7* NFC Game of the Year on Carolina Panthers +10

The Key: The Panthers will go with a run-heavy approach with deal-threat QB PJ Walker and RB Christian McCaffrey this week.  It will work against an Arizona defense that ranks 31st in allowing 4.8 YPC.  It will also help shorten the game and keep them in this game for 4 quarters.  I like Carolina's defense which ranks 2nd in the NFL in both YPG (293.1) and YPP (5.0) allowed.  It sounds like the Cardinals are likely to be without Kyler Murray again, and they will be without Chase Edmunds and De'Andre Hopkins as well as all 3 our doubtful or out.  WR Rondale Moore is in concussion protocol as well.  It's asking a lot of Colt McCoy to repeat the performance he had last week.  The Cardinals go from being 5.5-point dogs to the 49ers to 10-point favorites against the Panthers, which is too big of an adjustment.  Arizona is 1-16 ATS in its last 17 games as a favorite of 7.5 to 14 points.  The Panthers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games.  Take Carolina.

7* SEC Game of the Year on Tennessee +20.5

The Key: Tennessee has the best offense that Georgia has faced this year and should be able to put up enough points to stay within this number.  The Vols also have a better defense than they get credit for yielding only 5.3 YPP and 3.8 YPR.  Their fast tempo will be something that Georgia hasn't seen this season and may not be prepared for.  It is the type of style that can actually find some holes in this amazing Georgia defense.  QB Hendon Hooker has thrown 21 TD against only 2 INT this year with 69.4% completions.  He has also rushed for 457 yards and 4 TD while being one of the most underrated QB's in the nation.  Take Tennessee.

7* Wyoming/Boise State NCAAF Friday Night Lights on UNDER 48.5

The Key: Wyoming and Boise State are two UNDER teams because they run the ball a lot and have good defenses.  Wyoming attempts 42 rushes per game while Boise State attempts 38.  Wyoming yields 21.3 PPG and Boise State 20.9 PPG.  The last 4 matchups between Wyoming and Boise State have seen 26, 37, 48 and 38 combined points.  Take the UNDER.

7* UNC/Pitt ACC *Total* Annihilator on OVER 71.5

The Key: Two of the best offenses in the ACC go at it tonight when North Carolina travels to face Pitt.  The Panthers score 45 PPG and average 541.1 YPG behind an NFL quarterback in Kenny Pickett who has 29 TD and only 3 INT this year.  North Carolina averages 38.9 PPG and 488.8 YPG behind an NFL quarterback in Sam Howell who can beat you with his arms and his legs.  He did just that last week in a 58-55 win over Wake Forest.  And it should be a shootout again tonight against this Pitt squad.  UNC's last 3 games have all seen 78 or more combined points.  6 of Pitt's last 8 games have seen 72 or more combined points.  UNC is 7-0 OVER In its last 7 road games against good passing teams that complete 58% or better. Take the OVER.

7* NBA Non-Conference Game of the Month on Chicago Bulls -3.5

The Key: Both the Bulls and Mavericks are 7-3 this season and that's why this line is only -3.5 in favor of the Bulls due to home-court advantage.  But it should be higher when you consider the Bulls are outscoring teams by 7.0 PPG, while the Mavericks are getting outscored by 2.3 PPG this year.  Take Chicago.

7* Tuesday MAC *HEAVY HITTER* on Akron/Western Michigan OVER 62

The Key: Western Michigan will gets its points against Akron's defense and can pretty much name its number.  The Zips should get their points as well being an improved offense under QB Zach Gibson, who has 72% completions, 8 TD and 0 INT in basically 3 starts this year.  The Zips scored 35 points against Bowling Green, 21 against Miami and 25 against Ball State in his 3 starts.  He threw for 291 against a good Miami defense and 331 against Ball State.  The OVER is 5-1 in Zips last 6 road games.  The OVER is 4-0 in Broncos last 4 home games against a team with a losing record.  The OVER is 6-1 in Broncos last 7 Tuesday games.  Take the OVER.

7* Bears/Steelers MNF *HEAVY HITTER* on Pittsburgh -6.5

The Key: The Pittsburgh Steelers have won 3 in a row behind one of the best defenses in the NFL that has held their last 3 opponents to an average of just 16.3 PPG.  I don't see the Chicago Bears topping that number Monday, which will allow Big Ben and the offense to make just enough plays to cover this 6.5-point spread and win by a TD or more.  The Bears have the worst offense in the NFL, ranking last at 4.4 YPP this year.  They have been even worse with Justin Fields at QB.  They average just 264 YPG in their last 6 games with him as their starter.  Chicago's defense is a huge concern too with all the injuries.  They gave up 38 points to the Bucs followed by 33 points, 467 yards and 8.6 YPPG last week to the 49ers in their last 2 games.  Pittsburgh will get to 24, and that will be enough to win by 7 or more.  The Bears are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 road games off a loss.  Chicago is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games against a team with a winning record.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* Chargers/Eagles NFL *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles -1

The Key: The Chargers had 3 straight impressive wins over the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns before being flat the last 2 weeks against the Ravens and Patriots.  All 5 of those teams are better than the Eagles, whose 3 wins this year have come against the Lions, Panthers and Falcons.  The Chargers will make easy work of the Eagles this week and get back on track.  Los Angeles is 13-3 ATS in its last 16 road games against NFC teams.  Philadelphia is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games after covering the spread in its previous game.  Take Los Angeles.

7* ACC Game of the Year on North Carolina -2.5

The Key: The North Carolina Tar Heels have played a much tougher schedule than the Wake Forest Demon Deacons this season and they have had tough luck in close games, while the Demon Deacons have won all their close games.  That's the difference in UNC being 4-4 while Wake is 8-0.  But the Tar Heels will hand the Demon Deacons their first loss of the year this week.  The Tar Heels are 25-9 ATS in their last 34 home games against a team with a winning record.  The home team has covered 6 of the last 7 matchups in this series.  Take North Carolina.

7* VT/BC NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Boston College +3

The Key: This is Boston College's Red Bandana game that stems back to 9/11 and the heroes.  Look up the story it's pretty good.  The Eagles have been great in this game year after year as it adds to their motivation.  And they won't have any problem being motivated with rival Virginia Tech coming to town for a National TV Friday night game.  I expect them to win this game on the field, but I'll take the 3 points.  The Hokies are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 road games off 2 straight games where they committed zero turnovers.  The Eagles are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games after gaining 125 or fewer rushing yards in 3 straight games.  The Hokies are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games.  Virginia Tech is 8-25 ATS in its last 33 games as a road favorite.  The Eagles are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.  Take Boston College.

7* Jets/Colts AFC *HEAVY HITTER* on New York +10.5

The Key: The New York Jets come into Thursday with confidence with Mike White under center.  They just had 34 points and 511 yards against a good Cincinnati defense last week behind 405 passing yards and three touchdowns from White.  The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a disappointing OT loss to the Titans and are on a short week.  They may bounce back with a win, but asking them to win by 11 points or more tonight is asking a lot.  Carson Wentz continues to make bonehead plays week after week.  And he'll be without TY Hilton, plus the defense will now be without DT Tyquon Lewis.  Indianapolis is just 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games as a home favorite.  Take New York.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on San Antonio Spurs +1

The Key: The situation really favors the San Antonio Spurs tonight.  They will be seeking to avenge their 99-104 road loss at Dallas a week ago.  They had Tuesday off while the Mavericks played the Heat last night and will not only be playing for a 2nd consecutive day, but also their 5th game in 7 days.  They will be without Kleber and could be without Porzingis while the Spurs are fully healthy.  Take San Antonio.

