Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.
Here are our best bets for Thursday, Oct. 13:
TOP PLAY
The play: NFL, Commanders at Bears under 38
The odds/bet: -110 ($33 to win $30)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: 8:15 p.m. (Amazon Prime Video)
Our take: We have joked about the people who scheduled out the Thursday night games, but this isn’t funny. Really, peeps? Colts-Broncos in a 12-9 thriller last week and now Commanders-Bears? Couldn’t you have at least saved this for Halloween week?
I’m not sure what the odds are on a second straight Thursday game to go without a touchdown, but this one has a real shot. Both teams’ defenses have been decent, while their offensive units have been downright putrid.
Are we sure Justin Fields and Carson Wentz should even be starting quarterbacks? Oh wait, their running games are … never mind. (Don’t let the Bears’ high ranking fool you – it’s only because they are SO dead last in passing and running the ball is their only source of offense.)
We almost took Washington in this spot, because there’s little question they are the better team despite their 1-4 record and four-game losing streak. However, not only is Wentz bad, but he’s dealing with an injured shoulder.
In other words, we’ll sit back in our favorite recliner, wake up from a cat nap every 20 minutes or so to check the score and cash our under ticket when all is said and done.
TNF TEAM PROP
The play: NFL, Commanders field goal as first scoring play
The odds/bet: +320 ($5 to win $16)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Our take: To go along with our “Washington is better, but we’re not sure anyone will score” kind of theme, we’re thinking about the middle of the second quarter one of the offenses will put up some points, and at +320 there’s value on it being a field goal for the team we expect to win.
But really, if you wanted to play Washington field goal AND Chicago field goal (+310), you’re getting decent numbers to do so. Just stay awake long enough to see which one wins.
HOW WE’VE FARED
Wednesday’s results
MLB playoffs money line: Padres to defeat Dodgers in Game 2 (WON $39.60)
PGA, Zozo Championship: Collin Morikawa to finish in the top 10 (PENDING)
Wednesday’s profit/loss: +$39.60 (1-0, 1 pending)
Total for the week: +$88.10 (3-2, 1 pending)
Total for October: +$248.80 (15-5, 1 pending)
Total for 2022: +$48.10 (260-288, 1 pending)
NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)
Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, a $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).