Sports Picks & Predictions

This is a play on the CLEVELAND BROWNS for our NFL Sunday Enforcer. Cleveland enters the season as an unknown because of the quarterback situation but that aside, the Browns still have one of the best rosters in the league. Jacoby Brissett is capable to handle this offense and he will not be asked to win but to just maintain control and use everything around him. His receiving corps is stacked with newly acquired Amari Cooper, rookie David Bell and a very underrated Donovan Peoples-Jones, he has a great offensive line in front of his and has one of the best running backs behind him in Nick Chubb. Cleveland will face a tough defense in the Panthers which finished No. 2 in the NFL in total defense but No. 21 in scoring defense and Cleveland has the pieces to exploit this unit. This is a big year for Carolina and head coach Matt Rhule who is on the hot seat after winning just 10 games in his first two seasons. A lot of the problems were with injuries, namely Christian McCaffrey who has played in only 11 of the past 33 games, and quarterback where there has been no consistency. Enter Baker Mayfield who won the starting job over Sam Darnold which was not a difficult thing to do and the big narrative here is Baker playing his former team in the first game of the season, thus adding a revenge factor. It is unlikely that he is going to step up his play just because of the opponent and this is the first game of the season for both teams so there is no added incentive on either side. No narrative. With the Deshaun Watson status still up in the air over the summer, Cleveland opened as a 4.5-point favorite and was bet up to -5 in some spots and now the line is +1.5 or +2 so we are seeing a swing of up to seven points and sorry, no player is worth a line shift like that unless the backup is completely incompetent which is not the case here. A year ago, Cleveland was a sleeper Super Bowl pick and this year, it is nothing close to that so the pressure aspect of needing to win is gone so simply playing looser is beneficial which makes them a live dog here. 10* (459) Cleveland Browns

This is a play on the PITTSBURGH STEELERS for our NFL Sunday Star Attraction. Much is said about the Super Bowl hangover and how the losing team from the big game tends to struggle the following season and we can totally see that here. Cincinnati will have the target on its back heading into the season following that disappointing three-point loss to the Rams and many are projecting a pretty big drop off in the highly potent AFC. The Bengals won 10 regular season games, but caught fire in the playoffs toward their Super Bowl run with the MVP not being Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase or Joe Mixon but kicker Even McPherson. The biggest issue last season was pass protection as Burrow was dropped 70 times and while there was an offensive line upgrade in the offseason, it could take some time for the three new pieces to fall into place. Another concern is Burrow himself who missed time in camp due to an appendectomy and he had to fight through an infection where he apparently lost 20 pounds. He is not 100 percent. The Steelers are not on many radars this season and they probably should not be but with head coach Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, this is always a dangerous team. They were not a very good football team last season but still were able to sneak into the playoffs before succumbing to the Chiefs and it is now 15 consecutive seasons that Tomlin has not produced a losing record as the Pittsburgh coach. Obviously, the big change is Ben Roethlisberger has retired and Mitch Trubisky will take over as the starter and while some see this as a downgrade, it is not. Roethlisberger finished last season No. 25 in QBR and if he can take them to the playoffs, Trubisky can. The offensive line is a slight concern but do not have a horrible matchup here. The Steelers defense is not what it used to be but can still get to the quarterback and that alone should be enough to keep them in this game. In the meeting here last season in November, the Bengals were 3.5-point favorites and now it is nearly double that and that is too much of an overadjustment. 10* (461) Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a play on the HOUSTON TEXANS for our NFL Sunday Ultimate Underdog. Another new look Colts team takes the field in 2022 with yet another new quarterback at the helm. This is the sixth straight season that Indianapolis will be starting a different quarterback (Jacoby Brissett twice sandwiched around Andrew Luck) as it is starting to rival the Browns in this category. Carson Wentz was not horrible last season as he finished No. 9 in the NFL in QBR but the last two games of the season doomed him as all they needed was one win and they lost to the Raiders and Jaguars to miss the postseason. Is Matt Ryan really an upgrade? Only time will tell and while he had a worse roster to work with last season, he was No. 21 in QBR, his lowest since 2015 and his 20 touchdowns were the fewest since his rookie season. He definitely has better pieces around him in Indianapolis as well as a better defense but laying this many points on the road in a divisional game is a lot to ask. Houston is once again expected to finish near the bottom in the AFC with a lot of questions all over the field. That being said, it is a new season with every team on a level playing field, to an extent, and the Texans will come out and see where they stand against a divisional opponent. Last season, they rolled over Jacksonville in the season opener and while the Jaguars/Colts comparison is not a fair one, it does show that things can be different early in the season. David Mills remains the starting quarterback and there is a mix of opinions of him being a band-aid to the heir apparent or having the upside to become a full time starter. Like Ryan, only time will tell. One thing is certain and that is he plays much better at home than on the road. He had a 109.6 quarterback rating at home where he completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 1,725 yards with 12 touchdowns and one interception compared to a 63.1 rating on the road where he had just 939 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions. Defensively, stopping Jonathan Taylor will be the key and while Houston allowed the second most rushing yards last season, they were ran on the second most, ahead of only the Jets. 10* (468) Houston Texans

This is a play on the NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES for our CFB Saturday Enforcer. Northern Illinois has some big expectations this season and there is no reason to believe that the Huskies will not reach and/or exceed those. Last season they went 9-5 and won the MAC Championship for the fourth time in 10 years as the Huskies welcomed back 19 starters and head coach Thomas Hammock could be building something really good again. They have 18 starters back this season while being ranked No. 8 in returning production and a repeat is the goal. They opened the season against Eastern Illinois and won 34-27 and that closer than expected finish is going to worry some but this is a veteran team that will regroup and all that narrow victory did was give us line value this week. The Huskies led by 22 points in the second half on two different occasions and instead of going for the jugular, they took the foot off the gas so a lot of the Panthers output was after the game was pretty much decided. Nonetheless, they have to play better which we are expecting they do. Tulsa put up a dud last week against Wyoming as they lost in overtime by three points as there were facets of the game that they failed at against what was considered a pretty bad team coming off a 38-6 loss against Illinois where the Cowboys could do nothing. The Golden Hurricane could not run the ball, turned it over more than they should have and special teams was horrible. The one big positive was quarterback Davis Brin who threw for a career-high 460 yards and three touchdowns but still could not get it done against a Cowboys defense that returns just four starters and have just one holdover in the secondary so he should have gone off. This line should be in the field goal range so we get value there in a game the Huskies can win outright. Here, we play on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points that averaged 425 or more total ypg last season, with eight or more offensive starters including the quarterback returning, in the first month of the season. This situation is 29-8 ATS (78.4 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (385) Northern Illinois Huskies

This is a play on the KANSAS JAYHAWKS as part of our CFB Saturday Underdog Three Pack. We bet the Kansas over win total of 2.5 and we are almost halfway there and while one victory over an FCS team is not going to say the Jayhawks are now a force to be reckoned with, it was a very positive step and an additional one that goes back to last season. There have been seven coaches on the Kansas sideline during this putrid 13-year stretch but good things happened down the stretch last year and if Lance Leipold was able to turn things around in Buffalo, he has a chance to do it here, in time of course. At the end of last season, Kansas defeated Texas in a wild 57-56 overtime upset and then lost its final two games by just nine points combined. Why is this important? Quarterback Jalon Daniels took over those games and was excellent and over the last four games, he is 80-110 (72.7 percent) for 895 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. He was efficient last week and now teams have to pay attention not only to the running game, but to the passing game. West Virginia is coming off a tough loss against Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl which puts them in a tough spot as it could get guilty of looking past Kansas. Against Pittsburgh, West Virginia had 190 rushing on 33 carries (5.8 ypc) while the Panthers had just 76 yards rushing on 38 carries (2.0 ypc) so that goes to the Mountaineers but Pittsburgh threw for 308 yards (19.3 yards per completion) compared to the Mountaineers passing for 214 yards (9.3 yards per completion). Daniels has every chance to be successful again here. The Kansas defense was one of the worst in the country last season but there is plenty of experience and the depth has increased thanks to the transfer portal. They allowed only 10 points and 190 total yards and while that was Tennessee Tech, the recent history of FCS games has not been good so this is a big thing and a huge thing to build on. Not much was expected with a 5.5 win total and just 12 starters returning with a No. 111 returning production ranking. 10* (371) Kansas Jayhawks

This is a play on the IOWA HAWKEYES for our CFB Saturday Rivalry Rout. How bad was the Iowa offense last week against South Dakota St.? The Hawkeyes managed just one touchdown in the 7-3 victory. Correction, it was not even a touchdown as their scoring came from a field goal and a pair of safeties so the offense was even worst than that seven-point total can possibly look. The offense managed 166 yards of offense, quarterback Spencer Petras was 11-25 for 109 yards, running back Leshon Williams was the leading rusher with 72 yards and the MVP was punter Tory Taylor who punted 10 times with seven of those being downed inside the 20-yard line including five inside the 10-yard line. Injuries played a role last week but they will be more healthy this week and the playing time of the younger players was a big edge even though the performances were not there. Iowa St. looked much better in its opener against an FCS opponent as it defeated SE Missouri St. 42-10 but it was not as dominating as that score might indicate. The Cyclones won the yardage battle 469-320 and had a fairly narrow 7.0 to 5.3 yard per play edge. If there is good news for the Iowa passing game it is that the Redhawks threw for 222 yards on an 11.7 completion average, the same as the Cyclones. Iowa St. quarterback Hunter Dekkers is a redshirt freshman that saw limited action last season so there is not much for teams to look at on film but the Hawkeyes have firsthand experience as he faced them in relief duty last season, going 11-16 for 114 yards and a touchdown and while those numbers were good, Iowa has a big edge having played against him. Iowa will have a much better defense than that of SE Missouri St., and because of this, the Cyclones need to use the clock to their advantage and that is what the Hawkeyes will plan on taking away. No one will be backing Iowa here and as of Wednesday morning, 60 percent of the action is on the Cyclones and from just a scoreboard analysis from last week, it is not hard to imagine that. There is more to it than that. 10* (368) Iowa Hawkeyes

This is a play on the TEXAS A&M AGGIES for our CFB Saturday Supreme Annihilator. We lost with Appalachian St. last week while some may have pushed and we are going against the Mountaineers here in a much different matchup and situation. That was a heart-wrenching loss as they came all the way back with a monster fourth quarter but came up just short in a game they had circled all summer and the biggest home crown in program history went home disappointed. Picking up the pieces will not be easy and this is where a cupcake would come in handy but they are not so lucky. Looking at the stats shows a masterful quarterback performance from Chase Brice who threw for six touchdowns and 361 yards against the Tar Heels and many people will go by that and think that this attack is now balanced and can give the Aggies fits but two weeks ago, North Carolina allowed 279 yards on 28-39 passing with a 7.2 yard per attempt average against Florida A&M from the FCS so the Brice numbers do not look as sparkly. Texas A&M toyed with Sam Houston St. last week in a 31-0 victory that might not look very impressive score-wise but it was a pure domination. The Aggies put up 497 yards of offense on 7.4 yards per play and looking at the drive chart shows it took a while for that offense to get rolling in the first game of the season as they had 184 yards in their first seven possessions, one accounting for 77 of those, but they tallied 303 yards over the final six possessions. Haynes King was great at quarterback despite a pair of picks as he threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns on 65 percent completions. The defense, despite down six starters from last season, did what was expected as it held the Bearkats to 198 yards and 10 first downs and will give the Mountaineers fits unlike how North Carolina tried. Here, we play on favorites of 10.5 to 21 points that averaged 4.75 or more rushing ypc last season, with an experienced quarterback returning as starter, in the first month of the season. This situation is 74-31 ATS (70.5 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (354) Texas A&M Aggies

This is a play on the GEORGIA ST. PANTHERS as part of our CFB Saturday Underdog Three Pack. Georgia St. lost to South Carolina last week 35-14 but it was a misleading final as the Panthers were in the game but special teams did them in. They were down by just five points at halftime and picked off a pass on the second play of the third quarter and converted that into a touchdown for their first and only lead. South Carolina scored the final 23 points to pull away thanks to a pair of blocked punts returned for touchdowns. If those did not happen and the final score was closer to 10 points, this line would not be nearly as high. Georgia St. won the yardage battle 311-306 and take a big step down in opposing defense this week. Quarterback Darren Grainger was not great last week but he can go off here just like Chase Brice did last week as he threw for six touchdowns and 361 yards with a very similar offense to that of the Panthers run first option. North Carolina may be 2-0 but it has not been impressive. This defense is not good and will keep many teams around so a look at a home underdog is always an option, especially one that is coming off a solid game against an SEC team. The Tar Heels let Brice go off and the argument will be that the Mountaineers were down huge and had to throw. Sure that is the case but the defense knew it was coming and had no answers. This after giving up 279 yards on 28-39 passing with a 7.2 yard per attempt average to Florida A&M of the FCS. The North Carolina offense is strong but will be facing an underrated defense. The Panthers were great against South Carolina and going back to last season, they improvement immensely by giving up only 20.3 ppg over the final eight games and have seven starters back led by linebackers Blake Carroll and Jordan Veneziale who combined for 169 tackles and 9.5 sacks last season and had 10 and one last week. Here, we play on home underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points team that had a winning record last season, in non-conference games. This situation is 83-35 ATS (70.3 percent) since 1992. 10* (322) Georgia St. Panthers

This is a play on the SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES as part of our CFB Saturday Underdog Three Pack. Southern Mississippi is coming off a loss to Liberty in four overtimes and now must change directions quickly. Liberty outgained Southern Mississippi 447-391 but needed 15 more plays to do so and the Golden Eagles had the better yard per play average and this team is expected to be a much improved program. They stumbled to a 3-9 record under first year head coach Will Hall and Southern Mississippi brings back 16 starters and has the No. 7 ranked returning production in the country so they have the experience that will be ready. The quarterback situation is still in the air but that is a position that was already low coming in. While one player cannot make a difference in a game, something says Frank Gore, Jr. has had this game circled for a while coming off a career-high 178 yards on a career-best 32 carries and a pair of rushing scores last week. The Hurricanes hung 70 points on Bethune-Cookman which comes as no surprise as the offense did what it wanted but the defense was not great, allowing 342 yards on a 6.1 yard per play average and this is a game it should have dominated on defense. Now after one big victory over an FCS school, there is already talk about the U being back. We need to pump the brakes a bit here even though this team is no doubt going to be heading in the right direction under new head coach Mario Cristobal but it is too soon. For starters, even though it was a game against an FCS team, this is an awful spot with the letdown/lookahead situation. Letdown? Yes. Over 56,000 fans came to watch the debut of the new look Hurricanes in primetime and now they have a noon kickoff against a team no one in Florida cares about and with a game at Texas A&M next week, not only the lookahead there but for this game, they will keep things simple and not show their cards. Here, we play on teams off a home loss by three points or less, in the first month of the season. This situation is 67-27 ATS (71.3 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (327) Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES RAMS for our NFL Thursday Kickoff Winner. We think Buffalo will have a chip on its shoulder this season and why not take it out on the defending Super Bowl Champions. The last time we saw Buffalo, or actually did not see them as they did not get a chance on offense in overtime against the Chiefs, we saw a disappointed team and one that is going to hungry from the start. The linemakers have agreed with this, making them the favorite to win the Super Bowl and they have seen a big move here, going from an underdog to a favorite on the road. The Bills are legitimately improved from last season, albeit slightly, with some key additions at wide receiver and on the defensive line. While the Bills offense gets most of the credit and probably rightfully so with Josh Allen and co. marching up and down the field at will but the Bills defense was the best in the NFL last season, finishing No. 1 in opponents scoring, opponents yards per game and opponents yards per play. They will be without corner Tre'Davious White which is a tough loss but safety Jordan Poyer looks good to go after having elbow issues during the preseason and of course the signing of Von Miller is a big bonus. They will have a test against the Rams offense that is nearly back in place from last season with Robert Woods gone and replaced by Allen Robinson which was their only major weapon change and it is a wash, and the retirement of tackle Andrew Whitworth is the other big one. Not much has changed on either side enough to not be able to base a lot of the numbers from last season and the Rams should be a slight favorite or a pickem but not an underdog of this size. We have the Super Bowl hangover in play as past champions have struggled to make the playoffs the following season in a lot of cases but it does not start with the opening game. Since the inception of the NFL Kickoff Game where the defending Super Bowl Champions host the opening Thursday night game, with two exceptions in 2013 and 2019, the defending champions have gone 14-2 and they have never played an inferior team so it is not a skewed record. Additionally, we play on underdogs or pickems that averaged 24 or more ppg last season. This situation is 43-16 ATS (72.9 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (452) Los Angeles Rams

This is a play on the CLEMSON TIGERS for our CFB Monday Star Attraction. While this might be considered a home game for Georgia Tech, it will not be as Clemson will be making the trip with a huge fan base in tow for what in reality is a neutral site game to open the ACC for both teams. A 10-win season was a downer for the Tigers and what they need is a quick start this season after stumbling out last year with a 4-3 start that included losses against NC State and Pittsburgh with three wins coming by 15 points combined against non-bowl teams. This included a 14-8 win over Georgia Tech at home and Clemson has not forgotten that one. Last year was the first one since 2014 that Clemson was not ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll at some point in the season as it got to No. 3 and finished No. 14, the third lowest in the 11 years. The quarterback play has to improve as the offense was abysmal last season but nine starters are back with playmakers at both wide receiver and running back to go along with a veteran offensive line. Defensively, the strength is along the front line with four potential NFL players manning a great run stopping unit and the ability to get to the quarterback. Clemson finished No. 8 in rushing defense and had 42 sacks which was tenth most in the nation so they will once again be all over the place in opponent backfields. Georgia Tech has a lot of work to do and no time to do it. Head coach Geoff Collins was hired after two successful campaigns at Temple and nothing has gone right. He has gone 9-25 in three years and after ending last season with six straight losses including getting shutout against Notre Dame and Georgia in the final two games by a combined 100-0, the fact he still has a job is a little shocking. Only eight starters are back including five on offense that is rebuilding its offensive line, not idea facing Clemson out of the gate. They are worse off defensively with only three starters back after finishing No. 117 in total defense and No. 112 in scoring defense. Clemson should name the score here and the motivation is there to do so. 10* (235) Clemson Tigers

This is a play on the TEXAS ST. BOBCATS for our CFB Saturday Ultimate Underdog. We lost by going against Nevada last week but we were on the right side, the breaks just went the wrong way. The Aggies got inside the Nevada 30-yard line on its first two possessions but missed a field goal and threw an interception and they had four turnovers on seven drives in the half and were unable to score. The second half was much better where they gained 198 yards on their last three possessions but resulted in a touchdown, a field goal and another turnover at the Nevada nine-yard line in the final minute. Nevada was actually outgained 303-257 but benefitted from those five turnovers while not turning the ball over on offense. That offense has work to do as it had only 78 yards passing with just a 3.4 yard per attempt average while the rushing game averaged only 4.0 ypc. The public sees a win and a cover and will be all over this short number. The Bobcats have endured seven straight losing seasons, compiling a 19-65 record over that stretch. Current head coach Jake Spavital is entering his fourth season and while a 4-8 record last year is hardly a big move, it was the best record over the past seven years. Texas St. returns 16 starters and has a No. 23 returning production ranking including No. 7 on offense where some big steps forward are expected. Taking over at quarterback is Arkansas St. transfer Layne Hatcher who was not very good on a very bad team last season but this offense can fit his style. The receiving corps is solidified with Javan Banks and Marcell Barbee combining for 1,068 yards and 10 touchdowns. The defense improved by over 60 ypg and five ppg but it was still bad yet brings back good depth and experience and the Nevada offense is not going to scare anyone. This is the first time in a while that there are expectations to improve even more and if things can go the Bobcats way, the first ever bowl game is within reach. 10* (207) Texas St. Bobcats

This is a play on the SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS for our CFB Saturday Underdog Shocker. South Florida has been awful over the last two seasons and this line has a lot to do with that. There is a lot of pressure at the top as head coach Jeff Scott has to make a positive move forward. He has gone 3-18 in his first two seasons and entering 2022, there are no excuses as 19 starters are back from a 2-10 team with the only FBS win coming against Temple. Almost everyone is back from the offense that finished No. 102 in total offense and No. 99 in scoring offense and help is on the way at the most important position. Former Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon will step into the starting role for Timmy McClain who could not get the offense rolling. On the other side, the Bulls were No. 124 in total defense and No. 117 in scoring defense and there is plenty of experience back to improve in all areas. Be disruptive is the goal and there are pieces in place to do so. The linebackers are the strength as Antonio Grier and Dwayne Boyles both return after combining for 159 tackles. Going 21-4 over the last two seasons has put BYU back on the map and it is loaded for another big year with 19 returning starters and a ranking of No. 2 in returning production. Offensively, BYU took a step back last season from 2020 on offense as it averaged more than 70 fewer ypg and put up 11 fewer ppg. Quarterback Jaren Hall took over last season and was solid in 10 games where he threw for 2,583 yards and 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions and he should be even better. The Cougars lost leading rusher Tyler Allgeier who ran for over 1,400 yards so they will take a step back behind one of the better offensive lines in the country. The defense was not great last season as BYU finished No. 74 overall, No. 77 in passing and No. 66 in rushing but it was opportunistic with 25 takeaways that led to a good scoring defense and turnovers cannot be counted upon. 10* (168) South Florida Bulls

This is a play on the BOWLING GREEN FALCONS for our CFB Saturday Enforcer. Bowling Green head coach Scott Loeffler has compiled a 7-22 record in his three seasons with the Falcons and this season is likely the last stand if there is not a major turnaround. Last season, Bowling Green was one of the most inexperienced teams in the country but this season, the Falcons have the most experienced team in the nation as far as returning production. Offensively, the Falcons have 10 starters coming back so there should be massive improvements all around. Quarterback Matt McDonald was decent with 2,555 passing yards but threw only 12 touchdowns and tossed seven interceptions but with the experience around him, the redshirt senior transfer can flourish. He has players everywhere around him as the two top targets are back and there is plenty of depth with four players behind them that has at least 100 yards receiving. The two top running backs return also as well as four starting offensive linemen. UCLA is getting the love once again as it typically does but it is hard to be sold on this team. UCLA snapped a five-season losing streak last year with an 8-4 record with head coach Chip Kelly responsible for three of those losing campaigns and while things look to be on the upturn, there are a lot of questions going into this season. They had 20 starters return in 2021 so expectations were high but this season, only eight starters are back and this could be a massive trap. The Bruins are set at quarterback with Dorian Thompson-Robinson but he needs players to step up big around him. the Bruins have to replace nine starters from a defense that finished No. 70 overall, allowing 384.4 ypg while giving up 26.8 ppg, which was No. 74 in the nation. UCLA was not clutch on this side of the ball as it allowed opponents to convert 43.6 percent of its third down opportunities, tied for No. 110 in the country. 10* (199) Bowling Green Falcons

This is a play on the APPALACHIAN ST. MOUNTAINEERS for our CFB Nonconference Game of the Month. North Carolina has a game played this season and while that may seem like an advantage, it is actually a disadvantage in some cases and that includes this one as North Carolina rolled over Florida A&M but did not look good in doing so. It also gives the current opponent a whole game of film to dissect. Last week after a first possession punt, North Carolina scored touchdowns on its next three drives and eight of the next 10 to pull away. Florida A&M did have success of its own on offense as after two punts to open the game, it scored on four of its next six possessions with the last cutting the lead to 35-24 late in the third quarter before the Tar Heels pulled away with three fourth quarter touchdowns. North Carolina outgained the Rattlers 608-335 with the rushing game being the difference as it had 314 yards on 40 carries (7.9 ypc) while allowing just 56 yards on 27 carries (2.1 ypc). The area for concern for the Tar Heels was giving up 279 yards on 28-39 passing with a 7.2 yard per attempt average. While that rushing defense for North Carolina was solid, it takes a big step up in class here. Quarterback Chase Brice returns following a very successful campaign where threw for 3,020 yards, 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 61.9 percent of his passes. Receivers do have to step up. He has the best offensive line in the conference in front of him with four starters back and both Nate Noel and Camerun Peoples return along with their 2,463 rushing yards. Defensively, the Mountaineers lost five of their top seven tacklers but there is still plenty in the cupboard to make another run. The rushing defense, which led the Sun Belt last season, is the key to success on this side of the ball as Appalachian St. is undersized and inexperienced along the defensive line so the linebacking strength will have to keep this unit stout. 10* (178) Appalachian St. Mountaineers

This is a play on the TEMPLE OWLS for our CFB Friday Night Lights Winner. The last two seasons have seen a significant drop off as Duke has gone 5-18 and in comes new head coach Mike Elko to try and turn things around. The Blue Devils closed last season with eight straight losses with the defense allowing a whopping 46.6 ppg and no team can succeed with that. Only 11 starters are back in 2022 and they have one of the worst returning production rankings in the country so it could take some time for any sort of significant improvement in Durham. The offense this season is basically starting over with new players at the key positions but they can build around an experienced offensive line that returns four starters. Duke will turn to Riley Leonard at quarterback where he saw limited action last season. The defense was one of the worst in the country last season and one of the worst in program history as Duke was ranked No. 130 in total defense and No. 129 in scoring defense. Yes, Duke should be the favorite here but not by anything close to a touchdown After a 3-2 start last season, Temple closed with seven straight losses, all by 20 or more points and the writing was on the wall before the season ended as the team quit on head coach Rod Carey. It is not a complete rebuild but this is more about turning around the culture that went south fast. New head coach Stan Drayton comes over from Texas and has that winning culture in his back pocket in his first head coaching gig and the schedule is in their favor early on. On offense, quarterback D'Wan Mathis showed promise last season but was unable to stay on the field as he missed two games early as well as the final three games so keeping him healthy is goal number one. That will be the priority of the offensive line that has three starters back and should not have an issue with the Duke front. The defense has been gashed over the last two seasons, allowing close to 38 ppg and an inability to stop the run where they gave up nearly 5.0 ypc. This is the ideal matchup for a season opener to gauge where the unit stands. Here, we play on road underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points that were outscored by opponents by 17 or more ppg last season. This situation is 36-11 ATS (76.6 percent) since 1992. 10* (159) Temple Owls

This is a play on the PURDUE BOILERMAKERS for our CFB Thursday Enforcer. Last season, Purdue finished 9-4 that included quality wins over Iowa, Michigan St. and Tennessee and the four losses against teams with nine or more wins. 15 starters are back along with a No. 37 ranked recruiting class means Purdue could be here to stay now and for the foreseeable future. This is a statement game right out of the gate and the Boilermakers have the talent and experience to pull the upset. Quarterback Aiden O'Connell was outstanding in his first year as the full time starter as he threw for 3,712 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing over 72 percent of his passes. The Purdue defense has typically been a sieve but it has improved in each of the last four seasons yardage-wise and last year was No. 48 in total defense and No. 34 in scoring defense and it was actually better than that as those rankings are inflated because of their bowl game. Penn St. closed last season 2-6, with the wins coming against Maryland and Rutgers, including closing with a dud against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl. It has been a very average stretch of late with Penn St. going 14-13 over its last 27 games going back to the end of the 2019 season and the Nittany Lions have only 11 starters back. Offensively, they bring back some excellent talent but the big question going into the season is the offensive line as only two starters are back and they will be mixing in some transfers and young players and it might take time to come together in finding the right rotation. Defensively, the Nittany Lions were solid against both the run and the pass and the main area of concern will be up front. Their sack leader is gone and the pass rush was not great to begin with as they had only 27 sacks and their 2.1 sack per game average was tied for No. 74 in the country. going back a level, the linebacking corps loses their top two tacklers that combined for 148 stops so the entire front seven is going to be a work in progress. Here, we play on home underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points that had a completion percentage of 62 percent or better, with an experienced quarterback returning as starter, in the first month of the season. This situation is 26-6 ATS (81.2 percent) since 1992. 10* (146) Purdue Boilermakers

This is a play on the NEW MEXICO ST. AGGIES for our CFB Saturday Enforcer. New Mexico St. has been dreadful for years and another rebuilding project is in store but they are getting no respect here at home and with a significant new coaching advantage. The good news is that Jerry Kill is on the sidelines once again after numerous health problems took him from coaching for a few years after being at Minnesota but came back as an interim coach at TCU last year. The hope is a great pedigree will bring some sort of turnaround. The Aggies are pretty much starting over on offense and that is not a bad thing as they have only three starters back which is part of the No. 129 ranked returning production offense. Kill is in place to turn around a running game that averaged 100.4 ypg, which was No. 104 in the country, and having lost its leading rusher, the Aggies turn to a pair of transplants to get it going. The offensive line is the most experienced group where those three starters return. The Aggies were horrible on defense last season but nine starters are back and this is an ideal offense to go against in their first game. First year head coach Ken Wilson, who was in the program for 21 years, inherits a Nevada team that was the most experienced in the country heading into last season with 22 returning starters to the least experienced coming into 2022 with only six starters back. Nevada has had four straight winning seasons including an 8-5 record last season that included three losses by two points apiece and those eight wins are tied for the most since 2010 but this year looks to be a rebuild from the start especially with an incoming recruiting class ranked No. 116. On offense, two starters are back, the running back and an offensive lineman and every other position will be up for grabs. Quarterback Carson Strong threw for 4,175 yards with 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions and will be impossible to replace and it will be either Shane Illingworth from Oklahoma St. or Nate Cox who threw only 43 passed last season for the Wolf Pack while the top five pass catchers are all gone. The defense is nearly as inexperienced with just four returning starters. 10* (304) New Mexico St. Aggies

This is a play on the NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS for our CFB Big Ten Game of the Month. It has been a forgettable run for the once proud Nebraska football program as it has had five straight losing seasons, the last four under current head coach Scott Frost. They have gone 13-31 in the Big Ten during this five-season slide and while the 3-9 record last season was the worst of them all, it was arguably the best of them all as far as competitiveness. All nine losses were by single digits and by an average of 6.2 ppg so Nebraska was painfully close to putting together a winning season. Taking over at quarterback will be Casey Thompson who transferred in from Texas following a great season where he threw for 2,113 yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The top two receivers are gone and while there are a few holdovers, three solid transfers enter the picture. The Huskers are experienced on defense and to be a success, they need to take the ball away more and generate a bigger pass rush. The sacks should spike as the Huskers welcome defensive end Ochaun Mathis where he started 34 games at TCU and had 15.5 sacks. The defensive front did ok in stopping the run and that should also get better especially with Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich at linebacker, the two top tackling leaders, where they combined for 208 stops as a sophomore and freshman respectively. Last season, Northwestern went through a rebuilding year with only eight starters back and it showed with a 3-9 record, matching the 2019 team that had only 11 starters return, which are the two worst in the 16 seasons under head coach Pat Fitzgerald. They are experienced on offense but the quarterback situation is still a concern. Ryan Hilinski will get a second chance after throwing for just 978 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Defensively, only five starters are back with the top guy being linebacker Bryace Gallagher who was second on the team with 90 tackles and will have to be the leader with two new starters on the outside around him. The lone starter back on the defensive line is Adetomiwa Adebawore who led the team with 4.5 sacks from the middle and he will need help with most of the other sack producers having moved on while the secondary is a question mark as the best player is gone. 10* (300) Nebraska Cornhuskers

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES RAMS for our NFL Super Bowl Annihilator. The Rams are the play here and while we were hoping for a better number, this does have potential to turn into a one-sided game should Los Angeles get off to a quick start which has been their mantra a lot of the time. A big play offense with three top ranked receivers will be facing the No. 26 ranked passing defense and while adjustments were made against the Chiefs in the second half two weeks ago, it will be more difficult here against a different style offense. Cincinnati has now covered seven straight games and that is surely a reason that the public is riding the Bengals. This is not a good matchup for Cincinnati with its weak offensive line facing the best pass rush it has seen this season. The Bengals allowed the most sacks in the NFL this season and while there is big play potential, seeing a lot of long down situations is not ideal. The Rams are 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games off a division game. Here, we play against underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points off two consecutive road wins, with a winning record in the second half of the season. This situation is 36-12 ATS (75 percent) since 1983. 10* (101) Los Angeles Rams

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES RAMS for our NFL Championship Game of the Year. The hype for this game has been around the fact that the 49ers have owned the Rams of late with six straight wins in this series. We can toss that out with a big reason being Matthew Stafford has been here for only two of those and the one home loss this season came in overtime. Stafford did not have a good game then as he threw for 238 yards and while he had three touchdowns, he had two picks but he has been very efficient in his two games since with four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing over 75 percent of his passes and posted passer ratings of 121.2 and 154.5 against two solid defenses. Obviously, San Francisco has played well with two road playoff wins but winning three in a row on the road has rarely happened. The San Francisco offense is diverse with Deebo Samuel being a huge factor but it is hard to trust Jimmy Garoppolo in this spot who has had a passer rating of 88 or less in his last four starts. The 49ers are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Here, we play against road underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points off two consecutive road wins, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team. This situation is 28-7 ATS (80 percent) since 1983. 10* (324) Los Angeles Rams

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES RAMS for our NFL Divisional Star Attraction. The Rams are coming off a fairly easy performance in their Wild Card game against Arizona as they outgained the Cardinals by 192 total yards by limiting them to 183 yards of offense. The challenge will be greater this week but the defense showed what they are capable of and why they went after what they did to build a roster that takes them here and beyond. On the other side, the Rams are potent as they have won six of their last seven games while averaging 28 ppg featuring one of the best receiving corps in Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. If there is a weakness for Los Angeles to exploit, it is the Buccaneers passing defense which is ranked No. 21 in the NFL. The Rams are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game. Tampa Bay has won four straight games including a blowout against Philadelphia as they manhandled Jalen Hurts in his first ever playoff start. Offensively, the Buccaneers are humming along as usual as they have scored at least 30 points in five consecutive postseason games, which is tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history. They are ranked No. 2 in the league in both total offense and scoring offense and the pass rush of the Rams will be key here as giving Tom Bardy too much time is a recipe for disaster. The Buccaneers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up win of more than 14 points. Here, we play on road teams in the second half of the season in a game involving two teams averaging 370 or more ypg, after outgaining their opponent by 100 or more total yards in their previous game. This situation is 34-10 ATS (77.3 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (315) Los Angeles Rams

This is a play on the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS for our NFL Divisional Game of the Month. Green Bay is a tough team to get in front of as it is playing well with five straight wins with the first team playing the entire game, excluding the Week 18 game against Detroit. Of the 13 wins, six were by one possession and of the seven other ones, six were against non-playoff teams, the only other came against Pittsburgh which was obviously a marginal postseason squad. The Packers have not lost at home which is a big edge but the schedule was in their favor against a weak division and facing only one other playoff team. Of the 14 playoff teams, the Packers were ranked No. 10 in net yppl on offense and on defense, they had trouble stopping the run. The overall rank looks good but teams had to abandon the run when playing from behind and according to analytics, the Packers gave up the second-highest yards per rush in the league, and DVOA grades their rush defense 28th in the NFL. San Francisco has relied on its running game of late with Eli Mitchell carrying a heavy load and having great success and then throw in Deebo Samuel, and Green Bay could be in for a long night. Jimmy Garoppolo has taken a lot of scrutiny but dig deep and he has been ranked the No. 4 ranked passer in efficiency. Here, we play on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points in the second half of the season off two consecutive road wins, with a winning record playing another winning team. This situation is 35-10 ATS (77.8 percent) since 1983. 10* (303) San Francisco 49ers

This is a play on the ARIZONA CARDINALS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. Arizona came up small last week as it had a chance to win the division but lost to Seattle and missed out on the opportunity to host a Wild Card playoff game. that is no issue with this team however as the Cardinals went 8-1 on the road with the lone loss coming at Detroit of all teams. After opening the season 7-0, they faltered down the stretch, losing four of their last five games but they did win the yardage battle in all four of those losses but penalties were a big issue in those games as they averaged 7.8 penalties in those defeats. One of those wins came here by 17 points as Arizona gashed the Rams defense for 216 yards rushing and the offense was one of the best as the Cardinals ranked No. 11 or higher in all four key offensive categories. The Cardinals are 5-0 ATS in their last five games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. The Rams are coming in off a bit of a downer as they blew a 17-0 lead against the 49ers and lost in overtime but they can thank the Seahawks for giving them the NFC West Division title. That snapped a five-game winning streak which quelled some of the momentum Los Angeles had but four of those wins were against non-playoff teams and while the one win at Arizona, the Rams were outgained by 91 yards but benefited from two Kyler Murray interceptions. The Rams were also a better team on the road as they went 7-2 while going 5-3 at home that included a 1-3 record against playoff teams. The Rams are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Arizona is 6-0 ATS as an underdog this season while the Rams are 0-7 ATS after having won four or five out of their last six games this season. 10* (151) Arizona Cardinals

This is a play on the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS for our NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. The Cowboys took out Philadelphia in their regular season finale as they played starters longer than expected but it was a meaningless game that added to their inflated win total. Dallas finished with the No. 25 ranked schedule in the league and of all of the teams ranked within the top 10 of the power rankings, it played the fewest teams in that group with just three games, going 1-2 and that one victory was also the lowest. This is important considering San Francisco is part of that group and presents a tough matchup which we will get into. The Cowboys have the top ranked offense in the NFL, both in yards and in scoring but those are inflated by putting up 51 and 56 points in two of their last three games. The Cowboys are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games against teams with a winning record. San Francisco needed to win last Sunday to ensure a trip to the postseason, or a Saints loss which was unlikely, and it came through with an overtime win over the Rams. The 49ers erased a 17-0 deficit and tied the game with 26 seconds left to force overtime and the confidence level of this team is as high as it has been all season. They won seven of their last nine games and while only two of those were against playoff teams, both were on the road where they went 6-3 on the season. The big factor over the second part of the season was the resurgence of the defense that ended up finishing No. 3 in total defense and finished in the top ten in all four key defensive categories. The 49ers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games as a road underdog. Here, we play on road teams in the second half of the season in a game involving two teams averaging 370 or more ypg, after outgaining opponent by 100 or more total yards in their previous game. this situation is 33-10 ATS (76.7 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (147) San Francisco 49ers

This is a play on the CINCINNATI BENGALS for our NFL Saturday Game of the Month. The Raiders pulled off the unthinkable as it finished the season with four straight wins and all of those played a part in knocking those teams out of the playoffs. This included a huge road win at Indianapolis to stay alive and then a home underdog win over the Chargers to get into the postseason. The season could have been a lot worse as four of their 10 wins came in overtime while another three came by four points or less. On the flip side, of the seven Las Vegas losses, six were by seven points or more and overall, the Raiders were outscored by 17 ppg in those defeats. Las Vegas is middle of the pack in total offense and defense and in the bottom half in scoring offense and scoring defense and have a challenge here. Raiders are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. The Bengals secured the AFC North title with a thrilling win over the Chiefs in Week 17 before resting their starters last week to get ready for their first playoff game since 2015. They will be seeking their first playoff win since 1990 as Cincinnati has gone 0-8 in its last eight postseason games. This team has the makeup to make a run as they won five of their last seven games prior to that Cleveland game, with one of those losses coming in overtime. The offense is clicking and the defense finished No. 9 in the league in quarterback pressures while they should be able to take away the Raiders running game as they finished No. 5 in rushing defense. The Bengals are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. Here, we play against teams off an upset win over a division rival as a home underdog, with a winning record on the season. This situation is 85-36 ATS (70.2 percent) since 1983. 10* (142) Cincinnati Bengals

This is a play on the GEORGIA BULLDOGS for our CFP Championship Winner. This could finally be the game that Georgia gets that Alabama monkey off its back as it has dropped the last seven meetings to the Tide. This includes a 41-24 loss this season as the Bulldogs allowed 526 total yards which was by far a season high as was the 41 points given up. Watching a replay of that game showed that Georgia was not the same team that we have seen in almost every other game this season and after rolling Michigan, the Bulldogs are ready to make the leap to National Champions. It was a dominating performance against Michigan as the Bulldogs had four sacks which was more than the Wolverines allowed in a single game all season and Georgia held them to a season-low 91 rushing yards. Kirby Smart and his players said afterward that the loss served as a wake-up call and they certainly woke up in the semifinal game. Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III will miss the game after tearing his ACL in the second quarter of the SEC Championship. He caught six passes for 97 yards and one touchdown on six receptions in the in the first meeting and his 1,142 receiving yards on 96 receptions will be missed. After he left the game against Georgia, the Bulldogs allowed only 10 points to the Alabama offense. The Alabama offensive line is also banged up as two starters left the Cincinnati game and while both could return, they are not 100 percent and the Georgia pass rush must get more pressure on quarterback Bryce Young to avoid the same fate it suffered in December and the injury situation is a hidden factor that could help the Bulldogs immensely. The Georgia offense is a step below its defense but it can still be potent as evidenced by racking up 521 total yards against a very stout Michigan defense. The Bulldogs have averaged 484.8 ypg over their last six games which is 42 ypg more than their overall season average. Alabama will provide a test on defense but Georgia should adjust and be able to move the ball. Georgia is 20-8 ATS in its last 28 games away from home revenging an upset loss against opponent as a favorite while the Tide are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Here, we play on teams in the second half of the season averaging between 190 and 230 rushing ypg and after allowing 100 or less rushing yards last game going up against teams averaging between 140 and 190 rushing ypg. This situation is 51-17 ATS (75 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (287) Georgia Bulldogs

This is a play on the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS for our NFC South Game of the Month. The Saints avoided playoff elimination by defeating the Panthers last week and they can clinch a playoff berth with a win here combined with a loss by the 49ers. Both games kick off at 4:25 ET so there will be scoreboard watching by New Orleans but first and foremost, the Saints have to take care of their own business. New Orleans is now 8-8 as it has won three of its last four games and while two those wins were against the Jets and Panthers, the other was against the Buccaneers and the Falcons should not show much resistance this week. New Orleans possesses the No. 8 ranked total defense in the league and its 19.7 ppg are good for No. 4 in the NFL. The offense has not been great with Taysom Hill but he does not have to be great here against a poor Falcons defense. The Saints are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games against teams with a losing home record. Atlanta was officially eliminated from playoff contention last week with its loss to the Bills and there is just pride on the line that is remaining. The fact the Falcons made it to Week 17 with hopes still alive was surprising as they have underwhelmed on both sides of the ball, coming into this game ranked No. 26 in total offense, No. 27 in scoring offense, No. 24 in total defense and No. 29 in scoring defense. The Falcons have just one home win this season which came against Detroit in a game the Lions had a chance to win late. Falcons are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a home underdog. Here, we play against underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points averaging between 70 and 95 rushing ypg after gaining 99 or less rushing yards in two straight games going up against teams allowing between 95 and 125 rushing ypg. This situation is 49-19 ATS (72.1 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (467) New Orleans Saints

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES for our NFL Saturday Primetime Punisher. We played against Dallas last week as the Cardinals produced a wire-to-wire cover which sent Dallas out of the possibly of the chance of the top spot in the NFC and is currently in the No. 4 spot in the conference. Like last week, the Cowboys are overvalued once again as they have been moved to a touchdown favorite on the road. Both the Cowboys and Eagles have clinched playoff spots and Dallas is projected to have a home rematch with the Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs should the percentages hold true with the games this week. Obviously, the Cowboys do not want to open the playoffs with a pair of losses but this should be another close game and grabbing the underdog here is a great value play. The Cowboys are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games against teams with a winning record. The Eagles were able to clinch last week with their come-from-behind win over Washington coupled with the Vikings loss to the Packers. Philadelphia is playing its best football of the season as it has won four straight games and six of its last seven and while the opposition has been below average, building confidence is even more important. The Eagles have relied on their running game all season and will do so again here as they are ranked No. 1 in rushing offense and square off against the No. 15 ranked rushing defense. They have outgained their last seven opponents and by an average of 110.3 ypg. They can definitely win in their season finale but we are not even asking them to do that here. Here, we play against favorites of 3.5 to 10 points after a game where they forced no turnovers going up against an opponent after two consecutive games where they committed one or fewer turnovers. This situation is 57-28 ATS (67.1 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (470) Philadelphia Eagles

This is a play on the LSU TIGERS for our CFB Game of the Week. We have seen a huge line shift in this game favoring LSU based on public perception and some opt outs but the Tigers will be highly motivated so avoid their first losing season since 1999 and will be doing for their remaining coaches as well. Everyone has been down on LSU this season and rightfully so as it opened with a double-digit loss to UCLA and while it recovered with three straight losses, it went on a 1-4 stretch that cost Ed Orgeron his job. Of their six losses, the Tigers lost three games by one possession, all against SEC bowl teams, and that included a six-point loss at Alabama. LSU lost two big names on its defense two weeks ago, as senior linebacker Damone Clark and defensive tackle Neil Farrell opted out but this team is still loaded with talent on defense and they will face a pretty pedestrian offense. LSU is 8-0 ATS in its last eight games after allowing 100 or less rushing yards last game while going 6-0 ATS in its last six games after outgaining opponent by 125 or more total yards in two consecutive games. Kansas St. comes into the game riding a two-game losing streak to finish at 7-5 overall. One of those wins came against Southern Illinois of the FCS while three others came against non-bowl participants. Overall, they went 0-4 against teams ranked within the top 30 (LSU is ranked No. 29) so they have struggled against better competition. Kansas St. is ranked No. 101 in total offense and No. 81 in scoring offense so a lower scoring game is a good possibility which favors the underdog. The Wildcats did not have any players opt out of this game so that is an advantage as their roster comes intact into this game but top to bottom, it does not match up to that of LSU. Running back Deuce Vaughn, who rushed for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns while also hauling in 47 receptions for 471 yards will be main focal point for the Tigers as slowing him down basically shuts down the entire offense and the Tigers have the front seven to do so. The Wildcats are 0-5 ATS in their last five games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game. 10* (285) LSU Tigers

This is a play on the PITTSBURGH STEELERS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. Everything played out on Sunday, and not in a good way, for Cleveland as it was officially eliminated from playoff contention with Cincinnati, Las Vegas and Los Angeles all winning. The motivation level for the Browns should be at a low as they have nothing to play for with the exception of trying to beat their rival and eliminate the Steelers from the playoffs but looking at their own situation could easily outweigh that. It was a major disappointment this season for Cleveland which came in as a sleeper Super Bowl contender but never got anything going as poor execution, poor coaching at times and a poor passing game could not compliment a strong defense. The defensive effort on Monday is going to be a question mark but full focus is unlikely. The Browns are 0-5 ATS in their last five games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. Pittsburgh is still alive in the AFC at 7-7-1 but it has to win out and get some help. After getting pummeled last week against Kansas City, the Steelers will not be a popular play but this is a good spot catching Cleveland at this time. While the playoffs are the big story, the future of Ben Roethlisberger is also a headline with his future in doubt indicating this probably will be his last home game. For what he has done with this franchise, every players will be giving 110 percent effort for him and to keep their playoff hopes alive. Both sides have been below average but the passing game has been surprisingly efficient at times as they are ranked No. 14 and that is what they have to bank on. The Steelers are 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 games as a home underdog. Here, we play against teams in a game involving two teams with 1.25 or fewer tpg forced, after a game with a turnover margin of -3 or worse. This situation is 35-17 ATS (67.3 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (132) Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a play on the ARIZONA CARDINALS for our NFL Game of the Year. Dallas is a public team to begin with but after its dominating performance on Sunday Night Football that everybody saw, the Cowboys will be heavily bet again and we have already seen a big line move from the advanced line. Dallas clinched the NFC East this past week and still has something to play for as it will be looking to secure the No. 2 seed in the conference. The Cowboys offense poured it on against Washington to remain No. 1 in both total offense and scoring offense but will be facing a tough defense this week and things will not come as easy. The Cowboys are just No. 18 in total defense and they face a duel threat in Kyler Murray which is a whole new test. We could definitely see a letdown here after the blowout against their rival. The Cowboys are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games against teams with a winning record. This was going to be a play on Arizona even before the Dallas game against Washington and now we are getting even more value with the Cardinals that are in desperate need for a win. Arizona has lost three straight games to fall from the top seed in the conference to a Wild Card team. This includes a bad loss against Detroit but they were competitive against the Rams and Colts so playing a top level team here is no problem. Despite the three losses, the Cardinals won the yardage battle in all three games so while everyone is looking at just the scores, digging into the box score is more important. They have surprisingly struggled at home but are 7-1 on the road including solid wins against the Titans, Rams and 49ers. The Cardinals are 17-6-3 ATS in their last 26 games as a road underdog. Here, we play against favorites of 3.5 to 10 points that are outscoring opponents by 10 or more ppg, after allowing 14 points or less last game. This situation is 57-23 ATS (71.2 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (109) Arizona Cardinals

This is a play on the UTAH UTES for our CFB Game of the Month. Utah closed the regular season with five straight wins to get into the Pac 12 Championship where it dominated Oregon for the second time in three games so it showed that it can slow down a potent offense as it allowed a combined 17 points to the Ducks. The Utes could be one of the most underrated teams in the country as it dominated most opponents and the run down the stretch brings in a ton of momentum into the Rose Bowl. They are making their first trip to the Rose Bowl but they will not be starstruck as it will be business as usual and while this line may seem low, it is not at all as the matchup involved has brought this number down despite the majority of the money and bets are on Ohio St. the Utes are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games following a straight up win. Ohio St. lost out on a chance for a spot in the College Football Playoff after getting manhandled by Michigan as its 10 wins were bookended by losses. The Buckeyes were dominated on the offensive and defensive lines when they played Michigan and Utah brings a similar type of physical play and can make life just as difficult. Ohio St. is ranked No. 1 in the country in both total offense and scoring offense so it will not be easy for the Utes but you know have been breaking down that Michigan tape. The Buckeyes are going to be without two of their top receivers as Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson have opted out which is surprising considering the magnitude of this game. They are on the opposite end of the motivation here. The Buckeyes are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss. Here, we play on teams in the second half of the season averaging between 190 and 230 rushing ypg going up against teams allowing between 140 and 190 rushing ypg, after allowing 100 or less rushing yards last game. this situation is 50-17 ATS (74.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (281) Utah Utes

This is a play on the GEORGIA BULLDOGS for our CFB Orange Bowl Winner. The College Football Playoffs begin on Friday and the second game has Georgia going up against Michigan in the Orange Bowl. The Bulldogs had the inside track for the No. 1 spot but fell to Alabama in the SEC Championship 41-24 but the game was closer as an Alabama interception for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter broke it open. We expect a big bounce back here especially from the defense as the 41 points allowed against the Tide was more than its previous five games combined. One of the concerns with the Georgia defense throughout the season was its pass defense as the front-seven has been great, but the Bulldogs did not have to face an offense with a lot of firepower, until Alabama. The Bulldogs do not have to worry about that here. The Bulldogs are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games following an ATS loss. A tough loss against Michigan St. was the only blemish for Michigan this season as it closed the season with a home win over Ohio St. and then a rout of Iowa in the Big Ten Championship. The Wolverines play a different style of offense compared to the Tide as Michigan has run the ball 547 times through 13 games, more than any team Georgia has faced. Even though their rushing game is ranked No. 10 in the country with one of the top offensive lines, this is a much better matchup for Georgia. Defensively, the Wolverines are solid but not spectacular in one area as they are ranked No. 21 in rushing defense and No. 22 in passing defense. They will be facing one of the better offenses they have seen as the Bulldogs are No. 7 in the country in scoring. The Wolverines are 1-4 ATS in their last five neutral site games as an underdog. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 10 points allowing 3.25 or less rushing ypc, after allowing 125 or less rushing yards in two straight games. This situation is 61-30 ATS (67 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (269) Georgia Bulldogs

This is a play on the WISCONSIN BADGERS for our CFB Blowout of the Month. Wisconsin had a seven-game winning streak snapped in its regular season finale against Minnesota which cost it a berth into the Big Ten Championship game. Instead, the Badgers finished in a three-way tie for second place at 6-3 and finished 8-4 overall. This Wisconsin team is not much different than most we are accustomed to as it has a strong rushing game and a defense that does not give up much. The Badgers finished No. 16 in the country with 215.3 ypg on the ground and defensively, they were No. 1 in the country in total defense, allowing just 241.4 ypg while finishing No. 6 in scoring defense, yielding only 16.4 ppg and this came against the No. 7 ranked schedule in the country. The Badgers are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games after accumulating less than 275 total yards in their previous game. Arizona St. also finished 8-4 but the very weak Pac 12 played a big role in that and the Sun Devils will have their hands full here especially with a lot of key players not making the trip because of opt outs and transfers. Arizona St. will not have its top two running backs, Rachaad White and Deamonte Trayanum, its top two cornerbacks, Chase Lucas and Jack Jones and its best linebacker, Darien Butler. The Sun Devils will lean even more heavily on quarterback Jayden Daniels who is a duel threat but without his two best rushers behind him, he could find it difficult to find a lot of success against the stout Wisconsin defense. Arizona St. does have a strong defense but again, it is missing key players and Arizona St. beat only one team with a winning record. The Sun Devils are 0-7 ATS in their last seven games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 10 points with a rushing defense allowing 3.25 or less ypc, after allowing 125 or less rushing yards in two straight games. This situation is 61-30 ATS (67 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (262) Wisconsin Badgers

This is a play on the MARYLAND TERRAPINS for our CFB Wednesday Pinstripe Bowl Winner. Maryland is in its first bowl games since 2016 so it should be pretty fired to finally get back to the postseason. The Terrapins finished 6-6 which was rather disappointing after starting the season 4-0. But five of the next seven games came against ranked teams and one of the others was now 8-4 Minnesota. The Maryland offense is the best unit on the field in this game as it finished No. 33 in the nation in total offense and it will go up against a below average Virginia Tech defense that is missing key players. On the other side, the Terrapins have been below average as well but their strength is stopping the run and they will likely see a lot of that based on the Hokies personnel changes heading into the bowl game. The Terrapins are 5-1 ATS in their last six nonconference games. The Hokies also finished 6-6 highlighted by a season ending win against rival Virginia to become bowl eligible. It was considered a down year and that led to the dismissal of head coach Justin Fuentes so they will have a whole new coaching staff in place and that can be an issue. The personnel changes referred to is that Virginia Tech is down three key players on offense, quarterback Braxton Burmeister and its leading two receivers. They are also down their best cornerback and their top pass rusher so they could very well struggle against the pass. Overall, the offense is ranked No. 90 while the defense is ranked No. 72 and obviously those rankings are now skewed based on what they lost heading into Wednesday. The Hokies are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a ATS win. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 10 points off an upset win as a road underdog going up against an opponent off a road win. This situation is 41-17 ATS (70.7 percent) since 1992. 10* (249) Maryland Terrapins

This is a play on the AIR FORCE FALCONS for our CFB Tuesday Enforcer. Louisville and Air Force square off in the First Responder Bowl on Tuesday and the Falcons have some big edges here yet come in as the underdog. Air Force is the top rushing team in the country, averaging 341.5 ypg which no surprise, it also leads the nation in time of possession. Another reason is the fact that the Falcons have no problem keeping drives going as they have the fourth-most fourth down attempts in the country with 40 and they convert 77.5 percent of those which is third best in the nation. On the other side, the Falcons play strong defense as they are ranked No. 5 in total defense, trailing only Wisconsin, Georgia, Oklahoma St. and Minnesota, and they are ranked No. 7 in rushing defense. The Falcons are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Louisville does have a solid offense as it is No. 21 overall and No. 39 in scoring but it is nothing special and the Cardinals will be without two of their top four receivers. They have scored more than 24 points only three times in their last six games and those three came against non-bowl teams. Overall, Louisville went 1-6 against bowl teams. The Louisville defense will be a liability here as the Cardinals have struggled to stay off the field. They are ranked No. 84 overall including No. 77 against the run which will be a real issue here. They have outrushed the majority of their opponents but they have faced nothing like this. Forcing turnovers will be key but that is unlikely against the disciplined Falcons. The Cardinals are 11-27-1 ATS in their last 39 games against teams with a winning record. Here we play on neutral field underdogs outrushing their opponents by 100 or more ypg on the season, after gaining 225 or more rushing yards in three straight games. This situation is 31-8 ATS (79.5 percent) since 1992. 10* (240) Air Force Falcons

This is a play on the MIAMI DOLPHINS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. New Orleans is coming off a 9-0 win over Tampa Bay making this a letdown spot and on top of that, the Saints have been hit hard with players being placed on the COVID list. The offensive situation is not good as both Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill are on the COVID list, so Ian Book will start at quarterback so the already poor offense will struggle even more. The Saints defense has carried this team all season because of the poor offense but this is not a good matchup with the Dolphins despite Miami having its own struggles on offense because the Saints have a tough time containing the underneath pass. Additionally, the Saints have allowed 402 ypg at home which is worst in the NFL. The Saints are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS win. The Dolphins are one of the hottest teams in the NFL with six straight wins and at 7-7, it is still alive in the AFC Wild Card race. Miami has not been great on offense this season but it has played better of late and its strength counters the Saints weakness of defending the short pass. Miami likes to get the ball out quick and they can use that to their advantage here. The Dolphins total defense is right in the middle of the pack as is the scoring defense so they should have to problem containing the New Orleans offense. The schedule has been soft for the Dolphins during the winning streak but that is not a concern against this team. We have seen a complete flip with this line but it is justified. The Dolphins are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game. Here, we play against home teams averaging between 4.9 and 5.4 yppl going up against teams allowing between 5.4 and 5.8 yppl. This situation is 47-20 ATS (70.1 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (481) Miami Dolphins

This is a play on the WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS for our CFB Quicken Lane Bowl Winner. Nevada had high hopes heading into the Quicken Lane Bowl but things have changed as the Wolf Pack are severely depleted which caused this massive line shift. Overall, they lost 16 players to the transfer portal so the 8-4 regular season takes on a whole new meaning. The offense has been hit the hardest as Nate Cox, will be the starting quarterback, and he will be without the top six wide receivers from the regular season, all of which left the roster. The defense was not hit as hard but considering they finished No. 83 in total defense, it will not make a difference. The new starters have had little time to gel so the offense will find it difficult to find any cohesion. The Wolf Pack are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Western Michigan finished 7-5 with all five losses coming against bowl teams including one against Michigan. The Western Michigan offense will be hard to stop as they finished No. 15 in the country in total offense led by quarterback Kaleb Eleby who threw for 3,115 yards and 21 touchdowns and running back Sean Tyler who rushed for over 1,000 yards. The Broncos outgained all but two opponents this season and not only because of the offense, but the defense finished No. 29 in the country so they are solid on both sides. This is essentially a home game for Western Michigan as the game is being played in Detroit and the body clock for the Wolf Pack will be affected by the 11:00 start time. The Broncos are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against teams with a winning record. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 10 points in the second half of the season averaging 440 or more ypg going up against teams allowing between 390 and 440 ypg, after gaining 6.75 or more yppl in their previous game. This situation is 33-11 ATS (75 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (233) Western Michigan Broncos

This is s play on the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS for our NFC South Game of the Month. Tampa Bay is coming off a 9-0 loss against New Orleans to fall to 10-4 on the season and now sits in third place in the NFC. The shutout loss was just the third ever for Tom Brady, his first since 2006 and the fact the Saints did it should come as no surprise. He is 0-4 against New Orleans since joining Tampa Bay and it happens to be his only four game losing streak against any in his career. He is in a foul mood and that is not good for the Panthers. The injuries on the offense to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette are a concern but the Buccaneers are getting Antonio Brown back and Ronald Jones is not far behind Fournette so this offense will be fine. The Buccaneers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss. Carolina is trash despite a 5-9 record as the offense has brought it down, ranked No. 28 overall and No. 25 in scoring offense. Head coach Matt Ruhle indicated that Cam Newton will start but Sam Darnold will see time as well so things could go from bad to worst with a lack of chemistry going through the whole offense. The Panthers have lost four straight games including a 17-point loss to Buffalo last week and they have been outgained in seven of their last 10 games. They have been solid defensively or should we say were as they have allowed 30 ppg during the four-game losing streak. This is not a good sign against a pissed off Brady who gets to face Carolina twice in the last three games. Carolina is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 home games after one or more consecutive losses over the last three seasons. Here, we play against home underdogs or pickems with a winning percentage after having lost four out of their last five games, playing a team with a winning record. This situation is 36-15 ATS (70.6 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (457) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is a play on the CLEVELAND BROWNS for our NFL Saturday Enforcer. Cleveland has alternated wins and losses over its last nine games and it has won its last four games following a previous loss. Can the Browns win here following a loss against the Raiders? They definitely can but the line has gone from 4 to 7.5 in some spots so all we need is a close game. We will get a full effort from Cleveland as it needs to win out and get some help for a playoff spot. Green Bay had a top-10 run defense for most of the season but has struggled of late as it has allowed 143 yards and 137 yards to the Ravens and Bears respectively over their last two games. Cleveland will look to exploit this with its No. 4 rushing offense. The Browns are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games against teams with a winning home record. The Packers have clinched their third straight NFC North title and have a one game lead in the conference to try and secure a first round bye so this is a big game for them also. Winning here will not be easy for the Browns as Green Bay has yet to lose at home while outscoring opponents by over 13 ppg. Only two of the six wins have come teams with a shot at the playoffs so facing a desperate team puts them in a tough spot. The Packers will not have injured LT David Bakhtiari or CB Jaire Alexander, even though they have been practicing. While the Cleveland run game needs to flourish, so does the defense and we think the unit steps up. Here, we play against home favorites of 3.5 to 10 points after allowing 25 points or more in four straight games. This situation is 29-8 ATS (78.4 percent) since 1983. 10* (453) Cleveland Browns

This is a play on the BALL ST. CARDINALS for our Camillia Bowl Winner. Georgia St. comes into the Camellia Bowl on a three-game winning streak including a win over Costal Carolina to open the streak. The Panthers finished 7-5 including a 6-2 record in the Sun Belt Conference which was good for a second place tie in the East Division. Their success has relied on a strong running game that is ranked No. 8 in the country, averaging 225.4 ypg and they face a pretty average Ball St. rushing defense and this part of the game is a reason while this line has climbed from 3.5 to 6. Despite the winning record, Georgia St. was outgained during the regular season including over 100 yards through the air. The Cardinals were able to secure a bowl berth with a 20-3 win over Buffalo in their season finale. It was an up and down season and the win over the Bulls stopped a rather poor end to the season. The Cardinals finished with just two wins in their final five games, but one of those defeats was a one-point loss at Northern Illinois and another coming against Miami, which is coming off a 13-point win in the Frisco Football Classic yesterday, by just a touchdown. The Ball St. passing offense is far from potent but it can take advantage of a weak Panthers passing defense. The Cardinals are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games when playing against a team with a winning record. Here, we play on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points after going under the total by more than 21 points in their previous game, in the second half of the season. This situation is 38-19 ATS (66.7 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (231) Ball St. Cardinals

This is a play on the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. We have two teams going in opposite directions that square off on Thursday night. San Francisco has won two straight games and five of its last six to improve to 8-6 and is sitting in the No. 6 spot in the NFC. The 49ers are projected at 83 percent to make the playoffs and while this game will not be easy, the momentum is on their side. The offense has improved to No. 12 overall and No. 13 in scoring while the defense in No. 6 overall and face a Titans team that is still hurt by injuries. The 49ers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Tennessee has lost three of its last four games with the lone win coming against Jacksonville. The loss last week knocked them from the top spot in the AFC down to the No. 3 spot. The Titans have turned the ball over 13 times in those three losses while quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been sacked 41 times which is second most in the NFL. Defensively, the Titans are No. 10 0verall and No. 16 in points allowed so while they are above average, they face a surging offense and have seen only one decent offense over their last five games. The Titans are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game. Here, we play against home teams averaging between 4.9 and 5.4 yppl going up against teams allowing between 5.4 and 5.8 yppl. This situation is 47-19 ATS (71.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (451) San Francisco 49ers

This is a play on the ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS for our CFB Game of the Week. Both Missouri and Army are coming off losses in their regular season finales and square off in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. The Tigers have just on win this season against a team above .500 and that was against Central Michigan in their season opener. Missouri comes in very average on both sides of the ball and it is its inability to stop the run will play a huge factor. Missouri is ranked No. 125 in rushing defense, allowing 229.3 ypg and will face an  Army offense that is ranked No. 2 in rushing offense at 286.9 ypg. Additionally, Army is second in the country in offensive time of possession at 35:59 so the ball control will also play a big part. Making matters worse, the Missouri defense will be without a trio of starters including their leading tackler as well as Akayleb Evans who decided not to play to get ready for the NFL draft. The Tigers are 3-15 ATS in their last 18 games following an ATS loss. The Army defense also has an edge here as the Black Knights are ranked No. 15 overall including No. 14 against the run. They have allowed 17 points or less in their last five games and their overall scoring defense is skewed because of the one game where they allowed 70 points to Wake Forest which has the No. 5 scoring offense in the country. The Black Knights are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game. 10* (226) Army Black Knights

This is a play on the SAN DIEGO ST. AZTECS for our CFB Tuesday Enforcer. San Diego St. is coming off a loss against Utah St. after four straight wins and is getting a good line here after that 33-point loss. The Aztecs rely on a strong defense that is ranked No. 14 overall and No. 17 in scoring defense and can definitely slow down the Roadrunners. The Aztecs are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up loss. UTSA is coming off a win over Western Kentucky after suffering its first loss of the season against North Texas. They have scored over 40 points in six games this year, though they will be without running back Sincere McCormick after he opted out to focus on NFL Draft prep. Here, we play against teams where the line is +3 to -3 outscoring opponents by 7 or more ppg, after allowing 31 points or more in 2 straight games. This situation 45-19 ATS (70.3 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (223) San Diego St. Aztecs

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES for our NFL Tuesday Primetime Punisher. Philadelphia is coming off its bye week and catches Washington in a vulnerable situation. The Eagles need this win to remain in the NFC Wild Card race and are now catching a much better number than what was on the board a few days ago. A win here would push them straight into the final wild-card spot with a little help. The Eagles are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Washington is coming off a loss to the Cowboys last week and it is now dealing with a ton of issues. The team has over a dozen players on their COVID-19/reserve list, including starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke and now seven coaches are in the protocol. Washinton had won four straight games prior to the Dallas loss but the last three were just one possession games. They are No. 20 in total offense and No. 20 in scoring offense but it is the other side that has been hit the worst with the defense needing to sign players from other practice squads to fill in. Washington is 8-20 ATS in its last 28 games following a straight up loss. 10* (340) Philadelphia Eagles

This is a play on the MINNESOTA VIKINGS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. Minnesota is at 6-7 following a win over Pittsburgh and its playoff hopes are very much alive. The Vikings will move up to the No. 7 spot if they beat the Bears tonight, and they will stay there if Washington loses Tuesday to the Eagles. They are ranked No. 4 in total offense and No. 9 in scoring offense and face a Chicago defense that is decimated with injuries so they should have their way here. The Vikings have put up more than 400 yards in seven games, including three of the last four and Kirk Cousins is again under scrutiny despite having one of his best seasons. The Bears have lost two straight games and seven of their last eight with that lone win coming against the Lions. With everything that has happened this week, Chicago has also been hit as of Sunday night, the Bears had 14 players on the COVID list, and all three coordinators also were in COVID safety protocols. The Bears are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Here, we play against underdogs or pickems after going over the total by 28 or more points total in their last three games, against division opponents. This situation is 32-9 ATS (78 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (331) Minnesota Vikings

This is a play on the OLD DOMINION MONARCHS for our CFB Monday Enforcer. Old Dominion has won three straight games including a win over SMU is its last game which can be considered a quality win and now the Monarchs are getting a huge number here. The Monarchs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game. Tulsa is still favored by a big amount despite having their coaches heading out and while that might not be a big factor to some, it is. Here, we play on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points off a win by 10 points or more over a conference rival against opponent after a road game where both teams score 31 points or more. This situation is 61-23 ATS (72.6 percent) since 1992. 10* (220) Old Dominion Monarchs

This is a play on the HOUSTON TEXANS for our AFC South Game of the Month. Jacksonville is playing its first game without head coach Urban Meyer and that could fire this team up after that toxic environment but laying this many points is too aggressive. The Jaguars have lost five straight games and they have scored 17 points or less in seven straight games and while they might be rejuvenated here, they cannot be laying this amount. They have been favored just once all season and failed to cover that number and while Houston is not a good team, in a divisional game with two similar teams, it should not be over a field goal. The Jaguars are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Houston is not a good team plain and simple but this is a winnable game and players at this point of the season are playing for contracts so there is no giving up. Davis Miles is not a good quarterback but he is facing a defense that is ranked No. 26 in points allowed and the rushing offense can have success here. Houston is 14-4 ATS in its last 18 games after scoring 14 points or less in two straight games. Here, we play on underdogs or pickems after a game where they committed no turnovers going up against an opponent after two consecutive games with a turnover margin of -1 or worse. This situation is 25-3 ATS (89.3 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (319) Houston Texans

This is a play on the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS for our NFL Saturday Primetime Punisher. The Patriots have won seven straight games and that has helped to create value in this number which has come down from the opener. New England has been a public team for years and this one is no different as we are seeing that money come in on them. What they did last week was a thing on genius but now they are in a dome and will have to rely on both sides against a team fighting for a playoff spot. The Patriots defense has been the strength and while they are No. 3 overall, they are just No. 18 against the run and that is a big issue here going up against Jonathan Taylor. The Patriots are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. The Colts are coming off a 31-0 win over Houston to move to 7-6 and is in good position for a Wild Card spot in the AFC. They are just 3-4 at home but do have some edges in this matchup that cannot be discounted. The Colts lead the NFL in takeaways, turnover differential and ypc on offense at 5.1 ypc, while Carson Wentz has been playing great with just five interceptions. Defensively, Indianapolis is No. 13 overall while being No. 16 against the run and No. 9 in points allowed. The Colts are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 home games against teams with a winning road record. Here, we play against teams off an upset win over a division rival as an underdog, when playing on a Saturday. This situation is 32-9 ATS (78 percent) since 1983. 10* (312) Indianapolis Colts

This is a play on the UAB BLAZERS for our CFB Game of the Week. BYU is on a five-game winning streak, including wins against Washington St., Virginia, and USC but it is overpriced here on a neutral field. The Cougars played a tough schedule and were still able to win 10 games but this is an opponent that matches up well. The BYU defense is below average at No. 73 overall which includes No. 77 against the pass and No. 63 against the run so as a sizable favorite, the underdog has the edge in a possible back and forth game. The Cougars are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game. UAB comes in off a win in its last game and has won three of its last four games to move to 8-4 on the season. The Blazers have faced a ton of good running backs this season and had success in stopping them so they can do it again against Tyler Allgeier who has been one of the best. The Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last four game against teams with a winning record. Here, we play on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points off a win by 10 points or more over a conference rival going up against an opponent after a road game where both teams scored 31 points or more. This situation is 60-23 ATS (72.3 percent) since 1992. 10* (211) UAB Blazers 

This is a play on the NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES for our CFB Friday Enforcer. Northern Illinois is coming off a win over Kent St. to make in three wins in four games. The Huskies finished the season 9-4, but they were six points away from finishing 11-2. The Northern Illinois offense averages 30.8 ppg and 409.5 and ypg and they lead the nation in 4th down conversion percentage at 84 percent. The running game is the strength as they are ranked No. 4 in rushing offense with 229.5 ypg. Northern Illinois is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 games off an upset win over a conference rival as an underdog. Coastal Carolina finished 10-2 following an overtime win over South Alabama to close the season but after a great start, the Chanticleers slowed down with a pair of losses with two of their last four wins coming by one possession. The offense was on high octane but they put up over a touchdown less in the second half of the season than the first. The defense finished well, being a respectable No. 18 overall and No. 19 in scoring defense but the rushing defense should be an issue here as the last time they faced a potent running game, they were outgained by 173 yards on the ground. The Chanticleers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as a favorite. 10* (204) Northern Illinois Huskies

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. The Chargers are coming off a win over the Giants to make it two straight victories and they have a chance to move into a first place tie with the Chiefs if they get a win tonight. The offense has been rolling as they have scored 37 or more points in three of their last four games and in home games, they are averaging 408.4 ypg which is near the top of the league and have a chance to expose a defense that has been playing above their heads of late. Los Angeles is just 4-3 at home but all three losses were by one possession and all against playoff contenders. The Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as an underdog. Kansas City has won six straight games to remain in the lead in the AFC West but this offense is still playing uneven despite the game against the Raiders and they face a tough road test here. The Chiefs have leaned on their defense over this stretch which is something we never would have said in September and October. They have allowed nine points or less in four of their last five games but were outgained twice and outgained the Giants by just 68 yards as well as outgaining Las Vegas by just 87 yards despite the lopsided score. After playing five of their last six games at home, this situation is not ideal. The Chiefs are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. Here, we play against teams where the line is +3 to -3 after going under the total by 35 or more points total in their last five games, in conference games. This situation is 70-35 ATS (66.7 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (302) Los Angeles Chargers

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES RAMS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. The NFC playoff picture is jumbled but the Rams are in position for the top Wild Card spot and are still alive for the NFC West division title. They are two games back with a chance to cut that in half despite losses in three of their last four games. They are coming off a 30-point win over Jacksonville and while that might not say much, it brought back some much needed confidence heading into the final five games of the season which will not be an easy stretch. The Rams remain a top rated offense as they are ranked No. 6 overall and No. 5 in scoring offense and Matthew Stafford looks to be fully healthy after a couple rough games because of injury. The Rams are 25-12-1 ATS in their last 38 games against the NFC. The Cardinals are also healthy again with Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins back in the mix and at a short price in a divisional game, the public is all over them. They have won two straight games, both on the road, and they are back home where they are 3-2 on the season compared to a 7-0 record on the highway. While their 10-2 record is the best in the NFC, they have not played a great schedule as it is ranked No. 24 in the league. the defense has done its job but even though the first matchup resulted in a 17-point win, the Cardinals were outgained by 64 yards and they have been outgained in three of their last six games with two of the positives coming against Houston and Jacksonville. The Cardinals are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games as a home favorite. Here, we play on road underdogs or pickems after failing to cover the spread in three out of their last four games going up against an opponent after covering the spread in three out of their last four games. This situation is 27-5 ATS (84.4 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (129) Los Angeles Rams

This is a play on the DALLAS COWBOYS for our NFC East Game of the Month. The NFC East pretty much comes down to this game and if the Cowboys win, it is theirs. They have lost two of their last three games but are coming off a win in their last game on Thursday against New Orleans so they have had ample rest heading into Sunday. Because their last two games have been on a Thursday, they have had a good schedule break that has now gotten them to the healthiest they have been this season, especially on the defensive side. The Cowboys are an explosive team with the kind of playmakers on offense and defense that can get in gear and make a last month run into the playoffs. Dallas is 7-0 ATS against conference opponents this season while going 6-0 ATS after allowing six or more yppl in their previous game this season. Washington has won four straight games to go from 2-6 to 6-6 but this run has been a little suspect with the last three coming by just one possession. Washington, currently the No. 6 seed in the NFC, can shrink the Cowboys NFC East lead to one game with a victory and if Washington wins out, it takes the division but we just do not see that happening. This team needs Taylor Heinicke to continue his impressive play if they hope to win but it will difficult against this defense that is nearly back to full strength. The defense stepped up but COVID has again dealt a blow with Montez Sweat placed on the protocol. This team is overmatched on both sides and the Washington run comes to an end. The Football Team are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 against the NFC East. 10* (117) Dallas Cowboys

This is a play on the NAVY MIDSHIPMEN for our CFB Saturday Top Play Winner. Army heads into the annual rivalry with an 8-3 record and will be going to its second straight bow game and fifth in the last six years. This coincides with this game as Army will try to beat Navy for the fifth time in the past six years, after losing 12 straight in this series, and capture their fourth Commander-in-Chief Trophy in the last five seasons. The Black Knights are ranked No. 2 in the country in rushing offense with 301.7 ypg, its sixth straight year of putting up at least 273 yards on the ground. The numbers are a bit skewed though as three of those games came against UMass, Bucknell, and UConn as they put up a total of 1,409 yards in those three games. Army is 9-22 ATS in its last 31 games against teams averaging 4.5 or less yppl. Navy comes into the game with a 3-8 record which is the second straight season it comes in with the worse by at least three games. The Midshipmen will miss their second straight bowl game after making a postseason appearance in seven of the previous eight years. The season could have been a lot better but close losses doomed Navy as four of its eight losses were by one possession. Navy is ranked No. 7 in the country in rushing at 228.2 ypg so the Midshipmen have been solid in running the ball and can have success here. Army is the 11th bowl bound team Navy will face as the Midshipmen have played the third toughest schedule in the country while the Army schedule is ranked No. 93. The Midshipmen are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog. Here, we play on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points after going over the total by 28 or more points total in their last three games going up against an opponent after going over the total by 35 or more points total in their last five games. This situation is 51-20 ATS (71.8 percent) since 1992. 10* (103) Navy Midshipmen

This is a play on the MINNESOTA VIKINGS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. The public reaction should see more money coming in on Pittsburgh after we closer to gametime following the Steelers upset win over Baltimore and the Vikings loss to Detroit. Pittsburgh improved to 6-5-1 and is now a game and a half behind the Ravens in the AFC North. The Steelers did it with stingy defense as they allowed 19 points after giving up 41 points in consecutive games prior to that. The difference this season has been the home/road splits as they are allowing 27 ppg on road compared to 21.6 ppg at home. The offense has scored 17 points or less in three of their last four road games and will face a defense that should be embarrassed by their performance last week. The Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their last five games against teams with a losing record. Minnesota fell to 5-7 with the loss to the Lions and while it is well out of the division race, a Wild Card spot is still in play. The Vikings are a game back for the final spot and they have to take advantage of home games where they are 3-2 and finish the season with three home games over their last five and they still get to face Chicago twice. A lot of the heat is on Kirk Cousins which always seems to be the case but he is having a great season as he has completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 3,353 yards while tossing 25 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Again, it will up to the defense and stop the running game and make Ben Roethlisberger beat then and that will be hard for him to do. The Vikings are 42-19 ATS in their last 61 games following a straight up loss. Here, we play against teams with a winning percentage between .501 and .600 off an upset win as a home underdog, playing a losing team in the second half of the season. This situation is 24-4 ATS (85.7 percent) since 1983. 10* (102) Minnesota Vikings

This is a play on the BUFFALO BILLS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. Buffalo is coming off a win at New Orleans on Thanksgiving so it has had an extended break in getting ready for its biggest game of the season. The Bills are 7-4 and trail the Patriots by a half-game in the AFC East with a chance to leapfrog New England in the division. This is just their second home game in a month with the other one being the beatdown they took from the Colts, getting defeated 41-15 as Jonathan Taylor went off. Buffalo still possesses the top ranked defense in the NFL and faces a pretty average offense tonight that does not carry a rushing threat like Indianapolis or Tennessee, the two times it was hit hard by the run. On the other side, the Bills are No. 4 in total offense and they are a top 10 team in both phases which the Patriots have not seen during their winning streak. The Bills are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. New England has won six straight games to be where they are but the schedule has been on its side with only one win coming against a team that is over .500 and that came against the Titans which were without Derrick Henry. The defense is ranked No. 1 in scoring defense and they have allowed a solid 7.8 ppg in five wins during their winning streak against those five teams that are not offensively efficient and the other one was against the Chargers where they gave up 24 points. This game has a lot of similarities as the game against a balanced Dallas team where they lost in overtime while getting outgained by 235 yards. The Patriots are 1-4 ATS in their last five games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. 10* (476) Buffalo Bills

This is a play on the PITTSBURGH STEELERS for our AFC North Game of the Month. We were on the Steelers last week and they got smoked against the Bengals and it is pretty much do or die time as they return home against their biggest rival in what is essentially a Week 13 playoff game. Pittsburgh is 5-5-1 which still has them in the mix in the AFC but there is little for error and at this number, the Steelers are getting no respect which maybe they should not be. They have been average on offense as they are ranked No. 22 in both total offense and scoring offense but they do have a good matchup here against a Ravens team that does not take the ball away and allowed 31.3 ppg prior to playing the Bears and Browns. The Steelers are 17-4-2 ATS in their last 23 games as a home underdog. We played against Tennessee two weeks ago pointing to the fact they were the most overrated team in the AFC at the time and Baltimore has moved into tat category. Of their eight wins, five have come by three points or less or in overtime and another by just one possession which certainly explains their +23 point differential which is the fewest margin of any divisional leader in the NFL. The Ravens have been outgained in three of their last five games and we are going to see a lot of blind bets again despite another bad turnover game with a lot of this being how the Steelers have been over the last month. The Ravens are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following an ATS win. Here we play against favorites forcing 1 or less tpg, after a game where they committed three or more turnovers. This situation is 31-10 ATS (75.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (470) Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a play on the LAS VEGAS RAIDERS for our NFL Sunday Enforcer. Washington has won three straight games to move to 5-6 on the season and actually controls its own destiny in the NFC East but that is not going to happen. They are coming off a win over Seattle on Monday night as the Seahawks once again struggled on offense and now they head to the west coast on a short week. This is a very average team that is ranked No. 19 in total offense, No. 20 in scoring offense, Mo. 18 in total defense and No. 25 in scoring defense. They are even worse on the defensive side than those rankings indicate as Washington is allowing 5.9 yppl which is No. 20 overall and it is second the last in DVOA and the Raiders possess an offense that can take advantage. Washington is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games as an underdog. The Raiders have been off since Thanksgiving and that should give them a solid edge here heading back home. Las Vegas broke out of an offensive slump in the 36-33 victory in Dallas largely because it diversified its attack. This is obviously key for any team but especially the Raiders as they can do it with the passing and rushing games as long as they go with both. Starting quarterback Derek Carr leads the NFL in passing with 3,414 yards but the balance was key against the Cowboys as keeping them on their heels with a lot of play action looks. Running back Josh Jacobs had a season high 22 carries which he turned into 87 yards and his production will again be key. The Raiders are just one game behind Kansas City in the AFC West and in this clogged division, every game is meaningful at this point. The Raiders are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. 10* (468) Las Vegas Raiders

This is a play on the HOUSTON COUGARS for our AAC Championship Winner. This has the opportunity to be one of the best championship games of the weekend and Houston is catching a great number and is flying under the radar with Cincinnati being right in the middle of the CFP positioning. The Cougars opened the season against Texas Tech and after a 21-7 halftime lead, they allowed 31 unanswered second half points as quarterback Clayton Tune threw four interceptions which is his total over his last 11 games combined. Houston has gone 11-0 since then and absolutely dominated, getting outgained only once over that stretch. Obviously, the schedule has not been great or overpowering but the same can be said for the other side and it that first game went different, there would be a lot more on the line for both sides. The Cougars are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 games as a road underdog. It is simple for the Bearcats, as if they win they are in. Cincinnati started the season as undervalued and rolled to a 5-1 start against the number including a big win against Notre Dame but then it hit a stretch of four straight spread losses and while those lines were all -22 or more, none of those teams match up with Houston. They are coming off a big win against East Carolina to remain undefeated but it was not easy with the Pirates remaining within in two possessions up until a late touchdown sealed it for the Bearcats. While both offenses have been potent of late, both of these defenses are ranked within the top 10 in the country and being able to grab an underdog as this price with that scenario is big. Here, we play on road underdogs that are outgaining their opponents by 75 or more ypg, after outgaining their last opponent by 225 or more total yards in their previous game. This situation is 96-53 ATS (64.4 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 9* (313) Houston Cougars

This is a play on the SAN DIEGO ST. AZTECS for our CFB Game of the Week. San Diego St. won its last four games to take the MWC West Division title and its 11 victories are the most in program history. With a win, the Aztecs keep their hopes of an invite to a New Year's Six Bowl alive if Cincinnati goes down against Houston. Thanks to the better record, that get to host the conference championship and they have won six of seven home games, the lone loss coming against Fresno St. which was their last game they were outrushed and the line of scrimmage will be a big factor here. With Utah St. allowing 163.8 ypg on the ground, which is 8th worst in the conference, San Diego St. will use its strength where it is averaging 177.6 ypg rushing. On the other side, the Aztecs defense allowed just 78.7 ypg rushing, the best in the conference and No. 2 in the nation. The Aztecs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a home favorite. Utah St. won its season finale against New Mexico to claim the MWC East Division thanks to a tiebreaker with a head-to-head win over Air Force. The Aggies like to run an up-tempo offense but protection could be a problem. While they are averaging 304.8 ypg passing, San Diego St. gets to the quarterback well. Keeping Logan Bonner upright has been a challenge, as he has been sacked 20 times and the offensive line has allowed numerous quarterback hits. The Aggies are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games against teams with a winning home record. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 10 points with a rushing defense allowing 3.25 or fewer rushing ypc, after allowing 125 or less rushing yards in two straight games. This situation is 60-28 ATS (68.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (324) San Diego St. Aztecs

This is a play on the WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS for our C-USA Championship Winner. A magical season ended abruptly for UTSA as it brought a perfect 11-0 record into its season finale and got housed by North Texas in a game that was not even as close as the final 22-point deficit. The Roadrunners came out of the gates by covering eight of their first nine games but then they came back to earth with a 10-point win over 3-9 Southern Mississippi as 32.5-point favorites, a three-point win over UAB and then the loss to the Mean Green. For having such a good record, UTSA has been overly average on the field as it is ranked No. 36 in total offense and No. 41 in total defense and that was against a schedule ranked No. 124 in the country. Taking nothing away from winning but the overrated Roadrunners could be in for a long night here. Western Kentucky has been absolutely rolling as it has won seven straight games following a 1-4 start that saw three one-possession losses that was culminated with a loss at home against UTSA so revenge is in play here. The Hilltoppers offense nearly unstoppable as they are ranked No. 1 in the country in total offense and has averaged 45.3 ppg during its winning streak but it is the defense that could be the deciding factor here. They have allowed only 18.9 ppg over these last seven games and while they did allow 52 points against UTSA prior to that, they outgained the Roadrunners by 106 yards but penalties a couple costly turnovers did then in. The Hilltoppers are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up win. Here, we play against teams where the line is +3 to -3 that are outscoring opponents by seven or more ppg, after allowing 31 points or more in two straight games. This situation is 45-18 ATS (71.4 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (303) Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

This is a play on the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. Dallas is coming off a loss on Thanksgiving as it fell in overtime against the Raiders in a penalty filled game that could have gone either way. The Cowboys have lost two straight and three of their last four games and have seen their lead in the NFC East shrink to two games over Washington. Obviously this is a big game for Dallas but it is big for both sides and the public perception is still on the Dallas side despite a 1-3 ATS stretch that followed up a 7-0 run against the number to open the season. The offense is still ranked No. 1 in the league but the defense remains a liability as it is now No. 26 in the NFL and might have another tough time here against a quarterback that has seen limited action but gives them a whole different look. The Cowboys are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. The Saints are also coming off a Thanksgiving loss as they were hammered by the Bills which prompted the quarterback change to Taysom Hill after a bad recent run. New Orleans is now 5-6 following four straight losses yet it is still alive in the Wild Card in the NFC with eight teams having five or six wins vying for a spot. As of this week, the Rams and 49ers are the favorites for the first two spots and the Saints in the lead for the third slot over Minnesota. The offense could get a boost with Alvin Kamara back in the lineup but it is the defense that needs to regroup after the Bils game and they should with a lot on the line. The Saints are 6-0 ATS in their last six games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Here, we play against favorites averaging 4.5 or more rushing ypc, after being outrushed by 75 or more yards last game. This situation is 111-63 ATS (63.8 percent) since 1983. 10* (302) New Orleans Saints

This is a play on the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. Seattle has lost two straight and five of its last six games but three of those came against three of the top four teams in the NFC and most of those were without Russell Wilson who is back for his third game and should be healthier. The Seahawks have scored just one touchdown since his return but they do face a defense that has struggled this season especially against the pass where they are ranked No. 30, allowing an average of 270 ypg. The Seahawks cannot afford another loss, as dropping to 3-8 would most certainly knock them out of any playoff hope. This offense is too good to be held down and the absence of Chase Young is a big one as the offensive line is in a better spot. Seattle is 15-5 ATS in its last 20 road games after allowing 375 or more total yards in two consecutive games. Washington finds itself on a two-game winning streak, including an upset of the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. They had lost four straight prior to that and while they can build off this recent run, we are not sure which team to buy at this point. This line has been bet down considerably and the majority of the action remains on Washington as everyone is down on the Seahawks at this point. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke has been playing well but may be without two of his top receivers behind Terry McLaurin with Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries listed as questionable. Heinicke had a passer rating of 84.3 in the first eight games of the season before catching fire but we are not sure if this is sustainable. Washington is 6-19 ATS in its last 25 home games after gaining 175 or more rushing yards last game. Here, we play on teams in the second half of the season averaging between 5.4 and 5.8 yppl and after being outgained by 100 or more total yards last game going up against teams allowing 5.8 or more yppl. This situation is 22-6 ATS (78.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (273) Seattle Seahawks

This is a play on the NEW YORK GIANTS for our NFC East Game of the Year. The Eagles have won their last two games and coupled with the Dallas loss on Thursday, they are now just two games behind the Cowboys in the NFC East. They hit the road where they are 4-2 on the season which is the best road record in the NFL besides the three top teams in the NFC West which have killed it on the highway. Philadelphia continues to run the ball effectively as it has outgained its last five opponents on the ground while putting up an average of 201 ypg over that stretch. Despite the recent road success, the Eagles have struggled in the first of consecutive road games and going back Philadelphia is 9-23 ATS in its last 32 road games in the second half of the season against teams who give up 24 or more ppg. New York is coming off a forgettable game in Tampa Bay which led to the firing of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and a new look, even though it is Freddie Kitchens, could provide a needed spark. The Eagles defense has been below average as they are allowing 23.6 ppg so New York can be effective with the offense remaining healthy. On the other side, The Giants rushing defense has been adequate and they are coming off a good game where they allowed only 94 yards against Tampa on just 3.5 ypc and it was a game where the Buccaneers ran the ball than normal. The Giants are 4-0 ATS in their last four games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Here, we play against favorites of 3.5 to 10 points with a winning percentage between .400 and .499 after having won two out of their last three games, a playing a team with a winning percentage between .250 and .400. This situation is 33-8 ATS (80.5 percent) since 1983. 10* (256) New York Giants

This is a play on the MICHIGAN ST. SPARTANS for our CFB Game of the Year. Michigan St. is coming off an absolute disaster of a game as it went to Columbus and got shellacked by Ohio St. 56-7. The Spartans allowed 655 total yards and 36 first downs while getting outgained by a total of 431 total yards. This game was over a minute into the second quarter as Ohio St. built a 28-0 lead and it scored a touchdown on its first seven possessions. The Spartans can either carry that over or be highly motivated to bounce back and we are expecting the latter after the embarrassment this past Saturday. Despite the effort, the Michigan St. offense has improved by over 14 ppg and the defense has improved by close to 10 ppg from the 2-5 record from last season. While a bowl game was out of the question last season when these teams met in the season finale, Michigan St. will be out for revenge after blowing a 21-10 lead at halftime, getting outscored 29-3 in the second half in the 39-24 defeat. The Spartans are 5-0-2 ATS in their last seven games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game. Penn St. had lost three of four games and then recorded its best defensive effort of the season as it shut out Rutgers while giving up only 160 total yards, 67 yards on the ground and 93 yards through the air while allowing just 10 first downs. That was the Nittany Lions final home game of the season and now they hit the road where they are 2-2 on the season. Penn St. is getting outgained 387-359 away from home and the big problem has been the running game as it has averaged only 71 ypg on 2.5 ypc on offense. The Nittany Lions are dealing with the flu going through the roster which could have an effect going into the final regular season game. There is not a ton at stake for Penn St., which at this point is likely headed to either the Music City Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl or the Pinstripe Bowl, certainly not what it was looking for when it opened the season 5-0. Penn St. is 8-25 ATS in its last 33 road games after allowing nine points or less last game. 10* (224) Michigan St. Spartans

this is a play on the ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS for our CFB Friday Game of the Month. Arkansas is coming off a tough loss against Alabama as it fell by a touchdown and at 7-4 it will be looking for its most regular season wins since 2011. The Razorbacks have already matched their win total from the three previous years combined and will be playing their first bowl game since 2016. Three of the Razorbacks four losses have come against ranked teams (Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss) and the other came against Auburn, its only home loss of the season. Arkansas has a strong offense that is ranked No. 29 overall including No. 14 in rushing offense, averaging 222.7 ypg on the ground and it will be able to take advantage in this matchup. Arkansas is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game. The Tigers are coming off a one-point victory over Florida in overtime which got Missouri bowl eligible and it has now posted at least a .500 record in five straight years. They have won two straight games but both of those came at home and the Tigers are just 1-3 on the road with the only win on the highway being a 37-28 victory at Vanderbilt which enters this week with a 2-9 record. Despite the winning record, the Tigers are ranked next-to-last in the SEC in scoring defense; allowing 34.7 ppg which is only ahead of the Commodores. The biggest weakness for Missouri is the rushing defense that is dead last in the conference, which as mentioned, is the Arkansas strength on offense. The Tigers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a winning record. Here, we play on conference favorites of 10.5 to 21 points in the first half of the season that are averaging between 190 and 230 rushing ypg going up against teams allowing between 140 and 190 rushing ypg. This situation is 25-6 ATS (80.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (132) Arkansas Razorbacks

This is a play on the BUFFALO BILLS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. Buffalo got manhandled at home against the Colts for its second loss in three games as Jonathan Taylor went off by rushing for 185 yards and scoring five touchdowns. The Bills are now in second place in the AFC East, a half-game behind the Patriots with a home game against New England on deck so there is definitely a sense of urgency to bounce back from that loss. The 26-point defeat was bit deceiving as mistakes killed Buffalo as it lost the turnover margin 4-0 and that is not recoverable. Buffalo still is near the top of the league on both sides of the ball as it averages 391.7 ypg on offense and allows 283.7 ypg on defense., No. 5 and No. 1 in the NFL respectively. Buffalo is 21-8 ATS in its last 29 road games after allowing 35 points or more last game while going 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points. New Orleans has now suffered three straight losses to fall to 5-5 and it recent surge up the playoff ladder has taken a big step back. The normally strong rushing defense was gashed for 242 against the Eagles and they have a better matchup here but the Saints will have trouble slowing down the Buffalo passing game especially with Josh Allen coming off a rough game in some poor weather. The injury list is a long one for New Orleans and Trevor Siemian has struggled for the most part and shows he has trouble leading this offense with a passer rating of 88.9 while completing only 56.9 percent of his passes. A return home would seem to be an edge but the Saints are just 1-2 in the dome this season. New Orleans is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 home games against teams with a winning road record. Here, we play against underdogs or pickems after going over the total by 35 or more points total in their last three games. This situation is 45-13 ATS (77.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (109) Buffalo Bills

This is a play on the MISSISSIPPI REBELS for our CFB Thursday Star Attraction. Mississippi has won three straight games to improve to 9-2 on the season and with a win here, the Rebels will post the highest regular-season win total in school history. They are coming off a lackluster effort against Vanderbilt but they were just going through the motions looking forward to this game. They have the best player on the field in quarterback Matt Corral who is 233-345 for 3,100 yards passing and 19 touchdowns with just three interceptions while rushing for another 10 touchdowns and he has become a Heisman candidate. It is just not about the passing however as Mississippi has rushed for 231.1 ypg, and have had six games of more than 250 yards including four in the SEC. The Rebels are 4-0 ATS in their last four games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. Mississippi St. has won four of its last five games to become bowl eligible for the 12th straight season although last season comes with an asterisk as the Bulldogs were 4-6 but with COVID, they were able to get into the Armed Forces Bowl because of a lack of teams. The Bulldogs have a solid quarterback of their own as Will Rogers has averaged 390 ypg over his last four games but he has a tough test here. Mississippi has given up an average of 259 ypg through the air in SEC games and has only allowed more than 300 yards just once this season. In a Mike Leach offense, the Bulldogs passing game is no surprise but they could use some balance here yet that is unlikely. Mississippi St. had just its second 100-yard game on the ground last week but that was against Tennessee Tech of the FCS. Here, we play on teams where the line is +3 to -3 averaging 8.3 or more passing ypa after allowing 5.5 or less passing ypa last game going up against teams allowing between 6.4 and 7.5 passing ypa. This situation is 33-11 ATS (75 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (111) Mississippi Rebels

This is a play on the BALL ST. CARDINALS for our XFB Tuesday Enforcer. The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing performance last week against Central Michigan as they had a chance to grab their sixth win of the season on their home field but lost by 20 points. Hope is not lost however as Ball St. is still vying for its second straight bowl bid with a win tonight to improve to 6-6 and it can make every team in the MAC West Bowl eligible. It is Senior Night and a big one at that as The Cardinals have 10 All-MAC selections from last season will be playing their final home game with a lot on the line. This group helped to win the MAC Championship last season and go to a bowl game for the first time since 2013 and they want a repeat of a bowl game before they move on. The passing game will be important for the Cardinals against a suspect Bulls passing defense as they are 3-1 when passing for more than 200 yards, the only exception being a seven-point loss to Miami. The Bulls had their chances as they were 4-4 through eight games and had a golden opportunity to add to that but lost at home to 3-8 Bowling Green by 12 points as a 13.5-point favorite then got hammered at Miami. They did their best to keep the six-win goal alive last week but fell in overtime to Northern Illinois and Buffalo was eliminated from bowl contention and clinched its first losing season since 2016. There may be motivation from losing the MAC Championship last season to the Cardinals but the recent rough stretch will have the Bulls in a tough spot here. Buffalo has struggled in this spot this season as they are 0-3 on the road when getting points, getting outscored by an average of 20.7 ppg. The Bulls are 0-6 ATS in their last six games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. 10* (102) Ball St. Cardinals

This is a play on the NEW YORK GIANTS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. After a pair of bad losses, the public will be backing the Buccaneers on Monday night despite laying a huge number. Tampa Bay is coming off losses against Washington and New Orleans sandwiched around its bye week to drop its record to 6-3 on the season and with the Saints loss Sunday, the Buccaneers have a game and a half lead in the NFC South. They have struggled with inconsistency on offense and that is because of players being in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Chris Godwin are both questionable and not at 100 percent should they play. On the other side, the Tampa Bay defense allowed 16 first-half points in each of the last two weeks and defensive lineman Vita Vea is doubtful. The Buccaneers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite. The Giants are coming off their bye week following wins in two of their last three games to improve to 3-6 following a 0-3 start. Three of those six losses have been by three points or less and while the defense was shredded by the Cowboys and Rams in back-to-back games, they have allowed just 13 ppg over this recent three-game stretch and New York has allowed 21 points or fewer in five of its last seven games. The Giants have allowed only allowed three touchdowns in 13 red zone drives. While keeping up in a shootout would be unlikely, the New York offense is getting healthier. Running back Saquon Barkley was officially listed as questionable for the game after practicing all week. Additionally, wide receivers Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney were not listed on the injury report. The Giants are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games as a road underdog. Here, we play on road teams in the second half of the season with a winning percentage between .250 and .400 off a home win. This situation is 46-19 ATS (70.8 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (477) New York Giants

This is a play on the HOUSTON TEXANS for our AFC South Game of the Year. This is an ugly play for sure but Houston actually is in a great spot here. The Texans have lost eight straight games and have the worse offense and third worst defense in the NFL but they are coming off their bye week which came at good time to help heal some injuries. Houston lost its last game in Miami but won the yardage battle as it was hurt by four turnovers including three interceptions by Tyrod Taylor who was pressured a ton and faced a great group of corners. That will not be the case this week as Tennessee is No. 27 against the pass and was torched for 298 yards by Trevor Siemian which was the fourth most in his very below average career. This is a game that the Texans will be fired up for and they are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Is it possible for a team to have won six straight games and be overrated? In this case yes. The Titans have improved their record to an AFC best 8-2 but during their six-game winning streak, they have been outgained four times and in the two times they won the yardage battle, they were by 33 and 35 yards. On the season, Tennessee is getting outgained by 19 ypg overall and while that may seem miniscule, for a team that is 8-2 and missing the best running back in the league, it is a big deal. While the Houston injury report is in decent shape, the Titans have a whopping 27 players that are either questionable, out indefinitely or on IR. With the Patriots on deck in New England, if ever there is a game to go through the motions, this is it. The Titans are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Here, we play on road underdogs or pickems after eight or more consecutive losses going up against an opponent after two or more consecutive wins. This situation is 23-4 ATS (85.2 percent) since 1983. 10* (465) Houston Texans

This is a play on the UTAH UTES for our Pac 12 Game of the Year. Utah hosts Oregon in its biggest home game in recent memory in what looks like a preview of the Pac 12 Championship. The Utes are 4-0 at home including three conference wins, all by double-digits, and all three against teams with winning Pac 12 records going a combined 13-5 outside of the Utah losses. The Utes are outgaining opponents by 85.5 ypg at home and they have been dominant here going 18-2 in their last 20 home games. Since Cameron Rising took over as the full-time starter at quarterback, the Utah offense has been much better in every aspect as his 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions has opened up the running game which ranks third in the conference. The Utes are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win. Oregon has won five straight games to improve to 9-1 on the season and the Ducks remain No. 3 in the latest CFP Rankings. Yet they come in as underdogs and the public is on the side of Oregon based on that. The Ducks are ranked No. 32 in total offense and No. 57 in total defense which is nothing special compared to where they are ranked and this is a tough spot in a hostile environment. Oregon did win at Ohio St. in the season opener but that was before the Buckeyes hit their stride and since then, the Ducks have gone 2-1 on the road which includes a three-point win over UCLA and a 10-point win over 3-4 Washington. Taking away the game against 3-7 Colorado and Oregon has not outgained any opponent by more than 70 yards over the last seven games. The Ducks are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog. Here, we play on home teams after three or more consecutive wins going up against an opponent after five or more consecutive wins. This situation is 29-7 ATS (80.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (372) Utah Utes

This is a play on the WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS for our Big XII Game of the Month. Texas has lost five straight games which is its longest losing streak since 1955 and that includes a loss last week against Kansas, which had not won a Big XII road game since 2008. The losing streak started against Oklahoma where the Longhorns blew a huge lead and they clearly have not recovered. The body language of the Texas players after the loss last Saturday shows that they may be done even though a bowl berth is still on the line by winning out. The defense has been atrocious as Texas has allowed 41 ppg during this losing skid and overall, the Longhorns are ranked No. 106 in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense. The Longhorns are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. West Virginia is also two wins away from bowl eligibility and despite losses in its last two games against Kansas St. and Oklahoma St., those teams are a combined 16-4 and the Mountaineers are in much better shape. This is the final home game of the season for West Virginia and it will be fired up knowing that this will be last home game against Texas as part of conference action with the Longhorns pending move to the SEC. The offense has struggled over the past two games but West Virginia has the athletes on offense to put up big numbers and run away with this game. The Mountaineers are ranked in the middle of the pack in most Big XII defensive categories and can limit the opposing offense. The Mountaineers are 12-3-2 ATS in their last 17 games as a home favorite. Here, we play against road teams in the second half of the season averaging 34 or more ppg on offense going up against teams allowing between 21 and 28 ppg after a loss by three or less points. This situation is 24-3 ATS (88.9 percent) since 1992. 10* (348) West Virginia Mountaineers

This is a play on the NEVADA WOLF PACK for our CFB Friday Night Lights. Both Air Force and Nevada come into this Friday matchup on the same path as they are 7-3 including 4-2 in the MAC and both are one game out of first place in their respective divisions. The Wolf Pack had a chance to take over first place in the MAC West but lost by two points at San Diego St. last week and they will need to win out and get some help along the way. Both conference losses came by two points and both were on the road where they are 2-3. Nevada is playing its final home game before travelling to Colorado St. next week in the season finale and the Wolf Pack look to end the season 6-0 at home and extend the overall home winning streak to 10 games going back to last season. The Wolf Pack are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up loss. The Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak with a win at Colorado St. last Saturday. Like Nevada, they have to win out and get some help to take the MWC East Division but with Utah St. facing Wyoming and New Mexico, both of which are 1-5 in the conference, that seems unlikely. Air Force comes in a perfect 4-0 on the road but only one of those has been against a team with a winning record. The Falcons lead the country in rushing, averaging 311.1 ypg but they are ranked No. 51 in third down conversion percentage which has hurt keeping drives alive and the ability to score more than they should. Nevada is one of the top team in third down conversion percentage, allowing just 35.9 percent including 28.3 percent at home. The Falcons are 2-5 ATS against teams with a winning record. Here, we play on home teams where the line is +3 to -3 coming off one or more consecutive unders, outscoring opponents by 10 or more ppg. This situation is 32-17 ATS (65.3 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (322) Nevada Wolf Pack

This is a play on the ATLANTA FALCONS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. New England seems to be hitting its stride as it has won four straight games and has covered all of those, three by double-digits with two of those beating the number by over 33 points. The Patriots have won all four road games this season but three of those came against the Jets, Texans and Panthers which are a combined 8-20 and the record is part of the reason this line has gone up by 2.5 points in some places. They are still just a half-game behind Buffalo in the AFC East with games against the Titans, Colts and Bills twice upcoming in the next four games. Overall, they have played the second easiest schedule in the NFL and the backend will present a challenge and Thursday is no easy out. The Patriots are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game while going 5-16 ATS in their last 21 road games against passing defenses allowing a completion percentage of 64 percent or worse in the second half of the season. This is just the second home game for the Falcons since October 3rd as they have played three road games as well as a game in London. Atlanta has won three of its last five games and one of those victories definitely was not last Sunday as it got embarrassed at Dallas 43-3, getting outgained by 217 total yards. While Atlanta played like garbage, that was more of a statement game for the Cowboys that was coming off a bad game against the Broncos. The Falcons are 4-5 on the season and there are now six teams with record between 5-4 and 4-6 so the Wild Card race is still wide open. Atlanta is -5 in turnover margin which is the big reason it is getting outscored by over nine ppg. The Falcons are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game while going 6-0 ATS in their last six games after a game with a turnover margin of -2 or worse. 10* (312) Atlanta Falcons

This is a play on the NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES for our MAC Game of the Year. Northern Illinois improved to 5-1 in the MAC with a one-point win over Ball St. last week and now the West Division is theirs to win. A victory over Buffalo secures the title and a trip to the MAC Championship as they cannot be caught no matter what Ball St. and Central Michigan do down the stretch as the Huskies own both tiebreakers. Northern Illinois has been outrushed in its last two games which are the only two times it has been outrushed against non-Power Five teams. Still, the Huskies are averaging 220.4 ypg on the ground which is No. 15 in the country and face a porous defense when trying to stop the run. Northern Illinois is 3-2 on the road with one loss coming against Michigan and the other coming against 4-2 Kent St. by five points. The Huskies are 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 road games against teams with a losing home record. There is motivation for Buffalo as it will become bowl eligible if it wins its final two games but there is not a lot of confidence backing the Bulls here. In their four wins, one came against Wagner of the FCS, two other came against Old Dominion and Ohio by one point apiece and the last one came against Akron which is 2-8 on the season including 1-5 in the MAC. The Buffalo defense has been solid at home by allowing only 365.6 ypg but that is a severely skewed average as included is a 97-yard defensive effort in that Wagner game. The Bulls allow 4.6 ypc on the ground in their five home games and 4.8 ypc overall. On offense, they do run the ball well but a lot of that is due to play calling as they average just 4.4 ypc. The Bulls are 0-4 ATS in their last four games following a straight up loss. Here, we play against home teams where the line is +3 to -3 after allowing 6.25 or more yppl in their previous game going up against an opponent after outgaining opponent by 125 or more total yards in their previous game. This situation is 73-33 ATS (68.9 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (309) Northern Illinois Huskies

This is a play on the WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS for our CFB Tuesday Enforcer. Western Michigan snapped a two-game losing streak with a closer than expected win over Akron last Tuesday but they are still unable to win the MAC West because of tiebreakers. If the Broncos win out, including a victory at first place Northern Illinois next week, they will finish 5-3 but there is no chance to surpass them because of upcoming matchups. Against the Zips, Western Michigan rushed for 316 yards on the night, led by Sean Tyler with 16 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown, while adding a receiving score and a 96-yard kick return for a touchdown. Overall, the Broncos are No. 29 in total offense and No. 34 in rushing defense and will face an Eagles defense that is ranked No. 103 and No. 107 in those categories respectively. Western Michigan is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 road games after three or more consecutive losses against the spread. Eastern Michigan entered last week 3-2 in the MAC West and had the possibility to control its own destiny for the title but lost against Ohio and have been mathematically eliminated. The Eagles were outrushed for the fifth time in six games, the one was dead even, and they are losing the rushing battle by an average of 136.2 ypg. Eastern Michigan, while struggling mightily in stopping the run, cannot get it done on offense either as they are ranked No. 109 in rushing offense. The Eagles have lost two straight home games and of the three wins, one came by just one point against Miami while the other two came against St. Francis of the FCS and Texas St. which is 3-7 on the season. Eastern Michigan is 3-16 ATS in its last 19 home games after allowing 7.25 or more yppl in their previous game. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 10 points in the second half of the season averaging 440 or more ypg after gaining 6.75 or more yppl in their previous game going up against teams allowing between 390 and 440 ypg. This situation is 31-9 ATS (77.5 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (301) Western Michigan Broncos

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES RAMS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. The Rams are coming off a bad loss against Tennessee but it really was not as bad as the score shows. Los Angeles outgained the Titans by 153 total yards as the defense allowed only 194 yards and 14 of the 28 points allowed were off of back-to-back interceptions. San Francisco fell to 3-5 and the schedule has been the reason this record is even this good. The three wins came against teams a combined 7-20-1 with the wins coming by an average of 8.3 ppg while the losses have come against four winning teams and those defeats are by an average of 8.4 ppg. The Rams are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games following a double-digit loss at home while the 49ers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game. One key stat in this matchup that shows these teams are closer than the records indicate is that the Rams are averaging 6.4 yppl on offense while the 49ers are averaging 6.3 yppl. Defensively, both teams are allowing 5.5 yppl and when it comes to total yards, Los Angeles is +50 ypg in differential while San Francisco is +27 ypg and that difference is pretty insignificant. That being said, the 49ers are stepping on their own feet and the point differential shows that. San Francisco is No. 24 in points allowed and No. 17 in points scored and that due to mistakes as the 49ers have the worst turnover margin in the NFL. For the Rams, the loss of Robert Woods is big but he has a capable replacement in Van Jefferson who has averaged 5.2 targets per game and he has three games of 80-plus receiving yards. Odell Beckham Jr. could provide a spark as well. On the other side, Von Miller is expected to make his Rams debut. The Rams are 15-6 ATS after a loss under Sean McVay. Here ,we play against home underdogs or pickems with a winning percentage between .250 and .400 after having lost four out of their last five games, playing a team with a winning record. This situation is 34-12 ATS (73.9 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (265) Los Angeles Rams

This is a play on the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS for our NFL Nonconference Game of the Month. We played against New Orleans and played on Tennessee last week and now we are going opposite this week as they match up against each other. Tennessee has won five straight games and to no surprise, the public is all over the Titans (looking at consensus sites and offshore numbers). The last four wins have come against teams all in playoff contention and all of those wins were outright as underdogs. Now they come in as a small home favorite which is part of the reason for the public sentiment and despite this, the line has not moved. Tennessee has the No. 4 ranked rushing offense but Derrick Henry is out and it managed only 69 yards on the ground against the Rams last week and now faces the top ranked rushing defense in the league. the Titans are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game. The Saints lost to the Falcons at home last week which snapped a three-game winning streak. At 5-3, New Orleans is a game behind Tampa Bay in the NFC South and the Saints bring in a 3-1 road record that includes three straight victories. The offense has been inconsistent but face a below average Titans defense that allowed 347 yards but benefitted from a pair of costly Rams turnovers. New Orleans has allowed only 19.4 ppg and while it has been outpassed in six of eight games, the Saints face the No. 26 ranked passing offense in the league. The Saints are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 road games against teams with a winning home record and this is credit to head coach Sean Payton. Here, we play against home teams where the line is +3 to -3 after scoring 25 points or more in two straight games going up against an opponent after a playing a game where 50 total points or more were scored. This situation is 62-28 ATS (68.9 percent) since 1983. 10* (249) New Orleans Saints

This is a play on the MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD for our C-USA Game of the Year. Marshall is in a tie for first place in the C-USA East Division with Western Kentucky at 4-1 so this is a must win game with Charlotte on deck and then the finale against the Hilltoppers. Marshall has outgained its opponent in eight of nine games this season with the lone exception coming against Appalachian St. where it lost by just one point. The Thundering Hern own the best defense in the conference in terms of scoring as they are allowing 19 ppg which is No. 19 in the nation. The lone conference loss came against Middle Tennessee St. despite winning the yardage battle by 193 total yards. Marshall committed six turnovers including four fumbles, one which was returned 90 yards for a touchdown. The Thundering Herd are 14-5-2 ATS in their last 21 home games against teams with a winning road record. The Blazers are 4-1 in the C-USA West Division with the loss coming against Rice as a 23.5-point favorite and they bounced back with a win over Louisiana Tech last week. The defense has been solid but they have allowed 30 or more points in three of their last five games and while they have two shutouts, one came against Jacksonville St. from the FCS and the other came against 1-8 Southern Mississippi. This will be the toughest test for the defense as Marshall is No. 8 in total offense. UAB is 3-1 on the road but those three wins have come against teams that are a combined 5-22. The Blazers are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. Here, we play on home teams off two consecutive wins by 10 points or more against conference rivals, in a game involving two teams with winning percentages between .600 and .800. this situation is 32-9 ATS (78 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (204) Marshall Thundering Herd

This is a play on the WYOMING COWBOYS for our CFB Friday Night Lights Winner. Boise St. is still alive in the MWC Mountain Division after a pair of road wins as it now trails Utah St. by one game for first place. The Broncos have had an up and down season and they are favored by their biggest amount since a September game against UTEP. They are just 1-3 at home which is the most losses in over a decade so the intimidation factor is no longer there. To put it is perspective, Boise St. has lost 13 home games since 2000 and three of them have come this season. Not much has been going good on either side of the ball as the Broncos are No. 81 in total defense and No. 76 in total offense and the running game rankings are even worse at No. 96 and No. 117 respectively. The Broncos are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up win. Wyoming had lost four straight games before coming off a big win against Colorado St. last week for its first conference victory. While the Cowboys are just 1-4 in the MWC, they are still in line for a bowl game after coming into the season with a shot at winning the division so they have definitely underachieved but the win over the Rams can build some much needed confidence. The offense gained a season high 477 total yards last week and the defense remains a strength as Wyoming is No. 21 overall and No. 4 against the pass which is the strength of the Boise St. offense so they should be in good shape here. The rushing game on offense will need to keep up its recent success as it is No. 37 in the country. Here, we play on underdogs of 10.5 to 21 points off an upset win by 10 points or more as a home underdog, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team. This situation is 31-8 ATS (79.5 percent) since 1992. 10* (119) Wyoming Cowboys

This is a play on the MIAMI DOLPHINS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. Baltimore is coming off another come-from-behind win to improve to 6-2 on the season and remains in first place in the AFC North. The schedule has been one of the most favorable ones we have seen in a long time as the Ravens have played four straight home games with a bye week sandwiched in-between there and this will be their first road game since October 3rd. During this four-game stretch, Baltimore needed overtime twice to win and were crushed by Cincinnati in another. The Ravens are 2-1 on the road as they lost in overtime against Las Vegas and needed a record breaking field goal to beat lowly Detroit as they had to come back in the last minute. The Ravens are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. The Dolphins were able sneak out a win against Houston which is not saying much but this is a good spot as they get to remain home on a short week facing a team travelling from home and got the first time in five weeks. Miami snapped a seven-game losing streak and it has been competitive of late as it lost two games by five points combined and was in it against Buffalo until the Bills scored nine points late in the fourth quarter. The Ravens do have a big edge on offense against the Miami defense but the Dolphins can move the ball here as the Ravens defense is nothing special, ranked in the bottom third of the league in total defense and scoring defense. The Dolphins are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games. Here, we play against favorites of 3.5 to 10 points with a defense forcing one or fewer turnovers per game, after a game where they forced no turnovers. This situation is 53-22 ATS (70.7 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (114) Miami Dolphins

This is a play on the PITTSBURGH PANTHERS for our CFB Thursday Game of the Month. North Carolina is coming off a win over rival Wake Forest which put an end to the Demon Deacons undefeated season and a situation like that, the home fans stormed the field everyone is still celebrating which makes playing on a short week that much more difficult. The Tar Heels have lost their last three games following a win and two of those losses were against losing teams that are now a combined 6-12 overall and 4-9 in the ACC. The offense has been solid but they have been unable to stop anyone as the defense No. 96 in total yards allowed with 421.4 ypg while giving up 33.4 ppg which is No. 111 in the nation. This is a real problem going into a hostile environment against one of the top offenses in the country. The Tar Heels are 1-9 ATS in their last ten games off a win against a conference rival. Pittsburgh rolled over Duke on Saturday as it reeled off 638 total yards, its fifth game where it put up at least 580 total yards. The Panthers are No. 2 in the country in total offense and No. 1 in scoring offense and over their last six games, they have outgained their opponents by an average of 230.3 ypg. Pittsburgh remains in first place in the ACC Coastal at 4-1, a half-game ahead of Virginia and a game ahead of Miami and North Carolina. Unlike the Tar Heels defense, Pittsburgh actually has a solid unit as it is ranked No. 37 overall and No. 45 in points allowed. Pittsburgh is 20-7 ATS in its last 27 home games off a win by 10 points or more over a conference rival. Here, we play against road underdogs in the second half of the season averaging 6.2 or more yppl and after gaining 525 or more total ypg over their last two games going up against teams allowing between 4.8 and 5.6 yppl. This situation is 41-14 ATS (74.5 percent) since 1992. 10* (116) Pittsburgh Panthers

This is a play on the CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS for our CFB Wednesday Enforcer. Central Michigan picked up a big win at Western Michigan last Wednesday as it won by 12 points as a nine-point underdog which has now put the MAC West totally up for grabs. There are four teams separated by just one game and that includes the Chippewas as they are tied for second place, a game behind Northern Illinois which suffered its first loss of the season last week. Central Michigan is 3-1 at home with that lone defeat coming against the Huskies so another loss basically knocks it out of a chance for the representing the division in the MAC Championship. Central Michigan brings in a solid offense and will square off against one of the worst defenses in the country. The Chippewas are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game. We won with Kent St. last week as it defeated Northern Illinois to keep its first place lead in the MAC East. The Golden Flashes improved to 4-0 at home with the victory but now they hit the road where they are 1-4, the one win coming against 2-7 Ohio as they benefitted from a 3-0 turnover advantage, two of which the Bobcats committed inside the Kent St. redzone. The Golden Flashes do have a strong offense with a solid rushing game but they cannot stop anyone on the other side of the ball as they are dead last in total defense, allowing 495.8 ypg and they are second worst in scoring defense, giving up 34.9 ppg. They have allowed 45.5 ppg in two MAC road games. The Golden Flashes are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 road games against teams with a winning home record. 10* (110) Central Michigan Chippewas

This is a play on the CHICAGO BEARS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. The Bears have lost three straight games following a two-game winning streak and they are now 3-5 overall but all hope is not lost. Entering Week Nine, the Bears are only one game back in the win column from the No. Seven seed in the NFC with a lot of football remaining. There is no denying the offense has been up and down and the passing game needs to improve. The magic number is 20 points for Chicago as it is 3-1 on the season when scoring 20 or more points while going 0-4 when scoring fewer than that. Justin Fields had a solid game against San Francisco and he will have to continue his running success if the Bears want to keep the Steelers off balance. Chicago is 19-5 ATS in its last 24 games after three consecutive games with a turnover margin of -1 or worse. Pittsburgh has won three straight games to move to within a game of Baltimore for first place in the AFC South. The Steelers have gotten it done on the defensive end as they have allowed 16.3 ppg over the winning streak after giving up 23.3 ppg through their first four games. The offense continues to be a struggle similar to Chicago as the Steelers have scored more than 20 points in regulation only once in their last six games. Pittsburgh has been favored by more than 2.5 points only twice this season and it has gone 1-1 while failing to cover in that victory as it was a three-point win over Seattle in overtime as a 5.5-point chalk. Fading overpriced favorites that has a limited offense is the way to go. The Steelers are 0-7 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite. Here, we play on road teams averaging 285 or fewer total ypg, after allowing 400 or more total yards in two consecutive games. This situation is 39-15 ATS (72.2 percent) since 1983. 10* (475) Chicago Bears

This is a play on the ATLANTA FALCONS for our NFC South Game of the Year. The Saints are coming off a win over Tampa Bay last Sunday in a big upset that put New Orleans just a half-game behind the Buccaneers in the NFC South. They did it with Trevor Siemian who was not great but the Saints benefitted from three Tampa Bay turnovers, scoring 17 points off those, and 11 penalties. This offense is not good to begin with a New Orleans is No. 29 in total offense including No. 31 in passing and Michael Thomas is officially done for the season. The defense is playing very well but getting up for a second straight week after that big win will be a challenge. Despite the winning record, the Saints are getting outgained by close to 40 yards per game. The Saints are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a favorite. Atlanta is coming off a loss against Carolina to fall to 3-5 and the Panthers did catch a break when Matt Ryan got his left hand stomped on and he clearly was not the same. He will be fine this week and the Falcons are getting a bigger number than they should be. After a pair of blowout wins to open the season, Atlanta has been playing much better by going 3-2 over its last five games with the two losses coming by just a possession each. There are six teams in the NFC that are between 3-5 and 4-4 so Atlanta is still very much alive in the Wild Card race and these are those marginal games that need to be one, unlike last week against the Panthers. The Falcons are 25-12 ATS in their last 37 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Here, we play against home teams off an upset win over a division rival as a home underdog, with a winning record on the season. This situation is 34-11 ATS (75.6 percent) since 1983. 10* (465) Atlanta Falcons

This is a play on the LOUISVILLE CARDINALS for our ACC Game of the Year. Clemson is finally coming off its first cover of the season and in unlikely fashion but it got into the ATS win column and now comes in overpriced on the road. The Tigers offense remains a work in progress despite playing eight games as the Tigers are ranked No. 114 in total yards at 330.6 and No. 113 in scoring at 21.3 ppg. Taking away that fumble recovery and overtime scores and Clemson has averaged 17.5 ppg over its last six games on offense. The defense has kept this team respectable but even that unit is down a notch from the previous years although the Tigers have done a good job of keeping points off the board. The Tigers are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win. Louisville is coming off a loss at NC State despite outgaining the Wolfpack and the Cardinals are now 1-3 away from home. They are 3-1 at home with the lone defeat coming against Virginia by a single point on a last minute touchdown. Overall, they are No. 30 in total offense and can get things rolling again at home. The Cardinals are 6-0 ATS in their last six games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game. Here, we play on home teams averaging between 190 and 230 rushing ypg going up against teams allowing between 140 and 190 rushing ypg, after allowing 100 or less rushing yards last game. This situation is 23-2 ATS (92 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (330) Louisville Cardinals

This is a play on the BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES for our CFB Friday Night Lights. After a 4-0 start, Boston College has lost four straight games which has put it at the bottom of the ACC Atlantic Division at 4-0. Three of those losses came on the road while the only home game in that stretch came against 6-2 NC State. The Eagles have an above average defense as they are ranked No. 42 overall and No. 33 in scoring defense and will be facing a very inconsistent offense. They are No. 14 in the nation in third down defense, and third in the ACC behind NC State and Pittsburgh. Additionally, Boston College has allowed an ACC-low seven touchdown passes. The Eagles are 7-0 ATS in its last seven home games after gaining 125 or less rushing yards in three straight games. Virginia Tech was on a three-game losing streak and was able to put that to a halt with a win over Georgia Tech this past Saturday to even its record at 4-4. The Hokies are coming off their best offensive game of the season but that came against a Yellow Jackets defense that is ranked No. 105 in the country in yards allowed. They have been outgained in five of eight games and will face a substantially better defense as they hit road for the second straight game on a short week. They have struggled to defend the run as they are ranked No. 12 in the conference with 179.6 ypg allowed. Virginia Tech is 0-8 ATS in its last eight road games after two consecutive game where they committed no turnovers. Here, we play against road team after allowing 5.5 or more rushing ypa in two straight games going up against an opponent after gaining 125 or fewer rushing yards in three straight games. This situation is 31-8 ATS (79.5 percent) since 1992. 10* (316) Boston College Eagles

This is a play on the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Punisher. The Colts are coming off a tough loss against Tennessee on Sunday in overtime as they blew a 14-0 lead and had some costly turnovers down the stretch. They now trail the Titans by three games in the AFC South and they have some work to do to get back into the playoff picture. This is a big two-game home stretch against the Jets and Jaguars and they have to win both and they also need to dominate to get some confidence back before facing the Bills and Buccaneers. The Colts are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games following an ATS loss. After getting outgained in six of their previous seven games, New York outgained the Bengals by 193 total yards in a 34-31 win. While it was a solid Jets win, it can considered a bad Cincinnati loss as they still seemed to be relishing in their win over Baltimore the previous week. New York is 0-3 in true road games and has failed to cover any of those and has been outgained by close to 200 ypg while getting outscored by 24 ppg. Quarterback Matt White had a game for the ages as he threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns but he comes back down to earth here. In the four major statistical categories, total yards, rushing yards, passing yards and points per game, the Jets are ranked No. 27 or worse in six of eight of those eight categories on offense and defense. Conversely, Indianapolis is ranked No. 15 or better in those categories. The Jets are 0-8 ATS in their last eight road games against teams allowing 235 or more passing ypg. Here, we play on favorites that are allowing between 18 and 23 ppg and after scoring 30 points or more last game going up against teams allowing 27 or more ppg. This situation is 23-4 ATS (85.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (312) Indianapolis Colts

This is a play on the KENT ST. GOLDEN FLASHES for our CFB Wednesday Game of the Month. Northern Illinois has won five straight games including the last four in the MAC to build a two-game lead in the MAC West Division. The Huskies have covered four of those five games and in the four MAC games, they have been outgained overall with all four being decided by one possession including two by a combined three points. Five of the Huskies eight games have been decided by a touchdown or less and Northern Illinois won the Georgia Tech, Toledo and Central Michigan games by scoring in the last minute of play. Northern Illinois leans on its strong rushing attack as it is averaging 232.8 ypg which is No. 10 in the country and while that would normally be a big edge, Kent St. is not far behind. Northern Illinois is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 road games after a road game where both teams scored 31 points or more. The Golden Flashes average 220.1 ypg on the ground which is No. 17 in the country and should feast on the Huskies defense. They are one of the youngest units in the nation with 10 second year freshmen and three true freshmen playing key roles across every level. Kent St. has won three of its last four games to sit in a first place tie with Miami Ohio in the MAC East Division. The Golden Flashes are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game. Play on home favorites of 3.5 to 10 points off a win against a conference rival going up against an opponent off three straight wins against conference rivals. This situation is 84-42 ATS (66.7 percent) since 1992. 10* (308) Kent St. Golden Flashes

This is a play on the TOLEDO ROCKETS for our CFB Tuesday Enforcer. Toledo is coming off an upset win over Western Michigan to move into a tie for second Place in the MAC West, two games behind 4-0 Northern Illinois. Catching the Huskies is unlikely as they lost the meeting but getting bowl eligible is the goal now and they are two wins away. The 4-4 record could be a lot better as three of those losses came by three, two and three points against Notre Dame, Northern Illinois and Central Michigan respectively and those three teams are a combined 17-7. The strength for the Rockets is their defense as they are No. 25 overall and No. 15 in scoring. Toledo is 25-11 ATS in its last 36 home games after a win by 17 or more points. Eastern Michigan is ranked fifth in the MAC and No. 79 in the country in total defense, allowing 393.3 ypg. The Eagles have been good against the pass but their rushing defense has been horrible as they allow 184.1 ypg which is No. 101 in the nation and they allowed 17 rushing touchdowns which is near the botto4 across all teams. The offense has been below average as they are No. 90 in total offense and No. 109 in rushing offense. Eastern Michigan is dead even in turnover margin at 10-10 while Toledo is 11-4 and that +7 differential is tied for No. 11 in the country. The Eagles are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Here, we play on home favorites of 3.5 to 10 points in conference games, off an upset win by 14 or more points as a home underdog. This situation is 28-7 ATS (80 percent) since 1992. 10* (302) Toledo Rockets

This is a play on the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. Kansas City has lost two of its last three and four of its last six games to fall to 3-4 overall which has the Chiefs in last place in the AFC West. They have struggled within the conference but at 2-0 against the NFL, both coming against NFC East team Washington and Philadelphia and by a combined score of 73-43 and this is a statement game to close the first half on a positive before hitting a tough stretch of three straight games against division leaders. The offense has not lost a step but turnovers have been an issue. They led the NFL in total offense in 2020, averaging 414.7 ypg and this year, they are averaging 419.3 ypg, third in the NFL behind Dallas and Tampa Bay. The defense has been dreadful but in the four losses, Kansas City has faced offenses ranked No. 4, No. 5, No. 11 and No. 12 and the Giants are well below those rankings. New York continues to be ravaged with injuries at the wide receiver position so it will be hard pressed to take advantage of the Chiefs defense. They did put up 25 points against Carolina last week but managed only 302 total yards and while the defense played well, it came against the Panthers which have the eighth worst offense in the NFL. The Giants had a top-10 defense last season under coordinator Patrick Graham but this year, they were a bottom 10 unit and are allowing 25.7 ppg. The Chiefs are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up loss. The Giants are 0-7 ATS in their last seven games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game while going 1-8 ATS in their last nine non-conference games. 10* (278) Kansas City Chiefs

This is a play on the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS for our AFC South Game of the Month. Tennessee is coming off its second straight big win as it followed up its win against Buffalo with a victory over Kansas City last week. Both were far from dominant as the Titans outgained Kansas City by just 35 yards and were outgained by Buffalo by 55 yards. Both of those were at home and Tennessee has struggled on the road. They are 2-1 on the highway, with two games going into overtime and the third being a win over Jacksonville where they were actually outgained by 86 yards. The Colts defense has been playing at a high level with the exception of late in the game against Baltimore. Tennessee is 5-16 ATS in its last 21 games off an upset win by 14 points or more as an underdog. The Colts have won two straight games to move to 3-4 to get back into the playoff picture. While the defense has been playing better, quarterback Carson Wentz is again playing at a high level. He has posted four straight games with a passer rating of 106.3 or better with last week being the most impressive against a tough 49ers defense in awful weather and he has tossed eight touchdowns and no interceptions over this stretch. The Colts are 1-2 at home but the two losses came early in the season when they were banged up and both were one possession games. Four of the previous five games were on the road and with the Jets and Jaguars on deck at home, getting to 6-4 is more than likely. Indianapolis 14-4 ATS in its last 18 games against teams averaging 350 or more ypg. Here, we play against road teams where the line is +3 to -3 off a by 14 or more points as a home underdog, after the first month of the season. This situation is 31-9 ATS (77.5 percent) since 1983. 10* (258) Indianapolis Colts

This is a play on the OKLAHOMA SOONERS for our Big XII Game of the Year. This might be considered a steep number but Oklahoma should come out with a huge sense of urgency. The Sooners defeated Kansas last week and they clearly did not show up as they trailed 10-0 at halftime and while they rallied to win by 12 points, it was their worst game of the season. The Sooners dropped in the ranking because of their uneven effort and with games against Baylor, Iowa St. and Oklahoma St, all of which are ranked and are right behind the Sooners in the Big XII, this is a big game to get right. The Sooners are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. The Red Raiders have dropped three of their last five games, including a 25-24 home loss to Kansas St. last week where they were held scoreless after halftime. That led to a change on the sideline as Sonny Cumbie was named the Red Raiders interim coach Monday after Matt Wells was fired in the middle of his third season at the helm. Texas Tech has won two road games on the season but those came against West Virginia and Kansas which are a combined 1-7 in the conference. The Red Raiders are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game. Here, we play against road teams averaging 34 or more ppg after a loss by three or fewer points going up against teams allowing between 21 and 28 in the second half of the season. This situation is 23-3 ATS (88.5 percent) since 1992. 10* (188) Oklahoma Sooners

This is a play on the TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE for our CFB Friday Night Lights. Tulsa opened the season 0-3 including a questionable loss against Cal Davis in its first game but the other two losses came against Ohio St. and Oklahoma St., both on the road, and the Golden Hurricane were outgained by just seven yards against Ohio St. and actually outgained Oklahoma St. by 34 yards. They have won three of their last four games and while the last victory was by just a point over South Florida, they outgained the Bulls by 267 total yards but three turnovers kept it close as South Florida returned an interception for a touchdown and on top of that, returned a kickoff 100 yards for another score. Going back, the Golden Hurricane are 16-2 ATS in their last 18 games after a game where they committed three or more turnovers. Coming off a bye, they will be fresh and ready to go. Navy is coming off one of its best games of the season as it left it all on the field in a tough seven-point loss against No. 2 Cincinnati. Obviously this was its biggest game of the season and that will be tough to recover from and now the Midshipmen have to travel a good distance for just their third road game of the season. The Midshipmen are 0-4 ATS in their last four games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game. Here, we play against road underdogs of 10.5 to 21 points averaging between 16 and 21 ppg going up against teams allowing between 28 and 34 ppg. This situation is 32-9 ATS (78 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (114) Tulsa Golden Hurricane

This is a play on the GREEN BAY PACKERS for our NFL Thursday Primetime Publisher. Green Bay has won six straight games to keep pace in the NFC and this could be a preview of the NFC Championship. The Packers have covered all six of these games, winning their lone game as underdogs and this number has gone up which is adding value even though the offense looks like it could be down a key player. The Green Bay offense took a hit early in the week as Davante Adams tested positive for COVID and is likely out but could be in the lineup as long as he registers two negative tests 48 hours apart. The return of Marquez Valdes-Scantling would be huge in case Adams is definitely out. Aaron Rodgers has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every game this season except the season opener against the Saints and on the season, he has 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Arizona is the lone remaining undefeated team in the NFL as it is off to a surprising 7-0 start with both sides of the ball playing great. The Cardinals are No. 4 in the league in scoring offense and No. 7 in total offense and tied for first in scoring defense and No. 4 in total defense. Quarterback Kyler Murray has 17 touchdown passes this season to go with five interceptions and is a mid-season MVP candidate. The Cardinals are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 home games after allowing 200 or less total yards in their previous game. Here, we play against favorites of 3.5 to 10 points after a game where they committed one or fewer turnovers going up against an opponent after four consecutive games with a turnover margin of +1 or better. This situation is 29-7 ATS (80.6 percent) since 1983. 10* (107) Green Bay Packers

This is a play on the TROY TROJANS for our CFB Thursday Game of the Month. Troy is 4-3 this season following a pair of close wins in its last two games. The Trojans are coming off a bye week which is a huge edge here to prepare for this big game against a team playing on a short week and they come into this game part of a four-way tie for first place in the Sun Belt East Division. The first loss came against Liberty by eight points, the second came against ULM but turnovers did them in as they outgained the Warhawks and the third came against South Carolina from the SEC. On the season, it has been favored five times and the two times it has been an underdog, it was by single digits so we are not only playing the situation, but the number as well. Coastal Carolina is coming off its first loss of the season as it went down at Appalachian St by a field goal but the game was not that close as it was outgained by 229 yards and was able to keep it close thanks to four Mountaineers turnovers. The Chanticleers will come out to avenge that loss last week and while the offense is potent, they will be facing the No. 7 ranked defense in the country and that will be a big part for Troy in covering this big number. Coastal Carolina and Troy have played the No. 143 and No. 140 ranked schedules respectively. Here, we play against favorites of 10.5 to 21 points in a game involving two teams allowing between 16 and 21 ppg, after scoring 20 points or more in the first half in two straight games. This situation is 39-14 ATS (73.6 percent) since 1992. 10* (109) Troy Trojans

This is a play on the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS for our NFL Monday Primetime Punisher. New Orleans is off to a 3-2 start following a win over Washington and the Saints are coming off a bye which means they could get some key pieces back. But they are still banged up in some key areas and this line has risen since opening which is more fading Seattle because of no Russell Wilson. New Orleans did beat Green Bay in its season opener 38-3 but the Packers simply did not show up and since then, the Saints have been outgained in each of their last four games and by an average of 96.8 ypg and that is not a favorable differential heading out against a desperate team in need of a win. The Saints have failed to cover four of their last five Monday night games and are an overpriced favorite here. Seattle is coming off a big second half against the Steelers to send the game into overtime before losing by three points. The Seahawks were getting 5.5 points in Pittsburgh and are now getting roughly just a point less at home and that line differential makes no sense as the value is clearly on the home underdog. This will be the second game for Geno Smith to have a full week of preparation and he was pretty good with the exception of a lost fumble as he went 23-32 for 209 yards and a touchdown with no picks. The Seahawks are 34-15-4 ATS in their last 53 games following a straight up loss. 10* (474) Seattle Seahawks