For The Hedgie this game comes down to Taylor vs Bortles when you are talking spread. The Jags will surely feed Fornette and try and establish the run. The Bills will have their best player McCoy playing but clearly under 100%. If the Bills can slow the running game and force Bortles into a turnover or two they can hang around. Taylor is mobile (much like Mariota) and threw a league low 4 INts this yr. So the Bills are built to protect the ball and create turnovers. This should keep them within striking range. 9 points is too much
Bills +9 2 stars
Saints -6.5 vs panthers 47.5 Total
The Saints have beaten the Panthers twice already this season. In a nutshell the Saints defense is better and they've finally established a running game to help Drew Brees. All the of the money is pouring in on the Saints -6.5 and under 49 (where it opened). The Panthers are obviously very familiar with their NFC SOUTH foe so in this instance the Hedgie does not like laying a full touchdown. Cam Newton has had a sore shoulder and been struggling lately but this game reminds me of when the Hedgie faded the Panthers earlier in the season and they went to Detroit and gave put on an inspired effort. The Panthers' Greg Olsen is healthy again and will see a lot of targets. But in the end The Saints will find a way to win. Every angle counts in the playoffs and Today's Referee crew lends itself to the Hedgie leans as well. Tony Corentee's crew tends to throw pass interference flags more than usual. They have thrown the 2nd most pass interference flags this season and Also have called the 2nd most false starts this season amongst all NFL crews. This would lend toward possible an extra scoring opportunity on a passing play . But also the visiting team is more likely to have false starts in a dome in a playoff.
So the Play today is :
TEASER: SAINTS -0.5 and OVER 41.5 3 stars