Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.
The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs kick off the 2024-25 NFL season on Thursday.
The pregame narrative: A pair of future Hall of Famers headline these prop bets. Derrick Henry has new threads and he should rumble in his Ravens debut. I’m also taking the over on Travis Kelce’s reception prop.
Check out my Ravens vs. Chiefs prop picks for Sept. 5.
The Ravens abandoned the run in last year’s AFC championship game and it came back to bite them.
Baltimore had just 16 rushing attempts and half of those came from Lamar Jackson. The running back room — comprised of Gus Edwards and Justice Hill — combined for three carries and 23 yards in a 17-10 defeat.
So why did John Harbaugh decide to stop pounding the rock? After all, the Ravens averaged a league-best 156.5 rushing yards per game during the regular season.
Your answer is as good as mine … and as good as Henry’s.
The running back was asked if he could have made a difference in last year’s title game and said: “Hell yeah, I wish I could suit up that day watching the game. But now it’s my turn, so (I’ve) got to take advantage of it.”
With a bonafide bell cow in the backfield, I don’t expect Harbaugh to make the same mistake twice.
Henry averaged 68.6 yards per game last year, clearing this mark in nine of 17 games. That was behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. On Baltimore, he should have every opportunity to return to his All-Pro levels of the past.
Since 2019, the former Tennesee Titan has gashed the Chiefs for 458 yards and five touchdowns in four games. He last played KC in 2022 and had 17 carries for 115 yards.
Kansas City’s run defence was elite last year but Henry should see the bulk of carries untill Keaton Mitchell returns from the PUP list late this season. Bet on one of the best ever to make a strong first impression.
Key stat: Henry has cleared this line in five straight games versus KC.
Quick picks
Kelce over 5.5 receptions (-139): Kelce failed to amass 1,000 yards last season for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.
But he came up clutch when it mattered, hauling in all 11 of his targets in the AFC title game for 116 yards and a touchdown before catching 9-of-10 for 93 yards in the Super Bowl.
Kansas City has a much improved receiving corps to work with this year after acquiring Hollywood Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy — but don’t forget who the top dog is.
Kelce still went over this line in 12 of 19 games last year (postseason and playoffs) while landing on exactly five receptions in three of the outliers.
The Ravens also allowed the 11th-most receptions per game to tight ends, according to DraftEdge.com.
I’ll gladly bet on Kelce to have a huge game even with these juiced odds.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks meet for a Labour Day matinee.
The pregame narrative: Arizona won last night’s matchup, 14-3, and I expect plenty of offence from both sides today. Bet on Mookie Betts to score in a plus matchup and fade Jack Flaherty’s outs total against the red-hot Diamondbacks.
Check out my Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks prop picks for Sept. 2.
Betts didn’t score in last night’s blowout loss but I’m willing to forgive that.
He was pulled early along with Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman as Dave Roberts waived the white flag in the third inning.
The Dodgers’ No. 2 hitter still went 1-for-2 with a single, though, and now has a hit in 14 of 18 starts since returning from the injured list on Aug. 12. He’s slashing .278/.333/.500 in that span with 11 runs scored.
Before that, Betts had crossed the plate in four straight games and six of his last seven.
He’s in a good spot to stay hot against Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez. The veteran lefty was finally activated from the IL on Aug. 7 after missing the first five months of the season with a shoulder injury.
Rodriguez has a 5.06 ERA in four starts and most recently gave up five earned runs in 5.1 IP against the New York Mets.
The Dodgers have an extensive history against the southpaw and have hit him well. In 109 plate appearances, they’re batting .297 with a .495 SLG, per Baseball Savant.
Betts hasn’t seen much of Rodriguez (1-for-4 with a walk) but the big guns behind him have. Freeman is 5-for-11 (.455 BA) while Hernandez is 8-for-21 (.381 BA).
Look for Betts to get on and one of those two to drive him home.
Key stat: Betts has a .400 OBP against lefties.
Quick picks
Flaherty under 17.5 outs (-108): This isn’t a shot against Flaherty, who has been solid since joining the Dodgers at the trade deadline.
The former Detroit Tiger has a 3.47 ERA in five starts with L.A. He’s cleared this total twice and landed on exactly 17 outs twice.
But asking him to have an above-average game against an elite offence seems unlikely.
The Diamondbacks are averaging the most runs per game (5.42) and have scored 9.6 runs per game this series. They also have the third-best batting average (.284) and wRC+ (120) and fourth-best SLG (.456) since the all-star break.
