Nick Kostos, You Better You Bet Host

What's the strangest thing you're afraid of? Tails without fur on them, such as rats or opossums. I'm Larry Mullins, host of the podcast Your Weirdest Fears, where we dig into the crazy things you're afraid of. Everything from animal people hybrids, you know people who get surgeries to look like an animal, to giant statues.

If I ever saw one of those giant statues, I probably would poop my pants. Listen and subscribe on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts from. The listening you love is on the free Odyssey app. Your trusted local radio stations, coverage of your favorite teams, live news from your hometown, and millions of podcasts on demand. Best of all, you can completely customize your listening experience. Follow topics you care about, like leagues and teams, pause or rewind your local sports and news, and add shows to your queue to catch up later.

There's a lot to listen to, so get started and download the free Odyssey app today. Nick, how you been? That kindly, I appreciate the kind words my man. Great to be on with you. Merry early Christmas to you and your listeners, and I think the same thing about you. Thanks for having me.

Well, I appreciate those kind words as well. Okay, enough with all the kissy kissy action that we're doing out of the gate. Jaguars and Jets coming up tomorrow night. The Jets are a one and a half point favorite.

I feel like they're begging me to take the Jaguars, which is like a weird statement to say, or begging to go with the Jaguars. Does that mean the Jets gonna win this game? It's a really difficult game, and I think, Zach, what's really fun about when we get into this time of year in the National Football League, there's so much data on all of these teams, right? We've seen them play so many games where early in the year, like think back to week one, like the Monday night game with the Broncos and the Seahawks. Denver was a five and a half point road favorite in that game. Like, we're guessing at that point in the year is what the point spread should be. Once we get into this portion of the year, like final couple weeks of the regular season, like by and large, like we know what these teams are. So, I think the point spread is just about right. Like, maybe you want to say Jacksonville should be like a one-point favorite in the game, but it's basically just like pick the winner of the game here. So, I think a lot of these games that we discuss here, Zach, are gonna be bet your opinion games. Like, what's your opinion? I think it's really subjective here, and my opinion is, and I don't know if it's an opinion, but my opinion is, is that Zach Wilson's terrible.

And again, like that may just be factual here. Now, Trevor Lawrence is at 100%. The Jets are gonna be without Trayvon Walker, and it does look like the Jets are gonna get Quentin Williams back tomorrow night.

Obviously, like stud, like baby Aaron Donald, basically on their defensive line. We'll wait till tomorrow night to make sure he's active, but he's trending towards playing in this game, which obviously helps the Jets. For me, I haven't bet this game yet. I think I'll probably end up with some sort of action on Jacksonville's ear. I just trust Trevor Lawrence a lot more than I trust Zach Wilson.

Lawrence seems to have like his awakening, right? He's playing unbelievable football, but Zach the Jaguars right now at Ben MGM are in teaser range at plus one and a half, where you could tease them up in a low total game potential inclement weather in the Northeast and get Jacksonville plus seven and a half. I think that would be my preferred method of betting this game, but make me pick the winner.

I'll take Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars over Zach Wilson and the Jets. Last week I looked at the Bengals bucks, Brett, and I said, okay, that could be fishy, but I can't pick Tampa Bay right now. And at halftime I was saying, man, I should have went with my gut in terms of, okay, that was a fishy line at first, and the next thing you know, Cincinnati finds 34 unanswered points. It's kind of similar this week where I know the Bengals are better than the Patriots, but then the Bengals are only a three-point favorite. I would lay the money with Cincinnati minus the three.

Yourself? Yeah, I took four with the Patriots a couple days ago just because I felt like the number was gonna move. I felt like New England was gonna get bad off the way that they lost against the Raiders. And look, like Cincinnati's obviously been incredible, like Burroughs mistaking a claim to the NFL MVP when it's all said and done. They play the Bills on Monday night next week when it's gonna be a massive game to determine playoff seeding in the AFC and maybe if Burroughs could maybe win at FL MVP. But Zach, you watched that game against Tampa and the final score is very flattering to Cincinnati and you mentioned rattling off the 34 unanswered. Tampa turned the ball over five times in a row, five straight possessions, right? We watched that game and like Burroughs statistically had a great game, threw a bunch of touchdowns, but if Tampa's literally given them the ball on the doorstep time after time after time, I didn't think that Burroughs and the Bengals played particularly well in that game.

For me, that was a lot more about what Tampa didn't do than what Cincinnati did do. Now, I'm not saying that Cincinnati's gonna lose to New England. I'm not saying that like that the Bengals can't cover the spread and at this current number, if it's gonna be three, that's a no bet for me here. I'm interested in New England at anything above three. Patriots plus three and a half, Patriots plus four would be plays for me. My sense is that Cincinnati will probably close three and a half, maybe a juice three and a half towards New England, but that would be a by point for me on the Patriots here. I think the point spread of the game should be three.

I think that's fine. Anything above three, I want to take it with the Patriots and what absolutely a must-win game after the way they lost to the Raiders, now sitting at 7-7 and Chandler Jones may be stealing the soul of fact Jones on the final play of the game. Nick Costas here with us. Are you in on the Lions playoff push?

They're now seven and seven. They go up against the Panthers this weekend who are five and nine and Detroit's a two and a half point favorite. Yeah, I think you have to be in on the Lions now. I'd love to be able to tell you like that Dan Campbell who went coach of the year, but he was 200 to one two weeks ago.

Now he's plus 175 and I don't know if he's worth a bet at this point. So for the Lions to be this big of a favorite on the road and people will think, oh it's a three point favorite, it's not that much. It means a lot to be three points on the road and Carolina's been good here with Sam Darnold and Steve Wills. I know they didn't play well last week against Pittsburgh, but the overall body of work for Carolina has been good. This is a ton of respect that the Lions are getting to be this big of a road favorite at Carolina here and I can tell you Zach that there's split action on this game. We've had some guests on you better you bet professional betters that I really respect who don't think Detroit should be a three point favorite and in some spots this has come off three and is down to two and a half.

