Cappers Sports Picks

Seattle Seahawks.

You know, folks, with all respect, to Chargers fans, I think we expected a bit more from L.A. this season. This team has yet to win a game and has yet to cover a game as well. As a matter of fact, they haven’t won or covered a single contest since before Christmas of last season. Yes, the Seattle Seahawks are defending Super Bowl champions. And I will agree, without Kenneth Walker in their backfield, they need to make some adjustments. However, they are still scoring points and own one of the best passing offenses in football. Throw them up against the 20th-rank pass defense of the Chargers, and it will spell doom. Let’s talk Los Angeles for a moment. Their only bright spot, offensively is a mediocre running attack. However, the Seahawks not only top the league against the pass, they ranked sixth against the run, have forced four turnovers, and are only allowing 16.7 PPG. I feel they will pass the ball at will, move the chain with ease, and score quite often here. Take the Seattle Seahawks. Thank you.

Kansas City Chiefs.

Being a Las Vegas resident for over 36 years, I know our sports team is quite well. And I am happy for the Las Vegas Raiders, who have started the season off 3-0 both straight up and against the spread. But I think they come down to earth this week as they face a visiting rival in the Kansas City Chiefs. KC is 3-0 SU covering two of their three games and are looking for a little payback. That’s right, the last time these two teams met was January of last season at Allegiant Stadium when the Raiders prevailed 14-12. Prior to that, the Chiefs took eight of the previous nine meetings. Yes, Kirk Cousins has looked pretty good this season. However, he has yet to go up against a solid pass defense. That’s just what he’s lining across from today. Not only does Kansas City own a solid “D” against the pass, they are also top-10 against the rush. Oh yeah by the way, they have forced three turnovers and only allow 16.7 PPG. The funny thing, they are equally well-balanced and rank in the top 10 in just about every major offensive category. They’ve only turned the ball over twice, are averaging over 153.3 yards per game on the ground, and once again, Patrick Mahomes is leading a top-ranked passing attack. On both sides of the line of scrimmage, Las Vegas has not seen an opponent of this caliber as they have faced off against Miami, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans. They say revenge is a best serve cold. The Chiefs will exact some revenge here and get a big win and cover. Take Kansas City. Thank you.

Miami Hurricanes.

Sure, this is a lot of wood too lay. But this is also a big game for the Hurricanes in the conference as well as overall in the rankings. Both teams are undefeated in ACC play thus far this season. You know for several years; the Tigers had the better of this rivalry until their last meeting in October 2023 when the ‘Canes bested them in overtime 28-20 as nearly a touchdown underdog. This season, Miami enters this matchup ranked #4 in the nation with a perfect 4-0 straight up record, and going 3-1 against the number. As a matter of fact, they have been money against the spread, covering eight of their last nine overall outings going back to November of last season. Meanwhile, Clemson opened this season on the road at LSU and got humiliated 51-10. They have since redeemed themselves rattling of three consecutive SU victories and going 2-1 ATS during that span. But I will say last week’s road victory at Cal, maybe luck played a part. Having said that, Miami has Florida State on deck in two weeks. So, I doubt they’ll be in look ahead mode. Meanwhile, Clemson has a nobody on deck, also in two weeks. Looking at the statistics between these two teams, it is overwhelming the Hurricanes will dominate. They rank 1st in total yards, 4th in passing, 21st in rushing, 3rd in points scored, and 4th in the nation in defensive points allowed. Oh, by the way, they are also 1st the nation on the stop-unit side of the ball in rushing and are 41st against the pass. Let’s be honest, none of the Tigers numbers are impressive. They rank among the worst in passing, total yards, and in scoring. Throw into the mix they’ve committed seven turnovers offensively, and I think they’re in for a very ugly day here. Defensively their numbers aren’t great either. I just don’t see this offense with a young backup quarterback at the helm who doesn’t have too much experience under his belt, going up against this ferocious “D” looking to make a statement here, lighting the scoreboard up. Take the Miami Hurricanes. Thank you.

Texas Tech Red Raiders.

At first glance, you might think this is way too many points for the Red Raiders to lay on the road. But I’m here to tell you, I don’t think it’s enough points. Texas Tech is undefeated at 4-0 this season, but have only covered one of those four games. They do have a bye next week before they play Arizona State at home. I doubt very much they’ll take their foot of the gas against an inferior conference foe here. Especially one that embarrassed them the last time they met back in November 2024, 41-27. What can we say about Colorado? Sure, they opened their season with back-to-back wins over Georgia Tech and Weber State. But they came back down to earth in the last two outings getting shellac on the road at Northwestern and also on the road at Baylor. They have now failed to cover three straight this season and going back to last season seven of their last nine outings. They also are off next week before they play Utah at home in two weeks. It seems their offense can’t get any rhythm going turning the ball over seven times, ranking 115th in scoring, and possessing equally dismal passing and rushing units. Granted, Texas Tech has shown statistically their past defense to be overwhelmed a bit. But in their defense, two of their opponents in which they both took down, were pass-happy offenses in Oregon State at home on the road and Houston at home. They have been frustrating against the rush and have forced five turnovers already. Without a real ground game to speak of, I feel the Buffaloes offense is at a big disadvantage here. On the opposite line of scrimmage, the Red Raiders are once again scoring a ton of points, behind an equally well-balanced offense. Colorado hasn’t been able to stop the pass either, and facing this offense, is going prove to be fatal for them. Texas Tech needs to stay undefeated in Big 12 play as well as keep their #12 ranking nationally. Take the Red Raiders. Thank you.

Washington Huskies.

As you look at this game, my friends, you’ll see these two teams have combined to cover just one of their nine outings this season. The Huskies come into to this matchup knowing they have not just prevailed in the last three meetings with the Trojans, they have also covered them all too. They do have a big game next week against the Hawkeyes at home. But coming off last week‘s three-point loss at home against the Golden Gophers as a double-digit fav, will light a fire under their coach and this team. Meanwhile, USC might be caught in a look-ahead game here as next week they have to travel to Pennsylvania to face Penn State. Statistically speaking, both offenses are strong in the air while both offenses struggle on the ground. It’s true, the Trojans account for more points than the Huskies. But they’ve also committed more turnovers. In my opinion, this game will come down to defense. You cannot compare the Washington stop-unit, which has forced six turnovers, and is equally strong in the air, as well as on the ground to the USC defense, which only has three takeaways, ranks 99th in scoring, and a 106th against the pass. Not only do I feel the Washington Huskies will cover this game, I feel they could win this game outright. Take Washington. Thank you.

BYU Cougars.

I seriously can’t understand why this line is so low. The Cougars enter this matchup winning and covering all four of their games thus far this season, and going back to last season, winning and covering eight of their last 10 outings. It seems a season ago back in mid-November at home, BYU went out of their way to prove a point against TCU, crushing them 44-13. That victory ended a 16-year slide against the Horned Frogs. Speaking of TCU, they are just 2-2 both SU and ATS this season. Sure, they can destroy teams like Grambling and Arkansas State. But when asked to step up in class, they failed both times, dropping a season-opener at home against North Carolina and last week on the road at Central Florida. By the way, they were favorites in both of those games. too. In six days from this game, BYU has to take on Iowa State at home, while next week, TCU is off. The Horned Frogs offense has looked decent against lesser opponents, allowing their statistics to bloat. They can’t run the ball at all, and have committed seven turnovers. I will admit, their passing attack is pretty good. However, the Cougars secondary is pretty solid, and their front line is one of the best of the country. They are allowing just 15.7 PPG, snagged five takeaways already, rank in the top in the nation against the rush, and have shown they could stop some pretty good passing attacks. Yes, TCU also owns a solid defense. However, they’ve only forced two takeaways already. The BYU offense is solid averaging over 44.0 PPG, making very few mistakes, possessing a top-10 rushing attack, and a decent passing game. As I mentioned earlier, they have to face Iowa State in six days at home, followed by another home game against the Notre Dame. They must win the games they could win, and they must win them with authority. I say last year’s 31-point victory will be repeated. Take the BYU Cougars. Thank you.

New Mexico Lobos.

Yes, at first glance, this seems to be a lot of points. But looking closer, the Lobos do own a 3-1 straight up record, as they are 4-0 against the spread this season. By the way, in three of those four outings they were laying double-digits. Their only defeat this season came on the road at the Sooners in which they certainly covered the 21.5- point spread losing a heartbreaker 14-6. By the way, that same Oklahoma team faced Texas El Paso also at home back in the first week of September as the Miners got squashed, 51-0. Speaking of UTEP, they are just 1-3 both SU/ATS this season. Going back to last season they have only prevailed in one of their last nine outings, and coincidentally enough have only covered in one of those last nine contests, as well. They have a home game next week against Nevada then the week after also at home they have to face San Jose State. New Mexico is off next week before they travel to Hawaii to take on the Rainbow Warriors. This will be their first conference contest of this season and they don’t take Mountain West matchups lightly. Looking at their statistics, they are outscoring opponents by 27.5 PPG, have not turned the ball over offensively at all, and defensively have forced nine turnovers, which leads the nation. Granted, their offense leaves a lot to be desired in the air, but still possesses one of the top-ranked rushing attacks in college football. UTEP possesses some of the ugliest numbers I’ve ever seen, ranking between 110th and 136th in just about every major offensive category. They are being outscored by 17.7 PPG, with an offense that has committed four turnovers, and a defense that scares no one. This game will certainly get ugly. Take the New Mexico Lobos. Thank you.

Florida Gators.

Both Florida and Missouri own strong records. The Gators are 4-0 while the Tigers are 3-1. There are a few disparities here, my friends. The visiting team has covered three of their four outings while the home team has failed to cover three of their four contests. Yes, the last time these two teams met the Tigers prevailed at home 33-31 as more than a double-digit favorite. Both teams performances a week ago have played a part in my release here. Florida took down Mississippi at home as a small favorite, 52-28, while Missouri on the road could not cover a small spread at Mississippi State, 31-24. It’s not just this season the Tigers aren’t covering. Going back to last season they have failed to cover seven of their last 10 contests. Neither team has a strong opponent on deck as the Gators face the Gamecocks at home and the Tigers face the Aggies, also at home. The Florida offense owns some very impressive numbers ranking 5th in total yards, 35th in passing yards, 11th in rushing yards, and 2nd in points scored. The Missouri offense also possesses some good numbers, but not quite as impressive as their opponent here. Neither defense is particularly strong against the pass, thus far, while both are strong against the rush. I see a few more differences here. The Gators rushing attack is one of the best in the nation. They can and will control the clock, move the chains, and keep the Tigers defense on the field. Missouri just don’t have the same solid ground attack. They must rely on their passing game. And Florida will come in here prepared for that. Take the Gators. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

It’s no secret, Georgia has dominated this rivalry taking six in a row, and eight of the last nine meeting straight up, covering five of the last six matchups. They are currently ranked #2 in the nation and have a big game with Alabama on deck on the road. Some sports bettors would look to fade them a bit as they may take their foot off the gas come late in the fourth quarter. But I don’t think they’re gonna’ do that. Style points count and we’ve seen a few of top-ranked teams already take losses, or even drop in the rankings with unimpressive victories. The Bulldogs are gonna’ make a statement here, not just to the rest of the SEC, but to the entire nation. They come in here, both 4-0 straight up and against the spread laying as many as 49.5-points. While the Commodores are 3-1 straight up and 2-2 against the number, they opened their season with a lackluster victory over Austin Peay and then another lackluster victory at Delaware. They then did win and cover as under a field-goal favorite against NC State before last weeks, 21-15 defeat on the road at Auburn, covering the nearly double-digit point spread. This team has Mississippi on deck, and I do feel the fact that they have no running attack to speak of will hurt them here. They rank 106th on the ground and have already committed five turnovers. Their passing game isn’t that much more impressive ranking 72nd. You know folks, say what you want about Georgia, but their defense is once again one of the best in the country yielding a mere 13.3 points per game, ranking third against the rush and 39th against the pass. They’ve also forced quite a few turnovers. Offensively this team ranked #1 in college football in scoring averaging over 54.8 PPG, and are equally balanced in the air as well as on the ground. There is no way the Commodores can slow this offense down and certainly no way their offense will be able to move the chains here. I’m going against the grain and taking the Bulldogs. Thank you.

Pitt Panthers.

While both teams enter this contest 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against the spread, I really like to visiting team here. Yes, it is the Panthers first time traveling away from home. But I feel their defense, is much stronger. Throw into the mix the fact the Hokies have turned the ball over five times on offense, and I really feel the wrong team is favored here. Take Pittsburgh. Thank you.

Liberty Flames.

It’s no secret Liberty suffered an ugly regular season last year. One of their bright spots, however, was defeating Delaware at home 59-30. After dropping their first game of this regular season on the road at James Madison, an opponent which has since proven to be a true force to be reckoned with, they have now rattled off three consecutive victories and have covered their last two outings. This includes a 34-17 road win and cover on September 24 at Coastal Carolina. Coincidentally enough, the Blue Hens took down the Chanticleers at home on September 19, 22-14. This is their only common opponent this season, and we can’t overlook a much different outcome between these two teams against that common opponent. Now some would say coming off an embarrassing 42-3 road loss on the road at Virginia would compel Delaware to bounce back this week. Yes, in that last meeting, the Blue Hens quarterback, Minicucci lit them up for 344 yards passing. But they were unable to run the ball. This season, Delaware, sincerely has no running game whatsoever to rely upon. This makes their offense one-dimensional. So even if that same quarterback comes in here with some confidence, I feel he is in for a long day. Taking a look at the Flames defense, they’re absolutely ferocious at stopping the pass ranking 13th in the nation. A place where they certainly can thrive themselves offensively is in the air against one of the laxest pass defenses in the nation. Both teams have committed a couple of miscues on offense. However, the Blue Hens stop unit (if you can call it that), has only grabbed one takeaway this season compared to four takeaways for the Flames frustrating open “D”. Take Liberty. Thank you.

Cincinnati Bengals.

Yes, it’s true. Traditionally, these two teams play each other very tough. But these are two very different teams this season. The Bengals are already off to 2-0 start both SU and ATS while the Steelers have split out their games already going 1-1 both SU and ATS. The Cincinnati offense is clicking on all cylinders lighting up teams for over 26.5 PPG and committing very few mistakes. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh offense is struggling ranking 31st in scoring, averaging just 11.5 PPG, coughing the ball up three times, and rank 29th both in passing and rushing yards. I believe this is a matchup their defense will lose in the trenches and be fatigued come the second half. Their once-feared stop unit is giving up a lot of yards on the ground, which does not bode well for this team here. I look for the Bengals to pound the ball up the middle on the ground to open up their passing game for a very impressive Joe Burrow. On the flipside, the aging Aaron Rodgers is looking his age. There is no love lost between these two division rivals. Take the Cincinnati Bengals. Thank you.

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Buffalo Bills.

Things aren’t looking too good for the Chargers right now and I think things are going to go from bad to worse for this team. Going back to last season this team has now lost and failed to cover five consecutive games. Let’s face it, my friends, so far this season they haven’t played the cream of the NFL crop going up against the Cardinals and the Raiders and only averaging 14 points per game in both and coincidentally yielding 26 points per game in both. Now they must go into Orchard Park in the brand-new Highmark Stadium to face an explosive Buffalo Bills team that is undefeated thus far both straight up and against the number. They have taken down both the Texans and the Lions with authority sporting an offense topping the NFL averaging 38.5 PPG, ranking in the top five in most every major offensive category, and failing to turn the ball over at all. Granted, their defense has allowed a lot of points. But in their defense (no pun intended, lol), they’ve played some pretty good offenses. Los Angeles must travel all the way east for aa 1 PM EST kickoff. Any way you look at this game, the Bills are the play. Even if the Chargers were playing well, they do not have the talent to keep pace with the 1-2 punch of Josh Allan and James Cook. Take the Buffalo Bills. Thank you.

Seattle Seahawks.

Many times, in the NFL we worry about a team being favored on the road. Well, I’m here to tell you the Seattle Seahawks are a covering machine even when they travel going 9-1 ATS their last 10 games played in the regular season on the road. Their offense is clicking on all cylinders and making very few mistakes, while their defense is absolutely ferocious. This does not bode well for a Washington Commanders squad has yet to win a game this season, and comes in here with injury issues. With quarterback, Daniels sidelined, it looks like Mariotta will take the helm. The once elusive play-caller did well for the team last season filling in for their starter. But he’s another year older and is not that dual-threat that he once was. Meanwhile, the Seahawks behind quarterback, Lock are looking really strong. Please remember this team had 17 starters return from last year’s Super Bowl Champion squad. And they picked up just where they left off. As impressive as their “O” has been, it is their defense that I believe will shine here against the lackluster Commanders “O”. Please remember the Seahawks “D” has allowed 17 points total to Drake May and Jacoby Brissett. The Seahawks will win and get a big ATS cover here as well. Take Seattle. Thank you.

James Madison Dukes.

One of the most pleasant surprises already this early in the regular season has to be the James Madison Dukes, which are 3-0 both straight up and against the spread this season. You may recall a season ago they lit up all but one of their regular season opponents, then took down Troy in their Conference championship, and held in tight with Oregon in a first round Bowl matchup. They posted 34 points on the Ducks in that matchup. They enter this game this week with confidence knowing they have dominated Old Dominion taking four in a row straight up and three of those four against the spread, which includes last season’s 63-27 beat down at home. Speaking of the Monarchs, they have lost their last two games and have failed to cover all three of their outings this season. Their offense has coughed the ball up a whopping seven times while their defense has snagged just one take away. On both sides of the line of scrimmage they are outclassed here. Take Dukes. Thank you.

South Florida Bulls.

Yes, folks, I understand laying 17 1/2 points with a team whose offense hasn’t shown too much thus far could be scary. But one thing this offense does not do is make mistakes. They are well-balanced, and do know how to get in the end zone. They’ve only turned the ball over once so far this season. Very interesting story here is Brian Hartline. Bulls first year head coach was born in Canton, went to Glen Oak high school, played at Ohio State, and prior to leaving for Tampa, Ohio State was the only place he had coached before this year. He’s got a lot of fans in Ohio my friends. I believe he’ll get a lot of support in the stands in this game. Let’s talk about Bowling Green. They are 0-3 both straight up and against the number this season, which does include an ugly loss to FCS opponent, Tarleton State. Their defense has gotten smoked over the last two weeks, yielding a combined 111 points to Nebraska and Iowa State. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to put South Florida in the same class as the Cornhuskers or the Cyclones. But this team likes to beat up lesser opponents. This is an opportunity for them to do just that in their head coach’s home state where he is beloved. The Falcons are a trainwreck. They’re averaging a mere 9.0 PPG a game while yielding 43.7 PPG, and their offense which owns some of the ugliest numbers in the nation, has coughed up the ball six times already. This game is going to be one of the most lopsided this Saturday. Take South Florida. Thank you.

Penn State Nittany Lions.

Laying nearly double-digits in a conference matchup could sometimes be shaky. But I’m here to tell you, there’s no need to worry. Penn State has dominated Wisconsin taking six consecutive meetings going back 14 seasons, not just winning all six but also covering all six matchups, as well. While Wisconsin has won their last two games against WIU and EMU, their season opening 41-13 defeat on the road at the hands of Notre Dame sticks out to me. Yes, I know how highly touted the Fighting Irish are. But this team through all three of their contests thus far this season does not have the usual rushing attack that we normally see. And without having a significant ground game, they’re going be in real trouble in this matchup. Penn State is 3-0 straight up and could’ve covered the only game that they did not against Temple on the road a few weeks back. They let their foot off the gas there. This is a team that not just wins, but they also cover. They currently rank 13th in the nation, and need some style points. A lot of people are saying that they don’t have the toughest schedule. So, every win and every margin of victory certainly count for them. Their offense has been outstanding posting over 42.3 PPG while not turning the ball over at all. They’re equally good in the air as they are on the ground. But the praise doesn’t stop there my friends. They are absolutely ferocious on defense and will completely shut down the Badgers offense. I have this team winning by nearly 2 TD’s. Take the Nittany Lions. Thank you.

Mississippi Rebels.

Yes, most sharp bettors will be fading Mississippi this week after last week’s big underdog 10-point victory over LSU at home. I understand it, my friends. But this is the matchup that will define the Rebels this season. They face a Florida opponent they took down last year at home 34-24 as a 10.5-point favorite. Now this year with an even more stacked roster, they are getting more than a field goal in the Swamp? That just doesn’t make sense to me. Florida is a good team. They are definitely on the rise. They started the season off with three straight victories going 2-1 ATS. Last week they did win on the road in a shootout at Auburn, 44-39. Maybe they’re in for a letdown situation. This is the first true road game for ‘Ole Miss, but they are up to the task. Late in last year’s regular season they won and covered big games on the road at Oklahoma at the end of October and then at Mississippi State at the end of November. The Florida Gators secondary is in for a long night here going up against Trinidad Chambliss and the high-flying passing attack of the Mississippi Rebels. Take the points with ‘Ole Miss. Thank you.

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Iowa Hawkeyes.

Remember, one thing my friends, sports betting is not about who wins. Sports betting is about who covers. A season ago, Iowa was a perfect 5-0 ATS on the road. They enter this matchup with a perfect 3-0 record. Their defense has yielded just 13 total points, and their offense has looked well-balanced thus far. Speaking of their offense, they’ve only committed one turnover through their first three outings. Michigan has a good defense as well. But I think we can all agree. They got a little lucky in their first two outings. We don’t even want to rehash the Western Michigan one-point victory as more than a four-touchdown favorite that they should’ve lost outright. Then the following week they beat out a lackluster Oklahoma team at home. I feel when this offense goes up against an aggressive defense, they’re going to be in a world of hurt. And that’s just what they’re going to encounter here against a very gnarly, ferocious, angry stop-unit. Oh, and BTW, they have turned the ball over five times already. One thing more, my friends, Iowa has a wonderfully talented backfield that can and will control the clock here and keep the Michigan defense on the field and their offense off of it. I think this is way too many points. Take the Hawkeyes. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

For a team like Oklahoma, who came out of the gate this season routing UTEP 51-0, you would think they would’ve looked impressive following that season opener. But the following week on the road at Michigan as a 5.5-point favorite, their offense stalled losing 17-10. Now by right you were supposed to come in with them last week at home against New Mexico, even though they were laying a little bit better than three touchdowns. Meanwhile, once again, they stalled offensively eking out a 14-6 victory. Are they due for a win here? I doubt it very much. This is a big game for Georgia, who by the way are 3-0 both straight up and against the spread this season. With the way, the Sooners offense is struggling and turning the ball over (six turnovers), I doubt very much they’re going to feel very good going up against the stout and nasty stop-unit of the Bulldogs. They are not going to be able to run the ball as they haven’t already. Now they’re going up against a top-five run defense. On the flipside, Oklahoma’s defense has looked good so far, yielding a combined 23 points. But they are facing a very well-balanced offense here that’s lighting up scoreboard for over 59.3 PPG. Oh, by the way, the Sooners have a bye week next week and then have to play Texas. Hmmm Meanwhile, I doubt very much. Georgia is going to be in a look ahead mode here as they have Vanderbilt on deck. This game will get ugly as the Bulldogs will want to flex their muscles, earn some style points, and stay the #2 team in the nation. Take Georgia. Thank you.

California Golden Bears.

You know my friends, I understand a win is a win. But I think we can all agree going into that weather delay at North Carolina last week where the Tar Heels were controlling the Tigers from end to end, changed everything. UNC had the momentum and then once they had to sit in the locker room for a few hours, everything changed and went Clemson‘s way. I think we can all agree the quarterback situation for the Tigers is shaky. They’re going up against a defense that is good against the pass and the secondary that is looking outstanding at picking off quarterbacks. I feel this game is going to be won in the air and that certainly gives the Golden Bears a big edge. Throw into the mix a short week and a long travel going from the East Coast to the West Coast and a late start here, I feel will affect Clemson’s play. But that all gives California the edge. Take the Golden Bears, who by the way, played at home a week ago. One more item folks, Clemson has Miami on deck and will certainly be looking ahead. Take Cal. Thank you.

Kansas City Chiefs.

Yes, I am aware last season it took the Chiefs into overtime at home when they eked out a three-point victory over the Colts. But this season Kansas City opened up the campaign with a decisive 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos at home. It looks like Patrick Mahomes is back at full strength. And the addition of Kenneth Walker, who exploded for 173 yards a week ago, just makes this offense unstoppable. Speaking of which, and their season opening 41-23 lost at home against the Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis Colts have now dropped eight straight games going back to last season. I am aware a season go the Chiefs were overvalued quite a bit by oddsmakers. But the Colts just can’t cover the spread and they are in for a very long day here. Daniel Jones is at the helm, so you can expect mistakes and turnovers. While Jonathan Taylor does allow some concern in their backfield for any defense, KC did hold the Denver ground game to just 61 total yards rushing. I feel the gameplan here is to give Indianapolis a heavy dose of RB Walker here, so the Chiefs can eat away the clock and move the chains, allowing Patrick Mahomes to open up the passing game. I don’t think Indianapolis has what it takes to slow them down. Take the Kansas City Chiefs. Thank you.

Seattle Seahawks.

With their season opening 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks have now prevailed in 11 consecutive outings going back to last season. This is the team that does whatever it takes to get a win. They missed an ATS cover in their season opener by just a half-point. Prior to that, they covered five straight and seven of their previous nine games. Speaking of covering, the Arizona Cardinals are one of the worst teams against the spread in the NFL. Yes, they did get a surprise victory as nearly a double-digit underdog against the Los Angeles Chargers last week. But I think they come back down to Earth now. I think they’re in a big letdown situation here. Going back to their not being able to cover the spread, a season ago this team failed to cover their final five outings, and going back a bit further eight of the previous nine overall games. They might’ve held the Chargers in check last week. But I think we can all agree the Chargers didn’t look like the team we expected them to be. I doubt very much this Cardinals defense is going to be able to slow down. let alone stop the well-balanced Seahawks offense. I expect this game to get out of hand. Take Seattle Seahawks. Thank you.

Philadelphia Eagles.

Losing to the New York Jets in what they felt was going to be an easy win for the Tennessee Titans last week, is going to sting a while. I doubt very much this team is built to come back from such a devastating loss. Now they have to face a very well-balanced Philadelphia Eagles visitor here who looked pretty good in their season opening victory over the Washington Commanders, 24-22. I know the Eagles have never won in Nashville, but their defense will throw a lot of different schemes at QB Cam Ward, who I think we can all agree has fallen way short of expectations. Offensively, the Eagles will give the Titans a big dose of running back Saquon Barkley, which will allow Jalen Hurts to open up the passing game. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

New England Patriots.

The New England Patriots, despite a 13-10 season opening a loss on the road at the Seattle Seahawks are expected to be one of the best teams in the NFL this season. This is a team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. That loss back on September 9 to the defending Super Bowl champions, will light a fire under this team and prompt them to come out here and make a statement. They had a few extra days to rest, and prepare than their opponent. The Pittsburgh Steelers opened up the campaign taking down the Atlanta Falcons at home, 20-13. But this team leaves a lot to be desired. I know Aaron Rodgers looked decent last week. However, he is still a 42-year-old quarterback, and going up against this fierce and ferocious defense, especially looking for redemption from their season opening defeat, is going to be fatal for the aging play-caller. On the flipside of the ball, Pittsburgh will be without cornerback, Joey Porter Jr, which will allow Drake Maye to air the ball out down field. Throw into the mix running back TreVeyon Henderson, who did not play in their first game, will be back in the mix. Take the New England Patriots. Thank you.

James Madison Dukes.

At first glance, you may think a team from the Sunbelt can’t compete with a Pac-12 opponent. Especially a team like San Diego State who finished last regular season with a 9-3 record. The Aztecs had their hands full a week ago on the road getting crushed by the Bruins, 28-10. Please take note UCLA’s current roster includes quite a few ex-JMU players and even one of their coaches. Speaking of James Madison, they have won and covered both of their outings this season, and going back to last season, they have been money riding an ATS cover streak of three straight and seven of their last 10 overall games. This is a team that impressed quite a bit last season. They then went on to win their Conference championship before going onto a first round Bowl matchup against the Oregon Ducks, a game in which they covered the spread, and very respectfully posted 34 points on their opponent. This game is going to shock a lot of people. Take the James Madison Dukes. Thank you.

