The set-up: For a long time, the Indianapolis Colts dominated the AFC South, first led by Peyton Manning and then Andrew Luck. However, the Colts entered the 2017 season off back-to-back seasons and with Andrew Luck never getting on the field, find themselves at 3-8 entering Week 13. The Colts would need to "win out" to reach 8-8 this season and we can be pretty sure that won't happen. Indy visits Jacksonville on Sunday and the 7-4 Jaguars are attempting to end a nine-season playoff drought. Jacksonville is tied with Tennessee for first place in the AFC South as it opens a three-game homestand on Sunday against the Colts.The Titans currently own the tie-breaker but the good news is the Jags currently own the AFC's No. 1 wild card spot.

Indianapolis: The Colts' season unraveled early as Luck has been unavailable due to a shoulder injury. The team's next loss will clinch its first losing campaign since 2011. "It's tough, but I know what type of guys we've got in this locker room - great group of guys who will come to work every day," veteran RB Frank Gore told reporters. "I know things haven't been going our way, and I think if we just handle the small things, I think that can change." Gore needs just 49 rushing yards against the Jaguars to pass Jerome Bettis (13,662) and LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684) and move into fifth place on the all-time list but "he's dreaming" about this team turning things around. Jacoby Brissett is limited at QB (9 TDs / 5 INTs / QB rating of 86.0), as the Colts rank 26th in averaging 201.3 YPG (26th). Gore and the team's rushing 'attack' ranks 24th, averaging 95.3 YPG. That adds up to the team averaging only 17.2 PPG (27th). On the defensive side of the ball, Indy is allowing an NFL-worst 27.3 PPG on 375.8 YPG (29th). Go back and re-visit Gore's quote and try NOT to laugh!

Jacksonville: The Jags considered replacing QB Blake Bortles in the preseason but they didn't have a "plan B." Bortles has made fewer mistakes this season but he's is a liability. He's completing a modest 58.3% with just 12 TDs (albeit, just 8 INTs). The Jags rank just 28th with 194.8 YPG passing but have been bailed out offensively by the NFL's No. 1-ranked running game. Rookie RB Leonard Fournette has been up-and-down this season but his 765 yards (4.1 YPC / 6 TDs) is a team-high for a Jacksonville team averaging 154.3 YPG! Jacksonville's D played hard last season but the turnover-plagued offense kept many people from noticing. However, the Jags enter this Week 13 game ranked first in points allowed (15.3 per game) and yards allowed (281.8 per game).

The pick: Jacksonville is 3-0 ATS following a SU loss in 2017, with those victories coming by 37, 21 & 27 points. Maybe I should just "lay it" but this low total has me more interested. The Colts are allowing 33.2 PPG on the road and after getting shut out at home by the Jags, I think the Colts are more than capable of at least putting up their season average on offense (just shy of 18 points). Make the Over an 8* play.

The set-up: Two 6-5 teams will meet at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday and the loser's playoff hopes will clearly be damaged. The Lions took a three-game winning streak into their Thanksgiving Day showdown with the Vikings but the 30-23 loss all but ended Detroit's division hopes. A second straight loss here could be a 'killer' for the Lions' wild card chances. As for the Ravens, they come in having won three of their last four and currently the team's 6-5 record is good enough for the AFC's final playoff spot (No. 6 seed).

Detroit: QB Matthew Stafford signed a five-year, $135 million deal in the summer to become the highest-paid player in the NFL. He's NOT the league's best player or QB but he's completed 62.5 percent for 3,010 yards with 21 TDs and six INTs (QB rating of 97.3). He's had multiple TD passes in the four straight games and in eight of 11 this season. Detroit's much-maligned rushing game takes plenty of hits (78.3 YPG ranks 30th) but Ameer Abdullah (505 YR / 3.4 YPC / 3 TDs) had been a positive factor of late with three TDs (two rushing, one receiving) during the team's three-game winning streak, before being shut down by the Vikings. Golden Tate leads with 63 catches but Jones averages 16.6 YPC on his 44 catches with eight TDs. The defense has been below average all season and enters allowing 24.0 PPG (22nd) on 359.4 YPG (26th).

Baltimore: While Detroit has received excellent QB play, the Ravens' Flacco has struggled all season. He's thrown just nine TD passes with 11 INTs, giving him a QB rating of 74.2. Baltimore's average of 164.3 YPG passing ranks dead-last (32) in the NFL. The lack of explosiveness is reflected in the fact that veteran TE Ben Watson (42) and RB Javorius Allen (41) are 1-2 on the team in receptions. The running game is no better than average (116.8 YPG ranks 16th) and the Ravens' are fortunate to be averaging 21.5 PPG (18th). However, the team's D has forced a league-high 26 takeaways (18 INTs is also an NFL-high), giving Baltimore a turnover ratio of plus-11 (again, best in the NFL).

The pick: The Baltimore D has three shutouts this season but truthfully, it's not what it was in the Ray Lewis era. Then again, Baltimore's stop unit is doing just that. It allows 305.7 YPG (7th) but along with a league-best 26 takeaways, allows just 17.0 PPG, which ranks second. For all of Stafford's nice numbers, he's 0-3 in the playoffs and has never been known as a 'finisher.' Neither have the Lions, as they are just 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games in December. Make Baltimore an 8* play.

The set-up: Most believe that the ACC championship game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday evening is a "play-in" for CFP's 'Final 4.' There can be no doubt that 11-1 Clemson, the defending chaps and current No. 1 team in both polls plus the CFP's latest rankings, is a lock with a win. As for 10-1 Miami, the 'Canes have that 24-14 loss at Pitt hanging around their necks, as well as those "Turnover Chains!" Still, it's difficult to see a win in this game over Clemson, not ensuring the 'Canes a spot in the 'Final 4.'

Miami: The Hurricanes were unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the CFP rankings and both polls prior to their day after Thanksgiving loss to Pitt. Junior QB Malik Rosier has thrown for 2,807 yards with 25 TDs and nine INTs. More importantly, he has a number of "big-play moments" particularly in sparking late-game heroics in victories against Florida State, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and North Carolina. However, Rosier will be without two of his top-three receivers. Standout TE Chris Herndon (40 catches / 4 TDs) suffered a season-ending injury against Pittsburgh and WR Ahmmon Richards (24 catches / 18.3 YPC) tore the meniscus in his left knee during practice Wednesday and will need surgery. RB Travis Homer has been productive, rushing for 861 yards (6,3 YPC) since taking over for the injured Mark Walton, who is out for the season (Miami ranks 65th in RY at 166.0 per game). Everyone knows about the Miami D thanks to its gaudy “turnover chain,” but it's no mirage. The Hurricanes thrive on takeaways, having forced 29 turnovers while committing only 12, and the D checks in allowing 18.3 PPG (15th).

Clemson: The Tigers have just one blemish, a 27-24 Oct. loss at Syracuse, on Friday the 13th! QB Kelly Bryant left taht game with an injury but hasn't missed any more time
since, except when being rested in a blowout. Clemson has beaten Georgia Tech, NC State, Florida State, the Citadel and South Carolina since that Syracuse. The South Carolina win was particularly satisfying, trouncing the hated-Gamecocks 34-10. Bryant has thrown for 2,426 yards with 12 TDs and six INTs. RBs Etienne (720 RY / 7,4 YPC / 12 TDs) and Feaster (637 YR / 6.4 YPC / 6 TDs are helped by Bryant, who has added 639 rushing yards and 10 TDs (team ranks 15th at 217.8 YPG). Clemson is averaging 35.2 PPG (25th) and while it's defense doesn't have a 'catchy' name, it allows only 13.6 PPG to rank 4th!

The pick: Miami’s loss at Pitt didn’t change much, as the 'Canes would have needed to beat Clemson to reach the 'Final 4,' anyway. However, it is disturbing that Miami came out so flat vs. the Panthers. Meanwhile, Clemson appears just fine after its mid-season 'hiccup,' which coincided with an ankle injury to QB Bryant. The Tigers have won a school-record 10 straight games against top-25 opponents, not to mention coming in on a 9-1 ATS run in their last 10 neutral-site games. In contrast, the 'Canes are 1-6 ATS in their last seven neutral-site games. Want more? How about Dabo Swinney has recorded an 8-1 ATS mark in ACC title or postseason games? Make Clemson a 10* play.

The set-up: The Philadelphia 76ers are 12-9 but have have been shut down this past week by two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, losing 113-91 at home to Cleveland on Monday and then 108-97 at Boston on Thursday. Philly now gets set to host the Pistons, who are no slouch themselves. Detroit has missed the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons but has every intent to change that dynamic here in the 2017-18 season, opening 14-7. That leaves them tied with Toronto, a half-game back of the Cavs, with all three teams chasing the 19-4 Celtics.

Detroit: The Pistons are coming off a 109-91 loss at Washington on Friday, as Andre Drummond's 15th double-double (14 points & 17 rebounds) was not nearly enough. The Pistons led by six at halftime but were outscored 35-15 in the third quarter, as their three-game winning streak came to an end. "We got killed on the glass," head coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. "They played so much harder. ... We did nothing. We did nothing. I really don't have an explanation." Four of five starters average in double figures, led by Harris (18.9 & 5.3). Guards Bradley (16.6) and Jackson (15.6 & 5.8 APG) join Harris, as does center Drimmond (14.3 & 15.2). Five others add exclellent deoth, contributing between 6.2 and 9.6 PPG.

Phildelphia. The 76ers had won five of six before 'hitting a wall' against Cleveland and Boston. The Sixers rested center Joel Embiid on Thursday night in Boston, as it was their second game in as many nights and he has not yet been cleared to play in a back-to-back situations after undergoing surgery on his left knee in March. However, Embiid will play here and he's averaging 22.9 & 11.3. Ben Simmons (18.6-9.4-7.2) reminds some of Magic Johnson plus SG Redick (15.4), SF Covington (14.7 & 6.1) and PF Saric (11.2 & 6.4) are all playing well. T.J. McConnell (7.0 & 5.4 APG) missed the Boston game with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder but Bayless (9.7) is an able replacement at PG.

The pick: Tough back-to-back situation here for Detroit, as the team plays its second contest in a four-game road trip. Philadelphia claimed the first meeting between the teams with a 97-86 win in Detroit (Oct. 23), as Ben Simmons recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and the 76ers limited the Pistons to 38.8 percent from the floor. Oh by the way, Embiid had 30 points in that first meeting in Detroit, as Drummond couldn't stop him. Nothing different expected here, Make Philly a HUGE 10* play.

The pick: Troy has had an excellent season and have not allowed more than 24 points in any game this year (have given up 17 or fewer in four of its last five). The winner gets at least a share of the Sun Belt regular season title (would win outright if Appalachian State loses). Sure, Troy is playing with "quadruple-revenge" but after losing 35-3 at home LY to ASU, there is still a huge gap to make up. ASU has some pretty gaudy ATS numbers,as the Red Wolves are 14-5 ATS in its their last 19 games overall and 37-15-1 ATS in their last 53 conference games. Want more? The Red Wolves are 8-1 ATS in their last nine home games. Make Arkansas St a 9* play.

The set-up: The 12-10-4 Vancouver Canucks snapped a three-game skid with a 5-3 victory over Nashville on Thursday to conclude a six-game road trip with a 3-2-1 mark. They return home Saturday and will host the 17-9-1 Toronto Maple Leafs, who have won the first two of a three-game trek through Western Canada, following up Tuesday's 4-1 triumph at Calgary with a 6-4 win over Edmonton on Thursday.

Toronto: Auston Matthews (team-leading 13 goals and 26 points) had an assist in the first contest before scoring and setting up a goal against the Oilers, to extend his point streak to four games (one goal, four assists). William Nylander (5 goals / 15 assist) posted his first three-point performance of the season and the fourth of his career with a one-goal, two-assist effort versus the Oilers. Fourth-liners Matt Martin and Dominic Moore have collected five points (one goal, four assists) over the last five games, but Mitch Marner has gone ice-cold again after a recent warm stretch. The 20-year-old answered a seven-point performance over five games by being held off the scoresheet in each of his last five contests.

Vancouver: Brock Boeser (team-leading 25 points), a roommate of Matthews at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships, has made quite the impression during his short time in the NHL. The 20-year-old has recorded 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in the past nine games and was named NHL Rookie of the Month for November. The Sedin twins have also continued their recent offensive surges with three-point performances versus the Predators, lifting Henrik's total to eight points (all assists) in his last six games while Daniel has seven (three goals, four assists) in that stretch. Both Sedins, who each own 15 points on the season, netted a goal in Vancouver's 6-3 loss to Toronto on Nov. 5 while Henrik set up Daniel's tally to open the scoring in a 3-2 shootout win over the Maple Leafs on Dec. 3, 2016.

The pick: Toronto ranks 2nd in the NHL with 3.59 goals per game. That average actually climbs to 3.89 per on the road. Nine of Matthews' team-leading 13 goals have come on the road, where the Maple Leafs own a 9-4-1 record, so.I expect a high-scoring game here. Why not? The Maple Leafs have scored 17 goals in their past four games and seven of Vancouver's last eight games have gone "over the total." Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: Ten of the Sun Belt's 12 teams will play on Saturday, including the Idaho Vandals (3-8 / 2-5) visiting the Georgia State Panthers (6-4 / 5-2). The Vandals are hoping to end a three-game slide and end their season on a high note. The Panthers were eliminated from the Sun Belt championship race following their 31-10 loss to Appalachian State in their last outing but could improve their bowl status with a win.

Idaho: The Vandals will likely have to play again without senior QB Lineham (2,056 YP with 16 TDs and 4 INTs). Freshman Colton Richardson threw for 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 18 of 33 passing in Idaho's last game, a 17-10 loss at New Mexico State. While Aaron Duckworth led the Vandals ground attack with just 39 yards, he has 912 yards on the season (5.2 YPC), However, Idaho's running game averages only 122.2 YPG (111th). The team comes in scoring just 20.6 PPG (117th), while allowing 27.2 PPG (72nd).

Georgia State: The Panthers are already bowl-eligible, so one could argue there's little motivation in this contest. Manning is a mediocre QB (2.599 YP / 13-7 ratio) and gets little help from a running game which averages 110.5 YPG (117th) and its top rusher has only 442 yards. Like Idaho, Georgia State does score much (20.7 PPG ranks 113th) and the defense allows 25.6 PPG (56th).

The pick: Idaho is playing its final game in the FBS, with a return to the FCS Big SkyConference scheduled for next season. The Vandals are 0-5 SU on the road in 2017 and I see no reason to expect them to win here, with the team's injuries at QB. Georgia State's motivation is ending the season on a high note and winning at home for its seniors (Panthers are just 1-3 SU at home in 2017). Manning threw four INTs at Idaho in a 37-12 loss last season. Turnabout is fair play. Make Georgia State an 8* play.

The set-up: This year's AAC Championship between the 10-1 Memphis Tigers and 11-0 UCF Knights at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando is quite special. Memphis has a chance to win 11 games for the first time in school history while earning its sixth conference title. UCF looks to continue its perfect season while winning the school's fifth conference title. This showdown features the top-two point-producers in college football. Memphis ranks 2nd at 47.0 PPG and UCF 1st at 48.7 PPG. Better yet, the winner will earn a New Year's Six Bowl berth.

Memphis: QB Riley Ferguson is completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 3,500 yards with 32 TDs and eight INTs. Ferguson has two quality RBs playing along with him in Henderson (1,052 YR / 9.1 YPC / 8 TDs) and Taylor (700 YR / 5.8 YPC / 12 TDs). Ferguson has 23 TD passes to go along with only three interceptions since the team's 40-13 loss at UCF in its fourth game of the season, one in which he had three INTs. WR Anthoy Miller (78 catches / 15.5 YPC / 14 TDs) holds almost every school receiving record. On the entire season, defense has been an issue for Memphis, which comes into this contest allowing 30.8 PPG on 453.5 YPG (112th).

UCF: QB McKenzie Milton can match Ferguson, completing 69.1% for 3,301 yards with 30 TDs and six INTs. Memphis has the best RBs on the field but UCF's backfield depth has allowed them to average 198.9 YPG rushing, just a few YPG less than Memphis (202.5). The real edge UCF owns in this game is on the defensive side of the ball. The Knights allow more than a TD less per game (22.5) and just over 50 YPG less, at 399.0 per. Then there is also the Knights' 27 takeaways (17 INTs / 10 fumble recoveries), which leaves then tied with Miami-Fl. for the national lead with a plus-17 turnover margin.

The pick: Memphis is seeking to avenge a 40-13 blowout loss at this same venue in Orlando back on Sep. 30 but note UCF leads this series 10-1 and is 5-0 ATS in its last five home meetings against Memphis. What changes here? Probably nothing but so much is at stake in this contest, that I believe that with this super-high over/under number, the under is the play. UCF owns a very good defense and Memphis has allowed fewer than 15 points in two of its last three game. Make the Under an 8* play.

The set-up: No. 21 Xavier (6-1) will host No. 11 Cincinnati (6-0) before a raucous, standing-room only crowd at Cintas Center at :high noon!' The time start is appropriate, as over the past 90 years these two Queen City schools have exchanged memorable performances, thrilling finishes, and even a few fists. Since Xavier's program has gained national prominence, the rivalry has drawn wider appeal as well. Cincinnati has steamrolled the competition to date, coming into Friday with an average margin of victory of 30.6 PPG, second-highest in all of Division I. However, the level of competition Cincinnati has encountered can be generously described as "not elite." Meanwhile, Xavier has already faced a pair of top-25 teams, losing a 102-86 decision to Arizona State before breaking out to an early 21-8 lead and winning 76-63 over Baylor.

Cincinnati: Head coach Mick Cronin is keenly aware of just how different Saturday's encounter will be, telling reporters following the Bearcats' 83-51 rout of Alabama State: "We haven't played anybody yet that's been able to take our offense away from us, so to speak. And they'll be able to do that. They're not going to let us just throw the ball to Gary Clark whenever we want. It's not going to be that easy." The 6-8 Clark is now a senior and leads the team with 13.7 PPG and 8.1 RPG. He's joined in double digits up front by the 6-9 Washington (10.4 & 5.6) plus in the backcourt by Evans (11.7-3.4-4.3) and Cumberland (11.0 & 4.4). Four others add 5.9 to 9.0 PPG. Cincinnati ranks 26th in PPG at 87.9 and as always, is a terrific defensive club, holding opponents to 57.3 PPG (4th).

Xavier: The Musketeers are led by preseason All-Amercian Trevon Bluiett, who averages 19.7 & 6.1. PG Macura (14.6-5.1-3.3) is an excellent backcourt mate plus the 6-8 Gates (11.7 & 4.6) and the 6-9 Jones (9.1 & 6.9) are the team's two best big men. Five others chip in between 5.4 and 8.6 PPG. Bluiett will be looking to get back on track after being held to 21 total points against Arizona State and Baylor but was picked by Macura, who had 42 points in those two games. On the season, Macura is shooting a red-hot 59.3 percent from the floor. Xavier can score with Cincy (89.0 PPG ranks 21st) but can't defend nearly as well (69.0 PPG ranks 116th).

The pick: This is a bitter rivalry In 1994, Xavier head coach Pete Gillen and Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins refused to shake hands after an 82-76 Musketeers' victory in overtime, an incident they reportedly made amends for years later. In 1996, Xavier guard Lenny Brown's lane jumper at the buzzer lifted the Musketeers to a shocking 71-69 upset of No. 1-ranked Cincinnati in their gym. On December 10, 2011, in the closing moments of a 76-53 Xavier win at Cintas Center, an ugly bench-clearing brawl erupted, resulting in the game being played at a neutral site for two seasons. That vitriol has calmed in recent years, but there's certainly no love lost between the Bearcats and Musketeers. The schools are separated by less than three miles, and the teams and fan bases are united in their hatred of each other.

This is Cincy's first real test of the young season and it is also the Bearcats' first true road game. Cincy won last year's game at home (86-78) but Xavier has largely dominated the series over the past two decades, winning three of the past four meetings, seven of 10, and 14 of the previous 21. Xavier is shooting 55.0 percent from the floor as a team, with only Virginia Tech (56.1) shooting better. The Musketeers are 4-0 SU & ATS at home, outscoring opponents 93.5-to-61.8 PPG. Make Xavier an 8* play.

The set-up: Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder made 'noise' in the off-season in attempts to "close the gap" with the Golden State Warriors. Sure, OKC owns an impressive 108-91 home win over the Warriors back on Nov. 22 but at just 8-12, the "new-look" Thunder have been a huge disappointment. As for Minnesota, the Timberwolves are 13-9 overall and more notably, a conference-best 10-3 against the West. The two teams square off Friday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena, having already met twice this season in October. Minnesota has taken each of the first two, 115-113 in OKC and 119-116 in Minnesota.

Minnesota: Jimmy Butler was the key addition of the off-season, coming from Chicago but the T-wolves also traded for PG Jeff Teague. Those two were added to young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, as Minnesota hoped to put itself in a position to challenge in the top-heavy West. The T-wolves have shown glimpses of what they "could be" but also show inconsistency, evidenced by them trading wins and losses over the last six games. They followed up a 92-89 loss at home to Washington on Tuesday with a 120-102 win the next night at New Orleans. "In the NBA, there's an excuse every night," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "Whether it's travel, injuries, back-to-backs. Or you can make good. When the ball goes up, you have to be ready to go." The team's starting-five are all averaging in double digits. Towns (20.4 & 11.7), Wiggins (19.0 & 4.1) and Gibson (10.8 & 8.3) start up front and Butler (17.5-5.4-4.5) and Teague (14.0 & 7.5 APG).

Oklahoma City" So far, the pairing of new additions Paul George (20.5 & 5.9) and Carmelo Anthony (19.7 & 6.2) with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook (22.4-9.2-9.4) has not produced the desired result. Despite that emotional win over the Golden State Warriors last week, Oklahoma City continues to search for continuity among its stars. The Thunder are coming off a 121-108 loss at Orlando on Wednesday in which they squandered a second-half lead (Magic used a 26-3 run to break it open). By the way, the Magic entered that game on a nine-game losing streak!. It marked the Thunder's seventh straight road loss and fifth defeat in the past six games, overall. "We have to lock in," Westbrook told reporters. "That starts with me and I take ownership in everything that is going on because I've been here. I know the standards that we set here in Oklahoma City. I have to set an example. It starts with me and we're going to turn this thing around." Westbrook totaled 37 points and 11 rebounds in his fifth straight game with at least a double-double on Wednesday but committed seven turnovers and went for an x-ray after the game on a bruised left hand that came back negative.

The pick: Minnesota is averaging 107.8 PPG (10th) but Thibodeau, a defensive-minded coach, has yet to get his team "up to speed." The T-wolves come in allowing 107.2 PPG (21st), while ranking dead-last in defensive FG percentage (48.3%). The Thunder have beaten up on bad teams at home, with a 4-0 ATS mark when laying more than nine points but Minnesota is not one of those "bad teams." Note the high scores of the first two meetings. Paraphrasing, "third verse, same as the first (two)!" Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The first of nine conference championship games will be the Pac-12 Championship Game from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara this Friday night as 9-3 Stanford (12th in the current CFP rankings) meets 10-2 USC, which is ranked 10th. The winners won't be making a 'Final 4' appearance this season and because the Rose Bowl is one of the CFP's two semifinal sites, the Pac-12 champion won't being in the Rose Bowl this season, either. However, the winner will play in a New Year's Six Bowl game and will have a chance to finish in the top-10 (likely higher than No. 10) with a bowl victory.

Stanford: The Cardinal fell behind 20-17 after the third quarter against Notre Dame but would end the game by scoring 21 unanswered points to get the Stanford the 38-20 come-from-behind victory. The Cardinal were out-gained by the Fighting Irish by a 415-328 margin but won the turnover battle by a 3-0 margin. K.J Costello completed 14 of 22 passes for 176 yards and a season-high four TD passes, while RB Bryce Love had 125 yards rushing, giving him 1,848 on the season (8.6 YPC / 16 TDs). He leads a running game averaging 210.2 YPG (31st). The Stanford passing game is suspect, averaging only 183.7 YPG, ranking 97th. However, Stanford is averaging 32.3 PPG, to rank 36th. Stanford's defense is typically a strength and 2017 is no different. The Cardinal allow 20.7 PPG (25th) andd have forced 24 turnovers, giving them a plus-14 TO ratio.

USC: The Trojans had already wrapped up the Pac-12 South before the season-finale vs. UCLA and despite allowing the Bruins to gain 501 yards, were able to secure their fourth straight victory with a 28-23 win. RB Ronald Jones II had 122 yards and two TDs and leads a rushing attack averaging 197.0 YPG (36th). Jones is not as famous as Love but has run for 1,346 yards (6.3 YPC & 16 TDs). QB Sam Darnold had visions of being the NFL's No. 1 overall pick prior to the start of the season but had all sorts of TO woes early on. He comes in completing 63.3% (down from 67.2% LY) with 24 TDs and 12 INTs, after throwing 31 TDs and just nine INTs in fewer games, last season. USC is averaging slightly more than Stanford (34.8 PPG ranks 36th) but defensively, the Trojans don't match up, allowing 26.2 PPG (60th) on 410.7 YPG (80th).

The pick: These schools met way back on Sep. 9th in LA, with USC dominating in a 42-24 win. Darnold threw for 316 yards and four TDs while USC also ran for 307 yards (two RBs topped 100 yards, including Jones), out-rushing the Cardinal who ran for 170 (Love had 160!). However, can these factoids be ignored? Stanford only needs to make a short 15-minute drive to nearby Levi’s Stadium and has won seven of its last 10 games against USC. Stanford is 7-1 SU its last eight games (only blemish is a three-point loss to Washington St.) and comes in 10-3-1 as an underdog since 2011. The South Division is 0-6 in the Pac-12 championship game and USC, which was outplayed by UCLA last Saturday, has gone 0-5 ATS in its last five neutral site games! Make Stanford a 10* play.

The set-up: The New York Islanders have ridden the NHL's highest-scoring offense (3.67 goals per game) to a 15-7-2 starts to the current season, including going 8-0-2 at home. New York will welcome the Ottawa Senators to Barclays Center on Friday night. The Senators enter the second stop of a seven-game road trip mired in a seven-game losing streak, including a 2-1 setback at home to the Islanders on Saturday night. Ottawa has not won since sweeping a pair of games from Colorado in Sweden on Nov. 10-11 and has scored a paltry nine goals during the 0-6-1 slide, leaving them8-9-6 on the season.

Ottawa: What's wrong with the team which took the Pittsburgh Penguins to seven games in the Eastern Conference Final last season? One thing is that captain Erik Karlsson remains stuck on one goal and has not collected a point in seven games, the defenseman's longest drought since an eight-game spell as a rookie. He caused a stir off the ice after Thursday's practice when he addressed his contract, which runs through the 2018-19 season. “When I go to market, I’m going to get what I’m worth, and it’s going to be no less, no matter where I’m going,” Karlsson said. "I think it’s time to realize that when we go to the table, it’s business on both parts, not just (owners).” Seems things are becoming 'testy,' doesn't it?

NY islanders: New York improved to 8-0-2 at Barclays Center with Tuesday's 5-2 drubbing of Vancouver, marking the 11th time they have scored at least five goals and the seventh time in the 10 home games. "We're playing well offensively," Islanders coach Doug Weight said. "We have guys playing with a lot of confidence who are consistently figuring each other out." Jordan Eberle has notched all 10 of his goals over the past 14 games, after scoring for the third straight game Tuesday, capping a three-goal first period for New York, which is 10-0-0 when netting the opening goal. "When you start like that it's tough for teams to come back," Eberle said. "We want to continue to start well and we've been good at home so far and we want to keep that going." Captain John Tavares has 10 points in the last eight games to tie Josh Bailey for the team scoring lead with 28 points.

