Cappers Sports Picks

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUPER BOWL LIII BEST BET

The BIG GAME is finally here; New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams for all the marbles in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

The Pats have played high-scoring contests throughout the postseason, and I expect another shootout here against an explosive Rams team that averaged 32.9 ppg through the regular season. 

New England's 41 year old signal caller Tom Brady showed that age is just a number as the GOAT had little trouble to march his team down the field when it really mattered in the AFC Championship Game. 

The Patriots and the Chiefs combined for 38 points in Q4 alone of their AFC Championship clash, with 24 of the points coming in the last 3:32 of the quarter. We could very well see a similar scenario here with two clutch quarterbacks more than capable of marching down the field when it really matters. 

Over is now 7-1 in Patriots last eight playoff games and this Patriots team will have to score plenty of points here to have a shot at winning. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED NFL PLAYOFFS TOTAL

The over/under is 5-11 in the New England Patriot games this season and they've allowed 12 points or fewer in each of their last three at home (16.6 ppg against in Foxboro on the season).

Here Pats coach Bill Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for the LA Chargers, and I think he'll have his defense on point leading to a low-scoring contest. 

The Chargers have stepped it up defensively in recent weeks and have seen four of their last five go under the total. They held Baltimore to 229 yards of offense in a 23-17 win in the opening round of the NFL playoffs last week but mustered also only 243 yards themselves. 

Chargers QB Philip Rivers has a poor career record against NE and he was sacked 32 times during the regular season. We can note that the Pats forced eight turnovers in the final three games of the regular season and there will be a lot of pressure on Rivers to deliver as RB Melvin Gordon is struggling with a knee injury he sustained during last week's wild-card win. Gordon rested at practice on Wednesday and is unlikely to be 100 percent by Sunday.

Under is 8-1 in Patriots last nine games overall. Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* WILD CARD WEEKEND TOTAL

We won with our NFL regular season total of the year on Bears @ Vikings in Week 17, and I'm going with another big bet on the under in a Bears game in Wild Card Weekend. 

The Eagles took full advantage of Chicago's win over Minnesota to sneak into the postseason with a 24-0 win over the Redskins at Washington. Pretty big QB concerns here for Philly though with Carson Wentz definitely out and backup Nick Foles banged up after taking a hit on the ribs last week. 

The Bears own the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL, but they have been held to 15 points or fewer in two of their last four games and haven't scored more than 24 in any game during that stretch. They own the No. 11 rushing offense in the NFL but Philly is good at stopping the run allowing 96.9 ypg. 

Under is 6-2 in Bears last eight home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): REGULAR SEASON TOTAL

There's no secret that two of the NFL's top defensive teams will clash at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Sunday afternoon, but I still think the books have set the total too high. Note that under is 21-16 (56.8%) in games with a total closing under 42 points in NFL this season. 

Chicago owns the league's fourth-best defense and has the No. 3 seed in the NFC locked in. They must defeat the Vikings and hope for the 49ers to defeat the LA Rams in Los Angeles to jump into the No. 2 seed, not impossible but at the same time not very likely either... They've been held to a total of 53 points through their last three games and under is 8-1 in Bears last nine games in December.

The Vikings rank third in overall defense and will be highly motivated as they can clinch a wild card with a victory (or a tie). "For us, playoffs have already started," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said. "We know that we have to win this game in order to get into them. There has to be heightened sense of energy and focus and study time. You have to make sure that your bodies are rested and understand it is going to be a physical football game on Sunday."

I expect Minnesota to take an early lead and then controlling the clock. Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings and I think the circumstances call for another low-scoring affair.

10* play on UNDER. 

BRONCOS @ RAIDERS MONDAY NIGHT NO-BRAINER

The Denver Broncos have been involved in low-scoring battles lately with each of their last five going under the total. Their last two contests have seen just 34 and 33 points respectively and I don't see this game going over the posted number. 

Oakland has struggled offensively all season, averaging only 18.6 ppg, and QB Derek Carr was sacked five times as the Raiders were held to 16 points at Cincinnati last week.

The Broncos won the first meeting of the season 20-19 at Denver in Week 2 and under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL) TOTAL

The Chicago Bears tenacious defense has allowed a total of just 23 points through the last two games. The Bears have already clinched a postseason berth but I think they'll still put up a fight here as they look to improve their seeding in the NFC playoffs. 

The San Francisco 49ers have no shot of making the postseason but have held Denver and Seattle to a combined 37 points in back-to-back wins. They're allowing 23.0 ppg home at Levi's Stadium which is well below their 26.6 ppg season average overall. 

Under is 8-3 in Bears last 11 vs. a team with a losing record and 7-1 in their last eight games in December. Under is 11-3 in 49ers last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. 

10* play on UNDER. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON NFL NO-BRAINER (TOTAL)

I think points will come at a premium for both sides when NFC North rivals Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings clash at Ford Field Sunday afternoon. 

Seven of Detroit's last eight games have gone under the total and the Lions have been held to 20 points or fewer in five straight games. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is dealing with a sore back and here he'll face a Minnesota defense that ranks 4th in the NFL against the pass, giving up just 202.9 passing yards per game. 

The Lions have been great defensively lately, holding Arizona and Buffalo to a combined 17 points through their last two games. Minnesota put up 41 points against Miami last week but had scored a combined 17 points in its last two games prior to that. 

Under is 20-7 in Vikings last 27 vs. NFC North opponents and 8-2 in the last 10 meetings with Detroit.

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The New Orleans Saints are averaging 34.4 ppg on the season, but they've been held to a total of 38 points through their last two games. At the other end of the field, they've held five consecutive opponent to 17 or fewer points. Each of their last four have gone under the total and I expect a relatively low-scoring contest here when they visit Carolina Monday night.

The slumping Panthers have lost five in a row and scored more than 21 points just once during their skid. They rank 2nd in the NFL with 1,786 net rushing yards on the season but here the Panthers will run into the very best rush defense in the league, allowing just 3.6 yards/rush attempt. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB): MIKE'S BEST VEGAS BOWL BET

The Fresno State Bulldogs have allowed just 13.7 ppg on the season and limited Boise State to 350 yards of total offense and 16 points last time out. Under is 13-3 in Bulldogs last 16 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. 

The Bulldogs managed just 19 points on 288 yards of total offense themselves against the Broncos though and I expect this to be a low-scoring game. 

The Arizona State Sun Devils are coming off a 41-40 win over Arizona and have played several high-scoring contests lately, but note that they'll' be without No. 1 receiver N'Keal Harry for this contest. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The New England Patriots put a 38-7 beating on Miami at Foxboro back in September. 

Their scoring has slowed down since though and the Pats have averaged only 20.3 ppg through their last three games. 

It's no coincidence that two of those games where on the road where NE is averaging 21.7 ppg on the season, and here it'll face a Miami team which has held opponents to 20.5 ppg in six games at Hard Rock Stadium. Offensively, Miami does not pose much of a threat and ranks 29th in the NFL for total offense with 302.1 ypg. 

Under is 8-2 in Patriots last 10 road games. Under is 5-0 in Patriots last five  games overall and 4-0 in Dolphins last four games overall.

10* play on UNDER. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NFL NO-BRAINER

The Jacksonville Jaguars completely suffocated one of the hottest teams in the NFL last week when they put an end to Indianapolis Colts five-game winning streak with a 6-0 triumph. I expect to see another low-scoring contest when the Jags visit Tennessee Thursday night.  The Titans recorded a 26-22 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday but had been held to a combined 27 points through their last two games prior to that. The Titans have held the Jags to a total of 32 points through the last three meetings and they won the last encounter 9-6 on September 23. 

This is an extremely low total, but I don't see either team generate enough offense to push the score over the posted number. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The Minnesota Vikings limited Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers to a season-worst 198 yards and sacked him four times in last week's 24-17 win. They're allowing just 276.6 ypg since Week 4 and I think they'll give Tom Brady and the New England Patriots offense plenty of problems here on Sunday. The Pats have scored a combined 37 points through their last two games with each of their last four going under the total. 

Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes put a 62-39 beating on seventh-ranked Michigan last week. I think they'll win in a rout again when taking on Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Saturday night. 

Northwestern defeated Illinois last week but failed to cover the spread and gave up 435 yards of total offense while generating only 371 yards of offense themselves. 

Here they'll face an Ohio team which averages 544.6 yards on the season and toyed with Michigan's top ranked defense. Buckeyes QB Dwayne Haskins completed 20-of-31 passes for 396 yards and six touchdowns and the Buckeyes racked up 567 total yards in the victory. 

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is determined to have his players ready for this one too. "I'm going to be very hard on everybody this week, and we cannot see anything other than the same effort we did last week," Meyer said, later adding, "When you win and you win the way you did, now that's the time to cut it loose and be very, over-the-top demanding of them."

Over is 8-3 in Buckeyes last 11 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game and I expect to see this game go over the total. 

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (CFB) TOTAL

The Fresno State Bulldogs are giving up only 13.5 ppg on the season and all but one of their last nine games have gone under the total. The Boise State Broncos are holding teams to 22.3 ppg overall which drops to 18.5 ppg at home and six of their last eight have gone under the total. 

This will be the fourth meeting in just over a year and the second straight time Fresno State and Boise State will compete in the Mountain West championship game. BSU won last year's title game 17-14 and none of the last three meetings have been even close to go over the total posted for this matchup. 

10* play on UNDER. 

AUBURN @ ALABAMA IRON BOWL BOOKIE BREAKER

The top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide have been destroying their competition all season long, and they're a massive favorite here against Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl. Bama will be seeking to avenge a 26-14 loss to Auburn last season, and I think it all starts on defense. 

I really wouldn't make too much of the 17 points the Tide allowed the Citadel to score last week; on the season, Bama has held opponent to an average of just 13.1 ppg so there's no doubt the defense can step it up a notch when fully focused, and the concentration should be . 

Auburn has also been one of the better teams on the defensive side of the ball, conceding only 16.6 ppg and it shut out Liberty last week. On offense, Auburn has been less than convincing and put up just 10 points in a loss to Georgia and nine against Mississippi State earlier in the season.

Under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings and Auburn is 12-3 to the under their last 15 games overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB) TOTAL

The Boston College Eagles host the Syracuse Orange Saturday afternoon, and I expect to see an entertaining shootout. The visitors are 10th in the nation in scoring, averaging 40.6 ppg on the season despite putting up just three in a loss at Notre Dame last time out. Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey missed most of that game with an upper-body injury and is questionable here, but backup QB Tommy DeVito should be able to put up decent numbers against a BC defense which has allowed more than 600 passing yards through its last two games.  

Defensively, the Orange have struggled on the road all season allowing an average of 34.6 ppg and they gave up 463 yards against the Irish last time out, including 171 yards on the ground. The Eagles running game ranks 46th in the nation and RB A.J. Dillon ran a season-high 37 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns against FSU last week.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The Atlanta Falcons are coming off back-to-back losses despite giving up a total of just 50 points in the two contests combined. They've failed to break 20 point scored in each of those games and here it'll face a New Orleans side which has allowed a total of only 21 points through its last two games. 

The Saints are the highest scoring team in the league and have scored 45+ points in three straight games, but even while the first meeting of the season finished with a total of 80 points scored I highly doubt this contest will break 60 considering both teams recent results. 

Falcons are just 1-3 SU and ATS away from home this season and under is 6-2 in their last eight road games. Under is 4-1 in Saints last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

10* play on UNDER in New Orleans. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) TOTAL

The LA Chargers are among the league's hottest teams having won six on the bounce and permitted only 66 points over their past five games for an average of 13.2 ppg. Here they'll face a Denver team which has won just one of its last seven games and been held to 20 points or fewer in five of its nine games on the season. 

The Broncos defense is still pretty solid though and linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb have combined for 17 sacks, the most by a pass rushing duo in the NFL this season. We can also note that they're coming off their bye so they've had plenty of time to figure out how to stop the Chargers. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB) TOTAL

Two red hot teams with explosive offenses will clash at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando Saturday night, and I expect to see plenty of fireworks on both ends of the field. 

UCF Knights are perfect 9-0 on the season and amassed 500 yards of total offense in a 35-24 triumph over Navy last week. They rank third in the nation in total offense at 543 yards per game and put a 51-23 beating on the Bearcats last year. 

Cincinnati is 9-1 on the season and can lean on one of the best defenses in the country, but this will without a doubt be the biggest test yet, and in front of a national television audience at that. 

Keep in mind that the Bearcats allowed three touchdown passes in a 35-23 win over South Florida last week and over is 7-1 in Knights last eight home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

10* play on OVER. 

MISSISSIPPI STATE @ ALABAMA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Alabama Crimson Tide lead the nation in scoring averaging 51.3 points per game and have routed teams relentlessly pretty much all season, but points didn't come quite as easy against LSU last week (29-0 win) and here they'll run into the best defense they've faced all year. 

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have allowed an average of only 12.3 ppg and O/U is 1-7 in games involving them on the season. Alabama is not just an offensive powerhouse, it's defense is also one of the best in the nation with opponents averaging just 295.4 yards and  14.1 points versus the Tide. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB): MIKE'S BEST WEEK 11 FRIDAY NIGHT TOTAL 

The Louisville Cardinals took a 77-16 beating at Clemson last week. I think they'll give up plenty of points again when visiting Syracuse Friday night. The Cardinals gave up 661 total yards to the Tigers and here it'll face a deadly offense that ranks No. 15 nationally with 478.2 yards per game. 

Syracuse is averaging 43.3 points per game on the season and senior dual-threat quarterback Eric Dungey has recorded 23 touchdowns, 13 via the pass and 10 by the run. Louisville's defense ranks dead last in the ACC and 115th nationally allowing 462.8 yards per game.

The Orange have lost the last two meetings by a combined score of 118-38, so I expect them to look for revenge and keep pressing the pedal to the metal and keep scoring points to the very end pushing this game over the total. 

10* play on LOU @ SYR OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL TOTAL)

I'm confident we'll see a low-scoring game when the Denver Broncos host the Houston Texans Sunday afternoon. 

Houston owns one of the best run defenses in the league while Denver limited KC to just 49 rushing yards last week. On top of that, both teams rank in the top half against the pass and Denver is tied for second in the NFL with 24 sacks on the season.

We can also note that Houston will have to do without wide receiver Will Fuller who will miss the rest of 2018 with a torn ACL. 

Under is 1-3 for Houston on the road and also 1-3 for Denver at home on the season. Under is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB TOTAL)

The No. 2 Clemson Tigers are perfect 8-0 SU on the season and amassed 524 total yards in a 59-10 triumph at FSU last week. 

Here they'll face a Louisville Cardinals side which has allowed 160 points in its last three contests and got lit up for 56 points and 591 yards in a 21-point loss to Wake Forest last week. 

On a positive note, Louisville piled up a season-high 532 total yards of offense and I would not be surprised to see Clemson go easy on them on the defensive side of the ball here as they're likely to rout their opponent anyway. 

Clemson won last season's meeting 47-21, and I expect a similar score this time around. 

10* play on OVER. 

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RAIDERS @ NINERS TOTAL

The San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders enter this contest with just one win a piece. They are the front-runners to claim the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL draft so the motivation to win this game must be quite low, and I expect that lack of focus mostly to show on the defensive side of the ball. 

Both teams rank near the bottom of the league for points allowed with 49ers (29.5 ppg) 28th and Raiders (31.1 ppg) 31st. We can also note that Oakland is dead last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (144.7 per game) and that the Niners are averaging a healthy 133.6 rushing yards per game.

The fact that San Francisco has such a strong ground game will make the question mark under center for the home team (C.J. Beathard injury) less of an issue. 

Over is 18-6-3 in Raiders last 27 games in November. Over is 8-3 in 49ers last 11 games overall.

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (CFB TOTAL) - MIKE'S TOP RATED *BEST BET* FOR OCTOBER!

The Army Black Knights will pay a visit to Eastern Michigan Eagles Saturday afternoon. I think the bookmakers have set the total way too low for this contest. 

Army beat the Miami RedHawks 31-30 in double overtime its last time out, and as usual it did most of its damage on the ground with 347 rushing yards. On the season, the Black Knights own the 2nd best running offense in the country and we can note that Eastern Michigan gave up 227 rushing yards to Ball State last week. The Eagles still won the game 42-20 and scored three touchdowns through the air, and Eastern Michigan QB Tyler Wiegers  should have decent success here as well against a vulnerable Army secondary.

Eastern Michigan averages a decent 29.5 ppg on the season while Army averages 32.3 ppg.  

10* play on OVER. 

NINERS @ PACKERS GRIDIRON GOLDMINE

The Green Bay Packers are coming off a 31-23 loss at Detroit, but I doubt we'll see another shootout when they host the San Francisco 49ers Monday night. 

Green Bay is allowing only 17.3 ppg at home and its defense shut out Buffalo in a 22-0 victory its last time out at at Lambeau Field. Offensively Aaron Rodgers run the show, but he has few quality targets and virtually no protection; note that Rodgers has been sacked 16 times already. Green Bay's rushing game is below par, ranking 19th in the league averaging a pedestrian 101.9 yards per game.

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off an 18-28 loss to Arizona. They are banged up on the offensive side of the ball and will have to do without starting quarterback (Jimmy Garoppolo) and top running back (Jerick McKinnon). On top of that, eight offensive players were on the sideline during Thursday's practice due to injuries. Backup QB C.J Beathard has as many picks (4) as touchdown passes on the season. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* WEEK 6 TOTAL

The undefeated LA Rams are coming off a 33-31 road win at Seattle. While spectators might hope for another shootout at Denver on Sunday, I expect to see this game stay under this somewhat bloated total. 

The Broncos have lost three straight and struggled to put points on the board during their skid, managing only 14 against the Ravens, 23 against the Chiefs and most recently 16 against the Jets. Rams defense hasn't been as terrific as it can be in recent weeks, but LA is still giving up an average of only 19.6 points on the season, good for seventh in the NFL. Additionally, the Broncos are likely to try and move the chains primarily on the ground which will eat time off the clock. 

Under is 8-2 in Broncos last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Under is 9-3 in Rams last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

10* play on UNDER. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Chicago Bears should be well rested and ready to go as they're coming off their Week 5 bye. They trounced Tampa Bay 48-10 last time out and have now won three straight since losing their season opener at Green Bay.

The Miami Dolphins are trending in the opposite direction, coming off back-to-back losses to the Pats (38-17) and the Bengals (27-17). QB Ryan Tannehill threw two picks against Cincinnati and he has five INTS and four fumbles on the season. I expect him to get roughed up plenty by Chicago defensive end Khalil Mack who has recorded a sack and fumble in four straight games. 

The Dolphins offense rank rank 30th in the NFL with an average of only 288 total yards per game and here it will come up against arguably the best defense in the NFL with Chicago giving up an average of only 294.5 yards of total offense. We can also note that Miami is highly unlikely to have any kind of success running the ball against a Bears rush defense that ranks #1 in the NFL.

Bears QB Mitch Trubisky was outstanding his last time out, massing 354 passing yards with six touchdown passes against the Bucs. Miami’s rush and pass defense both rank 20th in the NFL and I think points will come fast and easy for the visitors. In addition to a Bears win I also expect this game to fly over the total.

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CFB): MIKE'S FRIDAY NIGHT TOP RATED TOTAL

The Air Force Falcons visit the San Diego State Aztecs Friday night, and I expect to see this game go over the total. 

Air Force is coming off an impressive 35-7 win over Navy. It rolled up a 399 yards of total offense in that contest and ranks 15th in the nation in rushing by putting up 255.2 yards per contest. The Aztecs boast a stingy D, but I think Air Force can find openings on the ground. Offensively San Diego State is very balanced, entering this contest ranked 115th in the nation in passing offense and 55th in rushing. Note that Air Force was torched for 436 yards of total offense in a 28-25 loss to Nevada two weeks ago so don't be surprised if San Diego State does the same. 

Air Force is giving up only 22.0 ppg on the season and San Diego State 19.8 ppg. With the over/under 1-4 for both teams on the season the publice expecting a low-scoring contest, the total has been set way too low. We take the contrarian rout here and back the over. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR WEEK 5

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a solid 26-14 win at Pittsburgh. They shut out the Steelers in the second half and held one of the most potent offenses in the league to just 284 yards, 14 first downs and 19 rushing yards. On the season, Baltimore is giving up only 16.8 ppg. 

Cleveland is coming off a 45-42 loss at Oakland, but such high-scoring games are usually few and far between for the Browns. The highest scoring team through their first three games put just 21 points on the board and I expect their D to step up again here after a subpar outing. Note that under is 7-1 in Browns last eight games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.

The Browns have had plenty of success on the ground this season, entering this contest ranked 2nd in the league with 152.8 rushing yards per game. The bad news for them is that Baltimore's rush defense ranks 4th, allowing only 82.5 ypg and I'm still not convinced that rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield can hurt a defense like Baltimore's. 

10* NFL Total of the Week: BAL @ CLE UNDER. 

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL COLTS @ PATS TOTAL

Two capable offenses will clash at Foxborough Thursday night so naturally we should this game fly over the total, right? Not neccessarily in my opinion. 

Both teams are banged up on offense with the Colts' star receiver, T.Y. Hilton, unlikely to play and Pats All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. We can also note that Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck has struggled big time in previous matchups at Foxborough, completing only 48 percent of his pass attempts with nine interceptions in three games.

Under is 10-2 in Colts last 12 games overall. Under is 13-6 in Patriots last 19 games overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

NFL GAME OF THE MONTH (10* TOTAL)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been involved in two shootouts already this season, and I'm confident we'll see a high-scoring game when they host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night. 

The Ravens opened the season with a 47-3 thumping of Buffalo and have scored 50 in their last two games combined to make it a season average of 32.3 ppg. Baltimore averages 292 ypg through the air and Pittsburgh ranks among the worst against the pass, giving up 288.0 yards per game. 

Offensively the Steelers are doing just fine and their 453.3 yards of total offense per game is 2nd only to Tampa Bay. Ben Roethlisberger has found the end zone seven times and thrown for 1,140 yards and James Connor has been the go-to man in the backfield with 222 yards and two scores. 

Over is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings at Pittsburgh and the Steelers won last season's meeting at Heinz Field 39-38.

10* NFL TOTAL OF THE MONTH: OVER. 

BENGALS @ FALCONS TOTAL

The Atlanta Falcons will host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday afternoon. While the bookmakers have added to the total throughout the week (opened at 48), I still think this game will fly over the current number with ease. 

Both teams have big arms under center. Cincinnati's Andy Dalton having completed 74-of-116 passes for 860 yards in three games and is tied for third in the league with eight touchdowns. Atlanta's Matt Ryan has completed 70-of-106 passes for 897 yards and seven touchdowns, five in last week's 43-37 loss to New Orleans. 

Cincinnati is giving up 270.3 passing yards per game (23rd) while Atlanta is giving up 276.0 passing yards per game (25th). We should see plenty of big plays from both QBs. 

8* play on OVER. 

CFB GAME OF THE MONTH (10* TOTAL)

The Northwestern Wildcats host the Michigan Wolverines Saturday afternoon. While we may not see a massive shootout, I'm very confident we'll see this game fly over the total we're offered. 

Michigan ran for 285 yards and accumulated 491 yards of total offense in a 56-10 triumph over Nebraska last week. QB Shea Patterson has recorded seven touchdowns and just one interception over his last three games. Over is 19-8-1 in Wolverines last 28 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game and 9-3 in their last 12 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.

Northwestern is coming off its bye week and blew a 21-3 halftime lead to take a 39-34 home loss to Akron its last game. QB Clayton Thorson completed 33-of-52 passes for 383 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against the Zips and the Wildcats average a solid 424 yards per game of total offense. Over is 4-0 in Wildcats last four games following a bye week and I think they can put up decent numbers against Michigan.

10* CFB TOTAL OF THE MONTH: OVER

NFL 3-PACK

The Miami Dolphins have opened the season with back-to-back wins, and I think they'll make it three in a row here against the Raiders who are coming off a mentally tough 20-19 loss to Denver to fall to 0-2 on the season. 

Here the Raiders have to travel across the country to face a Miami side which own 6th ranked ground attack in the league, bad news for Oakland which ranks 31st against the run and allowed Denver to run for 168 yards last week. 

The Raiders have an explosive offense led by QB Derek Carr, but they're simply not clicking at the moment, averaging only 16.0 ppg on the season. I expect the Dolphins to get the job done and win a low-scoring game at home in Week 3. 

Raiders are 4-10-2 ATS in their last 16 games overall. Raiders are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Under is 9-0 in Raiders last 9 games overall. Under is 5-1 in Raiders last 6 games in September. Under is 4-1 in Dolphins last 5 games in September.

8* play on UNDER.

PATS @ JAGS NFL TOTAL 

The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants in Week 1. They gave up just 324 yards of total offense but musted only 305 yards themselves, and here they're likely to be without star running back Leonard Fournette who sustained a hamstring injury in the season opener. Fournette did not practice Friday and the Jaguars are "not optimistic" he will play according to a report from the NFL Network.

The New England Patriots got the job done in their season opener as well, coming off a 27-20 triumph over Houston. They could find it tougher to move the ball here though against one of the best defenses in the league, and they'll have to do it without WR Julian Edelman who is sitting out the first four games while serving a suspension. We can also note that the Pats are banged up in the backfield and will need to rely on QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski to carry the weight. 

Under is 9-2 in Jaguars last 11 vs. AFC. Under is 6-2 in Patriots last 8 vs. AFC.

8* play on UNDER. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Minnesota Vikings opened the season with an easy 24-16 home win against the 49ers while the Green Bay Packers just barely beat the Bears 24-23 at home Monday night. 

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers left the game with a knee injury but returned in the second half to help the Packers come back from a 20-0 deficit. 

We can however note that Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy either could not or would not say anything specific Monday regarding his starting quarterback's knee injury or his status for Week 2. 

Rodgers will most likely be banged up even if he makes it to the field, and that simply can't be good against a Minnesota team which features among the best passing defenses in the league. 

I like the Vikings to win this game no matter Rodgers' status, and I think they'll keep it a low-scoring affair. Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.

8* play on UNDER. 

CFB GAME OF THE WEEK (10* TOTAL) ~ LATE KICK OFF!

The UCLA Bruins didn’t play well defensively in their last game as they gave up 485 yards in a 49-21 loss at Oklahoma. Here they'll come up against a balanced Fresno State team which opened the season with a 79-13 rout of Idaho followed by a 21-14 loss at Minnesota. 

The Bulldogs lead the nation with eight takeaways (5 interceptions, 3 fumbles) and that could spell big trouble for UCLA and its coach Chip Kelly who is still undecided on a starting quarterback for this contest. I think Fresno State will get plenty good opportunities in good field position leading to fast scores, but UCLA should be able to put up its fair share of points on the board as well.   

Over is 14-6-1 in Bulldogs last 21 non-conference games and 21-10 in their last 31 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game. Over is 5-2 in Bruins last seven games in September.

10* CFB TOTAL OF THE WEEK: OVER

THURSDAY NIGHT RAVENS @ BENGALS *NO-BRAINER* 

The Baltimore Ravens destroyed Buffalo 47-3 in Week 1 while Cincinnati Bengals notched a 34-23 season-opening victory over Indianapolis.

I expect less offense for both teams here with the defenses fired up for this AFC North showdown. Baltimore sure shut down the Bills effectively last week, allowing just 153 yards while recording six sacks and two turnovers but the Bengals won't give up easy points to their division rival. 

We can also note that under is 34-16-2 in Bengals last 52 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game and under is 4-1 in the last five meetings, with the exception a 31-27 Bengals win at Baltimore last year. 

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* FALCONS @ EAGLES *BOOKIE BREAKER*

The Phildelphia Eagles managed to overcome a late season-ending ACL injury to their star QB Carson Wentz last year and went all the way to beat New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. They could always lean a stingy defense that ranked first against the pass and third against the run in 2017, and I think the same will be true here in 2018. 

Wentz will miss the season opener against Atlanta Falcons, and the Eagles are also dealing with injuries to their receivers. We can also add in the fact that running back Jay Ajayi was held out in the final two games of the preseason and I think it's fair to assume that points will be hard to come by for the Eagles. Atlanta has an explosive offense, but I expect Philly's D to shut down the Falcons effectively. 

Under is 7-0 in Falcons last 7 games overall. Under is 9-4 in Eagles last 13 games in Week 1. Under is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

SATURDAY NIGHT CFB BOOKIE BREAKER TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

New UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly has been forced to deal with serious internal distractions ahead of the season opener with Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday night. Several players have been suspended  for violating unspecified athletic department policies, and it has hit their defense the worst. They'll face a Cincinnati team which will return 13 starters, including its leading passer, rusher and receiver, and I expect to see the scoreboard light up plenty here at Rose Bowl tonight.

10* play on OVER. 

SAINTS @ VIKINGS TOTAL

The Minnesota Vikings defense allowed just a total of 17 points through the last three games of the season. They rank near the top of the NFL in several defensive categories including the second-ranked rush and pass defense. 

Minnesota held New Orleans to just 19 points in Week 1 of the season, and I expect another low-scoring encounter here in the NFC Divisional playoff round. New Orleans has held opponents to a respectable 20.4 points per game (10th in the league) and the Vikes are far from an offensive powerhouse. 

Under is 7-1-1 in Vikings last nine playoff games and 20-6 in their last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

STEELERS @ TEXANS NO-BRAINER

The Pittsburgh Steelers have already locked up the AFC North title, and it would take a small miracle for them to get home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs after last week's loss to New England. They also lost  Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown to a calf injury for the remainder of the regular season, and I think the main focus here will be to get out of the game as healthy as possible. 

The Houston Texans placed quarterback Tom Savage on season-ending injured reserve Saturday and with rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson out since long the Texans will once again have to go with third-stringer T.J. Yates under center. He was a woeful 12-of-31 for 128 yards in last week's 45-7 loss at Jacksonville. 

Houston has failed to scored more than 16 points in each of its last four games and under is 7-2 in Texans last nine games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Under is 22-6 in Steelers last 28 road games.

I think Pittsburgh will win the game outright, but the Texans to cover in a low-scoring affair. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL TOTALS 3-PACK

The New England Patriots can wrap up a first-round bye and maintain the inside track for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC with a win here against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Bills do not lack motivation either though as they seek to secure their first postseason berth since 1999. 

The Pats defeated the Bills 23-3 at Buffalo on Dec. 3, and I think we'll see another low-scoring affair here at Foxboro on Saturday. The Bills are averaging only 17.2 ppg on the road this season and the under is 9-2 in Bills last 11 games on fieldturf. Under is 8-2 in Patriots last 10 games overall as they've managed to sort out a defense that gave up a ton of points at the beginning of the season. Furthermore, Buffalo will most likely to to hand the ball to running back LeSean McCoy as often as possible, which will eat time off the clock.  

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL TOTALS 3-PACK

The LA Chargers need to go perfect through the last two weeks in order to make the playoffs after a loss in Kansas City last week. 

This will not be an easy matchup though as they'll face a New York Jets team that has been surprisingly competent at home compared to its woeful play on the road. The Jets are 4-3 home at MetLife Stadium, and the three losses have all been by eight points or less, and they came against the Patriots (11-3), Falcons (9-5) and Panthers (10-4). I don't expect much from the Jets offense though as they have to do without QB Josh McCown who is out for the season after suffering a broken left hand two weeks ago in Denver.

The Chargers are 3-4 on the road with five of the seven games going under the total. They'll be looking to improve the play on the defensive side of the ball after being torched for 397 total yards in last week's 30-13 loss to the Chiefs. We can note that under is 12-2 in Chargers last 14 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.

I think the Jets will keep this close in a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL NO-BRAINER - VIKINGS @ PACKERS

The Minnesota Vikings have already clinched the division title, but they now have their eyes on the first-round bye and possibly earning home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Green Bay Packers were officially eliminated from playoff contention last week when they lost 31-24 at Carolina. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers is back on injured reserve, and the Packers won't find it easy here against a fantastic Minnesota D that ranks second in the NFL in total defense and scoring defense. We'll see Brett Hundley replacing Rodgers under center for Green Bay, and he has thrown zero touchdowns vs. five interceptions in four starts home at Lambeau Field this season. 

Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings and I predict another low-scoring encounter on a freezing cold Lambeau Saturday night. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under.

EARLY NFL TOTAL

The Philadelphia Eagles have averaged 31.1 points per game, but now they'll have to find a way to find then endzone without injured quarterback Carson Wentz whom they lost to a season-ending torn ACL last week. They still have a solid defense which should be able to contain this lowly Giants side. 

The New York Giants have averaged just 15.3 ppg and at 2-11 they're just looking for the season to end. Under is 8-2 in their last 10 games home at MetLife Stadium.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL 3-PACK

The Cleveland Browns have turned up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball when playing home at FirstEnergy Stadium all season long, allowing only 21.2 ppg in front of the home fans compared to 25.8 ppg overall. They've also scored only 12.7 ppg at home though and under is 10-2 in Browns last 12 home games. 

Here they'll host a Baltimore Ravens team that features a stingy defense. The Browns' quarterback DeShone Kizer is completing only 53.9 percent of his passes and has thrown only nine touchdown passes against 17 picks. Under is 5-2-1 in Ravens last eight vs. a team with a losing record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

EARLY NFL TOTAL BANKROLL BUILDER

The New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon, and I think points will come at a premium for both sides. 

The Cowboys are averaging 23.8 ppg on the season, but their offense has not been the same with running back Ezekiel Elliott suspended. The New York Giants are scoring just 15.8 ppg and motivation must be low enter the week with a lowly 2-10 record. We can also note that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will serve as the interim head coach for New York the rest of the season after the team fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese on Monday.

Under is 7-1 in Cowboys last eight games in December and 16-6 in their last 22 road games. Under is 4-1 in Giants last five games in December and 7-2 in their last nine home games.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOTAL MASSACRE

The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Cincinnati Bengals for an all AFC North showdown Monday night. Five of the last seven meetings have gone under the total, and that's a trend likely to continue tonight. 

The Steelers have scored a combined 71 points (while giving up 45) through their last two games, but they were both home at Pittsburgh, and they're usually involved in much lower scoring contests on the road. Note that under is 22-5 in Steelers' last 27 road games and 13-4-1 in their last 18 vs. AFC North opponents.

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a 30-16 beatdown of the Browns, but tearing apart Cleveland's abysmal D and the Steelers' are two completely different things. Note that Cincinnati is averaging just 16.6 ppg at home (while giving up 17.6 ppg) and under is 12-4 in Bengals' last 16 vs. AFC North opponents.

My selection is a 10* play on PIT @ CIN Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) 

I expect both teams to pile up the points when the 8-3 New Orleans Saints host the 8-3 Carolina Panthers in an important battle for first place in the NFC South Sunday afternoon. 

The Panthers are riding a four-game win streak and they've scored a total of 80 points in the last two games alone. Over is 9-3 in Panthers last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and the Saints fit the bill entering this contest with a 4-1 home record. They've averaged 31.2 pgg home in the Superdome and the Saints will be eager to bounce back from a 26-20 loss at the Rams last Sunday after winning eight straight games prior to that setback. Over is 4-0 in Saints last four games following a straight up loss and 13-5-1 in their last 19 home games.

Carolina’s defense has allowed plenty of passing yards in recent games and the Saints QB Drew Brees has averaged 313 passing yards with 12 touchdowns against three interceptions in his last four encounters with the Panthers.

The Saints won the last meeting 34-13 at Carolina back in Week 3 and five of the last six meetings have gone over the total. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on CAR @ NO Over. 

EARLY NFL - TOTAL AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE

The New York Jets took a 35-27 beating by Carolina last week, but I think they'll be able to keep the score down when they host the Kansas City Chiefs here the following week. 

The Chiefs are in a tailspin, coming off three straight setbacks (scoring a total of 36 points in the process) and they've won just one of their last six games. The Chiefs mustered only 236 yards of offense in last week's 16-10 home loss against Buffalo, and under is 9-2 in their last 11 vs. a team with a losing record and 13-3 in Chiefs last 16 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on KC @ NYJ Under. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Buffalo Bills defense ranks first in the NFL, allowing just 14.8 points a game. They struggle on the offensive side of the ball though with QB Tyrod Taylor struggling and the receiving corps hampered by injuries. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston will get the start here despite suffering a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder on a sack in last week's loss at Arizona. I'm not sure how well a banged up Winston will perform here against this outstanding Buffalo D, particularly with the Bills coming off a bye week and plenty of time to prepare for this contest. 

Under is 4-1 in Buffalo's five games this season, and while Tampa Bay took a 38-33 loss at Arizona last week we can note that under is 4-1 in Buccaneers last five games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL NO BRAINER

This looks like a terrific spot to back the under in Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon. The Falcons took a 23-17 home loss against Buffalo prior to their bye week, and I have no doubt that their elite defense will be fresh and ready to shut down the Dolphins here. 

There's no telling how Miami's offense will do in this contest as offensive line coach Chris Foerster resigned Monday, a day after a video surfaced of him snorting a white substance while apparently working for an NFL team. I'm pretty sure it won't have a positive impact though, and let's keep in mind that this is an offense that has averaged NFL worst for both points and yards through the first five weeks ... The Dolphins do have a 2-2 record though, thanks to a defensive unit that's allowed only 309.5 ypg and 16.8 ppg.  

Under is 11-3-2 in Falcons last 16 games in Week 6. Under is 5-0 in Dolphins last five games overall.

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) MIKE'S EAGLES/PANTHERS T.N.F. BEST BET

Two red hot teams will clash at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday Night Football. I think we'll see an entertaining shootout between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers, and the keys are the quarterbacks. 

The Eagles have scored a total of 60 points through their last two games, wins at Chargers and at home against Arizona. 

QB Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter alone in last week's 34-7 drubbing of Arizona and he finished the game completing 21-of-30 passes for 304 yards with four TDs and one pick. Wentz has already thrown 10 TDs through the first five weeks, a big improvement from last season which he finished with 16 TDs and 14 picks. Philly has some defensive issues though and rank 22nd in the NFL with 346 yards per game allowed. 

The Panthers defeated the Patriots 33-30 in Week 4 and followed that up with a 27-24 win at Detroit last week. QB Cam Newton threw for a combined 671 yards and six touchdowns in those two games and now there's no longer any doubt that MVP Cam is back to 100% from his off-season shoulder surgery. 

Carolina's defense held Detroit to just 242 yards last week, but note that over is 13-3 in Eagles last 16 road games and 6-2 in their last eight Thursday night games.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Eagles/Panthers Over. 

NFL 3-Pack

The Arizona Cardinals struggled to move the ball in last week's 18-15 OT win against the 49ers, but they played well on defense giving up just five field goals and no touchdowns. Under is 3-1 in Arizona's four games on the season and 6-2 in the Cardinals' last eight games in October.

Arizona doesn't have much offense and clearly miss RB David Johnson who isn't expected to be back until Christmas. QB Carson Palmer has thrown as many picks as touchdown passes (5) and he's been sacked 17 times through the first four weeks of the season. 

The Philadelphia Eagles pounded the Chargers on the ground in last week's 26-24 victory in LA, with LeGarrette Blount accumulating 136 yards on 16 carries. Arizona's D is not easy to beat though giving up just 302.8 ypg, and I think this will be a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL DAYTIME DESTROYER TOTAL

The LA Rams are the highest scoring team through the first three weeks of the season, averaging 35.7 points per game. The Dallas Cowboys offense came alive in the second half of Monday's 28-17 win at Arizona as RB Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 80 yards on 22 carries, and he has now has accumulated 192 rushing yards in three games played. The Rams' D has allowed an average of 139 rushing yards per game, they gave up 39 points to the lowly 49ers last week. Each of the Rams' three games this season have gone over the total, and I think we'll see another shootout Sunday afternoon. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NFL LIONS/VIKINGS TOTAL

The Minnesota Vikings will be without QB Sam Bradford, but backup Case Keenum threw for a career-high 369 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 34-17 win over Tampa Bay. Minnesota has a dangerous ground game as well led by the league’s No. 2 rusher, rookie Dalvin Cook who has accumulated 288 yards on the season. Detroit's pass defense ranks just 22nd in the league, and the team's 21.0 ppg allowed would no doubt be much higher if not for forcing a total of eight turnovers. 

The Lions have an efficient QB in Matthew Stafford who has thrown for 678 yards with seven touchdown passes and only one interception through the first three weeks of the season. The Vikings have struggled against the pass this season and I like Detroit to put up a decent amount of points on the board.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL GAME OF THE WEEK

The 1-1 Washington Redskins will host the 2-0 Oakland Raiders at FedEx Field Sunday night. These are two teams relying on their explosive offense to win games, and I think we'll see plenty of scores for both sides in this contest. 

The Raiders have averaged a league-best 35.5 points per game in defeating the Titans and the Jets. Derek Carr has yet to throw and interception and has connected on 45-of-60 passes for a total of 492 yards with five touchdown passes. Carr has plenty of go-to playmakers and offseason RB signing Marshawn Lynch has done a lot of damage on the ground. This is without a doubt one of the most balanced offenses in the NFL, and Washington does not have the defense to stop it. 

The Raiders have some defensive woes of their own though. They may have held the Jets' Josh McCown to 166 yards passing in last week's 42-20 victory but here they'll face a much more competent QB in Kirk Cousins. who has completed 41-of-67 passes for a total of 419 yards with two touchdowns on the season. The Skins pounded the ball on the ground in last week's 27-20 victory against the Rams and ran the ball 39 times for a total of 229 yards. Note that the Raiders gave up 126 yards on the ground last week, so there are definitely holes to exploit. 

Over is 7-2 in Raiders last nine games in September. Over is 5-1 in Redskins last six games in September.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on OAK/WAS Over. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON NFL TOTAL

The Cleveland Browns put up a brave fight in their 21-18 loss against Pittsburgh in Week 1. This Browns defense is much improved from previous seasons, and I think we'll see a low-scoring contest when they visit the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon. 

Baltimore shut out the Bengals in a 20-0 victory last week, and there's no doubt that the Ravens are loaded up on the defensive side of the ball. I don't think they'll have any trouble to shut down the Browns' rookie QB DeShone Kizer, and Baltimore's own QB Joe Flacco missed most of the preseason due to injury and threw for just 121 yards last week. 

Under is 9-2 in Browns last 11 vs. a team with a winning record and 3-1-1 in Ravens last five vs. a team with a losing record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

VIKINGS/STEELERS TOTAL

Two teams looking to build on wins in the opening week of the season will clash at Heinz Field Sunday afternoon. 

The Vikings are coming off a 29-19 win against the Saints as QB Sam Bradford was 27-of-32 passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. There's just no way he can come up with a similar performance here against a solid Pittsburgh D. 

Pittsburgh did not do much offensively in its 21-18 win against Cleveland and had just 16 first downs compared to the Browns' 20. Steelers' RB Le'Veon Bell sat out the preseason and accumulated just 32 yards on 10 carries in Week 1. The Steelers defense impressed though, and it should have little trouble to shut down this very mediocre Minnesota team. 

Under is 11-1 in Steelers last 12 games in Week 2 and under is 15-3 in Vikings last 18 vs. a team with a winning record for a superb 26-4 angle. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL TOTAL

The San Francisco 49ers will kick off the season with a matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. I think both teams will come out sluggish, and I see value on the under. 

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton had shoulder surgery in the spring and played only one series during the entire preseason. The Panthers have added running back Christian McCaffrey to their offense, but the 21 year old rookie might need a couple of games with the big boys to find his feet. 

The 49ers are coming off a 2-14 season, and and this should be another tough year. They have an excellent running back in Carlos Hyde, but former Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan does not have much other offensive talent to work with here in his head coaching debut. Quarterback Brian Hoyer, a ninth-year pro, played just six games for a Bears team that finished with a 3-13 record last season.  

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

CFB SATURDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Missouri Tigers mauled Missouri State 72-43 in their season opener, but I think they're in much lower scoring contest when they host the South Carolina Gamecocks Saturday night. 

South Carolina opened the season with a 35-28 win at NC State. It was however out-gained 504-246 despite the victory and scored 14 of its points off turnovers. 

I don't think the Gamecocks offense will be much of a threat to the total and Missouri could be in for a let down game offensively after last week's explosion. They accumulated a total of 815 yards in the game but note that under is 13-4 in the Tigers last 17 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game and 6-1 in their last seven games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Under is 9-1 in Gamecocks last 10 conference games and 4-1 in Tigers last five conference games.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOTAL OF THE DAY

The Marshall Thundering Herd will get the season underway with a matchup against Miami (Ohio) Redhawks on Saturday. The posted total for this game is about as low as you'll see for a college football game, and I think this game will fly over the total. 

The Redhawks are not a very good offensive side, but they have the benefit of returning most starters on the offensive side of the ball. We can also note that they improved vastly with Gus Ragland under center in the second half of last season, winning each of their last six games. Here they'll face a Marshall defense that gave up more than 35 points per game on average.   

Marshall scored just 26.4 points per game on average last season but will return QB Chase Litton, 231-of-371 for 2612 yards and 24 TDs / 9 INTs. He's is gearing up for his third season as the starter and his experience should prove valuable with few returning receivers on the team. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

Top Rated 10* NCAAF Championship Total
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Clemson Tigers handed Urban Meyer his first shutout of his career when they defeated the Buckeyes 31-0 in the semifinals. This is a defense that has held opponents to an average of 306.9 yards and 17.1 points per game throughout the season. The Tigers will take on an Alabama offense that has averaged 39.4 points per game, but the Tide will have a new offensive coordinator in Steve Sarkisian calling the shots and they did not look all that dangerous on offense in their 24-7 win against Washington. They did however impress defensively once again, and Alabama has held opponents to 244.4 yards and 11.4 points per game this season. Defense will rule this game, and I'm going with a BIG BET on the under. 

Sunday Afternoon AFC Wild Card *CRUSHER*
Play: Over
Rating: 8/10*

The Miami Dolphins lost their starting QB in Week 14, but the team still managed to score 34 points twice in back-to-back in in victories at New York Jets and Buffalo before suffering a 34-14 defeat to New England in Week 17. Backup QB Matt Moore passed for 674 yards, eight TDs and three interceptions in his three starts, and he'll face a Pittsburgh defense that has conceded plenty of points in recent weeks. It has not mattered though as the Steelers offense has been red hot, averaging 26,4 points through seven consecutive wins. Le’Veon Bell has been terrific since missing the first four games of the season due to a suspension, and he should have plenty of success against a Miami rush defense that surrenders 140.4 yards per game. The Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi torched the Steelers defense for 204 yards in a 30-15 Miami victory in Week 6, and I don't think either team will have any trouble to move the ball in this contest. 

Saturday Night NFC Wild Card *CRUSHER*
Play: Under
Rating: 8/10*

The Seattle Seahawks will take on the Detroit Lions at CenturyLink Field for the NFC Wild Card game Saturday night. Neither side have played particularly well in recent weeks, and I think defense will rule this game. The Lions are losers of three straight as QB Matthew Stafford has been hampered by a finger injury and registered just two touchdowns and three interceptions during that stretch. The Seahawks' QB Russell Wilson has played through injuries all season long, and the Seahawks have not been much of a threat on the ground ranked 25h in NFL at 99.4 ypg while Detroit is 30th at 81.9 rushing yards per game.   

Seattle boasts an excellent defense conceding an average of just 18.2 points per game, good for third in the NFL and the under is 8-2 in the Lions last 10 games overall. Expect this game to stay under the total. 

NFL Total
Play: Under
Rating: 8/10*

Where are the points gonna come from in this contest? Tennessee got eliminated from postseason contention with last week's 38-17 loss at Jacksonville, and the Titans got starting QB Marcus Mariota injured. Backup Matt Cassel will replace him under center, and he'll face a Houston D that has allowed just 305.7 yards per game and an average of 20.3 ppg. The Texans will go with Tom Savage under center, giving him his second career start. The Texans have the conference's No. 4 seed locked down despite averaging just 17.5 points per game on the season, and they're coming off a 12-10 win against the Bears. Points will come at a premium here, and I expect to see this game go under the total.

Christmas Eve Football Bengals/Texans
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Houston Texans are battling for a postseason spot sitting top of the AFC South, and they came back from a 12-point deficit for a 21-20 win against Jacksonville last week. They'll face a Cincinnati Bengals team that was officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 24-20 loss to rival Pittsburgh last week. 

Houston QB Tom Savage came off the bench and went 23-of-36 passing for 260 yards but no TD passes in last week's comeback. He'll get the start here over $72 million quarterback Brock Osweiler, but he could certainly have asked for an easier opponent than a Bengals D that is allowing just 20.9 points per game. Houston has averaged just 17.9 points per game with Osweiler calling the signals, and I don't expect more production with Savage under center.

Under is 5-1 in Bengals last six games overall, under is 8-3 in Texans last 11 home games, under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.

New Mexico Bowl
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

We will see New Mexico Lobos take on the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners in the New Mexico Bowl Saturday afternoon, and I think we'll see a relatively low-scoring affair. The Lobos are all about the run, but while it's true that they feature the number one ranked running game in the nation, keep in mind that they'll face a solid rush defense that has held opponents to an average of 157 rushing yards per game on the season. Texas San Antonio defeated Charlotte 33-14 in its most recent game on Nov. 26 and put up a terrific performance in a 23-10 loss as a 27-point underdog at Texas A&M the previous week.

The over is 10-2 in games featuring New Mexico this season, but considering how one-dimensional the Lobos are on the ball I think the total is set too high here considering it's a Bowl game where no yard will come for free. 

Top Rated 10* MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The 7-5 Baltimore Ravens will visit the 10-2 New England Patriots Monday night, and I think we'll see a low-scoring affair. 

Baltimore is coming off a 38-6 win against Miami, and the team has allowed just a total of 20 points through back-to-back victories. The Ravens D ranks best in the NFL for total yardage allowed at 296.1 per game and they're tied for second with the Patriots regarding points allowed at 17.3 per game. 

The Pats obviously have an explosive offense with plenty of options on the ball, but Tom Brady's top target tight end Rob Gronkowski is out for this game and for the season. 

Under is 7-4-1 in games involving the Ravens and 8-4 in games involving the Pats this season. The oddsmakers seem to have a hard time adjusting the totals to these terrific defenses, and I think the total is set too high for this contest as well. 

Top Rated 10* College Football *TOTAL OF THE YEAR*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will visit the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens Saturday afternoon. My money is on a low-scoring contest.

Georgia Tech came from behind to beat Virgia 31-17 last week. Under is 4-0-1 in the Yellow Jackets last five games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game and 3-1-1 in their last five vs. SEC. Under is 11-2 in the Bulldogs last 13 home games and 6-1 in their last seven non-conference games.

Both teams prefer to run the ball, and while neither side is particularly good at the defending the rush it will take a lot of valuable time off the clock. Georgia Tech can't do much damage through the air, so Georgia can focus completely on stopping the run. 

Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two programs, and Georgia won last season's clash by a 13-7 scoreline. I predict another low-scoring affair, and I'm firing a BIG BET on the under. 

Turkey Day NFL Game #3 Steelers/Colts
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The big story here is obviously that Colts' QB Andrew Luck is highly unlikely to play as he's in concussion protocol following Sunday's 24-17 win against Tennessee. I still think we'll see this game fly over the total. 

Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger might cover the number themselves coming up against a banged up Colts' secondary. It's well worth noting that Big Ben has passed for 886 yards, 10 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last two meetings with the Colts who are giving up a NFL worst 284.5 yards per game against the pass this season. Le'Veon Bell rushed for 146 yards and a score as the Steelers handed the Browns to their 11th straight loss on Sunday, and Indy is among the worst teams to defend the rush too. 

The Steelers had lost four straight games prior to that victory against the Browns though, giving up an average of 28.25 points per game, so perhaps there's hope for Scott Tolzien to get something done under center for Indianapolis. We should also not forget their threat on the ground with Frank Gore (642 yards, four touchdowns) leading the way. 

Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings, and we shouldn't need any Luck to see another game go over the posted total. 

NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The woeful Cleveland Browns are still winless on the season, and they're on 12-game losing streak dating back to last season. They're allowing 30.3 points per game, but the Baltimore Ravens are far from an offensive juggernaut scoring just 19.2 points per game. Cleveland struggled on both sides of the ball in a 35-10 loss to the Cowboys last week, and this won't be an easy task taking on a Ravens D that ranks second in the NFL in total defense with 298 yards per game and ninth for points allowed. Under is 6-2 in Browns last eight games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game, 5-1 in the Browns' last six Thursday night games and 4-1 in the last five meetings in Baltimore.

If you're looking for a high-scoring affair Thursday night you might want to look away, but who cares as long as we can cash another ticket. Go with the under. 

Top Rated 10* NFL *SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Over
Rating: 10*

The Oakland Raiders host AFC West rivals Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football, and the total for this contest looks a little low to me. Yes, Denver has a great defense, but Oakland does not. The team is giving up 410.4 yards per game and only the lowly Browns are worse in that aspect, while the Raiders 25.4 points allowed per game rank in the bottom third of the NFL. The Raiders have looked terrific on the ball though. Derek Carr is coming off of a 450+ yard game in last week's 30-24 OT win against Tampa Bay, and he's thrown for 2,321 yards with 17 TDs on the season. Over is 12-3 in Raiders last 15 games following a straight up win and 10-4 in Broncos last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

The teams are tied at the top of the division with 6-2 records. This will surely be an intense game, and I think offense will prevail, as so often when the Raiders are on the gridiron this season. Over is 6-2 in the Raiders eight games this season. This should be another one to fly over the total. 

College Football Total *PIGSKIN PUNISHER*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Texas Longhorns Saturday afternoon, and this looks it will be a high-scoring contest. 

Texas Tech's D is simply ... not good. It ranks 123rd nationally while giving up 41.4 points per game and eight yards per rush attempt. Texas is coming off an impressive 35-34 win against No. 8 Baylor in Austin last week as D'Onta Foreman rushed for 250 yards. The Longhorns were however outgained 624 to 548 in total yardage, and here they'll take on a talented Texas Tech offense that leads the nation in passing at 500 yards per game. The Longhorns have allowed an average of 42 points through their four games on the road this season and over is 12-3 in Red Raiders last 15 home games. 

This is a pretty high total, but with Texas Tech's five home games this season seeing an average of 90.8 points per game with the average number set at 83.3 points I don't think it's inconceivable that we'll see this contest fly over the total. 

*MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. If you expect to watch a high scoring shootout on prime time I think you're in for a disappointing evening as I predict a low scoring defensive battle between the two NFC North rivals.

Minnesota is coming off its first loss of the season, a 21-10 setback at Philadelphia. It's pretty remarkable that a team ranked No. 31 in total offense with 299.2 yards per game has a 5-1 record, but with a D like the Vikings' that allows only 14 points per game they don't need to score all that many points to win. Here they'll come up against a Bears team that is a respectable No. 12 in total defense with 350.4 yards allowed per game, but the team ranks dead last for points per game scored.

The Vikings won't overlook the Bears as last week's defeat should serve as a wake up call that no win comes easy. Four of the last five head-to-head meetings have gone under the total and I think both teams will struggle to move the chains tonight, leading to another low scoring contest. 

Monday Night Football
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

Brock Osweiler returns to Denver to face the team he helped win the Super Bowl last season. He'll face a D that ranks No. 1 in yards against the pass (182.3) and in sacks (21), and this will not be an easy game for the Texans. We can also note that Houston has mustered a total of just 13 points in its two road games this season and the under is 5-2 in Texans' last seven road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

As for the Denver Broncos, the under is 5-0 in their last five home games vs. a team with a winning road record, and they're coming off back-to-back defeats to Atlanta and San Diego, with just a total of 29 points scored through those games. Each of their last three games have gone under the total. 

These are two teams winning game thanks to their D, and I expect a tough defensive battle at Sports Authority Field Monday night. 

Subscribers Only
Play: Under
Rating: 5*

CFB 3-Pack
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Virginia Tech Hokies are coming off a 34-3 routing of reigning ACC Coastal Division champion North Carolina. Their pass defense ranks second in the nation in yards allowed per game at 132.2, and its defense has allowed a point in only three of the last 12 quarters. The Syracuse Orange have dropped four of their last five and will be looking to rebound from a sleepy display in a 28-9 defeat to Wake Forest. I don't think we'll have much to worry about Syracuse putting up a ton of points on the board, but the line for the spread looks pretty spot on. Instead I like the under, as we can note that VT has played nine straight unders against conference opponents on the road. 

Subscribers Only
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

Top Rated 10* NFL PRIMETIME *BANKROLL BUILDER*
Play: Over
Rating: 10*

This looks like a great spot to back the over when the Miami Dolphins visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. 

Miami's QB Ryan Tannehill is playing well and has two touchdown passes or more in three of his last four games. He went 25-of-39 passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns when the Phins defeated the Browns 30-24 in overtime last Sunday. Admittedly not a very impressive result, but they'll come into this game strengthened by the win, their first of the season. The Bengals meanwhile suffered a 29-17 home loss to Denver last week. Andy Dalton is struggling and has one or zero touchdown passes in five of his last eight games. Miami has allowed opponents plenty of yards this season though, 415 per game to be exact, so this could be a good spot for Dalton and the rest of the Bengals to get back on track.

Cincinnati failed to shut down Denver's rookie QB Trevor Siemian who was allowed to throw for four touchdowns. I don't see them getting to Tannehill either, and the total for this contest look pretty low to me. You should also consider putting a few units at work on Miami +7 or better. 

Top Rated 10* NFL PRIMETIME *BOOKIE BREAKER*
Play: Over
Rating: 10*

The New Orleans Saints will host the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Monday night. I think we'll see a high-paced and high-scoring game between the two NFC South foes. 

Both of the 1-1 Falcons' first two games of the season have gone over the set total for this contest, and their QB Matt Ryan is on fire leading the league with a 121.4 quarterback rating. The Saints' secondary has been torched through the air for an average of 336.0 yards so far this season, so another big game for Ryan is very likely.

The Saints have started the season with back-to-back defeats, but they were a bit unlucky to lose their season opener to the Raiders despite putting up 34 points here at New Orleans. They like to put on a show offensively for the home town crowd, and the over is 6-0-1 in the Saints' last seven home games.

Both Atlanta and New Orleans are very much going by "The best defense is a good offense". That's not likely to change here on a primetime nationally televised game. 

Subscribers Only
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

Subscribers Only
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

Subscribers Only
Play: Under
Rating: 5*

Thursday Night Football - Texans/Patriots
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The New England Patriots looked great on the offensive side of the ball in last week's 31-24 victory against Miami. As long as Jimmy Garoppolo was on the field that is. The Pats third-string QB Jacoby Brissett was 6-of-9 passing for 92 yards with a fumble, and the 23 year old will face a tough task here when taking on the Houston Texans. While coach Bill Belichick is unlikely to declare it fact, Brissett is almost certainly the starter Thursday night as Tom Brady is suspended and Garoppolo troubled by a shoulder injury. Houston has much like New England started the season with back-to-back triumphs. The Texans have held the Bears and the Chiefs to a total of 26 points, and I predict a low-scoring contest at Foxborough Thursday night. 

Subscribers Only Bonus Play
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

No Comment

CFB *TOTAL AFTERNOON ANNIHILATOR*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

Both Michigan Wolverines and Colorado Buffaloes have started the season with a pair of victories. The over is 2-0 in Michigan's games and its 114 total points in its opening two games is the fourth-most in program history. Colorado has put up a total of 100 points in back-to-back blowout wins against Colorado State and Idaho State. There will be plenty of offensive talent on display in this contest, and I expect this to fly over the total by a wide margin. 

Thursday Night Football
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Denver Broncos destroyed the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. Two of the leagues best defenses will once again square up Thursday night, and I think we'll see a low-scoring contest. 

Denver's D had little trouble to contain Cam Newton and the Panthers when it mattered the most, and the Broncos themselves must now get used to life after Peyton Manning. We'll find Trevor Siemian under center for this contest, and there will be a lot of pressure on the 24 year old. 

The Carolina defense held opponents to 19.3 points per game last year, good for sixth in the NFL, while the Bronco's D allowed an average of 18.5 points per game, placing them fourth overall. 

Under is 4-0 in Panthers last four games in Week 1, under is 4-1 in Broncos last five games in September, under is 3-1-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings.

Super Early CFB in Dublin - Georgia Tech/Boston College 
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will take on the Boston College Eagles at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, and sadly for the Irish I think they'll see a low-scoring game. 

The Eagles' defensive unit topped the nation in yards allowed last season and 17 of the top 21 tacklers will return this year. Under is 4-1 in the Eagles last five games in September and they'll face a Georgia Tech team that really struggled with its passing game last year. It was the 8th in the nation in rushing, but that takes time off the clock and I think the Yellow Jackets will run into trouble with this sturdy Eagles D. Boston College will turn to a new QB in Patrick Towles who transferred in from Kentucky. While he might be an upgrade eventually, it could take time for him to settle into the team. 

8* NFL *SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

I like the Green Bay Packers here in the last Sunday Night Football of the regular-season. While both teams have qualified for the playoffs already, this game is for the NFC North title and the winner will host a wild card team in the first round of the playoffs while the loser will hit the road as either the fifth or sixth seed. The Packers won 30-13 at Minnesota on Nov. 22 and should be able to get the job done home at Lambeau Field as well where they've covered five of the last six meetings. Rodgers has won 10 of his last 11 versus the Vikings, throwing for 28 touchdowns and just three picks. Under is 5-0 in Packers last five home games and 3-0-1 in Vikings last four road games. The Packers to win a low-scoring contest are the picks.

8* NFL *THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The St. Louis Rams will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15's edition of Thursday Night Football. The under is 10-3 in games involving St. Louis this season, and this should be another low-scoring game. The Rams will turn to Case Keenum under center and he threw for just 124 yards in Sunday's 21-14 win against the Lions. They rely on Todd Gurley to earn the yards on the ground instead, but Tampa Bay's rushing defense is among the best in the NFL with 94.1 yards allowed per game. The Bucs Jameis Winston has recorded six touchdowns in his last 10 games and threw for 182 yards in last week's 24-17 loss to the Saints. The Rams are second in the NFC with 36 sacks though, so we can expect the rookie to be under heavy pressure tonight. The under is 5-0 in the last five head-to-head meetings.

8* NFL *SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
Play: Over 
Rating: 8*

The New England Patriots will be looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak in 13 years when they visit the Houston Texans on Sunday night. A win won't come easy though as Houston had won four straight prior to last week's 30-21 loss at Buffalo, and I think we'll see a high-scoring competitive game at Houston tonight. The Pats have struggled with injuries on both Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, but the latter practiced Thursday and Friday and is listed as questionable for this contest and WR Danny Amendola has 26 receptions in his last three games. Houston's standout defensive end J.J. Watt broke his hand in practice Wednesday but said he will play Sunday, but can he play at full speed? The over is 5-1 in the Patriots last six road games and a perfect 6-0 in the last six head-to-head meetings with the Texans.

Edit: "Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has decided to try to play tonight, against the Texans."

8* NFL
Play: Under 
Rating: 8*

The under is 6-0 in the San Diego Chargers last six when facing a team with a winning record and I think we'll see a low-scoring game as they travel to Kansas City to take on the 7-5 Chiefs Sunday afternoon. The Chargers are coming into this game with a 3-9 record and are averaging only 20.6 points per game. Their biggest issue on offense is an inability to run the ball effectively and they rank 30th in the league in rushing unable to top 100 yards on the ground since Week 2. They'll have to focus on passing the ball but this KC D features a fierce pass rush. Kansas City is riding a six-game winning streak that includes a 33-3 drubbing of San Diego three weeks ago in which the Chargers managed only 201 total yards. The under is 16-5 in the Chiefs last 21 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. 

8* NFL
Play: Under 
Rating: 8*

The under is 9-3 in games involving the St. Louis Rams this season and I think it's fair to assume that we'll see another low-scoring contest when they host the Detroit Lions Sunday afternoon. The Rams are averaging a pathetic 15.8 points per game and have managed only a total of 10 points through their last two games combined. Quarterback Nick Foles was 15-of-35 passing for a total of 146 yards in last week's 27-3 home-defeat against the Cardinals and RB Todd Gurley has been limited to a total of 60 yards on 18 carries in the last two games. The Lions had a three-game winning streak ended last week when they lost 27-23 against Green Bay in a game where they accumulated only 67 yards on the ground. The under is 12-3 in the Lions last 15 road games and 11-4 in their last 15 games following a straight up loss.