I am personally of the opinion and again this is an opinion bet by me. I think the point spread is fine. I think Detroit's gonna roll in this game. It's still Sam Darnold on the other side and like I can't get behind Sam Darnold in a spot like this with the Lions surging like they are so Lions minus two and a half that would be a play for me and if the Lions are able to win this game next week they're gonna play Chicago indoors in a game that's gonna have a ridiculously high total should be able to win that game and then it might set up pending the results of the Packers and Dolphins on Christmas a week 18 maybe win an in showdown with Green Bay at Lambeau for the final wildcard spot in the NFC which would be all sorts of awesome. Nick Costas there's a reason why I call the Cowboys the drama Dallas choking Cowboys there's really nothing they could win this weekend you just cannot lose assuming that Gardner Minshew is going to be the starting quarterback for the Eagles. Dallas is a five-point favorite in your mind does that spread too high right now? No I think if it's gonna be Minshew it's actually gonna close higher. This is to me is an in-between number which is what like basically in between more towards Minshew as the quarterback obviously but this is not a full Gardner Minshew it's the starting quarterback for the Eagles number and look like what's Nick Sirianni gonna say like yeah Hertz is definitely out like it benefits them 0% at this point in the week to tell the opposition that the quarterbacks not gonna play but the betting market Zach tells you that Jalen Hertz is not gonna play. I do want to offer this caveat we saw the situation basically not identical but close to it happened two times earlier this year Justin Herbert against the Jaguars when we thought Herbert was out he ended up playing. Josh Allen against the Vikings we thought Allen was out he ended up playing in the game so I think Betters might be a little skittish here about Sirianni's comments from everything that I've heard and I'm not reporting anything or trying to make it like this is fact or gospel what I'm gonna say I think it's very unlikely based on what I've heard that Jalen Hertz is gonna play in this game so I think it's gonna be Gardner Minshew and when that's official I think Dallas will close at least a six-point favorite in this game and then the the question that Betters and fans will have to ask themselves is it's subjective what do you think the downgrade is from Jalen Hertz to Gardner Minshew the point spread was going to be Dallas favored by less than three with Hertz as the quarterback now we're talking Dallas in a range of like a little less than seven I think it's a really fun debate for me I think I'd probably take the points with Philadelphia Minshew one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league and Dallas's secondary is an absolute disaster and Minshew can definitely connect down the field with AJ Brown Devante Smith and watch out for Dallas Goddard if Minshew plays Goddard was a star in the games that Minshew played last year Goddard off IR returns for Philadelphia this week so a lean for me with Philly if Minshew plays but it's very subjective so it's tough for me to tell you that with great confidence I think Micah Parsons would also plus a number because he doesn't think much of Jalen Hertz he basically called them a system quarterback yeah and and Parsons right now he has some practice it's a great job by you bringing him up that Parsons hasn't practiced the last two days and illness is sweeping through the Cowboys locker which to me probably means they all have COVID but it doesn't exist in the NFL anymore god bless so let's see if Parsons practices tomorrow I think he's probably still gonna play it's still early enough in the week if Parsons doesn't play like obviously that's a significant deal and for the first time Zach in a long time Micah Parsons is not the favorite to win defensive player of the year that's Niners pass rusher Nick Bosa is the slight favorite so out there you people out there listening if you think Parsons is gonna play we get word he's gonna play you think he shows up and shows out I would bet Micah Parsons that even money right now to win defensive player of the year I know they're not going up against great teams this weekend but are there any reasons to trust either Tampa or the Los Angeles Chargers to cover the number this weekend Buccaneers going up against the Cardinals I've seen that at Tampa minus six and a half and then the Chargers lay in four four and a half against the Colts so Tampa right now Zach with the with the news that Colt McCoy is officially out with his concussion trace McSorley will start on Christmas Day by the way here's how to get a great way to wrap up your Christmas Sunday will be Tom Brady with the Bucs and the Cardinals so camp has been bet out to seven and a half I think that point spread is totally fine I said on you better you that yesterday if it's going to be McSorley Tampa needs to be more than a touchdown favorite and now they are minus seven and a half so I would never bet Arizona's like that's not the conversation the question is how do we want to play Tampa and I actually think there's a great way to play Tampa and it's a six-point tease them down to minus one and a half where Tampa wins by three you win they win by seven you win I love teasing Tampa down to minus one and a half is the final game on Christmas on Sunday I also think if you want to do a Christmas teaser you tease them with the Rams up to plus eight and a half at home against the Denver Broncos I like that as well as far as Monday night those Chargers laying four and a half on the road at the Colts I bet the Colts already I think the point spread is insane in this game like absolutely insane but I know the Colts Jeff Saturday we can all get our jokes off the blown lead last Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings I get it the Chargers literally just closed two and a half at home against the injured Tennessee Titans with injured Ryan Fannahill at quarterback and now they're going to turn around and be four and a half on the road at the Colts in prime time and Indians got a good home field advantage and it's extra rest for Indianapolis now the thing that complicates this is that Nick Foles is going to start a quarterback for the Colts right Matt Ryan's been benched again for like the eighth time in the last 365 days I know Jonathan Taylor it's Jonathan Taylor's I don't but for me like that doesn't matter because like the Chargers can't stop the run I think that lost it potentially has a big game Tion Jackson could have a big game here Foles could throw for 300 yards he could throw eight interceptions more volatility introduced for me Zach like I actually think this is the most off point spread of the week I love Indianapolis on Monday night I think the point spread should be no more than three it's four and a half give me the Colts on Monday night if you had to give one lock Nick Costas on just what the spread currently has no teasers any of that if you had to give out a little Christmas gift what would your lock be for this week sure I just want to off issue this caveat that there's no such thing as a lot but I'll give you a bet that I think is going to win yeah how about San Francisco laying a touchdown at home against Washington so I laid six and a half a couple days ago like we handicapped games early in the week on you basically every day on the show so like if I say I have like better numbers because I'm betting earlier in the week the number sitting at seven now I actually still think is a good bet on the Niners I think this point spread absolutely has to be above seven and people will point to the officiating on Sunday night with the with the commanders Giants game and it wasn't great but kind of lost in all of that is that Taylor Heinecke did not play well to the point that like Ron Rivera is openly talking about Carson Wentz may be coming in and playing at some point for Washington like I think Heinecke is a turnover great story but a turnover waiting to happen against an absolute machine right now in the San Francisco 49ers where Brock Purdy just goes in executes the offense and San Francisco walks out of Dodge with a double-digit win I'll lay the seven with the 49ers on Saturday against the commanders last thing I'll ask you Nick Costas if you had to put a little future in right now and where Tom Brady's playing next year who would you go with oh man what a great question definitely not Tampa and definitely not New England do you want to give me a market here a couple choices to choose from because we've just been really a conversation that can go in a lot of directions but I think no chance Tampa and obviously he's not going back to New England so like one of the other 30 teams I kind of have to think about it I'll tell you maybe maybe the Jets would be like out of a dark horse here I just vomited I just vomited Nick I'm a Patriot fan I can't see Tom Brady with the Jets yeah I don't think I'm saying be like so I think Zach like this is how to think about it right Tom Brady ain't going to Houston right he's not going to a bad team he's going to a team that could win a Super Bowl if he comes back that's got some weapons on offense and like a good defense right so the Jets got to check those boxes you go in there brief Hall comes back Garrett Wilson Elijah Moore I don't know I think crazier things have happened I think no way he's back in Tampa next year if he comes back I'm gonna say the 49ers he's always wanted to go there and I don't know with this whole Trey Lance injury now Jimmy G and I'm not gonna think that Brock Purdy wins the Super Bowl this year I think he may finally get his wish with the Niners it's it's certainly it's within the realm of possibility Brady said a problem with Brady in San Francisco is like the Shanahan offense required well I guess you could say the same thing about the Jets the floor comes from the shadow entry so I was gonna say I guess doesn't matter but you have to have the quarterback got to be able to move a little bit and Brady can't I'm sure San Francisco would still love to have Tom Brady as its quarterback though so you might be right about that what about Tennessee would you consider Tennessee with Rabel oh well I guess the issue there again with Tennessee is who's he throwing the ball to like we like Treylon Burks but unless they traded AJ Brown like behind Burks it's Robert Woods and Nick Westbrook Akine a Conquo the tight end is a little interesting right Chica Conquo is pretty awesome but they don't have the requisite pass catchers there and I don't know like if you had to set the betting odds the betting market for the AFC South next year like Jacksonville would definitely be the favorite right Jacksonville's basically on the come so yeah I don't think I would I don't think I would have Tennessee among like the top choices make sure you listen to a Monday through Friday 3 to 7 p.m. Eastern you better you bet you could also catch them on WF and in New York Sundays 830 to 9 a.m. Eastern that is Nick Costas Nick appreciate the time as always you got it Zach Merry Christmas to you Merry Christmas to all your listeners and wishing everybody minimal sweats when he bets the absolute very best of luck what's the strangest thing you're afraid of tails without fur on them such as rats or opossums I'm Larry Mullins host of the podcast your weirdest fears where we dig into the crazy things you're afraid of everything from animal people hybrids you know people who get surgeries to look like an animal to giant statues if I ever saw one of those giant statues I probably would poop my pants listen and subscribe on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast from what's the strangest thing you're afraid of tails without fur on them such as rats or opossums I'm Larry Mullins host of the podcast your weirdest fears where we dig into the crazy things you're afraid of everything from animal people hybrids you know people who get surgeries to look like an animal to giant statues if I ever saw one of those giant statues I probably would poop my pants listen and subscribe on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast from what's the strangest thing you're afraid of tails without fur on them such as rats or opossums I'm Larry Mullins host of the podcast your weirdest fears where we dig into the crazy things you're afraid of everything from animal people hybrids you know people who get surgeries to look like an animal to giant statues if I ever saw one of those giant statues I probably would poop my pants listen and subscribe on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast from