NHL 3-Pack

Under is 33-16-4 in the last 53 meetings at Edmonton, and this should be another low-scoring encounter between the two division rivals. Edmonton's netminder Cam Talbot posted a 2.32 GAA and a .922 save percentage last season while the Flames are likely to go with newly acquired Mike Smith who has posted a .911 save percentage over the last three seasons, despite regularly facing more shots than most other goalies. The Flames should be able to give him more protection than he got at Arizona, and we can note that Smith posted a 2.25 GAA in four meetings with Edmonton last season. 

It's hard to say where the teams stand here in the first game of the season, but I think low-scoring games are likely.  

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NHL 3-Pack

The St. Louis Blues will open the season with a visit at the reigning Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins. Under is 5-1-3 in the last nine meetings at Pittsburgh and 11-4-4 in the last 19 meetings overall. 

The Blues goalie Jake Allen posted a 2.42 GAA and a .915 save percentage last year while Pittsburgh's Matt Murray compiled a 2.41 GAA and a .923 save percentage during the regular season last year. First game of the season, and I think both teams will come out sluggish resulting in a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NL WILD CARD SHOWDOWN - ROCKIES/D'BACKS

These two teams know each other extremely well, but note that Arizona Diamondbacks have won seven of the last nine meetings. I think they have a clear edge here in the NL Wild Card game with home field advantage and Zack Greinke on the mound. 

Greinke (17-7, 3.20 ERA) struggled at Chase Field in his first season as a Diamondback, but he has really learned to master the ballpark and is 13-1 behind a 2.87 ERA in 18 home starts here in 2017. Greinke is 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA and 37 Ks through 34 1/3 innings of work against Colorado this season. 

The Rockies hand the ball to Jon Gray (10-4, 3.67 ERA) who has been dominant in two starts at Chase Field on the season, fanning 20 through 13 innings while winning two out of two starts. We can however note that he usually puts a fair amount of runners on base against Arizona, and the current Diamondbacks are batting a combined .330 against the right-hander despite Paul Goldschmidt going 0-for-11.

I expect Goldy to do much better in this contest and lead the Diamondbacks to a victory and a spot in the NLDS against the Dodgers.

My selection is an 8* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER - MIN/NYY

Anything can happen in a win-or-go-home matchup like this, and I will not pass up on the extra run on the Minnesota Twins at this price. 

The Yankees hand the ball to Luis Severino (14-6, 2.98 ERA) who's had a terrific year and he closed out the regular season strong going 9-2 with a 2.28 ERA in his final 14 starts. He did however allow three runs on five hits in just three innings against Minnesota on Sept. 20, and I would not be surprised to see the Twins give him problems tonight as well. 

The Twins turn to Ervin Santana (16-8, 3.28 ERA) who allowed a pair of runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 2-1 loss here in the Bronx on Sept. 18. I think he'll keep Minnesota in the game again. 

The Twins are 36-22 against the runline as an underdog on the road this season. 

My selection is a 10* play on Minnesota Twins +1.5. 

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL MONEYMAKER

The Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 SU and ATS on the season, but I think they're asked to cover way too many points here against Washington Monday night.

The Redskins are coming off a 27-10 rout of the Raiders to make it 2-1 SU and ATS for the season, winning and covering back-to-back games since a season-opening loss to Philadelphia. Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns against Oakland, while fourth-year back Chris Thompson amassed 188 all-purpose yards. The Redskins could also have running back Rob Kelley back from a one-game absence and the Chiefs have shown some weakness on the ground, giving up 111.7 yards per game. 

The Chiefs won 24-10 at LA Chargers last week, but were interestingly enough outgained 330 yards to 311. They picked off Philip Rivers three times but note that Washington's QB Cousins has thrown just one interception on the season. 

Washington forced three turnovers while limiting Oakland to just 128 total yards of offense last week, and I reckon the Redskins will keep this a close game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Washington Redskins. 

SUPERETTAN AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE

Gefle are fighting to avoid relegation from Superettan (the Swedish second tied), entering this game fourth from the bottom. The form is good though, having won four of their last five games and scoring 11 goals in the process. Helsingborg meanwhile are trying to catch Trelleborg for the playoff spot and potential promotion to Allsvenskan, and they've been involved in several high-scoring contests lately despite coming off a 0-0 draw.

Helsingborg's 12 games on the road this season have seen an average of 3.1 goals per game while Gelfe's 12 home games have seen an average of 3.2 gpg. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* SUNDAY BOOKIE BREAKER TOTAL

The Kansas City won't make it to the postseason, but they have the opportunity to close out the season with a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks after two low-scoring victories (2-1, 4-3). I think runs will come at a premium once again here on Sunday. 

The D'Backs hand the ball to Robbie Ray (15-5, 2.86 ERA). The left-hander is 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 road starts this season and he was 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in five September outings. Under is 6-2 in Royals last eight home games vs. a left-handed starter.

KC turns to Jason Vargas (18-10, 3.94 ERA) who has surrendered just five earned runs covering 22 1/3 frames through his last four starts. Vargas' ERA home at Kauffman Stadium is almost a run lower than his ERA on the road, and under is 14-6 in the left-hander's last 20 home starts. Under is 5-2 in Diamondbacks last 7 interleague games when facing a souhtpaw starter.

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK

The Tennessee Titans opened the season with a disappointing 26-6 home loss against Oakland, but they've come back strong with impressive wins against Jacksonville and Seattle. They pounded the Seahawks on the ground in last week's 33-27 victory as DeMarco Murray rushed for 115 yards and a score while Derrick Henry added 54 yards on 13 carries.

This Sunday the Titans will take on a Houston Texans team that gave the Patriots a real scare at Foxboro last week, but I'm not convinced they can come up with another performance like that two weeks in a row. Houston is known as a defensive team, but it gave up five touchdown passes to Tom Brady and has allowed 29 points or more in two of its three games. The Texans run defense is just 17th in the league and I think the Titans will wear them with their ground game. 

My NFL Game of the Week is on Tennessee Titans.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Tennessee Titans. 

NFL DAYTIME DESTROYER TOTAL

The LA Rams are the highest scoring team through the first three weeks of the season, averaging 35.7 points per game. The Dallas Cowboys offense came alive in the second half of Monday's 28-17 win at Arizona as RB Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 80 yards on 22 carries, and he has now has accumulated 192 rushing yards in three games played. The Rams' D has allowed an average of 139 rushing yards per game, they gave up 39 points to the lowly 49ers last week. Each of the Rams' three games this season have gone over the total, and I think we'll see another shootout Sunday afternoon. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NFL BILLS/FALCONS BOOKIE BREAKER

The Atlanta Falcons are heading into Week 4 of the NFL season with a 3-0 record. Odds are they'll come out of this contest with their perfect record intact, but I don't think they'll cover the spread. 

Buffalo has the best D in the National Football League with only 12.3 points allowed per game. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan has thrown a touchdown pass in 22 straight games but wide receiver Julio Jones has been limited in practice because of a back injury and Buffalo has yet to allow a passing touchdown this season. This is a lot of points to cover, and my advice is taking the points on the visitors. 

My selection is an 8* play on Buffalo Bills. 

NFL LIONS/VIKINGS TOTAL

The Minnesota Vikings will be without QB Sam Bradford, but backup Case Keenum threw for a career-high 369 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 34-17 win over Tampa Bay. Minnesota has a dangerous ground game as well led by the league’s No. 2 rusher, rookie Dalvin Cook who has accumulated 288 yards on the season. Detroit's pass defense ranks just 22nd in the league, and the team's 21.0 ppg allowed would no doubt be much higher if not for forcing a total of eight turnovers. 

The Lions have an efficient QB in Matthew Stafford who has thrown for 678 yards with seven touchdown passes and only one interception through the first three weeks of the season. The Vikings have struggled against the pass this season and I like Detroit to put up a decent amount of points on the board.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Kansas City Royals have just two games left of the season as they're set to miss the playoffs for the second straight time since winning the World Series in 2015. The Arizona Diamondbacks meanwhile are preparing for their Wild Card game against the Rockies, and I think they'll be looking to enter the postseason on a good note.

Tonight the D'Backs hand the ball to Taijuan Walker (9-9, 3.54 ERA) who is 6-5 with a 2.99 ERA in 15 road starts this year. He needs to come up with a big performance here after getting knocked around in each of his last two starts. 

The Royals turn to Jake Junis (8-3, 4.39 ERA) who has been tagged with 10 runs (six earned) in 12 frames in his last two starts combined. He better prepare to feel the fury of a Diamondbacks lineup seeking to bounce back from just one run and six hits in Friday's 2-1 KC win. 

The Diamondbacks are 8-2 in their last 10 interleague road games vs. a team with a losing record and the Royals are 2-6 in their last eight games following a win.

My selection is a 10* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

SATURDAY NIGHT AAC ANNIHILATOR

Both Memphis Tigers and the UCF Knights are coming into this American Athletic Conference opener for both teams undefeated.

I really like the Knights in this spot. Their defense has allowed an average of just 13.5 points and outgaining their opponents by a combined 492 yards through two games; a dominant victory against FIU and most recently an impressive 38-10 win as a 4-point dog on the road at Maryland.

The Tigers have beaten up on UL Monroe and Southern Illinois as large favorites with a 48-45 win as a 3-point dog against UCLA sandwiched in. We can however note that this will be Memphis' first game on the road this season and that the Tigers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.

Memphis has a ton of injuries on the defensive side of the ball and allowed Southern Illinois' QB Sam Straub to throw for 290 yards and four touchdowns last week. UCF sophomore QB Milton McKenzie leads the conference in total offense at 318 yards per game and I think he'll have a big day here leading the Knights to a convincing victory. 

My selection is an 8* play on UCF Knights. 

SATURDAY CFB MISSISSIPPI STATE/AUBURN

The Mississippi State Bulldogs had allowed a total of just 28 points through three straight victories (including a 37-7 beat down of LSU as a 7.5-point dog) before taking a 31-3 beating at Georgia last week. I think the Bulldogs D will step it up once again here at Auburn in Week 5 and that the visitors will cover the spread. The Tigers are coming off a 51-14 blasting of Missouri as an 18.5-point road favorite, but that was pretty much their first strong performance of the season. 

In short, Mississippi State was awful last week (QB Nick Fitzgerald had just 83 passing yards) while Auburn was outstanding, and the books are overreacting giving the Bulldogs too many points here. Note that the Bulldogs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in September while the Tigers are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games in September.

