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NCAAF SEC Game of the Year. My selection is on Auburn minus the points over Texas A&M at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I think a lot of bettors got spooked in early October as Auburn dropped back-to-back games at Mississippi State and at home against Tennessee. We did see the Tigers bounce back last time out, going on the road to defeat Ole Miss 31-16, which took them into their bye week. This is actually a fairly critical spot for Auburn as it will travel to face Georgia and Alabama in two of its final three regular season games – winning either of those would be a tall task to be sure. While there is a home game against Liberty to gain Bowl eligibility even if the Tigers drop this one to the Aggies, that’s not really a path they want to take. On the flip side, 20th-ranked Texas A&M gets a couple of winnable games at home against Ole Miss and UAB next. In fact, the Aggies won’t play another true road game this season, wrapping things up at home against LSU on November 24th. The Aggies will be trying to avoid suffering consecutive losses for the first time this season on Saturday but this is a difficult spot in enemy territory. Note that last week we didn’t see the Aggies score a touchdown until the final minute of the first half against Mississippi State. Two games back it wasn’t until four minutes left in the first half until they reached the end zone at South Carolina. I simply feel the Aggies are going to have a difficult time breaking through against the Tigers and expect Auburn to make enough plays down the stretch to secure a win and cover. Take Auburn (10*).

My selection is on Oakland plus the points over San Francisco at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I'll grab the points with the Raiders in a game they should win outright. There aren't a lot of redeeming qualities when it comes to either of these teams. This truly is an ugly Thursday night matchup. With that being said, I do feel that the Raiders offer some considerable value in this spot. Most have written off Jon Gruden's Raiders as a laughingstock at this point, and perhaps rightfully so. But Oakland does have some upside this week. With RB Marshawn Lynch sidelined due to injury and WR Amari Cooper having been dealt to Dallas, we saw the Raiders turn in one of their best offensive performances of the season last Sunday against Indianapolis, albeit in a losing effort. Lynch's absence makes way for veteran RB Doug Martin, who gained over five yards per rush last Sunday, while WRs Brandon LaFell and Seth Roberts both reached the end zone. That was not a favorable matchup against the Colts, but this is, as the 49ers check in dealing with a number of key injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the football. I am confident we'll see 49ers QB C.J. Beathard start this game but he's not close to 100% healthy and it seems now that opponents have some film on him, they've had little trouble keeping him in check. Over the last two games, the Niners have scored a grand total of just 25 points. RB Matt Breida played last week but didn't look healthy dealing with a high ankle sprain and averaged just 2.6 yards per rush against the Cardinals. Ordinarily this would be a smash spot for the 49ers offense as the Raiders defense leaves a lot to be desired, but right now, I don't believe San Francisco is healthy enough to take full advantage. Take Oakland (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

I really like the way this one sets up for the Packers. Green Bay is coming off its bye week and the week off should only serve to further improve the health of QB Aaron Rodgers, who has certainly looked good in his last two games. The Rams caught the 49ers in a flat spot last Sunday afternoon but won't be so fortunate against a Green Bay squad that continues to try to make up ground following a relatively poor start to the season. Los Angeles' defense simply hasn't been as good as advertised this season and while the Packers continue to deal with some injuries at the wide receiver position, their young depth has really stepped up lately and should continue to do so here. This is a particularly favorable matchup for WR Davante Adams and TE Jimmy Graham. Both should come up big and help keep the Packers in this game from start to finish. Take Green Bay (10*).

My selection is on Chicago minus the points over New York at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an excellent ‘get right’ matchup for the Bears following last week’s sloppy performance at home against the Patriots. It’s one thing to struggle to keep up in a shootout with the Patriots but another matter entirely to stumble against the Jets. I don’t envision the Bears falling into that trap here. New York is hitting the road for the first time since dropping a 31-12 loss at Jacksonville back on September 30th. Since then, the Jets have won two of their last three games but that had more to do with favorable matchups than anything else. Not surprisingly, we saw New York get crushed 37-17 in a tough matchup at home against the Vikings last week. The Jets are currently dealing with a cluster of injuries in their secondary and now face a Bears offense that while inconsistent, can certainly bomb away when a favorable matchup presents itself. Perhaps ‘bomb away’ is the wrong term as QB Mitchell Trubisky seems to fare better in the short passing game. With that being said, Chicago has a wealth of offensive weapons and they should be on full display on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. I don’t believe the Jets will be able to keep within arm’s reach for four quarters. Take Chicago (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This game has blowout written all over it as far as I’m concerned. While the Steelers cruise into this home date off their bye week, the Browns are fresh off an overtime loss at Tampa Bay last Sunday. There were concerns all over the place for Cleveland last week. Its offense couldn’t sustain many drives against a hapless Bucs defense while the defense simply couldn’t come up with big plays when it needed to. Now the Browns stay on the road and face what will be a highly-motivated Steelers squad after Pittsburgh dominated most of the way but ultimately had to settle for a tie in Cleveland back in Week 1. We’ve seen glimpses of the Steelers offensive potential this season but I look for it all to come together in this matchup. This is a prime matchup for RB James Conner in particular, who continues to prove his worth starting in place of holdout Le’Veon Bell. There’s really no need to over-analyze this one – it’s a true statement spot for the Steelers. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Jacksonville at 9:30 am et on Sunday.

These two teams enter this London matchup with identical 3-4 records but I feel that the Eagles are in a far better place right now and in good position to win this one going away. The Jaguars are reeling. There are questions whether QB Blake Bortles is really the right guy to lead the offense while the defense hasn’t come close to living up to expectations in recent weeks. Was last season a fluke? I’m not ready to make that judgement just yet, but I do feel the Jags find themselves in a really difficult spot traveling across the pond to face the defending Super Bowl champions on Sunday. The Eagles are coming off a truly disappointing fall-from-ahead loss against the Panthers, at home no less. With that being said, QB Carson Wentz is coming off a spectacular performance and we should see some carry-over from that effort here. Since getting WR Alshon Jeffery back the Eagles offense has had a more dynamic look and I believe they’ll give Jacksonville plenty of problems on Sunday. Defensively, the Eagles are down a couple of key cogs but depth is not something they’re lacking on that side of the football. They employ a ‘next man up’ philosophy, much like the Patriots, and draw a favorable matchup in a struggling Jags offense here. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on Stanford minus the points over Washington State at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I’ve been high on Washington State this season but I don’t see this as an ideal spot for the Cougars, heading out on the road following one of the biggest games in program history (one that resulted in a victory no less) against Oregon last week. Stanford bounced back from consecutive losses with a hard-fought road win at Arizona State last week and should be able to build on that performance here. Note that the last time the Cardinal played here at ‘The Farm’ they were blasted 40-21 by Utah. They’ll certainly be looking to make amends for that poor showing here. Washington State is rolling along right now, having posted three straight wins. It is worth noting, however, that the Cougars haven’t really been tested on the road outside of a 39-36 loss at USC back on September 21st. Their other two road games were against Wyoming and Oregon State, two teams that own a combined SU record of 3-12. This line has moved in Washington State’s favor at the time of posting, as folks are quickly jumping on the Cougar bandwagon. I’m not sure the move is warranted. Take Stanford (10*).

My selection is on Eastern Michigan over Army at 12 noon et on Saturday.

This game should mean a little more to Eastern Michigan as it continues to push its way toward Bowl eligibility. The Eagles check in at 4-4 on the season and fresh off back-to-back wins. They’ve faced a pretty tough schedule this season so there’s no reason to knock them over the .500 record. Army checks in with five wins already to its credit, including three in a row heading into this contest. I don’t see this as a favorable spot for the Black Knights as they hit the road following last week’s double-overtime thriller against Miami-Ohio. I consider Eastern Michigan to be one of the nation’s most underrated and overlooked teams. The Eagles have already gone on the road and defeated Purdue this season and their four losses have come at Buffalo, San Diego State and Western Michigan and at home against Northern Illinois. There was really no shame in any of those setbacks. Take Eastern Michigan (10*).

NCAAF Pac-12 Game of the Year. My selection is on Oregon State plus the points over California at 4 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab all the points I can get with the Beavers as they host a reeling California squad on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears got off to a fast start this season, posting three straight victories to open the campaign. However, since then they’ve dropped three in a row and all three games could have been considered ‘winnable’. Now they head out on the road to take on a 1-5 Oregon State squad that won’t draw a great deal of motivation when you consider the Bears posted a relatively easy 37-23 win in this matchup last year. The Beavers have been getting blown out on the regular lately, dropping their last three games by a combined 68 points but I do like the progression we’ve seen from their offense, as well as the fact that they’re coming off their bye week. Last time out they hung around until the fourth quarter against a good Washington State team, actually grabbing a lead early in the third quarter. It’s worth noting that the Beavers recently welcomed back electric RB Artavis Pierce and he should make an impact in this matchup. The Oregon State defense hasn’t been good by any means but is the Cal offense capable of taking advantage? Note that the Bears have scored a grand total of 48 points during their current three-game losing streak and managed only a single touchdown, which didn’t come until midway through the third quarter, against a middle of the road UCLA defense last week. Take Oregon State (10*).

NCAAF ACC Game of the Year. My selection is on Virginia plus the points over Duke at 12:30 pm et on Saturday.

Points are likely to come at a premium in this matchup and with that in mind I’ll grab all the points I can get with the Cavaliers. Virginia successfully bounced back from a loss at N.C. State, delivering a 16-13 win over Miami last week. One bad quarter essentially did the Cavaliers in against the Wolfpack but we saw them ride a masterful defensive effort to victory last Saturday. I’m confident they can contain the Duke offense as well, noting that the Blue Devils have scored more than 28 points in a game only twice this season, with those two efforts coming against Baylor and FCS squad NC Central. They’ve scored a grand total of only 42 points over their last two contests and were held to 21 points in a loss to Virginia last year. The Cavaliers defense isn’t great by any means, but has done enough to instill confidence going up against a fairly tough Duke defense. Note that RB Jordan Ellis has found the end zone in three of his last four games, totaling five touchdowns over that stretch. QB Bryce Perkins had thrown for at least two touchdowns in each of his first five games before a rough outing against a strong Miami defense last week (he completed only 12-of-21 passes for 92 yards and three interceptions in that game). The fact that the Cavaliers still managed to outlast the Hurricanes even with that poor performance from Perkins was encouraging to say the least. Take Virginia (10*).

NFL Thursday Night Game of the Month. My selection is on Arizona plus the points over Denver at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I’ll back the Cardinals on Thursday night as they host the reeling Broncos. Arizona has certainly shown signs of turning things around over the last couple of weeks. Two games back, the Cardinals posted a 28-18 victory over an improving 49ers squad in San Francisco. Just last Sunday they battled the Vikings hard for 60 minutes, ultimately falling by 10 points, on the road no less. Now they return home and draw a favorable matchup against a Denver squad that can’t get out of its own way right now. The Broncos have lost four straight games, allowing at least 23 points in each of those losses. Meanwhile, their offense continues to lag, having scored 20 points or less in four of their last five contests. QB Case Keenum doesn’t look like the right fit for the offense, with some Broncos faithful calling for Chad Kelly to take over. Outside of WR Emmanuel Sanders I don’t see any of the Broncos having much of an edge against a still-capable Cardinals defense. On the flip side, Arizona RB David Johnson should face little resistance against a Broncos defense that has had no success at all stopping the run in recent weeks. Denver’s once-feared ‘no fly zone’ defense is no more. Chris Harris is essentially the lone bright spot in the Broncos secondary. While the Cardinals by no means have an elite WR corps, especially with veteran Larry Fitzgerald playing at well below 100% healthy, they’re still capable of stretching the field and exposing the Broncos secondary. Look for WR Christian Kirk to continue to build on his solid rapport with rookie QB Josh Rosen, helping pace the offense in what I believe will be a win for the Cardinals. Take Arizona (10*).

NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Year. My selection is on New England minus the points over Kansas City at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

This is a rematch of last year’s season-opener – a game the Chiefs won in blowout fashion right here in Foxborough. I expect a much different story to unfold this time around as the Patriots look to gain an ounce of revenge against Andy Reid’s undefeated squad. I like the way this one sets up for the Pats as they come off an extended week following their Thursday night win over the Colts. We’ve seen their offense evolve and improve over the early stages of the season and I’m confident we’ll see their best effort of the campaign to date on Sunday night against a very beatable Chiefs defense. New England welcomed WR Julian Edelman back to the field last week and he should continue to see his role increase as the weeks go on. In this game I actually expect to see the Patriots backfield take center stage with RBs James White and Sony Michel going off against a porous Chiefs defense. We have seen some chinks in the Chiefs offensive armor over the last couple of games, with the Broncos and Jaguars at least laying out somewhat of a blueprint as to how to slow down this juggernaut. This certainly has all the makings of a shootout, but in the end I like the Patriots to make a couple more big plays down the stretch and pull away for a win and cover. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Seattle minus the points over Oakland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I’m confident we’ll see the Seahawks take care of business as they head across the pond to face the lowly Raiders on Sunday. Oakland showed signs of life in a come-from-behind win over the Browns two weeks ago but couldn’t follow it up last Sunday, falling in blowout fashion against the Chargers. Don’t count on a big bounce-back performance here as I see this as a terrible matchup for the Raiders defense against the Seahawks emerging offense. Seattle QB Russell Wilson still isn’t at full strength, showing little scrambling ability, at least compared to what we’ve seen from him in years’ past. But the good news is, his arm is fine, as he continues to march the offense up and down the field. We saw the Seattle passing game give the Rams big problems last week and there’s little reason to expect anything different against Oakland. Meanwhile, the Seahawks ground game should have little trouble carving up a Raiders run defense that allows over five yards per rush this season. Seattle no longer has an elite defense, but I do think it will make just enough plays to contribute to a win and cover on Sunday afternoon in London. Take Seattle (10*).

NFL NFC Game of the Year. My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Arizona at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I absolutely love the way this spot sets up for the Vikings on Sunday afternoon. Minnesota’s offense has taken off since that embarrassing no-show at home against the Bills three weeks ago. Since then we’ve seen the Vikes march up and down the field against both the Rams and Eagles, managing to earn a 1-1 split. Now they return home to host a Cardinals squad that is coming off its first victory of the season, but that came against a weak 49ers squad last Sunday. Here, Arizona will face a much tougher challenge, staying on the road and heading two time zones east for an early start in Minnesota. The Vikings defense hasn’t been great this season but did turn in a fairly strong showing in Philadelphia last week and gets a favorable matchup here. If there’s one thing the Vikes have continued to do well it’s stop the run and that should serve them well as they prepare to face Cards RB David Johnson, who has shown some signs of life since QB Josh Rosen took over the offense. I don’t see how Arizona keeps within arm’s reach for four quarters without a passing game to speak of. Look for another big game from Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins as the Vikes roll at home. Take Minnesota (10*).

NCAAF C-USA Game of the Year. My selection is on Florida International minus the points over Middle Tennessee State at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for Florida International this season, both on and off the field but based on its play over the last several weeks, it does appear to be on the right track. The Panthers have just one loss over their last four games, and that came in respectable fashion (31-17) on the road against Miami. Considering the Panthers last game was a 55-9 walk over Arkansas-Pine Bluff back on September 29th, they should enter this contest rested and ready. Middle Tennessee State on the other hand is coming off two hard-fought wins over Florida Atlantic (we won with the Blue Raiders in that game) and Marshall. Those were two much-needed victories for the Blue Raiders but now I’m anticipating a bit of a letdown. Keep in mind, FIU will be looking to avenge a 37-17 blowout loss at the hands of MTSU last season. I believe the Blue Raiders have been rather fortunate to pull out wins in their last two games, first needing a late rally to overcome a two-touchdown deficit against Florida Atlantic and then digging a 17-10 halftime hole against Marshall last week. It’s worth noting that the Blue Raiders managed only one first half touchdown against the Thundering Herd and it came with just over one minute remaining before halftime. There’s not a lot separating the Blue Raiders and Panthers right now, but I believe FIU is in better position to grab its fourth victory of the season on Saturday night. Take Florida International (10*).

My selection is on Arkansas State plus the points over Appalachian State at 8 pm et on Tuesday.

I'll grab all the points I can get with the Red Wolves as they try to avoid an 0-2 hole in Sun Belt play on Tuesday night against Appalachian State. The Mountaineers will certainly pose a stiff challenge as they check in 3-1 SU on the season with their lone loss coming in overtime at Penn State back in Week 1. They haven't really been tested since that contest, rolling to blowout wins over Charlotte, Gardner Webb and South Alabama. They will face a challenge here, however, with Arkansas State widely considered a top contender for the Sun Belt crown this year. The Red Wolves dropped their conference opener at Georgia Southern last time out but there was no real shame in that loss. Georgia Southern is a quality team that remains vastly overlooked and underrated. Arkansas State had now answers for the Eagles option-based offense and will welcome facing a more conventional offensive attack here against Appalachian State. The Mountaineers are a perfect 4-0 ATS so far this season. Note that they didn't notch their fifth ATS victory last year until the final week of the regular season on December 2nd. In 2016 they didn't pick up their fifth ATS win until October 27th. So it's not as if this is a program that has been enjoying a ton of ATS success in recent years. I simply feel that Arkansas State will be the more desperate football team on Tuesday night and can at the very least take this game down to the wire. Take Arkansas State (10*).

My selection is on Dallas plus the points over Houston at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

The Texans finally notched a victory last week but it didn't come easy as they outlasted the Colts by a 37-34 score in overtime. Now they return home in a favored role against the Cowboys - another team that has struggled in the early going this season. I'll grab the points with Dallas in this spot as I simply feel the 'Boys have a little more upside right now. Houston's secondary has been decimated by injuries going all the way back to the summer. The latest to go down was cornerback Aaron Colvin, leaving a gaping hole should the Cowboys choose to exploit it. Of course, there are questions whether Dallas is capable of taking advantage of such a weakness. I actually feel this game will be more about QB Dak Prescott utilizing RB Ezekiel Elliott in the passing game. We can expect the Cowboys to employ a clock-chewing gameplan on offense while leaving the rest to their underrated defense which gets back DL David Irving from suspension this week. Without LB Sean Lee the Cowboys are certainly vulnerable against the run, but do the Texans have the personnel in place to take advantage? I'm not so sure. Meanwhile, the Dallas secondary has been tough and simply doesn't give up big plays. That is key as the 'Boys try to contain a Texans offense that relies on those big plays through the air to WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller (not to mention Keke Coutee who made a big splash in his debut last week). Take Dallas (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Year. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Seattle at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

This has all the makings of a beatdown in favor of the undefeated Rams on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. First of all, Los Angeles has had an extra few days to prepare for this matchup following last week's impressive home win over the Vikings. You can be sure that head coach Sean McVay has some tricks up his sleeve as he'll see this as a big challenge playing in a hostile environment in Seattle and matching wits with a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Pete Carroll. The case can be made that QB Jared Goff has been the league's best quarterback so far this season which is really saying something given how well we've seen some of the veterans and young arms alike perform in the early going. There's little reason to expect any regression from Goff and the Rams offense here as they face a Seahawks defense that certainly isn't what it once was, and just lost safety Earl Thomas to a broken leg. The question is whether the Rams defense can hold up well enough against a highly-motivated Seahawks offense that has shown some improvement and welcomed back WR Doug Baldwin last week. My answer to that is, I'm not sure it matters how well the Seahawks offense performs as the Rams should do enough damage themselves to ultimately stretch out the margin in this one. Keep in mind, Seattle QB Russell Wilson has been admirable in his efforts but hasn't looked like the same dual-threat quarterback and continues to perform behind a leaky offensive line. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Carolina minus the points over New York at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the points with the Panthers as they get back on the field following their bye week with an ideal matchup. Were it not for the Saints stumbling in the red zone early in last week's game, the result could have been much worse for the Giants. It was bad enough as it was with the Saints ultimately pulling away for a 33-18 victory. Things won't get any easier for the New York defense here as it hits the road to face a Panthers offense that continues to evolve and improve, and one that will be getting some help on the offensive line with the return of RG Trai Turner. CB Janoris Jenkins is largely considered the only good thing the Giants have going for them on defense given all of their key injuries but even he has been lit up lately. Until the G-Men find a capable quarterback, they will struggle to contend in shootouts such as the one they're likely to get involved in on Sunday. Yes, they have a ton of star power and certainly talent across the board, but Manning continues to hold this unit back. While the Panthers defense is beatable, I'm just not sure the G-Men can put enough points to stay within arm's reach for four quarters on Sunday afternoon. Take Carolina (10*).

My selection is on New York over Denver at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I really like the way this situation sets up for the Jets as they come off an ugly loss in Jacksonville last week but catch the Broncos playing on a short week following a big missed opportunity against the divisional rival Chiefs on Monday night. Denver has shown positive flashes on offense but it's becoming more and more clear that QB Case Keenum may not be the right fit. Keenum missed on a number of throws on Monday night - none more glaring than the sideline route to Demariyus Thomas that likely would have resulted in a game-winning touchdown. Note that Denver has failed to score more than 23 points since opening the season with a 27-24 victory at home against a depleted Seahawks defense. While the Broncos have been able to hang their hat on their defense in recent years, that simply isn't the case here in 2018. They did a nice job of limiting big plays against the electric Chiefs offense on Monday but still found a way to give up 27 points. While they do possess a vaunted pass rush with Von Miller and rookie Bradley Chubb, they actually rank just 19th in the league in sacks. Chris Harris is a shutdown corner in the secondary but the rest of the Denver pass defense leaves a lot to be desired. The Jets offense isn't going to scare anyone and admittedly has major limitations but I'm not sure they'll be asked to do too much on Sunday afternoon. Look for the defense to carry much of the load as the J-E-T-S finally bring an end to their three-game losing streak and keep head coach Todd Bowles' job safe for at least one more week. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While the sky seems to be falling on the Steelers right now, the fact is, they're still just 1-2-1 on the season and far from out of the AFC North race, which I expect to remain wide open all season long. But if Pittsburgh wants to remain a player in that race, a win this week is critical. The Steelers draw an A+ matchup here, particularly on offense, as the Falcons defense is quite simply running out of options due to a multitude of injuries across the board. We've seen the Falcons get lit up in three consecutive games now and things don't figure to finally work themselves out here, even with the Pittsburgh offense looking very much out of sync in the early going this season. On the flip side, the Atlanta offense will undoubtedly continue to move the football and put points on the board against a porous Steelers defense. However, there will come a time in this game where one of these teams will need to come up with a key stop to seal the victory and I simply feel that Pittsburgh is in better position to accomplish that feat. It's worth noting that the Falcons will be playing outdoors for the first time since way back in Week 1 in Philadelphia. You may remember their offense didn't look nearly as explosive in that game as it has in the last three games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

NCAAF AAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Cincinnati minus the points over Tulane at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I’ll lay the points with the Bearcats on Saturday afternoon. Cincinnati is quietly off to a perfect 5-0 start and has an excellent opportunity to keep it rolling against an inconsistent Tulane squad here. The Green Wave are coming off a surprising win over Memphis last week but they’ll be hard-pressed to follow it up with another victory on Saturday. Note that in their two previous road games they fell 31-24 as a road favorite at UAB and 49-6 in an expected beatdown at Ohio State. This play is more about Cincinnati than it is Tulane, however. The Bearcats have seemingly gotten stronger with each passing week and are fresh off a near perfect performance in a 49-7 rout at Connecticut last Saturday. Unlike recent years, they finally have an offense that can put points on the board, with a balanced attack that has enjoyed success both on the ground and through the air. Tulane has managed to score at least 40 points on two different occasions but one of those efforts came against an FCS opponent Nicholls State and the other came last week in a game where Memphis clearly overlooked the Green Wave. In that contest scored a pair of first quarter touchdowns but didn’t find the end zone between the final five minutes of the first quarter and the final play of the third quarter. They were buoyed but a trio of complete defensive breakdowns on the part of the Tigers late, something I don’t expect to see from a well-coached Cincinnati squad on Saturday. Take Cincinnati (10*).

My selection is on Denver plus the points over Kansas City at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

You can certainly make the argument that this is a bigger game for the Broncos than it is for the Chiefs. Kansas City is off to a perfect 3-0 start and could put two games between itself and Denver with a win on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Broncos have scored just 34 points over their last two games combined, checking in with a 2-1 record. The common line of thinking is that they'll have trouble keeping up with the high-flying Chiefs offense on Monday night. I'm not so easily convinced. Denver brought in QB Case Keenum in the offseason and he has certainly looked good at times this season and should only get better with time as he gets acclimated with the offense. We've already seen him develop some nice chemistry with WR Emmanuel Sanders. Note that while the Broncos struggled offensively last week in Baltimore, they lost rookie RB Phillip Lindsay relatively early in the game after he threw a punch. His presence does add another element to this offense and should serve Denver well on Monday night. Two games back he ran for over 100 yards on only 14 carries against Oakland. The Chiefs defense has been virtually non-existent so far this season and this certainly doesn't appear to be an ideal bounce-back spot for that unit. I'll grab all the points I can get with the home underdog here. Take Denver (10*).

My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Oakland at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'll approach this play with a bit of caution as the hype train has certainly left the station as far as the Browns go following last week's big come-from-behind win over the Jets in front of a national audience. With that being said, I do believe they draw a favourable matchup against the Raiders here. The Cleveland defense in particular should have little trouble slowing a plodding Raiders attack that simply doesn't have a lot going for it this season. The Browns run defense has been solid, allowing just under 3.7 yards per rush this season while they've also given opposing running backs nothing in the short passing game. Meanwhile their pass defense has been stout as well with rookie corner Denzel Ward leading the way. It's not as if they've faced an easy slate of QB's either, going up against Big Ben and Drew Brees along with Sam Darnold. While I don't expect Browns rookie QB Baker Mayfield to light it up in his first career start, I do feel he can do enough to secure a victory. Note that the Raiders haven't been able to generate any pressure against opposing quarterbacks and that isn't likely to change against Mayfield. Even if they do, his mobility should serve him well in this matchup. Look for another big game from Browns WR Jarvis Landry here. Take Cleveland (10*).

NFL NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I really like the way this one sets up for the Bears on Sunday afternoon. We cashed a ticket fading the Bucs in their ‘closer than the final score indicated’ loss to the Steelers on Monday night and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well here. We certainly saw some regression from the Bucs offense in that matchup with a terrible Steelers pass defense. The magic seemed to run out for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and I really believe this will be his last start for Tampa Bay for a while with the Bucs heading into their bye week after this and Jameis Winston ready to return to the field. While I’m not a big fan of the Bears offense with Mitchell Trubisky at the helm right now, I’m not sure it really matters here as Chicago should have little trouble moving the football against a weak Bucs defense. The Bears have enough talent around Trubisky, namely RB Jordan Howard and WR Allen Robinson, to put up some points on Sunday afternoon. This is a well-coached football team that is still slowly learning a new offense. There will come a week where we see a breakout performance, and this just might be it. I like the fact that the Bears defense should be able to completely take away the Bucs already non-existent ground game and force Fitzpatrick into more mistakes. Take Chicago (10*).

My selection is on California plus the points over Oregon at 10:30 pm et on Saturday.

There's a concern here that Oregon may have left it all on the field in last week's crushing 38-31 overtime loss at home against Stanford. Now the Ducks have to travel to face an upstart 3-0 Cal squad that has seemingly gotten stronger with each passing game. Note that the Ducks suffered a loss in their last trip to Berkeley two years ago - last winning here back in 2014. That was when they had the services of Marcus Mariota and Royce Freeman. Last year, the Ducks prevailed by a 45-24 score at home against the Golden Bears but that was actually a 24-17 game in the fourth quarter and keep in mind, Oregon was a 17-point favourite in that contest. Oregon had a big first half against the Cardinal last week, but outside of that, the Ducks have beaten up on much weaker opponents. I'll back the Bears in this spot. Take California (10*).

NCAAF Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on Middle Tennessee State plus the points over Florida Atlantic at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Florida Atlantic rolled past Middle Tennessee State in last year's meeting, posting a 38-20 victory at home. Prior to that this series was all Blue Raiders, however, and I look for MTSU to exact some revenge at home on Saturday night. FAU has yet to notch an ATS victory through four games this season. The Owls have been steamrolled both times they've stepped up in class against Oklahoma and Central Florida. Meanwhile, MTSU is coming off a beatdown at the hands of Georgia, but I like the fact that the Blue Raiders have had an extra week off to recover from that physical affair. We've yet to see them play their best game this season but I do believe it's coming. Keep in mind, this is a team loaded with talent and experience on both sides of the football, and one that won a Bowl game last December, in an underdog role no less. This is a big game for MTSU if it wants to go Bowling again this year. With another loss the Blue Raiders would fall to 1-3 and face an uphill battle to six wins given their remaining schedule. I expect them to at the very least take this one right down to the wire. Take Middle Tennessee State (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

I'll back the Steelers on Monday night as they try to get past all of their issues on and off the field and earn their first victory of the season. The sky is not actually falling in Pittsburgh right now. Le'Veon Bell remains out of the mix and Antonio Brown certainly wasn't happy with the way last week's game played out, but this is still a team that has suffered just one loss - that coming against perhaps the league's hottest team in the Kansas City Chiefs. With a win here the Steelers can right the ship and while the Bucs have gone 2-0 so far, I believe they present a favorable matchup for Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay took advantage of a struggling Saints defense in Week 1 and then caught the Eagles at home last week, without their starting QB Carson Wentz. Perhaps we shouldn't be all that surprised by Tampa Bay's 2-0 start. Tampa Bay will put its share of points on the board, but in the end, I don't believe it will be enough. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Atlanta at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Falcons did well to avoid an 0-2 hole to open the season with a big home win over the division-rival Panthers last Sunday. I’m not sure they’ll fare so well this week, however, as they welcome another NFC South opponent in the New Orleans Saints. To say that injuries are piling up at key positions for the Falcons would be an understatement. Safety Keanu Neal, linebacker Deion Jones and running back Devonta Freeman were already sidelined and now guard Andy LeVitre has been placed on IR as well. On the flip side, the Saints roll into town generally healthy, although still missing suspended running back Mark Ingram. New Orleans has taken an interesting path to 1-1, suffering a surprising loss to the Bucs in its opener before rebounding with a less than inspiring win over the Browns last Sunday. The identical 1-1 starts certainly ramp up the importance of this game for both of these squads but I believe the Saints are in better position to move on-up on the .500 mark here. The Falcons generally concede underneath passing routes to opposing running backs and were subsequently lit up by Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey last week. There’s little reason to expect anything different against perhaps an even better pass-catching back in Alvin Kamara this week. On top of that, Saints WR Michael Thomas should find plenty of open field against the Falcons undermanned secondary and Drew Brees is undoubtedly in line for a big bounce-back performance following last week’s relatively poor showing. On the other side of the football, the Saints defense is better than it has shown so far this season. It took a step in the right direction last week but still suffered some lapses, including that game-tying touchdown hook-up between Tyrod Taylor and Antonio Callaway last week. The Falcons multi-dimensional offense poses a tough challenge but I’m confident the Saints defense will make enough plays to secure a victory. Take New Orleans (10*).

NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Miami minus the points over Oakland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Raiders are in a truly tough situation here. After starting the season on the west coast with a home game against the Rams, they traveled to the thin air of Denver last week and now have to trek across the rest of the country for an early start in Miami on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins have generally had a solid home field advantage early in the season and already 1-0 SU and ATS at home here in 2018. I like the Dolphins chances of improving to a somewhat improbable 3-0 this week. We’ve seen this story unfold before. Remember, back in 2016 the Dolphins enjoyed plenty of success with the Adam Gase-Ryan Tannehill combo. When asked to be more or less a game manager, Tannehill has proven that he can succeed. In fact, the Fins are 9-1 in Tannehill’s last 10 starts. The Raiders couldn’t have played much better than they did last Sunday in Denver but they still fell short in the end. I can’t see them getting back to that level of effort and execution in their second straight road contest this Sunday. Their offense did show some positive signs against the Broncos, but let’s face it, the Denver defense isn’t what it once was, especially against the pass. I actually feel the Fins can hold up much better than the Broncos did against Derek Carr and the Raiders passing game. On the other side of the football, the Raiders don’t have the personnel in place to get after opposing quarterbacks which sets up nicely for Tannehill. Look for him to have a field day against this Oakland defense, and for the overlooked Miami ground attack to ultimately salt away another victory. Take Miami (10*).

My selection is on TCU minus the points over Texas at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll lay the short number with the Horned Frogs as they head to Austin on Saturday afternoon. TCU is fresh off a tough 40-28 loss to Ohio State in Dallas last Saturday night. It got off to a tough start in that game, falling behind 10-0 following a fumble that was returned for a touchdown midway through the first quarter. From there, the Horned Frogs stuck around and actually led midway through the third quarter. However, the Buckeyes returned an interception for a touchdown shortly after that and rolled from there. I’m anticipating a much sharper effort from TCU this week as Texas will certainly warrant its attention following the Longhorns 37-14 rout of USC last week. We faded Texas in its season-opener and were rewarded with an outright Maryland victory. The Longhorns followed that up with a rather unimpressive 28-21 home win over Tulsa. They took advantage of an under-achieving Trojans squad at home last Saturday night, buoyed by a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown midway through the third quarter. Again, I’m expecting a much cleaner performance from TCU this week – I certainly don’t expect to see the Horned Frogs give the Longhorns any freebies. There’s no look-ahead in play here as TCU will return home to host Iowa State next week before heading into its bye week. I simply feel the Horned Frogs are being knocked down a little too far following last week’s setback. Take TCU (10*).

NCAAF Pac-12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Oregon State plus the points over Arizona at 4 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the points with the Beavers in what most are expecting to be a shootout in Corvallis on Saturday afternoon. Arizona isn’t where it hoped to be at this stage of the season, having won just once in its first three games. That victory came against FCS squad Southern Utah last week. While the Wildcats offense finally got going in that game, their defensive performance left a lot to be desired once again, as they allowed 31 points. It’s also worth noting that after an early first quarter touchdown, the Wildcats didn’t reach the end zone again on offense until the final 30 seconds of the first half. Were it not for a kick return touchdown early in the second quarter, that game could have played out differently. Oregon State also checks in 1-2 and while it had to be disappointed with last week’s narrow two-point loss to Nevada, that setback came on the road and I don’t think the Beavers are all that down on themselves following a 1-2 start (their other loss came on the road against Ohio State in Week 1). If nothing else, the Beavers offense has been humming along, and I liked the way they didn’t back down despite digging an early 30-7 hole at Nevada last week. Oregon State reeled off three consecutive touchdowns to get back in the game but ultimately fell just short. I don’t think there’s any question the Beavers will see this as a winnable game to open their Pac-12 slate. We’re being offered a generous cushion in a game that I believe could go either way. Take Oregon State (10*).

My selection is on Denver minus the points over Oakland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Are the Raiders as bad as they looked in the final three quarters of Monday’s blowout loss to the Rams? In a word, yes. While they’ll have no problem getting up for this matchup with the division-rival Broncos I don’t believe they’ll be able to hang around for four quarters. The Broncos have long been a tremendous ‘play-on’ team at home in September and while they didn’t earn the ATS cover last week against Seattle, they did show me enough to believe they’re worth a play again here against the Raiders. It was a pretty sloppy performance from Broncos QB Case Keenum all things considered. With that being said, he still managed to spread the football around and prove that he’s developed some nice chemistry with his wide receivers, Emmanuel Sanders in particular. I look for the Broncos defense to play even better than it did a week ago, and the same goes for the Denver ground attack on offense. To be honest, I’m not sure where the Raiders go from here. Their offense looks broken (TE Jared Cook was the only bright spot on Monday night) and their defense is seriously downgraded after trading away Khalil Mack. This number could be even higher in favor of the Broncos in my opinion. Take Denver (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Arizona at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I had just two regrets following Week 1 of the NFL season and one of them was not laying the points with the Rams on Monday night. As the betting public piled on with the Rams and the Raider-bashing reached monumental levels I really did believe there may have been a chance we were missing something with Los Angeles. That wasn’t the case as the Rams absolutely obliterated the Raiders following a sluggish first half. Now L.A. gets another very winnable matchup at home against another team that looks to be out of answers less than two weeks into the season in the Arizona Cardinals. There was a time when the Cards owned one of the strongest home field edges in football but those days are gone. It sounds like they’re going to give QB Sam Bradford another go this Sunday and I don’t expect that decision to end well. Even with a healthy David Johnson in the backfield Arizona was unable to get anything going in a shutout loss against the Redskins last week. Now the Cards face an even tougher challenge, on the road no less. The Rams certainly aren’t known to hold anything back when it comes to calling offensive plays. I expect to see them put their foot on the gas for four quarters against a division opponent here. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Houston minus the points over Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Both of these teams enter Week 2 with winless records but it’s the Texans that have a lot more upside moving forward. Houston ran into a really tough opening week matchup, facing the Patriots on the road in a revenge situation (for New England) after upsetting them in Foxborough last season. Not surprisingly, the Texans came up empty this time around with the Pats taking away their best weapons in DeShaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans will do no such thing this week as they limp into this matchup following a storm-delayed loss in Miami last Sunday. Tennessee is dealing with a number of key injuries and is in serious danger of this season spinning away from it even if we are only into the second week. An injury to Marcus Mariota causes a serious downgrade to this offense as a whole, especially after the Titans got very little production from their running game against a middle of the road Dolphins defense last week. There’s really no intimidation factor at play here. The Texans have the veterans on board to right the ship, especially on the defensive side of the football. Take Houston (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Eagles in last week’s season-opener against Atlanta although that winning ticket certainly didn’t come easy. I look for Philadelphia to have an easier time of it this Sunday as they head south to Tampa to take on the surprisingly 1-0 Bucs. Philadelphia didn’t get much at all from QB Nick Foles against the Falcons but perhaps that was to be expected after he was banged up in the preseason. While I’m not convinced Foles bounces back in a big way here, I do believe the Eagles have enough on offense, and a stout enough defense to outlast the Bucs. Tampa Bay turned a lot of heads by upsetting the Saints in New Orleans last Sunday. I don’t think there’s any question that the Saints overlooked the Bucs in that matchup. Perhaps ‘overlooked’ is not the proper term, but they certainly didn’t bring the proper level of compete – particularly on the defensive side of the football. There will be no catching the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles off guard here. They know what the Bucs are capable of after last week’s 48-point explosion. That’s an effort that just isn’t likely to be repeated. In a much lower-scoring affair than we saw with Tampa Bay last Sunday, I’ll lay the short number with Philadelphia. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Cleveland at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Let’s face it; Week 1 didn’t go well for the Saints, who lost as a big favorite, at home against a division opponent no less. I fully expect to see them bounce back here in Week 2 as they draw a favorable matchup with the Browns. Cleveland battled to a 21-21 tie with the Steelers last Sunday. Pittsburgh essentially handed that game to the Browns on a silver platter late in the fourth quarter and into overtime but Cleveland was unable to claim victory. Tyrod Taylor certainly didn’t look 100% healthy and also somewhat improperly utilized in the offense. I’m not sure we’ll see much change in that regard this week and the Saints defense will certainly be licking its chops after getting caught flat-footed by an aggressive Bucs offense last week. The New Orleans offense had little trouble shredding Tampa Bay last Sunday and I would expect more of the same against Cleveland. RB Mark Ingram’s absence didn’t have much of an impact as Alvin Kamara picked up the slack and then some with a monster performance. Look for Drew Brees to utilize TE Benjamin Watson against a vulnerable Browns defense this week. And of course the Saints wide receiving corps is as explosive as it gets. This has all the makings of a rout. Take New Orleans (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Kansas City at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Steelers avoided complete embarrassment thanks to a blocked field goal at the end of overtime in Cleveland last Sunday but there’s no question it was an ugly start to the campaign for the Black and Gold. I have no doubt that we’ll see a much sharper effort from the Steelers, on offense in particular, as they host the Chiefs on Sunday. We won with Kansas City last week in Los Angeles but we were fortunate to cash that ticket as the Chargers were able to march the ball up and down the field against what certainly appeared to be a weak Chiefs defense. I’m not sure we’ll see Kansas City right the ship on that side of the football traveling across the country to face the Steelers in their second straight road game to open the season. You have to think heading into this two-game jaunt that the Chiefs would have been more than pleased to earn a 1-1 split. While they’d undoubtedly like to earn the 2-0 sweep now that they have the first one in their back pocket, I simply feel that the Steelers will be the hungrier squad on Sunday afternoon. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on Syracuse plus the points over Florida State at 12 noon et on Saturday.

The value has certainly shifted when it comes to Florida State after back-to-back relatively ugly performances against Virginia Tech and Samford. The Seminoles split those two games, getting blown out by the Hokies before posting a ho-hum 10-point win over Samford at home last Saturday. In that victory over Samford, the ‘Noles actually trailed 14-0 halfway through the first quarter and entered the fourth quarter down 23-21. In fact, with under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the ‘Noles trailed by a 26-21 score and only stretched out their eventual winning margin with a pick six with 2:23 left in the game (after they had scored a touchdown to go ahead). While Florida State scuffs along, Syracuse continues to impress. The Orange are off to a 2-0 start and although there’s no reason to get too excited about wins over Western Michigan and Wagner, I believe this is a team that has a lot to build from entering this big step-up game against a perennial ACC powerhouse. I liked the tune-up Syracuse got last week as it scored five offensive touchdowns en route to a 45-point first half against Wagner. In short, the Orange did what they should against an overmatched FCS opponent. Look for Orange QB Eric Dungey to keep rolling in this matchup as the FSU defense has looked vulnerable. Take Syracuse (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Chicago at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll lay the points with the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday night as they host the rival Bears, who many are expecting big things from this season. I’m not as high on the Bears as most. There’s been a lot of talk leading up to the season surrounding just how exciting this Chicago offense will be but time will tell whether it plays out that way on the field or not. For now, the Bears have a tough opening week matchup against a Packers squad that starts the season with a renewed sense of confidence and most importantly, a healthy and well-paid Aaron Rodgers. Yes, the Bears boast a terrific defense, one that got even stronger with the addition of Khalil Mack. But Mack is just getting acclimated with this group and I believe it will take some time for the unit to completely mesh. I like what the Packers bring to the table on both sides of the football. Some see the departure of WR Jordy Nelson as a bad thing but I actually believe it will prove to be a positive for Rodgers and the offense. The Pack still have a solid WR corps and while their backfield doesn’t have much in the way of star power, I think it will do enough to relieve some of the pressure on Rodgers. We’re being asked to lay a considerable number of points with the Packers but I actually believe the line could be even higher. There are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the Bears and I think their best football will be played from late September on. Take Green Bay (10*).

My selection is on Denver minus the points over Seattle at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll lay the points with the Broncos on Sunday afternoon as they welcome the Seahawks to open the 2018 season. You probably haven’t heard much about the Broncos leading into this season as the Chiefs and Chargers have grabbed most of the headlines in the AFC West. I believe Denver is an excellent sleeper pick to win the division, but it needs to start here in September. Sure, there are some expected growing pains on offense with Case Keenum taking over at quarterback but I believe he’s more than capable of playing well, if not carrying the team. Here’s a guy that almost certainly has a big chip on his shoulder after being allowed to walk away from the Vikings in the offseason after showing so much promise in Minnesota last year. The defense is the real star of the show in Denver and that unit draws a favorable matchup here with the Seahawks at less than 100% on offense. QB Russell Wilson will make plenty of plays with his arm and his feet but his supporting cast seems to be getting weaker with each passing year. Meanwhile, the Seahawks defense is in a bit of turmoil due to the Earl Thomas situation and in transition with the departure of Richard Sherman in the offseason. There are simply too many question marks for me to support the Seahawks here, and too much upside to ignore with the Broncos. Take Denver (10*).

NFL Underdog Game of the Week. My selection is on Kansas City plus the points over Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'll grab the points with the Chiefs on Sunday as they open the 2018 season with an AFC West showdown with the Chargers. Los Angeles is receiving plenty of hype entering the new season with some even picking it to reach the Super Bowl. I'm not nearly as high on the Chargers. The Chiefs actually haven't lost a game to the rival Chargers since way back in 2013. I don't believe this is the Kansas City team to end that streak. I see the Chiefs as a team with a lot of upside entering the new season. QB Pat Mahomes may be a first-year starter but he certainly played like a veteran in the preseason and gained a lot of knowledge working behind a true pro in Alex Smith last year. Some believe that RB Kareem Hunt was a one-year wonder, but I'm confident that he'll give the Chiefs a lot out of the backfield once again this season. Meanwhile, WR Tyreek Hill has been getting better with each passing season and certainly looked in sync with Mahomes in the preseason. Defensively, the Chiefs do have some question marks, and they'll obviously be facing a tough challenge in the Chargers offense on Sunday, but I'm confident we'll see them play well. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Arizona State plus the points over Michigan State at 10:45 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the points with the Sun Devils as they host the Spartans in an intriguing late night matchup on Saturday. Michigan State stumbled its way to a 38-31 home win over Utah State last week. The Spartans didn’t score a touchdown in that game until nearly five minutes into the second quarter and that was against what is by no means an elite Aggies defense. While Michigan State didn’t give up anything on the ground in that game, the Aggies didn’t really force the issue. Arizona State on the other hand, will. The Sun Devils wasted no time shaking off the cobwebs in a 49-7 rout of Texas-San Antonio. I like the offense head coach Herm Edwards has in place and I believe the defense will only get better as the season goes on. QB Manny Wilkins didn’t have to be perfect against UTSA but still managed to throw for 237 yards and four touchdowns. As far as I’m concerned, this is a good time to be welcoming Michigan State to Tempe. While the Spartans will undoubtedly be sharper than they were a week ago, I’m not sure it will be enough to win this one by margin. Take Arizona State (10*).

NCAAF Underdog Game of the Week. My selection is on Air Force plus the points over Florida Atlantic at 2 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the generous helping of points with Air Force as it aims for its second straight victory to open the season at Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons delivered a clean 38-0 victory over FCS squad Stony Brook last week. That wasn’t exactly a statement victory although it is worth noting that Air Force was favored by just north of two touchdowns in advance of that contest. I like the fact that the Falcons came roaring out of the gates with a touchdown on their first drive of the game and did a nice job putting things away for good with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as well. Needless to say, their defense was on point in a shutout performance. Florida Atlantic certainly didn’t expect to roll into Norman and come away victorious against Oklahoma last Saturday but it did believe it could at least stay competitive. That wasn’t the case as the Owls were blown out of the water, falling behind 42-0 before halftime in an eventual 63-14 rout. That certainly won’t do wonders for FAU’s confidence heading into this suddenly critical matchup with a tough out in Air Force. The Owls didn’t get much from their passing game and their ground game coughed and sputtered throughout the loss to the Sooners. They’ll get a lot more breathing room against a middle of the road Falcons defense here, but can they ultimately pull away to win by margin? I’m not so sure with Air Force more than capable of dominating time of possession and chewing up precious clock. Take Air Force (10*).

NFL Thursday Night Game of the Month. My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Atlanta at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

The defending Super Bowl champions have gone an impressive 11-3 SU since the NFL went to the Thursday night kickoff in the early-2000's. Of course, we saw the defending champion Patriots fall to the Chiefs last year, but I don't expect history to repeat itself with the Eagles here. It's certainly worth noting that the SU winner has gone an incredible 77-7 ATS in the Eagles last 84 games overall. We're dealing with a very short pointspread here, largely due to Philadelphia's numerous injury concerns - most notably absent from this game will be QB Carson Wentz. Nick Foles didn't look great in the preseason and also suffered an injury of his own but has put in a good week of practice with the Eagles first unit and I'm confident he'll hold his own against the Falcons on Thursday night. The Falcons are a solid team without question, but I don't believe they're the Super Bowl contender that most make them out to be. RB Devonta Freeman wilted at times over the course of last season while WR Julio Jones isn't the unstoppable force he once was. The addition or rookie WR Calvin Ridley will help, but I don't expect him to make all that much of an impact in this contest. The Eagles haven't lost a meaningful game at home since December 11, 2016. Look for them to make the key plays down the stretch in this one to secure a big opening night victory. Take Philadelphia (10*).

NCAAF TV Game of the Week. My selection is on Auburn minus the points over Washington at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

To be completely honest, I've always felt that Washington head coach Chris Petersen was more than a little overrated. Ever since Boise State's thrilling upset win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl all those years ago, Petersen has been hailed as one of the best head coaches in college football. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but at least this week, I believe his Huskies are being overvalued. Both of these teams have national title aspirations but I'll gladly back the SEC team (playing in SEC country) against a Pac-12 squad that still has a lot to prove after a couple of unexpected losses away from home, not to mention a Bowl defeat against Penn State, last season. This line has fallen into clear 'play-on' range as bettors line up to back the Huskies in Atlanta. Take Auburn (10*).

NCAAF Contrarian Play of the Month. My selection is on Wyoming plus the points over Washington State at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

We've seen a considerable shift in this line since opening, moving in favor of Wyoming, which may seem a little odd given the betting public has been backing Washington State at a near 65/35 split according to most reports. The move of course has a lot to do with Wyoming's blowout win over New Mexico State, on the road no less, last week. With that being said, I still feel that the Cowboys are undervalued as they host Washington State on Saturday afternoon. Wyoming actually has its best team in years but it's somewhat muted by the loss of Josh Allen, who has moved on to greener pastures in the NFL. While NFL scouts loved Allen's make-up, the fact is, he didn't play well at all for most of last season, essentially holding the Cowboys back. There's little reason to expect any considerable drop in production at the quarterback position this season. Wyoming barely had to break a sweat in last week's victory but will obviously have to work a little harder to get a 'W' against a hungry Cougars squad. Following the tragic passing of QB Tyler Hillinski the Cougars are anything but settled at that position which is a bit of a new experience for them. This will go down as an upset, but shouldn't really be considered one. Take Wyoming (10*).

My selection is on Maryland plus the points over Texas at 12 noon et on Saturday.

There's obviously lots of turmoil surrounding the Maryland football program and combine that with the Texas 'revenge' angle following last year's 51-41 defeat almost a year to the day and you've got yourself a truly overvalued Longhorns squad entering Saturday's showdown. Unlike last year's shootout, I believe points will be at a premium this time around, which makes grabbing two touchdowns with the Terps that much more valuable. This is no layup for the Longhorns, as the Terps will play with a chip on their shoulder and will certainly be out to prove that last year's outright win as an 18-point underdog was no fluke. Take Maryland (10*).

NCAAF Rivalry Game of the Week. My selection is on Colorado State plus the points over Colorado at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

Colorado State was shocked in its home opener against Hawaii last week, falling by a 43-34 score. I'm not sure whether that had something to do with the Rams simply overlooking the Rainbow Warriors or their head coach missing the latter stages of training camp due to health issues or just simply that they're not that good. Actually, I do not believe that it was due to the third notion I mentioned. This is a Colorado State squad that is better than it showed in Week 0. On a positive note, Washington transfer QB K.J. Carta-Samuels threw for over 500 yards and five touchdowns compared to just one interception. The Rams didn't get a chance to get their ground game going, but I expect that to change against Colorado. The Buffaloes bring no momentum to the table here after dropping their last three games to fall out of Bowl contention last season. If Colorado had one glaring weakness last season it was its run defense, something that I believe the Rams can exploit on Friday night. The Buffaloes should be able to dominate an overmatched Rams defense, but I believe it will take some time for Colorado to get rolling, especially after losing a number of key pieces on offense from a year ago. The Buffaloes have taken three straight meetings in this series with the last two coming in blowout fashion. Expect a reversal of fortunes on Friday night at Broncos Stadium. Take Colorado State (10*).

My selection is on Tulane plus the points over Wake Forest at 8 pm et on Thursday.

The Green Wave should enter the 2018 campaign with plenty of motivation after coming so close to reaching a Bowl game for the first time since 2013 last season. So close, yet so far away was the story for Tulane in 2017 but they'll be looking to make amends right out of the gate with what should be considered a difficult but winnable game against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons did reach a Bowl game last season, and ultimately prevailed in a wild 55-52 affair against Texas A&M. That result alone should put plenty of backers in their corner here in the 2018 opener. Wake Forest will be relying on a true freshman at quarterback, at least for the first three games this season. While it's certainly possible Sam Hartman comes up big in his debut, I believe there's a better chance that he struggles against a capable Tulane defense. The common line of thinking is that the Demon Deacons have an advantage having had extra time to prepare for the Tulane triple-option offense, but I see it working in the Green Wave's favor here as they're rested and ready to go. Take Tulane (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over New England at 6:30 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll grab the points with the Eagles on Sunday but I’m not sure that we’ll need them. The Eagles haven’t come out of nowhere to go on a run and reach the Super Bowl. They’ve been in pole position in the NFL virtually all season long. Yes, losing Carson Wentz hurt, but as we’ve seen it was by no means the end of their story. Perhaps it was only the beginning. Nick Foles has gone through some ups and downs in limited action as the Eagles starting QB this season but heading into this game, he’s in-sync with the rest of his offense and more than capable of slaying the dragon that is the New England Patriots. I have a lot of respect for Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick in particular. I’m certainly not in the category of ‘Patriots hater’ in which so many folks seem to reside these days. But this is as beatable of a Patriots team as we’ve seen over the course of their dynasty in my opinion. It seems as though we see a classic Super Bowl every other year, at least as far as recent history goes, so after last year’s thriller you would assume we’re in for a bit of a snoozefest this time around. But I don’t need to tell you that a trend like that is nothing more than a fluke. Expect an ultra-competitive game on Sunday evening in Minneapolis. Take Philadelphia (10*).

NFL Conference Championship Game of the Year. My selection is on New England minus the points over Jacksonville at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll lay the points with the Patriots on Sunday as they host the upstart Jaguars with the AFC Championship on the line. The Jags are getting plenty of support following last week’s impressive wire-to-wire victory over the Steelers. That performance made it easy to forget their ugly 10-3 home win over Buffalo on Wild Card weekend. While there’s a lot to like about the Jags, I believe their run comes to an end here. The Patriots weren’t really tested in last week’s rout of the Titans. This is a team that certainly didn’t need any more extra motivation but it got just that when the story came out regarding dissension in the ranks between Brady, Bellichick and Kraft. While the Jags have the type of defense that should give the Pats some headaches, I simply feel that New England has too many weapons to contend with for four quarters. And on the other side of the football, you can count on New England to come up with a gameplan to take away Jacksonville’s motor, RB Leonard Fournette, and force QB Blake Bortles to beat them. That’s not a story that ends well as far as I’m concerned. As nice as it would be to see some new blood representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, I don’t see it this year. Take New England (10*).

NFL Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Minnesota at 4:40 pm et on Sunday.

We cashed our Wild Card Game of the Year with the Panthers plus the points over the Saints last Sunday but I won't hesitate to switch gears and back New Orleans as it hits the road to face the Vikings this week. The Vikings are obviously highly-motivated as they try to become the first team to ever appear in a Super Bowl on their home field. I'm not convinced they get there, however, and believe they'll be in for a serious battle against the Saints on Sunday. QB Case Keenum had a tremendous regular season but the playoffs are a completely different animal. The Saints opportunistic defense is brimming with confidence right now and will undoubtedly throw everything it has at Keenum. While I do have a lot of respect for the Vikings on both sides of the football, I simply feel that they're overvalued, due in large part to their double-digit win over the Saints way back in Week 1. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on Atlanta minus the points over Philadelphia at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

It almost seems as if the Eagles have suddenly become the trendy pick in this matchup on Saturday. When Philadelphia lost Carson Wentz for the season I immediately felt that they would be fade material should they host a playoff game, and here we are. The Falcons have been inconsistent this season but gained a lot of confidence in holding off the Rams in Los Angeles last Saturday. I'm still not sure we've seen Atlanta's best effort this season, but what better spot than this for it to step up. Even if they had Carson Wentz, the Eagles would still not have much experience, and I'm still not sure they would be a sure thing to move on to the conference final. The Falcons didn't enter the postseason with high expectations and I'm still not sure folks are expecting much from them. Meanwhile, the Eagles have all the pressure in the world to go out and win a football game in front of the home faithful. Unfortunately they haven't been presented with an ideal situation. Take Atlanta (10*).

NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Carolina plus the points over New Orleans at 4:40 pm et on Sunday.

The Panthers are a trendy sleeper pick in the NFC entering these playoffs, and rightfully so in my opinion. I like the way this matchup sets up for them, even off an ugly showing in Atlanta last Sunday. Of course, prior to that, Carolina had reeled off three straight wins, scoring 84 points in the process. While the Panthers may not have the start power outside of Cam Newton on offense, this unit is capable of doing some damage. The Saints failed to end their regular season on a high note, falling by a 31-24 score in Tampa last Sunday. In fact, they went just 3-3 SU over their last six games. One of those wins did come against the Panthers right here in New Orleans, and it came by a 10-point margin. I can’t help but feel we see a tighter contest this time around as these two familiar divisional foes do battle. Take Carolina (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Jacksonville at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

It’s hard not to get behind the Bills considering all the franchise has endured over a long playoff drought. I believe they draw a favorable matchup here against another team unfamiliar with recent playoff success in the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills won their way into the postseason by taking three of their final four regular season games. Meanwhile, the Jaguars limp into the playoffs on the heels of back-to-back losses against the 49ers and Titans on the road. A return home should give them a boost here, but will it be enough to secure a victory, let alone a cover? I’m not so sure. This has the makings of a sneaky-good Wild Card tilt with neither team going away quietly. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Atlanta plus the points over Los Angeles at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

I really do like the Rams, and we cashed plenty of tickets backing them over the course of the regular season. The playoffs are a different animal, however, and I look for the Falcons experience, and hunger after losing in such devastating fashion in last year’s Super Bowl to carry them through this Wild Card showdown. With that being said, I’ll grab all the points I can get with Atlanta rather than back it on the moneyline in this spot. The Rams are certainly worthy of respect from the betting marketplace – the fact they’re favored is no mistake on the part of the oddsmakers. But here I look for the Falcons to do a good job of stacking the box against Todd Gurley and forcing Jared Goff to turn in a lights out performance in his first playoff appearance. The Rams will be hard-pressed to come away with a win, let alone cover the spread in this contest. Take Atlanta (10*).

My selection is on Tennessee plus the points over Kansas City at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll grab the generous helping of points with the Titans as they square off against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Tennessee certainly didn’t impress down the stretch, winning just one of its final four games, but that turned out to be the one that mattered as its victory over the Jaguars last Sunday catapulted it into the postseason. Keep in mind, of the Titans most recent three losses; none came by more than five points. Their last blowout loss came back on November 16th, when they faced the less than inviting task of heading to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on a Thursday night following a gritty 24-20 win over Cincinnati four days earlier. The Chiefs closed out the regular season on a high note, winning their last four games, but as a franchise they haven’t won a playoff game in what seems like an eternity and I’m not totally convinced we see a reversal of fortunes here. Sure, they ‘should’ win this game. Covering the lofty spread may be a different story entirely. Take Tennessee (10*).

My selection is on Clemson plus the points over Alabama at 8:45 pm et on Monday.

I simply feel that the wrong team is favored in this semi-final matchup. The Crimson Tide are certainly intent on earning some revenge against the Tigers but that's not the only factor to be considered. 'Bama closed out its regular season with a tough road loss at Auburn, and despite an impressive 11-1 SU record, the Tide managed to go just 5-7 ATS along the way. Meanwhile, Clemson checks in at 12-1 SU with a rock solid 8-4-1 ATS mark. The Tigers lone setback came in a clear flat spot on a Friday night in Syracuse. Since then, Clemson reeled off six straight victories, going a perfect 4-0 ATS over its last four contests. We've seen two epic battles between these two teams over the last two years. I'm not anticipating another barn-burner here. Instead look for the Tigers to methodically wear down the Tide and ultimately pull away for the win and cover. Take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Oklahoma at 5 pm et on Monday.

I'll lay the points with Georgia in the first of Monday's two national championship semi-final matchups. Both of these teams have just one blemish on their records this season. However, I believe the Bulldogs are the superior team. Here, we'll fade the Sooners and their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. Oklahoma hasn't tasted defeat since October 7th against Iowa State, but save for a road tilt against Oklahoma State, the Sooners haven't been overly tested. I simply feel the oddsmakers got it right in this matchup, and look for the Bulldogs offense to come to life and secure the victory. Take Georgia (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Philadelphia at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the points with the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon, even as they are simply playing out the string against the division rival Eagles. I expect questions to linger whether the Eagles are the real deal with the playoffs on the doorstep. Of course, Carson Wentz remains sidelined and Nick Foles did little to inspire confidence in Monday's narrow win over the Raiders. The Cowboys will certainly be looking to take out their frustrations on Philadelphia here, following a no-show at home against the Seahawks in a must-win game last Sunday. Look for the 'Boys to close out the season on a positive note. Take Dallas (10*).

My selection is on Wisconsin minus the points over Miami at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Travel day on Saturday. Full writeups will return for Sunday NFL. I'll lay the points with Wisconsin in this spot. Miami limped to the finish line with back-to-back losses and I'm not sure the long layoff will serve them well here. Look for the Badgers to respond following their close loss to the Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game. Take Wisconsin (10*).

CFB Bowl Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Michigan State minus the points over Washington State at 9 pm et on Thursday.

I'll lay the points with the Spartans in this matchup. While I was high on Washington State for much of the season, I don't believe this is a favorable matchup at all for the Cougars. Michigan State is coming off a terrible 2016 campaign, but has certainly made amends here in 2017 and can notch its 10th victory of the season on Thursday night. For Washington State, a strong start to the season is what got it into this Bowl game. A poor finish is what prevented the Cougars from getting into a much more prestigious game, however. I just don't feel the Cougars come into this contest with anything to hang their hat on, particularly on the defensive side of the football, where I expect them to get exposed once again. Take Michigan State (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Oakland at 8:30 pm et on Monday.

I have no trouble laying the points with the Eagles in this matchup. The Raiders have all but packed it in for the season after back-to-back losses to the Chiefs and Cowboys. That dropped them to 1-4-2 ATS over their last seven contests. The Eagles are just 1-2 ATS over their last two games but that only serves to keep this line in check on Monday night. I expect to see QB Nick Foles have another big game against a vulnerable Raiders defense, leading Philadelphia to a lopsided victory. Take Philadelphia (10*).

NFL Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on Cincinnati plus the points over Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I really like the way this ones sets up for the underdog Bengals at home. The future is cloudy for the Bengals as a franchise as long-time head coach Marvin Lewis has one foot out the door. But for this week, the spot sets up well as the Lions come in off of back-to-back wins against the lowly Bucs and Bears. Cincinnati should get a boost offensively with the expected return of RB Joe Mixon. After appearing lifeless in the last couple of weeks, I'm confident we'll see the Bengals offense get rolling against a vulnerable Lions defense on Sunday afternoon. The Lions have their sights set on a playoff berth in the NFC but I believe we'll see their hopes spoiled in resounding fashion. The last time we saw the Bengals play with some pride was the first half against Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football three weeks ago. Expect more of that type of play on Sunday. Take Cincinnati (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on New England minus the points over Buffalo at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Bills are on a nice little run having posted three wins in their last four games both SU and ATS. However, I believe that run grinds to a halt here in Foxboro. The Patriots escaped with a 27-24 win in Pittsburgh last week to take back control of the AFC. Now I expect to see them play loose back at home, and ultimately deliver a lopsided win over the Bills. Keep in mind, Buffalo has just one road win in the last two months and that came at the expense of the Chiefs, who were coming unraveled at the time. It won't be so fortunate in this spot as the Pats seem to have been galvanized by that shocking Monday night loss in Miami two weeks ago. We're being asked to lay double-digits here for a reason. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Toledo minus the points over Appalachian State at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I'll lay the points with the Rockets in this matchup. Appalachian State has an excellent pedigree as an FCS squad but despite going 8-4 SU this season, I don't believe the Mountaineers had a truly successful 2017 campaign in FBS. They went just 5-7 ATS and only reached this Bowl game thanks to a three-game winning streak to close out the regular season. Meanwhile, Toledo flew largely under the radar despite going an impressive 11-2 SU. Of course, this is a rematch of a Bowl game from a year ago - a game Appalachian State won by a 31-28 score. Keep in mind, the Mountaineers were a small favorite in that contest. Different story this time around as the Rockets are the favorite. After being favored by double-digits in their last three games, and going 2-1 ATS, they're back in a more reasonable pointspread range here. Take Toledo (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis plus the points over Baltimore at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

I'm not sure this is going to be the cakewalk that most are expecting for the Ravens on Saturday afternoon. The Colts were lifeless in last week's home loss to the Broncos, but now they've had a couple of extra days to prepare for the Ravens, and they'll be catching Baltimore on the heels of three straight ATS wins, and in a clear letdown spot. Baltimore has quietly put together a fine season at 8-6 SU and 8-5-1 ATS, but I'm not sure the Ravens are quite as good as their record indicates. I believe they're vulnerable without Jimmy Smith against a Colts offense that can move the football through the air. The fact is, we're likely not going to need much from the Colts offense in order to cover this lofty spread. Take Indianapolis (10*).

My selection is on Louisiana Tech plus the points over SMU at 8 pm et on Wednesday.

After falling just short in a number of close games, the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech won their way into Bowl eligibility with victories in their final two regular season games. Having posted Bowl victories in each of the last three seasons, I see no reason Louisiana Tech can't at the very least take SMU down to the wire in Wednesday's Frisco Bowl. The Mustangs closed the regular season with six ATS losses in their final six contests. Their defense was non-existent for much of the campaign and I don't see that changing here. The betting public is lining up to back the Mustangs but I believe the value is with the underdog Bulldogs in this matchup. Take Louisiana Tech (10*).

My selection is on San Francisco minus the points over Tennessee at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

The 49ers are playing with some real confidence and enthusiasm right now, and have been since Jimmy Garoppolo took over under center. I believe they're currently listed as the small favorite for a reason in this matchup, despite the disparity in overall records. The Titans are still in the mix for the AFC South title, with a showdown with the Jaguars ahead in Week 17. Note, however, Tennessee is on the road for the second straight week and finds itself just 3-4 away from home this season. It would be easy for the Titans to overlook the Niners in this spot, and I believe they'll do just that. Take San Francisco (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Dolphins are coming off a stunning Monday night upset of the Patriots but I look for them to fall right back to Earth in Buffalo this Sunday. The Bills picked up a huge victory under a blanket of snow last Sunday and they'll aim to keep it rolling, and move two games above .500 on the season in this spot. Note that Buffalo has gone an impressive 5-2 SU at home this season while the Fins have won just twice in six tries on the road. The home team is 5-2 SU and ATS in the last seven meetings in this series. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Kansas City at 8:25 pm et on Saturday.

The Chiefs handed the Chargers a 24-10 loss in Los Angeles earlier this season but now it’s time for L.A. to return the favor. Kansas City stopped the bleeding with a 26-15 win over the hapless Raiders last Sunday but that victory may have provided more questions than answers. The Chiefs still struggled to finish drives with touchdowns in that game, settling for four field goals. Yes, RB Kareem Hunt showed signs of returning to form, but that was only because he was up against a reeling Raiders run defense. On the flip side, the Raiders did nothing to take advantage of a depleted Chiefs defense. Here, I don’t expect Kansas City to get off as easy. The Chargers are absolutely rolling right now, brimming with confidence on the heels of four straight wins. They’ve become the popular pick to ultimately win the AFC West and I don’t believe that’s a flawed view at all. The Chargers have everything working on both sides of the football and I don’t believe they’ll have much trouble brushing aside the division rival Chiefs, even in a hostile environment at Arrowhead Stadium. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Arkansas State minus the points over Middle Tennessee State at 8 pm et on Saturday.

I’m not sure how much Middle Tennessee State has left in the tank at the end of an injury-marred 2017 campaign. Credit the Blue Raiders for battling their way to six victories despite playing in a tough C-USA. Three of those six victories came in the month of November but I think it’s worth noting that the wins came against three opponents that combined to go 6-30 SU this season, with two of them coming at home. Meanwhile, Arkansas State managed seven wins over the course of the season before falling by a touchdown against an excellent Troy squad in the Sun Belt Conference championship game. In its final two regular season games, Arkansas State scored a whopping 97 points in delivering back-to-back victories. The Red Wolves didn’t get an opportunity to go head-to-head with one of the best teams in the nation – Miami – in early September as that game was canceled. The thinking at the time was that they would be capable of giving the Hurricanes a run for their money. Here, Arkansas State has a chance to make a statement and with the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year (DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones) and the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year (QB Justice Hansen) both at its disposal, I look for it to ultimately pull away for a decisive win. Take Arkansas State (10*).

My selection is on Detroit minus the points over Chicago at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

I have no trouble laying the points with the Lions in this NFC North showdown on Saturday afternoon in Motown. Chicago rolled to an impressive 33-7 win in Cincinnati last Sunday but I think that win said more about the Bengals than it did of the Bears. Keep in mind, in its previous two games, the Bears were held to a grand total of 18 poitns in losses to the Eagles and 49ers. The victory on Sunday snapped Chicago’s five-game losing streak. I don’t believe we’ll see the Lions let Bears RB Jordan Howard run wild as he did against the Bengals. On the other side of the football, Detroit should bounce back after being held to 24 points or less in three straight games. In short, I see this as an excellent get-right matchup for a Lions squad that desperately needs a win to hang around in the NFC playoff picture. With another winnable game (not a gimme) on deck in Cincinnati last week, before a trip to Green Bay to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Week 17, this is quite simply the most important game of Detroit’s season. I don’t believe it will squander the opportunity. Take Detroit (10*).

My selection is on Marshall plus the points over Colorado State at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

I’m just not sure what Colorado State has to hang its hat on entering its New Mexico Bowl matchup with Marshall on Saturday afternoon. The Rams haven’t won a Bowl game since 2013. In looking to avoid a sixth loss this season, the Rams will also try to avoid going a mediocre 7-6 for the third straight season. Is that motivation enough to get up for this showdown with the Thundering Herd? I’m not so sure. Marshall earned Bowl eligibility with a win over Western Kentucky back on November 11th but hasn’t won a game since, suffering two losses by a combined three points against Texas-San Antonio and Southern Miss. There was no real shame in those two losses, and I’m confident we’ll see the Thundering Herd come out ready to play on Saturday against Colorado State. Note that Marshall has won five straight Bowl games, including two Bowl victories with its current senior class. Both teams have been accustomed to being involved in a tightly-contested football games this season. I’m expecting another on Saturday and will grab all the points I can get. Take Marshall (10*).

My selection is on Western Kentucky minus the points over Georgia State at 2:30 pm et on Saturday.

Western Kentucky really struggled down the stretch but has to be ecstatic about still receiving a Bowl invite, and finds itself in a very winnable matchup. The Hilltoppers faced plenty of adversity from October on but I think it’s important to consider that C-USA was an underrated conference this season, with nine teams Bowl-bound and 10 reaching Bowl eligibility in total. Meanwhile, Georgia State faced a cupcake schedule in the watered-down Sun Belt Conference and still only managed to post six victories. I believe this line could be considerably steeper in the Hilltoppers favor given the school’s Bowl pedigree and the fact that Georgia State is still looking for its first ever Bowl win. We’re getting the vastly superior quarterback and all around deeper team at a value price in my opinion. Take Western Kentucky (10*).

My selection is on Denver minus the points over Indianapolis at 8:25 pm et on Thursday.

Conditions were absolutely terrible for the Colts in Buffalo last Sunday as they ultimately fell in overtime in the middle of a lake effect snowstorm. With that being said, it was baffling to watch Indianapolis not even attempt to throw the football for the better part of the first three quarters of that game. What did they have to lose? At least Buffalo was willing to take some shots through the air, with some success. The Broncos are coming off a much-needed (for their confidence anyway) win over the Jets last Sunday. QB Trevor Siemian looked poised in the pocket, something the Broncos had been sorely lacking during their extended slide. Simply put, the Broncos have more talent at their disposal, particularly on the defensive side of the football, in this Thursday night matchup. From ownership on down, I feel it’s the Broncos that also have a little more hunger to win, if only for pride’s sake at this stage of a lost season. The Colts season was lost a long time ago. I see Chuck Pagano as a lame duck head coach at this point. Maybe the Colts rally to put on a positive show for the home faithful in this primetime affair, but I believe there’s a better chance that they show up without a lot of life after Sunday’s draining loss in snowy Orchard Park. Take Denver (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Philadelphia at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

The Eagles long winning streak finally came to an end last Sunday night in Seattle and now I believe they'll have trouble picking themselves up off the mat as they had to Los Angeles to take on the Rams. It was only a matter of time before Philadelphia suffered a hiccup and this is an awfully tough spot to bounce back on the road against a Rams squad that continues to roll along. Los Angeles is 6-1 ATS over its last seven contests and has put up 58 points in recording victories in each of the last two weeks. This one might come down to which offense blinks first, and I believe that will be the Eagles as they cough up their second straight contest on the highway. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Green Bay at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Packers were extremely fortunate to come away with a victory at home against Tampa Bay last Sunday. I'm not sure they'll be so lucky on Sunday afternoon in the Dawg Pound. The Browns are simply playing out the string at this point, still winless through 12 games. But motivation is certainly on their side here, and they have to look at this as a winnable game against a banged-up Packers squad that will be looking ahead to the possible return of QB Aaron Rodgers next week. It sets up as a terrible sandwich spot of sorts for Green Bay and I'm not confident that QB Brett Hundley can lead them to consecutive wins (not that he played much of a positive role in last week's OT victory). Take Cleveland (10*).

My selection is on San Francisco plus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I like the positive momentum the 49ers are building with QB Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. While they won by a narrow 15-14 score in Chicago last week, they actually outgained the Bears by a whopping 241 total yards. Garoppolo has looked more than comfortable running the offense and should only get more comfortable as the weeks go on. Here, he faces a vulnerable Texans defense that is a shell of its former self. Houston has lost back-to-back games, outscored by a 47-29 margin over that stretch. San Francisco won't get much love from the betting public but that's just fine with us. This one won't be pretty, but I'll grab the points with the 49ers, who simply have more upside at this point of the season. Take San Francisco (10*).

My selection is on New York plus the points over Dallas at 1 pm et on Sunday.

It will be an emotional return to the field for Eli Manning after he saw his long consecutive starts streak come to an end last week. With the Giants cleaning house following that game, and re-installing Manning as starting QB, I look for Big Blue to show some life against the rival Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Dallas bounced back with a divisional win over Washington last Thursday night but I'm not sold that the Cowboys are back. Dallas hasn't won a game on the road against the G-Men since 2014. I'm not sure that this is the team to end that skid. Look for the Giants to get plenty of pressure on Dak Prescott and bottle up the Cowboys ground attack. Take New York (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Cleveland at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the big number with the surging Chargers on Sunday afternoon as they host the listless Browns. We won with San Diego last week in Dallas and there's little reason to jump ship in this spot. Los Angeles has righted the ship with back-to-back wins, both SU and ATS and can certainly see a path to an AFC West title with the rest of the division struggling. Note that Los Angeles hasn't lost a home game since falling by just two points in Philadelphia back on October 1st. Meanwhile, the Browns have yet to taste victory this season and have gone 0-4 ATS over their last four contests. They did get past the Chargers as a 4.5-point underdog on Christmas Eve last year but that was a much different situation. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over New York at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the points with the reeling Chiefs in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon. Kansas City can't get out of its own way right now, suffering three straight losses to fall from grace after once being considered the team to beat in the AFC. That's certainly not the case anymore, but I see this as an excellent get-right matchup against a Jets squad that has fallen on hard times as well. New York has dropped five of its last six games to fall out of the AFC Wild Card chase. Last week, it looked like the Jets defense started to run out of gas in a 35-27 loss to the Panthers. It's worth noting that they actually couldn't have played much better as a whole in that game, or much better than we could expect anyway, but still gave up 35 points and lost by more than a touchdown. The Chiefs simply need a spark to get things turned around and I'm confident their offense will deliver just that spark on Sunday afternoon. We're being asked to lay a reasonably low number with the vastly superior team here. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Atlanta minus the points over Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Vikings couldn't have looked much better in last week's Thanksgiving Day victory over the Lions in Detroit. But now things get a little tougher as they stay on the road to face a surging Falcons squad that has won three straight games. The Falcons offense is clicking and now they'll get RB DeVonta Freeman back from a concussion on Sunday. That gives them another mode of attack against a very good Vikings defense. Minnesota has been rolling along thanks to the hot hand of QB Case Keenum. But how much longer can he keep it up with Teddy Bridgewater breathing down his neck, whether a potential move is warranted or not. At 9-2 on the season, I simply feel that the Vikes have become an overvalued commodity at this point. This will mark their fourth road game in their last five overall. I can't see them running the table against an elite opponent. Take Atlanta (10*).

My selection is on Coastal Carolina plus the points over Georgia Southern at 1 pm et on Saturday.

I'll grab the points with the Chanticleers as they host Georgia Southern in an ugly, under the radar Championship Saturday matchup. Both teams check in with identical 2-9 SU record. Both also come in off a victory and in Georgia Southern's case two. I expect the Eagles to get tripped up here, however. Coastal Carolina has hung tough in a number of games this year but luck hasn't gone its way. With a couple of favorable bounces the Chanticleers could very well be playing for Bowl eligibility on Saturday. Note that they check in 3-2 ATS over their last five contests. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern comes off back-to-back SU and ATS victories in an underdog role. That puts the Eagles in a tough letdown spot here on the road. Take Coastal Carolina (10*).

My selection is on Stanford plus the points over USC at 8 pm et on Friday.

Just not buying what the Trojans are selling here. They've gone 10-2 SU this season but just 3-8-1 ATS. Stanford has certainly held its own in this series, taking three of the last four meetings SU. The Cardinal roll into this matchup having won three games in a row, going 2-1 ATS over that stretch. USC has won four in a row but is giving up far too many points for my liking. Good spot to grab the points with what might be the superior team. Take Stanford (10*).

My selection is on New York plus the points over Carolina at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Panthers have gotten their season right back on track thanks to three consecutive victories but I’m not ready to anoint them as a true contender just yet. Keep in mind, two of those three wins came at home, and the other came against a then-struggling Bucs squad. Carolina is expected to get TE Greg Olsen back on the field this Sunday but I’m not sure how much of a contribution he’ll make in his first game following a long injury layoff. The Jets are accustomed to being involved in tight football games, with each of their last four losses coming by a touchdown or less. I do think they’ll look at this as a winnable game, and it’s certainly a victory they need sitting at 4-6 on the season. With their defense still firing on all cylinders, I look for the Jets to contain Cam Newton and stay inside the number on Sunday afternoon. Take New York (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Chicago at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While the Bears have made some positive strides this season, they still have only three wins to their credit, and at this stage of their progression, I still rank them as one of the worst teams in the entire NFL. Here, they run into the hottest and perhaps best team in the league in the Philadelphia Eagles, on the road no less. While we’re certainly dealing with a lofty pointspread, I believe we’ll see the Eagles turn in another dominating performance. Everything is working for Philadelphia right now. The offense looks unstoppable with the addition of RB Jay Ajayi while the defense has been opportunistic to say the least. With that said, the Eagles haven’t been good enough for nearly long enough to get ahead of themselves at this stage of the season. I’m confident we’ll see Philadelphia keep its foot on the proverbial gas pedal on Sunday afternoon and the end result should be another rout at The Linc. Take Philadelphia (10*).

Pac-12 Game of the Year. My selection is on Utah minus the points over Colorado at 10 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll lay the points with the Utes in this showdown between five-win teams looking to become Bowl eligible. It’s been a tough stretch for Utah as it has dropped six of its last seven games after a red hot start to the season. Of course, the Utes have faced a brutal schedule over that stretch, with their most recent setback coming by just three points on the road against Washington last Saturday. I fully expect to see them take advantage of this winnable home game against the Buffaloes. Colorado split four games in October but has dropped back-to-back contests since. The Buffaloes did defeat Utah by a 27-22 score the last time these two teams met last November, but I’m not sure that this year’s edition will be so fortunate. The oddsmakers are giving the Utes the benefit of the doubt despite their recent struggles, and I believe it’s the right call. Take Utah (10*).

My selection is on Western Kentucky minus the points over Florida International at 7 pm et on Friday.

Florida International is fortunate to be Bowl eligible at this point as far as I'm concerned. The Panthers have four outright underdog victories to their credit already this season. I don't expect them to turn the trick again here, however. Western Kentucky was a Bowl team a year ago, defeating a good Memphis team. The Hilltoppers became Bowl eligible with a wild 41-38 overtime win over Middle Tennessee State last week. They've been involved in a ton of tight battles this season, and are better for it as far as I'm concerned. At 3-8 ATS, they haven't been a good bet by any stretch of the imagination but I believe they're undervalued as a small road favorite here. Take Western Kentucky (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles over Dallas at 4:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Chargers are just 4-6 on the season thanks to a miserable 0-4 start, but what more could be asked of them lately? All they’ve done is go 4-2 over their last six games with their only two losses over that stretch coming on the road against two of the AFC’s best teams, the Patriots and Jaguars. Those losses came by a combined 11 points, and they allowed just 41 points in the process. Don’t be fooled by the fact they gave up 24 points against the Bills last Sunday, as the majority of those points came when the result had already long been determined. Offensively, I do think the jury is still out as far as the Chargers go, but this is a favorable matchup against a Cowboys defense that is being asked to carry too much of the load right now. Dallas has hit the skids without RB Ezekiel Elliott over the last two weeks, and I don’t believe things will get any easier playing on a short week. We successfully faded the ‘Boys in Sunday night’s rout at the hands of the Eagles and won’t hesitate to go back to the well here. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Detroit at 12:30 pm et on Thursday.

Last Sunday the Vikings were presented with a tougher matchup at home against the Rams as far as I’m concerned. While a letdown is a possibility here, I don’t see it as teams generally get up for these Thanksgiving Day games, and it comes against a division rival, in a revenge spot no less. Minnesota turned in one of its worst efforts of the season against Detroit back on October 1st, suffering a 14-7 loss at home. The Lions put up 27 points in a win over the Bears in Chicago last Sunday to improve to 6-4 on the season. That was Detroit’s third straight victory, but those wins came against an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers squad, the hapless Browns and the aforementioned Bears. Things won’t come as easy against a Vikings team that is rolling right now. Take Minnesota (10*).

My selection is on Kent State plus the points over Akron at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with Akron (outright) in an underdog role against Ohio last week but I won't hesitate to switch gears and fade the Zips now that they're Bowl eligible, and laying a considerable number against Kent State on Tuesday night. The Golden Flashes have been awful this season, losing nine of 11 games. They enter this contest having allowed at least 42 points in four straight games - all losses. With that being said, they have proven they can at least play some semblance of defense on the road, giving up 21 points at Marshall and 24 points at Northern Illinois earlier in the season. They should play with some pride on Tuesday night, and have to see this as a winnable game, even as north of two-touchdown underdogs. Akron has won the last two meetings in this series, but that marks its longest winning streak against Kent State this decade. Take Kent State (10*).

Monday Night Game of the Month. My selection is on Seattle minus the points over Atlanta at 8:30 pm et on Monday.

No question I'm comfortable laying the short number with the Seahawks at home on Monday Night Football. I'm confident we'll see the 'Hawks come together after losing a number of key cogs to injury. Yes, the Falcons rolled past an undermanned Cowboys squad last week, but they'll face a much tougher task here, heading to Seattle for a primetime game in mid-November. At 5-4, Atlanta probably has more to gain in this one, and certainly needs to start building some momentum. However, the Falcons have simply been too disjointed and inconsistent for my liking this season. The Seahawks are 3-1 at home, and I look for them to improve on that record here. Take Seattle (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Dallas at 8:30 pm et on Sunday.

I'll lay the points with the Eagles on Sunday night as they catch the Cowboys at an opportune time. Dallas is in a bounce-back spot here after a no-show in Atlanta last Sunday but I'm not sure it will be able to pick itself up off the mat without Ezekiel Elliott. A better bounce-back opportunity will come on Thanksgiving Day against the Chargers. If you can't run the football, you're not going to have much success against this Eagles defense. I'm certainly not sold on the Cowboys ground game without Zeke. While Dak Prescott has stepped up before, I believe he'll be in tough against an emerging Eagles secondary. Offensively, the Eagles should have their way with an overworked and vulnerable Cowboys defense. Some believe the jury is still out on the Eagles and they're largely unproven. I'm not so sure. Take Philadelphia (10*).

NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I just don't like the way the Vikings are handling their QB situation right now. While Case Keenum remains the starter, it's pretty much a given that Teddy Bridgewater is going to be taking over at some point. That has Keenum looking over his shoulder, even after a huge performance in Washington last Sunday. The Rams simply continue to go about their business, and win games by margin. Here, we find them in an underdog role and I'm not sure it's warranted. The Vikings have looked tremendous at times but vulnerable at others. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Tennessee at 8:25 pm et on Thursday.

I'm not buying what the Titans are selling right now. Both of these teams come in riding perfect 4-0 winning streaks, but those streaks aren't created equal. The Titans barely survived a home game against a weak Bengals squad last Sunday. That's been a common theme for Tennessee lately as each of its last three victories have come by four points or less. Likewise, the Steelers escaped with a narrow 20-17 win in Indianapolis last Sunday. But the fact is, Pittsburgh has allowed 17 points or less in four straight games, while we've yet to see the offense bring its true 'A' game. The emergence of JuJu Smith-Schuster has given the Steelers 'O' a whole new dynamic. Look for them to go all out against the Titans on Thursday night. Tennessee is just 3-5-1 ATS on the season and I don't expect to see it improve on that mark here. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on Western Michigan plus the points over Northern Illinois at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

Western Michigan has stumbled lately, dropping two of its last four games, but there's no question the Broncos will be up for this showdown with Northern Illinois, especially following a get-right 48-20 victory over Kent State one week ago tonight. Northern Illinois bounced back from a 10-point setback against Toledo to roll Ball State 63-17 last Thursday. The Huskies have just one blemish on their record since the start of October. With that being said, I believe they're laying a couple of points too many in a game that has the potential of being a 'last with the ball wins' type of affair. Take Western Michigan (10*).

CFB MAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Akron plus the points over Ohio at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with Ohio in last week's 'upset' win over Toledo. Not here though. Here, we'll back Akron plus a boatload of points. The Zips aren't getting nearly enough respect. With a win here they become eligible. That, along with the fact they've lost nine straight meetings in this series should give them all the motivation they need on Tuesday night. Akron has gone 4-3 SU and 6-1 ATS over its last seven contests. Ohio has won four games in a row, both SU and ATS. That's a streak that grinds to a halt on Tuesday night. Take Akron (10*).