My selection is on Kentucky plus the points over Virginia Tech at 12 noon et on Tuesday.

There's not a lot separating these two teams although they ended their respective regular seasons on much different notes. Kentucky closed with three consecutive wins, culminating with a 45-13 rout of in-state rival Louisville which looks better than it did back in November after the Cardinals got past Mississippi State yesterday (we won with Louisville in that game). Virginia Tech suffered a 39-30 loss against rival Virginia in its regular season finale. I don't have a great deal of confidence in the Hokies offense led by QB Hendon Hooker. On the flip side, the Wildcats offense really got rolling down the stretch with the emergence of dual-threat Lynn Bowden Jr. This is simply a case of Kentucky boasting more upside here in late December. Take Kentucky (10*).

My selection is on Louisville plus the points over Mississippi State at 4 pm et on Monday.

I'll grab all the points I can get with the Cardinals in this game which really amounts to a toss-up as far as I'm concerned. Mississippi State certainly doesn't boast an overly impressive resume but its SEC pedigree plays a factor in it being favored by more than a field goal here. The Bulldogs got here thanks to winning three of their final four regular season games but come into this one banged up with a number of key injuries. Meanwhile, Louisville came up empty in an ugly 45-13 rout at the hands of Kentucky in its regular season finale but that doesn't change the fact that it was a fine 2019 campaign with the Cardinals winning seven of 12 games overall. While their defense leaves a lot to be desired, their offense has been electric at times and I certainly feel they'll come up big on that side of the football in this game. The Bulldogs are laying too many points. Take Louisville (10*).

CFB Bowl Game of the Year. My selection is on Western Michigan plus the points over Western Kentucky at 12:30 pm et on Monday.

I've actually been fairly high on the Sun Belt Conference all season but I don't like the way this game sets up for Western Kentucky - a team that has struggled to score points at the best of times this season. The Hilltoppers do draw a favorable matchup against a weak Western Michigan defense but can they take advantage? I'm not so sure. Western Michigan toughened up when it had to down the stretch and a narrow 17-14 loss to Northern Illinois served as its only loss over its final four regular season contests. Broncos QB Jon Wassink didn't perform particularly well down the stretch save for a 322-yard three-touchdown performance against Ohio on November 12th, but his overall numbers were solid and he is certainly capable of keeping this offense on schedule against WKU on Monday. RB LeVante Bellamy is the real story for the Broncos as he gained just shy of 1,500 yards on the ground while finding the end zone on 23 occasions during the regular season. Simply put, I don't believe the Broncos will ever be out of this game with their outstanding offense. Take Western Michigan (10*).

My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an absolute 'lay down' spot for the Vikings playing on a short week with nothing to gain in the playoff picture. The Bears are expected to play their regular starters and should have plenty of motivation with a number of players looking to show up and show out to secure future jobs at the end of a miserable, disappointing campaign. Week 17 can be an extremely tough handicap but the reeling Bears are favored for a reason here in my opinion. Take Chicago (10*).

My selection is on New York over Buffalo at 1 pm et on Sunday.

I believe the Jets have some upside in this AFC East showdown on Sunday as the Bills are likely to rest most of their starters in Orchard Park. New York of course has plenty of players essentially auditioning for future roles. This matchup sets up beautifully for Jets RB Le'Veon Bell as he looks to put a disappointing campaign behind him and finish on a high note. Keep in mind, as I noted in my analysis of last week's play on the Patriots over the Bills, Buffalo has struggled against the run all season and with mostly backups on the field on Sunday, will have little chance of slowing Bell should the Jets choose to stick to the run. For the Bills, their focus is on the postseason, not the Jets. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on New England minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a blowout waiting to happen as the Patriots look to continue to 'get right' prior to the start of the playoffs. Last week's come-from-behind win over the Bills here in Foxborough was a step in the right direction. After facing an 'all hands on deck' Bills squad last week, the Pats should have little trouble brushing aside an undermanned Dolphins team. Miami obviously has nothing to play for but pride at this point and simply doesn't have the pieces or schemes in place on offense to put one over on New England. Look for the Pats to essentially eliminate the Fins passing game and pull away for the win and cover. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Ohio State at 8 pm et on Saturday.

I was very high on Clemson down the stretch and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the Tigers here as they face a tough challenge in the Ohio State Buckeyes. I don't need to tell you that Clemson is absolutely loaded with talent on both sides of the football. The same goes for Ohio State, but the difference is, I don't believe that the Buckeyes have faced a team even close to the caliber of the Tigers this season. Clemson is obviously highly familiar with playing in the College Football Playoff and that should help its cause here as well. I really don't believe this game is going to be all that close and feel we're being given an extremely favorable line with the superior squad. take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on USC plus the points over Iowa at 8 pm et on Friday.

Iowa got into this Bowl game thanks to winning its final three regular season contests but that wasn't unexpected as it was favored in all three of those games. The Hawkeyes are of course favored again here, but I'm not sure it's warranted. Everyone seems to be sleeping on USC despite the fact that it posted a solid 8-4 SU and 6-5-1 ATS record this season, facing one of the tougher schedules in the entire nation. After almost a month off I'm just not sure we're going to see the Hawkeyes bring the same defensive intensity to the table we've seen from them all season and that could spell trouble as their offense simply isn't capable of shouldering the load. Take USC (10*).

My selection is on North Carolina minus the points over Temple at 12 noon et on Friday.

Temple may enter this game sporting the better overall record but I don't think there's any question that North Carolina brings more upside to the table. Credit the Tar Heels for managing to go 6-6 after a dismal 2018 campaign. They became Bowl eligible with a 41-10 rout of N.C. State in their final regular season game. Temple peaked in a 30-28 win over Memphis way back on October 12th. From that point on the Owls went an even 3-3. I like the advantage the Tar Heels possess at the quarterback position and in the backfield. Look for North Carolina to take care of business and cover the reasonable pointspread here. Take North Carolina (10*).

My selection is on Eastern Michigan plus the points over Pittsburgh at 8 pm et on Thursday.

Just feel that the Eagles are being given too many points in this matchup as I question how motivated Pitt will be for the Quick Lane Bowl. The Panthers Bowl standing was hurt by back-to-back losses at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan gained Bowl eligibility thanks to a couple of late road wins in the MAC before falling in a letdown situation at home against Kent State in its regular season finale. The Eagles haven't had the opportunity to go Bowling very often in recent years. I look for them to give the Panthers a run here. Take Eastern Michigan (10*).

NFL Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Browns bandwagon cleared months ago but if there were any stragglers left on board, they surely jumped ship after last week's ugly loss in Arizona. I actually believe that sets us up with considerable line value as they return home to lick their wounds and host the rival Ravens on Sunday afternoon. There was plenty of drama created by last week's loss, with talk of certain players, WR Jarvis Landry included, telling the Cardinals to 'come get me'. Here, I think we'll see the Browns attempt to force-feed Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., even as they face a tough challenge in that of the Ravens. The real key to this game may be Browns RB Nick Chubb. I'm confident he'll have a monster performance against a very beatable Baltimore run defense. Let's not lose sight of the fact that Cleveland has already defeated Baltimore once this season - on the road no less. As much as the Ravens would like to get back at the Browns, as I've said before revenge is a dish best served at home. Baltimore and Lamar Jackson in particular look unstoppable right now, but it is laying an awful lot of points in a divisional road game in late December. Look for the Browns to pull up their socks and show some pride for one week - this is essentially their Super Bowl for 2019. Take Cleveland (10*).

NFL AFC East Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over Buffalo at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the Patriots in last Sunday's rout of the Bengals and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with them again here, as they return home to host the Bills in a big AFC East showdown. New England's offense remains somewhat broken, or so it appears. I do think we'll see Patriots OC Josh McDaniels scheme his way to some success against the Bills stout defense in this matchup, however. Note that while Buffalo's secondary has been rock solid, it has been vulnerable against the run, giving up 4.5 yards per rush this season. The Pats have no shortage of capable backs that could be in for breakout spots here. Buffalo escaped with a win in primetime in Pittsburgh last week but let's face it, QB Josh Allen didn't look good, and the Pats have had no trouble limiting him in previous matchups. There's absolutely no reason for the Pats to fear the Bills offense in this one, noting that they've held Buffalo to 16 points or less in four straight and six of the last seven meetings in this series. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay plus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Saturday.

I like the Bucs plus the points in this Saturday afternoon matchup. The Texans obviously need this one more than the Bucs, who are simply playing out the string, but to be quite honest, I'm not all that high on Houston. Yes, the Texans were able to pull out a big win in Tennessee last Sunday but now they have to stay on the road and play on a short week against a non-conference opponent that simply won't draw the same level of motivation. The Bucs are without their top two wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but don't think for a second that QB Jameis Winston won't continue to air it out. Not only that but the Bucs draw a favorable ground game matchup against a Texans defense that gives up over 4.6 yards per rush. I don't think Tampa Bay will ever be out of this one. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on Utah State minus the points over Kent State at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

Just think there's a major class difference that isn't being properly accounted for in this pointspread. If you've followed my plays regularly this season, you know I'm not very high on Kent State, particularly on the defensive side of the football, where I feel they're among the worst teams in the nation. With that being said, this is an awfully tough matchup against a dynamic Utah State offense led by NFL prospect QB Jordan Love. There was talk of several Aggies offensive playmakers, including Love, being suspended due to a marijuana possession offence, but that isn't going to be the case. Unless Utah State completely overlooks Kent State or is disinterested in the Frisco Bowl altogether, which is always a possibility, I expect the Aggies to roll. Take Utah State (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Charlotte at 2 pm et on Friday.

Credit Charlotte for rallying late in the season to reach a Bowl game for the first time in program history. However, I believe we'll see the 49ers run end here. Buffalo possesses a three-headed rushing attack that should have little trouble moving the chains against a Charlotte defense that allows five yards per rush. On the flip side, the 49ers offense is led by QB Chris Reynolds who hasn't thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game since October. He was turnover-prone all season and faces a Buffalo defense that puts a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, racking up 38 sacks during the regular season to tie a school record. I simply feel it's only a matter of time before the Bulls put this one away for good and eventually win by margin. Take Buffalo (10*).

NFL MNF Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Indianapolis at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

This is an absolute smash spot for the Saints at home in primetime against the reeling Colts. This is precisely the type of spotlight game where Saints QB Drew Brees goes off. The Colts defense has become suddenly non-existent against the pass as they enter this game on the heels of three straight losses. Indianapolis has shown some semblance of a run defense but the Saints offense is more than versatile enough to negate that advantage. Meanwhile the Colts offense has become quite one-dimensional in the absence of WR T.Y. Hilton. While Hilton may return for this game it's difficult to predict how effective he can be after an extended absence. RB Marlon Mack returned last week but was limited and I would suggest that will probably be the case again this week. Look for a monster performance from WR Michael Thomas to pace the Saints offense and we might even see RB Alvin Kamara finally get back on track with a big game catching passes out of the backfield. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on New England minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a true 'get right' spot for the Patriots and I fully expect to see them blow the doors off the Bengals. Cincinnati couldn't follow up its first win of the season, falling to the Browns in Cleveland last Sunday. The Bengals have been playing better lately, thanks in large part to the re-emergence of RB Joe Mixon. I simply feel that we'll see the Pats take Mixon out of the equation in this one which should cripple the Bengals offense. The Brady-haters are out in full force these days but I do think Tom will turn in a solid performance here. That's not to mention the Pats ground game, which should shred the Bengals non-existent run defense. It's only a matter of time before New England puts this one away for good. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over New York at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I don't need to tell you that this is an absolutely amazing spot for the Ravens offense as they should shred a hapless Jets defense that is likely going to be without a pair of key cogs in Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams. Even with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dealing with an injured quad, there's no chance that the Jets slow him down here. Look for Jackson to run wild, while also feeding Hollywood Brown in what amounts to a blowout in the making. I do think the Jets will find some success offensively, simply due to the fact that the Ravens can't stop the run, but playing in catch-up mode, look for QB Sam Darnold to make enough mistakes to ultimately put this game out of reach for Gang Green. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The Eagles are a downtrodden football team but they have to feel pretty good about the fact that they're just a game behind the Cowboys for the NFC East lead and a very winnable matchup presents itself as they host the lowly Giants on Monday night. The G-Men are simply playing out the string at this point and will trot out QB Eli Manning in place of an injured Daniel Jones. Manning really is a wild card at this point but it's worth noting that the Philadelphia defense is capable of generating a ferocious pass rush. Manning hasn't been good under pressure in the latter stages of his career. Meanwhile, Eagles QB Carson Wentz should absolutely light up a weak Giants defense that has shown no semblance of a pass rush this season. The Eagles offense is getting healthier with WR Alshon Jeffery coming off a tremendous bounce-back performance against the Dolphins last week. I'm high on Philadelphia rookie RB Miles Sanders as well. He has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks and could be in for another big game here. Take Philadelphia (10*).

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

It seems that the Titans have found their quarterback in Ryan Tannehill even if the real story has been RB Derrick Henry, who is absolutely running rampant right now and should continue his torrid pace against a weak Raiders defense on Sunday afternoon. Tennessee isn't about to overlook any opponent, even a reeling one such as the Raiders. Oakland is in a tough spot traveling back home following a beatdown at the hands of the Chiefs last Sunday. Look for the Titans to ultimately pull away for a comfortable win on Sunday afternoon. Take Tennessee (10*).

My selection is on Green Bay minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is an absolutely terrific 'get right' matchup for the Packers as they host the lifeless Redskins at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon. I don't see Washington offering any sort of resistance on the defensive side of the football while the Packers defense will be eager to bounce back and should feast on a miserable Redskins offensive line. The Redskins aren't the type of team capable of coming back and making things interesting after falling behind big, as I expect them to on Sunday afternoon. Look for a big game from Pack RB Aaron Jones, guiding Green Bay to a lopsided victory. Take Green Bay (10*).

NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Bills continue to get no respect in the betting marketplace, even after last week's rout of the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Here, I look for Buffalo to keep things close at the very least, and quite possibly win outright. Motivation will obviously be high for the Bills, not only are they hosting this year's 'it' team in the Ravens, but they'll have Doug Flutie making a rare appearance in Orchard Park to be honored as a Bills legend. Last week, Baltimore was able to overmatch the 49ers at home in a bad weather game, in an early start no less. The shoe is on the other foot this time around. Take Buffalo (10*).

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

Clemson enters this game playing its best football of the season. We won with the Tigers in last week's rout of South Carolina and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. As has often been the case in recent years, the ACC Championship Game amounts to a complete mismatch. The Tigers should be able to dominate this game on both sides of the football. This is certainly a difficult spot for the Cavaliers coming off an outright underdog win over rival Virginia Tech last week. We won with Virginia in its rout of Liberty two weeks ago but I have no problem jumping ship here. Take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on Georgia plus the points over LSU at 4 pm et on Saturday.

If you've followed my plays regularly this season you know that I've been high on Georgia. After cashing with the Bulldogs in last week's rout of Georgia Tech I see this as another excellent spot to back them as they check in as an underdog against mighty LSU. The Tigers obviously possess an explosive offense but I do think Georgia is capable of at the very least keeping them in check. I also like the Bulldogs ability to effectively shorten this game with their tremendous ground attack. QB Jake Fromm hasn't had to be great this season but I'm confident he'll turn in a solid performance here in what should be a tightly-contested affair. Take Georgia (10*).

My selection is on Oregon plus the points over Utah at 8 pm et on Friday.

I can't help but feel there is a lot of undue added pressure on the Utes heading into this one as they aim to secure their best season since 2008 and put themselves into the conversation for a College Football Playoff spot with a victory on Friday night. I simply feel the Ducks are being overlooked, largely due to their collapse against Auburn in front of a national audiences way back in Week 1 (we won with the Tigers in that game) and a stunning upset loss to Arizona State two weeks ago. Oregon has a terrific shot at earning an ounce of redemption, not to mention improving its Bowl standing with a victory here. I'm not overly concerned by the Ducks less than impressive low-scoring win over Oregon State last time out. There was certainly a hangover effect at play in that one as they were coming off what could have been a season-wrecking loss to the Sun Devils. Oregon faces a tough challenge here but I don't think there's any reason intimidation factor at play with the Ducks having taken four of the last six meetings since 2013 and falling by just a single touchdown in a true road game last year. Take Oregon (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Seattle at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

There's not a lot separating these two teams so it's no surprise that we're dealing with a very tight field goal line ahead of their Monday night showdown. I'll grab the points with the underdog Vikings as they come in well-rested and poised to take advantage of a very beatable Seattle defense. The Seahawks own a tremendous home field advantage at CenturyLink Field but it's certainly worth noting that they've already lost games against the Saints and Ravens here at home this season. I don't feel that intimidation will be a real factor against an experienced Vikings group. Seattle comes in riding its longest winning streak of the season, which stands at four games. I believe there's a good chance it ends here. Take Minnesota (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Month. My selection is on New York minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Jets are in excellent position to add to the winless Bengals' misery on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. The New York offense has been quietly racking up points in recent weeks and is an absolute smash spot against a very beatable Bengals defense on Sunday. Cincinnati has been one of the worst teams in the league defending the run this season which really opens things up with the Jets offense and RB Le'Veon Bell in particular. Jets QB Sam Darnold is on a redemption tour after a brutal start to the season and he's in line for another big performance here. Meanwhile, the Jets quietly own the league's best run defense which should severely limit what the Bengals can do offensively. QB Andy Dalton is back as the starter and while he may give Cincinnati a bit of a spark, I'm not sure it really matters at this point. His supporting cast is seriously lacking with WR Tyler Boyd one of the only bright spots. RB Joe Mixon has had a nice run the last couple of games but I don't expect him to play a big role in this one. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Georgia Tech at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We won with Georgia Tech in last week's narrow victory over N.C. State while missing the mark with Georgia as they won but failed to cover against Texas A&M. I do feel I have a pretty good read on both of these squads as they close out the regular season with this annual in-state rivalry matchup, and I'm confident laying the big number with the Bulldogs in what should be an old-fashioned blowout. Credit the Yellow Jackets for not giving up on the campaign but there's no question it's been a long season with eight losses in 11 games. They'll try to muck things up on Saturday and turn this into an ugly affair but I don't see them succeeding. The Bulldogs have been a little uneven offensively in recent weeks but they can absolutely get loose against this Georgia Tech defense. I certainly don't expect to see Georgia take it easy on the Jackets. Take Georgia (10*).

My selection is on Clemson minus the points over South Carolina at 12 noon et on Saturday.

Despite its flawless 11-0 record and despite the fact that it has scored 50+ points in four straight games, it almost seems as if Clemson is flying under the radar a little bit with the likes of LSU, Alabama and Ohio State garnering much of the national attention this season. The Tigers have certainly rounded into form after a relatively slow start to the season and they're in excellent position to absolutely annihilate an overmatched South Carolina squad here. This is the end of the line for the four-win Gamecocks, whose season highlight was undoubtedly a stunning 20-17 win over Georgia between the hedges back on October 12th. Since then, the Gamecocks have just one win to their credit and that came at home against lowly Vanderbilt. Take Clemson (10*).

My selection is on Washington State plus the points over Washington at 4 pm et on Friday.

Washington has owned the Apple Cup in recent years, taking each of the last six meetings but I believe that streak is in jeopardy this year. The Cougars and Huskies check in sporting identical 6-5 records but it's Washington State that comes in with some positive momentum off back-to-back wins, scoring a whopping 103 points in the process. The Cougars defense has reverted to old form, giving up a ton of points this season, but I actually feel they can hold their own in this particular matchup. Even two weeks ago against one of the worst defenses in the nation in Oregon State, Washington managed to score only 19 points. Despite the pro-Huskies crowd, I look for the Cougars to stay inside the number in this one. Take Washington State (10*).

My selection is on Missouri minus the points over Arkansas at 2:30 pm et on Friday.

