Pitt/Buffalo
I'm really liking these games less and less as we move through the weekend.
I always laugh when these athletic qbs come into the league, have some initial success, everybody thinks they're awesome, and within a few years most people realize how bad they really are. We're just about at that point with Josh Allen. FFS, he wasn't accurate at Wyoming, he sure the hell ain't gonna be accurate in the NFL. Just another good running back with a strong arm who is not a good qb. He threw 18 INTs this year and fumbled 5 more times (losing 3), and that probably wasn't even his worst year!
Pittsburgh relies on a strong ground game with Harris and Warren. Warren actually had much better numbers this year (5.3 yards/carry vs 4.1 for Harris). But Harris was huge their last 2 games, running for 112 & 122 and 3 TDs. That was against 2 run defenses that are in the bottom 8 in the league, allowing 4.5 & 4.6 yards/carry. Well, don't look now, but Buffalo is 28th, allowing 4.6. I've never been a fan of Tomlin, but he's really no dumber than... well, just about every HC in the league. I'm counting on him to know they need to run the ball today. Rudolph has actually been really good since taking over, completing 74% of his passes with 3 TDs and 0 INTs, and averaging an impressive 9.7 yards/att. That said, he's still Mason Rudolph. And he's facing a solid Buffalo pass defense (even with all the injuries) that picked off 18 passes this year, 3rd in the league. If they pass more than they run, they're fucked. Oh, one more note on Harris... he's another big RB that defenders are going to hate tackling in frigid temps, and it looks like a real feel of 4° at kickoff.
The Bills finally have a little threat of a run game, as Cook averaged a decent 4.7 yards/carry, but he only found the end zone twice. Allen is still their primary TD scorer with 15 on the ground. Pittsburgh is 21st defensively, allowing 4.3 yards/carry. The Bills could have some success on the ground, if they actually stick with it. Pitt's pass defense is in the middle of the pack, giving up 7.3 yards/att while picking off 16 passes. Obviously the loss of TJ Watt is huge.
Ok, similar to the early game yesterday... I'm definitely not betting ON Pittsburgh... I'm betting against Buffalo. Neither team is all that good, this line is too high, and Allen is a turnover machine.
That said... when Buffalo jumps out to an early lead and Pittsburgh abandons the run... yeah, watch the Bills blow them out.
Pitt (+10) 2 units
Pitt (ML) 2 to win 7.5
Harris over (60.5) rushing yards 2.5 to win 2
Harris most rushing yds in game 1 to win 1.6
Warren over (59.5) rushing + rec yards 4.6 to win 4
Diggs under (67.5) rec yards 4.6 to win 4
Shakir over (34.5) rec yards 5.2 to win 4 (with Davis out, he's their big-play guy)
Pickens under (42.5) rec yards 6.9 to win 6
Allen TD 11.5 to win 10
Kincaid TD 1 to win 3
Knox TD 2 to win 12
Fuck, that's way too much for a game I don't like very much. And I like the next game even less.