone-style show to cover all the games.

• Texas quarterback Arch Manning was in concussion protocol on Monday and his status for Saturday’s game against No. 9 Vanderbilt is uncertain. Manning had his best game of the season at Mississippi State before he was knocked out of the game in a Longhorns’ overtime win this past weekend, going 29-46 for 346 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 6pm: Penguins vs. Flyers on ESPN (followed by Capitals vs. Stars at 8:30pm and Kings vs. Sharks at 11pm)

• 6:45pm: Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC in MLS playoff action on FS1

• 8pm: Blue Jays vs. Dodgers for Game 4 on FOX (or Knicks vs. Bucks on NBC)

• 11pm: Clippers vs. Warriors on NBC