NFL Week 4 Team Totals Predictions

We absolutely promise that we are not going to pick on the New York Jets.

We will give them as much respect as they deserve.

There would seem to be a certain “art” (for lack of a better word) when it comes to knowing when to pull that trigger with the rookie quarterback. If you’re the Chicago Bears, you could probably afford to wait a little longer because of the presence of a couple of veteran QB’s on the roster.

If you’re the Jets, who moved on from Sam Darnold (who’s not doing badly, we’re told), you throw the kid out there and let him play.

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Sooner or later, if he’s a real prospect, he’ll develop. But there are a lot of bumps along the way, and that is why they are going to have to accept that with Zach Wilson behind center, there is always the chance for a very low offensive output.

How low? Low enough that they are averaging one point per game in the first half.

Rest assured that is in the back of our minds as we do our…..

NFL Week 4 Team Totals Predictions

Tennessee Titans at New York Jets Preview

Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets Best Bets

Time: Sunday, October 3 – 1 PM ET

Team Totals Odds:
Tennessee Titans –  Over 26 Points (-110)  /Under 26 Points (-120)
New York Jets – Over 17.5 Points (-130) / Under 17.5 Points (+100)
 

NFL Point Spread Odds

The Play:  N.Y. JETS UNDER 17.5 POINTS (+100)

Listen, this is a learning process. And through that process, you’re going to get sacked. Zach Wilson has been sacked 15 times this season, and maybe there is an end in sight, but not soon.

And it is not a veteran offensive coordinator guiding him either. Mike LaFleur’s brother Matt is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, but this is his maiden voyage as a play-caller. So in a sense, he is just as new to this thing as Wilson.
 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers Preview

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers Best Bets

Time: Sunday, October 3 – 14:25 PM ET

Team Totals Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers — Over 19.5 Points (-125) / Under 19.5 Points (-105)
Green Bay Packers — Over 26.5 Points (-120) / Under 26.5 Points (-110)

The Play:  STEELERS UNDER 19.5 POINTS (-105)

Yes, it’s a good thing for the Steelers that TJ Watt is likely to see action, as he’ll hassle Aaron Rodgers a little. But Green Bay’s offensive line, even without star left tackle David Bakhtiari, will enable A.R.to do some business against the Pittsburgh defense. How much, we’re not altogether sure.

The Steelers offense is a story in itself. They are averaging a paltry 31 yards per drive, and the way Green Bay’s offense has produced over the last two games, it won’t leave them with great field position on a regular basis.

We wish we could tell all of you Rookie of the Year futures bettors that Najee Harris was a real difference-maker, but he’s run 40 times for 123 yards, and Mike Tomlin’s team is still at the bottom of the pack in rushing yardage.
 

Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys Preview

Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys Best Bets

Time: Sunday, October 3 – 1 PM ET

Team Totals Odds:
Carolina Panthers — Over 23.5 Points (-110) / Under 23.5 Points (-120)
Dallas Cowboys — Over 28 Points (-115) / Under 28 Points (-115)

The Play:  COWBOYS OVER 28 (-115)

Sure, we realize that the Panthers may not sustain drives for as long without Christian McCaffrey in the lineup, but you have to have a lot of respect for the defense, which has given up 191 yards per game and 17.3 yards per drive.

Now of course, you have to understand that they have played the Jets, Saints and Texans (three offenses that are decidedly non-explosive). And two of those opponents had first-time starters at quarterback.

Dak Prescott is no first-time starter, and he has a number of weapons to keep this Carolina defense honest. And don’t expect that Panther pass rush to run wild either.
 

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears Preview

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears Best Bets

Time: Sunday, October 3 – 1 PM ET

Team Totals Odds:
Detroit Lions — Over 20 Points (-115) / Under 20 Points (-115)
Chicago Bears — Over 22.5 Points (-115) / Under 22.5 Points (-115)

The Play: BEARS UNDER 22.5 POINTS (-115)
 

NFL Point Spread Picks

The latest word out of Chicago is that Andy Dalton was practicing on a limited basis. But things still pointed to Justin Fields as the starting quarterback on Sunday. Fields has a thumb injury, so he is handicapped beyond what he already doesn’t know as a first-year NFL signal-caller.

Fields completed six passes and was sacked nine times. The Bears had six first downs in his start against the Browns last week. Myles Garrett mentioned that in the offense the Bears were in, defending them was easy.

Head coach Matt Nagy says he’s going to get Fields out on the move a lot more instead of having him stand in the pocket. And yeah, that might help. But we wonder if all those QB’s who played for Ohio State during the Urban Meyer-Ryan Day time period really learned how to read defenses. Backing Fields right now to produce enough offense to exceed this number may fall into the category of “blind faith.”
 

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers Preview

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers Best Bets

Time:  Sunday, October 3 at 4:05 PM ET

Team Totals Odds:
Seattle Seahawks  — Over 24.5 Points (-115) / Under 24.5 Points (-115)
San Francisco 49ers — Over 27.5 Points (-115) / Under 27.5 Points (-115)

The Play:  SEAHAWKS OVER 24.5 POINTS (-115)

Seriously, you could take your pick here on the “over” play. On the one hand, Russell Wilson has thrown for a little less than 900 yards and has yet toss an interception. And the Niners’ defense has been surprisingly permissive, allowing 40.3 yards per drive.

On the other hand, Seattle has yielded more yardage on a  per-drive basis (44) than any team in the NFL.

In the end, we trust Wilson to produce more than we trust Jimmy Garoppolo.