6* Cubs/Nationals NL *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 7.5

The Key: All hands will be on deck for this Game 5 between the Cubs and Nationals.  Both offenses have struggled thus far in the series, and that should continue here tonight.  Plus Kyle Hendricks has been great with a 0.70 ERA in his last 4 starts.  And Kendricks sports a 2.17 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Washington.  Gio Gonzalez is having a great season overall with a 3.01 ERA in 33 starts and a 2.90 ERA in 16 home starts.  If he does happen to struggle early, he will get the quick hook, and even the likes of Max Scherzer may be available for the Nationals.  The UNDER is 24-5-1 in Hendricks' last 30 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The UNDER is 10-1 in Hendricks' last 11 road starts.  The UNDER is 9-2-1 in Nationals' last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Hendricks' last 4 starts vs. Nationals.  The UNDER is 3-0-1 in the 4 games in this series thus far.  Take the UNDER.

6* Texas State/Lafayette Sun Belt *CA$H COW* on Lafayette -13.5

The Key: The Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns should blow out Texas State like they usually do.  Lafayette is 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in its last 4 meetings with Texas State, winning all 4 games by 22 or more points.  Texas State is once again one of the worst teams in college football this season.  The Bobcats are 1-5 this season.  They have lost by 30, 35 and 18 points in their last 3 games coming in.  Their offense has been terrible in averaging just 14.5 points per game.  Their defense hasn't been any better, giving up 33.7 points per game.  Bets on home favorites of 10.5 to 21 points with a winning percentage between 40-49% on the season, in conference games are 37-13 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  Take Lafayette.

6* South Alabama/Troy Sun Belt *CA$H COW* on OVER 49

The Key: I think the price is right to pull the trigger on the OVER in this game Wednesday.  The value is there because of the fact that South Alabama and Troy have combined to go 9-1 to the under in their 10 games thus far.  Now this is the lowest total of any game that they have played outside the 48.5-point total in the Troy/LSU game.  The other nine have all been higher than 50 points.  South Alabama is 6-0 OVER when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.  The OVER is 20-9 in Trojans last 29 home games, and 4-1 in Jaguars last 5 road games.  Take the OVER.

7* Vikings/Bears NFC North *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago +4

The Key: The Chicago Bears have won 8 of their last 9 home meetings with the Minnesota Vikings.  They are 2-0 ATS at home this season, nearly beating both the Falcons and Steelers.  The Vikings are just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games.  The Bears are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Teams coming off Thursday games are 7-0 ATS this season.  The Bears have had extra time to get Mitch Trubisky ready for his first start after playing last Thursday.  Take Chicago.

6* Nationals/Cubs National League *CA$H COW* on Washington -110

The Key: Max Scherzer is arguably the best starter in baseball.  Having him for Game 3 here is huge for the Nationals because the winner of this game will likely win the series.  I think Scherzer gets it done against the inexperienced Jose Quintana, who is making his postseason debut.  Scherzer is 10-2 with a 1.82 ERA in 16 road starts this year.  Quintana is 6-4 with a 4.94 ERA in 16 home starts.  Scherzer is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Chicago.  Scherzer is 21-4 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in road games vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse over the last 3 seasons.  Washington is 12-1 (+10.9 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 7 to 7.5 this season.  Take Washington.

7* NFL Sunday Night Game of the Year on Houston Texans +1

The Key: Deshaun Watson is 2-1 as the starting quarterback of the Texans.  They could be 3-0 as their only loss came on the road at New England 33-36 as the Patriots scored a touchdown in the closing seconds to win.  The Texans bounced back with the most impressive performance of Week 4, winning 57-14 at home against the Texans.  Watson accounted for 5 total touchdowns, and the defense held the Titans to just 195 total yards while forcing 5 turnovers.  Now the Texans still get no love from the books as home dogs here to the Chiefs.  It's because the Chiefs are overvalued right now due to their 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS start, which included their miracle cover on Monday Night Football against the Redskins.  Now the Chiefs are on a short week and playing their 2nd straight National TV game.  The spot favors the Texans here.  Kansas City is 0-7 ATS in its last 7 games after gaining 6 or more yards per play in 4 consecutive games.  Take Houston.

6* Sunday NFL *UPSET SPECIAL* on Cleveland Browns +1

The Key: The Jets, Colts and Browns are the 3 worst teams in the NFL and it's very close between all 3 power-ratings wise.  The Browns were favored at Indianapolis in Week 3, and now they're home underdogs to  the Jets in Week 5.  The Jets were 6.5-point home dogs to the Dolphins, and 3.5-point home dogs to the Jaguars.  Now they're favored on the road here after winning those 2 games.  Those games were terrible travel spots for the Dolphins and Jaguars.  The Dolphins were on the road for 5 straight weeks since the preseason and were coming back from a West Coast trip to San Diego.  The Jaguars were coming back from London.  The line value is clearly with the home dog Browns here.  They'll be desperate to get their first win, and I think they get it done.  The Jets are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 following 2 consecutive home wins.  New York is 5-20 ATS in its last 25 after gaining 6.25 or more yards per play in its previous game.  Bets on any team with a poor offensive (14-18 PPG) against a poor defensive team (23-27 PPG), after a loss by 21 or more points are 23-5 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  Take Cleveland.

6* NFL Blowout Game of the Week on Cincinnati Bengals -3

The Key: The Cincinnati Bengals are just 1-3 on the season, while the Buffalo Bills are 3-1.  So the Bengals are undervalued right now, while the Bills are getting more love than they should be.  The Bengals have played well the last two weeks against the Packers and Browns, and the switch to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has made a huge difference.  Andy Dalton has completed 81% of his passes the last 2 weeks and has thrown 6 touchdowns against zero interceptions.  The Bills were fortunate to beat the Falcons last week because Atlanta lost its top 2 receivers in Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, and they got a fluke defensive TD that should have been called an incomplete pass instead of a fumble by Matt Ryan.  The true colors of these two teams will show this week as the Bengals are a playoff contender, while the Bills are frauds.  And the Bengals have a bye next week so they want to go into it feeling good about the outlook of the rest of the season.  Bets on all teams where the line is +3 to -3 after 4 consecutive games where they forced 1 or fewer turnovers against opponent after a game where they committed no turnovers are 36-13 ATS since 1983.  Take Cincinnati.

The Key: The Cincinnati Bengals are just 1-3 on the season, while the Buffalo Bills are 3-1.  So the Bengals are undervalued right now, while the Bills are getting more love than they should be.  The Bengals have played well the last two weeks against the Packers and Browns, and the switch to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has made a huge difference.  Andy Dalton has completed 81% of his passes the last 2 weeks and has thrown 6 touchdowns against zero interceptions.  The Bills were fortunate to beat the Falcons last week because Atlanta lost its top 2 receivers in Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, and they got a fluke defensive TD that should have been called an incomplete pass instead of a fumble by Matt Ryan.  The true colors of these two teams will show this week as the Bengals are a playoff contender, while the Bills are frauds.  And the Bengals have a bye next week so they want to go into it feeling good about the outlook of the rest of the season.  Bets on all teams where the line is +3 to -3 after 4 consecutive games where they forced 1 or fewer turnovers against opponent after a game where they committed no turnovers are 36-13 ATS since 1983.  Take Cincinnati.

6* DBacks/Dodgers NL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 8

The Key: I cashed in the OVER 7 yesterday with ease as 14 combined runs were scored between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.  I'm going back to the well here as I think this 8-run total is too low.  Rich Hill and Robbie Ray have posted good numbers this season.  But Ray was forced into action in the wild card game and won't be on normal rest.  And he has struggled of late.  Hill can't figure out Arizona, going 1-6 with a 5.02 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against them.  The OVER is 5-0 in DBacks last 5 vs. a left-handed starter.  The OVER is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 home games.  The OVER is 4-0 in Ray's last 4 starts vs. Dodgers.  Take the OVER.

7* SEC Game of the Year on Texas A&M +27

The Key: Alabama has won its last two games by a combined score of 125-3.  It's safe to say the betting public is all over them now, which has inflated this number on the road against Texas A&M this week.  The Aggies could easily be 5-0 if not for blowing a massive lead against UCLA in the opener.  And Kevin Sumlin has found a way to be competitive against Nick Saban in recent years.  The Aggies have only lost by more than 19 points once in their last five meetings since 2012, and that was on the road.  Defensive coordinator John Chavis has turned this Aggies stop unit into a respectable one.  And what can keep Texas A&M in this game is a run defense that is only giving up 96 rushing yards per game and 3.1 per carry this season.  Bets on home dogs of 14.5 or more points off two or more consecutive wins, with a winning record on the season are 40-11 ATS since 1992.  Take Texas A&M.

