20* ACC GAME OF THE WEEK on Virginia -2

The Virginia Cavaliers have played an absolutely brutal schedule in 2013, which is the biggest reason for their 2-4 start. Their four losses have come against the likes of Oregon, Pittsburgh, Ball State and Maryland. They even have a home win over a very good BYU team on their resume as well. They played well last week at Maryland, falling 26-27 as a 6-point underdog despite gaining 505 yards of total offense. This is clearly a team that is much better than its record would indicate.

Duke is a bit of a fraud at 4-2 on the season. Its four victories have come against NC Central, Memphis, Troy and Navy. Virginia is an excellent running team that is averaging 188.8 yards per game to rank 47th in the country in rushing offense. Duke has given up an average of 224.5 yards per game on the ground in the last four weeks. The Blue Devils rank 81st in the country against the run, giving up 179.7 yards per game on the season.

Virginia boasts a very solid defense that is giving up just 361.8 yards per game to rank 37th in the country in total defense. That

15* UCLA/Stanford Pac-12 No-Brainer on UCLA +6

The UCLA Bruins have been one of the most underrated teams in all of college football in 2013. They have opened 5-0 straight up and 5-0 against the spread with impressive road wins over Nebraska (41-21) and Utah (34-27). That

15* SEC PLAY OF THE DAY on Missouri +3.5

The Missouri Tigers continue to get no respect from oddsmakers despite their impressive 6-0 start. They have gone 5-1 against the spread in the process, with their only non-cover coming in a 22-point victory over Arkansas State as a 23-point favorite. They are not only winning, they are dominating the opposition with all six victories coming by 15 points or more. That

15* Big Ten PLAY OF THE DAY on Purdue +28

The Michigan State Spartans are getting way too much respect from the books Saturday. This line is an over-inflation due to Michigan State's 42-28 win over Indiana last week, coupled with Purdue's 7-44 loss to Nebraska. I believe there is a ton of value with the Boilermakers in this one, and I'll back them because of it.

The Spartans need to win by more than four touchdowns to beat us, and I don't believe they are capable of it. Aside from their 55-17 victory over Youngstown State, the Spartans' biggest win this season came by a final of 21-6 at home over South Florida as a 21-point favorite. They also failed to cover as a 27.5-point favorite in their opener with a 26-13 victory against lowly Western Michigan.

Michigan State simply doesn't have the offensive firepower to cover big spreads like this. It has been held to 30.5 points and 374.7 total yards per game this season to rank 87th in the country in total offense. There's no question that the Spartans have one of the best defenses in the country, but their offense isn't going to put up enough points to cover this inflated number.

Purdue has failed to cover the spread in three consecutive games, so the betting public is obviously not willing to back this team. It was only a 21.5-point underdog at Wisconsin on September 21, and now it is a 28-point dog to Michigan State. Comparing these two spreads alone show that this line is inflated when you consider that Wisconsin is a better team than Michigan State.

The Boilermakers have shown some promise offensively in recent weeks. They put up 524 total yards in a loss to Northern Illinois on September 28 in a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate. The defense has been better than average too, giving up 417 total yards per game against six offenses that are combining to average 444 yards per game on the season.

The biggest reason for Purdue's slow start is a brutal schedule that has been much tougher than that of Michigan State. It has already played the likes of Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Nebraska. Those five teams all have winning records and have combined for a 23-7 record on the season. Only two of Michigan State's six opponents thus far have winning records in Notre Dame and Iowa.

This has been a very closely-contested series. Purdue only lost 31-35 at Michigan State as a 20.5-point underdog in their most recent meeting. Each of the last 12 meetings since 1997 have been decided by 24 points or less with eight of those contests behind decided by 10 points or fewer. That makes for a perfect 12-0 system backing the Boilermakers pertaining to today's spread of 28.

The Boilermakers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home. Michigan State is 2-9 against the spread as a home favorite over the last two seasons. It is only winning 23.9 to 17.4 on average in this spot, or by 6.5 points per game. Roll with Purdue Saturday.

15* CFB Saturday Big Chalk BLOWOUT on Cincinnati -13

The Cincinnati Bearcats have one of the best home-field advantages in the entire country. After opening 3-0 at home this season, they are now 50-14 at home over the past 11 years. The have already rolled Purdue (42-7), Northwestern State (66-9) and Temple (38-20) at home this season. They are outscoring their opponents at home by an average of 36.7 points per game in 2013.

Cincinnati will be up against a Connecticut team that is one of the worst in all of college football. The Huskies have opened 0-5 straight up and 1-4 against the spread in 2013 with three of those losses coming by double-digits. They lost 10-13 at home to South Florida last week as a 3.5-point favorite.

The Huskies are in shambles right now with the firing of head coach Paul Pasqualoni after four games. Their worst loss came on the road on September 28 in a 12-41 setback at Buffalo. It was their lone road game of the season, which makes their 0-5 start even worse when you consider they have played four home games compared to just one on the road. I expect a similar beat down at the hands of Cincinnati in this one.

The Huskies are averaging 16.4 points and 290.4 yards per game to rank a woeful 117th in the country in total offense. They are going to have a very hard time moving the ball on one of the best defenses in the land. Cincinnati is giving up just 17.8 points and 271.8 yards per game to rank 6th in total defense. The offense hasn

20* CFB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Memphis -3

The Tigers may be the best 1-4 team in college football. Their four losses have come against Duke (14-28), Middle Tennessee State (15-17), UCF (17-24) and Houston (15-25.). In their best performance of the season, they beat a very good Arkansas State team 31-7 at home on September 21. Memphis outgained Houston by 102 yards, UCF by 123 yards and Middle Tennessee by 66 yards, but found a way to lose those three games when they really should have won given the numbers.

Memphis has a massive edge on defense in this one. It is giving up just 20.2 points and 305.2 yards per game to rank 11th in the entire country in total defense. It is giving up just 91.0 yards on the ground and 214.2 through the air. SMU, meanwhile, is allowing 43.2 points and 445.8 yards per game to rank 98th in total defense. The Mustangs are 1-4 on the season with their only win coming against Montana State by a final of 31-30 at home. They have allowed 41 or more points in their four losses.

Plays on any team (MEMPHIS)

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on Oklahoma State -7

The Cowboys are 4-1 and still have a ton to play for in the wide open Big 12 despite an early loss to West Virginia. With two Big 12 losses already, TCU really is behind the eight ball in terms of competing for a conference championship in 2013.

Oklahoma State will come into this game on two weeks

15* Dodgers/Cardinals Game 6 ANNIHILATOR on Los Angeles -125

I believe the Dodgers force a Game 7 behind ace Clayton Kershaw tonight. Rarely will you ever get the best pitcher in baseball at this kind of price, and I'll gladly take advantage in Game 6 with their season on the line.

Kershaw has been stupid-good in 2013, going 17-10 with a 1.73 ERA and 0.898 WHIP over 36 starts. He continues to get better as the season goes on, going 3-1 with a miniscule 0.28 ERA over his last five starts while allowing just one earned runs in 32 innings.

Kershaw did not allow an earned run in Game 2 against St. Louis while also putting three runners on base over six innings. He did give up an unearned run, which proved to be the difference in a 1-0 Los Angeles defeat. I believe he gets his revenge tonight against Michael Wacha.

The Dodgers are 55-27 in Kershaw's last 82 starts as a favorite. Los Angeles is 52-20 in its last 72 vs. a right-handed starter. The Dodgers are 9-2 in their last 11 games following an off day. Bet Los Angeles in Game 6 Friday.

20* UCF/Louisville AAC GAME OF THE WEEK on Central Florida +13

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20* Seahawks/Cardinals NFL Thursday No-Brainer on Arizona +7

The Arizona Cardinals were clearly one of the most underrated teams in the league heading into 2013. They have opened 3-3 this season despite playing a tough schedule to this point that has featured four road games with two of them coming against San Francisco and New Orleans. They are playing their best football at home, going 2-0 while beating a pair of quality opponents in the Lions (25-21) and Panthers (22-6).

The defense recently returned linebacker Daryl Washington, and he and Karlos Dansby have been a force in recent weeks. This is one of the more underrated stop units in the league as well, allowing a respectable 21.2 points per game on the season. Arizona actually outplayed San Francisco last week, but lost 20-32 despite outgaining the opposition 403-387 for the game. The Cardinals simply gave that game away by committing four turnovers. After playing the 49ers tough on the road, they have a good chance of keeping it close against the Seahawks at home.

Seattle has been at its worst on the road this season. Despite being 2-1, it was fortunate to beat both Houston (23-20) and Carolina (12-7) after needing to come behind in the second half to do so. They even erased a 20-3 halftime deficit against the Texans that was aided by yet another pick-six from Matt Schaub late. The Seahawks were outgained by 206 total yards in that contest. They also lost at Indianapolis 28-34 in their last road contest. As you can see, the Seahawks have not won a road game yet this season by more than five points.

Home-field advantage has been huge in this series as the home team has won each of the last four meetings over the past two seasons. Arizona has won six of its last seven home meetings with Seattle. It clearly wants revenge from the worst loss of the season last year, which was a 58-0 drubbing in Seattle late in the season. The Cardinals had nothing to play for at the time, and these players have not forgotten that defeat. They'll be playing with a chip on their shoulder in this one. The Cardinals are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home meetings with Seattle.

Seattle has some big injury concerns heading into this game. Its leading tackler from last season in Bobby Wagner is doubtful with an ankle injury. Its leading sacker from last season in Chris Clemons (11.5 sacks) is also doubtful with an elbow injury. Marshawn Lynch is nursing a hip injury as well and sat out of practice Tuesday, though he is expected to go Thursday. Arizona got some good news when DE Calais Campbell, LB Karlos Dansby and WR Larry Fitzgerald all practiced Tuesday. All three are expected to play in this one.

The Cardinals are 26-9 against the spread in their last 35 games vs. a team with a winning percentage of better than 75% on the season. Arizona is 39-16 against the number in its last 55 games vs. good teams that outscore their opponents by 6 or more points per game. Bruce Arians is 8-0 against the spread in home games in all games he has coached. The Cardinals are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games following an ATS loss. Arizona is 5-0 against the number in its last five games after allowing more than 30 points in its previous game. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings. These last four trends combine for a perfect 22-0 system backing Arizona. Bet the Cardinals Thursday.

15* Red Sox/Tigers ALCS Game 5 No-Doubt Rout on Detroit -115

The Detroit Tigers will win their final home game of the series and take a 3-2 lead going back to Boston. The Tigers not only have the edge on the mound, they now have the edge at the plate as well after manager Jim Leyland mixed things up in Game 4. The result was a 7-3 victory and the most production from the offense in the series.

Anibal Sanchez has been shutting down the opposition all season. The right-hander is 15-9 with a 2.67 ERA and 1.175 WHIP in 31 starts this year. In Game 1 of this series, Sanchez pitched six shutout innings while striking out 12 in a 1-0 Detroit victory.

Jon Lester has been sub-par on the road this season. The left-hander is 8-7 with a 4.21 ERA and 1.381 WHIP in 20 starts away from home in 2013. The Red Sox are just 8-12 in those starts. Lester is also 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.490 WHIP in eight career starts against the Tigers. In his last start at Detroit on June 21, Lester gave up five earned runs, 12 base runners and two homers over 5 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox are 4-10 in Lester's last 14 road starts. Boston is 4-10 in Lester's last 14 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. Detroit is a perfect 7-0 in its last seven games vs. a left-handed starter. The Tigers are 57-25 in their last 82 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5. Detroit is 8-2 in Sanchez's last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record. The Tigers are 11-4 in Sanchez's last 15 starts overall. Roll with Detroit in Game 5 Thursday.

15* Miami/UNC ESPN Thursday ANNIHILATOR on North Carolina +9.5

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20* Red Sox/Tigers ALCS Game 4 No-Brainer on Detroit -121

I believe this is a must-win situation for Detroit as only 16% of teams have come back to win from a 3-1 deficit. I like it chances with the edge it has on the mound in this one, and the home-field advantage.

Doug Fister is 14-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 33 starts this season. He has been at his best at home, going 8-5 with a 3.61 ERA in 16 starts. In his last start against Boston on September 2, Fister pitched seven shutout innings to get the win in a 3-0 Tigers victory.

