Weekend Hot Takes: Houston, Minnesota and Seattle will be sent packing

Is it getting hot in here or is it just our takes? BetAmerica columnists Ashley Anderson,  Jeremy Balan, Ryan Murphy and Thomas Tassone share their sizzling picks for this weekend’s sports action. Handle with caution!

NFL: Houston will get exposed by Josh Allen

Ashley: It may be easy to sleep on Buffalo after inexplicable losses to New York and Cleveland, but the team’s defense will make the difference against Deshaun Watson and company on Saturday. Will Fuller and Kenny Stills have been limited in practice and may not be up to full speed by game time. Houston's defense is also a liability, as it's ranked 29th against the pass and 25th against the run. Look for the AFC South champs to get exposed by Josh Allen, as Buffalo pulls off an upset at Houston in the Wild Card round.

NFL: The Eagles will soar above the Seahawks

Jeremy: The NFC East deserves every bit of the criticism it received this season, but that doesn’t mean Philadelphia can’t win a game in the playoffs. These two teams met in November at Philadelphia, and Seattle won 17-9, so why will things change? Philadelphia won’t turn the ball over five times, like it did in November, and is coming into the Wild Card round on a four-game win streak. Seattle enters with three losses in its last four games, and didn’t do a great job of pressuring Jimmy Garoppolo last week. Give Carson Wentz some time, and he can succeed, even with this oft-maligned group of receivers.

NBA: NOLA will cover against L.A.

Ryan: Most fans wrote off New Orleans after Zion Williamson underwent knee surgery, but I wasn’t one of them. I stuck with Alvin Gentry’s ragtag crew through their abysmal 13-game losing streak and have been in full “I told you so” mode after watching NOLA dismantle Indiana and Houston by 15+ points in back-to-back games. Lest we forget, New Orleans lost to L.A. by just four points back on November 27, and should have no problem covering the overly generous 10.5-point spread tonight at Staples Center.

NFL: The Saints will beat the Vikings by double digits

Thomas: I LOVE the Minnesota roster on paper… but will I bet against the all-time leader in touchdown passes thrown and the single season receptions leader in NFL history? Absolutely not. I’ve been high on New Orleans for the past few years, and if not for the Minnesota Miracle coupled by the worst blown call in NFL history, Drew Brees could have a few more championship rings on his resume. Look for New Orleans to blow out Minnesota in the Superdome as they begin their quest to finally right the wrongs of year’s past. I’m taking New Orleans to win by double digits this weekend and am placing a futures bet of +600 to have them as champions come February.