6* Arkansas/South Carolina SEC *CA$H COW* on Arkansas -2.5

The Key: The South Carolina Gamecocks are frauds, and that has shown the last few weeks.  It also didn't help that they lost their best player in WR Deebo Samuel to a season-ending injury in Week 2.  The Gameocks were outgained by 258 yards in their opener against South Carolina yet somehow won the game.  Then they beat a bad Missouri team before falling at home to Kentucky 13-23.  They barely beat a bad LA Tech team 17-16 at home, and then lost 17-24 at Texas A&M last week while getting outgained by 117 yards.  Arkansas' only two losses have come against TCU and to Texas A&M in overtime.  I think the Razorbacks are the better team, and they only have to win by a field goal or more to cover this spread.  Arkansas is 13-2 ATS in its last 15 road games where the total is 45.5 to 49.  Bets against home teams where the line is +3 to -3 after going under the total by 21 or more points total in their last three games, winning between 51% and 60% of their games on the season are 26-6 ATS since 1992.  Take Arkansas.

6* AAC Game of the Week on Tulane -4.5

The Key: Good spot here for Tulane.  The Green Wave had a bye last week following a grueling stretch against Navy, Oklahoma and Army in consecutive weeks.  Now they'll be rejuvenated and they get to go up against a tired Tulsa team that hasn't had a bye and is coming off a grueling stretch of their own with Toledo, New Mexico and Navy in consecutive weeks.  This is the perfect matchup for a run-heavy Tulane team that averages 244 rushing yards per game and 5.2 per carry.  The Golden Hurricane allow 320 rushing yards and 6.7 per carry this season.  The Green Wave are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Tulsa is 6-20 ATS in its last 26 after being outgianed by 125 or more yards in 2 consecutive games.  The Green Wave are 17-6 ATS in their last 23 as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points.  Take Tulane.

6* Diamondbacks/Dodgers NL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 7

The Key: Give me the OVER in this game between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.  Clayton Kershaw sports a 4.23 ERA in his last 5 starts and just doesn't look completely healthy.  He has posted a 4.55 ERA in the playoffs lifetime as well.  Taijuan Walker is just an average starter, and the Dodgers could cover this 7-run total on their own.  Walker is 2-1 with a 4.79 ERA in 4 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles.  Walker sports a 5.27 ERA in his last 3 starts coming in as well.  Take the OVER.

7* Boise/BYU ESPN Friday Night Lights on BYU +9

The Key: The BYU Cougars are a prideful team and clearly aren't happy with their 1-4 start.  They gave the game away against Utah State by committing a ridiculous 7 turnovers last week.  They held Utah State to just 288 total yards to prove that their defense isn't broken.  Boise State just can't be laying this kind of price on the road tonight with what we've seen from them so far.  They lost their last game 23-42 at home to Virginia as 14-point favorites, failing to cover by 33 points.  The home team is 6-0 SU in the last 6 meetings.  The Cougars are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings with Boise State.  The Broncos are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games overall.  Boise State is 0-7 ATS after failing to cover the spread in 2 of its last 3 games over the last 3 seasons.  Take BYU.

6* Pats/Bucs Thursday NFL *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 54.5

The Key: The over has cashed in all four Patriots games this season.  That has this total set too high now at 54.5.  I think the value is clearly with the under now and I look for this one to be more low-scoring than the books anticipate.  Both defenses cannot continue to be as poor as they've been up to this point, especially the Patriots.  The UNDER is 8-1 in Patriots last 9 games on grass.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Bucs last 5 home games.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take the UNDER.

7* Louisville/NC State ACC *HEAVY HITTER* on NC State +4.5

The Key: Louisville is just a one-man show with Lamar Jackson.  He has a shaky offensive line, and now he's without his best receiver in Jaylen Smith due to a wrist injury.  That makes this a bad matchup against NC State, which has one of the more underrated defensive lines in the country and NFL talent up front.  Ryan Finley actually has a better QBR than Jackson this season.  Finley has thrown 9 touchdowns and zero interceptions on the year.  It's revenge time after NC State was blown out 13-54 at Louisville last season.  It was a clear flat spot for the Wolfpack after they had lost in overtime to Clemson 17-24 the previous week.  They didn't even show up.  They will Thursday night in front of a packed home crowd to claim their revenge.  Take NC State.

6* Red Sox/Astros American League *CA$H COW* on Houston -129

The Key: Justin Verlander is 5-1 with a 1.06 ERA following his trade-deadline acquisition from the Detroit Tigers.  He has been absolutely dealing, and deserves this Game 1 start.  The Astros come into the postseason with a ton of momentum as a team after going 6-1 in their final 7 games, scoring 11 or more runs in 4 of those victories.  The Red Sox slumped to a 2-5 finish and scored 4 or fewer runs in 5 of those 7 games.  Chris Sale was very hittable down the stretch.  The right-handed heavy lineup of the Astros makes this a bad matchup for him, especially with the short porch in left field.  Verlander sports a 2.77 ERA in 18 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  He sports a 1.37 ERA in his last 7 starts against Boston, giving up only 7 earned runs in 46 innings.  Verlander is 22-4 (+17.3 Units) against the money line in home games vs. teams outscoring opp by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season lifetime.  Take Houston.

7* Rockies/DBacks National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Arizona -168

The Key: Simply put, Zack Greinke doesn't lose at home.  He is used to the playoff atmosphere as well, which is a big advantage for him over the Colorado Rockies and Jon Gray.  Greinke is 13-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 18 home starts this year.  Gray is 5-3 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 12 road starts.  Greinke has allowed 4 earned runs or less in 7 starts starts against Colorado, 3 or less in 6 of those, and 2 or less in 4 of those.  Gray is 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts versus Arizona.  Greinke is 91-25 (+46.9 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -150 or more lifetime.  Greinke is 75-19 (+40.6 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 or more lifetime.  Greinke is 15-3 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in home games this season.  Take Arizona.

6* Twins/Yankees American League *Total* Annihilator on OVER 7.5

The Key: Both Ervin Santana and Luis Severino are having fine seasons for their respective teams.  But this total is too low here and we should see plenty of runs in hitter-friendly Yankees Stadium.  Santana doesn't enjoy facing the Yankees, going 6-10 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 20 lifetime starts against them.  Severino sports a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in one lifetime start versus Minnesota.  The Yankees are scoring 5.3 RPG overall and 5.6 RPG at home.  The Twins are scoring 5.0 RPG overall and 4.9 RPG on the road.  The Twins are 25-9 OVER in road games vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better over the last 2 seasons.  The Twins are 34-12 OVER in road games vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better over the last 2 seasons.  The Yankees are 8-0 OVER in home games after allowing 3 runs or less 3 straight games this season.  The OVER is 10-2 in Severino's last 12 starts, and 7-1 in his last 8 home starts.  Take the OVER.

7* Redskins/Chiefs MNF *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington Redskins +7

The Key: Don't look now but the Washington Redskins are 2-1 and dominating their opponents statistically.  They have outgained their opponents by 101.7 yards per game on the season.  Their defense is playing extremely well, giving up just 272 yards per game.  The Chiefs are getting too much respect due to their 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS start.  But they have only outgained their opponents by 28.3 yards per game.  They haven't been as dominant as their record and point differential would suggest.  Kansas City is 1-14 ATS in its last 15 games after gaining 6 or more yards per play in 3 consecutive games.  Washington is 43-24 ATS in its last 67 games as a road dog of 3.5 to 7 points.  The Redskins are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games.  The Redskins are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Chiefs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 home games.  Take Washington.

7* NFC West Game of the Year on San Francisco 49ers +7

The Key: The San Francisco 49ers have been very impressive in their last two games.  They only lost by a field goal in Seattle as two-touchdown dogs, and they should have beaten the Rams are 3-point dogs in a 2-point loss last Thursday.  And that's key because now the 49ers have extra rest and prep time to get ready for the Cardinals this week.  The Cardinals have to work on a short week and try and recover from their 17-28 loss to the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.  I do not think the 49ers should be catching a touchdown given this favorable situation for them.  Arizona is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games overall.  San Francisco is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 meetings in Arizona.  Take San Francisco.

