Dave Tuley, senior reporter at VSiN.com, is in his fourth season with The Post’s Bettor’s Guide. His handicapping pieces appear in VSiN’s online magazine, Point Spread Weekly.
New England Patriots (+4) over LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Chargers are becoming a public team at 4-2, though they trail the Raiders by a half-game in the AFC West. Believe me, I’m not putting too much stock in the Patriots’ 54-13 rout of the Jets, though obviously it’s a good sign of the offense improving under Mac Jones. But I still love the fact that the Pats lost just 19-17 to the mighty Buccaneers and just 35-29 to the Cowboys in overtime. Those showed me they can at least cover against the Chargers. Besides, while I know Justin Herbert isn’t a rookie like the ones Bill Belichick usually baffles, he’s still a young, second-year player, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the old wizard has something up his sleeve (see Patriots’ 45-0 rout of Herbert and the Chargers last December).
DETROIT LIONS (+3.5) over Philadelphia Eagles
If the Lions go 0-17, they’ll be the best winless teams in history. They should have beaten the Ravens and threw a major scare into the Rams last week as 16.5-point underdogs. So, I definitely see them hanging with the Eagles and maybe getting an elusive win. I’m very surprised by the love from bookmakers and bettors that has been shown to this inconsistent Eagles team with only wins over the Falcons and the reeling Panthers. Yet, they were bet down from +3 to pick’em vs. the Raiders last week and have now gone from -3 to -3.5 in this game. But I’ll gladly take as many points as they give us.
Last week: 1-1, Bengals (W), Bears (L).
Season: 10-4.
