New Mexico State.

Game 211.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

The Aggies are on a five-game win and cover streak. The Hilltoppers are killing bettors, failing to cover their last three outings. NMSU can and will control the clock with their powerful ground game on offense and do possess a much more balanced defense. They have also covered their last four as a guest. Take the Aggies. Thank you.

Boston College.

Game 134.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

The Eagles are surging at the right time, riding a five-game SU winning streak. And to add to their advantage, Boston College had and extra day to rest, heal, and prepare. The Hokies have yet to win an away game this season, going 0-4 SU on the road, and 1-3 ATS as a visitor. Take the Eagles. Thank you.

Michigan.

Game 149.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Yeah, yeah, yeah…we have all read the news about Michigan not having been tested thus far this season. But can you blame them? Just because the opposition has been less than stellar, it doesn’t take away from the fact the Wolverines are the strongest team in the nation. Despite the off-the-field news, they will go out of their way to crush a Nittany Lions foe that gave the Buckeyes all they can handle. Just like Michigan hasn’t faced solid teams, Penn State fell short when they went up against a strong adversary. This is the Wolverines opportunity to make a statement. Take Michigan. Thank you.

Nebraska.

Game 218.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

It’s not about which team wins. It’s about which team covers. Right now, the Terrapins are sliding, riding a four-game lose and no cover streak. With Michigan on deck, I see Maryland in a lookahead spot here and Nebraska, matches up well with them. Winning five of their last seven SU against some formidable foes will give the Cornhuskers the momentum and the motivation to win this one. Take Nebraska. Thank you.

UCF.

Game 827.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

This is just way too many points to give a very capable, very feisty, and very underrated, Central Florida squad. The Knights are motivated by the preseason prediction of finishing last in the Conference. They will come out here with something to prove and make a statement. Take UCF. Thank you.

Phoenix Suns.

Game 561.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

Obviously, at 3-4 the Phoenix Suns aren't looking like the team they were just a season ago. However, injuries are a big part of that. When you don't have all-universe, players, like Booker and Beal on the floor, it’s going to show in the record.  On the other hand, the Chicago Bulls, at 3-5 are exactly where many thought they would be at this point. This is not a very good team. So, this is a perfect opportunity for the Suns to flex their muscles. They have had an extra day off to prepare and rest for this match up. They have also covered three of four road games this season. On the other hand, the Bulls have covered just one of their four games played at home in 2023. And to say Phoenix has had their way in this series would be an understatement. Just going back the last few seasons, they have taken seven in a row straight up, covering five of the seven meetings. They need a big ego boost and this is the situation they get it. Take the Suns. Thank you.

Indiana Pacers.

Game 556.

4:10 PM, PST/710 PM EST.

The Indiana Pacers offense is proving to be one of the most explosive in the NBA thus far. As a matter fact, they top the league in scoring, averaging over 124.9 points per game. They rank in the top-10 in every major offensive category. Their defense leaves a lot to be desired. However, facing an opponent like the Utah Jazz isn't going to be a problem this evening. The Jazz have a mediocre offense and a defense that's allowing a league-ranked, 26th, allowing 120.1 points per game. It is ridiculous. They are going to get lit up like a Christmas tree in November.  Look for a little payback from the Pacers as they lost their last two outings against the Jazz last December and this past February. But these are two different teams this season. As you know, Utah is on a 0-3 run, both straight up and against the spread. They just don't have what it takes to keep pace on the scoreboard here. Taking Indiana. Thank you.

New York Jets.

Game 476.

5:15 PM PST/8:15 EST.

Very simply, I feel the wrong team is favored here. On my two sets of power ratings, I have New York a 2.0-point favorite at a 4.3-point favorite. For starters, the Chargers are not the best road team. They have won just one game straight up on the road since January 1. They've also covered just one game on the road since January 1. They have to face a Jets team that have won three in a row straight up, and are just a half-point away from covering their last four outings. During their current win streak, their defense has allowed just 15.0 points per game, while their offense has stepped up to account for 21.3 points for game during the hot streak. Zach Wilson is showing significant signs of improvement and leadership, which does not bode well for a Los Angeles defense that ranks dead last in the NFL against the pass. Meanwhile, the erratic Chargers offensive unit, which solely relies upon the pass, lines up against the League’s fifth-ranked, pass defense and it's eighth overall stop-unit in points allowed. As I mentioned at the beginning of this analysis, I think the wrong team is favored in. Take the Jets. Thank you.

Oregon Ducks.

Game 768.

1:30 PM, PST/4:30 PM EST.

The Georgia Bulldogs seriously underwhelmed a season ago. They also lost several key players, including their three-top scorers. As a matter of fact, they do not return a single player that averaged double-digits a season ago. On the other hand, the Oregon Ducks are expected to be one of the best teams in the Pac-12. They return their top-scorer. Overall, three of their four top-scorers from last year's roster are back. While the Bulldogs haven't been to Sin City, since Tom Crean was on the sidelines, the Ducks are a fan-favorite here. And are certainly used to the bright lights on the Strip, playing in Las Vegas the last six seasons. They have a lot to prove in the season-opener. This is a team that should've won the Conference Title season ago. And when they went to play in the postseason in the brackets, won and covered against UCI and UCF, but lost a heartbreaker to Wisconsin. They have a lot to prove here and they will. Take Oregon. Thank you.

Golden State Warriors.

Crash the Boards

Game 521.

3:10 PM PST/6:10 PM EST.

Guys, there is no alternate universe that the Cleveland Cavaliers should be a favorite over the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have taken the last 10 meetings in a row straight up, going back to June, 2018, covering nine of the 10 meetings. They enter this matchup red hot, winning their last five outings, which includes all four away games thus far this season. They are also 3-1 ATS as a visitor in this short season. Guard, Klay Thompson is listed as questionable here. That's going to be closer to a gametime decision. Obviously, we would want him on the floor. But please remember this team is deep with talent and have one of the smartest coaching staffs in the League. The Cavaliers are just 2-4 on the season straight up, covering just one of their six contests. They have lost and failed to cover all three games played at home so far. They possess a very low-scoring, lackluster offense, averaging nearly 12 points per game less than tonight's opponent. That would be bad enough, but the Warriors enter this match up with a top-10 defense as well.  Oh, by the way, look for one of the sharpest-shooting outside teams in basketball to absolutely shred the Cavaliers from beyond the arc as well. They Golden State. Thank you.

Dallas Cowboys.

Game 471.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

This may sound crazy my friends. But despite possessing the best record in the NFL, I just don't feel the Philadelphia Eagles are in sync yet. They have looked vulnerable, fatigued, and at times, outclassed this season, despite their league-best record. Their defense, which tops the NFL against the rush, ranks 26th against the pass and 19th in points allowed. Guys, just over recent weeks they allowed the Washington Commanders to twice put up 31 points on them. They also let the Jets post 20 points on them. Guys, elite defenses don't allow teams like that to put up that many points. They must face the NFL’s third-ranked scoring unit in the Dallas Cowboys "O". The problem for the Eagles is that the Cowboys offensive unit is equally good in the air as well as on the ground. They account for over 28.0 points per game. And as far as a home field advantage goes, Philadelphia does not have one when it comes to covering the spread. They have covered just one game at home this season. Statistically, this is the best defense they've had to face this season. On both sides of the ball. They are in for a very tough battle here. Stepping up in class is going to hurt them. Personally, I think this line should be about to pick him. I will take the Dallas Cowboys. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

Game 402.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

There are five undefeated teams at the top of the nation’s polls. Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, and Washington rank in the top-five, and are all 8-0 overall. While there aren’t any easy opponents in the SEC, the Bulldogs certainly need to keep their foot on the gas, as the number one and number three ranked teams, the Buckeyes and Wolverines, will face one another in a few weeks. The number five team, the Huskies have a big matchup this week against the Trojans. Georgia cannot ease up at all. Not only do they need to win, but style-points mean quite a bit right now. While Missouri is 7-1 straight up, I just don't see them being in the same class as Georgia. The Bulldogs have taken the last nine meetings in this rivalry, straight up, I've got a tell ya’, they have been major favorites in most of them. Last year's meeting was a little too close for comfort as the Bulldogs pulled it out with a four-point victory. Trust me when I tell you they will not take this game lightly here. They can't. They have yet to allow any opponent this season to post more than 21 points. They will completely shut down the Tigers offense. On the opposite side of the ball, I just don't see Missouri's defense doing anything but getting flattened here. Take Georgia. Thank you.

North Texas Mean Green.

Game 388.

12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST.

Guys, in my opinion, UTSA shouldn't be anywhere near better than a touchdown favorite against North Texas. Yes, I know they've won four in a row, going 3-1 ATS. But the Mean Green have made a lot of green for those who bet on them, covering four straight, and five of their last six outings. They play some very solid competition. And my friends, they cover the point spread. No, they are not going to win the National Title. And no, they are not going to win the Conference Title either. But they continuously get undervalued. They have a well-balanced offense that can and will own the time of possession here, keeping the Road Runners defense on the field and their offense off of it. Take North Texas. Thank you.

Kansas State Wildcats.

Game 405.

9;00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Yes, it's true, the Longhorns have taken the last six meetings over the Wildcats, straight up. And despite being 7-1 this season SU and 4-1 in Conference play, Texas is showing signs of weakness and fatigue. This is an ideal opportunity for Kansas State to leapfrog them and stay in the Conference regular-season Title hunt. My friends, there are five teams at 4-1 in the Big 12, the Sooners, the Cowboys, the Cyclones, the Longhorns, and the Wildcats. Several of these teams will be playing each other over the final weeks of the regular season. So, this is an ideal opportunity for Kansas State jump ahead this week. The Wildcats are on a three-game win and cover streak. Meanwhile, the Longhorns, haven’t faced an opponent of this caliber in a few weeks since their loss at home against the Sooners. They faced the Cougars of Houston and the Cougars of BYU their last two outings. Both defenses here are quite good. But the nation’s fifth-ranked rushing attack of Kansas State along with their offense that makes very few mistakes, will be the difference in this matchup. Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

Dallas Mavericks.

Game 573.

7:10 PM PST/10:10 PM EST.

The Denver Nuggets are an amazing team. They will definitely be there at the end of the regular season to defend their NBA title, barring a major injury. However, they haven't played the best of the best yet. And I get it, coming off their first defeat of the season, they should look strong this evening. However, Dallas matches up quite well with them. They are also 4-0 straight up and 3-1 ATS so far. Granted, they haven't played the best of the best in the league yet either. But they have covered four of the last six meetings in this series, winning four of those last six straight up as well. Kyrie Irving is listed as questionable this evening. Even without him on the floor (check status), they still are deep enough to run in this match up. Way too many points to give them. Take the Mavericks. Thank you.

Washington Wizards.

Game 571.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

Guys, Miami is certainly off to a disappointing start at 1-4 so far this season. This is a team that won 44 games a season ago. But please take note, only 13 wins were by the margin of 10 or points or more. This is a lot of points to lay for this team. The Heat aren't known to be the best scorers in the league…by far. And to add insult to injury lol, they are just 1-4 ATS this season as well. This is just way too many points for a team that is in crisis to give. Take the Wizards. Thank you.

Milwaukee Bucks.

Game 566.

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

 Milwaukee suffered not just a big defeat, but an embarrassing ass-whooping at the hands of Toronto on the road a few nights ago. This is a team that does not take losing lightly. They will bounce back here against an inferior opponent. The Bucks have had their way with the Knicks, winning and covering six consecutive meetings going back to November, 2021. I just don't see New York's lackluster offense keeping peace on the scoreboard here with a team that is looking to redeem themselves. Take Milwaukee. Thank you.

TCU.

Touchdown.

Game 311.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Sports fans, neither of these teams have really impressed too much this season. Both have some key players that are listed as questionable or out (check status). But coming off an embarrassing loss on the road at Kansas State, 41-3 will certainly motivate Texas Christian to bounce back here. They only have four games left in the regular season. And after this week, they have to face Texas, Baylor, and then Oklahoma on the road. They need every win they can get to at least become Bowl-eligible. On the other hand, Texas Tech has lost and failed to cover their last two outings, both as a favorite: at home against Kansas State, and on the road at BYU. It's highly unlikely that his team could earn a Bowl spot as they have three games remaining in the regular season: obviously this week against the Horned Frogs, then go on the road to face the Jayhawks, and then finish the regular season as a visitor against the Longhorns. In my opinion, they threw in the towel already.  Oh, by the way, TCU has won and covered the last four meetings in this series. Take the Horned Frogs. Thank you.

Indiana Pacers.

Fast Break play.

Game 539.

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

The Boston Celtics are an outstanding basketball team. They are only one of three teams in the NBA currently that are still undefeated. But after tonight's contest, they have to go on the road to play Brooklyn, Minnesota, and Philadelphia. I'm not saying they're gonna’ take it easy this evening, but they are certainly going to be in a lookahead mode. Please understand that the Indiana Pacers are 2-1, both straight up and against the spread this season. Not only that, but they have covered four of the last five meetings with the Celtics. They play them very competitively, and I just don't see them getting this many points. Taking Indiana. Thank you.

Milwaukee Bucks.

Slam Dunk play.

Game 531

4:10 PM, PST/7:10 PM EST.

These two teams normally play each other very competitively. However, this season they look to be going in opposite directions. The Bucks are going to settle for nothing less than an NBA title. Meanwhile, the Raptors are just trying to stay alive. Milwaukee started the season 2-1, while Toronto is 1-3. They are on a three-game losing streak, failing to cover their last two outings. They have some grit on the team, they just don't have the personnel to contend with Milwaukee. They've only faced one solid upon thus far, and yet are averaging just 99.5 points per game. I just don't see them keeping pace on the scoreboard with the Bucks here. Take Milwaukee. Thank you.

Buffalo Bulls.

Game 301.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Toledo owns the best overall record in the MAC. They are also the only undefeated team in the Conference. Having said that, they could coast through the rest of the regular season and not worry. Buffalo, despite a 3-5 overall record, is 3-1 in MAC play. They won and covered the last three meetings in this Conference rivalry, including last year's, 34-27 victory. They enter today's contest covering four of their last five. And do matchup well with tonight's opponent. While the bobcats possess one of the best rushing units in college football, they also turn the ball over quite a bit. This doesn't bode well as the Bulls defense have already snagged 10 takeaways this season. I just think the circumstances prompt us to side with an underdog getting better than two touchdowns. Take Buffalo. Thank you.

Detroit Pistons.

Game 511.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

Guys, I'm not going tell you, I expect the Detroit Pistons to win the NBA Championship this season. But I will tell you, as far as sports betting goes, look for them to be an under-the-radar, ATS, cover machine, particularly in the beginning of the campaign. They have already gone 3-0 ATS in their three outings this season. They have actually won two of the three SU. They went on the road to Charlotte as an underdog and won outright, 111-99. Then at home a few nights ago, they crushed the Bulls as a 2.5-point underdog, 118-102. Oklahoma City is a good team. They are really a decent team… but not world beater. And I don't see them laying this many points to anyone, especially a team that matches up well with them. Last night, they hosted the defending NBA Champions, Denver Nuggets and took a beating, 128-95. Not only will they come in here with tired legs, I believe they are going be outmuscled. As I mentioned earlier, I don't expect the Pistons to win the NBA title. But they are playing very unselfish ball, playing tough in the paint, and their defense has certainly stepped up a bit. This game is going to be a lot closer than the point spread. Take Detroit. Thank you.

Kansas City Chiefs.

AFC West Game of the Week.

Game 271.

1:25 PM, PST/4:25 PM EST.

Granted, these two teams met just a few weeks ago as the Chiefs prevailed at home, 19-8. They did get the win and cover there. Speaking of covering, this is a team that is 5-2 ATS this season. And going back a little bit further, have covered seven of their last nine outings. Playing in Denver is no benefit to the Broncos anymore. I remember a while back when the Broncos were a “gimmee” at home folks. But this team has covered just one home contest going back to last January. The Chiefs are rolling. Granted they have a meeting on deck with the Dolphins. But I don't see this team falling in the trap of being in a look ahead mode. They know how to stay focused on the task at hand. Let's face it, Denver has a lackluster offense that turns the ball over a lot (11 turnovers) and a defense that ranks 32nd points allowed, 32nd in rushing yards allowed, 30th in passing yards allowed, and 32nd in total yards allowed. I look for quarterback, Patrick Mahomes to have his best performance yet this season. Take Kansas City. Thank you.

San Francisco 49ers.

Afternoon Bailout.

Game 274.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

The number in this game has been going up and down since it came out. Every time somebody comes in on one side, the line gets pulled back on the other side. Granted, the Cincinnati Bengals have one back-to-back games for the first time this season. They've also covered their last two as well. However, they line up against a 49ers opponent that just might be the most complete team in football. To make matters worse for the Bengals, the 49ers have lost and failed to cover their last two games. Please take a note that both of those games are played on the road and in both outings, they were without some key personnel. Several guys are expected to be back for San Francisco here at home in front of their faithful fans. They are certainly further along I believe than Cincinnati. Brock Purdy (check status) is expected to be on the field. Christian McCaffrey is a monster. And let's face it, they have more superstars on both sides of the ball than just about any other team in the NFL. Many people out there thought that these two teams might be competing down the road in the Super Bowl. And anything can happen between now, and then, my friends. However, I just don't see the Bengals defense containing Purdy and his arsenal of weapons. On the flipside, I do see the NFL’s third-ranked stop-unit of San Francisco, getting pressure on Joe Burrow. FYI, the 49ers have covered 10 straight on their home field. Take San Francisco. Thank you.

New York Jets.

Best Bet.

Game 263.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

In a battle for New York, the New York Jets are certainly in better shape at this point in the season than the New York Giants. They enter this matchup winning their last two games; on the road at the Denver Broncos, and at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only that, but they've covered three consecutive outings. No let down situation here as this team has had some extra time off to rest, heal, and prepare. They are expected to see the return of two of their starting defensive secondary stars. That's spells doom for the New York Giants, which will be without starting quarterback, Daniel Jones. That leaves the offense in the hands of Tyrod Taylor. Granted, the Jets passing unit is one of the worst in football. But so is the Giants passing unit. At least the Jets have a monster running back to rely on in ball-carrier, Breece Hall. They also possess a much stronger stop-unit, yielding just 19.8 points per game. I expect their defense to put pressure on Taylor and create turnovers. Please remember you'll see as many green jerseys in the stands as you will blue jerseys. Take the Jets. Thank you.

Minnesota Vikings on the moneyline.

NFC NORTH GOM.

Game 267.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM ET.

It may be just the end of October, but my friends, this game has serious implications down the road. The Detroit Lions are in first place in the NFC North at 5-2. They have a Monday Night matchup at home against the Las Vegas Raiders this week. Sitting in second place is the Minnesota Vikings at 3-4. Third place sees the the Green Bay Packers at 2-4. And bringing up the rear at 2-5, is the Chicago Bears. If Minnesota wins, they pick up a few games on Green Bay. If Green Bay wins, they leapfrog Minnesota. Having said all that the Vikings are starting to stride. They have won and covered their last two outings: on the road at the Bears, the game wasn't as close as their 19-13 victory. Then at home last week as an underdog, they manhandled the 49ers. That game gave them their third ATS cover over their last four contests. Meanwhile, Green Bay is now riding a three-game losing streak, both SU and ATS. The Vikings are also looking for a little payback here. They're looking for revenge from last January’s, 41-17 beat down at the hands of the Packers.  Granted, Green Bay has a pretty good best defense. However, not too many have been able to slow down, let alone, stop the third-ranked passing unit of Minnesota. On the flipside, the mistake-prone Jordan Love (seven INT's) is in trouble here as he goes up against the very stingy, very nasty, defense of Minnesota that has already snagged 10 takeaways. This line is going up and down a little bit. Just the err on the side of caution, take the Vikings on the money line. Thank you.

Oregon State.

PAC 12 PAYDAY.

Game 175.

7:30 PM PST/10:30 PM EST.

Sports fans, I looked at this game up and down and inside and out, and I just can't figure the line being this short. These two teams haven't met since 2019, when the Beavers took down the Wildcats, 56-38. Oregon State enters this match up on a win streak. Yes, 6-1 straight up this season, and going back to last season, on a 10-1 straight up run. And guys, when it comes to covering the spread, they are even more impressive. They are actually on a 16-1 ATS run. Let's face it, they get the bettors paid. Yes, Arizona is pretty good against the spread, covering six of seven this season. But the matchups just don't seem to be very kind here for the home team. They do put up some pretty good numbers on both sides of the ball. However, their numbers do not compare to the numbers Oregon State is showing. OSU averages just about seven points per game more on offense and do yield a little bit less on defense. They make less mistakes offensively, and have a lot more takeaways, defensively. I also like the more well-balanced, 1-2 punch of quarterback, Uiagalelei, and running back, Martinez. 'Zona has a question mark on their starting QB, de Laura again. Even if back up, Fifita, who had a good game last week against Washington State, takes the helm, I'm just not in love with this kid. And their running back, Coleman is good, but not good enough to keep the very hungry Beavers defense at bey. Oregon State has covered five of their last six away from home. Take the Beavers. Thank you.

Nebraska.

TD PLAY.

Game 158.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Sorry, Boilermaker fans, but Purdue is absolutely horrible. They are 2-5, both straight up and against the spread this season. But going back a little bit further, they are a dismal, 2-7 both SU and ATS their L9 outings. They really haven't looked too good at all this season. They're only solid performance was over the “Jekyll and Hyde”, Illinois Fighting Illini. Meanwhile, Nebraska enters this match, hot, winning four of their last five straight up, including the last two. And by the way, they are less than a field goal away from covering those last two outings. They took down the same Illinois opponent three weeks ago, 20-7. I like the matchups for the home team here laying less than a FG, for sure. Purdue has a very lackluster offense. Outside of getting caught off guard earlier in the season by the very surprising, Colorado Buffaloes, and the shellacking at the hands of one of the top teams in the country, in the Michigan Wolverines, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have not allowed a single opponent to break 20 points, going back to last November. They've got a very strong defense, my friends. They are going to completely shut down the Boilermakers offense, meanwhile look for the nations 21st ranked rushing attack to absolutely dissect the Purdue defense. This game will get out of hand. I think it's one of the biggest mismatches on the board. Take Nebraska. Thank you.

Eastern Michigan.

MAC GOM.

Game 150.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

Guys, it doesn't have to be a Power Five Conference matchup for us to make money in it. And believe me, we're gonna’ make money in the MAC this Saturday. Personally, I think the wrong team is favored. On my two different sets of power ratings, I have Eastern Michigan -1.0, and Eastern Michigan -1.5. My friends, the Eagles have won and covered four consecutive meetings in this Conference rivalry. They enter this matchup covering their last four outings. While both offenses are "less than stellar", in my opinion, this game will come down to defensive play. And you cannot ignore the fact that Western Michigan's defense has gotten plowed this season for over 34.3 points per game, while Eastern Michigan allows under 20-points per game (19.5 PPG). I think they win outright. But I'll take the points with the home ‘dog here for sure. Take Eastern Michigan. Thank you.

Penn State.

OM play.

Game 156.

9:00 AM PST/12;00 PM EST.

With Michigan and Ohio State facing each other on the last regular season matchup (Nov. 25), one of them has to lose, obviously. Anything can happen between now and that as well. This means Penn State must keep their foot on the gas throughout the regular season. They have a match up with Michigan in a few weeks, and you never know what can happen. At the very least, this team has a chance at a Major Bowl game. Having said that, getting this team off their first defeat of the season is huge. They must come back and make a statement. And what better team to face to do just that, than Indiana. The Hoosiers are winless in Conference play and own an overall record of 2-5. They have failed to cover a single game over their last four outings. Obviously, the Nittany Lions have had their way in this series, taking eight of the last nine straight up, including six of the nine against the spread. This does include wins and covers in the last two meetings: 24-0, and 45-14. PSU allowed 20 points to OSU last week. That was the most allowed since January of last season. This is a team that yields just 9.7 points per game, equally good against the pass and the rush. They will completely shut down the lackluster, IU offense. On the flipside, expect their explosive ninth-ranked scoring “O” to completely steamroll, an Indiana defense that has gotten decimated by just about every opponent this season. Take the Nittany Lions. Thank you.

Oklahoma City Thunder.

Fast Break.

Game 537.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

Guys, I had Cleveland on the moneyline the other night, to get us all paid on the road at Brooklyn. And I expect great things from the Cavaliers this season. I really do. While Oklahoma City is certainly an improved team, I feel that many out there, including the odds makers and the general public don't feel they going to be able to compete too well this season. Well, that would be a big mistake my friends. I do feel they are going to be able to compete. I feel especially this time of the campaign, so early, we could take advantage of some lines that might be a little bit off. And I feel this line is certainly off. For starters, they've covered seven of the last 10 meetings with Oklahoma City. They are also a very unselfish team. I watched this team in their season-opener on the road in Chicago, absolutely beat the Bulls in every aspect of the game, including tallying over 30 assists. They match up well here. And I think giving them this many points, is a mistake. Take the Thunder. Thank you.

Miami Heat.

Crash The Boards.

Game 541.

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

Guys, the Boston Celtics are monster team, no doubt about that. Their season-opener, was a tough one. They visited Madison Square Garden to face their archrival, New York Knicks, and believe me, the game was even closer than the 108-104 score. They did not cover the game as it landed on the number. Going back a bit, this team gets seriously overvalued. They've only covered two of their last eight coming into tonight's matchup. And by the way, their opponent tonight is a very good team. As a matter fact, they've covered eight of the last 10 meetings in this Eastern Conference rivalry. You can expect a very physical game this evening. And I think that definitely benefits the road team here. Miami can play very physical basketball, especially down low. I think they're going to come in here a little better rested than the Celtics.  These two teams know each other very well. And as I mentioned earlier, I expect a very physical game. I just think this is way too many points for the Celtics to lay against a very formidable foe. Take the Heat. Thank you.

Denver Nuggets.

Slam Dunk.

Game 535.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

Guys, if this was a different situation, I would look at this match up very differently. These two teams, over recent seasons have played one another very competitively. However, having said that, the Nuggets will take out some revenge over the Grizzlies here tonight. We all know that Ja’ Morant is going to be sidelined for a while. That's bad enough. But now without, center, Steven Adams, I just don't see Memphis competing in the paint here at all. The Nuggets have been money on the road covering, their last five a season ago as a visitor. Take Denver. Thank you.

Phoenix Suns.

Fast Break play.

Game 503.

7:00 PM PST/10:00 PM EST.

Last season, both of these teams left the playoffs a lot earlier than they expected. They enter this season the second and third choice (at most books) to win the Western Conference Title. The Suns have taken four of the last five meetings over the Warriors, which includes three of four a season ago. There's a lot of underlying storylines going on here like Kevin Durant taking the floor in a Phoenix uniform against his former team. Plus, his old buddy, Chris Paul is now sporting a Golden State uniform. However good, Steph Curry and company is, especially at home, it is going to be an uphill battle for the Warriors in this matchup as they face a bolstered front line of Durant, Booker, and Beal. As in any game, always do your due diligence and check injury reports…especially in the NBA. I expect a faster start out of the gate by the Suns this season. Take Phoenix. Thank you.

Denver Nuggets.

Slam Dunk play.

Game, 502

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

Of course, there is no love lost between these two teams. The Nuggets ousted the Lakers from the postseason last year. Not only that, but they really had their way with them the entire season. Denver took six of the eight meetings last season over Los Angeles. There was a lot of talk this off-season about revenge. Both teams lost a few players and both teams game the few players. However, age has certainly caught up with the nucleus of the Lakers. Meanwhile, depth and talent are certainly on the side of the Nuggets. They must come out and make a statement here on the opening game of the season. To add to their motivation, unveiled during this game will be their Championship banner. Take the Nuggets. Thank you.

Liberty Flames.

C USA GOM.

Game 103.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

Liberty isn't just a perfect 5-0 in Conference play; they are also 70 overall. And to be quite honest, after they put Western Kentucky to bed here this week, they can easily run the gauntlet and go perfect, facing remaining opponents, Old Dominion and Massachusetts. They have a real chance at a respected Bowl game. Not only that, but they are a covering machine. As a matter fact, when laying 10 or less points, they have covered six in a row, which includes all five in that situation this season. They possess a 1-2 punch of a great quarterback and an outstanding ball carrier. They rank second in the nation as a matter fact, in rushing, averaging over 274.6 yards per game on the ground. Western, Kentucky by the way, ranks 129th against the rush. Not only that but defensively this team does not allow a lot of points. The Flames defense yields just 19.7 points per game and are equally good against the pass as well as the rush. They also t0p the nation in takeaways, accumulating 15 snags already. The Hilltoppers are in way over their heads here. Take liberty. Thank you.

New Mexico State.

Contrarian play.

Game 101.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

I know as of posting this play, most of the money is coming in on Louisiana Tech. And in all sincerity guys, I just don't see why. I have made money for all of us quite a few times on the Aggies this season. I mean folks, they are a half-point away from covering five straight outings. They enter this matchup with a very talented, dual-threat quarterback at the helm in Diego Pavia. They have a well-balanced offense. They don't make many mistakes. And they have a solid defense. Louisiana Tech comes in here dropping their last two games, both straight up and against the spread. Granted, they played a couple of tough teams this season. But I just don't see why everybody's playing them here. They are basically mediocre on both sides of the ball. Yes, they're pretty good against the pass. But they ranked 125th against the rush. And they must go up against the 18th ranked ground attack in college football here. New Mexico State will control the clock and the tempo, move the chains, and win this game outright. But I'll take the points here, folks. Take the Aggies. Thank you.

San Francisco 49ers.

Game 473.

5:15 PM PST/8:15 PM EST.

My friends, the line is a little bit short here and for a good reason. The 49ers have several key players that are either out or listed as questionable as of posting this play. However, you cannot deny that this team is loaded on both sides of the ball. They rank second in scoring and second in points allowed. They rank in the top-10 in just about every major offensive and defensive category. On top of that, they don't turn the ball over at all. They come off their first loss of their season and must bounce back here, for sure. I know they have the Bengals on deck. And if Cincinnati was the team that we had thought they were going to be at this point in the season, I might look to go against San Francisco this evening. But they are not the team that we figured them to be and I don't think the 49ers will be in a look ahead spot. Minnesota cannot run the ball at all. And without a solid ground game to keep the San Francisco defense honest, I just don't think they're going to be able to pull up too many points on the board here. Take the 49ers. Thank you.

Kansas City Chiefs.

AFC West GOW.

Game 468.

1:25 PM, PST/4:25 PM EST.

I know there's money coming in on the underdog here. I know last year’s meetings were each separated by three-points. But football and sports betting are each based on situations. Let's face it, Los Angeles isn't the greatest road team, while Kansas City is a monster team at Arrowhead Stadium. Since they dropped their season-opening game by one-point to the Lions, the Chiefs have rattled off five consecutive straight up wins, going 4-1 ATS. And if you're keeping records, they have also won 12 straight Division games, straight up.  Not only do they like to win games, they particularly enjoy beating AFC West opponents. Patrick Mahomes must be salivating, knowing the second-ranked passing offense in the NFL is going to line up against the 32nd-ranked pass defense in the League. Now that the Chiefs offense is starting to click, let's face it they are the most-complete team in football right now. Their defense has been outstanding, ranking second in points allowed, yielding just 14.7 points per game. I see they're LB corps spending more time in the Chargers backfield than the Chargers players lol. I look for Kansas City to make a statement here. Take the Chiefs. Thank you.

Detroit Lions.

High Roller

Game 457.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

I admit it folks, I am drinking the Kool-Aid. Just from a sports betting point of view, the Lions are money. Going back to last season, they are on a 14-2 ATS cover streak. And when an underdog, they have covered seven straight. On the other hand, Baltimore is just 3-9ATS their last 12 games when laying a field goal or more. In my opinion, the wrong team is favored here. Very quietly, Detroit's offense ranks in the top-10 in every major category. I know the Baltimore defense is a true force. But they haven't faced a team this complete in quite a while, my friends. On the opposite side of the ball, the Lions stop-unit tops the League against the run. If they could at least slow down Lamar Jackson and the rushing offense of the Ravens, this game can surely get out of hand. Take Detroit. Thank you.

Utah.

Pac-12 Payday.

Game 381.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

All season long the Trojans have been overvalued by the oddsmakers. They are just 2-5 ATS this season, failing to cover the last four outings. To make matters worse, their defense has been bleeding all season long. Last week against the Fighting Irish, their weaknesses were unveiled. I do not expect a big revenge game here as the Utes handed them not just their only regular season loss, but also took them down with authority in the Conference Title game, last year. Utah's offense isn't so flashy, for sure. But their defense is outstanding. In their five victories this season, they have not yielded more than two touchdowns. FYI, and although they have Oregon on deck, I don't see a look ahead situation for the team. They can run the ball and they can stop the run. Not only that, but they make very few miscues on “O”, while forcing and snagging a lot of turnovers on “D”. This is way too many points for USC to lay. Take Utah. Thank you.

Michigan.

BIG TEN GOM.

Game 337.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

It's no secret that Michigan State has dominated this rivalry for quite a while now. After taking the two previous meetings, both straight up has underdogs, the Spartans got routed last year by the Wolverines, 29-7. The worm has turned my friends. And this year, these are very different teams. MSU is only four-game straight up losing streak, only covering one of those outings. And after last week’s, 27-24 loss on the road Rutgers, blowing a 24-6 lead, there is no way they could get up for this contest. With Ohio State playing Penn State early this morning today, no matter the outcome, Michigan must rev the engine, and turn it up here. After this game, they have an off week before they go home and face Purdue. The following week they go on the road at Penn State. They also go on the road after that to face Maryland. Then it is their regular season finale at home against Ohio State. As I mentioned earlier, they cannot take their foot off the gas here. On both sides of the ball, they are significantly stronger, without question the strongest opponent Michigan State has faced yet this season. The mistake-prone Sparty offense is going to turn the ball over quite a bit. And Michigan will capitalize. Over the last few weeks, the Wolverines have covered as favorites of 17.5, 19.0, and 31.5 against conference opponents. Lay the wood with Michigan. Thank you.

Miami-Ohio.

MAC GOM.

Game 362.

1:00 PM PST/4:00 PM EST.

Oddly enough, these two MAC teams haven't met in over a decade. Both teams hold 3-0 records in Conference play as well as 6-1 overall marks. But when it comes to covering the spread, that's where they differ. Toledo is on a 0-5 ATS no cover streak. But checking our stats going a little further, they are also 0-8 ATS when coming off of a win as a favorite as well as 2-11 ATS their last 13 overall as a favorite. Meanwhile, Miami Ohio has not just won their last six games straight up, they've also covered their last six games as well. The Redhawks are a little more well-balanced on both sides of the ball. The wrong team is favored here. Take Miami-Ohio. Thank you.

Ohio State.

Contrarian GOM.

Game 326.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Everybody and their mothers are playing Penn State here. And why not? They are perfect 6-0 this season, both straight up and against the spread. And going back to last season, the Nittany Lions have covered 13 straight outings. The team possesses some of the best statistics in the nation on both sides of the ball. But folks, look at their schedule thus far; West Virginia, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, and Massachusetts. They haven't been less than a 14-point favorite over any opponent this season. Let's be honest, my friends, not one of those adversaries possess a solid offensive unit. And only one of them owns a decent defensive unit. They haven't been tested yet. They're going to come into this match up with a false sense of self-worth to face the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, which have faced some solid opposition already. Offensively, Ohio State has the depth and the talent to move the chains. Defensively, they rank fourth against the pass, 23rd against the rush, seventh in total yards allowed, and third in points allowed. After this week, Ohio State doesn't have another formidable foe until their regular season finale on the road at Michigan. They cannot afford to take their foot off the gas here. This is a low number. Take the Buckeyes. Thank you.

Rutgers.

TD play.

Game 343.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Coming back and winning the game against Michigan State the way they did last week, shows a lot about this Rutgers team. They enter this matchup with momentum and motivated. At 5-2, the Scarlet Knights need another win to become bowl eligible. My friends, after this contest, they have matchups against the Buckeyes, the Hawkeyes, the Nittany Lions, and the Terrapins. To put it lightly, they must win here. Indiana comes in here losing their last two games, both on the road, by a combined 96-24. They are also riding a three-game ATS no cover streak. Look for Rutgers running back, Kyle Monangai, who leads the Conference in rushing, to absolutely steamroll the Indiana run defense. Lay the short price here with the road favorite. Take the Scarlet Knights. Thank you.

Oklahoma.

Consensus GOM.

Game 390.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

UCF Head Coach, Gus Malzahn stated starting quarterback, John Rhys Plumlee is close to 100% and is expected to see action here (check status). In my opinion, although the play-caller is talented, it will not matter. His numbers weren’t all that great when he was on the field. The Knights are on a three-game slide, both SU and ATS. They have failed to cover all three of their road games this season. And going back to last season, failed to cover six in a row away from home. Normally, I would look to fade Oklahoma following the Red River Rivalry. But this team is playing on another level. Following their road win and cover as an underdog to Texas, they had a week off to rest, heal, and prepare. They are not just 6-0 straight up this season, they are 6-0 against the spread as well. The Sooners have a real chance to run the gauntlet and go undefeated during the regular season and make a case for the CFP. Oklahoma quarterback, Dillon Gabriel is salivating here. He has a chance to go up against his former team, and show them why he left. The Knights defense has allowed 44, 36, and 51 points in consecutive contests. The Central Florida offense solely relies upon their ability to run the ball. This doesn't bode well as Oklahoma's stop-unit ranks 32nd in the nation against the rush. The Sooners have already covered pointspreads of 13.5 and 20.5 over Conference foes. This game gets ugly. Take Oklahoma. Thank you.

JMU Dukes.

Money Maker.

Game 313.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

James Madison is on a nine-game straight up winning streak going back to last November. This season, they are on a four-game ATS cover streak. They do pretty well on the road for us as well, my friends, covering their last two as a guest. Meanwhile, not only has Marshall dropped their last two games in a row straight up, they have failed to cover their last three overall outings. Their defense, which was respected earlier on the season, has now allowed a combined 124 points over the last three. Just for the record, that's 41.3 points per game. The Dukes are accounted for over 34.5 points per game on their well-balanced offense that rarely turns the ball over. Meanwhile, although their pass defense leaves a lot to be desired, they are actually the top team in the nation against the rush, allowing a mere, 42.8 yards per game on the ground. And they have already taken away 10 turnovers. I think those two items will be the key here. Take James Madison. Thank you.

Los Angeles Rams.

TEN DIMES PLAY.

Game 272.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

Covering their first three games of the season, Arizona was shaping up to be an under the radar ATS moneymaker. But when October arrived, the Cardinals fell back down to Earth, going 0-2, both straight up and against the spread as underdogs of 14.5 and 3.0 points. On the other hand, the Rams just might be the best sub .500 team in the League right now. And if they're going to take it up a notch, this is the matchup to kick it off. They have dominated their division foe, taking eight of their last 10 meetings, both SU and ATS. Arizona's only true offensive weapon, running back, James Conner is out, dealing a critical blow to the team. Reports are L.A. star wide receiver, Cooper Kupp will be a major factor here in his second game back from injury. Kupp, in his first game back from injury, a week ago, had eight receptions for 118 yards. The cobwebs have been shaken off now. Expect the Stafford/Kupp connection to pick apart the 26th ranked pass defense of ‘Zona in one of my highest-rated plays on the board this week. Take the Rams. Thank you.  

Philadelphia Eagles.

Consensus play.

Game 273.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

Only one of two undefeated teams left this season, Philadelphia is truly scary. Why? Because we still haven't seen their "A" game. With a meeting with Miami, up next, you can expect them to stay focused here. Granted, New York has a stellar rushing attack, behind running back, Breece Hall. But the Eagles counter with the No. 1 "D" in the NFL vs. the run. With a potentially limited ground game to crutch on, quarterback, Zach Wilson and the 32nd ranked passing "O" of the Jets is in real trouble here. They will not be able to exploit the Eagles, shaky secondary. Philly is money on the road, with a 3-0 ATS mark as a guest this season. In a huge mismatch, the 2nd ranked rushing attack of the Eagles, will shred the NFL’s 29th ranked rush defense of the Jets. Yes, overall, the NY stop-unit owns some solid statistics. But when facing well-balanced offenses (Dallas 30, Kansas City 23) they are very beatable. FYI, I give a “mulligan” to Buffalo on that first game of the season against NYJ (lol). Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

Oregon State.

PAC 12 PAYDAY.

Game 190.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

All I keep reading is how good the Bruins defense is. However, they stepped up in class once this season and got spanked a few weeks back against Utah. On the other hand, Oregon State has looked strong against solid opposition. They are 5-1 straight up, going 4-2 against the spread. They opened the season against a couple of pushover foes, earning wins and covers. Then they took their foot off the gas winning, big but not covering a huge pointspread against San Diego State. I'll give them a mulligan in their heartbreaking three-point road loss against rival, Washington State a few weeks back. However, they bounced back and took control of their destiny beating Utah at home and Cal on the road, with authority. By the way, they covered both of those outings too. This is a team that gets us sportsbettors paid at home, covering 14 of their last 15 contests at Reser Stadium. Quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei has matured quite nicely, and found a home as the head of this team. They possess a solid ground attack. Defensively they're holding teams to under 20 points per game and I've already snagged four takeaways. I believe they're going to make it a very long day for Dante Moore, UCLA’s freshman quarterback that only has five games under his belt as a starter. With a more experienced quarterback, a significantly stronger rushing attack, a smart head coach, and playing at home, we must take the Beavers. Thank you.

Auburn Tigers.

TD play.

Game 159.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Whispers around the Las Vegas sportsbooks are that there's going to be some serious money coming in on LSU this Saturday. And why not? They rank 22nd in the nation. And following their road loss to Mississippi, they bounced back last week and took down Missouri as a visitor too. They return home to face an Auburn opponent riding a two-game straight up losing streak. But my friends, sportsbetting is about situations and matchups. And the situation here tells me the Tigers of Auburn are going to catch the Tigers of LSU at the right time. First of all, Auburn has covered the last four meetings in this series, winning two of those matchups straight up. The other two matchups, they lost by three and four points. They play LSU tough, my friends. Guys, Louisiana State was supposed to have an awesome defense this season. But to be quite honest, every halfway decent opponent they went up against, has put up points on them; Florida State 45, Arkansas 31, Mississippi 55, and Missouri 39. They certainly have a very talented quarterback at the helm, and a solid running back in the backfield. But Auburn owns some pretty good statistics as well, ranking 25th in the nation in points allowed, yielding just 18.2 points per game. They're equally strong against the pass as they are against the rush. And offensively they possess one of the most complete rushing units in college football, ranking 19th, and averaging over 200 yards per game on the ground. It is this area that I feel benefits Auburn the most. They will run the ball a lot, wear down the LSU defense, control the clock, and keeping the LSU defense on the field, while keeping their offense off it.  Giving Auburn double-digits as they look to rebound from two straight up losses, and had a week off to rest, heal, and prepare is a mistake. Take Auburn. Thank you.

Maryland Terrapins.

No Limit.

Game 128.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Facing Maryland, following their first loss of the campaign, will prove to be fatal for Illinois. The Terrapins have too much fire power for the "not so" Fighting Illini. Maryland has played some solid football this season. And as far as covering the spread, following a couple of pushover opponents to start off the season, in which they pulled starters, and took the foot off the gas late in the games, they then covered three straight against the likes of Virginia, Michigan State, and Indiana. To be quite honest, last week’s loss at Ohio State was a lot closer than the score. Speaking of covering the spread, this team is 6-1 ATS their last seven as a home favorite of eight or more points. Meanwhile, Illinois has failed to cover any of their six contests in 2023. As a matter fact, going back a bit, they have failed to cover any outings in the calendar year of 2023, failing to cover seven straight games, going back to last season. Turnovers have been an issue for the Fighting Illini, and facing a Terrapins opponent here that has not turned the ball over offensively, and yet has snagged eight takeaways defensively, will be the nails in the coffin here. I'm both sides of the ball, Maryland outclasses Illinois. Take the Terrapins. Thank you.

Memphis.

Friday Night Lights.

Game 122.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Guys, this might be one of the most exciting games on the board this weekend, believe it or not. There's a lot of drama surrounding this game. Both teams are 4-1 straight up. And believe it or not, even though we're about halfway done with the regular season, this match up has serious implications down the road for a New Year's Six Bowl possibility. Having said that, the home team has covered six of the last seven meetings in this series. I want to talk about last year's matchup. Tulane was at home in a sold-out stadium, leading 35-0 at halftime. Memphis rallied back, but unfortunately lost the game, 38-28. I'm sure that left a very bad taste in the Tigers mouth. Both teams beat teams they should've beaten already, while both have also lost to teams that on paper, they were inferior than. Looking at each teams loss this season, the Green Wave took a bit of a beating at home against the Rebels. Meanwhile, the Tigers held on very tough on the road at the other Tigers (LOL) of Missouri. While both teams possess able quarterbacks and decent running backs, there is no question that Memphis owns a much stronger offensive unit. They average over 36.6 points per game, nearly seven points per game more than does Tulane. Defensively, the Green Wave puts up some very good numbers. But they're facing a very well-balanced offensive unit. One more item my friends that I feel is very significant; Tulane has turned the ball over seven times already. They make a lot of mistakes. This is a big matchup, lots of pressure, that they are playing on the road. I think the wrong team might be favor to hear. That's why I'm prompted to take Memphis plus the points. Thank you.

Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Best Bet play.

Game 102.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

Appalachian State has taken four of the last six meetings going back to 2017, with Coastal Carolina. This season, the Chanticleers are falling a little bit short. Granted, they started their season covering the first three games, but they have since failed to cover their last two outings. And to be quite honest, they look pretty bad against both Georgia State, and Georgia Southern. Going 3-2 straight up and 2-2-1 against the spread, the Mountaineers aren’t exactly where they wanted to be at this point either. But I must tell you, they beat all the teams they should've beaten, and against the two that on paper are better than them, they covered both. Those were games against the Tar Heels and the Cowboys. They match up well here. Coastal Carolina has a decent quarterback, but no running game whatsoever. This doesn't bode well for the Chanticleers as the Mountaineers possess an extremely strong pass defense. On the flipside, not only does Appalachian State have an extremely good quarterback, they have one of the best running backs in the conference. They have the ability to control the tempo and the clock and move the chains here. Take the Mountaineers. Thank you.

Green Bay Packers.

Game 475.

5:15 PM PST/7:15 PM EST.

Green Bay had a few extra days to rest, heal, and prepare for this matchup tonight. Losing at home against division rival, Detroit will further motivate them to put forth a solid performance on national TV. What better team to face than Las Vegas. My friends, I know the Raiders team very well. I watch them during practices. I see them each home game. I can tell you this is not a very good team, no matter who is at the helm. Latest reports show Jimmy Garoppolo (check status) will be back under center. But guys, does it really matter? The offensive unit ranks 30th in scoring, averaging a mere, 15.5 points per game. They rank dead last in rushing. And without a solid ground attack in the league in today's game, a quarterback like Jimmy G is usually a sitting duck. They've already coughed the ball up 10 times as well. Meanwhile, defensively, their numbers are just as bad. They are allowing over 25.3 points per game and rank dead last, and for the record, that's 32nd in the league with just one take away. Jordan Love had a less than stellar (lol) performance last week. I expect him to bounce back here against a very beatable “D”. It's true, he also has one of the worst rushing attacks in football. However, they can put up points, they rarely turn the ball over, and he is a good passer. He has several solid receivers at his disposal. And I do think the ground game will get going a little bit here and give the quarterback some breathing room, keeping the Las Vegas defense honest. For everyone that likes trends out there: Green Bay has covered three of their four outings this season, which does include both road contests. Going back a bit, they've covered four in a row as a visitor. Meanwhile, Vegas has covered just one game in the 2023 campaigns thus far, failing to cover either of their two games played at home. I'll take the points with a Packers here. Thank you.

Kansas City Chiefs.

High Roller.

Game 471.

1:25 pm pst/4:25 pm est.

Following their season-opening loss in which they were shorthanded for sure, Kansas City has now rattled off three consecutive wins, going 2-1 against the spread. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Minnesota opened the season up going 0-3, both straight up against the spread, but came up with a big win last week on the road at Carolina to also earn their first cover of the campaign. But I've got to be honest, my friends, their defense has been absolutely atrocious and beating the Panthers is no big achievement. A big mistake made by sports bettor's out there is judging a team by their previous performance. I can tell you the Chiefs did not play their best game last week when they did eke by the Jets on the road. This is a game they have to get back on track, get all their ducks in a row, and get their foot on the gas. Facing an inexperienced quarterback that just can't seem to get a grasp of the NFL in Bryce Young is a far cry from going up against the most accomplished quarterback in the league today in Patrick Mahomes. Don't expect the Vikings defense to have the same success here this week at all. As a matter of fact, they are in for a huge let down for sure. On the opposite side of the ball, the Kansas City defense has really been superb, allowing just 15.0 points per game. My friends, please remember that the Vikings offense ranks dead least in the league in turnovers. I expect that number to skyrocket and for them to keep their 32nd ranking in tact after this contest. I look for this game to get out of hand. Take Kansas City. Thank you.

Los Angeles Rams

Touchdown play.

Game 468.

1:05 pm pst/4:05 pm est.

Guys I'm going to level with you. While, I think the Philadelphia Eagles are a good team. I mean obviously, they are at 4-0. I just don't think they're the same team they were even a season ago. I think this team is struggling a bit. And the oddsmakers are still treating them like the team they used to be. Yes, they are perfect so far this season. But let's take a look at some of their opponents: New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Commanders (only one team with a winning record). Oh, by the way, they've only covered two of their four outings this season, too. The Los Angeles Rams are just 2-2 this season. However, they're a half a point away from covering all four outings. Let's start with some basics. First of all, the Eagles are traveling across the country. Jalen Hurts looks to be struggling. His numbers are certainly off from the season ago. And their defense has absolutely been atrocious. I mean come on folks, they allowed the Patriots to put up 20, the Vikings to put up 28, and the Commanders to put up 31. I see a major mismatch here between their 27th ranked pass defense and the explosive Rams passing offense, which ranks second in the NFL. On the flipside, I look for the seventh ranked pass defense of Los Angeles to wreak some havoc on Hurts and the 13th ranked passing attack in the league. I think the line is way off here. I think this is going to be a very tight game. To be honest with you, I feel Los Angeles has what it takes to possibly win this outright. But I will take four points at home with the Rams for sure. Thank you.

Houston Texans.

Bookie Buster.

Game 453.

10:00 am pst/1:00 pm est.

These two teams started the season very differently and now they’re heading in opposite directions again. The Atlanta Falcons started off the campaign winning their first two outings at home over both Carolina and Green Bay. But has since dropped road games against Detroit and Jacksonville. By the way, they failed to cover three in a row. The Houston Texans opened the season up with a road loss at Baltimore, and then a home loss against Indianapolis, only to win their next two games, the first on the road at Jacksonville, and the second at home against Pittsburgh. By the way, they've covered their last two outings. The last few weeks the Falcons defense have been nonexistent, while their offense has struggled badly. The opposite can be said for the Texans. Without question CJ Stroud is a quantum leap ahead of where Desmond Ridder. Stroud, who has 1,212 yards passing, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions, isn’t just producing, he is making zero mistakes. On the other hand, Ridder has only 744 yards passing, with only three touchdowns, and three interceptions. By the way, outside of running back, Bijan Robinson, Atlanta hasn't been too threatening offensively. Defensively, these teams have very similar statistics, however, one that stands out and certainly favors Houston is that they rank ninth against the pass, while Atlanta ranks dead last in the league at 32nd in passing. This is huge, my friends. Football is streaky right now. The Texans are streaking. Take Houston. Thank you.

Buffalo Bills.

No Limit

Game 452.

6:30 AM PST/9:30 AM EST.

Guys, I am well aware that Jacksonville has become a fan favorite in London. And they did not have to travel last week following their win against Atlanta across the pond. But Buffalo has revenge in their eyes. These two teams met at Wembley stadium in 2015 when the Jaguars came out victorious, 34-31. Losing doesn't sit well with the Bills. Speaking of the team, following their season-opening embarrassing loss on national TV to a jets team minus Aaron Rodgers, the team has now won and covered three consecutive outings against some solid competition. In all sincerity, the Jaguars haven't had to face an opponent as complete as the Bills yet this season. Trevor Lawrence is struggling. And now has to line up against one of the most ferocious stop-units in the NFL. As a matter fact, Buffalo ranks fourth against the pass sixth in total yards allowed, second in points scored, and first in takeaways, snagging 11 already. And now that Josh Allen is back on track and doing what he does, I see him absolutely dissecting the 21st ranked pass defense of Jacksonville. This game is going to get out of hand while Buffalo gets their revenge. Take the Bills. Thank you.

Fresno State Bulldogs.

High Roller.

Game 369.

5:00 PM PST/8;00 PM EST.

Following their season-opening outright win as nearly a two-touchdown underdog at home against Texas Tech, there was a lot of excitement in the Wyoming camp. Granted, they won three of their last four outings, but they have really failed to impress me for sure. They played Texas tough for nearly three quarters a few weeks back, But, then the Longhorns went to town in the fourth quarter outscoring them, 21-0 to get the 31-10 win and no cover. If you're keeping records, please note that Wyoming has failed to cover their last three at home. Fresno State enters this matchup at 5-0 and ranked 24th in the nation. They have faced several good opponents in Purdue and Arizona State, winning and covering both of those contests, one as an underdog and one as a slight favorite. The other games that were huge favorites of 30, 27.5, and 25.5. Head-to-head with the Cowboys, the Bulldogs have now won and covered four consecutive meetings going back to 2017. However, the two most recent meetings, the last two seasons, they won 17-0 and 30-0. The matchups in this game heavily favor Fresno State. This is a team, granted that does not run the ball very well, but they rank 14th in the nation in passing, average over 36.4 points per game, and have yet to turn the ball over. I just don't see the very lackluster, very mediocre defense of Wyoming slowing them down, let alone stopping them. On the flipside, the Cowboys can't pass the ball at all. They rank 127th in that category. They rely solely upon the run, of which they do adequately. If there is one major mismatch here, it is their ground game going up against the 16th ranked rush defense of the Bulldogs. Overall, Fresno State allows a mere 17.0 points per game and has already snagged eight turnovers. This game isn't even close. It gets out of hand. Lay the short price with the Bulldogs. Thank you.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Crusher.

333.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

Louisville might be 5-0, but this week they're currently ranked 25th in the nation. What does that tell you? It tells you they haven't played anybody good yet. And yet they've only covered two games so far this season. This is a major step up in class for the Cardinals, as they face a Fighting Irish opponent that that has faced some good opposition already. They covered against Ohio State a few weeks ago and played them extremely tough as the game came down to the final minutes. They followed that loss up by dominating Duke on the road a week ago. The Fighting Irish rank 10th in the nation, being the only team in the top-10 with a loss. They cannot afford another one. Therefore, I don't see them taking their foot off the gas here and easing up a bit even though they have the Trojans on deck. This is a game they have to rev the engines from start to finish and get some style points from the pollsters. Prior to the season starting, many thought Louisville will have one of the most-explosive offenses in college football. But only putting up 21 points against Indiana and 13 points against NC State tells me a lot about this offensive unit. And they have yet to face a defense as ferocious as they're going to line up against this week in the Notre Dame stop-unit, which has allowed just 13.0 points per game. I just don't see the out of sync QB, Jack Plummer having too much success in the air here. I do see him adding to his six INT's already. On the flipside, look for the Notre Dame well-balanced “O” to move the chains at will, get into the red zone, and put points on the board. In my opinion, they should be favored by double-digits. So, let’s lay the short price here and take the Fighting Irish. Thank you.

Michigan Wolverines.

Oddsmakers mistake.

Game 401.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

My friends, Michigan is sitting pretty right now. They are a perfect 5-0, ranked second in the nation in the polls, and don't have a very tough opponent for quite a while until November 11, when they face Penn State. Normally you would think that you don't want to lay this type of wood when they have several weeks of pushover opposition upcoming. But they can't let themselves get stale, that's for sure. They also can’t put in a lackluster performance in which a result might be drop in the polls. These days style points mean a lot my friends. They have dominated Minnesota, taking nine of the last 10 meetings straight up, covering eight of those 10, which includes wins and covers in the last two meetings. Speaking of the Golden Gophers, they got their first cover since last December last week, against the Ragin' Cajuns. This is a team that has really not impressed at all. They couldn't cover against Nebraska, Eastern, Michigan, North Carolina, or Northwestern. It was the last two games that I really focused on. Granted, they were on the road in both of those outings, but they got crushed at the hands of the Tar Heels offense, and then against the very mediocre Wildcats, they were just simply outplayed. The Wolverines possess one of the most well-balanced offensive units in college football. They average over 34.4 points per game and they've only committed one turnover. Defensively, they are the top stop-unit in the nation, allowing a mere 6.0 points per game, ranking 11th against the pass and 14th against the rush. By the way, they've already snagged five takeaways, too. This game will get seriously out of hand. But remember it's only the second game back for Coach Harbaugh, and last week against Nebraska on the road, they devoured the Cornhuskers, 45-7. This team will go above and beyond with their coach back on the sidelines to crush the Golden Gophers. As I mentioned earlier, style points mean a lot right now, especially being they’re playing some less than great opposition in the upcoming schedule. Take Michigan. Thank you.

Kentucky Wildcats.

Shocker.

Game 329.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

With all due respect to the Georgia Bulldogs, how did they really earn the number one spot this season? In my opinion they really haven't impressed me all that much. Yes, they are a very good team. But this is a team that has only covered one of their five outings, and that was against Ball State my friends. They failed to cover against Tennessee-Martin, South Carolina, UAB, and most recently, Auburn. But in all sincerity, I'm not sold on their offense, folks. One thing I know about the Kentucky Wildcats, they have a real-deal defense. Not only that my friends, but they very quietly have accumulated a record of 5-0 straight, up covering four of their five outings this season. They too, won and covered against Ball State, along with victories and ATS wins for us against Akron, Vanderbilt, and Florida. They did not cover as they took it easy and let their foot off the gas against Eastern Kentucky. They certainly impressed me shutting down Florida's “O” a week ago.  This is a team holding opponents to just 75.8 rushing yards per game. The rush is not a strength of the Bulldogs. But if they can slow down the rush, they can certainly get to quarterback, beck and force some mistakes. Offensively, the Wildcats, leave a lot to be desired, but they don't make many mistakes, and they do have a more than adequate ground game. With an offense that makes very few mistakes, a decent ground attack, and a ferocious stop-unit, I think this game is going to be a lot closer than the 14.5-point spread. Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Friday Night Lights.

Game 317.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

Yes, it's true, both teams sit a 2-3 straight up this season. It is also true, neither has been very impressive. However, I just can't see Illinois laying points to any opponent out there. This is a team that hasn't covered a game since November of last season. They have also failed to cover five consecutive games played at home. Nebraska's played very competitively for most of the season until last week’s, 45-7 loss at the hands of Michigan at home. But I think we can all agree, the Wolverines are one of the top teams in the country and taking a beating from them shouldn't warrant too much shame. I'll look for them to bounce back here. You may not realize this because their numbers overall aren’t very impressive, but the Cornhuskers rank 15th nationally in rushing, averaging over 209.0 yards per game on the ground. They have the ability to control the tempo on the clock and keep the Fighting Illini’s “not so fighting defense” on the field, and their offense of it. One more item folks, they also possess the nation’s 15th ranked run defense. Thus, getting Illinois lackluster offense off the field in a hurry. I like the line here. Take Nebraska. Thank you.

Dallas Cowboys.

Consensus Play.

Game 274.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 EST.

My friends, I think the line is a little off here. I think it should be closer to a -9 or even -10. Yes, I know Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots got a win    ND cover last week on the road against the Jets. But haven’t they beat them like 15 straight times? Let’s look at their performance prior to last week when they beat a Jets team with a shaky quarterback. They opened up the season losing, 25-20 at home against Philadelphia, and then followed it up also at home, losing to Miami, 24-17. Last week’s win and cover was a rarity. That was their first win since January 1. And that was the first cover since December 12 of last year. I know “the Hoodie” is an amazing coach. But he just doesn’t have the personnel any more, my friends. Let’s look at Dallas. They opened up the campaign annihilating the New York Giants on the road, 40-0, then followed that up with a Week 2 win at home against the New York Jets, 30-10. Last week as an 11-point favorite, they lost outright on the road to Arizona, 28-16. This is a perfect “bounce back” situation for the Cowboys. I know they took a serious blow when they lost CB, Trevon Diggs. But this team is loaded and they have a lot of play makers on defense. I mean they rank third in points allowed, yielding just 12.7 points per game. They’ve already snagged seven takeaways as well. They are a little bit better against the pass than they are against the rush. But let’s face it, the New England 26th ranked scoring offense…to put it very simply, is lackluster. I doubt Mac Jones will have any success in the air here, even without Diggs in the secondary. And in all sincerity, their rushing attack isn’t very threatening. Defensively, they put up some decent numbers overall. But they did give up 25 points to the Eagles and 24 points to the Dolphins. Last week when they only allowed the Jets to put up 10 points…well guys, that’s the Jets. I see Dallas bouncing back with authority here getting the win and cover at home. By the way, the Patriots are just 1-3 ATS their last four on the road, while the Cowboys are 7-2 ATS their last nine games played in their house. Take Dallas. Thank you.

Oregon.

High Roller.

Game 173.

3:30 PM PST/6:30 PM EST.

As of post, there are currently six teams in the Pac-12 ranked in the top-25 in the nation. There are also five teams in the Conference, that has started the season off at 4-0. This week, Oregon faces Stanford. In my opinion, the Pac-12’s preseason highest-touted team, USC, although is very strong, has a defense that is very beatable. This is the Ducks last opportunity to fine-tune their skills before serious conference competition. They have the Huskies up next. This is a team that has no problems running up scores. So far this season they’ve been favorites of 48, 4.5, 38, and 21.5, covering all four outings. Meanwhile, the Conference’s worst team, the Stanford Cardinal are 1-3 overall, which does include an 0-2 record in Pac-12 play. They opened the season with a respectable win and cover on the road at Hawaii. Then got shredded by USC, and believe it or not, Sacramento State, before losing a tight one at home against Arizona. Last year’s meeting saw Oregon shred Stanford at home, 45-27. That marked the third win and cover for the Ducks over the Cardinal in the last four meetings. Quarterback Nix, looks like he has found a home at the helm of the Oregon offense. So far this season he has a 79.4 completion percentage, thrown for over 1,169 yards, with 11 TDs and just one INT. He has an arsenal of receivers at his disposal along with a trio a very solid ball-carriers. As a matter of fact, running backs, Irving, James, and Whittington have combined for over 660 yards rushing and 11 TDs on the ground. The defensive of Oregon is almost as impressive, as their stop-unit ranks 10th against the pass, 33rd against the rush, and 17th nationally in points allowed, yielding just 13.3 points per game. Oh, by the way, going back to their offense, every aspect of it ranks in the top-10 in the nation, while not turning the ball over at all. My friends, in all sincerity Stanford is atrocious. They can’t score offensively and they can’t stop anyone defensively. I look for Nix to have his finest performance of the season thus far against the 126th ranked pass defense of Stanford. In an era where style points count for something in the polls, look for Oregon to light up Stanford like it’s the Fourth of July. Take the Ducks. Thank you.

Georgia.

VI MOVE.

