MAC Game of the Week. My selection is on Ball State minus the points over Eastern Michigan at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

We missed the mark with Ball State in last week's wild 38-31 loss against defending MAC champion Miami-Ohio but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the Cardinals as they host Eastern Michigan in their home opener this week. Despite the loss, there was a lot to like in Ball State's season debut. Its offense moved the football at will for much of the game, racking up nearly 500 total yards while going 9-of-15 converting on third down. It was ultimately undone by a late interception and some porous offensive line play as it allowed five sacks. I expect the Cardinals to fare better against an Eastern Michigan defense that managed only one sack for two yards in last week's narrow loss to Kent State. The Eagles were fortunate to stay within arm's reach of the Golden Flashes in that game, largely due to a bit of a sloppy performance from Kent State, which committed nine penalties. EMU only managed 302 total yards, including a miserable 61 on the ground. Ball State should be able to win this game in the trenches. It boasts a terrific ground attack led by RB Caleb Huntley, and is more than capable of putting the game away should it build a second half lead, as I expect. Huntley appeared to be in midseason form last week, running for 130 yards and two touchdowns on just 21 carries. Meanwhile, the Cardinals had two wide receivers top 100 yards through the air, despite QB Drew Plitt completing just 19 passes. Take Ball State (10*).

MAC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Akron and Ohio at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

This should be a 'name your score' type of game for Ohio as it looks to bounce back from a 30-27 loss against Central Michigan last week against perennial MAC bottom-feeder Akron. With that being said, I'm not convinced we're going to see a ton of offensive fireworks. The Bobcats did well to put up 27 points in last week's setback, although it's worth noting that seven of those points came by way of a kickoff return for a touchdown. QB Nathan Rourke did it all for Ohio last season but he has since moved on, making way for his younger brother Kurtis, who is really more of a pocket passer and had mixed results in his starting debut last week. Dual-threat UNLV transfer Armani Rogers will continue to see playing time as well - I'm not a big fan of the two-headed QB system but it likely helps the Bobcats churn out some long, clock-churning drives in this one. After getting dominated in terms of time of possession in last week's loss, look for Ohio to flip the script and control this game from the opening kickoff. Akron scored 13 points in last week's blowout loss to Western Michigan. I believe it will be hard-pressed to reach that number again here. The Zips had one of the nation's worst offenses last year and there's little reason for optimism here in a unique 2020 campaign. While we may see Akron put together some lengthy drives against an Ohio defense that is by no means in midseason form (it didn't record a single sack last week), I don't expect it to end many of those drives with points on the board. To get 'over' this total I believe there would have to be solid contributions from both squads - I simply don't see that happening on Tuesday. Take the under (10*).

AFC East Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between New England and New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

I'll go the contrarian route and call for a relatively high-scoring affair as the Patriots head to the Meadowlands to face the hapless Jets on Monday night. New England's offense has been laboring, largely due to QB Cam Newton's shakiness since returning to the field following his COVID diagnosis last month. The good news is, Newton is line for a big bounce-back performance here. The Jets defense has been virtually non-existent, having traded away most of its key pieces as the team continues to 'tank for Trevor', or at least that seems to be the case. We've seen the Pats ground game start to gain some traction and in this particular matchup they should feast against a putrid Jets front. So the question is whether New York can find enough offensive success to help this one 'over' the total. I believe it can. The Patriots defense has held up ok but is expected to be without its best player in CB Stephon Gilmore once again. Meanwhile, the Jets are getting healthier on offense with Sam Darnold's favorite target, WR Jamison Crowder, expected to return. Keep in mind, he had racked up over 100 receiving yards in three of four games before going down to injury earlier in the season. Things could potentially open up a bit for the New York offense here considering the Pats are giving up just shy of five yards per rush. While there's little reason to anticipate an offensive explosion from the Jets, we really don't need such a performance given this relatively low posted total. Even last week in a much tougher situation on the road against the Chiefs, New York did manage to orchestrate three first half scoring drives. Take the over (10*).

Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Denver and Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This game has true shootout potential - as do most games played at the Mercedes-Benz Dome in Atlanta. The Broncos roared back from a big fourth quarter deficit to stun the Chargers on a last-second touchdown last Sunday and QB Drew Lock and co. find themselves in another favorable matchup against a porous Falcons defense here. No other team gives up more big plays (plays of 20+ yards) through the air than Atlanta. We've seen the Broncos offense involve into a more pass-heavy attack with the emergence of rookie WR's Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler and TE Noah Fant. I don't expect Denver to bang its head against the wall trying to run the football a whole lot against a Falcons defense that has actually proven to be stout against the run, giving up under four yards per rush. On the flip side, the Falcons should go back to airing it out after a subpar performance in that regard in last week's victory in Carolina. While WR Calvin Ridley is sidelined, Julio Jones is more than capable of shouldering the load. It's also worth noting that the door is open for Todd Gurley to go off against a Broncos defense that has allowed well north of five yards per rush over the last couple of games, with key injuries on the defensive side of the football playing a role in that regression. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Baltimore and Indianapolis at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We missed the mark with the 'under' in the Colts blowout win in Detroit last Sunday but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here as they return home to host the Ravens. Baltimore hasn't been the same offensive juggernaut that we saw a year ago, with teams doing a better job of containing QB Lamar Jackson's big-play ability. Here, Jackson draws a tough matchup against a Colts defense that has virtually eliminated opposing QB's ability to run the football. I'm not high enough on the Ravens pass-catching corps to call for a breakout performance against a quality Indy pass defense here either. With that being said, I wouldn't count on another huge offensive showing from the Colts offense. QB Philip Rivers has looked more like an elite quarterback than a game-manager in recent weeks, but should regress back into the latter role against a tough Ravens defense that obviously has a sour taste in its mouth following last week's loss to the Steelers. Few teams have gotten much done on the ground against Baltimore and I fully expect the Colts to join that group as well. Take the under (10*).

AFC South Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The first meeting between these two teams totaled just 44 points in a Texans blowout win back on October 11th but I believe the potential is there for this one to be considerably higher-scoring. While the Jags will be without QB Gardner Minshew in this game, installing Jake Luton under center, I'm not sure it really matters. It's not as if Minshew was lighting the league on fire before he suffered a thumb injury. RB James Robinson has become the clear focal point of the Jags offense and he should enjoy plenty of success both on the ground (Houston is allowing a whopping 5.6 yards per rush this season) and in the short passing game. Meanwhile, the Texans offense is in line for a big breakout performance coming off their bye week, facing an undermanned Jags defense that has struggled all season long. QB DeShaun Watson has looked like a new man since the firing of head coach Bill O'Brien and should continue to thrive here against a Jags defense that doesn't apply any pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The trade deadline passed earlier this week without Houston moving WR Will Fuller and that should be music to the ears of Watson. Even RB David Johnson, who has been a virtual non-factor for the Texans this season, could have a big day against a Jags defense that has been getting torched by opposing backs in recent weeks. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Hawaii minus the points over New Mexico at 11 pm et on Saturday.

I like the bounce-back spot Hawaii finds itself in here as it returns home to host what could turn out to be one of the nation's weakest teams this season in New Mexico. The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a disappointing blowout loss at Wyoming last week but perhaps that letdown was to be anticipated after they opened the season with an impressive double-digit road win against Fresno State one week earlier. Hawaii QB Chevan Cordeiro has shown flashes of brilliance but has also been sacked nine times through two games. He should catch a break here as New Mexico didn't record a single sack in last week's season-opening loss to San Jose State. While the Warriors did give up 31 points in last week's setback, it's worth noting that 14 of those points came as a result of two fourth quarter turnovers (one on downs and the other on an interception). Again, Hawaii will be taking a step down in class here against the Lobos. New Mexico was able to move the football with some consistency in an eventual 38-21 loss at San Jose State last week but that was after the Spartans seemed to let their guard down with an early two-touchdown lead. The Lobos defense offered very little resistance with SJSU QB Nick Starkel completing 34-of-47 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns. They didn't force a single turnover in the loss. Hawaii took this matchup by 14 points last season and I expect it to stretch out the margin even further this time around. Take Hawaii (10*).

Sun Belt Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina at 8 pm et on Saturday.

I'm anticipating a lower-scoring contest than most in this key Sun Belt showdown on Saturday night. South Alabama fell to an even 3-3 on the season with a 24-17 loss at Georgia Southern last Thursday. Now it stays on the road for an even tougher matchup against upstart Coastal Carolina, which is fresh off a 51-0 dismantling of Georgia State last week. A key here is the South Alabama defense. We actually started the 2020 campaign with a winner with the 'under' in USA's first game of the season - an upset win at Southern Miss. The Jaguars defense certainly held its own in October, allowing a grand total of just 58 points in three games, going 2-1 in the process. While Coastal Carolina has thrived offensively thanks in large part to the exploits of QB Grayson McCall, the Jaguars check in having allowed just four touchdown passes in six games this season. We've seen a few explosions from the Chanticleers offense this season but I'm not convinced we'll see them run up the score here, coming off that 51-point effort last week. Lost in last week's rout was the performance of their defense as they shutout a Georgia State squad that had put up a whopping 168 points in its first four games this season. Coastal Carolina is certainly capable of holding what I consider to be an over-achieving South Alabama offense at bay in this one. Take the under (10*).

Big Ten Game of the Month. My selection is on Michigan minus the points over Indiana at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I love the way this one sets up for Big Blue coming off a very disappointing field goal loss to rival Michigan State last Saturday. Perhaps the Wolverines got caught reading their own press following a much easier than expected rout of Minnesota in their Big Ten opener (we lost with Minnesota in that game). Now that they've been brought back to Earth by the Spartans, I look for a much sharper performance from Jim Harbaugh's squad on Saturday. Indiana is off to a somewhat surprising 2-0 start, scoring a ton of points in the process. I don't have a great deal of confidence in the Hoosiers keeping it rolling here, however. Note that QB Michael Penix has completed just 36-of-62 passes and has been sacked four times through two games. Meanwhile, leading rusher Stevie Scott has carried the football 20+ times in both games, topping out at just 79 rushing yards. The last time these two teams met last November, Michigan won in a rout, 39-14. This one might not be that lopsided, but I'm comfortable laying the points with the Wolverines on the road. Take Michigan (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between San Jose State and San Diego State at 9 pm et on Friday.

