Neither I nor ChatGPT wants to talk about last week.
asserted
I → want → week
Luckily for me and it, I’m in control.
asserted
I → ’m → control
So, if I say we’re not talking about it, we’re not talking about it, OK?
asserted
we → say → it
Onward and upward.
But if I did want to talk about it, which I don’t, I’d probably mention that I spent more than two weeks on the road, flying back and forth between Atlanta and San Francisco to cover the WNBA Finals.
asserted
I → want → Finals
So maybe the Week 8 NFL slate didn’t get my undivided attention.
asserted
slate → get → attention
But, like I said, I don’t want to talk about it.
asserted
I → say → it
It’s time for Week 9.
asserted
It → ’ → Week
Both of us get five selections from the same odds board, with no bet priced worse than -120.
asserted
bet → get → -120
Odds were captured Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
asserted
Odds → capture → ET
Stakes are adjusted so every winning bet produces one unit of profit.
asserted
bet → adjust → profit
For example, -110 requires risking 1.10 units, while +110 requires approximately 0.91 units.
asserted
+110 → require → units
A push returns the stake and counts as zero units.
asserted
push → return → units
I told you I’m not talking about it.
asserted
I → tell → it
I told you, we’re not talking about it.
asserted
we → tell → it
Since starting 4-0 on these trademarked bets, I've lost three in a row.
asserted
I → start → row
I think I've been forcing these, so I'm going to stop doing that.
asserted
I → think → that
After last week, it’s time to get back to basics and back to my style of picking games.
asserted
it → ’ → games
That means fading what we saw most recently.
asserted
we → mean → what
If everyone suddenly loves a team because of what it did last week, I’m probably looking at the other side.
asserted
I → love → side
Dan’s analysis:
Everyone is back on the fraudulent Denver Broncos after a lucky win over the Kansas City Chiefs, aided by yet another controversial penalty that benefited Sean Payton’s team.
asserted
that → aid → team
With all that in mind, I expected this spread to be much larger.
asserted
spread → expect → mind
When I saw the Panthers sitting as just two- to three-point underdogs, it made me suspicious.
asserted
me → see → underdogs
My gut says the books want people to take Denver, which doesn’t surprise me since the Broncos are overrated.
asserted
Broncos → say → me
That’s exactly why we’re taking the Panthers.
asserted
we → ’ → Panthers
GPT’s analysis:
Carolina’s extra rest and defensive coaching change give the Panthers a plausible bounce-back case.
asserted
rest → give → case
My concern is an offensive line that allowed 11 sacks over its last two games facing Denver’s pass rush.
asserted
that → allow → rush
That protection matchup pushed me toward the Broncos, although taking the full field goal provides protection: a three-point defeat returns the stake.
asserted
defeat → push → stake
Dan’s analysis:
Generally, I don’t like laying big numbers like this.
asserted
I → like → this
But I’m making an exception because there’s some hype around the Cardinals after Gardner Minshew led them to a come-from-behind overtime victory over Dallas.
asserted
Minshew → make → Dallas
Minshew is a journeyman backup for a reason, and I think Seattle’s defense is going to force him into some big mistakes.
asserted
defense → think → mistakes
Drew Lock is expected to start for Seattle, and he already threw three touchdowns against the Cardinals earlier this season in a 31-7 win.
asserted
he → expect → win
I have a feeling the Seahawks want to make a statement after their embarrassing Monday Night Football performance against Chicago.
asserted
Seahawks → have → Chicago
Seattle’s defense gives it a credible route to controlling this game, and Drew Lock has already played well against Arizona this season.
asserted
Lock → give → Arizona
My concern is asking for a nine-point victory with Sam Darnold out and Lock managing an elbow injury.
asserted
Lock → ask → injury
Arizona’s defensive weaknesses create opportunities, but Seattle’s quarterback uncertainty kept this outside my five.
3.
asserted
uncertainty → create → 3
The 49ers have quietly been having all sorts of turnover issues, and it finally caught up to them in their last game, a loss to Atlanta before their bye.
asserted
it → have → bye
The Raiders are tied for third in the NFL with 13 takeaways this season.
asserted
Raiders → tie → takeaways
All it takes is one or two big turnovers, and the Raiders could not only keep this game close but possibly win outright.
uncertain
Raiders → take → game
I don’t have the stones to bet the Las Vegas moneyline, but I could see them keeping this within a score.
uncertain
them → have → score
Kirk Cousins gives Las Vegas a credible passing attack and a way to cover late, while San Francisco’s offensive injury concerns strengthen the underdog case.
asserted
concerns → give → case
…and 64 more, not listed.
The Aporia
