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Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 11 NFL Betting Options


by Chris Vasile - 11/16/2018

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick

If you were Le'Veon Bell, what would you do?

I'm sure by now we've all heard the news about how Bell didn't report to the Steelers and will now sit out the entire 2018 season and forfeit upwards of $14 million in game salary. I've done a lot of thinking about this over the last few days, and part of me wants to hate him and label him selfish and not a team player. But the other part of me understands where he is coming from and what he is fighting for.

In a league as brutal as the NFL, where careers are much shorter than any other league, getting the most amount of money you possibly can is vital. Running backs probably have the shortest career span out of any position, and a talent like Bell should get what he is rightfully worth. Bell isn't your prototypical running back, as he can also catch passes and is considered one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL.

By holding out this season, Bell is staying healthy (hopefully in game shape) and betting on himself that at least one team understands his value and is willing to offer a lucrative contract. My thinking is that he gets what he's seeking, but in turn damages his reputation (already on that path) and potentially encourages other players to take a similar course of action, which would rub owners the wrong way. One thing I know for sure is that Bell fantasy owners are pissed, and the Steelers are best served to use that saved salary cap money to bolster the lineup, especially if James Conner can continue playing like he's been playing. But I digress.

As for last week's Basic Strategy Teaser, we fell short with our selections because Philadelphia is apparently worse than I thought. We are now 6-4 through 10 weeks of the season.

Remember, a Basic Strategy Teaser is a two-team wagering option that allows you to adjust the spread six, six-and-a-half or seven points to get a favorable spread. At Doc's Sports, we only recommend using six-point, two-team teasers and moving spreads through key numbers such as three and seven. If you would like more information on how Basic Strategy Teasers work, click here .

Best Two-Team, Six-Point Teaser for Week 11. Lines courtesy of Bovada.

Minnesota +8.5 & Tampa Bay +7,5 (-120)
Risk: $100 to win $83.33

The first part of this two-team, six-point teaser will rely on the Minnesota Vikings to keep their upcoming NFC North showdown with the Chicago Bears within a touchdown. Look, the Bears are getting all the love in this spot, and rightfully so. They've won three straight games and are averaging around 35 points during that span. But let's be real for a second - who have they beat? They've beat the now 3-7 Jets, the now 3-7 Bills, and the now 3-6 Lions. That's not exactly a tough schedule. Now they must ramp up their intensity in front of the bright lights of Sunday Night Football and take on a Vikings team that is a better team than you could make up from the other three rosters combined. The Vikings are also coming in off a bye and have had two weeks to prepare for Matt Nagy's offense and figure out ways to defend Tarik Cohen while figuring out ways to negate Khalil Mack on the defensive side of the ball. Mike Zimmer is a smart coach, and I believe he has a foolproof game plan for this one.

The Vikings should be able to move the ball on this Bears defense with a healthy mix of run, play-action, and deep shots. They have a healthier Stefon Diggs, a healthier Dalvin Cook, and Adam Thielen, who is quickly becoming one of the league's most consistent receivers. In a division game, it's tough to lay more than a touchdown, so teasing the Vikes up will not only ensure you get a point spread higher than the key number of seven but that you have extra wiggle room to work with.

The second part of this two-team, six-point teaser focuses on the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Look, I understand completely if you think I'm crazy for backing the Bucs in this spot, but their offense is too good to ignore. There is no chance in hell that they put up another 500 yards and score just three points, and especially not against a middling Giants defense. If you don't trust the Bucs defense, I don't blame you. But do you really trust Eli Manning to win by more than a touchdown? Just two weeks ago we were calling for him to retire or be benched. Now, because he led a game-winning drive against a poor San Francisco team, he's all of a sudden good again? I don't think so. Besides, Jason Pierre-Paul will be making his return to New York for the first time after being traded. We expect him to be in Manning's lap all game long.

Alternative Options

Tennessee +7.5 - As I said with the Vikings/Bears game, laying more than a touchdown in a division game is bad practice. Teams are familiar with each other, and there are very few advantages. In regard to this game, both teams come into this game on winning streaks, but this could be a letdown spot for the Titans after last week's emotional win. However, the Colts defense can be suspect at times, so a shootout could very well be in effect here. Take as many points as you can and run.

New Orleans -2.5 - Trap game? Or not a trap game? That is the question. The Saints have been running wild on the entire NFL since losing their opening game (somehow) to Tampa. But just look at their last four games - win at Baltimore, win at Minnesota, win vs L.A, win at Cincinnati. Sooner or later, those hard-fought wins (minus the Bengals game) are going to result in a letdown spot. This may very well be the game. However, instead of laying more than a touchdown, we can tease them and get them a just under a field goal favorite. That ensures us that the better team, will in fact win, but it could be closer than most people think.

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