Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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11-17-19 | Winnipeg +3.5 v. Saskatchewan | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 79 h 55 m | Show | |
My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over Saskatchewan at 4:30 pm et on Sunday. The Riders miserable 1-3 start to the season has long been forgotten as they've been one of the best teams in the CFL for months now, doing it largely on the strength of a stellar defense that has come up big time and time again. Here, however, I believe they're up against it facing a Blue Bombers squad that has really come together over the course of three consecutive battles with the Stampeders, culminating with last week's stunning 35-14 rout in Calgary. QB Zach Collaros has stepped in and given the offense a nice balance with Chris Streveler still contributing as well. Defensively, it doesn't get much better than holding Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell to 12-of-28 passing for 116 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions last week. I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair all the way on Sunday and will gladly take the points with the Bombers. Take Winnipeg (10*). |
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11-17-19 | Edmonton v. Hamilton -5 | 16-36 | Win | 100 | 75 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on Hamilton minus the points over Edmonton at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Eskimos have gone winless in two meetings with the Tiger-Cats this season and while it's awfully tough to beat any opponent three times in the same season, I do think Hamilton will be up for the challenge on Sunday. The Ti-Cats defense has really stepped up down the stretch, allowing fewer than 20 points in seven of their last 10 games. With Edmonton struggling to finish drives with touchdown all season long, there's reason to believe the Hamilton defense will thrive once again on Sunday afternoon. Eskimos QB Trevor Harris was afforded a clean pocket all afternoon long in Montreal last week but won't be so fortunate here. The Ti-Cats have proven to have the ability to not only score on offense, but on special teams and defense as well. That could prove to be the difference here. Take Hamilton (10*). |
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11-17-19 | Texans v. Ravens -4 | 7-41 | Win | 100 | 16 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday. While this is being pegged as a tightly-contested shootout between MVP candidates DeShaun Watson and Lamar Jackson, I expect it to fizzle with the Ravens imposing their will and winning this one going away. This is arguably the toughest matchup Watson has faced this season, on the road no less. I question whether head coach Bill O'Brien's play-calling can get them there against an elite opponent like the Ravens, to be completely honest. This is a game where the Texans defensive absences, most notably J.J. Watt will really come back to haunt them. At 6-3 I do consider Houston to be a bit of a paper tiger while Baltimore is the real deal, having already taken down the mighty Patriots. Take Baltimore (10*). |
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11-16-19 | UCLA v. Utah -21 | 3-49 | Win | 100 | 10 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on Utah minus the points over UCLA at 8 pm et on Saturday. UCLA has strung together three straight wins to put itself back in the Bowl conversation but it faces an uphill battle, starting with Saturday's game at Utah. The Bruins have scored 30+ points in four straight contests but are highly unlikely to approach that number here. The Utes have given up a grand total of just 33 points in five home games this season. Their lone loss came way back in mid-September at USC. I like the consistency the Utes have shown on both sides of the football, with QB Tyler Huntley having thrown just one interception all season. By contrast, UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson already thrown a whopping eight picks. The last time these two teams met it was no contest as Utah rolled to a 41-10 victory last season. Expect another dominant performance from the Utes on Saturday. Take Utah (10*). |
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11-16-19 | Minnesota v. Iowa -3 | 19-23 | Win | 100 | 6 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on Iowa minus the points over Minnesota at 4 pm et on Saturday. This is obviously a massive letdown spot for Minnesota coming off that huge win over Penn State last Saturday. The Golden Gophers enter this game with a perfect 9-0 record but it's not as if they're been slaying giants all season. This will certainly be a tough test against a terrific Iowa defense that has held its own against the best of the best this season. The Hawkeyes check in 6-3 on the campaign but have dropped three of their last five overall. That has had more to do with their schedule than anything else as they've suffered losses at Michigan, vs. Penn State and last week by just two points at Wisconsin. I look for the Iowa offense to finally get going a bit today, while the defense does its thing and guides the Hawkeyes to a big victory. Take Iowa (10*). |
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11-16-19 | Troy -6.5 v. Texas State | Top | 63-27 | Win | 100 | 28 h 3 m | Show |
CFB Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Troy minus the points over Texas State at 3 pm et on Saturday. Troy has its work cut out for it in order to gain Bowl eligibility this season but it all starts with this very winnable game against Texas State. With the Trojans highly-unlikely to beat both Louisiana-Lafayette and Appalachian State over their final two games, this almost becomes a must-win. I'm confident we'll see the Trojans perform accordingly. If you follow my plays regularly, you know that I'm not very high on Texas State, even though it has shown up and battled on occasion this season, even managing to win three games outright. I still believe the Bobcats have one of the weakest offenses in the entire FBS. They did score 30 points in a win last week, but that came against lowly South Alabama (1-8). Troy possesses a far more dynamic offense with QB Kaleb Barker having thrown for over 300 yards on five different occasions, while tossing at least two touchdown passes in eight of nine games this season. RB DK Billingsley has made the most of relatively limited touches, rushing for over 100 yards on four different occasions. He's coming off his best performance of the season last time out, running for 163 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries. The Trojans defense leaves a lot to be desired but I'm not convinced Texas State will be able to take full advantage. Take Troy (10*). |
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11-15-19 | Celtics -7.5 v. Warriors | Top | 105-100 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 59 m | Show |
NBA Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Boston minus the points over Golden State at 10:35 pm et on Friday. This is the start of a five-game western road swing for the Celtics as they look to extend their winning streak to 10 games and I'm confident we'll see them do so in convincing fashion on Friday night. Note that Boston ranks tops in the league in offensive rating over its last five games, and by a considerable margin. Golden State on the other hand sits 28th over that same stretch. Really the only thing the Warriors have going for them right now is the fact that they've been pushing the tempo, sitting 12th in pace rating over their last five contests, but that should only open the door for the Celtics to really get loose offensively. Boston is in the top half of the league in defensive rating over its last five games while Golden State is just one spot shy of pulling up the rear, sitting 29th in that department. Take Boston (10*). |
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11-14-19 | Steelers +3 v. Browns | Top | 7-21 | Loss | -116 | 12 h 20 m | Show |
NFL AFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. I have no confidence in the Browns to string together consecutive wins at this stage of the season. Meanwhile, the Steelers have found their identity as a hard-nosed team that runs the football and plays an aggressive, opportunistic brand of defense. Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph certainly doesn't instill a great deal of confidence, but he is expected to have RB James Conner back at his disposal on Thursday night and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is in line for a big breakout performance against a Browns defense that has had no success defending receivers in the slot. The Browns have a quality defense and should be able to get after Rudolph in this one, but what about their offense? It's been a sputtering, turnover-prone unit and while RB Kareem Hunt gave them a boost in his debut, I'm not ready to say that the offense is back. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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11-14-19 | Buffalo -5.5 v. Kent State | 27-30 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Kent State at 7 pm et on Thursday. I've said it on a few occasions this season and I'll say it again here; Kent State is one of the nation's weakest teams, particularly on the defensive side of the football, and I look for the Golden Flashes to get gashed once again here. Most jumped off the Buffalo bandwagon early this season as the Bulls dropped their first two MAC contests. Since then, all they've done is reel off three straight wins, outscoring the opposition by an incredible 107-34 margin. Of course their opposition has left a lot to be desired but you can only play the teams in front of you, and they catch another favorable matchup here, noting that the Bulls routed the Golden Flashes 48-14 in their most recent meeting last November. Buffalo will undoubtedly gain Bowl eligibility at some point, but it would certainly rather take care of that right here tonight. Take Buffalo (10*). |
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11-11-19 | Seahawks +6.5 v. 49ers | 27-24 | Win | 100 | 35 h 9 m | Show | |
My selection is on Seattle plus the points over San Francisco at 8:15 pm et on Monday. The 49ers have a giant target on their backs now as they remain undefeated heading into the second week of November. While the Seahawks and their lagging defense will face a tough challenge here, I'm confident they can at the very least take the Niners down to the wire in Santa Clara. We saw some vulnerability from the Niners defense last week against Arizona and I expect that to continue to be the storyline here on Monday as the Seahawks should find considerable success both on the ground and through the air. The San Francisco run defense in particular is in a tough spot with LB Kwon Alexander sidelined for the season with torn pec. That really opens things up for the Seahawks, whose offense is far more effective when it is able to mix in consistent gains on the ground. Offensively, the 49ers are coming off a fine performance but this is by no means a juggernaut. The Seahawks defense has been a swinging gate at times, but should rise to the occasion in this divisional affair. Take Seattle (10*). |
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11-10-19 | Vikings v. Cowboys -3 | 28-24 | Loss | -124 | 11 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Minnesota at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. The Cowboys are on an uptick right now fresh off a win over the Giants on Monday night. They're in another favorable spot here, back at home in a primetime affair against a solid but vulnerable Vikings squad. I expect the Minnesota offense to struggle at times in this one as it tries to deal with a healthy and improving Cowboys defense. Offensively, Dallas went through a bit of a lull but things appear to be back in order now and at home in a favored role, I look for it to open things up and ultimately pull away for a convincing victory on Sunday night. Take Dallas (10*). |
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11-10-19 | Giants v. Jets +3 | Top | 27-34 | Win | 100 | 15 h 44 m | Show |
NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on the Jets plus the points over the Giants at 1 pm et on Sunday. Things literally can't get any worse for the Jets after they lost at the hands of the winless, supposedly taking Dolphins last week in Miami. I fully expect to see Gang Green bounce back against the rival Giants on Sunday, noting we cashed a ticket fading Big Blue just this past Monday night with the Cowboys. This is an absolute smash spot for the Jets offense against a vulnerable Giants defense playing on a short week. Jets QB Sam Darnold has not played well at all but I still believe he has the tools to succeed in the NFL and I'm confident he'll enjoy a breakout performance against the G-Men and their non-existent pass rush and swiss cheese secondary. Not only is Darnold and the Jets passing game in line for a bounce-back but we should see a big performance from RB Le'Veon Bell as well. Game script kept him from exploding against the Dolphins last Sunday but if the Jets are able to build a lead here, Bell should go off. Take the Jets (10*). |
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11-09-19 | Tennessee v. Kentucky -1 | 17-13 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kentucky minus the points over Tennessee at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. Kentucky controls its own destiny as far as Bowl eligibility goes with a relatively light schedule remaining. The Wildcats have won two of their last three games following a three-game slide and enter this contest off their bye week. While they were idle last week, Tennessee was steamrolling a solid UAB squad by a 30-7 score at home. Even off back-to-back wins, I'm not convinced the Vols are all the way back after a rough start to the season. With only three games left on the schedule and in need of two victories, they're facing an uphill battle toward Bowl eligibility. When these two teams met last year the Vols secured a 24-7 victory but I won't be surprised if the script is flipped this time around. Take Kentucky (10*). |
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11-09-19 | LSU v. Alabama -5.5 | 46-41 | Loss | -110 | 18 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on Alabama minus the points over LSU at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. We've picked our spots going against the Crimson Tide in recent years, but not during the regular season. Once again, I look for Alabama to prove itself in this massive showdown with LSU. Yes, this is the best Tigers squad we've seen in years but I'm not sure that means they can hang with the Tide for 60 minutes. The key here should be the Alabama defense, as it will clamp down on LSU QB Joe Burrow. The Tigers haven't had to play from behind much at all this season but that's almost a certainty on Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium. All indications are that Alabama will have Tua back at its disposal and I look for him to lead the Tide to another convincing win over an SEC rival. Take Alabama (10*). |
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11-08-19 | Washington v. Oregon State +10.5 | 19-7 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 15 m | Show | |
CFB Pac-12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Oregon State plus the points over Washington at 10:30 pm et on Friday. This isn't the same Washington squad we've seen in years past, as evidenced by the fact that the Huskies have already dropped four games in Pac-12 play. They should be on upset alert again on Friday night as they face an upstart Oregon State squad that needs two victories in its final four games to become Bowl eligible. Given it still has to play Arizona State, Washington State and Oregon, with the latter two matchups coming on the road, this game is virtually a must-win. The Beavers are fresh off a 56-point explosion at Arizona last week. While their defense leaves a lot to be desired, their offense has shown the ability to score at will. I'm comfortable grabbing a generous helping of points with the home side here. Take Oregon State (10*). |
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11-07-19 | Chargers v. Raiders | Top | 24-26 | Loss | -123 | 25 h 31 m | Show |
NFL TNF Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles over Oakland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. The Chargers have suddenly found their footing, registering back-to-back wins at Chicago and at home against Green Bay and I look for them to keep it rolling as they face the rival Raiders in Oakland on Thursday night. I really like the way things have come together for the previously underachieving Chargers offense, most notably with RB Melvin Gordon busting out with a big performance against the Packers last Sunday. The door is wide open for this unit to really explode against a beatable Raiders defense on a short week. Oakland does pose a challenge with its own emerging offense but I'm confident the Chargers defense will rise to the occasion. RB Josh Jacobs is the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year but the offense can still only go as far as QB Derek Carr takes it as far as I'm concerned. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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11-06-19 | Bucks +1 v. Clippers | 129-124 | Win | 100 | 14 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Milwaukee plus the points over Los Angeles at 10:05 pm et on Wednesday. I fully expect to see the Bucks take it to the Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples Center. Milwaukee checks in ranking first in offensive rating and sixth in defensive rating over its last five games. It also ranks ninth in the league in pace rating over that same stretch. Meanwhile, the Clippers sit in the middle of the pack in both offensive and defensive rating over their last five games and bottom-eight in pace rating. Take Milwaukee (10*). |
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11-05-19 | Kent State v. Toledo -6.5 | 33-35 | Loss | -115 | 8 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on Toledo minus the points over Kent State at 7 pm et on Tuesday. Toledo hasn't been very good since losing QB Mitchell Guadagni to injury but it is coming off a much-needed win over Eastern Michigan last time out and I look for it to keep things rolling at home against Kent State in another big MAC affair on Tuesday night. The key here will be the Rockets ground attack. They have a dynamic running game that should be able to control proceedings against the Golden Flashes. Kent State has a rather punchless offense and while the Flashes have faced a pretty tough schedule to be sure, I simply feel they're one of the weakest teams in the MAC and the nation. We're being asked to lay a reasonable number with the superior team at home. Take Toledo (10*). |
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11-04-19 | Cowboys -6.5 v. Giants | 37-18 | Win | 100 | 14 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on Dallas minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday. It's been a disappointing campaign so far for the Cowboys but they remain in the driver's seat in the NFC East and coming off their bye week I look for them to handle the Giants at the Meadowlands on Monday night. I have no confidence in the Giants defense to slow the Cowboys offense here. Dallas got healthy on its offensive line thanks to the bye and that should open the door for QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott to turn in monster performances here. Saquon Barkley will undoubtedly get his, just as he did in the first meeting between these two teams this season, but I'm not convinced rookie QB Daniel Jones will follow suit. Dallas is a perfect 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings in this series, including a win here when it rested its starters in Week 17 last year. Take Dallas (10*). |
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11-03-19 | Browns v. Broncos +4.5 | 19-24 | Win | 100 | 21 h 43 m | Show | |
My selection is on Denver plus the points over Cleveland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. I really like the value we're getting with the Broncos as a home underdog on Sunday afternoon against the disjointed Browns. Cleveland really has no business laying points against anyone right now. It hasn't lived up to expectations on either side of the football and will likely have trouble traveling to altitude in Denver on Sunday. The Broncos have an efficient running game and a solid defense, a recipe for success as a home underdog. Yes, QB Joe Flacco is sidelined but is backup Brandon Allen really a downgrade? Flacco simply hasn't been a good fit in this offense. I like the upside of the Broncos receiving corps led by Courtland Sutton. Look for Denver to do enough to stay inside the number on Sunday. Take Denver (10*). |
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11-03-19 | Packers v. Chargers +4 | 11-26 | Win | 100 | 21 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over Green Bay at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. Everyone is extremely high on the Packers right now, and for good reason as they're fresh off another statement road win in Kansas City last Sunday night. I just don't like the way this spot sets up for Aaron Rodgers and co. as they stay on the road and head to the west coast to face what has to be a desperate Chargers squad on Sunday. Los Angeles has been highly disappointing this season but there's no question the Chargers still have the talent on board to turn things around. This is obviously a huge step-up spot in a non-conference tilt with a marquee opponent. I'm confident we'll see the Chargers ground attack really get rolling against a beatable Packers run defense. That should set the tone for the rest of the Los Angeles offense, and effectively open things up for QB Philip Rivers. The Chargers defense hasn't been great but could be catching the Packers in a letdown spot off last Sunday night's peak performance. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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11-03-19 | Jets -3 v. Dolphins | Top | 18-26 | Loss | -117 | 17 h 24 m | Show |
NFL AFC Game of the Year. My selection is on New York minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday. Everyone is down on the Jets right now but this is a true 'get right' spot against the tanking Dolphins in Miami, and I look for Adam Gase's squad to take full advantage. I absolutely love the 'squeaky wheel' narrative with elite RB Le'Veon Bell calling for more work in advance of Sunday's matchup. Bell will undoubtedly get fed in this one and should absolutely dominate a non-existent Dolphins run defense. QB Sam Darnold has been ridiculed after his 'seeing ghosts' appearance on Monday Night Football but he should have no trouble carving up the Fins struggling secondary on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Jets defense is serviceable against the Miami offense - which took another step back in a miserable second half in Pittsburgh on Monday night. Take New York (10*). |
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11-02-19 | Texas State v. UL-Lafayette -22.5 | 3-31 | Win | 100 | 19 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on Louisiana-Lafayette minus the points over Texas State at 5 pm et on Saturday. We cashed a ticket fading Texas State last Saturday against Arkansas State and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. The Bobcats have two wins to their credit this season but I still believe they’re one of the weakest teams in FBS. Not surprisingly, their limited offense struggled to get anything going last Saturday against the Red Wolves, scoring a pair of second quarter touchdowns but that was it. They’ll be hard-pressed to improve on that performance against a good Ragin’ Cajuns defense here. Louisiana-Lafayette is fresh off its bye week, which came on the heels of a big 17-point road win over rival Arkansas State. RB Trey Ragas’ health is in question as he recovers from an ankle injury but even if he can’t go, the Ragin’ Cajuns still have a terrific stable of dynamic running backs to lean on. I’m confident we’ll see them build an early lead in this one and let their defense and ground attack take care of the rest, ultimately pulling away for a cover on Saturday. Take Louisiana-Lafayette (10*). |
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11-02-19 | Marshall -11.5 v. Rice | 20-7 | Win | 100 | 18 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on Marshall minus the points over Rice at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. This was a blowout last year as Marshall rolled to a 41-14 victory and I’m expecting more of the same on Saturday. Rice checks in 0-8 on the campaign but the fact that it has at least kept things somewhat competitive helps keep the line in check here. RB Aston Walter suffered a shoulder injury last week and while he is expected to play, he won’t be at full strength. You can be sure the Thundering Herd have been keying their defensive gameplan on Walter as he’s proven to be the Owls only true playmaker on offense this season. Marshall hasn’t been able to take a breath in a few weeks, coming off back-to-back tightly-contested affairs against Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky (it won both games). The Thundering Herd have faced a truly difficult schedule to this point but now get four straight winnable games to close out the season to improve their Bowl positioning. Look for them to take full advantage of this blowout waiting to happen against one of the nation’s weakest FBS teams. Take Marshall (10*). |
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11-02-19 | Old Dominion v. Florida International -17.5 | Top | 17-24 | Loss | -105 | 15 h 34 m | Show |
CFB C-USA Game of the Year. My selection is on Florida International minus the points over Old Dominion at 12 noon et on Saturday. I love the bounce back spot for FIU here as it returns home following a beatdown at the hands of Middle Tennessee State last week. The loss dropped the Panthers to 4-4 on the season but they remain very much in contention for a Bowl game. That certainly depends on getting a win here, and I’m confident we’ll see them secure the victory in convincing fashion. At 1-7, Old Dominion is a true doormat this season. The Monarchs lone victory came back in August against FCS squad Norfolk State. They check into this one having scored just one offensive touchdown in their last 11 quarters of football. FIU has certainly shown blowout potential here at home this season, where it owns victories by 13, 44, 25 and 15-point margins, its lone home loss coming against a quality opponent in Western Kentucky – a game in which it covered the spread. Note that Panthers QB James Morgan has been quietly efficient, throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions over his last four games. Meanwhile, RB Anthony Jones has rushed for 421 yards on just 72 carries, while finding the end zone five times over that same stretch. The Panthers are heavily favored for a reason in this early start matchup. I’ll lay the points. Take Florida International (10*). |
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10-31-19 | 49ers v. Cardinals +10.5 | 28-25 | Win | 100 | 13 h 3 m | Show | |
My selection is on Arizona plus the points over San Francisco at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. Most believe a 49ers win is a foregone conclusion in this one as San Francisco checks in with an unblemished record on the season while the Cardinals are coming off a beatdown at the hands of the Saints in New Orleans last Sunday. I don't believe the Niners are built to cover these big pointspreads, however, and here will face an improving Arizona squad that has won three of its last four games and hasn't allowed a first quarter touchdown in its last two contests. The Cards are likely going to be missing their top two running backs for this one but did acquire Kenyon Drake from the Dolphins earlier this week and it really hasn't mattered who they have plugged in at running back, they have performed well. San Francisco will be content to win this division road game, let alone cover the spread. We'll grab the points with a hungry Cards squad that has gone an impressive 5-3 ATS to date. Take Arizona (10*). |
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10-30-19 | Pacers v. Nets -3.5 | 118-108 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on Brooklyn minus the points over Indiana at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. The Pacers are off to a winless start through three games and I don't see them finally getting into the win column in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Indiana checks in a miserable 22nd in the league in offensive rating and it has been even worse at the defensive end of the floor, ranking 25th in defensive rating. That's not to mention the fact the Pacers sit second-last in terms of pace rating. The Nets figure to take full advantage, noting that they rank fifth in the league in pace rating while sitting a solid eighth in offensive rating through their first three games. Take Brooklyn (10*). |
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10-29-19 | Grizzlies v. Lakers -11.5 | 91-120 | Win | 100 | 12 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Memphis at 10:35 pm et on Tuesday. I don't like the setup for the Grizzlies in this one as they head to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. This is an interesting matchup as the Grizzlies rank second in the league in pace rating while the Lakers check in second to last. I see this game going one of two ways. Either the Grizz try to push the tempo and get run out of the gym as the Lakers check in top 10 in the league in offensive rating while the Grizzlies are bottom-eight in defensive rating. Or the Lakers impose their will and slow this game to a crawl while the Memphis 26th ranked offensive rating rears its ugly head. Either way, I look for Los Angeles to cover the number. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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10-27-19 | Packers v. Chiefs +5 | 31-24 | Loss | -102 | 26 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas City plus the points over Green Bay at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. The last time we saw the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football they suffered a shocking loss to the Colts. That was with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Now Kansas City enters this primetime showdown with journeyman QB Matt Moore under center and few are giving it much of a chance against the red hot Packers. I don't expect the Chiefs to simply roll over. Kansas City has been all over opposing quarterbacks this season and Sunday should be no different against the Packers mediocre offensive line. Note that the Chiefs will have DT Chris Jones back at their disposal, and his presence should really limit the Packers ability to rip off big gains on the ground. Green Bay's passing game has held up well in WR DaVante Adams absence, but this could be the contest where that starts to turn. Defensively, the Packers have been abused by opposing rushing attacks, allowing just a tick shy of five yards per rush this season. That opens the door for the Chiefs limited offense in the absence of Mahomes. As we saw last Thursday night against an elite defense in Denver, even Matt Moore is able to find some success with the talent of WR Tyreek Hill on the field. I'm not sure the Chiefs offense will even be asked to do too much to keep this one competitive, but they might just come through regardless. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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10-27-19 | Raiders v. Texans -6 | Top | 24-27 | Loss | -109 | 23 h 34 m | Show |
NFL Non-Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Houston minus the points over Oakland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. The Raiders are in a really tough spot here, still on the road at the tail-end of what has been an excruciatingly long stretch of games away from home and coming off an epic beatdown at the hands of the Packers last Sunday. Things don't figure to get any easier in Houston on Sunday as the Texans enter a terrific bounce-back spot off last week's divisional loss in Indianapolis. QB DeShaun Watson and the Texans offense should have a field day against the Raiders undermanned defense, which dealt top CB Gareon Conley to Houston earlier in the week. The Raiders haven't exactly waved the white flag just yet, but at 3-3 the time is coming. Offensively, Oakland has been better than expected but with RB Josh Jacobs limited and possibly even sidelined by a shoulder injury, it will be in a really difficult situation here. Jacobs has been a dynamic playmaker but the Raiders don't have much depth in the backfield. While I'm not all that high on the Texans defense, I do think they'll be playing from ahead for much of the day on Sunday, and can gameplan aggressively against mistake-prone QB Derek Carr. Look for Houston to eventually stretch out the margin in this one. Take Houston (10*). |
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10-27-19 | Jets +7.5 v. Jaguars | Top | 15-29 | Loss | -140 | 20 h 35 m | Show |
NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on New York plus the points over Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Jets are coming off a dreadful performance on both sides of the football on Monday night against the Patriots. I do feel they'll bounce back here, however, as they head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. The Jags defense has been exploited by opposing running backs this season as they check in allowing just shy of five yards per rush. Off a poor offensive showing on Monday, look for the Jets to feed RB Le'Veon Bell in this one. On the flip side, the Jets defense has been exceptional against the run, allowing just north of 3.2 yards per rush. That should severely limit what the Jags are able to do offensively, as despite all the Gardner Minshew hype, QB Leonard Fournette has been, and will continue to be the key to their offense. Take New York (10*). |
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10-27-19 | Bengals v. Rams -11 | 10-24 | Win | 100 | 19 h 25 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday. This one has blowout written all over it as the Rams aim to follow-up last week's 'get right' win over Atlanta and head across the pond for what should be a much-needed distraction in what has been a bit of a tumultuous start to the season. The Bengals are awful. They can't stop the run, continue to deal with key injuries in the secondary, and sport an uneven offense that has been completely handicapped by an ineffictive offensive line. We can count on Rams QB Jared Goff to turn in a second straight solid performance facing little pressure against a non-existent Cincinnati pass rush. Meanwhile, the Rams backfield tandem of Todd Gurley and Darrell Henderson should run wild against a Bengals defense that allows just shy of five yards per rush this season, effectively putting this game away in the second half. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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10-26-19 | Texas State v. Arkansas State -11 | Top | 14-38 | Win | 100 | 29 h 18 m | Show |
CFB Sun Belt Game of the Year. My selection is on Arkansas State minus the points over Texas State at 7 pm et on Saturday. Texas State has somewhat surprisingly held its own in most games this season but still checks in sporting a 2-4 record. Arkansas State has been up and down and comes into this one off of back-to-back losses. Notably, last week’s 17-point loss on paper could have really gone either away as Louisiana-Lafayette pulled away with a couple of late touchdowns. I do still feel the Red Wolves are one of the better teams in the Sun Belt and if they have their sights set on Bowl eligibility, this is a game they need to get. I expect them to win this one comfortably. QB Layne Hatcher has thrown for 10 touchdowns over his last game and last week we saw RB Marcel Murray carry a full workload, running 35 times for 164 yards while adding three catches. Texas State QB Gresch Jensen suffered a concussion last week and the Bobcats top rusher Caleb Twyford is actually a wide receiver that has run for more than 78 yards only once this season. Arkansas State took this matchup 33-7 last season and I’m anticipating another blowout here. Take Arkansas State (10*). |
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10-25-19 | Jazz +3 v. Lakers | 86-95 | Loss | -105 | 25 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Utah plus the points over Los Angeles at 10:35 pm et on Friday. I like the way this one sets up for the Jazz as they head to Los Angeles to challenge the overrated Lakers at Staples Center. As I've been harping on all week, preseason results do matter when it comes to the NBA. Note that the Jazz ranked 3rd in offensive rating and 1st in defensive rating during the exhibition slate while also finishing up 7th in terms of pace rating. The Lakers didn't show nearly as well, ranking in the bottom half of the league in both offensive and defensive ratings. The did do a good job of pushing the pace and we saw a similar story unfold in their season-opener against the Clippers, however entering last night's action (realizing it's very early) they rated in the bottom-third of the league in offensive rating. The Jazz are top five in both offensive and defensive rating through a game. Take Utah (10*). |
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10-25-19 | USC -11.5 v. Colorado | Top | 35-31 | Loss | -106 | 24 h 45 m | Show |
CFB Pac-12 Game of the Month. My selection is on USC minus the points over Colorado at 9 pm et on Friday. The USC Trojans are dealing with a number of key injuries on the defensive side of the football but that's certainly been factored into this line. I like the upside of the Trojans offense as they head to Boulder to face an awful Colorado defense. On the flip side, the Buffaloes offense has disappointed this season - the duo of QB Steven Montez and WR Laviska Shenault Jr. in particular. The Trojans 'next man up' philosophy on defense has served them well and I believe this is another matchup they can handle. Note that Colorado has scored just 13 points in its last two games. Even when the Buffaloes did put up 30 points in a losing effort against Arizona three weeks ago they still didn't manage to find the end zone until the final two minutes of the first half and failed to score a touchdown over the game's critical final 20 minutes. USC rode a big game from freshman RB Kenan Christon last week as he ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. Take USC (10*). |
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10-25-19 | Raptors +3 v. Celtics | 106-112 | Loss | -110 | 21 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Boston at 7:05 pm et on Friday. The defending champion Raptors are going to get everyone's best shot this season but so far so good, as they survived their opening night test against the Zion-less Pelicans at home. As I've been preaching throughout the first week of the regular season, preseason results do matter in the NBA. Note that the Raptors wrapped up the exhibition slate ranking in the league's top 10 in offensive rating and top 4 in defensive rating. The Celtics on the other hand were a miserable 29th in terms of offensive rating and 19th in defensive rating over the course of the preseason. Despite being involved in an overtime fight with the Pelicans, the Raptors still showed well at both ends of the floor, ranking sixth in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating in early returns this season. This is a big test for the champs but I look for them to handle it well. Take Toronto (10*). |
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10-24-19 | Redskins v. Vikings -15.5 | 9-19 | Loss | -110 | 35 h 51 m | Show | |
My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Washington at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. It seems as if big pointspreads have become the norm in these primetime games and this Thursday’s contest is no different. Once again, I’m not sure the oddsmakers can set the line high enough as the Vikings should have little trouble brushing aside the lowly Redskins. Washington has such little upside at this point it’s almost laughable. WR Terry McLaurin has arguably been its lone bright spot and while he should get his in this matchup with a beatable Vikings pass defense, that’s no reason to jump off the Vikings in a game that has true blowout potential. We’ve already seen Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan orchestrate an offensive gameplan centred around the rushing attack, and more specifically RB Adrian Peterson. That gameplan just isn’t likely to work against a Vikings front that has been terrific against the run this season. With the ‘Skins likely to fall behind early, they may be forced to air it out but their comeback potential is limited given the fact that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer knows former Minnesota QB Case Keenum’s tendencies and limitations. Minnesota will be without WR Adam Thielen for this game and while that’s a major hit, I still see this as a blow up spot for the Vikes offense. QB Kirk Cousins will be given clean pockets all night long against a Redskins defense that hasn’t been able to get to opposing quarterbacks at all this season. Meanwhile, RB Dalvin Cook is in line for another monster performance against a defense that can be run on and has gone nothing to eliminate short passing plays to opposing running backs. With the Vikes likely to dominate the time-of-possession battle, it’s only a matter of time before this one gets out of hand. Take Minnesota (10*). |
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10-23-19 | Pistons v. Pacers -7.5 | 119-110 | Loss | -104 | 10 h 54 m | Show | |
My selection is on Indiana minus the points over Detroit at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday. As I noted in last night's analysis of two opening night totals winners, the preseason does matter when it comes to the NBA, at least to some extent. Here, I look for the Pacers to run the Pistons out of the gym. Note that the Pacers ranked top 11 in both offensive and defensive rating and also checked in fourth in terms of pace rating during the exhibition slate. The Pistons on the other hand finished bottom 10 in offensive rating, 27th in defensive rating and a miserable tie for 29th in pace rating. Tough spot for Detroit to open the campaign here. Take Indiana (10*). |
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10-20-19 | Eagles +3 v. Cowboys | Top | 10-37 | Loss | -120 | 24 h 41 m | Show |
NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Dallas at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. I absolutely love the way this spot sets up for the Eagles as they try to bounce back from last week’s tough loss in Minnesota. Philadelphia continues to perform at an elite level offensively, despite the fact that it has dealt with a number of key injuries at the wide receiver position this season. QB Carson Wentz remains one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league and he’s set to expose an injury-ravaged Cowboys defense on Sunday night. Dallas is coming off back-to-back devastating losses, with the most recent being particular painful at the hands of the lowly Jets. With WR Amari Cooper likely to miss and RB Ezekiel Elliott busy running into piles there’s little reason to have much confidence in the Cowboys offense right now. Head coach Jason Garrett is on the hot seat again and I’m not sure that we’ll see the team rally around him this time around. While everyone was singing the praises of Cowboys first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore earlier this season, things have gotten stale in a hurry. Look for the Eagles pass rush to take advantage of the Cowboys injuries on the offensive line (Tyron Smith and La’El Collins are expected to miss) and make life difficult for QB Dak Prescott all night long. The case can be made that the wrong team is favored in this one. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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10-20-19 | Jaguars -4 v. Bengals | 27-17 | Win | 100 | 16 h 15 m | Show | |
My selection is on Jacksonville minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday. This is a dream bounce-back matchup for the Jaguars off last week’s ugly home loss against the suddenly defensive-minded Saints. The Bengals sit at 0-6 on the season and come in off another tightly-contested loss against Baltimore last week. Off that physical affair on the road I’m not sure how much this injury-riddled squad will have left in the tank this Sunday, nor do I believe its motivation will be all that high against the Jags. No team pressures the quarterback less than the Bengals and that should open the door for a big game from Jags QB Gardner Minshew, who fell out of favor with the bandwagon crowd following last week’s brutal performance against the Saints. Even if Minshew can’t get things going through the air, RB Leonard Fournette should have no trouble exposing a truly awful Bengals run defense. Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s defense catches a favorable draw here against Cincinnati and its dreadful offensive line. Look for the Jags pass rushers to find their way into the Bengals backfield all afternoon long. WR Tyler Boyd is one of the Bengals only offensive pieces that catches any sort of favorable matchup in this one. Yes, Jacksonville dealt CB Jalen Ramsey earlier in the week but he hadn’t been on the field since September anyway. If anything, I see last week’s loss to the Saints as a rallying point for the 2-4 Jags. Take Jacksonville (10*). |
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10-20-19 | Texans v. Colts | Top | 23-30 | Win | 100 | 16 h 8 m | Show |
NFL AFC South Game of the Month. My selection is on Indianapolis minus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Texans upset win in Kansas City is still fresh in the minds of bettors while the Colts win on that same field the week previous has been all but forgotten, leading to a favorable line for the home side in this AFC South showdown on Sunday. The bye week came at the right time for Indianapolis as it is expected to have MLB Darius Leonard and WR T.Y. Hilton back at full speed this Sunday. Meanwhile, the Texans defense is in a really tough position with an injury-ravaged secondary, preparing to face Hilton, who has been a real thorn in their side over the years. While I have a lot of confidence in Texans QB DeShaun Watson, not to mention WR DeAndre Hopkins, I have little confidence in anyone else on the Houston offense, nor in play-caller and head coach Bill O’Brien. I simply see this as an excellent spot to fade the Texans off a huge win last week as they head on the road to face a better-coached, and still underrated Colts squad on Sunday afternoon. Take Indianapolis (10*). |
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10-19-19 | Temple v. SMU -7.5 | 21-45 | Win | 100 | 29 h 59 m | Show | |
My selection is on SMU minus the points over Temple at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. This is being pegged as a real tough test for SMU as it welcomes 5-1 Temple to Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday afternoon. I’m confident the Mustangs will be up to the challenge. Temple should be commended for its strong start, but it’s not as if it has been overly tested. The Owls wins have come against Bucknell, Maryland, Georgia Tech, East Carolina and Memphis. The win over Maryland certainly could have gone either way as they won by a score of 20-17 and last week the Owls did everything they could to give the game away after building a big 23-7 first half lead against a shell-shocked Memphis squad. Here, I’m confident the Owls will get the Mustangs best punch. SMU enters the game off its bye week which came on the heels of a wild 43-37 triple-overtime win over Tulsa. It certainly got caught flat-footed in that one – its first game as a top-25 ranked team since 1986 – falling behind big before rallying with three unanswered fourth quarter touchdowns to force overtime. Temple should garner its full attention here. The Mustangs have put up 40+ points in all but one of their six games so far this season and should approach that number again. I’m not convinced the Owls will be able to keep up. Take SMU (10*). |
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10-19-19 | Buffalo -17 v. Akron | Top | 21-0 | Win | 100 | 29 h 57 m | Show |
CFB Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Akron at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. This one has blowout written all over it as a hungry Buffalo squad travels to face winless Akron. The Bulls have faced a tough early season schedule so it’s not surprising that they enter this contest with just two wins to their credit. Things do get easier from here, starting with what should be a layup against the Zips. Look for the Buffalo ground game to really get rolling in this one. Note that last week Akron got torched for 208 rushing yards on 39 attempts by Kent State running back Will Matthews and quarterback Dustin Crum. Buffalo’s tandem of Kevin Marks and Jaret Patterson have the potential to improve on those numbers here. Buffalo has shown it has blowout potential having already defeated FCS squad Robert Morris (who I wouldn’t rank far below Akron) 35-10 and Temple 38-22. The Bulls took this matchup by a 24-6 score last season. Take Buffalo (10*). |
