Broncos at Jets (-2)
Broncos ML +105; U40.5; Melvin Gordon Rushing O66.5 -110; Sam Darnold rushing O7.5 -125
This game is going to be a big snooze fest, as TNF games tend to become as the season gets into its meat and potatoes. I’d say pillow fight, but being compared to the Jets offense would be an insult to pillows everywhere. Broncos have been playing teams close, but look they could blow out New York who is averaging 31 points to per game to opponents.
I’m taking U40.5 here, considering the short week and the state of both teams. Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton are out, and Sam Darnold hasn’t shown anything at all this season. The line has swung from Broncos -2 to +2 since open after Vic Fangio announced Brett Rypien to start, and rumors came out about this being Adam Gase’s last chance to keep his job.
Those factors and home field advantage would push me towards the Jets, if every player on the team didn’t already hate Gase. I don’t see New York being very enthusiastic on a Thursday.
I’m also going with Melvin Gordon on his rushing over. With a new quarterback taking over and Phillip Lindsay returning from injury on a limited snap count, expect him to feast.
Marlins at Cubs (NL Wild Card, Game 2)
Chicago enters a ‘win or stay home’ game after an anemic first game against the Marlins in which they lost 5-1. Ian Happ went 1-4 and had two of the teams’ four hits, including a homer which was the Cubs only score.
They’ll have a difficult time against Marlins’ star rookie Sixto Sanchez, who has been on fire through September and is expected to be aggressive on the mound.
NL Cy Young candidate Yu Darvish will be on the mound for the Cubs, which means the game will most likely be under on total runs. Even with Darvish, Chicago has looked deflated this year and will likely be making an early exit from the playoffs (you could say an early entrance into their rebuild).
I think Darvish has a great game but Cubs’ offensive woes continue. I’m putting 1u on Marlins ML +169.