Sports Picks & Predictions

3* NCAAF Prime Time ATS ANNIHILATOR  on Arizona -

Most will be quick to take Cal at home here after they just dominated the No. 5 team in the country in Washington State 37-3. Arizona wasn't even a home favorite against Houston, Utah or UCLA. I think line tells you everything and there's every reason to like Arizona in this one. 

The Wildcats have found something special in sophomore quarterback Khalil Tate, who has 557 rushing yards in his last two games. He doesn't throw a ton, but has been accurate when he has to make a play through the air, completing 74.3% of his attempts. I just don't see Cal being able to slow him down enough to keep this one close. 

While Cal's offense was able to put up 37 last week, they clearly were up against a Wash St team that didn't come to play. Two weeks ago they managed just 7 points and 93 totals yards against Washington. Arizona's not an elite defense, but are capable of keeping the Golden Bears offense in check. Even with the big game against the Cougars, Cal still ranks 89th in scoring (26.1 ppg) and 109th in total offense (348 ypg). I think the Wildcats win this one going away. Take Arizona! 

4* NCAAF Vegas HEAVY HITTER on Michigan +

This is just too good to pass up with the Wolverines catching double-digits against any team in the Big Ten. Michigan hasn't looked good the past couple of weeks and people aren't as high on this team after they lost at home to Michigan State. I still think the Wolverines are one of the best teams in the country. Jim Harbaugh is going to feed his players on how little respect they are getting and will come out with a chip on their shoulder. 

I also think Harbaugh and Michigan are coming in looking to make a statement against one of the favorites to win the Heisman in Saquon Barkley. Last year they held him to 136 total yards with just 3.9 yards/carry on the ground and Penn State managed just 10 points. Michigan comes in leading the country in total defense, while ranking 6th against the run (85.8 ypg) and 3rd against the pass (138.0 ypg). I think they are going to keep the Nittany Lions in check. 

I know Michigan's offense has been bad, but I'm confident Harbaugh is holding back a few wrinkles for this one. I think the Wolverines will play well offensively and wouldn't be shocked if they did enough to win this game outright. Take Michigan! 

5* NCAAF Vegas Insider GAME OF THE MONTH on Ole Miss +

I really like the value we are getting here with Ole Miss at home. The Rebels have been an afterthought in the SEC West, largely because they aren't eligible for postseason play. They also have some ugly losses mixed in there, losing by 20+ to Cal, Alabama and Auburn. All of those were on the road. This team showed up in their SEC home opener last week, crushing a good Vanderbilt team 57-35. I think we get another great effort here by the Rebels and talent wise Ole Miss is every bit as good as LSU. They also are playing with revenge from an embarrassing 21-38 loss to at LSU last year. 

The Tigers looked lost early against Auburn last week, falling behind 20-0 before rallying to win 27-23. That was a big game at home against a Top 10 opponent. I think the Tigers put everything they had into that one and are going to have a hard time showing up for this game. 

This is still the same LSU team that lost to Troy at home and by 30 at Mississippi State. Ole Miss has the skill players in the passing game to attack this Tigers defense. I look for the Rebels to score early and often this one. Should have no problem keeping this within a touchdown and wouldn't be shocked if they won outright. Take Ole Miss! 

3* NCAAF Undervalued UNDERDOG  on Tulane +

It's been smooth sailing for South Florida in 2017, as the Bulls have opened up the season 6-0 and have won each of their last 3 by 30-points. No surprise as this team has played about as easy of a schedule as you will find. A lot of teams would be 6-0 if they started out against San Jose St, Stony Brook, Illinois, Temple, East Carolina and Cincinnati. Not a single one of those FBS teams they have faced own a winning record and Temple is the best of the bunch at 3-4. 

Now the Bulls have to hit the road and play a much-improved Tulane team in what's going to be their biggest game of the season outside of a bowl game if they get there. The Green Wave have made big strides in year two under Willie Fritz. They are going to play keep away from the Bulls and use that 10th ranked rushing attack to grind out possessions, which is going to where down the USF defense and keep the Bulls' offense out of sync. I think USF does enough to stay unbeaten, but I think this one comes right down to the wire. Take Tulane! 

4* NCAAF Vegas LINE MISTAKE on Southern Miss +

Louisiana Tech has had trouble winning close games this year. The most recent was a 22-23 defeat at UAB, who didn't play football a season ago. I just don't think they are very good this year. However, a lot of people still trust them based on the fact they have won 9 games each of the last 3 seasons.

I think people will be drawn to La Tech laying a small number at home off a bye, but I'm taking the points with the Golden Eagles, who have won 2 straight and 4 of 5. The most recent a 24-0 beatdown of UTEP, where they outgained the Miners 423 to 147 with a 20 to 6 edge in first downs. 

Coming off a bye isn't always a good thing. The Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 off a bye. The Golden Eagles are 28-13 ATS in their last 41 road games after a win by 21 or more points and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 overall. 

We also have a strong system favoring a play on Southern Miss based off the spot we find them. Road underdogs who are excellent offensive teams (440+ ypg) vs a good offensive team (390 to 440 ypg) are 30-8 ATS over the last 10 seasons after a game in which they outgained their opponent by 225 or more total yards. Take Southern Miss! 

4* NCAAF Situational ATS NO BRAINER on Minnesota -

Good spot here to jump back on the Golden Gopher bandwagon. Minnesota's stock has taken a huge hit as they have followed up their 3-0 start with 3 straight losses. Lucky for them they get a chance to get right against the worst team in the conference in Illinois, who just lost at home to Rutgers by double-digits. They also have a 29-point defeat to Iowa and 22-point loss at home to Nebraska on the resume.

Key here is that we can count on a big time effort from the Gophers, as they can't afford to overlook Illinois after losing 3 straight. That should be all it takes for them to win here by at least 2 touchdowns.  It's been a good spot to back Minnesota, as they are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 off a conference loss. Illinois on the other hand is 11-27 ATS in their last 38 off a SU loss and 8-20 ATS in their last 28 on the road. Take Minnesota! 

3* NCAAF Vegas ODDSMAKERS ERROR on Michigan State -

I like the value here with the Spartans laying just a touchdown at home against the Hoosiers. Michigan State has started out 5-1, but I don't feel they get the respect they deserve due to the fact that they lost at home to Notre Dame by a final of 18-38. That was a very misleading score, as the Spartans actually outgained the Irish by 141 yards. They bounced back with an impressive win at home over Iowa and followed it up with road wins over both Michigan and Minnesota.

I see no reason why they won't be able to take care of business against Indiana, who I think is still getting a lot of love for how they played Ohio State for 3 quarters at home in their opener. This team lost by 31 at Penn State last time they were away from home.

Even with that loss and non-cover against Notre Dame, the Spartans are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games at home and own a perfect 6-0 ATS record at home in the 2nd half of the season over the last 3 years. Indiana hasn't covered in 4 straight conference games and are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 trips to East Lansing. Take Michigan State! 

3* NCAAF NO Doubt ATS BLOWOUT on Virginia Tech -

This might seem like a big number for the Hokies to be laying, but I really like what I have seen from this Virginia Tech team and feel they are flying a bit under the radar after failing to cover their last two. The thing is they were getting a little too much love against Clemson at home and got rolled. They were then a huge letdown spot at BC and won by 13 as a 14-pt favorite. 

UNC has covered one spread all season and that was at Old Dominion. The Tar Heels are just 1-6 overall and have lost by double-digits in 3 of their last 4 games. UNC ranks 114th in total defense and 99th in total offense. The Hokies are 23rd in total defense and 26th in total offense. This is a complete mismatch and even more so with Va Tech off a bye. 

Great system in play that backs a fade of the Tar Heels in this one. Underdogs of 10.5 to 21 points that have failed to cover the spread in 4 or 5 of their last 6 games and have won 25% or less of their games are a mere 9-34 (21%) ATS vs a team with a winning record. Take Virginia Tech. 

