As always, Good Luck and Play Responsibly
COINCIDENTAL STADIUM of the WEEK
A new series depicting a stadium which corresponds to a play featured in The 7 Best and/or its auxiliary actions to open the show.
- Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
LAS VEGAS —Here it is. The 7 Best is back and there is only one way to go but up from here. What a disappointment last week was. Some brutal beats capped-off by an all-timer by the Chicago Bears on Monday night as last week’s Top Choice doesn’t get there. Have fun in Arlington, Bears. Anywho, A 2-5, 0-1 ledger is wholly unacceptable. I’m looking to do better now. I have to do better now.
Now then, here are my T7 ATS positions for this weekend in College Football and in the National Football League.
Good Luck🤜🤛Play Responsibly
The 7 Best Record: 2-5-0 (2). Top Choice Record: 0-1
Scoring: 1 point per win, half-point per push, 1.5 points per Top Choice win
— Southern California @ PURDUE (+20)
KEY METRICS
- USC: has only satisfied the Moneyline in 2 of L6 away games (-53% ROI)
- PUR: 28th nationally in Y/G (243.0), 43rd nationally YPP/A (4.5) and 21st nationally in Sacks/PG (3.5).
MY TAKE
It’s a play on the Purdue Boilmakers getting three-to-four possessions worth of points when it hosts the USC Trojans at home Saturday afternoon at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. Firstly, for actions pursuant to The 7 Best, Circa Sports odds at 10 a.m. today are the official odds for these positions. One can find better than Purdue +20. I got in at +21 early week. Had +21 been available here, I would’ve selected Purdue for Top Choice run. I honestly feel I have the better HC in terms of in-game management, player development and overall stewardship of program. I’ll take Barry Odom over Lincoln Riley and I’ll take Purdue getting a ton of points here.
— Giants at COWBOYS (-5.5)
KEY METRICS
- DAL: Won 9 L10 S/U vs. NYG & is 6-4 ATS during said time.
- DAL: Dak Prescott is 13-2 S/U vs. NYG
MY TAKE
It’s a play on the home Dallas Cowboys when it plays host to the New York Football Giants Sunday afternoon in Arlington, TX. Normally, I’m not in the business of playing bad numbers in contest settings (like Pudue the previous entry) but here we are. If you got DAL at -4.5, I look at it like 5 is generally a dead number so you’d clear 5.5 anyway winning by 6. The Giants appear to be abysmal offensively. I have no belief in the HC/QB duo…NYG should make the move to Jackson Dart. I know DAL is w/out its CB1 but it’s not like NYG is dynamic in the passing game. It’s a fade of the Giants and I’m backing the host Cowboys here. Could this be last call for Russell Wilson? Brian Daboll? I’m of the take that building believes in neither and another poor effort like last week at Washington in another road spot at the Cowboys could be it, certainly for Wilson. It’s Dallas for me at anything under -6.
— TEXAS A&M (+6.5) at Notre Dame
KEY METRICS
- A&M: Converted M/L wagers in 8 L12 (+2.35u)
MY TAKE
In a revenge spot, it’s a play on the visiting Texas A&M Aggies when it travels north to South Bend, IN to face the world-famous Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday night in front up of a nationally televised audience. I remember this game from last year. Didn’t forget it. This was the debut of this Aggies coaching regime and the current QB wasn’t even the starter then. A&M has grown tremendously since then. I like Aggies QB Marcel Reed. I like the WR room more today and said unit can challenge the ballyhooed Irish secondary. I’ll take the +6.5, thanks, and it wouldn’t surprise me if at the end of the night we are to discuss an outright A&M win. No tricks, play to +6.
— Seahawks at STEELERS (-3)
KEY METRICS
- PIT: Converted 5 L9 M/L positions (11% ROI)
- In the last 210 games (from 2005-2024) before this season started, road teams traveling west coast to east coast are 110-111-7 ATS.
MY TAKE
It’s a play on the home Pittsburgh Steelers laying a field goal when it hosts the Seattle Seahawks Sunday in Pittsburgh. I thought Aaron Rodgers looked sterling last week. I expect the Pittsburgh defense to be better this week. Those two key fundamental points coupled with an all-time successful angle utilized by Darkseid Sports (coastal travel in certain game windows) has me on the Steelers here. I would play to -3.5. The injuries are suboptimal but Seattle has injuries too. I just don’t like this spot for the Seahawks.
— SOUTH FLORIDA (+17.5) at Miami (FL)
KEY METRICS
- USF: M/L conversion in 8 L 13 (27% ROI). Bulls have covered ATS in 5 L7 away games (36% ROI).
- UM: ATS coverage in 6 L14 (-18% ROI).
