Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Gonzaga vs. St. John’s @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Gonzaga Bulldogs face the St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Gonzaga with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulldogs are blowing away the competition during non-conference play, with an average margin of victory of 36 points. Gonzaga is averaging over 93 points per game and sit fourth in the nation in offense. That’s too much firepower for most opponents to hang with. 2. Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer will take the fight to St. John’s big man Chris Obekpa. Obekpa is a dangerous shot blocker but also finds himself in foul trouble. Wiltjer outclasses him and will quickly get the Johnnie big man on the bench, which changes the entire complexion of St. John’s defense. 3. The Bulldogs don’t back down from the major conferences and have covered in five straight meetings with Big East schools. Gonzaga has come away with the cash in six of its last eight games overall.
Play on Gonzaga as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Texas Christian at Texas @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Texas Longhorns host the TCU Horned Frogs Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on TCU with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Texas Christian needs to score style points in order to boost their place in the College Football Playoff standings. The Horned Frogs are trying to put a bad loss to Baylor behind it and will pile on the points against this Lone Star State rival. 2. Texas has won three straight games but that win streak is only skewing the odds and creating extra value on TCU. The Horns knocked off Texas Tech and Oklahoma State – two programs counting the days until the season ends – and caught West Virginia in a sandwich spot, off a loss to TCU and before facing Kansas State. Texas is not as good as advertised right now. 3. The Horned Frogs have a dominating defense that can cause chaos with turnovers. Texas Christian has grabbed 11 fumbles and intercepted 17 passes, going up against a Longhorns offense that has put the ball on the ground 11 times this season – second most in the Big 12.
Play on TCU as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Dallas @ 4:30 p.m. ET
The Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Dallas is coming off a tough and physical Sunday night win in New York and has a short week to heal up for this up-tempo affair with the Eagles and their high-octane offense. The Cowboys could be a few steps behind Thursday. 2. The Cowboys defense is having a tough time getting off the field on third downs, allowing opponents to convert on 45.45 percent of third-down attempts. Things have been especially bad the last three games, with opponents moving the chains on 53.33 percent of their third downs. 3. Philadelphia finally got its rushing attack on track versus the Titans last week, with RB LeSean McCoy running for 130 yards and a score. That balance on offense – Eagles averaging 315.3 passing yards per game under QB Mark Sanchez – will be tough from Dallas to stop. There is just too much firepower on this offense.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Minnesota vs. St. John’s @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Golden Gophers face the St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Minnesota with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Golden Gophers have been tightening up on defense since opening the season with a loss, limiting their last three opponents to an average of just 54 points. Minnesota was won easily in those games, blowing out opponents by almost 31 points per game. 2. After losing some marquee non-conference games last season, losses that eventually cost Minnesota a shot at the NCAA tournament, the Golden Gophers aren’t taking these tip-off tournaments lightly. They already face Louisville and have a good shot at boosting their NCAA resume with a win over the Johnnies. 3. St. John’s has consistently come up short during these big-name games, missing out of non-conference opportunities last season. The Red Storm have covered just once in their last neutral –site games (if you consider MSG a neutral site for the Johnnies) but more telling are just 1-4 ATS in their last five matchups with Big Ten members. Minnesota rises to the occasion with five ATS wins in its last six non-conference clashes.
Play on Minnesota as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Sacramento at New Orleans @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The New Orleans Pelicans host the Sacramento Kings Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Sacramento with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins is a handful, even for Pelicans center and fellow Kentucky alum Anthony Davis. Cousins is averaging more than 23 points and 12 rebounds but is also drawing a ton of fouls on opposing frontcourts. Getting Davis is foul trouble will be key to cracking the Pelicans interior defense Tuesday. 2. Sacramento comes into Tuesday on a two-game winning run, covering the spread in both contests. The Kings are one of the hottest bets in the NBA, with a 7-3 ATS mark in their last 10 outings. 3. Tuesday is setting up as a letdown spot for the Pelicans, who are coming off a four-game road trip. New Orleans has a brief stay at home for this game, then hits the highway for two more away games Friday and Saturday. Sacramento has covered in 18 of the past 25 clashes with New Orleans heading into Tuesday.
Play on Sacramento as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Southern Methodist vs. Arkansas @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The SMU Mustangs host the Arkansas Razorbacks Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on SMU with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Southern Methodist comes into this matchup at 2-2 to start the year but has been tested against some of the toughest programs in college hoops. The Mustangs fell to Indiana and Gonzaga this season, so they are playing at a much higher level than most teams at this point in the season. 2. Arkansas has benefited from sloppy play from its last two foes. Wake Forest and Delaware State combined for 44 turnovers, which parlays themselves into easy buckets for the Hogs. Offense won’t be as simple against SMU, which turned the ball over just nine times in its win over Eastern Washington. 3. Southern Methodist is a tough task inside Moody Coliseum, covering the spread in 11 of their past 16 home stands. The Mustangs averaged 75.2 points per home game last season – compared to just 67.4 points on the road.
Play on SMU as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Miami (Ohio) vs. Ohio @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks host the Ohio Bobcats Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami (Ohio) with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Despite a losing record on the season, Miami (Ohio) is one of the better plays in college football. The RedHawks have covered in seven of their 11 contests this year, playing above the oddsmakers’ expectations. 2. Ohio has been terrible on the road, losing four of its five games away from home. The Bobcats average just 13 points per road game this season – compared to more than 24 points averaged at home. 3. The RedHawks have an explosive air attack that averages 283.2 yards passing per game. The Bobcats so happen to be allowed 265.4 yards passing per game. RedHawks QB Andrew Hendrick can also so damage with his legs, giving Miami (Ohio) a dangerous weapons to keep the chains moving.
Play on Miami (Ohio) as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Portland @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Portland Trail Blazers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Blazers are on the other side of the country playing the second game of back-to-back outings, after beating Boston Sunday. Portland could be a little worn down in this game and facing a big pile of points. 2. Philadelphia is back home after a brief stop in New York. The Sixers are a much better offensive club at home, averaging 96.5 points per game – compared to just 82.1 points per road contests. The 76ers shoot 45.2 percent inside the Wells Fargo Center but only 36.9 percent away from Philadelphia. 3. Sixers center Nerlens Noel should matchup well with Portland big man LaMarcus Aldridge. Noel, much like Aldridge is very athletic and will be able to close out of Aldridge around the basket, using his length to protect against that deadly mid-range jumper. Noel is a shot blocking threat and has found his form offensively, which should have the Blazers’ bigs busy all night.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Monday 10* (Top Play) on Villanova vs. VCU @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Villanova Wildcats face the VCU Rams at the Barclays Center Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Villanova with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Wildcats head coach Jay Wright wasn’t pleased with his team’s effort in a 7-point win over Bucknell. He’ll use that effort as a wake-up call before this very important matchup in the Legends Classic Tournament. 2. Virginian Commonwealth relies on its shooting from outside to put distance between them and opponents, knocking down 40.2 percent of its looks from distance. However, the Rams have yet to play in an area as big as the Barclays Center and the field of depth in bigger venues can mess with a shooter’s ability to gauge the rim. VCU could struggle from the arc early on. 3. The Rams are going to have to hit shots from distance. Villanova has a much tougher interior defense than VCU has seen this season, especially with 6-foot-11 forward Daniel Ochefu patrolling the paint. The junior blocked three shots versus Bucknell while also changing numerous others. The Rams frontcourt only runs as tall as 6-foot-9.
Play on Villanova as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 10* (Top Play) on UC Irvine at St. Mary’s @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The St. Mary’s Gaels host the UC Irvine Anteaters Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on UC Irvine with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Anteaters tested their might against the Arizona Wildcats earlier this week, getting rolled 71-54. However, UC Irvine held a 46-41 lead in the second half before being overwhelmed by the Wildcats surplus of talent. This is major set down in competition compared to face one of the contenders for the national title. 2. The Anteaters are one of the toughest defensive programs in the entire country. Last season, UC Irvine limited opponents to 37.5 percent shooting – tops in the nation – and are holding foes to just 32.4 percent to start this year. 3. The Gaels have benefited from a soft schedule to kick off the season, and it’s showed in those three wins. St. Mary’s is shooting 54.1 percent from the floor but will get an eye opener against the stout UC Irvine defense.
Play on UC Irvine as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on NY Giants vs. Dallas @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on NY Giants with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Dallas could get caught in a huge lookahead spot Sunday night with a short week to prepare for the Eagles on Thanksgiving Day Thursday. That showdown with Philadelphia is much bigger game in the division race than this matchup with the Giants. 2. The Cowboys picked up an easy win over the Jaguars in London two weeks ago but showed some big weakness in the two losses before that victory. Dallas has been unable to get opponents off the field on third down, due in part to some poor tackling and injuries to the defense. 3. Dallas does not like cold weather games and the forecast for the Sunday nighter is looking ugly. There is an 80 percent chance of rain in East Rutherford with temperatures in the low 40s and winds could add to that impact. The Giants have a decisive home-field edge.
Play on NY Giants as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Oklahoma City vs. Golden State @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Golden State Warriors Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Golden State opens an extended road trip in OKC Sunday. The Warriors could get caught looking ahead to the move East, with a game in Miami on Tuesday. 2. The Thunder have lost five straight and that’s puffed up this spread. Oklahoma City is still a tough team inside Chesapeake Energy Arena and while they may not have their same scoring punch with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook out, this team can still defended – ranked seventh in points allowed. 3. The Warriors rely on the 3-pointer to pull away from opponents – shooting 38.6 percent. However, the Thunder don’t allow many open looks on the perimeter, locking down opposing shooters to just 31.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc – fifth in the NBA.
Play on Oklahoma City as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Tennessee @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the Tennessee Titans Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Titans were thrashed by the Steelers running game last week, allowing 206 yards on the ground. Now, Tennessee is facing the up-tempo pace of the Eagles offense that has been itching to have a breakthrough with the run game. Look for LeSean McCoy to finally have the big day everyone has been waiting for. 2. The Eagles are a tough team on their own turf, going a perfect 5-0 SU inside Lincoln Financial Field with a 4-1 ATS record in those games. On top of that, Tennessee has covered just twice in its last eight road trips. 3. Tennessee has had a short week to prepare for the Eagles after playing on Monday night. The Titans pass game is currently ranked ninth in the NFL but that’s because team have been able to run at will against their stop unit. Philadelphia has some deep threats that will test that secondary in Jeremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Nevada vs. Fresno State@ 10:30 p.m. ET
The Nevada Wolf Pack host the Fresno State Bulldogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Nevada with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Fresno State is terrible on the road. The Bulldogs have only one win away from home this season, giving up an average of 40.4 points in those road tilts. They’ve manage to cover just twice in their last seven games as the visitor. 2. Nevada needs this win to stay in the picture for the MWC Championship Game. If that doesn’t serve as motivation enough, it’s Senior Night Saturday and Fresno State has been talking smack all week, stating that they’re going to “paint Reno red”. That message made it all the way to head coach Brian Polian, who won’t call off his dogs if the Wolf Pack get up big. He would like to get all his seniors into the game and to do so, must have a healthy cushion on the scoreboard. 3. The Wolf Pack have the firepower to blow away the Bulldogs. Nevada has averaged 34 points in its last four games and faces a FSU defense that ranks among the bottom of the nation. The Bulldogs allow 491.6 yards against per game – which puts them 116th in the FBS. On offense, Fresno State’s biggest weapon, RB Marteze Waller, is nursing a shoulder injury and will be less than 100 percent if he actually plays.
Play on Nevada as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana State vs. Brown @ 6:00 p.m. ET
The Indiana State Sycamores host the Brown Bears Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sycamores are coming off a poor performance against Saint Louis at home this week, shooting just 32.8 percent from the field in the 69-56 loss. Indiana State will be looking for a quick improvement before heading to Las Vegas for a tournament over Thanksgiving. 2. Brown is having issues shooting the ball to start the year, firing at just 43.4 percent from the field. The Bears were just 4 for 17 from 3-point range in their loss at Holy Cross and stay on the road Saturday. 3. The Bears turned the ball over 23 times in the loss to Holy Cross. And while they were without PG Tavon Blackmon, those turnovers issues run deeper. Indiana State does a good job protecting the basketball and only had eight turnovers in the loss to Saint Louis.
Play on Indiana State as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Boston College at Florida State @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The Florida State Seminoles host the Boston College Eagles Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Boston College with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Boston College has a taste for upsets, having already stunned Southern Cal this season. The Eagles love the underdog roles and have covered in four of their last five games when getting the points. This team already has six wins to make the bowl cut and is playing with house money, looking to boost their postseason resume with an upset against the defending national champs. 2. Florida State isn’t focusing on the lowly Eagles Saturday. The Noles are looking ahead to a season-ending rivalry with Florida and the upcoming College Football Playoffs. The Seminoles have a bad habit of not going all out and with so much still to come, you can expect a flat effort from FSU Saturday. 3. This Boston College defense is no joke and has had two weeks to prep for Florida State. The Eagles are giving up only 21.9 points per game and actually rank ahead of FSU in terms of yards allowed, with just 323.5 per game. On offense, BC has a dangerous playmaker in QB Tyler Murphy, who has passed for 1,293 yards but is doing most of the damage with his feet. He’s rushed for 1,006 yards on the ground and will keep the chains moving for the Eagles.
Play on Boston College as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Texas-San Antonio at Western Kentucky @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers host the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Texas-San Antonio with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Western Kentucky has put up big numbers against inferior opponents and now face a true test with this Roadrunners defense. Texas-San Antonio is ranked 34th in yards allowed and has given up just 23.9 points per game. This senior-rich defense will stymy the WKU attack Saturday. 2. Western Kentucky could come out flat in this matchup. The Hilltoppers are off a big win over Army and have a road date with undefeated Marshall in the season finale. This is setting up as a lookahead spot for Western Kentucky. 3. The Roadrunners snapped a three-game slide with a win over Southern Mississippi last week. Texas San-Antonio isn’t the most power offense but doesn’t face much resistance from a WKU stop unit allowing 508.3 yards an outing and almost 40 points per game. Texas-San Antonio has actually produced better away from home, averaging 20.8 points per road game – compared to an average of just 12 points at home.
Play on Texas-San Antonio as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego State vs. Air Force @ 9:30 p.m. ET
The San Diego State Aztecs host the Air Force Falcons Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Aztecs have a big game under the Friday night lights, sitting at 5-5 on the season and needing one win to become bowl eligible. San Diego State only has two chances left to get win No. 6. 2. San Diego State is undefeated at home this season, taking a perfect 4-0 mark into Qualcomm Stadium Friday night. The Aztecs average 31.8 points per home game – compared to an average of just 19 points on the road. 3. SDSU has been great at stunting the spread offense, which Air Force runs exclusively. The Aztecs can credit their 3-3-5 defensive look which allows the secondary to react and make tackles. San Diego State ranked 32nd overall in defense, giving up just 349.1 yards per game, and has covered in five straight meetings with the Falcons, including a 27-20 win at the Academy last season.
Play on San Diego State as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Oakland vs. Kansas City @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Oakland Raiders host the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oakland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Raiders defense showed some teeth in a 13-6 loss to San Diego last Sunday. Oakland limited Philip Rivers to 193 yards passing, sacking him twice and hurrying the Chargers QB multiple times. 2. Kansas City is in a tough situational spot, on a short week following a huge win over Seattle Sunday. Not only are the Chiefs ripe for a letdown after that win but they could also get caught looking ahead to the next two games – versus Denver and at Arizona. 3. Oakland is a desperate team, coming into this huge home game on Thursday night. The Raiders are highly motivated to snap their winless season against the Chiefs. The team has been practicing at night this week in order to ready for the primetime stage. Oddsmakers are adding to that motivation by handing Oakland a pile of points at home.
Play on Oakland as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on North Carolina at Duke @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Duke Blue Devils host the North Carolina Tar Heels Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on North Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. After stumbling for the first half of the season, UNC has pulled up its socks and has won three of its last four contests heading into this ACC rivalry. The Tar Heels have averaged almost 37 points per game in those three victories. 2. Duke is ripe for a massive letdown after losing to Virginia Tech last week. The Blue Devils fell 17-16 as 3.5-point favorites, snapping a four-game win streak and suffering just their second loss of the season. That hiccup could very well cost Duke a shot at a big-name bowl game and it could have a tough time putting that mistake behind them on a short week. 3. North Carolina is looking for a taste of revenge against Duke Thursday. The Blue Devils have managed to come away with close victories in the last two meetings between these rivals and another tight contest is in store Thursday.
Play on North Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Oklahoma at Creighton @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Creighton Bluejays host the Oklahoma Sooners Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Creighton hasn’t had to feel the loss to Player of the Year Doug McDermott just yet, having two cupcake games to open the season. However, the Bluejays will miss his scoring punch against the ranked Sooners Wednesday. Creighton will find itself in tough spots and McDermott won’t be there to bail them out – something this program has to learn the hard way. 2. Oklahoma was one of the most powerful offensive programs in the country last year, scoring almost 82 points per game. Plenty of firepower is back from that roster – including four of five starters - as well as talented transfer TaShawn Thomas. The Sooners scored 78 points in their season opener versus Southeastern Louisiana. 3. The Sooners are a solid bet away from Norman, covering in five of their last six road games going back to last season, which says a lot about this young roster of returning talents. Creighton on the other hand, has a tough time covering the spread at home, going without an ATS winner in their last four stands inside CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Play on Oklahoma as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Phoenix at Detroit @ 7:35 p.m. ET
The Detroit Pistons host the Phoenix Suns Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Phoenix with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Phoenix opened its Eastern road trip with a win and cover over Boston. The Suns scored 118 points behind their up-tempo offense. They rank fifth in the NBA in pace – points per 100 possessions (99.3) – and will turn up the intensity against the Pistons team that likes to play a slower rate. 2. Detroit is mired in a nasty skid with only one win in its last six outings. The Pistons offense has been stuck in neutral to start the season, averaging only 93 points per game – 27th in the NBA. Detroit just doesn’t have the fire power to keep pace with Phoenix. 3. The Suns love taking down non-conference opponents, covering five of their last six with Eastern Conference teams. Phoenix is also a solid bet on the road, covering in 30 of its last 45 road tilts.
Play on Phoenix as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Ohio vs. Northern Illinois @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Ohio Bobcats host the Northern Illinois Huskies Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Ohio with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Ohio is sitting outside the bowl picture with a 5-5 record and only two games to pick up that decisive sixth win. The Bobcats will be extra motivated at home in what the program is calling their “Bobcat Blackout” inside Peden Stadium Tuesday. 2. Ohio is a tough team in Athens. The Bobcats are 4-1 SU and ATS inside Peden Stadium, averaging 27.2 points per home game compared to just 13 points per road game. 3. The Bobcats have revenge on their minds facing NIU Tuesday. The last time these MAC rivals clashed, Ohio gave up a 20-0 halftime lead to the Huskies to lose 23-20 in the 2011 MAC Championship Game. That crushing loss isn’t forgotten by some of the Bobcats’ senior players, who celebrate Senior Night Tuesday. Expect a strong motivated effort from Ohio at home.
Play on Ohio as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Indiana State vs. Saint Louis @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Indiana State Sycamores host the Saint Louis Billikens Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indiana State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Indiana State is missing some key starters from last season but didn’t skip a beat in the opener, scoring 79 points in a win and cover as a 10.5-point favorite over Indiana-Purdue. Khristian Smith exploded for 27 points in the victory. 2. Saint Louis lost a ton of talent – including all five senior starters - and have a new-look roster that will take time to form chemistry. The Billikens squeaked out a 62-59 win over Southern Illinois, failing to cover as 6.5-point favorites. Head coach Jim Crews will be using these early games as an experiment, as he sorts out his starting five for the rest of the year. 3. Indiana State is a tough team at home, going 43-12 SU inside the Hulman Center during head coach Greg Lansing’s tenure with the team. The Sycamores are slight favorites Tuesday, giving bettors great value on the home side.
Play on Indiana State as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Tennessee Titans host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tennessee with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Steelers defense has been a far cry from those stingy stop units of the past, allowing 240.3 passing yards per game. Pittsburgh has been burned on big plays, allowing 21 completions of 25 or more yards this season. The Titans have some home-run hitters on this struggling offense and will be going all out on national TV. 2. After two straight road games, and staring down a challenging final stretch of opponents in the final five weeks of the season, the Steelers could get caught looking past the Titans Monday and ahead to next week’s bye. 3. Pittsburgh has a tough time putting up points on the road. At home, the Steelers are averaging 35.6 points point game. However, away from Heinz Field, that production dips to 16.6 points per game. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger just isn’t the same on the road, throwing for an average of 355.2 yards at home compared to just 240 yards per road game. Four of his five total interceptions have come in opposing stadiums as well.
Play on Tennessee as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Phoenix at Boston @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Boston Celtics host the Phoenix Suns Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Phoenix with this Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Boston is ripe for a letdown after coming close to a stunner against the Cavaliers Friday night. The Celtics fell by one points to LeBron and Co. and have been stewing on that loss for the past few days. 2. Phoenix opened its current road trip with a loss to the Clippers but is looking forward to a move out East. The Suns have covered in four of their last five contests with Eastern Conference opponents and have also come away with the cash in four of their last five visits to Beantown. 3. Boston has been playing a breakneck pace, averaging 98.8 points per 100 possessions. Phoenix can match that up-and-down game, sitting just behind Boston in the pace department. The Suns have a deeper bench to turn to, allowing them to keep up that frantic pace – sitting second in the NBA in bench scoring with 44.1 points per game. Boston doesn’t have that same fire power and will slow down as the reserves come on the floor.
Play on Phoenix as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Louisiana Tech at Temple @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Temple Owls host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisiana Tech with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Temple was terrible in its opener, barely edging American University 40-37. The Owl shot just under 23 percent from the floor and coughed the ball up 15 times to the Eagles. 2. Louisiana Tech is coming off a strong postseason last year, making a run to the NIT quarterfinals. The Bulldogs took care of their first challenge with an 85-76 win over Southern. La Tech brings back plenty of experience and has some elite-level defenders returning from last season. 3. The Bulldogs have a tough zone defense, plugged up in the middle by 6-foot-10 shot swatter Michale Kyser, who led the C-USA with three blocks per game. That zone will push the Owls out to the perimeter, where they struggled in the opener. Temple shot just 5 for 19 from beyond the arc versus American and had a 3-point clip of 33.8 percent last year.
Play on Louisiana Tech as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on LA Lakers vs. Golden State @ 9:35 p.m. ET
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on LA Lakers with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Warriors are playing their third game in four nights when they visit the Staples Center. Golden State beat Charlotte at home Saturday and make the short trip to LA Sunday night. The Warriors rely on their quick pace of overwhelm opponents but could be a few steps slower thanks to a tough schedule. 2. Los Angeles is out for revenge after losing to Golden State earlier this year. The Lakers fell 127-104 but now have the home-court edge. The home team has covered in four of the last five meetings between these California rivals. 3. The Lakers get a much-needed scoring boost from the return of guard Nick Young. Young has been sidelined with a thumb injury and is hoping to improve on his first season with LA, in which he averaged 17.9 points per night.
