QBs looking to elevate Panthers, Buccaneers down stretch

NFL Week 11: Over and Under Best Bets

Editor Note: Current season Week 11 NFL OVER UNDER picks here – archived article from 2018 follows below.

This NFL season, with sports betting expected to be a more common and accepted practice, we’re making a point to look beyond point spreads and analyze often-neglected totals. As part of that approach, we’re offering up our favorite bet over and favorite under each week.

Over and Under Best Bets

Over of the week: Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions

Total: 51

The main rationale behind this over is that I don’t believe the desperate Detroit Lions will go down without a fight in a must-win home game, while the Carolina Panthers are likely to bounce back on extra rest after a poor performance in Pittsburgh.

Basically, Detroit and Carolina are due for strong performances, and this should be a close game between two teams with star quarterbacks.

The Lions scored 26 points against the New England Patriots at home and then put up 31 on the Green Bay Packers two weeks later. They have it in them, but they’ve also given up at least 24 points in three consecutive games.

The Panthers defense has surrendered 28-plus points in back-to-back weeks, while the offense has averaged 33 points per game the last three weeks.

Don’t be surprised if both teams hit the 30-mark Sunday at Ford Field.

Predicted score: Panthers 35, Lions 30

Under of the week: Houston Texans at Washington Redskins

Total: 42.5

I was shocked to see Houston and Washington generating a total above 40. Four of Houston’s last five games have contained 36 or fewer points, while four of Washington’s last five games have contained 40 or fewer points. Why should we expect them to combine for more than that Sunday in Washington?

Both defenses rank in the top seven in terms of points allowed per game. And while the Houston offense has shown some signs of life, this’ll be a challenge on the road. Meanwhile, the Redskins’ offensive line is in shambles, which is why they’ve scored just 30 total points the last two weeks against awful defenses (Atlanta and Tampa Bay).

I don’t think either team will score 20 points in this one.

Predicted score: Texans 17, Redskins 13

Good luck, we’re all counting on you.

Previous results
Last week: 2-0
2018 season: 14-6