AFTER delivering yet another winning NFL tip on Thursday night, Tom Selwyn (@Tom_Selwyn) is back to attack the remainder of the Week 6 coupon.
San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders | 21.05
You have to like the Chargers in this matchup, but I believe there to be an even better bet in this game: Last week Chargers RB Branden Oliver had a breakout game against the Jets and I fancy him to easily gain Over 67.5 Rushing Yards against the Raiders.
Injuries at San Diego’s RB position has elevated Oliver to the top of the depth chart (jumping the ineffective Donald Brown in the process) and he piled up 114 yards on 19 carries against what is usually a very good Jets run defence – even with the combined 162 yards the Chargers put on them the Jets still rank sixth in the league!
San Diego now go to face a winless Oakland team, who rank 31st against the run, giving up 158.2 yards a game to opposing rushers. Even if he does lose a few carries to Brown, Oliver should be able to get the necessary yards (a mere 17 a quarter) pretty easily here.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles | 01.30 Monday | Channel 4
It’s a big game in the NFC East on Sunday night. After a poor start to the season, the Giants look to have hit form and are on three-game win streak. I’ll be backing them to make it four in Philadelphia, taking the Giants over the Eagles.
Despite being 4-1 so far, the Eagles really haven’t impressed on offense, relying on defensive and special teams TDs to get them over the line in some games. The main problem is all the injuries across the OL, not giving QB Nick Foles any time or RB LeSean McCoy any running lanes.
McCoy is a very good RB, but he just can’t get going this season behind the current OL. His rushing stats make for grim reading; he’s averaging 54.6 yards a game at a measly 2.9 yards a carry. This doesn’t look to improve against a Giants team that are 10th against the run. They also held him under 50 yards in each of their two games last season, so appear to play him well.
I also heard a stat this week that Foles has faced the most pressures from the least amount of blitzes – not good! If Jason Pierre-Paul and the rest of the Giants DL can get to him without the need for blitzing, it will be a long day for Foles.
From a Giants point of view, the offense appears to be finally mastering their new co-ordinator’s system and with rookie WR Odell Beckham now in the line-up (four catches and a TD last week), they are looking good.
It won’t be easy, but I believe the matchups favour the Giants in this one and they should hopefully come out of Philly with a win.
Best Bets
San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders – Branden Oliver Over 67.5 Rushing Yards (5/6 Paddy Power)
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles – New York Giants to win (13/10 Bet365)