The pick: The Isles are averaging 4.60 GPG at home, outscoring opponents by 1 1/2 goals (have allowed 2.90 goals). The Senators limp in on an 0-6-1 run in which they've converted on just 3-for-26 power play opportunities. The Islanders will choose between Thomas Greiss and Jaroslav Halak, each of whom have won two games during the winning streak.Greiss is 3-1-0 in four career appearances against the Senators, while Halak is 7-6-3 in 16 games against Ottawa. The Senators No. 1 goalie Craig Anderson had a four-start streak snapped when backup Mike Condon took the loss Tuesday but would seem to be the more likely choice in this one, as Anderson made 22 saves against the Islanders Saturday and is 8-7-3 in 19 appearances against New York. Either way, it's a 10* play on the Islanders.

Pittsburgh: Kevin Stallings begins his second season at Pitt, coming off a 16-17 season. All five starters are gone from that team and maybe that's a good thing. The Panthers come in off two straight wins and can climb back to .500 after a 1-4 start with a win. Senior forward Ryan Luther scored 15 points and led Pitt with eight rebounds plus added a career-high five assists in Tuesday's 71-63 victory over High Point. Luther (13.4  & 9.1) has cracked double figures in scoring in six of Pitt's first seven games. Luther is Pitt's lone big man of note, as JC transfer Jared Wilson-Frame, a 6-5 wing player, paces the team in scoring at 14.0 PPG. Guards Carr (10.0), Stevenson (9.90)and Milligan (8.7) have been the other notable contributors, so far.

The pick: Both coaches have rebuilds on their hands but at least Stallings has a one year head start. In fact, he played a season-high 15 men against High Point, including all of his 12 eligible scholarship players. Stallings likely won't let Pitt forget last year's embarrassing loss to its 'little brother" but I sure wouldn't want to lay any points with a Pitt team which will end the season at or near the very bottom of the ACC. Take the points and make Duquesne a 10* play.

The set-up: Toronto's Auston Matthews is the reigning Calder Memorial Trophy recipient and he and the 16-9-1 Maple Leafs will face off against the current Hart Trophy winner in Edmonton's Connor McDavid, whose Oilers are a disappointing 10-13-2. "You don't really get too worked up about the whole matchup, individual matchups, that the media likes to make out," Matthews said before reiterating that "it's just another hockey game." Matthews leads Toronto in both goals (12) and points (24), while McDavid leads Edmonton in goals (10), assists (20) and points (30),

Toronto: Matthews extended his assist streak to three games in Tuesday's 4-1 triumph over Calgary in the opener of a three-game trek through Western Canada for the Maple Leafs. Nazem Kadri (12 goals & 22 points) saw his career-best nine-game point streak come to halt on Nov. 24th but he scored in the third period on Tuesday to give him 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his last 11 contests. Kadri scored three goals in two encounters last season vs. the Oilers to increase his point total to 10 (six goals, four assists) in nine career meetings. Fellow forwards William Nylander (three assists) and Zach Hyman (one goal, two assists) are riding three-game point streaks while Nikita Zaitsev has scored in back-to-back contests.

Edmonton: The Oilers just aren't scoring, as they come in with the NHL's 26th-ranked offense (2.68 goals per game), prompting head coach Todd McLellan to alter lines on a semi-regular basis. "Obviously you’d like to stick with a line for games in a row, but it hasn’t worked out that way," said McDavid, whoie could see Jesse Puljujarvi ascend to his top line along with Milan Lucic. Making matters worse for the Oilers is that Cam Talbot's availability is in question, as the workhorse goal is nursing an upper-body injury, prompting Edmonton to bring in a University of Alberta goaltender for Wednesday's practice. Coach Todd McLellan said that Talbot "tweaked something in his upper body" while making 29 saves in a 4-3 overtime win against Arizona on Tuesday. Should Talbot need a breather, backup Laurent Cam Talbot's availability is in question as the 30-year-old workhorse is nursing an upper-body injury, prompting Edmonton to bring in a University of Alberta goaltender for Wednesday's practice. Coach Todd McLellan said that Talbot "tweaked something in his upper body" while making 29 saves in a 4-3 overtime win against Arizona on Tuesday. Should Talbot need a breather, backup Laurent Brossoit will vie for his first win of the season as he owns an 0-3-0 mark with a 3.31 goals-against average and .881 save percentage.

The pick: I'm assuming Brossoit will get the call but either way, I expect a higher-scoring game than most (read oddsmakers). For a generation of hockey fans, McDavid vs. Matthews will be an ever-evolving debate. For tonight, make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The Dallas Cowboys welcome the Washington Redskins to AT&T Stadium for Thursday Night Football. This has traditionally been one of the league's great rivalries but this Week 13 meeting features two 5-6 teams with all but zero chance to win the NFC East plus neither team is really 'alive' in the wild card hunt, either. That said, the Redskins at least have a glimmer of hope, as none of their final five opponents currently own a winning record. That includes the Cowboys, who are now 0-3 SU & ATS since "Zeke" began serving his suspension, getting out-scored 92-to-22!

Washington: The Redskins only put up 20 points in their Week 12 win over the Giants but QB Kirk Cousins did throw for 242 yards with two TDs (one INT). He's having another strong season (66.2% for 3,038 yards with 19 TDs and six INTs, giving him a QB rating of 101.3) and it seems as only Washington management is not high on this guy." Rookie RB Samaje Perine has given the running game a huge lift with 217 rushing yards in his last two contests and with Elliott sidelined, he's the best RB on the field. Perine, second-year Redskins receiver Josh Doctson (21 catches / 15.6 YPC / 4 TDs) and kicker Nick Rose (10 if 11 on FG attempt) are likely looking forward to returning to their home state to face a Cowboys defense that has given up more than its share of points, yards and big plays of late. That Washington defense should also be looking forward to taking advantage of a struggling Dallas offense (see above & below).

Dallas: Many wondered who was more important to Dallas last year, "Zeke" or Dak. Right now, it's hard to argue against Elliott being the more important 'piece,' as Dallas has scored just one TD in three games without him (averaging 7.3 PPG), while Prescott has looked lost. His protection has been awful (14 sacks) and that has contributed to his woes but he's averaged just 166.7 YPG passing (high of 179) with five INTs and not a single TD pass (88 attempts) in the Cowboys' three-game slide. FYI...Zak threw just four INTs in his rookie season of 2016, in 459 pass attempts!

The pick: The Redskins lost 33-19 to the Cowboys in Week 8 at FedEx Field but in that one, Elliott rushed for a season-high 150 yards and two TDs, fueling the Dallas offense in the win over Washington the way he did for much of the 2016 season. That was then and this is now. Not only has the Dallas offense 'hit a brick wall' (the Cowboys have failed to score at least 10 points in three straight games for the first time in franchise history) but its defense has allowed an average of 30.7 PPG in the team's 0-3 SU & ATS slide. QBs Ryan, Wentz and Rivers have thrown for 817 yards (272.3 per) with seven TDs and just one INT (in 89 pass attempts). Past history means little right now. Cousins is next up to rip the Dallas D and the Zeke-less Dallas offense can't keep up. Make Washington an 8* play.

The set-up: Clearly, reports of Cleveland's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Despite LBJ's first-ever ejection Tuesday vs. the Heat, the Cavs' victory was the team's ninth in a row. As for the Hawks, the last thing they need to see tonight at home is a well-motivated James or a red-hot Cleveland squad after suffering the worst loss of an already down season with a 112-78 home setback to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. "Our defense was just - they were shooting 64, 68 percent at the half," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "They'd hit enough 3's to make you worry about that and they'd just kick it into drive. I feel like our defense, not just in the paint but everywhere, was just not good enough for an NBA game." The Hawks have made 10 straight playoff appearances (only the Spurs own a longer active streak) but welcome the Cavs to Phillips Arena just 4-16 on the season (only the 3-16 Bulls own a worse record)..

Cleveland: LBJ had 21 points (on 10-of-16 shooting) while adding 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals in 28 minutes against the Miami Heat on Tuesday but his ejection overshadowed a dominant performance from Kevin Love (18.7 & 10.0), who scored a season-high 38 points while going 10-of-16 from the floor and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line. The All-Star came up one rebound shy of his sixth double-double during the nine-game winning streak. The Cavs are now scoring 110.8 PPG (up to 3rd-best) but still have trouble on the opposite end of the court, allowing 108.5 PPG (25th).

Atlanta: The Hawks haven't played since that Saturday's 'embarrassment' vs. Toronto but will the extra practice time help much vs. the Cavs? PG Dennis Schroder (19.7 & 6.8 APG) scored a team-high 14 points in the loss to Toronto and has reached double figures in scoring in seven straight games after bottoming out with seven points on 2-of-16 shooting in a loss at Washington on Nov. 11. Schroder's been pretty much a lone bright spot for the Hawks this season, although five others are contributing between 11.0 and 12,7 PPG (none stand out, though!). The Hawks rank near the bottom in both points scored (102.2 ranks 23rd) and points allowed (108.2 ranks 24th), so it's easy to see why they are struggling.

The pick: It doesn't help Atlanta's chance here that one of the Cavaliers' most unexplainable losses during their disappointing 5-7 start to the current season came at home back on Nov. 5, when an injury-depleted Atlanta team that was riding an eight-game losing streak, won 117-115. Schroder matched a season high with 28 points and added nine assists in that Hawks' win but he'll need plenty of help here, if Atlanta is to "stay close." As noted above, Love is coming off a terrific outing and will now get a chance to wipe away the memory of his worst performance of the season, when he managed four points on 1-of-6 shooting in that home loss to the Hawks. My guess is that LBJ (28.2-8.3-8.3) will be focused off that ejection and I expect the Cavs to extend their winning streak to 10 in a row with plenty of room to spare. The Cavs are both 7-3 SU & ATS on the road this season, Make Cleveland an 8* play.

The set-up: A pair of quality teams square off tonight in the Under Armour Reunion at Madison Square Garden. Seton Halll lost last week 75-74 to Rhode Island at Barclay Center, before rebounding with a 72-59 win over Vandy the next night. The Pirates were No. 20 in the AP but dropped out in Monday's latest poll. Meanwhile, 6-0 Texas Tech made its first appearance in the AP's top-25, checking in at No. 22

Seton Hall: "The Hall" is off a 21-win season, appearing in the Big Dance for a second straight year (won 25 games, two years ago). Four starters are back this season. Up front, it's the 6-6 Rodriguez (17.8 & 4.0) and the 6-10 Delagdo (14.0 & 9.3) plus guards Powell (14.0 & 3.2) and Carrington (10.2 & 4.3 APG) man the perimeter. 6-8 senior Ismael Sanogo doesn't score many points (3.2) but that doesn't mean he isn't important. Sanogo's oot his first start of the season in last week's win over Vanderbilt and responded with season highs of eight rebounds and four blocked shots. His defensive prowess was critical in the Pirates avoiding a second straight defeat ahead of their meeting with the undefeated Red Raiders in New York City. "Ish sets the tone on defense," Desi Rodriguez told the media. "It takes the weight off our shoulders. That's why we consider Ish to be the best defender in the country."

Texas Tech: Sanogo and the rest of the Pirates will have their hands full with a Texas Tech squad that has shot 50.4 percent as a team during its resurgence under coach Chris Beard. Tech starts starts five seniors and uses a 10-man rotation, with those players averaging between 5.3 and 15.0 PPG. .Keenan Evans (15.0 & 3.5 APG) leads the Red Raiders in scoring despite being held scoreless in the most recent win over Savannah State. Culver, a 6-5 freshman guard, is the only other player averaging in double digits (11.0). Great balance on offense has been 'swet' but defense has been ;king' for the team from Lubbock. Tech allows just 55,3 PPG (3rd) on 33.5% shooting (1st).

The pick: The Red Raiders have won their six games by an average margin of 28 points, including a 36-point victory over a ranked Northwestern team. Texas Tech has held three of its first six opponents to 50 points or fewer and the 49 points against then-No. 20 Northwestern were the fewest that Texas Tech allowed to a ranked team since a 67- 47 victory over No. 11 Oklahoma on Jan. 19, 2004. Also note that Texas Tech has started their five seniors during its six-game winning streak, joining Mercer are the only two schools to start five seniors in a game this season. No knock on Tech but Seton Hall is playing in the familiar surroundings of MSG and since Willard became head coach in 2010-11, the Pirates have posted 13 wins against ranked teams, including seven in their last 11 opportunities. Make Seton Hall a 10* play.

The set-up: The Grizzlies are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, falling to 7-12. General manager Chris Wallac head coach David Fizdale on Monday and made J.B. Bickerstaff the sixth head coach of his tenure when he announced him to replace Fizdale in the interim. Fizdale lasted 101 games. There is no such turmoil in San Antonio, where Gregg Popovich is the longest-tenured head coach in the NBA and R.C. Buford has served as general manager since 2002. While there is no turmoil in San Antonio, the 13-7 Spurs would sure love to get Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup.

Memphis: Fizdale's firing comes one day after he benched star center Marc Gasol in the fourth quarter of a 98-88 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets, a move that didn't make his star player very happy. "I don't know the why," Gasol told reporters after the game. "...It's a first for me, trust me, and I don't like it one bit. I'm more (upset) than I can show and frustrated." Gasol leads the Grizzlies in scoring (19.1) and rebounding (9.1), as the team is trying to deal with the loss of PG Mike Conley (17.1 & 4.1 APG), who has missed the last six games with an Achilles injury and is not expected back until sometime in December. Tyreke Evan(17.7-5.1-3.4) has played well for Memphis but the Grizzlies are just not scoring enough at 98.8 PPG, which ranks 28th.

San Antonio: Leonard's not back yet but the Spurs did have something to celebrate on Monday besides the team's 115-108 victory over Dallas (team's ninth win in 112 games). ninth win in the last 12 games. PG Tony Parker made his season debut on Monday, after rupturing his quadriceps tendon during the playoffs last spring and delivered six points and four assists in 14 minutes. "I'm always amazed by all the love from Spurs fans," Parker told reporters. "It's hard to describe the feeling, but I was just excited and just wanted to thank everybody for all the support. The city of San Antonio has been amazing, all the fans, the Spurs organization." Aldridge (22.2 & 8.3) has been the team's main scoring option with Leonard and Parker out, while three others have barely inched into double digit scoring territory. That trio is Gay (11.9 & 5.1), Gasol (11.8 & 8.0) and Green (10.4 & 4.1).

The pick: When a team is having trouble scoring, San Antonio is not the place one wants to go to try to fix the problem. The Spurs are allowing 98.6 PPG (3rd) on the season. It's also not good news that the Grizzlies' top scorer (Gasol) is shooting 35.4 percent from the floor over the last five games and was just 6-of-17 before taking a seat on the bench Sunday. Not only has Memphis been struggling on offense, the Grizzlies have also been allowing more than 110 points per 100 possessions! The Spurs have plenty of experience dealing with missing parts (and now Parker is back!), so Memphis' eight-game slide could reach 10, as this Wednesday game is the first of back-to-back contests between the two teams, with the rematch set for Friday in Memphis. I'll stay away from laying the points but will make the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: The Montreal Canadiens have won back-to-back games, as No. 1 goalie Carey Price has been spectacular since returning from a lengthy injury absence. Montreal ended a five-game slide with Saturday's 3-0 win over Buffalo and then won again Monday, 3-1 over Columbus (both wins came on home ice). Price has been terrific, turning aside 73 of 74 shots in the two starts. Facing Price and a revitalized Montreal squad couldn't come at a worse time for punch-less Ottawa, which is kicking off a seven-game road trip with this contest and has scored a total of eight goals during a six-game skid (0-5-1).

Ottawa: The Senators have fallen to 8-8-6 on the season, although Matt Duchene, acquired from Colorado earlier this month to bolster the offense, finally scored his first point and first goal in his eighth game with Ottawa (some boost!). If that isn't bad enough, Bobby Ryan has yet to score this season and star defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has only one goal, has failed to record a point during the six-game skid. Derick Brassard got off to a fast start with six goals in the first eight games but has been blanked over the past 14 games.

Montreal: "I think we're still relying on Carey too much. We've got to be playing better in front of him. But, we know he's got our back," said teammate Andrew Shaw after the Canadiens halted Columbus' six-game winning streak. "He's healthy. He's hungry. He's excited. He's been our best player, for sure, the last two games." Captain Max Pacioretty, who has scored at least 30 goals in each of the past four seasons, has notched only one assist over the past seven games and was demoted from the No. 1 line. Pacioretty also was not working with the top power-play unit at Tuesday's practice. "We want our special teams to be better,” head coach Claude Julien explained. The game against the Senators starts a stretch of three games in four nights against division rivals for the Canadiens. They play the Detroit Red Wings in a home-and-home Thursday in Detroit and Saturday in Montreal.

The pick: The back-to-back victories have enabled the Canadiens (10-12-3) to leapfrog the Senators (8-8-6) into fifth place in the Atlantic Division ,although though the Senators have three games in hand. The Senators have dropped four in a row against Montreal, including an 8-3 drubbing in Ottawa on Oct. 30 in the only meeting this season. Price is 20-8-4 with a 2.37 goals-against average versus the Senators all-time and faces a team which has scored only eight goals during a six-game slide and has scored just once in its last 23 power-play chances. Make Montreal a 10* play.

The set-up: Bruce Pearl hasn't had much success at Auburn (entered this season 44-54 in three years at the school) but all five starters are back from last year's 18-14 team. The Tigers come to Dayton looking to build off back-to-back wins that have the team sitting at 4-1 this season. Meanwhile, the Dayton Flyers, who are coming off a 24-win season, lost four starters from last year's team. Dayton is hoping to find some consistency in the early part of its season but so far has alternated wins and losses through each of its first 5 games (3-2).

Auburn: The Tigers crushed Winthrop in its last outing, with Mustapha Heron leading the team with 31 points on 11 of 17 shooting, while adding 10 rebounds for the double-double. Bryce Brown had 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting with six 3-pointers. Malik Dunbar added 13 points, DeSean Murray added 12 points and 8 rebounds plus Chuma Okeke added 11 points to give Auburn five players in double figures. PG Jared Harper had seven points and seven assists. Brown is the team’s leading scorer this season with 18.8 PPG and Murray is the etam's leading rebounder a 8.8 per. Heron adds 16.4 & 5.2, Murray 12.2 PPG and PG Harper averages 10.6 & 5.2 APG. Auburn is sure putting points on the board, averaging 93.4 PPG to rank 9th in the nation.

Dayton; The Flyers sure know about winning (26, 27, 25 and 24 wins the last four years) but Dayton not only lost four senior starters off last year's team, it also saw head coach Archie Miller leave to take the Indiana job. Miller's loss is mitigated somewhat by Anthony Grant taking over. He was an assistant under Billy Donovan at Florida and then at OKC in the NBA) plus led VCU and Alabama to NCAA tourney wins as a head coach. The lone returning starter is guard Darrell Davis, has come out averaging 20.0 PPG. The 6-7 Cunningham, who missed most of LY with an injury, looks healthy while averaging 16.0 & 10.2 plus the 6-8 Williams (8.8 & 5.2) adds size to a formidable frontcourt. Six others are seeing "PT," averaging from 3.6-to-7.4 PPG. Dayton scores nowhere near like Auburn but is a solid defensive team, allowing 69.8 PPG (137th).

The pick: Dayton has "stepped up" to the challenge when playing SEC teams, going 12-4 ATS in its last 16 games against the Power-5 conference. In fact, Dayton has won all four all-time meetings between the schools, most recently 73-63 in the 2012 Charleston Classic. Make Dayton a 10* play.

The set-up: The Vegas Golden Knights have been quite a story in this current NHL season, as they get set to host the Dallas Stars Tuesday night on their second five-game winning streak of the season. Vegas is 15-6-1 (31 points), atop the Western Conference's Pacific Division by two points over the LA Kings and four over the Calgary Flames. The 12-10-1 Stars answered being shut out 3-0 in Colorado on Wednesday by winning 6-4 at home on Friday over Calgary, the team's second six-goal performance in four outings. The Stars will visit Las Vegas for the first time but lost their season-opener 2-1 to Vegas at home back on Oct. 6.

Dallas: Tyler Seguin recorded his seventh hat trick as a member of the Stars in the game against Calgary and has a team-leading 23 points (12 goals / 11 assists) . Alexander Radulov has paid significant dividends since signing a five-year, $31.25 million contract in early July. He posted his fifth multi-point performance of the season when he scored and set up a goal versus the Flames to increase his point total to 18 (seven goals, 11 assists) over his last 14 games. However, fellow off-season acquisition Ben Bishop, he of the six-year, $29.5 million contract, has not been as good. Bishop is a mediocre 10-7-1 with a 2.76 GAA and .907 SP.

Vegas: Linemates William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault have come up big in Golden Knights' second five-game winning streak of the season. Karlsson has scored at least once and recorded multi-point performances in each victory and Marchessault has collected a goal and two assists in each of the last three contests heading into Tuesday's home tilt versus the Dallas Stars. Karlsson leads with 22 points (13 & 9) and Marchessault is second with 21 points (8 & 13). That duo heads a team ranked second in scoring at 3.68 goals per game. Vegas has started four different goalies so far (making the team's fast start even more remarkable) and it's expected that Malcolm Subban will receive his first career start versus the Stars. He owns a 4-0-0 record, 1.87 goals-against average and .935 save percentage this season.

The pick: While Dallas is an impressive 9-2-0 at home at American Airlines Center it brings a four-game road losing streak with it to Las Vegas, along with just a 3-8-1 road record on the season. Speaking of road records, Ben Bishop is just 2-6-0 with a 4.04 goals-against average and .872 save percentage on the road this season. Vegas is averaging 4.40 goals per game at home and even though Subban has those gaudy numbers, it's only four games. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: No. 17 Louisville has opened 4-0 and will travel to West Lafayette for Tuesday's ACC/Big Ten Challenge to face the 5-2 Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. The Cardinals really haven't been tested yet, opening the season with wins over George Mason, Omaha, Southern Illinois and St. Francis (Pa.). However, in Friday's win over St. Francis, when junior Ray Spalding left in the second half with an ankle injury, a 22-point lead was whittled to eight in the 84-72 triumph. Purdue rolled to victories in its first four games by a combined 157 points while averaging 102 points but lost 78-75 (OT) to Tennessee 78-75 in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Boilermakers then got upset 77-73 by Western Kentucky in the next round. However, Purdue recovered nicely against Arizona, shooting 57 percent and draining 11-of-22 shots beyond the arc in the 89-64 victory.

Louisville: The Cardinals have had NCAA-related problems this fall, including the FBI investigation into bribery and corruption in college basketball, a mess that cost veteran coach Rick Pitino his job, replaced by former Cardinal player David Padgett on an interim basis. The 6-10 Spalding (12.0 & 9.3) matched his career high with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and set a new personal best with 13 rebounds and five blocks in just 26 minutes against the Red Flash before getting hurt (he is questionable for Purdue). This will be Louisville's first road contest and interim coach David Padgett told reporters, “It's going to be an eye-opening experience for the young guys just because they've never done it before, “It’s going to be welcome to the jungle a little bit because there are not many places in college basketball that are tougher to play in than Purdue.” Senior guard Quentin Snider (8.3 & 4.0 APG) and 7-0 senior Anas Mahmoud (7.5 & 7.8) plus 6-7 junior Deng Adel (team-high 17.5 points plus 5.5 RPG ) will be counted on heavily, especially if Spaulding can't go.

Purdue: The win over then No.2 Arizona was Purdue's second-largest margin of victory against a ranked foe in school history. "It's good that they were resilient and they bounced back and they won a game," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "But I don't think it answers what happened in the other two games. The other two games, we didn't make shots. You have to be able to win versus good people when the ball doesn't go in." Also of note is that the Purdue beat an Arizona team which went 0-3 in the Bahamas, becoming the first team ranked No. 2 to fall out of the top-25 in one week's time since the the 1986-87 season (ironically, that team was Louisville!). The Boilermakers return four starters from their 2016 Big Ten championship team, making them as experienced as any team in the country. Sure, Caleb Swanigan (18.5 & 12.5) is a huge loss but 6-8 senior forward Vince Edwards (12.6 & 4.9 LY) is the only active player in the nation with at least 1,000 pints, 500 rebounds and 300 assists. Guards Edwards (18.0 & 4.4) and Mathias (16.1-4.7-4.7) lead in scoring from the perimeter with Edwards (14.0 & 9.0) and the 7-2 Haas (14.4 & 5.3) taking care of business inside. Then there is the 7-3 Matt Harms (6.3 & 4.1), who has blocked 21 shots in just 125 minutes this season.

The pick: Purdue leads the all-time series 11-6 but Louisville won last year’s matchup 71-64 at home, ending Purdue's seven-game winning streak in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Will Purdue start another winning streak here? I think not, as the Boilermakers have done quite a bit of traveling and this Louisville team is rested plus is playing with a chip on its shoulder from all the "off-the-court" issues. Make Louisville a 10* play.

The setup: The Los Angeles Clippers opened the season 0-4 but the team quickly unraveled. A nine-game losing streak from Nov. 4-20 left them at 5-11 but the team's 116-103 win in Atlanta (11/22) finally stopped the bleeding. A 97-95 win at Sacramento followed, so now the 7-11 Clippers are looking to make it three in a row when they take on their Staples Center co-tenants, the LA Lakers. Those Lakers missed out on their own chance at a three-game winning streak with a 113-102 loss at Sacramento on Wednesday and have been off, since. The Lakers enter this game with an 8-11 mark, which is not bad at all for a team which has won 27, 21, 17 and 26 games the last four seasons, respectively.

Lakers: Having some extra time off has given the Lakers time to work PF Larry Nance Jr. back into shape in practice after he missed 11 games with a fractured hand. “It was good to have him back out there,” Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters. “I think he’ll be good to go by Monday. ... If he’s good to go and cleared and ready, I don’t see any reason to not put him back in the starting lineup." Nance's return could push rookie PF Kyle Kuzma back into a reserve role despite his strong play this month. The rookie from Utah is averaging 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 11 games as a starter and 15 points and 4.8 boards in eight games as a reserve. Fellow rookie Lonzo Ball (you may have head of him and his family?) has recorded at least a double-double in each of the last three games and went 4-of-8 from the floor in Wednesday's loss at Sacramento, marking the second time in his brief career that he shot at least 50 percent from the field in a game. Ball is averaging 9.0-7.4-7.1 but as alluded to, makes just 31.5% on FG attempts, including 21.5% on threes. Kuzma's 16.8 PPG leads seven double digit scorers.

Clippers: Blake Griffin (23.4-7.7-5.0) is the team-leader and five others average in double digits, including center Jordan (10.1 & 13.9), who shoots 65.5% from the floor plus anchors the defense. Jordan's contributions are subtler than Griffin but are no less impactful to the win column. He capped off a 16-rebound effort on Saturday agiants the Kings by using his length to alter a shot in the final seconds by Sacramento's Buddy Hield. Backing up, those "other five averaging in double digits" is now down to four, after First Team All-NBA defender Patrick Beverley was lost to a season-ending knee surgery.

The pick: The Clippers have won 15 of the last 16 in the series but "The Times They Are A-Changin!" For the first time quite a few years, "the Lake Show" may just be the equal of "Lob City!" Take the points and make the Lakers an 8* play.

The set-up: The Chicago Blackhawks topped the Central Division with 109 points last season (also tops in the West) but even after extending their point streak to four games with a 4-1 victory at Florida on Saturday (3-0-1), Chicago is just 11-8-3 and the tam's 25 points leaves them fourth in the Central, tied with Dallas and Minnesota. The 10-9-4 Anaheim Ducks hope to put an end to their three-game slide (0-2-1) when they continue a six-game road trip in Chicago. The Ducks have been held to one goal in each of their last two contests, including Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss at Los Angeles in the opener of their trek.

