NFL 3-PACK

The Cleveland Browns have turned up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball when playing home at FirstEnergy Stadium all season long, allowing only 21.2 ppg in front of the home fans compared to 25.8 ppg overall. They've also scored only 12.7 ppg at home though and under is 10-2 in Browns last 12 home games. 

Here they'll host a Baltimore Ravens team that features a stingy defense. The Browns' quarterback DeShone Kizer is completing only 53.9 percent of his passes and has thrown only nine touchdown passes against 17 picks. Under is 5-2-1 in Ravens last eight vs. a team with a losing record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

EARLY NFL TOTAL BANKROLL BUILDER

The New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon, and I think points will come at a premium for both sides. 

The Cowboys are averaging 23.8 ppg on the season, but their offense has not been the same with running back Ezekiel Elliott suspended. The New York Giants are scoring just 15.8 ppg and motivation must be low enter the week with a lowly 2-10 record. We can also note that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will serve as the interim head coach for New York the rest of the season after the team fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese on Monday.

Under is 7-1 in Cowboys last eight games in December and 16-6 in their last 22 road games. Under is 4-1 in Giants last five games in December and 7-2 in their last nine home games.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOTAL MASSACRE

The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Cincinnati Bengals for an all AFC North showdown Monday night. Five of the last seven meetings have gone under the total, and that's a trend likely to continue tonight. 

The Steelers have scored a combined 71 points (while giving up 45) through their last two games, but they were both home at Pittsburgh, and they're usually involved in much lower scoring contests on the road. Note that under is 22-5 in Steelers' last 27 road games and 13-4-1 in their last 18 vs. AFC North opponents.

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a 30-16 beatdown of the Browns, but tearing apart Cleveland's abysmal D and the Steelers' are two completely different things. Note that Cincinnati is averaging just 16.6 ppg at home (while giving up 17.6 ppg) and under is 12-4 in Bengals' last 16 vs. AFC North opponents.

My selection is a 10* play on PIT @ CIN Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) 

I expect both teams to pile up the points when the 8-3 New Orleans Saints host the 8-3 Carolina Panthers in an important battle for first place in the NFC South Sunday afternoon. 

The Panthers are riding a four-game win streak and they've scored a total of 80 points in the last two games alone. Over is 9-3 in Panthers last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and the Saints fit the bill entering this contest with a 4-1 home record. They've averaged 31.2 pgg home in the Superdome and the Saints will be eager to bounce back from a 26-20 loss at the Rams last Sunday after winning eight straight games prior to that setback. Over is 4-0 in Saints last four games following a straight up loss and 13-5-1 in their last 19 home games.

Carolina’s defense has allowed plenty of passing yards in recent games and the Saints QB Drew Brees has averaged 313 passing yards with 12 touchdowns against three interceptions in his last four encounters with the Panthers.

The Saints won the last meeting 34-13 at Carolina back in Week 3 and five of the last six meetings have gone over the total. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on CAR @ NO Over. 

EARLY NFL - TOTAL AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE

The New York Jets took a 35-27 beating by Carolina last week, but I think they'll be able to keep the score down when they host the Kansas City Chiefs here the following week. 

The Chiefs are in a tailspin, coming off three straight setbacks (scoring a total of 36 points in the process) and they've won just one of their last six games. The Chiefs mustered only 236 yards of offense in last week's 16-10 home loss against Buffalo, and under is 9-2 in their last 11 vs. a team with a losing record and 13-3 in Chiefs last 16 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on KC @ NYJ Under. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Buffalo Bills defense ranks first in the NFL, allowing just 14.8 points a game. They struggle on the offensive side of the ball though with QB Tyrod Taylor struggling and the receiving corps hampered by injuries. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston will get the start here despite suffering a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder on a sack in last week's loss at Arizona. I'm not sure how well a banged up Winston will perform here against this outstanding Buffalo D, particularly with the Bills coming off a bye week and plenty of time to prepare for this contest. 