Jake Peavy has pitched well at home this year, but he's just 5-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 15 road starts in 2013. Peavy is 1-3 with a 6.68 ERA in his last five starts against Detroit, allowing 23 earns runs and 9 homers over 31 innings pitched. He clearly struggles against this team.

The Red Sox are 28-57 in their last 85 games as an underdog. The Tigers are 56-25 in their last 81 home games with a total set of 7.0-8.5. Detroit is 11-4 in Fister's last 15 starts overall. The Tigers are 26-10 in Fister's last 36 home starts. Detroit is 7-2 in its last nine home meetings with Boston. Bet the Tigers Wednesday.

20* LA-Lafayette/WKU Sun Belt GAME OF THE MONTH on Western Kentucky -4

After opening the season with an impressive 35-26 win over Kentucky, the Hilltoppers dropped their next two road contests at Tennessee and South Alabama. They have been a completely different team since, reeling off three straight blowout victories over Morgan State (58-17), Navy (19-7) and Louisiana-Monroe (31-10). This team is hitting its stride under first-year head coach, Bobby Petrino.

Western Kentucky is scoring 31.2 points and averaging a whopping 473.7 yards per game to rank 30th in the country in total offense. Quarterback Brandon Doughty has thrived in Petrino

15* Red Sox/Tigers ALCS Total DOMINATOR on OVER 7

The books have set the bar too low on this total tonight in Game 3 between Detroit and Boston. Both John Lackey and Justin Verlander are getting way too much respect from the books in this one.

Lackey has been at his worst on the road this season, going 4-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 16 starts away from home. Verlander has been at his worst at home this year, going 6-7 with a 3.73 ERA in 17 starts in Detroit.

While Verlander is hot of late, he has struggled in recent starts against Boston. He has allowed 13 runs and 31 base runners over 16 innings in his last three starts against the Red Sox. John Lackey sports a 3.86 ERA in 12 career starts against Detroit.

Boston is scoring 5.3 runs/game on the road this season, while Detroit is putting up 5.3 runs/game at home. That's a combined 10.6 runs/game given this situation, which is 3.6 runs more than tonight's posted total. There is clearly some value with the OVER in this one ladies and gents.

Detroit is 15-3 OVER (+12.3 Units) at home when the total is 7.5 or less this season. The OVER is 7-0 in Red Sox last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game. The OVER is 9-2 in Boston's last 11 games overall. The OVER is 16-5-3 in Tigers last 24 home games. The OVER is 40-19-2 in Tigers last 61 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150. The OVER is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings in this series, including 5-1 in the last six meetings in Detroit. Take the OVER in Game 3 Tuesday.

20* Colts/Chargers ESPN Monday No-Brainer on UNDER 50.5

I believe the recent OVER run on Monday Night Football has forced the oddsmakers to inflate tonight's total set. Each of the last three MNF games have gone OVER the number, and five out of six on the season. With the way the public likes to bet MNF as it is, the oddsmakers can not longer continue to take a pounding by setting the number too low.

What I really like about this UNDER is that it's strength vs. strength, which clearly favors a defensive battle. Indianapolis ranks 5th in the league in pass defense, giving up just 201.4 yards per game through the air. San Diego features a very one-dimensional offense, ranking 3rd in the league in passing offense at 311.2 yards per game.

I look for the Colts to slow down Philip Rivers in this one, especially with the pressure they'll get from the front four, including NFL sack leader Robert Mathis. San Diego has had one of the most underrated run defenses in the league over the last several years. It is strong at the point of attack again, allowing 117.2 yards per game despite going up against five offenses that average 127 yards per game on the ground. Stopping the run will be big considering the Colts rank 4th in the league in rushing offense at 142.0 yards per game.

Five of the last six meetings between San Diego and Indianapolis have seen 50 or less combined points. The Colts and their opponents had combined for 44 or less points in each of their first four games of the season before a high-scoring affair with Seattle last week that ended with a final score of 34-28. The Colts were very fortunate to score 34 points considering they had just 317 yards of total offense in the game. I believe that misleading final score last week also has this total inflated.

San Diego is 31-16 UNDER in home games vs. good offensive teams - scoring 24 or more points/game since 1992. The Colts are 12-3 UNDER against AFC opponents over the last two seasons. The UNDER is 5-0 in Colts last 5 road games. The UNDER is 10-3 in Colts last 13 vs. a team with a losing record. The UNDER is 5-0 in Chargers last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The UNDER is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings. Bet the UNDER in this game Monday.

15* Cardinals/Dodgers NLCS Game 3 ANNIHILATOR on Los Angeles +108

It's now or never for the Los Angeles Dodgers. I believe they are showing excellent value as a +108 home underdog in this must-win situation tonight. I look for the Cardinals to relax a little as well after taking the first two games of this series at home.

Hyun-Jin Ryu get the ball for Game 3. The left-hander has had a solid season, going 14-8 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.221 WHIP in 31 starts. Ryu has been his best at home, going 7-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.210 WHIP over 16 starts.

Ryu pitched seven innings without allowing a single earned run in his lone start against St. Louis this season on August 8. He gave up just five hits without a walk while striking out seven to get the win.

The Dodgers are 24-5 (+19.7 Units) against the money line in home games vs. NL teams allowing 3.8 or less runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons. St. Louis is 8-17 (-15.8 Units) against the money line after 4 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons. The Cardinals are 6-15 in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning record. The Dodgers are 6-1 in Ryu's last 7 starts as an underdog. Los Angele sis 11-4 in Ryu's last 15 home starts. Take the Dodgers in Game 3 Monday.

25* Redskins/Cowboys NBC Sunday Night GAME OF THE YEAR on Washington +6

The Washington Redskins have given the Dallas Cowboys all they have wanted and more over the last several years. They won both meetings last year, winning 38-31 in Dallas and 28-18 at home with the NFC East title on the line. In fact, only once in the last 13 meetings has Washington lost to Dallas by more than 5 points. That

15* Jaguars/Broncos AFC Sunday No-Brainer on Jacksonville +27.5

Even with how bad Jacksonville has been, any time the books are going to give me nearly four touchdowns in an NFL game, I'm going to look to take it. There

15* NFL Sunday Upset Special on Carolina Panthers +1

Carolina has held a halftime lead in each of its first four games of the season. It has blown three of those leads in the second half, and it

20* AFC GAME OF THE WEEK on Buffalo Bills +7

Oddsmakers have certainly over-adjusted for Thaddeus Lewis being named the starting quarterback this week. The Bills were going to be somewhere around a 3.5-point underdog if E.J. Manuel was the starting quarterback this week, and I do not believe he's worth anywhere close to 3.5 points, which is the difference in the line adjustment. There is a ton of value here in backing the Bills as a touchdown home underdog Sunday due to the quarterback situation. After all, Buffalo doesn

15* NFL Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Pittsburgh Steelers +1

The Pittsburgh Steelers are desperate for a win to turn their season around. They realize there is still a lot of football left to be played with three-fourths of their season remaining. Their bye week came at a perfect time, which will allow them to regroup after an 0-4 start. Meanwhile, the Jets are coming off a big win at Atlanta on Monday Night Football, which puts them on a short week and in a letdown spot here. The edge in rest and preparation clearly favors Pittsburgh.

When you look at the numbers, it

20* Cal/UCLA Pac-12 GAME OF THE WEEK on California +25.5

The California Bears are simply catching too many points against UCLA Saturday. You won't find many teams that have played a tougher schedule than Cal to this point, which is the biggest reason for its 1-4 start. It has actually handled itself well, losing 30-44 to Northwestern, 34-52 to Ohio State, 16-55 to Oregon and 22-44 to Washington State.

Many of those final scores were very misleading. Cal actually outgained Northwestern 548-508 and Washington State 585-570. It was only outgained by Ohio State 503-608 and by Oregon 325-383. As you can see, only one of those losses came by more than 22 points. I simply believe that UCLA is overvalued as a 25-point favorite here considering it has faced such an easy schedule to this point.

Cal is certainly battle-tested and we'll always have a chance for a cover in this game due to its electric offense. The Bears rank 18th in the country in total offense at 515.4 yards per game, including 4th in passing offense at 402.6 yards per game. Freshman quarterback Jared Goff has already thrown for 1,801 yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions. Chris Harper (37 receptions, 558 yards, 4 TD) and Bryce Treggs (36, 418, 1 TD) are absolute studs at receiver.

My biggest reason for betting against UCLA and on Cal in this one is the fact that the Bruins are in a huge letdown spot. They have Stanford on deck next week, whom they lost two twice last season, including a setback in the Pac-12 Title Game. They also have Oregon the week after. There's no question that UCLA will be looking ahead to those two games, and overlooking 1-4 Cal.

The Golden Bears absolutely dominated UCLA last season by a final of 43-17. They put up 481 total yards, while limiting the Bruins to just 381 total yards. UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley threw four interceptions in the loss. Zach Maynard threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns in the win for Cal, and I look for Goff to have a big day as well against this suspect UCLA defense.

UCLA is 3-13 against the spread off two consecutive covers as a favorite since 1992. It is coming back to lose 27.2 to 29.2 in this spot. The Bruins are 16-35-1 against the number in their last 52 games vs. a team with a losing record. The underdog is 12-4-1 against the spread in the last 17 meetings in this series.

You have to go all the way back to 2001 to find the last time that UCLA beat Cal by more than 17 points, which was a 56-17 victory. In fact, that was the only time in the last 21 meetings that UCLA beat Cal by more than 18 points. That makes for a 20-1 system backing the Golden Bears when you factor in the spread for this game. Bet California Saturday.

20* Texas A&M/Ole Miss SEC GAME OF THE WEEK on Ole Miss +6

Few teams in the country have faced a schedule as tough as the one that Ole Miss has been up against in the early going. In all reality, it has done an excellent job of opening 3-2 considering it has already faced four road games against the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Texas and Vanderbilt. This is still one of the better teams in the country that returned 19 starters from last year. Now, the Rebels get to start a stretch in which they play six straight home games.

Ole Miss clearly wants revenge from last year

20* Dodgers/Cardinals Game 2 ANNIHILATOR on Los Angeles -126

The Los Angeles Dodgers will bounce back with a Game 2 victory behind Ace Clayton Kershaw. Getting him at this price is an absolute gift from oddsmakers. This is the best starter in the game, hands down.

Kershaw is 17-9 with a 1.77 ERA and 0.908 WHIP in 35 starts this season, including 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA and 0.737 WHIP in his last three starts. Somehow, he continues to get stronger as the season goes on.

There's no question that Michael Wacha has been a solid starter in limited action for the Cardinals. I have even backed him a couple times, but he is simply out-classed in this one. The Dodgers need the win more, and they'll get it behind their ace.

Kershaw is 15-2 (+13.1 Units) against the money line in road games vs. teams whose hitters draw 3 walks or less/game in the second half of the season in his career. Kershaw is 23-5 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in day games over the last two seasons. Los Angeles is 50-18 in its last 68 games vs. a right-handed starter. Take the Dodgers in Game 2 Saturday.

15* Oregon/Washington Pac-12 No-Brainer on Washington +14

This isn

15* Florida/LSU CBS Saturday No-Brainer on Florida +7

Florida has been a completely different team since inserting Tyler Murphy in as their starting quarterback. He led them to a comeback win over Tennessee by a final of 31-17 after replacing the injured Jeff Driskel on September 21. Since then, he led the Gators to a 24-7 victory at Kentucky as an 11-point favorite, and a 30-10 home victory over Arkansas as a 12.5-point favorite.

Murphy is making plays and not turning the ball over like Driskel did. Murphy is completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 530 yards and five touchdowns against one interception, while also rushing for 135 yards and two scores. Matt Jones has recently returned at running back to give the offense a boost as well. He has rushed for 322 yards and two scores. Solomon Patton (19 receptions, 348 yards, 4 TD), Trey Burton (23, 282, 1 TD) and Quinton Dunbar (18, 274) are all solid targets outside for Murphy.

LSU hasn

25* ACC GAME OF THE YEAR on Boston College +24.5

The Boston College Eagles are clearly an improved team in 2013. They brought back 18 starters and have gotten off to an impressive 3-2 start this year. They have improved as the season has gone on with their last two performances being their best two heading into this one. Boston College only lost by a final of 34-48 at Florida State as a 24-point underdog on September 28. It put up 407 total yards on a very good FSU defense, which shut out Maryland 63-0 last week.

Boston College amassed 523 total yards in a 48-27 beat down of Army as a 12.5-point favorite last weekend. Quarterback Chase Rettig is gaining confidence with each start, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 896 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions on the season. However, the biggest playmaker on the Eagles is running back Andre Williams. He has already rushed for 768 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Receiver Alex Amidon is a beast as well, catching 32 balls for 431 yards and two touchdowns.

This is a huge letdown spot for Clemson. It has a meeting lined up with No. 6 Florida State next week on October 19. The Tigers will clearly be overlooking Boston College and looking ahead to that showdown with the Seminoles. That

15* Missouri/Georgia ESPN Early ANNIHILATOR on Missouri +7.5

The Missouri Tigers are the real deal in 2013. While they haven

15* Big Ten Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Purdue +14.5

Purdue

15* Dodgers/Cardinals Game 1 No-Brainer on Los Angeles -122

I'll back Zach Greinke and the red hot Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of this series Friday. This is a Dodgers team that scored a combined 26 runs while beating the Atlanta Braves 3-1 last season.

Zach Greinke has been one of the best starters in baseball all season. The right-hander is 15-5 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.100 WHIP over 29 starts. He has posted a 1.59 ERA and 0.647 WHIP in his last three starts as well.

Greinke is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in his last three starts against St. Louis, allowing just three earned runs over 19 1/3 innings. The right-hander has allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his last 10 starts against the Cardinals.

Greinke is a perfect 12-0 (+12.8 Units) against the money line vs. poor power teams - averaging 0.9 or less HR's/game this season. The Dodgers are 65-29 in their last 94 games overall. Los Angeles is 9-2 in Greinke's last 11 road starts. The Cardinals are 0-4 in their last 4 playoff games as an underdog. Bet the Dodgers in Game 1 Friday.

20* Temple/Cincinnati ESPN Friday Total DOMINATOR on UNDER 51.5

I fully expect a defensive battle Friday night between Temple and Cincinnati in American Athletic Conference action. While Cincinnati may get to 30 points by game's end, I don't see Temple being able to surpass 10-14 points in this one. I expect somewhere in the neighborhood of a 31-10 final.

Cincinnati has been atrocious offensively in games outside of Purdue and Northwestern. I managed just 17 points against Illinois, scored 14 points against Miami Ohio with both touchdowns coming in the fourth quarter, and managed just 20 points against winless South Florida.

What has been the saving grace for the Bearcats is a defense that is one of the best in the entire country. They are giving up just 17.4 points and 251.0 total yards per game to rank 4th in the FBS in total defense.

The Bearcats have not allowed an offensive touchdown since the second quarter of the Northwestern State game on September 14, a span of 10 quarters. In the lost to South Florida last time out, they gave up a fumble recovery for a score, and a 75-yard return for at touchdown on a blocked field goal. This defense is the real deal.

I look for this fierce Cincinnati defense to completely shut down a very suspect Temple offense. In fact, the Owls are scoring just 15.8 points per game while averaging 342.4 yards per game to rank 102nd in the FBS in total offense.

Four out of five of Temple's games this season have seen 50 or less combined points. Those four were losses to Notre Dame (6-28), Houston (13-22), Idaho (24-26) and Louisville (7-30). Three of Cincinnati's five games have seen 49 or less combined points. They were wins over Purdue (42-7) and Miami Ohio (14-0), as well as a loss to South Florida (20-26).

Last year, Cincinnati beat Temple 34-10 on the road as an 8-point favorite with a total set of 55 points. Cincinnati outgained Temple 472-267 in the win. I look for the Bearcats to get a big lead early into the 3rd quarter, and to run out the clock with their solid rushing attack that is averaging 200 yards per game.

The UNDER is 35-20 in Cincinnati's last 55 home games. The UNDER is 24-9 in Cincinnati's last 33 October games. The UNDER is 12-5 in Temple's last 17 road games. The UNDER is 5-1 in Bearcats last 6 vs. a team with a losing record. The UNDER is 4-1-1 in Owls last 6 games overall. Bet the UNDER in this game Friday.

15* Arizona/USC Pac-12 BAILOUT on Arizona +6.5

This has been an extremely competitive series in recent years. Each of the last seven meetings between USC and Arizona have been decided by 7 points or less, including last year

20* Giants/Bears NFC Thursday ANNIHILATOR on New York +8

Even with an 0-5 start, head coach Tom Coughlin will still be able to keep his team motivated. That

15* Rutgers/Louisville ESPN Total DOMINATOR on UNDER 56

The books have set the bar too high in this contest between Louisville and Rutgers. I look for a low-scoring, defensive battle, which has been the theme in this rivalry in recent years.

Each of the last four meetings between Rutgers and Louisville have seen 53 or less combined points scored. In fact, the last two years, they have combined for 37 and 30 points, respectively. Louisville beat Rutgers 20-17 on the road last season as both offenses were held in check for a second straight year.

Both Louisville and Rutgers have a key loss on offense heading into this one. Rutgers is expected to be without leading rusher Paul James, who has ran for 573 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 7.3 yards per carry. Louisville is expected to be without leading receiver DaVante Parker, who has caught 21 balls for 375 yards and six scores.

Louisville boasts one of the best defenses in the entire country. It is giving up just 6.8 points and 228.0 total yards per game to rank 3rd in the FBS in total defense. It has held Rutgers to 17, 14 and 13 points in the last three meetings in this series.

Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is between 49.5 and 56 (RUTGERS) - average defensive team (330 to 390 YPG) against an excellent defensive team (<=280 YPG) are 77-38 (67%) over the last 10 seasons.

The UNDER is 19-8 in Rutgers' last 27 games overall. The UNDER is 8-1 in Scarlet Knights last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The UNDER is 13-5 in Louisville's last 18 home games. Take the UNDER in this game Thursday.

15* Pirates/Cardinals NLDS Game 5 No-Brainer on Pittsburgh +150

I applaud manager Clint Hurdle for sending rookie Gerrit Cole to the mound for Game 5 instead of Francisco Liriano, who has really struggled on the road this season. Cole is the real deal and he has been better on the road than at home.

The rookie has gone 11-7 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.135 WHIP in 20 starts this season, including 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA and 0.896 WHIP in eight road starts. Cole started Game 2 in St. Louis, allowing just one earned run and three base runners over six innings of a 7-1 Pittsburgh victory.

There's no question that Adam Wainwright is an excellent starting pitcher in this league. However, I believe he is getting too much respect from oddsmakers in this one. Cole has posted very comparable numbers and I believe this is an evenly-matched contest on the mound, so the price is right to pull the trigger on the Pirates, who continue to prove their doubters wrong.

Pittsburgh is a very profitable 38-26 (+19.7 Units) against the money line as an underdog of +100 to +150 this season. The Pirates are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150. Pittsburgh is 9-2 in its last 11 road games. The Pirates are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a loss. Pittsburgh is 6-0 in Cole's last 6 starts overall. The Pirates are 38-15 in their last 53 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game. Bet Pittsburgh in Game 5 Wednesday.

25* MLB Playoffs TOTAL OF THE YEAR on Red Sox/Rays OVER 7.5

The books are giving both Jake Peavy and Jeremy Hellickson way too much respect tonight. I look for the biggest slug fest of the series thus far to take place at Tropicana Field in Game 4 Tuesday.

Each of the first three games in this series have gone OVER the number. They combined for 14 runs in Game 1, 11 runs in Game 2 and 9 runs in Game 3. Every starting pitcher that has been out there for each team is better than both starters tonight.

Jake Peavy is 12-5 with a 4.17 ERA over 23 starts this season. He has really struggled on the road, going 5-5 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 starts away from home. Jeremy Hellickson is 11-10 with a 5.24 ERA in 31 starts this season. He has been atrocious of late, going 0-2 with a 7.81 ERA In his last three starts.

The OVER is 7-0 in Red Sox last 7 games overall. The OVER is 5-0 in Red Sox last 5 road games. The OVER is 7-0-1 in Red Sox last 8 road games as a favorite of -110 to -110. The OVER is 5-0 in Rays last 5 vs. AL East opponents. These four trends combine for a 24-0 system backing the OVER. Bet the OVER in Game 4 Tuesday.

20* Jets/Falcons ESPN Monday No-Brainer on New York +10

The New York Jets have surprisingly been one of the best teams in the league in 2013. The numbers don

15* Cardinals/Pirates NL Early Afternoon ANNIHILATOR on Pittsburgh +104

The Pittsburgh Pirates are ready to close out this series with the St. Louis Cardinals at home in Game 4 Monday. They know that they don't want to go back to St. Louis.

Pittsburgh is an impressive 52-31 at home this season, while St. Louis is 43-39 on the road. Rarely will you get this good of a home team as an underdog. I'll take advantage tonight as the city of Pittsburgh will be rocking once again.

Charlie Morton isn't getting the kind of respect he deserves from oddsmakers. The right-hander has gone 7-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 20 starts this season, allowing just six homers over 116 innings pitched. Morton is 2-2 with a 2.85 ERA in nine home starts, and 0-0 with a 1.86 ERA in his last three starts overall.

The Pirates are a very profitable 45-31 (+26.9 Units) against the money line as an underdog of +100 or higher this season. The Pirates are 7-1 in their last 8 games as an underdog. St. Louis is 0-5 in its last 5 during Game 4 of a series. The Cardinals are 0-4 in their last 4 playoff road games. Pittsburgh is 10-2 in its last 12 during Game 4 of a series. St. Louis is 2-8 in its last 10 meetings in Pittsburgh. Take the Pirates in Game 4 Monday.

20* Texans/49ers NBC Sunday Night BAILOUT on Houston +7

There

25* NFC GAME OF THE YEAR on Carolina Panthers -1

The Carolina Panthers are coming off their most lopsided win in the franchise's 19-year history. They beat the New York Giants 38-0 at home on September 22, limiting them to just 150 total yards while forcing three turnovers. That win gave them a ton of confidence heading into their bye week, and now they're refreshed and ready to go Sunday at Arizona.

While Carolina is just 1-2 this season, its two losses came by a combined six points to Seattle (7-12) and Buffalo (23-24). I really like the improvement I've seen from the defense, which ranks 3rd in the league in scoring, allowing just 12.0 points per game.

This defense should have its way with an Arizona offense that ranks 25th in scoring (17.2 points/game) and 26th in total offense (320.2 yards/game). The Cardinals have been held to a combined 20 points in their last two games, a 7-31 loss at New Orleans, and a 13-10 victory at Tampa Bay. That win over the Bucs was far from impressive, and a late comeback for the victory has the Cardinals getting more respect than they deserve from oddsmakers heading into this one.

Carolina's offense put up 402 total yards in the win over the Giants to get untracked. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries and has averaged 125.3 yards on 6.0 per carry over his last four games since last season.

The Panthers have won seven of their last eight regular season meetings with the Cardinals with their only loss during this stretch coming in 2011. That was Cam Newton's rookie debut, and all he did was throw for 422 yards and two touchdowns. This Carolina team has come a long way since then, and I believe it is one of the most underrated teams in the league to this point.

I love looking at teams coming off a bye, especially when they are on the road and they are favored. In fact, road favorites off a bye are 39-14 (73.6%) ATS since 2003. Not only do I believe Carolina is the superior team in this one, I also love the extra rest and preparation it has coming into this contest.

Plays against home teams where the line is +3 to -3 (ARIZONA) - slow starting team - outscored by 5+ PPG in the first half, after scoring 14 points or less last game are 30-7 (81.1%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Cardinals are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game. Arizona is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games following a S.U. win. Bet the Panthers Sunday.

15* NFL Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Kansas City Chiefs -2.5

The Kansas City Chiefs are a completely new team under first-year head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith. While the offense has been vastly improved under the guidance of these two, it

15* Seahawks/Colts NFL Sunday No-Brainer on Seattle -1

There's no question in my mind that the Seattle Seahawks are the best team in the league in 2013. Even in an off performance last week, they managed to find a way to rally and beat Houston 23-20 in overtime on the road. This team is gaining a lot of confidence as the season goes on with each victory.