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10-17-19 | UL-Lafayette -6 v. Arkansas State | 37-20 | Win | 100 | 22 h 3 m | Show | |
My selection is on Louisiana-Lafayette minus the points over Arkansas State at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off a tough 17-7 loss at home against Appalachian State in a rematch of last year's Sun Belt championship game. They're installed as a road favorite here in what looks like a tough matchup with Arkansas State, on paper at least. In a game that has true shootout potential, I have more confidence in the Louisiana-Lafayette defense to get a couple of key stops when it needs it on Thursday night. I also like the fact that the Ragin' Cajuns boast one of the best rushing attacks in the nation. They have the tandem of backs in Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas to effectively shorten this game and put it away for good should they be able to build a lead. Arkansas State has absolutely exploded offensively over its last few games with QB Layne Hatcher tossing eight touchdown passes in his last two contests. Don't count on a repeat performance against a capable Cajuns defense here. Take Louisiana-Lafayette (10*). |
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10-14-19 | Lions +4 v. Packers | Top | 22-23 | Win | 100 | 14 h 7 m | Show |
NFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Detroit plus the points over Green Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday. Simply put, I'm not sure the Packers are as good as their 4-1 record, or last week's high-scoring win over the Cowboys would seem to indicate. They'll be without WR DaVante Adams again on Monday night and with their defense sagging, I'm not sure they'll be able to get past the Lions without a serious fight. Detroit was written off by most before the season even began, and certainly following an ugly season-opening tie in Arizona. Since then, Detroit has been somewhat inconsistent, but has managed to battle its way to a 2-1-1 mark and can gain ground on the division rival Packers with a win here. I like the way the Lions underrated offense matches up against the Packers suddenly struggling defense and on the flip side, I also think the Detroit defense can give QB Aaron Rodgers some serious heartburn here. RB Aaron Jones went off against the Cowboys last Sunday but don't count on a repeat performance here as Matt LaFleur seems determined to give RB Jamaal Williams his share of touches as well, even if it may be to the detriment of the offense. The Lions have two wins to their credit at Lambeau Field since 2015 so there's no real intimidation factor at play here. Take Detroit (10*). |
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10-12-19 | Florida v. LSU -13 | 28-42 | Win | 100 | 34 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on LSU minus the points over Florida at 8 pm et on Saturday. This is the marquee matchup on Saturday’s board as the 6-0 Gators challenge the 5-0 Tigers in the Bayou. While Florida is coming off a hard-fought emotional home win over rival Auburn last Saturday, LSU enjoyed nothing more than a tune-up in a 42-6 rout of Utah State. I’m still not sure we’ve seen the best the Tigers have to offer, which is saying something considering they’ve scored 60+ points on two separate occasions already this season. This is the game where I look for the LSU defense to step to the forefront and serve as the key to victory. Gators standouts Lamical Perine and Freddie Swain absolutely exploded against Auburn last Saturday but I’m confident the Tigers will do a better job of keeping that duo in check in this one. Florida QB Kyle Trask has managed the last couple of games nicely but won’t be able to match LSU QB Joe Burrow in this one. While we can’t expect Burrow to keep up his ridiculous pace, I do look for him to consistently put the Tigers in good position to score on Saturday night, ultimately helping them pull away for another convincing win. Take LSU (10*). |
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10-12-19 | Texas Tech v. Baylor -10.5 | Top | 30-33 | Loss | -110 | 30 h 13 m | Show |
CFB Big 12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Baylor minus the points over Texas Tech at 4 pm et on Saturday. Baylor is one of the nation’s more surprising undefeated teams as we head into mid-October. The Bears are coming off back-to-back impressive wins over Iowa State and Kansas State and now have the opportunity to really get rolling before heading on the road for a showdown with Oklahoma State next week. Texas Tech is in a clear letdown spot here as it tries to follow up a surprising 45-35 win over Oklahoma State last Saturday. The Red Raiders jumped all over a Cowboys squad that was arguably ‘fat and happy’ off a big win over Kansas State the week previous. Keep in mind, Texas Tech is still playing without starting QB Alan Bowman. Jett Duffey has filled in admirably, not only this season but last year as well, but faces a tall task against a quality Baylor defense here. Just two weeks ago, Duffey was held to 11-of-20 passing for 120 yards and ran the ball seven times for just 16 yards against Oklahoma. Take Baylor (10*). |
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10-12-19 | Alabama -17 v. Texas A&M | 47-28 | Win | 100 | 30 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on Alabama minus the points over Texas A&M at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. We got backdoored by Texas A&M earlier this season as it scored a last-second touchdown to close the gap to 14 points at Clemson. I won’t hesitate to go back to the well fading the Aggies here, however, as they face another steep challenge against Alabama. We actually cashed an ‘under’ ticket the last time A&M took the field, two weeks ago against Arkansas in Dallas. The Aggies had a tough time putting away a middle-of-the-road Arkansas squad on that day, ultimately prevailing by a 31-27 score. QB Kellen Mond has now thrown four interceptions and has fumbled the football three times through five games this season. If he can’t take care of the football against the Crimson Tide it will be lights out in a hurry for the Aggies. There’s not a lot to say about Alabama. The Tide continue to roll but after giving up a grand total of 43 points in their first four games they allowed 31 against Ole Miss last Saturday. That should help keep their motivation level high as they head to College Station, noting that ‘Bama took this matchup by 22 points last season. Take Alabama (10*). |
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10-12-19 | Memphis -5 v. Temple | Top | 28-30 | Loss | -105 | 26 h 19 m | Show |
CFB AAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Memphis minus the points over Temple at 12 noon et on Saturday. I really like the way this spot sets up for a Memphis team that remains under the radar despite its perfect 5-0 record. The Tigers are coming off a 52-point explosion on the road against Louisiana-Monroe last week. RB Kenneth Gainwell is seemingly getting better with each passing game, racking up well north of 350 rush yards and four touchdowns over his last three contests. The Tigers defense didn’t perform particularly well in last week’s win, but did earn the game-sealing interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. We have seen this unit step up when it has needed to – remember Memphis defeated Ole Miss by a 15-10 score back in Week 1. We suffered a tough backdoor defeat with Temple last week as it won in unimpressive fashion at East Carolina. The Owls are off to a solid 4-1 start this season but only their victory over then-21st ranked Maryland back on September 14th was all that impressive. Their offense seems to be regressing each week and that’s certainly not encouraging as they could very well need to keep up in a shootout here on Saturday. Take Memphis (10*). |
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10-12-19 | South Carolina v. Georgia -22.5 | 20-17 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Georgia minus the points over South Carolina at 12 noon et on Saturday. Georgia doesn’t seem to garner the same respect level as Alabama and Oklahoma but it should. The Bulldogs are off to a perfect 5-0 start, allowing a grand total of just 54 points in the process. The final score read 43-14 but last week’s win in Tennessee wasn’t a true blowout. Here, I look for Georgia to be even sharper. South Carolina has won twice in five games so far this season, including a 24-7 rout of Kentucky last week. That could leave the Gamecocks a little ‘fat and happy’ entering this not likely winnable contest on Saturday. Note that South Carolina has topped the 24-point mark only once this season and that came against FCS squad Charleston Southern. In the Gamecocks two road games to date they gave up 58 points against North Carolina and Missouri. Georgia rolled to a 24-point victory in this matchup last year but I don’t expect it to overlook South Carolina in this spot. Take Georgia (10*). |
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10-10-19 | UL-Monroe -2.5 v. Texas State | 24-14 | Win | 100 | 83 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Louisiana-Monroe minus the points over Texas State at 9:15 pm et on Thursday. At the onset of the season I had Texas State rated as one of the worst teams in the entire nation and despite the Bobcats 2-3 record, I still believe that is the case. Louisiana-Monroe checks in with an identical 2-3 mark but it has certainly faced a difficult draw with its three losses coming against Florida State and Iowa State on the road and undefeated Memphis at home. Even though the Warhawks lost by 19 at home against the Tigers last time out, that was a competitive game until the fourth quarter. Texas State has one impressive victory to its credit, or somewhat impressive at least. The Bobcats took down Georgia State by a 37-34 score at home back on September 21st. Keep in mind, they needed three overtimes to get it done and it's worth noting they didn't reach the end zone on offense until the final four minutes of the first half and then not again until overtime. The Warhawks took this matchup a year ago and I expect a similar story to unfold here. Take Louisiana-Monroe (10*). |
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10-10-19 | Giants v. Patriots -16.5 | Top | 14-35 | Win | 100 | 35 h 42 m | Show |
NFL Thursday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over New York at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. We won with the Patriots as a massive road favorite last Sunday in Washington and there’s little reason to jump ship as they return home on a short week to host the injury-riddled Giants on Thursday night. New York is expected to be without arguably its two best offensive players in this one as RB Saquon Barkley and TE Evan Engram are sidelined with injuries. That leaves rookie QB Daniel Jones in a really tough position going up against a fierce Patriots defense that should have little trouble exposing the Giants offensive line. Even when Jones does have time in the pocket he’ll have few options to work with down field. Maybe WR Golden Tate goes off in his second game back but I highly doubt it. It’s also worth mentioning that WR Sterling Shepard will miss this game after suffering an ugly concussion last week. Offensively, the Pats should be able to do whatever they want against one of the weakest defenses in the league. New York has had an extremely difficult time slowing down any opposing offense other than the lowly Redskins this season and continues to deal with a number of key injuries. The Patriots really didn’t get rolling until the second half against the Redskins last Sunday but still managed to put 30+ points on the board. Expect a sharper performance from Tom Brady and co. here as they roll past the G-Men in Foxborough. Take New England (10*). |
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10-06-19 | Patriots -15 v. Redskins | 33-7 | Win | 100 | 27 h 22 m | Show | |
My selection is on New England minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday. The oddsmakers really can't set this line high enough as the Patriots should have little trouble disposing of the Redskins in Washington on Sunday. This could be the end of the line for 'Skins head coach Jay Gruden. The team is in further turmoil this week after word got out that Gruden didn't want the team to draft QB Dwayne Haskins. Colt McCoy will get the start under center this week but your guess is as good as mine as to whether he'll finish the game. The Patriots defense has arguably been the best in football this season and should absolutely feast on a miserable Redskins offensive line. Washington's only real bright spot this season has been WR Terry McLaurin but he's dealing with a hamstring injury and questionable to play after missing last week's game. Even if he can go, he'll face the daunting challenge of Pats CB Stephon Gilmore's coverage here. I'm not even sure we'll need a lot from the New England offense but this is a really nice bounce-back spot off of last week's hard-fought, low-scoring win in Buffalo. Take New England (10*). |
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10-05-19 | Michigan State +21 v. Ohio State | 10-34 | Loss | -110 | 29 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on Michigan State plus the points over Ohio State at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. We won with Ohio State in its absolute annihilation of Nebraska last Saturday night but I'm expecting a much tighter affair this week as the Buckeyes welcome Michigan State to The Horseshoe. We also cashed in this matchup a year ago, winning a ticket on the 'under'. I do think we'll see points come at a premium again this year (last year's tilt reached only 32 total points). With that in mind, we're being given an awful lot of points with a quality Spartans squad. All most bettors can remember is Michigan State's ugly low-scoring home loss to Arizona State earlier this season. Outside of that game, the Spartans offense has performed well, however, and combine that with a terrific defense and I think Michigan State can stick around and make things interesting here. With a pointspread this generous and considering the tendency the Buckeyes have shown to ease off the gas in the later stages of football games (due entirely to building insurmountable leads), Spartans tickets should be in play right down to the final whistle. Take Michigan State (10*). |
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10-05-19 | Tulane v. Army +3 | 42-33 | Loss | -120 | 22 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on Army plus the points over Tulane at 12 noon et on Saturday. In a game where points should come at a premium, I'll gladly grab the points with what I believe is the better team, at home no less, on Saturday afternoon. Tulane is coming off an emotional 38-31 win over Houston on national tv, but that came more than two weeks ago. The Green Wave were certainly up for that spotlight game at home but I'm not convinced we're going to see the same type of emotionally-fueled performance here. Army stumbled out of the gates this season, narrowly escaping with a 14-7 win over Rice back in Week 1. The Black Knights have gotten stronger with each passing week, however, including a near stunning upset win on the road against Michigan and back-to-back blowout victories over UTSA and Morgan State. Like Tulane, Army is also coming off its bye week. In what should be a competitive contest, I like the Knights to come away victorious. Take Army (10*). |
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10-04-19 | New Mexico +6.5 v. San Jose State | 21-32 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 6 m | Show | |
My selection is on New Mexico plus the points over San Jose State at 10 pm et on Friday. This isn't a pretty matchup by any means as New Mexico travels to face San Jose State with both teams sporting identical 2-2 records. All that most remember about the Lobos is that they got throttled 66-14 at Notre Dame two weeks ago. But let's keep things in perspective. New Mexico actually didn't allow an offensive touchdown until over three minutes into the second quarter in that game. They suffered some big defensive breakdowns allowing big play touchdowns in that contest, but won't face anything close to the same type of challenge against the Spartans here. San Jose State is coming off a 41-24 loss to Air Force last week. After scoring a touchdown in the first five minutes of the game, the Spartans didn't reach the end zone again until there were less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. In their first home game this season - a 34-16 loss against Tulsa - the Spartans didn't reach the end zone until over halfway through the second quarter and then not again until there were less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Look for New Mexico to do a good job of shortening this game by churning out long drives, which obviously works in our favor with a play on the underdog. Take New Mexico (10*). |
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10-03-19 | Temple -10.5 v. East Carolina | 27-17 | Loss | -105 | 35 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Temple minus the points over East Carolina at 8 pm et on Thursday. Temple has absolutely owned this series, reeling off five straight double-digit victories in five meetings since 2014. The Owls are off to a 3-1 start this season but haven't looked all that impressive in getting there. Here, on the national stage on Thursday night, I look for them to get loose against an East Carolina squad that isn't as good as it 3-2 record would seem to indicate. We were on the 'over' in East Carolina's narrow 24-21 win over Old Dominion last Saturday. That was by no means an impressive victory as neither team was able to get anything going in a truly ugly affair. Save for a 48-point outburst against FCS squad Gardner-Webb, the Pirates offense has been non-existent this season. The game script should set up well for the Owls to ultimately put this game away with a dynamic offense that has yet to really get rolling this season. Veteran QB Adam Russo got bogged down against Georgia Tech last week but has still thrown 10 touchdowns through four games this season. Meanwhile, RB Re'Mahn Davis is coming off a breakout 135-yards, two-touchdown performance against the Yellow Jackets and should run wild on an ECU defense that got torched for 315 yards on the ground against Navy earlier this season. Take Temple (10*). |
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10-02-19 | Senators v. Maple Leafs -1.5 | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on Toronto -1.5 goals over Ottawa at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday. This is just an awful spot for a Senators squad that is quite likely to challenge for the worst record in the Eastern Conference and potentially the entire NHL this season. The Leafs, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, in particular can't wait to get this season started and put a somewhat tumultuous offseason behind them. Expectations are high in Toronto once again as this team has the pieces in place to challenge for the Stanley Cup - it's as simple as that. Here on opening night, look for a statement win for the Leafs against the rival Sens. Take Toronto -1.5 goals (10*). |
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09-30-19 | Bengals v. Steelers -3 | 3-27 | Win | 100 | 10 h 54 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Cincinnati at 8:15 pm et on Monday. After cashing with Pittsburgh in an ATS but not SU victory in San Francisco last Sunday, I like the Steelers to cover the number again, albeit as a favorite this time around. This is an excellent matchup for the Steelers defense to absolutely tee off on a Bengals offensive line that has struggled to open up running lanes for Joe Mixon while also allowing opponents to get a ton of pressure on QB Andy Dalton. Should the Steelers build a lead they'll be able to pin their ears back and force a key turnover or two as this game progresses. On the flip side, the Steelers offense will likely go back to basics here and let RB James Conner go to work against a Bengals defense that has surrendered a whopping 5.2 yards per rush this season. Last week's matchup wasn't good for Steelers QB Mason Rudolph but he should bounce back against a much more favorable draw here. Cincinnati has not done a good job of generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks, recording just five sacks so far this season. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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09-29-19 | Bucs v. Rams -9 | Top | 55-40 | Loss | -102 | 26 h 39 m | Show |
NFL NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Tampa Bay at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. This game has blowout written all over it as the Rams return home following a business-like 20-13 win in Cleveland last Sunday night. Los Angeles used a supreme defensive effort to hold off a hungry Browns squad in that one but here should be able to get loose offensively, particularly through the air against a struggle Bucs pass defense. On the flip side, I don’t see the Bucs accomplishing much in this one with the Rams outstanding secondary likely to take care of business against the dynamic duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Tampa Bay’s ground game is a virtual non-factor and playing from behind on Sunday isn’t likely to change that. Look for another dominant performance from the Rams as they remain undefeated with another convincing win. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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09-29-19 | Chiefs -7 v. Lions | 34-30 | Loss | -105 | 23 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday. Perhaps due to their weak defense and the surprising start of the Lions, the Chiefs remain a relatively short road favorite in Detroit on Sunday afternoon. We won with the Lions in their upset victory in Philadelphia last week but that had more to do with the Eagles laundry list of injuries than anything else. This may be a showdown between two undefeated teams but they really couldn’t be at much more opposite ends of the spectrum offensively. The Chiefs just keep rolling along and catch the Lions in a tough spot with a number of key injuries on the defensive side of the football, the least concerning of which to CB Darius Slay. QB Patrick Mahomes should be in for another monster performance in ideal conditions at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon. Kansas City’s struggles defending the run will likely encourage the Lions, already a ‘run-first’ team, to pound the football on the ground here, but it’s the wrong move in my opinion as Detroit simply won’t be able to keep pace with an explosive Chiefs offense by running the football. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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09-28-19 | Ohio State -17 v. Nebraska | 48-7 | Win | 100 | 22 h 12 m | Show | |
My selection is on Ohio State minus the points over Nebraska at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. Ohio State continues to steamroll inferior competition and while Nebraska looks like it poses a significant challenge on paper, I’m not sure it’s going to play out that way on the field. The Cornhuskers are coming off yet another offensive explosion last week, scoring 42 points in a road win over Illinois. QB Adrian Martinez has done it all on a weekly basis but I’m confident the Buckeyes can develop a gameplan to slow down the Huskers dynamic quarterback. The argument can certainly be made that Ohio State has been the most impressive team in college football so far this season, outscoring the opposition by a ridiculous 214-36 margin. This represents the Buckeyes first true test and I definitely believe they’ll be up for it, especially after narrowly escaping with a 36-31 in this same matchup last November. Lost in Nebraska’s hot start offensively has been its awful defensive play against any opponent with a pulse, giving up 34 points at Colorado and 38 at Illinois. Home cooking has been kind so far, but those performances came against South Alabama and Northern Illinois as double-digit favorites. Expect a different story to unfold here. Take Ohio State (10*). |
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09-28-19 | Kansas State +4.5 v. Oklahoma State | 13-26 | Loss | -105 | 22 h 35 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas State plus the points over Oklahoma State at 7 pm et on Saturday. While Oklahoma State was involved in a shootout loss against rival Texas last Saturday, Kansas State was idle and enters this game with its undefeated record intact. The Wildcats have just one impressive win to their credit, that coming in their last game, a 31-24 win as a touchdown underdog at Mississippi State (we won with the ‘over’ in that game). I do like the way this one sets up for Kansas State as well as I expect it to run the football at will and control the clock, ultimately shortening this game against offensive-minded Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have a potent ground attack of their own but I suspect they’ll be in tough contending with a rested and ready Wildcats defense. Note that Kansas State held Mississippi State out of the end zone in the critical final 19 minutes of the game two weeks ago, after falling behind 21-17. Wildcats QB Skylar Thompson hasn’t been racking up the completions or yardage totals but has been efficient, throwing four touchdowns compared to no interceptions through three games. Take Kansas State (10*). |
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09-22-19 | Rams -3 v. Browns | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 59 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. This is a tough spot for the Browns, returning home on a short week to face one of the league's best teams, and potentially doing so without a number of key cogs. Cleveland enters this game banged-up after Monday's win over the Jets, losing TE David Njoku and OLB Christian Kirksey to injuries in that game. The Rams come in relatively healthy and off an easier-than-expected home win over the Saints thanks to Drew Brees' injury. The Browns will certainly be up for this opportunity to prove that all of the preseason hype was warranted but the fact is, they haven't looked very good through two games, and I don't believe they can hang around for 60 minutes against a vastly superior team. Yes, Rams QB Jared Goff has struggled in games such as this, on the road in primetime, but that has little bearing here as he's a more experienced quarterback now and figures to have learned how to better handle these situations. Los Angeles is well-positioned to move to 3-0 on Sunday night. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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09-22-19 | Steelers +7 v. 49ers | 20-24 | Win | 100 | 55 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over San Francisco at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. Most are quick to write off the Steelers after losing QB Ben Roethlisberger for the season in last week’s home loss to the Seahawks. I’m not sure we’re going to see much of a dropoff in offensive production with backup QB Mason Rudolph at the helm, however. It’s not as if Big Ben was lighting it up for the Steelers in early action this season. In fact, it was Rudolph that gave the team a major spark and moved the football at will after entering last week’s game. It appears Steelers RB James Conner will be good to go this week after an injury scare. Even if he can’t, the Steelers have excellent depth at the position with Jaylen Samuels a dynamic playmaker as well. San Francisco came up with a nice blowout win in Cincinnati last week, moving to a surprising 2-0 on the season. Let’s not get carried away with that result, however, as the Bengals figure to be a bottom-tier team. The Steelers aren’t about to completely shut down the 49ers offense on the road this week, but I do look for them to bounce back from consecutive awful performances against the Patriots and Seahawks in what was certainly a difficult two-game slate to open the campaign. Simply put, we’re being given too many points in a game that could go either way. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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09-22-19 | Saints v. Seahawks -4 | 33-27 | Loss | -110 | 55 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Seattle minus the points over New Orleans at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. New Orleans stays on the west coast for a second straight week after suffering a loss against the Rams in Los Angeles last Sunday afternoon. The Saints will have to go forward without their heart and soul, QB Drew Brees, and that doesn’t bode well as their backups Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill represent a major dropoff in talent (and likely production) as far as I’m concerned. Head coach Sean Payton wouldn’t even confirm that Bridgewater is his starter for this game and that’s not encouraging. Yes, the Saints still have plenty of talent, but this is a tough draw against a Seahawks squad that is off to a terrific start to the season. Seattle’s defensive strength has been against the run in the early going this season, holding the opposition to 3.75 yards per rush. If the Seahawks can keep Saints RB Alvin Kamara in check in this one that will obviously go a long way toward securing a victory. New Orleans hasn’t shown any semblance of a run defense through two games, giving up nearly six yards per rush and things aren’t going to get any easier now that LB Alex Anzalone is sidelined. The Seahawks offensive balance should give the Saints defense fits in this game and it’s hard not to like what we’ve seen from QB Russell Wilson who is off to one of the best starts of his career. He and WR Tyler Lockett are completely in sync right now and the Saints will be hard-pressed to keep them in check here. Take Seattle (10*). |
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09-22-19 | Raiders v. Vikings -8 | Top | 14-34 | Win | 100 | 52 h 43 m | Show |
NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Oakland at 1 pm et on Sunday. Fresh off an ugly loss against the rival Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday this is an ideal ‘get right’ spot for the Vikings back home against the Raiders. Oakland got manhandled by the Chiefs in a game that could have been even more lopsided had Kansas City not taken its foot off the gas last week. Now the Raiders have to travel two time zones east for an early 12 noon local start on Sunday afternoon. There’s not much to get excited about when it comes to the Raiders offense and this is a brutal matchup against what will be a highly-motivated and ultra-talented Vikings defense. Minnesota employs a ‘run-first’ offense to be sure, but that’s fine as RB Dalvin Cook has arguably been the best back in football so far this season. He should have little trouble putting this game away when called upon on Sunday afternoon but before that look for QB Kirk Cousins to bounce back from last week’s no-show in Green Bay with an efficient afternoon under center. Take Minnesota (10*). |
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09-21-19 | Baylor -26 v. Rice | 21-13 | Loss | -105 | 70 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Baylor minus the points over Rice at 7 pm et on Saturday. While we are being asked to lay a lot of points in this game, I believe the line could be even higher. Baylor is off to a perfect 2-0 start, beating up on Stephen F. Austin and Texas-San Antonio to the tune of a combined 119-31 score. Rice might actually be worse than both of those teams. I like the way Baylor has essentially ‘run up the score’ against its first two opponents, scoring three fourth quarter touchdowns despite those two contests having already been completely out of hand. While Rice comes in off physical affairs against Wake Forest and Texas in the last two weeks, Baylor is fresh off its bye week. The Owls “only” lost by 35 points last week against Texas, largely due to the Longhorns simply running out the clock in the last 20+ minutes of the game (they did score a kick return touchdown in the game’s final minute). Save for a strong showing against Army’s option-based offense in Week 1, the Owls haven’t had any luck slowing opposing offenses. They particularly struggle against teams that can air it out and Baylor certainly falls in that category. Note that over its last two games, Rice has allowed opposing quarterbacks to go 49-of-61 passing for 650 yards, six touchdowns an no interceptions. Baylor QB Charlie Brewer is still rounding into form but has already thrown for six touchdowns an no interceptions through two games. His efficiency will only improve (he’s 33-of-47 passing for 362 yards so far) and I fully expect to see him dominate the Owls secondary in this contest. Take Baylor (10*). |
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09-16-19 | Browns -6 v. Jets | 23-3 | Win | 100 | 22 h 0 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday. This is essentially a must-win game for the Browns facing a Jets squad that will be missing its starting quarterback Sam Darnold among others. While New York does still have some upside with RB Le'Veon Bell cleared to play after undergoing an MRI on his shoulder last week, we can count on the Browns focusing their entire defensive gameplan on taking Bell away and forcing backup QB Trevor Siemian to beat them. Note that Bell played 100% of the snaps in the Jets Week 1 loss against Buffalo. It's hard to say if he'll be as explosive here given he didn't play a single snap a year ago. Cleveland's offensive line is terrible. Let's get that straight. I do believe we'll see QB Baker Mayfield turn in a strong bounce-back performance here, however, as his terrific wide receiving corps should have a field day against a weak Jets secondary. RB Nick Chubb is more than capable of putting this game away against an undermanned Jets run defense that is missing a couple of key cogs in C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams. Take Cleveland (10*). |
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09-15-19 | Chiefs -7 v. Raiders | Top | 28-10 | Win | 101 | 19 h 5 m | Show |
AFC West Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Oakland at 4:05 pm et on Sunday. We won with the ‘over’ in the Chiefs season-opening win in Jacksonville and I won’t hesitate to get involved in their Week 2 game as well, laying the points in this spot. Kansas City looked every bit as dominant offensively as it did a year ago last week against the Jaguars, putting up 40 points without barely breaking a sweat. With that being said, the news wasn’t all good as the Chiefs did lose WR Tyreek Hill to an injury that will cost him at least a month of action. It’s obviously not the end of the world, however, as Kansas City is by no means short on offensive depth. WR Sammy Watkins turned in one of the best performances of Week 1 and now it might just be rookie WR Mecole Hardman’s turn to bust out. Regardless how the Chiefs choose to attack the Raiders defense, I’m confident they’ll have plenty of success, noting that they scored 75 points in two meetings with Oakland last season. The Raiders are coming off a win but I certainly didn’t come away overly impressed as they were essentially handed that game by the Broncos, who simply didn’t show up. QB Derek Carr was efficient in the win but again relied on a slow-paced, conservative offensive gameplan – something that simply isn’t going to translate success against a Chiefs squad that can seemingly score at will. Oakland’s Monday night victory was probably the best thing we could have hoped for as it helps to keep this line in check. The Chiefs have blowout potential most weeks and this one is no exception. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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09-14-19 | Air Force +4 v. Colorado | Top | 30-23 | Win | 100 | 73 h 41 m | Show |
CFB Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on Air Force plus the points over Colorado at 1 pm et on Saturday. Air Force got a nice tune-up for this game last week as it rolled to a 48-7 win over Colgate in its season-opener. Not surprisingly, an offense that returns most of the talent from last year’s squad put together a touchdown drive just over four minutes into the game and then added four more in the second quarter. The Falcons held Colgate off the scoreboard entirely until the final 10 seconds of the third quarter. Colorado pulled a minor upset of Nebraska at home last week, rallying back from a 17-0 halftime deficit. I can’t help but feel a letdown could be in order here, however. Note that the Buffaloes didn’t find the end zone until the final two minutes of the third quarter in that game and then things essentially turned on a complete defensive breakdown by Nebraska in the first minute of the fourth quarter, as K.D. Nixon hauled in a 96-yard touchdown pass. The Falcons were awful against the pass last season but do return experience in the secondary and they’ll certainly be on guard against the Buffaloes strength, which is their passing game, in this one. Take Air Force (10*). |
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09-09-19 | Broncos -2 v. Raiders | 16-24 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 48 m | Show | |
My selection is on Denver minus the points over Oakland at 10:15 pm et on Monday. The Raiders are saying all the right things after releasing Antonio Brown on Saturday, suggesting they're better off without all the drama Brown had stirred up. It's all smoke and mirrors as far as I'm concerned though. This is a bad Raiders squad, and one that gets considerably worse without Brown. Oakland will have little hope of keeping QB Derek Carr upright without their two starting guards, especially considering they'll be facing the Broncos vaunted pass rush led by sophomore Bradley Chubb and all-world Von Miller. I don't have a great deal of faith in QB Joe Flacco at this stage of his career but I also don't think he'll be asked to do too much for Denver on Monday night, or this season in general. Look for the Broncos to grind away on offense while their defense takes care of the rest, earning them a key AFC West win to open the season. Take Denver (10*). |
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09-08-19 | Steelers +6 v. Patriots | Top | 3-33 | Loss | -108 | 79 h 15 m | Show |
NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over New England at 8:20 pm et on Sunday. This really is the start of a new era for the Pittsburgh Steelers with both RB Le'Veon Bell and WR Antonio Brown join new teams in the offseason. It's a fresh start for the franchise as far as I'm concerned and while they've certainly struggled here in New England over the years, I am confident they can give the Patriots all they can handle to open the 2019 season. With WR JuJu Smith-Schuster being shadowed by Pats CB Stephon Gilmore I expect the Steelers offense to center around RB James Conner in this game. He was used sparingly in the preseason but looked even stronger than he did during his breakout campaign in the absence of Bell last year. The Patriots certainly aren't immune to slow starts (remember they lost their home opener against the Chiefs following their Super Bowl win two years ago). I'm high on the Steelers defense entering this season and look for them to give Tom Brady some headaches on Sunday night. It's worth noting that New England's usually rock solid offensive line has suffered a couple of key losses and will have its work cut out for it trying to keep the Steelers vaunted pass rush at bay. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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09-08-19 | Giants v. Cowboys -7 | 17-35 | Win | 100 | 76 h 32 m | Show | |
My selection is on Dallas minus the points over New York at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. I'm confident that the Cowboys will absolutely go off offensively against what projects to be a bad Giants defense on Sunday afternoon. On the flip side, the Dallas defense will get to tee off on Giants QB Eli Manning - quite possibly for the last time as rookie Daniel Jones is ready to take over the starting job at a moment's notice. Giants fans may hold out hope that Saquon Barkley can keep them competitive in this Week 1 NFC East showdown but should the G-Men fall behind early, he'll undoubtedly be relegated to pass catching duty against the Cowboys zone. I'm generally not all that high on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense but I'm certainly willing to make an exception here. Prescott should be given all the time he wants to operate with the Giants pass rush a non-factor (especially after losing Olivier Vernon in the offseason). Zeke may be back but you can count on rookie preseason standout Tony Pollard getting some action here as well, and I'm confident both Cowboys backs will produce and ultimately put this one away with time to spare. Take Dallas (10*). |
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09-08-19 | Ravens -6.5 v. Dolphins | 59-10 | Win | 100 | 72 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday. We’ve seen a considerable adjustment to the spread in this game since opening but I’m not sure the oddsmakers can set the line high enough. The Dolphins may not plan on ‘tanking’ (according to rookie head coach Brian Flores) but you wouldn’t know it by the fire sale they’ve employed in recent weeks. This is a team largely void of top-level talent at all skill positions on offense and supported by a defense that just isn’t going to be very good. Meanwhile, the Ravens ceiling is extremely high this year with a number of key players on both sides of the football set up well for breakout seasons. This is the perfect matchup for Baltimore to tee things up as QB Lamar Jackson and the offense should have little trouble controlling proceedings and ultimately putting this game away in the second half. Take Baltimore (10*). |
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09-08-19 | Redskins v. Eagles -10 | 27-32 | Loss | -104 | 72 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Eagles defense should absolutely feast on an overmatched Redskins offense on Sunday afternoon. It’s hard to figure the logic behind starting Case Keenum under center given his recent track record, and the lack of talented offensive weapons around him. The Redskins are very much ‘hoping for the best’ until rookie Dwayne Haskins can take over the starting job. This is a nightmarish matchup for an extremely weak Washington offensive line as perhaps no team can bring the heat on opposing quarterbacks like the Eagles defensive front. Eagles QB Carson Wentz is set up to get off to a terrific start here. While the Redskins have a couple of studs in the secondary, they can’t cover everyone and I certainly anticipate Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson having big games on Sunday afternoon. It’s highly likely that the Eagles defense will be setting their offense up with short fields all day long, and I’m confident we’ll see Wentz take full advantage. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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09-07-19 | Central Florida -9.5 v. Florida Atlantic | 48-14 | Win | 100 | 80 h 15 m | Show | |
My selection is on UCF minus the points over Florida Atlantic at 7 pm et on Saturday. This matchup was no contest a year ago as the Knights rolled to a 56-36 win over FAU. This time around, I look for a much better performance from the UCF defense as it once again disposes of the Owls without much trouble. The Knights couldn’t have looked much better than they did in last week’s 62-0 rout of FCS squad Florida A&M. They were ahead 55-0 before two minutes had expired in the third quarter. While they’ll definitely get a tougher matchup from Lane Kiffin’s Owls, I’m confident they’ll be up for the challenge and like the fact that they’re hitting the road to avoid any sort of letdown here. FAU fell behind 28-0 just over midway through the first quarter against Ohio State last week and didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter in an eventual 45-21 loss. While the Owls probably aren’t as bad as they looked in that mismatch, this isn’t the ‘get right’ matchup they need in Week 2. Even if their defense holds up better than it did against UCF last year, I’m not convinced their offense can score enough to stay inside this reasonable number. Take UCF (10*). |
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09-07-19 | Texas A&M v. Clemson -17 | Top | 10-24 | Loss | -110 | 77 h 10 m | Show |
CFB Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Texas A&M at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. We won with Clemson in its rout of Georgia Tech last week and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the Tigers again in a tougher matchup (on paper) against Texas A&M this Saturday. It wasn’t a completely clean effort from the Tigers last week by any means, yet they still managed to win by a 38-point margin. I certainly expect QB Trevor Lawrence to be sharper after completing just 13-of-23 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns a week ago. The Aggies will undoubtedly have Clemson’s full attention after the Tigers narrowly escaped with a 28-26 win in last year’s meeting. Last week, Texas A&M rolled to a 41-7 win after jumping ahead 28-0 at halftime but that was against one of the worst teams in FBS in Texas State. With experienced QB Kellen Mond leading a tremendous offense I think the Aggies will get baited into a shootout here, but I don’t believe that serves them well. I ultimately expect the Tigers defense to pin back its ears and get after Mond while its offense does the rest, as it cruises to a comfortable victory. Take Clemson (10*). |
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09-07-19 | Southern Miss v. Mississippi State -16.5 | 15-38 | Win | 100 | 77 h 6 m | Show | |
My selection is on Mississippi State minus the points over Southern Miss at 3:30 pm et on Saturday. I’ll lay the points with the Bulldogs in this one as they look for a sharper performance after escaping with a 38-28 win at Louisiana-Lafayette last week. There were certainly defensive concerns, particularly in the fourth quarter after they thought they had put the game away sporting a 35-14 lead. I see this as a more favorable matchup at home against Southern Miss. The Eagles are fresh off a 38-10 rout of FCS squad Alcorn State last Saturday. Keep in mind, they didn’t manage a single offensive touchdown until nearly seven minutes into the third quarter in that game, and that came only thanks to a defensive breakdown from Alcorn State (55-yard touchdown pass). Jaylond Adams ran back a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in that contest. I’m higher on Mississippi State than most and don’t mind laying two-plus touchdowns in its home opener against a C-USA opponent. Take Mississippi State (10*). |
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08-31-19 | Oregon v. Auburn -3 | Top | 21-27 | Win | 100 | 94 h 18 m | Show |
CFB Game of the Month. My selection is on Auburn minus the points over Oregon at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. It's another hyped-up Pac-12 vs. SEC matchup as Oregon looks to stage the upset against Auburn on Saturday night. I wouldn't count on that happening, however. The Ducks have the projected first quarterback to be taken in the 2020 NFL Draft in Justin Herbert. With that being said, he'll be facing a major challenge here in an Auburn defense that is once again loaded with talent. I actually think it will be the Auburn offense that really shines in this matchup, however. The Tigers offensive line boasts five seniors and that should make all the difference in the world for an offense that sputtered in 2018. QB Jarrett Stidham is now a New England Patriot, and the Tigers will go with true freshman Bo Nix as their starter. Head coach Gus Malzahn has indicated that he won't hold anything back in the playbook with Nix at the helm, and I tend to believe him. Nix walks into an ideal situation with a loaded backfield, not to mention a hungry and talented wide receiver corps. The matchup is fine as the Ducks are certainly beatable defensively. The question will be whether the Tigers defense can weather the early storm and ultimately take control of this game. I believe they can and will and just like last year, we'll open our season with a big winner on Auburn. Take Auburn (10*). |
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08-31-19 | Georgia Southern +28 v. LSU | 3-55 | Loss | -110 | 94 h 22 m | Show | |
My selection is on Georgia Southern plus the points over LSU at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. I'll take a flyer on Georgia Southern on Saturday night as it heads to the Bayou to tangle with LSU. Style points don't matter one bit in this season-opening non-conference matchup for the Tigers. With Texas on deck there's really no reason to leave it all on the field and throttle the Eagles. Keep in mind, Georgia Southern went into Death Valley and lost by 31 points against Clemson last year, and that was three weeks into the season, when the Tigers had already gotten rolling. In that game, the Eagles held Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence to just 12-of-19 passing for 194 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Georgia Southern actually gained less than two yards per rush in that contest, but still controlled the football for over 31 minutes. The Eagles return plenty of talent on both sides of the football and their option-based offense should be able to effectively shorten this game and help keep within arm's reach of the loaded Tigers. Take Georgia Southern (10*). |
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08-31-19 | Virginia v. Pittsburgh +2.5 | 30-14 | Loss | -100 | 93 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Virginia at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. Virginia is coming off a rare winning season in 2018 - its first winning campaign since 2011 and prior to that you would have to go back to 2007 to find the last time it posted more wins than losses. Meanwhile, Pitt quietly has a pretty good thing going under Pat Narduzzi with just one losing season in its last four. I really don't think there's a lot separating these two teams, just as there wasn't last year when Pitt went on the road in sloppy conditions and delivered a 23-13 win. You would have to go back to 2014 to find the last time the Cavaliers beat the Panthers and that was as a five-point home favorite. I think Pitt has just enough to prevail here, and love the line shift we've seen leading up to the game. Take Pittsburgh (10*). |
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08-31-19 | Boise State +5 v. Florida State | 36-31 | Win | 100 | 87 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boise State plus the points over Florida State at 7 pm et on Saturday. I simply feel that too much respect is being given to Florida State, not to mention the benefit of the doubt following a disappointing 5-7 campaign a year ago. Maybe the Seminoles get off to a much different start than we saw from them last year, but I certainly don't expect them to cruise against a perennial powerhouse like Boise State. As is the case with any elite program, there's plenty of shuffling and re-stocking of the cupboard to be done in Boise. But I like where the Broncos are at following last year's 10-3 campaign. In fact, the Broncos are now an incredible 31-9 over the last three years. The biggest question is whether true freshman QB Hank Bachmeier can step in and fill the shoes left by now-Denver Broncos Brett Rypien. Bachmeier will have plenty of talent around him and I'm confident he'll be able to guide the offense to great heights again this year. He won't be asked to do a ton in this particular matchup. Look for the Boise State talented defense to be what keeps the Broncos in this one from start to finish. Take Boise State (10*). |
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08-29-19 | Georgia Tech v. Clemson -36 | 14-52 | Win | 100 | 47 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Georgia Tech at 8 pm et on Thursday. This may seem like a very lofty pointspread given the fact the Tigers haven't sniffed out a win of this magnitude against Georgia Tech over the years. But here's the thing; the Yellow Jackets controlled the football for over 36 minutes thanks to their option offense in this matchup last year - and still lost by 28 points! Now they're moving to a more pro-style offense (while also changing their defensive scheme) and I don't think it bodes well as they open the season in Death Valley on Thursday night. The Tigers obviously lose plenty of talent to the NFL after a season that culminated with a dominating victory over Alabama in the National Championship Game (we won with Clemson in that one). That's nothing new, however, and the cupboard is still without question well-stocked. It may take a little bit of time for the offense to really get rolling, but I'm confident we'll see the Tigers eventually run away and hide in this one. I'm not sure the oddsmakers can set the line high enough. Take Clemson (10*). |
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08-29-19 | UCLA v. Cincinnati -2.5 | 14-24 | Win | 100 | 46 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cincinnati minus the points over UCLA at 7 pm et on Thursday. Bettors seem to be looking to back UCLA in this matchup, perhaps as Cincinnati doesn't appear to be a truly intimidating early season foe for a Pac-12 opponent - even after the Bearcats went on the road and won this matchup a year ago. The fact is, the Bearcats went an impressive 11-2 in their second season under head coach Luke Fickell and I believe they have a lot to build from here in 2019. The offense returns a lot of talent from last year's squad and should have little trouble exposing a weak UCLA defense. While the Bearcats do lose a lot from last year's impressive defensive unit, the jury is still out as to whether the Bruins offense can take full advantage. UCLA starting QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson has received a lot of praise but last year completed just 57% of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions while gaining only 1.4 yards per rush. I'm not convinced that Chip Kelly is the answer for the Bruins. The line indicates a virtual toss-up and while it may very well turn out to be that, I like my chances laying the small number with a Bearcats squad that has to feel a little disrespected right out of the gates. Take Cincinnati (10*). |
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08-25-19 | Steelers v. Titans -3 | 18-6 | Loss | -110 | 108 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Tennessee minus the points over Pittsburgh at 8 pm et on Sunday. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel certainly doesn’t boast a positive preseason track record at 1-5 ATS but we’re obviously dealing with a very small sample size. Last week there were plenty of positives for Vrabel to take away, even in a 22-17 loss to the Patriots. Keep in mind, the Pats have put a strong emphasis on preparing the right way and winning on the road this August after going 3-5 away from home last regular season. I’m not really going to fault the Titans for that hard-fought loss that really could have gone either way last week. The Steelers check in a perfect 2-0 this August but under the guidance of Mike Tomlin, they’re still a losing preseason bet long-term having gone 25-26-1 ATS. We’re not likely going to see the traditional ‘Week 3 dress rehearsal’ gameplan from the Steelers as they’ve generally treated Ben Roethlisberger with kit gloves in the month of August. I simply feel this one means a little more to the Titans at home, and they’re being favored for a reason. Take Tennessee (10*). |
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08-24-19 | Hamilton v. BC +4 | Top | 13-10 | Win | 100 | 85 h 20 m | Show |
CFL Game of the Week. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Hamilton at 10 pm et on Saturday. We won with the Lions in the first matchup between these two teams this season and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as the scene shifts to Vancouver on Saturday night. There's no question the Lions have had this rematch circled after blowing a huge fourth quarter lead in that narrow 35-34 loss in Hamilton two weeks ago. The Lions were in a tough spot last week, playing on limited rest, and ultimately fell in blowout fashion, but not before putting up a fight for a half. B.C. gave up an early first quarter touchdown in that game but actually held the Bombers out of the end zone until late in the third quarter after that. Here, they'll face a Ti-Cats offense that is still without its best player in QB Jeremiah Masoli. Backup Dane Evans has done an admirable job filling in for Masoli, but has also been turnover prone, tossing four interceptions compared to five touchdowns. Hamilton has played it fairly close to the vest with Evans under center and that doesn't work particularly well here in a road favorite role traveling across the country off an easy win in Ottawa. Take B.C. (10*). |
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08-24-19 | Cardinals v. Vikings -7 | 9-20 | Win | 100 | 77 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Arizona at 1 pm et on Saturday. While I do expect the Cardinals offense and rookie QB Kyler Murray in particular to perform better than they did in last week’s loss to the Raiders, I’m not convinced their defense can do anything to slow down the Vikings on Saturday afternoon in Minnesota. The Vikings have a tremendous preseason track record under head coach Mike Zimmer, having gone a perfect 2-0 SU and ATS this August and 16-7 ATS since he took over the job. As I’ve mentioned in my analysis of ‘over’ plays on the Vikings first two preseason affairs, they have a sneaky-good preseason QB rotation with Kyle Sloter and Sean Mannion following Kirk Cousins. Both Sloter and Mannion have excelled through two games and in Sloter’s case he’s been a bonafide preseason stud going back to last year as well. I don’t believe there’s any reason to expect a letdown from the Vikings here as they stay home for a second straight game before closing things out in Buffalo next week. This is a lofty pointspread by preseason standards, but it’s warranted in my opinion. Take Minnesota (10*). |
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08-23-19 | Winnipeg v. Edmonton -6.5 | 34-28 | Loss | -107 | 60 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Edmonton minus the points over Winnipeg at 9 pm et on Friday. I'll lay the points with the Eskimos as they host the banged-up Blue Bombers on Friday night. Winnipeg will be forced to go without QB Matt Nichols after he suffered an injury in last week's win over B.C. While Chris Streveler is a fine backup and more of a dual-threat, much of his success came when opponents didn't have tape on him early last season. I'm confident the Eskimos will come up with a gameplan to slow Streveler and the Bombers offense here. It's also worth noting that Bombers RB Andrew Harris is dealing with an elbow injury. Edmonton had a true 'get right' performance last week, as its offense finally broke out in a 41-26 win over the Argos. Expect some carry-over from that game here as the Esks roll past the Bombers. Take Edmonton (10*). |
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08-22-19 | Packers -3 v. Raiders | 21-22 | Loss | -107 | 36 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Oakland at 8 pm et on Thursday. Note that this game will be played north of the border in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If anything that should give the Packers a bit of a home field advantage in terms of fan support (even if this game isn’t well-attended as has been speculated). Green Bay’s gameplan got shifted somewhat last-minute with QB Aaron Rodgers sitting due to a minor injury against the Ravens last week. The Packers ultimately lost that game so come into this one sporting an even 1-1 mark. Rodgers isn’t likely to see a great deal of action in this game either but that’s ok for our purposes as QB Tim Boyle has plenty of preseason upside and has thrown for three touchdowns and 147 yards on just 15 completions through two games. The Raiders took advantage of a depleted Cardinals defense last week to improve to a perfect 2-0 in the preseason. I expect Oakland to face a tougher challenge here, noting that its other victory came over a Rams squad that has looked generally disinterested in winning in the month of August this year. The Raiders have got terrific quarterback play from veteran Mike Glennon in particular so far, but I see his run ending here (Derek Carr and the rest of the Raiders regular starters should see extended action). Take Green Bay (10*). |
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08-22-19 | Panthers +3.5 v. Patriots | Top | 3-10 | Loss | -105 | 35 h 27 m | Show |
NFLX Game of the Year. My selection is on Carolina plus the points over New England at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. We’ve won with the Patriots in each of the last two weeks, taking full advantage of the fact that they’ve placed a strong emphasis on preparing the right way and winning on the road in this year’s preseason after going a disappointing 3-5 on the road last regular season. Now New England returns home as a favorite against the Panthers, but I simply don’t believe that Bill Bellichick is going to put a lot of stock in whether it picks up a win or suffers its first loss of the exhibition campaign – even if it is the traditional ‘Week 3 dress rehearsal’ game. The Panthers are coming off an ugly 27-14 home loss to the Bills last week, which came on the heels of a 23-13 win in Chicago to open the preseason. We didn’t see many of the Panthers regular starters in last week’s contest but that should change this week. Note that even after last week’s loss, the Panthers have posted a respectable 18-15-1 ATS record in the preseason under head coach Ron Rivera. Take Carolina (10*). |
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08-17-19 | Lions v. Texans -4 | Top | 23-30 | Win | 100 | 107 h 31 m | Show |
NFLX Game of the Week. My selection is on Houston minus the points over Detroit at 8 pm et on Saturday. I really like the way this one sets up for the favored Texans as they try to bounce back from last week’s ‘not as close as it looked’ 28-26 loss in Green Bay. First of all, the Lions are now 1-4 ATS in the preseason since Matt Patricia took over last year. They were a complete no-show in last week’s blowout loss to the Patriots. I don’t see this as an ideal bounce-back spot against an equally hungry Texans squad coming off a loss. Detroit will likely give plenty of time to Tom Savage and David Fales under center again this week, which doesn’t bode well for its offense after they combined to complete 7-of-17 passes for only 102 yards and an interception last week. The Texans have a proven preseason performer at quarterback in Joe Webb. He threw for 286 yards and a touchdown to go along with a pair of interceptions and also ran for 47 yards on six carries last week. Credit Houston for not folding the tent after falling behind 28-10 entering the fourth quarter last week, putting up 16 unanswered points in the game’s final 14 minutes. Note that the Texans are 12-7-1 ATS under Bill O’Brien in the preseason. Take Houston (10*). |
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08-17-19 | Patriots -3 v. Titans | 22-17 | Win | 100 | 105 h 13 m | Show | |
My selection is on New England minus the points over Tennessee at 7 pm et on Saturday. I'll lay the points again with the Patriots this week as they once again put an emphasis on winning on the road after going 3-5 away from home during the regular season last year. Last week's blowout win over the Lions was never in doubt and while this one isn't likely to be as lopsided, I still believe we'll see New England win and cover. Even without Tom Brady on the field, the Pats suddenly have a solid QB rotation by preseason standards with veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie Jarrett Stidham. Stidham in particular stood out last week, throw for 179 yards on 14 pass completions while also adding a touchdown. Even with the Titans win in Philadelphia last week, they're still just 1-4 ATS in the preseason under the guidance of former Patriot Mike Vrabel. Bill Bellichick's excellent preseason track record with the Pats is well-known. Look for him to school another former subject here. Take New England (10*). |
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08-10-19 | Cowboys v. 49ers -4.5 | Top | 9-17 | Win | 100 | 24 h 14 m | Show |
NFLX Game of the Week. My selection is on San Francisco minus the points over Dallas at 9 pm et on Saturday. The 49ers are laying more than the standard field goal here in their home preseason opener on Saturday night, largely due to the fact that two experienced quarterbacks in Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard are expected to split time and play the majority of the game. I believe the line is warranted and look for the Niners to ultimately pull away for the win and cover. Keep in mind, last year the Niners needed a 14-point fourth quarter rally to defeat the Cowboys by a 24-21 score in this same matchup in Week 1 of the preseason. Beathard and Mullens each threw an interception in that game. The fact is, the Cowboys offense didn't do much, and I don't expect much different of a story to play out here. The difference is the 49ers QB duo are more experienced and should be able to take care of the football. While I'm not necessarily on board with the thinking that the Niners will be much improved this season (I have a lot of questions about their defense), I do expect them to prevail here. Take San Francisco (10*). |
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08-10-19 | BC +11 v. Hamilton | 34-35 | Win | 100 | 22 h 14 m | Show | |
My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Saturday. The Lions have been absolutely dreadful this season but I believe they're being given way too many points as they travel across the country to face the Ti-Cats on Saturday. Keep in mind, Hamilton has already lost its starting QB Jeremiah Masoli to injury. Without him, it struggled to accomplish anything offensively last week in Calgary. Now the Ti-Cats are being asked to lay double-digits. The Lions are actually one of the healthiest teams in the league and they're coming off their bye week. RB Brandon Rutley will miss, but other than that, they've got away generally unscathed. We don't need an outright win from the Lions here, or anything close. I believe QB Mike Reilly will will them into a ball game on Saturday night. Take B.C. (10*). |
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08-09-19 | Ottawa v. Edmonton -8.5 | Top | 12-16 | Loss | -110 | 25 h 10 m | Show |
CFL Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton minus the points over Ottawa at 10 pm et on Friday. Bettors will likely be hesitant to back the Eskimos here after they fell as a road favorite in Calgary last week, not to mention the Redblacks overtime victory in Montreal. With that being said, I see this as a smash spot for the Eskimos offense against a very beatable Redblacks defense. Edmonton QB Trevor Harris continues to light it up even if his offense has been somewhat snake-bitten as far as finding the end zone goes. Harris threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns in last week's narrow loss to the Stamps. The Redblacks didn't score an offensive touchdown until the third quarter against the Alouettes last week. They've had a tough time with consistency on offense due in large part to a depleted backfield that has seen a lot of moving parts. RB Mossis Madu remains sidelined. When these two teams squared off in Edmonton last year, the Eskimos pasted the Redblacks 34-16. Trevor Harris will certainly be highly-motivated to hand it to his former squad. The Eskimos are 3-4 ATS on the season but 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS at home, where they've won their last two games by a combined 65-23 score. Take Edmonton (10*). |
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08-08-19 | Patriots -1 v. Lions | 31-3 | Win | 100 | 9 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on New England minus the points over Detroit at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. All indications are that the Patriots are putting an emphasis on winning this week's preseason opener in Detroit, or as much of an emphasis as you can expect for an exhibition game anyway. After going 3-5 away from home last season, New England is focused on preparing the right way and delivering a complete performance against the Lions. I don't expect Bill Bellichick to make anything easy on his former defensive coordinator - now Lions head coach Matt Patricia. There's never a whole lot to go on this early in the preseason, but here I do expect to see the Pats put their best foot forward. Take New England (10*). |
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07-27-19 | Saskatchewan v. BC +3.5 | Top | 45-18 | Loss | -114 | 97 h 59 m | Show |
CFL Game of the Year. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday. Saskatchewan defeated B.C. just last week but that was a strange game as the Lions actually outgained the Riders in terms of total yardage and had a decisive edge in first downs as well. Save for a stinker against the Eskimos two weeks ago, Lions QB Mike Reilly has looked more and more comfortable running the offense, last week completing 31-of-40 passes for 346 yards while also running for 32 yards and a score. RB Brandon Rutley enjoyed a breakout performance of sorts against the Riders, running for 73 yards on 13 carries. While the Lions did give up a whopping 38 points in last week's loss, they actually held the Riders offense out of the end zone from just over midway through the first quarter until the final two minutes of the third quarter. Things came unglued in the fourth quarter but B.C. can hang its hat on the fact that it allowed Riders QB Cody Fajardo to complete only 17 passes and picked him off twice. Outside of that victory, Saskatchewan's only other win this season came against the lowly Argos, who are arguably worse than the Lions. B.C. has now outgained three of its last four opponents and I believe it's only a matter of time before it all comes together for this squad. While Saskatchewan has owned this series recently, it's been a long time since the Riders were last favored in a game played here in Vancouver. I simply feel the oddsmakers are undervaluing what will be a desperate Lions squad on Saturday. Take B.C. (10*). |
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07-23-19 | Cubs v. Giants +1.5 | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 9 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on San Francisco +1.5 runs over Chicago at 9:45 pm et on Tuesday. I have no problem paying the tariff to back the Giants plus an insurance run as they continue their series with the Cubs on Tuesday night. Factoring in the +1.5 run-line, the Giants are now 13-1 over their last 14 games and 24-5 over their last 29 games going back to June 20th. We have a terrific pitching matchup on tap tonight with Yu Darvish going for the Cubs against Madison Bumgarner of the Giants. I do feel that Bumgarner has a bit of a motivational edge here as he tries to help the Giants into the Wild Card hunt while also potentially auditioning for other teams prior to the trade deadline. Behind Bumgarner is one of the best bullpens in the league. With San Francisco suddenly heating up at the dish as well, I'm willing to back them even off a win in the opener of this series last night. Take San Francisco +1.5 runs (10*). |
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07-18-19 | Toronto v. Calgary -11.5 | 16-26 | Loss | -108 | 32 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Calgary minus the points over Toronto at 9 pm et on Thursday. The Argos are off to one of the worst starts we've seen in recent CFL memory and I don't envision a turnaround in Calgary on Thursday night. Toronto lost by "only" 27 points last week in Winnipeg but the damage could have been far worse were it not for the Blue Bombers taking their foot off the gas at halftime. Winnipeg jumped ahead 31-0 before the Argos staged a mini-rally (if we can even call it that) in that game. While Toronto's offense has shown some improvement, it will run into a tough opponent in Calgary this week. The Stampeders have been doing an excellent job of getting after opposing quarterbacks, racking up nine sacks over their last two games alone. While they did give up 30 points in a loss in Hamilton last week, they actually held Ti-Cats Jeremiah Masoli to under 200 yards passing and limited the Hamilton ground game to fewer than 70 rushing yards. They should feast on a one-dimensional Argos offense that hasn't shown any ability whatsoever to run the football. Offensively, the Stamps aren't at full strength with QB Bo Levi Mitchell and RB Don Jackson sidelined. QB Nick Arbuckle did settle in last week, however, throwing for 368 yards on 24 pass completions. There's reason to believe they'll be able to get their ground game going here as well, considering Toronto is allowing over six yards per rush this season. Take Calgary (10*). |
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Sean Murphy ALL Sports Sides Picks
Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11-17-19 | Winnipeg +3.5 v. Saskatchewan | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 79 h 55 m | Show | |
11-17-19 | Edmonton v. Hamilton -5 | 16-36 | Win | 100 | 75 h 21 m | Show | |
11-17-19 | Texans v. Ravens -4 | 7-41 | Win | 100 | 16 h 49 m | Show | |
11-16-19 | UCLA v. Utah -21 | 3-49 | Win | 100 | 10 h 53 m | Show | |
11-16-19 | Minnesota v. Iowa -3 | 19-23 | Win | 100 | 6 h 5 m | Show | |
11-16-19 | Troy -6.5 v. Texas State | Top | 63-27 | Win | 100 | 28 h 3 m | Show |
11-15-19 | Celtics -7.5 v. Warriors | Top | 105-100 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 59 m | Show |
11-14-19 | Steelers +3 v. Browns | Top | 7-21 | Loss | -116 | 12 h 20 m | Show |
11-14-19 | Buffalo -5.5 v. Kent State | 27-30 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 52 m | Show | |
11-11-19 | Seahawks +6.5 v. 49ers | 27-24 | Win | 100 | 35 h 9 m | Show | |
11-10-19 | Vikings v. Cowboys -3 | 28-24 | Loss | -124 | 11 h 24 m | Show | |
11-10-19 | Giants v. Jets +3 | Top | 27-34 | Win | 100 | 15 h 44 m | Show |
11-09-19 | Tennessee v. Kentucky -1 | 17-13 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 33 m | Show | |
11-09-19 | LSU v. Alabama -5.5 | 46-41 | Loss | -110 | 18 h 17 m | Show | |
11-08-19 | Washington v. Oregon State +10.5 | 19-7 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 15 m | Show | |
11-07-19 | Chargers v. Raiders | Top | 24-26 | Loss | -123 | 25 h 31 m | Show |
11-06-19 | Bucks +1 v. Clippers | 129-124 | Win | 100 | 14 h 47 m | Show | |
11-05-19 | Kent State v. Toledo -6.5 | 33-35 | Loss | -115 | 8 h 28 m | Show | |
11-04-19 | Cowboys -6.5 v. Giants | 37-18 | Win | 100 | 14 h 31 m | Show | |
11-03-19 | Browns v. Broncos +4.5 | 19-24 | Win | 100 | 21 h 43 m | Show | |
11-03-19 | Packers v. Chargers +4 | 11-26 | Win | 100 | 21 h 36 m | Show | |
11-03-19 | Jets -3 v. Dolphins | Top | 18-26 | Loss | -117 | 17 h 24 m | Show |
11-02-19 | Texas State v. UL-Lafayette -22.5 | 3-31 | Win | 100 | 19 h 28 m | Show | |
11-02-19 | Marshall -11.5 v. Rice | 20-7 | Win | 100 | 18 h 60 m | Show | |
11-02-19 | Old Dominion v. Florida International -17.5 | Top | 17-24 | Loss | -105 | 15 h 34 m | Show |
10-31-19 | 49ers v. Cardinals +10.5 | 28-25 | Win | 100 | 13 h 3 m | Show | |
10-30-19 | Pacers v. Nets -3.5 | 118-108 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 42 m | Show | |
10-29-19 | Grizzlies v. Lakers -11.5 | 91-120 | Win | 100 | 12 h 30 m | Show | |
10-27-19 | Packers v. Chiefs +5 | 31-24 | Loss | -102 | 26 h 23 m | Show | |
10-27-19 | Raiders v. Texans -6 | Top | 24-27 | Loss | -109 | 23 h 34 m | Show |
10-27-19 | Jets +7.5 v. Jaguars | Top | 15-29 | Loss | -140 | 20 h 35 m | Show |
10-27-19 | Bengals v. Rams -11 | 10-24 | Win | 100 | 19 h 25 m | Show | |
10-26-19 | Texas State v. Arkansas State -11 | Top | 14-38 | Win | 100 | 29 h 18 m | Show |
10-25-19 | Jazz +3 v. Lakers | 86-95 | Loss | -105 | 25 h 47 m | Show | |
10-25-19 | USC -11.5 v. Colorado | Top | 35-31 | Loss | -106 | 24 h 45 m | Show |
10-25-19 | Raptors +3 v. Celtics | 106-112 | Loss | -110 | 21 h 29 m | Show | |
10-24-19 | Redskins v. Vikings -15.5 | 9-19 | Loss | -110 | 35 h 51 m | Show | |
10-23-19 | Pistons v. Pacers -7.5 | 119-110 | Loss | -104 | 10 h 54 m | Show | |
10-20-19 | Eagles +3 v. Cowboys | Top | 10-37 | Loss | -120 | 24 h 41 m | Show |
10-20-19 | Jaguars -4 v. Bengals | 27-17 | Win | 100 | 16 h 15 m | Show | |
10-20-19 | Texans v. Colts | Top | 23-30 | Win | 100 | 16 h 8 m | Show |
10-19-19 | Temple v. SMU -7.5 | 21-45 | Win | 100 | 29 h 59 m | Show | |
10-19-19 | Buffalo -17 v. Akron | Top | 21-0 | Win | 100 | 29 h 57 m | Show |
10-17-19 | UL-Lafayette -6 v. Arkansas State | 37-20 | Win | 100 | 22 h 3 m | Show | |
10-14-19 | Lions +4 v. Packers | Top | 22-23 | Win | 100 | 14 h 7 m | Show |
10-12-19 | Florida v. LSU -13 | 28-42 | Win | 100 | 34 h 20 m | Show | |
10-12-19 | Texas Tech v. Baylor -10.5 | Top | 30-33 | Loss | -110 | 30 h 13 m | Show |
10-12-19 | Alabama -17 v. Texas A&M | 47-28 | Win | 100 | 30 h 56 m | Show | |
10-12-19 | Memphis -5 v. Temple | Top | 28-30 | Loss | -105 | 26 h 19 m | Show |
10-12-19 | South Carolina v. Georgia -22.5 | 20-17 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 19 m | Show | |
10-10-19 | UL-Monroe -2.5 v. Texas State | 24-14 | Win | 100 | 83 h 47 m | Show | |
10-10-19 | Giants v. Patriots -16.5 | Top | 14-35 | Win | 100 | 35 h 42 m | Show |
10-06-19 | Patriots -15 v. Redskins | 33-7 | Win | 100 | 27 h 22 m | Show | |
10-05-19 | Michigan State +21 v. Ohio State | 10-34 | Loss | -110 | 29 h 58 m | Show | |
10-05-19 | Tulane v. Army +3 | 42-33 | Loss | -120 | 22 h 41 m | Show | |
10-04-19 | New Mexico +6.5 v. San Jose State | 21-32 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 6 m | Show | |
10-03-19 | Temple -10.5 v. East Carolina | 27-17 | Loss | -105 | 35 h 49 m | Show | |
10-02-19 | Senators v. Maple Leafs -1.5 | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 30 m | Show | |
09-30-19 | Bengals v. Steelers -3 | 3-27 | Win | 100 | 10 h 54 m | Show | |
09-29-19 | Bucs v. Rams -9 | Top | 55-40 | Loss | -102 | 26 h 39 m | Show |
09-29-19 | Chiefs -7 v. Lions | 34-30 | Loss | -105 | 23 h 31 m | Show | |
09-28-19 | Ohio State -17 v. Nebraska | 48-7 | Win | 100 | 22 h 12 m | Show | |
09-28-19 | Kansas State +4.5 v. Oklahoma State | 13-26 | Loss | -105 | 22 h 35 m | Show | |
09-22-19 | Rams -3 v. Browns | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 59 h 34 m | Show | |
09-22-19 | Steelers +7 v. 49ers | 20-24 | Win | 100 | 55 h 52 m | Show | |
09-22-19 | Saints v. Seahawks -4 | 33-27 | Loss | -110 | 55 h 50 m | Show | |
09-22-19 | Raiders v. Vikings -8 | Top | 14-34 | Win | 100 | 52 h 43 m | Show |
09-21-19 | Baylor -26 v. Rice | 21-13 | Loss | -105 | 70 h 50 m | Show | |
09-16-19 | Browns -6 v. Jets | 23-3 | Win | 100 | 22 h 0 m | Show | |
09-15-19 | Chiefs -7 v. Raiders | Top | 28-10 | Win | 101 | 19 h 5 m | Show |
09-14-19 | Air Force +4 v. Colorado | Top | 30-23 | Win | 100 | 73 h 41 m | Show |
09-09-19 | Broncos -2 v. Raiders | 16-24 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 48 m | Show | |
09-08-19 | Steelers +6 v. Patriots | Top | 3-33 | Loss | -108 | 79 h 15 m | Show |
09-08-19 | Giants v. Cowboys -7 | 17-35 | Win | 100 | 76 h 32 m | Show | |
09-08-19 | Ravens -6.5 v. Dolphins | 59-10 | Win | 100 | 72 h 24 m | Show | |
09-08-19 | Redskins v. Eagles -10 | 27-32 | Loss | -104 | 72 h 24 m | Show | |
09-07-19 | Central Florida -9.5 v. Florida Atlantic | 48-14 | Win | 100 | 80 h 15 m | Show | |
09-07-19 | Texas A&M v. Clemson -17 | Top | 10-24 | Loss | -110 | 77 h 10 m | Show |
09-07-19 | Southern Miss v. Mississippi State -16.5 | 15-38 | Win | 100 | 77 h 6 m | Show | |
08-31-19 | Oregon v. Auburn -3 | Top | 21-27 | Win | 100 | 94 h 18 m | Show |
08-31-19 | Georgia Southern +28 v. LSU | 3-55 | Loss | -110 | 94 h 22 m | Show | |
08-31-19 | Virginia v. Pittsburgh +2.5 | 30-14 | Loss | -100 | 93 h 30 m | Show | |
08-31-19 | Boise State +5 v. Florida State | 36-31 | Win | 100 | 87 h 45 m | Show | |
08-29-19 | Georgia Tech v. Clemson -36 | 14-52 | Win | 100 | 47 h 29 m | Show | |
08-29-19 | UCLA v. Cincinnati -2.5 | 14-24 | Win | 100 | 46 h 19 m | Show | |
08-25-19 | Steelers v. Titans -3 | 18-6 | Loss | -110 | 108 h 45 m | Show | |
08-24-19 | Hamilton v. BC +4 | Top | 13-10 | Win | 100 | 85 h 20 m | Show |
08-24-19 | Cardinals v. Vikings -7 | 9-20 | Win | 100 | 77 h 49 m | Show | |
08-23-19 | Winnipeg v. Edmonton -6.5 | 34-28 | Loss | -107 | 60 h 27 m | Show | |
08-22-19 | Packers -3 v. Raiders | 21-22 | Loss | -107 | 36 h 60 m | Show | |
08-22-19 | Panthers +3.5 v. Patriots | Top | 3-10 | Loss | -105 | 35 h 27 m | Show |
08-17-19 | Lions v. Texans -4 | Top | 23-30 | Win | 100 | 107 h 31 m | Show |
08-17-19 | Patriots -3 v. Titans | 22-17 | Win | 100 | 105 h 13 m | Show | |
08-10-19 | Cowboys v. 49ers -4.5 | Top | 9-17 | Win | 100 | 24 h 14 m | Show |
08-10-19 | BC +11 v. Hamilton | 34-35 | Win | 100 | 22 h 14 m | Show | |
08-09-19 | Ottawa v. Edmonton -8.5 | Top | 12-16 | Loss | -110 | 25 h 10 m | Show |
08-08-19 | Patriots -1 v. Lions | 31-3 | Win | 100 | 9 h 33 m | Show | |
07-27-19 | Saskatchewan v. BC +3.5 | Top | 45-18 | Loss | -114 | 97 h 59 m | Show |
07-23-19 | Cubs v. Giants +1.5 | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 9 h 24 m | Show | |
07-18-19 | Toronto v. Calgary -11.5 | 16-26 | Loss | -108 | 32 h 27 m | Show |