The set-up: The Ravens have a firm grip on the AFC North at 8-2. Baltimore comes in having won five straight, but I think it'll have its hands full with this desperate home side, which must now win tonight after both Seattle and San Francisco prevailed. The Rams made it to the Super Bowl last year, but if they don't win this game tonight, then they won't have the opportunity to try and do it again. 

The pick: LA only allows 89 rushing yards per game and the Ravens count on RB Mark Ingram to open things up for Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson. Jackson's been having a great year, but note that he's been sacked 18 times this year and LA already has 29 sacks under its belt. LA has actually won three of its last five, most recently a 17-7 victory over Chicago. Note as well that the Rams are 7-3 ATS in their last ten following a SU victory, while Baltimore is a poor 12-16 ATS in its last 28 as a favorite. In a game which comes down to the wire, let's grab the points.

10* BLOOD-BATH on the Rams.

The set-up: The Blues are 14-5-5 overall and 7-3-1 on the road. They come in off a 4-2 loss at home to these very Predators. Nashville though had lost six in a row previous to that victory, so to say that it was "desperate" would be an understatement. Now back home after its disastrous stretch and fresh off a victory which "got the money off their backs," I think the Predators do indeed suffer a predictable letdown here. St. Louis will be using the recent loss as motivation here and I expect it deliver. Situationally it sets up great for the visitors. 

The pick: But note as well that Nashville is 0-6 in its last six as the favorite, while St. Louis is 7-2 in its last nine in revenging an in season loss of two goals or more vs. an opponent. In my opinion, this is the very definition of "great line value." 

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the St. Louis Blues.

The set-up: This is the first meeting of the year between these clubs. Orlando has lost two in a row, while Detroit has lost four of five. The Magic's offense revolves around big man Nikola Vucevic, but he sprained his ankle in a loss to the Raptors most recently and he won't be playing tonight. Most recently the Magice fell 111-106 in Indiana, but I think this offense will struggle to reach the century mark in Detroit. The Pistons are desperate for a win, but they're also "dog tired," as this is the fourth game in six nights for Detroit. The last thing the Pistons want to do is turn this one into a "track meet" with the younger Magic. Instead, expect a lot of half court sets from the home side while on offense. From a situational stand point I think this one definitely sets up well as a lower-scoring game. 

The pick: But note as well that Orlando has seen the total dip below the posted number in 15 of its last 24 after two or more consecutive road losses, while Detroit has seen the total dip under in 24 of its last 35 after having lost four of its last five overall. In my opinion, this one definitely screams "under." 

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the UNDER Magic/Pistons.

The set-up: Winnipeg was 7-2 when QB Matt Nichols went down with injury this season. Zach Collaros has filled in admirably since then though and I think the QB will be pivotal in helping push this total over the number. Collaros has won all three starts with his new team (averaging 9.2 yards per attempt) while compiling a quarterback rating of 109. But the Bombers are equally adept with running the ball, averaging a league-high 148 rushing yards per game. 

The pick: The Ti-Cats return to the big game for the first time since 2014. Several of those players on that team that lost to the Stamps are suiting up today as well. Hamilton won a franchise record 15 games this year thanks in large part to QB Dane Evans, who has 17 TD's and eight INT's over his last eight games (last week Evans had 386 yards passing in his teams 36-16 win over Edmonton.) I believe these two competent QB's become the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries. Look for this total to fly over sooner, rather than later.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the OVER in the Grey Cup.

The set-up: The Steelers are coming off a loss to the Browns. Pittsburgh's season is on the line here and while the 0-10 Bengals may not win this one outright, I do think the home side catches the right team at the right time to pull out its first victory. Pittsburgh is better than Cincinnati in two of three phases, but I certainly think that its QB Mason Rudolph is a major liability. Last week Rudolph threw four INT's. Also note that Pittsburgh is dealin with injuries to JuJu Smith-Schuster and RB James Conner. And to make matters worse, the Steelers lost center Maurkice Pouncey after last week's brawl with the Browns. Pittsburgh has had to deal with plenty of off-field distractions this week and I believe all of these add up to a major "letdown" here this weekend. 

The pick: Joe Mixon and the Bengals won't be going down without a fight today. Note as well that the Bengals are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five after scoring 14 points or less in two straight games, while the Steelers are only 3-7 ATS in their last ten as a road favorite. For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

10* DESTRUCTION on the Cincinnati Bengals.

The set-up: SMU is 4-0 after narrowly getting by Evansville last time out. UNLV is 2-4 after falling to Texas State in its last game. The Mustangs had to hold on for dear life vs. the Purple Aces, prevailing 59-57, but I think they'll have their hands full here today from this hungry UNLV side. Tyson Jolly leads SMU with 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, but note that the Mustangs commit 15 turnovers a night. 

The pick: Amauri Hardy led the Rebels with 18 points in a losing cause last time out. These team's offensive and defensive numbers are pretty close, but I think UNLV comes in as the "hungrier" team here. SMU is also a terrible 1-5 ATS in its last six as a road favorite (and 0-3 ATS this season as a favorite overall), while UNLV is 4-1 ATS in its last five off an upset loss as a home favorite. For all the reasons listed above, play on the home side.

10* PLAY-BOOK on UNLV.

The set-up: Washington is 6-4 and bowl eligible, while Colorado is 4-6 and desperate for a vitory here to keep its chances alive awith only two games to play. Washington has been hit or miss this year, as losses to Utah and Oregon State is expected, while a setback to the Cal is now considered a poor one. 

The pick: Colorado has some big wins over Nebraska and Arizona State, but it's also been extremely inconsistent from game to game as well. But the Buffs have been a "different" team at home, having beaten Nebraska and Stanford (and they haven't suffered a home setback by more than one score.) Also note that Colorado QB Steven Montez has a 139 passer rating at home with ten TD's and three INT's, compared to a 109.6 rating on the road with a 4:7 TD:INT. At home the Buffs are averaging 11.5 more points per game on offense (26.8 at home vs. 15.3 on the road) and allowing 8.2 fewer points per game on the defensive side. I won't call for the outright, but the stage is certainly set for a much more competitive battle than what this spread would suggest. Grab the points.

10* PAC-12 GAME OF THE YEAR on Colorado.

The set-up: I think the overall situation that each team finds itself in coming into this one will ultimately push this total over the posted number once it's all said and done. The Predators are desperate after losing eight of their last nine games. Unfortunately though they've allowed at least five goals in three of their last four games. Now they face the defending champs, who after a three-game losing streak, have turned things around with two straight victories (most recently beating Calgary 5-0.) 

The pick: The Blues have only given up one goal over their last two home games, but I think St. Louis will have its hands full here from what I expect to be an extremely attacking Nashville side. Clearly the Predators will be out to dictate the pace. Note as well that Nashville has seen the total eclipse the posted number in three of four already this season after three straight games at home, while St. Louis has seen the total fly over in seven of its last ten vs. teams with losing records. This number is a tad low.

10* TOTAL NET PROFITS on the OVER Preds/Blues.

The set-up: Both teams are eligible for a bowl. Liberty is 6-4 and Virginia is 7-3. I'm expecting a hard-fought and ultimately lower-scoring game between these two non-conference opponents, each looking to improve its bowl positioning. The Cavs won this game last year, but neither team was able to break the 400 yard barrier on the offensive side. Virginia also has to be wary here not to "look ahead" to its game vs. Virginia Tech in its regular season finale (note that three of Virginia's last five wins came by single digits.) 

The pick: Liberty QB Stephen Calvert has 23 TD's and just three INT's this season, but I think he'll have a difficult time here from this aggressive Virginia pass rush that can not afford to look past its opponent today. Note as well that Liberty has seen the total dip under the number in all four games it's played in already this year as the underdog, while Virginia has seen the total dip below in its last four after scoring 31 points or more in two straight games. This total is a tad high.

10* TOP TOTAL on the UNDER Liberty/Virginia.

The set-up: LIU is 1-3 and it starts off the Western portion of its schedule with this game. SDSU is 4-0 and I think it gets caught sleeping on its opponent here. LIU posted its first win of the season on the road Monday , beating Delaware State 92-84. The Sharks had five players score in double digits in the win. I expect the team to carry that confidence and momentum over here. 

The pick: The Aztecs beat in-State rival San Diego most recently. NOte that only two players average in double-digit points for the Aztecs though. SDSU has a stout defense, but I think it'll be tested here by the Sharks' pace. No outright, but this spread is much too large considering the situation. Grab the points.

10* MAULING on Long Island.

The set-up: At 4-6 and with only two games left, Colorado has to win out to become eligible. Colorado State has won three of its past four games and it enters with momentum to face a Wyoming side which started the year, but which enters having dropped three of its last five. Having already earned eligibility, the Cowboys are going to have their hands full today again in my opinion vs. this desperate visting side. The Rams lost at home to Air Force in their last game, but they've won two in a row on the road. QB Patrick O'Brien has led CSU to score at least 35 points in three of his past four games.  

The pick: The Cowboys once rosey start is firmly in the rear view mirror now. Note that Wyoming's secondary has completely fallen off the map now as it allows 281.2 yards per game through the air. Finally note that CSU is a sharp 10-2 ATS in its last 12 following a double-digit home loss. I think the outright is possible, but in the end I'll recommend grabbing the points. 

10* BLOOD-BATH on Colorado State.

The set-up: I think this one sets up great for a competitive matchup. The 76ers have the Heat coming to town tomorrow night, followed by a game vs. the Raptors. If ever this team was going to "look past" an opponent, surely it's the non-conference Spurs who come to town having lost seven in a row. San Antonio will be risking life and limb here to try and reverse its fortunes and while the outright win isn't out of the question in my opinion, I'll recommend to grab as many points as you can in the end. 

The pick: Note that the 76ers are just 1-5 ATS in their last six vs. teams with a losing SU record and 0-4-1 ATS in their last five following a SU victory, while the Spurs are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 off an upset loss as a road favorite. Grab the points.

10* ELITE OF THE ELITE on the San Antonio Spurs.

The set-up: After a big home win over the Pelicans, I think they have a predictable letdown here vs. a Suns team which comes in focussed on the task at hand after a recent scuffling stretch. Note that despite their recent "up tick" in play the Pelicans are still allowing a horrible 118.9 PPG this year. New Orleans is getting promising play from Brandon Ingram of late, but New Orleans' poor defensive play is going to come back to haunt it again here in my opinion. 