Game191.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Believe it or not, Georgia is one of only three undefeated teams left in the SEC. The nation’s top-ranked team needs to pile up victories and pile them up with big margins for sure. What a better team to face than Auburn. The Bulldogs have had their way with the Tigers, taking six in a row and nine of the last 10 meetings, both straight up and against the spread. Just going back, the last three years, Georgia has won by margins of 21, 24, and 32 points. Don’t put too much stock in the fact that this team has only covered one of their four games this season. None of those pointspreads were less than 26 points. They had each of the games won and started pulling starters out. This is a Conference matchup and with the Kentucky Wildcats up next, I expect the Georgia Bulldogs to flex their muscles and show the rest of the Conference that they deserve to be the top team in it as well as in the country. The Tigers started the season off winning three straight before stepping up in class on the road and getting embarrassed, 27-10 at the hands of the Aggies in College Station. That no cover marked the third consecutive for Auburn as they couldn’t cover in the SU win on the road at Cal and also failed to cover a big pointspread at home against Samford. While they’re defense seems to be adequate. They have not faced an offense of the caliber that they will face here this week. On the flipside, I doubt very much they’re going to move the chains at all against the stout, 10th ranked Georgia “D”, which has allowed just 11.3 points per game. One more item that has really stood out to me: the Bulldogs defense has snagged seven takeaways. Meanwhile, the Tigers offense have already coughed the ball up four times. Look for the Georgia defense to create some turnovers here and capitalize them with ease. Take the Bulldogs. Thank you.

Louisville.

Friday Night Lights Play.

Game 113.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Louisville is only one of two ACC teams to have started this season off 2-0 in Conference play and 4-0 overall. Going back to last season, the Cardinals have won five consecutive outings SU. While NC State is off to a 3-1 start, they have been pointspread poison, failing to cover all four outings thus far this season. This is nothing new for the Wolfpack, as they have failed to cover five in a row and eight of the last 10 going back to last October. The only bright spot for the team has been their rushing game. However, sometimes statistics can be very deceiving. They piled up yardage on the ground against both Connecticut and VMI. I doubt they will have the same success against a very stout, Louisville defense, which has only allowed 19.0 points per game. Offensively, I don’t see how the Wolfpack can slow down, let alone stop the well-balanced offense of the Cardinals, which are accounting for over 43.0 points per game. The 1-2 punch of quarterback, Jack Plummer and running back, Jawhar Jordan will not just move the chains at will, but will light up the scoreboard here. Louisville just has too much fire power. And to be honest, they know if they play things right, they have a chance at competing for the Conference crown. Take the Cardinals. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles on the run line.

Double Play.

Game 980.

3:35 PM PST/6:35 PM EST.

With just a handful of games left in the regular season, the Baltimore Orioles, which have earned a postseason spot already, sit 2.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in first place of the American League East. They have won two in a row and six of their last nine outings. This season, they have taken both meetings with the Washington Nationals. And going back a bit, they have taken eight of the last nine overall matchups with their National League East rival. Let’s face it, the Nationals started making vacation plans for October a while ago (lol). While they are a dismal, 35-41 on the road this season, the Orioles are a very impressive, 45-30 at home. Scheduled starters today are Josiah Gray and Kyle Bradish. The Washington right-hander is 8-12 with a 4.00 ERA on the campaign. The team has dropped three of his last four outings. The Baltimore right-hander is 11-7 with a 3.01 ERA in 2023. And the team has won seven of his last nine turns. I look for the explosive Orioles offense to light up the Washington pitching staff here. Take the Baltimore on the run line. Thank you

Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

MNF GOM.

Game 478.

4:15 PMPST/7:15PM EST.

Granted, Philadelphia is 2-0 this season. But in all sincerity, they really haven’t impressed me too much. Their defense has allowed 24.0 points per game against the likes of New England and Minnesota. I understand they own one of the top rushing offenses in football right now. But the Tampa Bay run defense has been stellar, yielding just 54.0 yards per game on the ground. I don’t have too much faith in Jalen Hurts and the NFL’s 29th ranked passing unit. And they must face a frustrating “D” that has already snagged five takeaways. In my opinion, the Buccaneers wins against the Vikings and Bears having more impressive. Offensively, it’s tough to put any real faith in Baker Mayfield. However, this unit has not turned the ball over yet, which is huge. By the way, the Eagles are just 4-10 ATS their last 14 as a road favorite. And going back to the start of last season, away from home, they are a dismal, 3-7 ATS overall. This game does include last year’s Super Bowl. Home ‘dog on Monday night is the way to go. Take the Buccaneers. Thank you.

Miami Dolphins.

No Limit.

Game 462.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The Miami dolphins have played some stellar football thus far in this young season, going 2-0, both straight up and against the spread. As a matter of fact, as far as us, sports bettors are concerned, they have covered five straight games going back to last season. They face a Denver Broncos team that was supposed to be much improved this year. However, after both losses, and no covers at home against Las Vegas and Washington, they now hit the road. Russell Wilson and the offense finally put up some points. But it was is a losing effort against the Commanders. Let’s face it, the Broncos defense was supposed to be their strength again this season. And yet, Washington posted 35 points on them. This is Miami’s first home game. They have a loyal fan base that will further motivate them here and big part of another victory for this team. To add insult (no pun intended) to injury, the Bronco’s secondary is a little banged up. Look for Tagovailoa to have his best performance yet this season. Take the Dolphins. Thank you.

Buffalo Bills.

Ten Dimes.

Game 463.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The Buffalo Bills have extremely high expectations again this season. They are tired of being a bridesmaid. Following their season-opening loss to the Jets, sans Aaron Rodgers, they bounced back last week to absolutely crush the Raiders. Not only did their defense step up, play strong, and create turnovers, but Josh Allen played mistake free football. Great effort from running back, James Cook as well. Going back to Allen, he really wants to shake the reputation of being mistake-prone. I understand the Washington Commanders are off to a 2-0 start. But before we begin handing out Lombardi Trophies to Ron Rivera and his team, let’s please remember that this team has a lackluster offense, and a defense that sprung a lot of leaks a season ago. Their supposed “stop-unit” allowed the lackluster, Denver Broncos “O” to post 33 points on them last week.  Quarterback, Sam Howell has a whopping, three starts at this level under his belt. And trust me when I tell you, none of the defenses he had to lineup against were as tough, as talented, or as angry as a defense he’s going to face this week. That Week 1 loss the Buffalo Bills experienced will not only make them a better team, it will make them a team looking for vengeance. They outclass the Washington Commanders in every aspect of the game. Lay the points with Buffalo. Thank you.

Washington State.

No Limit.

Game 376.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Both teams are 3-0 straight up. Both teams are 2-1 against the spread. But that’s where their similarities end. Oregon State has faced the likes of San Jose State, UC Davis, and San Diego State. Meanwhile, Washington State has gone up against Colorado State, Wisconsin, and Northern Colorado. Granted their last opponent leaves a lot to be desired. But they have gone up against some very stiff competition and have played very well. They can counter the Beavers strong rushing attack with an extremely stout run defense. And I just don’t see Oregon State slowing down their explosive passing attack. Prior to last season’s meeting, the Cougars had won eight consecutive matchups in this rivalry straight up, going 6-3 against the spread. They will get revenge from last year’s loss. Take Washington State. Thank you.

Georgia Tech.

Contrarian play.

Game 315.

3:30 PM PST/6:30 PM EST.

All the stats so far this season would support taking Wake Forest here. I mean why not? They are 3-0 straight up. But in all sincerity, look at the teams they have beaten; Elon, Vanderbilt, and Old Dominion. Meanwhile, despite being 1-2, Georgia Tech has gone up against Louisville, South Carolina, and ‘Ole Miss. The line is off here. The Yellow Jackets match up well with the Demon Deacons. They’re pretty well-balanced offensively. They have a heck of a quarterback in King, who has already tallied nine TDs and just one INT. The line is off. Take the ‘dog. Thank you.

Maryland.

High Roller play.

Game 379.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Guys, I’ve got to tell you, I rarely pick a game because of their previous week’s performance. But when Maryland came back and scored 42 unanswered points last week to win and cover over Virginia, it showed me what the team is made of. Meanwhile Michigan State is, how can I put this, “a hot mess.” I know there are 2-1, both straight up against the spread. But their two wins and covers were against Central Michigan and Richmond. Teams they were favorite by 14 and 29 points. When they went up against Washington last week, they got humiliated by a score of 41-7. This is a big game for both teams as they enter conference competition. Quarterback, Tagovailoa, has had huge success against the Spartans. In two starts against them, he has thrown for over 664 yards passing with three touchdowns in the air. Defensively, the Terrapins will completely shut down the lackluster “O” of the Spartans. By the way, Maryland has not won five consecutive games going back to last season and have covered four of their last six. I am not afraid of this line at all. And neither should you be. Take the Terrapins. Thank you.

TCU.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 384.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

I’m going to give TCU a mulligan on their season-opening loss to the very well hyped and publicized Colorado team. Over the last two weeks I think we would all agree the Buffaloes are a decent team headed by a very good coach. Many teams would’ve folded like a cheap suit after that game. They came out and bounced back to crush Nicholls State, 41-6. Then last week on the road, shredded Houston, 36-13. Please don’t forget that a season ago, this was one of the top teams in college football as they started the regular season, 12-0. They lost their final game of the regular season, then beat up on Michigan in a Bowl game to earn a spot in the National Title game. Yes, they were humiliated by Georgia. But this is a team that takes no opponent lightly. SMU is a good team. But this is their first attempt as a member of the Big 12. And I believe they are in way over their head. If you recall a season ago, this team took losses at the hands of Maryland, yes…TCU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, and Tulane during the regular season. Then they lost to BYU in a Bowl. This season they did destroy the likes of Louisiana Tech and Prairie View A&M. But sandwiched in between those two victories, they got destroyed on the road and Oklahoma. That is the same Sooners team that the Horned Frogs destroyed last October, 55-24. That season-opening loss will further motivate TCU not to take their foot off the gas here. Take the Horned Frogs. Thank you.

Air Force Falcons.

Friday Night Lights play.

Game 313.

7:30 PM PST/10:30 PM EST.

I have been reading that Air Force, despite possessing one of the top defenses of the country, really hasn’t played any strong opponents as of yet. But folks, if you looked at last year’s schedule, when they did play some solid opponents, their defense was one of the best in the country, holding opponents to 20 points or less in 12 of the 13 overall outings. This does include a late-December Bowl win and cover against Baylor. San Jose State is just 1-2, with their only victory coming against Cal Poly SLO. They did play a couple of formidable foes in Oregon State and Toledo. But I’ve got to be honest, they really didn’t show me too much. I don’t think they’re going to have too much success moving the ball here against the Falcons stout defense. And I do see Air Force continuing to do what they do best, and that is rushing the ball with success. The Spartans aren’t the team that we’ve come to know over several seasons being pointspread royalty. They are now pointspread bums. They finished last season failing to cover seven consecutive outings. Take Air Force. Thank you.

Seattle Mariners on the run line.

MLB Double Play.

Game 923.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Seattle sits in second place in the AL West, tied with Texas, 1.5 GB of Houston. They are also in a dogfight right on the cusp of earning a Wildcard spot. No question, they must keep their foot on the gas until the end of the regular season. They have dominated Oakland, winning nine of the last 10 meeting with their division rival, including Game 1 of this series yesterday, 5-0. That defeat was the fifth straight for the A’s. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, The M’s send right-hander Luis Castillo (13-7, 3.08 ERA), who is unbeaten in last 11 starts, going 7-0 with a 3.26 ERA. The team has won his last nine turns. Right-hander Paul Blackburn (4-5, 4.14 ERA) hasn’t pitched no more than five innings in any of his three September starts, going 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA. In seven career starts against Seattle, he is 2-3 with a 5.09 ERA. During their current five-game slide, Oakland has been outscored by a combined, 34-8. The Mariners bats will demolish Blackburn, while Castillo keeps the A’s lineup in check. Take Seattle on the run line. Thank you.

New Orleans Saints.

MNF Winner.

Game 289.

4:15 PM PST/7:15 PM EST.

New Orleans opened up the season with a win, while Carolina did not. Derek Carr seems to have adjusted quite well to his new team and the role of quarterback and team leader. While I think we could all agree that Bryce Young has a bright future in this league, it’s going to take a while for him to adapt to the speed and the intricacies of the NFL. I don’t expect him to get in sync with his offense anytime soon. There is a reason why preseason predictions have the Saints running away with their division. This is an ideal opportunity for them to make a statement to a division rival and furthermore to the rest of the NFC South…that they are the top team in the division. On both sides of the ball, Carolina might be missing some key players (check status). New Orleans, which is certainly a little deeper, has a seasoned veteran quarterback at the helm, and reportedly a much-improved defense. You can expect head coach, Dennis Allen to throw everything at the rookie quarterback, Young, but the kitchen sink. The Saints defense will go at the Panthers offense and wreak havoc, forcing mistakes and at the very least, getting them off the field quickly. Thus, allowing New Orleans QB Carr to work his magic. Take the Saints. Thank you.

Green Bay Packers.

No Limit.

Game 265.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

Guys, I really feel the wrong team is favored here. I like the matchups for Green Bay very much. While both teams are truly a work in progress, I think the Packers are a little further along. As far as ATS trends go, the Falcons are 3-13 ATS the L16 in the second of consecutive home games. Meanwhile, the Pack are 5-1 ATS in the second of consecutive away games the last six times in that situation. Green Bay shut down the Chicago ground game last week. I feel they can do the same here against Atlanta, and if so, will make it a lot tougher for Falcons quarterback, Desmond Ridder to have any success in the air. He had some trouble last week against the less than stellar Panthers defense. Without a running game he is going to be a sitting duck and turn the ball over. Take Green Bay. Thank you.

Detroit Lions.

High Roller.

Game 270.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

Sports fans, all week long I’ve been reading about how Detroit got lucky winning on the road at Kansas City because they were missing a couple of key players. They still went on the road in Kansas City, the defending Super Bowl Champions and beat them. I am well aware of the fact that Seattle has had their number. The Seahawks have won five in a row, covering the last four going back to 2015. However, the worm has turned my friends. If people want to keep saying Detroit is just a lucky team, then they must be one of the luckiest teams on the planet. The second half of last season they went 8-2 their final 10 games covering nine of the 10 final contests.  Now they return home for the first game in this campaign with a very big fan base in a very loud stadium. The Seahawks, lack of offensive prowess has been highly publicized. And now a couple of their offense of lineman are a little banged up (check status). The lions defense stepped up big time against some solid opposition a season ago. They come into this game with a little momentum following the Chiefs match up. I’m not a big fan of Geno Smith, guys. And to be honest with you, although Pete Carroll deserves the respect, I think his best days are in the rearview. Lay the points with the Lions at home. Thank you.

Fresno State Bulldogs.

Late Bailout.

Game 209.

7:30 PM PST/10:30 PM EST.

At first glance, you may think that Arizona State at home getting a field goal is the play here. I mean why not? The Sun Devils play in a bit stronger of a conference for sure. And they are at home. But there’s a few things you may not know. For starters, ASU just came off an ugly loss at home against Oklahoma State. Up next for this team is USC at home as well. I think this is a definite sandwich spot, or even a lookahead spot in which FSU can catch them off guard. Next up, these two teams met a few years back in December bowl matchup in which Fresno State took down Arizona State, 31-20, so they have the confidence of knowing they beat this opponent before. And then there’s the fact that the Bulldogs took down the Boilermakers in Week 1 on the road, 39-35 as a 4.0-point underdog. Fresno State is also riding an 11-game SU win streak, which does include a Bowl win last December against Washington State. There is too many questions offensively and a big concern on defense too, for the Sun Devils. Take the Bulldogs. Thank you.

Penn State Nittany Lions.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 127.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM PST.

My friends, Penn State should be at least an 18 to 21-point favorite in this matchup. If there is a true mismatch on the board this Saturday in college football, this game is it. My friends, it was just last season that the Illinois defense was making headlines. This season, not so much. They have failed to cover both outings so far, as they eked by Toledo, 30-28 as a 7.5-point favorite and then lost, 34-23 on the road at Kansas, as a 3.5-point underdog. Their defense has sprung a big leak. Granted, Penn State really didn’t have any opposition thus far, winning and covering at home against both West Virginia and Delaware. But don’t forget that this team has been money against the spread, covering nine straight games going back to last season. Might I remind you they’ve been big favorites on more than one occasion during that span. This is their first conference matchup, and the Nittany Lions must make a statement to the rest of the Big Ten. Penn State has gotten the better of Illinois, winning and covering three of the last four overall meetings. Going back a bit, they have covered three of the last four contests played at Illinois as well. Without the defensive mind of Ryan Walters, who departed for Purdue, I just don’t see the Fighting Illini putting up much of a fight against the well-balanced offense of the Nittany Lions. They have a smart coach, a seasoned quarterback, and a seven-game straight up winning streak going back to last year. PSU needs to make a splash in this conference. And what better way than to shred Illinois here. Take Penn State. Thank you.

Florida State Seminoles.

ACC Game of the Month.

Game 117.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

With Clemson already at 1-1 overall, which does include an 0-1 conference record, Florida State has a legitimate shot at taking the ACC crown this season. This team came out of the chute and blasted LSU as a one-point underdog in Week 1, 45-24. If there was going to be a letdown situation, it would’ve been last week when they did cover as a 31-point favorite over Southern Miss at home, 66-13. This is their last game against a pushover before they take on some serious conference opponents. They have Clemson up next. This is their last opportunity to fine tune their offense and defense. And trust me, they are not going let their foot off the gas against an ACC foe. They face a Boston College opponent here that fell way short in their season opener, dropping a 27-24 home game against Northern Illinois as an eight-point favorite. If they were going to show some moxie, they would’ve done it last week when they eked by Holy Cross by only three points as a double-digit favorite. Over the last four seasons, the Seminoles have taken four meetings against the Eagles, both straight up and against the spread. Last year’s matchup saw an absolute beat down as Florida State thumped Boston College, 44-14. Offensively, the Eagles are very little threat as they’re having trouble both on the ground and in the air. Defensively, it’s going to be a long day for their defense, going up against one of the most explosive offenses in the country, that is accounting for over 55.5 points per game. The Seminoles are equally strong on the ground and in the air. They have a very solid, rushing attack to control the tempo and the clock, while their explosive air assault can go down field at well. Take Florida State. Thank you.

Kansas State Wildcats.

High Roller.

Game 129.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Coming into this matchup, Kansas State ranks 15th in the nation. Guys, to be very blunt, Missouri’s offense is a mess. They failed to cover, despite winning straight up against South Dakota and Middle Tennessee State. To be even more blunt, I just don’t see their lackluster offense keeping pace with Will Howard and the explosive, Kansas State “O”.  If you recall, these two teams met a season ago as the Wildcats shredded the Tigers, 40-12. To be quite honest, not too much has changed on the Missouri side of the ball to think that this game will have any different of an outcome. The Tigers, as I mentioned earlier, have a lackluster offense. If they couldn’t move the ball very well, or I should say with ease against their two less than stellar opponents already, I just don’t see them moving the ball here. And if that is the case, their defense is going to be spending a lot of time on the field, facing the very well-balanced offense of the Wildcats. I mean, after all, this team possessing a dangerous backfield, and one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football today. This explosive unit put points a season ago against just about every opponent they went up against. Need a remind you, they play some very good opposition. They also covered 10 of the 13 outings during the last year’s regular season. This is a small number to lay on the road here. Lay it and take your bookmaker’s money. Take Kansas State. Thank you.

Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Touchdown Play.

Game 132.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST. 

(PLEASE NOTE, I accidentally hit the wrong button when posting this game yesterday. The analysis and pick was for the Bulldogs, as I wanted it,. But I did hit the wrong team when posting originally. THIS IS THE CORRECT POST. My apologies. Good luck-JD 

A big mistake made by many in sports betting is judging a team by their previous week’s performance. Of course, LSU was supposed to destroy Grambling a week ago. But their season opening loss on the road at Florida State, I believe, showed us a lot about this team. Also, to any of us sports bettors, this is a team that is just 1-7 ATS the last eight as a road favorite. Guys, I am well aware of the fact that LSU has covered the last two years in this match up. And I do put a bit of stock in trends and streaks. However, going on the road and laying nearly double-digits against a very game team looking for a little revenge, I feel is a gift. Going back to last season the Bulldogs have now won five in a row straight up, going 4-1 against the spread. Outside of a couple of expected drubbing at the hands of Alabama and Georgia a season ago, this team has been competitive in every single game they have played since the beginning of last season. They can run the ball, which means they can control the tempo and the clock here, keeping the LSU defense on the field, and their offense off of it. You can bet your butt that the Bulldogs coaching staff watched the game film of the LSU/FSU matchup more than once, and will take a page out of it and apply it here. Take the points with Mississippi State. Thank you.

Maryland Terrapins.

Friday Night Lights

Game 110.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

This is the final tune-up game for Maryland before they go into some serious conference play. These two teams haven’t faced one another in a decade, since they were both in the same conference. Let’s start with the Cavaliers folks. Virginia opened the season by getting shellacked, 49-13 on the road at Tennessee. Then last week at home against James Madison, they took a one-point loss. Guys this was supposed to be a very big win for them, especially because they had a dedication ceremony to the players that unfortunately passed away not that long ago. There was a break in the action due to some weather issues, but this is a team that couldn’t get past James Madison, my friends. Going back a bit, they have failed to cover five consecutive outings, and eight of the last nine overall contests. Now they have to take it on the road on a short week, coming off a devastating loss. By the way folks, this team is only touted to win 3.5 games this season. Maryland on the other hand, plays in a very tough conference and is looking to pad their win/loss record before going into conference play. This is a team that going back to last season has won four in a row straight up and three of the last five against the spread. They started the season with two decisive victories over Towson and Charlotte. Granted, they didn’t cover either game, but laying 38 and 24 points, they had easy wins, going into the last portion of both outings, so they eased back a bit. There’s no question that the Terrapins possess the better quarterback in Tagovailoa. He has more experience and savvy at the helm. And believe it or not, this team possesses the much stronger stop-unit. By the way, my friends, Maryland has taken four of the last five against ACC opponents. This may be a lot of points, but I’m not afraid to lay it. Take the Terrapins. Thank you.

Las Vegas Raiders.

NFL ANGLE PLAY.

Game 471.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

With a new quarterback at the helm and signing their running back to a long-term deal, the Las Vegas Raiders are entering the 2023 regular season with excitement. Many out there will say the same for the Denver Broncos. However, an aging quarterback with a lackluster offense, which in turn had their defense spending too much time on the field last season and springing leaks, I feel this team is in trouble. For the Raiders, what better team to face than the Broncos. For us sports bettors, they have covered nine of the last 10 meetings, going back to September, 2018. They have also won eight of the last 10 straight up, which includes six consecutive matchups with their division rival. Jimmy Garoppolo had a 40-17 regular season record as a starter in six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He’s got some big receivers, including superstar wideout, Davante Adams. In the backfield, Josh Jacobs, who had 1,653 yards rushing a season ago is a workhorse. With a solid passing game and an incredible ground attack, this offense is going to be very hard to defend. Speaking of defense, Las Vegas certainly beefed up their stop-unit in the off-season. Let’s face it, Wilson is not the quarterback he once was. He doesn’t have the legs as he did in his youth. And without a solid ground attack, I feel the Broncos “O” is going to struggle once again this season. On paper, it looks like Denver has edges both overall on the roster and in coaching. But the last time this team beat the Raiders by more than one-point on their home field, was back in 2017. Playing in Mile High doesn’t offer the big advantage it once did. If you recall a season ago, the Broncos failed to cover four of their first five at home. This is way too many points to give a very hungry visitor, which has had their way in this series for years. By the way, Denver has failed to cover six straight as a divisional home favorite. Take Las Vegas. Thank you.

Jacksonville Jaguars.

No Limit.

Game 459.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The Jacksonville Jaguars enters this season with confidence, being touted as the top-team in the AFC South. They will begin the campaign the same way they finished last year’s campaign, with momentum. The Jags completed the regular season winning five straight then won the Wildcard contest, and fell just short in the divisional round. As far as us sports bettors go, they were money, going 9-2 ATS their last 11 contests, which includes both postseason outings. Speaking of covering the number, they face an opponent here, covering six of their last seven meetings against. On the other hand, the Colts were a dismal, 4-12-1 SU a season ago, failing to cover 11 of 17 outings. Rookie quarterback, Anthony Richardson will be making his first pro start here, after making a mere, 13 college starts for Florida. In my opinion, the youngster is in way over his head in this matchup. Not only are there major concerns surrounding the offensive line, but he doesn’t have stellar ball-carrier, Jonathan Taylor in the backfield. The star running back will be out of action for the first four games of the season. Jacksonville QB, Trevor Lawrence matured significantly last season. The “O” is well-balanced, possessing three solid rushers, along with an arsenal of talented receivers. Lawrence will absolutely pick apart the very beatable pass defense of Indy here. The Colts playing on their own field hasn’t been an advantage, dropping their last five games played at home SU, and going 1-4 ATS in that span. Meanwhile, the Jags took three of their last four as a visitor a season ago SU, finishing with four ATS covers. Take Jacksonville. Thank you.

New Orleans Saints.

Late Info Move.

Game 464.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The line in this game is a bit off. At home, in the Superdome, in front of their loyal, loud, faithful fans, the Saints should more of a favorite. Maybe it’s because RB, Alvin Kamara will be missing three games, serving a suspension. Maybe it’s because the offense has a new QB at the helm in Derek Carr, who didn’t see very much playing time in the preseason. Or maybe it’s because last season, the New Orleans defense had some ugly performances. But, in the offseason, they signed ball-carrier, Jamaal Williams, the NFL’s touchdown leader a season ago. Carr is a veteran, who by the way, is reunited with his former coach, Dennis Allen. Maybe it gets overlooked, but the play-caller brings a ton of experience and solid stats to the table. He also has newly-acquired TE’s, Foster Moreau and Jimmy Graham. And back from an injury, WR, Michael Thomas is reported to be in solid form. Despite owning the League’s top-rushing defense, the Titans slumped last season, losing their final seven contests SU, only covering once, the last game of the season. The Tennessee offense has some outstanding talent. But they did rank among the worst in football in passing. The team beefed up their receiving core with the addition of WR, DeAndre Hopkins. As we all know, the success of this unit revolves around RB, Derek Henry. With some issues regarding their offensive line, especially without Nicholas Petit-Frere, Henry is carrying an even larger load on his shoulders…or should I say, legs. The line here is a gift. Take the Saints. Thank you.   

Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bookie Buster.

Game 466.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The 49ers are once again predicted to be one of the best teams in the NFL this season. On both sides of the ball, San Francisco possesses some of the best talent in football. Back at the helm is QB, Brock Purdy. Exactly how stable, healthy, and successful he will be in his first game returning from injury and surgery on his elbow, is uncertain. On the stop-end, Nick Bosa is going to be starting, reportedly seeing action for most of the game. He heads one of the most-ferocious defenses in the NFL. But both, the 49ers offense and defense are in for a tough battle here. The Steelers, which made a strong finish a season ago, winning seven of their last nine contests SU, and covering 9 of their final 12 ATS, are coming into this season expected to be the cellar-dweller in the AFC North. Not a familiar situation for this storied franchise, team, and city. Head coach, Mike Tomlin is not one to take bad reports lightly. Kenny Pickett matured quite well and has become the leader of the team and a true favorite of the fans. The QB has a slew of talented playmakers at his disposal, both on the ground and in the air. The “O” sports a brick wall in one of the most experienced offensive lines in the game today. The luxury of RB, Najee Harris along with a few new additions, will move the chains here for sure. On the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh has the personnel to possibly be one of the stingiest in the League. A healthy, TJ Watt will wreak havoc on the untested and unsteady, Purdy. Let’s not forget, this is a “D” that allowed 18 or fewer points 11 times last season. San Fran is 1-5 ATS the last six season openers, while Pitt is 8-1-1 ATS the last 10 as a home ‘dog. Take the Steelers. Thank you.

Alabama Crimson Tide.

Marquee Game Winner.

Game 384.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Let’s put aside the fact that all the headlines this week wrote how successful Nick Saban has been against his former assistants, going 28-2 all-time against them. For the first time, in as far back as most of us can remember, Alabama did not make the College Football Playoff last season. Not only will he come out here to make a statement, he is going to come out here with a vengeance and make a statement against a top-10 ranked opponent on national TV at home. For starters, although Quinn Ewers is an excellent quarterback, there is a lot of questions surrounding his offensive line. Going up against a defense like Alabama possesses is going to be a nightmare for the quarterback here. I know that the Longhorns return 10 starters from last season. I am also well aware of the fact that Bryce Young has since departed the Crimson Tide and their offense is now in the hands of Milroe. But you must understand that Alabama is stacked higher and deeper than the pancakes at your favorite breakfast joint. Saban won’t take any chances here and rev the engines the entire game against a team that they eked by with a one-point victory a season ago. Guys, when playing at home, the Crimson Tide are on a 15-3 ATS run in Tuscaloosa. By the way, folks, Texas is just 1-5 ATS their last six nonconference road tilts and 3-9 ATS their last 12 versus SEC opponents. After last year’s close game scare, and being shunned for the CFP, Nick Saban is going to make an example of Texas here. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Oregon Ducks.

Touchdown Play.

Game 359.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

My friends, I am going to ask you to do a little bit of math here. The Oregon Ducks are the second-choice in the Pac 12, and are touted to win 9.5 games. The Texas Tech Red Raiders are supposed to be the fourth best in the Big 12, slated to win just 7.5 games. Now going to the preseason predictions to win the National Championship, the odds for the ducks are twice as strong as the Red Raiders. With the way, the USC defense has looked thus far, in my opinion Oregon and Washington are the best teams in that conference by far. You can’t say the same for the Big 12 as far as the Texas Tech goes. Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas State are all rated significantly higher in the conference than is Texas Tech. They did finish last season strong, winning and covering their final four outings. However, they opened this season up with a very poor performance, losing outright, 35-33 as a 13.5-point favorite in Wyoming. Some bettors out there will think they’re going to bounce back strongly to make a point here. I think they exposed their weaknesses. This is a home game for the Red Raiders. But you cannot dismiss the fact that the Ducks are a monster road team, accounting for 34, 49, 42, 49, and 44 points against some solid opposition. They also have a well-balanced offense, equally strong in the air and on the ground. Bo Nix has found his home with this team. He is a stud, a good play-caller, and possesses a solid arm. He also has the luxury of having a monster ground attack. Oregon will control the clock and the tempo, keeping the Texas Tech defense on the field and their offense off of it. The Red Raiders rushed for just 95 yards against the Cowboys last week. If you can’t run the ball, you can’t keep opponent’s offenses on the sideline. And that is one thing you must do to at least slow down the juggernaut which is the Ducks offense. Don’t forget Texas Tech ranked 97th in opponents points per game last year and 102nd in yards per play against. They might come out here with some fire bellies. But they just don’t have the personnel to contend on the scoreboard in this one. Take Oregon. Thank you.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 303.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Sports fans, I keep reading that this is the first true test for Notre Dame this season. I’m looking at it at a different point of view. I think it’s their first opportunity to show the nation they are a true force to be reckoned with. Fighting Irish quarterback, Sam Hartman is no stranger to playing against this conference. The gunslinger left the ACC with the most touchdown passes in the history of the conference. And lit up this specific secondary for nearly 700 yards passing the last two meetings with NC State. Please don’t forget Notre Dame is 8-1-1 ATS the last nine versus the ACC just over the last two campaigns. Furthermore, they are also 14-2 ATS as a favorite of 10 or less points the last 16 in the situation. I will admit that facing NC State is a step up from their last two opponents, Navy, and Tennessee State. But we all must admit that the Wolfpack didn’t have that easy of a time last week against the Huskies in their 24-14 victory over them on the road. We could all agree that Brennan Armstrong just doesn’t put up the same numbers anymore. And for him and the NC State offense, this is a very, very big step up in class from Connecticut. I just feel that they do not have either the playmakers or the depth to keep pace on the scoreboard in this matchup. Being around the hot number of 7.0 or 7.5 doesn’t scare me one bit. Take the Fighting Irish. Thank you.

Florida State Seminoles

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 232.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

My friends, my staff and I have come up with a line on this game that Florida State should be a three-point favorite. Please remember that they’re playing in Orlando, Florida. Also, remember that last year’s meeting, the Seminoles blocked a kick at the end of the game to win 24-23. They come into this meeting with confidence. Believe it or not, FSU comes in here with a lot less pressure on them. They also come in here very optimistic. Last year they were the only team in the country to lead its conference in both total offense and total defense. Now, I will tell you both starting quarterbacks are back. However, a major advantage gives FSU an edge here. LSU defensive tackle, Maason Smith has been suspended. Let me tell you how significant he is to the squad. Head coach, Brian Kelly tried to get a Week 0 game scheduled so he could actually serve out his suspension against a no-name team and be available for this game. While I believe the Tigers are a good team, I just don’t believe all the hype that they are a great team. Trust me when I tell you folks, Florida State is a great team. Defensively they are a little stronger, a little more consistent, and possess bigger playmakers overall. And they’re at 100% coming into this contest. Granted, it’s not technically a home game for the Seminoles. But playing in Orlando, Florida certainly gives them a lot more friendly fans in the stands. Please remember that a season ago LSU, during the regular season went 1-4 against the spread away from home. I still feel FSU should be the favorite. Take the points with the Seminoles. Thank you.

Ohio State Buckeyes.

NO LIMIT.

Game 165

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

The preseason polls have Ohio State figured to be one of the top teams in college football again this season. There are some questions about their quarterback because head coach Ryan Day hasn’t officially named the starter yet to replace CJ Stroud. My friends, this team is loaded on both sides of the ball and they do have one of the best wide receiver tandems in college football today. So any QB at the helm will thrive. They face a team that they have beaten 28 consecutive meetings, and which is supposed to finish this season dead last in their conference. The Buckeyes have averaged over 50.1 points per game in the last six meetings with the Hoosiers. But even more than that, my friends this game takes place 12:30 pst/3:30 PM EST. The other team in the conference that’s supposed to be the best and one of the highest touted teams in college football, the Michigan Wolverines have a contest early at 9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST against East Carolina at home. Follow this logic; if Michigan blows up East Carolina, Ohio State hast to keep their foot on the gas to keep pace with them and show them that they too are a team to be reckoned with. If the Wolverines maybe don’t cover against the Pirates, and it’s a little bit closer than many people think, then the Buckeyes still have to keep their foot on the gas to show the Wolverines that they are the best team coming out of the gate and possibly even solidify a top spot in the polls. Either way guys, Ohio State must crush Indiana. And there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. Take the Buckeyes. Thank you.

Washington Huskies.

HIGH ROLLER.

Game 198.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

My friends, this might be one of the biggest mismatches on the college football board this Saturday. To say that the Pac 12 is in a state of flux, would be an understatement. The USC Trojans were supposed to run away with this conference this season. However, after watching their defense allow San Jose State to put up 28 points on them as they failed to cover last week, we must admit that they might have the same problems they had in recent years. Their defense, their defense, their defense!. Both the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies are touted to vie for the PAC 12 title. And right now, I have to be honest, the Huskies are sitting in the catbird seat. There is no question Boise State is a solid team in the Mountain West. They are supposed to be the top team in the conference this season. If you recall, they went up against Oregon State in Week 1 of last season and got blown up, 34-17. Let’s be honest, they just don’t face the same level of competition as does their opponent here this weekend. Their “all-universe” quarterback, Hank Bachmeier has departed the team and is now wearing a Louisiana Tech uniform. The Broncos are also missing some of their coaching staff, who have also departed for bigger and better. Maybe the writing is on the wall. Guys, there is no way they can keep pace offensively with the high-flying squad headed by Michael Penix Jr. A season ago, the Huskies offense ranked number one in passing yards, number two in total yards, and number four in points scored. Oh, by the way, they also didn’t turn the ball over too much, ranking second in college football in that category. Statistics can be quite deceiving my friends. Last season, Boise State possessed one of the best pass defenses in the land. However, when you go up against run-heavy offenses, like they did (Wyoming, Air Force, San Diego State, UTEP, New Mexico, Oregon State) the statistics are going be padded for sure. This is not just a step up in class for their pass defense. This is a step up, step up, step up, like they’ve never experienced before. This is a true mismatch. Lay the two TDs with the Huskies. Thank you.

New York Yankees on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 919.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Yes, it’s obvious that New York isn’t where they want to be at this point in the season. They had hopes of winning the American League East. And with just a handful of games left in the regular season, they sit in last place in the division. They have won their last two games, which by the way are Games 1 and 2 of this series with Detroit. Trust me when I tell you, whispers of both Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone, both being on the hot seat at the end of the season are circulating. One thing about the Yankees, they have a lot of pride and certainly don’t want to finish in last place. They play a Tigers team that they have gotten the better of, taking seven of the last eight meetings, going back to April of 2022. On the mound today is Gerrit Cole. The right-hander is 11-4 with a 2.95 ERA on the campaign. To say he has dominated Detroit would be an understatement. Over his career, in 11 starts, he posts a 7-1 record with an anemic ERA of 1.94. It looks to be the Tigers will be calling up left-hander, Joey Wentz from Triple-A Toledo to see some action here today. Playing at home against this opponent is certainly going to be a high-pressure situation for the youngster. Believe it or not, as poorly as the Yankees have done this season (please remember that they sit in the most competitive division in all of baseball), they own better numbers, both on the mound, and that the plate, then their opponents here today. Take the Yankees on the run line. Thank you.

Las Vegas Raiders.

Preseason Game of the Year.

Came 131.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST

Under head coach, Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas is 6-0 straight up and against the spread in preseason play. Dallas has not only failed to win either of their two outings this August, but they failed to cover both as well. Last week against Seattle, several of their key contributors got banged up. This does include a couple of their ball carriers. The undersized Deuce Vaughn isn’t going to be laid out to dry for too long here. They can’t afford to not have an able running back going into Week 1 of the regular season. The Raiders aren’t touted to do too well this year. So, I do expect them to come out here and put up some big numbers to excite their dedicated fans base and season-ticket holders. Take Las Vegas. Thank you.

Washington Commanders.

Bookie Buster play.

Game 126.

3:05 PM PST/6:05 PM EST.

It’s certainly no secret that the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to be one of the best teams in the NFL this season. It’s also no secret that their head coach doesn’t put too much effort in preseason play. I doubt very much they’re going to jeopardize any of their key playmakers here for too long. On the other hand, the Washington Commanders are picked to finish dead last in the NFC East. Not only that, but they are expected to win just 6.5 games this season. And own some of the longest odds to win the NFC Championship. They do have a coach that puts forth a lot of effort in August. This preseason they are 2-0, both straight up and against the spread. It has been reported that all healthy players will be getting some action here (check status). Unlike their opponent in this contest, they have quite a few players still trying to make earn starting slots as well as more than a few trying to make backup positions. I expect this team to be extremely competitive here and give their fans something to be excited about during this upcoming regular season. Take the Commanders. Thank you.