Sports Picks & Predictions

6* Sunday NFL *BLOWOUT* on Buffalo Bills -3 

The Key: Don’t look now but the Buffalo Bills are in the playoffs if the season were to end today.  They have a lot to play for, and it’s as hard to win in Buffalo in December as it is anywhere else in the NFL.  Now they get to host the Dolphins, who are in the ultimate letdown spot following their upset win over the Patriots on Monday.  They are also on a short week, and this warm weather team won’t like the conditions in Buffalo.  This game just screams Bills’ blowout because they get starting QB Tyrod Taylor back from injury this week, and they are the better running team in this cold weather.  Bets on any team (Buffalo) after being beaten by the spread by 42 or more points total in their last 5 games against an opponent that went over the total by 35 or more points in their last 5 games are 41-13 ATS over the last 10 years.  The Bills are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 home games in the 2nd half of the season vs. bad defensive teams that give up 24 or more points per game.  The Dolphins are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Sunday games following a Monday game.  Take Buffalo. 

6* Sunday NFL *UPSET SPECIAL* on Arizona Cardinals +4 

The Key: The Arizona Cardinals have won 2 of their last 3 games coming into this contest over the Titans and Jaguars, two teams poised to make the playoffs.  They should be able to handle the Washington Redskins, who sit at 5-8 and are done for.  This Redskins defense looks to have basically quit as they have allowed 30 or more points in 6 of their last 8 games.  The Cardinals still have an elite defense as they are yielding just 242 yards per game in their last 3 contests.  I’m not sure how the Redskins can be favored by more than a field goal in a game that they’ll likely lose outright.  They are just 14-28 ATS in their last 42 home games as a favorite in the 3.5-7 range.  The Redskins are also just 11-28-2 ATS in their last 41 home games when playing against a team with a losing record.  Take Arizona. 

6* Chargers/Chiefs AFC West *CA$H COW* on Los Angeles PK 

The Key: The Chargers have been one of the best teams in the NFL down the stretch.  They have won 4 straight games by a combined 78 points, or an average of 19.5 points per game.  The Chiefs have lost 4 of their last 5 with their only win coming at home against the hapless Raiders.  They also lost to the Giants, Bills and Jets during this stretch.  It’s clear to me which team is playing better football right now and most likely to get the win in this pick ‘em game.  Philip Rivers knows this is one of his last chances to make the playoffs, and he’s not going to squander it.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Phoenix Suns +12 

The Key: The Phoenix Suns have remained competitive without Devin Booker because of their depth.  They have lost their last 5 games, but all 5 losses came by 13 or less, including 4 by 10 or fewer.  They last 3 have come by 6, 7 and 3 points.  They can hang with the Timberwolves tonight as 12-point dogs to stay within this number.  Minnesota is 3-14 ATS off a blowout win by 15 points or more over the last 3 seasons.   The Suns are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a tea with a winning record.  The Timberwolves are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 home games.  Take Phoenix. 

7* Oregon/Boise State ABC *HEAVY HITTER* on Oregon -7 

The Key: Oregon was 6-1 and averaged 51.2 points in games Justin Herbert started this season, while going 1-4 and scoring 15.0 points in games he was sidelined.  That’s all you need to know about this game.  The Ducks will hang a big number on the Boise State Broncos, and they won’t be able to keep up. Take Oregon. 

6* Saturday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Loyola-Chicago -2.5 

The Key: What does Loyola-Chicago have to do to get any love from the books?  They are off to a 10-1 start this season that includes a 65-59 win at Florida as 17-point dogs.  They have had no letdowns since, beating Norfolk State by 28 in their next game out.  Now they are only 2.5-point favorites over this mediocre Wisconsin-Milwaukee squad.  Milwaukee is 1-3 in its last 4 games that includes a home loss to Montana State and a road loss to Western Illinois.  They were upset as favorites in both of those contests. I don’t expect them to even be competitive against one of the most underrated teams in the country in Loyola-Chicago here Saturday.  The Ramblers are 26-10 ATS in their last 36 road games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Ramblers are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games off a win.  The Panthers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 home games.  Take Loyola-Chicago. 

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland Trail Blazers -3.5 

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are getting healthy.  They may be at full strength if Jusuf Nurkic returns from an ankle injury.  He is listed as questionable, but the Blazers should have everyone else.  The Magic are really banged up.  They are without Evan Fournier and Terrance Ross, and Aaron Gordon, Arron Afflalo and Jonathan Isaac are all questionable.  The Magic have gone 1-4 SU & 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall with their only win coming at home over the Hawks by 4 in overtime.  They just lost to a bad Clippers team by 11 at home on Wednesday.  Now they take a step up in competition here against the Blazers.  Portland is 11-2 ATS in road games off an upset win as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.  Orlando is 0-7 ATS in home games revenging a road loss vs. opponent this season.  The Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.  Take Portland. 

6* Mavs/Warriors Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Dallas +10.5 

The Key: The Golden State Warriors will be very short-handed tonight.  They will be without Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Zaza Pachulia and Nick Young.  That will make it very difficult for them to win by double-digits against the Mavericks tonight.  This is a Mavs team that has quietly gone 5-5 SU & 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  They haven’t lost a single game by double-digits since November 17th, a span of 12 games.  Take Dallas.

7* Broncos/Colts AFC *HEAVY HITTER* on Denver -2.5 

The Key: The Denver Broncos actually have the No. 1 defense in the NFL based on a number of different statistical categories.  That is the difference in this game as the Colts have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, giving up 26.4 points and 375.3 yards per game.  And the Colts have one of the worst offenses as well, averaging just 16.3 points and 290.7 yards per game.  This is a complete mismatch, and even this stagnant Denver offense should be able to get going against this weak Colts defense tonight.  The Colts are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 home games after scoring 17 points or fewer in 3 straight games.  Take Denver. 

7* Wednesday NCAAB *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -2.5 

The Key: The Houston Cougars have a very good team and they are flying under the radar this season.  They are 8-1 under Kelvin Sampson, the former Oklahoma coach who is doing good things down in Houston.  They are 8-1 and have beaten the likes of Wake Forest and Arkansas (by 26).  LSU is one of the worst teams in the SEC this season, and that showed when they stepped up in class with a 39-point loss to Notre Dame and a 10-point loss to Marquette during their 5-2 start.  Houston is 8-0 ATS off 2 straight games with 9 or less offensive rebounds over the last 2 seasons.  LSU is 0-8 ATS off 2 straight games giving up 9 or less offensive rebounds over the last 2 years.  The Tigers are 8-23 ATS off a win over the last 3 years. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Indiana Pacers +1 

The Key: The Indiana Pacers have been one of the surprises of the season.  They are gelling very well with all of their youth and have one of the deepest teams in the NBA. They have gone 10-3 SU & 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games overall.  The Thunder have been the single most overrated team in the NBA.  They are 12-14 SU & 7-18-1 ATS on the season.  They are 0-9 ATS in their last 9 games overall, and now they are somehow favored here on the road against Indiana.  The Thunder have 2 stars in Paul George and Russell Westbrook, but not much else.  They have no depth, and Carmelo Anthony is a cancer.  Pacers players will want to make a statement here and let George know he made a mistake leaving them.  I like this situation for them as they’ll be hungry for a win.  Take Indiana. 

7* NBA Non-Conference Game of the Month on Detroit Pistons -6 

The Key: The Detroit Pistons will be hungry for a victory tonight.  They have lost 6 in a row coming in, but 4 of those losses were on the road, and the other 2 were against two of the best teams in the NBA in Golden State and Boston at home.  Now they face a team they can handle tonight in the Denver Nuggets, who have lost 3 of their last 4 and are playing without their two best players in Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap.  The Pistons already won 106-95 in Denver as 5-point dogs on November 12th.  They also won their last home meetings with the Nuggets 103-86 as 4.5-point favorites.  The Nuggets are 3-11 ATS in all road games this season.  The Pistons are 8-1 ATS in non-conference games this season.  Detroit is 43-23 ATS as a home favorite over the last 3 years.  Take Detroit. 

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Columbia +12 

The Key: The Boston College Eagles cannot be trusted to bring their A game tonight.  They just pulled off one of the biggest upsets in program history as 15-point home dogs against Duke on Saturday.  They could care less about beating Columbia off that performance.  This is a Columbia team that has only lost by more than 10 points twice all season.  That was a 15-point loss at Villanova and a 14-point loss at Penn State, two teams that are better than Boston College.  The Lions will be able to hang around in this game due to a letdown from the Eagles.  The Lions have gone 32-10 ATS in their last 42 games as a road underdog of 6.5 to 12 points.  Take Columbia. 