6* Sunday NFL *UPSET SPECIAL* on Philadelphia Eagles +2.5

The Key: The fact that the Chargers are taking money and moving this line up to -2.5 is mind-blowing.  The Eagles are clearly the better team in this matchup, and the Chargers simply find ways to lose.  The Chargers are just 9-26 straight up over the past 3 seasons combined, winning roughly 25% of their games.  They can't be favored here against an upstart Eagles team that is one of the most improved in the NFL this season.  Philip Rivers should have already retired as he looks old and slow and has lost his arm strength.  He threw three interceptions against the Chiefs last week and it could have been more.  The Eagles are 8-0 ATS off 2 or more consecutive overs over the last 3 seasons.  The Chargers have zero home-field advantage right now as the LA fans just aren't into them, especially after their 0-3 start.  Los Angeles is 5-18 ATS in its last 23 home games. The Chargers are 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  Take Philadelphia.

6* Titans/Texans AFC South *CA$H COW* on Houston +3

The Key: Deshaun Watson led the Texans to a win in Cincinnati and a near-win in New England in his first two NFL starts.  If that's not impressive, I don't know what is.  This guy just isn't getting the love he deserves from oddsmakers as the Texans are now a home dog to the Titans.  Now Watson will have another healthy weapon back in Will Fuller, who is expected to make his season debut.  Having Fuller, DeAndre Hopkins and Bruce Ellington gives the Texans one of the most underrated receiving corps in the league.  The Titans are in a tough spot after a physical game against the Seahawks last week.  And after beating Seattle, it's certainly a bit of a letdown spot for them here.  Teams have not done well the week after facing Seattle over the past decade.  The Texans have won 8 of their last 10 meetings with the Titans, and they are a perfect 5-0 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home meetings.  Take Houston.

7* Mountain West Game of the Year on Fresno State -9

The Key: I think the Fresno State Bulldogs are one of the most underrated teams in the country.  They have been undervalued in the markets, going 3-0 ATS in their 3 games this season.  They won 66-0 over Incarnate Ward, then had to play Alabama and Washington in back-to-back weeks.  So their bye week came at the perfect time last week, and now they'll be fresh and ready to go in their Mountain West opener.  Nevada is clearly not any good this season, going 0-4 SU & 1-3 ATS.  They lost at home to Idaho State as a 32.5-point favorite, then were punked 7-45 at Washington State the last two weeks.  The Wolf Pack come in on normal rest and won't be nearly as fresh as Fresno.  Jeff Tedford is one of the best offensive minds in college football, so look for Fresno to score at will here against this suspect Nevada defense.  Fresno is 7-0 ATS in its last 7 after scoring 17 points or less in 2 straight games.  The Bulldogs are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Take Fresno State.

6* Clemson/VA Tech ACC Game of the Week on Virginia Tech +7.5

The Key: Virginia Tech showed it could play with eventual national champion Clemson in a 35-42 loss last year in the ACC Championship Game on a neutral field.  Now they get their shot at revenge on the Tigers at home in Blacksburg with ESPN College Game Day on site.  It's safe to say it's going to be a madhouse.  I fully expect the Hokies to pull the upset, but we'll take the 7.5 points just in case.  Clemson was actually tied 7-7 with Boston College at home last week as 33-point favorites, so they are vulnerable.  The Hokies are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Hokies are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Virginia Tech.

6* MAC Game of the Week on Akron -2.5

The Key: I think Akron is still one of the better teams in the MAC.  But they are flying under the radar because of their 1-3 start.  That's solely due to playing a brutal schedule with games at Penn State and Troy, and a home game against Iowa State.  They were double-digit dogs in all three games.  The blew out Arkansas-Pine Bluff 52-33 in between.  Bowling Green is 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS and not only one of the worst teams in the MAC, but one of the worst in the country.  They lost by 42 at Northwestern, and even lost at home to FCS foe South Dakota.  Bowling Green is 0-7 ATS off a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.  The Falcons are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 September games.  Take Akron.

6* Miami/Notre Dame Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Miami +21.5

The Key: Off a big win at Michigan State last week, and with UNC on deck, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish could be in a flat spot here.  And now they're up against a pesky Miami Ohio team that will fight them for four quarters.  Miami won their final 6 games last year and easily could be 4-0 this year.  They lost 26-31 at Marshall despite outgaining them by 162 yards.  They also lost 17-21 to Cincinnati and blew a big lead in the 4th quarter.  Notre Dame was outgained by 141 yards by Michigan State last week as that 38-18 final couldn't have been more misleading.  The Redhawks are 9-2 ATS as a dog over the last 2 seasons.  The Redhawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.  The Fighting Irish are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS win.  Take Miami.

6* NCAAF Non-Conference Game of the Week on Eastern Michigan +14.5

The Key: The Kentucky Wildcats are not in a good state of mind right now after blowing yet another late lead and losing to Florida, 28-27 last week.  They have now lost 31 straight to the Gators.  Now they have to step back out of conference and try and get motivated to play a MAC team, and I don't believe they will be.  They only beat Eastern Kentucky 27-16 earlier this season as 33-point favorites.  They have yet to win any game by more than 11 points this season.  Now they're up against a game Eastern Michigan squad that made a bowl last year and returned 18 starters.  EMU already upset Rutgers on the road, too.  They can hang with Kentucky here.  The Eagles are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Eagles are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 road games.  The Wildcats are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.  Take Kentucky.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Oakland A's +107

The Key: The Texas Rangers have completely quit.  They are 0-7 in their last 7 games overall.  They can't be favored here against an Oakland A's team that has not quit, going 9-2 in their last 11 games.  The price is simply too good to pass up here, starting pitchers aside.  But Martin Perez is 0-2 in his last 2 starts against the A's and has allowed 9 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings as well.  Raul Alcantara pitched 5 shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Rangers on September 23rd in his last start.  Take Oakland.

7* Miami/Duke ACC *HEAVY HITTER* on Duke +7

The Key: Duke has been grossly underrated to start the season. The Blue Devils are 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS, winning all four games by double-digits over NC Central (60-7), Northwestern (41-17), Baylor (34-20) and UNC (27-17).  I think they continue being underrated here as 7-point home dogs to Miami.  The Blue Devils have played the Hurricanes tough at home, not losing once by more than 7 points in their last 3 home meetings.  Take Duke.

7* Bears/Packers NFC North Game of the Month on Green Bay -7

The Key: The Green Bay Packers have won 12 of their last 14 meetings with the Chicago Bears.  They have also gone 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.  They won 26-10 at home over the Bears last year.  The QB edge for the Packers here is worth at least 7 points.  If Aaron Rodgers and the Packers get up 7 or more, the Bears won't be able to come back because Matt Glennon has been terrible, and he has the worst set of receivers in the NFL.  The Bears can run the ball, but that's not going to work if they get behind.  I think the Packers are by far the safer side here.  Hanging with the Steelers and Packers in back-to-back games is just too much to ask for Chicago.  Take Green Bay.

6* Texas/Iowa State Big 12 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 62

The Key: The Iowa State Cyclones hung 41 points on a very good Iowa defense.  In fact, they have scored 40-plus points in all 3 games this season.  They will be able to keep soaring on offense against a leaky Texas defense that gave up 51 points to Maryland.  The Longhorns should only get better offensively as the season goes on under Tom Herman, and I expect them to have several new wrinkles on offense with two weeks to get ready for this game.  Expect another patented Big 12 shootout in this game Thursday night.  The Cyclones are 6-0 OVER off a win by 17 points or more over the last 3 seasons.  The OVER is 10-0-1 in Cyclones last 11 games following a win.  Take the OVER.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Pittsburgh Pirates +134

The Key: I cashed the Phillies +150 yesterday fading the Washington Nationals.  I'll do the same on the underdog Pirates here at a great price.  The Nationals have nothing to play for right now as they are locked in to the No. 2 seed in the National League, and they'll now face the Cubs in the Divisional Round series.  The Pirates have won 4 straight coming in and have scored a total of 30 runs in those wins, or an average of 7.5 per game.  They should light up Edwin Jackson, who is 5-6 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 12 starts, 3-3 with a 5.77 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 6 home starts, and 0-2 with a 15.68 ERA and 2.71 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Ivan Nova is 11-14 with a 4.14 ERA in 30 starts this year.  Nova is 1-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 2 lifetime starts vs. Washington.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Colorado Rockies -1.5 (-110)

The Key: The Colorado Rockies have huge mound and motivational advantages here over the Miami Marlins.  They are trying to clinch the wild card spot and lead the Brewers by only 1.5 games.  Ace Jon Gray gets the ball looking to build on his 9-4 record with a 3.62 ERA in 19 starts this year.  Gray has gone 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 7 starts at Coors Field.  He has come up clutch down the stretch too at 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Adam Conley is 7-6 with a 5.71 ERA in 19 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 10.49 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Conley sports a 5.90 ERA in 2 lifetime starts vs. Colorado.  Take Colorado on the Run Line.