My selection is an 8* play on Mississippi State Bulldogs. 

CFB NAVY/TULSA DAYTIME DESTROYER

Two teams focused on running the ball with the Navy Midshipmen averaging 393 rushing yards per game (second nationally) and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane sitting fourth with 311.5 rushing yards per game. The difference is that Navy can stop the run as well, boasting the No. 15 rushing defense in the nation at 96.3 yards per game. 

Tulsa is coming off back-to-back losses and lost 16-13 as a 9-point home favorite against New Mexico last week. The Golden Hurricane gave up 338 rushing yards to the Lobos and they've allowed 294.5 rushing yards per game on the season. 

Navy meanwhile has a perfect 3-0 record (2-1 ATS) and rushed for 569 yards in last week's 42-32 win against Cincinnati. The Midshipmen are 17-6 ATS in their last 23 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on Navy Midshipmen. 

TOP RATED 10* PREMIER LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK

Before the season started I had West Ham as my sleeper pick in the Premier League. They've done very little to prove me right so far, but I like what I've seen in recent weeks. West Ham opened the campaign with three straight defeats, but they've picked up four points through their last three games, and their 3-2 loss to Tottenham in their most recent game is not a result to be ashamed of. 

It's positive to see the Hammers scoring goals, something visiting Swansea have struggled with all season. The Swans have managed just three goals through six league games (West Ham striker Javier Hernandez's total tally alone) and their last-minute loss to Watford at home their last time out can't be good for the team morale. 

My Premier League Game of the Week is on West Ham. 

MLB 3-Pack

The Miami Marlins have won four straight games home at Marlins Park following Thursday's dominant 7-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves. I like the Fish to pick up another victory in a high-scoring contest Friday night. 

Luiz Gohara (1-3, 4.63 ERA) will take the ball for the visitors for his mere fourth career start. The 21 year old rookie fanned nine through seven innings of one-run ball against Philadelphia on Sept. 24, but I don't think anyone can argue the fact that the Marlins have much better bats than the Phillies. The Fish have averaged 6.90 runs per game in their last 10 contests and hand the ball to Dan Straily (10-9, 4.08 ERA). The right-hander was lit up in his first three starts of the month but has bounced back strong and surrendered just a pair of runs covering 11 innings in his last two outings. I reckon the Marlins will do enough damage at the plate to bail out Straily even if he has an off-game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over.

MLB 3-Pack

The Miami Marlins have won four straight games home at Marlins Park following Thursday's dominant 7-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves. I like the Fish to pick up another victory in a high-scoring contest Friday night. 

Luiz Gohara (1-3, 4.63 ERA) will take the ball for the visitors for his mere fourth career start. The 21 year old rookie fanned nine through seven innings of one-run ball against Philadelphia on Sept. 24, but I don't think anyone can argue the fact that the Marlins have much better bats than the Phillies. The Fish have averaged 6.90 runs per game in their last 10 contests and hand the ball to Dan Straily (10-9, 4.08 ERA). The right-hander was lit up in his first three starts of the month but has bounced back strong and surrendered just a pair of runs covering 11 innings in his last two outings. I reckon the Marlins will do enough damage at the plate to bail out Straily even if he has an off-game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Miami Marlins.

MLB 3-Pack

Neither the Tampa Bay Rays or the Baltimore Orioles will play postseason baseball, but that doesn't mean that they've stopped to care as they battle to avoid the division cellar. 

The Orioles have however dropped 16 of their last 20 games and hand the ball to Wade Miley (8-14, 5.52 ERA). The left-hander is 0-4 with a 9.92 ERA so far this month and he served up two homers when he surrendered six runs on five hits and four walks in 4 1/3 frames of a 9-0 loss to the Red Sox his last time out. He's 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay on the year. 

The Rays turn to Jake Odorizzi (10-8, 4.26 ERA) who limited the Orioles to one run on three hits with nine Ks through six innings of a 9-6 win at Baltimore his last time out. He has won four of his last five starts and conceded just three earned runs on eight hits over 22 1/3 innings on the month. 

The Rays are 5-2 in Odorizzi's last seven home starts vs. Orioles.

My selection is an 8* play on Tampa Bay Rays. 

TOP RATED 10* CFB GAME OF THE WEEK

Two unbeaten teams will clash at Wallace Wade Stadium Friday night when the 4-0 Duke Blue Devils entertain the 2-0 Miami Hurricanes. 

I really like the Blue Devils in this spot. Duke has two impressive victories under its belt already as it won 27-17 as a 1.5-point dog on the road at North Carolina last week and 41-17 as a 2-point home dog against Northwestern in Week 2. 

The Blue Devils defense has been excellent surrendering just 2.7 yards per carry and we can note that Miami's best RB Mark Walton sprained his ankle in last week's 52-30 win against Toledo. The Hurricanes have won their two games as big favorites, but I think the Blue Devils will make this a very close game in front of a rowdy Friday night crowd. 

My CFB Game of the Week is on Duke Blue Devils.  

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Oakland Athletics opened the week by dropping two of three to Seattle, but they're still sizzling 15-5 in their last 20 games and I think they'll get the better of the Texas Rangers Thursday night. 

Texas has been outscored 45-8 through its last four games and tonight's starter Miguel Gonzalez (8-12, 4.62 ERA) has posted a 7.16 ERA in four starts since coming over from the White Sox at the end of last month. The A's turn to Sean Manaea (11-10, 4.56 ERA) who missed his last scheduled start due to back tightness. He allowed just one earned run in five innings of a 6-3 win at Philadelphia on Sept. 17 his last time out though and he should be good to go here. 

The Rangers are 0-6 in their last six overall and their motivation could not be any lower right now with just four games left of the season. Oakland meanwhile seems determined to close out the season on a good note and my money is on the A's to keep rollin'. 

My selection is a 10* play on Oakland Athletics.

MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Pittsburgh Pirates are already eliminated from playoff contention since long ago, but that fact has not stopped the Bucs from winning four straight games and five of their last six. I think they'll keep it close here in the nation's capital Thursday night. 

Edwin Jackson (5-6, 5.40 ERA) will toe the slab for Washington. He's 0-3 with an enormous 12.38 ERA through his last four starts, and we can note that Jackson gave up four hits and two runs in 2 2/3 innings when he took on the Pirates in his major league season debut on June 7. 

The Pirates turn to Ivan Nova (11-14, 4.14 ERA) who is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two starts in his career against Washington. Nova has allowed just four runs (three earned) through 11 1/3 innings of work in his last two starts combined. 

The Nats are coming off back-to-back losses to the Phillies, and with the National League East wrapped up since Sept. 10 it's all about staying healthy for the postseason. Take the run on offered on the visitors. 

My selection is an 8* play on Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5.

LATE NIGHT MLB BOOKIE BREAKER TOTAL

The over is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings and 15-7 in the last 22 meetings at Kauffman Stadium. Both starting pitchers have struggled all season long and I think we'll see plenty of runs here. 

The Royals hand the ball to Jason Hammel (8-13, 5.32 ERA) who has been lit up to the tune of 19 runs (18 earned) on 29 hits in just 12 2/3 frames through his last three starts combined. Hammel is 3-2 with a 6.27 ERA in 13 career appearances (10 starts) against Detroit. Over is 6-1-1 in the Tigers last eight games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Tigers turn to Jordan Zimmermann (8-13, 6.19 ERA) who has good career numbers against KC, but he is 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA in his first two September starts, allowing eight runs on 17 hits over nine innings. Zimmermann has battled back problems all season and over is 25-12-2 in his last 39 starts overall (14-3 last 17 starts against American League Central opponents).

KC is expected to sit some players after being officially eliminated from playoff contention last night, but I still think the teams will combine enough runs to push this game over the posted total with ease. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOTAL WEDNESDAY

Both teams won their first game of the group stage, and I think we'll see two sides focused on not losing here. Man United are a big favorite (as they should be), but this is a long travel for the visitors and they might not have the legs or will to push the tempo here. CSKA have played great defense lately with three clean sheets through their last five games, and goals should come at a premium in this contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

EARLY TOP RATED 10* RUNLINE RIPPER

The Houston Astros destroyed the Texas Rangers yesterday, and I think they'll put another beating on their in-state rival here on Wednesday. 

Justin Verlander (14-8, 3.38 ERA) will take the ball for Houston. He's perfect 4-0 with just two runs allowed and 32 Ks through 28 innings of work since coming over from Detroit. Verlander is 10-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 19 career starts against the Rangers who turn to Nick Martinez (3-7, 5.42 ERA). The 27 year old right-hander has been roughed up to the tune of 11 runs on 16 hits in just 12 innings through his last three starts, and he's 0-2 with a 4.58 ERA in four appearances (three starts) against Houston on the season. 

The Astros are still trying to catch Cleveland for the best record in the American League while Texas is playing for nothing but pride.  

My selection is a 10* play on Houston Astros. 

MLB 3-Pack

Both the Texas Ranges and the Houston Astros trot out their respective ace, and I think runs will come at a premium at Globe Life Park Tuesday night. 

The Astros' left-hander Dallas Keuchel (13-5, 2.96 ERA) has allowed just three runs with 11 strikeouts in six innings of work through his last two starts. He has held the Rangers to seven runs in 18 2/3 innings on the season. 

The Rangers turn to a left-hander of their own in Cole Hamels (11-4, 3.80 ERA) who is undefeated 7-0 behind a 3.50 ERA in 10 home starts this season. Hamels has allowed just three runs in 15 1/3 innings of work in his last two starts combined, and he held the Astros scoreless through seven innings of work earlier this season. 

Under is 6-2 in Astros last eight overall. Under is 4-1 in Rangers last five overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

MLB 3-Pack

The Cleveland Indians are 29-2 through their last 31 games and 24-7 against the runline during that stretch. I like them to put a beating on the Minnesota Twins Tuesday night. 

The Twins hand the ball to Bartolo Colón (6-14, 6.63 ERA) who has been lit up this month, posting a 9.17 ERA through four starts. He is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in two career starts at Progressive Field.

The Indians turn to Josh Tomlin (9-9, 4.98 ERA) who is unbeaten through his last nine starts and has held six straight opponents to two runs or fewer. 

The Twins scored a total of 39 runs in four wins against the Tigers in their last series, but I don't think they got what it takes to keep up with the Tribe. Note that both teams had Monday off, and the Twins are 4-10 in their last 14 games following an off day while the Indians are 7-0 in their last seven games following an off day.

My selection is an 8* play on Cleveland Indians -1.5. 

MLB 3-Pack

The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night, and I think we'll see this contest stay under the posted total.

The Pirates' rookie right-hander Trevor Williams (6-9, 4.18 ERA) has compiled a 2.12 ERA through his last five starts while the Orioles' right-hander Kevin Gausman (11-10, 4.61 ERA) has pitched to a 1.71 ERA in his last five starts. Under is 9-2 in Gausmans last 11 road starts vs. a team with a losing record. Under is 14-2 in Williams' last 16 starts overall.

Neither team has anything to play for, and odds are we'll see young and inexperienced lineups for both teams.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

Champions League Total

Borussia Dortmund host Real Madrid in the second game of the group stage on Tuesday. Dortmund lost their first game 3-1 at Tottenham, but they've done extremely well in Bundesliga with 16 points and a 19-1 goal differential through six games. 

Real Madrid meanwhile are struggling domestically but defeated APOEL 3-0 in their first game of the Champions League.

Dortmund really need to win this game, and that will give the visitors plenty of opportunities to hit them on the counter, something they do better than any other team in the world. 

These two teams face each other in the group stage last season as well, with both games finishing 2-2. Look for goals.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* M.N.F. BOOKIE BREAKER

Both the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys enter Monday night 1-1 on the season. The underdog is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings while the home team is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings, and I really like Arizona in this spot. 

Dallas' secondary is mighty banged up, and Arizona has a solid QB in Carson Palmer who threw for 332 yards and a touchdown in last week's 16-13 OT win at Indianapolis. 

The Cardinals outgained the Colts by 123 yards while the Cowboys were outgained by 112 in their 42-17 loss at Denver last week. The Cowboys struggled on both sides of the ball and it's quite possible both of last season's rookie sensations Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott will have a let-down year. 

Prescott threw for just 238 yards with a pair of touchdowns and two picks against the Broncos while Elliott was held to eight rushing yards on nine carries. 

My selection is an 10* play on Arizona Cardinals. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Chicago Cubs are 10-2 through their last 12 games and just two wins away from clinching the National League Central, but I think they'll come up short here in the opener of a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Cards hand the ball to Luke Weaver (7-1, 2.05 ERA) who's enjoying a terrific season. He is on a seven-game winning streak with a 1.69 ERA through his last eight starts and the 24 year old right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.35 ERA in six appearances (four starts) at home this season. 

The Cubs turn to Jon Lester (11-8, 4.56 ERA) who owns a 5.91 ERA in his past four starts, and we can note that the Cardinals are 9-1 in their last 10 home games vs. a left-handed starter. The Cubs meanwhile are 2-7 in Lester’s last nine starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Cubs have won five straight meetings and they lead the season series 11-4, but this series mean so much more for the home team in order to stay alive in the Wild Card chase. 

My selection is a 10* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK

The 1-1 Washington Redskins will host the 2-0 Oakland Raiders at FedEx Field Sunday night. These are two teams relying on their explosive offense to win games, and I think we'll see plenty of scores for both sides in this contest. 

The Raiders have averaged a league-best 35.5 points per game in defeating the Titans and the Jets. Derek Carr has yet to throw and interception and has connected on 45-of-60 passes for a total of 492 yards with five touchdown passes. Carr has plenty of go-to playmakers and offseason RB signing Marshawn Lynch has done a lot of damage on the ground. This is without a doubt one of the most balanced offenses in the NFL, and Washington does not have the defense to stop it. 

The Raiders have some defensive woes of their own though. They may have held the Jets' Josh McCown to 166 yards passing in last week's 42-20 victory but here they'll face a much more competent QB in Kirk Cousins. who has completed 41-of-67 passes for a total of 419 yards with two touchdowns on the season. The Skins pounded the ball on the ground in last week's 27-20 victory against the Rams and ran the ball 39 times for a total of 229 yards. Note that the Raiders gave up 126 yards on the ground last week, so there are definitely holes to exploit. 

Over is 7-2 in Raiders last nine games in September. Over is 5-1 in Redskins last six games in September.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on OAK/WAS Over. 

SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

The slumping Los Angeles Angels have lost six straight games, and I think they're in for another tough matchup at Houston Sunday night. 

The Astros hand the ball to Lance McCullers (7-3, 3.97 ERA) who is 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA home at Minute Maid Park on the season. He has struggled through his last couple of starts, but should come out fresh here as he will make his first start since Sept. 6. McCullers has held the Halos to one unearned run in 13 2/3 innings this season. 

The Angels turn to Tyler Skaggs (2-6, 4.30 ERA) who is 1-5 through his last nine starts. He's 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA in seven starts on the road and the Angels are 2-5 in those games. 

The Astros have won 10 of their last 11 home games and six of the last seven meetings with LAA. 

My selection is an 8* play on Houston Astros. 

MLB MONEYMAKER

The St. Louis Cardinals run for the 2nd Wild Card position in the National League took a tumle on Saturday. They still scored six runs, and I think they would have had that game if Lance Lynn had not been lit up for eight runs in the first inning. 

I like the Cards to bounce back here as they get a look at Jameson Taillon (7-7, 4.73 ERA). The 25 year old right-hander is just 3-5 with a 5.25 ERA in 14 starts home at PNC Park on the season and he has surrendered 10 runs on 19 hits in 16 innings against the Cards on the year. 

St. Louis hands the ball to John Gant (0-0, 3.86 ERA), a 25 year old right-hander who will make his sixth appearance (first start) this season. The Pirates have struggled at the plate lately (last night excluded), and I think Gant will do well enough for the Cardinals to win this game. 

My selection is an 8* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

NFL NO-BRAINER

The Carolina Panthers have allowed just a total of six points and an average of 196.5 yards through their first two games. While impressive, let's note that they've faced San Francisco and Buffalo, far from the offense they'll face here in the Saints.

New Orleans is third in the league with 773 total yards through the first two weeks of the season and and that's despite facing a pair of solid defenses. The Saints fell 29-19 at Minnesota in Week 1 and took a 36-20 beating by the Patriots last week. 

The Panthers have scored just a total of 32 points in their two games and QB Cam Newton is just 34-of-57 for 399 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Here he'll have to do without his most reliable target as tight end Greg Olsen is out with a broken foot. I think the Panthers will win outright, but I think the Saints will keep it reasonably close and taking the points here is a no-brainer to me. 

The Saints are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 vs. NFC South rivals. The Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games and 1-5 ATS in their last six vs. NFC South.

My selection is an 8* play on New Orleans Saints. 

EARLY RAVENS/JAGUARS AT LONDON

The Baltimore Ravens are perfect 2-0 SU and ATS on the season after comfortable victories against Cincinnati (20-0) and Cleveland (24-10). I think they'll remain perfect after this matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday. 

The Ravens have allowed just a total of 10 points and 607 total yards through the first two games. They've forced 10 turnovers and here they'll face a Jacksonville side that turned the ball over three times (two picks, one fumble) in last week's 37-16 home loss to AFC South rival Tennessee. 

The Jaguars had opened the season with a 29-7 win at Houston and probably felt a little bit too good about themselves heading into Week 2. They'll face a really tough defense in this contest, and I really don't think quarterback Blake Bortles or rookie RB Leonard Fournette have the keys to unlock it. 

Baltimore is far from an offensive powerhouse, but QB Joe Flacco is heating up and completed 25-of-34 passes for 217 yards with two TDs last week.

My selection is an 8* play on Baltimore Ravens. 

LATE MLB MONEYMAKER

The Colorado Rockies had lost four straight games prior to defeating the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Friday. I think they'll be back to their losing ways here though in Game 3 of the series. 

Chad Bettis (1-3, 6.23 ERA) will take the ball for the Rockies. He was tagged with five runs on three hits and three walks in one-third of an inning at Arizona his last time out. Bettis has really struggled on the road this season, going 1-2 with an 11.32 ERA in three starts.

The Padres turn to Jhoulys Chacin (12-10, 4.12 ERA) who is 8-3 behind a 1.91 ERA home at Petco Park on the season. The Padres have won each of his last three starts. This is a good enough price on the Padres to beat the sinking Rockies. 

My selection is an 8* play on San Diego Padres. 

TOP RATED 10* CFB GAME OF THE WEEK

The Kentucky Wildcats are perfect 3-0 SU (1-2 ATS) on the season including an impressive 23-13 road victory as a 6-point underdog at South Carolina last week. I think they're getting way too much respect here in Week 4 though, and I like the Florida Gators to win and cover the spread at Commonwealth Stadium Saturday night. 

The Wildcats did most of their damage on the ground in their win against the Gamecocks as they earned 184 yards on 47 carries , but that's gonna be hard to repeat two weks in a row. 

We can also note that Kentucky was outgained in total yards (358 to 353) and allowed 304 passing yards to the South Carolina QB. The Wildcats are 1-5 ATS in their last six games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game and they might find it hard to stop Felipe Franks who is heating up after a slow start. 

The Gators won last season's meeting 45-7 at home and they are 9-1 ATS through the last 10 matchups with their SEC rival. They showed great morale and never-say-die attitude when they came from behind and scored a game-winning Hail Mary touchdown as time expired against Tennessee last week.

The Gators are more balanced on both sides of the ball, and they've owned the series big time in recent years. 

My CFB Game of the Week is a 10* play on the Florida Gators.

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The St. Louis Cardinals pulled off some late inning magic last night when they scored two in the top of the ninth to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. They've now won four on the bounce and remain in contention for a trip to the postseason while the Pirates just wish the season would end already. 

Saturday night the Cards hand the ball to Lance Lynn (11-7, 3.09 ERA). They've won just one of his last seven starts, but the right-hander has been solid most outings. He's 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 17 road starts on the season and 2-1 behind a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Pirates. 

The Pirates turn to Gerrit Cole (11-11, 4.13 ERA). They've have lost six of his last seven starts and the 27 year old has been tagged with four runs or more in all but two of those starts. Cole has held the Cards to five runs in 18 innings of work on the season, but I think the motivated Cards will do a lot of damage tonight.

The Cardinals are 14-3 in their last 17 vs. a team with a losing record. The Pirates are 2-13 in their last 15 overall.

My selection is a 10* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL CA$H COW

The San Diego State Aztecs are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS on the season and they defeated Stanford 20-17 as an 8-point dog last week. San Diego State boasts a strong defense that has allowed just 18 points and 300 yards per contest and here it'll face an Air Force side it has owned in recent seasons, going 6-1 ATS against through the last seven meetings. 

Air Force is 1-1 SU on the season but has covered the spread in both games, including a cover as a 23-point dog in last week's 29-13 loss at Michigan. It's a different thing to cover the spread as a massive dog than a smaller spread like this though, and I think they'll come up short in this contest. 

Keep an eye on San Diego State’s RB Rashaad Penny who has earned all three Mountain West Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week awards on the season. He has 71 carries for 588 yards and four scores and we can note that the Falcons gave up 190 yards on the ground to Michigan last week. 

We can also note that the Aztecs are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 conference games while the Falcons are 1-6 ATS in their last seven conference games.

My selection is an 8* play on San Diego State Aztecs. 

CFB DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Maryland Terrapins are perfect 2-0 SU and ATS on the season. They're coming off a bye week and I think they'll keep rolling here when taking on the UCF Knights home at Maryland Stadium.

UFC has not played since opening the season with a 61-17 win as a 17.5-point favorite against FIU on Aug 31 due to Hurricane Irma. At this stage of the season I'm not sure the extended rest is a good thing as they lost all momentum and pretty much have to start the season all over again. 

Maryland has outscored its opponents 114-58 through the first two games,  including a 51-41 road win as a 19-point dog against the Longhorns at Texas in Week 1. The Terrapins outgained Towson 534-309 in a 63-17 victory on Sept. 9 in their last game and should have little trouble with UCF here. 

The Terrapins have some QB issues as sophomore quarterback Tyrell Pigrome blew out his ACL in Week 1, but they have a effective ground game and junior running back Ty Johnson has rushed for 256 yards and three scores on just 17 carries. 

My selection is an 8* play on Maryland Terrapins. 

TOP RATED 10* PREMIER LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK

Premier League leading Manchester United will visit 9th placed Southampton on Saturday. The Red Devils have won all but one of their seven games all competitions included (a 2-2 draw at Stoke), and they've beaten each of their last three opponents by at least three goals. 

Southampton are coming off a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace and have lost just once in the league, but they have mediocre 4-4 goal differential in five EPL games. Their issues to score goals is a huge concern, especially here as that's not a problem at all for the visitors who boast a 16-2 goal-differential in their five Premier League games. 

Man United manager Jose Mourinho has a ton of competent players to choose from and he's extremely good at coming up with a game plan for all kinds of opponents. This is a great price on Manchester United to keep rolling. 

My Premier League Game of the Week is a 10* play on Manchester United. 

TOP RATED 10* BOOKIE BREAKER

The Chicago Cubs claimed the opener of this four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers in dramatic fashion on Thursday to move 4.5 games ahead at the top of National League Central. We could see how much this set means for both teams, and I think the reigning World Series champions will get the better of their division rival tonight as well in Game 2 of this crucial series. 

John Lackey (11-11, 4.62 ERA) will take the ball for the Cubs. He's 6-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 14 career starts against the Brewers but just 1-2 on the season despite a decent 3.79 ERA and 18 Ks through 19 innings of work. Lackey has allowed just a total of four runs through 18 2/3 frames in his last three turns combined. The Cubs are 10-2 in Lackeys last 12 starts.

The Brew Crew turn to Brandon Woodruff (2-2, 3.28 ERA) who will make his seventh start in the big leagues. He did really well through his first four, but the 24 year old has surrendered nine runs on 15 hits in 12 innings through his last two starts. The Cubs are 8-1 in their last nine overall and they should take full advantage of this inexperience pitcher tonight. 

The Cubs are 5-1 in the last six meetings at Miller Park.

My selection is a 10* play on Chicago Cubs. 

MLB MONEYMAKER

The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. They still have a chance of making it to the postseason and I like the Cards to win again here with Michael Wacha on the mound. 

Wacha (12-8, 4.02 ERA) has won three of his last four starts behind a 2.45 ERA. That includes eight scoreless innings against the Pirates on Sept. 10 and he's 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts against Pittsburgh on the season. 

The home team turns to Ivan Nova (11-14, 4.20 ERA) who has hit a rough patch. The Pirates have lost six of his last seven starts and he was tagged with five runs in five innings when pitching opposite Wacha in a 7-0 loss earlier this month. Nova is 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA in three starts against the Cards on the season. 

The Pirates are 2-12 in their last 14 overall, the Cardinals are 13-3 in their last 16 vs. a team with a losing record.

My selection is an 8* play on St. Louis Cardinals

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RAMS/49ERS MONEYMAKER

The Los Angeles Rams will visit the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium Thursday night. 

The Niners are still in search for their first win after losses to Seattle and Carolina. They've scored just a total of 12 points (four field goals) through those two games, and I don't think they'll be able to keep up with the visitors in this matchup.

The Rams fell 27-20 against Washington last week but impressed when they dominated the Colts in a 46-9 victory in Week 1. The Rams have a very talented duo in QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley and note that their defense held the Redskins QB Kirk Cousins to 179 yards passing. They should have little trouble to shut down Brian Hoyer who left last week's 12-9 loss to Seattle with just 99 yards. 

The 49ers RB Carlos Hyde is their only threat offensively, but without a passing threat to compliment him the Rams should have little trouble to shut down the Niners offense.

San Francisco won both meetings last season, but this year LA is by far the stronger side IMO. 

My selection is an 8* play on LA Rams. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB GAME OF THE WEEK

The Chicago Cubs had won seven on the bounce prior to an 8-1 setback at Tampa Bay on Wednesday. They'll visit the Milwaukee Brewers for the opener of a huge series between the top two teams in the NL Central, and I like the division-leading Cubs to claim Game 1 of the set with Jake Arrieta on the mound. 

Arrieta (14-9, 3.48 ERA) is 2-0 behind a 2.08 ERA in a pair of starts against Milwaukee on the season, striking out 16 batters through 13 innings of work. He's 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four career starts here at Miller Park and has compiled a 2.15 ERA over his last 10 starts overall.

Milwaukee turns to Zach Davies (17-9, 3.89 ERA) who is enjoying a strong season, but he's been far better on the road than at home. Davies is 8-7 with a bloated 6.05 ERA in 15 home starts and he's posted a 4.08 ERA in nine career starts against CHC. The current Cubs are batting a combined .280 over 161 at bats against the right-hander with Kris Bryant going 9-for-25. 

The Brew Crew are 9-3 through their last 12 games, but I'll think they'll come up short against the superior Cubs in this contest. 

My selection is a 10* play on Chicago Cubs. 

LATE NIGHT MLB CA$H COW

The Cleveland Indians have won 25 of their last 26 games and they've already clinched the division. A good time to start fading the Tribe? I don't think so as they probably don't want to risk losing the momentum for the postseason.

Tonight they'll hand the ball to Josh Tomlin (9-9, 5.04 ERA) who has been excellent lately. The 32 year old right-hander has won five straight decisions and held the opposition to two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. The Indians are 6-1 in Tomlin's last seven starts.

The Halos turn to Ricky Nolasco (6-14, 5.11 ERA) who has had a rough season. The veteran right-hander is winless through his last five starts, and he has not fared well in previous meetings with the Tribe. He's 0-3 with a 5.32 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts) against the Indians and gave up three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of a loss earler this season.

This is a bad spot for Nolasco who most recently held Houston to a pair of runs through six innings on Sept. 14. The Halos are 3-12 in his last 15 starts with five days of rest and 2-7 in Nolasco's last nine starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.

My selection is an 8* play on Cleveland Indians. 

MONEYLINE MONEYMAKER

Desperation breeds motivation, and the St. Louis Cardinals should have plenty of both right now as they try to make up ground in the National League Wild Card race. The Cards entered this three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds on the heels of three losses to the Cubs at Wrigley but showed good grit when they claimed the opener of this set 8-7 in extra innings on Tuesday. 

Tonight Luke Weaver (6-1, 1.89 ERA) will take the ball for the Cards. The 24 year old right-hander has been excellent in his 10 appearances (seven starts) on the season and he is 5-0 with a 1.15 ERA through his last five starts. He struck out six while limiting the Reds to one run on two hits in six frames his last trip to the mound. 

The Reds hand the ball to Rookie Davis (1-2, 7.71 ERA) who will make his seventh appearance (sixth start). The 24 year old right-hander surrendered two runs on four hits in two innings of relief pitching against the Cards on Sept. 12, and I think they'll put the pressure on him early tonight.   

Note that Davis has compiled a 2.24 WHIP (admittedly over just 21 innings of work so not a huge sample), and the Cardinals are 9-2 in their last 11 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.

My selections is an 8* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

SUPER EARLY BASE BRAWLER

The Miami Marlins had lost 17 of their last 20 games prior to this three-game series, but they've outscored the Mets 18-5 through the first two games and I think they'll complete the sweep Wednesday afternoon. 

Jose Urena (13-6, 3.62 ERA) will take the ball for the Marlins. He's 1-1 with an excellent 2.25 ERA in four outings (two starts) against the Mets on the season and the right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last three starts overall. The Marlins are 8-1 in Urena's last nine starts vs. a team with a losing record and the 65-86 Mets certainly fit that criteria. 

Rafael Montero (5-10, 5.08 ERA) will take the ball for the visitors. In six games against the Marlins this year, including two starts, Montero is 1-0 with a 5.02 ERA. The right-hander has a 1.70 WHIP on the season and he has allowed eight runs on 16 hits and 12 walks through 15 innings in his last three starts combined. 

The Mets are 2-8 in their last 10 games after losing the first two games of a series. Take the Marlins for the sweep. 

My selection is an 8* play on Miami Marlins. 

LATE NIGHT MLB TOTAL

The Cleveland Indians are winners of 24 of their last 25 games, and a big reason has been amazing performances on the mound as Cleveland has conceded four or fewer runs in 24 games during that span. 

I expect another solid outing from a Tribe pitcher as they hand the ball to Mike Clevinger (10-5, 3.21 ERA) tonight. He has allowed just one earned run through his last four starts and under is 19-6-1 in Clevinger's last 26 starts overall.

The Halos turn to left-hander Tyler Skaggs (2-5, 4.37 ERA) who tossed  seven scoreless innings against Houston his last time out. He has not had much success in previous meetings with Cleveland but this looks like a good spot for the 26 year old. Under is 7-3-1 in Skaggs' last 11 home starts and under is 21-10-2 in Indians' last 33 road games against a left-handed starter.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The current owners of the two Wild Cards in the American League will clash in the Bronx Tuesday night. The Yankees claimed the series-opener 2-1 on Monday to make it eight wins in their last 10 games, and I like the Bronx Bombers to keep rolling here with  CC Sabathia on the mound. 

CC Sabathia (11-5, 3.85 ERA) has held three of his last four opponents to one run. The veteran southpaw is 18-9 with a 3.16 ERA in 37 career starts against Minnesota and has the current Twins limited to a .216 batting average. The Twins are 3-10 in their last 13 road games vs. a left-handed starter.

The Yankees are 7-1 in Sabathia's last eight starts against the Twins who turn to Jose Berrios (12-7, 3.84 ERA). The 23 year old held the Yankees to one run in 6 2/3 innings at Target Field back in July, but he has been far better at home than on the road where he's 4-6 with a bloated 5.14 ERA on the season. 

The Twins are 0-9 in Berrios' last nine road starts. The Yankees are 8-1 in their last nine games vs. a right-handed starter and 6-1 in their last seven home games.

My selection is a 10* play on NY Yankees.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

The Detroit Lions opened the season with a 35-23 comeback victory against Arizona. QB Matthew Stafford completed 29-of-31 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns as he recovered nicely from an early pick-six. 

The Lions picked off Arizona QB Carson Palmer three times and should give Eli Manning all kinds of problem here. Manning finished 29-of-38 passing for 220 yards and one pick in last week's 19-3 loss at Dallas. He really missed a reliable target with Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. sidelined and he got sacked three times as the offensive line failed to protect him. 

The inability to establish a passing game is a huge concern for the Giants as they don't have a strong running game, and they accumulated just a total of 35 rushing yards on 12 carries against the Cowboys. 

The Giants won last season's meeting 17-6, but I think Detroit will claim revenge here Monday night. 

My selection is an 8* play on Detroit Lions. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER TOTAL

The Marlins return home to Miami for the first time since Hurricane Irma when they host the New York Mets at Marlins Park Monday night. Neither team will make it to the postseason, but I think they'll entertain us with a high-scoring contest here. 

Dan Straily (9-9, 4.24 ERA) will take the ball for the Marlins. He's been lit up all month long and posted a 8.44 ERA in three September starts. The worst of them all was his last time out when he was tagged with eight runs on 13 hits in six innings at Philadelphia. 

The Mets turn to Matt Harvey (5-5, 6.14 ERA) who was charged with five runs on seven hits through 3 1/3 frames of a 17-5 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday. Harvey held the ball in the park in that contest but has served up 17 homers in 16 starts on the season. 

Over is 8-2-2 in Straily's last 12 starts overall. Over is 3-0-1 in Harvey's last 4 starts overall. Over is 45-25-5 in the Mets 75 road games on the season. 

My selection is a 10* play on Over. 

#MLB 3-Pack

The Minnesota Twins remain in control of the second spot in the American League wild card spot despite coming off back-to-back losses to the Blue Jays. I think they'll earn a split of this four-game set with a win in the series-finale Sunday afternoon. 

Kyle Gibson (10-10, 4.97 ERA) will take the ball for Minnesota. He's 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his last five starts and held the Blue Jays to two runs in 6 2/3 innings at Toronto on Aug. 27. The Jays turn to Joe Biagini (3-10, 5.07 ERA) who gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings when pitching opposite Gibson in that matchup. He's 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA lifetime versus Minnesota and 2-9 with a 5.40 ERA as a starter this season. 

The Blue Jays are 1-5 in Biagini's last six starts. The Twins are 5-0 in Gibson's last five starts.

My selection is an 8* play on Minnesota Twins. 

MLB 3-Pack

The New York Yankees have outscored the Baltimore Orioles 30-10 through the first three games of this series. I think they'll complete the four-game sweep with another blowout win in a high-scoring game Sunday afternoon. 

Sonny Gray (9-10, 3.17 ERA) will take the ball for the Bronx Bombers. He's 2-3 with a 4.39 ERA in five career starts against Baltimore. Gray is 3-5 despite a very respectable 2.66 ERA in eight starts since coming over from Oakland as he has struggled to get run support. 

Run support should not be an issue here as the Orioles send Ubaldo Jimenez (5-10, 6.75 ERA) to the mound. Jimenez is 0-3 with a 9.27 ERA over his last five starts and he has posted a 7.15 ERA in 23 starts on the season. The Yankees have torched him for 12 runs (11 earned) through 8 2/3 innings this season alone and he is 4-6 with a 6.75 ERA in 14 career starts (13 starts) against the Yankees. 

It’s always a bit risky backing the home team on the runline, but note that the Yankees are 18-6 against the runline as a home favorite of at least -175 this season. Over is 6-2 in the Yankees last eight when their opponent allows five runs or more in their previous game and I like the Yankees -1.5 and Over in this contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on NYY -1.5

MLB 3-Pack

The New York Yankees have outscored the Baltimore Orioles 30-10 through the first three games of this series. I think they'll complete the four-game sweep with another blowout win in a high-scoring game Sunday afternoon.

Sonny Gray (9-10, 3.17 ERA) will take the ball for the Bronx Bombers. He's 2-3 with a 4.39 ERA in five career starts against Baltimore. Gray is 3-5 despite a very respectable 2.66 ERA in eight starts since coming over from Oakland as he has struggled to get run support.

Run support should not be an issue here as the Orioles send Ubaldo Jimenez (5-10, 6.75 ERA) to the mound. Jimenez is 0-3 with a 9.27 ERA over his last five starts and he has posted a 7.15 ERA in 23 starts on the season. The Yankees have torched him for 12 runs (11 earned) through 8 2/3 innings this season alone and he is 4-6 with a 6.75 ERA in 14 career starts (13 starts) against the Yankees.

It’s always a bit risky backing the home team on the runline, but note that the Yankees are 18-6 against the runline as a home favorite of at least -175 this season. Over is 6-2 in the Yankees last eight when their opponent allows five runs or more in their previous game and I like the Yankees -1.5 and Over in this contest.

My selection is an 8* play on Over

TOP RATED 10* NFL GAME OF THE MONTH

The reigning Super Bowl champions New England Patriots took a 42-27 beating as an 8-point favorite after a second half collapse against the Chiefs on Thursday in Week 1. 

I can't stress enough how much I like the Pats to come back and totally destroy the New Orleans Saints here in Week 2. The Patriots are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points and Bill Belichick has had more than a week to get things right from the season opener. 

The Saints looked hapless in their 29-19 loss at Minnesota. If you allow Sam Bradford to throw for 346 yards and three touchdowns against you there's no telling how much damage a pissed off Tom Brady will do. The New England QB was 16-of-36 passing for 267 yards and no touchdown passes, and expect the GOAT to show why he's the GOAT as he gets back to his best in this contest.  

The Patriots are 5-1 ATS in their last six games in September. The Saints are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games in September.

My NFL Game of the Month is a 10* play on New England Patriots.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON NFL TOTAL

The Cleveland Browns put up a brave fight in their 21-18 loss against Pittsburgh in Week 1. This Browns defense is much improved from previous seasons, and I think we'll see a low-scoring contest when they visit the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon. 

Baltimore shut out the Bengals in a 20-0 victory last week, and there's no doubt that the Ravens are loaded up on the defensive side of the ball. I don't think they'll have any trouble to shut down the Browns' rookie QB DeShone Kizer, and Baltimore's own QB Joe Flacco missed most of the preseason due to injury and threw for just 121 yards last week. 

Under is 9-2 in Browns last 11 vs. a team with a winning record and 3-1-1 in Ravens last five vs. a team with a losing record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

VIKINGS/STEELERS TOTAL

Two teams looking to build on wins in the opening week of the season will clash at Heinz Field Sunday afternoon. 

The Vikings are coming off a 29-19 win against the Saints as QB Sam Bradford was 27-of-32 passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. There's just no way he can come up with a similar performance here against a solid Pittsburgh D. 

Pittsburgh did not do much offensively in its 21-18 win against Cleveland and had just 16 first downs compared to the Browns' 20. Steelers' RB Le'Veon Bell sat out the preseason and accumulated just 32 yards on 10 carries in Week 1. The Steelers defense impressed though, and it should have little trouble to shut down this very mediocre Minnesota team. 

Under is 11-1 in Steelers last 12 games in Week 2 and under is 15-3 in Vikings last 18 vs. a team with a winning record for a superb 26-4 angle. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER

Manchester United played a 2-2 draw at Stoke in their most recent Premier League game but they've won all other competitive games this season, all four of those victories were by at least two goals. 

Everton are coming off three straight defeats (all by at least two goals) and they took a 3-0 beating at Atalanta in the Europa League Thursday. It will be a tough ask for Ronald Koeman to have the squad ready again here on short rest. 

Man United defeated Basel 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday. They'll miss Paul Pogba who is out with a hamstring injury, but they enjoy the benefit of a really deep squad so the tight schedule and injuries shouldn't affect them as much as Everton. 

My selection is a 10* play on Man United -1.5.

PAIR OF ACES

The Arizona Diamondbacks are holding a firm grip of the top Wild Card in the National League. They're coming off three straight victories and defeated the Giants 3-2 here at AT&T Park Friday night. 

Tonight Zack Greinke (16-6, 2.99 ERA) will take the ball for the D'Backs. He's allowed just six runs in 26 2/3 innings through his last four starts overall, and he's 10-2 against the Giants in his career behind a 2.56 ERA in 16 starts.

The Giants' left-hander Madison Bumgarner (3-8, 3.55 ERA) has been tagged with 11 runs on 15 hits in 11 innings through his last two starts overall. The Giants have lost each of his last four starts overall and they're 0-8 in Bumgarners' last eight starts against team from the National League West division.

My selection in this matchup between a pair of aces is an 8* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL MONEYMAKER

The LSU Tigers (2-0 SU, 1-0-1 ATS) will visit the Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) Saturday evening. I really like the road team in this matchup. 

The Tigers have been amazing, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, while outscoring BYU and Chattanooga by a combined 72-10 through their first two games. They have an efficient QB in Danny Etling who completed 8-of-14 passes for 227 yards and a TD last week, and he's yet to throw an interception yet despite airing it out plenty. Add junior running back Derrius Guice (224 yards on 42 carries and 4 TDs on the season) and you have plenty of options on the ball. 

Mississippi State came from behind to beat Louisiana Tech 57-21 last week. The Bulldogs may be 2-0 SU and ATS on the season, but this will be their first big test (and first game against an SEC team).

While the Bulldogs are not bad at moving the chains led by QB Nick Fitzgerald, I just don't see them doing enough damage on this solid LSU D to keep this a close game. LSU won last season's meeting 23-20 as a 13.5-point home favorite, but it is still 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings at Mississippi State.

My selection is an 8* play on LSU Tigers. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

We won with the New York Yankees -1.5 as a free pick yesterday, and I think they'll prove themselves worthy of a bigger bet on the runline as a premium pick on Saturday. 

Jeremy Hellickson (2-4, 6.54 ERA) will take the ball for Baltimore. He gave up five runs (three earned) in 2 1/3 innings earlier this month. The Yankees are perfect 6-0 in their last six games when facing a right-handed starter and they’ve covered the runline in 13 of their last 14 victories.

Jordan Montgomery (7-7, 4.24 ERA) will take the ball for the Bronx Bombers. The 24 year old rookie southpaw has held the Orioles to eight earned runs and knocked out 24 batters through 21 innings of work on the season. 

It’s always a bit risky backing the home team on the runline, but note that the Yankees are 17-6 against the runline as a home favorite of at least -175 this season.

My selection is a 10* play on the New York Yankees -1.5. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB) MIKE'S BEST CFB BET SATURDAY

We won with the Iowa Hawkeyes as our College Football Game of the Week last week, and I'm backing them again here in Week 3 as they take on the North Texas Mean Green as a big home favorite.

North Texas won its season opener 59-14 as a 17.5-point home favorite against Lamar, but the Mean Green didn't stand much a chance in last week's 54-32 defeat at SMU. They gave up 394 passing yards and five passing touchdowns, and such defending will spell trouble here against Iowa's Nathan Stanley who recorded 333 passing yards with five touchdowns and zero INTs in last week's 44-41 win at Iowa State. Akrum Wadley added 118 yards on the ground and Iowa has a very well balanced offense. 

The Hawkeyes are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game, and I think they'll keep rolling on offense while tightening up on the defensive side of the ball this week. 

My CFB Game of the Week is a 10* play on the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL CA$H COW

The Duke Blue Devils are perfect 2-0 SU and ATS on the season while the Baylor Bears are 0-2 SU and ATS. This looks like it should be an easy win for Duke home at Wallace Wade Stadium. 

Not only have Baylor lost back-to-back games, but it has done so closing as 33.5-point favorite against Liberty and 12.5-point favorite against UTSA. 

Duke on the other hand took care of business easily in Week 1 with a 60-7 win as a 36-point favorite against North Carolina Central followed by an impressive 41-17 beat down of Northwestern despite closing as a 2-point dog. They allowed just 191 yards in the most recent victory while accumulating 538 yards on offense themselves (305 yards passing, 233 yards rushing). QB Daniel Jones  hit 29-of-45 passes for 305 yards with two TDs and an INT, while also rushing for 108 yards and a pair of scores.

Is the line an overreaction to recent results? I don't think so, the Blue Devils are a superior team to Baylor this year and I have no problem laying two touchdowns.  

My selection is an 8* play on Duke Blue Devils. 

TOP RATED 10* PREMIER LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK

Crystal Palace are dead last in the Premier League, without both a single goal and a single point. They enter this game with a new manager in charge as former England boss Roy Hodgson takes over from Frank de Boer. 

I will say this though; Crystal Palace have played much better than the results would suggest, and Hodgson's arrival should provide a lift to the players and enough to deliver a win here. 

Southampton have five points to their name with just three goals scored through four games, all goals in a 3-2 victory against West Ham in Gameweek 2.   

The teams have split the last eight meetings, and I think this is a great price on Crystal Palace home at Selhurst Park. I'm going big here despite the long odds. 

My EPL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Crystal Palace. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Philadelphia Phillies bats have come alive as they enter this three-game series with the Oakland Athletics on the back of a three-game sweep of the Marlins, scoring 27 runs in the process. 

Here they'll come up against Daniel Mengden (0-1, 7.07 ERA) who has made just three starts on the season. He missed several months due to a rib injury and allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings against the Astros in his comeback last week. Over is 8-3-2 in Phillies last 13 home games vs. a right-handed starter and I think Mengden will be in for a tough outing here. 

Mark Leiter Jr. (3-5, 4.84 ERA) will toe the slab for the Phillies. The 26 year old rookie is 1-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his last three starts and he has served up a total of four homers through the last two outings alone. The A's have averaged a healthy amount of runs over the last couple of weeks, and I don't see Leiter Jr. lasting long in this contest. We can also note that both bullpens rank in the bottom third in baseball for ERA. 

Over is 9-3 in Athletics last 12 overall. Over is 5-2-2 in Phillies last nine overall.

My selection is a 10* play on Over. 

TEXANS/BENGALS TNF BOOKIE BREAKER

Both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans kicked off the season with disappointing home losses. The Bengals will get the chance to redeem themselves in front of the home town crowd right away here in Week 2, and I like the home team in this matchup. 

It's still unclear who will take place under center for Houston as Tom Savage was taken out the game after two fumbles last week, but the Texans have expressed concerns starting rookie Deshaun Watson. 

Cincinnati has no such problems despite Andy Dalton coming off a poor outing in the Bengals' 20-0 loss to Baltimore. I expect Dalton to come back with a big performance here against a Houston D that had no sacks against Jacksonville last week and they gave up 29 points while scoring only seven. 

The Bengals are 6-1-1 ATS last eight in Week 2 and 18-7-2 ATS last 27 games in September. I'm confident giving the points here. 

My selection is an 8* play on Cincinnati Bengals.

DOG OF THE DAY

I like the price we get on the Toronto Blue Jays as they travel to Minnesota to take on the Twins at Target Field Thursday night. 

The Blue Jays hand the ball to left-hander Brett Anderson (3-3, 5.90 ERA) who has allowed just six runs through 17 2/3 innings in three starts since coming over from the Cubs. He is 3-3 with a decent enough 3.80 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against the Twins.

Minnesota turns to José Berríos (12-7, 3.94 ERA) who is coming off a seven-inning, two-run outing against Kansas City. He has been very inconsistent lately though, and I don't think he should be this big of a favorite against Anderson. 

My selection is an 8* play on Toronto Blue Jays. 

EUROPA LEAGUE TOTAL

Ostersund are arguably the biggest success story in the Europa League this season. They played their first season ever in the Swedish top flight last year and qualified for the Europa League by winning the domestic cup. They've knocked out some really strong sides on their way to the group stage, and they've done so playing positive and attacking football.

I think we'll see a wide open high-scoring contest when they travel to Ukraine to take on FC Zorya Lugansk on Thursday.

Zorya have plenty of Europa League experience, and they know they can't afford to drop points at home. I think they'll come out all guns blazing and we should see plenty of goal-scoring opportunities with both teams' strength on the ball.

Ostersund have scored in seven of their last eight games and Zorya in each of their last five (all five seeing at least three goals total). 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

PADRES/TWINS TOTAL

The San Diego Padres took a 16-0 beating in the opener of this three-game series with the Minnesota Twins Tuesday night. I think we'll see way fewer runs scored at Target Field tonight. 

The Twins hand the ball to Ervin Santana (15-7, 3.45 ERA). He's 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA through five career starts against the Padres. Under is 12-3-1 in Santana's last 16 starts when the opponent scored two runs or fewer in their previous game.

The Padres turn to Dinelson Lamet (7-7, 4.32 ERA) who will be facing Minnesota for the first time in his career. The 25 year old rookie has four quality starts in his last five appearances and he has allowed just a total of four runs in 18 innings in his last three starts combined. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under.

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Miami Marlins 9-8 in 15 innings yesterday. I think we'll see another slug-fest here in Game 2 of the series Wednesday night. 

The Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola (10-10, 3.71 ERA) is a terrific prospect, but he is 0-3 with a 10.67 ERA in three starts this season against the Marlins. Over is 4-1 in Nola's last five starts against Miami.

The Marlins Dan Straily (9-8, 3.95 ERA) is 3-1 despite a somewhat swollen 4.76 ERA in four starts against the Phillies on the season. Over is 4-0 in Straily's last four starts against the Phillies. 

The Marlins are averaging a healthy 5.01 runs per game on the road this season but they're still just 32-41 away from home as most of their pitchers are struggling outside of Miami. Straily is no exception, and we should see an entertaining back and forth at Citizens Bank Park Wednesday night. 

My selection is a 10* play on Over. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOTAL

Both Napoli and Shaktar Donetsk are coming off six consecutive victories, and they've both scored at least two goals in each game during the winning streak. I think we'll see a wide open high-scoring encounter. Shaktar will won't back down in front of the home fans, and Napoli should get plenty of opportunities to hit the home team on the counter. No injuries to key players on either side, and I'm backing the over. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Cleveland Indians are eyeing their 20th straight victory when they host the Detroit Tigers Tuesday night. I don't like going against Cleveland on the ML as they'll be determined to keep the winning streak going, but this looks like a ridiculously good price on the Tigers +1.5.

Left-hander Matt Boyd (5-9, 5.93 ERA) will take the ball for Detroit. Not impressive numbers, but note that he's 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA in three starts against Cleveland on the season. The Tribe turn to Corey Kluber (15-4, 2.56 ERA) who has posted a 5.24 ERA in four starts against Detroit on the season, so I think they'll be able to keep this a close contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Detroit Tigers +1.5. 

TOP RATED 10* AL GAME OF THE WEEK

The Baltimore Orioles have dropped five in a row following Monday's 4-3 loss in the opener of a three-game set here at Toronto Monday night. I really like the price we get on the visitors here in Game 2 with Dylan Bundy (13-9, 4.12 ERA) on the mound. Bundy has held the Jays to one run on nine hits in 13 innings of work on the season, and we can note that Baltimore has won seven of his last eight starts. 

The Blue Jays turn to Joe Biagini (3-10, 5.29 ERA). The 27 year old has pitched just a total of 14 innings in Aug/Sep combined and he is 2-9 with a 5.77 ERA in 14 games as a starter on the season. The Blue Jays are 0-5 in Biagini's last five starts.

The Orioles still have a shot at one of the wildcard slots in the American League, and I think they'll put an end to their losing streak tonight.

