New York Giants.

NFC GOW.

Game 269.

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

My friends, I do several sets of my own power ratings. And on both of my sets, I have the New York Giants a small favorite in this matchup. They are now 6-1 on the season, both straight up and against the spread. Not only are they winning games but they’re winning games that they are coming back from deficits. That shows you how good certain teams really are. With a healthy Saquon Barkley running the ball and the ever-maturing David Jones at the helm, this team is playing some great football. You may not realize this, but they possess the number two rushing attack in the NFL, while also possessing the number five scoring defense in the league. When you combine those two benefits you will win ball games. Plain and simple. I understand Geno Smith has the highest quarterback rating of his career. But let’s face it, he was never a standout quarterback folks. I do like Kenny Walker running the ball. He has a bright future. But when push comes to shove and the game is in crunch-time, is Geno Smith the guy you want making decisions on the fly? I doubt it. I wouldn’t put too much stock in the Seattle’s last two games, which were both victories over Arizona and Los Angeles. Neither of those teams have shown any consistency. I do feel it’s going to be a slow-moving game, with a heavy dose of running the ball by both offensive units. So, this comes down to defense. And there is no way the 28th ranked scoring defense of Seattle isn’t going to get steamrolled here. As I mentioned earlier, I have the Giants a slight favorite on both sets of my power ratings. They will win this game out right and get another big “W”. So, getting points here is an early Christmas gift. Take New York. Thank you.

New York Jets.

Late Info Move.

Game 266.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST

My friends, the worm has turned in the AFC East. For decades we have watched the New England Patriots reign supreme. And we have also watched as the New York Jets have been the division doormat. While currently New England sits in last place in the division, New York has taken over the second-spot just behind Buffalo. After big road victories playing in tough places like Lambeau and Mile High, the Jets return to East Rutherford in front of their home crowd here. With the news that Mac Jones will be returning this week under center, the general public is playing New England. Come on folks. I like Jones. But let’s be honest. He has two touchdowns and six interceptions. And now he has to face the very stout New York “D”. You may not realize this but the Jets are not only yielding just 19.6 points per game, but they have also snagged 11 turnovers. The Patriots are one of the worst teams in the league committing turnovers, already coughing up the ball 15 times. In my opinion Bill Belichick and his team has an enormous amount of pressure on them. A lot more pressure than Robert Saleh and his boys. Actually, if you think about it, New York has almost no pressure on them because nobody expected them to win. Every victory they get is a bonus for the team at this point. Things will go from bad to worse for New England, while New York get another “W” here. The Patriots are 0-4 ATS the last four versus the AFC East. The Jets are 5-0 ATS the last five in October. The wrong team is favored here. But I will take the points with the Gang Green here, folks. Take New York. Thank you.

North Carolina.

Consensus.

Game 154.

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

My friends, I think we can all agree Kedon Slovis is no Kenny Pickett. The Panthers passing unit has fallen from grace, ranking 83rd in the nation. Now I will tell you the Tar Heels give up some points. But I just don’t see the Pitt lackluster offense, competing with the stellar North Carolina “O“. UNC ranks ninth in passing, 44th in rushing, and ninth in points scored, accounting for over 41.7 points per game. They have a well-balanced offense that will keep the Pitt defense on the field and their offense off it. Throw into the mix the Panthers are point spread poison, covering just two of their last eight outings going back to December of last season. And if we’re going to talk turkey, their defense has allowed Rhode Island to put up 24, Georgia Tech to put up 26, Virginia Tech to put up 29, and Louisville to put up 24 in consecutive outings. I don’t see any of those offenses as explosive as North Carolina’s. Take the Tar Heels. Thank you.

Oklahoma State.

NO LIMIT.

Game 179.

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

Guys, whether Martinez plays or not for Kansas State, I still don’t see the lackluster Wildcats offense going score-for-score with the explosive Cowboys “O“. Let’s face it, no matter who is at quarterback for the Kansas State, it won’t matter. The Oklahoma State offense ranks fourth nationally in scoring, accounting for over 44.7 points per game. Spencer Sanders will light up the scoreboard here. The quarterback has already amassed over 2,030 yards passing with 15 touchdowns in the air. Let’s not forget he is a dual-threat, adding another 352 yards rushing and eight scores on the ground. This is a very well-balanced unit that can and will keep the K State defense on the field. This is a team that has also taken the last three meetings in this series straight up with the average margin of victory coming by nearly 9-points per game. They are 12-3-1 ATS the last 16 conference games, 18-7-1 ATS the last 26 road games, and 33-16-2 ATS the last 51 overall games. Take Oklahoma State. Thank you.

Iowa State.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 160.

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

Sports fans, the wrong team is favored here. Each week I do two sets of power ratings. And my power ratings have the Cyclones favored by -3 and by -6. I’m well aware of the fact that Iowa State has lost four in a row straight up. But in each of those outings they have played very tight, losing those four games by combined 14-points. Let’s not forget Oklahoma is just 1-3 straight up their last four contests, failing to cover all four of those games. To say their defense has sprung a leak, is an understatement. When they brought Brent Venables in as a head coach, they thought he was a defensive genius. Maybe he wasn’t such a genius as it was the fact that when he was at Clemson as the defensive coordinator, he was in a very good system with a lot of talent around him. More than halfway through this regular season, the Sooners are just 4-3 straight up, and a dismal 2-5 against the spread. Their defense, or I should say lack of defense, has gotten plowed for over 31-points per game, ranking among the worst in the nation in yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, and points scored. And let’s be honest, ranking 86th in passing yards allowed ain’t nothing to write home about either. I know the Iowa State offense leaves a lot to be desired. But every opponent Oklahoma has faced for over a month now has lit them up. They live and die by their offense, trying to outscore opponents. However, the Cyclones defense ranks among the best in the country in total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, and most importantly, in points allowed, ranking seventh nationally and yielding just 15.1 points per game. Oklahoma is 0-5 ATS the last five games played on grass. Iowa State is 20-6-2 ATS the last 28 games played in the month of October. Take to Cyclones. Thank you.

Utah Jazz.

CRASH THE BOARDS.

Game 517.

6:10 PM PST/9:10 PM EST.

Sports fans, Utah took down Denver at home in both teams season-openers, 123-102. Even if Collin Sexton, who is listed as questionable for this game, doesn’t play, this is still way too many points to give the Jazz. I understand that the Nuggets are in revenge-mode here and are playing at home, but it is still way too many points. On both sides of the court Utah is looking much stronger than Denver at this point. Throw into the mix that the Jazz are monsters on the offensive boards and will get a ton of second-chance shots, and I like the visiting team to possibly win outright here. But I will take the points for sure as they are 5-1 ATS the last six meetings in this series. Meanwhile The Nuggets are just 4-11 ATS the last 15 at home. Take Utah. Thank you.

Cleveland Cavaliers.

FAST BREAK.

Game 507.

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

Despite a 2-1 record, the Boston Celtics are not looking like the team that they were a season ago. Their defense is absolutely atrocious, ranking 19th, and yielding over 115.3 points per game. They’ve got a couple of cogs in the wheel that will be continuing to sit due to injuries. But they are going to be without Grant Williams. He is serving a one-game suspension. I feel they are going to be a little thin upfront against the very talented duo of Jarett Allen and Evan Mobley. And when Boston tries to adjust, this will leave Donovan Mitchell open to score at will. Look for a major mismatch from beyond the arc in this contest as well. Cleveland is hitting over 40% from downtown, while Boston is allowing over 40% from three-point land. Not only that, but the Celtics are one of the worst in the NBA right now on the offensive boards. And they must go up against one of the best defensive rebounding corps in basketball. Take the Cavaliers. Thank you.

Baltimore Ravens.

Thursday Night Football Winner.

Game 101.

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

Funny thing, the Baltimore Ravens are just a couple of plays away from being 7-0 instead of being 4-3. Coming in here needing some victories, I feel the Ravens are much hungrier for sure. Not only that, but I just don’t see the Buccaneers defense compensating for their lack of offense anymore. I mean let’s face it, this is a team that has dropped four of the last five straight up and all five of those against the spread. The Tampa Bay offense is so deplorable, that their defense has become overworked and fatigued. I just don’t see Tom Brady getting out of his funk. Nor do I see this team coming back in what we call the “do for “ factor. I understand the Bucs have quite a few injuries that has contributed to their current downfall. But this team is just not playing with any emotion. And they certainly have no momentum whatsoever. Look for quarterback Lamar Jackson to work his magic on the ground, keeping the Tampa Bay defense honest, which will open up the Baltimore passing game. As I mentioned, the Bucs defense is fatigued and overworked. There is no way they could content in this matchup. The road team is 5-0 ATS the last five meetings in the series. The Ravens are 23-11-1 ATS the last 35 games played on grass. The Buccaneers are 0-4 ATS the last four games played at home. Take Baltimore. Thank you.

San Antonio.

Fast Break.

Game 549.

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

Can you believe the Spurs are tied for the top-spot in the Southwest, while the Timberwolves are tied for the third spot in the Northwest? Not only is San Antonio 3-1 straight up, they’ve also covered three of their four outings this season. Minnesota, which is sitting at 2-2 has crushed sportsbettors, going 1-3 against the spread. The Spurs have won and covered three in a row, all on the road. And yet, the Timberwolves come in here nearly a double-digit favorite. These two teams just met on the same floor at the Target Center a few nights ago, when the Spurs devoured the T-Wolves 115-106. Now the odds makers of telling us that revenge is such a big factor that Minnesota is going to turn around and cover this nearly double-digit point spread. That is just ludicrous. San Antonio is money, going 8-0 ATS the last eight games played on one days rush, 6-0 ATS the last six games played following a straight up win, 15-5-1 ATS the last 21 games played on the road, and 13-3 ATS the last 16 games played overall. Take the Spurs. Thank you.

Milwaukee.

Slam Dunk.

Game 546.

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

Nothing would give the only undefeated team in the Eastern conference, the Milwaukee Bucks more pleasure then crushing the Brooklyn Nets. Both teams were touted to be contenders this season. However, after a week of play, they are certainly looking like they’re heading in opposite directions. Brooklyn is just 1-2 and have suffered some ugly defeats already. While Milwaukee is a perfect 2-0, covering both of their outings at Philadelphia and at home against Houston. The Bucks own the number one defense in the NBA, yielding just 96.5 points per game. I just don’t see the out-of-sync Nets scoring on them here. To make matters worse, once again this season Milwaukee possesses one of the best offensive rebounding squads in the league. While they rank amongst the best in basketball in field goal percentage and three-point percentage, they will get as many second-chance shots as they need in this matchup. They have won and covered five of the last six overall meetings and five of the last seven in Milwaukee. Take the Bucks. Thank you.

Memphis Grizzlies on the moneyline.

FAST BREAK.

Game 524.

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

I would absolutely hate to be the Brooklyn Nets today. My friends, this is a team with a lot of big names, a large payroll, and a lot of ego. But, let’s be honest, they just aren’t meshing. And now they have to face a Memphis Grizzlies opponent which is touted once again to be one of the strongest teams in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies begin the campaign beating both the Knicks and the Rockets, two subpar teams. Saturday night they went into Dallas and got crushed 137-96 by the Mavericks. Getting them off that embarrassing loss, which Ja Morant was held to just 20-points after setting a franchise record for points in the first two games, is going to be fatal for the visitors here. Let’s not forget Memphis has won and covered the last six meetings against Brooklyn, including all three at the FedEx forum. Granted the home team is a little shorthanded without Jaren Jackson or Zaire Williams. However, Dillon Brooks is expected to make his debut tonight. I just don’t see the Nets keeping pace with the Ja Morant and the explosive Memphis offense in this matchup. Not only that but, the Grizzlies are absolutely crushing it on the boards. This is a place where the Nets certainly need improvement. Look for a big mismatch on the glass in this meeting. Brooklyn is 2-6 ATS the last eight games played on two days rest, 9-28 ATS the last 37 games played following an ATS win, and 1-4 ATS the last five games played overall. Memphis is 16-6 ATS the last 22 games played following an ATS loss, 35-16 ATS the last 51 games played on one days rest, and 21-7 ATS the last 28 games played at home. Take the Grizzlies. Thank you.

Cleveland Cavaliers.

Slam Dunk.

Game 508.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST

This line is a little short as the odds makers are looking to trap you. They know that we all know the Cavaliers played last night in Chicago and had to had to travel back home to Cleveland for this matchup. Yes, Washington is 2-0. That is a fact. But let’s face it, they played the Bulls two evenings ago, and although they did win, they barely got the victory, eking out a 102-100 victory. Last night in Chicago, the Cavaliers demolished the Bulls, 128-96. You know after the Bucks, the Cavs are touted as the second strongest team in the Central Division. This is a very talented squad folks. They don’t commit to many turnovers, they are very accurate from the floor, whether it be around the basket or from downtown, and they also hit a high-percentage from the line. But the most impressive thing about Cleveland is once again they have a monster defense. They will frustrate the Washington squad, create turnovers, and will certainly take advantage in transition here. The Wizards are 6-20-1 ATS the last 27 following a straight up win, 4-9 ATS the last 13 on the road, and 7-19-1 ATS the last 27 played on one days rest. Take the Cavaliers. Thank you.

Take Portland.

Crash the Boards.

Game 501.

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

Most of the early money this morning is coming in on the Lakers because the general public feels that after starting the season off going 0-2, that they are due for a victory. Well waiting for LeBron James and Los Angeles to get their first win, is worse than waiting for a check in the mail from Publishers Clearing House. Portland travels to LA with sporting their first 2-0 start since the 2018 campaign. Let’s throw away the fact that the Blazers are 14-6 ATS the last 20 meetings with the Lakers in Los Angeles. Let’s look at the present day. The Blazers are relatively healthy, while once again the Lakers are already listing most of their stars as questionable or probable here today. No one expect too much from LA. And I really don’t think their fans are expecting a victory here today. Despite all their superstar personnel, the Lakers are accounting for just 103.0 points per game. And now must face a much-improved Portland squad that is brimming with confidence, following wins and covers on the road at Sacramento and at home a few nights ago against Phoenix. Damian Lillard will light up the scoreboard here today in this match up. Take Portland. Thank you.

New York Giants.

No Limit.

Game 453.

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

I know a lot of people out there are waiting for a shoe to drop on the New York Giants. But I’m here to tell you folks, that their carriage is no way turning into a pumpkin. At least not this Sunday. At this time last year, they lost five of their first six games. What an improvement! You may not realize this, but they own one of the three best records in the NFC. And one of the four best records in all of football. Believe it or not, I think this team is going to actually get better because they welcome back a couple of key defenders last week. And what can we say about quarterback Daniel Jones? He seems to be more and more comfortable with each passing week in this system. Love them or hate them, this team is for real. If you don’t believe me, just look at last weeks win over the Ravens. They were down 20-10 in the fourth quarter and then they came back to take down Lamar Jackson and the mighty Baltimore team. On the flipside you got a Jacksonville Jaguars team that is riding a three-game loss and no cover streak. I get it, they should have lost in Philadelphia back at the beginning of the month. But no way should they have taken defeats at the hands of Houston at home or even in Indianapolis last week. They are going to have a tough time trying to move the chains against the feisty seventh-ranked New York defense. And I do feel you are going to see Daniel Jones and workhorse running back Saquon Barkley, who by the way is listed as questionable with the soldier issue but reports are that he will play…I believe we going to see these two have their best performances so far this season. I have New York being a two-point favorite in my power ratings line. Take the Giants and take them to the bank. Cinderella continues in that dress, in that carriage, and goes to another ball. Thank you.

Baltimore Ravens.

AFC North Game of the Month.

Game 460.

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

The Ravens return home this week following another disappointing loss in which they blew another lead. They sit at 3-3 and are tied for the top spot in the division. In their three defeats this season, the Baltimore was ahead in all three, only to give up late leads. The Browns are absolutely horrible, failing to win or cover their last three outings. They possess one of the weakest defenses in the NFL, ranking 30th and yielding 27.2 points per game. Look for Lamar Jackson and company to bounce back here and take over the AFC North against their division rival. They have covered the last five meetings in this series. And are 5-1 ATS the last six games played following an ATS loss. Take Baltimore. Thank you.

Green Bay Packers.

Bookie Buster.

Game 463.

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

Aaron Rodgers has his lowest QB rating of his career. The team has dropped their last two games and sit in second place in their division at 3-3. There is no way the Packers will let another poor opponent get the best of them. The Commanders are down to Taylor Heinicke at the helm. The team got a win last week over the Bears breaking their four-game slide (both SU and ATS). Their offense is non-existent, ranking 29th in the league, averaging a dismal, 17.0 points per game. They just won’t be able to content with an angry Rodgers and the Green Bay “O”. The Packers are 11-5 ATS the last 16 vs. the NFC. Take Green Bay. Thank you.

Take Central Florida.

Contrarian play.

Game 333.

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

Since an early-September home loss to Louisville, Central Florida has rattled off four consecutive straight up wins, going 3-1 against the spread. During their current hot streak, they have outscored opponents 178-56. The Knights have dominated the Pirates, winning the last six meetings in a row straight up, which includes all three meetings in Greenville. They have had a few extra days to rest, heal, and prepare for this contest. East Carolina will be a little fatigued, following last weeks four overtime two-point win over Memphis. That game marked their third no cover over the last four outings. Both quarterbacks are gunslingers. But two major advantages give Central Florida a big advantage in this match up. For starters, quarterback Plumlee is a dual-threat, passing for over 1,500 yards in the air and running for over 450 yards on the ground, accounting for a total of 18 touchdowns. He will light up the 117th ranked ECU pass defense here, keeping them off-balance with the squads fourth ranked rushing attack. Defensively, the Knights can certainly slow down and contain the Pirates with their seventh ranked stop-unit. Going back to last season, they have held their last nine opponents to 20-points or less. The road team is 6-2 ATS the last eight meetings in this rivalry. Central Florida is 4-0 ATS the last four games played in October and 5-2 ATS the last seven games played overall. East Carolina is 1-4 ATS the last five games played following a straight up win and 1-5 ATS the last six games played against conference opponents. Take the Knights. Thank you.

Take Alabama.

NO LIMIT GAME.

Game 382.

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

There are a lot of headlines in the news this week following Alabama‘s 52-49 loss on the road against Tennessee last week. The Crimson Tide fell to sixth in the latest poll, ending the teams streak of 40-weeks inside the top-five. The 52-points yielded is the most scored against them since 1907. They also committed 17 penalties. Not to mention yielding nearly 600 yards of offense. It’s uncanny that a season ago after starting the campaign off winning their first five contests, Alabama dropped a game on the road at Texas A&M. The following week they faced Mississippi State as a visitor and crushed them 49-9 as a 17.5-point favorite. They then ran the gauntlet the rest of the regular season, not taking their foot off the gas, winning out. They have won 14 straight over the Bulldogs, covering the last four in a row, with the margins of victory coming by 24, 31, 41, and 40. Look for Bryce Young, who came back last week and showed no signs of a lingering shoulder issue, passing for over 455 yards to light them up in the air while ball-carriers, Gibbs and MccLellan steamroll the 81st ranked run defense of Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 1-6 ATS the last seven meetings in Alabama. The Crimson Tide are 4-0 ATS the last four games played following a straight up loss. Roll Tide. Take the Crimson Tide here, lay the wood, and beat the books. Thank you

Take UCLA.

PAC 12 GOM.

Game 375.

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

The last two unbeaten teams in conference play in the Pac 12 square off here. After a season opening embarrassing 49-3 loss at the hands of Georgia, Oregon has since run off five consecutive wins. The one thing that does concern me is that they haven’t played the same level of competition as UCLA. The Bruins, over their last two outings, have taken down both the Huskies and the Utes. Mind you they were underdogs in both of those contests. Overall UCLA has a bit stronger of a defense, yielding six points per game less. Both are good at stopping the pass and both are good at stuffing the run. Both offenses are good at passing. And both offenses are very, very, strong at rushing. So, what does that tell you about this game? It tells me it’s going to be a very tight matchup. Throw into the mix that after this week, the Bruins schedule softens a bit. And the fact the last two meetings were both settled by three-points. This adds up to be a very close game. Way closer than the point spread. UCLA is 6-0 ATS the last six games played vs. Pac-12 foes, and 7-1 ATS the last eight games played on the road. Take the Bruins. Thank you.    

Take Syracuse.

OM GOM.

Game 353.

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

For quite a while now, the only coach worthwhile up in Syracuse was Jim Boeheim. Well, that isn’t the case anymore. Dino Babers has his team a perfect 6-0. This does include being the only other undefeated team in the ACC Atlantic, other than Clemson. Not only that, but this team has been money to us bettors, going 5-1 against the spread this season. Clemson is a very good team. You may not realize this, but they’ve won 11 straight going back to last season. But I think we would all agree, this is not the same Tigers team we are used to seeing over the last several years. You know what’s funny is the Orange have covered six of the last eight meetings in this rivalry. And the bulk of that was during the Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence eras. Last year with DJ Uiagalelei at the helm, Syracuse came very close to beating them outright, losing a heartbreaker, 17-14. Believe it or not, the Orange enter this matchup with the number six ranked defense in the country, yielding a mere 13.2 points per game. They’re equally strong against the pass and the rush. Clemson‘s defense ranks 26th, allowing 19.7 points per game. But they have gotten shredded in the air. Garrett Shrader has the luxury of having Sean Tucker in his backfield to keep the Tigers defense honest and allow him to open up the passing game. The Orange are 7-0 ATS the last seven games played in the month of October, 5-2 ATS the last seven games played on the road, 9-4 ATS the last 13 games played against conference opponents, and 5-1 ATS the last six games played overall. The Tigers tend to get overvalued, particularly at home where they have only covered three of their last 11 games. Take Syracuse. Thank you.

Memphis Grizzlies.

Las Vegas Strip Move Play.

Game 547.

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

Memphis begins their campaign off with a big win at Madison Square Garden two days ago, taking New York down 115-112 in overtime. Houston put up a valiant effort in Atlanta in their season opener, falling short 117-107 in Atlanta. Important to tell you that the Grizzlies did fail to cover, while the Rockets eked by with a cover by a half-point. The Memphis one of the strongest teams in the West. And once again, Houston is one of the worst. No one expects too much from them. However, the Grizzlies have high hopes this season. After a lackluster overtime win against the Knicks, the they must put their foot on the gas in this matchup to give the team a little momentum and confidence and their fans something to be excited about. Going back to last season the Rockets have now dropped eight in a row straight up. They are pretty good against the spread. But Memphis has had their way with them, taking five of the last six straight up and four of those six against the spread. Houston is just 0-5 ATS the last five games played vs. teams with the winning percentage above .600. They are also a dismal 25-55 AYTS the last 80 games played at home. Ja Morant and company are just too much for their counterpart to handle here. Take the Grizzlies. Thank you.

Los Angeles Clippers.

Above The Rim Play.

Game 531.

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

After the beating the Lakers received at the hands of the Warriors in their season-opener a few days ago, I would normally look to jump on a team like that to bounce back in their second game of the campaign. However, the Lakers are a whole different story. And now that they have to face the Los Angeles Clippers, their crosstown rival in their season opening contest, I think things are going to go from bad to worse for LeBron James and company.  The Clippers are at full strength with no significant injuries to the roster. This is very exciting because it is the first game Kawhi Leonard will be taking the floor in about 15 months. Not only that, but it is the first game he and Paul George are both on the floor for in quite a while. And when you have a guy like John Wall coming off the bench, I think it’s safe to say that your team is loaded. The Clippers have taken seven consecutive meetings straight up with the Lakers, including all three a season ago. They are 10-1 against the spread the last 11 meetings at the Lakers and 35-17 against the spread the last 52 overall meetings with the Lakers. I look for Leonard to come out here and play very well as the team flexes their muscles against their crosstown rival. Take the Clippers. Thank you.

Georgia State.

Sun Belt Mid-Week Money Maker.

Game 301.

4:30 PM PST.

Appalachian State lost their season-opener, a barn-burning 63-61 defeat at the hands of North Carolina at home. But they were a favorite in that game. Then they won and covered in Week 2, when they took down a highly-touted Texan A&M team on the road. We thought this team would be a powerhouse (I’m talking about the Mountaineers). Because at the time, the Aggies were figured to be a dark horse for the College Football Playoff Boy did we seem that we overshot that prediction didn’t we? Lol. Since then, they failed to cover as a two-touchdown favorite in a 32-28 win at home against Troy. And then lost badly, worse than the 32-28 final score, in a home defeat at the hands of James Madison in which they were favored. They devoured the Citadel. But then again, we knew that would happen. And last week as a 19-point favorite on the road, they were shredded by Texas State. This team is just 1-2 in conference play. Their leading rusher, Camerun Peoples sat last week and the offense mustered just 41 yards on 21 carries. The ball-carrier is once again listed as questionable here. Whether he plays or not, I really like Georgia State tonight. The Panthers come into this matchup possessing the 13th ranked rushing attack in the nation. They can and will slow the game down and keep the Mountaineers defense on the field. On top of that, their “D”, which is less than stellar, has already snagged 10 takeaways already. Meanwhile Georgia State comes in here riding a two-game win streak, both straight up and against the spread, shellacking Army on the road 31-14 and then beating up on Georgia Southern at home a week ago, 41-33. The road team is 6-1 ATS the last seven meetings in the series. The Panthers are 10-1 ATS the last 11 games played followed a straight up win, 7-1 ATS the last eight games played on the road, and 7-2 ATS the last nine games played against conference opponents. Let’s face it, the Mountaineers numbers are really ugly especially compared to those; they are 1-5 ATS the last six games played at home, 0-5 ATS the last five games played versus conference opponents, and 2-7 ATS the last nine games played overall. Take Georgia State. Thank you.

Golden State Warriors.

Slam Dunk Play.

Game 504.

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

Funny thing folks, the Golden State Warriors are touted to take the Western Conference. However preseason predictions have the Phoenix Suns actually taking the Pacific Division. That can’t sit well with the Warriors. No matter how you look at it, Los Angeles just does not have the horses to run with Golden State. I know that last season they played each other three times and the Warriors took two of the three meetings straight up. And the Lakers took two of the three against the spread. Yes, they play each other very tough. But this is a new season and Golden State would love to come out here and make a statement not just to their hated rivals, but to the entire Western Conference. This is a team loaded with playmakers. Let’s not forget they also finished last year covering six of their final seven at home and four of their final five overall. There’s no way they come out and start the season off without making a statement. Take the Warriors. Thank you.

Philadelphia 76ers.

Vegas Insider Move.

Game 501.

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

The Celtics are touted to take Atlantic Division this season. This is a very talented team. However, they did lose a couple of big names that would definitely make them more competitive in this match up with the Sixers here tonight. I just don’t think with their current personnel that they have anyone that can contest Joel Embiid in the paint. And when they start to double-team him, Philadelphia is loaded with playmakers that can score both inside and out. If you recall, over the las few seasons, the 76ers covered seven of the last eight meetings with the Celtics. And that was with Boston’s bigger, stronger personnel. I just don’t see them stopping the big man in the middle. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

Chargers.

MNF PAYDAY

Game 2576.

5:15 pm pst/8:15 pm est.

There is no love lost between the Broncos and Chargers. A win here would certainly help Los Angeles jump another game ahead of Denver in the AFC West. And why shouldn’t they win? They have won their last two outings both straight up and against the spread. Meanwhile the Broncos are slumping. They have dropped their last two both straight up and against the number. Denver‘s offense is sputtering. They rank 31st in the NFL, averaging a dismal 15.0 points per game. I just don’t feel no matter how good their fourth ranked defense is, that they can keep pace offensively with the Chargers in this game. I do feel that the 1-2 punch of quarterback Justin Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler will be enough to put the Broncos on the ropes and eventually knock them out. The home team is 5-0 ATS the last five meetings in the series. The Broncos are 1-5-1 ATS the last seven games played on Monday night, 1-7 ATS the last eight games played versus AFC opponents, and 0-5 ATS the last five games played on the road. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Dallas.

LATE BAILOUT.

Game 273.

5:20 pm pst.

If you got a guy winning you stay with him. And that’s why I feel Cooper Rush will be under center, Sunday Night. Very quietly, the Dallas “D” has held all opponents to 19-points or less per game, yielding an average of just 14.4 points per game. They are equally strong against the rush as well as the pass. Not only that, but they’ve already snagged seven takeaways that’s far this season. Dallas took both meetings a season ago. And going back to December 2020, they’ve won and covered the last three consecutive matchups in this division rivalry. The Eagles have a very good offense. But the Dallas “D” can certainly slow them down while Cooper Rush and his offense wears down the Philly ”D” and does some damage. The last few weeks, both Jacksonville and Arizona gave Philadelphia all they can handle. And I don’t think either of those teams are on the level of Dallas. This is way too many points to give a Cowboys team that can win this game outright. Dallas is 7-2 ATS the last nine overall meetings with the Eagles and 7-3 ATS the last 10 meetings in Philadelphia. They are also 10-1ATS the last 11 on the road, 22-7 ATS the last 29 versus the NFC East, and 20-7 ATS the last 27 overall. Take the Cowboys. Thank you.  

San Francisco 49ers.

10 Dimes Play.

Game 265.

Sunday, October 16, 2022.

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

-5.5 Consensus line.

(As an early release I know the line can move. I have this number closer to -8.5. If it moves to -7, we are still good. If it goes to a 7.5, I would advise you just to err on the side of caution and buy it down to a TD).

My friends, I have the line in this game closer to -8.5. Now obviously releasing this on a Tuesday we see -5.5. This is due to several reasons that I want to inform you about. For starters, it is the second of back-to-back road games for San Francisco. And their third road game in four weeks. Let’s put a pin in that. We are going to return to it in a moment. The number is also a little low due to the fact that the 49ers, as of posting this release have a few players that were injured in Carolina on Sunday. Cornerback, Emmanuel Moseley will be out, safety Jimmy Ward broke his hand, defensive lineman, Nick Bosa is dealing with a groin injury, and kicker, Robbie Gould tweaked his knee. The status of Bosa and Gould will be determined sometime this week. But early reports are optimistic that they will play on Sunday. Let’s go back to me addressing the 49ers playing on the road. Something you must know and something I feel is a significant advantage for the visiting team here, is that head coach Kyle Shanahan, over the last few seasons has implemented staying over on the east coast when he has back-to-back road games. They happen to stay at the very posh Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. And just FYI, the last two seasons they stayed on the east coast which preceded with wins over the Eagles and Jets. They have had a lot of success utilizing extended stays on the road going 7-1 straight up their last eight implementing this option. Going back to the injuries, I don’t know if there is another team in the NFL this season that has adapted to banged-up players as well as San Francisco. They are deep at key positions. And following quite a few major injuries to starters this team is 3-1 both straight up and against the spread their last four games. I am well aware of the fact that the Atlanta Falcons are a perfect 5-0 against the number this season. But the clock strikes midnight this Sunday for this team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This is a very difficult matchup for Atlanta. To begin with, their passing unit is absolutely deplorable, ranking 30th in the league accounting for just 166.8 yards per game in the air. Their strength has come from their rushing attack. Well without Cordarrelle Patterson, their leading ball-carrier (out with a knee injury), they ran for only 151 yards combined against Tampa Bay in Sunday’s 21-15 road loss. When your quarterback leads the team in rushing with 61 yards, it’s an issue. By the way two of their rushes combined for more than a third of the rushing yards. Without Patterson pounding the ball on the ground, Mariota is going to be running for his life the entire game. He must face the NFL’s top-ranked defense here. The ferocious, 49ers stop-unit leads the league in points allowed (12.2), total yards allowed (249.2), and rushing yards allowed (71.4), and also ranks third in passing yards allowed. (177.8). Jimmy Garoppolo is looking very comfortable at the helm. As a matter fact, with each passing week, his performances are getting better and better. He gets to lineup against Atlanta’s 29th-ranked pass defense. You we’ll see the quarterback have enormous success in the air here. He has the luxury of a backfield that ranks eight in rushing, averaging over 138.8 yards per game on the ground. There is no way the inferior Falcons “D” can slow down, let alone stop this well-balanced offense. Throw in to the mix, playmaker extraordinaire, Deebo Samuel and San Francisco will be able to move the chains and score at will here. It won’t just be Garoppolo‘s numbers that will go up, so will running back, Jeff Wilson Jr. tight end, George Kittle, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and as I mentioned, you can expect a lot from Samuel as well. Despite the Falcons against the spread success this season, they are just 2-5 ATS the last seven games played at home and 1-4-1 ATS the last six games played versus teams with a winning record. San Francisco is 5-2 ATS the last seven games played on the road, and 8-1 ATS the last nine games played versus NFC opponents. Take the 49ers here. Thank you.

Jacksonville.

MVP PLAY.

Game 255.

10:00 am pst.

A bit of luster has come off the Jaguars shine after starting the season 2-1 and now falling to a subpar 2-3. But they have certainly been the Achilles’ heel for Indianapolis, going 13-1-1 ATS the last 15 meetings in this series. This does include a 24-0 spanking in mid-September. The Colts offense is nonexistent and facing the Jaguars top-10 defense, I doubt they have what it takes to finally cover a game in this division rivalry, let alone win here. The underdog is 6-0 ATS the last six meetings in this series. The Jaguars are 5-1-1 ATS the last seven meetings in Indianapolis. Take Jacksonville. Thank you.

Miami.

NO LIMIT PLAY.

Game 264.

10:00 am pst.

In my opinion, the Minnesota Vikings are the worst 4-1 team in the league. I’m not going to argue the fact there is talent on this team. But they just can’t string together consistent solid performances. Not only that, but they are crushing bettors, failing to cover four consecutive contests. Miami has some well-documented quarterback issues. But even if it is Skylar Thompson is at the helm, he has had a week to prepare. And you can bet that he and his stellar arsenal of wideouts will exploit the very vulnerable, Minnesota pass defense. There is no way I can, in good conscience lay points with Minnesota on the road. The Vikings are 1-5 ATS the last six games played on the road. The Dolphins at 16-5 ATS the last 21 games played at home. Take Miami. Thank you.

Penn State Nittany Lions.

VEGAS INSIDER MOVE.

Game 127.

9:00 am PST/12:00 pm EST.

Now the favorite in this series has covered seven of the last eight meetings. But this matchup is certainly a step-up in class for Michigan. In my opinion, Michigan still hasn’t been tested. We really don’t know how good this team is. Let’s face it. They’ve been big double-digit favorites in every outing this season. Just to give you a little reminder; they were 31-point favorites over Colorado State, 52-point favorites over Hawaii, 47.5-point favorites over Connecticut, 17-point favorites over Maryland, 10.5-point favorites over Iowa, and 23.5-point favorites over Indiana. Oh, and by the way, they are just 3-3 against the spread this season. They’re being overvalued drastically, guys. So, what are the odds makers telling you about this matchup? They’re telling you that Penn State is going to be very competitive here. You know the Nittany Lions went on the road and won and covered at the Boilermakers and the Tigers of Auburn. Neither one of those opponents were pushovers. I know the Wolverines defense is statistically very good. But once again, they haven’t faced a well-balanced offense of the caliber like they’re going to face this week against the Nittany Lions. Defensively, I see the Penn State stop-unit, which by the way only allows 14.8 points per game, frustrating the Michigan offense badly here. Sports fans, the Wolverines live and die by the rush. And Penn State ranks seventh nationally defending the run. I really do feel that this is going to be a very competitive matchup. And I do feel once again the Wolverines are being overvalued. You know the Nittany Lions won two of the last three meetings between these two teams straight up. And last year, they only lost by four-points. They are an excellent road team, straight up and against the spread, as they are 7-3 ATS the last 10 games played as a visitor. Let’s remember Michigan has problems covering against solid opponents, going a mere 4-9 ATS the last 13 games played versus teams with a winning record. I like Penn State to win outright. But I’ll take a touchdown here folks. Let’s go Nittany Lions. Thank you.

Tennessee Volunteers.

Touchdown play.

Game 122.

12:30 pm pst.

My friends, I am posting this release Friday late afternoon. And over the last several hours I have seen this line rise. With no official announcement if Bryce Young will play or not, I am taking it as most of the general public feels the starting quarterback will be back. For the sake of argument, let’s say he comes back. If he does, he will be not 100% and a bit rusty. If he does not play, I think we can all agree that Jalen Milroe is not quite there yet as far as experience and savvy. Tennessee is playing some very good football. They rank second in the nation scoring an average of 46.8 points per game. And their defense is allowing just 17.8 points per game. This is a team that is very well-balanced on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they have a very good air attack as well as a solid ground game. This will make it a bit tough for the Crimson Tide to key on either area. Defensively, they can certainly slow down the ‘Bama running game. Mind you, when Bryce Young was at the helm, the Crimson Tide passing unit wasn’t doing all that great. The offense relies heavily upon their rushing attack. And the Volunteers can counter with one of the stingiest and nastiest run defenses in the nation. This is going to be a very close game my, friends. Tennessee comes in with a lot of confidence winning all five of their contests and covering four of those five. Mind you, the last two weeks, they took down Florida and LSU. They are certainly not afraid of Alabama. Take the Volunteers. Thank you.

Penn State Nittany Lions.

VEGAS INSIDER MOVE.

Game 127.

9:00 am PST/12:00 pm EST.

Now the favorite in this series has covered seven of the last eight meetings. But this matchup is certainly a step-up in class for Michigan. In my opinion, Michigan still hasn’t been tested. We really don’t know how good this team is. Let’s face it. They’ve been big double-digit favorites in every outing this season. Just to give you a little reminder; they were 31-point favorites over Colorado State, 52-point favorites over Hawaii, 47.5-point favorites over Connecticut, 17-point favorites over Maryland, 10.5-point favorites over Iowa, and 23.5-point favorites over Indiana. Oh, and by the way, they are just 3-3 against the spread this season. They’re being overvalued drastically, guys. So, what are the odds makers telling you about this matchup? They’re telling you that Penn State is going to be very competitive here. You know the Nittany Lions went on the road and won and covered at the Boilermakers and the Tigers of Auburn. Neither one of those opponents were pushovers. I know the Wolverines defense is statistically very good. But once again, they haven’t faced a well-balanced offense of the caliber like they’re going to face this week against the Nittany Lions. Defensively, I see the Penn State stop-unit, which by the way only allows 14.8 points per game, frustrating the Michigan offense badly here. Sports fans, the Wolverines live and die by the rush. And Penn State ranks seventh nationally defending the run. I really do feel that this is going to be a very competitive matchup. And I do feel once again the Wolverines are being overvalued. You know the Nittany Lions won two of the last three meetings between these two teams straight up. And last year, they only lost by four-points. They are an excellent road team, straight up and against the spread, as they are 7-3 ATS the last 10 games played as a visitor. Let’s remember Michigan has problems covering against solid opponents, going a mere 4-9 ATS the last 13 games played versus teams with a winning record. I like Penn State to win outright. But I’ll take a touchdown here folks. Let’s go Nittany Lions. Thank you.

Kansas Jayhawks,

BIG 12 GOM.

Game 183.

9:00 am PST/12:00 pm EST.

When Brent Venables took over at Oklahoma many thought they would take the Big 12 conference this season. But yet, they are sitting at a very very disappointing 3-3. They’ve had to endure three consecutive losses against Kansas State, at TCU, and against Texas. Each loss has been a more disappointing defeat than the previous. They have also gone 0-3 ATS in those last three outings. Even though there has been no official statement yet, QB, Gabriel is expected back this week. No matter who is under center, they must line up across a Kansas team that has done very well for us bettors in the underdog role. They won outright in West Virginia, in Houston, and at home against Iowa State. Now the oddsmakers have made them a nearly a double-digit underdog. I ask why. It doesn’t make any sense to me. They are just a half-point from covering all six games this season. With the Sooners defense allowing nearly 30-points per game on the season and nearly 50-points per game over the last three, I look for the Jayhawks offense to light up the scoreboard here. Between dual-threat quarterback Daniels and running back Neal, they’ve already accounted for over 756 yards rushing and nine TDs on the ground. The ground game will allow Daniels to open up the passing game and add to his very impressive, 66% completion rate, nearly 1,100 yards passing and 11 TDs in the air. By the way, he has been absolutely outstanding, only tossing one INT thus far. Kansas is going to give Oklahoma a very hard time. They might even win this game outright. But the fact that they our 4-1 ATS the last five meetings with Oklahoma, 4-0 ATS last four games played on the road, 5-0-1 ATS the last six games against conference opponents, and 8-0-1 ATS the last nine games played overall, urges me to take the Jayhawks. Thank you.

Navy Midshipmen.

Consensus play.

Game 113.

4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET.

These two conference rivals come in to this matchup in very different situations. Navy started getting hot, winning two of their last three straight up and all three against the spread, while SMU has turned ice-cold, dropping three in a row straight up and their last four against the number. I know the Mustangs will be able to throw the ball against the lax, Midshipmen pass defense. However overall Navy still plays a very tough “D“. They allow just 21.0 points per game. On the flipside, look for Navy to control the clock and the tempo of this game with their powerful 12th ranked rushing attack. They are going to run amok against 106th ranked SMU run defense. As I mentioned in the beginning of this analysis, the Middies are starting to get hot. They took down the Pirates, played very competitive against the Falcons, and just shredded the Golden Hurricanes. Because they mostly run the ball, they will keep the SMU defense on the field and their all offense off of it. This is way too many points to give a Navy team that can win this game out right. The Midshipmen are 7-2 against the spread the last nine meetings in this series. Take Navy. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Game 934.

5:37 PM PT/8:37 PM ET.

Los Angeles took Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 5-3. They have now taken three straight meetings over San Diego and seven of the last overall nine matchups. While the Padres are a good team, the Dodgers are a very good team. And facing L.A. at Dodger Stadium is a difficult task for any visitor as they finished the regular season the most successful home team in the National League going 57-24 at Dodger Stadium. San Diego had decent numbers, both on the mound and at the plate this year. However, they still rank around the middle of the pack in both areas. Los Angeles, what can you say they, own the top pitching staff as well as the top scoring lineup in baseball. And the differences between two squads going up against one another in those areas are significant. Today’s starting pitchers are Yu Darvish and Clayton Kershaw. The Padres right-hander is 17-8 with a 3.03 ERA in 2022, which includes a win this postseason. The Dodgers left-hander is 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA on the campaign. Darvish’s postseason numbers are decent. But they just don’t match up with Kershaw’s playoff statistics. He also has a career record against Los Angeles of 3-5. Compare that to 45 career regular season starts again San Diego for Kershaw, who is 23-9 with a 2.03 ERA in 292 innings pitched. Let’s face it, playoff experience means a lot. San Diego is 16-41 the last 57 meetings with Los Angeles, 2-5 the last 7 playoff road games, and 1-10 the list 11 divisional playoff games. Take Los Angeles on the run line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Game 924.

6:37 PM PT/9:37 PM ET.

My friends, I wouldn’t overthink the fact that the Dodgers closed out the regular season campaign dropping three of their last four. They didn’t need the wins and they coasted through and rested quite a bit in preparation of the postseason. Yes, the Padres took down the highly-favored Mets in the Wildcard round. They deserve our applause for sure. However, things are going to go drastically different for San Diego in this series. Especially here in Game 1. They must face a Los Angeles team that sported the best home record in the National League this regular season, going 57-24 at Dodger Stadium. You know going back a bit the Padres have not fared well at all in L.A., going 16-45 the last 61 meetings as a guest in the Dodgers house. Starting pitchers for today’s series opener are Mike Clevinger and Julio Urias. The Padres right-hander was 7-7 with a 4.33 overall on the season. On the road, his ERA soars to 5.46. Now the team has won his last four appearances, which does include a September 9 extra innings 5-4 win in Los Angeles. But he earned the loss just five days before at Dodger Stadium. However, in both of those matchups he allowed nine earned runs in just 8.1 innings pitched. As a matter of fact, he was 0-2 with a 9.69 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles this season. Urias sports team great numbers. Overall, on the campaign he 17-7 with a 2.16 ERA. This does include at a home mark of 6-3 with a 2.43 ERA. What is remarkable about the Dodgers left-hander is that he has allowed two runs or less in his last 14 appearances. The team is has won 17 of his last 19 outings. Moreover, he has dominated San Diego in four games season, going 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 24 innings pitch. Three of those starts came in the month of September when he went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA. As a matter fact, in 15 career appearances (which does include 10 starts against the Padres), Urias is 6-1 with a 2.19 ERA. If you recall, in the only other postseason match up all-time between these two teams, the Dodgers swept the Padres three games to zero in the 2020 NLDS. San Diego is 5-11 the last 16 playoff games, 1-4 the last five games played following a win, and 1-5 the last six divisional playoff road games. Take Los Angeles on the runline. Thank you.

Kansas City Chiefs.

MNF GOM.

Game 480.

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

I live in Las Vegas. And I also have the opportunity to watch the Raiders practice on a regular basis. I know this team inside and out. Don’t think for a second that getting a win last week is going to inspire this squad. It was no fluke that they begin the 2022 campaign 0-4 both straight up and against the spread. And now that they got a win under their belt, trust me when I tell you they’re going to fall back down to Earth here. Serious “let down” mode folks. The Chiefs are looking to remain atop the AFC West by continuing their stellar play thus far this season. After starting the campaign 2-0, Kansas City did fall in a tough match up at Indianapolis several weeks ago. However, their bounce back in an outstanding performance in Tampa Bay last week showed just how good this team really is. That loss to the Colts a few weeks ago show them what they need to work on and improve. And now they are better than ever. Just in this series they have dominated Las Vegas, winning 13 of the last 15 meetings straight up as well as sporting an 8-1 straight up and 7-2 against the spread marks at Arrowhead Stadium. Derek Carr has talent. I will not debate that. But he makes very poor decisions. Especially when he is under pressure. That is exactly what Kansas City is going to do in this matchup. They’re going to blitz, blitz, blitz, throwing, throw a lot of different packages and schemes at him and pressure him badly. They are going to force him to turn the ball over for sure. There is no way the Raiders 24th ranked defense can’t even slow down, let alone stop the Chiefs offensively. The juggernaut which is the Patrick Mahomes-lead “O“, ranks in the top-10 in just about every major offensive category. This includes the most important category, scoring. They are accounting for over 32.3 points per game. This does not bode well for the lowly Raiders “D” which is getting plowed for over 25-points per game. On the flipside, please understand that the only success Las Vegas has had offensively thus far, is establishing the run and then passing off of it. Well, the Chiefs stop-unit tops the NFL against the rush. They are only allowing 65.8 yards per game on the ground. Las Vegas is 1-5 against the spread the last six games played on the road and 3-7 against the spread the last 10 games played on grass. Kansas City is 6-2 against the spread the last eight games played at home and 7-1-1 against the spread the last nine games played on Monday Night. Take the Chiefs. Thank you.

Philadelphia Eagles.

Bookie Buster.

Game 473.

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

There is only one undefeated team in the NFL. And that is the Philadelphia Eagles. You know you would think that after the first full month of regular season, a team going 4-0, that they were due for a letdown. But the Eagles are showing no signs of taking their foot off the gas. They have covered three straight games, Guys, this is a team which has seen their quarterback, Jalen Hurts mature significantly coming into this season. You may not realize this, but this offense ranks second in total yards per game, sixth in passing yards per game, fifth in rushing yards per game, and fourth in points scored. Not only do they have a very dangerous receiving corps, but the legs of Miles Sanders and quarterback, Hurts, have combine for over 561 yards rushing and seven TDs on the ground. On the flipside, their “D” has played outstanding football. They rank in the top-10 in every major category defensively. And they lead the NFL in turnovers, already grabbing 10 takeaways. That is just outstanding to me. On the other hand, Arizona has been very typical thus far. They lost to two teams that on paper, they are better than in Kansas City and Los Angeles. But did beat two teams on paper, once again they should’ve beaten in Las Vegas and Carolina. They are struggling offensively. While Kyler Murray, I’m not going to argue the fact he is a very good athlete, but he is just not getting the job done. Neither is his supporting cast. And defensively, this team ranks 28th and the league, getting plowed for over 25.8 points per game. I’ll look for them to get absolutely picked apart in the air by Hurts and his arsenal of receivers, Brown, Smith, and Goedert. I know Philadelphia has failed to cover the last five meetings in Arizona, but these are two very different teams this season. The Cardinals are one of the worst home teams in the league ATS, failing to cover seven straight at State Farm Stadium. Not only that but they are also 2-5 ATS the last seven versus the NFC, 1-4 ATS the last five versus teams with a winning record, and 3-7 ATS the 10 overall. Take the Eagles here too soar. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

Dallas Cowboys.

Late Info Move.

Game 475.

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

My friends, we’ve all heard of Super Bowl hangovers. However, it seems that the Los Angeles Rams are taking back to another level. I know they are just 2-2 after a month into the regular season and a lot can happen between now and December. But they be quite honest this team is in serious trouble. They beat the teams that on paper they should’ve beat in Atlanta and Arizona. And they lost to the teams that on paper they should’ve lost to in Buffalo in San Francisco. But it is the 49ers game that really influences my angle on this matchup. First of all, they come off a short week having played on Monday night. And normally I don’t gauge a current game solely on a previous team’s performance from the week before. But it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Rams just can’t move the chains or put any points on the board folks. I mean they rank 28th in total yardage, 20th in passing yards, 30th and rushing yardage and 29th and points scored. They are not just struggling; they are out of sync offensively. There are some underlying deep issues here for sure. They’re averaging a dismal 17.5 points per game. Granted the Cowboys “O” is not lighting up any scoreboards. But when your defense is allowing just 15.5 points per game, you don’t really need to light up the scoreboard folks. There’s a lot of talk this week that we may see the return of Dak Prescott. But with the way that Cooper Rush has looked, if I was a Dallas coach, I would definitely keep Prescott on the sidelines until I know he was 100% healthy. The backup quarterback has committed zero mistakes. And in my opinion, that’s the most impressive stat about Rush. They’re going to keep the ball on the ground with a heavy dose of the rushing attack. This will allow the passing game to open up and Rush can pick his spots in the air, guys. This is going to be a very slow-moving contest. Dallas is going to keep the ball on the ground, controlling the clock and the tempo, keeping the LA defense on the field. And more importantly their offense off of it. Not only do I think this game is going to be a lot closer than the point spread, I think Dallas has a good chance of winning it out right. This is a team that is 5-0 ATS the last five games played on the road and 16-5 ATS the last 21 games played versus the NFC. Meanwhile Los Angeles is just 1-4 ATS their last five games played at home and 3-7 ATS the last 10 games played versus teams with a winning record. Take the points to the bank with the Cowboys here folks. Say it with me…GO COOPER RUSH!!! Take Dallas folks. Thank you.

San Francisco 49ers.

MVP Game of the Month.

Game 471.

1:05 PM PST/4:05 PM EST.

Starting the season off going 1-3 both straight up with against the spread, shouldn’t be too much of a shock for Carolina fans. I mean if you recall, last year they finished the season rattling off seven consecutive losses both straight up and against the number. Bringing in Baker Mayfield was supposed to be the remedy for this team. However, Mayfield’s quarterback rating of 30th is downright laughable. The offenses average a mere 19.5 points per game, ranking 24th in rushing, 30th in passing, and dead-last in total yardage. They must now go up against a San Francisco defense that has yet to allow an opponent to put up 20-points. The 49ers stop-unit tops the league in both total yards and points allowed while raking second against both the pass and the run. I see serious mismatches between these two squads here. Carolina has already coughed-up the ball six times, while San Francisco has snagged five turnovers already. No matter who is at the helm for the Panthers, I doubt very much they are going to be able to move the chains at all against this defense. On the flipside, Jimmy Garoppolo certainly has looked more comfortable at the helm. This last Monday he led the team to a 24-9 win and cover over the Los Angeles Rams. Some key cogs in the 49ers offensive wheel are returning as the entire offense is looking more and more in sync. And unbeknownst to many, this unit has a top-10 rushing attack. Throw into the mix playmaker extraordinaire, Deebo Samuel, and things are starting to significantly improve for San Francisco. They will completely shut down the Carolina “lack of” offense, while Garoppolo, Samuel and George Kittle make their way down the field and into the end zone at will. The 49ers are 7-1 ATS the last eight versus the NFC, 4-1 ATS the last five versus teams with a losing record, and 7-2 ATS the last nine overall. Under a touchdown is a gift here. Take San Francisco.

Detroit Lions.

No Limit Play.

Game 469.

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

Believe it or not, the wrong team is favored in the Detroit Lions/New England Patriots game on Sunday. Obviously, this is new territory for Bill Belichick and the Pats. We haven’t seen them start a season 1-4 in as far back as I can remember. Not only are they not winning, they are crushing bettors. They just got their first cover of the 2022 campaign. To add insult to injury they’re running out of quarterbacks up in Foxborough guys. Mac Jones out. Brian Hoyer out. That leaves the offense in the hands of Bailey Zappe. Who? Bailey Zappe. I mean in all sincerity, even with Jones and then Hoyer, they were struggling. They’re putting an atrocious 18.5 points per game on the board. And they’ve already committed nine turnovers. I know, I know, I know the Lions defense is absolutely horrible. But that’s old news. Nothing new there. But what is a new headline, is the fact that they possess the top-scoring offense in the NFL right now. That’s right, the Detroit Lions are accounting a whopping 35-points per game. They rank number one in total yardage, number five in passing yards, and number six in rushing yards. Jared Goff has a better receiving corps here that he has ever had in his tenure in the NFL. Not only that but he has the luxury of a very potent ground game to keep defenses honest. And it will be that ground game that will keep the Patriots defense backpedaling, allowing Goff to open up the very passing attack. Once again, yes, I know the Detroit defense is absolutely horrible. But I just don’t see the New England offense keeping pace with them score-for-score. And how about the fact that they’re 9-2 against the spread the last 11 in the underdog role. As a matter fact they’re ATS trends are some of the best in football; 13-3 the last 16 following and ATS loss, 6-2 the last eight on the road, 7-2 the last nine following a straight up loss, and 4-1 five overall. Personally, I think they win this game out right. But I will take the points just the err on the side of caution. I’m going to say something I haven’t said in years. Take the Lions folks. They are winner this Sunday. Take Detroit. Thank you.

Alabama Crimson Tide.

NO LIMIT GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 386.

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

Let’s talk about Texas A&M going to Bryant-Denny Stadium to face Alabama. Obviously, the big news this entire week is if the Crimson Tide quarterback, Bryce Young will play. Well reports over the last day or so are that he has practiced and he has looked pretty strong. Officially we’re not going to know as of posting this release. If he plays great. If he doesn’t, remember one thing. The Crimson Tide is stacked at key positions higher than the pancakes at your favorite breakfast café. Jalen Milroe is a very good quarterback. He’s the back up for the number one team in the nation. He was a great high school football star. The only difference is, he has a little less experience at this level. That’s all. Don’t overthink it. Just between us guys, I’m 53 years old, and although I was an all-state quarterback in high school only 5’6’, I could step in and lead Alabama to a victory here. Over the last several weeks we have seen Georgia leapfrog Alabama in the rankings when they had a better performance on a gameday. Then last week the Crimson Tide had a stronger performance than the Bulldogs and reclaimed the number one spot. Having said that, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban does not want to relinquish the top-spot in the polls. He knows that he’s coming up against some good conference opponents, and he needs to keep his foot on the gas. Offensively, Alabama although has a very strong passing game, strongly depends on their rushing attack. They currently rank seventh in the nation averaging over 250 yards per game on the ground. Not only that, but they don’t make mistakes offensively. They don’t turn the ball over. They’ve had one turnover so far this season. And believe me, if Young does not play, the game plan will be run the ball, and pass off the run. And most importantly tuck the ball or throw it out if you don’t have a play. As we all know Texas A&M was a preseason darkhorse to make the College Football Playoff. After five games they sit at a disappointing 3-2 with a lackluster offense that is accounting for just 21.8 points per game. They rank about 100th or worse in just about every major offensive category. And they have to line up against one of the nastiest and stingiest defenses in the nation. The Tide only allow 11-points per game and rank in the top-10 and every major defensive category. Trust me when I tell you it will be a long, long day for the Aggie‘s. Texas A&M comes off a 42-24 spanking at the hands of Mississippi State a week ago. A game in which they were supposed to be a lot more competitive folks. Now they step up in class again even higher. We all know how much Nick Saban likes beating ex-assistant coaches. And Jimbo Fisher is no different. Don’t overthink this contest guys. Texas A&M doesn’t belong on the same field as Alabama. The Crimson Tide need to keep their foot on the gas to retain their number one ranking. And one more factor that prompts me to side with ‘Bama here. The Aggies bested the Tide last year at home. Saban and his boys did not forget that. They will open up a big can of whoop ass here. Texas A&M is just 1-5 ATS the last six on the road. Alabama is 17-5 against the number the last 22 at home. Don’t be afraid to lay the wood here. Roll Tide. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Washington State Cougars.

Touchdown Play.

Game 365.

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

USC certainly deserves all their praise, starting the campaign off 5-0. However, their high-flying offense does not match up well with the Washington State defense. The Cougars rank among the nations leaders in sacks (18) and tackles for a loss (45). Washington State comes in here sporting a 4-1 straight up mark, covering their last four consecutive outings. This includes a big outright win at Wisconsin, thumping Colorado State at home, a very tight heartbreaking three-point loss once again at home against Oregon, and the last weeks very impressive 28-9 win and cover playing host against Cal. This team certainly has momentum and the confidence to stand up to the Trojans. By the way, USC has failed cover their last two games as PAC 12 opponents have given them a little bit of a headache the last few weeks. The very smart Cougars coaching staff have watched the game films the last few weeks and will in fact exploit the Trojans weaknesses. Washington State is 4-0 ATS the last four versus conference opponents, 5-2 ATS the last seven on the road, and 20-6 ATS the last 26 in the month of October. The Trojans are 1-7 ATS the last eight versus Pac 12 opponents, 2-5 ATS the last seven versus teams with a winning record, and 0-4 ATS the last four in the month of October. This is way too many points to give a very game, very scrappy Cougars team. Take Washington state. Thank you.

Air Force.

Crusher Play.

Game 361.

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

Utah State is absolutely point spread poison. They are just 1-4 against the spread in 2022. And following four lackluster performances, they came up big a little over a week ago covering a 25.5-point spread, losing straight up by 12-points at BYU. They are in a huge “let down” mode here as they are facing an Air Force team that has won eight of their last nine overall straight up going back to last November. And seven of those last nine against the spread. The number one ranked rushing offense in the nation will absolutely steamroll the Aggie‘s 108th ranked run defense. Not only will the Falcons control the tempo and the clock, but they will keep the Aggies offense on the sidelines most of the game. When Utah State does have the ball, they will have to line up against the 16th ranked scoring defense in the nation. Air Force has taken five of the last seven in this series both straight up and against the spread and are 6-1 ATS the last seven on the road and 4-1 ATS the last five versus conference opponents. Take the Falcons. Thank you.

Nevada Wolfpack

MWC MONEY MAKER.

Game 308.

7:00 pm PT/10:00 pm ET.

My friends, there is no arguing the fact that both the Rams and the Wolfpack are in for a very long regular season. Currently Colorado state is 0-4 both straight up and against the spread, while Nevada is 2-3, also both straight up and against the spread. The Rams are losing by an average of 30+ points per game. I’m not going to sit sit here and tell you that playing teams like Michigan and Washington State that we were surprised by those lopsided defeats. But they were a favorite against Middle Tennessee State and got shellacked, as well as being a small underdog and getting decimated by Sacramento State. This team has no offense whatsoever. They average less than 11-points per game. As a matter fact, they rank at or near the worst in the nation and most offensive categories. To add insult to injury, they have coughed up the ball five times already. Now the Nevada defense has given us some points. And after a strong start with decisive victories over New Mexico State and Texas State, winning and covering both, they have now lost and failed to cover three in a row. I expected them to lose to Iowa and Air Force. But losing to Incarnate Word was a shocker to me (LOL). But one thing this team can do is create turnovers. They’ve already snagged seven turnovers on defense. Offensively they leave a lot to be desired. But when you’re facing a stop-unit that allows over 41 points per game, and you’ve only turned the ball over twice so far, I expect the Wolfpack to generate some points here. They’ve got a decent quarterback at the helm in Nate Cox. But I really do look for them to run the ball with an enormous success behind the legs off Toa Taua, Devonte Lee, and even the dual-threat quarterback, Cox. The Rams are 0-4 ATS the last four meetings in this series 0-6 ATS the last six against conference opponents, 0-5 ATS the last five on the road, and 1-10 ATS the last 11 overall. Let’s take the Wolfpack here folks. Thank you.

Los Angeles Rams.

MNF winner.

Game 279.

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

All week long all I keep hearing about is how strong the San Francisco 49ers defense is. And granted, so far this season they are looking good, only allowing 12.3 points per game. However, folks, who have they played? They’ve gone up against the Chicago Bears, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Denver Broncos. Not one of those offenses is a powerhouse, let alone a mediocre squad. As a matter fact, all three of those units are struggling badly. So once again who have they faced? They must now go up against a Los Angeles Rams team that after a season opening embarrassing loss to the Buffalo Bills, rattled off two consecutive straight up wins against the Atlanta Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers have also had problems putting points on the board themselves. Outside of putting up 27-points against the Seahawks, they put up 10-points against the Bears and 10-points against the Broncos. These are two defensive squads that have gotten smoked against good solid well-balanced offenses so far this campaign. Now, San Francisco has covered five straight in the series. But, they were an underdog in all five of those meetings. Now the Rams come in here as the underdog. And guess what folks? The ‘dog has covered seven consecutive matchups in this rivalry. The Rams are money on Monday Night, covering four of the last five. And are very good against the NFC sporting a 31-15-1 against the spread mark the last 47 against the conference.  I think the wrong team is favored here. Los Angeles should be a field goal favorite for sure. And that is why we’re taking them tonight. Take the Rams. Thank you.

Denver Broncos.

Late Info Move.

Game 273.

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

A lot of people out there in both the sports and the sports betting worlds feel that Las Vegas is due for a win. Well folks the “due for” factor only applies when you actually have some talent and some motivation. This team has neither. I know this team. I live here in southern Nevada. And I’ve watched several of their preseason games and I was in the stands for the debacle a few weeks ago when Arizona beat them in overtime. This team is not very talented. While there is some talent on the team, they have no organization. Their quarterback makes very bad decisions. And their coaches play calling is among the worst in the league right now. This is a team that has lost and failed to cover their last four games going back to last season. With a win here Denver can take hold of first place in the AFC West at least for a few hours. Because Kansas City, who is also tied with them at 2-1 in the division, has a very tough late-Sunday evening matchup against Tampa Bay. That game can go either way folks. So, the Broncos really have a chance of taking sole possession of first place in a very competitive division. Let’s face it, Denver played very competitively in their season opener in Seattle. Then came back to win the following two games against Houston and San Francisco at home. So far, this team has shown very little offensively. I’m not going to argue that fact. But when you’re playing a team that gives up nearly 26 points per game, your offense will to come to life. Trust me folks when I tell you that. One thing about this Broncos offense, they rarely turn the ball over. They have just three turnovers so far this season. But it will be their defense that will give them a win here this week. They have only allowed 12 points per game behind a very stingy stop-unit equally tough against the pass and the rush. The Raiders cannot run the ball at all. They own one of the worst rushing teams in the league, ranking 28th and averaging a dismal 80 yards per game on the ground. Any of their success comes in the air. And they must face the third ranked pass defense in football this week. The Broncos “D” will get to Carr and force mistakes from the shaky quarterback. The underdog is 7-1 ATS the last eight meetings in the series. Las Vegas is 3-7 ATS the last 10 versus the AFC, 2-7 ATS the last nine on grass, and 1-4 ATS the last five following an ATS loss. Take the Broncos. Thank you.

Buffalo Bills.

Touchdown Play.

Game 257.

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

Sports fans, the Bills come off their first loss of the season as both their offense and defense looked out of sorts against the Dolphins last Sunday. It was the first time they looked to be outplayed in quite a while. They are now 2-1 and sit in second place in the division behind Miami. Well, Buffalo has to get back on track right now and make a statement. Not just a division, but to the rest of the AFC. And what better opponent to do that than Baltimore. News is that Lamar Jackson, through the first several games of the season is without a doubt the clear MVP. But who has he faced? The Jets, a loss to the Dolphins, and a banged-up Patriots squad. The last time these two teams faced one another, the Bills absolutely shut down Lamar Jackson, getting the win and cover 17-3 in January of 2021. I don’t think that will be a problem once again here as Buffalo owns one of the nastiest and most ferocious defenses in the NFL. They rank number one in total yards allowed, number two in passing yards allowed, number two in rushing yards allowed, number four in points scored, and already have snagged six takeaways. The Ravens have yet to face a defense like this. Especially getting this team off a loss, they’re going to come in here angry and motivated. On the flipside, Josh Allen who, let’s face it had a very subpar game last week, will be able to pass at will against the Ravens 32nd ranked pass defense. One thing for sure, Baltimore gives up a lot of points. This doesn’t bode well when you’re going up against the third ranked scoring offense in the NFL that averages over 30.3 points per game. Josh Allen will bounce back here and have one of his best games so far the season. And Buffalo will come out and make a statement that they are back on track. The Bills are 7-1-1 ATS the last nine following an ATS loss, 12-3-1 ATS the last 16 on field turf, and 6-2-1 ATS the last nine overall. Take Buffalo. Thank you.

Minnesota Vikings.

No Limit Play.

Game 251.

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

With the NFC North currently in a three-team tie for first place, the Minnesota Vikings must put their foot on the gas immediately. And what better team to face than the struggling New Orleans Saints. New Orleans is 0-3 against the spread this season. They opened up the campaign with a one-point late win against Atlanta. Then they were humiliated at home by Tampa Bay. And then on the road in Carolina, they were so bad, they allowed the Panthers to stop their nine-game straight up and against the spread losing streak. Granted, Jameis Winston was certainly playing hurt. As of posting this play, his status is still undecided. If he plays, he is not going to be 100%. If he doesn’t, that means Andy Dalton will take the reins. Talk about picking the lesser of two evils (LOL). This is a team struggling to have any success on either side of the ball. On the other hand, Dalvin Cook is scheduled to play here. Look for the running back to run amok against the 26th ranked rushing defense of the Saints. Defensively, look for the Minnesota to completely shut down the struggling New Orleans offense. The Saints are 4-10 ATS the last 14 versus teams with a winning record. The Vikings are 10-1-1 ATS the last 12 on turf. Take Minnesota. Thank you.

West Virginia.

Touchdown Play.

Game 187.

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

My friends, the oddsmakers are looking to trap you here. But we’re not going to fall for it, are we? There is no way Texas should be nearly a double-digit favorite over West Virginia. The Mountaineers have covered five of the last seven meetings with the Longhorns, including the last two matchups. These two teams seem to be heading in opposite directions. West Virginia has won and covered their last two including a big win at Virginia Tech in which they dominated the Hokies, 33-10. Meanwhile, Texas had somewhat of a tough time against UTSA two weeks ago then lost an overtime heartbreaker at Texas Tech last week. West Virginia can certainly keep pace offensively with Texas. There’s no doubt about that. The fact that they have a well-balanced offense consisting of the 20th ranked rushing attack in the nation along with the 48th right passing attack, tells me they can and will control the tempo and the clock in this matchup. On the flipside, they own a very stingy defense. And they match up well with the Texas offense. Neither team can really afford another conference loss. But I believe the Longhorns are going to start to spiral as they dropped out of the top-25 this week. This is a team that certainly knows how to slump. Just last season, after starting their campaign 4-1, they then dropped six consecutive meetings both straight up and against the spread. I think another slump is on the horizon for Texas. The Longhorns are 1-7 ATS the last eight against conference opponents, 2-5 ATS the last seven following a straight up loss, and 2-7-1 ATS the last 10 in October. Take the Mountaineers. Thank you.

NC State Wolfpack.

Late Bail Out.

Game 127.

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

After they opened their campaign thumping Georgia Tech 41-10, Clemson supporters thought they would have an easy run to the ACC title. While this team is 4-0 straight up, they have failed to cover their last three in a row. And let’s face it when you’re playing teams like Furman, Louisiana Tech, for sure and maybe even Wake Forest, you should be covering. Something interesting I have uncovered about the Tigers. Each week they have allowed more points than the previous week. They started the season allowing 10, then 12, then 20, and then 45 points. Teams are exploiting their weaknesses. And one team that can certainly exploit their weakness, is the Wolfpack. Devon Leary is a monster quarterback. He also has the luxury of having a backfield of talented and capable ball-carriers. They can run the ball, control the clock, and keep the Clemson defense on the field. On the flipside, they own one of the nastiest and stingiest stop-units in the nation. They rank 10th in points allowed, ninth against the rush, 25th against the pass, 13th in total yards allowed, and have already snagged seven takeaways. Clemson does have a good defense. But they’re not the same team they once were. As I mentioned earlier, they’re allowing more and more points every opponent they face. While they are good against the rush, they are absolutely deplorable against the pass. They’re yielding over 267 yards per game in the air alone, which ranks them 104th versus the pass. Leary is going to exploit and dissect them in the air. NC State took last year’s meeting in overtime, 27-21. They’re also 5-2 ATS the last seven meetings at Clemson. Here’s a few more against the trends for you. The Wolfpack are 11-5 ATS the last 16 versus conference opponents, 5-2 ATS the last seven versus teams with a winning record, and 6-0 ATS the last six following an ATS loss. The Tigers are 4-9 ATS the last 13 following a straight up win, 1-5 ATS the last six in October, and 2-8 ATS the last 10 at home. Take NC State. Thank you.

Wake Forest.

Consensus Game of the Month.

Game 123.

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

Don’t put too much stock to the fact that the Seminoles are undefeated and ranked. They played two deplorable opponents. And they also beat two teams that they should’ve beat in LSU in Louisville. Let’s face it, neither the Tigers nor the Cardinals are the teams that people thought they would be this season. On the other hand, Wake Forest is coming off their first defeat of the season. Not only was it a loss, but it was an overtime heartbreaking loss to Clemson. Can you say “bounce back?” Granted, their previous opponents were less than stellar. I’m not going to argue that fact. I look for Sam Hartman to light up the scoreboard here. The quarterback has already amassed 962 yards passing, on a 64% completion rate, with 13 TD’s and just two INT‘s. He has a backfield of two solid ball-carriers in Justice Ellison and Christian Turner. They have rushed for a combined 361 yards on the ground with three TD’s. This well-balanced offense will keep the Florida State defense on the field. The Demon Deacons have won and covered each of the last two meetings in this series. The Seminoles are 11-23-3 ATS the last 37 versus teams with a winning record. Take Wake Forest. Thank you.

Kentucky.

SEC Game of the Month.

Game 175.

9 AM PST/12 PM EST.

My friends, if the line in this game was totally accurate, Mississippi should only be a one or a two-point favorite at most. Throw into the mix that Kentucky will see the return of running back, Chris Rodriguez and they become a small favorite here. That’s right, their best ball-carrier in years will come back after serving a four-game suspension. If you recall a year ago, between the regular and postseasons, the RB accumulated over 1300 yards and 10 TD’s on the ground. And now that the Wildcats have a running game to go with their stellar passing-attack, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. I understand the Rebels have a good defense. But they haven’t faced anybody yet. So far, their opponents have been Troy, Central Arkansas, Georgia Tech, and Tulsa. Not one of those were they not a double-digit favorite. They are in for a rude awakening here stepping up in class big time. On the flipside, Kentucky does have a solid defense. Let’s face it, they kept quite a few offenses in check this season and going back a bit, since last season. I doubt Mississippi will have any luck in the air against the 15th ranked pass defense in the country. The Rebel strength offensively comes through running the ball. And that doesn’t bode well here as the Wildcats only allow 108.3 yards per game on the ground. The wrong team is favored here my friends, trust me. Kentucky is 23-7-2 ATS the last 32 versus teams with a winning record, 7-3-1 ATS The last 11 versus conference opponents, and 5-1-1 ATS the last seven overall.  Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Las Vegas Strip Move.

Game 146.

9 AM PST/12 PM EST.

Minnesota has grinded opponents down to the tune of a 4-0 record. This team certainly has an outside chance at winning the conference. They have manhandled every opponent thus far, including their last, a big 34-7 win at Michigan State. They now face a Purdue team that they have had their way with, taking four consecutive meetings both straight up and against the spread. I know that laying double-digits or more is a lot between conference opponents. But, look for Mohamed Ibrahim to pad his stats even more. The running back already has over 567 yards rushing with eight TDs. By the way he’s averaging over 6.4 yards per carry. He offers quarterback Tanner Morgan a big luxury that most teams do not have. This team is the second ranked rushing team in the nation. His legs allow Morgan to open up the passing game. And that’s exactly what they are going to do here. Purdue gives up quite a few points. They’re equally porous against rush and the pass. On the flipside, the Boilermakers are very good at passing the ball. However, the Golden Gophers also ranked second in the country in points allowed, yielding a mere 6.0 points per game. They rank second against the pass and third against the rush. They’re going to completely shut down the Purdue offense. And when they do Ibrahim’s legs will control the tempo and the clock and keep the Boilermakers defense on the field. The Golden Gophers are 5-0 ATS the last five games at home, 19-7-1 ATS the last27 versus conference opponents, and 24-9-1 ATS the last 34 overall. Take Minnesota. Thank you.

Tulane Green Wave.

Friday Night Lights Play.

Game 105.

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

Houston is enduring a very disappointing season so far. Not only are they just 2-2 straight up, anyone that follows them in the Sportsbook is getting crushed as they are 1-3 against the spread. On the other hand, Tulane is playing quite well. There are 3-1 both straight up and against the spread so far. And I like the fact that they come off their first loss of the season. They will be in “bounce back” mode here. The Green Wave can certainly keep pace offensively with the Cougars here. They are actually averaging more points per game than their opponent. It is their defense that will be the major difference here. Granted they haven’t played some of the toughest offensive powerhouses yet. But defensively they are playing spectacular. I doubt Houston will be able to move the ball in the air in this matchup. And they’ve had a lot of problems establishing the rush this season. They have their main offenders playing at all key positions and yet they still had trouble against inferior defenses. Well, they’re playing a defense here that is not inferior in any way, shape, or form tonight. The Cougars are 1-4 ATS the last five in September, 2-6 ATS the last eight versus teams with a winning record, and 2-5 ATS the last seven overall. The Green Wave are 4-1ATS the last five versus conference opponents, 14-6 ATS the last 20 following a straight up loss, and 5-1 ATS the last six overall. Take Tulane. Thank you.

Green Bay Packers.

Touchdown Play.

Game 481.

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

Both the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are two of the best teams in the NFC. The Packers redeemed themselves from a season-opening loss in Minnesota to come back last week and devour Chicago at home. Tampa Bay has won and covered both of their outings this season, both on the road in Dallas and in New Orleans. It’s no secret the Buccaneers offense is sputtering. I know how good their defense is but their offense is sputtering. Now they are stepping up in class and facing the best “D” they have had to face so far this season. That’s right, the Green Bay Packers own a very good defense. Tom Brady is going to run into some issues trying to get the passing game going as his receiving core is severely depleted. To make matters worse, he hast to face the fourth ranked pass defense in the NFL. Now I know how good the Buccaneers defense is. They currently ranked first, yielding just 6.5 points per game. However, the Packers are running the ball with enormous success. They will be able to control the tempo and the clock here, keeping the Bucs defense on the field and tired and come the second half. I feel Tampa Bay is due for a huge let down folks. As I mentioned earlier this is the first big test of the season and Green Bay knows they can’t afford another loss like they did two weeks ago. The Packers are 10-4 ATS the last 14 versus the NFC, 20-8 ATS the last 28 on grass, 12-5 ATS the last 17 following a straight up win, and 9-3 ATS the last 12 versus winners. Take the Packers. Thank you.

Atlanta Falcons.

Late Info Move.

Game 483.

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

One of the worst mistakes to make in sports betting is the judge a current weeks games from the last few weeks outcomes. Having said that, I feel the Atlanta Falcons should not be an underdog in this game with the Seattle Seahawks. At the very least, this game should be pick ‘em or even the Falcons minus one. I understand that Atlanta is 0-2 straight up. But we don’t get paid here with wins. We get paid with covers. They are perfect 2-0 against the spread the season. They kept very close games with two very good teams; the New Orleans saints and the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks, which own one of the worst offenses in the NFL, are favored here. Let’s face it, Seattle’s offense ranks 31st in total yards, 28th in passing yards, 32nd in rushing yards, and 29th in points scored. Not only that, but they’ve turned the ball over four times already. The Atlanta Falcons defensive statistics are not the most impressive. But they have improved quite a bit this season. On the flipside, the Falcons offensive passing game has struggled to say the least. But reports are that Marcus Mariota is going to get Kyle Pitts more involved this week. If that happens great. If it doesn’t, they can still rely on one of the most proficient running games we have seen so far this pro football season. They rank seventh in rushing, averaging over 145 yards per game on the ground. You are going to see a heavy dose of Cordarrelle Patterson here. He is running for over 5 yards per carry. And trust me when I tell you he is a workhorse. He he’s going to keep the lackluster 25th ranked rush defense of the Seahawks on their toes and honest. Thus, allowing Mariota to open up the passing game. Remember the Falcons are still scoring points, accounting for over 26.5 PPG already. And I do think Mariota will have success in the air in this matchup especially without safety Jamal Adams in the secondary for the ‘Hawks. Atlanta is 4-1 against the spread the last five meetings with Seattle. And they are money on the road covering seven of the last nine away from home. By the way just in case you’re keeping score, Seattle is a 6-13 against the spread the last 19 versus NFC opponents. I Like the Falcons outright here. But I will take the points. Take Atlanta. Thank you.

Los Angeles Rams.

NFL Game of the Month.

Game 485.

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

Guys, the Rams are one of the best teams in football. They opened up the season against the Bills and got shellacked. They followed up last week with a win over Atlanta. Now odds makers overvalued them last week, making them a double-digit favorite while they only won by four-points. That was the team just getting back on track after their season opening loss. On the other hand, the Cardinals were thumped in their season-opener by Kansas City at home. Now I was in the stands for their trip to Las Vegas last week as they beat the Raiders in overtime. Guys in all honesty, Arizona didn’t beat Las Vegas. Las Vegas beat themselves. Following that game, the Cardinals are due for a big let down here. And trust me, the Rams are just the team to put them in that let down spot. Los Angeles has taken 10 of the last 11 meetings straight up, going 9–1-1 against the spread since 2017. FYI, just in case you’re keeping score, they are 7-0 against the spread the last seven meetings at the State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals defense ranks 32nd in scoring, getting plowed for over 33.5 points per game. Rams quarterback, Matthew Stafford is going to absolutely dissect and decimate the 31st ranked passing defense in football. Look for Los Angeles to get back on track here, lighting up the scoreboard offensively, while their defense gets a well-needed dominating performance. The road team is 11-4-1 ATS the last 16 overall meetings in this series. The Cardinals are 0-6ATS the last six at home, 1-4 ATS the last five following a straight up win, and 1-4 ATS the last five versus the NFC. My friends the Rams are going to make a statement in this match up. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Tennessee Titans.

No Limit Play.

Game474.

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

My friends I live here in Las Vegas. I watch the Las Vegas Raiders practice. And I was at the game last week when they blew the lead and lost in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals. In the second quarter of that game, while they were still up 20-0, I leaned over to my buddies and I said they’re gonna’ lose this game. My friends, this is not Fresno State. Quarterback Derek Carr, while he has talent, he is not a winner. He makes very bad decisions and does not react well to defenses. Not only that but the Raiders play-calling so far the first several weeks of the season has been absolutely atrocious. To be quite honest with you, the wrong team is favored here. I have the Tennessee Titans at least a two-point favorite on my power ratings. The Titans strength, without question comes from the legs of running back Derrick Henry. And they have certainly had trouble establishing the run so far thus resulting in their winless record, both straight up and against the spread sports fans. But coming off that embarrassing 41-7 loss in Buffalo last week is going to prompt this team to get back on track. That defeat will light a fire under their butts and will be the reason why they start winning again. This team has a lot of talent guys. And let’s face it, the Raiders defense is absolutely horrible. I know the Titans stop-unit’s numbers are just as bad. But that is a direct result of the fact that their offense isn’t running the ball with success and they are experiencing a lot of three and outs. That will all change here in this matchup. Like I said I know the Raiders team. And mentally they will not recuperate so fast from last week’s overtime loss. By the way, they are point spread poison. Here’s a few against the spread stats for you; Las Vegas is 1-7 the last eight versus teams with losing record, 1-5 the last six following a straight up loss, 1-4 the last five on the road, and 4-9 the last 13 overall. Tennessee will win this game out right. Look for Derrick Henry to run wild. Take the Titans. Thank you.

Arkansas Razorbacks.

Las Vegas Strip Move Game of The Month.

Game 403.

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

Let’s go to a big SEC matchup on Saturday with the Arkansas Razorbacks traveling to AT&T Stadium to take on the Texas A&M Aggies. One of the most pleasant surprises so far this college football campaign has been the Razorbacks. They started the season by getting a win and cover over Cincinnati at home. Then the following week did the same at home against South Carolina. They did take their foot off the gas a little bit last week to get a win and no cover against Missouri State. Don’t read too much into that, folks. They were in look ahead mode, had a lead through the third quarter, took their foot off the gas, and took out some of their starters. On the other hand, many people thought that Texas A&M would be a dark horse for the College Football Playoff this season. To say this team was overrated would be an understatement. They are having trouble moving the ball, lacking both an air attack and ground assault. While the Razorbacks defense has allowed a lot of points, I just don’t see the Aggies offense scoring too much here. I know, I know, I know Texas A&M has a good defense. They own the 10th ranked pass “D” in the country. But this game is not about the Arkansas passing game. It is about their potent and explosive rushing attack. This is a team running for nearly 250 yards per game. And they will absolutely steamroll the 82nd ranked Texas A&M run defense. Having that potent rushing attack will allow the Razorbacks to control the clock and the tempo in this matchup. They will keep the Aggies defense on the field and by the second half backpedaling and gasping for air. The Razorbacks have covered four straight in this series, are 8-1 against the spread the last nine in the month of September, and 5-1-1 against the spread the last seven overall. They are money and they are going to win this game out right. But I will take the pints anyway. Take the Razorbacks. Thank you.  

Texas Longhorns.

Touchdown Play.

Game 399.

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

Right now, it looks like to back up quarterbacks will take the helm in this matchup. For Texas, Hudson Card will be calling the plays. And Texas Tech will have Donovan Smith under center. Granted Smith has taken a few more snaps in his tenure than his counterpart. However, he does not have the luxury of a solid running attack. Bijan Robinson is a monster running back, guys. Last year, in 10 games he tallied over 1,127 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. He’s also pretty darn good out of the backfield, adding another 26 receptions and four TD’s. This season he is off to an amazing start, accruing 311 yards on the ground with five scores, averaging over 6.1 yards per carry. By the way, he has also added seven receptions for 132 yards and another touchdown. The Red Raiders were pushed around last week by the Wolfpack. As a matter fact, they were downright manhandled. The Longhorns will exploit their weaknesses here. Not only did they lose 27-14, but it was their second consecutive game without covering the spread. On the other hand, the Longhorns are riding a four-game ATS win streak. Please remember that this team lost a squeaker, 20-19 to Alabama just a few weeks ago. A lot of teams would have folded after that. But they came back to crush UTSA last week. They have won the last four meetings in this series straight up, going 3-1 against the spread. This includes a 70-35 drubbing a season ago. They have covered five of the last six meetings at Texas Tech and nine of the last 12 overall meetings guys. Take Texas. Thank you.

Michigan Wolverines.

High Roller Play.

Game 328.

9 AM PST/12 PM EST.

We are going to go to the Big Ten as two 3-0 teams will meet. Maryland demolished Buffalo, Charlotte, and SMU, while Michigan steamrolled Colorado State, Hawaii, and Connecticut. To say that this matchup would be a step up in class for both teams, would be an understatement. However, it is significantly more of a step up in class for the Terrapins. The Wolverines have dominated this series, winning and covering six consecutive meetings, with the average margin of victory coming by 33.6 points per game. Maryland quarterback Tualia Tagovailoa is going to be in for a long day trying to have any success in the air against the very stingy Michigan secondary. Not only because the Michigan defensive backfield is loaded with playmakers. But also, because Maryland does not have the luxury of a strong well-balanced office. Even if they did have a good ground game, the Wolverines front-seven is ferocious. On the flipside, Michigan does have a well-balanced offense. Quarterback JJ McCarthy is going to dissect the very young and inexperienced Maryland secondary. He does have the luxury of having an awesome rushing attack. The Wolverines are loaded with talented ball-carriers. Blake Corum and CJ Stokes will get the bulk of the workload on the ground. The tandem have already tallied 349 yards rushing and eight TDs. If you recall a year ago, the Terrapins started the season off 4-0. Then their conference schedule began and they finished the regular-season campaign going 2-6 straight up and 1-7 against the spread.  The Wolverines must come out here and make a statement to the rest of the Big Ten that they are a true force to be reckoned with. And they will give the Buckeyes some serious competition. Maryland is 6-14 ATS the last 20 on the road, 17-36 ATS the last 53 versus conference opponents, and 17-37 ATS the last 54 versus teams with a winning record. Michigan is 8-3 ATS the last 11 home, 5-0 ATS the last five versus conference opponents, and 7-2 ATS the last nine overall. The Wolverines will make a statement not just to the Big Ten, but to the rest of the top-25. Lay the points with the Wolverines. Thank you.

Clemson Tigers.

Consensus Play.

Game 339.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST

Say what you want about DJ Uigaleile, but the Clemson Tigers are 3-0. They opened up the campaign with a conference win and cover at Georgia Tech. Then at home, they beat both Furman and Louisiana Tech straight up but didn’t cover either outing. This may worry many people out there who are looking to bet Clemson. However, it doesn’t worry me. That tells me that the Tigers took their foot off the gas the last few weeks. But are looking to make a statement in their conference. No, the quarterback is not very exciting or explosive. But with this team you don’t have to be a big play quarterback at all. They can move the chains on the ground and pass off the run with 5-yard dinks and dunks over the middle. DJ knows that Cade Klubnik is right over his shoulder if he can’t get the job done. This is further motivating the more experienced play-caller. We’re hearing a lot about the Wake Forest passing attack. Yes, they’re averaging over 300 yards per game in the air. But who the heck are they played? VMI, Vanderbilt, and Liberty are not formidable foes. None of those teams measure up defensively like the “D” they are facing this weekend. Once again, this season the Tigers stop-unit is outstanding. The news this week is that they give up yardage in the air and that this is not a good match up for them with the Demon Deacons. Well, they shut down the Yellow Jackets in the season opener 41-10. I expect their defense to frustrate and smother the Wake Forest offense here big-time. Understand that this is a conference game and the Tigers want everyone in their conference to know that they own the ACC. Clemson has taken the last 10 meetings in this rivalry straight up covering three of the last four. Now I could tell you that the average margin of victory was huge in each one of those wins. Let me just use last years meeting as an example. The Tigers had their way with the Demon Deacons winning 48-27. Their “D” is better this season. Clemson is 4-0 ATS the last four conference games, 4-0 ATS the last four road games, and 12-5 ATS the last 17 road games versus team with a winning home record. Take the Tigers. Thank you.

Syracuse Orange.

Friday Night Lights Winner.

Game 308.

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

Don’t look now, but Syracuse is 3-0, both straight up and against the spread this season. They opened the campaign up by slamming Louisville 35-7. They followed that up with a demolishing 48-14 win over Connecticut. And last week they showed what they were made of by getting a 32-29 win at home against Purdue. They stepped up in class twice this season and have proved that they are for real. On the other hand, point spread poison, Virginia has yet to cover a game this season despite going 2-1 straight up. They had a hard time with Richmond in their season-opener, was absolutely manhandled by Illinois losing their second-game of the year, 24-3, and had a hard time the entire game eking out two-point victory over Old Dominion. Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader has been superb, throwing for over 705 yards passing on a 66.2% completion rate with eight TDs and zero INT‘s. The play-caller is a dual-threat, adding over 202 yards on the ground with three more scores. The backfield of Sean Tucker (252 yards rushing two TDs) along with a stellar receiving core consisting of four wideouts already at or approaching 100-yards receiving, makes this Syracuse team very dangerous offensively. They are averaging over 37-points per game. On the other hand, Virginia is having a very hard time putting any points on the board, averaging a mere 17.7 points per game. They’ve already committed five turnovers. This does not bode well as Syracuse already has three takeaways on defense. The Orange stop-unit matches up quite well with a Cavaliers “O”. Virginia stepped up in class against Illinois and gave up big plays, both in the air and on the ground. Syracuse is just as loaded and just as well-balanced. The fact that the Orange has a strong running game will allow them to control the clock and the tempo here, keeping the Cavaliers defense on the field and their offense off of it. Even when Virginia does have the ball guys, they will run into a very stout, very angry, very capable Syracuse “D.” The Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS the last five games played on field turf, 1-5 ATS the last six games played in September, and 0-4 ATS the last four games played overall. The Orange are 8-3 ATS the last 11 games played versus conference opponents, 7-1 ATS the last eight games played at home, and 10-3 ATS the last 13 games played overall. By the way, Syracuse are also great starters, getting us bettors paid in the month of September, going 15-5-1 ATS the last 21 games played in the month of September. Take the Orange. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 921.

4:05 PM PST/7:05 PM EST.

You would think that clinching the division and only one-win away from a 100-win season would allow Houston to coast into the postseason. However, with New York starting to heat up, they do not want to lose the top seed in the American League. They play a Baltimore team that mathematically still has a chance at a Wildcard spot. They are just four-games back of that opportunity. The Astros are the hottest team in baseball winning nine of their last 10 outings. They are doing it with a combination of explosive hitting and stifling pitching. In those nine victories in the last 10 contests, they have outscored opponents by a combined, 57-14. The pitching matchup heavily favors the away team here today. Justin Verlander and Kyle Bradish are scheduled starters. Verlander has the best earned run average in the Majors. He’s also gone 14 straight innings without allowing a run. On the campaign the right-hander is 17-3 with a 1.78 ERA. In 23 career starts against Baltimore, he is 10-5 with a 3.64 ERA. You would think his numbers wouldn’t be as impressive when he travels. But the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 8-2 with an ERA of 1.78 on the road in 2022. He also looking to get 20-wins this season. Bradish owns a 3-7 record with a 5.05 ERA on the campaign. He has lost his last two starts. And while pitching at Oriole Park this season he is winless at 0-5 with a whopping ERA of 5.80. The Astros are 13-3 the last 16 in Baltimore, 13-3 the last 16 on the road, 5-0 the last five versus right-handed starters, and 4-0 the last four versus the American League East. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

Grand Slam play.

Game 954.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

The Atlanta Braves still have a very good shot at taking the NL East. They sit just 1-game back of the New York Mets in the division. Not only that, but they would love to hit 100-wins this season. They enter game 1 of this series with the Washington Nationals after sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0. They have dominated Washington once again this season, taking nine of the last 10 meetings alone in 2022. Speaking of the Nationals, they own the worst record in all of baseball. They have thrown in the towel on the season a long time ago folks. And recently, they have dropped six of their last eight overall. Cory Abbott and Kyle Wright are schedule starts today. Abbot is 0-2 with a 4.37 ERA on the campaign. The team has lost his last three and eight of his last nine overall appearances. I don’t expect him to pitch more than a few innings. When Washington goes to their bullpen, please remember they rank 30th it’s in the league with a Team ERA of 5.03. On the other hand, Kyle Wright, who is 18-5 with a 3.18 ERA on the campaign is trying to become the first Atlanta pitcher to win 20-games in over 19 years. He is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA against Washington this season alone. And at home in 2022, he has been stellar, sporting an 11-2 record with a 2.82 ERA. The Nationals are 1-5 the last six on the road, 10-43 the last 53 versus the NL East, and 16-40 the last 56 during Game 1 of a series. The Braves are 40-13 the last 53 at home, 35-16 the last 51 versus the NL East, and 23-7 the last 30 during Game 1 of a series. Take Atlanta on the runline. Thank you.

Green Bay Packers.

Late Bail Out Play.

Game 288.

5:20 PM PST/8:20 PM EST.

The Green Bay Packers are one of the favorites to win the NFC and furthermore, to win the Super Bowl this season. And yet in their season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings, they took a 23-7 spanking. On the other hand, the Chicago Bears fans are talking playoffs already after their season-opening 19-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. One thing about Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers is that they do not take losing lightly. They are 6-0 against the spread after the last six regular season losses, with an average margin of victory coming by better than 15-points per game. You have got to admit, Chicago is severely outclassed here. And with the way Green Bay is looking for some vengeance and little payback after the week 1 ass-whoopin’, the Bears are in big trouble. To add insult to injury, the Pack have dominated this division rivalry, taking six consecutive meetings, both straight up and against the spread. By the way, the average margin of victory in those six wins is 12.5-points per game. I think we can all agree that Justin Fields is a long way away from running the Chicago office with any efficiency. And trying to compete with an angry Green Bay team…wow I feel bad for the young quarterback. Green Bay is 11-3 ATS the last 14 following a straight up loss, 7-2 ATS the last nine at home, and 9-4 ATS the last 13 versus the NFC. Chicago is 4-12 ATS to last 16 as an underdog, 0-5 ATS the last five versus the NFC North, and 4-9 ATS the last 13 overall. I’m not crazy about laying double-digits in the NFL, especially in Week 2. However, the Packers are going to open up a can of whoop-ass here and get back on track, making a statement to the NFC and the entire league. Lay the points and take Green Bay to the bank. Thank you.

Atlanta Falcons.

Late Info Move.

Game 277.

1:05 PM PST/4:05 PM EST.

Guys, I’m not looking to take away anything from the Rams. But they are way overvalue here. They were outscored by 21-points in the second half and absolutely dominated by the visiting Bills, getting thumped, 31-10 and their season-opener a week ago. Granted Buffalo is one of the AFC‘s favorites to take the conference and moreover the Super Bowl, but coming off a beating like that will affect any team mentally. On the other hand, Atlanta will come in here, I believe a little extra-motivated, having blown a 26-10 fourth-quarter lead at home against their division rival, New Orleans last week. Let’s face it, losing the game by two-points with a field goal with 19 seconds left in regulation, will sting quite a bit. Watching Los Angeles’ defense get gashed last week tells me that Atlanta’s running back, Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie wide receiver, Drake London can and will move the chains here this week against them. Let’s not forget that the Falcons defense was one of the poorest in the league last season and did rank dead-last in sacks. However, last week they did get to the fleet-footed Jameis Winston four times. Until Matthew Stafford gets the luxury of a capable ground attack to keep the defenses honest, I think he’s in for a very long season. I’m not trying to compare the Falcons defense to the Bills, which did tally seven sacks and three interceptions a week ago. But the Atlanta stop-unit is definitely much-improved. And certainly, good enough to make some noise here. And once again, because they have a good ground game to control the clock and the tempo. This game will be a lot closer than the double-digit point spread. The road team is 5-1 ATS the last six meetings in this series. The Falcons are 4-1 ATS the last five meetings against the Rams and 5-2-1 ATS the last eight on the road. The Rams are 1-4 ATS the last five as a favorite and 2-5 ATS the last seven overall. This is way too many points for Los Angeles to lay. Especially looking the way they look right now. Take Atlanta here. Thank you.

Miami Florida.

Top-Rated Play.

Game 197.

6:00 PM PST/9:00 PM EST.

You know sports fans, it was only a few short weeks ago Texas A&M was a preseason top-five team. But to be honest guys, it feels like years, doesn’t it? They opened up the campaign with a very unimpressive, 31-0 win over Sam Houston State. While quarterback Haynes King threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns, he still tossed two interceptions. All this and the Aggies couldn’t establish the run against the outclassed Bearkats. Then, last week their offense sputtered drastically tallying a mere 186 yards, while allowing 315 yards of offense in a 17-14 loss at the hands of Appalachian State at home. This team has serious quarterback issues. And let’s face it they aren’t running the ball with any success either. One team that is not having quarterback issues, is the Miami Hurricanes. Tyler Van Dyke has already passed for over 446 yards, while his tandem of ball-carriers Henry Parrish Jr. and Thaddius Franklin Jr. have run for over 340 yards and seven scores already. Traditionally, we have seen the Hurricanes struggle in the trenches against SEC opponents. However, with the way they have controlled the clock by running the ball and then passing off the run, I don’t think that’s going be an issue here this week. They have playmakers. And the Aggies do not, plain and simple. Up next for both teams are middle Tennessee for Miami and Arkansas for Texas A&M. I feel that the Hurricanes come in here a lot looser, a lot more confident, and don’t have the same problem the Aggie’s have in looking ahead to next week’s opponent. Miami is 5-1 ATS the last six on the road. While Texas A&M is just 1-4 ATS the last five overall. I think the ‘Canes can win this game outright. But I will take the points here. Take Miami. Thank you.

Michigan State.

TD PLAY.

Game 185.

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

Guys, I understand that Michael Penix Jr. is causing some excitement up in Washington. And I also understand that he’s familiar with Michigan State from his days with Indiana. However, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why so many people are siding with the Huskies here. Granted, neither team has really been tested so far this season. But please understand that Michigan State went 10-2 in the regular season a year ago, beating some very tough teams, including Michigan and Penn State. Then devoured Pitt in a late-December Bowl game. On the other hand, Washington was a disaster a season ago. They went just 4-8 finishing the campaign with four consecutive losses. Oh, and by the way just in case you’re keeping score, they took a beating in mid-September, losing to Michigan 31-10. The same Michigan team that in late-October, Michigan State bested, 37-33. Both offenses can pass the ball with success. However, I expect the Spartans running game to be the difference here folks. Michigan State is 6-0-1 ATS the last seven nonconference games, or 4-0-2 ATS the last six games played in September, and 4-0 ATS the last four games played overall. Washington is 2-5 ATS the last seven following a straight up win, 1-5 ATS the last six versus teams winning record, and 0-4 ATS the last four versus the Big Ten. Take the Spartans here plus the points. Thank you.

UCLA Bruins.

Las Vegas Strip Move.

Game 134.

11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST.

Both teams have gotten off the solid 2-0 starts. But Chip Kelly’s Bruins are certainly stronger and deeper by far. They have a monster offensive line that has paved the way for a ground attack averaging 241 yards per game on 5.8 yards per carry. And DTR, is the real-deal at quarterback, completing 75.9% of his passes for 399 yards, and three TDs already. The Bruins have a backfield of very talented ball-carriers to go along with the dual-threat quarterbacks dangerous arm. Going back to last season, this team has now won five consecutive games straight up going 4-1 against the spread. While South Alabama shows some promise, let’s face it, they don’t face the same level of competition as UCLA does. As a matter fact, a season ago they stepped up in class in late-November and got thumped 60-14 at the hands of Tennessee. They actually finished the 2021-2022 campaign on the four-game losing streak. The Jaguars are traveling for their second consecutive week and have to face a well-rested Bruins team that have the luxury of playing home for the third consecutive contest. South Alabama is just 1-6 ATS the the last seven on the road while UCLA is 4-1 ATS is the last five overall. This is the Bruins last chance to fine-tune their squad before hitting their conference schedule. Take UCLA. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

SEC Game of the Month.

Game 121.

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

My friends, the Georgia Bulldogs leapfrogged the Alabama Crimson Tide in the polls this week to take over the No. 1 spot in the nation. Stetson Bennett has matured quite well, growing into an amazing quarterback. So far this season, he has thrown for 688 yards, with a 75.4% completion rate, three TDs and zero INTs. He will dissect the South Carolina Gamecocks defense that allowed Arkansas to light them up for 44-points a week ago. The Gamecocks are dealing with a banged up secondary here. This does not bode well going against the highflying offense of the Bulldogs. Offensively, South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler has been utterly unimpressive, throwing three interceptions against just two touchdowns. More importantly guys, if Georgia doesn’t annihilate South Carolina here knowing that Alabama faces Louisiana Monroe later today, they may lose their top-ranking. Kirby Smart is not going to let that happen. They must keep their foot on the gas here, run the score up, and leave no doubt for pollsters. They took last year’s September meeting by score of 40-13. And this year’s matchup should be even more of a mismatch. The Gamecocks are 3-12 ATS the last 15 versus the SEC and 1-5 ATS the last six versus teams with a winning record. The Bulldogs are 20-6 ATS the last 26 following an ATS loss and 35-16 ATS the last 51 on the road. Take Georgia. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 962.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

The Houston Astros have their sites on a 100-win season. Not only that, but they know the New York Yankees have started to heat-up again and don’t want to relinquish the A.L.’s top-spot, knowing they just very well may be facing the Yankees for the pennant. They face an Oakland A’s team that currently possesses the worst overall record in the American League. They have dominated this series taking three in a row overall and four of the last five at Minute Maid Park. The A’s are absolutely atrocious. They rank at or near the bottom in every major offensive category. And own one of the poorest pitching staffs in the Majors. Facing an Astros team that is on a 12-3 run with a dangerous offense and the baseball’s second-ranked pitching staff is going to prove to be fatal here. James Kaprielian and Lance McCullers are scheduled today. The Oakland right-hander is 3-9 with a 4.79 ERA on the campaign. Over his last three starts, he is 0-2 with a whopping ERA of 8.10. By the way, he is winless in his last five turns, going 0-4 with a no decision.  The Houston right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA on the season. He has made five appearances in 2022, never going less than five innings pitched, and never allowing more than three earned runs. By the way, at home this year, he is a perfect 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA. Oakland is 4-10 the last 14 versus the AL West, 3-9 the last 12 versus right-handed starters, and 3-10 the last 13 overall. The Astros are 43-18 the last 61 versus division opponents, 59-25 the last 84 during Game 1 of a series, And a 46-18 the last 64 at home. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

Tennessee Titans.

Touchdown Play.

Game 475.

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

Very quietly the Tennessee Titans have become the favorites to take the AFC south. A lot of smart money here in Vegas came in on them to actually win the Super Bowl at 15-1. And here in Week 1 of the regular season, they match up against the New York Giants team that is touted to finish dead-last in the NFC East, and win only seven games. New York is in a rebuilding year once again. And to be quite honest there’s a lot of question marks surrounding the team. Their quarterback has it big question mark on him as well as the entire offensive line. The team was the dismal 4-13 a season ago. Now they must face a perennial playoff contender which ranked second in the NFL in rushing defense and sixth on third down defense. The Giants are 0-5 ATS the last five on the road, 0-5 ATS the last five during Week 1 of the season, and 0-6 ATS the last six overall. Take Tennessee. Thank you.

New Orleans Saints.

High Roller play.

Game 455.

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

It is imperative that as the season begins the New Orleans Saints get a big division win here. The Atlanta Falcons are a team in transition to say the least. This is a true rebuilding year for them. And is an ideal opportunity for New Orleans to make a statement in the NFC South. The Falcons are in real trouble in this series opener. They are without Matt Ryan for the first time since 2008. This team was one of the worst in all of the NFL a season to go offensively. And it doesn’t look like they made too many improvements to better themselves. New Orleans is 4-0 ATS the last four meetings in Atlanta. By the way the road team is 5-1 ATS the last six overall meetings in the series. Take the Saints. Thank you.

Philadelphia Eagles.
Las Vegas Strip Move.
Game 465.
10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the best teams in the NFC. They’re loaded with talent both on offense and on defense. My friends, this line of this game should be definitely closer to a touchdown. Once again, this season of the Detroit Lions have very little to be excited about. They are slated to win just six-games. Jalen Hurts is another year older and more experienced. He will exploit the vulnerable Lions secondary. Meanwhile, the Eagles “D” will take advantage of serious mismatches here. This game will get ugly. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

Baylor Bears.

Oddsmakers Mistake Play.

Game 403.

7:15 pm pst/10:15 pm est.

Whispers are saying that this contest is a big revenge game for BYU. If you recall a season ago, they got knocked out of the rankings by Baylor in a 38-24 defeat. Reports are that most of the Cougars defense is back this season. The Cougars are expected to be a solid on the “D”. There is also talk that Baylor might not be at the same level this year as they were last year. But it’s hard to argue the fact that this team went 11-2 during the regular season and then crushed Mississippi in the Bowl campaign. They are money to us bettors, coming off a 10-4 against the spread mark a season ago. BYU’s well-balanced offense looked pretty good, piling up 50-points on South Florida last week. But, South Florida ain’t no Baylor. The Bears are one of the toughest teams in the Big 12. I feel the wrong team is favored here. Baylor has been money to us bettors, going 4-0 ATS to last four in September, 4-0 ATS the last four versus non-conference opponents, 6-1 ATS the last seven on the road versus teams with a winning record, and 5-1 ATS the last six overall. I like the Bears outright here. But I will take the points to err on the side of caution. Take Baylor. Thank you.

Pittsburgh Panthers.

Touchdown Play.

Game 348.

12:30 pm pst/3:30 pt.

The Panthers are 3-0 all-time against the Volunteers. This includes last years, 41-34 win at Neyland Stadium. USC-transfer quarterback, Kedon Slovis will dissect the Tennessee secondary. The Vols give up a ton of yards and moreover, a lot of points when having to face gunslinging QB’s. The wrong team is favored here. Tennessee is 6-13 ATS the last 19 on grass, 16-36-1 ATS the last 53 following an ATS win, and 2-6 ATS the last eight versus the ACC. Pitt is 5-0 ATS the last five games following an ATS loss, 6-2 ATS then last eight versus a team with a winning record, and 11-5 ATS the last 16 games overall. Take the Panthers. Thank you.

Alabama Crimson Tide.

Annihilator Play.

Game 335.

9:00 am pst/12:00 pm est.

This line opened up just over -14 and was quickly bet up to -20-ish. I normally fade the general public. But even they have to win sometime. And I agree with them here. I see a lot of news out there saying that Texas is 7-1-1 all-time against Alabama. They are hoping to jump back into the national spotlight with a big win here. But hope doesn’t win games, folks. As expected in both of these team’s season openers, Alabama blew up Utah State, 55-0. And Texas devoured Louisiana Monroe 52-10. With all respect to the Longhorns, this team was absolute point spread poisonous a season ago, failing to win or cover six of their final seven games. This season they are touted as an also-ran to take the Big 12 conference behind the Sooners. Reality check here as Alabama is an entirely different monster. This is the number one team in the country. And this is their first big test. Make no mistake of it, head coach Nick Saban is going to go out of his way make a statement here and destroy Texas. ‘Bama has a stout defense that will frustrate quarterback, Ewers and running back, Robinson. Dual-threat Alabama QB, Young has an arsenal at his disposal offensively. Granted, going from Utah State to Texas is a step-up in class for Alabama. However, don’t think for a second they don’t have the personnel to pile up points here. To add insult to injury, look for Saban and his coaching staff to send a message to the Longhorns for future reference when they look to join the SEC in a few years. The Crimson Tide are 4-0 ATS the last four nonconference games. While the Longhorns are just 1-4 ATS the last five versus teams with a winning record. The number may scare you at first, but don’t let the oddsmakers affect you. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Central Florida.

Friday Night Lights Winner.

Game 316.

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

My friends, these two teams had very different season-opening contests. Louisville, as a 5.5-point favorite, got shredded by Syracuse, 31-7. Central Florida devoured South Carolina State, 56-10. Please keep in mind that the Knights have had two extra days to rest, heal, and prepare for this matchup than did the Cardinals. The Louisville offense is in trouble. Granted, this is just Week 2 for this team, but they have now lost and failed to cover three straight (going back to last season) getting outplayed and outclassed in all three of those contests. On the other hand, Central Florida has won four straight (going back to a season ago) and seven of the last eight SU going back to October of last season. John Rhys Plumlee is a monster quarterback. Not only is he a solid passer, but he can also run the ball with great efficiency. He has the luxury of having a talented core of receivers and a backfield chock-full of solid ball-carriers. Malik Cunningham is a good QB. But as we have seen through his tenure at Louisville, he can’t carry this offense alone. Knights head coach, Gus Malzahn really fortified his team. Particularly on the “O” where he has an Alabama-transfer in Javon Baker and a Florida transfer in Kemore Gamble. This tandem will be one of the most exciting in college football this season. I just don’t see Louisville and their lackluster secondary contending with the Central Florida passing attack. Please remember that last season the Cardinals won a heartbreaker, 42-35 in this matchup. The Knights have had this game circled since the schedule came out, looking for a bit of revenge. Louisville is 7-15-1 ATS the last 23 on the road, 3-8 ATS the last 11 versus the AAC, and 2-5 ATS the last seven overall. Take Central Florida. Thank you.

St. Louis Cardinals on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 962.

4:45 PM PST/7:45 PM EST.

St. Louis is running red-hot, winning eight of their last 10 outings. And believe me folks, they need to continue to keep their foot on the gas to keep their cushion in the NL Central. They are a division leader and have an 8.5-game lead over Milwaukee in the division. They face of Washington team that is the first team in the Majors to be eliminated from any chance at the postseason. The Nationals are done and aren’t playing for a single thing. Today’s starting pitchers are Corey Abbott and Jordan Montgomery. The Washington right-hander is 0-2 with a 4.39 ERA. And has only pitched two innings this month in relief. Overall, this season, he is 0-2 with a 4.39 ERA. On the other hand, The St. Louis left-hander has been stellar since coming over from the Yankees. He is 5-0 with a 1.47 ERA in six starts since joining the Cardinals last month. Overall, on the campaign, he is a very respectful 8-3 with a 3.15 ERA. And when taking the mound at home in 2022, he is a perfect 6-0 with a 3.15 ERA. I just don’t see the lowly Nationals 26th-ranked offense competing here against the surging Montgomery and contending with the Cardinals third-ranked lineup. Washing is 2-5 the last seven versus the NL Central while St. Louis is 7-3 the last 10 versus the NL East. Take the Cardinals on the runline. Thank you.

Clemson Tigers.

Monday Money Maker.

Game 235.

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

One of the best teams in the nation is the Clemson Tigers. This is a team that a season ago went 6-2 in the ACC and 10-3 overall, ending the campaign with the win over Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl. They’ve got a great coaching staff, a quarterback with another year experience under his belt, and from what reports are saying, one of the most-ferocious defenses in the nation. They were in a rebuilding year a season ago, and yet they still finished at 10-3. What most impressed me about this team last season, was the fact that they closed it out with six straight wins. Not to mention five covers in those six wins. They must come out here and begin the campaign making a statement. Not just to the rest of the conference, but the rest of college football. They want the nation to know they are a force to be reckoned with and they’re going to make a statement here in their season opener and crush Georgia Tech. They’ve had this game circled since the schedule came out anyway, because last year‘s 14-8 victory over the Yellow Jackets was the closest margin over the last seven meetings. Dabo Swinney likes to make teams pay for stuff like this, guys. They’ll make them pay for that here. FYI, Georgia Tech is on a 1-7 ATS run. This game is going to get ugly folks. Mark my words. Clemson wins, covers, and make a statement. Take the Tigers. Thank you.

Boise State.

High Roller Play.

Game 201.

7:30 PM PST 10:30 PM EST.

I really feel the wrong team is favored here. I know Oregon State won all six of their games at Reser Stadium a season ago. But up until last season this team was absolutely horrible at home, going 6-16 their previous 21 games in their own house. We always hear about how great Boise State is on the blue carpet. However, on the road they’ve been money, going 19-6 straight up the last 25 away from home and covering five of the last six as a visitor. Standout quarterback, Hank Bachmeier is back at the helm along with an arsenal at his disposal, returning all four lineman and his workhorse running back, George Holani. In the ball carrier, Bachmeier has the luxury of passing off the run and keeping the Beavers defense honest. They can control the clock and keep the OSU “D” on the field. And more importantly, their offense off of it. Take the Broncos. Thank you.

Notre Dame.

TV Game Winner.

Game 171.

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

We put together two of the most successful and storied schools in the history of college football. There’s no doubt that Ohio State is a very good team. They rank number two in the preseason poll. And are supposed to run away with one of the toughest conferences in the nation. However, Notre Dame comes in ranked fifth in the country. There’s a lot of pressure on the Buckeyes to win and win right away. What concerns me about this team is their defense. We all know offensively they’ve got a couple of guys that are potential first rounders for sure. But I think we would all agree, their “D” has slipped over the last few years, giving up a lot of points. And sometimes not just to ranked opponents. Notre Dame can come in here with some confidence. They’ve got seven starters returning on offense and eight starters returning on defense. Reports are that new defensive coordinator; Al Golden has got this team believing they can shut down just about any offense in the nation. I feel this is way too many points to give a game a team like Notre Dame, which comes in here with a lot less pressure. The Fighting Irish is 4-0 ATS the last four on the road, 7-1 ATS the last eight nonconference games, 4-1-1 ATS the last six versus the Big Ten, and 7-1 ATS the last eight overall. I’ll take the points with Notre Dame here folks. Thank you.

San Diego State.

Bookie Buster.

Game 206.

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

Let’s go to Snapdragon Stadium where the Arizona Wildcats visit the San Diego Aztecs. My friends, I doubt I will hurt anyone’s feelings if I come out and state that Arizona football absolutely sucks. Let’s face it, this team is on a 1-23 straight up run. On the flipside, San Diego State is a very complete and solid football team. They come off a 12-2 season. Once again, this year they are known to have a phenomenal ground attack, while also possessing a ferocious stop-unit. They now have Braxton Burmeister at the helm to bring a new dynamic to the offense, a passing attack. Not only does this team come in here excited to have a new 35,000-seat stadium, but they will come out here confident, knowing that they went 2-0 against Pac-12 opponents a season ago. One of those wins was a 38-14 victory over Arizona. Overall, this team is 6-2 against ATS the last eight versus this conference, including straight up wins over Utah, UCLA, and Stanford. I just don’t see how the Wildcats can possibly either move the chains on this stingy defense, or slow down this powerful, now double-threat offense. Arizona is 5-12 against the spread the last 17 nonconference games, 8-24 against the spread the last 32 road games, and 0-4 against the spread the last four versus the Mountain West Conference. Under a touchdown here as a gift. Take the Aztecs. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

Touchdown Play.

Game 210.

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

When playing against the Pac-12, Oregon did very well last year. But when they stepped out and up in class, they took a beat down at the hands of Oklahoma. That’s what they’re doing here in their season opener. They are stepping out and up in class. I know Georgia lost a lot of key players. But please understand that the SEC and particularly the Georgia Bulldogs are deep, deep, deep. Bo Nix is at the helm for the Ducks. To be honest with you I wasn’t all that’s crazy about the quarterback when he was with Auburn. And let’s face it, the Bulldogs know Bo Nix. He had a better ground game and a much better “D” on his last squad. And yet, he couldn’t get the team over the hump of beating solid opponents. Please understand that the Georgia defense, outside of one game a season ago in which day exacted their revenge later on in the National Championship, did not allow a single opponent to post more than 18-points. And usually, it was seven or less points allowed. The Bulldogs need to come out here and make a statement to the SEC and to the nation that they are a true force to be reckoned with. Quarterback, Stetson Bennett is it an experienced, intelligent, play-caller. Not only that but he makes very few mistakes. He only tossed seven INT’s compared to 29 TD’s a season ago. That along with the fact that this team has got a solid ground game and a ferocious defense tells me that Oregon is in for a very long day here. The Ducks are 8-18-1 ATS the last 27 games played in the month of September, 1-4 ATS the last five games played versus non-conference opponents, and 6-13 ATS the last 19 games played overall. Take the Bulldogs. Thank you.

East Carolina.

Consensus Play.

Game 194.

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

I’m gonna’ go back to the drawing board. There’s an old rule to sports betting, keeping an eye on in-state rivalries. Well. NC State and East Carolina will renew an in-state rivalry when the two sides kick off their season on Saturday. ECU comes off their best season in years winning seven games and was supposed to go to a Bowl, but unfortunately due to a Covid outbreak their game was canceled with Boston College. NC State ranks 13th in the nation. Coming off a solid 9-3 finish a 9-3 campaign. They’ve got all four starters returning on the offensive line and 10 returning starters on defense that was second in the nation against the past last year. But these two teams and these two coaching staffs know each other very well. While the Wolfpack has had the upper hand in recent years, the Pirates certainly come in here motivated. And with a punchers chance to win this game outright, let alone cover the point spread. If NC State does have a weakness, it is when they travel with a 5-13 ATS slide the last 18 on the road. By the way, as an interesting sidenote, the home team is 5-1 against the number the last six in this series. That’s why I’m taking East Carolina. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the runline.

Home Run Play.

Game 910.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

The Atlanta Braves are looking to take over the NL East from The New York Mets. However, Atlanta has dropped three straight. The only thing that has helped is the fact that New Yorke has drop their last two. Losing Game 1 of this series to Colorado extra motivates this team here today. The Braves have taken the four previous meetings this season against the Rockies. Feltner and Wright are schedule starters. Feltner is 2-5 or 5.87 ERA on the campaign. And has made two career starts against Atlanta, going 0-2 with a whopping ERA of 19.06. Wright has some of the most impressive numbers this season, going 16-5 with a 2. 99 ERA. He has won each of his last three starts and nine and his last 10 decisions. At home this season he has been outstanding, going 10-2 with a 3.05 ERA. The Rockies are 3-10 the last 13 following a win, 8-22 the last 30 versus the NL East, and 16-41 the last 57 on the road. I expect the Braves offense to explode here today. Take Atlanta on the run line. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 956.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

After winning 15 of their last 17-games, Atlanta dropped the last two matchups with St. Louis. They must turn it around here to better their situation and catch New York in the NL East. They have taken all four meetings with Colorado this season. Jose Urena and Max Fried are schedule today. Urena is 2-5 with a 5.98 ERA. The right-hander will be making his 16th career start, and 19th overall appearance against the Braves, possessing a 2-9 record with a 6.50 ERA against them. Fried, who is 12-4 with a 2.52 ERA on the campaign, owns a career record against the Rockies of 1-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four appearances, which includes three starts. Colorado is 1-8 the last nine versus left-handed starters, 2-10 the last 12 following a win, and 7-22 the last 29 versus the NL East. Atlanta is a 20-7 the last 27 at home versus right-handed starters, 42-15 the last 57 following a loss, and 12-3 the last 15 versus the NL West. Take the Braves on the run line. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Interleague Game of the Month.

Game 975.

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

Tampa Bay has dominated Miami, taking five consecutive meetings in this series, including both matchups this season. And the Rays have taken seven of their last nine overall outings to earn a Wildcard spot in the American League. And with just a seven-game deficit behind the Yankees in the A.L. East, they can gain some ground with some victories for sure. The Marlins are just deplorable. They have gotten crushed in Interleague play, going 16-36 to last 52 against the American League. None of their statistics are any better, as they are 17-41 the last 58 versus teams with a winning record, 14-37 the last 51 versus the American League East, 6-20 the last 26 at home, McClanahan and Luzardo are scheduled starters here today. The Tampa Bay left-hander is 11-5 with a 2.20 ERA on the campaign. And in two career starts against the Marlins, he is 2-0 with an ERA of just 0.82. This includes a 4-0 win back at the end of May when he dominated the Miami lineup, striking out nine batters in six scoreless innings. Luzardo is 3-5 with a 3.34 ERA on the season. He has faced Tampa Bay just once in his career, approximately one year ago when you gave up two runs in four innings pitched in a loss. The Rays are 38-15 the last 53 versus the NL East, 7-1 the last eight versus left-handed starters, and 5-1 the last six or following a win. Take Tampa Bay on the run line. Thank you.

New York Mets on the run line.

Best Bet Play.

Game 958.

10:40 AM PST/1:40 PM EST.

New York has taken all three games in this series, dominating Colorado once again this season, going 5-1 against them. The Mets are looking to extend their lead over the Braves in the National League East. And facing the Rockies will help them achieve their goal. Colorado is just phoning it in right now. They are dead-last in the National League West, possessing one of the poorest records in the N.L. Things go from bad to worse when they travel, sporting the worst road record in the Majors, at 18-42 away from home. Max Scherzer and German Marquez are scheduled here today. Scherzer is 9-3 with a 2.33 ERA, making his second attempt trying to become the third active pitcher to record 200 career wins. Marquez has struggled, recording a 6-10 record with a whopping 5.22 ERA on the campaign. Over his last three turns, the right-hander is 0-1, with a 5.50 ERA. Scherzer has been stellar at home, going 4-1, with an anemic 1.71 ERA. The Rockies are 6-22 the last 28 versus the N.L. East, 0-6 to last six versus teams was a winning record, and 14-41 the last 55 on the road. The Mets are 4-0 the last four versus the N.L. West, 39-13 the last 52 versus teams with a losing record, and 36-15 the last 51 at home. Take New York on the run line. Thank you.

Baltimore Ravens.

High Roller Play.

Game 122.

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

Both head coaches announced that their starters will see some action today in the first half. Preseason predictions have the Washington Commanders to finish third in the NFC East, while the Baltimore Ravens (depending on the sportsbook you wager at) are being slated to compete for the AFC North. The Commanders are expected to win 7.5-games, while the Ravens are touted to win 10-games. Having said all that, whether Carson Wentz plays or not, Washington is not going to jeopardize their regular-season starting quarterback for too long in this final preseason contest. Let’s face it, their backups are inexperienced and unpolished. On the other hand, Tyler Huntley will get a lot of the snaps here. And he has looked very good this August. Let’s not forget that the Ravens are a team that like to win an NFL exhibition play, riding a 22-game win streak. Looking at the Baltimore defense, they have held two good offensive squads in check this preseason. And there’s quite a few household names on their stop-unit still looking to solidify a Slot and either the second or third strings of this squad. They will contain the Commanders “O”. Take the Ravens. Thank you.

Las Vegas Raiders.

NFL Touchdown Game of the Month.

Game 116.

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

These two teams saw plenty of one another this week, as they practiced together Tuesday and Wednesday. Thus far this preseason, New England is 1-1 straight up, while Las Vegas is 3-0 straight up. They are a combined, 5-0 against the spread. Having said that, reports are that some major starters will see action here in the first half. But there is no way Bill Belichick is going to jeopardize his starting quarterback or some of his key offensive players for too long in this contest. As we all know, the Patriots are the most successful team in the history of the NFL. But this team is not the team we are so accustomed to seeing over the last two decades or so. While they are touted to finish either second or third in the AFC East (depending on the book you like to wager at), they are slated to only win 8.5-games. Barring a major issue or injury, the Buffalo Bills will run away with their division. Any hope that this offense has depends on Mac Jones as their future. As I stated earlier, they will not jeopardize him. On the other hand, the team getting the most ink in the news the last several seasons, is certainly the Las Vegas Raiders. They’ve had a notorious coach come and go. They’ve had several players already caught up in legal issues and are also gone. They play in the most modern stadium in sports today, in the most exciting city in the world today. However, all this and yet they are still expected to finish last in the AFC West and win just 8.5-games. This is a team very deep at major positions, with several household names trying to earn spots both on the second and third strings. Understand that they have a big payroll and they must continue to win to keep individual home game ticket sales up and season-ticket holders happy. The players know this as well as the fans. Sharing the division with three teams that are significantly higher-rated stresses urgency for the team to go into the regular-season undefeated. This will give the team some momentum while exciting their fan base. Once again, they are deeper at major positions and the urgency is there for them to go into the regular season as big winners. Take the Raiders. Thank you.

New York Mets on the runline.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 958.

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

New York Mets have a two-game cushion over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. With less than a quarter of the regular-season remaining, they need to keep their foot on the gas. They face a Colorado Rockies team they have had their way with, taking three of four meetings in 2022, including game 1 of this series. Overall, they have taken six of the last seven meetings going back a bit, and are a perfect 4-0 in this rivalry the last four games played at Citi Field. Chad Kuhl and Chris Bassitt are scheduled starters. Kuhl is 6-7 with a 5.16 ERA on the campaign. And in three career starts against the Mets, he is 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA. He comes off six consecutive outings giving up a lot of runs. He has allowed 29 earned runs in 24.6 innings pitched. Away from home, his ERA soars to 6.08. Oh, by the way over the last three outings, his ERA is a whopping 13.91. Bassitt owns an 11-7 record with a 3.26 ERA on the season. He is facing the Rockies for just the second time. He started against them over seven years ago as a member of the A’s, allowing just one run in five innings. He has not allowed an earned run in his last three turns, going 20.0 innings pitched. And at home this season, he has a low, low ERA of just 2.55. Colorado is 6-20 the last 26 versus the NL East, 14-39 the last 53 on the road, and 3-8 the last 11 overall. Take New York on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 966.

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

The Houston Astros have played just about the most consistent baseball we have seen this season. They currently own the best record in the American League at 79-45. With a combination of solid hitting and stellar pitching, this team is a true force to be reckoned with. They rank eight in the Majors in scoring, averaging 4.59 runs per game. And second in pitching, with a Team ERA of 3.07. As a matter fact, they rank in the top-10 in just about every offensive and pitching category there is. They have had their way with the Minnesota Twins this season, taking all four meetings against them. They have outscored their American League rival by a combined 21-5, blanking the Twins in two of those games. Minnesota has turned ice-cold, riding a four-game slide, and dropping nine of their last 14 outings. Over the last week or so, their offense has absolutely sputtered, accounting for just nine-runs in the last five contests. And that’s just not going to do it in a match up with a Houston lineup that has exploded. As far as pitching goes, today Dylan Bundy and Framber Valdez are scheduled. Bundy is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA on the campaign. And in nine career appearances, which includes eight starts against the Astros, he is 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA. Valdez owns some very respectable numbers, going 12-4 with a 2.72 ERA this season. He is unbeaten over his last six starts, going 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA. And in his career, in six lifetime appearances, which includes three starts against the Twins, he’s 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. The Twins are 0-4 the last four versus the American League West, 0-4 the last four versus teams with a winning record, and 1-6 the last seven on the road. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

Early Game Winner.

Game 951.

9:35 AM PST/12:35 PM EST.

Winning 13 of their last 15 games, Atlanta is right on the heels of New York in the NL East. They sit just two-games back in second place in the division. They have had their way with Pittsburgh this season, taking all six meetings in this National League rivalry. The Braves have outscored the Pirates 30-12. And only one-game was decided by a single run. Kyle Wright and Mitch Keller are scheduled starters today. Wright is 15-5 with a 3.14 ERA on the campaign. The team has won 17 of his 23 appearances in 2022. And he personally has won six of his last seven decisions. Keller is 4-9 with a 4. 49 ERA on the season. And at home at PNC Park, he has been absolutely deplorable, going 0-5 with a 4.80 ERA. Atlanta is 8-0 the last eight on the road and 5-1 the last six versus the NL Central. Pittsburgh is 0-4 the last four at home and 8-21 the last 29 versus the NL East. Take the Braves on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the runline.

Home Run Play.

Game 918.

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

The Houston Astros have had their way with the Minnesota Twins this season, taking all three meetings. The Twins are riding a three-game slide. And although they need wins not just to better themselves in the division, but to earn a wildcard spot, they are struggling. Although the Astros dropped two of three to the Braves in their last series, they really have played consistent baseball since Opening Day. Today Sanchez and Verlander are scheduled. Sanchez is 3-3 with a 7.68 ERA on the campaign. And in his career, in seven appearances, which includes four starts against Houston, he is 3-2 with a 6.20 ERA. Verlander owns a 15-3 record on the season with an anemic ERA of just 1.95. And in 39 career starts against Minnesota, he possesses an incredible record of 21-10 with just a 2.82 ERA. Minnesota is 1-5 the last six versus the AL West, 1-5 the last six on the road, 1-4 the last five versus right-handed starters, 2-5 the last seven following a loss, and 4-11 the last 15 versus teams with a winning record. They are struggling and Houston is not. Take the Astros on the run line. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the runline.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 905.

4:05 PM PST/7:05 PM EST.

The Atlanta Braves are sitting just three-games behind the New York Mets in the NL East and want the top-spot in the division. They are playing very strong baseball right now, winning 12 of the last 14 outings. They are doing it with a combination of solid hitting and stellar pitching. They face a Pittsburgh Pirates team that is one of the worst squads in baseball. Let’s face it, this team is making reservations to play golf already for October. Lol. Atlanta has taken all five meetings with Pittsburgh this season. And going back a bit, are 19-7 the last 26 overall meetings. Today Max Fried and JT Brubaker are schedule starters. Fried is 11-4 with a 2.60 ERA on the campaign. And is 2-1 in four career starts versus the Pirates. Brubaker, who is 3-10 with a 4.19 ERA this season has lost both of his career starts against the Braves with a whopping ERA of 7.30. The Braves are crushing it away from home riding a 7-0 record the last seven on the road. Not only that but they are also 4-1 the last five versus the NL Central and 35-16 the last 51 versus right-handed starters. The Pirates are 8-20 the last 28 versus the NL East and 0-5 the last five at home versus left-handed starters. Take Atlanta on the runline. Thank you.

Pittsburgh Steelers.

High Roller Play.

Game 417.

Saturday, August 20, 2022.

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

+3.5.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team steeped in tradition. For the first time in as far back as we can remember, they are kicking off a campaign without Ben Roethlisberger at the helm. This is partially the reason why they’re only touted to win 7.5-games this season. They are expected to finish dead-last in the AFC North. And are an NFL longshot at 100-1 to win the Super Bowl. Well, this team has a very loyal fan base that expects a playoff-caliber squad every season. Let’s put a pin in that. We will circle back around to it. The Jacksonville Jaguars are without question, once again in a rebuilding year. There is talent on this team. The future is certainly in the hands of players like Trevor Lawrence. However, no one expects too much from them this season. They are predicted to win just 6.5-games. Most preseason prognosticators have them finishing third in the AFC South. And they too are 100-1 to win the Super Bowl. The big difference in these two teams is the fact that the Jaguars fan base is growing each season despite knowing that they are still rebuilding. There is no urgency for the team to win right now. We can also look at the depth charts. Pittsburgh is certainly deeper at key offensive positions. They have a slew of known quarterbacks fighting for second third and fourth string slots. Not to mention a couple of household names trying to make the squad in the backfield and as receivers. Known traditionally as a defensive powerhouse, they will establish their “D” here. Steelers long time head coach, Mike Tomlin has been in Pittsburgh over 15-years. One thing he likes to do each August, is get some wins in preseason play. Going back the last four preseasons, the Steelers are 10-3 straight up an 8-4-1 against the spread. Tomlin is a coach that actually puts forth effort in exhibition play. Well, newly acquired Jaguars head coach, Doug Pederson would love to make a splash. But he certainly isn’t going to jeopardize any of his key players before the regular season begins. Just for the record, the Jaguars are 1-8 straight up and 3-6 against the spread the last three preseason campaigns. I love the line here +3 1/2. Take the Steelers. Thank you.