7* AL West Game of the Month on Houston Astros -132

The Key: The Houston Astros are still battling for home-field advantage in the American League with the Cleveland Indians.  They are doing their part, going 9-2 in their last 11 games overall.  The Texas Rangers are going in the opposite direction.  They were just swept by the Oakland A's over the weekend that killed their wild card chances.  They have now lost 4 straight.  I don't look for them to offer much resistance over the final week of the season now, and that showed last night in an 11-2 home loss to the Astros.  We are getting Houston ace Dallas Keuchel at a tremendous price here.  Keuchel is 13-5 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 22 starts this year.  Texas is 1-11 (-12.9 Units) against the money line in home games off 3 consecutive losses by 5 runs or more to division rivals.  The Astros are 10-2 in Keuchel's last 12 road starts.  Take Houston.

6* Mariners/A's AL West *BAILOUT* on Oakland -102

The Key: The Oakland A's are quietly going on a tear to close out the season.  They are now 7-0 in their last 7 games overall and playing with pride.  The Seattle Mariners just can't wait to go on vacation.  They are 1-8 in their last 9 games overall.  These are two teams headed in opposite directions, and we'll back the more motivated A's here at basically even money at home.  The A's are 45-33 at home this year.  Felix Hernandez is 0-1 with a 7.30 ERA in his last 3 starts.  The A's are 10-1 in their last 11 vs. a right-handed starter.  Take Oakland.

7* Cowboys/Cardinals NFC *HEAVY HITTER* on Arizona +3.5

The Key: The Arizona Cardinals have gone on the road the first two weeks and are 1-1.  There's no shame in that.  Now it's their home opener on the Monday night stage, and the Cardinals are primed for their best performance of the season.  Dallas has a ton of injuries in the secondary, and the Cardinals' strength is their passing attack, so Carson Palmer is primed for a big game here.  Trevor Siemian lit up Dallas' secondary last week, and he's one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL.  The Cowboys lost that game 17-42.  The Cardinals have one of the best defenses in the NFL after finishing #2 in total defense last year.  They will be able to slow down Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot here Monday.  Dogs are 12-3 ATS so far in Week 3, and I think this is another live home dog here tonight.  Bruce Arians is 6-0 ATS as a home dog of 3 points or less as the coach of Arizona.  Arians is 7-0 ATS against NFC East teams as the coach of the Cardinals.  Take Arizona.

6* Sunday NFL *Total* Annihilator on Seahawks/Titans UNDER 42

The Key: The Seattle Seahawks have been terrible offensively this season because of their injuries along the offensive line.  Russell Wilson has been running for his life, and the running game hasn't been able to get going.  The Seahawks are only scoring 10.5 points per game and averaging 4.4 yards per play.  But they have been elite defensively in giving up only 13.0 points per game.  I think this will be a defensive battle with the Titans, who could be without RB DeMarco Murray and WR Corey Davis on offense.  Seattle is 31-12 UNDER in its last 43 September road games.  Take the UNDER.

6* AL West *CA$H COW* on Oakland A's -106

The Key: The Oakland A's are on a tear right now in going 6-0 in their last 6 games overall.  The Texas Rangers have had their fate sealed by losing the first 2 games of this series, and are now 4.5 games back in the wild card.  I look for the Rangers to tank the rest of the way.  Jharel Cotton is 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Texas.  Martin Perez is 6-6 with a 5.03 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 14 lifetime starts vs. Oakland.  Take Oakland.

7* AFC Game of the Month on Houston Texans +14

The Key: The New England Patriots have too many injuries right now to be favored by 14 over the Houston Texans.  They have a handful of skill players on offense who are banged up, and the injuries on defense have led to the Patriots giving up 31 points, 483 yards per game and 7.8 yards per play.  Their defense was terrible in the preaseson too.  I think Deshaun Watson can make enough plays to keep this game close, while the Texans' defense remains one of the elite units in the league.  Plus Watson gets some key weapons back this week in TE Ryan Griffin and WR Bruce Ellington.  Also CB Jonathan Joseph is expected to return from injury.  Take Houston.

6* Sunday NFL *UPSET SPECIAL* on Buffalo Bills +3.5

The Key: The betting public is all over the Denver Broncos in this game.  They are coming off the most impressive win over the week in Week 2 with a 42-17 victory over the Cowboys.  They have opened 2-0 at home, but now they are going on the road for the first time.  And the Broncos have a massive game against Oakland on deck next week.  This is the classic sandwich spot.  The Bills have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, which makes this a good matchup for them because the Broncos had the 28th-ranked run defense last year.  The Bills have an elite defense that can keep them in this game.  They are only giving up 10.5 points, 234 yards per game and 4.1 yards per play.  Take Buffalo.

6* Saturday MLB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Chicago White Sox +170

The Key: We are getting an excellent price on the Chicago White Sox at home today.  This lineup is now loaded with young talent as the White Sox have brought up their prospects late in the season and they've gotten significant playing time.  The Royals are 75-78 on the season and basically eliminated from the postseason after losing to the White Sox yesterday.  The White Sox won that game 7-6.  The Royals singled with a runner on 2nd in the 9th, and that runner was thrown out at home, plus the guy that singled was thrown out at 2nd trying to advance on the throw.  That was a heartbreaking way for the Royals to lose and I don't think they'll recover today.  Danny Duffy is 0-3 with a 9.56 ERA in 3 starts against the White Sox in 2017.  He has allowed 17 earned runs in 16 innings in those 3 starts.  He can't be this big of a favorite Saturday.  Take Chicago.

6* Saturday NCAAF Non-Conference *BLOWOUT* on Miami -13.5

The Key: The Miami Hurricanes have a real shot to win the ACC this season.  Mark Richt has a loaded team that went 9-4 last season.  I think the Hurricanes are flying under the radar right now because they haven't played in 3 weeks.  And the betting public hasn't heard from them, so nobody is on them right now.  They should be favored by more than 2 touchdowns against Toledo.  This is a Toledo team that only beat Tulsa 54-51 last week at home, and that's a Tulsa team that lost by 35 at Oklahoma State.  I think Miami is on Oklahoma State's level.  And you have to think the Rockets are going to be a little gassed after that shootout with Tulsa.  The Hurricanes are 7-0 ATS after scoring 37 points or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.  Take Miami.

6* UCF/Maryland Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Maryland -4

The Key: The Maryland Terrapins are one of the most underrated teams in the country.  DJ Durkin has a tremendous coaching staff that came through with a Top 20 recruiting class over the offseason.  Things are on the rise here.  And Maryland's 51-41 win at Texas as 19-point dogs in the opener looks even better now.  Texas went on to beat San Jose State 56-0, and then took USC to overtime on the road in a 24-27 loss.  UCF is a team that will be a contender in the AAC this season, but Maryland is in a different class in my opinion.  That will show on the field Saturday.  Take Maryland.

7* Arkansas/Texas A&M SEC West Game of the Year on Arkansas +3

The Key: The Arkansas Razorbacks are coming off a bye week.  So they've had two full weeks to get ready for Texas A&M.  And boy, do they ever want revenge on the Aggies.  They have lost 5 straight meetings with Texas A&M over the last 5 seasons, including two of the last three in overtime.  The Aggies are clearly down this season and vulnerable, so this is their chance to have their revenge.  They lost at UCLA in the opener, only beat Nicholls State 24-14 as 37.5-point favorites, and actually trailed UL Lafayette 21-14 at halftime last week as 23.5-point favorites.  Arkansas did lose to TCU, but the Horned Frogs are one of the better teams in the country, so that's not a bad loss.  The Aggies are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games overall.  The Razorbacks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a bye week.  Texas A&M is 0-8 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses against the spread over the last 2 seasons.  Take Arkansas

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Indians -129

The Key: The Indians are rolling right now and can't be tamed.  The Mariners are on an extended losing streak and are just ready for the season to be over.  Take Cleveland.

6* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Boise State -12.5

The Key: The Boise State Broncos have been terrible ATS at home over the last few seasons.  That has provided some line value here on them moving forward, and I think this -12.5 spread is a bargain against an awful Virginia team that is rebuilding.  Take Boise State.

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Colorado Rockies -127

The Key: I know the Rockies have not been good on the road this season, but I have to back them at this price given the situation.  They are only one game up in the wild card race with the Brewers.  They need wins right now.  Tyler Anderson has owned the Padres, going 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against them, allowing only 1 earned run in 12 1/3 innings.  Clayton Richard is 4-6 with a 5.62 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 17 lifetime starts vs. Colorado.  He has given up 14 earned runs and 25 base runners in 9 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Rockies this season.  The Rockies are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.  The Padres are 3-8 in Richard's last 11 starts vs. the Rockies.  Take Colorado.

7* Rams/49ers NFC West *HEAVY HITTER* on San Francisco +3

The Key: One of the biggest advantages in professional sports is home teams on Thursday night games.  The short week for road teams is so tough because they have to travel and have almost zero time to prepare.  I think the 49ers were impressive last week in their 12-9 road loss to the Seahawks as 14-point dogs.  They have been able to get the running game going behind Carlos Hyde, who is averaging 7.0 yards per carry this season.  The Rams gave up over 200 rushing yards to the Redskins last week.  The 49ers have won 3 straight meetings with the Rams and are 6-2 SU & 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  They were home dogs to the Rams last season, and won 28-0.  Take San Francisco.

6* Temple/USF AAC *CA$H COW* on South Florida -19.5

The Key: The South Florida Bulls had their get right game last week with a 47-23 win over Illinois.  The Bulls amassed 680 total yards in that win and have one of the best offenses in the country.  This is an offense that has put up at least 30 points in 19 consecutive games now.  That makes it easier to lay big numbers knowing that they can score.  Temple has looked terrible in its 3 games this season.  The Owls were blown out at Notre Dame, and then they easily could have lost to both Villanova and UMass at home in wins by a combined 11 points.  They were outgained by both of those teams.  USF will want revenge from a 46-30 loss to Temple last year that basically decided the AAC champ.  The Bulls are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 home games.  Take South Florida.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee Brewers -113

The Key: I've cashed the Milwaukee Brewers the last 2 days and I'm back on them again Wednesday.  Their win yesterday got them to within just one game of the Colorado Rockies for the 2nd wild card spot.  The Pirates have clearly packed it in over the last few weeks, going 1-12 in their last 13 games overall.  The Brewers have gone 9-2 in their last 11 games for a really impressive run with what's at stake.  Aaron Wilkerson gets called up from the minors after going 11-4 with a 3.14 ERA in Biloxi this season.  He has struck out 143 and walked only 36 in 142 1/3 innings.  He has had a long journey to the majors and I look for him to seize this opportunity, because he has earned it.  The Brewers are 7-1 in their last 8 road games.  The Pirates are 6-21 in their last 27 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NL Central Game of the Month on Milwaukee Brewers -117

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers are just 2 games behind the Colorado Rockies for the 2nd wild card spot.  That makes this a big series for them at Pittsburgh here.  The Pirates could clearly care less as they've packed it in over the last few weeks.  The Pirates are 1-11 in their last 12 games overall.  Chase Anderson is the better starter here as he's 10-3 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 22 starts this year.  Trevor Williams is 5-7 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 23 starts for the Pirates.  Anderson is 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 10 lifetime starts vs. Pittsburgh as well.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Lions/Giants NFC *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 42.5

The Key: The New York Giants have one of the best defenses in the NFL.  They held the Cowboys to just 19 points on the road last week despite their defense being on the field most the game.  That's because their offense was awful, managing just a field goal in the 19-3 loss.  They didn't have Odell Beckham in that game, and Beckham is going to be a game-time decision this week, so even if he plays he won't be 100%.  The Giants will have to ride their defense again here.  They hosted the Lions last year and won 17-6 for 23 combined points.  I think we see a similar output here.  The Lions scored 35 points last week, but they were gifted many of those points thanks to 4 turnovers by the Cardinals.  Detroit is 7-0 UNDER in its last 7 games off a win.  The UNDER is 20-7 in Lions last 27 road games.  The UNDER is 8-2 in Giants last 10 games overall, including 4-0 in their last 4 home games.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Brewers +100

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers are just 2.5 games behind the Colorado Rockies for the 2nd wild card spot.  That makes this a big series for them at Pittsburgh here.  The Pirates could clearly care less as they've packed it in over the last few weeks.  The Pirates are 1-10 in their last 11 games overall.  Brent Suter is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 11 starts this year.  He is a better starter than Jameson Taillon, who is 7-6 with a 4.78 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 22 starts, including 3-4 with a 5.37 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 13 home starts.  The Brewers are 7-0 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Cowboys/Broncos Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Dallas -2.5

The Key: The Dallas Cowboys went 6-1 SU & 5-1-1 ATS in meaningful road games last season where they played all of their starters.  They dominated on the road, beating the likes of the Packers and Steelers along the way.  The thing about the Cowboys is that their style of play travels well.  Teams that can run the football can win on the road.  And the Cowboys are probably the best in the league in that aspect.  Plus, Dak Prescott doesn't make critical mistakes and takes care of the football.  And the Cowboys should be able to run on a Broncos defense that ranked 28th in the NFL against the run last season.  Jason Garrett is 15-5 ATS in road games in the first half of the season as the coach of the Cowboys.  Take Dallas.

6* Sunday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Red Sox/Rays OVER 8.5

The Key: This is a very low total for the Red Sox at Rays game today.  Neither of these starting pitchers are very good.  Eduardo Rodriquez is 5-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 21 starts this year, and 3-4 with a 4.59 ERA in 11 road starts.  Jake Odorizzi is 8-8 with a 4.52 ERA in 25 starts this year, and 4-6 with a 4.60 ERA in 14 home starts.  Rodriquez is 0-1 with a 7.58 ERA in 4 lifetime starts vs. Tampa Bay.  Odorizzi is 3-5 with a 4.56 ERA in 16 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  Rodriguez has allowed 10 earned runs in 8 innings in his last 2 starts against Tampa Bay.  Odorizzi has yielded 8 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings in his last 2 starts against Boston.  Take the OVER.

6* Sunday NFL *UPSET SPECIAL* on Jacksonville Jaguars +1

The Key: The Jacksonville Jaguars have an elite defense that forced 4 turnovers and held the Texans to 7 points and 203 total yards last week.  They are the better defensive football team in this matchup with the Titans.  And the Jags have a new-found running game thanks to the upgrades they made along the offensive line and in the backfield with Leonard Fournette, who rushed for 100 yards in the win last week.  The Jaguars beat the Titans 38-17 at home last year.  The Titans are now 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Jacksonville and 13-35-3 ATS in their last 51 division games overall.  Take Jacksonville.

6* AFC Game of the Week on Cleveland Browns +7.5

The Key: The Cleveland Browns gave the Pittsburgh Steelers all they could handle last week in a 21-18 home loss as 10-point dogs.  The Steelers blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, which was the difference in that game.  They held a high-powered Steelers offense to just 14 points, while basically stopping Le'Veon Bell completely.  The Bengals turned the ball over 5 times against the Ravens last week, yet the Ravens only scored 20 points.  That just shows how bad of shape this Baltimore offense is in right now.  That's why they can't be laying more than a TD against one of the most improved teams in the NFL in the Browns, who can keep this one close.  The road team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  The Browns are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 trips to Baltimore.  Take Cleveland.

7* Texas/USC Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Texas +16

The Key: Tom Herman has been an underdog 11 times in his career as a coordinator for Ohio State and as a head coach at Houston.  His teams have gone a PERFECT 11-0 SU & 11-0 ATS in those 11 games.  The Longhorns are flying under the radar now after getting upset by Maryland in the opener.  They got right with a 56-0 win over San Jose State last week.  Look for USC to have a bit of an emotional letdown here after their huge win over USC last week.  Take Texas.

6* NCAAF Favorite of the Week on Miami (Ohio) -4.5

The Key: The Miami Ohio Redhawks may be the best team in the MAC this season.  This is a team that made a bowl game last year after their 0-6 start by winning their final 6 games.  They returned 17 starters from that squad this year.  I think their 26-31 loss at Marshall has them flying under the radar.  But they outgained Marshall by 162 yards in that game and should have won.  Cincinnati and Miami have both hosted Austin Peay.  Miami won 31-10, while Cincinnati only won 26-14.  Cincinnati is going to have a hard time getting motivated for this game after playing at Michigan last week, and with another big game at Navy on deck next week.  The Bearcats are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 non-conference games.  The Home team is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 meetings.  The Bearcats are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 meetings.  Take Miami Ohio.

6* NCAAF Dog of the Week on Georgia State +37.5

The Key: The Georgia State Panthers were upset in their opener by Tennessee State as 15-point favorites.  They gave that game away by committing 4 turnovers.  Now they are flying under the radar after that poor performance, and they've had 2 full weeks to fix their issues and prepare for Penn State.  This is a clear flat spot for the Nittany Lions.  They just played in-state rival Pitt last week, and though they won 33-14, they were actually outgained by the Panthers by 30 yards.  Now they have their Big Ten opener at Iowa on deck next week, making this a sandwich spot.  James Franklin will be more worried about keeping everyone healthy than blowing the doors off Georgia State.  This is a Georgia State team that only lost 17-23 as 34-point road dogs at Wisconsin last year, and they have 15 starters back from that squad.  They can hang around here.  The Panthers are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games as a road underdog. The Panthers are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  Take Georgia State.

6* Interleague Game of the Week on Philadelphia Phillies -111

The Key: The Philadelphia Phillies have won 3 of their last 4 games coming in.  They scored 27 runs in the 3 wins before getting shut out yesterday by the A's in Game 1 of this series.  I think they get back in the win column here in Game 2 thanks to their big advantage on the mound.  Ben Lively is 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 12 starts this year.  He is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Kendall Graveman is 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 7 road starts this year for Oakland.  The A's 20-47 in their last 67 road games.  Oakland is 8-20 in Graveman's last 28 road starts.  The Phillies are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a loss.  Take Philadelphia.

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Chicago White Sox +103

The Key: Chicago White Sox fans are getting a chance to see their young prospects get significant playing time down the stretch.  And the results have been impressive in their rotation and their lineup.  They are 5-1 in their last 6 games overall.  The Sox have scored 11 or more runs in 3 of their last 6 games, including their 17-7 beat down of the Tigers last night.  The Tigers are the worst team in baseball right now with all of the players they traded away.  They are 0-6 in their last 6 games overall.  Carson Fulmer allowed 1 earned run while striking out 9 in 6 innings of an 8-1 victory over San Francisco on September 10th in his last start.  Anibal Sanchez is 3-4 with a 6.90 ERA in 13 starts this year, including 0-1 with a 15.43 ERA in his last 3 starts.  The Tigers are 1-10 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter.  Take Chicago.

6* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on UMass +15

The Key: The UMass Minutemen have had a hard-luck start to the 2017 season.  They are 0-3, but all 3 of their losses have come by 10 points or less.  The Temple Owls are clearly rebuilding this year with the loss of Matt Rhule and 12 starters from last year's team.  That showed in their 16-49 loss to Notre Dame and their fortunate 16-13 win over Villanova.  Temple shouldn't be this heavy of a favorite against a UMass team they only beat 25-23 two years ago.  Take UMass.

6* Astros/Angels AL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 9

The Key: Look for the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels to go well OVER this 9-run total.  Ricky Nolasco is 6-13 with a 4.96 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 29 starts this season.  The Astros should light him up.  Brad Peacock has posted some good numbers this year, but he's up against an Angels lineup that has gotten stronger via trades in the second half.  Peacock has allowed 12 runs in 13 2/3 innings in his last 3 starts against the Angels.  Houston is 9-1 OVER in road games after a 5 game span where the bullpen ERA was 6.50 or worse this season.  Take the OVER.

7* Texans/Bengals AFC *Total* Annihilator on OVER 38

The Key: This 38-point total will be one of the lowest you will see in the NFL this season.  I think there is value with the OVER because of it.  I like the fact that the Texans will be going with Deshaun Watson tonight as his mobility will come in handy.  The Bengals are missing their best player on D in Vontaze Burfict.  The Bengals have a lot more talent on offense than they showed against a great Ravens defense last week.  Both offenses will bounce back after subpar Week 1 performances, which is keeping this total lower than it should be.  Bets on the OVER on road teams against the total (Houston) off an upset loss to a division rival as a home favorite, in the first half of the season are 30-6 over the last 10 seasons.  Take the OVER.

7* Dodgers/Giants NL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 7.5

The Key: This is a very low total for 2 struggling starting pitchers tonight.  Yu Darvish is 0-3 with a 9.49 ERA and 2.19 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Matt Moore has been one of the worst starters all season, going 5-13 with a 5.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 28 starts.  Moore has allowed 12 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Dodgers this season.  The wind is expected to be blowing out to center at about 13 MPH come game time as well, which will help aid this OVER.  The OVER is 13-3 in Dodgers last 16 games overall, and 7-0 in their last 7 vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  The OVER is 6-0-1 in Giants last 7 games overall.  Take the OVER.

7* AL West Game of the Week on Texas Rangers -116

The Key: The Texas Rangers are only 2 games back in the wild card to the Minnesota Twins.  They continue to fight in spite of all the injuries and trades that have occurred.  And the Rangers should be a bigger favorite here against the Mariners given their advantage on the mound.  Miguel Gonzalez has been great at home this year, going 4-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 9 home starts.  Marco Gonzales is still looking for his first win, going 0-1 with an 8.25 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 6 starts, and 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 3 road starts.  The Mariners are 0-6 in their last 6 road games.  The Rangers are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a left-handed starter.  The Rangers are 10-3 in their last 13 home meetings with the Mariners.  Take Texas.

6* Dodgers/Giants NL West *BAILOUT* on San Francisco +188

The Key: The Dodgers have now lost 10 straight and are 1-15 in their last 16 games overall.  Yet, here we are again, with the Giants in the role of -200 favorite.  The Giants will play hard in this series and want to win with the Dodgers being their biggest rivals.  And the Giants have the advantage on the mound to boot.  Chris Stratton is 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 6 starts, including 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 2 home starts.  Kenta Maeda is 4-5 with a 5.46 ERA in 12 road starts this year.  Maeda is 3-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  The Giants are 8-2 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  The Giants are 20-7 in their last 27 home meetings with the Dodgers.  Take San Francisco.

7* Chargers/Broncos AFC West *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles +3

The Key: The Los Angeles Chargers should be one of the more improved teams in the NFL this season.  They had a plethora of injuries last season that held them back during their 5-11 season.  But they lost 9 games by 8 points or less, so they had their chances in most games.  Philip Rivers has some healthy weapons in Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen entering 2017.  They are far and away the better offensive team in this matchup, and their defense isn't far off from the Broncos.  The Broncos even signed Brock Osweiler this offseason, which just goes to show how rough their QB situation really is.  The Chargers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Week 1 games.  Los Angeles is 8-2-4 ATS in its last 14 trips to Denver.  Take Los Angeles.

7* AFC North Game of the Month on Baltimore Ravens +3

The Key: The Baltimore Ravens will have one of the best defenses in the NFL this season.  That was on display in the preseason as they held their 4 opponents to a total of 32 points, or an average of 8.0 points per game.  The Bengals will be missing 2 starters on defense in Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict, which are 2 of their best players.  The Ravens are underrated right now because Joe Flacco missed the preseason.  But he's a veteran who doesn't need to practice time to come in and flourish.  The Ravens are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. AFC North foes.  The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Baltimore.

6* Eagles/Redskins NFC East *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia -1

The Key: The Philadelphia Eagles should be one of the most improved teams in the NFL this season.  They went 1-6 in games decided by  touchdown or less last year in their 7-9 season.  They had the point differential of a team that should have been 9-7 or 10-6.  Carson Wentz and company will take a big step forward this year.  The Eagles have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, and probably the 2nd-best defense in the NFC East.  The Redskins have probably the 3rd-worst offense in the NFC East after losing Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.  They have easily the worst defense in this division.  The Eagles want revenge after getting swept in the season series last year and losing 5 straight to the Redskins overall.  Philly is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 September games.  Take Philadelphia.

6* Cardinals/Lions NFC *CA$H COW* on Arizona -2.5

The Key: The Arizona Cardinals are going to be an improved team this year.  They were statistically the best team in the NFL last year in terms of yard differential as they outgained opponents by 62 yards per game.  They had the 2nd-best defense and will be elite on D again in 2017.  The Lions trailed in the 4th quarter in 15 of their 16 games last year yet still went 9-7.  They clearly weren't as good as their record.  Their defensive line is a mess heading into this game with 2 starters and 2 role players missing.  They are also missing a starting offensive lineman.  The Cardinals will win the battle in the trenches and thus win this game.  The Cardinals are 7-0 SU in the last 7 meetings, going 6-1 ATS in the process.  Take Arizona.

7* Stanford/USC Pac-12 *HEAVY HITTER* on Stanford +5.5

The Key: The Stanford Cardinal simply own the USC Trojans.  They have gone 7-2 SU in the last 9 meetings, and both of their losses came by exactly 3 points.  That's important when you consider this spread is 5.5.  David Shaw is not only 8-2 ATS in his last 10 games as an underdog, but also 8-2 SU in those games.  USC did not look good against Western Michigan in the opener in a 49-31 win as they pulled away in the 4th quarter.  Stanford couldn't have looked better in its 62-7 win over Rice.  Plus the Cardinal have had 2 weeks off since that game to get ready for USC.  The Trojans allowed a ridiculous 263 rushing yards to Western Michigan.  The Cardinal are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 trips to USC.  Take Stanford.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-125)

The Key: The Boston Red Sox are now 80-61 on the season.  They Tampa Bay Rays are getting closer to being eliminated from postseason contention at 70-72.  The Red Sox should win their 4th straight game with ease tonight thanks to their advantage on the mound.  Chris Sale is 15-7 with a 2.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 28 starts this year.  Sale is 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts vs. Tampa Bay.  He has struck out 13, 12 and 12 batters in his last 3 starts against the Rays this season.  Matt Andriese is 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 5 road starts this year, and 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Andriese sports a 4.67 ERA in 5 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  He has yielded 11 earned runs in 15 innings in his last 3 starts against the Red Sox.  Sale is 17-3 vs. AL teams scoring 4.4 or less runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.  His teams are winning by 3.1 runs per game on average.  Take Boston the Run Line.

6* Saturday NCAAF *BLOWOUT* on SMU -13.5

The Key: I'm very high on SMU this season and believe they'll make a bowl game for the first time since 2012.  It's the 3rd year under Chad Morris, which is where teams make their most improvement.  And he has 14 starters back this season, including 9 on an offense that put up 427 yards per game last year.  Each of the top 4 receivers are back, as is 1,000-yard rusher Braeden West.  SMU won 34-21 at North Texas last year and outgained them by 178 total yards.  They won 31-13 at home in 2015 and outgained them by 206 yards.  Expect more of the same here considering this is Morris' best team yet.  The Mean Green are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.  Take SMU.

6* Saturday NCAAF *Total* Annihilator on Northwestern/Duke UNDER 55

The Key: Northwestern and Duke have both struggled offensively throughout the years.  Expect more of the same in 2017.  These teams have met each of the last 2 years.  Northwestern won 29-10 in 2015 and 24-13 in 2016 for 39 and 37 combined points, respectively.  Dating back further, NW & Duke have combined for 54 or fewer points in 10 straight meetings.  That makes for a 10-0 angle backing the UNDER when factoring in this 55-point total.  Take the UNDER.

7* Angels/Mariners AL West *BAILOUT* on Seattle -128

The Key: The Seattle Mariners trail the Los Angeles Angels by 3 games in the wild card chase.  They now get to host the Angels, making this a big game for them.  I like Mike Leake and the Mariners here over Ricky Nolasco and the Angels.  Leake sports a 3.51 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 15 home starts this year.  Nolasco is 3-7 with a 5.17 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 14 road starts.  Leake is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in one lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles, which came last year.  Nolasco sports an 8.68 ERA in his last 2 starts at Seattle, yielding 9 earned runs and 4 homers in 9 1/3 innings.  The Angels are 1-8 in their last 9 games following an off day.  The Angels are 0-6 in Nolasco's last 6 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Mariners are 5-0 in their last 5 games following an off day.  Take Seattle.

6* Ohio/Purdue NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Purdue -3

The Key: Jeff Brohm stepped into a good situation at Purdue.  The Boilermakers already had a capable offense last year, it was their defense that let them down.  Brohm is an offensive guru with what he did at Western Kentucky over the past few seasons.  And the Boilermakers are only going to be better under him.  He came up with a good game plan against Louisville and they surprised, only losing 28-35 as 25.5-point dogs.  They even committed four turnovers in that game, yet still hung tough.  If they can hang with a power like Louisville at home, they should be able to take care of business against a MAC opponent in Ohio here.  Frank Solich is 2-10 ATS after scoring 50 points or more last game in all games he has coached.  Take Purdue.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -122

The Key: I've backed the Cardinals with success the past 2 days and I'm jumping back on the money train tonight.  This is a Cardinals team that has gone 6-1 in their last 7 games to get within 2 games of the Colorado Rockies for the last wild card spot.  The Cardinals are 10-2 in their last 12 meetings with San Diego, including 5-0 in their last 5 road meetings.  Lance Lynn is the better starter here.  Lynn is 10-6 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 28 starts this year.  Clayton Richard is 6-13 with a 4.94 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 28 starts.  Lynn is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. San Diego.  Take St. Louis.

6* Chiefs/Patriots *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 48.5

The Key: No Julian Edelman will make the Patriots a little less explosive this season.  They will still have a good offense, but Edelman was Brady's favorite target, and he's irreplaceable.  The Chiefs win with defense and special teams, because their offense is one of the least explosive in the NFL.  Alex Smith is still lacking weapons at receiver.  Tyreek Hill is more of a gimmick receiver, not a No. 1 guy.  They lost Jeremy Maclin this season and have even worse talent at receiver than they did last year.  Kansas City is 32-16 UNDER in the first 2 weeks of the season since 1992.  The UNDER is 9-4 in Chiefs last 13 games overall.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Patriots last 5 Thursday games.  Take the UNDER.

7* Cards/Padres National League *BAILOUT* on St. Louis -105

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals just keep hanging around.  They are just 3 games back in the wild card and they are the type of team that will step it up in the month of September.  I backed them yesterday with success, and they are now 5-1 in their last 6 games overall.  This is an excellent price to back them at nearly even money against the San Diego Padres, who are out of contention and just playing for pride.  The Padres are 17-36 in their last 53 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Padres are 0-5 in Lamet's last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Cardinals are 9-2 in the last 11 meetings, including 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in San Diego.  Take St. Louis.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -154

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals are still very much alive for the postseason.  They are 3 games back of the Rockies in the wild card.  They have gone 4-1 in their last 5 games to make their run, and opened this 4-game series against the lowly Padres with a 2-0 victory.  Look for Michael Wacha to shut them down tonight in Game 2 as well.  Wacha has never lost to the Padres, going 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Travis Wood is 2-2 with a 5.36 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 10 starts for the Padres.  He is also 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 18 lifetime starts against the Cardinals.  The Cards are 10-1 in Wacha's last 11 starts during game 2 of a series.  The Cards are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.  Take St. Louis.

7* GA Tech/Tennessee ACC vs SEC *HEAVY HITTER* on Tennessee -3

The Key: Tennessee has a big edge in talent over Georgia Tech.  Butch Jones is a master recruiter and he has finally put the Vols back on the map.  They were the best team in the SEC East last season as they beat Florida, but played a brutal schedule and suffered a couple of upsets in letdown games.  Georgia Tech lost its best triple-option QB maybe ever in Justin Thomas to graduation.  That offense won't click as well without him.  The Vols are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.  They have dominated the bowl games under Jones, and they will make easy work of this middle of the road ACC team here Monday night.  Take Tennessee.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay Rays -122

The Key: The Rays have to get going if they want to make the postseason.  They are 4 games back of the Minnesota Twins for the last wild card spot, and that's convenient because they host the Twins in this series.  They need a sweep, and I like them in Game 1 here tonight.  Alex Cobb has been great at home this year at 5-4 with a 2.34 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 11 starts.  He sports a 2.20 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in his last 3 starts overall as well.  Cobb has never lost to the Twins, going 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against them.  Jose Berrios is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in his lone lifetime start against the Rays.  Berrios is 4-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 11 road starts this year.  The Twins are 0-7 in Berrios' last 7 road starts.  Take Tampa Bay.

7* Red Sox/Yankees ESPN *BAILOUT* on Boston -109

The Key: Rarely will you get to back Chris Sale at this kind of price.  And when you look at the numbers he has posted against the Yankees, it's certainly worth taking the Red Sox here.  Sale is 15-6 with a 2.77 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 27 starts this year with a ridiculous 264 K's.  He is 4-3 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 11 lifetime starts against New York.  Luis Severino is 1-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  He gave up 8 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Red Sox in his last start against them on September 12th.  The Red Sox are 5-1 in Sale's last 6 road starts.  Take Boston.

6* WVU/VA Tech *Total* Annihilator on OVER 51.5

The Key: Dana Holgorsen is one of the best offensive minds in the game.  His WVU Mountaineers have averaged at least 31 points in three straight seasons.  Now he has one of his best QB's yet in Will Grier, who transferred in from Florida and was the best QB the Gators have had since Tim Tebow.  Similarly, Justin Fuente is also a great offensive mind.  He did wonders at Memphis with Paxton Lynch, and he in his first season at VA Tech, he led the Hokies to their most productive offensive season in years.  They averaged 35 PPG last season.  WVU had a great defense last year, but that won't be the case in 2017 because they lost 8 starters and 8 of their top 11 tacklers on defense.  This is a very low total at 51.5, and I think this one flies OVER the number.  The OVER is 13-3 in Hokies last 16 non-conference games, including 8-1 in their last 9 September games.  Take the OVER.