The pick: Phoenix has lost three of its last five. It's once brilliant start is going to be firmly in the rear view mirror without a victory here today. Note though that the Pelicans are a poor 3-7 ATS in their last ten vs. clubs with winning SU records, while the Suns are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games vs. clubs with losing road records. Enough is enough. Look for Devin Booker and company to lay the hammer down from start to finish and lay the points. 

10* PLAY-BOOK on the Phoenix Suns.

The set-up: The Colts come in off a win over the Jaguars, but I think they'll struggle here vs. a Houston team which enters off a loss to the Ravens. While Indianapolis will have Jacoby Brissett under center, note that it'll be without the services of top RB Marlon Mack, who suffered a broken hand. This is a major hit to an offense which relies on a strong run game to open things up for Brissett. 

The pick: The Texans not only want to bounce back after last week's loss to the surging Ravens, but they also play with revenge here after losing to the Colts by 7 in Indianapolis earlier in the year. Houston has had plenty of difficulties over the years with the Colts and while the struggled last week, I think this one sets up well for a bounce back performance. The short week favors the home side and I'll point out that Indy is in fact just 12-15 ATS in its last 27 as an underdog and 0-2 ATS in its last two "Thursday night" games, while Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last six in revenging a road loss vs. an opponent and 2-0 ATS in its last two Thursday night games. Lay the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Texans.

The set-up: Both teams got out to decent starts to the year, but each has struggled over the last month. The Canucks are 10-12 and the Predators are only 9-11. Vancouver won't be lacking for motivation here after three straight losses. The Predators enter on a five-game losing streak. For the most part I base my Over/Under predictions (in all sports) on the overall "situation" on which each team finds itself in. Their overall offensive and defensive seasonal numbers are not part of my equation, and neither are the players on the actual field of play (or ice in this case.) From a situational stand point, I think this one definitely sets up as a faster-paced affair. 

The pick: But note as well that Vancouver has seen the total go over the number in four of its last five after scoring one goal or less in its previous contest, while Nashville has seen the total go over in six of eight this year in trying to revenge a loss vs. an opponent. Vancouver beat the Predators 5-3 at home and I think a similar high-scoring affair is imminent here as well.

10* TOTAL NET PROFITS on the OVER Canucks/Predators.

The set-up: Georgia Tech is going to try and play the role of spoiler here, but I like the 4-6 NC State Wolfpack to get one more victory to eligiblity after tonight. NC State has lost four in a row, most recently a 34-20 setback to Louisville. Tech has lost four straight as well, most recently a 45-0 shutout loss at Virginia Tech. NC State though actually outgained Louisville 377 to 326 last week, but it was unable to convert red zone chances. But a date vs. the inept Yellow Jackets is just what the doctor ordered to get untracked finally in my opinion. 

The pick: NC State is the better team on paper and I think it'll be the much better team on the field of play as well. Finally note that Georgia Tech is 0-7 ATS in its last seven at home, while NC State is 3-0-1 ATS in its last four road games vs. teams with a losing home record. For all the reasons listed above, play on NC State.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on NC State.

The set-up: Central Michigan is 4-0, but it faces a stiff test here in this difficult road venue vs. a 1-3 Gophers team which is looking to get its four game home stand started off on the "right foot." Minnesota has faced tough power conference opponents, while the Chips' competition has been suspect. Note as well that despite the sub-par win/loss record, the Gophers already rank high in several team categories, including 37th in 3-pointers made.

The pick: As note above, two of CMU's victories have in fact come over non-Division 1 opposiion. This is also the Chips very first true road game of the year, with all four victories coming on their home floor. Minnesota has a 22-2 lifetime record vs. the MAC and I expect that number to go up by 1 after tonight. And in blowout fashion. The stage is set for a beatdown, so lay the points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on Minnesota. 

The set-up: Buffalo's three-game winning run came to an end in it's 30-27 loss at Kent State last weekend. The Bulls had a 27-6 lead in that one as well with 11:18 left to play, but uncharacteristically fell apart and lost. Now at 5-5, time is running out to punch their eligibility. Toledo on the other hand gained eligibility and the lost to Northern Illinois 31-28 last weekend. Toledo started backup QB Eli Peters in that one and he's also expected to get the call here. The Rockets of course would love to improve their bowl standing, but after last week's loss, conference title contention is now definitely out of the question. Toledo is also the MACs top rushing team and its No. 1 RB Bryant Koback was taken out of the NIU game with a lower leg injury.

The pick: The Bulls suffered a rare mental lapse last week, but I think they bounce back in this "must win" scenario. Before the disastrous third quarter Buffalo held Kent State to just six points. With all of the issues and injuries Toledo is having on the offensive side of the ball, I look for the home side to take full advantage and to keep the foot on the gas from start to finish. Lay the points.

10* MAC-SPLOSION on Buffalo.

The set-up: San Antonio is "desperate" here as it looks to break a six-game slide. However, the Wizards are equally as "hungry" for a victory and they could clearly care less about any of the Spurs' issues. Note. This is NOT the same Spurs of team of year's past. DeMar DeRozan is carrying the load well, but LaMarcus Aldridge isn't getting any younger and I think the the final game of this long and brutal road-trip will see the veteran struggle here. 

The pick: Both teams comes in off losses and each sport similar offensive and defensive numbers. But note that the Spurs are a terrible 17-22 ATS in their last 39 as a road favorite and only 1-8 ATS this season vs. teams which average 106 plus points or more per game. The Wizards and Bradely Beal on th eother hand are 12-6 ATS in their last 18 as a home dog of six points or less. Clearly the outright isn't out of the question, but grab the points as insurance.

10* ELITE OF THE ELITE on the Washington Wizards.

The set-up: Princeton is 0-3 and Indiana is 0-4. I think the hungry underdog keeps this one much more competitive than what this spread would suggest. The Tigers were 16-12 last year and they return four of their five starters. Note that outside of a blowout loss to Duquesne, Princeton has been solid overall this year and competitive in all of its losses. 

The pick: Indiana's four wins have come over Western Illinois, Portland State, North Alabama, and Troy. Clearly not murderers row. Last year Indiana was only 19-16 and now it faces its stiffest test so far. Note that the Tigers are 8-2 ATS in their last ten when playing with five or six days rest, while the Hoosiers are only 1-3 ATS in their last four after two straight covers as a double digit favorite. I'm grabbing the points on the desperate Tigers.

10* DESTRUCTION on Princeton.

The set-up: The Suns are starting to stumble and they come in off a poor 99-85 loss to the Celtics, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back, after they lost in Sacramento the night before. The Kings though are trending in the opposite direction in a big way and I believe the books are slow in recognizing the sudden drop off for Phoenix, and the "up-tick" in overall play from Sacramento. Combined with the fact that the Suns are playing the second game of a back to back here, there's no question in my mind that this one sets up fantastically for the Kings. 

The pick: And finally note that Sacramento is 36-20 ATS in its last 56 when trying to revenge a season season loss vs. an opponent, including having already gone 2-0 ATS this year. I'm expecting a blowout from start to finish.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Sacramento Kings.

The set-up: Fairfield is 1-3, but I think it'll sneak in under the radar this evening and post a solid cover. Note that while the Stags have the sub-par record, they've been competitive in every game, as their first two losses were by four points (vs. Bucknell) and two (UMass), then after beating Holy Cross, they fell to Loyola in OT 84-75. Note that Fairfield has veteran experience as well, as its top three scorers are all upperclassmen.

The pick: The Terps have won all three of their opening games by an average of 24 points. Mark Turgeon has a group of players which look poised for a deep run. Anthony Cowan Jr. leads the nightly charge and four others average more than 10 PPG. I never said it would be a cake walk, I simply feel this spread is much too high. Note as well that Fairfield is 4-1 ATS in its last five vs. good defensive teams which allow 64 points or less per contestw, while Maryland is just 1-3 ATS in its last four after three straight SU home victories. I think the home side takes the foot off the gas in the second half. Grab the points.

10* DESTRUCTION on Fairfield.

The set-up: I expect these two hungry sides to push the pace from the opening face off until the final horn and as a result, I look for this total to soar over the number sooner, rather than later. Yes Jets' goalie Connor Hellebuyck and Predators' netminder Pekka Rinne are World class, but I believe the overall situation each side finds itself in coming into this contest, lends this one to more of an offensvie shootout. And that's because after a slow start the Jets are red hot, going 7-2-1 in their last ten. Most recently the Jets won 4-3 in Tampa Bay. 

The pick: The Predators are just 4-4-2 in their last ten, conceding a whopping 23 goals in that span. Most recently Nashville lost 7-2 to the Blackhawks, outshooting Chicago 41-17. As stated off the top, I look for a fast paced game from start to finish here, which will help in pushing this one over the number once it's all said and done.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the OVER Jets/Predators.

The set-up: Northern Illinois needs to run the table to become eligible. EMU is 5-5 and needs one more win to go Bowling. The Eagles killed lowly Akron 42-14 last weekend, but I think they'll have their hands full with this no surging Huskies side which enters off an impressive 31-28 win over Toledo to keep their slim chances alive. EMU is led by QB Mike Glass III and RB Shaq Vann, while NIU leans more on its run game than passing game. The Huskies are led by QB Ross Bowers, who has seven TD's and eight INT's thus far. But NIU RB Tre Harbison is a force to be reckoned with and I think he'll be a difference maker tonight (had 158 rushing yards last weekned.) 

The pick: Eastern Michigan is also only 1-5 ATS in its last six off a win by ten points or more over a conference rival, while NIU is 5-1 ATS in its last six off an upset win as a road underdog. I thik that "home field" is significant in this matchup, so I'm laying the points.

10* MAC-DESTRUCTION on NIU.

The set-up: UTSA comes in under the radar and desperate for a spark after starting 0-4. The Aggies are on the other end of the spectrum at 4-0. Clearly on paper this is a massive mismatch, but I think from a situational stand point this one sets up great for the hungry visiting side. 

The pick: And that's because UTSA has a monumental matchup with SEC heavyweight LSU up next! UTSA has an opportunity to comfortably sneak in through the back door here as I don't expect the home side to run up the score here as it gets caught looking ahead. Note as well that UTSA is 3-1 ATS in its last four when playing with seven days rest, while Utah State is just 1-3 ATS in its last four as a home favorite in the 15.5 to 18 points range. Grab the points.

10* DESTRUCTION on UTSA.

The set-up: The Spurs are on a five-game losing skid, but the Mavericks just broke a two-game losing streak with a win over the Raptors. Dallas could care less about the Spurs' issues and I think it'll lay the hammer down and try to kick this division opponent while its down. The Spurs let a 15 point lead slip away in their most recent 121-116 setback to the Blazers. Portland was desperate for a spark as well in that one. Spurs' big man LaMarcus Aldridge was exceptional with 30 points and 13 boards, but I have a hard time seeing the veteran mustering up the same energy here in the final game of this gruelling road trip. 

The pick: The Spurs offense has been decent, but their defense has been atrocious, ranking in the bottom quarter of the league statistically. Note as well that San Antonio is just 15-17 ATS in its last 32 as a road dog of six points or less (including 0-2 ATS this year), while Dallas is 3-1 ATS in its last four vs. clubs that allow 106 plus points per contest. No mercy here, look for the Spurs to pack up their tents early and lay the points with confidence.

10* DIVISIONAL GAME OF THE YEAR on the Dallas Mavericks. 

The set-up: This game is being played in Mexico City. Both teams enter off hard-fought and very close losses. KC fell 35-32 to Tennessee, while LA lost 26-24 to the Raiders. I think another "battle" is on our hands here and in a contest which I envision coming down to the final moments, I'll grab the points. KC has lost three of its last five and I believe its ripe for the picking here. Patrick Mahomes has 18 TD's and one INT so far, but I think he'll struggle in this difficult road venue vs. this desperate Chargers team which needs to win, or be eliminated from playoff contention. 

The pick: KC is just 2-6 ATS In its last eiht after a loss by six points or less and just 6-10 ATS in its last 16 after an ATS loss, while LA is 11-6 ATS in its last 17 as an underdog. While I wouldn't be shocked by an outright upset, in the end I'll recommend to grab as many points as you can.

10* DESTRUCTION on the LA Chargers.

The set-up: The Bears are 4-5 and the Rams are 5-4. Each has struggled mightily this year, but both have an opportunity to get things heading in the other direction with a victory here today. It's an important game for both struggling teams and I envision this one being a wide open "shootout," rather than a low-scoring "chess match." LA had its two game win streak snapped in a 17-12 loss to the Steelers last week, while the Bears snapped a four-game slide with a 20-13 victory over the Lions. While both those games were low-scoring and while each has struggled to put points on the board, I think the stage is now set for Bears' QB Mitchell Trubisky and Rams' pivot Jared Goff, to shine. 

The pick: Chicago is getting a balance on offense now with its run game, as David Montgomery has 235 yards and three TD's over his past three weeks. Trubisky himself will benefit here from a Rams' defense which is allowing 240 yards per game through the air. The Bears are even worse against the pass though, allowing 253 yards per game through the air. Neither team is going to win this game on the ground. As stated off the top, I think the stage is now set for these two QB's to be the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries. Play the over.

10* NFL TOTAL OF THE YEAR on the Bears/Rams OVER.

The set-up: Boston is 10-1 and Sacaramento is 4-7. Boston got it's road trip started off with a 105-100 win in Golden State, but with a game tomorrow night against the re-surgent Suns, followed by heavyweights LA Clippers and to finish their trip at Denver, I think Boston finally gets caught "looking ahead" in this classic "trap" game. Also note that Boston could rest players in anticipation of the upcoming grueling schedule.

The pick: The Kings on the other hand will be laying everything on the line here. Sacramento has won five of its last seven and it enters off a tough 99-97 loss on the road to the Lakers. Note as well that Boston is only 1-3-1 ATS in its last five following an ATS victory, while Sacramento is interestingly 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine in this series in front of the home town crowd. Look for the home side to throw everything it has into this game, but make sure to grab as many points as you can as well.

10* COAST-TO-COAST DESTRUCTION on the Sacramento Kings.

The set-up: New Orleans is 7-2, but it comes in off a terrible 26-9 loss at home to The Falcons. Tampa Bay is only 3-6 and it broke a four-game slide with a 30-27 win over the Cardinals last time out. Yes the Bucs are allowing the most receiving yards in the NFL this year, but they catch Drew Brees clearly still working through some issues. I have every confidence that Brees will eventually return to his normal dominating self, but I believe he will in fact struggle again here today. Note that Tampa has the BEST rushing defense, which turns the Saints into an incredibly one-dimensional team. 

The pick: The Saints are also better against the run than pass, but after last week's poor effort, New Orleans also catches a break here facing Jameis Winston, who enters with a poor 17:14 TD:INT. Note that the Saints have seen the total go under in six of their last seven as a road favorite, while TB has seen the total dip under in three of its last four as a home dog in the 3.5 to seven points range. Expect these two struggling teams to continue to struggle with consistency and play the under.

10* play on the Saints/Bucs UNDER.

The set-up: The Mavericks are going to be in a foul mood here as they've lost three of their last four, including a second straight to the Knicks in the last ten days. A date vs. the defending champs, who have been getting unreal play from Paskal Siakim and Fred VanVleet and while they've won three straight in this series, I believe the defending champs finally get caught flat footed here vs. this determined home side. Toronto beat the Lakers, then lost 98-88 to the Clippers, before then beating the Pacers 114-106 in Portland. 

The pick: I'll point out though that Toronto is just 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight when playing on two days rest, while Dallas is 8-2 ATS in its last ten vs. teams with winning records and 4-1 ATS in its last five after a SU loss. This is Toronto's fifth road game in the last nine days and I look for it come in with "heavy legs" for this one. Lay the points.

10* DESTRUCTION on the Dallas Mavericks. 

The set-up: I play plenty of underdogs, totals and favorites. Sometimes I feel that laying a larger price is warranted and this is one of those occassions. Ottawa has been playing a lot better over the last couple of weeks, but it enters off a hard-fought 2-1 win at home over Philadelphia just last night. 

The pick: Buffalo looked like the team to beat in the early going this season, but the Sabres come in desperate, as they've lost six in a row. If not now, when for Buffalo? Note that the Sabres are 22-8 in their last 30 games as a favorite in the -151 to -200 range, while Ottawa is a poor 19-42 in its last 61 as an underdog. The situation warrants a play of this size, so lay the price with confidence.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Buffalo Sabres.

The set-up: WVU won this game by a score of 35-6 last year, it's third straight in the series. But that was then and this is now. K-State is ranked No. 24, but after becoming bowl eligible it lost to Texas 27-24 last weekend and I think it gets caught looking past the Mountaineers. WVU's bowl aspirations are firmly on the line here. The Mountaineers are desperate after losing five straight. WVU will be looking to keep this one on the ground and try to grind out a victory here vs. a K-State side which allows 172 rushing yards per game. WVU has two strong backs in Leddie Brown and Kennedy McCoy. 

The pick: The Wildcats have bigger aspirations than just finishing with six wins, but I think they get caught looking past their opponent today to their upcoming bigger contest vs. Virginia Tech. WVU is also a strong 9-3 ATS in its last 12 vs. teams with winning records, while K-State is 0-3 ATS this year after a two-game road trip. Expect the home side to stumble again here and look for the visitors to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch.

10* play on WVU. 

The set-up: Virginia is 2-0 and it takes on Ivy League member Columbia today, which is 1-2 to start. The Lions failed to qualify for the Ivy League confernece tournament last year after finishing 10-18 overall. Columbia is led by dynamic guard Mike Smith, who is averaging 21.3 PPG. Overall the Lions have five players who average between 8 and 10 points. 

The pick: The Cavaliers lost many faces from last year's NCAA Tournament winning squad, but so far it's dominated early, beating Syracuse 48-34 and James Madison 65-34. Both games have fallen well below the posted number, but I think finally the Cavs put the foot on the gas on the offensive end here. Note that Columbia has seen the total go over in seven of its last eight after a home victory, while Virginia has seen the total sneak over in 13 of its last 21 after allowing 50 points or less in its previous contest. This number is a tad low, play the over.

10* SUPER-SHOCKER on the OVER Columbia/Virginia.

The set-up: Both teams comes in off losses. Fresno State fell to Utah State and it's now 4-5, while 7-2 SDSU lost to Nevada. Last year the Bulldogs won this game by a score of 23-14. But Fresno State is running out of time and after back-to-back games in which its lost in the final seconds by FG, I think the Bulldogs finally get the job done here. Overall Fresno State averages 34.3 points behind QB Jore Renya, while allowing 32.4 PPG on the defensive side. 

The pick: SDSU only allows 14.4 PPG, but it only averages 20.8. Aztecs' QB Ryan Agnew has ten TD's and four INT's. The Aztecs are a run oriented offense, but I think they'll have a hard time keeping up with their high-flying opponent today. Additionally note that Fresno State is 4-1 ATS in its last five after allowing 37 points or ore in its previous outing, while SDSU is 0-3 ATS in its last three after allowing 17 points or less in three straight games. Look for the Bulldogs' high-powered offense to be the difference tonight. 

10* BLOWOUT BEST OF THE BEST on Fresno State.

The set-up: The Grizzlies are starting to find their identity and that's translated into victories on the court. Back-to-back wins have Memphis hungry for more vs. Utah, which comes in holding opponents to under 100 PPG so far in the early going. This is a great situational play.

The pick: As note that Memphis is right at the bottom of the league in points allowed in the paint, and Jazz center Rudy Gobert is the most efficient player in the league in the post. Look for the Jazz to try and slow this one down and control while on offense and as such, expect this total to stay well below the posted number once the final horn sounds.

10* TOTAL SITUATIONAL DESTRUCTION on the UNDER Jazz/Grizzlies.

The set-up: Yes Ottawa allows 3.33 GPG, but it comes in playing much better defensively and it's resulted in three wins out of its last four games. The Flyers four-game win streak was snapped in a loss to the Capitals in their last game, as Philadelphia managed just a single goal in defeat. Brian Elliot gets the call in net for the visitors and he's 4-2-1 with a 2.88 GAA. 

The pick: The home side goes with Anders Nilsson, and he's 4-4-1 with a 2.98 GAA so far. Note as well that Philly has seen the total go under the number in five of its last six vs. clubs with losing records, while Ottawa has seen the total dip under in five of its last six home games when the total is set at six or higher. Look for this one to turn into a classic goaltenders battle. 

10* TOTAL NET RIPPER on the UNDER Flyers/Senators.

The set-up: Clearly on paper CS Northridge is over-matched here. But I think the 0-3 Matadors can comfortably sneak in through the back door here vs. the 3-0 Auburn Tigers. CSUN's defense has been terrible, but it's offense has been decent. Last time out it lost 94-82 to Pepperdine. Auburn is the 22nd ranked team in the country, but it's yet to face anyone from a major conference yet. 

The pick: Yes the Matadors have lost both road games this year, but note that they're 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 away from friendly confines. Auburn may be 3-0, but it had to hold on for dear life in its 70-69 win over South Alabama last time out. Note as well that CSUN is 3-1 ATS in its last four off a home loss by ten or more points, while Auburn is just 1-3 ATS in its last four vs. teams with losing records. I like the visitors to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. Grab the the points.

10* PLAY-BOOK on CS Northridge.

The set-up: LBSU comes in battle tested already. This is its third straight road game to open the year and fourth game in nine days. If this were the end of the season then I'd be worried about fatigue, but I believe at the start of the year all of this recent action can only help the 49ers' chemistry in this one vs. No. 18 Saint Mary's. LBSU was destroyed 86-58 at Stanford, but I think it'll play with a lot more confidence here. 

The pick: The Gaels beat Wisconsin to open the year, but then suffered a terrible loss to Winthrop with a buzzer-beater. I think the Gaels come in shell shocked from that loss and it's the foot in the door that the 49ers can use to keep this one competitive late. Note as well that the Gaels are a poor 1-6 ATS in their last seven at home and only 2-5 ATS in their last seven following an ATS loss, while LBSU is 8-1 ATS in its last nine on the road. I'm grabbing the all these points.

10* SHOCKER BLOWOUT on LBSU. 

The set-up: It's a big game for both teams. Cleveland picked up a win over the Bills last Sunday to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. Another victory here on Thursday night vs. a red hot Steelers team which has won four straight will be paramount in keeping that dream alive. Pittsburgh has won four straight. Both teams have struggled to put points on the board and each has been carried by its defensive play to this point. But I think the narrative on that will change tonight on the short week. 

The pick: Note as well that Pittsburgh has seen the total go over the number in five of its last six after allowing 14 points or less in its previous game (including 2-0 this year), while Cleveland has seen the total soar over in four of its last five following a home victory. So far these starting QB's have been terrible this year, but each will be given the green light to operate tonight. I think this number is just a little low.

10* TOTAL DESTRUCTION on the OVER Steelers/Browns.

The set-up: The Knicks beat the Mavericks 106-102 in Dallas last week and I think they have a legitimate shot at doing it again tonight. Dallas plays the final game of a three-game trip and I think it gets caught looking past its lowly non-conference opponent here, despite having just lost to it. Kristaps Porzingis returns to The Big Apple, which once again will be added incentive for the home side. In that victory the Knicks had five players score in double figures and they shot 50 percent from range. 

The pick: Both teams come in off losses, with New York losing at Chicago, and Dallas falling at Boston. Note though that the Mavericks are already only 1-4 ATS this season in non-conference games and a poor 10-17 ATS in their last 27 in revenging a SU loss vs. an opponent as a favorite. I don't think the "revenge" angle works here at all. New York is the "hungrier" team and I expect it to put up a fight at home. Grab the points.

10* DESTRUCTION on the New York Knicks.

The set-up: UNC is 4-5 and it comes out of its bye week in need of a victory to keep its bowl aspirations alive. The Panthers became bowl eligible last time out by holding on for a 20-12 win over Georgia Tech last time out and I think a predictable mental letdown is imminent here. Last year the Tar Heels won a 38-35 shootout at home in this game and I expect a similarily hard-fought and ultimately competitive battle here as well. UNC has to be feeling confident as well with QB Sam Howell, who has 26 TD passes and only five INT's. So far UNC is averaging 27.6 PPG and conceding 27.1. 

The pick: The Panthers aren't the greatest on offense, but htey make up for it on the defensive side by conceding only 20.1 PPG. I'll point out though that UNC is 5-1 ATS in its last six after allowing 37 points or more in its last game, while Pittsburgh is just 3-4 ATS in its last seven as a home favorite. The conditions are right for a SU upset, but in the end I'll recommend to grab the points. 

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on North Carolina.

The set-up: The Hurricans broke a four-game slide to the Senators at home last time out, but I think they'll return to mediocrity here vs. this hungry home side. And that's because the once blazing Sabres enter having lost five straight. This is the first time these teams have played this season, but Buffalo plays with triple revenge here as well after Carolina took all three meetings last year. 

The pick: Carolina averages 3.33 GPG, while Buffalo allows 2.76. The Sabres average 2.88 GPG, while the Hurricanes allow 2.89. Note though that the Hurricanes are already a poor 1-3 (-4.2 units) this year after a win by two goals or more, while Buffalo is already 4-1 (+3.1 units) this season after allowing four goals or more. I like the more desperate home side to risk life and limb getting into shooting and passing lanes today and I expect that intensity to pay dividends for us at the window once it's all said and done. 

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Buffalo Sabres.

The set-up: NIU is 3-6 overall and 2-3 in MAC play. It sits one game behind Toledo. The Rockets have won two in a row and they're now bowl eligible because of it. The Huskies' offense revolves around RB Tre Harbison, who has 741 rushing yards and seven TD's.  The Rockets are allowing almost 200 yards per game on the ground. 

The pick: Toldeo got a break out game from Shakif Seymour, as he'd explode for 175 yards and two TD's in the win over the Golden Flashes. I don't foresee Seymour duplicating that feat here. NIU is also 7-4 ATS in its last 11 as a road underdog (including 3-1 ATS this season), while Toledo is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine off a home win vs. a conference rival (including 0-2 ATS this year.) I like NIU's run game to be the main story line in tomorrow's summaries.

10* DESTRUCTION on Northern Illinois.

The set-up: The Western Illinois Leathernecks are 0-2. This is the final game of their opening home-stand and I think they're going to lay everything on the line here to secure their first victory of the year vs. the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks, who come in off a 92-75 loss to East Tennessee State on Saturday. UT Martin has three double-digit scorers, led by Quinton Dove. 

The pick: But the Leathernecks also have plenty of talent, including Zion Young, who had 24 points in his team's heart-breaking 77-75 loss to Stetson. I think it's interesting to note as well the Western Illinois is the No. 1 free-throw shooting team in the nation at 93.3 percent thus far. I don't think that the home court advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this particular matchup.

10* PLAY-BOOK on Western Illinois.

The set-up: Both teams have done well to open the year. Washington is 13-2-1 and Philadelphia is 10-5-2. The Capitals have been scoring at a prodigious rate to open the year, averaging 4.02 GPG and they've been allowing 3.20. But the Flyers are 6-1-1 at home and they've been getting exceptional play from Brian Elliot and Carter Hart in the net. 

The pick: On paper this one clearly appears as if this will once again be a high-scoring affair, but I believe the value has now swung the other way finally. Note that Washington has in fact seen the total go under in two of three vs. the division this year. Also note that the Flyers have seen the total go under in five of six this year when playing with two days rest. This number is a tad high.

10* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE on the under Caps/Flyers.

The set-up: Philadelphia fought tooth and nail last night and barely held on for 98-97 win over the Cavaliers at home and now it has to hit the road to face a Magic team desperate for a spark and hungry to take advantage of a team which could be without the services of scorer Ben Simmons in the second game of the back-to-back scenario. Regardless of whether or not Simmons plays, I think this one sets up great from a situational stand point for Orlando. 

The pick: The Magic were a dark horse for many in the East after last year's great campaign, but at 3-7, clearly Orlando has some work to do. While Orlando has clearly been a disappointment, so to has Philadelphia's performance to this point. The East is wide open and I'm not going to over-react at this point to any of the team's play at this moment. I will however point out that Philly is a poor 2-7 ATS in its last nine after winning a close game by three or less points and playing the second game of a back-to-back, while the Magic are 52-40 ATS in their last 92 after a loss (including 3-2 ATS this season.) I'm grabbing the points, but expecting an outright.

10* DEMOLITION on the Orlando Magic. 

The set-up: The Nashville Predators are 9-8 and the Canucks are 9-9. Both teams are struggling. The Predators have lost four of their last five and they're desperate to get off the schneid. Fortunately they now face a Canucks team which has lost four in a row. 

The pick: I'll point out though that the Predators are 4-1 (+2.7 units) already this year when playing with two days rest. They're also 19-12 (+3.1 units) in their last 31 after scoring one or less goals in their last contest, while the Canucks are only 33-55 (-5.7 units) in their last 88 vs. clubs with winning records, including only 2-3 this season. I think Vancouver's slide continues and I look for the desperate but rested Predators to take advantage.

10* COAST-TO-COAST SUPER ROAST on the Nashville Predators.

The set-up: Detroit has lost two in a row. The Pistons finally got Blake Griffin back, but they still lost 120-114 to the visiting Wolves last night. Clearly the Pistons are going to get better now that Griffin is back in the line-up, but it's not going to be an instantaneous transformation and playing here on the second game of the back to back isn't going to help either. The Heat enter off a road loss to the Lakers, after laying a beatdown on the Suns in Phoenix. 

The pick: The Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the league right now, allowing just 105.4 PPG. The Pistons are allowing 113.3 and I expect that number to go up here in this difficult road venue. Additionally note that the Heat are 4-0 ATS in their last four following a SU loss, while the Pistons are a poor 1-6 ATS in their last seven vs. teams with a winning percentage above .600. I'm banking on a double-digit rocking-chair victory. Lay the points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Miami Heat. 

The set-up: Troy is 0-1 and it's looking to take out its frustrations here in the second game of a short two-game home stand. The Trojans enter off a 76-75 loss to UAB, a game in which they trailed by 12 points late. KJ Simon set a new career-high, leading all scorers with 21 points on 9-12 shooting. 

The pick: The Chattanooga Mocs are 1-1, losing 79-68 at EKU, before then holding on for a 59-57 win over Tennessee State at home in their second. Transfer Matt Ryan led the way scoring 11 points on 4-14 shooting. Troy is the deeper and more experienced team and I think it lays everything on the line here to secure the victory in front of what should be a record-setting crowd to watch. Additionally note that the Mocs are just 1-7 ATS in their last eight after scoring 60 points or less in their previous contest, while the Trojans are 4-1 ATS in their last five off a cover where the team lost SU as an underdog. For all the reasons listed above, I'm on the home side in this one.

10* DESTRUCTION on Troy.

The set-up: The Western Michigan Broncos are 6-4 on the year after winning two straight. They're now bowl eligible after holding on for a 35-31 win at Ball State last weekend. Ohio though is just 4-5 on the year (3-2 in Conference action) and it'll be risking life and limb here to try and secure a victory with time now running out to do so. Last year the Bobcats broke a four game slide in this series with a convincing 59-14 win over the Broncos. Overall WMU averages 36 PPG and it allows 26.

The pick: Ohio averages 29 PPG and it allows 29 PPG. The Bobcats lost to division leader Miami Ohio last time out, but I think they'll take care of business here at home vs. this now contented WMU side. Note as well that WMU is a poor 3-9 ATS in its last 12 as a dog (including 0-3 ATS this year), while Ohio is 6-1 ATS in its last seven vs. teams with a winning record. I'm banking on the desperate home side to step up here and deliver the goods.

10* DESTRUCTION on Ohio.

The set-up: After winning the opener of this tournament, Hawaii was upset at home last night 81-75 by South Dakota. Pacific lost to South Dakota in its opening game of this tournament by a score of 72-62, but it then bounced back in fine fashion with a 76-54 win over FAMU. These teams haven't met since 2013, but I think they're very evenly matched after what I've seen in the early going. 

The pick: Additionally note that Pacific is 17-10 ATS in its last 27 vs. teams with winning records, while Hawaii is only 5-12 ATS in its last 17 non-conference contests. In a game which I see being decided by whichever of these teams has its hands on the ball last, I'm grabbing the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Pacific.

The set-up: These are the top two teams in the NFC West. They're quite possibly the best two teams in the entire NFC overall as well. The 49ers are undefeated at 8-0, while Seattle is 7-2. Last week San Francisco's vaunted defense looked pretty ordinary in the 49ers closer than expected 28-25 victory in Arizona. Now the 49ers have to contend with another mobile QB, except this one is putting up MVP numbers and has a ton of experience. The Hawks aren't going to sit back and wait for San Francisco to make a mistake, they'll be going after San Fran's defense again at every opportunity. 

The pick: Wilson has 22 TD's and just one INT so far, so San Fran's defense isn't going to get too many opportunities anyways. I think from a situational stand point, this one absolutely sets up as a higher-scoring shootout. Additionally note that Seattle has seen the total go over the number in interestingly nine of its last 11 after a win by six points or less, while San Fran has seen the total soar over in eight of its last ten as a favorite. For all the reasons listed above, play the over.

10* TOTAL PLAYBOOK on the OVER Hawks/49ers.

The set-up: The Spurs come in off a poor effort at home to the red hot Celtics and they'll be eager to erase that performance by handling the Grizzlies in front of the home town crowd. The Grizzlies are looking terrible though, getting shut down recently in Orlando in a poor offensive display, before then coming back home and allowing 138 points to the Mavericks in a loss. Overall the Grizzlies average 108.7 PPG and they allow 120.1.

The pick: The Spurs come in off the 135-115 loss to Boston, but they average 112.6 PPG and allow 112.7. San Antonio is also 7-1 ATS in its last eight after a double-digit home loss, while Memphis is just 1-5 ATS in its last six after an ATS loss. I'm banking on a blowout from start to finish, so lay the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the San Antonio Spurs.

The set-up: Arizona started off the season red hot, but it's come back down to Earth of late after losing three straight. Still, the Coyotes enter at 9-6-2. If the Coyotes have any shot at pulling off the big upset today, clearly they'll have to do what they do best and that's slow this one down to a snails pace and grind out the victory. Washigton has won six straight and ten of its last 11. 

The pick: Arizona averages 2.82 GPG and washington allows 3.06 goals. Washington averages 4.06 GPG, but the Coyotes concede just 2.41. Additionally note that Arizona has seen the total go under the number in six of its last seven vs. clubs with winning records, while Washington has seen the total dip under in three of its last four non-conference games. I think this one gets decided by the men between the pipes. Play the under.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the UNDER Coyotes/Capitals.

The set-up: The Cowboys are off a 37-18 Monday night win over the Giants. Dallas' QB Dak Prescott threw for three TD's. But now the Cowboys face the red hot Vikings, led by Dalvin Cook, who had 71 yards in his team's close 26-23 loss to Kansas City. Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins had 222 passing yards and three TD's in a losing cause. Overall the Vikes are No. 1 in stopping the run and they've only allowed two rushing TD's all season. 

The pick: Dallas has won two in a row, but with back-to-back tough road games in Detroit and New England upcoming, clearly this is a tough stretch for the home side. Note that Dallas WR Amari Cooper didn't practice on Thursday and he's a game time decision here. NOte as well that Minnesota is a sharp 8-2 ATS in its last ten following a SU loss (including 2-0 ATS this season,) while Dallas is just 5-6 ATS in its last 11 after two or more consecutive victories. I think Minnesota's defense is not getting enough credit here. Grab the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Minnesota Vikings.

The set-up: Philadelphia comes in off a hard-fought and high-scorign 4-3 win in Toronto just last night and I think it'll predictably struggle here in the second game of the back-to-back scenario. Philadelphia has looked a lot better of late after a terrible start to the 2019/20 campaign, but they're definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time here. 

The pick: And that's because Boston enters having lost two in a row, falling 5-4 in Montreal on Tuesday, before then suffering an upset loss to the Wings. The Bruins come in focussed and I believe they'll lay the hammer down here from start to finish. Note as well that the Flyers are 0-5 on the second night of their last five in the second game of the back-to-back, while Boston is 5-0 in its last five at home. Expect a lop-sided destruction in this one and lay the 1.5 goals for the small plus money return.

10* PUCK-LINE PLAY-BOOK on the Boston Bruins.

The set-up: Both teams are 1-0 to open the new season. James Madison has plenty of experience and its offense was the main story line after crushing the Charlotte 49ers in its opener. Virginia looked sharp in its opening night road win in Syracuse, holding the Orange to just 34 points. The Dukes looked decent defensively vs. Charlotte, but I think they'll have their hands full with the defending champs on their own floor. 

The pick: Virginia CAN NOT be too happy with its win over Syracuse, as it shot only 40 percent from the floor, went a poor 4 of 25 from range, while also committing 15 turnovers. The Cavs are going to be looking to get their offense untracked here and with the home side opening things up, I look for this total to fly "over" sooner, rather than later.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the OVER James Madison/Virgina.

The set-up: The Cards are off a tough 28-25 home loss to the 49ers, while Tampa Bay lost a heart-braker in a 40-34 OT setback vs. the Seahawks in Seattle. While each club comes in off a high-scoring loss in its last action, I believe the stage is set for much more of a defensive affair in this one. Arizona is in third in the NFC West, but it's still won three of its last five games. The season is on the line here for the Cards essentially this weekend. Note that Cards' QB Kyler Murray has 2,229 passing yards with nine TD's and four INT's, while also posting 313 rushing yards. Also note that Murray has suffered 29 sacks. 

The pick: Tampa's lost four in a row and it hasn't won a game at home all year. Head coach Bruce Arians is an offensive minded coach and clearly he's not going to be happy coming into this one. Arians won't go down quietly though. Tampa QB Jameis Winston has 2,407 passing yards with 16 TD's and ten INT's. Winston has suffered 30 sacks this year. Look for the home side intstead to lean heavily on RB's Peyton Barber (277 yards, three TD's) and Ronald Jones Jr (381, three TD's), while on offense. Finally note that Arizona has already seen the total go under the number in three of its four games on the road this year, while TB has seen the total go under the number in seven of its last ten as a home favorite. This number is a tad high.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the UNDER Cards/Bucs.

The set-up: Houston comes in off a win vs. the Warriors, but I think its inconsistencies on the road comes back to haunt it again here vs. this hungry home side. Chicago has been "hit or miss" early, but it comes in off a big road win in Atlanta and I expect it to keep the foot on the gas here. Besides James Harden and Russell Westbrook, the Rockets get pretty thin after that. 

The pick: Houston's defense is suspect as well after allowing 112 points to an undermanned Warriors squad last time out. Chicago has plenty of young talent and I'm not reading too much into its early poor numbers. Now that the team has had a few games to get acclimated, I think the Bulls' last victory over the Hawks is going to be more indicative of they play moving forward. Additionally note that the Rockets are a poor 11-12 ATS in their last 23 as a road favorite in the 6.5 to 12 points range, while Chicago is 16-10 ATS in its last 26 as a home dog in the same points range. In a game which I see coming down to the wire, I'm grabbing the points.

10* PLAY-BOOK on the Chicago Bulls.

The set-up: Cal Irvine won its first game on the road, but I think it'll have its hands full vs. Pepperdine, which lost by 16 in its opener to Cal. Irvine barely held on for a 76-73 win over San Diego. 

The pick: The Waves were only down two at half to the Golden Bears, but they weren't able to hold it together in the second half. The Waves finished 16-18 last year, so they'll be desperate for a victory here as they try to get the 2019/20 campaign out to a better start. Note though that the Waves were 9-5 at home last year and they've covered in 13 of their last 19 in friendly confines. I'm banking on the hungry Waves getting back on track here.

10* BLOWOUT on Pepperdine.

The set-up: Notre Dame just became eligible after its 21-20 win over Virginia Tech last weekend and I expect a bit of a letdown here. Duke is 4-4 and it's lost three of its last four. Clearly the Blue Devils will be risking life and limb here to pull off the upset with just a handful of games left. These are in fact two evenly matched sides, so in a contest which I think'll be decided late, I'm going to grab the handful of points. Note that the Irish have lost two of three on the road already this year and their one win over Louisville was hardly impressive.

The pick: Duke returns home after two straight on the road and it's also had its bye week off to prepare for this one. From a situational stand point, this one sets up beautifully for the home side. Additionally note that the Irish are just 1-4-1 ATS in their last six on the road, while the Blue Devils are 8-1 ATS in their last nine following their bye week. Duke destroyed the Hokies by 35 earlier in the year, so the outright upset is in fact possible here as well. That said, I'm grabbing the points in the end.

10* play on Duke.

The set-up: The Pens come in off a 4-3 win over the Islanders, but I think they get caught looking past their lowly non-conference opponent today. The Blackhawks are just 5-10 this year, but they've won two of their past three and I think their momentum builds again here. Most recently Chicago destroyed the Canucks 5-2. Also note that Chicago goaltender Robin Lehner is a solid 3-3-2 with a 2.33 GAA this year. 

The pick: The Pens have Matt Murray in net and for the most part he's been solid, but he did allow three goals on 23 shots to New York before winning in OT. But with two whole nights off before a game at New York and then New Jersey, I do definitely think this sets up as a classic "trap/letdown/look-ahead" spot for Pittsburgh. I'm laying the very reasonable price for the extra 1.5 goals of insurance.

10* PUCK-LINE BEST OF THE BEST on the Chicago Blackhawks.

The set-up: Washington has was seven straight in this series, including a decisive 42-23 win last year. Suffice it to say, I expect that trend to continue here as well. The Huskies are 5-4 and they're desperate for a win here after falling 33-28 at home to Utah last weekend. The Beavers are 4-4 and they come in off an upset 56-38 win over on the road over Arizona. In fact note that Washington has lost back-to-back games, but over some pretty stiff competition in No. 12 Oregon and No. 9 Utah. 

The pick: Oregon State allows 254 passing yards per game and Huskies' QB Jacob Eason has 2,297 passing yards with 20 TD's to just five INT's. The Huskies allow 257 passing yards and Beavers' QB Jake Luton has 19 TD's to just one INT. However note that the Beavers are a sub-par 2-7 ATS in their last nine home games, while the Huskies are interestingly 4-1 ATS in their last five after posting less than 100 rushing yards in their last outing. After losing two straight, expect Washington to lay everything on the line here and after winning two in a row, look for the Beavers to take a mental step backwards. Lay the points.

10* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE on Washington.

The set-up: The Devils lost 5-2 in Calgary just last night and I expect them to have a hell of a time vs. the Oilers team this evening, as they come in having lost two in a row. Edmonton scored a 4-3 OT win in New Jersey earlier in the season, but I expect a more decisive effort here as it faces these now weary Devils. 

The pick: New Jersey averages 2.85 GPG, but the Oilers only allow 2.65. Edmonton on the other hand averages 2.76 GPG, while New Jersey concedes 3.69. Additionally note that after last night's setback the Devils are now an atrocious 14-37 in their last 51 on the road, while Oilers are still 8-2 in their last ten as a home favorite. Look for Edmonton to put the foot on the gas from start to finish and lay the price with confidence.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Edmonton Oilers.

The set-up: The Knicks are 1-7 and the Mavericks are 5-2. On paper, of course the Mavericks are the "better" team. However, as primarily a "situational" handicapper I think the desperate Knicks, who have lost four in a row, will give the over confident Mavericks everything they can handle tonight. One bright spot for New York in its last loss in Detroit was that it won the rebound battle 49-40. 

The pick: Facing former team-mate Kristaps Porzingis will only add motivation for the visitors as well. Dallas won 107-106 over the Magic on Wednesday, which was the first time all year that Orlando scored over 100 points. Note as well that New York is 3-1 ATS in its last four as a road dog in the 6.5 to 12 points range, while Dallas is a poor 3-7 ATS in its last ten home games as a home favorite in the 6.5 to 12 points range (including 0-2 ATS this year.) I believe the home side goes up early, takes the foot off the gas and I expect the hungry/desperate visitors to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. Grab the points.

10* PLAY-BOOK on the New York Knicks.

The set-up: Both teams are 1-0. UNC beat Notre Dame by 11 on Opening Night, managing to cover the spread by a single bucket. Cole Anthony had a massive game for the Tar Heels by dropping 34 points and grabbing 11 boards, but the Seahawks won't be going down without a fight today after they exploded in a 103-83 win over Johnson and Wales. Wilmington is an experienced team and I think that plays favorably for it here. 

The pick: Note as well that UNC is a sub-par 5-6 ATS in its last 11 off a home win vs. a conference rival, while Wilmington is 19-11 ATS in its last 30 as an underdog. Clearly I'm not calling for the outright, but I do absolutely believe the stage is set for a comfortable cover. Grab the points.

10* SUPER SHOCKER on NC Wilmington.

The set-up: Both teams are obviously not too thrilled with where they are right now. Minnesota is 5-10 and the Sharks are 5-11. The Wild come in off a rare road win over the Ducks and I think a predictable return to mediocrity is imminent vs. this hungry home side. The Sharks had lost five in a row before a win over the Hawks last time out, so clearly they're not going to be taking anything for granted. And if recent history is any precedence, then there's no question that San Jose has to be loving it chances here, as it would sweep all three contests a year ago. 

The pick: Note that San Jose is 8-3 in its last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400, while Minnesota is a poor 3-18 in its last 21 following a victory. I think this overall situation highly favors the home side and it makes this a price in which I have no issues at all in laying.

10* PLAY-BOOK on the San Jose Sharks.

The set-up: Miami enters off a loss to a desperate Nuggets team, but I think its depth and experience will help it pull off the minor upset here vs. the surprising Suns. Phoenix has won three straight and it just handed the 76ers their first loss of the year. Can anyone say "letdown" spot? 

The pick: The Suns have been getting massive production from Devin Booker, but behind him Phoenix is actually pretty thin (Aron Baynes and Kelly Oubre Jr?!). Despite falling to Denver, note as well that Miami is still 52-33 ATS in it last 85 on the road and already 2-0 ATS this year vs. good offensive teams which average 106 plus points per contest, while Phoenix is a poor 14-18 ATS in its last 32 when playing on two days rest. I'm grabbing the points, but obviously expecting an outright upset.

10* COAST-TO-COAST ULTIMATE ATS BLOWOUT is on the Miami Heat.

The set-up: It's a big game for both of these hungry AFC sides. The Chargers are 4-5 and the Raiders are 4-4. Funnily enough, the Chargers could be heading to London next year, while the Raiders are on their way to Vegas. LA though is coming off back-to-back wins over the Bears and Packers and with its season essentially on the line, it's safe to say that Philip Rivers and company won't be "sitting back" and waiting for the home side to make a mistake. Melvin Gordon missed the first few games because of a contract dispute for LA, but the big RB is now finally back into "game shape" and it's opened things up considerably for Rivers to properly operate. 

The pick: The Raiders' defense is injured and it gave up more than 400 yards and three TD's to the Lions in their latest outing. Note that Oakland has allowed at least 24 points in all but one game this year. DeShaun Watson torched the Raiders' secondary and it gave up six TD's to Aaron Rodgers the week before that. Derek Carr is also going to be given the "green light" to air things out as Oakland's offense will once again have to carry the load this week. I think these two gun-slinging QB's become the main story lines in tomorrow's summaries. This number is a tad low.

10* TOTAL PLAY-BOOK on the OVER Chargers/Raiders.

The set-up: Louisiana Lafayette has won six in a row and it's now bowl eligible after laying the hammer down on Texas State last week. But on the short week here and facing a 4-4 Coastal Carolina side, I think the Ragin Cajuns finally have a bit of a mental letdown in this spot. Coastal Carolina is coming off a much needed win over Troy and I like the home side to build off that victory and give their visiting side everything it can handle. 

The pick: QB Bryce Carpenter has been hit or miss for the Chanticleers, but Coastal Carolina is still putting up decent offensive numbers. Louisiana Lafayette's offensive and defensive numbers are much better than its hosts, but this a situationally based selection, which I believe highly favors the home side. I think the Cajuns have a letdown after six straight wins and with their eligibility achieved last weekend. Coastal Carolina on the other hand still needs two more wins to become eligible. Additionally note that Louisiana Lafayette is 0-3 ATS in its last three after a cover as a double digit favorite, while Coastal Carolina is 3-1 ATS in its last four off an upset win as an underdog. Grab the points and expect a battle until the final whistle.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Coastal Carolina.

The set-up: Montreal is 8-5-2 and it comes in on top form, having won four of its last five. Montreal is also 4-2-2 on the road this season. Habs' netminder Carey Price is 7-4-1 with a 2.75 GAA this year and he's 15-11-1 with a 2.52 GAA lifetime vs. Philadelphia. 

The pick: The Flyers are 7-5-2 overall and coming off a 4-1 win over Carolina. Philly is 5-1-1 on its own ice and goalie Carter Hart is 4-3-1 with a 2.93 GAA this year. Four of these team's last five in this series have fallen "under" the number and I definitely expect that trend to continue with these two competent netminders squaring off on Thursday night. 

10* TOTAL COACH'S CORNER on the UNDER Habs/Flyers.

The set-up: Philadelphia lost its first game of the year in Phoenix last time out. The Jazz are unbeaten at home and so far this season they've seen every game go "under" the posted total. With Philadelphia looking to get its host "out of its comfort zone" by pushing the pace and trying to extend the defense, I think this total finally goes over the posted number. 

The pick: The Jazz may be undefeated at home, but they enter off a loss to the Clippers and they'll be eager to return to the winners circle as well. Note that Philly has already seen the total go over the number in three of four on the road this year, while Utah has seen the total soar over in 15 of its last 25 after two or more SU losses. Philadelphia is back to full strength with Joel Embiid returning to the line-up and I expect this deep visiting side to push the tempo from the opening tip, until the final horn. This number is a tad low.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the OVER 76ers/Jazz.

The set-up: Virginia is the defending national champion, so clearly Syracuse will be out to push the pace and get the Cavs "out of their comfort zone." The Orange actually enter the season "firing on all cylindres," winning two exhibition games and then going to Italy and winning all four games over there as well. This early chemistry in my opinion is going to help in pushing this total over the number. 

The pick: Virginia has new faces, with six players missing from last year's suffocating defensive squad. The Cavs got the job done last year by slowing things down, but I have a hard time seeing this group duplicating that feat this season. And especially on Opening night vs. this Orange side which is playing at an extremely high level before the season has even started. When you add it all up, this one has "over" written all over it.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the OVER Virginia/Syracuse. 

The set-up: Both teams come in at 10-6. The Blues come in off a win in Vancouver just last night and I expect them to have a predictable letdown here vs. the an Oilers team which comes in off an OT loss to the Coyotes, after beating the Penguins in OT on the road. 

The pick: The Blues average 3.43 GPG, but the Oilers only allow 2.50. The Oilers are also 5-1 in their last six vs. teams with winning records and 4-1 in their last five as a home favorite, while St. Louis is just 2-10 in its last 12 vs. clubs with winning records. Look for the rested home side to throw everything it has at the defending champs. Lay the price.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Edmonton Oilers.

The set-up: Miami Ohio won last year's contest 30-28 and I expect a similar hard-fought and ultimately higher-scoring game here as well. That victory snapped a five-game win streak in the series for Ohio. Miami Ohio is 4-4 and 3-1 in Conference play and it comes in confident after winning its last two games, including a 23-16 road victory over Kent State in its most recent. Ohio is also 4-4 overall and 3-1 in MAC play, most recently pulling away for a 34-21 victory over Ball State. The winner will take over first place in the MAC. Brett Gabbert is the QB for the RedHawks and he has 1360 passing yards and four receivers with 100 receiving yards. Note that the Bobcats allow 446.5 YPG on the defensive side. 

The pick: Ohio though has scored 78 points over its last two games (both victories) and I expect the home side to open up the playbook and push the pace again here as well. Bobcats' QB Nathan Rourke has 1,743 passing yards with ten TD's and five INT's so far. Note that Miami Ohio has seen the total go over the number in its last four after two straight wins over a conference rival, while Ohio has seen the total go over in 11 of its last 13 as a home favorite. This number is a tad low.

10* TOTAL BEATDOWN on the OVER Miami Ohio/Ohio.

The set-up: UNC was upset by Auburn in the Sweet 16 last year. The Tar Heels lost their top five scorers, but they have a top 10 recruiting class, led by point guard Cole Anthony. Mike Brey has been the head coach in Notre Dame for 19 years, but the Irish won just 14 games last year, the lowest win total of his tenure. Last year the Irish took a 36-33 halftime lead against UNC and eventually lost 75-69. With five seniors returning, I expect Notre Dame to put up a similarily hard-fought effort here. 

The pick: The Tar Heels lost their top five scorers, but also four of their five starters from a year ago. UNC is still picked to finish second in the ACC, but I think chemistry is going to be an issue early. Look for the Irish to take this one down to the wire and grab up the generous amount of points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on Notre Dame.

The set-up: Chicago comes to the Shark Tank ranked as the worst offense in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks beat the Ducks 3-2 in Anaheim, but I think they'll struggle in this difficult road venue. 

The pick: San Jose is 4-10-1 and it won't be taking anything for granted here after its terrible start to the campaign. San Jose though is No. 1 on the penalty kill still, while ranked seventh on the power play. Additionally note that the Sharks are 7-3 in their last ten at home vs. a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400, while the Hawks are still just 1-6 in their last seven as a road dog. I like the desperate home side to dominate from start to finish. 

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the San Jose Sharks.

The set-up: Denver comes in off a win over Orlando and I think it keeps the momentum rolling here vs. the 5-1 Heat. While Miami has performed well at home, this is a big test with games at Phoenix and the Lakers up next. Miami blew the Rockets out of the water in their 129-100 home victory, but I think it takes a step back here in this difficult non-conference venue. 

The pick: The Nuggets have gone through some early growing pains to open the year, with losses to Dallas and New Orleans. Denver though battled tough against the Magic and there's no reason not to think it won't carry over that hunger here at home vs. this top East Coast team. Note that Miami is only 11-21 ATS in its last 32 after a win by ten points or more, while Denver is 24-16 ATS in its last 40 after playing two straight on the road. After their "ho hum" start and facing this red hot Heat side, I look for Nikola Jokic and company to lay the hammer down from start to finish here. Lay the points.

10* BEST OF THE BEST on the Denver Nuggets.

The set-up: These teams are playing at Madison Square Garden in New York City in this one. The last time these teams met was in the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and the Jayhawks won 85-81. Kansas though is on a mission here after failing to win the Big 12 for the first time since 2004, finishing with a 26-10 record last year. Kansas was hurt last season by the loss of Udoka Azubuike, who hurt his wrist early on and would have gone to the NBA, but he's back this season instead to work on his "stock" for the upcoming draft. 

The pick: The Blue Devils went 32-6 last year, but losing Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett isn't going to be the easiest transition in my opinion. Duke is loaded with talent (Tre Jones), but it also has to replace leadership type players like Cam Reddish (he had 13.5 PPG last year.) Additionally note that Duke is 0-4 ATS in its last four neutral site games, while Kansas is 5-1 ATS the last six in this series. I think the talent and experience that the Jayhawks bring back turn out to be the difference maker on Opening night. 

10* PLAY-BOOK on Kansas.

The set-up: These are two of the hottest teams in the league, as Phoenix is 4-2 and Philadelphia is 5-0. The 76ers managed a one point win over the Blazers in their first road game. Note that 51.8 percent of Philly's point come in the paint. Also note that the 76ers rank among the best in the league in assists and rebounding. They also lead the league in steal with 11.4 per game. 

The pick: The Suns are led by Devin Booker, but they now have Frank Kaminsky and Ricky Rubio to help until big man Deadre Ayton returns. The weakness for both teams comes on the defensive end and that's exactly where I believe each will concentrate tonight in this non-conference matchup. And the numbers/trends support that theory, as note that Philly has seen the total dip under in 20 of its last 30 after allowing 120 points or more, while the Suns have seen the total dip below the posted number in 21 of their last 36 as a home dog of six points or less. This number is a tad high.

10* play on the UNDER 76ers/Suns.

The set-up: The Coyotes caught the Avs in the second game of a back-to-back in their last matchup and they left Denver with a 3-0 victory. The Oilers though ahve won two straight, most recently a 2-1 OT victory over the Pens. 

The pick: Arizona though has struggled with offensive consistency this season, especially on the road. Look for Edmonton to improve upon its 4-1 record as a favorite in the -110 to -150 range and for the Coyotes to fall to 0-5 in their last five after allowing two goals or less in their previous outing. A great price on a hot home side, lay it.

10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

The set-up: Dallas smashed New York 35-17 in Week 1 when Eli Manning was under center. The Cowboys have been hit or miss this year, but they're coming off an impressive 37-10 win over Philadelphia in Week 7, a team which was just as hungry as desperate as they were. Dallas is coming off a Week 8 bye as well, so it's been planning and preparing for this crucial contest for a while now. New York though isn't sure what's going on, most recently losing 31-26 on the road to the Lions. At 2-6, the Giants' season is already over and they can now start preparing and planning for next year. 

The pick: New York is just 1-5 ATS in its last six at home, while Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road favorite in the 3.5 to 7 points range. Breaking down individual player matchups or what each team's defensive and offensive numbers are is not important tonight. The situational factors combined with these strong trends make Dallas the savvy call in my professional opinion. Lay the points.

10* BLOOD BATH on the Dallas Cowboys.

The set-up: Nashville won four in a row, but it's since lost two straight. Clearly the Predators are going to be out to push the pace from start to finish as they look to get untracked. Overall the offense is averaging 3.86 GPG for the Predators, so I expect a return to the "norm" here vs. this suspect Red Wings' defensive unit. Detroit got off to a great start this season, but it's been all downhill since. One of the lone bright spots was its 5-3 win over the Predators in Nashville. 

The pick: The Wings won't be rolling over though either as they try to desperately get back into the win column. Detroit is averaging only 2.20 GPG, but goaltenders Jimmy Howard (2-6, 3.67 GAA) and Jonathan Bernier (2-4-1, 3.50) are both struggling mightily now as well. With each team pushing the pace from the opening face-off until the final horn, look for this one to fly over the posted number sooner, rather than later. 

10* play on the OVER Predators/Red Wings.

The set-up: So far every single Jazz came has fallen "under" the number this year. The Clippers have seen the total go under in three straight. These teams have played each other already this year and that total went "under" the number. The Jazz enter off a poor loss to the Kings and they'll be extra motivated here to get back on track after that pathetic performance. The Clippers average 114 PPG and they'll be looking to get the visitors out of their "comfort zone" by pushing the pace. From an overall situational stand point, I think this one finally sets up as more of a "shootout" than a defensive affair. 

The pick: Note as well that Utah has seen the total soar over the number in nine of its last 13 off an upset loss as a road favorite, while LA has seen the total soar over in 13 of its last 21 in trying to revenge a road loss vs. an opponent of ten points or more. With the Clippers indeed playing with revenge here as well, there's no question in my mind that this one has "high-scoring shootout" written all over it. Play the over.

10* TOTAL OF THE YEAR on the OVER Jazz/Clippers.

The set-up: Has New England been "tested" this year on the defensive side of the ball? So far the Patriots are putting up historic numbers defensively, but many pundits claim that they've yet to face a "real" offense. Baltimore's versatile pivot Lamar Jackson definitely is a challenge for any team, but I still believe that the Pats' unit will be more than "up for it." Note that Baltimore may be 5-2, but it's schedule certainly hasn't been "murderers row" to this point either. And will rest lead to rust? The Patriots are pounding out convincing wins each and every week, but the Ravens will have to quickly try to regain their form after the extra time off. Clearly the home side will have to get out and push the pace of this one if it has any hopes of pulling off an upset vs. the Pats' strong defense today. 

The pick: Note that New England has seen the total in five of its last seven as a road favorite of three points or less, while Baltimore has seen the total soar over in six of its last seven after allowing 17 points or less in two straight. The overall situation combined with these strong O/U trends make the "over" the correct call here.

10* SUPER TOTAL on the OVER Pats/Ravens.

The set-up: The Capitals have seen the total go over in seven straight and when they defeated the Flames 5-3 in Calgary earlier in the season, that total also went "over" the number. Calgary enters off a 3-0 win over the Blue Jackets though, and could come into this one flat. The last thing the visitors can do is turn this into a "track meet" and expect to "hang" with the faster-paced home side though obviously. Cam Talbot gets the call in net for the visitors and he's 1-2-0 with a 2.46 GAA so far. He'll face opposite Washington's Braden Holtby, who has won four of his last five starts.

The pick: Note thought that Calgary has seen the total go under the number in three of its last four in trying to revenge a home loss vs. an opponent, while Washington has seen the total dip under in 37 of its last 67 vs. teams with losing records. I expect Calgary to slow this one down as it tries to revenge the earlier setback at home and close out its four game trip on a high note. This number is a little high.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the UNDER Flames/Capitals.

The set-up: What do you base your picks on? For me, I like to remain flexible and don't follow any one single methodology. The Raiders have been arguably the biggest "surprise" team in the NFL this year, a lot more competititve than what most thought. But in my opinion, this one sets up as a "trap/letdown" for the home side. And that's because the Raiders haven't actually played a "home" game in the last five weeks (the only time in the last five weeks that Oakland was the "home" side was its game in London three weeks ago.) Now the players return home to their own beds and their families finally and I think that it's going to have a detrimental effect to their play on the field today.

The pick: Oakland has lost two straight as well. The Lions though come off a crucial 31-26 win over the Giants last weekend and they'll be laying everything on the line here as they try to keep pace with the Packers. Note as well that Detroit is 8-2 ATS in its last ten as a road dog and 8-2 ATS in its last ten vs. clubs with losing records, while Oakland is a terrible 3-5 ATS in its last eight as a favorite and only 3-7 ATS in its last ten non-conference games. A great situational play on the Lions this weekend.

10* GAME OF MONTH on the Detroit Lions.

The set-up: The San Jose State Spartans are 4-4. Note that that's more victories than their last two season's combined. San Jose State needs two more wins to become eligible and I expect the home side to open up the playbook as it looks to pull off the upset. Boise State is 6-1 and ranked No. 21 in the country, but it'll be out to rebound here after a 28-25 loss to BYU last weekend. 

The pick: San Jose State QB Josh Love has been "under the radar" all season, as he comes in ranked No. 2 in the conference in passing yards and in eight games he's only thrown three INT's. The Spartans though are allowing the second most yards in the conference defensively (442.9), so Love has had to push the pace almost every weekend. Boise State has seen the total go over in eight of its last 12 on the road, while San Jose State has seen the total eclipse the posted number in three of its last four after a road victory. The numbers and situation point to the over as the correct call in this one.

10* play on the OVER Boise State/San Jose State.

The set-up: Portland returns home after a successful 3-1 season opening road trip. The Blazers only loss came to the Spurs in the second game of a back-to-back situation. The Blazers are getting dominant play from Damian Lillard, who is averaging 29.2 PPG, while CJ McCollum is averaging 21. Note that the Blazers are 8-1 SU in their last nine at the Moda Center. The 76ers come to town without their top player in Joel Embiid as well, who is serving a suspension due to a fight he was involved in. 

The pick: Josef Nurcic is going to be able to operate vs. Philadelphia in the paint. Philly has plenty of talent and is a deep team as well, but the late West Coast game, combined with the loss of Embiid will prove to be just too much here to overcome in my opinion. Note as well that Portland is 4-0 ATS in its last four after scoring 100 or more points in its previous outing, while Philly is only 40-45 ATS in its last 85 after scoring 115 points or more. I'm laying the points and expecting a blowout.

10* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE on the Portland Trailblazers. 

The set-up: Both teams are desperate for a win here. UVA is 5-3 and UNC is 4-4. The Cavs enter off a 28-21 loss to Louisville. Despite the hiccup, UVA still averages 30 PPG, while allowing only 20.8. QB Bryrce Perkins had 233 yards and a TD last week, while RB Wayn Taulapapa had 54 rushing yards and two TD's. 

The pick: UNC lost 43-41 to Virginia Tech two weeks ago and then bounced back with a 20-17 victory over Duke last weekend. UNC posted 432 total yards of offense, including 205 on the ground, led by Javonte Williams with 111 rushing yards. The Tar Heels average 27.5 PPG and they allow 25.8. UVA though is 6-1 ATS in its last seven following a road loss, while UNC is just 1-4 ATS in its last five as a home favorite. I think the Tar Heels struggle vs. this tough UVA defense. Clearly the outright isn't out of the question, but grab as many points as you can in the end.

10* play on UVA.

The set-up: The Devils come in "gassed" here after their high-scoring 4-3 loss at home to Philadelphia. The Hurricanes destroyed the Wings 7-3 just last night as well. So while both teams did play to high-scoring affairs only 24 hours previous, I'm definitely expecting a much tighter and ultimately lower-scoring game here. 

The pick: Both teams are playing their back-up goaltenders, but as mentioned off the top, from a situational stand point I think this one sets up well as more of a defensive contest. Also note that NJ has in fact seen the total go under the number in 32 of its last 52 vs. the division, while Carolina has seen the total dip below the posted number in 41 of its last 61 vs. division opponents. For all the reasons listed above, play the under.

10* TOTAL PLAY-BOOK on the UNDER Devils/Hurricanes. 

The set-up: The Jazz are 4-1 and the Kings are 0-7. Neither team has been great offensively, with Utah averaging just 101 PPG, while the Kings have posted 98.6. Utah has the best defense in the league, while the Kings have one of the worst, allowing 115.6. 

The pick: While neither side has played to many high-scoring affairs this season, I think that trend ends here. The desperate home side will be trying to push the pace from start to finish as it looks to get off the schneid. Utah doesn't have to play brilliant defense tonight to win this game either. Note as well that Utah has in fact seen the total go over in 16 of its last 25 as a road favorite of six points or less, while Sacramento has seen the total eclipse the posted number in four of its last five vs. good defensive teams which allow 98 points or less per contest. The situation and the numbers both point to this one going over before it's all said and done.

10* play on the OVER Jazz/Kings.

The set-up: The Canucks have been better than advertised to open the season, but I think they finally take a step back here after their 5-3 win in LA last time out. The Ducks have gotten out to a winning start as well this year and I believe they build off their recent 7-4 win over the Jets. 

The pick: The Canucks have the better numbers across the board over their counterparts today (offensive, defensive, goaltending, special teams), but not by much. And with a game in San Jose tomorrow night, I do think that Vancouver gets caught "looking ahead." Additionally note that the Canucks are still only 22-36 (-9.4 units) after scoring four goals or more in their previous game, while the Ducks are 27-21 (+4.2 units) in their last 48 in the same position. All things considered, I think this is a great price on the hungry home side.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Anaheim Ducks.

The set-up: Navy just became eligible after its 41-38 win over Tulane last weekend. UConn earned its first victory of the year in last week's 56-35 win over UMass. Malcom Perry and the Midshipmen are back in the bowls this season and after punching that crucial/important win, I believe that Navy does in fact come out a bit flat in this one. The Midshipmen average 37.9 PPG and they allow 19.7. 

The pick: UConn only averages 21.2 PPG, while allowing 37.8, but last week it posted 539 total yards of offense. Additionally note that Navy is a poor 1-4 ATS in its last five as a road favorite, while the Huskies are 3-1 ATS in their last four as a home dog in the 21 1/2 to 28 points range. I'm banking on a closer than expected battle here, grab the points.

10* TRAIN-WRECK on Connecticut.

The set-up: The desperate Nets are poised to win this game outright in my opinion, but in a contest which I see coming down to whichever of these teams has it hands on the ball last, I'm going to recommend grabbing the points. Houston comes in off a one point OT win in the Nation's capital vs. a terrible Wizards tam. Yes Houston has two fantastic players in James Harden and Russell Westbrook, but after that they get pretty thin. 

The pick: And in a "situation" like this where they just finished a marathon OT contest and now face a desperate Nets team that will be risking life and limb after starting the season 1-3, there's no question that this one sets up great from a situational stand point for the home side. Additionally note that Houston is a terrible 5-12 ATS in its last 17 after allowing 110 points or more in three straight games, while the Nets are a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last four after failing to cover the spread in four or more consecutive games. This one has upset written all over it.

10* play on the Brooklyn Nets.

The set-up: I base my picks on many different things. This one is primarily based around scheduling. Montreal comes in off a highly satisfying 4-1 victory in Arizona just last night and I think it's going to suffer a predictable letdown here. Las Vegas most recently hammered the Ducks 5-2 and I expect a similar lop-sided blowout here as well. Also note the visitors will turn to back-up goalkeeper Keith Kincaid in this one and he's 0-1-1 with a 4.53 GAA this year. 

The pick: The home side counters with Mark Andre Fleurty, who is 8-3-0 on the year with a 2.36 GAA. Note as well that LV is 6-1 in its last seven as a favorite of -200 or higher, while Montreal is a poor 0-5 in its last five when playing on back-to-back. Lay the 1.5 goals for the plus money return and expect a decisive home victory.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Las Vegas Golden Knights. 

ts. 

The set-up: What do you base your picks on? I base my selections on many different things. This particular play is based upon the fact the Pelicans are so far winless this year and they're going to be playing their hearts out to get off the schneid. They're still without Zion Williamson and yes admittedly, the Nuggets are a much better and deeper team. But I believe that the visitors come in flat here after their outright 109-106 loss at home to the Mavericks. 

The pick: The Pelicans have faced stiff competition to open the year, but note that they're 13-6 ATS in their last 19 off an upset loss as a home favorite, while Nuggets are just 11-17 ATS in their last 28 off an upset loss as a favorite. In a game which I envision coming down to whichever of these teams has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to recommend to grab as many points as you can.

10* UNDERDOG GAME OF THE YEAR on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The set-up: I got down early and have a favorable line in this one, but regardless, I like San Francisco to come in focussed on the task at hand and to once again run up the score quickly in this one as it then gets ready to play Seattle the following week. Clearly this is a big game for Arizona, as it sits at 3-4 and another loss will essentially take it out of the running for a playoff spot with both Seattle and San Francisco in its division. But San Francisco's depth on the defensive side of the ball and it's strong run game is going to prove to be too much for Cards' rookie QB Kyler Murray today. 

The pick: Arizona enters off a tough road loss to the Saints and I don't think the home side has gotten over that setback. It's interesting to note as well that San Fran is 2-0 ATS in its last two Thursday night contests, while Arizona is interestingly 0-3 ATS in its last three following a two game road trip. No upsets this week, lay the points.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the San Francisco 49ers.

The set-up: Georgia Southern won't be going down without a fight vs. No. 20 Appalachian State. The Eagles enter off a 41-7 win over New Mexico State, while the 7-0 Mountaineers defeated South Alabama 30-3 last weekend. Georgia Southern's triple option is going to be something a bit different for App State today though. The Mountaineers average 140 rushing yards per game and the Eagles average 259 rushing yards per game.

The pick: Georiga SOuthern's defense is under-rated as well in my opinion, allowing only 209 passing yards per game, so QB Zac Thomas is going to have his hands full. Note that Georgia Southern is 4-1 ATS in its last five after scoring 37 points or more in its last game, while App State is already 0-2 ATS this year after a win by 21 points or more. No outright, but closer than what this spread would suggest.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Georgia Southern.