Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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11-03-19 | Texans v. Jaguars +2 | Top | 26-3 | Loss | -115 | 35 h 37 m | Show |
Jaguars The Houston Texans will head to London this week for a Sunday matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars without their defensive leader and with a star quarterback nursing an eye issue. Defensive end J.J. Watt was lost for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle in last Sunday's 27-24 win over the Oakland Raiders, during which quarterback Deshaun Watson was kicked in the eye. The Texans injury report is particularly ugly this week. Sure, the JJ Watt out of the season news made headlines last Sunday, but Watt is just the beginning. Both starting offensive tackles and their center are all questionable at best for Sunday’s game. Cornerbacks Bradley Roby and Lonnie Johnson are out, as is safety Tashaun Gipson and WR Will Fuller. The Jags have three wins and a competitive loss in London over the last four seasons, playing well across the pond. Their defense has really stepped up of late and their pass rush (#3 in the NFL in sacks) is likely to be a big problem for Deshaun Watson playing behind a banged up offensive line. The Texans have scored only 54 points in their last four meetings against their divisional rival; 20 or less in every game. With Gardner Minshew behind center, the Jags have scored 24+ four times in their last five games. The Jaguars will be playing overseas for the seventh consecutive season. Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew threw for 279 yards and three TDs in the win over the Jets as he seemingly solidifies his role as the starter with veteran Nick Foles (collarbone) set to return in a few weeks. Minshew had 213 passing yards and a TD while running for a team-high 56 yards in the first meeting, a 13-12 win for Houston on Sept. 15. Texans are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game. Jaguars are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC. Back the Jags in this divisional matchup in London. |
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11-02-19 | Pittsburgh -7.5 v. Georgia Tech | Top | 20-10 | Win | 100 | 17 h 31 m | Show |
Pittsburgh First-year Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins was quite relieved after his team stunned Miami (Fla.) two weeks ago for his first Atlantic Coast Conference win, but there were no smiles in Pittsburgh after the Panthers blew a golden opportunity to take over first place in the Coastal division last week when the Hurricanes shut them down. The Panthers attempt to rebound Saturday when they visit the Yellow Jackets. Jordan Mason capped a 141-yard rushing day with a 1-yard touchdown dive in overtime and Tariq Carpenter made the lead stand up with a fourth-down tackle that sealed Georgia Tech’s 28-21 win over Miami (Fla.) on Oct. 19. Georgia Tech scored on a fumble recovery and a fake punt in the first half, then largely turned the game over to Mason, who ran for 91 yards after halftime. Pitt remained one-half game behind both Virginia and North Carolina (3-2) after settling for four field goals by Alex Kessman in a 16-12 home loss to the Hurricanes last weekend - the sixth consecutive game the Panthers have played that has been decided by one score. ABOUT PITTSBURGH (5-3, 2-2 ACC): The Pitt defense, which ranks among the nation's top 25 units in no fewer than seven defensive categories, was stellar once again holding the Hurricanes to 208 yards. ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (2-5, 1-3): Mason has recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games (106 against Duke) after not surpassing the 100-yard mark in the first 18 games of his career. The Yellow Jackets season-high point total against Miami pushed their scoring average to 18.1 - 119th among 130 FBS schools - and they average a mere 315 yards per game - good for 118th in FBS. Pitt gets the road cover. |
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11-02-19 | Utah -3 v. Washington | Top | 33-28 | Win | 100 | 16 h 29 m | Show |
Utah No. 10 Utah is enjoying a dominating defensive stretch as it visits Washington on Saturday in Pac-12 play. The Utes haven't allowed a touchdown in their last two games and have outscored opponents by an impressive 146-23 during a four-game winning streak. Utah outgained California 473-83 in last Saturday's 35-0 victory for its second shutout of the campaign and coach Kyle Whittingham admits he is impressed with the defense unit. ABOUT UTAH (7-1, 3-1 Pac-12): Senior Tyler Huntley is completing a stellar 73.1 percent of his passes for 1,778 yards and 10 touchdowns against just one interception and he is the fifth quarterback in program history to top 6,000 career yards with his total sitting at 6,037. Senior running back Zack Moss (728 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) set records for career rushing touchdowns (33) and career 100-yard games (15) against Cal and he also holds the career rushing yardage mark of 3,379. The defense is allowing just 10.2 points per game. ABOUT WASHINGTON (5-3, 2-3): Junior quarterback Jacob Eason has thrown three or more touchdown passes in four different games and has passed for 1,981 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. But I look for him to have problems here vs. this defense. Utah gets the big Pac-12 win. |
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11-02-19 | Georgia v. Florida +6 | Top | 24-17 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 5 m | Show |
Florida The inside track to the SEC East Division title is at stake when No. 6 Florida and No. 7 Georgia meet on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., and if recent series history is a guide, the team that rushes for the most yards will win the rivalry contest. The team that has won the rushing battle has won this matchup each of the past 13 years, which could be good news for a Georgia squad that has relied on the SEC’s top running game to overcome a slumping passing attack. Both teams were off last week, and the Gators looked to get healthy as graduate transfer linebacker Jon Greenard and senior defensive end Jabari Zuniga are expected to return from ankle injuries. Florida has excelled on offense through eight games, averaging 419.6 total yards while scoring 32.5 points per game. ABOUT GEORGIA (6-1, 3-1 SEC): Junior running back D’Andre Swift fronts the ground attack, leading the conference in rushing yards per game (107.7) and on the season has 752 yards with seven touchdowns. ABOUT FLORIDA (7-1, 4-1 SEC): Since taking over at quarterback for the injured Feleipe Franks, junior Kyle Trask has passed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns - four in a Oct. 19 victory over South Carolina - while completing 67.1 percent of his passes. This game stays close so take the points with Florida. |
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11-02-19 | NC State v. Wake Forest -7.5 | Top | 10-44 | Win | 100 | 13 h 34 m | Show |
Wake Forest No. 22 Wake Forest continues a lengthy stay at home when it takes on visiting North Carolina State on Saturday in an ACC matchup. The Demon Deacons will be playing their third straight game at their home in BB&T Field and are coming off a bye week, making for a stretch that sees them go more than 40 days between road games. They bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 22-20 win over Florida State on Oct. 19, as Nick Sciba's fifth field goal with 4:18 left proved to be the difference. Sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman stepped in for an injured Jamie Newman (shoulder) and threw for 308 yards in the win, and the backup could see some action again in this one, although Newman has been throwing. The Wolfpack is also rested following a bye week of its own, which came on the heels of a 45-24 loss at Boston College. Wake Forest won the last two meetings, including a 27-23 triumph at N.C. State last year in which Newman threw a game-winning TD with 30 seconds left. Lay the points with Wake Forest at home. |
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11-02-19 | Michigan -21 v. Maryland | Top | 38-7 | Win | 100 | 13 h 30 m | Show |
Michigan No. 15 Michigan looks to build on its biggest win of the season when it visits Maryland on Saturday in Big Ten play. The Wolverines rolled up 303 rushing yards en route to an emphatic 45-14 win over then-No. 7 Notre Dame 45-14 to end an eight-game losing skid against Top 10 teams and hope for another offensive explosion against the Terrapins, who they have outscored 164-34 over their last four meetings. Maryland's season took another turn for the worse following a 52-10 loss to No. 13 Minnesota. The Terrapins, who have dropped five of their last six games since entering the national rankings after a 63-20 win against Syracuse, hope to turn their fortunes around by knocking off the Wolverines for the first time since a 23-16 victory in 2014. ABOUT MICHIGAN (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten): Shea Patterson picked up where he left off in the second half of the Penn State game as he threw for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Notre Dame in the driving rain. Sophomore Hassan Haskins led the ground attack with a career-high 149 yards on 20 carries, while Zach Charbonnet added 74 and a pair of touchdowns - his ninth of the season - to equal the program record for most rushing TDs by a freshman. ABOUT MARYLAND (3-5, 1-4): Tyrrell Pigrome went 6-of-9 for 43 yards before suffering a left knee injury in the loss to Minnesota and is questionable for Saturday's clash. Michigan has held four of its last five opponents to fewer than 65 rushing yards. Michigan gets it in a rout. |
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10-27-19 | Chargers +4 v. Bears | Top | 17-16 | Win | 100 | 38 h 43 m | Show |
Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are watching their season slide away and look to halt a three-game losing streak when they visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday. They won't find any sympathy from the Bears, who have dropped back-to-back contests and also feel they are in a must-win situation. Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is receiving heat for offensive issues that have led to the club being ranked 30th in the NFL in total offense (263.7 yards per game) and 26th in scoring (18.7 points). The Bears also have a sagging running attack that ranks 28th (70 yards per game), with lead back David Montgomery (231 yards) averaging a meager 3.3 yards per carry. The Bears have allowed an average of 30 points during their consecutive losses, so perhaps that helps Los Angeles' offense, which is averaging just 16.7 points during the skid. Philip Rivers has topped 300 yards in each of the last two games and five times overall this season as he already is more than halfway toward notching his 11th career 4,000-yard season. Chargers are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 road games and are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss. Bears are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a double-digit loss at home and are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in October. In a close game I’ll take the points. |
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10-27-19 | Seahawks -6.5 v. Falcons | Top | 27-20 | Win | 100 | 38 h 40 m | Show |
Seahawks Matt Ryan's streak of 154 consecutive starts is in serious jeopardy as the downtrodden Atlanta Falcons host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Ryan departed last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a sprained right ankle, which has prevented him from practicing this week. Veteran backup Matt Schaub is being prepared to fill in for Ryan but hasn't started a game since 2015, when he twice received the call for Baltimore. Atlanta has lost five straight games as it faces a Seattle team that lost to the Ravens last week, ending its three-game winning streak. Russell Wilson is tied for the NFL lead with 15 touchdown passes and likely is salivating at the prospect of facing a Falcons defense that has allowed an average of 41.3 points over its last three contests. Wilson has been intercepted just once while throwing for 1,945 yards and running back Chris Carson is providing good production with 569 yards on the ground. But the defense - which is allowing 25.1 points and 357 yards per game - hasn't always been sturdy, so Seattle acquired safety Quandre Diggs from Detroit on Tuesday. Seahawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and are 37-17-3 ATS in their last 57 games following a straight up loss. Falcons are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game and are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points. Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. I got the Seahawks in a rout. |
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10-27-19 | Jets v. Jaguars -6 | Top | 15-29 | Win | 100 | 38 h 32 m | Show |
Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars figured out how to force turnovers last week, snapping a two-game slide and giving the defense some confidence heading home to face the New York Jets on Sunday. The Jets, who turned the ball over six times in a 33-0 home loss to the New England Patriots on Monday, need to tighten things up on offense against the Jaguars. Jacksonville forced one turnover in its first six games but got the Cincinnati Bengals to cough up the ball four times during a 27-17 triumph last week. The Jets were feeling good about themselves after knocking off the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6 but crashed back down to earth hard against the Patriots, and consistency is an issue. Jags rookie QBGardner Minshew II owns 10 TD passes and two interceptions in six starts and is completing 61.5 percent of his passes. Jets are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game and are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games in Week 8. Jaguars are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC and are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. Jets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 meetings. Jags get the victory by at least a touchdown. |
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10-27-19 | Eagles v. Bills -1.5 | Top | 31-13 | Loss | -115 | 37 h 22 m | Show |
Bills The road hasn't been kind for the Philadelphia Eagles, who have dropped the first two legs of a three-game trek and surrendered an average of 31.5 points in four contests away from the City of Brotherly Love. The Eagles have a tough road ahead on Sunday when they visit the Buffalo Bills, who are off their best start since the 2008 season. Turnovers have led to slow starts in each of the last two games for the Eagles, who have been outscored 51-17 in the first two quarters in losses to Minnesota and Dallas. Mistakes need to be held to a minimum versus Buffalo, which features the third-ranked overall defense (292.7 yards per game) and fourth-ranked passing defense (201.3). Buffalo boasts the NFL's seventh-ranked rushing attack (135.8 yards per game) with the ageless Frank Gore (4.5 yards per carry) leading the way, although bruising quarterback Josh Allen hasn't been shy about chipping in with his legs either. Allen, who has seven rushing touchdowns in his past eight home games, relied on his arm last Sunday while completing 10 of his 11 passes in the second half. John Brown reeled in one of Allen's two touchdown passes versus the Dolphins, and the speedy wideout has at least five receptions and 69 yards receiving in five of his team's six games this season. Brown has three touchdown catches in three career games against Philadelphia. Eagles are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss and are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. Bills are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall. Back the Bills at home. |
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10-27-19 | Broncos v. Colts -4.5 | Top | 13-15 | Loss | -105 | 37 h 21 m | Show |
Colts The Indianapolis Colts solidified their position atop the AFC South by knocking off the Houston Texans last week and are quietly establishing themselves as a solid candidate to steal the AFC from the New England Patriots. The Colts will try to push their winning streak to three in a row when they host the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Indianapolis bullied its way to wins over Kansas City and Houston in the last two weeks and is realizing that life after Andrew Luck is possible with Jacoby Brissett emerging as an elite quarterback. The Broncos are still looking for their own game changer under center and sit 29th in the NFL in scoring (average of 16 points) and 26th in average passing yards (207.9) behind veteran Joe Flacco. He has been sacked 23 times - tied for fourth in the league. Denver is going for addition by subtraction on offense after trading veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to the San Francisco 49ers and that’s not a good idea. Brissett started 15 games in place of an injured Luck in 2017 and totaled 13 TD passes but is emerging as much more of a threat in the passing game after being firmly entrenched as the starter and is fourth in the NFL with 14 TD passes in 2019. Brissett enjoyed the best game of his career with 326 yards, four TDs and no interceptions in last week's 30-23 triumph over Houston. Broncos are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home. Colts are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. AFC and are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. Broncos are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 meetings and are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Indianapolis. The Colts are my top play of the week and crush the Broncos on Sunday! |
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10-26-19 | Notre Dame v. Michigan +1.5 | Top | 14-45 | Win | 100 | 45 h 35 m | Show |
Michigan Seventh-ranked Notre Dame looks to stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot when it visits No. 20 Michigan on Saturday. The Fighting Irish bounced back from their 23-17 loss to ninth-ranked Georgia with three consecutive wins, including a 30-27 victory over USC on Oct. 12, to stay in the mix for their second consecutive playoff appearance, and they hope to add a road victory over a ranked opponent to their resume by taking down the Wolverines for the third straight time in the storied rivalry. Michigan fell behind by 21 points to No. 6 Penn State before mounting a comeback that ultimately fell short when Ronnie Bell dropped a pass in the end zone on 4th-and-goal with 2:01 remaining, which would have potentially sent the game to overtime. The Wolverines are 1-12 against top 10 teams under coach Jim Harbaugh, and hope to make a breakthrough after an encouraging second half against the Nittany Lions by knocking off Notre Dame for the first time since 2013. Shea Patterson had his best game of the season as the senior quarterback completed 24-of-41 passes for 276 yards and rushed for a touchdown, as the Wolverines finished with 417 total yards in the 28-21 loss to Penn State. I’ll look for Michigan to keep the offense going after last week’s 2nd half. Michigan has won 12 consecutive home games and I’ll back them here. |