Anaheim: The Ducks will be without leading scorer Rickard Rakell (8 goals / 10 assist / 18 points) for the entire road trip, after he missed Saturday's contest due to an upper-body injury. He did not travel with the team. Injuries have piled up for Anaheim during the first two months of the season. Players out of the lineup include captain Ryan Getzlaf (facial surgery), Ryan Kesler (hip surgery), Patrick Eaves (illness), Ondrej Kase (upper body) and now top-scorer Rakell. "We know we've stretched our lineup to our bare bones here," Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle told the Los Angeles Times after coming off a hard-luck 2-1 loss in a shootout against the LA Kings . "All you can ask is your players to give you what they did (Saturday night). They left it on the ice. They gave it everything they had."

Chicago: Captain Jonathan Toews scored a goal and set up two others for the Blackhawks in Saturday's win plus Patrick Kane also tallied against the Panthers, raising his team-leading point total to 22. Toews' three-point effort on Saturday was his first of the season and first multi-point performance since he notched a pair of assists at Arizona on Oct. 21.Goaltender Corey Crawford is expected to make his 19th start of the season in tonight's game. He is 10-7-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. In 21 career games against Anaheim, he is 12-6-2 with a 1.92 GAA and .930 save percentage.

The pick: Chicago has seemingly regained its footing after an ugly stretch in which it won only four of 12 contests. The Blackhawks have scored 14 goals in their past four games and return home for the first time since Nov. 15. "I think we're starting to settle in as a team," captain Jonathan Toews told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We're starting to see what it takes for us to be a good team and what it's going to take to win games the rest of the season (with) how tight our conference and division (are)." The Ducks could turn to goaltender John Gibson after giving him the weekend off to rest. He is 7-8-1 with a 2.87 GAA and a .923 save percentage. He is 2-1-1 with a 1.50 GAA and a .953 save percentage in five career appearances against Chicago. Ryan Miller is also a possibility to make his second straight start. Miller is 4-2-0 with a 1.63 GAA and a .950 save percentage in his first five appearances with the Ducks. In 11 career games against the Blackhawks, he is 5-6-0 with a 2.71 GAA and a .918 save percentage. However, Anaheim will be venturing out of California for the first time since Oct. 29, after going a disappointing 4-5-3 during its string in California. Chicago is "coming around" and is the 8* play.

The set-up: There weren't many bigger individually stories in NFL 2017 than the play of the Texans' DeShaun Watson. Just some of his highlights were his 4 TD passes and one rush TD in Week 4's 57–14 win over the Titans. He followed that performance on SNF vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. He had five TD passes in that  42-34 loss and in a Week 8 loss in Seattle (41-38), he posted his first career game with over 400 passing yards (also threw 4 TD passes). Watson threw 16 TDs in the month of October, setting the NFL record for most TD passes by a rookie in a calendar month. However, he suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play during practice, which prematurely ended his rookie season on Nov. 2. The Texans are now 4-6 as they prepare to visit Baltimore to face the 5-5 Ravens with backup Tom Savage making his fifth start of the season. A win would give Baltimore a 6-5 record, tying them with the Bills and I'm pretty sure the Ravens would own the tie-breaker for the AFC's final wild card spot. A win would hardly be a surprise, as since head coach John Harbaugh took over the team in 2008, Baltimore has gone 11-1 in night games, the best mark in the NFL. The Ravens have also won nine consecutive prime-time matchups, also the longest streak in the NFL.

Houston: Savage started the first two games of 2017 for Houston, although he was replaced during the Week 2 game by Watson. He has lost the first two starts when Watson went down with the injury but he was better last week against the Arizona Cardinals, going 22 of 32 for 230 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 31-21 victory. head coach Bill O'Brien is confident that Savage is making strides. "I think he is getting better. I think the game on Sunday is probably the best game he has played since he has been playing for us," O'Brien said. "He does not have a ton of experience, so every game that he plays, it is really important for him to remember the things that went on during that game, so he can really use that experience to get better every single day and every game. I thought he did a good job of having a short memory on Sunday, and he really made some big plays for us to help us win the game." Rookie D'Onta Foreman rushed for a season-high 65 yards and two TDs before suffering a season-ending torn left Achilles last week but Lamar Miller (605 YR / 26 catches, including 3 TDs) is a dual threat who has scored three times over the past four games. WR DeAndre Hopkins is having a strong bounce-back season with 62 receptions and an NFL-best nine TD catches through 10 games. Houston's defense is an issue, allowing 26.2 PPG (29th).

Baltimore: The Ravens are off a 3-0 win at Green Bay but they managed only 219 yards of total offense in blanking Green Bay. QB Joe Flacco has thrown more interceptions (11) than touchdown passes (nine), as Baltimore features the NFL's worst passing attack with an average of 165.2 YPG. The lack of explosiveness is reflected in the fact that RB Javorius Allen (40) and veteran TE Ben Watson (39) are 1-2 on the team in receptions. RB Alex Collins went over 100 yards in a 40-0 rout of Miami on Oct. 26 but has been limited to 49 yards or fewer in three of the past four games. The Ravens are averaging 114.6 YPG on the ground (13th) and come in averaging 21.3 PPG (18th). However, the team's D forced five TOs at Green Bay and the pass D owns a league-high 16 interceptions. Baltimore is second in scoring D (17.1 PPG) and 7th in total D (306.0 YPG).

The pick: The Baltimore D has three shutouts this season but truthfully, it's now what it was in the Ray Lewis era. Flacco has not been able to throw downfield with any consistency and always relying on the defense to bail him out just may catch up with him and the Ravens. Savage is off his best outing of the season and note that the Texans are 3-1 ATS on the road in 2017. Baltimore is not used to being this big of a favorite, as the only team Baltimore has been favored over in this price range the last two-plus years has been against the Browns. Do I need to remind you of Cleveland's record? Take the points and make Houston an 8* play.

The set-up: The Yale Bulldogs won a school-record 23 games in the 2015-16 season. It led to the school's first NCAA appearance in 54 years and culminated in the first NCAA win in the school's 121-year history! All things considered, an 18-11 record last year, which ended with a loss in the Ivy League championship game (the league's first-ever conference tourney), wasn't half-bad! Yale (3-4) will travel to Newark, De. to take on the 4-2 Delaware Blue Hens Monday night at the Bob Carpenter Center. Delaware is off a 13-20 season (had won seven and 10 games the previous two seasons) but has four starters back.

Yale: The Bulldogs lost Makai Mason (transferred to Baylor) but the 6-7 Oni (15.8-5.8-3.7) is a terrific all-around player. Balance abounds, with six others averaging between 8.0 and 10.4 PPG, topped by returning PG Copeland (10.4 & 3.4 APG).

Delaware: Guard Ryan Daly (15.8 & 5.30 is th team's leading scorer with three other guards scoring in double digits. The frontcourt is patrolled by the 6-9 Carter (12.8 & 9.0) and the 6-8 Woods (7.8 & 4.7).

The pick. the bottom line here is that Yale is the much better team and its record would be better if the Bulldogs hadn't opened the season with road games at Creighton and Wisconsin. Delaware's easy-season schedule has been quite easy with games against Wesley, North Carolina Wesleyan and Longwood (among three of the team's four wins) and even so, the team has still struggled to space the floor offensively, averaging only 73.5 PPG. Yale has better depth and has a history of winning on the road. Yale won last year's meeting 81-63 and while this game is at Delaware, I'll still make Yale a 10* play.

The set-up: The 5-5 Green Bay Packers' wild card hopes are quickly slipping away and they could sure use a win Sunday night at Heinz Field, after losing four of their last five games. The problem being, their opponents will be the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, who have as won five straight games to tie the Patriots for the AFC's best record (Pittsburgh currently owns the tie-breaker for the No. 1 seed). This could have been a matchup of Super Bowl-winning QBs, Rodgers (one) vs. Roethlisberger (two) but instead Brett Hundley
makes his fifth straight start for the injured Rodgers.

Green Bay: The Packers are 1-3 with Hundley starting and he was awful in last Sunday's 23-0 home loss to the Ravens. He had four (three INTs and one fumble) of Green Bay's five TOs and comes into this game averaging 136.8 YPG passing with two TDs and seven INTs (QB rating of 63.3). The team's leading rusher (Aaron Jones) has just 370 yards and the Packers average only 102.4 rushing YPG (19th). Green Bay's depth at WR hasn't meant much with Hundley under center,,as the Packers are averaging 14.3 PPG in his four starts. The defense checks in averaging 18th in both points allowed (23.0 per) and yards allowed (340.1 per).

Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger is not having one of his better years but he's off an excellent game in Week 11 (Thursday night at home vs. Tenn.), as he threw for 299 yards and four TDs. In guiding Pittsburgh to five straight wins, Big Ben has thrown for 1,328 yards with 10 TDs and a 102.7 passer rating. WR Antonio Brown leads the league in catches (70) and receiving yards (1,026) after hauling in 10 receptions and three scoring passes in the romp over Tennessee (six TDs on the season). Le'Veon Bell has had an uneven year (after a holdout) but is still the NFL's leading rusher with 886 yards. He also has 49 catches for another 308 yards. The Pittsburgh defense has not permitted more than 17 points during its five-game winning streak and currently ranks 2nd in points allowed (16.9 per) and 4th in total D (287.6 YPG).

The pick: The Steelers are not just 8-2 but four of their final six games are at home. Except for that inexplicable home loss to the Jags (30-9), Pittsburgh has averaged 31.7 PPG in its other three games at Heinz Field (all wins). The total remains low because of Pittsburgh's strong defense and Hundley's struggles at QB but I'm calling for this game to go OVER and will make that an 8* play.

The set-up: The 13-4-1 Calgary Stampeders ended the regular season on a three-game losing streak but their 28-25 home win on Nov. 19 over Edmonton has the Stampeders on track for their eighth Grey Cup in franchise history and fourth since the 2001 season when they visit the Toronto Argonauts at TD Place Stadium on Sunday in the CFL's 105th Grey Cup Final. Toronto was just 9-9 in the regular season but its 25-21 home win (also on Nov. 19) was enough to lift them into this game, giving the Argonauts a chance at their 17th Grey Cup in franchise history and third since the 2004 season.

Calgary QB Bo Levi Mitchell is completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,700 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions but it's Calgary's top-ranked defense which has gotten them this far. The Stampeders ranks first in the CFL in points allowed (19.4) and yards allowed (339.8).did not cover. Meanwhile,

Toronto: QB Ricky Ray is completing 71.0 percent of his passes for 5,546 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Toronto is averaging 411.1 YPG (2nd) but has underachieved somewhat, as it's scoring 26.8 PPG, which ranks 6th. Defensively, Toronto allows 350.7 YPG (2nd-best next to Calgary) but the Argonauts are allowing 25.3 PPG (4th), about a TD higher than Calgary.

The pick: Calgary has won the last eight meetings against Toronto with its last loss coming in September of 2013. The Stampeders outscored the Argonauts 64-31 in two wins this year but the Stampeders aren't the same team,as the team seemed to "stop playing" in November. Calgary did edge Edmonton to reach this game but it marked the fifth straight game in which the team did not cover. Meanwhile, the Argonauts have covered six of their last eight games. The over is 6-2 in Argonauts' last eight games and the over is 4-0 in the Stampeders last four playoff games. Two good defensive teams (but with two excellent QBs, as well) are going to play an OVER in this one. Make it a 10*.

The setup: The KC Chiefs were initially on pace to "run away" with the AFC West title, opening 5-0. However, KC has brought teams like the Chargers and Raiders back into the division hunt by dropping four of its last five games. The Chargers, who opened 0-4, have won five of six after their Thanksgiving Day win in Dallas and are now 5-6. The 4-6 Oakland Raiders now have a chance to get to 5-6 themselves, when they host the 3-7 Denver Broncos in Week 12. Neither the Chargers nor the Raiders can control what KC does but the Chiefs sure look vulnerable these days.

Denver: The Broncos hardly look like a team ready to break their six-game slide, after dropping a 20-17 home decision to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. After giving up on Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler was handed the starting job and last week he was 23 of 42 for 254 yards with on TD and one INT. To no one's real surprise, he's been no better than Siemian, completing 53.0% of his 117 attempts for 164.8 YPG passing with three TDs and four INTs (65.5 QB rating). The job is now being handed to Paxton Lynch, the team's first round draft pick from 2016 (26th overall). He won't get much help from a running game that averages only 112.9 YPG (15th). Denver's "O' is now averaging a pathetic 18.3 PPG (24th) and while its once-feared defense is allowing an impressive 283.2 YPG (3rd) and the Broncos are allowing 25.9 PPG, which ranks 29th!

Oakland: The Raiders were a 'sexy' preseason pick to win the AFC but after 2-0 start, Oakland has won just two of eight games. Last Sunday's game in Mexico City against the Patriots was 'ugly,' as they fell 33-8. QB Derek Carr completed 28 of his 49 pass attempts for 237 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Marshawn Lynch led Oakland’s ground attack with 67 yards. Carr has struggled with back issues (64.0% / 14-8 ratio / 88.2 QB rating) and Lynch has been a huge bust (390 YR), as Oakland ranks 27th with 89.7 YPG on the ground. The defense has sure not be an asset, allowing 24.7 PPG (22nd) on 367.1 YPG (21st).

The pick: Denver is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between these two teams in Oakland. However, those were much different Bronco teams and the Raiders, although not as good as advertised in 2017, are still a team with some 'life!' Denver's last win came back on Oct. 1, 16-10 at home against these Raiders. However, the Broncos are 0-4 SU and ATS on the road in 2017, getting outscored 31.8-to-14.5 PPG! Make Oakland an 8* play.

The set-up: The "new-look" Chicago Bulls have gone from bad to worse. The Bulls were competitive in losses at the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers to begin the team's four-game road trip but then lost 110-80 at Utah on Wednesday, before getting "run out of the gym" in Oakland 143-94 by the Warriors on Friday. Chicago now owns the NBA's worst overall record at 3-14, as the Bulls get set to play four of their next five at home. Chicago welcomes the 9-9 Miami Heat to the United Center on Sunday afternoon. The Heat pulled off their best win of the season by ending the Boston Celtics' 16-game winning streak on Wednesday and avoided a letdown by going into Minnesota and toppling the Timberwolves 109-97 on Friday. Miami already has one win over the Bulls this season, 97-91 at home back on Nov. 1..

Miami: The Heat's Goran Dragic, Justise Winslow and Wayne Ellington combined to go 13-of-19 from three-point range in Friday's win at Minnesota with Miami scoring 109 points. The Heat are averaging 100.9 PPG (26th) and shoot 36.1% on threes (14th), so that game was hardly typical. PG Dragic (18.9-4.3-4.7) and center Whiteside (15.5 & 12.9) have Miami's two main 'guns' this season but the Miami Herald reported on Saturday that Whiteside could miss this contest with a sore left knee (he will be a game-time decision).

Chicago: Rookie power forward Lauri Markkanen leads Chicago in scoring (14.6 points) but is shooting just 36.5 percent from the floor over the last 10 games and is 9-of-42 over the last three contests. "Defenses are keying on him," Hoiberg said of Markkanen, according to the Chicago Tribune. "A lot of teams are switching with him. We have to read those situations better. We're adding new things to our offense pretty much daily to try to get him in spots where he can be successful." Markkanen also is the team's top rebounder at 8.2 per game. Chicago is not scoring well (94.4 PPG ranks 29th) and not defending all that well either (107.3 PPG allowed ranks 22nd).

The pick: If Whiteside doesn't play, his rebounding and interior defense will be missed way more than his offense (expect Markkanen to break out of his shooting slump). Meanwhile, Chicago guard duo of Dragic (see above) and Waiters (15.9 PPG) have to love the idea of going up against Chicago's inexperienced perimeter rotation of Kris Dunn, Jerian Grant, Justin Holiday, Denzel Valentine, Antonio Blakeney. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The Nashville Predators pushed the Pittsburgh Penguins to six games in last year's Stanley Cup Finals but opened the current season just 5-5-2 through Nov. 1 However, the Preds have done little wrong since, winning nine of their last 10 games, while averaging four goals. Nashville is now 14-6-2 (30 points), moving with five points of the West's top team, the St. Louis Blues. As for the Hurricanes, after putting together a 5-1-1 run from Nov. 7 through Nov. 19, they have allowed 11 goals while losing their last two games At 9-8-4 (22 points), Carolina is tied with Philly at the bottom of the eight-team Metropolitan Division.

Nashville: “We haven’t played our best hockey yet,” Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban told reporters. “That’s the exciting thing about our team, is that we haven’t played our best hockey yet.” Filip Forsberg will attempt to extend his point streak to eight games when Predators take on the Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon. Forsberg owns a team-best 24 points and has collected three goals and seven assists during his streak while Subban (18 points) has posted six assists in his last four contests. Nashville is 6-for-11 with the man advantage over its last four games and 15-for-16 on the penalty kill in that span.

Carolina: Victor Rask was back in the lineup for Friday's 5-4 loss to Toronto after being a healthy scratch for the previous two contests but his point drought reached eight games. Carolina also needs to get leading goal scorer Jeff Skinner (nine) going again, as the left wing recorded seven tallies in October but has been held to two this month. However, young forwards Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho have been on a roll of late. Taeravainen has recorded 12 points over his last six contests (he leads the team with 21 points), while Aho has scored five goals in his last six games after going without a tally in the first 15.

The pick:Nashville is averaging a modest 2.33 GPG on the road and Carolina only 2.73 GPG at home. Nashville's Rinne is playing well (13-3-2, 2.31 GAA & .927 SP) plus Carolina's Scott Darling is better than his 6-6-2 record (2.71 GAA & .900 SP). Make the Under a 10*.

The set-up: The Cleveland Browns remain the NFL's lone win-less team at 0-10 (lost last Sunday at home to the Jags 19-7) and will be on the road to face AFC North rival the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals are 4-6, after snapping a three-game skid last week by edging the Broncos last Sunday 20-17 in Denver. The Bengals crushed the Browns 31-7 at Cleveland back in Week 4 (Cincy's first win after an 0-3 start) and despite the team's 4-6 mark, a wild card berth is not yet "out of the question."

Cleveland. The Browns are now 1-25 under head coach Hue Jackson and while the team's problems go much deeper than its head coach, one still has to wonder just how much losing will it take for the team to make a head coaching change? The Browns held the Jags to 19 points last Sunday but gained only 184 yards themselves, as QB Kizer threw two INTs and coughed up two fumbles (team had five giveaways). Kizer is completing just 52.5% with five TDs, 14 INTs (QB rating of 54.0) and six lost fumbles. Kizer's 22 rushing yards was a team-high, as the Browns offer their passing game little 'cover,' averaging 101.2 YPG on the ground (23rd). The Browns enter as the NFL's lowest scoring team (15.0 PPG). Their defense allows 313.7 YPG (ranks 8th) but the team also allows 25.9 PPG, which ranks 27th. That's indicative of the team owning the worst TO margin (minus-17) of any NFL team.

Cincinnati: The Bengals only scored 20 points and won by just three points at Denver but QB Andy Dalton, despite throwing for a modest 154 yards, had three TD passes. Dalton has re-invigorated the deep passing game with four TD passes of 18 yards or more over the past two games, after having just three through the first eight outings. A.J. Green has scored in consecutive weeks and ranks eighth in the NFL with 743 yards receiving and is tied for third with six TDs The Bengals' running game averages only 68.0 YPG (32nd!) and is a big reason Cincy ranks 32nd in total yards (265.6 per game), as well as 29th in scoring at 16.9 PPG. The defense is pretty solid, allowing 19.9 PPG (10th) on 323.0 YPG (12th).

The pick; Cleveland is just the third team in NFL history to start consecutive seasons at 0-10 but just like last year, there figures to be one week in which the Browns "break through." Maybe I'm "spitting into the wind" or "pulling on Superman's cape" but I;m taking the points and making the Browns a 10* play.

The set-up: AFC foes (hardly rivals, anymore) meet Sunday afternoon in NFL Week 12 NFL play at Foxborough, as the 8-2 New England Patriots host the 4-6 Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were once 4-2 but last Sunday's 30-20 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaners was Miami's fourth in a row. The two AFC wild card teams are currently both 5-5, so the Dolphins only enter one game back but they are tied with four other teams plus the Chargers just moved to 5-6 with their Thanksgiving Day win at Dallas. The Pats raised some eyebrows with their 2-2 start, particularly with a defense which couldn't stop anyone, especially through the air. However, all is right in "New England Land" these days, as the Pats' 33-8 beatdown of the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City last Sunday was the team's sixth straight win. The Pats and Steelers are tied for the AFC's best record at 8-2 (Pittsburgh currently owns the tie-breaker).

Miami: Jay Cutler was back under center last Sunday for the Dolphins but he threw for just 83 yards, one TD touchdown and three INTs before leaving with a concussion. Matt Moore stepped in and completed 17 of 28 for 282 yards and a TD but to no avail (Miami lost by 10!). You tell me why Miami traded away Jay Ajayi, because he still owns 58 percent of Miami's current 804 rushing yards on the season? Moore will be under center for this one and surely won't get too much help from a running game averaging 80.4 YPG (28th) and is now without a quality RB. Miami's offense is averaging just 15.7 PPG (30th) on the season, while its defense is allowing 25.4 PPG (27th).

New England: Brady was just "being Brady" against the Raiders, completing 30 of 37 for 340 yards and three TDs touchdowns. He's completing 68.7 percent on the season with 22 TDs and just two INTs (in attempts), for a QB rating of 110.09. The Pats lead the NFL in passing yards (304.6 per game) and now rank fourth in scoring at 29.0 PPG. The defense has made huge strides in keeping teams out on the end zone, as after allowing 32.0 PPG through the team's first four contests, the Pats are down to allowing 20.3 PPG on the season, to rank 12th (12.5 PPG allowed during the six-game winning streak!).

The pick: The Dolphins come to Foxborough having lost eight in a row to the Pats in this venue (2-6 ATS) and there is no reason to believe Brady and Co. will have much trouble scoring here. However, while the Pats' D has cut down on its PPG, the team's defense is still giving up big chunks of yards and still ranks last in total yards allowed at 401.9 per. That can "catch up" to a defense and may just here, after Brady and Co. have established a 'cushion.' Make the Over an 8* play.

The set-up: The 3-1 Oklahoma Sooners and the 5-1 Oregon Ducks square off on Sunday in a fifth-place game as part of the PK80 tournament from Portland, Oregon. The Sooners rode Buddy Hields' scoring to a Final Four appearance two seasons ago but the Sooners "fell off the map" in the 2016-17 season, going 11-20 (had won 29 games the season before). Meanwhile, Oregon made it ll the way to the Final Four last season, before finishing 33-6. However, four starters are gone from that team, so the team's 5-1 start has been a mild surprise.

Oklahoma: Freshman Trae Young was still in high school when Buddy Hield propelled Oklahoma past Oregon and into the Final Four two years ago. Young exploded for 33 points against the Pilots during a win, becoming the first freshman in the Lon Kruger era (2011-present) to score 30 points. His performance marked the highest-scoring game by a Sooner freshman since Tommy Mason-Griffin tallied 38 points on Jan. 27, 2010. Young leads the way ins coring (24.5) and assists (9.0) plus 6-9 forward Khadeem Lattin (14.7 & 10.3) is the lone senior on the team. The Sooners are averaging 98.0 PPG (3rd-best) but are giving up too points, allowing 80.2 PPG (298th).

Oregon: The Ducks needed OT to earn an 89-79 win over DePaul, upping the Ducks to 5-1 this season. Guard Payton Pritchard, the lone returning starter, led the team with 29 points on 9 of 16 shooting. Elijah Brown (12.0) added 19 points on 6 of 13 shooting. 6-7 Freshman Troy Brown had 11 points along with nine rebounds and leads the team at 7.0 RPG (is scoring 11.0 per). Like Oklahoma, Oregon can light up the scoreboard (88.5 PPG) but unlike Oklahoma, Oregon is allowing 66.3 PPG.

The pick: I believe Oklahoma can put up points on most teams, but Oregon has enough offensive 'punch' to match the Sooners' point-for-point. Make Oregon a 10* play.

The set-up: The Los Angeles Clippers finally had something to be thankful for, as they went into the Thanksgiving break having snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 116-103 win at Atlanta on Wednesday. The 6-11 Clippers were also off last night, so they will try to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since opening the 2017-18 season at 4-0 when the team's road trip picks back up on the West Cost in Sacramento. The Kings are just 5-13 on the season but are also winners of four of their last five at home, after they went into their Thursday-Friday break with a 113-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Wednesday.

LA Clippers: Blake Griffin is taking on added leadership responsibilities this season with the departure of Chris Paul over the summer and had a triple-double in Wednesday's triumph (26-10-10). Griffin averaged 22.6 points during the nine-game slide but also shot 36.9 percent from the floor in that span (not good enough). Griffin's job got tougher with the announcement that guard Patrick Beverley (team's best perimeter defender) would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. It's true that Wesley Johnson immediately stepped in to pick up some of the slack by exploing for a season-high 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. However, note that while Johnson was the 4th overall pick by Minnesota back in 2010, he's averaging just 7.5 PPG for his career (currently his 8th). Wiliams (12.3) and Rivers (12.8) contribute double digits from the backcourt, Gallinari 12.8 PPG as a SF plus center Jordan is a double-double (10.5-13.8) man in the middle. The Clipps are middle-of-the-pack in both scoring at 105.6 PPG (15th) and in points allowed at 106.4 PPG (17th).

Sacramento: The Kings are still searching for the right lineup combinations but got a strong boost from the reserves in Wednesday's 11-point win over the Lakers.Center Willie Cauley-Stein (10.2 & 6.0) led four reserves in double figures with 26 points in 28 minutes on Wednesday. “I don’t think there’s any bigs in this league that can guard me off the bounce, so I’m quick enough where I can get past big dudes and strong enough when there’s a little guy on me I can just take him in the post,” Cauley-Stein told the Sacramento Bee. Cauley-Stein is averaging 13.9 points at home but just 7.2 in 10 road games. The Kings shot a season-best 55.3 percent in the win over the Lakers. Veteran PF Randolph leads the team in scoring at just 12.9 PPG and on the season, as Sacramento's 94.3 PPG ranks dead-last among all NBA teams.

The pick: However, Wednesday's 11-point home win (113 points) built on a developing trend that has seen the Kings average 100.0 PPG in winning four of their last five at home. That has me on "the over" in this one, making it a 10* play.

The set-up: The Loyola Marymount Lions will travel to Boise, Idaho to take on the Boise State Broncos in a non-conference college basketball matchup on Saturday night. The Lions opened the season with a loss at UT-Arlington but a 91-87 win over Incarnate Word the last time out gives them three straight victories and a 3-1 record to open the season. In contrast, the Broncos opened 4-0 Broncos but will be looking to bounce back from their first loss of the campaign, a 75-64 loss to Iowa State back on Nov. 19th in South Carolina (Puerto Rico Tip-Off).

Loyola-Marymount: It's been awhile since Marymount has put a competitive team on the court and head coach Mike Dunlap opened his fourth season as the school's head coach with just a 37-55 record. Just two starters are back from last year's 15-15 team and Dunlap needs to replace seven of his top-eight scorers. The leading returning scorer from last year is the 6-6 Haney (9.4) and he's scoring 11.7 PPG. However, three newcomers are the key to this year's success (or lack thereof). JC transfer guards Batemon (19.0-5.0-3.8) and Allen (11.0) are already making an impact, as is 6-5 freshman Scott, who is averaging 16.2 PPG and a team-high 8.8 RPG. The Lions are averaging 84.8 PPG (54th) but will need to tighten a defense which allows 80.5 PPG on 47.5% shooting (both rank 29th!).

Boise State: Head coach Leon Rice has been at Boise for seven years and has won 20-plus games in all but his second season. His 2013 and 2015 teams made NCAA appearances. Two starters are gone from last year's 20-win team but the 6-7 guard Chandler Hutchison entered the season as arguably the MWC's best player. However, he's gotten off to a modest start (12.0-8.2-3.6) plus missed the Iowa St game (questionable here). The Broncos have shown excellent balance with fellow guards Hobbs (14.0-3.2-3.4) and Jessup (12.0 & 7.0) off to very good starts plus 6-9 graduate transfer (from Rice), Christian Sengfelder (13.4 & 4.6) has been an excellent addition.

