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T.M. Selection: Green Bay Packers.

I like the Green Bay Packers to cover the spread and upset the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. The Packers looked very good against the Lions on Monday night. Their offense was running well throughout that entire game and their defense finally kicked in and started really shutting the Lions down when they needed to in the 2nd half. Aaron Rodgers showed everyone in that game that week 1 was "just 1 game" and that there is still plenty of season left for them to hit their full stride. They scored 35 points while the defense held the Lions to 17, allowing no points in the 2nd half of that game. The 49ers have looked good in their first 2 games as well but have been a little wishy washy. In their first game their offense looked great putting up 41 points on the Lions but their defense allowed them to come back in that game letting the Lions score 33 points. Then last week, the 49ers defense played great as they held the Eagles to 11 points but their offense only managed to put up 17 points themselves. Aaron Rodgers looks like he's ready for the season now and he has a lot of weapons to work with on that offense in both the running game and the passing game. They will be looking to be the best in the NFC this season and that starts here with taking down one of the undefeated teams. I like the Packers to cover the spread here and win the game in an upset.

T.M. Prediction: 30-23 Packers.

T.M. Selection: Michigan.

I like Michigan to cover the spread against Rutgers on Saturday. Michigan has looked good this season on both offense and defense and they look like they are getting back to that powerhouse team that they used to be. All of their wins this season have been by 21+ points, their most impressive one was a 31-10 win over Washington. They pretty much ripped out Washington's game plan in that one and used it against them as they were able to tear their defense up in the run game while stopping it themselves with their defense. This will be their first conference game this season and they will be out to make a statement in this game. Michigan is not just looking for a Big 10 title at this point, they want consideration for the college football playoffs so I expect them to win their games in blowout fashion, especially these important conference ones. Rutgers has also been winning their games by a large margin but between Temple and Syracuse, those are the toughest opponents they have faced this season and they only came away with a 10 point win over the Orange. Michigan has a solid defense and will be able to stop the Rutgers offense here. They also have a very good running game and a smart quarterback who makes good decisions when he throws the ball. I like Michigan to cover the spread here.

T.M. Prediction: 42-10 Michigan.

T.M. Selection: Cincinnati Bearcats

I have a hard time seeing Miami Ohio mustering up much of an offensive attack here today. The RedHawks went 2-1 last year, while tthe Bearcats went 9-1. Brett Gabbert isn't going to be able to keep pace with Desmond Ridder, who is out for a Heisman this season. The Bearscats are 5-1 ATS in their last six non-conference games. The RedHawks are just 3-10 ATS in their last 13 in the same position. I look for the home side to go up early, and then to cruise to victory; lay the points! 

T.M. Prediction: 37-7 Cincy

T.M. Selection: Duke

Both teams have plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball. Each had difficulties last year, but most teams did during the abbreviated Covid season. The bottom line here for me though today gentlemen is that the Blue Devils hammered Charlotte 53-19 last year and I expect a similar sort of outcome today as well. Gunnar Holmberg doesn't have a lot of experience as QB, but he's been with Duke for three years. He knows the system and that's a small advantage he has. Duke gave up 38.1 PPG last year, but it was decimated with injury and COVID issues. I expect a BIG step up from this group today. The 49ers were also hit hard by COVID last season. Chris Reynolds is a decent QB, but I think he'll have his hands full today with this improved Duke defense. The Blue Devils are better across the board and I look for them to pull away in the fourth quarter. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: 45-21 Duke

T.M. Selection: Chiefs (10* GAME OF THE YEAR).

With Patrick Mahomes playing, I think the home side is going to find a way to get the job done here. These team's met in Week 6 and the Chiefs pulled out the 23-16 victory. I expect a few more points to be scored here, but I do think we'll see an even bigger points discrepancy. The Bills won with their tough defensive play last weekend in a 17-3 victory over the Ravens, but that was on a chilly day at home. Overall Buffalo's defense has been its weak point this year and I think that's finally going to come back to haunt it, as the Chiefs have the offense to keep up with this high-octane Bills' offense. Experience at this level is crucial and the Chiefs and Andy Reid are light years ahead of their counterparts in that regard. I'm banking on Mahomes delivering an MVP performance and putting Allen in his place; lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Kentucky (10* GAME OF THE MONTH).

NC State and Bailey Hockman were "OK," but the Wolfpack simply are unable to stop anyone. NC State averages 31.1 PPG, but it allows 29.7. Terry Wilson and Hockman are a "wash" here in my opinion. Kentucky averaged only 21.7 PPG, while allowing 26.4. Kentucky has faced the stiffer schedule though, and despite being down a few pieces on the defensive end, I still think the Wildcats are much, much better in that department. I look for this game to be decided in the trenches and I like Kentucky to find a way to get the job done in the end; lay the short points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Clemson (FIRST HALF MONEY-MAKER).

I think the correct call here is Clemson in the FIRST HALF. These teams feature a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. They have similar offensive and defensive numbers and each features one of the best QB's in the nation. So why will the Tigers jump out to an early lead in the first half in my opinion? The Buckeyes beat Northwestern 22-10 in the Big Ten Championship, but note that they were down 10-6 at half time. I like Clemson's superior defense to hold OSU down in the first half here as well. I'm laying the points and expceting it to pay immediate dividends for us in the FIRST HALF.

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Cincinnati (10* GAME OF THE WEEK).

Georgia was 7-2, its only losses coming to Flordia and Alabama. The Bulldogs finished 37th in the nation in scoring and 20th in points allowed. The Bearcats though have something to prove here in my opinion after getting snubbed from the big games after finishing the regular season 9-0. Cincy was 15th in the nation in scoring and 17th in the nation in defense. JT Daniels and Georgia average 33.2 PPG, while dual-threat Desmond Ridder leads a potent offense, which is backed by a defense which concedes only 17 PPG. This is a statement game for the Bearcats and its pretty meaningless for Georgia. I'm grabbing the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: San Jose State (10* MONEY-MAKER).

Ball State has won six straight, including vs. the Buffalo Bulls in the Conference Title game. The Cardinals average 34.3 PPG, but now they face the best defense they've seen all year in the Spartans, who allow just 17.86 PPG. The Spartans also average 30.9 PPG, while the Cardinals concede 27.6. Drew Pitt is a good quarterback, but I think he'll struggle vs. this suffocating Spartans defensive front, as I expect it to turn the Cards offense very one-dimensional. The Spartans are also 8-1-2 ATS in their last 11 following a SU win, while the Cardinals are in fact 0-4 ATS in their last four Bowl contests. Lay the points, expect a blowout of epic proportions!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Wisconsin (BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR).

Wake Forest has a good offense, but its opponents have been suspect. One thing for sure though, Wake Forest is downright terrible on the defensive side of the ball. Wake QB Sam Hartman is decent, but they've allowed a combined 105 points over two straight losses. Hartman was poor in the loss to Louisville as well, going just 17 of 41 for 224 yards. Graham Mertz is a game manager for the Badgers, but he was decent in the win over the tough Gophers, going 12 of 20 for 132 yards and a TD. Wisconsin is also 4-1 ATS in its last five non-conference games. Wake's offense is decent, but I think the Badgers are the more complete team. I'm laying the points!

T.M. Prediction: 34-17 Wisconsin.

T.M. Selection: Georgia State (10* BANKROLL BUILDER).

Georgia State was crushed by 51 points by Coastal Carolina on Halloween, but since then the Panthers have outscored their last four opponents by a total of 126-89. Georgia State QB Cornelius Brown IV is a difference-maker for me, he's played great over his last two games, going for the biggest passing yardage of the season thus far over those contests. WKU's offense is one of the worst in the nation and while it's defense is decent, I can't see the Hilltoppers keeping pace in the second half. Note as well that WKU is just 1-5 ATS in its last six vs. the Sun Belt, while the Panthers are interestingly 6-2 ATS in their last eight games that fall on a Saturday. Does that matter? It doesn't hurt! Look for the Panthers to pull away for a comfortable cover and lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Saints (10* TRADE-MARK).

The Saints have lost three straight, while Minnesota has dropped two in a row. The big difference between these teams heading into Week 16 though is that New Orleans has clinched a playoff spot and still has an opportunity to impove its standings, while the Vikings have been all but eliminated. Where is the motivation going to come from the Vikings today, who let a crucial and late lead slip away in last weekend's crushing loss to division rival Chicago? I like Drew Brees to bounce back from last week's loss to the defending champs and to lay the hammer down from start to finish. A great "common sense" selection; I'm laying the points!

T.M. Prediction: 33-21 Saints.

T.M. Selection: Buffalo (10* TOP PLAY).

Marshall is 7-2, but it comes in on terrible form having dropped two in a row, most recently a 22-13 setback to UAB. The Bulls are 5-1 and their only loss came last time out in a 38-28 setback to Ball State. Buffalo was favored in that contest, but I think the Bulls will bounce back here. Note that Buffalo is 4-0 ATS in its last four following a SU loss, while Marshall is a poor 0-5 ATS in its last five following a SU win. I look for these strong trends to continue; lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Georgia Southern (10* BEST OF THE BEST).

Despite Shai Werts out for this one, I still think Georgia Southern's loaded roster will find a way to deliver the goods in the New Orleans Bowl. Georgia Southern is dominant on the defensive end, allowing just 22.3 PPG. Miller Mosley is likely getting the start for Georgia Southern, and he'll be going against a poor LA Tech defense which allowed a ghastly 34.3 PPG this year. The only reason LA Tech is in this Bowl is because of the weird pandemic year. As stated off the top, despite Werts being out, I still like Georgia Southern to easily dominate this one; lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: BYU (10* GAME OF THE WEEK).

No need to overthink this one. UCF has been great offensively, averaging 44.3 PPG, but it concedes 31.4 PPG. That's not going to cut it here vs. this hungry Cougars side, which averages 43 PPG and allows just 14.6. BYU QB Zach Wilson is going to have a big day today; note that he finished by completing 73.2 percent of his passes for 30 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The Golden Knights were miserable against the pass and I can't see them keeping pace as the game comes down the stretch; lay the points, expect a blowout!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Bengals (10* MONEY-MAKER).

The Steelers have lost two in a row. They're coming to town without starting running back James Conner as well, which turns the offense extremely one-dimensional. Big Ben has reached the point of the season where fatigue is a major factor, and without his star RB to keep the Bengals pass rush honest, I think the veteran is going to be in for a long day here. Pittsburgh definitely has zero motivation here to run up the score if it does in fact have a lead, instead it'll be looking to kill the clock and avoid any further injuries. But for Brandon Allen and the Bengals, this is a big game to prove themselves and to try and solidify their job for next season. I love the Bengals here, but I won't call for an outright upset; grab the points!

T.M. Prediction: 21-17 Pittsburgh.

T.M. Selection: Appalachian State (10* GAME OF THE WEEK).

Yes, the Mean Green offense has been good this year. But has that been because of the level of competition it's faced? North Texas and Austin Aune average 35.1 PPG, but guess what? UNT is terrible defensively, allowing 41.3. The only reason UNT is in this Bowl Game is because of the weird Covid issues we're all under. App State is a lot better, on both sides of the ball. Overall Zac Thomas and the Mountaineers average 31.8 PPG. And guess what?! The defense has been even better, conceding only 19.3 points and just 314.2 yards per game. Look for App State's tough defensive play to prove to be too much for UNT in the end; lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: 41-11 App State.

T.M. Selection: Browns (10* ELITE OF THE ELITE).

If the Browns had actually beaten the Ravens last weekend, then I'd likely be going the other way, but the fact that Cleveland lost makes me love the visiting side in this situation. The Browns have no reason to look past the Giants today, as they'll stay in the Big Apple to play the Jets next weekend, before a regular season thriller at home vs. the Steelers. Cleveland has to be looking at the Steelers' recent slide and thinking that it has a golden opportunity here to win these next two games, and take out the Steelers in the finale. If so, and if Pittsburgh continues to struggle the next two games, the Browns have a shot at moving up in the playoff standings. One game at a time. Cleveland's depth on offense and its above par defense are the differences today for me; lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: 31-24 Cleveland.

T.M. Selection: Panthers (10* CASH-COW).

Sorry, I'm dealing with power/technical issues due to a severe storm in the Pacific Northwest right now, so I'm not able to properly give my usual extremely detailed analysis today.

Carolina comes in off a tough 32-27 home loss to Denver. Carolina didn't give up as well, as it scored 17 points in the fourth quarter in the near come back. 

Clearly Green Bay is the better team, I just think it'll get caught looking past the Panthers today to its home game vs. the Titans next weekend. 

Finally note as well that Green Bay is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine after scoring 30 or more points in a SU victory in its last outing.

Grab the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Florida (10* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE.)

Sorry, I'm dealing with power/technical issues due to a severe storm in the Pacific Northwest right now, so I'm not able to properly give my usual extremely detailed analysis today.

Kyle Trask and Mac Jones are poised for an epic battle here in my opinion. Alabama has been great defensively of late, but this is an explosive and versatile offense behind Jones. I don't expect any outright upsets or anything, but I do think this is too many points to be giving up to this underrated Florida team.

Note that the Gators are 7-2 ATS in their last nine as an underdog in the +16.5 to +18.5 points range as well.

I'm grabbing the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Miami (10* GAME OF THE MONTH).

The bottom line is, UNC's defense is terrible. Granted, the Tar Heels offense is spectacular, but if you can't slow anyone down, how are you supposed to win a game? Miami Florida on the other hand is legit on both sides of the ball. UNC averages 36.3 PPG, but, Miami averages 34.9. The Hurricanes' defense isn't what it used to be in year's past, but it's certainly much better than the Tar Heels' incompetent unit. The home team is also 7-1 ATS the last eight in this series, while the Tar Heels are 0-4 against the spread following a straight-up victory. Look for Miami to pull away for the comfortable SU/ATS win/cover; lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Southern Miss (10* GAME OF THE WEEK).

This one sets up well for Southern Miss, who I think will easily cover with the large spread it's been afforded here. FAU is for sure the better team, but this is its final game of the year and after last week's 20-3 loss to Georgia Southern, I can't see the visiting side coming here very motivated. Southern Mississippi has had its last two games canceled due to covid issues, but three weeks ago it lost 23-20 in a competitive setback to UTSA. It's senior night for Southern Miss as well and that's an important motivational factor we can exploit here as well. I won't be so bold as to call for the outright upset, but the stage is definitely set for a real nail-biter on Thursday night; grab the points!

T.M. Prediction: 21-17 FAU.

T.M. Selection: Chiefs (10* TRADE-MARK).

Denver is 4-7 overall and 1-3 over its last four. 

Kansas City is 10-1 and while the Chiefs have a tricky game in Miami next weekend, a 15-1 regular-season record is now very possible, with a game at New Orleans after that, followed by home games against Atlanta and the Chargers to finish off.

Denver had to have practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton take over at quarterback in last week's 31-3 home loss to , because starter Drew Lock, backup Brett Rypien and practice squad player Blake Bortles were designated as close-contact risks after third-string quarterback Jeff Driskel tested positive for COVID-19.

Royce Freeman had 50 yards on eight carries for the Broncos in the loss. Noah Fant caught the only pass for 13 yards.

Now, I do expect Denver to have a much better offensive game today with one of their starters back under center, but how could they not? It was an overall disappointment last week that the NFL even allowed that Denver game to be played, but now with little hope at making the playoffs, I think the Broncos will simply go through the motions today.

The Chiefs are 10-1 and they're clearly the "better" team in every respect. I don't foresee a letdown here, rather I look for Kansas City to go up early and then to control the clock after that, limit mistakes and injuries and get ready for next week's road contest. This one has "b-l-o-w-o-u-t" written ALL over it!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Tennessee (10* GAME OF THE WEEK).

I was originally leaning towards Florida here, but after carefully examining this contest a little further, I'm now 100% going the other way. The Vols haven't played since a 30-17 loss at Auburn all the way back on October 21st. The Gators have a big red target on their backs now, as they have Playoff Championship hopes after last week's 34-10 win over Kentucky. With LSU at home next weekend, I think the Gators let up in the second half as they prepare to close out strong in front of the home town crowd. The Vols actually outgained Auburn 464-385 in their loss to Auburn and with the extra time off to prepare, I look for them to deliver the solid back door cover; grab the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Louisana Tech (10* TRADE-MARK).

This is Louisiana Tech's final scheduled game of the season and I expect it to make the most of this situation. The Bulldogs have had several games canceled due to COVID. Louisiana Tech last played on Halloween when it defeated UAB by a score of 37-34 in double overtime. The Mean Green have also had a few games canceled due to COVID this year. Last week Tulane lost 49-17 to UTSA. I think Bulldogs' QB Aaron Allen is going to have a big day here vs. this suspect Mean Green secondary (note that LT averages 30.3 PPG.) UNT has a good offense, but it's defense is downright terrible as well. The Bulldogs are 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games versus a team with a losing home record, while UNT is a poor 1-5 ATS in its last six after scoring less than 20 points in its last game. Look for Louisiana Tech to pull away down the stretch!

T.M. Prediction: 39-27 LT.

T.M. Selection: Seahawks (10* MADNE$$).

Seattle comes in off a big win over Arizona and I think it'll keep the foot on the gas here in Prime Time in this favorable matchup. Both the Cardinals and the Rams lost yesterday, so with a win today, the Hawks will have a firm grasp on the log-jammed NFC West. Seattle's defense has looked dramatically better of late, last week it held the Cardinals to just 314 yards. The Eagles come in off a 22-17 loss to Cleveland, their second straight setback. Philadelphia is now on the ropes. Who is getting the start today for the Eagles? Whether it's the rookie or Wentz, I can't see either keeping pace with Russell Wilson and this Hawks' offense which has averaged over 31.0 PPG this year. Note as well that Philly is just 3-7 ATS in its last ten at home, while Seattle is 11-4-1 ATS in its last 16 Monday Night Football contests; lay the points!

T.M. Prediction: 31-19 Seattle.