My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on Cincinnati (8:00 EST).

This is a big game for both teams. The Bearcats are 9-1 and the UCF Knights are 9-0. 

Cincinnati has won four of its last five on the road and QB Desmond Ridder has 1,897 passing yards and a sharp 15/5 TD/INT. Note that Ridder has two or more TD passes in six of his last eight games. The ground game is averaging whopping 235.8 YPG, led by Michael Warren II with 1,082 yard and 17 TDs. 

Overall the Bearcats are allowing just 14.9 points and 279.8 YPG. 

The Knights’ McKenzie Milton has 2,309 yards passing and a 21/5 TD/INT. Overall the ground game is averaging 271.4 YPG and the defense is conceding 21.8.

I think the Bearcats will have their chances today. They’re already 3-1 ATS this year as an underdog. UFC though is just 4-6 ATS in its last ten against teams with winning records.

UCF may ultimately win this one outright, but I look for Ridder and company to take this one down to the wire.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on St. Louis (8:00 EST).

While I wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset here, I’ll recommend grabbing the points in a contest which I envision coming down to whichever team has its hands on the ball last.

Saint Louis is 3-0, most recently taking care of North Alabama 69-58. Javon Bess had 16 points and ten boards, leading four players in double figures in scoring. Note that the Billikens have five players with at least six assists and it also has a 1.64 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Seton Hall lost four starters from last year and it showed in a humbling 80-57 loss to Nebraska on Wednesday. Myles Powell was a bright spot with 24 points. 

I’ll point out as well that Seton Hall is just 1-4 ATS in its last five following an ATS loss, while St. Louis is 14-5 ATS in its last 19 as a road underdog and 7-3 ATS in its last ten following an ATS loss.

This one has outright upset written all over it my opinion, but as stated off the top, I’m going to grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Boston Celtics (7:35 EST).

Both teams played last night. Utah fell 113-107 in Philadelphia and I think it’ll stumble here as well in this difficult road venue.

The Celtics slugged out with Toronto at home and eventually pulled away for the 113-107 victory. 

The second game of a back-to-back is always difficult, but always much more so for the road team. I think fatigue will be a factor for the Jazz, who laid everything they had on the line last night to try and pull off the upset.

Clearly the Celtics had to work hard as well, but again, the “not travelling factor” is huge in this case in my opinion. 

Furthermore note that Utah is just 34-40 ATS in its last 74 as an underdog, while Boston is 46-25 ATS in its last 71 when trying to revenge a loss against an opponent (Jazz claimed a 123-115 home win on Nov. 9th.)

All signs point to a rout, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on (8*) Tulsa (3:30 EST).

Neither team has anything to play for now except pride as each sits at just 2-8. Note though that Tulsa plays with revenge here after the Midshipmen beat the Golden Hurricane 31-21.

Tulsa fell flat 47-21 to Memphis last weekend. Corey Taylor II is the focal point of the offense and he so far has 748 rushing yards and seven TD’s on the ground. Defense has been the weak point for Tulsa all season.

Navy has struggled with offensive consistency of late. The Midshipmen rank last in the country in passing with only 64.7 YPG average, while ranking third in the country in rushing with 295.7 YPG. 

Defensively the mids are in fact pretty poor as well, ranked 105th in yards allowed and 95th against the run. 

Additionally note that Tulsa is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 off a loss against a conference rival, while Navy is just 4-5 ATS in its last nine in the same position.

I’m grabbing the points and expecting a very competitive battle.

Good luck…Larry

The second pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on (8*) WVU (3:30 EST).

Oklahoma State comes in off a near upset over Oklahoma and I think it’ll suffer a predictable letdown here. In fact the Cowboys have now lost two in a row.

And that’s bad news facing a surging WVU team which has won its last three over TCU, Texas and Baylor.

West Virginia QB Will Grier so far has 2,961 yards, 31 TDs and eight INTs. Grier has thrown for 300-plus yards over three straight starts, most recently going for 343 with three TDs and an INT against the Horned Frogs.

Oklahoma State came up just short 48-47 last week and I think it’s primed for a letdown. QB Taylor Cornelius had 501 passing yards and three TDs, but the defense was a disaster show, allowing 702 yards to the Sooners.

Note that WVU is 4-0-1 ATS in its last five following a win of more than 20 points, while Oklahoma State is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight after an ATS victory.

For all the reasons listed above, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry 

The third pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on (9*) Southern Miss (3:30 EST).

Southern Miss comes in off a a near upset of UAB and I think it’ll carry that momentum over here.

Louisiana Tech enters off a victory over lowly Rice, but I think the Bulldogs come up short here.

Bulldogs’ QB J’Mar Smith had 314 yards with one TD and two INTs last week. But Louisiana Tech is going to have its hands full with this Golden Eagles team which just pushed the mighty Blazers to OT.

QB Tate Whatley and the offense managed 23 points last week and note that Southern Miss is 7-2 ATS in its last nine conference home games as a favorite in the +1.5 to +3.5 points range.

I think the Southern Miss defense is the difference maker, but in the end I’ll recommend grabbing the points.

Play on Southern Miss.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* play in on UCLA (3:30 EST).

I don’t think that the home field advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this particular matchup.

USC enters off a 15-14 home loss to Cal, and I think it suffers a predictable letdown here after that upset. UCLA enters off a tight 31-28 road loss to ASU on Saturday. 

USC is averaging 26.9 PPG and it’s conceding 26.6. QB JT Daniels has 1,986 passing yards with 11 TDs and eight iNTs. 

UCLA won’t be playing in a bowl, but it won’t be going down without a fight in the first season of the Chip Kelly ear. Last week the Bruins were edged 480-439, and they come into this one averaging 21.9 points, while allowing 33.3. 

I’l point out that USC is just 2-4 ATS in its last six off a loss against a conference rival and only 7-8 ATS in its last 15 on the road, while UCLA is 9-6 ATS in its last 15 off a loss against a conference rival and 6-4 ATS in its last ten after two or more SU losses.

For all the reasons listed above, play on UCLA.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* AAC West Showdown is on Memphis (9:00 EST).

Memphis is 6-4 and bowl eligible, while SMU is 5-5 and needing one more win to punch its ticket. The Tigers won’t be satisfied with simply making a bowl game though and they’ll love nothing more than to prolong the Mustangs chances for another week. When the smoke clears at the end of this one, I’m expecting a decisive Memphis win. 

The Tigers have won two straight, but they’ll be cautious here as they’ve lost three of their last four away from friendly confines. QB Brady White so far has 2,512 passing yards and a sharp 22/3 TD/INT. Overall Memphis is allowing 30.5 PPG.

SMU has won two in a row and three of its last four at home, but with the step up in competition, I believe the Mustangs predictably stumble here. William Brown and Ben Hicks have combined for 23 TD passes and five INTs. The Mustangs are even worse defensively than Memphis though, allowing 36.8 PPG. 

I’ll point out as well that Memphis is 4-0 ATS in its last four conference games and that the favorite is 4-0 ATS the last four in this series.

The Tigers have scored more than 30 points five straight games and I look for that trend to carry over here.

For all the reasons listed above, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Sacramento Kings (8:05 EST).

Memphis comes in off a big 116-113 road win over Milwaukee and I think it’ll have a predictable letdown here at home against its lowly opponent. 

And that’s not good news facing this improved Kings side, which has had three whole nights off to prepare for this one after beating the Spurs 104-99 at home. 

And if recent history is any precedence, then Sacramento has to be liking its chances tonight, because when these teams met last month, it was the Kings that posted the 97-92 home victory.

The Kings are averaging 114.5 PPG and they’re conceding 115.5. Sacramento got 22 points from Bogdan Bogdanovic in the most recent victory.

The Grizzlies are averaging only 102.2 PPG, but they’re conceding just 101.6. Big man Marc Gasol had 29 points in the big upset win over the Bucks. 

I’ll point out though that Sacramento is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 when playing on three days rest and I believe this is going to be a big difference in the outcome of this one.

While I’ll stop short in calling for the outright upset, everything points to this one coming down to whichever team has its hands on the ball last. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Philadelphia 76ers (7:05 EST).

The Jazz come in off a deflating 118-68 road loss in Dallas and I think they’re ripe for the picking here as well.

Philadelphia enters off a 111-106 road loss to Orlando on Wednesday. 

The Jazz come in averaging 107.4 PPG and conceding 108.9. Donovan Mitchell had led the way with 20.4 PPG so far, while Rudy Gobert has chipped in 15.9 points, 13.2 boards and 2.21 blocks per contest.

The 76ers return home and welcome the new acquired Jimmy Butler’s first home game. The 76ers are averaging 112.3 PPG and they’re conceding 112.8. Big Man Joel Embiid has been unstoppable so far, averaging 27.6 points, 13.4 boards and 2.13 blocks per game.

I’ll point out that Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in its last five following an ATS loss, while the Jazz are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine after scoring 75 points or less in their last outing.

The 76ers are a “different” team at home, coming into this one undefeated thus far. And I look for that strong trend to carry over here in this favorable match-up.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Champ Game Crusher is on Iowa (6:30 EST).

Both teams are 3-0 to open the year. This is the championship game of the 2K classic from New York.

UConn got here by upsetting Syracuse 83-76 last night. Jalen Adams and Alterique Gilbert each had 16 points. Overall the Huskies are averaging 85.7 PPG.

I played on the Hawkeyes in their 77-69 upset victory over Oregon. Jordan Bohannon was a standout with 16 points, while Luke Garza added 12. Overall Iowa is averaging 85 PPG.

I’ll point out though that the UConn is just 1-4 ATS in its last five neutral site affairs and 3-9 ATS in its last 12 non-conference games, while Iowa is 6-0 ATS in its last six neutral site games and 5-2-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference contests.

I think the Hawkeyes find a way to get the job done at the end of the night.

Play on Iowa.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Florida Atlantic (9:30 EST).

FAU enters off a 34-15 drubbing of WKU and I think it carries that momentum over here. The Mean Green though enter off a tough 34-31 loss against ODU last weekend and I believe it’ll stumble again here as well. 

If recent history is any precedence, then FAU has to be liking its chances for another big victory tonight, because when these teams met last year it was FAU that posted the 69-31 home win. 

FAU has in fact won two in a row. The Owls don’t really rely on QB Chris Robison, who has an admittedly poor 8/10 TD/INT. He was very sharp last week though by completing 17 of 21 for 231 yards. But the FAU offense revolves around RB Devin Singletary, who already has 1,169 rushing yards to go along with 20 TD’s. 

Overall the Owls are averaging 31.1 PPG and they’re conceding 31.3. 

North Texas is averaging 37.2 PPG and it’s allowing 20.3, but last week it looked poor in the road loss to ODU. QB Mason Fine had 240 yards and two TDs and he still has an amazing 23/2 TD/INT on the year, but after last week’s collapse, I think the hungry Owls will have their opportunities today to pull off the outright upset. 

Note that FAU is 8-5 ATS in its last 13 off a win against a conference rival, while UNT is just 3-5 ATS as a favorite this year and already 0-2 ATS off a loss against a conference rival.

For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Takedown is on Iowa (9:30 EST).

The No. 13 Oregon Ducks take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the semi finals of the 2K Classic at MSG tonight. 

Oregon enters off an 81-47 victory over Eastern Washington, while Iowa comes in off a 93-82 win at home over Green Bay. 

The Ducks are aerating 82.5 PPG and allowing 52. Bol Bol leads the nightly charge with 17.5 points, 12.5 boards and 3.5 blocks per game. 

Iowa would love to pull of the upset obviously to reach the championship game. The Hawkeyes come in averaging 85 PPG and conceding 72.5. Tyler Cook averages 14.5 points and seven boards per game. 

I’ll point out as well that Oregon is just 7-10 ATS in its last 17 neutral site affairs, while Iowa is a solid 6-4 in all neutral court contests.

This one has the feel that whichever team has its hands on the ball last will find a way to get the job done in the end. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Showdown is on the Green Bay Packers (8:20 EST).

This is essentially a do or die game for each team. Both are on the fringe of the playoff picture and a loss today would pretty much spell the end.

So with that in mind, I’m absolutely expecting a battle until the final whistle. In a contest which I envision being decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last, I’m going to grab the points.

Green Bay enters off a confidence building 31-12 home win over Miami, while Seattle comes in off a deflating 36-31 road loss to the Rams.

Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers has 2,741 passing yards with a 17/1 TD/INT. Overall the Packers out gained the Fish 377-294. I believe that Green Bay carries over both its offensive and defensive momentum into this one vs. an motivationally drained Seahawks side. 

Seattle QB Russell Wilson has 1,967 yards with 21 TDs and five INTs. So far Wilson has been sacked 29 times this year. Chris Carson leads the ground game with only 497 yards and two scores.

It’s a short week, so I don’t think home field advantage is a factor. Additionally note that Green Bay is 2-0 ATS in its last two Thursday night games, while Seattle is just 10-14 ATS in its last 24 as a favorite (only 1-2 ATS in its three Thursday night games as well.)

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout Gold is on the Houston Rockets (8:05 EST).

Golden State knocked off the Rockets in the playoffs last year. Chris Paul was injured in Game 5 and Houston wasted a 3-2 lead.

The Warriors return to Houston without leader Stephen Curry and I think that Paul and company will lay the hammer down from start to finish. 

Note that Houston did take two of three in the regular season last year, including a 116-108 victory at home in the final one back on January 20th.

Golden State enters averaging 120.7 PPG, while conceding 111 per night. Kevin Durant is averaging 27.5 points, 7.3 boards and 6.5 assists per game. 

Houston enters averaging 103.2 PPG and it’s allowing 106.7. James Harden is averaging 27.3 points, 5.6 boards and 7.7 assists per game. 

I’ll point out as well that Golden State is just 2-4 ATS on the road, while Houston is now 3-1 ATS in its last four vs. teams with winning records.

Houston can move back to .500 with a win today. It comes in on top form having won five of the last seven. After a slow start the Rockets have returned to form on both ends of the floor, so their early season numbers are skewed after the slow start. 

Play on the Rockets.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on CS Fullerton (2:00 EST).

UCF enters off an 89-79 home loss to FAU, while CS Fullerton posted a 106-53 win over non-division 1 West Coast Baptist. 

UCF is now 1-1, averaging 81.5 PPG and conceding 75. BJ Taylor had 29 points in a losing cause to FAU. 

CS Fullerton is 1-1, getting 35 points from Kyle Allman Jr. in the opening win. Over two games the Titans have averaged 100 points per game and conceded 77.5. 

I’ll point out that UCF is just 2-4 ATS in its last six neutral court contests, while CS Fullerton is 19-12 ATS in its last 31 as an underdog and 7-4 ATS in its last 11 after allowing 60 points or less.

Grab the points and expect a “nail biter.” 

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the LA Lakers (10:35 EST).

I don’t think that the home court advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor. 

LA comes in on top form as it’s won three straight after Sunday’s victory over Atlanta. 

Portland has won four in a row, but after knocking off the Celtics at home in its latest, I think it’ll stumble in its first game on the road. 

Portland is conceding 106.2 PPG, ranked fifth overall. Jusuf Nurkic had 17 points and 17 boards in his teams victory over the C’s. 

LA’s issues are on the defensive end of the floor, but LeBron James and company have no problems at all scoring. James finished with 26 points, seven boards and four assists in the victory over Atlanta.

The Lakers are 3-1 ATS this year against teams with winning records and already 3-1 ATS when playing with two days of rest.

Blazers’ star player Damian Lillard will likely play, but he’s still playing through a minor injury today. Look for James to take advantage and lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* MAC GAME OF THE YEAR is on Miami Ohio (8:00 EST).

I’m not calling for an outright upset, but I believe this is going to be decided by whichever of these hungry teams has its hands on the ball last.

NIU is rolling after back to back wins over Toledo and Akron, while Miami Ohio kept its bowl hopes alive with an impressive victory over Ohio last Wednesday. 

The Redhawks have no time to dwell on that win though as they have to keep the foot on the gas if they want to reach the promised land. Special teams came up big for Miami Ohio last week, as it would block a punt in the end zone for a TD. The defense also posted a second half fourth quarter safety. 

NIU is getting great play from RB Tre Harbison, who had 21 carries for 139 yards last week. QB Marcus Childers though hasn’t been spectacular and I think he’ll struggle against this aggressive and improving Miami Ohio defense.

Note as well that Miami Ohio is already 3-0 ATS tho shear off a win against a conference rival, while NIU is still only 3-6 ATS in its last nine as a favourite in the 3.5 to ten points range. 

The Redhawks look vastly improved defensively last week and another effort like that could have them scoring the outright upset tonight. That said, in a contest which I envision being decided late, I’ll grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Seton Hall (7:30 EST).

I’m not calling for an outright upset, but I think the Pirates have what it takes to keep this one competitive until the final moments.

Seton Hall lost most of its starting line-up from last year, but it returns one and the Pirates opened with a convincing 89-49 win over Wagner to open the year. Myles Powell had 30 points, going 5 of 7 from range, while Michael Nzei had 11 points and seven boards. 

The Pirates were on a five game win streak against the Big Ten before falling 71-65 to Rutgers last December.

Nebraska missed out on the Tournament last year, but it’s opened the season with back to back blowout wins. Can anyone say letdown spot?!

The Huskers have held both opponents to under 40 points, but I think the step up in competition today will catch Nebraska off guard. 

I’ll point out as well that Seton Hall is 7-2 ATS in its last nine non-conference road games as an underdog in the +7.5 to +10.5 points range.

For all the reasons listed above, play on Seton Hall.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider on the College Of Charleston (7:00 EST).

I think Rhode Island comes up short in this tough non-conference mach up.

The Rams lost several key figures over the offseason that contributed to their back-to-back NCAA Tournament teams (which includes head coach Dan Hurley, who went to UConn.) 

The Charleston Cougars though went to the tournament for the first time since 1999 last year and they return several key members, including Grant Riler, who averaged 18.6 PPG and Jarell Brantley, who added 17.3. 

Charleston most recently beat Western Carolina 73-70 with Riler leading the way with 28 points.

The Cougars are averaging 104.9 PPG per 100 possessions and they’re allowing 99.9 points per 100 possessions. 

Rhode Island did open the year with a win over lowly Bryant on Tuesday, taking down the Bears 97-63. Fatts Russell had 21 points. So far the Rams have averaged 103.4 points per 100 possessions, while giving up 97.4 points per 100 possessions.

I’ll point out though that Charleston is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine against teams with winning SU records, while Rhode Island is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven in the same position.

The Cougars depth and experience wins the game. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Western Michigan (7:00 EST).

WMU comes in off a 90-64 road loss to Ole Miss, while the Golden Grizzlies fell flat in an 87-86 setback at home Toledo. 

Note that this is a revenge game for the Broncos after Oakland posted a 78-73 road win over WMU last year. 

Over two games this year the Broncos have so far averaged 76.5 PPG, while holding their opposition to 73.4. Josh Davis has so far posted 26 points over the two contests.

Oakland is averaging 78.2 PPG and it’s allowing 76.2. Jaevin Cumberland scored 14 points in the loss to the Rockets.

I’ll point out though that that Golden Grizzlies are just 1-12 ATS in their last 13 at home and 0-5 ATS following an ATS victory, while WMU is 5-0 ATS in its last five following a SU loss of more than 20 points.

For all the reasons listed above, play on Western Michigan.

Good luck…Larry

The third pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the (10*) San Antonio Spurs (10:05 EST).

San Antonio comes in off an impressive 96-89 home win over Houston and I think it carries that momentum over here against a Kings team which is already running out of gas after a hot start to the year, most recently falling 101-86 at home to the Lakers. 

San Antonio broke a two-game slide and it’s now averaging 109.5 PPG, while conceding 107.9. LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 18.3 points in three games vs. the Kings last year and he had 27 points and ten boards in the most recent win.

Sacramento has lost three of its last four. The Kings average 115.3 PPG and they concede 116.8. 

Note that Sacramento s also just 1-4 ATS the last five in this series, while the Spurs are a sharp 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. the Western Conference.

San Antonio appears to be back on track defensively, which spells trouble for Sacramento tonight.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on Minnesota (9:00 EST).

Utah opened with a 75-61 win over Maine on Thursday, but it’s clearly going to have its hands full here against a Golden Gophers team which comes in off a convincing victory itself on Opening night.

In my opinion, this one has “blowout” written all over it.

The Utes were led by Sedrick Barefield, who had 18 points. Donnie Tillman added 15. Utah held Maine to 40 percent shooting and held a 42-26 rebounding advantage.

Note though that the Utes are just 4-13 in non-conference road games since 2011/12. 

The Golden Gophers smashed Omaha 104-76, as Amir Coffey shined with 18 points, four assists and two steals. Dupre McBreyer was another standout with 17 points. 

Note that the Gophers are 46-4 at home in non-conference games once 2013, winning 20 of the last 21. 

I’ll point out as well that Utah is just 10-11 ATS in its last 21 as an underdog, while Minnesota is 23-17 ATS In its last 40 as a favorite.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Monday Night Madness is on the New York Giants (8:15 EST)

These are two horrible teams, but I think that a week off to prepare for this one will do Eli Manning and Odell Beckham and the rest of the Giants “good” on Monday night. 

San Francisco comes in off a 34-3 win over the hapless Raiders, but with its bye week upcoming, I absolutely feel that this sets up as a classic “let down/look-ahead” spot for the home side.

Beckham recently joked that he expects his team to finish the season on an 8-0 run and make the playoffs and while that clearly isn’t going to happen, I think Manning has at least one more decent effort in him (especially after the bye week.) 

The 49ers are on their third QB of the year in Nick Mullens and while he looked decent against a poor Raiders’ unit, I think he’ll have his hands full with this much deeper Giants’ defense. 

Note as well that New York is 7-2 ATS in its last nine following its bye week and on a three games or more SU losing streak.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the (8*) Utah Jazz (8:05 EST).

Utah enters off a momentum building 123-115 home win over Boston on Friday, while Memphis comes in off a 112-106 OT victory at home over Philadelphia.

Note that this is a “double revenge” game for Utah, as Memphis has already taken both meetings so far this season, including a 110-100 road victory on November 2nd.

Utah is averaging 111.6 PPG and it’s conceding 109.9. Donovan Mitchell leads the nightly charge with 22.3 points, while Rudy Gobert adds 16.4 points, 13.3 boards and 2.33 blocks per night.

Memphis is averaging only 103.1 PPG, but it makes up for it on the other end of the floor, holding the opposition to 101.1 PPG. Mike Conley leads the way with 18.1 points and six assists per night. 

I’ll point out thought that the Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last five following a SU win, while Memphis is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine following an OT victory in which it scored 110 points or more in previously. 

Look for the revenge minded Jazz to pull away down the stretch.

Good luck…Larry

This is a 10* play on Vanderbilt (9:00 EST).

Both teams come into this one at 1-0, as USC routed Robert Morris and Vandy smashed Winthrop.

Vanderbilt is led by Darius Garland, who had 24 points, four assists and two steals in the season opening victory. Simi Shittu was a stand out as well with 18 points, ten boards, two blocks and two steals. 

USC is led by Kevin Porter Jr, who had 15 points and five boards in the win over Robert Morris. But note that the Trojans were sloppy, committing 15 turnovers, a result of point guard Jordan McLaughlin being absent. Last year he was the Pac 12 assists leader. 

These are two evenly matched teams, but Vanderbilt plays with revenge after a 93-89 OT loss last year in Nashville. USC’s top player Bennie Boatwright did not play in the opener and if he does get the call tonight, his overall health is still a concern. 

I like Garland to lead his team to a victory, but that said, I’m going to grab the points in the end.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Sunday Night Magic is on the Philadelphia Eagles (8:20 EST).

Golden Tate makes his debut with the Eagles on Sunday night and I think he and Carson Wentz will be too much for the struggling Cowboys to handle.

After a slow start, the defending champs now sit one game behind the Redskins for the NFC East lead. Washington is now suffering through injuries, so the door is now open for the Eagles to put the foot on the gas and re-gain command.

Dallas comes in reeling, it’s dropped two straight, most recently a listless 28-14 setback on Monday to Tennessee. WR Amari Cooper had five catches for 58 yards and a TD. 

Cowboys’ QB Dak Prescott threw for 243 yards and two TDs, but he was also sacked five times and he’d go on to throw an INT in the end zone as well. 

The Dallas defense looked horrible as well, allowing Tennessee to convert 11 of 14 on third down. Also note that the Cowboys committed two turnovers for a second straight game.

Wentz dominated the Cowboys last year in two games, going for 413 yards, four TDs and zero INTs.

The Eagles are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 following an ATS win and after dropping their last two games at home, I expect Philadelphia to lay the hammer down here early and often.

For all the reasons listed above, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the Denver Nuggets (8:05 EST).

Two teams which started off the year red hot have come back down to Earth of late. However, I don’t think that that home court advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this particular match-up.

Milwaukee enters off a loss to the Clippers just last night, a game which went to OT. Can anyone say “letdown spot?” This is the finale of the Bucks longest West coast trip of the year (already won at Golden State) and in my opinion, I think Milwaukee gets caught looking ahead to a couple of well deserved days off.

The Nuggets on the other hand will be out to atone for a 112-110 loss at home to the lowly Nets on Friday. 

Milwaukee is averaging 121.2 PPG and allowing 107.6. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 25.6 points, 12.9 boards and 5.7 assists per game. 

Denver actually comes in off back-to-back losses, so “focus” for the home side is not something we have to worry about. 

Denver averages 109.6 PPG an fit concedes just 102.1. Nikola Jokic averages 17.6 points, ten boards and seven assists per game.

I’ll point out as well that Denver is 4-1 ATS in its last five home games vs. teams with a winning road record, while Milwaukee is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine road games against a team with a winning home record. 

The Bucks come in “gassed” at the end of their trip, and playing at “Mile High” against a determined Nuggets team proves to be too much once it’s all said and done.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Atlanta Falcons (1:00 EST).

Cleveland isn’t going to the playoffs. The Browns have already won a couple of games this year, which is clearly a vast improvement over last season’s winless squad.

But the Falcons come in on top form and I believe that momentum is going to be carried over.

After a 1-4 start, Atlanta has now won three straight. 

The Falcons are averaging 28.5 PPG and they’re allowing 28.3. The offense is averaging 338 YPG through the air. QB Matt Ryan has 2,685 passing yards and a sharp 19/3 TD/INT ratio.

Cleveland has “improved” over last year’s inept squad, but the numbers still aren’t great. Overall Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense is averaging 21.1 PPG, while the defense is conceding 27.4. 

I’ll point out as well that ATL is a sharp 9-4 ATS in its last 13 following two or more SU victories, while Cleveland is just 6-23 ATS in its last 29 after two or more consecutive SU losses.

For all the reasons listed above, play on the Falcons.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmakers Error is on the Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 EST).

The 7-1 New Orleans Saints are in Cincinnati to take on the 5-3 Bengals on Sunday afternoon and in my opinion, I think that Drew Brees and company finally run out of gas here.

New Orleans most recently took care of the Rams in a high-scoring affair at home last weekend. Brees had 346 yards and four TDs, while Alvin Kamara had 83 yards and two TDs. 

The Saints have to be feeling pretty content after that last win and I think this non-conference road game will lead to a mental letdown after last week’s big victory.

Bengals’ QB Andy Dalton had 280 yards and two TD’s in his team’s most recent win over the Bucs. 

From a trend based stand point, note that New Orleans has in fact struggled in this spot for bettors by going just 4-5 ATS in its last nine non-conference games.

Despite AJ Green having to sit this one out for Cincinnati, I think the Bengals will keep this competitive. 

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Indianapolis Colts (1:00 EST).

Two desperate teams collide on Sunday afternoon and in my opinion, the home field advantage can not be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this particular match-up.

Both teams are 3-5. 

Jacksonville comes in on a four-game slide, most recently getting man-handled in England by Philadelphia 24-18. QB Blake Bortles has 2,021 passing yards, but a weak 10/8 TD/INT. TJ Yeldon leads the run game with 334 yards. Overall the Jags are averaging only 16.9 PPG, while allowing just 313.2 YPG on the defensive side, good enough for second in the league.

The Colts come in with momentum, they most recently destroyed Oakland 42-28. QB Andrew Luck has 2,187 passing yards with 28 TDs and eight INTs. RB Marlon Back has 381 yards and three TDs. Overall the Colts are posting 28.9 PPG. 

I’ll point out as well that the Jags are just 1-5 ATS in their last six following a loss, while the Colts are 32-13 ATS in their last 45 against teams with losing records.

The Colts’ suspect defense catches a big break this week facing the horrible Jags’ offense. Look for Luck to push the pace and for the home side to pull away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* LEGEND is on California (10:30 EST).

Both teams need one more win to become bowl eligible. Suffice it to say, I’m expecting a war to the end in this one.

Cal will be hungry here to get back on track after it fell 19-13 to WSU this past weekend. A bright spot in the setback was the play of QB Chase Garbers, who had 127 yards, one TD, one INT and another 67 yards on the ground. Cal is averaging 23.6 PPG and it’s allowing only 21.9. 

USC looks poised for a classic letdown here in my opinion after it broke its two game slide last time out with a 38-21 win over Oregon State. Aca-Cedric Ware had 205 rushing yards and three TDs. 

Overall the Trojans are averaging 28.3 PPG and they’re conceding 27.9.

I’ll point out as well that Cal is 7-2 ATS in its last nine after scoring 14 points or less in a conference loss in its last outing, while USC is only 2-6 ATS In its last eight after scoring 37 points or more in a conference contest in its previous outing. 

Ultimately I think the Golden Bears’ elite defense keeps them in this one late and as stated off the top, I’m expecting a competitive battle until the final moments.

Grab as many points as you can, play on Cal.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the LA Lakers (10:05 EST).

This is an important game for the Lakers, who also have a game at home tomorrown night against the Hawks. I think LeBron James and company put the foot on the gas from start to finish in this one as they try to sweep these two games and start to move in a positive direction.

LA enters off a 114-110 win over the Wolves on Wednesday, while Sacramento comes in dog tired after last night’s 121-110 victory over Minnesota last night.

The Lakers can score, averaging 118.5 PPG, which is ranked third in the league. The defense is the issue, allowing 119.1 PPG. While the Kings are an “up-tempo” style of team, LA does catch a break here catching the home side playing the second game of the back-to-back.

The Kings are averaging 117.5 PPG and they’re conceding 118.8. De’Aaron Fox has been superb, averaging 18.7 points and 7.3 assists per game. 

I think it’s important to note though that Sacramento is just 2-9 ATS in its last 11 against the division, while LA is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 vs. divisional opponents. 

Lay the points and expect a rout.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on UNLV (10:00 EST).

UNLV improved to 20-13 last season and I think it’ll “bring the heat” on Opening night. 

Loyola Marymount was 11-20 last year and the Lions haven’t had a winning season since 2012.

The Rebels have three capable seniors in Noah Robtham, Kris Clyburn and Shakur Julston. Last year Julston averaged 14.6 points and ten boards per game. 

The Lions are already 1-0, coming into this one contented off a 75-43 win over lowly Westcliff. Previous to last year’s disastrous overall start, Loyola Marymount actually went 15-15. But last season was a major step back, especially against the conference, finishing 5-13 in league play. 

The Rebels have the more experienced senior group of players and on opening night, I think that’s going to be more than enough to take care of the “thin” Lions. Loyola Marymount shot only 35.7 percent from behind the arc in their opening victory, which isn’t going to get the job done tonight. 

I’m banking on a blowout. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on Utah (5:30 EST).

Both teams enter at 6-3, but I don’t think that the home field advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor once it’s all said and done.

The Ducks broke their two-game slide with a 42-21 win over UCLA last time out, punching their sixth win of the year and eligibility. Oregon was actually out gained by UCLA 496-492, but the Ducks would benefit from recovering three turnovers. 

Overall Oregon is averaging 37.2 PPG and it’s led by QB Justin Herbert, who has 22 TDs and six INTs. The Ducks’ defensively allow 27.6 PPG.

The Utes average 30.3 PPG and they concede only 19.1. RB Zack Moss has 11 TD’s on the year while averaging over 121 YPG. 

The Ducks bounced back after consecutive losses on the road, but I think they’ll struggle again here in this difficult venue. Utah lost starting QB Tyler Huntley last time out, but behind Moss and a 17th ranked defensive unit, I believe the home side finds a way to get the job done at the end of the night.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* ACC (Coastal) Showdown is on Pittsburgh at 3;30 ET.

What has happened in Blacksburg in 2018. The Hokies opened 2-0 and were ranked 13th when they lost 49-35 at Old Dominion (as a 4-TD fave), allowing the Monarchs to run up 632 yards (Frank Beamer must be steaming somewhere). Va Tech is 4-4 overall (3-2 in the ACC Coastal) and has allowed 43.5 PPG in those four losses. In contrast, Pitt has won three of four (5-4 overall but 4-1 in ACC play) and now leads the ACC Coastal, after the team's 23-13 (at +7.5) upset at Virginia. 

A number of final thoughts. Pitt who has covered 10 of the last 11 meetings with Va Tech, including seven outright upsets (note: Pitt is the small favorite here). The home team is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings and note that the Panthers have won their last four ACC home games (Miami last year plus Ga Tech, Duke and Syra this year). Pitt ran for 254 yards in the upset of Virginia (Hall had 229) and the Panthers (averaging 230,8 YPG on the ground on the season) will go up against a Va Tech rush D that has allowed 219 or more rush yards in each of the team's last three games.

I’m expecting a rout from start to finish. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Washington St at 3:30 ET.

Wash St fell out of the Ap top-25 after losing the Holiday Bowl 42-17 to Mich St. The Cougars were picked fifth in the Pac-12 North by some and naturally were unranked. However, the Cougars entered the poll at No. 25 after opening 5-1 and after back-to-back wins over ranked opponents Oregon and Stanford (plus last week's squeaker over Cal), Wash St is ranked No. 10. As for the Buffs, Colorado opened 5-0 to reach No. 19 in the AP poll but in a repeat of last year, have collapsed. Colorado jumped out to a 3-0 start in 2017, only to go 2-7 in Pac-12 play. The team welcomes Wash St to Boulder on a four-game slide, allowing 41 and 42 points in its last two games.

Colorado blew a 31-3 lead against Oregon St in its most recent home game, before losing 41-34 in OT. Then in last week's game at Tucson, as Arizona finished with a 566-383 yardage edge in the Wildcats' 42-34 win. The Cougars control their own destiny in the Pac-12 North and could still possiibly be in the mix for a CFP berth. Meanwhile, the Buffs are 'in the tank.' I'll back the Cougars. In last year's meeting (in Pullman), Wash St won 28-0, out-gaining the Buffs 406-174. Note that Wash St enters a PERFECT 4-0 ATS on the road in 2018. Make that 5-0, here! 

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Champs Classic play is on Michigan State (7:00 EST).

While MSU lost some players to the NBA in the offseason, Tom Izzo still has plenty of talent in center Nick Ward (12.4 PPG, 7.1 boards) and point guard Cassius Winston (12.6 PPG, 6.9 assists). 

Last year the Spartans dominated teams on the boards by over 14 per game discrepancy. They also led the country in field goal percentage offense at 49.6. 

KU always has a lot of talent, but it comes in with a young group this year. Point guard Devon Dotson averaged 28.5 PPG and 5.3 assists and Providence Day School. The Jayhawks averaged 81.4 PPG last season, but the defense was nothing to write home about by allowing 71.9. 

I’ll point out as well that Kansas is just 8-17 ATS in its last 25 vs. the Big Ten, while Michigan State has always fared well in this match-up, going 6-2 ATS in its last eight in this series.

The Spartans boast the more experienced line-up and on Opening Night, I believe that will be the difference. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Yale (9*) (11:00 EST).

This is the 2018/19 Pac-12 China Game in Shanghai. This is the season opener for both teams.

Yale comes in with plenty of veteran leadership this year and I ultimately believe that that factor will prove to be the difference maker on Opening night “across the pond.” Miye Oni averaged 15.1 points and six boards last year, while Alex Copeland averaged 11.2 PPG. Overall 95 percent of their offensive production from last year returns for the Bulldogs. 

Yale has a 42-14 Ivy League record over the last four years and it’s won two league titles in that time.

Cal posted only eight wins last year and it’s once again in re-building mode this season for the most part as well. 

The Bears were one of the worst shooting teams in the country and also one of the worst at turning it over. Paris Austin, a Boise State transfer, is expected to bring some stability to the back-court. 

Note though that Cal is just 4-11-1 ATS in its last 16 neutral site affairs, while Yale is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 neutral site games.

This one has blowout written all over it, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Boise State (10:15 EST).

Fresno State is 8-1 overall and 5-0 MWC play with a one-game lead over SDSU, who it hosts next weekend. Can anyone say “look-ahead/letdown” spot?! The Bulldogs come in off seven straight wins, most recently destroying UNLV 48-3 on the road last Saturday. 

Boise State is 7-2 and 4-1 in MWC action and it’s still in the mix as well, sitting one game back of No. 18 Utah State for the Mountain Division lead. The Broncos come in on top form as well, winners of  four straight, they’ll now look to pull off the slight upset and play spoiler.

The Bulldogs look strong on both sides of the ball, as they’ve given up just three TDs and 36 points in MWC play. 

Boist State QB Brett Rypien had 214 yards and a TD in last week’s win over BYU. So far he has 24 TD passes this year. The Broncos are also among the best in the nation defensively, with 12 fumbles recovered thus far.

I’ll point out as well that Boise State is 4-2 ATS in its last six after three or more consecutive SU wins, while Fresno State is just 1-4 ATS in its last five after five or more SU victories.

This one has “upset” written all over it. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout is on Texas at 7;00 ET.

Arkansas and Texas will renew their old Southwest Conference rivalry Friday in the Armed Forces Classic at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas returns FOUR of five starters from last year and has a game under its belt, a 71-59 victory against Eastern Illinois. As for Arkansas (playing its season-opener), the Razorbacks lost 79.6 percent of their scoring and 64.7 percent of their rebounding from last year. 

The Razorbacks lost eight players, including five of their top six scorers, from last season's 23-win NCAA Tournament team. All-SEC first team selection Daniel Gafford ( sophomore forward) averaged 11.8 & 6.2 last season is one of just three scholarship players returning. Meanwhile, PG Jalen Harris, who redshirted last season after transferring from New Mexico, is the only Arkansas guard with any Division I experience. The good news for the Razorbacks is that there are some impressive recruits coming in, including 4-star players Isaiah Joe, Ethan Henderson and Keyshawn Embery. We'll see.

The Longhorns finished just 19-15 last season, after blowing a 14-point second-half lead against Nevada in the team's first NCAA contest. Texas does return four of five starters but the loss was a big one, as the 7-0 Bamba (12.9-10.5-3.7 BPG) was the sixth pick of the NBA Draft. However, Texas not only returns four starters but the Longhorns have six freshman. Its crop of freshman was ranked EIGHTH nationally by 247Sports.

Both schools own quality head coaches. Arkansas' Mike Anderson has led UAB, Missouri and now Arkansas, to NCAA berths plus is one of just four current Division I coaches with 15-plus years of experience and no losing seasons. Roy Williams, Tom Izzo and Mark Few are the others. That's pretty sweet company! Texas' Shaka Smart was an impressive 163-56 (.744) at VCU, leading the Rams to the CBI championship in 2010 (his first year as a head coach) and then to the NCAA Final 4 in 2011, as an 11-seed. He's taken the Longhorns to the "Big Dance" in two of his three years at Austin but his overall record was just 50-50 entering the current season.

Nobody is saying Smart needs to win in 2018-19 to keep his job but I bet plenty of Texas people are "thinking it!' Texas has much more experience plus the Longhorns have a game under their belt. The El Paso site is pretty much a home game and as noted above, the Razorbacks have a ton of rebuilding to do. Maybe James Street (or for that matter, Randy Peschel) will be in the stands? If you don't know those names, you are too damn young! Lay the points with Texas.

Good luck…Larry

The first pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Iowa State (8*) (7:00 EST).

Missouri lost Michael Porter Jr. to the NBA, but the Tigers return several key players, including Jeremiah Tillmon and Kevin Puryear. Missouri got 19 points and ten boards from Mark Smith in the opener vs. Central Arkansas. Overall it was a poor shooting game though, as the team would combine to go just 3 of 18 from beyond the arc.

Iowa State was just 4-14 in Big 12 play last season, but anything short of a tournament spot this year would be considered a disappointment. Iowa State opened with a 79-53 win over Alabama State, as four players would go on to score in double figures, led by Michael Jacobson with 17. So far Iowa State is averaging 111 points per 100 possessions so far this season, while allowing 93 per 100 possessions.

The Tigers lost Jontay Porter to injury and I think he’ll be missed here against a Cyclones team looking to send a message. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on NC Wilmington (8*) (7:00 EST).

The Cardinal were 19-16 last year and they opened this season with a 96-74 home win over Seattle on Tuesday. 

NC Wilmington was just 11-21 last season and it enters hungry after a 97-93 OT road loss to Campbell in its opener.

Last year Stanford averaged 75.9 PPG and it conceded 74.9. KZ Okpala had 29 points in the season opening victory.

Last year UNC Wilmington averaged 79.4 PPG and it conceded 83.4. Ty Taylor II had 29 points in the season opening loss including six three-pointers.

I’ll point out though that Stanford is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine non-conference road games after scoring 95 points or more in a victory in its previous outing.

I think the “hungrier” team is NC Wilmington. The Seahawks return plenty of talent and in a contest which i see coming down to whichever of these teams has its hands on the ball last, I’m going to grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

This is a 10* Showdown on the Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 EST).

Carolina looks poised for a letdown here after its third straight win, a satisfying 42-28 conference victory over Tampa Bay at home on Sunday. 

Pittsburgh will look to take advantage of his favorable non conference matchup at home and improve upon its four-game win streak, most recently a hard-fought 23-16 road victory over Baltimore on Sunday. 

Carolina QB Cam Newton has 1,893 passing yards with 15 TDs and four INTs. He’s also been sacked 12 times. Newton has a plethora of weapons surrounding him and his defense is above average.

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger has 2,560 passing yards with 16 TDs, seven INTs and 11 sacks. Like his counterpart today, Big Ben has many weapons to utilize and his defense continues to improve each week. 

So where’s the advantage?!

Note that Carolina is just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 after two or more consecutive SU wins, while Pittsburgh is already 2-0 ATS this year after two or more consecutive SU victories. 

Lay the points and expect a rout. 

Good luck…Larry

This is a 10* TNT Explosion on the Houston Rockets (8:05 EST).

Houston has won three straight on the road, most recently a 98-94 win over Indiana on Monday. With two whole nights off to prepare, I look for the Rockets to come out on top here.

OKC most recently beat Cleveland 95-86 on the road on Wednesday, but with a return home to friendly confines, I’m expecting a predictable letdown here.

Note that Houston does play with a bit of revenge here as well, as the Thunder took two of three in the season series last year. 

The Rockets are averaging 105.3 PPG and they’re allowing 110.1. Of course those numbers are skewed due to the lousy overall start. Houston has started to turn things around of late, led by James Harden is averaging 27.8 points, five boards and 8.2 assists per night.

OKC is averaging 113.2 PPG and it’s allowing 111.3. Russell Westbrook is leading the way with 24.1 points, 8.3 boards and 8.9 assists per game. 

I’ll point out though that the Thunder are in fact just 1-4 ATS in their last five home games vs. teams with winning road records, while Houston is 6-2 ATS in its last eight road games against teams with a winning home record. This is the second game of a back-to-back set for OKC and I believe it comes in “flat footed.” 

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* play is on the LA Lakers at 10:35 ET.

Inconsistency has plagued both the T-wolves and Lakers early on. 

Minnesota has yet to win on the rod this season plus the team has been dealing with Jimmy Butler's "moods." 

Butler has been demanding a trade since the preseason and has sat out every other game since the win against the Lakers last week. 

He wouldn't discuss his status for Wednesday's game. 

LBJ and the Lakers are also still trying to find their groove and they trailed 41-17 after the first quarter on Sunday en route to losing 121-107 to the Raptors in a contest in which Toronto was missing star forward Kawhi Leonard (not a good sign).

However, the bottom line is this. 

LA is a poor defensive team but the Lakers can score (118.9 PPG and 49.4 FG percentage both rank 3rd in the NBA) and the T-wolves are allowing 118.5 PPG in going 0-6 SU & 1-5 ATS away from Target Center so far.

10* on the Lakers.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* play is on the Ind Pacers at 8:05 ET.

Yes, the 6-5 Philadelphia 76ers will eventually win on the road, but when? 

They've been unable to do so yet (0-5 SU & ATS) plus with FOUR of their five losses away from home coming by at least 15 points, they've barely been competitive. 

Sunday's dreadful 122-97 loss at Brooklyn featured an NBA-high 28 turnovers! 

The 7-4 Indiana Pacers are off a 98-94 home loss to the Rockets, a defeat which ended a run of three straight wins. Victor Oladipo scored 28 points in the defeat to record his NBA-leading 10th straight game with at least 20 points (he's averaging 23.0 PPG).

The Pacers are allowing just 99.4 PPG at home, while the 76ers are giving up a whopping 122.4 PPG on the road. 

Noting that Indiana has won EIGHT straight meetings at home against Philadelphia makes the Pacers a 9* play.

Good luck…Larry

This is a 10* MAC ATTACK on Miami Ohio (7:00 EST).

Ohio has won four straight and I think it’s going to suffer a letdown here against the hungry RedHawks, who enter having lost two in a row. 

The Bobcats most recently enter off a 52-14 win over Ball State and a 59-14 road victory over WMU as a three-point underdog. AJ Ouellette and Maleek Irons combined for 188 yards rushing and three TDs in last week’s victory. 

And while Miami Ohio has had to endure injuries this year, it’s not going down without a fight today as it still looks to become eligible. While the defense struggled in last week’s loss to the high-powered Bulls, the offense was firing on all cylinders once again and I expect the unit to bring the same intensity in this important/crucial game as well. 

I’ll point out as well that the RedHawks are 12-7 ATS in their last 19 following a conference game (including 4-0 ATS this year) and 12-6 ATS in their last 18 as an underdog, while Ohio is just 1-3 ATS in its last four as a road fav in the 3.5 to 7.5 points range.

Grab the points and expect a “nail-biter.” Play on Miami Ohio.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Champs Classic play is on Duke (9:30 EST).

Duke posted a 29-8 record last year and a 13-5 record in ACC action, while the Wildcats went 26-11 with a 10-8 record in SEC action. 

Both teams feature plenty of new faces, but I think the depth and skill that Duke brings to the table will be just too much for the Wildcats to hang with on Opening Night.

Duke lost its top five scorers from last year, but it recruited Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, who are considered two of the best talents in the country. It also features 6 foot 8 forward Cam Reddish and leading scorer Marquez Bolden also returns. Last year the Blue Devils averaged 84.4 PPG and allowed 69.6.

Kentucky comes into the new season ranked No. 2. The Wildcats lost many big names to the NBA over the offseason, but they still feature plenty of talent as well in Quade Gren and PJ Washington. Last year the Wildcats averaged 76.8 PPG and allowed 70.2. That was ranked 116th overall. 

I’ll point out as well that the Blue Devils are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 non-conference games and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 neutral site affairs.

Kentucky returns just 31.5 percent of its scoring from last year and on Opening Night, I think the Blue Devils will take advantage.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* CBB TIP OFF OPENER is on Florida (9:00 EST).

Florida has won 27 straight season openers but it’ll have its hands full here. In a contest which I envision being decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last, I’m going to grab the points.

Note that this is a big time revenge game as well for the Gators after the Seminoles embarrassed them 83-66 in Gainesville last year. 

Three starters return for the Gators though, a team which averaged 75.8 PPG. KeVaughn Allen averaged 11.0 points last year. 

FSU is predicted to finish seventh in the difficult 15-team ACC this year. The Seminoles also return three starters. One of those starters though, Phil Cofer, won’t be playing tonight because of a foot injury. Cofer averaged 12.8 points and 5.1 boards last year. 

This one is very evenly matched, but I think the absence of Cofer is a significant one for the Seminoles. The Gators play with revenge and I think they’ll keep this one competitive until the final moments. 

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Boston Celtics (9:05 EST).

Boston will look to be the first team in the league to knock off the Nuggets at home. Denver looks primed for a letdown in my opinion after four straight victories and facing this tough nosed defensive visiting side.

The Nuggets already have some big wins under their belts, including over the Warriors, Pelicans and Jazz, but this sets up as a classic “letdown” spot in my estimation facing the non-conference opponent tonight (despite it being the Celtics). Nikola Jokic had just single digits scoring in the win over the Jazz, but he’d post ten boards and 16 assists as well.

Boston comes in in a foul mood after a last second-three pointer cost them against the Pacers most recently. Kyrie Irving had 18 points, six boards and three assists in the setback. 

I’ll point out though that the road team is 4-1-1 ATS the last six in this series, while the underdog is 3-0-1 ATS the last four in the series. 

Also note that Boston is 20-8 ATS in its last 28 against teams with a winning percentage above .600.

For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

This is a 10* Monday Night Magic on the Tennessee Titans (8:15 EST).

Dallas made a move last week to acquire WR Amari Cooper from the Raiders and while the move may prove to pay dividends, both in the short and long-term, I expect the desperate Titans to pull out all the stops today and at the very least, keep this one competitive until the final moments. 

Both teams come out of their bye weeks, so each has had the extra time off to prepare, making that angle a “wash.” 

Both teams have struggled to put points on the board this season, getting inconsistent play from their star QB’s. I’m going to call this area a “wash” as well.

Special teams and defensive play is almost entirely on par as well in my opinion. Dallas is already 2.5 games behind the Redskins, but the Titans are equally as desperate and hungry for a victory here as well.

Note that Tennessee is 6-3 ATS in its last nine non-conference games and 5-0 ATS in its last five after two or more consecutive SU losses, while Dallas is just 1-3 ATS in its last four off a loss against a division rival and only 4-5 ATS in its last nine as a home fav in the 3.5 to seven points range.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the New England Patriots (8:20 EST).

With a chance to smash the Packers out of contention further, I think Tom Brady will get the better of Aaron Rodgers on Sunday night.

Green Bay comes in off a disheartening setback to the Rams, covering the spread, but ultimately coming up short on the SU outright upset. The Pats meanwhile beat the Chiefs at home before then crushing the Bills on the road last Monday. 

Rodgers was held to just 286 passing yards and one TD last week. The Packers looked pretty good defensively, but having to perform at such a high level on back to back weeks on the road against such elite level offenses is going to be just too much for Green Bay’s unit to handle in my opinion. 

The Pats’ defense looked awesome last week, holding the Bills out of the end zone. Brady continues to dominate and he’s going to have his way with this “gassed” Packers secondary in my opinion.

I’ll point out as well that New England is 21-8 ATS in its last 29 following an ATS win and 13-3 ATS in its last 16 against teams with losing records, while Green Bay is just 1-4 ATS in its last five on the road.

Rodgers and the Packers are in the wrong place at the wrong time in trying to hope for a bounce back. Brady is playing like a man on a mission right now and I think he can smell the blood in the water.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Wipeout Winner is on the Phoenix Suns (8:05 EST).

What do you base your selections on? As a professional handicapper I base my picks on many different things.

This one sets up great from a situational stand point for the Suns and it’s one I’m primarily basing this particular selection. 

The Grizzlies are 5-2 overall and they come in having won three straight. But with a date at Golden State tomorrow night, Memphis is expected to rest people tonight and clearly it’s not going to be able to help itself in getting caught “looking ahead” to that much more high profile contest.

The Suns clearly don’t have that luxury though, as they come in having lost seven straight. They also play with revenge after falling to Memphis earlier in the season.

Note that Memphis is just 10-19 ATS in its last 29 on the road and only 6-8 ATS In its last 14 after three or more consecutive SU victories, while Phoenix is 31-20 ATS in its last 51 after three or more consecutive SU losses.

It’s do or die, now or never for Phoenix. Expect an outright, but grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Cleveland Browns 8* (1:00 EST).

Kansas City has been nearly unstoppable this season, but I think the Chiefs will get caught “looking past” their lowly opponent today.

KC comes in off a 30-23 home win over Detroit, while Cleveland lost 33-18 to Pittsburgh last week. 

The Chiefs are averaging a whopping 36.2 PPG, but they’re allowing 25.6. Patrick Mahomes has a 26/6 TD/INT thus far.

The Browns are averaging 21.1 PPG and they’re conceding 26.2. QB Baker Mayfield has 1,471 passing yards and a positive 8/6 TD/INT. No. 1 receiver Jarvis Landry has 18 catches over his last two games. 

Note though that KC is 0-3 ATS in its last three as a road favorite in the 7.5 to ten points range, while Cleveland is already 3-1 ATS at home this year.

The Browns have been competitive in front of the home town crowd this season and I expect that trend to carry over here. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the New York Jets 10* (1:00 EST).

These are two terrible teams with plenty of issues. As wild as he’s been at times, I still think that the Jets’ Sam Darnold is a better pivot the Dolphins’ back up QB Brock Osweiler. 

Darnold lost 24-10 to the Bears last Sunday, going for 154 yards and a TD with no picks. New York’s strength though is on the defensive side of the ball, last week holding Chicago to just 259.8 yards through the air. 

Osweiler and the home side come in off a terrible 42-23 loss at Houston last Thursday. Osweiler had 241 yards passing and an INT. The offense ranks 27th overall. 

I’ll point out that New York is a sharp 9-5 ATS in its last 14 after two or more consecutive losses and 6-4 ATS in its last ten in trying to revenge a loss against an opponent, while Miami is 4-5 ATS in its last nine after two or more consecutive SU losses and just 5-6 ATS in its last 11 against clubs with losing records.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on California (10:45 EST).

After four straight wins, I think that WSU comes in a big complacent vs. its lowly opponent, enough of a letdown anyways to let the hungry visitors sneak in through the back door down the stretch. 

WSU had a one-half game lead over Washington and it’ll be difficult not to get caught “looking ahead” to The Apple Cup. 

Cal’s on the edge of eligibility as well and it’ll be eager to pull off the upset. The Golden Bears haven’t been to a bowl game since losing to Air Force in the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl. 

But the Golden Bears are poised for a return after last week’s 12-10 upset of then No. 12 Washington last Saturday. QB Chase Garbers returned two games ago and since then he’s gone 33 of 49 for 387 yards, three TDs and zero INTs. 

It won’t be easy obviously facing Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” offense, but after a slim 41-38 win at Stanford last Saturday, I do indeed feel that this sets up as a classic “letdown” spot 

Not surprisingly, Cougars’ QB Gardner Minshew leads the nation in passing yards and is fifth in TD passes. 

I’ll point out though that Washington State is just 4-7 ATS in its last 11 after a three games or more unbeaten streak, while Cal is 4-1 ATS in its last five off a win against a conference rival and 14-9 ATS in its last 23 as an underdog.

For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* PERFECT STORM is on Washington (9:00 EST).

Sanford comes in off a 41-38 home loss to WSU, while Washington fell 12-10 at Cal.

Note that this is a “revenge” game for Washington after Stanford posted the 30-22 home win over the Huskies last year.

Stanford comes in averaging 26.5 PPG and allowing 23.2. QB KJ Costello had 323 passing yards and four TDs but it still wasn’t enough last week. RB Bryce Love has been dealing with an ankle injury all year and he had just 71 rushing yards.

Washington is averaging 26.6 PPG and it’s conceding just 15.2. That’s eighth overall in the country. QB Jake Browning was benched and then put back in the game last week, he’d finish with 148 yards, a TD and an INT. Overall he has 2,049 passing yards and a 12/8 TD/INT. 

The Huskies have given up just 25 points total the last weeks though and I think the home side’s defensive unit will be the difference maker again here today as well.

Additionally note that Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last five home games against teams with winning road records, while Stanford is just 1-4 ATS in its last five against games with winning records.

The Cardinal have lost three of their last four and I think they stumble again here in this difficult venue. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on LSU (8:00 EST).

I don’t think that home field advantage can be overlooked in this big game.

It’s No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 LSU from Tiger Stadium on Saturday night and in my opinion, this one’s going to end much closer than what the oddsmakers would like us to believe.

Alabama enters off a 58-21 win over Tennessee, while LSU pulled away for a convincing 19-3 victory over Mississippi State. 

To say this is a “revenge” game would be a bit of an understatement as well, as Alabama has won seven straight in the series, including a 24-10 home win last November.

The Crimson Tide are averaging 54.1 PPG and they’re conceding 15.9. QB Tua Tagovailoa had four TD passes last week and he so far has an amazing 25/0 TD/INT ratio. 

LSU is averaging 30.4 PPG, but it’s conceding just 15.1. LSU relies primarily on its strong run game to generate offense. 

Note though that LSU is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 against the conference, while Alabama is interestingly just 1-4 ATS in its last five when allowing 275 total yards or less in its previous game.

I’m not calling for the outright upset, but I’m expecting a competitive battle until the end. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Eye-Opener is on Syracuse (12:00 EST).

The Orange come in off a 51-41 home win over NC State and I expect them to carry that momentum over here.

Wake Forest enters off a 56-35 destruction of Louisville, but I believe it’ll have its hands full against this surging Syracuse offense. 

Note as well that this is a revenge game for the Orange after Wake Forest recorded the 64-43 road victory last year. 

Syracuse comes in averaging 43.6 PPG and conceding 28.6. QB Eric Dungey had 411 yards and three TDs last week. So far he has 1,844 yards and a strong 13/4 TD/INT.

Wake Forest gave up 532 total yards and 35 points to a weak Cardinals offend last week. So far the Demon Deacons are averaging 33.4 PPG and conceding 36.8. RB Matt Colburn had 243 yards and three TDs last week. 

Note though that the Demon Deacons are just 1-5 ATS in their last six at home and 0-5 ATS in their last five vs. teams with winning records, wile Syracuse is 7-0-1 ATS in its last eight following a SU win and 4-1 ATS in its last five after scoring more than 40 points in its previous game. 

After scoring 51 points against an elite Wolfpack offense, I have a hard time seeing the Demon Deacons slowing down this juggernaut. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Washington Wizards (8:00 EST).

The Oklahoma City Thunder got off to a slow start, but they go into Charlotte on a two game win streak on Thursday night. 

The Thunder come to the Nation’s capital “dog tired” here to face a Wizards team which comes in desperate after a 1-6 start, including going 0-2 at home. But a favorable matchup here against a “flat-footed” Thunder side, combined with a very “winnable” game against the Knicks on Sunday could have the Wizards completely turned around by the end of the weekend.

It’s essentially a “do or die” game for the Wizards in my estimation and I expect the home side to “answer the call.”

I’ll point out as well that the Thunder are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine in the second game of a back to back in which its playing on the road, while Washington is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 after a four games or more unbeaten streak.

Lay the points and expect a blowout. Play on the Wizards.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Pittsburgh (7:30 EST).

Pittsburgh comes in off a shootout victory over Duke and I look for the Panthers to carry that offensive momentum over here against Virginia, which comes in contented off three straight victories. 

The Panthers most recently pulled away for a 54-45 win over the Blue Devils. V’Lique Carter had 137 yards rushing and two TD’s, while Qadree Ollison had 149 yards and a TD as well. 

The Cavs enter off the 31-21 victory over UNC, but this is s spot in which Virginia has done terribly in for bettors over the years, going just 7-12 ATS in its last 19 after playing a conference game. Note that the Cavs are also just 3-4 ATS in their last seven off a win against a conference rival. 

Pittsburgh on the other hand has excelled in this spot by going 10-3 ATS in its last 13 against teams with winning records and 11-6 ATS in its last 17 as an underdog.

I’m not calling for the outright upset, but I think it goes right down to the wire.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Losers Night Out is on the Oakland Raiders (8:20 EST).

The Raiders are in tough as they come in off a third straight loss in a 42-28 setback to Indianapolis, while the 49ers fell 18-15 on the road in Arizona this past weekend. 

Raiders’ QB Derek Carr is the difference maker for me though in this one. Carr is the best player on the field and he so far has 2,027 passing yards and a 10/8 TD:INT. RB Marshawn Lynch is out for the season, which is likely  good thing. Now it’s just “next man up.” Doug Martin so far has 40 carries and 171 yards. 

The 49ers are 1-7 and have nothing to play. The Raiders are essentially playing for pride as well today, but as stated off the top, I think Carr has a major advantage over 49ers’ QB CJ Beathard, who has 1,252 yards with eight TD’s and seven INT’s. Last week the 49ers put up just 267 yards of offense, while allowing 20 first downs.

Additionally I’ll point out that Oakland is still 12-7 ATS in its last 19 when the line in the contest is between +3 and -3, while San Francisco is a horrible 1-7 ATS in its last eight as a favorite, including 0-3 ATS this year.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Eastern Conf. Showdown is on the Boston Celtics (8:05 EST).

The Bucks are 7-0, most recently coming in off a very satisfying 124-109 home win over Toronto. The Celtics are 5-2 and they enter off a 108-105 home win over Detroit. 

Milwaukee is averaging 120 PPG and it’s conceding 104.1. Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play against the Raptors, but he’s been given the green light to go here. So far Anteokounmpo has averaged 25 points and 14.2 boards per game. 

Boston is averaging 102.4 PPG, while conceding an NBA-best 97.6. Kyrie Irving had his best game of the season last time out, finishing with 31 points. 

Note that Boston is 17-5 ATS in its last 22 at home and 14-3 ATS in its last 17 home games against teams with winning road records, while Milwaukee is still just 1-6 ATS in its last seven on the road and 3-8 ATS in its last 11 against teams with a winning percentage above .600.

All good things have to come to an end. I expect the Celtics’ league leading defense to finally throw a “monkey wrench” into the Bucks’ hot offensive start.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on Western Michigan at 7:00 ET.

WMU's 51-24 home loss last week to Toledo ended the Broncos' six-game winning streak and dropped them one game back of Northern Illinois in the race for the MAC's West title. However, WMU still controls its own destiny, Win here at home vs Ohio plus Nov 13 at Ball St (currently a 3-6 team) and the Broncos will host Northern Illinois on Nov 20 with the winner qualifying for the MAC championship game.

First things first, let's talk Ohio U. The Bobacats are 5-3, including 3-1 in the MAC East, one game back of 4-0 Buffalo. However, the Bobcats have back-to-back road games here at WMU and then against the school's long-time rival, Miami-Ohio. After that, it's a home date with Buffalo, which is arguably the MAC's best team (7-1 overall). Note that Ohio is just 1-3 away from home, allowing an average of 33.3 PPG in its three losses, with its lone win coming 27-26 at Kent (go-ahead score came with about 1 1/2 minutes left), which is just 1-7 overall (0-4 in MAC play). 

I’ll point out that Ohio is just 1-4 ATS in its last five road games against teams with a winning home record, while WMU is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 after posting more than 280 passing yards in its previous game. 

Bottom line is that oddsmaker' overreacted to WMU's shocking 51-24 home loss last week to Toledo and bettors have piled on. Almost ALL the money is on Ohio but I expect a comfortable Western Michigan win.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the LA Lakers at 10:35 ET.

To put it mildly, the "LBJ era" is off to a slow start in the City of Angels. The Lakers are still learning how to play with their new superstar and they'd really like to figure out how to win the close games. 2-5 Los Angeles lost its third game by four points or less Monday night at the Minnesota Timberwolves and all five losses have come by single digits. LA will host the 2-5 Mavericks at Staples Center, who also desperate for a win after dropping their past four games (all by single digits!. Dallas did push the San Antonio Spurs to overtime Monday before losing 113-108, but also committed a season-worst 23 turnovers.

Dallas 'limps' in 0-4 away from home, averaging just 104.8 PPG. Sure, the Lakers are only 1-2 at home but they are averaging 126.0 PPG at Staples. With "all hands on deck" ( Lakers are back to full strength after starting SF Brandon Ingram completed a four-game suspension & backup PG Rajon Rondo a three-game ban for their roles in a fight with the Houston Rockets on Oct, 20), look for a 15-point win!

From a trend based stand point, note that LA is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 home games against teams with road winning percentages under .400, while Dallas is just 2-6 ATS In its last eight against clubs with losing records.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Det Pistons at 7:05 ET.

Brooklyn comes in dejected here after falling 115-96 against the Knicks on Monday. It was the Nets third straight loss. 

Last night the Pistons fell 108-105 in Boston and while I wouldn’t normally play on a team in the second game of a back-to-back, in this case I’m making an exception. We’re only two weeks into the season, so fatigue is simply not going to be a factor at this point of the season for this World class athletes. In fact, the extra playing time is beneficial in my opinion to continue work things out on both ends of the floor.

If recent history is any precedence, then Detroit has to be loving its chances today as well, as it’s won three straight in this series, including a 103-100 victory in the first meeting at home on October 17th.

The public is quick to back the Nets here in my opinion. They’ve lost three straight and play with revenge, but quite simply this is a horrible match-up for them. 

The Pistons are averaging 110.6 PPG and they’re allowing 112. The Nets are averaging 106.6 PPG and they’re conceding 111.1. 

Brooklyn is just 4-10 ATS in its last 14 at home, while Detroit is 6-2 ATS in its last eight on the road and 8-3 ATS in its last 11 against teams with a winning percentage below .400. 

Summing up. Beating the Nets back on Oct 17 began Detroit's first 4-0 start since the 2008-09 season. The rematch comes with the Pistons off consecutive losses but quarter c

both have come against the Celtics (the East's best team?). Drummond (18.2 & 15.2 on the year) helped the Pistons open the season with a 103-100 win by getting 24 points and 20 rebounds against the Nets. It was his fifth game with at least 20 rebounds against the Nets and his second 20-20 game against Brooklyn The Nets enter on a three-game slide and during that streak, Brooklyn is getting out-rebounded 146-123 and overall, is among the league's worst teams in rebounding at 43.0 per game (24th). The Pistons  nearly overcame a 14-point deficit last night in Boston but won't need any fourth comebacks here, as they top the Nets for the SIXTH time in the last seven meetings.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Indiana Pacers (7:05 EST).

Portland finally stumbled after a great start, falling 120-111 in Miami on Saturday and I think it’ll have its hands full here as well with a Indiana team coming off a 119-107 road win over the Cavs on the weekend. 

Note as well as this does in fact set up as a “double revenge” scenario for the Pacers after the Blazers took both meetings last year.

Overall Portland has averaged 122.4 PPG and allowed 117.2. Damian Lillard is averaging 33.8 points and 6.6 assists per game. 

The Pacers are averaging 111.7 PPG and they’re conceding just 102.8. Victor Oladipo is leading the nightly charge with 21.8 points, 5.3 boards and 1.5 steals per game. 

Additionally note that Indiana is 6-1 ATS in its last seven after allowing 100 points or more in its previous game, while Portland is just 1-5 ATS in its last six on the road and only 1-4 ATS in it last five when playing on one days rest.

Indiana has looked very strong at home in the early going and I expect that trend to continue here. Lay the points, 

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Sunday Night Football Magic is on the Minnesota Vikings (8:20 EST).

New Orleans enters off a tough 24-23 road win over Baltimore and I think it’ll predictably stumble in this difficult road venue and against one of the league’s other great defensive units. 

Minnesota is back on track after a shaky start to the campaign, most recently destroying the Jets 37-17 on the road last weekend. These teams met in the playoffs last year and the Vikes won 29-24. Suffice it to say, I’m expecting a similar result here as well.

New Orleans has averaged 42.0 PPG in the early going, but the unit struggled for most of last week in Baltimore. And it’s not going to get any easier in Minnesota. The Saints have one of the best run defenses in the league, but they’re ranked 28th against the pass, which doesn’t bode well facing Kirk Cousins and a Vikes offense which has suddenly “found” itself. 

Minnesota is ranked 13th in total offense and last week it gave up just 263 total yards to Sam Darnold and the Jets.

Note as well that the Vikes are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 home games against teams with winning road records.

I think Drew Brees and the Saints finally have a letdown. Play on the Vikings.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmakers Error is on the Detroit Lions (1:00 EST).

A couple of hungry 3-3 teams collide on Sunday afternoon, but I don’t think that the home field advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this particular contest. 

I think Seattle stumbles here in this difficult road venue after winning three of its last four. QB Russell Wilson has 1,308 passing yards and a 13/4 TD/INT. Overall the ground game is averaging 127.8 YPG, with Chris Carson leading the way with 352 yards and a TD. Overall the Hawks are allowing 19.5 PPG.

Detroit comes in having won two in a row and five of their last seven at home. QB Matt Stafford has 1,602 passing yards and a 12/5 TD/INT. 

Note that Stafford has two or more TD passes in seven of his last nine games. The ground game has been strong for the Lions as well with an average of 122.3 YPG. Overall Detroit is giving up 26.3 PP, but note that the Seahawks are just 4-9 ATS in their last 13 following an ATS victory.

Detroit will look to take advantage, note that it’s already 4-1 ATS in its last fie at home (note as well that the home team is 5-1 ATS the last six in this series.)

I think the extra rest off leads to rust for the visitors and I look for the Lions to carry over their recent momentum.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* PERFECT STORM is on the Carolina Panthers (1:00 EST).

After a big come from behind win over the Eagles on the road last weekend, I think the Panthers carry that momentum over here in this non-conference matchup at home against the Ravens, who enter off a loss to the Saints.

Baltimore’s defense has been superb this year, allowing only 14.4 PPG, but I think it comes in “gassed” and deflated this week after the late collapse last week against New Orleans. QB Joe Flacco continues to be consistently inconsistent and I don’t see that trend changing this week either in what is a very difficult road venue.

Panthers’ QB Cam Newton had 269 passing yards and two TD’s in last week’s come from behind victory for the ages. Newton was unbelievable, but so too was the Panthers’ defense when it needed to be down the stretch. 

Note that Carolina is 6-2 ATS in its last eight at home and 4-1 ATS in its last five against teams with winning records, while Baltimore is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine non-conference games.

For all the reasons listed above play on the Panthers.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Jacksonville Jaguars (9:30 AM EST).

A “trip across the pond” is just what the doctor ordered for the Jags to get back on track in my opinion, while I believe this trip will have a detrimental effect on the struggling defending champions.

Philadelphia comes in off a deflating 21-17 home loss to Carolina and I believe it’s ripe for the picking here. 

Jacksonville enters off a second straight loss in a 20-7 setback to Houston in its latest action. 

Philadelphia has dropped three of its last four and it’s averaging 22 PPG and conceding 19.7. QB Carson Wentz has been fantastic in his time on the field with a 10/1 TD/INT over five games.

Jacksonville got off to a great start in Week 1 over the Patriots, but overall it’s averaging only 16.6 PPG. The defense has been a strength of the Jags, conceding only 20.9 PPG. 

The Jags have the No. 1 pass defense in the league, which doesn’t bode well for Wentz. 

Additionally note that Philadelphia is just 6-8 ATS in its last 14 as a favorite in the 3.5 to 9.5 points range, while Jacksonville is 9-3 ATS as an underdog in the same points range.

For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* LEGEND is on Oklahoma State (8:00 EST).

While I obviously believe the outright win isn’t out of the question in this one, I will in the end recommend grabbing as many points as you can in a contest which I envision being decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last.

Texas held on for a 23-17 road win over Baylor last time out and I think the Longhorns finally have a letdown here in this difficult venue and after five straight victories. QB Sam Ehlinger so far has 1,534 yards passing with an 11/2 TD/INT, while completing 65.7 percent of his passes, while RB Keontay Ingram so far has 403 yards rushing. Overall Texas is averaging 30.7 PPG. 

Oklahoma State is the “hungrier” team here no doubt after losing three of its last four, most recently a 31-12 setback to K-State. 

Cowboys’ QB Taylor Cornelius though is a difference maker, as he already has 2,009 passing yards and a decent 16/8 TD/INT. Overall OKS is averaging 493 total yards of offense per game, along with 39.4 PPG. 

I’ll point out as well that Texas is just 3-5 ATS in its last eight after two or more consecutive SU victories and just 3-4 ATS in its last seven as a road favorite, while Oklahoma State is 5-3 ATS in its last eight off a loss against a conference rival and 5-2 ATS in its last seven as an underdog. 

As stated off the top,while I do in fact believe the outright win is very possible, I will in the end recommend grabbing as many points as you can.

Play on Oklahoma State.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Under The Radar Rout is on Air Force (7:00 EST).

I’m not calling for an outright upset, but I do definitely think that the stage is set for a much tighter battle than what the oddsmakers would like us to believe. 

Boise State comes in complacent after back-to-back victories, while Air Force comes in having gone 2-1 in its last three, most recently holding on for a win over UNLV. 

BSU QB Brett Rypien is still 0-2 in his last two trips to Falcon Stadium, including a 27-20 setback in November 2016. 

The Air Force offense is being overlooked here in my opinion. Its still ranked just 106th in the nation, but last week QB Isaiah Sanders had four TD’s and the offense rolled up 572 yards. Sanders had 217 yards passing with a TD, along with 173 yards rushing and three more scores on the ground.

I’ll point out as well that Boise State is just 3-5 ATS in it last eight as a favorite in the 3.5 to ten points range and only 5-10 ATS in its last 15 after two or more SU victories, while Air Force is 4-1 ATS in its last five as an underdog in the 3.5 to ten points range and 5-3 ATS in its last eight off a win against a conference rival.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Unranked vs Ranked Money-Maker is on Missouri at 4:00 ET.

It's been a great start to the season for Kentucky, Mark Stoops' sixth year at Lexington. His teams went 12-24 (4-20 in the SEC) in his first three but he led the Wildcats to bowl games in each of the last two (Kentucky lost both bowls, finishing 7-6 each season). So, this year's 6-1 start (4-1 in the SEC!), is quite notable, as is the school's AP ranking of No. 12. Kentucky entered the top-25 back on Sep 23, for the first time since the 2007 season. Kentucky is allowing 12.8 PPG (second-best among all FBS schools) but the offense is a concern, as the Wildcats have gained just 178 yards (in a 20-14 OT loss at A&M) and 298 yards (in a 14-7 home win over Vandy) over the last two weeks

Meanwhile, Missouri snapped a four-game slide with last week's 65-33 win over Memphis. The Tigers had opened the season 3-0 and while they are just 4-3 overall, note that the team is averaging an impressive 49.0 PPG in its wins. Sure, Kentucky's D presents a formidable challenge but Barry Odom's team owns an outstanding offense (501.1 YPG & 38.6 PPG) plus has a great chance for an eight-win season with a victory here. Florida is up next but the Tigers finish with games against Vandy, Tennessee and Arkanasas. Those three schools are-currently 8-15 overall, including 1-11 in SEC play. However, first things first. Missouri enters this contest on an 11-4 ATS run in its last 15 regular season games, including 4-0 ATS at home here in 2018. There's a reason the 4-3 team is favored over the 6-1 team, ranked No. 12 in the nation. Lay it with Missouri.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout is on Georgia (3:30 EST).

A couple of 6-1 teams collide from EverBank Field in Jacksonville Florida on Saturday afternoon.

The Gators have won five in a row and they moved to 4-1 in conference play after a 37-27 victory over Vanderbilt. QB Feleipe Franks has 1,406 yards with 15 TDs and five INTs, while only completing 56.6 percent of his passes. Overall Florida is averaging 34.4 PPG.

The Bulldogs come in off their first loss of the year, a 36-16 setback to LSU. Georgia though has had its bye week to filter and process the loss and I think the extra time off will prove to be very beneficial for the Bulldogs.

With their first loss out of the way and with a full week to process and refocus, it could in fact be the best thing that could have happened for Georgia this season. So far QB Jake Fromm has 1,409 yards passing with a 13/4 TD/INT. Overall the Bulldogs are averaging 39 PPG.

I’ll point out though that Florida is just 1-5 ATS in its last six as an underdog in the 3.5 to ten points range and only 2-3 ATS in its last five games played on a neutral field, while Georgia is 5-3 ATS in it slast eight as a favorite in the 3.5 to ten points range and 6-1 ATS in its last seven games played on a neutral field.

For all the reasons listed above, play on Georgia.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* EYE-OPENER is on Northwestern (12:00 EST). 

Northwestern won’t be going down without a fight today. The Wildcats come on on a three game win steak, most recently taking care of business in what could have been a trap game against lowly Rutgers last week.

Wisconsin comes in off a 49-20 beatdown of Illinois.

Northwestern’s defense will keep it in this one, it comes in conceding just 24.6 PPG. QB Clayton Thorson has been good as well with 1,900 passing yards and nine TDs to go along with another two rushing TDs. He does have seven INT’s and overall the offense is averaging just 24.3 PPG. 

Wisconsin is allowing 20.0 PPG and it’s averaging 33.0. RB Jon Taylor has 1,109 yards rushing with eight TDs. 

But note that the Badgers are just 2-4 ATS in their last six as a favorite, while Northwestern is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 off a win against a conference rival and 9-3 ATS in its last 12 as an underdog.

I think Northwestern takes this one down to the wire. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* ACC Game Of The Month is on Miami Florida (7:00 EST).

Miami Florida comes in off a stunning loss to Virginia and suffice it to say, I think the Hurricanes take out their frustrations on the Eagles. 

Last week Miami fell 16-13 on the road and it’ll now try to steamroll a BC side which comes in off a satisfying 38-20 victory over Louisville last Saturday. 

The Hurricanes are making a permanent move back to QB Malik Rosier, after freshman K’Kosi Perry completely underwhelmed last week. Perry was just 3 of 6 for 20 yards with two INT’s. Rosier would come in in the second half and throw for 170 yards and an INT. 

Miami’s offense has plenty of issues, but the senior Rosier should bring back some steady calm to a unit which desperately needs it. The Hurricanes defense though remains one of the best in the country, among the leaders in almost every defensive category. 

BC’s offense revolves around its running attack, which averages 226.9 YPG. Last week RB David Bailey and Ben Glines combined to run for 219 yards and two TDs. But BC struggles are on the offensive side of the ball, while the defense remains a strength of the team.

I’ll point out though that Miami is 21-15 ATS in its last 26 after giving up less than 20 points in its previous game, while the road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five in this series overall as well.

I think the change of QB for Miami will in fact prove to be a good move andI look for the Hurricanes superior defense to then deliver the knock out blow.

Lay the points, play on Miami.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF MONTH is on the Houston Texans (8:20 EST).

These two teams are trending in opposite directions and I expect those trends to continue on the short week.

The Dolphins are reeling, losers of three straight, most recently a 32-21 setback at home to Detroit last weekend, while the Texans are surging, posting their fourth straight victory with a convincing 20-7 road win at Jacksonville. 

Last week Miami was out gained 457-322, including allowing a whopping 248 rushing yards. QB Ryan Tannehill has 972 passing yards and a weak 8/5 TD/INT. But he’s been injured the last two games and he’s questionable for this one as well, meaning the volatile Brock Osweiler will likely start here and he has six TDs, two INTs and he’s also been sacked six times.

The Dolphins are also without Cameron Wake, who is out having knee surgery last week. 

Texans’ QB DeShaun Watson will look to take advantage. He so far has 1,937 passing yards with ten TDs and seven INTs. Lamar Miller leads the ground attack with 371 yards and a TD. WR DeAndre Hopkins has 707 yards and four scores this year as well.

Additionally I’ll point out that Miami is just 6-8 ATS in its last 14 as an underdog in the 3.5 to 9.5 points range, while Houston is 3-1 ATS in its last four after two or more consecutive SU victories.

For all the reasons listed above, play on the Texans.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* MAC Attack is on Western Michigan at 7:00 ET.

No upsets here in my opinion, as I look for the first place WMU Broncos to find a way to get the job done on Thursday night. 

Toledo comes to town off a 31-17 home loss to Buffalo, while Western Michigan enters off a 35-10 road win over CMU in its previous action. 

Note that this is a “revenge” game as well for the Broncos after the Rockets scored the 37-10 home win in the series last season.

Toledo is averaging 39.3 PPG and it gave up 326 passing yards to Buffalo last weekend. QB Eli Peters has a 6/2 TD/INT. Note that the defense is allowing 34.3 PPG. 

WMU is averaging 36.4 PPG and it’s conceding 28.4. QB Jon Wassink already has 1,980 passing yards with a strong 16/6 TD/INT. 

I’ll point out as well that the Broncos are 4-1 ATS in their last five following a SU win over more than 20 points, while Toledo is just 1-4 ATS in its last five against teams with winning records.

In conclusion, this year's Toledo team hardly looks bowl-bound. The Rockets have been to 11 bowls since 2001 and to SEVEN in the previous eight seasons. However, last year's 11-3 record seems  as 'far away,' as Toledo lost its second straight and dropped to 3-4 (1-2 MAC) on the season. Toledo was outgained by Buffalo 463-to-295 in yards, while committing four turnovers in the 31-17 loss. Toledo has struggled on the road this season going 0-2, while allowing 77 points, and will 'limp' into this game 0-4 ATS in its last four overall (also checks in at 0-3 ATS to begin MAC play).

Meanwhile, Tim Lester's second season at Toledo is going well. He had a tough act to follow (P.J. Fleck led WMU to a 13-1 season and a New Years' Six bowl game in 2016) but 2017's 6-6 record is a thing of the past. The Broncos opened 2018 with back-to-back losses (to Syracuse and at Michigan) but enter this contest on a six-game winning streak (4-0 start in MAC play) in which the team has averaged 41.0 PPG. WMU's balanced offense (249.4 YPG passing and 220.2 YPG rushing) will allow the Broncos to win this game with "room to spare!'

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Memphis Grizzlies (10:05 EST).

Memphis looked terrible in a season Opening loss, but it’s looked fantastic in two victories since and I think the “under-the-radar” Grizz can keep the momentum rolling in this favorable situation. 

Sacramento has struggled with defensive consistency early and it comes in “dog tired” here after last night’s 126-112 setback at Mile High Denver just last night.

The Grizz enter off an impressive 92-84 win over Utah, as guard Mike Conley had 23 points, seven boards and four assists. 

The Kings are averaging 125.6 PPG, but they’re about to face their stiffest defensive test to date. After completely shutting down dynamic Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, we have a hard time seeing Kings’ leading scorer De’Aaron Fox having much success today either. 

Memphis comes in having gone 18-10 ATS in its last 28 off an upset win as an underdog and I think it’s getting little respect in this spot.

The Kings are “hungry” for a win, but the Grizzlies will be taking nothing for granted at this point after last year’s disastrous campaign. 

The Grizzlies’ offense catches a break here facing the league’s worst defense. Lay the points with confidence.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Losers Night Out is on the Atlanta Falcons (8:15 EST).

It’s “do or die” essentially for both teams. The Falcons come in off a much needed home win over the Buccaneers and they’ll look to win two in a row for the first time all year and once and for all extinguish any hopes for Giants fans this season.

The Giants’ are getting poor defensive play and their aging QB Eli Manning is unable to make the same throws that he used to. That has led to a “rift” between him and his main WR Odell Beckham Jr. 

The one bright spot for New York has been the play of rookie RB Saquon Barkley, who topped 100 yards rushing in last week’s loss, but who also had 99 receiving yards. 

Atlanta catches a break this week defensively facing New York’s incredibly one-dimensional offense. 

Last week Falcons’ QB Matt Ryan threw for 354 yards and three TD’s. Over his last four games Ryan has posted 1,432 passing with an incredible 12/0 TD/INT ratio while completing a whopping 73.2 percent of his passes. 

Atlanta has plenty to be positive about, as it does in fact only sit 2 1/2 games behind the Saints for the division lead. And with upcoming games against “bottom tier” competition (including Cleveland), the Falcons will look to deliver the “knock out blow” to the Giants early in my opinion. 

I’ll point out as well that New York is still just 3-6 ATS in its lsat nine as a road underdog in the 3.5 to 7 points range, while Atlanta is 5-2 ATS in its last seven as a home favorite in the same points range.

For all the reasons listed above, play on the Falcons.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Sunday Magic is on the Cincinnati Bengals (8:20 EST).

This one has the feel of whichever team has its hands on the ball last is going to come out on top and because of that, I’m going to recommend grabbing as many points as you can.

Cincinnati will be hungry to get back into the winners circle here after a 28-21 loss at home to Pittsburgh, while KC looks poised for a letdown here in my opinion after its 43-40 loss in New England last Sunday night.

The Bengals are averaging 29 PPG and they’re conceding the 23rd most points. QB Andy Dalton has 1,674 passing yards and a respectable 14/7 TD/INT. 

The Chiefs are averaging 35.8 PPG, but they’re 32nd in the league in total yards allowed per game. 

I’ll point out as well that the Bengals are already 3-1 ATS this season as an underdog and 6-3 ATS in their last nine as an underdog in the 3.5 to 9.5 points range, while KC is still only 1-3 ATS in its last four against the AFC North.

After a hard-fought loss to the Pats, I think the Chiefs are “running on empty.” I like the Bengals high-flying offense to keep this one competitive. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Denver Nuggets (8:00 EST).

Denver destroyed the Suns at home last night and I think it’ll carry that momentum over here.

It’s the start of the season, so the “fatigue” factor on the second game of the back-to-back is a “non-factor” in my opinion. 

Golden State has won its first two games of the regular season, including a thrilling buzzer-beater over Utah on Friday. But I think the Warriors will stumble in the thin air of Mile high on Sunday night.

Steph Curry and Kevin Durant combined for 69 points in the win over the Jazz. It was a bitter fight to the end and Golden State is clearly “lucky” to have won it on a tip back from Jonas Jerebko at the buzzer. DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Igoudala remain on the sidelines injured.

The Nuggets got a triple-double from Nikola Jokic last night with 35 points, 11 assists and 12 boards. Denver has plenty of talent and I think it’ll take the two-time defending champs down to the wire. 

I’ll point out as well that Golden State is just 50-51 ATS in its last 101 after scoring 115 points or more in its previous contest, while Denver is 40-30 ATS in its last 70 as an underdog.

Grab the points, play on the Nuggets.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* 35-Club Play is on the Dallas Cowboys (4:25 EST).

Washington sits atop the NFC East, but each team comes in with identical 3-3 records. To say this is an important game would be an understatement. 

Washington has looked great at times this year and pretty pedestrian in others this season. Dallas has struggled, but it broke out in a big way last week and I think it’ll carry that momentum over into this one.

Dallas’ QB Dak Prescott led his team to a 40-7 win over Jacksonville last week, going 17 of 27 for 183 yards and two TDs. WR Cole Beasley had two TD catches and 101 yards on the night. RB Ezekiel Elliot had 106 yards rushing and a 15-yard TD run as well. 

The Dallas defense looked great, limiting the Jags to just 204 yards of total offense, while also forcing two turnovers.

Overall the Cowboys are averaging 20.5 PPG and conceding 17.2. 

The Redskins are averaging 21.2 PPG and conceding 20.8. Last week they held on for a 23-17 victory over the Panthers as Alex Smith would go for 163 yards and two TDs. RB Adrian Peterson would post 97 yards on 17 carries.

I’ll point out though that Washington is a poor 1-6 ATS in its last seven vs. the NFC East and only 1-7 ATS in its last eight following a SU victory. 

Dallas on the other hand is interestingly 5-1 ATS in its last six after posting more than 150 yards rushing in its previous game. 

The Boys have covered in five of the last seven in this series and the underdog has covered in 30 of the last 40 meetings. 

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Wipeout Winner is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:00 EST).

Tampa looks to get back on track at home after three straight losses and take advantage of a Browns team which enters off a blowout loss at home to the Bolts.

Baker Mayfield’s numbers have declined steadily each game he’s played. He doesn’t have much help either throwing to the likes of Antonio Callaway, Jarvis Landry and Damion Ratley. Note that no pass catcher has more than one TD on the team.

For the record, Mayfield has four TDs and five INTs. Last week he was held to 47.8 percent passing with one TD. 

Tampa comes back home desperate for a win as well after last week’s 34-29 loss to the Falcons. The defense has fallen apart of late, allowing 439.8 YPG, but clearly the unit catches a big break to bounce back this week facing Cleveland’s anemic attack. 

The Bucs’ offense looked a lot better with Jameis Winston back under center last week though and I think that momentum gets carried over here.

Note as well that Tampa is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 after allowing more than 350 yards in its previous game, while Cleveland is 3-10-1 ATS in its last 14 on the road.

I think this is going to be a blowout from start to finish. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Carolina Panthers (1:00 EST).

Carolina comes in off a 23-17 loss to the Redskins on the road, while the Eagles enter off a 34-13 road win over the Giants (I had Philly in that one.) 

Note that this is a revenge game for Carolina as Philadelphia won 28-23 on the road last year.

Overall the Panthers are averaging 24.2 PPG and conceding 22.8. RB Christian McCaffrey has 349 yards and he leads the fourth ranked rushing unit in the league. In last week’s loss Cam Newton was solid in defeat with 275 yards, two TD’ and an INT.

Philadelphia looked a lot better last week, but I’m going to caution in reading too much into the victory over the hapless Giants. Newton and the Panthers are an entirely different “animal.” 

Eagles’ QB Carson Wentz was a stand-out last week with 278 yards, three TDs and no INTs. Overall Philadelphia is averaging 22.8 PPG and conceding 19.5. 

I’ll point out thought agh Carolina is 9-5 ATS in its last 14 as an underdog, while Philadelphia is only 6-7 ATS in its last 13 as a favorite in the 3.5 to 9.5 points range.

The Panthers desperately need a road victory to keep pace with their division and I think they catch the defending champs “flat footed” here. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* ABSOLUTE BLOWOUT on Hawaii (11:55 EST).

Nevada is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in Mountain West play. It most recently lost its second straight, most recently a 31-27 setback to Boise State.

The Wolfpack were out gained by a whopping 506-386 margin. QB Ty Gangi was just 24 of 42 for 204 yards, two TDs and an INT. 

Overall Nevada is averaging 31.6 PPG and conceding 33.6. 

Hawaii on the other hand is 6-2, including 3-0 in Conference action. The Warriors come in off a 49-23 non-conference loss to BYU this past Saturday (I had the Cougars in that one!) WR John Ursua had 89 yards and a TD. QB Cole McDonald has 26 TDs and three INTs on the year.

Overall Hawaii is averaging 36.5 PPG and it’s conceding 32. 

I think Nevada is overmatched on both sides of the ball today. The Wolfpack also come in with zero momentum and they’ve been struggling away from friendly confines as well.

The Warriors can smell the blood in the water in my opinion (note as well that Hawaii is 7-2 ATS in its last nine after allowing 48 points or more in its previous contest.) 

Lay the points and expect a rout.

Good luck…Larry

This is a 10* PERFECT STORM on the San Antonio Spurs (10:05 EST).

The Blazers come in off an opening night victory over LeBron James and the Lakers and I believe they’ll suffer a predictable letdown here. 

San Antonio will look to take advantage and to build off its opening night win over the Wolves.

DeMar DeRozan had 28 points in his first game for San Antonio, while LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 19 boards. 

The Blazers got 24 points from guard Nick Stauskas off the bench in their win over the Lakers. Portland would go on to earn the victory despite being edged 34-12 in fast break points.

I’ll point out though that San Antonio is 7-3 ATS in its last ten as an underdog, while Portland is just 17-23 ATS in its last 40 after allowing 115 points or more.

This one has the feel of whichever team that has its hands on the ball last is going to be the one to come out on top. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Akron 8* (3:30 EST).

Akron comes in hungry after dropping its third straight, most recently a 24-6 setback at Buffalo last weekend. A date against hapless Kent State is just what the doctor ordered for the Zips to get back on track though, as the Golden Flashes come in having lost five straight.

And if recent history is any precedence, then Akron has to be liking its chances today as it’s taken three straight in the series, including a 24-14 victory last season.

Akron is averaging 23.2 PPG and it’s conceding only 26.4. QB Kato Nelson struggled in last week’s loss, going just 12 of 29 for 115 yards and an INT. Overall though he has 980 yards passing, seven TDs and six INTs. 

Kent is averaging only 23 PPG and it’s conceding a whopping 36.6. QB Woody Barrett has 1,560 passing yards, to go along with seven TDs and eight INTs. 

Akron has its issues, but this a big opportunity which I believe it will make the most of. I’ll point out as well that Kent State is just 1-5 ATS in its last six after allowing more than 450 total yards in its previous game, while Akron is 6-2 ATS in its last eight following an ATS loss.

For all the reasons listed above, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Tulane (8*) (3:30 EST)

This is an important game. Houston is going to likely win the conference, but the victor of this contest will be solidly in the second position. 

To say this is a “revenge” game for Tulane though would be a bit of an understatement, as SMU has won six of the last seven in the series.

SMU has had a week of to ponder its 48-20 beatdown at the hands of UFC. Overall the Mustangs are allowing 39.7 PPG.

Last week Tulane fell 37-21 to Cincinnati (who has since cracked the Top 25). Overall the Green Wave are averaging 379 YPG.

I’ll point out though that SMU is just 1-3 ATS in its last four following its bye, while Tulane is 7-2 ATS in its last nine after allowing 36 points or more in its previous contest.

Despite some of the QB issues that Tulane is going through, I think the Green Wave finds a way to get the job done at home in this crucial contest.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Ball State 8* (3:00 EST).

Ball State is 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the MAC West. The Cardinals though come in with plenty of momentum as they look to move back to .500, most recently rallying from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to knock off CMU last weekend 24-23. 

EMU held on for a 28-26 win last weekend, nearly squandering a 28-3 half-time lead, struggling after QB Mike Glass left with injury.

If Glass can’t play today (and if he does, one has to wonder about his health?!), then Tyler Wiegers would fill in. Last week he was 11 of 15 for 83 yards and he’s been decent with five TDs and just one INT this season.

Ball State still needs three more wins for bowl eligibility, so the home side will clearly have the “foot on the gas” from start to finish here as it looks to take advantage of this EMU team that’s dealing with some pretty major QB issues at the moment. 

Ball State has a solid receiving corps, led by Riley Neal, who has 40 catches for 546 yards. 

The Cardinals are averaging a very respectable 441.4 yards of offense a game, thanks in part to them running nearly 85 play on offense per contest.

I’ll point out as well that Ball State is interestingly 6-1 ATS in its last seven after allowing fewer than 170 passing yards in its previous game, while EMU is a horrible 9-23 ATS in its last 32 following a SU victory.

For all the reason listed above, play on Ball State.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on Michigan (12:00 EST).

Michigan State traveled to Ann Arbor last year and scored the 14-10 upset victory. Suffice it to say, it’s payback time!

Michigan looks to avenge that setback and it comes into this one on top form, having posted six straight victories after an Opening season loss to Notre Dame. 

Michigan State on the other hand looks poised for a classic “letdown” here in my opinion after a big win over Penn State last weekend.

Last week the Wolverines won 38-13 at home over Wisconsin. QB Shea Patterson had 124 passing yards, along with a season-high 90 yards rushing with a TD. RB Karan Higdon had 100 yards rushing as well. 

The difference maker today for me though is the Wolverines’ defensive unit, which limited Wisconsin QB Alex Hornibrook to 100 passing yards, one TD and two INT’s. Wisconsin came into that game averaging 30.3 points and 447.3 YPG.

MSU QB Brian Lewerke managed a TD pass to Felton Davis with 19 seconds left on the clock to score the 21-17 victory over the Nittany Lions last weekend. But it wasn’t pretty, as Lewerke finished with a 22.8 QB rating and he was sacked three times, while the offensive line would additionally give up seven tackles for a loss. 

I’ll point out as well that Michigan State is just 1-4 ATS in its last five following an ATS victory and only 1-4 ATS in its last five at home, while Michigan is 4-1 ATS in its last against the conference.

For all the reasons listed above, play on Michigan.

Good luck…Larry

The third pick of my STP is on Utah Jazz 10* (10:35 EST).

Both teams won their openers. Golden State beat OKC 108-100 at home (without Russell Westbrook in the line-up), but it certainly wasn’t pretty, committing 21 turnover and shooting only 26.9 percent from three-point range.

Stephen Curry was a bright spot in the win with 32 points, nine assists and eight boards. 

Utah enters off a 123-117 win over the Kings on Wednesday. Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles would go 7 of 16 from three-point land and big man Rudy Gobert was 7 of 9 shooting with 15 boards and three blocks.

I’ll point out though that Golden State is a poor 16-21 ATS in its last 37 when playing with two days rest, while Utah is 5-2 ATS in its last seven after allowing 115 points or more.

I look for Utah to return to form on the defensive side this evening. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second pick of my STP is on Memphis Grizzlies 8* (8:05 EST).

A couple of bottom feeders go head-to-head here and I don’t think that the home court advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor.

The Hawks lost 126-107 in New York in their Opener. Taurean Prince was a standout with 21 points, six boards and six assists. 

ATL though would commit 24 turnovers which would lead to 29 Knicks’ points.

Memphis also comes in off a “dud,” falling 111-83 in Indiana on Wednesday. Marc Gasol finished with a weak 13 points. 

So where is the advantage? Note that ATL is just 25-30 ATS in its last 55 after a loss by ten points or more, while Memphis is 9-6 ATS in its last five after scoring 85 points or less.

The Grizzlies have the advantage at home and I believe they’re the team to bounce back here. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PAC-12 GAME OF MONTH is on Stanford (9:00 EST).

Stanford comes into this one hungry and rested. The Cardinal are off their bye and they’re looking to halt a two-game slide, most recently falling to Notre Dame and Utah. 

Arizona State is just 1-3 in its last four, most recently falling to Colorado.

Stanford has to be feeling more confident this week though because RB Bryce Love, who has missed the last two games with a small injury, is back and ready to go. Love already has 327 yards through four games. 

With Love in the line-up, Stanford is an entirely different team and I have a hard time seeing ASU’s porous defensive front slowing him down at all.

ASU also comes in off its bye, but instead of rest leading to success, I think the opposite will be true for the Sun Devils. QB Manny Wilkins was injured in the loss to Colorado, but he’s also been given the green light today. 

I’ll point out though that Arizona State is just 1-2 ATS in its last three following its bye-week and only 2-4 ATS in its last six when the line in the game is set between +3 and -3, while Stanford is 2-1 ATS in its last three following its bye and 6-3 ATS in its last nine when the line in the game is set between +3 and -3. 

The Cardinal have upcoming games against Washington and Washington State, so they can ill afford another loss. 

Stanford’s recent slide is directly attributable to Love’s absence, but now that he’s back though I’m expecting a complete “180.” 

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* “Loser’s Night Out” is on the Denver Broncos (8:20 EST)

Denver is on the road to face Arizona desperate for a victory after dropping four straight, most recently a 23-20 setback to the Rams. 

Arizona beat the 49ers, but then it predictably came back down to Earth in last week’s 27-17 road loss in Minnesota. 

Denver’ QB Case Keenum has 1,647 yards with seven TD’s and eightt INT’s this year. Philip Lindsay has been a standout on the ground with 346 yards and a TD, while Royce Freeman has 272 yards rushing with three TD’s. 

The Cards have been splitting time at QB between Josh Rosen (626 yards, two TD’s, two INT’s and seven sacks) and Sam Bradford (400 yards, two TD’s, four INT’s and six sacks.) David Johnson has 297 yards and five TD’s. 

Denver closed strong last week though and I think it carries that momentum over here. The Broncos are the more “skilled” team across the board and note that they’re also 5-1 ATS in their last six non-conference games.

The Cards on the other hand are just 3-5 ATS in their last eight at home.

I have a hard time seeing Arizona’s offense producing against Denver’s aggressive defense. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* PERFECT STORM is on the Washington Wizards (8:05 EST).

This is the second game of a back-to-back for Miami, which just played and lost in Orlando last night. The Heat are an older team and while it’s still just the second game of the season, I do indeed believe that fatigue will be a factor here.

Miami will now look to take advantage in its opening game of the year in front of the home town crowd after finishing in eighth in the East last year. 

Note as well that Miami is dealing with several injuries to open the year, including to James Johnson, Dion Waiters, Wayne Ellington and Justise Winslow. 

Last year the Wizards averaged 106.6 PPG and conceded 106. Bradley Beal led the team with 22.6 PPG last year, as star guard John Wall missed significant time with injury. Wall is back and he’s joined by free agent signings Austin Rivers, Jeff Green, Thomas Bryant and Dwight Howard. 

I’ll point out as well that Miami is just 1-5 ATS in its last six against the Eastern conference, while Washington is 5-2 ATS in its last seven home games.

Miami is tired and injured. The Wizards are rested and focused.

Everything points to a rout, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmakers Error is on the Houston Rockets (8:05 EST).

New Orleans will once again be in the thick of things when the playoffs roll around. Anthony Davis is an MVP candidate and he’s supported by Jrue Holiday and now Julius Randle.

I’ll point out though that the Pelicans have lost each of their last three regular season openers.

Houston has improved its overall win total in each of the last three years. A trip to the NBA Finals likely would have happened last season if point guard Chris Paul hadn’t have gone down, but he’s back and healthy and ready to go. The team only got deeper with the addition of Carmelo Anthony as well.

I’ll point out as well though that New Orleans is just 2-5 ATS inits last seven in its last seven in Houston.

I think the Rockets send a message to the rest of the league with a decisive lop-sided blowout on Opening Night. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* SITUATIONAL STUNNER is on the Miami Heat (7:05 EST).

Miami had 44 wins last year and it was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by the 76ers. Dwayne Wade is back and so too is big man Hassan Whiteside, who comes into the campaign fully healthy. The Heat also have all star Goran Dragic. 

Orlando starts a new era under head coach Steve Clifford. The Magic have a lot of new faces this season, so they’ll once again be leaning heavily on Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon. 

I’ll point out as well that the Magic are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven at home.

Miami has won five of its last six regular season openers and all signs point to another victory here. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry