Finest Sports activities Betting Picks Right now: NFL Monday Evening Soccer, NBA Predictions December sixteenth | Deadspin.com

It’s one other two-game NFL Monday evening, however don’t run out to buy that second TV but. 

Just one staff in these two matchups will be thought-about any good. 

Giving us the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders in mid-December is sort of comical. And we get the Chicago Bears in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, that one good staff we had been discussing.

Within the NBA, the Denver Nuggets are nonetheless looking for their kind, however three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is all the time price watching. Denver is enjoying the Sacramento Kings, a staff displaying indicators of awakening.

Let us take a look at the 2 NFL video games and the Nuggets-Kings matchup.

ATLANTA FALCONS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

The Raiders have misplaced 9 straight video games since successful on Sept. 29, and the Falcons have dropped 4 in a row since prevailing on Nov. 3. Not the kind of marquee sport you count on on Monday Evening Soccer.

Even with the skid that features a 38-6 loss to the Denver Broncos and a 42-21 setback in opposition to the Vikings, Atlanta continues to be a part of the playoff combine. Beat the Raiders, and the Falcons are only one sport behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the NFC South.

Nevertheless, Kirk Cousins hasn’t thrown a single landing move through the four-game slide whereas being intercepted eight occasions. The Raiders have their very own quarterback issues after Aidan O’Connell injured his left knee in final week’s 28-13 loss to the Buccaneers. Desmond Ridder, the Atlanta starter final season, is ready to start out if obligatory.

As well as, Las Vegas star defensive finish Maxx Crosby (ankle) will not play and is probably going carried out for the season. The Raiders are 5 1/2-point underdogs, and there’s no telling who would possibly win this sport.

Kirk Cousins to throw an interception, -140 (FanDuel)

CHICAGO BEARS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Chicago was speculated to be an improved staff with No. 1 general decide Caleb Williams operating the present, nevertheless it has misplaced seven straight video games since final successful on Oct. 13. One encouraging signal is that Williams has thrown seven landing passes with out an interception up to now three video games. Nevertheless, he has been sacked 56 occasions this season.

There have been some embarrassing setbacks. Think about the notorious loss through which cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was taunting Washington followers and wasn’t in place to forestall the Commanders’ from changing the game-ending Hail Mary, or the terrible defeat when coach Matt Eberflus (fired the following day) did not name a timeout from the sidelines because the staff ran one play within the remaining 30-plus seconds whereas shedding to the Detroit Lions.

The Vikings are headed to the playoffs however wanted a area objective in time beyond regulation to beat the Bears within the first assembly on Nov. 24. Sam Darnold handed for 330 yards and two scores whereas Jordan Addison (eight catches, 162 yards, one TD) and T.J. Hockenson (seven for 114) had big days.

Minnesota star Justin Jefferson had solely two catches for 27 yards that day however has 99 and 132 yards up to now two video games. Exhausting to imagine the Bears will shut Jefferson down once more.

Justin Jefferson over 81.5 receiving yards, -113 (FanDuel)

DENVER NUGGETS VS. SACRAMENTO KINGS

The Nuggets gained their previous two video games by a median of 26 factors after struggling via a 4-7 stretch. Jokic scored a career-high 56 factors in a loss to the host Washington Wizards on Dec. 7 and scored 48 in a highway win over the Atlanta Hawks the following evening.

Maybe the tiring impact hit Jokic on Friday as he had simply 16 factors in a 120-98 house win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Six Denver gamers scored in double digits, led by Jamal Murray’s 20 factors.

The Kings have gained three straight video games, and the primary two had been by a median of 35.5 factors. Sacramento then notched a 111-109 victory over the host New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday as Domantas Sabonis scored a season-best 32 factors and matched his season excessive of 20 rebounds.

DeMar DeRozan added 29 factors in opposition to New Orleans and was 3-for-3 from 3-point vary. The Kings went 3-1 in opposition to the Nuggets final season and are able to submit one other triumph.

Kings +1 unfold, -115 (DraftKings)