Arizona has seen a good amount of Flaherty and is slugging .554 against him in 132 combined plate appearances.
Seven of the last 10 starters to face the D-backs have gone under this line.
MLB fans are treated to an 11-game Labour Day slate starting at 2:10 p.m. ET.
The latest: The St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers kick off the action as the former looks to make a late wild-card push. Later on, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers wrap up their four-game set while the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox begin a huge series in Beantown.
Check out the latest MLB odds for Monday, Sept. 2.
The Cardinals are five games out of the NL’s final wild-card spot but will have their hands full with the red-hot Brewers. Milwaukee has won five of its last six games and is 7-3 against St. Louis this season.
Arizona beat Los Angeles, 14-3, yesterday and looks to stay hot at the plate. Every game in this series has gone over 13.5 runs. Jack Flaherty (3.07 ERA) gets the ball for the Dodgers opposite Eduardo Rodriguez (5.06 ERA).
The Mets (one game back) and Red Sox (4.5 games back) sit just outside their respective wild-card races. New York has won four straight games and eight of its last 11. Luis Severino (3.96 ERA) gets the ball against Brayan Bello (4.66) who is coming off a gem against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The New York Yankees are a half-game up on the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. They begin a three-game set in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. Last year’s World Series champions have won five of their last six but played the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. Texas has lost nine of its last 13 games against playoff teams.
Swinging the sticks in Canada might be seasonal, but golf betting ensures that you can get in on the action year-round.
If you’re wondering how to bet on golf, you’ve come to the right place. There are many ways to bet on golf — from outright winners to player matchups — which will be run through below.
-> New to Golf wagering? Sign up at NorthStar Betsto get the latest odds, insights and betting tools throughout the season.
-> New to Golf wagering? Sign up at NorthStar Betsto get the latest odds, insights and betting tools throughout the season.
Golf betting is not limited to a specific tour, as fans can place wagers on the PGA, LPGA and European Tour, among other events throughout the year.
How to bet on golf
When considering how to bet on golf, ask yourself a few questions: Who is in the field? What will the conditions be like? Who does the course favour?
All of these factor into how the odds for the tournament favourites are set.
-> Before you get started, create your NorthStar Bets account to explore live odds and Golf markets.
-> Before you get started, create your NorthStar Bets accountto explore live odds and Golf markets.
Outrights
The most popular way to bet on professional golf is outright betting. In this scenario, you are placing a bet on a player to win the tournament.
Since there are so many players in a golf tournament, the odds of your choice winning will almost always be indicated with a (+) sign, meaning the selection is plus money — even if they are the favourite.
The odds vary drastically depending on who you are betting on. A player like Scottie Scheffler is far more likely to contend in a tournament than someone such as Rickie Fowler.
There are many things to take into consideration when placing an outright bet. Does the course favour distance or accuracy? What will the weather be like? Is the player riding a streak of good form?
It’s worth noting that these odds can change throughout the week leading up to the first round of the event.
-> Want to see current Golf outright prices? Check the latest at NorthStar Bets
-> Want to see current Golf outright prices? Check the latest at NorthStar Bets
Let’s use the 2024 Open Championship as an example. Xander Schauffele, who came out victorious, was +1,600 to win the tournament outright (an implied probability of 5.9%). This means a $100 bet would net a profit of $1,600.
In the same tournament, Justin Rose, the runner-up, had much longer odds going into the event at around +10,000 (1.0% implied probability).
During Tiger Woods’ prime, there would be instances where he was favoured at minus (-) odds to win events — yes, he was that good. This meant sportsbooks placed the probability of him winning above 50%.
He was the outright favourite at +150 at the 2005 Masters, meaning there was a 40% implied probability of him winning (he did, of course).
Let’s take a look at how different odds would pay out:
Odds
Wager
Win
Implied Probability
+150
$100
$150
40%
+900
$100
$900
10%
+1600
$100
$1600
5.88%
-200
$100
$50
66.67%
It is extremely rare to find an outright bet at (-) odds before a tournament begins, as Woods is no longer in his prime.
Tiger Woods is tied with Sam Snead for a PGA record 82 wins on tour.
Top finishes
Betting top finishes is a great way to find value for players you think will do well in tournaments without having to worry about them winning the event. There are offerings for top 20, top 10 and top-five finishes, among others.
