Elaine Thompson / AP
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll walks on the field before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, on Dec. 5, 2021, in Seattle. NFL, which reports 94.4% of players are fully vaccinated, has not yet made COVID-19 booster shots part of its protocol. Carroll said the Seahawks scheduled a booster day for players, coaches and staff this week.
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 | 1:55 p.m.
The Sunday Sweats bottom line has been dropping downward for more than a month, but a boost could come in Week 18 before even getting to today’s picks.
Three futures that have been pending anywhere from a week to months will be settled by Sunday evening. One is already locked up — the Dallas Cowboys winning the NFC East at +150.
Another, the Chargers’ under 9.5 wins, will come down to the final game of the season against the Raiders on Sunday Night Football. The biggest potential windfall, however, comes in Hawaii where Jon Rahm is in contention in the Sentry Tournament of Champions and could cash my +850 ticket.
The latter two could help strengthen the bankroll going into the playoffs, but I’m not stopping there. Let’s get five more wins in the traditional categories.
Read below for this week’s Sunday Sweats column. Bets placed outside of the pro football pick’em, including a weekly prop on the Raiders’ game that runs Sunday, will be tracked in the overall record here.
Tasty Total (8-8, -$76.68): Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals over 47.5 (BetMGM)
The Cardinals’ defense isn’t playing as well as it was earlier in the season, and the Seahawks’ offense seems to be getting it back together. The Seahawks’ defense, however, hasn’t been much all season. This should be a close, high-scoring game with a final score of something like 27-24 or 28-27. That gives some leeway on this total, which BetMGM is conveniently offering at the lowest price in the world. Playing indoors at State Farm Stadium, neither the Cardinals nor the Seahawks have much of an excuse for not being able to move the ball consistently.
Two-team Teaser (11-6, $316.63): Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2 & Seattle Seahawks +11.5 -120 (William Hill)
If Tampa Bay goes down on Sunday, risk rooms across the valley will be celebrating. It would be the ultimate teaser killer, because it’s hard to imagine anyone going the 6-point route and not including the only side on the slate that goes through both the 3 and the 6. The Buccaneers have their issues, particularly in the receiving corps now without both Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, but they should be able to beat the Panthers. There’s no great second choice but the Seahawks are my favorite play on the board this week, and getting them through the 6, 7 and 10 isn’t a bad option.
Moneyline Parlay (7-9, $786.74): Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings & Detroit Lions +368 (STN Sports)
Are we so sure the Packers are going to play their starters throughout Sunday’s game despite clinching the No. 1 seed? And, if not, are we so sure the Packers’ backups should be expected to beat the Lions? The market has implied that Green Bay won’t be at full-strength this weekend, as the line has shot down from -11 to -3. STN is hanging an incredibly off-market moneyline price on the Lions at +155, a full 15 cents higher than the global consensus. That’s what ultimately convinced me to include it in the parlay, even though it does require a leap of faith. Perhaps I’m also making mistake in fixating on the Lions while taking the other two sides for granted. But my confidence is extremely high in the Buccaneers and Vikings, higher than the -410 and -210 moneyline prices, respectively, imply.
Player Prop (14-20, -$740): Zay Jones under 3.5 receptions +128 (Boyd Sports)
There’s already one prop on the Sunday Night Football game coming in tomorrow’s Raider gameday section, and I don’t typically like doubling up on the same contest. But I’ll make an exception here given the stakes, and the more boring fact that sports books have been slow to post props on the rest of the Week 18 slate. Jones has played exceptionally during the Raiders’ recent win streak, but there are going to be fewer opportunities to go around against the Chargers. Darren Waller is expected back, and regardless of if he’s 100%, he and Hunter Renfrow will be Carr’s primary receiving option. That knocks Jones down a peg, as it had been him and Renfrow who were the go-tos without Waller.
Non-football Play (7-9, -$185.76): Minnesota Timberwolves -4 at Houston Rockets (Wynn)
The Wolves have been one of the NBA’s most underrated teams when near full strength. They’re near full strength again now having gotten through a COVID-19 outbreak, covering the opening numbers in both games since. Both those lines have gotten steamed— Minnesota actually failed to cover the closing -9 price after opening -7.5 in a 98-90 win hosting Oklahoma City on Wednesday — and this one should too. Look for Minnesota to climb up to -6, so get in now at the discount. The Rockets are a mess and have lost nine of their last 10 games straight-up and against the spread.
Sunday Sweats this season: 46-50, $100.93
Weekend betting column all-time: 221-212, $4,925.15
Previous pending wagers: Los Angeles Chargers under 9.5 wins -125; Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East +150; Georgia 10-to-1 to win College Football Playoff; Baltimore Ravens 20-to-1 to win Super Bowl; Jon Rahm 12-to-1 to win 2022 Masters; Texas 50-to-1 to win 2022 NCAA Tournament; Jon Rahm 8-to-1 to win Sentry Tournament of Champions; Cody Stamman +175 vs. Said Nurmagomedov at UFC 270.
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or
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