GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE

The No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs have opened the season with three home triumphs, winning each by 30+ points. They'll hit the road to take on the Texas A&M Aggies for their first away game of the season Friday night, and I think they'll run the home team out of the building. 

Texas A&M is a perfect 2-0 SU following victories over Louisiana Monroe and Northwestern St., but they've far from impressed and failed to cover the spread in both. Gonzaga on the other hand has covered point spreads of 29+ points in their last two games and I think the Bulldogs will look forward to facing a "tougher" opponent.

Bulldogs are 16-6 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Bulldogs are 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Aggies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

10* play on Gonzaga Bulldogs. 

TOP RATED 10* FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The books have posted an extremely high total for this matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Washington Wizards Friday night, but do not let the high number intimidate you. 

Note that the over is 51-33-1 (60%) in games with a closing number of 235+ points since the start of last season, and while I would not recommend betting the over blindly in those spots moving forward, we have a strong case for this contest to fly over the posted total. 

Both teams rank in the top 10 for pace (Minnesota 4th, Washington 7th) and only Golden State has a worse defensive efficiency (the number of points a team allows per 100 possessions) than the Wizards. Additionally, both teams are averaging over 115 ppg, and that's against a mixed bucket of opponents, most with better defenses than we'll see here. 

Over is 6-1 in Timberwolves last 7 overall. Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.

10* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED 10* THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Atlanta Hawks won 125-121 at Denver on Tuesday and the over is 3-0 in their last three games. The Phoenix Suns took a 123-115 home loss to the Lakers last time out and the over is 4-0 in their last four games. Phoenix has among the best offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions) numbers in the league and they're also in the top third for pace. I'm confident they'll make the Hawks run in this one, forcing a fast-paced and high-scoring game. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): STEELERS @ BROWNS SIDE THURSDAY NIGHT

I absolutely love the Pittsburgh Steelers as a road underdog at AFC North rivals Cleveland Browns on Thursday night football. 

Note that the Steelers are 10-4 ATS as an underdog dating back to the start of the 2016 season and a perfect 3-0 ATS on Thursday nights over that same timeframe. 

The Cleveland Browns have been arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL this season, and they had lost four on the bounce prior to last week's win over Buffalo. 

The Steelers have quietly won four straight and covered the spread in six of their last seven contests. They might be without their star QB, but the defense is playing at an elite level. "They (the defense) are playing like the ‘85 (Chicago) Bears," backup quarterback Mason Rudolph said following Sunday's 17-12 win over the Los Angeles Rams. "It seems like, every week, forcing turnovers every other series, it seems like."

10* play on Pittsburgh Steelers. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NHL NO BRAINER

The New York Rangers are winners of three of their last four games and they're 5-1-1 through their last seven. The Tampa Bay Lightning are still priced on old merits even though they have just a marginally better record than the Rangers this season, and I strongly disagree that the visitors should be this big of a dog in this matchup. 

Note that the Rangers have won both their previous games where they closed as +200 dogs or more (in Nashville and in Carolina). 

8* play on New York Rangers. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Buffalo Sabres are 2-1 as a home dog on the season, with all three games going under the total. 

Here they'll host a Carolina team that has lost three straight games as road favorites, and Buffalo should come out some urgency here looking to snap an ugly five-game slide.

The Canes just ended a four-game losing streak of their own with a dominant 8-2 win over Ottawa. I would not be surprised if they come out flat here.

8* play on UNDER. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NCAAF BANKROLL BUILDER *MAXIMUM MACTION*

The two MAC rivals enter this contest on the opposite side of the momentum as Buffalo arrives at Dix Stadium as winners of three on the bounce while Kent State is coming off three straight defeats. 

Each of the Golden Flashes' defeats came by a touchdown or less though, and playing at home on a short week should give them an advantage over the visitors. 

Also keep in mind that Kent State needs to win out to reach six wins and secure bowl eligibility, which should spark some urgency from the Golden Flashes. 

8* play on Kent State. 

LATE NIGHT CHICAGO @ VEGAS NHL BOOKIE BLASTER

The Vegas Golden Knights are just a mediocre 4-3-2 home at T-Mobile Arena this season. They're coming into this contest off three straight losses and I like the price we get on Chicago to make it four in a row.

The Blackhawks have alternated wins and losses over their last six games and they've scored five goals in two of their past three. "We've got guys throughout our lineup that can create offense," said  Jonathan Toews, Chicago's captain. "You get a lead and everyone just relaxes a little bit, feels like, 'OK, we can make plays.' Not necessarily get too risky, but just play with a little bit more creativity instead of just throwing the puck away all the time."

Vegas has struggled to find the net lately and I would not be surprised to see the visitors steal this one. At this price, it's definitely worth a shot.

8* play on Chicago Blackhawks. 

BOWLING GREEN @ MIAMI-OH WEDNESDAY NIGHT BOOKIE BLASTER

The Bowling Green Falcons put a 35-6 beating on Akron as a 3.5-point favorite last time out. That was the first time they topped 20 points since Week 1, and I don't see them keeping up with the superior Miami-OH Redhawks in this matchup. 

The Falcons are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win and 0-4 ATS on the road this season (outscored 215-17), and here they'll face a Redhawks team that is on a 6-0 ATS run vs. teams with a losing record and 12-2 ATS in its last 14 conference games.

The Redhawks are coming off three straight wins as underdogs and can secure the 2019 MAC East title with a win here. I think it'll get the job done in front of the home town crowd. 

8* play on Miami-OH Redhawks. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED CLIPPERS @ ROCKETS *BEST BET*

The Houston Rockets are very much like the LA Clippers 7-3 SU on the season, but unlike the Clippers, they've failed to cover the point spread more often than not though entering this contest at 3-7 ATS. 

In recent contests, the Rockets have been able to take advantage of a soft schedule to make it four straight victories (3-1 ATS), but they're 0-4 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The Clippers are a solid 7-3 ATS on the season and coming off a 98-88 victory over the Raptors to make it a 5-0 ATS run. 

Houston has been constantly overrated because of its big-name duo in James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and while beating up on bottom feeders is easy, we have still to see them do well against a tougher opponent. 

10* play on LA Clippers. 

TOP RATED CAPITALS @ FLYERS *BEST BET*

I think we're getting a great price on the Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Wednesday night.

The Flyers are off to a hot start and will enter this contest on a four-game winning streak, but they'll host an angry Washington team looking to bounce back from a 4-3 SO loss to Arizona on Monday. The Caps had won six on the bounce prior to that setback and are 5-1 after allowing four goals or more their last game. 

Washington has won five of the previous six meetings between these teams, and this is a no brainer play on the best team in hockey right now. 

10* play on Washington Capitals. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT NHL BOOKIE BA$HER

The New Jersey Devils are just 4-5-4 on the season, and I don't think they should be this big of a favorite against any team, not even the lowly 6-10-1 Senators. 

Ottawa should be focused here after getting embarrassed in an 8-2 loss in Carolina on Monday night. Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said after Tuesday's practice. "We're going to put our work boots on tomorrow and be ready to play."

New Jersey no doubt deserves to be favored, but this is too good of a price on the visitors to pass on. 

8* play on Ottawa Senators. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TUESDAY MONEYLINE

The Edmonton Oilers have won each of their last four games closing as underdogs, and I really like their chances at San Jose Tuesday night. The Sharks have heated up lately, but they've still dropped four of their last six as favorites and they're 2-6 against teams with a winning record this season. 

Edmonton picked up a 6-2 victory at Anaheim on Sunday and is 6-2 after scoring 4 goals or more in its previous game. 

10* play on Edmonton Oilers. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Minnesota Wild are a poor 3-9 on the road this season, but here they'll face a Kings team they beat 5-1 at home on Oct. 26. They're 9-1-4 in the last 14 games overall against the Kings with wins in each of the last four matchups. The Kings are off to a miserable start to the season (dead last in the Western Conference) and enter this contest as losers of seven of their last eight overall.

8* play on Minnesota Wild. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Vancouver Canucks have dropped four in a row, among those two home losses. They are still a solid 4-1-1 home at Rogers Arena as they had opened the season with four straight home wins, and here they'll host a Nashville team that is almost just as cold with four losses in its last five games, with several losses as big favorites. 

The Nucks may not be playing their best hockey at the moment, but taking on another slumping team in their own building could be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track. 

8* play on Vancouver Canucks. 

NETS @ JAZZ HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Utah Jazz will be playing on no rest following a beatdown of the Warriors last night, but I still think they'll have enough gas left in the tank to take care of business against the Brooklyn Nets. 

Brooklyn has struggled on the defensive end all season and has given up 121.7 ppg, turning this into a complete mismatch against the best defensive team in the league.  

Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest. Nets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games and 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Utah.

8* play on Utah Jazz. 

TOP RATED MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

Golden State has been atrocious on the defensive end of the hardwood in recent games, but the Utah Jazz just might come out flat offensively in this following back-to-back home wins over two NBA heavyweights in Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

The Jazz have the best defensive efficiency in the league, and this edition of the Golden State Warriors lack the firepower to break them down. 

Under is 11-2-1 in Jazz last 14 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Under is 20-6-1 in Warriors last 27 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED RAPTORS @ CLIPPERS *BEST BET*

This is a complete mismatch scheduling-wise. The shorthanded Toronto Raptors (Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka are out) will be playing their third straight road game and on no rest following an upset win against the LA Lakers last night while the Clippers have had three days of rest since defeating Portland. Note that the Clippers are a perfect 7-0 ATS L7 when playing on three or more days rest. 

This game will be of particular importance for Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard who led the Raptors to the NBA Championship last season, and I don't think he'll show any mercy on his former teammates. 

Both teams have been money against the spread with identical 6-3 ATS records, but expect a fired up and rested home team to get the job done in this one.

10* play on LA Clippers. 

SEAHAWKS @ NINERS MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BOOKIE BLASTER

The San Francisco 49ers are the only undefeated team in the NFL heading into Monday Night Football, and I think they'll come out of this matchup with NFC West Rivals Seattle Seahawks unscathed. 

Sure, the Seahawks are a respectable 7-2 SU on the season, but they lost by six points to New Orleans and 14 to Baltimore, the only two teams they've faced that are close to the caliber of this Niners team. 

San Francisco got the job done but not much more in last week's 28-25 win at Arizona, but it was a clear sandwich spot as they played on a short week on a Thursday night after putting a 38-point beating on Carolina the week before and also most likely looking ahead to this contest. 

49ers are 27-7 ATS in their last 34 Monday games and the home team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 head-to-head meetings.

8* play on San Francisco 49ers. 

SOUTH DAKOTA @ HAWAII MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors always have strong home-court advantage on the island and they're 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

The South Dakota Coyotes fit that bill after opening the season with a 10-point win over Pacific on a neutral court. Hawaii dominated their season debut against Florida A&M, entering halftime with a 20-point lead and cruising through the rest of the game.

The Coyotes are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and I see no reason to not back the home team in this matchup. 

8* play on Hawaii. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED RAPTORS @ LAKERS TOTAL

The LA Lakers rank top of the league in defensive efficiency giving up just 94.5 points per 100 possessions and the Toronto Raptors are in the top 10. The under is 12-5-1 in the Raptors last 18 road games and 7-2 in the Lakers last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Additionally, the under is 7-2 in the last 9 head-to-head meetings.

The Raptors are shorthanded with All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and backup big man Serge Ibaka out. I think they'll try and slow down the pace to make it hard for the Lakers to run away with the game, and the Lakers are not playing at a particularly high pace as it is. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 10 SIDE

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost four on the bounce SU and ATS following a 40-34 OT loss at Seattle last week. There were still a lot of positives to take away from that contest as they dominated the time of possession against a top team and QB Jameis Winston threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns without a pick. 

Meanwhile, I think the Cardinals will come out flat here after leaving it all out on the field in a 28-25 home loss to San Francisco last week. It's the closest any team has played the Niners on the season, but it was still not quite as close as the scoreline would suggest. 

Arizona's defense must be bruised up after spending almost 35 minutes on the field against San Francisco, so we can expect the Bucs to have good success against an Arizona defense that has given up 407.6 yards per game. As for when Arizona has the ball, it will have to try and navigate past the best defense against the run in the NFL without its RB David Johnson, so Cardinals dual-threat QB Kyler Murray might be in for a tough one here. 

10* play on Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

LIONS @ BEARS NFC NORTH NO BRAINER

The Detroit Lions are 10-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record, and here they'll get to take a shot at NFC North rival Chicago Bears who are 3-5 following a four-game losing streak. 

The Bears were sharp early on, but their defense looks worn down after carrying the team all season. Mitch Trubisky (only five TD passes on the season) and the rest of the Bears offense managed just 164 yards of total offense in a 26-10 loss to Philadelphia last week, so I'm not all that worried about Detroit's defense, which admittedly is pretty poor. As for the Lions offense, Matt Stafford is having a great campaign as he ranks fourth in the NFL for passing yards and he is second in the league with 19 TD passes. 

Take as many points as you can get on the visitors, but I would not be surprised if they win this one outright. 

8* play on Detroit Lions. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 10 TOTAL

The Cincinnati Bengals have put up 17, 17 and 10 points in their last three games. Under is 6-2 in their eight games on the season and I think we'll see a relatively low-scoring affair when they host AFC North rivals Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon. I would not be surprised to see Baltimore come out flat here following a massive 37-20 win over New England last week, no facing a winless Cincinnati team and with Houston on deck. 

The Ravens picked up a 23-17 win over the Bengals home in Baltimore on Oct. 13 with a total closing at 47 points. The books have adjusted the total somewhat for this contest, but not enough if you ask me. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TENNESSEE @ KENTUCKY BOOKIE BLASTER

The Tennessee Volunteers have certainly improved since a 1-4 start and they enter this contest off back-to-back wins through which they put up a total of 71 points.

They're still 0-2 on the road, and I like the Kentucky Wildcats in this matchup as they're coming off their bye week and ATS winners in 8-2 of their last 10 games overall.

The bye is a key factor here as the Cats were dinged up and really needed the break. With an extra week to rest and prepare I expect them to come through in this one. 

8* play on Kentucky Wildcats. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAF): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 11 TOTAL

The over/under is 1-3 in the Florida Atlantic Owls' four home games on the season, and I think they're in for another low-scoring contest when hosting the Florida International Golden Panthers on Saturday.

The under is 9-5 in Florida Atlantic's last 14 games as a favorite and they'll face a Golden Panthers team that has scored a total of just 41 points over its last two games. The visitors did hold Old Dominion to 17 points last time out, and they can achieve bowl eligibility with a victory in this game but I doubt they like their chances in a shootout.

The Owls defense has conceded only a combined 27 points in their last two games and is unlikely to give up a big number here. 

10* play on UNDER. 

CELTICS @ SPURS TOTAL

The Boston Celtics held Charlotte to 87 points last time out, but here they'll face an opponent much more capable of putting the ball in the bucket. The Over is 7-1 in the San Antonio Spurs last eight home games and a perfect 2-0 in their games with a total lower than 217 points this season. 

Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in San Antonio. Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings overall. 

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE 'MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

I like the Fairfield Stags to keep it close and maybe even pull off an outright upset against the Massachusetts Minutemen on Saturday. 

Fairfield is coming off three straight defeats, but they did cover the spread in a four-point loss against Bucknell last time out. They're 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games, and here they'll face a Massachusetts side that is 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and 4-14 ATS in their last 18 games of a favorite of three points or more. 

Additionally, note Massachusetts' awful 47.1 shooting percentage from the charity stripe which could become a big issue at the late stages of a close game, I think we have a good case for the home team in this matchup. 