7* Patriots/Dolphins AFC East *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami +12 

The Key: The Patriots will be playing their 4th road game in 5 weeks here.  They also have to play a team they just beat by 18 points 2 weeks ago.  And they have their ‘game of the year’ against the Steelers on deck next week.  This couldn’t be a worse situation for the Patriots.  I think their 6-game ATS winning streak comes to an end Monday night.  They are being asked to lay too many points in Miami.  The home team is 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings between these teams.  The Dolphins have won 2 of their last 3 home meetings with the Patriots outright.  Take Miami. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Chicago Bulls +7.5 

The Key: The Boston Celtics are playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days tonight.  They won’t have much left in the tank for the Chicago Bulls, who are playing very well right now.  The Bulls are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games.  They have pulled off outright upsets over the Hornets and Knicks in their last 2, and they have losses by 1, 1 and 2 points to the Nuggets, Kings and Pacers, respectively, during this stretch.  They can hang with the Celtics tonight given the difficult situation for Boston.  The Celtics are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 playing on 0 days rest and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 following an ATS win.  The Bulls are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 vs. Eastern Conference.  Take Chicago. 

7* NFL *Blowout* Game of the Month on Los Angeles Chargers -6 

The Key: The Redskins have nothing to play for after losing 14-38 to the Cowboys last week.  It was their last stand, and now they’re done.  And they’ve been hit so hard by injuries that they never had a chance anyway.  The Chargers have everything to play for as they are tied for first place in the AFC West with the Chiefs and Raiders.  They have won 6 of their last 8 and Philip Rivers has a 12-to-1 TD/INT ratio in the six wins.  He’s playing at a high level, and he’s backed by a defense that is great against the pass and getting to the quarterback.  That makes this a bad matchup for the Redskins and Kirk Cousins.  The Chargers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games during Week 14.  The favorite is 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* Sunday NFL *UPSET SPECIAL* on Chicago Bears +6.5 

The Key: The Cincinnati Bengals suffered a crushing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.  They blew a 17-point lead in that game.  It was their last stand.  Now they’re on a short week and won’t be excited at all to face the Bears.  And they are missing numerous players on defense, and possibly their entire starting secondary.  The Bears continue to fight despite the poor media attention.  I think they can go into Cincinnati and pull the upset, but we’ll take the points for some added cushion.  The Bears have been competitive in every game by one that Mitch Trubisky has started.  They have only lost by more than 8 points once in their last 8 games, and that was at Philadelphia.  The Bengals only have 2 wins by more than 4 points all season.  John Fox is 10-1 ATS when he total is 35.5 to 42 as the coach of Chicago.  The Bengals cannot be this heavily favored considering the bad spot for them off the Steelers game Monday, and all of their injuries on defense.  Take Chicago. 

6* Raiders/Chiefs AFC West *CA$H COW* on Kansas City -4 

The Key: The Chiefs have lost 6 of their last 7 after a 5-0 start.  They are now tied for first place in the AFC West with the Raiders and Chargers.  I think we are getting them at a discount now after this poor run.  Their offense came to life last week with 31 points while averaging over 10 yards per play against the Jets.  I think they score in bunches here against an awful Raiders defense.  The Chiefs will want revenge on the Raiders after losing on the final play of the game 31-30 in their first meeting.  The Raiders likely won’t have Amari Cooper because of an ankle injury.  That’s huge considering Cooper has 11 receptions for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Chiefs in the first meeting.  Bets on home favorites revenging a loss against opponent, off an upset loss as a favorite are 33-11 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  The Chiefs are 7-0 ATS after gaining 6.5 or more yards per play in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.  Kansas City is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 vs. AFC West foes.  Take Kansas City. 

7* Rockets/Blazers Western Conference *BAILOUT* on OVER 216 

The Key: Expect offensive fireworks tonight between Houston and Portland, especially with Jusuf Nurkic out for Portland.  He is their best defender and has made them a respectable defensive team.  But without him, the Blazers will go smaller and with more outside shooting and worse defense as you’ll see more of Myers Leonard.  The Rockets and their opponents have combined for 213 or more points in six straight games.  They have scored at least 112 points in all six and are averaging 114.0 points per game on the season.  The OVER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in this series.  The Rockets and Blazers have combined for at least 219 points in 5 straight meetings.  That will get the job done tonight with this low 216-point total.  Take the OVER. 

6* Saturday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Creighton -10.5 

The Key: The Creighton Bluejays own the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  They have gone 8-2 SU and a perfect 10-0 ATS in the last 10 meetings.  They have won the last 6 meetings all by double-digits.  Enough said.  Take Creighton. 

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee Bucks -7 

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks want revenge from their worst loss of the season, a 79-111 loss in Dallas back on November 18th.  Now they get their shot at revenge just 3 weeks later.  The Bucks have gone 4-1 in their last 5 games overall with their only loss coming in Boston, which has the best record in the NBA.  Dallas could be without several key players tonight.  They are already without Nerlens Noel and Seth Curry, but both Dennis Smith Jr. and Devin Harris are questionable.  The Mavs are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.  Dallas is 7-15-1 ATS in its last 23 games following a loss.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* Friday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Arizona State -5 

The Key: The Arizona State Sun Devils have been one of the most underrated teams in college basketball this season.  The Sun Devils are 7-0 SU & 6-0-1 ATS.  They have beaten San Diego State by 22, Kansas State by 2 and Xavier by 16.  That win over Xavier as 6.5-point dogs was mighty impressive and shows they are the real deal.  St. John’s has played a much softer schedule and is getting too much credit for its 8-1 record.  The Red Storm lost their toughest game against Missouri 82-90 on a neutral.  And now I think ASU will be the best team they have played yet.  And they’ll have to play this game without their best player in Marcus Lovett, who is out with an ankle injury.  St. John’s is 0-6 ATS off 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons.  The Red Storm are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Arizona State. 

7* Saints/Falcons NFC South *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta -2 

The Key: The Atlanta Falcons are ‘all in’ tonight as they can’t afford to lose this game if they want to make the playoffs.  Look for them to get the job done at home against the Saints, who have beaten up on such a soft schedule of late.  The one time they stepped up on class?  They lost 20-26 on the road to the Rams two weeks ago only after scoring a touchdown in the closing seconds to make the score look closer than was.  Now this is another step up game for the Saints.  The Falcons get two starting cornerbacks back this week from injury, and that’s going to be huge for them.  The Saints are still banged up everywhere, especially on defense.  Bets on home favorites after having won 2 of their last 3 games, a marginal winning team 51% to 60% playing a winning team are 28-6 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  Take Atlanta. 

6* Thursday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Northern Iowa -4.5 

The Key: The Northern Iowa Panthers are going to be contenders in the MVC this season, that much is clear.  They are 6-2 this season with their only losses coming to Villanova and UNC on the road.  They have already beaten SMU and NC State both outright as underdogs, and they also topped a previously unbeaten UNLV team 77-68 as 1-point favorites.  Texas-Arlington has played a much softer schedule.  Arlington is 0-8 ATS in its last 8 road games after playing 3 consecutive games as a home favorite.  Take Northern Iowa. 

6* Wednesday NCAAB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Portland State +2.5 

The Key: The Portland State Vikings cannot be underdogs to Loyola-Marymount tonight.  The Vikings are 6-2 this season and even gave both Duke and Butler a run for their money in their 2 losses.  They lost 81-99 to Duke as 24.5-point dogs and 69-71 to Butler as 12-point dogs.  They also have an 87-78 win over Stanford as 6.5-point dogs on their resume.  The Vikings are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games.    Lackluster wins over McNeese State (92-86) and Incarnate Word (91-87) show that Loyola-Marymount is not very good.  Take Portland State. 

6* Warriors/Hornets ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216 

The Key: Without Steph Curry, the Warriors are going to struggle offensively.  They also could be without Draymond Green, who helps make this offense run on all cylinders.  Look for a lower scoring game than the oddsmakers anticipate as Shawn Livingston at the point is a huge downgrade from Curry.  Bets on the UNDER on all teams where the total is 210 or higher off a win by 10 points or more against an opponent off 3 straight wins by 10-plus points are 36-8 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on Sacramento Kings +13 

The Key: The Sacramento Kings last played on Saturday, giving them 3 days to get ready for the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  They will have a big effort here and stay within this massive 13-point spread.  After all, the Kings are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 when playing on 3 or more days of rest.  Take Sacramento. 

7* NCAAB Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Utah +7.5 

The Key: The Butler Bulldogs are getting too much credit from the books tonight as 7.5-point home favorites over the Utah Utes.  The Bulldogs have two double-digit losses already to Maryland 65-79 and Texas 48-61.  The price is right to back Utah, which is 6-1 highlighted by 77-59 and 83-74 wins over Missouri and Ole Miss, respectively.  Utah is 44-25 ATS in its last 69 games off a home blowout win by 20 points or more.  The Utes are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games vs. at team with a winning record.  The Bulldogs are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 following an ATS win.  Take Utah. 

6* FSU/Florida ESPN 2 *CA$H COW* on Florida -9 

The Key: The Florida Gators are legitimately one of the best teams in the country.  Their only lost this season came against top-ranked Duke 84-87 after they blew a 15-point lead in the second half.  They beat another great team in Gonzaga 111-105 in overtime.  They have proven themselves, and now they are ready to get revenge on a rebuilding Florida State team that lost all but one starter from last year.  The Seminoles have won 3 straight meetings by 2, 2 and 5 points.  Not only will the Gators get revenge, they’ll do so by double-digits tonight.  The Gators are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games.  The Gators are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss.  Florida is 23-10 ATS as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.  Florida State is 22-40 ATS in its last 42 road games off 3 or more consecutive wins.  Take Florida. 

7* AFC North Game of the Year on Cincinnati Bengals +6 

The Key: The season is on the line for the Cincinnati Bengals tonight.  At 5-6 they need a win to stay in the playoff hunt.  The Steelers are 9-2 and can afford a loss now.  Because they host the Patriots in a couple weeks, they can lose this game and win that one and still be the No. 1 seed in the AFC.  I believe this line is way off as the Steelers were only 3.5-point favorites over the Bengals at home in their first meeting, and now they are 6-point road favorites in the second meeting.  That’s an 8.5-point adjustment.  And the Steelers have recent 3-point wins over both the Colts and Packers, so it’s not like they are playing at an extremely high level.  The Steelers are 8-24-1 ATS in their last 33 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.  Take Cincinnati. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Milwaukee Bucks +6 

The Key: The Boston Celtics are starting to get too much love from the books due to their 20-4 record.  I expect the Milwaukee Bucks to give them a run for their money tonight.  Home-court advantage has meant nothing in this series of late as the road team is 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  The Bucks have won each of their last two trips to Boston outright as underdogs.  The underdog is 23-9-1 ATS in the last 33 meetings.  The Bucks are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 meetings in Boston.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* Browns/Chargers AFC *CA$H COW* on Cleveland +14 

The Key: This line has gotten way out of whack.  The Chargers can’t be 2 touchdown favorites against anyone.  I realize the Cleveland Browns are 0-11, but they are better than they get credit for.  One quick look at the stats shows that.  The Browns are only getting outgained by 8 yards per game on the season, averaging 310 yards per game on offense and giving up 8 per game on defense.  Their problem has been red zone struggles on both sides of the ball.  But now the Browns are in the largest underdog role they’ve been all season, and it’s coming against a mediocre 5-6 Chargers team that has zero home-field advantage.  Bets on underdogs of 10.5 or more points off 7 or more consecutive losses against opponent off 2 or more consecutive wins are 23-7 ATS since 1983.  Bets on road underdogs off 6 or more consecutive losses in weeks 10 through 13 are 35-13 ATS since 1983.  Take Cleveland. 

7* NFL Blowout Game of the Year on Baltimore Ravens -3 

The Key: This game is all about the matchup.  The Ravens have 14 sacks over the past month and have forced 13 turnovers in their past 4 games.  Mathew Stafford has been sacked 10 times in the past 3 weeks and they are starting to turn the ball over more.  Stafford is nursing an ankle injury that will have him far from full strength.  And there are injuries along the offensive line that are going to allow the Ravens to get after him for 4 quarters.  The Vikings put up 30 points and 408 total yards on this Detroit defense last week, and I think Joe Flacco and the offense will do enough to support their dominant defense in this one.  Bet on home favorites that have won 2 of their last 3 games coming in, who are winning 51% to 60% of their games and playing another winning team are 27-6 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  Take Baltimore. 

6* Patriots/Bills AFC *CA$H COW* on Buffalo +9 

The Key: The Patriots have some mass injuries right now they are dealing with.  They will be without receiver Chris Hogan, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon and sack leader Trey Flowers.  They also could be without cornerback Eric Rose and offensive tackler LeAdrian Waddle, who are both questionable.  The Bills earned a huge 16-10 win in Kansas City last week to keep their playoff hopes alive.  Their defense was awesome, limiting the Chiefs to just 10 points and 236 total yards.  They have a knack for playing the Patriots tough.  They have actually won 2 of the last 5 meetings outright and have only lost once by more than 8 points in those 5 meetings.  The Bills are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Bills are 26-13 ATS in their last 39 home games in weeks 10 through 13.  Take Buffalo.

6* St. Mary’s/Cal NCAAB *BAILOUT* on St. Mary’s -7.5 

The Key: Randy Bennett has another great St. Mary’s team this season that is 5-2 with its two losses coming to Power 5 opponents Washington State and Georgia by a combined 7 points.  California is rebuilding this season with a new head coach.  The Bears are 3-4 with their 3 wins coming against Cal Poly, Wofford and CS-Northridge.  They actually lost at home to Riverside by 8 as 13.5-point favorites.  They were blown out 72-96 by Chaminade as well.  That’s how poor of shape this team is in right now, losing to Chaminade and Riverside by those margins.  The Gaels are 10-2 ATS in December games over the last 3 seasons.  Cal is 0-8 ATS in home games versus good teams outscoring opponents by 4-plus points per game over the last 2 seasons.  Take St. Mary’s. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings +12.5 

The Key: The Sacramento Kings want revenge from an 87-112 home loss to Milwaukee on November 28th less than a week ago.  They get their chance here in Milwaukee.  That loss was a bad spot for the Kings as they were playing for a second consecutive night after an upset win at Golden State the night before.  That was a clear letdown spot.  Milwaukee is 3-15 ATS in home games after having won 3 of their last 4 games over the past 2 seasons.  The Bucks are 17-39 ATS in their last 56 as as favorite of 10 or more points.  Take Sacramento. 

6* Saturday NCAAF *BLOWOUT* on New Mexico State -9.5 

The Key: We are going to get a max-motivated New Mexico State Aggies team here Saturday.  They sit at 5-6 on the season and need one more win for bowl eligibility, while 4-7 South Alabama has been eliminated from bowl contention.  New Mexico State hasn’t been to a bowl game since 1960!  Senior QB Tyler Rodgers has been the catalyst for the turnaround.  He sat out last game with a shoulder injury, but it 100% now and will make his return on Senior Day here.  These teams have 5 common opponents.  South Alabama is getting outgained by 113 yards per game against those 5 teams, while New Mexico State is outgaining those 5 teams by 13 yards per game.  It’s clear which of these is the better team, and which will be more motivated.  South Alabama is 0-8 ATS in road games in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.  The Jaguars are 0-7 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 years.  Take New Mexico State. 

6* NCAAF Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Louisiana-Monroe +26.5 

The Key: The LA-Monroe Warhawks have held their own against some very good competition this year.  They only lost 29-37 at Memphis as 28-point dogs, and that Memphis team has just one loss on the season.  They only lost 14-42 at Auburn as 39-point dogs, and Auburn is one win away from making the four-team playoff.  Now they face a worse team than both of those squads in 5-6 Florida State.  And the Seminoles are in turmoil right now with Jimbo Fisher announcing yesterday that he was signing a 10-year, $75 million deal with Texas A&M.  Players could revolt here.  They need one more win for a bowl game, but it’s hard to believe these players even want to play in a bowl now with Fisher gone.  The Seminoles are 0-6 ATS versus good offensive teams averaging 425 or more yards per game this season.  Take Louisiana-Monroe. 

7* Akron/Toledo MAC *HEAVY HITTER* on Akron +21 

The Key: The Toledo Rockets cannot be 3-touchdown favorites in the MAC Championship Game.  They beat Akron 48-21 at home earlier this season for a 27-point victory.  But the Zips have improved since then and this game will be on a neutral field, and they’ll want revenge from that defeat.  They also have a more electric quarterback running the show now in freshman Kato Nelson, who has thrown 6 TD’s against 2 INT while leading the Zips to the MAC East title down the stretch.  He also adds a dual-threat element with 167 rushing yards and a score.  MAC dogs of 12 or more in championship games are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 tries.  The Zips are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.  The Zips are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Akron. 

6* Creighton/Gonzaga ESPN 2 *BAILOUT* on Creighton +8.5 

The Key: The Creighton Bluejays have been mighty impressive this year en route to their 5-1 start.  They have beaten both UCLA and Northwestern away from home with their only loss coming by a final of 59-65 to Baylor on a neutral court.  They led that game against Baylor most the way before coming up just short in the end.  They can hang with Gonzaga, which has some interestingly close wins this year against Utah State 79-66 and Texas 76-71 in overtime.  They also lost to Florida 105-111 in overtime.  I don’t think this Bulldogs team is nearly as strong as last year’s edition that made the NCAA Championship Game.  And it’s a tougher spot for them because they just played on Wednesday, so they have only one day to get ready for Creighton.  The Bluejays have been off since Saturday and have had ample time to prepare for Gonzaga.  The Bluejays are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 non-conference games.  The Bulldogs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games off a win by more than 20 points.  Take Creighton. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -2.5 

The Key: The Pelicans will be playing just their 2nd game in 6 days tonight.  The Jazz will be playing their 3rd game in 4 days and for a second consecutive night after winning in Los Angeles against the Clippers last night.  The Jazz are just 9-20 ATS in their last 29 when playing their 3rd game in 4 days.  The Jazz are also just 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games after covering 4 of their last 5 ATS coming in.  Take New Orleans. 

7* Stanford/USC NCAAF Friday Night Lights on USC -3.5 

The Key: The USC Trojans have had 2 weeks to get ready for Stanford after receiving their bye last week.  The Cardinal are on a short week after a tough game against Notre Dame in which they trailed into the 4th quarter Saturday night before the Fighting Irish gave the game away with 3 turnovers.  The situation favors the Trojans, who have already beaten the Cardinal 42-24 while racking up over 600 yards of total offense against them in their first meeting this year.  The Cardinal are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following an ATS win.  Take USC. 

7* Redskins/Cowboys NFL Total of the Week on UNDER 47.5 

The Key: This has the makings of a low-scoring game tonight between Washington and Dallas.  Both teams have banged-up offensive lines, and the Redskins are missing several key weapons on offense.  The Redskins are improving defensively, giving up just 10 points and 170 total yards to the Giants last week.  The Cowboys are faltering on offense, averaging just 7.3 points and 235 yards per game in their last 3 games.  Neither team was that effective on offense in their first meeting, a 33-19 Dallas win that was misleading.  The Cowboys only managed 307 total yards while the Redskins were held to 285.  With those small yardage outputs, their shouldn’t have been 52 total points scored.  Dallas is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 after gaining 250 or less total yards in 2 consecutive games.  The Cowboys are 10-2 UNDER when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Thursday NBA *Total* Annihilator on 76ers/Celtics UNDER 212 

The Key: The Boston Celtics are the best team in the NBA defensively, ranking No. 1 in defensive efficiency this season.  This is a very high total for them and I think there’s value with the under.  The 76ers are a tired team as they just played a game against the Wizards last night and won’t be looking to push the pace.  They will also be without their best player in Joel Embiid due to rest.  Points won’t be as easy to come by for the 76ers without Embiid.  The UNDER is 9-2 in 76ers last 11 games when their starting 5 players combined for more than 160 minutes played the previous day.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Notre Dame/Michigan ESPN *CA$H COW* on Michigan State -6.5

The Key: The Michigan State Spartans are legitimately one of the top teams in the country this season.  They returned 4 starters and have opened 5-1 with their only loss coming to arguably the best team in the land in Duke.  All 5 of their wins have come by 18 points or more, including their 63-45 win over UNC last time out.  Notre Dame is 6-0 but has played the softer schedule and barely beat Wichita State 67-66.  This is the best team they have faced yet, and it will be a true road game here and a tough test.  The Spartans are 8-0 ATS versus good defensive teams allowing 39% or less over the last 2 seasons.  Michigan State is 9-1 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 years.  The Spartans are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games overall.  Take Michigan State. 

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on New Orleans Pelicans -5 

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans are in a great situation here tonight, while the Minnesota Timberwolves are in a tough one.  The Timberwolves played last night and will be playing for the second straight day.  They will also be playing for the 7th time in 11 days, and it doesn’t get much tougher than that.  The Pelicans have had the last 3 days off since playing on Saturday against the Warriors.  Minnesota is 21-37 ATS when playing 6 or more games in 10 days over the last 3 seasons.  The Timberwolves are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a loss.  The home team is 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings.  The Timberwolves are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 trips to New Orleans.  Take New Orleans. 

6* Wednesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Louisiana Tech +11 

The Key: Louisiana Tech is one of those small schools that deserves attention year in and year out.  They can compete with the big boys.  The Bulldogs are off to a 5-0 start this season.  They even handed Evansville their first loss last time out with a 63-61 victory on a neutral.  I think they can hang around with Alabama tonight.  The Crimson Tide just finished a big tournament with a loss to Minnesota on a neutral court.  It will be hard for them to get back up to face a team like Louisiana Tech tonight after facing one of the top teams in the country in Minnesota.  Alabama is missing two key players in Braxton Key and Ar’Mond Davis due to knee injuries, and John Petty rolled his ankle against Minnesota and is questionable.  Petty is their second leading scorer, so if he’s hampered at all or doesn’t play it would be a big loss for the Crimson Tide.  Alabama is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 vs. C-USA foes.  Take Louisiana Tech. 

7* ACC/Big Ten Challenge *HEAVY HITTER* on Northwestern -2

The Key: The Northwestern Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history last year.  They brought back 4 starters from that team.  It's understandable that they would suffer a bit of a hangover after that experience as they have not gotten off to the best start this season.  But I think that had them undervalued now.  Georgia Tech is not a very good team and is missing its best player in Josh Okogie, who serves the final game of his 5-game suspension tonight.  GA Tech is 3-1, but narrow wins over Bethune-Cookman (65-62) and UTRGV (78-68) at home show that this team is very vulnerable.  The Wildcats are 11-2 ATS in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.  The Wildcats are 17-4 ATS in road games after a home game over the last 3 years.  Take Northwestern.

6* Tuesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Heat/Cavs UNDER 208

The Key: The Miami Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA with a healthy Hassan Whiteside, and he is healthy right now.  The Cavs played last night in Philly and only gave up 91 points.  They should be tired tonight and not looking to run as much.  The Heat will slow down the tempo to a snail's pace to try and give them the best chance to win tonight and limit possessions.  The Heat have allowed 98 or fewer points in 4 of their last 5 games coming in.  The Cavs have allowed 99 or fewer in 3 of their last 4 as their defense is steadily improving.  The Heat are 9-1 UNDER in road games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

7* Texans/Ravens NFL *Total* Annihilator on OVER 39

The Key: Oddsmakers can't set a Monday Night Football total below 40.  These prime time games have been going over the total at an alarming rate over the last several weeks, and I think the books have made another mistake here setting this total too low Monday night.  The Ravens are clicking offensively right now, and they should be able to score at will on a depleted, bad Houston defense.  The Texans got their offense going last week for the first time with Tom Savage at quarterback, scoring 31 points and managing 357 total yards against a good Arizona defense.  They should score enough to help push this game OVER the total.  Houston is 10-2 OVER in road games off one or more straight ATS wins over the last 3 seasons.  They are scoring 50.6 combined points per game in this situation.  Take the OVER.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia 76ers -2.5

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are 11-4 SU & 13-2 ATS in their last 15 games overall.  They have been mispriced all season and are once again tonight as only 2.5-point favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The Cavs are dealing with so many injuries right now that they are struggling to win games, let alone cover them.  Philadelphia is 14-2 ATS in November home games over the last 2 seasons.  Take Philadelphia.

6* Jags/Cardinals Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Arizona +5

The Key: The Jacksonville Jaguars have benefited from an extremely soft schedule of late.  They have won 4 in a row and are starting to become a public team.  Now they are laying 5 points on the road here to the Arizona Cardinals.  The Cardinals played well enough to win their last two games against Seattle and Houston.  Blaine Gabbert made his first start with the team last week on the road at Houston, and should be much more effective at home this time around in his 2nd start.  And you can bet Gabbert wants revenge on his former team here.  The Jags are without some key starters in OL Jeremy Parnell, OL Patrick Omameh, CB Jalen Ransey and WR Allen Hurns.  Not having Hurns will allow Patrick Peterson to lockdown Marquise Lee, who is the only real threat at receiver now for the Jaguars.  Bruce Arians is 10-2 ATS as a home dog of 7 points or less in all games he has coached.  Take Arizona.

