Staff Writer

Maple Leafs props vs. Islanders Dec. 21: Bet on Rielly, Horvat to notch a point

The Toronto Maple Leafs return home from a short trip to Buffalo to battle the New York Islanders.

The pregame narrative: It’s the holiday season, and I expect this matchup between the Maple Leafs and Islanders to give bettors plenty of offence. Morgan Rielly and Bo Horvat are two players who caught my attention in the prop market for Saturday’s matchup.

Check out our Maple Leafs props vs. Islanders for the game on Dec. 21.

Maple Leafs props vs. Islanders

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Best Bet: Rielly to score 1+ points (-107)

This seems like a great spot to target Rielly.

The Maple Leafs rearguard is trending up after notching a point in back-to-back games.

Rielly appears to be fully engaged for the Maple Leafs ahead of the Christmas and holiday break, too, as he dropped the gloves with Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson in Friday night’s contest.

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Mostly, Rielly’s spot on the top power play intrigues me against the Isles. New York sports the worst penalty-kill percentage (64.3%) in the NHL.

A poor penalty kill and unimpressive goaltending are two uncharacteristic traits plaguing the Islanders this season. Both work in Rielly — and Toronto’s — favour on Saturday night.

Key stat: New York ranks 22nd in save percentage (.892) this season.

Quick pick

Horvat to score 1+ points (+100): I typically target players skating on PP1 in this market, but I’m willing to make an exception for the Islanders.

The reason is that New York has the worst power-play percentage (12.1%) in the league this year.

Yes, the Islanders have the worst PP and PK in the NHL this season.

But this is a nice price to back Horvat. The centre is second among all Isles forwards in ice time (20:07) and third in points (22).

Horvat has been productive in recent outings, too, registering eight points in his last 10 outings.

Joseph Woll will likely start after Matt Murray tended the twine on Friday. Woll has allowed three goals in three of his last four starts.

Picks made at 10:31 a.m. on 12/21/2024.

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Falcons vs. Raiders Week 15 same-game parlay predictions: Bet on Jakobi Meyers in +360 ticket

Two struggling teams aim to snap out of their funk on Monday Night Football as the Las Vegas Raiders host the Atlanta Falcons.

The pregame narrative: Atlanta has lost four consecutive games while Las Vegas has dropped nine straight. Something has to change, but I don’t have a pick on a side. Instead, I’m taking the under on the game total and Kirk Cousins’ passing yards total. Additionally, I like Jakobi Meyers to stay hot.

Check out my Falcons vs. Raiders same-game parlay predictions for Monday Night Football’s Week 15 matchup.

Falcons vs. Raiders same-game parlay predictions

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Parlay: Under 49.5 points + Cousins under 239.5 passing yards + Meyers over 60.5 receiving yards (+360)

Under 49.5 points (-215): I don’t think either offence is capable of turning this into a shootout.

Let’s start with Atlanta.

The Falcons are sputtering at the absolute worst time and Kirk Cousins is looking like his best days are long behind him. The quarterback has zero touchdowns and eight interceptions across his last four starts.

Atlanta has failed to top 21 points in any of its games during this cold spell.

Conversely, Las Vegas’ offence is a mess.

Desmond Ridder will likely get the start in a potential revenge game as Aidan O’Connell hasn’t practiced all week, but don’t expect him to produce anything substantial. Ridder is averaging a minuscule 6.9 yards per attempt with 20 total touchdowns and 17 turnovers across 23 games played.

The Raiders have gone under this total in three consecutive contests.

Other parlay picks

Cousins under 239.5 passing yards (-117): Something tells me Atlanta wants to keep this game out of Cousins’ hands.

The Falcons quarterback has been dreadful. He has been extremely inefficient in recent weeks, posting a horrid 5.02 adjusted yards gained per pass attempt mark during his last four games.

For reference, Ridder’s career adjusted yards gained per pass mark is 6.48.

Atlanta will likely look for its rushing attack to lead the charge in this contest, and Bijan Robinson should be able to take advantage of a mediocre Raiders run defence.

Las Vegas is ceding 4.4 yards per rush and 97.8 yards per game to opposing tailbacks.

One also has to wonder how short the leash is for Cousins. Atlanta’s playoff chances are dwindling, and a poor start could lead to a short outing for Cousins with Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings.

Meyers over 60.5 receiving yards (-114): The Raiders don’t have many playmakers on offence.

It’s Brock Bowers and Meyers. That’s it. Las Vegas should be throwing the ball plenty, however, as it enters Monday night as a four-point underdog.

Meyers has been a target hog since Davante Adams was dealt to the New York Jets. In eight games since the deal, he’s averaging:

9.9 targets per game
6.5 catches per game
73.9 receiving yards per game

Meyers has flashed some big-play ability in recent outings, too, which is nice to combine with his steady volume. The veteran wideout has recorded a 20-plus-yard reception in three of his last four contests.

Meyers has bested this total in each of his last three games and four of his last five.

Picks made at 3:42 p.m. on 12/14/24.

Bills vs. Lions Week 15 prop picks: Bet on Josh Allen to go off in Detroit

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills visit Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions in the most anticipated Week 15 matchup.

The pregame narrative: Allen is putting Buffalo on his back and I expect him to lead the charge with the offence fully healthy. Bet on the Bills quarterback to post gaudy numbers across the board while also finding paydirt. On the other side, I expect David Montgomery to have a big game as a receiver.

Check out my Bills vs. Lions prop picks for Dec. 15.

Bills vs. Lions Week 15 prop picks

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Best Bet: Allen over 300.5 passing and rushing yards (-113)

Allen is posting video game numbers for the Bills.

The quarterback did an absolute number on the Rams in a losing effort last week. Allen threw for 342 yards and added 82 more on the ground in the loss.

These types of performances are becoming fairly commonplace for the MVP favourite, as Allen has topped 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in three of his last four games.

Detroit is a plus matchup for Allen both through the air and on the ground. The Lions are ceding the ninth-most passing yards per contest to opposing QBs (240.8) and the seventh-most rushing yards per game (24.8).

They’ve struggled at limiting mobile QBs on the ground, especially. Here’s how some notable dual-threat passers have done against Detroit:

Kyler Murray – 5 carries, 45 yards
Anthony Richardson – 10 carries, 61 yards
Caleb Williams – 4 carries, 39 yards

Only Murray (444) has more rushing yards than Allen this season (416) on the list of aforementioned QBs. I expect Buffalo’s leading man to do it all again on Sunday.

Key stat: Allen has topped this total in three of his last four games and five of his last seven.

Quick picks

Allen to score a TD (+102): I’ll gladly take this prop at this price.

Plus-money odds for Allen to score a touchdown are too good to ignore. The Bills quarterback has found the end zone in four consecutive contests.

He’s not just scoring once a game, however, he’s typically making multiple trips. Allen has eight total touchdowns in his last four outings.

Allen has nine rushing touchdowns this season which is second among all QBs.

The game total for this contest is sitting at 54.5 points. There’ll likely be lots of touchdowns, and Allen should contribute with at least one.

Montgomery over 16.5 receiving yards (-114): Bettors and football fans like to think of Montgomery as the bruising, between-the-tackles back for the Lions. But the veteran rusher is a lot more than that.

Montgomery is showing off his receiving chops in recent outings. The Detroit tailback has topped this total in six consecutive contests, averaging 28.7 receiving yards per game during this stretch.

Buffalo presents an attractive matchup for Montgomery, too. The Bills are ceding the third most receiving yards per game (44.5) to running backs.

Montgomery has topped this total in 10 of 13 outings this campaign.

Picks made at 2:39 p.m. ET 12/14/2024.

Canucks props vs. Bruins Dec. 14: Bet on DeBrusk revenge game, Marchand to shoot the puck

It’s a 2011 Stanley Cup rematch as the Vancouver Canucks host the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

The pregame narrative: Jake DeBrusk’s tenure with Boston had its fair share of highs and lows. I expect the speedy forward to register a point against his old squad. Brad Marchand is taking it upon himself to lift Boston’s offence, and he’s a nice option to clear his shot total.

Check out our Canucks props vs. Bruins for the game on Dec. 14.

Canucks props vs. Bruins

Best Bet: DeBrusk to score 1+ points (-134)

DeBrusk earned a reputation for being a streaky performer with the Bruins.

The talented winger appears to be in the midst of a hot streak for his new squad. He has 13 points in his last 10 games, finding the score sheet in eight of those contests.

New head coach Rick Tocchet is putting the forward in positions to succeed. He has DeBrusk skating on the first line, alongside Elias Pettersson, and on the top power-play unit.

Boston’s reputation for being a defensively responsible team that wins with good goaltending has been challenged this season. It ranks 25th in team save percentage (.884) this campaign.

The Bruins also place an underwhelming 22nd in penalty kill success rate (77.1%).

DeBrusk will receive the right opportunities to strike against his ex-team on Saturday.

Key stat: DeBrusk scored a goal against Boston in his first meeting vs. the Bruins on Nov. 26.

Quick picks

Marchand over 2.5 shots (-118): Boston’s offence is sputtering and Marchand is taking it upon himself to produce.

The Bruins forward is shooting the puck more than usual recently. He has 13 shots in his last four outings, topping this total in each of those games.

The matchup isn’t a plus per se, as the Canucks are tied for 18th in shots against per game (28.4).

But Marchand is one of Boston’s go-to trigger man, and he’ll likely have plenty of opportunities to fire the puck on Saturday.

The Bruins forward is second on the team with 89 shots, averaging 2.87 per contest.

Picks made at 12:02 p.m. ET 12/14/2024.

Canucks props vs. Bruins Dec. 14: Bet on DeBrusk revenge game, Marchand to shoot the puck

It’s a 2011 Stanley Cup rematch as the Vancouver Canucks host the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

The pregame narrative: Jake DeBrusk’s tenure with Boston had its fair share of highs and lows. I expect the speedy forward to register a point against his old squad. Brad Marchand is taking it upon himself to lift Boston’s offence, and he’s a nice option to clear his shot total.

Check out our Canucks props vs. Bruins for the game on Dec. 14.

Canucks props vs. Bruins

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Go to full NHL betting markets.

Best Bet: DeBrusk to score 1+ points (-136)

DeBrusk earned a reputation for being a streaky performer with the Bruins.

The talented winger appears to be in the midst of a hot streak for his new squad. He has 13 points in his last 10 games, finding the score sheet in eight of those contests.

New head coach Rick Tocchet is putting the forward in positions to succeed. He has DeBrusk skating on the first line, alongside Elias Pettersson, and on the top power-play unit.

Boston’s reputation for being a defensively responsible team that wins with good goaltending has been challenged this season. It ranks 25th in team save percentage (.884) this campaign.

The Bruins also place an underwhelming 22nd in penalty kill success rate (77.1%).

DeBrusk will receive the right opportunities to strike against his ex-team on Saturday.

Key stat: DeBrusk scored a goal against Boston in his first meeting vs. the Bruins on Nov. 26.

Quick picks

Marchand over 2.5 shots (-114): Boston’s offence is sputtering and Marchand is taking it upon himself to produce.

The Bruins forward is shooting the puck more than usual recently. He has 13 shots in his last four outings, topping this total in each of those games.

The matchup isn’t a plus per se, as the Canucks are tied for 18th in shots against per game (28.4).

But Marchand is one of Boston’s go-to trigger man, and he’ll likely have plenty of opportunities to fire the puck on Saturday.

The Bruins forward is second on the team with 89 shots, averaging 2.87 per contest.

Picks made at 12:02 p.m. ET 12/14/2024.

Maple Leafs picks vs. Red Wings Dec. 14: Bet on Toronto to win, Marner to score a power-play point

The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t travelling too far for a road date with the Detroit Red Wings.

The pregame narrative: Toronto is a legitimate contender in an Atlantic Division that isn’t as competitive as its been recently. The Maple Leafs should win against a struggling Detroit squad. Additionally, I’m betting on Morgan Rielly to score a point and Mitch Marner to earn one on the power play.

Check out my Maple Leafs picks vs. Red Wings for Dec. 14.

Maple Leafs picks vs. Red Wings

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Best Bet: Maple Leafs to win in regulation (-105)

Bettors can expect this to feel like a pseudo-Maple Leafs home game.

This is a weekend southern Ontario sports fans have had circled on their calendars for months. The Maple Leafs play the Red Wings tonight while the area’s adopted football team, the Buffalo Bills, battle the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

This game could feel like a Leafs nation invasion.

I expect Toronto to feed off the raucous environment and continue playing some solid hockey.

The Maple Leafs have won seven of their last 10 games ahead of this contest. The team is getting excellent goaltending from Joseph Woll. The netminder owns a .935 save percentage across his last six appearances.

Detroit, meanwhile, is struggling to receive quality puck-stopping contributions. It ranks 22nd in save percentage (.888) across the last month.

The Red Wings have lost six of their last seven, ceding four-plus goals in five of those outings.

Key stat: 15 of Toronto’s 18 wins this campaign have come in regulation.

Quick picks

Rielly to score 1+ points (+110): Rielly snapped a three-game pointless streak on Thursday, and there’s potential for him to do more damage tonight.

Detroit’s recent goaltending struggles work in his and the offence’s favour. Additionally, Rielly skates on Toronto’s top power play which is an advantageous spot to be in.

The Red Wings rank 31st on the penalty kill this season (67.9%).

A good portion of Rielly’s production has come on the man advantage. Seven of his 16 points are power-play tallies.

Marner to score a power-play point (+150): Rielly isn’t the only Maple Leafs star I’m picking to have a strong game.

Marner should also be able to take advantage of this matchup, too.

The winger leads the squad in points (38) and power-play points (15).

Marner’s recent production on the man advantage is encouraging. He has two power-play points in his last five contests and six in his last 12.

He’s historically done well against Detroit, too. Marner has 30 points in 25 career games against the Red Wings.

NHL picks made at 10:30 a.m. ET on 12/14/24.

Bengals vs. Cowboys Week 14 MNF prop picks: Bet on superstars Chase, Lamb to deliver

I’m looking at the two best wide receivers in this game to dominate on Monday Night Football.

The pregame narrative: Competition brings out the best in the NFL’s top athletes. Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb both have a claim to make in the league’s WR1 conversation. I expect both to show out in primetime as both prepare to battle weak secondaries.

Check out my Bengals vs. Cowboys prop picks for Monday Night Football on Dec. 9.

Bengals vs. Cowboys prop picks

Best Bet: Chase over 77.5 receiving yards (-120)

Chase’s weekly yardage output is worth examining.

The wide receiver is liable of clearing this line every time he touches the field, but bettors may be surprised to see some of his trends from this campaign:

Chase is averaging 95.2 receiving yards per game
He has topped this line in two of his last three games
Chase has missed this line in five of his last seven contests
Chase has gone below this total in seven of 12 outings this year

For as good as the NFL’s receiving yards leader has been, most of his production has come in a handful of games.

So why do I think Chase will deliver a spike outing on Monday Night Football?

Firstly, it’s a golden matchup. Dallas is 30th in opponent yards per pass (7.3).

Secondly, that number balloons to an NFL-worst 8.7 yards per pass when the Dallas Cowboys are at home.

Thirdly, this is a golden opportunity for Chase to make up some ground in the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year race. A strong showing in primetime could allow him to close the gap between him and current odds-on favourite, Saquon Barkley.

Key stat: Chase leads all players in receiving yards (1,142) and touchdowns (13).

Quick pick

Lamb over 67.5 receiving yards (-120): Cincinnati Bengals games have typically been a great opportunity to back overs for both teams.

Cincinnati is all offence and no defence. It’s fifth in points per game (27.9) but tied for a horrid 31st in points against per contest (28.3).

That kind of play style usually creates shootout conditions and I expect Dallas to lead on its leading receiver in this matchup.

Lamb has fallen short of this mark in four of his last five games as he battles through a shoulder issue. The extra time off (Dallas played last Thursday) likely helps the superstar receiver in his recovery.

Additionally, his target volume remains highly encouraging. Lamb has 83 targets across his last seven games (11.9 per contest).

A consistent stream of targets should vault Lamb over this number as the Bengals are tied for 25th in opponent yards per pass (7.1).

Picks made at 11:53 a.m. ET 12/08/2024.

NFL Week 15 odds and betting lines: Bills visit Lions in potential Super Bowl preview

One game stands above the rest in Week 15 with all of the bye weeks officially over.

The latest: All will be tuned into Sunday’s tilt between the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. The week starts with an intriguing contest, too, as the San Francisco 49ers welcome the Los Angeles Rams. The Battle of Pennsylvania will be worth watching as the Philadelphia Eagles host the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Check out the latest NFL Week 15 odds below.

NFL Week 15 odds

Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers

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Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants

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New York Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

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Washington Commanders vs. New Orleans Saints

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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans

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Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans

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Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns

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Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers

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New England Patriots vs. Arizona Cardinals

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Chargers

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Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions

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Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

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Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks

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Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings

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Atlanta Falcons vs. Las Vegas Raiders

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Betting Insights

Los Angeles and San Francisco are still jockeying for the division title, but the loser of this game will be all but eliminated from the race. The 49ers have won three consecutive games against the Rams and six of the last eight.

There’s not a lot of history between the Buccaneers and Chargers, but this could be a fun contest. Both Justin Herbert and Baker Mayfield are playing fantastic football. Overs have been a common occurrence for the Bucs, as they boast an elite offence but a porous defence.

The Bills and Lions have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and the two meet in a game with significant playoff implications. Buffalo aims to keep pace with Kansas City for first in the AFC, while Detroit strives to stay ahead of the Eagles.

Pittsburgh meets its toughest test yet with a road date against Philadelphia. Playoff positioning is key for both teams in this contest. The Steelers are still vying for first in the AFC North, while the Eagles continue to breathe down the Lions’ necks.

There are two Monday Night Football games in Week 15. The Bears visit the Vikings in an NFC North showdown before the Falcons and Raiders meet in Las Vegas shortly after.

Chargers vs. Chiefs Week 14 same-game parlay predictions: Bet on L.A. to cover on Sunday Night Football

The Los Angeles Chargers aim to steal a win from their divisional rival Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

The pregame narrative: Los Angeles kept it close against Kansas City in its first meeting. I expect the Chargers to bring it again and keep it tight. Secondly, I’m backing the under in a game that features two strong defences. Thirdly, I’m taking the over on Will Dissly’s receiving yards prop in a plus matchup.

Check out my Chargers vs. Chiefs same-game parlay predictions for Week 14 below.

Chargers vs. Chiefs same-game parlay predictions

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Parlay: Chargers +4 + Under 49.5 points + Dissly over 37.5 receiving yards (+370)

Chargers +4 (-110): Anything more than a field goal seems like too much for Kansas City to cover.

The Chiefs are an impressive 11-1 this season, but they’re only 5-7 against the spread. They’ve struggled even more lately, however, as they’ve failed to win by five-plus points since Nov. 4.

Los Angeles has been excellent since playing Kansas City earlier this season. The Chargers had a bye following their 17-10 loss and since then, have won six of eight and covered this number in seven of those contests.

The Chiefs can clinch the AFC West with a victory on Sunday Night Football. I expect the Chargers to do everything they can to spoil the party in primetime.

Other parlay picks

Under 49.5 points (-278): Don’t expect fireworks in a matchup of injured offences.

Kansas City has been missing key pieces all season. The team is missing Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice and Mecole Hardman at wide receiver.

Los Angeles is also dealing with its injury woes. J.K. Dobbins is out and Ladd McConkey is a game-time decision. Those are significant losses on an offence that doesn’t have a plethora of playmakers.

These squads didn’t set off fireworks in their first meeting. They combined for a paltry 27 points in Week 4.

The under has cashed in eight of the Chargers’ 12 contests this season.

Dissly over 37.5 receiving yards (-114): This is the week to target Dissly props.

McConkey’s health is one reason why I like this prop. Even if the star wide receiver plays, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be at full health.

Secondly, Dissly’s involvement in the offence has been steadily increasing. The tight end only had one target and zero receptions in Week 13, but he was heating up before that:

16 targets in previous three games
13 receptions in previous three games
157 receiving yards (52.3 per game)

Finally, the matchup is as good as it gets. Kansas City is ceding the most receiving yards per game to tight ends this season (78.5), according to Yahoo Fantasy.

Bengals vs. Cowboys Week 14 MNF prop picks: Bet on superstars Chase, Lamb to deliver

I’m looking at the two best wide receivers in this game to dominate on Monday Night Football.

The pregame narrative: Competition brings out the best in the NFL’s top athletes. Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb both have a claim to make in the league’s WR1 conversation. I expect both to show out in primetime as both prepare to battle weak secondaries.

Check out my Bengals vs. Cowboys prop picks for Monday Night Football on Dec. 9.

Bengals vs. Cowboys prop picks

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Best Bet: Chase over 80.5 receiving yards (-115)

Chase’s weekly yardage output is worth examining.

The wide receiver is liable of clearing this line every time he touches the field, but bettors may be surprised to see some of his trends from this campaign:

Chase is averaging 95.2 receiving yards per game
He has topped this line in two of his last three games
Chase has missed this line in five of his last seven contests
Chase has gone below this total in seven of 12 outings this year

For as good as the NFL’s receiving yards leader has been, most of his production has come in a handful of games.

So why do I think Chase will deliver a spike outing on Monday Night Football?

Firstly, it’s a golden matchup. Dallas is 30th in opponent yards per pass (7.3).

Secondly, that number balloons to an NFL-worst 8.7 yards per pass when the Dallas Cowboys are at home.

Thirdly, this is a golden opportunity for Chase to make up some ground in the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year race. A strong showing in primetime could allow him to close the gap between him and current odds-on favourite, Saquon Barkley.

Key stat: Chase leads all players in receiving yards (1,142) and touchdowns (13).

Quick pick

Lamb over 70.5 receiving yards (-112): Cincinnati Bengals games have typically been a great opportunity to back overs for both teams.

Cincinnati is all offence and no defence. It’s fifth in points per game (27.9) but tied for a horrid 31st in points against per contest (28.3).

That kind of play style usually creates shootout conditions and I expect Dallas to lead on its leading receiver in this matchup.

Lamb has fallen short of this mark in four of his last five games as he battles through a shoulder issue. The extra time off (Dallas played last Thursday) likely helps the superstar receiver in his recovery.

Additionally, his target volume remains highly encouraging. Lamb has 83 targets across his last seven games (11.9 per contest).

A consistent stream of targets should vault Lamb over this number as the Bengals are tied for 25th in opponent yards per pass (7.1).

Picks made at 11:53 a.m. ET 12/08/2024.