Let’s use Brooke Henderson as an example. Say she is competing in the U.S Women’s Open where she is +2,500 outright. If you think Henderson will be in contention for the trophy but aren’t entirely sold, we’d recommend placing a top finish bet, as the return on investment is still sizeable.
-> Ready to try top finishes betting?Join NorthStar Bets and explore live, moving lines
-> Ready to try top finishes betting? Join NorthStar Bets and explore live, moving lines
The odds for a bet like this would be something along the lines of:
If you bet all three of the above examples and Henderson finished seventh, you would win the top 20 and top 10 but would lose the top-five bet.
Brooke Henderson has 16 top-10 finishes in major events. Photo by Steve Nesius/AP
End of round leader
End-of-round leader (commonly abbreviated to EOR) is another popular bet. The name is quite literal: pick the player who finishes the round at the top of the leaderboard.
Let’s say you bet Viktor Hovland to be the EOR leader at +2,000. If the round concluded and he sat atop the leaderboard at 7-under par, you would win. A $100 bet would net $2,000.
It basically follows the same rules as outright winners, but with one wrinkle — there can be ties.
For example: If two players finish the round tied atop the leaderboard at -7, the stake of your bet would be reduced by half.
A $100 bet at +2,000 would now net a profit of $1,000 instead of $2,000.
Similarly, if three players are tied, the stake is reduced by two-thirds, and so on.
EOR odds fluctuate as the round progresses and can be bet on during play, a process known as live betting, which we will go more in-depth on later.
How to bet on golf matchups
There is an old saying in golf that the only person you can play against is yourself. While players are dialled into their own game, bettors can take advantage of head-to-head matchups offered by sportsbooks.
These markets provide predetermined matchups of players similar in skill, where you can wager on who will shoot a lower score on a given day. There is typically a favourite which can vary from -120 all the way to around -200.
There are two main head-to-head matchups available: 72-hole, and 18-hole.
72-hole matchups
Wagers on 72-hole matchups are placed before the tournament begins and run throughout the event, culminating after the final round ends. The golfer with the lowest score wins.
For example, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth are both playing in the U.S. Open. Before placing a bet, you would have to consider factors such as each player’s history at the course, their current form and who the course setup favours more.
Let’s assume Johnson opens as a favourite, the odds would look something like this:
Dustin Johnson (-120) vs. Jordan Spieth (+120)
If the tournament culminates and Spieth finishes 6-under par while Johnson finishes 5-under par, the Spieth ticket cashes. A $100 bet would net a profit of $120.
18-hole matchups
The other option is an 18-hole matchup, which is placed before a specific round begins and the winner is determined by whoever shoots the lower score that day.
Let’s use the Spieth (+120) vs. Johnson (-120) example again with the same odds, but for an 18-hole matchup.
Going into the second round of an event, Spieth is even par for the tournament and Johnson is 1-over par. If Johnson shoots a 3-under round, and Spieth shoots 2-under, they would be tied on the leaderboard.
But since Johnson had the lower score over the 18 holes wagered on, he would be the winner of that bet.
Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson during a round at the 2018 Pebble Beach ProAm. Photo by Eric Risberg/AP.
How to bet on golf props
Prop betting is a way to bet on specific events that will occur throughout a tournament.
A variety of props are offered to the bettor depending on the tournament. These can include whether there will be a hole-in-one, the nationality of the winner, or if there will be a playoff, among other options.
-> Check out the latest props every day at NorthStar Bets – from betting playoffs, hole-in-ones and much more
-> Check out the latest props every day at NorthStar Bets – from betting playoffs, hole-in-ones and much more
Tournament props are tied to the field, not a player. If you are to bet on a hole-in-one during a tournament (+150), it does not matter who gets the ace, it only matters that it occurs.
There are also certain player props available. One popular pick is wagering on whether a golfer will make or miss the cut.
Players like Jon Rahm and Patrick Cantlay have far better odds to make the cut (-500) than they do to miss (+300). Therefore, it wouldn’t be wise to place a bet on Cantlay to make the cut, as the return on investment is low.
How to bet on golf futures
Futures markets are a unique way for bettors to place a wager on an event that will occur at a later date. You can bet on winners of majors, team events, and the FedEx Cup, while also placing future player props.
Let’s say you have a hunch that Europe will retain the Ryder Cup. Although the event will occur in 2025, odds are currently available. Placing a futures bet now ensures you are locked into those odds regardless of roster changes, player performance, or injury.