7* AFC East Game of the Year on Miami Dolphins +17

The Key: After going 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall, the New England Patriots are becoming that public darling once again.  The betting public is going to line up to back them at any number.  That provides some line value to fade them as the Patriots are now 17-point favorites against the Dolphins this week.  This is their biggest favorite role of the season as they have only been a double-digit favorite one other time.  The Miami Dolphins have lost four straight and haven't covered a point spread in any of their last 5 games.  The betting public wants nothing to do with them, especially after their 20-30 loss to the Bucs last week.  But they should have won that game as they lost the turnover battle 5-0 and managed 448 total yards.  Matt Moore will find success against this soft New England defense that gives up 402 yards per game and 6.5 yards per play this season.  The Patriots have a ton of injuries right now and will be without two starting offensive linemen in C David Andrews and OL Marcus Cannon.  Bets on road teams (MIAMI) - after being beaten by the spread by 49 or more points total in their last five games, in weeks 10 through 13 are 23-4 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  Take Miami.

6* NFC Game of the Week on Chicago Bears +14.5

The Key: The Chicago Bears have been a profitable team to back this season.  They are now in their largest underdog role of the season, while the Philadelphia Eagles are in their largest favorite role of the year.  Mitch Trubisky has helped make the Bears at least competitive.  In his 6 starts, the Bears have not lost by more than 8 points once.  He has been protecting the football very well with just 3 turnovers in their last 4 games.  The Eagles are in a letdown spot off their big win over Dallas Sunday night.  They could also be looking ahead to a huge stretch with back-to-back road games at Seattle and the LA Rams in their next two games.  John Fox is 9-2 ATS when facing teams who average 5.65 or more yards per play as the coach of Chicago.  Take Chicago.

6* Texas/Gonzaga NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Gonzaga -2.5

The Key: I think Texas is getting too much credit from oddsmakers for taking Duke to overtime last game.  That has kept this line lower than it should be as Gonzaga is clearly the better team and should be more than 2.5-point favorites.  Texas is 4-16 ATS in its last 20 as a neutral court underdog of 3 points or less or PK.  Gonzaga is 24-11 ATS as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.  Take Gonzaga.

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Magic/76ers UNDER 221

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are going to be without their point guard and floor general in Ben Simmons tonight.  I think they slow down the offense and run it through Joel Embiid.  I think this game is played at a very slow pace, which will help it stay UNDER this massive 221-point total.  The Magic are a tired team playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a loss in Boston last night, which also favors the UNDER.  Take the UNDER.

7* NCAA Football Game of the Year on Temple -3

The Key: The Temple Owls sit at 5-6 and one win short of a bowl berth.  They will be hungry to get that 6th victory here against Tulsa, a rebuilding team that is just 2-9 on the season.  The Owls should be bigger favorites here.  After beating both Navy and Cincinnati, they lost 19-45 to unbeaten UCF last week.  But that was a misleading final as they actually outgained the Knights and held them to 384 total yards, but they lost the turnover battle 5-0, which was the difference.  Tulsa's biggest game came last week when they fell just short 20-27 at South Florida.  They won't be nearly as hungry to win this week.  I think the line value is with Temple due to last week's results from these two teams as the scores weren't indicative of the kinds of games they were.  Temple is 6-0 ATS after a game where they committed 3 or more turnovers over the last 2 seasons.  Tulsa is 0-6 ATS in home games after covering the spread in 2 out of their last 3 games over the last 3 seasons.  The Owls are 11-1 ATS versus poor defensive teams that allow 425 yards/game or more over the last 3 seasons.  Take Temple.

6* Saturday NCAAF *BLOWOUT* on Florida Atlantic -23

The Key: Lane Kiffin and the FAU Owls are absolutely rolling right now.  They are 7-0 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.  Their only non-cover came when they took an intentional safety against Marshall in the final few seconds to blow the cover.  They have 4 wins by 25-plus points in their last 6 games. and now they take on 1-10 Charlotte.  The 49ers quit last week in a 21-66 loss at Southern Miss, giving up 363 rushing yards.  FAU rushes for 280 yards per game and 6.2 per carry and should score at will on this Charlotte defense, which gives up 32.9 PPG on the season.  Charlotte has one of the worst offenses in the country, averaging just 14.4 PPG on the season.  I fully expect the Owls to win by 4-plus touchdowns in this one.  The Owls are 7-1 ATS as a favorite this season, winning by 25.4 PPG.  Bets on road favorites of 14.5 or more points (FLA ATLANTIC) - after 2 straight wins by 21 or more points against opponent after trailing in their previous game by 17 or more points at the half are 25-3 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  Take Florida Atlantic.

6* Saturday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Indiana State -1.5

The Key: This is an Indiana State team that went into Indiana and beat the Hoosiers 90-69 in their opener to flash their potential.  They are up against a 1-4 Ball State team that simply isn't very good.  I think the Sycamores should be much bigger favorites at home today.  Take Indiana State.

6* Saturday NCAAF *UPSET SPECIAL* on Tulane +8

The Key: The Tulane Green Wave are 5-6 and one win away from a bowl game.  The SMU Mustangs are 6-5 and have already clinched a bowl.  The Mustangs have not played with much intensity the last three weeks, going 0-3 SU & 1-2 ATS in their last 3 games since clinching a bowl.  I don't expect them to show up this week either.  Tulane has won 2 in a row over ECU and Houston just to put itself in this position to make a bowl.  I think they finish the deal here and pull the upset.  The matchup couldn't be better for the triple-option attack of Tulane, which averages 237 rushing yards per game and 4.9 per carry.  SMU has been awful against the run this season, giving up 217 rushing yards per game and 5.1 per carry.  They gave up 559 rushing yards to Navy and 33 to Memphis the past 2 weeks.  The Green Wave are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.  The Mustangs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.  The Green Wave are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 trips to SMU.  Take Tulane.

7* Cal/UCLA NCAAF Friday Night Lights on California +7

The Key: The California Golden Bears are 7-4 ATS this season and have been consistently undervalued.  They gave Stanford all they wanted on the road last week as 14-point underdogs in a 14-17 loss.  They had a bye coming into that game, so they should still be fresh for UCLA here.  The Bruins have been overrated all season and are 5-6 SU & 4-7 ATS.  It's likely Jim Mora will be fired at season's end.  The Bruins put a lot into their 23-28 loss at USC last week, and they won't be nearly as motivated to play Cal this week.  The Bruins will have played for a 7th straight week here and will be the more tired team on this short week.  The Golden Bears are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. a team with a losing record.  The Bruins are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games following an ATS win.  Take California.

7* Giants/Redskins NFC East Game of the Month on New York +7.5

The Key: The Giants have gone 6-2 SU & 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings with the Redskins.  They haven't lost any of their last 10 meetings with the Redskins by more than 6 points.  The Redskins being 7.5-point favorites in this game is a big line mistake from the books, especially with all of the injuries they are dealing with right now.  The offensive line is banged up, the front 7 defensively is missing key players, and the top two running games in Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley are out for the season.  The Redskins are just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games.  The underdog is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.  Take New York.

6* Wednesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Louisiana Tech -4.5

The Key: The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are one of the top teams in Conference USA year in and year out.  That's the case again in 2017.  They are off to a 4-0 start this season and just blasted George Mason 77-64 last night.  Evansville is also unbeaten at 5-0, but this team was picked to finish near the bottom of the MVC this season with all they lost in the offseason.  The Purple Aces have beaten up on a soft schedule, but LA Tech will be their stiffest opponent yet tonight.  Evansville is 12-41 ATS in its last 53 games following a game with 9 or fewer assists.  The Purple Aces are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games following a ATS win.  Take Louisiana Tech.

7* Celtics/Heat Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami +3.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics stayed last night in South Beach and certainly were probably out celebrating their 16-game winning streak.  I think they are ripe for the picking here against the Miami Heat.  The Heat are a feisty team that won't back down.  And they'll certainly want to avenge their 96-90 loss to the Celtics in their first meeting of the season.  Miami is 21-9 ATS revenging a same season loss over the last 2 seasons.  The Heat are 25-10 ATS when revenging a home loss over the last 3 years.  The Heat are 15-5 ATS off an upset loss as a home favorite over the last 3 seasons.  The underdog is 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings.  Take Miami.

6* Tuesday NCAAF *CA$H COW* on Akron -15

The Key: The Akron Zips are playing for everything tonight.  A win would send them to the MAC Championship Game to face Toledo.  They put themselves in this position by upsetting Ohio 37-34 last week as 15.5-point underdogs.  Freshman QB Nelson has given this offense a spark since starting two games ago.  He threw for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns against Ohio, while also adding 45 yards on the ground.  He is the most talented QB on Akron's roster and has a bright future with the program.  Not only is Kent State just 2-9 SU, but also 3-8 ATS this season.  The staggering stat is that all 9 of Kent State's losses have come by 14 points or more, and Akron is only being asked to cover 15 points at home tonight.  Kent State is 1-10 ATS after having lost 5 or 6 out of their last 7 games over the last 3 seasons.  Akron is 8-1 ATS after covering the spread in 4 or 5 out of their last 6 games over the last 3 seasons.  The Zips are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 conference games.  The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  The Zips are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home meetings.  Take Akron.

