Buffalo Bills.

Ten Dimes.

Game 463.

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

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

Washington State.

No Limit.

Game 376.

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

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

Georgia Tech.

Contrarian play.

Game 315.

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

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

Maryland.

High Roller play.

Game 379.

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

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

TCU.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 384.

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

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

Air Force Falcons.

Friday Night Lights play.

Game 313.

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

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

Milwaukee Brewers.

MLB Double Play.

Game 901.

10:15 AM PST/1:15 PM EST.

Milwaukee’s magic number is four, my friends. It’s been a long, tough regular season for many of the teams in baseball. However, with just a handful of games left, the Brewers need four wins to clinch the NL Central. What better team to face than the divisions, last place representative, the St. Louis Cardinals. Milwaukee has taken it up a notch since mid-August, winning 21 of 30 contests. They have taken two of the first three games of this series thus far. This is a perfect opportunity for them to get another win to achieve their goal. Wade Miley and Miles Mikolas are scheduled starters here. The Brewers left-hander is 8-4 with a 3.38 ERA on the campaign. The Cardinals right-hander is 7-12 with a 4.84 ERA this season. Going back to Miley, on the road this season he is a very respectable 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA. At home Mikolas is 2-6 with a 5.48 ERA. My friends, in his last seven turns, the he has gotten plowed for 32 earned runs. Since the beginning of June, the team has dropped 15 of his 20 starts. Very simply, baseball is the streakiest of all sports. And there’s no question Milwaukee is streaking and St. Louis is not. Take the Brewers. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.

Grand Slam.

Game 967

11:10 AM PST/2:10 PM EST.

With just a handful of games left in the regular season, the Baltimore orioles, have a slim, 2.5 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. While they have clinched the playoffs, so has the Rays. The Orioles must keep their foot on the gas to stay atop the competitive division. We all know the advantages of finishing the regular season as a division leader. The Houston Astros are basically in the same boat. However, I think we could see that this team is not the same team. we have been accustomed to watching over recent years. This season they are looking a little bit more mortal than ever. Baltimore has taken the last three meetings against Houston, including Games 1 and 2 of this series. They are currently riding a four-game win streak, while the Astros have a dropped six of their last 10. On the mound today are Kyle Bradish, and Christian Javier. Bradish, who is 11-7 with a 3.12 ERA has been stellar. He comes off his first loss since July 26. Prior to the loss, the team won seven consecutive starts he made. Over his career, he is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA against Houston. Javier is 9-4 with a 4.74 ERA on the campaign. He is winless over his past for starts, going 0-2 with a 6.16 ERA in that span.  He has only faced Baltimore five times, which includes two states in his career, going 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA. However, in his lone appearance this season, he allowed two runs and three walks over five innings. During their current four-game win streak, Baltimore’s lineup has exploded for 30 runs, while they’re pitching staff has allowed just 16 runs. Just over there last four games, then Houston pitching staff has allowed eight or more runs in three of those four contests. Take the Orioles. Thank you.

Seattle Mariners on the run line.

MLB Double Play.

Game 923.

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

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

New Orleans Saints.

MNF Winner.

Game 289.

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

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

Green Bay Packers.

No Limit.

Game 265.

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

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

Detroit Lions.

High Roller.

Game 270.

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

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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Late Info Move.

Game 272.

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

My friends, I’m sorry for my lack of eloquence, but to put it very simply, the Chicago Bears are absolutely atrocious. This team has lost 11 in a row now. Justin Fields and the offense, if you could call them that, has to go against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has certainly improved from last season. This is a stop-unit that possesses some real veterans and some true talent. Offensively, the Buccaneers are led by Baker Mayfield. We all know the last few seasons have been rough on the quarterback. But he has a couple of good receivers at his disposal to make his life a lot easier, this season. I see him having the same success in the air, that Jordan Love and the Packers had last week against the Bears. Tampa Bay is playing at home for the first time this season coming off a very big victory on the road at Minnesota last week. They come in here with some momentum for sure. On both sides of the ball, they outclass their opponent here. Take the Buccaneers. Thank you.

Fresno State Bulldogs.

Late Bailout.

Game 209.

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

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

Penn State Nittany Lions.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 127.

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

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

Florida State Seminoles.

ACC Game of the Month.

Game 117.

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

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

Kansas State Wildcats.

High Roller.

Game 129.

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

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

Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Touchdown Play.

Game 132.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST. 

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

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

Maryland Terrapins.

Friday Night Lights

Game 110.

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

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

Texas Rangers.

Double Play.

Game 959.

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

With Texas and Toronto both trying to make the postseason, it’s hard to ignore the Rangers record against the Blue Jays this season. They have taken the last five of the six meetings in 2023. Eovaldi and Gausman are set to start here. While both have respectable numbers this campaign, I certainly like the visitor in this contest as he has been money on the road, sporting a 6-1 mark with a 2.76 ERA away from home. The Texas bats will continue to explode here. They already account for more than a full run per game than does their opponent. Take the Rangers. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Early Game Winner.

Game 969.

10:35 PM PST/1:35 PM EST.

There’s a lot of pride in those Yankees pinstripes. Yesterday, New York won both ends of a doubleheader over Boston in Fenway Park a few days ago. Then yesterday’s meeting was postponed. Obviously, both of these teams had higher expectations or I should say higher hopes this season. Right now, they are competing not to finish in last place in the American League East. Granted, it’s the most competitive division of baseball. And granted, both teams have winning records. But neither wants to finish dead last in the division. I do feel New York has a little more strength and depth. Getting both wins yesterday will further motivate the Yankees. Take New York. Thank you.

Toronto Blue Jays.

Grand Slam Play.

Came 916.

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

Both Texas and Toronto need victories right now. Currently the Blue Jays sit in third place in American League East, 10.5 games back in the division. But are +1.0 games for a Wildcard spot. The Rangers sit in third place in the AL West, 3.0 games back in the division. However, are just on the wrong side of the cutline for a WC spot by 0.5 games. Texas is on a dismal, 6-16 overall run, dropping seven of their last 10 as a visitor. Toronto has won eight of their last 10, including all four of their games played as a host. Scheduled today on the road is Dane Dunning, who is a respectable 9-6 with a 3.88 ERA on the campaign. The right-handler does own a 2-0 record with a 3.74 ERA in four career stats against the Blue Jays. However, the team has dropped his last five starts. Just over his last three outings, he is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA. Taking the mound at home is Chris Bassett. He also has respectable numbers this year, going 14-7 with a 3.69 ERA. In 14 career outings, which does include 10 starts against the Rangers, he is 5-2 with a 3.32 ERA. The team has won his last two turns. As a matter fact, he has pitched quite well since mid-June, going 15 consecutive starts not allowing more than four earned runs in any appearance. Over his last three outings, he is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA. And playing at home this season, he has been very strong, going 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA. With the way the Texas rangers have been struggling a bit, while the Toronto Blue Jays have been surging, and with recent performances by both starting pitchers, we are prompted to take the home team your favorite. Take the Blue Jays. Thank you.

Las Vegas Raiders.

NFL ANGLE PLAY.

Game 471.

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

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

Jacksonville Jaguars.

No Limit.

Game 459.

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

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

New Orleans Saints.

Late Info Move.

Game 464.

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

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

Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bookie Buster.

Game 466.

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

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

Alabama Crimson Tide.

Marquee Game Winner.

Game 384.

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

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

Oregon Ducks.

Touchdown Play.

Game 359.

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

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

Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 303.

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

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

Cincinnati Reds.

Las Vegas Strip Move.

Game 954.

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

Oh, how things change over time. A year ago, the Reds were just about the worst team in the NL Central, while the Cardinals were vying for a postseason spot. One year later and Cincinnati is just 5.5 games back in the division and 0.5 games back of a Wildcard slot. Meanwhile the Cardinals dwell in the division cellar, 16.5 games back overall and 11.5 games back for a very slimming Wildcard situation. Cincinnati has taken five of the last eight meetings in this rivalry. Both at the plate and on the mound, Cincy is far stronger. Speaking of the mound, today’s schedule starters are Rom and Abbot. The Cardinals left-hander is looking for his first win in only his fourth Major league start. The team has lost his three previous starts, as he allowed a total of 11 earned runs in just 13+ innings pitched. On the road this season, the young hurler is 0-2 with a 7.24 ERA. The Reds left-hander is 8-4 with a 3.22 ERA on the campaign. The team has won 13 of his 17 starts in 2023. He comes in to today’s turn pitching very strongly in five consecutive outings. At home this season, he is 3-2 with a very solid ERA of 2.66. My friends, St. Louis isn’t playing for anything right now. And I doubt they’re going to jeopardize any of their key players for too much longer this season. The stronger, hotter, and hungrier team in search of a post season berth is the way to go here. Take Cincinnati. Thank you.

Seattle Mariners.

Grand Slam.

Game 907.

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

Seattle sits just 1.0 behind Houston in the American League West, and are +1.5 games ahead of the cut line for a Wildcard spot. But the Mariners have a lot more on their mind and motivating them than just a Wildcard spot. They want to take the division for sure. Tampa Bay sits 3.5 games behind Baltimore in the competitive, American League East. Since the Opening Day of the campaign, the Rays have played just about the most consistent baseball in the AL. These two teams met in a three-game series at the end of June/beginning of July, in which Seattle took two of the three meetings. Castillo and Littell are scheduled starters here today. The Mariners right-hander has been very good luck for the team as they have won his past seven starts. On the road this season, he is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA. The Rays right-hander has yielded four earned runs in each of his last three starts, while the team has dropped three of his last five outings. When at home this season, his numbers skyrocket, going 1-1 with a 6.04 ERA at Tropicana Field in 2023. Seattle got the better of Tampa Bay in the earlier series and I believe have a better starting pitcher on the mound. Take the Mariners. Thank you.

Over 9 in the Rockies/Diamondbacks matchup.

Grand Slam Play.

Games 911/912.

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

In a contest between two teams that share a division, and obviously know each other very well, this game is going to fly over the total. As we all know, the Arizona Diamondbacks sit in second place in the NL West and currently are right in the thick of things for a Wildcard spot. It’s going to be tough to make up the 14 games they are behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division. However, they can still very much better themselves for that Wildcard situation. On the other hand, the Colorado Rockies possess the worst record in the National League. They have no chance at a playoff spot. As a matter fact, right now they are making vacation and golf reservations for October (Lol). But they can save a little face and give their fans a little something to be excited about by putting some runs on the board and possibly even some victories. These two rivals have faced each other 11 times this season, with six of the contests being played in Colorado. We all know that when playing at Coors Field we see some of the highest totals in baseball. As a matter fact, most of the games played by these teams there are set at around 12 runs. Maybe that’s why six of the 11 contests this season between these two teams have gone under the total. Today’s meeting, we see Kyle Freeland and Brandon Pfaadt scheduled. The Rockies left-hander is 5-14 with a 5.18 ERA on the campaign, while the Arizona right-hander is 1-7 with a 6.21 ERA in 2023. Freeland, in 19 appearances against the Diamondbacks over his career, is 3-8 with a 5.49 ERA, which includes a mark this season of 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA. Pfaadt will be making his first lifetime appearance against the Rockies. However, at home this season, he is just 1-4 with a 7.30 ERA. Guys on one side of the field you’ve got a team looking to better their situation for the postseason. On the other side of the field, you’ve got a team which really doesn’t want to hit the dismal mark of 100 losses this season. Take the over. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Las Vegas Strip Move.

Game 966.

1:10 PM PST/410 PM EST.

With less than 30 games left in the regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the most consistent teams in all of baseball in 2023. They sit in second place in the most competitive division in baseball, just 2.5 games back of the Baltimore Orioles. They are also the best home team in the American League, sporting a 45-23 record a Tropicana Field. This season they have dominated Boston, taking seven of eight meetings against their division rival. Brayan Bello and Aaron Civale are scheduled starters here. The Red Sox right-hander is 10-8 with a 3.57 ERA on the campaign. However, in three career starts against the Rays, he is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA. The Tampa Bay right-hander is 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 2023. Over his career, in three starts against Boston, he is 1-1 was a 4.66 ERA. Over the past two seasons, Tampa Bay is 19-8 against Boston. The Rays have dominated this rivalry to say the least. And they have a more experienced and stronger hurler on the mound. Take Tampa Bay. Thank you.

Chicago Cubs.

Grand Slam.

Game 952.

11:20 AM PST/2:20 PM EST.

Chicago needs to pile on more victories so they could not just secure themselves a Wildcard spot, but maybe even take the National League Central division. The Cubs sit 3.5 games back of the Brewers in the division. Their opponent today, the San Francisco Giants, are tied for second place in the West. However, are 14.5 games back in the division and still have a chance for a Wildcard spot. But time is running out for this team. The Cubs have taken two of three meetings this season in the first series back in June. Logan Webb and Justin Steele are scheduled starters today. The team has lost Webb’s last three starts, in which the right-hander has an ERA of 5.71. On the other hand, over Steele’s last eight stars, the team has won all eight contests. At home this season, the left-hander is a whopping 11-2 with a 2.46 ERA. The Cubs are certainly stronger at the plate and without question, have the stronger starter here. Take Chicago. Thank you.

Florida State Seminoles

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 232.

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

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

UTSA Roadrunners on the monyeline.

CONSENSUS.

Game 211.

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

Sports fans, as of posting this game on the websites Friday morning, money is coming in on Houston. I have to tell you I have made extremely successful career going against the grain. As you know, the general public loses most of the time. And guess what? They’re going to lose here again on Saturday. Every sharp guy in Vegas I know likes this game and it is for a few different reasons. First and foremost, there is a big revenge factor here as UTSA lost in last year’s opener triple overtime. With quarterback, Clayton Tune gone, leaving for the NFL, the Cougars offense returns just five starters. This does not bode well as last season their defense got steamrolled for over 33.5 points per game. Whether it be in the air or on the ground, they gave up significant yardage. The Roadrunners took their spot in the AAC as the Cougars are now in the Big 12. You cannot ignore the fact that seventh-year quarterback, Frank Harris is one of the most seasoned play callers in the nation. He led an offense last year that ranked 12th in scoring, 12th in passing, ninth in total yards, and 50th in rushing. The passing game of UTSA would be successful against just about any defense in college football today. Plus, reports are their ground game has been beefed up and can eat up some clock in the process. They’ve had this game circled since the schedule came out folks. They have revenge on their mind, one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football, and are looking to make a splash in their new conference. Take the Roadrunners on the moneyline. Thank you.

Ohio State Buckeyes.

NO LIMIT.

Game 165

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

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

Washington Huskies.

HIGH ROLLER.

Game 198.

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

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

Boston Red Sox.

Best Bet play.

Game 919.

5:10 PM PST/810 PM EST.

There isn’t a lot of baseball left in the regular season. One thing for sure, no team wants to finish in last place in the American League East. Boston comes off an atrocious series against Houston in which they were swept, 3-0, being outscored by a combined, 26-11. What better team to face to turn things around then the lowly, Kansas City Royals. Kansas City possesses the second worst record in all of baseball. And by the way, this does include the second worst record at home in the Majors as well. They are just 23-43 at Kauffman Stadium this season. The Red Sox have taken three of the four meetings against the Royals this season. All those games were played at Fenway Park. KC is on the 1-11 overall slide. During that stretch, their offense has struggled even more than usual, accounting for four runs or less 11 times. Believe it or not, their pitching has been even worse. Speaking of which, Paxton and Lyles are set to go today. The Boston left-hander is 7-4 with a 3.99 ERA on the campaign. Over his career in eight starts against Kansas City, he is a perfect 4-0 with a 1.51 ERA. The Royals right-hander is 3-15 with a 6.51 ERA in 2023. Over his career in 10 starts against the Red Sox, he is 2-3 with a 6.66 ERA. I look for the Red Sox offense to break out and explode here as they already average more than a run more per game than the Kansas City’s lineup. Take the Red Sox. Thank you.

Braves/Dodgers UNDER.

MLB DOUBLE PLAY.

Games 955/956.

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

Guys, I don’t know if there’s a more anticipated matchup come this postseason than the Braves and the Dodgers. I am well aware of the fact that these two offenses are two of the most explosive lineups in baseball. Actually, they rank first and second in scoring. However, seven of the last 10 meetings they’ve had have all done under the total. Neither one of these teams make many mistakes. Hence their records once again this season. They also both know that whichever team wins this series will have a big leg up psychologically when they square off against one another in the playoffs. Spencer Strider and Lance Lynn are scheduled today. Strider has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. And while Lynn has not been as impressive on the campaign as in recent campaigns, he is one of the most-seasoned veterans in the Majors. Both teams have strong pitching staffs to back up their starters. This is going to be a much tighter game that many out there think. That’s why we’re going to go under the total today in the Braves/Dodgers. Thank you.

Miami Marlins.

Grand Slam play.

Game 951.

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

There isn’t a lot of baseball left in the regular season. And yet, both Miami and Washington are still very much alive. I feel very strongly about the Marlins situation here today, as they have really had their way with the Nationals this season. In the nine meetings these two division rivals have had, Miami has taken seven of the nine. If you’re concerned about the fact the Marlins haven’t put up too many runs lately, don’t be. The Nationals pitching staff is absolutely deplorable. They are one of the worst in the league with a team ERA of nearly 5 earned runs per game. Speaking of pitching, Garret and Adon are schedule today. On the road this season, the Marlins left-hander is 4-2 with a 2.86 ERA. The Nationals have won their right-handers last four outings. However, he has not pitched well at home this season, where he has no decisions with a whopping ERA of 9.90. Take Miami. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Early Game Winner.

Game 957.

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

It’s no secret that the New York Yankees aren’t where they planned to be at this point in the season. I mentioned a few times over recent weeks on shows and in columns that it’s more than just whispers Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone are both on the hot seat. The team needs to turn it up a bit. They do not want to finish in last place in the American League East. Granted, it is the most competitive division of baseball. But they still don’t want to finish last, my friends. I doubt very much they can make up 18 games by the end of the season. Stranger things have happened. But I still doubt very much that they can make up that ground. Especially with the way Baltimore and Tampa Bay have been playing. But what better opponent to face to get some of the well-needed victories than the Detroit Tigers. To say New York has had their way with Detroit would be an understatement. They have taken all three meetings with the Tigers this season. Going back a bit, to last April, they have taken eight of nine matchups against their American League Central rival. Schmidt and Manning are scheduled for today. The New York right hander, despite a not so impressive record, has not gotten blown up in months. As a matter fact, he has allowed three or less runs in 17 of his last 18 starts, going back to mid-May. The Detroit, right-hander is on a pretty good run, pitching well in his last four turns. Prior to that, he was a pretty bad streak. And checking his statistics, he’s had most of his problems at home at Comerica Park this season. The Yankees are playing hotter. And must continue to keep their foot on the gas to climb themselves out of the division cellar. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

New York Yankees on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 919.

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

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

Phillies.

MLB Grand Slam.

Game 922.

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

Los Angeles has thrown in the towel on the season, while Philadelphia must keep their foot on the gas. Giolito and Walker are set to start here. The Angels right-hander has earned just one win over his last nine starts. He is atrocious on the road, donning a 3-7 record, with a 6.14 ERA. The team is 19-5 over his last 24 turns. At home, he takes it up a notch, going 9-2 with a 3.27 ERA this season. The L.A. pitching staff has been a doormat regularly. Today, they get trampled. Take Philly. Thank you.

