AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Cincinnati plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'm more than happy to grab the points with an underrated Bengals team hosting an overrated Chargers squad on Sunday afternoon. I'm not sure the Tyrod Taylor-led Chargers have any business traveling across the country and being favored in this matchup. With issues on their offensive line and an unproven ground attack (Austin Ekeler is a terrific RB but more of a pass-catcher than runner), I believe they'll have trouble chewing up clock and ultimately putting this game to bed. It remains to be seen how effective Bengals QB Joe Burrow can be in his NFL debut against a tough defense but I'm confident he can do just enough (and not make the critical game-changing mistakes) to lead the Bengals to victory. I don't believe the Chargers bring any sort of intimidation factor to the table here, especially after losing one of their best defensive players in SS Derwin James to injury. The Chargers are still absolutely loaded with talent on defense but in today's NFL, that's rarely enough. Take Cincinnati (10*).

My selection is on Washington plus the points over Philadelphia at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I think it's a pretty good bet that few recreational players will want any part of the Washington Football Team on Sunday afternoon. After all, it was a truly tumultuous offseason in the nation's capital. With that being said, I believe this game is far closer to a pk'em than the oddsmakers are suggesting. Philadelphia isn't exactly on solid ground entering the new season. QB Carson Wentz was banged up throughout training camp and has major pass protection issues with two key cogs on the offensive line (Andre Dillard and Brandon Brooks) lost to injuries. It sets up a bit of a nightmarish situation against Washington's vaunted pass rush. Meanwhile, I'm higher on Washington QB Dwayne Haskins than some. I believe he and last year's breakout star WR Terry McLaurin can do plenty of damage right out of the gate this season, particularly against the Eagles beatable secondary. Philadelphia's defense isn't nearly as fearsome with the likes of Malcolm Jenkins and Nigel Bradham out of the mix. Take Washington (10*).

NFC East Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Philadelphia and Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Most are expecting this to be one of the uglier games on the Week 1 slate, but I'm not so easily convinced. I actually believe we'll see some offensive fireworks as these two familiar NFC East foes square off in Washington. Philadelphia is going to have to play fast on offense in an effort to circumvent its own offensive line issues against Washington's tremendous pass rush. The good news for the Eagles is that Washington's defensive back-end is average at best and I believe the opportunity will be there for Philadelphia's underrated pass-catching corps to come up with some big plays downfield. On the flip side, I'm higher on the Washington offense than most. QB Dwayne Haskins is poised to take a step forward after showing plenty of improvement down the stretch last year. While its WR corps isn't deep, it has a bonafide gamebreaker in Terry McLaurin. And don't sleep on RB Antonio Gibson making something out of nothing in the backfield. The Eagles may be known for their tough defense but they take a hit this year with a number of key cogs no longer in uniform, including Malcolm Jenkins and Nigel Bradham. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'm not sure the Ravens are getting quite enough credit for their regular season performance a year ago, or hype entering the new season (thanks in large part to the love-in for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs). Baltimore has the potential to be even better this year after shoring up its run defense and making some savvy additions on offense during the offseason. The Browns underwent a coaching overhaul following a disappointing 2019 campaign but I'm not sure it's going to result in immediate positive returns. This is quite simply an awful opening week matchup against a loaded Super Bowl contender that carries a big chip on its shoulder following last January's early playoff exit. The Browns are dealing with a number of injuries and absences on the defensive side of the football which should have QB Lamar Jackson licking his chops entering this contest. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Buffalo at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This has the potential to be one of the lowest-scoring games on the Week 1 board, as evidenced by the total sitting in the high-30's at the time of writing. Many have high hopes for the Bills offense with QB Josh Allen expected to take a step forward along with the addition of WR Stefon Diggs. The jury is still out on whether the Bills offense can be explosive through. I do expect them to orchestrate plenty of long drives against a relatively soft Jets defense here in Week 1. With that being said, I also believe New York can chew up some clock of its own with conservative play-calling against a Buffalo defense that can be dominant, but also yields to the short game in an effort to prevent big plays downfield. That's essentially why the Bills set up well as an 'under' team right out of the gates this season. With few gamebreakers on offense, Jets QB Sam Darnold will be forced into a game manager role on Sunday and that bodes well for the 'under'. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Las Vegas and Carolina at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'm expecting a high-scoring affair as the Raiders and Panthers do battle in Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Las Vegas' offense should absolutely feast on a Panthers defense that is missing a ton of talent from a year ago. Keep in mind, the Carolina defense had a tough enough time with all of that talent on hand last season. Now it has the potential to be the weakest defense in the entire league. The Raiders may not have an elite offense - the presence of QB Derek Carr virtually ensures that - but this is simply too good of a matchup not to succeed. Meanwhile, the Panthers will turn the page on the Cam Newton era with Teddy Bridgewater taking over under center. You can be sure he'll be motivated to perform now that he's finally grabbed a starting job. He has enough talent around him, including all world RB Christian McCaffrey, to get off to a strong start against a very beatable Raiders defense. Gone from Las Vegas are Prince Amukamara and Damarious Randall and while they did struggle at times, their experience will be missed in a new-look secondary. Take the over (10*).

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

South Alabama pulled off a stunning upset win at Southern Miss last week (we won with the 'under') so don't expect Tulane to get caught off guard in its season debut. The Jaguars were able to orchestrate the upset thanks to a number of big plays in the passing game, taking full advantage of a very weak Southern Miss secondary. Here, the Jags won't be so fortunate. Tulane's defense let it down at times last season but should be stronger here in 2020, with its pass defense serving as a strength. There are a number of changes on offense but I do think the Green Wave can hit the ground running with a week of game film to work with when it comes to the South Alabama defense. I had the Jaguars pegged as one of the weakest teams in FBS entering this unique 2020 season and I won't stray from that thinking, even after last week's strong performance. Tulane has become a perennial Bowl team while South Alabama is still trying to find its way as an FBS program. While I'd like to be dealing with a lower number, I still see value with the Green Wave here. Take Tulane (10*).

CFB Game of the Week. My selection is on Louisiana-Monroe plus the points over Army at 1:30 pm et on Saturday.

I'll grab the generous helping of points with Louisiana-Monroe at it heads to West Point to take on Army on Saturday afternoon. The Black Knights have the benefit of having already worked out the early season kinks in a stunning 42-0 blowout win over Middle Tennessee last week. Keep in mind, the Black Knights were favored by just north of a field goal in that game. They overachieved in that contest as the Blue Raiders had absolutely no answer to Army's triple-option offense. Here, I look for a different story to unfold. Don't count on the Black Knights running roughshod against a Warhawks defense that has plenty of talent and experience in the second level. On the flip side, the Army defense was never really tested in last week's game as it jumped ahead early and never looked back. The Black Knights were able to force three turnovers in that victory but I look for Louisiana-Monroe to do a better job of taking care of the football here. Look for the Warhawks to play smart with an inexperienced quarterback but serviceable ground attack against an Army defense that shouldn't generate much pressure in the backfield. Army should get the win here, but I simply feel it is being asked to lay too many points. Take Louisiana-Monroe (10*).

CFB ACC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Syracuse and North Carolina at 12 noon et on Saturday.

Most have this ACC opener pegged as a wild shootout between two offensive-minded teams in Syracuse and North Carolina. I feel the total has simply been set too high. The Orange certainly have a lot of work to do if they want to improve on last year's 5-7 squad that won just two games in ACC play. Their offensive line wasn't good and doesn't figure to be a whole lot better this year. The jury is still out on QB Tommy DeVito, who has shown flashes of brilliance but a real lack of consistency, albeit under duress most of the time. I do expect Syracuse to do a better job of keeping DeVito upright by leaning a little more on the ground game and the quick, short passing attack. The Tar Heels have a better defense than advertised as far as I'm concerned but they do have pass-funnel tendencies, particularly underneath, which could help keep the clock moving in this one. With that being said, I'm not convinced we'll see the Orange offense end many drives with 7's on the board as the Heels have an opportunistic defense that has the ability to tighten up in their own end of the field. The North Carolina offense is loaded. The strength of the offense is obviously their passing game with future NFL prospect QB Sam Howell and a talented group of wide receivers. The good news for Syracuse is that the strength of its defense is in the secondary where it boasts an experienced, underrated group. Like the Heels defense, the Orange secondary has also shown a knack for forcing turnovers. I believe we'll see the Orange do just enough to keep the Heels big play ability at bay for stretches. With a sky-high total, I'll call for enough stalled drives to keep this one 'under' the number. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Kansas City at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

This will be the third meeting between these two sudden AFC rivals in the last year, with the previous two resulting in wild, high-scoring affairs with the Texans winning the regular season matchup 31-24 and the Chiefs prevailing when it really mattered in the AFC Divisional Round, 51-31. There's little reason to expect anything other than another shootout as this unique 2020 NFL season kicks off on Thursday night. Yes, the Texans lost all-world WR DeAndre Hopkins, but the cupboard is by no means bare as they brought in the likes of Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb to solidify the receiving corps. We can certainly expect Will Fuller to take a big step forward in Hopkins' absence, and this is a matchup he can feast on a Chiefs secondary that will be missing CB Bashaud Breeland - keeping in mind, this unit struggled at the best of times last season. Kansas City will also be without NT Mike Pennel, which should help open things up for the Texans ground attack which has been re-tooled with the addition of RB David Johnson. We know what we're going to get with the Chiefs electric offense. All of the key pieces are back and the addition of rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire could potentially make this unit even stronger. The Texans weren't able to get to opposing quarterbacks with any consistency last season and did little to help their own cause in the offseason. Look for QB Pat Mahomes to come out all guns blazing here as he feasts on a Texans secondary that is missing a key cog in CB Gareon Conley. Take the over (10*).

CFB Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between UAB and Miami at 8 pm et on Thursday.

