Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11-19-19 | Ohio v. Bowling Green +18 | Top | 66-24 | Loss | -107 | 35 h 41 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Bowling Green. At 4-6, Ohio needs to sweep its remaing games for a shot at Bowl eligibility. At 3-7, Bowling Green has already been eliminated. That won't stop the home side from trying to play spoiler here though. I think the Falcons do indeed use the thought of eliminating Ohio from contention as motivation today and I expect them to keep this one close until the final moments. Bowling Green comes in off a terrible 44-3 loss to Miami Ohio last week, a setback which put it out of Bowl contention. With nothing to lose though, I expect the home side to try and push the pace throughout. Ohio battled WMU and earned an OT period after it punched a last second TD in regulation. However, its hopes were then dashed in the 37-34 loss ultimately. It was the second straight loss by three points or less and I believe the mentally down-trodden Bobcats come out flat here. Key Trends: - Ohio ranks eight in the MAC allowing 432.6 YPG. - The Bobcats are a terrible 1-6 ATS in their last seven conference contests. The verdict: The Falcons are a bad team, but the overall situation highly favors them in this situatoinal spot bet in my opinion; grab the points! | |||||||
11-18-19 | Blazers +6.5 v. Rockets | Top | 108-132 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 40 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Blazers. Portland's lost three of its last five, but it comes in off a convincing full four quarter effort vs. the Spurs and I look for that momentum to get carried over here. Note that the Rockets will not have star Russell Westbrook in the line-up tonight. Overall the Blazers average 112.8 PPG. The Rockets continue to get unreal play from James Harden, but Houston gets rather thin after that. Key Trends: - Portland is already 3-0 ATS this year as a road underdog. - The Blazers are 62-47 ATS in their last 109 after one or more SU victories. - The Rockets are already 0-2 ATS this season as a home favorite in the 6.5 to 12 points range. The verdict: I think the "hungrier" team finds a way to get the job done here; grab the points! | |||||||
11-18-19 | SIU-Edwardsville +16.5 v. South Dakota | Top | 56-71 | Win | 100 | 13 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on SIU Edwardsville. SIUE came back from an 11-point second-half deficit to post a 57-55 victory away from friendly confines Saturday at Incarnate Word. Mike Adewunmi led the way with 12 points. South Dakota comes in off a relatively easy 88-69 win over Texas Southern, but I think it gets caught looking past its lowly opponent after improving to 4-0. Key Trends: - SIU Edwardsville is 7-2 ATS in its last nine road games after holding its previous opponent to 55 points or less. - South Dakota is only 5-10 ATS in its last 15 off a home win by ten or more points. The verdict: I think SIUE matches up better vs. South Dakota than what this spread would suggest; grab the points! | |||||||
11-18-19 | Ducks v. Capitals -1.5 | Top | 2-5 | Win | 115 | 12 h 39 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Capitals on the PUCK LINE. Anaheim is just 4-5 in its nine road games. The Ducks come to the Nation's capital off a rare road win over the defending champs as well, so can anyone say "letdown spot?!" Key Trends: - The Ducks average only 2.33 GPG on the road. - Washington averages 3.70 GPG. The verdict: Note that Washington goaltender Braden Holtby is 9-0-1 in his last ten games and I have a hard time seeing the Ducks mustering much of an offensive attack here. Lay the 1.5 goals and expect a blowout of epic proportions! | |||||||
11-17-19 | Bears +6.5 v. Rams | Top | 7-17 | Loss | -110 | 33 h 14 m | Show |
My 10* TOTAL U OF THE U is on the OVER Bills/Dolphins. Miami has won two in a row and it'll now look to build and to try and give the Bills a second straight loss in a row. For Buffalo, it's blazing start to the season is going to be in the rear view mirror if it can't start putting some production on the board. When these teams met earlier in the year though, it was Buffalo that laid the hammer down in the 31-21 victory and I believe a similar final combined score is on deck here as well. Key Trends: - The Bills have seen the total go over the number in six of their last eight after a loss by six points or less. - The Fish have seen the total soar over in nine of their last 12 as a home dog. The verdict: Buffalo's pissed about its last second loss in Cleveland last weekend and knows it has to get out and push the pace here. The Dolphins are riding high after a two-game win streak and Ryan Fitzpatrick and company won't be backing down either. This one could go OVER by half time! Chicago Bears +6 1/2 @ LA Rams 8:20 EST RICKY'S 10* SUNDAY NIGHT ATS 'BLOOD-BATH!' | |||||||
11-17-19 | Nuggets -6.5 v. Grizzlies | Top | 131-114 | Win | 100 | 25 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGERS is on the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets come in off a win over the Nets at home and I think they'll get the better of the home side in this one. Memphis has won three straight, but it doesn't match up well at all here vs. Denver. Nuggets' center Nikola Jokic is averaging 17.1 points, 9.1 boards and 5.8 assists per game this season. Ja Morant has been great for Memphis during this win streak, but I believe the rookie will have his hands full with Denver's Jamal Murray. Key Trends: - The Nuggets are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five vs. teams with a losing straight up record. - Memphis is still only 1-4 ATS in its last five vs. teams with winning records. The verdict: I think Memphis comes back down to Earth here after its big upset win; lay the points! | |||||||
11-17-19 | CS-Northridge +13 v. Richmond | Top | 62-90 | Loss | -110 | 22 h 28 m | Show |
My 10* MID-MAJOR MAULING is on CSUN. The 0-4 CSUN Matadors come in under the radar here and steal one comfortably ATS in my opinion vs. the Richmond Spiders. Terrell Gomez led the scoring for CS-Northridge with 23 points in a 116-70 loss to Auburn most recently. The Spiders come in content after an OT win over Vanderbilt last time out. Note that both of Richmond's victories have come in OT, meaning that the team is having difficulties closing out and it could easily be 0-2 right now as well if not for a few lucky bounces. Key Trends: - CSUN is 4-1 ATS in its last five when playing with one or less days rest. - Richmond is a terrible 6-14 ATS in its last 20 as a home favorite or pick. The verdict: I think Richmond is going to have a fight on its hands until the final moments; grab the points! | |||||||
11-16-19 | Hawks +13 v. Clippers | Top | 101-150 | Loss | -115 | 28 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE is on the Atlanta Hawks. Paul George is out for this one for the Clippers, so the Kawhi Leonard/George first game together is going to have to wait a little longer. The Clippers are only 7-5 and the Hawks are just 4-7. The Hawks are short-handed, but they still have Trae Young and I look for desperate Atlanta to try and take advantage of a Clippers team which also enters without key pieces. Key Trends: - Atlanta is 50-30 ATS in its last 80 after allowing 105 points or more in three straight games. - LA is just 7-13 ATS in its last 20 off an upset loss as a favorite. The verdict: I expect a hard-fought game which gets decided in the closing moments. As such, grab as many points as you can! | |||||||
11-16-19 | St Bonaventure +7.5 v. Rutgers | Top | 80-74 | Win | 100 | 25 h 59 m | Show |
My 10* BEST OF THE BEST is on St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies are 0-3 to open the year, while the Scarlet Knights are 3-0. Note though that Rutgers does not actually have the true "home court advantage" here, as this game is being played in Toronto as part of the James Naismith Classic tournament. The Bonnies enter off a 78-65 oss at Siena, with Dominick Welch a bright spot with 21 points. The Scarlet Knights were 7-13 in conference play last year and only 14-17 overall. Rutgers first three opponents are suspect though (Bryant, Niagara and Drexel.) Key Trends: - The Bonnies are 2-0 ATS in their last two after going 65 points or less in three straight games. - St. Bonaventure is 18-11 ATS in its last 29 after faling to cover the spread. - The Scarelt Knights are only 2-7 ATS in their last nine after conceding 65 points or less in two straight games. The verdict: I think this one comes down to the wire and as such, I'm going to grab the points! | |||||||
11-16-19 | Air Force v. Colorado State +10.5 | 38-21 | Loss | -110 | 33 h 36 m | Show | |
My 9* BIG TIGER is on Colorado State. Air Force is 7-2 and looking to improve its bowl position, but Colorado State is just 4-5 and it's running out of time. The Rams though enter on top form, having won three straight and averaging 37.6 PPG in that span. Rams' QB Patrick O'Brien has five TD's and one INT in that span. Air Force had its game vs. New Mexico postponed last weekend because of an accidental death on NM the night before the game. Key Trends: - The Falcons average 34.4 PPG and they concede 20.9. - The Rams average 31.7 PPG and they allow 32.0. The verdict: However note that the Rams are 4-1 ATS in their last five following their bye week and 6-1 ATS in their last seven conference contests, while the Falcons are only 3-10 ATS in their last 13 vs. teams with losing records. I like the desperate home side to at the very least, keep this one competitive until the final moments; grab the points! | |||||||
11-16-19 | Tulane -5.5 v. Temple | Top | 21-29 | Loss | -105 | 26 h 45 m | Show |
My 10* WAKE-AND-MAKE is on Tulane. Tulane broke its two game losing streak with a win last weekend to become bowl eligible and I like the Waves to carry that momentum over here. Tulane's ground game ranks in the top ten in the country, averaging 261.2 rushing yards per game. The Owls also broke a two-game slide to become eligible, but with a game vs. Cincinnati up next, I think the home side gets caught looking ahead here. Key Trends: - Tulane is 3-1 ATS in its last four as a road favorite of seven points or less. - The Green Wave is 3-1 ATS in its last four when playing with two or more weeks of rest. - Temple is only 3-4 ATS in its last seven after conceding 14 points or less in its last contest. The verdict: I like Tulane's ground game to slowly break down Temples defense; lay the points! | |||||||
11-15-19 | Florida Gulf Coast +5.5 v. Mercer | Top | 68-84 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 24 m | Show |
My 10* MID-MAJOR MAULING on the Florida Gulf Coast. The FGCU Eagles won't be lacking for motivation here after they fell 55-49 to Dartmouth last time out. FGCU went into half tied at 29-29 as well. Sophomore Zach Scott leads the nightly charge with 16.3 PPG. Mercer is only 515 miles from the Mercer Campus. Mercer has won two in a row, but over lowly Columbia International and Kennesaw State (the Bears did lose their opener at Saint John's 109-79.) Ethan Stair leads Mercer with 20.3 points and 9.7 rebounds. Key Trends: - FGCU is 5-1 ATS in its last six road games after two or more SU losses. - Mercer is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine home games after back to back SU victories. The verdict: I think the hungry Eagles matchup well here. This spread is low and while I do think the outright is possible, in the end I'll recommend grabbing the points in a contest which I envision coming down to whichever team has its hands on the ball last; grab the points! | |||||||
11-15-19 | Louisiana Tech v. Marshall -2.5 | Top | 10-31 | Win | 100 | 100 h 51 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Marshall. All good things have to come to an end. Louisiana Tech is 8-1 and it's won eight games in a row. Facing a hungry 6-3 Marshall side that's looking to better its bowl positioning itself, I think the Bulldogs finally stumble on the road here. Overall Louisiana Tech averages 38.1 PPG. The Herd have won four in a row and they're 4-1 at home. Marshall only allows 371 yards of offense per game. Key Trends: - Note that Louisiana Tech is just 2-4 ATS in its last six after playing three straight conference games. - Marshall is 4-1 ATS in its last five after a cover as a double digit favorite. The verdict: I think the Bulldogs finally take a step back here in this difficult venue vs. this top notch defense; lay the short points! | |||||||
11-14-19 | Steelers +3 v. Browns | Top | 7-21 | Loss | -110 | 78 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes the Browns REALLY need this game to stay alive in the playoff hunt. But guess what? The Steelers REALLY need this game to stay alive in the playoff hunt as well. Both "Faker" Mayfield of the Browns and Mason Rudolph of the Steelers have been pretty bad this year, so I'm classifying these pivots as a "wash" today. But Pittsburgh's defense has been tremendous during its four game win streak and I believe it'll be the difference maker tonight as well. Ever since the Steelers acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick, the defense has been "lights out" and I expect that trend to continue here. Key Trends: - Pittsburgh is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 as an underdog, including 3-1 ATS this year. - Cleveland is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight as a favorite including only 1-3 ATS this season. The verdict: As stated throughout my analysis, I believe Pittsburgh's defense will step up and win the game here; grab the points! | |||||||
11-14-19 | Bulls +12 v. Bucks | Top | 115-124 | Win | 100 | 27 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* TOP DOG is on the Chicago Bulls. I like the hungry Bulls to put up a fight and to take this one down to the final moments. The Bulls are actually playing their best ball of the year so far, having won two of their last three, including a 113-93 road victory over the Hawks in their most recent. I think this is a "trap" for the Bucks, who return home for their first game after a four-game trip, most recently barely holding on for the 121-119 victory over the lowly Grizzlies. Key Trends: - Chicago is 6-1 ATS in its last seven after a home win by ten points or more (just hammered the Knicks.) - Milwaukee is interestingly only 6-11 ATS in its last 17 after three consecutive non-conference contests. The verdict: Chicago is dealing with a couple injury issues, but the Bucks get caught looking past their lowly opponent. Grab the points and expect a competitive affair! | |||||||
11-14-19 | Buffalo -5.5 v. Kent State | Top | 27-30 | Loss | -110 | 76 h 9 m | Show |
My 10* BLOOD-BATH is on Buffalo. The Bulls go on the road as the favorite here looking for their sixth win of the year. Kent State needs to win out to become bowl eligible. Buffalo has won four of the last five in this series though and I expect the Bulls to continue that run of success today. The Bulls dominate defensively, allowing only 22.3 PPG overall and just 11.3 over the last three. Buffalo has also looked a lot better with QB Kyle Vantrease under center, as he's gone 3-1 with five TD's and a 61 percent completion rate since taking over for the injured Matt Myers. Kent State's been better at home than on the road this year and QB Dustin Crum, who leads the team in rushing, has only one INT. Key Trends: - Note though that Buffalo is 16-6 ATS in its last 22 vs. the conference, including 4-1 ATS this season. - The Bulls are 3-1 ATS in their last four as a road favorite in the 3.5 to 7 points range. - Kent State is only 6-7 ATS in its last 13 at home, including just 1-2 ATS this season. The verdict: I like the Bulls to dominate this one defensively and to punch their ticket to eligibility vs. this "on again, off again" Kent State side; lay the points! | |||||||
11-14-19 | Alabama A&M +35 v. Cincinnati | Top | 53-85 | Win | 100 | 25 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* ATS BLOWOUT is on Alabama A&M. I think that the Bearcats get caught looking past the lowly Bulldogs tonight. Alabama A&M enters off a 74-52 loss to UAB, while Cincinnati comes in off an 81-59 victory over Drake. Key Trends: - Alabama A&M is 4-1 ATS in its last five after a 20 points or more loss in its previous outing and as a 30 or more point underdog. - The Bearcats are a poor 2-7 ATS in their last nine at home. The verdict: With another cream puff vs. Illinois State up next before a game vs. UCLA, I think Cincinnati coasts in this one; grab all these points! | |||||||
11-13-19 | Raptors v. Blazers -3 | 114-106 | Loss | -110 | 30 h 22 m | Show | |
My 9* BEATDOWN is on the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers got caught "looking ahead" to this game last night in Sacramento, falling 105-94 to the surging Kings. But I think that Damian Lillard and company will rebound here and take advantage of a depleted Raptors side. After beating the Lakers, the Raptors wound up losing 98-88 to Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. Both Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry were out with injury and each is questionable here as well. Key Trends: - Toronto is just 1-4 ATS in its last five after scoring 90 points or less in its previous game. - The Blazers are 21-10 ATS in their last 31 after allowing 105 points or more in three straight games. The verdict: I think the desperate home side lays everything on the line and I believe that effort will be more than enough to cover the handful of points tonight; play on Portland! | |||||||
11-13-19 | Grand Canyon +10.5 v. San Diego State | Top | 61-86 | Loss | -110 | 30 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on Grand Canyon. I think SDSU gets caught looking past its lowly opponent here. The Lopes hit the road for the first time this year after two straight losses at home. Most recently GCU fell to Illinois 83-71: "We just are trying to get better every day," Lopes head coach Dan Majerle said. "It was better (vs. Illinois) but we've still got a long way to go. The schedule doesn't get any easier so we have to find a way." SDSU on the other hand comes in off a satisfying 76-71 win at BYU and a 77-42 victory over Texas Southern. As stated off the top, I think this one sets up as a "letdown/look-ahead" spot for the home side. Key Trends: - GCU is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road dog in the 6.5 to 12 points range. - SDSU is just 1-4 ATS in its last five after a win by six points or less. The verdict: No outright, but closer than expected! Grab the points! | |||||||
11-13-19 | Spurs +1.5 v. Wolves | Top | 114-129 | Loss | -110 | 28 h 23 m | Show |
My 10* TOP DOG is on the Spurs. The Wolves barely held on for a 120-114 win over the Pistons on Monday and I think they're going to have their hands full here vs. this Spurs team which has dropped two in a row. In fact note that San Antonio has lost four of its last five. San Antonio has looked shaky of late, but I think the visitors match up well today vs. Minnesota and I like DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge to bounce back tonight. Anthony Wiggins and Karl Anthony Townes have been bright spots for the Wolves, but Minnesota gets pretty thin after them. Key Trends: - The Spurs are 21-12 ATS in their last 33 after two or more consecutive SU losses. - The Wolves are only 3-7 ATS in their last ten off an upset win as a road underdog. The verdict: I expect San Antonio to finally "show up" tonight in this very winnable game; grab the points! | |||||||
11-13-19 | Bowling Green +18.5 v. Miami-OH | Top | 3-44 | Loss | -104 | 53 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* CLASH OF THE TITANS is on Bowling Green. Miami Ohio is in need of just one more victory to become bowl eligible. But at 3-6, the Bowling Green Falcons are still three victories away. Outright victory here? Likely not! But Bowling Green's post-season aspirations are in the balance here and I think it'll have enough to keep this one competitive until the final moments. Bowling Green comes in off a momentum building 35-6 win over Akron in its last action as well. The Redhawks revolve around QB Brett Gabbert, who has three TD's and no INT's over his last three games. Note though that Miami's last three victories have come by seven, three and seven points respectively. Key Trends: - Bowling Green is interestingly 5-1 ATS in its last six after playing three consecutive conference contests. - Miami Ohio is a poor 3-7 ATS in its last ten as a home favorite. The verdict: The Falcons come in out of their bye week and with the extra time off to prepare, I look for them to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch with the ample points they've been afforded tonight; play on Bowling Green! | |||||||
11-12-19 | Pepperdine v. CS-Northridge +5.5 | Top | 94-82 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on CS Northridge. This is the Matadors home opener and I expect them to at the very least, take this one right down to the wire. CSUN lost 87-67 at Oregon State and then 97-70 at New Mexico. A little home cooking is just what the doctor ordered to get untracked in my opinion though. Terrell Gomez is averaging a team-high 16.5 points so far for the Matadors. But if recent history is any precedence, then CSUN has to be loving its chances as it won this game 90-83 last year. After falling 87-71 at Cal, the Waves bounced back with a 77-73 win over UC Irvine last Saturday, but I believe they'll struggle to contain this determined home side. Key Trends: - Peppderine is just 1-5 ATS in its last six after a win by six points or less. - The Wave are only 1-3 ATS in their last four as a road favorite. - CSUN is 3-1 ATS in its last four as a home dog in the 3.5 to six points range. The verdict: Expect this one to come down to the wire and grab as many points as you can! | |||||||
11-12-19 | Nets +6.5 v. Jazz | 114-119 | Win | 100 | 27 h 32 m | Show | |
My 9* BEWARE OF DOG is on the Brooklyn Nets. I think the Nets matchup well against the Jazz here and I think the visitors have a real shot at pulling off the outright upset. That said, in the end I'll grab the points. This is going to be Donovan Mitchell vs. Kyrie Irving and in that matchup, I give Irving the big advantage. Key Trends: - Brooklyn is 21-10 ATS in its last 31 as a road dog in the 6.5 to 12 points range. - Utah is just 38-39 ATS the L2 years as a home favorite. The verdict: The Nets defense is its weak point, but the Jazz aren't known for running up the score. This is a great matchup and situational play in my opinion; grab the points! | |||||||
11-12-19 | Cavs v. 76ers -11 | Top | 97-98 | Loss | -105 | 25 h 32 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Cavs broke a three-game losing slide by responding with back-to-back victories. Cleveland's wins though have been over the Wizards and Knicks. The 76ers struggled on their Western road swing, doing half of it without big man Joel Embiid in the line-up. Philly then returned home to bea the Hornets. Now fifth in the East, the 76ers won't be taking anything for granted here. Key Trends: - The Cavs average 107.1 PPG and the Sixers allow 106.2. - The 76ers average 111.00 PPG and Cleveland concedes 108.0. The verdict: Cleveland is just 1-4 ATS in its last five after two or more consecutive upset victories as an underdog and I'm not reading too much into its minor win streak here. After their sub-par road trip, look for the 76ers to keep the foot on the gas at home vs. this "lesser" competition; lay the points! | |||||||
11-12-19 | Eastern Michigan v. Akron +17 | Top | 42-14 | Loss | -105 | 33 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on Akron. EMU is 4-5 and desperate for some victories as it looks to run down a bowl berth. The Eagles are just 1-4 in conference play, while the Zips are 0-9 overall and 0-5 in league action. Note that Akron will not only be relishing the thought of playing spoiler here vs. the Eagles, but it's also out for revenge after dropping this game last year by a score of 27-7. The Zips have the second worst offense in the nation, but they actually have a decent defense, allowing only 390 YPG. Eastern allows 455 YPG. Key Trends: - EMU is a poor 6-9 ATS in its last 15 as a favorite (including only 1-3 ATS this season.) - Akron is 3-1 ATS in its last four after a two-game road trip. The verdict: Outright victory? I doubt it. But the conditions are definitely right for a much more competitive battle than what this spread would suggest in my opinion; grab the points! | |||||||
11-11-19 | Seahawks +7 v. 49ers | Top | 27-24 | Win | 100 | 35 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Seattle Seahawks. So far everything has gone perfectly for the 49ers, in that almost every bounce and every close call has gone their way during their perfect 8-0 start. But they certainly didn't look like "World beaters" in their 28-25 win over Arizona last weekend. Seattle hasn't been perfect, but it's been damn close this year. And to me, it only appears as if Russell Wilson and company are only getting better. On both sides of the ball. San Francisco is starting to show signs of fatigue and teams appear to be "figuring them out." And now they face Wilson, who has 22 TD's and only one INT. Key Trends: - Seattle is 4-0 ATS in its last four road game vs. teams with winning SU home records. - San Francisco is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 as a favorite, including a money-burning 3-3 ATS this season. The verdict: I think the Hawks' veteran experience in this contest could in fact help in posting an outright upset. That said, let's grab the points in what appears to be a very highly competitive matchup! | |||||||
11-11-19 | DePaul v. Iowa -9 | Top | 93-78 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 27 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on Iowa. DePaul is 3-0 and Iowa is 1-0. The Blue Demons started off hot last year as well, before then stumbling and finishing 15-15 overall. Now DePaul is re-working its team after losing most of its core group last year. Charlie Moore was picked up from Kansas and he's averaged 19 PPG, but beyond that the Blue Demons are thin. Iowa went to the NCAA tournament last year and it would advantage to the round of 32 before falling to Tennessee in OT. Luke Garza is now the main man in Iowa, he's put up 20 points and 12 boards in the opening win. Key Trends: - DePaul is just 10-12 ATS in its last 22 as a road underdog or pick. - Iowa is 13-5 ATS in its last 18 non-conference contests. - The verdict: I like Iowa to pull away comfortably in the second half as I look for its depth to ultimatley prove to be too much for DePaul to hang with; lay the points! | |||||||
11-10-19 | Pacific v. Florida A&M +9.5 | Top | 76-54 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 40 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on Florida A&M. This is the second game for both teams at the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic in Hawaii. The Florida A&M Rattlers will be eager to get off the schneid here after starting 0-2. The Pacific Tigers are 1-1. FAMU lost 77-48 to USC in its opener, before then also losing 65-52 to host Hawaii to open this tournament (Kamron Reaves and Rod Melton had 11 points each in the setback.) Good news though is the face the Tigers, whose only win was a 69-47 victory over Division II Stanislaus State. Pacific then followed that up with a ten point loss to South Dakota to open this tournament. The verdict: FAMU outscored host Hawaii by seven points in the second half of its first game and I look for it to carry that momentum over here; grab the ample points! | |||||||
11-10-19 | Chiefs v. Titans +6 | Top | 32-35 | Win | 100 | 27 h 60 m | Show |
My 10* U OF THE U is on the Tennessee Titans. It's do or die essentially for the Titans this week as they look to move back to .500. Titans' backup QB Ryan Tannehill is 2-1 in his three starts with a 99.7 passer rating. Patrick Mahomes could get the start for the Chiefs here. Then again, maybe he won't and backup Matt Moore will get the nod. Moore is 1-1 with a 100.9 passer rating so far in filling in for the injured Mahomes. The uncertainty surrounding the pivot position, whether Mahomes does in fact get the call here, isn't doing the visiting side any favors in my opinion. KC is dealing with significant injuries to its defense as well, with CB Kendall Fuller and DE's Frank Clark and Alex Okafor all listed as questionable. Key Trends: - The Titans are 5-1 ATS the last six in this series. - KC is a poor 3-7-1 ATS in its last 11 following a SU victory. The verdict: I like Ryan Tannehill at home to give the Chiefs everything they can handle. The public and the books are sleeping on Tannehill and how good he's playing right now; grab the points! | |||||||
11-09-19 | Rockets v. Bulls +6.5 | Top | 117-94 | Loss | -103 | 28 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* BEWARE OF DOG is on the Chicago Bulls. Chicago is coming off its best performance of the year in beating the Hawks on the road in Atlanta. After a lacklustre start to the season, Chicago's young and extremely talented pieces are finally starting to figure things out. Houston has two dynamic talents itself in Russell Westbrook and James Harden, but the Rockets have already struggled with consistency on the road this year (a 155-154 OT loss in Washington.) Key Trends: - Houston is a poor 7-13 ATS in its last 20 after a cover as a double-digit favorite. - Chicago is 8-2 ATS in its last ten after a win by ten points or more. The verdict: The Bulls will view this as a real test and they'll be eager to build off their last performance. Their efforts tonight may not result in a SU victory, but I do think the stage is set for a battle until the end; grab the points! | |||||||
11-09-19 | Utah Valley v. Denver +3 | Top | 62-74 | Win | 100 | 23 h 42 m | Show |
My 10* MID MAJOR MAULING is on Denver. Denver plays with revenge after allowing the Utah Valley Wolverines to score 98 points in last year's 23 point loss. Denver most recently fell 74-63 to Colorado State, but I expect a bounce back performance in this revenge spot. Key Trends: - Utah Valley is just 6-8 ATS in its last 14 on the road. - Denver is 5-1 ATS in its last six as a home dog or pick. The verdict: Look for the home side to catch Utah Valley flat-footed here and to avenge last year's humbling setback, with the core of that group on the floor tonight; grab the points! | |||||||
11-09-19 | Maryland +44 v. Ohio State | Top | 14-73 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 27 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on Maryland. I think this spread is WAY too large. Ohio State doesn't need to run up the score on this one to win obviously. The 8-0 Buckeyes are rolling towards the finish line and the 3-6 Terrapins will be just another speed bump in their grand prix season. Maryland QB Josh Jackson is a gun-slinger though and I think he'll have his opportunities vs. this complacent home side. Maryland has been decent against the pass as well of late, most recently holding Michigan QB Shea Patterson to just 151 total yards. OSU QB Justin Fields could also be limited here after he went to the injury tent last time out late in the game. Key Trends: - The Buckeyes are interestingly just 5-6 ATS in their last 11 as a home favorite of 21.5 or more points. - Maryland is a decent 6-2 ATS in its last eight off a blowout loss of 21 or more points to a conference rival. The verdict: This spread is ridiculous. Look for Maryland to put up a fight until the final quarter; grab the points! | |||||||
11-08-19 | Heat v. Lakers -8 | 80-95 | Win | 100 | 30 h 23 m | Show | |
My 8* BEATDOWN is on the LA Lakers. Miami won three in a row before dropping a game in Denver in the first game of its trip. The Nuggets were desperate for a win in that one, but the Heat bounced back nicely in Phoenix last night, destroying the Suns 124-108. The Lakers are dominating themselves, leading the Western Conference at 6-1. LA is playing with a chip on its shoulder this year as it tries to bury last season's disappointing effort. LeBron James is going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder as well tonight as he faces his former team which he won two championships with. I believe that Miami does come in tired and I absolutely expect the Lakers to have no mercy in this one. Key Trends: - Miami is just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 off a win by ten point or more as an underdog. - LA is 53-40 ATS in its last 93 vs. good offensive teams which average over 106 points per game. The verdict: The conditions and the trends/numbers all point to a home side rout here in my opinion; lay the points! | |||||||
11-08-19 | Cavs +5 v. Wizards | Top | 113-100 | Win | 100 | 27 h 57 m | Show |
My 10* BEWARE OF DOG is on the Cleveland Cavaliers. A couple of hungry 2-5 teams battle it out on Friday night and in a contest which I envision coming down to whichever side has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to recommend to grab the points. Cleveland is desperate for sure after losing three in a row. The Wizards on the other hand look poised for a letdown after they broke a three-game skid with a win over the Pacers last time out. The Cavs got smoked at home by Dalls, but they looked much better even in defeat to the Celtics, eventually succumbing 119-113. I think they carry that momentum over here vs. this "on again, off again" Wizards side. Key Trends: - Cleveland is 6-2 ATS in its last eight off two or more consecutive home losses. - Washington is a terrible 16-21 ATS in its last 35 as a home favorite of six points or less. The verdict: I think these teams are evenly matched, but I believe the Cavaliers are "hungrier." Grab the points! | |||||||
11-08-19 | Florida Atlantic v. Miami-FL -12 | Top | 60-74 | Win | 100 | 27 h 47 m | Show |
FAU is 1-0 and Miami Florida is 0-1. The Hurricanes got thrashed by Louisville on Opening night, while the Owls beat Division II Flagler College. The Hurricanes have dominated this series though, coming in with a 23-1 all time record, which includes a convincing 75-55 decision last season. I expect a similar result here. FAU is coming off its worst season season 2010/11, finishing 17-16 last year and while it does return four starters, it still does not match up well at all here vs. Miami. The Hurricanes finished 14-18 last year, so after the opening day loss, posting a convincing blowout victory here is basically essential for Jim Larranaga's team. Key Trends: - Miami is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven following a SU loss. - FAU is only 8-20 ATS in its last 28 following a SU win. The verdict: Miami has too much size and talent for the Owls to keep up with. Throw in last year's sub-par campaign and the opening night loss and I expect this one to be ugly from start to finish; lay the points! | |||||||
11-07-19 | Chargers v. Raiders +1.5 | Top | 24-26 | Win | 100 | 55 h 28 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Oakland Raiders. The Chargers and Raiders are both desperately in need of a victory here. LA has won back-to-back games over the Bears and Packers, while Oakland is coming off a pivotal win over the Lions, keeping them in second place in the division. Oakland's defense and especially its secondary has been suspect this year, but Derek Carr and the offense has been much better than expected. TE Darren Waller and RB Josh Jacobs have both been great and I think LA's defense is going to struggle here to contain them. Green Bay's offense looked horrible last week, but it did in Week 1 as well vs. the impotent Bears. I'm not convinced that LA's defensive numbers over the last two games are completely indicative of how the unit will perform moving forward. And on the short week, I absolutely believe this one favors the home side. Key Trends: - LA is 0-4 ATS in its last four off an upset win by 14 points or more as an underdog. - Oakland is a perfect 3-0 ATS in its last three a home dog of three points or less. The verdict: I think the Raiders' defense does just enough and I look for Carr to continue to progress with the dynamic young pieces around him; play on Oakland! | |||||||
11-07-19 | Celtics v. Hornets +6.5 | Top | 108-87 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 27 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on the Charlotte Hornets. Boston has won five straight and I think it'll have a predictable letdown here as it takes to the road to face the lowly Hornets. Charlotte however has quietly been playing much better of late, coming in having won three straight, most recently an OT victory over the Pacers. Key Trends: - The Celtics average 110.3 PPG, and they allow 104.7. - The Hornets average 107.9 PPG, and they allow 113.6. The verdict: Note though that Charlotte is 7-2 ATS in its last nine following an ATS victory and 7-1 ATS in its last eight vs. the Eastern Conference, while Boston is only 2-6-1 ATS in its last nine after scoring 100 points or more in its previous contest. This is Kemba Walker's first game played in Charlotte since he abandoned the team and I expect him to struggle in this hostile environment; grab the points! | |||||||
11-07-19 | Temple v. South Florida +2 | Top | 17-7 | Loss | -106 | 84 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on USF. Temple is hoping to snap a three-game losing streak here, but I think the 4-4 home side does just enough to secure the small upset on Thursday night. The Bulls enter off a big 45-20 win over ECU and I expect them to carry that momentum over here. Temple QB Anthony Russon now faces one of the nation's best pass defenses, as the Bulls are ranked 17th in that department. The road ahead doesn't get any easier for USF either, with games against heavyweights Cincinnati, Memphis and UCF to finish up the regular season. If not now for the Bulls, when? Key Trends: - Temple is interestingly just 1-4 ATS in its last five "Thusday" night games. - USF is 4-1 ATS in its last five after a win by 21 or more points. The verdict: These two teams are moving in opposite directions right now and I expect those trends to continue; play on the Bulls! | |||||||
11-06-19 | Long Beach State +16.5 v. UCLA | 65-69 | Win | 100 | 30 h 33 m | Show | |
My 8* BAIL-OUT BLOWOUT is on LBSU. Both teams are looking to rebuild. UCLA has new faces and a new head coach after a down year. LBSU finished strong, but it also have for the most part an entirely new line-up. I think UCLA has some growing pains under new coach Mick Cronin and with nothing to lose, I expect the 49ers to take this one down to the wire. Key Trends: - LBSU is 5-1 ATS in its last six as a road dog in the 12.5 to 18 points range. - UCLA is just 8-16 ATS in its last 24 non-conference contests. The verdict: I think chemistry is an issue for UCLA early; grab the points! | |||||||
11-06-19 | Miami-OH v. Ohio -7 | Top | 24-21 | Loss | -105 | 32 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on Ohio. This is a big game. Both teams are 4-4, but 3-1 in MAC action. The winner of this one will take control of the conference. Last year Miami Ohio won this game 30-28, snapping a five game win streak in the series for the Bobcats. These teams are contrasting in styles, with the RedHawks getting the job done on the defensive side of the ball, and Ohio getting big offensive production (Bobcats have won two straight and scored 78 points in the process.) Miami QB Brett Gabbert has been decent this year, throwing for 1,360 pasisng yards, but with five TD's and five INT's. Note that Gabbert has also been sacked 16 times this year. Key Trends: - The Bobcats have 14 sacks this season. - Ohio QB Nathan Rourke has 1,743 passing yards with ten TD's and five INT's. The verdict: The RedHawks weakness on the defensive side is against the pass. Look for the home side to air this one out early and often and expect it to pull away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover; lay the points! | |||||||
11-06-19 | Florida State v. Pittsburgh +3.5 | Top | 61-63 | Win | 100 | 27 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* CLASH OF THE TITANS is on Pittsburgh. Last year FSU was a four seed in the NCAA Tournament and it made it to the Sweet 16. FSU though starts with back-to-back tough road games, tonight in Pittsburgh followed by one at Florida. I think this sets up well for us on Opening Night, as the hungry home side will be risking life and limb here to try and pull off the minor upset. FSU's top two scorers and rebounders left fo the NBA as well. Pitt won two of its final three games to end the season last year and it returns three of its four top scorers. Key Trends: - FSU is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight as a road favorite or pick. - Pittsburgh is interestingly 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games played in the month of November. The verdict: It's opening night for these teams and I believe the situational factors working in favor of the home side are the difference maker; grab the points! | |||||||
11-05-19 | Lakers v. Bulls +6.5 | Top | 118-112 | Win | 100 | 26 h 60 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on the Chicago Bulls. I think the hungry home side takes the Lakers down to the wire in this one. LA comes in off a win vs. the Spurs. Chicago enters off a loss to the Pacers. Anthony Davis and LeBron James have been great in the early going for LA, but after the fantastic duo, the Lakers are kind of thin due to continued injuries. Chicago has six players averaging in double figure and its disappointing start to the year gives the home side an added sense of urgency. Key Trends: - The Lakers are still just 1-4 ATS in their last five as a road favorite in the 6.5 to 12 points range. - The Bulls are 15-10 ATS in their last 25 as a home dog in the 6.5 to 12 points range. The verdict: Expect Chicago to come in focussed and to at the very least, take this one right down to the wire. Grab the points! | |||||||
11-05-19 | Appalachian State +18.5 v. Michigan | 71-79 | Win | 100 | 25 h 54 m | Show | |
My 8* play on Appalachian State. Both teams have new head coach's as we open the season. I think the transition will effect the Power 5 school more than the mid major though. Michigan is now led by Juwan Howard, while App State is led by Dustin Kerns. App State does return four starters though, which is a major advantage to open the season. Michigan has three returning starters. Key Trends: - App State is 2-0 ATS in its last two as a road dog in the 12.5 to 18 points range. - Michigan is only 1-3 ATS in its last four as a home favorite in the same points range. The verdict: I like th experience that App State brings to this one and on Opening Night, I believe that's the difference maker in this matchup; grab the points! | |||||||
11-05-19 | Western Illinois +21.5 v. Indiana | Top | 65-98 | Loss | -108 | 25 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* play on Western Illinois. Western Illinois returns its top scorer in Kobe Webster, who averaged 17 PPG. Western Illinois is small compared to Indiana, but it shot the ball well from thee point range last year. The Hoosiers finished 19-16 last year, so expectations are tempered somewhat this season. Key Trends: - Western Illinois is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 non-conference games. - Indiana is only 10-12 ATS in its last 22 non-confernece contests. - I think the Hoosiers get caught looking past their lowly non-conference opponent; grab the points! | |||||||
11-05-19 | Louisville v. Miami-FL +7 | 87-74 | Loss | -107 | 24 h 24 m | Show | |
My 8* play on Miami Florida. Outright win? Probably not. But I do think that Miami Florida has enough firepower to keep this one competitive until the final moments. Miami is coming off its first losing season under head coach Jim Larranaga, who enters his tenth year as boss. Louisville went 20-14 last year and it was ousted in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals have an awesome line-up this season and they've been ranked as No. 5. Note though that it starts the year without junior forward Malik Williams and highly touted freshman David Johnson. Miami has new faces in the line-up, but it returns the ACC's second leading scorer from a year ago in Chris Lykes. Key Trends: - Louisville is just 1-4 ATS in its last five on the road. - Miami Florida is 4-0-1 ATS in its last five at home. The verdict: Miami lost to Louisville by 17 last year, so the revenge factor also comes into play; grab as many points as you can! | |||||||
11-04-19 | 76ers v. Suns +1.5 | Top | 109-114 | Win | 100 | 29 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Phoenix Suns. I like the under-rated home side to push the pace and to take care of business vs. Philadelphia, which narrowly escaped in its first road game of the year in Portland. The Suns are already 5-0 ATS this year. Joel Embiid is once againg out for Philly though as he serves the final game of his suspension for fighting. Key Trends: - Philadelphia is the seventh worst in the NBA in defending the three point shot, allowing 37.6 percent. - The Suns score 19.5 percent of their points off turnovers, tied for the third most in the NBA. - Phoenix allows the second least 3-pointers in the league (9.1 PG). The verdict: With games at Utah and Denver upcoming, I think this Eastern Conference power house that's already down its main offensive weapon, comes in and "looks past" this vastly improved Suns side; grab the point/s! | |||||||
11-03-19 | Patriots -3 v. Ravens | 20-37 | Loss | -110 | 37 h 49 m | Show | |
My 9* BIG TIGER is on the New England Patriots. If Tom Brady can put together a perfect season and then win the Super Bowl, do you think he'd retire? It would be the perfect ending to a legendary career. New England is well on its way to doing that this season and backed by the league's No. 1 defense, which is putting up historic numbers, I think the Patriots come in and take care of business on the national stage. Brady has a solid offensive unit around, but his O-line has been exceptional. The Ravens enter hungry for a victory, but they're off their bye-week, so I expect the home side to be a bit "flat" to open this one. Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson has already struggled vs. some of the elite defenses he's seen and I expect that trend to continue here. Key Trends: - New England is 14-6 ATS in its last 20 after allowing 14 points or less in its last outing. - Baltimore is only 4-6 ATS in its last ten after a win by ten or more points. The verdict: I don't even expect this one to be close at all, as I think Jackson and company stumble against the No. 1 defense in the league; lay the short points! | |||||||
11-03-19 | Mavs v. Cavs +5 | Top | 131-111 | Loss | -105 | 29 h 33 m | Show |
My 10* BEWARE OF DOG is on the Cleveland Cavaliers. I think the Mavericks come to Cleveland still "hung over" after their 119-110 OT loss at home to the Lakers. Luke Doncic had a huge night, but I think he'll be gassed and disinterested in this one vs. the perceived "lowly" Cavaliers. Note that Dallas onyl has three players averaging in double-digit points, so road trips and OT contests have an effect on team's like this. The Cavs enter off a 102-95 road loss to Indiana, a contest in which they held the lead for most of. Kevin Love was exceptional in a losing cause with 22 points and 17 boards. Jordan Clarkson was also impressive with 20 points off the bench. Key Trends: - Dallas is only 5-7 ATS in its last 12 as a road favorite of six points or less. - The Mavericks are only 19-23 ATS in their last 42 following a SU home loss. - Cleveland is 7-3 ATS in its last ten off a road loss vs. a division rival. The verdict: The Cavaliers have experienced big men which can challenge Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and I think the deeper bench of Cleveland is the difference in the end; grab the points! | |||||||
11-03-19 | Jets -3 v. Dolphins | Top | 18-26 | Loss | -120 | 30 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* TOILET BOWL is on the New York Jets. Miami only averages 11 PPG, while New York averages 11.1. The Dolphins though have the worst defense in the league, allowing an average of 34 PPG. Miami got out to a decent start vs. the Steelers last weekend, but then it got blown out in the end. Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick committed four fumbles last weekend. Key Trends: - New York is 4-1 ATS in its last five after allowing 25 points or more in two straight games. - Miami is just 7-12 ATS in its last 19 after a loss by ten points or more. The verdict: Jets' QB Sam Darnold won AFC player of the week in New York's only victory this year and now facing the leagues worst defensive unit, I believe he'll be the difference maker in the end; lay the short points! | |||||||
11-02-19 | Wolves v. Wizards | Top | 131-109 | Loss | -110 | 28 h 17 m | Show |
My 10* BEST OF THE BEST is on the Wizards. Many handicappers are purely "situational" handicappers. Others use power numbers or other systems and don't deviate from their process or method. And I think that's great. I've always thought though that being "flexible" with your approach is the best way to handicap sports. Clearly Minnesota is the "better" team, but after losing star player Karl-Anthony Towns to suspension for fighting in its previous outing, I think the hungry home side is the correct call here. Minnesota also can't help but get caught "looking ahead" to its home game vs. the Bucks on Monday. Washington comes in off a 159-158 loss to the Rockets and it won't be lacking for motivation or confidence after that close setback. Key Trends: - Minnesota is just 14-21 ATS in its last 35 as a road dog of six points or less. - Washington is 5-1 ATS in its last six after two straight losses by six points or less. The verdict: I love Washington to battle tooth and nail here and take advantage of this temporarily "rudderless" Wolves team! | |||||||
11-02-19 | Marshall -10.5 v. Rice | Top | 20-7 | Win | 100 | 95 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on Marshall. Rice is 0-8, while Marshall is 5-3. The Herd are desperate for one more victory to become eligible and a date vs. the hapless Owls, who post only 15.9 PPG is just what the doctor ordered to get untracked. Marshall enters off a hard-fought 26-23 win over WKU and it is now in control of the West Division standings. Rice QB Wiley Green doesn't have much to work with and his numbers reflect that, as he's thrown for 161 yards or fewer in all seven of his appearances. The Herd though have the top rushing attack in the conference, led by Brenden Knox with 803 rushing yards and seven TD's. Key Trends: - Marshall is 10-6 ATS in its last 16 on the road (including 2-1 ATS this year.) - The Herd are 6-2 ATS in their last eight following a SU home victory (including 2-1 ATS this season.) The verdict: The Owls are down for the count. Marshall comes in off its biggest win of the year, but it has much bigger aspirations than just earning a bowl berth. I think the Herd lay the hammer down from start to finish and I look for them to pull away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover; lay the points! | |||||||
11-02-19 | NC State +7.5 v. Wake Forest | 10-44 | Loss | -105 | 46 h 60 m | Show | |
My 9* ATS BLOWOUT is on NC State. Wake Forest is 6-1 and I think it has enough of a letdown here after becoming eligible to let the hungry WolfPack sneak in through down the stretch. Will rest lead to rust? The Demon Deacons have had a week off after falling to Louisville, a setback which also saw starting QB Jamie Newman go down with injury. NC State is moving to Devin Leary as QB, who played well in defeat to BC a copule of weeks ago, throwing for 259 yards and three TD's. Wake Forest's defense is in question here, it has held its opposition to 24 points or fewer in five of its victories, but allowed a whopping 62 points to Louisville at home two weeks ago. Key Trends: - The Demon Deacons are 0-4 ATS in their last four following a bye week. - NC State is 3-1 ATS in its last four off a loss to a conference rival. The verdict: Three of Wake Forest's victories this season have come by six points or less. NC State is also coming out of its bye week, so I think it's defense will look a lot better after the hiccup vs. the Eagles. No outright, but closer than expected; grab the points! | |||||||
11-01-19 | Cavs +8 v. Pacers | Top | 95-102 | Win | 100 | 27 h 58 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Without Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers are only an average team. Cleveland is at 100% health and it has veteran players performing at a high level right now. Most recently the Cavs beat the Bulls 117-11 at home, with six players scoring in double figures. Indiana comes in off its first win of the year, a 118-108 road victory over the Nets. Note though that the Indiana bench scored just 11 points in that victory. Key Trends: - Indiana is a poor 1-5 ATS in its last six following a SU victory. - The Pacers are 1-4 ATS in their last five at home. - The Cavs are 4-1 ATS in their last five following a SU victory. The verdict: Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love are both playing well for the Cavs and while I would not in fact be shocked by an outright upset here, in the end I'm going to grab all these points! | |||||||
10-30-19 | Pacers +3.5 v. Nets | 118-108 | Win | 100 | 27 h 44 m | Show | |
My 8* play is on the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are still without Victor Oladipo, but I think the 0-3 visiting side finds a way to get the job done vs. the 1-2 Nets. Indiana enters off a 96-94 loss at Detroit, while the Nets come in off a poor 134-133 OT road loss to the Grizzlies. There are reports from Nets' officials that star Kyrie Irving's off-court antics and "mood swings" are very real and a major distraction. I believe the "hungrier" and more focussed side finds a way to get the job done tonight. Key Trends: - Indiana won't be lacking for confidence here as it's 8-2 ATS in its last ten in this series. - Brooklyn is 34-38 ATS in its last 72 vs. teams with losing records, including 0-2 ATS already this season. The verdict: Look for the more desperate team to deliver the goods, but in a contest which I envision being decided late or even in extra time, I'm going to grab the points! | |||||||
10-30-19 | Knicks +9 v. Magic | Top | 83-95 | Loss | -105 | 26 h 14 m | Show |
My 10* play is on the New York Knicks. The Knicks are 1-3 and the Magic are 1-2. New York comes in off its first win of the year and I think the hungry visiting side will carry some of that momentum over here vs. a Magic team that's struggling with consistency in the early going. New York got the better of Chicago 105-98, while the Magic fell 104-95 in Toronto on Monday. RJ Barrett has been a stand out for the Knicks early an dhe had 19 points and 15 boards in the victory over the Bulls. Orlando opened the year with a win over the Cavaliers, but since then it's struggled and it's the only team in the league which hasn't scored 100 points in a game thus far. Key Trends: - New York is already 2-0 ATS this year vs. clubs with losing records. - Orlando is 30-39 ATS in its last 69 vs. teams with losing records. The verdict: I think New York is finally figuring things out and while I'll stop short in calling for the outright upset, all signs point to this one being extremely competitive throughout; grab the points! | |||||||
10-29-19 | Mavs +6 v. Nuggets | Top | 109-106 | Win | 100 | 28 h 25 m | Show |
My 10* BEWARE OF DOG is on the Dallas Mavericks. Denver comes in off a 101-94 win at Sacramento just last night, while Dallas had a night off after suffering its first loss of the year in a 121-119 home setback to the Blazers. Dallas will look to push the pace here vs. this tired Nuggets side; note that the Mavericks average 116.7 PPG. Denver averages 108. Key Trends: - The Nuggets are interestingly only 9-21 ATS in their last 30 vs. the Southwest division. - Dallas is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six on the road. The verdict: Dallas is a vastly improved team with two dynamic European players which are difficult to stop. While the situation could even give the visitors an outright win here, in the end I'm going to grab the generous amount of points; play on the Mavericks! | |||||||
10-28-19 | Dolphins v. Steelers -14 | Top | 14-27 | Loss | -102 | 37 h 51 m | Show |
My 10* CLASH OF THE TITANS is on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Dolphins are 0-6 and they have nothing to play for. They almost won last week vs. the Bills, but after that setback and once again making a switch at QB to Ryan Fitzpatrick again, I simply can't see the visiting side putting up any sort of fight whatsoever this evening. The Steelers are coming off their bye-week, which couldn't have come at a more opportune time for QB Mason Rudolph, who was dealing with concussion like symptoms. Look for the home side to lean heavily on dynamic RB James Conner again as the offense looks to limit mistakes and control the game. Key Trends: - Miami is just 5-12 ATS in its last 17 as a road dog. - Pittsburgh is 3-1 ATS in its last four MNF games. The verdict: I look for the above scenario to play out this evening; lay the points! | |||||||
10-28-19 | Cavs +15.5 v. Bucks | 112-129 | Loss | -108 | 26 h 13 m | Show | |
My 10* play on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams are 1-1. Am I calling for an outright upset here? I definitely AM NOT. That said, I do think that Kevin Love and the hungry Cavaliers can keep this one a lot closer than what this monster spread would suggest. So far the Cavs average 98 PPG and they concede just 97. The Bucks have scored 122 PPG in the early going and allowed 121. Key Trends: - Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last five off an upset win over a division rival as an underdog. - The Bucks are just 13-14 ATS in their last 27 after a loss by six points or less. The verdict: I think the Cavs' tough defensive plays keep them in this contest late; grab the points! | |||||||
10-28-19 | Magic +5 v. Raptors | 95-104 | Loss | -115 | 26 h 43 m | Show | |
My 8* play on the Orlando Magic. This is a revenge game of sorts for the Magic, who got bounced in the first round by the Raptors in the playoffs last year. Orlando is 1-1 after hammering Cleveland at home, before then falling to the Hawks on the road. So far Orlando is averaging 96.5 PPG and it's conceding 94.1. Toronto has so far averaged 114.0 PPG, while allowing 116.0. Those early numbers are skewed from a couple high-scoring contets, including an OT affair though. Key Trends: - Orlando is 10-5 ATS in it slast 15 off a loss to a division rival as a favorite. - Toronto is just 9-11 ATS in its last 20 after allowing 90 points or less in its previous outing. The verdict: So far Toronto has looked pretty good without Kawhi Leonard in the line-up, but I think that the depth that Magic bring here, along with the motivational factors working in their favor, proves to be too much for the defending champs to handle tonight; that said, grab the points! | |||||||
10-28-19 | Pacers -1.5 v. Pistons | 94-96 | Loss | -110 | 25 h 14 m | Show | |
My 8* play on the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are 0-2 and the Pistons are 1-2. Indiana is playing without Victor Oladipo again, but it plays with revenge here after falling 119-110 at home to Detroit in its opener. The Pacers come in desperate and revenge minded and I believe those motivational factors will be more than enough to take out the "on again, off again" Pistons, who are playing without their star Blake Griffin. Key Trends: - Detroit is 0-7 ATS In its last seven when playing on one days rest. - The Pistsons are 0-7 ATS in their last seven home games. - The Pacers are 17-10 ATS in their last 27 after two or more consecutive losses. The verdict: Look for the above situational and trend based factors to be more than enough for Indiana to get the job done tonight; lay the short points! | |||||||
10-28-19 | Bulls v. Knicks +1 | 98-105 | Win | 100 | 25 h 13 m | Show | |
My 8* play on the New York Knicks. The Bulls are 1-2 and are coming off a disappointing loss at home to the Raptors. The Knicks are 0-3 and they'll be desperate to get off the schneid here. If not now, when? This is the perfect opponent to get untracked against and I expect the desperate home side to deliver the goods. So far on the year the Bulls are averaging 104.9 PPG and conceding 113.8. New York is averaging 104.6 and allowing 113.4. Key Trends: - The Knicks are 4-1 ATS in their last five after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. - The Bulls are 0-4 ATS in their last four after a double-digit loss at home. The verdict: The Bulls have lost eight of their last 11 at MSG and I think that strong trend carries over here vs. this hungry home side; grab the point/s! | |||||||
10-27-19 | Heat +6 v. Wolves | Top | 109-116 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 25 m | Show |
My 10* NON-CONF BEST OF THE BEST is on the Miami Heat. Miami went to OT with the Bucks in Milwaukee last night and it left with a 131-126 victory. If this was even one month from now, I'd definitely be going against Miami here as the second game of a back-to-back vs. a red hot Wolves team which returns home after a 2-0 road trip to play its first in Minnesota is clearly not an easy task. But we're still in the first week of the season and these are the top athletes in the World. I'll argue that the victory yesterday will in fact help Miami in this one and while the outright victory may not happen, I'm definitely expecting a war until the final bucket. Conversely, I think the Wolves have a letdown here in their first game in front of the home town crowd. Key Trends: - Miami is 14-10 ATS in its last 24 when playing on back-to-back days. - Minnesota is only 3-5 ATS in its last eight after a blowout victory of 20 points or more. The verdict: I like Miami's depth to carry the team to another solid cover at the very least in this one; grab the points! | |||||||
10-27-19 | Panthers +6 v. 49ers | Top | 13-51 | Loss | -110 | 122 h 17 m | Show |
My 10* CLASH OF THE TITANS is on the Carolina Panthers. Carolina is 4-2 and it's coming out of its bye week hungry for a victory and to give the 6-0 49ers their first loss of the season. Carolina has won four straight with rookie pivot Kyle Allen under center. San Francisco has averaged 172 yards per game in the early going and its defense has been tremendous. Carolina averages 27 PPG and it concedes 22. San Fran averages 26 PPG and it allows only ten. Key Trends: - Carolina is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 as a road dog (including 2-0 ATS this season.) - San Francisco is 3-7 ATS in its last ten as a favorite, including a money-burning 2-2 ATS this year. The verdict: Yes the 49ers sport better seasonal averages, but Carolina's early numbers are skewed with Newton having played the first two games. Carolina comes in rested and red hot and while I wouldn't be surprised by an outright victory, in the end I'll recommend to grab as many points as you can! | |||||||
10-27-19 | Giants +7.5 v. Lions | 26-31 | Win | 100 | 119 h 14 m | Show | |
My 9* BIG TIGER is on the New York Giants. The Lions "hot start" is firmly in the rear view mirror. At 2-5, the Giants are also looking at another miserable season, but that doesn't mean that they won't be fighting tooth and nail here. New York QB Daniel Jones has something to prove this week. Last weekend Giants' RB Saquon Barkley had 72 yards and a TD. The Lions' though looked terrible in their 42-30 loss to the Vikes this past Sunday. Matt Stafford has been decent for Detroit, but he's not going to have top RB Kerryon Johnson to help him. Key Trends: - New York is 8-2 ATS in its last ten as a road underdog of 7 points or less. - The Giants are a perfect 3-0 ATS in their last three off an upset loss as a favorite. - Detroit is a terrible 4-7 ATS in their last 11 off a division game. The verdict: In a contest which I envision coming down to whichever of these hungry sides has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to grab up the points! | |||||||
10-27-19 | Chargers +4.5 v. Bears | 17-16 | Win | 100 | 119 h 14 m | Show | |
My 8* TOP DOG is on the LA Chargers. The Chargers had three chances to punch it in from the 1 yard line last week to win vs. the Titans, but Melvin Gordon and Philip Rivers were unable to get the job done. The Chargers' season literally hangs in the balance in this one after starting 2-5. The Bears have been all over the map from week to week with their consistency, and they enter this one at 3-3. For the most part I'm basing this selection on the starting QB's. Mitchell Trubisky has taken a major step back this year. That's due to a number of different reasons, but regardless I absolutely like Rivers to come in focussed and to deliver the goods. Key Trends: - Chargers are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 on the road. - Bears are just 1-3 ATS in their last four following a SU home loss. The verdict: This is a contest which I see coming down to whichever team has its hands on the ball last; grab the points! | |||||||
10-27-19 | Eagles v. Bills | Top | 31-13 | Loss | -125 | 119 h 13 m | Show |
My 8* SMASH-JOB is on the Buffalo Bills. The Bills offense has been "good enough" this year, but their defense has been exceptional. Overall Buffalo averages only 20.2 PPG, but it concedes just 15.2. Buffalo' QB Josh Allen had two TD's vs. the Dolphins last weekend. The Eagles are down and out in my opinion after their 37-10 loss to the Cowboys. They aren't coming to a friendly place to face a team that's going to "look past" them either. After years of missing the playoffs, the Bills are on a mission this season. Besides, Eagles' QB Carson Wentz has looked horrible this year and he continues to suffer from a poor running game and weak offensive line. Key Trends: - Buffalo has scored 121 points so far this year and it's allowed an AFC low 91 against. - The Eagles are a poor 1-4 ATS this year following an ATS loss. The verdict: I think the home side can smell the blood in the water and I look for it to deliver the knock out blow to Philadelphia's season this weekend; lay the short points! | |||||||
10-26-19 | Washington State v. Oregon -14 | Top | 35-37 | Loss | -109 | 105 h 55 m | Show |
My 10* CLASH OF THE TITANS is on Oregon. 4-3 Washington State is going to get overwhelmed here today by 6-1 Oregon in my opinion. WSU posted a 41-10 win over Colorado last weekend, while the Ducks got over a major hurdle last week by taking out Washington. WSU QB Anthony Gordon leads a passing game which is No. 1 in the country with 440.7 YPG. Yes the defense held Colorado to 320 yards last week, but the week prior it conceded 532 to ASU. Ducks' QB Justin Herbert has 21 TD's and no INT's so far this season. Oregon's defense though is among the best in the country, allowing only 11.9 PPG. The Ducks have also forced 12 INT's this year. Key Trends: - Oregon is 4-1 ATS in its last five vs. the Conference. - The Cougars are interestingly just 1-4 ATS in their last five after posting 280 yards or more in their previous game. The verdict: For me, the WSU defense is the weak point for the visitors and I look for Herbert to light it up. Combined with the home side's improved defensive play this season, all signs do indeed point to a Ducks ATS rout; lay the points! | |||||||
10-26-19 | Arizona -1 v. Stanford | 31-41 | Loss | -110 | 98 h 56 m | Show | |
My 8* SMASH-JOB is on Arizona. Stanford is 3-4 overall, while Arizona is 4-3. While these teams haven't played since 2016, Stanford has won five straight in the series. Arizona enters hungry after back-to-back conference losses to Washington and USC. QB Grant Gunnell had 196 yards, two TD's and an INT. Overall the Wildcats average 34 PPG, while allowing 33 PPG. The Cardinal beat Washington two weeks ago, but after their bye they came out flat in a 34-16 setbac to UCLA at home. Stanford is now devastated by the injury bug and it comes into this one on its third string QB in Jack West. So far Stanford averages 22 PPG and it concedes 27. Key Trends: - The Cardinal are just 1-4 ATS in their last five after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game. - The Wildcats are 5-2 ATS in their last seven following a SU loss. The verdict: Yes Arizona can't stop anybody, but this week it clearly catches a big break facing the anemic offense of the Cardinal. This one has ATS blowout written all over it in my opinion, play on the Wildcats! | |||||||
10-26-19 | Southern Miss v. Rice +11 | 20-6 | Loss | -110 | 95 h 26 m | Show | |
My 8* TOP DOG is on Rice. The Southern Miss Golden Eagles are coming off a loss and sit at 4-3. The Rice Owls won't be going to a bowl game at 0-7, but they will be playing with pride as they try to shake off a frustrating season with an upset this afternoon. Southern Miss fell 45-30 to LA Tech last time out. Golden Eagels' star RB De'Michael Harris was injured in the second quarter and he's questionable for this one as well. Southern Miss QB Jack Abraham threw four INT's last week as well. Rice comes in off a tough 31-27 loss to UTSA, with QB's Tom Stewart and Wiley Green combining for 223 yards and two TD's. Key Trends: - The Southern Miss passing defense is among the worst in the country, allowing 273 yards through the air. - Rice is already a strong 2-0 ATS at home this year. The verdict: I think the visitors get caught looking past their lowly opponent and the injury to RB Harris is also significant here. The Owls have been "on the cusp" for a few weeks now and while they may not prevail outright here, everything points to another battle until the end; grab the points! | |||||||
10-26-19 | Liberty v. Rutgers +7.5 | 34-44 | Win | 100 | 94 h 27 m | Show | |
My 9* BIG TIGER is on Rutgers. Liberty is 5-2 and on the hunt for a bowl berth with one more victory, but 1-6 Rutgers is out to play spoiler for at least one more week. Liberty's competition has been suspect, last week it beat the Maine Black Bears 59-44. Flames' QB Joe Fagnano had five TD passes last week, but Liberty's defense was downright atrocious. Rutgers struggles offensively, but it catches a break here facing a banged up Liberty secondary. Key Trends: - Liberty is only 4-5 ATS in its last nine on the road. - The Flames are just 1-4 ATS in their last five after scoring 42 points or more in their last game. - Rutgers is 5-1 ATS in its last six off three straight losses to conference rivals. The veridct: The Scarlet Knights may not win this game outright, but I definitely am expecting an all out war until the end. Rutgers is desperate for any sort of positivity after six straight losses and they have a golden opportunity here to start the turn-around; that said, grab the points! | |||||||
10-25-19 | USC -13 v. Colorado | Top | 35-31 | Loss | -106 | 82 h 36 m | Show |
My 10* BLOWOUT is on USC. Yes USC has major issues at the RB position, but I still think it's going to have its way with the porous Buffalo defense. The Trojans are tied with Utah for the lead after last week's commanding 41-14 victory at home over Arizona. USC back-up QB Kedon Slovis has looked better each time he's hit the field and he has to be feeling confident here after throwing for four TD's and no INT's over his last two games. The Buffs have managed just 13 points in each of their last two games, with QB Steven Montez averaging just 130 passing yards. Key Trends: - The Buffs are allowing almost five TD's per game to opponents. - Colorado allowed Washington State to convert on three plays of over 20 yards last week. The verdict: Last week USC's defense came up with seven sacks. This one has disaster written all over it for the home side in all three phases; I'm laying the points! | |||||||
10-25-19 | Raptors v. Celtics -2.5 | Top | 106-112 | Win | 100 | 27 h 57 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on the Boston Celtics. Toronto played from behind on Opening Night vs. the Pelicans, managed to take it to overtime and then managed to cover the large 8 point spread. The Raptors got the job done on their own floor vs. a horrible team, but I think they're going to predictably struggle here on the road vs. a good team, which is out for its first win of the season after falling 107-93 in Philadelphia on Opening night. Yes Kemba Walker struggled for Boston in that one, but a small adjustment period is fully expected. With a night off to absorb the loss, I look for the home side to risk life and limb here vs. its divisional opponent. Key Trends: - Boston is 5-0 ATS at home the last five in this series. - Toronto is only 2-11 ATS in its last 13 after scoring 125 points or more in its previous game. The verdict: For all the reasons listed above, I'm banking on Boston bouncing back and laying a beating on the defending champs; lay the short points! | |||||||
10-24-19 | Hawks +1.5 v. Pistons | Top | 117-100 | Win | 100 | 27 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Atlanta Hawks. Detroit upset Indiana 119-110 last night, but I think it'll have a hard time keeping pace with the Hawks this evening, who come in focussed and fresh for the new season. Detroit is without the services of star player Blake Griffin for the first few weeks and after Andre Drummond's career performance in last night's victory, I think this one definitely has "letdown" written all over it. I like Trae Young and hungry Hawks to push the pace from start to finish. Key Trends: - ATL is 43-30 ATS In its last 73 as a road dog. - Detroit is 0-2 ATS in its last two off an upswet win over a division rival as an underdog. The verdict: I expect the Hawks to roll to a sizeable victory; play on Atlanta! | |||||||
10-23-19 | Celtics +5 v. 76ers | Top | 93-107 | Loss | -101 | 10 h 2 m | Show |
My 10* CLASH OF THE TITANS is on the Boston Celtics. Last season the Celtics finished 49-33 and finished fourth in the conference. With new point guard Kemba Walker in place to "steady the ship" off the court, I think Boston can improve on that record this year. Boston's Marcus Smart is expecting an all out war: "It's gonna be a dog fight," Smart said. "You can't come in looking pretty, you can't come in scared to get hit. You gotta be ready to get in there, get your nose bloodied a little bit." Boston has plenty of talent and clearly has the ability to win this one outright. Philadelphia went seven games with the Raptors last year in the playoffs, only to be outdone by Kawhi Leonard's last second shot. I think these teams are very evenly matched and while the 76ers obviously have the home court advantage, I do definitely expect a war until the end. Key Trends: - Boston won this series 3-1 last year. Every game in that series was close as well, except the first one. The verdict: Look for these two Eastern Conference contenders to battle tooth and nail until the final horn; grab the points! | |||||||
10-23-19 | Grizzlies +7.5 v. Heat | 101-120 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 2 m | Show | |
My 8* play is on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies now belong to Jonas Valanciunas and No. 2 overall pick Ja Morant. Jae Crowder and Grayson Allen have a lot of potential in the back-court as well. Jimmy Butler is in Miami, but the Heat lost Hassan Whiteside and Josh Richardson. Key Trends: - Memphis is 15-10 ATS in its last 25 as a road dog in the 6.5 to 12 points range. - Miami is only 8-13 ATS in its last 21 as a home favorite in the 6.5 to 12 points range. The verdict: I think the opportunity is here for the underdog to win outright, but in a game which should be a full on war until the final horn, I'm going to grab the points! | |||||||
10-23-19 | Wolves +3.5 v. Nets | 127-126 | Win | 100 | 10 h 2 m | Show | |
My 8* play is on the Wolves. The Nets are without Kevin Durant, but they still have Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince. How will the Nets perform with all of these new faces? And without Durant? That's yet to be seen of course. While the Wolves lost a couple faces (Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson), their core of star players remains in tact. I believer Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggis can keep their team competitive in this one. Key Trends: - Minnesota is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 as road dog of five points or higher. - The Nets are only 38-43 ATS the last two years on their own floor. The verdict: Outright victory? Possibly. But in a game which I seeing being a competitive war until the final horn, I'm grabbing the points! | |||||||
10-23-19 | Cavs +8.5 v. Magic | 85-94 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 33 m | Show | |
My 8* play is on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now that Cleveland has had a full year to adjust without the King in the line-up, the Cavaliers should be able to improve upon their horrible 19-63 record from last year. The Magic won the Southeast Division with a record of 42-40. Collin Sexton scored 18 PPG last year for the Cavs and he had a solid preseason. Cleveland is a young team that won't be lacking for motivation here. Markelle Fultz has participated in preseason action for the Magic, but he's not been cleared to play here yet. Key Trends: - Orlando is just 14-20 ATS as a home favorite in its last 34. The verdict: Both teams are dealing with injuries and each has new faces. I think the hungry visiting side will at least take this one down to the wire; grab the points! | |||||||
10-23-19 | Bulls v. Hornets +3.5 | 125-126 | Win | 100 | 10 h 33 m | Show | |
My 8* play is on the Charoltte Hornets. The Hornets will start the year without Kemba Walker in the line-up, but they catch a break facing the Bulls out of the gate. Chicago is loaded with potential (Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine), but it's still coming off a 22-60 campaign. Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller are Charlotte's leading return scorers. Key Trends: - Chicago is just 7-9 ATS in its last 16 as a favorite. The verdict: Michael Jordan has cleaned house with his team, but there's still plenty of young talent surrounding Zeller and Williams (Malik Monk, Miles Bridges and Dwayne Bacon). I'm banking on this competitive affair being decided by whichever teams has its hands on the ball last; grab the points! | |||||||
10-22-19 | Nationals +1.5 v. Astros | Top | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 54 h 58 m | Show |
My 10* RUN-LINE GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Washington Nationals. Do you need me to list the stats of these starting pitchers? Max Scherzer of the Nationals and Gerrit Cole of the Astros are two of the better known starting hurlers in the league, so if you're betting on this game, listing their records probably isn't necessary (Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in the post-season, with 27 K's over 20 innings of work, while Cole is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA so far in the playoffs.) The verdict: I believe the starters are a "wash" here, so in a contest which I envision being decided by the releivers and in the latter frames, I'm going to suggest grabbing extra 1.5 runs of insurance for this very reasonable price; play on the Nats run line in Game 1! | |||||||
10-22-19 | Pelicans +7 v. Raptors | Top | 122-130 | Loss | -107 | 54 h 56 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on the New Orleans Pelicans. Yes New Orleans is without Zion Williamson, but guess what? The Raptors are without possibly the best player in the entire World in Kawhi Leonard to open the season. You'd better believe that Jrue Holiday and company are going to be out to prove that they can still win without their star rookie on the floor. Toronto has plenty to prove as well this year after the departure of Leonard, but I believe Toronto will have difficulites with chemistry to start. New Orleans' combination of Holiday and Lonzo Ball give New Orleans the best defensive combo in the NBA on paper. That doesn't bode well for Kyle Lowry in my opinion. Key Trends: - Toronto was just 3-5 ATS last year in games without Leonard and in which the opposing team was able to limit Lowry to under 40 percent shooting. The verdict: Outright victory? Anything is possible on Opening Night, but in a contest which I envision coming down to whichever of these hungry sides has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to grab up all these points! | |||||||
10-21-19 | Patriots -9.5 v. Jets | Top | 33-0 | Win | 100 | 59 h 30 m | Show |
My 10* CLASH OF THE TITANS is on the New England Patriots. I don't think the Patriots "look past" the Jets on Monday Night Football. In fact, I think Tom Brady and company are planning something big this evening. As good as Brady is though right now, note that it's been his defense which has gotten the job done this season, allowing only 234.7 YPG total. Key Trends: - The Jets offensive line has conceded 25 sacks so far this year. - The Patriots are avearging four sacks per game. The verdict: New York is a better football team with Sam Darnold under center as evidenced by last week's upset win over the inconsistent Cowboys. However, Darnold faces what is shaping up to be one of the best defenses in the history of the NFL; expect a lop-sided destruction and lay the points with confidence! | |||||||
10-20-19 | Saints v. Bears -3.5 | Top | 36-25 | Loss | -110 | 151 h 3 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Chicago Bears. All good things have to come to an end eventually. The Saints are 5-1, but I think they're going to take a step back here in this tough venue. It's difficult to win and cover on the road in the NFL and after last week's 13-6 victory at Jacksonville, I believe the Saints will in fact finally have their letdown here. Chicago had won three straight before a 24-21 loss to the Raiders in London two weeks ago. But with a week off to prepare and focus, I look for the home side to take advantage. Key Trends: - Chicago has one of the best defenses in the league, allowing 83 rushing yards and 229.2 passing yards with 17 sacks and four INT's this year. The verdict: Teddy Bridgewater has filled in admirably for Drew Brees to this point, but after he falters this weekend, look for New Orleans to use the setback as the stage to re-introduce their super start veteran pivot; this one has ATS blowout written all over it! | |||||||
10-20-19 | Texans +1 v. Colts | 23-30 | Loss | -108 | 47 h 5 m | Show | |
My 8* play on the Texans. Houston comes in on top form, off back to back big wins and I look for it to steam roll the Colts here, who enter off their bye-week. Houston smoked the Falcons in Week 5 by posting 53 points and then it beat the Chiefs in Kansas City. The Colts beat the Chiefs as well, but then they went into their bye week. I think that rest is going to least to rust for the 3-2 Colts. Key Trends: - The Texans are 9-5 ATS in their last 14 as a road underdog. - The Colts are just 1-5 ATS in their last six after covering the spread in three out of their last four. The verdict: I like DeShaun Watson to continue his incredible play and for Houston to take advantage of this "flat" Colts side; grab the short points! | |||||||
10-20-19 | Dolphins v. Bills -16.5 | 21-31 | Loss | -110 | 47 h 5 m | Show | |
My 8* play on the Buffalo Bills. I think the 4-1 Bills lay the hammer down from start to finish on the 0-5 Dolphins. The Fish have been blown out big time in four of their five games and in my opinion, everything points to another blowout here as well. The Bills are coming out of their bye week and they are expecting RB Devin Singletary to return to the line-up. Key Trends: - Buffalo is 4-0 ATS in its last four after scoring 15 points or less in its previous game. - The Bills are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four following their bye-week. - The Dolphins are just 3-13 ATS in their last 16 on the road. The verdict: Miami is looking to tank every game at this point as it tries to earn the top draft picks; this one has ATS blowout written all over it! | |||||||
10-19-19 | Michigan +9.5 v. Penn State | Top | 21-28 | Win | 100 | 51 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on Michigan. Clearly it's a big game. I got down early and have a favorable line, but regardless, I think this one is going to come down to the wire. MIchigan is 5-1, and Penn State is 6-0. Last year the Wolverines won this game 42-7. Michigan beat Illinois 42-25 last week. Michigan got by Iowa and Penn State and its hands full with the Hawkeyes last week. The Wolverines average 30 PPG, while conceding just 17. Michigan QB Shea Patterson had three passsing TD's and one rushing in last weeks' victory. Penn State averages 42 PPG, while allowing only eight. But I think the Nittany Lions numbers are skewed, due to a couple of lop-sided blowouts in the early season. Key Trends: - Penn State is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven following an ATS victory. - Michigan is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 vs. teams with winning records. The verdict: I think this will be a tight, defensive affair. Grab the points! | |||||||
10-19-19 | Duke +3 v. Virginia | 14-48 | Loss | -100 | 47 h 36 m | Show | |
My 8* ACC SUPER-CRUSHER is on Duke. This is a big game for both 4-2 ACC Coastal Division opponents. Clearly the oddsmakers also believe these teams are evenly matched. And in a contest which I do envision coming down to whichever of these hungry sides has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to recommend grabbing the points. Duke comes in off a win over Georgia Tech, while Virginia has taken a step back of late after a hot start, entering off back-to-back losses, including to Notre Dame and then most recently to Miami. The Blue Devils have a new QB this year in Quentin Harris and he's led an offense which has scored at least 30 points in every game so far (except vs. Alabama.) But Duke has been even better defensively, allowing just 3.67 YPC and only 6.7 yards per attempt in the air. Key Trends: - The quadruple revenge factor comes into play here for the Blue Devils. The verdict: The Cavaliers' defense has been a strong point for UVA this year, but QB Byrce Perkins has taken a step back of late. And I think that trend continues vs. the "under the radar" Duke defense. The outright is clearly possible, but in the end I'm grabbing the points! | |||||||
10-19-19 | Buffalo v. Akron +17.5 | 21-0 | Loss | -109 | 47 h 36 m | Show | |
My 9* BLOWOUT is on Akron. Akron has a lot of issues at 0-6 clearly, but the Bulls have lost two in a row and four of their last five. Akron ranks among the worst in the country on both sides of the ball, while Buffalo sports respectable marks. However, the Bulls have conceded 55 points over their last two games and I like the Zips to take advantage here at home. Key Trends: - This is a revenge game for Akron after it fell 24-6 in Buffalo last year in this game. - The home team has covered seven straight in this series. The verdict: Buffalo started a new QB in Kyle Vantrease last time out and he had 197 yards and two TD's in his team's 21-20 OT loss to Ohio. Akron has talent at the most important position; QB. Kato Nelson has 1,267 passing yards and an 8:3 TD:INT. I think the stage is set for a more competitive battle than what Las Vegas is trying to lead us to believe; grab the points! | |||||||
10-19-19 | Georgia Tech +18.5 v. Miami-FL | Top | 28-21 | Win | 100 | 43 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* SUPER SHOCKER is on Georgia Tech. Massive upset? Beatdown of epic proportions? Or something firmly in between?! I think the 1-5 Yellow Jackets will keep this one more competitive than what this spread would suggest vs. the 3-3 Hurricanes. I think this sets up as a letdown spot for the Canes after their upset win over then No. 20 Virginia last weekend. The Yellow Jackets on the other hand will be in a foul mood after four straight losses, most recently a 41-23 setback at Duke. Georgia Tech runs the triple-option, but QB James Graham and the Yellow Jackets have struggled on the offensive end so far. But while Miami did look impressive on the defensive side last week vs. the Cavs, the week previous it lost 42-35 to Virginia Tech. The verdict: I think the home side gets caught looking ahead as well to back-to-back tough road games vs. Pittsburgh (leading the Coastal Division right now) and at FSU. The Yellow Jackets have nothing to lose here except another game; I'm grabbing the points! | |||||||
10-18-19 | Pittsburgh v. Syracuse +3.5 | Top | 27-20 | Loss | -110 | 35 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* play is on Syracuse. 4-2 Pittburgh invades 3-3 Syracuse on Friday night. Outright victory is clearly in the cards, but let's grab the points. Pittsburgh started off the year slowly, but it's since turned thing around with three straight wins. Pitt has looked shaky at times though, especially in a loss to Penn State. The Orange finished 10-3 last year, but so far they've had some troubles adjusting with new QB Tommy DeVito under center. The verdict: But with a much more high-profile game at home vs. Miami next weekend, I think the Panthers get caught looking past this clearly desperate Orange team. This is a season-defining contest for Syracuse and I expect it to play with an extreme sense of desperation in all phases. Also note that Pitt is just 1-3 ATS in its last four after three or ore consecutive SU victories, while Syraucse is 3-1 ATS In its last four afer scoring 14 points or less in its previous game; I'm grabbing the points! | |||||||
10-18-19 | Marshall +5.5 v. Florida Atlantic | 36-31 | Win | 100 | 34 h 4 m | Show | |
Key Trends: The Thundering Herd rumble into FAU with a 3-3 record, while the Owls defend at 4-2. FAU has now won four in a row after losses to Ohio State and UCF. Marshall enters having won two in a row, most recently pulling away for a 31-17 victory over Old Dominion. Both teams feature plenty of offensive talent. Marshall QB Isaiah Green has hit 60 percent of passes in conference play. The Herd have been decent defensively as well in conceding 25.8 per contest so far. The verdict: FAU got by MTSU 28-13 in its most recent victory. Owls' QB Chris Robinson has 300 or more yards in three straight games, but FAU's defense is a big question mark, as it allows 459 yards per game average and it's already conceded 24 total TD's. Marshall is 6-1 ATS in its last seven as a road dog and FAU is just 1-4 ATS in its last five as a home favorite in the 3.5 to seven points range; I'm grabbing the points! | |||||||
10-17-19 | UCLA +7 v. Stanford | Top | 34-16 | Win | 100 | 29 h 55 m | Show |
My 10* BIG TIGER is on UCLA. I got down early and have UCLA at the opening line, but since the Cardinal reported that third-string QB Jack West is going to start, the line has dropped between 3 and 4. Regardless, I believe this one now definitely favors the Bruins. UCLA's offense has come to life of late under QB Austin Burton and with nothing to lose (except another game!), the last place Bruins will be giving the pivot the green light from start to finish. The Cardinal beat the Huskies 23-13 two weeks ago, but the change at QB is going to be difficult in my estimation. Key Trends: - UCLA is 3-1 ATS in its last four as a road dog in the 3.5 to 7 points range. - Stanford is just 9-11 ATS in its last 20 after playing a conference game. - The Cardinal are a poor 1-4 ATS in their last five off a home win vs. a confernece rival. The verdict: I believe that an outright upset is possible, but in the end I'm grabbing the points! | |||||||
10-13-19 | 49ers v. Rams -3.5 | 20-7 | Loss | -106 | 122 h 40 m | Show | |
My 9* DELIGHT is on the LA Rams. I have been surprised by the 49ers, but I'm still not convinced by Jimmy Garopolo and company. Yes the Rams have suffered a Super Bowl letdown this year and yes they'll be without RB Todd Gurley, but LA's offense still ranks in the top 10 right now. With Jared Goff leading the show at home, I believe a beatdown is in the cards here. San Francisco comes in complacent and flat in my opinion after its great start and on the short week after the MNF victory over the Browns. Key Trends: - San Francisco is still only 5-7 ATS in its last 12 vs. the division. - LA is 3-1 ATS vs. the conference this year. - The Rams are 3-1 ATS as a favorite this season. The verdict: Look for San Fran to finally have a letdown here; lay the short points! | |||||||
10-13-19 | Seahawks v. Browns +1.5 | Top | 32-28 | Loss | -101 | 119 h 38 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Cleveland Browns. For this pick I'm looking at it from an overall situational stand point and in my opinion, this one simply means "more" to the home side. The Browns are off a terrible showing on Monday Night Football vs. the 49ers and they'll be looking to move back to .500 with a small upset at home here. The Hawks on the other hand have to travel across country for an early afternoon non-conference contest, after their thrilling win at home over division rival LA. I'm not convinced that Seattle really does have the "better" team on paper. The Browns issues mostly revolve around themselves shooting themselves in the foot. I expect a much better effort at home from Cleveland and I do indeed feel this also sets up as a classic letdown spot for the visitors. Key Trends: - Seattle is just 5-6 ATS in its last 11 after two more consecutive victories. - Cleveland is 8-2 ATS in its last ten after scoring 14 points or less in its previous game. The verdict: I expect Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb to deliver the goods on their home field; grab the point/s! | |||||||
10-13-19 | Bengals +12.5 v. Ravens | 17-23 | Win | 100 | 119 h 37 m | Show | |
My 8* CROWD PLEASER is on the Bengals. The Bengals are 0-5 and their season is over. But the team will still try to win games and build momentum as it looks to re-build and look-ahead to next year. They'll want to play spoiler here for a Ravens team which is 3-2, but which has also shown great inconsistency from week to week so far this year as well. Key Trends: - Cincinnati is still 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road dog in the 7.5 to 14 points range (including 1-0 ATS this season.) - The Bengals are still 8-5 ATS in their last 13 vs. the division. - The Ravens are a poor 6-10 ATS in their last 16 after playing their last game on the road. The verdict: I like this under the radar underdog to push its host to the limit; grab the points! | |||||||
10-13-19 | Texans +5 v. Chiefs | 31-24 | Win | 100 | 119 h 36 m | Show | |
My 9* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE is on the Houston Texans. Houston is 3-2 and KC is 4-1. The Chiefs are a "Joe Public" team with Patrick Mahomes under center, but I think that Houston and DeShaun Watson can keep pace down the stretch. The outright isn't out of the question, but this is a contest which I envision being decided late. Don't think Houston can keep pace with the Chiefs high-flying offense? Better think again after the Texans posted the resounding 53-32 win over the Falcons last weekend. The Chiefs on the other hand come in off their first loss of the season, inexplicably falling to the Colts at home. Key Trends: - Houston is 8-2 ATS in its last ten as a road dog (including 2-0 this year.) - Kansas City is a terrible 1-4 ATS in its last five off an upset loss as a favorite. The verdict: I think the stage is set for another outright upset. That said, let's grab up all these points! | |||||||
10-12-19 | USC +11.5 v. Notre Dame | Top | 27-30 | Win | 100 | 102 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on USC. USC is 3-2 and Notre Dame is 4-1. The Trojans enter off a 28-14 loss to Washington, while the Irish rolled over Bowling Green 52-0 last weekend. USC though has had a week off to digest its latest setback and with Kedon Slovis now directing the show under center, I believe the visitors can keep this one closer than what this spread would suggest (732 yards passing with five TD's and four INTs). USC also has three backs with over 150 rushing yards, so Slovis has help. USC only allows 411.4 yards of total offense per game, so I think Irish QB Ian Book takes a step back this weekend, after last Saturday's "cream puff" matchup. Key Trends: - USC is already 2-0 ATS this year after one or more consecutive losses ATS. - Notre Dame is 0-2 ATS in its last two after two straight home wins by 14 points or more. The verdict: I think the rested home side can keep this one very close. No outright, but definitely grab up all these points! | |||||||
10-12-19 | Iowa State -10 v. West Virginia | 38-14 | Win | 100 | 98 h 25 m | Show | |
My 8* play on Iowa State. Both teams are 3-2, but I think the visitors come prepared today and I look for them to lay a beating on the home side. The Cyclones enter off a convincing 49-24 win over TCU at home and with three of their next four on the road, I think they have to set an early precident here. WVU on the other hand had its win streak snapped in a sloppy 42-31 loss to Texas last weekend. Iowa State has "murderers row" up next, with games at Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Texas. But I have a hard time seeing WVU slowing down Iowa State QB Brock Purdy. WVU has been terrible against FSU offenses and I look for that trend to carry over today. Key Trends: - The Cyclones are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 on the road. - WVU is just 3-7 ATS in its last ten as an underdog. The verdict: In my opinion, this one has "beatdown" written all over it; lay the points! | |||||||
10-12-19 | New Mexico State +11 v. Central Michigan | 28-42 | Loss | -110 | 97 h 25 m | Show | |
My 8* play on New Mexico State. I think CMU gets caught "looking past" lowly and winless New Mexico State. Central Michigan is 3-3, winning all three at home. But with upcoming road games at Bowling Green and Buffalo, I do indeed feel that this sets up as a natural letdown/look-ahead spot for the home side. I think NMS QB Josh Adkins can keep his team in this one late vs. a Chips' secondary which is allowing an average of 264.2 YPG through the air. Key Trends: - New Mexico State is already 2-1 ATS as a road dog this year. - CMU is only 1-3 ATS in its last four off an upset win as an underdog. The verdict: I think the improving Aggies will at the very least, keep this one competitive until the final quarter; grab up all these points! | |||||||
10-12-19 | Georgia Tech +17.5 v. Duke | 23-41 | Loss | -105 | 95 h 55 m | Show | |
My 8* play on Georgia Tech. Key Trends: Analysis posted shortly. | |||||||
10-12-19 | Toledo v. Bowling Green +26 | 7-20 | Win | 100 | 94 h 26 m | Show | |
My 8* play on Bowling Green. I believe Toledo will get caught looking past its lowly opponent today. Of course I'm not predicting an outright upset, but I do expect the home side to put up a fight. Last year the Rockets beat the Falcons 52-36. Yes Bowling Green has lost four in a row after winning its opener, but it's had a difficult schedule. It's now or never for the Falcons though if they have any hope of trying to make it to a Bowl. The motivational factors in which I look for when trying to choose one side or another are firmly in place for Bowling Green today (bowl hopes on the line, combined with catching a complacent Toledo team off four straight victories, and last year's revenge factor.) Key Trends: - Toledo is just 6-7 ATS in its last 13 on the road (including 0-2 ATS this year.) - Bowling Green is 4-1 ATS in its last five after allowing 37 points or more in two straight games. The verdict: I think this one sets up great from a situational stand point for the Falcons; grab the points! |
Service | Profit |
---|---|
William Burns | $1,395 |
Joey Tron | $617 |
Ray Monohan | $607 |
Ross Benjamin | $583 |
Big Al McMordie | $401 |
Matt Fargo | $327 |
Ricky Tran | $297 |
Sean Higgs | $140 |
Jesse Schule | $98 |
Kyle Hunter | $66 |