Taking Bets | A Big Winner | Week Five

The weekly betting column is comes out every Friday evening and features writers Mallory McCormack, host of The Staredown podcast on Fridays; Blaine Duncan, editor-in-chief and host of the TV podcast Taking It Down every Tuesday; and TD Wood, host of Takin' On Sports each Monday. Now on to the bets that could easily ruin your weekend!

2023 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 5-9-1 (Week Four: 2-2)
TD Wood: 8-7 (Week Four: 2-2)
Mallory McCormack: 9-5-1 (Week Four: 4-0)

Blaine Duncan 
I have sincerely had excellent seasons in the past, but something's terribly off. If you want good picks, read Mallory's below. As for me, I feel like Charlie Brown when he checks the mailbox on Valentine's Day.

Florida at Kentucky (-1) -- The Gators may have rebounded after the Utah loss, but Wildcats are playing well, beating teams they're supposed to beat, winning by expected margins, and getting Florida at home. They're also tied for first in the East, and that pressure may get them. They only have to win by one, though!

Georgia at Auburn (OVER: 45) -- I'm not sure that Auburn doesn't find some weird way to stay in the game and keep it close until the third or fourth quarter. I do like some points to be put up, though.

LSU at Ole Miss (UNDER: 67) -- Both teams average over 40 points per game, but this is the point in the season where the grind begins and, due to injuries here and there, things start to slow down offensively: no more easy wins for a while.

NFL Game of the Week:
Chiefs (-8.5) at Jets -- I tend to avoid big spreads in the NFL, but picking against the Jets this year has been money and a few of my actual wins. I'll continue until they prove me otherwise. With everyone watching for Taylor Swift, surely Mahomes will light it up.

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TD Wood
Weird weekend last week, of all my picks I thought the Cowboys was the surest bet. So it goes.

Penn State (-26.5) at Northwestern — The Wildcats haven’t been as terrible as many thought they would’ve been before the season began, but I don’t see how they stop Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions offense. Nor do I see how they score a lot versus a defense giving up under 9 PPG.

Indiana at Maryland (-14.5) — A possibly tricky spot for the Terps a week ahead of their trip to a Columbus, but I think they take care of business here.

Texas A&M vs Arkansas (+6) (In Arlington, TX) — This is one of those games where it looks like the teams are heading in completely different directions. The Aggies have bounced back to win two-in-row after that debacle in Miami, and the Razorbacks have lost back-to-back games. But I like how the Hogs played last week in Baton Rouge, and this game represents a huge point in their season. Plus, it looks like they’ll get star running back Rocket Sanders back from injury this weekend.

NFL Game of the Week: Cardinals at 49ers (-14) — The Cardinals won their big upset game last week. San Francisco knows what’s coming and won’t be caught off guard.

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Mallory McCormack
So to start off with the big news of the week that broke everyone’s minds and the internet…I went 4-0 last week! I’m sure there were other big things that happened in the college and NFL world that broke the internet but this isn’t the place. And don’t go banking my picks this week. Flukes happen. Without further ado, let’s Staredown this week’s picks.

Georgia (-14) at Auburn -- Georgia has had a hard time getting started. Rivalry games can change that. Even at Auburn, I think the Dawgs come out and take the Tigers to the woodshed.

Oregon (-27) at Stanford -- Oregon beat Colorado by 36. I don’t think Stanford’s defense is as good as Colorado and neither is their offense. I’m not saying this for clicks but Oregon chops down the Cardinal.

Boise State at Memphis (-3) -- Even though Memphis lost to Mizzou last week, I think they bounce back against the Broncos. It’s just too hot in the South for them to put up a fight and buck too much.

NFL Game of the Week:
Baltimore at Cleveland (-3) -- It was tempting to take the Eagles again this weekend over the Commanders, but I like this matchup. Cleveland at home with the Dog Pound gets it done.

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Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Caesar's Sportsbook.