Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Friday 1/25/19
January 25, 2019
by Tom Wilkinson
Pro Bowl – AFC vs. NFC ATS Picks
If you feel kind of weird without any NFL action to wager on this weekend you can put some money on the Pro Bowl on Sunday that can be seen on ABC and ESPN. It is more of a glorified scrimmage than anything else, but there will be a lot of familiar faces. Patrick Mahomes will lead the AFC squad, while Drew Brees leads the NFC team. Let’s look at the Pro Bowl and NFL picks.
Pro Bowl - AFC vs. NFC
Date and Time: Sunday, January 27, 3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
NFL Odds at BetDSI: Pick, O/U 55.5
Pro Bowl TV Coverage: ABC and ESPN
There will not be any New England or Los Angeles Rams players in this game, but the Pro Bowl will still have star power. Mahomes is the obvious star on the AFC side, while the NFC has Brees and his teammate Alvin Kamara. Defense will probably be optional in this game, as players don’t want to get hurt and tackling is rarely at full speed. The last two Pro Bowls have seen more defense, as many people complained about the lack of effort. The AFC won 20-13 two years ago and last year they won 24-23. This year I think the defensive effort is going to go down again and we will see a high scoring contest.
The AFC has the better quarterbacks in this game and I think they will put on a show. Mahomes is the likely league MVP and Andrew Luck had an excellent season. Deshaun Watson is a mobile quarterback who should also flourish in this type of game. The NFC has Brees, but his age really started to show in the last couple of months. Russell Wilson is a mobile quarterback, so he could have success, but Mitchell Trubisky really doesn’t seem like an All-Pro to me.
The AFC also has some talented receivers led by Tyreek Hill and JuJu Smith-Schuster. I would expect Mahomes to hit some big plays early in this game on Sunday.
Recent Betting History
The NFC has done well recently in terms of the side in Pro Bowl betting, as they have covered the spread in four of the last six games. The total used to be an easy one to take over, but four of the last five games have gone under.
AFC Pro Bowl Roster
Offense
Wide receiver: DeAndre Hopkins*, Houston Texans; Tyreek Hill*, Kansas City Chiefs; Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers; Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers; JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers (sub for Brown); Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns (sub for Hopkins)
Tackle: Taylor Lewan*, Tennessee Titans; Alejandro Villanueva*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs
Guard: David DeCastro*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Marshal Yanda*, Baltimore Ravens; Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts, Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns (sub for DeCastro)
Center: Maurkice Pouncey*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Mike Pouncey, Los Angeles Chargers
Tight end: Travis Kelce*, Kansas City Chiefs; Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts; Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders (sub for Kelce)
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes*, Kansas City Chiefs; Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers; Tom Brady, New England Patriots; Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (sub for Rivers); Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans (sub for Brady)
Running back: James Conner*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers; Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos; Lamar Miller, Houston Texans (sub for Lindsay)
Fullback: Anthony Sherman*, Kansas City Chiefs
Defense
Defensive end: J.J. Watt*, Houston Texans; Myles Garrett*, Cleveland Browns; Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers; Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars (sub for Watt)
Interior lineman: Geno Atkins*, Cincinnati Bengals; Jurrell Casey*, Tennessee Titans; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers; Kyle Williams, Buffalo Bills (sub for Casey); Brandon Williams, Baltimore Ravens (sub for Atkins)
Outside linebacker: Von Miller*, Denver Broncos; Jadeveon Clowney*, Houston Texans; Dee Ford, Kansas City Chiefs; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers (sub for Clowney)
Inside linebacker: C.J. Mosley*, Baltimore Ravens; Benardrick McKinney, Houston Texans
Cornerback: Xavien Howard*, Miami Dolphins; Jalen Ramsey*, Jacksonville Jaguars; Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns; Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos (sub for Harris)
Free safety: Derwin James*, Los Angeles Chargers; Eric Weddle, Baltimore Ravens
Strong safety: Jamal Adams*, New York Jets
Special Teams
Kicker: Jason Myers*, New York Jets
Long snapper: Casey Kreiter, Denver Broncos
Punter: Brett Kern*, Tennessee Titans
Return specialist: Andre Roberts*, New York Jets
Special teamer: Adrian Phillips*, Los Angeles Chargers
*Starter
NFC Pro Bowl Roster
Offense
Wide receiver: Julio Jones*, Atlanta Falcons; Michael Thomas*, New Orleans Saints; Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings; Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (sub for Jones)
Tackle: Tyron Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Terron Armstead*, New Orleans Saints; Trent Williams, Washington Redskins; Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles (sub for Smith)
Guard: Zack Martin*, Dallas Cowboys; Brandon Brooks*, Philadelphia Eagles; Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers; Andrus Peat, New Orleans Saints (sub for Brooks); Larry Warford, New Orleans Saints (sub for Martin)
Center: Alex Mack*, Atlanta Falcons; Max Unger, New Orleans Saints
Tight end: Zach Ertz*, Philadelphia Eagles; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers; Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons (sub for Ertz)
Quarterback: Drew Brees*, New Orleans Saints; Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (sub for Goff); Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (sub for Rodgers)
Running back: Todd Gurley*, Los Angeles Rams; Saquon Barkley, New York Giants; Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys; Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (sub for Gurley)
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers
Defense
Defensive end: Cameron Jordan*, New Orleans Saints; DeMarcus Lawrence*, Dallas Cowboys; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
Interior lineman: Aaron Donald*, Los Angeles Rams; Fletcher Cox*, Philadelphia Eagles; Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears; Kawann Short, Carolina Panthers (sub fro Donald)
Outside linebacker: Khalil Mack*, Chicago Bears; Ryan Kerrigan*, Washington Redskins; Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings, Olivier Vernon, New York Giants (sub for Mack)
Inside linebacker: Luke Kuechly*, Carolina Panthers; Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks; Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys (sub for Kuechly)
Cornerback: Kyle Fuller*, Chicago Bears; Patrick Peterson*, Arizona Cardinals; Darius Slay, Detroit Lions; Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Free safety: Eddie Jackson*, Chicago Bears; Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Strong safety: Landon Collins*, New York Giants; Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles (sub for Collins)
Special Teams
Kicker: Aldrick Rosas*, New York Giants
Long snapper: To be named by coach
Punter: Michael Dickson*, Seattle Seahawks
Return specialist: Tarik Cohen*, Chicago Bears
Special teamer: Cory Littleton*, Los Angeles Rams; Michael Thomas, New York Giants (sub for Littleton)
*Starter
Pro Bowl Picks
I think the AFC has the better roster in terms of the passing game. I will take the points with the AFC and also play the game to go over the total at BetDSI.
Pro Bowl Pick: AFC and Over 55.5 at BetDSI
Pro Bowl Score Prediction: AFC 38, NFC 31