At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Cincinnati Bengals (480) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (479). THE SITUATION: Cincinnati (0-2) has lost their first two games of the season after their 27-24 upset loss to Baltimore as a 3-point favorite last Sunday. Los Angeles (1-1) comes off a 30-23 loss to San Francisco as a 7.5-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BENGALS MINUS THE POINTS: Quarterback Joe Burrow remains a game-time decision with his injured calf as of 5:30 PM ET. Even if he does not play and Jake Browning makes his first start of his career, this is a “gotta have it” game for the team that reached the AFC Championship Game last season. The Bengals' defense needs to step up tonight after allowing 382.5 total Yards-Per-Game this season. This is a group that ranked fifth in the NFL in Football Outsiders’ DVOA defensive metrics last season. Cincinnati has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a loss by three points or less. They need to get their ground game going to help either Burrow or Browning after rushing for just 66 yards last week while getting outrushed by -112 yards. The Bengals have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games after failing to rush for no more than 75 yards — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after getting outrushed by -100 or more yards in their last game. Los Angeles is playing hard for head coach Sean McVay — but talent remains a problem for this team just two seasons removed from their Super Bowl championship. The Rams lost 20 players from last year’s team that was just 5-12. They drafted 14 players last April and signed another 26 undrafted rookies — and these young players are the foundation of this team. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp remains out with his hamstring injury. Los Angeles had a -2 net turnover margin last week — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after playing a game where they had a -2 or worse net turnover margin. The Rams have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games against AFC opponents.

FINAL TAKE: The Bengals stay at home where they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games with the Total set in the 42.5-49 point range. 10* NFL Monday Night Discounted Deal with the Cincinnati Bengals (480) minus the points versus the Los Angeles Rams (479). Best of luck for us — Frank.

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR MONDAY, 9/25:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Monday is with Under the Total in the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Philadelphia (2-0) comes off a 34-28 win against Minnesota as a 6-point favorite last week. The Eagles have played 4 of their last 6 games Under the Total after a game at home where both teams scored 24 or more points. They have also played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a game where 60 or more combined points were scored. Tampa Bay (2-0) is unbeaten this season after their 27-17 win against Chicago as a 1-point favorite last Sunday. That final score finished above the 41-point total — and the Buccaneers have played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total after playing a game that finished Over the Total. They outgained the Bears by +201 net yards — and they have played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after outgaining their previous opponent by 100 or more yards. Take the Under. Best of luck — Frank.

Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports is on a 28 of 41 (68%) NFL TOTALS TEAR with featured 25*/20*/10* plays after CA$HING the Pittsburgh-Las Vegas Under last night to further their 62 of 94 (66%) NFL Totals featured plays mark! Frank also DELIVERED his 25* NFL Game of the Month on New England and then his 25* NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Month with the Steelers yesterday to further his 9 of 13 (69%) Football Game of the Month run! Now Frank UNLEASHES his 25* NFL Total of the Month for Monday night! DO NOT MISS IT!

Frank was a WINNING 3-1 in the NFL with featured plays on Sunday to continue his 36 of 58 (62%) and 119 of 191 (62%) NFL runs with featured plays! Now after last night’s Pittsburgh and the Steelers-Raiders Under S-W-E-E-P, Frank furthers his 91 of 135 (67%) NFL Prime Time mark with tonight’s Philadelphia-Tampa Bay ATS winner on ABC-TV at 7:15 PM ET! WATCH and WIN — and BANK on Frank!

At 7:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (478) plus the points versus the Philadelphia Eagles (477). THE SITUATION: Philadelphia (2-0) has won their opening two games of the season after their 34-28 win against Minnesota as a 6-point favorite back on September 14th. Tampa Bay (2-0) is also unbeaten this season after their 27-17 win against Chicago as a 1-point favorite last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCCANEERS PLUS THE POINTS: The Eagles got their ground game going against the hapless Vikings defense in their second game as they rushed for 259 yards. But they have failed to cover the point spread in  8 of their last 13 games after rushing for 250 or more yards. Philadelphia has scored 59 points in their first two games — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after scoring at least 25 points in two straight games. Minnesota only ran the ball nine times in that game — and they picked up only 28 rushing yards. But the Eagles have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after not allowing more than 30 rushing yards in their last contest. Philadelphia ranked second in total defense last season by allowing only 301.5 total Yards-Per-Game — but I considered that unit overrated going into the Super Bowl which was one of the reasons we were Kansas City and the Over in that game. The Eagles benefited from a soft schedule and some fortunate breaks regarding injuries to opposing quarterbacks. They beat a 49ers team lacking a quarterback that could throw a forward pass in the second half of the NFC Championship Game. They caught Dallas without Dak Prescott for a game. They beat the New York Giants with Daniel Jones three times. The best quarterback that they may have beaten all season was Trevor Lawrence — or maybe Jared Goff — and both those games against Jacksonville and Detroit were in the first half of the season before both those teams made big second-half improvements. Now this Philly defense lost five starters in the offseason even before the injuries in the secondary mentioned earlier — and they will also be without middle linebacker Nakobe Dean leaving that unit thin. After allowing 382 yards to New England in Week One, Minnesota generated another 374 yards against them last week. Tampa Bay has surprised many pundits who expected them to be one of the worst teams in the league despite them outgaining their opponents by +18.4 net Yards-Per-Game. Tom Brady was still effective at quarterback in his swan song season — but his desire to throw the ball left the Buccaneers imbalanced as they were last in the NFL by averaging only 76.9 rushing Yards-Per-Game. It is fashionable to dump on Baker Mayfield — but while he is not going to live up to the hype of being the first pick in the NFL draft, he is still a solid quarterback when healthy. While he is unpopular in the national media, his teammates love him — and he sounds like he has matured since losing the QB job in Carolina last year. His numbers this season are astounding — he is completing 69% of his passes and has yet to commit a turnover. When under pressure this season, Mayfield has completed 15 of 21 passes for 230 yards while posting a QBR of 123. Tampa Bay has converted 20 of their 23 third downs this year. Mayfield has as good of wide receivers as perhaps ever in his career in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. With him under center, the team can run the ball a bit more in an attack that is more what head coach Todd Bowles would like to see. The Buccaneers still have many of the players who were on the Super Bowl team in 2021 — nose tackle Vita Via, linebackers Lavonte David, Devin White, and Shaquil Barrett, safety Antoine Winfield, and cornerback Carlton Davis III remain key contributors on the defensive side of the ball. Tampa Bay is allowing only 17.0 Points-Per-Game and just 302.5 Yards-Per-Game. They have forced five turnovers in their first two games. And the Bucs remain stout in stopping the run under Bowles' leadership — they rank second in the NFL by allowing only 54 rushing YPG. Bowles’ teams going back to the New York Jets have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games at home as an underdog getting 3.5 to 7 points — and his teams have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 11 home games with the Total set in the 42.5-45 point range.

FINAL TAKE: The Buccaneers have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in September. 10* NFL Philadelphia-Tampa Bay ABC-TV Special with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (478) plus the points versus the Philadelphia Eagles (477). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:15 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (479) and the Cincinnati Bengals (480). THE SITUATION: The Los Angeles Rams (1-1) enter this game coming off a 30-23 loss at home to San Francisco as a 7.5-point underdog last Sunday. Cincinnati (0-2) remained winless this season after their 27-24 upset loss at home against Baltimore as a 3-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Bengals’ quarterback  Joe Burrow is a game-time decision as he continues to be slowed by a nagging calk injury he suffered in late July. Even if he plays, he is not close to 100% — and this leg injury is impacting his passing ability. He is 0-12 with his passes of at least 15 yards in the air downfield. He is completing only 56.9% of his passes. If he cannot go tonight, then backup Jake Browning will get the call. The former Washington Huskies quarterback is in his third year in the league and has thrown exactly one pass in a regular season game back in Week One. Cincinnati does not have much of a ground game to lean on either. Running back Joe Mixon has lost a step at this point in his career. After averaging only 3.9 Yards-Per-Carry last season, he has rushed for 59 and 56 yards on 13 carries in both his games. The Bengals have only rushed for 75 and 66 yards in their first two games — and they have then played 12 of their last 15 games Under the Total after not rushing for more than 99 yards in two straight games. They have been outrushed by 131 and 111 yards in both their games — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after being outrushed by -100 or more yards in two straight contests. Additionally, Cincinnati has played 9 of their last 12 games Under the Total after an upset loss at home against an AFC North rival. They have played 8 of their last 12 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total after a loss at home. Furthermore, the Bengals have played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss. And in their last 10 games in September, Cincinnati has played 8 of these games Under the Total. Los Angeles may be without the injured Cooper Kupp but Matthew Stafford is healthy and operating a ball-control offense behind former Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams. The Rams’ offense has been on the field for 36:17 minutes per game — and that is helping to protect their young defense that is allowing only 272.5 Yards-Per-Game. That defense is certainly helped by a healthy Aaron Donald controlling the line of scrimmage. Los Angeles has played 10 of their last 16 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a loss at home to an NFC West rival. Additionally, the Rams have played 12 of their last 16 games Under the Total after playing a game that finished Over the Total — and they have played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a game where 50 or more combined points were scored. Los Angeles did surrender 6.89 Yards-Per-Play to the 49ers — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after allowing their last opponent to generate 6.5 or more YPP. They go back on the road where they have played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total as a road underdog. Furthermore, the Rams have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total against non-conference opponents — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total on Monday Night Football.

FINAL TAKE: The Bengals have played 13 of their last 19 games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range. 25* NFL Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Rams (479) and the Cincinnati Bengals (480). Best of luck for us — Frank.

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR MONDAY, 9/25:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Monday is with the Houston Astros with the money-line versus the Seattle Mariners listing both starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Luis Castillo. Houston (85-71) has lost three in a row and five of their last six contests after their 6-5 loss at home to Kansas City on Sunday. The Astros have won 13 of their last 20 games after losing five or six of their last seven games. They have also pulled off upsets in 23 of their last 34 games when priced as a money-line underdog up to +150. Seattle (84-71) has lost three games in a row after their 9-6 loss at Texas on Sunday. The Mariners have lost 14 of their 22 games this month. They have also lost 10 of their last 14 home games with the Total set at 7 or lower. Take Houston with the money-line listing both starting pitchers. Best of luck — Frank.

Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports is on a 28 of 41 (68%) NFL TOTALS TEAR with featured 25*/20*/10* plays after CA$HING the Pittsburgh-Las Vegas Under last night to further their 62 of 94 (66%) NFL Totals featured plays mark! Frank also DELIVERED his 25* NFL Game of the Month on New England and then his 25* NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Month with the Steelers yesterday to further his 9 of 13 (69%) Football Game of the Month run! Now Frank UNLEASHES his 25* NFL Total of the Month for Monday night! DO NOT MISS IT!

Frank GOT OUT HIS BROOM AGAIN last night after CA$HING WINNING TICKETS with Pittsburgh and the Steelers-Raiders Under to continue his 6 of 9 (67%) NFL run with featured plays! Frank now has 24 NFL PRIME TIME SWEEPS since last fall — now he furthers his 91 of 135 (67%) NFL Prime Time mark with tonight’s LA Rams-Cincinnati ATS winner! CA$H-IN Frank’s Monday Night Discounted Deal — IT’S A STEAL!