Sports Picks & Predictions

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* The St. Louis Rams offense is one of the worst in the NFL. The reason the Rams have been more competitive this year is their defense is much improved. I don't expect the Rams to be able to do much offensively against the stacked 49ers defense. San Francisco is first in the NFL in points per game allowed at just 12.9 per contest. The Rams defensive strength is stopping the run, and we know that is what the 49ers normally do is run the football early and often. This is the type of game where I expect the Niners to get an early lead and then play it pretty safe the rest of the way. Don't be surprised if the Rams struggle to get above 10 points or so. The under is 6-2-1 in the 49ers last 9 games. The under is 4-0-1 in the 49ers last 5 against the NFC. Take the under.

*3 Star NFL Early Bird Special* The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots have a real history of putting up big points when they meet. In 4 of the team's last 5 meetings, the final total has been at least 60 points. In the meeting earlier this year, the Patriots scored 31 points in the 4th quarter alone in a blowout win in Buffalo. New England ranks first in the NFL in total offense and points per game. The Patriots are averaging 33 points per game. Buffalo's defense has given up at least 35 points in 3 of their last 5 games. Buffalo's offense is getting healthier, and they should be able to put up points against a mediocre Pats defense. The over is 6-0 in the Pats last 6 games against a team with a losing record. The over is 5-0-1 in the Bills last 6 against the AFC East. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Late Night BAILOUT* The Fresno State Bulldogs and the Nevada Wolfpack both have a very explosive offense. Fresno State has stars at quarterback and running back with Derek Carr and Robbie Rouse. Carr is second in the nation in passing yards so far this season. Nevada always has one of the best ground games in the nation, and this year is no different. With Stephfon Jefferson leading the way, Nevada is averaging 261 yards per game on the ground. Both defenses are suspect against high-powered attacks. Last year's meeting between these two finished in a 45-38 final score. The over is 4-0 in Fresno State's last 4 following a bye week. The over is 5-2 in Nevada's last 7 home games. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA FB Top Play of the Week* The Utah Utes and Washington Huskies have been two pretty similar teams this year. Both of them have been very disappointing on the offensive side of the ball, but they have both been very good defensively. Three of Washington's last four games have finished at a total of 38 points or less (including their game against USC). Utah has scored a total of 28 points in their last three road games combined. Both of these offenses have serious trouble putting together long drives. This will likely be a game where both teams settle for quite a few field goals. The under is 4-0 in Utah's lats 4 road games. The under is 6-0 in Washington's last 6 home games. Take the under big!

*3 Star NCAA FB Under Radar Total* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have one of the most potent offenses in the nation. How good are they? They are third in the nation in yards per game at 571 per contest. They are second in the country in points per game with 52.4 per contest. They are top 12 in both rushing and passing yards. Texas State's defense allows 479 yards per game, and I suspect they are going to have a very long night in this one. On the other side, Louisiana Tech's defense is bad. They are second worst in the nation against the pass. Texas State should be able to put up some points at home here. The over is 8-1 in La. Tech's last 9 games overall. Take the over.

*3 Star CFB Bookie SMASHER* South Alabama has fought hard in their first year of existence as an FBS level football program. The Jaguars don't have much of an offense at all, but their defense is very solid. They have been in almost all of their games this year because of their defense. North Texas has a dinged up quarterback and a disappointing running game. The Mean Green defense is quite a bit better than it was a year ago. There is no reason to believe that either of these inefficient offenses will suddenly break out and put up a big number in this game. The under is 4-0 in North Texas' last 4 games following a straight up loss. Take the under.

*3 Star CFB Bookie CRUSHER* The Navy Midshipmen can run the ball with the best of them, and Troy hasn't proven they are capable of stopping the run. Look for Navy to run the ball over and over again, and I don't expect Troy to have any answers for it. Last year, Navy piled up 42 points against Troy. On the other side, the Navy defense has struggled against good offenses this year. Troy actually has the 14th ranked offense in the nation. They are more balanced this year on offense, and the Trojans are scoring 30.1 points per game. The over is 4-0 in Troy's last 4 contests. Look for both offenses to have their way here. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Hidden GEM Total* Air Force is an interesting team because they run the football about as well as anyone, but they can't stop the run at all. This often leads to high scoring games for the Falcons. In fact, 5 of their 9 games this year have topped the 60 point mark. San Diego State has gotten very good at running the ball as the year has moved along. I expect the Aztecs to be able to run the ball easily against Air Force's undersized defensive front. The over is 7-2 in Air Force's last 9 games following a straight up loss. The over is 6-1 in San Diego State's last 7 games against a team with a winning record. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Totals TKO* The Kent State Golden Flashes are one of the most improved teams in college football this year. Darrell Hazzell is doing a tremendous job with this team. Kent State is getting it done largely because of their strong rushing attack. Miami's defense has been chewed up on the ground this year. Opponents are averaging 232 yards per game on the ground. Miami is allowing 34.4 points per game. Kent State's defense has struggled against strong passing games. Miami can't run the ball, but they do have a strong passing game. Look for Miami to move it through the air nicely in this one. I think this one gets to at least 60. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Early Bird Special* The Army Black Knights have the number one running game in the nation, but they can't throw the football at all. In fact, they average just 67 yards per game through the air. One of the team's leading rushers is questionable for this game due to an injury. The Rutgers defense has been awesome against the run this year. Rutgers is fourth in the nation in rushing defense. I think Army will have a lot of trouble scoring points here. The Rutgers offense averages just 26 points per game, and I don't see them putting up a big number here either. The under is 11-2 in Army's last 13 games coming off a bye week. The under is 6-1 in Rutgers last 7 against Independent teams. Look for a low scoring game. Take the under.

*3 Star Big 10 Total* The Wisconsin Badgers will start Curt Phillips at quarterback here. Phillips isn't a very good quarterback, but I'm not sure the team needs a good quarterback to put up points against Indiana. Wisconsin still has a good running game with Montee Ball and James White, and the Hoosiers defensive line has been dominated numerous times this year. Wisconsin scored 83 against Indiana two years ago and 59 last year. While I don't expect that here, I do think they'll score plenty. Indiana's passing attack has been impressive, and Wisconsin's secondary is a bit weak right now. Indiana's offense should move the ball well here too. The over is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings between these two, and it is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings at Indiana. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Totals TKO* The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the best young players in the NBA in Kyrie Irving, and he can really chew up bad defenses. Phoenix definitely has a bad defense. The Suns are giving up 105 points per game so far this year. Goran Dragic and Michael Beasley are guys who can fill it up, but they don't play much defense. Cleveland has picked up their pace quite a bit this year, and they get to the free throw line quite often. The Suns aren't going to slow the tempo down at all here. The over is 4-0 in the Cavs last 4 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Dallas Mavericks have been very good offensively so far this year even without Dirk Nowitzki. Chris Kaman is a huge upgrade over anyone Dallas has had at the center spot in a long time. OJ Mayo can put up the points in bunches. On the other side, the Knicks are 3-0 and their offense is in a great rhythm right now. New York always had the talent to put up 100 or more every night, and now they seem to have the team chemistry necessary. Both teams are efficient on the offensive end, and they'll both run when given the opportunity. The over is 5-0 in the Mavericks last 5 road games. The over is 4-0 in the Mavs last 4 following a win. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two in New York. Take the over.