The pick: If Hutchison can’t go again it's not great news but here at home, the Broncos can put plenty of points on the board against a Marymount defense allowing some "big numbers" against so-so competition so far. Lay the points and make Boise State an 8* play.

The set-up: The South Carolina Gamecocks cracked the top-25 in the College Football Playoff rankings this week (No. 24), following a 31-10 victory over Wofford. It was the team's fifth win in its last six games, giving the Gamecocks an 8-3 record as they get set set to host bitter in-state rival Clemson. The 10-1 Tigers fell to No. 3 in the latest CFP rankings but with Miami losing ('Canes were No. 2), the Tigers will likely move to No. 2 with a win and could be ranked No. 1, if Auburn were to upset current No. 1 Alabama. This marks the 115th meeting between the schools (Clemson leads the series 68-42-4) and this game has been played every year since 1909!

Clemson: The Tigers lone loss came back on Oct. 13th at Syracuse, when QB Kelly Bryant had to leave with an injury. Clemson has won all four since then, after a 61-3 rout of The Citadel in its previous outing. Bryant completed 17 of 22 for 230 yards and three TDs. He's not exactly Deshaun Watson but he's pretty darn good. He's completing 66.2% for 2,154 yards with 10 TDs and five INTs. He's run for 613 yards and 10 TDs, joining RBs Etienne (679 YR / 7.7 YPC / 11 TDs) and Feaster (619 YR / 6.7 YPC / 5 TDs) to give Clemson a ground game which averages 218.6 YPG (24th). The offense averages 35.3 PPG (22nd) which works well when the team's D allows just 13.9 PPG (3rd) on 290.2 YPG (7th).

South Carolina: The Gamecocks would love to upset Clemson plus a win would sure enhance the team's bowl status. QB Jake Bentley threw for 194 yards and a TD on 22 of 28 passing against Wofford and enters the game completing 63.1 percent for 2,429 yards with 15 TDs and nine INTs. The running game averages a modest 132.5 YPG (89th), although A.J. Turner (507 YR) and Ty’Son Williams (407 YR) average 5.6 and 5.2 YPC, respectively. Overall, the team's 353.3 YPG ranks just 104th. The defense allows 19.6 PPG (20th) on 366.0 YPG (42nd).

The pick: The Tigers have not had much success when playing in the Gamecocks’ backyard as of late and South Carolina has covered seven straight as an underdog, going back to last year's bowl appearance). Taking away nothing away from Clemson's D (see above for a reminder) but the Gamecocks are one of just five FBS teams that have not allowed 30 or more points in a game this season, joining Alabama, Auburn, Troy and Wisconsin). South Carolina has held 10 of its 11 opponents below their season scoring average, including five who scored at least 10 points below their mark. Home dog 'barks' loudly in this one. Make South Carolina a 10* play.

The set-up: The 10-8-3 Chicago Blackhawks got two goals from Patrick Kane in Wednesday's 3-2 OT loss at Tampa Bay but several other high-profile members of the 'Hawks are mired in significant goal-scoring slumps. Chicago has overcome a lack of offense to record at least a point in four of its last five outings (3-1-1) but the team which topped the Central Division with 109 points last season (also tops in the West), is stuck in last-place in the Central with only 23 points! The Blackhawks will complete a three-game road trip against the Florida Panthers on Saturday at the BB&T Center in Miami, facing an 8-11-2 Florida team which is playing a little better after a 2-1 OT win at home over Toronto on Wednesday (Panthers opened the season 4-8-2).

Chicago: Patrick Panik and Jonathan Toews own just 13 points each, plus Brandon Saad has 10. Toews scored one goal in his past eight games -- and that was an empty-netter. Panik is scoreless in 12 straight games and Saad has managed just one goal in his past 15 games. Some good news is that Chicago has embraced a rather simplistic solution to a complicated season-long dilemma that was its ailing power play, and it seems to be working. "Shoot the puck, retrieve the puck, shoot again," forward Artem Anisimov told the Chicago Sun-Times of the team's units with the man advantage, who have converted 6-of-17 opportunities in their last four games after a dreadful 2-for-33 stint in the previous eight.

Florida: Captain Derek MacKenzie returned to practice on Friday and could be in line to end a five-game absence due to a lower-body injury versus the Blackhawks. "Once he gets off the ice, we're going to talk to him, see how he feels, how he dealt with the practice and then make a decision whether (Saturday's) the day or it's going to be on the road trip," coach Bob Boughner told the Sun-Sentinel.The Panthers are getting better production from their top line of center Aleksander Barkov (21 points) and wingers Jonathan Huberdeau (21 points) and Evgenii Dadonov (17 points). Then there is no. 1 goalie goalie Roberto Luongo, who has been stellar as of late. Luongo has posted a 2.11 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage since returning on Nov. 4 from an injury to his right hand,

The pick: Luongo sports a .931 save percentage with five shutouts in his career versus Chicago but I want no part of the Panthers in this one. The Blackhawks' improved power play gets a chance here vs. the Panthers' 30th-ranked penalty kill unit (just 73.2 percent). Chicago goalie Corey Crawford may be just 9-7-1 on the season but he's got a 2.23 GAA & .932 SP. Make Chicago a 10* play.

The set-up: The Northwestern Wildcats look to win to cap their 2017 regular season with a seventh straight win (Northwestern is currently 8-3 and ranked 22nd in the CFP rankings) when visit the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana. The team's will be playing for the Land of Lincoln Trophy. Lovie's Smith second season (Illinois is just 2-9), has gone no better than his first (the Illini were 3-9 in 2016). Illinois comes in on a nine-game losing streak and has not scored more than 17 points or gained more than 294 yards in its last five games.

Northwestern: RB Justin Jackson has 1,010 yards rushing ( YPC) and eight TDs but the running game is averaging only 147.7 YPG (87th). You may not have heard too much about Jackson but he is just the second player in Big Ten history to rush for over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons! However, while QB Clayton Thorson owns a 14-11 ratio on 60.5%, his 2,669 passing yards have helped the Wildcats rank 46th in passing at 253.3 YPG. Defensively, Northwestern is allowing 21.0 PPG (30th) on 369.7 YPG (46th).

Illinois: The Fighting Illini opened 2-0 (beat Ball St. and Western Kentucky at home) but have not won since. Jeff George, Jr. has taken most of the snaps this season but has completed just 51.9 percent of his passes for 1,273 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Crouch (4 of 14 for 16 yards!) played last week against Ohio St. and George is questionable for this one with a concussion. Making any QB's job harder, is a ground game averaging only 106.1 YPG (122nd). Illinois averages only 16.2 PPG (125th). The defense is allowing 30.5 PPG (88th) on 415.9 YPG (86th).

The pick: A win will improve Northwestern's bowl status plus puts Pat Fitzgerald's team on track to win 10 games for the second time in three seasons. The Wildcats haven't just won six in row, they've covered all six as well, giving them an 8-1 ATS run their last nine. As for Illinois, here's the latest from head coach Lovie Smith. We're down to one more game left in our football season and we're playing our rival," Smith told reporters. "So hopefully we get a couple of guys back and play better than we did on Saturday." Anyone 'buying into' that? Not I. Let's make Northwestern an 8* play.

The set-up: The latest 'Sunshine Showdown" takes place at "The Swamp," although this year's game holds very little of the pizazz usually associated with a meeting between the Seminoles and Gators. Both teams' early-season schedules were affected by Hurricane Irma and both school's records have gone from bad to worse. However, Florida State got to 4-6 with a 77-6 destruction of Delaware State last Saturday, while Florida snapped its a five-game losing streak with a 36-7 win over UAB, also 'improving' to 4-6.

Florida State: QBs James Blackmon threw for 179 yards and two TDs (completed 11 of 15) while J.J. Cosentino added 51 yards and a TD, completing 6 of 7 attempts. RB Ryan Green led the team with 96 yards on the ground, while adding two TDs. Akers (779 YR / 5.3 YPC) and Patrick (465 YR / 5.5 YPC) are the team's top RBs, although FSU has averaged a modest 141.7 YPG on the ground (94th). It's been quite awhile since an FSU offense has averaged only 24.0 PPG (ranks 97th!). All things considered, the defense has done well, holding opponents to 346.4 YPG (30th) and 23.1 PPG (40th).

Florida: QB Feleipe Franks threw for 152 yards and a pair of TDs on 15 of 30 passing in last week's win. However, the highly-touted freshman has been a big disappointment with the QB position being stuck in a constant state of flux all season long. The running game is only slightly better than FSU's (averages 163.0 YPG to rank 69th) and the Gators are scoring even less than the Seminoles, averaging 22.1 PPG (109th). Defensively, Florida has allowed a modest 362.6 YPG (37th) but ranks 69th in scoring D, allowing 26.2 PPG.

The pick: This 62nd meeting of the "Sunshine Showdown' is anything but a showdown, as it marks the first time since 1959 and only the second time in series history, that both teams will enter the game with a losing record. Florida's Interim head coach Randy Shannon got first win since the school and former head coach Jim McElwain mutually parted ways on Oct. 29 last Saturday but two ina row may be too much to ask. FSU has won the last four meetings (six of the last seven, as well) plus actually has something to play for. The school has re-scheduled its game against UL-Monrore for next weekend, meaning if it wins here, a win next Saturday would extend the nation's longest active bowl streak to 41! Incredibly, Florida State is 0-9 ATS (or 0-72, at best!) against FBS squads in 2017. Really? Make FSU a 10* play!

The set-up: It's Rivalry Week and each has its own history. 10-1 Georgia (No. 7 in the current CFP rankings) will play in the SEC championship game next Saturday but first it's the school's annual showdown against Georgia Tech, which enters 5-5. Georgia's lone loss was at Auburn but the Bulldogs easily topped the SEC East. The Yellow Jackets welcome the hated-Bulldogs to Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday for their season-finale. Ga. Tech had an earlier game vs. USF canceled due to circumstances surrounding Hurricane and because of that, will play only 11 games. That means Ga. Tech will have this one last chance to earn a sixth win to become bowl-eligible.

Georgia: The Bulldogs own an outstanding one-two RB tandem in Nick Chubb (1,045 YR / 6.3 YPC & 12 TDs) and Sony Michel (818 YR / 7.4 YPC & 12 TDs), with that duo leading the nation's 10th-best rushing attack (267.4 YPG). Freshman QB Jake Fromm remains a question mark (60.9% & 17-5 ratio), as Georgia ranks 113th with 164.0 YPG passing. The Georgia D allows 276.1 YPG (5th) and 14.4 PPG (4th). The Bulldogs' D 'laid an egg' against Auburn by allowing 40 points but that was only the second time Georgia has allowed more than 19 points in 2017.

Ga. Tech: The Yellow Jackets have lost three of their last four coming in, having fallen to Clemson, Virginia and Duke. QB TaQuon Marshall is completing only 38.0 percent with nine TDs and four INTs, with Tech averaging only 88.9 YPG through the air (129th of 130 teams!). However, Marshall has run for 1,074 yards (4.7 YPC) with 17 TDs plus RB Benson has 1,009 yards (5.3 YPC) with six TDs. The Yellow Jackets rank 4th in the nation, averaging 319.3 YPG on the ground. The defense allows only 342.6 YPG (29th) but 25.4 PPG, which ranks 55th.

The pick: Sure, the Bulldogs will play in the SEC championship game but a loss here would really make any 'Final 4' chances moot. Yes, Ga. Tech is playing for that all-important "sixth win" and in the nine years that Paul Johnson has been the head coach at Georgia Tech, only two games have been decided by more than eight points. Then again, anyone think that the Bulldogs won't remember blowing a double digit lead in last year’s 28-27 loss in Athens. This rivalry is described as “Clean, Old Fashioned Hate.” Need more? The visitor is on a 16-2-1 ATS run. Make Georgia an 8* play.

The set-up: The 11-7 Minnesota Timberwolves will welcome the 8-9 Miami Heat to the Target Center of Friday night, as all NBA teams were able to enjoy a Thanksgivings Day "off night." The Heat just knocked off the Celtics 104-98 Wednesday night, ending the NBA's longest winning streak at 16. However, Miami (at just 8-9), will have no time to rest on its laurels, as the Heat open a four-game road trip tonight in Minnesota. The Timberwolves won 124-118 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, after back-to-back losses. However, it was hardly smooth sailing, as they squandered a 26-point lead in the fourth quarter. "We have to work at it," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters of fourth-quarter woes. "You have to be tough-minded."

Miami: Head coach Erik Spoelstra put his team through a pair of tough practices leading into the matchup with the Celtics, after getting blown out 120-95 at home by Indiana on Sunday. The strategy seemed to pay off. "I don't even care about the result," Spoelstra told reporters after Wednesday's 104-98 triumph. "Right now, it's all behavior and habits." PG Goran Dragic has led the team in scoring all season (18.8 & 4.6 APG) but entered the Boston game having totaled 14 points on 6-of-19 shooting in his two previous games, before breaking out for 27 points in the win over the Celtics. The 31-year-old did not attempt a free throw in the previous three games but got back to attacking the basket against Boston and went 9-of-10 from the line. SG Dion Waiters (15.9) wasn't far behind, as he scored 26 points on Wednesday, after going scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting in Sunday's loss. Center Whiteside has been bothered by a thumb issue and had a modest with eight points and 10 rebounds but continues to be a double-double machine, averaging 15.5 & 13.2 on the season.

Minnesota: The T-wolves had held six of eight games opponents under 100 points (won all six of those games) but let up some on the defensive end over the last three contests, dropping two in a row before pulling out Wednesday's 124-118 win. "My concern is what we're doing defensively," Thibodeau told reporters. "If we're going to go anywhere, we have to correct that." The Timberwolves make up for some of those defensive issues on the other end of the floor vs. Orlando, as Jimmy Butler matched a season high on Wednesday with 26 points, Three others, Taj Gibson (24), Jeff Teague (22) and Andrew Wiggins (20) all reached the 20-point plateau as well. All five starters are averaging in double digits for the T-wolves, led by center Towns (20.4 & 11.5). He's followed by Wiggins (18.8 & 4.1) plus newcomers Butler (16.9-5.5-4.2), Teague (14.0 & 7.5 APG) and Gibson (10.4 & 7.8). However, Thibodeau has always emphasized strong defensive play and Minnesota is falling woefully short of that goal, allowing 108.2 PPG (25th) on 48.6 percent shooting (30th).

The pick: The Heat are looking to turn the tables on a Minnesota team that beat them 125-122 in overtime on Oct. 30 at AmericanAirlines Arena but even with a Thanksgiving Day 'holiday' in between, I expect there to be a letdown off that win over Boston. The T-wolves were on a 7-2-1 ATS run before failing to cover three in a row but this seems like just the "wrong place at the wrong time" for Miami. Make Minnesota a 10* play.

The set-up: It's "Rivalry Weekend' and at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville it will be the 8-3 Virginia Tech Hokies (4-3) taking on the 6-5 Virginia Cavaliers (3-4 ACC). The Hokies were riding high at 7-1 but lost at Miami and then at Ga. Tech, before bouncing back with a 20-14 win at home vs. Pitt. As for the Cavs, they've seen a promising season disappear, as after a 5-1 start, they have lost four of their last five games, falling to Boston College, Pitt, Louisville and Miami. These in-state rivals will meet for the 99th time (winner gets the Commonwealth Cup), with Va. Tech leading the series 56-37-5.

Virginia Tech: Senior WR Cam Phillips (2,981 yards) is the school's all-time leading receiver by yards, surpassing Isaiah Ford (2,967 from 2014-16) after recording eight receptions for 117 yards and a TD last week. Junior RB Travon McMillian (team-high 434 yards, two TDs) carried only once last week before leaving with a leg injury, with head caoch Justin Fuente telling reporters that "he didn't want to push it.'' Tech's running game has been no better than average in 2017, averaging 164.0 YPG (67th). However, QB Josh Jackson has had an very good season, passing for 2,600 yards with 18 TDs and just seven INTs. Then again, Va. Tech, especially under DC Bud Foster, is typically known for its defense. The Hokies come in allowing 14.7 PPG (6th) on 315.6 YPG (17th).

Virginia: QB Kurt Benkert put up 384 yards with four TDs and just one pick last Saturday against Miami's outstanding defense, which should give him plenty of confidence coming in to this game. Benkert has thrown for 2,876 yards (needs only 101 yards to set the school record for passing yards in a season) with 25 TDs and only eight INTs. He gets almost no help from a running game which limps in averaging 107.4 YPG (121st). The defense is not bad and in fact, senior linebacker Micah Kiser (115) and senior safety Quin Blanding (104) are the only teammates from a Power-5 conference team to each have 100 or more tackles. However, the Cavs are giving up 28,2 PPG (79th) on 359.9 YPG (33rd). Again, the Virginia defense is NOT in Va. Tech's class.

The pick: Virginia is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2011 but that pales next to the fact that Virginia Tech is headed to its 25th consecutive bowl game. Sure, this is a rivalry game but how much of a rivalry is it really? Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall's first taste of the rivalry was a sour one a year ago as the Cavaliers got crushed in Blacksburg 52-10, which closed out a 2-10 season. This year, Virginia is looking for its first win in the series since 2003. That's 13 straight Va. Tech wins and 17 in the last 18 meetings! A rivalry? Really? Make Va. Tech a 10* play.

The set-up: The Columbus Blue Jackets are off to an outstanding start for the second consecutive season, one that has carried them to the top of the Metropolitan Division. at 14-7-1 (29 points) The Blue Jackets will take a five-game winning streak into Friday's home matchup against the Ottawa Senators, who are headed in the other direction with four straight losses, leaving them at 8-6-6 (22 points) on the season..

Ottawa: The Senators swept a two-game series against Colorado in Sweden (a pair of 4-3 wins on Nov. 11-12) but has lost four in a row since, producing only five goals in the slide!. Ottawa is 0-for-14 on the power play during its four-game skid, managing only one shot on a 5-on-3 Wednesday. "Sometimes everything goes great on the power play and you're not really asking yourself any question," forward Derick Brassard said. "But now maybe it's in the back of our head. ... We're thinking too much." Center Matt Duchene has been a huge disappointment, as he has yet to produce a point in six games since he came to the Senators in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. No. 1 goalie Craig Anderson has a 7-6-3 record, 2.93 GAA and .896 save percentage.

Columbus: The Blue Jackets have allowed more than one goal just once during their five-game run, improving to 7-1 in overtime following Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Calgary.
Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky has been in net for each of the past five wins, posting a pair of shutouts and yielding a combined four goals. "I think each game that's gone by here, we've played more consistent minutes," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said, according to the team's website. "I think we've gone in the front door more, winning games, than going in the side door in some of the games we've won this year."

The pick: The Senators just can't seem to put the puck in the net and are in the midst of playing 10 of 11 games on the road. Friday's visit to Columbus will be their third straight game away from home. As noted above, Bobrovsky has "found himself," on the heels of a four-game skid in which the Blue Jackets surrendered 15 goals, 10 in three starts by Bobrovsky. "I am focusing on my things," said. "I can’t go and score the goals. I can’t control that, so I don’t think about that. I try to stay in my zone and do my things, and trust that the rest of my teammates will take care of it." Make Columbus an 8* play.

The set-up: The Wright State Raiders are the host team for the Wright State Tournament (who could have guessed?). Gardner-Webb will play Wright State in the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader and the Raiders will again play the second game on Saturday (against Jacksonville), win or lose tonight. Nutter Center is the site, which is naturally, the Raiders' home court. The Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs come in 2-3 and the Wright State Raiders check in at 1-3.

Garner-Webb: The Runnin' Bulldogs Gardner-Webb started out the year with three straight losses to Miami, Florida and UCF, but then beat Warren Wilson and Brevard College in their last two. Gardner-Webb plays in the Big South (is off a 19-14 season) and head coach Tim Craft is currently in his fifth season (76-63, including this year's start). The transfer of guard LaQuincy Rideau (14.2-5.7-5.2) was no small deal but David Efanayi has played well early on, averaging 18.4 PPG. The graduation of All-Big South forward Tyrell Nelson (12.9 & 7.0) was also a blow but the 6-6 DJ Laster has been terrific so far, averaging 16.8 & 10.0. However, Craft's team doesn't have much depth.

Wright State: 20-win seasons are not exactly news for Wright State fans and the Blue Raiders went 20-12 last season but didn't play in a postseason tourney, after losing in the Horizon quarterfinals. Three starters are gone from last year's team, with three freshman leading the way so far this season. 6-6 forward Winchester (13.0 & 5.3) is the leading scorer and the 6-9 Love (9.5 & 7.0) leads in rebounding. A third frosh, guard Mitchell, checks in with 10.7 & 6.7. Senior guard Benzinger (12.5) and junior guard Hughes (10.0) give the Raiders a solid core. PPG).

The pick: Wright St. head coach Scott Nagy is in just his second season and his team should have few problems getting to .500 (3-3) on the season, against this level of competition the next two nights. First things first. Lay the points Friday and make Wright St. a 10* play.

The pick: The now No. 2 Hurricanes head on the road for the first time since Oct. 28 in this game at Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes will also have the additional challenges of cold weather, a short week and some exhaustion due to playing their 10th straight weekend thanks to schedule changes prompted by Hurricane Irma. However, is Pitt (especially if teh freshman plays QB) really ready for Miami's opportunistic defense which also leads the nation in sacks per game (3.8). That hardly bodes well, as Pittsburgh QBs have been sacked 30 times this year. At No. 2, Miami is the highest-ranked team Pitt has hosted at Heinz Field in 16 years (that opponent was also Miami, which was ranked No. 1 when the teams met on Sept. 27, 2001). What's more, Pitt is just 4-12 ATS at home since 2015! Make Miami an 8* play.

The set-up: The Giants had seemingly hit "rock bottom" with their 31-21 Week 10 loss at San Francisco (49ers entered that game 0-9) but lo and behold, the Giants won last Sunday 12-9 over the Chiefs in OT, as a double-digit home dog! The 2-8 Giants and NFC East rival Washington will face off in the nightcap of Thanksgiving's three-game NFL card. The Redskins come into the game having blew a 15-point lead in the final six minutes of an eventual 34-31 overtime loss to New Orleans last Sunday. The defeat dropped them to 11th place in the NFC playoff standings, two games out of the final playoff spot.

NY Giants: Can New York build off its upset of the Chiefs? Eli and the offense did little but the defense was a revelation. The Giants allowed an NFC-best 17.6 PPG in 2016 but entered last week's game having allowed 26.4 PPG to rank 28th in the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs came in averaging 28.1 PPG but the Giants held them to just three FGs and QB Alex Smith, who came in with 18 TD passes and just one INT (in 293 pass attempts), was picked off three times! Eli Manning completed just 19 of 35 passes (54.3 percent) and failed to throw a TD pass for the first time since the season opener.

Washington: The Redskins no longer have any margin for error plus will need to get some help to make the playoffs. Last Sunday's loss to the Saints was the second in a row but it would be hard to blame QB Kirk Cousins. He threw for 322 yards and three TDs against New Orleans. It was his second-straight 300-plus-yard effort through the air (the fourth in his last six games) and he has 17 TDs and just five INTs on the season witha 101.8 QB rating. RB Samaje Perine added 117 rushing yards and a TD on 23 carries. It was Washington's defense which has cost the Redskins the last two weeks, allowing 38 points to the Vikings and 34 to the Saints.

The pick: Congrats to the Giants for the upset of the Chiefs but that New York offense looks inept. Sure, the defense was great last Sunday but it has struggled almost all season. Cousins is playing great (see above for a reminder) and let's not forget that Washington's back-to-back loses have come against the Vikings and Saints, two 8-2 teams. This just in...the 2-8 Giants are NOT in that class. Beginning with the Giants, none of the teams left on Washington's remaining schedule currently own a winning record. Just maybe, the postseason is not a pipe dream? Lay it here and make Washington a 10* play.

The set-up: The 114th edition of the Egg Bowl will be contested Thanksgiving night in Starkville when 5-6 Ole Miss (2-5 SEC) takes on 8-3 Mississippi State (4-3 SEC). The Rebels need a win to become eligible but in fact, will be playing their final game of the season as a result of a self-imposed postseason ban, which came in February after the NCAA found the program committed multiple violations under former coach Hugh Freeze. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were ranked 14th in the latest CFP rankings and are hoping to improve their bowl status with a victory. Ole Miss guaranteed itself its second straight non-winning season after losing at home to Texas A&M 31-24 the last time out, while Miss. St. reached eight wins for the fifth time in Mullen's nine seasons with that 28-21 win at Arkansas.

Ole Miss: The Rebels couldn't hold onto a 24-21 halftime lead against the Aggies and the seven-point loss snapped a two-game win streak. Junior QB Jordan Ta'amu moved into the starting role in mid-October after Shea Patterson (2,259 YP / 17-9 ratio) was lost to a season-ending injury. He compl eted 19 of 34 passes for 189 yards with two TDs (one interception) and enters completing 69.5% with nine TD and three INTs. A.J. Brown has 69 catches for 1,085 yards with 10TDs and RB Wilkins has 901 YR (6.4 YPC) and seven TDs. The offense averages 33.0 PPG (37th) but the defense ranks 114th in both points allowed (35.2 per game) and yards allowed (455.7 YPG).

Mississippi State: QB Fitzgerald extended his own SEC record for 100-yard rushing games by a QB to 14 after rushing for 101 against the Razorbacks and needs only 52 more yards to move past ex-Bulldog Dak Prescott (2,521) and into third place on the conference's all-time rushing list from a signal-caller. He has 1,770 passing yards (15-10 ratio) but is most dangerous running the ball, with a team-high 968 yards (6.1 YPC / 14 TDs). He and RB Williams 944 YR / 4.6 YPC) lead a rushing game averaging 245.5 YPG (17th), The Bulldogs average 32.5 PPG (39th), about the same as Ole Miss, but the huge difference comes on the defensive side of the ball. Miss. St. allows 19.5 PPG (20th) on 297.2 YPG (9th).

The pick: Tensions are always high when Mississippi and Mississippi State collide but this week's meeting seems even more intense than normal. In fact, the athletic directors from both schools sent out a request to fans, hoping to prevent emotions from boiling over on Thursday night. "In the spirit of sportsmanship, we ask that fans from both schools honor this storied rivalry with civility and respect for each other," Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork and Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen wrote in a joint statement. Fitzgerald accounted for 367 total yards, including a school-record 258 yards on the ground, and five total TDs (three passing / two rushing) in last year's 55-20 thrashing of Ole Miss, allowing Mississippi State to avenge a defeat in 2015 and take home the Golden Egg Trophy for the fifth time in eight tries under coach Dan Mullen. I also like the way QB Jordan Ta'amu has filled in for Patterson, so I expect a shootout. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The Butler Bulldogs won 25 games last year and made it to the Sweet 16. However, head coach Chris Holtmann (Stevens' replacement) jumped at the Ohio St. job when Matta was suddenly let go, with Milwaukee's LaVall Jordan stepping in. Butler has opened 3-1 with its lone loss coming 79-65 at Maryland, as the team travels to Portland for the Phil Knight Invitational and a meeting with 3-0 Texas.Shaka Smart is off an 'ugly' 11-22 season last year but his team has racked up thee victories by double figures with the defense yet to allow more then 60 points to open the current season.

Butler: Jordan will miss the versatile Chrabascz (11.4-4.6-3.7) from last year's team but a solid nucleus returns, led by the 6-7 Martin (15.0 & 8.3). Baldwin (13.8) is a sophomore guard building on his solid freshman season and the 6-8 Wideman (12.3 & 4.0) is an All-Big East talent. McDermott (12.0), GW transfer Jorgensen (9.8) and Thompson (7.0 & 4.3) round out the main contributors.

Texas: The Longhorns lost their top-two scorers from last season in Mack (14.8 & 4.8) and Allen (13.4 & 8.4) but guards Jones (13.0) and Roach (12.7) plus big men Bamba (14.0 & 9.0) and Ostekowski (11.3 & 9.) have looked very good early. Bamba is a 6-11 freshman center who few thought Smart could lure to Austin, while Ostekowski is a 6-9 junior.Mo Bamba missed the team's second win with a concussion but was back the last time out, chipping in 13 & 10. Texas has been winning with defense as it's held its opponents to 60 points or fewer in every game (58.7 PPG to rank 21st) on 32.8 percent shooting (5th-best).

The pick: The Longhorns needed a strong start after last year's disaster but look closer and you'll see wins over Northwestern State, New Hampshire and Lipscomb. That trio has nothing in common with a Butler team (remember, 25 wins and a Sweet 16 trip LY!) or program which has gone 39-11-2 ATS in its last 52 neutral-site games. Make Butler an 8* play.

The set-up: The Los Angeles Chargers are off a 54-24 beatdown of the Buffalo Bills last Sunday but the win got them to just 4-6. The Dallas Cowboys are off a humiliating 37-9 loss to their division rival the Philadelphia Eagles, which came right after Dallas lost 27-7 in Atlanta. The Cowboys are now 5-5 and with star RB Ezekiel Elliott set to miss four more games, Dallas' playoff hopes are rapidly disappearing.The Chargers visit AT&T Stadium for the middle contest of the NFL's three-game Thanksgiving Thursday card. While this will be the Cowboys' 50th Thanksgiving contest, the Chargers will be participating in their first game on the holiday sinc) e 1969!

LA Chargers: The Chargers benefited from Buffalo's "ridiculous" (editorial comment) decision to give last Sunday's start to a QB so "unready for prime time" that Nathan Peterman threw five INTs in just 14 pass attempts, with the first of his five picks being returned for a TD. The Chargers' D later returned a fumble for a score, as the 54 points represented the Chargers' highest-scoring performance in Philip Rivers' 195 consecutive starts since 2006. Speaking of Rivers, he passed for 251 yards (on 20 of 32 passing) and two TDs, both to Keenan Allen who caught 12 passes for 159 yards. RB Melvin Gordon added 80 rushing yards and a TD. Los Angeles has recovered from its 0-4 start and views this contest as crucial as its deficit in the AFC West is just two games thanks to Kansas City dropping four of its last five games. "We're not way out of the division and not way out of the hunt," Rivers said. "That's exciting and encouraging. It shouldn't be hard to keep us focused on the task at hand. ... Just be fired up that we still have everything in front of us."

Dallas: The loss of "Zeke" is huge but the absence of LT Tyron Smith (Dak has been sacked 12 times the last two games!) plus LB Sean Lee sidelined have been no small factor in the in Cowboys getting outscored 64-16 in back-to-back losses. Prescott's solid start is beginning to unravel and the Cowboys are now tasked with scraping for a wild card spot with an injury-depleted team.

The pick: All of the above noted, remember the Cowboys were actually ahead 9-7 at the half vs. the Eagles, before succumbing 30-0 in the second half. The Chargers will not have the 'cake-walk' of last week and I expect to see the Dallas team we saw in the first half last Sunday vs. the Eagles, not the second half. The Cowboys have scored just 16 points without Elliott, scoring just one TD (on a 21-yard drive). The play here is an 8* on the Under.

The set-up: The Minnesota Vikings have won six in a row and now own a two-game lead in the NFC North as they head to Ford Field early Thursday afternoon to take on the Detroit Lions. The Lions have won three straight, beating the Packers, Browns and Bears to reach 6-4. That means the Lions need to win here or fall three games back of the Vikings, with just five games remaining. Detroit is tied with the Falcons and Seahawks (Atlanta would win the tie-breaker as of now, giving them the NFC's No. 6 seed) plus the Packers and Cowboys are lurking at 5-5..

Minnesota: The Vikings will sure remember the last time these teams met, as the Lions won 14-7 at Minnesota, with the Vikings losing three fumbles. However, the Vikes haven't lost since. Case Keenum has 'rescued' the offense, entering this contest completing 65.7% for 2,194 yards with 12 TDs and five INTs (he's 6-2 as a starter in 2017). The loss of rookie RB Dalvin Cook was supposed to all but 'kill' the running game but Murray (412 yards) and McKinnon (367 yards) have filled in well, with Minnesota entering this game averaging 123.3 YPG on the ground (8th). WR Adam Thielen has an NFC-best 916 receiving yards while his 16 catches of at least 20 yards has the 27-year-old tied with Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown for the league lead. However, the Vikings' defense has led the way in 2017, allowing 17.2 PPG (4th) on 290.5 YPG (5th).

Detroit: QB Matthew Stafford signed a five-year, $135 million deal in the summer to become the highest-paid player in the NFL. He's NOT the league's best player or QB but he's completed 63.1 percent for 2,760 yards with 19 TDs and five INTs (QB rating of 98.4). He's had multiple TD passes in the three straight wins and in seven of 10 this season. Detroit's much-maligned rushing game takes plenty of hits (80.8 YPG ranks 28th) but Ameer Abdullah (491 YR / 3.4 YPC / 3 TDs) has been a positive factor of late with three TDs (two rushing, one receiving) during the team's three-game winning streak. The Lions have averaged 31.7 points during their three-game winning streak and now rank 5th in the league, at 27.1 PPG.

The pick: Thi game is YUGE for the Lions (see above for implications) and as of late (like the team's 14-7 win at Minny in Week 4), the Lions have ground out numerous low-scoring wins over the Vikings these last four seasons. Detroit has won five of the last seven meetings, including three straight despite scoring a combined four TDs. The Lions have won four straight Thanksgiving Day games at Ford Field, helping them to make the playoffs in two of those seasons (had lost nine straight games on Thanksgiving prior to the streak). Stafford's been brilliant the past five Thanksgiving games, with 13 TD passes against just two interceptions. Make the Lions an 8* play.

The set-up: The Winnipeg Jets check in at 12-5-3 after their four-game winning streak ended Monday in Nashville. The Jets fell behind by four goals and a late rally fell shot in a 5-3 defeat. That contest was the opener a four-game road trip and it continues tonight at Staples Center where the Jets face the struggling Los Angeles Kings. LA began the season 11-2-2 but the Kings are just 1-5-0 since. However, they still lead the Pacific Division at 12-7-2.

Winnipeg: The Jets got outscored 3-0 and out-shot 19-7 in Monday's decisive second period at Nashville. Mathieu Perreault continues to spark the Jets’ fourth line since returning from a lower-body injury, scoring twice to give him four goals and one assist in three games. “We’ve been pretty darn consistent after our first two (games) that we started the season,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice told reporters after Winnipeg suffered just its third loss in regulation since an 0-2-0 start. Center Mark Scheifele picked up an assist Monday and is tied with forward Blake Wheeler for the team lead with 25 points. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck ranks in the top-10 of the league in goals-against average (2.45) and save percentage (.925), made just 24 saves, while allowing five goals (.828 SP) in a rare rough performance Monday.

LA Kings: Speaking of goaltenders struggling, Jonathan Quick is one of the top goaltenders in the NHL and his early-season play is a big reason why the Kings lead the Pacific Division. However, he is mired in a five-start losing streak entering Wednesday’s home game. Quick surrendered three goals in less than 12 minutes in Sunday’s 4-2 loss at Vegas, but remains in the top-10 in the NHL in save percentage (.926) and goals against average (2.47). The Kings remain one of the best defensive teams in the league, leading the NHL in penalty kill (90.1 percent) while ranking second in goals against per game (2.38). Center Trevor Lewis has scored goals in consecutive games while center Anze Kopitar, who leads the Kings with nine goals, 14 assists and 23 points, is pointless in his past two games following a 10-game point streak.

The pick: Both goaltenders are off shaky efforts and while the knee-jerk reaction is to expect bounce-backs, I'm saying make the Over an 8* play.

The set-up: The LA Clippers were riding high at 4-0 SU & ATS, after Blake Griffin hit a game-winning three-pointer to edge Portland back on Oct. 26 . However, the "new look" Clippers have been in a free-fall ever since, going 1-11 SU. That includes bringing a nine-game losing streak (1-8 ATS) to Atlanta and this game with the Hawks, after Monday’s 107-85 defeat in New York. the Knicks. Not sure many are aware that the Hawks own the second-longest active postseason streak (second only to the Spurs) but there have not been many positives this season for Atlanta Hawks, who enter this game just 3-11 SU and 7-9 ATS. The 2018 postseason seems like nothing but a pipe dream at the moment.

LA Clippers: “Bottom line, we just can’t sustain anything,” Los Angeles head coach Doc Rivers told the media after Monday's loss. “Right now, we get it going a little bit and one thing happens and it just implodes.” The Clippers’ guard play was not strong Monday, as Austin Rivers, Lou Williams and Jawun Evans combined to shoot 5-for-25 from the floor. Griffin is averaging 22.7-7.8-4.7 and is joined by five other double digit scorers, including center Jordan at 10.1 & 13.7 (one of 12 NBA players currently averaging a double-double). However, LA is just about "average or below" in scoring 104.9 PPG (16th) and allowing 106.6 PPG (19th)..

Atlanta: Similar to LA, the Hawks have six players averaging in double digits, led by new starting PG Dennis Schroder (19.7 & 7.1 APG). However, the Hawks rank even lower than the Clippers in both scoring (102.8 PPG which is 22nd) and points allowed (107.8 ranks 24th). The Hawks have been competitive against some of the better teams in the NBA, including an 11-point loss at San Antonio on Monday. Rookie John Collins (11.6 & 7.4) grabbed attention in that one by scoring 21 points and collecting nine rebounds off the bench.

The pick: Atlanta’s last four games have featured a one-point loss, a franchise-record 46-point victory plus close calls against Boston and San Antonio.The Hawks are surely playing better than the Clipps but if LA can't win here, one wonders just how far this team will fall. I'm in on the Clippers and will make them a 10* play.

The set-up: It seems as if no deficit is too large for the Celtics to overcome. Boston has rallied from double-digit deficits for victories in each of its last three contests to keep the team's now 16-game winning streak alive (4th-longest in franchise history). The Celtics trailed by 13 with less than eight minutes to go Monday before storming back for a 110-102 overtime victory at Dallas, as Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 47 points. 16-2 Boston can tie the third-longest streak (1959-60) in franchise history with a win here at AmericanAirlines Arena and hope for a similar effort to the one on Oct. 28 when the Celtics took care of the Heat 96-90 in Miami. The 7-9 Heat have dropped three of their last four after getting crushed 120-95 at home against Indiana on Sunday, a game in which they allowed 60 percent shooting from the floor.

Boston: Irving's been everything and more for Boston, averaging 22.5 & 5.3 APG plus taking over as team-leader. “He’s got every move imaginable, but on top of that he’s one of the best shooters in the league,” head coach Brad Stevens told the Boston Herald. “Everybody gets caught up in the moves and dribbling and everything he can do the ball, but his touch is beautiful with both hands.” Nearing the quarter-pole of the regular season, Irving is making his case as league MVP. Stevens knows a little something about "moves," as he's quickly risen to the top-tier of the NBA coaching ranks. Jaylen Brown is averaging 23.7 points over the last three games to push his season mark to 16.2 PPG, while making 10-of-20 from three-point range. He's showing just why he was drafted 3rd overall in 2016 by Boston.

Miami: The Heat's leading scorer is also the team's PG, Goran Dragic. He's averaging 18.3 & 4.7 APG on the season but just seven points over his past two games, while missing 13 of 19 shots from the floor. Meanwhile backcourt partner Dion Waiters (2nd-best scorer at 15.1 PPG) is coming off an 0-for-10 shooting performance in Sunday's game. To state the obvious, that's bad news when getting set to host Boston. Center Hassan Whiteside continues to put up big numbers (16.2 &13.5) and forward James Johnson is the fourth player averaging in double figures (12.3).

The pick: The Celtics have trailed by double digits in five of their 16 wins, making a habit of playing well "in the clutch.".In stark contrast, Miami has faded down the stretch. The Heat are the worst second-half team in the league so far this season. Miami's first-half FG percentage (51.1) is sixth-best in the league but the Heat's second-half shooting percentage (39.6) is last. Boston is 9-1 SU & ATS on the road, while the Heat are 2-6 SU and 0-6-2 ATS at home. Not a tough call. Make Boston an 8* play.

The set-up: It's an interesting matchup tonight in Johnson City, Tn, as Troy takes on East Tennessee St. Troy won the Sun Belt tourney last season and made the NCAAs, while East Tennessee St. won the Southern Conference and went 'dancing' as well. Troy enters 2-3 and East Tennessee St. at 2-2.

Troy: Head coach Phil Cunningham made quite a splash in his fourth season, as after winning just 11, 10 and 9 games, led the team to 22 wins and an NCAA berth in 2016-17. He returns four starters, including two of the Sun Belt's best players, the 6-6 Jordan Varnado (18.6 & 7.8) plus Wes Person Jr, a guard averaging 17.0 PPG. The team did lose some quality contributors but the one-two punch of Varnado and Person is a good one.

East Tennessee State: Steve Forbes led the Buccaneers to 'the promised land' in just his second season as the team's head coach but unlike Cunningham's Troy team, he lost four starers from last year's team. Four guards average between 7.0 and 12,5 PPG, led by Payne (12.5) and Bradford (11.8-5.8-3.8), who is the lone returning starter. The 7-0 Jurkin (10.0 & 6.7) gives East Tenn. St. the game's best big man.

The pick: East Tennessee St. is the home team but it's my belief that Troy is the better team and proves it here. Make Troy a 10* play.

The set-up: LA rookie Lonzo Ball is in the spotlight every game and his "learning experience" has often been painful (31.3 FG percentage, including 22.8 percent on threes). However, he does come into this home game with the Bulls having produced two triple-doubles in the past five games. Ball had 11 points, a career-best 16 rebounds and 11 assists in Sunday's 127-109 victory over the Denver Nuggets.The Lakers are 7-10 overall and welcome the 3-11 Chicago Bulls to Staples Center on Tuesday, in the NBA's lone contest.

Chicago: The Bulls have their own talented rookie in forward Lauri Markkanen (Arizona), who is averaging 15.6 PPG and 8.0 RPG. However, his early season strong play hasn't prevented Chicago from getting off to a poor start. Markkanen scored a season-best 26 points and also collected 13 rebounds in the team's 113-105 in Phoenix this past Sunday. Five other Bulls are averaging in double digits but Chicago ranks 29th in scoring (95.5 PPG) on 41.4 percent shooting (30th).

LA Lakers: Head coach Luke Walton was impressed with Ball's latest outing. "It's what we've been saying the whole time, even when he's not scoring the ball, he has rebounds, assists and steals," Walton told reporters. "Sixteen is a lot, (but) I'm not totally shocked by it. He's really good down there on the glass." Power forward Julius Randle (12.2 & 6.7) had a superb outing with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the victory over Denver. Kyle Kuzma (a rookie from Utah) leads the Lakers in scoring at 16.5 PPG and also tops the team at seven rebounds per game.

The pick: This game will also features the latest matchup between twin brothers Brook Lopez of the Lakers and Robin Lopez of the Bulls. Robin has never come close to averaging more points than Brook in any of their previous nine seasons in the NBA but Robin has closed the gap significantly this season. Robin comes in averaging 13.3 points after never averaging more than 11.3 for a season, while Brook is averaging 15.4 points, down from his career average of 18.5. The Bulls are a pathetic 1-7 on the road, allowing 109.1 PPG. Meanwhile, a "typical" LA home game averages 217.1 PPG. That makes this a 10* play on the Over.

The set-up: The St. Louis Blues are back from a 2-1-0 swing through western Canada, including a 4-1 win against the Oilers in Edmonton last Thursday. The Blues are back in St. Louis tonight to host those very same Oilers, who lost 6-3 on Saturday in Dallas and will be playing their second game of a five-game road trip. Disappointing Edmonton is 7-11-1 overall, including 3-4-2 on the road. In contrast, the 15-5-1 Blues (7-2-0 on home ice) have 31 points, tops in the West and just one behind New Jersey's NHL-leading 32 points

Edmonton: The Oilers are at the other end of the standings from the streaking Blues with just four regulation wins and 16 points through 20 games, which ranks next to last in the Western Conference. The team's biggest problem has been letting in too many goals (64), the third most in the conference -- and their minus-14 goal differential is the second-worst in the conference. "The goalies have to be better, the defense, the forwards, the coaches have to be better," head coach Todd McLellan told the Edmonton Sun. "None of us have lived up to where we need to be and that's why we're where we are in the standings. "I'm not going to single out the goaltender. It's team-wide."

St. Louis: The Blues will carry the Western Conference's best record into Tuesday game but head coach Mike Yeo has tried to downplay the team's spot atop the standings. "I try not to pay attention to it either," Yeo told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "You know, we talk about staying in the process through the game and it's the same way for the season. If we just keep showing up to the rink and making sure that we're prepared to play and playing good hockey, then we'll like where we're at at the end of the year." After joining his team during its three-game trip through western Canada, two-time All-Star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday after sustaining a fractured left ankle while blocking a shot during training camp. Bouwmeester will be looking to help goalie Jake Allen, who turned aside 29 of 30 shots on Thursday to snap a personal three-game skid to the Oilers.

The pick: Allen may not need too much help, as Edmonton is averaging just 1.89 GPG on the road. Connor McDavid missed Monday's practice with an illness but McLellan wasn't so much concerned with his team's 27th-ranked offense as opposed to its 23rd-ranked defense. "The commitment to coverage. It's beyond goaltending. It's team-wide and it's something we need to fix," McLellan said. "We've addressed it many times. The group is going to have to respond at some point and finally get it." Cam Talbot yielded all four goals to the Blues in the first encounter after permitting that total (on 88 shots) en route to sweeping St. Louis in three meetings last season. As noted, the Blues are 7-2-0 at home so far, outscoring opponents 3.56-to-2.44 GPG. 'The shoe' is on teh other foot thsi season and I'll make teh Blues an 8* play.

The set-up: The latest AP poll came out Tuesday and the 4-0 Minnesota Golden Gophers were ranked No. 14. The Golden Gophers passed a big road test last week at Providence and followed that up by knocking off two opponents at home. Tuesday night, the Gophers welcome Alabama A&M (0-3) to Williams Arena. The Bulldogs are a member of the SWAC and after going 2-27 last season, are expecting no more than a 'pay day' out of this contest.

Alabama A&M: Head coach Donnie Martin is in his first season at Huntsville and surely has nowhere to go but up, taking over a team which had just two wins last season (both in league play). The Bulldogs have averaged just 62.7 PPG (323rd) on 39.2 percent shooting (312th) in opening 0-3. Junior guard Arthur Johnson leads the team in scoring (14.7) and rebounding (6.3), while making 6-of-11 from three-point range. Sophomore guard De’Ederick Petty has chipped in 13.0 PPG and while.freshman guard Amari Goulbourne did not score in his first two collegiate games, he broke out with 17 points and four assists in 36 minutes against Alabama (that's the promise Ala A&M needs). Defensively, the team allows 84.0 PPG (305th) on 50.0 percent shooting (323rd).

Minnesota: When the Big Ten announced its 10-player preseason all-conference team, senior PG Nate Mason and sophomore swingman Amir Coffey represented Minnesota. However, heading into Tuesday's game against Alabama A&M, 6-6 forward Jordan Murphy might have a line on the conference's player of the year award based on his early performances. Murphy averaged 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds last season but is averaging 24.8 & 12.8 this season. That's not to say Mason and Coffey are not contributing. Mason is averaging 14.0-6.2-4.5 and Coffey 14.0 & 4.2. Each of Minny's other two starters are also in double digits, the 6-10 Lynch (12.8 & 8.8 plus 22 blocks!) and guard McBrayer (11.0).

The pick: Pitino's 'ride' at Minnesota has been of the roller coaster variety. A 25-win season in his first year (won NIT!), 18 wins in his second but then just EIGHT in his third. Minnesota bounced back with 25 wins last year (lost in the 1st round of the Big Dance) and now owns a 4-0 start and a top-25 ranking early in this season. It's safe to say that regardless how the Gophers' season plays out, the 2017-18 season will have gone much better for Richard Pitino, than for his dad, Rick. Minnesota is averaging 94.2 PPG and allowing 74.0. Sure, Alabama A&M is here for the 'paycheck' and has just one starter listed over 6-7 but just look at the size of this pointspread. Make Alabama A&M an 8* play.

The set-up: A pair of 2-5 MAC schools will conclude their respective 2017 seasons Tuesday night at Rynearson Stadium when the Eastern Michigan Eagles host the Bowling Green Falcons. Bowling Green is hoping to end the year on a positive note after suffering a humiliating 66-37 defeat at the hands of the Toledo Rockets (a bitter rival) as a 17-point home dog in its last contest. The Falcons trailed just 24-21 at the half but were outscored 35-16 over the final two quarters. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan is aiming for back-to-back wins following a 27-24 victory at the Miami (Ohio).

Bowling Green: Mike Jinks' second season at BG is coming to a close and it hasn't been pretty. After going 4-8 SU & ATS in his first season, the Falcons have been even worse in 2017, entering this final game 2-9 SU & ATS. Doing the math, that's 6-17 SU & ATS mark. The Falcons don't have much of an offense (24.8 PPG ranks 92nd) and the defense is dreadful, allowing 38.4 PPG (124th) on 519.5 YPG (127th).

Eastern Michigan: The Eagles, like the Falcons are just 2-5 in MAC play but they have two more wins (4-7, overall) and more importantly, are a money-making 8-3 ATS. EMU's offense is no better than BG's (averaging 25.4 PPG) but on the defensive side of the ball, Eastern Michigan has allowed 22.6 PPG (37th) on 355.7 YPG (32nd).

The pick: Eastern Michigan won 28-25 at Bowling Green in last year's matchup but that was just the Eagles' second win in 13 games since 1990 (both victories were by just three points). Meanwhile, Bowling Green's 11 wins in that span have come by an average margin of 19 PPG. However, the current Bowling Green team makes it impossible to back the Falcons here in 2017. Then again, the Falcons have played way better on offense since freshman Jarrett Doege has taken over. Doege has completed 59 of 91 (64.8%) in his three starts, throwing for 738 yards with nine TD passes and just one INT. BG has averaged 36.3 PPG in that span. However, as noted, EMU's defense is the reason the team is 8-3 ATS. Let me also note that the last six Bowling Green games have averaged 73.0 PPG, with all "going over." Enough already! I say play UNDER and make it a 10*.

The set-up: The Atlanta Falcons an are defending NFC champions but at 5-4 while playing in the NFC South with the 8-2 Saints and 7-3 Panthers, this MNF game at CenturyLink Field. in Seattle against the Seahawks is starting to look like a "must-win" contest. The Seahawks come in 6-3 and with the Rams losing at Minnesota on Sunday to fall to 7-3, Seattle can move back into a tie with LA for first-place in the NFC West. A Seattle loss would leave them at 6-4, tied with the Falcons and Lions for the NFC's final wild card spot (tie-breakers would decide 'the winner!'). Boston line is, this is an important game for all involved.

Atlanta: The Falcons hope to build off their 27-7 Week 10 win over the Cowboys. Matt Ryan was the league's MVP in 2016 (69.9% / 4,944 yards / 38-7 ratio / 117.1 QB Rating) but has been nowhere-near that good in 2017. He's completing 66.5% with a 13-8 ratio and a QB rating of 93.9. WR Julio Jones is also off his production of the last few seasons (has one TD catch!) and is battling ankle injuries. RB Devonta Freeman (515 YR / 4.4 YPC / 5 TDs) sustained a concussion against the Cowboys and is expected to miss here. However, backup Tevin Coleman rushed for a season-high 83 yards after Freeman was injured early last week (399 YR / 4.8 YPC on the season). Atlanta (21.9 PPG ranks 16th) is averaging a dozen points fewer than last season's league-leading average of 33.8 and had failed to score more than 17 in its last four losses before posting its highest point total since Week 3. Rayn and the passing offense ranks 11th overall with 251.6 YPG through the air. the defense checks in allowing 19.9 PPG (11th) on 311.9 YPG (8th).

Seattle: The Seahawks come in winners of five of their last six and surely will be seeking some revenge for last year's. Russell Wilson is completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 2,543 yards with 19 TDs and just six INTs. Wilson has two or more TD passes in six of his last seven games and has carried the offense, which is averaging 23.4 PPG (12th. Doug Baldwin has a team-high 54 catches while TE Jimmy Graham (39 catches) has six TDs in the past five games. RB Eddie Lacy is expected to return after sitting out one week with a groin injury but the ground game has been ineffective since rookie Chris Carson was lost for the season. Seattle enters averaging 100.7 YPG (23rd). On defense, Seattle lost Richard Sherman for the rest of the 2017 season in the team's last game vs. Arizona. This is the second time in back-to-back seasons the Seahawks have lost a member of the Legion of Boom for the year with an injury. Last year, safety Earl Thomas was shelved after breaking a leg in December. The defense never recovered. The 2017 version of the Legion of Boom allows 18.3 PPG (6th) on 318.9 YPG (10th).

the pick: The Seahawks lost last year in Atlanta 36-20 in the Divisional Round and with the team's D less than 100%, will likely need to score to win this all-important game tonight. Ryan has become the fastest quarterback to 40,000 yards passing in league history and as noted above, Russell Wilson has been carrying the Seattle offense for most of the season. Expect a shoot-out between these two QBs. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The Memphis Grizzlies earned a 98-97 win in Portland on Nov. 7 to reach 7-4 but have surrendered an average of 110.5 PPG in losing four in a row (0-4 ATS) to fall under .500 at 7-8. The Grizz will welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to Memphis Monday night in hopes of snapping their current slide. However, the Blazers are moving in the opposite direction of the Grizzlies, having won three of four to move to 9-7 on the season. Then again, the Blazers, who will play their next five games on the road, have lost three in a row away from home with their last road victory coming way back on Oct. 20 when they bested Indiana 114-96 in just their second game of the season.

Portland: The Blazers scored a season low in an 86-82 loss at Sacramento on Friday but returned the favor with a 102-90 triumph at home over the Kings the next night. “I liked our demeanor,” Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts told reporters after the win. “After being disappointed last night and struggling with the offense, to come back and the way we set the tone — I think our first five baskets were assisted — I thought that set a good tone for the rest of the night." The offense has been led all season by guards Lillard (25.6-5.4-6.4) and McCollum (22.5) plus 7-0 center Nurkic (14.6 & 7.2). That said, Portland's real improvement so far this season has come defensively, with the Blazers allowing just 97.5 PPG (2nd) on 43.1 percent shooting (3rd).

Memphis: The Grizzlies were solid defensively at home against Houston on Saturday, holding one of the league's top scoring offenses to 44.9 percent shooting (Grizzlies allow 101.3 PPG to rank 7th) but could not figure out a way to get anything done at the other end in a 105-83 loss. "We couldn’t get organized in the basic sets that we run, for whatever reason," Grizzlies coach David Fizdale told reporters. "I know a couple of the guys that are just getting back are running around with their heads cut off a little bit. We just couldn’t get organized." Memphis is searching for a leader on the court with PG Mike Conley (Achilles) out until at least next month. Center Mark Gasol leads in scoring (19.7) and rebounding )9.3) but without Conley's 17.1 PPG, only swingman Evans (17.7 & 5,4) is averaging in double digits, Mario Chalmers, who missed all of last season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon he sustained in March 2016 started at PG on Saturday and had only six points.The Grizzlies are averaging only 100.7 PPG, which ranks 25th.

The pick: Without Conley, Memphis too limited offensively and as noted above, after allowing108.5 PPG last season, the Blazers are allowing just 97.5 PPG so far this season, an 11.0 PPG improvement (that's a BIG deal!). Make Portland a 10* play.

The set-up: The New Jersey Devils opened 9-2-0 but tonight in Minnesota, hope to avoid a third straight loss when they conclude their four-game road trip. New Jersey began its trip with a 7-5 triumph in Chicago but was shut out in an overtime loss at Toronto on Thursday and dropped a 5-2 decision in Winnipeg two days later. The setback against the Jets was just the second regulation loss on the road this season for the Devils but the fourth overall defeat in their last five away from home (1-2-2). The 9-8-2 Minnesota Wild are seeking a third consecutive home victory, as they come off a 3-1 loss at Washington on Saturday.

New Jersey: The Devils are just 2-3-3 since that 9-2-0 start but the team's 25 points still leave them in a tie atop the Metropolitan division with Columbus and Pittsburgh (check out the standings, this is one tough division!). Rookies Nico Hischier and defenseman Will Butcher are tied for second on the team with 15 points apiece but they have combined for only four goals. Brian Gibbons owns a team-leading nine goals on the season.

Minnesota: Nino Niederreiter netted the lone tally for the Wild in their loss at Washington, extending his goal-scoring streak to three games and his point run to five contests (points on the season). Jason Zucker's string of consecutive contests with a goal ended at five in the setback but the 25-year-old leads the team with 11 goals in 19 games and is halfway toward matching the career high he set in 79 contests last season. Eric Staal leads the team with 17 points and has collected nine points over his last seven games.

The pick: New Jersey Devils goalie Corey Schneider has played in plenty of road games against the Minnesota Wild but very rarely under ideal conditions. When Schneider was backing up Roberto Luongo in Vancouver (early in his career), Luongo seemingly would always struggle in Minnesota, Schneider would usually come into the game sometime in the second period in relief, when the Wild had already built a big lead. Now he's the Devils' "main man," entering with a 7-4-2 record (2.88 GAA & .911 SP). Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk (8-6-1, 2.48 GAA & .922) has not yet rounded into last year's form (40 wins). Will he? New Jersey is 7-3 to the over on the road so far and I'm making the Over an 8* play in this one.

The set-up: LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were arrested more than a week ago on suspicion of stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store while their team was in the Chinese city of Hangzhou. They did not accompany the team on the trip home but were released later. UCLA finally started to resemble the type of team it hoped to be this season, pulling away in the secsond half of Friday’s 96-68 victory over South Carolina State, after owning just a six-point halftime advantage. This coming after a pair of narrow victories over Ga. Tech and Central Arkansa The No. 23 Bruins play Creighton in Kansas City on Monday in the Hall of Fame Classic. The Blue Jays are off to a strong start and enter the week off an upset of No. 20 Northwestern on Wednesday, 92-88. Creighton is 3-0.

UCLA: Freshmen Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes fueled the second-half surge against South Carolina State. “It was really helpful to us to get that momentum,” Hands told the media after scoring a team-leading 22 points, combining with Wilkes to score 17 of the Bruins’ first 19 points after halftime. The 6-8 Wilkes (17.3 & 7.3) and 6-3 guard Hands (15.3-4.7-37) lead the team in scoring, while junior PG Holiday (14.3 & 5.3 APG) plus 7-0 senior Welsh (13.0 & 11.1) join them in double digits.have. Another freshman, the 6-9 Chris Smith, scored a season-high 15 points in just 21 minutes against South Carolina State.

Creighton: The Blue Jays won 25 games last season and eback in the "Big Dance" after a two-year absence. However, after a 17-1 start, Creighton went a modest 8-9 the rest of the way, including a first-round loss in the NCAAs. Three starters return and the junior guard Khyri Thomas scored a career-high 24 points to go with 11 rebounds as Creighton blew an early 15-point lead, but maintained its composure to pull off the road upset at Northwestern. “Our guys fought,” Thomas told reporters. “That’s what we preach. Just fight, be tough and be the better man.” Martin Krampelj, a 6-9 sophomore who averaged just 2.8 & 2.2 LY, added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. All-Big East first-team pick Marcus Foster leads the Blue Jays in scoring at 19.3 points per game, and is the first Creighton player since 1970 to score 23 or more points in the first two games of a season. Freshmen Ty-Shon Alexander and Mitch Ballock combined for 20 points against Northwestern.

The pick: These are two undefeated and high-scoring teams which will square off in the first semifinal game of the 2017 CBE Hall of Fame Classic Monday night at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Bruins are averaging 88.3 PPG, while the Blue Jays average 97.7 PPG. Kansas City is not exactly a neutral floor but it's also not CenturyLink Center in Creighton. The Bruins seemed to "come together" against SC State in the second half and now should be ready to take the next step, a pointspread uin after opening 0-3 ATS. Make UCLA a 10* play.

The set-up: In the midst of Jerry Jones' feud with Roger Goodell, Week 11's SNF game will be played at AT&T Stadium ("Jerry's House") between the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles and the 5-4 Dallas Cowboys. Philly's lone loss came back in Week 2 (at KC), so coming off a bye week, the Eagles enter on a seven-game winning streak (6-1 ATS). The Eagles have essentially 'put away' all teams in the NFC East except the Cowboys but a win here in Dallas would all but eliminate any chance the Cowboys would have of challenging Philly for the division title.

Philadelphia: Second-year QB Carson Wentz has quickly developed into "the real deal" in his sophomore season. He's completing 60.5 percent for 2,262 yards with 23 TDs and just five INTs, giving him a 104.1 QB rating. LeGarrette Blount is the leading Eagles rusher with 504 yards but the Eagles made a trade deadline deal with the Dolphins to acquire Jay Ajayi. He ran for 77 yards (on just eight carries) in his first game with Philly and note that he ran for 1,272 yards on 4.9 YPC and eight TDs in 2016 for Miami. Philly's ground game is averaging 136.8 YPG (4th) but it will be better with the addition of Ajayi, if for no other reason than the Eagles now have two No. 1-quality RBs in case of injury. TE Zach Ertz aims to return from a two-game absence due to an ailing hamstring and pick up where he left off. Ertz leads all NFC tight ends in receptions (43), yards (528) and TDs (six) this season. Off-season acquisition WR Jeffrey is also coming into his own with 34 catches (14.7 YPC) and five TD grabs. Philly's offense ranks second in scoring (31.4 PPG) and the defense has more than held its own, allowing 19.9 PPG (11th) on 315.9 YPG (10th).

Dallas: The irreplaceable Ezekiel Elliott finally began serving his 6-game suspension (five games left) last week in Atlanta. However, Elliott's absence was not the reason Dak Prescott was sacked eight times by Atlanta's D, including an amazing six solo sacks by DE Adrian Clayborn. The Cowboys ran for 107 yards (5.1 YPC) but Dak threw for just 176 yards. Throw in the lost yardage from all the sacks, and the Cowboys had just 233 yards for the game, while scoring seven points. Prescott has thrown for 1,994 yards with 16 TDs and just four INTs (no "sophomore jinx" here) but the team can't replace Elliott's 783 rushing yards and seven scores. Dez Bryant is tops in receiving for the Cowboys with 478 yards and four TDs on 42 catches. However, he's been slowed by an ailing knee which has limited him to just 39 yards receiving in two of his last three games. The Dallas D is middle-of-the-pack, allowing 22.8 PPG (17th) on 325.9 YPG (15th).

The pick: I just don't see Dallas slowing Wentz and Co, as the Cowboys' pass D allows 66.6% completions and has only five INTs (on 323 pass attempts), while allowing 16 TD passes. Philly's running was among the best in the NFL and it's now added Ajayi. These are desperate times for Dallas' playoff hopes and the Cowboys won't go down without a fight. However, they'll have to score to win this one. Make the Over an 8* play.

The set-up: Detroit has won two in a row after a 3-1 triumph against Buffalo on Friday and boast at least one point in seven of their last nine contests (6-2-1), having turned things around after a six-game losing streak from Oct. 16-26. The Red Wings are 10-8-2 as they welcome the Colorado Avalanche to the team's new downtown home, Little Caesars Arena. The Avalanche are coming off a 5-2 loss at Nashville but with their 9-8-1 start, have put last year's 22-56-4 season (just 48 points) in the rear-view mirror.

Colorado: The Avs had gone 9-for-26 on the power play over the previous seven games but went scoreless on seven opportunities against the Predators. “There’s a reason why they went to the Stanley Cup final last year,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog told reporters. “If we score on the power play in the first period to take the lead I think it would have been a different game. … Just a missed opportunity there - basically the whole first period we had a man-advantage and just didn’t capitalize.” Colorado's top line of Landeskog (team-high eight goals), Nathan MacKinnon (team-best 20 points) and Mikko Rantanen had been red hot lately but were kept off the scoresheet by Nashville.

Detroit: The Red Wings are getting strong goal-tending and have improved on the power play (8-for-20, last seven games) as they prepare to face Colorado. Dylan Larkin has notched two goals and a pair of assists in the last two games to tie Anthony Mantha for the team lead in points with 19 while defenseman Mike Green boasts 17 points after recording four assists in the last four contests. Goalie Jimmy Howard continues to string together solid performances, allowing eight goals over his last five games (3-1-1).

The pick: The Avalanche have played much better this year but they are still struggling on the road, going 3-7-0, while averaging only 2.40 GPG. The Red Wings have had little trouble with the Avs recently, having earned at least one point in 10 of the last 11 meetings. Colorado's road woes combined with Jimmy Howard's strong play recently in goal set up a 10* play on the under..

The set-up: The Indiana Pacers are just 8-8 and the Miami Heat only 7-8 as the two teams get set to meet this afternoon at American Airlines Arena in Miami. However, both are coming off impressive wins on Friday night. Indiana overcame a 22-point deficit in a 107-100 home win over the red-hot Detroit Pistons, while Miami built a 25-point lead at Washington before holding on for a 91-88 victory. The Heat welcome the Pacers to town, having won six straight home games against Indiana, including picking up their first win of the season at home against the Pacers back on Oct. 21.

Indiana: The Pacers outscored the Pistons 36-19 in the fourth quarter, making 6 of 7 three-pointers. SG Victor Oladipo,who leads Indiana in scoring at 23.1 PPG, posted 21 points (despite by going 6-for-19 from the floor) plus added a career-high 15 rebounds with four assists, one steal and one block in a stellar 39-minute, all-around effort. Lance Stephenson (6.6 & 4.40) scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter Friday and chipped in eight rebounds and two assists in 18 quality minutes. Behind Oladipo, the Pacers have five players chipping in between 13.0 and 13.6 PPG. Indiana averages 108.4 PPG (9th) but also allows 108.8 PPG, which ranks 25th.

Miami: The Heat looked bad down the stretch against the Wizards, nearly coughing up a 25-point lead in Friday's win. However, they held Washington's star PG John Wall to just eight points. "Our defense is tighter, and our penetrators are getting in the paint," said Heat center Hassan Whiteside when asked by Sun Sports for the key to the victory that snapped a two-game losing streak. "We are not settling for jump shots." Whiteside (16.3 & 14.1) was huge for Miami, posting his seventh double-double in just 10 games this season, going for 22 points (made 10 of 12 shots from the floor) with 16 rebounds and two blocks. Forward James Johnson (12.4 & 5.5) scored 20 points off the bench plus swingman Justise Winslow (6.8 & 5.3) had 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals in just 18 minutes. Miami's starting guards have led the way all season, with PG Dragic averaging 19.0-4.2-4.7 and SG Waiters adding 16.3 PPG. Miami has not scored well (100.6 PPG ranks 26th) but has defended well, allowing 102.0 PPG (8th).

The pick: Miami has won six straight meetings at home, including that Oct. 21 meeting this year. In that one, Miami was cruising with a 21-point lead with just 16 1/2 minutes to play, but the Pacers wouldn’t go away. Indiana closed to within just two points with 12 seconds left, before Miami won 122-118. It's true that the Heat are 0-5-2 ATS at home so far but they shot 51.7% in their last game against the Pacers and this time around, won't blow a big lead. Make Miami a 10* play.

The Dayton Flyers and the Old Dominion Monarchs face off in final round tournament action at the Gildan Charleston Classic. Both teams lost their first game but ODU will look to finish the tournament on a high note after improving to 3-1 on the year with a 62-44 win over Indiana State and Dayton hopes to do the same, after defeating Ohio 79-65 in moving to 2-1. Dayton is off a 24-win season and lost four senior starters off that team plus head coach Archie Miller left to take the Indiana job. ODU is off a 19-12 season and in his fifth season at ODU, head coach Jeff Jones returns three starters.

Old Dominion: PG Caver (11.5 & 4.5 APG) led the team with 22 points on 5 of 12 shooting with three triples and a 9 for 11 mark from the foul line in addition to handing out a team-high six assists in the win over Indiana St.and 3 steals. The 6-10 Trey Porter (11.8 & 6.5) added 16 points (on 6 of 9 from the floor). Jones has a pair of Stith brothers as well, as guard B.J. leads the team in scoring at 12.2 PPG with his 6-7 older brother Brandan adding 7.2 & 5.8 PPG.

Dayton: Miller's loss is not all that huge as Anthony Grant takes over (was an assistant under Billy Donovan at Florida and then at OKC in the NBA) plus led VCU and Alabama to NCAA tourney wins as a head coach. The loos of four senior starters can't be dismissed but the lone returning starter, guard Darrell Davis, has come out averaging 20.3 PPG. The 6-7 Cunningham, who missed most of LY with an injury, looks healthy while averaging 15.7 & 9.3 plus the 6-8 Williams (10.0 & 6.3) adds size to a formidable frontcourt.

The Monarchs were a disappointment last season (19 wins and no postseason tourney), coming off seasons of 27 and 25 wins. However, I'm not sure this year's team will be much better. ODU ranked 331st in effective FG percentage last season and averaged just 64.5 PPG. In four games so far this season, ODU is averaging 63.2 PPG (322nd) on 40.0% shooting (293rd). Make Dayton a 10* play.

The set-up: The Raiders were 12-4 last season and after opening 2-0 in 2017, were being touted as "the real deal," a genuine AFC title contender. In contrast the defending champs stumbled to a 2-2 start and alarmingly, had allowed an average of 32.0 PPG. That's on the heels of New England allowing an NFL-low 15.6 PPG in 2016. However, as the two teams get set to meet in this Week 11 game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the Raiders check in at just 4-5, while the Pats are 7-2, having once-again reminded all just why the Brady and Belichick combo has won five Super Bowl titles together.

New England: Brady has been dominant ever since a poor Week 1 effort, entering this contest having completed 67.3 percent of his passes with 19 TDs, just two INTs (in 343 pass attempts) to earn a QB rating of 108.3 (the Pats rank first with 301.6 YPG through the air and 4th in scoring at 28.6 PPG). Brady would like more help from a running game that averages just 109.7 YPG (16th) but as always, he seems to "make do." However, what Brady really appreciates is the defense's return to form. The naysayers were out in full force saying that while Belichick may be a genius, he could not get the team's awful defense turned around with just a snap of his fingers. Well, I'm not sure what he did but numbers don't lie. During the Pats' five-game winning streak, the team's D has held opponents to 13.4 PPG!

Oakland: The Raiders promptly lost four in a row after that 2-0 start and while they enter this game having won two of three, the wins have come by one point over KC (winning TD on the game's final play) and by three points over a Miami team which is on a three-game slide getting outscored 112-to-45! Carr's injured back cost him one full game but after a three-game stretch in which he averaged 144 yards passing, he has aired it out over the past three games, throwing for 1,030 yards with five TDs and three INTs. Marshawn Lynch, whose last game against New England ended with a rush to the one-yard line in Super Bowl XLIX, returned from a one-game suspension to rush for 57 yards and two TDs in a 27-24 win at Miami. However, he's been a bust, with just 323 yards on the season (3.8 YPC), including three games in which he hasn't run for as much as 20 yards! Defensively, the Raiders are allowing 23.8 PPG (22nd) and not only are they tied for last in sacks (13), they have yet to record an interception in 288 pass attempts against them. Are you kidding?

The pick: Sometimes, we can over-think things. I will try NOT to make that mistake here. Brady is playing like he's 30-years-old and in 343 pass attempts, he's been picked off twice. He will face an Oakland pass D in this game which is allowing a league-high 71.2% completion, while allowing 14 TDs without a single INT in 288 pass attempts. Opposing QBs have a 110.5 rating against Oakland, the highest in the NFL. Add in that Oakland's pass rush has an NFL-low 13 sacks and just how does anyone expect the Raiders to stop Brady? Can they outscore him? Why? After all, New England is allowing 13.4 PPG during its five-game winning streak. One last thing. This is a neutral-site game but how does it hurt that the Pats went 8-0 SU on the road last season and are 4-0 this season, outscoring opponents 30.0-to-16.8 PPG! Lay the points and make the Pats a 10* play.

The set-up: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins were supposed to open the 2017 season in Week 1 but Hurricane Irma had other ideas. Ironically enough, both teams were scheduled for a Week 11 bye week, so here we are. The Bucs and Dolphins will meet Sunday in Miami Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, although both teams' seasons are just about 'toast.' The Bucs opened 2-1 but then lost five in a row, before finally ending their slide with 15-10 win over the Jets last Sunday (Bucs are currently just 3-6 in the 'tougher than nails' NFC South). As for the Dolphins, a 4-2 start now seems 'light-years' away after Miami has not just lost three straight (falling to 4-5 in a division with the 7-2 Pats), but the Dolphins have been dominated in all three losses, getting outscored 112-45!

Tampa Bay: QB Jameis Winston sat out last week's win with shoulder issues, replaced by veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, who passed for 187 yards with one TD and one interception. RB Martin is back from his suspension but has averaged only 50.8 YPG rushing in his six games. Tampa Bay averages only 82.8 YPG on the ground (28th) on the season. The Bucs are averaging only 19.2 PPG on the season, ranking 22nd. The defense is also worse than average, allowing 23.1 PPG (20th) on 376.3 YPG (27th).

Miami: The Dolphins' defense has been ripped for 112 points in the team's three-game slide (37.3 PPG) but through the team's nine games, Miami's offense ranks dead-last (32nd) in scoring at 15.2 PPG. Cutler has not been the answer at QB, as Miami ranks 29th in passing YPG at 194.9 YPG. With the trade of RB Ajayi at the end of October, 64 percent on Miami's rushing offense is now in Philadelphia. Kenyan Drake has run for 176 yards the last two weeks (taking over for Ajayi) but Miami enters averaging 80.1 YPG on the ground, which ranks 30th. Is it good or bad news that Drake accounted for Miami' first rushing TD of the 2017 season last Sunday? Hard to believe but true.

The pick: Ryan Fitzpatrick is not a full-time starter but "in relief," he's more than serviceable. Currently, he is not a drop-off from Winston, whose confidence had eroded even before his shoulder injury. Miami's defense is now as bad as it's defense. Make Tampa Bay an 8* play.

The set-up: The Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants were both playoff teams in 2016 but when the Chiefs visit MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Chiefs come in with an AFC West-leading record of 6-3, while the Giants take the field an abysmal 1-8. However, let's also note that the Chiefs come into this contest just 1-3 after opening 2017 at 5-0. Then again, most feel as if the Giants hit rock bottom last Sunday, falling to the then 0-9 Niners by the score of 31-21!

Kansas City: Alex Smith's "career season" continues, as he enters having completed 69.6 percent with 18 TDs and just one INT in 293 pass attempts (QB rating is 113.9). Rookie RB Hunt has cooled off but he comes into the team's 10th game with 800 yards rushing (5.2 YPC) and four TDs, along with 32 catches for another two TDs. TE Kelce (51 catches / 5 TDs) and WR Hill (40 catches / 4 TDs), are also quality contributors. Maybe KC would have a win or two more if the team's defense wasn't giving up 3903.YPG, which ranks 30th. That said, KC does rank better in points allowed, at 23.1 PPG which ranks 19th.

NY Giants: The Giants season began poorly and it's never gotten better. Eli may be making his 209th consecutive start at QB in this one but it sure feels like his time as the Giants' No. 1 QB is coming to end. Losing OBJ and Marshall to injury surely didn't help, nor has the fact that the Giants have almost no running game, averaging 89.8 YPG (25th). Eli's numbers aren't awful (64.6% with 14 TDs and 6 INTs), especially considering the circumstances but the bottom line is the bottom line. The Giants are scoring only 16.7 PPG, which ranks 29th. Defensively, after allowing an NFC-best 17.6 PPG, the Giants have allowed 26.4 PPG to rank 28th in the NFL.

The pick: The Chiefs should play well coming out of their bye week (Reid-coached teams are 16-2 in games following a week off!) but KC has looked like a different team since that 5-0 start. Smith is still not turning the ball over but Hunt seems to have "hit a wall,' averaging only 47.8 YPG rushing in the team's 1-3 run. The Giants have yet to score more than 24 points in any game in 2017 and after last week's loss to the 49ers, seem like a 'lost' team. Make the Under an 8* play.

The set-up: The Utah Utes lost to the Washington State Cougars 33-25 last Saturday, falling to 5-5, including 2-5 Pac-12 South. The Utes will travel to Husky Stadium in Seattle to take on the 8-2 Washington Huskies (5-2 Pac-12 North). Washington is No. 16 in the latest AP poll but 18th in the CFP rankings, behind No. 11 USC and No. 14 Washington State of the Pac-12. Washington lost a week ago Friday 30-22 at the Stanford Cardinal 30-22. Washington’s usually strong defense couldn't contain Bryce Love and the Stanford rushing attack, as Love rushed for 166 yards and three TDs.

Utah: The Utes had no answers for the Washington State QB Luke Falk, who passed for 311 yards and three TDs. Utah QB Tyler Huntley completed 21 of 39 passes for 305 yards and a TD but with three INTs. Huntley (13 TDs / 9 INTs) is streaky and as noted, was picked off three times in the loss to Washington State, one week after throwing four TD passes. Utah averages 29.0 PPG (65th) and allows 24.1 PPG (45th).

Washington: QB Jake Browning has completed 68.4% for 2,097 yards with 16 TDs and five INTs. He is far off his pace of 2016, when he threw for 3,430 yards with 47 TDs and nine INTs. In fact, Browning has failed to throw a TD pass in three of his past four games. RB Myles Gaskin has run for 1,038 yards (6.3 YPC) and 13 TDs. Washington averages 36.9 PPG (21st) but the team thrives on its defense, The Huskies are allowing just 13.0 PPG (2nd) on 258.5 YPG (4th).

The pick: Utah comes in having lost five of its last six games and Washington has won nine of the previous 10 meetings between the two schools. What's more, Washington is 11-1 SU at home since the start of 2016, including 5-0 SU & 4-1 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents 46.2-to-11.2 PPG. Lay the points and make Washington an 8* play.

The set-up: Mark Cuban decided to bypass Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013 draft as a means to protect salary cap space in an effort to go after then-free agent Dwight Howard. Dallas traded down and eventually drafted guard Shane Larkin. And so it goes. The 8-6 Milwaukee Bucks are sure glad they have Antetokounmpo, who has been the talk of the league in the early going of the 2017-18 season. Cuban and his NBA-worst Mavericks (2-14 SU & 4-12 ATS) will get a front-row view of the "Greek Freak" when the Bucks visit American Airlines Center in Dallas tonight.

Milwaukee: The Bucks arrive in Dallas on a season-best four-game winning streak. Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.6-10.0-4.6 on the season and has topped 20 points in 13 of 14 games this year. It's also worth mentioning that Milwaukee hasn't lost since PG Eric Bledsoe joined the team. He is averaging 13.3 PPG, despite shooting a 36.7 percent, including a woeful 3-of-18 from three-point range. A healthy Middleton is averaging 18.4 PPG and last year's ROY Brodgdon is averaging 14.8 & 4.0. Milwaukee is shooting well (48.2% ranks 3rd) but not scoring enough (103.9 PPG ranks 20th).

Dallas: The Mavs are a mess and going nowhere. Dallas suffered a disappointing 111-87 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday as it built a 12-point halftime lead before being drubbed 68-32 in the second half. The Mavericks are an NBA-worst 1-8 at home and Friday's scoring output was their lowest of the campaign. The Mavs badly need a victory after losing four straight and 10 of their last 11 contests. However, are they already running out of time to turn the season around? Rookie PG Dennis Smith has shown flashes of the type of player he might become, averaging 15.2-4.2-4.6. However, the aging Dirk Nowitzki is averaging just 10.5 PPG and the Mavs are struggling to keep up offensively. Dallas is scoring 98.2 PPG (28th) on 42.0 percent shooting (29th).

The pick: Bledsoe will get his shooting touch straightened out but for know, the Bucks have said his energy has helped spark his teammates. The Mavericks have excelled against the Bucks in recent seasons by winning eight of the last nine meetings and the Bucks have dropped their last four games in Dallas (most recent victory occurring Feb. 26, 2013). However, that was then and this is now! Make Milwaukee a 10* play.

The set-up: The 7-3 Arizona Wildcats will travel to Autzen Stadium in Eugene to meet the 5-5 Oregon Ducks this Saturday in Pac-12 action. Arizona beat Oregon State 49-28 at home last Saturday, improving to 5-2 in the Pac-12 South. It's been quite a bounce-back season for Rich-Rod's Wildcats, who were just 3-9 in 2016, including 1-8 in league play. Oregon is coming off a bye last Saturday, having lost badly in its last outing, 38-3 at Washington on Nov. 4th. The 5-5 Ducks are coming off a 4-8 season last year but a win here would make the bowl-eligible.

Arizona: The Wildcats amassed an outstanding 534 yards rushing against the Beavers (a school recrod!), led QB Khalil Tate who rushed for 206 yards and 2 TD’s on just 16 carries. Tate has been an unstoppable force on the ground since taking over QB duties for the Wildcats. He has completed 61.9% of his passes with eight TDs and four INTs and averages just 124.8 YPG through the air. However, he's rushed for 1,293 yards on an incredible 11.6 YPC with 11 TDs. Arizona is now averaging (due to Tate) 348.2 YPG on the ground (3rd-best in the nation) and 44.4 PPG (also 3rd-best). Defensively, the Wildcats are allowing 31.9 PPG (99th).

Oregon: The Ducks also depend on their running game, especially with No. 1 QB Justin Herbert still sidelined with a collarbone injury. RB Royce Freeman is a stud who has 1,218 rushing yards (5.9 YPC) and 10 TDs. He leads a ground game averaging 255.2 YPG (11th). The Ducks average 32.3 PPG (40th) but also allow 30.1 PPG (89th). Here's the rub. The Ducks averaged 49.6 points in their first five games (4-1) but have been stuck in neutral without Herbert, averaging 15 points and going 1-4 with freshman Braxton Burmeister under center.

The pick: Obviously, I'm hoping Herbert will be cleared to play but either way, I'm backing the Ducks. Oregon's defense is allowing just 129.0 YPG on the ground, which is Arizona's strength with Tate. Oregon ranks 25th nationally in rushing yards allowed, which is 2nd-best in the Pac-12. Make Oregon an 8* play.

The set-up: Notre Dame's CFP hopes were likely dashed when the team lost last Saturday night in Miami, 41-8 to the Hurricanes. The 8-2 Fighting Irish (now No.9 in the CFP rankings) will try to pick up the pieces this Saturday afternoon, when they welcome the Navy Midshipmen to South Bend. Navy ended a two-game slide with last Saturday's 43-40 win over SMU, although once again the Midshipmen struggled with inconsistency. Against SMU, Navy coughed up a 34-11 halftime before winning on a FG on the game's final play. Navy payed in last year's AAC championship game but this year's team is a more modest 6-3 overall, including just 4-3 in the AAC West.

Navy: The Midshipmen won the yardage battle 559-426 with EVERY yard coming on the ground. QB Malcolm Perry threw just ONE pass and it was intercepted. However, Perry ran for 282 yards and four TDs. RB Anthony Gargiulo ran for 145 yards and a TD but Navy did little or nothing in the second half. Perry adds more speed than Abey and showed it off last Saturday. However, Perry injured his ankle toward the end of the win and could find himself back on the sidelines this weekend. Navy is still shuffling through its QB options. "Zach will definitely be back in the mix and I'll turn this back over to (quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper)," Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo told reporters. "We'll have to discuss it as a staff and see where we're at. We have to find out Malcolm's health and Zach's health." Regardless of the QB, Navy ranks first in the nation at 369.8 YPG on the ground.

Notre Dame: The Irish rank 6th in rushing (303.2 YPG) bu had just 109 rushing yards vs. Miami. Josh Adams (1,231 YR / 8.0 YPC / 10 TDs) totaled 40 yards on 16 carries. QB Brandon Wimbush completed only 10-of-21 for 119 yards and a touchdown but threw a pair of interceptions, including a 65-yard "pick six." He was also was limited to 24 yards rushing and a lost fumble on 11 carries. Ian Book was no relief, as he connected on 3 of 6 for 33 yards and another interception. Both were overwhelmed by the situation. However, we know Navy's D in no way resembles Miami's. The offense comes in averaging 38.0 PPG (15th) but the defense allows just 20.7 PPG (30th).

The pick: Let's repeat: Navy leads all FBS teams in rushing yards per game (369.8) while Notre Dame ranks sixth (303.2). The clock will be running all game in this one. Navy's win last Saturday to become bowl eligible for the 14th time in the last 15 seasons. With that accomplished, Navy hopes to add a "signature win." Notre Dame can't help but be somewhat flat after the 'Canes 'killed' its Final 4 hopes and don't forget, "the clock will be running all game!" Make the Under an 8* play.

The set-up: The New Jersey Devils were 28-40-14 last season and the team's 70 points were the fewest of any Eastern Conference team. The Winnipeg Jets had a much better season at 40-35-7 but their 87 points still left them on the outside looking-in on the postseason. However, as these two teams get to meet Saturday afternoon at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, both have identical 11-4-3 records, good enough for 25 points. the Devils actually lead the East' Metropolitan Division, while the Jets are in second-place in the West's Central Division. What a difference a year makes!

New Jersey: The Devils' record sure looks good but Thursday's 1-0 OT at Toronto was the team's fifth loss in its last seven games (2-2-3). Goalie Corey Schneider made 24 saves for New Jersey before allowing the game winner against the Maple Leafs in OT. “I thought we played well,” Schneider told reporters afterward. “It stinks to lose and only get one point after you have an effort like that.” Schneider has given up three goals or less in six of his past seven starts but is just 3-2-2 in that span. The Devils finished 0-for-3 on the power play Thursday and are 3-for-19 in November.

Winnipeg: The Jets earned at least one point for the 11th time in the past 12 games, rallying from a 2-0 deficit in a 3-2 home shootout victory over the Flyer on Thursday.That makes them 5-0-1 over their past six home games. “That’s a good sign of maturity, but we have to play better,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler told the media after the game. Connor Hellebuyck earns his third consecutive start in goal after making 30 saves Thursday, recovering from two first-period goals to raise his record to 10-1-2 on the season with a 2.29 GAA and .930 SP. Forward Mathieu Perreault scored a power-play goal in his return Thursday after missing 12 games with a lower-body injury. Wheeler entered Friday second in the NHL in assists (19) and tied for sixth in points (24) after assisting on Mark Scheifele's (11 goals and 11 assists) game-tying tally.

The pick: The 'wheels are starting to come off' for the Devils, while the Jets are streaking (earning at least one point in 11 of their last 12 games). Bell MTS Place has been good to Winnipeg lately (5-0-1) and I'll make the Jets a 10* play in this one.

The set-up: The Harvard Crimson opened with back-to-back home wins but fell 73-69 at Holy Cross when the team's late rally (down 10 in the first half) fell short. The Crimson will visit NYC Saturday afternoon to take on the Manhattan Jaspers, who opened their 2017-18 season by edging St. Francis (NY) 80-79 in overtime.

Harvard: The Crimson are off seasons of 14 and 18 wins (well down from previous Amaker teams) but return four starters, including PG Bryce Aiken. Aiken leads the team at 18.3 PPG (4.0 rebounds & 3.3 assists) plus the 6-7 Towns (16.3 & 6.7) and the 6-9 Lewis (10.0 & 5.3) are also contributing double digit scoring. Big guard Justin Bassey chips in 5.7-6.3-3.0. Holy Cross out-shot Harvard 50.0 to 42.3 percent but the Crimson kept the game close by winning the battle of the boards, 34-19. However, in the end, the Crimson just made too many mistakes, as they had 23 TOs!

Manhattan: The Jaspers are off a lousy 10-22 season but do return four starters, including 6-5 senior Rich Williams, who is back for a fifth season off last year's injury. He had 21 points and six rebounds in the team's opening-game win, joined by three other double-digit scorers. Fellow guard Zavier Turner had 16 points off the bench, although he played 35 minutes. Up front, the 6-8 Crawford had 11 & 5 and the 6-9 Waterman added 10 & 9.

The pick: Manhattan will be much more competitive this season with a healthy Williams but Harvard is the better team with a solid core of experienced players. Make Harvard a 10*

The set-up: Big-12 schools Wets Virginia (22nd) and Texas (23rd) both opened ranked in the AP's preseason poll. The two teams meet at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown on Saturday with the 5-5 (4-3 in Big 12) Texas Longhorns looking to avoid a fourth straight losing season (note: Texas football began back in 1893 and the only time the school has produced four straight losing season was back from 1935 through 1938), while the 7-3 West Virginia Mountaineers are one of three teams at 5-2 in the Big 12 (along with TCU and Oklahoma State), trailing the 6-1 first-place Sooners. Understandably, Texas is unranked, while the Mountainers are 24th in the AP and 25th in the Coaches poll but were left out the CFP rankings.

Texas: The Longhorns entered last Saturday’s home game against lowly Kansas with three losses in their previous four contests but were able to hold off Kansas 42-27, climbing back at .500. QBs Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger both threw TD passes in the game, as Tom Herman just can't decide which QB is his No. 1 guy. Sophomore Buechele is the more polished passer and freshman Ehlinger the bigger threat to run. The Texas offense is down slightly from last season (averaging 29.9 PPG after averaging 31 PPG in 2016) but the defense has made excellent strides. Texas allowed 31.5 PPG on almost 450 YPG last season but has cut that to 21.9 PPG (3rd) on 367.3 YPG (40th).

West Virginia: The Mountaineers have won four of their last five games to reach eight victories for a third straight year. There is no uncertainty at the QB position for West Va, as Will Grier is completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,440 yards with 34 TDs and only 12 INTs. Grier has a trio of outstanding WRs. Jennings (82 catches) and White (51 catches), who both will go over 1,000 yards in receiving yards by year's end plus Sills has 55 catches and an NCAA-high 18 TD receptions. Remember the great line about the NFL's Cris Carter? All he does is catch TDs! The West Va. offense averages 39.0 PPG (12th) but its defense allows 29.2 PPG (82nd) on 436.4 YPG (102nd).

The pick: West Va. head coach Dana Holgorsen has it right. “I’m putting everybody on high alert on this 5-5 thing (with Texas),” Holgorsen said at his weekly Tuesday news conference. “We’re sitting here at 7-3 (overall) with three losses to (top-20-ranked) teams, and they (the Longhorns) aren’t any different. Those guys have lost close games to the likes of Southern Cal, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU, and the last time I checked, those teams are in the top 15, right?” Texas, meanwhile, needs one more win to become bowl-eligible in coach Tom Herman’s first season in Austin, and the new coach also is looking for a signature victory. “We’ve got to win one that we’re not supposed to,” Herman said at his Monday news conference. “I think right now, save for the very first game, we’ve won the ones that we’re supposed to and we haven’t won the ones that people said we weren’t supposed to. So I think that’s got to be the next step.” Texas out-gained West Va. 536-383 in LY’s 24-20 home defeat and how does one overlook Tom Herman's 8-1 ATS mark as an underdog since 2015? Make Texas a 10* play.

The set-up: The 8-7 New Orleans Pelicans are coming off a 125-116 home loss to the Toronto Raptors and now head to the Pepsi Center in Denver to take on the 8-6 Nuggets, who couldn't 'buy a basket' in Monday’s 99-82 loss in Portland against the Trail Blazers. The Pelicans allowed the Raptors to shoot 59.2 percent from the floor plus Toronto went 16-of-34 from three-point range. As for the Nuggets, Denver scored 11 points fewer than their previous low this season Monday in Portland, while shooting just 35.7 percent from the floor.

New Orleans: “The rotations were bad, communication was pretty bad,” New Orleans leading scorer DeMarcus Cousins told reporters after the home loss to the Raptors. “We let guys that are known shooters get wide open shots. That’s on us. We were a bit limited.” however, there was some good news on Wednesday, as PG Rajon Rondo made his first start of the season Wednesday in his second appearance since returning from core muscle surgery in the preseason. He contributed four points and eight assists in 14 minutes. “I’m just taking my time and trying to do the right thing,” Rondo told the Times-Picayune. “I haven’t had any practices and these games are like practices. I’m just trying to make sure I manage it correctly. It’s a marathon not a sprint.” It's no surprise that the Pelicans' version of "the Twin Towers," Cousins (28.0 & 13.7) and Davis (25.6 & 11.4) are doing what they have been expected to do.

Denver: The Nuggets 'ugly' offensive effort Monday in Portland "came out of nowhere," as Denver entered that contest averaging 113 PPG in Its previous three contests. 6-10 center Nikola Jokic had averaged 22.7 PPG in that stretch and was named Western Conference Player of the Week. “We were in a very good offensive rhythm coming in here,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told reporters. “And they took us out of our rhythm right away.” Jokic (16.4 & 11.6) leads six players averaging in double figures in scoring. PF Paul Millsap (15.7 & 6.4) has picked up his production by scoring 17 per game over the last four and those two frontcourt guys are joined by guards Barton (14.9 & 5.4), Murray (13.2), Harris (12.4) and Mudiay (11.6).

The pick: The Denver Nuggets gained confidence by going 5-1 on their recent homestand but that positive mojo was dealt a blow with that humbling loss at Portland on Monday night. The Pelicans scored a 25-point upset in the Pepsi Center last season and the team comes into this game having gone 4-1 SU & 5-0 ATS in their last five road contests. Make New Orleans an 8* play.

The set-up: The setting for this Friday night MWC contest will be University Stadium in Albuquerque, where the 3-7 New Mexico Lobos (1-5 in MWC play) will host the 4-6 UNLV Rebels (3-3 in league play). The Rebels still have an outside shot at earning bowl-eligibility but will need to win here and then at Nevada in their season-finale on Nov. 25th. As for New Mexico, the Lobos entered the 2017 season off back-to-back bowl appearances, including finishing 9-4 in 2016 after edging UTSA 23-20 in the New Mexico Bowl. Obviously, the team's record is a major disappointment. As for the Rebels, even an outside shot at a bowl berth is a "good sign, for a school that has made just one bowl appearance (2013) over the previous 16 years heading into the current season.

UNLV: The team's head coach is Tony Sanchez, of Bishop Gorman High School fame (Las Vegas). The transition from legendary HS head coach to UNLV has not gone smoothly, as the Rebels were 3-9 in his first season and 4-8 last year. The team averages 29.2 PPG (65th) led by a running game averaging 239.5 YPG (20th). RB Lexington Thomas leads the way, running for 1,146 yards (6.4 YPC) with 15 TDs. Senior QB Tony Stanton lost his job to freshman Armani Rogers but regained it when Rogers suffered a concussion. Rogers is cleared to play but Sanchez is sticking with Stanton, who threw for 325 yards and two TDs (also two INTs) in last week's 31-21 loss to BYU. UNLV's defense doesn't help much, allowing 32.3 PPG (103rd) on 461.1 YPG (116th).

New Mexico: Bob Davie's option attack has produced three seasons of 400-plus YPG rushing in five previous years at New Mexico (team averaged 370 & 388 in the two 'down' years!). However, while this year's team averages 226.3 YPG on the ground to rank 22nd in the nation, that's a significant drop-off from previous years. QBs Jordan and Tuioto have both struggled, completing around 50% with six TDs and nine INTs between them. New Mexico's D is better than UNLV's but not by much, allowing 30.9 PPG (ranks 93rd).

The pick: At this pointspread price, one must look at UNLV's straight-up road record, as "staying within a margin" doesn't really come into play. UNLV entered this season 8-51 SU on the road the last 10 years (2-10 under Sanchez) and the team's 2-2 road record in 2017 hardly builds confidence in a game the Rebels will almost have to win in order to cover. New Mexico was 11-4 at home the last two seasons and while the Lobos are just 2-3 SU at home in 2017, I'll back them in their final home game of what's been a very disappointing year. Make New Mexico a 10* play.

The set: The Thunder's "new look" of adding Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to reigning MVP Russell Westbrook has not been a smooth transition. However, a favorable portion of the schedule (three home games against sub-.500 teams) has allowed OKC to get back to .500 at 7-7. However, "the degree of difficulty" is about to go up, starting with tonight's visit to the AT&T Center. The 9-6 San Antonio Spurs had won five of six before falling flat in a 98-86 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday.

Oklahoma City: The Thunder come in off wins over the Clippers, Mavs and Bulls. Carmelo Anthony (back) returned from a one-game layoff to notch his first double-double with Oklahoma City against the Bulls (18 & 11) but he struggled from the floor along with fellow stars Paul George and Russell Westbrook. The trio shot 13-for-38 against Chicago, which left them taking pride in a defensive effort that held Chicago to seven first-quarter points and a 34.7 percent mark from the floor for the game. The Thunder are still trying to find the best use of their Big 3. Is the combo of George (21.9 & 5.9) and Anthony (20.1 & 6.2) added to Westbrook (20.3-8.1-9.6) making OKC a better team? As one can see, Westbrook's numbers are down across the better and the team's three-game winning streak leaves them at just 7-7.

San Antonio: The Spurs will not be "the Spurs" until Kawhi Leonard gets back. Wednesday's loss at Minnesota represented the team's worst offensive effort of the season, 79 points on 41.8% shooting. Foul trouble limited Aldridge to 28 minutes in the loss to Minnesota, his second-lowest total of the season. The team's leading scorer at 22.0 PPG, was held to 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Gay (12.0), Green (10.6) and Gasol (10.5) are barely scoring in double digits for the Spurs.

The pick: The Spurs are having real trouble finding reliable offensive options, while waiting for Leonard and PG Tony Parker to make their season debuts. I'm not sure that changes here against the Thunder, who are playing well defensively (OKC ranks 2nd in both PPG allowed at 97.1 and defensive FG percentage at 43.1) while having their own problems figuring out the new dynamic of how best to utilize its "Big 3." The Thunder will visit a dangerous New Orleans team next, then return home to host the Warriors and the surprising Pistons, giving them a difficult four-game stretch. Starting off that stretch "on the right foot,' is important. That's the bet. Make OKC a 10* play.

The set-up: 1-0 Florida State and 1-1 Fordham get to travel to Montego Bay to face off in a 2017 Jamaica Classic matchup on Friday night. The Seminoles got their season off on the right foot with an 87-67 home win over George Washington on Tuesday, while Fordham rebounded from an opening 55-54 home loss to Miami-Ohio with an 81-68 victory over LIU, also at home..

Fordham: The Rams are coming off a 13-19 season and lost three starters. A bunch of players are back but most lack quality playing time. Third-year head coach Jeff Neubauer will be expecting big things from preseason All-Atlantic 10 third-teamer Joseph Chartouny, who set a school record last year with 94 steals and already has nine in two games, while averaging a team-high 14.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. Fellow guard Will Tavares, the school's only scholarship senior with Division I experience, is leading the team with 7.0 rebounds per game and is tied with the 6-7 Raut (a freshman) for scoring at 14.0 points per game. 6-10 junior Prokop Slanina recorded personal highs in the win over LIU with 19 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double (he's averaging 12.0 & 6.0).

Florida State: The Seminoles are off a 26-win season, earning the school's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2012. However, four starters are gone, including the team's top-three scorers. Guards Bacon (17.2 & 4.2) and Rathan-Mayes (10.6 & 4.8 APG) are among the missing, as is the "one & done" 6-10 Isaac (12.0 & 7.1), who was drafted sixth in the first round by Orlando. Junior guard Terance Mann lived up to preseason expectations in the team's season-opening win with team highs of 17 points and eight rebounds (six offensive). "The sky's the limit for him," head coach Hamilton said at the postgame press conference. "He has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. I thought he was extremely aggressive tonight. He had five blocks. He must have chased several more. I thought he went after rebounds. ... I think he's taken a lot of pride, and over the season he's going to get better and better." However, he was just one of five players in double digits, including starters Koumadje (14 & 7), who is a 7-4 junior center and Cofer (15 & 4), a 6-8 senior PF.

The pick: FSU lost plenty off LY's team but Mann is poised for a big year plus the duo of Koumadje (the tallest player in FSU history) and Cofer should fill in nicely for Isaac. Fordham does not have the overall talent nor depth to 'hang' with the Seminoles. Make FSU a 10* play.

The set-up: The 2-0 Xavier Musketeers are currently No. 15 in the AP poll and have become a regular in the top-25 plus have been known for deep NCAA tourney runs for quite some time now (Xavier has played in 15 of the last 17 NCAA tourneys). The Wisconsin Badgers are also no strangers to NCAA tourney action, as they are tied with Gonzaga with 19 consecutive tourney appearances. Wisconsin and Gonzaga trail only Michigan St. (20), Duke (22) and Kansas (28) for active NCAA active streaks plus Wisconsin's 13 NCAA wins ties them with Kentucky, just one win less than North Carolina's 14, for most tourney wins these past four seasons. Wisconsin welcomes Xavier to the Kohl Center and while the Badgers are not currently ranked (lost four starters from LY's 27-win team), they have also opened 2-0.

Xavier: Trevon Blueitt led the team with 26 points on 8 of 14 shooting with five 3-pointers threes and a team-high nine rebounds in the team's 101-75 rout of Rider in its last outing. Xavier also scored 101 points in its first game, holding Morehead St. to just 49 points. 6-6 guard Blueitt (a preseason All-American) leads four double digit scorers at 25.5 PPG (also 7.0 RPG),. He's joined by fellow guard Macura (16.0-3.5-5.0) plus big men like the 6-9 Jones (15.0 & 8.5) and the 6-8 Gates (13.0 & 3.5).

Wisconsin: The Badgers are coming off an 89-61 beatdown of Yale in their last outing. Guard Khalil Iverson led the team with 17 points on 8 of 9 shooting from the foor with a team-high three assists, while fellow guard D’Mitrik Trice scored 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting with a pair of threes and three steals. The 7-0 Andy Van Vliet added 13 points and 6-10 Ethan Happ had 12 points. Happ, like Blueitt, is a preseason All-American. He is the lone returning starter and checks in averaging 16.0 & 11.0 after two games.

The pick: Xavier will not forget the last meeting between the two schools, as Wisconsin KO'd the Musketeers on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Bronson Koenig in a 2016 NCAA Tournament game that catapulted the Badgers to the Sweet 16. The 'sting' of that 66-63 setback still lingers for many Musketeer players, coaches and fans, as Xavier meets Wisconsin in this game which is part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games tournament. No 66-63 final this time around, as the Over is a 10* play.

The set-up: Two first-place teams meet Thursday night at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field, as the 6-3 Tennessee Titans (tied atop the AFC South with the Jacksonville Jags) visit the 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers (alone atop the NFC North and owners of a three-game lead). The Titans had high expectations entering 2017 but opened just 2-3. However, Tennessee enters Thursday's game on a four-game winning streak, beating the Colts, Browns, Ravens and Bengals (not exactly a "murderer's row"). The Steelers opened 3-1 but were then shocked at home by the Jags, losing 30-9. Big Ben was awful in that game (five INTs!) and prompted him to question "if he still had it?" Question answered, as the Steelers have won four in a row and currently hold down the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Tennessee: QB Marcus Mariota (1,783 passing yard with just seven TDs and six INTs /QB rating of 83.1) is battling ankle and shoulder injuries but expects to play through the pain. The team's two-pronged rushing attack features DeMarco Murray (433 yards, four TDs) and Derrick Henry (409 yards, three TDs), ranking 8th at 124.8 YPG. The offense comes in averaging only 22.8 PPG (13th) on the season and pretty much needs to find a way to get its offense on track on the road after scoring a combined 36 points in its last three games away from home. Defensively, Tennessee allows 23.7 PPG (22nd) on 328.3 YPG (16th).

Pittsburgh: Roethlisberger has thrown for 2,298 yards with 12 TDs and INTs (83.8 QB rating), hardly 'career' numbers. However, he has the best WR in the NFL on his side in Antonio Brown (60 catches / 882 yards / 3 TDs). He also may play with the NFL's best RB as well, in Le’Veon Bell (840 YR with 5 TDs / 40 catches). It will come as no surprise that Pittsburgh's D ranks second in points allowed (16.4) and total yards allowed (284.4).

The pick: I noted earlier that Big Ben is not exactly having a career season but that's actually an understatement. Truth is, his completion percentage of 61.1 and QB rating of 83.8 represent his lowest marks since 2008. That's led to three of Pittsburgh’s last four wins coming by six points or less, with the Steelers having scored 20 points or less in four of their last five. The Titans know a lot about "close games" as well (five of last seven have been decided by six points or less) and come in 3-0 against AFC North opponents in 2017. Take the points and make the Titans an 8* play.

The set-up: The Celtics opened the season with back-to-back losses plus lost prized FA addition Gordon Hayward for the entire year in the team's first game (at Cleveland). However, Boston has ripped off 13 consecutive wins (11-1-1 ATS) to give them an NBA-best 13-2 record. It prompted Golden State head coach Steve Kerr to proclaim that the Celtics are "the team of the future in the East." The Celtics welcome the NBA's ""team of the present" tonight to TD Garden, as the Warriors come to town winners of seven in a row and the West's best record of 11-3. The Celtics own the best defense in the NBA by limiting opponents to an average of 94.5 PPG, while the Warriors are scoring an average of 119.6 PPG, to lead all NBA teams.

Golden State: The Warriors' "Core Four" of Curry (25.2-4.7-6.7), Durant (24.8-7.5-5.2), Thompson (20.6) and Green (10.9-7.5-6.6) stand "above the crowd," as does Golden State's depth. The backcourt depth features Young, Stephenson and McCaw (listed in order of scoring averages), while the wings and frontcourt consists of West, Casspi, Iquodala, McGee, Looney and Pachulia (again, arranged in order of scoring prowess). PG Stephen Curry sat out Monday's 110-100 win over the Orlando Magic with a thigh contusion but is probable to return when the Warriors kick off a four-game road trip on Thursday. Golden State also leads the NBA in FG percentage (51.9%) and assists (31.3 per game).

Boston: The Celtics owned the East's best record last season but knew they needed "change" to compete with the Cavs and eventually, with the Warriors. The rebuilt Boston Celtics lost Hayward (see above) but new PG Kyrie Irving (20.6 & 5.2 APG) has been terrific, as has rookie Jason Tatum (14.0 & 5.3). Boston gave up Avery Bradley to get Marcus Morris and over the last four games, he's averaged 15.3 PPG and grabbed 10 rebounds in his last game (Boston needs him to rebound, especially without Hayward). Veteran center Horford (15.3-8.8-4.5) has been superb plus plus second-year SF Brown (14.7 & 6.7) is now a starter and looking every bit as good as Boston had hoped he'd be when was the team's first pick of the 2016 draft.

The pick: The Celtics currently own the NBA's best record but Golden State owns a better point-differential, plus-11.9 to plus-8.1. That's because in Golden State's current seven-game winning streak, the Warriors have won by an average margin of 19.9 PPG! The visiting team has taken the last five in the series plus the Warriors have won their last four trips to Boston. Make Golden State a 10* play.

The set-up: The 9-8-1 Dallas Stars conclude a three-game Southeast road trip with a visit to Tampa on Thursday to take on the NHL-best Lightning, who have won four in a row to reach 14-2-2 on the season. Dallas has already lost at Carolina and Florida, although the Stars earned a point in Miami for a shootout loss. As for the Lightning, they own at least a point in six straight (5-0-1), after outscoring three California teams 12-4 on a perfect road trip.

Dallas: The Stars finished second-to-last in the league in goals-against per game last season (3.17) but currently rank 15th, allowing 2.83 per game. That said, the team has been very inconsistent since opening 5-3-0. Ben Bishop, who won a club-record 131 games in five seasons with the Lightning, is 7-5-0, 2.67 GAA & .908 SP on the season, after has dropping three of his last four starts. Captain Jamie Benn has taken over the team lead with 19 points after posting three goals and two assists during a four-game point streak that included two tallies in the shootout loss at Florida on Tuesday. Defenseman John Klingberg is next with 18 points while Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov, who boasts a nine-game point streak, have 17 apiece.

Tampa Bay: The Lightning surely don't miss Bishop, as his replacement has been Andrei Vasilevskiy. He sure seem to like his role as the No. 1 goalie, as he's 13-1-1 with a 1.39 GAA and .930 SP. It sure doesn't hurt that Tampa's top-six defensemen have been intact all season in front of Vasilevskiy. Victor Hedman leads the blueliners with 13 points and the steady Anton Stralman boasts a team-best plus-13 rating. Captain Steven Stamkos leads the league with 31 points and linemate Nikita Kucherov boasts an NHL-high 16 goals. Vladislav Namestnikov has produced 19 points playing alongside Stamkos and Kucherov. after finishing with 28 in 74 games in 2016-17.

The pick: Bishop was a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist with Tampa Bay but don't expect this 'homecoming' to go well. The Stars are 3-6-1 on the road, allowing 3,70 GPG. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay in the NHL's highest scoring team at 3.89 GPG and the Lightning are 7-1-1 a on home ice, outscoring opponents 3.56to-2.67 GPG. Make Tampa Bay an 8* play.

The set-up: The 2-8 Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-5 in the AAC) will visit Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Thursday night to face the 8-1 South Florida Bulls (5-1 in the AAC). Tulsa's fallen a long way from last year's 10-3 team which destroyed Central Michigan 55-10 in the Miami Beach Bowl. Tulsa limps in having lost seven of its last eight and checks is 0-5 on the road in 2017. USF owned a nation-best 12-game winning streak and had scored 30-plus points in 24 staright games but lost at home 28-24 to Houston on Oct. 28. However, the good news is, USF still controls its own destiny (more later).

Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane rely on a rushing attack that averages 248.7 YPG to score 31.0 PPG (50th). However, that isn't quite enough when the team's D has allowed 38.0 PPG (12st) on 547.5 YPG (128th). All that said, let's give Tulsa some credit. Five of its last seven losses have been decided by 10 or less points, as Tulsa is just one of those teams that competes hard but just can't put together a complete 60 minutes.

South Florida: Senior QB Quinton Flowers registered a school-record 516 yards of total offense last time out against UConn and now needs just one rushing TD to become the sixth FBS player with 60 passing TDs and 40 rushing TDs in a career. Flowers threw for 385 yards while rushing for another 131 against UConn and needs 357 to pass Matt Grothe (10,875) for the school record in total offense. He's passed for 1,955 yards with 15 TDs and just 4 INTs on the season, while adding 751 RY (5.2 YPC) and 9 TDs. RBs Tice (780 YR / 9 TDDs) and Johnson (631 YR / 7 TDS) help make USF the 7th-best running team in the nation, averaging 276.7 YPG. The offense gets all the 'pub,' averaging 39.1 YPG (7th) but the defense has more than held its own, allowing 19.9 PPG (23rd) on 319.8 YPG (18th).

The pick: Tulsa comes in 8-3 ATS as a road dog since 2015 and USF does have a "Black Friday" showdown looming at UCF on Nov. 24th. Naturally, USF must beat UCF in that one and a win the following week in the AAC championship game would almost assuredly lead to a New Year's Six Bowl bid but first things first. USF has to "take care of business" here in its regular season home finale against Tulsa. Sure, it's a lot of points but despite that four-point home loss to Houston, USF has outscored opponents at home by 35.6-to-15.6 PPG. Note that Tulsa has allowed 46.6 PPG on the road. Lay it and make USF an 8* play.

The set-up: Are the Cavs finally rounding into form? We do know this. Cleveland enters tonight's game at Charlotte having won consecutive games for the first time since opening the season 2-0. Monday's win over the Knicks in MSG was a special one, as the Cavs overcame a 23-point deficit en route to a 104-101 victory. Still, the Cavs are a hard-to-believe 7-7 on the season and look for their first three-game winning streak of the season tonight against the 5-7 Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets 'limp' home after an 0-4 road trip that ended with a 90-87 setback at Boston on Friday (team's lowest point total of the season).

Cleveland: LBJ got into a war of words with Knicks center Enes Kanter during and after Monday's trip to Madison Square Garden but got the last laugh with the comeback win, scoring 23 points, grabbing nine rebounds and handing out 12 assists. Here's a shocker, James is logging a league-high 38.1 MPG while averaging 28.1-7.4-8.8. James got some help on Monday from SG Kyle Korver, who scored 21 points (19 in the fourth quarter while making five 3-pointers!). However, Korver is averaging a modest 10.9 PPG. Love (17.6 & 10.4) is said to be unhappy about his move to center but he's the only other regular contributor. Rose has played in just half of the team's 14 games and Green (10.5) is the only player also averaging in double digits. Defense has been a major issue for the Cavs, as they are allowing 112.5 PPG on 47.5% shooting (both rank 28th in the league!).

Charlotte: The Hornets are planning (hoping?) on guard Nicolas Batum (elbow) making his season debut on Wednesday after he spent the last three days practicing with the team. “If it’s my call, yes,” Batum told the Charlotte Observer after practice on Tuesday of playing against the Cavaliers. “If the coaches and the training staff are OK with it, it should be a go tomorrow." Batum averaged career highs of 15.1 points and 5.9 assists in 2016-17 while adding 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals. PG Walker is off an All Star season but comes off a road trip in which he shot 33.9 percent from the floor, including 5-of-25 from three-point range. His scoring is down this season (21.7) but Lamb's is up at 16.7, as he's gotten more opportunities with Batum sidelined. Then there is FA center Dwight Howard, averaging 14.4 & 13.2 but has he really helped the Hornets "get better" as a team.

The pick: I realize that the Cavs are just 4-9-1 ATS through their first 14 games but one has to admit, this team is way better than that. Meanwhile, the Hoinets don't look improved at all and Howard seems happy putting up solid (excellent?) numbers, while playing without any pressure to win (arguably, the story of his career). The Cavs seem ready to me to shake out of their doldrums, Make Cleveland a 10* play.

The set-up: The 7-6 Memphis Grizzlies open a four-game homestand against the 6-8 Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. The Grizzlies return home off a 2-3 road trip and will take the court having lost five of seven overall, since opening 5-1. David Fizdale's team is 0-3 so far against teams from the East Conference, so Memphis will be out to snap that streak, as well. The Pacers may play the perfect foil, as they enter on a 1-5 stretch that includes Sunday's 118-95 home loss to Houston, plus have lost five in a row at Memphis!

Indiana: Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 28 points in Sunday's loss to teh Rockets and is th team's leading scorer thsi season, averaging 23.4 PPG. Center Myles Turner 914.3 & 8.9) is back after missing seven games and the Pacers saw rookie Sabonis (13.3 & 9.8) play well in his absence and since, coming off the bench. All five of Indiana's starters are in double digits, with Young (13.6 & 6.0), Bogdanovic (13.3) and Collison (11.6 & 6.5 APG) rounding out the group. The Pacers both shoot and allow a 47.6 percentage in field goals, which puts them near the top of the league in FG percentage (4th) and near the bottom in defensive FG percentage (29th). The Pacers average 108.0 PPG (9th) and allow 109.1 PPG (24th).

Memphis: PG Mike Conley made just 2-of-12 shots in the Grizzlies' latest loss, continuing his season-long struggles. Conley is averaging 17.1 PPG but shooting only 38.1 percent from the floor, including 31.2% on threes. Center Gasol (18.9 & 9.0) and wing Evans (18.5-4.9-3.1) have been Memphis most consistent scorers (Evans is averaging 24.7 in six games this month). Rookie Dillon Brooks matched a season-high with 19 points against the Rockets and is shooting 54.8 percent from the floor over a four-game stretch and comes in averaging 9.3 & 4.4. However, defense remains the team's 'calling card,' as the Grizzlies hold opponents to 43.1 percent shooting (2nd) and 99.9 PPG (5th).

The pick: Expect that Memphis defense to control the flow of this contest, making the Under an 8* play.

The set-up: The Toledo Rockets will travel about 25 miles down I-75 to Doyt Perry Stadium to take on the Bowling Green Falcons this Wednesday night in MAC play. The Rockets lost badly at Ohio U last Wednesday (38-10), dropping them to 8-2 (5-1 in MAC West play) on the season. The good news is, Toledo had beaten Northern Illinois 27-17 in its previous game, so the Rockets still control their destiny in the MAC West, as they own the tie-breaker over the Huskies, who are also 5-1. Bowling Green lost a week ago Tuesday 38-28 at Buffalo and enter this contest against its long-time rival just 2-8 (2-4 in the MAC East).

Toledo: The Rockets only trailed the Bobcats 10-7 at the half last week but got rolled in the second half and by game's end got out-gained 532-to-316 in total yards (Ohio U ran for 393 yards!). The Rockets are averaging 36.1 PG (25th) with a balanced offense (294.0 YPG passing and 205.3 YPG on the ground). QB Logan Woodsid has completed 64.8% of his passes on the season for 2,912 yards with 20 TDs and two INTs. The ground game ranks 31st in the nation, led by a trio of RBs, Swanson (854 YR / 5.1 YPC / 11 TDs), Seymour (544 YR / 6.6 YPC) and Thompson (466 YR / 5.5 YPC). Swandson's banged up but that's the beauty of the team's at the RB position. The defense imploded last week in Athens but that's not typical, as despite that effort Toledo comes in allowing 25.8 PPG to rank 60th (there are 130 FBS schools).

Bowling Green: The Falcons fought back after trailing by a 21-7 margin at the end of the 1st quarter, last week at Buffalo but the Bulls held on for a 10-point win. The Falcons were out-gained by Bulls by a 582-394 margin, something which has become familiar. BG averages only 23.6 PPG (98th) on 380.8 YPG, while allowing 35.6 PPG on 507.8 YPG (127th). Freshman Jarret Doege is the latest QB for struggling BG and he completed 28 of 43 passes for 294 yards and three TDs. However, when the defense allows 38 points on 582 yards, improved QB play doesn't mean all that much.

The pick: Toledo holds its fate in its hands and needs only to beat struggling BG and then Western Michigan (at home) in its season-finale, to earn a place in the MAC title game. Mike Jinks is 6-16 SU and ATS in his second season at Bowling Green and it's unlikely even the presence of a bitter rival like Toledo will be enough for the Falcons to earn a "W." However, I like what I see from Doege and while the BG defense will be all but helpless against Toledo's well-balanced offense (ready to roll after last week's 10-point effort), That said, expect Doege to help BG to put points on the board, as well. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: Richard Pitino's Minnesota Golden Gophers are 2-0 and ranked 15th in the latest AP poll. It's safe to say that regardless how the Gophers' season plays out, the 2017-18 season will have gone much better for Richard Pitino, than for his dad, Rick. Minnesota will try to avoid an emotional letdown after a huge road victory when it returns home Wednesday night to take on Niagara in a non-conference contest. The Golden Gophers put up 50 points and shot better than 60 percent from the floor in the second half to rally for an impressive 86-74 victory in front of a raucous crowd at Providence on Monday. Niagara was just 10-23 last season but opened this season with a 77-75 win over St. Bonaventure 77-75 on Friday, the first time the school has won its season-opener since 2011-12!

Niagara: The Purple Eagles did win just 10 games last season but all five starters are back, including return one of the top backcourts in the MAAC, featuring seniors Kahlil Dukes and Matt Scott, who combined to average 32.5 PPG last season, while making 130 three-pointers. That duo led the way against St. Bonny's, as Dukes made 8-of-14 for 23 points, while Scott had 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Minnesota: Pitino's 'ride' at Minnesota has been of the roller coaster variety. A 25-win season in his first year (won NIT!), 18 wins in his second but then just EIGHT in his third. Minnesota bounced back with 25 wins last year (lost in the 1st round of the Big Dance) and now a top-25 ranking early in this season. All five starters return for Minneoita as well and it's a talented group. Junior forward Jordan Murphy was named the Big Ten player of the week Monday, leading the way during two victories in averaging 29 points on 23-of-37 shooting and adding 14.5 RPG. Guard Nate Mason (14.0 & 5.5) checks in behind Murphy plus the 6-10 Lynch (13.5 & 7.5) and 6-8 swingman Coffey (11.5 & 4.5) are off to good starts as well.

The pick: As noted above, all five starters returned for the Purple Eagles but let's add here that it's a welcome change from the transition that's ravaged the program. A whopping 20 players exited the program from Casey's arrival before the 2013-14 season through last season. "It's the first time we've had some carryover and haven't had to replace a large piece of the roster," Casey said. "Transfers really hurt us." Will Niagara win here? Probably not but off Minnesota's nice road win, expect the Golden Gophers to be a little flat. Take the points or go under? I say make the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: The Rangers opened the season just 3-7-2 but are now 9-7-2 and looking for a seventh consecutive win when they visit the United Center Chicago Wednesday night to take on the 8-8-2 Chicago Blackhawks. New York has turned its season around by netting at least tree goals in 10 of its last 12 games (8-2-2), while Chicago has gone just 4-7-1 over its last 12 contest. However, maybe there is a 'light at the end of the tunnel' for the Blackhawks, as they have scored nine goals in their last two games, after mustering only 19 in their previous 10.

NY Rangers: Special teams have been key for the Rangers over their last six games, going 8-for-19 on the power play and 13-for-14 on the penalty kill. "Any skill player will tell you when you're having success on the power play, it will drive the rest of your game," said defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who has collected a point on four of the eight power-play goals. "The ability to just get touches on the puck, positive touches, making passes and having a little time and space out there, it allows you to slow the game down in your mind." Mika Zibanejad, who already has a career-high five power-play goals in 18 games, has recorded 12 of his team-leading 18 points in his last nine contests.

Chicago: The Blackhawks are looking to break out of a slump which has seen them lose three of their past four games, squandering a three-goal lead in their most recent contest, a 7-5 Sunday home loss to the Devils. Goalie Corey Crawford endured a night he'd like to forget, allowing six goals (four in the 1st period!) on just 26 shots before being pulled. Chicago is led in scoring by Brandon Said, who has seven goals. Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and Artem Anisimov have six goals apiece. The 19-year-old DeBrincat has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his last seven games. "Well, we've been encouraged every single day we've seen him this year," head coach Joel Quenneville said of him. "The fact he’s starting to score a little bit more gives us an added sniper. But he does a lot of good things, not just scoring. He complements your team game."

The pick: The Rangers have enjoyed visiting the United Center lately, as they've won five in a row at Chicago. Henrik Lundqvist is likely to start in goal fro New York and he's 8-4-2 record with a 2.92 GAA and .905 save percentage this season. In 10 career games against Chicago, he is 6-2-2 with a 2.19 GAA. Crawford is expected to start for Chicago and I predict a huge bounce-back from that 'ugly' Sunday game. He's just 7-7-0 on the season but his 2.21 goals-against average and .932 save percentage on the season are better than that of Lundqvist. In six career games against the Rangers, he is again just 2-3-1 but with solid numbers like a 2.37 GAA and .921 save percentage. Make Chicago a 10* play.

The set-up: Much was expected from the Edmonton Oilers entering this season but they've struggled at home all season and get set to host the surprising Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday at Rogers Place. The Oilers are returning home after a 2-1-1 road trip which included them winning back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Golden Knights won 5-2 win over Winnipeg on Friday night to improve 7-1-0 at home but that came on the heels of the team's recent 1-4-1 road trip.

Vegas: The Golden Knights will play their next six games against Pacific rivals, after facing only one division opponent thus far, a home-and-home against Arizona on Oct. 7 and 10 (Vegas won both ends). Vegas' injury-ravaged goaltender corps has been the team's biggest challenge. Backup Malcolm Subban will accompany the team to Edmonton but he has not been cleared to play. Starter Marc-Andre Fleury (concussion) and Oscar Dansk (lower body) will remain in Nevada, all but assuring a seventh straight start for Maxime Lagace. Lagace has been the team's least effective goaltender, posting a 3.58 GAA and poor .876 SP.

Edmonton: The Oilers managed only eight goals (six in regulation) during their four-game trip and were limited to one goal or less for the fifth time in Sunday's 2-1 shootout loss at Washington. However, head coach Todd McLellan was content with the trip. "We'll take the five of eight (points)," McLellan said. "We wish we could have got more. But now we've got a real test ahead of us going home where we haven't performed well." He's right about not performing well at home, as the Oilers are 3-6-0 on home ice, allowing 3.89 GPG. Edmonton has scored a league-low 38 times and both of its wins on the road trip came courtesy of OT goals by captain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

The pick: Edmonton's home woes and lack of scoring is overdue to change and why not here against Lagace (see above) and Vegas, which is 3-4-1 on the road (opened 2-0!), compared to 7-1-0 at home? Goaltender Cam Talbot, who had a string of 11 straight starts halted in Washington, owns a 3.54 goals-against average and .894 save percentage at home, as opposed to marks of 2.16 and .933 on the road. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The 2-0 Purdue Boilermakers were ranked 19th in the AP's first regular season poll (released Monday) and will travel to Milwaukee on Tuesday night to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles, who defeated Mount St. Mary's 80-59 on Friday,to improve to 3-1 in season openers under Steve Wojciechowski. Marquette is off a 19-win season which included a loss in the NCAA's first round. As for Purdue, the Boilermakers are off a 26-win season which include winning the Big Ten regular season title and a trip the the NCAA's Sweet 16. Purdue faces its first real test of the season tonight, as it plays at Marquette in the Gavitt Tipoff Games series. It's the first-ever meeting between the schools.

Purdue: The Boilermakers return starters from their 2016 Big Ten championship team, making them as experienced as any team in the country. Sure, Caleb Swanigan (18.5 & 12.5) is a huge loss but 6-8 senior forward Vince Edwards (12.6 & 4.9 LY) is the only active player in the nation with at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists. The Boilermakers have scored a combined 216 points in defeating Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 105-74 in their opener and dismantling Chicago State 111-42 on Sunday. Chicago State's 21.5 percent shooting marked the lowest shooting percentage by a Purdue opponent in school history, while the Boilermakers scored 100 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time in 43 year. Guards Edwards (20.2) and Mathias (18.0 $ 4.5 APG) lead in scoring from the perimeter with Edwards (14.5 & 8.8) and the 7-2 Hass (12.0 & 6.5) taking care of business inside.

Marquette: The Golden Eagles defeated Mount St. Mary's 80-59 on Friday but led by as many as 37 points and had four players score in double figures. Andrew Rowsey is the the team's lone senior and the guard led with 23 points but he was on the bench for much of the second half, enabling Mount St. Mary's to chip away at the deficit. Fellow guards Cheatham (13 & 5) and Howard (11) joined Rowsey in double digits, as did the 6-10 Heldt.

The pick: Matt Painter enters his 12th season at Purdue and expectations are rightly high but after two 'cupcakes,' the going gets much tougher here at the Bradley Center. Take the points and make Marquette a 10* play.

The set-up: The 10-3 Rockets will take to their home floor (Toyota Center) tonight looking for their seventh straight win. Houston is averaging 120.2 PPG during its winning streak with an average victory margin of 17.7 points and hopes to "keep pace" with the Warriors, who won their seventh in a row last night to move to 11-3. Houston's opponent will be the 7-5 Toronto Raptors, who opened a three-game road trip Sunday in Boston, losing 95-94.

Toronto. Losing at Boston by one point is nothing to be ashamed of, as the Raptors nearly won the game but guard DeMar DeRozan's turnaround jumper with two seconds left was off the mark (FYI...Boston currently owns a 12-game winning streak). However, Toronto can't be happy about establishing a season low for points in the loss. DeRozan (24.7-3.5-4.2) was just 8-of-22 shooting but scored 24 points, the 10th time this season he scored 24 or more in a game (12 games). PG Lowry (13.4-4.8-6.6), PF Ibaka (13.3 & 5.6) and center Valanciunas (10.2 & 7.6) are also in double figures but note the depth. Toronto also has six players averaging between 5.8 and 8.8 PPG, as the Raptors rank 8th in scoring at 108.8 PPG.

Houston: The Rockets are still waiting for Chris Paul to get back on he court but they sure haven't missed him. James Harden is averaging 35.8 points and 11.5 assists during the streak and is averaging 30.2-4.9-10.2 on the season. Houston's fast-paced approach is clicking and the team has led by double digits at the end of the first quarter in each of its past five games. "It shows the character of our team to get out to good starts and try to control the game early on," shooting guard Eric Gordon told reporters. "That's what we've been doing." Gordon is taking advantage of more "PT" with Paul out and is averaging 22.9 PPG. Center Clint Capela had 20 points and 17 rebounds in the romp over the Pacers and already has eight double-doubles, averaging 13.3 & 11.5 on the season. The Rockets rank third in the league with 111.1 PPG.

The pick: The Rockets rank first in the league in offensive rating (117.7) and rebound percentage (54.7), second to the Golden State Warriors in net rating (18.1) and fourth in defensive rating (99.6) during their winning streak. I noted above that they are averaging 120.2 points during their cureent streak and will add here that they are also making (17.6) and attempting (46) more three-pointers per game than any team in the league. Toronto is no offensive slouch and off that 94-point effort against Boston, will "run with" the Rockets in this one. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The Bobcats were upset at home back on Oct. 7 (on Homecoming, no less), losing 26-23 to Central Michigan as a 10 1.2-point favorite. That left them 4-2 overall (1--1 in the MAC). However, Ohio has won four in a row since, including last week's 38-10 rout of Toledo in Athens, dominating teh Rockets by out-gaining them 532-316 in yards. Ohio (8-2, 5-1 in the MAC) now travels to InfoCision Stadium in Akron to take the Zips, who are coming off a 24-14 defeat at the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks as an 11.5 point road underdog. Akron was out-gained 420-273 and fell to 5-5 overall but at 4-2 in the MAC East, not out of it. The Bobcats would clinch the East title with a win but an Akron win would leave the teams tied at 5-2 apiece. Both would have one game remaining but Akron would own the head-to-head tie-breaker!

Ohio: Frank Solich has done a remarkable job since coming to Ohio back in 2005 (more later) and while his teams have typically been known as relying on defense, it's Ohio's offense, especially its running game, that has led thetetam to its 8-2 mark in 2017. The Bobcats are averaging 44.8 PPG during their four-game winnings streak, upping their scoring average to 40.9 PPG for the season, ranking 7th in the nation. The team ran for 393 yards in the win over Toldeo and Ohio's ground game is averaging 250.8 YPG (12th). RB Quelette leads the way with 897 yards, QB Rourke has 668 RY plus a team-best 17 TDs and Brown, after rushing for 142 vs. Toledo, checks in with 600 RY. Rourke also has 1,643 passing yards with 14 TD and just four INTs. Ohio's defense is solid, if not spectacular, holding opponents to 24.1 PPFG (45th).

Akron: Terry Bowdon took over at Akron in 2012 and promptly went 1-11. However, he led the Zips to the school's second-ever bowl bid in 2015, finishing 8-5 after winning the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. This year's team may be just 5-5 but as noted at the top, is still very much alive for an East title by winning here at home. Akron can't match Ohio's running game, as the Zips average only 105.5 YPG on the ground (124th). In fact, Akron is averaging only 21.8 PPG (110th), about half of Ohio's U's scoring average. Defensively, the Zips are allowing 441.8 YPG (106th) but have somehow managed to hold opponents to a more reasonable 24.9 PPG (ranks 51st!). Bowden suspended starting QB Thomas Woodson for a violation of team rules and freshman Kato Nelson got his first collegiate start vs. Miami-Ohio. He threw for 218 yards and one TD but with Akron’s ground game finishing with just 55 yards, he had a tough hill to climb.

The pick: Woodson's availability for Tuesday has not been announced but indications are he will be available to play in this do-or-die game. Woodson or no Woodson, the fact remains that the Bobcats have won nine straight games over the Zips, including winning four straight in Akron, holding the Zips to two TDs and just 42 total points. Solich has been a 'savior' for Ohio U football and in this, his 13th season, will lead Ohio to its ninth bowl game. When he took over, the Bobcats had only been to two bowl games in school-history, most recently in 1968. Solich is 99-69 at Ohio, so a win here would be No. 100, which would clinch an East title. This is Solich's best team and no way the Bobcats stumble here at Akron. Make Ohio U an 8* play.

The set-up: The Denver Nuggets have won three in a row (and seven of nine) to reach 8-5. The offense is clicking, as all five starters scored in double figures in Saturday's 125-107 home win over the Orlando Magic. Denver will make a brief one-game road trip to visit Northwest Division rival Portland on Monday with the Trail Blazers checking at 6-6,
after dropping the last two of the team's six-game homestand (had won the first two). Monday night's affair will be a battle between former teammates,centers Nikola Jokic of Denver and Jusuf Nurkic of Portland. Nurkic, unhappy in a backup role in with the Nuggets, went to Portland at the trade deadline last season and made an immediate impact with the Blazers.

Denver: The Nuggets' backcourt duo of Barton (15.1) and Murray (12.8) combined for 58 points against the Magic plus center Nikola Jokic (17.2 & 12.0) flirted with a triple-double, scoring 12 points with 17 rebounds and nine assists. Harris (12.4) and Mudiay (12.2) give Denver four guards averaging in double figures on the season plus PF Millsap (15.5 & 6.5) is a quality veteran sidekick up front for Jokic.

Portland: After a 101-97 home loss to injury-riddled Brooklyn on Friday night, Portland checks in just 2-4 in games decided by four points or fewer. "What makes it so frustrating is we could very easily be 10-2," PG Damian Lillard said after the Nets game. "It makes losses like this hurt even more, because you've already let some games slip that we should have won. We shouldn't be having our heads down. We've been in worse situations. But being here is our fault. We've had our chances." Lillard is averaging 25.2 PPG on the season but is mired in a bit of a shooting slump and failed to reach 20 points in either of the last two games. Lillard's left hand got banged up in the final minute against the Nets but he said, " I don't plan on missing any games. I think I'll be all right." His backcourt partner McCollum (22.9) give Portalnd one of teh league's highest-scoring duos plus as noted at the top, Nurkic has sure found a home in Portland (he's averaging 15.6 & 7.3 this season).

The pick: Sure, Denver's off back-to-backs wins (and covers) but note the team was just 3-8 ATS before those consecutive covers. Portland has also had its own ATS woes (just 2-6 at home) but the Blazers took three of the four meetings last season (now six of the last seven in the series). Also, don't downplay the effect Nurkic may have here. When the teams last met last March, Nurkic went for 33 points (made 12 of 15 shots from the floor & and 9 of 11 from the FT line) plus added 15 rebounds in a 122-113 victory over his former team. Make Portland a 10* play.

The set-up: The 4-4 Miami Dolphins will visit Bank of America Stadium.in Charlotte to take on the 6-3 Carolina Panthers as Week 10 concludes with the latest MNF clash. The Dolphins have lost back-to-back games and a third straight loss would pretty much end any 'dream' of the team staying within shouting range of the Pats (now 7-2) in the AFC East. In contrast, the Panthers are seeking a third straight win in hopes of keeping pace with the red-hot Saints who won their seventh in a row to move to 7-2 in the NFC South. The Panthers are in for a 'dog fight' in their division in 2017, as the Atlanta Falcons are also lurking at 5-4.

Miami: QB Jay Cutler returned last weekend after missing a game with cracked ribs. He had his best game of the season last Sunday, despite the Dolphins falling at home 27-24 to the Raiders. Cutler completed 34 of 42 for 311 yards with three TDs and zero INTs. However, he's averaging only 170.0 YPG through the air and has 10 TDs and five INTs on the season, for a QB rating of 87.4. Miami 'traded away" its running game when it shipped Pro Bowl selection Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia. He owns 75% of the team's rushing yards in 2017 and even including Ajayi's contributions, Miami ranks 30th in rushing at 77,6 YPG. With Ajayi gone, Kenyan Drake is the team's leading rusher with just 94 yards on the season. The Dolphins ranks last in both scoring (14.5 PPG) and total offense (270.2 YPG). Miami's defense is middle-of-the-pack, allowing 22.4 PPG (17th).

Carolina: Cam Newton is pretty much a "one-man show" in Carolina when it comes to the team's offense. However, he's way off his MVP-like performance of the 2015 season. He's averaging only 202.1 YPG with 10 TDs and 11 INTs, giving him even a lower QB rating (78.4) than Cutler. Newton ran or 86 yards in Carolina's 20-17 win over Atlanta last Sunday but the Panthers were likely happier that rookie RB Christian McCaffrey picked up a season-high 66 rushing yards plus his first rushing score last week. "A lot had to do with the blocking up front," head coach Ron Rivera said. "I thought we got our hands on them and we were able to push and Christian was able to make some cuts." McCaffrey leads the team with 54 catches out of the backfield, although WR Devin Funchess also has stepped up as the team's top wide-out since Kelvin Benjamin was traded to Buffalo (Funchess had five catches vs. Atlanta and now has 38 on the season). The Carolina D is playing at a high level and is the reason the Panthers are 6-3. The Panthers are allowing a league-low 274.1 YPG overall, while allowing a modest 17.7 PPG (3rd-best).

The pick: McCaffrey's performance was encouraging last Sunday but where has he been all year? Cam Newton continues to carry too heavy of a burden for this offense and it can't go unnoticed that the Panthers may have won two straight but they enter this contest having averaged just 13.3 PPG in their last three games (not a team one wants to lay big points with!). The Dolphins are coming off their best offensive performance by far and let me also point out that Miami has had five games decided by six points or less, with three of its last four games featuring three-point margins. Does it matter that Miami is 4-1 SU all-time vs. Carolina, going 5-0 ATS? It doesn't hurt! Make Miami a 10* play.

The set-up: The Charlotte 49ers opened with 116- 76 rout over Methodist but know the going gets a little tougher here when the 49ers visit Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater tonight, when they square off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. OSU opened this year on a high note with a 78-47 win over Pepperdine. Charlotte began last season 6-2 but lost seven of its next eight games and by year's end was a disappointing 13-17. The Cowboys started out 10-2 last season but a six-game slide almsot doomed tehir season. However, they righted the ship by winning 10 of their next 11 games, before losing four straight to end the season. That final loss came 92-91 to Michigan in the first round of the NCAAs.

Charlotte: The 49ers head into the current season optimistic that they can be a contender in C-USA this year. PG Davis (19.6 & 4.1 APG last year) has developed into a quality PG and his backcourt partner, White (11.3 & 4.0). complements him well. The versatile 6-7 Ajukwa averaged 11.4 & 4.8 last season and led the 49ers with 18 points in the team's season-opener. A 6-9 freshman from Serbia, Supica, came off the bench to match Ajukwa's 18 points, making 8 of 8 FG attempts. Senior guard Price was in the starting lineup with Davis and White and added 14 points.

Oklahoma State: Lindy Waters, a 6-6 sophomore, led Oklahoma State's starting-five in scoring with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Thomas Dziagwa led the bench players with 12 points. PG Evans (19.2 & 6.4 APG) was drafted by the NBA plus Forte (13.3) and Hammonds (8.1 & 4.9) have both graduated (Hammonds was the only player to start every game LY!). More bad news is the team's second-leading scorer from last yer, Jeffrey Carroll (17.5 & 6.6), is being held out while allegations regarding illegal payments are sorted out.

The pick: OSU has lost much off last year's team and the 49ers are not the high-scoring team we saw in their first game vs. a 'cupcake.' OSU always plays good D and the Under is a 10* play, here.