Houston has got the momentum in there favor now. I really like their odds in tonight's game. Glad to see there bats come alive finally.

Darvish is 5-5 lifetime against Houston, with a 3.44 E.R.A. The Astros are 18-2 their last 20 games here at home.

This is an Astros team that has a ton of experience against Yu Darvish who no longer has the luxury of pitching in the National League and faces an Astros lineup that finally woke up and will be absolutely thrilled to play at home in Houston.  The Astros also get their DH back in the AL ballpark and I think that will also help them.

Take the Astros tonight and look for Altuve and Springer to have big nights!

10* MLB GAME OF THE WEEK

The Tigers have ruled this series, winning 10 straight and the past six by double figures so this is a major revenge spot for TULANE and they are a much improved team.

Memphis has a high octane offense with their only flaw, their defense. They are allowing 34 per to opponents. They are 2-2 ats in conference play. Tulane has been solid with one bad loss to Oklahoma and they have a great ball control rushing attack and playing a primetime game should add some extra motivation for Tulane. They are 3-0 ATS in conference play as well.  We'll back the underdog in this one on Friday night.

5*

The home team usually has the edge with a short week and Miami traveling north into the cooler weather will help the Ravens. I look for Joe Flacco to have a big game against a weak Miami secondary. Maclin and Wallace should have big games receiving along with TE Benjamin Watson. Matt Moore stepped in last week and did great things within this Dolphins offense, leading the 14 pt comeback win against the Jets. Things are different when you’re the starter as opposed to coming off the bench. The Ravens' defense will present a lot more problems than the Jets did. Take the RAVENS here on Thursday night. 

5* 

Dennis Schroder is OUT for the Hawks and he is their best player averaging 23 ppg. Atlanta is one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA and they allow 110 ppg, not a good combination. Atlanta, like a lot of teams, has no one to truly matchup with Bulls 7-foot forward Lauri Markkanen, who takes can play inside and shoot the 3-ball. One of the strangest schedules to open a season belongs to the Atlanta Hawks. Thursday, they’ll compete in their fifth straight road game to start the season against the Chicago Bulls. Though the Bulls are winless I like them to get a win here on Thursday night. 

5*

This will sound weird, but the 2-5 Eastern Michigan Eagles are not a bad football team. They’ve had two overtime losses and three other losses by five points or fewer. 

You have an Eastern Michigan team that is picking up some steam as a strong ATS cover of late. This teams strength is their defense, which is a top 35 in overall defense and top 10 in passing yards allowed. 

On top of that, this team has an offense that features a top 35 passing attack and an overall defense that is top 30 in points allowed. They come off an impressive effort against Western Michigan, losing 17-20 in overtime but prior to that had covered against Army, losing 27-28 as a 4.5 point underdog, losing to Toledo by 5 points as a 13.5 point underdog and losing to Kentucky 20-24 as well as a 14 point underdog. 

This team lost to Northern Illinois last year 31-24 in OT.

We like Eastern Michigan to hang tough and keep this one close throughout.

5*

The Mavs look old.  Dirk is near the end of his career and Dallas doesn't play much defense. On the other hand the Grizzlies are playing tremendous defense in their 4-0 start to the season. I think they'll frustrate rookie Dennis Smith Jr and keep the Mavs winless and cover the small 4 pt spread in the process. Take the GRIZ.

5*

Home opener for Portland who won their first 2 games as away favorites and are now coming off a loss at Milwaukee, a game they pushed. New Orleans hosted Golden St on Friday, played at the Lakers Sunday is now in their second game of this 3 game road trip. The Pelicans got their first win vs the Lakers as they shot 57% after shooting 38% and 47% their first two game and they will struggle against the Blazers D which allowed 32% and 45% their two game as a favorite. Besides Davis and Cousins, New Orleans doesn't have much help and their guards turn the ball over a lot. The Pelicans just beat the Lakers who are a team who doesn't play much defense. Now, Portland will be playing its first home game, and the home team has dominated this series and should win big tonight!

5* 

This is a Dodger team that steamrolled the Diamondbacks and then lost just 1 game to the hands of the Cubs en route to a fantastic postseason. The offense is good and so is their defense and pitching. This team has not been to the world series since the 80's and LA will be rocking today. I look for Clayton Kershaw to be focused and geared up for this game. Astros starter Dallas Keuchel has been inconsistent at times this year and he has struggled on the road in the playoffs. Remember that Houston also loses their DH in the National League ballpark. The Astros are 1-6 in their last 7 Playoff Road Games and the Dodgers are 47-9 in Kershaw's last 56 starts. The 95 degree weather isn't scaring me and I'm back LA here on Tuesday night. Finally, I love Dave Roberts, and give him the edge in the managerial department. I love his decision-making. If you listen to his press conferences and interviews, you can feel the passion he has for HIS PLAYERS.

5* 

The Penguins (5-3-1) are coming off their second blowout loss, 7-1 at Tampa Bay on Saturday. With 2 days to prepare for this game I expect them to be focused and ready. The last time they had a blowout loss, they responded with their best effort, a 4-0 victory over Nashville, the team they beat in the Stanley Cup Finals. Including their victory over Nashville the Pens are a dominating 34-12 their past 46 games, after losing their previous game by two or more goals. I expect a big bounce back and an aggressive effort for them on their home ice and they should get the WIN over Edmonton.

5* NHL GAME OF THE WEEK 

SACRAMENTO is coming off of an ugly game on Saturday night where they got outrebounded by 20 and only shot 35% in the game. Phoenix is the perfect team for them to bounce back against as they are bad and don't play much defense. The Suns are making a strong case as the worst team in the league. The Suns have averaged 98 points per game while giving up 128.7 to start the season. The Phoenix players are frustrated, the coach just got fired after 3 games and there is a lot of finger pointing in the locker-room. Back the Kings to keep Phoenix winless here on Monday night.

10* 

Washington has revenge from a 30-17 loss in week 1. The Eagles have been a lucky team so far, winning 3 of their last 4 games by 5 or less. Philly has the slightly better defense and Washington has an edge on offense. The Redskins have won three of four behind a surging defense that ranks No. 5 overall (316 yards per game).In a matchup of relatively even teams, I’ll take the club with the slightly better defense getting that should be able to move the ball against a weak Eagles secondary.

5* 

QB Ben Roethlisberger is either permanently fading or temporarily slumping, which has reduced the offense pretty much to RB Le’Veon Bell carrying the ball and WR Martavis Bryant reportedly seeking a trade. Problem is, the Bengals give up just 3.8 yards per carry, one element of their No. 2-ranked defense overall. They have won twice in succession after bowing to the Packers in overtime and are stepping out of their BYE week in a big divisional game. The Bengals are now just one win away from being .500 and if they can win this division game, they are right back in the thick of things We like this Bengals defense a lot and we think they will keep them in this game and the Bengals are highly motivated to get us the ATS Cover.