I'll take a shot with the 'under' in this Mountain West Conference showdown between two undefeated teams on Friday night. This is admittedly a low total by college football standards, but it's warranted in my opinion. San Jose State's offense has been humming with QB Nick Starkel padding his stats with a 467-yard, five-touchdown performance against New Mexico last week. Here, he'll face a much tougher challenge, however, against a talented and experienced San Diego State defense that has already recorded six sacks through two games, and has allowed just two passing touchdowns while recording two interceptions. The Spartans ground attack is limited and that should make it tough to stay on the field for extended periods in this one. Meanwhile, San Diego State certainly hasn't been known for its offense in recent years, but has been impressive so far. This is a tough test, however, after the Aztecs lined up against two of the nation's weakest defenses in UNLV and New Mexico in their first two games. I look for SDSU to put together plenty of long, clock-churning drives in this one, ultimately helping to keep this one 'under' the posted total. Take the under (10*).

TNF Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Green Bay and San Francisco at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

This total has been dropping since word broke that the 49ers would be without a number of key cogs on the offensive side of the football due to COVID-19 protocols. Of course, San Francisco was already going to be missing many other players due to injuries, including QB Jimmy Garroppolo, TE George Kittle, WR Deebo Samuel - the list goes on and on. I actually feel the total has shifted too low. The Packers offense should absolutely feast in this contest, even as that unit deals with key injuries of its own including one to RB Aaron Jones who I believe is unlikely to play again this week. QB Aaron Rodgers has enjoyed plenty of success this season and should pick apart an injury-ravaged 49ers defense that has shown no semblance of a pass rush here in 2020. On the flip side, the Packers defense is nothing special and has been repeatedly torched by opposing running games. The 49ers are depleted at the running back position, but should still be able to gain some traction against what is quite simply one of the league's worst run defenses. Look for RB Jerick McKinnon to step up in the absence of San Francisco's household names out of the backfield. Likewise, Niners QB Nick Mullens always seems to play with a chip on his shoulder and provided he can stay away from CB Jaire Alexander, he should be able to move the football and ultimately put points on the board for his squad. This may not be a true shootout, but I do expect it to find its way 'over' the very reasonable total. Take the over (10*).

Mountain West Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Nevada minus the points over Utah State at 7 pm et on Thursday.

While no in-conference matchup should ever be considered a 'gimme', I do believe Nevada is in terrific position to move to 3-0 in Mountain West Conference play and take this one by a lopsided margin on Thursday night. Utah State has been the worst team in the Mountain West through two games, and might just be one of the weakest teams in the nation in this unique 2020 season. While the Aggies have faced a tough draw to open the campaign, going up against Boise State and San Diego State - two of the MWC's best teams - things don't figure to get any easier here. Note that last week the Aggies lone score came on a SDSU defensive breakdown on the final play of the first half. Against Boise State, Utah State didn't score until the final two minutes of the third quarter - when the game was already out of hand. Nevada, meanwhile, checks in a perfect 2-0, winning a tight one against upstart Wyoming before blowing out UNLV last week. I liked the way Nevada put the latter game away late, holding UNLV scoreless in the fourth quarter while scoring 10 points itself. Nevada QB Carson Strong has thrown for 770 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions through two games. There's no real look-ahead at play for the Wolf Pack here as they'll face winless New Mexico next Saturday. Take Nevada (10*).

MAC Game of the Week. My selection is on Ball State plus the points over Miami-Ohio at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

Ball State boasts plenty of upside off a very disappointing 2019 campaign - I say disappointing not because the Cardinals played all that poorly, but because they were unable to come up with enough victories in close games to earn Bowl eligibility. They ultimately went 5-7 with three losses coming by a grand total of eight points. Most of the key pieces are back on offense, where Ball State is loaded with potential entering the 2020 season. While this is a tough opening matchup, it's one the Cardinals need to succeed in if they're going to challenge for a MAC title. The key could be whether or not Ball State can ratchet up the pressure on the defensive side of the football, where they simply had no success getting to opposing quarterbacks a year ago. I believe they can with an experienced group that returns 12 of 15 top tacklers, going up against a Redhawks offensive line that had a tough time keeping their QB upright. Miami-Ohio stunned most by winning the MAC Championship last season. Don't count on a repeat performance in 2020. While a lot of the key players from last year's squad are back, I don't see a great deal of upside or progression on the horizon. This could be a year where the rest of the MAC catches up with the Redhawks and the pendulum swings in the other direction after they won so many tight contests a year ago. Take Ball State (10*).

NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on New York plus the points over Tampa Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This week has featured a pair of primetime NFL stinkers with the Falcons outlasting the Panthers in a dull affair on Thursday and the Eagles pulling away from the Cowboys in a football horror show last night. Call me crazy, but I think we may see an entertaining affair between the Bucs and Giants on Monday night. Tampa is in a bit of a tough scheduling spot here, traveling back across the country after posting back-to-back wins over the Packers and Raiders. The Bucs have a big divisional showdown with the Saints on tap this coming Sunday so maybe they park the bus if they build a lead in this one. Meanwhile, the Giants have had an extended week of practice since falling by a single point in Philadelphia a week ago Thursday. New York has very little upside at this time but I will point to a couple of positives. The Giants run defense has been stout and they certainly don't face an intimidating opponent in that sense here. They've also gotten healthier in their receiving corps with Sterling Shepherd back in the mix to compliment Darius Slayton, who has enjoyed a career year so far. The betting majority should be all over the Bucs in this one but we'll go the other way and grab the points with a G-Men squad that has rarely gotten blown out over the course of its 1-6 start. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Dallas at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

This is a fairly obvious play but that doesn't mean it's the wrong one. We should see the Eagles defense absolutely feast on an overmatched Cowboys offense here. There's little reason to expect any sort of surprise breakout performance from rookie QB Ben DiNucci - the Cowboys true third-string option under center. He should be under duress against a fierce Eagles pass rush all night long, setting up the potential for plenty of short fields for the Philadelphia offense. For at least this week, we should see the Eagles offense take flight. We saw positive signs in last week's come-from-behind victory over the Giants (we missed with Philly in that game). Now with an extended week of practice, look for them to take advantage of a reeling Cowboys stop-unit. Take Philadelphia (10*).

AFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Tennessee and Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This game has shootout written all over it as the Titans head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. After their comeback fell just short against the Steelers last Sunday (we won with Pittsburgh in that game), the Titans should explode against an awful Bengals defense here. Cincinnati isn't doing anything to slow opposing running games which opens the door for a big day from Titans RB Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, they're not applying nearly enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks to make Ryan Tannehill uncomfortable. Likewise, Tennessee can't seem to get to the quarterback, which should spell trouble as it lined up against a steadily-improving and confident rookie QB Joe Burrow. The Bengals by no means possess an elite offense, but they are running a ton of plays and should be able to expose a bad Titans defense here. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Indianapolis and Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'm not sure where all the points are going to come from in this game. Yes, the Colts should be able to move the football on the ground against a weak Lions run defense but can QB Philip Rivers move the ball consistently through the air? I envision a lot of long, clock-churning drives from the Colts here. Meanwhile, the Indy defense should feast on an average Lions offense. The Colts are giving up less than 3.5 yards per rush this season and are expected to get LB Darius Leonard back to boost their mid-level pass defense. This total has been set too high in my opinion. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between UL-Lafayette and Texas State at 8 pm et on Saturday.

I'll call for a high-scoring affair as the Ragin' Cajuns find themselves in a clear letdown spot on the road against Texas State on Saturday night. Louisiana-Lafayette is coming off a big win at UAB last Friday night, successfully bouncing back following a tough 30-27 loss to Coastal Carolina the week previous. While I can certainly envision the Ragin' Cajuns suffering a bit of a lapse defensively against lowly Texas State, I still feel their offense is more than good enough to take advantage of a significant mismatch with the Bobcats hapless defense. Note that QB Levi Lewis has thrown for at least one touchdown in all five games this season and has taken just one sack in the last three contests combined. Look for Texas State to sling it all over the field in this one. In a brutal matchup on the road against BYU last week, QB Brady McBride did manage to throw a pair of touchdown passes on 30 pass attempts. He'll find the sledding a little easier at home against UL-Lafayette here. Texas State's two previous home games have totaled 55 and 82 points in regulation time against SMU and UTSA, respectively. Take the over (10*).

Big Ten Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Northwestern and Iowa at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

We saw just 20 total points scored when these two programs met a year ago, with all 20 of those points coming from Iowa. I'm anticipating another relatively low-scoring affair on Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. Northwestern busted out for 43 points in its season debut last week, but that came at the expense of a bad Maryland team. We saw a number of defensive breakdowns from the Terps in that contest, allowing the Wildcats to score one touchdown on a broken play and two others from 30+ yards out. Northwestern will face a much tougher test against Iowa this week. The Hawkeyes suffered a tough 24-20 loss to Purdue in their opener. While Purdue QB nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns, he needed 50 pass attempts to get to those totals. The fact that Iowa didn't put its best foot forward but still held the Boilermakers to only 24 points was telling. Offensively, Iowa will remain a work in progress. Expect a run-first gameplan against the Wildcats on Saturday, helping lead to plenty of long, clock-churning drives. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Wake Forest minus the points over Syracuse at 12 noon et on Saturday.

Syracuse took this matchup a year ago in a wild 39-30 contest. The Orange have fallen on hard times since, however, proving to be one of the weakest teams in the nation in this unique 2020 season. With that being said, Syracuse did stay easily inside the inflated pointspread on the road against mighty Clemson last week, which may give Orange backers a false sense of security here. Wake Forest poses a significant challenge as it rolls in on the heels of three straight wins. The Demon Deacons two losses this season were by no means bad ones, coming at home against Clemson and on the road against N.C. State. The Deacs' ground game continues to churn out big gains while Sam Hartman is a truly underrated college quarterback, having yet to throw an interception this season - the perfect signal-caller for this ball-control offense. Syracuse has little going for it right now and I don't see it picking itself up off the proverbial mat at the Carrier Dome on Saturday. Take Wake Forest (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between East Carolina and Tulsa at 9 pm et on Friday.

We won with the 'over' in Tulsa's rout of South Florida last week but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the 'under' as the Golden Hurricane return home to host East Carolina on Friday night. The Pirates will welcome back QB Holton Ahlers from injury. This is a tough matchup though as the Tulsa defense has been stout - even against a pretty tough schedule that has included games against Oklahoma State and Central Florida - both on the road. Last week, the Golden Hurricane didn't allow a touchdown until midway through the third quarter. Earlier this season they held Oklahoma State out of the end zone until the fourth quarter and didn't give up a single second half touchdown against Central Florida. While Tulsa has scored 76 points over its last two games, it is by no means an offensive juggernaut. Keep in mind, the Golden Hurricane lost their offensive star, RB Shamari Brooks, to a season-ending injury before things even got going back in September. East Carolina should play with an edge at 1-3 on the season and coming off a bye week. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Carolina at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I'm shocked that we're able to play a total south of 50 points in this Thursday night divisional showdown. Perhaps I shouldn't be. After all, these two teams combined to score just 39 points in their meeting earlier this season, and that took place in the friendly dome confines of Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Here, I'm anticipating a shootout as neither defense brings any sort of confidence to the table and certainly doesn't match up well with the opposing offense. We've seen Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater really settle into his offense over the last several weeks and now he gets a smash spot against a Falcons defense that doesn't get after the quarterback and is only average in virtually every department. On the flip side, the Falcons offense should be able to 'let it fly' against an undermanned, struggling Panthers defense. Last Sunday in New Orleans, the Panthers got shredded by an inconsistent Drew Brees, allowing a 118.4 QB rating and sacking him just once. Falcons QB Matt Ryan should thrive in this matchup. Take the over (10*).

Sun Belt Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between South Alabama and Georgia Southern at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

I like the way this one sets up as a relatively low-scoring affair. South Alabama has scored 30 or more points in consecutive games - both victories - but those came against two of the nation's weakest teams in Texas State and Louisiana Monroe - not to mention the fact that both games were played at home. Here, the Jaguars will face a tougher challenge as they hit the road to face Georgia Southern, which should be in a sour mood following a tough loss to Coastal Carolina last week. The Eagles have topped out at 42 points in a game this season but that came against a bad UMass squad that was playing its first game of the season. While the Eagles do have an experienced signal-caller in QB Shai Werts, I don't have a great deal of confidence in them running up the score here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Chicago at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This will be pegged as a defensive showdown between two upper-echelon NFC teams with the Bears checking in at 5-1 and the Rams 4-2. I see this as a bit of a flat spot for Chicago coming off back-to-back wins over the Bucs and Panthers. I simply feel the Bears may be in line for a stinker has as the matchup doesn't set up favorably. The Rams are certainly comfortable playing here at So-Fi Stadium where they've gone a perfect 2-0 and allowed just 26 points in the process. The Bears defense has certainly been stout, but not quite so dominant on the road where they've allowed over 21 points per game. That number shoots up to 24.5 points per contest in domes, where they weren't nearly as stingy in Detroit and Atlanta earlier this season. Simply put, Chicago is a team built for a outdoor environment in my opinion, on both sides of the football. I'm not expecting any sort of resurgence from Bears QB Nick Foles against a fierce Rams defense. He has by all accounts struggled since taking over the reins from an ineffective Mitchell Trubisky. The Rams have shutdown corner Jalen Ramsey to blanket Chicago's lone true offensive star in WR Allen Robinson. While Los Angeles does give up plenty of yardage on the ground, I'm not convinced Bears RB David Montgomery can hit paydirt here as he has just one touchdown to his credit this season. Rams QB Jared Goff once again won't be asked to do a whole lot, but he'll do enough to get the Rams the win and cover. Take Los Angeles (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Tampa Bay minus the points over Las Vegas at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I continue to believe that the Raiders victory in Kansas City two weeks ago will ultimately prove to be the high point of their season. This is a nightmarish matchup for Vegas with a possible COVID outbreak moving the game from primetime to the late afternoon window. Note that the Raiders will be welcoming a Bucs squad that seems to be getting better (on both sides of the football) with each passing week. Tampa Bay now has an elite-level defense and should feast on a Raiders offense led by mistake-prone and tentative QB Derek Carr. Meanwhile, Tom Brady and the Bucs offense is set to explode against a weak, undermanned Raiders defense. This game has blowout potential despite the relatively short pointspread. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Few teams are having as much fun as the Pittsburgh Steelers, who check in a perfect 5-0 on the season, matching the record of the team they'll face on Sunday - the Tennessee Titans. I'll give the Steelers the nod here as they match up well against Tennessee in a number of areas. First of all, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better run defense than that of the Steelers. If any team can at least slow down the beast that is Titans RB Derrick Henry, it's the Steelers. Take away Henry and QB Ryan Tannehill obviously becomes far less effective. LT Taylor Lewan will certainly be a key absence on the Titans offensive line. Meanwhile, the Titans defense, while carrying a very positive reputation, has struggled for much of the campaign. Tennessee has been particularly weak against the run, giving up over five yards per rush and five touchdowns to enemy backs. That absolutely opens the door for a steadily-evolving Pittsburgh offense that has quietly been excelling across the board. Both of these teams are legitimate AFC title contenders, but the Steelers get the edge here as we approach the midway point of the regular season. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over New York at 1 pm et on Sunday.

There's absolutely no reason to jump off the Jets fade bus at this point as the Bills find themselves in fantastic bounce-back position against punchless Gang Green on Sunday afternoon. We've seen Buffalo's worst over the last two weeks, even if it did hang tough against the Chiefs this past Monday night. Here, we should see the Bills offense absolutely shred a Jets defense that has essentially checked out on the season. On the flip side, the Buffalo defense takes a huge step down in class after facing two of the NFL's best offenses in the Titans and Chiefs. New York's offense is going nowhere with QB Joe Flacco at the helm. While I actually like the matchup for the Jets running game against the Bills, that won't be enough to keep them within arm's reach for four quarters. This could very well be the spot where the Bills do pin back their ears and stiffen up against the run and if that happens this is an absolute rout. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the points with the Packers in this clear bounce-back spot against the Texans on Sunday. Green Bay absolutely laid an egg last Sunday afternoon in Tampa, falling in blowout fashion against the Bucs. Of course, they were facing one of the league's best defenses in that game. Here, they'll be going up against one of the worst. The Texans are giving up nearly six yards per rush on the ground and haven't been much better against opposing passing games. Expect Aaron Rodgers and co. to have a field day at NRG Stadium. Meanwhile, the Houston offense had plenty of success last week in Tennessee (we won with the 'over' in that game) but should find the sledding a little tougher here as the Packers have actually been tough on opposing quarterbacks. The Texans had a bit of upside following the Bill O'Brien firing, but that's gone now. I like the Packers to cover the short number. Take Green Bay (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Michigan at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

I can't help but feel Michigan is overvalued in this nationally televised matchup to open Big Ten play on Saturday night. The line has flipped since opening, and I'm not sure the move is warranted as Minnesota is certainly capable of hanging with Big Blue here in its home opener. Not only was Minnesota a Bowl team last year but it played on New Year's Day, defeating SEC power Auburn 31-24 as a touchdown underdog in the Outback Bowl. Look for the Gophers to enjoy similar fortunes in an underdog role here. Take Minnesota (10*).

Big 12 Game of the Year. My selection is on Texas Tech plus the points over West Virginia at 5:30 pm et on Saturday.

I absolutely love the way this one sets up for home underdog Texas Tech. West Virginia was in a favorable spot last Saturday and delivered a blowout win over Kansas but that was to be expected. Here, the Mountaineers find themselves in a different situation, favored on the road against what will be a highly-motivated 1-3 Texas Tech squad. The Red Raiders got off to a fine start this season, beating quality FCS opponent Houston Baptist in their opener before giving Texas all it could handle the next week. Since then, it has gotten off track, falling in tough back-to-back road games against Kansas State and Iowa State. With that being said, really how much better could we have expected Texas Tech to perform over the course of this tough early slate. This is a legitimate opportunity for the Red Raiders to get back in the win column before the schedule gets much tougher again with a home date against Oklahoma followed by a road game against TCU. Look for them to take advantage of the opportunity against a beatable West Virginia squad. Take Texas Tech (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Temple and Memphis at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I've said from the start of the season that this Temple squad is built for shootouts and is likely to be involved in plenty of them this year. So far, so good as the Owls have played only two games but both were high-scoring - dropping a 31-29 decision against Navy before responding with a 39-37 victory over South Florida last week. Now comes another shootout in the making as the Owls travel to face Memphis. The Tigers are loaded on offense so it should come as no surprise that they've been involved in their share of high-scoring games already this season as well. Last week we saw Memphis return to the field following a bye week and proceed to score 50 points in a wild one-point victory over UCF. While the Tigers will be taking a step down in class here, I still expect their defense to struggle to contain the Owls attack. Last year's meeting saw just 58 total points but the potential is there for this one to get well into the 70's in my opinion. Take the over (10*).

AAC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Tulsa and South Florida at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

This total has dropped into playable range since opening. We just haven't seen enough from Tulsa to get a true gauge of where the Golden Hurricane are at. After opening the season with a much lower-scoring than expected 16-7 loss at Oklahoma State they went on to stage a stunning upset of Central Florida in Orlando, scoring an impressive 34 points in the process. Here, I'm confident the Tulsa offense can ramp up again but I'm not sure the Golden Hurricane defense will hold up as well as it has to this point. It would be easy to suffer a bit of a letdown emotionally against a 1-4 South Florida squad. The Bulls are still trying to get their offense sorted but this is a fine breakout spot at home coming off an extra week of practice. While I'm not anticipating a shootout here, I do believe this one will ultimately climb over the very reasonable posted total. Take the over (10*).

TNF Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over New York at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I like the way this one sets up for the Eagles for a number of reasons. First, we saw some signs of life from Philadelphia last Sunday as it didn't fold the tent after falling behind against an elite Ravens squad. In fact, the Eagles were a two-point conversion away from sending the game to overtime. Meanwhile, the Giants are fresh off their first win of the season, coming at the expense of the equally lowly Washington Football Team. Here, New York faces a much tougher challenge against a still-fierce Eagles pass rush that ranks top three in the NFL in quarterback hits. Expect Giants QB Daniel Jones to be under duress all night long. Meanwhile, the Giants defense has been lifeless and essentially sets Eagles QB Carson Wentz up for a breakout performance here, even with TE Zach Ertz sidelined. Ertz hasn't been effective anyway so his absence won't be missed all that much. Despite facing a stable of lower-tier quarterbacks, the G-Men defense have done little to slow opposing offenses. Look for the Eagles to take out their frustrations on Joe Judge's squad here. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Arkansas State and Appalachian State at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We missed the mark (badly) with the 'under' in Arkansas State's victory over Georgia State last week. I won't hesitate to go back to the well here, however as the Red Wolves head on the road to face Appalachian State. The Mountaineers are well-rested if nothing else, having not played a game since September due to COVID concerns. Prior to the shutdown Appalachian State had gone 2-1 but was largely inconsistent offensively, only truly breaking out against FCS opponent Campbell. Here, I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the Mountaineers showed a bit of rust offensively. Meanwhile, we can't count on another offensive explosion from the Arkansas State offense - not against a much tougher Appalachian State defense. The last time these two programs met two years ago they combined to score 44 points. Take the under (10*).

NFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Arizona and Dallas at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This sets up as a smash spot for both offenses, even with the Cowboys having lost QB Dak Prescott for the season. The Cardinals are coming off a nice 'get right' matchup against the Jets and should be able to keep it rolling against a pitiful Cowboys defense here. Note that Dallas simply isn't getting after opposing quarterbacks which should help set up a clean pocket for capable Cardinals QB Kyler Murray on Monday night. Given that clean pocket there's little reason to expect anything other than a monster performance from Murray and his favorite target WR DeAndre Hopkins. Meanwhile, the Cowboys aren't stopping anyone from running the football which bodes well for the Cards backfield tandem of Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds. While most are quick to write off the Cowboys offense, I believe they can keep playing fast and putting plenty of points on the board with veteran Andy Dalton under center. It's not as if the rest of the offensive cupboard is bare - the Cowboys are positively loaded all over the field, and particularly at wide receiver. Note that the Cards lost arguably their best defender in Chandler Jones to injury last week. Without Jones, I look for Dalton to navigate the very beatable Cards defense and help this one 'over' the posted total. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Buffalo at 5 pm et on Monday.

The reasoning behind this play is fairly simple. I don't believe the Bills defense, which was severely overrated early in the season, can keep the Chiefs at bay for four quarters on Monday night, nor do I believe Josh Allen and the Bills offense will be able to avoid the mistakes that will ultimately result in a lopsided Chiefs victory. Kansas City suffered a clear letdown last Sunday as it wasn't sharp in any facet of the game in a loss to the Raiders. That one stung. Now the Chiefs have had extra time to stew on that loss and I look for them to come up big on Monday in Buffalo. Take Kansas City (10*).

AFC South Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'm anticipating a high-scoring affair as the Texans and Titans do battle on Sunday afternoon in Nashville. This is a big-time smash spot for Texans QB Deshaun Watson who looked relaxed and sharp without the specter of head coach Bill O'Brien hanging over him last week. Things should really open up for the Texans offense against a Titans defense that has allowed just under 5.6 yards per rush this season. Likewise, Houston's defense has also allowed well north of five yards per rush this season so it would come as no surprise if Titans RB Derrick Henry kept rolling here this week. Keep in mind, Houston will be without run-stopper Benardrick McKinney after he suffered a shoulder injury last week. Houston has offered no resistance against opposing passing games this season so this is also a green-light spot for Titans QB Ryan Tannehill who continues to be severely undervalued by most. Take the over (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While the Browns are rolling right now I can't help but feel they're ripe for a blowout at the hands of the Steelers on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are capable of absolutely shutting down Cleveland's ground attack, having allowed just north of three yards per rush this season. Take away the Browns running game and you severely deplete their offense, especially with QB Baker Mayfield banged up. Meanwhile, the Steelers offense continues to round into form. The fact is, Pittsburgh has been one of the three most impressive squads in the NFL in the first month-plus of the season as far as I'm concerned. I look for the Pittsburgh offense to absolutely gash a suddenly overrated Browns defense here on Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

ACC Game of the Year. My selection is on North Carolina minus the points over Florida State at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

We won with North Carolina in its double-digit victory over Virginia Tech last Saturday and I'll back the Tar Heels again this week as they head out on the road to face 1-3 Florida State. The Tar Heels are one of the hottest teams in the nation in this unique 2020 college football season but it has gone largely unnoticed by most casual observers. The folks that matter have taken notice, however, giving North Carolina a lofty top-10 ranking. I look for the Tar Heels to live up to expectations for another week. Perhaps some bettors were put off by the Heels in their narrow four-point win as a two-touchdown favorite against Boston College two weeks ago - their only road game so far this season. UNC was clearly almost caught flat-footed in that contest but won't be caught off guard against a storied Florida State program here on Saturday. I don't believe the Seminoles have the personnel to keep up with the Tar Heels for four quarters. We saw UNC take Virginia Tech far away from its gameplan last Saturday and I expect a similar story to unfold here. Take North Carolina (10*).

My selection is on Texas A&M minus the points over Mississippi State at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Mississippi State came up with a huge upset win on the road against LSU in its season-opener but has accomplished very little since, dropping back-to-back games against Arkansas and Kentucky. I don't expect the Bulldogs to pick themselves up off the mat in this clash with Texas A&M. The Aggies are fresh off a big win over Florida last Saturday. Their lone blemish is a loss at Alabama - albeit in blowout fashion - back on October 3rd. This is the start of a stretch of three straight truly winnable games for Texas A&M and I look for it to make the most of the opportunity. There's a bigger gap between these two SEC squads than the oddsmakers are accounting for. Take Texas A&M (10*).

My selection is on Tennessee minus the points over Kentucky at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We won by fading Tennessee in an eventual lopsided loss at Georgia last week but I won't hesitate to switch gears and back the Vols this week as they return home to host Kentucky in SEC action. Kentucky is fresh off a 24-2 rout of upstart Mississippi State. Keep in mind, the Wildcats are still just 1-2 on the season, including a 29-13 loss at Auburn in their lone previous road game. The Vols meanwhile check in 2-1 with victories at South Carolina and at home against Missouri with the latter coming in blowout fashion. Off a poor showing against an elite Georgia defense last week I look for Vols QB Jarrett Guarantano to turn in a strong performance here. I don't see the Wildcats offense keeping pace for four quarters and believe we're dealing with a very reasonable pointspread here. Take Tennessee (10*).

CFB Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Houston plus the points over BYU at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

BYU remains undefeated on the season but after laying two touchdowns or more in three consecutive layups against inferior opposition, it will face a tough test on the road against Houston on Friday. With Houston having played just once it's not easy to for the oddsmakers to set an accurate line for this one and I feel they've missed the mark. QB Clayton Tune wasn't at his best in last week's rout of Tulane, but still managed to throw a pair of touchdown passes and run for another while amassing over 300 yards through the air. BYU certainly looked flat in last week's narrow 27-20 win over Texas-San Antonio. The Cougars will be taking a considerable step up in class here and I look for them to fall short of the mark in terms of the pointspread. Take Houston (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Georgia State and Arkansas State at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the 'under' in last night's Sun Belt clash and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. Georgia State is coming off a wild 49-29 shootout win last week but that came at the expense of East Carolina - a team that will be involved in plenty of shootouts this season. Likewise for Arkansas State as the Red Wolves are fresh off a 50-27 win over Central Arkansas - another team with a tendency to get involved in wild, high-scoring affairs. Add in the fact that last year's meeting between Georgia State and Arkansas State reached 90 total points and you can understand why I believe we're dealing with an inflated total here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana-Lafayette at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

I'll take a shot with the 'under' as the Chanticleers and Ragin' Cajuns do battle in Sun Belt action on Wednesday night. Coastal Carolina has put up a whopping 133 points in going a perfect 3-0 this season. However, this will be their toughest test to date (they did face a Big 12 opponent but that was a bottom of the barrel Kansas squad). Louisiana-Lafayette has given up just 63 points in going a perfect 3-0 to start the season. Keep in mind, the Chanticleers haven't played since October 3rd while the Ragin' Cajuns have been idle since way back on September 26th. In keeping with the tradition of playing midweek 'unders', I'm anticipating a lower-scoring affair than the oddsmakers here. Take the under (10*).

NFL MNF Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and New Orleans at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

It's hard to believe but Saints QB Drew Brees has essentially turned into a game manager in this latter stage of his storied career. Once again without WR Michael Thomas, I expect New Orleans to lean heavily on RB Alvin Kamara once again. I do expect the Chargers to do a much better job of containing Kamara than the Packers did the last time we saw the Saints in a primetime game two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Chargers rookie QB Justin Herbert may have a big arm, but given the personnel around him, he's likely to be relegated to a 'game manager' role as well - at least if Los Angeles wants to have any chance of staying within arm's reach of the Saints here. Last Sunday we saw the Chargers get into a high-scoring shootout with the Bucs in Tampa and the end result didn't go in their favor. Look for a lower-scoring affair this time around. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Dallas at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

The Cowboys have been an 'over' machine since their lower-scoring than expected season-opener against the Rams in Los Angeles and there's little reason to jump off the train here. The Giants offense has obviously struggled in the absence of RB Saquon Barkley but there's some reason for optimism as they face an absolutely putrid Cowboys offense on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott should feast on a Giants defense that has yet to face an offense like that of Dallas this season. This Cowboys offense is on a record-setting pace and the G-Men will be hard-pressed to come up with answers. With that being said, the 'Boys are single-digit favorites (at the time of writing) for a reason and we could see a competitive game here. That lends itself to a high-scoring affair in my opinion. Take the over (10*).

NFL AFC West Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Las Vegas at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I absolutely love the way this one sets up for the Chiefs, even as they play on a short week following Monday's sleepy win over the undermanned Patriots. Las Vegas has fallen on hard times following a hot start, and it's had everything to do with its schedule - which certainly doesn't get any easier here. I don't like the look of the Raiders offense right now at all, with RB Josh Jacobs stuck running behind a weak offensive line, and QB Derek Carr once again struggling to generate any productive plays down the field. Meanwhile, the Chiefs should feast on a Raiders defense that can't stop the run (they're giving up over five yards per rush this season) and are average against the pass. TE Travis Kelce should go off in this contest as he has traditionally owned the Raiders defense. Take Kansas City (10*).

NFL NFC South Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Carolina and Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'm expecting another shootout at the Mercedes-Benz Dome in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon as the suddenly red hot Panthers roll into town to face the Falcons. Carolina should continue to thrive offensively against a Falcons defense that proven stout against the run but simply can't stop the pass - which has essentially been par for the course in recent years. The Panthers boast an underrated stable of wide receivers led by Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore and should dominate an injury-riddled Falcons defense. Meanwhile, the Atlanta offense is also dealing with some injuries but is expected to have WR Calvin Ridley on the field on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers haven't been able to get after opposing quarterbacks at all so Falcons QB Matt Ryan should have a much easier time than we saw in Monday's ugly loss to the Packers. There's a big difference between facing the Pack at Lambeau Field and hosting the Panthers in the Dome. Even Todd Gurley and the Falcons backfield could have a day on Sunday against a Panthers defense that allows 4.6 yards per rush. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Arizona minus the points over New York at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a massive bounce-back spot for the Cardinals, who have largely been a disappointment to this point. With the Jets getting torched for over 4.5 yards per rush look for the Cards to go back to basics offensively and lean on their ground attack here. That should serve to open things up for QB Kyler Murray, whose best days almost certainly lie ahead of him following a tough start to the season. The Jets have literally zero upside at this point and this could very well be Adam Gase's final game as head coach. If they weren't able to keep up with the Brett Rypien-led Broncos last Thursday night, they're unlikely to stick with Kliff Kingsbury's Cards here. With veteran statue QB Joe Flacco taking over under center, Arizona will have no excuses for not containing a below average Jets offense. Take Arizona (10*).

My selection is on Florida International minus the points over Middle Tennessee State at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Middle Tennessee State has proven to be one of the weakest teams in the nation this season, opening with four straight ugly losses. Things don't figure to get much easier against an FIU squad that will be looking for its first victory as well on Saturday afternoon. The difference is, the Panthers have played just one game. They came close in that contest, falling in a wild 36-34 contest against favored Liberty. That was back on September 26th. They've had an extra week off to prepare and should be ready for whatever MTSU throws at them on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers will certainly have revenge on their minds after falling by a 50-17 score against the Blue Raiders a year ago. This should prove to be a much different matchup. Take Florida International (10*).

SEC Game of the Year. My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Tennessee at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

I'll lay the points with the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon as they aim to remain undefeated in SEC play. While Tennessee checks in with an identical 2-0 record to that of Georgia, the Vols wins have come against the likes of South Carolina and Missouri. They'll be taking a major step up in class in this one. Georgia hasn't allowed a touchdown since the first five minutes of its season-opener against Arkansas two weeks ago. After struggling to get going in that contest, we saw the Bulldogs offense show signs of cohesion in last Saturday's 27-6 rout of Auburn. While there's certainly a look-ahead involved here as Georgia will travel to face Alabama next week, I believe that has been more than factored into this line. Look for the 'Dawgs defense to set the tone early and for their offense to ultimately come up with enough big play to put the game away late. Take Georgia (10*).

My selection is on North Carolina minus the points over Virginia Tech at 12 noon et on Saturday.

This line has come down into our play range as the Tar Heels host the Hokies on Saturday afternoon. North Carolina is off to a 2-0 start but didn't look at that impressive in its most recent victory over Boston College. This is an opportunity for the Tar Heels to make a real statement in ACC play against undefeated Virginia Tech. The Hokies are coming off an unimpressive single touchdown win over what had previously been a lifeless Duke squad. I'm just not convinced the Virginia Tech offense can keep up for four quarters against a North Carolina team that is underrated on both sides of the football in my opinion. Take North Carolina (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Louisville and Georgia Tech at 7 pm et on Friday.

We're dealing with a very high posted total for this one considering neither offense is all that complex or difficult to prepare for and both teams are coming off a bye week so they've had plenty of time to get ready. Louisville will be desperate to get back on track following consecutive losses to Miami and Pittsburgh. Likewise for Georgia Tech, even if its hopes weren't quite as high as those of the Cardinals entering the season. The Yellow Jackets have dropped consecutive games in blowout fashion against Central Florida and Syracuse. Note that Georgia Tech has yet to score more than 21 points in a game this season. The last meeting between these two teams totaled 94 points but that was back in 2018. Here, I'm anticipating a lower-scoring affair than most. Take the under (10*).

TNF Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Tampa Bay and Chicago at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

We missed the mark with the 'under' in the Bucs wild, high-scoring win over the Chargers last Sunday but did manage to cash the 'under' in the Bears blowout loss to the Colts. Here, I'll stick with the 'under' as these two 3-1 teams do battle. Playing on a short week the Bucs are in tough with a number of key cogs banged up on offense. Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard have both shown some good chemistry with Tom Brady in the early going but now both are sidelined. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's backfield continues to deal with a number of injuries as well. Of course they'll be up against an above average Bears defense, on the road no less, on a short week. I have very little faith in the Nick Foles-led Bears offense right now and if you've followed my plays regularly this season you know that I'm high on the Bucs defense. Note that Tampa Bay is giving up just 2.4 yards per rush this season and that really hamstrings a struggling Bears offense. Outside of WR Allen Robinson, there's really no one all that imposing on the Chicago offense. This has the makings of a relatively low-scoring affair. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Tulane plus the points over Houston at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We know what we're getting with Tulane. The Green Wave are off to a 2-1 start with their lone loss coming in a stunning blown 24-0 halftime lead against Navy. Tulane successfully bounced back from that disappointing loss, delivering a 66-24 win over Southern Miss. Now the Green Wave come in well rested having not played since posting that blowout victory on September 26th. Meanwhile, we don't really know what we're going to get from Houston. The Cougars will be playing their first game of the season and I'm willing to bet that they might not be as good as advertised, or as the betting marketplace believes anyway. I'll grab all the points I can get in this Thursday night matchup. Take Tulane (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Green Bay at 8:50 pm et on Monday.

This is the being pegged as an explosive shootout by the oddsmakers and I tend to agree. The Falcons have to be in desperation mode at this point and they do draw a favorable matchup against a very beatable Packers defense. The strength of Atlanta is obviously in its offense and while Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley are questionable to play I would bank on one, if not both of the Falcons offense stars suiting up. It may not even matter as Atlanta should find success moving the football on the ground as well with Green Bay having allowed north of five yards per rush this season. The Packers offense is red hot entering this matchup and should face little resistance from a non-existent Falcons defense. Note that Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has absolutely eviscerated the Falcons lately, passing for over 1,000 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions in his last four games against them. He loses WR Allen Lazard but should have superstar Davante Adams back on the field. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Indianapolis and Chicago at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While scoring is up across the league through the first three weeks of the season, I'm anticipating a relatively low-scoring affair in Chicago on Sunday afternoon. The Colts should continue to pound away on the ground behind standout rookie RB Jonathan Taylor. QB Philip Rivers has been relegated to 'game manager' status in the latter stages of his career and he should be firmly planted in that role against a solid Bears defense on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Chicago offense will turn to QB Nick Foles after he rallied the team to a come-from-behind win in Atlanta last Sunday. Don't count on another sharp performance from Foles here as he faces an above average but perhaps still underrated Colts defense. We won with the 'over' in the Bears victory over the Falcons last week, but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the 'under' in this one. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Bucs defense remains an underrated unit, perhaps overshadowed by the team's star-laden offense. Note that the Bucs run defense is allowing under three yards per rush this season. Here, I look for the Tampa Bay defense to dominate a struggling Chargers offense led by rookie QB Justin Herbert. Los Angeles' 2020 campaign pretty much got derailed before it started due to a number of key injuries on both sides of the football. Coming off a discouraging home loss to the Panthers last week there's little reason to anticipate a big bounce-back performance, particularly from the Chargers offense, here. Look for the Bucs to continue to pound away long, clock churning drives on their way to a third straight victory, helping cash 'under' tickets in the process. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the 'over' in the Vikings narrow 31-30 home loss to the Titans last week and I'll go right back to the well with the same play as Minnesota travels to face the reeling Texans on Sunday afternoon. This is another prime blow-up spot for Vikings RB Dalvin Cook as he faces a Houston defense that has been shredded for nearly six yards per rush this season. Even QB Kirk Cousins is set up for success given the Texans complete inability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. On the flip side, the Texans finally catch a scheduling break here after a tough three-game slate to open the season (Chiefs, Ravens and Steelers). The Vikings defense is a shell of its former self due to injuries and offseason departures. Like the Houston defense, Minnesota hasn't been able to get to opposing quarterbacks and figures to struggle against big-time playmaker QB DeShaun Watson in this one. Take the over (10*).

NFL AFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Jacksonville and Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'm expecting a shootout between these two AFC bottom-feeders on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. Jacksonville got stymied by the Dolphins of all teams in last week's Thursday nighter. It's interesting that most had high hopes for the Jags Gardner Minshew-led offense heading into that game (myself included) but are now quick to write them off. I'm confident we'll see a big bounce-back performance from the Jags offense against a very beatable Bengals defense on Sunday afternoon. Jacksonville is set up well to open things up given Cincinnati has done little to slow opposing ground attacks, allowing north of 5.2 yards per rush this season. Meanwhile, the Bengals offense has plenty of upside with QB Joe Burrow moving the football consistently in an up-tempo attack. With Jacksonville showing some ability to shut down opposing running games, look for Burrow to take to the air and expose a very beatable Jags secondary in this one. While A.J. Green has been a virtual no-show, the rest of the Bengals receivers have been quietly performing well and building a nice rapport with the rookie Burrow. Look for continued progression from the Cincinnati offense on Sunday. Take the over (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an absolute smash spot for the Ravens, who obviously have a bad taste in their mouths following Monday's dismantling at the hands of the Chiefs. Washington has been competitive in two of its three games this season, even winning one of them (we cashed with Washington in its Week 1 win over Philadelphia), but there have been some major red flags raised over the last two weeks. QB Dwayne Haskins is looking less and less like the answer for this offense, although he hasn't had much help from his supporting cast outside of WR Terry McLaurin. Here, he faces an elite Baltimore defense that is far better than it showed against Kansas City's 'next-level' offense on Monday night. The Ravens offense is in position to roll against a suddenly injury-plagued Washington defense that lost Matt Ioannidis and Chase Young last Sunday. Note that Washington has allowed nearly 400 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns through three games this season. Its secondary is arguably its weakest point and I'm confident Ravens QB Lamar Jackson will take full advantage of that leaky back-end in this one. With their next game coming at home against the winless Bengals next week, there's no reason for the Ravens to look past Washington. Take Baltimore (10*).

CFB Revenge Game of the Month. My selection is on Central Florida minus the points over Tulsa at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

This game has blowout written all over it as Central Florida looks to move to 3-0 on the season. The Knights haven't been particularly sharp, or not as sharp as they'd like to be, on the defensive side of the football but they draw a terrific 'get right' matchup here. Tulsa has played just one game so far this season, falling in a very low-scoring affair against Oklahoma State two weeks ago. Credit the Golden Hurricane for keeping the Cowboys offense at bay in that contest but if their offensive performance (minus RB Shamari Brooks) was any indication, they could be in for a long year. Tulsa actually upset Central Florida by a 34-31 last season so revenge will be on the minds of the Knights here. UCF already appears to be in midseason form offensively after routing East Carolina last Saturday. QB Dillon Gabriel has been extremely efficient and consistent through two games, passing for 825 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. I don't need to tell you that the Knights offense is absolutely loaded and should run wild against a very beatable Tulsa defense here. Without Brooks in the backfield I just don't see how the Golden Hurricane keep within arm's reach for four quarters on Saturday. Take Central Florida (10*).

My selection is on LSU minus the points over Vanderbilt at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

I'll lay the big number with LSU in a strong bounce-back spot on the road against Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Tigers fell short in a stunning 44-34 loss to Mississippi State last Saturday. They draw a far more favorable matchup here against the Commodores. Vandy held its own in a narrow 17-12 setback on the road against a good Texas A&M squad so there's reason to believe it will be full of confidence heading into this one. However, I'm not convinced the Commodores can stay competitive with another poor offensive showing in this one. Note that A&M was driving to potentially go up 21-5 in the third quarter of last week's game before fumbling the football and giving Vandy good field position in what led to the Commodores only touchdown of the game. I'm not sure that contest was quite as close as the final score indicated. LSU shook off the cobwebs last Saturday and I'm confident we'll see a far better performance on both sides of the football this week. Take LSU (10*).

