›
Bill Speros

Bill Speros

85 - 82

Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.

Bill's Picks

Past Picks

Detroit Lions

Washington Commanders

Spread (-110 ) vs Washington Commanders

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

Last season, the Commanders stunned the Lions 45-31 in the Divisional round at Detroit. Jayden Daniels threw for 299 yards and a pair of TDs. That was then. This is now. Marcus Mariotta goes for Washington following the elbow injury to Daniels. Elsewhere, Commanders continue to show their age and the cracks that come along with having the NFL’s oldest roster (on Week 1). The 9-point-favorite Lions got bushwacked at home by the Vikings Sunday, 27-24. The tattered Commanders offer Dan Campbell and Jared Goff a perfect get-right opportunity. The Lions share a piece of the NFL’s best record ATS. And they’ve covered in 12 straight after a loss.

New York Giants

Chicago Bears

Spread (-110) vs Chicago Bears

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

BUZZ: The Bears won a wild 47-42 affair against the Bengals Sunday. The Giants, however, have an NFL defense. Don’t expect another 47 points from Caleb Williams & Company. The Giants lost whatever mojo they had with that crushing loss to the Broncos, and a season-ending injury to Cam Skattebo. Sunday, they allowed Christian McCaffrey to amass 173 yards from scrimmage in a 34-24 loss to the 49ers. The Bears (5-3) are suddenly in the NFC playoff hunt. A clean game from Caleb Williams gets it done here. A reasonable request at home.

New Orleans Saints

Carolina Panthers

Spread (-110) vs Carolina Panthers

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

The Panthers own a share of the second-best record ATS in the NFL at 6-3. The Saints stand alone with the worst number on the line at 2-7. The Panthers pulled off a stunner on Sunday, manhandling the Packers at Lambeau Field in a gritty 16-13 win as 13-point underdogs. Tyler Shough became the Saints’ 10th starting QB since Drew Brees last week. The Rams welcomed him with a 34-10 beatdown. The Panthers are thinking playoffs. The Saints are thinking draft position.

Washington Commanders

Kansas City Chiefs

Spread (-110) vs Kansas City Chiefs

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

Happy Sports Equinox! With Game 3 of the World Series, and the NBA and NHL in action, the NFL completes the sports sweep with Patrick Mahomes, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs playing host to Washington. Mahomes returned this week to the top spot in MVP betting markets. The Chiefs have won and covered in 4 of 5 games since an 0-2 start. Only a miraculous Broncos win to be prevented KC from owning a piece of first place in the AFC West this week. The Commanders absorbed a 44-22 beating Sunday via the Cowboys snd lost Jayden Daniels to injury. Their overall age is showing, as they owned the oldest roster in the NFL in Week 1. We took this number at -9.5. It has since moved to -12.5.

Miami Dolphins

Atlanta Falcons

Spread (-110) vs Atlanta Falcons

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

The Dolphins have been taking on water for weeks. Mike McDaniel's team got deep-sixed by the Browns 31-6. The Falcons sputtered Sunday night. falling 20-10 to the host 49ers. Atlanta has shown itself capable of playing well against lesser opponents. And they don't get much lesser than the 1-6 Dolphins. And that win over the Jets doesn't really count. The Dolphins have been outscored on average 9.3 PPG.

N.Y. Jets

Cincinnati Bengals

Spread (-110) vs Cincinnati Bengals

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

Don't get between Joe Flacco and the end zone. The 40-year-old QB threw for 342 yards and 3 TDS in Cincy's upset win over Pittsburgh Thursday. Even without Joe Burrow, the Bengals have some juicy pieces on offense. And more than enough to rattle the going-nowhere-and-still-winless Jets. But Gang Green caught a big break Sunday with the Giants' historic collapse in Denver. Now the Jets are no longer the biggest laughing stock in the Big Apple/Northern New Jersey.

Texas A&M

LSU

Spread (-110) vs LSU

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

No. 3 Texas A&M ventures into Death Valley 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS. The Aggies’ front on both sides of the ball has shown to be dominant. TAMU coach Mike Elko can scheme the perfect defense to wreak havoc on ex-Heisman hopeful QB Garrett Nussmeier and Brian Kelly. This number moved 3 points away from LSU after its loss to Vandy. But the Aggies – who were once underdogs in this game - remain undervalued against top-tier SEC foes. Best Bet: Texas A&M -2.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam

Detroit

Kansas City

Spread (-110) vs Kansas City

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

The Lions visit to Arrowhead for the 2nd time in 3 years. In 2023, they upset the then-defending Super Bowl champs in Week 1 in Kansas City. The Lions, meanwhile, have covered the spread in 52 of their past 74 games, (52-21-1) including Week 6, since the start of the 2021 season. No reason to expect it will stop this week, even if Taylor Swift shows up at Arrowhead to cheer her betrothed.

San Francisco

Tampa Bay

Spread (-110) vs Tampa Bay

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

Jim and Troy take a ride on the Pirate Ship as the two 4-1 division leaders meet in what could be an NFC playoff preview. Baker Mayfield continues to ball. And the Bucs’ defense will keep Mac Jones or Brock Purdy from letting the game get out of hand.

Texas

Oklahoma

Spread (-112) vs Oklahoma

Proj: 75.0

Over

Bill Speros

The annual Red River Showdown/Rivalry/Shootout just means more this year as both Texas and Oklahoma find themselves among the top teams in the SEC. The Longhorns limp into Cotton Bowl after getting chewed up by the Gators in The Swamp. Oklahoma, meanwhile, spanked Kent State 44-0 its final non-conference game of the season in Week 6. Florida provided the blue (and orange) print to stop Arch Manning - make him throw the ball.