MY TAKE
It’s a play on the visiting USF Bulls getting three-possessions worth of points when it heads south on the I-75 to visit the Miami Hurricanes. I hate to fade my Canes but I’m left with no choice here. It’s too many points you guys. USF is legit, gritty and hard-charging. I respect the HC, QB and defense and that weighs more than this being a suboptimal schedule spot for the Bulls. UM will win, but absolutely USF can parachute inside the number.
— Buccaneers at TEXANS (-2.5)
KEY METRICS
- HOU: ATS coverage in 4 L5 MNF games. Texans are 13-6 S/U, 11-7-1 ATS & 9-2 as home favs under HC DeMeco Ryans.
- TB: 4-11 S/U L15 vs. AFC opposition.
MY TAKE
It’s a play on the short home- favorite Houston Texans when it hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Houston was competitive at Los Angeles and I think a similar defensive effort could get the Texas a win here. Both teams have injuries. Both OL’s are sketchy. It’s a low total. Having said, I’ll side with the more preferable HC, QB & DEF, at home. Anything under -3 I’m in.
TOP CHOICE
— Chargers at RAIDERS (+3.5)
KEY METRICS
- MNF: Home underdogs are 56.3% in divisional matchups circa 2003.
- Divisional underdogs in the NFL went 42-34-2 ATS (55.3%) last season. Underdogs of 1-3.5 points went 25-18-1 ATS (58.1%). Overall, circa 2015, “Divisional Dogs” have a 52.4% cover percentage as opposed to 48.7% in total, league-wide underdog play.
MY TAKE
It’s a play on the host Las Vegas Raiders getting three-and-a-half points Monday Night in Vegas when it opposes the Los Angeles Chargers as the Top Choice pursuant to The 7 Best v2.0. I think LAC is being overvalued after its win vs. KC. The Chargers are also coming off international travel playing another road game. I think the Raiders are an ascending program and undervalued here at home. Getting better than the FG, I’m in on the Raiders as a home dog on a Monday night as the Top Choice for this week.
— Pittsburgh/West Virginia UNDER 56.5 Total Points
I passed on this total b/c I need more data to fully immerse myself in CFB/NFL totals. I expect to join that race next week, should the situation call for it.
CFB/NFL TV MAPS
SURVIVOR RECC
I am in several low-profile survivor leagues. I will release a single, consensus survivor contest selection until all my entires are toast. Last week was a successful Survivor Entry week with the LA Rams taking care of business. Only the bold and strong survive! Darkseid Sports is back for the Survivor Week Two position now…
AUXILIARIES
*The following NFL teasers were played at various points throughout the week when at my point of numeric satisfaction. Teasers are 1-1 this term.*
*3TM 7PT TSR*
COLTS +8
CHIEFS +8.5
RAIDERS +10.5
*2TM 6PT TSR*
PATRIOTS +8.5
RAVENS -5.5
FUTURISTICS REVISITED
- NFL Season Win Totals
— ARIZONA CARDINALS OVER 8.5 WINS (-25)
📚: FanDuel
— LAS VEGAS RAIDERS OVER 6.5 WINS (-40)
📚: FanDuel
*NFC Championship*
— GREEN BAY PACKERS (9.5, 7:1)
UPDATE: How good does Green Bay look?!? Wow.
REFERENCES
- X
- Various individual and entity social media accounts on X as cited in usage of this work
- Grok
- Google Gemini
- Pro Football Reference
- CFB Reference
- Team Rankings
- Covers
- NFL+
- NFL Pro
- Riddell Sports
- Schutt Sports
- 506 Sports
- Circa Sports
- FanDuel Sports
- STN Sports
- Oddschecker US
- Getty Images
- Darkseid Sports Intellectual Properties
CREATOR’S NOTE: This week’s 7 Best used odds from Circa Sports at 10 a.m. PST on the day of publish (today) and via FanDuel in future markets. In the opinion of this author, Circa Sports serves as the premier destination in the brick-and-mortar Sportsbook genre in American Gaming and is a certain travel destination for tourists who visit the great city of Las Vegas. FanDuel has a sensational overall betting menu and is at the top echelon of soccer betting in the American market.
DISCLAIMER: Darkseid Sports has no affiliation, whatsoever, with the NCAA and/or any of the programs, athletes, social media accounts, universities, football programs or corporate entities digitally written about or depicted in corresponding images. The author of this writing is an ardent and serious College Football and Miami Hurricanes fan since the Jimmy Johnson regime.
DISCLAIMER: Darkseid Sports has no affiliation, whatsoever, with the National Football League, the Green Bay Packers, its players, social media presences and/or corporate entities associated with the team(s) either in written form or depicted in corresponding images. There is no association with any other person, social media account, media entity, corporate entity, etc. The author of this writing is a third-generation Packers fan, a former credentialed-media member covering the franchise, an amateur historian focused on the franchise and is +EV career betting the franchise lifetime. He is a passionate and very serious Packers and National Football League fan. His next game at Lambeau Field will be his 56th.
BEYOND THE ACTION
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