My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Arizona at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I had just two regrets following Week 1 of the NFL season and one of them was not laying the points with the Rams on Monday night. As the betting public piled on with the Rams and the Raider-bashing reached monumental levels I really did believe there may have been a chance we were missing something with Los Angeles. That wasn’t the case as the Rams absolutely obliterated the Raiders following a sluggish first half. Now L.A. gets another very winnable matchup at home against another team that looks to be out of answers less than two weeks into the season in the Arizona Cardinals. There was a time when the Cards owned one of the strongest home field edges in football but those days are gone. It sounds like they’re going to give QB Sam Bradford another go this Sunday and I don’t expect that decision to end well. Even with a healthy David Johnson in the backfield Arizona was unable to get anything going in a shutout loss against the Redskins last week. Now the Cards face an even tougher challenge, on the road no less. The Rams certainly aren’t known to hold anything back when it comes to calling offensive plays. I expect to see them put their foot on the gas for four quarters against a division opponent here. Take Los Angeles (10*).

NFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the ‘under’ between Miami and New York at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We missed the mark with the ‘under’ in the Jets season-opening win in Detroit (we weren’t close with that play) but won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as New York returns home to host the Dolphins this week. Everyone is singing Sam Darnold’s praises but he will face a much tougher test here than he did against the Lions defense, which was an absolute joke on Monday night. Not only that but Darnold will be working on a short week of preparation following the Monday nighter. Expect another solid but perhaps not spectacular game from the rookie QB. Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill did a nice job of managing the game against the Titans last Sunday and will have to play smart again this week as he faces an opportunistic Jets defense. Don’t count on Tannehill airing it out early and often in this contest. I would count on Miami serving the Jets with a heavy dose of their RB tandem in Kenyon Drake and Frank Gore in an effort to control time of possession. This total is actually a couple of points higher than it should be in my opinion. Take the under (10*).

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

Both of these teams enter Week 2 with winless records but it’s the Texans that have a lot more upside moving forward. Houston ran into a really tough opening week matchup, facing the Patriots on the road in a revenge situation (for New England) after upsetting them in Foxborough last season. Not surprisingly, the Texans came up empty this time around with the Pats taking away their best weapons in DeShaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans will do no such thing this week as they limp into this matchup following a storm-delayed loss in Miami last Sunday. Tennessee is dealing with a number of key injuries and is in serious danger of this season spinning away from it even if we are only into the second week. An injury to Marcus Mariota causes a serious downgrade to this offense as a whole, especially after the Titans got very little production from their running game against a middle of the road Dolphins defense last week. There’s really no intimidation factor at play here. The Texans have the veterans on board to right the ship, especially on the defensive side of the football. Take Houston (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Kansas City at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Steelers avoided complete embarrassment thanks to a blocked field goal at the end of overtime in Cleveland last Sunday but there’s no question it was an ugly start to the campaign for the Black and Gold. I have no doubt that we’ll see a much sharper effort from the Steelers, on offense in particular, as they host the Chiefs on Sunday. We won with Kansas City last week in Los Angeles but we were fortunate to cash that ticket as the Chargers were able to march the ball up and down the field against what certainly appeared to be a weak Chiefs defense. I’m not sure we’ll see Kansas City right the ship on that side of the football traveling across the country to face the Steelers in their second straight road game to open the season. You have to think heading into this two-game jaunt that the Chiefs would have been more than pleased to earn a 1-1 split. While they’d undoubtedly like to earn the 2-0 sweep now that they have the first one in their back pocket, I simply feel that the Steelers will be the hungrier squad on Sunday afternoon. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

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

We won with the Eagles in last week’s season-opener against Atlanta although that winning ticket certainly didn’t come easy. I look for Philadelphia to have an easier time of it this Sunday as they head south to Tampa to take on the surprisingly 1-0 Bucs. Philadelphia didn’t get much at all from QB Nick Foles against the Falcons but perhaps that was to be expected after he was banged up in the preseason. While I’m not convinced Foles bounces back in a big way here, I do believe the Eagles have enough on offense, and a stout enough defense to outlast the Bucs. Tampa Bay turned a lot of heads by upsetting the Saints in New Orleans last Sunday. I don’t think there’s any question that the Saints overlooked the Bucs in that matchup. Perhaps ‘overlooked’ is not the proper term, but they certainly didn’t bring the proper level of compete – particularly on the defensive side of the football. There will be no catching the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles off guard here. They know what the Bucs are capable of after last week’s 48-point explosion. That’s an effort that just isn’t likely to be repeated. In a much lower-scoring affair than we saw with Tampa Bay last Sunday, I’ll lay the short number with Philadelphia. Take Philadelphia (10*).

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

Let’s face it; Week 1 didn’t go well for the Saints, who lost as a big favorite, at home against a division opponent no less. I fully expect to see them bounce back here in Week 2 as they draw a favorable matchup with the Browns. Cleveland battled to a 21-21 tie with the Steelers last Sunday. Pittsburgh essentially handed that game to the Browns on a silver platter late in the fourth quarter and into overtime but Cleveland was unable to claim victory. Tyrod Taylor certainly didn’t look 100% healthy and also somewhat improperly utilized in the offense. I’m not sure we’ll see much change in that regard this week and the Saints defense will certainly be licking its chops after getting caught flat-footed by an aggressive Bucs offense last week. The New Orleans offense had little trouble shredding Tampa Bay last Sunday and I would expect more of the same against Cleveland. RB Mark Ingram’s absence didn’t have much of an impact as Alvin Kamara picked up the slack and then some with a monster performance. Look for Drew Brees to utilize TE Benjamin Watson against a vulnerable Browns defense this week. And of course the Saints wide receiving corps is as explosive as it gets. This has all the makings of a rout. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Ohio State and TCU at 8 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll back the ‘under’ in this big early season showdown between the Buckeyes and Horned Frogs on Saturday night. Ohio State has faced no resistance in its first two games, rolling to home wins over Oregon State and Rutgers. But now the Buckeyes head to a neutral site (AT&T Stadium in Arlington) to face a much tougher opponent in TCU. The Horned Frogs have given up just 19 points through their first two games this season, albeit against two weak opponents in Southern and SMU. Last week, TCU got caught flat-footed on SMU’s opening drive and gave up a 51-yard touchdown run. But that was basically it as it tightened things up and didn’t let the Mustangs find the end zone again. Similarly, the Horned Frogs allowed a 55-yard touchdown pass against Southern in its opener. Look for TCU to really guard against giving up those big TD plays against an elite Ohio State offense this week. On the flip side, the Horned Frogs didn’t score an offensive touchdown until nearly midway through the second quarter against an awful SMU defense last Friday night. They had two defensive and special teams touchdowns in that contest, something you certainly can’t bank on seeing against a fundamentally-sound Ohio State squad. Most are calling for a shootout here, I’m just not sure we’ll see it play out that way on the field. Take the under (10*).

NCAAF Rivalry Total of the Month. My selection is on the ‘under’ between New Mexico and New Mexico State at 8 pm et on Saturday.

