CLEVELAND – Week 9 of the NFL season opened with the New York Jets, a 3-point underdog, thrashing the Buffalo Bills 34-21 in a game not even as close as the final score might indicate on Thursday Night Football. “Picks With Nick” is continuing to make selections against the spread (for entertainment purposes only, of course) in both college and NFL football.
Following our first season, in which we nailed 54% of the games we selected against the spread (ATS), we are back at it again enjoying another winning season so far. In fact, here’s our numbers through nine weeks of college football and eight weeks of the NFL against the number for full transparency:
CFB: 23-22-2 (51%)
NFL: 21-14 (60%)
Total: 44-36-2 (55%)
Our picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Similar to last football season, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results weekly with full transparency seeing how we stack up against the Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off a winning first season in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and NFL combined in 2016.
“Picks With Nick” will also feature a radio segment weekly on Newsradio WTAM 1100 discussing our selections.
Below is our full slate of NFL picks featuring four selections ATS for Week 9:
Game: Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans
Where: Nashville, Tennessee – Nissan Stadium
Kickoff: 1:00 pm ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Titans -3.5
Nick’s Pick: The Ravens are finally getting healthy and Joe Flacco should be ready to go for Sunday’s game. Meanwhile, the Titans are 4-3 but winning games in an ugly fashion and Marcus Mariota still does not look 100 percent. Nick’s Pick will side with the Ravens +3.5.
Game: Los Angeles Rams vs. New York Giants
Where: Easter Rutherford, New Jersey – MetLife Stadium
Kickoff: 1:00 pm ET
TV: FOX
Spread: Rams -4
Nick’s Pick: Everything in this match up screams to take the visiting Rams. Los Angeles is 5-2 on the season and 3-0 on the road. Meanwhile, Eli Manning and the Giants are 1-6 on the season and 0-3 at the Meadowlands. However, this should feel like a 10:00 am kick-off for the Rams and coughing up four points in this spot seems to be a tad too many. Nick’s Pick is Giants +4.
Game: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys
Where: Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium
Kickoff: 4:25 pm ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Cowboys -2
Nick’s Pick: Even if Ezekiel Elliott was not playing we would still side with the host Cowboys in this showdown. The Chiefs are off to an impressive start at 6-2 on the season, but Dallas has the edge in the trenches on both sides of the football and will look to control the overall tempo of this football game with the running game. Also, the Chiefs just played a physical Broncos defense on a short week on Monday Night Football. Nick’s Pick is Cowboys -2.
Game: Oakland Raiders vs. Miami Dolphins
Where: Miami, Florida – Hard Rock Stadium
Kickoff: 8:30 pm ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Raiders -3
Nick’s Pick: Home underdogs are always terrific value, however the Raiders are just the better overall team and will find a way to win this football game. Nick’s Pick is Raiders -3.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 23-22-2 (51%)
Record in NFL ATS to date: 21-14 (60%)
Total record ATS to date: 44-36-2 (55%)
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.