5* 

The Rams made this trip last season, and I like the familiarity aspect they have with this trip. I also give an edge on the team’s decision to remain in Jacksonville following last week’s game before crossing the pond. Lastly, this Cardinals defense that’s given up the most passing TD’s of 20+ yards will meet L.A.’s top ranked scoring offense that leads the league in scoring and 20+ yard plays. Arizona is the only team that’s allowed 100 QB pressures – Carson Palmer has been hit an NFL high 55 times and the Rams defense, led by Aaron Donald is averaging 13 QB pressures per game. There might not be a more disruptive defender in the entire NFL than Aaron Donald. That guy is pretty much unstoppable at this point, and Palmer under pressure is very vulnerable to making mistakes. Take L.A. Rams in this one.

10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK 

The Knicks are bad this year and the Pistons have some quality players.  Look for Avery Bradley and Reggie Jackson to come up big for Detroit.

I don't think the home court will make a difference the Pistons should win this one comfortably. Its our 5* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY!

5*

Last year, an inexperienced Penn State club was humbled by Michigan in a 49-10 loss. Penn St hasn't played the toughest of schedules and the Michigan defense is very good.

I think that will give them an opportunity even against a complete team like Penn State. The Nittany Lions offense while talented does not present the biggest mismatch advantage in terms of talent or scheme over the Michigan defense.  They should be able to keep the Penn St running game in check.

I think the 9.5 points here on Saturday night are an advantage in a game that I expect to be really low in terms of scoring. I'm on the Michigan Wolverines with the pts.

10* Oddsmaker Mistake Play

Iowa is 4-2 and they have a tough defense. They've also played a much tough schedule so far.

 So far, the aggregate record of the teams they've played is 25-11.

I'm certainly not saying the Hawks are great, but they are the better team especially on defense with their linebackers.

They lost on final play of the game to Penn St, and at Mich St(who just won at the big house), plus the tight game vs. Iowa St.

I like IOWA to get the win here on Saturday afternoon.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK

Justin Verlander has been essentially unhittable and he is 8-0 over his last series of starts with under a 2 ERA. 

The Yankees have been great at home all season and under .500 on the road.  The Houston weather is also warmer and I think the Astros bats will wake up a bit.

This is the main reason why the veteran Verlander was brought to Houston and he is a workhorse and will throw as many pitches as needed.

 It's hard for us to believe that this team will lay over and lose 4 straight with their ace on the mound back. I'm backing the Houston Astros here at home on Friday night.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK

This Portland team is very good.  They can shoot and they can rebound.  Now, they get back CJ McCollum from a 1-game suspension.  This Pacers team isn't bad and they like to push the tempo.

This total is on the rise for good reason. The Trail Blazers put up 124 points in their opener winning by 48 and its always tough to follow that up with a big performance.  The Pacers scored 140 in there opener and I see a run and gun game.

 And the last four meetings in this series have sailed Over. Play OVER THE TOTAL!

5*

Five innings were all the Dodgers needed from Kershaw in Game 1, as the bullpen twirled four perfect innings after his exit. The Dodgers can ill afford to take this series back with them to LA after seeing what the Yankees have done to the Astros after being up 2-0 as nothing can be taken for granted in any of these series. The Dodgers only managed a few hits yesterday, have Kershaw on the hill and that offense likely gets back on track today as we like the Dodgers to punch their ticket to the World Series Tonight. The Dodgers are 8-1 when they face a team with a winning record and the Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.

5* 

This will be the biggest game for the rest of the year for Memphis. Now newly ranked #25 going on the road will not be easy. If the defense plays as well as they did against Navy, the Tigers should win this one. Memphis is very good at causing turnovers and winning the turnover battle. Grab a full field goal with Memphis while you can. They could run the table with a win here and their offense is very explosive and now play on National TV Thursday night.

5* 

The Wolves added Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague this off season to along with Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns and most are expecting big things out of them this year. I expect they will be fired up to prove a point early in the season, and on National TV game. The Spurs will be shorthanded this game without Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard. I think they will really miss Leonard's defense in this game and it will cause struggles for the Spurs. Lastly the road team is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings here. Take the small underdog with the MINN T-Wolves here on Wednesday night.

5* 

I like the inside/outside potential for the Pelicans this season. DeMarcus Cousins joined Anthony Davis inside during last season, but the two will now have had time to develop chemistry and gel with each other. Memphis isn't the same team from the past as they broke up their team in the off-season. The Grizzlies just beat the Pelicans in the final game of the preseason which is normally meaningless but New Orleans lost by 41 pts so I'm sure they'll be ready there tonight. Take the +3 pts with the Pelicans in the NBA.

5* 

We roll with the Over here as though the public loves the Under as these two pitchers hooked up in game 1. 

The weather is a little bit warmer today and the batters already saw these pitchers last Friday.

Dallas Keuchel who is a fantastic pitcher with a sub 2 era over his last 5 postseason starts but remember he has over a 4.50 era away from home. 

This is a Yankees team that started the game slow yesterday and likely gets their bats going early in this game as they were held to a few hits by Kuechel last time they met and these guys will make the necessary adjustments. 

I also expect the Astros bats to wake up offensively which will lead to OVER THE TOTAL in the Bronx in Game 5 here on Wednesday evening.

5*

Kyle Hendricks excelled over seven scoreless innings vs. the Nats in NLDS Game 1 but gave up four runs on nine hits in four innings in NLDS Game 5. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers, whom he will face for the first time this year on Tuesday night.

He is a very good pitcher and I expect him to bounce back in a big way here at home.

This is a must win for the Cubs and I believe they will play much better at Wrigley.

5*

QB Marcus Mariota is expected to play and with the Titans coming off a poor performance, I look for a rejuvenated team, a strong homefield advantage and a comfortable win. I look for their offense to get back on track.

The Colts are very bad this year.  They've been outscored on the road by a combined score of 92-27.

They sport an abysmal negative-1.2 yards per play differential on the season, well behind the Titans' total and that of most other teams.  I look for the TITANS to come out strong and win by 10 or more on MNF.

5*

I think we'll see a rare OVER THE TOTAL score tonight between the Astros and Yankees.

The Yankees with their backs to the wall after scoring just 1 run in back to back games and I expect them to do better here at home offensively. This lineup is too good not to bust out and they play well with their backs to the wall.  Then we have CC Sabathia who has over a 4.50 era post-season era and this is the reason why the Astros are only a small dog in this must win today for the Yankees. Let's roll with the Over in what is likely a higher scoring game than most people realize here on Monday night.

5*

I am going to take the points with Pittsburgh in this one. The fact that Kansas City has started out 5-0 ATS and are the talk of the NFL right now, the public is lining up to take them. Also Big Ben just threw 5 INT's in his last game with 2 being returned for TD's. This line has been inflated because of that and thus the value here is with the Steelers. The Steelers are a perfect 6-0 against the Chiefs when Roethlisberger starts and finishes a game. Lastly Pittsburgh is a perfect 6-0 in their last 6 road games against a team that is allowing 4.5 or more yards/carry against the run. Give me the Steelers as a juicy underdog here on Sunday evening.

5*

Rich Rod deserves credit for turning around the Wildcats this season and likely saving his job. The same cannot be said for Jim Mora, as he has yet to elevate the Bruins to one of the top teams in the league. UCLA has been on the road a lot lately and just seem tired. It will be very hot for this game at kickoff in the 90's. Arizona should be able to move the ball at will behind their tough rushing attack. The Wildcats defense is far from stout but they have improved by over 50 ypg and close to 12 ppg from last season so the unit is heading in the right direction. UCLA struggles to stop the run and that is what Arizona does best. UCLA is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games and ARIZONA gets the big primetime win at home here on Saturday night.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK 

Its not often that you see New Mexico State a touchdown favorite but we like them on the road here against a rebuilding Georgia Southern squad. The New Mexico State program is top 30 offense, top 10 in passing yards and they can put up points in a hurry. This team is also top 55 in passing yards allowed and lost to Georgia Southern 19-22 last year and have revenge in this game. They have lost back to back games to both Arkansas and App State and can ill afford to lose 3 in a row as they are still in the hunt for a Bowl if they beat these weaker schools. Georgia Southern is one of the worst offensive teams in the country and I like New Mexico St to get us the WIN and COVER in this one on Saturday night.

5* 

It's safe to say that the Sooners got caught sleeping against Iowa State. This is a rivalry game that they can't afford to sleep through. Texas' defense will be up for the challenge, but I don't foresee its offense keeping pace. The fact remains, the Sooners owned the longest winning streak in the country before they were victimized by Iowa State. Oklahoma was flat out embarrassed last week This was a team many portrayed as a threat to both Alabama and Clemson. Now, OU fell flat on its face. Since the stock is so low on the Sooners, this is a prime position to catch them at a reduced price as they look to take out the frustration on their oldest foe. Baker Mayfield has 15 TD's and Zero INT's and OKL is too strong on both sides of the ball and they'll get a double digit win here.

5* 

We get Rutgers who is rested and playing with revenge on Saturday afternoon. We see that 80% of the public is on Illinois is something that allowed us to take a closer look at this game. Rutgers is led by former Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Chris Ash who knows how to build a winning culture as he has been around one with Urban Meyer. Their defense is aggressive and tough up front. Not surprisingly you have a Rutgers team that is top 50 when it comes in defense and Ash is getting a lot of his players given the talent level that he has and he is doing a quality job recruiting as well. And, we like the fact this team is coming off a 56-0 ass whooping against Ohio St. We think Rutgers gets up for this game and gets the win for us. 

5* Underdog Slammer

Yanks starter Tanaka  who gave up just 3 hits and no runs to the Indians in his last start stepped up his game when the Yanks needed him the most. He was as clutch as it came. He last pitched against the Astros and gave up 8 runs on 1.2 innings and will have a great deal of revenge here and this is why he gets the start here to set the tone once again. 

Plus, though Astros starter Dallas Keuchel might get hit as the Yankees have revenge against him from not yielding a run to them last time in 6 innings, he likely still comes through for a decent quality start here.

The Under is 5-2 when Tanaka starts against a winning team and the Under is Kuechek's 5-2 as well when Keuchel starts against the New York Yankees.

I'm backing the UNDER here in game 1 on Friday night.

5*

The Eagles and Panthers have identical 4-1 records, and both have been efficient on both sides of the ball in recent outings. The Eagles defense forced the Cardinals to gain 276 of their 307 total yards through the air mostly because they built and early 21-0 lead. The Eagles are ranked in the TOP 10 in almost every major offensive category including # 3 in total offense, #5 in rushing offense, # 9 in passing offense and # 6 in scoring offense. The Panthers are 0-6 ATS in their last six games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game. The Eagles had a dominating performance last Sunday at home against the Cardinals, 34-7. Philadelphia QB Carson Wentz had 4 TD's, 21 of 30 passing for 304 yards and 1 INT. In addition, RB LeGarette Blunt rushed for 74 yards and has been tough rushing the ball this season for the Birds. The 3.5 number provides value on the stronger defensive club in what should be a tight Thursday night game.

5* 

We roll with the Cubs here as they only had 3 hits yesterday and Gio Gonzalez always seems to struggle in big games. Now, the Cubs send Hendricks who has been nothing short of lights out and who has come through repeatedly in this same element as he has already pitched 2 elimination games for the Cubs for Maddon including beating the Dodgers last year.  Dusty Baker is a terrible in-game manager and give Joe Maddon a major managing edge in an elimination game.

He has a sub 2 ERA in the post-season and with Gio giving up more than 17 runs over his last 21 innings, that will make an impact here and the Chicago Cubs will get the win on the road.

5*

I think we are getting some very good value here with the STL Blues. I realize they played on Monday but the season is early and the NY Rangers aren't that good in my eyes. The Blues are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. NY Rangers and also 5-0 in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference. STL is 10-3 in their last 13 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. We have several stats pointing in favor of STL. The Blues wrapped up the regular season by going 22-8-2 under HC Yeo. St Louis then lasted two rounds in the post-season and they've now begun this season with a perfect 3-0 start under Yeo. No one can argue that the players certainly seem to have responded well to the coaching change. Even though the Blues had to go to the shootout to get the win yesterday, they did lead the game 2-0 for much of the way. Take the STL Blues as a small dog on Tuesday night as our 5* NHL Game of the Week. 

Tonight is the reason Dodgers starter Yu Darvish was brought to this team. This is the very reason why he is paid the big bucks is to close this team out. He held San Diego to 2 hits in 7 innings in his last start and the Phillies to 1 in 5.1 innings. He even held the Giants to 3 hits in 7 innings prior to that. So, over his last 3 starts he has given up 1 run in 19.1 innings. Arizona starter Greinke seems to have a tired arm as he has given up 14 runs in 11.2 innings in his last 3 starts and has been hittable and in elimination games he has always had a tendency to struggle. We like Darvish and the Dodgers to get it done on Monday night!

10* MLB PLAYOFFS GAME OF THE WEEK 

The Bears shouldn't be getting three points in this matchup at home, where they've went toe to toe with two far superior teams earlier this season. The Bears predictably made a switch at QB, and the rookie should give the offense a boost, but he won't have to do too much with the running game likely to dominate this matchup, as it did when the Bears beat the Vikings at home last year 20-10. The Vikings have a solid passing attack, but it hasn't played as well on the road, and they even struggled to move the ball at home last week against the Lions. Dalvin Cook's injury is also a huge loss for this offense. I'll back the Bears here at home on MNF.

5* 

The Houston Astros strong lineup only scored in the 1st inning on Sunday and I look for them to get the bats rolling and get the win on Monday afternoon in Boston. They are 33-16 in day games as well and coming off of a day-time loss yesterday. The Astros are hot, 24-9 in their last 33 overall and they have played exceptionally well on the road lately too, 7-2 in their last nine away games. They also play well against great teams, 7-2 in their last nine against opponents with winning records. Pitching is always the key to the postseason, and Morton is also hot, 5-1 last six starts. Take the Astros on Monday afternoon.

5* 

The Chiefs are the league's only undefeated team and they're facing a rookie QB on Sunday night. But this is a great spot for the Texans. KC goes on the road on a short week and banged up on both sides of the ball. The Texans are coming off a dominating home win last Sunday 57-14 and when was the last time the Texans scored over 50 points in a single game. Houston rookie QB Deshaun Watson has been nothing but outstanding in his first 3 starts going 2-1 and that one loss was at New England but lost only by 3-points 36-33. Look for the Texans defense to win this game at home Sunday night. 

5*

I like NY with Tanaka on the hill here at home on Sunday night. The Yankees are 9-0 in their last 9 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game. Also, the Yankees are very good at home sporting a 14-3 in their last 17 home games. I look for them to grab the win here on Sunday night.

5* 

Astros starter Peacock who just secured himself a spot in the rotation is unlikely to give it up or get shelled here. Remember, Houston is one of the most well prepped teams in all of Baseball prior to a game with Nolan Ryan's imprinting all over this team. Peacock is no slouch as he is 13-2 with a 3 era this year and just held Boston to 2 hits in 5 innings in his last start en route to a 12-2 win. Boston's Doug Fister has been nothing short of highly questionable over his last few starts and with a potent Astros lineup that is just rolling right now, look for them to get more offense to get it done here and look for Peacock to settle down as the Astros end the series. The Astros are 7-1 in their last 8 games versus a team with a winning record and the Astros are 5-1 when facing a winning team with Peacock on the mound.

5* 

Going with the Bengals in this match-up against the Bills. The Bengals are looking like that they are coming together now since they made the change at offensive coordinator. The Bengals defense has been solid this year by ranking 3rd in defense that allows 16.8 points per game. Also, they are ranked 3rd against the pass. The Bills should be ready for a let down after beating the Broncos and Falcons and now playing their 2nd straight road game. Take the Bengals here on Sunday.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK 

Wisconsin struggled last week but pulled away in the end. 

 Wisconsin was able to post impressive offensive numbers its first three games albeit against the soft defenses of Utah State, Florida Atlantic and BYU. Last week, facing a bit more resistance, the Badgers managed only 306 total yards in their 33-24 win over Northwestern. The final tally was very deceiving as both teams combined for only 550 yards but five turnovers and a pick six helped it go over the total. Last year's meeting saw Wisconsin grind out a 23-17 win in Madison and I like the Cornhuskers to keep it close.

One noticeable change during Nebraska's two recent wins was a far more conservative game plan. The Cornhuskers ran the ball 85 times vs. only 45 pass attempts. 

Nebraska is very good at home in night games and I like them getting the pts here on Saturday night. 

10* Underdog Game of the Month

This is the first night game ever between these 2 teams and you can expect Michgian to be rocking on Saturday night.

Michigan State has a decent offense, but they do not matchup well against Michigan's defense. The Wolverines will pressure the hell out of the Spartans.

I believe Michigan's defense is better than last years and that is scary. I believe John O'Korn will get the starting job for this game and Michigan will move the ball on offense with ease.  If you factor in the home field advantage especially since it's a night game i don't think Mich State has a chance. 
Michigan wins big on Saturday night!

5*

Purdue has played well against elite teams (Michigan & Louisville) and has the home-crowd advantage, not to mention the emotion of losing coach Tiller earlier this week.  The school plans to honor prior to the game so you can bet there will be a little extra electricity to the home crowd and the players in this one.

Purdue's offense looked awful vs. Michigan with just 10 pts and an embarrassing running game, but I look for them to be focused and bounce back here at home. I think their QB is a talented player as well.

We have Purdue coming off its bye week and playing for Coach Tiller with pride. The Boilermakers are 9-2 SU & 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home meetings with Minnesota. Purdue is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games after gaining 100 or fewer rushing yards in its previous game. Take Purdue to take care of business and get the WIN and COVER here on Saturday.

10* Oddsmaker Mistake Play

Boise State needs a big morale effort here as the team is 2-2 and 0-1 on the road, and what better way than to play fantastic on national television against a well-known team like BYU. 

Boise State lost by just a field goal to Washington State in overtime earlier this year and lost to a Virginia team by 19 at home - in which Virginia had massive defense and a coach who knows the Boise State Program well having been from the west coast. 

Boise State has a top 45 defense and just gave up 42 points at home, which has to be infuriating. 

So look for Boise State's defense to shape up in a big way coming off a horrible defensive performance and game defensive game.

Both coaches are somewhat conservative. BYU’s Kalani Sitake is moving into the ultra-conservative category because of injuries at quarterback, and BYU's offense is averaging 12.6 points per game. Boise has a run-oriented attack and its defense should keep BYU in check with few big plays.  Take the UNDER here on Friday night!

5*

The Nationals have their ace on the mound with Strasburg who has been waiting for this moment for quite some time and he has been lights out with a 2.52 ERA this year, has put together 9 of 10 strong outings and out of those 10 outings he has held opponents to 0 runs over his last 7 starts starts which is very impressive. 

Cubs starter Hendricks was phenomenal against St. Louis in his last start striking out 9 batters and giving up just 4 hits in 5 innings and only 1 walk. He has put together 10 straight quality starts 

 Look for both pitchers to be on their game and this one to stay UNDER the total on Friday night in DC.

5*

This should be a good chance for Memphis to bounce back coming off of their tough result last week at UCF.

 UConn hasn't been great out of the gate and shown a lot of weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball which isn't ideal coming into this matchup against what can be a very high powered Memphis offensive attack. 

This is a great chance for the Memphis offense to breakout and get a big road win.

I'm laying the points with Memphis on Friday night, as I look for them to bounce back and get a BIG WIN on Friday night.  They were outplayed and out-coached vs Central Florida last weekend.

 UConn is just 5-16-1 ATS in its last 22 home games, and I see the trend continuing here tonight.

Memphis by 24.

5*

The New England Patriots defense is bad and I like TB at home to get us the cash. Tom Brady is on fire and yet the Pats are just 2-2 on the season. They are +5 on the season in turnovers so they've been getting lucky. The Pats are also banged up and on a short week playing on the road. Everyone’s offense gets healthy against this Patriots defense. While I do expect them to get things figured out eventually, I just don’t see it happening on the short week in this game vs. Jameis Winston & the Bucs. Look for WR Jackson and Evans to have big games vs the Pats secondary. Also, the Bucs' defense is pretty good and will generate turnovers.

5* 

Nashville lost the Stanley Cup and those teams start well on the road.  They've also added Nick Bonino to their team who will make his debut for Nashville.  Meanwhile the Bruins are missing a few key players with injuries and illness.  The Predators are a team on the rise and they are very good defensively.  I like them to notch a win here on Thursday night in their opener.

4*

 If there is one game the Red Sox must have, it's Game 1 of this series. Boston ace Chris Sale is tabbed with the daunting task of shutting down a lineup that led the majors in batting average (.282), on-base percentage (.346), and slugging percentage (.478).

 Quite a task, in defeating Verlander, and quieting the bats. But if one guy can do its Sale.

Chris Sale is 5-1 with a 1.31 ERA over six starts while producing 65 strikeouts against five walks in 48 innings.

 Now, after 260 regular-season trips to the hill, Sale will make his first postseason start. I think he thrives with confidence here on Thursday afternoon. Take the RedSox.

5*

 Arizona was very good at home posting a 52-29 record led by Paul Goldschimdt and JD Martinez.

They also have their Ace on the hill and playing at home.

Zack Greinke went 13-1 with a 2.87 ERA at home for the Dbacks. The Rockies batted .208 as a team at Chase Field so I don't see them scoring many runs on Wednesday night.

Lay it with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday evening.

10*

Several of the NY Yankees starters have very good numbers vs Ervin Santana including Gardner, Bird, Ellsbury, and Headley. The Yankees are at home with their ace Luis Severino will be making his first career postseason appearance at any level in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game, after going 9-2 with a 2.28 ERA since the break. He is 2-0 with 19K's in his last 3 starts. I don't like the price but in a one-game playoff with their ace and playing at home I'll on the Yankees here Tuesday night. 

5*

Tough to get a read on the Redskins because of how inconsistent they’ve been from week-to-week. What has been consistent is Kareem Hunt and the Chiefs offense. The dynamic duo of Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill have turned the Chiefs into a threat to score on any snap from any spot on the field. They have combined for four touchdowns of between 30 and 75 yards. Defensively, their secondary won’t miss many opportunities to take the ball away from the giving Kirk Cousins as the Redskins struggle away from home. Lay the points with the KC Chiefs on MNF.

5* 

The Steelers are a different team on the road than when they play at home. This is a big divisional game and I like the home team to come out on top as the Ravens are off of a poor game with just 186 total yards last week and 3 turnovers. Steelers just don't have their offense hitting on all cylinders yet and have stayed Under in all three and covered just once. Baltimore has covered the past five meetings. Ravens +3 is the play. The Ravens are being seriously undervalued after their poor showing and I expect a nice bounceback from Joe Flacco. Baltimore is 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.

5* 

The Bills haven't shown much on offense so far, and Atlanta is very explosive and also playing at home with a tough defense up front and will pressure Bills QB Taylor. The Falcons have so much team speed and playing at home will be too much for Buffalo. The Bills rank 23rd in points scored per drive. Look for Matt Ryan to have a big game and Julio Jones to break out with a big performance.

10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK 

When you watch the powerful offensive game of Virginia Tech they score 40 a game, and score quite easily - they can make the tough plays that teams need to - when necessary to win bigger games. Virginia Tech offense can always be counted on for putting up fast points, and will do again. With a season average of 12.11 yards per catch - Ray-Ray McCloud doesn’t produce nearly as much as the Hokies star WR, Cam Phillips and his 15.38 /yards per reception during his season at Virginia Tech - they have far better weapons at WR, and it will make a huge difference. It comes down to the passing game of Clemson - they cant seem to get their own WR involved on the field and get them to step up when needed. Clemson and their very talented RB Travis Etienne need to improve on his pass blocking side of the ball. Virginia Tech has too much attacking skill here.

I think the setting and matchup is positive for Virginia Tech. If they limit big plays and Jackson plays well, they can win this football game. It is going to be a difficult challenge but I like Virginia Tech at home and getting the points. The Hokies will be play outstanding team defense Saturday night and I see the Hokies making a key play on Special Teams to get us the cover and another College Football winner. Clemson is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 conference games and the Hokies are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games. Also, throw in that the home team in this series has covered 5 out of 7 games and Saturday night in Blacksburg will be rocking!

10* 

The misleading final scores from last week’s games provide us with excellent line value on the Spartans. Iowa comes in off a heartbreak loss at home vs. Penn St and still hanging their heads. Despite losing by just two points, Iowa was actually dominated from the line of scrimmage by the Nittany Lions. The Hawkeyes were outgained by over 300 total yards in the loss. Meanwhile, Michigan State is home for the fourth consecutive week and is coming off a 38-18 loss to Notre Dame. Despite losing by twenty points, the Spartans actually outgained Notre Dame by 141 total yards but lost due to 3 turnovers and a ton of penalties. The Spartans have committed the 13th-fewest number of penalties this season (head coach Mark Dantonio is one of the nation’s best) and I expect a focused effort here. The Spartans should get the win and cover here at home on Saturday afternoon.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK 

I think this is going to be a really good close game. Both teams have faced fairly similar levels of compitition so far this year and have very similar stats. I really want to see the orange pull this game out and think they have a better chance than most people are giving them credit for. Syracuse loves to push the pace offensively and run a lot of plays. NC State is more of a patient offensive attack. Defensively, you can give the talent edge to the Wolfpack, but the Orange play well collectively as a unit. This will be a lot closer than people think. Keep an eye on Syracuse QB Eric Dungey to make some big plays.

5* 

Nebraska's strongest suit is their defense, and they have become as inconsistent as ever on offense. And with the AD being recently fired, that is sending a clear message that this team needs to shape up and they will do what they do well or will do what they do well better - which is defense. Lovie Smith coach of Illinois is a defensive-minded coach who just gave up 40+ points on the road to South Florida on national TV. You can expect a low-scoring, ball-control affair which is why the spread is so low at just 6 points. Look for several FG's and long drives and this total to stay UNDER!

5* 

This is the closest spread in this matchup over the past 10 meetings, but in my mind, it should be even smaller. The Duke defense is one of the best they've had especially against the run. Duke looks like they're one of the teams most overlooked coming into the year in the ACC and I'm looking forward to seeing if the Blue Devils can keep up their high level of play this week against one of the top teams in the conference. Big win for Duke last week against rival UNC and now Duke gets a chance to further their cause to get into the top 25 if they can come through today at home. Miami has had their season altered by the Hurricane, as this is only their 3rd game. Look for DUKE to keep it close throughout behind their defense here at home.

5* 

The Packers are banged up and just played 4 days ago in 90 degree heat.

The Packers defense has struggled against the run this year and I look for a close game here on Thursday night.

 The Bears kept the Steelers in check and being a divisional game I'll take the pts with the Bears here on Thursday night.

5*

The Nationals are 47-28 vs the NL East this year. They are coming off of a rare loss where they only had 4 hits.

Since the start of 2016 season, Roark is 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA and 0.97 WHIP against the Phillies. He has not given up more than three earned runs in a start since July 29.

Bryce Harper is back in the lineup adding extra punch to a already hard-hitting Nationals lineup, and it showed in his last start against the team. 

The PHILLIES Mark Leiter carried a 3.88 ERA into September, but he has struggled this month. He has a 7.17 ERA in four starts, allowing 17 earned runs over 21 1/3 innings. He seems to have a dead arm.

I like the Nationals in this one and don’t expect it to be very competitive at all. 

10* GAME OF THE WEEK

 The Orioles opened the 2017 season 22-10 but quickly fell into a funk. The team got back into contention by late-August but Baltimore's long-shot playoff hopes were officially snuffed out this past Saturday night. 

 The pitching matchup: Kevin Gausman (11-10 & 4.61 ERA) will go for Baltimore and Trevor Williams (6-9 & 4.18 ERA) for Pittsburgh. Gausman has been excellent in his last two starts, allowing just 1 run on nine hits over 15 inning (0.60 ERA) with a 13 Ks and just two walks. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates clearly have their sights fixed on 2018, as five of the eight position players who started for them on Sunday were rookies. In this one, I'll back the suddenly hot Gausman and the Orioles. 