7* NCAAB *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma State -13

The Key: It's clearly a rebuilding year for the Pitt Panthers, who had to break in 5 new starters this season.  They opened 1-3 with a 62-71 loss to Navy, a 78-83 loss to Montana, and a 54-85 loss to Penn State.  Their only win came against UC-Santa Barbara 70-62.  They won't be able to hang with Oklahoma State today.  The Cowboys are 3-1 with the 3 wins coming by 31, 18 and 43 points despite not having their best player in Jeffrey Carroll due to suspension.  Carroll is back now.  Their only loss came to Texas A&M yesterday, and that's a Texas A&M team that beat a ranked West Virginia team by 23 in their opener.  Pitt is 2-11 ATS versus good defensive teams that allow 64 or fewer points per game over the past 3 seasons.  Oklahoma State is 25-11 ATS in its last 36 when playing against a bad team with a winning percentage between 20% and 40%.  Take Oklahoma State.

7* Falcons/Seahawks NFL *Total* Annihilator on OVER 44.5

The Key: The two meetings between the Seahawks and Falcons last season saw 50 and 56 combined points.  I think we get another shootout here Monday night.  The Falcons and Seahawks have two of the better offenses in the NFL statistically.  The Seahawks aren't as formidable on D as they once were, especially with all their injuries right now. The Legion of Boom secondary is only a shell of its former self with all of the injuries.  Richard Sherman is out for the season, and Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are both banged up.  Fellow cornerback Shaquille Griffin is also hurt.  Matt Ryan should carve up their defense, and Russell Wilson is fully capable of keeping pace with all of the weapons at his disposal.  6 of the last 7 meetings in this series have seen 50 or more combined points.  Atlanta & Seattle have averaged 57.7 combined points per game in those 7 meetings.  Take the OVER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland Trail Blazers -2

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies are in trouble right now without their best player and one of the most underrated players in the NBA in Mike Conley.  He is out with an Achilles injury, but the list of injuries for this team doesn't stop there.  Both Brandan Wright and Wayne Selden are out, and Tyreke Evans is questionable.  The Blazers will be hungry to avenge their 97-98 home loss to the Grizzlies on November 7th in their first and only meeting this season. They should take advantage of these vulnerable Grizzlies, who have now lost 4 straight and are coming off a 22-point home loss to Houston.  Memphis is 4-16 ATS in its last 20 home games off a home loss.  The Grizzlies are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games off a loss to a division opponent.  The Blazers are 8-1-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.  The Grizzlies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take Portland.

6* Bills/Chargers AFC *CA$H COW* on Buffalo +4.5

The Key: The Los Angeles Chargers just can't cover the spread as favorites, let alone win games.  The last 27 times that the Chargers have been favored by 1 to 5 points, they have actually lost the game outright 18 times.  Bets on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points (BUFFALO) - in a game involving two average teams (+/- 3 PPG differential.), after scoring 14 points or less last game are 64-28 ATS since 1983.  The price is right to pull the trigger on the Bills this week thanks to their blowout loss to the Saints last week.  Look for them to likely win this game outright.  Take Buffalo.

7* NFL Dog of the Month on Cleveland Browns +8

The Key: The Cleveland Browns have kept fighting.  They are trying to win games, and that was evident last week.  But once again they shot themselves in the foot despite outplaying the Lions for most of the game.  They had a 7-point lead late in the 3rd quarter, but Deshon Kizer got hurt and they went backwards on offense.  Kizer returned to lead them down the field, but threw an INT on first and goal from the 5 to lost 24-38 and fail to cover as 10-point underdogs.  They also had the clock run out on them on the 1-yard line on the final play before halftime.  They outgained the Lions 413 to 345 for the game.  The Browns have one of the better defenses in the NFL.  The key to stopping the Jaguars is stopping the run, and the Browns do a great job of that.  They are only giving up 86 rushing yards per game and 3.1 per carry.  That's very good when you consider they have been trailing for the majority of their games, and the opponents have been wanting to run the football.  Bets on home dogs or PK who failed to cover 2 of their last 3, a team that's winning 25% or less of their games playing a team with a winning record in the 2nd half of the season are 71-33 ATS since 1983.  Take Cleveland.

6* Sunday NFL *Total* Annihilator on Rams/Vikings OVER 45.5

The Key: Two of the better offensive teams in the NFL square off Sunday when the Rams play the Vikings in a dome built for scoring.  The Rams are putting up 32.9 PPG and averaging 389 YPG and 6.2 YPP this season.  The Vikings are scoring 24.1 PPG, averaging 364 YPG and 5.7 YPP this year.  The Rams have scored 33-plus in 3 straight and 4 of their last 6.  The Vikings have scored 71 combined points in their last 2 games and Case Keenum has been better than he is getting credit for.  The Rams are 13-3 OVER in their last 16 after allowing 17 points or less in 3 straight.  Minnesota is 29-13 OVER in its last 42 vs. teams who average 7.5 or more passing yards per attempt.  Bets on the OVER on road teams where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points (LA RAMS) - quick starting offensive team - scoring 14+ PPG in the first half, after allowing 17 points or less in 2 straight games are 29-7 over the last 10 seasons.  Take the OVER.

6* Utah/Washington Pac-12 *BAILOUT* on Utah +17.5

The Key: The Washington Huskies just blew their chances of winning the Pac-12 and making the four-team playoff with their 22-30 loss at Stanford last week.  Now, since they can't win either, I don't expect them to be fully focused on this game against Utah.  And I think they would need to be to cover this inflated 17.5-point spread.  Utah needs another win to get to a bowl game and will be motivated.  Especially after they gave away their game against Washington State last week, committing 7 turnovers and still only losing 25-33.  Utah has played Washington extremely tough the past two years.  They won 34-23 as 3-point road dogs in 2015 and only lost 24-31 as 10-point home dogs last year.  Utah is 6-0 ATS in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.  The Utes are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games.  The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  Take Utah.

6* Conference USA Game of the Week on Florida International +14.5

The Key: The FAU Owls are starting to get too much love now after winning 6 straight and covering the spread in 5 of those.  But it's a bit of a fraudulent run considering the Owls have been outgained in 4 of those 6 games.  I think this spread would be smaller had FIU not gotten upset by ODU last week.  It would have been for first place in the conference because FIU is 4-2 and FAU is 6-0.  I actually think that benefits FIU more here because FAU knows it can afford a loss and still win its side of Conference USA.  I think FIU will be the more motivated team to prove that they are the best team in the division.  FAU can lose this game and then win at lowly Charlotte next week and still win the division, and that has to be in the back of their minds.  Either way, getting 14.5 points here is a nice price because there isn't that big of a difference separating these two teams.  It's just an inflated number, period.  FAU is 9-23 ATS in its last 32 as a home favorite.  The Owls are 4-14-1 ATS in their last 19 home games.  The dog is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  The Golden Panthers are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Florida International.

7* Big 12 Game of the Year on Kansas +38

The Key: The Oklahoma Sooners are coming off two straight massive wins against their top two contenders in the Big 12.  They beat Oklahoma State 62-52 and TCU 38-20.  Off those two huge wins, it's only human nature for them to suffer a letdown this week.  I'm not saying they'll lose to Kansas, but they certainly won't be focused enough to beat them by more than 38 points.  Kansas is improving down the stretch going 2-1 ATS in its last 3 games.  It only loss 20-30 at home to Kansas State as 25.5-point dogs and gained 482 total yards on the Wildcats.  The Jayhawks only lost 27-42 at Texas last week despite committing 4 turnovers.  That's a great showing against a good Texas defense.  The Jayhawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 November games.  The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Kansas.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Brooklyn Nets +2

The Key: This is a revenge game for the Brooklyn Nets, who just lost 106-114 in Utah on Saturday.  Now they get the chance to beat the Jazz just 6 days later.  And this will be just their 2nd game in 6 days, so they are rested and ready to go.  They also catch a vulnerable, beat up Jazz team that is already playing without Rudy Gobert, Joe Johnson and Dante Exum, and they could be without Ricky Rubio who is nursing an Achilles injury.  Take Brooklyn.

7* NFL Total of the Week on Titans/Steelers OVER 44

The Key: The Pittsburgh Steelers have cluster injuries on their defense right now.  Safety Mike Mitchell probably won't play tonight, and CB Joe Haden has been lost for the season.  Veteran stalwart James Harrison is also questionable with a bad back.  The Titans have one of the better offenses in the NFL and will be able to move the ball and score points on the Steelers' defense.  But the Titans have a poor defense that gives up 23.7 PPG this season despite playing mostly suspect offenses.  Against the better offenses they faced, they gave up 57 points to Houston, 27 to Seattle and 26 to Oakland.  Pittsburgh qualifies as a good offensive football team.  Take the OVER.

6* Warriors/Celtics Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Boston +7.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics have won 13 straight games heading into this showdown with the Golden State Warriors.  They have gone 11-1-1 ATS in the process.  They continue to lack the respect they deserve from oddsmakers tonight as 7.5-point home dogs to the Warriors.  Take Boston.

6* NCAAB Blowout of the Night on Marshall -3

The Key: Dan D'Antoni, brother of the NBA's Mike D'Antoni, has completely turned around this Marshall program in his 3 seasons here.  He led the Thundering Herd to a 20-15 record last season.  He has 2 starters back this year, including leading scorer Jon Elmore, who averaged 19.7 PPG and 5.9 APG last season.  Marshall is off to a 2-0 start and now faced an 0-2 Morehead State team that lost 49-101 at Xavier and 70-77 at lowly Lipscomb.  It's easy to see why they have struggled considering they lost all 5 starters from last season.  Interim coach Preston Spradlin took over for their head coach last season after he was faced with assault charges.  Spradlin has zero senior s and six freshmen on this roster.  It's a clear rebuilding project for the new head coach, and it's off to a rough start.  Take Marshall.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -2.5

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans should be bigger favorites tonight over the Toronto Raptors given the situation.  It's a tough spot for the Raptors as they'll be playing their 3rd game in 4 days after beating the Rockets on the road last night.  And the Pelicans will be hungry to avenge a 118-122 loss at Toronto just 6 days ago.  Now they get them at home and should be able to pull it off, especially with how well they are playing right now in winning and covering 5 of their last 6.  Take New Orleans.

7* EMU/Miami Ohio MAC *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami -2.5

The Key: The Miami Redhawks need to win their final 2 games to make a bowl game.  I like their outlook now with Gus Ragland back at quarterback.  He returned from injury last week to lead the Redhawks to a 24-14 home victory over Akron, throwing 3 touchdown passes in the process.  The Eastern Michigan Eagles are 3-7 and have no hopes of making a bowl game now.  The motivation and the situation really favor the Redhawks, who have outgained 8 of their 10 opponents this season.  That is the sign of an 8-2 team, not one that is just 4-6 right now.  Take Miami Ohio.

6* Wednesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Jacksonville State +3

The Key: The Jacksonville State Gamecocks were a great story last year as they won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the 4th seed, knocking off No. 1 seed Belmont and No. 2 seed Tennessee-Martin to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.  It was the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.  Now the Gamecocks return 3 starters from that team, and head coach Ray Harper has signed a promising class of junior college transfers and high school prospects.  They have opened 2-0 this year with a 100-42 win over Tennessee Wesleyen and an emphatic 94-61 road win as 3-point dogs at Richmond, a performance that really shows how good this team is.  Buffalo only beat Canisius 80-75 as 9.5-point home favorites in its only game thus far.  The Bulls went 17-15 last year and only return 2 starters from that team, losing 2 key players in Billy Hamilton (17.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.4 APG) and Willie Conner (13.0 PPG).  Buffalo is 1-9 ATS in home games off a home game over the last 3 seasons.  The Gamecocks are 10-2 ATS in November games over the past 3 seasons.  I think the Bulls are in over their heads here, and the wrong team is favored.  Take Jacksonville State.

6* Tuesday NCAAB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Arizona State +1

The Key: Bobby Hurley enters his 3rd season in Tempe and should see his Sun Devils improve this season.  He returns 3 starters this year in Tra Holder (16.2 PPG), Shannon Evans (15.0 PPG) and Kodi Justice (9.2 PPG, 42% 3-pointers).  He has done a tremendous job in recruiting and the future is bright in Tempe.  San Diego State is moving on to a first-year head coach in Brian Dutcher after Steve Fisher stepped down.  Fischer led the Aztecs to 6 Mountain West titles and 8 NCAA Tournament appearances in his 18 seasons.  The Aztecs are 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 road games.  The Sun Devils are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss.  The Sun Devils are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. Mountain West opponents.  Take Arizona State.

7* Raptors/Rockets Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +6.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors have failed to cover the spread in 4 straight games.  The Houston Rockets have covered the spread in 5 of their last 6. Because of these recent trends, we are getting a couple too many points with the Raptors here as 6.5-point dogs to the Rockets.  Houston is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 home games.  The Rockets are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 non-conference home games.  Toronto is 14-3 ATS after failing to cover 4 of their last 5 against the spread over the last 3 seasons.  Take Toronto.

7* Dolphins/Panthers NFL *Total* Annihilator on OVER 38

The Key: In today's NFL, it's tough to set any total under 40 points.  This is a passing league and there's just so many variables that favor the offenses.  I think this 38-point total has clearly been set too low tonight.  The Dolphins have a better passing attack right now than they've had all season with Jay Cutler and DeVantae Parker back healthy.  Cutler completed 34 of 42 passes for 309 yards and 3 touchdowns in his return from injury against the Raiders last week.  He'll have to air it out to try and keep up with the Panthers in this one.  Bets on the OVER on any team against the total (CAROLINA) - an average team (+/- 3 PPG differential) against a terrible team (worse than -7 PPG differential), after allowing 17 points or less in 3 straight games are 28-5 since 1983.  Take the OVER.

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte +14.5

The Key: The Charlotte 49ers return their top 3 scorers from last season in Jon Davis (19.6 PPG), Austin Ajukwa (11.4 PPG) and Andrien White (11.3 PPG).  They have a great backcourt and will give Oklahoma State a run for its money tonight.  This is a Cowboys team that is going through a coaching change with Mike Boynton now at the helm.  They lost 3 of their best players from last year in Jawun Evans (19.2 PPG, 6.4 APG), Phil Forte (13.3 PPG) and Leyton Hammonds (8.1 PPG).  They only bring back two starters, but one of them is suspended for this game and is their best player in Jeffrey Carroll (17.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG).  That leaves Mitchell Solomon (5.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG) as their lone returning starter tonight.  Plus, guards Zach Dawson and Davon Dillard are also suspended.  Dawson was a Top 100 recruit who was supposed to take Evans' place.  Dillard (5.7 PPG) is also a big loss.  Take Charlotte.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on New York Knicks +6

The Key: The New York Knicks have been one of the most underrated teams in the NBA.  They have gone 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall, including 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Now they're catching 6 points at home against one of the most overrated teams in the NBA in the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 6-7 SU & 4-8-1 ATS this season.  The Knicks actually won 114-95 in Cleveland as 10.5-point dogs in their first meeting on October 29th.  Cleveland is 1-8 ATS as a favorite this season.  Take New York.

6* Cowboys/Falcons NFC *CA$H COW* on Atlanta -3

The Key: The season is on the line for the Atlanta Falcons this week.  They can't afford a loss to the Cowboys if they want to make the playoffs.  They already trail the Saints and Panthers within their division, and the Cowboys are a team they will be fighting with for a wild card spot.  The Falcons have played 3 straight on the road and will be happy to return home this week.  They get 4 of their next 5 games at home and this is a stretch where they can really make some hay.  But because they have lost 4 of their last 5, they are only laying 3 points here to a Cowboys team that is without Ezekiel Elliott, has both Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams banged up, and are likely to be without tackle Tyron Smith.  The Cowboys are getting a lot of love from the books right now due to their 3 straight wins over the 49ers, Redskins and Chiefs.  Dallas is 9-23 ATS in its last 32 road games after covering the spread in 3 of its last 4 games coming in.  Take Atlanta.

7* NFL Non-Conference Game of the Year on Buffalo Bills +3

The Key: The Buffalo Bills have one of the more underrated home-field advantages in the NFL.  The Bills are 4-0 at home this year while beating their opponents by 10.5 points per game.  Now Tyrod Taylor will have two key weapons back this week in Charles Clay and Kelvin Benjamin.  Clay still leads the team in receiving despite not playing since Week 5, so he is very important.  Benjamin will play in his first game in a Bills' uniform since being traded from Carolina.  The Saints are getting a lot of respect now after winning 6 in a row.  But their opponents have been lackluster to say the least.  They beat a banged-up Cam Newton and the Panthers, Jay Cutler and the Dolphins, Matt Stafford and the Lions, Brett Hundley and the Packers, Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears and a banged-up Jameis Winston and the Bucs.  They have only played one true road game in their last five games.  Now they have to head up to Buffalo and play outdoors in the cold weather, which hasn't been a good combination for Drew Brees in the past.  The Bills have extra time to prepare after playing the Jets last Thursday.  New Orleans is 3-12 ATS in its last 15 after covering 6 or 7 of its last 8 against the spread.  Buffalo is 26-12 ATS at home in its last 38 games during weeks 10 through 13.  Bets against favorites (NEW ORLEANS) - excellent offensive team - scoring 27 or more points/game, after allowing 14 points or less in 2 straight game are 27-7 ATS over the last 10 seasons.  Take Buffalo.

6* AFC Game of the Week on Jacksonville Jaguars -4.5

The Key: This matchup couldn't be better for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  They lead the NFL record in sacks by a wide margin, and they are on pace to set the record for most sacks in a season.  Their pass defense is also 1st in the NFL by a landslide as they give up just 156 passing yards per game and 4.9 per attempt.  That's unheard of in today's NFL.  Now they're up against a Chargers team with an immobile quarterback that almost exclusively relies on the pass to move the football.  And the Chargers only rush 22 times per game for 89 yards per game.  Leonard Fournette is back from suspension and will be able to run on a Chargers' defense that is one of the worst in the NFL against the run, giving up 135 rushing yards per game and 4.6 per carry.  The Chargers are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a loss.  Los Angeles is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Jaguars are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. AFC opponents.  Take Jacksonville.

6* SEC Game of the Week on Missouri -12.5

The Key: Don't look now but the Missouri Tigers are 4-5 and just two wins away from bowl eligibility.  That didn't look possible after their 1-5 start, but they have since reeled off 3 straight blowout victories over Idaho 68-21, Connecticut 52-12 and Florida 45-16.  I know Florida is down this season, but that 29-point win was impressive nonetheless.  And now the Tigers face another down team in Tennessee, which has lost 4 of its last 5 games coming in.  The Vols winning 24-10 last week over Southern Miss was a bit fluky because they only managed 210 total yards.  And their offense has been awful, getting shut out against Georgia, scoring just 9 against South Carolina, and managing only 7 against Alabama.  They haven't topped 26 points in any of their last 7 games coming in.  They don't have the firepower to keep up with the Tigers here.  The Vols are 8-23-1 ATS in their last 32 games following an ATS win.  The Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall, and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Missouri.

7* Pac-12 Game of the Year on Utah +1.5

The Key: Salt Lake City is one of the toughest places to play in college football.  Utah Utes' fans are right on top of you, and it makes is a heck of a home-field advantage.  Washington State is 1-2 in true road games with its only win coming against banged-up Oregon.  The Cougars were blown out by mediocre teams in California 3-37 and Arizona 37-58 in their other two road games.  Mike Leach is 0-9 ATS after having won 8 or more of his last 10 games in all games he has coached.  He has lost in this spot by 14.7 PPG on average.  The Cougars are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.  Take Utah.

6* Conference USA Game of the Week on Middle Tennessee -12.5

The Key: Brent Stockstill is back and healthy at quarterback under head coach Rick Stockstill.  It was a rough go of it without him.  But it's no surprised that as soon as Stockstill returned to the lineup, the Blue Raiders blew out UTEP 30-3 as 17.5-point favorites last week.  Now they get to face a 1-8 Charlotte team and still need two more wins to get bowl eligible.  Charlotte was awful in a 6-0 loss at Old Dominion last week.  They stand no chance of even being competitive against Middle Tennessee tis week.  They are scoring just 12.9 PPG on the season and won't be able to keep up with Stockstill and company.  Middle Tennessee is 8-1 ATS off 2 consecutive games where they forced 1 or less turnovers over the last 3 seasons.  The 49ers are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 home games.  Take Middle Tennessee.

6* Big Ten Game of the Week on Michigan State +17

The Key: The Michigan State Spartans have outgained 8 of their 9 opponents this season.  They just don't get any love from the books despite being one of the better teams in the country.  In Mark Dantonio I trust when it comes to being an underdog.  In his last 21 games as an underdog, he has pulled off the upset 14 times, going 17-4 ATS against the number.  The Spartans were double-digit dogs against both Michigan and Penn State earlier this season, and pulled off the outright upsets in both of those games.  The last 6 meetings between Michigan State and Ohio State have all been decided by 12 points or fewer.  Take Michigan State.

6* Big 12 Game of the Week on Iowa State +7

The Key: Oklahoma State is in a prime hangover spot here and is unlikely to show up at Iowa State Saturday. The Cowboys just lost to Oklahoma 52-62 last week.  Off a loss against their biggest rivals, they won't be too excited to play the Cyclones this week.  Iowa State controls its own destiny in terms of making the Big 12 Championship.  Win out and they're in the title game.  They only lost by 7 at Oklahoma State last year and by 4 at home to Oklahoma State in 2015, both times blowing double-digit leads in the 4th quarter.  I think they exorcise their demons and get the win here Saturday against the Cowboys.  The Cyclones are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.  Take Iowa State.

7* BYU/UNLV NCAAF Friday Night Lights on UNLV -2.5

The Key: What more could possibly go wrong for BYU?  The Cougars are 2-8 on the season and just lost starting quarterback Tanner Mangum to a torn Achilles last game.  Their interest level is at an all-time low right now.  UNLV, on the other hand, is 4-5 with a legitimate shot to make a bowl game.  The Rebels have put themselves in this position by winning their last two.  They won 26-16 at Fresno State as 21.5-point dogs, and beat Hawaii 31-23 as 8-point home favorites.  Now they basically just have to win by a field goal to cover against BYU tonight.  The Cougars are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games overall.  The Rebels are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  Take UNLV.

6* Nets/Blazers NBA *BAILOUT* on OVER 221

The Key: The Brooklyn Nets play at a faster pace than anyone in the NBA this season.  That should lead to a shootout tonight in Portland against one of the best backcourts in the NBA in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.  In their two meetings last year, the Nets and Blazers combined for 246 and 238 points.  The books have set the number too low tonight.  Take the OVER.

6* Friday Night NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Duke -19.5

The Key: The Duke Blue Devils are the No. 1 ranked team in the country to open the season.  While usually a No. 1 team would be getting a lot of respect from the oddsmakers, the Blue Devils aren't here.  They should be more than 19.5-point favorites against Elon.  This Elon team is getting love because they return all 5 starters.  But there will be mismatches all over the floor in favor of the Blue Devils.  Take Duke.

7* Seahawks/Cardinals NFC West *HEAVY HITTER* on Arizona +7

The Key: The Arizona Cardinals are looking at this game like a must-win.  They trail the Rams by two games and the Seahawks by one game within their own division.  They have to win this game if they want any hope of making the playoffs.  They had a bye two weeks ago, which should help keep them fresh after beating the 49ers 20-10 last week and working on this short week.  The Seahawks have a lot of injuries right now, most notably along the offensive line and to safety Earl Thomas, plus several players in the defensive front seven.  Given their current state, the Seahawks can't be laying a touchdown on the road here.  The Cardinals are 10-2 ATS as a home underdog of 7 points or less under Bruce Arians.  Take Arizona.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Toronto Raptors -5.5

The Key: This is a good situation to fade the New Orleans Pelicans.  They will be playing their 4th straight road games here.  They actually won their first 3, but all 3 were against suspect competition in Dallas (by 5), Chicago (by 6) and Indiana (by 5).  Now they take a big step up in class and I expect that winning streak to come to an end against the Toronto Raptors tonight.  The Raptors are 3-1 at home and outscoring opponents by 11.3 PPG.  The Pelicans are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  The Raptors are 11-3-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.  Take Toronto.

6* Ball State/NIU MAC *CA$H COW* on Ball State +32

The Key: The price is too good to pass up with Ball State catching 32 points tonight.  No doubt they have been terrible, going 0-6 SU & 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.  However, it's also true that they haven't been this big of an underdog all season.  And they've played much better teams than Northern Illinois.  The Huskies had their biggest game of the season last week and lost 17-27 to Toledo, and now lose out on the tiebreaker with the Rockets to win the MAC West.  They should still be reeling from that defeat and won't bring their 'A' game against Ball State this week, feeling like they can just show up to win.  The Cardinals are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games after allowing 37 points or more in 2 straight games.  Ball State is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 road games versus good rushing defenses who give up 120 or fewer rushing yards per game.  Take Ball State.