Sunday kickoff approaches for NFL Week 16, and betting expert Chad Millman and professional sports gambler Simon Hunter deliver their final five against the spread contest bets for their SHARP OR SQUARE PRO FOOTBALL PICK 'EM CONTEST at https://sharporsquare.thevolume.com/ as our audience competes for a fabulous grand prize trip to South Florida, courtesy of our sponsor Hard Rock Bet!
Our hosting duo looks at a thrilling matchup as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills face Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns. Later, our hosting duo looks at a less-than-thrilling matchup as Brady Cook leads the New York Jets to the Big Easy to face Tyler Shough and the New Orleans Saints. Plus, the Kansas City Chiefs struggle without Patrick Mahomes versus the Tennessee Titans. Simon and Chad bet on a game featuring Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens against Drake Maye and the New England Patriots, as well a thrilling AFC showdown as Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars face Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos.
We hear their take on Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions matching up with Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Bucs looking for control of the NFC South against Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers. And of course the guys make a bet on Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts hosting Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
All their final and official betting picks, all in one fast-paced episode! #Volume
0:03:10 - GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. CHICAGO BEARS REACTION
0:08:00 - TAMPA BAY BUCS VS. CAROLINA PANTHERS
0:10:45 - BUFFALO BILLS VS. CLEVELAND BROWNS
0:14:00 - JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS VS. DENVER BRONCOS
0:16:40 - PITTSBURGH STEELERS VS. DETROIT LIONS
0:19:25 - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS
0:26:00 - MINNESOTA VIKINGS VS. NEW YORK GIANTS
0:28:10 - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS VS. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
0:32:00 - OFFICIAL WEEK 16 CONTEST PICKS
---
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Sharper Square, presented by hard Rock Vet. We
are part of the Volume podcast network and this is
the show that makes the square sharper and makes the
wise guys pay attention.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I am Chad Norman.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I am joined as always find my cripand.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
IDFF professional better. Simon Hunter, Hello, Simon.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Chad, What a day yesterday was for both of us.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Dude, I'm gobsmacked. This isn't what happens to the Bears.
We're the team that double doinks. We're the team that
gets fourth and one from the two and snaps it
over the head of our seventh round five foot five
running back. We are not the team that comes from
(00:49):
ten down in the final two minutes, recovers an on
side kick and then throws a bomb where.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
The quarterback is so casual about it.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
While the ball is in the air, he stuffs his
hands into his hand warmers because he knows he just
dropped it into the basket. We're the team that trades
up to get Mitch Trubisky and passes over to Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
This is just not this is not the Bears.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, but they had us for about three quarters there.
It was the same old Bears, and I know you're
in the same spot as me. I was just cursing
their name. I couldn't believe I walked into it, even
though I said a million times I wasn't going to.
But I just fell in love with this Bears team
all year because of what happened in that final two minutes.
This whole year, every time I bet on this team,
(01:43):
they leave me scratching my head for three quarters, and
all of a sudden, that fourth, magical fourth quarter comes around,
and I think it's an NFL record. Right now, They've
won six games They've been trailing in the two minutes
left in the game, They've won six of them. It's crazy,
It's a crazy identity. It's like we always talk all
the time in the NFL. There's the town level is
so high. Just the coaching can make the biggest difference
(02:07):
and everything overall, and the biggest to me is just
the Ben Johnson belief. These guys consistently believe in themselves,
so can't believe it. On the other side, if you
are Green Bay, talk about having horrible injury luck season
from hell, just everything rolling unto one. Green Bay totally
outplay hit the Bears for three quarters and you know,
with their backup in there, and it just totally fell
(02:29):
apart there by the seams. Their secondary is just so
banged up. You're waiting for Caleb to get away with
these deep ball throws and they just couldn't find it.
And eventually, like we said, the game kept going and
that that throw in the overtime, like everyone keeps saying,
ice in his veins. It was incredible. It really was
like as someone just sitting there as a fan did
not see that coming, really did think it was a handoff.
(02:50):
I was just like the defense, I bid on it
and he had the perfect read right the safety bit
I think they said it was points six inches or
feet maybe or something saying like that of separation between
DJ and the cornerback, like tight, tight window. Yeah, just
all time throw by Caleb. So yeah, everyone, even only
people weren't screaming, wre Green Bay fans. Any one that's
(03:12):
a football fan, You're going absolutely crazy. That was an
all time moment.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
It also is just an indication of how much penalties
make a difference in this game. Don't forget Bears had
a third and twenty and they were sacked and they
weren't going to even be able to kick a field goal,
and Caleb the defensive lineman for the Packers, pulled on
his face Max as he was going down. And the
Bears get a first out and they kicked a field goal,
(03:36):
and all of a sudden, there only down seven and
they get the outside kick. Like it just these these
penalties and it was not a penalty that shouldn't have
been called. It just goes to show you how every
single little mistake has a huge, huge impact on the
game and how it can swing momentum. What a crazy,
what a crazy forty eight hours of football from Thursday
(03:59):
Night Ball the Saturday Night Football. You and I were
reeling at the end of that Bears game because we
had been on the Commanders.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
That was a tough beat.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Just with Mariota going down, they looked like they were
going to be able to be competitive in that game.
Josh Johnson comes in no longer the case, but we
got to move on to Sunday. Brother, Let's get to it.
This is the semi stripped down in the room eavesdropping
version of Sharper Square. We're going to make some regretful,
utterly human decisions and get to our final five. You
(04:29):
can see the dynamic lines that Simon and I are
playing at the free Sharper Square Pro football pickup contest.
If you signed up to play in the contest that
was Sharpersquare dot the Volume dot com. We are Chad
and Simon BFFs. We're six and four on the year
(04:49):
in that contest since it started. Are you ready, brother?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I'm ready? All right.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So these are the games that we had zeroed in
on the other day. I think we're still debating where
we're going to land first one up Tampa Bay at
Carolina Carolina plus three and a half. I feel like
we've been waiting our entire lives together to bet Carolina
as an underdog with the hook at home with a
(05:15):
chance to play meaningful football.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Here we are. Are we sticking with it?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Oh yeah, no doubt. This is a spot that's been
gonna do us all year back in Carolina, especially after
a loss. Right, I think they're six and zero against
the spread, five and one straight up, So it's been
a team that tends to bounce back off season. On
the flip side of this Bucks team, even at their
fully healthy height of their powers to start the year,
Baker playing out of his mind. They kept squeaking out wins. Right.