The Miami offense was absolutely dreadful a year ago, but perhaps that should have been expected (we noted the Canes offense would likely struggle right out of the gates in a season-opening play on the 'under' against Florida). We should see a different story unfold in 2020, however. QB D'Eriq King gives the Canes a bonafide veteran leader and star on offense. While the cupboard has been cleaned out in terms of the wide receiving corps, it's by no means bare. The Canes are loaded with speed all over the field on offense and King should have no trouble building a solid rapport with terrific TE Brevin Jordan. UAB's defense was terrific stat-wise last season, but that's playing most of its games against C-USA opponents. On the flip side, the Miami defense loses a number of key cogs after a strong 2019 campaign. I'm higher on the UAB offense than most. While the Blazers 45-point outburst last week came against an FCS squad in Central Arkansas, I saw plenty of positives, namely the performance of RB Spencer Brown, who ran for 127 yards and a score on 24 carries. He's in line for a big bounce-back season after playing hurt much of last year. In WR Austin Watkins Jr., the Blazers have a home run threat veteran QB Tyler Johnston can bank on as well. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between BYU and Navy at 8 pm et on Monday.

This total has obviously dropped considerably since opening but I still see some value playing the 'under' at the current number. BYU will be missing TE Matt Bushman - who was expected to be one of the best tight ends in FBS this season. The Cougars are also replacing most of their receiving corps from a year ago. While QB Zach Wilson has plenty of upside, I'm not convinced we'll see him come out bombing away here on Monday night. Navy is also turning to a number of new faces on offense, which is pretty much par for the course for the Midshipmen every year. QB Dalen Morris takes over the reins under center and we can expect a fairly conservative version of the option attack against a solid BYU defense. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Arkansas State and Memphis at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Let's face it, we're dealing with a diminished opening week slate of games due to Covid-19 but this primetime matchup between Arkansas State and Memphis does have the potential to be one of the week's most entertaining affairs. We're looking at a massive posted total for this one and while both offenses have proven explosive in recent years while the defenses have left a lot to be desired, I'm not convinced we're going to see the type of shootout the oddsmakers are projecting. Arkansas State knows it will be hard-pressed to win a shootout with Memphis - it simply doesn't have enough big-time playmakers to come away victorious in that sort of back-and-forth battle. Instead, I look for the Red Wolves to focus on trying to sustain long drives with an experienced offensive line capable of helping them move the chains with some consistency. The issue is that the Memphis defense has plenty of talent and experience, and lots of room for improvement, not to mention motivation get off to a strong start here in the season-opener at home. Memphis is loaded once again on offense but will have to replace star RB Kenneth Gainwell, who has opted out this season. The Tigers will generate plenty of offense but I don't believe it will be enough to get this one north of the sky-high total. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Middle Tennessee State and Army at 1:30 pm et on Saturday.

While I'll admit this total has settled out a little higher than I would like, I still see value playing the 'over' at the current number. Neither squad was an offensive juggernaut a year ago but I'm confident we'll see both teams get off to a positive start thanks to this favorable matchup on Saturday. The real key here is that neither defense showed the ability to get into the backfield with any consistency a year ago, and both units lose a number of key pieces entering the new season. Both teams have plenty of dynamic playmakers at the skill positions on offense and given enough time - as should be the case here - I look for the two offenses to feast. Expect to see enough 'home run plays' to help send this one 'over' the total. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between South Alabama and Southern Miss at 9 pm et on Thursday.

I'm not expecting a great deal of offensive fireworks as South Alabama and Southern Miss open what promises to be a unique college football season on Thursday night. Southern Miss should be able to name its score against a Jaguars squad that might be one of the weakest teams in the nation (of those playing that is). With that being said, the Golden Eagles are dealing with a number of key departures on offense and might just focus on pounding away on the ground and controlling the clock in this very winnable contest. QB Jack Abraham has shown plenty of promise but he likely won't be asked to do too much in the season-opener. South Alabama's spread offense is going to continue to go through some growing pains. While the Jaguars do boast considerable talent at the wide receiver position, I'm not sure they have the quarterback to make it happen on the scoreboard. Most will be looking for an entertaining, high-scoring affair to open the campaign with this total set in the 50's. I'm find with going the other way and grabbing some perceived value with the 'under'. Take the under (10*).

NFL Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over San Francisco at 6:30 pm et on Sunday February 2nd.

I'm holding futures tickets on the Chiefs so this is really a no-brainer for me. There's nothing I've seen in the playoffs that has swayed me from the fact that Kansas City is destined to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 2nd. Yes, San Francisco has impressed and is without a doubt the 'it team' entering this contest - a true upstart that has reached this point far quicker than most expected under the guidance of head coach Kyle Shanahan. I'll give the Niners all the credit in the world for getting here, but let's not get too excited by playoff home wins over extremely flawed Vikings and Packers squads that simply didn't show up in Santa Clara. There's no question, the Niners will get the Chiefs best effort here. Kansas City has been steadily building to this point, with its defense showing up when it matters most and QB Patrick Mahomes taking his game to a completely other level in the postseason. Everything has broke right for the Chiefs in the playoffs with the Ravens getting upset by the Titans, even though I do believe Kansas City would have went into Baltimore and won regardless. Give me the Chiefs at a very discounted number here. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on the ‘over’ between San Francisco and Kansas City at 6:25 pm et on Sunday February 2nd.

Last year’s expected Super Bowl shootout between the Patriots and Rams fizzled but I expect a different story to unfold this year as the upstart 49ers take on the Chiefs in Miami. The hype surrounding the 49ers defense continues to build as this game approaches. Yes, the Niners have an elite defense across the board but I believe their aggressive nature (not necessarily in terms of their blitz packages, or lack thereof) may end up costing them in this particular matchup. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has re-emerged as a true running threat now that he has healed from multiple in-season injuries he suffered. That’s to say nothing of his ability to get the ball to his electric pass-catching corps. As good as the Niners are on defense, they’re unquestionably going to have their hands full on Sunday evening. On the flip side, the Chiefs defense really came into its own down the stretch and came up big when the chips were down in two playoff games – out of necessity mind you, after digging themselves early deficits in both of those contests. I’m just not sure the Niners are getting nearly enough credit for the creativity and explosiveness of their offense, which does match up well with the Chiefs defense here. QB Jimmy Garoppolo hasn’t filled up the stat sheet in these playoffs, but he hasn’t had to. Playing with big leads for much of those two wins over the Vikings and Packers, Garoppolo was limited to ‘game manager’ duty. Here, we should see him pressed into action and I’m confident he can orchestrate some big plays downfield with his highly-underrated group of pass-catchers. Last year’s dud notwithstanding, the Super Bowl has delivered many exciting, high-scoring affairs in recent years and I’m anticipating another instant classic on Sunday. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay plus the points over San Francisco at 6:40 pm et on Sunday.

Few are giving the Packers much of a chance here but I will. Green Bay got routed by San Francisco in its regular season meeting but I expect a much stronger performance from the Packers here. I find it a big surprising that the 49ers are actually laying more points in this matchup - a tougher one in my opinion - than they were against the Vikings last week. The Seahawks were a popular pick last week and the Packers managed to outlast them. Don't be surprised if we see a similar story unfold here as QB Aaron Rodgers writes another chapter in his storied career with a big performance against the Niners. Take Green Bay (10*).

NFL Playoff Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Tennessee and Kansas City at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

Even after the Chiefs were involved in an 82-point game against Houston last week, I don't believe the oddsmakers have set the total high enough in this weekend's showdown with upstart Tennessee. RB Derrick Henry will get his for the Titans against a Chiefs defense you can certainly run on, particularly if run-stuffing DT Chris Jones can't go, as expected to be the case. But I don't believe nearly enough people are giving QB Ryan Tannehill any shot at keeping up with Pat Mahomes should this turn into a shootout. I'm actually confidence that Tannehill, who has been one of the league's most efficient passers down the stretch this season, can consistently move the football through the air, and come up with a handful of explosive plays should the Chiefs elect to sell out to slow down Henry. On the flip side, Tennessee doesn't generate nearly enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks to give it any hope that it can contain Mahomes in this one. As we saw in last week's game, albeit against an inferior defense, this Chiefs offense is capable of putting points on the board in a hurry. If the Titans come into this game thinking they can turn it into a slugfest, I think they will be sorely mistaken. I'm anticipating a shootout, just as we saw in the first matchup between these two teams this season. Take the over (10*).

CFB Game of the Month. My selection is on Clemson plus the points over LSU at 8 pm et on Monday.

If you've followed my plays regularly, you know that I've been high on Clemson all season, and particularly down the stretch. The Tigers have reeled off five straight ATS wins entering this game and I'm confident they can go toe-to-toe with mighty Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers on Monday night. LSU has looked simply unstoppable, destroying Georgia in the SEC Championship Game before crushing an overmatched Oklahoma squad in the CFP semi-final. This will certainly be the Tigers toughest test since facing Alabama on November 9th, however - a game they won by five points. This one has all the makings of a classic showdown. I'll grab all the points I can get with Dabo Swinney's Tigers. Take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Green Bay at 6:40 pm et on Sunday.

I'll grab the points with the Seahawks in this one as I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair between these familiar NFC foes. Seattle checked all the boxes in last week's mild upset win in Philadelphia and should be well-positioned to continue its march toward the Super Bowl on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. RB Marshawn Lynch is only going to get stronger and more comfortable in the Seahawks offense with each passing week. QB Russell Wilson hit a bit of a slump late in the regular season but certainly showed signs of turning things around against the Eagles last week. The Packers earned a first round bye but I'm honestly not sure how good this team actually is. I do like their pass rush and WR DaVante Adams is obviously a beast, but outside of that the jury is out. Can QB Aaron Rodgers regain past form? That remains to be seen. I would rather have my money on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Sunday. Take Seattle (10*).

