We kicked off the morning on The Starting Lineup by wiping the sleep away and welcoming back one of our absolute favorite recurring guests on the show, Jonathan Von Tobel (better known as JVT). As the co-host of Money Moves on the VSiN Network, JVT always brings a sharp, analytical, and incredibly fun perspective to the sports betting world. Since Missouri officially launched online sports betting back in December, local fans around Springfield and perimeter towns like Nixa and Republic have been looking for the ultimate blueprint to tackle the upcoming football season. Luckily, the brand-new VSiN NFL Betting Guide is out right now, and JVT gave us a masterclass on how to find real value in the futures market.

Chiefs Power Ratings and the AFC West Landscape

Naturally, we had to ask JVT about how the sportsbooks view our regional powerhouse, the Kansas City Chiefs. JVT revealed that the VSiN power ratings actually put the Chiefs as the 12th rated team heading into the season, but most of their analysts are still locking them in to capture the AFC West. With an over-under win total sitting right at 9.5, much of the market hinges on Patrick Mahomes showing absolutely no rust from his recent injury. While JVT trusts Andy Reid to maximize the roster, he is heavily fading Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos, while eyeing the Los Angeles Chargers as the secondary threat in the division.

A Bold Super Bowl Rematch and MVP Longshots

If you want a true “hot take” to spice up your summer, JVT is completely all-in on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. He is officially predicting a SoFi Stadium Super Bowl rematch between the Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams—only this time, he has Cincinnati lifting the Lombardi Trophy. JVT layout how their defensive investments, including adding Dexter Lawrence and Boye Mafe, will push their defense to average, which is all a healthy Joe Burrow needs to dominate with the best wide receiver corps in the NFL. He even recommended looking at alternate win totals over 11.5 at plus prices and taking Burrow to win MVP at 10 to 1 or better. On the NFC side, JVT is bucking the consensus by picking Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East over the Philadelphia Eagles, citing Brian Schottenheimer’s elite game-planning metrics.

Stefanski’s Falcons and a Wide-Open NFC South

Another massive value play in the VSiN guide lands in Atlanta. JVT declared himself a massive believer in head coach Kevin Stefanski, arguing he got a raw deal in Cleveland and will instantly revitalize the Atlanta Falcons. With the team playing indoors and boasting elite skill players, JVT thinks quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is set up for a monstrous career renaissance away from the outdoor elements of Miami and Buffalo. At a longshot of 150 to 1 to win MVP, Tagovailoa represents the exact kind of high-reward prop betting JVT loves.

Merging Fantasy Football with Sports Betting

As Southwest Missouri prepares for its first full NFL season of legalized online wagering, we asked JVT how local players can balance traditional fantasy football leagues with sportsbook betting. JVT explained that the two worlds actually share a perfect synergy. If you spend hours researching statistical trends for your weekly fantasy matchups or DFS lineups, you have already done the heavy lifting to find an edge in the individual player prop markets.