Every time they'd win it, it would be by a handful
(05:45):
of points. They've had a couple blouts this year, but
it's really been few and far in between. I gave
you that crazy stat. They're six straight weeks now they
haven't covered. So seeing the professionals and the public a
light coming on the Bucks is not that surprising. Right,
they are due. They are. They did get all their
guys back there are healthy at this point. But we
keep talking about the Bryce Shong and this Panthers team.
They played possum right, they played dead the following week
(06:07):
all of a sudden, bry Shong just can't miss guys
and their run games just out of their control. It's
it's just so up and down this team and the Bucks.
They've been a questionable defense all season. We've talked about that,
like anytime they need a defense to get a stop,
they cannot get a stop. And it reared it's ugly
head last week. And I know they're trying to say
it's all good, they're working through stuff, and you know,
(06:27):
Mike Evans says, you know, I was just emotional at
the time, cooler has prevailed a guy like him walking
off the field yelling third and twenty eight multiple times
as he walks through heads into the locker room. I
don't know if the vibes could be any worse for
this Bucks team. They're just really in so many bad ways.
So I know the Panthers' it's crazy, especially the hard
rock like they've moved off the three. There's tons of
(06:48):
threes out there. I'm all on on the threes, and
you know, if you're forced to take two and a half,
I wouldn't let it scare me off. But this just
feels like such an a number spot for this Panthers
team where this should be a pick. But the general
public just, you know, well we think it's just like
this Bucks team or wait for them to be this
dominant playoff team they've been these last three years, and
they just have not been that team. So I'm interesting
(07:09):
where this number ends up. Like you said, the contest,
we have three and a half. I wonder if people
can still play that now. I think this is gonna
keep heading to two and a half. So if you
can't get a three and a half, I'd lock it
in now. I think this will be two and a
half by kickoff.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Bryce Young the most fourth quarter overtime touchdowns since twenty
comeback wins since twenty twenty three, and.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
This is when he does it as an underdog.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
The final minutes, Dave Canalys makes risky calls. Bryce Young
follows through. That's what we're betting on today with the
Carolina Panthers. They are in job Buffalo Bills minus ten
and a half at the Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Simon, this is going to be.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Our Rock in a Hard Place Bet of the Week
presented by Hard.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Rock Bet a Rock.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Surprise, Surprise. We're going against all of our instincts. We
are going against everything we have ever done. We are
doing something that is so anti this show. We are
betting against the huge home underdog. We are betting against
the dominant defense. We are betting against the dominant defense
at home with the generational Hall of Fame player who
(08:23):
is on pace to set a single season sack record,
Miles Garrett the Cleveland Browns. We are fading the dog pound,
the energy, the will of the fans in Cleveland, or
betting Josh Allen with the hook at ten and a
half rocking.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Up, Yeah, I love this game. It's by far one
of our more public players of the entire season. Doesn't
get more publicness. Like you just said, it's a huge
road favorite. Everyone you've talked to, they're all in on
this Bills team. Right between the parlays, the money lines.
Everyone's just piling on it. And it's for good reason.
Like we've talked about, it's a unique spot, right, Josh
Allen tends to do really well against really dominant defenses.
(09:03):
And you know, to me, this feels like a price
from a month or two ago, right, This is feels
like the number they're giving this this Brown team is
their home field advantage from what we were betting, you know,
a couple of months ago. That just has not been
the same, especially this past month, where their run defense
has been suspect and very very poor against great teams
and you know, even bad teams, I should say, but
(09:24):
against really good teams like you saw with the Bears
last week. Teams that have good run schemes tend to
dominate this Cleveland team lately. So trying not to rethink
this one, right, I have it amount of thirteen. If
you're back in the Browns here, right, you really need
to lean into the elements and all these things that
bounce your away where I just can't see it. Right,
it's Josh Allen. This is he's used to playing this
(09:46):
type of weather. He's not gonna be scared off by
Lake effect type of weather. And defensively, as many questions
we do have about this Bills team, ken't Schdoor Sanders
in that run game really take advantage of it. I
don't know if they can. Right, It's it's gonna be
an interesting game. That's the matchup we're both being worried about. Right.
How does this Bill's defense too, because they've had games
where they've just totally laid down and you know, even
(10:07):
that Page's game and I want to say laid down,
but there was a there was a minute there. It's
just like, oh my god, they can't stop the pass
or the rush, Like what can they What can the
Bills take away from a team right now? So I'll
be interesting how they bounce back here. But offensively, I
just this feels the exact game where Josh Allen, you know,
maybe first for one fifty, but their run game runs
for two hundred with him and Cook. So I love
(10:28):
this matchup.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Yeah, this is really a bet against Shador Sanders and
this Browns offense being able to score enough points to
keep it close. We just haven't seen the evidence that
they can do that on a consistent basis. There's more
games like what they did against the Bears than what
they did in desperation against the Titans a few weeks
ago at home. So we're going with the Buffalo Bills
(10:51):
the publicly, publicly publicly play the season for us. Jacksonville
plus three and a half at Denver.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
We're on the Jags.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
You and I were talking before we came on the air.
There's a couple of games where this thing had been
sitting at three and now all of a sudden, we're
starting to see professional money move it to three.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
And a half.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
And this is one of those games we're taking the
other side. We're betting Jacksonville. I can't believe we're betting
Trevor Lawrence. Like it's Bonnicks Trevor Lawrence. We don't like
either of them. So all of a sudden, we're taking
the hook with the quarterback that I guess we're.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Going to live with. Like are we betting on Jacoby
Myers here?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Like?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yeah? We're really playing the number. And I think we've
seen a little bit of a theme here these last
you know, forty eight hours that we talked about, these
really good teams and playoff teams. When they play each
other this late in the season, there is no letdown
or give up in either side, and these teams play
to the final whistle. That's been incredibly close games. I
mean this, if the Bears had gone for two, which
(12:02):
I thought they were going to, that would have been
another one point game, just like that Seahawks ring game.
So this is another game that I feel like is
gonna be incredibly close. Could mean you get blown out
here by the Broncos because they do have such a
dominant defense. Sure, but I don't know if they've they've
faced the type of offense where the Jags are running here,
which you know, the Jacks have just been playing in
another level. You can say, well, they've had they've had
(12:23):
easy competition, yes, but they've put up over forty points
in back to back weeks. They've been dominant and it's
been really impressive. And we've talked about it. This run
scheme they've had there, it's really opened up the pass
offense and your guy Myers who just got a big payday.
