Volume Eight

Recap
Penn State +4.5 at Ohio State – Miss. Ohio State 20-12
Eagles -2.5 v Dolphins – HIT! Eagles 31-17
Season record 10-7-3
NFL 7-3-2
NCAAF 3-4-1

Niners -4 v Bengals
My only play this week and it might be my favorite play of the season. The Niners are on a two game losing streak, playing a team who just had their bye week, and the Niners just lost their quarterback. Against all that, I’m super excited for Sam Darnold’s opportunity. Darnold finished 2022 as the Panthers starting quarterback and went 4-2 with 7 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and lost 2 fumbles. He took over a team that was 3-8 and didn’t have CMC his starts as he was already a Niner. Sam Darnold was the #3 overall pick for a reason, he can push the ball down field, but he went to a disastrous situation to the Jets. Yes, he turns the ball over often, so I am expecting an interception on Sunday, but with a cast led by Aiyuk, Kittle, CMC, and Shannahan calling the plays, I think he’ll transition well as the Niners starter. Aiyuk really is the x-factor here for why I think Darnold will succeed. Yes, teams can key in on him more with Deebo out, but Aiyuk creates some of the most separation in the whole league. Darnold should have plenty of easy completions to him, especially with McCaffrey and Kittle commanding attention.
The Bengals have played four physical teams, going 1-3 in those games. Yes, Burrow has been banged up, but the team got punched in the mouth. Between @ Browns v Ravens @ Titans and v Seahawks they have been outscored 91-47. Not only has their offense been out of wacks, some of these teams have imposed their will defensively. Now they have to play a back to back loss Niners team who preaches physicality. Joe Mixon is only averaging 3.8 yards per carry and 66 yards per game, and he will go up against a Niners front who ranks third in least years rushed against per game at 78 yards. I’m sure the bye week helped heal both Burrow and Higgins, but it is never a good thing to be one dimensional like how I expect the Niners to make the Bengals. The key for the Niners defense will be Javon Hargrave, who has 3 sacks as a defensive tackle. The Bengals are solid at Offensive Tackle, and Nick Bosa hasn’t been dominant, but the Bengals are weak at guards so look for Hargrave to make Burrow move outside the pocket, some thing he has been bad at this season.
Niners 24 Bengals 17

Thank you,
Goose