10* play on Fairfield. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAF): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 11 SIDE

The No. 13 Minnesota Golden Gophers are off to a perfect 8-0 start to the season, but I think their undefeated run will come to a halt when they host the also 8-0 No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday afternoon. 

This will be Minnesota's second game as an underdog on the season, and while they won 38-31 as a 2-point dog at Purdue in Week 4, the Boilermakers are not nearly as dangerous of an opponent as Penn State. Note that the Nittany Lions put a 35-7 beating on Purdue the week after its loss to the Golden Gophers, and here Penn State will come off a well-deserved bye after beating Michigan and Michigan State in back-to-back weeks. Sure, Minnesota is also off its bye week, but I still think the ATS edge is with the visitors here. 

Penn State won 28-7 at MSU last time out and is 14-5-1 ATS in its last 20 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points and 12-5 ATS in its last 17 road games. Nittany Lions are 4-1-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings with Minnesota.

10* play on Penn State Nittany Lions. 

WASHINGTON @ OREGON STATE FRIDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

I really like the Oregon State Beavers as a home underdog to the Washington Huskies Friday night. 

This looks like a potential flat spot for the visitors following their matchup with No. 9 Utah last week, and they'll face an Oregon State team that has covered the spread in six of its last seven games, winnning three of those games as underdogs outright. Note that Oregon State has a sneaky good offense that has scored 28 points in six of eight games this season while turning the ball over only twice. 

Washington is still the superior team, but the rowdy home town crowd will keep the Beavers in this game. 

10* play on Oregon State. 

CBB 3-PACK

The No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks should be ready to go off here after dropping their season opener to Duke in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Here they'll take on a weak NC-Greensboro team home at Allen Fieldhouse, a venue where they're 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games. UNC opened the season with an 83-50 rout of crosstown rival North Carolina AT&T, but I don't see them hanging around with a Kansas team off a loss. 

8* play on Kansas Jayhawks. 

GRIZZLIES @ MAGIC FRIDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Orlando Magic are playing at the slowest pace in the NBA and they also have the worst offensive efficiency. The Memphis Grizzlies are playing at a much higher pace but their effective field goal percentage is among the worst in the league.

Memphis is coming off a 137-point outing against Minnesota, but the under 10-4 in Grizzlies last 14 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and 1-6-1 in Orlando's eight games on the season. 

8* play on UNDER. 

CBB 3-PACK

The No. 4 Duke Blue Devils opened the season with a win over Kansas in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Here they'll face a Colorado State team that is coming off an 11-point win over Denver, but this is obviously a huge step up in competition. Duke seems determined to not let the departures of Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, and RJ Barrett affect the team. "Coach told us first day, 'Big brother's not here. RJ and Zion are not here. We've gotta be an old-fashioned Duke team.' … We might be ugly, but we're gonna get the W. We're going to be very, very, very aggressive," Duke freshman Cassius Stanley said after the season premiere. I expect them to show no mercy on this Rams team that is 16-39-2 ATS in its last 57 non-conference games.

8* play on Duke Blue Devils. 

CBB 3-PACK

The No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats opened the season with a 69-62 victory over No. 1 Michigan State in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. They have a team packed with talent (as always) and should not slip up here against an Eastern Kentucky side that is coming off a win against Chattanooga. The Colonels are however just 3-8-2 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up win and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games while the Wildcats are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.

8* play on Kentucky Wildcats. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL MONEYLINE PLAY OF THE DAY

The Colorado Avalanche are 0-4-1 in their last five games and will have to do without both captain Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen when they host the Nashville Predators Thursday night. The Preds are healthy and snapped a two-game skid with a 6-1 victory over Detroit on Monday. 

Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne is 8-0-2 with a 2.07 GAA on the season and he has great career numbers against the Avs who's goalie Philipp Grubauer has had a rough time in recent outings.

10* play on the Nashville Predators. 

TOP RATED 10* CHARGERS @ RAIDERS BOOKIE BREAKER

The LA Chargers are right back in the playoff race following back-to-back underdog wins against Chicago and Green Bay. They're a small road favorite at Oakland Thursday night, and I think they'll make it three in a row. They've allowed a total of just 27 points during that winning streak, which can be compared to the Raiders who have surrendered 31 points per game over their last three contests. The Chargers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings and I expect their dominance over their AFC West rival to continue here. 

Additionally, the Chargers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games, 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games in November and 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 road games.

10* play on LA Chargers. 

CELTICS @ HORNETS TOP RATED TOTAL

The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Indiana Pacers 122-120 in OT last time out to improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 at home. They struggled big time on the defensive end in their first two home games though, and here they'll face a Boston Celtics side that is coming off a 119-113 win at Cleveland to make it four wins on the bounce. The Celtics have scored 116+ points in three of those wins and each of the last five games in this series has gone over the total.

Over is 5-1-1 in Hornets last 7 home games and 13-5-1 in their last 19 games following a straight up win.

10* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED 10* 76ERS @ JAZZ NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Utah Jazz have opened the season with seven straight unders, and I think another relatively low-scoring affair is in the cards when they host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night. 

The Sixers will be looking to bounce back from a 114-109 loss at Phoenix Suns on Monday, and they're likely to be focusing on getting the defense right. "Obviously defensively, I thought they never really felt us in the second half," forward Tobias Harris told reporters after the setback. "They got too many easy looks, too many open looks. So, I thought that was probably the biggest adjustment." 

Overall on the season, Philly is still a top 10 team in defensive efficiency, a category the Jazz rank no. 1 for, but Utah is also one of the worst teams in the league in offensive efficiency.  

Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Utah and 9-2 in the last 11 meetings overall.

10* play on UNDER. 

VIRGINIA @ SYRACUSE CBB BOOKIE BLASTER

The No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers are expected to take a step down in quality from the team that won the National Championship last season, but I think they're good enough to get a win and ATS cover at Syracuse Wednesday night. 

Virginia has lost key pieces like  DeAndre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy who were all drafted in the last NBA Draft, but the same is also true for this Syracuse team which will need to replace four of its top six scorers. Virginia has consistently ranked top-10 in defensive rating in recent seasons, and coach Tony Bennett should have a good enough of a gameplan in mind to outlast Cuse. 

8* play on Virginia Cavaliers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED NBA SIDE

The Orlando Magic are winless at Dallas since January 2011 and the Mavericks have covered the spread in four of the last five meetings overall. 

The Mavs are clearly the better side this season coming into this matchup with a 4-2 record, and they'll also have a big rest advantage with the Magic on the second leg of a back-to-back set while the home team has had two days of rest since its last game. 

Magic are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Mavs are coming off a 131-111 beatdown of the Cavs at Clevland and are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.

10* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

NOTRE DAME @ NORTH CAROLINA BANKROLL BUILDER

The North Carolina Tar Heels look like a solid home favorite when they host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Chapel Hill Wednesday night.

They enter the season ranked 11th in the nation, and that despite losing their top five scorers from last season. That says a lot of how much depth of talent this team always has, and it'll face a Notre Dame team on the decline after finishing last season with a losing record.

The home team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings and that's a trend I like to continue. 

8* play on North Carolina Tar Heels. 

LAKERS @ BULLS TUESDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The LA Lakers have played locked down basketball lately holding opponents to an average of 96.8 ppg through a five-game winning streak, and that's despite one of the games going to OT. They lead the league in defensive efficiency (the number of points a team allows per 100 possessions) and here they'll face a Chicago team that has been held to fewer than 100 points in three of its last four games. 

Under is 26-10-1 in the Bulls last 37 home games vs. a team with a winning road record while the under is 14-5 in Lakers last 19 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400 and I think they'll limit the damage the 2-5 Bulls can do on offense. 

10* play on UNDER. 

SPURS @ HAWKS TOTAL

The Atlanta Hawks are coming off back-to-back 97-point outings against Miami, but I think they'll put a decent amount of points on the board in this one. 

This San Antonio Spurs team is not of the same mold as what we've seen in recent seasons as they're playing a much higher pace and with more points on both ends of the hardwood as a result. 

The Spurs rank top 10 for offensive efficiency and the over/under is 4-2 in their six games on the season. Additionally, both teams will be fairly well rested, particularly the Hawks as this will be their first game of the month. 

The over/under is 50-35-2 since the start of the 2017 season with one team playing on 3+ days of rest and the opponent has had at least one day between games. 

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TUESDAY NIGHT MONEYLINE

This looks like a tough spot for the Boston Bruins. They might have won six in a row, but they'll be playing on no rest following a 6-4 win over Pittsburgh on Monday and facing a well rested Montreal Canadiens team. 

The Habs last played on November 2 when they took a 4-1 loss to the Stars, but they had won three straight prior to that setback. "The real explanation is that I didn't think we had our legs," said Montreal coach Claude Julien after the loss. "I didn't think we had the energy tonight...we looked like a tired team (Saturday)." 

Expect the Habs to have more energy for this one, and I think they'll look forward to this opportunity to beat the current beast of the east. 

10* play on Montreal Canadiens. 

KANSAS VS. DUKE CHAMPIONS CLASSIC BANKROLL BUILDER

The Kansas Jayhawks have dominated the Duke Blue Devils in recent seasons, and that's a trend I think will continue here in the opener of the 2018/2019 season.

Duke has lost key pieces like national player of the year Zion Williamson and top-three NBA draft pick R.J. Barrett from last season's roster and Tre Jones might end up being the Blue Devils only non-freshman starter on this year's team. 

Additionally, Kansas has arguably the best center in the game in Udoka Azubuike, a position where Duke is fairly weak. Azubuike played just nine games before suffering a torn ligament in his right hand last season, so he should be well up for this season. 

8* play on Kansas Jayhawks. 

MONDAY NIGHT NHL MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Edmonton Oilers are 5-1-0 at home on the season and head into the new week at the top of the Pacific Division, but I think they'll come up short in this matchup against Arizona.

The Coyotes are one of the hottest teams in the NHL with seven wins in their last nine games (and four in their last five road games) following a 3-0 home shutout of Colorado, and are just four points behind Edmonton in the standings. The Oilers return home from a tough three-game road trip that concluded with a 2-1 OT win at Pittsburgh on Saturday, but they were put under heavy pressure and were outshot 52-28. 

The Yotes are streaky and should be fairly well rested having played the fewest games of any team in the conference, and I think we're getting a great price on the visitors. 

8* play on Arizona Coyotes. 

BUCKS @ WOLVES MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

Both the 4-2 Milwaukee Bucks and the 4-1 Minnesota Timberwolves are off to fast starts to the season thanks to good shooting with both sides averaging almost 120 ppg. 

Minnesota is coming off a 131-109 win over Washington but will have to do without its star center Karl-Anthony Towns who is suspended. Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, 15 rebounds, eight assists in a 115-105 win over Toronto last time out. The Greek Freak should have another big game with Towns not there to challenge him, and as for when the Wolves have the ball, expect them to move it up the floor quickly with only Houston averaging more possessions per game. 

Over is 12-3-1 in Bucks last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and 9-4 in Timberwolves last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

8* play on OVER. 

PELICANS @ NETS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The New Orleans Pelicans took a 115-104 loss at Oklahoma City on Saturday, and did not only lose the game but also their leading scorer Brandon Ingram to a head injury (might miss this game). They're 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points and here they'll face a Brooklyn Nets team that defeated Houston their last time out home at Barclays Center. 

The Nets are 2-4 SU on the season, but three of their four losses came by four or fewer points so it's fair to say that they've been battling. 

The Pels are winless on the road and unlikely to keep up with a Nets side looking to get a win in front of the home town crowd before embarking on a five-game road trip. 

8* play on Brooklyn Nets. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S JAZZ @ CLIPPERS TOTAL TOP PLAY

The Utah Jazz have the best scoring defense in the NBA with only 94.0 ppg allowed per game while holding opponents to 42.1 percent shooting from the field. They're also one of the slowest teams with just 100.7 possessions per game and have yet to see any of their games go over the total this season. The Clippers have also stepped it up a notch on the defensive end in recent games and limited the Spurs to 97 points last time out. Under is 3-0 in their last three overall and 4-1 in Clippers last 5 home games. 

We saw just a total of 206 points when these two teams did battle at Utah earlier this week, and I think this will be another low-scoring affair. 

10* play on UNDER. 

PACKERS @ CHARGERS LATE AFTERNOON ATS ANNIHILATOR

The 3-5 LA Chargers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 17-16 win at Chicago last week. They pretty much stole that one though, getting outgained by 157 yards while generating only 11 first downs and were fortunate to dodge a 41 yard Bears field goal attempt as time expired. 

They gave up nearly 400 yards of total offense to a very limited Bears offense, and here they'll face one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Green Bay's (7-1) Aaron Rodgers who has roasted defenses all season long. 

During a four-game winning streak, Rodgers has thrown for 1,255 yards with 10 touchdowns against just one interception. Add the fact that his favorite target, star WR Davante Adams, could be back in action for this one after missing the last four games and I'm sure you'll agree that the home team is in big trouble. 

Additionally, the Chargers have virtually no home-field advantage what so ever, going just 2-8-1 ATS at home since the start of last season.  

8* play on Green Bay Packers. 

BUCS @ SEAHAWKS BOOKIE BLASTER

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a 27-23 loss at Tennessee last week but had a decent game (bar four turnovers) and outgained the Titans 389 yards to 246. I think they'll give the Seattle Seahawks all they can handle Sunday afternoon. 

Seattle is coming off a 27-20 win at the reeling Atlanta Falcons. They led 24-0 at halftime and could afford to allow the Falcons to move the ball around a bit in the second half, but it's still worth noting that the Falcons outgained them 510-322 and backup QB Matt Schaub was allowed to throw for 460 yards. 

While Bucs QB Jameis Winston has been a turnover machine in recent weeks, he is also capable of putting up big numbers (380+ passing yards in three games this season) and the Seahawks defense is not what it used to be, entering Week 9 ranked 19th against the pass and 23rd against the run. 

Additionally, Tampa Bay's defense is best in the NFL at stopping the run giving up just 68.6 ypg, so the Seahawks will be in big trouble if Russell Wilson has an off day under center. Now I'm well aware the Wilson has been putting up tremendous numbers all season, but all in all, I think the visitors are spotted too many points to pass. 

8* play on Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 9 SIDE

The 3-4 Pittsburgh Steelers are coming into this contest as winners of two in a row, but I think we can all agree that it's not all that impressive to beat up on Miami and the LA Chargers. 

Here they'll face a very tough opponent in the 5-2 Indianapolis Colts who have won five of their last six and three in a row with quality wins over KC and Houston mixed in. The Colts have held opponents to just 16.3 ppg over a three-game stretch and the Steelers are not the greatest team moving the ball with backup QB Mason Rudolph at the helm. Additionally running back James Conner is banged up and at risk of missing this game.

Note that Pittsburgh has been outgained in all but two of its games (against Miami and Cincinnati), and often by triple-digits. 

The Steelers will play on a relatively short week and are just 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game. Additionally, the Colts are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games while the Steelers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

10* play on Indianapolis Colts. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 9 TOTAL

The Carolina Panthers defense will be ready for this one after giving up 50+ points to San Francisco last week. Note that the over/under is 4-11 in the last 15 NFL games where one of the teams conceded 50 points or more its last game. 

Here Carolina will face a Tennessee Titans team that has struggled all season long and will have Ryan Tannehill under center for a second straight week after benching Marcus Mariota. Tennessee's offense is among the worst in the league averaging only 5.0 yards per play and Carolina is only marginally better at 5.2 ypp. 

Both teams are much more accomplished on the defensive side of the ball, and Titans run defense should be able to if not stop, at least contain Panthers' star running back Christian McCaffrey. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TEXANS VS. JAGUARS @ LONDON (9:30 AM ET)

The Houston Texans are coming into this contest in London, England dinged up on both sides of the ball, and they'll face a Jacksonville team that is playing with a lot of confidence at the moment.

The Jags have been particularly impressive on defense lately, holding New Orleans, Cincinnati and the New York Jets to 13, 17 and 15 points, respectively in the last three weeks. They'll be looking to avenge a 13-12 loss at Houston on Sept. 15 and know what these London games are all about with this being their fifth trip across the pond in as many years. 

8* play on Jacksonville Jaguars

TOP RATED 10* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Philadelphia 76ers have the fourth best scoring defense in the league and they have held opponents to 35.5 percent shooting from the field.

The Portland Trail Blazers shot just 39.5 percent in a 102-99 win at OKC last time out, and while they generally shoot the ball much better home at Moda Center I don't see points coming easy in this one. 

Under is 3-1 in the Sixers four games on the season and 6-2 in their last 8 vs. teams from the Western Conference. 

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Washington Wizards have seen an average of 280+ points scored over their last two games, and I think we'll see another high-scoring affair when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday night.

Minnesota has averaged a healthy 114.8 ppg on the season and it has played at the 6th highest pace in the league entering Saturday's slate of games.  

Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Washington and 6-1 in the last 7 meetings overall.

8* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

Two of the best teams in the East will battle it out Saturday as the Toronto Raptors visit the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Milwaukee is just 2-2 on the season despite averaging 120.0 ppg overall and 127.5 ppg in two games at home. They put a 123-91 beating on the Magic at Orlando last night and they'll face a Raptors team off 125-113 win over Detroit.

Both teams rank in the top 10 for offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions) and Milwaukee tops the league for effective field goal percentage.

The over is 8-3 in Raptors last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and 14-6 in Bucks last 20 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAF): MIKE'S VIRGINIA @ UNC ACC ANNIHILATOR

The Virginia Cavaliers look like a solid road dog at North Carolina as the teams battle it out for first place in the ACC Coastal division Saturday night. 

The Tar Heels are coming off a dramatic 20-17 win over rival Duke while Virginia came out flat to take a 28-21 loss at Louisville last week. Count on Virginia to bounce back behind its stellar defense that ranks second in the conference for yards allowed and third in scoring defense. 

The Cavaliers have dropped three of their last four and gave up 360 yards of offense to Louisville, but they're so much better than that result would indicate. There's a reason why they're top of the division with a 5-3 record (3-2 in the conference) while North Carolina is 2nd at 4-4 (3-2 conference record), and the Cavaliers are undervalued by bookmakers and the public after failing to cover the spread in five of their last six games.  

10* play on Virginia Cavaliers. 

UTAH @ WASHINGTON PAC 12 PUNISHER

The Washington Huskies host the No. 10 Utah Utes Saturday afternoon, and I think the home team has a good chance of covering the spread and maybe even win outright. 

Utah lost 30-23 as a 3.5-point favorite at USC earlier in the season and will have its hands full with a Washington side coming off its bye week and looking to bounce back from a home loss to Oregon. 

The Utes stellar defense is fourth in the country for points conceded and has not allowed a touchdown in any of their last two games, but this will be the biggest test they've faced on the road, and a team that has owned them in recent seasons at that. Note that Washington swept two from the Utes last year, including the PAC 12 title game. 

Huskies are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a bye week.

8* play on Washington Huskies. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAF): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 10 TOTAL

The Boston College have the worst scoring defense in the ACC giving up 32.0 ppg and the over/under is 6-2 in their eight games on the season. Their defense was lit up in a 59-7 loss to Clemson last time out and the Syracuse Orange, despite their limitations, should be able to move the ball quite freely. 

As for when Boston College has the ball, it averages a healthy 31.1 points per game and has the 10th best ground game in the country led by elite running back in AJ Dillon. Syracuse has allowed 160.0 rushing yards per game so expect BC to have decent success moving the ball on the ground. 

10* play on OVER. 

SPURS @ WARRIORS FRIDAY NIGHT TOTAL

Scoring points could become an issue for the Golden State Warriors for the foreseeable future. With shooting guard Klay Thompson already out for what looks like the rest of the season, they'll now also have to do without star guard Stephen Curry who suffered a broken hand in Wednesday's 121-110 loss to Phoenix. 

The Spurs are coming off a 103-97 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday night and unlikely to push the tempo, and this dinged up Warriors team is unlikely to be able to take advantage of eventual heavy legs the visitors might have

Under is 15-6-1 in Spurs last 22 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400 and 7-2 in Warriors last 9 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* JAZZ @ KINGS NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Utah Jazz are limiting opponents to 40.8% shooting from the field on the season and have yet to allow more than 96 points in any of their games. 

As for the Sacramento Kings, they're averaging only 98.6 ppg and note that both these teams are in the bottom six in the NBA for offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions). 

Utah is as per usual one of the slowest teams in the league just barely breaking 100 possessions per game and the under is 5-0 in their first five games this season. 

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Los Angeles Lakers have won three straight home games SU and ATS since a season-opening road loss at the Clippers. They'll be back on the road for a matchup with the Mavs at Dallas Friday night, and I like the Lakers to put on a show and earn their first W away from home. 

Dallas has won three of four following a 109-106 upset win at Denver, but that was against a Nuggets team playing on no rest. Note that the Mavs are 6-11 ATS coming off a win as and underdog dating back to the start of the last season and 8-19-2 ATS in their last 29 Friday games.

Dallas has a promising star duo in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, but they're not at the level of Lakers' LeBron James and Anthony Davis just yet. 

8* play on LA Lakers. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Detroit Pistons have struggled on the defensive end of the hardwood, but I just don't think the home team can take advantage with the Bulls coming into this contest on a three-game losing streak through which they've averaged 97.6 ppg. 

Detroit is likely to be without two starters in forward Blake Griffin (hamstring, knee) and guard Reggie Jackson (back), so it can hardly afford to make this a high-tempo game, particularly not with the Nets on deck tomorrow. 

Both teams are shooting under 40 percent from the field, so it stands to reason that we'll see a sluggish game with sloppy shooting.

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED FRIDAY NIGHT MONEYLINE

The New York Islanders look like a solid bet against the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday night. 

They enter this contest as winners of seven in a row and have had plenty of time to get ready for this one following a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning, on the other hand, will play their third game in four nights and seem flustered by a rather mediocre 6-4-2 start to the season. "Last year there were times we wouldn't play that good but win easily, but this year it's a little different. It's a different season, and we have a lot of different guys. But I don't want to keep talking about last season," Ondrej Palat said following a wild 7-6 overtime victory over New Jersey on Tuesday. 

Look for the Islanders go get it done home at Barclays Center. 

10* play on NY Islanders. 

TOP RATED 10* SPURS @ CLIPPERS TOTAL

The LA Clippers will be playing on no rest following a loss at Utah last night. I think their heavy legs could become an issue on defense, something that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will be smart enough to exploit by urging his team to push the ball tempo to get open shots. 

The Spurs have averaged 119 ppg while going a perfect 3-0 on the season and the Clippers have had no trouble scoring, entering this contest with a 121.5 ppg average despite being held to 96 points by the Jazz last night. Note that star forward Kawhi Leonard was rested yesterday, and he'll surely be up for putting points on the board against his former team. 

Additionally, we can note that both teams rank near the top of the league for offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions). 

Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings and the last head-to-head matchup here at Staples Center saw a total of 233 points scored. 

10* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED 49ERS @ CARDINALS THURSDAY NIGHT *BEST BET*

Do not let the fact that the San Francisco 49ers put up 51 points against Carolina last week scare you. They had played four straight unders prior to that offensive explosion, and I think they'll let the defense pick up the slack here when playing on a short week at Arizona Cardinals Thursday night. 

Arizona and rookie QB Kyler Murray had put up impressive offensive numbers against weak defenses (Cincinnati, Atlanta, NY Giants) before getting exposed by New Orleans' elite defense in a 31-9 loss last week. The Niners lead the NFL in total defense and points allowed, so points will most likely be equally hard to come by for the home team in this one. 

Under is 9-3 in 49ers last 12 Thursday games. Under is 7-3 in 49ers last 10 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. Under is 7-1 in Cardinals last 8 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

HEAT @ HAWKS TOTAL

The Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks 112-97 with a total closing at 223 just a couple of days ago. The books have adjusted the total plenty for the second leg of this home-and-home set, but I still think it's set too high. 

The Hawks will have to do without Eastern Conference Player of the Week Trae Young (34 points and nine assists average on the season), a tough break for a team that has averaged just 105 ppg. 

The Heat have pushed the tempo in most of their games, but I don't think the Hawks will allow the Miami to dictate the pace in their own building. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED NHL TOTAL

The Vancouver Canucks put an 8-2 beating on the LA Kings three weeks ago, and I think we'll see another high-scoring affair when the two teams clash at Staples Center Wednesday night. 

The Kings took a 5-1 loss to Chicago on Sunday and are giving up 4+ goals per game on the season. I don't think they'll allow the visiting Nucks to skate away with this game comfortably, but to stay in this contest they'll need to score. Note that Vancouver averaging a healthy 3.64 gpg, fifth in the NHL, and put seven in a win against Florida Monday night. 

10* play on OVER. 

WEDNESDAY 3-PACK

The Vancouver Canucks put an 8-2 beating on the LA Kings three weeks ago, and I think we'll see another high-scoring affair when the two teams clash at Staples Center Wednesday night. 

The Kings took a 5-1 loss to Chicago on Sunday and are giving up 4+ goals per game on the season. I don't think they'll allow the visiting Nucks to skate away with this game comfortably, but to stay in this contest they'll need to score. Note that Vancouver averaging a healthy 3.64 gpg, fifth in the NHL, and put seven in a win against Florida Monday night. 

While I'm confident we'll see the scoreboard light up plenty, I am also almost equally confident that the visitors will be responsible for the majority of the goals. 

8* play on Vancouver Canucks. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Houston Rockets are coming off back-to-back home wins over New Orleans and OKC Thunder, but they're still very much trying to figure out how to make Russell Westbrook and James Harden work together effectively. They enter this contest with an 0-3 ATS record on the season while the hosts Washington Wizards are a perfect 3-0 ATS, and I like the home team to keep this game a lot closer than the point-spread would suggest.

The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings in this series and the Wizards should be well up for this one after opening the season with three consecutive road games. 

10* play on Washington Wizards. 

PISTONS @ RAPTORS ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Detroit Pistons are off to a respectable 2-2 SU and ATS start to the season and have already won twice straight up as underdogs. 

The Toronto Raptors are a solid 3-1 SU and ATS but let the Magic hang around before pulling away late in a 104-95 triumph last time out. 

The Pistons have caused the Raptors plenty of problems at Scotiabank Arena in recent season going 6-2 ATS over the last 8 visits. 

Toronto has a much more interesting matchup with Eastern Conference powerhouse Milwaukee Bucks on deck and just might end up taking Detroit too lightly in this matchup. 

8* play on Detroit Pistons. 

BULLS @ CAVS TOTAL

The Chicago Bulls have played three straight unders since opening the season with a 251 point game at Charlotte. They've averaged only 91 ppg scored over their last two and I think another low-scoring contest is in the cards when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night. 

The Cavs took a 129-112 loss at Milwaukee last time out but had averaged fewer than 100 ppg through their first couple of games this season.

Both teams rank in the bottom third in the league for pace and offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions). While neither team is capable of playing shut down defense, I still think we have a strong case for the under. 

8* play on UNDER. 

LATE NIGHT JETS @ DUCKS BOOKIE BLASTER BAILOUT

The Anaheim Ducks have gone 1-4 over their last five following a hot 6-2 start to the season. Here they return home from a four-game road trip which should work wonders for the confidence as they've won four of five home in the Duck Pond. 

The visiting Winnipeg Jets have not had the best of preparations following a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames in the Heritage Classic outdoor game played at Mosaic Stadium, home of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders, Saturday night. The Jets have not scored more than two goals in regulation in any of their last seven games which could spell trouble against a Ducks team that at the very least can score goals in its own building. 

8* play on Anaheim Ducks. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED TUESDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Dallas Mavericks have averaged 121 ppg while splitting a couple of high-scoring affairs against New Orleans and Portland, but I think points will be harder to come by here at Denver Tuesday night with the home team looking to slow down the tempo. 

The Nuggets are 2-0 to the under on the season, scoring 108 points in both games with an average of only 103.5 ppg allowed (and that despite Friday's matchup at Phoenix going to overtime). They were just outside of the top 10 for defensive efficiency (the number of points a team allows per 100 possessions) last season and it looks like Denver will be hard to beat on the defensive end of the hardwood this season as well. 

Under is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games playing on 0 days rest and 16-5 in their last 21 home games. Under is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings at Pepsi Center.

*Write up posted before the conclusion of Denver's matchup with the Kings at Sacramento Monday night. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB): MIKE'S WORLD SERIES GAME 6 BEST BET

The home team has yet to win a game in this series with Washington opening the World Series with a couple of wins here at Minute Maid Park before their bats went silent to get outscored 19-3 in three games home at Nationals Park. The Astros are just one game away from clinching the trophy, and I think they'll get it done with a convincing win at their own ballpark. 

Nats' righty Stephen Strasburg (4-0, 1.93 ERA) is obviously a tremendous pitcher, but he'll have to outduel Justin Verlander (1-3, 4.15 ERA) and the visitors' bullpen has been an issue for them all season long. Verlander's career record in the World Series is nothing to brag about (0-5 with a 5.73 ERA in six starts), but the Nats' bats have gone missing at the worst possible time. 

Astros are 20-5 in Verlander's last 25 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game and 20-6 in his last 26 starts with 5 days of rest.

10* play on Houston Astros -1.5. 

NBA 3-PACK

Both the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns will play their third game in four nigths (and fourth in six), but at least the Suns have the advantage of playing in their own building. The Suns are 2-1 SU (3-0 ATS) on the season and in the groove following a 130-122 upset against the Clippers. "It feels amazing, everybody chipped in," Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. told reporters. "We fought through adversity once again, but we're finding who we are and we're continuing to grow and that's the most beautiful thing about it."

The Jazz took a nine-point loss at LA Lakers on Friday but bounced right back with a massive beatdown of the Kings the next day. Still, I think they're at risk of underestimating the Suns and I like the home team to keep this close. 

Additionally we can note that the under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings overall and 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Phoenix.

8* play on Phoenix Suns. 

NBA 3-PACK

Both the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns will play their third game in four nights (and fourth in six), but at least the Suns have the advantage of playing in their own building. The Suns are 2-1 SU (3-0 ATS) on the season and in the groove following a 130-122 upset against the Clippers. "It feels amazing, everybody chipped in," Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. told reporters. "We fought through adversity once again, but we're finding who we are and we're continuing to grow and that's the most beautiful thing about it."

The Jazz took a nine-point loss at LA Lakers on Friday but bounced right back with a massive beatdown of the Kings the next day. Still, I think they're at risk of underestimating the Suns and I like the home team to keep this close. 

Additionally, we can note that the under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings overall and 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Phoenix.

8* play on UNDER. 

PANTHERS @ CANUCKS NHL MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Vancouver Canucks will be playing on two days rest while the Florida Panthers will be playing their second game in as many nights, but I still like the visitors to come through with a win at Rogers Arena Monday night. 