NFL Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Houston at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

Houston caught an extremely favorable draw last week as it hosted the Bills and ultimately needed everything in its bag of tricks to pull out an overtime victory. Now the Texans have to travel to face the rested Chiefs, who will have revenge on their minds after suffering a somewhat shocking loss against Houston right here at Arrowhead earlier this season. The Chiefs are a different team now than they were then. First of all, they have a defense. Second, Patrick Mahomes is healthy and has his full compliment of weapons at his disposal. The Texans defense doesn't match up well at all with the Chiefs multi-dimensional offensive attack. On the flip side, I fully expect to see Kansas City do a good job of keeping Texans QB DeShaun Watson in the pocket. Unlike the Titans, who came out and stunned the Ravens early in last night's game, the Texans offense will have a tough time getting off the ground here. This one has blowout potential. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Tennessee at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

I'll gladly lay the points with the Ravens on Saturday night as they begin what they hope will be a Super Bowl run against the Titans in Baltimore. This is an ideal spot to fade the Titans as the betting public is high on them following their stunning upset over the might Patriots in Foxborough last Saturday. I don't believe Tennessee is as good as it looked in that victory over New England. Let's face it, the Pats were a mess down the stretch and nothing changed at all in the Wild Card round. Here, the Titans will face a much tougher challenge, playing on the road for a third consecutive week off back-to-back victories in 'must-win' games. The Ravens weaknesses are few and far between. I don't need to tell you that QB Lamar Jackson is in line for another huge performance on Saturday night. I do think we'll see the Ravens defense move to the forefront after this game as well as they should absolutely dominate Titans QB Ryan Tannehill. RB Derrick Henry will get his but it won't be enough to keep the Titans within arm's reach of the AFC's number one seed. Take Baltimore (10*).

NFL Divisional Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and San Francisco at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

This one sets up perfectly as we're dealing with a relatively low total based on all four games last week staying 'under' the total and the fact that the 49ers reputation as a 'defense first' team preceeds them. That's not to mention the notion that the Vikings offense can only go as far as QB Kirk Cousins takes them and the belief that he's in line for a bad game after holding his own in New Orleans last week. I believe the potential is there for a shootout in Santa Clara as the Divisional Round kicks off on Saturday afternoon. The 49ers offense doesn't get nearly enough respect. This is one of the most creative offenses in the NFL today and with extra time to prepare I fully expect Kyle Shanahan's squad to pull out all the stops against a very beatable Vikings defense on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Vikings are riding high after playing a near-perfect road game in New Orleans last Sunday. I'm not a Kirk Cousins doubter. I'm confident we'll see him turn in another strong performance here with all of his weapons likely at his disposal with WR Adam Thielen expected to be good to go. The common narrative is that the 49ers defense is healthy now and poised to dominate the Vikings, but I'm not convinced it will play out that way on the field. Take the over (10*). 

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over San Francisco at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the Vikings in last week's stunning upset of the Saints in New Orleans and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here as they head to the west coast to face the 49ers. I'm not sure we saw Minnesota's best game at the Superdome last Sunday but it still managed to pull out an overtime win. The overriding narrative here is that the 49ers defense will manhandle the Vikings Kirk Cousins-led offense. I'm just not convinced that will be the case. Yes, the Vikes haven't been as good on the road, and certainly not outdoors. But I believe this is a team with a big chip on their shoulder and that underdog mentality will serve them well again here. The 49ers have enjoyed a terrific season but are largely green when it comes to the postseason. I don't consider Levi's Stadium to be an intimidating venue for the opposition by any means. Give me all the points I can get with the Vikes here. Take Minnesota (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Miami-Ohio and Louisiana-Lafayette at 7:30 pm et on Monday.

I'll back the 'under' on Monday night as the Redhawks and Ragin' Cajuns meet at the tail-end of Bowl season. Both teams will obviously be well-rested and well-prepared for this one having been idle for over a month. Miami-Ohio does not have an explosive offense by any means and will be best suited to turn this into a slugfest. That may be easier said than done as the Ragin' Cajuns do possess a high-octane offense. With that being said, we've seen the Redhawks rise to the occasion a number of times this season and I'm confident they can do so again here. Louisiana-Lafayette thrived against a number of punchless defenses in the Sun Belt over the course of the season but should find the sledding a little tougher here. Take the under (10*).

NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Seattle at 4:40 pm et on Sunday.

The Seahawks are clearly in desperation mode having signed RBs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin prior to last week's narrow loss to the 49ers. While QB Russell Wilson always instills some level of confidence, the rest of the team does not. Seattle is banged-up on both sides of the football and now has to travel across the country to face an Eagles squad that has been surging despite all of their own injuries. Philadelphia's 'next man up' philosophy is nothing new. You of course will remember QB Nick Foles taking over for Carson Wentz and leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory just two years ago. We've seen guys like Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert and Greg Ward step up in a big way in recent weeks, and we should see more of the same here. The Eagles depleted secondary is certainly a concern but I'm not convinced the Seahawks offense can take advantage as Philadelphia's pass rush remains a strength and should have Wilson under duress all afternoon long. They'll be hard-pressed to advance beyond next weekend but I do look for the Eagles to secure a hard-fought victory here. Take Philadelphia (10*).

NFL Wild Card Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and New Orleans at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

This is a shootout waiting to happen as far as I'm concerned and I fully expected to see the total set well into the 50's so we're getting value playing 'over' the current number. The Vikings will likely be in comeback mode for much of the afternoon on Sunday but that should serve their offense well, with QB Kirk Cousins comfortable slinging it around in a dome setting and WRs Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen set to take advantage of a beatable Saints pass defense. While New Orleans has held up well against the run this season, it will undoubtedly have its hands full with a now-healthy Dalvin Cook, who should be a workhorse for the Vikes on Sunday. I don't think Minnesota has much hope of slowing the Saints surging offense, which didn't take its foot off the gas one bit in Week 17. That performance should serve New Orleans well as it rolls into this eruption spot against the Vikings. RB Alvin Kamara re-emerged as a threat both on the ground and in the passing game down the stretch and he should see plenty of usage in this matchup as well. The Vikes don't have anyone that can cover WR Michael Thomas, who is well-positioned to turn in the best performance of any receiver on Wild Card Weekend. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over New Orleans at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

No one is giving the Vikings much of a chance in this game but I actually expect a competitive affair. I'm confident Minnesota can move the football on this inconsistent Saints defense with its full compliment of offensive pieces rested and ready to go following what amounted to a bye in Week 17 with its playoff positioning already decided. On the flip side, I don't see this as an ideal situation for Saints QB Drew Brees - an early start afternoon matchup at the Superdome. I've never been all that high on Vikes QB Kirk Cousins but the stats don't like and he has always performed better in a dome setting, as is the case here. I'm not convinced the Saints will ever pull away in this contest, so I'll grab all the points I can get with the Vikings. Take Minnesota (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Tennessee and New England at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

This projects to be a low-scoring affair between the Titans and Patriots in Foxborough on Saturday night. We've actually won some money playing the 'over' in games involving the Titans this season but Mike Vrabel's squad is in a tough spot here. We know that Bill Bellichick will do everything he can to take away the Titans best offensive weapon, that being RB Derrick Henry. Of course, Tennessee also has emerging superstar WR A.J. Brown, but he should be handled by Pats CB Stephon Gilmore. Of course, New England's offense has seemingly gotten worse as the season has gone on. QB Tom Brady's elbow obviously isn't right, nor is WR Julian Edelman operating at 100%. I do think we'll see the Pats ground game and short passing game find some success in this matchup, but that should only lead to long, clock-churning scoring drives, helping our cause with the 'under'. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

I'm not too sure the Texans even belong in the playoffs, let alone hosting a game on Wild Card Weekend. DeShaun Watson essentially willed them to just enough wins this season to secure the division title in the AFC South. But we know the Texans have struggled in the playoffs before, and I expect a similar story to unfold here. The Bills bandwagon was all loaded up until they suffered a loss in front of a national audience two weeks ago. We actually won with the Patriots in that contest. Here, Buffalo finds itself in a far more favorable matchup. I don't think the Bills will have much trouble moving the football against a very beatable Texans defense - even as Houston welcomes DE J.J. Watt back to the fold. The Texans have struggled against the pass and struggled against the run this season, and the Bills can take advantage of both weaknesses with QB Josh Allen in line for a big performance. The real kicker here is that I expect to see Sean McDermott coach circles around Bill O'Brien. I'm not sure that advantage is being properly reflected in this pointspread. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Buffalo and Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

I'll take a shot with the 'under' in the first of four NFL Wild Card matchups. I don't think anything is going to come easy for Texans QB DeShaun Watson in this game. The Bills defense has been vulnerable against the run at times, but I don't believe the Texans boast a strong enough ground game to really open up the offense here. The blueprint has already been laid out for slowing Watson - even the Bucs were able to keep him in check in a key late season matchup. On the flip side, the Bills offense doesn't have a particularly high ceiling. Even in games where Josh Allen has erupted, the Bills haven't always put up a boatload of points. I actually feel that both of these teams have a fairly low ceiling as far as point production goes in this contest, which obviously sets us up well with the 'under' as this total has crept up as the week has progressed. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Boston College and Cincinnati at 3 pm et on Thursday.

I absolutely love the way this one sets up as a lower-scoring game than expected on Thursday afternoon. Boston College will be without elite NFL-ready RB A.J. Dillon in this one, severely hampering its offensive attack. Defensively, we saw the Eagles stiffen up down the stretch. Over their final three games they didn't allow a touchdown until the final five minutes of the first half against Florida State, held Notre Dame out of the end zone until the final three minutes of the first half, and didn't allow a Pitt touchdown until the third quarter. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder has impressed over the course of his Bearcat career but didn't enjoy a banner season in 2019, particularly down the stretch. Whether due to injury or otherwise, Ridder threw multiple touchdown passes just once in his last six games. He also threw for more than 200 yards only once over that stretch. While I do respect the Cincinnati offense, I don't expect to see it go off in this matchup. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Baylor plus the points over Georgia at 8:45 pm et on Wednesday.

Baylor has suffered just two losses this season, both coming at the hands of Oklahoma by a combined 10 points. While Georgia certainly has championship pedigree and gets the edge almost by default coming out of the mighty SEC, I believe the Bulldogs will be in for a fight here. Of course, Georgia comes into this game seriously undermanned with a number of key cogs dealing with injuries. Even if the Bulldogs did have all hands on deck I suspect they would have a tough time against the Baylor defense. Georgia QB Jake Fromm didn't look like himself all season, struggling in key situations time after time. Baylor on the other hand seemed to answer the bell at all the key moments and all indications are that they'll have QB Charlie Brewer back after he suffered a concussion in the Big 12 Championship Game. Take Baylor (10*).

CFB Bowl Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Auburn at 1 pm et on Wednesday.

This game has shootout potential as the upstart Golden Gophers challenge SEC stalwarts Auburn in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Minnesota actually put up some solid defensive numbers during the regular season but was certainly buoyed by a schedule that boasted few offensive juggernauts. There is plenty of reason to be confident in the Golden Gophers offense, however. QB Tanner Morgan threw for at least one touchdown pass in all 12 games this season. While RB Rodney Smith cooled off down the stretch, there's no question the Gophers backfield is capable of busting out here. Auburn took on all comers during the regular season, culminating with a 48-45 win over Alabama on November 30th. QB Bo Nix had his ups and downs and didn't throw multiple touchdown passes in any of his last five games. I do think he can take advantage of a middle of the road Minnesota defense here, however. I've been high on Tigers RB JaTarvious Whitlow all season. He wasn't given a heavy workload but showed flashes of brilliance, most recently running for 114 yards on 16 carries against Alabama. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Utah at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday.

I'm anticipating a back-and-forth shootout between the Longhorns and Utes in the Alamo Bowl on Tuesday night. Even though Texas stumbled down the stretch, losing two of its last three games, QB Sam Ehlinger kept rolling along, throwing for over 800 yards and five touchdowns over that stretch. His exploits should be on full display once again here, even against a stellar Utah defense. The Utes won't back down from a shootout. They got caught flat-footed in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon (we won with the Ducks in that game) but should be well prepared and well-suited to go toe-to-toe with the Longhorns. QB Tyler Huntley had just two games where he didn't throw a touchdown pass this season. RB Zack Moss had only four games where he didn't run for over 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in 10 of 12 games he appeared in. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Kansas State plus the points over Navy at 3:45 pm et on Tuesday.

When we last saw Navy play it faced little resistance in a 31-7 rout of Army (we won with the under in that game). I expect a different story to unfold this time around, however. I'm confident that the Wildcats defense can keep the Midshipmen offense in check in this one, at least to some extent. On the flip side, while I'm not all that high on Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson, I do feel the Wildcats are a well-coached team and that the extra preparation time should result in a fine performance from their well-balanced offensive attack against a very beatable Navy defense. I'll grab all the points I can get with Kansas State here. Take Kansas State (10*).

My selection is on Kentucky plus the points over Virginia Tech at 12 noon et on Tuesday.

There's not a lot separating these two teams although they ended their respective regular seasons on much different notes. Kentucky closed with three consecutive wins, culminating with a 45-13 rout of in-state rival Louisville which looks better than it did back in November after the Cardinals got past Mississippi State yesterday (we won with Louisville in that game). Virginia Tech suffered a 39-30 loss against rival Virginia in its regular season finale. I don't have a great deal of confidence in the Hokies offense led by QB Hendon Hooker. On the flip side, the Wildcats offense really got rolling down the stretch with the emergence of dual-threat Lynn Bowden Jr. This is simply a case of Kentucky boasting more upside here in late December. Take Kentucky (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Illinois and California at 4 pm et on Monday.

This is a defensive struggle waiting to happen as the Illini face the Golden Bears on Monday afternoon. While we are dealing with a relatively low total, it's warranted in my opinion. These two teams are essentially mirror images of one another with Cal owning the stronger defense statistically. Offensively, both teams were inconsistent over the course of the regular season. While Cal closed things out on a high note, Illinois managed to score just 20 points combined in its final two regular season contests. I'm not convinced we'll see either team open things up on Monday afternoon, knowing that this is a 'first to 20 wins' type of affair. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Louisville plus the points over Mississippi State at 4 pm et on Monday.

I'll grab all the points I can get with the Cardinals in this game which really amounts to a toss-up as far as I'm concerned. Mississippi State certainly doesn't boast an overly impressive resume but its SEC pedigree plays a factor in it being favored by more than a field goal here. The Bulldogs got here thanks to winning three of their final four regular season games but come into this one banged up with a number of key injuries. Meanwhile, Louisville came up empty in an ugly 45-13 rout at the hands of Kentucky in its regular season finale but that doesn't change the fact that it was a fine 2019 campaign with the Cardinals winning seven of 12 games overall. While their defense leaves a lot to be desired, their offense has been electric at times and I certainly feel they'll come up big on that side of the football in this game. The Bulldogs are laying too many points. Take Louisville (10*).

CFB Bowl Game of the Year. My selection is on Western Michigan plus the points over Western Kentucky at 12:30 pm et on Monday.

I've actually been fairly high on the Sun Belt Conference all season but I don't like the way this game sets up for Western Kentucky - a team that has struggled to score points at the best of times this season. The Hilltoppers do draw a favorable matchup against a weak Western Michigan defense but can they take advantage? I'm not so sure. Western Michigan toughened up when it had to down the stretch and a narrow 17-14 loss to Northern Illinois served as its only loss over its final four regular season contests. Broncos QB Jon Wassink didn't perform particularly well down the stretch save for a 322-yard three-touchdown performance against Ohio on November 12th, but his overall numbers were solid and he is certainly capable of keeping this offense on schedule against WKU on Monday. RB LeVante Bellamy is the real story for the Broncos as he gained just shy of 1,500 yards on the ground while finding the end zone on 23 occasions during the regular season. Simply put, I don't believe the Broncos will ever be out of this game with their outstanding offense. Take Western Michigan (10*).

My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an absolute 'lay down' spot for the Vikings playing on a short week with nothing to gain in the playoff picture. The Bears are expected to play their regular starters and should have plenty of motivation with a number of players looking to show up and show out to secure future jobs at the end of a miserable, disappointing campaign. Week 17 can be an extremely tough handicap but the reeling Bears are favored for a reason here in my opinion. Take Chicago (10*).

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

I believe the Jets have some upside in this AFC East showdown on Sunday as the Bills are likely to rest most of their starters in Orchard Park. New York of course has plenty of players essentially auditioning for future roles. This matchup sets up beautifully for Jets RB Le'Veon Bell as he looks to put a disappointing campaign behind him and finish on a high note. Keep in mind, as I noted in my analysis of last week's play on the Patriots over the Bills, Buffalo has struggled against the run all season and with mostly backups on the field on Sunday, will have little chance of slowing Bell should the Jets choose to stick to the run. For the Bills, their focus is on the postseason, not the Jets. Take New York (10*).

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

This is a blowout waiting to happen as the Patriots look to continue to 'get right' prior to the start of the playoffs. Last week's come-from-behind win over the Bills here in Foxborough was a step in the right direction. After facing an 'all hands on deck' Bills squad last week, the Pats should have little trouble brushing aside an undermanned Dolphins team. Miami obviously has nothing to play for but pride at this point and simply doesn't have the pieces or schemes in place on offense to put one over on New England. Look for the Pats to essentially eliminate the Fins passing game and pull away for the win and cover. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Ohio State at 8 pm et on Saturday.

I was very high on Clemson down the stretch and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the Tigers here as they face a tough challenge in the Ohio State Buckeyes. I don't need to tell you that Clemson is absolutely loaded with talent on both sides of the football. The same goes for Ohio State, but the difference is, I don't believe that the Buckeyes have faced a team even close to the caliber of the Tigers this season. Clemson is obviously highly familiar with playing in the College Football Playoff and that should help its cause here as well. I really don't believe this game is going to be all that close and feel we're being given an extremely favorable line with the superior squad. take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on USC plus the points over Iowa at 8 pm et on Friday.

Iowa got into this Bowl game thanks to winning its final three regular season contests but that wasn't unexpected as it was favored in all three of those games. The Hawkeyes are of course favored again here, but I'm not sure it's warranted. Everyone seems to be sleeping on USC despite the fact that it posted a solid 8-4 SU and 6-5-1 ATS record this season, facing one of the tougher schedules in the entire nation. After almost a month off I'm just not sure we're going to see the Hawkeyes bring the same defensive intensity to the table we've seen from them all season and that could spell trouble as their offense simply isn't capable of shouldering the load. Take USC (10*).

My selection is on North Carolina minus the points over Temple at 12 noon et on Friday.

Temple may enter this game sporting the better overall record but I don't think there's any question that North Carolina brings more upside to the table. Credit the Tar Heels for managing to go 6-6 after a dismal 2018 campaign. They became Bowl eligible with a 41-10 rout of N.C. State in their final regular season game. Temple peaked in a 30-28 win over Memphis way back on October 12th. From that point on the Owls went an even 3-3. I like the advantage the Tar Heels possess at the quarterback position and in the backfield. Look for North Carolina to take care of business and cover the reasonable pointspread here. Take North Carolina (10*).

My selection is on Eastern Michigan plus the points over Pittsburgh at 8 pm et on Thursday.

Just feel that the Eagles are being given too many points in this matchup as I question how motivated Pitt will be for the Quick Lane Bowl. The Panthers Bowl standing was hurt by back-to-back losses at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan gained Bowl eligibility thanks to a couple of late road wins in the MAC before falling in a letdown situation at home against Kent State in its regular season finale. The Eagles haven't had the opportunity to go Bowling very often in recent years. I look for them to give the Panthers a run here. Take Eastern Michigan (10*).

CFB Bowl Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between BYU and Hawaii at 8 pm et on Monday.

When these two teams met a year ago they got into the 70's but I believe we're going to see a lower-scoring affair this time around and we're dealing with a lofty total approaching the mid-60's. BYU QB Zach Wilson appeared in eight games this season and threw more than two touchdowns on only one occasion - that coming against a horrible UMass defense. Meanwhile, Hawaii QB Cole MacDonald is a legend in his own right but had a bit of a tough time once the schedule toughened up this season, failing to throw for 300+ yards since way back on October 20th while throwing more than a single touchdown pass only once over his last six games. BYU is the better defensive team in this matchup but I do think Hawaii can hold its own in that regard here as well, noting that in the Rainbow Warriors most recent game - the MWC Championship - they didn't allow a touchdown until the final two minutes of the first half against Boise State. BYU held all 12 opponents to 27 points or less this season. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Green Bay and Minnesota at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The last time we saw the Vikings on the primetime stage they were involved in a shootout with the Seahawks in Seattle. They also lit up the Chargers for a whopping 39 points in last week's blowout victory. Those two results serve to give us a slightly inflated total here in my opinion. Minnesota is highly unlikely to match last week's production in this late season division game. On the flip side, while the Vikings defense has been inconsistent, I do think they can hold a mediocre Packers offense at bay on Monday night. Since the start of November, Green Bay has scored more than 24 points in a game only once, and that performance came at the hands of an awful Giants defense. I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair on Monday night in Minnesota. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Marshall and Central Florida at 2:30 pm et on Monday.

Central Florida didn't receive quite as much hype this season than it has in previous years but it was an offensive juggernaut nonetheless, ranking fourth in the nation in total yardage per game and sixth in points scored per game. The Knights are going to get theirs offensively in this matchup. Marshall's good run of defensive play down the stretch had everything to do with a weak slate of opponents. With that being said, the Thundering Herd are a perennial Bowl team - or at least they have been over the last decade. More often than not they're able to generate plenty of offense, scoring 30+ points in three of their last four Bowl appearances. I don't expect them to roll over in this daunting matchup and that should set us up for a relatively high-scoring affair. Take the over (10*).

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

We are dealing with a high total in this matchup - one of the highest on the Week 16 board in fact - but I believe it's warranted. The Seahawks may be an elite team but they by no means possess an elite defense. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray should be afforded plenty of time to move the football, both through the air and on the ground. Off last week's confidence-building performance against the Browns this is another positive spot for the Arizona offense as a whole. Meanwhile, the Seahawks enjoyed a bounce-back performance of their own last week in Carolina and should see continued success against a very beatable Cards defense Unless the Seahawks completely overlook the Cards, which I don't see happening, they should be able to score at will throughout this game on Sunday afternoon. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between New Orleans and Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The common line of thinking here is that the Saints offense is in for a rough afternoon in Tennessee, playing on a short week off Monday's blowout win over the Colts. I actually believe we're going to see a shootout here. The Titans are missing both of their starting cornerbacks, which spells trouble as they try to contain all-world WR Michael Thomas, who is coming off another stellar performance. The Saints defense is dealing with some key injurys as well, most notably Rankins and Davenport up front. Of course, the Titans offense has come around since QB Ryan Tannehill took over the reins. He's in for a fine bounce-back performance against a Saints defense that wasn't really tested in their Monday night win over the hapless Colts. UPDATE: Titans RB Derrick Henry is not expected to play due to a hamstring injury. Still confident in the over as I believe the Saints banged up defense can be run on and Tannehill can find success in potential catch-up mode. Take the over (10*).

NFL Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Browns bandwagon cleared months ago but if there were any stragglers left on board, they surely jumped ship after last week's ugly loss in Arizona. I actually believe that sets us up with considerable line value as they return home to lick their wounds and host the rival Ravens on Sunday afternoon. There was plenty of drama created by last week's loss, with talk of certain players, WR Jarvis Landry included, telling the Cardinals to 'come get me'. Here, I think we'll see the Browns attempt to force-feed Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., even as they face a tough challenge in that of the Ravens. The real key to this game may be Browns RB Nick Chubb. I'm confident he'll have a monster performance against a very beatable Baltimore run defense. Let's not lose sight of the fact that Cleveland has already defeated Baltimore once this season - on the road no less. As much as the Ravens would like to get back at the Browns, as I've said before revenge is a dish best served at home. Baltimore and Lamar Jackson in particular look unstoppable right now, but it is laying an awful lot of points in a divisional road game in late December. Look for the Browns to pull up their socks and show some pride for one week - this is essentially their Super Bowl for 2019. Take Cleveland (10*).

CFB Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between UAB and Appalachian State at 9 pm et on Saturday.

My first look is usually to the 'over' in the New Orleans Bowl as we've seen plenty of shootouts on the fast track of the Superdome over the years. However, in this case, I believe we'll see a lower-scoring game than the oddsmakers are calling for. UAB topped out at 38 points this season, and generally struggled offensively with some lackluster talent at the skill positions on offense. Keep in mind, the Blazers benefited from facing the likes of Akron, Rice and UTEP during the regular season - arguably three of the weakest teams in the nation. Here, they'll be facing a stiff challenge in Appalachian State. The Mountaineers could be forgiven for not being all that interested in this Bowl game. After all their head coach has bolted, and they just played in this same Bowl game a year ago, winning in a walk. Just not sure we're going to see a great deal of offensive fireworks in this one. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Florida International and Arkansas State at 5:30 pm et on Saturday.

This one will be pegged as a shootout and while it may develop into just that, I'm not sure it will eclipse the lofty posted total. I actually think the two defenses in this matchup can make the opposing offenses rather one-dimensional. I have a lot of respect for the Arkansas State offense led by QB Layne Hatcher but while he's capable of bombing away, they're also going to need to move the football on the ground, which could be a tall task with RB Marcel Murray nursing a bad ankle. Meanwhile, the FIU offense has been inconsistent at best, coming up big for stretches but not able to really sustain anything for much of the campaign. Arkansas State actually faced some explosive offenses in the Sun Belt Conference this season and will be better for it in this matchup with the Panthers. Take the under (10*).

NFL AFC East Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over Buffalo at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the Patriots in last Sunday's rout of the Bengals and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with them again here, as they return home to host the Bills in a big AFC East showdown. New England's offense remains somewhat broken, or so it appears. I do think we'll see Patriots OC Josh McDaniels scheme his way to some success against the Bills stout defense in this matchup, however. Note that while Buffalo's secondary has been rock solid, it has been vulnerable against the run, giving up 4.5 yards per rush this season. The Pats have no shortage of capable backs that could be in for breakout spots here. Buffalo escaped with a win in primetime in Pittsburgh last week but let's face it, QB Josh Allen didn't look good, and the Pats have had no trouble limiting him in previous matchups. There's absolutely no reason for the Pats to fear the Bills offense in this one, noting that they've held Buffalo to 16 points or less in four straight and six of the last seven meetings in this series. Take New England (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Saturday.

I probably don't need to tell you that this is a shootout waiting to happen on Saturday afternoon in Tampa. The Texans were expected to get involved in a shootout in Tennessee last Sunday but that matchup fizzled somewhat, with Houston ultimately securing a much-needed 24-21 win. Here, I don't think there's any chance of the offenses wilting as both groups are in tremendous position to light it up all afternoon long. Of course, Tampa Bay is missing its top two wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but that only serves to give us a lower total to work with here. QB Jameis Winston will continue to bomb away on his march toward the pass yardage title for 2019. Meanwhile, the Bucs ground game has the potential to also go off against a Texans run defense that is really struggling, giving up north of 4.6 yards per rush. Tampa Bay should be able to effectively limit the Texans ground game but I have full confidence in DeShaun Watson to do enough through the air (and with his legs) to help get this one 'over' the total. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay plus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Saturday.

I like the Bucs plus the points in this Saturday afternoon matchup. The Texans obviously need this one more than the Bucs, who are simply playing out the string, but to be quite honest, I'm not all that high on Houston. Yes, the Texans were able to pull out a big win in Tennessee last Sunday but now they have to stay on the road and play on a short week against a non-conference opponent that simply won't draw the same level of motivation. The Bucs are without their top two wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but don't think for a second that QB Jameis Winston won't continue to air it out. Not only that but the Bucs draw a favorable ground game matchup against a Texans defense that gives up over 4.6 yards per rush. I don't think Tampa Bay will ever be out of this one. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Kent State and Utah State at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

Utah State should absolutely have its way with the Kent State defense in this game. As I've said on numerous occasions this season, I really do believe the Golden Flashes have one of the worst defenses in the country. With Aggies QB Jordan Love and RB Gerold Bright cleared to play, they should absolutely shred an overmatched Kent State defense. The pointspread does say a lot in this particular matchup, however. I think Utah State is a relatively short favorite for a reason. Kent State seemed to get stronger and more consistent offensively as the season went on, and it should find plenty of success against a beatable Utah State defense that has allowed 30+ points in four of its last six games. This total is high but it's warranted in my opinion. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Utah State minus the points over Kent State at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

Just think there's a major class difference that isn't being properly accounted for in this pointspread. If you've followed my plays regularly this season, you know I'm not very high on Kent State, particularly on the defensive side of the football, where I feel they're among the worst teams in the nation. With that being said, this is an awfully tough matchup against a dynamic Utah State offense led by NFL prospect QB Jordan Love. There was talk of several Aggies offensive playmakers, including Love, being suspended due to a marijuana possession offence, but that isn't going to be the case. Unless Utah State completely overlooks Kent State or is disinterested in the Frisco Bowl altogether, which is always a possibility, I expect the Aggies to roll. Take Utah State (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Charlotte at 2 pm et on Friday.

Credit Charlotte for rallying late in the season to reach a Bowl game for the first time in program history. However, I believe we'll see the 49ers run end here. Buffalo possesses a three-headed rushing attack that should have little trouble moving the chains against a Charlotte defense that allows five yards per rush. On the flip side, the 49ers offense is led by QB Chris Reynolds who hasn't thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game since October. He was turnover-prone all season and faces a Buffalo defense that puts a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, racking up 38 sacks during the regular season to tie a school record. I simply feel it's only a matter of time before the Bulls put this one away for good and eventually win by margin. Take Buffalo (10*).

NFL MNF Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Indianapolis at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This is an absolute smash spot for the Saints at home in primetime against the reeling Colts. This is precisely the type of spotlight game where Saints QB Drew Brees goes off. The Colts defense has become suddenly non-existent against the pass as they enter this game on the heels of three straight losses. Indianapolis has shown some semblance of a run defense but the Saints offense is more than versatile enough to negate that advantage. Meanwhile the Colts offense has become quite one-dimensional in the absence of WR T.Y. Hilton. While Hilton may return for this game it's difficult to predict how effective he can be after an extended absence. RB Marlon Mack returned last week but was limited and I would suggest that will probably be the case again this week. Look for a monster performance from WR Michael Thomas to pace the Saints offense and we might even see RB Alvin Kamara finally get back on track with a big game catching passes out of the backfield. Take New Orleans (10*).

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

This is a true 'get right' spot for the Patriots and I fully expect to see them blow the doors off the Bengals. Cincinnati couldn't follow up its first win of the season, falling to the Browns in Cleveland last Sunday. The Bengals have been playing better lately, thanks in large part to the re-emergence of RB Joe Mixon. I simply feel that we'll see the Pats take Mixon out of the equation in this one which should cripple the Bengals offense. The Brady-haters are out in full force these days but I do think Tom will turn in a solid performance here. That's not to mention the Pats ground game, which should shred the Bengals non-existent run defense. It's only a matter of time before New England puts this one away for good. Take New England (10*).

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

Who would have thought we'd see a game between these two AFC South rivals feature a total north of 50? This is a series that generally features totals in the low-40s. Keep in mind, this will be the first of two matchups between the Texans and Titans in the next three weeks. Both defenses are shells of their former selves, largely due to a number of key injuries. Texans QB DeShaun Watson should have a field day against the Titans suddenly leaky, injury-plagued secondary, even if WR Will Fuller can't go. Meanwhile, QB Ryan Tannehill has earned a new lease on his football life in Tennessee and is set up nicely to tear apart a struggling Texans defense. Of course, RB Derrick Henry, who was plagued by a hamstring injury last week but still put up gawdy numbers, should be able to run wild against a Houston defense that has been particularly bad in recent weeks. It all sets up for a back and forth shootout in Nashville on Sunday afternoon. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Army and Navy at 3 pm et on Saturday.

Another year, another Army-Navy 'under'. We've been in on virtually all of the 'unders' during the current streak in this series and there's no reason to jump ship here. Yes, Navy put up some gawdy offensive numbers this season but that was largely schedule-based. Army showed flashes of brilliance at times, but really struggled when stepping up in class, as is the case here. These two teams couldn't be any more familiar with one another and that familiarity leads to low-scoring results every year. If anything things are getting tighter, with each of the last five meetings totaling 38 points or less and all five of those games being decided by a touchdown or less. Take the under (10*).

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

I don't need to tell you that this is an absolutely amazing spot for the Ravens offense as they should shred a hapless Jets defense that is likely going to be without a pair of key cogs in Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams. Even with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dealing with an injured quad, there's no chance that the Jets slow him down here. Look for Jackson to run wild, while also feeding Hollywood Brown in what amounts to a blowout in the making. I do think the Jets will find some success offensively, simply due to the fact that the Ravens can't stop the run, but playing in catch-up mode, look for QB Sam Darnold to make enough mistakes to ultimately put this game out of reach for Gang Green. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Baltimore at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

Everyone seems to be assuming the Jets aren't going to be able to score much at all in this game but I'm not sure that will be the case at M&T Bank Stadium  on Thursday night. The Ravens are allowing just shy of five yards per rush this season which opens the door for Jets RB Le'Veon Bell, who should have the backfield all to himself with Bilal Powell expected to miss. Meanwhile, the Ravens should score at will in this mismatch. The Jets defense is undermanned and quite simply banged up, likely missing both Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams for this one. That opens the door for another monster performance from QB Lamar Jackson. Also look for a re-introduction to WR Hollywood Brown on Thursday night as the Ravens run up the score on the Jets. Take the over (10*).

NFL NFC East Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Philadelphia at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This is an unappealing Monday night matchup between two downtrodden NFC East squads. With that being said, I do think we'll see some offensive fireworks in this one. The Giants will trot out QB Eli Manning for what could be his last ride. While Manning does present a great deal of upside, I do think he can do some damage working with a strong group of receivers, not to mention a returning TE Evan Engram. Keep in mind, the Eagles secondary is bottom of the barrel as far as I'm concerned. On the flip side, this is a smash spot for Eagles QB Carson Wentz coming off a much-needed breakout against the lowly Dolphins last Sunday. Wentz's wide receiver corps is getting healthier and he has a two-headed monster to work with at TE in Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. Throw in dynamic rookie RB Miles Sanders and I'm confident we'll see the Philadelphia offense move the football and score at will against a weak Giants defense that doesn't generate any sort of pass rush. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The Eagles are a downtrodden football team but they have to feel pretty good about the fact that they're just a game behind the Cowboys for the NFC East lead and a very winnable matchup presents itself as they host the lowly Giants on Monday night. The G-Men are simply playing out the string at this point and will trot out QB Eli Manning in place of an injured Daniel Jones. Manning really is a wild card at this point but it's worth noting that the Philadelphia defense is capable of generating a ferocious pass rush. Manning hasn't been good under pressure in the latter stages of his career. Meanwhile, Eagles QB Carson Wentz should absolutely light up a weak Giants defense that has shown no semblance of a pass rush this season. The Eagles offense is getting healthier with WR Alshon Jeffery coming off a tremendous bounce-back performance against the Dolphins last week. I'm high on Philadelphia rookie RB Miles Sanders as well. He has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks and could be in for another big game here. Take Philadelphia (10*).

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

It seems that the Titans have found their quarterback in Ryan Tannehill even if the real story has been RB Derrick Henry, who is absolutely running rampant right now and should continue his torrid pace against a weak Raiders defense on Sunday afternoon. Tennessee isn't about to overlook any opponent, even a reeling one such as the Raiders. Oakland is in a tough spot traveling back home following a beatdown at the hands of the Chiefs last Sunday. Look for the Titans to ultimately pull away for a comfortable win on Sunday afternoon. Take Tennessee (10*).

NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Bills continue to get no respect in the betting marketplace, even after last week's rout of the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Here, I look for Buffalo to keep things close at the very least, and quite possibly win outright. Motivation will obviously be high for the Bills, not only are they hosting this year's 'it' team in the Ravens, but they'll have Doug Flutie making a rare appearance in Orchard Park to be honored as a Bills legend. Last week, Baltimore was able to overmatch the 49ers at home in a bad weather game, in an early start no less. The shoe is on the other foot this time around. Take Buffalo (10*).

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

This is an absolutely terrific 'get right' matchup for the Packers as they host the lifeless Redskins at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon. I don't see Washington offering any sort of resistance on the defensive side of the football while the Packers defense will be eager to bounce back and should feast on a miserable Redskins offensive line. The Redskins aren't the type of team capable of coming back and making things interesting after falling behind big, as I expect them to on Sunday afternoon. Look for a big game from Pack RB Aaron Jones, guiding Green Bay to a lopsided victory. Take Green Bay (10*).

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

Clemson enters this game playing its best football of the season. We won with the Tigers in last week's rout of South Carolina and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. As has often been the case in recent years, the ACC Championship Game amounts to a complete mismatch. The Tigers should be able to dominate this game on both sides of the football. This is certainly a difficult spot for the Cavaliers coming off an outright underdog win over rival Virginia Tech last week. We won with Virginia in its rout of Liberty two weeks ago but I have no problem jumping ship here. Take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on Georgia plus the points over LSU at 4 pm et on Saturday.

If you've followed my plays regularly this season you know that I've been high on Georgia. After cashing with the Bulldogs in last week's rout of Georgia Tech I see this as another excellent spot to back them as they check in as an underdog against mighty LSU. The Tigers obviously possess an explosive offense but I do think Georgia is capable of at the very least keeping them in check. I also like the Bulldogs ability to effectively shorten this game with their tremendous ground attack. QB Jake Fromm hasn't had to be great this season but I'm confident he'll turn in a solid performance here in what should be a tightly-contested affair. Take Georgia (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Oregon and Utah at 8 pm et on Friday.

This is a relatively low total but I believe it's warranted. Oregon hasn't been the offensive juggernaut we've been accustomed to seeing in previous years this season, even with top NFL QB prospect Justin Herbert at the helm of the offense. On the flip side, the Ducks defense has held its own - this isn't a team that got involved in a ton of track meets this season. Utah meanwhile closed out the regular season with some strong performances offensively, but the story is its elite defense, which I believe can handle this matchup with the Ducks. The Utes come in having allowed a grand total of 25 points over their last three contests. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Oregon plus the points over Utah at 8 pm et on Friday.

I can't help but feel there is a lot of undue added pressure on the Utes heading into this one as they aim to secure their best season since 2008 and put themselves into the conversation for a College Football Playoff spot with a victory on Friday night. I simply feel the Ducks are being overlooked, largely due to their collapse against Auburn in front of a national audiences way back in Week 1 (we won with the Tigers in that game) and a stunning upset loss to Arizona State two weeks ago. Oregon has a terrific shot at earning an ounce of redemption, not to mention improving its Bowl standing with a victory here. I'm not overly concerned by the Ducks less than impressive low-scoring win over Oregon State last time out. There was certainly a hangover effect at play in that one as they were coming off what could have been a season-wrecking loss to the Sun Devils. Oregon faces a tough challenge here but I don't think there's any reason intimidation factor at play with the Ducks having taken four of the last six meetings since 2013 and falling by just a single touchdown in a true road game last year. Take Oregon (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Dallas and Chicago at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

After watching a thrilling, high-scoring affair on Monday Night Football, look for completely the opposite on Thursday as the Cowboys and Bears do battle at Soldier Field. The Bears defense has sagged lately but I'm not convinced Dallas' disjointed offense can take full advantage. RB Ezekiel Elliott will get his but Dak Prescott may struggle in hostile territory on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky played fairly well on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit but figures to regress once again versus an aggressive Cowboys defense here. The Bears have become completely one-dimensional on offense and that doesn't serve them well against a better than advertised Dallas secondary coming off a poor showing against the Bills last week. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Seattle at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

There's not a lot separating these two teams so it's no surprise that we're dealing with a very tight field goal line ahead of their Monday night showdown. I'll grab the points with the underdog Vikings as they come in well-rested and poised to take advantage of a very beatable Seattle defense. The Seahawks own a tremendous home field advantage at CenturyLink Field but it's certainly worth noting that they've already lost games against the Saints and Ravens here at home this season. I don't feel that intimidation will be a real factor against an experienced Vikings group. Seattle comes in riding its longest winning streak of the season, which stands at four games. I believe there's a good chance it ends here. Take Minnesota (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on New York minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Jets are in excellent position to add to the winless Bengals' misery on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. The New York offense has been quietly racking up points in recent weeks and is an absolute smash spot against a very beatable Bengals defense on Sunday. Cincinnati has been one of the worst teams in the league defending the run this season which really opens things up with the Jets offense and RB Le'Veon Bell in particular. Jets QB Sam Darnold is on a redemption tour after a brutal start to the season and he's in line for another big performance here. Meanwhile, the Jets quietly own the league's best run defense which should severely limit what the Bengals can do offensively. QB Andy Dalton is back as the starter and while he may give Cincinnati a bit of a spark, I'm not sure it really matters at this point. His supporting cast is seriously lacking with WR Tyler Boyd one of the only bright spots. RB Joe Mixon has had a nice run the last couple of games but I don't expect him to play a big role in this one. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Georgia Tech at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We won with Georgia Tech in last week's narrow victory over N.C. State while missing the mark with Georgia as they won but failed to cover against Texas A&M. I do feel I have a pretty good read on both of these squads as they close out the regular season with this annual in-state rivalry matchup, and I'm confident laying the big number with the Bulldogs in what should be an old-fashioned blowout. Credit the Yellow Jackets for not giving up on the campaign but there's no question it's been a long season with eight losses in 11 games. They'll try to muck things up on Saturday and turn this into an ugly affair but I don't see them succeeding. The Bulldogs have been a little uneven offensively in recent weeks but they can absolutely get loose against this Georgia Tech defense. I certainly don't expect to see Georgia take it easy on the Jackets. Take Georgia (10*).

My selection is on Clemson minus the points over South Carolina at 12 noon et on Saturday.

Despite its flawless 11-0 record and despite the fact that it has scored 50+ points in four straight games, it almost seems as if Clemson is flying under the radar a little bit with the likes of LSU, Alabama and Ohio State garnering much of the national attention this season. The Tigers have certainly rounded into form after a relatively slow start to the season and they're in excellent position to absolutely annihilate an overmatched South Carolina squad here. This is the end of the line for the four-win Gamecocks, whose season highlight was undoubtedly a stunning 20-17 win over Georgia between the hedges back on October 12th. Since then, the Gamecocks have just one win to their credit and that came at home against lowly Vanderbilt. Take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on Washington State plus the points over Washington at 4 pm et on Friday.

Washington has owned the Apple Cup in recent years, taking each of the last six meetings but I believe that streak is in jeopardy this year. The Cougars and Huskies check in sporting identical 6-5 records but it's Washington State that comes in with some positive momentum off back-to-back wins, scoring a whopping 103 points in the process. The Cougars defense has reverted to old form, giving up a ton of points this season, but I actually feel they can hold their own in this particular matchup. Even two weeks ago against one of the worst defenses in the nation in Oregon State, Washington managed to score only 19 points. Despite the pro-Huskies crowd, I look for the Cougars to stay inside the number in this one. Take Washington State (10*).

My selection is on Missouri minus the points over Arkansas at 2:30 pm et on Friday.

This is a true 'get right' spot for Missouri and it couldn't come at a more opportune time as the Tigers need a victory to become Bowl eligible. It's easy to forget that Missouri got off to a terrific 5-1 start this season before the wheels came off in October. A tough schedule has led them to five straight losses but all is not lost. I like the Tigers chances of absolutely going off in this smash spot against a very weak Arkansas defense. The Razorbacks have lost eight games in a row and have been outgained by 240+ yards in four of their last five contests. They're unsettled at quarterback and I just don't see them keeping up in a potential shootout on Friday. Keep in mind Arkansas is allowing a staggering 5.8 yards per rush this season. This one could get out of hand in a hurry. Take Missouri (10*).

NFL Turkey Day Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Atlanta at 8:15 pm et on Thursday.

The Saints had a tough time pulling away from the Panthers on Sunday but ultimately did secure the victory thanks in large part to miscues in Carolina’s kicking game. I expect a much cleaner performance from the Saints this week as they travel to face the division rival Falcons in the friendly confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. I like the way the Saints offense has rounded into form with a healthy Drew Brees. There’s reason to believe they can even improve on their recent strong performances with Alvin Kamara in particular in line for a big breakout performance here. Meanwhile, the cupboard is getting pretty bare for the Falcons offense with a number of key cogs banged-up and now forced to play on a short week. The Saints have been able to generate a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and I’m confident they’ll be able to force Falcons QB Matt Ryan into some key mistakes in this contest as well. Atlanta’s ground game is by no means imposing with RB Devonta Freeman once again questionable to suit up. I don’t think there’s any question the offense is missing the likes of Mohamed Sanu and Tevin Coleman right now. I’m not convinced Atlanta can stay in this game for four quarters. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Detroit at 12:30 pm et on Thursday.

It might be time for the NFL to reconsider giving the Lions their annual home game on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, that time probably passed years ago. Mired in another disappointing campaign, there's little reason to have much confidence in Detroit here as it hosts Chicago. Of course, the Bears don't have a great deal of upside either but they do have more going for them than the Lions right now. The Chicago defense should feast on the Lions Jeff Driskel-led offense, with Driskel playing on a bad hamstring and coming off an absolute beating at the hands of the Redskins defense on Sunday. The Bears have done an excellent job of keeping opposing quarterbacks in the pocket and as long as they can continue to do that against Driskel, they'll be in fine shape on Thursday as he simply hasn't proven he can consistently move the chains through the air. There are obviously concerns when it comes to the Chicago offense but I'm not sure it will be asked to do too much in this one. QB Mitchell Trubisky is coming off one of his better performances, even though it did come against the lowly Giants. He draws another favorable matchup here against a banged-up Lions defense. Based on how I expect the Chicago defense to perform in this one, I think we will see Trubisky given some short fields to work with and do just enough to secure the win and cover. Take Chicago (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Western Michigan and Northern Illinois at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

There's little reason to have much faith in either of these offenses even though the 'over' has cashed in each of Western Michigan's last two games and six straight contests involving Northern Illinois. Keep in mind, Broncos QB Jon Wassink had thrown for under 200 yards in four straight games prior to last week's 322-yard, three-touchdown outburst against Ohio. On Senior Night, I do expect to see the Northern Illinois defense show up as the Huskies wrap up what has been a highly-disappointing campaign. NIU QB Marcus Childers has been ineffective since taking over for Ryan Bowers, who continues to recover from a concussion. Childers has thrown for more than 100 yards just once this season. While he is gaining 6.5 yards per rush, that's largely due to a relatively small sample size. In the last two seasons he averaged 3.3 and 2.7 yards per rush. Both offenses are capable of moving the football on the ground with terrific lead backs. That should only serve to keep the clock moving in this one, however, as Western Michigan looks to pick up a win and move on to postseason play. Take the under (10*).

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

This is being pegged as a potential shootout based on the total we're working with but I don't expect this non-conference affair to play out that way on the field. The Ravens will be hard-pressed to match their last two performances, in which they scored 49 and 41 points against far inferior defenses in the Bengals and Texans. The Rams defense does match up well with the Ravens dynamic offense as they allow just 3.5 yards per rush this season and don't give up a lot of big passing plays downfield. Baltimore and QB Lamar Jackson in particular is certainly in line for a 'come back to Earth' game as it travels across the country for this primetime affair. On the flip side, there's little reason to have a lot of confidence in the Rams offense at this point. This is a unit that has underachieved due to injuries and otherwise all season long and that's unlikely to change against an underrated Ravens defense. Baltimore will give up yardage on the ground but I'm not convinced Los Angeles will be able to take full advantage. The Ravens have been generating a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and have a shutdown tandem in the secondary capable of containing the likes of Kupp, Woods and Cooks. Take the under (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over Dallas at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Dallas bounced back with a win in Detroit last Sunday but it will find the going a lot tougher as it stays on the road to face the Patriots in Foxborough this week. Poor weather conditions are expected, which doesn't generally suit QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense well. While Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott draws a favorable matchup on paper, I feel the Pats will be content to concede yardage on the ground once again, but ultimately do another nice job of keeping the opposition out of the end zone. Offensively, the Pats are banged-up right now but the 'next man up' philosophy has always served them well, and I expect no different here. The Cowboys defense, while elite on paper, has disappointed for much of the campaign, including last week when it allowed Lions backup QB Jeff Driskel to move the football up and down the field. New England QB Tom Brady isn't 100% healthy but I'm anticipating a big performance from the GOAT once again. This is precisely the type of game Bill Bellichick's Patriots get up for and win by margin. Take New England (10*).

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

This is by no means a shootout on paper but I do think the Jaguars and Titans can find their way 'over' the relatively low posted total in what could be a sneaky-entertaining affair on Sunday afternoon. Last week, we saw Jags QB Nick Foles throw the ball 47 times in a blowout loss in Indianapolis and I expect him to be let loose once again here as the Titans are likely to stymie the Jags ground attack. That's not to say that Jags RB Leonard Fournette won't be a factor as he should certainly play a role in the Jacksonville passing game. Titans RB Derrick Henry is coming off a big performance last week and should absolutely run wild against a Jags defense that has somewhat surprisingly been torched by opposing ground games for over 5.4 yards per rush this season. QB Ryan Tannehill has played well but still doesn't instill a great deal of confidence. With that being said, since dealing away CB Jalen Ramsey, the Jags are beatable through the air and the Titans coaching staff appears to have full confidence in Tannehill. Take the over (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Denver at 1 pm et on Sunday.

With Denver nearly pulling off an outright upset as a double-digit underdog at Minnesota last week, it's understandable that the Broncos are only a short underdog against the Bills on Sunday. I believe the Bills are once again undervalued. There's little chance we'll see Buffalo overlook Denver, not after the Broncos gave the Vikings such a serious run last week. I don't like the scheduling spot at all for Denver as it stays on the road for a second straight week, heading to a less than appealing destination in Buffalo. The Bills defense should absolutely feast on the Broncos leaky offensive line, noting that Denver ranks bottom-five in the league in sacks per QB dropback allowed. For their part, the Bills are inside the top 10 in terms of sacks this season. QB Brandon Allen has held his own to this point, but I look for him to get exposed by Buffalo here. This isn't exactly an eruption spot for the Bills offense against a quality Broncos defense, but I do think we'll see them be given enough short fields to inflict some damage on the scoreboard. Based on how I expect the Bills defense to perform in this game, I really don't think we're going to need a whole lot from the offense to ultimately stretch out the margin and put this one out of reach. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Philadelphia at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Eagles are in desperation mode as they host the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon off last Sunday's disappointing narrow loss to the Patriots. I believe Philadelphia will be hard-pressed to bounce back as it deals with a number of key injuries on the offensive side of the football. That's not to say the Eagles can't find some success offensively against a very beatable Seahawks defense, but with RT Lane Johnson officially out and RB Jordan Howard all but ruled out, they'll need a peak performance from QB Carson Wentz. Of course, Wentz doesn't have his full compliment of wide receivers at his disposal. The Seahawks offense has been outstanding all season and QB Russell Wilson should have a field day picking apart the Eagles overmatched secondary. I'm still not sure the Seahawks WR duo and now trio of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Josh Gordon get nearly enough credit. Take Seattle (10*).

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

We're being given a favorable total here thanks to the Eagles low-scoring result in poor weather conditions at home against a suddenly punchless Patriots offense last week. Here, I'm anticipating a shootout as the Seahawks roll into the Linc to face the Eagles. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson should enjoy a ton of success against a very beatable Eagles secondary in this one. I continue to profess that Seattle's wide receiver duo (and now trio) of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Josh Gordon is one of the most underappreciated units in the entire NFL. Also look for Seahawks RB Chris Carson to get involved heavily in the passing game in this one as the Eagles have had no success defending opponent's short passing attacks this season. On the flip side, likely forced into comeback mode for much of this game, I do expect a big game from Eagles QB Carson Wentz. The Philadelphia wide receiving corps is undermanned right now but it can involve the running backs and certain the tight ends, who draw a favorable matchup here. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Troy and Louisiana-Lafayette at 5 pm et on Saturday.

Regardless how this game plays out, I expect it to find its way 'over' the lofty total. We won with Troy last week as it rolled to a 63-27 win over what I consider to be one of the nation's worst teams in Texas State. Here, the Trojans should find the going a lot tougher, although I do have faith in QB Kaleb Barker to get them into the end zone early and often. Barker has now thrown for at least 330 yards in four straight games, racking up 14 touchdowns compared to just one interception over that stretch. Louisiana-Lafayette will pose a challenge defensively to be sure, but with Troy likely to be forced into comeback mode, I'm confident we'll see Barker bomb away with his excellent group of receivers all afternoon long. The Ragin' Cajuns have more of a run-oriented offensive attack with Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas leading the way. With that in mind, they should be able to run wild against a very beatable Troy defense here. We're talking about a Troy defense that even against a usually punchless Texas State offense allowed around 400 yards of total offense and 27 points last week. Note that Louisiana-Lafayette has scored over 30 points in eight of 10 games this season and should be able to better than number here. Take the over (10*).

CFB SEC Game of the Month. My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Texas A&M at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Georgia has quietly strung together four straight quality wins, allowing a grand total of just 31 points in the process, since suffering that stunning home loss to South Carolina back on October 12th. Here, I believe the Bulldogs are in a smash spot against Texas A&M. The Aggies are off to a 7-3 start but they've certainly struggled when stepping up in class this season, going winless against the likes of Clemson, Auburn and Alabama. This is another big step-up spot and I look for them to struggle once again. The Aggies will undoubtedly need more from QB Kellen Mond in this one as Georgia will focus on shutting down A&M's vaunted ground attack. Note that Mond hasn't thrown for over 300 yards since September. Georgia's offense hasn't had to be great over the last month or so but I'm confident it can rise to the occasion when needed in this game, which features a relatively low total. Bulldogs QB Jake Fromm completed only 13 passes and threw for just 110 yards in last week's win over Auburn. That was on the road against a better defense than he'll face here, however. Expect a strong bounce-back performance. Take Georgia (10*).

CFB Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Virginia minus the points over Liberty at 12 noon et on Saturday.

While the Cavaliers defense stood out early in the season it has been their offense that has really taken off over the last couple of weeks with QB Bryce Perkins rounding into form, RB Wayne Taulapapa remaining a touchdown-machine and WR Terrell Jana developing into a gamebreaker over the last few games. Upstart Liberty has already gained Bowl eligibility but it will be hard-pressed to even stay competitive in this one. While Liberty has won six games, it has also shown some inconsistency, giving up 40+ points against FCS squad Maine and losing outright to lowly Rutgers. After traveling to Provo for a loss to BYU last week, now they stay on the road for a fourth consecutive game - a stretch that has taken the Flames all over the map. I don't think there's any chance Virginia overlooks Liberty here, not after almost suffering an upset loss at the hands of an improving Georgia Tech squad (we won with Georgia Tech on Thursday) last week. Take Virginia (10*).

My selection is on Wyoming minus the points over Colorado State at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

Wyoming became Bowl eligible with a blowout win over Nevada back on October 26th but has gone winless since. That's not overly concerning though as its last two losses came on the road against Boise State and Utah State, and those two setbacks came by a combined eight points. Colorado State can still gain Bowl eligibility by running the table over the final two weeks of the season but that's highly unlikely with this date followed by a home game against Boise State. Simply put, I feel Colorado State owns one of the weakest defenses in the nation and even though Wyoming is by no means an offensive powerhouse, and currently going with backup QB Tyler Vander Waal, who threw three interceptions last time out, I'm confident the Cowboys can inflict some damage here. RB Xzavian Valladay has taken over since the Cowboys starting QB went down, shouldering the bulk of the load on offense running for 444 yards over the last three games. This is a smash spot for him against a Rams defense that allows over five yards per rush this season. Take Wyoming (10*).

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

I'll grab the points with the Colts in a matchup where home field rarely means much and the underdog has thrived, going 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings. What more could you want from the Colts on the road this season? They opened the campaign with an overtime loss against the Chargers in Los Angeles before upsetting the Titans and Chiefs and then falling by just two points in Pittsburgh. Now they square off against a Texans squad reeling off last week's annihilation at the hands of the red hot Ravens in Baltimore. Save for a blowout win over the Falcons, Houston hasn't had an easy time finding the win column at home, with two of its three victories coming by a combined four points. I don't like the way the Texans defense matches up at all against the Colts passing game, which could get WR T.Y. Hilton back on the field on Thursday night. While the Colts defense will have its hands full with QB DeShaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins, I really don't feel that the Texans offense is all that imposing. Watson will need a monumental effort to bounce-back from last week's rough ride against the Ravens. Take Indianapolis (10*).

CFB ACC Game of the Year. My selection is on Georgia Tech minus the points over N.C. State at 8 pm et on Thursday.

N.C. State may own the better overall record, but its a dead heat between these two struggling squads from an ATS perspective with both checking in at a miserable 2-8. I simply feel that the Yellow Jackets have a lot more upside at this point of the season and should defend their home field successfully on Thursday night in Atlanta. N.C. State has lost four games in a row both SU and ATS with its last victory coming in an ugly 16-10 affair against a disappointing Syracuse squad way back on October 10th. The Wolfpack's only other win over the course of their current 2-6 slide came in a non-cover against Ball State. Even though Georgia Tech is coming off a 45-0 drubbing at the hands of Virginia Tech, it hasn't given up on the season, as evidenced by its 2-2 ATS record over its last four games, including a stunning overtime win at Miami and a narrow five-point loss at Virginia. I expect a strong bounce-back from the Jackets here in what is essentially their last shot at a victory this season before taking on Georgia in their annual regular season finale. Take Georgia Tech (10*).

My selection is on Akron plus the points over Miami-Ohio at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

Akron is winless on the season, not just straight-up but against the spread as well. I believe the Zips end their streak of futility here, however, as they travel to face a Redhawks squad that couldn't be blamed for being a little complacent in this the back-half of consecutive home games against the MAC's two worst teams. The one positive I'll point to as far as Akron goes is QB Kato Nelson. He has actually managed to throw for over 1,600 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions this season and has now tossed 33 touchdowns compared to just 16 interceptions over the course of his three-year career with the Zips. When these two teams met last season the Redhawks were actually the underdog. Akron has delivered the cash in three of the last four meetings in this series. Take Akron (10*).