BYU beat Iowa State 41-27 last year in Provo...

These two teams have stayed under their last 5 meetings...

The Padres have been put in a do-or-die situation, and I think they do tonight because it's at home, where they swept the Brewers on August 12th. They need to forget about the first two games and get back to work, knowing they're 43-20 in their last 63 ballgames. Dustin May is the starter for the Brewers, who lost three separate times for two different teams this year against the Padres. Nick Pivetta starts for San Diego, and the Padres have won his last six starts. He's only allowed 11 earned runs in his eight starts this season. The Padres are now even with the Brewers at winning four games a piece after losing the first two games of this series. Padres to win.

The Braves have won Chris Sale's last six starts, including a 1-0 win against the Dodgers on August 27th. That game featured Yoshi Yamamoto, and they hook up today in Game 3 of the NLDS, all tied up at one apiece. It should be an epic battle. The one run allowed by Yamamoto in August was the only run he's allowed against the Braves in his last three starts against them. Lean to the Dodgers, but playing the under.

The Falcons and Saints have stayed under the total in their last three meetings, but I don't think that’ll be the case tonight. New Orleans has a quarterback in Tyler Shough, but we just found out last week that Atlanta has a quarterback that we may have overlooked: Michael Penix Jr., who beat the Packers in Green Bay 35-14. He actually looked pretty good for a guy who's been out almost a year. The Falcons had a balanced offense with 242 yards rushing along with 256 yards passing. The Saints are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Falcons meeting the Saints after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. I'd be happy with a bet on either side, but what I like the most is the over.

The Yankees are hoping Cam Schlittler is the great equalizer in Game 2 as Tampa Bay holds a 1-0 lead in the ALDS, and I’m buying. The Yankees have won seven of Schlittler's last eight starts, and he's allowed one or no earned runs in his last 10 starts. He's got a short price to lay on the road. Freddy Peralta looks as though he's all fixed, as he's allowed only three earned runs over his last six starts, which were all Rays wins. He's come a long way since the Rays traded for him, and he allowed 17 runs in his first four starts. Schlittler has beaten the Rays in his last two meetings, allowing one run each. I've got the Yankees.

It's a new season for Kyle Tucker, and in the new season he hit a home run in his first game. If there's anybody on the team deserving of a good series, it's Tucker, who was miserable in the regular season. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman aren't even part of the story yet. Mookie Betts is batting leadoff, and both Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez go deep. Man, this team hasn't even started flexing, and they're showing their strength early in the playoffs. Blake Snell is going to give me at least five innings, and he's allowed one or no runs in his last eight starts. Dodgers to win against anybody.

The Cardinals are 1-2 on the season, but they covered both games on the road. They put points on the board at the Chargers, and they put 30 points on the board at the 49ers. The offense under Jacoby Brissett looks solid. He doesn't hold the ball for a long time, doesn't take sacks, and he's No. 2 in the NFL in completions. He's hitting 70% of his passes. The Giants should have lost to the Titans last week. The offense has done nothing with Jameis Winston in his 20 drives since taking over. JJ McCarthy isn't ready to take over yet, so it's more Winston this week, and the reason for me betting the Cardinals to win.

Drew Rasmussen had a career-best year in 2026, going 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA, striking out 174 in 172 innings, and allowing only 14 home runs on the year. It's been a magical year for Rasmussen, and his playoff journey begins this Saturday evening in primetime. The Rays went 2-2 behind him against the Yankees, but he dominated his last start against them, allowing one hit and one run in 6.2 innings, striking out 11. He's on an active streak right now where the Rays have won his last 12 starts, and ironically, his last loss was July 9th at home against the Yankees. The Rays were 7-6 against the Bronx Bombers this season. I think the Rays and Rasmussen show off in Game 1.

Virginia is 3-1 straight up and ATS, and they won all three of their home games, losing to West Virginia in Charlotte at a neutral site. This is the Cavaliers first true road game. I think Virginia is overrated, and Florida State should be favored in this game. The level of competition between these two is the difference. Florida State lost at Alabama 50-36, covering 18.5, and lost 27-24 to SMU while failing to cover +2.5. Florida State covers this game and shows everyone what Seminoles football is about.

Auburn has beaten Tennessee four of the last five meetings, and the last meeting was in 2020. I was impressed with the Tennessee 20-17 loss to Texas last week. Mostly, it was the run defense that shined and caught my attention. They allowed Texas only 61 yards on 36 carries. Texas has one of the best offensive lines in college football. Tennessee didn't turn the ball over while Texas did twice. In back-to-back games, I don't see Tennessee losing twice. Tennessee to cover.

Ohio State plays its first Big Ten road game of the season at Iowa City on Saturday. The Buckeyes first road game didn't go so well at Texas, losing 24-23. The last time the Buckeyes were in Iowa City was 2017, and Iowa won 55-24 as 21-point underdogs. The spread is only 14.5 right now. Kinnick Stadium is going to be rocking starting Friday night, all the way through Saturday morning into kickoff and throughout the game. The Hawkeyes have won seven straight and four straight this season, and a win against Ohio State sets up unlimited possibilities for the season. I think Iowa will play a tough game with a chance of winning outright.

Wyoming is 2-2, with both their losses coming on the road at Central Michigan and at Colorado State. They won last week against Hawaii 27-10. They are traveling to play North Dakota State, which is 4-0 in its debut season in the Mountain West Conference and hasn't had a home game for 4 weeks. They're going to take advantage of Wyoming and win by 24 or more. I have the Bison also winning the Mountain West Conference.

Alabama has flexed its way to a 4-0 record by beating mediocre programs like South Carolina, Florida State, and Kentucky. They even had trouble at home with Florida State failing to cover 18.5; however, they managed to score a bunch, getting all four of their games over the total. But I don't think the Crimson Tide are ready for the road at Starkville, Mississippi, and a 4-0 football program that is playing way above their rating, going 4-0 ATS as well. More cowbell, I need more cowbell. Mississippi State comes off of beating a good Missouri squad 31-24. Quarterback Kamario Taylor has thrown 14 touchdowns to only 2 picks and averages 5 yards per rush. It'll be his talent that beats Alabama.

Pittsburgh goes to Virginia Tech, and both teams are 4-0 and 3-1 ATS. The difference with Virginia Tech rests with their coach, James Franklin, who was hired this season after the team had a three-win season last year. Coaching matters, and Franklin is the perfect example of why. Pitt has an average score of 18-14, while Virginia Tech averages 43-16. The spread has dropped from Tech -3.5 to -2 in this game. so I'll lay it. Electric atmosphere in Blacksburg at night. Virginia Tech to win.