*5 Star NBA Top Total* The Denver Nuggets push the pace better than any other team in the NBA. Denver's offense has really started clicking in their last couple games. The Nuggets have put up 116 and 109 points in their last two games. Houston is a brand new team this year, and they have put up over 100 points in two of their first three games. The Rockets now have a point guard (Lin) who pushes the pace. James Harden looks like he is comfortable being the main scoring option, and Denver simply doesn't have much of a defense. The pace should be really quick in this one. The over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two in Houston. Look for this to sail over the posted total. Take the over big!

*3 Star Tuesday Night Total* The Ball State Cardinals have turned into a fast-paced offense that is tough to stop. Keith Wenning is an underrated quarterback who leads this offense very well. Toledo's defense has been torched on a constant basis over the past couple years, and it will likely happen again in this one. Toledo's defense ranks 108th in the nation in total defense. The Rockets offense has been gaining steam of late, and Ball State's defense is one of the worst in the nation. The Cardinals have given up 33.3 points per game so far this year. The over is 4-0 in Toledo's last 4 games after a bye week. The over is 7-1 in Ball State's last 8 road games. Look for a high scoring game. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* The Seattle Seahawks are a completely different team at Qwest Field. Their defense has been dominating at home, even against some of the best offenses in the league. Seattle's run defense is amazing, and that really is Minnesota's bread and butter on offense. Seattle games often end up being field goal battles. Poor weather is expected in this one, which just makes me feel even more strongly about the under. Both defenses should have the upper hand in this game. The under is 6-1 in the Seahawks last 7 games against the NFC. The under is 5-2 in the Vikings last 7 games overall. Look for a very low scoring game. Take the under.

*5 Star NFL Play of the Week* The Washington Redskins are a good team to play the 'over' with because they are very good offensively with RG3 at the helm and very suspect on the defensive side of the ball. Washington is dead last in the NFL in passing defense, and they are allowing 28.4 points per game. Carolina looked pretty good in a 23-22 loss to Chicago last week, and if they come out with that same kind of enthusiasm here they should put up a big number. The Panthers defense is giving up 24 points per game, and no one has had the answer to stopping RG3 all season. I don't see the Panthers having the answer in this one. The over is 5-0 in the Panthers last 5 after allowing 150 yards or less through the air in their previous game. The over is 5-0-1 in the Redskins last 6 after an ATS loss. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA FB Late Night BAILOUT* The Arizona Wildcats showed what they can do offensively last week in a win over USC. Matt Scott is the perfect quarterback for Rich Rod's offense. Scott can run when needed, and he can absolutely pick apart a defense with his arm. UCLA's defense has been shaky all year, and I think they'll struggle here. Arizona's defense is slightly better than last year, but UCLA's balanced offense has been scoring a lot of points against everyone. Look for Hundley and Franklin to have a big game here. The over is 4-0 in Ariozna's last 4 games. Take the over.

*3 Star Alabama/LSU Total Domination* This is the showdown everyone has been looking forward to since last season ended. Oddsmakers are down on LSU right now because the team has struggled a bit of late, but remember this team still has an amazing defense. LSU ranks third in the nation in total defense, and I just don't see Alabama coming into Baton Rouge and piling up the points on this ultra-talented defense. Speaking of talented defenses, Alabama is absolutely stacked on the defensive end. The Crimson Tide are first in almost all the major defensive statistics. LSU is struggling mightily on offense, and it won't surprise me if they can't get above 10 points here. The under is 4-1 in the Tigers last 5 following a bye week. The under is 5-1 in their last 6 following a straight up win. The under was 2-0 in the meetings between these two last year. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA FB Total Domination* The Clemson Tigers have one of the best offenses in the nation. Tajh Boyd is a great leader at the quarterback spot, and the Tigers have weapons at all the skill positions. Ellington is a solid running back and Watkins and Hopkins are tremendous on the outside. Duke is a much better team this year, but it is largely because of their offense. The Blue Devils should be able to put points on the board because of their passing game. Renfree is a good quarterback, and the Clemson secondary has struggled all year. Duke has been an 'over' bettors best friend of late. The over is 4-0-1 in the Blue Devils last 5. The over is 6-0-1 in their last 7 conference games. Take the over here.

*3 Star Oregon/USC Total Domination* The Oregon Ducks can score points faster than any other team in the nation. Chip Kelly's offense is tremendous at keeping their opponent off guard. USC gave up 52 points to Oregon two years ago and 35 last year. The weakness of the Oregon defense is their secondary, and Matt Barkley and his terrific group of receivers should be able to exploit that weakness. USC's offense has been really coming into their own over the last couple games. Oregon has been taking their foot off the gas early in PAC 12 games before this one, but they can't afford to do that here. Both offenses should pile up the points. The over is 22-8 in Oregon's last 30 conference games. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA FB Play of the Week* The Rice Owls have been one of the worst defensive teams in the nation over the last few years, and this year is no different. Rice is giving up 32.3 points per game this year. Tulane's offense was horrible earlier this year, but they now have starting quarterback Ryan Griffin back and it makes a big difference. With Griffin the team put up 55 points last week. Tulane's defense is giving up almost 500 yards of offense per game. Rice has a pretty good offense, and I expect them to move the ball at will in this one. In 4 of their last 7 games, Tulane has allowed at least 41 points. I think this one goes way over the posted total. The over is 43-9 in Rice's last 52 games on turf. Take the over in a big way here.

*3 Star TGIF NBA Total Domination* At the beginning of the NBA season, the first thing I like to do is check out teams where we will see pace changes. With Stan Van Gundy out and Dwight Howard gone, first year coach Jacques Vaughn will turn the Orlando Magic into an uptempo team. Now, Orlando doesn't have prolific scorers, so I won't always be looking at an 'over' with them. In this case, I love the matchup. Denver was the fastest paced team in the NBA team last year, and they aren't about to try to slow the pace down. The Nuggets should be able to score at will against this Orlando team. The quick pace should be plenty to put this one over the total. Take the over.

*3 Star Sunday Night Total Domination* The New Orleans Saints have a way of making games very high scoring. The Saints have a high-powered offense that can score very quickly, and they also have a defense that gives up a ton of points. Denver is a much more potent offense now with Peyton Manning at the helm. Manning should be able to take advantage of a very poor Saints secondary. The Saints are giving up 30.3 points per game and scoring 29.3 per contest. Denver is averaging 29 points per game at home this year. In a game that is played at a quick pace, I expect both teams to get plenty of chances to put points on the board here. The over is 6-0 in the Saints last 6 after a bye week. The over is 5-0 in the Saints last 5 road games. The over is 4-0 in the Saints last 4 October games. Look for lots of points here. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Early Bird Special* The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets will be playing in some ugly conditions Sunday afternoon. Hurricane Sandy will be dumping rain on this game and kicking up the wind. These kind of conditions aren't helpful to offenses, especially the wind. Miami's defense has been solid all year. The Jets offense is very inconsistent, and this kind of weather will lead to a lot more running. With the clock ticking throughout the game, it will be hard to get as many points as normal. Look for a defensive battle played in the driving rain in New York. The under is 7-0 in the Dolphins last 7 October games. Take the under in this one.

*3 Star NCAA FB Hidden GEM Total* UNLV is a team I like to look at the 'over' with because of their terrible defense and their much improved offense. The Rebels have scored 30 points or more in three of their last five contests. Their defense has allowed at least 30 points in every game against an FBS level opponent this year. San Diego State has really gotten their running game going of late. The Aztecs offensive front should dominate UNLV's weak defensive front in this game. San Diego State's defense has been poor against the pass this year, and UNLV should get some yards there. The over is 6-2 in UNLV's last 8 games. The over is 4-1 in San Diego State's last 5 games. Take the over.

*3 Star Michigan/Nebraska Total Domination* The Michigan Wolverines and Nebraska Cornhuskers meet in a crucial Big 10 matchup Saturday night. Michigan is in the driver's seat in the Legends Division, but Nebraska still has a major say. Nebraska's offense is much more potent this year with an improved Taylor Martinez under center. Michigan's secondary is good, but the front seven is questionable. Denard Robinson is in his senior season with the Wolverines, and he has really turned it on over the past few games. Nebraska has struggled against good running games (UCLA and Ohio State) and I think Michigan can run for a big number against the Cornhuskers. Look for both offenses to have quite a bit of success. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Under Radar Total* The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are unbeaten going into week nine of the college football season. Not many people saw that coming. How have they done it? Rutgers wins with their defense. Rutgers is third in the nation in rushing defense. They allow opponents to run for only 69 yards per game. Rutgers is allowing only 11.3 points per game, which is also third best in the nation. Kent State relies on its ground game, and I don't think they can run very well on this Rutgers defense. The Scarlet Knights offense isn't very good, and this feels like a low scoring game to me. The under is 12-4 in Rutgers last 16 games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA FB Play of the Week* The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been extremely impressive over the last few weeks. Texas Tech smashed West Virginia and won on the road at TCU. Kansas State has been the biggest surprise in college football this season. The Wildcats beat West Virginia 55-14 in Morgantown last weekend, and that game was as much of a "statement game" as you'll ever see. Kansas State's running attack is extremely tough to stop, and I don't think Texas Tech has the personnel to slow them down. On the other side, Kansas State's weakness is in the secondary. Seth Doege leads the nation with 28 touchdown passes. The Red Raiders should be able to put quite a few points on the board as well. The over is 6-0 in Kansas State's last 6 home games. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 between these teams. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Hidden GEM Total* The Ohio Bobcats are unbeaten and in the top 25. Ohio has a well-balanced offense that has been very consistent this year. The Bobcats major problem right now is their defense is really banged up. Ohio's best pass rushers and their best members of the secondary are out. Miami (Ohio) doesn't have a good running game, but they can throw the football. Opponents have been moving the ball through the air against Ohio of late, and Miami should do the same. Miami's defense is giving up 38 points per game, and the Bobcats will be one of the better offenses they have faced. I expect a high scoring game here. The over is 4-0 in Ohio's last 4 coming off a bye week. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB PAC 12 Total* UCLA is a much better team this year thanks in large part to Brett Hundley being under center. Hundley is a terrific dual-threat quarterback who jump starts this offense. Johnathan Franklin is one of the best running backs in the nation. Franklin averages 6.8 yards per carry, and I think he can do a lot of damage against this Arizona State defense. Arizona State's offense is fast-paced now with Todd Graham as their coach. Both of these offenses will be playing uptempo, and I think that will give them both plenty of scoring chances. UCLA averages 32 points per game and Arizona State averages 38. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Early Bird Special* The Ball State Cardinals have completely changed the way they play over the past couple years. Ball State is now a hurry up offense that looks to get as many offensive plays in a game as possible. Army's defense is allowing 38 points per game this year. Army gave up 48 points to a terrible Eastern Michigan offense last weekend. On the other side of the ball, Army is the number one rushing offense in the nation. That will be a problem for a Ball State defense that is 114th in the nation in total defense. Ball State allows 476 yards of offense per game. The over is a perfect 7-0 in Ball State's last 7 road games. The over is 10-1 in Army's last 11 games against the MAC. The over is 4-0 in Army's last 4 games following a loss. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Play of the Week* The Washington Redskins are a terrific 'over' team this year. Washington hasn't had a quarterback in the last few years, but now they have a star dual-threat quarterback. RG3 has more than lived up to all the hype so far this year. He is a game changer for this offense. Washington is averaging 30 points per game this year. At the same time, the Redskins defense continues to have problems stopping anyone. The Redskins are dead last in the NFL in pass defense. The New York Giants have a terrific passing attack, and I expect them to shred up this defense. The Giants are also averaging 30 points per game. This is a game that I expect to reach at least 55 points, so I really like the value on this one. The over is 6-1-1 in the Redskins last 8. Look for these offenses to get up and down the field quickly. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Early Bird Special* The New Orleans Saints finally got a win two weeks ago by coming back and beating the San Diego Chargers. New Orleans is still only 1-4, but they are holding onto faint hopes that they will be able to get into the postseason. New Orleans is 4th in the NFL in total offense, and I don't see Tampa Bay slowing them down much. The Bucs are second to last in the NFL in passing defense. Drew Brees seems to be coming into his own of late, and he should have a big day in this one. At the same time, the Saints defense isn't very good at all right now. The Saints are allowing 31 points per game on the season. Look for both teams to put up quite a few points here. The over is 8-0 in the Saints last 8 games against the NFC. The over is 4-0 in the Saints last 4 road games. The over is 5-0 in the Saints last 5 games following a straight up win. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Tempo Total* The Marshall Thundering Herd have one of the fastest paced offenses in the nation. Marshall's scoring drives often only last 2 or 3 minutes. Rakeem Cato is a very talented young quarterback for the Thundering Herd. Marshall is averaging 396 passing yards per game this year, which is second in the nation. Southern Miss has defensive problems this year. The Golden Eagles are allowing 36 points per game. On the other side, Marshall's rushing defense is abysmal and Southern Miss can still run the football. The Golden Eagles should be able to rack up some big yardage in this one. The over is 5-1 in Marshall's last 6 road games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Total Domination* The Cincinnati Bearcats and the Toledo Rockets can both score points in bunches. Cincinnati averages 37 points per game this year. The Bearcats have scored 52 and 49 points in the last two weeks. Toledo's defense is one of the worst in all of football. Toledo is 111th out of 124 teams in the nation in total defense. The Bearcats should pile up the points here. At the same time, Toledo's offense averages 36.4 points per game, and they will be the best offense the Bearcats defense has faced this season. The over is 5-0 in Toledo's last 5 games against a team with a winning record. The over is 4-0 in Cincinnati's last 4 following a win. Take the over and expect a high scoring game.

*5 Star NCAA FB Top Play of the Week* Boston College has a much improved offense compared to a year ago, but their defense is much worse than it was a year ago. The Eagles are averaging 281 passing yards per game this year. On the other side, Boston College is giving up 248 yards per game on the ground. Georgia Tech is third in the nation with 331 rushing yards per game. Army's offense piled up the yards and points against Boston College, and Georgia Tech runs the option even better. Georgia Tech's passing defense has been terrible, so Boston College should pile up the yards here. I don't see either defense slowing down the opposition in this one. The over is 4-0 in Georgia Tech's last 4 games. Look for a very high scoring game. I think this goes way over. Take the over big!

