All these Dodgers are playing their roles...

Jacoby Brissett was 38-for-52 against the 49ers...

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.

The weather in Tulsa Thursday night as they welcome North Texas is expected to be 73° with 6 mph winds and a 50% chance of rain. The key weather factor for this bet is the 6 mph wind, which on paper isn't a big deal. The total hasn't reacted much, from an opener of 58 down to 57.5. Tulsa has stayed under all four games, thanks to outstanding defense. They held Oklahoma State to only 10 points, and since that opener, OSU has beaten Oregon 39-31 and won at West Virginia last week, 41-24. They've covered in all three of their games since losing at Tulsa. This game stays under.

Every team in the AFC North has the same 2-1 record, and tonight we get a battle between two longtime rivals who absolutely hate each other when the Steelers travel to Cleveland, where they've lost four straight. Cleveland has also won its last seven Thursday Night Football games since 2018. The home team has the advantage because of the short week and the travel. I saw something in the win over the Bengals last week that impressed me. They weren't so conservative, and they opened things up. It's risky, and it's not the typical Steelers brand of football, but it's exciting to watch. I'd like to believe that this is the new Steelers, and we have to change most of what we know about them.

We've got Game 3 in the National League best-of-three wild-card series, and it's expected to be 82° with winds blowing in at 7 mph and no chance of rain. The total is 7.5, and it's moving closer to 7, but my only problem with the number is that Aaron Nola is the starter for the Phillies, who have lost four of his last five starts. No Zack Wheeler, who pitched Sunday. Nola's faced the Braves three times this year, and the Braves won all three games with all three going over the total. I think Nola will give up three to four runs, and the Phillies bats make a run for it against the opener and likely Grant Holmes in the middle innings. Over.

The Cubs got a brutal taste of reality in Game 1 as the Padres thumped them 8-0 to make them 42-18 since July 24th. The Padres look like they have the complete team that can make the World Series, while the Cubs know they're a couple of pitchers short of a championship team. The Cubs had won five straight against the Padres until last night's massacre that got started with long home runs by their two biggest stars in the first inning. The Cubs have lost Kevin Gausman’s last three starts, and that's who the Cubs hope rests with today. The Padres finish off this series tonight.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three wild card series with a 9-0 victory against the Red Sox, and that's what Boston manager Chad Tracy predicted. He saved his best starter, Sonny Gray, for Game 2, who’s fresh and hasn't pitched since September 23rd. Tracy is acting like Game 2 was going to be a gimme with left-hander Max Fried as the Yankees starter. Fried has allowed one run or less in seven of his last eight starts. In two starts against the Red Sox this season, the Yankees won them both. I like Sonny Gray, but I don't like the position Tracy put him in: defeatist mode before he even starts. I think the Yankees win game two.

Hunter Brown hasn't been his same dominant self from the past three seasons. He's been ordinary and very beatable, as the Astros have lost seven of his last 10 starts. He only had 20 starts in the regular season, and his strikeout ratio was the lowest of his career. The Astros have as a whole, have struggled all season but survived the AL West at 81-81, the worst record of any postseason team in MLB history. Wednesday is about the White Sox.