Play on LA Lakers as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New England at Indianapolis @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Indianapolis Colts host the New England Patriots Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New England with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Patriots have had Andrew Luck’s number in their last two meetings. New England has picked off Luck seven times in those limited encounters, including four picks in last season’s AFC Divisional Round matchup. 2. The Patriots know the best way to stop the Colts is to keep Luck and the offense on the sidelines. New England has the perfect offense to do so, with underneath targets in TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Julian Edelman catching balls for short gains that keep the chains moving and clock ticking. The Pats dominated time of possession in their last meeting, holding on to the football for 35 minutes. 3. If the game does dissolve into a shootout, the Patriots have more than enough firepower to hang with Indianapolis. New England has averaged more than 40 points a contest during their five-game winning streak.
Play on New England as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Detroit at Arizona @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Arizona Cardinals host the Detroit Lions Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Detroit with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Cardinals lost No. 1 QB Carson Palmer to a knee injury and now are forced to ride backup Drew Stanton the rest of the year. Not only is the emotional letdown tough to recover from, but Stanton will face the NFL’s top defense with a front four that can quickly collapse the pocket and put pressure on the passer. Stanton is in over his head Sunday. 2. Speaking of the Lions defense, Detroit ranks tops in the NFL, giving up just 283.4 yards an outing, including only 71.3 yards on the ground per game. It hasn’t allowed a single 100-yard rusher so far this season, which means Arizona won’t be able to relieve some of the pressure on Stanton by giving RB Andre Ellington a heavy work load. The Lions are limiting foes to only 15.8 points per outing. 3. Detroit’s offense should be picking up steam in their second week with Pro Bowl WR Calvin Johnson back in the fold. Johnson was huge in his first game back from injury, reeling in seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Having that type of weapon forced the defense to send multiple guys at Johnson, leaving breakout WR Golden Tate in single coverage for big gains.
Play on Detroit as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on St. Louis vs. Denver @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The St. Louis Rams host the Denver Broncos Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on St. Louis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Rams pass rush has strung to life after laying dormant for the first half of the season. St. Louis has 16 sacks in their last four games, including eight against San Francisco and three against Arizona last week. Pro Bowl DE Robert Quinn’s return to form has been a big part of that resurgence, totalling six sacks in the last four games after going without one for the first five contests of the season. 2. Denver is playing its third straight road game in Week 11 with plenty of travel in between. The Broncos have gone all the way East to lose to the Patriots, then came all the way West to take down the Raiders. Now, Denver hops another plane to St. Louis to face a Rams team that is coming off its own three-game road run, and will be energized by the home crowd. 3. St. Louis is handing the ball to veteran QB Shaun Hill for this matchup after the magic wore off on Austin Davis. Davis wasn’t getting the job done and was turnover prone with five interceptions to only three TDs in his last three games. Hill is a capable backup who would have stayed the Rams No. 1 if not for a leg injury.
Play on St. Louis as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Oregon State vs. Arizona State @ 10:45 p.m. ET
The Oregon State Beavers host the Arizona State Sun Devils Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oregon State with this Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona State is ripe for a letdown Saturday after taking a huge win against Notre Dame last weekend. The Sun Devils could get caught coming out flat, which is all Oregon State needs to cover this spread. 2. Despite a four-game losing slide, with three of those losses coming at home, Corvallis is still one of the toughest venues in college football. Arizona State has covered only twice in their last eight trips to Reser Stadium. 3. Oregon State can explode for big points – something that always makes the Beavers a live underdog. Quarterback Sean Mannion has thrown for 230 and 419 yards the last two games. Arizona State showed some soft spots in their defense, nearly letting Notre Dame back into the game last week.
Play on Oregon State as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Michigan State at Maryland @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Maryland Terrapins host the Michigan State Spartans Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Michigan State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Maryland catches Michigan State in a bad mood Saturday. The Spartans dropped out of the playoff picture with a loss to Ohio State at home last weekend. This MSU program doesn’t fall into many funks, having covered in five of its last six games off a loss. 2. Maryland lost top WR Stefon Diggs to a lacerated kidney in the win over Penn State last week. The Terrapins have the 69th ranked pass game in the nation but will take a major blow with Diggs out, especially against a stingy MSU stop unit that allowed only 311.4 total yards a game. 3. The Terrapins defense has been roughed up for big scores in recent weeks. Prior to the victory over Penn State, Maryland allowed 52 points to Wisconsin, 32 points to Iowa and 52 to Ohio State. The Spartans have the fire power to lay it on thick and try to earn some style points before bowl selection rolls around.
Play on Michigan State as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Kansas vs. TCU @ 3:00 p.m. ET
The Kansas Jayhawks host the TCU Horned Frogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Kansas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Jayhawks actually have momentum on their side heading into this Big 12 matchup. Kansas took its first conference win of the year over Iowa State last weekend and stay in Lawrence for this Week 12 game. 2. Texas Christian is still trying to stay in the playoff mix. The Horned Frogs won’t gain much from beating KU, and will be instead looking ahead to a high-profile contests with Texas next week. A lookahead spot could leave TCU unfocused, making this mountain of points a tough cover. 3. TCU hasn’t played well away from Fort Worth, in fact it hasn’t played away from home much at all. Throwing out a cakewalk in SMU, the Horned Frogs lost at Baylor then squeaked out a 1-point win at West Virginia, their lone ATS blemish. The defense allowed a total of 91 points in those two games – very uncharacteristic for TCU.
Play on Kansas as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Clemson Tigers at Georgia Tech @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets host the Clemson Tigers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Clemson with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Tigers welcome back QB Deshaun Watson back from an injured finger. The freshman star hasn’t played since Oct 11. He’s thrown for 1,176 yards, 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions while adding 147 yards and three scores on the ground. 2. Georgia Tech has been rolling over weaker ACC opponents but now face the No. 2 defense in college football. The Tigers give up just 252 yards per game, most importantly have locked down opposing rushing attack to just 90.9 yards an outing. 3. With Clemson’s offense on track and the defense shutting down the ground game, the Yellow Jackets will fall behind fast and be forced to throw the football – something they really don’t like to do. Georgia Tech averages just 145.7 yards passing per game and throw the ball on just 21.76 percent of their snaps – fifth fewest in the FBS.
Play on Clemson as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Georgia at Georgia Tech @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets host the Georgia Bulldogs Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Georgia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulldogs have 11 players back, including four of their five top scorers, from a squad that finished the season strong last year. Georgia won 10 of its last 14 games and picked up plenty of experience with a run in the NIT. 2. Georgia Tech’s roster is loaded with talented transfers but those new bodies with need time to gel with the Jackets existing players. The early schedule is a chance to form chemistry, not necessarily pick up wins. 3. Georgia will have last year’s second-leading scorer Kenny Gaines on the floor Friday, after he missed most of camp and preseason games due to illness. Gaines is one of the top shooters in the SEC, hitting 37.5 percent from 3-point range last season.
Play on Georgia as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Dallas @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks host the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Books are handing over the ton of points on the Sixers, who have covered in three of their last four games as underdogs. This Philadelphia team is on the rise – if only slowly – but it’s enough to cover these big spreads. 2. The 76ers are expected to have young stars Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel back on the floor Thursday. Carter-Williams was one of the Sixers top players last season in his rookie year and has yet to play this year. Noel has already shown his impact on both ends of the floor and will give Dallas plenty to deal with around the basket. 3. The Mavericks haven’t been able to get the deal done against Eastern Conference opponents recently, failing to cover in each of their last four versus non-conference foes. The Sixers also hold an ATS edge in this matchup, with the underdog coming away as the ATS winner in four of the last five matchups between Dallas and Philadelphia.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on East Carolina at Cincinnati @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bearcats host the East Carolina Pirates Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on East Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. East Carolina got an eye opener in a loss to Temple two weeks ago. The Pirates have had a bye week to iron out any wrinkles and head coach Ruffin McNeill has shown he’s prepared his teams to rebound well, with McNeil posting a perfect 9-0 ATS record off his last nine losses. 2. Cincinnati has won three in a row, but all have come against basement programs in the AAC – SMU, UCF and Tulane. Oddsmakers are giving the Bearcats too much credit against a very talented ECU squad. 3. Cincinnati will likely have QB Gunner Kiel under center Thursday, despite a nagging injury to his ribs. East Carolina has one of the best defenses in the AAC and will put Kiel’s toughness and mobility to the test Thursday. The Pirates only allow 339.4 yards per game for an average of only 23 points.
Play on East Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Detroit at Washington @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Detroit Piston host the Washington Wizards Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Detroit with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Wizards are coming off a very successful run, winning five of their last six. Washington, however, is coming off back-to-back road games and had played four of those six contests away from home, setting up a letdown in this first outing of an extended home stand Wednesday. 2. Detroit is one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA and will get plenty of second-chance looks at the basket against a Washington squad that has allowed opponents to own the offensive glass with 11.1 offensive boards a game. 3. Detroit has played Washington tough in recent meetings. The Pistons have won and covered in six of their last eight clashes with the Wizards, and have been victorious ATS in four of their last five trips to the nation’s capital.
Play on Detroit as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Carolina @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the Carolina Panthers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Panthers offense is a mess, producing an average of just 12 points per game over the past three weeks. Carolina’s run game is gaining ground and the passing game managed only 151 yards in the loss to New Orleans last week. That’s not enough to keep pace with the Eagles high-octane offense. 2. Mark Sanchez gets the start for the injured Nick Foles in Week 10. Oddsmakers may be discounting Philadelphia for its backup passer, however, Sanchez has plenty of experience and Chip Kelly’s offense is a system that doesn’t need an elite passer. The Eagles won’t skip a beat with a new arm under center. 3. Philadelphia has taken care of business inside Lincoln Financial Field, covering the spread in five of its last seven home stands. The Eagles have also come through on the Monday night stage, covering in nine of their last 13 Monday nighters.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Cleveland vs. New Orleans @ 7:00p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the New Orleans Pelicans Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Cleveland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Cleveland stumbled out of the blocks to start the season but lived up to its potential with a big win in Denver Friday night. The Cavaliers shot almost 48 percent from the field in a very tough spot in the thin air of the Pepsi Center in the final game of a four-stop Western road trip. 2. Cavaliers big man Kevin Love has the versatility to play the perimeter. His ability to stretch the floor with draw New Orleans center Anthony Davis away from the paint, taking the Pelicans’ premier shot blocker out the equation and opening up the lane for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. 3. New Orleans is bound for a letdown after such a big win over defending champion San Antonio Saturday night. The Pelicans edged the Spurs 100-99 on a last-second bucket from Davis. Now, this young team hits the road to play a Cleveland team that has covered in seven of his last 10 games inside Quicken Loans Arena.
Play on Cleveland as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Toronto @ 7:00p.m. ET
The Toronto Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sixers continue to be undervalued by the betting market, covering in three straight games heading into Sunday. Philadelphia fought hard in a 118-115 loss to Chicago but covered as a 10-point underdog. 2. Toronto is coming off a one-sided win against Washington in which it caught the Wizards on an ice-cold night, shooting only 36 percent from the field and 3 for 19 from beyond the arc. The Raptors have taken advantage of three teams dealing with injuries to key players – Wizards, Celtics and Thunder – and now face a 76ers side get a heaping handful of points. 3. Philadelphia has been a moneymaker in recent games, covering in nine of its last 13 outings going back to last season. The Sixers have also covered the spread in sixth straight games versus Atlantic Division rivals heading to Toronto Sunday.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 8* (Regular Play) on Detroit vs. Miami @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Detroit Lions host the Miami Dolphins Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Detroit with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Lions return not only WR Calvin Johnson Sunday but also dynamic RB Reggie Bush. Those additions to the offense should kick start this Lions scoring attack that has been stuck in mud most of the season. 2. Miami rolls into Sunday on a three-game winning streak but that record seems a bit inflated. The Fins beat a Bears team fighting itself, took down the hapless Jaguars and had a favorable setting against a Chargers team that had to cross the country for an early 1 p.m. ET kickoff – 10 a.m. their time – last Sunday. Detroit will expose that paper winning streak Sunday. 3. Detroit’s defense is the top stop unit in the league right now and will clamp down on a Dolphins offense that has had issues protecting its passer at times. The Lions are holding foes to just 15.8 points on 290.4 yards per game.
Play on Detroit as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 10* (Top Play) on NY Jets vs. Pittsburgh @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The New York Jets host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on NY Jets with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New York’s defense has gone unnoticed by many but is still coming to play each and every Sunday. The Jets are giving up only 319.4 yards per game – sixth in the NFL. The pass rush has totaled 25 sacks on the season and face a Steelers offensive line that is known for giving up big QB hits. Pittsburgh has allowed Ben Roethlisberger to get sacked 23 times this year. 2. New York has a rushing attack that can grind out yards and keep Roethlisberger on the sidelines. The Jets are among the best teams in the league in time of possession and freezing out the hot hand of Big Ben is their best game plan Sunday. 3. This is a desperate Jets squad looking to snap an eight-game losing skid. Head coach Rex Ryan is on a very hot seat and the players are sick of dealing with all the bad press surrounding this skid and the future of its coach. Expect an agitated Jets squad to come out strong and put Pittsburgh on its heels.
Play on NY Jets as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Oregon at Utah @ 10:00 p.m. ET
The Utah Utes host the Oregon Ducks Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oregon with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Utah is coming off a crushing overtime loss versus Arizona State last week and is ripe for a letdown against the powerful Ducks Saturday night. Utah was holding out hope for chance to win the Pac-12 and perhaps sneak into the College Football Playoff picture. But with those dreams dashed, the Utes will have a tough time getting up for Week 11. 2. The Utes are in the midst of a QB controversy between Travis Wilson and Kendal Thompson heading into this big matchup. Not having your QB position ironed out by this time in the season is a major issue, especially when trying to match the production of the Ducks offense. Alternating passers will disrupt the timing and chemistry in the Utah offense. 3. Utah has been the best in the country at pressuring the passer but will have a tough time keeping pace with Oregon’s up-tempo attack, which will wear down the Utes stop unit and slow those rushers. The Ducks have been just as dangerous on defense, with 25 sacks of their own. Oregon also does a great job forcing turnovers, with 18 takeaways on the year. Those can quickly turn into points with this team.
Play on Oregon as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on San Antonio vs. New Orleans @ 8:35 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs host the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Antonio with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Antonio rested up stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili versus Houston the other night and will have those fresh legs against the Pelicans Saturday. 2. The Spurs swept the season series with New Orleans last season and have covered in 12 of their last 16 head-to-head clashes. 3. This is the Pelicans second road game of the season, losing the first at Memphis. New Orleans was just 12-29 SU on the road last season, averaging just 98.3 points per game away from home. The Pelicans have covered in only five of their previous 19 road games heading into Saturday.
Play on San Antonio as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Alabama at Louisiana State @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Louisiana State Tigers host the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Alabama with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Crimson Tide need another resume booster to get back in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. Alabama has outscored its last two opponent 93-20 and is finding its form just in time for this massive SEC showdown in Death Valley. 2. Alabama isn’t afraid of Tiger Stadium, and has been a consistent ATS winner in its recent trips to LSU. The Crimson Tide have covered the spread in seven of their last 10 trips to Death Valley. 3. The Tigers have been pushed around for big scores against elite SEC competition, allowing Auburn to score 41 points and Miss State to hang 34 points. Even Florida managed 27 points versus LSU. Alabama’s offense is clicking at the right time, with a balance of rushing dominance and explosive passing. The Tide showed no mercy versus Texas A&M and won’t take their foot off the gas if they get LSU on the ropes Saturday.
Play on Alabama as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Notre Dame at Arizona State @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The Arizona Sun Devils host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Notre Dame with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Notre Dame Everett Golson has shown an ability to take games over, doing so with both his arm and legs. He passed for three scores and added another three on the ground in the win over Navy last weekend. 2. Arizona State doesn’t have the firepower to keep up with the Irish if they pull away Saturday. The Sun Devils are averaging only 23 points over their last three games – a sharp decline from their season scoring of 34.4 points per game. 3. Arizona State QB Taylor Kelly is back under center but still slowed by his broken foot. Notre Dame will unleash its pass rush, trying to move Kelly around in the pocket. Arizona State has allowed 22 sacks on the season, including four against Utah last week. Notre Dame was able to get to Kelly six times last season, winning 37-34 in South Bend.
Play on Notre Dame as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Oklahoma vs. Baylor @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma Sooners host the Baylor Bears Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oklahoma with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sooners have a dominating ground game that can chew up yardage and control the pace of the game. Oklahoma, which rumbled for 510 yards on the ground versus Iowa State, will keep the Baylor offense on the sidelines as long as it can Saturday. 2. The Bears aren’t used to playing opponents who can hit back with the same type of scoring force. Oklahoma can match Baylor’s offensive output but also comes in with a stout defense that limits opponents to just 21.8 per game – second in the Big 12. 3. Oklahoma has locked down opposing rushing attacks this season, limiting opponent to just 117.9 yards per game – 18th in the country. Baylor depends on its up-tempo rushing attack to give QB Bryce Petty breathing room. With the Bears unable to break big runs, the Sooners will put the pressure on Petty to produce. He was just 13 for 36 for 223 yards versus West Virginia when BU’s rushing game fell flat.
Play on Oklahoma as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Memphis at Temple @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Temple Owls host the Memphis Tigers Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Memphis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Memphis has built momentum with two straight wins and three victories in its last four games. The Tigers have scored 40 or more points in those three wins. 2. The Tigers face a Temple offense that has sputtered to just 44 total points in its last three contests. The Owls have mustered only 224.7 yards per game in that span – the third lowest offensive production in the country during that stretch. 3. Temple is bound for a massive letdown against Memphis after stunning East Carolina last week. The Owls shocked AAC-leading ECU 20-10 as 9.5-point home underdogs. With that upset likely being Temple’s highlight of the season and a trip to state rival Penn State next week, the Owls could lack focus Friday night.
Play on Memphis as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Cleveland at Cincinnati @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bengals host the Cleveland Browns Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Cleveland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Browns have built some confidence against some weaker opponents, picking up wins over Tampa Bay and Oakland recently. But this team has also beaten quality clubs like Pittsburgh and New Orleans along the way. Books aren’t giving Cleveland much respect in this Ohio rivalry. 2. The Bengals are likely to be without RB Giovani Bernard, who is a true game breaker for this offense. Cincinnati was able to survive without him against the lowly Jaguars last week, but Cleveland knows this team very well and the lack of Bernard’s ability to run and catch the ball takes a major cog out of the Bengals attack. 3. Cleveland has played Cincinnati tough in recent meetings, covering the spread in three of their previous five clashes with a push in that span. The underdog has also been the sharp play when these AFC North rivals collide, cashing in 11 of the last 14 meetings between these Ohio teams.
Play on Cleveland as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on San Antonio at Houston @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Antonio with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Antonio has been on cruise control to start the season, winning two of its first three games but failing to cover in each outings. The Spurs find their motivation against a Rockets team that is running through competition to start the year. San Antonio will be out to prove that the Western Conference still goes through the defending NBA champs. 2. The Rockets’ record is inflated thanks to an easy starting schedule. Houston took advantage of cupcakes like Los Angeles, Utah, Boston and Philadelphia and only had to step up against Miami. San Antonio exposes Houston’s paper 5-0 start Thursday. 3. The Spurs match up well against the Rockets’ top threat. The backcourt tandem of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have long been a thorn in the side of Houston and Danny Green is a long defender that can force James Harden to alter his shots. Tim Duncan still owns the paint and Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich rested returning center Tiago Splitter against Atlanta last night, knowing he would go head-to-head with Dwight Howard tonight.
Play on San Antonio as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Orlando @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Orlando Magic Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. In a battle of winless teams, the Sixers have the home edge and happen to be underdogs inside the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic are a dismal road bet, covering in only five of their previous 29 away games. 2. Orlando is coming off a hard-fought game in Chicago Tuesday night, running with the Bulls in a 98-90 loss to arguably the second-best team in the conference. Get ready for a letdown when they play the second of back-to-backs in Philadelphia. 3. Philadelphia shows signs of life in a solid effort against the Rockets Monday. The 76ers held their own until the fourth quarter when Houston pulled away. Philadelphia got great production from the starting five – which is a bit of a mish-mash due to injuries – and hit 11 of 22 shots from beyond the arc.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Akron vs. Bowling Green @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Akron Zips host the Bowling Green Falcons Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Zips are back home after two straight road games, including a crushing collapse at Ball State last week. Akron held a 21-6 lead but turned the ball over five times and lost 35-21. The Zips are looking forward to getting that taste out of their mouths in front of a fired-up home crowd. 2. Bowling Green lost a huge MAC matchup with Western Michigan a possible preview for the MAC Championship Game two weeks ago. The Falcons were outscored 13-0 in the second half after holding the lead at half and run the risk of a massive letdown on the road Tuesday. 3. Akron returns No. 1 QB Kyle Pohl from concussion Tuesday. Pohl missed the last two games for the Zips, in which they sputtered on offense. He had them on a three-game winning streak before going down, with Akron averaging 27 points per game in that span.
Play on Akron as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Houston @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Houston Rockets Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. With the Rockets coming into this matchup at 3-0 SU and ATS, and going against a Sixers team at 0-3 SU and ATS, the market it overacting to this mismatch, pushing the value toward the home side. 2. Houston hasn’t truly been tested yet, beating up on weaker opponents in the Lakers, Jazz and Celtics. The Rockets are set up for a massive letdown in Philadelphia, with dates against the Heat and Spurs ahead on the schedule. The Sixers opened the season on the road and ran into a motivated Miami team at home in their most recent contests. 3. Houston hobbles into Philadelphia Monday night with both James Harden and Dwight Howard nursing injuries. The Rockets went their bench early against the Celtics and could look down the pine again, trying to rest up their superstars for those big games on the horizon. This could open the door for a hungry 76ers squad trying to snap an early-season funk. Philadelphia has actually covered the spread in five of their last six home games with Houston, including an overtime victory over the Rockets last November.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Pittsburgh with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Steelers come into this Sunday Night Football rivalry matchup fueled by revenge. Pittsburgh took one of the chin from Baltimore in Week 2, losing 26-6. The Black and Yellow look to return the favor in Week 9. 2. Pittsburgh is playing some of the best football in the league right now. The Steelers handled the Texans on Monday Night Football two weeks ago and erupted for 55 points in a blowout win against the Colts last Sunday. Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU and ATS in its last six games but is still not getting the respect it deserves from the oddsmakers and presents great value inside Heinz Field Sunday night. 3. Baltimore’s secondary is without corner Jimmy Smith Sunday night and goes up against Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown for 787 yards and eight touchdowns the last two games. Antonio Brown will command the attention of Lardarius Webb, which leaves some mismatches in the passing game. Pittsburgh will spread the ball around, hitting up RB Le'Veon Bell and TE Heath Miller for key gains, and will keep the Ravens defense guessing.
Play on Pittsburgh as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Charlotte at New York @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The New York Knicks host the Charlotte Hornets Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Charlotte with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New York is bound for a letdown after throwing a wrench in the plans of LeBron James and the Cavaliers on their opening night. The Knicks took a 95-90 win but looked terrible in their season debut, losing 104-80 to Chicago. 2. Charlotte played Memphis tough Saturday night, losing 71-69 as a 3-point home favorite. This new-look Hornets team has an intimidating frontcourt featuring Al Jefferson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and added some toughness to backcourt with Lance Stephenson this offseason. The Knicks aren’t as physical and could find themselves getting pushed around Sunday night. 3. New York’s offense is still rounding into form under new head coach Derek Fisher. He’s instituting the famed Triangle Offense used during his time in Los Angeles under Knicks new president Phil Jackson. The Triangle is very complex and it will take some time for New York to settle in. The Knicks are shooting 44.2 percent from the field and have committed 30 turnovers in their first two games. Charlotte is one of the better defensive clubs in the NBA, and ranked fifth overall last season, allowing 97.3 points per game.
Play on Charlotte as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego at Miami @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Dolphins host the San Diego Chargers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Diego with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chargers cross the country for this early kickoff on the heels of back-to-back losses. However, while many see this as a tough spot for the Bolts, San Diego is motivated to snap this mini skid and go into a much-needed bye week on a positive. 2. San Diego returns RB Donald Brown in Week 9, which isn’t making much of a blip on the radar. But this is a huge plus for the Chargers, who have been operating with a makeshift rushing game the past few weeks. Having Brown back takes some of the pressure off QB Philip Rivers, who has been an early MVP candidate. The defense won’t be able to drop back in coverage with the threat of the run back in the Bolts game plan. 3. Miami is bound for a letdown after two wins over struggling offenses. The Dolphins took road wins from Jacksonville and Chicago, giving up a total of just 27 points in those two games. San Diego, which ranks 10th in scoring (25.6 ppg) and boasts the eighth-best pass game (267.5 ypg) is a major step up in competition for Miami. The Dolphins have allowed an average of 30 points in their three losses this season.
Play on San Diego as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Houston @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Houston Texans host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Houston may be able to pull off a couple of impressive defensive touchdowns here and there, but this team doesn’t have the firepower to hang with Philadelphia. If the Eagles get ahead, the gap will be too larger for Houston to overcome with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB and the offense being forced to abandon the run. 2. Philadelphia’s defense has shown up in recent weeks, especially against the run. The Eagles struggled to contain opposing rushers to start the year but have given up an average of just 94 yards on the ground in their last three, including putting the breaks on Arizona’s ground game last week. Philadelphia’s speed on defense will be able to quickly close up any gaps, and limit the amount of daylight Arian Foster sees. 3. Houston has been terrible against the pass this season and run into a budding passing combo in Eagles QB Nick Foles and WR Jeremy Maclin. Maclin reeled in 12 balls for 187 yards receiving and two touchdowns against Arizona last week and has found the end zone six times this season.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Utah at Arizona State @ 11:00 p.m. ET
The Arizona State Sun Devils host the Utah Utes Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Utah with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Utes continue to be undervalued by everyone, with their late games going unnoticed. That means there is plenty of value in Utah heading into Week 10, coming off three straight wins and covers against so very tough teams. 2. Arizona State has also been hot in its recent contests. The Sun Devils are winners of three straight but run the risk of a major lookahead spot this Saturday with a high-profile matchup with Notre Dame on national TV on deck in Week 11. 3. Arizona State sends QB Taylor Kelly out into the fray after he took a shot to the head against Washington last week. The Sun Devils rules out a concussion, however, it’s been a long season for Kelly, who missed time with a foot injury recently. Utah will test Kelly’s condition with an aggressive defense that leads the Pac-12 in sacks (35) and tackles for a loss (66).
Play on Utah as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Virginia Tech vs. Missouri @ 12:30 p.m. ET
The Virginia Tech Hokies host the Boston College Eagles Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Virginia Tech with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Virginia Tech is running the risk of a three-game slide against Boston College and is playing for pride against an Eagles team that has thrived away from home. The Hokies need to stack the line and force Boston College QB Tyler Murphy to throw the ball. Virginia Tech has six interceptions on the year but has taken two back for touchdowns. 2. A lot is made of Boston College’s success on the road, going 3-0 heading into Week 10. However, the Eagles haven’t face the toughest competition away from home, visiting UMass, NC State and Wake Forest. Lane Stadium is easily the most hostile territory BC has visited all season. 3. Head coach Frank Beamer is putting his confidence in QB Michael Brewer, and will Boston College clamping down on the run game, Brewers will need to hit multiple targets and get the Eagles on their heels. A couple quick strikes from Virginia Tech and Boston College could be on its heels and needing to go away from the run to catch up.
Play on Virginia Tech as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Tulsa at Memphis @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Memphis Tigers host the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tulsa with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. While Tulsa is among the bottom of the barrel when it comes to FBS programs, Memphis isn’t deserving of this monstrous spread. The Tigers are terribly inconsistent and if they don’t stayed focused Friday, the Golden Hurricanes could easily get close enough to cover. 2. Memphis beat up on lowly SMU last week – and Tulsa is no SMU. The Golden Hurricane can actually put up a good fight, having scored more than 26 points per game in their last four, including a 38-30 loss to South Florida two weeks ago. Tulsa had a 20-point lead at halftime versus USF but let it slip away, proving this team does have the potential to hang in the AAC. They’re coming off a bye and would nothing more to snap their current losing skid Friday. 3. Tulsa always comes to play against Memphis. The Golden Hurricane have won four of their last five meetings with the Tigers, covering in all but one of those games. The road team has also been the smart play when these schools collide, with the ATS win going to the visitor in four of their last five encounters.
Play on Tulsa as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Carolina vs. New Orleans @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Carolina Panthers host the New Orleans Saints Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New Orleans hits the road for a big letdown spot after a huge win over the Packers last week. The Saints are a wretched bet away from the Big Easy, going 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road tilts. New Orleans puts up 24.5 points per game away from home, compared to 33.7 inside the Superdome. 2. The Saints defense is still among the worst in the league and gets even worse on the road. New Orleans is giving up 31.2 points per road game – ranked fourth worst in the NFL. They give up a 123.5 rushing yards per road game and face a Carolina attack that can chew up the turf – and returns RB DeAngelo Williams this week. 3. Carolina is tough team to top at home, especially against the spread. The Panthers are 3-1 ATS inside Bank of America Stadium this season and have gone 9-2-1 ATS in their previous dozen home contests. Carolina showed it can still contend with the top teams in the NFC, losing a tight one to Seattle last week, and need a win over the Saints to stay on top of the NFC South. The Panthers have covered in nine of their last 12 against the Saints.
Play on Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Louiville vs. Florida State @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Louisville Cardinals host the Florida State Seminoles Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisville with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Getting the points on a home team is always a plus, but Papa John's Cardinal Stadium will be rocking for this weekday war against the defending national champs Thursday night. Jameis Winston – one of the biggest villains in college football - won’t be able to hear himself think at the line of scrimmage. 2. The Cardinals boast the top-ranked defense in the FBS, giving up only 245.1 yards per game. Louisville has allowed just 14.6 points per game and has stuffed the run for a mere 68.8 yards per outing. Florida State RB Karlos Williams is expected to play Thursday but has been embroiled in multiple controversies all week, stemming from an assault claim and robbery accusation, with little focus on football. 3. Florida State has been a terrible play this season. The defending national champs have seemed disinterested and flat on numerous occasions. It nearly cost them an undefeated record and possible shot at another national title against Notre Dame two weeks ago. Heading into Thursday, the Seminoles are just 1-6 ATS on the year.
Play on Louisville as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Orlando at New Orleans @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The New Orleans Pelicans host the Orlando Magic Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Orlando with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oddsmakers are too high on New Orleans heading into the season. While the Magic have big injuries to start the season, there is great value in Orlando when set as an underdog this size. 2. Orlando has a young squad trying to prove itself and there are plenty of position battles still playing out before the Magic secure a steady starting five. Expect Orlando’s youngsters to be out to impress their coaches in the season opener Tuesday. 3. Orlando has a talented and versatile frontcourt that should keep Pelican star center Anthony Davis busy Tuesday night. Tobias Harris is a bull in the paint and will have the strength advantage over the slender Davis. Orlando big man Nikola Vucevic has the size to matchup with Davis on both ends of the floor and is coming off a stellar season in which he averaged over 14 points and 11 rebounds a game.
Play on Orlando as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington (+) @ Dallas @ 8:30 PM ET The Washington Redskins visit the Dallas Cowboys Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. On paper this game might look like it should be "all Dallas" but the Cowboys haven't fared well in this role in more ways than one. First off, as a large favorite of 6 or more the Cowboys have failed to cover the spread 7 times in a row. That includes their match-up against the Texans earlier this year when we successfully played against Dallas with Houston. Secondly, the Cowboys are an amazing ugly 1-9 ATS in their last 10 Monday night games. 2. Teams are always up for facing the team that had the long-standing moniker of "America's Team". Factor that in with facing them in primetime on national TV and the fact that it's a Monday nighter and you have all the right reasons for a team to be sky high with emotions when facing the Cowboys. It's no wonder that Dallas has lost the money in 9 of their last 10 MNF games. 3. The Redskins are an ugly 2-5 on the season but they are a double digit dog in this one and are coming off of a confidence-building win over the Titans last week. Dallas is caught in a bit of a sandwich spot here too. They are off of a big win over another division rival, the Giants. New York was trying to climb back into the NFC East race so that was a huge win for the Cowboys. It's also hard for Dallas not to get caught to looking ahead to their game next week, they are hosting the Cardinals and Arizona entered Sunday's action as the only NFC team other than the Eagles or Cowboys with just one loss on the season. Statistically the Redskins defense has been solid this season and their offense has been soli through the air. Their ugly record is what is helping to give us line value in this one and we'll gladly take it. Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans vs. Green Bay @ 8:30 a.m. ET
The New Orleans Saints host the Green Bay Packers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Saints find themselves at home in a must-win game on the Sunday night stage after letting a victory slip away at Detroit last Sunday. New Orleans can boost itself back into the mix in the NFC with a win against Green Bay in Week 8 – an opportunity this veteran team will jump at. 2. The Packers have a dinged up secondary, with injuries to starting CB Sam Shields and SS Morgan Burnett leaving them thin against a potent Saints passing game. Drew Brees is savvy enough to pick on any replacements and with TE Jimmy Graham getting healthier, Green Bay could have some bad mismatches in coverage Sunday night. 3. This is the Saints at home in primetime – a potent combo for bettors. New Orleans is a completely different team inside the Superdome, averaging 33.72 points per game there over the last four seasons – compared to just 24.38 points per road game in that span. The Saints are a perfect 6-0 on Sunday Night Football under head coach Sean Payton heading into this primetime matchup.
Play on New Orleans as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Arizona @ 4:05 p.m. ET
The Arizona Cardinals host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles are coming off a much-needed bye week, allowing head coach Chip Kelly to tinker with his up-tempo attack. Philadelphia boasts the third-best offense in the NFL – averaging 30.5 points per game – but still has plenty of room for improvement. 2. The Cardinals defense is able to overwhelm opponents with its speed, but rarely does Arizona run into an offense that is quick than it. The Eagles attack will neutralize the Cardinals’ greatest strength on defense and sap the energy out of the stop unit. 3. While the Eagles offense gets all the headlines, the defense has been even better. Philadelphia just shutout the Giants 27-0 before the bye week and has proven it is a threat to score even without the football. The Eagles have three defensive scores and also pose a big threat on special teams, with two blocked punts equalling touchdowns and scores on punt and kick returns this season.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Atlanta vs. Detroit @ 9:30 a.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons face the Detroit Lions in London, England Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Atlanta with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Falcons offense has sputtered the last three weeks, bottoming out in a 29-7 loss to Baltimore last week. Atlanta is looking at this overseas trip as a chance to wake up the scoring attack, which features one of the best receiving tandems in the league, in Julio Jones and Roddy White. Expect those playmakers to shine on this big stage. 2. Detroit has also struggled to score the football in recent weeks. The Lions haven’t been the same offense with WR Calvin Johnson on the sidelines and even if the dynamic wideout is playing, he’ll be less than 100 percent. Detroit has managed only 17.5 points per game the last six weeks, and only 16 points per game away from the Motor City. 3. Atlanta has covered the spread in four of their previous five meetings with Detroit, including three straight victories SU and ATS going back to 2008. The Falcons have outscored the Lions 88-55 in that span.
Play on Atlanta as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Washington vs. Arizona State @ 10:45 p.m. ET
The Washington Huskies host the Arizona State Sun Devils Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona State finds this road trip to Washington sandwiched between two tough spots. The Sun Devils are coming off a huge win over Stanford and then host Utah the following week. There could be a total lack of focus on this dangerous Huskies squad. 2. Arizona State appears to be giving senior QB Taylor Kelly the nod for this game, after missing three games with a broken foot. The Huskies will put that tender foot to the test. Washington is second in the Pac-12 in sacks with 27 and thrives on putting pressure on the passer. Kelly will get flushed from the pocket and UW will expose his lack of mobility. 3. Washington QB Cyler Miles is doubtful with a concussion, putting the ball in the hands of freshman Troy Williams. Williams stepped in versus Oregon last week, passing for just 37 yards but showing his explosive running ability. He scrambled for 28 yards and a touchdown in relief of Miles. He won’t face much of a threat from the ASU defense, which has allowed opponents to score 27.8 points on 425.2 yards against per game.
Play on Washington as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Louisiana State vs. Mississippi @ 7:15 p.m. ET
The LSU Tigers host the Mississippi Rebels Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisiana State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oddsmakers are in a rare spot, giving points to LSU at home in a huge night game on homecoming weekend. Tiger Stadium will be rocking and Ole Miss will succumb to Death Valley, one of the best home-field edges in college football. 2. The Tigers showed they still have claws with a 41-3 trouncing of Kentucky last weekend. Louisiana State has allowed an average of just 8.8 points per game at home this season, and boasts the fourth-ranked pass defense in the land, giving up just 156.2 yards per game through the air. 3. Ole Miss depends on turnovers to give its offensive extra chances, leading the SEC with 20 takeaways on the year. However, Louisiana State is a disciplined team that has only coughed the ball up nine times all season. The Tigers also force their fair share of turnovers as well, recording 16 takeaways heading into Week 9. Rebels QB Bo Wallace has fallen off the pace in recent games and completed only 46.4 percent of his passes against Tennessee last week.
Play on Louisiana State as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Brigham Young at Boise State @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Boise State Broncos host the BYU Cougars Friday night. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Brigham Young with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Despite these teams separated by conference, this rivalry continues to be on the better lesser-known grudge matches in college football. Brigham Young won outright and covered last season at home and won ATS in Boise the year before. 2. The Cougars offense continued to put up big scores with backup QB Christian Stewart taking over for the injured Taysom Hill, throwing for 408 yards and four touchdowns while adding 47 yards on the ground versus Nevada last week. Brigham Young lost 42-35 but are more than capable of keeping pace with the Broncos. 3. BYU is expected to return top RB Jamaal Williams, who missed last week with an ankle injury. Williams rushed for 395 yards and scored three touchdowns before going down on October 9. His return gives Stewart some support in the backfield and will keep Boise State’s defense honest. The Broncos has allowed 101 points over the past three games.
Play on Brigham Young as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego at Denver @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Denver Broncos host the San Diego Chargers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Diego with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chargers have been a thorn in the side of the Broncos in recent years. The Bolts went into Mile High and won last December and took Denver to the brink in the postseason, covering the spread in both of those road games. Going back further, San Diego has come away with the cash in 11 of their last 17 clashes with their AFC West rivals, including two pushes in that span. 2. Denver is ripe for a letdown Thursday, coming off a one-sided win over San Francisco on Sunday Night Football. The short week won’t help things, either. Neither does a trip to New England the following week. 3. San Diego is one of the best time of possession teams in the NFL, chewing up an average of 32:37 per game – fifth best. Although the Bolts couldn’t control the football versus Kansas City last week, San Diego will look to sit on the ball and ice Peyton Manning on the sideline. In the win over Seattle, the Chargers dominated the clocked with 42:15 TOP. And, in their win at Denver in 2013, the Bolts burned through 38:49 in TOP. Expect a patient San Diego offense to take their time and limit how much action the Broncos potent pass game gets.
Play on San Diego as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Virginia Tech vs. Miami @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Virginia Tech Hokies host the Miami Hurricanes Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Virginia Tech with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Virginia Tech is finally back home after two tough road games, including a loss to Pittsburgh last week. The Hokies are getting a field goal from oddsmakers after some less-than-impressive showings, but this is a must-win game for Virginia Tech which runs the risk of falling off the pace in the ACC Coastal. 2. The Hokies rushing attack couldn’t find traction with star RB Marshawn Williams out with an ankle injury versus Pitt. Williams’ status is not official but Miami coach Al Golden expects to see Virginia Tech’s freshman standout Thursday. The Hurricanes have struggled against the run this season, allowing 151.57 yards on the ground per game. 3. The Hokies have been cash cows versus the Canes in recent years, covering the spread in 10 of their previous 13 clashes. Virginia Tech has also won ATS in five of their last seven games versus Miami in Blacksburg.
Play on Virginia Tech as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Rickenbach Monday NFL: *10* Pittsburgh (-) @ 8:30 ET - The Texans are earning respect this season after last year's debacle. But that is helping to give us some line value here. After opening up at a -4 this line has come down to a -3 and people are overlooking the fact that the Texans are 1-15 straight-up in their last 16 games as an underdog. In other words, it's easy to lay a small number against a team that has performed so poorly in the underdog role. The Texans are also 0-3 ATS on Monday Night Football in the prior two seasons. Though the Steelers fell short against Cleveland last week the result on the scoreboard was not reflective of the fact that the Steelers actually had more first downs than the Browns. Pittsburgh will be fired up nonetheless after an embarrassing 31-10 result in what was the 4th road game in 5 weeks for the Steelers. Pittsburgh is happy to be back home as this is just their 3rd home game this season. The Texans gave up over 450 yards of offense to the Colts last week while the Steelers held Cleveland to just 8 completed passes Sunday! Both of these teams run the ball well but the Steelers possess the much better defense and the line value is big here as people are overvaluing the Texans return to respectability this season while also undervaluing how solid this Steelers team still is (especially at home) because of the false final last week - Steelers played much better than 31-10 final would indicate. Grab the line value with a small home favorite that is very angry and fully prepared to put up a huge performance on their home field in primetime action.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* Denver (-) @ 8:30 ET - San Francisco is 2-1 on the road this season after coming back from a big deficit to beat the Rams in St Louis last week. Now, on a short week after MNF the 49'ers must travel to the high altitude of Denver and the Niners haven't traveled well this season. Yes they beat the Rams but they were down on the scoreboard for much of that game and San Francisco was also outgained in each of their two prior road games this season. Now they face one of the league's best teams and we get line value with the Broncos at home in this one. Denver has won all 3 of their home games by at least a TD this season and the margin should have been in even greater in their wins over Indianapolis and Kansas City. Late scoring was the difference in each one of those games. The Broncos are 18-6 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last 3 years combined. The 49'ers history of performance after playing on Monday Night Football is not good as they are 14-24 ATS. Also, when it's back to back road games and the latter road game is in the thin air of Colorado, the uphill climb is even steeper. Look for Denver to take it to San Francisco early and often in this one. Back to back primetime affairs will be tough for the Niners as this is a Sunday Night match-up. While the Broncos have had this game circled since failing to get the job done in their other biggest game so far this season...the loss at Seattle. Denver earns some respect back with a huge home win here.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* New York Giants (+) @ 4:25 ET - This is the perfect spot to fade the public. Everyone saw Dallas upset the defending super bowl champs in Seattle last week. Then, on Sunday night, everyone saw the Giants lay and egg against the Eagles in a game where New York was dominated by Philadelphia in every facet of the game. This is precisely why this line has climbed as high as a full touchdown. In a divisional match-up where the Giants will be looking to get back in the NFC East race and the Cowboys will get caught still celebrating their huge road win to the West Coast, this one sets up perfectly for a play on the underdog. Note that home favorites who played at Seattle in their prior game have covered the spread just 3 times in the last 16 times this has occurred. Also note that Dallas is an ugly 3-9 ATS at home when they are off of a win. This is the week when the hype catches up to the Cowboys as the Giants have had this divisional match-up circled after losing both games to Dallas last season. After tough start to the season, the Giants offense was rolling for 3 straight games before they ran into a fired up Eagles time in primetime Sunday night action last week. Don't let the result fool you from last week, the Giants offense will bounce back and the defense will be fired up after hearing all about Romo and Murray all week long heading into this match-up. Look for the Giants to improve to 8-3 ATS in the month of October as they fight the Cowboys all the way in this one and have a good shot at the outright upset.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *10* Oakland (+) @ 4:25 ET - Here is another case of an ugly home dog worth the investment. The Raiders are still winless on the season but they are off of a very strong effort against the surprising Chargers last week and now Oakland is hosting an over-rated Cardinals team. Yes, Arizona has a solid record so far this season but they have been outgained in 3 of their last 4 games and it's only because of a positive turnover margin that they've achieved the record they have on this young season. We liked what we saw from QB Carr last week and the Raiders run game also got going. With Arizona having QB issues and dealing with many injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders will surprise many this week as we're grabbing the points but expecting the outright win. Note that Arizona has big games coming up against 5-1 Philly and 5-1 Dallas and the Cardinals will get caught overlooking an improved Raiders team here. Look for Arizona to drop to 3-8 ATS in the month of October while the Raiders improve to 6-2 ATS in October games and win for the 5th time in their 6 all-time meetings with the Cardinals. Arizona has been giving up a ton of yardage in recent weeks and the Raiders should enjoy another huge effort on offense just like last week against the Chargers.

Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* Jacksonville (+) @ 1 ET - Cleveland's 31-10 victory over Pittsburgh looks impressive on the scoreboard but the yardage in the game was nearly equal and the Steelers actually had more first downs. In other words, the play on the field certainly wasn't reflected in the final numbers on the scoreboard! This is helping to give solid line value to the Jaguars in this one. Yes, Jacksonville is winless on the season but they almost notched their first victory at Tennessee last week. The Jaguars actually had 27 first downs compared to just 14 for the Titans. The gritty effort by the Jaguars on the road is indicative of the fight that these Jags team still has in them and getting to take on the Browns in the warmth and humidity of Jacksonville in October will also help the Jaguars in this one. Look for Cleveland to get caught still celebrating their huge divisional win over the Steelers from last weekend. The Jaguars do have a solid defensive line that excels at the pass rush and the Browns recently lost their all pro center, Mack. Look for the Browns to drop to 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a losing record.

‎Rickenbach Saturday NCAAF Game #359 - *10* Stanford Cardinal @ 10:30 PM ET - The physicality of Stanford continues to dominate the Sun Devils in recent years. The last two times these teams have met The Cardinal have won by a combined 38 points. Look for more of the same here. The odds makers are certainly telling you something with this line. Arizona State has a better record and is ranked higher than Stanford and yet they are a home dog to The Cardinal. Don't be fooled, it is with good reason that Stanford is favored. The Cardinal only have one straight-up loss in Pac 12 action and that was a game in which they outgained USC by more than 100 yards but lost because of 2 turnovers compared to 0 turnovers for the Trojans. Stanford went a combined 13-7 in conference action the last two seasons and that type of dominance continues in this critical Pac 12 battle late Saturday night. There is a simply huge defensive edge for the Cardinal here that can not be ignored. Arizona State allows 215 more yards per game than does Stanford. Looking at each teams' game against Southern Cal exemplifies this. The Cardinal allowed less than 300 yards to the Trojans while the Sun Devils allowed nearly 500 yards to USC in their match-up two weeks ago. Note that Arizona State is 0-4 ATS the last three years as a dog of 3.5 to 10 points. Also, Arizona State is 8-14 ATS in games with a posted total between 52.5 and 56 points. This is not surprising because the Sun Devils prefer high scoring affairs. Get ASU involved in a lower scoring physical grudge match and they can not hang and that will be the case again here as Stanford's physicality wins out once again.

‎Rickenbach Saturday NCAAF Game #387 - *8* Tennessee Volunteers @ 7 PM ET - Ole Miss is an amazing 6-0 ATS in addition to being 6-0 straight-up this season. However, the Rebels allowed over 400 yards of passing last week and allowed a total of almost 400 yards of offense in their prior game as well. The point is that Mississippi has been playing with fire in recent games and if you play with fire long enough you eventually get burned. The Volunteers of Tennessee come into this game having displayed a solid defensive effort on the year. The Vols stubbed their toes in two games this season but in the other four games this season Tennessee has allowed an average of just 11.5 points per game. The combined record of those teams is 14-9 this season and none of those opponents have a losing record. The Vols will be fired up here to face one of the top-ranked teams in the country so a huge effort on the defensive side of the ball is expected. At the same time, the Rebels defense has certainly shown some chinks in its armor recently and the Volunteers will take full advantage. Note that Tennessee is 4-2 (80%) ATS as a road dog of 14.5 to 17 points. Also, the Volunteers are 23-12 ATS in road games with a posted total between 42.5 and 49 points. Though the Rebels have a phenomenal ATS record this season note that Mississippi is an ugly 7-13 ATS in home games with a posted total between 42.5 and 49 points. Look for the undefeated Rebels to get caught looking ahead to what they perceive to be their two toughest tests left on their schedule (hosting Auburn and a road game at LSU). That said, don't be surprised when the double digit underdog Volunteers give Ole Miss all they can handle in this one.

‎Rickenbach Saturday NCAAF Game #326 - *8* West Virginia Mountaineers @ Noon ET - We faded Baylor last week and cashed in easily...although it should have been even easier. The Horned Frogs were up by 21 with less than 12 minutes to go in the game before the Bears rattled off 24 straight points. While there is no doubt that Baylor should be commended for their strong effort note that it will be much tougher to duplicate such an effort on the road. That said, all signs point to another big challenge for the Bears this week as they face the 4-2 Mountaineers. Remember last year West Virginia was a large dog against Oklahoma State and did get the upset win. This year, against Oklahoma, the Mountaineers gave the Sooners a big challenge deep into the game before finally falling short and failing to cover in the end. West Virginia beat Baylor the last time the Mountaineers hosted the Bears. But last year down in Texas the Mountaineers were embarrassed and they are seeking their revenge here. Baylor's early season schedule was filled with cupcakes and just as they've been exposed each of their last two games (note that Texas nearly equaled Baylor's yardage and TCU nearly beat the Bears), they once again will struggle against a respectable foe here. That gives great line value to the big home dog.

Rickenbach Friday NCAAF *8* Temple Owls + points @ 9 ET - The Owls catch Houston in a good spot here as the Cougars will get caught still celebrating their outright upset road victory at Memphis. Last week, Houston knocked off the Tigers thanks to five Memphis turnovers. Note that the Cougars only had 15 first downs in the game and they will struggle to get any kind of positive margin on the scoreboard against the Owls in this one. Temple is seeking revenge for last year's 22-13 loss to the Cougars and the Owls are allowing an average of just 14 points per game this season. The current total posted on this game is 51 points and note that the Owls are an amazing 9-1 (90%) ATS in road games with a posted total between 49.5 and 52 points. The Cougars have turned the ball over 13 times in their 4 home games this season. As for the Owls, they have forced 10 turnovers in their two road games this season. Continued opportunistic play on the part of the Owls while the Cougars offense continues to struggle means this game could be an outright upset for the road team. Even if Temple does not pull off the upset, the Owls should easily stay within one score here and that's all that is needed to cash this ticket. Play Temple plus the points as a regular *8* selection Friday night.

Thursday NFL *8* New York Jets + the points @ 8:25 ET - Taking big dogs in games where weather has potential to be a strong factor is a smart play. Weather can be the great equalizer. That said, a lot of rain is expected in Foxboro Thursday and it's not expected to let up until the latter stages of this game Thursday night. Though the New York Jets have looked ugly this season, a primetime divisional match-up will have them fully focused and the weather is likely to help neutralize a solid Patriots offense. Note that New England is just 7-10 ATS the L3YR when they enter a game off of two or more consecutive wins. The Patriots enter this game off of wins against the Bengals and Bills but now face a Jets team that has covered three of it's last four match-ups with the Pats. Yes, the Jets are an ugly 0-5-1 ATS this season but that is also what is helping to drive the line value in this one. New England was installed as a huge home favorite here and the weather could be a deterrent to the Pats being able to impose their will against the Jets Thursday night. With New York sitting at 1-5 on the season this is truly their biggest game of the year remaining on their schedule. The only other primetime game the Jets have scheduled is a Monday night game later in the season against a Dolphins team that is only 2-3 on the season. With that said, expect a fully focused effort from the Jets in this one as they will pull out all the stops to remain competitive against a hated division rival. Play the New York Jets plus the points as a regular *8* play Thursday night.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Louisiana @ Texas State @ 8 p.m. ET
The Texas State Bobcats host the UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Texas State is off of a 35-30 win over Idaho last week but the Bobcats were a 17 point favorite in that one so they certainly did not impress. In fact, the first downs in that game were 33 to 14 in favor of the Vandals so Texas State was living by the big play in that game. The "false final" that resulted in that game is helping to give some line value here as, even though this game is being played at Texas State, the wrong team is favored. 2. Louisiana is coming off of a 34 to 31 win over Georgia State. Though the Ragin' Cajuns failed to cover the big number in that one it had a lot to do with being off of a bye week which followed a tough loss at Boise State. The fact that UL Lafayette has battled the likes of teams like Boise State and Mississippi on the road this season helps to prepare them for a road match-up like this rare Tuesday night affair. The Bobcats schedule pales in comparison to the schedule the Ragin' Cajuns have faced. 3. Over the last 3 seasons Louisiana is 4-1 ATS in games where the posted line is between -3 and +3. In other words, the Ragin' Cajuns thrive on key match-ups expected to be close games. They prove that again here. As for the Bobcats, look for Texas State to drop to 5-10 ATS in games against conference competition as they've continually struggled to get the cash against conference foes in recent seasons.
Play on Louisiana as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on St. Louis vs. San Francisco @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The St. Louis Rams host the San Francisco 49ers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on St. Louis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Niners continue to struggle on offense, despite a surplus of talent. San Francisco is averaging only 22 points per game. The 49ers have been able to run the ball but will need to air it out to cover this spread Monday – averaging only 207 passing yards per game. Colin Kaepernick has seven passing TDs to four INTs this season. 2. Rams QB Austin Davis is playing beyond his years, passing for 1,129 yards and completing 67.8 percent of his throws. He’s coming off a 375-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Eagles last week. He’s put up 702 yards and six TDs in the past two games. 3. This Rams offense has been able to keep the chains moving on third down, boasting a 46.15 percent success rate. Davis has been a rock on third downs, completing 70.3 percent of his passes and connecting for five of his touchdowns. St. Louis will pick up those needed yards and milk the clock, wearing down the Niners defense.
Play on St. Louis as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. NY Giants @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles offense has hit a bit of a speed bump in recent weeks. They were shutout versus the 49ers and managed two touchdown against the Rams last week. Chip Kelly has worked with QB Nick Foles in improving his execution and RB LeSean McCoy is anxious to have a breakout game after struggling to live up to his standards. 2. Philadelphia doesn’t need to have the football to score. The Eagles have scored four non-offensive touchdowns – two off blocked punts – and go up against a Giants team that has been prone to mistakes in the past. 3. New York’s already thin rushing corps took another knock when RB Rashad Jennings went down with a knee injury. That leaves rookie RB Andre Williams to shoulder the load. The Giants offense may be forced out of its game plan if Williams can’t gain ground, leaving Eli Manning open to the Eagles’ lightning-quick blitz packages. Philadelphia has 11 sacks on the season, including four against St. Louis last Sunday.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Seattle vs. Dallas @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seattle Seahawks host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Seattle with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Dallas has leaned on the run game this season, jumping on the back of DeMarco Murray and taking some of the pressure off Tony Romo to produce. Murray goes up against the top run stop unit in the league, throwing a major wrench in the Cowboys’ game plans. 2. Dallas’ linebacker corps is banged up with Bruce Carter and Rolando McClain listed as questionable this week. While it looks like at least one of the two will play Sunday, they’re facing a bruising back in Marshawn Lynch – who hits just as hard as any linebacker – and a sleek dual-threat QB in Russell Wilson. Those two combined for 194 yards on the ground against the Redskins last Monday. Dallas ranks 20th against the run, giving up 122 rushing yards per game. 3. Seattle is coming off a less-than-stellar effort against Washington – a game that was much closer than the final score indicated - and is looking to return to form in front of its frenzied home fans. The Seahawks have covered in 40 of their previous 18 games in front of the 12th Man, with one push in that span.
Play on Seattle as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Alabama at Arkansas @ 6:00 p.m. ET
The Arkansas Razorbacks host the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Alabama with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Alabama was stunned in Oxford last week and took a lot of heat in the media this week. Head coach Nick Saban will want to shut up those doubters with a perfect performance on the road Saturday. Expect him to show no mercy. 2. Arkansas doesn’t have the defensive prowess to slow down Alabama. The Tide boast a balance attack that’s putting up 549.2 yards an outing – 10th in the country. The Hogs allowed 45 and 35 points to SEC opponents already this season, setting the bar for a Bama blowout. 3. Arkansas is dependent on the run game, sitting seventh in the country in yards on the ground. They’ll run into a massive Alabama defensive line that has limited opponent to just 64 yards rushing per game. Bama crushed Arkansas 52-0 last season, holding the Hogs to 165 yards on the ground, and covered easily. The Crimson Tide has covered the spread in five of their last six clashes with the Razorbacks.
