Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
Multiple times each week, FTN Bets’ resident college basketball junkie, Brad Evans, will attempt to posterize the ‘books with his favorite selections, whether sides, totals, teasers or parlays. As always, fade or follow Brad’s picks — fading is encouraged — that’s up to you.
2-leg alternative line parlay play: Rutgers (+9.5), Virginia (ML) (Tipico Sportsbook)
Odds: +133
Leg 1: Rutgers (+9.5) at Iowa
If Iowa’s offense is equipped with the efficiency of a Chick-fil-A drive-thru during peak lunch rush hour, it’s defense is waiting on a 21-piece bucket at KFC 10 cars deep. The Hawkeyes zone has fully opened the floodgates in recent matchups. In four of their last five contests, they’ve surrendered at least 1.14 points per possession. Absent rotations. Clear driving lanes. Uncontested shots. There’s a reason why they rank No. 122 overall in adjusted defensive efficiency. Essentially, when not performing at a prolific level offensively they are extremely susceptible to defeat. Luka Garza will again bang bodies in the post, this time with premier shot blocker Myles Johnson. His disruptive length will make contributions from CJ Frederick, Jordan Bohannon and Joe Weiskamp all the more critical. The Scarlet Knights, riding the crest of a four-game win streak, have rediscovered their scoring stroke. Over that span, they’ve tallied 1.056 points per possession. Rutgers usually attacks the basket effectively, but, due to Iowa’s corrupted defense, it could lean more heavily on the three-ball. Ron Harper, Jacob Young, Montez Mathis and Paul Mulcahy each shoot at least 35% along the arc. When the final buzzer sounds, expect the surging reps from Piscataway to finish within single digits.
Leg 2: Virginia (ML) at Georgia Tech
By the hair of their chinny chin chin. That was what the Cavs won by in their first tango against Georgia Tech, a 64-62 skirting inside John Paul Jones Arena. In a game with minimal self-inflicted mistakes (15 combined TOs), the Yellow Jackets’ three-point blitz in that contest (9-for-15) kept the final result snug. Perimeter performance will be a deciding factor in the rematch. Both teams tickle the twine on outside jumpers, Tech, thanks to Jose Alvarado and Michael Devoe, shoots 39.9%; UVA an ACC-best 41.3%. Where Tony Bennett’s club can acquire higher ground is by controlling tempo. GT typically feasts off forced opponent mistakes, converting easy buckets in transition. The Cavs, who are quite judicious with the basketball, have served it up on just 14.3% of their offensive possessions. If they shackle the rock and feed seven-footer Jay Huff in the post — the Yellow Jackets rank No. 11 in two-point percentage defense in the ACC — they should add another tick in the win column and halt Tech’s six-game conference home winning streak. UVA’s pack-line defense, though No. 25 nationally, has still yielded a lowly 0.975 points per possession in league play.
Season record: 19-24
Sign up for Tipico Sportsbook now!
- Straight cash, no turnover required
- Proprietary odds, daily boosts and promos
- Lightning-fast app, easy withdrawals
