Thursday Teaser
September 8, 2022
Thursday Night Trio
Three bets worth Making when the Rams host the Bills
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, CA
8:20 PM ET
SuperBook Line: Buffalo -2.5
It’s viewed as a potential Super Bowl preview, as the defending champs host this year’s favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in the NFL’s regular season opener. The league couldn’t ask for a better matchup, with Matthew Stafford and the Rams taking on Josh Allen and the Bills.
Rams +2.5 – Los Angeles is getting points at home? The defending champs are an underdog in their first game in front of the home crowd since winning the Super Bowl? Sure, Buffalo is a legit contender this year. But picking them to go on the road and beat a good Rams team in the season opener seems like a stretch. Avoid the hype. Go with the home team.
Josh Allen over 278.5 passing yards – During the Bills two playoff games last season, Allen completed 48-of-62 passes for 637 yards and nine touchdowns. The quarterback didn’t throw a pick, as he took his game to another level. Expect that carry over into this season, as Allen faces a Rams defense that was in the bottom third of the league last year against the pass and lost edge rusher Von Miller in the offseason.
Over 52.0 – Last season, the Bills were the NFL’s third-highest scoring offense (28.4 points per game), while the Rams finished in eighth place (27.1). Buffalo and Los Angeles combined to average 55.5 points per game. Yes, teams tend to sputter a little out of the gate, as defenses are typically ahead of offenses early in the season. But this feels like a good old-fashioned shootout in the making.
Betting with the Barbers
Ronde and Tiki break down this week’s game
Before you place your bets this weekend, listen to the latest edition of “Betting with the Barbers” presented by SuperBook Sports. Ronde and Tiki Barber make their picks for week one, including tonight’s big opener.
“The Super Bowl champion in these type of games usually wins,” Tiki Barber said. “So I’m shocked they’re an underdog. But it’s understandable because the Buffalo Bills are desperate to win a championship. They have to do it now.”
Catch Betting with the Barbers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the SuperBook Sports social channels every Thursday this season.
The Big 3
Bud Parmalee previews the biggest games on this week’s college slate
| (24) Tennessee at (17) Pittsburgh Acrisure Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA 3:30 PM ET SuperBook Line: Tennessee -6.5 After posting a 7-6 record during his first season in Knoxville, which included a 48-45 loss to Purdue in the Music City Bowl, Josh Heupel has the Volunteers back in the top 25. That ranking is at risk this week, however, as Tennessee has to travel to play 17th-ranked Pittsburgh. The Panthers were 11-3 last season, but Pat Narduzzi had a big offseason assignment. The head coach had to find a replacement for Kenny Pickett. He seems to have found one in Kedon Slovis. The senior quarterback completed 16-of-24 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown, leading Pitt to a thrilling 38-31 victory over West Virginia in their opener. The former USC Trojan endeared himself to the Panthers faithful, posting a W in the renewal of the Backyard Brawl. Tennessee might win the game outright, but Pitt showed something a week ago. They’re 11-win season in 2021 wasn’t just because of one guy. They’ll give the Vols everything they can handle. Bud Parmalee’s pick: Pittsburgh +6.5 (-110) |
| (20) Kentucky at (12) Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainsville, FL 7:00 PM ET SuperBook Line: Florida -6.0 The Billy Napier era at Florida is off to a grand start. The Gators were able to sneak by No. 7 Utah in the season opener, winning 29-26 in a thriller at The Swamp. The victory propelled the program, as they climbed in the rankings and re-entered the conversation in the SEC. That sets up a Week 2 showdown that should be a good one. It’s the old-school powerhouse against the upstart, as Mark Stoops brings in the 20th-ranked team in the country, looking to prove that they’re a contender in college football’s best conference. They certainly can make a case. A season ago, Kentucky won 10 games, including a win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. It was the fourth bowl win in the last four seasons for Stoops, who enters his 10th season at the helm in Lexington, ready to rumble with the big boys. Going into Gainesville and spoiling the party would certainly send a message. And Stoops has the quarterback to pull it off. Will Levis got his senior season off to a good start, completing 21-of-32 for 303 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 37-13 win over Miami (Ohio). The Gators will get back into the mix under Napier, but the celebration is a bit premature. Florida will have a letdown against Kentucky. Bud Parmalee’s pick: Kentucky +6.5 (-110) |
| (1) Alabama at Texas DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium – Austin, TX 12:00 PM ET SuperBook Line: Alabama -20.0 Steve Sarkisian has had a good couple of months. First, the Texas head coach coaxed one of the biggest recruiting prizes in recent memory, quarterback Arch Manning, to Austin. Then, he got his second season at the helm of the Longhorns off to a good start, as UT beat Louisiana-Monroe 52-10 in their opener. It has the Longhorns faithful believing that the program is finally turning around. It has temporarily quieted the naysayers, as last year’s 5-7 campaign seems like a distant memory. With the school’s move to the SEC on the horizon, everyone in Austin is hoping the positive vibes continue. UT moved on from Tom Herman after he went 32-18 during his four years in Austin, so Sarkisian won’t get much beyond this season to prove that he’s the head coach to get the Longhorns back to prominence. A win over Alabama would certainly be a huge step in that direction. It’d also prove that Texas is ready to compete in the SEC. Thus, Saturday’s showdown between the Longhorns and Crimson Tide is one of the most-anticipated UT games in recent memory. It’ll serve as a reality check, however. Alabama is the No. 1-ranked team in the country for a reason. Nick Saban’s squad is loaded with future NFL talent. They’re going to roll into Austin and burst the Longhorns bubble. Bud Parmalee’s pick: Alabama -20.0 (-110) |
