Happy Johnny Manziel Day everybody!
The most talked about player to hold a clipboard since Tim Tebow, Johnny Football makes his first NFL start today and America is preparing to be transfixed. The Browns host AFC North rivals Cincinnati but with next to no idea what to expect from Manziel, SportsJOE is looking elsewhere for money-making opportunities.
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (Texans +7)
One of the many games with play-off implications, defeat for the Texans will hand Indy the AFC South title, but Houston has arguably been playing the better football over the past month. They are running the ball with confidence and have only allowed more than 22 points once since losing to the Colts 33-28 in early October. Indianpolis, meanwhile, were extremely fortunate to escape Cleveland with a one-point win last week as quarterback Andrew Luck accounted for three of the Colts’ four turnovers. The Texans have been good to us over the past couple of weeks and we think they can keep this a one-score game.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons (OVER 55.5 points)
I don’t think they could make this line high enough. According to Football Outsiders, this is a match-up of two of the league’s four worst defences against a pair of top-11 offences. The only note of concern would be the status of Falcons wide receiver/utter beast Julio Jones, who is dealing with a hip injury and is unlikely to feature, but there should be enough weapons on the field to make this a shootout.
Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills (UNDER 50 points)
Buffalo’s defence is one of the most underrrated units in the NFL, particular up front, and they haven’t conceded more than 24 points once all season. Having held last year’s MVP Peyton Manning to that mark in Denver last week, this week they get a shot at this year’s MVP front-runner Aaron Rodgers. The Green Bay offence has been putting up incredible numbers at home but they have been less potent away from Lambeau Field.