The Nucks just might have had too many days to mull over Friday's 6-5 loss to the Caps in a game where they coughed up a four-goal lead. The Panthers have earned at least one point in eight straight games after picking up a 6-2 win at Edmonton on Sunday and they've scored four goals or more in five of their last six games, the lone exception a 3-2 shootout triumph at Nashville. 

Panthers are 24-4 in their last 28 Monday games and 6-2 in their last 8 games as an underdog. Canucks are 8-17 in their last 25 games playing on 2 days rest.

8* play on Florida Panthers. 

NBA 3-PACK

The New York Knicks are still in search of their first win of the season, and I think this looks like a good spot against the one-win Chicago Bulls. Both teams are coming off blowout losses, but it should be easier for the home team to pick itself up and bounce back in its own building.

The Knickerbockers are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings at Madison Square Garden and the home town crowd will no doubt do its best to carry the team to a victory. 

8* play on New York Knicks. 

BLUES @ RED WINGS NHL BANKROLL BUILDER

The Detroit Red Wings look like a live home dog here against the St. Louis Blues Sunday afternoon. 

Detroit has dropped seven straight and the team must be getting really desperate for a win, and what better time to end the skid than versus the defending Stanley Cup champs? Additionally, we can note that the Blues are winless in their last three on the road and will have to do without one of their top offensive players with Vladimir Tarasenko out with an upper-body injury.

St. Louis is clearly the better team, but the price is right to back the home side at Little Caesars Arena. 

8* play on Detroit Red Wings. 

RAIDERS @ TEXANS ATS ANNIHILATOR (6:25 ET KICK OFF)

The Oakland Raiders will pay a visit to the Houston Texans Sunday afternoon, and I think the home team will cover this team rather comfortably. 

The Raiders took a 42-24 loss at Green Bay last week and have now allowed 21 points or more in each of their last five contests. All their three losses this season have come by 18 points or more and they're 3-7 ATS in their last 10 as an underdog of at least 6 points. 

Oakland is allowing 27.5 points a game, 29th in the league, and its pass rush is terrible (only 10 sacks on the season). The team allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw for 429 yards and five touchdowns last week while Patrick Mahomes roasted them for 443 yards and four scores when the Chiefs visited the Raiders in Week 2. 

Here the Raiders will come up against Houston QB Deshaun Watson who can not only air it out, but also run with the football, and I just don't see how Oakland can keep up with Houston's offensive firepower. 

The Texans have won four of six despite losing 30-23 as a 1½-point dog at Indianapolis last Sunday. They're 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss and the Raiders are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

8* play on Houston Texans. 

PANTHERS @ 49ERS BANKROLL BUILDER (4:05 PM ET START)

This will be the undefeated 6-0 San Francisco 49ers biggest test of the season, and I think the surging 4-2 Carolina Panthers will give the Niners a real scare here.  

The Panthers will enter this contest with a ton of confidence after reeling off four straight wins following an 0-2 start. They'll be fresh and well prepared coming off their bye while the Niners picked up an ugly 9-0 win on a soggy, muddy field at Washington last week. The Niners defense spent most of its time stopping the run, and now they'll be faced with the task of slowing down one of the most dominant running backs in the game in Christian McCaffrey. 

Panthers are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. 49ers are 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Panthers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings in San Francisco.

8* play on Carolina Panthers. 

WARRIORS @ THUNDER BOOKIE BREAKER

The Golden State Warriors took a 141-122 beating by the Clippers in their season debut, and Warriors forward Draymond Green was extremely disappointed with the team's performance. "We (expletive) sucked," Green told reporters. "And we gotta get better. I'm not a coach, so I'm not about to go watch a film and say, 'Oh, well we can build on this.' I really don't give a damn about what we can build on. We sucked tonight, and we gotta get better overall. And that's just what it is."

Green should be able to light a fire in his young Warriors teammates and have them ready for this game, and while this is cleary the weakest Warriors side we've seen in several seasons the Thunder have also lost key pieces. Golden State still has All Stars like Steph Curry and Green, but the Thunder lack any kind of star power after not replacing the departed duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George. 

I expect Golden State to come through with a win here. 

8* play on Golden State Warriors. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 8 ATS PICK

The 5-1 Buffalo Bills didn't look all that good in their 31-21 win over Miami last week, but I think there's an obvious explanation for that with complacency likely kicking in against such an inferior opponent. They may not have covered the 17-point spread, but they did get the W which at the end of the day is all that matters, and it didn't look like they had to spend a lot of energy earning it. 

The 3-4 Philadelphia Eagles on the other hand are coming off back-to-back draining road losses at Minnesota and Dallas, and they were badly outmatched in Sunday's 37-10 loss as a 3-point underdog to the Cowboys. Philly QB Carson Wentz completed only 16-of-26 passes for 191 yards with a TD and an INT, and here he'll come up against arguably the best defense in the league. 

While Buffalo isn't scoring all that many points (20.2 ppg), the Eagles defense has been atrocious lately and has given up 31.5 ppg in four road games.

It's a short trip for the Eagles this time, but it is nonetheless a third straight road game and I think Buffalo's D and the hostile environment at New Era Field will be too much for the visitors to overcome. 

10* play on Buffalo Bills. 

CHARGERS @ BEARS

The Chicago Bears are coming off a couple of relatively high-scoring defeats against Oakland and New Orleans. They're desperate for a win now, and I think their defense will step it up a notch again here when hosting the slumping LA Chargers. 

The visitors have scored just a total of 50 points through three consecutive losses and they had played five straight unders prior to last week's 23-20 loss (42.5-point total) at Tennessee. The Chargers are a slow team that lets the clock run a fair amount of time between snaps and moving the ball won't be easy against this elite Chicago defense. 

That being said, the Chargers defense is actually pretty decent as well and ranks just behind the Bears with 333.3 total yards allowed per game. Chicago's offense is quite limited and has averaged only 18.7 ppg and I expect to see an ugly and slow, low-scoring affair at Soldier Field this Sunday.

8* play on UNDER.  

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED RAPTORS @ BULLS ATS PICK

The Toronto Raptors are 1-1 on the season following a 112-106 setback at Boston last night. They'll be playing on no rest here at the 1-1 Chicago Bulls Saturday night, but note that the home team also will play the second leg of a back-to-back after picking up 110-102 triumph at Memphis on Friday. 

It will be interesting to see how the Bulls will develop throughout the season, but I think the Raptors are due for a statement game after starting the season with two rather disappointing outings.

The Raptors are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games playing on no rest and the road team is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings in this series. 

10* play on Toronto Raptors. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAF): MIKE'S TEXAS @ TCU BEST BET

The Texas Longhorns are 5-2 on the season with losses to LSU and Oklahoma. No shame in that, and  I like them as a small road favorite against a TCU team that is coming off back-to-back road losses at Iowa State and Kansas State. Sure, the Horned Frogs had a bye week in between, but the losses mean that they're now just 3-3 on the season. 

The Horned Frogs own the conference’s No. 1-ranked defense and have allowed just 181.0 passing yards per game, but here they'll be asked to slow down Texas QB Sam Ehlinger who has thrown for 210 yards or more in every game and has a 21/3 TD/INT ratio. Ehlinger is coming off a 399 passing yards performance with four touchdowns and one interception in a 50-48 win over Kansas. 

TCU meanwhile prefers to move the ball on the ground, but while Texas rush defense (or defense overall) is far from the best in the nation I just don't see TCU being able to keep pace with the Longhorns explosive offense. 

Longhorns are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games in October. Horned Frogs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games in October.

10* play on Texas Longhorns. 

AUBURN LSU SEC BOOKIE BLASTER

The LSU Tigers are a perfect 7-0 SU (5-2 ATS) on the season, but I like the Auburn Tigers to keep it close here at Tiger Stadium Saturday afternoon. LSU has top-ranked Alabama on deck next week and might be caught looking ahead like Wisconsin in its loss to Illinois last week. 

