Bruce's Picks (1 Live)
Bruce's Past Picks
We were expecting to see this as the NFC title game last January except the Commanders had different ideas in the Division Round at Detroit. Though there has been controversy lately in Philadelphia (mostly due to AJ Brown), the Birds have steadied since losing in October vs. the Broncos and Giants. Jalen Hurts continues to be brutally efficient (16 TDP and only 1 pick) and the Eagles have quite an edge when at the Linc, despite the loss to Denver last month. There is some bully about the Lions, who run up the big scores vs lesser opposition, but have their problems vs. the big boys. Jared Goff is going to see more pressure than usual tonight...let's see how he handles the situation. Play Eagles
Not the best time for the Redbirds to visit the LA area, picking the most-rainy weekend of the year. Yet ISU's luck might be about to change on Sunday, as instead of Eric Musselman's potent USC, which scored an 87-67 win at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Friday, the Redbirds are gifted a limited Long Beach squad that makes its season debut at the Pyramid this afternoon. Though the Beach played UOP tough at midweek, Big West sources have alerted to the limitations on the roster which features few upperclassmen and is scoring just 57.7 ppg and shooting only 24.6% triples across its first three all losses. The straight-up losing streak is also now 18 since the middle of January...ouch! Play Illinois State
Never mind losing 17 of the last 19 to the Chiefs...Denver thinks it has KC's number. Last year, the Chiefs needed to block a 35-yard FG try by Will Lutz on the last play to save a 16-14 win at Arrowhead before getting blanked 38-0 in the finale at Mile High (albeit with Patrick Mahomes sitting out). In Denver's last two games vs. Mahomes, it has allowed just 23 points as Vance Joseph has been winning the chess match with Matt Nagy. Denver does have some key injuries (Patrick Surtain and JK Dobbin), but counters KC's bye (and Andy Reid's excellent career mark off a bye) with a mini-bye of its own after last Thursday vs. the Raiders. Play Broncos
As both of the offenses for these respective NFC West contenders have displayed so much potency lately, keeping this scoreline beneath 50 points looks like a big chore for the defenses on the field. On the Seattle side, things have been humming with San Darnold at QB, with the big-play defense chipping in with two scores last week. The Seahawks are scoring at a brisk 36 ppg clip the past three weeks, with Darnold just two weeks removed from tossing 4 TDP vs. the Commanders on November 2 in D.C. As for the Rams, they're scoring at a 37 pg pace the past three as QB Matthew Stafford (25 TD passes and only 2 picks thus far!) builds a nice MVP case. Play Seahawks-Rams Over
Brock Purdy is back in the lineup for the 49ers, who managed to hold their own while Mac Jones was taking snaps in Purdy's absence. Slowly, SF has been getting back some pieces, with George Kittle returning to active duty a few weeks ago, with the best news that Christian McCaffrey has stayed off of the injured list and should resume his Batman & Robin role with Purdy. We are also wondering about the Arizona side, which regressed last week at Seattle after an uplifting win over the Cowboys, and if Jacoby Brissett really is more than a stop-gap answer at QB as the Big Red seem to be putting all of their eggs in his basket for the rest of this season. Play 49ers
We say assuredly the Steelers aren't passing any eye tests lately. Whether last Sunday vs. the Chargers or two weeks earlier vs. the Pack, Pittsburgh hasn't looked like an AFC North leader, while the QBR for Aaron Rodgers has been among the lowest in the league in recent weeks. Of course, friction in the Cincy camp as the defense, in galling fashion, has cost the Bengals back-to-back wins. The bye perhaps refreshed, the Bengals, and remember they beat the Steelers 33-31 on Thursday, October 16 behind Joe Flacco's 342 YP and 3 TD passes. Note...Cincy is very much back in the AFC north race with a win, and QB Joe Burrow is tentatively slated to return in two weeks. Play Bengals
This wouldn't be the first time that a team has made a brief rally in the debut game for an interim coach, in the G-Men's case OC Mike Kafka, promoted earlier in the week when Brian Daboll walked the plank after the loss to the Bears. Second, with Jaxson Dart out, Jameis Winston gets his first start of the year at QB and will surely be looking to get the ball downfield, looking an improvement on Russell Wilson. As for Green Bay, it hasn't convinced lately, nor has QB Jordan Love, with 0 TD passes the past two weeks as the Pack scored only 10 pg in home losses to the Panthers and Eagles. Play Giants
Absolutely, Fresno was helped by Boise QB Maddux Madsen getting KO'd early in the Bulldogs' 30-7 win on the blue carpet two weeks ago (November 1). Broncos backup QB Max Cutforth could not pass the ball more than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, and Fresno took advantage. The subsequent bye allowed some time to pause for the Bulldogs and first-year HC Matt Entz, with Fresno now bowl-eligible and with a chance at a 9-3 regular season mark. The road win at Hawaii impressed, and while soph QB Carson Conklin has yet to throw a TD pass, he limited mistakes at Boise. Wyoming's offense is pedestrian and QB Kaden Anderson has not delivered many big plays...this is a game Fresno can win. Play FSU
Maybe it was the heavy rain last week in Honololu that pushed the Aztecs off course. Whatever, it was an uncharacteristic effort from what had been the MW's best team. Now SDSU is back home at Snapdragon, where the Aztecs have roughed up everybody this season and pitched two of their three shutouts in 2025. SDSU has only allowed 31 points across four home games, less than 8 ppg. Without QB Maddux Madsen, Boise looks ill-equipped to dent the Aztec defense...especially as backup Max Cutforth couldn't throw the ball five yards past the line of scrimmage in the loss to Fresno State two weeks ago, as the Broncos become completely one-dimensional minus Madsen. Play SDSU
No question, OT helped Nevada get "over" vs. SIU at midweek, but with a lower hurdle to clear on Saturday at the Leavey Center might not need the extra five minutes to climb past this posted 145. Shooting accuracy has been a bit of a concern for the Pack in its first three games, especially beyond the arc, where it is only connecting on 26.5%, but transfer Gs ex-Evansville Tayshawn Comer (17.3 ppg) and exc-UTEP Corey Camper (13.7 ppg) are nonetheless off to good starts in their new environs, and Steve Alford's team hasn't been wasting possessions, with a near 2:1 assist-TO ratio in the early going. Meanwhile, Herb Sendek's Broncos still looking to fire 3-balls, averaging 27 the first three games. Play Nevada-SCU Over
A good week for the Rangers, finally getting a win at home and continuing to succeed on the road. Wednesday's 7-3 win at Tampa Bay was the latest road success that now sees Mike Sullivan's team at 8-1-1 away from MSG. Across the past two games, 13 goals have also been scored, with Will Cuylle and Vincent Trocheck each scoring twice in the win over the Lightning. Jonathan Quickl likely gets a turn in goal tonight and a chance to improve upon his stellar early-season numbers (3-1-0, 1.26 GAA, .950 saves). Meanwhile, Columbus has won two straight over Seattle and Edmonton, but had four losses on the spin prior, and Elvis Merzlikins has lost his last two starts in goal. Play Rangers on Puck Line
Sources in the Big West are reporting that Dedrique Taylor's Fullerton doesn't look nearly as bad as last season, when the Titans were often overmatched. Tapping the portal, Taylor has apparently found some real help from ex-Valpo G Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro (13.7 ppg) and NAIMenlo transfer F Landon Seaman (13.3 ppg), while local D-II Concordia transfer Jaden Henderson is also registering at 13 ppg. It's early, but shooting has upgraded (48% from the floor) after barely hitting 40% a year ago. UOP beat a worse Titans team by 9 in Stockton last November 30, and we wonder about the Tigers carrying a number on the road after being life-and-death at the Spanos Center vs. lowly Long Beach at midweek. Play CS Fullerton
Throw out games vs. the Raptors and the Cavs are faring pretty well this season. Thursday's loss to Toronto was also in the second of a back-to-back scenario after several starters sat out Wednesday's game at Miami (one the Cavs won anyway 130-116). After sitting out Wednesday, Donovan Mitchell was back firing away on Thursday with 31 points. Cleveland would be victimized by 56% FG shooting from Toronto, which seems unlikely for Memphis. Things keep getting worse for the Dysfunctional (that's a deliberate cap "D") Griz, which hasn't been within 13 points in its last four losses. Ja Morant likely to be available tonight, but he's been posting career-low numbers (including just 35% FGs) and BADLY needs a trade to re-set his career. Play Cavs
Full respect to St Bonaventure and HC Mark Schmidt, who with the help of new Bonnies Hoops GM Adrian Wojnarowki (former NBA reporter) hit the portal with purpose and look to have quickly reloaded 3-0 Bona. The pieces are already fitting, especially Gardner-Webb transfer PG Darryl Simmons, looking like he could be a force in the A-10 and already scoring at a 20 ppg clip. Punishing ex-Minnesota PF Frank Mitchell (averaging 15 & 10) brings a Big Ten-like physicality to the mix, while D-II transfer G Cayden Charles (via North Georgia; 14 ppg) already looks on of the best combo Gs in the A-10. As for YSU, the Penguins shortcomings off the glass figure to be a recurring issue all season. Play St Bona