Under is 4-1 in Buffalo's five games this season, and while Tampa Bay took a 38-33 loss at Arizona last week we can note that under is 4-1 in Buccaneers last five games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL NO BRAINER

This looks like a terrific spot to back the under in Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon. The Falcons took a 23-17 home loss against Buffalo prior to their bye week, and I have no doubt that their elite defense will be fresh and ready to shut down the Dolphins here. 

There's no telling how Miami's offense will do in this contest as offensive line coach Chris Foerster resigned Monday, a day after a video surfaced of him snorting a white substance while apparently working for an NFL team. I'm pretty sure it won't have a positive impact though, and let's keep in mind that this is an offense that has averaged NFL worst for both points and yards through the first five weeks ... The Dolphins do have a 2-2 record though, thanks to a defensive unit that's allowed only 309.5 ypg and 16.8 ppg.  

Under is 11-3-2 in Falcons last 16 games in Week 6. Under is 5-0 in Dolphins last five games overall.

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) MIKE'S EAGLES/PANTHERS T.N.F. BEST BET

Two red hot teams will clash at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday Night Football. I think we'll see an entertaining shootout between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers, and the keys are the quarterbacks. 

The Eagles have scored a total of 60 points through their last two games, wins at Chargers and at home against Arizona. 

QB Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter alone in last week's 34-7 drubbing of Arizona and he finished the game completing 21-of-30 passes for 304 yards with four TDs and one pick. Wentz has already thrown 10 TDs through the first five weeks, a big improvement from last season which he finished with 16 TDs and 14 picks. Philly has some defensive issues though and rank 22nd in the NFL with 346 yards per game allowed. 

The Panthers defeated the Patriots 33-30 in Week 4 and followed that up with a 27-24 win at Detroit last week. QB Cam Newton threw for a combined 671 yards and six touchdowns in those two games and now there's no longer any doubt that MVP Cam is back to 100% from his off-season shoulder surgery. 

Carolina's defense held Detroit to just 242 yards last week, but note that over is 13-3 in Eagles last 16 road games and 6-2 in their last eight Thursday night games.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Eagles/Panthers Over. 

NFL 3-Pack

The Arizona Cardinals struggled to move the ball in last week's 18-15 OT win against the 49ers, but they played well on defense giving up just five field goals and no touchdowns. Under is 3-1 in Arizona's four games on the season and 6-2 in the Cardinals' last eight games in October.

Arizona doesn't have much offense and clearly miss RB David Johnson who isn't expected to be back until Christmas. QB Carson Palmer has thrown as many picks as touchdown passes (5) and he's been sacked 17 times through the first four weeks of the season. 

The Philadelphia Eagles pounded the Chargers on the ground in last week's 26-24 victory in LA, with LeGarrette Blount accumulating 136 yards on 16 carries. Arizona's D is not easy to beat though giving up just 302.8 ypg, and I think this will be a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

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 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* 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 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. 

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. 

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. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOTAL OF THE DAY

The Marshall Thundering Herd will get the season underway with a matchup against Miami (Ohio) Redhawks on Saturday. The posted total for this game is about as low as you'll see for a college football game, and I think this game will fly over the total. 

The Redhawks are not a very good offensive side, but they have the benefit of returning most starters on the offensive side of the ball. We can also note that they improved vastly with Gus Ragland under center in the second half of last season, winning each of their last six games. Here they'll face a Marshall defense that gave up more than 35 points per game on average.   

Marshall scored just 26.4 points per game on average last season but will return QB Chase Litton, 231-of-371 for 2612 yards and 24 TDs / 9 INTs. He's is gearing up for his third season as the starter and his experience should prove valuable with few returning receivers on the team. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

Top Rated 10* NCAAF Championship Total
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Clemson Tigers handed Urban Meyer his first shutout of his career when they defeated the Buckeyes 31-0 in the semifinals. This is a defense that has held opponents to an average of 306.9 yards and 17.1 points per game throughout the season. The Tigers will take on an Alabama offense that has averaged 39.4 points per game, but the Tide will have a new offensive coordinator in Steve Sarkisian calling the shots and they did not look all that dangerous on offense in their 24-7 win against Washington. They did however impress defensively once again, and Alabama has held opponents to 244.4 yards and 11.4 points per game this season. Defense will rule this game, and I'm going with a BIG BET on the under. 

Sunday Afternoon AFC Wild Card *CRUSHER*
Play: Over
Rating: 8/10*

The Miami Dolphins lost their starting QB in Week 14, but the team still managed to score 34 points twice in back-to-back in in victories at New York Jets and Buffalo before suffering a 34-14 defeat to New England in Week 17. Backup QB Matt Moore passed for 674 yards, eight TDs and three interceptions in his three starts, and he'll face a Pittsburgh defense that has conceded plenty of points in recent weeks. It has not mattered though as the Steelers offense has been red hot, averaging 26,4 points through seven consecutive wins. Le’Veon Bell has been terrific since missing the first four games of the season due to a suspension, and he should have plenty of success against a Miami rush defense that surrenders 140.4 yards per game. The Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi torched the Steelers defense for 204 yards in a 30-15 Miami victory in Week 6, and I don't think either team will have any trouble to move the ball in this contest. 

Saturday Night NFC Wild Card *CRUSHER*
Play: Under
Rating: 8/10*

The Seattle Seahawks will take on the Detroit Lions at CenturyLink Field for the NFC Wild Card game Saturday night. Neither side have played particularly well in recent weeks, and I think defense will rule this game. The Lions are losers of three straight as QB Matthew Stafford has been hampered by a finger injury and registered just two touchdowns and three interceptions during that stretch. The Seahawks' QB Russell Wilson has played through injuries all season long, and the Seahawks have not been much of a threat on the ground ranked 25h in NFL at 99.4 ypg while Detroit is 30th at 81.9 rushing yards per game.   

Seattle boasts an excellent defense conceding an average of just 18.2 points per game, good for third in the NFL and the under is 8-2 in the Lions last 10 games overall. Expect this game to stay under the total. 

NFL Total
Play: Under
Rating: 8/10*

Where are the points gonna come from in this contest? Tennessee got eliminated from postseason contention with last week's 38-17 loss at Jacksonville, and the Titans got starting QB Marcus Mariota injured. Backup Matt Cassel will replace him under center, and he'll face a Houston D that has allowed just 305.7 yards per game and an average of 20.3 ppg. The Texans will go with Tom Savage under center, giving him his second career start. The Texans have the conference's No. 4 seed locked down despite averaging just 17.5 points per game on the season, and they're coming off a 12-10 win against the Bears. Points will come at a premium here, and I expect to see this game go under the total.

Christmas Eve Football Bengals/Texans
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Houston Texans are battling for a postseason spot sitting top of the AFC South, and they came back from a 12-point deficit for a 21-20 win against Jacksonville last week. They'll face a Cincinnati Bengals team that was officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 24-20 loss to rival Pittsburgh last week. 

Houston QB Tom Savage came off the bench and went 23-of-36 passing for 260 yards but no TD passes in last week's comeback. He'll get the start here over $72 million quarterback Brock Osweiler, but he could certainly have asked for an easier opponent than a Bengals D that is allowing just 20.9 points per game. Houston has averaged just 17.9 points per game with Osweiler calling the signals, and I don't expect more production with Savage under center.

Under is 5-1 in Bengals last six games overall, under is 8-3 in Texans last 11 home games, under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.

New Mexico Bowl
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

We will see New Mexico Lobos take on the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners in the New Mexico Bowl Saturday afternoon, and I think we'll see a relatively low-scoring affair. The Lobos are all about the run, but while it's true that they feature the number one ranked running game in the nation, keep in mind that they'll face a solid rush defense that has held opponents to an average of 157 rushing yards per game on the season. Texas San Antonio defeated Charlotte 33-14 in its most recent game on Nov. 26 and put up a terrific performance in a 23-10 loss as a 27-point underdog at Texas A&M the previous week.

The over is 10-2 in games featuring New Mexico this season, but considering how one-dimensional the Lobos are on the ball I think the total is set too high here considering it's a Bowl game where no yard will come for free. 

Top Rated 10* MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The 7-5 Baltimore Ravens will visit the 10-2 New England Patriots Monday night, and I think we'll see a low-scoring affair. 

Baltimore is coming off a 38-6 win against Miami, and the team has allowed just a total of 20 points through back-to-back victories. The Ravens D ranks best in the NFL for total yardage allowed at 296.1 per game and they're tied for second with the Patriots regarding points allowed at 17.3 per game. 

The Pats obviously have an explosive offense with plenty of options on the ball, but Tom Brady's top target tight end Rob Gronkowski is out for this game and for the season. 

Under is 7-4-1 in games involving the Ravens and 8-4 in games involving the Pats this season. The oddsmakers seem to have a hard time adjusting the totals to these terrific defenses, and I think the total is set too high for this contest as well. 

Top Rated 10* College Football *TOTAL OF THE YEAR*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will visit the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens Saturday afternoon. My money is on a low-scoring contest.

Georgia Tech came from behind to beat Virgia 31-17 last week. Under is 4-0-1 in the Yellow Jackets last five games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game and 3-1-1 in their last five vs. SEC. Under is 11-2 in the Bulldogs last 13 home games and 6-1 in their last seven non-conference games.

Both teams prefer to run the ball, and while neither side is particularly good at the defending the rush it will take a lot of valuable time off the clock. Georgia Tech can't do much damage through the air, so Georgia can focus completely on stopping the run. 

Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two programs, and Georgia won last season's clash by a 13-7 scoreline. I predict another low-scoring affair, and I'm firing a BIG BET on the under. 

Turkey Day NFL Game #3 Steelers/Colts
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The big story here is obviously that Colts' QB Andrew Luck is highly unlikely to play as he's in concussion protocol following Sunday's 24-17 win against Tennessee. I still think we'll see this game fly over the total. 

Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger might cover the number themselves coming up against a banged up Colts' secondary. It's well worth noting that Big Ben has passed for 886 yards, 10 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last two meetings with the Colts who are giving up a NFL worst 284.5 yards per game against the pass this season. Le'Veon Bell rushed for 146 yards and a score as the Steelers handed the Browns to their 11th straight loss on Sunday, and Indy is among the worst teams to defend the rush too. 

The Steelers had lost four straight games prior to that victory against the Browns though, giving up an average of 28.25 points per game, so perhaps there's hope for Scott Tolzien to get something done under center for Indianapolis. We should also not forget their threat on the ground with Frank Gore (642 yards, four touchdowns) leading the way. 

Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings, and we shouldn't need any Luck to see another game go over the posted total. 

NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The woeful Cleveland Browns are still winless on the season, and they're on 12-game losing streak dating back to last season. They're allowing 30.3 points per game, but the Baltimore Ravens are far from an offensive juggernaut scoring just 19.2 points per game. Cleveland struggled on both sides of the ball in a 35-10 loss to the Cowboys last week, and this won't be an easy task taking on a Ravens D that ranks second in the NFL in total defense with 298 yards per game and ninth for points allowed. Under is 6-2 in Browns last eight games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game, 5-1 in the Browns' last six Thursday night games and 4-1 in the last five meetings in Baltimore.

If you're looking for a high-scoring affair Thursday night you might want to look away, but who cares as long as we can cash another ticket. Go with the under. 

Top Rated 10* NFL *SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Over
Rating: 10*

The Oakland Raiders host AFC West rivals Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football, and the total for this contest looks a little low to me. Yes, Denver has a great defense, but Oakland does not. The team is giving up 410.4 yards per game and only the lowly Browns are worse in that aspect, while the Raiders 25.4 points allowed per game rank in the bottom third of the NFL. The Raiders have looked terrific on the ball though. Derek Carr is coming off of a 450+ yard game in last week's 30-24 OT win against Tampa Bay, and he's thrown for 2,321 yards with 17 TDs on the season. Over is 12-3 in Raiders last 15 games following a straight up win and 10-4 in Broncos last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

The teams are tied at the top of the division with 6-2 records. This will surely be an intense game, and I think offense will prevail, as so often when the Raiders are on the gridiron this season. Over is 6-2 in the Raiders eight games this season. This should be another one to fly over the total. 

College Football Total *PIGSKIN PUNISHER*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Texas Longhorns Saturday afternoon, and this looks it will be a high-scoring contest. 

Texas Tech's D is simply ... not good. It ranks 123rd nationally while giving up 41.4 points per game and eight yards per rush attempt. Texas is coming off an impressive 35-34 win against No. 8 Baylor in Austin last week as D'Onta Foreman rushed for 250 yards. The Longhorns were however outgained 624 to 548 in total yardage, and here they'll take on a talented Texas Tech offense that leads the nation in passing at 500 yards per game. The Longhorns have allowed an average of 42 points through their four games on the road this season and over is 12-3 in Red Raiders last 15 home games. 

This is a pretty high total, but with Texas Tech's five home games this season seeing an average of 90.8 points per game with the average number set at 83.3 points I don't think it's inconceivable that we'll see this contest fly over the total. 

*MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. If you expect to watch a high scoring shootout on prime time I think you're in for a disappointing evening as I predict a low scoring defensive battle between the two NFC North rivals.

Minnesota is coming off its first loss of the season, a 21-10 setback at Philadelphia. It's pretty remarkable that a team ranked No. 31 in total offense with 299.2 yards per game has a 5-1 record, but with a D like the Vikings' that allows only 14 points per game they don't need to score all that many points to win. Here they'll come up against a Bears team that is a respectable No. 12 in total defense with 350.4 yards allowed per game, but the team ranks dead last for points per game scored.

The Vikings won't overlook the Bears as last week's defeat should serve as a wake up call that no win comes easy. Four of the last five head-to-head meetings have gone under the total and I think both teams will struggle to move the chains tonight, leading to another low scoring contest. 

Monday Night Football
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

Brock Osweiler returns to Denver to face the team he helped win the Super Bowl last season. He'll face a D that ranks No. 1 in yards against the pass (182.3) and in sacks (21), and this will not be an easy game for the Texans. We can also note that Houston has mustered a total of just 13 points in its two road games this season and the under is 5-2 in Texans' last seven road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

As for the Denver Broncos, the under is 5-0 in their last five home games vs. a team with a winning road record, and they're coming off back-to-back defeats to Atlanta and San Diego, with just a total of 29 points scored through those games. Each of their last three games have gone under the total. 

These are two teams winning game thanks to their D, and I expect a tough defensive battle at Sports Authority Field Monday night. 

Subscribers Only
Play: Under
Rating: 5*

CFB 3-Pack
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Virginia Tech Hokies are coming off a 34-3 routing of reigning ACC Coastal Division champion North Carolina. Their pass defense ranks second in the nation in yards allowed per game at 132.2, and its defense has allowed a point in only three of the last 12 quarters. The Syracuse Orange have dropped four of their last five and will be looking to rebound from a sleepy display in a 28-9 defeat to Wake Forest. I don't think we'll have much to worry about Syracuse putting up a ton of points on the board, but the line for the spread looks pretty spot on. Instead I like the under, as we can note that VT has played nine straight unders against conference opponents on the road. 

Subscribers Only
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

Top Rated 10* NFL PRIMETIME *BANKROLL BUILDER*
Play: Over
Rating: 10*

This looks like a great spot to back the over when the Miami Dolphins visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. 

Miami's QB Ryan Tannehill is playing well and has two touchdown passes or more in three of his last four games. He went 25-of-39 passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns when the Phins defeated the Browns 30-24 in overtime last Sunday. Admittedly not a very impressive result, but they'll come into this game strengthened by the win, their first of the season. The Bengals meanwhile suffered a 29-17 home loss to Denver last week. Andy Dalton is struggling and has one or zero touchdown passes in five of his last eight games. Miami has allowed opponents plenty of yards this season though, 415 per game to be exact, so this could be a good spot for Dalton and the rest of the Bengals to get back on track.

Cincinnati failed to shut down Denver's rookie QB Trevor Siemian who was allowed to throw for four touchdowns. I don't see them getting to Tannehill either, and the total for this contest look pretty low to me. You should also consider putting a few units at work on Miami +7 or better. 

Top Rated 10* NFL PRIMETIME *BOOKIE BREAKER*
Play: Over
Rating: 10*

The New Orleans Saints will host the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Monday night. I think we'll see a high-paced and high-scoring game between the two NFC South foes. 

Both of the 1-1 Falcons' first two games of the season have gone over the set total for this contest, and their QB Matt Ryan is on fire leading the league with a 121.4 quarterback rating. The Saints' secondary has been torched through the air for an average of 336.0 yards so far this season, so another big game for Ryan is very likely.

The Saints have started the season with back-to-back defeats, but they were a bit unlucky to lose their season opener to the Raiders despite putting up 34 points here at New Orleans. They like to put on a show offensively for the home town crowd, and the over is 6-0-1 in the Saints' last seven home games.

Both Atlanta and New Orleans are very much going by "The best defense is a good offense". That's not likely to change here on a primetime nationally televised game. 

Subscribers Only
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

Subscribers Only
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

Subscribers Only
Play: Under
Rating: 5*

Thursday Night Football - Texans/Patriots
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The New England Patriots looked great on the offensive side of the ball in last week's 31-24 victory against Miami. As long as Jimmy Garoppolo was on the field that is. The Pats third-string QB Jacoby Brissett was 6-of-9 passing for 92 yards with a fumble, and the 23 year old will face a tough task here when taking on the Houston Texans. While coach Bill Belichick is unlikely to declare it fact, Brissett is almost certainly the starter Thursday night as Tom Brady is suspended and Garoppolo troubled by a shoulder injury. Houston has much like New England started the season with back-to-back triumphs. The Texans have held the Bears and the Chiefs to a total of 26 points, and I predict a low-scoring contest at Foxborough Thursday night. 

Subscribers Only Bonus Play
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

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CFB *TOTAL AFTERNOON ANNIHILATOR*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

Both Michigan Wolverines and Colorado Buffaloes have started the season with a pair of victories. The over is 2-0 in Michigan's games and its 114 total points in its opening two games is the fourth-most in program history. Colorado has put up a total of 100 points in back-to-back blowout wins against Colorado State and Idaho State. There will be plenty of offensive talent on display in this contest, and I expect this to fly over the total by a wide margin. 

Thursday Night Football
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Denver Broncos destroyed the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. Two of the leagues best defenses will once again square up Thursday night, and I think we'll see a low-scoring contest. 

Denver's D had little trouble to contain Cam Newton and the Panthers when it mattered the most, and the Broncos themselves must now get used to life after Peyton Manning. We'll find Trevor Siemian under center for this contest, and there will be a lot of pressure on the 24 year old. 

The Carolina defense held opponents to 19.3 points per game last year, good for sixth in the NFL, while the Bronco's D allowed an average of 18.5 points per game, placing them fourth overall. 

Under is 4-0 in Panthers last four games in Week 1, under is 4-1 in Broncos last five games in September, under is 3-1-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings.

Super Early CFB in Dublin - Georgia Tech/Boston College 
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will take on the Boston College Eagles at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, and sadly for the Irish I think they'll see a low-scoring game. 

The Eagles' defensive unit topped the nation in yards allowed last season and 17 of the top 21 tacklers will return this year. Under is 4-1 in the Eagles last five games in September and they'll face a Georgia Tech team that really struggled with its passing game last year. It was the 8th in the nation in rushing, but that takes time off the clock and I think the Yellow Jackets will run into trouble with this sturdy Eagles D. Boston College will turn to a new QB in Patrick Towles who transferred in from Kentucky. While he might be an upgrade eventually, it could take time for him to settle into the team. 

8* NFL *SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

I like the Green Bay Packers here in the last Sunday Night Football of the regular-season. While both teams have qualified for the playoffs already, this game is for the NFC North title and the winner will host a wild card team in the first round of the playoffs while the loser will hit the road as either the fifth or sixth seed. The Packers won 30-13 at Minnesota on Nov. 22 and should be able to get the job done home at Lambeau Field as well where they've covered five of the last six meetings. Rodgers has won 10 of his last 11 versus the Vikings, throwing for 28 touchdowns and just three picks. Under is 5-0 in Packers last five home games and 3-0-1 in Vikings last four road games. The Packers to win a low-scoring contest are the picks.

8* NFL *THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The St. Louis Rams will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15's edition of Thursday Night Football. The under is 10-3 in games involving St. Louis this season, and this should be another low-scoring game. The Rams will turn to Case Keenum under center and he threw for just 124 yards in Sunday's 21-14 win against the Lions. They rely on Todd Gurley to earn the yards on the ground instead, but Tampa Bay's rushing defense is among the best in the NFL with 94.1 yards allowed per game. The Bucs Jameis Winston has recorded six touchdowns in his last 10 games and threw for 182 yards in last week's 24-17 loss to the Saints. The Rams are second in the NFC with 36 sacks though, so we can expect the rookie to be under heavy pressure tonight. The under is 5-0 in the last five head-to-head meetings.

8* NFL *SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Over 
Rating: 8*

The New England Patriots will be looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak in 13 years when they visit the Houston Texans on Sunday night. A win won't come easy though as Houston had won four straight prior to last week's 30-21 loss at Buffalo, and I think we'll see a high-scoring competitive game at Houston tonight. The Pats have struggled with injuries on both Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, but the latter practiced Thursday and Friday and is listed as questionable for this contest and WR Danny Amendola has 26 receptions in his last three games. Houston's standout defensive end J.J. Watt broke his hand in practice Wednesday but said he will play Sunday, but can he play at full speed? The over is 5-1 in the Patriots last six road games and a perfect 6-0 in the last six head-to-head meetings with the Texans.

Edit: "Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has decided to try to play tonight, against the Texans."

8* NFL
Play: Under 
Rating: 8*

The under is 6-0 in the San Diego Chargers last six when facing a team with a winning record and I think we'll see a low-scoring game as they travel to Kansas City to take on the 7-5 Chiefs Sunday afternoon. The Chargers are coming into this game with a 3-9 record and are averaging only 20.6 points per game. Their biggest issue on offense is an inability to run the ball effectively and they rank 30th in the league in rushing unable to top 100 yards on the ground since Week 2. They'll have to focus on passing the ball but this KC D features a fierce pass rush. Kansas City is riding a six-game winning streak that includes a 33-3 drubbing of San Diego three weeks ago in which the Chargers managed only 201 total yards. The under is 16-5 in the Chiefs last 21 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. 

8* NFL
Play: Under 
Rating: 8*

The under is 9-3 in games involving the St. Louis Rams this season and I think it's fair to assume that we'll see another low-scoring contest when they host the Detroit Lions Sunday afternoon. The Rams are averaging a pathetic 15.8 points per game and have managed only a total of 10 points through their last two games combined. Quarterback Nick Foles was 15-of-35 passing for a total of 146 yards in last week's 27-3 home-defeat against the Cardinals and RB Todd Gurley has been limited to a total of 60 yards on 18 carries in the last two games. The Lions had a three-game winning streak ended last week when they lost 27-23 against Green Bay in a game where they accumulated only 67 yards on the ground. The under is 12-3 in the Lions last 15 road games and 11-4 in their last 15 games following a straight up loss.