Monday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Buffalo at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The Rams have been through it all already this season. They got off to a slow start in Australia and were robbed of a win in Denver but here they are at 2-2 as they prepare to host the Bills on Monday. Buffalo is trending in the wrong direction. It got off to a red hot start but has looked sloppy in consecutive games against the Chargers and Patriots, losing the latter. I think the absence of run stuffer Ed Oliver looms large in this particular matchup, as does the return to health of Rams WR Puka Nacua and DT Aaron Donald. No TE Terrance Ferguson for the Rams but that’s a position where they have a ton of depth with Colby Parkinson set to return. I think the hook with the Bills will be enticing for a lot of bettors, especially after Buffalo lost by only two points in this matchup last year. We’ll go the other way. Take Los Angeles.

My selection is on Detroit minus the points over Arizona at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

I think the argument can be made that the Cardinals offense peaked in their 36-30 Week 3 loss at San Francisco. They're trending in the wrong direction after managing only 4.2 yards per play against a below-average Giants defense last Sunday. Now they draw an elite Lions offense that figures to be in a foul mood off an 'upset' loss in Carolina last Sunday night. The only reason bettors aren't lining up to lay the points with Detroit here is its defense, or lack thereof. The Lions have admittedly been sieve-like defensively. Unlike the Cardinals, however, the Lions offense is trending in the right direction, going from 5.1 yards per play in Week 1 to 6-1 in Weeks 2 and 3 to 6.7 in Week 4. I look for Detroit to build a lead here and pin its ears back and go after struggling Cards QB Jacoby Brissett who is working behind an injury-ravaged offensive line. The Lions big weakness is in the secondary but I'm not convinced Brissett will be given much time to find his targets downfield. In Detroit's two victories, New Orleans and New York were able to rally and ultimately take those games down to the wire, but those two teams have much better offensive lines than that of Arizona. Look for the Lions to roll. Take Detroit.

AFC West Game of the Year. My selection is on Denver minus the points over Los Angeles at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

Sean Payton will take over offensive play-calling duties for the Broncos as frustration sets in following a slow start to the season. I think Denver is in line for a breakout performance offensively against an injury-plagued and struggling Chargers defense on Sunday. Los Angeles is desperate for a win at this point but I think it 'emptied the tank' in last Sunday's futile comeback attempt in Seattle. The Chargers continue to lose players to injury on their offensive line and while Denver will sorely miss the cornerback duo of Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss, I'm not convinced Justin Herbert will be given enough time or space to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers. Speaking of those playmakers, the Chargers will be missing one of their biggest deep threats in WR Quentin Johnston. Ladd McConkey and Charlie Kolar, two of Herbert's other best options in the passing game are also banged up but likely to play. After last week's lifeless performance against the 49ers, I expect a response from the Broncos here. Take Denver.

My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Saints were embarrassed by the Falcons at home on Monday night - on the 20th anniversary of their return to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina no less. I expect a positive response from New Orleans on Sunday as it tries to hand Minnesota its first loss of the season. The Vikings are 4-0 but not all undefeated records are created equally. Their first win came in comeback fashion against a Packers team that has really struggled on both sides of the football. Next up they defeated the Bears in a low-scoring weather-affected game in which Chicago lost QB Caleb Williams to injury. In Week 3 they outlasted a Buccaneers team that just notched its first victory of the season on Thursday. Last week they won but failed to cover against the rebuilding Dolphins. Yes, the Vikes defense has been tremendous but the offense is still figuring things out with Kyler Murray at the helm. I simply feel a letdown is inevitable while the Saints will be desperate to avoid falling to 1-4, noting they won't play another true home game until November 8th and will look to avoid a fruitless 0-3 stretch of home games. Take New Orleans.

My selection is on Green Bay plus the points over Chicago at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We'll fade the Bears as they try for their third straight win on Sunday. The Packers will undoubtedly be up for this game. After all, they were blown out in a nationally-televised primetime affair against the Falcons the last time they played at Lambeau Field. Not only that but the Bears ended their season last year, first taking a December thriller in a late comeback in Chicago and then in a high-scoring playoff affair. The Bears goal was likely to tread water until Caleb Williams could return from injury. They've done more than that winning back-to-back games over the Eagles and Jets. QB Tyson Bagent is expected to get another start here. He has three career touchdown passes compared to six interceptions. Don't discount the injury to Bears RB Kyle Monangai who looked like their most dynamic back in last week's victory. Take Green Bay.

AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Indianapolis at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Both of these teams burned a lot of bettors, albeit in different ways, last week. The majority of bettors were on the Steelers in their Thursday night matchup in Cleveland - a game they lost outright as a field goal favorite. Meanwhile, there were plenty of bettors lining up to fade the Colts across the pond as they were laying north of a field goal against the Commanders, who had just upset the defending champion Seahawks the week previous. Of course, Indianapolis ended up winning that game by margin. Here, we'll back the Steelers as they return home with a considerable rest advantage and having gone 2-0 at Acrisure Stadium this season including an impressive victory over a Bengals team that was at virtually full strength at the time. I've seen too many mistakes by Colts QB Daniel Jones to believe he can go into Pittsburgh and guide his team to a third straight win. Of course Indianapolis' gameplan will heavily involve RB Jonathan Taylor but he's better-suited to running with a lead and I'm not convinced that will be the case for much of the game on Sunday. Take Pittsburgh.

West Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Winnipeg over Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I'm comfortable betting on the fact that we were a week early fading the Stampeders last time out. On Saturday, they'll be looking to wrap up a 3-0 road stretch and notch their fourth win in a row overall, not to mention their third straight ATS victory. We'll bet against that happening as they travel to Winnipeg to face a Blue Bombers squad that is sure to be in a foul mood off a 37-10 loss in Montreal last week - its second straight defeat both SU and ATS. All is not lost for the Bombers. They're 7-8 on the season, just a half-game behind the Stampeders in the West Division standings. This is undoubtedly a critical spot, however, as they'll wrap up the regular season with a pair of difficult road games at Edmonton and B.C. For Calgary, it will glance ahead at its regular season finale which comes next Saturday at home against B.C. There's been little to choose between the Stamps and Bombers this season with each team winning on its opponent's field in two previous matchups. Noting that Calgary is into uncharted territory riding a season-high three-game winning streak while Winnipeg will aim to avoid what would be a season-high third straight loss, we'll back the home side here. Take Winnipeg.

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Stanford plus the points over Notre Dame at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Stanford has been a complete no-show in its two previous ACC road games, scoring a grand total of 10 points in losses at Duke and most recently Wake Forest. I do think it catches Notre Dame at the right time on Saturday as the Irish return home after going all-out in consecutive double-digit road wins over Purdue and North Carolina (scoring a whopping 86 points). This is a spot where I would anticipate Notre Dame taking a bit of a breather in a very winnable game ahead of next week's tough road tilt at BYU. The straight-up winner has gone a perfect 5-0 ATS in the Cardinal's five games to date this season but I look for that streak to end here as they bounce back with a better effort after last Saturday's embarrassing loss. Take Stanford.

My selection is on Western Michigan minus the points over Kent State at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

We were a week early backing the Broncos as they won but never sniffed an ATS cover in Buffalo last week. Western Michigan was though to be a possible CFP contender this year but it hasn't necessarily played out that way even though it gave Michigan a real scare at the Big House back in Week 1. The loss to Boise State two weeks ago was tough but the Broncos still have everything to play for in the MAC and they'll get a chance to take their frustrations out on Kent State on Saturday. Note that the Golden Flashes are coming off back-to-back ATS victories in conference play. With that being said they could only muster 10 points in last week's defeat against Ohio. I expect Kent State to have a very difficult time keeping Western Michigan at arm's length on Saturday. Take Western Michigan.

My selection is on Toledo minus the points over Buffalo at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Buffalo easily covered the pointspread in a 20-17 home loss to Western Michigan last week but that marked just its first ATS victory of the campaign to date. I still don't think the Bulls are very good - their two wins this season came against FCS opponents in Albany and Robert Morris. Toledo couldn't cover the spread in last week's 39-24 win at Ball State. That was the Rockets fourth straight victory, however, and they've yet to lose consecutive games ATS this season. I don't think Toledo will have any trouble putting away Buffalo in this game, noting it has averaged over 7.0 yards per play at the Glass Bowl this season. In stark contrast, the Bulls have yet to average 5.0 yards per play in any game this season. Take Toledo.

SEC Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on South Carolina plus the points over Florida at 12:45 pm et on Saturday.

Bettors have been burned by South Carolina in four straight games with three of those coming in high-profile SEC affairs. The Gamecocks were only non-competitive in one of those games, however, that coming in a 49-18 dismantling at red hot Alabama two weeks ago. I think this is the spot where most bettors jump off the Gamecocks or even fade them but I feel it's the wrong spot to do so. Florida had its perfect 4-0 start ruined in a 45-17 loss at Missouri last week. I do wonder if the Gators 'emptied their tank' during that season-opening run, scoring a ridiculous 214 points over that stretch. Most will see this as a slam dunk for the Gators against a Gamecocks team that has lost eight straight games in-conference going back to last season. The books don't generally offer many gifts, however, and I believe South Carolina will find a way to stay inside this double-digit pointspread and perhaps even challenge for the outright win. Take South Carolina.

My selection is on North Carolina plus the points over Pittsburgh at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with the Tar Heels as they look to give the undefeated Panthers all they can handle at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday. Pittsburgh is 5-0 on the season after last week's primetime 'upset' win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. I do think the jury is still out as to how good the Panthers actually are. Last week's game marked their first road contest of the season. North Carolina is coming off back-to-back losses but those were difficult matchups on the road against a desperate Clemson team and at home against a national title contender in Notre Dame. While Pitt owns the better overall record in this matchup this season, North Carolina has faced a significantly more difficult schedule by most metrics. Take North Carolina.

Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on Las Vegas minus the points over Golden State at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

We'll lay the points with the Aces as they look to stave off elimination at home on Friday night. Game 2 of this series was about as tightly-contested as it gets with the Valkyries prevailing by a bucket. The Aces figure to enter this game with confidence as they've still taken three of five meetings between these two teams this season including a 2-0 mark at home. It would be natural for the Valkyries - a team that has exceeded expectations this season - to suffer a letdown as they try to close out the series on the road on Friday. To put it simply, I don't think this line is high enough, noting that the Aces have won six straight games at home and the SU winner has gone 25-2 ATS in their last 27 contests. Take Las Vegas.

My selection is on Iowa plus the points over Washington at 9 pm et on Friday.

I've seen nothing to lead me to believe that Washington is as good as originally thought this season. There were signs early as the Huskies escaped with unimpressive home wins over Washington State and Utah State to open the campaign before a blowout victory (but another non-cover) against FCS squad Eastern Washington. From there the Huskies dropped consecutive games against Minnesota and USC. I suppose last week's narrow four-point loss on the road against a good USC team could be looked at as a positive but the low-scoring environment is what ultimately kept Washington in the game. Iowa checks in off its first loss of the season but it came against one of the best teams in the country in Ohio State. I don't expect the Hawkeyes to fold the tent after that loss - it was expected after all as a 14.5-point home underdog. Note that Iowa not only owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but it has also faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Take Iowa.

My selection is on Wyoming plus the points over San Jose State at 9 pm et on Friday.

San Jose State is an automatic fade for me on Friday as it returns home on a short week following an ‘upset’ win in Hawaii on Saturday. The Spartans are now in excellent position to ultimately reach a Bowl game this year off to a 3-2 start but they of course have their eyes on the Mountain West Conference off to a 1-0 start. Wyoming has some work to do as it checks in 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. I think Wyoming is comfortable playing the type of game San Jose State prefers. Expect a nip-and-tuck affair all the way so we’ll grab all the points we can get with the underdog Cowboys. Take Wyoming.

My selection is on Tampa Bay plus the points over Dallas at 8:15 pm et on Thursday.

The Cowboys are always going to draw plenty of attention from casual bettors and this Thursday should be no different as they come in off a big 'upset' win in Houston on Sunday and riding a 2-0-1 ATS run. The Buccaneers are off to an 0-4 start (0-3-1 ATS) and bettor sentiment couldn't be much lower with undrafted QB Jalon Daniels running the offense. Tampa Bay's defense has held up reasonably well to this point and I think we'll see the Cowboys take a bit of a breather in this one after scoring 30+ points in three straight contests. While Daniels' presence is a concern, the Bucs do have one of the league's better offensive lines and I do think there's a path for them to stay competitive in this game by simplifying the offense and letting Daniels extend some drives with his legs. Sometimes you have to simply plug your nose and bet the underdog and I think that's the case here. Take Tampa Bay.

My selection is on Las Vegas plus the points over Golden State at 9:30 pm et on Wednesday.

The Aces had their offense kept under wraps by the Valkyries in Game 1 of this series. As poorly as Las Vegas performed offensively in that game, it still lost by 'only' 11 points. I think there's a clear path for the Aces to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday. While it's true Golden State does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Las Vegas actually took all three regular season meetings, and should enter this game with confidence with the knowledge that it has lost consecutive games on only three previous occasions this season. The Valkyries are certainly in uncharted territory at this point, leading this semi-final round series. The Aces have been here before and I'm confident they'll respond accordingly down 1-0 in the series. Take Las Vegas (8*).

My selection is on Philadelphia +1.5 goals over Tampa Bay at 7:05 pm et on Monday.

The Flyers are off to a tough 0-1-2 start but have been getting better with each game, most recently dropping a 3-2 overtime decision at home against a desperate Carolina team (that was off to an 0-2 start) on Saturday. The Lightning have played just two games, losing on the road against the Rangers before bouncing back with a 3-1 home win over the Capitals. Tampa Bay caught Washington in a clear letdown spot (playing on back-to-back nights) after it delivered a blowout win in Carolina on Friday. Of note, the Bolts faced just 21 shots on goal in that relatively easy victory. I expect the Flyers to provide more resistance on Monday as they look to get over the hump and earn their first victory of the season. We'll grab the goal-and-a-half insurance as the price is reasonable. Take Philadelphia +1.5 goals (8*).

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Denver plus the points over San Francisco at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

You could argue that the Broncos were gift-wrapped a much-needed home victory over the Rams last Sunday night, rallying from a 16-0 deficit to win a thriller 30-26. Regardless how that victory came it has to have Denver feeling much less pressure as it enters this road test against the undefeated 49ers on Sunday. The Broncos still can't be happy about the way they played in their only previous road game of the season, as they were blasted 31-10 on the road against the Chiefs back in Week 1. I'm confident we'll see them make amends here. Some are even going so far as to anoint 49ers QB Brock Purdy as a potential MVP candidate after they delivered a third straight victory to open the season last week. I think it's important to keep things in perspective at this early stage of the season. San Francisco's three wins have come against a Rams team that has looked out of sorts and dealt with self-inflicted travel issues in Australia back in Week 1, the Dolphins who might just be one of the least talented NFL teams in recent memory and the Cardinals who I do think have plenty of upside but are still in the midst of a rebuild under a new coaching regime. The Niners are dealing with injury concerns on both sides of the football while the Broncos enter Week 4 relatively healthy. I see this as a statement game for a Denver team that has Super Bowl aspirations - much like its early October matchup in Philadelphia last year when it delivered a victory over another high-profile NFC team. Take Denver (10*).

My selection is on Golden State plus the points over Las Vegas at 4 pm et on Sunday.

I think we could see a changing of the guard of sorts in the WNBA this postseason and I like the Valkyries to take a step toward accomplishing that in Game 1 against the Aces on Sunday. Las Vegas rallied to take Game 3 at home against Indiana to advance to the semi-final round. The same goes for Golden State as it took down Dallas in Game 3 at home. The Valkyries are coming off back-to-back ATS defeats, however, shaking the confidence of a lot of bettors entering Game 1 of this series. These two teams met three times during the regular season with Las Vegas taking all three contests. Keep in mind, their last matchup came way back on June 21st. The Valkyries are a better team now than they were then in my opinion, having lost a grand total of just six games since that meeting. Take Golden State (8*).

My selection is on New England plus the points over Buffalo at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a fairly straight-forward handicap for me in Week 4. The Patriots looked good enough in their Week 2 blowout victory over the Steelers to give me pause as I considered backing the Jaguars in what set up as a smash spot last Sunday. Predictably, New England ended up losing that game and it wasn't close. So now the majority of bettors are off the Pats. It's not surprising to see the Bills as a considerable favorite here - after all, it doesn't get much higher-profile than Buffalo in today's NFL and here it is off to a 3-0 SU and ATS start. Of course, the Bills victory in Week 3 was anything but straight-forward. The Chargers had them on the ropes for part of that contest but Buffalo found a way to not only win but cover the lofty pointspread as well in one of the more improbable ATS victories (given the way the game played out) in recent memory. I don't think this game is going to be a slam dunk for Buffalo by any means. Division games have a tendency to be tightly-contested and the Pats have proven they can give the Bills all they can handle in recent years (each of the last six meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less). For Buffalo, it will be awfully difficult to avoid a letdown of sorts after three straight wins including two in a row at the brand new Highmark Stadium. With bettor sentiment as low as possible when it comes to the Pats, we'll grab all the points we can get in this spot. Take New England (8*).

My selection is on Miami minus the points over Clemson at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

Dabo Swinney appears to have his Tigers pointed back in the right direction following back-to-back conference wins over North Carolina and California. I'm not convinced Clemson is all the way back just yet though and look for it to be brought back to Earth at home against Miami on Saturday. Keep in mind, the Tigers victory last week came at the expense of a sloppy California team. The Golden Bears had every opportunity to take full control of that game but repeatedly squandered them. It was a similar story the week previous as the Tigers took advantage of a Tar Heels team that thought they had the game wrapped up before a long weather delay. Miami comes off a 52-3 rout of Central Michigan last week. Of course the last time most saw the Hurricanes they won by only 13 points in a Friday night game at Wake Forest, failing to cover the spread. Given the fact that these two teams didn't match up last year, I can't help but feel the pricing is off in this one. I think it's only a matter of time before the Canes pull away and cover the reasonable pointspread. Take Miami (9*).

Pac-12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Utah State plus the points over Boise State at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

We won with Utah State plus the points over Boise State in last year's meeting - a game the Broncos won by the slimmest of margins, 25-24. The Aggies entered this season with plenty of optimism after reaching a Bowl game last year but an 0-3 start set them quickly off course. The good news is, they notched their first victory of the season, 21-10 over Troy last week. After this matchup with Boise State the schedule will ease up a bit. I certainly expect them to get up for this game on the blue turf in Boise. The Broncos dismantled a terrific Western Michigan team last Saturday, on the road no less. Boise State has reeled off three straight wins since dropping a tight one in its opener at Oregon. A high-profile team on an annual basis, the Broncos are off to a 3-1 ATS start and figure to get plenty of love from bettors again this week. I simply feel this line wlll prove too high as similar to last year, the Aggies don't figure to go away quietly. Take Utah State (10*).

My selection is on Texas A&M minus the points over Arkansas at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Aggies have fallen on hard times following back-to-back losses against Kentucky and LSU. The home loss to the Wildcats was surprising but there was really no shame in losing on the road against an elite Tigers team (coming off a loss) last week. We'll call for Texas A&M to take its frustrations out on Arkansas on Saturday. The Razorbacks can breathe a sigh of relief after they avoided a third consecutive loss with a blowout win over Tulsa last week. While these two teams own identical records through the first four weeks of the season, Texas A&M has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Look for the Aggies to roll. Take Texas A&M (8*).

Sun Belt Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Old Dominion plus the points over Georgia State at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Early money has flowed in on Georgia State ahead of this under the radar Sun Belt Conference clash on Saturday. That makes sense as Old Dominion checks in 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS while Georgia State is 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS. The Panthers looked good in last week's rout of Northern Illinois. Keep in mind, the Huskies might be one of the worst teams in the entire FBS this year. Old Dominion has faced a considerably more difficult schedule than Georgia State so far this season. Last week, the Monarchs ran into an elite James Madison team and dropped their third straight contest. They still have everything to play for as the schedule eases up from here. Note that Old Dominion also lost to JMU in blowout fashion last year but then didn't lose again, delivering six straight victories after that including a Cure Bowl win over South Florida. The Panthers were projected by most to finish ahead of only Louisiana-Monroe in the Sun Belt standings this year. Keep in mind, the conference schedule is just beginning. Take Old Dominion (10*).

MAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Western Michigan minus the points over Buffalo at 1 pm et on Saturday.

Western Michigan is sure to be in a foul mood after last week's blowout loss at home against Boise State in what was being tabbed as one of the biggest games in program history. While some bettors may feel a letdown of sorts is in order here, I don't see it. At 2-2, a lot of the pressure is now off and the Broncos can focus on their MAC schedule, which opens on Saturday at Buffalo. The Bulls are off to a 2-2 start and narrowly avoided an upset loss as a four-touchdown favorite against FCS squad Robert Morris last week. Buffalo's other victory came against another FCS opponent in Albany (the Great Danes are 2-3 on the season). These two teams haven't met since 2024, when Western Michigan escaped with a 48-41 victory. While the Broncos are even stronger this year, the Bulls are rebuilding, particularly on the offensive side of the football. Look for Western Michigan to bounce back. Take Western Michigan (10*).

My selection is on Vanderbilt plus the points over Georgia at 12:45 pm et on Saturday.

High-profile teams like Georgia don't tend to enjoy extended ATS success but the Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest sporting a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS record after last week's beatdown of Oklahoma. Vanderbilt has certainly proven to be a tough out and then some in the early going this season, going 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS through four games with the two missed covers coming as 20+ point favorites. Last week, the Commodores took a good Auburn team down to the wire in a 21-15 road loss but ATS cover. While they likely won't be able to give the Bulldogs quite the same scare here, I do think they'll stay inside the inflated pointspread. Take Vanderbilt (8*).

My selection is on Stanford plus the points over Wake Forest at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Stanford in this early kickoff ACC matchup on Saturday. The west coast team travelling east narrative is overplayed in my opinion. Stanford came up with a very fortunate cover to open the season against Hawaii back in Week 0 but any bandwagon jumpers were surely cleared following consecutive blowout losses to Miami and Duke. The Cardinal quietly rebounded last week, springing the minor 'upset' win at home against Georgia Tech. We'll face Wake Forest here as it returns home following a big upset victory as a double-digit underdog at Louisville last week. The Demon Deacons have strung together consecutive ATS wins, in fact, having covered at home against Miami in a Friday night affair back in mid-September. While Wake Forest does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Stanford has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Take Stanford (8*).

My selection is on Navy plus the points over Air Force at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We cashed a ticket fading Air Force last week as it narrowly escaped with a double-overtime win at Nevada. We'll fade the Falcons again this week as they return home to take on Navy. The Midshipmen haven't gotten off to the start they hoped for, or anything close. They lost in a game where most bettors were all over them against UAB last week. We'll call for Navy to experience the 'sling-shot' effect here as it snaps back with a strong performance in a matchup it always gets up for. Take Navy (8*).

My selection is on Saskatchewan minus the points over Calgary at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

We'll lay the points with the Roughriders on Friday as they stare down uncharted territory this season. Saskatchewan enters off consecutive losses both SU and ATS and that's notable as it has yet to lose three straight games all season. Keep in mind, its last two defeats both came on the road where it has dropped four straight contests. The Riders are 5-2 SU and ATS at home this season. It's also worth mentioning that the SU winner has gone 13-1 ATS in the Riders 14 games to date this season. Calgary comes off back-to-back wins but those came at the expense of the Redblacks who have yet to notch a victory this season. The Stampeders remain a wallet-busting 2-5 ATS over their last seven contests. You would have to go back to July 24th and August 1st to find the last time they strung together consecutive ATS victories. Take Saskatchewan (8*).

First Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Golden State minus the points over Dallas at 9 pm et on Friday.

Not known for being a fast-paced offensive team by any stretch, the Valkyries have actually really pushed the envelope against the Wings in the first two games of this series. After taking Game 1 with little trouble, Golden State fell 108-100 in overtime in Game 2. I certainly don't anticipate the Wings shooting the lights out again as the scene shifts to the Chase Center for Game 3 on Friday. The Valkyries are an elite defensive team coming off a bad game to put it simply. The Wings on the other hand have yet to prove they can play anything but matador-like defense in this series. We'll call for the Valkyries to hold serve at home and advance to the next round. Take Golden State (10*).

My selection is on Las Vegas minus the points over Indiana at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The pointspread has been of little consequence in this matchup this season. Pick the straight-up winner and you have the ATS victor as well. It’s going to be on the Aces to bounce back in Game 3 after the Fever held serve in Game 2 at home on Tuesday. The majority of bettors appear to be lining up to back Indiana with the points here as it has been a public darling all season. We’ll go the other way and lay the points with the Aces at home. Take Las Vegas (8*).

Sunday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Denver at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

We won with both of these teams in Week 2 and both are breathing a sigh of relief after avoiding an 0-2 hole to start the season. I'm higher on the Rams as we head into this intriguing Sunday night matchup in Week 3, however. Denver needed everything it had in the tank to rally for a home win over the Jaguars last Sunday. The offense did start clicking in the second half but that was thanks in large part to the Jags defense wearing down. Jacksonville's offense simply couldn't sustain any drives as that game progressed and a result the defense was forced onto the field far too much, in high altitude no less. I'm confident we'll see the Rams offense find a lot more success in this contest, even if WR Puka Nacua is forced to miss a second straight game. We didn't see the cleanest performance from Rams QB Matthew Stafford on Monday night but he didn't need to be perfect in that game as the Giants were knocked off course with a devastating injury to QB Jaxson Dart early on. I think we'll see a much sharper effort from Stafford on Sunday as the Rams send the Broncos back to the drawing board. Take Los Angeles (10*).

NFC Game of the Week. My selection is on Tampa Bay plus the points over Minnesota at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

Bettors figure to be on board with the 2-0 Vikings here, especially after the poor showing from the Buccaneers offense against the Browns in last week's 'upset' loss. Tampa Bay will need to regroup following an 0-2 start to the campaign but I like the way this matchup sets up. The Vikings are already dealing with a cluster of injuries at the running back position. They're expected to have QB Kyler Murray back on Sunday but is that really a big positive given the way Carson Wentz performed in his absence? I think Minnesota is going to be in tough going on the road, outdoors, for a second straight week and trying to avoid a letdown after consecutive division wins to open the season. Brian Flores is obviously an elite defensive coordinator and the Vikes are supremely talented on that side of the football but I think Tampa Bay is better than it has shown and there's no question it got caught looking past the Browns last Sunday (weather was the great equalizer in that contest). Take Tampa Bay (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Indiana plus the points over Las Vegas at 4 pm et on Sunday.

How quickly bettors forget. These two teams met three times during the regular season with the Fever taking two of those three games in blowout fashion, in Las Vegas no less. The most recent matchup took place in Indiana and the Aces staged a late rally to eventually pull off an 'upset' win in overtime. You could argue that the Fever were the better team in all three matchups. Indiana dropped its regular season finale by 20 points in Minnesota, losing big as a road favorite. We'll call for the Fever to rebound here and end the Aces season-high seven-game winning streak. Take Indiana (10*).

Mountain West Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Nevada plus the points over Air Force at 10:30 pm et on Saturday.

The common line of thinking here is that Air Force is bound to snap back following a 38-32 loss to North Dakota State last time out. I'm not so easily convinced. The Falcons have been idle since that setback on September 12th. Air Force is coming off back-to-back losing seasons and while the potential is there for a bounce-back campaign, we've already seen some vulnerability on defense and I'm not sure as much separates it from Nevada as the line indicates. The Wolf Pack opened the season with a 49-14 rout of Western Kentucky but have followed that up with consecutive losses. The home loss against FCS opponent Montana State in Week 2 may look bad at first glance but keep in mind the Bobcats are one of the best teams in Division II and were actually favored in that contest. Last week's loss at Middle Tennessee was a little more concerning as the Wolf Pack couldn't come through as a road favorite. I do think we'll see Nevada rebound here at home. As I mentioned, Air Force has issues defensively with plenty of returnees but not a ton of depth or talent, particularly up front. Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack's offensive strength is in its ground attack behind a terrific offensive line. Keep in mind, QB Carter Jones was forced to miss the game against Montana State due to injury. He returned last week and showed a bit of rust, losing a fumble and throwing an interception in the loss. In a home underdog role, I think this is a matchup where the Wolf Pack can simplify things a little and lean on their ground game and defense to stay within arm's reach. Speaking of arm's reach, note that Air Force won by just three points in a low-scoring game the last time these two teams met in 2024. Take Nevada (10*).

Big Ten Game of the Month. My selection is on USC plus the points over Oregon at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

Oregon is 2-1 to start the season but even after scoring a whopping 84 points in last week's bounce-back win over FCS squad Portland State, I'm not convinced all is well in Autzen. There were certainly signs of concern in the Ducks season opener as they narrowly escaped Boise State's 'upset' bid in Week 1. They followed that up with an outright loss as north of three-touchdown favorites at Oklahoma State. USC has to feel disrespected by this line as the Trojans are off to a 4-0 start and have faced a tougher schedule than Oregon by most metrics. While the Trojans do check in just 1-3 ATS, this is the first time they haven't been favored by at least 21 points. I think there's less separating these two programs than the line indicates right now. Take USC (10*).

My selection is on South Carolina plus the points over Alabama at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The knee-jerk reaction from most bettors will undoubtedly be to fade South Carolina off its disappointing 'upset' loss at home against Mississippi State last week. The Gamecocks controlled that game for the first half but couldn't put the Bulldogs away and ultimately fell by a score of 41-34. South Carolina is still 2-1 on the season and will look to avenge last year's 29-22 loss against Alabama on Saturday. The Crimson Tide had to 'empty the tank' in last week's come-from-behind 50-36 home win over Florida State. Alabama has certainly impressed in the early going this season but I do think it is ripe for a letdown off three straight victories in another home game where it is expected to win handily. Look for the Gamecocks to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take South Carolina (8*).

My selection is on Nebraska minus the points over Michigan State at 5 pm et on Saturday.

We'll lay the points with the Cornhuskers as they head to East Lansing to take on the Spartans on Saturday. Nebraska is one of the least talked about undefeated teams in the power conferences so far this season. All the Huskers have done is go 3-0, outscoring opponents by a whopping 139-35 margin. Of course, they've been boosted by playing all three of their games at home against inferior opponents. Michigan State will certainly offer Nebraska its toughest test to date but I do think it will be up for it. The Spartans did give the mighty Fightin' Irish a run in an eventual 27-10 loss in South Bend last week. I think that bruising affair could have lasting effects thish week as MSU looks to get back up for a conference matchup. The Spartans entered the season with plenty of question marks on both sides of the football and I just don't think they've been answered yet, despite the 2-1 start. Remember, this is a team that won just four games last year (it lost by double-digits at Nebraska). This is a revenge spot for the Spartans, at home no less, but I'm not convinced they'll be able to deliver. Take Nebraska (8*).

My selection is on Notre Dame minus the points over Purdue at 2 pm et on Saturday.

We managed to get a 'push' with Purdue in its 52-38 loss at UCLA last Saturday. We were fortunate to avoid the loss as the Bruins let their foot off the gas just enough for the Boilermakers to make things somewhat interesting. I came away very concerned about the Purdue defense. It couldn't come up with the stops that it needed in an overtime loss at home against Wake Forest two weeks ago and looked matador-like against the Bruins. Now comes an even more difficult test against a Notre Dame team that can't be too pleased with the way it played, at least offensively, in last week's 27-10 home win over Michigan State. The Irish are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS compared to the Boilermakers' 1-2 SU and 1-1-1 ATS mark. Of note, Notre Dame has faced the considerably more difficult schedule by most metrics. We'll lay the points in this familiar matchup as I expect it to only be a matter of time before the Irish pull away for good. Take Notre Dame (8*).

My selection is on California plus the points over Clemson at 10:30 pm et on Friday.

Clemson picked up a much-needed win at home against North Carolina in its ACC opener on Saturday. That game turned on a long weather delay as the Tigers rallied from a late deficit to secure a win and ATS cover. I'm still not all that high on Dabo Swinney's team, however. Gone are the days of Clemson competing for a national championship on a regular basis. The Tigers seem to get everyone's best shot and I don't expect anything different on Friday as they travel across the country to take on California. The Golden Bears are off to a 2-1 start to the season. The lone defeat came at home in their season opener against in-state rival UCLA. That was a close game until the fourth quarter when Cal came unglued. I expect the Bears to give the Tigers all they can handle here. Clemson will get plenty of support from bettors but I look for Cal to pull off the 'upset'. Take California (8*).

My selection is on Atlanta -1.5 runs over Cincinnati at 7:15 pm et on Wednesday.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott has struggled to the tune of a 6-11 record and a 4.70 ERA and 1.47 WHIP on the season. He's been even worse lately, failing to last beyond the fourth inning in any of his last four starts, allowing 16 earned runs in just 13 2/3 innings of work over that stretch. The Braves will be looking to bounce back after getting shut out in last night's series-opener. That was a predictable flat spot for Atlanta following a series sweep of the Astros in Houston. Chris Sale should help them get back on track on Wednesday, noting that he checks in having gone undefeated across his last three starts, allowing only five earned runs in 22 innings of work (and striking out 24 along the way). He continues to hold back Father Time, sporting a 2.28 FIP and 0.99 WHIP in 26 starts this season. Take Atlanta -1.5 runs (8*).

My selection is on Las Vegas minus the points over Los Angeles at 10 pm et on Tuesday.

The Sparks cruised to a blowout win over the Fire on Sunday, overcoming a number of key absences due to injury as they play out the string. The Aces meanwhile have come roaring out of the World Cup break with consecutive blowout wins over the Storm. Sitting in third place in the Western Conference, the season hasn’t gone exactly as Las Vegas would have liked but it still has everything to play for with the playoffs approaching. While this pointspread looks lofty at first glance, I believe it could be even higher. Take Las Vegas (8*).

Interleague Game of the Month. My selection is on Minnesota -1.5 runs over San Francisco at 9:45 pm et on Tuesday.

The Twins couldn’t mount any sort of offense in last night’s 5-2 loss to open this series in San Francisco. I do expect them to bounce back on Tuesday as they send Taj Bradley to the mount against Anthony Molina. Bradley continues to pitch well, sporting an 11-6 record to go along with a 3.81 ERA and 1.23 WHIP on the season. He’s well-positioned to handle a Giants lineup that is unlikely to produce on back-to-back nights. It takes a lot to be cast off by the Rockies and that’s the story with Giants spot starter Molina. While Minnesota is simply playing out the string at this point and giving some younger players a look, it can still rise to the occasion as it did in Anaheim over the weekend. We’ll lay the extra run for a potential plus money return in this spot. Take Minnesota -1.5 runs (10*).

MNF Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

Bettors are not surprisingly interested in backing the Giants plus the points in this Monday nighter after New York staged an 'upset' win over Dallas and looked good doing so in front a national audience last Sunday night. The Rams of course laid an egg in their trip to Australia, suffering a blowout loss against the division rival 49ers. Los Angeles has had plenty of time to regroup and I fully expect it to bounce back at home on Monday. Of course, the Rams will be without Miles Garrett for the next month or so leaving some to question whether they're even a playoff team this year (talk about an early season overreaction). I'm not worried about the Rams at all. They've had extra time to prepare for this matchup and I don't believe John Harbaugh's Giants will be all that difficult to come up with a gameplan to combat. Look for the Rams offense in particular to get quickly back into gear against a beatable Giants defense here as they ultimately pull away for a much-needed bounce-back win and cover. Take Los Angeles (10*).

Western Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Portland plus the points over Los Angeles at 7 pm et on Sunday.

It was a recipe for disaster for Portland on Friday as it shot poorly on the road against Golden State and predictably lost by double-digits. I expect the Fire to bounce back on Sunday in Los Angeles. The Sparks are dealing with key injuries as they play out the string. Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby are both iffy for Sunday's game. It seems that bettors are well aware that Los Angeles has taken each of the first two meetings between these two teams this season. It's worth noting that Hamby led the Sparks in scoring in both of those contests with Brink a key contributor as well. Despite coming off a loss, Portland has held four straight and seven of its last nine opponents to fewer than 30 made field goals. Only one of its last eight foes has managed to get off 70+ field goal attempts. Meanwhile, the Sparks have been matador-like defensively, allowing 75+ field goal attempts in three of their last four games and yielding 30+ made field goals in a staggering 25 of their last 27 contests. Take Portland (10*).

AFC Favorite of the Month. My selection is on Denver minus the points over Jacksonville at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

It's overreaction time in Week 2. The Broncos got throttled on the road against the division rival Chiefs on Monday and now return home on a short week to face a Jaguars team that rolled into Denver and ended their 11-game winning streak and 12-game home winning streak last December (we actually won with Jacksonville in that game). The Jags are of course coming off a blowout win at home against the lowly Browns on Sunday. Again, I think it's important not to overreact to those Week 1 results. This is obviously a game the Broncos would have circled on their calendar when the schedule was released as they clearly weren't happy with their performance at home against the Jags last year. The important obviously gets ratcheted up after Monday's poor showing in Kansas City. That was more of a wrong place at the wrong time situation as Denver was favored on the road with the Chiefs relishing the underdog role in Patrick Mahomes long-awaited return from injury. Look for the Broncos to bounce back in this spot. Take Denver (10*).

NFC South Game of the Year. My selection is on Atlanta plus the points over Carolina at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Panthers appear to be a popular bounce-back pick as a road favorite this week after they were torched 59-37 at home against the Bears last week. Atlanta checks in off a 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh. Credit the Falcons defense for hanging tough in that game as their offense was predictably lifeless with third-string QB Cooper Rush at the helm against a terrific Steelers defense. Rush might be forced to start again this Sunday but Michael Penix is reportedly close to returning and certainly hasn't been ruled out. Regardless who is under center, I like the Falcons chances of bouncing back and avenging last year's 0-2 showing against division-rival Carolina. Any time you have talents like Bijan Robinson and Drake London on offense, you have a chance. I expect Robinson in particular to go off in this matchup as the Panthers leaky run defense allowed six rushing touchdowns against Chicago last week. On the flip side, Carolina has issues on its offensive line, largely due to injuries leading up to the season. Atlanta's defense can certainly be tough, especially here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The look-ahead line for this game prior to the season had the Falcons favored so bettor sentiment is obviously low for the home side, largely due to the uncertain quarterback situation. With a quick turn-around on deck (the Falcons will travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers on Thursday), this is a critical spot for Atlanta. The Falcons won't play another home game until October 11th when they host the Ravens. Take Atlanta (10*).

My selection is on Purdue plus the points over UCLA at 11 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Purdue off its tough overtime loss to Wake Forest last week. UCLA checks in 2-0 off a second straight lopsided victory. The Bruins were actually fortunate to cover against San Diego State last Saturday, however, thanks to a late touchdown on a defensive breakdown from the Aztecs. That victory moved UCLA to a perfect 2-0 ATS on the campaign. I simply feel the Bruins are laying too many points here as they look to stay flawless before a difficult two-game road stretch against Maryland and Oregon. I liked the way the Boilermakers got rolling offensively over the course of last week's eventualy double-overtime defeat. Purdue does have plenty of upside offensively but also a lot of new faces so it figured to take some time to really get in sync this season. Perhaps it hasn't taken quite as long as anticipated. Defensively, the Boilers have the personnel to slow the Bruins. While UCLA did win in lopsided fashion in the end it's not as if its offense lit up the Los Angeles night against a beatable Aztecs defense last week. The Bruins have certainly been run-first on offense to this point. I do think we'll see Purdue force UCLA to take to the air a little more in this spot and I like the matchup for the Boilers experienced secondary. Take Purdue (8*).

My selection is on UTSA plus the points over Texas at 8 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with UTSA as it travels to Austin to take on mighty Texas on Saturday. The Longhorns are of course coming off that thrilling come-from-behind win over Ohio State last week. While I wouldn't necessarily count on a true letdown from the Longhorns here, I simply feel that the Roadrunners are good enough to keep things respectable on Saturday night. UTSA is off to a 2-0 start after a big second half secured a minor 'upset' win at Texas State last week. In today's college football landscape, UTSA is a rare breed with continuity at a number of key positions including quarterback where Owen McCown remains the leader of the offense - just as he was two years ago when these two teams last met. Texas won that game 56-7 but I don't think there's any question it will be dealing with a stronger UTSA squad this time around. I do think the Roadrunners can move the football enough on offense to effectively shorten proceedings on Saturday and ultimately stay inside the lofty pointspread. Take UTSA (9*).

My selection is on East Carolina plus the points over Old Dominion at 6 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams last matched up two years ago with East Carolina prevailing by a score of 20-14. It's not desperation time for the Pirates yet but it's getting close as they're off to an 0-2 start after an 'upset' loss at home against Appalachian State last Saturday (we won with the 'under' in that game). It's obviously been a tough start but there's no reason to hit the panic button as the first loss came in an impossible situation on the road against Alabama. Old Dominion is 1-1 after a blowout loss at Virginia Tech last week. The Monarchs are 0-2 ATS if we include their opener against FCS opponent Norfolk State. They did win that first game of the season but it was rather unimpressive as they scored 'only' 31 points in a game where they were favored by north of 40 points. Despite the slow start, I do think ECU has more upside and with a win here the runway is clear to get rolling with games against NC Central and Rice at home up next. Meanwhile, the Monarchs will have one eye on a difficult Sun Belt Conference opener at home against James Madison next week. Take East Carolina (8*).

ACC Game of the Month. My selection is on Stanford plus the points over Duke at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Stanford opened the season with a thrilling come-from-behind win over Hawaii in Week 0 but followed that up with a stinker against Miami. The Cardinal enter this contest off their bye week while Duke checks in a perfect 2-0 SU and ATS following an 'upset' win on the road against Illinois last week. The Blue Devils have some rebuilding to do this year but so far, so good. I do think the perfect start including last week's impressive victory leaves them overvalued laying double-digits in this spot. While Duke did score 31 points in last week's victory, it struggled to put the game away when it had the opportunity in the second half, failing to reach the end zone again after scoring a touchdown just over four minutes into the third quarter. Back in Week 1 the Blue Devils produced only 17 points in a win over a rebuilding Tulane squad. While this is a conference matchup, it's an unfamiliar one as these two programs haven't met in 14 years. With that being said, I think there's a certain degree of difficulty setting the pointspread. It looks like a lot of bettors are quick to jump on Duke here at home but I look for the Cardinal to put the Blue Devils on upset alert. Take Stanford (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Las Vegas at 10 pm et on Thursday.

This will be just the second meeting between the Aces and Storm this season with the previous one coming way back on June 8th. Las Vegas won that game by 10 points but failed to cover the -15.5 point spread and that was at home. The Aces enter riding a three-game winning streak, going 2-1 ATS over that stretch. Casual bettors may not recall that the Aces went into the break having gone 4-5 ATS over their last nine contests. Seattle is simply playing out the string at this point but I do think it will get up to play a 'spoiler' role with only four games left on its schedule. While the Storm are one of the league's worst teams record-wise, they're actually 16-11 ATS over their last 27 games. Take Seattle (8*).

NFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Green Bay at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

The Vikings doubled down on their strength in the offseason, making notable additions on the defensive side of the football to bolster Brian Flores' group. The jury is still out as to whether QB Kyler Murray will be the right fit on offense but I'm willing to bet on Minnesota in Week 1 as it has home field advantage against the divisional rival Packers in a tone-setting affair. Green Bay will have to start the year without all-world defender Micah Parsons. The Packers did little to fortify their roster on either side of the football in the offseason, showing a willingness to stand pat with a team that went 9-7-1 a year ago. Green Bay took the only relevant meeting between these two teams by a lopsided 23-6 score at home last November. The Packers rested their starters in a regular season-ending matchup that went Minnesota's way. With that being said, the Vikings do hold an 11-8-1 edge in the last 20 meetings in this division rivalry. While Minnesota hasn't been getting a ton of press leading up to this season, I do think there's a lot to like after it closed the 2025 campaign with five straight victories to finish with a winning record. The Packers will get plenty of support in the betting markets as a road underdog here (at the time of writing) but we'll go the other way. Take Minnesota (10*).

AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on New York plus the points over Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I don't think the Titans have done nearly enough to build around former first overall draft pick Cam Ward. Perhaps next year we'll see some progress from Tennessee as it moves into a much-needed new stadium but for now, I think the Titans will remain hamstrung. The Jets are obviously in the midst of what seems like a perennial rebuild as well. I do think there are some positives entering the 2026 season though and this particular matchup sets up well. While the Titans are being given a home field advantage based on this line, there will likely be more Jets fans than Titans' in the stands at Nissan Stadium on Sunday. In fact, I was in attendance for the most recent meeting between these two teams in Nashville in September of 2024, when the Jets prevailed with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Without question, the J-E-T-S chants were far more prevalent than anything from Titans supporters on that afternoon. Geno Smith takes over the offense for New York this year and I think he will give this unit a boost. There are plenty of intriguing weapons but it remains to be seen how well the Jets coaching staff deploys them. I do feel that New York has the decisive edge on both the offensive and defensive lines in this contest and while it may not be the prettiest of wins, I look for it to secure a hard-fought road victory nonetheless. Take New York (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on San Diego State plus the points over UCLA at 7:15 pm et on Saturday.

Boise State is considered the front-runner in the new-look Pac-12 and that won't change after it gave Oregon a run in Autzen last Saturday. San Diego State figures to be a player in the Pac-12 as well, however, and I look for it to give former conference member UCLA a serious run on Saturday. The Bruins got their season off to a strong start with a rout of in-state rival California last week. There's a lot to like when it comes to UCLA but I do think it's important to note the Bruins were actually tied with the Bears entering the fourth quarter before exploding for 21 unanswered points against a worn down Cal defense. San Diego State comes in fresh after a 53-20 rout of FCS squad Portland State. It actually took the Aztecs a bit of time to get rolling in that contest, trailing 6-0 early, but once they did, they looked unstoppable, including a 14-minute stretch in which they scored four touchdowns in the first half. I do believe San Diego State can find continued offensive success in this particular matchup, at least moving the chains enough to stay on the field for extended stretches and keep its defense fresh. Few were paying attention, but San Diego State actually won nine games last season, finishing with a wild 49-47 loss to an offensive juggernaut in North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. Off a three-win season in 2025, UCLA's needle is pointing up but I think caution should be exercised with it laying this many points against a quality opponent ahead of its Big Ten opener against Purdue next week. Take San Diego State (10*).

SEC Game of the Month. My selection is on Kentucky plus the points over Alabama at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Alabama had little trouble handling East Carolina in its season-opener last Saturday, cruising to a 48-10 win and cover. It was a similar story for Kentucky as it rolled to a 45-13 victory over FCS squad Youngstown State. I liked what I saw from the Wildcats, even though it was against inferior opposition. They left little to chance, jumping out to a 28-0 lead before Youngstown State finally reached the end zone with 20 seconds remaining in the first half. I liked the way Kentucky closed the game out as well, with a pair of fourth quarter scores while holding the Penguins scoreless in the game's final 18 minutes. Alabama obviously poses a much tougher challenge. I do think Kentucky will be up for it as it has a lot to prove after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Notre Dame transfer QB Kenny Minchey gives the Wildcats a puncher's chance on offense and he has a host of weapons to work with. Crimson Tide QB Keelong Russell was dynamic in their opener against East Carolina although his accuracy left a lot to be desired, completing just 18-of-30 passes. He'll face a tougher defensive test in his first road start of the season in Lexington. The Wildcats have an experienced defense and one that was bolstered by the transfer portal. Look for Kentucky to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Kentucky (10*).

My selection is on Kansas plus the points over Missouri at 8 pm et on Friday.

I don't think there's as much separating these two programs as the line indicates. This will of course be a 'revenge' game for Kansas after dropping last year's meeting 42-31 in Missouri. The Jayhawks are coming off a disappointing five-win season in 2025. They appeared headed for a Bowl appearance before losing their final three regular season games so this is a team playing with a significant chip on its shoulder here in 2026. The Tigers had to rebuild their defense from the ground up after losing all of their talent from last year's team. It's a different story for Kansas, which went through more of an offseason re-tool than re-build. I think the Jayhawks have plenty of upside and will gladly back them with a handful of points as unpopular underdogs on Friday night. Take Kansas (8*).

A.L. West Game of the Month. My selection is on Seattle -1.5 runs over the Athletics at 4:10 pm et on Sunday.

Few bettors probably want any part of the Mariners after their disastrous start to this series. They'll look to close it out on a high note on Sunday and I think they have the right pitcher on the mound to do just that in Bryan Woo. While it hasn't been a banner campaign for Woo, he has settled down since the beginning of August, allowing two earned runs or less in four of his last five starts. Of note, he's issued exactly one walk in five straight outings so he's not beating himself right now which is a positive. I'll also point out that of the 13 Mariners wins with Woo starting this year, 11 have come by at least two runs so we're comfortable laying the extra run for the potential plus-money return here. Gage Jump gets another turn in the Athletics starting rotation. To say things have not gone well for the rookie lately would be an understatement. He has allowed 17 earned runs over his last four starts, covering a span of 20 innings. Of the 10 A's losses with Jump starting, seven have come by multiple runs. That includes losses by scores of 23-4, 15-5 and 11-0. Take Seattle -1.5 runs (10*).

My selection is on Iowa minus the points over Northern Illinois at 4:15 pm et on Saturday.

It may seem wild to be laying this many points with the Hawkeyes given the reputation they carry as a defense-first, plodding offensive team. However, we've seen a reversal of course on the offensive side of the football. Last year's nine-win season was capped off by a 34-point performance in the Reliaquest Bowl against Vanderbilt. In fact, they scored 30+ points on six different occasions last season. The defense remains the strength, however, and this is a game I expect them to control from start to finish. Northern Illinois has sprung its share of big upsets in recent years - a stunner in South Bend comes to mind. The Huskies took a big step back last season and don't figure to be a lot better with plenty of roster turnover this year as they move to the Mountain West Conference. I don't think we'll see the Huskies generate much offense in this game, nor do I think they can keep their defense off the field long enough to avoid getting gassed early on. Take Iowa (8*).

My selection is on Oregon minus the points over Boise State at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Boise State still carries a 'brand name' reputation so this line may seem a little steep to casual college football bettors. Oregon is on another level this year, however. The Ducks are a popular pick to win it all come January although the jury is still out as to whether they can carry their regular season success over the postseason, as always. One thing we know is that Oregon is absolutely loaded with talent and experience on both sides of the football as the new season kicks off. I'm not convinced Boise State has the horses on offense to keep up in a matchup like this - at least not right out of the gates. While set at quarterback, the Broncos are working in some new faces at wide receiver and will take on a Ducks secondary that was a little green last year but now becomes a team strength. I think it's only a matter of time before the Oregon offense really gets rolling against a Broncos defense that has had to do some re-stocking and re-shuffling in the offseason. Take Oregon (8*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on Akron plus the points over Wake Forest at 7 pm et on Thursday.

Wake Forest is riding high off a nine-win season that culminated with a Bowl game victory over Mississippi State. Akron is coming off an encouraging campaign as well, finishing strong and reaching five wins. The Zips are once again postseason eligible this year after academic issues led to ineligibility last year, not to mention a scaling back of much-needed practice time. Akron has more continuity on its roster than you might think this year. The offense has some promising pieces in place on offense, led by RB Jordan Gant, who is coming off a quiet 1,000 yard season in 2025. The defense has plenty of upside up front and at the back-end, even if there are some holes at linebacker. I'm just not all that sold on Wake Forest repeating last season. With that being said, you may remember the Demon Deacons actually got the 2025 campaign started with a narrow win over Kennesaw State. In fact, nearly half of Wake's nine wins a year ago came in nail-biting fashion. Gio Lopez has been brought in at quarterback after an ineffective season with North Carolina. Akron has to feel like it has nowhere to go but up after starting last season with consecutive shutout losses. I think the Zips can give the Demon Deacons more of a run than most expect. Take Akron (10*).

My selection is on Connecticut plus the points over Dallas at 8:30 pm et on Sunday.

Connecticut enters this game off consecutive blowout losses against two of the best teams in the league in Golden State and Indiana. While I don't expect the Sun to spring the massive upset in Dallas on Sunday, I do think they can at least stay competitive and inside this generous pointspread. The Wings 83-63 win in this same matchup in Dallas on August 2nd is still fairly fresh in the minds of most bettors. Certainly more fresh than an earlier three-point decision in favor of the Wings on July 2nd. Dallas has reeled off three straight ATS victories entering this contest. It has won more than three games in a row ATS only once previously this season and that came during a four-game streak back in late May and early June. I still feel the Wings are somewhat vulnerable defensively, noting that they've allowed 70+ field goal attempts in seven of their last eight contests. Off a blistering shooting performance against Portland last time out and having had four full days to pat themselves on the back since that lopsided victory, I think a letdown could be in order here. Interestingly, Connecticut has limited 17 of its last 21 opponents to fewer than 70 field goal attempts which I do think keeps it a live underdog when catching double-digit points. Take Connecticut (8*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Chicago plus the points over Tennessee at 6 pm et on Saturday.

The Titans are expected to play their starters, on offense at least, for the first half in this game. That decision has a lot to do with the fact that Cam Ward has struggled to run an efficient offense in the first two preseason games. Should Ward get off to a strong start here, I'm not convinced it's a certainty that he'll be in for the entire first half. Behind Ward is an experienced pair of quarterbacks in Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis. The problem is, both have really struggled behind second and third-string offensive linemen, not to mention against depth players on opposing defenses. Hendon Hooker has come on for clean-up duty only. The Bears gameplan hasn't been discussed much entering this game. I will point out that last week's loss to the Bengals only served to snap Chicago's seven-game preseason winning streak. Tennessee is already 2-0 in August although those two victories have come more thanks to the ineptness of the opposing offenses than anything else. Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe failed miserably in his attempt to seal a win in Tennessee last Sunday night. I expect better quarterback play from the Bears solid rotation in this preseason finale. We'll gladly back Chicago plus the points and at a plus-money return at some books (at the time of writing). Take Chicago (10*).

NFLX NFC Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Dallas at 8 pm et on Friday.

We're able to back the Saints plus the points (and at a plus money return at some books) as they've certainly fallen out of favor this preseason after consecutive losses at home against the Jaguars and on the road against the Rams, with the latter defeat coming in embarrassing blowout (and shutout) fashion. I do think the short line tells the story here, however. Dallas is off to a 2-0 start to the preseason and playing its first and only home game here in August. I think we're going to see a much cleaner performance from the Saints on Friday as they do continue to try to sort out their backup quarterback job between Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson. In the preseason finale, it's always a plus when you can back a team with two quarterbacks that have significant regular season experience. The Cowboys have gotten terrific QB play from Joe Milton and Sam Howell. I do think they could be in tough here as it sounds like we'll see plenty of depth guys trotted out on the offensive line over the course of the game. With the Saints looking to save face at the end of their preseason slate, I do think they'll take this one down to the wire at the very least and I like the prospect of backing an unpopular underdog against a high profile opponent. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on Portland plus the points over Atlanta at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

Portland has split a pair of matchups with Atlanta this season including an outright upset win as a double-digit road underdog on July 11th. The Fire enter this contest riding a three-game SU and ATS losing streak. They've actually lost more than three games in a row ATS only once previously this season - that coming during a four-game ATS slide at the beginning of June. Meanwhile, the Dream have won four straight games and for as good as they've been in recent weeks and months, they've only won more than four games in a row once previously this season - a five-game winning streak back in July. They're coming off an ATS defeat that snapped their three-game ATS winning streak and that's notable as ATS losses have generally come in bunches. The Dream have endured five different ATS losing streaks dating back to May 24th. Take Portland (8*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Phoenix plus the points over Washington at 10 pm et on Thursday.

The Mystics are getting plenty of support from bettors entering this game with the line moving since opening. And why not as they just defeated this same Mercury squad by double-digits here in Phoenix two nights ago. Add in the fact that Washington just recently clinched a playoff berth and I can't help but feel it is in for a letdown in Thursday's rematch. Phoenix is on a 1-6 SU and ATS slide and could be without Kelsey Plum. Of course, the Mercury are used to playing without Plum having only acquired her prior to the trade deadline and she's been in and out of the lineup since. The Mercury are simply playing for pride at this point. It is worth noting that they lost by 'only' 10 points despite shooting a woeful 3-for-17 from three-point range on Tuesday. That matched their lowest three-point output of the season. I look for them to bounce back in this 'revenge' spot. Take Phoenix (10*).

NFLX AFC Game of the Year. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Buffalo at 7 pm et on Thursday.

I like the way this game sets up for the Steelers after they were embarrassed 17-0 at home against the Jets last week. Pittsburgh was coming off a blowout win of its own against the Packers in its preseason opener a week previous. The Bills haven't had a ton of recent preseason success, most recently going 1-2 last year, but they're off to a 2-0 start this August, winning both games in lopsided fashion. Buffalo's wide receiving corps in particular is banged-up at this point and there's little reason for it to risk its starters in Thursday's preseason finale. We're unlikely to see much of the Steelers starters either but I do think those that do play will be looking to make amends for last week's poor performance, most notably young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar who are likely to see plenty of action again on Thursday. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

Western Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Portland plus the points over Dallas at 8 pm et on Tuesday.

The Fire are coming off consecutive losses but have actually played some of their best basketball of the season in recent weeks. While injuries have derailed the other expansion team's season in the Tempo, the Fire continue to play competitive basketball. I like the setup for them as a considerable underdog in Dallas on Tuesday. Casual WNBA bettors tend to have short memories. It's worth noting that the previous two meetings between these two teams this season were both down-to-the-wire affairs, decided by one and four points with each side winning once. Dallas does check in off consecutive ATS victories but I don't particularly like the way it has been playing, particularly at the defensive end of the floor where it has yielded 70+ field goal attempts in six of its last seven games. Portland checks in as one of the hottest shooting teams in the league right now, connecting on more than 30 field goals in eight of its last nine games despite not playing at all that fast of a pace. I think the margin for error is reasonably slim for the Wings to win this game, let alone cover the lofty pointspread. Take Portland (10*).

My selection is on Connecticut plus the points over Chicago at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

The Sun return home following a disappointing 0-2 road trip that saw them lose and fail to cover the spread against the Aces and Sparks. I look for them to bounce back on Tuesday as they host a Sky squad that has gone 9-11 SU over its last 20 games and 2-4 ATS over its last six. Chicago dropped a 113-90 decision at home against Indiana on Sunday, snapping its three-game winning streak. The Sky are 2-1 in this matchup this season but the wins both came by six points or less at home and the loss by a whopping 29 points on the road. I simply feel Chicago is laying too many points in this spot. Take Connecticut (8*).

NFLX Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City plus the points over Tampa Bay at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

The knee-jerk reaction from most bettors is to back the Buccaneers after it was announced that their starters would play in Saturday's home game against the Chiefs. Still, we're only going to see cameo appearances from those starters and I think this line has moved too far in Tampa Bay's direction. The Chiefs check in 0-1 after a 20-12 home loss to the Rams last week. That game was a master-class in two coaches that don't care much about the preseason and we ended up seeing the Chiefs lose their exhibition opener for the fifth straight year. I did come away impressed by the Chiefs quarterback play, however, with veteran Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier both showing flashes. Once the Bucs starters exit, I don't see a considerable advantage for Tampa Bay in this game as it will give the bulk of the offensive snaps to Jalon Daniels and Connor Bazelak. Daniels did turn in a good showing last week against the Jets but again, that's working in our favor leading to the Bucs being in good favor with the majority of bettors here. Kansas City is almost always good for a preseason stinker and I think we saw it last week. Last year, the Chiefs lost 33-16 in Seattle but took their other two games down to the wire in three and two-point losses. We'll call for Kansas City to take this one down to the wire at the very least on Saturday. Take Kansas City (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Washington plus the points over Minnesota at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

We're not getting quite as much value with the Mystics as we were at the opener as Napheesa Collier has been ruled out for the Lynx while Olivia Miles is likely to play but is dealing with an ankle injury. Regardless, we'll back Washington in an underdog role as it has already shown it can hang with Minnesota this season, splitting a pair of earlier meetings including a narrow two-point loss here at home. The Mystics enter this game playing arguably their best basketball of the season. Washington is 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS over its last 11 games and 2-0 on its current homestand after consecutive double-digit wins over the Sparks and Tempo. With that being said, bettors aren't likely to jump all over the Mystics here as they're actually just 1-3 ATS over their last four contests while Minnesota has won five games in a row, going 4-1 ATS over that stretch, and checks in off a statement win at Golden State. This is actually a tricky spot for the Lynx as they're already 3-0 on their current road trip and have a tough travel situation going across the country following Wednesday's game in San Francisco. Their double-digit win over the Valkyries came thanks to an awful shooting night from Golden State (32.5% from the field). Washington has made good on 30+ field goals in three straight and five of its last seven games while holding the opposition to fewer than 30 made field goals in three straight and five of its last six contests. Take Washington (10*).

My selection is on Dallas plus the points over Indiana at 8 pm et on Thursday.

The Wings have had a couple of days off to stew over an 0-2 road trip that included a double-digit loss against the same Fever squad they'll host on Thursday. Dallas certainly hasn't been playing its best basketball as it checks in a miserable 2-7 SU and ATS over its last nine games including a current 0-6 ATS slide. With that being said, the fact that it lost by 'only' 11 points despite a poor shooting performance in Indiana last week, not to mention the fact that the Fever shot the lights out in that game, is encouraging. Last time out, the Wings got off only 58 field goal attempts against an elite Valkyries defense but still lost by 'only' eight points. In other words, I don't think they're far off from turning things around. The Fever didn't look like they had much in the tank in the fourth quarter of their 101-95 win in Toronto on Tuesday. They'll be playing their fourth game in seven nights in a fourth different city. Take Dallas (8*).

East Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

While these two teams couldn't sit any further from one another at opposite ends of the CFL spectrum this season, I don't think for a second the Alouettes will go into this game expecting it to be a cakewalk. The Redblacks are still winless on the campaign and one of their best shots at a victory actually came on this field against the mighty Als back in late June. Ottawa is into uncharted territory from a betting perspective as it has dropped the cash in a season-high three straight games. The same goes for Montreal as it has reeled off five consecutive ATS victories since that ATS defeat against Ottawa on June 28th. The Als come off their bye week so they've had a little extra time to pat themselves on the back leading up to this game. The Redblacks were actually right there for the ATS cover were it not for a critical drop on their final drive in Winnipeg last week. They took care of the football better than we've seen in recent weeks and also did a better job defensively even if the final scoreline didn't show it. Look for the Redblacks to stay inside the number on Thursday. Take Ottawa (10*).

My selection is on Atlanta plus the points over Las Vegas at 9 pm et on Tuesday.

This isn't a difficult choice at all as the Dream look to bounce back after Sunday's disheartening overtime loss to the Fever. Atlanta turned in an awful shooting performance in that game. I do think it is well-positioned to rebound against an Aces squad that has allowed eight of its last nine opponents to knock down 30 or more field goals. Las Vegas has won just twice in its last five games and both of those victories came against Washington. The Aces 109-87 rout of the Dream on August 3rd in Atlanta is still fresh in most bettors' minds. The same can't be said for an earlier one-point decision that went Las Vegas' way back in mid-May. You would have to go back to a five-game losing streak in late June and early July for the last time the Dream dropped consecutive games. We'll grab the points here. Take Atlanta (8*).

My selection is on Atlanta minus the points over Indiana at 5 pm et on Sunday.

The Fever are feeling pretty good about themselves off three straight wins including two in a row ATS but we'll fade them on Sunday as they head to Atlanta to take on the Dream. Atlanta has won back-to-back games including a blowout victory in Connecticut last time out. While the Dream have not been a good bet by any means in recent weeks, I do think they're well-positioned to take this one. They're playing better defensively having held three of their last four opponents to fewer than 30 made field goals. Indiana obviously thrives on its offensive prowess but has yielded 30+ made field goals in 11 straight contests. Take Atlanta (8*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Edmonton at 3 pm et on Saturday.

The Elks got off to a tremendous start this season but have now dropped back-to-back games SU and ATS and will try to get going again as they return home to host the Argonauts on Saturday afternoon. Toronto is trending in the right direction following a difficult start to the campaign. Keep in mind, it was only last week that the Argos finally got to play a true home game thanks to the World Cup taking up residence at BMO Field in Toronto. The Argos check in off back-to-back wins including a come-from-behind victory over Calgary last week. There's plenty of room for improvement for Toronto this week after it turned the football over a whopping five times in that narrow victory. If the Argos can clean that up - and I expect them to - there's certainly a path for them to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Toronto (8*).

Eastern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Connecticut plus the points over New York at 1 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with the Sun as they look to shake off a blowout loss suffered against the Dream last time out. New York has been a miserable bet for much of the season and that continued to hold true in its most recent game as it almost blew a massive second half lead in an eventual four-point win but non-cover against the Sparks. This is precisely the type of game the Liberty can have a tough time getting up for and I'm confident the Sun can at the very least take it down to the wire. Take Connecticut (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Washington plus the points over Las Vegas at 10 pm et on Thursday.

The Aces took the front half of this two-game set on Tuesday, pulling away for a 10-point victory. There were certainly positives for Washington to take away from that setback as it held Las Vegas to 32-of-70 shooting. Were it not for a poor shooting performance, the Mystics probably would have taken that game down to the wire. I do think there's a path for Washington to slow the pace even further in this rematch and ultimately keep the Aces offense at bay once again. Note that Las Vegas has now been held to 87 points or fewer in four straight games. The Mystics connected on just 29-of-68 field goal attempts on Tuesday and that's notable as they've made good on 29+ field goals in four straight and seven of their last eight games. That's a pretty solid floor offensively and I think it's something they can build on in this rematch. The Aces are considered to be an elite team but they've strung together consecutive ATS wins just twice dating back to June 30th. Meanwhile, the Mystics have lost consecutive games ATS only twice going all the way back to May 27th. Take Washington (10*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Calgary at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Lions made significant adjustments to their depth chart prior to their 35-19 win in Winnipeg two weeks ago and followed that strong performance up with a 27-24 victory over Hamilton last week. QB Nathan Rourke shook off the rust to guide the Lions to victory in that game, even if it wasn't a clean performance. Here, B.C. will look to avenge an earlier 41-33 loss to the Stampeders in Kelowna. Calgary checks in off a wild 33-30 defeat in Toronto last week. Things have certainly been breaking Calgary's way for the most part this season. Of note, the Stamps last three opponents have turned the football over a whopping 12 times. Turnovers aren't something we can really project or predict but I do think it's safe to say protecting the football will be a point of emphasis for the Lions in this game. They've turned the football over only three times in their last three games. While Calgary will certainly want to head into its bye week on a positive note, I simply feel it is laying too many points against revenge-minded B.C. Look for the Lions to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on Chicago plus the points over Golden State at 10 pm et on Wednesday. 

While the perception is that the Sky are playing incredibly poorly right now, the fact is they've dropped the cash in consecutive games just once dating back to June 9th. That's notable as they enter this contest in a foul mood off Monday's 97-88 loss in Seattle. While Chicago needs to get its defense back in order, it has managed to connect on 30+ field goals in 12 straight games. Golden State returns home feeling good about itself off a perfect 2-0 road trip. While the Valkyries have won four straight games they actually check in just 2-5 ATS over their last seven contests. They've strung together consecutive ATS victories just once dating back to July 8th. Take Chicago (8*).

Western Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Portland at 8:30 pm et on Saturday.

The Storm have to feel like enough is enough at this point. They've lost 10 straight games and that's been thanks in large part to an absolutely brutal schedule. Seattle has had a couple of days off to stew over its most recent setback, a loss but ATS cover against the Liberty in New York, and I look for it to rebound as it finally draws a winnable game on Saturday. Portland is probably feeling pretty good about itself after it snapped its five-game slide with a home win over Toronto on Thursday. The Fire remain one of the league's weakest defensive teams and I believe the Storm are capable of taking advantage. Note that this is a 'double-revenge' spot for Seattle after it dropped a pair of close results against Portland earlier in the season (both games were decided by only five points). Take Seattle (10*).

My selection is on Milwaukee -1.5 runs over Minnesota at 7:10 pm et on Saturday.

The Twins took the opener of this series in 'upset' fashion last night, holding on for a wild 8-6 victory. I expect the Brewers to answer back on Saturday. Taj Bradley has had a career year in many aspects for the Twins. With that being said, I don't love the matchup for the right-hander here. Bradley will walk his share of batters - nearly four per nine innings, in fact, and 13 over his last 24 innings of work. The Brewers, while not thought of as one of baseball's elite offensive teams, are capable of taking advantage. Note that they rank fourth in the majors in wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. While the Twins did do a lot to bolster their bullpen prior to the trade deadline, they have a number of key relievers that are in 'overworked' territory entering Saturday's contest. Milwaukee will send Robert Gasser to the hill. While not a household name by any means, Gasser has been pitching well lately, allowing two earned runs or less in three straight starts and walking just two over his last four outings, covering a span of 19 innings. He's been much better at home than on the road this season, logging a 3.13 ERA and 1.07 WHIP here at American Family Field. Of note, the Twins rank 24th in the majors in wOBA against left-handed pitching this season. The Brewers got their bullpen in order in last night's contest, using just two relievers. While depth-shy, their 'pen has been terrific this season, logging a 3.57 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 37 saves converted and only 15 blown. Take Milwaukee -1.5 runs (8*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Montreal at 3 pm et on Saturday.

The Alouettes have been the CFL's best team this season and enter this contest riding a four-game ATS winning streak. With that being said, their lone loss came against the same Elks they'll face on Saturday. While the 'revenge' angle is certainly at play, especially with this game being played at Montreal, I think it's been fully factored into the line. Edmonton enters this game off a home loss to the Roughriders last week. The Elks got nothing from their ground attack yet were still in that game right until the end, ultimately losing by just two points. The Als home field advantage hasn't been as pronounced as you might think this season. They're 4-0 at home but that includes a two-point win over the lowly Redblacks and their 31-18 victory over a banged-up Hamilton team two weeks ago was misleading as they took advantage of multiple Tiger-Cats miscues in the final minutes to pull away. I'm confident the Elks can take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Edmonton (8*).

N.L. West Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles -1.5 runs over Arizona at 9:40 pm et on Friday.

A lot of bettors figure to be a little nervous backing the Dodgers right now. Los Angeles has lost five straight games including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cubs earlier this week. I do think the Dodgers will have used yesterday's off day as a reset of sorts and expect them to get back on track in this series against the Diamondbacks. Arizona played last night and lost its series finale against San Diego. The D'Backs bats have been uneven of late and will draw a tough test in Roki Sasaki on Friday. Sasaki has been in excellent form for an extended stretch now and has held current D'Backs hitters to a collective two hits in 15 at-bats (small sample size I know). Behind Sasaki is a Dodgers bullpen that will have all hands on deck following an off day and that's where a big advantage lies. Arizona's 'pen is average at best in my estimation and currently missing a key high-leverage arm in Ryan Thompson. Merrill Kelly isn't really a good candidate to work deep into this ball game. Current Dodgers have seen plenty of him, going 50-for-177 (.282) with a healthy .878 OPS. Six different Dodgers have homered off of him. Kelly did have a productive July but struggled to the tune of five earned runs allowed on eight hits over five innings in his first start of August - a 5-0 loss to the Guardians. His hits, home runs and walks allowed per nine innings are all up significantly over last season while his strikeouts are down. I don't need to tell you that's a recipe for disaster against a Dodgers lineup that is itching for a breakout. Take Los Angeles -1.5 runs (10*).

Non-Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Friday.

Ottawa remains winless two months into the CFL season and rightfully finds itself in an underdog role as it travels to Regina to take on the 5-2 Roughriders on Friday. Saskatchewan is coming off a taxing home-and-home set against Edmonton, capped off by a 28-26 win on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ottawa limps on the road after a 34-13 drubbing at home against the Alouettes last Friday. I do think there's a path to keeping this game competitive for Ottawa. The Riders offense has been humming lately but explosiveness on that side of the football isn't really their M.O. The Redblacks offense is certainly better than it showed against an ascending Als defense last week. Keep in mind, they're just one game removed from scoring 34 points in a wild overtime loss at home against the Blue Bombers. This will actually mark the second and final regular season meeting between these two teams this season with the Riders winning by five points in an earlier matchup in Ottawa. I see this as a clear letdown spot for Saskatchewan while Ottawa perhaps looks at the start of this three-game road trip of a reset of sorts as it tries to end its streak of futility. Look for the Redblacks to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Ottawa (10*).

My selection is on Arizona plus the points over Carolina at 8 pm et on Thursday August 6th.

I'm going to jump on this play early as I like the way it sets up with the Cardinals currently priced as a small underdog. Arizona has the 'nobody believes in us' mentality entering this season with most picking it to finish last in the NFC or even the league. The Cardinals have a new head coach in Mike LaFleur and I actually like the hire and the fact that expectations are low across the board. Kyler Murray is gone and the quarterback room leaves a lot to be desired to be sure. I do think there's going to be a healthy competition at the position, even though Jacoby Brissett is essentially the incumbent and the starting role is most likely his. Last season, the Cards defense in particular suffered from a number of key injuries that held it back. I do like their depth on that side of the football and think they can be a sneaky-good preseason bet this year. While Cards fans aren't known for travelling well, they should have a presence here with Larry Fitzgerald being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Panthers are hoping to continue to progress after reaching the postseason and putting a scare into the Rams on Wild Card Weekend. Their sights are set on the regular season with the preseason holding little importance other than settling starting jobs and staying healthy. It's always important to tread lightly in the preseason but I do like the Cards chances of taking this one. Take Arizona (8*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Calgary at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

This line is a little baffling to me. Both teams check in 3-4 on the season but it's been an incredibly difficult road for Toronto as it will be playing its first true home game of the season on Thursday (it was displaced due to the World Cup being played in its home stadium, BMO Field). Calgary comes in satisfied having won consecutive road games in Winnipeg and Hamilton, scoring a whopping 96 points in the process. Toronto, meanwhile, comes off a much-needed bye week and figures to be feeling pretty good about itself after notching a 26-12 victory on the road against the Lions on July 25th. Of note, while Calgary did score 44 points against a banged-up Tiger-Cats squad on Saturday, it actually gained only 338 total yards. The Stampeders took full advantage of three Hamilton turnovers in that contest. In fact, Calgary has racked up a ridiculous seven turnovers over its last two games. If there's one thing Toronto generally doesn't do it's beat itself. The Argonauts have turned the football over just twice in their last three games combined. Take Toronto (8*).

My selection is on Las Vegas minus the points over Indiana at 7 pm et on Thursday.