New Orleans Saints on the ML.

NFL Money Maker.

Game 136.

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

The Saints are 2-0, both SU and ATS this preseason. And have looked pretty sharp thus far. I just don’t see the Houston Texans bouncing back after their last outing, t 28-3 embarrassing loss at the hands of the Miami Dolphins. There’s no question that New Orleans possesses better backups at all the key positions. Take the Saints on the ML. Thank you.

Las Vegas Raiders.

Preseason Game of the Year.

Came 131.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST

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

Washington Commanders.

Bookie Buster play.

Game 126.

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

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

New York Giants.

High Roller play.

Game 124.

3:00 PM PST/6:00 PM EST.

Neither team has done exceptionally well this preseason. And it is true, the Jets have taken the last two preseason meetings in this in-state rivalry. However, the stadium is going to be filled with fans wearing the color blue. While Aaron Rodgers is expected to make his debut here for the New York football Jets, it’s no secret that they are touted to be a little more successful this year than the New York football Giants. That doesn’t sit well with the boys in blue. They will make a statement and let all of New York & New Jersey know that this is their house. Take the points with a Giant. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers.

Game 958.

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

This is the time of year in baseball when cream rises to the top. The Brewers, which own the top spot in the NL Central, are red-hot, winning five consecutive outings. Many people thought the Padres would be a contender in the NL West this season. However, they are in fourth place in the division, 18.0 games back. Milwaukee has taken three of the four meetings against San Diego this season. And they enter today’s contest with a much more consistent pitcher on the mound. Brandon Woodruff, who is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA on the campaign, has made three starts since coming off the 60-day injured list. Over his career, in five appearances against the Padres, which does include four starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA. Yu Darvish takes the hill on the road. This season he is 8-9 with a 4.35 ERA, which does include a 0-2 mark in four starts this month. He has a good lifetime, ERA against the Brewers. But is just 2-4 in nine career starts against them. Cream is rising to the top right now. And that is why we are sitting with Milwaukee. Take the Brewers. Thank you.

Chicago Cubs.

Game 953.

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

Sitting in second place in the NL Central just 3.0 games back, the Chicago Cubs must keep their foot on the gas right now. What better team to face to get some victories than the Pittsburgh pirates. They have taken all seven meetings against their division rival this season, which includes Game 1 of this series yesterday. The Pirates are sitting in fourth place in the division, 13.5 games back. Today’s pitching matchups certainly favor the visitor as Kyle Hendricks and Mitch Keller or scheduled. The Cubs right-hander is heating up, going 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA over his last three outings. The Pirates right-hander, in nine career games, which includes eight starts against today’s opponent, is 2-4 with a 5.12 ERA. Chicago is hot while Pittsburgh is not. Take the Cubs. Thank you.

Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFLX Bookie Buster.

Game 105.

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

The Atlanta Falcons are supposed to be a much improved team this season, being touted as the second-best squad in the NFC South. However, they are also touted to win just 8.5 games. While they picked up some new additions that should certainly help the ball club, overall, this team is not a force to be reckoned with. There are some rumors that the locker room has had some arguments about the quarterback position already. This preseason they haven’t shown too much offense, as team has accounted for just 16.0 points per game, going 1-0-1 SU and 1-1 ATS. I doubt very much that their head coach is going to jeopardize any of their key players for too long in this contest. On the other hand, Mike Tomlin stated that all healthy players will see the field this evening and get some significant playing time. This is a team known to put forth a very strong effort in preseason play. They are 2-0, both SU and ATS this season, beating some opponents they don’t really like too much in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Buffalo Bills. On both sides of the ball, this team has really excelled, accounting for 27.0 PPG, while allowing just 16.0 PPG. Over the last six preseasons, they possess a very solid record of 17-4 SU, going 16-5 ATS. Let’s face it, over the last several decades, the Steelers were one of the highest toed teams every season in the AFC. They have one of the most loyal fan bases in all of sports. This season, they are expected to finish last in the AFC North. So going into the regular season with a perfect record in August would not just motivate the team, the coaches, and the front office, but also their loyal fans. There’s also one more key thing you should know: on the defensive side of the ball, they have several starters that are very familiar with tonight’s opponent, as they started their careers with the Falcons. Look for Mike Tomlin to have his team revved up and ready here. Take Pittsburgh. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Best Bet play.

Game 974.

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

From opening day up until about a month or so ago, the Tampa Bay Rays played the most consistent baseball in the American League this season. Then they started to feel the fatigue of the long campaign. But folks, they seem to be back on track right now, sitting in second place in the most competitive division of baseball, just 2.0 games back of the Baltimore Orioles. They face a Colorado Rockies team which dwells in the National League West cellar, 28.5 games back. To make matters worse, the Rockies are one of the worst road teams in baseball, going just 20-44 away from home this season. Both on the mound and at the plate, Tampa Bay outclasses Colorado. Their pitching staff ranks seventh in the league, with a Team ERA of 3.89. Compare that to the Rockies staff, which ranks 29th at 5.58. At the plate, they rank fourth, averaging over 5.36 runs per game, while their opponent ranks 18th, averaging 4.41 runs per game. Going back to the pitching, today we have Gomber and Civale. You just can’t compare the two starters. We already talked about the pitching staffs. And we already touched base on the fact that Tampa Bay is in the running to earn back the top spot in their division, and possibly the best overall record in the American League. Take the Rays on the run line. Thank you.

Seattle Mariners on the run line.

Afternoon Delight play.

Game 959.

11:10 AM PST/210 PM EST.

Winners of eighth straight, the Mariners are the hottest team in baseball. They sit just 1.0 game back in the AL West, making the division a three-horse race right now. They face a White Sox opponent that many thought, prior to the season beginning, would compete in for the American League Central. Well folks, they are in fourth place in division, 16.0 games back. I’m not looking to hurt any White Sox fans feelings, but this team is done for the season. They’ve lost nine of their last 11 outings, which does include both Games 1 and 2 of this series. Kirby and Kopech are scheduled here. The Seattle right-hander has pitched quite well, as the team has won seven of his last nine starts. The Chicago right-hander has gotten crushed, as a team has dropped nine of his last 11 outings. His numbers are downright deplorable. I said it before and I’ll say it again, baseball is the streakiest of all the major sports. And right now, there is no team streaking hotter than the Mariners. Take Seattle on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros.

Grand Slam play.

Game 914.

5:10 PM PST/810 PM EST.

With the regular season coming close to the end, the Houston Astros are just 1.5 games back in the American League West. They are not used to playing catch-up in the division. But they truly want the top-spot back. With the first place Rangers on the road at the Diamondbacks, and the Astros hosting today, they can certainly close the gap in the division. They took Game 1 of this series with the Boston Red Sox yesterday, 9-4, following a 3-0 hole. Houck and Verlander are scheduled here today. The Red Sox right-hander is 3-6 with a 5.05 ERA on the campaign. He is taking the mound for the first time in a little over two months. But going into the break, which was due to a facial fracture, he wasn’t so hot. As a matter of fact, he went nine consecutive starts without a win as the team dropped six of his final seven turns. The Astros right-hander is 8-6, with a 3.36 ERA in 2023. This will be his fourth start since re-joining Houston at the trade deadline. In 19 career regular season starts against Boston, he has an ERA of 2.87. Once again, this season, between taking the mound for the Mets and the Astros, he has done well at home, going 5-3 with a 2.49 ERA. Houston has their sights set on taking over the American League West again. And also letting the rest of the American League know that they are back. Take the Astros. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

MLB DOUBLE PLAY.

Game 923.

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

Once again, as crunch time approaches, Los Angeles is heating-up, winning 13 of their last 14 contests. They know they are on a possible collision course with Atlanta come the postseason. These are the two best teams with the two best records in the N.L. The Dodgers are not just a force at home this season, they are doing pretty well on the road as well, going 33-26 away from home in 2023. Not only that, but this season, during Interleague play, they have dominated A.L. opponents, taking 10 of their last 14 meetings. Going in the opposite direction is the Cleveland Guardians, which do own the second-spot in the American League Central. However, they sport a losing record of 59-66. This is a team barely staying afloat at Progressive Field at 32-31 at home. Not only have they had trouble with their own league, but against National League opponents this season they are just 17-21. This is the first meeting between these two teams this season. Scheduled to take the mound today are Bobby Miller and Noah Syndergaard. The Dodgers right-hander owns a very respectable record of 7-2 with a 3.70 ERA this season. The Guardians right-hander is just 2-6 with a 6.57 ERA. Yes, he does know the Los Angeles team well as he was on their roster as a starter earlier this season. But this won’t help him here. Over his last three outings, Miller is 1-0 to 1.15 ERA. And on the road, he is a perfect, 4-0 with a 2.19 ERA. Over his last three outings, Syndergaard is an atrocious, 1-3 with a whopping ERA of 8.40. And at home this season, he is just 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA. The Dodgers explosive offense averages more than a run and a half per game then does the Guardians 28th ranked lineup. Take Los Angeles on the run line. Thank you.

Baltimore Ravens.

MNF Winner.

Game 431.

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

This is a very interesting matchup, my friends. The Washington Commanders are touted to be the NFC East’s poorest team, while the Baltimore Ravens are second-choice in the AFC North this upcoming season. These two teams don’t like each other too much, that’s for sure. Everyone knows (because it’s been on the news nonstop) that the Ravens have a 24-game preseason win streak. It is also come up in the news the last few days that the Commanders want to break that streak. However, during some practices, it seems that Baltimore manhandled Washington. Not only that, but there are some reports that the commanders had some injury issues at the quarterback position (check status) right now. Last week, both teams won straight up. But Baltimore did take down Philadelphia without any of their true starters at key offensive positions. Some of the starters must get some playing time this week. I will tell you that as I mentioned earlier, Washington has been blasting they want to end the streak. With all that chatter, I believe that Coach Harbaugh and his team got a little pissed off, and are looking to prove a point themselves. There is no question that they have a little more talent on both sides of the ball. Take the Ravens on the moneyline. Thank you.

Toronto Blue Jays.

Double Play.

Game 921.

10:40 am pst/1:40 pm est.

As we are head into September, both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cincinnati Reds have to keep their foot on the gas to ensure themselves a possible postseason spot. These two split out Games 1 and 2 of this series. But there’s no question that the Blue Jays are a strong play here today. For starters, they are a pretty darn good road team, going 36-29 away from home this season. Meanwhile, the Reds aren’t the best home team, my friends, sporting a 31-33 mark a Great American Ball Park this season. Next, let’s go to the starters; Ryu and Greene are scheduled here today. The Toronto left-hander is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA on the campaign. He is making his fourth start of the season after being sidelined with an elbow issue. He has had very good success against Cincinnati over his career, going 5-2 with a 3.23 ERA in eight starts. By the way, he has amassed 47 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings pitched against them. His last two starts, the South Korean standout has been absolutely stellar, going nine full innings and allowing zero earned runs. The Reds right-hander is 2-4 with a 3.93 ERA on the campaign. He’s going to be activated from the 60-day injured list as he himself was sidelined with a hip issue. He has only faced the Blue Jays once in his career, a little more than a year ago. It’s been a little over two months since he has taken the mound. But at home this season, he dons an ugly, 0-3 record, with a whopping ERA of 5.18. How many innings each starter will go, is uncertain. However, one thing for sure…when these two teams go to the bullpen, there is a huge disparity as the Blue Jays pitching staff ranks number one in baseball with a Team ERA of 3.67, while the Reds staff ranks 25th with a 4.72 ERA. Take Toronto. Thank you.

Dallas Cowboys.

High Roller.

Game 427.

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

Sports fans, this is a straight up sharp money move. Once again, this season, the Dallas Cowboys are supposed to be a contender in the NFC. They’ve got to first get past some tough division opponents and a not-so-easy schedule. They took a loss in preseason Week 1 to the Jacksonville jaguars, 28-23. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of eyes on this team. And they are certainly under the gun to have a successful campaign. Not only that, but they have to get some excitement going for the season ticket holders, for sure. I just don’t see the Seattle Seahawks warranting being a touchdown favorite here. This is way too many points to give a team that must make some sort of a splash this week to get their new additions, as well as their fans excited for the beginning of the regular season. Take the touchdown with Dallas. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Double Play release.

Game 953.

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

New York is starting to catch a little bit of fire again, my friends. They have won five of their last six, which includes both Games 1 and 2 of this series, outscoring St. Louis by a combined, 11-3. As a matter of fact, the Mets have had their way with the Cardinals, taking five of the last seven overall meetings, going back to last season. Today’s starters are Senga and Mikolas. The New York right-hander has not allowed more than three earned runs in any start since June 17. Meanwhile, the St. Louis right-hander has had a rough go of it. The team has lost 11 of his last 14 starts. The Cardinals seem to be a little too far gone at this point to redeem themselves and get back into any chance for a postseason spot. This is a team that many thought would win the NL Central. The Mets right now sit 23.0 games back in the East. Don’t put too much stuck into that my friends. The second place Phillies are 13.5 games back in the division. However, New York still has to save face and justify their very high payroll. Take the Mets. Thank you.

Chicago Bears.

Best Bet.

Game 413.

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

I think we can all agree no one expects either the Bears or the Colts to do too much this season. But there is a major difference between these two teams. And that is the fact that some of the most loyal fans in all the sports reside in the city of Chicago. The coaching staff, the team, and the front office certainly want to give their loyal fan base something to be excited about. This is also a team that seems to try in preseason, winning and covering six of their last seven games played in August. I don’t know if you recall, but back in 2007 these two met in the Super Bowl when the Bears had a lead and then lost it to the Colts. Maybe they get a little bit of revenge here my friends. But at the very least they could give their loyal fans something to be excited about. Take the points with Chicago. Thank you.

Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bookie Buster.

Game 412.

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

This is a very unique matchup. For decades, Pittsburgh was known as THE team in the AFC. Well times they are a changing. And now Buffalo is the top-dog in the conference. One thing about Steeler fans, they are loyal. I don’t think they expect too much from their team this year. So, a big win against a top AFC opponent would go a long way to motivate their loyal fan base. Let’s face it, the Bills don’t need to prove anything here. They know that barring a major injury, they will be in the postseason. Take the points with Pittsburgh. Thank you.

Cleveland Browns.

High Roller play.

Game 401.

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

The Cleveland Browns are certainly a respected AFC team. But they really aren’t touted to be a powerhouse this season. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles, are one of the top teams in the NFC. This is a team that doesn’t normally put forth too much of an effort in August. Barring any major injuries, I think we can all expect the Eagles to be a team competing for the NFC title. They are not going to put their major contributors in too much of harms way here tonight. On the other hand, the Browns have a lot to prove. And have a lot of talent in the backup positions. Giving them points here is a mistake. Take Cleveland. Thank you.

Texas Rangers.

Best Bet.

Game 910.

5:05 PM PST/8:05 PM EST.

My friends, there really isn’t a lot of baseball left in the regular season. But as the campaign progresses, we can clearly see that Texas and Los Angeles are heading in opposite directions. The Rangers are perched atop the American League West at 72-48, owning a 3.5-game cushion. The Angels sit in fourth place in the division at 59-62, 13.5-games back. Texas has taken five of the nine meetings against Los Angeles this season. This does include Games 1 and 2 of this series, outscoring their opponent buy a combined, 19-3. Detmers and Gray are schedule starters today. You just can’t compare the two. The Angels left-hander is 2-9 with a 5.27 ERA. Over his last three outings, he is 0-2 with a whopping ERA of 13.09. On the road this season, his numbers are just as ugly, going 0-6 with a 6.70 ERA. The Rangers right-hander is 8-5 with a 3.66 ERA on the campaign. He has done very well at home, going 5-1 with a 3.13 ERA. Texas scores just about a full run more per game then does Los Angeles, while their pitching staff has an ERA of more than a half a run less per game. No matter how you cut it you’ve got to take the Rangers. Thank you.

Texas Rangers on the run line.

MLB DOUBLE PLAY.

Game 906.

5:05 PM PST/8:05 PM EST.

Texas enters Game 1 of this series on an 8-2 run, leading the AL West by 2.5 games, with the AL’s second-best mark of 70-48. Los Angeles is on a 3-7 cold streak, dwelling in the divisions fourth spot, 11.5 games back at 59-60. The Angels, which possess a 34-44 road record this season, go into Globe Life Field to face the Majors best home team, the Rangers, owning a 40-20 record in their stadium. Sandoval and Scherzer are scheduled here today. The Los Angeles left-hander is 6-8, with a 3.86 ERA this season, as the team has lost five of his last seven starts. The Texas right-hander owns a very impressive, 11-4 mark with an ERA of 3.88 on the campaign. Over his career, he has faced today’s opponent six times, dominating them, with a 4-1 record and a 2.45 ERA. Over their last 10 contests, the Angels have accounted for three or less runs eight times while their pitching staff has allowed five or more runs six times. Meanwhile, in their last 10 outings, the Rangers offense has exploded for five runs or more seven times, while their pitching staff has only allowed more than three runs just once in that same 10 game time span. Take Texas on the run line. Thank you.

Las Vegas Raiders.

NFL Week 1 Best Bet.

Game 134.

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

As of this week, the San Francisco 49ers are touted to be one of the top teams in football this season. Most sports books have them taking the NFC West with ease. And most sports books have them as one of the top two teams in the NFC. Meanwhile, questionably the most talked about team in pro football, the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to finish last in the AFC West, and only win 6.5 games. There might be a little animosity here dating back to when both teams were in the same state. But there’s definitely some animosity being the quarterback for San Francisco over recent seasons is now wearing a Las Vegas jersey. Oh, by the way, to add gasoline to the fire, the last time these two teams faced one another, San Fran won in OT at Allegiant, 37-34. That game was played last January 1. Reports are that Brock Purdy is most-likely not going to play here (check status). But the offense certainly is chock-full of talent at the quarterback slot. I don’t expect head coach, Kyle Shanahan to put any of his playmakers at risk for too long. Raiders head coach, Josh McDaniels is known to put forth an effort in August action. Overall, this team is 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS their L7 in preseason games. There is a lot of pressure on the Las Vegas coaching staff, players, and front office to win here. I do see them coming out here and playing very strongly and making a splash. Giving them this many points at home is a mistake. Take the Raiders. Thank you.

Houston Astros.

DP.

Game 916.

4:15 pm pst/7:15 pm est.

The Astros have had their way with the Angels, taking eight of the 11 meetings this season by a combined score of 72-52, which includes Game 1 of this series yesterday, 11-3. Los Angeles is struggling, dropping eight of their last 10 to drop into fourth place in the A.L. West, 11.5 games back. Over that 10-game span, they lineup has accounted for five of more runs just three times while their pitching and defense has gotten smoked for five or more runs seven times. Anderson and France are scheduled to start here. The Angels LH is 0-1 with a 6.37 ERA over six career starts against the Astros. The Houston RH has been exceptional as the team has won the last seven games he has made an appearance. The big difference here is the contrast between he pitching staffs and the better and more consistent lineup of the Astros. Take Houston. Thank you.  

Buffalo Bills.

Bookie Buster.

Game 122.

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

With the news that both Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs (check status) will not be playing this Saturday, money started coming in on Indianapolis. After yet another post season, let down last year for Buffalo, they must come out here and make a statement. Being at home and getting points, especially this many points against a team that is slated to win just 6.5 games this season, can’t sit well with the Bills. They want to come out and give their very loyal, following something to be excited about. Reports are that Anthony Richardson (check status) will start at QB four the Colts. While Indianapolis has some solid names on their offense, I just don’t see them having too much success against the anticipated much-improved Buffalo defense. If you recall, a season ago The Buffalo stop-unit was a bit leaky at times. On the opposite side of the ball, the Bills possess some very good talent vying for first- and second-string slots. Besides, this is a team that has won and covered five of their last six preseason contests. Take the Buffalo plus the points. Thank you.

Denver Broncos.

NFLX LAS VEGAS STRIP MOVE.

Game 117.

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

With a new head coach and a new attitude, many feel the Denver Broncos are a much-improved team this season. For this particular matchup, starters are expected to get 15 snaps. After that they do have ample talent in key offensive backup positions, my friends. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals are predicted to be just about the worst team in the NFL as prognosticators have them winning a mere, 4.5 games this season. Colt McCoy (check status) is going to start here as Kyler Murray is not playing at all (check status). I doubt very much they will jeopardize running back, James Conner, the Broncos are 5-1 straight up and 4-2 ATS the last two preseasons. I like Denver here. Take them, lay the 5.5. Thank you.

Cleveland Browns.

Friday Night Lights Winner.

Game 116.

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

Cleveland came out and took down the New York Jets this preseason already with just backups. Deshaun Watson is expected to play here a bit. But it is the deep, strong ground game of the Browns that will control the tempo and the clock here. This is a team that wants their in-state rival, division favorite, Bengals to know they are not a pushover this season. Washington covered just one preseason contest over the last two Augusts. Take Cleveland. Thank you.

New York Giants.

NFLX TOUCH DOWN PLAY.

Game 107.

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

Prognosticators have the Lions running away with the NFC North this season, while the Giants are picked to finish third in the NFC East. New York has a lot more to prove here. And believe it or not, are deeper with backups at key offensive positions. Detroit has only covered just once over the last two preseasons. Take the Giants. Thank you.

Pittsburgh Steelers.

High Roller.

Game 109.

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

Oh, how the Steelers have fallen. It seems forever that they were not just the favorite to take their division, but also a top, AFC powerhouse. But when a team steeped in tradition is picked to finish last in their division, but still expected to win over nine games, something just isn’t right, my friends. Pittsburgh won six of their last seven preseason games straight up, going 5-2 ATS. The Buccaneers have talent and two able play-callers. But the defense is still quite questionable and the Steelers offense is chock-full of playmakers. Under a field goal here is a gift. Tampa Bay is 1-5 both straight up and ATS the last six preseason games. Take Pittsburgh. Thank you.

New England Patriots.

Thursday Night Winner.

Game 104.

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

The line in this contest moved because it was announced that CJ Stroud is expected to start. Trust me my friends, they won’t jeopardize him for too long. And after him taking the reins will be Case Keenum. Enough said! Mac Jones is not expected to see any action here. Not to fret, the second and third stringers have not been set as of today. So, I expect some solid competition with the backup quarterbacks here tonight. The New England offense is also loaded at the running back and wide receiver positions. So, you’re going to see some good talent on the field throughout the entire game. My friends, New England is picked to be dead last in the AFC East. That doesn’t sit well with their coach, their team, or their fans.  Look for a good showing at home in front of their loyal fans in Foxboro. By the way, they are also 7-3 ATS, the last four years (three preseasons). Take the Patriots plus the 3.5. Thank you.

Texas Rangers on the run line.

High Roller play.

Game 963.

12:35 PM PST/3:35 PM EST.

These two American League West representatives continue to go in opposite directions. The Texas Rangers have a stronghold in their division, in first place at 68-46, possessing a three-game lead. The Oakland Athletics, dwell in last place in the division and own the worst overall record in the Majors at 32-82. Just for the record folks, they are 36 games back in the West. The Rangers, which are on an eight-game overall win streak, have taken Games 1-2 of this series by a combined score of 11-4. As a matter fact, they have truly dominated the A’s, taking seven of nine meetings this season. In those seven victories, they have outscored their opponent by a combined 54-12. As a matter of fact, in all of their victories, over their division opponent in 2023, not one has come by less than two runs per game.  Montgomery and Pruitt are expected to start here today. There is no question the Texas left-hander is the better hurler. I don’t expect the Oakland right-hander to see any more than an inning or two of action. This certainly benefits the number one ranked scoring offense in baseball of the Rangers as then they must then face the 30th ranked pitching staff of the Athletics. Take Texas on the run line. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers on the run line.

MLB Double Play release.

Game 910.

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

A National League division leader, squares off here against a division doormat in Game 2 of this series. The Brewers own the top-spot in the Central. But they only have a 1.5 game lead over the Reds. They need to keep their foot on the gas. The Rockies are already making vacation reservations for October, as they own the worst record in the N.L. Milwaukee took a Game 1 of this series yesterday with authority, crushing Colorado, 12-1. The Rockies took the three earlier meetings back in May. However, a lot of things have changed for both of these teams since then. Kyle Freeland and Wade Miley are scheduled starters here. The Rockies left-hander is a dismal, 4-12 with a 4.86 ERA on the campaign. Things started OK for him in 2023. But he is now 0-8 in his last 12 starts since his last win back in mid-May. The team has dropped eight of his last 10 turns. On the road, things get worse, as he is 1-8 with a 5.33 ERA. The Brewers left-hander is 6-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 2023 and will be making his 300th career start. He seems to be getting stronger as the season is progressing, going 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his last six outings. As a matter of fact, in six of his last seven appearances, he has only allowed two runs or less. He has done quite well in his career against today’s opponent, possessing a 9-3 record with a 4.26 ERA in 18 games, which include 17 starts against the Rockies. My friends, Colorado happens to be the worst road team in the National League, at 19-38 away from home this season. When Freeland gets in trouble today, and trust me, he will get in trouble, things will go from bad from to worse as the Rockies staff ranks 29th in the Majors with a Team ERA of 5.55. Takes a Brewers on the runline. Thank you.

Texas Rangers on the run line.

MLB Best Bet play.

Game 971.

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

The Texas Rangers have taken hold of the American League West for a while now. However, they are well aware of the fact that the Houston Astros are just 2.5 games behind them. They need to keep their foot on the gas. This is a team that is riding a six-game hot streak. What better team to face than the sad sack, Oakland Athletics. While the Rangers possess one of the best overall records in baseball, the A’s own its worst. This does include the poorest home record in the Majors at 17-39 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.  These two teams have met seven times in 2023, with Texas taking five of the seven matchups. Going back a bit, they have certainly dominated this division rivalry, taking seven of the last 10 overall matchups. Today’s starters are scheduled to be Dane Dunning and Ken Waldichuk. The Texas right-hander is 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA on the campaign. He’s coming off one of his best outings of the campaign. Over his career, he has faced Oakland six times, including five starts, going 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA.  The A’s left-hander is 2-7 with a 6.52 ERA in 2023. What can you say about him? No matter how you look at it, his numbers are deplorable. His last three outings, he is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA. At home this season he is 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA. As a matter of fact, the team is 4-13 in his appearances just since mid-May. He has made two starts in his career against the Rangers, with a whopping ERA of 7.20. Texas accounts for better than two runs more per game offensively, while they’re pitching staff ranks 14th and possesses a Team ERA of more than a run and a half less per game than the 30th ranked pitching staff of Oakland. Take the Rangers on the run line. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Double Play release.

Game 917.

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

To say Tampa Bay has dominated Detroit in recent seasons, would be an understatement. Despite dropping yesterday’s Game 2 match up, they have still taken eight of the last 10 meetings. As a matter fact, the last time they lost to the Tigers, they then rattled off five consecutive victories, outscoring them by a combined, 36-3. Currently, the Rays sit in second place in the American League East, 3.0 games back. Don’t feel so sorry for them my friends, they still possess the second-best overall record in the A.L. and the third best overall record in the Majors. However, the playoffs are just around the corner and they must put their foot on the gas. Tyler Glasnow and Matt Manning are scheduled today. The Tampa Bay right-hander has been superb over his last five turns, allowing just five earned runs in over 32 innings pitched. Over his last three outings, he is 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA. And on the road in 2023, he is a very respectable 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA. The Detroit right-hander is 3-3 with a 4.53 ERA on the campaign. He has an ERA at home this season of 4.61. And the team has lost his last three starts. He comes off two horrible outings, dropping both, getting plowed for 11 earned runs in 11 innings pitched. I look for the Rays to bounce back strongly here and get a big win over a lesser opponent. Take Tampa Bay on the runline. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

MLB Best Bet Play.

Game 963.

10:10 PM, PST/1:10 PM EST.

Don’t look now, but the Tampa Bay Rays are looking to get back on top of the American League East. They sit just 2.0 games back of the Baltimore Orioles in the most competitive division in baseball. They have taken all four meetings this season against the Detroit Tigers. Going back to last season, they have certainly dominated their American League Central opponent, winning nine of the last 10 matchups. Both at the plate and on the mound, they outclass their opponent here today. They average nearly a run and a half more per game offensively, while their pitching staff has a lower ERA of nearly three quarters of a run less per game. Speaking of pitching, making his debut for the Rays is Aaron Civale. The right-hander, who was just traded from the Cleveland Guardians, is having an excellent campaign, going 5-2 with a 2.34 ERA. All of his numbers have been solid this season. Over his last three outings, he is 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA. On the road in 2023, he is 2-1 with a 1.66 ERA. Over his career, he has absolutely dominated The Detroit Tigers, going 7-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 10 starts against them. Taking the mound at home is Tarik Skubal, who is 1-1 with a 4.57 ERA. The left-hander has not been good luck to his team this season, as they have lost four of his five starts.  While his numbers are decent at home, over his last three outings, he is 1-1 with a 7.24 ERA. Tampa Bay looks to be back on track and are hungry to get back the top spot in their division. What better team to face than the lowly Detroit squad. Take the Rays. Thank you.