Auburn has just one loss SU and ATS, a 24-13 defeat at Florida on October 5. That's the most points it has allowed this season, and it won 28-20 at Texas A&M in its only previous game as an underdog this season. Auburn's run game is among the best in the nation and should be able to slow down the game and keep LSU's high-powered offense off the field. 

The underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings, and while LSU almost certainly will this one outright the visitors are simply getting too many points to pass on. 

8* play on Auburn Tigers. 

WISCONSIN @ OHIO STATE BOOKIE BREAKER

The Ohio State Buckeyes have absolutely obliterated whoever has dared to step on the field against them this season. They've shown no signs what so ever of playing down to the level of the competition and I just don't see the Wisconsin Badgers being able to keep pace with this tremendous Buckeyes team. 

The Badgers were a perfect 6-0 and had shut out back-to-back opponents before suffering the biggest upset of the week last time out, a 24-23 loss as a four+ touchdown favorite at Illinois. Were they guilty of looking ahead to this matchup? Almost certainly, but how they lost didn't look good at all with plenty of turnovers and sloppy play on both sides of the football.

The Buckeyes' smallest margin of victory this season is 24 points and they put a 42-0 beating on Cincinnati last time they were a favorite in the two touchdown range.

Wisconsin has a solid defense, but OSU is absolutely loaded on offense and defense and I predict it will roll to a 20-point+ victory. 

8* play on Ohio State Buckeyes. 

BLAZERS @ KINGS FRIDAY NIGHT HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Portland Trail Blazers took an 8-point loss to Denver in their season opener. C.J McCollum and Damian Lillard had an off-night and combined for just 15-for-39 shooting in the defeat, but I think they'll bounce back with a win here at Sacramento Friday night. 

The Kings didn't only suffer a setback to the woeful (or are they actually that bad?) Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, they also got Marvin Bagley III, De'Aaron Fox, and Buddy Hield banged up. 

The Blazers usually start their seasons strong and have a solid core of players. They're 17-8-2 ATS in their last 27 games following an ATS loss and should roll to a win here. 

8* play on Portland Trail Blazers. 

3-PACK

The Portland Trail Blazers took an 8-point loss to Denver in their season opener. C.J McCollum and Damian Lillard had an off-night and combined for just 15-for-39 shooting in the defeat, but I think they'll bounce back with a win here at Sacramento Friday night. 

The Kings didn't only suffer a setback to the woeful (or are they actually that bad?) Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, they also got Marvin Bagley III, De'Aaron Fox, and Buddy Hield banged up. 

The Blazers usually start their seasons strong and have a solid core of players. They're 17-8-2 ATS in their last 27 games following an ATS loss and should roll to a win here. 

Additionally, the under has hit in 12 of their last 18 meetings and I think that's a trend that will continue. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (MLB): MIKE'S TOP RATED WORLD SERIES GAME 3 TOTAL

The two teams have opened the World Series by combining for 24 runs through two Washington triumphs at Minute Maid Park, and that despite better pitching matchups than the one we'll see tonight. I expect the hitters will keep dominating this series and push the score over the posted total with ease. 

Astros' righty Zack Greinke (0-2, 6.43 ERA) has not had a good postseason and no one should trust Washington right-hander Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 0.71 ERA) to shut down a desperate Houston side. Both bullpens have proven vulnerable and unable to keep runners off the bases. 

Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter. Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter. Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Washington.

10* play on OVER. 

BULLS @ GRIZZLIES FRIDAY NIGHT NO BRAINER

We backed the Bulls and lost in their season opening one-point loss at Charlotte, but I like Chicago to rebound with a win here at Memphis Friday night. 

The Grizzlies are in for a tough season if their first game, a 120-101 loss at Miami, is an indication of things to come. The Bulls have won each of the last four meetings and they're 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Memphis. They have plenty of talented shooters and should be able to run away with this one as Memphis can't match them shot-for-shot. 

8* play on Chicago Bulls. 

3-PACK

This looks like a letdown spot for the NY Islanders who will play on back-to-back nights after earning a fifth consecutive victory with a 4-2 triumph over Arizona last night.

The Sens have had an additional day of rest since opening a three-game homestand with a 5-2 victory over Detroit. The triumph snapped a four-game losing streak and they'll be desperate to build on the momentum of their mere second win of the season.

8* play on Ottawa Senators. 

CLIPPERS @ WARRIORS THURSDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN

The LA Clippers have had a day of rest since opening the season with a 10-point win over rivals LA Lakers. I think things are setting up nicely for the Clippers here with a game under their belt while the Golden State Warriors might not be quite up to speed yet for their season debut. 

Golden State will play with a huge target on its back all season with everyone looking forward to dethroning the powerhouse that has made five straight finals appearances with three titles to show for it. This will almost certainly be a more difficult campaign for the Warriors, having lost several players, most notably Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson (torn knee ligament) is at risk of missing the whole season.

Kahwi Leonard scored 30 points on 10-19 shooting in his Clippers’ debut, and here he'll get another shot at the Warriors team he beat in the NBA Finals with the Raptors last season. Look for the revamped LA Clippers to get the job done here to start the season 2-0.  

8* play on LA Clippers. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NHL MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Dallas Stars are looking to recover from a slow start to the season and are coming off back-to-back wins since starting the campaign 1-7-1. 

One Dallas player in particular will be extra fired up for this contest as this will be Corey Perry's first meeting with the team he spent the previous 14 seasons with, and this is not a good spot for the Ducks who have scored just one goal per game in consecutive losses. 

Breaking out of the scoring slump won't be easy against Dallas netminder Ben Bishop who has owned the Ducks in previous meetings and we can note that the home team has prevailed in 12 straight head-to-head meetings. 

8* play on Dallas Stars. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED REDSKINS @ VIKINGS TOTAL

I think we'll see a low-scoring affair when the Minnesota Vikings host the Washington Redskins Thursday night. 

The Vikes have been putting up impressive offensive numbers in recent weeks, but QB Kirk Cousins has a tendency to do worse in primetime games and this should be no exception playing on a short week. There will simply be no reason for Minnesota to run up the score against a hapless Redskins team so the main focus (apart from getting the W) should be to come out of this contest as healthy as possible. Expect Minnesota to take a healthy lead and then bleed the clock dry on every possession. 

Under is 9-4 in Vikings last 13 games overall and 5-1 in their 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Under is 4-0 in Redskins last 4 games overall.

10* play on UNDER. 

LATE NIGHT KINGS @ SUNS *TOP PLAY*

The Phoenix Suns have finished dead last in the West in three consecutive seasons and accumulated just 19 wins last season. Not much suggests that 2019/2020 will be much better, and I think they'll come up well short here in the season opener against the Sacramento Kings. 

The Kings slumped at the worst time last season and ended up missing the playoffs by nine games. Still, they won 48% of their games which was a big step forward and they return a talented team that might be able to make another run for the postseason in the stacked Western Conference. They have a new head coach in former Golden State Warriors assistant and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton, and I think he can do good work with this young, talented roster. 

10* play on Sacramento Kings. 

BULLS @ HORNETS HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Chicago Bulls have been a punching bag in recent seasons, but they enter this season with a lot of talent on the roster and might exceed expectations early on. 

The spirit in the locker room seems to be high as well. "Anxious, ready to go; confident," Zach LaVine (who posted 23.7 points per game last season) told reporters. "That's my mood for the team, my mood in general. Anxious to get this started, get this thing rolling." ... "You see how much the guys care for each other, " LaVine further said. "The coaches have been doing a good job of putting us in the best positions."

As for the Charlotte Hornets, they'll have to adjust to life without star PG Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb. They've brought in guard Terry Rozier from the Celtics, but center Cody Zeller (10.1 points per game) is their top returning scorer and I don't think they'll be able to keep up with the Bulls in this one. 

8* play on Chicago Bulls.