This is a true 'get right' spot for Missouri and it couldn't come at a more opportune time as the Tigers need a victory to become Bowl eligible. It's easy to forget that Missouri got off to a terrific 5-1 start this season before the wheels came off in October. A tough schedule has led them to five straight losses but all is not lost. I like the Tigers chances of absolutely going off in this smash spot against a very weak Arkansas defense. The Razorbacks have lost eight games in a row and have been outgained by 240+ yards in four of their last five contests. They're unsettled at quarterback and I just don't see them keeping up in a potential shootout on Friday. Keep in mind Arkansas is allowing a staggering 5.8 yards per rush this season. This one could get out of hand in a hurry. Take Missouri (10*).

NFL Turkey Day Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Atlanta at 8:15 pm et on Thursday.

The Saints had a tough time pulling away from the Panthers on Sunday but ultimately did secure the victory thanks in large part to miscues in Carolina’s kicking game. I expect a much cleaner performance from the Saints this week as they travel to face the division rival Falcons in the friendly confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. I like the way the Saints offense has rounded into form with a healthy Drew Brees. There’s reason to believe they can even improve on their recent strong performances with Alvin Kamara in particular in line for a big breakout performance here. Meanwhile, the cupboard is getting pretty bare for the Falcons offense with a number of key cogs banged-up and now forced to play on a short week. The Saints have been able to generate a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and I’m confident they’ll be able to force Falcons QB Matt Ryan into some key mistakes in this contest as well. Atlanta’s ground game is by no means imposing with RB Devonta Freeman once again questionable to suit up. I don’t think there’s any question the offense is missing the likes of Mohamed Sanu and Tevin Coleman right now. I’m not convinced Atlanta can stay in this game for four quarters. Take New Orleans (10*).

My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Detroit at 12:30 pm et on Thursday.

It might be time for the NFL to reconsider giving the Lions their annual home game on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, that time probably passed years ago. Mired in another disappointing campaign, there's little reason to have much confidence in Detroit here as it hosts Chicago. Of course, the Bears don't have a great deal of upside either but they do have more going for them than the Lions right now. The Chicago defense should feast on the Lions Jeff Driskel-led offense, with Driskel playing on a bad hamstring and coming off an absolute beating at the hands of the Redskins defense on Sunday. The Bears have done an excellent job of keeping opposing quarterbacks in the pocket and as long as they can continue to do that against Driskel, they'll be in fine shape on Thursday as he simply hasn't proven he can consistently move the chains through the air. There are obviously concerns when it comes to the Chicago offense but I'm not sure it will be asked to do too much in this one. QB Mitchell Trubisky is coming off one of his better performances, even though it did come against the lowly Giants. He draws another favorable matchup here against a banged-up Lions defense. Based on how I expect the Chicago defense to perform in this one, I think we will see Trubisky given some short fields to work with and do just enough to secure the win and cover. Take Chicago (10*).

NFL Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over Dallas at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Dallas bounced back with a win in Detroit last Sunday but it will find the going a lot tougher as it stays on the road to face the Patriots in Foxborough this week. Poor weather conditions are expected, which doesn't generally suit QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense well. While Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott draws a favorable matchup on paper, I feel the Pats will be content to concede yardage on the ground once again, but ultimately do another nice job of keeping the opposition out of the end zone. Offensively, the Pats are banged-up right now but the 'next man up' philosophy has always served them well, and I expect no different here. The Cowboys defense, while elite on paper, has disappointed for much of the campaign, including last week when it allowed Lions backup QB Jeff Driskel to move the football up and down the field. New England QB Tom Brady isn't 100% healthy but I'm anticipating a big performance from the GOAT once again. This is precisely the type of game Bill Bellichick's Patriots get up for and win by margin. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Philadelphia at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Eagles are in desperation mode as they host the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon off last Sunday's disappointing narrow loss to the Patriots. I believe Philadelphia will be hard-pressed to bounce back as it deals with a number of key injuries on the offensive side of the football. That's not to say the Eagles can't find some success offensively against a very beatable Seahawks defense, but with RT Lane Johnson officially out and RB Jordan Howard all but ruled out, they'll need a peak performance from QB Carson Wentz. Of course, Wentz doesn't have his full compliment of wide receivers at his disposal. The Seahawks offense has been outstanding all season and QB Russell Wilson should have a field day picking apart the Eagles overmatched secondary. I'm still not sure the Seahawks WR duo and now trio of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Josh Gordon get nearly enough credit. Take Seattle (10*).

NFL Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Denver at 1 pm et on Sunday.

With Denver nearly pulling off an outright upset as a double-digit underdog at Minnesota last week, it's understandable that the Broncos are only a short underdog against the Bills on Sunday. I believe the Bills are once again undervalued. There's little chance we'll see Buffalo overlook Denver, not after the Broncos gave the Vikings such a serious run last week. I don't like the scheduling spot at all for Denver as it stays on the road for a second straight week, heading to a less than appealing destination in Buffalo. The Bills defense should absolutely feast on the Broncos leaky offensive line, noting that Denver ranks bottom-five in the league in sacks per QB dropback allowed. For their part, the Bills are inside the top 10 in terms of sacks this season. QB Brandon Allen has held his own to this point, but I look for him to get exposed by Buffalo here. This isn't exactly an eruption spot for the Bills offense against a quality Broncos defense, but I do think we'll see them be given enough short fields to inflict some damage on the scoreboard. Based on how I expect the Bills defense to perform in this game, I really don't think we're going to need a whole lot from the offense to ultimately stretch out the margin and put this one out of reach. Take Buffalo (10*).

CFB SEC Game of the Month. My selection is on Georgia minus the points over Texas A&M at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

Georgia has quietly strung together four straight quality wins, allowing a grand total of just 31 points in the process, since suffering that stunning home loss to South Carolina back on October 12th. Here, I believe the Bulldogs are in a smash spot against Texas A&M. The Aggies are off to a 7-3 start but they've certainly struggled when stepping up in class this season, going winless against the likes of Clemson, Auburn and Alabama. This is another big step-up spot and I look for them to struggle once again. The Aggies will undoubtedly need more from QB Kellen Mond in this one as Georgia will focus on shutting down A&M's vaunted ground attack. Note that Mond hasn't thrown for over 300 yards since September. Georgia's offense hasn't had to be great over the last month or so but I'm confident it can rise to the occasion when needed in this game, which features a relatively low total. Bulldogs QB Jake Fromm completed only 13 passes and threw for just 110 yards in last week's win over Auburn. That was on the road against a better defense than he'll face here, however. Expect a strong bounce-back performance. Take Georgia (10*).

CFB Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Virginia minus the points over Liberty at 12 noon et on Saturday.

While the Cavaliers defense stood out early in the season it has been their offense that has really taken off over the last couple of weeks with QB Bryce Perkins rounding into form, RB Wayne Taulapapa remaining a touchdown-machine and WR Terrell Jana developing into a gamebreaker over the last few games. Upstart Liberty has already gained Bowl eligibility but it will be hard-pressed to even stay competitive in this one. While Liberty has won six games, it has also shown some inconsistency, giving up 40+ points against FCS squad Maine and losing outright to lowly Rutgers. After traveling to Provo for a loss to BYU last week, now they stay on the road for a fourth consecutive game - a stretch that has taken the Flames all over the map. I don't think there's any chance Virginia overlooks Liberty here, not after almost suffering an upset loss at the hands of an improving Georgia Tech squad (we won with Georgia Tech on Thursday) last week. Take Virginia (10*).

My selection is on Wyoming minus the points over Colorado State at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

Wyoming became Bowl eligible with a blowout win over Nevada back on October 26th but has gone winless since. That's not overly concerning though as its last two losses came on the road against Boise State and Utah State, and those two setbacks came by a combined eight points. Colorado State can still gain Bowl eligibility by running the table over the final two weeks of the season but that's highly unlikely with this date followed by a home game against Boise State. Simply put, I feel Colorado State owns one of the weakest defenses in the nation and even though Wyoming is by no means an offensive powerhouse, and currently going with backup QB Tyler Vander Waal, who threw three interceptions last time out, I'm confident the Cowboys can inflict some damage here. RB Xzavian Valladay has taken over since the Cowboys starting QB went down, shouldering the bulk of the load on offense running for 444 yards over the last three games. This is a smash spot for him against a Rams defense that allows over five yards per rush this season. Take Wyoming (10*).

My selection is on Indianapolis plus the points over Houston at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I'll grab the points with the Colts in a matchup where home field rarely means much and the underdog has thrived, going 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings. What more could you want from the Colts on the road this season? They opened the campaign with an overtime loss against the Chargers in Los Angeles before upsetting the Titans and Chiefs and then falling by just two points in Pittsburgh. Now they square off against a Texans squad reeling off last week's annihilation at the hands of the red hot Ravens in Baltimore. Save for a blowout win over the Falcons, Houston hasn't had an easy time finding the win column at home, with two of its three victories coming by a combined four points. I don't like the way the Texans defense matches up at all against the Colts passing game, which could get WR T.Y. Hilton back on the field on Thursday night. While the Colts defense will have its hands full with QB DeShaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins, I really don't feel that the Texans offense is all that imposing. Watson will need a monumental effort to bounce-back from last week's rough ride against the Ravens. Take Indianapolis (10*).

CFB ACC Game of the Year. My selection is on Georgia Tech minus the points over N.C. State at 8 pm et on Thursday.

N.C. State may own the better overall record, but its a dead heat between these two struggling squads from an ATS perspective with both checking in at a miserable 2-8. I simply feel that the Yellow Jackets have a lot more upside at this point of the season and should defend their home field successfully on Thursday night in Atlanta. N.C. State has lost four games in a row both SU and ATS with its last victory coming in an ugly 16-10 affair against a disappointing Syracuse squad way back on October 10th. The Wolfpack's only other win over the course of their current 2-6 slide came in a non-cover against Ball State. Even though Georgia Tech is coming off a 45-0 drubbing at the hands of Virginia Tech, it hasn't given up on the season, as evidenced by its 2-2 ATS record over its last four games, including a stunning overtime win at Miami and a narrow five-point loss at Virginia. I expect a strong bounce-back from the Jackets here in what is essentially their last shot at a victory this season before taking on Georgia in their annual regular season finale. Take Georgia Tech (10*).

My selection is on Akron plus the points over Miami-Ohio at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

Akron is winless on the season, not just straight-up but against the spread as well. I believe the Zips end their streak of futility here, however, as they travel to face a Redhawks squad that couldn't be blamed for being a little complacent in this the back-half of consecutive home games against the MAC's two worst teams. The one positive I'll point to as far as Akron goes is QB Kato Nelson. He has actually managed to throw for over 1,600 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions this season and has now tossed 33 touchdowns compared to just 16 interceptions over the course of his three-year career with the Zips. When these two teams met last season the Redhawks were actually the underdog. Akron has delivered the cash in three of the last four meetings in this series. Take Akron (10*).

My selection is on Eastern Michigan minus the points over Northern Illinois at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday.

Northern Illinois pulled out a win at Toledo last week to keep its slim hopes of reaching a Bowl game alive. Of course, those hopes aren't quite as slim now as they need to win out over their final two regular season games to get to six victories. I believe they'll be hard-pressed to string together a second straight win here, however. Eastern Michigan can likely pick up its sixth win at home against Kent State on Black Friday, but will certainly be motivated to take care of that on Tuesday night in DeKalb. The Eagles are an even 3-3 on the road this season, including a notable win at Illinois and a tough three-point loss at Toledo. I like the progression we've seen from Eagles QB Mike Glass III. While he was throwing more touchdowns earlier in the season he was also throwing a lot more interceptions. In fact, he hasn't tossed a single interception in his last three games. Huskies QB Ross Bowers is back healthy but has thrown just two touchdowns compared to three interceptions since returning and hasn't thrown multiple touchdown passes in a game since August 31st against FCS opponent Illinois State. Take Eastern Michigan (10*).

NFL AFC West Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over Kansas City at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

We missed the mark (barely) with the Chargers last week as they fell by just two points in Oakland. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with Los Angeles here, however, even if this does appear to be an even tougher matchup. First of all, I'm not sure it actually is a tougher matchup. The Raiders are far better than anyone could have anticipated and last week the Chargers found that out first hand. Unlike the Raiders, the Chiefs don't possess a quality defense. Nor does Kansas City have a consistently productive ground attack. QB Patrick Mahomes returned from injury and looked very 'Mahomes-like' in last week's narrow loss in Tennessee, throwing for a season-high as far as pass yards goes. I simply feel that the Chargers, with their excellent offensive balance led by the re-emergence of RB Melvin Gordon, can go blow-for-blow with Andy Reid's Chiefs, just as they did in their most recent meeting last season - a wild 29-28 victory at Arrowhead Stadium on a Thursday night in December. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Chicago at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

The Bears pulled out a 20-13 win over the Matt Stafford-less Lions last Sunday but now find themselves in a miserable spot traveling west to face the Rams in primetime on Sunday night. Chicago's offense is still broken as far as I'm concerned and the Rams have the ability to make the Bears completely one-dimensional by taking away their ground attack altogether. The addition of Jalen Ramsey gives the Rams the ability to take away their opponents' best weapon in the passing game and in this case, if they can limit WR Allen Robinson they should be able to absolutely cripple the Bears offense. Rams QB Jared Goff has been far from great this season and will likely be under duress for much of the night on Sunday. With that being said, I'm not sure Los Angeles will need to score points in bunches to pull away for a comfortable win here. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Sunday.

While this is being pegged as a tightly-contested shootout between MVP candidates DeShaun Watson and Lamar Jackson, I expect it to fizzle with the Ravens imposing their will and winning this one going away. This is arguably the toughest matchup Watson has faced this season, on the road no less. I question whether head coach Bill O'Brien's play-calling can get them there against an elite opponent like the Ravens, to be completely honest. This is a game where the Texans defensive absences, most notably J.J. Watt will really come back to haunt them. At 6-3 I do consider Houston to be a bit of a paper tiger while Baltimore is the real deal, having already taken down the mighty Patriots. Take Baltimore (10*).

My selection is on Utah minus the points over UCLA at 8 pm et on Saturday.

UCLA has strung together three straight wins to put itself back in the Bowl conversation but it faces an uphill battle, starting with Saturday's game at Utah. The Bruins have scored 30+ points in four straight contests but are highly unlikely to approach that number here. The Utes have given up a grand total of just 33 points in five home games this season. Their lone loss came way back in mid-September at USC. I like the consistency the Utes have shown on both sides of the football, with QB Tyler Huntley having thrown just one interception all season. By contrast, UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson already thrown a whopping eight picks. The last time these two teams met it was no contest as Utah rolled to a 41-10 victory last season. Expect another dominant performance from the Utes on Saturday. Take Utah (10*).

My selection is on Iowa minus the points over Minnesota at 4 pm et on Saturday.

This is obviously a massive letdown spot for Minnesota coming off that huge win over Penn State last Saturday. The Golden Gophers enter this game with a perfect 9-0 record but it's not as if they're been slaying giants all season. This will certainly be a tough test against a terrific Iowa defense that has held its own against the best of the best this season. The Hawkeyes check in 6-3 on the campaign but have dropped three of their last five overall. That has had more to do with their schedule than anything else as they've suffered losses at Michigan, vs. Penn State and last week by just two points at Wisconsin. I look for the Iowa offense to finally get going a bit today, while the defense does its thing and guides the Hawkeyes to a big victory. Take Iowa (10*).

CFB Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Troy minus the points over Texas State at 3 pm et on Saturday.

Troy has its work cut out for it in order to gain Bowl eligibility this season but it all starts with this very winnable game against Texas State. With the Trojans highly-unlikely to beat both Louisiana-Lafayette and Appalachian State over their final two games, this almost becomes a must-win. I'm confident we'll see the Trojans perform accordingly. If you follow my plays regularly, you know that I'm not very high on Texas State, even though it has shown up and battled on occasion this season, even managing to win three games outright. I still believe the Bobcats have one of the weakest offenses in the entire FBS. They did score 30 points in a win last week, but that came against lowly South Alabama (1-8). Troy possesses a far more dynamic offense with QB Kaleb Barker having thrown for over 300 yards on five different occasions, while tossing at least two touchdown passes in eight of nine games this season. RB DK Billingsley has made the most of relatively limited touches, rushing for over 100 yards on four different occasions. He's coming off his best performance of the season last time out, running for 163 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries. The Trojans defense leaves a lot to be desired but I'm not convinced Texas State will be able to take full advantage. Take Troy (10*).

NFL AFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

I have no confidence in the Browns to string together consecutive wins at this stage of the season. Meanwhile, the Steelers have found their identity as a hard-nosed team that runs the football and plays an aggressive, opportunistic brand of defense. Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph certainly doesn't instill a great deal of confidence, but he is expected to have RB James Conner back at his disposal on Thursday night and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is in line for a big breakout performance against a Browns defense that has had no success defending receivers in the slot. The Browns have a quality defense and should be able to get after Rudolph in this one, but what about their offense? It's been a sputtering, turnover-prone unit and while RB Kareem Hunt gave them a boost in his debut, I'm not ready to say that the offense is back. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Kent State at 7 pm et on Thursday.

I've said it on a few occasions this season and I'll say it again here; Kent State is one of the nation's weakest teams, particularly on the defensive side of the football, and I look for the Golden Flashes to get gashed once again here. Most jumped off the Buffalo bandwagon early this season as the Bulls dropped their first two MAC contests. Since then, all they've done is reel off three straight wins, outscoring the opposition by an incredible 107-34 margin. Of course their opposition has left a lot to be desired but you can only play the teams in front of you, and they catch another favorable matchup here, noting that the Bulls routed the Golden Flashes 48-14 in their most recent meeting last November. Buffalo will undoubtedly gain Bowl eligibility at some point, but it would certainly rather take care of that right here tonight. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Seattle plus the points over San Francisco at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The 49ers have a giant target on their backs now as they remain undefeated heading into the second week of November. While the Seahawks and their lagging defense will face a tough challenge here, I'm confident they can at the very least take the Niners down to the wire in Santa Clara. We saw some vulnerability from the Niners defense last week against Arizona and I expect that to continue to be the storyline here on Monday as the Seahawks should find considerable success both on the ground and through the air. The San Francisco run defense in particular is in a tough spot with LB Kwon Alexander sidelined for the season with torn pec. That really opens things up for the Seahawks, whose offense is far more effective when it is able to mix in consistent gains on the ground. Offensively, the 49ers are coming off a fine performance but this is by no means a juggernaut. The Seahawks defense has been a swinging gate at times, but should rise to the occasion in this divisional affair. Take Seattle (10*).

My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Minnesota at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

The Cowboys are on an uptick right now fresh off a win over the Giants on Monday night. They're in another favorable spot here, back at home in a primetime affair against a solid but vulnerable Vikings squad. I expect the Minnesota offense to struggle at times in this one as it tries to deal with a healthy and improving Cowboys defense. Offensively, Dallas went through a bit of a lull but things appear to be back in order now and at home in a favored role, I look for it to open things up and ultimately pull away for a convincing victory on Sunday night. Take Dallas (10*).

NFL Game of the Week. My selection is on the Jets plus the points over the Giants at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Things literally can't get any worse for the Jets after they lost at the hands of the winless, supposedly taking Dolphins last week in Miami. I fully expect to see Gang Green bounce back against the rival Giants on Sunday, noting we cashed a ticket fading Big Blue just this past Monday night with the Cowboys. This is an absolute smash spot for the Jets offense against a vulnerable Giants defense playing on a short week. Jets QB Sam Darnold has not played well at all but I still believe he has the tools to succeed in the NFL and I'm confident he'll enjoy a breakout performance against the G-Men and their non-existent pass rush and swiss cheese secondary. Not only is Darnold and the Jets passing game in line for a bounce-back but we should see a big performance from RB Le'Veon Bell as well. Game script kept him from exploding against the Dolphins last Sunday but if the Jets are able to build a lead here, Bell should go off. Take the Jets (10*).

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

Kentucky controls its own destiny as far as Bowl eligibility goes with a relatively light schedule remaining. The Wildcats have won two of their last three games following a three-game slide and enter this contest off their bye week. While they were idle last week, Tennessee was steamrolling a solid UAB squad by a 30-7 score at home. Even off back-to-back wins, I'm not convinced the Vols are all the way back after a rough start to the season. With only three games left on the schedule and in need of two victories, they're facing an uphill battle toward Bowl eligibility. When these two teams met last year the Vols secured a 24-7 victory but I won't be surprised if the script is flipped this time around. Take Kentucky (10*).

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

We've picked our spots going against the Crimson Tide in recent years, but not during the regular season. Once again, I look for Alabama to prove itself in this massive showdown with LSU. Yes, this is the best Tigers squad we've seen in years but I'm not sure that means they can hang with the Tide for 60 minutes. The key here should be the Alabama defense, as it will clamp down on LSU QB Joe Burrow. The Tigers haven't had to play from behind much at all this season but that's almost a certainty on Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium. All indications are that Alabama will have Tua back at its disposal and I look for him to lead the Tide to another convincing win over an SEC rival. Take Alabama (10*).

CFB Pac-12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Oregon State plus the points over Washington at 10:30 pm et on Friday.

This isn't the same Washington squad we've seen in years past, as evidenced by the fact that the Huskies have already dropped four games in Pac-12 play. They should be on upset alert again on Friday night as they face an upstart Oregon State squad that needs two victories in its final four games to become Bowl eligible. Given it still has to play Arizona State, Washington State and Oregon, with the latter two matchups coming on the road, this game is virtually a must-win. The Beavers are fresh off a 56-point explosion at Arizona last week. While their defense leaves a lot to be desired, their offense has shown the ability to score at will. I'm comfortable grabbing a generous helping of points with the home side here. Take Oregon State (10*).

NFL TNF Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles over Oakland at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

The Chargers have suddenly found their footing, registering back-to-back wins at Chicago and at home against Green Bay and I look for them to keep it rolling as they face the rival Raiders in Oakland on Thursday night. I really like the way things have come together for the previously underachieving Chargers offense, most notably with RB Melvin Gordon busting out with a big performance against the Packers last Sunday. The door is wide open for this unit to really explode against a beatable Raiders defense on a short week. Oakland does pose a challenge with its own emerging offense but I'm confident the Chargers defense will rise to the occasion. RB Josh Jacobs is the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year but the offense can still only go as far as QB Derek Carr takes it as far as I'm concerned. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Toledo minus the points over Kent State at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

Toledo hasn't been very good since losing QB Mitchell Guadagni to injury but it is coming off a much-needed win over Eastern Michigan last time out and I look for it to keep things rolling at home against Kent State in another big MAC affair on Tuesday night. The key here will be the Rockets ground attack. They have a dynamic running game that should be able to control proceedings against the Golden Flashes. Kent State has a rather punchless offense and while the Flashes have faced a pretty tough schedule to be sure, I simply feel they're one of the weakest teams in the MAC and the nation. We're being asked to lay a reasonable number with the superior team at home. Take Toledo (10*).

My selection is on Dallas minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

It's been a disappointing campaign so far for the Cowboys but they remain in the driver's seat in the NFC East and coming off their bye week I look for them to handle the Giants at the Meadowlands on Monday night. I have no confidence in the Giants defense to slow the Cowboys offense here. Dallas got healthy on its offensive line thanks to the bye and that should open the door for QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott to turn in monster performances here. Saquon Barkley will undoubtedly get his, just as he did in the first meeting between these two teams this season, but I'm not convinced rookie QB Daniel Jones will follow suit. Dallas is a perfect 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings in this series, including a win here when it rested its starters in Week 17 last year. Take Dallas (10*).

My selection is on Denver plus the points over Cleveland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

I really like the value we're getting with the Broncos as a home underdog on Sunday afternoon against the disjointed Browns. Cleveland really has no business laying points against anyone right now. It hasn't lived up to expectations on either side of the football and will likely have trouble traveling to altitude in Denver on Sunday. The Broncos have an efficient running game and a solid defense, a recipe for success as a home underdog. Yes, QB Joe Flacco is sidelined but is backup Brandon Allen really a downgrade? Flacco simply hasn't been a good fit in this offense. I like the upside of the Broncos receiving corps led by Courtland Sutton. Look for Denver to do enough to stay inside the number on Sunday. Take Denver (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles plus the points over Green Bay at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Everyone is extremely high on the Packers right now, and for good reason as they're fresh off another statement road win in Kansas City last Sunday night. I just don't like the way this spot sets up for Aaron Rodgers and co. as they stay on the road and head to the west coast to face what has to be a desperate Chargers squad on Sunday. Los Angeles has been highly disappointing this season but there's no question the Chargers still have the talent on board to turn things around. This is obviously a huge step-up spot in a non-conference tilt with a marquee opponent. I'm confident we'll see the Chargers ground attack really get rolling against a beatable Packers run defense. That should set the tone for the rest of the Los Angeles offense, and effectively open things up for QB Philip Rivers. The Chargers defense hasn't been great but could be catching the Packers in a letdown spot off last Sunday night's peak performance. Take Los Angeles (10*).

NFL AFC Game of the Year. My selection is on New York minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Everyone is down on the Jets right now but this is a true 'get right' spot against the tanking Dolphins in Miami, and I look for Adam Gase's squad to take full advantage. I absolutely love the 'squeaky wheel' narrative with elite RB Le'Veon Bell calling for more work in advance of Sunday's matchup. Bell will undoubtedly get fed in this one and should absolutely dominate a non-existent Dolphins run defense. QB Sam Darnold has been ridiculed after his 'seeing ghosts' appearance on Monday Night Football but he should have no trouble carving up the Fins struggling secondary on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Jets defense is serviceable against the Miami offense - which took another step back in a miserable second half in Pittsburgh on Monday night. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Louisiana-Lafayette minus the points over Texas State at 5 pm et on Saturday.

We cashed a ticket fading Texas State last Saturday against Arkansas State and I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. The Bobcats have two wins to their credit this season but I still believe they’re one of the weakest teams in FBS. Not surprisingly, their limited offense struggled to get anything going last Saturday against the Red Wolves, scoring a pair of second quarter touchdowns but that was it. They’ll be hard-pressed to improve on that performance against a good Ragin’ Cajuns defense here. Louisiana-Lafayette is fresh off its bye week, which came on the heels of a big 17-point road win over rival Arkansas State. RB Trey Ragas’ health is in question as he recovers from an ankle injury but even if he can’t go, the Ragin’ Cajuns still have a terrific stable of dynamic running backs to lean on. I’m confident we’ll see them build an early lead in this one and let their defense and ground attack take care of the rest, ultimately pulling away for a cover on Saturday. Take Louisiana-Lafayette (10*).

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

This was a blowout last year as Marshall rolled to a 41-14 victory and I’m expecting more of the same on Saturday. Rice checks in 0-8 on the campaign but the fact that it has at least kept things somewhat competitive helps keep the line in check here. RB Aston Walter suffered a shoulder injury last week and while he is expected to play, he won’t be at full strength. You can be sure the Thundering Herd have been keying their defensive gameplan on Walter as he’s proven to be the Owls only true playmaker on offense this season. Marshall hasn’t been able to take a breath in a few weeks, coming off back-to-back tightly-contested affairs against Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky (it won both games). The Thundering Herd have faced a truly difficult schedule to this point but now get four straight winnable games to close out the season to improve their Bowl positioning. Look for them to take full advantage of this blowout waiting to happen against one of the nation’s weakest FBS teams. Take Marshall (10*).

CFB C-USA Game of the Year. My selection is on Florida International minus the points over Old Dominion at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I love the bounce back spot for FIU here as it returns home following a beatdown at the hands of Middle Tennessee State last week. The loss dropped the Panthers to 4-4 on the season but they remain very much in contention for a Bowl game. That certainly depends on getting a win here, and I’m confident we’ll see them secure the victory in convincing fashion. At 1-7, Old Dominion is a true doormat this season. The Monarchs lone victory came back in August against FCS squad Norfolk State. They check into this one having scored just one offensive touchdown in their last 11 quarters of football. FIU has certainly shown blowout potential here at home this season, where it owns victories by 13, 44, 25 and 15-point margins, its lone home loss coming against a quality opponent in Western Kentucky – a game in which it covered the spread. Note that Panthers QB James Morgan has been quietly efficient, throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions over his last four games. Meanwhile, RB Anthony Jones has rushed for 421 yards on just 72 carries, while finding the end zone five times over that same stretch. The Panthers are heavily favored for a reason in this early start matchup. I’ll lay the points. Take Florida International (10*).

My selection is on Arizona plus the points over San Francisco at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

Most believe a 49ers win is a foregone conclusion in this one as San Francisco checks in with an unblemished record on the season while the Cardinals are coming off a beatdown at the hands of the Saints in New Orleans last Sunday. I don't believe the Niners are built to cover these big pointspreads, however, and here will face an improving Arizona squad that has won three of its last four games and hasn't allowed a first quarter touchdown in its last two contests. The Cards are likely going to be missing their top two running backs for this one but did acquire Kenyon Drake from the Dolphins earlier this week and it really hasn't mattered who they have plugged in at running back, they have performed well. San Francisco will be content to win this division road game, let alone cover the spread. We'll grab the points with a hungry Cards squad that has gone an impressive 5-3 ATS to date. Take Arizona (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City plus the points over Green Bay at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

The last time we saw the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football they suffered a shocking loss to the Colts. That was with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Now Kansas City enters this primetime showdown with journeyman QB Matt Moore under center and few are giving it much of a chance against the red hot Packers. I don't expect the Chiefs to simply roll over. Kansas City has been all over opposing quarterbacks this season and Sunday should be no different against the Packers mediocre offensive line. Note that the Chiefs will have DT Chris Jones back at their disposal, and his presence should really limit the Packers ability to rip off big gains on the ground. Green Bay's passing game has held up well in WR DaVante Adams absence, but this could be the contest where that starts to turn. Defensively, the Packers have been abused by opposing rushing attacks, allowing just a tick shy of five yards per rush this season. That opens the door for the Chiefs limited offense in the absence of Mahomes. As we saw last Thursday night against an elite defense in Denver, even Matt Moore is able to find some success with the talent of WR Tyreek Hill on the field. I'm not sure the Chiefs offense will even be asked to do too much to keep this one competitive, but they might just come through regardless. Take Kansas City (10*).

NFL Non-Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Houston minus the points over Oakland at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

The Raiders are in a really tough spot here, still on the road at the tail-end of what has been an excruciatingly long stretch of games away from home and coming off an epic beatdown at the hands of the Packers last Sunday. Things don't figure to get any easier in Houston on Sunday as the Texans enter a terrific bounce-back spot off last week's divisional loss in Indianapolis. QB DeShaun Watson and the Texans offense should have a field day against the Raiders undermanned defense, which dealt top CB Gareon Conley to Houston earlier in the week. The Raiders haven't exactly waved the white flag just yet, but at 3-3 the time is coming. Offensively, Oakland has been better than expected but with RB Josh Jacobs limited and possibly even sidelined by a shoulder injury, it will be in a really difficult situation here. Jacobs has been a dynamic playmaker but the Raiders don't have much depth in the backfield. While I'm not all that high on the Texans defense, I do think they'll be playing from ahead for much of the day on Sunday, and can gameplan aggressively against mistake-prone QB Derek Carr. Look for Houston to eventually stretch out the margin in this one. Take Houston (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This one has blowout written all over it as the Rams aim to follow-up last week's 'get right' win over Atlanta and head across the pond for what should be a much-needed distraction in what has been a bit of a tumultuous start to the season. The Bengals are awful. They can't stop the run, continue to deal with key injuries in the secondary, and sport an uneven offense that has been completely handicapped by an ineffictive offensive line. We can count on Rams QB Jared Goff to turn in a second straight solid performance facing little pressure against a non-existent Cincinnati pass rush. Meanwhile, the Rams backfield tandem of Todd Gurley and Darrell Henderson should run wild against a Bengals defense that allows just shy of five yards per rush this season, effectively putting this game away in the second half. Take Los Angeles (10*).

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

The Jets are coming off a dreadful performance on both sides of the football on Monday night against the Patriots. I do feel they'll bounce back here, however, as they head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. The Jags defense has been exploited by opposing running backs this season as they check in allowing just shy of five yards per rush. Off a poor offensive showing on Monday, look for the Jets to feed RB Le'Veon Bell in this one. On the flip side, the Jets defense has been exceptional against the run, allowing just north of 3.2 yards per rush. That should severely limit what the Jags are able to do offensively, as despite all the Gardner Minshew hype, QB Leonard Fournette has been, and will continue to be the key to their offense. Take New York (10*).

CFB Sun Belt Game of the Year. My selection is on Arkansas State minus the points over Texas State at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Texas State has somewhat surprisingly held its own in most games this season but still checks in sporting a 2-4 record. Arkansas State has been up and down and comes into this one off of back-to-back losses. Notably, last week’s 17-point loss on paper could have really gone either away as Louisiana-Lafayette pulled away with a couple of late touchdowns. I do still feel the Red Wolves are one of the better teams  in the Sun Belt and if they have their sights set on Bowl eligibility, this is a game they need to get. I expect them to win this one comfortably. QB Layne Hatcher has thrown for 10 touchdowns over his last game and last week we saw RB Marcel Murray carry a full workload, running 35 times for 164 yards while adding three catches. Texas State QB Gresch Jensen suffered a concussion last week and the Bobcats top rusher Caleb Twyford is actually a wide receiver that has run for more than 78 yards only once this season. Arkansas State took this matchup 33-7 last season and I’m anticipating another blowout here. Take Arkansas State (10*).

CFB Pac-12 Game of the Month. My selection is on USC minus the points over Colorado at 9 pm et on Friday.

The USC Trojans are dealing with a number of key injuries on the defensive side of the football but that's certainly been factored into this line. I like the upside of the Trojans offense as they head to Boulder to face an awful Colorado defense. On the flip side, the Buffaloes offense has disappointed this season - the duo of QB Steven Montez and WR Laviska Shenault Jr. in particular. The Trojans 'next man up' philosophy on defense has served them well and I believe this is another matchup they can handle. Note that Colorado has scored just 13 points in its last two games. Even when the Buffaloes did put up 30 points in a losing effort against Arizona three weeks ago they still didn't manage to find the end zone until the final two minutes of the first half and failed to score a touchdown over the game's critical final 20 minutes. USC rode a big game from freshman RB Kenan Christon last week as he ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. Take USC (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Washington at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

It seems as if big pointspreads have become the norm in these primetime games and this Thursday’s contest is no different. Once again, I’m not sure the oddsmakers can set the line high enough as the Vikings should have little trouble brushing aside the lowly Redskins. Washington has such little upside at this point it’s almost laughable. WR Terry McLaurin has arguably been its lone bright spot and while he should get his in this matchup with a beatable Vikings pass defense, that’s no reason to jump off the Vikings in a game that has true blowout potential. We’ve already seen Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan orchestrate an offensive gameplan centred around the rushing attack, and more specifically RB Adrian Peterson. That gameplan just isn’t likely to work against a Vikings front that has been terrific against the run this season. With the ‘Skins likely to fall behind early, they may be forced to air it out but their comeback potential is limited given the fact that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer knows former Minnesota QB Case Keenum’s tendencies and limitations. Minnesota will be without WR Adam Thielen for this game and while that’s a major hit, I still see this as a blow up spot for the Vikes offense. QB Kirk Cousins will be given clean pockets all night long against a Redskins defense that hasn’t been able to get to opposing quarterbacks at all this season. Meanwhile, RB Dalvin Cook is in line for another monster performance against a defense that can be run on and has gone nothing to eliminate short passing plays to opposing running backs. With the Vikes likely to dominate the time-of-possession battle, it’s only a matter of time before this one gets out of hand. Take Minnesota (10*).

NFL Sunday Night Football Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Dallas at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

I absolutely love the way this spot sets up for the Eagles as they try to bounce back from last week’s tough loss in Minnesota. Philadelphia continues to perform at an elite level offensively, despite the fact that it has dealt with a number of key injuries at the wide receiver position this season. QB Carson Wentz remains one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league and he’s set to expose an injury-ravaged Cowboys defense on Sunday night. Dallas is coming off back-to-back devastating losses, with the most recent being particular painful at the hands of the lowly Jets. With WR Amari Cooper likely to miss and RB Ezekiel Elliott busy running into piles there’s little reason to have much confidence in the Cowboys offense right now. Head coach Jason Garrett is on the hot seat again and I’m not sure that we’ll see the team rally around him this time around. While everyone was singing the praises of Cowboys first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore earlier this season, things have gotten stale in a hurry. Look for the Eagles pass rush to take advantage of the Cowboys injuries on the offensive line (Tyron Smith and La’El Collins are expected to miss) and make life difficult for QB Dak Prescott all night long. The case can be made that the wrong team is favored in this one. Take Philadelphia (10*).

My selection is on Jacksonville minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday.

This is a dream bounce-back matchup for the Jaguars off last week’s ugly home loss against the suddenly defensive-minded Saints. The Bengals sit at 0-6 on the season and come in off another tightly-contested loss against Baltimore last week. Off that physical affair on the road I’m not sure how much this injury-riddled squad will have left in the tank this Sunday, nor do I believe its motivation will be all that high against the Jags. No team pressures the quarterback less than the Bengals and that should open the door for a big game from Jags QB Gardner Minshew, who fell out of favor with the bandwagon crowd following last week’s brutal performance against the Saints. Even if Minshew can’t get things going through the air, RB Leonard Fournette should have no trouble exposing a truly awful Bengals run defense. Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s defense catches a favorable draw here against Cincinnati and its dreadful offensive line. Look for the Jags pass rushers to find their way into the Bengals backfield all afternoon long. WR Tyler Boyd is one of the Bengals only offensive pieces that catches any sort of favorable matchup in this one. Yes, Jacksonville dealt CB Jalen Ramsey earlier in the week but he hadn’t been on the field since September anyway. If anything, I see last week’s loss to the Saints as a rallying point for the 2-4 Jags. Take Jacksonville (10*).

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

The Texans upset win in Kansas City is still fresh in the minds of bettors while the Colts win on that same field the week previous has been all but forgotten, leading to a favorable line for the home side in this AFC South showdown on Sunday. The bye week came at the right time for Indianapolis as it is expected to have MLB Darius Leonard and WR T.Y. Hilton back at full speed this Sunday. Meanwhile, the Texans defense is in a really tough position with an injury-ravaged secondary, preparing to face Hilton, who has been a real thorn in their side over the years. While I have a lot of confidence in Texans QB DeShaun Watson, not to mention WR DeAndre Hopkins, I have little confidence in anyone else on the Houston offense, nor in play-caller and head coach Bill O’Brien. I simply see this as an excellent spot to fade the Texans off a huge win last week as they head on the road to face a better-coached, and still underrated Colts squad on Sunday afternoon. Take Indianapolis (10*).

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

This is being pegged as a real tough test for SMU as it welcomes 5-1 Temple to Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday afternoon. I’m confident the Mustangs will be up to the challenge. Temple should be commended for its strong start, but it’s not as if it has been overly tested. The Owls wins have come against Bucknell, Maryland, Georgia Tech, East Carolina and Memphis. The win over Maryland certainly could have gone either way as they won by a score of 20-17 and last week the Owls did everything they could to give the game away after building a big 23-7 first half lead against a shell-shocked Memphis squad. Here, I’m confident the Owls will get the Mustangs best punch. SMU enters the game off its bye week which came on the heels of a wild 43-37 triple-overtime win over Tulsa. It certainly got caught flat-footed in that one – its first game as a top-25 ranked team since 1986 – falling behind big before rallying with three unanswered fourth quarter touchdowns to force overtime. Temple should garner its full attention here. The Mustangs have put up 40+ points in all but one of their six games so far this season and should approach that number again. I’m not convinced the Owls will be able to keep up. Take SMU (10*).

CFB Blowout Game of the Month. My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Akron at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

This one has blowout written all over it as a hungry Buffalo squad travels to face winless Akron. The Bulls have faced a tough early season schedule so it’s not surprising that they enter this contest with just two wins to their credit. Things do get easier from here, starting with what should be a layup against the Zips. Look for the Buffalo ground game to really get rolling in this one. Note that last week Akron got torched for 208 rushing yards on 39 attempts by Kent State running back Will Matthews and quarterback Dustin Crum. Buffalo’s tandem of Kevin Marks and Jaret Patterson have the potential to improve on those numbers here. Buffalo has shown it has blowout potential having already defeated FCS squad Robert Morris (who I wouldn’t rank far below Akron) 35-10 and Temple 38-22. The Bulls took this matchup by a 24-6 score last season. Take Buffalo (10*).

My selection is on Louisiana-Lafayette minus the points over Arkansas State at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off a tough 17-7 loss at home against Appalachian State in a rematch of last year's Sun Belt championship game. They're installed as a road favorite here in what looks like a tough matchup with Arkansas State, on paper at least. In a game that has true shootout potential, I have more confidence in the Louisiana-Lafayette defense to get a couple of key stops when it needs it on Thursday night. I also like the fact that the Ragin' Cajuns boast one of the best rushing attacks in the nation. They have the tandem of backs in Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas to effectively shorten this game and put it away for good should they be able to build a lead. Arkansas State has absolutely exploded offensively over its last few games with QB Layne Hatcher tossing eight touchdown passes in his last two contests. Don't count on a repeat performance against a capable Cajuns defense here. Take Louisiana-Lafayette (10*).

NFC North Game of the Month. My selection is on Detroit plus the points over Green Bay at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

Simply put, I'm not sure the Packers are as good as their 4-1 record, or last week's high-scoring win over the Cowboys would seem to indicate. They'll be without WR DaVante Adams again on Monday night and with their defense sagging, I'm not sure they'll be able to get past the Lions without a serious fight. Detroit was written off by most before the season even began, and certainly following an ugly season-opening tie in Arizona. Since then, Detroit has been somewhat inconsistent, but has managed to battle its way to a 2-1-1 mark and can gain ground on the division rival Packers with a win here. I like the way the Lions underrated offense matches up against the Packers suddenly struggling defense and on the flip side, I also think the Detroit defense can give QB Aaron Rodgers some serious heartburn here. RB Aaron Jones went off against the Cowboys last Sunday but don't count on a repeat performance here as Matt LaFleur seems determined to give RB Jamaal Williams his share of touches as well, even if it may be to the detriment of the offense. The Lions have two wins to their credit at Lambeau Field since 2015 so there's no real intimidation factor at play here. Take Detroit (10*).

My selection is on LSU minus the points over Florida at 8 pm et on Saturday.

This is the marquee matchup on Saturday’s board as the 6-0 Gators challenge the 5-0 Tigers in the Bayou. While Florida is coming off a hard-fought emotional home win over rival Auburn last Saturday, LSU enjoyed nothing more than a tune-up in a 42-6 rout of Utah State. I’m still not sure we’ve seen the best the Tigers have to offer, which is saying something considering they’ve scored 60+ points on two separate occasions already this season. This is the game where I look for the LSU defense to step to the forefront and serve as the key to victory. Gators standouts Lamical Perine and Freddie Swain absolutely exploded against Auburn last Saturday but I’m confident the Tigers will do a better job of keeping that duo in check in this one. Florida QB Kyle Trask has managed the last couple of games nicely but won’t be able to match LSU QB Joe Burrow in this one. While we can’t expect Burrow to keep up his ridiculous pace, I do look for him to consistently put the Tigers in good position to score on Saturday night, ultimately helping them pull away for another convincing win. Take LSU (10*).

CFB Big 12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Baylor minus the points over Texas Tech at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Baylor is one of the nation’s more surprising undefeated teams as we head into mid-October. The Bears are coming off back-to-back impressive wins over Iowa State and Kansas State and now have the opportunity to really get rolling before heading on the road for a showdown with Oklahoma State next week. Texas Tech is in a clear letdown spot here as it tries to follow up a surprising 45-35 win over Oklahoma State last Saturday. The Red Raiders jumped all over a Cowboys squad that was arguably ‘fat and happy’ off a big win over Kansas State the week previous. Keep in mind, Texas Tech is still playing without starting QB Alan Bowman. Jett Duffey has filled in admirably, not only this season but last year as well, but faces a tall task against a quality Baylor defense here. Just two weeks ago, Duffey was held to 11-of-20 passing for 120 yards and ran the ball seven times for just 16 yards against Oklahoma. Take Baylor (10*).

My selection is on Alabama minus the points over Texas A&M at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

We got backdoored by Texas A&M earlier this season as it scored a last-second touchdown to close the gap to 14 points at Clemson. I won’t hesitate to go back to the well fading the Aggies here, however, as they face another steep challenge against Alabama. We actually cashed an ‘under’ ticket the last time A&M took the field, two weeks ago against Arkansas in Dallas. The Aggies had a tough time putting away a middle-of-the-road Arkansas squad on that day, ultimately prevailing by a 31-27 score. QB Kellen Mond has now thrown four interceptions and has fumbled the football three times through five games this season. If he can’t take care of the football against the Crimson Tide it will be lights out in a hurry for the Aggies. There’s not a lot to say about Alabama. The Tide continue to roll but after giving up a grand total of 43 points in their first four games they allowed 31 against Ole Miss last Saturday. That should help keep their motivation level high as they head to College Station, noting that ‘Bama took this matchup by 22 points last season. Take Alabama (10*).

My selection is on Georgia minus the points over South Carolina at 12 noon et on Saturday.

Georgia doesn’t seem to garner the same respect level as Alabama and Oklahoma but it should. The Bulldogs are off to a perfect 5-0 start, allowing a grand total of just 54 points in the process. The final score read 43-14 but last week’s win in Tennessee wasn’t a true blowout. Here, I look for Georgia to be even sharper. South Carolina has won twice in five games so far this season, including a 24-7 rout of Kentucky last week. That could leave the Gamecocks a little ‘fat and happy’ entering this not likely winnable contest on Saturday. Note that South Carolina has topped the 24-point mark only once this season and that came against FCS squad Charleston Southern. In the Gamecocks two road games to date they gave up 58 points against North Carolina and Missouri. Georgia rolled to a 24-point victory in this matchup last year but I don’t expect it to overlook South Carolina in this spot. Take Georgia (10*).

CFB AAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Memphis minus the points over Temple at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I really like the way this spot sets up for a Memphis team that remains under the radar despite its perfect 5-0 record. The Tigers are coming off a 52-point explosion on the road against Louisiana-Monroe last week. RB Kenneth Gainwell is seemingly getting better with each passing game, racking up well north of 350 rush yards and four touchdowns over his last three contests. The Tigers defense didn’t perform particularly well in last week’s win, but did earn the game-sealing interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. We have seen this unit step up when it has needed to – remember Memphis defeated Ole Miss by a 15-10 score back in Week 1. We suffered a tough backdoor defeat with Temple last week as it won in unimpressive fashion at East Carolina. The Owls are off to a solid 4-1 start this season but only their victory over then-21st ranked Maryland back on September 14th was all that impressive. Their offense seems to be regressing each week and that’s certainly not encouraging as they could very well need to keep up in a shootout here on Saturday. Take Memphis (10*).

My selection is on Louisiana-Monroe minus the points over Texas State at 9:15 pm et on Thursday.

At the onset of the season I had Texas State rated as one of the worst teams in the entire nation and despite the Bobcats 2-3 record, I still believe that is the case. Louisiana-Monroe checks in with an identical 2-3 mark but it has certainly faced a difficult draw with its three losses coming against Florida State and Iowa State on the road and undefeated Memphis at home. Even though the Warhawks lost by 19 at home against the Tigers last time out, that was a competitive game until the fourth quarter. Texas State has one impressive victory to its credit, or somewhat impressive at least. The Bobcats took down Georgia State by a 37-34 score at home back on September 21st. Keep in mind, they needed three overtimes to get it done and it's worth noting they didn't reach the end zone on offense until the final four minutes of the first half and then not again until overtime. The Warhawks took this matchup a year ago and I expect a similar story to unfold here. Take Louisiana-Monroe (10*).

NFL Thursday Night Football Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over New York at 8:20 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the Patriots as a massive road favorite last Sunday in Washington and there’s little reason to jump ship as they return home on a short week to host the injury-riddled Giants on Thursday night. New York is expected to be without arguably its two best offensive players in this one as RB Saquon Barkley and TE Evan Engram are sidelined with injuries. That leaves rookie QB Daniel Jones in a really tough position going up against a fierce Patriots defense that should have little trouble exposing the Giants offensive line. Even when Jones does have time in the pocket he’ll have few options to work with down field. Maybe WR Golden Tate goes off in his second game back but I highly doubt it. It’s also worth mentioning that WR Sterling Shepard will miss this game after suffering an ugly concussion last week. Offensively, the Pats should be able to do whatever they want against one of the weakest defenses in the league. New York has had an extremely difficult time slowing down any opposing offense other than the lowly Redskins this season and continues to deal with a number of key injuries. The Patriots really didn’t get rolling until the second half against the Redskins last Sunday but still managed to put 30+ points on the board. Expect a sharper performance from Tom Brady and co. here as they roll past the G-Men in Foxborough. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on New England minus the points over Washington at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The oddsmakers really can't set this line high enough as the Patriots should have little trouble disposing of the Redskins in Washington on Sunday. This could be the end of the line for 'Skins head coach Jay Gruden. The team is in further turmoil this week after word got out that Gruden didn't want the team to draft QB Dwayne Haskins. Colt McCoy will get the start under center this week but your guess is as good as mine as to whether he'll finish the game. The Patriots defense has arguably been the best in football this season and should absolutely feast on a miserable Redskins offensive line. Washington's only real bright spot this season has been WR Terry McLaurin but he's dealing with a hamstring injury and questionable to play after missing last week's game. Even if he can go, he'll face the daunting challenge of Pats CB Stephon Gilmore's coverage here. I'm not even sure we'll need a lot from the New England offense but this is a really nice bounce-back spot off of last week's hard-fought, low-scoring win in Buffalo. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Michigan State plus the points over Ohio State at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

We won with Ohio State in its absolute annihilation of Nebraska last Saturday night but I'm expecting a much tighter affair this week as the Buckeyes welcome Michigan State to The Horseshoe. We also cashed in this matchup a year ago, winning a ticket on the 'under'. I do think we'll see points come at a premium again this year (last year's tilt reached only 32 total points). With that in mind, we're being given an awful lot of points with a quality Spartans squad. All most bettors can remember is Michigan State's ugly low-scoring home loss to Arizona State earlier this season. Outside of that game, the Spartans offense has performed well, however, and combine that with a terrific defense and I think Michigan State can stick around and make things interesting here. With a pointspread this generous and considering the tendency the Buckeyes have shown to ease off the gas in the later stages of football games (due entirely to building insurmountable leads), Spartans tickets should be in play right down to the final whistle. Take Michigan State (10*).

My selection is on Army plus the points over Tulane at 12 noon et on Saturday.

In a game where points should come at a premium, I'll gladly grab the points with what I believe is the better team, at home no less, on Saturday afternoon. Tulane is coming off an emotional 38-31 win over Houston on national tv, but that came more than two weeks ago. The Green Wave were certainly up for that spotlight game at home but I'm not convinced we're going to see the same type of emotionally-fueled performance here. Army stumbled out of the gates this season, narrowly escaping with a 14-7 win over Rice back in Week 1. The Black Knights have gotten stronger with each passing week, however, including a near stunning upset win on the road against Michigan and back-to-back blowout victories over UTSA and Morgan State. Like Tulane, Army is also coming off its bye week. In what should be a competitive contest, I like the Knights to come away victorious. Take Army (10*).

My selection is on New Mexico plus the points over San Jose State at 10 pm et on Friday.

This isn't a pretty matchup by any means as New Mexico travels to face San Jose State with both teams sporting identical 2-2 records. All that most remember about the Lobos is that they got throttled 66-14 at Notre Dame two weeks ago. But let's keep things in perspective. New Mexico actually didn't allow an offensive touchdown until over three minutes into the second quarter in that game. They suffered some big defensive breakdowns allowing big play touchdowns in that contest, but won't face anything close to the same type of challenge against the Spartans here. San Jose State is coming off a 41-24 loss to Air Force last week. After scoring a touchdown in the first five minutes of the game, the Spartans didn't reach the end zone again until there were less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. In their first home game this season - a 34-16 loss against Tulsa - the Spartans didn't reach the end zone until over halfway through the second quarter and then not again until there were less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Look for New Mexico to do a good job of shortening this game by churning out long drives, which obviously works in our favor with a play on the underdog. Take New Mexico (10*).

My selection is on Temple minus the points over East Carolina at 8 pm et on Thursday.

Temple has absolutely owned this series, reeling off five straight double-digit victories in five meetings since 2014. The Owls are off to a 3-1 start this season but haven't looked all that impressive in getting there. Here, on the national stage on Thursday night, I look for them to get loose against an East Carolina squad that isn't as good as it 3-2 record would seem to indicate. We were on the 'over' in East Carolina's narrow 24-21 win over Old Dominion last Saturday. That was by no means an impressive victory as neither team was able to get anything going in a truly ugly affair. Save for a 48-point outburst against FCS squad Gardner-Webb, the Pirates offense has been non-existent this season. The game script should set up well for the Owls to ultimately put this game away with a dynamic offense that has yet to really get rolling this season. Veteran QB Adam Russo got bogged down against Georgia Tech last week but has still thrown 10 touchdowns through four games this season. Meanwhile, RB Re'Mahn Davis is coming off a breakout 135-yards, two-touchdown performance against the Yellow Jackets and should run wild on an ECU defense that got torched for 315 yards on the ground against Navy earlier this season. Take Temple (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh minus the points over Cincinnati at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

After cashing with Pittsburgh in an ATS but not SU victory in San Francisco last Sunday, I like the Steelers to cover the number again, albeit as a favorite this time around. This is an excellent matchup for the Steelers defense to absolutely tee off on a Bengals offensive line that has struggled to open up running lanes for Joe Mixon while also allowing opponents to get a ton of pressure on QB Andy Dalton. Should the Steelers build a lead they'll be able to pin their ears back and force a key turnover or two as this game progresses. On the flip side, the Steelers offense will likely go back to basics here and let RB James Conner go to work against a Bengals defense that has surrendered a whopping 5.2 yards per rush this season. Last week's matchup wasn't good for Steelers QB Mason Rudolph but he should bounce back against a much more favorable draw here. Cincinnati has not done a good job of generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks, recording just five sacks so far this season. Take Pittsburgh (10*).

NFL NFC Game of the Month. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Tampa Bay at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

This game has blowout written all over it as the Rams return home following a business-like 20-13 win in Cleveland last Sunday night. Los Angeles used a supreme defensive effort to hold off a hungry Browns squad in that one but here should be able to get loose offensively, particularly through the air against a struggle Bucs pass defense. On the flip side, I don’t see the Bucs accomplishing much in this one with the Rams outstanding secondary likely to take care of business against the dynamic duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Tampa Bay’s ground game is a virtual non-factor and playing from behind on Sunday isn’t likely to change that. Look for another dominant performance from the Rams as they remain undefeated with another convincing win. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Detroit at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Perhaps due to their weak defense and the surprising start of the Lions, the Chiefs remain a relatively short road favorite in Detroit on Sunday afternoon. We won with the Lions in their upset victory in Philadelphia last week but that had more to do with the Eagles laundry list of injuries than anything else. This may be a showdown between two undefeated teams but they really couldn’t be at much more opposite ends of the spectrum offensively. The Chiefs just keep rolling along and catch the Lions in a tough spot with a number of key injuries on the defensive side of the football, the least concerning of which to CB Darius Slay. QB Patrick Mahomes should be in for another monster performance in ideal conditions at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon. Kansas City’s struggles defending the run will likely encourage the Lions, already a ‘run-first’ team, to pound the football on the ground here, but it’s the wrong move in my opinion as Detroit simply won’t be able to keep pace with an explosive Chiefs offense by running the football. Take Kansas City (10*).

My selection is on Ohio State minus the points over Nebraska at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

Ohio State continues to steamroll inferior competition and while Nebraska looks like it poses a significant challenge on paper, I’m not sure it’s going to play out that way on the field. The Cornhuskers are coming off yet another offensive explosion last week, scoring 42 points in a road win over Illinois. QB Adrian Martinez has done it all on a weekly basis but I’m confident the Buckeyes can develop a gameplan to slow down the Huskers dynamic quarterback. The argument can certainly be made that Ohio State has been the most impressive team in college football so far this season, outscoring the opposition by a ridiculous 214-36 margin. This represents the Buckeyes first true test and I definitely believe they’ll be up for it, especially after narrowly escaping with a 36-31 in this same matchup last November. Lost in Nebraska’s hot start offensively has been its awful defensive play against any opponent with a pulse, giving up 34 points at Colorado and 38 at Illinois. Home cooking has been kind so far, but those performances came against South Alabama and Northern Illinois as double-digit favorites. Expect a different story to unfold here. Take Ohio State (10*).

My selection is on Kansas State plus the points over Oklahoma State at 7 pm et on Saturday.

While Oklahoma State was involved in a shootout loss against rival Texas last Saturday, Kansas State was idle and enters this game with its undefeated record intact. The Wildcats have just one impressive win to their credit, that coming in their last game, a 31-24 win as a touchdown underdog at Mississippi State (we won with the ‘over’ in that game). I do like the way this one sets up for Kansas State as well as I expect it to run the football at will and control the clock, ultimately shortening this game against offensive-minded Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have a potent ground attack of their own but I suspect they’ll be in tough contending with a rested and ready Wildcats defense. Note that Kansas State held Mississippi State out of the end zone in the critical final 19 minutes of the game two weeks ago, after falling behind 21-17. Wildcats QB Skylar Thompson hasn’t been racking up the completions or yardage totals but has been efficient, throwing four touchdowns compared to no interceptions through three games. Take Kansas State (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Cleveland at 8:20 pm et on Sunday.

This is a tough spot for the Browns, returning home on a short week to face one of the league's best teams, and potentially doing so without a number of key cogs. Cleveland enters this game banged-up after Monday's win over the Jets, losing TE David Njoku and OLB Christian Kirksey to injuries in that game. The Rams come in relatively healthy and off an easier-than-expected home win over the Saints thanks to Drew Brees' injury. The Browns will certainly be up for this opportunity to prove that all of the preseason hype was warranted but the fact is, they haven't looked very good through two games, and I don't believe they can hang around for 60 minutes against a vastly superior team. Yes, Rams QB Jared Goff has struggled in games such as this, on the road in primetime, but that has little bearing here as he's a more experienced quarterback now and figures to have learned how to better handle these situations. Los Angeles is well-positioned to move to 3-0 on Sunday night. Take Los Angeles (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh plus the points over San Francisco at 4:25 pm et on Sunday.

Most are quick to write off the Steelers after losing QB Ben Roethlisberger for the season in last week’s home loss to the Seahawks. I’m not sure we’re going to see much of a dropoff in offensive production with backup QB Mason Rudolph at the helm, however. It’s not as if Big Ben was lighting it up for the Steelers in early action this season. In fact, it was Rudolph that gave the team a major spark and moved the football at will after entering last week’s game. It appears Steelers RB James Conner will be good to go this week after an injury scare. Even if he can’t, the Steelers have excellent depth at the position with Jaylen Samuels a dynamic playmaker as well. San Francisco came up with a nice blowout win in Cincinnati last week, moving to a surprising 2-0 on the season. Let’s not get carried away with that result, however, as the Bengals figure to be a bottom-tier team. The Steelers aren’t about to completely shut down the 49ers offense on the road this week, but I do look for them to bounce back from consecutive awful performances against the Patriots and Seahawks in what was certainly a difficult two-game slate to open the campaign. Simply put, we’re being given too many points in a game that could go either way. Take Pittsburgh (10*).