He's changed the offense. He's what they thought Travis Hunter
would be for them on offense. Rady opens up the
(12:43):
doors for so many different players, and you know, you
just look at this scheme wise, I just think this
Jaguars could be in this game competitively the entire way.
On the flip side, the Broncos, I know bon Nicks
has been playing really well, but we've seen him have
these up and down games and this feels like another spot.
We could easily have a low game and a Jacks
team that, like I talked about, they haven't given up
(13:05):
more than seventy seventy five yards rushing this season. So
it's gonna be on bo Nicks. He's gonna have to
beat them with his arm, and it's gonna be interesting
if he's gonna be able to do that back to
back weeks. Because last week he had a lot of throws.
I feel like he got away with it. And you
know that's what we said, we got bow Knicks last week.
We're doubling down. We're saying there's no way he's gonna
do it to us again. So I really, really, it
(13:25):
is about the number. If this is two and a half,
I wouldn't have really forced us to take this one
at three and a half. I can't avoid it. And
we've seen it move right every book we talked Thursday
was three. It's three and a half everywhere. So, like
Chet said, the pros f come in, they've taken up
this on Denver. I think they're taking out a bad number.
I think they should be two and a half.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Two Pittsburgh get Detroit. We're taking Detroit minus six and
a half. I like I know, we wanted to not
fade Mike Tomlin, and we feel sort of burned by
not having done it a couple of weeks ago against
the Ravens in that spot.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think we've both.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Come to believe this is a little bit of a
different game and a different scenario for this Pittsburgh team,
and that their defense just isn't playing as well as
it has been, and this is a good opportunity of
Detroit is minus seven. By the way, at hard Rock
right now, it's six and a half in our contest,
so anyone who's been playing it has been getting six
(14:24):
and a half. But the opportunity for the Lions to
dominate in the run game here, I think is what
we're really leaning into.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah, they have been good for us, these Lions in
the bounce back spot this year, just like Carolina, and
they have a little bit more history on their side
with this. In this exact spot read the Lions after
a loss. We know the numbers gamble is fourteen to
one against the spread. Right, he usually gets his guys
up to bounce back. And this is another game where
I am honestly shocked it's not up to minus seven
and seven and a half of this Lions team.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
It is seven and a half in the contest. By
the way, it's just moved to seven and a half, which.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Just seems right right this morning, I expected a lot
of public money to be coming on this line steam
even though you know if someone's gonna tweet out, most
likely the number one bet on underdog this week is
the Steelers' money line. That to me makes sense, right,
I know pros who are to take a position on
the Steelers' money line here because of what I just said.
Like Tomlin in these type of spots, he tends to
have some voodoo type of tricks. But we've talked about
(15:22):
all the things for the Lions here, right, this is
an indoor game. They don't have the elements like the
Steelers kind of need. This is gonna be a track meet.
So can the Steelers offense give keep up? That's what
it's gonna come down to me. It's like, can they
keep up with this line's offense, which this season, shockingly,
they're going to be the number two, number one team
for yards and points most likely end of the season.
They've just been on an absolute tear. It's just the
(15:45):
defense and injuries that let him down. So Ken Rodgers
take advantage of it, perhaps, But me and Chad once again,
we have an amazing number, especially the minus six and
a half. And there is one very public book out
there still with the six and a half, which is
pretty interesting. But yeah, we know this. This Lion's team
the Bills probably gonna be the two most bet on
numbers and sides for the general public, so very public
(16:06):
place here. But it really is all about the number
in Yeah, the six and a half. I just can't
avoid it. I love the Lions here.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
We're gonna have to make a call because if the
line is six and a half in the contest and
there's something that we want to be or seven and
a half in the contest. If there's something we want
to be playing, we might want to have to evaluate
because now it's seven and a half. I say that
because we talked about New England and Baltimore this week.
New England was three and a half in the contest
(16:32):
and we like New England. This was Chad's choice and
a lot of professional money coming in on the Ravens
in the past forty eight hours, So that's making me
a little bit nervous about sticking with the sticking with
the New England Patriots.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, and we kind of knew this though, Chad. This
is probably going to be the biggest public dog this week, right.
It's just I think the general public is just like us.
The Bills have not passed any type of eye test
this entire season, and it's just something that's off with Lamar.
I just there's questions for me with Lamar. And he
did use his legs more last week, but it really
(17:15):
felt like that was a Joe Burrow gave them that
game away, Like they were in that game in every way.
Their defense was getting stops and he just totally messed
up in multiple positions, kept getting the Lamar short fields
and eventually that run game took over the Patriots variable.
They've been stout against the run. So I guess the
Patriots are due for a really bad letdown game this season.
(17:37):
They haven't had it since what Week one against the Raiders.
Like it's just they.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Did have a letdown in the second half against the Bills.
I mean they completely That's who they.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Are, right, you gave them stats, Chad, you, I mean
that's who they are. They are a team that dominates
first halfs and totally get out played technically. What I
think the three of their four close losses this year
have common when they just have now played well at
all in the second I got out paced. So you know,
it's what we talked about a living on Thursday. Though,
I think the pros are looking at this as Raven's
(18:06):
been there, done that proven team. I gave you that
seal Lamar. Yeah, never lost sixteen to oh in these
two weeks Week fifteen and sixteen. It's crazy like that
really is one of the more impressive stats. Who can
give a guy for being that dominant the month of December?
So you know, we'll go back to the well our
Vaybel well, I know it's the biggest public dog this week,
but I think the public's right on this reed like this,
(18:30):
the Ravens could win this game, but to me by
more than a field goal. They're going to need so
many things to bounce their way, and so many things
go wrong for this team. So we know noone has
a ton of injuries, but Drake may playing from behind
in that run game. I think they're going to always
going to be in this game. So we'll take that
hook with the plus three and a half.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
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we're going to finalize where we're at. I want to
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New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. All right, so the one
game we've loved all week. Simon says it was the
New York Giants plus three against the Minnesota Vikings. And
(20:33):
it's not in our contest play right now because in
the contest it's been two and a half. Do we
want to take anything out? Are we moving away from
the Patriots? Is that making us nervous? Is there a
Jacksonville play that would want us make us want to
take out? Is there a do we want to take
out Jacksonville and put in the Giants? We're not getting
(20:56):
as good of a number, But are we nervous about
any of these plays makes us want to put the
Giants in?
Speaker 3 (21:03):
No, it's really it's really about the number. If it
was three and a half, honestly, I could be tucked
into it because then we're really in business there. Just
like a couple of other games where it's like, you know,
looking back, yeah, should we probably have switched New England out?
But I was never gonna get there like they got
me with the Hook. It's just too good to be true.
So this one's so much more that. This is what
I talked on Tuesday. I knew this was gonna be
(21:23):
a pro spot, right The pro's gonna come in on this.
It's a unique team in Minnesota that you know, they're
not an outdoor team. They're not great in the elements.
It's not that bad. Honestly, here in Jersey. It's not
really like it's freezing cold.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
It's fine. No, it's fine.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
It honestly is. That's not something you really hang your
hat on. But it is a unique spot in the
fact that it is jj alten the elements in a
game that he's going to need to be passing in
the swirling wins of that field. And we've seen it
this This Giants team identity is using their legs right,
either darts legs or the running backs. They don't really
want to be passing the ball too much downfield. They've
been that way since they lost the number one receivers.
(21:58):
So it's it's a game I do like, Chad, there
is one game we've not talked about that I do love,
and you know it's this Giants game. I thrown the
blunder of a bunch of games that I was hoping
you'd come in on, like I was hoping you come
in and be like, well, Tennessee three and a half,
we have to take it that that's gone. It's two
and a half everywhere. I thought maybe you'd be on Dallas,
But now that Dallas has nothing to play for, I
(22:20):
can see you're probably not too excited to be betting
big money on a Dallas team that no one really
knows how they're going to play that game. So there's
a lot of games we did like that are kind
of falling by the wayside here. But the game we
have not talked much about that I think is probably
the sharpest line this week. It's got to be that
Colts forty nine Ers game Colts five and a half.
(22:40):
I know it's thrown a little wrench in the manetro
pidancy coming, but this is the definition of a rallying
spot for this Colts team. On the flip side, the Niners,
how do we not want to fade them? This is
a team that hasn't played a legit team in a month.
Like I mean, people probably forget the last thing they
played that was legit was LA. They lost four forty
two to twenty six. This is not Colts offense is
(23:03):
not going to anywhere close to LA's offense, but they
can run the ball, so they're basically coming off a
four win streak of Arizona Carolina, which that Carolina game
was very flukey in my opinion, that Cleveland game, which
we always said that was a very special teams game.
And then they beat Tennessee Like this is to me
the peak of this Niners team. Like I think they're
gonna lose this game. I think the Bears are gonna
(23:25):
beat them.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I know. I think it's all about the fall apart
for this Niners team. And it really comes back to
I've talked about these injuries to this defense. I have
no doubt about the Niners offense. The defense. I think
they're dead last in sack and pressures this season, like
they can get away with it against these bad teams,
but against good teams like Colts, to me, are still
a good team. They've just had some really bad luck
obviously with all these injuries. And I know Saals is
(23:47):
gonna play either that's a big deal. But I think
the Colts they have this scheme to keep this game
close and kind of keep the Niners off field, never
letting that offense get into the rhythm. And it's it
really comes back to that Jonathan Taylor's game. So you
know it's there's a bunch of stupid stats. If you
want to die, we don't have to die too much
anyw But this Colts team, they've actually owned this Niners
team throughout the years. If you go back all the
(24:09):
way to was at twenty thirteen, they've won four straight
against the Niners. Doesn't matter whod and Iris coaches have been,
who the scheme has been, They've always kind of dominated
this matchup. And if you go back and look, I
think the last night I played was twenty one. I
love the way Shane Styke and his scheme is against
this type of solid defense, and you go back and
watch again, that wasn't that dominant team in twenty one.
(24:30):
It really is about the run game, and it's just
there's something this Colts team can do that gives Solads
defense this problem. So I know it's a tough sell.
I don't know if I'm gonna get us in there,
because we could have had six and a half earlier
in the week. But I want people to know, don't
let this five and a half scare you off. It
could get to six, but I think the pros will
keep hitting this one. This feels like a really bad
spot in the matchup for the Niners team.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
So if we take something out because we've entered the contest,
I put my picks in, our picks in on Tuesday
because I want to get the best of the lines
on some numbers, and that included six and a half
on Detroit. So if we're going to go back in
and put this in for say New England, then we're
gonna have to go to seven and a half in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Is it worth it? Do we like three and a.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Half for New England better than five and a half
for Indy with Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Like I said, Chad, I can't get talked out of
the New England one because it's just I think it's
such a good number and it's such a good Rabel spot.
But that's what I'm hoping. You're the clear mind here
and you'd be like, no, New One's got injuries, we
got to switch them out the culture. This is the spot.
But you know we got the six and a half
two on the lines. It's just I can't get there.
I feel like we should just leave it as this.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, I don't want to put the Colts in and
Philip Rivers because maybe everything you're saying is right, and
it probably is. You may have turned me around. Maybe
I'll bet the Colts on Monday Night.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
You gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
But I love Rabel. I'm insane. I'm betting on Ben Johnson.
I'm betting on Mike Rabel, especially betting on Mike Rabel
after to collapse like last week. They know what their
issues have been. They're smart enough to figure them out
in the second half. They've seen it all season. Now
they've got tangible evidence. They didn't get to sneak by
(26:18):
against a bad team like this is something they got
to fix.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I think they're going to do it. So let's leave
the Patriots in there.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Let's do it all right.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
So then our final five is going to be Tampa
Bay at Carolina. We're going with Carolina plus three and
a half, Buffalo at Cleveland. We're going with Buffalo minus
ten and a half. Jacksonville at Denver. We're going with
Jacksonville three and a half. Pittsburgh get Detroit. We're going
with Detroit. It's seven and a half now, but we
(26:47):
got it at six and a half in the contest.
New England plus three and a half in the contest
at Baltimore that is it our last one's out. It
feels like our last ones out are going to be
really Minnesota. At the New York Giants plus two and
a half, we also had a couple conversations about Arizona,
but it's a two and a half. In the contest
(27:08):
for the Raiders at fourteen and a half, we didn't
get to it. We're gonna be watching it at least
I am because I did bet the Raiders fourteen and
a half at Houston. Okay, this has been Sharper Square,
part of the Volume podcast network. We're going to be
back on Sharper Square YouTube tonight after the late afternoon games.
(27:28):
Tune in live. We'll answer your questions. We'll review all
the misery and heartache of the day. Watch or listen
on YouTube at sharper Square. Like the video, subscribe to
the channel, Download some Spotify, Apple Pods wherever you get
your pods, rate review, subscribe leab us five stars say.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Whatever you want. Feedback is the gift. Until next time.
Love you, Hi, Biby.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
We're gonna be all day. We're gonna be all day vibe.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
I like that kind of potty, I like that kind
of party.
Welcome to Sharper Square, presented by hard Rock Vet. We
are part of the Volume podcast network and this is
the show that makes the square sharper and makes the
wise guys pay attention.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I am Chad Norman.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I am joined as always find my cripand.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
IDFF professional better. Simon Hunter, Hello, Simon.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Chad, What a day yesterday was for both of us.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Dude, I'm gobsmacked. This isn't what happens to the Bears.
We're the team that double doinks. We're the team that
gets fourth and one from the two and snaps it
over the head of our seventh round five foot five
running back. We are not the team that comes from
(00:49):
ten down in the final two minutes, recovers an on
side kick and then throws a bomb where.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
The quarterback is so casual about it.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
While the ball is in the air, he stuffs his
hands into his hand warmers because he knows he just
dropped it into the basket. We're the team that trades
up to get Mitch Trubisky and passes over to Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
This is just not this is not the Bears.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, but they had us for about three quarters there.
It was the same old Bears, and I know you're
in the same spot as me. I was just cursing
their name. I couldn't believe I walked into it, even
though I said a million times I wasn't going to.
But I just fell in love with this Bears team
all year because of what happened in that final two minutes.
This whole year, every time I bet on this team,
(01:43):
they leave me scratching my head for three quarters, and
all of a sudden, that fourth, magical fourth quarter comes around,
and I think it's an NFL record. Right now, They've
won six games They've been trailing in the two minutes
left in the game, They've won six of them. It's crazy,
It's a crazy identity. It's like we always talk all
the time in the NFL. There's the town level is
so high. Just the coaching can make the biggest difference
(02:07):
and everything overall, and the biggest to me is just
the Ben Johnson belief. These guys consistently believe in themselves,
so can't believe it. On the other side, if you
are Green Bay, talk about having horrible injury luck season
from hell, just everything rolling unto one. Green Bay totally
outplay hit the Bears for three quarters and you know,
with their backup in there, and it just totally fell
(02:29):
apart there by the seams. Their secondary is just so
banged up. You're waiting for Caleb to get away with
these deep ball throws and they just couldn't find it.
And eventually, like we said, the game kept going and
that that throw in the overtime, like everyone keeps saying,
ice in his veins. It was incredible. It really was
like as someone just sitting there as a fan did
not see that coming, really did think it was a handoff.
(02:50):
I was just like the defense, I bid on it
and he had the perfect read right the safety bit
I think they said it was points six inches or
feet maybe or something saying like that of separation between
DJ and the cornerback, like tight, tight window. Yeah, just
all time throw by Caleb. So yeah, everyone, even only
people weren't screaming, wre Green Bay fans. Any one that's
(03:12):
a football fan, You're going absolutely crazy. That was an
all time moment.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
It also is just an indication of how much penalties
make a difference in this game. Don't forget Bears had
a third and twenty and they were sacked and they
weren't going to even be able to kick a field goal,
and Caleb the defensive lineman for the Packers, pulled on
his face Max as he was going down. And the
Bears get a first out and they kicked a field goal,
(03:36):
and all of a sudden, there only down seven and
they get the outside kick. Like it just these these
penalties and it was not a penalty that shouldn't have
been called. It just goes to show you how every
single little mistake has a huge, huge impact on the
game and how it can swing momentum. What a crazy,
what a crazy forty eight hours of football from Thursday
(03:59):
Night Ball the Saturday Night Football. You and I were
reeling at the end of that Bears game because we
had been on the Commanders.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
That was a tough beat.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Just with Mariota going down, they looked like they were
going to be able to be competitive in that game.
Josh Johnson comes in no longer the case, but we
got to move on to Sunday. Brother, Let's get to it.
This is the semi stripped down in the room eavesdropping
version of Sharper Square. We're going to make some regretful,
utterly human decisions and get to our final five. You
(04:29):
can see the dynamic lines that Simon and I are
playing at the free Sharper Square Pro football pickup contest.
If you signed up to play in the contest that
was Sharpersquare dot the Volume dot com. We are Chad
and Simon BFFs. We're six and four on the year
(04:49):
in that contest since it started. Are you ready, brother?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I'm ready? All right.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So these are the games that we had zeroed in
on the other day. I think we're still debating where
we're going to land first one up Tampa Bay at
Carolina Carolina plus three and a half. I feel like
we've been waiting our entire lives together to bet Carolina
as an underdog with the hook at home with a
(05:15):
chance to play meaningful football.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Here we are. Are we sticking with it?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Oh yeah, no doubt. This is a spot that's been
gonna do us all year back in Carolina, especially after
a loss. Right, I think they're six and zero against
the spread, five and one straight up, So it's been
a team that tends to bounce back off season. On
the flip side of this Bucks team, even at their
fully healthy height of their powers to start the year,
Baker playing out of his mind. They kept squeaking out wins. Right.
Every time they'd win it, it would be by a handful
(05:45):
of points. They've had a couple blouts this year, but
it's really been few and far in between. I gave
you that crazy stat. They're six straight weeks now they
haven't covered. So seeing the professionals and the public a
light coming on the Bucks is not that surprising. Right,
they are due. They are. They did get all their
guys back there are healthy at this point. But we
keep talking about the Bryce Shong and this Panthers team.
They played possum right, they played dead the following week
(06:07):
all of a sudden, bry Shong just can't miss guys
and their run games just out of their control. It's
it's just so up and down this team and the Bucks.
They've been a questionable defense all season. We've talked about that,
like anytime they need a defense to get a stop,
they cannot get a stop. And it reared it's ugly
head last week. And I know they're trying to say
it's all good, they're working through stuff, and you know,
(06:27):
Mike Evans says, you know, I was just emotional at
the time, cooler has prevailed a guy like him walking
off the field yelling third and twenty eight multiple times
as he walks through heads into the locker room. I
don't know if the vibes could be any worse for
this Bucks team. They're just really in so many bad ways.
So I know the Panthers' it's crazy, especially the hard
rock like they've moved off the three. There's tons of
(06:48):
threes out there. I'm all on on the threes, and
you know, if you're forced to take two and a half,
I wouldn't let it scare me off. But this just
feels like such an a number spot for this Panthers
team where this should be a pick. But the general
public just, you know, well we think it's just like
this Bucks team or wait for them to be this
dominant playoff team they've been these last three years, and
they just have not been that team. So I'm interesting
(07:09):
where this number ends up. Like you said, the contest,
we have three and a half. I wonder if people
can still play that now. I think this is gonna
keep heading to two and a half. So if you
can't get a three and a half, I'd lock it
in now. I think this will be two and a
half by kickoff.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Bryce Young the most fourth quarter overtime touchdowns since twenty
comeback wins since twenty twenty three, and.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
This is when he does it as an underdog.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
The final minutes, Dave Canalys makes risky calls. Bryce Young
follows through. That's what we're betting on today with the
Carolina Panthers. They are in job Buffalo Bills minus ten
and a half at the Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Simon, this is going to be.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Our Rock in a Hard Place Bet of the Week
presented by Hard.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Rock Bet a Rock.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Surprise, Surprise. We're going against all of our instincts. We
are going against everything we have ever done. We are
doing something that is so anti this show. We are
betting against the huge home underdog. We are betting against
the dominant defense. We are betting against the dominant defense
at home with the generational Hall of Fame player who
(08:23):
is on pace to set a single season sack record,
Miles Garrett the Cleveland Browns. We are fading the dog pound,
the energy, the will of the fans in Cleveland, or
betting Josh Allen with the hook at ten and a
half rocking.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Up, Yeah, I love this game. It's by far one
of our more public players of the entire season. Doesn't
get more publicness. Like you just said, it's a huge
road favorite. Everyone you've talked to, they're all in on
this Bills team. Right between the parlays, the money lines.
Everyone's just piling on it. And it's for good reason.
Like we've talked about, it's a unique spot, right, Josh
Allen tends to do really well against really dominant defenses.
(09:03):
And you know, to me, this feels like a price
from a month or two ago, right, This is feels
like the number they're giving this this Brown team is
their home field advantage from what we were betting, you know,
a couple of months ago. That just has not been
the same, especially this past month, where their run defense
has been suspect and very very poor against great teams
and you know, even bad teams, I should say, but
(09:24):
against really good teams like you saw with the Bears
last week. Teams that have good run schemes tend to
dominate this Cleveland team lately. So trying not to rethink
this one, right, I have it amount of thirteen. If
you're back in the Browns here, right, you really need
to lean into the elements and all these things that
bounce your away where I just can't see it. Right,
it's Josh Allen. This is he's used to playing this
(09:46):
type of weather. He's not gonna be scared off by
Lake effect type of weather. And defensively, as many questions
we do have about this Bills team, ken't Schdoor Sanders
in that run game really take advantage of it. I
don't know if they can. Right, It's it's gonna be
an interesting game. That's the matchup we're both being worried about. Right.
How does this Bill's defense too, because they've had games
where they've just totally laid down and you know, even
(10:07):
that Page's game and I want to say laid down,
but there was a there was a minute there. It's
just like, oh my god, they can't stop the pass
or the rush, Like what can they What can the
Bills take away from a team right now? So I'll
be interesting how they bounce back here. But offensively, I
just this feels the exact game where Josh Allen, you know,
maybe first for one fifty, but their run game runs
for two hundred with him and Cook. So I love
(10:28):
this matchup.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Yeah, this is really a bet against Shador Sanders and
this Browns offense being able to score enough points to
keep it close. We just haven't seen the evidence that
they can do that on a consistent basis. There's more
games like what they did against the Bears than what
they did in desperation against the Titans a few weeks
ago at home. So we're going with the Buffalo Bills
(10:51):
the publicly, publicly publicly play the season for us. Jacksonville
plus three and a half at Denver.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
We're on the Jags.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
You and I were talking before we came on the air.
There's a couple of games where this thing had been
sitting at three and now all of a sudden, we're
starting to see professional money move it to three.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
And a half.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
And this is one of those games we're taking the
other side. We're betting Jacksonville. I can't believe we're betting
Trevor Lawrence. Like it's Bonnicks Trevor Lawrence. We don't like
either of them. So all of a sudden, we're taking
the hook with the quarterback that I guess we're.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Going to live with. Like are we betting on Jacoby
Myers here?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Like?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yeah? We're really playing the number. And I think we've
seen a little bit of a theme here these last
you know, forty eight hours that we talked about, these
really good teams and playoff teams. When they play each
other this late in the season, there is no letdown
or give up in either side, and these teams play
to the final whistle. That's been incredibly close games. I
mean this, if the Bears had gone for two, which
(12:02):
I thought they were going to, that would have been
another one point game, just like that Seahawks ring game.
So this is another game that I feel like is
gonna be incredibly close. Could mean you get blown out
here by the Broncos because they do have such a
dominant defense. Sure, but I don't know if they've they've
faced the type of offense where the Jags are running here,
which you know, the Jacks have just been playing in
another level. You can say, well, they've had they've had
(12:23):
easy competition, yes, but they've put up over forty points
in back to back weeks. They've been dominant and it's
been really impressive. And we've talked about it. This run
scheme they've had there, it's really opened up the pass
offense and your guy Myers who just got a big payday.
He's changed the offense. He's what they thought Travis Hunter
would be for them on offense. Rady opens up the
(12:43):
doors for so many different players, and you know, you
just look at this scheme wise, I just think this
Jaguars could be in this game competitively the entire way.
On the flip side, the Broncos, I know bon Nicks
has been playing really well, but we've seen him have
these up and down games and this feels like another spot.
We could easily have a low game and a Jacks
team that, like I talked about, they haven't given up
(13:05):
more than seventy seventy five yards rushing this season. So
it's gonna be on bo Nicks. He's gonna have to
beat them with his arm, and it's gonna be interesting
if he's gonna be able to do that back to
back weeks. Because last week he had a lot of throws.
I feel like he got away with it. And you
know that's what we said, we got bow Knicks last week.
We're doubling down. We're saying there's no way he's gonna
do it to us again. So I really, really, it
(13:25):
is about the number. If this is two and a half,
I wouldn't have really forced us to take this one
at three and a half. I can't avoid it. And
we've seen it move right every book we talked Thursday
was three. It's three and a half everywhere. So, like
Chet said, the pros f come in, they've taken up
this on Denver. I think they're taking out a bad number.
I think they should be two and a half.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Two Pittsburgh get Detroit. We're taking Detroit minus six and
a half. I like I know, we wanted to not
fade Mike Tomlin, and we feel sort of burned by
not having done it a couple of weeks ago against
the Ravens in that spot.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think we've both.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Come to believe this is a little bit of a
different game and a different scenario for this Pittsburgh team,
and that their defense just isn't playing as well as
it has been, and this is a good opportunity of
Detroit is minus seven. By the way, at hard Rock
right now, it's six and a half in our contest,
so anyone who's been playing it has been getting six
(14:24):
and a half. But the opportunity for the Lions to
dominate in the run game here, I think is what
we're really leaning into.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah, they have been good for us, these Lions in
the bounce back spot this year, just like Carolina, and
they have a little bit more history on their side
with this. In this exact spot read the Lions after
a loss. We know the numbers gamble is fourteen to
one against the spread. Right, he usually gets his guys
up to bounce back. And this is another game where
I am honestly shocked it's not up to minus seven
and seven and a half of this Lions team.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
It is seven and a half in the contest. By
the way, it's just moved to seven and a half, which.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Just seems right right this morning, I expected a lot
of public money to be coming on this line steam
even though you know if someone's gonna tweet out, most
likely the number one bet on underdog this week is
the Steelers' money line. That to me makes sense, right,
I know pros who are to take a position on
the Steelers' money line here because of what I just said.
Like Tomlin in these type of spots, he tends to
have some voodoo type of tricks. But we've talked about
(15:22):
all the things for the Lions here, right, this is
an indoor game. They don't have the elements like the
Steelers kind of need. This is gonna be a track meet.
So can the Steelers offense give keep up? That's what
it's gonna come down to me. It's like, can they
keep up with this line's offense, which this season, shockingly,
they're going to be the number two, number one team
for yards and points most likely end of the season.
They've just been on an absolute tear. It's just the
(15:45):
defense and injuries that let him down. So Ken Rodgers
take advantage of it, perhaps, But me and Chad once again,
we have an amazing number, especially the minus six and
a half. And there is one very public book out
there still with the six and a half, which is
pretty interesting. But yeah, we know this. This Lion's team
the Bills probably gonna be the two most bet on
numbers and sides for the general public, so very public
(16:06):
place here. But it really is all about the number
in Yeah, the six and a half. I just can't
avoid it. I love the Lions here.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
We're gonna have to make a call because if the
line is six and a half in the contest and
there's something that we want to be or seven and
a half in the contest. If there's something we want
to be playing, we might want to have to evaluate
because now it's seven and a half. I say that
because we talked about New England and Baltimore this week.
New England was three and a half in the contest
(16:32):
and we like New England. This was Chad's choice and
a lot of professional money coming in on the Ravens
in the past forty eight hours, So that's making me
a little bit nervous about sticking with the sticking with
the New England Patriots.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, and we kind of knew this though, Chad. This
is probably going to be the biggest public dog this week, right.
It's just I think the general public is just like us.
The Bills have not passed any type of eye test
this entire season, and it's just something that's off with Lamar.
I just there's questions for me with Lamar. And he
did use his legs more last week, but it really
(17:15):
felt like that was a Joe Burrow gave them that
game away, Like they were in that game in every way.
Their defense was getting stops and he just totally messed
up in multiple positions, kept getting the Lamar short fields
and eventually that run game took over the Patriots variable.
They've been stout against the run. So I guess the
Patriots are due for a really bad letdown game this season.
(17:37):
They haven't had it since what Week one against the Raiders.
Like it's just they.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Did have a letdown in the second half against the Bills.
I mean they completely That's who they.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Are, right, you gave them stats, Chad, you, I mean
that's who they are. They are a team that dominates
first halfs and totally get out played technically. What I
think the three of their four close losses this year
have common when they just have now played well at
all in the second I got out paced. So you know,
it's what we talked about a living on Thursday. Though,
I think the pros are looking at this as Raven's
(18:06):
been there, done that proven team. I gave you that
seal Lamar. Yeah, never lost sixteen to oh in these
two weeks Week fifteen and sixteen. It's crazy like that
really is one of the more impressive stats. Who can
give a guy for being that dominant the month of December?
So you know, we'll go back to the well our
Vaybel well, I know it's the biggest public dog this week,
but I think the public's right on this reed like this,
(18:30):
the Ravens could win this game, but to me by
more than a field goal. They're going to need so
many things to bounce their way, and so many things
go wrong for this team. So we know noone has
a ton of injuries, but Drake may playing from behind
in that run game. I think they're going to always
going to be in this game. So we'll take that
hook with the plus three and a half.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Let's do a quick word from hard Rock, and then
we're going to finalize where we're at. I want to
know where I bet on sports during the holiday season.
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(19:10):
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Speaker 2 (19:20):
If it wins, you.
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(19:56):
twenty one or over and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
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three three playwise.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
In Indiana.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
If you were something you know as a gambling problem
and wants help, call one eight hundred and nine with
it gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan,
New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. All right, so the one
game we've loved all week. Simon says it was the
New York Giants plus three against the Minnesota Vikings. And
(20:33):
it's not in our contest play right now because in
the contest it's been two and a half. Do we
want to take anything out? Are we moving away from
the Patriots? Is that making us nervous? Is there a
Jacksonville play that would want us make us want to
take out? Is there a do we want to take
out Jacksonville and put in the Giants? We're not getting
(20:56):
as good of a number, But are we nervous about
any of these plays makes us want to put the
Giants in?
Speaker 3 (21:03):
No, it's really it's really about the number. If it
was three and a half, honestly, I could be tucked
into it because then we're really in business there. Just
like a couple of other games where it's like, you know,
looking back, yeah, should we probably have switched New England out?
But I was never gonna get there like they got
me with the Hook. It's just too good to be true.
So this one's so much more that. This is what
I talked on Tuesday. I knew this was gonna be
(21:23):
a pro spot, right The pro's gonna come in on this.
It's a unique team in Minnesota that you know, they're
not an outdoor team. They're not great in the elements.
It's not that bad. Honestly, here in Jersey. It's not
really like it's freezing cold.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
It's fine. No, it's fine.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
It honestly is. That's not something you really hang your
hat on. But it is a unique spot in the
fact that it is jj alten the elements in a
game that he's going to need to be passing in
the swirling wins of that field. And we've seen it
this This Giants team identity is using their legs right,
either darts legs or the running backs. They don't really
want to be passing the ball too much downfield. They've
been that way since they lost the number one receivers.
(21:58):
So it's it's a game I do like, Chad, there
is one game we've not talked about that I do love,
and you know it's this Giants game. I thrown the
blunder of a bunch of games that I was hoping
you'd come in on, like I was hoping you come
in and be like, well, Tennessee three and a half,
we have to take it that that's gone. It's two
and a half everywhere. I thought maybe you'd be on Dallas,
But now that Dallas has nothing to play for, I
(22:20):
can see you're probably not too excited to be betting
big money on a Dallas team that no one really
knows how they're going to play that game. So there's
a lot of games we did like that are kind
of falling by the wayside here. But the game we
have not talked much about that I think is probably
the sharpest line this week. It's got to be that
Colts forty nine Ers game Colts five and a half.
(22:40):
I know it's thrown a little wrench in the manetro
pidancy coming, but this is the definition of a rallying
spot for this Colts team. On the flip side, the Niners,
how do we not want to fade them? This is
a team that hasn't played a legit team in a month.
Like I mean, people probably forget the last thing they
played that was legit was LA. They lost four forty
two to twenty six. This is not Colts offense is
(23:03):
not going to anywhere close to LA's offense, but they
can run the ball, so they're basically coming off a
four win streak of Arizona Carolina, which that Carolina game
was very flukey in my opinion, that Cleveland game, which
we always said that was a very special teams game.
And then they beat Tennessee Like this is to me
the peak of this Niners team. Like I think they're
gonna lose this game. I think the Bears are gonna
(23:25):
beat them.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I know. I think it's all about the fall apart
for this Niners team. And it really comes back to
I've talked about these injuries to this defense. I have
no doubt about the Niners offense. The defense. I think
they're dead last in sack and pressures this season, like
they can get away with it against these bad teams,
but against good teams like Colts, to me, are still
a good team. They've just had some really bad luck
obviously with all these injuries. And I know Saals is
(23:47):
gonna play either that's a big deal. But I think
the Colts they have this scheme to keep this game
close and kind of keep the Niners off field, never
letting that offense get into the rhythm. And it's it
really comes back to that Jonathan Taylor's game. So you
know it's there's a bunch of stupid stats. If you
want to die, we don't have to die too much
anyw But this Colts team, they've actually owned this Niners
team throughout the years. If you go back all the
(24:09):
way to was at twenty thirteen, they've won four straight
against the Niners. Doesn't matter whod and Iris coaches have been,
who the scheme has been, They've always kind of dominated
this matchup. And if you go back and look, I
think the last night I played was twenty one. I
love the way Shane Styke and his scheme is against
this type of solid defense, and you go back and
watch again, that wasn't that dominant team in twenty one.
(24:30):
It really is about the run game, and it's just
there's something this Colts team can do that gives Solads
defense this problem. So I know it's a tough sell.
I don't know if I'm gonna get us in there,
because we could have had six and a half earlier
in the week. But I want people to know, don't
let this five and a half scare you off. It
could get to six, but I think the pros will
keep hitting this one. This feels like a really bad
spot in the matchup for the Niners team.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
So if we take something out because we've entered the contest,
I put my picks in, our picks in on Tuesday
because I want to get the best of the lines
on some numbers, and that included six and a half
on Detroit. So if we're going to go back in
and put this in for say New England, then we're
gonna have to go to seven and a half in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Is it worth it? Do we like three and a.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Half for New England better than five and a half
for Indy with Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Like I said, Chad, I can't get talked out of
the New England one because it's just I think it's
such a good number and it's such a good Rabel spot.
But that's what I'm hoping. You're the clear mind here
and you'd be like, no, New One's got injuries, we
got to switch them out the culture. This is the spot.
But you know we got the six and a half
two on the lines. It's just I can't get there.
I feel like we should just leave it as this.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, I don't want to put the Colts in and
Philip Rivers because maybe everything you're saying is right, and
it probably is. You may have turned me around. Maybe
I'll bet the Colts on Monday Night.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
You gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
But I love Rabel. I'm insane. I'm betting on Ben Johnson.
I'm betting on Mike Rabel, especially betting on Mike Rabel
after to collapse like last week. They know what their
issues have been. They're smart enough to figure them out
in the second half. They've seen it all season. Now
they've got tangible evidence. They didn't get to sneak by
(26:18):
against a bad team like this is something they got
to fix.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I think they're going to do it. So let's leave
the Patriots in there.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Let's do it all right.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
So then our final five is going to be Tampa
Bay at Carolina. We're going with Carolina plus three and
a half, Buffalo at Cleveland. We're going with Buffalo minus
ten and a half. Jacksonville at Denver. We're going with
Jacksonville three and a half. Pittsburgh get Detroit. We're going
with Detroit. It's seven and a half now, but we
(26:47):
got it at six and a half in the contest.
New England plus three and a half in the contest
at Baltimore that is it our last one's out. It
feels like our last ones out are going to be
really Minnesota. At the New York Giants plus two and
a half, we also had a couple conversations about Arizona,
but it's a two and a half. In the contest
(27:08):
for the Raiders at fourteen and a half, we didn't
get to it. We're gonna be watching it at least
I am because I did bet the Raiders fourteen and
a half at Houston. Okay, this has been Sharper Square,
part of the Volume podcast network. We're going to be
back on Sharper Square YouTube tonight after the late afternoon games.
(27:28):
Tune in live. We'll answer your questions. We'll review all
the misery and heartache of the day. Watch or listen
on YouTube at sharper Square. Like the video, subscribe to
the channel, Download some Spotify, Apple Pods wherever you get
your pods, rate review, subscribe leab us five stars say.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Whatever you want. Feedback is the gift. Until next time.
Love you, Hi, Biby.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
We're gonna be all day. We're gonna be all day vibe.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
I like that kind of potty, I like that kind
of party.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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