Seattle ranks 6th in the league in scoring offense at 27.2 points per game, and 2nd in the league in scoring defense at 11.8 points per game. This team is consistently undervalued on the road because of the reputation they get for having such a dominant home-field advantage. Well, they have won five of their last six road games dating back to last season with their only loss coming to the Falcons in the Georgia Dome on a last-second field goal in the playoffs by a final of 28-30.

Russell Wilson continues to lack the respect he deserves. He ranks ninth in the league with a 95.3 passer rating and is fifth among quarterbacks with 131 rushing yards. When the pocket breaks down, he has a sixth sense that is unmatched by any other quarterback in the league. Wilson rushed for 77 yards against Houston last week as he simply refused to go down time and time again.

I believe Indianapolis is one of the biggest frauds in the NFL. It went 11-5 last season, but won nine of ten games that were decided by a touchdown or less. It is also off to a 3-1 start this season, getting too much credit for wins at San Francisco and at Jacksonville over the past two weeks. The 49ers had huge injury problems that week and were deflated coming off a bad 3-29 loss to Seattle the previous week. The Colts have not looked good at home, needing to come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Raiders 21-17 as an 11-point favorite in Week 1, and falling to Miami 20-24 in Week 2.

The Seahawks are a perfect 6-0 against the spread in their last six road games, further devaluing the theory that their not a good road team. Seattle is a perfect 8-0 against the spread in its last eight games vs. a team with a winning record. The Seahawks are 7-0 ATS vs. good teams - outscoring opponents by 6+ PPG on the season over the last 3 seasons. Seattle is 6-0 ATS vs. good offensive teams - scoring 24 or more points/game over the last 2 seasons. The Seahawks are 7-0 ATS after allowing 400 or more total yards in their previous game over the last 3 seasons. These five trends combine for a perfect 34-0 system backing Seattle. Take the Seahawks Sunday.

Note: I recommend buying the Seahawks to -2.5 or less if you have the option.

15* NFL Sunday Undervalued Underdog on New England Patriots +1

After opening the season with a pair of ugly wins over the Bills and Jets, the Patriots have been scary good the last two weeks. They beat Tampa Bay 23-3 at home in Week 3 before picking up their biggest win of the season last week in a 30-23 victory at Atlanta. Almost nobody escapes the Georgia Dome with a victory, and the Patriots were able to accomplish that feat. The defense is thriving, and the offense is finally getting untracked now that Tom Brady is getting accustomed to his new receivers.

Brady is coming off his best performance of the season, throwing for 316 yards and two touchdowns against Atlanta. He is getting comfortable with new top targets Kenbrell Thompkins and Julian Edelman. Thompkins had six receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons, while Edelman caught seven balls for 118 yards in the win. The Patriots now rank 11th in the league in total offense at 367.2 yards per game. What has been most impressive is the improvement from the defense, which ranks 6th in the league in scoring (14.2 points/game).

Cincinnati isn

20* Washington/Stanford ESPN Saturday Night BAILOUT on Washington +7.5

The Huskies are one of the most improved teams in the country in 2013. They returned 18 starters and 58 lettermen, and this is clearly Steve Sarkisian

15* Tigers/A's AL Division Series No-Brainer on Okland +114

The Oakland A's are essentially in a must-win situation tonight. They cannot afford to go to back to Detroit down 0-2. They did not come this far to pack it in.

Rookie Sonny Gray will get the job done just as he has all season when called upon. The right-hander is 5-3 with a 2.85 ERA and 1.133 WHIP in 10 starts this season, including 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 0.934 WHIP in six home starts.

Justin Verlander is getting too much respect from oddsmakers tonight. The right-hander has been vulnerable this season, going 13-12 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.319 WHIP in 34 starts. In his last start against Oakland on August 27, he gave up five runs over five innings of a 3-6 loss as a -165 favorite.

Verlander is 0-7 (-14.1 Units) against the money line after giving up no earned runs last outing this season. He and the Tigers are coming back to lose 2.9 to 5.9 in this situation. Detroit is 1-9 in Verlander's last 10 starts as a favorite, including 0-6 in his last 6 starts as a road favorite. The A's are 8-0 in their last 8 games as an underdog of +110 to +150. Oakland is 10-1 in its last 11 games following a loss. These five trends combine for a 40-2 system backing Oakland. Bet the A's Saturday.

15* Pac-12 GAME OF THE WEEK on Colorado +39.5

The Colorado Buffaloes are certainly improved under first-year head coach Mike MacIntyre. After winning just one game all of last season, MacIntyre has already doubled that win total while leading his team to a 2-1 start. He has great credentials from his time at San Jose State. He took a team that had only one winning season in nine years to 16 wins over his final 22 games there. MacIntyre brought six assistants and both of his coordinators over with him from San Jose State to Colorado.

The improvements have been dramatic, especially offensively as the Buffaloes are averaging 32.0 points and 412.7 total yards per game. MacIntyre had high-octane offenses at San Jose State in his final two seasons there as well. Connor Wood has been solid at the quarterback position. The former Texas transfer is completing 60.3 percent of his passes for 887 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. He loves having wide receiver Paul Richardson back after the junior missed all of last season with an injury. Richardson already has 26 receptions for 487 yards and five touchdowns through three games.

Oregon is already starting to just go through the motions after a start in which it has blown out its first four opponents. After taking a 55-3 lead against California last week, it nearly allowed the Bears to come from behind to cover the 38.5-point spread. In fact, the Bears scored 13 points in garbage time late to lose by a final of 16-55 and miss covering the spread by a half-point due to a missed PAT. Oregon has been playing its reserves late in games, and that could very well happen again Saturday against Colorado, which could allow the Buffaloes to get a back-door cover if need be.

Big news has come out of Eugene in that starting running back De

25* American Athletic GAME OF THE YEAR on Memphis +10

There

20* Clemson/Syracuse ACC ANNIHILATOR on Syracuse +14

The Syracuse Orange have done just fine under first-year head coach Scott Shafer, who was the defensive coordinator here over the last four years before getting the promotion in 2013. This is a team that won eight games last year and is much better than they had gotten credit for coming into the season. Sure, they are just 2-2, but both of their losses came on the road against superior Big Ten opponents in Penn State and Northwestern. They hung tough against the Nittany Lions in a 17-23 loss, and their game against the Wildcats was much closer than the score would indicate as they racked up 434 total yards in the loss.

Syracuse has opened 2-0 at home this season with blowout victories over Wagner (54-0) and Tulane (52-17). It has one of the most underrated home-field advantages in the country inside the Dome. In fact, it is 6-1 at home over the past two seasons with its only loss coming to Northwestern (41-42) by a single point. It even beat then-No. 11 Louisville at home 45-26 last season. All Louisville did was go on to win a BCS Bowl over Florida and open 4-0 in 2013 as well.

Clemson struggled in its only road game this season, winning 26-14 at NC State as a 12-point favorite. It only outgained the Wolfpack 415-378 in the win. Syracuse has been very strong on both sides of the ball in 2013. It is scoring 37.5 points per game while ranking 55th in the country in total offense (423.5 yards/game). It is allowing just 22.0 points per game while ranking 32nd in total defense (337.7 yards/game).

The offense has exploded with the insertion of Terrel Hunt into the starting lineup against Wagner in Week 3. The sophomore is completing 76.7 percent of his passes for 462 yards with seven touchdowns without an interception this season. "We have a little more chemistry with [Hunt] because he was here in the springtime when we were going through the new offense," tailback Jerome Smith said. "Between extending plays and our chemistry being better, that's the difference."

Syracuse has had two full weeks to prepare for Clemson having last played on September 21. The Orange are an impressive 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games following a bye week. Syracuse is 6-0-1 against the number in its last seven home games. The Orange are 14-2 against the spread in their last 16 home games off a home win by 17 points or more. Take Syracuse Saturday.

15* ACC GAME OF THE WEEK on Wake Forest +7.5

While the Demon Deacons are off to just a 2-3 start in 2013, they did go into Army and beat the Black Knights 25-11 as a 1.5-point favorite. This is a team that returned 15 starters from last year and should continue to improve as the season goes on. I do like what I

15* CFB Saturday Upset Special Akron +5

The Akron Zips are one of the most underrated teams in the entire country due to their 1-4 start this season. That start can be attributed to a schedule that has seen the likes of UCF, Michigan and Bowling Green on the road, as well as LA Lafayette and FCS power James Madison at home. Remember, the Zips were just one play away from beating Michigan in the Big House, falling by a final of 24-28 as a 35-point underdog.

This Zips had their chances against Bowling Green and Louisiana Lafayette, too. They led Bowling Green 14-10 at halftime before eventually falling 14-31 on the road. They fell 30-35 at home to a very good Louisiana team as a 7.5-point underdog. They were only outgained 455-460 in that defeat. They have certainly played some great football this season and are hungry for that first conference victory Saturday when the Ohio Bobcats come into town.

Conversely, the Bobcats are way overrated due to their 3-1 start. All three of their victories came at home, and they easily could have lost two of them as they squeaked by both North Texas (27-21) and Marshall (34-31). In that win over the Thundering Herd, the Bobcats were thoroughly ouplayed, getting outgained by 147 total yards for the game. However, that win over Marshall is earning them a lot more respect than they deserve, because ultimately they should have lost. In its lone road game this season, Ohio was throttled 7-49 at Louisville.

Ohio has some huge injury problems heading into this game with Akron. While the betting public pays attention to injuries to skill players, they rarely factor in injuries along the offensive and defensive lines, even though those players can be just as important to a team. Well, Ohio is going to be without FOUR, count it, FOUR starting offensive linemen Saturday against Akron. The Bobcats will be a mess offensively because of it, and I look for Akron's improved defense to take advantage.

Akron only lost 28-34 at Ohio last year as an 18.5-point underdog. It actually outgained the Bobcats 456-441 for the game. Jawaan Chisolm rushed for 177 yards in the loss. I look for Chisolm and Kyle Pohl, who is completing 60.5 percent of his passes for 1,072 yards and eight touchdowns to six interceptions this year, to have huge games against this Ohio defense. The Bobcats are giving up 423.5 total yards per game against a much softer schedule than Akron has faced.

Ohio is 1-9 against the spread after scoring 37 or more points in its last game over the last three seasons. The Bobcats are 1-7 against the spread in their last eight conference games. Ohio is 1-6 against the number in its last seven road games. The Bobcats are 0-5 against the spread in their last five games following a SU win of more than 20 points. These four trends combine for a 27-3 system backing the Zips. Bet Akron Saturday.

15* Big 12 GAME OF THE WEEK on Kansas +17

The Kansas Jayhawks are an improved team in 2013 under second-year head coach Charlie Weis. He did an excellent job of going out and nabbing numerous talented recruits from the JUCO level. It is paying off thus far as Kansas has doubled its win total from last season already. This is a team that lost five games last year by a touchdown or less, including a 34-41 road loss to Texas Tech in double-overtime as a 24-point underdog.

Texas Tech is overrated due to its 4-0 start that has featured wins over the likes of SMU, Stephen F Austin and Texas State. Even its 20-10 win over TCU doesn

15* Tigers/A's AL Late-Night BAILOUT on Oakland +113

Just like they have been all season, the Oakland A's (96-66) are once again getting disrespected in Game 1 of this series against the Detroit Tigers. They are a home underdog despite winning 96 games and beating out Detroit (93-69) for the No. 2 seed in the American League.

I'll gladly take advantage and back the A's behind one of the most underrated starters in baseball. The ageless Bartolo Colon is quietly having a career year, going 18-6 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.166 WHIP in 30 starts. He is 8-3 with a 2.58 ERA and 1.165 WHIP in 16 home starts, and 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 0.900 WHIP in his last three outings.

Max Scherzer has been solid as well, but is getting too much respect from the books due to his 21-3 record. His ERA (2.90), while impressive, is higher than that of Colon (2.65). Plus, Scherzer was rocked the last time he faced Oakland on August 29, giving up six runs, five earned, and two homers over five innings.

In two starts against Detroit this season, Colon has only allowed four earned runs and 15 base runners over 12 innings for a solid 3.00 ERA. He will shut down a Detroit lineup that comes in with zero confidence. The Tigers scored a combined three runs while getting swept by the lowly Miami Marlins 0-3 to close out the season. In fact, they have been held to a combined 14 runs over their last seven contests, averaging just 2.0 runs/game. Miguel Cabrera isn't his old self as he continues to battle a groin injury.

Oakland is 14-1 (+13.6 Units) against the money line after 2 straight games with 5 or more extra base hits over the last 2 seasons. Detroit is 0-7 (-9.0 Units) against the money line in road games after a game with a combined score of 2 runs or less over the last 2 seasons. The Tigers are 0-4 in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite. Detroit is 0-4 in its last 4 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150. The A's are 8-0 in their last 8 games as an underdog of +110 to +150. These five trends combine for a 37-1 system backing Oakland. Roll with the A's in Game 1 Friday.

25* BYU/Utah State Instate Rivalry GAME OF THE YEAR on BYU +6.5

The Utah State Aggies are finally getting the respect they deserve from oddsmakers. Now, the books have over-adjusted in listing Utah State as a 6.5-point favorite in this instate rivalry. There is a ton of value with this line on the underdog BYU Cougars, who could easily be 4-0 right now as their two losses to Virginia (16-19) and Utah (13-20) came by a combined 10 points. In fact, the Cougars outgained both opponents despite losing those games and simply gave them away.

BYU has played a very tough schedule thus far as it has had no gimmes in games against Middle Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. It took care of business against Middle Tennessee (37-10) and Texas (40-21), outgaining those opponents by 274 and 234 total yards, respectively. Statistically, this is one of the best teams in the country. BYU ranks 22nd in the FBS in total offense at 492.5 yards per game, and 24th in total defense at 320.5 yards per game. Once again, you have to factor in the difficulty of their schedule thus far to appreciate how impressive those numbers really are.

A closer look at the numbers really shows how good they have performed. The four opponents that they have played have allowed an average of 404 yards per game on the season, and the Cougars have bested that by 88 yards (492). The four opponents that they have faced have averaged 418 yards of offense on the season, and they have bested that by 98 yards (320). Taysom Hill has thrown for 741 yards on the season, while also rushing for a team-high 565 yards and six touchdowns. He is going to be very difficult to stop Friday night.

Bronco Mendenhall is 8-0 against the spread in road games vesus good rushing teams that average at least 4.75 rushing yards/carry as the coach of BYU. BYU is 8-0 against the number in its last eight games as an underdog. The Cougars are 10-1 against the spread in their last 11 vs. Mountain West Conference opponents. The Cougars are 7-0 against the number in their last seven games after committing three or more turnovers in their previous game. These four trends combine for a 33-1 system backing the Cougars. Also, BYU has gone 22-2 straight up in its last 24 meetings with Utah State. Bet BYU Friday.

15* Pirates/Cardinals NL Early ANNIHILATOR on Pittsburgh +125

After taking St. Louis in a 9-1 victory over Pittsburgh in Game 1 last night, I'm going to switch gears and back the Pirates to get Game 2 Friday. They know they can't afford to fall into an 0-2 hole if they want to win this series, so they'll be the more motivated team. Plus, I like their edge on the mound.

While Gerrit Cole is a rookie, he certainly hasn't pitched like it in 2013. Cole has gone 10-7 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.168 WHIP in 19 starts this season. The right-handed has been at his best on the road, going 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.949 WHIP in seven starts away from home. He was also clutch down the stretch when games mattered most, going 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 1.211 WHIP over his final three starts.

Lance Lynn is one of the weak links in St. Louis' rotation. The right-hander has gone 15-10 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.314 WHIP in 33 starts this season. Lynn has really struggled in his last two starts against Pittsburgh in 2013, going 0-1 with a 10.61 ERA while allowing 11 earned runs and 22 base runners over 9 1/3 innings. I look for the Pirates to get after him early and often in this one.

The Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a loss. Pittsburgh is 8-0 in its last 8 road games with a total set of 7.0-8.5 runs. The Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Pittsburgh is 5-0 in Cole's last 5 starts overall. These four trends combine for a 21-0 system backing the Pirates. Take Pittsburgh in Game 2 Friday.

20* Bills/Browns AFC GAME OF THE WEEK on Cleveland -3

The Browns have looked like a much improved team over the last two weeks. They have beaten back-to-back playoff opponents in Minnesota and Cincinnati by showing that they are very versatile. The offense carried the load in a 31-27 victory at Minnesota by amassing 409 total yards. The defense played spectacularly last week in a 17-6 home victory over the Bengals, limiting them to just 266 total yards.

The biggest reason for the Browns

20* CFB Thursday Total ANNIHILATOR on Western Kentucky/LA-Monroe OVER 48

The books have set the bar too low in this Sun Belt showdown between Western Kentucky and Louisiana-Monroe. Both teams are coming off low scoring games over the weekend which has kept this total way lower than it should be. WKU beat Navy 19-7, and LA-Monroe lost 14-31 to Tulane. This has created some very nice line value on the OVER in what has been a very high-scoring series between these teams of late.

Under the guidance of offensive mastermind Bobby Petrino, Western Kentucky has been putting up big numbers on the offensive side of the football all season. It is scoring 31.2 points and averaging 462.4 total yards per game to rank 44th in the country in total offense. Quarterback Brandon Doughty is completing 67.3 percent of his passes for 1,028 yards and five touchdowns. Antonio Andrews, arguably the most underrated player in the entire country, has rushed for 727 yards and eight scores already.

Look for Andrews to have a monster day on the ground against a Louisiana-Monroe defense that has allowed 305 rushing yards to Oklahoma, 311 rushing yards to Baylor, and 253 rushing yards to Tulane. I look for Western Kentucky to score at will because of its ability to move the ball on the ground with ease, and behind an underrated passing attack. LA-Monroe also gave up 470 yards passing to Baylor and 310 passing yards to Wake Forest, so it hasn't been good in any phase of the defense.

What may concern most is a Louisiana-Monroe offense that hasn't put up great numbers this year. However, it has played some very good defenses with the likes of Oklahoma and Baylor. It's not like Western Kentucky is shutting down everyone. It gave up 52 points to Tennessee, 31 to South Alabama and 26 to Kentucky. ULM, which returned eight starters on offense this season from a unit that put up 33.8 points and 433 total yards per game last year, will get untracked against Western Kentucky.

What I really like about the OVER is the high-scoring nature of this series. The last three meetings have seen 85, 59 and 65 combined points. That's an average of 69.7 points per game, which is 21.7 more than tonight's posted total of 48. Kolton Browning threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 69 yards and two scores in last year's 43-42 victory at Western Kentucky. Andrews rushed for 104 yards and a score, while quarterback Kawaun Jakes threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns in the loss for the Hilltoppers.

Bobby Petrino is 27-12 to the OVER in road games in all games he has coached. Petrino is 13-2 to the OVER off a two-game home stand in all games he has coached. Todd Berry is 6-0 to the OVER vs. excellent ball control teams that average 32 or more possession minutes per game as the coach of Louisiana-Monroe. The OVER is 23-7-1 in Warhawks last 31 vs. a team with a winning record. Take the OVER in this game Thursday.

15* NL Division Series PLAY OF THE DAY on St. Louis Cardinals -143

St. Louis is a sensational 54-27 at home this season. I believe this is a very reasonable price to back the Cardinals in Game 1 of this NL Division Series given the huge edge they have on the mound behind ace Adam Wainwright.

Wainwright returned to form this season, going 19-9 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.072 WHIP in 34 starts. He was even more dominant at Busch Stadium, going 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 0.942 WHIP in 17 home starts. In his last start against Pittsburgh on September 7, Wainwright pitched seven shutout innings of a 5-0 victory.

A.J. Burnett had a solid season for Pittsburgh as well, but he was much better at home than he was on the road. The right-handed went 5-7 with a 4.22 ERA and 1.365 WHIP in 16 road starts in 2013. In his last four starts at St. Louis, Burnett has gone 1-2 with a 13.50 ERA, allowing a whopping 24 earned runs over 16 innings.

Burnett is 7-26 (-16.6 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +150 in his career. The Pirates are 6-14 in Burnett's last 20 road starts. The Cardinals are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record. St. Louis is 6-0 in its last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Cardinals are 5-0 in Wainwright's last 5 starts. St. Louis is 4-0 in Wainwright's last 4 starts as a home favorite. The Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 trips to St. Louis. These five trends combine for a perfect 25-0 system backing St. Louis. Roll with the Cardinals Thursday.

20* Rays/Indians AL Wild Card No-Brainer on Tampa Bay -113

Tampa Bay has already tasted a playoff victory with a 5-2 win at Texas in the play-in game. I believe that gives the Rays the edge mentally coming into this contest in Cleveland as they won't be intimidated on the road.

With the edge the Rays have on the mound tonight, this one was a no-brainer. Alex Cobb has been one of the best starters in baseball, going 11-3 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.151 WHIP over 22 starts.

Cobb has been virtually untouchable in his last three starts when it has mattered most. He has gone 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 0.814 WHIP in his last three outings, allowing just three earned runs and 19 base runners over 23 1/3 innings. In his lone start against Cleveland in 2013, Cobb pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings of a 6-0 Tampa Bay victory.

The Rays are 8-0 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record. Tampa is 8-2 in its last 10 games as a favorite. The Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record. Cleveland is 10-21 in its last 31 vs. AL East opponents. Bet the Rays Wednesday.

20* Reds/Pirates NL Wild Card ANNIHILATOR on Pittsburgh -132

The Pittsburgh swept the Reds in the final series of the season to earn home-field advantage for this NL Wild Card game. I look for them to utilize that home field for a victory Tuesday as they look to improve to 51-31 at home this season. Cincinnati is 41-40 on the road this year.

Francisco Liriano has been brilliant all season, going 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.224 WHIP over 26 starts. The left-hander has been untouchable at home, going 8-1 with a 1.47 ERA and 0.964 WHIP over 11 starts in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are 9-2 in his 11 home starts this year.

Johnny Cueto has been solid this season for Cincinnati as well, but like Liriano, he is a much better pitcher at home. Cueto is 3-2 with a 3.90 ERA in six road starts in 2013, averaging just 4.6 innings/start away from home this year.

Cincinnati is hitting just .242 and scoring 3.9 runs/game against left-handed starters in 2013. The Reds are 0-5 in their last five games overall. They have scored a combined 11 runs in their last six games overall, averaging just 1.8 runs/game over this span. They have no confidence coming into this one after the way they finished the season. The edge goes to Pittsburgh mentally, on the mound, and at the plate in this one. Bet the Pirates Tuesday.

20* Dolphins/Saints MNF GAME OF THE MONTH on New Orleans -6.5

The New Orleans Saints were very smart in hiring defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who was the scapegoat in Dallas when everything went wrong last year. The fact of the matter is that he

15* Patriots/Falcons NBC Sunday Night BAILOUT on New England +2

For what the Patriots have lacked offensively this season, they

15* Jets/Titans AFC Late-Afternoon ANNIHILATOR on New York +4

The New York Jets are clearly one of the most improved teams in the league. They are a 10-13 loss at New England away from being 3-0 on the season, which was probably more promising than either of their two victories over the Buccaneers and Bills. Even more impressive is the fact that they are -6 in turnover differential on the season, so there

15* MLB Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on San Diego Padres +105

The San Francisco Giants (75-86) are guaranteed not to finish in last place in the NL West as they lead the Colorado Rockies (73-88) by two games. They could care less about finishing tied with the San Diego Padres (76-85) for third place in the NL West. Meanwhile, I have no doubt the Padres want to finish ahead of the Giants.

San Diego has finished strong over the last month, and it will be looking for one final victory to take some momentum into the offseason. They have gone 16-9 in their last 25 games overall and we're getting them at a great price this afternoon. That's especially the case when you consider the huge edge they have on the mound.

Tylson Ross is one of the most underrated starters in the league. He has posted a 3.10 ERA and 1.143 WHIP over 119 innings this season, including a 2.97 ERA and 1.080 WHIP in 15 outings as a starter. Guillermo Moscoso has posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.284 WHIP over 25 2/3 innings pitched this season. He will be making just his second start of the year.

The Padres are 5-2 in Ross' last 7 starts as a road underdog. San Diego is 5-1 in its last 6 games after scoring 5 or more runs in its previous game. The Padres are 11-5 in their last 16 vs. a team with a losing record. The Giants are 7-15 in their last 22 games as a home favorite. Bet the Padres Sunday.

25* NFL Non-Conference GAME OF THE YEAR on Seattle Seahawks -2

The Houston Texans are very fortunate to be 2-1 right now. They needed to erase a 21-point deficit to beat San Diego 31-28 in their opener, and they also had to come back late to beat Tennessee 30-24 in overtime. Against the best opponent they've face, they lost at Baltimore 9-30 last week. Now, Seattle becomes the best opponent that they've faced, and I look for a beat down at the hands of the Seahawks.

From what I've seen thus far, it's clear that Seattle is the best team in the league. It has opened the season with three straight victories, including blowouts over the 49ers (29-3) and Jaguars (45-17). With the leadership this team has in Russell Wilson and company, they won't let this fast start go to their heads. This team has far bigger goals that it wants to achieve. Beating a playoff team from last year like Houston will help them accomplish those goals.

Seattle has been dominant on both sides of the ball, ranking 8th in the league in total offense (379.7 yards/game) and 1st in total defense (238.3 yards/game). This is the best defense in the league, hands down, and it's the reason I look for the Seahawks to win Sunday. Houston has been shaky on offense, scoring just 23.3 points per game while Matt Shaub has already thrown two interceptions that have been returned for touchdowns.

Now, Schaub may be without one of the best receivers in the league in Andre Johnson, who is questionable to play Sunday with a shin injury. Johnson was forced out against the Ravens last week due to the shin injury, and he also suffered a concussion against Tennessee the week prior. Making matters worse is the fact that Schaub will be up against the league's top-ranked pass defense. Seattle is only giving up 52.8% completions and 146.7 passing yards per game on the season. Also, the Seahawks have forced 10 turnovers already.

Seattle is 8-0 ATS versus good rushing teams - averaging >=4.5 rushing yards/carry over the last 3 seasons. The Seahawks are 7-0 ATS hen playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. Seattle is 8-0 ATS after gaining 6 or more yards/play in their previous game over the last 2 seasons. While the Seahawks are a tremendous home team, they are also 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Texans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU loss of more than 14 points. These five trends combine for a perfect 32-0 system backing Seattle. Bet the Seahawks Sunday.

20* NFL DOG OF THE MONTH on New York Giants +4.5

It's now or never for the New York Giants. Whatever they have to give, they will be laying on the field Sunday to get a win. This is already a must-win situation for them as only one team in the history of the NFL has started 0-4 and made the playoffs. I believe their effort will not only be good enough to cover this generous spread, but to likely win the game outright as well.

Kansas City is getting too much love from oddsmakers this week due to its 3-0 start. Sure, I was one of the biggest Chiefs backers coming into 2013, but I know when to turn away. This is one of those spots I'll choose to fade the Chiefs laying more than a field goal at home. This is a solid football team, but it's not one that deserves to be this heavily favored against a desperate New York team Sunday.

New York has simply beaten itself this season. It has already committed 13 turnovers, which stems from falling behind early in each of their first three losses to the Cowboys, Broncos and Panthers. I'm willing to throw out last week's loss to Carolina as New York simply could not have played any worse. However, a closer look at their games against the Cowboys and Broncos, and it's clear that this team can play with some of the best teams in the league.

The Giants only lost 31-36 at Dallas despite committing six turnovers. They gained 478 total yards in the loss, showing what their offense is really capable of. They were only trailing 16-17 against Denver late in the third quarter before turnovers did them in again. They committed four of them in the loss. Considering Denver has been rolling its opponents this year, the fact that the Giants kept it close for three quarters really shows what this team is capable of.

While the Giants are -9 in turnover differential through three games, the Chiefs are +9. These turnovers usually even themselves out in the long haul. That's the biggest reason why the Chiefs are overrated right now, and the Giants are way underrated. I look for the Giants to get back on track this week against a team they have dominated in the past. In fact, New York is 6-1 straight up and a perfect 7-0 against the spread in its last seven meetings with Kansas City.

Plays on road teams (NY GIANTS) - after being beaten by the spread by 35 or more points total in their last three games, terrible team, winning 25% or less of their games on the season are 33-11 (75%) ATS over the last 10 seasons.

The Giants are 6-0 ATS after allowing 175 or more rushing yards last game over the last 3 seasons. Kansas City is 0-6 ATS as a home favorite over the last 3 seasons. As mentioned before, the Giants are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Chiefs. These three trends combine for a perfect 19-0 system backing New York. Roll with the Giants Sunday.

15* NFL Sunday Afternoon Line Mistake on Cleveland Browns +5

Many folks in the media are writing the Cleveland Browns off after the Trent Richardson trade. The people on the inside realize this team is not about to throw in the towel. That couldn't have been more evident than in a 31-27 road victory at Minnesota last week despite being a 7-point underdog. I picked the Browns in that game, and I'll ride them again this week as they simply aren't getting the respect they deserve from oddsmakers against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Emerging star Jordan Cameron caught three touchdown passes, including the go-ahead grab with 51 seconds remaining to help the Browns beat the Vikings last week. "We got together last week after the news about Trent and we kind of came closer as a team," said Cameron, who has 20 receptions for a career-high 269 yards and four scores. "The team leaders talked to us about trusting this organization and where we're going as a team."

I also wrote last week that the injury to Brandon Weeden was a blessing in disguise because I had more faith in Brian Hoyer. Well, Hoyer threw for a career-high 321 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Vikings. I also wrote how Josh Gordon's return would make the offense much more explosive. That was spot-on as Gordon caught 10 balls for 146 yards and a touchdown. His big-play ability stretches the field for the offense, and the Browns are glad to have him back following his two-game suspension.

Cincinnati is in a big letdown spot here after a huge home win over the Green Bay Packers last week, and with an even bigger game against New England on deck. That win over Green Bay is the reason the Bengals are getting too much respect from oddsmakers in this one. The Packers essentially gave that game away by turning the ball over four times, including a fumble late in the game that was returned for a touchdown that gave the Bengals a lead they would never relinquish. In all reality, Cincinnati was dominated in that contest, getting outgained 297-399.

Now only does Cleveland have a revived offense, it also features the most underrated defense in the entire NFL. In fact, the Browns rank 6th in the league in total defense, allowing just 300.0 total yards per game. They are stout against the run (84.3 yards/game) and against the pass (215.7 yards/game). A key to this game will be the most underrated cornerback in the league in Joe Haden, who will be charged with defending Cincinnati star receiver A.J. Green.

Haden missed a 34-27 loss in Cincinnati last September 16 last year while serving a four-game suspension for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing substances. He returned in time for their October 14 showdown at home, recording an interception in Cleveland's 34-24 victory. Home-field advantage has been huge in this series to say the least as the home team has won six of the past seven meetings.

Plays against favorites (CINCINNATI) - off an upset win as a home underdog, with a winning record on the season are 70-33 (68%) ATS since 1983. The Browns are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game. Cleveland is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games after scoring 30 or more points in its previous game. The underdog is 10-1-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings in this series. Roll with the Browns Sunday.

15* Wisconsin/Ohio State ABC ANNIHILATOR on Wisconsin +7

The Wisconsin Badgers haven

25* Pac-12 GAME OF THE YEAR on Washington -10

The Washington Huskies are clearly one of the most improved teams in the country in 2013. That should come as no surprise considering they returned 18 starters and 58 lettermen in Steve Sarkisian

20* SEC GAME OF THE WEEK on Florida -12

The Gators have no margin for error if they want to contend for a BCS Title in 2013. They already lost at Miami despite thoroughly dominating that game, outgaining the Hurricanes by 201 total yards. This team really should be 3-0 right now with the way it has been owning its competition in the yardage battle. It outgained Toledo by 210 total yards and Tennessee by 162 total yards.

The injury to quarterback Jeff Driskel is a blessing in disguise. Backup Tyler Murphy replaced Driskel and looked very good against Tennessee. Murphy completed 8 of 14 passes for 134 yards with one touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 84 yards and a score. Driskel had already thrown an interception that was returned for a touchdown before leaving the game to put the Gators in the hole 7-0. Murphy did a great job of digging them out of it as Florida would outscore Tennessee 31-10 the rest of the way.

Kentucky is a team in rebuilding mode with a 1-2 start and its only victory coming against lowly Miami Ohio. It lost to Western Kentucky 26-35 on a neutral field while giving up 487 total yards. It also lost at home to Louisville 13-27 while allowing 492 total yards. It

15* Ole Miss/Alabama ESPN No-Brainer on Ole Miss +15

There

15* CFB Saturday Big Ten Line Mistake on Iowa -1

The Iowa Hawkeyes have looked very sharp to start 2013 en route to a 3-1 start. Their only loss came against Northern Illinois on a last-second field goal, which is the same NIU team that played in a BCS Bowl last year. This team came into 2013 underrated off a 4-8 season last year in which the Hawkeyes lost five games by a combined 16 points.

Iowa is coming off its best game of the season in a 59-3 romp of Western Michigan, which is the same team that played Michigan State to a 13-26 game on the road. It held the Broncos to 209 total yards, forced four turnovers, and scored on special teams and defense. It was the kind of effort the Hawkeyes really needed as they head into Big Ten play this week.

Minnesota has yet to be really tested in the early going. Its four opponents have been UNLV, New Mexico State, Western Illinois and San Jose State. It was favored in all four games, and a double-digit favorite in three of them. Minnesota relies heavily on its running game as it is gaining 282 yards per game on the ground, and only 105 per game through the air. Iowa has the perfect antidote as it ranks 12th in the country against the run, allowing just 91.5 rushing yards per game and 3.7 per carry.

They Golden Gophers really don

15* Oklahoma/Notre Dame NBC No-Brainer on Notre Dame +3.5

The Fighting Irish have already played a much tougher schedule than Oklahoma. They have faced the likes of both Michigan and Purdue on the road as well as Michigan State at home. Oklahoma

20* ACC GAME OF THE WEEK on Florida State -21.5

The Seminoles came into the 2013 season underrated due to losing several starters to the NFL draft. The fact of the matter is that Jimbo Fisher doesn

15* CFB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Ball State -2

Ball State is a much-improved team in 2013 and a legitimate contender to win the MAC this season. It returned 13 starters, including seven on an offense that put up 33.6 points and 457 total yards per game a year ago en route to a 9-4 campaign. Quarterback Keith Wenning is back after completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 3,094 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions a year ago.

Wenning has all of his top skill players back. Leading rusher Jahwan Edwards (1,410 yards, 14 TD) returns, as do each of the top five receivers from a year ago, including Willie Snead (89 receptions, 1,148 yards, 9 TD) and Jamill Smith (69, 706, 6 TD). Wenning and company have averaged 42.2 points and 474.7 total yards per game en route to a 3-1 start in 2013.

Wenning is completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,315 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions, while also rushing for two scores. Edwards has been held to 130 yards and four touchdowns, but Horactio Banks has picked up the slack, rushing for 300 yards and five touchdowns. Snead has 28 receptions for 480 yards and four touchdowns, while Smith has added 17 grabs for 298 yards and one touchdowns.

I like Ball State's chances of moving the ball and scoring points at will against a Toledo defense that returned just four starters from last year while losing four of its top five tacklers, including Dan Molls (166 tackles, and Robert Bell (100 tackles). I also don't believe Toledo's offense, which is averaging just 25.0 points and 385.0 total yards per game, has the firepower to keep up with the Cardinals in this one.

Both quarterbacks return from last year's 34-27 Ball State victory at Toledo. Wenning went 29 of 42 passing for 280 yards and three touchdowns in the win, while Terrance Owens was held to 14 of 27 passing for 215 yards and one touchdown in the loss. Ball State's only loss this season came at North Texas by a final of 27-34. Despite gaining 496 total yards, the Cardinals committed five turnovers, which did them in. Look for Wenning and company to take much better care of the football in a key game Saturday that could determine the West MAC Title.

The Cardinals are 6-1 at home over the last two seasons with their only loss coming last year to Northern Illinois (23-35), which went on to win the MAC and play in a BCS Bowl game. Ball State is 17-6 ATS in its last 23 games overall. The Cardinals are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. Ball State is 5-1 ATS in its last six conference games. The Cardinals are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games. Ball State is 6-2 ATS in its last eight meetings with Toledo. Roll with Ball State Saturday.

15* AL Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Tampa Bay Rays -155

The Tampa Bay Rays (90-70) are tied with the Cleveland Indians for the two Wild Card spots in the American League. They both lead the Texas Rangers (89-71) by just one game. Needless to say, this is a must-win situation for the Rays.

Not only do the Rays have the motivational edge over Toronto (73-87) in this one, they also have a massive edge on the mound. Chris Archer has been a blessing to the starting rotation this season, going 9-7 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.100 WHIP over 22 starts.

J.A. Happ is a below-average starter in this league for the Blue Jays. The left-hander is 4-7 with a 4.85 ERA and 1.523 WHIP over 17 starts in 2013.

While Happ is 1-1 with an 8.44 ERA and 2.001 WHIP in four career starts against Tampa Bay, Archer is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 0.929 WHIP in two career starts against Toronto, allowing two earned runs over 14 innings of work.

The Rays are 11-2 in their last 13 games as a road favorite of -151 to -200. Tampa Bay is 6-1 in Archer's last 7 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200. The Rays are 6-0 in Archer's last 6 starts vs. AL East opponents. The Blue Jays are 0-7 in Happ's last 7 home starts. Toronto is 0-6 in its last 6 games following a S.U. win. These last three trends combine for a perfect 19-0 system backing Tampa. Bet the Rays Saturday.

15* CFB Saturday Early ANNIHILATOR on Oklahoma State -18

This is an Oklahoma State Cowboys team that returned 15 starters from last season

15* A's/Mariners AL Late-Night BAILOUT on Oakland +105

The Oakland A's trail the the Boston Red Sox by two games for home-field advantage in the American League. They also lead Detroit by one game for home-field advantage in a possible Division Series matchup. I like their motivation coming into this one, and their starting pitcher.

Bartolo Colon is one of the most underrated starters in baseball and he should not be an underdog here. Colon is 17-6 with a 2.64 ERA and 1.183 WHIP in 29 starts, including 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in his last three starts.

Felix Hernandez has essentially packed it in. Hernandez is 0-4 with a 6.93 ERA over his last five starts, allowing 19 earned runs over 24 2/3 innings. Colon is 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his last four starts against the Mariners.

Colon is 9-1 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 2 seasons. The A's are 6-0 in Colon's last 6 road starts vs. a team with a losing record. Oakland is 8-1 in its last 9 games following a loss. The Mariners are 1-10 in Hernandez's last 11 home starts vs. a team with a winning record. Bet the A's Friday.

20* CFB Friday Night Total DOMINATOR on Middle Tennessee/BYU UNDER 59.5

I'm siding with the UNDER Friday night in this game between the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and BYU Cougars. I look for this to be a blowout as well, but mainly because BYU's defense shuts down Middle Tennessee, not because the Cougars pile on a ton of points. They have opened 1-2 this season and will be playing with a chip on their shoulder because of it.

BYU's defense has held its own against three very good offenses in Utah, Texas and Virginia. It is only allowing 20.0 points and 356.7 total yards per game against those teams, who combined to average 33.6 points and 452 total yards per game. That means they have held those three opponents to 13.6 points and nearly 100 total yards per game less than their season averages. This is a top-notch BYU defense that will shut down a Middle Tennessee team that hasn't faced a defense nearly as fierce as this one.

Another aspect that benefits the under is that BYU is primarily a running team and it will eat up clock as it puts together long, extended drives on the ground. The Cougars are rushing for 307 yards per game and only completing 34.8 percent of their passes on the season. You can bet they will be keeping it on the ground all game long in this one. Middle Tennessee also likes to run the football, averaging 196 rushing yards per game.

With both teams relying heavily on the run, it's imperative that each squad be good against the run. That has been the case for both teams in this season. In fact, Middle Tennessee is only yielding 3.7 yards per carry, while BYU is giving up just 3.2 yards per carry. This is strength versus strength ladies and gents, which clearly favors the UNDER.

BYU is 10-1 UNDER in home games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%) since 1992. The Cougars are 22-5 UNDER vesus good rushing teams - averaging >=4.75 rushing yards/carry since 1992. BYU is 34-17 UNDER when the total is between 56.5 and 63 since 1992. Bronco Mendenhall is a perfect 8-0 UNDER in home games vs. good offensive teams - scoring 31 or more points/game as the coach of BYU. The UNDER is 10-1 in Cougars last 11 Friday games. The UNDER is 13-3 in Cougars last 16 vs. a team with a winning record. Bet the UNDER in this game Friday.

15* 49ers/Rams NFC West No-Brainer on St. Louis +3.5

The 49ers aren

15* MLB Thursday GAME OF THE NIGHT on Los Angeles Angels +165

The Los Angeles Angels are showing tremendous value as a huge road underdog to the Texas Rangers tonight. They want to play the role of spoiler and make sure that they are the reason that Texas does not make the playoffs. The Rangers trail the Indians by one game for the final wild card spot in the American League.

Los Angeles has not packed it in, fighting back to get withing two games of .500 at 78-80 on the season. The Angels are 23-9 in their last 32 games overall, including 16-4 in their last 20 road games.

Los Angeles is also 5-0 in Jerome Williams' last five starts overall. Williams has allowed three earned runs over less in six of his last seven starts overall. He is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his last two starts, allowing two earned runs over 12 2/3 innings. Williams is also 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three career starts against Texas.

Matt Garza had gone 0-4 with a 5.83 ERA in his previous five starts before a solid outing against Kansas City last time out. This guy is way overvalued tonight. Garza is 0-2 with a 5.61 ERA and 1.477 WHIP in seven career starts against Los Angeles.

The Angels are 11-0 in their last 11 Thursday games. The Angels are 5-0 in Williams' last 5 starts. The Rangers are 0-6 in their last 6 games as a favorite of -151 to -200. The Rangers are 0-5 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. These three trends combine for a perfect 27-0 system backing Los Angeles. Roll with the Angels Thursday.

20* VA Tech/GA Tech ACC on ESPN ANNIHILATOR on Virginia Tech +7

Rarely will you find Virginia Tech catching a touchdown or more against anyone. The fact of the matter is that this team has overcome some adversity to open 3-1 this season. It has played a much tougher schedule than Georgia Tech as Alabama, East Carolina and Marshall are all quality opponents. The best team Georgia Tech has faced is North Carolina, and it needed to erase a 20-7 deficit in that contest to win at home last week. Its other two opponents have been Elon and Duke.

Virginia Tech is coming into this game way undervalued due to the nature of its close victories the past two weeks against ECU and Marshall teams that are better than they get credit for. The Hokies are winning games with their defense, allowing just 17.2 points and 233.2 total yards per game. From what I

15* Dodgers/Giants NL West BAILOUT on Los Angeles -135

The Los Angeles Dodgers still have something to play for. They trail the Atlanta Braves by two games for home-field advantage throughout the postseason. They also trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 1.5 games for the No. 2 seed, which would at least get them home-field advantage in the first round.

Adding to the motivation is the fact that the Dodgers haven't won the season series with the rival Giants since 2009. A win Wednesday would pull them even with San Francisco at nine games apiece with a chance to win the season series on Thursday.

Los Angeles has a huge edge on the mound in this one. Ricky Nolasco is 13-10 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.199 WHIP in 32 starts, including 6-3 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.184 WHIP in 17 home starts. Barry Zito is 4-11 with a 5.91 ERA and 1.742 WHIP on the season, including 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA and 2.228 WHIP in his last three starts.

Zito has not won a game since May 30. Nolasco is 5-4 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.182 WHIP in 10 career starts against San Francisco. Plays against home teams (SAN FRANCISCO) - with a cold starting pitcher- WHIP >= 2.000 over his last 3 starts, with an on base percentage of .260 or worse over their last 3 games are 49-18 (73.1%) over the last five seasons.

The Dodgers are 22-6 in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a losing record. Los Angeles is 61-24 in its last 85 games overall. The Dodgers are 10-2 in Nolasco's last 12 starts overall, including 7-1 in his last 8 road starts. The Giants are 0-8 in Zito's last 8 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150. Roll with the Dodgers Wednesday.

25* American League GAME OF THE YEAR on Seattle Mariners -105

The Kansas City Royals are deflated right now. They lost last night, while the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers all won. Those are the three teams they are trailing for the two AL Wild Card spots.

They now sit four games back with five games to play and are essentially done for, and they finally realize it. That realization will have them not showing up at all tonight in Seattle. Making matters worse is that the Royals will be up against one of the best starters in baseball.

Hisashi Iwakuma is 13-6 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.016 WHIP over 32 starts this season. The right-hander is arguably the single-most underrated starter in the league. He has finished strong, pitching 15 shutout innings over his last two starts at Detroit and St. Louis. This will be his last start of the season, and he wants to end it the right way.

Seattle is 27-8 (+18.2 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 2 seasons. The Royals are 0-5 in their last 5 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower. The Mariners are 16-7 in Iwakuma's last 23 home starts. Kansas City is 1-5 in its last 6 meetings in Seattle. Bet the Mariners Wednesday.

15* AL Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on Toronto Blue Jays +153

The Baltimore Orioles have officially been eliminated from postseason contention. With that realization, they have no business being this heavily favored over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles have already packed it in, losing six straight heading into this one.

Esmil Rogers has been at his best on the road this season, going 3-4 with a 3.51 ERA over 11 road starts. He is also 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.187 WHIP in his last three starts overall.

Bud Norris is 10-10 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.447 WHIP in 29 starts this season. He's getting way too much respect from oddsmakers in this one.

The Blue Jays are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter. Toronto is 4-0 in Rogers' last 4 starts when their opponent scores two runs or less in their previous game. The Orioles are 0-6 in their last 6 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5. Baltimore is 0-6 in its last 6 games overall. These four trends combine for a 20-0 system backing Toronto. Take the Blue Jays Wednesday.

20* AL Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Kansas City Royals -128

The Kansas City Royals (83-73) are still alive for the postseason this late in the year for the first time in a long time. They trail the Cleveland Indians by three games for the final Wild Card spot in the American League and really need to win out to have a chance.

Back-to-back extra-inning victories have given the Royals a ton of confidence going forward. Now the Royals will turn to Bruce Chen, who is one of the most underrated starters in the league.

Chen has gone 8-3 with a 3.13 ERA and 1.153 WHIP over 109 1/3 innings pitched in 2013. The left-hander is 5-3 with a 3.45 ERA and 1.018 WHIP in 13 starts this season. Chen is 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.123 WHIP in 10 career starts against Seattle.

Kansas City is 9-0 (+9.5 Units) against the money line in road games vs. teams outscored by opponents by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season this season. The Royals are 9-0 (+9.0 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this season. These two trends combine for a perfect 18-0 system backing Kansas City. Bet the Royals Tuesday.

15* AL Monday Mound Mismatch on Kansas City Royals -135

The Kansas City Royals are 3.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. Until they are mathematically eliminated, you can bet this team is going to fight until the end. Seattle (68-88) has nothing to play for.

Yordano Ventura gets the start after an impressive outing in his 2013 debut. He allowed just one earned run over 5 2/3 innings on 9/17 against the Cleveland Indians. He is clearly the better starter in this one.

Seattle's Brandon Maurer is one of the worst starters in the league. He has gone 4-8 with a 6.95 ERA and 1.660 WHIP in 12 starts and eight relief appearances this season.

Kansas City is a perfect 8-0 (+8.0 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this season. It is winning 5.4 to 1.9 in this spot, or by an average of 3.5 runs per game. Take the Royals Monday.

20* Raiders/Broncos MNF Total ANNIHILATOR on OVER 48.5

I expect a shootout tonight between the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos on ESPN's Monday Night Football. Denver should be able to score at will against this suspect Oakland defense. The Raiders will put up their fair share of points against this injury-and-suspension-plagued Broncos' defense.

Denver leads the league in scoring at 45.0 points per game. It is also averaging 463.0 total yards per game behind the great play of Peyton Manning. The four-time league MVP is completing 67.1 percent of his passes for 769 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions.

Terrell Pryor has given this Oakland offense new life with his dual-threat ability. In fact, the Raiders are averaging a very impressive 356.0 total yards per game through their first two contests. Pryor is completing 64.2 percent of his passes, while also rushing for 162 yards thus far.

Denver is giving up 25.0 points and 384.5 total yards per game. It remains without Von Miller, while Champ Bailey is questionable. Oakland is going to be without starting safety Tyvon Branch, which will make it even more difficult to defend Manning and company.

The Broncos are 9-1 OVER (+7.9 Units) in a home game where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points over the last 3 seasons. The OVER is 7-0-1 in Broncos last 8 games following a ATS win. The OVER is 6-0-1 in Broncos last 7 games following a SU win of more than 14 points. Denver is 6-0 OVER after gaining 400 or more total yards in their previous game over the last 2 seasons. These four trends combine for a 28-1 system backing the OVER. Bet the OVER in this game Monday.

15* NL Monday No-Doubt Rout on Atlanta Braves -121

The Atlanta Braves (92-63) still have a lot to play for despite clinching the NL East. They lead the St. Louis Cardinals by 1.5 games for home-field advantage in the National League. Considering they are 52-22 at home in 2013, it's clear that home-field advantage matters to them quite a bit.

Mike Minor is having yet another solid year for Atlanta, going 13-7 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.080 WHIP in 30 starts. He'll be up against Marco Estrada, who is 6-4 with a 4.26 ERA over 19 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers, who have nothing to play for.

Minor is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.039 WHIP in three career starts against Milwaukee. Estrada is 2-1 with a 5.50 ERA and 1.444 WHIP in three career starts against Atlanta.

The Brewers are 8-20 in their last 28 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15. The Braves are 75-36 in their last 111 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150. The Braves are 5-0 in Minor's last 5 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5. Roll with the Braves Monday.

15* Bears/Steelers NBC Sunday Night BAILOUT on Pittsburgh +3

The Steelers haven

20* NFL Non-Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Jacksonville Jaguars +19.5

This is a huge letdown spot for the Seahawks. They are coming off a blowout victory over their biggest rivals in the San Francisco 49ers. It

15* AL Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on Kansas City Royals -125

This is an excellent price to get to back the Kansas City Royals and ace James Shields tonight. I'll gladly take advantage and lay the juice as the Royals make one final push at a playoff spot in the American League.

Shields is 12-9 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.268 WHIP in 32 starts this season. Shields is 7-5 with a 3.42 ERA and 0.956 WHIP in 14 career starts against Texas. In his last three starts against the Rangers, Shields has allowed only two earned runs and 13 base runners over 23 innings.

The Rangers are 0-6 in their last 6 games following a win. Texas is 3-10 in its last 13 vs. a team with a winning record. The Royals are 7-0 in their last 7 games following a loss. Kansas City is 21-5 in its last 26 games as a favorite of -110 to -150. The Royals are 7-0 in Shields' last 7 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. Bet Kansas City Sunday.

15* NFL Sunday Undervalued Underdog on Cleveland Browns +7

This line of 7 points is an overreaction to the trade of Trent Richardson and the loss of Brandon Weeden. The fact of the matter is that Richardson only averaged 3.6 yards per carry last season, and he was only averaging 3.4 yards per carry through the first two contests this year. Plus, a change at quarterback could do this team some good as Weeden simply hasn

15* NFC GAME OF THE WEEK on St. Louis Rams +4

The St. Louis Rams are clearly a team on the rise. They went 7-8-1 last season in Jeff Fisher's first year on the job, which included a 1-0-1 record against the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. They have made all the right moves this offseason. They already had one of the best young defenses in the NFL, so they shifted their focus to the offense, where Sam Bradford now has the weapons he needs to be successful.

St. Louis brought drafted Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, and it also signed one of the best tight ends in the league in Jared Cook. Both Austin and Cook are off to solid starts in 2013. The Rams made sure Bradford's blindside will be protected for years to come by bringing in left tackle Jake Long from Miami as well. So far, this offense is much-improved from a year ago.

The Rams are scoring 25.5 points and averaging 393.5 total yards per game in 2013. Bradford has certainly made use of his new weapons, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 651 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions through two games. Cook has caught eight balls for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Austin has 12 receptions for 88 yards and two scores.

You just can't trust the Cowboys when laying points. This team simply has too many issues and that was evident in a 16-17 loss at Kansas City last week. They are lucky to be 1-1 as the Giants simply gave away the game in Week 1 by committing six turnovers, and still nearly won in a 31-36 loss. The offensive line is still having trouble protecting Romo because Dallas hasn't been able to establish a running game. It is only averaging 62 rushing yards per game and 3.2/carry. St. Louis has one of the best pass rushes in the league. It tied for the league lead in sacks (52.0) last season and has everyone back along the defensive line, including Chris Long (11.5) and Robert Quinn (10.5).

Dallas is just 4-13 against the spread in all home games over the last three seasons. The Cowboys are 3-11 against the number in their last 14 games as a home favorite. St. Louis is 6-1 against the spread in its last seven road games. The Rams are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Jeff Fisher is 30-16 ATS after scoring 3 points or less in the first half last game in all games he has coached. Bet the Rams Sunday.

15* AFC GAME OF THE WEEK on San Diego Chargers +3

The San Diego Chargers should not be catching a field goal against the Tennessee Titans Sunday. The Chargers could easily be 2-0 had they not blown a 28-7 lead over the Texans in Week 1. They responded nicely with a 33-30 victory at Philadelphia in Week 2, racking up a whopping 539 yards in the win. Philip Rivers certainly looks comfortable in this offense.

He threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Eagles. Antonio Gates proved he still had plenty left in the tank, catching eight balls for 124 yards against Philadelphia. While there are many that don't believe the Chargers have enough weapons, newcomers Eddie Royal and Danny Woodhead would beg to differ. Royal caught seven balls for 90 yards and three touchdowns against Philly. Woodhead has 27 rushing yards and eight receptions for 37 yards in the win.

Tennessee is getting too much respect in the early going. It beat Pittsburgh on the road in the opener, which clearly has this team overvalued. Sure, it took Houston to overtime last week, but it was thoroughly outplayed in that contest. The Texans outgained the Titans 452-248, or by a total of 204 yards. Tennessee was gifted a touchdown on an interception return on a terrible pass from Matt Shaub, otherwise this would have been a blowout. I trust the Chargers as an improved team in 2013 much more than I trust the Titans to be.

The Titans still have one of the worst offenses in the league. In fact, they rank 30th in the league in total offense at 238.5 total yards per game. San Diego check in at No. 7 in total offense at 401.0 yards per game. The Jake Locker is completing just 56.0 percent of his passes for 273 yards thus far and hasn't developed into the franchise quarterback the Titans had hoped. San Diego, which has an underrated run defense, will be able to stack eight in the box to take away Chris Johnson and make Locker try to beat them. My money says he can't do it Sunday.

Plays on road teams where the line is +3 to -3 (SAN DIEGO) - after 2 consecutive games where they forced 1 or less turnovers against opponent after 2 consecutive games with a turnover margin of +1 or better are 23-4 (85.2%) ATS over the last 10 seasons. San Diego won't be giving the Titans the same gifts that the Steelers and Texans have through the first two games.

San Diego is 21-3 against the spread in its last 24 games vs. AFC South opponents. The Chargers are a perfect 9-0 S.U. in nine meetings with the Titans dating back to 1993. That includes a 38-10 home victory over Tennessee last season as San Diego outgained the Titans 416-212 in a dominant performance. This has been a one-sided series to say the least. Take the Chargers Sunday.

15* Auburn/LSU ESPN Saturday Night BAILOUT on Auburn +17

This is a completely different Auburn team with the arrival of first-year head coach Gus Malzahn. The former offensive coordinator at Auburn for three years, including the 2010 season in which the Tigers went 14-0 and won the BCS Championship, Malzahn has brought a different mentality to this team. Remember, he took Arkansas State to a Sun Belt Title last season in his first year there, and he is making his mark on Auburn already.

The good news for Malzahn is that many of the players on this team were recruited to run his system before he bolted for Arkansas State. The offensive mastermind has this Auburn offense scoring 31.0 points and averaging 441.0 total yards per game en route to a 3-0 start. Those three victories came against the underrated trio of Washington State, Arkansas State and Mississippi State. I would certainly argue that Auburn has played a tougher schedule than LSU to this point.

This has been a very closely-contested series in recent years. In fact, seven of the last nine meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. That includes a 12-10 road victory for LSU last season despite being an 18-point favorite in that contest. Now, as a 17.5-point favorite in the rematch in 2013, LSU is overvalued once again. This is an improved Auburn defense that has eight starters back from last season and is only allowing 17.7 points per game thus far, which is less than what LSU (19.0) is giving up.

Auburn is 4-0 against the spread in its last four games following an ATS loss. LSU is 5-17 against the number in its last 22 games as a home favorite of 14.5 to 21 points. LSU is 30-52 against the spread in home games against SEC opponents since 1992. Auburn is 6-0 against the number after a game where it forced no turnovers over the last three seasons. LSU is 14-28 against the spread in its last 28 home games vs. good team that is outscoring its opponents by 10 or more points per game. Roll with Auburn Saturday.

15* AL Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Kansas City Royals +100

The Kansas City Royals (81-72) are right in the thick of the AL Wild Card race. They trail the Cleveland Indians by just 2.5 games for the final Wild Card spot. I like them quite a bit as an underdog at home Saturday.

Kansas City actually has the edge on the mound in this one behind Jeremy Guthrie, who is 14-11 with a 4.08 ERA on the season. Guthrie is 4-3 with a 3.82 ERA in 11 career starts against Texas.

Matt Garza has really struggled of late for Texas. The right-hander is folding under the pressure, going 0-3 with an 8.22 ERA and 1.826 WHIP in his last three starts. Garza is also 1-5 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.378 WHIP in eight career starts against Kansas City.

The Royals are 13-1 in Guthrie's last 14 home starts vs. a team with a winning record. Kansas City is 18-4 in Guthrie's last 22 home starts overall. The Rangers are 1-9 in their last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Royals are 13-3 in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning record. Bet the Royals Saturday.

15* CFB Saturday Undervalued Underdog on SMU +29.5

This is a huge letdown spot for Texas A&M. The Aggies just lost on ESPN

20* ASU/Stanford Pac-12 GAME OF THE MONTH on Arizona State +6.5

I believe that the Sun Devils are a legitimate Pac-12 Title contender. They are certainly the best team in the South and should play in the Title game come season

15* CFB Saturday Under the Radar BLOWOUT on Louisiana-Lafayette -5.5

Akron nearly upset Michigan last week in Ann Arbor. As a result, it is getting way too much respect from oddsmakers against a superior Louisiana-Lafayette team Saturday. I look for the Zips to suffer a hangover from that defeat to the Wolverines. They were stopped at the 1-yard line in the closing seconds, which is how close they came to pulling off the upset. Akron's players won't be able to recover in time to face the Rajin' Cajuns Saturday.

Louisiana-Lafayette is underrated right now due to opener the season 0-2 with road losses to Arkansas and Kansas State. It would rebound with a 70-7 victory over Nicholls State last week, and now I look for it to roll the rest of the season after getting its two toughest games of the year out of the way. Remember, this team went 9-4 last season and returned 13 starters and 56 lettermen from that squad. This is arguably the best team in the Sun Belt.

Akron, meanwhile, is just 2-13 over the past two seasons. Its only two wins have come against FCS opponents in Morgan State and James Madison. It barely beat James Madison (35-33) at home in Week 2 while getting outgained 498-356 for the game. It was blown out 7-38 in the opener by UCF, which is much more indicative of the talent on this team. Michigan simply just went through the motions last week off a big win over Notre Dame the previous week, and it nearly cost the Wolverines. They committed four turnovers against the Zips.

Lafayette is 6-0 against the spread vs. poor passing defenses - allowing 250 or more passing yards/game over the last 3 seasons. The Rajin' Cajuns are 8-0 against the number after a playing a game where 70 total points or more were scored over the last 3 seasons. The Zips are 0-5 against the spread in their last five home games. Akron is 0-6 against the number in its last six home games off one or more consecutive overs. These four trends combine for a 25-0 system backing Louisiana-Lafayette. Plus, the Rajin' Cajuns are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 road games. Roll with Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday.