Every Friday evening, Taking Bets gets you ready for the weekend's football with some ideas on the bets to make. It's Mallory McCormack, host of The Staredown podcast, Blaine Duncan, editor-in-chief and host of the TV podcast Taking It Down, and TD Wood, host of Takin' On Sports.
2023 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 13-20-2 (Week Nine: 1-3)
TD Wood: 20-15 (Week Nine: 3-1)
Mallory McCormack: 22-11-2 (Week Nine: 2-2)
Blaine Duncan
Do you read this every week? Do you see the fool I make of myself?
Notre Dame (-3) at Clemson -- One thing perhaps we'll learn from this week is that you never go full Dabo.
Illinois at Minnesota (-1.5) -- The half point has beaten me a few times this year, so I'll see if I can't get it to work in my favor.
LSU at Alabama (UNDER: 61) -- Alabama's defense has been playing well; therefore, the under.
NFL Game of the Week:
Cowboys at Eagles (-3) -- Jalen Hurts and the Eagles look like contenders once again for the Super Bowl. There's no reason why they won't win this one, and three points seems feasible.
***
TD Wood
I am in no way, shape, or form surprised by which game was my lone loss last weekend. This is why I do not gamble on the Ravens. That said, I'm glad the big numbers paid off -- had a hunch and it turned out to be right. Even the losers get lucky, sometimes. Despite Mallory's protests, I will continue to ride her Rebels if I like the line.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (+6) -- Another hunch, but the final Bedlam for who knows how long could get nuts. I imagine it'll be the biggest, loudest, most insane crowd Boone Pickens Stadium has ever seen. Mike Gundy will have his team absolutely hyped. This one just has that feeling.
Army at Air Force (-17.5) (Game in Denver) -- Air Force has a real shot at making a New Year's Six bowl, and I don't think Army is going to do much to get in the way.
Texas A&M at Ole Miss (-3) -- The Aggies have played 3 good teams (hey, Week 2 Miami was good) this year, and they have lost to all of them. Lane Kiffin has done a great job keeping the Rebels focused, and I don't think they'll get caught looking ahead to their mammoth trip to Athens next Saturday. I don't care what the Texas A&M defense did against South Carolina, that was South Carolina.
NFL Game of the Week:
Buccaneers at Texans (-3) -- Houston's loss to Carolina seems bad, but they just got Bryce Young'd is all. Demeco Ryans has his guys playing hard and well, and I think they'll bounce back against a struggling Tampa Bay.
* * *
Mallory McCormack
Two words…🐀☠️. That is all this week.
Washington (-3.0) at USC — USC started hot. They’ve fizzled. I feel like the Huskies go in to the Coliseum and win.
Arkansas at Florida (-3.0) — Arkansas fired their OC a few weeks ago and I still don’t think it’s enough of a change to give the Razorbacks a spark.
Georgia Tech (+2.0) at Virginia — I slept on the Rambling Wreck last week, but I won’t make that mistake again.
NFL Game of the Week:
Vikings at Falcons (-3.5) -- The Vikings are going to miss Kirky Kirk and his funky style. Josh Dobbs could be successful but he hasn’t had enough time with the team. Atlanta’s defense should take advantage of it.
***
Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Caesar's Sportsbook.