January 16, 2026 • 9 mins
Lee Sterling of Paramount Sports joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to share his best bets of the football weekend ahead including Seahawks-49ers and Indiana-Miami.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for our weekly visit with gambling expert Lee Sterling.
No Paramount Sports brought to you by bail Breaker Brewing,
wherevery hop is grown in the Yakama Valley. Family owned,
bold and proudly Pacific Northwest. Grab their flagship top Cutter IPA,
a citrusy, fine forward classic at your local grocery store,
or visit tap rooms in Seattle and yeak Come on
(00:22):
now with Lee Sterling. Here's Suffie and Dial.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
All right, here we go three forty nine a Friday afternoon,
live from the Occidental Hall across from Looming Field. This
place opens up at eleven o'clock am on Saturday morning.
There's gonna be discounts on booze, by the way for
Seahawk fans. If you're wearing your Seahawk gear tomorrow, come
in here and they will take care of you. If
you're a Niner fan, they'll charge you double, by the way,
so don't even think about walking in your baby tomorrow. Well,
(00:47):
here he is Lee Sterling, Paramount Sports, South Florida. I
getting ready for a big game on Monday night.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Lee.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Before we talk about the weekend, I got a question
for you. We just saw your buddy Mark James, all right,
who was down here. He's wearing his hurricane gear, he's
all fired up for the game on Monday, and he
says he's going to the game Monday night if you
can get him a ticket. So the question is, is
Mark James going to the game on Monday night?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I'd say about a three percent chance?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
You know what, I'm not going to be the one
to tell him that. All right, yeah, that's a text
from you.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
We can we can let him think about it for
a couple of days or a couple hours and think
he's got a shot, and then you're responsible for letting
him down, easy man. So three percent chance? All right,
Well we'll listen. We'll let the guy walk around thinking
he's gonna go and let him enjoy it for another
night or so.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
All right.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
NFL Playoffs, Denver at home against Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
This line has gone back and forth.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
It's now the Broncos minus one and a half against
the Bills at Mile High on Saturday tomorrow, one thirty.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
What do you think a lot of people forget that
Buffalo won thirty one to seven last year as a
seven and a half point favored in that wildcard round game.
The score though, was ten to seven and a half.
They think things are just totally different now travel for
Buffalo go cross country. Josh Allen, who knows if he
(02:09):
had a concussion last week. He's got a hand injury,
playing with a twisted knee, his receivers getting no separation.
I just think Denver with an extra week here, the
way they are at home thirteen and one run the
last fourteen straight up at home and week eleven through eighteen.
Everyone talks about their passing game, but it's improved number
seven these last eight weeks here in the EPA per
(02:33):
drop back and number eight and passing success rate here.
I think they exact that revenge for lash Yer's wildcard loss.
I like the Broncos here twenty six to twenty.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
All right, New England hosting Houston, New England giving three
and the totals forty and a half. They're expecting a
low scoring game.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
What do you expect?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah? And defense I think is going to be in
order here. I mean this Houston defense number one in
the NFL, New England, the best tackling unit on defense.
No Nicocollins for Houston, So you got to think that
big plays aren't gonna happen as much as often here
in legend MVP here of the NFL Patriots, Drake May
(03:16):
was made to look like a second year quarterback last
week against I thought an average Chargers defense here, so
I think defense is in order here. Total sitting at
forty and a half, I could see like a seventeen
to thirteen game. I don't know who's gonna win, but
we're gonna go with the under forty and a half
total points.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I love to take the under forty and a half
in the Houston, New England game. So couple of factoids
for you, Lee, But you, being the expert handicapper that
you are, you probably already know this. Brock Perty has
never lost the game, right Diaket Lumanfield is four and
oho is that correct?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Here's the other seat.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
The Seahawks last played on January third, which was thirteen
days ago. Niners played January eleventh, which is five days ago.
Since nineteen eighty four, forty two years ago, teams with
eight days of rest or more versus a teams with
five days or rest or more are seven to zero
in the postseason. They've never lost, so something's got to
(04:08):
give either brock Purty loses tomorrow or the Seahawks become
the first team in forty two years with that kind
of rest to lose a football game.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
So what happens tomorrow? Hawk's given seven oh.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I think that Sym Francisco's in trouble. I think the
only way they can win this game they got to
run the ball with Christian McCaffrey. They got to make
this like a seven or eight possession game for each team. Here.
Look at the two teams that played in the playoff,
Philadelphia and then the last game regular season. He's only
carried the ball fifteen times versus Philly, eight times against
(04:42):
Seattle when they were successful five game stretch. Carried between
twenty and twenty four times before that in the first
game this year twenty two times against Seattle. So that's
the key. If they can get him the ball twenty
more times, they can shorten the game. They have a
chance here. But I think this Seattle defense special here.
I think the Seattle's gonna take advantage some of those
(05:04):
injuries here in San Francisco. They're not the same team
and a little tougher playing a team a couple of
weeks later. But I think the travel will catch up
with San Francisco. And I just don't trust brock Purty. Obviously,
Sam Darnold, you want to have him on the plus
side of the field more. He's much better there. But
I think Seattle's the right side. I'm taking Seattle here
(05:26):
twenty eight twenty.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Well, I hope you're right.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
If you are right, and we're looking at Chicago Rams winner,
I want the Bears. Am I gonna get the Bears?
They are plus three and a half at home against
the Rams.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think there's a good chance you are. I just
think that this Chicago team, I think it's about strike
twelve here. You know, they've won seven games for less
than two minutes here to go in the game. Obviously,
weather is a factor here. Win chills me minus the
minus range here. But Matt's that it has done well.
(06:00):
He has a plus record, a winning record in games
under forty degrees. I just don't think that the Bears
can cover Pooka. I also don't think they can cover
DeVante Adams. I think they're real weak there. Especially you
can attack the safeties. We've seen a couple teams do
that Green Bay, especially during the regular season, running crossing
patterns steep and they just can't stay up with these
(06:22):
two guys. And the Bears are with out linebacker TJ.
Edwards when he's out opponents to run for more than
six yards of carry here, yep, I hate to say it.
Rams are going to be coming to loomin here a
week from now, Rams here thirty one to twenty.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
All right, Well, I know what I would do if
I were a Hurricane fan for this game Monday. First
of all, I'd be there no matter what it takes.
I'd be there, and you will be there on Monday night.
But I would play the emotional hedge all day. I'd
put a bunch of money on the Hoosiers on the
money line. If I win the game, great, If I
lose the game, I got a couple of bucks in
my pockets. So Indiana's given eight and a half, now,
(06:57):
wow against the Hurricanes on Monday. What do you think
are your knees going to pull this off Monday night?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Well, you know they loved Indiana's defense loved to mess
with the mind of offenses. First down, they almost always
run blitz. Second and long. They almost always blitz. Even
some cornerback blitz is here. Third and long. Something that's interesting.
They very rarely blitz, and I think by the defensive coordinator,
(07:25):
Corey Heatherman, being Kurt Signetti's defensive coordinator for three years
really helps a lot. Here. I've watched the tape of
the three games at Indiana was in until the end,
and I think that they're beatable. I mean, look at
the teams they played. Penn State, they had to score,
last play the game, win it. They scored twenty seven
thirteen against Ohio State, twenty against Iowa. I think Miami's
(07:47):
the best defense that they've played, and I think Miami's
going to play that underdog mantra here. They did it
against Nebraska in nineteen eighty three when people said it
was the best team ever. Nebraska was averaging fifty two
points per game that year. They ended off pulling off
the Shaker Miami. I think they win the game outright.
(08:08):
I'm taking them plus eight and a half and I'm
sprinkling a third of my wager on the money line.
The Canes win that sixth national title and they get
retribution here for twenty three years later.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Well you know what, the only way Well, I'm fine
with that. I'm'm rooting for Indiana. I think you are too,
because of what they did to Oregon. We owe them
that after what they did to Oregon. But I would
love for Mario Christobal to win this game and then
have the Miami parade down Eugene, Oregons Downtown Street nice
and shove it right in their face.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Man.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
All right, good stuff, Lee, We'll talking a week, buddy,
appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Pal, sounds good. Guys, see you all right, at.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Least starting with us.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Likes Denver minus the one and a half against Buffalo,
likes the under and the Jet Texan game. He likes
the Hawks minus the seven rams minus the three and
a half, and he likes the Hurricanes plus the eight
and a half against Indiana on Monday night. All right,
Bonta Hill is set to join us next segment. You
never know with him though. He could be on a plane,
He could be on a boat, he could be in
a car, He could be.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Doing anything right now.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
So we're set to have Banta Hill from the game
from San Francisco, from the Bay Area. We continue from
the Occidental Hall, the Ox Hall Baby across from Lumen
right here on ninety three to three KJERFM
It's time for our weekly visit with gambling expert Lee Sterling.
No Paramount Sports brought to you by bail Breaker Brewing,
wherevery hop is grown in the Yakama Valley. Family owned,
bold and proudly Pacific Northwest. Grab their flagship top Cutter IPA,
a citrusy, fine forward classic at your local grocery store,
or visit tap rooms in Seattle and yeak Come on
(00:22):
now with Lee Sterling. Here's Suffie and Dial.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
All right, here we go three forty nine a Friday afternoon,
live from the Occidental Hall across from Looming Field. This
place opens up at eleven o'clock am on Saturday morning.
There's gonna be discounts on booze, by the way for
Seahawk fans. If you're wearing your Seahawk gear tomorrow, come
in here and they will take care of you. If
you're a Niner fan, they'll charge you double, by the way,
so don't even think about walking in your baby tomorrow. Well,
(00:47):
here he is Lee Sterling, Paramount Sports, South Florida. I
getting ready for a big game on Monday night.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Lee.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Before we talk about the weekend, I got a question
for you. We just saw your buddy Mark James, all right,
who was down here. He's wearing his hurricane gear, he's
all fired up for the game on Monday, and he
says he's going to the game Monday night if you
can get him a ticket. So the question is, is
Mark James going to the game on Monday night?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I'd say about a three percent chance?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
You know what, I'm not going to be the one
to tell him that. All right, yeah, that's a text
from you.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
We can we can let him think about it for
a couple of days or a couple hours and think
he's got a shot, and then you're responsible for letting
him down, easy man. So three percent chance? All right,
Well we'll listen. We'll let the guy walk around thinking
he's gonna go and let him enjoy it for another
night or so.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
All right.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
NFL Playoffs, Denver at home against Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
This line has gone back and forth.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
It's now the Broncos minus one and a half against
the Bills at Mile High on Saturday tomorrow, one thirty.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
What do you think a lot of people forget that
Buffalo won thirty one to seven last year as a
seven and a half point favored in that wildcard round game.
The score though, was ten to seven and a half.
They think things are just totally different now travel for
Buffalo go cross country. Josh Allen, who knows if he
(02:09):
had a concussion last week. He's got a hand injury,
playing with a twisted knee, his receivers getting no separation.
I just think Denver with an extra week here, the
way they are at home thirteen and one run the
last fourteen straight up at home and week eleven through eighteen.
Everyone talks about their passing game, but it's improved number
seven these last eight weeks here in the EPA per
(02:33):
drop back and number eight and passing success rate here.
I think they exact that revenge for lash Yer's wildcard loss.
I like the Broncos here twenty six to twenty.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
All right, New England hosting Houston, New England giving three
and the totals forty and a half. They're expecting a
low scoring game.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
What do you expect?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah? And defense I think is going to be in
order here. I mean this Houston defense number one in
the NFL, New England, the best tackling unit on defense.
No Nicocollins for Houston, So you got to think that
big plays aren't gonna happen as much as often here
in legend MVP here of the NFL Patriots, Drake May
(03:16):
was made to look like a second year quarterback last
week against I thought an average Chargers defense here, so
I think defense is in order here. Total sitting at
forty and a half, I could see like a seventeen
to thirteen game. I don't know who's gonna win, but
we're gonna go with the under forty and a half
total points.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I love to take the under forty and a half
in the Houston, New England game. So couple of factoids
for you, Lee, But you, being the expert handicapper that
you are, you probably already know this. Brock Perty has
never lost the game, right Diaket Lumanfield is four and
oho is that correct?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Here's the other seat.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
The Seahawks last played on January third, which was thirteen
days ago. Niners played January eleventh, which is five days ago.
Since nineteen eighty four, forty two years ago, teams with
eight days of rest or more versus a teams with
five days or rest or more are seven to zero
in the postseason. They've never lost, so something's got to
(04:08):
give either brock Purty loses tomorrow or the Seahawks become
the first team in forty two years with that kind
of rest to lose a football game.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
So what happens tomorrow? Hawk's given seven oh.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I think that Sym Francisco's in trouble. I think the
only way they can win this game they got to
run the ball with Christian McCaffrey. They got to make
this like a seven or eight possession game for each team. Here.
