The PointsBet Hustle™ is a newsletter spotlighting our biggest bets, juiciest boosts and strongest insights to get you ready for the best betting stretch of your life.
IN THIS ISSUE
THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Will the Titans even try?
EXPERT PICKS: Ryan & Teddy serve up bowls of predictions
KEY STATS: The line surged to double digits after Titans coach Mike Vrabel implied he’d rest some of his gimpy “A” players in advance of his team’s crucial Week 18 showdown with Jacksonville. Then it ballooned after Derrick Henry checked in as doubtful (hip). And then it hit two TDs after an ESPN report that Joshua Dobbs will make his first NFL start.
TRENDING: The Cowboys are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 road games, while the Titans have covered only one of their last five overall. The Over ↗️ favors Dallas; the Under ↘️, Tennessee.
EXPERT PICKS
PointsBet studio host Ryan Leaf and PointsBet senior editor Teddy Greenstein offer their top plays for the Thursday and Friday bowl games.
THE BIG NAME
Oklahoma +10 vs. Florida St (-110)
"Way too many points. The Sooners will keep it close as they gain momentum into next year."
Washington +3 vs. Texas (-110)
"I'm all over Washington. Everyone is playing and the Huskies will look for a little revenge on their former coach, Steve Sarkisian."
THE BETTOR
Washington-Texas Over 67 (-110)
"The Huskies give Penix all day to throw. And Texas, having lost its top RBs to the NFL draft, will have QB Quinn Ewers launch it."
Clemson -6 vs. Tennessee (-110)
"The Tigers are a different animal with Cade Klubnik under center."
PointsBet has dropped a Free Bet credit into your account to use on a Thursday Night Football Same Game Parlay (pregame or Live)! Both are good for all states but NY.
See Promotions page in the PointsBet app or website for full promotional Terms & Conditions.
Washington's Michael Penix Jr. has 29 TD passes this season. (AP Photo)
The Wednesday slate gave us a Duke drubbing, a wild Kansas comeback, an Oregon rally and a Lane Kiffin thumping. What’s in store today?
TINIEST TOTAL (44.5): Minnesota-Syracuse, Pinstripe Bowl. 2 p.m. ET. Gophers run on 66.2% of snaps, which is behind only the service academies, and both teams are in the bottom half in points per game. This total has risen from 42 because of good weather ⛅ at Yankee Stadium.
STRONGEST INSIGHT (88% of handle): Florida State (-10) vs. Oklahoma, Cheez-It Bowl. 5:30 p.m. ET. Our bettors love the ‘Noles. Florida State’s defense ranks 17th in ppg allowed, while the Sooners are 99th. Plus Oklahoma is hurting because of opt-outs.
BEST SHOT FOR AN UPSET (69% of tickets): Washington (+3) vs. Texas, Alamo Bowl. 9 p.m. ET. PointsBet clients believe in the Huskies. Texas’ rushing attack could be crippled without Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson.
Friday brings a bowl quintuple-header. Here are our plays.
[$25] Duke’s Mayo Bowl, 12 p.m. ET.(Maryland vs. NC State: Under 46) – The Wolfpack rank 115th in yards per play (4.6). The two defenses are legit.
[$35] Sun Bowl, 2 p.m. ET.(UCLA -7.5 vs. Pittsburgh) – UCLA ranks seventh nationally in yards per play (6.8), and Pitt QB1 Kedon Slovis hit the portal with star RB Israel Abanikanda opting out for the NFL Draft. The line has risen from 5.5 in two days.
[$20] Gator Bowl, 3:30 p.m. ET.(South Carolina vs. Notre Dame: Under 50) – The Irish ‘D’ rocks, and QB Tyler Buchner, returning from a shoulder injury, is rusty.
[$10] Arizona Bowl, 4:30 p.m. ET.(Wyoming +120 ML vs. Ohio) – Ohio QB/MAC POY Kurtis Rourke (knee) is out and will be replaced by C.J. Harris, who has accuracy issues.
[$10] Orange Bowl, 8 p.m. ET.(Clemson vs. Tennessee: Over 63.5) – The Vols rank No. 1 nationally in points per game (47.3), and the Tigers may air it out to advance the Cade Klubnik era.
