Group chat: tackling NFL odds like Alex Singleton

Photo courtesy: Philadelphia Eagles

The odds were stacked against Alex Singleton but he fought them for years to earn a start at linebacker in the NFL.

Singleton is similar to degenerate gamblers everywhere: trying to beat the odds each week while providing entertainment for cash. Let’s strap up like Singleton and tackle the lines without fear, using the confidence the former CFL all-star exudes on the field.

In Week 13 his Philadelphia Eagles are heavy underdogs travelling to Lambeau Field for a match-up with the Green Bay Packers. Singleton makes his seventh-straight start for Jim Schwartz’s defence across from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Stars don’t faze Singleton and won’t shake John Hodge and I from dishing out winners as the rising linebacker doles out jarring hits to the top names in the NFL.

Group chat: spike-balling spreads like the Steelers

Hodge and I will #MakeAPlay for each game this NFL season as members of #TeamBodog. Join us for the entertainment at Bodog.ca and see if you can beat us as we lay it on the line each week. Make-A-Play with our exclusive bonus code: use 3DownBodog to get a 100 percent bonus up to $200.

Week 13
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins
Line: Dolphins -11.5
Total: 42.5 points
Dunk’s pick: BENGALS. Miami hasn’t proved they can win by margin, yet.
Hodge’s pick: BENGALS. Cincy’s not the same without Joe Burrow, but this spread’s a little thick.

Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans
Line: Titans -5.5
Total: 53.5 points
Dunk’s pick: BROWNS. Pads will be poppin’ in a physical match-up.
Hodge’s pick: TITANS. Cleveland’s barely been beating bad teams as of late.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Line: Bears -3
Total: 45 points
Dunk’s pick: BEARS. It’s going to be ugly, but Detroit lacks playmakers.
Hodge’s pick: LIONS. Detroit gets a bump following the firing of Matt Patricia.

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Line: Colts -3.5
Total: 50.5 points
Dunk’s pick: TEXANS. Deshaun Watson. That’s it.
Hodge’s pick: COLTS. Indy bounces back from an embarrassing loss to Tennessee.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings
Line: Vikings -10
Total: 51 points
Dunk’s pick: JAGUARS. Kirk Cousins as a double digit favourite – yikes.
Hodge’s pick: JAGUARS. The Vikes win but the Jags cover.

Las Vegas Raiders at New York Jets
Line: Raiders -9
Total: 47 points
Dunk’s pick: RAIDERS. Jon Gruden uses the loss in Atlanta as a wake-up call.
Hodge’s pick: JETS. You can’t get smacked by the Falcons then get nine points the following week.

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Line: Saints -3
Total: 45 points
Dunk’s pick: FALCONS. Atlanta is better than we think.
Hodge’s pick: FALCONS. Can Atlanta do it two weeks in a row?

Sunday 4 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
Line: Rams -3
Total: 48 points
Dunk’s pick: CARDINALS. Points and more playmakers.
Hodge’s pick: CARDS. If Kyler Murray wants to win MVP, this has to be a marquee performance.

New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks
Line: Seahawks -10
Total: 47.5 points
Dunk’s pick: SEAHAWKS. No Daniel Jones, no bueno.
Hodge’s pick: SEAHAWKS. Seattle’s played a lot of close games this year — this is their chance to blow things open.

New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers
Line: Patriots -1
Total: 47.5 points
Dunk’s pick: CHARGERS. You know why, Justin Herbert.
Hodge’s pick: PATRIOTS. Bill Belichick > any rookie quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers
Line: Packers -8
Total: 47.5 points
Dunk’s pick: PACKERS. The Eagles offence gets worse by the week.
Hodge’s pick: PACKERS. Carson Wentz is not a starting-calibre NFL quarterback.

Sunday Night Football
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Line: Chiefs -14
Total: 51 points
Dunk’s pick: BRONCOS. Familiar division rival.
Hodge’s pick: CHIEFS. Even with a quarterback, the Broncos will have trouble keeping this close.

Monday Night Football
Washington Football Team at Pittsburgh Steelers
Line: Steelers -9
Total: 42 points
Dunk’s pick: WASHINGTON. Bud Dupree is a major loss for Pittsburgh.
Hodge’s pick: WASHINGTON. Pittsburgh still wins, but playing on such little rest is tough.

Buffalo Bills at San Francisco 49ers
Line: 49ers -1
Total: 47.5 points
Dunk’s pick: BILLS. Josh Allen slings it all over San Fran.
Hodge’s pick: BILLS. I am fully aboard the #BillsMafia train.

Against the spread picks to date:

Hodge: 55-51-2
Dunk: 52-54-2