Play on Alabama as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Texas Christian at Baylor @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The Baylor Bears host the TCU Horned Frogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Texas Christian with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Baylor didn’t look go in its win over Texas last weekend. The Bears narrowly avoided a potential upset thanks to a goal-line fumble from the Horns and a fake punt that picked up a crucial first down in the second half. Baylor now faces a much tougher challenge in TCU, which just flexed its Big 12 muscle in a win against Oklahoma. 2. The Horned Frogs are once again the defensive elite in the conference. Texas Christian’s stop unit came up huge against the Sooners last Saturday and roll into Waco ranked seventh in points allowed (13.5) and yards allowed (279.2) per game. 3. While defense is the life blood of this TCU squad, it showed it can be just as dominant with the football. The Horned Frogs scored 37 points versus OU and has ranks 12th in scoring in the nation, with an average of 42.8 per contests and dual-threat Trevone Boykin has injected his name into the Heisman conversation after posting 395 total yards of offense last week.
Play on Texas Christian as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Georgia at Missouri @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Missouri Tigers host the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Georgia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The suspension of UGA star RB Todd Gurley may have scared off some bettors but there is plenty of firepower behind Gurley on the Bulldogs depth chart. Backups Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have combined for 447 rushing yards and five touchdowns this season. 2. Georgia may lean on the run game but has a very talented passing attack that will get a few more takes Saturday. Quarterback Hutson Mason is completing 68 percent of his passes and has thrown seven TDs to just three INTs. 3. Missouri’s offense isn’t as potent as once thought. After picking on cupcakes in the early going, the Tigers have scored just 48 combined points the last two games – a big dip from their season average of 34.6. Georgia’s offense may get the headlines but this Bulldogs defense is one of the most talented in the land, locking down opponents to just 335 yards per game.
Play on Georgia as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego State vs. New Mexico @ 9:30 p.m. ET
The New Mexico Lobos host the San Diego State Aztecs Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Diego State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Diego State is showing confidence in freshmen QB Nick Bawden, who is taking snaps for the injured Quinn Kaehler. Bawden didn’t turn too many heads in the loss to Fresno State last week but he should be more collected and confident with another week working with the first teamers. Bawden can make plays with his legs if need, picking up 36 yards on eight carries versus the Bulldogs. It should be noted that his two interceptions were tipped before falling into the hands of the defense. 2. San Diego State head coach Rocky Long has the inside edge on Friday’s opponent, having served at New Mexico for 10 seasons. Long left for SDSU in 2008 but will feel right at home in Albuquerque Friday night, putting his players at ease in this road game. 3. The Lobos defense is among the bottom of the college football heap, ranked 119th in yards against (501.6 ypg) and allowing 33.6 points against. The Aztecs can ground and pound behind RB Donnel Pumphrey, who has rushed for 561 yards and nine touchdowns – tied for third for most rushing TDs in the country.
Play on San Diego State as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Indianapolis at Houston @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indianapolis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Houston Texans live and die through their defense. If the stop unit can create chaos and force turnovers – often times scoring on those turnovers – the pressure is off a lack lustre offense to produce. Unfortunately for Houston, the Colts do a good job protecting the football. Indianapolis only has two fumbles on the season, those actually coming last week against the Ravens. A reinforced lesson on securing the ball this week will limit those mistakes Thursday. 2. The Texans offense is banged up coming into a short week. Receiver Andre Johnson and RB Arian Foster were both question marks to play in Dallas last Sunday and now have a closing window to heel up before Thursday. Foster was very vocal about his disdain for the weekday games in the media, still playing on a tender hamstring that has him limited in practice this week. Johnson also missed practice with an ankle injury but is expected to play. 3. While the Colts offense is getting all the headlines – and very well should be leading the league in scoring (31.2 ppg) – the defense has done a great job pressuring opposing passers and picking up 12 sacks on the season. Indianapolis had four sacks versus the Ravens in Week 5. Houston QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled with interceptions with good protection – tossing six INTs to just five TDs – so things could get ugly when the Colts pressure forces him to throw some wayward passes.
Play on Indianapolis as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on BYU at Central Florida @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Central Florida Knights host the BYU Cougars Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on BYU with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. BYU is being discounted by oddsmakers after the loss of star quarterback and Heisman hopeful Taysom Hill, who broken his leg last week against Utah State. The ball is handed to backup Christian Stewart, who had a rough outing in relief of Hill, throwing three interceptions in the loss to the Aggies. Stewart has now had a week to run with the first teamers and the senior will be called upon to manage the game, not make plays like Hill. There is enough talent around him to keep the chains moving and keep BYU competitive. 2. The Cougars will lean on RB Jamaal Williams and a dumbed-down playbook against the Knight Thursday. Brigham Young relied on Hill to pick up gains on the ground but Williams has 395 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and will get a lot more touched Thursday. Central Florida gave up 117 yards rushing to Houston last week and allowed those Cougars to control the clock, with a 32:17/27:43 edge in time of possession. Expect BYU to grind it out on the ground and eat the clock in those road spot. 3. Central Florida barely squeaked out a victory versus Houston last week, forcing a goal-line fumble to save the ‘W’. The Knights have struggled to produce points this season. Outside of beating up on FCS Bethune Cookman for 41 points, UCF has only averaged 17 points in its other three contests. The Cougars defense is giving up only 22 points per contest and rank among the toughest run defenses in the country.
Play on BYU as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 8* Monday (Regular Play) on Washington vs. Seattle @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Washington Redskins host the Seattle Seahawks Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Seahawks have enjoyed a bye week to prepare for this Monday nighter but Washington has also had an extended period to ready for the defending Super Bowl champs. The Redskins played the Thursday night game last week, giving them 11 days off to tinker with their sets and pound out a game play for the Seahawks, who make a cross-country trip to DC. 2. The Washington pass rush is one of the best in the league. Featuring the likes of Jason Hatcher, Ryan Kerrigan, and Brian Orakpo, the Redskins front seven will throw the kitchen sink at Seattle QB Russell Wilson and try to get him on the run. The front seven has also swallowed up opposing rushers, giving up only 87 yards on the ground per game this season. Washington is going to take the lanes away and force Seattle to throw the ball. 3. In their loss to San Diego, the Seahawks were dominated in time of possession, allowing the Chargers to hang on to the football for more than 42 minutes. Washington will take a similar plan of attack, leaning on RB Alfred Morris to ground and pound against the defense and chew up as much clock as possible. The Redskins have had success when Morris gets the lion’s share of the offensive workload and head coach Jay Gruden has hinted at a healthy dose of the run game Monday night.
Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 10* (Top Play) on New England vs. Cincinnati @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The New England Patriots host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New England with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. It seems like the betting market is ready to write off the Patriots after their embarrassing loss on Monday Night Football. New England found itself in a tough spot last Monday – a spot even the best of teams would struggle in. The Pats were playing their third road game in four weeks and it happened to be at one of the toughest venues in the NFL, Arrowhead Stadium. A return home for a primetime game is just what Belichick, Brady & Co. need. 2. There is reason to panic in New England. The Patriots run the risk of falling off the pace in the AFC and can’t afford to let these home games slip away. New England are a solid bet at home, covering in seven of its last nine inside Gillette Stadium. 3. The Bengals have built a 3-0 record against some shoddy defensive clubs. They were able to knockoff the Falcons and Titans, who ranked 29th and 28th respectively in points against, and took down AFC North rival Baltimore which ranks among the bottom of the league in pass defense (260.2 yards per game). Cincinnati gets a test versus a Patriots defense that boasts one of the better linebacker corps in the NFL. They’ll be able to pressure QB Andy Dalton –something opponents haven’t been able to do - and snuff out the short pass to RB Giovanni Bernard.
Play on New England as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Denver vs. Arizona @ 4:05 p.m. ET
The Denver Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Denver with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona is expected to start backup Drew Stanton in place of the injured Carson Palmer Sunday. While Stanton was solid in his last outing, this Denver defense has had two weeks to prepare for the backup. The Broncos’ pass rush is picking up steam with eight sacks in the first three games and will look to make life uncomfortable for Stanton and the Cardinals offensive line. 2. Peyton Manning has had two week to stew over the overtime loss to Seattle in Week 3. Manning brought the Broncos back and forced the added time but didn’t get a chance to take the field in OT. He’s hungry to erase that loss and get Denver back on track. The Broncos have covered in each of their last six games coming off a loss. 3. Arizona’s defense doesn’t have the pass rush to disturb Manning. The Cardinals have just three sacks on the year and have allowed 244.7 passing yards per game – ranked 18th in the NFL. This defense needs the pass rush to hurry the opposing QB in order to force mistakes and create turnover chances for the secondary, and that isn’t happening. This is an overly aggressive pass defense that could get burned by Manning’s pump fakes and passing prowess.
Play on Denver as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Houston at Dallas @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Dallas Cowboys host the Houston Texans Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Houston with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Cowboys are a bit of a shocker to start the season 3-1, coming off a massive victory over New Orleans on Sunday Night Football last week. This Dallas team is ripe for a letdown in Week 5, especially with Texans fans migrating to Arlington and spoiling the Cowboys already-weak home-field advantage inside AT&T Stadium. 2. Dallas’ three wins have come against struggling defensive squads. It’s only real test on that side of the ball was San Francisco in Week 1, and all the Niners did was pick off Tony Romo three times and forced three Cowboys fumbles – recovering one. The Texans thrive on turnovers caused by the pass rush, as we saw from J.J. Watt & Co. against Buffalo last Sunday. 3. Dallas’ defense has played beyond itself in the last three games. The Cowboys, which ranked dead last in the league in defense in 2013, are still pretty much the same unit minus the injured Sean Lee and some departed stars. They’ve been able to create more turnovers, and have gotten extra down time with the offense running the ball more often than last season. It’s easy to look good when you’re not on the field. Houston’s defense will make for quick three-and-outs and force this shaky Dallas stop unit to play added minutes. Expect the other cleat to drop for Big D’s ‘D’ Sunday afternoon.
Play on Houston as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Miami at Georgia Tech @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets host the Miami Hurricanes Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Things are starting to fall into place for this young but talented Miami squad. The Canes are coming off a big win over Duke last weekend, defeating the Blue Devils thanks to a dominating defense that only allowed 10 points and 264 total yards, while picking off two passes and recovering a fumble in the big ACC victory. 2. Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense can be a handful for most teams, but Al Golden’s Hurricanes have seen it all before. In fact, Miami has had great success shutting down the Yellow Jackets’ rushing game. Miami has won five in a row against GT, covering in all five of those games. The Canes possess the speed on defense to close in on runners and make the tackle before they pick up steam. 3. Miami freshman QB Brad Kaaya is getting more comfortable in his role. After being plagued by turnovers in his first few games under center, Kaaya passed for two touchdown on 223 yards with no interception against Duke. He hasn’t been rattled on the road either, with his stats actually improving in enemy territory. The Yellow Jackets don’t have much standing in the way this week. Georgia Tech allows 401.2 yards per game and has allowed a total of 62 points the last two games.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Texas vs. Baylor @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The Texas Longhorns host the Baylor Bears Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Texas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. While these programs are heading in different directions, this is a Texas-sized rivalry in which many of those stats and records get tossed out the window. Texas has dominated this Big 12 battle but recently the Bears have taken on the rolls of favorites, sparking a talented Texas team to relish the role of spoiler at home Saturday. 2. The Longhorns are being discounted for losing to two very talented teams in BYU and UCLA, and got a lot of confidence back by blanking Kansas last weekend. This is a talented defense that limited the Bruins to just 20 points – only three points in the first half – back in Week 3. They’re second behind Baylor in the conference with 16 sacks and already have nine interceptions and six forced fumbles. 3. Baylor is lighting up the scoreboard but has yet to be tested by a defense like Texas. The Bears have punished cushy stop units like Iowa State and small-conference cupcakes but could get a rude awakening against a young but talented Texas team. On top of that, BU has a huge matchup with TCU next week and could get caught looking past this hungry rival and to the Horned Frogs dominating defense.
Play on Texas as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.