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This is a 10* play on Under.

How bad are the Wolverines, and how good are the Badgers? Well my guess is that Michigan isn't quite as bad as they have looked so far, and Wisconsin is getting way too much credit for beating up on Illinois in their only game of the season. Starting QB Graham Mertz threw for 248 yards and five TDs on 20-of-21 passing in his first college start, but before we hand him the Heisman we should consider the opposition. Since losing to Wisconsin, Illinois lost to unranked Purdue, and was blown out by Minnesota. The Purdue QB also put up huge numbers against Illinois, throwing for 371 yards on 83 percent passing with a pair of TDs. Mertz is set to be eligible to play after recovering from Covid, but he wouldn't have had any practice over the last two weeks. His backup is also recovering from Covid, which could set up a chance for the third stringer to come into play. The listed total was well below 50 in each of the last four head to head meetings, and they didn't score more than 51 points combined in any of those games. I expect another close, low scoring game between two conference rivals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Notre Dame Irish.

The Irish have had plenty of chances to prove themselves as an elite team, and time and time again they have failed. Their last appearance in the playoffs was a 30-3 loss to Clemson two years ago, and Trevor Lawrence threw for 327 yards and three TDs in that game. Ian Book didn't have a great game, throwing for just 160 yards, completing just 50 percent of his passes with an INT. Book is now a Senior, and he's having himself a solid season. Clemson almost lost to Boston College last week with Trevor Lawrence sidelined by Covid. This is a tough spot to ask the Tigers to cover points on the road, and a golden opportunity for an improved Notre Dame team.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Florida.

The Gators will be an underdog versus Georgia in The Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. Georgia looks like a powerhouse, but their offense has held them back. Stetson Bennett has thrown more picks (5) than TDs (2) in his last two starts, and the Bulldogs scored just 38 points in those games. Florida on the other hand has been a well-oiled machine on offense, averaging 42 points per game. Kyle Trask has thrown for 18 TDs and just two INTs this season. The Bulldogs are very good defensively, but I am not sure they can overcome such a disadvantage at the quarterback position.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

Both the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas rank near the bottom of MLS in scoring, and recent head to head meetings have been low scoring. Dallas has failed to score a goal in two of it's last three versus Houston, and the Dynamo have scored just three goals in the last three head to head matches. Dallas has gone under in each of it's last five MLS matches, while Houston has gone under in six of it's last eight overall. It's tough to see these teams combining to score more than three goals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Wyoming.

Both these teams come into their season opener in the Mountain West with high expectations, but Nevada has been rocked by a recent scandal and a death in the family. Head coach Jay Norvell has been away from the team after the death of his father, and a star defensive tackle has been arrested for sex crimes involving children. Needless to say, Chris Green who was projected to be the starting nose tackle has been suspended from the team. The Wolfpack could use all the help they could get on a defense that allowed over 30 points per game in conference play last season. The Cowboys won 31-3 at home versus Nevada last season, and they are 4-0 ATS in the last four head to head meetings dating back to 2012. Wyoming should be in good shape coming off an eight win season and bringing back QB Sean Chambers who is 9-2 as a starter.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on AC Milan.

Celtic will be the home team in Thursday's Europa League clash versus Italian Giants AC Milan, but there won't be any fans in attendance. Milan currently sits top of the table in Series A, while Celtic sits second in the Scottish League coming off a 2-0 loss to Rivals Rangers. Celtic will be shorthanded for this match. Scotland international James Forrest and young winger Mikey Johnston are both out with injuries. Midfielder Ryan Christie, Israel international Nir Bitton and defender Hatem Abd Elhamed all tested positive for Covid-19, and it's almost certain they won't be available to face Milan. Celtic has lost four of their last five versus Milan, and I expect history to repeat itself here on Thursday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Over.

The Dodgers powered past Tampa by a score of 8-3 in Game 1, and we continue to see balls leave the yard in Texas. The pitching matchup for Game 2 features a pair of starters who have been hit relatively hard of late.

Blake Snell will toe the rubber for the Rays, and he's given up seven runs on 15 hits in 14 innings in his last three starts.

The Dodgers hand they ball to Tony Gonsolin, who has allowed 11 runs on 12 hits over 12 1/3 innings in his last three appearances.

These two teams have gone over in five straight meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

The Merseyside Derby has been very one-sided for decades, but this Saturday's match between Liverpool and Everton is a little different. So far it's Everton sitting top of the table in the Premier League, and they have scored 12 goals in just four matches. The defending champions have struggled on defense so far, allowing 11 goals in four matches. They haven't had any trouble scoring goals, with 11 in four matches. I am going to go out on a limb and predict an exact score of 2-2.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Cleveland.

There is a lot of talk about how good the Colts are on defense, and we will find out just how good they really are this week. Their stats are skewed afte playing teams with a combined record of 5-11. I don't think Indy has any business being a road favorite at a 3-1 Cleveland team that is 2-0 at home and has averaged 31 points per game this season. The Browns running game has been dominant, unlike any team that the Colts have faced this season. Baker Mayfield takes a lot of flack for throwing a lot of picks, but let me tell you he has a long way to go to catch up to Phillip Rivers. Rivers has thrown three INTs in four games so far, and he's struggled to protect the football his entire career. In fact, he's thrown 201 INTs in 232 career starts. He's averaged an INT per game over the last three seasons.

Take CLE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYY.

The Bronx Bombers crushed the presumptive AL Cy Young winner in Game 1, and they have all the momentum heading into Game 2.

Masahiro Tanaka will toe the slab for New York, and he's had a solid September. Tanaka is 3-2 with a 3,62 ERA in his last five starts.

The Indians hand the ball to Carolos Carrasco, who had a losing record at home during the regular season. He was 2-3 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts.

Perhaps Carrasco was hurt by a lack of run support, but that has been a theme all year for the Indians. Cleveland's team batting average of .228 is the worst of any team in the playoffs.

The Yankees are 11-3 in their last 14 playoff games as a favorite.

Take NYY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Wake Forest.

After losing 44-10 to Wake Forest last year, some might call this a revenge spot for the Wolfpack. I would respond by pointing out that NC State has actually lost three straight meetings dating dating back to 2016, and they have a big advantage heading into this Week 2 meeting. After spring practices were cancelled because of Covid-19, the Wolfpack had their season opener cancelled as well. Wake Forest has the benefit of playing the #1 ranked Clemson Tigers last week, and they can take several positives from that games. They appear to be solid at quarterback, with 293 passing yards with a TD and no INTs against the tough Tigers defense. The Wolfpack are 0-6 ATS in their last six conference games, and the Demon Deacons are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games as a road underdog.

Take WAKE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Over.

The Nuggets are a ratings nightmare for the NBA, denying everyone the Clippers vs Lakers Western Conference Final that we waited for all season. Not only did they come back and win three straight after trailing the Clippers 3-1 in the series, they trailed by double digits in Game 7. The Nuggets shot over 49 percent from the field in Game 7 versus the Clippers, but it's hard to imagine they won't be set up for a let down in Game 1 versus the Lakers. After defeating the Jazz in a low scoring Game 7 in the first round, they lost Game 1 of their series versus the Clippers by a score of 120-97. Other than two low scoring Game 7s, Denver has seen 10 of their 12 playoff games go over the total of 210. The Lakers are averaging over 114 points per game in these playoffs, and the over is 20-7-2 in their last 29 meetings versus Denver.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Under.

The Stars lead the series 2-1, and we have seen all three games go under the total. Both goalies have recorded shutouts, and another low score is expected in Game 4. Here is what I said prior to Game 2: "The Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars were each lighting up the scoreboard just last week, but as they have advanced to the conference finals the trend of high scores has faded. The Knights offense cooled off in a big way against Vancouver, and they could only manage 2 goals on 130 shots against Vancouver's backup goaltender Thatcher Demko over a four game span. If you take away the empty net goals they scored in Game 7, they have scored just one goal in their last three games overall. They have gone under in five of their last six Conference Finals games, and the under is 21-7-1 in the Golden Knights last 29 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 days situation."

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse

This is a 10* play on Colorado.

The Avs entered this series as roughly a 2-1 favorite, but Dallas looked like the better team winning three of the first four games. Goaltending has played a key role in this series, and after losing their starter, Colorado's second string netminder struggled. Michael Hutchison is the third string goalie, a 30 year old veteran with experience playing for Toronto and Columbus. His play has turned this series on it's head, and now the Stars are on the ropes. The top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov have tallied just one point in the last two games. I like Colorado to complete the comeback.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

    

This is a 5* play on Vancouver.

The Canucks were shutout in a 3-0 loss in Game 3, and they failed to rally to tie the series in Game 4. Here is what I said before this series started: "The Canucks dispatched of the defending Stanley Cup champions in six games, and now they are a big underdog in their second round series versus Las Vegas. Vancouver gives us every reason to expect this to be a competitive series. The Golden Knights have won six of their last seven versus Vancouver, but four of those wins came in games decided by just one goal."

Take VAN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Portland.

Real Salt Lake may not have the luxury of focusing on football in this match, as the club is mired in controversy. Dell Loy Hansen (club owner) made the following comments about the players decision to boycott their last match: "It's taken a lot of wind out of my sails, what effort I want to put into recruiting players and building a great team," Hansen said. "It just seems that's not a very good path to take." His criticism of the players has not been well received, and he is now facing an MLS investigation into alleged racist remarks. Players are demanding he sell the team. They will be on the road at Portland, facing the champions of the MLS is Back Tournament in Portland.

Take the Timbers.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB.

The Lightning fell behind by a score of 3-0 early in Game 1, and then they dominated the rest of the game. Their rally fell short, losing by a score of 3-2. History favors the Lightning, as the Bruins are 3-11 in the last 14 meetings. "When you shrink the game to 40 minutes, it's going to be tough on you," coach Jon Cooper said. "I liked a lot of the way our game progressed, but if we're not going to manage the puck the way we did for much of the Columbus series, it'll be tough for us. You can't start games the way we did. It put us on our heels and shortened the game." These teams met in the playoffs two years ago, and Boston won Game 1 of that series. The Lightning went on to win four straight winning the series in five games.

Take TB.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 5.5.

Both the first two games of this series went over the total, and the Stars have gone over in four of their last five overall. Joe Pavelski (Dallas) and Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado) are tied for the playoff goal scoring lead. The Avs have gone over in each of their last five games, and losing their starting goaltender isn't going to help. Phillip Grubauer was among the league leaders with a GAA of 1.87 this post-season, and his replacement Pavel Francouz has been lit up since stepping in. The over is 9-3-1 in the Avs last 13 Conference Semifinals games, and there is every reason to expect Game 3 to look a lot like Games 1 & 2.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under 9.

After both of the first two games of this series went under, Game 3 on Sunday afternoon is shaping up to be a real pitcher's duel.

Dylan Bundy will toe the slab for LA, and he's already beat Oakland twice this season. He went 13 2/3 innings, allowing one run on seven hits with 17 strikeouts in those games.

The A's hand the ball to Frankie Montas, who is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in three home starts. One of those games was against LA, and he went only four innings, allowing a run on three hits with five strikeouts.

The under is 10-4 in the Athletics last 14 games following a loss.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Bayern Munich.

I've been calling Bayern Munich the best team in Europe since the return to play back in May. They have certainly looked the part, winning their last three Champions League matches by a combined score of 15-3. Their 8-2 win over Barcelona will not soon be forgotten. Paris has taken a much different path, needing to rally with two late goals to escape what looked like a sure defeat to Atletico Madrid. Simply put, it seems that Bayern is in a class of it's own, and Paris is unlikely to match them.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Lakers.

So far there have been plenty of surprises in the bubble so far, and several teams have seen their stock rise and fall. The Lakers came in as consensus favorite, but failed to impress. Portland on the other hand won six of eight games, and then won their play in game against Memphis. This has people calling them a dark horse candidate to win it all. I can't say I was all that impressed with wins over Memphis, Dallas and Philly by three, and a one point win over Brooklyn. The Nets and the Grizzlies effectively shut down Damian Lillard in the fourth quarter, and now the Blazers face a well rested Lakers team. Game 1 looks like a classic let down spot for Portland.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Real Madrid +1.

I had Real Madrid in the first leg, and here is what I said prior to that match: "Manchester City will head into the first leg of this Champions League tie looking to survive with a chance to win the second leg at home at the Etihad in March. Real Madrid is undefeated at home in domestic competition, and they are also undefeated at home in the Champions League. Real Madrid has won this competition seven times, while Manchester City has suffered many disappointments. Madrid is in first place in Spain, with a +26 goal differential, while the Citizens are just the second best team in the Premier Leaague. It will be quite tough for City to come away with a win here, but a close loss with an away goal would still be a solid result."  Now that City has a lead on aggregate as well as away goals, they can sit back and play for a draw. The problem is that City isn't a team designed to play defense, and that leaves them vulnerable to an upset.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

It was supposed to be an all Manchester Final in the FA Cup (according to the bookmakers), but Chelsea and Arsenal each recorded upsets in the semi finals. Neither of these two clubs are among the top defensive teams in England. Chelsea conceded 54 goals this season, while Arsenal conceded 48. David Luiz broke a Premier League record, conceding the most penalties in a season (5). These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over 2.5 in four of their last five matches. Three of those games saw 4+ goals combined.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Portland Timbers.

After winning their first two games of the group stages, Portland played a 2-2 draw against an LAFC team that was by far the best in MLS last year. They face Cincinnati in this elimination game Tuesday, and Cinci bounced back with a pair of wins after getting blown out by a score of 4-0 in their opening match versus Columbus. This Cincinnati team finished last year with the worst goal differential in MLS (-44). That's twice as bad as the second worst Vancouver (-22). I am not reading too much into their wins against a shorthanded Atlanta team and a Red Bulls squad that outshot them 19-4.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under 4.5.

Darren Till has only fought five full rounds once in his career, when he defeated Wonderboy by decision. He's fighting a much bigger, much harder hitting Robert Whittaker here tonight. His last fight was a win by decision over Kelvin Gatselum, but he had previously lost to Jorge Masvidal and Tyronne Woodley, both of those fights ending in the secondf round. Till should know his best chance to win this fight is to finish Whittaker early, and he has a reputation as a finisher. He has 21 career fights, and only seven of those contests went the distance. Whittaker has 26 career fights, and 18 of those were decided before the final bell.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Manchester United.

The hottest team in England right now is Manchester United. The come into Sunday's FA Cup Semi Final versus Chelsea undefeated in their last 19 matches in all competitions. They have had Chelsea's number winning four of the last five meetings, with one draw. Chelsea has also been moving up the table since the restart, but they have looked awfully sloppy at times. They have lost twice in their last five matches, falling 3-0 to Sheffield United, and 3-2 to West Ham. While Chelsea has a one point lead in the Premier League standings, the goal differential tells a different story. Manchester United is +28 compared to Chelsea's +15.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Leicester.

AFC Bournemouth is facing relegation, so you would think they would have plenty of motivation. That would be true in most circumstances, but with the return to play during a global pandemic, not everyone is putting top priority on football. Given that they have just four matches remaining all against challenging opponents, their chances of avoiding relegation appear to be slim to none. They are winless in their last nine matches, and the only reason they salvaged a draw against Spurs the other day was due to a poor call from VAR. Harry Kane should have had a penalty in the first half, but for some reason VAR controversially ruled no penalty. Leicester is now just one point ahead of Manchester United for the final Champions League spot, so this is a must win.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Watford.

Norwich City will be relegated, there is little doubt about that. The question is who will be joining them. At the bottom of the table you have Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Watford separated by a single point. Watford is winless in their last five matches, with their last win coming by a score of 3-0 over Liverpool. They come into this match needing a win, and their opponent isn't likely to provide much resistance. Norwich has been held scoreless in five of their last six matches, and they have scored the fewest goals in the league this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Lazio

After going up 2-0 early against Atalanta, Lazio went on to lose by a score of 3-2 in their last match. Atalanta might be the only team in the Series A capable of such a stunning comeback, and the result was a major setback for Lazio's title hopes. They enter today's match sitting seven points back of first place Juventus, and that makes this a must win. Lazio is 4-0-1 in it's last five matches versus Fiorentina, and the underdogs don't have much to play for. Safe from relegation, Fiorentina might just throw in the towel against a highly motivated opponent.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Raquel Pennington.

Pennington has lost three of her last four fights, but when you take a look at the opposition it says a lot. Among those three losses was a decision versus Holly Holm, and a fifth round KO loss to Amanda Nunes. She looks to get back on track tonight against a 43 year old fighter that has lost her last two fights. The 31 year old Pennington should be in far better shape than her opponent tonight, and I expect this to be a very one sided fight.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Borussia Dortmund.

I bet on Dortmund in there first game back, and they didn't disappoint in a 4-0 win over rivals Schalke. Here is what I said prior to the match: "This looks like a mismatch on paper, when you consider Dortmund has scored more than twice as many goals (68) as Schalke (33). While momentum seems to have been lost, it might be logical to expect a team competing for the top spot in the Bundesliga to have taken their fitness more seriously during the layoff. Without fans there won't be much of a home field advantage..." This week they face Wolfsburg, and they need maximum points to keep pace with first place Bayern Munich. Wolfsburg didn't look sharp in their first game back, playing to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, but scoring the match winner in injury time versus FC Augsburg. Wolfsburg is 0-4-1 in their last five matches versus Dortmund, and they haven't scored a single goal in any of those five contests.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Bayer Leverkusen.

It's been a tough season for Werder Bremen, conceding a league worst 55 goals and sitting just one point ahead of last place SC Paderborn 07 (honeslty can't tell you anything about them).  Bremen is 0-4-1 in their last five matches, and they host a Leverkusen side that is 4-0-1 in their last five matches. Home field isn't expected to have much significance without any fans in attendance, and as I have noted in recent days, the teams competing at the top of the table are expected to have taken their fitness more seriously during the long layoff.  An additional week of training should also benefit Leverkusen.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators.

The Habs have played hard lately, but injuries have taken their toll. Despite their best efforts, they are due to miss the playoffs once again in 2020. The Predators still have a lot of work to do if they hope to reach the post-season, but they are on the right track. They are coming off back to back shutout wins over Dallas in a home and home series. The Habs have lost back to back games by a combined score of 8-1 in Florida versus the Panthers and the Lightning. Leading scorer Thomas Tatar didn't play in either of those games, and his status remains in question. It's all a little too little too late for Montreal.

Take NAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Winnipeg Jets.

I had the Jets in a recent home game against Buffalo and they came through for me. Here is what I said prior to their win over the Sabres: "The Buffalo Sabres will play their fourth game on this current road trip, looking to end a three game losing streak. It won't come easy in Winnipeg, where the Jets have won three straight. The Sabres are 5-13 in the last 18 meetings in Winnipeg, and they have lost six of their last seven versus Western Conference teams. This is a must win game for the Jets who are involved in a crowded race for the final playoff spot in the West. This is also a revenge game after losing 2-1 at Buffalo in the last head to head meeting. " A home game against Arizona in a similar spot, and I expect a similar result.

Take WPG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Hawks have been playing well lately, winning four of their last eight overall. Those wins came against two teams hit hard by injuries (Blazers and Nets). The Grizzlies have 10 more wins than Atlanta, and they are coming off an impressive win over the 1st place Lakers. Memphis is still battling for a playoff spot, and they aren't going to get caught napping here in Atlanta. The Hawks are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win. The Grizzlies have a positive point differential on the road, and I just don't think they should be an underdog here against an inferior team.

Take MEM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Dallas Renegades.

We are only 3 weeks into the XFL season, but already the Houston Roughnecks have emerged as fan favorites. It's easy to see why. They have the most potent offense in the league, scoring an XFL best 13 touchdowns. They have also conceded an XFL worst (tied) nine touchdowns. Dallas on the other hand leads the league only allowing six TDs in three games. The Renegades lost in Week 1, but starting quarterback Landry Jones missed that game. He's since stepped in and completed 72 percent of his passes for 579 yards and four TDs in two starts. I think the Roughnecks coming in here as a road favorite might be overvalued.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks.

The New Jersey Devils come into San Jose as winners of three straight, including a 2-1 home victory over the Sharks. They beat the league worst Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Tuesday, and Corey Schneider picked up his first win of the season. Schneider is now 1-6-1 with a 4.61 GAA in eight starts, and any confidence gained would be lost if he lets in an early goal in his next start. This sets up for a let down spot for the Devils as they travel across the country for a very meaningless game against the Sharks. For San Jose they are looking to snap a four game losing skid, and team leader Logan Couture will be playing in his second game back since recovering from an ankle injury. The Devils are just 4-10 in their last 14 versus the Sharks, and the home team has won four straight in the series.

Take SJS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Real Madrid.

Manchester City will head into the first leg of this Champions League tie looking to survive with a chance to win the second leg at home at the Etihad in March. Real Madrid is undefeated at home in domestic competition, and they are also undefeated at home in the Champions League. Real Madrid has won this competition seven times, while Manchester City has suffered many disappointments. Madrid is in first place in Spain, with a +26 goal differential, while the Citizens are just the second best team in the Premier Leaague. It will be quite tough for City to come away with a win here, but a close loss with an away goal would still be a solid result.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

The Kings have lost two of three since trading their leading scorer to the Vancouver Canucks. Tonight they will play their second game of a back to back at home against the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton has gone 3-2-1 without their leading scorer Connor McDavid, but he is expected to return to the lineup soon. The Oilers are just three points back of division leaders Las Vegas, but they are only three points up on ninth place Nashville. They find themselves (like most teams in the Western Conference) on the playoff bubble. With or without McDavid, this is a game that Edmonton desperately needs to win, and they couldn't ask for a more suitable opponent.

Take EDM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis was one of the league's hottest teams heading into the All Star break, winning 15 of their last 19 games. They are an underdog on the road at Sacramento tonight, and the Kings are not really in the hunt for the playoffs this season. The Kings have a controversy brewing, as the rumors are that Buddy Hield wants out of Sacramento. He's unhappy with his role coming off the bench, and believes he is a starter in the league (guess he's not familiar with Lou Williams). We can expect the visitors to be more focused here as they continue their pursuit for the post season. Memphis has more road wins than the Kings have at home, and they are a tighter unit right now. "For some reason, we didn't feel the need to try to play much defense tonight," said coach Luke Walton after losing their last game. "We couldn't stop their top guys and when we did, it just didn't feel like we had the passion and desire that it takes to win, especially on the road, in this league." It looks like Walton isn't getting his players to buy in, and that is likely going to be an issue moving forward.

Take MEM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Leipzig +0.5.

Tottenham is coming off a 3-2 win at Aston Villa, and Son Heung Min scored the winning goal in injury time. We have since learned that Son will likely miss the rest of the year with a broken arm. Already without Harry Kane, and struggling on defense, it's going to take a miracle for Tottenham to avoid crashing out of the Champions League. Jose Mourino's squad was quite fortunate to have won their last match against a bottom feeder in the Premier League. This is a huge step up in class facing a team that is competing for top spot in the Bundesliga.

Take Leipzig.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oklahoma Sooners.

The #1 ranked Baylor Bears come into Oklahoma as winners of 22 straight. They are 12-0 in the BIG12, and they are 11-0 on the road. You've got to have BIG BRASS TACKS to bet against a team that hasn't lost since November ... but sign me up! The Bears keep winning, but rarely are they blowing teams out. Four of their last five road games were single digit wins, and all five of those games came against teams that trail Oklahoma in the standings. They won by a score of 61-57 at home versus Oklahoma just a few weeks ago. The Sooners are 11-1 at home, and they won their last two home games by a combined 39 points against #13 ranked West Viriginia and Iowa State. The underdog has covered in five of the last six meetings between these two teams.

Take OKLA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers.

Portland is making a run for the post-season, which really shouldn't surprise anyone. If you have been paying attention over the last several years, you should remember that this is a team that has started slow only to dominate in the second half of the season, and then they have made plenty of noise in the playoffs. It seems like Dame Time has arrived, as Damian Lillard has scored 40+ points in six of his last nine games. It's not surprising that the Blazers have won six of their last nine games. They take on a shorthanded Miami Heat team tonight. Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro are expected to sit out tonight. The Blazers have covered in four straight home games, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games versus Miami.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco 49ERS.

The Chiefs come into Super Bowl LIV as favorites, despite the fact that San Francisco has a better record. The 49ers are statistically better both on offense and defense, and they appear to have very few weaknesses. One thing that San Francisco doesn't have is Patrick Mahomes. There is no doubt that Mahomes is the one player that is most likely to directly influence the result of this game. As difficult as it is for me to bet against Mahomes, I am more than a little concerned about just how much pressure he will be facing. The 49ers don't need a great game from their quarterback, or any single player. If their defensive line can control the line of scrimmage the way they did against Green Bay, Mahomes might not be able to save the Chiefs. Kansas City has been very impressive in these playoffs, but let's not forget that they fell into a big hole in both their wins over Houston and Tennessee. It might not be so easy to come from behind against this San Francisco team.  

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MEM@NO to go Under the total.

The first thing that comes to mind when you see the Grizzlies playing the Pelicans might be that a high score is expected. That's fair enough, as both teams rank in the Top 10 in scoring, and the bottom 10 in defense. This hasn't been lost on the bookmakers, who have set the total for this game higher than 240. Neither of these two teams have reached that number since the last time they played each other. The Grizzlies have been a completely different team over their last 13 games, going 11-2 during that span. They are now in a position to make the playoffs, and an increased emphasis on defense should be expected. These two teams have failed to reach the total in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings. The Grizzlies have gone under in seven of their last nine, and they have gone under in five straight versus New Orleans.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on (no straight sets winner).

Novak is an enormous favorite to win this Semi Final matchup versus Federer, despite the fact that Roger won in straight sets the last time they faced each other. Prior to that they met in the Wimbledon Final in an epic match that lasted four hours and 57 minutes. This match was named the greatest men's tennis match of the 2010s by Tennis Magazine. Only twice in their last five matches has a winner been decided in straight sets. I like Roger's chances for making this Semi Final interesting.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on William and Mary.

The Tribe have been the class of the CAA so far, winning six of seven games in conference play. They are an absolute juggernaut at home, and their last three home games were double digit wins over UNC Wilmington, Charleston and James Madison. They have now covered the spread in six straight home games. The Tribe won a close game at Towson last year, and in 2018 they won both meetings by double digits. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings, and I think the Tribe deserve to be closer to a double digit favorite here.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Liverpool sits 13 points clear of second place Manchester City in the Premier League standings, and they come into Thursday's game against Wolves as winners of nine straight matches in all competitions. They haven't conceded a single goal in seven straight matches. Wolves aren't an easy out at home, where they have scored 17 goals in 11 matches. Liverpool though has scored 21 goals in just 10 away matches. The last time Liverpool played on this pitch they lost 2-1 in last year's FA Cup. I expect to see at least three goals in this match.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Saint Louis Bilikens.

The Davidson Wildcats are still one of the more recognizable brands in the Atlantic-10 Conference. They have been far more successful than Saint Louis over the last decade, but so far this season there is no doubt that the Bilikens have been the better team. Saint Louis is 14-4 overall, and three of their four losses came against ranked teams. The one loss against an unranked opponent came against a Duquesne team that is on the cusp of being ranked. They are 3-2 in conference play, and both losses came against the top two teams in the conference. Most recently they lost in overtime on a buzzer beater by a score of 78-76 at home versus Dayton. These two teams split the season series in 2019, and Saint Louis won by 20+ points at Davidson. They had previous lost to the Wildcats by a single point at home earlier in 2019. I think the Bilikens should be the favorite here.

Take SLU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the 49ers.

The Packers took advantage of a banged up Seattle team at home, and they barely hung on in the second half of that game. Seattle outscored them 20-7 after halftime, and they will need to avoid another blowout loss in San Francisco. The 49ers beat them by 29 points in San Francisco earlier in the season. Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times and threw for just 104 yards on 20-of-33 passing. As much as you could call this a revenge game, the Packers might not be equipped to do anything about the ferocious San Francisco pass rush. The Packers are thin at several key positions, and they have a rookie head coach. An interesting stat to keep in mind is that over the last five seasons, seven times we've seen Conference Championship games featuring teams that played during the regular season. The team that won the first meeting has won six of those seven games.

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Connor McGregor to win in the first round.

I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but this match looks a little suspicious. Connor McGregor is still one of the biggest draws in the fight game, and there is big money to be made promoting his fights. A lot more money in a rematch versus Khabib than there is in fighting Cowboy. This looks like a set up for a bigger fight. Connor has a record of 21-4, and 13 of those 21 wins came in the first round. He's five years younger than Cowboy, and Cerrone is coming off back to back losses, both of those fights ending early. I'll take the plus money on Connor to win this fight early.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the BYU@GONZ to go Over the total.

These teams played twice last season, and Gonzaga scored over 100 points at home, and more than 90 points on the road. They won and covered in both games, and each of those games went over the total. The Cougars come into tonight's game playing great offensively, they've scored 90+ in back to back wins, and they scored 84 points in a loss to St. Mary's in their last road game. Gonzaga has gone over in six of their last seven home games, and the Cougars have gone over in five straight as a road underdog.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule.

This is a 10* play on Oregon State.

The Beavers are getting a bunch of points on the road at Washington, and history tells us that the underdog has been the play in recent meetings. These teams have gone to overtime three times in the last five head to head meetings. The underdog has covered the spread in four of those games. The Huskies are shorthanded, with their starting PG missing the last two games since being ruled academically inelligeble. Quade Green leads the team in assists, and he's the Huskies best free throw shooter and he's also their biggest threat from beyond the arc. Green isn't available until late March. The Huskies are 0-2 without him, failing to score 60 points in each of those losses. The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five head to head meetings. I'll take the points.

Take ORST.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Winnipeg Jets.

The Vancouver Canucks have been on a roll, and they are at the end of a five game road trip tonight in Winnipeg. They haven't had a lot of success in Winnipeg in recent years, losing their last eight visits. In fact the Jets have owned Vancouver, winning 13 of the last 14 meetings. This looks like a let down spot for a Vancouver team that is starting to like their own smell, and a get right game for a Jets team badly in need of a win.

Take WPG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LSU.

After being held scoreless in the first 20+ minutes in the Fiesta Bowl, the Tigers scored a pair of TDs in the final three minutes of the first half. They held the Buckeyes to just seven points in the second half, and ended up winning 29-23. They will no doubt have to play better here against LSU, but I really don't see anybody stopping Joe Burrows. LSU scored 49 first half points against the Sooners in the Peach Bowl, and they held Oklahoma to just 28 points. LSU is 5-1 ATS in their last six non-conference games, and they have covered the spread in four of their last five bowl games. The under is 13-6 in Clemson's last 19 bowl games.  The total for this game is higher than in any of Clemson's last 10 games. I like LSU to win, holding Clemson under 30 points.

Take LSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

After being held scoreless in the first 20+ minutes in the Fiesta Bowl, the Tigers scored a pair of TDs in the final three minutes of the first half. They held the Buckeyes to just seven points in the second half, and ended up winning 29-23. They will no doubt have to play better here against LSU, but I really don't see anybody stopping Joe Burrows. LSU scored 49 first half points against the Sooners in the Peach Bowl, and they held Oklahoma to just 28 points. LSU is 5-1 ATS in their last six non-conference games, and they have covered the spread in four of their last five bowl games. The under is 13-6 in Clemson's last 19 bowl games.  The total for this game is higher than in any of Clemson's last 10 games. I like LSU to win, holding Clemson under 30 points.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers will be four point favorite at home versus Seattle, and this is a game that figures to be decided in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks beat the Packers by a score of 27-24 at home last year, and the last time these two teams met in the playoffs the Seahawks won in overtime in a thriller. As much as Green Bay has the home field advantage, the Seahawks won seven of eight games on the road this season. The Seahawks are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 road games. At this point it appears that Russell Wilson is a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers, and the defense looked great in Philly last week. The Packers deserve to be the favorite, but it might be wise to take the points in a game that could go either way.

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TEN@BAL to go Under the total.

The Titans held the Patriots scoreless in the second half at Foxboro on Wild Card Weekend, and Derek Henry ran wild. Mike Vrabel will likely look to continue to pound away with his power running game, especially given the weather here in Baltimore. The Ravens are perfectly comfortable running the ball, and with both teams leaning on the run we should see the clock run. The Ravens defense held opponents to just over 17 points per game this season, while Tennessee allowed just over 20 points per game. Lamar Jackson tore up the league this year, but it remains to be seen if that success will translate in the post-season. It didn't last year, in a 23-17 loss to the Chargers. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes for 194 yards, 2 TDs and an INT. Both his touchdowns came in garbage time after the Ravens trailed 23-3 in the fourth quarter. The under is 5-1 in the Titans last six playoff road games, and the Ravens have gone under in six straight home playoff games.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Chelsea sits fourth in the Premier League table, and they come into Saturday's home fixture versus Burnley off a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. Clean sheets have been few and far between for Chelsea, and they have conceded a whopping 29 goals in 21 matches. Burnley can certainly score, they have 24 goals in 21 matches.  Chelsea hasn't been all that strong at Stamford Bridge, with just a +1 goal differential. These two teams have scored at least three goals combined in the last five head to head meetings, and they have scored at least four in each of the last three meetings.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Penguins have done just fine without the best player in the world, coming into Vegas tied for second place in the Metropolitan Division. With Crosby nearing a return, the Pens have been dealt a cruel blow. Leading scorer Jake Guentzel will be done for the season after suffering a shoulder injury at the end of December. The Penguins have since lost two of three games. Vegas is looking for a fifth consecutive home victory, and they are 14-7-3 overall at home this season. The Penguins have never won in Vegas, and the home team has won four of the five previous meetings since the Knights joined the NHL.

Take VGK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIA@POR to go Under the total.

The Miami Heat own the best home record in the NBA at 16-1. They host Portland on Sunday, and the bookmakers have the total listed sky high at 223. These teams haven't seen a total as high as 220 in any of the previous 10 head to head meetings. Only one of those games saw a total higher than 215. Both these teams come in cold, with Portland coming in as losers of five of six overall. They scored an average of 107 points in those losses, well below their season average of 112+ points per game. The Heat are coming off back to back games scoring fewer than 90 points. They scored 84 in a home win over Toronto, then followed up with just 85 points in a loss at Orlando.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TOW@UNCW to go Over the total.

The Seahawks were once the powerhouse in the CAA, but they have slipped all the way to the cellar. They will be a home underdog against Towson on Saturday, and their poor play doesn't inspire me to back them in this role. That being said, they still average over 77 points per game at home, and history suggests they will score their fair share against the Tigers. These two teams have played eight times since 2015, and all of those previous eight meetings saw a total higher than 140. Towson gave up 81 points in a loss to Charleston in their last game, and the over is 5-1 in the Tigers last six games following an ATS loss.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TOR@BKN to go Under the total.

The Raptors have been hit hard by injuries, playing without Marc Gasol, Norm Powell and leading scorer Pascal Siakam. They lost 84-76 at Miami in their last game, shooting just over 30 percent from the field. Siakam hasn't played since December 19th, and the Raptors have scored an average of 106.5 points in eight games since (well below their season average). They have also stepped up on defense during that span, and they have held opponents under 100 points in four straight games. The under is 5-1-1 in the Raptors last seven road games, and they have failed to reach the total in four of their last five in Brooklyn.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oregon Ducks.

My regular season Game of the Year was a winner with the Ducks as an underdog versus Washington. Then I bet on the Ducks again in the PAC12 Championship game, and once again they won outright as an underdog. The PAC12 doesn't get a lot of respect these days, but PAC12 teams have owned the Rose Bowl. Oregon deserves a little more respect, already going toe to toe with the likes of Auburn, USC, Washington and Utah. The Badgers played Ohio State twice this season, giving up over 70 points and losing both games. This Oregon team is a lot more like Ohio State than Michigan and Iowa.

Take ORE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 7* play on the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Arizona State comes into the Sun Bowl with a 7-5 record, but when you really look at where they got their wins, it's more impressive than one might think. This is a team that was 3-1 against Top 25 teams. The Seminoles on the other hand don't have a lot to hang their hat on, they finished with a 6-6 record, and none of those six wins were at all impressive. FSU will not have new head coach Mike Norvell for this bowl game, instead interim head coach Odell Haggins will be filling in. Leading rusher Cam Akers is sitting out, and his backup will miss the game due to injury. That leaves FSU without any running backs with any experience. James Blackman will have to carry the team if FSU is going to compete here, and he's shown little signs that he's up to the task.

Take ASU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on NYG.

If you checked last Sunday's scores, you might think that the Eagles beat the Cowboys last week? Well I watched that game quite closely, and let me tell you that Dallas beat the Cowboys. Poor decisions from head coach Jason Garrett beat the Cowboys. A boat load of dropped balls by the Dallas receivers beat the Cowboys. On a crucial 3rd and 1 late in the game, with Dallas having an opportunity to take the lead, they ran a toss to Tony Pollard that lost yards. Zeke Elliott was on the bench. Philly is a mess, banged up in the secondary and in their receiving corps. Zack Ertz has fractured ribs, and they come into New York asked to cover a bunch of points. My money is on Danny Dimes and Saquon to terrorize this Eagles team, and I think the Giants win outright.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The defending champion Clemson Tigers bring a perfect 13-0 record into their College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup versus Ohio State. The Tigers had a much softer schedule than the Buckeyes, who also went 13-0 during the regular season. Ohio State had five wins against Top 25 teams, beating Wisconsin twice, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State. Ohio State has played more big games, and has proven a lot more than this year's Clemson team that only faced two ranked teams. Clemson is a team that thrives as an underdog in big games, but the Tigers haven't fared as well when coming in as the favorite. They have failed to cover in six of their last eight when asked to cover points.

Take OSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BYU@HAWAII to go Over the total.

The Rainbow Warriors host rivals BYU in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve, and history suggests that we should see plenty of scoring in this game. Hawaii comes in with a 9-5 overall record, winning four of their final five games and ranking 6th nationally in passing. The Cougars won five of their last six games, and they scored 30+ points in four of those five wins. The last time these teams met, the Cougars won by a score of 49-23 last October. The over is 11-4 in the Rainbow Warriors last 15 games as an underdog, and they have gone over in 14 of their last 20 in the month of December.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Huskies.

The Huskies were the consensus favorite to win the PAC12 this pre-season, but their season was sent into a tail spin after losing 20-19 at home in a weather delayed game against California in Week 2. They finished 7-5, and went 1-2 against Top 25 teams. Both of their losses to ranked teams came by fewer than seven points. The Boise State Broncos were 12-1 and won the Mountain West, but didn't play a single ranked team during that span. This is the final game for Washington head coach Chris Peterson (also former Broncos coach). I like the Huskies to go out with  W in Peterson's Swan Song.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

The Spurs played Wolves twice in 2018, and they won both scoring a combined six goals in those games. Wolves wasn't an easy opponent, scoring three goals of their own in those matches. Tottenham has been scoring plenty of goals lately, with at least three goals in each of their last six matches. They have also conceded their share, allowing eight goals in their last six matches. They posted just one clean sheet during that span, in a 5-0 win over Burnley. Wolverhampton hasn't had any trouble scoring either, with two or more goals in five of their last six matches. We aren't likely to see either team post a clean sheet here on Sunday.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Cleveland Browns.

After losing 21-7 at Cleveland two weeks ago, you might call this a revenge game for the Steelers. The truth is that they might not have the personnel to compete with Cleveland. This isn't the same team that has won five of their last six overall. They will miss their leading rusher, their top wide receiver and they have a third string quarterback under center. Cleveland is now looking for a fourth straight win, and Baker Mayfield has turned his season around. He's thrown seven TD passes with just one INT in his last three starts. The Browns are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six versus Pittsburgh.

Take CLE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TULSA@VAN to go Over the total.

The Vanderbilt Comodores come into tonight's home game against Tulsa averaging over 85 points per game on better than 51 percent shooting. They have gone over the total in all six games so far this season, and tonight's total seems a little low (on the wrong side of 140). Vandy isn't quite as impressive on defense, allowing opponents to average over 70 points per game. The Comodores have gone over in nine straight non-conference games, and the over is 5-0 in their last five home games. Tulsa has scored 72 or more in five of their six games so far.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Cowboys.

During the Brady and Belichick era, no matter who the Patriots played on any given Sunday, they could always say they have the better quarterback. Now 10 games into the 2019 season, and it's a tough argument to make that Brady is better than Dak (currently). Even in a 28-24 loss to the Vikings, Prescott threw for 397 yards and three TDs. While Zeke has been underperforming, Prescott has been carrying the Cowboys. The Patriots on the other hand have had to lean on their defense, and Belichick's genius. The result has been an offense that is ranked 17th in the NFL in total yards. The Cowboys rank 1st overall in total yards. New England is tough to beat at home, but I think they are being asked to cover too many points here against a dangerous opponent.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CHI@DAL to go Over 5.5.

The Stars have won 12 of their last 14 overall, and they have been putting plenty of pucks in the net during that span. They've scored three or more goals in five straight. The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off back to back losses, but they had won four straight before that. They have gone over (5.5) in six of their last seven overall. These two teams have gone over in four of the five head to head meetings, and with both teams clicking offensively we should see another high scoring game tonight.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Chelsea +1.5.

Manchester City is coming off a devastating loss to Liverpool before the international break, a result that makes it highly unlikely that they will repeat as league champions. Chelsea now sits ahead of City in the Premier League table, and the Blues come into the Etihad as winners of seven straight league matches. Chelsea has all the momentum in their favor, while City is in a bad place at the moment. My money is on Chelsea to give the Citizen's all they can handle.

Take CHE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ATL@PHX to go Over the total.

The Atlanta Hawks are feeling good about themselves coming into tonight's game at Phoenix, coming off a 125-121 win over the Nuggets in Denver. Tre Young scored 42 points on 13-of-21 shooting in the victory. It was however the third consecutive game that the Hawks allowed their opponent to score 120+ points. Tonight they face a Suns team that ranks among the top teams in the league in scoring, but the Suns are also allowing opponents to average more than 110 points per game this season. The history tells us that these two teams have gone under in five straight meetings, and nine of the last 10 meetings. That history might be keeping tonight's number artificially low, as the last two time these two teams played they score at least 230 combined points, but failed to reach a much higher total.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on EDM@MTL to go Under the total. 

Trevor Harris ranks second in the CFL in passing, but he put up big numbers early in the season before struggling down the stretch. In his last four appearances he's thrown more INTs (4) than TDs (3). Edmonton scored just 13 points in a loss to Saskatchewan last week, and they Eskimos have averaged just 17 points per game in their last four games. They do have the CFL's #3 ranked scoring defense behind Hamilton and Saskatchewan. The under is 11-3-1 in the Eskimos last 15 road games, and the last time they played Montreal they lost by a score of 20-10.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool.

It's been clear very early this season that Liverpool is the team to beat in the Premier League. Last week City had to come from behind and score in the dying minutes to beat a Southampton side that is facing relegation. Poor defending has plagued City since the beginning of the season, as evidenced by losses to Norwich and Wolverhamton just a few weeks apart. Liverpool has the edge in the last five head to head matches (2-2-1) and Liverpool is 22-0-2 at Anfield the last two seasons.

Take Liverpool.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LSU@BAMA under 65.

The Alabama Crimson Tide haven't been tested yet, but they also haven't played anybody currently ranked in the Top 25. LSU on the other hand comes in battle tested, with a pair of wins over Top 10 teams (Florida and Auburn). The Tigers will be looking to avenge a 29-0 loss to Alabama last year, and they do have history on their side. The Tigers are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 meetings in Alabama, and the Crimson Tide are 0-5 ATS in their last five home games versus a team with a winning road record. The under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the NYG.

The Cowboys will be a huge road favorite in New York on Monday night, despite the fact that Dallas has lost three of it's last four overall. The Giants are just 2-6, but they have improved tremendously since Daniel Jones took over at QB. They are coming off four straight losses after Jones won his first two starts, but both of their last two losses came in games decided by less than seven points. Saquon Barkley was injured for two of the last four losses, but perhaps for the first time Jones will have his star running back at full strength. The Cowboys have lost two of three road games including a loss in New York to the Jets. They have no business being favored by more than a TD here.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a10* play on the Michigan Wolverines.

A lot of the Television talk show hosts will tell you that Jim Harbaugh doesn't win the big games (Colin Cowherd), but I don't think Harbaugh gets enough credit for the games he has won at Michigan. Tonight is a big game for Harbaugh, with a chance to beat a Top 10 team at home in Ann Arbor. Now I am not a big fan of the Notre Dame Irish, and their winning records against inferior opponents. The knock on Notre Dame is the same every year ... they just don't play anybody. They've faced one team currently ranked in the Top 25, and they lost 23-17 to Georgia. Now you could call that a "good loss", but unless you have a handful of "good wins" to go a long with it, then it doesn't impress me. This game also has revenge written all over it, after the Irish beat Michigan in the season opener 24-17 last year. The home team is 8-1 straight up in the last nine head to head meetings, and that trend should continue tonight.

Take MICH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers have won back to back games, and they are 3-1 at home so far. They host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, and Columbus is just 2-2 on the road. "It's 10 games -- I don't know who the hell we are," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "I like this team. I like the enthusiasm they bring. They've got to keep working at it so it becomes who we are, it becomes second nature." The Blue Jackets are 2-6 in their last eight games as an underdog of +110 to +150, while the Flyers are 13-5 in their last 18 games as a favorite.

Take PHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5 goals.

Chelsea comes into Saturday's match versus Burnley in top form, the Blues have won five straight matches in all competitions. Chelsea sits fourth in the Premier League table, and their 19 goals for are just two less than first place Liverpool. The difference is that Chelsea has also conceded 14 goals, which is twice as many as Liverpool. Recent matches versus Burnley have been high scoring, with three or more goals scored in each of the last four meetings. The last time these two teams met the result was a 2-2 draw. I fancy Burnley to get a goal here, but I don't think it will be enough to salvage any points.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Nationals.

Washington has been the better team throughout the playoffs, getting clutch hits and excellent starting pitching since day 1. The Astros are still considered the favorite after losing the first two games at home, but my money is on the Nats once again.

Anibal Sanchez will toe the slab for Washington, and while he doesn't have the same star power as names like Verlander and Greinke, he's been the more dominant pitcher in these playoffs. He came one inning away from a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLCS versus St. Louis.

The Astros hand the ball to Zack Greinke, who just hasn't been all that sharp in the playoffs. He's given up 10 runs on 15 hits in three appearances, without recording a win.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the #NYG.

The Giants are just 2-4, but they still have a shot in the NFC East, with Dallas and Philly sitting at just 3-3. The Cardinals on the other hand aren't going anywhere, with a stranglehold on last place on the NFC West. Both Daniel Jones and Kyler Murray have given their teams reason to be optimistic about the future, but Jones has showed the world why he was drafted 6th overall in the first round, and he's been more consistent than Murray. When you consider what he's had to work with, his performance is even more impressive. This week he's going to have Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram back. He's going up against an Arizona defense that ranks 30th in the NFL against the pass. While the Giants defense is stastically just as bad, they have played tougher opposition, and they have scored significantly more points of their own. This is a tough spot for an NFC West team traveling to the East Coast for an early game. All signs point to a blowout win for the Giants.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oregon Ducks.

When the Ducks lost to Auburn in Week 1, their stock was low. I was actually quite impressed with the way Oregon played for the majority of that game, and that's why I jumped on this game so early. Back in Week 2 the Huskies were considered the favorite to win the PAC12, but it's now Oregon that has emerged as the clear favorite. Justin Herbert is expected to be one of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming NFL draft, and so far he's had a fine season. Herbert has thrown for over 1600 yards on better than 75 percent passing with 17 TDs and just one INT. As good as the Ducks are offensively, it wasn't expected that Oregon would actually come into this game with the better defense. The Ducks have allowed opponents to average fewer than 10 points per game, and they have given up a total of 16 points in three games against PAC12 teams. The Ducks have double digit wins over California and Stanford, two teams that beat the Huskies outright. This line has moved a great deal, but for good reason. Oregon should win this game comfortably.

Take ORE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on AFC Bournemouth.

Norwhich City is coming off three straight losses by a combined margin of 9-1. This follows their stunning upset win over Manchester City, which appears to be an outlier, rather than the type of performance you can expect week to week. That was also a home game, and Norwich 0-4 with a -9 goal differential in away matches (worst in the Premier League). Bournemouth has a winning record with a positive goal differential in home matches dating back to last season, and this is a team that is poised to secure a spot in the top half of the table.

Take Bournemouth.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the NYY.

The Yankees are down 2-1 in the series, but they look good to level it up tonight with a favorable pitching matchup at home.

Masahiro Tanaka will go for New York, and he already shut down the Astros in Game 1. Tanaka has allowed just one run on four hits, striking out 11 batters in 11 innings.

The Astros hand the ball to Zack Greinke, who hasn't been sharp in the post season. Greinke gave up three runs on seven hits (two homers) in six innings in Game 1. He got hit even harder in a 10-3 loss to Tampa in the division series.

New York leads the playoffs in runs scored, following a regular season with the most runs scored.

Take NYY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYY@HOU to go Over the total.

We saw the Yankees win Game 1 by a score of 7-0, and after the series opener went under the total is 1.5 runs lower in Game 2. This is likely due to both recency bias, and more star power from the starting pitchers.

Both James Paxton and Justin Verlander were roughed up a little in their last starts. Verlander put 10 men on base, allowed four runs and gave up a pair of home runs in just 3 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa. Paxton went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, and also allowed two home runs in a no-decision versus Minnesota.

The Yankees led the majors in scoring in the regular season, and they leading the playoffs in scoring as well. Houston ranked 3rd in scoring during the regular season.

I'll fade the low number.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colorado Avalanche.

It's no surprise that the Avs have picked up right where they left off in last year's playoffs. Colorado upset Calgary in the first round as the 8th seed versus the #1 seed, and they took the Sharks to seven games in the second round. So far in 2019 they are 3-0, and they rank 4th in the NHL in scoring averaging 4.33 goals per game. They host Arizona tonight, and the Coyotes have lost two of three games so far. The Coyotes are 4-14 in their last 18 games as an underdog, and they are 0-8 in their last 8 games following a win. The Avalanche are 18-4 in their last 22 home games.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Washington Nationals.

The Nats turn to Max Scherzer in Game 4 of the NLDS, and I like Washington to extend the series.

It won't get any easier for LA tonight with Max Scherzer on the mound for the home team. Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three starts versus LA. The Dodgers lineup is hitting just .168 over a combined 131 at bats versus Scherzer.

The Dodgers hand the ball to Rich Hill, who was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA against the Nats this year (1 start). The Nationals lineup is batting .291 over 55 combined at bats versus Hill.

We could be witnessing another choke job from a Dodgers team that has been anything but clutch in the playoffs.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Calgary Stampeders.

The Stamps are heading to Montreal hoping to avenge an overtime loss at home to the Als in August, and they have won four straight. It's no coincidence that their winning streak started with the return of starting quarterback Bo Levi-Mitchell, who didn't play in the last game. The Stamps have won six of eight versus Montreal when Mitchell starts, and they are are 18-7-3 ATS in their last 28 games following a bye week. I love this revenge spot for Calgary.

Take CAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule