Normally, this is the week in which I will write about us flipping the calendar and turning to the second half of the year. Not in 2021. Week 9 will serve as the exact midpoint of an 18-week, 17-game schedule for the first time ever.
Does it matter?
A little.
I keep writing about how the lengthened season and increased playoff format — albeit, from last year — is making 2021 feel longer than the rest — which, of course, it is — but I write this because it directly counters what we see from the football-watching world. In a typical year, people are quick to write-off a team. In 2021, that seems foolish.
We aren’t even at halftime yet.
Below are predictions for each game against the spread. Spreads have been taken from various websites and are subject to change. The spread in parenthesis denotes the selected team. Spread is listed as advertised number and odds at either DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Caesar’s Sportsbook, or SugarHouse Sportsbook. All efforts were made to provide picks at -110 or better, with some stretching to a -125 if no reasonable advertised spread was found.
*Confidence Picks – 2021 Season: 21-22 (Last Week: 2-3)
(2020 Season: 53-42-3) (2019 Season: 57-43-3) (2018 Season: 63-48-4) (2017 Season: 53-48-4) (2016 Season: 53-67-3) (2015 Season: 69-45-2) (2014 Season: 61-46-2)
(7-Year Total: 409-339-21)
All Picks Against Spread – 2021 Season: 72-48-2 (Last Week: 9-6)
(2020 Season: 132-128-7) (2019 Season: 142-118-7) (2018 Season: 137-118-12) (2017 Season: 137-119-11) (2016 Season: 123-136-8) (2015 Season: 143-117-7) (2014 Season: 149-114-4)
(7-Year Total: 963-850-56)
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
Well, that was impressive. The New York Jets, under rookie quarterback Mike White, outright won against the Bengals in Week 8. New York was easily one of my favorite teams to pick against-the-spread last week, but I never saw a clean win coming.
Neither did anyone else.
Those who make the odds are always careful and protective of how they can get burned. They are also finely tuned into the general football fan’s mind. They know how people will react, and they know how to make the spread react.
That’s why it’s imperative to recognize that