5*

The Cowboys were knocked around in Denver last week, but here this is certainly a nice chance to bounce back in all aspects here on MNF.  Look for Dak and Elliott to come up big tonight. With Arizona's David Johnson going down, they are really scrambling to figure things out in the backfield. 

 The Cardinals do not play well on Monday Night Football. 

The Cards are coming off an overtime victory over the Colts in which Arizona's secondary led the way. Dallas struggled against a similarly strong secondary. The difference is that I don’t think the Cards have the ability to run the ball like the Broncos did and Carson Palmer is washed up.

Take the DALLAS COWBOYS to bounce back big on MNF.

5*

Cardinals starter Luke Weaver is 7-0 with a 1.61 ERA since losing his only game of the season, and Cubs starter Jon Lester is coming off what was described as an awkward start as he struggled with his command against the Rays. He says he's fine physically and ready to go tonight. This will be the lefty's fifth start against the Cardinals this season and so far, he's 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA. Look for a low scoring game here and I am backing the UNDER as your Monday MLB 5* BEST BET.

The Seattle OL was ripped all week by Pete Carroll. So look for a much-improved performance this week. Russell Wilson has a solid ball-carrier in RB, Chris Carson to keep the Tennessee defense honest as he will get the passing game going and take advantage of a Titans secondary without Safety, Jonathan Cyprien. The Seahawks defense is still very tough and Seattle has a defense that is yielding just 13.0 PPG. The 'dog in this series is 6-0 ATS the L6 meetings. The Seahawks are 7-0 ATS the L7 games played in Week 3 while the Titans are 7-22-2 ATS their L31 games played at home and just dont matchup well. We'll go against the public and take this Seattle team plus the pts on Sunday afternoon.

10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK  

Both teams are undefeated coming into this game, although I have been more impressed with Iowa’s resume, which includes a double-digit win over Wyoming and a road victory at Iowa State. Penn St has played a very weak cupcake schedule so far. The Hawkeyes are averaging 33.0 points and 398 total yards per game at 5.3 yards per play against teams that would combine to allow 5.2 yards per play to a mediocre attack to they are just slightly above average offensively. However, Iowa possesses an outstanding defense especially at home where the Hawkeyes have yielded just 8.5 points and 269 total yards per game at 4.6 yards per play and 31.6 yards per point. Iowa’s defensive backfield has been spectacular this season as well and their linebackers are always tough. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is a profitable 9-2 ATS as a conference home underdog of more than seven points, including 7-1 ATS with revenge and 4-0 ATS at home with triple-revenge. Ferentz is also an incredible 19-5-1 ATS when playing with revenge with the Hawkeyes, including 10-0-1 ATS over the last eleven circumstances. Look for Iowa to keep this one close throughout so we are backing the home underdog on Saturday night.

5* 

Fifth-year head coach Mark Stoops finally got the message that in order to compete in the SEC, you have to value the football, run the football, and play solid defense. Through three games, UK is +4 in turnover margin, owns a 121-70 run/pass ratio, and is allowing only 346.7 ypg. For seven of the eight quarters it has played, Florida's offense has been nothing short of abysmal. The Gators managed 11 rushing yards vs. Michigan and if you eliminate their Hail Mary toss at the end of last week's win over Tennessee, they would have been outgained by 125 yards to the Vols. For casual bettors, Kentucky's 30-game losing streak to Florida is going to make this a "Gators or pass" game. But in those 30 games, how many times could you confidently say Kentucky had the ability to win the line of scrimmage battle? I feel they'll do so in Saturday's matchup which is why I'm on the short home underdog to pull the upset at home. 

5*

Arkansas has to try finding more better plays for their top WR, Jonathan Nance. Arkansas has had a steady decline in their offensive output from last season, when they were putting up over 30/game but they'll get back on track here Saturday afternoon. I don't think that Arkansas is going to miss out on a chance to pull a key SEC upset here. Bret Bielema has lost to A&M five straight years, including a 21-point rout last season after back-to-back overtime heartbreakers in 2014 and 2015. Well, it is time for the Razorbacks to snap the streak. This A&M team has issues. Kevin Sumlin has fans and alumni openly campaigning for his firing. The Aggies still have that unreal choke against UCLA hanging over them. They were also unimpressive in a 10-point win over Nicholls State and the Aggies were actually down 21-14 at halftime last week against Louisiana-Lafayette. Arkansas has had two weeks to prepare for this game and lick its wounds after falling to TCU. But that 28-7 loss was a bit misleading, as it was 14-7 with less than three minutes left to play and Arkansas had two missed field goals. I think Arkansas is extremely motivated in this game and I think that they are more focused than the Aggies. There's no way you can trust the Aggies' offense, as its been a mess. The biggest issue is at QB. I like how the Razorbacks are built on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Look for them to bounce back and control the offensive and defensive lines in this one. I like the Razorbacks to get this win here.

10* College Game of the Month 

Oakland is 11-3 their last 14 games and their offense is red hot.
Graveman's last start was cut short due to a long rain delay in Philadelphia. He had allowed just one hit in two innings before the delay. He is 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in three starts vs. Texas this season and he is well rested.

Texas starts Nick Martinez who is 3-6 with a 5.47 ERA in 16 starts this season and 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts vs. the A's. The A's are coming off a rest day and I like them to get this win here on Friday night.

5*

SD is playing with revenge after losing last week 16-0 with this same pitching matchup.

San Diego has found a knack for beating playoff-contending teams.

 I'll take a shot with the home underdog who have won three of four, catching money from a Rockies team that has lost three straight.

 5* PADRES

The Nats should be even bigger faves in this spot, with Gio Gonzalez facing Lucas Sims. Sims has not started since Sept. 2 and his last two starts resulted in 11 earned runs over 9 1/3 innings. Lay it. This is a big park, great for pitchers, and Washington has red-hot Gio Gonzalez (14-7. 2.68 ERA). He is off a bad game at home against this Atlanta squad, but is 10-4 with a 3.04 ERA on the road. Daniel Murphy is also expected back in the lineup this evening for Washington. Take the Nats to get the cash here on Wednesday night.

10* NL GAME OF THE WEEK

The Yanks are 13-3 in CC Sabathia's last 16 starts on extra rest. Back the Bombers here at home as if CC can give them 5 solid innings the bullpen will take care of the rest.
Twins starter Berrios has struggled this year on the road and the Yankees just beat their ace last night.
Sabathia is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA since returning from a brief DL stint and I'll back him here on Tuesday night in the Bronx.

5*

This is a great spot for both these offenses to get it going. If you are a pitcher for either of these ballclubs you are pitching for a team that is in the basement of their respective divisions. Detroit starter Buck Farmer is going to struggle here, with Oakland hitting 48 home runs in its past 24 games. I also think Detroit's lineup, which produced a 12-0 win yesterday at home against the Chicago White Sox, will get to Jharel Cotton. Cotton has had an inconsistent September, including a one-run, six-inning outing versus hard-hitting Texas. He's allowed 14 runs in his last three starts. Cotton has given up 8 walks over his last 3 games which shows a lack of control and 20 hits over his last 14 innings. So, that's 28 bsaerunners in 14 innings. Look for plenty of runs scored in this game tonight with nice weather and winds blowing out this evening. Take the OVER!

10*

Dallas handled the Giants with rather ease in their season opener, as they completely flustered them on the defensive end. Dallas allowed just 223 yards total in the process and just 3 points against. They should have a field day vs an inexperienced Broncos QB. The Cowboys offensively saw that Dak Prescott is not going to go through any sophomore slumps. Prescott and the offense put up 392 total yards, the 4th most in the NFL in Week 1. He was a perfect 4-0 vs the AFC last year and he rarely turns the ball over. Dallas is one of the most explosive teams on both sides of the ball. They should be able to handle a Denver team that isn't flashy and likely won't be able to sustain any drives.

5*

We roll with the Under here with Gonzalez and Richards pitching. We  like him to get back on track and focused here as he has to come through for his new team. He is 3-3 with a 3.80 era lifetime against the Angels a team he has had success against.
Richards has been solid since returning from a bicep injury and looks to continue to pitch well. Richards is 9-3 with a 3.13 era lifetime against the Rangers and note that he comes off a tough 0-1 loss to Houston despite giving up 1 run in 5 innings against a good Astros offense. I'm on the UNDER here Sunday.

5*

The Chiefs are very good on both sides on the ball. Andy Reid got his revenge in his third game coaching the Chiefs with a 26-16 win over the Eagles in Philadelphia. My guess is he will always want to beat the Eagles. KC played last Thursday so they'll have a few extra days to prep for this game. The Eagles got banged up vs the Redskins and that game was a lot close than the final score indicated. Reid has his best team yet in Kansas City and they won 44 games in his first four years. They are as good as the team you watched beat New England. Now this isn't quite the same amount of time as a bye week, where Andy Reid is 16-2 ATS coming off a bye. But he is excellent with extra time to prepare. Take the Chiefs here in their home opener.

10*

I'm looking for this to be a shootout and Texas has too many athletes to pass up this high number. Both teams have found themselves in high scoring affairs in their first two. Their average scores are almost identical: USC 48-27, Texas 46-27. Both defenses have struggled against lesser opponents. Texas lost 51-41 at home to Maryland as an 18-point favorite. USC will get plenty of points, but Texas should keep up. I'm anticipating a close game and Texas to stay within 10 pts. Take the Longhorns as our 10* Game of the Week.

10*

The Fighting Irish are hungry for a big win as they are looking to forget last week's heart breaking 20-19 home loss to Georgia. A look inside the numbers reveal that Notre Dame tends to stay on a roll when they're defense is rolling. They are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games after their defense allows less than 170 yards passing in the previous game. We also see there is a big advantage in this series to being the road team as the home team is a mere 1-4 ATS in the series. We already know that Boston College is a terrible home team, 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 home games. And we know that when they get crushed they usually take the following week off as they are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points. This BC team is not good and ND had a very focused week of practice. I look for Notre Dame to win by 3 TD's.

5*

New Baylor coach Matt Rhule did a great job at Temple and he will turn this program around, despite discouraging losses in the first two weeks. It won't take long because he has the talent. Going out on the road should take some pressure off the players. Duke has played great in its first two games abut this is a look-ahead spot with rival North Carolina on deck. What would this line have been before the season? My guess would be Baylor -6. But after the Bears lost two home games to Liberty and UTSA, they are now 14-point dogs at Duke. Meanwhile, Duke just blew the doors off Northwestern 41-17 last week. So everyone is high on the Blue Devils now all of a sudden. I think Baylor still has the superior talent in this one, despite the slow start and HC Rhule is 21-7 ATS as an underdog. I think this one stays close throughout.

5*

We all know about the high powered offense that the Cowboys bring to the table. Pitt as we know plays a way different style of football. This is the type of style that generally the Big 12 struggles with because they don't have the big physical lineman. Pitt prefers the ground and pound and just like last year they took the Cowboys down to the wire. So last week this Pitt team if you look at the box score actually out played Penn St. They out gained them by 30 yards had 10 more first downs but had 3 major turnovers. I think they are catching Oklahoma St at the right time here as they have a huge game with TCU on deck next weekend. I'm on the home underdog with the PITT PANTHERS on Saturday afternoon.

5*

We are passing the Thursday NFL and College Football and turn our attention to Friday night College Football here.
Both of these teams are 2-0 to start the season.
Charlie Strong's South Florida team is 2-0 and ranked 21st in the nation and get a primetime game on Friday night.
 South Florida has a prolific offense and an improving defense under Strong.

In the past nine years Illinois has never won more than a single road game in a season and has put up just a 8-33 away record in that time span, are just 5-11 against the spread in their last 16 games as a road dog, are 3-8 versus the number in their last 11 against teams with a winning record and have lost their last 17 straight games against ranked opponents. Now they find themselves traveling to Florida on a short week with injuries on both sides of the ball and facing a USF team that has had an extra week to prepare.
 That should be the difference here in that South Florida's defense should hold against an average Illinois defense and South Florida's offense should still be able to move the ball with all the talent they have.

5*

Andrew Cashner is 6-2 with a 2.49 ERA in his past 11 starts. One of those wins was a 5-1 victory on Aug. 2, when he allowed one run in six innings. He is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts against the Mariners this season and has had 9 of 10 quality starts. Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez of late has struggled giving up 10 hits and 5 walks in 11 innings (that's 15 baserunners in 11 innings). He has also given up a homerun in each of his last 4 starts including 2 homeruns against Texas. Let's roll with the more consistent pitcher, go against the pitcher coming off the DL as it takes some time to get some rhythm, and take a Rangers team who has been run out of their stadium the last 2 games who likely get up to face King Felix. Texas got outscored 18-4 the past 2 games and I look for the RANGERS to BOUNCE BACK BIG here on Thursday night.

10*

On Tuesday we saw the Phillies come back from down 7-2 to win 9-8, tying the game in both the bottom of the 9th and bottom of the 10th. That's a tough loss to bounce back from for the Marlins and it's not like they have been playing well of late, as they are just 2-13 in their last 15 games. On top of that, Miami sends out a struggling Dan Straily, who has a 5.06 ERA and 1.812 WHIP in his last 3 starts. Philadelphia will send out Aaron Nola, who is a quality guy at home. The Marlins are out of the playoff hunt as their recent losing streak of where they have lost 13 of their last 15 games. The Phillies scored 9 runs yesterday and have shown prowess in their ability to score runs as each game for them is a success as they look forward to next season and building into next season so they are playing with a lot of pride and purpose. Phillies are 13-4 in their last 17 games after scoring 8 or more runs, while Miami is a mere 8-17 in their last 25 after putting up 8 or more runs and 7-24 in their last 31. The Marlins are 1-7 in their last 8 road games and Philadelphia is 7-1 on Nola's last 8 starts with 5 days of rest. I'm backing the PHILLIES here on Wednesday night.

10* NL GAME OF THE WEEK

We roll with the Under here between these two teams that are headed to a very likely post-season. You have a Colorado team that just took 4 games from LA and their pitching staff give 11 runs that entire series and though it is the Dodgers and they are struggling, the fact that this pitching staff has held on strong this entire year when many thought they would not is testament to their will. You have a pitcher in Walker who is hitting his stride when it counts the most for Arizona giving up 2 runs in about 23 innings and has dropped his era all the way down to 3.33. He has been particularly sharp against Colorado giving up 5 runs in 23 innings of work and we like the fact he is pitching at home where he has consistently pitched well and note the Under is 11-4 for the Rockies against a right handed pitcher and the Under is 4-1 for the Diamondbacks when they face a team with a winning record. I like the UNDER tonight between these 2 teams on Tuesday night.

10*

Both these teams have excellent defenses, but the Broncos lost one of the best defensive coordinators in the league during the offseason and decided to part ways with quality safety T.J. Ward during final cuts. SD also has the better QB by far with Philip Rivers.
Both teams upgraded their O-lines during the offseason, but the Chargers boast a deeper pass rush with Shane Ray sidelined.

The CHARGERS have covered in 5 straight openers and gone 11-3-1 ATS in three-plus years of September outings.
With the unintimidating Trevor Siemian at QB and nice weather in Denver, the Broncos have no business be favored in this game.
Take the SD Chargers with confidence on MNF.

10*

Baltimore will start Ubaldo Jimenez who has not started in some time and looks to rebound and do well here. Remember, Jiminez is usually good for a decent start after he has struggled and he has consistently performed well against the Bluejays. This is the same pitcher that faced the Bluejays and gave up 0 runs and 2 hits in 8 innings in his last start. If Jimenez wants to stay relevant then he needs to come through here and you have Estrada who was lit up by the Orioles the last time he faced them as well and should bounce back as well. Look for both these pitchers to be motivated today and likely to pitch well. The Under is 11-3 for the Orioles on the road against a right handed pitcher and the Under is 6-1 for the Bluejays after scoring 5 or more runs their previous game.

5* 

The Eagles are sneakily a contender in the NFC. Their downturn last year was linked to losing Lane Johnson to suspension, and the line will give Carson Wentz plenty of time to move the ball around and he has a solid receiving core. Their weakness heading into the offseason was at cornerback, and Ronald Darby goes a long way towards fixing it. Washington has a big hole to fill on offense after losing their top two WRs and offensive coordinator. I think the Redskins will struggle this year in a major way. Look for Philly to win the battle up front, and for Carson Wentz to enjoy using his new weapons. I'm backing the Eagles here on Sunday.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK 

10* UNDERDOG GAME OF THE WEEK:

The Cornhuskers enter into this game barely getting by Arkansas state last week, and they didn't want to show much while Oregon is still sky high after putting up 77 points in their opener. This will be a great battle in the trenches. Both teams have shown a dedication to the run game, and can run it well. The Huskers, in my opinion, have better weapons on the perimeter and had their number last season. The Cornhuskers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss. Ducks are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. I like NEBRASKA plus the pts here on Saturday afternoon. 

Iowa won this rivalry game last year 42-3 as a 15-point favorite, and has the better team once again this year. Iowa has got to try and keep drives going, and they have the better offensive line and better linebackers on defense. The Hawkeyes D played well vs Wyoming, versus a probable NFL QB in Josh Allen of Wyoming. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz always has his teams ready on the road, and the Hawkeyes will have their share of fans in the stadium and I'm backing IOWA on Saturday afternoon as they win by 10 or more.

10* Oddsmaker Mistake Play 

The North Carolina defense looked lost late against a rebuilding Cal team most had relegated to the Pac-12 basement at the start of the year. Louisville a bit ambushed by a fired up and match improved Purdue team and they showed last night the Boilermakers are for real. Lamar Jackson is once again off to a fast start and we can expect a much more focused and prepared Louisville team to take care of business here on Saturday in this early kickoff.

5* 

The Angels team scored just 1 run yesterday to Oakland. This team had won 6 of 7 games and they have not lost back to back games in what seems like ages as they fight for a playoff spot. The Angels offense is very good now after a few trades.

 You have a team here who has scored 59 runs over their last 7 games and come off a game where they scored just 1 run. 

 The Seattle hitters will get some pitches to hit against Nolasco who has given up 19 walks over his last 8 starts including a homerun in 5 of his last 6 starts as well. Note, he has given up 20 runs over his last 30 innings as well and I look for this game to go OVER THE TOTAL on Friday night.

5*

Purdue's defense was decent in its 35-28 loss to Louisville last week, but it still was the Boilermarkers' eighth loss in a row.

They've covered only twice in their last 10 home games. Meanwhile, Ohio has covered eight of its last nine of the road and a very solid team. What consistently stands out about Frank Solich's Bobcats is their well-coached defense. I like Ohio U to play them tough and get the win over Purdue.

Take OHIO U plus the pts.

5*

We roll with the Over here as you have an Atlanta team that has been prolific on the offensive side of the ball over the last few games and has put up run totals of 12, 5, 2, 8 and 5 runs. This is a team that is 7-4 against the Marlins overall this year and they have continuously come through against the Marlins and today should be no different. Strailey has been more human in the second half having given up 12 runs over his last 4 starts and 9 walks in the process as well as 15 hits over his last 2 starts and 6 homeruns over his last 4 games. 

 The Over is 4-1 for the Marlins against a left hander and the Over is 3-1-1 for the Braves in their last 5 home games. Look for Stanton to hit another HR and this TOTAL to go OVER the number.

5*

The Cleveland Indians rotation is on fire right now yielding less than 2 runs per game for over 2 weeks and you have a pitcher in Lopez who has underperformed and we like him to step up here and do well as he has over a 6 era and that is a shame for a pitcher who is much better than that and he gets to showcase that today to the AL Champs. The White Six lineup is also very weak and this should be an UNDER play.

Look for a  very good pitcher's duel and limited runs scored in this one.

5*

Carlos Martinez threw a three-hitter and struck out 10, Yadier Molina hit a two-run single and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 2-0 Monday for their fourth victory in five games. Travis Wood has an ugly 1.66 WHIP and 5.47 ERA entering Tuesday's home start against the Cardinals. Michael Wacha snapped out of his funk last time out, and I'll back the STL Cards to extend their dominance over San Diego with another win on Tuesday night.

5*

Tyler Chatwood gets the calls for the Rockies in this one and he has been a Giant killer. Chatwood has been strong in his last 70.67 innings against the San Francisco Giants posting a 6-1 record with a 3.68 ERA. The big left-hander Ty Blach will take the hill for the San Francisco Giants. Blach has a 8-11 record and a 4.68 ERA with 70 strikeouts. The San Francisco Giants are 31-40 when playing a team with a winning record. They are 21-37 on the road this season. Take the Colorado Rockies here on Tuesday night.

10*

New York is off a late Sunday night WIN over the RedSox and this is letdown spot for them.
Yankees pitcher Jordan Montgomery has not lasted more than 5 1/3 innings in any of his last five starts. He'll face an Orioles team that's 15 games over .500 at home and hits lefties well and playing some very good ball in the past few weeks.
I'll take Baltimore here at home on Monday afternoon.

5*