Futures betting is also available for the outright winners of major tournaments. If you believe a player is going to be on a hot streak come July, you can generally get better odds placing a futures bet in February than you would by placing an outright bet the week of the event.
For example, Ludvig Aberg is around +1,400 to win next year’s U.S. Open as of October. If he was in great form heading into the tournament, his odds could shorten to around +1,000, leaving you with a more valuable ticket.
If Aberg was missing cuts leading into the tournament, you may find his odds lengthened to +2,500. This would lower the value of your original bet.
Live betting in golf is volatile but provides extreme value if you can sniff out the right player.
For both outright betting and end-of-round betting, player odds will drastically fluctuate on a hole-to-hole basis. This depends on how they are performing relative to the competition.
-> Experience live Golf betting as it happens – sign up with NorthStar Bets and get in on every swing
-> Experience live Golf betting as it happens – sign up with NorthStar Bets and get in on every swing
If one were to bet Thomas outright at +2,500 and he started the tournament with a triple-bogey on the first hole, his live odds would surely rise to around +4,000 — maybe even higher.
For an end-of-round leader bet, you could pick a player who is sitting at +3,000 live to lead the round right before a hot streak where they go 5-under par over four holes. That same player’s live EOR odds could shift to -150 after that.
These markets stay open throughout the event but are often put on hold right after a big shot is made. Once the sportsbook sets its new live odds, betting is reopened.
There is also an option to live bet player props on certain holes. You would have a list of possible outcomes if Corey Conners were about to play a par five. It could look like this:
Par to hole (-130) Birdie or better (+150) Bogey or worse (+250)
If Conners birdied the hole, the +150 bet would cash and the other two props would lose.
-> Ready to put your Golf knowledge to use ? Sign up for NorthStar Bets to access live odds, props, parlays and exclusive Canadian Insights all season long
-> Ready to put your Golf knowledge to use ? Sign up for NorthStar Bets to access live odds, props, parlays and exclusive Canadian Insights all season long
The pregame narrative: A budding WNBA rivalry sees another chapter when the Chicago Sky host the Indiana Fever tonight. Clark and Reese are going head-to-head for Rookie of the Year honours and a statement performance for either player would go a long way in that race.
Check out these Clark and Reese props for Aug. 30.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese props
Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip. Note: Lines have changed/market no longer available if grey.
Clark is putting together an impressive rookie season.
The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer is averaging 18.0 points per game on 41.4/33.0/90.1 shooting splits. Those aren’t quite as efficient as her Iowa Hawkeyes numbers but teams are making a conscious effort to move Clark off the 3-point line.
The constant double teams have allowed Clark to become an elite facilitator. Her 8.1 assists per game pace the WNBA.
Clark has cleared this 19.5-point total in six of her last 10 games, landing on exactly 19 points three other times. She also has six double-doubles in that span.
She is 1-2 against that line when facing the Sky this season (13.6 PPG).
Reese was the best rebounder in college basketball last season and that’s immediately translated to the WNBA.
The No. 7 pick is leading the league in RPG (12.9). She has three 20-rebound games in her last four outings.
Critics would point to Reese’s low shooting percentage as a reason for those boards. She is making just 38.4% of her shots and most of those come at the rim, which leads to plenty of put-back opportunities.
But the ball is still going in the hoop on those possessions and no one is able to bully her off the glass.
Reese had 25 points and 16 rebounds in her last game against Indiana on her best shooting night of the season (8-of-12, 66.7%).
The NFL is back and I’m targeting a pair of road underdogs in Week 1.
The pregame narrative: The Chicago Bears enter the Caleb Williams era as 4.5-point favourites over the Tennessee Titans. But I expect an upset in the Windy City and am also backing the Pittsburgh Steelers to win in Atlanta.
The Bears selected Williams first overall and used the No. 9 pick on standout receiver Rome Odunze. Ryan Poles also signed Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift to shore up a unit that struggled to perform in 2023.
This isn’t a bet against Chicago’s future, which is bright. But Tennesee also has boatloads of talent on offence and I like its chances of playing spoiler in Week 1.
Will Levis showed flashes as a gunslinger last season and now he’s got guys to throw to.
Tennesee brought in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to slot alongside DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins suffered an injury in the preseason but the team is optimistic he’ll suit up in Week 1.
Levis led two scoring drives while completing 7-of-8 passes for 118 yards in his final preseason game.
The Titans should be able to put up points under new head coach Brian Callahan who most recently served as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.
On defence, they traded for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who was instrumental in the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl run, and signed Chidobe Awuzie to play opposite him.
The secondary was a weak spot last year but should be improved this time around.
All the pressure is on Chicago here. Tennessee has plenty of sleeper potential this season and should thrive in the underdog role.
Key stat: Cincinnati had the seventh-best offensive EPA per play over the last three seasons with Callahan at OC, per RBSDM.
Week 1 upset predictions
Steelers moneyline (+130): Did someone say Arthur Smith revenge game?
The former Atlanta Falcons head coach was relieved of his duties last offseason and landed in Pittsburgh as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
He enters an interesting situation with Russell Wilson under centre and I’m buying stock.
The nine-time Pro Bowler is in the twilight of his career but put up sneakily solid numbers (66.4% completion rate, 26:8 TD-to-INT ratio) last season.
Wilson has George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth to target behind a strong ground game. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren were running wild down the stretch in 2023 and Pittsburgh used its third-round pick to draft centre Zach Frazier, filling the one glaring hole on the unit.
Kirk Cousins debuts for Atlanta and I think he’ll be solid this year. But the veteran played no preseason snaps coming off a torn Achillies and will have to deal with a rabid Pittsburgh defence in Week 1.
Mike Tomlin-led teams have always performed as a road underdog and I expect him to capitalize.
Friday’s MLB slate is jam-packed with playoff implications.
The latest: The AL West-leading Houston Astros host the Kansas City Royals with the latter chasing the AL Central title. Later, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers begin a four-game set in the desert.
Check out the latest MLB odds for Monday, Aug. 30.
The Toronto Blue Jays took three of five from the Boston Red Sox and now begin a series against the sputtering Minnesota Twins (2-8 in their last 10). Kevin Gausman gets the ball and he’s posted a 2.84 ERA in August.
The Philadelphia Phillies extended their NL East lead to six with a win over the Atlanta Braves last night. Atlanta had won eight of 10 before then and looks to rebound with Reynaldo Lopez (2.02 ERA) pitching. Philly counters with Ranger Suarez (2.82 ERA).
The Royals have lost the AL Central lead after blowing back-to-back games late. They’re currently 1.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians, who play the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates tonight. Kansas City turns to Seth Lugo (3.19 ERA) against Framber Valdez (3.27 ERA).
If the Diamondbacks can sweep the Dodgers at home they’ll be tied atop the NL West. That’s a big “if”, though. Los Angeles is 8-2 in its last 10 and 2-1 in Arizona this season. The D-backs start Zac Gallen (3.65 ERA) against Clayton Kershaw (3.72 ERA).
There are a boatload of choices for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
The latest: Micah Parsons is the favourite but he’s one of five players with odds shorter than 10-to-1. T.J. Watt is third on the board behind reigning DPOY Myles Garrett while Montez Sweat is an interesting choice well down the line.
Here are the latest NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds.
Parsons has had a pretty good start to his career: Three years, three All-Pro teams.
The Dallas Cowboys superstar logged the seventh most sacks (14.0), sixth most tackles for loss (18), and third-most QB hits (33) in 2023.
He also led all edge rushers in pass rush win rate (35%) and double team rate (35%), per ESPN, and finished third in DPOY voting behind Garrett and Watt.
Watt had a pretty good case to win the award (more on that later) but Parsons should also be miffed that Garrett was selected over him. The Cleveland lineman had three fewer QB hits, one fewer TFL and the same amount of sacks as Parsons.
Garrett also only had one sack in his final six games.
So perhaps the fourth-year stud can use that as motivation to reach new heights.
Parsons plays an integral role on the most scrutinized team in football. If he can continue to produce at a high level through insane double-team rates, he should have a good chance at winning.
Watt’s 19.0 sacks last year led the NFL and were five clear of both Garrett and Parsons.
He also led the league in QB hits (36) and was fifth in TFL (19) and forced fumbles (four). But hey, sometimes that’s just not enough to get the job done:
Garret (29%) and Parsons (35%) were both double-teamed nearly twice as often as Watt (14%) but had higher pass rush win rates. So it’s fair to say they were more productive given how offences prepared for them.
Even so, Watt has a knack for getting to the quarterback that can’t be replicated. He’s posted eye-popping numbers year after year and on a micro level has made clutch play after clutch play.
Pittsburgh’s defence was also missing some big names like Cameron Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick for the majority of the season.
With those names back in the fold for 2024, I expect Watt to put up even better numbers on a stronger defence.
DPOY betting notes
Garrett (+600) might not have led the league in any stats but he did lead Cleveland to a playoff spot by headlining a defence which gave up the fewest yards per game (270.2). If he can turn those pass rush wins into sacks and get in the high teens or crack 20 he will have a good shot at defending this award.
Nick Bosa (+800) and Maxx Crosby (+900) round out the group with odds shorter than 10-to-1. Both players posted double-digit sacks last season with 30-plus QB hits. Bosa has the benefit of playing on a super team in San Francisco but Crosby has taken things to another level in Las Vegas.
Sweat (+3,000) might be worth a sniff on the new-look Chicago Bears. The 27-year-old ranked 10th in sacks (12.5) and QB hits (25) and was 17th in TFL (14). He was traded from the Washington Commanders mid-season and should be the face of the defence on a competitive team.
The pregame narrative: Four games are running from Saturday through the holiday Monday and I’ve got picks on two of them. Take the BC Lions to cover with Nathan Rourke under centre and the Toronto Argonauts to do the same against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
I’m going to go ahead and assume Rourke has shaken the rust off.
BC is 0-2 since the Canadian sensation returned to the league but I’m seeing improvements.
Rourke completed just 8-of-25 passes for 126 yards and two interceptions in an embarrassing defeat to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in his first taste of CFL action in two years. He followed that up with a 22-of-31 performance for 234 yards against the Ottawa Redblacks after that.
The Lions still lost that game, 34-27, but the quarterback looked more comfortable and used his legs for 63 yards on four carries.
He’s been trending upward and this could be the breakout week.
Rourke’s ceiling in this league is the roof. He threw for 3,349 and 25 touchdowns while adding another seven rushing TDs in just 10 games in 2022.
Ottawa is a stellar 7-2-1 this year but is 2-2 on the road, losing by two scores to both the Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes.
Key stat: BC is 3-1 at home, covering this line in all three victories.
Quick pick
Argonauts -5.5 (-110): Chad Kelly’s suspension is over and the Argonauts are back to being a problem.
Toronto was a middling 5-4 while the reigning Most Outstanding Player was sidelined and won its first game back with him under centre. Kelly didn’t have his sharpest game but still threw for 322 yards in the victory.
The Boatmen didn’t cover this spread but looked competent enough where I can see a big leap in offensive production against the Ti-Cats.
The Kelly-led offence ranked second in points (32.8) and third in yards (386.4) per game last season.
Hamilton has paced the league in yards per game this season (395.8) but Bo Levi Mitchell and Co. still can’t outscore their bad defence.
The Ti-Cats are giving up by far the most points per game (32.7) and have lost three of their last four games by two scores.
The latest: For the second time in as many seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are raising a championship banner on opening night. Their opponent? The Baltimore Ravens, who Kansas City bested in last year’s AFC championship game. This should be a good one.
Check out the latest Ravens vs. Chiefs odds for their Week 1 on Sept. 5.
No team in NFL history has ever pulled off a three-peat. Kansas City can change that.
The Chiefs looked human throughout last year’s regular season but hit the gas pedal in the playoffs, winning a pair of road games in Buffalo and Baltimore before dispatching the San Francisco 49ers in the Big Game.
Patrick Mahomes made the most of an underwhelming receiving corps during that run. He completed 30-of-39 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown in the AFC championship game where the Chiefs ultimately beat the Ravens, 17-10.
Back at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City is favoured to win the rematch.
New additions of Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy should give the offensive a little more “oomph” while its strong defence remains mostly intact, sans L’Jarius Sneed.
But Baltimore won’t be a pushover.
The Ravens were close to punching a Super Bowl ticket last year and have revenge on their mind. They have the reigning MVP and No. 1 scoring defence and added future Hall-of-Famer Derrick Henry to the backfield.
It might be the first game of the year but this will be a litmus test for both sides.
Betting notes
Kansas City lost last year’s season opener to the Detroit Lions, 21-20. The Chiefs went a surprising 5-4 at Arrowhead Stadium, which was its worst mark in the Mahomes era.
Baltimore went 5-2 ATS and 6-1 SU on the road last season. Jackson averaged 234.1 passing yards per game in those contests with 10 TDs to three interceptions.
The Ravens and Chiefs ranked first and second, respectively, in scoring defence. Unders went 14-7 in KC games and 10-8-1 in Baltimore games last season (playoffs included).
