Indiana has lost five straight games. …

Utah’s only win of the season was against the New Orleans Pelicans. …

Naz Reid has shot thirty six percent or below in five straight games. …

Ohio is a team that has lost each of their last four matchups against Sun Belt teams. They were also a team that started slow with a 1-6 record, and ended the year with four straight losses. Expect the staff and key returning players in Javan Simmons and Jackson Paveletzke to play with a chip on their shoulder in game one. They take down the Jaguars in game one.

Columbia is a team that struggled in Ivy League play a season ago. Overall they had a record of just 5-9. Yet, they were a one loss team in their first ten games a season ago, with that one loss being against UConn. Guard Kenny Nolan did transfer to Michigan, and Ryan Soulis to Northwestern but look for the Lions to jump out to another fast start against the Phoenix. Lay the number.

The Sun Belt and MAC challenge has been one sided as the Sun Belt has not lost the event in it’s three years of existence. These matchups have been competitive and of today’s ten matchups, 9 have spreads of 3.5 points or less. Troy is a team that gained notoriety for taking USC to overtime, and beating San Diego State in non conference play a season ago. Size gave them problems as the season wore on, and that’s a strength of UMass that has size at all skill positions. Grab the points here with the Minutemen.

The LA Lakers have scored 103 points or less in back to back games. In their latest loss the 95 points scored against the Warriors was their fewest on the season. For Toronto they are in the same spot as a year ago when their lone game against the Lakers was on a Sunday night. That instance they lost by seventeen points, but salvaged that west coast road trip with four straight wins including at Oklahoma City. Toronto learns from last year’s flat Sunday performance and gets the cover.

The Baltimore Ravens get Lamar Jackson back, and will face a Bills team coming off a bye week. Buffalo may be 5-1, but five of their six games have been within one score. Their last home game was also their only loss of the season against the Patriots. Baltimore had sizable leads each of their last two games, only to not sustain offense in second halves without Lamar Jackson. Look for that element to be there with him back, and the Bills close games to remain.

The Detroit Lions were blown out in prime time by the Carolina Panthers to begin the month of October. Since the defense has shown improvement limiting Arizona to 21 points, and Green Bay to 17 last week. Their defense has experience against Kyler Murray, where two seasons ago they held Murray in check to just two field goals from the first quarter on. They also blew out Murray with a 1-11 Lions team in 2021. In another meeting against Murray in 2020, Murray threw a career high three interceptions. A close result where the Lions win by four to six points, but Minnesota suffers their first loss of the season.

Ohio State may be without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, but they have had a bye week to prepare for USC. Defensively they have not given up more than sixteen points since late September. The Trojans are coming off a bad loss on the road against Wisconsin, and Jayden Maiava does have a tendency of getting antsy in the pocket. Look for the Buckeyes defense to flip the field a couple of times, and for the Buckeyes to get the road win and cover.

A season ago in October Texas Tech suffered their only loss of the season on the road at Arizona State. The next week they had their biggest conference home win of the season winning 42-0 against Oklahoma State. This I expect to be a tougher battle, as Arizona has won eleven out of their last twelve regular season games. Look for the Wildcats to put the pressure on Texas Tech to avoid consecutive losses, and finally show some growth against a ranked opponent. Take UofA plus the points.

The Minnesota Timberwolves after starting the season 3-0, have dropped their last two games. LaMelo Ball did match a season high with eight assists in Wednesday’s loss against the Golden State Warriors. Expect him to cutback on the turnovers that have plagued him the last two games, and for Lamelo to continue to shine in the assists department in the first slate of NBA cup games. Take his assists over.

Having a coach fired typically produces ATS value. Tonight, Baylor finds themselves actually as the road favorite against a Central Florida team that just upset BYU. Since Central Florida joined the Big 12, Baylor is 2-0 against them. This included their most lopsided win against a division one school last year with a 30-3 win. Tail Baylor either moneyline or on the short number.

The Carolina Panthers laid an egg in a blowout home loss this past Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was an off game for the offense and quarterback Bryce Young that has to get back on track on a short week. Jalen Coker has been quiet two out of his last three games where he has had eighteen yards or less of receiving. Still, he is just sixty six yards away from surpassing his yardage output from a season ago. He has a solid night and bounces back in the yardage department. Take his over.

The New Orleans Pelicans have the rare trait of being winless, but are undefeated ATS. This includes covering as a double digit underdog in their last matchup against tonight’s opponent in the Denver Nuggets. They jumped out to a fourteen point first quarter lead, before losing in overtime. In all three of their losses they’ve held the lead going into the fourth quarter. Another fourth quarter collapse may happen, but look for the Pelicans to remain undefeated ATS.