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 Saturday, Dec. 24:
TOP PLAY
The play: NFL: Derrick Henry OVER 111.5 rushing yards
The odds/bet: -127 ($38.10 to win $30)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: 2 p.m. (CBS)
Our take: The Houston Texans (1-12-1) are the NFL’s punching bag once again this season. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who has more success historically against the Texans than Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry.
Henry has single-handedly carried the Titans to victories over their AFC South rivals in the last four meetings. He’s tallied games of 219, 250, 212 and 211 rushing yards against Houston recently — adding nine touchdowns over that span. His total prop line is set at 111.5 rushing yards for Saturday’s contest. While this line is considered insanely high, there is a lot of confidence from sharps around the country that Henry can surpass that total.
The Tennessee star has rushed for 112+ yards in nine of his last 10 AFC South showdowns. Further, with Ryan Tannehill likely out for the remainder of the season, the Titans offense will have to lean on the running game. Houston gives up a league-worst 167.5 yards per game on the ground, so this is a recipe for success for the hosts on a chilly Nashville afternoon.
A CHIEF OF ALL TRADES
The play: NFL: Jerick McKinnon OVER 55.5 total yards
The odds/bet: -139 ($13.90 to win $10)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: 1 p.m. (CBS)
Our take: Jerick McKinnon’s role in the Kansas City Chiefs offense has increased exponentially in recent weeks. He’s totaled 10+ touches (rushing attempts plus receptions) in each of the last three games. McKinnon has become the versatile playmaker in Kansas City’s two-headed monster in the backfield with Isiah Pacheco acting as the workhorse.
In those three games since coming into this new, improved role near the top of the depth chart, McKinnon has been a huge asset to Patrick Mahomes. Some would even consider him a secret weapon or Swiss Army Knife out of the backfield. The veteran has put on 60, 134 and 112 total yard performances during how coming out party with the Chiefs.
Kansas City comes up against a mediocre Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 16, so McKinnon should easily rack up 55.5 total yards if he’s given the touches that he’s expected to get. Seattle ranks 31st in the league in stopping the run and the Seahawks are middle of the pack in pass defense. It should be relatively easy for Mahomes and Co. to move the ball up and down the field with the weapons they have across the offense — that includes McKinnon.
HOW WE’VE FARED
College football Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri +2½ over Wake Forest (LOST $33)
NBA, Phoenix Suns +3 over Memphis Grizzlies (LOST $11)
Friday’s profit/loss: -$44 (0-2)
Total for the week: +$24.20 (5-4)
Total for December: -$16.60 (19-23)
Total for 2022: +$190.30 (331-354)
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, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).
