THE BEST GAMES TO BET
CHARGERS at GIANTS
1 p.m., Chargers by 5 ½, 45
HANK’S HONEYS: The Jaxson Dart era begins. But while Giants fans have been clamoring for the rookie, it might be coming a week too early. Better next week against the Saints. The Bolts are allowing the fourth-lowest EPA per play in the league. D-coordinator Jesse Minter uses every option in his toolkit, confusing even veteran QBs. Justin Herbert has been nearly unstoppable so far and if the Chargers break out early, things could get ugly with Dart chasing the scoreboard. Not the best scheduling spot for the Chargers, but we just can’t back the Jints here.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Chargers and the under.
JETS at DOLPHINS
Monday, 7:15 p.m., Dolphins by 2 ½, 45
HANK’S HONEYS: One of these 0-3 teams has to win and if history has any say, it will be the Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa is on a 6-0 SU career run against the Jets and helped by a good running game he should have success against this defense, as long as he avoids the mind-blowing INTs he’s been throwing. The Jets have been riding an emotional roller coaster, losing two games on last-second FGs so it’s hard to say how they’ll come into this one. The Dolphins have the benefit of 10 days off since beating the spread, but not the Bills in Buffalo.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Dolphins and the over.
EAGLES at BUCS
1 p.m., Eagles by 3, 44
HANK’S HONEYS: This should be a shootout, even with WR Mike Evans out for the Bucs. Baker Mayfield will get back Chris Godwin and pass protector Tristan Wirfs, and he always gets up for the bigger games. He’s very effective against the zone coverages Philly uses and he laid 33 point on them in Week 4 last season. This could be a letdown spot for the Eagles even though the Bucs are undefeated. They will not have an easy time against the Bucs’ No. 1-ranked run defense, their bread and butter.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bucs and the over.
PACKERS at COWBOYS
8:20 p.m., Packers by 6 ½, 47
HANK’S HONEYS: The Cowboys’ abysmal secondary faces one of the league’s best young quarterbacks, setting the primetime stage perfectly for a Packers team determined to bounce back from the egg it laid in Cleveland. Dallas backers might point to the Cowboys’ home field advantage but with CeeDee Lamb out and the offensive line banged up, Dak Prescott is down a weapon and minus protection.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Packers and the over.
COLTS at RAMS
4:05 p.m., Rams by 3 ½, 50
HANK’S HONEYS: We’re done looking at Daniel Jones and seeing him in a Giants uniform. This hasn’t been that quarterback. In fact, we’re done underestimating the Colts offense. Three-game stats don’t lie and the Colts are near the top of the league in nearly every category, passing and rushing. The Rams return home after a devastating loss (especially for their bettors) with the 49ers ahead in just a few games.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Colts and the under.
JAGUARS at 49ERS
4:05 p.m., Niners by 3 ½, 47
HANK’S HONEYS: This is where the Niners’ string of squeaky wins runs out. Both Mac Jones and Brock Purdy have been limited in practice this week, adding to the 49ers’ injury woes. They’ve rushed for under 80 yards each of the last two weeks and can’t afford to be forced to rely on a gimpy QB. A meh non-conference opponent sets them up for a letdown, especially with the rival Rams coming up on Thursday. The Jaguars have been totally inconsistent but they do have some explosiveness on offense. It shaped up as a close, low-scoring game. Take the FG and the hook.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Jaguars and the under.
BEARS at RAIDERS
4:25 p.m., Raiders by 1 ½, 48
HANK’S HONEYS: Caleb Williams and the Bears broke out against the Cowboys and have everybody in Chicago excited. But we’re not so anxious to jump on the bandwagon. The Bears are 1-10 SU in their last 11 road games and this feels too much as though we’re going to see another flop. The Raiders are ranked near the bottom of several categories. However, the schedule maker put them in a bad spot with two East Coast trips in the first three weeks. We’re counting on Geno Smith to right the ship.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Raiders and the over.
RAVENS at CHIEFS
4:25 p.m., Ravens by 3, 48
HANK’S HONEYS: It’s crazy that both of these teams are 1-2 and crazier yet that the Ravens are favored. There is no question that the Chiefs have the better defense by far and while you would give the Ravens the edge on offense, the Chiefs still have Patrick Mahomes and the home field advantage. Andy Reid is going to look at the middle of this Baltimore front, with DTs Nnamdu Madubuike, Travis Jones and Broderick Washington all sidelined, and he is going to devise a game plan that forces the Ravens to defend the run, allowing Mahomes to sit in the pocket and pick on that very beatable secondary.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Chiefs and the over.
BROWNS at LIONS
1 p.m., Lions by 8 ½, 44 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: Figure the good times to keep rolling in the Motor City. The Lions routinely dominate lesser opponents and with the Browns still on a cloud after their takedown of the Packers, they are ripe to be ripped. Cleveland can stay in this game only if its formidable pass rush gets to Jared Goff but the Lions’ O-line is one of the best pass-protecting units in the NFL. A complimentary running game will keep the Browns off balance, and, as he did in Baltimore, Joe Flacco should be putting the ball up for grabs once he falls behind.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Lions and the over.
BENGALS at BRONCOS
Monday, 8:15 p.m., Broncos by 7 ½, 44
HANK’S HONEYS: Recency bias comes into play here after the Bengals were kicked around by the Vikings last week. But the Broncos have been overvalued all year and that continues here. Bo Nix is underperforming in his sophomore season and it doesn’t appear as though they are capable of blowing anyone out right now. Next week brings them to Philadelphia and this one feels as though they’ll be happy just to win. The Bengals can’t possibly be as bad as they looked last week when they turned the ball over five times. Take the TD and the hook.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bengals and the under.
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LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH
VIKINGS vs. STEELERS in DUBLIN
9:30 a.m., Vikings by 2 ½, 42 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: On one hand, Aaron Rodgers could be a sitting duck against this Vikings’ front. They can create chaos and shut down what has not been an impressive Pittsburgh offense outside of DK Metcalf. On the other, there could be an over-reaction to the Vikings’ big win last week. They are still going with a backup QB in Carson Wentz who faced zero pressure from the Bengals. Rodgers is not likely to gift them multiple turnovers. Be careful. Love the under but not the side.
CAN’T HELP YOURSELF?: Steelers and the under.
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BEST OF THE REST
SAINTS at BILLS
1 p.m., Bills by 16 ½, 48
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bills and the under.
COMMANDERS at FALCONS
1 p.m., Commanders by 2 ½, 45
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Falcons and the under.
TITANS at TEXANS
1 p.m., Texans by 7 ½, 38 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Texans and the over.
PANTHERS at PATRIOTS
1 p.m., Pats by 5 ½, 42 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Panthers and the under.
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WEEK’S BEST BET: Chiefs. D wins it.
LAST WEEK: 8-8; OVER/UNDER: 10-6
OVERALL: 21-27; OVER/UNDER: 21-27
BEST BETS: 2-1