We saw a relatively high-scoring game between these two rivals last season with New Mexico State prevailing by a 30-28 score. I believe it will be a struggle to get to that total in this year’s meeting, however. New Mexico opened the season with a wild 62-30 win over Incarnate Word, a cupcake matchup to open the season that the Lobos took full advantage of. They actually held their own last week as well, despite facing one of the best teams in the country in Wisconsin on the road. I like the way the Lobos held up defensively in that one early on, not giving up a touchdown until the final three minutes of the first half. The question is whether New Mexico will suffer from any lingering effects after facing a big, physical football team like Wisconsin. The good news is the Lobos will be going up against a New Mexico State offense that is still trying to find its way even as it plays its fourth game of the season on Saturday. Because of a first-year starter at quarterback and issues on the offensive line, the Aggies have really had to scale back the offense and I can’t see them really opening things up, or finding a great deal of success against a familiar opponent in New Mexico this week. The Lobos did gain a bit of traction running the football in a blowout loss to Utah State last Saturday and will aim to control the football and the clock again here. Defensively, the Aggies are dealing with some key injuries but on a positive note, didn’t give up an offensive touchdown against Utah State until the final six minutes of the first half last week. After facing Minnesota and Utah State on the road in back-to-back weeks, I’m sure the Aggies will be happy to be back home and facing a rival opponent. In what should be a tightly-contested affair I’ll back the ‘under’. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the ‘over’ between Houston and Texas Tech at 4:15 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the ‘under’ in Houston’s rout of Arizona last Saturday but I won’t hesitate to switch gears and back the ‘over’ this week as the Cougars hit the road to face Texas Tech. Houston has now scored exactly 45 points in each of its first two games but let’s face it, those numbers could have easily been higher. In their opener, the Cougars were very slow out of the gates, possibly thinking the game would be a gimme against an overmatched Rice squad. However, they were able to really turn it on in the second half, scoring four unanswered touchdowns to put the game away. We saw plenty of carry-over from that second half performance last week against Arizona as Houston scored three first quarter touchdowns and never looked back in a 45-18 victory. Here, I think the Cougars know they’re going to be in for a shootout and they certainly have the personnel in place to hang around for four quarters. Texas Tech didn’t look good in a season-opening 47-27 loss to Ole Miss with an early special teams touchdown really demoralizing the team. The Red Raiders certainly ‘got right’ last week though, scoring six first half touchdowns en route to a 77-0 rout of Lamar. Texas Tech can do it all on offense and should be able to do what Arizona couldn’t do last week and take advantage of an average Houston defense. This total has been kept in check perhaps because it’s early in the season and both teams still have a lot to prove. I can’t see this one playing out any other way than a shootout on Saturday afternoon. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between South Florida and Illinois at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll back the ‘under’ in Champaign on Saturday afternoon. South Florida is coming off a wild 49-38 victory over Georgia Tech last week. That game essentially turned on a pair of kick return touchdowns for the Bulls in the opening quarter. It’s worth noting that USF scored only one offensive touchdown in the first half of that game. It’s also notable that the Bulls didn’t give up a single score from the four-minute mark of the first quarter until nearly four minutes into the third quarter. Keep in mind, USF posted a 34-14 win over Elon in its season-opener and didn’t give up a touchdown until the final two minutes of the third quarter in that one. It will obviously face a tougher test here, although I don’t believe the Illinois offense is all that intimidating. The Illini are off to a 2-0 start, winning back-to-back home games against Kent State and Western Illinois. I will point out that they didn’t score a touchdown until nearly six minutes into the second half against Kent State and not until more than midway through the second quarter against Western Illinois. Should they get off to another slow start here I’m not sure they’ll be able to suddenly flip the switch against a more capable opponent in USF. Defensively the Illini have been ‘good enough’ so far this season but will certainly realize the importance of toughening up after the Bulls hung a crooked number on Georgia Tech last week. Simply put, I believe this number has been set too high. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Vanderbilt and Notre Dame at 2:30 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the ‘under’ in Vanderbilt’s win over Nevada last Saturday and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as the Commodores hit the road to face the Irish in South Bend this week. Vandy has put up a whopping 76 points in posting back-to-back wins to open the campaign. However, this will be its toughest test to date by far, facing a Notre Dame defense that has near NFL-level talent at a number of key positions. I will point out that despite putting up 41 points last Saturday, Vandy didn’t score a touchdown or points of any kind until nearly three minutes into the second quarter. The Commodores got rolling from there, but that was largely due to an inept Nevada offense that turned the football over four times. Similarly in Week 1, Vandy scored just one offensive touchdown before getting its second midway through the third quarter. Notre Dame is still working out the kinks in its own offense, having scored 24 points in each of its first two victories over Michigan and Ball State. The Irish defense has certainly made up for any offensive inefficiencies, allowing only 33 points through two games. Last week against Ball State, the Irish didn’t allow a touchdown until three minutes into the fourth quarter. Perhaps even more notable, Notre Dame didn’t give up an offensive touchdown until the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, essentially playing prevent defense at that point, against Michigan back in Week 1. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh at 12:30 pm et on Saturday.

While I’m not anticipating a true defensive slugfest between these two storied programs on Saturday afternoon, I do think we’ll see enough long, extended drives to keep this one ‘under’ the inflated total. Georgia Tech has split its first two games and those two contests  couldn’t have played out much differently. After the Yellow Jackets cruised to a 41-0 victory over Alcorn State in their opener they got absolutely ripped in a 49-38 loss at South Florida last Saturday. It’s imperative that the Yellow Jackets get their defense right in this contest before facing Clemson next week and I believe this is a favorable matchup for them to do just that. Keep in mind, Georgia Tech gave up a pair of kick return touchdowns in the first quarter against South Florida last week, which really turned that game on its head early on. Pitt has also split its first two games, defeating Albany by a 33-7 score before getting blown out by Penn State 51-6 last week. The Panthers aren’t as bad defensively as that final scoreline would seem to indicate. Note that they did hold the Nittany Lions to only one touchdown  before giving up a second in the final 30 seconds of the first half. That was a 14-6 game at halftime before things got out of hand in the second half, turned by a Penn State punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter. After that score, the Panthers wilted. I’m not expecting this game to ever get into blowout territory for either side and that should lend itself to a relatively low-scoring affair. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Temple and Maryland at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I’ll back the ‘under’ in this early kickoff matchup on Saturday afternoon. Temple is coming off a fairly high-scoring affair against Buffalo last week, falling by a 36-29 score. Keep in mind, that was a 12-7 game at halftime before a wild second half and fourth quarter in particular. The Owls didn’t score a touchdown in that game until the final play of the first half, and that was against a middle of the road to below average Buffalo defense. The Temple defense didn’t hold up particularly well in that game but did limit the Bulls passing attack to just 26 completions on 45 attempts for 275 yards. Maryland is coming off back-to-back wins to open the campaign (we won with the Terps in Week 1 against Texas). Last week the Terps ran roughshod over Bowling Green, cruising to a 45-14 victory. I will point out, however that the Terps didn’t score a touchdown in that game until the final three minutes of the first half. On the flip side, Maryland held BGSU to only 143 passing yards and the Falcons leading rusher had just 44 yards on the ground. The Terps didn’t give up a single score in the second half of that game. This is a relatively high total but it’s unwarranted. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Syracuse plus the points over Florida State at 12 noon et on Saturday.

The value has certainly shifted when it comes to Florida State after back-to-back relatively ugly performances against Virginia Tech and Samford. The Seminoles split those two games, getting blown out by the Hokies before posting a ho-hum 10-point win over Samford at home last Saturday. In that victory over Samford, the ‘Noles actually trailed 14-0 halfway through the first quarter and entered the fourth quarter down 23-21. In fact, with under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the ‘Noles trailed by a 26-21 score and only stretched out their eventual winning margin with a pick six with 2:23 left in the game (after they had scored a touchdown to go ahead). While Florida State scuffs along, Syracuse continues to impress. The Orange are off to a 2-0 start and although there’s no reason to get too excited about wins over Western Michigan and Wagner, I believe this is a team that has a lot to build from entering this big step-up game against a perennial ACC powerhouse. I liked the tune-up Syracuse got last week as it scored five offensive touchdowns en route to a 45-point first half against Wagner. In short, the Orange did what they should against an overmatched FCS opponent. Look for Orange QB Eric Dungey to keep rolling in this matchup as the FSU defense has looked vulnerable. Take Syracuse (10*).

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

I'll back the 'under' in this Friday night matchup in Memphis. Georgia State has split its first two games, winning a close one over Kennesaw State and losing in blowout fashion against N.C. State. Note that the Panthers didn't score their first touchdown (or points) of the game until the final minute of the first half against Kennesaw State. They got off to a much faster start against N.C. State, scoring on their first drive but then didn't find the end zone again. The bottom line is I expect Georgia State to have a tough time putting points on the board against the Tigers. On the flip side, Memphis absolutely throttled Mercer by a 66-14 score in its season-opener before falling 22-21 on the road against Navy in a physical contest last week. The Tigers offense has looked outstanding at times but got a little bogged down against the Midshipmen. Here, they'll simply be looking to bounce back from that setback, not necessarily aiming for style points. Off that battle against Navy, we could see a bit of a hangover effect in a game the Tigers should win with ease. I do like the fact that Georgia State allowed N.C. State to reach the end zone only three times in the first three quarters last week, and three of the Wolfpack's four touchdowns in the game were from two yards or less out. In other words, the Panthers did do a good job of limiting the long touchdown strikes, which they'll certainly need to protect against here in Memphis (Tigers RB Henderson had two big touchdown runs in the third quarter against Navy). I simply feel both teams will need to contribute to get this one over the lofty total, and I'm not convinced we see that here. Take the under (10*).

NOTE START TIME: NCAAF ACC Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Boston College and Wake Forest at 5:30 pm et on Thursday.

I'll back the 'over' in this ACC showdown on Thursday night. The 'under' has gone a perfect 8-0 in the last eight meetings in this series but I believe that has been factored into this total. Boston College has gotten off to an incredible start having scored 117 points in rolling to back-to-back home wins over UMass and Holy Cross. Now the Eagles will face their first true test of the season on the road against conference opponent Wake Forest. In short, I expect the BC offense to keep rolling. Note that the Eagles have scored an incredible 82 points in the first half of their first two games this season. The difference is here on Thursday they likely won't be able to take their foot off the gas in the second half, and that certainly helps our cause with the 'over'. Wake Forest followed up a rather ho-hum 23-17 win over Tulane in its season-opener before scoring 51 points in a rout of Towson last Saturday. The Deacons did whatever they wanted on the ground against the Tigers in that one. They'll face more resistance here, but I still expect them to put some points on the board. Note that even in that ugly victory over Tulane, QB Sam Hartman threw for nearly 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The problem was a pair of key interceptions. He'll certainly need to do a better job of taking care of the football in this one, but I do believe he's capable of doing so in this step-up game. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Oakland at 10:20 pm et on Monday.

We saw a low-scoring affair between these two teams in Week 2 of the preseason, as the Rams prevailed by a 19-15 score. Of course, we can throw that result out the window as Los Angeles sat its offensive stars throughout the preseason schedule. I'm expecting a wild, high-scoring contest on Monday night. Everyone is down on the Raiders right now. The Khalil Mack trade obviously has a lot to do with that. But even on offense, few are expecting much from Oakland. I believe that's precisely why the 'over' is a solid play tonight. The Raiders still boast plenty of talent on offense with QB Derek Carr, RB Marshawn Lynch and WR Amari Cooper. As far as I'm concerned all three of those players have a lot to prove this season and will see this showdown with the vaunted Rams defense as a really good opportunity to show that they're not going to be doormats this season. On the flip side, I'm not concerned at all about the Rams offensive starters not seeing game action in August. They'll be ready to go and in their second year under head coach Sean McVay's guidance I expect continued improvement and refinement in this offense. Take the over (10*).

NFL MNF Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Detroit at 7:10 pm et on Monday.

I'll back the 'under' in the first half of Monday's NFL double-header in Detroit. The Jets won their preseason opener by a 17-0 score over Atlanta but followed it up with three straight losses, scoring a grand total of just 38 points in the process. Sam Darnold takes over at quarterback but I certainly don't expect the Jets to throw him right into the fire in his first career road start, on Monday Night Football no less. Look for a heavy dose of the Jets running game in this one as they count on a combination of that and solid defensive play to shoot for an opening week victory. The Lions put up 33 points in their 'dress rehearsal' game in Week 3 of the preseason but that had little to do with the Detroit starters, with QB Matt Stafford completing just 9-of-18 passes. I'm not all that high on this Lions offense, even with the addition of veteran RB LaGarrette Blount, who should alleviate some of their concerns on the ground. I actually believe it will be the Detroit defense that shines in this contest. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Chicago at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll lay the points with the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday night as they host the rival Bears, who many are expecting big things from this season. I’m not as high on the Bears as most. There’s been a lot of talk leading up to the season surrounding just how exciting this Chicago offense will be but time will tell whether it plays out that way on the field or not. For now, the Bears have a tough opening week matchup against a Packers squad that starts the season with a renewed sense of confidence and most importantly, a healthy and well-paid Aaron Rodgers. Yes, the Bears boast a terrific defense, one that got even stronger with the addition of Khalil Mack. But Mack is just getting acclimated with this group and I believe it will take some time for the unit to completely mesh. I like what the Packers bring to the table on both sides of the football. Some see the departure of WR Jordy Nelson as a bad thing but I actually believe it will prove to be a positive for Rodgers and the offense. The Pack still have a solid WR corps and while their backfield doesn’t have much in the way of star power, I think it will do enough to relieve some of the pressure on Rodgers. We’re being asked to lay a considerable number of points with the Packers but I actually believe the line could be even higher. There are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the Bears and I think their best football will be played from late September on. Take Green Bay (10*).

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

I’ll lay the points with the Broncos on Sunday afternoon as they welcome the Seahawks to open the 2018 season. You probably haven’t heard much about the Broncos leading into this season as the Chiefs and Chargers have grabbed most of the headlines in the AFC West. I believe Denver is an excellent sleeper pick to win the division, but it needs to start here in September. Sure, there are some expected growing pains on offense with Case Keenum taking over at quarterback but I believe he’s more than capable of playing well, if not carrying the team. Here’s a guy that almost certainly has a big chip on his shoulder after being allowed to walk away from the Vikings in the offseason after showing so much promise in Minnesota last year. The defense is the real star of the show in Denver and that unit draws a favorable matchup here with the Seahawks at less than 100% on offense. QB Russell Wilson will make plenty of plays with his arm and his feet but his supporting cast seems to be getting weaker with each passing year. Meanwhile, the Seahawks defense is in a bit of turmoil due to the Earl Thomas situation and in transition with the departure of Richard Sherman in the offseason. There are simply too many question marks for me to support the Seahawks here, and too much upside to ignore with the Broncos. Take Denver (10*).

NFL Underdog Game of the Week. My selection is on Kansas City plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'll grab the points with the Chiefs on Sunday as they open the 2018 season with an AFC West showdown with the Chargers. Los Angeles is receiving plenty of hype entering the new season with some even picking it to reach the Super Bowl. I'm not nearly as high on the Chargers. The Chiefs actually haven't lost a game to the rival Chargers since way back in 2013. I don't believe this is the Kansas City team to end that streak. I see the Chiefs as a team with a lot of upside entering the new season. QB Pat Mahomes may be a first-year starter but he certainly played like a veteran in the preseason and gained a lot of knowledge working behind a true pro in Alex Smith last year. Some believe that RB Kareem Hunt was a one-year wonder, but I'm confident that he'll give the Chiefs a lot out of the backfield once again this season. Meanwhile, WR Tyreek Hill has been getting better with each passing season and certainly looked in sync with Mahomes in the preseason. Defensively, the Chiefs do have some question marks, and they'll obviously be facing a tough challenge in the Chargers offense on Sunday, but I'm confident we'll see them play well. Take Kansas City (10*).

NFL AFC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Houston and New England at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll back the 'under' in Foxborough on Sunday afternoon. We saw a wild, high-scoring affair between these two teams last year as the Patriots came back to win by a 36-33 score. That has most bettors anticipating another shootout on Sunday afternoon, but I'm not so easily convinced. The Texans were certainly a better defensive team than they showed in that game against the Patriots last season. I believe they have the potential to be even better on that side of the football this year. Meanwhile, the Patriots offense is missing a number of key cogs from a year ago and while they should cruise to another AFC East title, I'm not sure they're going to be the offensive juggernaut we've seen in years' past. Defensively, the Pats were shredded by Texans QB DeShaun Watson in what was really his 'coming out party' a year ago. Expect New England to do a better job of containing Watson this time around. I don't anticipate either team generating much on the ground in this one, and while that can sometimes mean we're in for an air show, I do have confidence in both secondaries to hold up well here in Week 1. Note that the closing total in this matchup last year was just 44.5 points at most books. We're dealing with a much higher number this time around - I'm not sure it's warranted. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Arizona State plus the points over Michigan State at 10:45 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the points with the Sun Devils as they host the Spartans in an intriguing late night matchup on Saturday. Michigan State stumbled its way to a 38-31 home win over Utah State last week. The Spartans didn’t score a touchdown in that game until nearly five minutes into the second quarter and that was against what is by no means an elite Aggies defense. While Michigan State didn’t give up anything on the ground in that game, the Aggies didn’t really force the issue. Arizona State on the other hand, will. The Sun Devils wasted no time shaking off the cobwebs in a 49-7 rout of Texas-San Antonio. I like the offense head coach Herm Edwards has in place and I believe the defense will only get better as the season goes on. QB Manny Wilkins didn’t have to be perfect against UTSA but still managed to throw for 237 yards and four touchdowns. As far as I’m concerned, this is a good time to be welcoming Michigan State to Tempe. While the Spartans will undoubtedly be sharper than they were a week ago, I’m not sure it will be enough to win this one by margin. Take Arizona State (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between USC and Stanford at 8:30 pm et on Saturday.

While most folks would love to see a shootout between the Trojans and Cardinal in primetime on Saturday I’m not expect it to play out that way. USC may have overlooked UNLV a little in its home opener last week, as it was involved in a first half slugfest, in which it only managed one touchdown and four field goals. The Trojans didn’t score in the third quarter of that game but then exploded for 24 fourth quarter points, after they had pummeled the Rebels into submission. I don’t believe they’ll be able to wear down the Cardinal in the same way on Saturday afternoon. Similarly, Stanford only managed one first half touchdown against San Diego State last week. The Cardinal then put up a pair of third quarter touchdowns, but again, they’ll be facing a tougher challenge in the Trojans this week. I did like what I saw from the Stanford defense and feel they can carry over some of that positive momentum into this showdown. USC got torched by the UNLV ground game last Saturday but there’s no question that was a focus of emphasis during practice this week. I simply feel there are a lot of similarities between these two football teams, and that we’re in for a tightly-contested affair on Saturday night at The Farm. Take the under (10*).

NCAAF Underdog Game of the Week. My selection is on Air Force plus the points over Florida Atlantic at 2 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the generous helping of points with Air Force as it aims for its second straight victory to open the season at Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons delivered a clean 38-0 victory over FCS squad Stony Brook last week. That wasn’t exactly a statement victory although it is worth noting that Air Force was favored by just north of two touchdowns in advance of that contest. I like the fact that the Falcons came roaring out of the gates with a touchdown on their first drive of the game and did a nice job putting things away for good with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as well. Needless to say, their defense was on point in a shutout performance. Florida Atlantic certainly didn’t expect to roll into Norman and come away victorious against Oklahoma last Saturday but it did believe it could at least stay competitive. That wasn’t the case as the Owls were blown out of the water, falling behind 42-0 before halftime in an eventual 63-14 rout. That certainly won’t do wonders for FAU’s confidence heading into this suddenly critical matchup with a tough out in Air Force. The Owls didn’t get much from their passing game and their ground game coughed and sputtered throughout the loss to the Sooners. They’ll get a lot more breathing room against a middle of the road Falcons defense here, but can they ultimately pull away to win by margin? I’m not so sure with Air Force more than capable of dominating time of possession and chewing up precious clock. Take Air Force (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Air Force and Florida Atlantic at 2 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll back the ‘under’ in Boca Raton on Saturday afternoon. A couple of things heading into this matchup on Saturday afternoon; first the Air Force offense probably isn’t quite as good as it looked in last week’s 38-0 rout of FCS squad Stony Brook. Second, the Florida Atlantic defense probably isn’t as bad as it looked in last week’s 63-14 blowout loss against Oklahoma. I’m not counting on many explosive plays in this intriguing, under the radar affair on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons will undoubtedly be looking to chew some clock and stay within arm’s reach for four quarters while Florida Atlantic will simply be looking for a bounce-back victory – style points really don’t matter at this point, even if this is a Lane Kiffin-led football team. We’re dealing with an inflated total as I simply don’t believe we’ll see both offenses show up and fire on all cylinders in this one. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Kansas and Central Michigan at 3 pm et on Saturday.

I was initially leaning to a play on Central Michigan minus the points in this game but I think the line has moved into unplayable territory with the Chippewas. Kansas’ road woes are well-documented to be sure and I certainly feel that is now factored into this line. The Jayhawks are coming off an overtime loss, at home, against FCS squad Nicholls State last week. That game was a bit of a slugfest with just 40 total points in regulation time. The Kansas offense will remain fairly one-dimensional with RB Khalil Herbert carrying much of the load. QB Peyton Bender showed flashes of brilliance, but those were few and far between as he completed just 19-of-35 passes. Things won’t get easier against a Central Michigan squad that hung tough against Kentucky, on the road no less, last week. The Chips forced four turnovers in that game but their offense was stagnant (albeit against a good defense). Note that their 20-point performance was helped along by a defensive touchdown. QB Tony Poljan will be a work-in-progress and I don’t expect big things from him against a Power 5 conference opponent on Saturday afternoon. Take the under (10*).

NCAAF Non-Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Arizona and Houston at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I'll go the contrarian route on Saturday afternoon as Arizona heads to Houston for an early start non-conference showdown. Most are expecting a high-scoring affair but I expect a different story to unfold. Keep in mind, these two teams met last September in Arizona and totaled just 35 points in a three-point Cougars victory. Arizona is in a bit of a tough spot here, coming off an unexpected home loss to BYU to open the season last week. The Wildcats scored only 23 points in that loss, with 13 of those coming in the fourth quarter. They didn't manage to put any points on the board in the first or third quarters in that contest. Their first touchdown didn't come until the final minute of the first half. While the Arizona offense will undoubtedly improve as the season goes on, I don't see a big bounce-back performance from that unit here. Houston rolled to a 45-27 victory over Rice last week but it's worth noting that the Cougars didn't put a touchdown on the board until midway through the second quarter, and that was against a weak Owls defense. I do feel that QB D'Eriq King's three-touchdown (through the air - he added one on the ground) day had more to do with taking what Rice gave him than anything else. I expect him to face a tougher challenge against a Wildcats defense that did hold its own against BYU last week. The early start doesn't hurt our cause here as this game will kick off just after 11 am local time. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Nevada and Vanderbilt at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I love the way this play sets up on Saturday. Nevada is coming off a 72-19 rout of FCS squad Portland State. The Wolf Pack absolutely exploded over the second and third quarters of that contest but what else was to be expected? After all, they were four-touchdown favorites entering that game with a total set in the 70’s. Here, Nevada will face a much stiffer challenge. And it’s certainly worth noting that the Wolf Pack were actually held out of the end zone offensively until the second quarter last week (they did return an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter). Also worth mentioning is the fact that they added a punt return touchdown and three of their offensive touchdowns went for 47 yards or more. I certainly don’t expect Vanderbilt to give the Wolf Pack so much open field on Saturday. Vandy put up a 35-7 win over Middle Tennessee State last week – an impressive win to be sure as MTSU is a quality opponent (Vandy was favored by only three points). Much like Nevada, the Commodores were also buoyed by a defensive touchdown last week. Note that their offense put up just 14 points through the first three quarters against MTSU. Take the under (10*).

NCAAF Friday Night Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between TCU and SMU at 8 pm et on Friday.

Both of these teams were involved in high-scoring affairs last week, albeit with much different outcomes as TCU rolled past Southern and SMU had its doors blown off by North Texas. It is worth noting that TCU was a 49.5-point favorite against Southern and it did take the Horned Frogs half a quarter to find the end zone. QB Shawn Robinson has taken over the reins and certainly played well, but I don't believe we'll see this offense firing on all cylinders for at least a couple of weeks. SMU didn't get on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter against a very beatable North Texas defense last week. On a positive note, the Mustangs did allow only one offensive touchdown in the entire first half against the Mean Green Eagles. They were facing a seasoned veteran QB in Mason Fine in that contest, noting that he threw for over 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns a year ago. The Mustangs will actually be taking a step down in class in some sense as far as quarterbacks go against Robinson. Last year's matchup between these two teams ended up reaching 92 total points. However, it's worth noting that the last three matchups on this field have totaled 56 points or less with the most recent totaling only 36 points in 2016. There's no rush to play this total as we'll likely see it climb by at least a couple of points before kickoff on Friday. Take the under (10*).

NFL Thursday Night Game of the Month. My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Atlanta at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

The defending Super Bowl champions have gone an impressive 11-3 SU since the NFL went to the Thursday night kickoff in the early-2000's. Of course, we saw the defending champion Patriots fall to the Chiefs last year, but I don't expect history to repeat itself with the Eagles here. It's certainly worth noting that the SU winner has gone an incredible 77-7 ATS in the Eagles last 84 games overall. We're dealing with a very short pointspread here, largely due to Philadelphia's numerous injury concerns - most notably absent from this game will be QB Carson Wentz. Nick Foles didn't look great in the preseason and also suffered an injury of his own but has put in a good week of practice with the Eagles first unit and I'm confident he'll hold his own against the Falcons on Thursday night. The Falcons are a solid team without question, but I don't believe they're the Super Bowl contender that most make them out to be. RB Devonta Freeman wilted at times over the course of last season while WR Julio Jones isn't the unstoppable force he once was. The addition or rookie WR Calvin Ridley will help, but I don't expect him to make all that much of an impact in this contest. The Eagles haven't lost a meaningful game at home since December 11, 2016. Look for them to make the key plays down the stretch in this one to secure a big opening night victory. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Virginia Tech and Florida State at 8 pm et on Monday.

I'll back the 'under' in this early season ACC showdown. I'm not sure where all of the offense is going to come from. Yes, Florida State ended last season on an offensive tear, having scored at least 38 points in each of its final four games. Keep in mind, it was favored by at least 13 points in three of those contests. The Seminoles should face a tougher challenge from the Virginia Tech defense here. Meanwhile, the Hokies had a really tough time getting anything going offensively a year ago. In stark contrast to the 'Noles, Virginia Tech scored just 107 points total over its last six games. This weekend has been all about the 'overs' but I'm anticipating a lower-scoring affair than the oddsmakers are calling for on Monday night. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Michigan and Notre Dame at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

Everyone would love to see a shootout between these two storied programs in primetime to kick off the college football season on Saturday but I believe we're in for more of a defensive slugfest. Both defenses are loaded with returning talent and should be well ahead of the offenses at this early stage of the season. We're talking near NFL-level talent on both defenses, while both offenses have plenty of question marks and holes to fill due to injuries and otherwise. The game itself looks like nothing more than a toss-up to me as it will simply come down to which team can make the big play late to seal a victory. Rather than sweat the pointspread, I'll go with the 'under' and call for two elite defenses to play like it on Saturday night in South Bend. Take the under (10*).

NCAAF TV Game of the Week. My selection is on Auburn minus the points over Washington at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

To be completely honest, I've always felt that Washington head coach Chris Petersen was more than a little overrated. Ever since Boise State's thrilling upset win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl all those years ago, Petersen has been hailed as one of the best head coaches in college football. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but at least this week, I believe his Huskies are being overvalued. Both of these teams have national title aspirations but I'll gladly back the SEC team (playing in SEC country) against a Pac-12 squad that still has a lot to prove after a couple of unexpected losses away from home, not to mention a Bowl defeat against Penn State, last season. This line has fallen into clear 'play-on' range as bettors line up to back the Huskies in Atlanta. Take Auburn (10*).

NCAAF Contrarian Play of the Month. My selection is on Wyoming plus the points over Washington State at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

We've seen a considerable shift in this line since opening, moving in favor of Wyoming, which may seem a little odd given the betting public has been backing Washington State at a near 65/35 split according to most reports. The move of course has a lot to do with Wyoming's blowout win over New Mexico State, on the road no less, last week. With that being said, I still feel that the Cowboys are undervalued as they host Washington State on Saturday afternoon. Wyoming actually has its best team in years but it's somewhat muted by the loss of Josh Allen, who has moved on to greener pastures in the NFL. While NFL scouts loved Allen's make-up, the fact is, he didn't play well at all for most of last season, essentially holding the Cowboys back. There's little reason to expect any considerable drop in production at the quarterback position this season. Wyoming barely had to break a sweat in last week's victory but will obviously have to work a little harder to get a 'W' against a hungry Cougars squad. Following the tragic passing of QB Tyler Hillinski the Cougars are anything but settled at that position which is a bit of a new experience for them. This will go down as an upset, but shouldn't really be considered one. Take Wyoming (10*).

My selection is on Maryland plus the points over Texas at 12 noon et on Saturday.

There's obviously lots of turmoil surrounding the Maryland football program and combine that with the Texas 'revenge' angle following last year's 51-41 defeat almost a year to the day and you've got yourself a truly overvalued Longhorns squad entering Saturday's showdown. Unlike last year's shootout, I believe points will be at a premium this time around, which makes grabbing two touchdowns with the Terps that much more valuable. This is no layup for the Longhorns, as the Terps will play with a chip on their shoulder and will certainly be out to prove that last year's outright win as an 18-point underdog was no fluke. Take Maryland (10*).

NCAAF Rivalry Game of the Week. My selection is on Colorado State plus the points over Colorado at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

Colorado State was shocked in its home opener against Hawaii last week, falling by a 43-34 score. I'm not sure whether that had something to do with the Rams simply overlooking the Rainbow Warriors or their head coach missing the latter stages of training camp due to health issues or just simply that they're not that good. Actually, I do not believe that it was due to the third notion I mentioned. This is a Colorado State squad that is better than it showed in Week 0. On a positive note, Washington transfer QB K.J. Carta-Samuels threw for over 500 yards and five touchdowns compared to just one interception. The Rams didn't get a chance to get their ground game going, but I expect that to change against Colorado. The Buffaloes bring no momentum to the table here after dropping their last three games to fall out of Bowl contention last season. If Colorado had one glaring weakness last season it was its run defense, something that I believe the Rams can exploit on Friday night. The Buffaloes should be able to dominate an overmatched Rams defense, but I believe it will take some time for Colorado to get rolling, especially after losing a number of key pieces on offense from a year ago. The Buffaloes have taken three straight meetings in this series with the last two coming in blowout fashion. Expect a reversal of fortunes on Friday night at Broncos Stadium. Take Colorado State (10*).

My selection is on Tulane plus the points over Wake Forest at 8 pm et on Thursday.

The Green Wave should enter the 2018 campaign with plenty of motivation after coming so close to reaching a Bowl game for the first time since 2013 last season. So close, yet so far away was the story for Tulane in 2017 but they'll be looking to make amends right out of the gate with what should be considered a difficult but winnable game against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons did reach a Bowl game last season, and ultimately prevailed in a wild 55-52 affair against Texas A&M. That result alone should put plenty of backers in their corner here in the 2018 opener. Wake Forest will be relying on a true freshman at quarterback, at least for the first three games this season. While it's certainly possible Sam Hartman comes up big in his debut, I believe there's a better chance that he struggles against a capable Tulane defense. The common line of thinking is that the Demon Deacons have an advantage having had extra time to prepare for the Tulane triple-option offense, but I see it working in the Green Wave's favor here as they're rested and ready to go. Take Tulane (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Hawaii and Colorado State at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

Colorado State blew Hawaii out of the water in a 51-21 victory last year but I'm not expecting a similar story to unfold here in the 2018 opener for both teams.

Both the Rainbow Warriors and Rams have undergone considerable changes since last year, perhaps nowhere more glaring than at the QB position. I certainly don't expect to see either team bombing away on Saturday night. Hawaii is switching to a run-and-shoot offense this year and there will undoubtedly be growing pains with new faces virtually across the board at all the skill positions on offense.

Meanwhile, Colorado State will need to fill the void left by WR Michael Gallup, who has moved onto the Dallas Cowboys. K.J. Carta-Samuels is the Rams new quarterback, having transferred from Washington, where he saw limited action. While I do believe that he can have success in this offense, I'm not sure we'll see this offense running at full capacity right out of the gate.

Both teams struggled defensively a year ago, but both are optimistic that they can improve in that department here in 2018. Colorado State in particular saw its defense progress considerably during camp and I'm confident we'll see some carry-over of that here on Saturday night.

While we're dealing with a considerably lower total than we saw in last year's meeting, the move is certainly warranted. Keep an eye on the number as it could bump up prior to kickoff on Saturday as the betting public seems to have eyes on a potential shootout. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over New England at 6:30 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll grab the points with the Eagles on Sunday but I’m not sure that we’ll need them. The Eagles haven’t come out of nowhere to go on a run and reach the Super Bowl. They’ve been in pole position in the NFL virtually all season long. Yes, losing Carson Wentz hurt, but as we’ve seen it was by no means the end of their story. Perhaps it was only the beginning. Nick Foles has gone through some ups and downs in limited action as the Eagles starting QB this season but heading into this game, he’s in-sync with the rest of his offense and more than capable of slaying the dragon that is the New England Patriots. I have a lot of respect for Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick in particular. I’m certainly not in the category of ‘Patriots hater’ in which so many folks seem to reside these days. But this is as beatable of a Patriots team as we’ve seen over the course of their dynasty in my opinion. It seems as though we see a classic Super Bowl every other year, at least as far as recent history goes, so after last year’s thriller you would assume we’re in for a bit of a snoozefest this time around. But I don’t need to tell you that a trend like that is nothing more than a fluke. Expect an ultra-competitive game on Sunday evening in Minneapolis. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Minnesota and Philadelphia at 6:40 pm et on Sunday.

We’re dealing with a very low total by today’s NFL standards in this one, but I believe it’s warranted. The Vikings were ultimately involved in a high-scoring affair on paper in last week’s thrilling victory over the Saints, as the two teams combined to score 53 points, with 19 of those points coming in the final 3:01 of the fourth quarter. Up until that point, that game could have been classified as a defensive slugfest. Here, I’m expecting more of the same, minus the late explosion. Of course, the venue has to be considered here as the game will be played outdoors rather in the perfect offensive conditions we saw in Minnesota. I expect both teams to lean heavily on their ground attack, with a few shots through the air sprinkled in. We’re talking about two elite defensive teams, and it’s not as if we’re going to see a sudden identity shift with a trip to the Super Bowl hanging in the balance. Both quarterbacks deserve all the credit they’ve been receiving this week, but I don’t think we’ll see either squad put it all on their shoulders in this spot. Take the under (10*).

NFL Conference Championship Game of the Year. My selection is on New England minus the points over Jacksonville at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll lay the points with the Patriots on Sunday as they host the upstart Jaguars with the AFC Championship on the line. The Jags are getting plenty of support following last week’s impressive wire-to-wire victory over the Steelers. That performance made it easy to forget their ugly 10-3 home win over Buffalo on Wild Card weekend. While there’s a lot to like about the Jags, I believe their run comes to an end here. The Patriots weren’t really tested in last week’s rout of the Titans. This is a team that certainly didn’t need any more extra motivation but it got just that when the story came out regarding dissension in the ranks between Brady, Bellichick and Kraft. While the Jags have the type of defense that should give the Pats some headaches, I simply feel that New England has too many weapons to contend with for four quarters. And on the other side of the football, you can count on New England to come up with a gameplan to take away Jacksonville’s motor, RB Leonard Fournette, and force QB Blake Bortles to beat them. That’s not a story that ends well as far as I’m concerned. As nice as it would be to see some new blood representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, I don’t see it this year. Take New England (10*).

NFL Conference Championship Total of the Year. My selection is on the ‘under’ between Jacksonville and New England at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll back the ‘under’ on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough. Both of these teams lit up the scoreboard in their respective Divisional Round games last weekend. The Jaguars were buoyed by a number of Steelers turnovers and took advantage of excellent field position throughout the game, an advantage they’re not likely to enjoy against the Pats this Sunday. Meanwhile, New England faced no resistance against a middle of the road Titans defense last Saturday night. Jacksonville’s defense is undoubtedly on another level by comparison. That’s not to say they’ll shut down the Pats vaunted offense by any means, but we don’t really need them to with the total set where it is. While the New England offense gets most of the credit, we’ve seen the defense come up big time and time again and I expect no different here as they take away Jacksonville’s best offensive weapon, RB Leonard Fournette, and force QB Blake Bortles into obvious passing situations. I believe there’s a good chance we see the winning side score in the 24-27 point range here, which puts us in good position to cash our ticket. Take the under (10*).

NFL Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Minnesota at 4:40 pm et on Sunday.

We cashed our Wild Card Game of the Year with the Panthers plus the points over the Saints last Sunday but I won't hesitate to switch gears and back New Orleans as it hits the road to face the Vikings this week. The Vikings are obviously highly-motivated as they try to become the first team to ever appear in a Super Bowl on their home field. I'm not convinced they get there, however, and believe they'll be in for a serious battle against the Saints on Sunday. QB Case Keenum had a tremendous regular season but the playoffs are a completely different animal. The Saints opportunistic defense is brimming with confidence right now and will undoubtedly throw everything it has at Keenum. While I do have a lot of respect for the Vikings on both sides of the football, I simply feel that they're overvalued, due in large part to their double-digit win over the Saints way back in Week 1. Take New Orleans (10*).

NFL Divisional Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Jacksonville and Pittsburgh at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'll back the 'over' at Heinz Field on Sunday afternoon. The Jags certainly didn't put their best foot forward offensively against the Bills last Sunday, QB Blake Bortles in particular. However, they still managed to win the game, and now they have a shot at accomplishing something truly great in Pittsburgh. I look for a much better showing by Bortles and the offense in general. Keep in mind, RB Leonard Fournette ran wild against the Steelers back in early October, gaining 181 yards and punching in a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions against the Jags defense on that afternoon, but I expect a much different story to unfold this time around. Big Ben will have all-world WR Antonio Brown back at his disposal, and with Martavis Bryant stepping up down the stretch as well, this aerial attack is truly loaded. We're dealing with a low total, but I don't believe it's warranted. Take the over (10*).

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

This is a low total when it comes down to it but I'm not sure it's been set low enough. The Falcons are the best 'under' bet in the league this season. Despite all the talent they possess, their offense continues to struggle to find consistency. There's little reason to expect them to suddenly light it up against an elite, well-rested Eagles defense on Saturday. On the flip side, I have little faith in the Philadelphia offense with Nick Foles at the helm. Like the Falcons, they do have plenty of talent, but without Carson Wentz, I don't believe they're going anywhere. The Falcons defense is an underrated unit to be sure, and I'm confident they'll show up again in the divisional round. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Atlanta minus the points over Philadelphia at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

It almost seems as if the Eagles have suddenly become the trendy pick in this matchup on Saturday. When Philadelphia lost Carson Wentz for the season I immediately felt that they would be fade material should they host a playoff game, and here we are. The Falcons have been inconsistent this season but gained a lot of confidence in holding off the Rams in Los Angeles last Saturday. I'm still not sure we've seen Atlanta's best effort this season, but what better spot than this for it to step up. Even if they had Carson Wentz, the Eagles would still not have much experience, and I'm still not sure they would be a sure thing to move on to the conference final. The Falcons didn't enter the postseason with high expectations and I'm still not sure folks are expecting much from them. Meanwhile, the Eagles have all the pressure in the world to go out and win a football game in front of the home faithful. Unfortunately they haven't been presented with an ideal situation. Take Atlanta (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Alabama and Georgia at 8:10 pm et on Monday.

We saw a real contrast in styles in last week's semi-final matchups as Georgia was involved in a wild 54-48 overtime win over Oklahoma while Alabama dominated defensively in a 24-6 rout of Clemson. I'm not anticipating a shootout in the national championship game on Monday as these two SEC foes should be involved in a tightly-contested affair from start to finish. Save for a 56-point outburst against FCS squad Mercer, Alabama hasn't really been all that explosive offensively, scoring 31 points or less in its four other games over the last two months. Georgia is a better defensive team than it showed in last week's victory over the Sooners. On the flip side, I'm confident the Crimson Tide defense can hold its own against another terrific offense here. While Georgia freshman QB Jake Fromm has been outstanding this season, you have to give the edge to the Tide defense in this particular matchup. We're dealing with a low total, but it's warranted in my opinion. Take the under (10*).