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10-26-19 | Arizona State -3 v. UCLA | Top | 32-42 | Loss | -110 | 44 h 22 m | Show |
Arizona State Arizona State looks to bounce back from its worst offensive output in 11 years on Saturday when the 24th-ranked Sun Devils visit UCLA. Utah ended Arizona State's streak of 125 games with more than 10 points in last Saturday’s 21-3 victory, while UCLA snapped an 11-year drought against Stanford by cruising to a 34-16 win. The next chapter begins against a UCLA team that recorded its best defensive effort of the season in last week’s win over Stanford. The Bruins snapped a two-game losing skid by recording seven sacks and holding the Cardinal to 55 rushing yards. Arizona State is one of just seven teams in the country to not allow a 50-plus yard play from scrimmage this season. Sun Devils are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss. Bruins are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. Road team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings. I’ll take Arizona State to bounce back this week. |
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10-26-19 | Penn State v. Michigan State +6 | Top | 28-7 | Loss | -110 | 40 h 26 m | Show |
Michigan Seventh-ranked Notre Dame looks to stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot when it visits No. 20 Michigan on Saturday. The Fighting Irish bounced back from their 23-17 loss to ninth-ranked Georgia with three consecutive wins, including a 30-27 victory over USC on Oct. 12, to stay in the mix for their second consecutive playoff appearance, and they hope to add a road victory over a ranked opponent to their resume by taking down the Wolverines for the third straight time in the storied rivalry. Michigan fell behind by 21 points to No. 6 Penn State before mounting a comeback that ultimately fell short when Ronnie Bell dropped a pass in the end zone on 4th-and-goal with 2:01 remaining, which would have potentially sent the game to overtime. The Wolverines are 1-12 against top 10 teams under coach Jim Harbaugh, and hope to make a breakthrough after an encouraging second half against the Nittany Lions by knocking off Notre Dame for the first time since 2013. Shea Patterson had his best game of the season as the senior quarterback completed 24-of-41 passes for 276 yards and rushed for a touchdown, as the Wolverines finished with 417 total yards in the 28-21 loss to Penn State. I’ll look for Michigan to keep the offense going after last week’s 2nd half. Michigan has won 12 consecutive home games and I’ll back them here. |
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10-26-19 | Oklahoma State v. Iowa State -10.5 | Top | 34-27 | Loss | -109 | 40 h 25 m | Show |
Iowa State Iowa State aims for its fourth straight win while trying to avoid looking too far ahead when it hosts Oklahoma State for a Big 12 clash Saturday afternoon. The Cyclones have surged toward the top of the conference standings with consecutive victories over TCU, West Virginia and Texas Tech. Once the Cowboys leave town, Iowa State faces a visit to Oklahoma - one of two unbeatens in the league - and a home game with Texas, and it has a great chance to enter the critical stretch on a good note if it can maintain its momentum. While Iowa State is looking to secure bowl eligibility for the third straight season, the Cowboys are in danger of falling to .500 after consecutive losses to Texas Tech and Baylor. They've given up 90 points in the back-to-back defeats and will be tested by a Cyclones attack that has averaged 40.3 during the team's three-game winning streak. Iowa State snapped a six-game losing streak in the series with a 48-42 win at Oklahoma State last year. Lay the points with Iowa State. |
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10-26-19 | Texas v. TCU | Top | 27-37 | Loss | -110 | 40 h 23 m | Show |
Texas No. 15 Texas received quite a scare in its last outing and looks to put together a stronger effort when it visits TCU in Big 12 play on Saturday. The Longhorns needed a 33-yard field goal by sophomore Cameron Dicker as time expired to escape with a 50-48 home win against Kansas to remain alive in the conference race. Texas totaled 638 yards against Kansas but also allowed 569 in the shootout win that left coach Tom Herman with mixed feelings. I’ll look for the defense to rebound here. TCU has dropped back-to-back games after falling 24-17 at Kansas State last Saturday. Texas Junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger accounted for 490 total yards (399 passing, 91 rushing) against Kansas and has passed for 2,057 yards and 21 touchdowns while being intercepted just three times. Texas recorded a 31-16 victory last season after TCU won the previous four matchups. Texas wins a tight one on the road. |
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10-26-19 | Iowa v. Northwestern +10 | Top | 20-0 | Loss | -105 | 37 h 59 m | Show |
Northwestern Iowa bounced back from a pair of losses against ranked opponents by finding just enough from its offense to escape with a home win over Purdue. The No. 19 Hawkeyes will try to find points on the road when they visit Northwestern on Saturday. It will be tough vs. this NW defense. Iowa totaled 21 points in its two true road games this season - an 18-17 victory at Iowa State and a 10-3 setback at Michigan - and is looking for more out of a rushing attack averaging 57.7 yards on the ground over the last three games. The Wildcats were run over 52-3 at home by Ohio State last week and look like a different team than the one that went to the Big Ten Championship Game last season. But they are still a solid team that will stay in this game. Hawkeyes are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games on grass. Wildcats are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game and are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 games in October. The Wildcats took the last three meetings and get the cover here at home. |
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10-21-19 | Patriots -9.5 v. Jets | Top | 33-0 | Win | 100 | 8 h 36 m | Show |
Patriots The New York Jets were among the teams victimized in the red-hot start by the New England Patriots, who breezed to a 30-14 victory during the first meeting between the AFC East rivals in Week 3. The Jets will get a chance to avenge that defeat and hand the Patriots their first loss when they host the reigning Super Bowl champions on Monday Night Football. New York was forced to go with third-string quarterback Luke Falk and was totally outclassed in the first matchup, but it hopes to turn the tables with starter Sam Darnold back in the lineup. I don’t think they can vs. the Pats defense on a big stage on MNF. The Patriots suffocated the Jets on Sept. 22, allowing only 105 total yards in posting their seventh straight win in the series, and have yet to permit more than 14 points. Brady has eight TDs and zero interceptions in his last three games against New York. Patriots are 37-15 ATS in their last 52 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game. Jets are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 home games. Lay the points with New England on the road. |
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10-20-19 | Ravens v. Seahawks -3 | Top | 30-16 | Loss | -100 | 30 h 2 m | Show |
Seahawks Russell Wilson is the early favorite to be named NFL MVP, but Lamar Jackson might be the league's most exciting player. The two quarterbacks clash on Sunday, when Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks host Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson has been winning plenty of games for his team as well and owns 14 touchdowns without an interception while completing 72.5 percent of his passes. Wilson's play has helped overcome some gaps on defense which the team hopes will be filled this week by the return of defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who sat out the first six games. Ravens are 7-23-1 ATS in their last 31 games in October and are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. Seahawks are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 7 and are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Ravens are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 meetings. Simply put this is a very tough spot for the Ravens and their young QB. Take the Seahawks. |
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10-20-19 | Saints +4 v. Bears | Top | 36-25 | Win | 100 | 30 h 1 m | Show |
Saints The Chicago Bears have had two weeks to stew about an upset loss to the Oakland Raiders that snapped the team's three-game winning streak. Coming off their bye week, the Bears will hope to get their offensive struggles rectified with the expected return of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to the lineup when they host the surging New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. Trubisky was injured in a Week 4 win over Minnesota and sat out against the Raiders due to a dislocated left shoulder, but he practiced fully Thursday and is on track to start. I’m not sure that really helps the Bears offense. The Saints have been without their starting quarterback since Drew Brees suffered a thumb injury in Week 2, but backup Teddy Bridgewater has guided the team to four consecutive victories. “There’s calmness about him -- I think it’s contagious, if you will -- and how he approaches things,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. Although Bridgewater threw for 314 yards and matched a career high with four scoring passes in Week 5, he struggled against Jacksonville last week and is averaging only 217.8 yards passing. Bridgewater may have to do more this week against Chicago's rugged defense with the absence of star running back Alvin Kamara (ankle/knee). Latavius Murray will get the start while wide receiver Michael Thomas (NFL-high 53 catches) is the top option in the passing game. New Orleans has been stout defensively, allowing 40 points over the past three games. Saints are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 7 and are a solid 22-8 ATS in their last 30 road games. Bears are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a bye week and are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 7. Saints are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Take the points with the Saints on the road. |
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10-20-19 | Texans v. Colts | Top | 23-30 | Win | 100 | 27 h 39 m | Show |
Colts With Andrew Luck's surprising retirement on the eve of the regular season, the debate over the best quarterback in the AFC South was settled and Houston's Deshaun Watson became the obvious choice. Watson will try to guide the Houston Texans to a third consecutive win when they visit the Colts on Sunday. Watson guided the Texans offense to a combined 84 points in wins over the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs (Two bad defenses) in the last two games. Houston battled through some uneven performances offensively before hitting its stride over the last two games and I’m keeping that in mind. The Colts may not have Luck any longer, but they remain right behind Houston in the AFC South standings and got an extra week to prepare after earning their own win over Kansas City, 19-13 in Week 5. Jacoby Brissett is proving to be a capable replacement for Luck under center, but the Indianapolis offense is built around the offensive line and the running game, led by Marlon Mack. He bounced back from a sub-par effort in a loss to Oakland in Week 4 by rumbling for 132 yards on 29 carries in Week 5 behind an offensive line that dominated up front. Colts LB Darius Leonard (concussion) sat out the last three games but cleared the protocol and returned to practice this week and he will be a big addition to the defense. Texans are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win. Colts are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a winning road record and are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a bye week. Texans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Take the Colts at home. |
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10-20-19 | Vikings -1 v. Lions | Top | 42-30 | Win | 100 | 27 h 38 m | Show |
Vikings The Lions maybe thankful they have a short week to prepare to play Minnesota in a possibly pivotal NFC North matchup. A quick turnaround gave the Lions less time to lament critical calls that didn't go their way on Monday night in a loss at Green Bay. The Lions have dropped two straight after an unbeaten, three-game start because it failed to keep double-digit leads against the Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Minnesota has averaged 33 points the past two weeks with a grinding running game led by Dalvin Cook that helps Kirk Cousins make big plays through the air. After a slow start, Cousins had six touchdown passes and one interception in wins over Philadelphia and the New York Giants. Minnesota’s resurgent passing game has grabbed headlines but Cook (583 rushing yards) is still the engine that powers the offense. Detroit is vulnerable, ranking 27th against the run. The Lions lost to the Packers at least in part because they scored only one touchdown and had to settle for five field goals. That followed a trend. In goal-to-go situations, Detroit ranks 30th in the NFL with four touchdowns in nine chances. Look for much of the same for the Lions because they were relegated to scoring only on field goals in two losses to Minnesota last year. Vikings are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games in October and are 38-14-1 ATS in their last 53 games on fieldturf. Lions are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Detroit. Vikings take it on the road. |
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10-20-19 | Jaguars -4 v. Bengals | Top | 27-17 | Win | 100 | 27 h 37 m | Show |
Jaguars The Jags head to Cincinnati to take on one of the worst teams in the league. In Week 6, Gardner Minshew was humbled by New Orleans’ swarming defense. Minshew only managed 163 yards passing. Was Minshew’s bad game because of the Saints’ defensive excellence (I say yes). In Week 6, the Bengals were unable to sustain offense against a bad Ravens defense; Cincinnati could not run the ball at all. The Bengals' offense already ranked near the bottom of the league, and an anemic performance against Baltimore did nothing to change that. RB Leonard Fournetteshould find the going easy against a Bengals rush defense that is last in every major category and QB Gardner Minshew gets back on track. Jaguars are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games on fieldturf. Bengals are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games. Lay the points with the Jags on the road. |
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10-19-19 | Florida State +1.5 v. Wake Forest | Top | 20-22 | Loss | -109 | 31 h 46 m | Show |
Florida State Wake Forest's run as a ranked, undefeated team came to an end last weekend, but its status as an offensive force remains intact. The Demon Deacons will try to bounce back from their first loss when they host Florida State on Saturday. Wake Forest worked its way up to No. 17 prior to last week but had a fourth-quarter comeback fall short in a 62-59 loss at home to Louisville that came on the heels of a bye week. Answering that bell means preparing for a Seminoles squad that fell to No. 2 Clemson 45-14 last week but believes it can make a run over the second half of the season with a more favorable schedule. Florida State owns a turnover margin of plus-4 - the best mark in the ACC. The Seminoles own a 30-6-1 lead in the series and have taken each of the last seven meetings. They win again on the road. |
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10-19-19 | Oregon -2.5 v. Washington | Top | 35-31 | Win | 100 | 27 h 45 m | Show |
Oregon Oregon became a trend-setter with their explosive and wide-open passing offenses under Chip Kelly and Mike Bellotti. But its the defense for the 12th-ranked Ducks that is getting national attention these days as they head into their game with bitter Pacific Northwest rival Washington, ranked 23rd, on Saturday afternoon in Seattle. Since losing their season opener to 11th-ranked Auburn, 27-21, in Arlington, Tex., the Ducks have rolled off five consecutive victories in convincing fashion including a 45-3 win over Colorado last Friday. Oregon has outscored its opponents, 195-25, during that span while allowing just one touchdown, and for the first time since 1958 has held five consecutive teams to single-digit points. ABOUT OREGON (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12 North): Strong-armed senior quarterback Justin Herbert, a likely top-five NFL draft pick, has thrown a TD pass in 34 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation, and is one of just five quarterbacks to have thrown five touchdown passes in two games this season. He's protected by a veteran offensive line led by senior left guard Shane Lemieux, who has started 44 straight games and is regarded as one of the top three NFL guard prospects. ABOUT WASHINGTON (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12 North): Junior quarterback Jacob Eason, the 2016 National Gatorade Player of the Year who began his career at Georgia, has completed 134-of-203 passes for 1,692 yards and 13 TDs while throwing three interceptions. Oregon has allowed just one TD over its opponents' last 63 drives while also forcing 21 three-and-outs during that span. Take the Ducks. |
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10-13-19 | Cowboys -7 v. Jets | Top | 22-24 | Loss | -108 | 5 h 34 m | Show |
Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys were a trendy pick to emerge out of the NFC this season and such chatter only intensified after they opened the season with three lopsided victories, surpassing 30 points in each game. However, the Cowboys have come up short in back-to-back matchups against conference rivals and look to snap a two-game slide at the winless New York Jets on Sunday. Dallas' offense ground to a halt in a 12-10 setback at New Orleans in Week 4 and the Cowboys were manhandled by visiting Green Bay a week ago, falling behind by 28 points in a 34-24 loss. I look for them to come out on fire today. The Jets have scored the second-fewest points in the league in their 0-4 start but will be hoping for a boost with the return of quarterback Sam Darnold to the lineup. I’m not so sure that will help. The Cowboys rank No. 9 against the pass, allowing an average of 200.4 yards. Take the Cowboys and lay the points on the road. |
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10-13-19 | Saints +3 v. Jaguars | Top | 13-6 | Win | 100 | 1 h 10 m | Show |
Saints The loss of Drew Brees to a thumb injury has not slowed the New Orleans Saints, who are sitting atop the NFC South with a 4-1 mark despite his absence. New Orleans has won three in a row behind backup Teddy Bridgewater and look to continue the momentum when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. The Saints have leaned on their defense in the first two games without Brees before Bridgewater had his best game in last week's 31-24 victory over Tampa Bay. The Jaguars, who have played three of their last four away from home, had a two-game winning streak halted last week in a 34-27 loss at Carolina. New Orleans' defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in an NFL-high 31 consecutive games and features a shutdown cornerback in Marshon Lattimore. Jacksonville will try to end the Saints' rushing streak with a heavy dose of Leonard Fournette, who ranks third in the league with 512 yards and went over 100 in each of the past two games. I see the Saints slowing him down. The Saints win it on the road! |
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10-12-19 | Utah -14.5 v. Oregon State | Top | 52-7 | Win | 100 | 10 h 35 m | Show |
Utah No. 15 Utah returns from a bye and now faces seven straight weeks of Pac-12 games to finish the season. That stretch begins Saturday night when the Utes visit Oregon State for the Beavers’ homecoming game. Oregon State, meanwhile, started the season 0-2 but has since won two of three, including a 48-31 road victory at UCLA last Saturday. The Utes rebounded from their first loss of the season – a 30-23 setback at USC on Sept. 20 – with an impressive 38-13 rout of visiting Washington State on Sept. 28. Dual-threat quarterback Tyler Huntley shook off a reported foot injury suffered versus USC to throw for a season-high 334 yards and account for four total touchdowns against the Cougars and ranks sixth in the conference in total offense at 267.2 yards per game. Linebackers Devin Lloyd and Francis Bernard average a combined 15 tackles per game for the Utes’ defense, which ranks second in the Pac-12 in both points (14.4) and total yards (282.4) allowed per contest. Utah has won four of the six games versus Oregon State as Pac-12 members, including a 19-14 road win in their last meeting in 2016. Take Utah on the road. |
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10-12-19 | Penn State v. Iowa +3.5 | Top | 17-12 | Loss | -109 | 9 h 4 m | Show |
Iowa No. 9 Penn State's vaunted defense will try to maintain its dominant run against a team that failed to find the end zone last week in the 18th-ranked Iowa, which hosts the Nittany Lions in a key Big Ten affair Saturday night. Penn State entered the week second among FBS teams in scoring defense (7.4 points allowed per game), third in run defense (50.6 yards per game) and first in sacks per game (five) after recording 10 in last week's 35-7 win over Purdue. Hawkeyes senior quarterback Nate Stanley, who was sacked eight times and threw three interceptions in a 10-3 loss at Michigan last Saturday will have a better game. Iowa turned the ball over four times overall, committed eight penalties. Iowa keeps this game close at home. |
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10-06-19 | Colts +11.5 v. Chiefs | Top | 19-13 | Win | 100 | 35 h 44 m | Show |
Colts The Kansas City Chiefs have proven they can win even when they don’t play to their potential, but they hope to bring their “A” game for a primetime clash with the visiting Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night. The Chiefs were uncharacteristically sloppy last week, committing three turnovers and needing a late touchdown drive to escape Detroit with a 34-30 win. The Colts were stunned in the preseason by quarterback Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement but are sitting at 2-2, and their two losses have come by a total of 13 points - with one of the defeats occurring in overtime. Indianapolis has won two of the last three regular-season meetings. Indianapolis hasn’t fallen off too far offensively with Jacoby Brissett taking over at quarterback, although it has leaned on the running game more often. Marlon Mack has been effective, rushing for 338 yards and averaging a healthy 4.7 per carry while Brissett has thrown 10 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. The Colts’ defense struggled to stop the run in its first two games but held its last two opponents under 100 yards rushing. Kansas City possesses the highest-scoring offense and top passing attack in the NFL. The secondary is much improved from a year ago, but the Chiefs are getting gashed on the ground and rank 31st in the league against the run. Brissett is the only quarterback in the league with at least two passing touchdowns in each of his team’s first four contests this season. The Colts cover this inflated number!
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10-06-19 | Packers +3.5 v. Cowboys | Top | 34-24 | Win | 100 | 31 h 50 m | Show |
Packers The Cowboys and Packers aim to get back on track at the other's expense on Sunday when they meet at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Ezekiel Elliott was averaging 5.25 yards per carry in his previous two weeks before being limited to just 35 yards on 18 carries in Dallas' 12-10 setback in New Orleans. Aaron Rodgers exploited a banged-up Eagles secondary by throwing for 422 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but his most trusted target is going to be out in Davante Adams . But I look for the Packers to improve on offense again this week. Dak Prescott put up gaudy numbers in victories over subpar competition over the first three weeks of the season before being limited to just 223 yards against the Saints last week. The most important thing for Prescott is the offensive line, which likely will have a different look as Cameron Fleming is expected to start at left tackle in place of Tyron Smith (ankle) while right tackle La'el Collins (back) has yet to practice this week. Packers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss and are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings. Cowboys are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Take the points with the Packers. |
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10-06-19 | Broncos v. Chargers -6 | Top | 20-13 | Loss | -109 | 31 h 30 m | Show |
Chargers The Denver Broncos are 0-4 for the first time since 1999 but look to begin a turnaround when they visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Denver suffered its second two-point setback of the season in Week 4 against Jacksonville. The Chargers have been inconsistent this season and are hoping last week's 20-point win over Miami will be the beginning of a long winning streak. Los Angeles is averaging just 22.5 points per game despite quarterback Philip Rivers being tied for third in the NFL with 1,254 passing yards and star wideout Keenan Allen leading the league with 452 receiving yards and tied for the most receptions with 34. The Broncos suffered a huge blow when defensive end Bradley Chubb (13 sacks in 20 career games) suffered a torn ACL in his left knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon will be active this week after a three-game holdout and will split the workload with Austin Ekeler, who has recorded 220 rushing yards, 270 receiving yards and a league-best six total touchdowns. It could be a nice one-two punch. Broncos are 5-20-1 ATS in their last 26 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game and are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall. Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC West. I’ll back the Chargers as my best bet of the week! |
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10-06-19 | Jaguars +3.5 v. Panthers | Top | 27-34 | Loss | -115 | 27 h 27 m | Show |
Jaguars The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars both are trying to stay afloat after losing their starting quarterbacks to injury. With the backups at the helm, they’ll both try to buoy their records when the Panthers host the Jaguars on Sunday. Both teams have fared well despite losing their quarterbacks, as Jacksonville has won two straight with rookie Gardner Minshew at the helm while Carolina has won its last two with Kyle Allen under center. They’ve done it by playing strong defense and running the ball effectively, as this matchup will feature two of the NFL’s top young running backs in Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey and Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette. Jacksonville has done a good job of taking what the defense gives, and it came last week in the form of 269 rushing yards in a 26-24 win at Denver. Fournette rolled up a career-high 225 yards alone, and his ability to gash defenses on the ground has made things easier on Minshew, who has passed for 905 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception since taking over. Carolina’s offense has held its own since Allen took over for Cam Newton two weeks ago, but the club was limited to a season-low 297 total yards and committed three turnovers in last week’s 16-10 win at Houston. Minshew’s 106.9 passer rating is the highest by a rookie with at least 50 attempts in his first four games in the Super Bowl era. Jags plus the points is the play! |
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10-06-19 | Vikings v. Giants +5.5 | Top | 28-10 | Loss | -108 | 27 h 23 m | Show |
Giants The New York Giants have won back-to-back games since installing Daniel Jones at quarterback and they are slowly returning some of the weapons for the rookie to use. Jones and the Giants aim for the team's first three-game winning streak in nearly three years when they host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Veteran wide receiver Golden Tate will make his debut for New York after serving a four-game suspension. While New York's attack is on the rise after scoring 56 points during the two-game run, the Vikings have managed a total of 22 in two road losses and there was some uncertainty surrounding quarterback Kirk Cousins' rapport with his receivers following last week's 16-6 defeat at Chicago. NYG QB Jones has thrown for 561 yards and three touchdowns in his two starts while adding in 61 yards and a pair of scores on the ground. Wayne Gallman did his best Barkley imitation with 118 total yards and two TDs in last Sunday's 24-3 win over Washington’s very weak defense. The Giants defense led by Janoris Jenkins' two interceptions and Jabrill Peppers' interception return for a TD -- limited the Redskins to 176 total yards. The Giants get the cover at home and maybe the outright win! |
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10-05-19 | Iowa +4 v. Michigan | Top | 3-10 | Loss | -105 | 3 h 31 m | Show |
Iowa No. 14 Iowa looks for its first 5-0 start since 2014 when it travels to Ann Arbor on Saturday to face 18th-ranked Michigan in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes have won their first four games by an average margin of 25 points, including a 48-3 rout of Middle Tennessee State in Week 5, to continue their climb up the national rankings and hope to pass their first test in conference play by knocking off the Wolverines for the third consecutive time. Michigan bounced back from its disappointing 35-14 loss to ninth-ranked Wisconsin by blanking Rutgers 52-0. ABOUT IOWA (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten): Nate Stanley completed 17-of-25 passes for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win against Middle Tennessee State to move within two TD passes of leapfrogging Drew Tate (61) for second place on Iowa's all-time list. Toren Young rushed for a career-high 131 yards while Brandon Smith caught six passes for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Hawkeyes racked up 644 yards of offense, which is the most in the Ferentz era which spans 20 years. All-Big Ten left tackle Alaric Jackson could return after missing the last three games with a bone bruise on his right knee, while defensive back Kaevon Merriweather is expected to play following a two-game absence due to a foot problem. ABOUT MICHIGAN (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten): Shea Patterson had his best game of the season as he completed 17-of-23 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown while rushing for three scores in the win against Rutgers. Ronnie Bell caught six passes for a career-high 83 yards and Nico Collins finished with 59 yards and a touchdown as the Wolverines surpassed the 50-point plateau for the sixth time under Harbaugh. Linebacker Josh Ross (foot) and tight end Sean McKeon (knee) will miss their second consecutive game through injury while backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey is questionable as he continues to recover from a concussion. Iowa has won five of the last six meetings with Michigan and I’ll back them getting the points! |
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09-29-19 | Cowboys v. Saints +3 | Top | 10-12 | Win | 100 | 22 h 22 m | Show |
Saints The Dallas Cowboys entered the season with lofty aspirations and they have done nothing to diminish those expectations by taking advantage of a soft schedule to open with a 3-0 record for the first time since 2008. The Cowboys will be stepping up in class at one of the league's toughest venues when they visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night. Dallas has eclipsed 30 points in each of its three victories, although it turned in a lethargic performance before pulling away in the second half for a 31-6 victory over woeful Miami last week. The Saints easily survived their first test without future Hall of Famer Drew Brees with an impressive 33-27 victory in Seattle behind backup Teddy Bridgewater. Cowboys are 6-14 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Saints are 25-8 ATS in their last 33 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Underdog is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 meetings. Cowboys are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings in New Orleans. Back the Saints at home. |
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09-29-19 | Bucs v. Rams -9 | Top | 55-40 | Loss | -104 | 18 h 7 m | Show |
Rams The Los Angeles Rams are one of a handful of unbeaten teams heading into Week 4, but their potent offense has yet to click as it did in last year's Super Bowl run. They'll try to get some more points on the board and improve to 4-0 for the second straight season when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. The Buccaneers are coming off a painful collapse at home to the New York Giants, who erased an 18-point halftime deficit to steal a 32-31 win at Tampa Bay. ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-2): The bright spot in last Sunday's loss was Jameis Winston rediscovering his connection with star wide receiver Mike Evans, who erupted for 190 receiving yards and three touchdowns after being held to just six catches for 89 yards through the first two games. ABOUT THE RAMS (3-0): A notable aspect of Los Angeles' ho-hum offensive attack has been the relative lack of use for star running back Todd Gurley, who is on pace for 234.7 carries after averaging 271 over the past three years. I see the Rams having a break out game on offensive. So lay the points with the Rams. |
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09-29-19 | Panthers +5.5 v. Texans | Top | 16-10 | Win | 100 | 15 h 5 m | Show |
Panthers The Carolina Panthers’ outlook might not be so bleak with backup quarterback Kyle Allen at the helm after all. Allen will try to lead the Panthers to a second consecutive victory when they visit the Houston Texans on Sunday. The second-year quarterback got the job done last week, going 19-of-26 for 261 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in a 38-20 win at Arizona - Carolina’s first victory of the season. The Texans are one defensive stop away from being undefeated, but they’re also just a couple plays away from being winless as all three of their games have been decided by seven points or fewer. The Panthers have won the last two meetings, including a 24-17 home victory in the most recent clash in 2015. ABOUT THE PANTHERS (1-2): Combined with his performance in Week 17 last year, Allen has thrown six touchdown passes without an interception in two career starts, and he has plenty of help on offense. Versatile back Christian McCaffrey recorded 188 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown against the Cardinals and tight end Greg Olsen had two touchdown receptions while receivers Curtis Samuel and DJ Moore each caught a scoring pass. The Panthers have given up a lot on the ground, but that’s largely because they’re so stingy against the pass, ranking second in the NFL in pass defense. ABOUT THE TEXANS (2-1): Houston’s offense has been inconsistent, but Deshaun Watson has been steady, passing for 778 yards with six touchdowns with only one interception. Watson has a solid receiving corps led by DeAndre Hopkins, but the Texans haven’t gotten much out of the backfield duo of Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson. I look for the Panthers to do enough to get the cover. |
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09-29-19 | Redskins v. Giants -3 | Top | 3-24 | Win | 100 | 15 h 4 m | Show |
Giants The New York Giants embraced the emergence of rookie quarterback Daniel Jones on the same day that the franchise was nearly eviscerated by the devastating injury loss of Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley. Jones looks to follow up his successful NFL debut on Sunday when the Giants host the winless Washington Redskins in East Rutherford, N.J. Jones was feted with fame and a trendy nickname (Danny Dimes) in a New York minute after throwing a pair of touchdowns and rushing for two more as the Giants overcame an 18-point deficit to post a 32-31 victory over Tampa Bay last Sunday. The sixth overall pick of the draft also earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after completing 23 of 36 passes for 336 yards in his first start. The reeling Redskins are in danger of recording their first 0-4 start since 2001 if they don't find a way past their NFC East rival. Case Keenum did little to quiet his detractors and the steady calls for first-round pick Dwayne Haskins after the first of his three interceptions was returned for a touchdown in a 31-15 loss to Chicago on Monday. Redskins are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game and are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC. Giants are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Giants get the win and cover at home! |
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09-29-19 | Raiders v. Colts -6.5 | Top | 31-24 | Loss | -100 | 15 h 3 m | Show |
Colts The Indianapolis Colts attempt to extend their home winning streak to eight games when they host the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Indianapolis lost its first two contests at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2018 but has won seven straight since, including a 27-24 triumph over Atlanta last week in its first home game of the year. The contest also marked the ninth in a row at home in which the Colts have scored at least 23 points as Marlon Mack ran for a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend the streak. Jacoby Brissett was superb against the Falcons, completing his first 16 attempts while finishing 28-of-37 for 310 yards and two TDs, and seeks his fourth straight game with at least a pair of scoring passes. The Raiders opened the season with a dominant victory over Denver but have suffered back-to-back brutal losses, including a 34-14 setback at Minnesota last week. Oakland, which has lost five of its last six meetings with Indianapolis, surrendered 211 rushing yards against the Vikings. The Colts' defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in any of the team's last 21 contests. My take here is the Colts will just out class the Raiders in the long run and get the home win and cover.
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09-29-19 | Chiefs -7 v. Lions | Top | 34-30 | Loss | -105 | 15 h 3 m | Show |
Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs were expected to be undefeated through three games, but the Detroit Lions were not. The surprising Lions host the Chiefs on Sunday in an unlikely matchup of unbeaten teams. The Chiefs have picked up where they left off last season, with reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes leading a prolific offense. Mahomes is the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 350 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in three consecutive games, and Kansas City has scored at least 28 points in each contest. The Lions have found themselves in three close games - a season-opening tie at Arizona and three-point victories over the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia - but have prevailed with the help of a ball-hawking defense that will try to disrupt the Chiefs’ offensive momentum. ABOUT THE CHIEFS (3-0): Mahomes leads the league in virtually every passing category, including a sterling 134.9 passer rating fueled by 10 touchdowns without an interception, and he’s surrounded with weapons. ABOUT THE LIONS (2-0-1): Detroit hasn’t gotten much from the running game, but Kerryon Johnson has been involved in a solid passing attack. The secondary has been decent but will be tested this week, especially if cornerback Darius Slay is unable to play after injuring his hamstring in the second half last week. The Chiefs have scored at least 25 points in an NFL-record 25 consecutive games. Lay it on the road with Kansas City. |
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09-28-19 | Kansas State +5 v. Oklahoma State | Top | 13-26 | Loss | -110 | 45 h 40 m | Show |
Kansas State Kansas State and new head coach Chris Klieman have won over some preseason skeptics with a 3-0 start. But the true tests still wait, starting Saturday night when the 22nd-ranked Wildcats kick off Big 12 play at Oklahoma State. Klieman’s crew was picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12 preseason media poll but opened the season with routs of Nicholls (49-14) and Bowling Green (52-0), followed by an impressive 31-24 road win at then No. 23 Mississippi State. Oklahoma State also started 3-0 before dropping a tight 36-30 road decision against No. 12 Texas on Saturday. The Cowboys are among the teams receiving votes in the coaches poll for the fifth straight week and are looking for their fourth consecutive 4-1 start. I see this one being close with Kansas State having a shot to win outright. But take the points! |
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09-28-19 | Virginia +12.5 v. Notre Dame | Top | 20-35 | Loss | -103 | 41 h 7 m | Show |
Virginia No. 10 Notre Dame looks to shake off a disappointing loss and begin its quest to climb back into playoff contention when 18th-ranked Virginia pays a visit on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference contest. The Fighting Irish had the ball in Georgia territory in the final minute before giving it up on downs and falling 23-17 in a game between a pair of top 10 teams with playoff expectations. Irish coach Brian Kelly is wary of a Virginia team that can get to 5-0 for the first time since 2004 with a victory when he said at his weekly press conference that the Cavaliers have elite players at every level of their defense and are a confident team. ABOUT VIRGINIA (4-0): Senior quarterback Bryce Perkins has thrown four interceptions along with six touchdown passes, but completed 65.3 percent of his passes overall and is 361 from becoming the eighth player in school history with 5,000 yards of total offense. Senior Jordan Mack leads all linebackers in the nation with five sacks and junior linebacker Charles Snowden was named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 15 tackles and two sacks against ODU. ABOUT NOTRE DAME (2-1): Senior quarterback Ian Book threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia, but suffered his first two interceptions of the season as the Irish lost in the regular season for the first time Nov. 25, 2017. I’ll back the points with Virginia! |
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09-28-19 | Iowa State -3 v. Baylor | Top | 21-23 | Loss | -101 | 41 h 6 m | Show |
Iowa State Baylor has won five games in a row dating to last season, the school's longest winning streak since starting 6-0 in 2016. Two years removed from a disastrous 1-11 season, the high-scoring Bears brace for a difficult test when Iowa State pays a visit to Waco for a nationally televised clash in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon. Baylor steamrolled Stephen F. Austin and Texas-San Antonio in its first two games, amassing 119 points, but it had to hold off a late comeback by winless Rice in a 21-13 victory last week. Conversely, the Cyclones struggled in their first two games, squeezing by Northern Iowa in triple overtime and dropping a one-point decision to No. 19 Iowa before erupting in a 72-20 mauling of Louisiana-Monroe a week ago. ABOUT IOWA STATE (2-1): The Cyclones piled up a school-record 714 yards in the team's highest point total since 1906 behind quarterback Brock Purdy, who accounted for six touchdowns and became the first player in program history to eclipse 500 yards of total offense. ABOUT BAYLOR (3-0): Brewer, who threw for 288 yards and two TDs in a loss at Iowa State last year, has seven scoring passes versus zero interceptions but sports modest yardage numbers overall because the Bears have outscored their opponents 91-10 in the first half vs. weak teams. Cyclones are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 road games and are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September. Bears are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games. Lay the small number with Iowa State! |
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09-27-19 | Penn State -6.5 v. Maryland | Top | 59-0 | Win | 100 | 22 h 38 m | Show |
Penn State Penn State moved up in the national rankings on a bye week, but has plenty of questions to answer and a significant challenge to begin Big Ten play when it visits Maryland on Friday night. The No. 11 Nittany Lions are 3-0 for the third straight year but trailed at halftime at home against Buffalo on Sept. 7 and needed a goal-line stand to survive a 17-10 victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 14. The Terrapins broke into the Top 25 by scoring 142 points in a 2-0 start before they were stymied offensively in a 20-17 loss at Temple on Sept. 14. Penn State has taken four straight meetings, including wins in the last two years by a combined 104-6. ABOUT PENN STATE (3-0): After completing 66.7 percent of his passes with six touchdowns through the first two games, sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford was 14-for-30 for 222 yards and zero TDs versus Pitt. The Lions were given a boost by sophomore running back Journey Brown, who emerged from a committee attack to run 10 times for a career-high 109 yards, earning a spot atop the depth chart entering this one. Speedster KJ Hamler leads the receiving corps with 245 yards through the air while fellow sophomore Pat Freiermuth has matched him with a team-high 10 grabs from the tight end position. ABOUT MARYLAND (2-1): The Terrapins continue to lean on standout running back Anthony McFarland Jr. (225 yards, five touchdowns), but they hope for a better showing from junior quarterback Josh Jackson, who was 15-for-38 passing with an interception and four sacks against Temple. Nittany Lions are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss and are 23-6-1 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight up win. Terrapins are 6-15 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. I will lay the number with Penn State on the road! |
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09-22-19 | Giants +5.5 v. Bucs | Top | 32-31 | Win | 100 | 5 h 51 m | Show |
Giants There will be a changing of the guard for the New York Giants on Sunday after they benched longtime quarterback Eli Manning ahead of a visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rookie Daniel Jones will take the place of Manning. ABOUT THE GIANTS (0-2): Jones, drafted sixth overall out of Duke this spring, completed 29-of-34 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns during some impressive preseason play. Jones will likely lean on Barkley, who enters Week 3 ranked second in the NFL with 227 rushing yards at an eye-popping 7.8 yards per attempt. ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-1): Tampa Bay can't afford a letdown Sunday, which constitutes the team's last true home game until Nov. 10, with four challenging road games, one bye and one "home" game in London over the following six weeks. The Giants enter Week 3 sixth in the NFL in total offense (420 yards per game) while the Buccaneers are 26th (292). Take the Giants plus the points.
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09-22-19 | Broncos v. Packers -7 | Top | 16-27 | Win | 100 | 2 h 50 m | Show |
Packers – 7 Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers hope to continue their dominance at home when they host the winless Denver Broncos on Sunday. The Packers have posted a 62-16-1 record in Rodgers' last 79 regular-season starts at Lambeau Field and 12-2-1 in his last 15, while the quarterback ranks first in the NFL since 1970 with a 107.8 passer rating at home. ABOUT THE PACKERS (2-0): Rodgers enters the contest with 341 career touchdown passes, one behind Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton for ninth place on the all-time list. Aaron Jones has averaged 120 yards from scrimmage over his last four home contests after gaining 150 in the Week 2 win over Minnesota. Davante Adams has made 35 touchdown catches since 2016, which is the second-most in the league in that stretch. Broncos are 5-14 ATS in their last 19 road games. Packers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September. Take the Packers at home.
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09-22-19 | Bengals v. Bills -6 | Top | 17-21 | Loss | -112 | 2 h 48 m | Show |
Bills The Buffalo Bills are undefeated two games into the season after winning a pair of road games in the same stadium - taking out the New York Jets and New York Giants in back-to-back weeks. The Bills finally get a chance to play at home when they attempt to take advantage of a team still learning under a new coach in the visiting Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Buffalo successfully flustered Jets quarterback Sam Darnold in the season opener and were so solid last week against Eli Manning that the Giants decided to make a switch at quarterback. ABOUT THE BENGALS (0-2): While Dalton is among the league leaders in passing yardage, Cincinnati ranks last in the NFL in rushing at an average of 29.5 yards. Starting running back Joe Mixon totaled 27 yards on 17 carries in the first two games and the team has yet to score a touchdown on the ground. The Bengals will have a hard time running the ball. ABOUT THE BILLS (2-0): Buffalo is not having any trouble in the red zone or with the rushing attack and quarterback Josh Allen is crediting the work of the offensive line. Allen actually leads the team with two rushing touchdowns to go with 507 passing yards and a pair of TDs through the air. I will lay the points in the home opener for the Bills. |
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09-22-19 | Falcons v. Colts | Top | 24-27 | Win | 100 | 2 h 48 m | Show |
Colts The Atlanta Falcons have been presented an opportunity to get a leg up in the NFC South but first must focus on accomplishing a rare feat - defeating an AFC team - when they visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday for their first of three straight against the AFC South. Atlanta, which lost seven of eight games versus the AFC over the last two seasons ABOUT THE FALCONS (1-1): Ryan has 300 touchdown passes - tied for 11th all-time with John Elway - after tossing three in last week's 24-20 victory over Philadelphia last week, but has thrown as many interceptions (five) as TDs this season. ABOUT THE COLTS (1-1): Brissett is off to a fast start by completing 69.1 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception. Running back Marlon Mack is third in the league with 225 rushing yards while RB Jordan Wilkins contributed a 55-yard run in last week's 19-17 victory at Tennessee. The Colts are the top play of the week! |
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09-22-19 | Raiders v. Vikings -8 | Top | 14-34 | Win | 100 | 2 h 47 m | Show |
Vikings The Minnesota Vikings hope for another strong rushing performance as they aim for their second win in as many home games when they host the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Minnesota is tied for second in the NFL with an average of 185 yards on the ground through two games while Dalvin Cook tops the league with 265 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Cook gained a career-high 154 yards on 20 carries and finished with 191 scrimmage yards in last week's 21-16 loss at Green Bay. Included in those totals is a 75-yard touchdown run The Raiders posted a surprising 24-16 triumph over Denver in their season opener and came out strong against Kansas City last week, scoring the game's first 10 points before suffering a 28-10 loss. Oakland, which plays four of its next five games on the road, has not visited Minnesota since posting a 27-21 victory on Nov. 20, 2011. I am willing to the lay the points with the Vikings. |
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09-16-19 | Browns -6.5 v. Jets | Top | 23-3 | Win | 100 | 51 h 26 m | Show |
Browns The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets will celebrate the anniversary of the debut of Monday Night Football when they square off again this Monday, but both teams more likely are focused on forgetting what happened one week ago. The Browns flopped badly amid soaring expectations in their season opener and will look to get back on track when they visit the Jets in a prime-time matchup. The Jets also have to find a way to pick up the pieces after blowing a 16-point lead in a 17-16 home loss to Buffalo and learning this week that quarterback Sam Darnold has mononucleosis and will be sidelined indefinitely. ABOUT THE BROWNS (0-1): Cleveland actually trailed by only two in the waning minutes of the third quarter before surrendering 28 unanswered points to the Titans, capping a disastrous performance in which they committed a staggering 18 penalties for 182 yards. ABOUT THE JETS (0-1): Much of the team's optimism was based on the expected progress of Darnold, but his illness paves the way for Trevor Siemian to make his first start since 2017 with Denver. It continued a dismal week for the Jets, who saw linebacker C.J. Mosley exit the season opener with a groin injury and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (neck) placed on season-ending injured reserve. Mayfield made his first start in Week 3 last season as the Browns beat the Jets 21-17 to end a 19-game winless streak. I will still play the Browns at this very inflated number. |
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09-15-19 | Eagles -1.5 v. Falcons | Top | 20-24 | Loss | -110 | 28 h 31 m | Show |
Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles aim to begin a season with a 2-0 mark for the second time in four years on Sunday night when they visit the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking to avert an 0-2 start for the first time since 2007. The Eagles were able to overcome a 17-point deficit in their 32-27 win over Washington while Atlanta was unable to climb out of a four-touchdown deficit in its 28-12 setback to Minnesota. Philadelphia's Carson Wentz established quick chemistry with the returning DeSean Jackson on a pair of long scoring strikes to highlight his three-touchdown performance versus the Redskins. Pennsylvania-born Matt Ryan was intercepted twice and sacked four times to put the Falcons in a sizable hole versus the Vikings while a banged up offensive line did little for Devonta Freeman, who had eight carries for 19 yards and a fumble. ABOUT THE EAGLES (1-0): While it's transparent that wideout Alshon Jeffrey (receiving and rushing touchdown) and tight end Zach Ertz will have significant impacts on the passing game, it's not exactly clear how Philadelphia's congested backfield will play out this season. Speedy rookie Miles Sanders and veteran Darren Sproles each had 12 touches in the opener while Jordan Howard amassed 55 scrimmage yards on just 17 plays. My point is the Eagles have a lot of options. ABOUT THE FALCONS (0-1): Julio Jones, who found the end zone in the fourth quarter to salvage his season-opening performance is not in yet on the same page as Ryan. Atlanta's Jamon Brown will play RG in place of first-round pick Chris Lindstrom, who was placed on injured reserve with a broken foot. Eagles are the better team on both sides of the ball and I’ll back them on the road. |
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09-15-19 | Jaguars v. Texans -8.5 | Top | 12-13 | Loss | -105 | 20 h 13 m | Show |
Texans The line between moral victory and demoralizing loss can be fine in the NFL, but the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars firmly were on opposite sides of it in Week 1. The AFC South rivals aim to rebound from season-opening losses when they square off Sunday in Houston. The Texans squandered a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback on Monday as they lost 30-28 at New Orleans on a last-second field goal. The Jaguars, on the other hand, were encouraged by their second-half surge in a 40-26 loss to Kansas City, especially considering rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew replaced injured starter Nick Foles and impressed in his NFL debut. ABOUT THE JAGUARS (0-1): Foles is out until at least Week 11 with a broken collarbone, but Jacksonville has confidence in Minshew, but I’m not so sure. ABOUT THE TEXANS (0-1): Houston has a dynamic duo in the passing game with quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, but the newly constructed backfield tandem also got the job done last week. Carlos Hyde rushed for 83 yards just nine days after being acquired from Kansas City and Duke Johnson recorded 90 yards from scrimmage in his debut for the Texans. Jaguars are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games in Week 2 and are 2-9-2 ATS in their last 13 games overall. Texans are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in Week 2. The Texans held down the Jags last season in both matchups and I see the same here so I’m willing to lay the big number. |
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09-15-19 | Seahawks +4 v. Steelers | Top | 28-26 | Win | 100 | 20 h 12 m | Show |
Seahawks Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger engaged in a high-octane shootout the last time they shared the field, so there is no telling what may happen when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Wilson passed for 345 yards and five touchdowns in the 39-30 home win during the 2015 season while Roethlisberger passed for 456 yards but just one score. Roethlisberger and his teammates got off to a poor start in Week 1 as they were shellacked 33-3 by New England in their first game. Seattle posted a 21-20 victory over Cincinnati, but it wasn't pretty as the club was outgained 429-233. ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (1-0): Wilson was 14-of-20 for 196 yards and two scores in the opener while defensive end Quinton Jefferson fueled the defense with a career-best two sacks. Star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney recorded two tackles and a sack during his team debut and is working on assimilating himself into the unit after recently being acquired from Houston. ABOUT THE STEELERS (0-1): Pittsburgh never got untracked against the Patriots and running back James Conner was a non-factor with 21 yards on 10 carries. Wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster is the new primary target with Brown gone, and he had six receptions for 78 yards while newcomer Donte Moncrief was a big disappointment with three catches for seven yards while being targeted a team-high 10 times. I have this game being close so I’ll back the Seahawks plus the points. |
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09-14-19 | Florida -8.5 v. Kentucky | Top | 29-21 | Loss | -110 | 2 h 1 m | Show |
#175 Florida Kentucky stunned Florida in Gainesville last September, halting a 31-game series losing streak with an impressive 27-16 victory. But the Wildcats may be hard pressed to make it two in a row over the eighth-ranked Gators, who come in off a 45-0 blanking of UT Martin, as they open their SEC campaign at home Saturday without their starting quarterback after Terry Wilson suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week's 38-17 win over Eastern Michigan. The Gators will feature a quarterback quite familiar with this SEC rivalry - and one with something to prove - as Feleipe Franks did not have a performance to remember in last year's meeting. ABOUT FLORIDA (2-0, 0-0 SEC): Franks was razor sharp in the win over UT Martin, connecting on 25-of-27 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns as he broke Tim Tebow's single-game school record for completion percentage. The offense rolled up 543 yards in the win, giving the Gators at least 500 yards of total offense in four of the last six games. The defense has been getting to quarterbacks with 15 sacks in the first two games, including 10 in the opener versus Miami. ABOUT KENTUCKY (2-0, 0-0): Smith is no stranger to collegiate action, hitting 144-of-229 passes for 1,669 yards and 14 TDs while leading Troy to the Dollar General Bowl last year, but the Gators defense will no doubt provide a far more formidable challenge. Take Florida on the road. |
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09-14-19 | Alabama -25 v. South Carolina | Top | 47-23 | Loss | -110 | 29 h 23 m | Show |
#137 Alabama Alabama and South Carolina haven't played since 2010, and the last meeting wasn't the least bit fun for the Crimson Tide. The Gamecocks defeated then-No. 1 Alabama 35-21 nine years ago, and they look to post another upset when the No. 2 Crimson Tide visit town on Saturday. ABOUT ALABAMA (2-0, 1-0 SEC): Junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has completed 76.4 percent of his passes for 563 yards and seven touchdowns and hasn't been intercepted in 55 attempts. Junior wideout Jerry Jeudy is off to a ferocious start with 18 receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns, and he moved into second place on the school's all-time list with 20 scoring receptions, trailing only Amari Cooper (31 from 2012-14). Junior safety Xavier McKinney has a team-best 14 tackles for a unit allowing averages of 6.5 points and 233 yards per game. ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (1-1, 0-0): Senior quarterback Jake Bentley (foot) suffered a season-ending injury but freshman Ryan Hilinski looked sharp in his first career start by completing 24-of-30 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday's 72-10 drubbing of Charleston Southern. He will not look good vs. this Alabama defense. Gamecocks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Crimson Tide are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 conference games. Lay the large number with Alabama in a rout. |
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09-14-19 | Kansas State +7.5 v. Mississippi State | Top | 31-24 | Win | 100 | 26 h 45 m | Show |
#111 Kansas State A pair of impressive wins and a strong start from the new quarterback pushed Mississippi State into the Top 25 for the first time this season. The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs will try to prove they belong when they face their stiffest challenge of the nonconference slate when Kansas State visits on Saturday. ABOUT KANSAS STATE (2-0): The Wildcats are in their first season under Klieman after the retirement of school icon Bill Snyder but are not taking any steps back on the field after beating Nicholls and Bowling Green by a combined score of 101-14. Kansas State piled up a total of 694 rushing yards in those two contests with senior running back James Gilbert (218 yards and three touchdowns) and quarterback Skylar Thompson helping to give the defense plenty of breathing room. ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-0): Stevens threw a pair of touchdown passes in last week’s 38-15 triumph over Southern Miss before leaving with an upper-body injury and is questionable for Saturday. Running back Kylin Hill took over more responsibility on offense with Stevens out, pushing his totals to 320 yards and two TDs through two games, and is prepared for a bigger role if Stevens is limited. Take the points in a game that Kansas State can win outright. |
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09-09-19 | Broncos -2.5 v. Raiders | Top | 16-24 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 3 m | Show |
Broncos The Oakland Raiders have finally stopped waffling when it comes to deciding what to do with disgruntled wide receiver Antonio Brown. The Raiders released Brown and his 686 receptions and 9,145 yards since 2013. The Raiders, who will move to Las Vegas after this season, and the Broncos are projected to battle for last place in the AFC West as the Joe Flacco era begins in Denver. ABOUT THE BRONCOS (2018: 6-10, THIRD IN AFC WEST): Flacco, who lost his job in Baltimore last season to Lamar Jackson, needs 1,755 passing yards to reach 40,000 in his career. Running back Phillip Lindsay, who rushed for 1,037 yards as an undrafted rookie last season, is completely healed from a broken wrist that forced him to miss the final game of 2018. Denver's defense boasts a pair of powerful pass rushers in Von Miller (14.5 sacks last season, 98 career) and Bradley Chubb (12 as a rookie in 2018), and top cornerback Chris Harris - the only player in the league with multiple interceptions over the last seven seasons. ABOUT THE RAIDERS (2018: 4-12, LAST IN AFC WEST): Without Brown and his NFL-most 74 touchdowns since entering the league in 2010, Tyrell Williams will likely emerge as the marquee wideout as he makes his club debut after catching 153 passes and scoring 16 touchdowns over the last three seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. Oakland selected running back Josh Jacobs with the 24th overall pick and hope the former Alabama star can improve a ground game that was 25th in the league in each of the last two seasons while taking pressure off quarterback Derek Carr. I see the Raiders having a hard time putting up points here vs. the stout Denver defense. Take the Broncos and lay the small number. |
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09-09-19 | Texans v. Saints -6.5 | Top | 28-30 | Loss | -106 | 7 h 52 m | Show |
Saints The New Orleans Saints have seen each of their last two seasons come to an end with heartbreaking losses, including a galling setback in January with the team knocking on the door of the Super Bowl. With Drew Brees returning for his 19th season, the Saints open their bid for a third straight NFC South title when they host the Houston Texans on Monday night. New Orleans finished with 13 wins and the top overall seed in the conference last season before falling in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game. ABOUT THE TEXANS (2018: 11-5, FIRST IN AFC SOUTH): Houston will rely heavily on third-year quarterback Deshaun Watson, the first player to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for 500 yards and five scores in a season. Watson has perhaps the league's top wideout in DeAndre Hopkins, who amassed 115 receptions and 11 TDs last season, but questions abound about the ground game after Lamar Miller tore his ACL in the preseason so the Texans brought in running backs Duke Johnson and Carlos Hyde in separate trades and bolstered the offensive line with the acquisition of tackle Laremy Tunsil. ABOUT THE SAINTS (2018: 13-3, FIRST IN NFC SOUTH): Brees, 40, who earned his 12th Pro Bowl berth after throwing for 32 touchdowns versus five interceptions last season, needs 20 scoring passes to surpass Peyton Manning (539) for No. 1 on the all-time list. Michael Thomas led the NFL with 125 catches and set a franchise record with 1,405 yards while becoming the third player in history to start his career with three straight seasons of at least 1,100 yards. Tight end Jared Cook, coming off a career year in Oakland, will augment the passing game while do-everything back Alvin Kamara heads the ground game after piling up 18 touchdowns and nearly 1,600 yards from scrimmage. The defense ranked No. 2 against the run (80.2 yards) last season. Brees has thrown 37 scoring passes in 17 career Kickoff Weekend games, the most of any quarterback. Texans are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 Monday games. Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings. I’ll lay just under a touchdown with the Saints. |
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09-08-19 | 49ers +1.5 v. Bucs | Top | 31-17 | Win | 100 | 6 h 13 m | Show |
49ers Back from a knee injury that derailed most of his 2018 season, Jimmy Garoppolo enters a crucial year under center for the San Francisco 49ers, who open play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. After going 5-0 as a starter with the Niners in 2017 and then signing a $137.5 million deal prior to last season, Garoppolo played in just three games before tearing the ACL on his left knee, crushing San Francisco's hopes for a rise up the NFC West standings. The Niners went 3-10 without Garoppolo to finish out of the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year but hope that a full season of health for the 27-year-old signal-caller can turn things around. Tampa Bay's playoff drought is much longer at 12 years and it has turned to new head coach Bruce Arians to help end it. Jameis Winston enters his fifth season as the team's starting quarterback. ABOUT THE 49ERS (2018: 4-12, 3RD IN NFC WEST): While Garoppolo's comeback is drawing plenty of attention, San Francisco also hopes to put opposing quarterbacks under severe pressure with a revamped defensive unit featuring newly signed edge rusher Dee Ford and No. 2 overall pick Nick Bosa. Ford had 13 sacks with Kansas City a year ago before signing with the Niners while Bosa, who is battling an ankle injury, was a standout at Ohio State. Fourth-year defensive end DeForest Buckner had a team-high 12 sacks a year ago. ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (2018: 5-11, 4TH IN NFC SOUTH): Tampa Bay may need a good start to stay relevant later in the year, as the schedule-makers handed the team a brutal stretch from late September through early November in which it goes without a home game for nearly 50 days. It starts with back-to-back road games at the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints, followed by a "home" game with the Carolina Panthers in London, a bye week and then road games at Tennessee and Seattle. The Buccaneers were 1-7 on the road each of the last two years. Back the 49ers on the road in a late start. |
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09-08-19 | Colts +7 v. Chargers | Top | 24-30 | Win | 100 | 6 h 51 m | Show |
Colts Andrew Luck's stunning retirement left the Indianapolis Colts in a scramble while the host Los Angeles Chargers will be without holdout running back Melvin Gordon when the teams open the season Sunday. Jacoby Brissett has replaced Luck as Indianapolis' starting quarterback while Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson will fill Gordon's shoes as the main ball carriers. The Chargers are still under the control of Philip Rivers and the quarterback entering his 16th season is bullish that Ekeler and Jackson will make up for the absence of Gordon, who is seeking a contract extension. ABOUT THE COLTS (2018: 10-6, SECOND IN AFC SOUTH): Brissett started 15 games for Indianapolis in 2017 when Luck was sidelined and passed for 3,098 yards and 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions. The defense is expected to receive a big boost from the addition of pass rusher Justin Houston, who had 22 sacks in 2014 and 78.5 overall in eight seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Houston has 7.5 career sacks against the Chargers. ABOUT THE CHARGERS (2018: 12-4, TIED FOR FIRST IN AFC WEST): Rivers has put together six straight 4,000-yard seasons and 10 overall and he is 26 touchdown passes away from becoming the sixth player in NFL history to reach 400. Ekeler (554 rushing, 404 receiving) will get first call in place of Gordon but Jackson (206 rushing) will get plenty of work as Los Angeles looks to develop a competent one-two punch. Defensively, the Chargers will be without standout safety Derwin James (foot) for at least a large part of the campaign while relying on star defensive end Joey Bosa (28.5 sacks in 35 career contests) to lead the unit. The Colts beat the Chargers 26-22 in 2016 to end a three-game skid in the series. I like the Colts plus the points. |
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09-08-19 | Ravens -7 v. Dolphins | Top | 59-10 | Win | 100 | 3 h 52 m | Show |
Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are committed to moving forward behind quarterback Lamar Jackson and plan on competing for an AFC North title and another run deep into the playoffs. The Miami Dolphins, who host the Ravens in the season opener on Sunday, look like a team fully in rebuilding mode after bringing in a new coach and getting very active on the trade market. Baltimore spent its offseason rebuilding its offense to suit the talents of Jackson and imported Mark Ingram from New Orleans to take on some of the rushing duties, but Jackson is still expected to pull the ball down and run often. The Dolphins traded away star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills and leading tackler Kiko Alonso in the latest round of trades toward the end of camp, leading to question about the team's intentions for the season. ABOUT THE RAVENS (2018: 10-6, FIRST IN AFC NORTH): Baltimore is convinced that Ingram, 29, has plenty left in the tank after splitting carries for years with the Saints. "He's a proven back in the National Football League," Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters. "He seems very healthy. (There is) not a lot of wear and tear on Mark. He’s a downhill, physical runner. He fits our style." Ingram will run between the tackles while Jackson takes off around the outside and goes after Michael Vick's record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,039). ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (2018: 7-9, SECOND IN AFC EAST): Miami traded for former first-round pick Josh Rosen in the offseason, but veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick won the battle in camp and will get the start on Sunday, becoming the first quarterback to start for eight different teams. Running back Kenyan Drake survived the team's offseason purge and is expected to take on a bigger role in the offense after averaging 4.5 yards per rush in 2018. Ravens are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in Week 1. Ravens are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Miami. Miami will have big problems all season. Back the Ravens. |
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09-08-19 | Chiefs -3 v. Jaguars | Top | 40-26 | Win | 100 | 3 h 50 m | Show |
Chiefs Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes says the Kansas City Chiefs spent the offseason finding ways to make their offense run even more smoothly, and that’s a scary proposition for opposing defenses. Mahomes and the Chiefs will try to pick up where they left off last season when they open the 2019 campaign at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Chiefs led the league in scoring (35.3 points per game) and total offense (425.6 yards) a year ago, and with most of their biggest weapons still in the arsenal, they’ve been able to add some new wrinkles to the playbook. They’ll start with a strong challenge against a Jacksonville defense that ranked in the top five in the league in scoring defense (19.8 points per game) and total defense (311.4 yards). ABOUT THE CHIEFS (2018: 12-4, TIED FOR FIRST IN AFC WEST): There’s plenty of hype for Kansas City’s offense with Mahomes back for his second full season as a starter after passing for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns a year ago. The Chiefs added running back LeSean McCoy to complement Damien Williams, who broke out last season after Kareem Hunt’s release, and Mahomes’ two favorite targets are back in dynamic receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. The defense got a bit of a facelift with the addition of pass rusher Frank Clark and safety Tyrann Mathieu. ABOUT THE JAGUARS (2018: 5-11, LAST IN AFC SOUTH): Jacksonville moved on from quarterback Blake Bortles and brought in Nick Foles to try to mitigate the turnovers that derailed them last season, when they coughed it up 29 times. They also added former Chiefs receiver Chris Conley, who along with Marqise Lee and Dede Westbrook could stabilize the passing game needed to complement running back Leonard Fournette. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, defensive ends Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue, and linebacker Myles Jack anchor a defense that again figures to be one of the league’s best. The Chiefs have scored 25 or more points in an NFL-record 21 consecutive regular-season games. The Chiefs have won four straight meetings, including a 30-14 home victory last October. Take Kansas City on the highway as today’s best bet. |
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09-08-19 | Rams v. Panthers | Top | 30-27 | Win | 100 | 3 h 49 m | Show |
Rams The Los Angeles Rams begin their quest for a third consecutive NFC West title - and a second straight trip to the Super Bowl - when they open on the road against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers hope to get back to the playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons after missing out last year. It’s a matchup of two of the NFL’s top rushing attacks as star running back Todd Gurley helped the Rams rank third in the league in rushing a year ago, while quarterback Cam Newton and versatile back Christian McCaffrey gave the Panthers the No. 4 ground game. Gurley should be fresh - like most of the Rams’ starters - as he didn’t play a snap in the preseason and will be seeing his first live game action Sunday. Carolina might consider that strategy next season after Newton suffered a sprained foot during the preseason that threatened to keep him out of the opener. ABOUT THE RAMS (2018: 13-3, FIRST IN NFC WEST): Los Angeles boasts one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses as Jared Goff emerged as an elite quarterback in 2018, passing for 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns to complement Gurley. Goff is surrounded by a talented receiving corps led by Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks, a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in 2018. Veterans Clay Matthews and Eric Weddle were added to a defense anchored by back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who led the league in sacks (20.5) and tackles for loss (25) last season. ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2018: 7-9, THIRD IN AFC SOUTH): The fate of Carolina’s season likely rests on the health of Newton, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason. If he is able to play to his full potential, the Panthers have plenty of talent around him to put up big offensive numbers, including McCaffrey and young receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. The defense will have a new look, featuring more 3-4 lineups, but veteran linebacker Luke Kuechly is still the centerpiece after collecting at least 100 tackles in seven straight seasons. Take the Rams on the road. |
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09-07-19 | LSU v. Texas +7 | Top | 45-38 | Push | 0 | 9 h 31 m | Show |
Texas Texas thinks it's ready to jump back into the conversation for a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff, and LSU is in a similar position. One team will take a big step toward proving it belongs at the top of the NCAA rankings when the sixth-ranked Tigers visit the ninth-ranked Longhorns on Saturday. LSU unveiled a new spread offense in the opener against Georgia Southern to go with its customary fearsome defense and will attack Texas with a unit that piled up 472 yards in a 55-3 drubbing. ABOUT LSU (1-0): Burrow went 23-of-27 passing for 278 yards and five TDs and 14 different players recorded at least one catch in Week 1, and spreading the ball around is key to the offensive system the team is implementing. ABOUT TEXAS (1-0): Ehlinger completed 28-of-38 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in the opener but knows he is facing a Tigers secondary on Saturday that might be one of the best in the country. Texas is the play plus the points. |
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09-07-19 | Nebraska -4 v. Colorado | Top | 31-34 | Loss | -109 | 5 h 33 m | Show |
Nebraska Season-opening college football games can often drive coaches crazy even when their teams win by reasonably comfortable margins, and such was the case this week for Nebraska's Scott Frost and Colorado's Mel Tucker. The 25th-ranked Cornhuskers hope to avenge last year's painful season-opening loss to the Buffaloes on Saturday when they visit Colorado in a battle of former Big 12 arch-rivals. Nebraska entered the second year of the Frost era with huge expectations thanks to potential Heisman Trophy candidate Adrian Martinez. Colorado’s defense is reeling after Colorado State had 505 yards of total offense to the Rams in the highest-scoring contest between the teams in the rivalry's 91-game history. ABOUT NEBRASKA (1-0): The Cornhuskers' defense forced five turnovers and combined with the special teams to score three times in the first 15-plus minutes of the second half, including a 38-yard interception return from Eric Lee Jr. ABOUT COLORADO (1-0): Sophomore Alex Fontenot carried 19 times for 125 yards and three TDs against Colorado State, becoming only the fourth running back in school history to score at least three touchdowns in his first start. Nebraska outgained the Buffaloes 565-395 last season, but three turnovers and 11 penalties - including a late personal foul on third-and-24 with about a minute remaining - led to Shenault's 40-yard TD catch on the next play led to Colorado's 33-28 victory. Nebraska gets revenge here. |
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09-07-19 | Texas A&M +17 v. Clemson | Top | 10-24 | Win | 100 | 5 h 32 m | Show |
Texas A&M Top-ranked Clemson faces what figures to be one of its biggest challenges of the season when No. 11 Texas A&M visits Death Valley on Saturday afternoon. Clemson is looking for its third straight win over the Aggies, including a thrilling 28-26 win last year at Texas A&M. The Aggies had little trouble dispatching Texas State in their season opener, blasting the Bobcats 41-7 at home, but now they have to go on the road to one of the toughest places to play in the nation. The Tigers rolled to a 52-14 win over Georgia Tech last week. ABOUT TEXAS A&M (1-0): The Aggies showed off a potentially explosive — and balanced — offense last week, as Kellen Mond passed for 194 yards with three touchdowns and one interception and both Isaiah Spiller and Jashaun Corbin went over 100 yards rushing. Fisher hopes to establish the run in order to prevent Clemson’s talented defensive line from “pinning back their ears” and wreaking havoc in the pass rush. ABOUT CLEMSON (1-0): The Tigers racked up 632 yards of total offense against Georgia Tech despite a subpar game from Lawrence, who was 13-of-23 for 168 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Texas A&M has compiled at least 400 total yards in six consecutive games and 11 of 14 under Fisher. Texas A&M gets the cover at Clemson. |
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09-03-19 | Giants v. Cardinals -1.5 | Top | 0-1 | Loss | -140 | 9 h 19 m | Show |
Cardinals (run line) Even playing five games over a span of 52 hours couldn’t slow down the surging St. Louis Cardinals, who went 4-1 during the marathon stretch. The Cardinals look to settle back into their routine Tuesday when they continue their four-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants. Adam Wainwright tossed seven scoreless innings and Carlos Martinez recorded his 17th save in 20 chances in Monday’s 3-1 victory as St. Louis won for the 10th time in its last 12 contests and remained three games ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central with 25 games remaining. PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Dereck Rodriguez (5-7, 5.49 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (8-7, 3.31) Rodriguez struggled in his final two starts last month, allowing a total of 11 runs and 14 hits over nine innings. The 27-year-old son of Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez has shuffled between the Giants and the minors this season and owns a 51-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 games (13 starts) at the major league level. Rodriguez faced the Cardinals twice last season and posted a 4.26 ERA across 12 2/3 innings. Flaherty saw his four-game win streak come to an end Wednesday after giving up three runs (two earned) over six innings in a 4-1 loss to Milwaukee. The 23-year-old native Californian has been outstanding since the All-Star break, recording a 0.98 ERA in 10 starts covering 55 1/3 innings. Lay the run and a half with the Cardinals. |
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09-03-19 | White Sox v. Indians -1.5 | Top | 6-5 | Loss | -148 | 9 h 44 m | Show |
Indians (run line) The Cleveland Indians rebounded after a tough series in the Sunshine State with an easy victory and look to build on that momentum when they host the fading Chicago White Sox for the second of a four-game set on Tuesday. The Indians, who were outscored 21-8 while being swept in three games at Tampa Bay, pounded out 11 hits on the way to an 11-3 victory in the series opener Monday night. PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Cease (3-7, 6.92 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (10-2, 2.72) Cease struggled through the worst start of his career Thursday when he allowed eight runs on 10 hits over two innings in a 10-5 loss to Minnesota. The 23-year-old Georgia native had completed at least five innings in his first nine major-league turns before serving up at least one homer (two on Thursday) for the 10th straight outing. Cease faces Cleveland for the first time in his young career and is 1-3 with a 6.43 ERA in four road starts this year. Clevinger was dominant in his last trip to the mound Thursday at Detroit while permitting four hits over eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. The 28-year-old has given up one run combined with 28 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings in his last three starts and not surrendered a homer in the past five outings. Abreu is 5-for-21 with two homers against Clevinger, who gave up one hit over seven scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in a no-decision April 1 versus the White Sox. Lay the run and a half with the Indians. |
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08-31-19 | Virginia -2.5 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 30-14 | Win | 100 | 8 h 12 m | Show |
Virginia Virginia was picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Coastal division in each of the previous five seasons, but a surprising 2018 campaign, the development of quarterback Bryce Perkins and a stacked defense has the Cavaliers the favorite to win the division this season. However, a stern test right of the gate awaits in the opener Saturday when Virginia visits defending division champ Pittsburgh. ABOUT VIRGINIA (2019: 8-5): The offense averaged 28.5 points last season - most since 2004 - and 385 yards - most since 397 in 2012 - but must replace running back Jordan Ellis (1,026 yards, 10 touchdowns) and receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (93 receptions, 1,058 yards); junior PK Kier (82 yards) and Hasise Dubois (52 catches) are the top returning run and catch threats. Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall inherited a team that surrendered 32.2 points and 412 yards per game in 2015, but he has eight starters returning to a team that yielded just 20.1 points - 21st in FBS - and 331 yards per game. ABOUT PITTSBURGH (2019: 7-7): Pickett, who will take orders from new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple this season, completed 58.1 percent of his passes but his 180 completions were good for only 1,969 yards, and he was 4-of-16 for eight yards in the ACC Championship game against Clemson. This is the first time since the ACC went to two divisions in 2005 that the Cavaliers have been the media's preseason pick to win the division. Play Virginia on the road. |
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08-30-19 | Utah State v. Wake Forest -3.5 | Top | 35-38 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 6 m | Show |
Wake Forest Wake Forest surged to a winning season and a bowl victory with Jamie Newman playing quarterback down the stretch in 2018, and the junior will begin this season as the starter for the Demon Deacons in Friday’s opener at home against Utah State. Newman stepped in when Sam Hartman was lost to a leg injury and directed the Demon Deacons to victories in three of the final four games, winning MVP honors in the Birmingham Bowl after accounting for four touchdowns. The Demon Deacons will have the luxury of Cade Carney returning at running back after rushing for 1,005 yards a season ago. ABOUT UTAH STATE (2018: 11-2): The Aggies return nine starters on offense but none are more valuable than Love, who passed for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns last season while winning Mountain West offensive player of the week five times. Senior Gerold Bright returns after rushing for 888 yards and 10 touchdowns a season ago. ABOUT WAKE FOREST (2018: 7-6): Newman finished with 1,083 yards passing and nine touchdowns in six games a season ago, adding four rushing touchdowns and 247 yards on the ground. Sophomore receiver Sage Surratt (14.2 years per catch, four touchdowns) leads the returners at receiver. Wake Forest used 588 yards of total offense to beat Utah State 46-10 at home in 2017. Wake Forest gets the win and cover at home. |
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08-24-19 | Florida -7 v. Miami-FL | Top | 24-20 | Loss | -105 | 32 h 13 m | Show |
Florida Football fans in Florida are all abuzz with the renewal of the Miami-Florida rivalry, which kicks off the college football season Saturday night at Camping World Stadium in neutral Orlando. But fans in that state won't be the only ones watching as the matchup between programs trying to claw their way back into championship contention will be on the national stage as they introduce the 150th college campaign. Miami is also quite familiar with the glare of the spotlight and the Hurricanes are desperate for a turnaround of their own with former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz taking over the helm following a forgettable season that ended with the abrupt retirement of coach Mark Richt. Diaz's first order of business was settling on a quarterback after years of turmoil at the position and redshirt freshman Jarren Williams surprisingly emerged as the starter ahead of Ohio State transfer Tate Martell and last year's sometimes starter N'Kosi Perry. The Gators' resurgence was largely because of Mullen's success resurrecting a lifeless offense, beginning with the development of young quarterback Feleipe Franks, who took control of the starting job as a redshirt sophomore and threw for 2,457 yards and 24 touchdowns with only six interceptions. The Gators wound up totaling at least 400 yards in their final four games and scoring 40-plus points in their final three. Lay the number with Florida. |
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08-10-19 | Braves -1.5 v. Marlins | Top | 6-7 | Loss | -135 | 6 h 39 m | Show |
Braves (run-line) Ronald Acuna Jr. continues to establish himself as one of the biggest stars in the majors entering Saturday’s contest at the Miami Marlins - an opponent the Atlanta Braves' 21-year-old outfield has dominated through the first two seasons of his big-league career. Acuna went 3-for-5 with two homers and four RBIs in Friday’s 8-4 victory, lifting his average to .339 while increasing his totals to 14 homers, 32 RBIs and 28 runs scored in 32 career games against the Marlins. PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.45 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-10, 4.50) Alcantara is mired in a rough seven-start stretch during which he is 0-4 with a 6.81 ERA with 10 homers allowed in 38 1/3 innings, and Miami had lost six of those outings. The 23-year-old gave up two runs on three hits over five innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader Monday at the New York Mets, walking three and striking out four in a no-decision. Alcantara, who has surrendered six or more runs in three of his past seven outings, walked five against the Braves on April 6. Braves are 13-0 in Sorokas last 13 starts vs. a team with a losing record. Lay the run and a half with Atlanta. |
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08-09-19 | Yankees -1.5 v. Blue Jays | Top | 2-8 | Loss | -105 | 7 h 19 m | Show |
Yankees (run line) Gio Urshela and the New York Yankees followed a familiar formula as the former's second consecutive multi-homer performance helped extend his team's winning streak to a season-high nine games. New York has recorded multiple homers in a campaign-best seven straight contests heading into the second of a four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH J.A. Happ (9-6, 5.24 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Sean Reid-Foley (1-2, 2.49) Reid-Foley fell to 1-1 in two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo after yielding four runs (one earned) on four hits in as many innings of Sunday's 6-5 setback at Baltimore. The 23-year-old has struggled with his control in back-to-back outings, surrendering four walks in each to drive up his pitch count. Reid-Foley issued three free passes in two innings of a no-decision versus the Yankees on June 24 and seven combined while posting a 1-1 mark in a pair of uneven performances against the club last year. Lay the run and a half with the Yankees. |
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06-27-19 | Dodgers -1.5 v. Rockies | Top | 12-8 | Win | 100 | 9 h 4 m | Show |
Dodgers (run-line) The Los Angeles Dodgers own the best record in the major leagues and have turned the National League West into a runaway as they prepare to square off with the Colorado Rockies for the second time in a week. After losing two of three at division rival Arizona, the Dodgers resume their seven-game road trip with the first of four in Colorado on Thursday night. Los Angeles is 12 games clear of the second-place Rockies in the division and have won 11 in a row in the series, improving to 6-0 this season with a three-game sweep -- all via walk-off wins -- in Colorado last weekend. The Dodgers lost for only the second time in nine games Wednesday despite Cody Bellinger's 26th homer, which surpassed his total from last season. Colorado is sitting near the top of the tightly bunched wild-card chase after completing a 5-4 road trip with a 6-3 victory in San Francisco on Wednesday. PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (8-1, 2.96 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Peter Lambert (2-0, 5.85) Lambert has not had an easy introduction to the majors, facing the Chicago Cubs twice and set to take on the Dodgers for the second time in six days as he prepares to make his fifth career start. The 22-year-old Californian did not factor in the decision in Los Angeles after giving up three runs and seven hits over five innings. That followed an ugly performance in which Lambert was hammered for eight runs and nine hits in three frames against San Diego. Look for the Dodgers bats to do more than enough to win by 2 or more runs. |
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06-12-19 | Pirates v. Braves -1.5 | Top | 7-8 | Loss | -106 | 8 h 31 m | Show |
Braves (run-line) The Atlanta Braves have cranked up the power through their first two contests of a four-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and look to keep the longballs flying entering Wednesday’s matchup. The Braves have hit 10 homers in winning the first two games of the series and belted five in each contest, riding two homers and four RBIs from catcher Brian McCann in Tuesday’s 7-5 victory as Atlanta hit back-to-back blasts twice in the second inning. The Braves have hit 23 homers while winning eight of their first 10 games in June, the Pirates fell to 6-16 in their past 22 games and have allowed 7.3 runs per game in that span. PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Mitch Keller (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Soroka (7-1, 1.38) Soroka is fashioning a Cy Young-worthy season through his first 10 starts, leading the National League in hits per nine innings (5.5) while ranking second in ERA and WHIP (0.87), and fifth in WAR for pitchers (2.6). The 21-year-old gave up a season-high three earned runs in a victory against Detroit on June 1, and responded by giving up one run on three hits over eight-plus innings Friday at Miami to win his seventh consecutive decision. Soroka has held opposing hitters to a .172/.250/.220 slash line, a .470 OPS, and overall has surrendered just 14 runs across 65 1/3 innings. Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15 and are 0-5 in their last 5 road games. Braves are 12-3 in their last 15 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30 and are 8-0 in Sorokas last 8 starts vs. a team with a losing record. Lay the run and a half with the Braves. |
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06-10-19 | Warriors +2 v. Raptors | Top | 106-105 | Win | 100 | 10 h 40 m | Show |
Warriors The Golden State Warriors are not quite as invincible as they have seemed in the past and are on the verge of falling in the NBA Finals for the second time in four years. The Toronto Raptors can close out the best-of-seven series and earn the first title in franchise history when they host the Warriors in Game 5 on Monday. Golden State, which once lost an NBA Finals while holding a 3-1 lead, dropped Games 3 and 4 at home while dealing with a variety of injuries and is still not committing to putting former MVP Kevin Durant (calf) back on the court for Game 5 although he is listed as questionable after practicing Sunday. Star point guard Steph Curry is one of the few healthy players left on the Golden State roster and did everything he could with 47 points in Game 3's 123-109 loss before finishing with 27 points on 9-of-22 shooting while facing a variety of traps and double teams in the 105-92 Game 4 setback. All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry was held to 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting in Game 4 but handed out seven assists and contributed to the defensive effort against Curry with three steals. With or without Kevin Durant the Warriors step it up and get game 5. |
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06-07-19 | Raptors v. Warriors -4.5 | Top | 105-92 | Loss | -107 | 9 h 58 m | Show |
Warriors Klay Thompson will return to the lineup while Kevin Durant will again be sidelined when the Golden State Warriors host the Toronto Raptors on Friday in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Thompson (hamstring) is back from a one-game absence and Durant (calf) has yet to play in a series in which Toronto holds a 2-1 lead. Star forward Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points in the Game 3 win - his 13th 30-point outing of the postseason - as he continues to carry a franchise that now stands two wins away from its first NBA title. Guard Stephen Curry was a one-man show in Game 3 as he poured in 47 points for his sixth career playoff 40-point outing as well as contributing eight rebounds and seven assists. I look for Thompson and the Warriors role player to step up here and also play much better defense in game 4. Lay the small number with the Dubs. |
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06-05-19 | Raptors v. Warriors -4.5 | Top | 123-109 | Loss | -103 | 10 h 55 m | Show |
Warriors Shooting guard Klay Thompson hopes to be on the floor when the Golden State Warriors host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Thompson injured his left hamstring in Sunday's Game 2 victory and considers himself a game-time decision despite coach Steve Kerr listing him as questionable. I see him playing tonight. Warriors forward Kevin Durant (calf) has been ruled out for the third straight time in the series tied 1-1 and Thompson has no interest in joining him on the sidelines. Raptors star forward Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and 14 rebounds in the Game 2 loss and is averaging 28.5 points and 11 rebounds while continuing to carry the team in the postseason. Toronto let an opportunity get away in Game 2 when it shot just 37.2 percent from the field as Leonard (8-of-20), power forward Pascal Siakam (5-of-18) and point guard Kyle Lowry (4-of-11) were all missing their shooting touch. Kerr indicated that Thompson will be monitored closely leading up to Game 3 as he expects the sharpshooter will want to play no matter how he is feeling. Raptors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 2 days rest. Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NBA Championship games. The Warriors get the win and cover in Game 3 at home! |
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06-02-19 | Warriors +2 v. Raptors | Top | 109-104 | Win | 100 | 7 h 5 m | Show |
Warriors The Toronto Raptors own homecourt advantage in the NBA Finals, but it still came as a bit of a shock when they took Game 1 from the two-time defending champions. The Raptors were not among those surprised by their success and still think they can improve when they host the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 on Sunday. The Warriors are still missing superstar Kevin Durant (calf) and swingman Andre Iguodala (calf) is banged up, but the team is not in panic mode following the early loss. Stephen Curry led the way with 34 points in Game 1, Klay Thompson added 21 points and Draymond Green recorded a triple-double, but no other Warriors player reached double figures. Look for that to change here in game two. Warriors are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games following a ATS loss. Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest. Take the Warriors to bounce back here in Toronto! |
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05-25-19 | Bucks v. Raptors -2 | Top | 94-100 | Win | 100 | 9 h 48 m | Show |
Raptors The Toronto Raptors look to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday. The Raptors have won the past three contests, including a 105-99 road win on Thursday that enabled them to take a 3-2 series lead. Backup point guard Fred VanVleet scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers in the Game 5 victory and is 10-for-12 from long range over the last two games after being 2-for-11 over the first three games. The Raptors keep the momentum going and close out the series. |
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05-23-19 | Raptors v. Bucks -7 | Top | 105-99 | Loss | -109 | 8 h 15 m | Show |
Bucks The Toronto Raptors have rallied back to knot the Eastern Conference finals at 2-2 entering Thursday's Game 5 against the host Milwaukee Bucks. Toronto averaged 119 points in back-to-back triumphs on its homecourt, including an impressive 120-102 victory in Tuesday's Game 4. Star small forward Kawhi Leonard topped 30 points in each of the first three games of the series but had just 19 in Game 4 while often appearing to be hindered by a left leg injury. Milwaukee star PF Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4 for his fourth straight double-double. Milwaukee led the league in point differential this season and have managed to cover all 10 times it has walked off the floor a winner in these playoffs. Raptors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Bucks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Bucks get the cover here at home. |
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05-21-19 | Bucks -3 v. Raptors | Top | 102-120 | Loss | -109 | 8 h 10 m | Show |
Bucks The Toronto Raptors look to tie the Eastern Conference finals at 2-2 when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 on Tuesday. The Raptors ensured this would be a competitive series by recording a 118-112 double-overtime victory in Sunday's Game 3. Leonard was assigned to defend Bucks star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had just 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting and committed eight turnovers before fouling out. I look for him to have a much better game tonight. Bucks SF Khris Middleton (10.7 average in the series) and PG Eric Bledsoe (9.3) each were just 3-of-16 shooting in Game 3. They will both shoot better here in game four. Back the Bucks on the road. |
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05-18-19 | Warriors +2.5 v. Blazers | Top | 110-99 | Win | 100 | 9 h 13 m | Show |
Warriors The Golden State Warriors protected homecourt advantage despite one of their stars sitting out the first two games of the Western Conference finals and don't expect to get Kevin Durant (calf) back when the series shifts. The Portland Trail Blazers will try to get back into the series and avoid a 3-0 hole when they host the Warriors in Game 3 on Saturday. Golden State breezed to a 116-94 win in Game 1 but needed 37 points from Stephen Curry to help pull out of a 17-point hole in Game 2 and escape with a 114-111 victory. Curry and Klay Thompson are being asked to step up with Durant out of the lineup for at least two more games and combined to average 61.5 points in the first two games. Curry and Thompson outplayed Portland's star backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, who combined to go 15-of-39 from the floor in Game 2. Warriors are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss. Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win. Take the points with Golden State. |
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05-17-19 | Raptors v. Bucks -6.5 | Top | 103-125 | Win | 100 | 7 h 44 m | Show |
Bucks The top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks rallied to win the series opener and shoot to make it two straight wins over the visiting Toronto Raptors in Friday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. The second-seeded Raptors led by seven after three quarters in Game 1 before being outscored 32-17 over the final 12 minutes as the Bucks recovered for a 108-100 home spread victory. Milwaukee scored the final 10 points of Wednesday's contest and ramped up its defense down the stretch by preventing Toronto from making any of its last eight field-goal attempts. Center Brook Lopez was superb with 29 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots in Game 1 after averaging just 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in the five-game conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics. Lopez scored 13 of his career playoff-high output in the fourth quarter and he got back to playing a key role for Milwaukee. Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Bucks are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Raptors are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings. Lay the points again with the Bucks at home. |
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05-16-19 | Blazers v. Warriors -7 | Top | 111-114 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 41 m | Show |
Warriors Stephen Curry was a dominating force in the series opener and the star point guard looks to follow up his strong outing when the Golden State Warriors host the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday. Curry matched his postseason career high of nine 3-pointers and scored 36 points as the Warriors rolled to a 116-94 home win on Tuesday. In addition to shoring up their defense, Portland also needs to work on trimming down its turnovers (21 in Game 1) and improve its 3-point shooting (7-for-28). Shooting guard Klay Thompson added 26 points in the opener as Golden State played loose despite not having a cog like Durant on the floor. The Warriors were 17-of-33 from 3-point range in Game 1. Lay the points with the Warriors in game two. |
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05-15-19 | Raptors v. Bucks -6 | Top | 100-108 | Win | 100 | 9 h 33 m | Show |
Bucks Two of the best players in the league begin pursuit of an NBA Finals berth when the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks host the second-seeded Toronto Raptors in Wednesday's Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Leading MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo has dominated while helping Milwaukee get to the East finals, while Toronto's Kawhi Leonard is again a playoff star and made the decisive basket as time expired in the conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Milwaukee's four second-round victories over the Boston Celtics were by an average of 16.3 points and seven of its eight postseason wins have been by 10 or more points. The Bucks are 8-1 ATS in the playoffs. Their average scoring margin of victory in the postseason has been over 15 points per game and an incredible plus-20.5 ppg in their eight wins. Lay the points with the Bucks in game one. |
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05-14-19 | Blazers +7.5 v. Warriors | Top | 94-116 | Loss | -106 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers outlasted the Denver Nuggets in seven games in the Western Conference finals to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2000. The Trail Blazers' reward is a date with the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors, who got a few extra days to rest after knocking off the Houston Rockets in six games. All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, who clinched the first-round series win over Oklahoma City with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, went 3-of-17 from the floor on Sunday but contributed 10 rebounds and eight assists while shifting the focus of the offense to McCollum. McCollum, who averaged 32 points in the four wins over the Nuggets, went 17-of-29 from the floor in the decisive win. Golden State can point to a similar relationship between the stars in its backcourt after watching Thompson carry the team in the first half of Game 6 before Curry took over down the stretch. Warriors are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win. Trail Blazers are 27-12 ATS in their last 39 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game. Game One plays out as a close one. Take Portland plus the points. |
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05-10-19 | Warriors v. Rockets -7 | Top | 118-113 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 17 m | Show |
Rockets The Golden State Warriors own the lead in the Western Conference semifinals over the Houston Rockets, but they are about to take the court as the biggest underdog they have been during their championship run. The Warriors will try to overcome the odds and take the series without superstar Kevin Durant when they visit the Houston Rockets for Game 6 on Friday. Durant left Game 5 in the third quarter on Wednesday and was diagnosed on Thursday with a mild calf strain following an MRI, and he will not make the trip to Houston. The Rockets failed to take advantage of Durant being out of the lineup down the stretch on Wednesday and suffered a 104-99 setback, leaving them one loss away from another disappointing playoff exit. Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Conference Semifinals games. Rockets are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 home games. Lay the inflated number with the Rockets. |
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05-09-19 | Raptors -2 v. 76ers | Top | 101-112 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 15 m | Show |
Raptors The Toronto Raptors attempt to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in four seasons when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers for Thursday's Game 6 of the conference semifinals. Toronto annihilated the 76ers 125-89 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead and the 36-point margin was the largest in the Raptors' postseason history. Toronto star small forward Kawhi Leonard averaged 38 points over the first four games but only needed to contribute 21 points and 13 rebounds with Game 5 totally under control. Philadelphia center Joel Embiid (knee, illness) continues to labor and had just 13 points in Game 5, but among the team's problems were 19 turnovers that led to 31 Toronto points. Embiid is averaging just 17 points and 7.6 rebounds in the series. Power forward Pascal Siakam posted his fourth 20-point outing of the series when he tallied 25 points in the Game 5 win. Siakam was passive in Game 4 as he dealt with a calf injury and was limited to nine points on 2-of-10 shooting but was back to his high level of energy during Tuesday's victory. Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest and are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games. 76ers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 Conference Semifinals games. Raptors are 28-13-2 ATS in the last 43 meetings in Philadelphia and I look for them to close out the series tonight.
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05-08-19 | Rockets +6 v. Warriors | Top | 99-104 | Win | 100 | 9 h 29 m | Show |
Rockets The Houston Rockets have the momentum but they still have to figure out a way to win a game in the Golden State Warriors' venue. Visiting Houston won the past two games to knot the Western Conference semifinals at 2-2 entering the pivotal Game 5 matchup but the Warriors are the home club for two of the final three games. The Warriors won the first two games on their home floor but the outlook has changed after the two setbacks in Houston. Houston has knocked down 66 3-pointers in the series -- 26 more than the Warriors -- and that differential is a key reason why the Rockets feel like they can win the series. Star guard James Harden has drained 18 3-pointers while averaging 35.8 points but the play of shooting guard Eric Gordon has also been key as the veteran has made 16 3-pointers while averaging 23 points. Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are hearing more clanks than usual as they struggle throughout the series -- Curry is 12-of-46 from 3-point range in the series and Thompson is just 8-of-26. Warriors are 11-23-1 ATS in their last 35 home games. Take the Rockets plus the points. |
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05-08-19 | Celtics v. Bucks -8.5 | Top | 91-116 | Win | 100 | 7 h 55 m | Show |
Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks looks to claim a berth in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001 when they host the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in Game 5 of the conference semifinals. The Bucks haven't lost three straight games all season, which only makes Boston's comeback task tougher. Bucks MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo is clearly the best player on the floor and he had 39 points and 16 rebounds in Game 4 and is averaging 30.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the series. Another loss could be the final game in a Boston uniform for Irving, who is set to become a free agent after the season and isn't displaying any sign that he would welcome a return. Celtics are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win. I see Boston folding in the 2nd half as the Bucks get the win and cover. |
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05-07-19 | 76ers v. Raptors -6 | Top | 89-125 | Win | 100 | 9 h 36 m | Show |
Raptors The Philadelphia 76ers finally broke through in Toronto earlier in the Eastern Conference semifinals and will have to beat the Raptors in Canada at least one more time to win the series. Toronto tied it up at 2-2 with a solid 101-96 victory in Game 4 and hosts two of the final three games, including Tuesday's Game 5. Raptors star small forward Kawhi Leonard made five 3-point baskets while pouring in 39 points in Sunday's triumph and he has been unstoppable by averaging 38 points in the series with four straight 30-point efforts. Philadelphia's win in Toronto in Game 2 ended a 14-game road losing streak in the series but the biggest factor in terms of doing it again may be the health of center Joel Embiid (illness in addition to a sore left knee). 76ers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Conference Semifinals games. Raptors are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest. 76ers are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Toronto. Lay the number with the Raptors. |
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05-06-19 | Bucks v. Celtics -1.5 | Top | 113-101 | Loss | -105 | 7 h 39 m | Show |
Celtics The Milwaukee Bucks insisted after a lopsided loss in Game 1 that they didn't need to make any drastic changes and just needed to increase the aggressiveness and execution, and it turned out they were right. The Bucks will try to take a 3-1 lead in the series when they visit the Boston Celtics for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday. The Celtics were not so fond of the way the game was being called and voiced their displease after the 123-116 setback, which dropped Boston to 12-2 at home in the last two postseasons. Irving scored 26 points on 12-of-21 shooting in a 112-90 win in Game 1 but went a combined 12-of-40 from the floor in Games 2 and 3, including 3-of-13 from 3-point range. I’m looking for him to have a big game here tonight. Celtics are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Conference Semifinals games. Bucks are 5-11 ATS in the last 16 meetings. Take Boston to tie up the series tonight |
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05-05-19 | Raptors +3 v. 76ers | Top | 101-96 | Win | 100 | 3 h 23 m | Show |
Raptors The Philadelphia 76ers dropped the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals but have since taken control and have an opportunity to open a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series when they host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The 76ers rolled to a 116-95 victory in their first home game of the series on Thursday after stealing homecourt advantage with a 94-89 triumph at Toronto in Game 2. The Raptors held opponents under 100 points in six straight playoff games - winning the first five - before letting up on that end Thursday. All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry is shooting 36.1 percent from the floor in the series and slumped to seven points on 2-of-10 from the floor in Thursday's loss. I’m looking for him to step up today in Philadelphia. Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. 76ers are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. Raptors are 27-13-2 ATS in the last 42 meetings in Philadelphia and I’ll back them here in Game Four. |
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05-01-19 | Blazers v. Nuggets -4 | Top | 97-90 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 9 m | Show |
Nuggets Nikola Jokic's star continues to shine this postseason and the Denver Nuggets' big man will try to help his team take a 2-0 lead when they host the Portland Trail Blazers in Wednesday's Western Conference semifinals. The All-Star center was splendid all around with 37 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocked shots to lead Denver to 121-113 victory in Game 1. Jokic has topped 20 points in six of eight playoff games, including a 43-point effort during the first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the victory, Denver allowed 29 or more points in three of the four quarters and that didn't sit well with coach Michael Malone. He will have his defense playing better tonight. Denver Point guard Jamal Murray committed just one turnover while registering 23 points and eight assists and he has scored at least 23 in four of the past five postseason games. Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 Conference Semifinals games. Trail Blazers are 1-6-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings. I’m backing Denver again here in game two. |
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04-30-19 | Rockets +5.5 v. Warriors | Top | 109-115 | Loss | -108 | 9 h 23 m | Show |
Rockets The Golden State Warriors struck first in the Western Conference semifinals against Houston, but the Rockets came away feeling like they didn't get a fair chance. The Rockets will try to take the game out of the hands of the referees and even the series at one win apiece when they visit the Warriors for Game 2 on Tuesday. Golden State, which escaped Houston in seven games in the Western Conference finals last season, leaned on forward Kevin Durant, who scored 35 points and made several key baskets down the stretch to help hold off the Rockets. Harden ended up 13-of-14 from the free-throw lineup and scored 35 points but was 9-of-28 from the floor and 4-of-16 from beyond the arc with several of those misses coming before or after contact with a defender. Look for him to improve on that shooting tonight. Curry battled foul trouble in the second half and joined fellow All-Star guard Klay Thompson with an ankle injury that left both questionable before the game, but Durant was ready to pick up the slack. The Warriors committed 20 turnovers in Game 1, leading to 20 points. Feeling here is the Rockets come out fighting and this game two goes down to the wire. Take the points. Rockets are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Warriors are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win. |
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04-30-19 | Celtics +7.5 v. Bucks | Top | 102-123 | Loss | -105 | 7 h 50 m | Show |
Celtics The Boston Celtics delivered a stunning performance in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals and look to make it two straight wins over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Fourth-seeded Boston frustrated Milwaukee MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo and received a stellar performance from Al Horford while posting a commanding 112-90 victory in Game 1. The top-seeded Bucks shot just 34.8 percent from the field and looked nothing like the offensive juggernauts that averaged 121.8 points during the four-game, first-round sweep of the Detroit Pistons. Star forward Khris Middeton contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists but the other three starters combined for just 12 points on 3-of-17 shooting. Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 Conference Semifinals games. Bucks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Conference Semifinals games. I look for a tight game with the Bucks pulling it out but take Boston plus the large number. |
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04-29-19 | Blazers v. Nuggets -4 | Top | 113-121 | Win | 100 | 10 h 1 m | Show |
Nuggets The Portland Trail Blazers should be well-rested when they visit the second-seeded Denver Nuggets for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday, and are hoping some momentum carried over the long break. The Trail Blazers last played on Tuesday after dispatching the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games while the Nuggets needed all seven to escape the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Nuggets proved just how important home-court advantage can be when the home crowd was so loud in the final seconds on Saturday that San Antonio players could not hear their coach calling for a foul. Lillard and backcourt mate CJ McCollum carried the scoring load in the first round, but the team was able to overcome the loss of starting center Jusuf Nurkic thanks to the play of Enes Kanter, who is now dealing with his own injury. Kanter reportedly played through a separated shoulder in the Game 5 win on Tuesday and received treatment all week while practicing on a limited basis. He’ll have a tough time vs. this Denver defense in the series. Even a fully-healthy Kanter would have a difficult time dealing with Jokic, who recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 7 and averaged 23.1 points, 12.1 boards and 9.1 assists in the series. The Trail Blazers are 1-3-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Denver. The Nuggets have won six of the last eight meetings in this series. Nuggets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Nuggets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games. The Nuggets are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 vs. the Northwest. Denver gets the win and cover in game one. |
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04-28-19 | Rockets +5.5 v. Warriors | Top | 100-104 | Win | 100 | 4 h 54 m | Show |
Rockets The Golden State Warriors barely escaped the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference finals last season and limp into the rematch a round earlier and with plenty of questions to answer. The top-seeded Warriors will try to steal Game 1 and maintain homecourt advantage when they host the Rockets in the semifinals on Sunday. The Rockets have been off since Wednesday after dispatching the Utah Jazz in five games in the first round and are itching for another shot at Golden State after watching Chris Paul go down in Game 5 with a hamstring injury in the 2018 matchup and missing 27 3-pointers in a row during the decisive Game 7. Houston took three of four meetings in the regular season. Rockets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Warriors are 10-22-1 ATS in their last 33 home games. Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and I like the Rockets to cover game one. |