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Best Football Games to Bet On This Weekend

There are some really crucial games in college football and the NFL this weekend. We have a preview of two of the best matchups, which you can use your sportsbook bonuses on this weekend.

Saturday | 7:30 PM ET | LSU Tigers vs. No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (-9.5, O/U 49.5)

These SEC rivals meet again with plenty on the line. We'll see the LSU Tigers in their first game since firing coach Brian Kelly following a 1-3 month. The Tigers lost 49-25 against Texas Tech in Kelly's last game. We know the Tigers can score behind quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, but he'll face a stingy Alabama pass defense here, and he'll know he'll have to make plays to make up for his weak offensive line and running game.

But Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a legit Heisman Trophy candidate. He's thrown 20 touchdowns to just 1 interception with 273.0 passing yards per game. He's helping out a running game that's only averaged 3.6 yards per carry, which is subpar for Alabama's high standards. But Ryan Williams and company provide Simpson with a great receiving corps, and it sounds like Williams will be healthy to play with no limitations on Saturday night.

LSU's defense is allowing only 18.9 points per game this season, ranking No. 22 in the nation. However, they've allowed 80 points in the last two games against Vanderbilt and Texas A&M, which contributed to Kelly's dismissal. They'll probably need to keep Alabama under 30 points to have a shot late in the game, though the Crimson Tide haven't lost since Week 1 against Florida State. That's also the only game this season where Alabama allowed more than 24 points, so the Tide have it rolling on both sides of the ball again.

Sunday| 8:20 PM ET | Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5, O/U 45)

It's a good one on Sunday Night Football as the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) are trying to inch closer to winning the AFC North while the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) hope to reclaim the AFC West for the first time since the 2009 season. You have some veteran coaches in Mike Tomlin and Jim Harbaugh and two of the most talented passers to ever play in the league in Aaron Rodgers and Justin Herbert.

However, this matchup comes down to ball security and pass protection. The Steelers forced the Colts into six turnovers last week, including five by quarterback Daniel Jones, who never felt very comfortable behind what was an elite offensive line. That's what the Steelers will need to do to disrupt Herbert, who has lost both starting offensive tackles to season-ending injuries. He lost Rashawn Slater in the preseason, but Joe Alt's presence has had a huge impact on Herbert's season. He had a season-ending ankle injury last week. When Alt is out, Herbert has been far more likely to face hits, take sacks, and throw interceptions, or exactly the plays the Steelers pounced on to beat Indy. Pittsburgh also simplified its defense and played Jalen Ramsey at safety for more snaps than any game in his career. That could be the key to maximizing this defense.

On the other side of the ball, the Steelers have yet to establish a real offensive identity for Arthur Smith's offense led by Rodgers. They did not trade for a wide receiver he needed at the trade deadline, but they have signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling from Rodgers' MVP seasons in Green Bay in 2020-21. That could be some help down the road, but Rodgers barely threw the ball over 10 yards against the Colts as he played it safe. He'll need to continue getting the ball out quick and identify where safety Derwin James is on every play.

But T.J. Watt had a strip-sack against Daniel Jones last week and now he gets a Chargers line missing both tackles. That could be the mismatch of the night that leads the Steelers to another upset win against a contender.