6* AL East Game of the Week on Baltimore Orioles -116

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall to make a serious push toward being a wild card team in the American League.  Their offense has been on fire in scoring a combined 61 runs in those 9 games.  The Toronto Blue Jays are done at 62-73 on the season.  Wade Miley is 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Miley has allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 6 consecutive starts against Toronto.  He sports a 3.11 ERA in those 6 starts while allowing 13 earned runs in 37 2/3 innings.  Marcus Stroman has allowed 4 earned runs or more in 3 of his last 5 starts against the Orioles.  He is 1-2 with a 5.16 ERA in those 5 starts.  The Orioles are 5-1 in Miley's last 6 starts.  The Blue Jays are 3-9 in Stroman's last 12 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Orioles are 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.  Take Baltimore.

7* NCAAF Game of the Week on Illinois -6.5

The Key: The Illinois Fighting Illini were in a clear rebuilding year last season under Lovie Smith.  They went just 3-9 and now are getting no attention heading into 2017.  These are the teams I like to back.  Smith will be more successful in year two.  The Fighting Illini open as only 6.5-point favorites over a middle-of-the-pack MAC team.  The Illini clearly have more talent, and I look for that to show on the field here Saturday.  This defense returns 4 of the top 5 tacklers from last year and will be better.  The offense should hold its own, especially on the ground with both Kendrick Foster (5.7/carry) and Reggie Corbin (6.1/carry) back to lead the way.  Leading receiver Malik Turner is back, as is Mike Dudeck, who has over 1,000 receiving yards as a freshman but missed last season with a torn ACL.  Ball State only has 4 starters back on defense after giving up 30.1 points and 470 yards per game last season.  The Illini should have plenty of success on the ground and through the air against their soft D.  They'll easily win by a TD or more.  Take Illinois.

6* Maryland/Texas NCAAF *CA$H COW* on OVER 56

The Key: Tom Herman brings his offensive juggernaut with him to Texas and has even more talent to work with than he had in Houston the past two years.  Herman led Houston to 40.4 and 35.8 PPG the past two seasons, respectively.  Now he inherits a Texas offense that put up 491 yards per game last season and returns 7 starts, including QB Shane Buchele and 4 starters on the O-line.  Texas can pretty much name it score here against Maryland, which allowed 38 to Penn State, 59 to Michigan and 62 to Ohio State last year.  But the Terrapins do have some talent on offense, especially in the backfield with Ty Johnson (1,031 yards, 9.1/carry) and Lorenzo Harrison (664 yards, 7.2/carry).  They'll score enough to help push this game OVER the total.  Take the OVER.

6* NCAAF Dog of the Week on Kent State +40

The Key: Clemson is coming off a national title and the loss of Deshaun Watson.  I don't expect the Tigers to be firing on all cylinders in Week 1.  Kent State has a good defense that gave up 387 yards per game last season.  The Golden Flashes will be competitive here.  They lost 48-0 at Alabama last year as 43-point dogs.  This is a similar point spread, but I don't think this Clemson team is nearly as good as that Alabama team was last year.  Kent State lost by 20 at Penn State last season as well.  This team is used to playing upper-echelon programs and won't be overwhelmed.  I think they'll stay within 40 here with relative ease.  Clemson has Auburn next week and will take the starters out early in this one.  Bets against home favorites of 21.5 or more points in the first 2 weeks of the season, after closing last year with 4 or more wins in their last 5 games, a team that won 80% or more of their games against a team that won 25% to 40% from last year are 26-6 ATS since 1992.  Take Kent State.

6* Colorado State/Colorado Rivalry *CA$H COW* on Colorado -3.5

The Key: The Colorado State Rams are the flavor of the week right now.  They just beat Oregon State 58-27 last Saturday at home.  But the Beavers gave that game away by committing 5 turnovers.  Now the Rams are on a short week here, while the Buffaloes have been able to spend the offseason training to face Colorado State, while the Rams had to focus on Oregon State.  I love this spot for the Buffaloes.  They are flying under the radar again this year after winning 10 games last year.  Nobody wants to give them any credit.  They do lose a lot on defense, but the offense brings back 9 starters and should be even better in 2017.  Colorado State has an awful defense, but that is getting overlooked.  The Buffaloes have won 5 of their last 7 meetings with the Rams, including a 44-7 beat down last year.  Colorado is 7-0 ATS in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  Take Colorado.

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Baltimore Orioles -1.5 (+120)

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles are 7-1 in their last 8 games overall to make a serious push toward being a wild card team in the American League.  Their offense has been on fire in scoring a combined 60 runs in those 8 games.  Kevin Gausman has been great in the second half.  He is 5-2 with a 2.26 ERA in his last 8 starts, allowing only 13 earned runs in 51 2/3 innings.  Guasman is 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA in 11 lifetime starts vs. Toronto.  Guasman is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Blue Jays as well.  Joe Biagini is 2-8 with a 6.02 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 12 starts this year, including 0-3 with a 9.42 ERA and 2.30 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Biagini is 0-7 (-10.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.  The Blue Jays are losing by 5.8 RPG in this spot.  He'll get rocked today as the Orioles stay red hot at the plate and cover this run line.  Take Baltimore on the Run Line.

7* NMSU/ASU Non-Conference *BAILOUT* on Arizona State -22

The Key: The Arizona State Sun Devils are flying under the radar heading into 2017.  They had won 10 games in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014, but slipped to 6-7 in 2015 and 5-7 in 2016.  They opened 5-1 last year but lost their final 6 games.  But this is a team that returns 13 starters after having just 10 back last year.  The offense will be one of the best in the Pac-12, and the defense cannot be as bad as it was a year ago.  Following those 6 straight losses to close out last season, the Sun Devils have been hungry all offseason, and they're prepared to take out their frustration on lowly New Mexico State tonight.  The Aggies went 3-9 last season.  When they stepped up in competition they did not fare well.  They lost 42-62 at Kentucky, 6-52 at Troy, 23-55 at Idaho, 10-52 at Texas A&M and 7-37 to Appalachian State.  They have a lot back but this team is simply outclassed here.  Take Arizona State.

6* NFLX Game of the Week on Jacksonville Jaguars +3

6* Dodgers/DBacks NL West *CA$H COW* on Arizona +105

The Key: The Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling right now.  They have won 6 straight and are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall.  The Los Angeles Dodgers have relaxed now that they basically have home-field advantage locked up in the postseason.  They will remain fade material going forward.  They are 0-4 in their last 4 games overall.  Getting Zack Greinke as a home dog is a gift today.  Greinke is 12-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 15 home starts this year.  Kenta Maeda is 4-4 with a 4.61 ERA in 11 road starts.  Maeda is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA in 3 starts against the Diamondbacks in 2017.  He has allowed 11 earned runs in 14 innings in those 3 starts.  The Diamondbacks are 13-2 in Greinke's home starts this year.  Take Arizona.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Colorado Rockies -107

The Key: Chad Bettis has made a successful return from testicular cancer.  He sports a 3.79 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 3 starts this year, including a 1.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in his 2 home starts.  Now I look for Bettis to take down the Detroit Tigers today at this generous -107 price.  This is a Tigers team that has quit while going 6-17 in their last 23 games overall, including 2-10 in their last 12 road games.  Justin Verlander is 3-6 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 14 road starts this year.  The Tigers are 1-9 in Verlander's last 10 road starts.  The Rockies are 14-2 in Bettis' last 16 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Colorado.

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Colorado Rockies -142

The Key: The Colorado Rockies lost to the Tigers yesterday and will be hungry for a victory today.  This is a Tigers team that is just 6-16 in their last 22 games overall.  They haven't won back-to-back games since August 3-4 and are 0-6 in their last 6 games following a win.  German Marquez has been solid this year at 10-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 22 starts this season.  He'll be up against a depleted Tigers lineup that is missing Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.  The Tigers are 2-9 in their last 11 road games.  Detroit is 1-6 in Fulmer's last 7 road starts.  The Rockies are 8-0 in Marquez's last 8 home starts.  Take Colorado.

7* Giants/Padres NL West *BAILOUT* on San Diego -109

The Key: The San Diego Padres are showing great value as small home favorite over the San Francisco Giants today.  The Padres have been a profitable bet at home all season, going 33-30 (+6.9 units).  San Francisco is 21-45 (-23 units) on the road.  Jhoulys Chacin has been untouchable at home, going 7-2 with a 1.86 ERA in 13 starts.  Jeff Samardzija is 3-7 with a 5.05 ERA in 13 road starts.  Samardzija has given up 12 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Padres in 2017.  Chacin is 8-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  The Padres are 4-0 in Chacin's last 4 starts vs. Giants.  Take San Diego.

6* Bengals/Redskins NFLX *Total* Annihilator on OVER 43.5