Ross D. Franklin / AP
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray tries to elude Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Chris Peace (40) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 | 2 a.m.
For the eighth straight year, those seeking last-minute NFL betting advice and picks are in luck with the Sun sports staff’s handicapping contest.
The basics of the competition stay the same for another season — Each of the four sports writers are asked to pick six selections per week. The details are overhauled, as the lines now originate from the Westgate Las Vegas Supercontest.
Like the $1,500 buy-in Supercontest, the biggest sports-betting contest in the world, one point is awarded for a win and a half-point for a push. Unlike the Supercontest, the Sun’s competition has a weekly best bet worth double points.
None of the four best bets of week 1 are in the same game, so peruse them below and pick your favorite. Good luck.
Case Keefer
Points: 0 (0-0)
Last Season: 58-43-1
Vikings minus-4 vs. Falcons
Jets minus-3 vs. Bills
Titans plus-5 at Browns
Cardinals plus-3 vs. Lions
Giants plus-7 at Cowboys
Two-point best bet: Panthers plus-2.5 vs. Rams. Rule No. 1 of sports-betting contests: Extract value with stale lines. Carolina shouldn’t be an underdog in this game in the first place, and here, there’s an extra 1.5 points of market value.
Ray Brewer
Points: 0 (0-0)
Last Season: 49-51-2
Bills plus-3 at Jets
Chargers minus-6.5 vs. Colts
Rams minus-2.5 at Panthers
Steelers plus-5.5 at Patriots
Saints minus-7 vs. Texans
Two-point best bet: Bengals plus-9.5 at Seahawks. The Bengals offense will look like the Rams offense of last season with new coach Zac Taylor’s influence. Taylor was the Rams’ quarterback coach in 2018 and will bring the same approach to Cincy. Joe Mixon will put-up Todd Gurley numbers.
Mike Grimala
Points: 0 (0-0)
Last Season: 48-49-5
Falcons plus-4 at Vikings
Buccaneers pick’em vs. 49ers
Lions minus-3 at Cardinals
Broncos pick’em at Raiders
Patriots minus-5.5 vs. Steelers
Two-point best bet: Ravens minus-6.5 at Dolphins. The Baltimore defense teeing off against Ryan Fitzpatrick? That sounds like a recipe for a Ravens’ defensive TD and a blowout victory.
Justin Emerson
Points: 0 (0-0)
Last Season: 0-0
Ravens minus-6.5 at Dolphins
Jets minus-3 vs. Bills
Chargers minus-6.5 vs. Colts
Panthers plus-2.5 vs. Rams
Broncos pick’em at Raiders
Two-point best bet: Cardinals plus-3 vs. Lions. Call me a believer in the Cardinals. Or, maybe more specifically, call me a non-believer in the Lions. Detroit has lost eight of the last nine in Arizona and although that one win came last season, it came against a putrid Cardinals offense that is bound to improve this season. Arizona is changing its offense to fit Kyler Murray and gets David Johnson back. The Cardinals should win straight-up, so getting a field goal is free points.
Past Winners: 2012 — Case Keefer; 2013 — Case Keefer, Ray Brewer (tie); 2014 — Case Keefer; 2015 — Case Keefer; 2016 — Ray Brewer; 2017 — Case Keefer, Jesse Granger (tie); 2018 — Case Keefer
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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