About this episode
RJ Bell, Scott Seidenberg and Mackenzie Rivers talk NFL Week 17 holiday games. The guys also discuss MVP odds and give out a best bet. Key Points 🎯 Kansas City Chiefs' Dominance : Despite a 14-1 record, the Chiefs are underappreciated due to narrow victories. Their Super Bowl odds (e.g., +400 to +450) are considered valuable bets​. 🎯 MVP Odds for Jared Goff : Goff, with a strong EPA per play ranking (#2), is seen as a 20-to-1 MVP contender if the Lions finish strong​. 🎯 Josh Allen's Injuries : Allen's hand injuries and perceived inconsistencies affect Buffalo's outlook, with the team likely settling for a #2 seed​. 🎯 Playoff Scenarios : Baltimore Ravens' path to winning their division hinges on defeating Houston and favorable outcomes in Steelers' games​. 🎯 Team Statistics : Pittsburgh's offense has improved significantly under Kenny Pickett, ranking eighth in EPA since Week 7​. 🎯 Houston Texans' Struggles : C.J. Stroud's regression, poor offensive line performance, and injuries, such as Tank Dell's season-ending injury, challenge their playoff viability​. 🎯 Prop Betting Insights : Scott recommends prop bets like sack totals for Baltimore's Kyle Vannoy and Odafe Owei due to Houston's offensive line issues​. 🎯 Seattle vs. Chicago : Seahawks are favored (-3.5) due to Chicago's poor form and injuries to their offensive line​. 🎯 Scheduling Impact : Pittsburgh and Kansas City face fatigue challenges due to condensed schedules, with historical data favoring the home team in such scenarios​. 🎯 Team Totals & Props : Recommended bets include over 20.5 points for Pittsburgh and under first-drive scores for both Seattle and Chicago​. Summary (by timestamp) [0:06-1:22]: NFL Holiday Scheduling R.J. Bell opens with a humorous tone, mentioning Fez's absence and previewing NFL games over Christmas week. They highlight the intensity of NFL scheduling with games across multiple days. [1:45-4:15]: NFL vs. College Football Playoff Ratings Scott compares NFL and college football playoff ratings, noting the NFL's dominance (e.g., Chiefs' game garnered a 7.4 rating vs. 3.1 for SMU vs. Penn State). R.J. humorously criticizes college football's structure​. [6:30-8:50]: College Football Playoffs Expansion Scott criticizes the 12-team playoff format, emphasizing the dilution of quality. R.J. proposes a six-team model with byes for the top two teams to preserve competitiveness​. [10:15-11:15]: Ohio State's Championship Prospects Scott supports Ohio State's potential to win the national championship despite losing to Michigan, attributing it to talent depth​. [18:00-20:00]: Jared Goff for MVP R.J. and Scott analyze Goff's metrics (EPA: 0.29) and argue his case for MVP at 20-to-1 odds, especially if Detroit wins out​. [24:36-27:30]: Kansas City Chiefs Analysis The Chiefs' quest for a three-peat is contextualized with comparisons to NFL dynasties. Despite statistical dominance, the Chiefs lack media hype this year​. [48:47-52:08]: Steelers vs. Chiefs Betting A historical trend (7-2-1 ATS for home teams in condensed schedules) supports betting Pittsburgh over 20.5 points due to Kansas City's defensive injuries​. [54:21-56:00]: Houston vs. Baltimore Matchup The Ravens are favored (-5.5) due to Houston's weakened offense and Tank Dell's absence. R.J. notes C.J. Stroud's struggles under pressure​. [1:06:16-1:08:15]: Seahawks vs. Bears The Seahawks are predicted to cover (-3.5) against a "dead team walking" Bears squad missing key offensive linemen​. [1:12:35-1:13:08]: Closing Remarks The hosts recap their bets, wish listeners happy holidays, and tease upcoming episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices