Week 6 in the NFL will be a little delayed this week after several teams have run across problems with Covid-19, but the show will go on. Last night, the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans went head-to-head in a highly anticipated battle of two top AFC teams. After an exciting Week 5 that saw many upsets pulled off by some unlikely candidates, Week 6 features a TON of exciting matchups that are sure to make us jump out of our seats and dive into our wallets.
For those who are unfamiliar, a teaser in sports betting is when you tease the spread further toward your favor on an alternate line. For example, if the Dallas Cowboys are +2.5 underdogs, you can tease the line up through the key number of six to make it +8.5. This lets you have an extra cushion selecting the Cowboys as an underdog at the cost of a higher price. Alternatively, a pleaser is a bet that allows you to move the line in the sportsbooks favor in exchange for better than normal odds. This is very similar to a teaser, except the sportsbook gets the better number while you have the chance at a higher payout. When you bet these, you must select two games to bet on using teasers or pleasers.
Each week, there are usually several games that are intriguing teaser bets to discuss. Pleasers are harder to swallow because you don’t want to give the sportsbook the better number most of the time. On rare occasions, a line may not make sense and the pleaser option would be a viable bet. There is a LOT of possibilities this week for teaser options, so let’s dive into Week 6 and look at several scenarios that are intriguing.
All numbers are provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers
Current Line: CAR -2.5, CHI +2.5
Total: 44
The hometown Bears offer up our first game this week, with a very juicy +2.5 line. This is probably the best teaser option on the board for Week 6, with the second-lowest total of 44. Following their Thursday night win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bears will have a week and a half of prep time leading into this game. They will also have plenty of extra rest between the two games to heal up. Meanwhile, the Panthers are coming off a 3-game win streak capped off by their dispatching of the miserable Falcons in Week 5. They have done exceptionally well this season against some very poor defenses the past couple of weeks in the absence of star running back Christian McCaffrey.
You can tease the Bears from +2.5 to +8.5, a game with a low total. If the Bears get down in this game, the Panthers defense has shown this year they are vulnerable and you could do worse than Nick Foles and Allen Robinson leading a comeback.
Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles
Current Line: BAL -7.5, PHI +7.5
Total: 46.5
In recent weeks, the Ravens haven’t exactly been the team that we thought they were. Granted, they are still winning games by large margins, but we expected offensive fireworks from Lamar Jackson and company. That hasn’t happened since week one against the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, the Eagles showed some semblance of life by beating San Francisco and narrowly losing to the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. There are no moral victories in the NFL, but seeing Carson Wentz light up a very good Steelers defense gives you hope that they may have flipped a switch. Now they come home to face an inconsistent Baltimore squad.
It’s hard to imagine the Eagles winning this game, but if you tease the Ravens down six to -1.5, you’re essentially in a pick’em. The Eagles should be able to keep it somewhat close and get within the -7.5, which makes this game another great teaser.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Current Line: MIA -8, NYJ +8
Total: 47.5
There is a real possibility this year that the New York Jets finish the season at 0-16. They have a pathetic coach that looks like he’s out of it in Adam Gase, a quarterback that’s back to seeing ghosts in Sam Darnold, and a roster that’s straight out of a dumpster fire. That’s why teasing the Dolphins down six points to -2 is an easy bet. You go through the key numbers of 3 and 7 to get inside of a field goal against one of the most brutal teams we’ve ever seen. When you see Adam Gase told the media that he wishes Le’Veon Bell would just come to him when he has an issue instead of liking tweets, you start to feel really sad for Jets fans.
Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts
Current Line: IND -8, CIN +8
Total: 46.5
The Colts are laying 8 points against the Bengals this weekend despite having a human lamp post at quarterback. They are offensively challenged with Phillip Rivers leading the charge in Indy, and the Bengals defense did some very positive things against the Ravens this past week. The Bengals only managed three points against Baltimore though, and the offensive line in front of Joe Burrow is a train wreck going against that very formidable Colts defensive line. You can tease the Colts down by six from -8 to -2 through the key numbers, and you should be safe. The Bengals shouldn’t win this game, but Joey Backdoor could definitely end up covering the 8 points. Save yourself the headache and the sweat, and tease the Colts down.
Washington Football Team at New York Giants
Current Line: NYG -3, WSH +3
Total: 43.5
This is one that you immediately go to because it’s the lowest total of the week at 43.5. A lot is going on right now with the Football Team, including being uncertain who will start at quarterback. Head Coach Ron Rivera says Kyle Allen will get the nod if he is healthy after getting knocked out of the game last week against the Los Angeles Rams. This is a game that you will need to monitor before you place your bet. If you are comfortable with the starting QB, teasing Washington up from +3 to +9 gives you an advantage of over a touchdown. The Giants showed you they can play capable offense last week against the porous Cowboys defense, but they are 0-5 and really should never get more than a touchdown against anyone.
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current Line: GB -2.5, TB +2.5
Total: 54
Coming off a loss to the Bears last Thursday night, the Tampa Bay Bucs will have plenty of time to rest up and prepare for this showdown with the Packers. Off a loss, Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks of all time to bet on coming out to win the next week. The Packers are considered by many to be the best team in the NFL right now, but we know how quickly Brady can turn things around. They shouldn’t get blown out in this one, which is why teasing them up from +2.5 to +8.5 gives you plenty of room to work with Brady on your side.
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
Current Line: ARI -2.5, DAL +2.5
Total: 54
What a horrible loss for the Dallas Cowboys last week seeing Quarterback Dak Prescott go down to a gruesome ankle injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season. However, the Cowboys have a very capable backup quarterback in Andy Dalton to lead this team now. They are incredibly talented on offense, with explosive receivers like Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb and a bruising running back in Ezekiel Elliott. Their defense is the worst in football, giving up unheard-of amounts of yards and points this season to opposing offenses. The Cardinals haven’t looked all that great recently like they did in Week 2 and 3, so teasing Dallas up from +2.5 to +8.5 gives you a great chance to cover this game. Dalton isn’t that much of a downgrade from Prescott, so the offense shouldn’t miss much of a beat.