My AL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Baltimore Orioles. 

JUVENTUS/BARCELONA ECL ENFORCER

Two teams with an amazing array of talent, but keep in mind that's true on both ends of the field. While names like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Paulo Dybala get the headlines, these sides rarely give up goals. Barcelona have started the domestic season with three straight clean sheets while Juventus have allowed two goals in three games in Serie A. 

Barca and Juventus played a 0-0 draw in the last meeting here at Camp Noi last year, and I predict another low-scoring contest as neither team want to start the Champions League campaign with a defeat. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

MLB UNDERDOG DELIGHT

The Seattle Mariners failed to complete a three-game sweep of the Angels over the weekend as they took a 5-3 loss on Sunday. Tonight they visit the Texas Rangers. Both teams are battling for a Wild Card spot in the American League, and I like the price we get on the Mariners in the opener of this super important series. 

Left-hander Ariel Miranda (8-6, 4.72 ERA) will take the ball for Seattle. He held the Astros to one run (no hits) in six innings his last time out but has struggled a bit with his control lately, giving up plenty of walks. I think he'll be just fine tonight and he should get plenty of run support as the Rangers hand the ball to Cole Hamels. 

Hamels (9-3, 4.03 ERA) is 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA through his last three starts and the left-hander has posted a bloated 5.06 ERA in 12 career matchups with the Mariners. 

The Mariners are 10-4 in the last 14 meetings overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Seattle Mariners. 

NFL SAINTS/VIKINGS MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

The Minnesota Vikings will see a very familiar face when they host the New Orleans Saints Monday night. 32-year-old running back Adrian Peterson played 10 seasons with the Vikings before signing with the Saints during the offseason. Scoring points won't be an issue for the Saints as Pederson joins 1,000-yard rusher Mark Ingram and veteran QB Drew Brees who's showing no signs of slowing down. 

Minnesota has replaced Peterson with veteran Latavius Murray and second-round draft pick Dalvin Cook, but it's quite obvious that the Vikings (as always) will have to rely on their defense. Quarterback Sam Bradford completed 71.6% of his passes last season, but most were of the shorter variety and he has yet to eclipse 21 TDs in any of his six NFL seasons. This can be compared to New Orleans' Brees who completed 70.0% percent and threw for 37 touchdowns last season. 

The Saints ranked 31st in points allowed last season but used three of their first four picks in the draft on defense. The Vikings still have an edge on D, but I expect the Saints' offensive advantage will be enough to at the very least cover the spread.

My selection is an 8* play on New Orleans Saints. 

MONDAY PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER

I had high hopes for West Ham United heading into the season, but they head into Monday's clash with Huddersfield off three straight losses and a 2-10 goal differential. I think they'll get the win they so desperately need here against Huddersfield.

The visitors are undefeated with two wins and a draw and three straight clean sheets in the process, but they've had a fairly easy schedule.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic won't get many more games to turn it around, especially with the amount of talent he has at his disposal. I think he'll try every trick in the book to bag three points here, and that he will succeed. 

My selection is an 8* play on West Ham. 

NFL TOTAL

The San Francisco 49ers will kick off the season with a matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. I think both teams will come out sluggish, and I see value on the under. 

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton had shoulder surgery in the spring and played only one series during the entire preseason. The Panthers have added running back Christian McCaffrey to their offense, but the 21 year old rookie might need a couple of games with the big boys to find his feet. 

The 49ers are coming off a 2-14 season, and and this should be another tough year. They have an excellent running back in Carlos Hyde, but former Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan does not have much other offensive talent to work with here in his head coaching debut. Quarterback Brian Hoyer, a ninth-year pro, played just six games for a Bears team that finished with a 3-13 record last season.  

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

MLB MONEYMAKER

The Seattle Mariners are going for the sweep of this three-game set when they host the LA Angels Sunday afternoon. 

They hand the ball to Erasmo Ramirez (5-5, 4.35 ERA) who is  4-2 with a 2.19 ERA in 11 games (seven starts) against the Angels. The Halos turn to Parker Bridwell (7-2, 4.00 ERA) who has been tagged with 13 runs in just six innings of work in his last two starts (both against Oakland). The 26 year old right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Mariners on the year. 

Let's go with the hot home team. 

My selection is an 8* play on Seattle Mariners. 

MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Oakland Athletics have scored a total of 31 runs through the first three games of this series. They're going for the sweep Sunday afternoon, but I don't think the AL West-leading Houston Astros will allow that to happen. 

Today Houston will send out Dallas Keuchel (12-3, 2.88 ERA) to the mound. The left-hander is 5-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 17 career appearances (15 starts) versus the Athletics and 3-0 with an 0.83 ERA in three meetings on the season. The A's are 2-7 in their last nine games vs. a left-handed starter.

Kendall Graveman (4-4, 4.70 ERA) will take the ball for Oakland. He has been charged with nine runs on 11 hits and six walks with three homers in 10 innings through his last two turns. Graveman has held Houston to a total of three runs in 11 innings, but should feel the full force of the Astros bats today as they try to avoid the sweep. 

My selection is an 8* play on Houston Astros -1.5. 

NFL AFTERNOON ASSASSIN

Cleveland was an abysmal 1-15 SU and 5-11 ATS last season, but the young Browns have more experience and talent at their disposal this year. 

Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer has been named the starter by coach Hue Jackson, and it's hard to argue with that choice considering the competition. He can both throw and run, and RB Isaiah Crowell should be able to do a fair amount of damage on the ground after accumulating a career-high 952 rushing yards to go with seven touchdowns last season. 

The Steelers are as always led by "Big Ben" Roethlisberger under center and Le’Veon Bell at RB, and it's hard to argue that they're the more talented team. I just think the bookies have put too much emphasis on Cleveland's last season when making the spread for this contest, and I expect an improved Browns side to keep it reasonably close. 

My selection is an 8* play on Cleveland Browns. 

NFL DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Tennessee Titans look like a solid home favorite as they open the season with matchup against the Oakland Raiders Sunday afternoon.

Marcus Mariota is a terrific dual-threat QB and arguably one of the top young quarterbacks in the league. I expect big things from him this season with more experience under his belt. Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry are two terrific running backs and the Titans have plenty of talent out wide. 

The Raiders have Derek Carr at QB position and they've added Marshawn Lynch to the back field. It's gonna be interesting to see if Oakland can follow up on its 12-4 record from last season, but I have my doubts. Note that the Raiders were 9-2 in games decided by one score (5-0 in games decided by three points or fewer), simply not sustainable numbers that will even out.

The Titans are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 1 and I think they'll be off to a good start this year.

My selection is an 8* play on Tennessee Titans. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL CA$H COW

The Georgia Bulldogs defeated Appalachian State 31-10 as a 12.5-point favorite in the season opener. Freshman Jake Fromm  completed 10-of-15 passes for 143 yards and a TD after losing Jacob Eason to a sprained knee early in the game.

They have not only one, but two explosive running backs in Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.Chubb rushed for 96 yards while Michel added 87 in the opener against the Mountaineers. Defensively the Bulldogs looked solid as well and they held a 368-264 advantage in total yards. 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish did also take care of business in their first game of the season with a 49-16 win as a 19-point favorite against Temple. They finished with a 606-330 edge in total yards and QB Brandon Wimbush completed 17-of-30 passes for 184 yards with two TDs and one INT while adding 106 yards (one TD) on the ground.

Running backs Dexter Williams and Josh Adams rushed for 124 and 161 yards, respectively, but the Fighting Irish will face a much tougher defense tonight. 

The Fighting Irish are 2-5 ATS in their last seven non-conference games and 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

My selection is an 8* play on Georgia Bulldogs. 

RUNLINE RIPPER

The San Francisco Giants have scored a total of 20 runs in their last two games, and I think their red hot bats combined with a solid pitcher make the Giants -1.5 a good play Saturday night. 

Jeff Samardzija (9-12, 4.31 ERA) will take the ball for San Francisco. Shark is 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA over his last eight starts and he held the Cardinals to one run on two hits in seven frames his last turn. Samardzija pitched for the White Sox in 2015 and has allowed just four earned runs in 36 innings in his career against them. 

James Shields (2-6, 5.72 ERA) will take the ball for the White Sox. The veteran right-hander has been tagged with eight runs on 11 hits and seven walks in 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts. He's 2-4 with a 5.88 ERA in nine starts home at Guaranteed Rate Field on the season. 

The White Sox are slumping big time, losing nine of their last 11 games. 

My selection is an 8* play on San Francisco Giants -1.5. 

CFB SATURDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Missouri Tigers mauled Missouri State 72-43 in their season opener, but I think they're in much lower scoring contest when they host the South Carolina Gamecocks Saturday night. 

South Carolina opened the season with a 35-28 win at NC State. It was however out-gained 504-246 despite the victory and scored 14 of its points off turnovers. 

I don't think the Gamecocks offense will be much of a threat to the total and Missouri could be in for a let down game offensively after last week's explosion. They accumulated a total of 815 yards in the game but note that under is 13-4 in the Tigers last 17 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game and 6-1 in their last seven games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Under is 9-1 in Gamecocks last 10 conference games and 4-1 in Tigers last five conference games.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB) MIKE'S BEST CFB BET SATURDAY

The Iowa Hawkeyes opened the season with a 24-3 win as a 12-point favorite against Wyoming in Week 1 while the Iowa State Cyclones defeated Northern Iowa 42-24 as a 10-point favorite. 

Iowa won last season's meeting 42-3, and I think the Hawkeyes will cruise to another easy victory against its in-state rival on Saturday. 

Hawkeyes' RB Akrum Wadley rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries last week, and as the Iowa State's strength in D is on the perimeter I think he'll have plenty of success here as well. Note that the Cyclones gave up 119 rushing yards on just 22 rushes for an average of 5.4 yards per carry against Northern Iowa. 

The Cyclones are improved from last season, but Iowa is still better on both sides of the ball and should cover the spread. 

My CFB Game of the Week is a 10* play on Iowa Hawkeyes. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (EPL) MIKE'S BEST SOCCER BET SATURDAY

Tottenham Hotspur opened the season with a 2-0 win at Newcastle but have picked up just one point since through two matchups at Wembley, their temporary home while White Hart Lane is being rebuilt. I think they'll be happy to back on the road here as they travel to Liverpool to take on Everton at Goodison Park. 

