NFL: A tidy trio of tips to keep you interested in Sunday evening’s gridiron

Under 43.5 Total Match Points, Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens – 20/21

It’s hard to justify the 3.5 point move from the opening total line of 40. The Lions’ running game has been non-existent this season and they sit third from bottom in yards-per-attempt. Now Ameer Abdullah is banged up and their Center, Travis Swanson, is set to miss a game or two, I can’t see how Detroit’s receivers get open against this talented secondary. All you need to know about the Baltimore offence is they are dead last in the NFL in yards-per-play.

Arizona Cardinals (+6.5) versus Los Angeles Rams – 5/6

The Rams train rolled on as they took advantage of some key injuries to the Saints defence last week and picked up a key win in their quest to secure a first round bye in the playoffs. However, the Cardinals are a different force at home, as evidenced by their performance last week in the Blaine Gabbert Revenge Game.

This line looks a shade too high relative to my ratings and warrants getting involved.

Seattle Seahawks (+5) versus Philadelphia Eagles – 20/23

In the same week where Blake Bortles is a 9.5 point favourite, Russell Wilson at home is getting 5 points to his name. Not too many models would have predicted that in preseason.

The Seahawks’ running game is a mess but that doesn’t count for much against the Eagles, as their front seven usually takes away everyone’s rushing attack.

Look for Wilson to create havoc and to have the Eagles gap discipline scrambling in the backfield. Wentz’s QB play has slowly regressed over the past month and will be tested on the road in a hostile environment, with or without Chancellor and Sherman.