NFL Week 14: When you plan your attack, look to Dak

Now seems like a good time to get out ahead of the Week 14 slate for the NFL. We've got a quartet of picks to tuck away until Sunday.

NFL look-aheads for your weekend action

Lions-Bears over 43 points

This over has been climbing all week, and understandably so. The past three meetings have all flown over, with each game seeing at least 51 points. We'll bet on more of the same here as these two meet for the second time in four weeks. The Lions have hit this total in four straight games. Their games just tend to see points on both ends.

Dak Prescott over 2.5 passing touchdowns (+152 FanDuel)

We are absolutely shocked at this price on Sunday night. The Eagles have gotten torched by the pass all season, allowing the second-most passing touchdowns per game.

Prescott is on a tear, throwing for 3+ touchdowns in five of his last six games. That includes a three-TD game against Philly a few weeks ago, and oh, Dak has gone over this line in four straight meetings with the Eagles.

Alvin Kamara TD (-135 DraftKings)

This price isn't quite what we'd want to take on a touchdown typically, but it's impossible to ignore how consistent running backs against Carolina have been this season. No team allows more touchdowns per game to RBs than the Panthers, and Kamara is the clear RB1 for New Orleans. Fresh off a two-touchdown game, we like Kamara to keep it rolling.

Michael Pittman Jr. 8+ receptions (+144 FanDuel)

Michael Pittman Jr. has been on a roll, catching 8+ balls in five straight games and nine of 12 on the season. Next up is a Bengals defense allowing big wide receiver games on a weekly basis. Take Pittman up at this price, or consider him down at his 6.5 line if you'd prefer.

In the news ...

Shohei Ohtani's free-agency decision reportedly imminent — It sounds like we'll know today which team Shohei Ohtani is joining, and it appears to be between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. While Ohtani is not expected to pitch in 2024 due to elbow surgery, his two-way dominance figures to have this contract be the richest ever in MLB history. The Dodgers are the +700 favorites to win the World Series next year, while the Blue Jays are +1300.

Pacers and Lakers to meet tomorrow for NBA Cup title — Tyrese Haliburton continued his tear through this in-season tournament, powering the Pacers to a win over Milwaukee and a spot in the NBA Cup finals. Haliburton dropped 27 points and added 15 assists and seven rebounds. Meanwhile out West, LeBron James and the Lakers cruised to a win over the Pelicans, 133-89. Indiana and Los Angeles will square off tomorrow night in Vegas, and we're loving the value on the Pacers +4, we like the Cinderella run to continue to cap off the first in-season tournament.

Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf — In what is perhaps the most surprising move yet in this ongoing back-and-forth between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion, has signed with LIV for a reported deal between $300M to $500M. Consider us among those who are still a bit confused about what's going on here, as the PGA Tour and PIF announced a merger earlier this season. It seems the deadline is fast approaching, and Rahm decided to secure his money, which likely gives LIV all the leverage over the PGA Tour to finalize this agreement. 

'TNF' deals blow to both Steelers' playoff hopes and Patriots' top draft hopes — Is it possible to call a game's result a lose-lose for both sides? That's the feeling here after watching Thursday's game. New England won 21-18, with Bailey Zappe tossing three touchdowns and Ezekiel Elliott having a big game. That's great, but now any hope of the Patriots jumping to the top spot in the draft is all but gone. The good news is they are still projected to draft second, holding the same record as the Cardinals. As for the Steelers, the loss dropped them to 7-6 and down to eighth in the AFC playoff picture. They are now +180 to make the playoffs.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll, the guy who won $8K on a $20 NFL parlay. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.