I really like the way this spot sets up for the Aces who will be looking to avenge a pair of earlier lopsided defeats at home against the Fever. Indiana has been idle since Sunday's loss in Minnesota which snapped its five-game winning streak. The Fever have been awful defensively in recent weeks, allowing seven straight opponents to connect on 30+ field goals. However, their offense has been red hot to say the last. I do think the three-day layoff hurts their cause here, as does the fact that they're facing one of the league's better defensive teams in the Aces. While known for their offense, the Aces have limited the opposition to 44% or worse shooting in three of their last four contests. Like Indiana, Las Vegas has also been red hot offensively, making good on 32 or more field goals in six straight games heading in to this one. Take Las Vegas (8*).

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Seattle plus the points over New York at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

The Liberty took the front half of this two-game set in Brooklyn by 12 points on Monday. Credit New York for battling through a tough spot (returning home on one day rest following a three-game in five-day western road trip) but that lopsided victory had more to do with Seattle's poor shooting performance than anything else. New York allowed 70+ field goal attempts for the fourth time in its last six games and if Wednesday's game plays out similarly as I expect it to, I'm confident the Storm can stay inside the inflated pointspread. The Liberty have shot the lights out (50% or better) in three of their last four games, yet Monday's ATS win marked just their first victory against the number in nine games. Seattle has held three straight opponents to 68 or fewer field goal attempts and mired in a nine-game losing streak including 0-2 on its current road trip, I expect it to play with some desperation on Wednesday. New York will be glancing ahead at three consecutive off days before it hosts Las Vegas in a much-anticipated matchup on Sunday. Take Seattle (10*).

Interleague Game of the Year. My selection is on New York -1.5 runs over St. Louis at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Cardinals exploded for 13 runs in the opener of this series last night in what was an admittedly tough spot for the Yankees following a 2-1 win on getaway day in Chicago on Sunday. I look for New York to bounce back on Tuesday as it sends Ryan Weathers to the hill against Hunter Dobbins. Weathers was terrific in his most recent start, tossing seven shutout innings on the road against the White Sox. Unfortunately for him, the Yankees bats didn't show up in a 2-1 extra innings defeat. Prior to that New York had won each of his last three starts with all three victories coming by at least two runs. Weathers has allowed one earned run or less in three of his last four starts overall. The Cards rank 20th in the majors in xwOBA against left-handed pitching this season and have seen Weathers for a collective seven at-bats, with only one hit (albeit a home run by Ivan Herrera). Dobbins gets another turn in the starting rotation for St. Louis. He was roughed up for four earned runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings against the Cubs last time out. On the season he owns a respectable 3.81 FIP but a 1.34 WHIP. For his career, Dobbins has been a considerably worse pitcher on the road, logging a 4.78 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in eight appearances compared to a 3.47 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 12 home outings. The bullpen situation favors New York as it doesn't have any relievers coming off consecutive days of work. The Cards used George Soriano and Ryne Stanek on Sunday and Monday meaning those two relief arms will likely be unavailable on Tuesday. While the Yankees 'pen hasn't been lights out lately, it does have a much better long-term track record than that of the Cards. St. Louis' relief corps has posted a 4.36 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with only 14 saves converted and 13 blown on the road this season. Over the last week they've combined to record a 5.02 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with no saves converted and two blown. Take New York -1.5 runs (10*).

My selection is on Chicago plus the points over Las Vegas at 1 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with the Sky on Saturday as they look to extend their four-game ATS winning streak. They'll have the advantage of staying home after rallying for a win over the Sun two nights ago. Meanwhile, the Aces will be travelling after posting a thrilling but somewhat controversial 104-99 home victory over the Liberty on Thursday. Las Vegas has been lighting up the scoreboard lately, putting up 98 points or more in four straight games. It won three of those four contests but went just 1-1 on the road splitting games in Toronto and Washington. This is arguably a more difficult matchup than either of those with the Sky playing some of their best basketball of the season. Casual bettors love to back the Aces and I think the underdog is the way to go in this matchup as Chicago is capable of taking this game down to the wire at the very least. Take Chicago (8*).

My selection is on Portland plus the points over Indiana at 10 pm et on Friday.

Indiana looks invincible right now on the heels of four straight wins including three in a row ATS, scoring more than 100 points in all four contests. I think the Fever will be in tough on Friday, however, as they look to keep it rolling in Portland. The Fire have lost three games in a row but are actually 7-2 ATS over their last nine games. They are coming off an ATS defeat in a tough spot in Las Vegas last time out but have dropped the cash in consecutive games just once dating back to June 13th. This will be the third meeting between these two teams this season with the home team having gone 2-0 SU and ATS. Of note, the Fever are into uncharted territory riding a season-high three-game ATS winning streak. We'll call for the Fire to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Portland (8*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The Alouettes haven't met a close game they didn't like this season. Entering last week's action all six of their games had been decided by a touchdown or less. While they did ultimately pull away for a 13-point victory over Hamilton last Sunday, that was a down to the wire affair before the Tiger-Cats melted down late. Ottawa has already pushed Montreal to the limit earlier this season, dropping a narrow two-point decision as a +9 point underdog on the road on June 28th. Here, the Redblacks remain winless and come off their bye week. Needless to say, it's desperation time and catching the Alouettes playing on a short week riding a season-high four-game winning streak including three consecutive ATS covers, I think backing the Redblacks plus the points is the way to go. Take Ottawa (8*).

My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

It's getting close to desperation time for the 1-5 Lions as they head to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers on Thursday. These two teams have both disappointed in the early going this season with injuries certainly playing a factor. B.C. is making a number of changes, including at quarterback where Kaidon Salter will make his first CFL start in place of an ineffective Chase Brice. I do think the dual-threat Salter can give the offense a spark here against a Bombers defense that just hasn't been good so far this season. Winnipeg is sticking with Dru Brown at quarterback in a bit of a perplexing move. I think the injury to Lions RB James Butler has been weighted a little too heavily here, noting that ground games have really lacked punch as a whole in the CFL this season. Both teams could really use a strong showing here and I think this will ultimately be a 'down to the wire' type of affair in what will be the first meeting between them this season. Take B.C. (8*).

My selection is on Golden State minus the points over Phoenix at 10 pm et on Wednesday.

The Valkyries have been a terrific bet this season as they're one of the league's elite teams but not necessarily thought of as that, resulting in them being undervalued most of the time. They do enter this contest off consecutive ATS defeats at home against the upstart Mystics before the All-Star break, including an outright 'upset' loss on July 20th. They've had over a week to stew over that defeat, which snapped their nine-game winning streak (7-2 ATS), so we'll get behind them in this bounce-back spot in Phoenix. The Mercury are one of the league's worst teams but did go into the break on the heels of consecutive wins. Of course those victories came against two teams that have been struggling mightily in the Sun and Sparks. Look for Phoenix to be brought back to reality here. Take Golden State (8*).

My selection is on Atlanta plus the points over Dallas at 8 pm et on Wednesday.

The Dream were essentially an auto-fade for a few weeks in June and early July as they dropped the cash in eight straight games, going 1-7 SU over that stretch. They did right the ship prior to the All-Star break, reeling off three consecutive victories while going 2-1 ATS. They've already handled Dallas twice previously this season, taking the first two matchups by five points here in Big D and 17 points at home. Of course, both of those contests came back in May and have long been forgotten by most casual WNBA bettors. The Wings were a terrific bet in the first month of the season but not so much since as they've gone 6-11 ATS over their last 17 games including 1-3 ATS in their last four. While both teams have really struggled defensively in recent weeks, I do have more confidence in the Dream figuring it out, noting that it has held an incredible 22 straight opponents to 67 or fewer field goal attempts. Dallas on the other hand has been matador-like at that end of the floor and lost both previous meetings in this series despite holding Atlanta to fewer than 70 field goal attempts in both contests. Take Atlanta (8*).

My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over New York at 10 pm et on Tuesday.

We'll go right back to fading the Liberty coming out of the All-Star break as they enter Tuesday's contest in Los Angeles on a six-game ATS slide. They did right the ship in a sense entering the break, securing consecutive one-point wins over the Wings and Sky, failing to sniff out a cover in either game. The Sparks hopefully used the break as a reset of sorts as they have dropped five games in a row, going 1-4 ATS over that stretch. Keep in mind, four of those five games came on the road and the other was a narrow four-point home defeat against the Mercury just before the break. These two teams have squared off just once previously this season with the Sparks prevailing in a 98-97 thriller here in Los Angeles on June 21st. Take Los Angeles (8*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Toronto at 8 pm et on Tuesday.

I think this is a statement game for the Lynx as while they did enter the All-Star break on a seven-game winning streak, I don't think they were overly happy with their performance over that stretch. Minnesota is actually a woeful 3-9 ATS over its last 12 games. It faced a rather easy schedule leading up to the break and seemed to get complacent, narrowly avoiding upsets against ht elikes of the Sun, Mercury, Fire and Storm on a few occasions. The break presented an opportunity for a rest and I look for the Lynx to come out strong to start the second half. They draw another favorable matchup against a reeling Tempo squad. Injuries have played a role but the fact is Toronto has lost 11 of its last 14 games and checks in 2-6 ATS over its last eight contests and 5-10 ATS over its last 15. These two teams actually met once previously this season but that's long been forgotten by most casual bettors. The Lynx rolled to a 100-72 win over Toronto right here at home back on May 21st. Toronto had been playing much better and had all hands on deck back then, off to a 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS start to the campaign before the lopsided defeat. Take Minnesota (10*).

A.L. Central Game of the Month. My selection is on Minnesota -1.5 runs over Kansas City at 7:40 pm et on Tuesday.

We'll lay the extra run to aim for a generous return in a matchup that favors the Twins at home on Tuesday. Kansas City enters this game on a rare winning streak as it took advantage of a fading Tigers club in back-to-back victories over the weekend. I don't think the Royals will be so fortunate following an off day on Monday. Seth Lugo wil start for Kansas City. He's at the point of his career where opposing hitters, particularly divisional opponents, have seen so much of him it's difficult not to find some success. Current Twins hitters are a collective 26-for-92 (.283) with a .794 OPS against him. Every player on the Twins roster that has seen Lugo has collected at least a hit with eight of the 13 recording multiple knocks. Lugo has benefited from making his last two starts at home - both resulting in Royals victories. He has issued multiple walks and hit a batter in three straight outings, pointing to his command issues. On the season he's 4-6 with a 4.27 FIP and 1.37 WHIP. Bradley has quietly gone 9-4 with a 4.05 FIP and 1.22 WHIP on the season, flirting with career-best strikeout-per-nine inning numbers. He has given up two earned runs or less in six of his last seven starts with the lone blemish coming in a difficult road matchup against the surging Cubs on July 18th. Current Royals hitters are 8-for-44 (.182) with a .422 OPS against Bradley. Both bullpens have under-achieved this season but I've been more disappointed by the Royals relief corps. Given the names in its 'pen you would expect better than a collective 5.24 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 27 saves converted and 18 blown. The Twins 'pen has been much better lately, sporting a 3.32 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with eight saves converted and only one blown over the last month. Take Minnesota -1.5 runs (10*).