*3 Star Thursday Night Total Domination* The Oregon Ducks are an amazing offensive team. Chip Kelly just continues to plug in athletic players and run this high-powered offense beautifully. Oregon is averaging 52.3 points per game so far this year. Thomas is one of the most dynamic offensive players in football, and Mariota is a terrific quarterback for this system. Arizona State's defense has good numbers this year, which is giving us some value here. Arizona State hasn't faced a good offense yet this year, and I think they'll struggle in a big way here. At the same time, Todd Graham has this offense putting up points. Oregon has given up quite a few yards through the air, and I think the Sun Devils can score quite a few here. The over is 7-0 in Arizona State's last 7 Thursday games. The over is 5-0 in Oregon's last 5 games following an ATS win. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. Take the over.

*3 Star Giants/49ers Total Domination* The New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers have quite a bit of bad blood between them at this point. They met in the NFC Championship game last year, and it was the Giants who pulled off a come from behind victory in that one. San Francisco is definitely looking for revenge here. The 49ers do it with defense first. At this point, it is tough to argue with the fact that the 49ers have the best defense in the league. They are giving up less than 14 points per game. The Giants have had offensive explosions this year several times, but they haven't played a defense like the Niners. New York's defense should get a good pass rush on the 49ers, and I expect both defenses to bring their best in this intense game. The under is 4-0 in the Giants last 4 road games. The under is 5-0 in the Giants last 5 games after scoring 30 points or more in the previous game. Take the under.

*3 Star NFL Totals TKO* The Arizona Cardinals are 4-1 this year, but a lot of people see their offense and assume they aren't a very good team. Many people overlook the fact that Arizona has one of the best defenses in the NFL. Patrick Peterson is a star at cornerback, and the Cardinals have a ton of very solid guys in their front seven. No team has scored more than 21 points on Arizona this year. Buffalo's offense has been dreadful of late. The Bills scored three points last week against the 49ers. Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals offense is out of sync right now, and I don't expect them to put up too many points without any kind of running game. The under is 4-1 in the Cardinals 5 games this season. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA FB Total Domination* The Texas A&M Aggies offense is starting to get rolling. Kevin Sumlin's fast-paced offense struggled early in the year, but Johnny Manziel is getting it going of late. Louisiana Tech's defense has been torched through the air this year. The Bulldogs allowed an eye-popping 580 yards through the air in a win at Houston earlier this year. On the other side, the Bulldogs offense is tremendous. Louisiana Tech is averaging 53.2 points per game this year, which is fourth best in the nation. The weakness of the Aggies defense is their secondary, and that will be a big problem this week. The over is 5-0 in LA Tech's last 5 games. Look for a shootout. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Offensive Explosion* The West Virginia Mountaineers now rival the Oregon Ducks as having the team with the most high-octane offense in the nation. Geno Smith has thrown 24 touchdowns and ZERO interceptions. He is clearly the Heisman front runner for great reason. Texas Tech's pass defense has been ranked at the top of the charts all year, but that will end quickly after this one. The Red Raiders shut down a ton of weak offenses and they'll be torched by West Virginia in this one. On the other side, Texas Tech has a nice quarterback in Seth Doege. West Virginia's defense is nothing special. I think both teams get to 40 points here. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Totals TKO* The Maryland Terrapins have been making progress this year. Randy Edsall's team is making progress because they can play defense. Edsall has instilled his defensive toughness on this team, and it is showing on the field. West Virginia even struggled at times against the Terrapins defense. For the season, Maryland is allowing only 257 yards per game (7th in the nation). Virginia's offense is inconsistent, and I don't expect them to break out of their slump this week. As good as Maryland has been on defense, their offense has been terrible. The Terrapins rank 121st out of 124 teams in the nation in total offense. The under is 8-1 in the Cavs last 9 home games. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these teams. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA FB Play of the Week* The Ball State Cardinals have had high scoring games every week this year. Ball State has transitioned to a new fast-pace offense in the past year, and it is paying dividends in a big way now. The Cardinals only scored two touchdowns in 7 trips inside the red zone last weekend, but they'll face a poor defense this week. Western Michigan gave up 35 points against Ball State last year. On the other side, Western Michigan's passing attack is solid and the Cardinals secondary isn't good. Expect both teams to move the ball well through the air in this one. The over is 11-2-1 in Ball State's last 14 home games. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings at Ball State. I think this one gets into the low-mid 70's. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Total Value* The North Carolina Tar Heels are getting accustomed to Larry Fedora's uptempo offense, and it is starting to work well. The Tar Heels like to wear defenses down, and that has been exactly what they are doing over the last few weeks. Bryn Renner is a budding star at the quarterback spot. Renner already has 1,600 passing yards this year. Giovanni Bernard piled up a record 262 rushing yards last week against Virginia Tech. The Hokies defense was supposed to be strong, but North Carolina put up 48 points. Miami's defense is very weak. The Hurricanes have allowed 32 points or more against every FBS team they have played this year. Look for a high scoring game here. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Hidden GEM Total* The Houston Cougars offense took some time to get going this year, but they are rolling once again. It is the passing attack behind David Piland that is really clicking right now. Houston averages 344 passing yards per game. UAB's defense is allowing 33.8 points per game this year. On the other side, Houston's defense is bad once again this season. The Cougars are giving up almost 500 yards of total offense per game. Houston allows 32 points per game. UAB's passing attack has been very good of late. UAB put up 42 points in a loss to Tulsa last week. I don't see many stops in this one. Take the over.

*3 Star Cardinals/Nationals Game 5 Total* It all comes to down to this game for the Cardinals and Nationals. The Nationals had the best record in the National League this year largely due to having the best pitching staff in the league. Gio Gonzalez won 21 games, and he has been a rock for this team all year. Gonzalez has a spectacular 2.38 ERA at home this year. Adam Wainwright pitches for the Cardinals. Wainwright has CY Young type stuff, as he has shown before. Wainwright has rounded into form as he got healthier later in the year. He has allowed 2 runs or fewer in 7 of his last 10 starts. Wainwright has pitched in two straight games (both in the last two weeks) against the Nationals and allowed 2 runs total. In a deciding game like this, the best relievers will be used. Both offenses have been struggling of late, and this is a pitcher's ballpark. Look for a low scoring game. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA FB Late Night Bailout* The Washington Huskies defense was horrible last season. The Huskies defense has been surprisingly decent this year, but they haven't played anyone with even close to the level of offensive talent that Oregon has. The Ducks probably have the most dynamic offense in the nation. Oregon is averaging 52.4 points per game, and I'll be surprised if they don't get close to that level again this week. They just have too many weapons and too much speed for the Huskies defense. Washington has a very good quarterback in Keith Price, and I expect the Huskies to be able to do some scoring of their own in this one too. The over is 20-7 in Oregon's last 27 conference games. Take the over.

*6 Star College Football Play of the Year!* This one sets up to a be huge play for me. Tulsa's offense averages 42 points per game. The Golden Hurricane average 245 rushing yards per game, which is 12th in the nation. Marshall's weakness as a defense is the front seven, and opponents are averaging 225 rushing yards per game. Overall, the Thundering Herd are allowing a ridiculous 44.4 points per game. On the other side, Marshall ranks third in the nation in passing offense. The Thundering Herd average 395 yards per game through the air thanks to super sophomore Rakeem Cato. Cato leads the nation in passing yards. Tulsa's secondary is definitely the weakness of the defense. UAB threw for 337 yards on Tulsa last weekend. Marshall is putting up 41 points per game this year. Marshall scored 34 points against West Virginia and 41 against a pretty good Purdue defense. Both of these teams are teams I look to play the over with, and I was prepared to play a much higher number than this on the over. My numbers have this game projected at 82 points. Look for a major shootout in this one. Take the over in a very big way!

*3 Star NCAA FB Totals TKO* The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets run the triple option as well as anyone, and I don't think Clemson has the personnel to stop the Yellow Jackets running game. At the same time, Georgia Tech's defense simply isn't very good. Clemson has one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation. The Tigers put up 37 points against a great Florida State defense. Clemson has the type of offense that could score 45-50 points in a game like this. Tajh Boyd has his best play maker back this weekend as Sammy Watkins has been cleared to play. Boyd is one of the best quarterbacks in the land, and he should have a great game here. Take the over.

*5 Star Top Play Total Domination* Ball State has quickly becoming a scoring machine over the past couple years. If you look at Ball State's games this year, the combined score at the end of their games has been: 79, 80, 58, and 88 points. Northern Illinois and Ball State played to a 41-38 final last year. Two years ago the final was 59-21. Northern Illinois has a great play maker at quarterback in Jordan Lynch. Northern Illinois put up 55 points on Central Michigan last weekend. This is one of those games where I think both teams are very capable of putting up 40 points. This is a total I would have played up to 74 points. The over is 6-0-1 in Ball State's last 7 against a team with a winning record. The over is 4-0 in Ball State's last 4 when allowing 40 points or more in the previous game. The over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these teams at Ball State. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA FB Early Bird Total* Boston College is a completely different team than they were a year ago. Chase Rettig leads an impressive passing attack for the Eagles. Boston College is putting up more than 300 passing yards per game this year. On the other side, Boston College's defense took a big hit when Kuechly graduated after last season. Army is second in the nation in rushing yards, and I think they'll be able to run the ball well against a fairly weak Boston College front seven. Army's defense has given up more than 40 points in three of their five games this year. I think this game gets into the 60's. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Play of the Day* Chase Field becomes a completely different park when the roof is open. Arizona's hot dry weather really helps the baseball fly well. At gametime tonight, the temperature is expected to be 97 degrees with 10% humidity. The roof is scheduled to be open. We also have two pitchers who have struggled of late. Chacin has a 4.78 ERA this year and Corbin has a 4.77 ERA this year. Corbin has a terrible 8.36 ERA in his last 3 starts. Both of these teams have the ability to put up a bunch of runs. The over is 6-0 in the Rockies last 6 against a lefty. The over is 6-0 in the DBacks last 6 following a loss. The over is 6-0 in Jerry Meals (umpire) last 6 games behind home plate. The over is 5-0-1 in Corbin's last 6 starts. In all, a 23-0 angle backing the over. Take the over in this one.

*3 Star NFL Play of the Week* The Washington Redskins offense has been unstoppable so far this year. Robert Griffin III has been amazing through his first three weeks in the NFL. Washington has scored 40, 28, and 31 points in the first three weeks of the season. Tampa Bay's defense was good against Carolina and Dallas, but they allowed Eli Manning to throw for more than 500 yards in a 41-34 loss to the Giants. Don't forget that Tampa Bay was dead last in the NFL in total defense a year ago. Washington should score quite a few here again. Tampa Bay's offense is improved this year as well. Dating back to last season, Washington's defense has allowed 31 points or more in 7 of their last 8 games. Tampa Bay should pile up the yards and points against a poor Redskins secondary. The over is 4-0-1 in the Redskins last 5. The over is 21-7-1 in the Bucs last 29 games against a team with a losing record. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Early Bird Special* The New England Patriots are off to a slow 1-2 start. The Patriots are unlikely to drop to 1-3, but the Bills do pose some problems for their defense. New England has scored at least 34 points in each of their last 4 meetings against Buffalo. Look for Tom Brady and his receivers to get on track in a big way in this one. At the same time, the Bills are starting to get healthier and the Patriots defense isn't very good. There is no reason to expect New England to shut down Buffalo here. The two meetings last year ended at 34-31 and 49-21. The over is 4-0 in Buffalo's last 4 week 4 games. The over is 4-0-1 in Buffalo's last 5 vs. the AFC East. The over is 5-1 in the Patriots last 6 road games. Take the over.

*3 Star Wisconsin/Nebraska Total Domination* The Wisconsin Badgers dominated the Nebraska Cornuskers 48-17 last year in the Cornhuskers first game in the Big 10. Nebraska will definitely be looking for revenge in this night game in Lincoln. The Nebraska offense has been much better this year as Taylor Martinez has developed his passing game in a big way. Wisconsin's defense is down a bit, and Nebraska should be able to take advantage. At the same time, I expect Wisconsin to be able to run the ball well against Nebraska's relatively weak front seven. This total is too low for me to pass up. The over is 10-4 in Wisconsin's last 14. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Hidden Gem Total* Arizona State's offense is high-octane now with Todd Graham as the head coach. The Sun Devils are all about trying to pick up the tempo of the game and put points on the board in a hurry. I think Cal's games are being lined too low this year because the team had a good defense last year. The Cal defense is nothing like it was a year ago. Arizona State should pick them apart through the air. On the other side, Cal certainly has the ability to put up quite a few points on Arizona State as well. The over is 10-2 in Arizona State's last 12 conference games. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA FB Total SMASHER* The Clemson Tigers offense is one of the best in the nation. Clemson piled up 37 points against a great Florida State defense last week. Boston College's defense is down quite a bit from a year ago, and Clemson scored 36 on them last season. Boston College does have a much improved passing game this year. The Eagles are putting up 317 passing yards per contest so far this year. Chase Rettig has really stepped up at the quarterback spot. Clemson's defense isn't very good right now, and Boston College should be able to score plenty as well. I think this one gets into the mid 60's or higher. Take the over big.

*5 Star NCAA FB Play of the Week* Nevada's offense is extremely tough to stop every single year, and this year is no different. Chris Ault's Pistol offense is unique and very difficult to scheme against. Stefphon Jefferson leads the nation in rushing right now. Jefferson rushed for 6 touchdowns in last week's game alone! Cody Fajardo is a very underrated quarterback for Nevada, and he should have a field day against a terrible Texas State secondary. On the other side, Nevada's defense is horrible. The Wolfpack are 108th in the nation in total defense, and they are allowing 475 yards per game. Texas State should be able to get on the board plenty of times here too. Don't be surprised if this one goes well over the total. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA FB Early Bird Special* The Buffalo Bulls are expected to be without star running back Branden Oliver in this one. Oliver is basically one-man show for the Bulls on a weekly basis, so if he does indeed miss this game the offense (which is already bad), will really be hurting. Buffalo is 112th in the nation in passing. UConn's defense has been spectacular this year. The Huskies are fifth in the nation in total defense. They are third in rushing defense (allowing only 57.5 yards per game). UConn's offense isn't very strong, and they don't really have the type of team to light up the scoreboard against many teams. The under is 9-0 in Buffalo's last 9 games after allowing 200 rushing yards in the previous game. I like the under here.

*3 Star MLB Play of the Day* The Boston Red Sox lineup certainly isn't what it was at the beginning of the season. Dustin Pedroia is the only real star left in the Red Sox batting order. David Price is a AL CY Young candidate this year. Price has a 2.27 ERA in six starts at Fenway Park. On the other side, Clay Buchholz has been pitching very well of late. Buchholz has a 1.99 ERA in his last three starts. His career ERA against the Rays is 2.52 in 13 starts. The under is 6-1 in the Red Sox last 7 home games. Look for a pitcher's duel here. Take the under.

*3 Star NFL Early Bird Special* The Cincinnati Bengals offense woke up nicely last week against Cleveland. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are a great pass and catch tandem. The Bengals offensive front is strong, which should allow them to run the ball some as well. RG3 has been spectacular through the first two weeks, and the Bengals defense has been very disappointing. Cincinnati's secondary has been beaten deep far too many times through just two weeks. The Bengals are dinged up at the linebacker spot as well, and that will hurt when trying to keep Griffin inside the pocket. Look for Griffin to run around on the Bengals and make plays outside the pocket. Both teams should put up quite a few points. The over is 4-0 in the Bengals last 4 games. The over is 4-0 in the Redskins last 4 home games. The over is 3-0-1 in the Redskins last 4 games overall. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA FB Top Play Total* I had this game circled before the lines came out this week. This is a game I was willing to play the 'over' on at 80 points, so I like the value here. Arizona's fast-paced offense under Rich Rodriguez should be able to score points. The Wildcats have scored 56 and 59 points in the last two weeks. The Arizona defense is very bad, and Oregon is more than capable of scoring on every possession here. The Ducks have what I believe is the most impressive offense in the nation at this point. Marcus Mariota is the real deal at quarterback, and there isn't a better play maker in the country than D'Anthony Thomas. Oregon has scored at least 42 points in every game this year, and that is with taking the starters out by halftime. The Ducks starters should get more time in this Pac 12 contest. Don't be surprised if Oregon gets 55-60 points here. The tempo of this game should be about as fast as you'll see in college football all year. The over is 23-6-1 in Oregon's last 30 home games. The over is 7-1 in Arizona's last 8 games following a straight up win. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA FB Total Domination* Air Force is a unique team because they don't move at a quick pace, but they ran the ball extremely well and they have a bad defense. Air Force is first in the nation in rushing yards per game at 390 yards per contest. UNLV's defense is pathetic against the run. The Falcons ran for 394 yards against UNLV last year, and I expect more of the same this season. The difference in this year's UNLV team is that the offense is a bit better. Cornett is a decent running back, and Nick Sherry gives the team a solid upgrade at the quarterback spot. The over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings between these teams. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Totals TKO* Northern Illinois lost 45-42 in a real shootout last year at Kansas. Both teams offenses have appeared a bit worse so far this year, but this number is far too low. James Sims should be back from a suspension for Kansas, and that will give them a good tailback. Northern Illinois has a great running quarterback in Jordan Lynch. Neither defense has been any good the last couple years (Kansas allowed 37 points per game last year), and I don't think they'll be very good this year either. Look for both offenses to move the ball well in this one. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Early Bird Special* The West Virginia Mountaineers have a true Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback in Geno Smith. Smith has as many touchdown passes (9) as he does incompletions so far this year! Dana Holgorsen's offense is perfect for Smith and the Mountaineers two star receivers: Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Maryland's defense has been solid against horrible offenses this year, but this is their first true test. It won't surprise me at all if the Mountaineers put up 50 points or more here. Maryland's running game should bust a couple long plays as well. The over is 4-0 in the Mountaineers last 4 September games. The over is 6-1 in their last 7 home games. The over is 7-1 in Maryland's last 8 non-conference games. Take the over.

*3 Star TGIF MLB Bookie BEATDOWN* The San Diego Padres have played surprisingly good baseball over the last couple months. The Padres are 38-25 in their last 63 games. The Padres offense has been manufacturing runs and hitting well with runners in scoring position. Ryan Vogelsong has completely fallen apart over his last few starts. Vogelsong has a 12.34 ERA in his last three starts. He has only one quality start in his last seven starts. Casey Kelly is a good prospect for the Padres, but he has been inconsistent so far. The Giants have scored 5 or more runs in 7 of their last 10 games. The over is 8-0-1 in Vogelsong's last 9 starts as a favorite. The over is 7-0 in Vogelsong's last 7 against a team with a losing record. The over is 6-0-1 in Vogelsong's last 7 starts on 4 days rest. The over is 5-0 in Vogelsong's last 5 against the NL West. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* The Minnesota Twins lineup is hitting well right now. Minnesota is actually as healthy as they have been all year. With Mauer, Morneau, and Willingham in the middle of the order this lineup is solid. The Minnesota pitching staff has been horrible all year, and that hasn't changed of late. Liam Hendriks starts in this one for Minnesota, and he is 0-7 with a 6.1 ERA this season. The Indians have heated up a bit over the last few days. Zach McAllister starts for Cleveland. McAllister has been struggling of late, and he has given up 11 runs in just 4 and 2/3 innings against the Twins so far this year. Sam Holbrook is the best 'over' umpire in the business because of his small strike zone, and he is behind the dish here. The over is 7-1 in Hendriks' last 8 road starts. The over is 6-1 in McAllister's last 7 as a home favorite. The over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between these two in Cleveland. Take the over.

*5 Star NFL Play of the Week* The New Orleans Saints defense was absolutely chewed up by RG3 and the Redskins last week. Griffin was great, but I can't help but think part of the reason for his amazing day was a poor Saints defense. New Orleans still put up 32 points, and they should be able to score points in bunches against a less than mediocre Carolina defense. Cam Newton and the Panthers put up 27 points in a 30-27 loss to the Saints at home last year. I think Carolina can get a lot from the tape of last week's Redskins game and use that against New Orleans in this one. The two meetings between these two last year finished at 57 and 62 points. Both offenses have a significant edge on the defenses here. The over is 6-0 in the Saints last 6 games. 5 Star Play of the Week on the over in this game!

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* Andrew Luck threw for more than 300 yards in his NFL debut, but he threw three interceptions. The Bears secondary is very good, so that was a tough matchup for Luck. The Vikings secondary will likely start three rookies in this one, and I think Luck will have a much easier time in this one. On the other side, the Colts will be without Dwight Freeney so the pass rush won't get to Ponder as much. In addition, the Colts are terrible against the run. Adrian Peterson should be able to gash the Colts for quite a few yards in this one. Both offenses should have the edge in this game. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Late Night BAILOUT* BYU/Utah is known as "The Holy War" rivalry game. It might not be well known all across the country, but this is a very strong rivalry game. BYU was beaten 54-10 by Utah at home last season, and you know that didn't sit well. BYU is a much better team than last year. Utah just lost their starting quarterback. Hays will start for Utah here, and he has never thrown for more than 200 yards in a game. Utah's defensive front is terrific led by Star Lotulelei. BYU ranks in the top 10 in the nation in total defense. The under is 6-1 in Utah's last 7 home games. The under is 8-1 in BYU's last 9 September games. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Play of the Day* The Seattle Mariners hit the ball much better away from home. Texas is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the majors. Scott Feldman has an ERA of about 5 this year, and he is very inconsistent. On the other side, Jason Vargas starts for the Mariners. Vargas is good at home, but struggles on the road. The Rangers hit .282 as a team against lefties. Paul Schreiber is the home plate umpire, and he has one of the smallest strike zones in the majors. Look for both teams to put up quite a few runs here. Take the over.

*3 Star Notre Dame/MSU Total* The Notre Dame Fighting Irish appear to be a much better team this year under Brian Kelly. Kelly has had some time to get his type of players into the system, and it is working out very well for the defense. Notre Dame allowed just 10 points against Navy and 17 against a solid Purdue offense. Michigan State is one-dimensional on offense right now with Maxwell struggling at quarterback. On the other side, Michigan State's defense is excellent. I think the Spartans have one of the top five defenses in the nation. The Spartans don't have any real weakness on defense. Boise State couldn't get anything going against the Spartans. Opponents are averaging only 225.5 total yards per game against Michigan State. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA FB Top Play Total* The Lousiana Tech Bulldogs beat Houston 56-49 last week. Houston moved the ball at will against the Bulldogs defense, which was a bit of a surprise to me. Louisiana Tech's offense is clicking from the get go this year, but their defense is a mess. Rice's defense has given up at least 35 points per game for the last three seasons, and this will be one of the best offenses they face this year. Rice has a well-balanced offense that should move the ball very well here. Both teams like to play at a fast pace, and I expect both defenses to be worn out by the end of this one. I think this total should have been set at about 70 points. The over is 62-28 in Rice's last 90 games overall. Take the over big here!

*3 Star NCAA FB Hidden GEM Total* The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers program has come a very long ways in the past few years. The primary reason this team is so much better is because of the strength of their defense. Even the best teams in the nation don't put up ridiculous numbers on Western Kentucky. Alabama scored 35 points on them last week, but the Crimson Tide had only 328 total yards of offense. Western Kentucky's offense is poor this year without Rainey at tailback. Kentucky's offense isn't very good either, but they do have an athletic defense. It would surprise me to see either team get above 24 points here. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA Football Under Radar Total* The Northern Illinois Huskies smacked around Army 49-26 last year. Army struggled last week at San Diego State, but I expect Army to be able to run it against the Huskies here. Northern Illinois doesn't have as good of a defensive front as they did a year ago. In addition, Army's defense hasn't shown the ability over the past couple years to stop the run. Northern Illinois has another very good running quarterback this year in Jordan Lynch. Both teams should be able to move the ball well here. The over is 8-0 in Army's last 8 games against the MAC. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Totals TKO* Arkansas State is a mid-major team that can put up points in bunches. They scored 34 points in a season-opening loss to Oregon. Ryan Aplin is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Gus Malzahn is the team's new coach, so you know this is an uptempo attack. Nebraska's new offense is all built around going uptempo as well. The Cornhuskers offense has been much improved so far this year, but the defense has been terrible. Both offenses should have their way in this one. I think this line could have easily been above 70. Take the over.

*3 Star Bears/Packers Total Domination* The Chicago Bears clearly have a much better offense than they did a year ago. The Green Bay Packers obviously have one of the best offenses in the NFL. Why do I like the under in this one? It is all about value. Getting a number like 51.5 isn't something I expected here. The public has pushed the number up enough to where this fits in as a solid play. The Bears secondary is one of the best in the NFL, and Green Bay simply can't run the football. Green Bay's defense is good at pressuring the quarterback. The highest total set for meetings between these teams in the past four years is 45.5. I think both teams have to settle for field goals enough here. The under is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings between these two. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Play of the Day* The Kansas City Royals offense is firing on all cylinders right now. Kansas City has scored 6 runs or more in 6 of their last 10 games overall. They'll be facing Liam Hendriks in this one. Hendriks is 0-7 with a 6.20 ERA. I like Kansas City's chances of putting up a big number again. Luis Mendoza has a 7.63 ERA in his last 3 starts. He seems to have hit a wall of late. Look for the Twins to be able to score several here as well. The over is 5-0 in KC's last 5 games following a win. The over is 4-0 in Ramirez's last 4 starts. The over is 3-0-1 in the Twins last 4 games. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* Doug Fister and Jake Peavy have both pitched very well this year. Fister has a 3.54 ERA on the season and Peavy has a 3.22 ERA. The wind is expected to be blowing in from right field with cooler than usual temperatures on Tuesday night. Detroit's bats have been cold of late. Brian Gorman is behind the plate, and he has one of the biggest strike zones of any umpire in the majors. The under is 8-0 in Fister's last 8 road starts with a total of 8.5 or less. The under is 8-1 in Peavy's last 9 starts on 5 days of rest. Take the under here.

*3 Star Yankees/Red Sox Total* Both of these offenses aren't even close to what they were earlier this year. The Yankees are without Mark Teixeira. The Red Sox are left with only two stars in the lineup (Ellsbury and Pedroia) after most of their team got hurt or got traded. Hiroki Kuroda doesn't get enough credit from the oddsmakers. Kuroda has a great 3.14 ERA this year. Jon Lester has been bad this year overall, but he has been much better of late. Lester has a quality start in 3 of his last 4 outings. The under is 23-5-2 in Lester's last 30 as an underdog. The under is 6-0 in Kuroda's last 6 as a road favorite. Take the under.

*3 Star MNF Totals SMASHER* The San Diego Chargers defense took a big step backward last year. This team doesn't have a good secondary, and Carson Palmer will air it out against them in this one. The Raiders have lost key pieces in their secondary for two straight seasons, and they now have a real weakness at the cornerback spot. Phillip Rivers is healthier now, and I expect him to lead the Chargers offense to quite a few yards against this mediocre Raiders defense. Neither team has a strong pass rush and both secondaries are susceptible. I think the offenses will have the upper hand here. The over is 5-0 in the Raiders last 5 season openers. The over is 4-0 in the Raiders last 4 home games. The over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Oakland between these teams. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* These two teams met twice last year and the final scores were 38-19 and 48-16. Carolina has a very balanced offense with Cam Newton under center. The Panthers have two very good running backs in Stewart and Williams and Newton can run as well as any QB in the NFL. On the other side though, Carolina's defense just isn't very good at all. Tampa Bay should be able to move the ball with ease through the air. Josh Freeman should have a solid season and Doug Martin is a good addition to the offense. Tampa Bay's defense gave up at least 31 points in their final four games last year. The over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings at Tampa Bay between these teams. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Early Bird Special* The New Orleans Saints have heard about Bountygate all through the offseason, and I'm guessing they are ready to take out their frustration on the Redskins. Washington's defense allowed 33 points or more in 4 of their last 5 games last year. New Orleans is quite likely to get into the 30's here. Drew Brees has weapons all over the field. Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston are great pass catchers, and the backfield is stacked with talent. New Orleans does give up points. The Redskins should have an improved offense with RG3 at the helm this season. Washington will have more balance and that should help them put up several points here. The over is 5-0 in the Saints last 5. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Total Domination* The Rice Owls and Kansas Jayhawks will battle in a game where defense will likely be optional. Kansas allowed a ridiculous 43.8 points per game in 2011. Rice allowed just over 33 points per game. The Owls defense has been atrocious the last few years, and they show no signs of getting better. Kansas should be better offensively with Crist and Charlie Weis running the show. Still, Kansas is a bad team and Rice should be able to run up the points as well. Rice has more offensive weapons than you might think, and it won't surprise me a bit if they get into the 30's in this one. The over is 21-5 in Rice's last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The over is 4-0 in the Jayhawks last 4 September games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Early Bird Special* The Penn State Nittany Lions showed their offensive issues last week against Ohio. Still, I do believe the Penn State front seven on defense is pretty good. Virginia is a team that likes to run the ball a lot, and I'm not sure they'll be able to just line up and run on the Nittany Lions. On the other side, Virginia's defense is much improved. Penn State really misses Silas Redd and the passing game is way too inconsistent to be trusted at this point. The under is 7-0 in Virginia's last 7 home games. The under is 12-3-1 in the Nittany Lions last 16. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals have both been struggling offensively of late. R.A. Dickey is 17-4 with a 2.63 ERA this year for a bad Mets team. He has a sparkling 0.83 ERA in his last 3 starts. Adam Wainwright has been much better of late. Wainwright is starting to look like himself once again. He has allowed 2 runs or less in 7 of his last 8 games. On get away day, we may see some stars sitting here. The under is 6-0 in the Mets last 6 following a loss. The under is 4-0 in Dickey's last 4 starts. The under is 3-0-1 in Wainwright's last 4 home starts. Take the under.

*3 Star New Era Total* Both of these teams have new coaches this season. Tim Beckman left for Illinois and Mike Stoops was fired. The new big name coach at Arizona is Rich Rodriguez. Even though he didn't succeed at Michigan, I still think he can do a solid job at Arizona, especially on offense. He has a great quarterback for his offense in Scott. Arizona should pile up the points against a Toledo defense that gave up more than 60 points twice last year. Arizona's defense was awful in the secondary as well, and the Rockets can score points in bunches. This one should be a track meet. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA FB Totals TKO* The San Diego State Aztecs have an experienced quarterback in Ryan Katz. Katz has had trouble in the past with interceptions, and it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't get picked a couple times here (which could easily lead to Washington scores). Washington's defense is atrocious, and the Aztecs should find the end zone several times. Washignton's offense is led by Keith Price, who is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. The Huskies will score a ton of points on nearly everyone this year. I think this total is set quite a bit too low. Take the over.

*3 Star Clemson/Auburn Total Domination* The Clemson Tigers were last seen giving up 70 points to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. That is one of the main reasons we get such a good value on the total here. Auburn's offense is horrendous right now. It will likely be worse than last year after losing Michael Dyer and suspending their star center. Clemson's offense is good, but Auburn should slow them down enough to hold them to field goals a few times. This kind of number simply isn't justified when Auburn is so much stronger defensively than on offense. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* Kyle Lohse has been remarkably consistent this year. Lohse has allowed 3 runs or less in 15 of his last 16 starts. The one bad start was at Coors Field. In 14 of those 16 games he has allowed 2 runs or less. Jordan Zimmerman is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball. He has been right around the top of the charts in the ERA column all year. The Cardinals have scored one run in the past 3 games combined. The under is 8-0 in Lohse's last 8 starts with a total of 7-8.5. Take the under here.

*3 Star NCAA FB Play of the Week* The Nevada Wolfpack have a unique Pistol offense that is very tough to stop. Chris Ault has a very good talent base to work with on offense this year. Fajardo will be one of the most improved quarterbacks in the nation. In addition, Nevada has a couple great weapons on the outside. Cal had a good defense last year, but they lost most of their leaders. Nevada scored 52 points last time they met with Cal. On the other side, Nevada's defense is terrible. Cal should be able to move the ball however they want to in this one. This absolutely seems like a game where both teams should get into the 30's. The over is 4-0 in Nevada's last 4 against the PAC 10. The over is 5-1-1 in Cal's last 7 against the MWC. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* Jaime Garcia isn't nearly as good of a pitcher away from home, and he'll have an extra problem to work with on Thursday. Yadier Molina isn't expected to play in this one, and Garcia has an ERA above 5 when Tony Cruz is the Cardinals catcher. He also has an ERA above 5 on the road this season. The Nationals are better against left-handed pitchers. The St. Louis offense has been blanked two days in a row, but the Cardinals have a stacked lineup and I expect them to bust out very soon. The over is 8-1 in Garcia's last 9 road starts against a team with a winning record. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* This early afternoon tilt features two young talented left-handed pitchers. Both of these guys have been pitching well of late. Zach Britton has been hot and cold all throughout his career, but he has looked good in his last couple starts. Jose Quintana just keeps putting together quality starts for the White Sox. Brian Runge is one of the best 'under' umpires in baseball, so he'll help here. The under is 3-0-1 in Quinatana's last 4 starts. The under is 6-0 in the Orioles last 6 games when scoring 2 or less runs in their previous contest. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The Oakland A's and Cleveland Indians both have subpar offenses. Cleveland seems to have completely given up for the year, and they are headed toward the bottom of the AL Central standings. Oakland is in the thick of the playoff race, and that is thanks to a great pitching staff. Jarrod Parker is a very good young pitcher, and Justin Masterson has been very good at home in his career. Both pitchers have pitched well during the daytime. The under is 7-1 in the Indians last 8. The under is 6-1 in the A's last 7 road games against teams with a losing record. The under is 5-1 in Masterson's last 6 home starts. The under is 4-0 in the Indians last 4 against righties. Take the under in this early game.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* The Seattle Mariners have gone on a very surprising run of late. Seattle has one of the worst offenses in baseball, but they've been winning games with tremendous pitching of late. Jason Vargas is a solid pitcher who has thrown a lot of very high quality games this year. Sam Deduno is a guy who nibbles at the corners a lot for the Twins. Both pitchers will have a friend in umpire Doug Eddings behind home plate. Eddings has the biggest strike zone in baseball. The under is 3-0-1 in the Mariners last 4 road games. The under is 6-0 in the Twins last 6 against a lefty. The under is 4-0 in the Twins last 4 Wednesday games. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The Colorado Rockies offense is piling up the runs against the Dodgers pitching staff this series. Colorado scored 10 in the first game and 8 last night. The Rockies can pile up the runs in a hurry at Coors Field, and this day game is a perfect spot for lots of runs. The wind will be blowing out and temperatures of 90 to 92 degrees are expected. Joe Blanton isn't a very good pitcher to start with, and I fully expect him to struggle in the thin air. Drew Pomeranz has struggled this year, and the Dodgers lineup is very good now with the newly acquired players. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* Johnny Cueto and Wade Miley have both been very consistent this year. Cueto has the best ERA in the NL at 2.47. Cueto is also 4-0 with an ERA under 2 in his career against Arizona. Miley has an amazingly good 2.80 ERA for the year. The oddsmakers continue to doubt Miley, but he continues to pitch well. Both of these teams have good bullpens. The Reds lineup isn't as strong without Votto in the middle. The under is 8-1-1 in Cueto's last 10 road starts. The under is 41-16-3 in the last 60 meetings between these two teams. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* The Los Angeles Dodgers have quickly gotten one of the best lineups in baseball. Kemp, Gonzalez, Ramirez, and Ethier is an extremely tough stretch for pitchers to go through. Jeff Francis is a guy I like to fade, and I think the Dodgers will get to him early and often. Josh Beckett has been terrible all year, and now he must start in Coors Field. I don't see him turning it around here. The Rockies can still score runs at home. The over is 12-3-1 in Francis' last 16 home starts. The over is 9-1 in Francis' last 10 starts against the NL West. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* The Oakland A's and Cleveland Indians have two of the weaker offenses in the majors right now. Oakland has been winning thanks to a great pitching staff. Brett Anderson is back after Tommy John surgery, and he looked great in his first start back. Anderson has the potential to be one of the best starters in the AL. Roberto Hernandez looked good in his last start against Seattle, and he has a great history against Oakland. The under is 5-0 in his last 5 against Oakland. The under is 8-0-1 in the Indians last 9 against teams with a winning record. The under is 5-0 in the A's last 5 games as a road favorite. Take the under.