Look at the two teams that played in the playoff,
Philadelphia and then the last game regular season. He's only
carried the ball fifteen times versus Philly, eight times against
(04:42):
Seattle when they were successful five game stretch. Carried between
twenty and twenty four times before that in the first
game this year twenty two times against Seattle. So that's
the key. If they can get him the ball twenty
more times, they can shorten the game. They have a
chance here. But I think this Seattle defense special here.
I think the Seattle's gonna take advantage some of those
(05:04):
injuries here in San Francisco. They're not the same team
and a little tougher playing a team a couple of
weeks later. But I think the travel will catch up
with San Francisco. And I just don't trust brock Purty. Obviously,
Sam Darnold, you want to have him on the plus
side of the field more. He's much better there. But
I think Seattle's the right side. I'm taking Seattle here
(05:26):
twenty eight twenty.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Well, I hope you're right.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
If you are right, and we're looking at Chicago Rams winner,
I want the Bears. Am I gonna get the Bears?
They are plus three and a half at home against
the Rams.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think there's a good chance you are. I just
think that this Chicago team, I think it's about strike
twelve here. You know, they've won seven games for less
than two minutes here to go in the game. Obviously,
weather is a factor here. Win chills me minus the
minus range here. But Matt's that it has done well.
(06:00):
He has a plus record, a winning record in games
under forty degrees. I just don't think that the Bears
can cover Pooka. I also don't think they can cover
DeVante Adams. I think they're real weak there. Especially you
can attack the safeties. We've seen a couple teams do
that Green Bay, especially during the regular season, running crossing
patterns steep and they just can't stay up with these
(06:22):
two guys. And the Bears are with out linebacker TJ.
Edwards when he's out opponents to run for more than
six yards of carry here, yep, I hate to say it.
Rams are going to be coming to loomin here a
week from now, Rams here thirty one to twenty.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
All right, Well, I know what I would do if
I were a Hurricane fan for this game Monday. First
of all, I'd be there no matter what it takes.
I'd be there, and you will be there on Monday night.
But I would play the emotional hedge all day. I'd
put a bunch of money on the Hoosiers on the
money line. If I win the game, great, If I
lose the game, I got a couple of bucks in
my pockets. So Indiana's given eight and a half, now,
(06:57):
wow against the Hurricanes on Monday. What do you think
are your knees going to pull this off Monday night?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Well, you know they loved Indiana's defense loved to mess
with the mind of offenses. First down, they almost always
run blitz. Second and long. They almost always blitz. Even
some cornerback blitz is here. Third and long. Something that's interesting.
They very rarely blitz, and I think by the defensive coordinator,
(07:25):
Corey Heatherman, being Kurt Signetti's defensive coordinator for three years
really helps a lot. Here. I've watched the tape of
the three games at Indiana was in until the end,
and I think that they're beatable. I mean, look at
the teams they played. Penn State, they had to score,
last play the game, win it. They scored twenty seven
thirteen against Ohio State, twenty against Iowa. I think Miami's
(07:47):
the best defense that they've played, and I think Miami's
going to play that underdog mantra here. They did it
against Nebraska in nineteen eighty three when people said it
was the best team ever. Nebraska was averaging fifty two
points per game that year. They ended off pulling off
the Shaker Miami. I think they win the game outright.
(08:08):
I'm taking them plus eight and a half and I'm
sprinkling a third of my wager on the money line.
The Canes win that sixth national title and they get
retribution here for twenty three years later.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Well you know what, the only way Well, I'm fine
with that. I'm'm rooting for Indiana. I think you are too,
because of what they did to Oregon. We owe them
that after what they did to Oregon. But I would
love for Mario Christobal to win this game and then
have the Miami parade down Eugene, Oregons Downtown Street nice
and shove it right in their face.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Man.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
All right, good stuff, Lee, We'll talking a week, buddy,
appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Pal, sounds good. Guys, see you all right, at.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Least starting with us.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Likes Denver minus the one and a half against Buffalo,
likes the under and the Jet Texan game. He likes
the Hawks minus the seven rams minus the three and
a half, and he likes the Hurricanes plus the eight
and a half against Indiana on Monday night. All right,
Bonta Hill is set to join us next segment. You
never know with him though. He could be on a plane,
He could be on a boat, he could be in
a car, He could be.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Doing anything right now.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
So we're set to have Banta Hill from the game
from San Francisco, from the Bay Area. We continue from
the Occidental Hall, the Ox Hall Baby across from Lumen
right here on ninety three to three KJERFM
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