Texas Longhorns.

Many naysayers out there would fade the Longhorns this week following their big come from behind one-point victory over the Buckeyes. Especially because next week they open up their SEC schedule against the Volunteers on the road. But this team has to stay sharp. I think we can agree we’ve seen a lot of ranked teams surprise us thus far in this short regular season. They have dominated their in-state rival winning and covering both matchups with them back in September 2022 and September 2024. Both times they were heavy favorites and both times they covered big numbers. Speaking of the Roadrunners, they are 2-0 thus far this season as they dominated UT Rio Grande Valley in their opener and just last week on the road, bested Texas State as a small underdog winning outright 31-26. Mind you, that same Bobcats opponent that gave them a tough time a week ago got absolutely humiliated by the Longhorns a few weeks back, 59-7. Texas San Antonio falls way short when facing Power Conference competition. We mentioned both losses to Texas a moment ago. But they were also downed by Tennessee and Texas A&M over the last several seasons. They were humiliated by the Volunteers failing to cover that game, and only covered against the Aggies because Texas A&M allowed them to score a meaningless touchdown with only 14 seconds remaining in regulation. This game will get out of hand as Texas will want to stay sharp prior to facing their next several opponents. Please remember even the Longhorns backups are top recruits while with all respect, a lot of the Roadrunners players, starters and backups are D-II transfers. Take Texas. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

You know, folks, we’ve seen some strange things happen to some top ranked teams already this season. Sitting solidly in the AP’s top-25 as the second-ranked team in college football, the Georgia Bulldogs can leave no room for error. They have won and covered both games already this season outscoring opponents by a combined 133-23. There is some question that they have no big-name talent on the team. But this is their first SEC game of 2026, and coincidentally enough their first road game of the season as well. They go up against a team they have dominated taking the last three meetings, going back a dozen years, covering all three as well. Let’s face it, the Arkansas Razorbacks are not a very good team. They did not cover their opening game of the campaign against North Alabama allowing them to post 14 points on the Razorbacks defense. They were then absolutely humiliated a week ago on the road at Utah 43-10. They have very little ground game to speak of and have already committed four turnovers. Well, this is a big number and Kirby Smart isn’t famous for covering big numbers. The Bulldogs have one more game this week before they must go up against some better competition: Sooners, Commodores, Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, Gators, Rebels, Missouri Tigers, and Gamecocks, all in consecutive games. This is their final contest to fine tune their squad. And with an offense that is averaging over 66.5 points per game equally strong in the air as it is on the ground, and a defense yielding just 11.5 points per game already snagging two takeaways I feel this team is going to put a hurting on their opponent here. If you recall a season ago (when with Memphis), Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield made some comments about the Georgia team and will pay for it this season. Take the Bulldogs. Thank you.

North Carolina Tar Heels.

Prior to this season starting, if I would’ve told you, I like North Carolina in this matchup, you would’ve thought I was crazy. But after just a few games in the rearview, the Tar Heels are looking like a serious play in this matchup. They have won both of their outings this season including a season opening road victory as a 7.5-point underdog at TCU, 15-10. Meanwhile, following their season opening embarrassing route at the hands of LSU on the road, 51-10, Clemson in their bounce back game as nearly a three-touchdown fav, eked out as 15-point victory, 22-7 against George’s Southern. That was supposed to be the game they bounce back and show they have the talent to compete in the ACC. Granted, last week’s starter, Vizzina made several miscues before Reynolds came in. Head coach Dabo Swinney said Reynolds will be taking the reins for this entire contest. But I still feel this team does not have enough to warrant being this much of a favorite, even if they are at home in this matchup. They’re running attack is less than stellar. And their defense has to prove they could win in big game situations. They must go up against this week’s top-ranked passing offense behind the arm of Edwards Jr and his well-balanced “O”. I just feel the way the Tigers have looked thus far, does not warrant them to be this much of a favorite at home against really anybody. Take the Tar Heels. Thank you.

North Texas Mean Green.

I sincerely feel the wrong team is favored in this matchup. The Mean Green have covered both outings this season thus far, and going back to last season, they are now 11-2 ATS their last 13 regular season contests. As a matter of fact, the last time these two teams met was a January Bowl game back in the 2024/2025 season in which North Texas lost a heartbreaker, 30-28 as better than a two-touchdown underdog. They certainly have looked sharper thus far this season playing competitively in their opening game back on September 5 on the road at Indiana, a lot closer than the 52-16 final score. Seven days later at home, they took down UNLV with authority, 44-6 as the game saw them as a small underdog. As far as Texas State goes, they are point spread poison. Going back to September of last season, they have now failed to cover 10 of their last 12 regular season outings. They were shellacked in their season opener on the road at Texas, 59-7. Then last week on their own field were bested by UTSA, 31-26 as a small favorite. Thus far, UNT has looked a little more well balanced, and certainly commit less turnovers. Their offense has committed just one miscue compared to TXST’s six turnovers committed, which includes three against UTSA. Not all their mistakes came against Texas. As I mentioned earlier, I feel the wrong team is favored here. Take the Mean Green. Thank you.

Miami Hurricanes.

The Miami Hurricanes are one of the best teams in the nation. There is some talk this week that they will once again be shorthanded in their defensive secondary. So maybe that’s why this number is staying under three touchdowns. This is a team playing another ACC game in which they want to establish their dominance. Please remember going back to last season they have now covered seven consecutive games which includes all four of their postseason games last year. While both squads have extremely talented quarterbacks, I believe we can all agree Wake Forest leaves a lot to be desired defensively. They’ve already allowed 26 points per game and are getting absolutely eaten up in the air on the defensive side of the ball. The Hurricanes also enter this matchup a little better rested having had a couple of extra days off prior to this matchup. Wake Forest is 0-4 ATS since 2023 as an underdog of 20.5 points or more. This line is floating around that number. Their quarterback, Gio Lopez is a talented gunslinger, with a bright future. But he is going up against one of the most gnarly and nasty defenses in the nation. Reports are the ‘Canes will be without some starters in their defensive backfield, as I mentioned earlier. But they will come in here prepared, my friends. They will also throw some schemes at Lopez that he has yet to see wearing his new uniform. FYI, Miami does not have a tough opponent up for at least a few weeks. A must stay sharp right now. They must also make a statement to the rest of the ACC. This may be a lot of points. But a win is a win. Take the Hurricanes. Thank you.

Buffalo Bills.

Playing their first regular season game in their new stadium, I expect the Bills and their faithful fans to come out here in full force. That by itself gives this team a big edge in this matchup. Throw into the mix they’ve taken five consecutive meetings in this rivalry and I feel they’re going to come in here confident. A big mistake made by sports bettors, is judging teams from their previous weeks performance. However, I feel it’s hard to ignore how well balanced the Bills offense was as they downed the Texans on the road 36-31. This is a team that looks good, my friends. Meanwhile, the Lions prevailed at home against the Saints, 31-30. Their defense still allowed New Orleans to put up 30 big points. This is obviously a big test for both teams. However, I think it’s a tougher test for Detroit on the road following a slim victory over a lesser opponent. Buffalo will have their loud and crazy fans playing a big part in this one. Take the Bills. Thank you.

Philadelphia Eagles.

NFC EAST MM.

Game 476.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

Falling short last season, following a Super Bowl title, cannot sit well with the Philadelphia Eagles at all. I mean last year they did make it to the Wildcard round but lost to San Francisco 49ers. This is a team that came out of the gate a season ago winning their first four games and going 3-1 against the number. There is no love lost between these two Division rivals. But I think we can all agree the Washington Commanders have a lot of concerns. Playing against a team that is 5-1 and their last five season openers is going to prove fatal for the visiting team here. Granted, both teams have some new coaches, some very young coaches. But we still have two very experienced very successful head coaches facing off against one another here. The Commanders have serious concerns as I mentioned a moment ago, with quarterback Daniels coming off an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. They did go out and get Mariota in the backup roll just in case. Now Washington does have some very tough opponents coming up next in Dallas, Seattle, and Indianapolis all over the next month or so. Philadelphia has Tennessee, Chicago, and then Los Angeles Rams. Now it’s not too much easier. But it’s certainly not gonna’ put them in a “look ahead” mode. Following last year’s disappointing ending for the Eagles, I feel like they come out here in front of their home crowd, and make a statement not just to the rest of the Division, but to the rest of the NFC. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

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Detroit Lions.

TD PLAY.

Game 470.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

It’s no secret the Detroit Lions fell way short of expectations last season. They started off the campaign 4-1 both straight up and against the spread before injuries began to take their toll on this team. Finishing that way cannot sit well with the Lions coaching staff, players, franchise, or fans. Now they come in just about at full force, despite still having some concerns on the defensive side of the ball. Please understand even though they finished 9-8 last season, they had the third-best scoring differential in the NFC only trailing the two NFC Championship teams. I understand the New Orleans Saints are going to go with Tyler Shough. But in my opinion, it doesn’t matter who is at helm for this team. I understand there’s nowhere for this offensive unit to go but improve. But how much can they actually improve? Not only are the Lions playing at home in front of their very loyal fan base, but they did add a few key players to both sides of the line of scrimmage. I feel their aggressive offensive style will be too much for the Saints defense here. One more item, my friends, the New Orleans Saints projected starters did not play a single snap in the preseason. They’re gonna’ come in here cold and rusty and must line up across a team with something to prove early on, in front of a very angry and loud stadium. I feel no matter what questions the Lions have on defense, they can and will keep the Saints modest offense in check. Take the Detroit Lions. Thank you.

Utah Utes.

Late Bail Out.

Game 404.

7:15 PM PST/10:15 PM EST.

I know laying double-digits this early in the college football season is always a little risky. But I’m here to tell you there is no risk involved in this matchup. Yes, Arkansas won their first game of the season against North Alabama 31-14. They were laying 40.5 points, my friends. So that was their third consecutive no cover and their seventh over their last 10 contests. Going back to last week’s game, sure they won. But this is a team that committed three turnovers against an opponent from the FCS. They also committed eight penalties against a team that wasn’t very threatening. Yes, all this, and they more than doubled the time of possession against their opponent. But they’re running into a team that was 11-2 a season ago which it does include a 44-22, December 31 Bowl victory over Nebraska. The Utes killed Idaho last week. And I realize the Vandals are not the biggest threat in the world. But this team still posted 66 points and 633 yards of offense. Quarterback Dampler finished last season, one of the hottest quarterbacks in the nation. I also feel the first FBS game after the departure of Kyle Wittingham compels this team to light up the scoreboard. Take Utah. Thank you.

Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State/Texas winner.

Game 395.

4:30 PM PST 7:30 PM EST.

Being the No. 1 team in the nation and once again coming into a matchup with Texas this time an underdog cannot be sitting well with the Ohio State. Both teams won and covered their season openers against lesser opponents, despite laying big numbers. The Buckeyes ran the gauntlet during last year’s regular season winning every single outing and covering 10 of 12. In all sincerity they could’ve covered the two games they didn’t if they wanted to. The postseason came and they lost to Indiana in the Conference Championship by three points then got humiliated in the Bowl quarterfinal against Miami. Well, this season they will settle for nothing less than perfection. While I feel the Texas Longhorns are a very good team with a lot of talent and certainly will be a force to be reckoned with in the CFP. I don’t like Arch Manning in big game situations. And this Buckeyes defense is one of the nastiest and most ferocious defenses we can remember on any team in recent memory. Please remember the Buckeyes have bested the Longhorns, in three of the last four matchups straight up, covering all four meetings. This includes a January 2025 and an August 2025 matchups. Ohio State is rarely an underdog. But when they are, they have covered 16 of the last 21 games played in that role. I understand Texas has had only one home loss in the last several seasons. But they’ve also never faced Ohio State in Austin. If you’re thinking the Longhorns have revenge in their eyes, they probably do. But having revenge and getting vengeance are two separate things entirely. I just feel this is one of the toughest defenses in the country, and Manning is going to fall short here. Take Ohio State. Thank you.

Navy Midshipmen.

Las Vegas Strip Move play.

Game 387.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

There is no doubt in my mind Navy won’t shred Florida Atlantic on the ground here. The Midshipmen once again are a strong running team as we have always known them to be. Maybe last year’s matchup only saw a 10-point victory for the Navy. But I feel the line is way short here. Not only will Navy move the chains on the ground and score points with their tremendous rushing attack. But they are also excellent against the run as well. So, they will control the clock, control the tempo, keep the FAU defense on the field, and tire them out. The Owls are atrocious. Let’s face it, since the second week of October a season ago they’ve managed to eke out just one victory. While they are pretty good against the spread, they are going to be outmanned and outclassed in this one. Take the Midshipmen. Thank you.

Clemson Tigers.

Touchdown play.

Game 386.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

OK folks, we all know Clemson was absolutely humiliated in their opening week drubbing at the hands of LSU, 51-10. I will admit yours truly had Clemson because I felt all the distractions with LSU was going to be too much for the players. And I’m not coming back in on the Tigers this week because I feel compelled to do so. I feel this is the game they must win and win big to earn some self-confidence, get some motivation, and earn a little respect as well. You know the final game of last season Clemson took a beatdown as a favorite at the hands of Penn State. That was a December 27 Bowl game. Coincidentally enough, they scored 10 points in that game, the same number of points they put up last week against LSU. It’s no secret. Many people feel the best quarterback on the Tigers roster is Reynolds. But he is a true freshman and was asked to sit behind the established senior, Vizzina. The senior play-caller just didn’t look in sync last week. Maybe it was because the LSU Tigers are such a darn good team. But he must come out here and make his presence known. Dabo Swinney made a statement both quarterbacks will be seeing time this week. I will admit, Clemson is 0-4 ATS their last four games played as a fav of 10 or more points. But I really feel they’re in” bounce back” mode here this week. They have a smart head coach, a talented roster, and are in dire need of blowing out this opponent. Take the Clemson Tigers. Thank you.

Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma/Michigan winner.

Game 319.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

You know, folks, you can’t always judge a team by their last performance. But I think it’s safe to say Oklahoma, who happened to crush UTEP, 51-0, comes into this game with a lot of confidence knowing Michigan won a controversial outcome, eking out a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. On both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Wolverines not only stepped on their own toes, but couldn’t get the job done when needing big plays. Quarterback, Bryce Underwood looked like he was first-game starter. Now, normally if a respected team has a poor outing in Week, I would look to back them the following week. However, the Sooners defense is once again expected to be one of the toughest in the nation. Not only that, but beating this opponent this week, earns this team a lot of respect. I mean, they are ranked 11th in the nation right now, and although Michigan looked horrible last week, they are still a big name team in which Oklahoma will up their stock by bashing. By the way, folks, last September Oklahoma took down Michigan at home with authority, 24-13. And I think the Wolverines team of last season was more equipped than the team of this current season. Take the Sooners. Thank you.

Oregon Ducks.

Crusher play.

Game 317.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Maybe falling from the second-ranked team in the nation all the way down to the sixth-ranked team, is going to be a wakeup call for the Oregon Ducks. Prior to the season starting, this team was touted to be one of the favorites to win the National Championship. But last week, they eked out a seven-point victory over Boise State of all opponents, a game in which they were trailing at the half, 17-14. I feel they must come out here, get a big victory, make a statement, and get themselves some self-confidence. What better team to face than the lackluster Oklahoma State Cowboys, my friends. This is a team winning just one game last season, and that was their season-opener. The following week, back on September 6 of last season, at Oregon, they were crushed 69-3. My friends, they got crushed almost every single game as they couldn’t get another victory for the rest of the season. I just feel, the Ducks must come out here and blow the Cowboys up to earn a little respect and strike a little fear in the rest of the nation. Take Oregon. Thank you.

Missouri Tigers.

Friday Night Lights Winner.

Game 315.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

Well folks, not too much is expected from either Missouri or Kansas this season. But I think we could safely say, the Tigers have a better roster than Jayhawks. If history plays any part in the present day, Missouri, will once again repeat as a winner in this rivalry. They have taken four consecutive meetings over Kansas, and going back a bit further, six of the last seven matchups. The most recent, last September at home, the Tigers took down the Jayhawks with authority, 42-31. One thing for sure, my friends, the Tigers are certainly more well-balanced, and I believe they will actually exploit the very lax Kansas defense here. History will repeat itself. Take the Tigers. Thank you.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

This game is being played in Lambeau Field this evening. Does that give Wisconsin an edge? I don’t think so, my friends. They have some questionable new hires on their coaching staff, as well as a quarterback that comes from the Sunbelt a season ago. If you recall last season, the Badgers offense was absolutely atrocious. Only once over their final 10 games of the regular season did they post better than 14 points. They are supposed to be improved this season, but they are certainly untested. They also have not done well when playing outside of Madison, as they have not been victorious away from their home stadium since 2024. Old Dominion transfer quarterback Colton Joseph put up good numbers last year. He is a dual-threat quarterback. However, he is going up against arguably the best secondary in the nation. A season ago very few offenses were able to throw against the Irish, and they are expected to be even tougher this season. Notre Dame is one of the favorites to win a National Championship this season. They have the most returning production in the country in 2026. Second-year star quarterback CJ Carr is the real deal, my friends. While they have a ton of returning seasoned players, Wisconsin brought in 17 offensive transfers. It’s going to take a while for this team to mesh. And playing this opponent here, is going to be a very difficult test for them. Not only was the Notre Dame offense, explosive season ago, but their defense was downright gnarly. They went up against some great opposition, and held most of them in check. If you recall, they dropped their first two outings of the regular season last year, but then rattled off 10 consecutive victories. I know this is a lot of points to lay. But with the way certain big favorites either lost outright or eked out slim victories this week, I doubt very much the Fighting Irish will take their foot off the gas. They must make a big showing, and they will. Take Notre Dame. Thank you.

Mississippi Rebels.

Louisville enters this season ranked 24th while Mississippi comes in here in the top 10 ranked the No. 9 team in the nation. My friends, despite their rankings, I still don’t feel this line is anywhere near where it should be. Please remember this game is being played on a neutral site at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Let’s start with the Cardinals my friends. This is a team that started last season strong against lesser opposition, and then faded down the stretch. Head coach, Jeff Brohm is a pretty sharp guy. They also have what they expect to be is a star quarterback at the helm. But this team is pointspread poison and playing on a neutral site against a top-10 opponent in their opener will prove to be fatal for them. We all know all the headlines over the last year surrounding Mississippi. Lane Kiffin left and I feel this will further motivate the Rebels and their very loyal fanbase to rally around the program. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Trinidad Chambliss. Yes, despite being the head coach for three games a season ago, Pete Golding is making his debut leading a program through the off-season into a regular season. Yes, several of last years coaching staff has departed. In a game like this, especially on national TV, you have to go with a more seasoned and experienced quarterback. Taking the reins for the Cardinals is going to be Buckeye’s backup transfer quarterback, Lincoln Kienholz. Without question the Rebels player has a lot more experience, and so does a lot of his squad. If you recall last year, this team came out of the gate, won their first six games with authority, covering some big numbers going 4-2 ATS during that span. Their lowest scoring output last year was 24 points. At times, the Cardinals offense really sputtered when facing aggressive opposition. I feel with the way the Mississippi players and their fans rallied around the team last year and coming into this season is going to be a big factor. Take the Rebels. Thank you.

Clemson Tigers.

Last season these two teams met in the opener when they were both ranked in the top 10, as LSU defeated Clemson in South Carolina, 17-10. This season LSU comes in here ranked 11th while Clemson is unranked for the first time in 15 years. It’s no secret the LSU Tigers have been in the headlines a lot lately. Lane Kiffin is the head honcho coming from SEC-rival ‘Ole Miss. Reports are he has the highest-ranked transfer portal success this season. He brought in Arizona State quarterback, Sam, Leavitt, and a couple of new coaches. Going up against the defense-minded, Dabo Swinney is no small task, especially for a team that is distracted by all the headlines showing them in a negative light. But that’s a whole other issue, my friends. Despite recent struggles, Clemson still attracted a top-25 class of incoming talent. As I mentioned a moment ago, Clemson is known for their defense, and they are going up against an unproven run game. I know this team lost quite a few players to the NFL. But being unranked, coming in with a seasoned and experienced stout defense, and also knowing they are double-digit underdogs is going to further motivate this team. I think this game is going to be a very tight contest. Take the Clemson Tigers. Thank you.

Oregon Ducks.

I think we’ve seen that laying big numbers so far early on in this college football campaign, has burned a few favorites for sure. And laying this type of wood here can be scary. But if you recall, Boise State only stepped up in class a few times a season ago and got shellacked each time. They lost their season opener on the road at South Florida 34-7, got demolished in the first week of October on the road at Notre Dame 28-7, took an ugly home loss on November 1 at the hands of Fresno State, 30-7, and the last time they took the field on a December 13 Bowl game, they were annihilated by Washington 38-10. As I mentioned a moment ago, each time this team was asked to step up in class, they fell way short. They must face the No. 2 team in the country in the Oregon Ducks in Eugene. This is no small task, my friends. Now I do understand this is a lot of points. But I also understand coming in here the second-ranked team in the nation, compels the Ducks to put a blowout on the board early. They don’t have a very tough opponent for quite a while. Style points count as we know in college football. And coming out and drubbing their first opponent is going to give them just what they need to stay ranked where they are. If you recall, the last time these two teams met was back in the September 2024 where at home Oregon was a 17.5-point favorite, and eked out a 37-34 victory. I’m sure that game has been haunting this team for a while. It shouldn’t have been that close. I look for Heisman-candidate quarterback, Dante Moore to absolutely light up the scoreboard in the air here. Trust me when I tell you, they will not be surprised or caught off guard here. A few years ago, when they broncos lost their biggest contributor, Jeanty, it was certainly significant to last year‘s play. Oregon is 7-2 against the spread the last nine nonconference games, and as I mentioned earlier, I feel this will be a big showing for head coach Lanning, and the No. 2 Ducks. Take Oregon. Thank you.

Duke.

My friends, I feel Tulane will be a solid force in the AAC this season. This was a good team a season ago. But when they were asked to step up in class during the regular and postseason, they got crushed by Mississippi both times, in the regular season by 35 points, and in the bowl first round by 31 points. Now I’m not trying to sell Duke as good as a team as Mississippi, my friends. But the Blue Devils are a very good team. Their offense is explosive, and they have a defense that matches up well with today’s opponent. I mentioned revenge earlier. The Green Wave took last years meeting at home 34-27 as a slight fav. Prior to that Duke took the three previous meetings. They were upset they lost to an AAC team. Please remember they finished the season on a high-note, taking down North Carolina and Wake Forest in the last few games of the regular season, beat a very good Virginia team in the conference championship, and then took down Arizona State in their bowl game. This team is expected to be a stronger squad this season under the guidance of Manny Diaz. They brought in a San Jose State transfer who knows how to air the ball out at quarterback being that he played in the Mountain West, and they have an exceptional ball carrier in Nate Sheppard, who ran for over 1,132 yards last season. Take Duke. Thank you.

Pitt Panthers.

Sure, Miami Ohio is good in the MAC, but historically this team falls way short when facing superior conference foes. They’ve really never been able to put up points on better opposition. Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi, is defense all the way. They are known to be very stout against the run are expected to come in here just as solid defensively a we have seen them in recent seasons. The problem they had was inconsistency at the quarterback position. It seems those days are over. Please remember this team has won six straight season openers going 5-1 against the spread, and some of those lines were pretty high. Speaking of quarterbacks, the Redhawks will be starting McComb after transferring from Kansas without taking a game snap and it will be a very tough day for this young man. He must line up against a ferocious “D” known for its pressure on the quarterback and tight coverage. I expect the home team here to come out with some fire, and show the ACC that they mean business this year. Take the Panthers. Thank you.

James Madison.

It’s no secret both teams are dealing with quarterback situations. But James Madison comes into this matchup knowing they dismantled Liberty last September, 31-13. This is a Flames team that was a disaster last season following a very successful season the year before. Not only were they horrible in the win/lost column, but they also covered just three games a season ago. Meanwhile, the Dukes are expected to take their conference again this season, as they were extremely strong last year. This team won all but one regular season game, then destroyed Troy in the conference championship, and looked very competitive against Oregon in the first round of the Bowls. They put up 34 points on a Ducks team that was one of the best in the country. I mentioned at the start of this breakdown and both teams have quarterback question marks. But JMU brought in solid play-callers from both Memphis and UCF, while they brought in Liberty’s running back. I look for this team to make a statement here. Take the Dukes. Thank you.

Seattle Seahawks.

Yes, we all know both Seattle and New England were not favored to be in the Super Bowl this season. But yet, they both deserve to be here. The Seahawks are 16-3 overall this season, while the Patriots possess a 17-3 record. Both teams have covered 14 games this season, and both are excellent playing away from home. Seattle enters this matchup winning nine consecutive games and covering six of their last eight, while New England has won six in a row, covering five of those six. Both offenses are explosive, and both defenses are among the best in the NFL. There is no question that there are a few things that certainly stand out to me. For starters, Seattle has a much more experienced and seasoned quarterback, especially in the postseason than does New England. Sam Darnold started in this league in 2018, and has over 90 starts under his belt, while Drake Maye has just 29 starts at the helm. I'm not looking to take away anything from Maye’s talent or ability, but when you get to this platform, experience especially in the postseason plays a big part. Both offenses have solid ground games, and an arsenal of receivers. I do feel, the more complete running back lines up in the Seahawks backfield in Kenneth Walker III. As I mentioned a moment ago, both defenses are among the best in the league. But the Seahawks stop-unit is a lot stronger against the run, which tells me they can force some three-and-outs. One more thing my friends, the Seattle defense has also snagged 18 takeaways to just 10 takeaways for the New England "D". I believe this game will be won with experience, a solid ground game, the defense that is better against the run, and the stop-unit that forces more turnovers. And in my opinion, all those point to the Seattle Seahawks. Thank you.

Indiana Hoosiers.

Game 288.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

There is no question that both Miami and Indiana deserve to be in the National Title game. The Hurricanes have rattled off seven consecutive victories covering the last four with a few of those games winning outright as an underdog. This game is also being played in their home venue. They will look in the stands and see a lot of their loyal fans, for sure. Meanwhile, Indiana is a perfect 15-0 this season, and also enter this game covering four straight outings. There is no question that Mario Cristobal and Curt Cignetti are two of the best coaches in the nation. There is a lot of talk that one of Cignetti's assistants is now on the sidelines for Miami and would be a disadvantage for him. But to be quite honest my friends the head coach has gone up against some of the best head coaches in the history of college football, and he's beaten all of them. Without question the Indiana offense is certainly a little more well-balanced. They have a much stronger running attack, and Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza at the helm. I do feel he's a little more stable than his counterpart, who is a very good quarterback, Carson Beck. There's also a big advantage in the fact the Hurricanes pass defense ranked 62nd in the nation. The Hoosiers defense can create turnovers, and will create turnovers. They rank second nationally against the rush, and are one of the most frustrating pass defenses in the nation ranking 23rd. Defensively, the Hoosiers have held 11 opponents to season lows in points and six to season lows in yardage. They are just so much more well-balanced and polished on both sides of the line scrimmage. I feel the Hurricanes are a very good team, but are outclassed in this matchup. You may not realize this but Indiana in their two Bowl/CFP games have outscored Alabama and Oregon by a combined 94-25. With a combination of a more solid quarterback, a more stable ground game, and the better defense, we're going to take the Hoosiers here. Take Indiana. Thank you.

Los Angeles Rams.

Game 393.

3:30 PM PST/6:30 PM EST.

Yes, Los Angeles has to travel for this matchup. And yes again, the weather is possibly going to be frigid, windy, and snowy. But that's where the benefits for the home team ends. I am aware Los Angeles doesn't have a ton of cold weather experience. But last January, they did play the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles on the road very tough. As a matter of fact, it came down to the wire in the Divisional playoff game with the home team prevailing, 28-22. They enter this matchup winning their last two games including a hard-fought road victory over the Carolina Panthers eight days ago, 34-31. As far as the Bears go, they certainly deserve to be here. But let's face it, did they really win last week or did the Packers just fall apart? In my opinion it's the later. Yes, the Chicago defense is tops in the NFL in takeaways. But they rank 23rd in points allowed, 27th against the rush, 22nd against the pass, and 29th in total yards allowed. This does not bode well as they're going up against one of the most complete and well-balanced offensive units in pro football. Los Angeles tops the league in scoring, ranks number one in yards, number one in passing, and number seven in rushing. They also don't turn the ball over a ton. Both teams can run the ball with efficiency which will be a major factor here if the weather is as expected. But something I want you to know my friends, the Rams are much better against the rush than the Bears. This was a weakness for Chicago all season long. Not only that, but Chicago, prior to this weekend, had the worst record against current playoff teams. Guess who had the best? That's right my friends, Los Angeles had the best record prior to this weekend against current playoff teams. As I mentioned a moment ago, the Bears defense on paper isn't as good as many people think. Let's not sell short how good the Rams stop-unit is as just last week they held the Panthers to 0-3 on fourth down. This is a defense that has come up big when needed. Their offense is so good and so well-balanced that they keep opponents defenses on the field and their opponents offenses off of it. There is also no comparison in the playoff experience Matthew Stafford has over Caleb Williams. And my friends, trust me when I tell you postseason experience by a quarterback and team leader is huge. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Seattle Seahawks.

Game 390.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

There are enough reasons on the surface to play Seattle here. For starters, they had an extra week off to rest, heal, and prepare. Next, they are playing at home at Lumen Field which is arguably one of the loudest and craziest places in all of sports for a visitor to come into and try to compete. Then there's the fact Seattle knows that they took down San Francisco in the most recent matchup just a few weeks ago on the road. But there's one more factor, and the earlier meeting back at the beginning of September in Seattle, on their very own field, the Seahawks lost to the 49ers in a heartbreaker. So revenge also motivates this team as well. They don't lose too many games at home. Granted the road team has done very well as a visitor this season as well. Let's also throw into the mix San Francisco played just six days ago in Philadelphia, to a hard-fought four-point victory. However, they then had to travel across the country up to Seattle for this matchup. As I mentioned earlier, the Seahawks had a week off to rest, heal, and prepare for this matchup. This is a big edge for this team, my friends. Now let's talk specifics. The 49ers lost starting tight end and one of their biggest contributors, George Kittle who tore his achilles in the win over the Eagles last week. I believe their head coach Kyle Shanahan has really done it with smoke and mirrors this season and deserves a lot of praise. But without Kittle, Brock Purdy's go-to guy, this offense becomes more one-dimensional. While I feel Christian McCaffrey is one of the most valuable players to his team in the NFL, let's be honest, this team ranks 24th in the league in rushing. They must go up against the third-best rushing defenses in the NFL. Both teams turn the ball over quite a bit. But I think the big difference here will be on the defense side of the ball where San Francisco has only forced six turnovers, compared to the 18 turnovers forced by the Seattle defense. Let's face it, their defense is far superior topping the league in points allowed, only giving up 17.2 PPG, is better rested, is healthier, and is much more ferocious. Take the Seahawks. Thank you.

Jacksonville Jaguars.

Game 380.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

Buffalo might've taken down Jacksonville at home last season, but they have not won in Jacksonville since 2013. We also must come to the realization the Bills are not the same team on the road as they are at home. There are 5–-3 overall as a guest this season, but when it comes to the playoffs, let's be honest, Josh Allen is 0-4 both SU and ATS on the road in the playoffs. The Jaguars enter this matchup winning and covering eight consecutive outings including all four games played on their own field during that span. Their defense has been stellar, not allowing a single opponent to post better than 24-points since early-November. The Buffalo offense revolves around its ground game. But they're going to be in for some issues in this matchup as they go up against the leagues No.1 run defense. Overall, the Jacksonville stop-unit is one of the best in the NFL, yielding just 19.8 PPG and snagging 22 takeaways. Yes, the Bills are a solid team. However, their track record in the postseason is less than impressive. Offensively, I feel the Jaguars will give a big dose of their ground game, to open up their passing attack. Please understand, on the flipside their defense has been one of the best in the NFL for quite a while now, they're great at forcing turnovers, and must be salivating knowing they get a crack at an offense here that has committed 19 turnovers. I'll take the home team. Take the Jaguars. Thank you.

Carolina Panthers.

Game 376.

1:30 PM PST/4:30 PM EST.

My friends, winning on the road in the NFL postseason is no small task. Winning and covering on the road in the postseason is even a tougher test. You know what the toughest task of all is? Winning and covering on the road is a double-digit favorite in the postseason. While I believe the Rams will win this game, laying double-digits I feel prompt us to take the home underdog here. The Rams are just 5-4 as a visitor this season failing to cover two of their last four played as a guest. I know the Panthers offense sputtered the last several weeks. But this is a that is 5-3 this season straight up at home and took the only meeting against today's opponent back at the end of November also at home, 31-28. The Los Angeles defense seems to be a little fatigued and a little overworked, as they have allowed 34, 38, 27, and 20-points in consecutive contests. On paper, the Rams offense is one of the most explosive in the NFL. But they do make some costly mistakes, and are facing a defense that has played some decent football over the last month of the regular season. I just feel this is way too many points to give a very game Panthers team at home. By the way, they have also covered both games played this season as a double-digit doggie. Take Carolina. Thank you.

Buffalo Bills.

AFC EAST GOM.

Game 348.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

While the Buffalo Bills can certainly better their postseason situation with a victory here today, the New York Jets are in line for a very nice draft pick. Having said that, reports are Josh Allen might just see a small amount of action to keep his consecutive game start streak alive. But even he does not see any action at all, I still feel the Bills are the play here. The Jets possess one of the worst teams in all of the NFL, going 3-13 straight up this season. This is a team that has just one win since the first week of November losing four in a row and six of their last seven SU, and failing to cover their last four outings. Those six losses in those last seven games came by 13, 13, 24, 28, 21, and 32 points. Their offense is non-existent and their defense has been steamrolled. Meanwhile, the Bills come off their first loss following a four-game win streak. They're playing at home where they are 6-2 this season, and I feel even though the number went up a little bit this week the line is still very short. The Buffalo will be motivated by trying to get out of the number seven seed. The difference between being the number seven seed and a likely trip to New England versus the number five or six seed and a possible trip to either Pittsburgh or Jacksonville is big. They have dominated the Jets taking four in a row and eight of the last 10 SU, covering four in a row and six of those 10 meetings. Trust me when I tell you their head coach and the team wants to go into the postseason with a little confidence as well, and this is just a game to do just. Both teams can run the ball with efficiency, while both defenses are a little lax against the rush. However, no matter who is at the helm for New York (likely Brady Cook, check status), they rank dead-last in passing in the NFL. They go up against the league's top pass defense. Something else I want you to know, the Jets defense ranks 30th in points allowed and has forced zero turnovers this season. They don't post too much of a threat to opposing offenses and their quarterbacks. I feel this game will get out of hand, I feel Buffalo needs a big confidence boost, and I feel that their coach and the team really want to get out of the playoff situation basement. One more item folks:  this will be the Bills final game played ay Highmark Stadium and certainly want to end their tenure there on a high-note. Take Buffalo. Thank you.

Wake Forest.

Mississippi State comes in here with a 5-7 overall record, losing three in a row and seven of their last eight straight up, failing to cover their last three outings. Their defense has allowed 41, 31, 23, 45, 35, 41, 49, and 38 points in consecutive contests. They face a Wake Forest opponent comes in here angry following an ugly loss at their hands of Duke in their last outing. Prior to that, they won three in a row and six of the last seven SU, covering seven of their last nine overall contests. The Demon Deacons will be without a couple of key players. But their quarterback, Robbie Ashford will be on the field. He's a solid play-caller with quite a bit of experience. He is no stranger to lighting up the scoreboards even against some SEC opponents. Their opponent will be without their quarterback Blake Shapen. This team is pretty decent offensively. However, they have coughed up the ball 15 times and go up against one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. Wake Forest allows just 21.5 PPG equally good against the pass as they are against the Rush. Offensively, you can expect the Demon Deacons to move the ball with ease against one of the worst run defenses in the nation, and an overall defense that allows nearly 30 PPG (29.2 PPG). Take Wake Forest. Thank you.

Arizona.

Like many teams this time of year, Arizona as expected to be without a few opt outs and transfer. But quarterback, Noah Fifita will not be one of those players. He has stepped it up over the last few months of the season, leading this team to five consecutive wins and four ATS covers over those five games. SMU has one of the most explosive passing attacks in the nation. They cannot run the ball at all and have committed 16 turnovers. Defensively is where this game will be won and that edge certainly goes to the Wildcats. Their stop-unit is one of the best in the nation yielding just 18.9 PPG and have forced 19 turnovers, solid against the run, and fourth nationally against the pass. I feel they have a more well-balanced offense as well, can keep up the pace offensively with any team in the nation, and have a decent running attack to keep their opponents defense honest. They also make a lot less mistakes. Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

Navy.

The list of Cincinnati's opt-outs is one of the longest in college football. They lost their quarterback, and at least five starters on defense that are going into the transfer portal. This is bad enough. But their secondary is absolutely depleted. A large portion of their starting stop-unit will not be on the field for this matchup. I'm not going to debate they play a little stiffer competition than Navy does. But this team enters this matchup on a four-game slide both SU/ATS. Meanwhile, the Midshipmen enter today's game winning three in a row and covering two of their last three against some very formidable opponents like the Bulls, Tigers, and Black Knights. If you're into angles, playing a service academy in a Bowl game hasn't been easy for any opponent. Since 2021 Navy, Army, and Air Force have combined to earn seventh straight Bowl game wins. Navy is led by Blake Horvath who is coming in to his own as a quarterback, and leads the number one rushing attack in the nation. Please remember the Bearcats rank 97th against the rush. They will be dominated here as the Midshipmen offense will keep them on the field and their offense off of it. As we all know, all of the service academies can run the can also stop the run. That's no different here. Navy is extremely strong against the rush, and only allows 26.0 points per game. Take the Midshipmen. Thank you.

Texas State.

Rice has dropped and failed to cover their last two games as their defense has gotten plowed for a combined 108 points in those contests. They are just 5-7 SU/ATS this season with five of those seven defeats coming by a lot more than the pointspread here today. This is a team that has no passing game whatsoever, nor can they stop the pass. As a matter of fact, their defense ranks among the worst in college football forcing just three turnovers and allowing over 35.2 points per game. Offensively, they can run the ball well, but they account for just 21.6 PPG. They will be without their leader and starting quarterback Chase Jenkins. This will be a big blow for the team as he is also a dual-threat quarterback. While the Texas State defense is a little more well-balanced, they still allow a lot of points. But their offense is so explosive both in the air and on the ground, they rank 12th nationally posting over 36.1 PPG. I doubt very much their counterpart can keep up with them on the scoreboard. Take the Bobcats. Thank you.

Joe D got everyone paid again on Wednesday in BOWLS, bouncing back from his only “off” day this Bowl season. Today, we continue to BEAT THE BOOKS in college football with my SUGAR BOWL WINNER between MISSISSIPPI/GEORGIA.

MISSISSIPPI.

As of posting this play, most of the money this week is coming on Georgia. I understand why. I mean they possess a defense that allows just 15.9 points per game. But several teams have put up a lot of points on them. In overtime, Tennessee accounted for 41 points, in their only loss of the campaign, Alabama accounted for 24 points, and this very same Mississippi opponent put up 35 points against them. Their last few games of the regular season were against some less than stellar opponents as they were a 43-point fav over Charlotte, and a 16-point favorite over Georgia Tech. I feel their lopsided victory over Alabama in the conference championship was earned for sure, but put them an ideal situation for a letdown here. Let's face it, the Mississippi defense was almost as good yielding just 19.3 PPG. The big disparity in this matchup is on offense. Both teams rank about the same on the ground, while the Rebels account for almost a touchdown more per game, and they possess certainly one of the most explosive passing attacks in the nation. That's where this game will be won. Led by Trinidad Chambliss, the Ole Miss offense ranks sixth nationally in passing for over 312.4 yards per game in the air. They are very good against the pass, as well. This is a weakness for the Georgia offense as they were lackluster at best ranking 79th in passing. Let's face it, the Bulldogs defense is what got them their wins. However, defensively they're one flaw is against the pass where they rank 44th in the nation. I believe this is way too many points to give a team so well-balanced like the Rebels. The last four meetings in this rivalry were each won and covered by the home team. That angle is negated as this game is being played in New Orleans. Take Mississippi. Thank you.

TEXAS TECH.

I keep hearing strength of schedule, strength of schedule, strength of schedule. However, I don't feel in my opinion the Ducks played that much more of a stronger schedule than the Red Raiders. I'm not going to deny their talent on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I mean this is a team that averages 39.2 PPG while allowing 16.3 PPG. But at times this season they did allow certain opponents to light them up. Penn State, which let's face it isn't the most talented team forced them in to overtime and put up 24 points, USC put up 27 points, and most recently in the Bowl first round, they allowed James Madison to post 34 points on them. Meanwhile, Texas Tech has not allowed a single opponent to put up better than 26 points, and that was in their only loss this season, a fluke loss by four points at the hands of Arizona State. Every other opponent this season has put up 20 points or less. They did face some solid offenses this year as well. This is a team that lights up scoreboards for 42.5 PPG, while yielding just 10.9 PPG. They have a smart coach, and a quarterback who has not lost a game he has started this season. They possess the number one run defense in college football. I believe the team that will run the ball successfully in this matchup will control the clock, and eventually win this game. I feel the wrong team is favored. Take Texas Tech. Thank you.

TEXAS.

Without question, Michigan and Texas are Bowl game powerhouses and college football royalty. But distractions this time of year can take its toll. The Wolverines fired their head coach, have an interim coach in charge of this game, and a big-name coach coming in next year. In my opinion this is a distraction. They're also going to be without several veteran starters on both offense and defense that are going to be very hard to replace in this short period of time. Yes, I also feel that getting shredded in their last outing at the hands of Ohio State is going to mentally take its toll on this Michigan team as well. Meanwhile, Texas has a heck of a defense, ever-improving Arch Manning at the helm who declared he is coming back next year, and momentum coming into this game. This is a game obviously both teams want, but the Longhorns have what it takes to not just win, but win with authority. Take Texas. Thank you.

Vanderbilt.

My friends, I am fully aware the Iowa Hawkeyes have a solid defense, and their four losses have come by 3, 5, 2, and 5 points. But those losses were all against well-balanced offenses. Guess what? Vanderbilt has an extremely well-balanced offense. This is a team that has only suffered two defeats this season, an early-October 16 point loss on the road at Alabama, and a 3 point heartbreaking loss in the first week of November, on the road of Texas. Other than that, this team has shown not only they can score offensively, but they're pretty frustrating defensively as well. The Hawkeyes offense accounts for 28.9 PPG while the Vanderbilt offense posts over 39.4 PPG. The Commodores are very well-balanced ranking 14th in the air and 35th on the ground, while the Hawkeyes heavily rely, or should I say solely rely on their ground game. They have no passing attack whatsoever. Now defensively, their numbers are extremely impressive yielding just 15.2 PPG. But as I mentioned a bit ago, their four defeats have come against opponents whose offenses are extremely well-balanced. I mentioned Iowa has no passing attack whatsoever, because they rank 131st in the nation in passing. This is a perfect fit for Vandy who is not great at all against the pass, but ranks 15th against the rush. The Commodores quarterback just might be the best in the nation and will show off his prowess here. Take Vanderbilt. Thank you.

USC.

As we all have come to understand during this time of year, both USC and TCU will be without some key cogs in their wheels. The Trojans are expected to be without two of their top receivers while the Horned Frogs will be without their best quarterback. The difference in this matchup in my opinion is the fact that USC is so deep at their wide receiver position it's not going to matter. They also have a very experienced quarterback at the helm, and rank eighth in the nation in passing. This team, I believe will absolutely exploit and pick apart the 106th ranked pass defense of TCU. They also have a pretty decent ground attack to keep their opponent honest. They don't commit nearly as many turnovers as their opponent does either. Having said all that, the Horn Frogs will be without their best quarterback, and will have a backup in Ken Seals leading their offense. While he has been around for a bit, he has thrown a total of six passes this season. Last season he threw a total of 13 passes. That was following his transfer from Vanderbilt after three seasons with them so he does have experience, but enough here that he should be comfortable within this offense today. The Trojans also possess a considerably better defense, both in the air and on the ground, they are equally solid. Take USC. Thank you.

Louisiana Tech.

Coastal Carolina somehow made it to a Bowl game. This is a team that has a 6-6 SU, covering just five of their 12 outings this season, entering this Bowl matchup losing and failing to cover three straight. As a matter of fact, during their three-game slide, their defense has gotten plowed for a combined 155 points. Their offense has stalled badly accounting for a total of 17 points over their last two outings. This is a team that gets outscored by over 11.1 points per game and have committed 20 turnovers. They rank 133rd in total yards allowed, 113th in passing yards allowed, 130th in rushing yards allowed, and 126 in points allowed. They face one of the best running attacks in football averaging just under 200 yards per game on the ground (196.6 YPG). This is the team that averages over 27.7 points per game and doesn't make too many mistakes. They have a very well-balanced defense, and have been a nightmare to offenses ranking third in the nation forcing 20 turnovers. Louisiana Tech closed this season winning and covering their last two games against some very good opponents in Liberty and Missouri State. Reports are they will be without several defensive starters, but I don't think that's going to matter too much here. Please understand the Chanticleers only defeated one Bowl team this season in Appalachian State which was 5-7. They face a Bulldog's opponent, which six of their seven wins this season came by 10 or more points. Trey Kukuk settled in quite nicely at the quarterback position, and I expect him to light up the scoreboard here. Take Louisiana Tech. Thank you.

Buffalo Bills.

GOM.

Game 428.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

Philadelphia clinched their division with last week’s, 29-18 victory over Washington. Buffalo, with four consecutive wins and seven victories over their last eight outings, can still catch New England in the AFC East as they have a lot to play for. The Bills are 16-1 straight up at home since the start of last season. It's true, the Eagles have taken three straight against the Bills going back a decade, which includes a late-November 2023 OT victory, 37-34. But I think we can all agree despite Philadelphia possessing a 10-5 record, Jalen Hurts just isn't the same. Because the passing game has diminished quite a bit, opponents are loading up against the run. I will admit the Buffalo defense has been hit or miss, no pun intended. But I believe they step up big in this matchup because they know what is on the line here. I doubt very much Hurts and the 23rd-ranked passing attack in the NFL will do any damage in the air against the second-best pass defense in the league especially because there is supposed to be (check status) inclement weather. While the Eagles do rely heavily upon the rush, and this is a place where the Bills defense has struggled, I just don't see it happening here. On the flipside, Buffalo enters this matchup with the top rushing attack in the NFL and will absolutely steamroll the 21st-ranked run defense of Philadelphia. They will control the clock and the tempo, keeping their opponents’ “D” on the field.  Overall, I believe the Eagles defensive statistics are a little skewed. They are third in scoring “D”, but 24th in yards per pass against and 21st in yards per carry against. I look for Josh Allen to have one of his best performances of the campaign. Take Buffalo. Thank you.

Jacksonville Jaguars.

AFC SOUTH BEST BET.

Game 423.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

Both AFC South combatants need a victory here. The Colts are fighting to stay alive, and the Jaguars are fighting to clinch the division, and possibly even one of the best records in the conference. Jacksonville enters this match up winning six in a row straight up and against the spread. To say they have dominated this series would be an understatement. They have taken six of the last eight SU, covering six of those eight as well. This includes a December 7 home victory, 36-19. Meanwhile the Colts have been one of the most disappointing teams the second half of this season. After starting the campaign 7-1, they have now dropped five in a row and six of their last seven. They have also failed to cover five of those last seven as well. Their defense is overworked and tired and getting steamrolled. Meanwhile their offense is lackluster at best. Yes, the Phillip Rivers comeback story has been a nice story. But he is still a very old quarterback and has to face one of the most frustrating and fierce defenses in football. The Jaguars allow a mere 20.8 PPG, and have forced 19 turnovers. They top the NFL against the rush. They do leave a bit to the desired against the pass. But I don't think that's gonna’ matter in this matchup. Offensively, they've been very consistent all season long, ranking in the top-10 in scoring, posting an average of 27.3 PPG. It's hard to deny the success of Trevor Lawrence this season and they have a solid ground attack in Travis Etienne jr. With their final regular season game coming next week at home against the Titans, I expect the Jaguars to come out here with something to prove. If they were due for a letdown, it would've happened against a very competent, Broncos team last week. But they came out and got the job done. During their current six-game win streak, they’ve yielded just 15.3 PPG. Meanwhile their offense has taken it to another level. They are truly motivated, and are far superior in this matchup. Take Jacksonville. Thank you.

Fresno State Bulldogs.

ARIZONA BOWL WINNER.

Game 234.

1:30 PM PST/4:30 PM EST.

Sports fans, there aren't many teams that could rebound following a beating like Miami took at the hands of Western Michigan back on December 6. Maybe it didn't show it in the 23-13 loss, but their offense had just 73 yards rushing and 199 yards passing. As a matter of fact, I don't see their “O” doing too much more here. This is a team that lost they're starting quarterback Dequan Finn in early-November, and tried a freshman in Tommy Gotkowski and a veteran in Henry Hesson but just couldn't get in sync with either. Things go from bad to worse for the offense as they lost their best receiver to the transfer portal in Kam Perry. This is a team that's dropped three of their last five straight up and against the spread coming into this matchup. Meanwhile, Fresno State comes in here winning and covering three of their last four outings. First year head coach, Matt Entz has this team believing they can win. They can run the ball with success in this matchup, and defensively they are very stout, snagging 19 takeaways, and allowing just 20.1 PPG. There are monsters against the pass, and just about as good against the run. Over their last five outings they have allowed an average of 15.0 PPG, and that was even with two losses. By the way, the Bulldogs are changing conferences moving from the MWC to the Pac-12 next year and want to finish on a high-note. Take Fresno State. Thank you.

BYU.

POP-TARTS BOWL WINNER.

Game 232.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

In my opinion, this might be one of the best games for us this entire college football postseason. Georgia Tech is a good team. I'll give them that. However, they have lost two in a row and three of the last four straight up covering only one of those last four outings. Their defense has gotten plowed yielding 48 points to NC State, 34 points to Boston College of all teams, and 42 points to Pitt before allowing just 16 points in their last game to Georgia. I believe their stop-unit is tired, is overworked, and is outclassed here in this matchup. You know the Yellow Jackets haven't played a ranked opponent all season long (I don’t count Clemson, who were #12 when they played and dropped considerably). They have a defense that is very beatable, and I believe is in real trouble here, as they rank 80th against the pass and 94th against the run. By the way, they've only forced three turnovers this season as well. They must go up against a BYU team that comes in here angry as they feel they were snubbed for the CFP. The Cougars misfortunate this season was having to play the Red Raiders twice. The last outing on December 6, was the most points they yielded and the least points that they scored all season long. I believe they'll come in here looking to redeem themselves and prove a point. This is a team that is extremely well-balanced, led by a very smart quarterback that leads an offense that averages over 31.9 PPG. That would be enough here, but their defense is just as solid. They allow just 19.0 PPG, and have snagged 16 takeaways as well. They're one of the stingiest stop-units in the nation against the run, a place where their opponent heavily relies upon to move the chains. I feel this is one of the biggest mismatches you will see if this college football postseason. The Cougars are looking to redeem themselves, prove a point to the pollsters, are good in Bowl games, and our lead by sharp coach and a ton of seasoned veterans. Take BYU. Thank you.

UConn.

Fenway Bowl WINNER.

Game 229.

11:15 AM PST/2:15 PM EST.

With all respect to the Black Knights, we know their game plan. Army will come into this Bowl matchup, with their fifth-ranked rushing attack and pound the ball up the middle on the ground. This is what they do. This is a good team, my friends. But I think we all saw what happened in the legendary Army/Navy matchup when they lost 17-16. Meanwhile, Connecticut enters this contest one of the hottest teams in college football, winning four in a row and eight of their last nine straight up, covering six of their last eight outings. This is a team that is no stranger to stepping up in class, or even facing and containing run-oriented offenses. They did lose to Rice, 37-34, which is a team that heavily favors the rush. But they did then take down another military opponent in Air Force who also runs the ball a lot, 26-16. This is a team themselves that has taken down, and even competed against some strong opponents. Let's not forget this team finished the regular season taking down UAB, Duke, Air Force, and FAU. Thet possess a very well-balanced offense that makes very few mistakes. As a matter of fact, the ranked sixth in passing, 69th in rushing, 12th in points scored, and top the nation only committing two turnovers. Yes, I am aware that their run defense leaves a lot to be desired. But they're so well-balanced offensively, that I feel this will be a very competitive matchup. By the way, they're also better defensively at creating turnovers as they have snagged 11 takeaways compared to Army’s eight takeaways on the stop side of the ball. I think this is way too many points. FYI, the Black Knights have not covered as a double-digit favorite this season. Take the Huskies. Thank you.

Utah State Aggies.

Idaho Potato Bowl.

Game 210.

11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST.

While Washington State which has dropped six of their last 10 straight up, has covered seven of their last 10 outings, they've undergone some changes recently. Their head coach is gone, and although their defensive coordinator will be gone as well, he's acting as interim coach in this matchup. Meanwhile, Utah State enters this game covering four in a row, and 10 of 12 this season. These two teams did meet November 2024 as the Cougars hosted the Aggies, and took them down to 49-28. This won’t happen again here. Utah State will be exiting the Mountain West Conference and joining Washington State in the Pac-12 this upcoming season. The Aggies certainly have a more explosive offense accounting for 8.3 points per game more than does the Cougars, and certainly turn the ball over less. WSU coughed up the ball 18 times this season. Speaking of the Cougars, they cannot run the ball at all and they only rank 86th in passing. Compare that to the very well-balanced offense of Utah State which are just as good in the air they are on the ground, and I think it's gonna’ be a long day for the Cougars. Defensively, the Aggies leave a lot to be desired, but being that they have such a good ground game on offense, I feel they're gonna’ run the ball quite a bit, control the clock keep their opponents defense on the field, and more importantly their offense off it. Another thing my friends, Washington stage defense has only forced five turnovers while the Utah State “D” has forced 10 turnovers. Offensively, the Aggies have too much, not to mention the distraction the Cougars have with the whole coaching situation. Take Utah State. Thank you.

New England Patriots.

TD PLAY.

Game 115.

5:20 PM PST/8:20 PM EST.

New England will come in here angry looking to redeem themselves coming off their first loss since the third week of September. They had a 10-game win streak end in their last outing as they gave away 24-7 halftime lead to eventually lose to buffalo, 35-31. That was also the most points they've allowed all season long as their defense is one of the most frustrating in the NFL, ranking seventh overall, yielding just 19.7 PPG. I understand Baltimore following a two game straight up slide, got a big 24-0 victory last week on the road at Cincinnati. But this is the same team that also failed to cover four straight prior to last week’s win. They are just 3-5 straight up at home this season and are playing a team that's a perfect 6-0 on the road. Prior to last week's blanking of the Bengals, the Ravens defense got plowed for a combined 59 points in their two previous outings against some less than stellar offenses. Next week they have Green Bay on the road before they finish up their regular season schedule on the road against their arrival Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the Patriots have the Jets up next on the road before finishing their schedule at home against the Dolphins. They can certainly win out and finish with the best record in their division, and one of the best overall records in the AFC. I expect their defense to frustrate an erratic Ravens offense. I also expect their very well-balanced offensive unit which averages over 27.3 PPG, to move the chains at will, and light up the scoreboard here. Take New England. Thank you.

Detroit Lions.

Game 126.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

Let's be honest, while Pittsburgh is always a formidable foe, they lose a little luster when they travel. The Steelers are just 3-3 on the road this season, and they failed to cover three of their last four games played as a guest. Meanwhile, they go into Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions who are 5-2 at home on the campaign. Yes, they have failed to cover four of their last five games, but this team is money coming off a loss. They took a tough 41-34 road defeat last week at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams. They are a remarkable 11-0 SU, and 10-1 ATS at home coming off a loss going back to 2022. Statistically, they rank in the top few in just about every offensive category including scoring in which they top the NFL averaging over 30.6 PPG. They commit very few turnovers which they also lead the league. Their offense is so well-balanced, most defenses have problems anyway. However, the Steelers defense is getting burned both in the air and on the ground. Things do not look good for this team here. They also lost TJ Watt which will be huge for them here. Aaron Rodgers doesn't have young legs anymore, and to be honest despite coming off decent outings the last two weeks, is in for a long day here. I look for the Detroit team led by a very smart head coach, to do what they need to do the not just win, but win big. Take the Lions. Thank you.

Los Angeles Chargers.

HI ROLLER PLAY.

Game 119.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The Cowboys playoff hopes are dwindling while the Chargers, believe it or not at 10-4, still need to win. Los Angeles enters this matchup winning three in a row and six of their last 7 SU, covering five of those seven games, but is still behind the Denver Broncos in the AFC West. Following this week's matchup with the Cowboys, they have a home game against the Texans then finish up the regular season against the Broncos. Victories are something this team needs and they need them now. They face a Dallas Cowboys team that has lost and failed to cover their last two outings despite possessing one of the top-scoring offenses in the NFL. No matter what they do on offense, their defense ranks 32nd against the pass, 18th against the rush, 29th in total yard allowed, and 31st in points allowed. They've also forced just six turnovers. To be honest with you, I don't feel Dak Prescott is the guy that can take them to the next level. Just as I felt Tony Romo wasn't the guy either. When must-win situations occur, Prescott falls way short. This is a team that is overvalued each preseason, while always finishing the regular season underachieving. The Chargers offense is solid. But their defense is outstanding. They rank in the top-10 in every single category defensively and have forced 17 turnovers to boot. You can't pass on them, and running against them is almost as difficult. They allow a mere 20.3 PPG and have held some very good offenses in check this season. They are rolling, need to win, and have what it takes to come out victorious in this matchup. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Carolina Panthers.

NFC SOUTH BEST BET.

Game 116.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

This is a big game for both Tampa Bay and Carolina. They are both tied at 7-7 sitting atop the NFC South. But for the life of me, I can't figure out why the Buccaneers are this much of a favorite on the road. Let's face it, this is a team that has dropped two in a row and five of their last six straight up, failing to cover all six of those outings. This does include losses and no covers in both road games played during that span. Yes, they've had their way in this rivalry, taking five in a row SU. But I feel the Panthers catch them at the right time. This is a team that's played well at home going 4-2 SU on their own field this season, and have covered six of their last 10 outings which does include three of five played on their own field. The Tampa Bay offense is struggling resulting in a defense that's overworked and tired. Their numbers on offense are lackluster at best ranking in the bottom third in just about every category while they are 30th on defense against the pass, and 24th in points allowed. I feel Carolina can come in here and not just compete but win with the ninth-ranked rushing attack in the league, control the clock and the tempo, and keep their opponents defense on the field and their offense off it. Take the Panthers. Thank you.

‘Ole Miss.

I know this is a lot of points, my friends. But why would anyone think, even for a split-second, that this outcome will be any different than the September 20, Mississippi 45-10 victory over Tulane? It isn't going to be any different. We all know the Rebels offense is one of the most-explosive in college football, scoring 37.3 PPG, ranking third in total yards, fifth in passing yards, and 34th in rushing yards. Now with all respect to the Green Wave, which have respectable numbers, they just don't compare. Please also understand the Mississippi offense makes considerably less mistakes than does the Tulane’s “O”. That would be enough for me here. But as I mentioned a moment ago, Trinidad Chambliss leads one of the most-explosive passing attacks in the nation, and they lineup across from a pass defense ranking 122nd. I just don't see this meeting not having the same outcome as the first meeting. That would be enough, but the Rebels defense is also one of the toughest in the nation, allowing a mere 20.1 PPG. Granted, the Green Wave stop-unit doesn't allow too many more points. But they haven't faced the same level of competition, either. Shutting down teams like Tulsa, East Carolina, Temple, and Charlotte, isn't like facing a team like Mississippi, or even the squads they have taken down like LSU, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, etc. This game will get out of hand. Take Mississippi.

Miami.

At first glance, I had a big lean on Texas A&M here, especially following their first defeat of the campaign. But as I did my due diligence, I quickly switched to backing Miami. The Aggies, prior to losing to the Longhorns, their SEC schedule was against opponents that are a combined 11-40. They haven't faced too many strong teams in conference play. As a matter of fact, outside of Texas which they lost by 10-points, they weren't very impressive. You could have the best record in the world, but it all depends on who you beat. Looking at their games played, the Texas A&M defense several times this season gave up significant points to some less than stellar opposition. The same can't be said for the Hurricane’s stop-unit. Miami's defense ranks sixth in the nation allowing only 13.8 PPG, and have forced 12 turnovers. While the Texas A&M "D" yields 21.9 PPG, they've only snagged just three takeaways. Offensively, they’ve coughed the ball up 16 times compared to Miami's 11 turnovers. The A&M offense relies strongly upon their ground game, but runs into the seventh-ranked rush defense in the nation. I do feel the difference in this matchup will also be at the quarterback position. With all respect to Marcel Reed, he just isn't Carson Beck.

Alabama.

Alabama dropped the first meeting with Oklahoma back in mid-November because of turnovers and a lack of a sufficient ground game. They also didn't show up in the conference championship at the beginning of this month against Georgia. They were without several key cogs in their offensive wheel that are expected to be back here this week. These are two of the best defenses in football, but the Crimson Tide are certainly better against the pass which will significantly affect the Sooner offense. They also turn the ball over less on offense, and create more turnovers on defense. Beating Alabama once in a season its tough. Beating them twice, is impossible.

Jacksonville State.

The second-best team in the Sunbelt will face the second-best team in the Conference USA as two Alabama representatives face one another in Montgomery. Very simply, I just don't see why the Trojans are favored here (as of post). Maybe it's because the Gamecocks ran for 210 yards on 40 carries in a losing effort at the hands of a very weak run defense against the Owls of Kennesaw State not long ago. But this is a very well-disciplined team with a very smart coaching staff. I doubt you're gonna’ see that happen again. Jacksonville State possesses the nation’s sixth-ranked rushing attack accounting for over 258.0 yards per game on the ground. I doubt very much their opponent which does rank 107th against the run, is going to be able to slow down let alone contain the potent ground game. The Gamecocks will take a page out of their last games playbook and make sure they control the clock here once again but take it one further and light up the scoreboard. I will admit Troy played a solid game against a very tough James Madison opponent in their last outing before a late meltdown. They are a good team against the spread, covering nine of 13 this season, but this team is very susceptible to the run. They are expected to be without a couple of key cogs in their offensive wheel. Most likely Tucker Kilcrease is supposed to take the helm for an injured Goose Crowder (check status), but to go on further their top ball-carrier, Tae Meadows is in the transfer portal and is expected not to participate here. Please remember Jacksonville State hung in tight as a three-touchdown underdog losing by only seven-points in their season opener on the road at Central Florida, and then took down a very talented Liberty opponent at home, as a touchdown underdog. This team knows how to step up in big situations. While they did fall short against Kennesaw State in the conference championship, a team that they did beat only three weeks before at home. As far as Troy goes, they hung in tight against an overvalued Clemson opponent in the second week of the season while they took a beating against Memphis just a week later. Without some of their starters on the field and the fact that they fall short little bit in big games situations, tells me Jacksonville State will take this game. Take the Gamecocks. Thank you.

Cowboys.

Following a four-game loss and no cover streak, the Minnesota Vikings came up big last week and blanked the Washington Commander at home, 31-0. Well, this is a team that has lost and failed to cover the last several games played as a visitor. I do feel that when they travel. they lose a little luster and they are due for a letdown. Meanwhile, following a three-game win and cover streak against some good opponents, Dallas got outgunned 10 days ago on the road at the hands of the Detroit Lions, 44-30. I feel they bounce back here in a big way, coming in better rested and better prepared. No matter what you say about the Cowboys, their offense can score points. They rank third in the NFL averaging over 29.3 points per game, with the league’s top passing unit. I just don't see the lackluster Vikings offense which averages under 20 points per game, (19.6 PPG) keeping pace on the scoreboard. Something else do you need to know, the Minnesota offense ranks dead last in mistakes committing 26 turnovers. I think that is just as astounding. I feel the Cowboys defense which has gotten beat quite a bit this season will come up big in this matchup and create some turnovers. Meanwhile, I just don't see the Minnesota defense even slowing down the juggernaut which is the Cowboys offense, as they rank 22nd against the rush, and 30th in takeaways with just five. Dallas gets a big win and cover at home. Take the Cowboys. Thank you.

Chargers.

I do put some stock in revenge matchups. However, I just don't see that happening here. Los Angeles took down Kansas City in Week 1 of this regular season, 27-21. What I do put more stock in is riding a hot team and fading a cold one. Currently, the Chargers are playing great football, winning five of their last six straight up and covering four of those six while Kansas City is on a 1-4 SU run, failing to cover five consecutive outings. Checking the injury reports, Kansas City is missing quite a few key players. And I do feel last week's win by Los Angeles over Philadelphia, in which they allowed seven sacks, will be remedied here this week. I expect their offensive line to come up big and their defense to further frustrate a struggling Kansas City offense. The LAC stop-unit is equally good against the pass as they are against the run, and have forced 15 turnovers already. I think this will be a competitive matchup, certainly a lot closer than the pointspread. Take the Chargers. Thank you.

Bears

The Chicago Bears certainly redeem themselves following losses. From September until October, they won four straight and fell badly on the road at the Baltimore Ravens. However, they bounced right back to win five straight games before last week’s 28-21 loss to their division rival, the Green Bay Packers. This is a team that certainly knows how to bounce back, especially at home where they are 4-1 this season. Following last week's loss, I expect them to bounce back in a big way here with a hungry defense going up against a rookie quarterback. Yes, Shadeur Sanders has put up some impressive numbers but it is still a rookie and is prone to making mistakes. Please understand Cleveland is just 1-5 on the road this season and doesn't need any help making mistakes as they have committed 17 turnovers on offense. This does not bode well when you're going up against a defense that leads the league forcing 18 turnovers. Take Chicago. Thank you.

Army.

These two teams know each other very well, and let's face it, their numbers offensively are very similar, almost mirroring one another. Yes, Navy accounts for significantly more points per game, but the Army defense is much better both against the run, and against the pass. Not only that, but they have forced more turnovers defensively, and committed less turnovers offensively. Last season saw the Midshipmen prevail in this matchup, but I feel that perhaps the Black Knights were a bit hungover from playing in the conference championship just prior. Army took the two previous meetings before that, and six of the last eight overall meetings. I think this is way too many points. Take the Black Knights. Thank you.

Los Angeles Chargers.

You know folks, a lot of people are gonna’ put some stock in the fact Philadelphia lost back-to-back games and must win here tonight. But they have an offense that is struggling badly, and a defense that has allowed 48 points over the last two outings. Saquon Barkley is not contributing at all, which seriously hurts the offensive unit. As a matter of fact, over the last two weeks he's accounted for a combined 78 total rushing yards. Because the offense is so lackluster, their defense is a bit overworked and tired. That's not the case with the home team here. As a matter of fact, the November 30th, 31-14 home victory for Los Angeles over Las Vegas, is the only game they've played up until this point over the last 22 days. This team has had time to rest, heal, and prepare for this matchup. They need victories right now as the team is 8-4, and plays a tough schedule for the remainder of the regular season. This team is striding at the right time. They have won four of their last five straight up, including wins and covers in three straight home games. Their defense is playing very well. As a matter of fact, in those four victories in the last five games, they have yielded an average of 13.5 PPG, while getting to opposing quarterbacks. Offensively, Justin Herbert bounced back from a broken left hand very smoothly. This team is also one of the best in the league at hogging the football, ranking second in time of possession. Running back, Omarion Hampton is expected (check status) to play tonight. This will certainly bolster an offense that is starting to really stride. On the defensive side of the ball, you can expect the Chargers third-ranked pass defense, to frustrate Jalen Hurts and the lackluster passing offense of the Eagles. Los Angeles playing at home, and having Philadelphia travel across the country will be a factor as well. Take the Chargers. Thank you.

Houston Texans.

LATE BAILOUT.

Game 143.

5:20 PM PST/8:20 PM EST.

I am sure there are those out there that feel the Kansas City Chiefs are in a "due for" situation. I mean, they're just 6-6 with only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, dropping three of their last four straight up, and all four against the spread. Yes, there are 5-1 at Arrowhead Stadium this season, and have dominated the Houston Texans winning five in a row. But Houston enters this matchup red hot, winning four in a row and seven of their last nine straight up, covering six of those nine. CJ Stroud looked sharp in his return last week, throwing for 276 yards, and having a luxury of a ground game that ran for over 100 yards in their road victory at the Indianapolis Coast, 20-16. Throw into the mix the Kansas City Chiefs team is seriously banged up, and maybe without several key contributors (check status), and I feel the Chiefs are once again in trouble. Maybe they are due for a win but that doesn't mean they are going to get that win. I'm sure we can all agree Kansas City isn’t the team that we are used to seeing them be. Even last week, they had a chance to win in Dallas but fell short. Where they were once almost unstoppable in one-score contests, this year they're just 1-6 in that situation. By the way if you're keeping stats, that's the worst since 2009 for them. I feel Patrick Mahomes is going to have further issues against the NFL's top defense. Take the Houston Texans. Thank you.

Green Bay Packers.

NFC NORTH GOM.

Game 134.

1:25 PM PST/4:25 PM EST.

My friends, I understand why (as of posting this play), most of the general public is coming in in Chicago here. The team has won five in a row and nine of their last 10. Why shouldn't the general public be all over them? I'll tell you why, my friends, because Green Bay is a much better team. There are a few key factors that prompt me to take the home team here. First of all, they are playing at home in a very hostile environment for any visitor, especially the hated Bears. Secondly, they're looking for a little revenge as after nine consecutive victories in this division rivalry, Green Bay dropped last January’s matchup at home on the very same field to Chicago, 24-22. Lastly, this is one of the better defenses the Bears have had to face in quite a while. Oh, wait my friends, there is more. Chicago has also had problems against NFC North opponents going 1-2 against the division this season while Green Bay is a perfect 3-0 in the division in 2025. I see quarterback Jordan Love riding momentum from a Thanksgiving Day victory over the Detroit Lions on the road, in which he threw for 234 yards and four touchdowns. The Chicago defense is overworked and at a big disadvantage here. The well-balanced offense of Green Bay will light up the scoreboard in this matchup while their defense takes care of the rest. Take the Packers. Thank you.

Jacksonville Jaguars.

AFC SOUTH BEST BET.

Game 132.

10:00 AM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Two of the better teams in the AFC, happened to both reside in the same division, at the AFC South. On Sunday, the Colts travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars, who happen to be tied at 8-4. There is a big difference here, one team is struggling while the other is striding. Indianapolis has dropped two in a row and three of their last four straight up, failing to cover three of those four as well. Jacksonville is red hot, winning and covering three in a row. The Jaguars have covered three of the last four most recent meetings with the Colts, as the last two matchups have each been decided by three-points. I don't know if you're aware, but the Colts never win in Jacksonville going 0-10 SU the last 10 games played down there. I look for one of the most frustrating defenses in the NFL, to contain an Indy offense that has accounted for a combined 36 points the last two weeks. I just don't see them keeping pace on the scoreboard in this matchup either, as the Jaguars "O" has averaged 29.0 PPG during their current win streak. Take the Jaguars. Thank you.

Buffalo Bills.

AFC GOW.

Game 142.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

Short and sweet, guys. Cincinnati, following a four=game slide, took down Baltimore in their last outing on the road, 32-14, back on November 27. They come back down to earth here. They travel to Orchard Park to face a Buffalo Bills opponent that is still one of the best teams in the NFL, and desperately needs to put some wins in the plus column. It's true, Buffalo has struggled a bit this season. But their offense is absolutely crushing it, leading the team to four victories in their last six outings. They might be missing a key contributor on offense (check status), but this team is a smart team, a deep team, is at home, and does what it takes to win this time of year. How about a little payback as well, my friends? The Bengals have taken six of the last eight meetings in this AFC rivalry going back 14 years. This includes the two most recent, January 2023 and November 2023. That January matchup saw Cincinnati devour Buffalo, 27-10, on their own field, and end their season.  The way the Bills “O” is surging, and the fact they lineup across from the 32nd-ranked, that's right the worst defense in the NFL allowing 31.2 PPG, I feel this game will get out of hand. The top-ranked running game in football will move the chains on the ground, and allow Josh Allen to open up the passing game. Take the Buffalo Bills. Thank you.

Seattle Seahawks.

TOUCHDOWN PLAY.

Game 129.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The Seahawks can very well be the first team in the NFC to earn 10 victories. They currently sit at 9-3 in the NFC West, tied with the Los Angeles Rams. And, I will tell you this team can certainly finish the regular season with one of the best overall records in the conference. After this week they have a home game against the Colts, followed by another home game against their division rival the Rams, then two road games to finish out the regular season at the Panthers and the 49ers. Everything starts with a victory here this week. They face a Falcons opponent that has dropped six of their last seven straight up, just 2-3 at home this season, and has only covered five games in 2025. Let me remind you Seattle is one of the best road teams in the NFL going 5-1 as a visitor in 2025, covering five of those six games played as a guest as well. Last season’s matchup saw them prevail on the road on this very same field, 34-14. Atlanta is a train wreck. Their offense is horrible and their defense is overworked. On both sides of the line of scrimmage they are outclassed. Let's face it, Seattle ranks fourth in scoring averaging 29.2 PPG, and third in points allowed, allowing just 18.1 PPG. This game gets ugly. Take the Seahawks. Thank you.

Ohio State.

My friends, throw logic out the window on this one. I know that just about everybody out there as of posting this play likes Indiana. I know that a lot of handicappers out there are coming up with Indiana as well. Once again, the masses are wrong. Yes, on paper the Hoosiers have blown up in higher-fashion some of the same opponents the Buckeyes took down this season. They also average 8.0-points per game more on offense, are a little better at running the ball. But this game isn't played on paper my friends. And let's face it, Indiana has not had to face a defense like they're going up against here this week. Please remember they allowed Penn State to almost beat them a few weeks back. Then they had some throwaway games against Wisconsin and Purdue. They have not faced a defense like they're going to face her again, I had to repeat that. Ohio State's offense is just as explosive, averaging 40.4-points per game and only committed eight turnovers. That is huge. They are better in the air for sure. All that said, yes, this game is being played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, but it doesn't matter where this is played. The Buckeyes have dominated the Hoosiers taking 10 consecutive meetings straight up, covering three of the last four most recent matchups. As a matter of fact, over the last four years they've won by 47, 42, 20, and 23-points. Ohio State will come out and prove a point that they are the best team in the country. No. 1 in points allowed (8.5 PPG), No. 1 in total yards, No. 1 in passing yards, and No. 4 in rushing yards. Indiana is in trouble here.

Alabama.

Guys, I know most of the money is coming in on Georgia as of posting this play. But I'm here to tell you, the general public once again has it wrong. Yes, the Bulldogs are on an eight-game straight up win streak covering five of those eight outings. And yes, despite Alabama's offense averaging a little more than one more point per game, I would say the Georgia offense is a little more well-balanced. So, on paper, the Bulldogs look like the play. But I think we can all agree, college football isn’t played on paper, it is played on the gridiron, and Alabama rules the gridiron, especially in this matchup. The Crimson Tide have taken three in a row and nine of the last 10 meetings against their conference rival. This does include a 24-21 road win and cover this season back at the end of September. Not only do they beat this team, they cover against them too, covering three straight, and five of the last six matchups. In that first matchup, the Bulldogs could not stop the Crimson Tide quarterback, Ty Simpson and the passing attack. The quarterback threw for 280 yards passing, and two touchdowns. Statistically, the Georgia defense has tightened up against the past since then. But I don't think it's because they’ve gotten better, I think it's because their schedule permitted them to on paper, improve. Obviously beating a team twice in one season especially a team of this level is difficult. But going back to this matchup, I am not in love with the Bulldogs offense. They only put up 24 points on the Gators, and 16 points on the Yellow Jackets in their last outing. Defensively, they're one of the worst in the country at sacking the quarterback, and they also rank 50th against the pass. By the way, they've only snagged eight turnovers as well. Their defense succeeds because they are very good against the rush. But what good is that when you're facing an offense that does not rely upon rushing the ball. The ‘Bama offense ranks 101st, averaging 137.6 yards per game on the ground. They only run to keep defenses honest, and allow their passing game to open up. That's where you're gonna’ see a big difference. The 17th-ranked passing attack of the Crimson Tide going up against the 50th-ranked pass defense of the Bulldogs. By the way, let's not forget Alabama's defense has been stellar this season, not allowing a single opponent since their first week of the season to put up better than 24-points on them. They allow just 18.0 PPG, have forced 10 turnovers, are ninth against the pass and 37th against the rush. They have been extremely stingy against the run, and that's how Georgia offense moves the chains. One last thing, guys don't be fooled by the fact the Crimson Tide have two losses this season. Don't let that influence you. They enter this matchup with confidence knowing they've dominated this rivalry.

Texas Tech.

My friends, I'm not gonna’ tell you that many times I feel in a revenge situation from a recent blowout embarrassing loss, I would automatically look to come on the loser of that first game in the second matchup. But that's not the case here. Texas Tech dominated BYU back on November 8 at home, 29-7. Now guys, the Cougars are a very good team. Obviously sporting an 11-1 straight up record and covering nine of their 12 outings, proves that statement. But the Red Raiders are a great team. In that first matchup, Texas Tech quarterback, Behren Morton was under pressure for a lot of the game. And yet he's still threw for over 219 yards, one touchdown, while the running game accumulated 149 yards. As a matter of fact, the quarterback was -47 yards personally in rushing in the game because of sacks. It was the Texas Tech defense that made the difference. I feel Morton will have a much better performance in this outing, while the nation’s third-ranked stop-unit takes care of the rest. Yes, the Red Raiders defense allows just 12.3 points per game, ranking number one in the nation against the rush and 29th against the pass. No matter how you cut it, the Cougars offense is in trouble here. On the flipside, I look for Morton and the eighth-ranked aerial assault in the nation to go out of their way, prove a point, and light up the scoreboard in the air. Remember, this is a this is a very well-balanced offense that not only averages over 322.5 yards in the air per game, they also average over 211.2 yards per game on the ground. I don't see why this matchup will be any different than the earlier matchup.

Boise State.

As a Las Vegas resident of 36 years, I know the Mountain West Conference very well. While I try to support my local teams as much as possible, my loyalty is to my bankroll and to you. My friends, Superman had kryptonite and UNLV has Boise State. The Rebels cannot beat the Broncos, who have taken 10 consecutive meetings in this rivalry, covering seven of those 10, which does include six consecutive ATS covers. This season, these two conference rivals met on October 18 here in Vegas, as BSU prevailed 56-31. Both teams come in here on winning streaks, but Boise State had an extra day to rest, heal, and prepare. This is also a home game for the Broncos, and you know how loyal their fans are. Quarterback, Madsen (nearly 2,000 YP, nearly a 60% CR, 15/7) is returning from injury, but reports are he is 100%. There is also the storyline the Broncos are leaving the mountain west for the Pac 12 next year. They want to leave on a high note. This is also going to be a cold game, which does not benefit UNLV. There is no question the Broncos defense is tougher. Yes, I will admit the Rebels offense scores a bit more, but Boise State has frustrated better offenses than this. They continue their domination in this rivalry.

Jacksonville State.

Sports fans, in all sincerity, the wrong team is favored in this matchup. Yes, Kennesaw State sports a better overall record at 9-3, and a better ATS mark as well, at 7-4-1, but they've lost and failed to cover the last three meetings with Jacksonville State, which does include a November 15 game, 35-26. The Gamecocks are a heck of a team, going 8-4 SU, and covering six of their 12 outings this season. One of the biggest differences in this matchup is the home record of Jacksonville State, as they are 5-0 when hosting this season. This game is being played in Jacksonville, Alabama and will be filled with Gamecock fans. With all respect to the Owls, they are just 3-3 on the road in 2025. Playing away from home has been an issue for the team. The K State defense leaves a lot to be desired, while their offense turned the ball over 14 times this season. The Jax State offense possesses the nation’s third-ranked rushing attack. They also possess a pretty decent defense that has snagged 12 takeaways. They will control the clock and the tempo of this game offensively, and win this game outright. But I will take the points the odds makers are giving us.

Broncos.

If you would have been asked in the preseason which team would have a 9-2 record and which team would have a 3-8 record thus far, you would've said Washington would have the better mark, while Denver would be struggling. But that's not the case here. The Broncos are the hottest team in the NFL winning eight in a row and going 5-3 against the spread during that time. With a combination of a surging offense and a defense that is downright ferocious, I can see them dominating one of the biggest disappointments this season, the Commanders. Washington is now on a six-game losing streak both SU/ATS, and just can't do anything right. Momentum plays a big part in the NFL, right now Denver has momentum.

Bills.

Dropping their last outing nine days ago on the road at the Texans, the Bills must come back here and put a big victory up against a Steelers team that has dropped four of their last six overall. It's true, Buffalo has won and covered each of the last two meetings against Pittsburgh, and as I mentioned earlier are in a must-win situation here. I feel Josh Allen will absolutely pick apart the 31st ranked past defense of Pittsburgh, while the Buffalo defense comes up back here following several lackluster performances.

Jaguars.

The Jaguars are putting themselves in a position for a nice post season slot. They have won two in a row and three of their last four straight up, which does include road victories in two of three during that span. Compare that to the Titans 0-6 home record, and it makes you think. Tennessee is just atrocious. Maybe they have covered three in a row, but let's face it, they were ‘dogs of 10, 5.5, and 13 points. The Titans offense is nonexistent, ranking 30th in scoring averaging just 15.2 points per game, and have committed 14 turnovers. The rank 30th in passing in 32nd in rushing which really does concern me even more. They do not have any ground attack whatsoever to keep a defense honest. It really wouldn't matter here as the Jaguars stop unit tops the league against the rush. I just don't see how the home team can compete here on the scoreboard at all.

Texans.

Yes, the Colts are 6-0 at home this season and 2-0 against division opponents. However, I believe they're coming in here a bit overvalued by oddsmakers as they have failed to cover two of their last three outings. They have lost the last three meetings against the Texans, all close games but still lost all three. Houston enters this matchup red hot winning three in a row and six of their last eight straight up. Very quietly, their defense ranks in the top five in every single category. Their stop unit will frustrate the top scoring offense in the league. On the flipside, the Colts are getting absolutely decimated in the air with their secondary which ranks 28th in the NFL. I think this game comes down to the wire and possibly even the visitor winning out right. But I will take the points with Houston.

Dolphins.

We've waited for the Dolphins to start getting hot, and they are. They've won and covered their last two outings both at home, against the Bills and Commanders. They now host one of the poorest teams in the NFL, the Saints. New Orleans is just 2-9 straight up, covering only three of their 11 games this season, and sporting a 1-4 road record. With the way the Miami “O” has found their rhythm is starting to surge, and a defense that had has held two solid offensive units at bay, I just don't see the visitor here keeping pace. I mean they average just 15 points per game, and they're gonna’ have trouble against the stout Miami “D”. Yes, the Dolphins have their own issues on offense, but they will come in here with confidence having taken down two formidable opponents in the last two outings.

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Alabama.

Alabama controls their own destiny in reaching the SEC championship game. A victory here will send them to Atlanta for that title game. Yes, Auburn is looking for their sixth victory on the season to become bowl eligible. But let's face it, outside of a slim victory over Arkansas, and a routing of Mercer, this team has dropped every other game going back to mid-September. They are just 1-6 in conference play this season, and no matter what, they still must face a defense that has been stellar this season yielding just 17.8 PPG. I look for the Crimson Tide and they're explosive aerial assault to absolutely pick apart the 75th-ranked Tigers pass defense. One thing for sure, ‘Bama knows how to win in big game situations.