Everton lost 2-0 at Chelsea before the international break, and they have nine players missing with summer arrivals Jordan Pickford and Davy Klaassen doubts for Saturday. Not ideal for a team that has been matched hard with both Premier League and Europa League qualification. 

Spurs are unbeaten in the last nine meetings with Everton, four wins and five draws.

My EPL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Tottenham. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Minnesota Twins opened this four-game series at Kauffman with a 4-2 victory. Friday night they hand the ball to Ervin Santana, and this looks like a very reasonable price on the Twins. 

Santana (14-7, 3.35 ERA) was charged with four runs in 6 2/3 innings against KC without factoring in the decision his last time out. He's still 3-0 through his last eight starts and 8-2 behind a 2.48 ERA in 13 road starts on the season.

Ian Kennedy (4-10, 5.37 ERA) will take the ball for Kansas City. The right-hander was tagged with four runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 frames when pitching opposite Santana in a no-decision his last start. Kennedy is 0-7 with a 6.71 ERA in 13 home starts on the season. 

The Twins’s offense have averaged 6.8 runs per game in their last 11 contests, and I think their hot bats will be too much to handle for Kennedy. 

My selection is a 10* play on Minnesota Twins. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB BANKROLL BUILDER TOTAL

The Chicago White Sox have scored just a total of 10 runs during a four-game losing streak. The under is 10-3 in White Sox last 13 home games and 12-3-1 in their last 16 games vs. a left-handed starter.

They will indeed face a southpaw tonight, and the Giants' Matt Moore (4-13, 5.42 ERA) has had great success in previous meetings with the White Sox going 4-1 with 1.45 ERA in five career meetings, including an 0.79 ERA in two starts here at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The White Sox hand the ball to 23 year old Lucas Giolito (2-1, 2.25 ERA). He has won back-to-back starts and held the Rays to just a run and three hits over seven innings in his last outing. Under is 10-4 in Giants last 14 games vs. a right-handed starter.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

FRIDAY NIGHT CFB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Purdue Boilermakers almost pulled an upset against 16th-ranked Louisville in Week 1, losing 35-28 as a 25-point underdog. The Ohio Bobcats meanwhile had little trouble to dismiss Hampton, winning 59-0 as a 36-point favorite. I think the results set up a good spot to back Purdue here Friday night.

The Boilermakers will be all ready to rumble and record the first W of the season in front of the home town crowd and they're 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up loss. They have two capable quarterbacks in Elijah Sindelar and David Blough who both got time on the field in the season premiere. 

The Bobcats will roll into Ross-Ade Stadium filled with confidence after last week's blowout victory, but this will be a completely different ballgame. 

My selection is an 8* play on Purdue Boilermakers.

MLB 3-Pack

The slumping Miami Marlins have won just one of their last 11 games. They're 1-5 in the last six meetings with the Atlanta Braves. 

Tonight Mike Foltynewicz (10-11, 4.75 ERA) will take the ball for Atlanta. He's 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in four appearances (three starts) against the Marlins on the year. The 25 year old right-hander has held the Cubs and the Rockies to a total of just three runs in 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts.

Jose Urena (12-6, 3.71 ERA) will take the ball for the Fish. He is 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts versus the Braves this season, but he's much better home at Miami and has allowed seven runs on 10 hits and five walks with three homers through nine innings in his last two starts on the road. 

The Braves are coming off back-to-back victories and I think they'll keep the momentum going. 

My selection is an 8* play on Atlanta Braves. 

LATE NIGHT BASE BRAWLER

The St. Louis Cardinals have won four on the bounce and six of they're last seven. They've won five straight meetings with the Padres at Petco Park, and I think the Cards will come through with another victory Thursday night. 

Lance Lynn (10-6, 2.99 ERA) will take the ball for St. Louis. He's 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in six career starts against the Friars and was phenomenal his last time out when he held the Dodgers scoreless through eight innings of work. 

The Padres turn to Clayton Richard (6-13, 4.94 ERA). The left-hander is 3-1 with a 4.39 ERA in 13 career games (nine starts) against the Cardinals. He went six innings against the Dodgers last week, allowing eight hits, three walks and three runs. Richard has been tagged with a total of 12 runs in 18 2/3 runs in his last three starts combined.

The Cardinals are 6-2 in their last eight games vs. a left-handed starter. The Padres are 2-6 in their last eight games vs. a right-handed starter.

My selection is an 8* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BOOKIE BREAKER

The Kansas City Chiefs finished the preseason with a 2-2 record after defeating the Titans 30-6 in their last game. The New England Patriots went 1-3 after losing 40-38 to the Giants in their last game. Of course preseason games mean very little when it comes to the real deal, but I still like the Chiefs to cover the spread here in the season opener. 

Points never come easy against KC which boasted the seventh best D for points allowed last season, giving up just 19.4 points per game. On the offensive side of the ball the Chiefs will return Alex Smith in the QB position. He has reliable targets in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill who had had 593 receiving yards, 267 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns on offense and special teams last season. 

The reigning Super Bowl champions New England Patriots look very strong again this season despite losing Julian Edelman for the year. They might be distracted with all the pregame festivities though, which on the other hand should work as extra motivation for the visitors. What better way to kick off the season than to upset the champions?

I don't think KC will win outright, but this is a lot of points to get on a team as good as the Chiefs. 

My selection is an 8* play on Kansas City Chiefs. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB GAME OF THE WEEK

The Chicago Cubs put an end to Pittsburgh Pirates' four-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday. The Cubs have still scored just five runs through past four contests, and I think the Pirates will get the better of them tonight. 

Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.50 ERA) will take the ball for Pittsburgh. He tossed six scoreless innings against Cincinnati his last time out and he has limited the Cubs to four earned runs in 12 frames on the season. 

The Cubs turn to Jon Lester (9-7, 4.46 ERA) who has been lit up to the tune of 16 runs (nine earned) on 19 hits and seven walks in 13 1/3 innings against Pittsburgh on the year. The veteran southpaw was tagged with four runs and eight hits over five innings against Atlanta on Sept. 2 in his first start since Aug. 17 

The Cubs are 0-4 in Lester's last four starts against the Pirates, and this looks like a great price on the home team.

My MLB Game of the Week is a 10* play on Pittsburgh Pirates. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Arizona Diamondbacks are riding a 12-game winning streak following yesterday's 3-1, 10-inning win against the reeling LA Dodgers. The Dodgers are 1-10 in their last 11 and the books are apparently playing the "due angle" here throwing out an absolutely ridiculous line IMO. There's absolutely no way I'm passing up on the white hot D'Backs at this price. 

Taijuan Walker (8-7, 3.42 ERA) takes the ball for Arizona. The 25 year old right-hander has allowed just one run on 14 hits and five walks through 16 2/3 innings of work in his last three starts combined. Walker is 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers on the season. 

Kenta Maeda (12-6, 4.19 ERA) will take the ball for LAD. He's 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in four starts against Arizona on the season, serving up eight homers in the process. Maeda was lit up for seven runs on eight hits in just three innings of an 8-1 loss at Chase Field on August 31 his last time out. 

The Diamondbacks have won five straight meetings in the series. Don't miss the mistake of chasing the Dodgers here. Ride the hot team. 

My selection is a 10* play on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

SUPER EARLY MLB MONEYMAKER

The Tampa Bay Rays are going for the sweep when they host the Minnesota Twins for the finale of this three-game series Wednesday afternoon. 

The Rays hand the ball to Blake Snell (3-6, 4.02 ERA). The left-hander has won three of his past four starts and hasn't lost a decision since July 24. He has allowed just two earned runs in 20 2/3 innings in his last three starts combined and we can note that the Twins are 2-8 in their last 10 road games vs. a left-handed starter.

Aaron Slegers (0-0, 2.84 ERA) will take the ball for Minnesota. The 25 year old rookie will make his mere second appearance in the big leagues, and even though he impressed in his debut against Cleveland (6 1/3 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs) I think he's in for a tougher game today.

Tampa Bay is playing its best baseball at the right time, having won 10 of its past 15 games to remain in contention for a Wild Card in the American League. 

My selection is an 8* play on Tampa Bay Rays. 

MLB 3-PACK

The reeling LA Dodgers lost their fourth straight game and ninth of their last 10 when the Arizona Diamondbacks outscored them 13-0 on Monday. It would be quite foolish to go against the D'Backs at the moment as they're riding an 11-game winning streak, but the Dodgers' can't keep losing forever and their bats must be ready to explode soon. I still think there's value on both Arizona and the over in this contest. 

The over is 4-0 in the Dodgers' last four overall and Arizona's Zack Greinke (16-6, 3.08 ERA) is 4-4 with a 4.03 ERA against the Dodgers in 10 career starts. He's 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in three meetings on the season but limited the Dodgers to one run on four hits with six Ks in six innings his last time out. 

The Dodgers' right-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-7, 3.71 ERA) is 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in nine career starts against the D'Backs. They torched him for six runs on eight hits and three walks with three homers in just four innings at Chase Field on August 30.

Arizona's J.D. Martinez hit four home runs in the series opener yesterday and Paul Goldschmidt is 9-for-21 with a pair of homers against Ryu. 

Each of the last five head-to-head meetings have gone over the total. The Diamondbacks are 4-0 in the last four meetings. 

My selection is an 8* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

MLB 3-PACK

The reeling LA Dodgers lost their fourth straight game and ninth of their last 10 when the Arizona Diamondbacks outscored them 13-0 on Monday. It would be quite foolish to go against the D'Backs at the moment as they're riding an 11-game winning streak, but the Dodgers' can't keep losing forever and their bats must be ready to explode soon. I still think there's value on both Arizona and the over in this contest. 

The over is 4-0 in the Dodgers' last four overall and Arizona's Zack Greinke (16-6, 3.08 ERA) is 4-4 with a 4.03 ERA against the Dodgers in 10 career starts. He's 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in three meetings on the season but limited the Dodgers to one run on four hits with six Ks in six innings his last time out. 

The Dodgers' right-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-7, 3.71 ERA) is 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in nine career starts against the D'Backs. They torched him for six runs on eight hits and three walks with three homers in just four innings at Chase Field on August 30.

Arizona's J.D. Martinez hit four home runs in the series opener yesterday and Paul Goldschmidt is 9-for-21 with a pair of homers against Ryu. 

Each of the last five head-to-head meetings have gone over the total. The Diamondbacks are 4-0 in the last four meetings. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over.