Steve Maltepes, known as “The Philly Godfather,” will impart his gambling wisdom on the Eagles and where the smart money is going on various pro football games each weekend this season. Maltepes is one of the nation’s hottest sports betting experts who appears weekly on national radio, is the best-selling author of “Booked: The True Life Story of the PhillyGodfather,” and has his own website, www.thephillygodfather.com.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-5) at 1:00 p.m. Sunday
The Line: Eagles minus-12.5/Total: 38.5
What is the line telling you:
The line on this game originally opened with the Eagles as 12.5-point home favorites and the total set at 39.5. Since then, the total has dropped to 38.5 with the news of some light snow and frigid temperatures expected. The side dipped as low as -11 before shooting back up to the original opening price of Philadelphia -12.5 at some sportsbooks, while others have held steady at -11.5. When it comes to the early bet splits, the public money is heavily tilted toward the Eagles, with 90% of the action on Philadelphia despite the fact that this team has lost three straight games. This should be a big bounce-back spot for Jalen Hurts against a Raiders defense that ranks 21st in opponent yards per pass attempt. The Las Vegas defensive line has also struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season, ranking just 23rd in sacks per game. Hurts should have enough time to work through his reads without heavy pressure and make the right decisions this weekend. In terms of health, the Eagles have a much healthier offense, holding a +13 health advantage, so we should see Philadelphia put up points in this game as long as strong winds don’t roll in—which currently aren’t expected.
Bottom line:
It’s tough to invest in an Eagles team laying this many points (-11.5 / -12.5) after losing three straight, but with the Raiders owning the worst offensive line in the NFL in sacks allowed per game (ranked dead last), the Eagles’ defensive front should feast on Kenny Pickett, playing for the injured Geno Smith, and force mistakes and turnovers. The Raiders are also tied for the most interceptions thrown this season. On top of that, Las Vegas has the third-worst road record in the NFL and has lost five straight away from Allegiant Stadium by an average of 20 points per game. This is a strong buy-low spot for Philadelphia. Bet the Eagles -11.5 points.
Prop bets for the game:
Jalen Hurts Anytime TD: -130
AJ Brown Anytime TD: +140
DeVonta Smith Anytime TD: +200
(Betting lines are subject to change.)