Primetime NFL games bring in the numbers -- and the bets. In an attempt to boost gamer bankrolls, this only occasionally profitable bettor will attempt to stack greenbacks under the lights. As always, fade or follow -- that’s up to you.
The Pick: Tua Tagovailoa OVER 1.5 rush yards (-115, DraftKings)
Get down, Tua. For the love of your high-functioning brain, SLIDE!
Each and every time the constantly concussed quarterback runs on his own accord, demanding screams are projected toward various screens.
We all know his frightening history. Three times since 2022 his delicate dome has dislodged, leaving him in a temporary blacked-out state.
Any normal person who experiences repeated cerebral trauma would exercise extreme caution in everyday activities. Heck, for some, a bike helmet is probably worn even when making the bed.
You only have one cranium. It must be protected. Speaking as someone who endured two traumatic head injuries after wrecking my hybrid bike in 2022, I know.
For Tua, slowing down isn’t in his nature. When presented an opportunity, he’s often tucked and sprinted for the occasional small gain. Averaging 1.4 scrambles per game, he’s eclipsed the 1.5 rush yards required in six of eight contests. On 11 carries, he’s bolted for 3.45 yards per carry. All we need is one dash to cash -- just one.
Baltimore hasn’t collapsed many pockets this season. Entering the week at No. 30 in pocket pressure rate, the Murder of Crows has dialed up the heat on only 14.1% of quarterback dropbacks. Still, in seven games, they’ve surrendered 14.86 rush yards per game. In total, seven signal callers have bolted for two or more yards against them. Heck, if 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who tallied eight ground yards versus his former team as a member of the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, can do it, so can Miami’s fragile man.
Admittedly, it’s a wager for the degenerates in attendance, but this riverboat gambler is all about the single-play potential. Just please, don’t throw yourself head-first into traffic, Tua.
NO CONTEXT PARLAY PLAY: SGP - Ravens -2.5, Derrick Henry 80+ rush yards, De’Von Achane 4+ receptions (+134, DraftKings)