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

The Panthers are a trendy sleeper pick in the NFC entering these playoffs, and rightfully so in my opinion. I like the way this matchup sets up for them, even off an ugly showing in Atlanta last Sunday. Of course, prior to that, Carolina had reeled off three straight wins, scoring 84 points in the process. While the Panthers may not have the start power outside of Cam Newton on offense, this unit is capable of doing some damage. The Saints failed to end their regular season on a high note, falling by a 31-24 score in Tampa last Sunday. In fact, they went just 3-3 SU over their last six games. One of those wins did come against the Panthers right here in New Orleans, and it came by a 10-point margin. I can’t help but feel we see a tighter contest this time around as these two familiar divisional foes do battle. Take Carolina (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Jacksonville at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

It’s hard not to get behind the Bills considering all the franchise has endured over a long playoff drought. I believe they draw a favorable matchup here against another team unfamiliar with recent playoff success in the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills won their way into the postseason by taking three of their final four regular season games. Meanwhile, the Jaguars limp into the playoffs on the heels of back-to-back losses against the 49ers and Titans on the road. A return home should give them a boost here, but will it be enough to secure a victory, let alone a cover? I’m not so sure. This has the makings of a sneaky-good Wild Card tilt with neither team going away quietly. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Buffalo and Jacksonville at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll back the 'over' in Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon. We saw two relatively low-scoring affairs in Wild Card action yesterday but I expect to see a different story unfold as the Bills battle the Jags in this one. There are a lot of questions around whether either of these playoff rookie quarterbacks can perform on the postseason stage. I'm actually confident we'll see both turn in solid performances. It's easily overlooked that the Jags offense actually came to life down the stretch with the emergence of a number of young WR talents. On the flip side, Bills QB Tyrod Taylor has played with a chip on his shoulder since being benched earlier in the campaign. While I have respect for both defenses, I don't see them ruling the day on Sunday. We're working with a low total in this spot. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Atlanta plus the points over Los Angeles at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

I really do like the Rams, and we cashed plenty of tickets backing them over the course of the regular season. The playoffs are a different animal, however, and I look for the Falcons experience, and hunger after losing in such devastating fashion in last year’s Super Bowl to carry them through this Wild Card showdown. With that being said, I’ll grab all the points I can get with Atlanta rather than back it on the moneyline in this spot. The Rams are certainly worthy of respect from the betting marketplace – the fact they’re favored is no mistake on the part of the oddsmakers. But here I look for the Falcons to do a good job of stacking the box against Todd Gurley and forcing Jared Goff to turn in a lights out performance in his first playoff appearance. The Rams will be hard-pressed to come away with a win, let alone cover the spread in this contest. Take Atlanta (10*).

My selection is on Tennessee plus the points over Kansas City at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the generous helping of points with the Titans as they square off against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Tennessee certainly didn’t impress down the stretch, winning just one of its final four games, but that turned out to be the one that mattered as its victory over the Jaguars last Sunday catapulted it into the postseason. Keep in mind, of the Titans most recent three losses; none came by more than five points. Their last blowout loss came back on November 16th, when they faced the less than inviting task of heading to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on a Thursday night following a gritty 24-20 win over Cincinnati four days earlier. The Chiefs closed out the regular season on a high note, winning their last four games, but as a franchise they haven’t won a playoff game in what seems like an eternity and I’m not totally convinced we see a reversal of fortunes here. Sure, they ‘should’ win this game. Covering the lofty spread may be a different story entirely. Take Tennessee (10*).

NFL Wild Card Total of the Year. My selection is on the ‘under’ between Tennessee and Kansas City at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll back the ‘under’ as the NFL Playoffs kick off in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. While the Chiefs did close out the regular season with their offensively seemingly humming along, the fact is, neither of these offenses was all that consistent this season. Note that the Titans haven’t allowed more than 27 points in a game since Week 11, when they suffered a 40-17 loss in Pittsburgh, playing just four days after a 24-20 home win over the Bengals. Meanwhile, the Chiefs allowed 15 points or less in their last three games that mattered (they gave up 24 points in last week’s meaningless win over the Broncos – we won with the ‘over’ in that contest). There’s really no need to overthink things here. I’m just not sure that either quarterback really gets rolling, nor do I believe the ground games will run wild in the first of this weekend’s four Wild Card matchups. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Clemson plus the points over Alabama at 8:45 pm et on Monday.

I simply feel that the wrong team is favored in this semi-final matchup. The Crimson Tide are certainly intent on earning some revenge against the Tigers but that's not the only factor to be considered. 'Bama closed out its regular season with a tough road loss at Auburn, and despite an impressive 11-1 SU record, the Tide managed to go just 5-7 ATS along the way. Meanwhile, Clemson checks in at 12-1 SU with a rock solid 8-4-1 ATS mark. The Tigers lone setback came in a clear flat spot on a Friday night in Syracuse. Since then, Clemson reeled off six straight victories, going a perfect 4-0 ATS over its last four contests. We've seen two epic battles between these two teams over the last two years. I'm not anticipating another barn-burner here. Instead look for the Tigers to methodically wear down the Tide and ultimately pull away for the win and cover. Take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Oklahoma at 5 pm et on Monday.

I'll lay the points with Georgia in the first of Monday's two national championship semi-final matchups. Both of these teams have just one blemish on their records this season. However, I believe the Bulldogs are the superior team. Here, we'll fade the Sooners and their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. Oklahoma hasn't tasted defeat since October 7th against Iowa State, but save for a road tilt against Oklahoma State, the Sooners haven't been overly tested. I simply feel the oddsmakers got it right in this matchup, and look for the Bulldogs offense to come to life and secure the victory. Take Georgia (10*).

NFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Kansas City and Denver at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

I'll back the 'over' in Denver on Sunday afternoon. I'm confident we'll see both offenses open things up in this somewhat meaningless Week 17 matchup. The Chiefs will give rookie Patrick Mahomes a chance under center and I believe we'll see him perform well. Meanwhile, the Broncos offense has been a mess all season long but can take a step toward next season with a strong finish in front of the home faithful. Both defenses have had their ups and downs this season, but in reality there have been more downs than ups. Familiarity generally lends itself to lower scoring football games, but I believe the oddsmakers have gone too low with this total. Take the over (10*).

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

I'll lay the points with the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon, even as they are simply playing out the string against the division rival Eagles. I expect questions to linger whether the Eagles are the real deal with the playoffs on the doorstep. Of course, Carson Wentz remains sidelined and Nick Foles did little to inspire confidence in Monday's narrow win over the Raiders. The Cowboys will certainly be looking to take out their frustrations on Philadelphia here, following a no-show at home against the Seahawks in a must-win game last Sunday. Look for the 'Boys to close out the season on a positive note. Take Dallas (10*).

My selection is on Wisconsin minus the points over Miami at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Travel day on Saturday. Full writeups will return for Sunday NFL. I'll lay the points with Wisconsin in this spot. Miami limped to the finish line with back-to-back losses and I'm not sure the long layoff will serve them well here. Look for the Badgers to respond following their close loss to the Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game. Take Wisconsin (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between USC and Ohio State at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

I'll back the 'over' in Friday night's Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes are the favorite in this matchup, and rightfully so. However, I don't expect the Trojans to roll over in this one. USC comes into this game having won five straight, scoring at least 28 points in all five of those contests. They'll be up against it here as the Buckeyes possess a tremendous defense, but not an impenetrable one. Meanwhile, USC's defense hasn't impressed me at all, and as long as Ohio State brings the right mindset into this game, and I believe it will, it should have little trouble marching up and down the field. The last meeting between these two teams totaled just 33 points, but that has little relevance here as that game took place back in 2009. Take the over (10*).

CFB Bowl Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Michigan State minus the points over Washington State at 9 pm et on Thursday.

I'll lay the points with the Spartans in this matchup. While I was high on Washington State for much of the season, I don't believe this is a favorable matchup at all for the Cougars. Michigan State is coming off a terrible 2016 campaign, but has certainly made amends here in 2017 and can notch its 10th victory of the season on Thursday night. For Washington State, a strong start to the season is what got it into this Bowl game. A poor finish is what prevented the Cougars from getting into a much more prestigious game, however. I just don't feel the Cougars come into this contest with anything to hang their hat on, particularly on the defensive side of the football, where I expect them to get exposed once again. Take Michigan State (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between TCU and Stanford at 9 pm et on Thursday.

I'll back the 'under' in Thursday's Alamo Bowl between Stanford and TCU. We have two quality defenses going head-to-head here and neither offense really closed out the regular season firing on all cylinders. I can't help but think the defenses will remain ahead of the offenses as they prepare to go toe-to-toe on Thursday night. A key here will be the Horned Frogs run defense, which has held the opposition to only 2.9 yards per rush this season. If they can keep the Cardinal ground game in check they should be in the driver's seat in this one. With that being said, I'm confident the Stanford defense will hold its own against a wildly inconsistent Horned Frogs offense. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Iowa and Boston College at 5:15 pm et on Wednesday.

I'll back the 'under' in the Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday afternoon. Iowa closed out the regular season with a 56-point outburst against Nebraska but now following a full month off, I look for the Hawkeyes to return to form so to speak. Keep in mind, this is a team that had been held to 17 points or less in four of its previous five games prior to that rout of Nebraska. Like Iowa, Boston College also closed out the regular season on a high note offensively, scoring 81 points in its final two contests. But the Eagles were also prone to offensive droughts over the course of the season. I'm not convinced the winning side eclipses the 20-point mark in this one. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Duke and Northern Illinois at 5:15 pm et on Tuesday.

We have the perfect conditions for a shootout between the Blue Devils and Huskies on Tuesday afternoon. Duke has been one of the best 'under' bets in the nation this season, posting a 3-9 o/u mark. I like the fact that Blue Devils closed out the regular season with back-to-back wins, scoring 43 and 31 points in the process. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois was rolling offensively for much of the latter part of the regular season, but struggled in its finale against Central Michigan, on the road in less than ideal conditions. I expect to see the Huskies bounce back here. Note that the 'over' has cashed in five of their last six games overall. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Oakland at 8:30 pm et on Monday.

I have no trouble laying the points with the Eagles in this matchup. The Raiders have all but packed it in for the season after back-to-back losses to the Chiefs and Cowboys. That dropped them to 1-4-2 ATS over their last seven contests. The Eagles are just 1-2 ATS over their last two games but that only serves to keep this line in check on Monday night. I expect to see QB Nick Foles have another big game against a vulnerable Raiders defense, leading Philadelphia to a lopsided victory. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Pittsburgh and Houston at 4:30 pm et on Monday.

I'll back the 'over' in Houston on Christmas Day. This game has shootout written all over it. Last week, the Texans fell behind early and never recovered, scoring only seven points in a blowout loss in Jacksonville. I do expect to see them bounce back against an undermanned Steelers defense, however. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh was held down, relatively speaking, by New England last Sunday but should have little trouble responding here in Houston. Look for a big game from Le'Veon Bell, not to mention the Steelers receiving corps, even without Antonio Brown. Take the over (10*).

NFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Jacksonville and San Francisco at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

The betting marketplace still hasn't caught up with these two rejuvenated offenses, at least considering this relatively low posted total. The Jags have seemingly come out of nowhere to become a contender in the AFC this season and while their defense has led the way for much of the campaign, it has been their offense that has really shouldered the load lately. A host of emerging talents at wide receiver have helped lift up QB Blake Bortles and I expect to see continuation of that strong play here in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the 49ers have found their QB of the future in Jimmy Garoppolo. In fact, he's proving to be their QB of the present as well. This will be Garoppolo's toughest test since taking over the starting job for the Niners, but I'm confident he'll exceed expectations. Take the over (10*).

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

I really like the way this ones sets up for the underdog Bengals at home. The future is cloudy for the Bengals as a franchise as long-time head coach Marvin Lewis has one foot out the door. But for this week, the spot sets up well as the Lions come in off of back-to-back wins against the lowly Bucs and Bears. Cincinnati should get a boost offensively with the expected return of RB Joe Mixon. After appearing lifeless in the last couple of weeks, I'm confident we'll see the Bengals offense get rolling against a vulnerable Lions defense on Sunday afternoon. The Lions have their sights set on a playoff berth in the NFC but I believe we'll see their hopes spoiled in resounding fashion. The last time we saw the Bengals play with some pride was the first half against Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football three weeks ago. Expect more of that type of play on Sunday. Take Cincinnati (10*).

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

The Bills are on a nice little run having posted three wins in their last four games both SU and ATS. However, I believe that run grinds to a halt here in Foxboro. The Patriots escaped with a 27-24 win in Pittsburgh last week to take back control of the AFC. Now I expect to see them play loose back at home, and ultimately deliver a lopsided win over the Bills. Keep in mind, Buffalo has just one road win in the last two months and that came at the expense of the Chiefs, who were coming unraveled at the time. It won't be so fortunate in this spot as the Pats seem to have been galvanized by that shocking Monday night loss in Miami two weeks ago. We're being asked to lay double-digits here for a reason. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Toledo minus the points over Appalachian State at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I'll lay the points with the Rockets in this matchup. Appalachian State has an excellent pedigree as an FCS squad but despite going 8-4 SU this season, I don't believe the Mountaineers had a truly successful 2017 campaign in FBS. They went just 5-7 ATS and only reached this Bowl game thanks to a three-game winning streak to close out the regular season. Meanwhile, Toledo flew largely under the radar despite going an impressive 11-2 SU. Of course, this is a rematch of a Bowl game from a year ago - a game Appalachian State won by a 31-28 score. Keep in mind, the Mountaineers were a small favorite in that contest. Different story this time around as the Rockets are the favorite. After being favored by double-digits in their last three games, and going 2-1 ATS, they're back in a more reasonable pointspread range here. Take Toledo (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis plus the points over Baltimore at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

I'm not sure this is going to be the cakewalk that most are expecting for the Ravens on Saturday afternoon. The Colts were lifeless in last week's home loss to the Broncos, but now they've had a couple of extra days to prepare for the Ravens, and they'll be catching Baltimore on the heels of three straight ATS wins, and in a clear letdown spot. Baltimore has quietly put together a fine season at 8-6 SU and 8-5-1 ATS, but I'm not sure the Ravens are quite as good as their record indicates. I believe they're vulnerable without Jimmy Smith against a Colts offense that can move the football through the air. The fact is, we're likely not going to need much from the Colts offense in order to cover this lofty spread. Take Indianapolis (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Central Michigan and Wyoming at 4 pm et on Friday.

I'll back the 'over' in Boise on Friday afternoon. I simply feel the oddsmakers have gone too low with this total. Wyoming didn't necessarily put its best foot forward offensively during the regular season. The Cowboys stunk on that side of the football for much of the campaign. That was in spite of the Cowboys having a potential number one overall NFL draft pick in QB Josh Allen. Allen missed the team's final two contests, but is expected to return here, and could make amends so to speak, perhaps improving his stock with a strong performance against the Chippewas. Central Michigan closed out the regular season on a high note, riding a five-game winning streak, scoring points in bunches along the way. While the layoff won't help their cause here, I do expect them to find some success moving the football and putting points on the board against Wyoming. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Temple and Florida International at 8 pm et on Thursday.

I'll back the 'under' in Thursday's Gasparilla Bowl in St. Petersburg. Temple finished the regular season on a high note, securing three wins in its final four games, scoring at least 34 points in each of those wins. However, they haven't played a game since November 25th so any of that positive momentum has essentially been wiped out. Likewise, Florida International scored a whopping 104 points in its final two regular season games. In fact, the 'over' went a perfect 4-0 in the Panthers final four contests. That only serves to give us a more favorable total here, however. I don't feel that the quarterback play on either side warrants much confidence here. We're dealing with a lofty total and I believe it will prove too high. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Louisiana Tech plus the points over SMU at 8 pm et on Wednesday.

After falling just short in a number of close games, the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech won their way into Bowl eligibility with victories in their final two regular season games. Having posted Bowl victories in each of the last three seasons, I see no reason Louisiana Tech can't at the very least take SMU down to the wire in Wednesday's Frisco Bowl. The Mustangs closed the regular season with six ATS losses in their final six contests. Their defense was non-existent for much of the campaign and I don't see that changing here. The betting public is lining up to back the Mustangs but I believe the value is with the underdog Bulldogs in this matchup. Take Louisiana Tech (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Akron and Florida Atlantic at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

I'll back the 'under' in Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl. Neither team has had much trouble scoring this season but that has provided us with a lofty total to work with here. Akron's defense has been extremely opportunistic with 19 interceptions and four touchdowns on the season. Florida Atlantic is certainly well aware of the Zips knack for creating turnovers, however, and Lane Kiffin has had plenty of time to drive that point home to his players. The Owls rely heavily on sophomore RB Devin Singletary, who racked up nearly 1,800 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground this season. You can be sure Akron has watched plenty of game film of Singletary leading up to this one and will do everything it can to at least slow him down. I believe we'll see plenty of long drives in this one, ultimately chewing enough clock to keep the final score 'under' the inflated total. Take the under (10*).