Jesse Schule – Sports Handicapper

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Saints defense has been lit up in back to back weeks by Sam Bradford and a 40 year old Tom Brady. Surely Cam Newton will do the same? Not necessarily, as Carolina's offense isn't designed to be quite as pass heavy. Newton will also be without his most dangerous receiver (Greg Olsen). Cam has put up pedestrian numbers so far, throwing for just 399 yards, two TDs and an INT against two below average teams (San Francisco and Buffalo). The Panthers don't need to light up the scoreboard when their defense holds opponents to a combined six points in the first two weeks. The Panthers have failed to reach the total in six of their last seven overall, and three of their last four home games against the Saints. Going back even further, we can see that 11 of the last 14 times these teams have played in Charlotte, the total has gone under.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Oakland Raiders.

The Redskins are coming off a big win on the West Coast last week, scoring late to defeat the Rams by a score of 27-20. Washington ran all over the Rams last week, and perhaps that was something that LA failed to prepare for. Kirk Cousins has yet to impress, throwing for just 419 yards with two TDs and an INT in two starts. Washington's defense will have it's hands full this week, facing the Raiders well balanced attack. The addition of Marshawn Lynch has made Oakland almost impossible to stop. Lynch has run for just 121 yards and a TD on 30 carries in two games, but this figures to be a good spot for Beat Mode to have a breakout performance. Washington's run defense ranked near the bottom of the league last season, allowing opponents to average 120 yards per game, while giving up a whopping 19 rushing TDs. Last week they allowed Todd Gurley to run for 88 yards and a TD on just 15 carries. Derek Carr comes in completing 75 percent of his passes for a total of 492 yards and five TDs (no INTs). I don't like Cousins' chances of matching serves with Carr and the high flying Raiders offense.

Take OAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.  

The Jaguars were exposed in a 37-16 home loss to Tennessee last week. Blake Bortles threw for 223 yards with a TD and two INTs on 20-of-34 passing. As always, most of the yardage and positive progress was made in garbage time. He's going to London as a starting quarterback, but he's likely going to be out of a job on his return stateside. Baltimore's defense has been the best in football so far, allowing a total of 10 points and forcing a whopping 10 turnovers in two games. The one positive for the Jags is that they have been good at rushing the passer. Joe Flacco is a savvy veteran that thrives under pressure though, and he completed 11-of-17 passes for 103 yards and two TDs against the blitz last week. Jacksonville's Week 1 win over Houston was aided by turnovers, and they may be hard pressed to win the turnover battle here against a Baltimore team that leads the league in takeaways.  

Take BAL.  

GL, 

Jesse Schule

8*

Jesse Schule