7* Tuesday MAC *HEAVY HITTER* on Ohio/Miami (Ohio) UNDER 53

The Key: Two poor offensive teams go at it tonight in MACtion when Miami (Ohio) visits Ohio.  Both teams are averaging just 21.1 PPG and I think this total is too high.  8 of the last 11 matchups between these teams have resulted in 47 or fewer combined points.  The Redhawks are 8-1 UNDER in their last 9 MAC road games.  The UNDER is 9-1 in Redhawks last 10 games off a conference win.  The UNDER is 9-0 in Redhawks last 9 games off an ATS win.  The UNDER is 5-1 in the last 6 matchups.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Bobcats last 5 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

7* Giants/Chiefs MNF *HEAVY HITTER* on Kansas City -9.5

The Key: The price is right to back the Kansas City Chiefs Monday Night.  They were 13-point favorites when this line opened and are now single-digit favorites.  They got crushed by the Titans last week, while the Giants crushed the Panthers.  Those recent results from last week are playing too much of a factor into this line this week.  Consider the Chiefs' 2 best performances this year came against NFC East teams when they went on the road to beat both the Eagles by 12 and Washington by 18.  They will also beat the banged-up Giants by double-digits this week.   New York is 0-7 ATS in its last 7 games after yielding 15 points or fewer last game.  Take Kansas City.

7* NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month on Houston Texans +14.5

The Key: Tyrod Taylor makes his return to the Texans looking to pick up where he left off in the first 2 games this year and provide this offense the same spark that he had before.  Taylor accounted for 471 yards and 4 touchdowns without a turnover in 6 quarters against the Jaguars and Browns to open the season.  He has been a covering machine as a starting QB in this league.  The Rams won't be hungry enough to put away the Texans by more than 2 touchdowns.  And it's an early start time for a West Coast team here, which is always a tough situation.  Take Houston.

7* Big 12 Game of the Year on Kansas +30.5

The Key: Oklahoma State hasn't won a game by more than 11 points this season.  They may win this game by more than 11, but it's not going to be by 31-plus.  Kansas nearly upset Oklahoma last week and is getting better under their first-year head coach.  They will keep battling and keep this game competitive for 4 quarters.  The Cowboys are in a hangover situation after suffering their 1st loss of the season last week against Iowa State.  Take Kansas.

7* Navy/Tulsa NCAAF Friday Night Lights on UNDER 46.5

The Key: Tulsa has had the last 2 weeks off to prepare to face Navy's triple-option.  It is one of the weakest offenses in recent memory for Navy, and the Golden Hurricane should shut it down.  The Midshipmen average just 17.9. PPG and 280.3 YPG this year.  They do have a good defense and shorten games with their offense.  They give up 356 YPG on defense.  Tulsa has an above average defense and is good at stopping the run, giving up 3.8 YPC this year.  Take the UNDER.

7* Packers/Cardinals NFC *HEAVY HITTER* on Green Bay +6.5

The Key: The Green Bay Packers have won and covered 6 straight since that ugly opening loss to the Saints.  They are missing some players tonight, but so are the Cardinals, most notably JJ Watt.  As long as the Packers have Aaron Rodgers under center they have a chance.  And it's worth noting the Packers are 6-0 in 6 games without Devante Adams over the last 3 years and scoring over 32 PPG.  Take Green Bay.

7* Cavs/Blazers NBA *BAILOUT* on Cleveland +8

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers have pulled 2 straight upsets over the Hawks as 8-point dogs and the Nuggets as 9.5-point dogs.  Now they are catching 8 points against the banged up Los Angeles Clippers tongight.  The Clippers are missing Leonard, Morris and Ibaka and shouldn't be this big of favorites.  Take Cleveland.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston Rockets +10.5

The Key: The Houston Rockets have some nice young talent in Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., Jae'Sean Tate and Jalen Green.  These four lead them in scoring alongside Eric Gordon.  I like the Rockets to be an underrated team most of the season this year because they have the talent to compete with anyone.  And I like them to stay within single-digits of the Dallas Mavericks, who have looked rough early under Jason Kidd.  They lost their opener by 26 to the Hawks.  Houston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games off a loss.  Dallas is 0-4 ATS in its last 4 home games.  Take Houston.

7* Saints/Seahawks MNF *HEAVY HITTER* on OVER 41

The Key: The New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks will combine to go OVER the number tonight.  The Saints are scoring 25.4 PPG and the Seahawks 23.3 PPG.  They should have no problem both getting to 20 in this game.  The Seahawks yield 24.8 PPG.  The Saints have a good defense, but I don't think Geno Smith is as big of a downgrade over Russell Wilson that everyone makes him out to be.  Take the OVER.

7* NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month on Houston Texans +18

The Key: We have the perceived best team in the NFL in the 6-0 Arizona Cardinals against the perceived worst team in the NFL in the 1-5 Houston Texans here.  That fact has this number artificially inflated.  The Cardinals are primed for a letdown.  They just beat the Rams, 49ers and Browns and have the Packers on deck Thursday, so this is a sandwich spot.  This is more of a bet against the Cardinals due to the spot than it is a bet on the Texans.  But it's worth noting the Texans did outgain the Patriots by 8 yards 2 weeks ago and were only outgained by 35 yards by the Colts last week.  Take Houston.

7* Oregon/UCLA Pac-12 *HEAVY HITTER* on UCLA -1

The Key: The Oregon Ducks have been getting too much love since winning at Ohio State.  They have lost to Stanford, nearly lost to Cal and played terribly against Arizona in their last 3 games while going 0-3 ATS.  UCLA is the more legit of these 2 teams and is a field goal away from being 6-1 this year.  They want to avenge their 35-38 road loss at Oregon last year and I expect them to.  The Ducks are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games off a win.  Take UCLA.

7* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Colorado State -2.5

The Key: Colorado State is 3-1 SU & 4-0 ATS in its last 4 games overall.  The only loss came by 10 points at Iowa when they had the Hawkeyes on the ropes as 24-point dogs.  They won by 16 at Toledo as 14.5-point dogs.  They won by 18 over San Jose State as 3.5-point favorites.  They won by 29 at New Mexico as 13-point favorites.  Utah State is 1-2 SU & 0-3 ATS in its last 3 games overall with its only win coming by 4 points against a very bad UNLV team.  They also lost by 14 to BYU and by 24 to Boise State, both at home.  The Aggies are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 games as home underdogs.  Take Colorado State.

7* Sun Belt Game of the Month on Arkansas State +18

The Key: Game report coming soon.

7* Astros/Red Sox MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on OVER 9.5

The Key: Framber Valdez is 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in his last 3 outings for the Astros.  Chris Sale is 0-0 with a 12.00 ERA in his last 3 outings for the Red Sox.  Two struggling starters go at it again in what has been a very high scoring series and that should continue today.  The OVER is 6-0 in the last 6 matchups.  The OVER is 7-0 in Astros last 7 playoff games.  The OVER is 7-0 in Red Sox last 7 games overall.  The OVER is 9-0 in Red Sox last 9 against AL West teams.  The OVER is 12-1-1 in Red Sox last 14 ALCS games.  Take the OVER.

7* Astros/Red Sox ALCS *Total* Annihilator on OVER 10

The Key: Two struggling starters go at it tonight between Zack Greinke and Nick Pivetta.  Greinke is 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Pivetta sports a 5.40 ERA in 15 home starts this year and a 4.61 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Greinke is 2-5 with a 5.28 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against the Red Sox.  Pivetta is 0-2 with a 5.25 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Astros.  The OVER is 5-0 in the last 5 matchups.  The OVER is 6-0 in Astros last 6 playoff games.  The OVER is 6-0 in Red Sox last 6 games overall.  The OVER is 8-0 in Red Sox last 8 against AL West teams.  The OVER is 11-1-1 in Red Sox last 13 ALCS games.  Take the OVER.

7* Bills/Titans NFL Total of the Week on OVER 53.5

The Key: The Bills and Titans have 2 of the better offenses in the NFL again this season.  The Bills are averaging 34.4 PPG while the Titans are putting up 26.4 PPG.  They combine to average nearly 61 PPG.  So I think the price is right to back the OVER in this game Monday night.  The Bills can name their score against a Titans defense that gives up 26.0 PPG and 6.5 YPP.  The Bills do have a good defense, but they have benefited from forcing 15 turnovers the last 4 weeks.  And they have faced an easy schedule of opposing offenses with 4 of their games coming against the Steelers, Dolphins, Texans and Washington.  The Titans hung 42 points on them last year in a 42-16 victory.  The Titans aren't holding the Bills to 16 points again.  Buffalo is 10-1 OVER in its last 11 games off 3 straight wins by 10 points or more.  Tennessee is 8-0 OVER against good passing teams that average 235 PYPG or more over the last 2 years.  The OVER is 25-9-1 in Titans last 35 games overall.  Take the OVER.

7* AFC South Game of the Year on Houston Texans +10

The Key: This is a tough situation for the Indianapolis Colts.  They are coming off an overtime loss to the Ravens on Monday Night Football in which they put everything on the line and probably deserved to win.  But they came up short after blowing a 19-point lead.  Now they are on a short week and in a hangover spot.  They face a Texans team coming off one of their best games of the season in a 25-22 loss to the Patriots.  They missed a FG and an extra point and probably should have won that game.  Davis Mills threw for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns and is improving.  He should be good enough to hang with the Colts.  This has been an extremely closely-contested rivalry through the years.  14 of the last 15 matchups were decided by 9 points or fewer.  Take Houston.

7* MAC Game of the Month on Ball State -1

The Key: After a rough start to the season, the Ball State Cardinals are back to looking like the team that won the MAC last season.  They are coming off a 12-point win over Army as a 10.5-point dog and a 25-point win at Western Michigan as a 12.5-point dog.  Now they basically are a pick 'em against Eastern Michigan, a team that isn't nearly on those other two teams' levels.  Eastern Michigan is 4-2 but the wins have come against 4 of the worst teams in the nation.  They are in over their head here against the defending champs.  Ball State is 7-0 ATS in its last 7 against a team with a winning record.  The Cardinals are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games off an upset win as a dog.  Take Ball State.

7* California/Oregon NCAAF Friday Night Lights on California +14

The Key: The Oregon Ducks just had their dreams of making the college football playoff crushed with a 24-31 loss to Stanford last game.  The game prior was a misleading 41-19 win over an 0-5 Arizona team.  They were outgained by 42 yards by the Wildcats but were +5 in turnovers.  This Oregon team continues to get too much respect for its upset win at Ohio State.  Oregon just lost leading rusher C.J. Verdell and his 397 yards and 5 TD to a season-ending injury, too.  California always seems to play Oregon tough.  The Bears are 1-1 SU & 2-0 ATS in the last 2 matchups the last 2 seasons.  They won outright 21-17 as 9-point home dogs last year.  The only lost 7-17 as 21.5-point road dogs in 2019.  They have the defense to keep them in this game for 4 quarters.  They need their offense to play like it did at Washington 2 games back when they had 457 yards against a very good Huskies defense in an OT loss.  The Golden Bears are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games as road underdogs.  The Ducks are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games as favorites.  Take California.

7* Georgia Southern/South Alabama NCAAF *HEAVY HITTER* on UNDER 51

The Key: Two teams that love to run the football and are both good against the run square off in this Sun Belt showdown Thursday night.  The clock will be moving constantly to help aid in cashing this UNDER.  Georgia Southern averages 47 rushing attempts per game and only 23 passing.  South Alabama averages 40 rushing attempts per game and only 30 passing.  Georgia Southern is holding opponents to 150 RYPG, while South Alabama is holding foes to 121 RYPG.  The UNDER is 2-0 in the 2 matchups between these teams the last 2 years with 41 and 37 combined points scored.  The UNDER is 18-7-1 in Jaguars last 26 games overall.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Jaguars last 7 home games.  The UNDER is 8-1 in Jaguars last 9 games on grass.  We've seen 51 or fewer combined points in 7 of the 11 games played between these teams this year.  Take the UNDER.

7* MLB Division Series Game of the Year on Chicago White Sox -110

The Key: It's now or never for the Chicago White Sox.  They won Game 3 12-6 to stay alive, and I like their chances of winning Game 4 again today.  The White Sox are 54-28 at home this year.  Chicago is 64-28 in its last 92 games as a home favorite.  Carlos Rodon is the better starter in this matchup.  He is 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 24 starts this year.  Rodon is 2-0 with a 1.55 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts against Houston.  Take Chicago.

7* Colts/Ravens MNF *HEAVY HITTER* on Baltimore -7

The Key: The Baltimore Ravens always feast on bad teams like the 1-3 Indianapolis Colts.  The Ravens are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games against a team with a losing record.  They face a Colts team that lost by 12 to the Seahawks and by 9 to the Titans.  Their only win came against the Miami Dolphins with backup QB Jacoby Brissett last week.  I think that win has them getting too much respect from the books here.  The Ravens beat the Broncos 23-7 last week and their offense humming right now, while their defense is as healthy as it has been all season and was a force against the Broncos last week.  Take Baltimore.

7* Jets/Falcons NFL London *HEAVY HITTER* on New York +3.5

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the New York Jets in this neutral site game in London.  This line should be closer to a PK as there's not much difference between these 2 teams.  Zach Wilson had his best game yet last week in a 27-24 upset of Tennessee.  They have played a tough schedule and now it lightens up a little here against Atlanta.  The Falcons are 1-3 with their only win coming 17-14 over the Giants.  They lost by 26 to the Eagles, by 23 to the Bucs and by 4 to Washington.  Matt Ryan is broken, and their defense is the worse unit here yielding 32.0 PPG and 383.3 YPG.  The Jets only give up 23.5 PPG and 353.8 YPG and have been respectable on that side.  Wilson is only going to get better with each start, and should have his best game yet against this Falcons defense.  Atlanta is 2-14 ATS in its last 16 against teams that force 0.75 turnovers per game or fewer.  Take New York.

7* Pac-12 Game of the Month on Utah +3

The Key: The Utah Utes are coming off their bye week and have had time to put the distractions and the poor start behind them.  Look for them to put their best foot forward against USC Saturday.  Utah is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games off a conference win.  The Utes are 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 games as road dogs.  Utah is 46-22-2 ATS in its last 70 games as a dog.  The Utes are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 October games.  Take Utah.

7* Stanford/Arizona State NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Stanford +13.5

The Key: The Arizona State Sun Devils are starting to get too much love after 2 straight blowout wins over Colorado and UCLA.  They are being asked to win this game by at least 14 points and it's too much.  Stanford has been underrated all season.  They have upset wins over both USC and Oregon, which were expected to be the 2 best teams in the Pac-12 coming into the year.  So they have proven what they are capable of.  And they are more than capable of going on the road and hanging with Arizona State and possibly pulling the upset.  The Cardinal are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games.  The Cardinal are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games against a team with a winning record.  The Sun Devils are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games as home favorites.  Take Stanford.

7* Rams/Seahawks NFC West *HEAVY HITTER* on Seattle +2.5

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Seattle Seahawks tonight as home underdogs to the Los Angeles Rams.  Russell Wilson thrives in prime time, and he and the Seahawks will be out for revenge after getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Rams last season.  The Rams have taken a big step back defensively this year in yielding 24.8 PPG and 396.8 YPG.  The Rams are 3-16 ATS in their last 19 games after yielding 400 or more total yards in 2 straight games.  Bets against all teams where the line is +3 to -3 with a terrible defense that yields 360 YPG or more, after gaining 400 or more yards in 2 straight games are 26-5 ATS over the last 5 years.  Take Seattle.

7* Cardinals/Dodgers MLB *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 7.5

The Key: We have the likely Cy Young winner up against the underrated veteran in what should be a pitcher's duel tonight.  Max Scherzer is 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 30 starts this year, and 5-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 14 home starts.  He has dominated the Cardinals at 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in his last 3 starts against them while firing 21 scoreless innings with 33 strikeouts.  Adam Wainwright is 17-7 with a 3.05 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 32 starts this year.  He is 7-6 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 17 lifetime starts against the Dodgers as well.  Scherzer is 13-2 UNDER in his last 15 starts against NL Central teams.  The UNDER is 39-19-1 in the last 59 matchups.  The UNDER is 7-2 in the last 9 matchups in Los Angeles.  Take the UNDER.

7* Yankees/Red Sox MLB *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 8

The Key: Temperatures will be in the 50's at game time in Boston tonight.  Winds will be blowing in from center.  And I think we get a classic pitcher's duel here between Nathan Eovaldi and Gerrit Cole.  Eovaldi is 6-4 with a 3.39 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 19 home starts this year.  He is 4-4 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 13 lifetime starts against the Yankees.  Gerrit Cole is 16-8 with a 3.23 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 30 starts this year.  He is 10-4 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 16 road starts.  The UNDER is 7-1 in Red Sox last 8 games overall.  The UNDER is 6-1 in the last 7 matchups in Boston.  The UNDER is 12-3-1 in the last 16 matchups overall.  Take the UNDER.

7* Raiders/Chargers AFC West *Total* Annihilator on OVER 51.5

The Key: The Las Vegas Raiders are 3-0 this year behind an offense that is hitting on all cylinders.  The Raiders are scoring 30 PPG and averaging 471 YPG this year.  They still have a pretty weak defense this season.  The Chargers are averaging 394.7 YPG as their offense is humming as well behind Justin Herbert.  They beat the Chiefs 30-24 last week in a shootout.  And their defense hasn't been great either.  These teams played in 2 shootouts last year with the Chargers winning 30-27 on the road and the Raiders winning 31-26 on the road.  The OVER is 7-1 in Raiders last 8 games overall.  Take the OVER.

7* NFC Game of the Month on Washington ML -113

The Key: The Washington Football Team is better than the Atlanta Falcons and that will show on the field Sunday.  I like getting a hungry Washington team here coming off a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills.  The Atlanta Falcons will take a breather after picking up their first win of the season last week against the injury-ravaged New York Giants.  Ron Rivera has gone 26-9 ATS off a road loss as a head coach in his career.  Take Washington.

7* NCAAF Non-Conference Game of the Year on Louisiana Tech +19

The Key: The LA Tech Bulldogs are close to being 4-0 despite a brutal schedule.  Their 2 losses are to Mississippi State and SMU by a combined 3 points.  And they had both of them on the ropes with late leads in the 4th quarter.  This couldn't be a worst situation for NC State.  They are feeling fat and happy off their win over Clemson last week.  They won't give the Bulldogs their full attention this week.  The Wolfpack are 0-9 ATS in their last 9 games against good passing teams that average 8 YPA or more.  Take Louisiana Tech.

7* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Iowa -3

The Key: The Iowa Hawkeyes are 4-0 this season behind an elite defense that is one of the best in the country.  And defense clearly travels, so I like Iowa to cover this short 3-point spread on the road at Maryland tonight.  The Hawkeyes are giving up just 11.0 PPG and 271.5 YPG while forcing 9 turnovers in 4 games.  These teams have a common opponent in Kent State.  Iowa only gave up 264 yards to Kent State.  Maryland allowed 458 yards to the Golden Flashes.  While Iowa has already played two Top 25 teams in Indiana and Iowa State, Maryland has feasted on a weak schedule during its 4-0 start.  The Hawkeyes are more battle-tested and will get the job done here.  The Hawkeyes are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games as road favorites.  The Terrapins are 9-27 ATS in their last 36 games off a win.  Maryland is 7-20 ATS in its last 27 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Iowa.

7* Jaguars/Bengals AFC *Total* Annihilator on OVER 45.5

The Key: The Jaguars and Bengals have 2 of the worst defenses in the NFL.  That has especially been the case for the Jaguars, who are yielding 30.3 PPG and 418 YPG this year.  Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are going to want to put on a show in this battle of youngsters on the prime time stage.  I think they will do just that, and there should be some turnovers that lead to easy scores as well.  Take the OVER.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-154)

The Key: The Boston Red Sox have lost 4 in a row and are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs now.  Look for them to bounce back tonight with a blowout win over the Baltimore Orioles due to their edge on the rubber.  Nathan Eovaldi is 10-9 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 31 starts this year.  Eovaldi is 3-1 with a 1.84 ERA in his last 5 starts against the Orioles, yielding only 6 earned runs in 29 1/3 innings.  Zac Lowther is 1-2 with an 8.68 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 5 starts this year for the Orioles.  He is 0-1 with a 15.90 ERA and 2.83 WHIP in 2 starts against the Red Sox this year, yielding 10 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.  Take Boston on the Run Line.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-155)

The Key: The Boston Red Sox have a big edge on the rubber tonight over the Baltimore Orioles that will have them winning this game by at least 2 runs.  Chris Sale is 5-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 7 starts this year and getting stronger by the start.  Bruce Zimmerman is 3-4 with a 5.17 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 11 starts for the Orioles this year.  Boston is 6-0 in its last 6 matchups with Baltimore with all 6 wins coming by 2 runs or more.  Take Boston on the Run Line.

7* Eagles/Cowboys MNF *Total* Annihilator on OVER 51.5

The Key: The Dallas Cowboys are rotten defensively yet again this season.  They rank 27th in total defense giving up 419.5 YPG and 28th in giving up 6.7 YPP.  But the Cowboys are loaded on offense at 4th at 435 YPG while averaging 6.4 YPP.  The Eagles have faced 2 poor offenses which has helped their defensive numbers.  But injuries will catch up to them this week as they just lost one of their best defensive players in DE Brandon Graham to a season-ending injury last week against the 49ers.  The Cowboys have injuries of their own on defense missing DE Demarcus Lawrence and having several other defenders questionable, mostly along the defensive line.  I think we should see another shootout similar to last year's matchup in Dallas in which the Cowboys won 37-17 in one of the first games played by Hurts.  Dak Prescott didn't even play in that game and the Cowboys still had 513 total yards.  The Eagles had 477 total yards themselves but 3 turnovers was the reason for just 17 points.  With Dak back and showing he is elite, the Cowboys should hang another big number on the Eagles.  Philadelphia will be able to keep pace with Hurts and this improved offense.  The OVER is 32-15 in Eagles last 47 road games.  The OVER is 8-2 in Cowboys last 10 home games.  Take the OVER.

7* AFC Game of the Month on Los Angeles Chargers +6.5

The Key: The Kansas City Chiefs don't blow teams out, and the Los Angeles Chargers don't get blown out.  So this is a pretty easy choice for me.  The Chargers only lost 2 games all season last year by more than one score.  They they have lost by more than one score just twice in their last 18 games when you figure they won by 4 at Washington and lost by 3 at home to the Cowboys in their first 2 games this year.  The Chiefs have won just one of their last 13 games by more than one score.  That's a big reason they are just 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games overall.  Their leaky defense is the reason they can't blow out teams, and it has reared its ugly head again this year.  The Chiefs have yielded 469 YPG and 7.6 YPP in 2 games this year against the Browns and Ravens.  The Chargers averaged 447.5 YPG in 2 matchups with the Chiefs last year.  The Chargers are 34-15-4 ATS in their last 53 games as road dogs.  Take Los Angeles.

7* SEC Game of the Month on South Carolina +5.5

The Key: The South Carolina Gamecocks are underrated this season.  They are 2-1 SU & 3-0 ATS and just played Georgia last week in a cover.  Now they get to host Kentucky, which will be playing its first road game of the year.  The Wildcats weren't impressive in their 7-point home win over Missouri or their 5-point home win as a 31-point favorite against UT-Chattanooga last week.  They barely escaped with victory over that bad FCS team, and they shouldn't be road favorites here against the Gamecocks.  The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 matchups.  Take South Carolina.

7* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on UNLV +30.5

The Key: The Fresno State Bulldogs are in the ultimate letdown spot tonight.  They just upset UCLA late Saturday night in a 40-37 win as 10.5-point dogs.  That was one of the most exciting, back-and-forth games of the season.  QB Jake Haener played through an injury and just kept coming in one of the most remarkable games you will ever see by a quarterback.  He had to basically be carried off the field and cannot be 100%.  Look for the Bulldogs to be cautious with him.  They just won't be able to get up for UNLV.  This is actually a step down in competition for UNLV after facing Arizona State and Iowa State the last 2 weeks.  The Rebels are expected to get back QB Doug Brumfield after he missed the last 2 games with injury.  He played well in the opener against Eastern Washington with 117 passing yards and 9.0 YPA as well as 27 rushing yards and a score.  The Rebels only lost that game 33-35 (OT) as 2.5-point dogs against one of the best teams in FCS.  Fresno State has only won one of its last 10 matchups with the Rebels by more than 29 points.  Take UNLV.

7* Marshall/App State NCAAF *Total* Annihilator on OVER 59

The Key: Marshall is a dead nuts OVER team this year.  They average 43.7 PPG and 603.7 YPG on offense and run 80 plays per game.  Appalachian State's offense will have no problem keeping up with them as they average 33.3 PPG and 446.3 YPG along with 68 plays per game.  Marshall just scored 80 combined points with East Carolina last game and gave up 553 yards to a mediocre Pirates offense.  The OVER is 21-5 in Thundering Herd last 26 non-conference games.  The OVER is 6-1 in Thundering Herd last 7 September games.  Take the OVER.

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+110)

The Key: The Boston Red Sox have won 6 straight games all by 2 runs or more.  They have scored at least 6 runs in all 6 wins.  It should be more of the same tonight against the New York Mets, who are 1-6 in their last 7 games overall and quickly getting eliminated from postseason contention.  Chris Sale is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 6 starts this year.  Taijuan Walker is 3-6 with a 5.18 ERA in 13 road starts this year.  Walker is 0-1 with a 7.63 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Take Boston on the Run Line.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cincinnati Reds -1.5 (+104)

The Key: The Cincinnati Reds are 3 games out in the wild card and in need of wins during this stretch where they have the Pirates and Nationals at home in their next 2 series.  They got off to a good start with a 9-5 victory over the Pirates in Game 1.  It should be another blowout victory in their favor tonight due to their edge on the rubber.  Tyler Mahle is 12-5 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 30 starts this year.  Mahle is 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA in his last 5 starts against the Pirates, yielding just 3 earned runs in 29 1/3 innings.  Mitch Keller is 4-11 with a 6.14 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 20 starts this year.  Keller has never beaten the Reds, going 0-3 with a 7.86 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against them.  Take Cincinnati on the Run Line.

7* Lions/Packers MNF *Total* Annihilator on OVER 48

The Key: Both the Packers and Lions were gashed defensively in Week 1 and that should carry over to Week 2 as these are 2 of the worst defenses in the NFL.  The Packers gave up 38 points to the Saints and their mediocre offense without Drew Brees and Michael Thomas.  The Lions allowed 41 points and 8.0 YPP to the 49ers.  The Packers were shut down offensively by a good Saints defense and it was clear Aaron Rodgers wasn't in midseason form.  He'll be closer to it this week.  The Lions put up 33 points against the 49ers and can do their part offensively.  These teams have combined for 63 and 55 points in their last 2 matchups.  The Packers scored 73 points in 2 games against the Lions and will do the heavy lifting on this total.  Take the OVER.

7* NFL Game of the Week on Cincinnati Bengals +3

The Key: Joe Burrow was impressive in his season debut and didn't look hobbled at all.  He completed 20 of 27 passes for 261 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Bengals to a 27-24 (OT) win over the Vikings.  Joe Mixon had 127 yards on the ground as the Bengals did pretty much whatever they wanted to against a good Vikings defense.  Now the Bengals take a step down here against a weak Bears offense and defense.  That was evident in their 34-14 loss to the Rams to open the season.  The Bears averaged just 4.7 YPP on offense and gave up 7.7 YPP on defense in a game that was every bit the blowout that the final score showed.  The Bears are missing several key players in LB Trevathan, NT Goldman, RB Cohen and could be without T Peters.  Andy Dalton clearly is not the answer at QB and will struggle against his former team as well.  Chicago is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games as a home favorite.  Take Cincinnati.

7* NCAAF Game of the Week on Utah -8.5

The Key: Kyle Whittingham called out his team after losing the line of scrimmage to BYU in their upset loss last week.  Look for his players to respond here, and for the Utes to put it on the San Diego State Aztecs.  San Diego State will be without starting QB Jordan Brookshire after he was knocked out of the Arizona game last week.  The Aztecs have played a weak schedule of New Mexico State and Arizona thus far, so this is a big step up in competition.  San Diego State was actually outgained by New Mexico State in their opener.  That's a New Mexico State team that lost 30-3 to UTEP and 34-25 to New Mexico.  Whittingham is 22-7 ATS after a game where his team forced zero turnovers as the coach of Utah.  The Utes are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 against Mountain West teams.  Utah is 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS in the last 5 matchups with four of the wins coming by 16 points or more.  Take Utah.

7* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Illinois +7

The Key: I like the price we are getting on Illinois tonight as 7-point dogs to Maryland.  We are getting this price because Illinois is coming off two bad losses in a row to UTSA and Virginia.  But keep in mind that Illinois upset Nebraska at home in their opener with a healthy Brandon Peters at quarterback.  Peters left that game and hasn't returned since.  But Peters is now back this week and will give the offense a spark.  I think Maryland is overrated off a 2-0 SU & 2-0 ATS start that included a win against Howard.  The other win was gift-wrapped to them by West Virginia who lost the turnover battle 4-0 in a 30-24 win by the Terrapins.  The Fighting Illini will put up a much better fight than they have the last 2 weeks in this standalone home game in front of a good crowd and with Peters back under center.  Bets on home dogs of 3.5 to 10 points after allowing 6.25 YPP or more last game that has 8 or more offensive starters including their QB returning in the first month of the season are 23-5 ATS since 1992.  Take Illinois.

7* Giants/Washington TNF *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington -3

The Key: Washington has the edge at the line of scrimmage in a big way on both sides of the football in this game.  That will help make up for having a backup QB in Taylor Heinicke, who actually played really well in replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick in the first half last week.  He completed 11 of his 15 passes for 120 yards with a score and didn't turn the ball over.  Washington will be able to rely in Gibson to run the ball after the Broncos rushed for 156 yards on the Giants last week.  The Giants only ran for 60 yards on 20 carries and Saquon Barkley is questionable.  Daniel Jones isn't very good and will be without his safety valve in TE Evan Engram.  This has Washington blowout written all over it.  Take Washington.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Oakland A's -131

The Key: The Oakland A's blew a 6-0 lead yesterday to cost us a winning ticket on them.  They will come back hungry today to make amends.  They have a big edge on the rubber tonight that should lead them to victory.  Sean Manaea sports a 3.79 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 28 starts this year, and a 3.64 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 13 road starts.  Manaea is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against the Royals.  Mike Minor sports a 5.05 ERA in 28 starts this year, and a 5.18 ERA in 14 home starts.  Minor is 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against Oakland.  The Royals are 1-8 in Minor's last 9 home starts when working on 5 or 6 days' rest.  The A's are 77-27 in their last 104 games against AL Central opponents.  Take Oakland.

7* American League Game of the Month on Oakland A's -160

The Key: The Oakland A's are 2.5 games out in the wild card and in must-win mode the rest of the way.  They take on a Kansas City Royals team in this series that they should handle, at least in Game 1.  Frankie Montas has been one of the best starters in baseball in the second half.  Montas has yielded 3 earned runs or fewer in 13 consecutive starts.  He has yielded 3 earned runs or fewer in 22 of his last 24 starts as well.  Montas is 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against the Royals.  Jackson Kowar is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHP in 4 starts this year.  One of those starts came against the A's on June 12th when he yielded 4 earned runs and 8 base runners in 1 1/3 innings of an 11-2 loss to Oakland.  The A's are 77-26 in their last 103 against L Central opponents.  The A's are 22-8 in the last 30 matchups.  Take Oakland.

7* Ravens/Raiders MNF *Total* Annihilator on OVER 50

The Key: The Las Vegas Raiders are an OVER team.  They scored 27.1 PPG last year and ranked 8th in total offense at 383.3 YPG.  They gave up 29.9 PPG last year and ranked 25th in total defense at 389.1 YPG.  It should be more of the same this year for the Raiders.  The Ravens averaged 29.3 PPG last year and should do what they want offensively here.  They will have to throw it more with their injuries at RB, which also helps the OVER.  And this game will be played in a dome inside Allegiant Stadium with a great atmosphere for a shootout with fans in attendance.  The OVER is 12-3-1 in Raiders last 16 games.  The OVER is 8-0-1 in Raiders last 9 games as a home dog.  The OVER is 5-0 in the last 5 matchups.  Take the OVER.

7* NFL Non-Conference Game of the Week on Cincinnati Bengals +3

The Key: I don't like the outlook of the Minnesota Vikings this season.  They went 0-3 in the preseason and were outscored by 10.6 PPG.  Their defense was a problem last year in allowing 29.7 PPG and 393.3 YPG.  It will be better but not much.  The Bengals were good when Joe Burrow was running the show.  He had 5 300-yard passing games in his 10 starts.  Burrow is back healthy and the offense is loaded.  He is playing behind an offensive line that didn't allow a single sack in the preseason.  And the defense will be improved.  The Vikings are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games overall and shouldn't be favored on the road here.  Take Cincinnati.

7* NCAAF Game of the Week on Middle Tennessee +20

The Key: Middle Tennessee is primed to be one of the most improved teams in the country this year.  16th-year head coach Rick Stockstill brought back 19 starters and added in NC State transfer Bailey Hockman at quarterback.  The Blue Raiders won their opener 50-15 over Monmouth as an 8.5-point favorite.  That was a quality FCS team that came into the season ranked 13th in the country.  Hockman went 17-of-22 passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the win.  This is a letdown spot for Virginia Tech coming off a big upset win over North Carolina in the opener last week.  The Hokies took advantage of three UNC turnovers in a 17-10 win.  Their offense is a problem with just 296 total yards against a weak UNC defense.  And they are going to have a hard time covering this big number with their offense.  Hockman and company can keep up with them on the scoreboard.  And don't be surprised if the Hokies are flat off that upset win, and with a game against West Virginia on deck.  The Blue Raiders are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as underdogs.  The Hokies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games off a win.  Take Middle Tennessee.

7* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Kansas +26.5

The Key: The Kansas Jayhawks had one of the best hires of the offseason by bringing in Lance Leipold from Buffalo.  He took the Bulls to 2 MAC title games the past 3 seasons and previously went 109-6 at D-3 Wisconsin-Whitewater.  He is one of the best up and coming head coaches in the country.  Les Miles didn't leave the cupboard bare as he has 16 returning starters and Miles recruited as well as he could have to Kansas.  The Jayhawks went 0-9 last year, so the fact that they finally won a game even though it was against South Dakota in the opener is a big step in the right direction.  It will give these players some confidence moving forward.  Now they face an overrated Coastal Carolina team that nearly went undefeated last year.  Because of that, you are paying a tax to back Coastal Carolina.  Keep in mind Kansas was a 4.5-point home favorite against Coastal Carolina last year and is now a 26.5-point underdog this year, a 31-point adjustment.  Kansas lost that game 23-38, but they outgained Coastal 367 to 318 for the game.  But they were -3 in turnovers which was the difference.  I just think the price is right to back the Jayhawks here as they stay within 4 touchdowns of the Chanticleers.  Take Kansas.

7* Cowboys/Bucs NFC *HEAVY HITTER* on Tampa Bay -8

The Key: Dak Prescott hasn't played since October after not playing in the preseason.  He won't be able to turn around and hand the ball off much because the Bucs ranked 1st in the NFL against the run last season.  He's going to have to chuck it around, and he's going to have to do so behind a patchwork offensive line that is missing a couple starters.  He's also going to be playing from behind because the Bucs will score at will against a Cowboys defense that gave up nearly 30 PPG last year.  The Bucs have great chemistry with amazingly all 22 starters returning from their Super Bowl team.  They will be clicking from the start this season, while it's going to take the Cowboys some time to gel.  Take Tampa Bay.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Francisco Giants -135

The Key: The San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 10-5 in Game 1 and 12-3 in Game 2 of this series.  It should be more of the same today with the edge the Giants have on the rubber.  Anthony DeSclafini is 11-6 with a 3.24 ERA in 26 starts this year, 5-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 15 road starts, and 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA in his last 3 outings.  DeSclafini is 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in his last 4 starts against the Rockies, yielding just 3 earned runs in 25 innings.  Jon Gray is 2-7 with a 5.88 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 14 lifetime starts against the Giants.  He is 1-4 with a 7.94 ERA in his last 6 starts against the Giants as well.  The Giants are 5-1 in the last 6 matchups.  Take San Francisco.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Francisco Giants -1.5 (-135)

The Key: The San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 10-5 in Game 1 of this series Monday.  It should be a similar result today considering the edge the Giants have on the rubber over the Rockies.  Logan Webb is 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 20 starts this year, and 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Chi Chi Gonzalez is 2-5 with a 6.20 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 17 starts this year, and 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Gonzalez has never beaten the Giants, going 0-2 with a 4.77 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against them.  The Giants are 13-1 in Webb's last 14 starts.  Take San Francisco on the Run Line.

7* Louisville/Ole Miss NCAAF *HEAVY HITTER* on Ole Miss -9

The Key: There's a lot to like about Ole Miss this year coming off a 5-5 season in which they took Alabama to the wire and beat Indiana in their bowl game.  The Rebels have an elite offense that put up 39.2 PPG and 556 YPG last year.  They have 8 starters back on offense and QB Matt Corral.  They have 9 starters back on defense and will be improved there.  Louisville went 4-7 last year with its 4 wins all coming in the role of the favorite against overmatched teams like WKU, Syracuse, Florida State and Wake.  Only 13 starters return for the Cardinals and they lose all of their big playmakers on offense, which is going to make it hard for them to keep up with Ole Miss on the scoreboard in a shootout in this one.  The Rebels will get their points.  Take Ole Miss.

7* Notre Dame/FSU NCAAF *Total* Annihilator on OVER 55

The Key: Florida State and Notre Dame played last year with the Fighting Irish winning 42-26 for 68 combined points.  This rematch should sail OVER the number.  Florida State's defense is not very good after giving up 36 PPG last year and 7 starters back on D this year.  But the Seminoles will have their best offense in years in Mike Norvell's 2nd season.  He led the high-powered offenses at Memphis going 38-15 in his 4 years there including a New Year's 6 Bowl in 2019 before coming here.  McKenzie Milton comes over from UCF to give him his next great quarterback.  And he has 10 returning starters on offense to work with.  Notre Dame will be better than expected on offense this year despite all they lost.  They will also be weaker on defense this year, and that's even after giving up 31 or more points in 4 of their final 6 games.  Take the OVER.

7* Fresno/Oregon NCAAF *HEAVY HITTER* on Fresno State +20.5

The Key: The Fresno State Bulldogs looked great in their 45-0 win over Connecticut.  The had 538 yards of offense and will be great on that side of the ball again this year.  They gave up just 107 yards on defense and will be improved there as well.  Oregon did give up 28.3 PPG and 406 YPG last year and won't be great defensively, especially with all the players they are missing in their secondary for the opener.  Anthony Brown is a downgrade at QB now that Tyler Shough left.  Oregon will be good this year, but they are now 3 touchdowns better than this tough Fresno State team from an underrated Mountain West Conference.  The Bulldogs are 35-17-2 ATS in their last 54 games, including 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Pac-12 games.  Take Fresno State.

7* NCAAF Friday Night Lights on Duke -6.5

The Key: The Duke Blue Devils are flying under the radar coming into the 2021 season.  That's because they went just 2-9 last season.  But they were much better than their record.  Amazingly, the Blue Devils finished -19 in turnover differential last year.  It can only get better this year with improved QB play as Chase Brice transferred and was a turnover machine.  One of Duke's win last year came against this same Charlotte team as they blew them out of the building, 53-19.  Now they are just being asked to cover a 6.5-point here and win by a TD or more to cover.  I certainly like the price.  Charlotte went 2-4 last year with its only wins coming against North Texas and UTEP.  Three losses came by 15 points or more.  The 49ers only have 5 starters back on defense and should get picked apart on that side of the field this season.  Take Duke.

7* Thursday NCAAF *HEAVY HITTER* on East Carolina +10

The Key: The East Carolina Pirates were much better than their 3-6 record last year.  They got robby against Tulsa by the refs the week after losing to Navy by 4.  But they played their best football of the season the last 2 games beating Temple by 25 and upsetting SMU outright by 14 as 12-point dogs.  That gives them a lot of momentum heading into 2021.  Now they have a whopping 20 starters back and a veteran QB in Holton Ahlers who will be starting for a 3rd straight year.  It is head coach Mike Houston's 3rd season here and it is his best team by far.  Appalachian State took a step back in Shawn Clark's first season last year with a 9-3 record.  The 9 wins were all against bad teams, and they lost to the best teams they faced in Louisiana, Coastal Carolina and Marshall.  The Mountaineers will be starting a new QB this year in Duke transfer Chase Brice.  I just think it's asking a lot of them to win this game by double-digits in their opener against what will be a much improved ECU team from the AAC.  It is also on a neutral field in Charlotte and not a true home game for App State, which is big because they've had such a huge home-field advantage through the years.  Take East Carolina.

7* MLB Total of the Week on Astros/Mariners OVER 8.5

The Key: Jake Odorizzi is the weak link in the Houston Astros' rotation.  He is 6-6 with a 4.69 ERA in 18 starts this year, and 4-3 with a 5.14 ERA in 10 road starts.  Odorizzi is 3-4 with a 4.37 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against the Mariners.  He has faced them 3 times in 2021 with the OVER going 2-0-1 with 9 or more combined runs in all 3 starts.  Logan Gilbert is 5-5 with a 5.44 ERA in 18 starts this year, and 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA in 10 home starts.  Gilbert has been rocked of late at 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  One of those came against the Astros on August 21st when he yielded 9 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 15-1 loss.  The OVER is 8-1 in Gilbert's 9 starts against division opponents this year.  Take the OVER.

7* National League Game of the Month on San Diego Padres -158

The Key: The San Diego Padres have a good opportunity to get things turned around in this series with the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks.  They started with a 7-5 victory in Game 1 and I expect them to win Game 2 as well due to their big edge on the rubber.  Blake Snell is 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his last 5 starts while yielding just 7 earned runs in 29 2/3 innings with 44 strikeouts.  Snell is 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against the Diamondbacks with 3 of those coming this year.  Zach Gallen is 0-5 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 8 home starts this year.  Gallen is 0-1 with a 5.58 ERA in 2 starts against the Padres in 2021.  Gallen's teams are 1-10 in his last 11 home starts with a total of 7 to 8.5 runs.  Arizona is 29-76 in its last 105 games overall.  The Diamondbacks are 7-46 int their last 53 games against a starting pitcher that averages 5 strikeouts or more per start.  Take San Diego.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Diego Padres -1.5 (-110)

The Key: It's now or never for the Padres, who are trying to make the postseason.  They can't afford to lose this game or this series to the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks.  Chris Paddack makes his return from the IL looking to pick up where he left off.  He is 4-2 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 10 road starts this year.  Tyler Gilbert will be making his 4th start of the year for the Diamondbacks.  The Padres have already seen him once and should be prepared for him the 2nd time around.  Paddack sports a 3.38 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against the Diamondbacks.  Arizona is 29-75 in its last 104 games overall.  Take San Diego on the Run Line.

7* Browns/Falcons NBC *BAILOUT* on Cleveland -5

7* NFLX Game of the Year on Washington +3.5

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Chicago White Sox -1.5 (-105)

The Key: The Chicago Cubs are 14-40 in their last 54 games overall and a dumpster fire of a team right now.  The Chicago White Sox just went into Wrigley in early August and swept the Cubs, winning all 3 games by 2 runs or more and outscoring the Cubs 21-9 for the series.  It should be more of the same in this series.  Dallas Keuchel is 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against the Cubs.  Kuechel is 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 12 home starts this year with the White Sox going 9-3 in those starts.  The White Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 Game 1's.  Take the White Sox on the Run Line.

7* Yankees/A's AL *BAILOUT* on Oakland +102

The Key: This is where the Yankees 11-game winning streak comes to an end.  The Oakland A's are hungry for a victory after losing 4 straight and have the edge on the rubber tonight.  James Kaprielian is 5-2 with a 1.47 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 7 home starts this year for Oakland.  James Taillon is 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 11 road starts for the Yankees.  The A's are 21-7 in their last 28 home matchups with the Yankees.  Take Oakland.

7* White Sox/Blue Jays AL *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -117

The Key: Few starters have been as impressive as Toronto's Robbie Ray this season.  Ray is 9-5 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 24 starts with 178 strikeouts in 145 1/3 innings.  Ray has yielded 3 earned runs or fewer in 13 of his last 14 starts.  He has yielded 4 runs or fewer in 24 consecutive starts as well.  Lucas Giolito sports a 3.77 ERA in 25 starts this year and the White Sox have gone 12-13 (-9.8 units) in his starts.  The White Sox are 0-9 in their last 9 AL road games against a starting pitcher with a 3.40 ERA or better.  Chicago is 14-37 in its last 51 games as a road underdog.  Take Toronto.

7* Mariners/A's AL West *HEAVY HITTER* on Seattle +132

The Key: The Seattle Mariners are 9-3 in their last 12 games overall and fighting to make the postseason.  They take on a struggling Oakland A's team that is just 2-7 in their last 9 games overall.  The Mariners have the edge on the rubber today and should not be underdogs because of it.  Chris Flexen is 10-5 with a 3.64 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 23 starts this year.  Cole Irvin is 9-11 with a 3.57 ERA in 24 starts for the A's.  But Irvin has not fared well against the Mariners, going 0-2 with an 8.30 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against them, both of which have come in 2021.  The Mariners are 7-1 in Flexen's 8 road starts with a total of 8.5 to 10 this season, and 14-2 in all 16 of his starts with a total of 8.5 to 10.  This price is too good to pass up today.  Take Seattle.

7* Jaguars/Saints NFLX *HEAVY HITTER* on Jacksonville +4

7* MLB Total of the Week on Mariners/Astros OVER 8.5

The Key: The Mariners and Astros combined for 15 runs in Game 1 and 16 runs in Game 2.  The OVER is now 5-0 in the last 5 matchups in this series with 14 combined runs or more in all 5 games.  I'm shocked they have set this total this low at 8.5 runs.  Framber Valdez has been solid this season but he is hittable with a 1.32 WHIP in 15 starts and a 1.45 WHIP in 8 home starts.  Tyler Anderson sports a 4.90 ERA in his 12 road starts this year.  Anderson is 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against the Astros.  Houston can cover this OVER on its own just like it has done the past 2 days.  In fact the Astros have scored 8 or more runs in each of their last 5 matchups with the Mariners.  Take the OVER.

7* NFLX Game of the Week on Indianapolis Colts +2

7* Bengals/Washington NFLX *HEAVY HITTER* on Cincinnati +5.5

7* Patriots/Eagles NFLX *HEAVY HITTER* on New England Money Line -115

7* Red Sox/Yankees ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston +107

The Key: The Boston Red Sox will be hungry for a win Wednesday after dropping both games of the double-header yesterday to the Yankees that had them actually falling behind in the wild card standings to New York by percentage points.  But the Red Sox have the edge on the rubber tonight over the Yankees and shouldn't be underdogs.  Nick Pivetta has done his best work on the road this year, going 5-3 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 11 starts on the highway.  He is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his last 2 starts coming in.  Andrew Heaney is 7-8 with a 5.78 ERA in 21 starts this year between his time with the Angels and Yankees.  He has really struggled as a Yankee, going 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in his last 3 outings while yielding 15 earned runs and 8 HR's in 15 innings.  Heaney sports a 5.92 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against the Red Sox.  Take Boston.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 (-130)

The Key: The Toronto Blue Jays have a big edge on the rubber tonight over the Washington Nationals.  Alek Manoah is 5-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 11 starts this year.  Erick Fedde is 4-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 19 starts for the Nationals.  Washington is really struggling right now in going 1-12 in their last 13 games overall.  The Nationals are 0-7 in their last 7 home games.  Take Toronto on the Run Line.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cincinnati Reds -1.5 (-110)

The Key: The Chicago Cubs are 2-17 in their last 19 games since trading away Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and Kimbrel.  They are 10-35 in their last 45 games overall.  They have lost 11 straight coming in with 9 losses by 2 runs or more.  This is a pretty easy choice tonight with the Cincinnati Reds having the edge on the rubber over the Cubs.  Wade Miley is 9-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 21 starts this year, including 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 10 home starts.  He should get plenty of run support considering the Reds have scored 32 runs in their last 5 games and should get after Justin Steele.  Miley's teams are 16-1 in his last 17 home starts against an NL team with a .315 OBP or worse in the 2nd half of the season.  His teams are winning by 3.0 RPG on average in this situation.  Take Cincinnati on the Run Line.

7* American League Game of the Month on Toronto Blue Jays -108

The Key: The Toronto Blue Jays will be hungry to avoid the sweep and to not drop a 4th straight game overall Sunday. I like the price we are getting with them considering the edge they have on the rubber. Steven Matz is the better starter in this matchup with Logan Gilbert. The Blue Jays are still 12-5 in their last 17 games overall. It's time for some revenge Sunday. Take Toronto.

7* NLFX Game of the Week on San Francisco 49ers ML -140

7* Bills/Lions NFLX *HEAVY HITTER* on Buffalo +1.5

7* Steelers/Eagles NFLX *HEAVY HITTER* on Pittsburgh +1

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (-102)

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals have won 3 of their last 4 games all by 2 runs or more.  They are making a late run at the playoffs and need to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates in this series.  The Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 games overall with 5 losses by 2 runs or more.  The Cardinals have a big edge on the rubber tonight with Adam Wainwright, who is 10-6 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 22 starts this year.  Wainwright is 5-0 with a 2.19 ERA in his last 6 starts against the Pirates, yielding 9 earned runs in 37 innings and one earned run or fewer in 5 of those 6 starts.  The Cardinals have won each of his last 5 starts against the Pirates by 2 runs or more.  William Crowe is 3-6 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 16 starts for the Pirates this year.  Crowe is 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against the Cardinals.  The Cardinals are 15-2 in their 17 trips to Pittsburgh over the last 3 seasons.  Take St. Louis on the Run Line.

7* MLB Tuesday Night *BAILOUT* on Toronto Blue Jays -152 (Game 2)

The Key: The Toronto Blue Jays have a big edge on the rubber in Game 2 of this double-header tonight with the Los Angeles Angels.  Ross Stripling has been dominant of late, going 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Jose Suarez is 2-3 with a 5.16 ERA in 5 starts this year, and 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA in 2 home starts.  Suarez yielded 5 earned runs and 3 HR's in 5 innings of a 5-7 loss to the Blue Jays in his only lifetime start against them.  The Blue Jays are 10-2 in their last 12 games and have outscored the opposition 71-33.  Take Toronto in Game 2.

7* MLB Total of the Week on Twins/Astros OVER 8

The Key: The Twins and Astros have 2 of the better lineups in baseball which should lead to cashing this OVER todayt.  The Astros rank 1st in runs and 1st in average this season in all of baseball.  The Twins have scored 5 or more runs in 8 of their last 11 games overall.  Kenta Maeda has battled through injury this season and hasn't been right.  He is 4-4 with a 4.75 ERA in 18 starts, including 3-2 with a 5.95 ERA in 12 road starts.  Lance McCullers has yielded 4 earned runs in 2 of his last 3 starts coming in.  McCullers is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against the Twins.  The OVER is 6-1-1 in Twins last 8 games against a right-handed starter.  The OVER is 21-7-2 in Twins last 30 games as road dogs.  The OVER is 5-0 in Astros last 5 games off a win.  Take the OVER.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago White Sox -1.5 (-130)

The Key: The Chicago Cubs pretty much packed it in when they traded away Baez, Rizzo, Bryant and Kimbrel prior to the trade deadline.  They are now 2-8 in their last 10 games to fall to 10-26 in their last 36 games overall.  The White Sox have a big edge on the rubber today with Carlos Rodon over Adbert Alzolay.  Rodon is 8-5 with a 2.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 18 starts this year.  Alzolay is 4-11 with a 4.85 ERA in 19 starts.  Take the White Sox on the Run Line.

7* Mets/Phillies ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on New York -104

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the New York Mets over the Philadelphia Phillies tonight on ESPN.  The Mets have the edge on the rubber with Marcus Stroman.  He sports a 2.80 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 22 starts this year, and a 2.56 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 11 road starts.  Stroman sports a 2.68 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against the Phillies.  Stroman has a 1.35 ERA in 4 starts against the Phillies in 2021 alone, yielding only 3 earned runs in 20 innings.  Kyle Gibson is 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA in his last 4 starts, yielding 17 earned runs in 24 innings.  Gibson is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against the Mets.  The Mets are 16-7 in their last 23 games against a team with a winning record.  The Mets are 7-3 in the last 10 matchups.  Take New York.

7* Cowboys/Steelers NFLX *HEAVY HITTER* on Pittsburgh -2