4* NCAAF Friday Night BAILOUT BLOWOUT on New Mexico +

I like the value here with the Lobos catching a touchdown at home against Colorado State. I believe we are getting value because of the fact that New Mexico is fresh off a 38-0 loss at Fresno State in a game they were favored to win (-2.5). As well as the fact that the Rams enter having won 3 straight and beat the Lobos by 18 in last year's meeting. Keep in mind that Colorado State was just a 6.5-point home favorite in that meeting last year. When you factor in the 3.5 points for home field and this line should be closer to 3 than 7. 

New Mexico simply laid an egg last week. I actually like the fact that they are coming off an embarrassing loss, as we can count on them coming into this game with a chip on their shoulder. They also are going to benefit from playing at home under the lights. At the same time we could see Colorado State not take them as seriously as they should. 

I also think people are quick to overlook that the Rams barely snuck out a 44-42 win at home last week against Nevada as a massive 24-point favorite. It puts Colorado State in a historically bad spot, as they are just 5-15 ATS in their last 20 road games off a win by 6 points or less. 

New Mexico is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 off a SU loss and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after scoring less than 20 points. They also have fared well against high-scoring teams like Colorado State, as they are 38-18 ATS in their last 56 games vs a team that's averaging 31+ points/game. Take New Mexico! 

4* NCAAF No Doubt ATS ANNIHILATOR on Middle Tennessee State +

I like the value we are getting here with the Blue Raiders catching a field goal at home against Marshall. The betting public is all over the Thundering Herd because of the fact that Middle Tennessee is without starting quarterback Brent Stockhill. The books know this and have certainly inflated this line in the Blue Raiders favor. 

The thing is, Middle Tennessee does have a capable backup in sophomore John Urzua, who has flashed some decent potential, throwing for 359 yards against FAU. Marshal comes in with some great defensive numbers and actually rank 25th in the country in total defense, giving up just 321.7 ypg. I'm not saying they aren't good, they just aren't as good as that ranking would suggest. The Thundering Herd have 5 games against Miami (OH), Kent St, Cincinnati, Charlotte and Old Dominion. The only decent offense they have faced is NC State and they gave up 37 points and nearly 500 yards of offense. 

The other thing with Marshall's easy schedule is the concerns that they only rank 93rd in total offense. That's extremely low given the talent they have faced. Middle Tennessee's defense ranks 40th and has been tested by the likes of Vanderbilt, Syracuse and Minnesota. I think Marshall struggles to get the offense going on the road in what's going to be a hostile environment under the lights. Take Middle Tennessee! 

5* Chiefs/Raiders AFC West GAME OF THE MONTH on Raiders +

I really like the value here with Oakland catching points at home in a prime time Thursday night matchup. It can't be underestimated how tough it is on the road team in these Thursday game and this a long trip out West for the Chiefs. 

Kansas City has been praised as the league's best team, but looked nothing like it in last week's home loss to the Steelers, where they couldn't even get a first down in the 1st half. It has them overvalued here by the books. 

Oakland has lost 4 straight and are now just 2-4 on the season. A loss here and there hopes of making the playoffs take a huge hit. This is every bit a "must-win" game for the home team

Expect to see the Raiders lay everything on the line and you can count on a rowdy and loud crowd here, as these two fan bases hate the opposing team. The home team has a big edge in these rivalry games and I look for the Raiders to save their season here and pull out the win. Take Oakland! 

3* Memphis/Houston Thurs Night ATS NO BRAINER on Memphis +

I like the value here with the Tigers catching points against the Cougars. I really think Memphis is the much better team and should be favored in this contest.

I had hight hopes for this Houston team coming into the season,  even after losing Herman. A big reason for that was they added in Texas A&M transfer Kyle Allen, who was the number recruit in his class at QB out of high school. Allen was a complete bust and quickly lost his job. Backup Kyle Postma hasn't been a whole lot better, as he's thrown 5 picks. 

Clearly there's something wrong with the offense if they are only scoring 17 points against Tulsa, who they lost to 17-45. The same Tulsa team that had started 1-5 and just lost 28-62 to Navy. Overall the Cougars are averaging just 25.5 ppg, which more than 10 points less than last year's average of 35.8. 

Memphis' offense ranks 14th in the country behind one the nation's most potent passing attacks that's headlined by quarterback Riley Ferguson (1,814 yards, 19-5 TD-INT ratio) and wide out Anthony Miller (45 catches, 606 yards, 9 TDs). The Tigers defense is also much better than the numbers, as their opponents in 2017 are averaging 472 ypg. They have simply faced some dynamic offenses. I'll take the team that's going to have the much easier time moving the ball in this one. Take Memphis! 

3* Colts/Titans MNF ATS ANNIHILATOR  on Colts +

I like the value here with the Colts catching over a touchdown against the Titans on Monday Night Football. Tennessee will have starting quarterback Marcus Mariota, but I don't think that hamstring is 100% just yet. One of things that makes Mariota so good is his mobility and without it I think the Titans offense struggles to do enough here to pull away from a Colts team that has continued to play hard without Andrew Luck. 

The Colts offense was put in a difficult spot to start the season, having to trade for Jacoby Brissett right before the year started. They looked a lot better last time out against the 49ers, piling on 447 yards of total offense and 25 first downs. I think this unit will continue to play well going forward, especially against a sub-par defense like the Titans, which ranks in the bottom half of the league against both the run and the pass. 

Tennessee is a miserable 7-20 ATS in their last 27 games against other AFC teams, 2-13 ATS in their last 15 against a team with a losing record and 2-11 ATS in their last 13 vs a team that allows 24+ points/game. Take Indianapolis! 

4* Giants/Broncos ATS HEAVY HITTER on Giants +

The betting public is lining up to take the Broncos here at home on Sunday Night Football against a injury-plagued Giants team and it's resulted in a drastically inflated line that has created too much value on New York to pass up. 

The total here is just 39, so oddsmakers are expecting points to be hard to come by for both teams. That only adds value to this double-digit spread and the Giants ability to keep this close enough to cover. 

As bad as it looks for the Giants with all the injuries at wide receiver and the poor offensive line play, this team has found a way to remain competitive in their surprising 0-5 start. Eli Manning is no longer in his prime, but still an above-average QB that will make some plays here regardless of who he has to work with. 

The bigger key here is the Broncos don't have the offensive fire-power to be laying this many points. Denver has scored just 16 in their last 2 games. They won their last game against the Raiders by a final of 16-10 and the week before lost to the Bills 16-26. New York still has a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball and I expect the Giants stop unit to show up in a big way here in a prime time game with no body giving them a chance to win this game. Take New York! 

4* Lions/Saints NFL VEGAS INSIDER on Saints -

I don't feel the Saints are getting the respect they deserve here at home coming off their bye. New Orleans started off 0-2, but that wasn't a big surprise. They had to open the season on the road on Monday Night Football against the Vikings and they caught the Patriots, who were coming off that ugly loss to the Chiefs in Week 1 and NE had extra time to prepare. The Saints have responded in a big way. First winning in convincing fashion on the road against a very good Carolina team 34-13 and then most recently a 20-0 shutout win over the Dolphins in London. 

A big reason for the quick turnaround has been the play of a vastly improved defense and given all the young talent they possess on that side of the ball, there's every reason to think they can keep playing well. The key here is they catch the Lions at the right time. Detroit is banged up and it starts with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is dealing with an ankle injury. He's listed as probable, but his mobility figures to be hampered. At the same time, the offensive line for Detroit is   a mess right now. They have given up a ridiculous 12 sacks over their last 2 games (6 each) and figure to struggle again. 

It wasn't that long ago the Saints had one of the best home field advantages in the NFL and there's a big emphasis on turning the Superdome back to a place where opposing teams fear coming to play. 

New Orleans is an impressive 12-4 ATS under head coach Sean Payton after allowing 17 points or less in 2 straight games and 30-10 under Payton vs high-scoring teams that come in averaging 24+ ppg. The Saints are also an impressive 8-1 ATS in their last 9 off a bye and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after a cover last time out. Take New Orleans! 

5* NFL Situational GAME OF THE MONTH on Redskins -

I'm not the least bit concerned about laying this big number with Washington at home in Week 6. This is not only an ideal spot to back the Redskins, but also a perfect situation to fade the 49ers. 

Washington comes in at just 2-2, but there two losses have come against the Eagles and Chiefs. Two teams who are currently a combined 10-1 on the season. The Redskins were right there with a chance to win both. The last time out was a 20-29 loss at KC on Monday Night Football, a game they likely would have won had Dotson been able to hold on to a TD grab late in the 4th quarter. Taking that defeat into the bye will have the Redskins chomping at the bit to get back on the field for this one. 

As for the 49ers, they quick turnaround some where hoping for in the first year under new head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't happened. San Francisco has started out 0-5 and while they have been competitive in their last 4, they are in a dreaded spot here playing their third straight game on the road. Making it even harder on the 49ers is the fact that they are a west coast team having to travel across the country for an early start time against the Redskins. I think they struggle to show up for this one and expect this to turn into a blowout early. 

San Francisco has struggled over the last 3 years against good offensive teams, who average 5.65 or more yards/play. The 49ers are just 3-11 ATS vs these teams and have lost these contests by an average of 12.7 ppg. Redskins are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 vs a team with a losing record and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 off a SU loss. Take Washington! 

5* NFC North GAME OF THE MONTH on Vikings +

Minnesota shouldn't be a dog at home to the Packers, but since Green Bay is such a public team and off 3 straight wins and two consecutive covers, including that big comeback win last week against the Cowboys, this line has been inflated with the books knowing the public will continue to back Aaron Rodgers and the Packers no matter the cost. 

Another reason this line is what it is, is because starting quarterback Sam Bradford has been ruled out for this game. The thing is, Case Keenum has played extremely well in replace of Bradford and really sparked the offense once he came in for an injured Bradford last week against the Bears. Keenum is completing 65% of his passes and most importantly has taken care of the football with a 4-0 TD-INT ratio. Keenum gets to take on a banged up Packers secondary that is without starting safety Morgan Burnett and corner Kevin King. Fellow starting corner Davon House is also questionable. 

Another player that has stepped up on offense is Jerick McKinnon, who has taken over for the injured Dalvin Cook. McKinnon put up 95 yards on 16 attempts against a good Bears run defense and is averaging 4.7 yards/carry (Cook was averaging 4.8 ypc). He should be able to keep it going here against a Green Bay defense that ranks 22nd against the run, allowing 121.4 ypg. 

I also like this Minnesota defense against the Packers offense, which continues to deal with injuries on the offensive line. Rodgers will make some plays, but with the running game figuring to struggle against this stout Vikings front 7, I think the Vikings stop unit makes enough plays to win this one outright. 

Vikings are 24-8 ATS in their last 32 home games with a 9-1 ATS record in their last 10 home games against a team with a winning record. Take Minnesota! 

4* NCAAF Vegas Insider GAME OF THE WEEK on Florida -

I like the value here with needing the Gators to simply win by more than a field goal at home against Texas A&M. Florida came up on the short end of the stick in last week's 16-17 home loss to LSU, where the difference in the game was a missed extra point. I expect a pissed off Gators team to take the field with the mentality of not dropping another game in the swamp. Note that loss to the Tigers was only the second home defeat Florida has suffered under Jim McElwain. 

While the Gators will be chomping at the bit to take the field in this one, Texas A&M enters this game in a prime letdown spot, as they just put everything they had into last week's home game against Alabama. Note it's not been good for the Aggies in their next conference game after playing Alabama the last two years. In 2015 they lost 23-3 at Ole Miss as a mere 5-point dog and last year lost 28-35 at Mississippi State as a 10-point favorite. 

On top of that, Texas A&M has had trouble rebounding from any loss when it comes to covering the spread, as they are just 8-22 ATS in their last 30 games following a loss. They are also just 16-34-1 ATS in their last 51 vs a team with a winning record and only 18-46-1 ATS in their last 65 road games vs a team with a winning home record. Take Florida! 

3* NCAAF No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT on Tulane

I like the value here with Tulane laying less than two touchdowns on the road against FIU. The Green Wave are off to a strong 3-2 start to the season with the only losses coming at Oklahoma and by just 2-points on the road to Navy. Tulane is 4-1 ATS with the only non-cover against the Sooners where they were simply outmatched. 

While the Green Wave have been a very profitable bet so far, I still think this team is flying under the radar after going just 4-8 last year. The thing is, this is one of the most improved teams in the country in year two under head coach Willie Fritz and I fully expect them to continue to be a strong bet the remainder of this season. 

FIU is not a good football team and like Tulane last year, are in the midst of a major rebuilding phase in the first year under head coach Butch Davis, who like Fritz has done, will get this program turned around. Just not this year.

The Golden Panthers come with an identical 3-2 record to the Green Wave, but the three wins have all come against bad teams and they struggled to win all 3. FIU held on for a 17-10 win at home over FCS foe Alcorn State, edged out a horrible Rice team 13-7 and barely squeaked by Charlotte 30-29. The Panthers are just 1-4 ATS and will struggle to keep this close. 

FIU's defense is no match for Tulane's elite rushing attack. The Green Wave come in 8th in the country averaging 293 ypg. FIU is giving up 170 ypg and nearly 4.5 yards/carry. The Panthers defense will be on the field a ton and simply don't have the offense to keep pace. Take Tulane! 

5* No Limit SEC GAME OF THE MONTH on LSU

I really like the value here with LSU catching a touchdown on their home field against Auburn. LSU bounced back in a big way from that ugly loss at home to Troy with a 17-16 win on the road over Florida, who came in at 3-0 in SEC play. LSU desperately needed that win to get their confidence back up and I look for them to carry over that momentum with their best effort of the season at home against a Top 10 opponent. 

Auburn comes in having won 4 straight with three straight blowout wins inside conference play. The thing is, one was on the road against a bad Missouri team and the other two were at home against Mississippi State and Ole Miss, who are both bottom tier teams in the SEC. I believe it has Auburn way overvalued here on the road in one of the most hostile environments in the country. 

I know the Auburn defense has been playing lights out, but don't underestimate this LSU defense. They come in ranked 18th in the country, giving up just 309 ypg. The closest defense Auburn has seen this year is Clemson and they managed just 6 points and a mere 117 yards of total offense. LSU isn't on Clemson's level, but that's a good sign that they can keep Auburn in check. Keep in mind points become that much more valuable in a lower scoring game. 

LSU is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games played in the month of October, 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 after allowing less than 20 points in their previous contest and the home team is a dominant 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings in the series. Take LSU! 

3* Wash St/Cal Friday Night ATS ANNIHILATOR on Cal

I like the value here with Cal as a two touchdown home dog against the Cougars. Washington State comes into this one off two huge wins. First they knocked off USC at home on a Friday night prime time game and they followed it up by going on the road at night and beating Oregon. 

I think it will be tough for them to bring that same intensity on the road a second straight week against a Cal team that has lost 3 straight and fresh off an ugly 38-7 loss at Washington, where they were outgained by 284 yards.

I wasn't surprised to see the Bears struggle in that game against a very good Washington team, as they had nothing left in the tank after playing Ole Miss, USC and Oregon the previous 3 games. They won't have any problem here getting up for a home night game against a Top 10 opponent. Cal only lost to USC at home by 10 earlier this season and while I don't see them winning this one, I think they will be able to keep it close the whole way. 

Washington State comes in having covered 4 straight, but are just 16-33 ATS in their last 49 games when they come in having covered 4 out of their last 5. Cougars head coach Mike Leach is also just 4-13 ATS in his coaching career when his team is playing on the road and riding a 3 game or more winning streak. Take Cal! 

5* Eagles/Panthers TNF Vegas BEST BET on Panthers -

I really like the value here with Carolina laying only a field goal at home against the Eagles. Both of these teams are off to a strong start, as each is sitting at 4-1. I'm just not sold on Philadelphia being the cream of the crop in the NFC, as they have padded their record over the last 3 weeks against the Giants, Charger and Cardinals, who are all off to miserable starts. 

Carson Wentz is getting a ton of praise right now, but he's about to face his toughest challenge of the season in this Carolina defense. The Panthers are rock solid against both the run and the pass. They are 6th in run defense, giving up just 80 ypg and 5th against the pass, allowing only 194 ypg. Add in the fact that are playing at home in a prime time game and the defense should be even better than normal, as they feed off the energy of the crowd. Wentz is also a guy that will try to force the football into tight spots and I think he has a couple costly turnovers here. 

The Panthers offense got off to a slow start, as Newton just wasn't right to start the season with that shoulder injury. He looks to have it back to near 100% and has really taken off the last two games, throwing for more than 300 yards on the road against the Patriots and Lions. It won't be as easy against the Eagles defense, but I'm confident he will make enough plays here to get the win and cover. 

When Carolina gets rolling they tend to keep covering. The Panthers are 12-4 ATS under Rivera when they come in having won 3 of their last 4. They are also an impressive 32-13 ATS under Rivera after playing their previous game on the road. Eagles on the other hand are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 away from home. Take Carolina! 

4* S Alabama/Troy Sun Belt VEGAS INSIDER on South Alabama +

I like the value here with the Jaguars in this in-state rivalry matchup against Troy. This line has been inflated big time on the Trojans, as they come in off arguably their biggest win in program history in a 24-21 outright win at LSU as a 20.5-point underdog. That puts Troy into a big time letdown spot here and that should be more than enough for South Alabama to keep this within the number. 

Keep in mind that Troy had started out 0-4 ATS before they covered against LSU, as they came into this season getting a ton of respect from the books after last year's 10-win season. The books know the public will jump right back on them after a big win, so we are getting the best price here on South Alabama. 

The numbers on both sides of the ball don't look great for the Jaguars, but they have played a brutal schedule to this point with games against Ole Miss, Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech. 

South Alabama head coach Joey Jones has a history of getting his team to deliver against the spread in this spot, as the Jaguars are 13-4 ATS in road game in the first half of the season since he took over at South Alabama. 

Troy on the other hand hasn't performed well against bad teams, as they are just 1-5 ATS in their last 6 against a team with a losing record and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games against a team with a losing road record. Take South Alabama! 

3* Vikings/Bears MNF ATS 'ANNIHILATOR' on Bears +

Chicago is not getting near the respect they deserve here at home against a division rival. Even with the Vikings getting back their starting QB in Sam Bradford and the Bears turning to rookie Mitchell Trubisky. 

While Bradford is an upgrade over backup Case Keenum, I don't think it's as significant as people think. The even bigger issue is the Vikings offense took a major hit with the loss of rookie running back Dalvin Cook. He was averaging 4.8 yards/carry with 4 runs of 20+ yards. Keenum has the next best average at a mere 3.0 yards/carry. Backups Latavius Murray (2.7 ypc) and Jerick McKinnon (2.6 ypc) are both under 3.0 yards.

That's going to let Chicago's defense focus on taking away the passing game and putting pressure on Bradford. To a lot of people's surprise, the Bears come in ranked 6th in the NFL in total defense, giving up just 306.3 ypg, including the 8th ranks run defense. 

What's really killed the Bears in their 1-3 start was the play of Glennon at QB. I absolutely love the move to Trubisky, who showed some real positive signs in the preseason. He can't be any worse than what Glennon was providing the offense and if he plays well this unit could take off with those two talented backs in Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. 

I'll gladly take the points here, but I fully expect the Bears to win this game outright. Take Chicago! 

4* Chiefs/Texans SNF 'NO BRAINER' on Texans +

Big time value here with the Texans getting points at home in prime time on Sunday Night Football.  The Chiefs are getting a ton of love from the books right now, as they are the only undefeated team left in the NFL and are a perfect 4-0 ATS. The public has fallen in love with this team and now is the time to look the other way. 

If Houston was still starting Tom Savage, this wouldn't be a play. Deshaun Watson has finally got the Texans offense producing at the level needed to be taken seriously. The last few years the defense has had to carry this team. Now they are playing more complimentary football and shouldn't be a dog on their home field. 

Not only are the Chiefs overvalued right now, this is a bad spot for KC, who is playing on short rest after the big win over the Redskins on Monday Night Football. Note the Chiefs are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when playing on Sunday after MNF. 

KC is also dealing with some big injuries. Three key guys who were questionable are out. That includes two interior starting linemen (not good against this Texans front) and one of their best pass rushers in Dee Ford. Ford is a big loss for a defense that is already playing without All-Pro safety Eric Berry. This defense has some holes and will allow teams to move the ball on them. I just see enough big plays by Watson and the offense at home. Take Houston! 

3* NFL Situational ATS 'ANNIHILATOR' on Bengals -

We are getting great value here with Cincinnati as a mere 3-point home favorite against the Bills on Sunday. On one side we have a Buffalo team that is way overvalued right now after back to back wins over the Broncos and Falcons. The most recent coming as a 8-point dog in Atlanta. The Bills have quickly went from a team the public was looking to fade to one they want to back. 

As for the Bengals, this team couldn't have looked much worse in the first two weeks of the season, as the offense failed to score a single touchdown in those two games and both of them were at home. The thing is, the talent is there and they have looked a heck of a lot better since firing their OC. They really should have won in Green Bay in Week 3 and last week cruised to a 24-point win on the road against a division rival in the Browns. 

Defense has really saved the Bills in their 3-1 start and I think they have a tough time here off that huge road win over the Falcons and they have to be running on fumes with this their 3rd road game in the last 4 weeks. Buffalo also lost a key piece to their defense in linebacker Ramon Hunter and could e without starting corner E.J. Gaines here.

Cincinnati's defense has been playing great and should have no trouble stopping this Bills attack. Bengals should have the much easier time moving the ball and simply aren't getting enough respect here at home. Take Cincinnati! 

5* NFL Vegas Insider 'GAME OF THE MONTH' on Panthers +

I love the value here with Carolina as a road dog against the Lions. The Panthers were already playing Super Bowl caliber defense early on and they got the offense rolling last week in their 33-30 upset win over the Patriots as a 9-point dog. I look for Carolina to keep that momentum going against the Lions. 

Carolina is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 after totaling 350 or more total yards and I think we see a big game here out of Cam Newton after all the negative publicity he's received from his comments in the media. 

This Detroit defense has been very fortunate early on, as they have forced 11 turnovers in 4 games, 3 time recording 3 or more. On the flip side, they have only turned it over 2 times. I'm willing to be that starts to even out. I really think we see some turnovers by the offense in this one, as the Panthers are too talented and couldn't be more due after not forcing a single turnover in their last 3 games. Backing this up is the fact that the Panthers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 road games against teams that are forcing 2.75 or more turnovers/game. 

Detroit is stil just 1-5 ATS in their last 6 against a team with a winning record and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 after allowing less than 15 points in their previous contest. Take Carolina! 

5* NCAAF No Limit 'GAME OF THE MONTH' on Arizona +

I really like the value here with the Wildcats catching a full touchdown on the road against the Buffaloes. I actually think this line should be a lot closer to a field goal and I'm fully expecting Arizona to win this game outright. 

The Wildcats lost 24-30 to Utah back on 9/22 in a game they had to feel like they should have won. Arizona outgained the Utes 448 to 341. The difference in the game being they turned it over 5 times. That loss couldn't have set well over their bye week and I expect a well rested and focused Wildcats team in this one.

The key here is they are catching Colorado at the perfect time. The Buffaloes are coming off two huge games against Washington and UCLA. I wouldn't be shocked if they came out a bit flat here, as won by 25 at Arizona last year. 

I think the key matchup here will be Arizona's defense against an underachieving Colorado offense. To only score 23 points against that Bruins defense is concerning. They also had just 10 points against Washington at home and only 17 against Colorado State. Arizona's defense is only giving up 22.3 ppg and are much improved on that side of the ball.

The Wildcats offense is averaging over 40 ppg and is 25th in total offense at 479 ypg. Arizona should have the much easier time moving the ball here and that makes them an easy play at this line. Take Arizona! 

3* NCAAF Prime Time ATS 'ANNIHILATOR' on Houston -

I think we are getting  a great price here with the Cougars laying less than a touchdown against the Mustangs. Keep in mind Houston was a 23-point road favorite over SMU a year ago. The Mustangs won that game and I can assure you the 15 returning starters and other lettermen for Houston haven't forgot about the feeling of losing that game. 

The Cougars aren't going to let the Mustangs upset them two years in a row and I actually think they win this game going away. A big reason this spread isn't double-digits, is because you have SMU coming into this game with a perfect 5-0 ATS record. The public loves to jump on these teams who cover every game early and that's when the books really turn the odds against those teams. 

Another thing with SMU, who is 4-1 SU, is they have played a very easy schedule. Their 4 wins are against the likes of SF Austin, North Texas, Arkansas St and UConn. The loss where they covered was a 20-point defeat against TCU, where they were catching 22. 

Houston is a team that I think is flying under the radar, even after a 3-1 start, as most people just wrote off this team after they lost head coach Tom Herman to Texas. The Cougars offense should have a field day here against a really bad SMU defense. The Mustangs rank 128th in the country against the pass, giving up 325 ypg, so expect a number of big plays and quick scores for the Cougars. Take Houston!

3* NCAAF Vegas 'ODDSMAKERS ERROR' on Coastal Carolina +

I'm taking the Chanticleers as a short home dog Saturday against the Panthers. Coastal Carolina is in the first year as a member of the Sun Belt and are more the capable of competing against the bottom tier of that conference. That's were Georgia State lies, as the Panthers lost at home to Tennessee State earlier this season. 

This is also a great matchup for the Chanticleers, who featured a run first offense, which comes in ranked 38th at 207.5 ypg. Georgia State is 80th against the run allowing 166.0 ypg and are giving up 5 yards/carry. 

This is also an offense that Coastal Carolina's defense can contain. The Panthers are 113th in rushing at 106 ypg and a mere 78th in passing. They rank 115 out of 130 FBS teams in total offense and 116th in scoring at just 19 ppg. Take Coastal Carolina! 

4* NCAAF No Doubt 'ATS BLOWOUT' on Old Dominion +

The books have the wrong team favored here. This line is a result of Old Dominion coming in off a couple of ugly losses to UNC and Virginia Tech, while FAU enters off a 38-20 blowout win at home over Middle Tennessee. This Owls team is one the public has been on early, as they look to back Lane Kiffin and his strong coaching staff. 

The thing is, the Monarchs won convincingly last year 42-24 and had more than 600 yards of total offense. They were also a 8.5-point favorite on the road for that contest, which is further evidence they shouldn't be a dog at home. 

The Monarchs have also been a covering machine against teams like FAU that own a losing record. Old Dominion is a perfect 6-0 the last 2 seasons when playing a team with a losing record and have won these matchups by an average of 20 ppg. Take Old Dominion! 

4* NCAAF Situational 'UNDERVALUED UNDERDOG' on Lafayette +

I like the value here with the Ragin' Cajuns catching over a touchdown here against the Vandals. Lafayette isn't going to overlook Idaho. In fact, they will be out for revenge from last year's double-digit loss at home. 

Last time out the Ragin' Cajuns lost at home to ULM as a 4-point favorite and that puts them in a very profitable spot. Louisiana is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 off an upset loss as a home favorite. They are also 20-7 ATS in their last 27 road games under head coach Hudspeth after playing the previous game against a conference opponent. 

I look for Lafayette offensive attack to the be the difference in this one. The Ragin' Cajuns come in ranking in the top 60 in the country in both rushing and passing and are 40th overall. Idaho ranks outside the Top 65 in both rushing and passing and 82nd overall. 

I actually think we could see the Ragin' Cajuns win the game outright, which is why I think there's such great value with this spread. Take UL-Lafayette! 

4* NCAAF Small Conference 'GAME OF THE WEEK' on Western Michigan -

We are getting some big time value here with the Broncos laying less than a touchdown against the Bulls. I believe it's a direct result of Buffalo coming into this one with a perfect 5-0 record against the spread. While Western Michigan has won 3 straight, they are just 1-3 ATS in their last 4, failing to cover against bad teams like Idaho and Wagner. 

The thing is, the Broncos are coming off an excellent showing in their conference opener, as they destroyed Ball State 55-3. I know this program lost a great coach in P.J. Fleck, as well as great talent from last year's team, but there's still a ton of really good players on this roster and I fully expect them to defend their MAC title this season. 

Plenty of reason to believe the Broncos will be able to move the ball against the Bulls defense. Western Michigan comes in with the 36th ranked rushing attack in the nation at 209.0 ypg, which is pretty impressive given two of their games were against USC and Michigan State. Buffalo has the  109th ranked run defense, allowing teams 208.8 ypg and that's with their toughest opponent to date being Minnesota. 

Note the Bulls also have the 88th ranked offense in the country against that soft schedule, while the Broncos have the 41st ranked defense. Western Michigan won 38-0 last year and while I don't foresee another shutout on the road, I think they have no problem here winning by double-digits. Take Western Michigan! 

5* NCAAF Afternoon ATS 'VEGAS INSIDER' on LSU +

I really like this spot for the Tigers, who are coming off that embarrassing loss at home to Troy last week. The perception couldn't be any worse on LSU, yet they are only a short dog on the road against a Florida team that is sitting at 3-1 with a 3-0 record in the SEC. That tells me the books also like the Tigers here, as the public will lineup to take the Gators at this price. 

There's no excuse for losing to a Sun Belt team, but LSU was without one of their best players in RB Derrius Guice, who is expected to be back on the field for this game. I think he has a big game here against an overrated Florida defense, which comes in ranked 60th against the run and 82nd against the pass. 

I also think the Gators are overvalued right now, as they could very easily be 1-3 instead of 3-1, winning on last second plays against both Tennessee and Kentucky. You also have to factor in the injury/suspension situation for Florida. That makes it tough to compete with a team like LSU, who I still think is one of the better teams in the country. 

Florida is just 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 home games and 1-7 ATS in their last 8 following a game in which they covered the spread. LSU is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games against a team with a winning home record and 27-13 in their last 40 road games after a loss. Take LSU! 

3* NCAAF Early Bird ATS 'NO BRAINER'  on Penn State -

I know this seems like a big number for the Nittany Lions to be laying against what many expected to be a strong Northwestern team, but the fact of the matter is, Penn State is even better than anticipated and the Wildcats are a lot worse. 

Northwestern's only two wins this season are against the likes of Nevada and Bowling Green. Neither one of those teams have won a game so far in 2017 and they trailed Nevada 7-17 at the half. The Wildcats were absolutely dominated in a 41-17 loss at Duke and trailed Wisconsin 31-10 with less than 10 minutes to play. 

The Badgers play a very physical style of football, which is going to make it that much tougher on Northwestern to bounce back here at home against one of most dynamic offenses the Big Ten has to offer. Look for Heisman frontrunner Saquon Barkley to have another monster game here. 

The big key here is the defense for Penn State and it's ability to shutdown the Wildcats struggling offensive attack. So much attention is paid to the offense, people don't realize how good the Nittany Lions are on the defensive side of the ball. They rank 13th in the country, giving up just 289.2 ypg. 

Northwestern's strength offensively is their passing game, which ranks 34th at 278.8 ypg (97th in rushing). That plays right into the strength of the Nittany Lions, who are 19th in the nation against the pass (161.8 ypg). Take Penn State in a blowout! 

5* Lou/NC State ACC 'GAME OF THE MONTH' on NC State +

I really like the value here with the Wolfpack catching points at home against the Cardinals on Thursday. I actually NC State is the better team in this matchup and should be the ones favored. The thing is the public is drawn to Louisville and reigning Heisman winner Lamar Jackson, so the books have no choice but to inflate their lines. 

The Cardinals haven't really been all that impressive so far. They were fortunate to leave with a win over Purdue in their opener, only led UNC by 1-point going into the 4th quarter and were absolutely dominated by Clemson at home. Jackson is still putting up video game type numbers, but the offense as a whole hasn't been as good and the defense is a lot worse. He really struggled against the dominant defensive front of Clemson and NC State has quite a front of their own, who will be playing with a chip on their shoulder after last year's 13-54 loss at Louisville.

The defensive numbers are better than they actually are because of their last two games against Kent State and Murray State, where they allowed a combined 230 total yards. This defense allowed 293 yards passing to Purdue, 384 to UNC and 316 to Clemson. NC State and junior QB Ryan Finley come in with the 24th ranked passing offense in the country at 293.0 ypg. Look for the Wolfpack to big up some big plays through the air that should allow some separation. Take NC State! 

4* Ark ST/Ga Sou Sun Belt 'ATS ANNIHILATOR' on Arkansas State -

With Red Wolves starting quarterback Justice Hansen upgraded to probable, I don't see this one being close. Georgia Southern is 0-3 and while two of those losses came at Auburn and at Indiana, they also lost 12-22 at home to New Hampshire out of the FCS. The Eagles have scored a whopping 46 points in their first 3 games. I just don't see them being able to do enough offensively to keep this one competitive, even at home. 

Arkansas State on the other hand is averaging 35 ppg, having scored 36 in a near upset at Nebraska. The strength of the Red Wolves offensive assault is Hansen and the passing game, which ranks 9th in the country at 351.7 ypg. Not only will they be able to attack the Eagles thru the air, but Georgia Southern's run defense has been atrocious. They are giving up 5.9 yards/carry and 259 yards/game on the ground. 

The Eagles passing attack ranks 129th out of 130 FBS teams at just 78.0 ypg. That's going to make it really tough on them to play from behind and should eliminate the back door cover. Georgia Southern lost 17-52 last time out to the Hoosiers and are 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 off a loss by more than 20 points. The Eagles are also 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games an 1-6 ATS in their last 7 against a conference opponent. Take Arkansas State! 

4* Redskins/Chiefs MNF 'VEGAS INSIDER' on Redskins +

I like the value here with Washington catching a touchdown against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Kansas City is getting a ton of respect early on and considered by some to be the best in the NFL, at least in the popular media rankings like ESPN. Oddsmakers aren't nearly as high on this team, who going into Week 4 were tied with 4 other teams with the 5th best odds to win the Super Bowl. 

I'm not saying the Chiefs aren't a good team, just that this is too many points for them to be laying against a quality opponent like the Redskins. Washington is 2-1 with their only loss coming to division rival Philadelphia, who is off to a strong 3-1 start. Their win at the Rams looks a heck of a lot better after LA just knocked off the Cowboys in Dallas. They also completely dominated the Raiders a week ago, beating Oakland 27-10 with a ridiculous 472 to 128 edge in total yards. 

The Chiefs defense is one that's going to let Washington move the football up and down the field. Kansas City ranks a mere 20th against the run and 25th against the pass and are without one of their best players in safety Eric Berry. If Cousins can take care of the football and convert a couple red zone drives with touchdowns and not field goals, they could win this game outright.

Redskins are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 against a team with a winning record, 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games against a team with a winning home record. Take Washington! 

3* NFL No Doubt 'ATS BLOWOUT' on Chargers -

I just think we are getting too much value here with San Diego at basically a pick'em on their home field. Not to mention the Chargers are 0-3 and there's no doubt a feeling in the locker room that this is a must win game. We are going to get the best this team has to offer and this team could very easily be 2-1 and should be at worst 1-2. 

The Eagles are a team that I think is growing on the public and they have started out 2-1. The thing is, that game against Washington could have went either way in Week 1 and they won last week on a 61-yard field goal as time expired to be the Giants. That New York team was 0-2 and could barely do anything offensively coming into that game. 

This Eagles secondary is still without top corner Ronald Darby and have been hit with some injuries at safety and one of their best players, Fletcher Cox, is questionable. Philip Rivers can have success against this defense. I also think the Chargers defense can make life tough for the Eagles, who lost a big part of their offense in running back Darren Sproles. This is also a long way out west for Philadelphia to travel and this is definitely a flat spot. Take San Diego! 

3* BEST BET on Cardinals - 

I think we are getting great value here with the Cardinals laying less than a touchdown at home against the 49ers. I know San Francisco has a few extra days to prepare and everything looks broken for Arizona after losing David Johnson. The key here is the 49ers aren't a very good team. They are one of thew few that just don't have the talent to win a lot of games. 

While they kept it close against the Rams that game wasn't as close as it ended up. That's also the only team they have beat the previous two seasons. They lost by 20 at home in Week 1 against an awful Panthers offense and a little too much love for keeping it close against a Seattle team that always starts out slow. Arizona is going to be pissed off after losing like they did against the Cowboys and I just don't see them playing poorly here in this spot. Reminds me a lot of the spot with Chicago on Thursday, where they looked like they could compete with Green Bay (lot of injuries) and were completely outclassed. Take Arizona! 

4* Steelers/Ravens AFC North 'GAME OF THE WEEK' on Ravens +

I think this is a great spot to jump on Baltimore, as the perception here couldn't be much worse after their 44-7 loss to the Jaguars. The Ravens didn't show up to play and you have to wonder if they overlooked a Jaguars team that has been so bad for so long and just might have turned the corner. Baltimore definitely didn't play like the same team that started out 2-0, especially on defense. 

That plane ride home from London had to be the worst. I expect to see a pissed off Ravens team, who isn't going to take lightly to the fact that they have the same record as their division rivals, yet they are home dogs. While the Steelers are 2-1, they haven't played great and just lost to a Bears team that looked awful on Thursday Night Football against the Packers. They were in a dog fight Week 1 at Cleveland, who was starting a rookie QB. They won by 17 at home against the Vikings, but they learned last minute that Bradford wasn't going to and had to go with Case Keenum (hard to get prepared for a start on that short of notice). 

Flacco wasn't good against the Jaguars last week, but I think he's going to show up here against the Steelers, who I think aren't as good on defense as people think. They have just had it easy going so far with 3 games against Kizer, Keenum and Glennon. 

As for the Steelers offense, it's no secret that they aren't the same offensive team on the road as they are at home. Most of that coming from poor play from Ben Roethlisberger. I see him struggling here against a very good Ravens defense and Baltimore winning this game outright. Take Baltimore! 

4* NFL Situational ATS 'GAME OF THE WEEK'  on Panthers +

The Patriots were very fortunate to win at home last week against the Texans, scoring from 25 yards out with just 23 seconds to play for a 36-33 win. A great comeback, but that's not how it's gone in the past with Belichick against a rookie QB. He usually makes them look bad. While Deshaun Watson threw 2 picks, he also threw for 301 yards and 2 scores and rushed for 41 yards. 

This Patriots defense didn't look good in the preseason, was torched by Alex Smith and the Chiefs in Week 1 at home in prime time, was okay against the Saints and just gave up 33 points to the Texans. Houston scored 13 points and had just 266 total yards the previous week against the Bengals and 7 in their Week 1 loss to the Jaguars at home. 

As bad as Cam Newton and the Panthers have looked this season, you have to think they are going to have some success here against this defense. I'm not sure what happened last week against the Saints, but this Carolina defense was playing lights out the first two weeks and have a ton of talent on that side of the ball. They are going to be locked in here off that ugly showing and a chance to take on the GOAT. Given what we have seen so far from New England, would it really be a surprise if they lost this game? The books are still inflating the Pats line after they owned the books last year. Take the Panthers! 

5* NCAAF Vegas Insider 'NO LIMIT' Top Play on Michigan State -

I love the value here getting Michigan State as a slim 3-point favorite at home against the Hawkeyes. This is an ideal spot to fade Iowa off that huge Saturday night home game against No. 4 Penn State, which they let slip through their fingers on the final play of regulation. On the flip side of this, we get Michigan State in an ideal bounce back spot off a blowout loss at home to Notre Dame. 

Even if the situation was different, I would lay just a field goal at home with the Spartans. The biggest thing is I just don't think Iowa team is as good as people think. Sure they kept it close against the Nittany Lions, but they also beat Michigan in a similar spot a year ago and weren't that great. Wins over Wyoming, Iowa State and North Texas leave little to be desired. 

Also, that game against Penn State could have been a lot worse. Iowa's offense was atrocious for pretty much the entire first half and ran about has as many plays as the Nittany Lions. They could have just as easily lost by 20+. As for Michigan State, they were a lot more competitive against Notre Dame than the final score would lead on, as they outgained the Irish 496 to 355. They come in ranked 9th in the country in total defense, allowing just 254 ypg. If Iowa thought it was tough at home moving the ball against the Nittany Lions, they are in for a really long day on the road against a pissed of Spartans team. Take Michigan State! 

3* BEST BET on Eastern Michigan +

I like the value here with Eastern Michigan catching two touchdowns plus the hook. Chances are you haven't been paying close attention to the Eagles. This program is on the rise. After a 4-year stretch where they went 7-41, Eastern Michigan finished 7-5 and made a bowl last year. This turnaround is a result of head coach Chris Creighton, who will be getting a promotion to a bigger program in the near future. His recruits are finally seeing the field and playing big roles, as this is now year 4 with the team. 

The come in off a loss to Ohio, but were in that game and could have just as easily won. The previous week they won on the road at Rutgers as a mere 6-point dog. The big key here is we catch Kentucky in the ideal spot to fade off a demoralizing 27-28 loss to Florida. A very similar spot to Tennessee last week, when they barely held on to beat UMass after losing the Gators on a Hail Mary. This is almost bigger than a bowl game for the Eagles, as they get to show their stuff against a SEC foe. I think they make a game of this and maybe even pull off the upset. Take Eastern Michigan! 

3* NCAAF Situational 'PUBLIC ANNIHILATOR' on Tennessee +

I like the value here with the Volunteers catching over a touchdown at home against the Bulldogs. I just think we are seeing a huge overreaction here with this line after Tennessee barely scraped by UMass 17-13 as a 28-point favorite. The Vols struggling against the Minutemen was no surprise to most experts. 

Tennessee had just suffered an excruciating loss to rival Florida the week before, where they rallied from a 10-point deficit to tie it at 20-20, only to have the Gators connect on a 63-yard Hail Mary as time expired. Just about every team is going to suffer a letdown after a loss like that. Had that Florida came went differently and the Vols were 4-0, I think this line would be a lot closer to 3 or 4 not 8. 

Georgia has looked impressive and off a big win over Mississippi State, but it's not easy winning on the road in the SEC, especially against a quality opponent. Let's also not overlook that this Bulldogs team is only 83rd in the country in total offense and offer little to no threat of a passing attack (166 ypg, 112th).

I expect a much more focused and determined Tennessee defense at home on Saturday afternoon and wouldn't be shocked if the Vols won this game outright. The underdog in this series is a perfect 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings and the Vols are 4-1 ATS the last 5 times they hosted the Bulldogs. Take Tennessee! 

3* BEST BET on Syracuse +

Now that this line has got up to 14, think it's worth a shot to take the Orange on the road against NC State. This is a really tough spot for the Wolfpack, who are coming off a huge game and win on the road over Florida State, who they hadn't beat since that crazy 17-16 upset over the then No. 3 Seminoles back in 2012.

Hard to pay a ton of attention to Syracuse when you have another big game looming in just a matter of days, as they host Louisville and reigning Heisman winner Lamar Jackson. I just think they come out flat here and this Orange team can put up some points if you don't give your full respect. We saw that last week when they went on the road and gave LSU all they could handle in a 26-35 loss as a 21.5-point favorite. I think we see a similar type of game here, where they probably don't have a real shot at winning, but do enough to cash the cover. Take Syracuse! 

4* NCAAF No Doubt 'ATS BLOWOUT'  on Wisconsin -

This might seem like a big number for the Badgers to be laying at home, but I don't see this one being all that competitive. I'm not buying that Northwestern is just all the sudden back after a blowout win at home over a Bowling Green team that doesn't have a win this season, which includes a loss to a FCS school. 

I think the biggest indicator here is the Wildcats game against Duke, which they lost 17-49. Northwestern managed just 191 total yards in that game 7 of those 17 points came in the final minutes of regulation with the game well in hand. Wisconsin's defense is even better than the Blue Devils. 

The Badgers are 7th in the nation, giving up just 248.0 ypg and rank inside the Top 20 against both the run and the pass. They have really been good against the run. Wisconsin is allowing just 3.1 yards/carry and holding opponents 1.4 yards/carry under their average. Northwestern is a team that needs to be able to run the ball to have success. That was pretty evident in that loss at Duke, where they finished with a mere 22 rushing yards and 21 attempts. 

I don't think the Badgers light up the scoreboard here, but I think they score 24+ and they are going to be in prime position to cover, as I just don't see Northwestern eclipsing 10-points. There's a chance Wisconsin could go for even more, but either way I like them to win by at least two touchdowns. Take Wisconsin! 

3* Bears/Packers TNF 'VEGAS INSIDER' on Bears +

I like the value here with Chicago catching over a touchdown on the road against a banged up Packers team. I know Aaron Rodgers has had a lot of success against the Bears in his career, especially at home, but he's going into this one with his top 5 offensive tackles not expected to be available. Starters David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga are both listed as doubtful and their top 3 backups are all on IR. Regardless of what the Packers do, that offensive line figures to have a very difficult time blocking. 

As good as Rodgers is, he can only be so effective when he doesn't have time to throw. Keep in mind last week he was sacked 6 times by the Bengals. Chicago's defensive front has been impressive, as they are 8th against the run (83.7 ypg). They are also 12th overall in total defense. 

I know the offense hasn't been great under Mike Glennon, but I like their 1-2 punch out of the backfield with Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. The two have combined for 354 yards and nearly 5.0 yards/carry on the season. Cohen is also a big time threat in the passing game, as he actually leads Chicago with 20 receptions for 126 yards. 

Green Bay also has some injuries concerns on defense. Linebacker Nick Perry and defensive tackle Mike Daniels are both questionable and corner Davon House has been ruled out. 

Lets also give the Bears some credit. They hung with Atlanta in a 6-point home loss in Week 1, lost 29-7 at Tampa Bay, but were more competitive than the final score and last week they didn't just hang around with the Steelers, they beat them outright. I also think it's a low-scoring game, which adds even more value to Chicago at this price. Take the Bears! 

5* Cowboys/Cardinals MNF 'NO LIMIT' Top Play on Cardinals +

I like the value here with Arizona catching a field goal, plus the hook at home against the Cowboys.   Arizona was able to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start with an ugly 16-13 win at Indianapolis in Week 2. While that's not what you would expect from Arizona against a bad Colts team, the Cardinals have really not been a good road team the last few years. They are much better at home and I think that's where the value is here, as this will be the Cardinals home opener on Monday Night Football.

We are also getting value because of how big a public team Dallas is. Even after an awful showing last week at Denver, the public is pounding the Cowboys and will continue to do so. I wouldn't be shocked if this line started to move and would still recommend taking Arizona as a dog of any price here. 

The Cardinals run defense has been on point early on, as they held the Lions to just 82 yards on 27 attempts and the Colts to 75 on 29 attempts. I don't expect them to shutdown the Cowboys rushing attack, but I do think they slow them down and that all you have to do to give this Dallas offense problems. As for the Cowboys defense, we saw what Trevor Siemian did to them last week and would expect similar numbers here from Carson Palmer. 

Dallas is just 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 following a loss and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 after giving up 350 or more yards in their previous game. Cowboys are also a miserable 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games played on Monday Night Football. Take Arizona! 

3* Raiders/Redskins SNF 'HEAVY HITTER' on Redskins +

The Raiders are one of the biggest publicly backed teams going right now and I love fading the public in these Sunday Night games, as we know we are getting a good price on the other side. That's certainly the case here with Washington as a 3.5-point home dog. 

Washington was better than the final score in their opener against the Eagles, as they actually had the ball driving for the game-winning score and lost a fumble that was returned for a TD and lost by 13. They responded very well in Week 2 at LA, taking down what I think is a very improved Rams team. I expect a big time effort here with them getting no love at home in a prime time game and could also see the Raiders coming in with a bit of a big head after that 25-point blowout win against the Jets. 

I still have a lot of concerns with that Oakland defense and that really makes them hard to trust as a road favorite. Let's also not forget how fortunate this team was in close games last year. Washington is a solid 6-1 ATS in their last 7 against a team with a winning record and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Take Washington! 

4* NFL No Doubt ATS 'BLOWOUT' on Bengals +

The Bengals have looked as bad as any team to start the season and I believe it has them way undervalued here as a big road dog against the Packers. Cincinnati fired their offensive coordinator and simply can't be as bad as they have been on offense going forward. The Bengals red zone efficiency is in uncharted territory and is going to improve. 

Green Bay gets a lot of love because of Aaron Rodgers, but I see a lot of concerns with this team. They got a ton of key guys injured and are not putting up near the offensive numbers you would expect given they got Rodgers. They didn't score an offensive touchdown until the final minute of the 3rd quarter in their opener against the Seahawks and had just 10-points against the Falcons before adding on a couple late scores with the game basically out of reach. 

While the offense has struggled, Cincinnati's defense has played well to start the year. I think they give the Packers trouble here. We also know we are getting a desperate Bengals team that doesn't want to start out 0-3. I don't know that they can avoid that, but I do expect them to keep this close. Take Cincinnati! 

3* NFL Situational 'UNDERVALUED UNDERDOG'  on Bears +

I really like the value here with Chicago catching over a touchdown at home against the Steelers. Pittsburgh comes in 2-0 and are a big public team, which has this line inflated. What people continue to overlook with this Steelers team is they don't play as well on the road. Most notably quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. If you look back to Week 1, they barely held on to beat the Browns 21-18 in Cleveland and that was with the Browns spotting them a touchdown on blocked punt. 

Chicago got rolled last week by the Bucs on the scoreboard, but it was a more evenly matched game than the 29-7 final would indicate. The total yardage was nearly identical with Tampa Bay at 311 and the Bears at 310. The difference being Chicago finishing with a -3 turnover margin. We saw the Bears keep it within a TD at home against the Falcons in Week 1 and expect them to do the same here. 

This has historically been a good spot to back the Bears, as they are 38-22 ATS in their last 60 home games after 2 or more consecutive losses and have actually won these games on average by nearly 3 ppg. Steelers are 6-15 ATS under Tomlin in road games in the first month of the season, while Bears head coach John Fox is 18-4 as a head coach when his team trailed in the previous game by 14 or more points at the half. Take Chicago! 

5* AFC Vegas Insider 'GAME OF THE MONTH' on Bills +

I really like the value with Buffalo catching over a field goal at home against the Broncos. This is a big time letdown spot for Denver, who has started out 2-0 and off that huge win at home over the Cowboys.

The Bills on the other hand are just 1-1 and not a team the public wants a whole lot to do with, but they have played well early on. Buffalo handled the Jets at home in rather convincing fashion and despite an offense that couldn't move the ball, hung in their with the Panthers on the road in week 2. 

The Bills managed just 176 total yards in last week's game against Carolina, but that's actually a positive when it comes to covering the spread this week. Buffalo is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a performance where they totaled less than 250 yards. 

Denver on the other hand is just 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a win by more than 14 points and are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games against the Bills. Take Buffalo! 

4* Jaguars/Ravens NFL London ATS 'NO BRAINER' on Jags +

I like the value here with the Jaguars in Sunday's early game in London. These are two very similar teams that want to run the football and let their defense do the work. Both have been really strong defensively and I just think the 3.5-points is too good to pass up here.

Baltimore has looked great to start, but let's not overreact to beating up on a Bengals team that might have the worse offensive line in the NFL and taking down the Browns at home. Turnovers have really aided both wins for the Ravens, who have a ridiculous 10 takeaways (8 interceptions) in two games.

What's getting overlooked is the Ravens offense hasn't been good and this team will struggle to win if they don't get those turnovers. Baltimore was actually outgained by the Browns last week and only had a 268-221 edge in total yards in their 20-0 win over the Bengals. Another thing here with Baltimore is the injuries are really starting to pile up and they will be without several key pieces for this one. 

Ravens are 0-6 ATS over the last 2 seasons after 2 straight games in which they held their opponent to 99 yards or less. We also find a strong system in play on the Jaguars. Teams that had a turnover margin of -1/game or worse the previous year are an impressive 24-8 (75%) the last 10 seasons against the spread the next year in conference games. Take Jacksonville! 

3* NCAAF Situational ATS 'NO BRAINER' on Georgia -

After an impressive 37-7 win at home over LSU last week, the public is going to be on the Bulldogs here as dog against Georgia, who despite being ranked No. 11 isn't a team getting a lot of publicity either. I just don't see Mississippi State being able to bounce back from that near perfect performance with a similar one on the road against a much better Georgia team. 

For me this one comes down to Georgia's defense under Kirby Smart and Mel Tucker being too much for Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald to overcome. A lot of what Mississippi State does offensively is built around their ability to get Fitzgerald going on the ground. Georgia has already faced a talented mobile quarterback and passed with flying colors. That would be Notre Dame's Brandon Wimbush, who they limited to 1 yard on 16 attempts. Wimbush has rushed for 313 yards and 5 scores in his two other games this season, including a always strong BC defense. 

I just see too much value here in Georgia at home laying less than a touchdown. Keep in mind Georgia is 51-14 at home SU over the last 10 years and the home team in this series has gone 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Take Georgia! 

3* NCAAF Afternoon 'ODDSMAKERS ERROR' on TCU +

I just think we are getting too much value on TCU to pass up a play on the Horned Frogs. No question Oklahoma State has looked impressive, but let's not get too carried away with how easy it's been. This team is going to be tested and it's a lot harder to blow teams out inside conference play. Especially a talented team like TCU, who has had a pretty impressive start of their own. 

The Horned Frogs outgained Jackson State 542 to 65 in a 63-0 blowout win to start the year, followed that up with a convincing 28-7 win on the road over Arkansas and then beat SMU by 20. I know it's early, but they are ranked inside the Top 20 in both total offense and total defense. 

TCU head coach Gary Patterson will put together a game plan here to slow down the Cowboys' high-flying offensive attack. Part of it will be the scheme defensively. The other will be the offense sustaining drives and keeping them off the field. 

Dating back the Horned Frogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 on the road against a team with a winning home record, 20-10 ATS in their last 30 as a dog of 10.5 to 21 points and 3-1 ATS in their last 4 as a road dog. Take TCU! 

4* Utah/Arizona CFB Late Night 'BAILOUT'  on Utah -

I look for the Utes to go into Tucson and lay a beating on the Wildcats tonight. Utah is a team that I feel is flying under the radar right now, as not much was expected out of the Utes with just 9 starters back from last year. Kyle Whittingham has done a tremendous job in Salt Lake City and there's a lot of excitement about this year's team. 

Utah has always had a strong defense due their ability to recruit and develop kids on that side of the ball. In year's past they have just tried to let their defense win them games by grinding out games. This year's team has a different feel, as they are taking a different approach on offense behind maybe the best kept secret in college football in sophomore quarterback Tyler Huntley, who beat out last year's starter Troy Williams (Sr) and Alabama transfer Cooper Bateman. 

Huntley has been electric so far, throwing for 868 yards with an impressive 72% completion rate and 7.82 yards/attempt. However, it's his ability to run the ball that really makes him special, as he's already got 212 yards and 3 scores on the ground (puts him on pace for just under 1,000 yards rushing). He threw for 300 yards and rushed for 89 against BYU and while the Utes only won that game 19-13, they outgained the Cougars by almost 200 yards (had to settle for 4 field goals). 

I think he has a big game here against an average Arizona defense and most importantly, I see Utah's defense making life miserable for a Wildcats offense that relies so much on their ability to run the ball. The Utes are built to stop the run defensively behind arguably the best d-line in the Pac-12 and one of the best in the country. Take Utah!