Colorado Rockies/St. Louis Cardinals OVER.

MLB Best Bet Play.

Games, 907/908

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

These two teams have met three times in 2023, combining for a total of 37 runs scored. Last season, in their six meetings, they played to five overs. Funny thing about these two teams, their pitching staffs rank among the worst in baseball. Speaking of pitching, Chris Flexen and Adam Wainwright are scheduled today. The Rockies right-hander is 0-5 with an 8.08 ERA this season. In three career appearances, which includes two starts against the Cardinals, he is 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA. The St. Louis right-hander is 3-5 with a 7.18 ERA in 2023. Over his career, he has an extremely impressive record against Colorado. However, this season is not a normal season for the veteran. Just over his last three outings, he is 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA. And playing a Busch Stadium in 2023, he is a dismal, 1-4 with an 8.16 ERA. I expect both offenses to explode and light up the scoreboard here. Take the over. Thank you.

San Francisco Giants.

MLB Best Bet.

Game 954.

12:45 PM, PT/3:45 PM, ET.

It was only a month ago the Arizona Diamondbacks had full control of the National League West. Now they sit in third place, 5.5 games back in the division. Ahead of them in second place, is today’s opponent, the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have taken the last two games in this four-game stretch. They sit in second place just 2.5 games behind the Dodgers. This is an ideal opportunity for them to put a little more cushion between themselves and the rest of the Western division. Their pitching staff has been stellar, allowing three runs or less than seven of their last eight outings. Speaking of pitching, Brandon Pfaadt and Scott Alexander are scheduled here. The Diamondbacks right-hander is 0-4 with an 8.20 ERA on the campaign. The team has dropped three of his last force starts. His numbers are absolutely deplorable. On the road this season, he is 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA. His last three outings, he is 0-2 with a 7.90 ERA. The Giants left-hander has been a wonderful surprise this season, going 6-1 with a 3.13 ERA. Between starting and relieving, he has made 36 appearances already. I don’t expect him to go much more than an inning or two. But as I mentioned earlier, overall, the San Francisco pitching staff has been shutting down opponents’ lineups. By the way, just for the record, the Arizona lineup has really fallen short lately. They just can’t seem to put too many runs on the board. Take the Giants. Thank you.

Philadelphia Phillies.

Double Play release.

Game 905.

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

You know guys, we are closer to the end of the season then we are to the beginning. There isn’t a ton of baseball left. However, looking at the National League currently, the way the Central and west Divisions are knocking each other off, the Philadelphia Phillies have an excellent chance of at least a postseason spot. With today’s opponent, being an Eastern Division rival, they have a good chance of separating themselves a little bit and bettering their opportunity for a Wild Card spot. The Phillies come in to this match up today a little bit hotter, having taken both Games 1 and 2 of this series. Today’s schedule starters are Wheeler and Garret. The Philadelphia right-hander is 8-5 with a 3.74 ERA on the campaign. The team has won eight of his last nine outings. As a matter fact, he has allowed four runs or less in eight of those nine outings as well. He is extremely strong on the road this season, owning a 6-3 mark with a 3.48 ERA. He took a no decision in his only matchup against Miami in 2023 back on July 7, going six full innings, and only allowing three earned runs. The Marlins left-hander is 5-3 with a 4.08 ERA this season. While Miami has fared well in his turns since the end of May, he has started to spring a leak, allowing three or more earned runs in four of his last five appearances. At home, he is just 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA this season. And as I mentioned earlier, he’s started to crack a bit. Over his last three outings, he is 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA. The Phillies are certainly playing more consistent baseball and without question, have a better starter on the mound. This is an ideal opportunity to better their postseason chances while separating the team from the rest of the NL East. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

San Diego Padres on the run line.

Top-Rated Play.

Game 907.

5:40 PM PST/8:40 PM EST.

San Diego has won three in a row and six of their last 10. Meanwhile, Colorado is just awful, donning the worst overall record in the National League. Lugo and Gomber are set to take the hill today. The Padres right-hander has faced the Rockies 10 times, three of them starts, and is 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA in 30 2/3 innings. He has been significantly more reliable. Once the Colorado hurler gets in trouble, things go from bad to worse for the Rockies, as their pitching staff ranks 29th, with a Team ERA of 5.49. Take San Diego on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros.

MLB GOM.

Game 966.

11:10 am pst/2:10 pm est.

The Astros took Game 2 of this series with authority yesterday, 17-4. These two A.L. powerhouses are going in opposite directions as the Rays continue to slide, losing seven of their last 10, while the Astros are riding a 7-3 surge. Littell and Bielak are scheduled here today. No one expects the Rays right-hander to go more than a few innings. This is huge for us as the once solid, T.B. bullpen, has been getting plowed lately. Houston is money, and this time of year, expect them to step up. Especially against a team they may face come the postseason. Take the Astros. Thank you.

Minnesota Twins on the run line.

Double Play release.

Game 913.

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

Minnesota has played solid baseball since the Opening Day of the season. However, they hit a little bit of a speedbump the last few games, dropping three in a row. This is a quality team, my friends. They are well aware of the fact that Cleveland sits just 1.5 games behind them in the Central Division. The Guardians are the only true threat in the division. They need to put some W’s on the board and they need them now. What better team to face than Kansas City. The Royals possess the second worst overall record in baseball at 29-76. Oh, and by the way, just for the record, they are 31.5 games back in the Division. This is a team that’s already making reservations for golf outings and vacations for October (LOL). The Royals did take Game 1 of this series yesterday. However, to say the Twins have gotten the better of them would be an understatement. Minnesota has taken nine of the 11 meetings in this Division rivalry this season. The last time they dropped a game to today’s opponent was at the end of April. They then rattled off four consecutive victories over their division rival. This is a team that averages nearly a run more per game while they’re pitching staff allows nearly 1.5 runs less per game. Speaking of pitching, today’s schedule starters are Bailey Ober and Jordan Lyles. The Twins right-hander is 6-4 with a 2.76 ERA on the campaign. The team has won five of his last seven turns. As a matter of fact, he has gone 10 consecutive starts allowing three or less runs. His last three outings, he is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA. And when a visitor this season, he is a very impressive 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA. The Royals right-hander is 1-12 with a 6.19 ERA on the campaign. In five career starts against Minnesota, Lyles is 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA, taking both losses this season. As a matter fact, he has made 19 starts in 2023, as the team has dropped 17 of his 19 turns. At home, he is winless this season, going 0-6 with a 4.91 ERA. I look for Minnesota to bounce back here today and make a statement and further dominate their division opponents. Take the Twins on the runline. Thank you.

Houston Astros.

Grand Slam play.

Game 968.

5:10 PM PT/8:10 PM ET.

These two teams are certainly two of the best not just in the American League, but in all of baseball. And they seem to be on a collision course for a postseason matchup as well. However, as we all know, baseball is a very streaky sport. Currently, Tampa Bay is starting to look fatigued, as the long season is taking its toll on the team, dropping 15 of their last 20 contests. Meanwhile, after a slow start, Houston is starting to heat up. They have won six of their last eight meetings, and are just behind Texas in the West. They have taken eight of the last 10 matchups with the Rays, including two of three this season. Starters today are McClanahan and Javier. There is no question that the Tampa Bay left-hander is one of the best in baseball this year. However, he has had problems with Houston in his career, going 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in two lifetime starts against them, both of which came towards the end of last year. The Astros right-hander has done well against the Rays, going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three lifetime starts against them. The Tampa Bay pitching has been absolutely atrocious my friends, allowing five or more runs in six of their last 10 games. The way Houston’s bats are heating up, I look for them to explode once again here today and light up the scoreboard. Take the Astros. Thank you.

Philadelphia Phillies.

High Roller play.

Game 951.

4:05 PM PT/7:05 PM, ET.

Philadelphia is a very good baseball team. Their only fault is being in the same division as Atlanta. They currently sit in second place in the NL East, 10.0 games back. Don’t fool yourself folks, this team is playoff caliber for sure. Meanwhile, after possessing the top spot in the Central for a while, Pittsburgh has now sunk to last place in the division, 11.5 games back. To say the Phillies have had their way with the Pirates would be an understatement. They have taken eight of the last 10 overall meetings going back the last two seasons. This is the first meeting between these two N.L. rivals of 2023. The Phillies enter this matchup winning three of their last four while the Pirates have dropped six off their last 10. Both at the plate and on the mound, Philadelphia outclasses Pittsburgh. Speaking of the mound, Zack Wheeler, and Mitch Keller are scheduled starters today. Both own respectable records this season. However, the Phillies, right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA in five career starts against the Pirates. The Pittsburgh right-hander is 0-2 with a 7.80 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia. Philly needs to put their foot on the gas to better their Wild Card situation, my friends. And facing the lowly Pittsburgh team is an ideal situation for them to do just that. Take the Phillies. Thank you.

Chicago Cubs.

Double Play GOM.

Game 503.

4:45 PM PT/7:45 PM ET.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, baseball is the streakiest of all the major sports when it comes to sports betting. And inside of baseball, without question in my opinion, the Chicago Cubs are the streakiest team. They are the hottest team in the Majors, winning five in a row and seven of their last eight. They enter Game 1 of this series with the Cardinals with confidence, knowing they took the last three meetings less than a week ago against them. As a matter of fact, Chicago, sits just six games back in the NL Central, a full five games ahead of St. Louis in the division. This is a big game for the Cubs today folks, as they can reach a .500 record with a victory here. That’s right, they sit at 50-51 on the campaign and this is a very big game for them to get over the hump. St. Louis, on the other hand has fallen way short of expectations this season. They enter this series-opener, dropping four of their last six enroute to an overall record of 46-57. To be quite honest, they are just as shaky at home as they are on the road this season. Today’s schedule starters are Justin Steele and Miles Mikolas. The Chicago left-hander is a very impressive, 10-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 2023. In three starts against St. Louis this season, he is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA. The team has won five of his last six overall turns. When he takes to the road this season, he is a very solid 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA. The St. Louis right-hander is 6-5 with a 4.33 ERA on the campaign. This season, he is winless against Chicago, going and 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA in two starts against them. He is allowing 3.2 earned runs per start on the campaign. To be quite honest, he has only had one solid year in the big leagues, and that was back in 2018. His last three starts he is 1-0 with a whopping ERA of 5.14. And playing at Busch Stadium this season, he has 2-2 with a 4.95 ERA. When he gets in trouble my friends, and he will get in trouble, the Cardinals will go to a pitching staff and a bullpen that ranks 23rd in baseball, with a Team ERA of 4.61. Oh, by the way, they also ran 25th in Quality Starts. This doesn’t bode well as the Chicago lineup has exploded, accounting for 7.3 runs per game just over their last 10 contests. Take the Cubs. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Las Vegas Strip Move play.

Game 968.

9:10 AM, PST/12:10 PM EST.

To say Tampa Bay has had their way with Miami would be an understatement. They’ve taken nine of the last 10 meetings just since April, 2021. This does include a Game 1 victory yesterday, by a score of 4-1. The Rays still possess one of the best overall records in baseball. Although they’ve struggled a bit in July, they are still a monster team with the fourth-ranked scoring offense in baseball and the majors top pitching staff. Meanwhile, the Marlins, since All-Star Break are a dismal 1-9. They just can’t seem to do anything right. Their pitching has been steamrolled since the break. They can’t afford for their pitching to falter as they rank 27th in baseball in scoring. Speaking of pitching, Alcantara and Eflin are scheduled today. The Miami right-hander is 3-9 with a 4.70 ERA on the campaign, which does include a 0-5 record with a 4.98 ERA during day games this season. The Tampa Bay right-hander is 11-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 2023. He has been lights out at home, going 10-1 with a 2.10 ERA on the season. Miami’s pitching has been absolutely atrocious, while they’re hitting has always been less than stellar. With Tampa Bay needing wins right now as they are just 1.5-games back of Baltimore in the American League East, this is an ideal spot for them to catch a National League opponent at the right time. Take the Rays. Thank you.

Toronto Blue Jays.

Double Play release.

Game 929.

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

These two teams, being in different Leagues as you know, don’t face one another very often. However, Toronto took Game 1 of this series yesterday, with authority, 6-3. The Blue Jays are playing very good baseball, going 11-4 their last 15 outings. With all respect to Los Angeles, they have lost three of their last five contests. And only due to Arizona crumbling the last several weeks have they taken control of the first place in the National League West. The Dodgers do score more per game than does the Blue Jays. However, their pitching has significantly dropped off this season, ranking 20th, with a team ERA of 4.41. Meanwhile, you cannot ignore the fact that since the Opening Day of the campaign, Toronto’s pitching staff has been stellar and currently ranks seventh, with a team ERA of 3.83. Speaking of pitching, Chris Bassitt and Julio Urias are scheduled starters today. The Toronto right-hander is 10-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 2023. This season, he has done quite well against National League opponents, going 6-1 against them. The Los Angeles left-hander is 7-6 with a 5.02 ERA on the campaign. While he is good at home, his last three outings, he has an ERA of 5.29. And this season when facing American League foes, he is 0-2. With the way today’s starters have pitched against the opponents Leagues this season and the fact that Toronto has a bit better of a bullpen, we must find value in the visiting underdog. Take the Blue Jays. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.

Double Play release.

Game 967.

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

At 61-38, the Baltimore Orioles possess the best overall record in the American League. This does include a 31-18 road record, which is the best away mark in all of baseball. They enter Game 1 of this series with the Philadelphia Phillies, red-hot, winning seven of the last 10 overall outings. Meanwhile, the Phillies, which have split their last 10 outings, sit in third place in the NL East, 11.5 games back. Kremer and Sanchez are scheduled here today. The Baltimore right-hander is certainly a stronger pitcher, going 10-4 with a 4.80 ERA on the campaign. He comes off a tough outing, despite the team winning. As a matter fact, the team has won six of his last seven turns. The Philadelphia left-hander has yet to earn a victory this season, going 0-3 with a 3.06 ERA. By the way folks, he is 0-3 at home this season with a 3.91 ERA. He is much stronger on the road. That is for sure. The Orioles are playing better baseball, more consistent baseball, are certainly right now accounting for more runs per game while their pitching staff sends a better starter to the mound here. Take the Orioles. Thank you.

Minnesota Twins.

Double Play release.

Game 916.

11:10 AM, PST/2:10 PM EST.

Minnesota currently owns a two-game lead in the American League Central, and has an opportunity to further widen themselves from some of the rest of the division pack. They have taken Games 1 and 2 of this series with Chicago, to extend their domination of their division opponent this season to three consecutive wins and five of eight total meetings in 2023. The White Sox are just atrocious, sitting in fourth place in the Central, 11.0 games back at 41-59. They have dropped seven of the last 10 games coming into this Game 3 matchup. Not only do the Twins possess a better lineup, they also possess a better pitching staff. Speaking of pitching, Giolito and Ober are scheduled starters today. The Chicago right-hander is 6-6 with a 3.96 ERA on the campaign. The team has lost his last three turns. No matter how you slice it, his road numbers are just horrible, going 3-4 with a 5.74 ERA this season away from home. We spoke about those last three outings; well, his record is 0-1 with a whopping ERA of 6.48. The Twins right-hander is 6-4 with a 2.74 ERA this season. And in eight career starts against the White Sox, he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in any appearance since May 22. His last three outings, he has been perfect at 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA. And at home this season, he owns a very low respectable ERA of 2.98. Minnesota is a better team. This is a team that scores more while they’re pitching staff ranks third in baseball. Take the Twins. Thank you.

New York Yankees on the run line.

Double Play release.

Game 962.

10:05 AM PST/1:05 PM EST.

Guys, normally, I do quite lengthy analysis on my games. Today, I’m gonna’ keep this one short and sweet… just like me because this game goes off very early and I’d like you guys to take advantage of it. The Yankees are just around the corner from getting back a couple of their starters who have been sideline with injuries. Granted they have a 51-47 record, which to be honest, would be good enough to make them a contender in any division in baseball. However, they are sitting in last place in the competitive, American League East. This does not sit well with New York. Playing Kansas City, the team of the second worst record in the American League, should certainly do wonders for them. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Royals rank among the worst in baseball, statistically. The Yankees hitting has been erratic at best, but their pitching staff continues to thrive, ranking in the top-10 in baseball. Speaking of pitching, Singer and Cole are scheduled starters today. The Kansas City right-hander is 6-8 with a 5.70 ERA on the campaign, which does include a 2-4 road record with a whopping ERA of 7.54. The New York right-hander continues to dominate. He is 9-2 with a 2.78 ERA in 2023, which does include a very impressive 6-1 record at home with a 2.91 ERA. My friends, he has not allowed more than three earned runs in any outing since the end of May. Look for him to dominate here as the Yankees bats come alive. Take New York on the runline. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Double Play.

Game 917.

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

Houston sits four-games behind Texas in American League West. This is unfamiliar territory for the Astros as they are so accustomed to leading the division over recent years. They need wins and they need them now. What better team to face to get those wins than the sad sack Oakland A’s. The A’s possess the worst record in all of baseball. To be quite honest, I don’t think it means much to them. They know they know they’re pretty much headed to Las Vegas in the upcoming seasons: new stadium, new fans, so they can write this season off, basically. To say Houston has had their way with Oakland would be an understatement. They have taken all seven meetings against their division rival in 2023, outscoring them, 36-10. During their current 1-9 overall slide, Oakland has only accounted for more than four runs once, while allowing five runs or more eight times during the span. Schedule starters are Framber Valdez, and JP Sears. While they both possess six defeats the season, the Houston left-hander has seven wins with a 2.76 ERA on the campaign, while the Oakland left-hander has just won once with a 3.99 ERA. Over the years Valdez has faced Oakland 11 times, which includes nine starts, going 4-3 with a 2.57 ERA. I doubt very much the second ranked pitching staff in the Majors of Houston will have any problems once again shutting down the 30th ranked scoring offense of Oakland here. Meanwhile, the Astros high-powered lineup looks like they once again will light up the 30th ranked pitching staff of their opponent here today. My friends, just for the record, Houston averages more than a run per game offensively, while their pitching staff yields more than two runs less per game. There’s no doubt that the Astros once again win big with authority over the A’s. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the runline.

Las Vegas Strip Move Play.

Game 965.

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

As we are underway in the second half of the regular season, the Houston Astros are 4.5-games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West. They are not used to playing catch-up. At this point of the season, they are usually not even worried about looking over their shoulder (LOL). But sports fans, have no fear. They have an opportunity here to get a couple of big victories over a team they have certainly dominated. The Astros have taken all six meetings with the A’s this season. Going back a bit further, nine of the last 10 matchups. This season alone, they have outscored Oakland, 31-9. JP France and Hogan Harris are scheduled starters today. The Astros rookie right-hander is 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA on the campaign, going unbeaten his last three starts. Just since the end of June, in those last three outings, he’s 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA. And believe it or not, he’s even tougher on the road than he is at home. This season he is 3-2 is a 2.18 ERA on the road. The A’s left-hander is 2-3 with a 6.51 ERA in 2023. The team has lost his last five appearances, whether it be as a starter or a reliever. Oakland cannot compete with Houston here on the scoreboard with an offense that is League-worst in scoring, team batting average, and OPS, accounting for more than a full run less per game that their opponent here today. To make matters worse, they also rank worst in all of baseball in team ERA. No matter how you slice it, you need to take the Houston Astros on the runline. Thank you.

Boston Red Sox on the run line.

MLB AFTERNOON DELIGHT.

Game 913.

12:35 PM PT/3:35 PM EST.

Boston has taken four of five meetings this season over Oakland. And going back to last summer, eight of the last 10 matchups with the A’s. Boston is on an 11-3 hot run, bringing the team out of the AL East basement for the first time on quite a while. Meanwhile, the sad sack Oakland possesses the worst record in the Majors. Yes, they stole a 3-0 win yesterday in Game 2 of this series. They just caught the visiting Red Sox looking. However, Boston has not been blanked very often in 2023. As a matter of fact, the last time they were shut out, they then went on that hot streak of 11-3. I look for them to bounce back strongly here. Bello and Waldichuk are scheduled starters today. The Boston right-hander is 7-5 with a 3.14 ERA this season. But seems to be getting better with each appearance. Over his last six starts, he is 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA. July has been exceptionally good for the young phenom, going 2-0 this month. On the road, he owns a very respectable 3-1 record this season with a 3.13 ERA. And the team has won five of his last six turns. The A’s left-hander is 2-6 with a 6.66 ERA in 2023. He’s only making his second start in about a month. He has only earned one win since early May. Whether it be as a starter or as a reliever, the team has dropped 11 of his last 14 appearances. He is winless this season at home, going 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA. Boston, without question certainly possesses the more explosive lineup, ranking among the upper tier in all of baseball in runs scored, Team batting average, and OPS. And just for the record, those are three areas in which Oakland ranks 30th. To make matters worse, it isn’t just the Oakland offense that is atrocious, their pitching staff also ranks dead-last in baseball, with a Team ERA of 6.02. Coming off a game yesterday, failing to put any runs on the board, I looked for the Red Sox to come back strong here today, and make a statement. Take Boston on the run line. Thank you.

Texas Rangers.

Battle for AL Best Winner.

Game 961.

5:05 PM PST/9:05 PM EST.

I said it before, and I will say it again, baseball is the streakiest of all Major sports. When good teams win, you must ride them. And right now, the Texas Rangers are winning big. They enter Game 2 of the series with the Tampa Bay Rays on a four-game win streak, which does include a series-opening victory yesterday. Meanwhile, the Rays, which still possess the second-best overall record in baseball, are starting to feel fatigue. They’re certainly looking tired. They have dropped seven of their last 10 and are just one-game ahead of Baltimore in the East. Their hitting has become less than average, while their pitching staff has been getting absolutely lit up. Speaking of pitching, Bradley and Eovaldi are scheduled today. The Rays right-hander is 5-5 with a 5.43 ERA in 2023. Over his last three starts, he has been absolutely horrible, going 0-2 with 11.68 ERA. Back on June 20 he faced the Rangers, and gave up five runs on four hist in just 3 2/3 innings pitched, while walking four. The Texas, right-hander is off to one of the best starts for a season in his career, going 10-3 with a 2.83 ERA. He has pitched quite well at Globe Life Field this season, going 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA. The Rangers catch the Rays at the right time, on a losing streak. One thing about Texas, they can keep peace on the scoreboard with Tampa Bay as they on the majors top scoring offense with the number one lineup in team batting average as well. Take the Rangers. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

MLB Double Play.

Game 956.

4:45 p.m. PST/7:45 PM

You know sports fans, this is a very interesting matchup. And up until a few weeks back, you would’ve thought that both Atlanta and Arizona we’re on a collision course to meet in the playoffs. Since the Opening Day of the season, the Atlanta Braves have played the most consistent baseball and all of the N.L. They currently possess a 10-game lead in the East, and overall, own the best record in the Majors. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks, which held onto the top-spot in the West for quite a while, have dropped eight of the last 10, to think of the third place in the competitive division. Atlanta, as they have with just about every team they have faced this season, has gotten the better of Arizona, taking two of three meetings of the 2023 campaign against them. Going back to last season, they have taken six of the seven most recent matchups with Arizona. You know very quietly the Braves have not just taken over the best record in baseball, but they have maintained it. This is a team that possesses the top pitching staff in all of the Majors, with a team ERA are 3.67. Coincidentally enough, they rank offensively either first or second in every major category; first, in home runs, first in OPS, second in team batting average, and second in scoring. It’s no wonder they are scoring more than 5 1/2 runs a game. Their entire lineup seems to be producing both with the short ball and the long ball. Oh, by the way, they also rank ninth in baseball in stolen bases. Today’s pitching matchup heavily favors them as well as a Bryce elder takes the mound at home against the visiting Zach Davies. The Braves, right-hand is 7-2 with a 2.97 ERA on the campaign. He comes off as poorest performance of the year. However, in mid-June he had his last poor performance and followed that up with four amazing qualities starts, in which the team won all four of his outings. The Diamondbacks right-hander is 1-5 with a 6.37 ERA on the campaign. He has not had a win since June 7, going his last six starts at 0-4 with two no decisions. To be quite honest, he gives up a lot of runs, on a lot of hits, and a lot of home runs as well. On the road this season, he is  1-1 with a whopping ERA at 5.17. There is no way that Arizona can’t compete with Atlanta either on the mound or at the plate. They are significantly outclassed. Take the Braves on the run line. Thank you.

Detroit Tigers.

AL CENTRAL ANNIHILATOR.

Game 909.

5:10 PM PT/8:10 PM ET.

Detroit has had their way with Kansas City this season, taking four of the six meetings against their division rival in 2023. Going back to last season, they have taken seven of the last nine matchups in this division rivalry. Manning and Miles are set to take the mound today. The Royals right-hander is an atrocious 1-11 with a 6.42 ERA this season, as the team has only won one of his 18 starts on the campaign. He has winless at home, going 0-6, with a 5.51 ERA at Kauffman Stadium this season. The Tigers right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA on the season. And over his last three turns, he owns a 2-0 record with a 3.12 ERA. Both on the mound and at the plate, Detroit is significantly stronger, deeper, and more talented. Take the Tigers. Thank you.

Miami Marlins.

Home Run Play.

Game 903.

4:45 PM PT/7:45 PM ET.

Miami has taken three of the four meetings against St. Louis this season. And although they come in here after getting swept in a three-game series at Baltimore, this is an ideal matchup for them to get back on track. They send Jesus Luzardo to the hill today. The left-hander is 8-5 with a 3.29 ERA on the campaign. Over his past five appearances, he has allowed just four runs in nearly 32 innings pitched. Over the last month, he is a perfect 3-0 in five starts. The Cardinals right-hander is 5-5 with a 4.12 ERA in 2023. He has earned just one win since the end of May, as the team has lost seven of his last eight turns. Take Miami. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Double Play.

Game 961.

11:10 am pst/2:10 pm est.

The Rays took both ends of yesterday’s double header by a combined score of 10-3 to extend their domination of the Royals. They have taken four of the six meetings this season against their A.L. Central opponent. Going back a bit, Tampa Bay has won seven of the last 10 matchups. They won’t take this contest lightly, wanting to keep their foot on the gas with their next two series coming against Texas and Baltimore. Eflin and Singer are slated to start here. The Rays right-hander won both of his previous starts against the Royals, including a June 23 gem. The team has won 13 of his 17 turns in 2023.The K.C. right-hander, in three career starts against today’s opponent, is 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA. The team has dropped seven of his last nine turns. He has suffered issues with control for sure. The Royals account for nearly two less runs per game while their pitching staff possesses a Team ERA of almost a run and half more than the Rays. Take Tampa Bay on the runline. Thank you.    

Houston Astros.

Best Bet Play.

Game 919.

6:05 PM EST/9:05 PM EST.

The Houston Astros are starting to pick up the pace, sitting in second place in the AL West, just two games behind the Texas Rangers. They took game 1 of this series yesterday, 7-5 to give them six wins in the eight meetings against their division rival this season alone. My friends, speaking of Los Angeles, if you look up the word “inconsistent“ in the dictionary, you would see a picture of this team. Going in to Game two here, we see an Astros team, which are 26-19 on the road this season, take on an Angels squad at home, which possess a 23-21 record at Angel Stadium in 2023. They catch their rival on a 1-9 overall slide. This is a team having trouble putting together a game in which they can both, score some runs, while they’re pitching staff can sustain. As a matter of fact, during their current 1-9 run, their pitching staff has allowed five or more runs, eight times. Speaking of pitching, Framber Valdez, and Reid Detmers are scheduled today. The Astros left-hander is 7-6, with a 2.51 ERA on the campaign. The team has won eight of his last 10 turns. The Angels left-hander is 2-6 with a 4.31 ERA. His last outing, was by far his poorest this season, allowing a whopping, seven earned runs in just 3.1 innings pitched. As a matter of fact, he has had a problem, issuing walks and yielding homeruns recently. The way the Astros are banging the ball, offensively, and the fact that the Angels pitching staff has been absolutely steamrolled lately, prompts us to side with the visitor here. Take Houston. Thank you.