My selection is on Virginia Tech minus the points over Duke at 4 pm et on Saturday.

I had Duke pegged as one of the ACC's worst teams at the onset of the season and we've already successfully faded the Blue Devils once, cashing with Boston College in a blowout two weeks ago. Here, I'll go back to the well and fade Duke again as it hosts Virginia Tech. The Hokies made their long-awaited season debut last Saturday, rolling to a 45-24 win over N.C. State. I like the fact that Virginia Tech has room for improvement here, however, particularly on the defensive side of the football. Duke shouldn't pose much of a threat offensively, noting that it has scored a grand total of just 39 points through three games - all losses - this season. While they did put up a season-high 20 points in last week's loss at Virginia, there were extended scoring droughts once again as they managed a touchdown on a defensive breakdown with one minute remaining in the first quarter but then didn't find the end zone again until over midway through the third quarter - their last score of the game. Take Virginia Tech (10*).

CFB AAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Memphis minus the points over SMU at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Since Memphis last played back on September 5th, SMU has played a pair of games, winning in blowout fashion against North Texas and Stephen F. Austin (scoring a whopping 115 points in the process). Most bettors have short memories so it's easy to understand why the idle Tigers are laying only a couple of points in this matchup. I certainly consider Memphis to be the superior team. Note that the Tigers season-opening win came over an Arkansas State squad that went on to defeat Kansas State on the road the very next week. That win looks a lot better now than it did in early September. I'm confident the Tigers will be able to shake off the rust and I believe they'll benefit from facing a familiar opponent in SMU here. Note that Memphis recorded a wild 54-48 win over SMU in the most recent meeting between the schools last November. I'm concerned about the SMU defense in this one after it allowed 59 points in its two previous games against FBS opponents this season. An experienced Memphis offense is capable of scoring at will in this game and I expect the Tigers defense to be flying all over the field after nearly a month off. Take Memphis (10*).

My selection is on Baylor minus the points over West Virginia at 12 noon et on Saturday.

Bettors seem to be a little low on Baylor in the early going this season. Last week they were laying a reasonable 17 points against a still-pitiful Kansas squad and went on to win the game by 34 points (we won with Baylor in that contest). Here, the Bears draw another favorable matchup against a rebuilding West Virginia squad. The Mountaineers dropped a 27-13 decision against Oklahoma State last Saturday. The fact that the Cowboys are still sleepwalking through their early season schedule played a factor in that game as far as I'm concerned. I'm not convinced West Virginia has the offense to keep pace with Baylor in this one. Take Baylor (10*).

My selection is on New York plus the points over Denver at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I'll plug my nose and back the Jets in this Thursday night stinker. The Broncos carried some optimism into training camp back in August but let's face it, injuries have completely derailed their season. While this is a winnable game, I'm not convinced Denver has the personnel to do it. Note that Broncos quarterbacks have gotten absolutely crushed through three games - sacked a combined 13 times. Now they turn to inexperienced Brett Rypien, who doesn't figure to fare much better behind a leaky offensive line. Meanwhile, the Broncos injury-ravaged defense has done little to slow opposing quarterbacks, allowing a 68% completion percentage and forcing just one interception compared to seven touchdowns. With WR Jamison Crowder expected back on the field, I do look for Jets QB Sam Darnold to make a last stand, so to speak, and perhaps save his head coach Adam Gase's job (for one week anyway). Take New York (10*).

NFL Moneyline Game of the Year. My selection is on Baltimore (moneyline) over Kansas City at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

It's not often I release plays on the moneyline, but here I believe it is warranted. I actually expect this price to become more favorable as kickoff approaches on Monday as we should see some money come in on the underdog Chiefs - a rare opportunity to back Kansas City at a plus-money return. I'll go the other way as I'm confident the Ravens will 'hold serve' in this their third meeting with the Chiefs over the last 2+ seasons. The Chiefs took the two previous matchups but both of those were played in Kansas City. The two victories came by a combined eight points. Note that the Ravens managed to score 52 points in those two losses and arguably have an even more cohesive offensive unit here in 2020. There's not a lot to say that hasn't already been said when it comes to the Chiefs offense. They're the defending Super Bowl champions for a reason. However, this will obviously be their toughest test of the young season to date as they face an absolutely loaded Ravens defense. In fact, you could argue that Baltimore's defense has been built to beat the likes of Kansas City. Here, I look for that 'D' to come up with enough big plays to ultimately hold off Patrick Mahomes and the mighty Chiefs. Take Baltimore moneyline (10*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay minus the points over Denver at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Credit the Broncos for making things interesting against the Steelers last Sunday. In fact, Denver checks into this one sporting a perfect 2-0 ATS record. I don't expect the Broncos to make it three straight ATS victories here, however, as this is a nightmarish matchup, even at home. The Bucs got on track with a sloppy but generally lopsided win over the Panthers last Sunday. I do expect them to sharpen things up on both sides of the football, but particularly on offense as the season progresses. This is a true smash spot for their offense against a Broncos defense that has simply been decimated by injuries. Offensively, Denver is forced to turn to Jeff Driskel in a starting role after Drew Lock went down last week. Not only that but Driskel won't have elite WR Courtland Sutton to work with as he's injured as well. There's just little reason to have any optimism that the Broncos can sustain drives or consistently put points on the board, particularly against an underrated Bucs defense that has done a nice job of handling the Saints and Panthers through two games. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis minus the points over New York at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the points with the Colts on Sunday as they welcome the hapless Jets to Indy. Despite facing an injury-decimated 49ers squad, the Jets still went out and embarrassed themselves last Sunday, thankfully without their fans in the stadium. Now they draw a more unfavorable matchup as they travel to face a Colts squad that 'got right' in last week's rout of the Vikings. The Indy defense should absolutely feast on an undermanned Jets offense here. The Colts enter this game ranking third in the NFL in sacks with seven and should take advantage of a Jets o-line that is missing its anchor, C Connor McGovern. With the Jets giving up five yards per rush this season they're unlikely to slow the quickly-ascending rookie RB Jonathan Taylor. QB Philip Rivers isn't much more than a game-manager at this stage of his career, although I will point out that his numbers would look a little better were it not for a key T.Y. Hilton drop that would have resulted in a long touchdown last week. Here, look for the Colts to take care of the football on offense, capitalize on a number of short fields afforded by their defense and win in convincing fashion. Take Indianapolis (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Tennessee and Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday.

When you think Titans and Vikings the first thing that comes to mind might not be 'shootout' but I believe that's precisely what we're in for on Sunday afternoon. It's desperation time for the Vikings after suffering back-to-back beatdowns at the hands of the Packers and Colts. The good news is this matchup could play right into their struggling offense's hands - or more specifically the legs of RB Dalvin Cook. The Titans have had a tough time stopping the run in the early going this season, allowing a whopping 5.15 yards per rush to enemy backs. Here, we can expect them to have their hands full stopping Cook, while also missing some key cogs in their secondary, improving the chances of WR Adam Thielen going off. On the flip side, the injury-plagued Vikings defense isn't likely to slow an underrated Titans offense. Without DE Danielle Hunter the Vikes haven't shown any semblance of a pass rush and a clean pocket should serve Ryan Tannehill well in this one. Meanwhile, RB Derrick Henry should find plenty of room to run against a Vikes front that will be without LB Anthony Barr. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Bengals in each of the last two weeks but were certainly fortunate to do so last week as Joe Burrow led his team on a late backdoor-clinching touchdown drive in Cleveland. There are obviously going to be some growing pains in Cincy, despite all of Burrow's upside. Here, I look for the Bengals to get blown out by what will be an extremely motivated 0-2 Eagles squad. Philadelphia has drawn a pair of tough matchups to open the campaign considering its injury-ravaged offensive line. Not surprisingly, QB Carson Wentz has taken a beating. The good news here is that the Bengals don't have much of a pass rush, having recorded just two sacks through their first two games. Look for Wentz to enjoy a solid 'get right' performance here while RB Miles Sanders takes care of the rest after shaking off the rust last Sunday. I'll gladly take the discount being offered to back the superior team in this matchup. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Washington and Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Browns are going to have to show me a little more consistency before I start believing in their offense. They exploded against the Bengals last week but that shouldn't have come as a big surprise as Cincinnati boasts one of the league's weakest defenses and the game was played on a short week. Here, Cleveland will face a Washington defense that can get after the quarterback. The Washington offense got stuck in the mud last Sunday in Arizona, only managing a couple of late touchdown scores (and failed two-point conversions that cost us our 'over' ticket). The jury is still out on QB Dwayne Haskins. We did see Washington's offense put up some points in Week 1 but that was only thanks to their defense setting them up with short field after short field in the second half. I don't believe we'll see the Washington pass rush obliterate a solid Cleveland offensive line the way it did Philadelphia in that contest. Look for Baker Mayfield to take a backseat to Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in this one as the Browns control the game flow and ultimately churn away the clock in a relatively low-scoring affair. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Baylor minus the points over Kansas at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

I think the only reason we're dealing with a somewhat reasonable pointspread here is due to the fact that Baylor hasn't played a game yet. The Bears are obviously eager to get going and get a cupcake matchup to open things up with Kansas coming off a lopsided loss to Coastal Carolina in its season opener two weeks ago. Baylor's defense shouldn't have much trouble gameplanning for a Kansas offense that can run the football but do little else. It should only be a matter of time before this one gets away from the Jayhawks. Take Baylor (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Stephen F. Austin and SMU at 7 pm et on Saturday.

This game has shootout written all over it as SMU looks to continue its hot start against FCS squad Stephen F. Austin. Mustangs QB Shane Buechele has picked up right where he left off last season, throwing for over 700 yards and five touchdowns through two games this season. There's little reason to expect him to ease up against the Lumberjacks on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the SMU backfield has been absolutely rolling and faces another favorable matchup here. On the flip side, SFA QB Trae Self showed some progression in last week's loss, passing for 285 yards and a touchdown after struggling in the season-opener. Keep in mind, the Mustangs have already given up 59 points in two games this season and it's not as if they've faced top level competition. SMU has posted victories against Texas State and North Texas. Take the over (10*).

CFB Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Cincinnati minus the points over Army at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

I really like the way this one sets up for the Bearcats as they host an Army squad that has come roaring out of the gates, but against inferior opposition. Let's keep things in perspective. The Black Knights are a perfect 2-0 and have blown out each of their first two opponents but their schedule has afforded them very winnable matchups against Middle Tennessee State and Louisiana-Monroe. Things get an awful lot tougher this week as they hit the road for the first time to face an underrated Cincinnati squad that might be the second-best team in the AAC (behind UCF). Army has a national top-25 ranking entering this contest which may lead some bettors to back it with the generous helping of points but I expect this one to get away from the Black Knights. Their offense has been humming but there will be some bumps in the road and this is a tough matchup against an experienced and talented Cincinnati defense. The real key in this contest should be the Bearcats offense which has the tools to dominate a good but not great Army defense. Behind a big performance from QB Desmond Ridder as well as a loaded backfield, look for the Bearcats to roll. Take Cincinnati (10*).

C-USA Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Middle Tennessee State and UTSA at 8 pm et on Friday.

I'll back the 'under' at the Alamodome on Friday night as I don't expect a shootout between the Blue Raiders and Roadrunners. Middle Tennessee is off to an 0-2 start, scoring a grand total of 14 points in the process. While this is certainly the Blue Raiders most favorable matchup to date, I'm still not convinced we'll see their offense get rolling. Note that in last week's 47-14 rout at the hands of Troy they scored a touchdown in the final two minutes of the first quarter but then didn't find the end zone again until the game was completely out of hand with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. UTSA won a wild 51-48 overtime game against Texas State in its season-opener but reverted to low-scoring form in last week's 24-10 victory over Stephen F. Austin. In that win, the Roadrunners didn't score a touchdown until two minutes into the second quarter. Impressively, their defense gave up just a single touchdown, that coming in the dying seconds of the second quarter. The last meeting between these two teams reached 70 total points but that was back in 2016. Expect a different story to unfold here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Miami and Jacksonville at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

We're dealing with a relatively high total for a reason in this one. I'm anticipating an entertaining Thursday night affair between the lowly Dolphins and Jaguars. Miami catches its most favorable matchup of the season to date after facing the Patriots and Bills in its first two contests. The Jaguars were assumed to be 'tanking' this season having ushered out virtually all of their defensive talent. I still consider Jacksonville to have one of the league's worst defenses, even if it has held up fairly well through two games. Keep in mind, the Jags have drawn the Colts and Titans - two very average offensive teams - in their first two games. They get a below average offense in the Dolphins on Thursday, but I actually feel Miami has some upside here - at least offensively. I don't expect Miami to bang its head against the wall trying to run the football against a Jags defense that has proven to be capable of stopping the run. Instead look for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to sling the football all over the field against a very beatable Jacksonville secondary. Of course, Jags QB Gardner Minshew isn't one to back down from a challenge. Look for him to rise to the occasion in this primetime affair as well. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on UAB minus the points over South Alabama at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

I had South Alabama pegged as one of the nation's worst teams prior to the Jaguars surprising season-opening win at Southern Miss (we won with the 'under' in that game). USA followed up that performance with a hard-fought loss at home against Tulane and then had last week off. I look for the Jaguars to fall short of the mark as they host UAB here. The Blazers looked rather unimpressive offensively in their most recent game - a 31-14 loss at Miami. Keep in mind, that loss doesn't look so bad now as the Canes are off to a strong start, fresh off an impressive road win over Louisville. I expect to see the UAB defense rise up and contain the Jaguars aerial attack in this one while the offense does enough to secure the win and cover. Both teams are without their starting QB's but as I mentioned, this is more about the Blazers stepping up and taking over the game. Take UAB (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between New Orleans and Las Vegas at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The two previous primetime games this week have both sailed 'over' the total. This is probably the game that most believed would have the most shootout potential of the three primetime affairs. I'm actually anticipating a lower-scoring contest than most. The Saints should be able to take away the Raiders offensive strength in this one and that's RB Josh Jacobs. New Orleans was able to stymie Tampa's ground attack a week ago while the Raiders torched a bottom-tier Panthers run defense. Here the Saints should be able to flip the script on Las Vegas. While the Raiders defense is average at best and would generally have its hands full with the likes of the Saints, here I actually feel they can find some success. New Orleans certainly didn't appear to be in midseason form offensively last Sunday and now has to deal with the absence of all-world WR Michael Thomas. While RB Alvin Kamara should get his in this one, I don't see this as a true smash spot for the Saints offense. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Houston at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Ravens last Sunday as they annihilated the overmatched Browns. After Cleveland showed some life on Thursday night, that win looks all the more impressive. Now Baltimore heads to Houston to face a Texans squad that I feel could turn out to be a punching bag this season. It's only a matter of time before Bill O'Brien's time is up in H-Town and this game should accelerate that clock. The Ravens run-oriented attack should absolutely feast on a Texans defense that was torched for 168 yards by the Chiefs backfield last week. Meanwhile, the Houston secondary is in shambles and should have no answers for the Ravens capable wide receiving corps. QB Deshaun Watson has to be wondering what his future holds in Houston following the departure of WR DeAndre Hopkins. While Will Fuller can serve as a Hopkins clone in some ways, he's obviously injury-prone and can't carry the passing game all on his own. The Ravens are positively loaded on the defensive side of the football and already proved they could contain Watson in last year's meeting. There's little reason to expect anything different this time around as it should only be a matter of time before Baltimore stretches out the margin. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Kansas City and Los Angeles at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

While I do expect both offenses to have some success moving the football in this game, I also expect plenty of stalled drives, or drives resulting in field goals rather than touchdowns. The real key here is the Chargers offense and whether they can stay on the field long enough to keep Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes off of it. I believe they can. We saw last week that this Chargers offense will be a little different than the one we saw with Phillip Rivers at the helm. I do believe QB Tyrod Taylor can get out and run a little bit on this Chiefs defense, and I also like the Chargers stable of running backs led by Austin Ekeler and rookie Joshua Kelley. The problem for L.A. might be finishing drives with the Chiefs owning a considerable advantage in terms of their pass rush, and the potential of bull-rushing the Chargers o-line which will be missing its anchor, center Mike Pouncey. Look for the L.A. defense, even without a couple of key cogs, to do just enough to contain Mahomes and company to help keep this one 'under' the total. Take the under (10*).

NFL AFC West Game of the Month. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Los Angeles at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

First off, it's worth noting that the SU winner has gone an incredible 18-1-1 ATS in the Chiefs last 20 regular season games. Here, I certainly expect to see the Chiefs prevail and with that being said, I'm confident they can cover the somewhat lofty number. While the Chargers have shown the ability to contain Patrick Mahomes in previous meetings, I'm not sure they're going to have any answers for the Chiefs ground game led by super rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I'm also not convinced Los Angeles will be able to finish enough drives with 7's on the board against a still-underrated Chiefs defense that's strength lies in its pass rush. Keep in mind, the Chargers will be without their o-line anchor in center Mike Pouncey for this one. That opens the door for the Chiefs front seven to get into the backfield with consistency in this one. The Chargers are in a state of change offensively going from immobile QB Phillip Rivers to the agile Tyrod Taylor. As we saw last Sunday, this is a unit that will likely go through some growing pains in the early going and I don't see this as an ideal matchup for them to move to 2-0 on the campaign. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Washington and Arizona at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

This has the potential to be a sneaky shootout in the late window of games on Sunday afternoon. We had a close eye on Washington last Sunday, cashing both the side and total in its upset win over Philadelphia. Here, I look for Washington find some continued success offensively with WR Terry McLaurin in line for a 2020 breakout game matched up against Patrick Peterson. While RB Antonio Gibson didn't get off to the start that most had hoped for, he should play a role against a beatable Cardinals run defense here. The Washington pass rush absolutely feasted on the Eagles decimated offensive line last Sunday. Here, I look for QB Kyler Murray to take advantage of Washington's aggressiveness in the pass rush to get out of the pocket and find his targets downfield if need be. WR DeAndre Hopkins showed tremendous chemistry with Murray in the opener and the duo should build on that performance here. Meanwhile, I consider the Cards to have one of the most underrated RB combos in the league in Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds. Look for them to find plenty of open field in this one. Take the over (10*).

NFL NFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Dallas at 1 pm et on Sunday.

There's no question we're dealing with a high posted total in this one but it's high for a reason. I'm expecting a shootout. The Falcons draw a favorable matchup here, at least as far as their offense goes. The Cowboys only gave up 20 points in last week's loss to the Rams but the damage could have been much worse. Dallas is now even more undermanned after losing elite LB Leighton Vander Esch. Their secondary is a weak point, one that the Falcons should be able to take full advantage of. Even against a tough Seahawks pass defense last week, Falcons WR Julio Jones came up with 150+ yards receiving. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott was under duress for much of the game against the Rams last week. We should see a different story unfold here, however, as the Falcons pass rush. While Atlanta has been tough against the run in recent years, it has had little success stopping the pass or containing opposing quarterbacks that can scramble. That plays right into the hands of Prescott and the up-tempo Cowboys offense, which should feast in its home-opener. After a relatively quiet opening week, look for the ultra-talented Dallas receiving corps to put up big numbers here. Take the over (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Tampa Bay minus the points over Carolina at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Panthers blew an excellent opportunity to earn a much-needed opening week win last Sunday against the Raiders (given their tough early season schedule they could be staring down an awful start). Here, I look for them to get blown out at the hands of a hungry Bucs squad. Tampa Bay fell short in last week's showdown with the Saints, largely due to the inept play of its offense. More on that in a moment. First, let's talk about the Bucs underrated defense, which held the Saints to just 6.4 yards per play last Sunday, picking up right where it left off following a red hot finish to last season. The Panthers offense obviously revolves around RB Christian McCaffrey but there's reason to believe he could be held in check here after Tampa Bay completely shut him down in both meetings last season. The Bucs offense looked out of sync in Tom Brady's debut last Sunday. This is a tremendous bounce-back spot, however, as the Panthers own one of the league's weakest defenses. The Raiders torched the Panthers for 34 points last Sunday. You know your defense has a problem when you're giving up nearly double-digit yards per play against QB Derek Carr. While Bucs WR Chris Godwin could miss this game after entering concussion protocol mid-week, this is very much a receiving corps by committee and I expect Tampa's wealth of pass-catchers to pick up the slack in his possible absence. I don't need to tell you that Tom Brady's motivation level will be sky-high (it always is) after getting somewhat called out by head coach Bruce Arians. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Denver and Pittsburgh at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll take a shot with the 'under', even with the low posted total in this one on Sunday afternoon. Both teams are playing on a short week following a unique training camp that included no preseason games. The Broncos are a lower-tier offensive team to begin with and are dealing with a number of key injuries, including those to key players WR Courtland Sutton and RB Philip Lindsay. I look for them to employ a rather conservative offense against an aggressive Steelers defense here. While the Broncos defense isn't what it once was, missing a number of key players from recent squads, it can still play well, as we saw this past Monday night against the Titans. In that contest, the Broncos held up well against one of the league's toughest running backs in Derrick Henry, allowing just 3.7 yards per rush. The Steelers offense has a lot of upside with a healthy Big Ben under center, but it may not have to keep its foot on the gas for four quarters in a projected one-sided affair here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on New York plus the points over Chicago at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll grab the generous helping of points with the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. We successfully faded New York in Monday's blowout loss to the Steelers but this is a fine bounce-back spot. Look for RB Saquon Barkley in particular to feast on what appears to be a bottom-tier Bears run defense. Chicago gave up 150+ total yards against the Lions below average stable of running backs last Sunday. After turning in the worst performance of his career to date, Barkley should be the focal point of the G-Men offense here. Credit Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears for rallying from a big fourth quarter deficit in Detroit last week but that had more to do with the Lions ineptitude than anything else. I look for Trubisky to struggle, even in a favorable matchup against a very average Giants defense. Outside of WR Allen Robinson, there's nothing all that imposing about the Bears offense. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While the Dolphins certainly have bright days ahead, it's going to continue to be a slog here in the early going this season. Miami made a new-look Patriots squad look awfully good last Sunday. I expect more of the same against a superior Bills team this week. Buffalo should absolutely have its way with a very beatable Dolphins defense. QB Josh Allen should absolutely be able to replicate Pats QB Cam Newton's performance against Miami as he possesses similar tools. Note that Miami gave up a whopping 217 rushing yards in last week's loss. It's only a matter of time before the Fins turn to Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, with the whispers getting a whole lot louder following vet Ryan Fitzpatrick's three-interception performance last Sunday. Buffalo boasts a truly elite defense and should have little trouble containing a banged-up Dolphins offense here. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia over Los Angeles at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We successfully faded the Eagles in last Sunday's loss in Washington but I won't hesitate to switch gears and back them as they return home to host the Rams this week. Philadelphia is expected to get some key cogs back on the field this week in the form of pass rush specialists Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham and right tackle Lane Johnson. If all three can play, that would be a huge boost to a team that is desperate for a strong bounce-back performance. RB Miles Sanders' absence was certainly felt in last Sunday's loss as well and all indications are he'll be back to full strength and on the field this week. I don't have a lot of faith in Rams QB Jared Goff, even after last week's strong showing against the Cowboys. This is a tougher matchup as Goff has traditionally struggled away from home. Despite their myriad of injuries, the Eagles still managed to hold the Washington Football Team to just north of two yards per rush in last week's loss. If the Rams can't get their ground game going here, I expect Goff to have a long afternoon. Take Philadelphia (10*).

CFB ACC Game of the Month. My selection is on Louisville minus the points over Miami at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

Miami was fortunate to face a disjointed UAB squad in its season-opener last week, ultimately winning and covering the spread in the process. Here, the Canes will face a much tougher challenge as they hit the road to take on the Louisville Cardinals. The Cards got their season off to a resounding start with a 35-21 win over Western Kentucky. That game wasn't as close as the final score indicated as Louisville jumped ahead 28-7 before halftime and never looked back. While the Miami offense promises to be much better with QB D'Eriq King at the helm this season, it certainly didn't look completely in sync last week. I have Louisville pegged as one of the best teams in the entire nation in this unique 2020 college football campaign and will gladly back it as a short favorite here. Take Louisville (10*).

My selection is on Appalachian State minus the points over Marshall at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

We'll back the Mountaineers as it's early and they remain undervalued in this unique 2020 college football season. Appalachian State actually has a good shot at reaching a New Year's Day Bowl game this year thanks to so many teams sitting on the sidelines. That's not a knock on the Mountaineers, as they're the real deal. Last week Appalachian State came up with a 35-20 win over Charlotte, completely manhandling the 49ers in the trenches. The Mountaineers running game appeared to be in midseason form which spells trouble for Marshall this week. I also liked what I saw from a new-look Appalachian State defense as it came up big on a number of occasions, including a pair of interceptions. Here, the Mountaineers face a much tougher challenge but I like they fact they'll be going up against a freshman quarterback. Keep in mind, Marshall turned in a near-flawless performance in its season debut two weeks ago. Unfortunately that means there's nowhere to go but down in this one. Look for the Thundering Herd to get a wake-up call. Take Appalachian State (10*).

CFB Sun Belt Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Georgia State plus the points over UL-Lafayette at 12 noon et on Saturday.

The Ragin' Cajuns of UL-Lafayette are coming off a big upset win over Iowa State last Saturday so it's not surprising that they're laying such a big number in their Sun Belt opener this week. I believe the number will prove too high. Georgia State is no pushover. The Panthers reached a Bowl game with a 7-6 overall record last season, making significant progress relatively early in their FBS career. Georgia State returns plenty of talent on both sides of the football - particularly when it comes to defense, where it will obviously need to be stout against an experienced and explosive Ragin' Cajuns offense. Meanwhile, the Panthers offense has a terrific stable of wide receivers to stretch the field against a beatable Lafayette defense. Look for Georgia State to stay within arm's reach all afternoon long. Take Georgia State (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Tulsa and Oklahoma State at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We should see an old-fashioned shootout between the Golden Hurricane and Cowboys in this early start matchup on Saturday. Tulsa boasts a truly underrated offense entering the 2020 season with a loaded stable of running backs keyed by Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II not to mention an experienced senior quarterback in Zach Smith. He passed for over 3,200 yards and 19 touchdowns to go along with nine interceptions last season. He has his top target back in Keylon Stokes who hauled in 62 catches for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. Oklahoma State is obviously loaded on offense, led by RB Chuba Hubbard. QB Spencer Sanders was the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year last season, although this will be his third year with the Cowboys. Expect fireworks on Saturday afternoon. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Boston College plus the points over Duke at 12 noon et on Saturday.

The case can be made that Boston College is the better team in this matchup but I think the fact that Duke played in a national tv game last week on the road against Notre Dame, and hung relatively tough, plays into the line. The Eagles return a lot of experience on both sides of the football and will be eager to get on the field and face some actual competition here. I don't believe there's any intimidation factor at play with this edition of the Blue Devils. Look for the Eagles to hang tough for four quarters. Take Boston College (10*).

My selection is on Cincinnati plus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I can understand why the Browns are being favored by nearly a touchdown in this game - after all, this is a huge motivational spot for them coming off a beatdown at the hands of the Ravens (we won with Baltimore in that game) in the national spotlight against a division opponent they 'should' handle. I simply feel they're being asked to lay too many points in this spot as the Bengals showed me enough in a difficult matchup to support them for a second consecutive week. Give Bengals QB Joe Burrow a lot of credit for hanging in there against a very tough Chargers defense last Sunday. Highlights obviously included his touchdown run and his near game-tying (or winning) drive at the end of the fourth quarter. There was plenty to build off of following that performance and I'm confident we'll see him find more success against the Browns here. I also look for a big bounce-back performance from RB Joe Mixon who was relatively ineffective and even lost a fumble (his first since 2016). The Browns are a mess, and have been since the start of last season. While I do like their ground attack and feel they can have considerable success running the football against the Bengals non-existent run defense, I'm not sure QB Baker Mayfield has the composure to avoid a couple of costly mistakes that ultimately keeps this game within arm's reach for the Bengals. Take Cincinnati (10*).

My selection is on Tennessee minus the points over Denver at 10:10 pm et on Monday.

This game has blowout potential with the Broncos ill-equipped to handle the Titans underrated offense or claw their way back into contention should they fall behind early. Of course, Denver suffered a major blow with the season-ending ankle injury to Von Miller last week. The Broncos were already going to be undermanned defensively before Miller went down due to a number of defections on that side of the football during the offseason. Expect RB Derrick Henry to have a field day against the Broncos once-vaunted 'D'. Offensively, the Broncos have a new coordinator, not to mention an inexperienced quarterback who will be making just his sixth career NFL start - and he'll be doing so potentially without his top target in WR Courtland Sutton. While I do like the upside of rookie WR's Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, Hamler is dealing with an injury and Jeudy didn't exactly receive rave reviews during training camp. Maybe the Broncos will elect to go run-heavy but I suspect they'll only be banging their heads against the wall versus a stout Titans defense. Tennessee should be able to pin back its ears and get after QB Drew Lock all night long. Take Tennessee (10*).

NFL Monday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over New York at 7:15 pm et on Monday.

This really is a tough opening week matchup for the Giants as they try to turn the page on what has been a tough era of G-Men football. The Steelers are reloaded for another run with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger under center. All indications are that his arm is back at full strength as he looks to get the Pittsburgh offense back on track following a tumultuous 2019 campaign. Roethlisberger should feast on a Giants pass defense that was absolutely horrendous last season and doesn't figure to improve here in 2020. Even if Big Ben doesn't dominate, the Steelers should enjoy plenty of success on the ground against a New York defense that gave up just shy of 150 rush yards per game last season. There were signs of life in the Giants offense with rookie Daniel Jones at the helm last season. Of course, it helps that he has RB Saquon Barkley in the backfield but I question how much running room he'll find against the teeth of the Steelers defense. Meanwhile, the G-Men boast a below average group of wide receivers that won't instill much fear at all in the Steelers secondary. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Dallas and Los Angeles at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

While I do lean to the Cowboys minus the points as well, I feel the 'over' is the better way to go in this Sunday night NFC showdown in Los Angeles. The Cowboys offense is well-positioned to get off to a tremendous start in this favorable matchup with the Rams. While Los Angeles has been considered an elite defensive team at times in recent years and boasts plenty of star power with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, it will need to replace a number of key cogs from last year's team and also has to adjust to a new system under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. The Cowboys offense is obviously loaded with elite talent at all the skill positions. Defensively, the Cowboys pass rush could wreak havoc against an overmatched Rams offensive line. But even if QB Jared Goff is given a little bit of time in the pocket he should have no trouble exposing what I consider to be one of the league's weaker secondaries. Even without fans, at home in a brand new stadium I don't see the Rams getting embarrassed in this one, and neither team will shy away from a shootout. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Arizona and San Francisco at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

This total has been on the rise since opening, and rightfully so in my opinion. Arizona's offense is poised to take off here in year two of Kyler Murray's tenure as starting QB. The Cardinals made arguably the biggest offseason splash by acquiring WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Texans and I expect him to have a positive impact right out of the gates, even after dealing with injury issues this summer. Speaking of injuries, the 49ers defense was also forced to deal with some key ones during training camp. I'm not sure we'll see San Fran's defense firing on all cylinders here in Week 1. With issues on their offensive line, don't count on the 49ers ground game to obliterate the Cardinals defensive front on Sunday. With that being said, that might just force QB Jimmy Garoppolo to take a few more shots down the field. Keep in mind, he completed better than 75% of his passes for eight touchdowns in two meetings with the Cardinals a year ago and Arizona isn't likely to take a big step forward defensively this season. Take the over (10*).