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Week 2 Betting Buccaneers vs. Lions, NFL Odds and Picks

Here, we prepare the NFL Game Odds: Buccaneers vs Lions | Cornerback Keenan Isaac was a member of the Carolina Panthers for 11 days after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut him on August 27.

The Panthers waived him this past Saturday, and then the Buccaneers added him to their active roster on Tuesday.

Why? Because the Buccaneers had to place Bryce Hall on injured reserve after he was carted off during their Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders.

The Bucs lost two other cornerbacks in that game – starter Zyon McCollum (concussion) and backup Josh Hayes (ankle).

Their availability for Tampa Bay’s Week 2 date in Detroit is still unknown. Isaac has not taken the field for Tampa Bay for a defensive snap despite spending, 2023 with the team. He did get active status for two games, but only appeared on the field with special teams.

Will the injuries to the Tampa Bay secondary make Sunday easier for Detroit quarterback Jared Goff? This is just one question to consider as you plan your NFL sports betting for this weekend.

Read on to get our sports betting prediction about this showdown between last year’s NFC South and North champions.

 

NFL Game Odds: Buccaneers vs Lions in Week 2 | NFL 2024/25 Season

When: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 7:00 pm ET
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
TV: FOX
Radio: WXTB 97.9 FM Tampa / WXYT 97.1 FM Detroit / SiriusXM
Live Stream: ESPN+
Opening NFL Odds Subject to Change: Detroit -7.5 / O/U 51.5 // Tampa Bay +300 / Detroit -380

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Why should you bet on the Buccaneers?

Who knew that Baker Mayfield would turn into a genuine franchise quarterback? We saw flashes of this in Cleveland, when he led the Browns to a wild-card playoff win in Pittsburgh, but then injuries and drama seemed to bury him. He had a brief flash in the plan in Los Angeles, but the Rams weren’t going to replace Matthew Stafford with him. Now he’s in Tampa Bay, the heir to Tom Brady, and his 2023 success led the Bucs to a division title and a wild-card home win over Philadelphia. In Week 1 against Washington, he went 24 of 30 for 289 yards and four touchdown passes. This week’s team has a much stouter defense, but few players come with more confidence than Mayfield.

Tampa Bay allowed 138 rushing yards (14th in the NFL) and 161 passing yards (21st) in Week 1. Safety Jordan Whitehead led the team with eight tackles, and two other Bucs had seven tackles apiece. It helped that the Buccaneers were playing against Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, making his professional debut after winning the Heisman Trophy last year at LSU. If you like Tampa Bay, you see them taking advantage of a Detroit team that struggled with consistency on both sides of the ball in their overtime win over the Rams.

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Why should you put your money on the Lions?

One criticism of Detroit going into the off-season was its secondary. In the games that Detroit lost, their pass defense got torched at key moments. We saw this in Detroit’s loss in Dallas, and we also saw it when the San Francisco 49ers were able to come back from a 17-point halftime deficit to win the NFC Championship. In Week 1 against the Rams, they gave up 304 yards through the air, ranking 31st in the league. They did get an interception and sacked Matthew Stafford twice, but the inability to slow down the passing game otherwise contributed to the Rams’ comeback and the overtime finish.

Jared Goff threw for 217 yards with a touchdown pass and a pick. He took two sacks on the day. Jameson Williams caught the touchdown pass and had five receptions overall for 121 yards, and David Montgomery ran for 91 yards and a score. The offense did fairly well, but it’s important to remember that the Rams’ defense no longer has Aaron Donald, so the blocking problems that the Lions had at times are a concern.

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Buccaneers vs Lions Final Score and Prediction

This is a rematch of last year’s divisional playoff, which the Lions won (also at Ford Field). The Buccaneers are a little below the Lions in terms of overall talent, particularly on defense, but they look to be firing on all cylinders on offense. I think the Lions win, but the spread seems large. I predict a final score of Detroit 27, Tampa Bay 23.

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UFC 306 Preview: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili – Betting Odds and Expert Picks

UFC 306 will appear in the Sphere in Las Vegas this Saturday night! The event has been branded Riyads Season Noche UFC for sponsorship purposes and is the second Noche UFC event celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

The event will narrate combat history in Mexico with six different film clips between bouts during the main card.

The headliner is a UFC Bantamweight Championship bout as champion Sean O’Malley looks to defend his belt against Merab Dvalishvili.

The co-main event is also a title fight, as Alexa Grasso will defend her UFC Women’s Flyweight belt against former champ Valentina Shevchenko in their trilogy bout.

 

UFC 306 Betting O’Malley vs Dvalishvili Odds & Preview | MMA Odds

We have the full fight card for you, as well as sports betting predictions for the two title fights.

 

Sean O’Malley -135 vs Merab Dvalishvili +110

O’Malley (18-1, 10-1) vs Dvalishvili (17-4, 10-2) represents a tough test for O’Malley in his title defense.

O’Malley got off to a spectacular start in UFC before injuring his foot in a decision victory over Andre Soukhamthath.

It took him a couple of years to recover from the injury (and from issues dealing with drug tests), but he returned as a knockout specialist.

Marlon Vera was able to derail him with leg kicks, leading to more injury time off. When he returned again, he got some fairly winnable fights until he was matched with former chap Petr Yan near the end of 2022.

He won a controversial decision on the cards after surviving three rounds of punishment. That got him a title bout against Aljamain Sterling. He was behind on points, but then delivered a knockout counter in the second.

He defended his title against Vera in a March rematch, picking him apart and then fending off his attempts to come back on points, lasting five rounds in an impressive show of durability.

When Dvalishvili entered the UFC, his contract came when he used a spinning back fist to deliver a knockout just 15 seconds into a fight.

He came into the promotion with two straight losses but has not lost since. Frankie Saenz brought enough volume to win on the cards, and he lost to Ricky Simon after losing consciousness in a guillotine choke when the last horn sounded.

Since then, Dvalishvili has broken several records in the area of takedown volume. He beat Yan, trying 49 takedowns and completing 11.

He was able to harass and wear out Henry Cejudo, the former Olympic wrestling champion, fairly easily in February. His striking game has become impressive, although he doesn’t bother much with defense.

He hasn’t needed it so far; even when such fighters as Marlon Moraes have delivered some bombs in the early rounds, but Dvalishvili has looked unfazed, continuing to deliver volume and pace to wear out his opponents.

O’Malley has, at least historically, been breakable in terms of cardio. O’Malley should be able to find an opening to land a bomb as Dvalishvili keeps getting within range to try a takedown.

UFC 306 Betting Pick: O’Malley wins via knockout

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Alexa Grasso -135 vs Valentina Shevchenko +110

Grasso (16-3-1, 8-3-1) vs Shevchenko (23-4-1, 12-3-1) is a trilogy fight that is long overdue. After that, the UFC Women’s Flyweight division can move on to a new rivalry.

Back in 2023, Shevchenko’s hammerlock on the division seemed to be waning.

Her tactics included the use of counters to slow down the fight pace, so that she could bring in her elite wrestling and clinch game.

Taila Santos challenged Shevchenko for the belt back in 2022, and her outright strength almost got her a win, as Shevchenko barely survived a split decision.

When she met Grasso in March 2023, Shevchenko was able to slow her down through wrestling.

It looked like Shevchenko would roll to a win on the cards, but then she went with a spinning kick that Grasso anticipated before jumping onto Shevchenko’s back and taking the belt with a submission.

Grasso’s title win ended a pattern of inconsistency for Grasso within UFC.

She joined the promotion in 2016, winning her debut convincingly but following that up with a head-scratching loss to Felice Herrig. She would win a fight in UFC, but then fall prey to some of the same issues.

Furthermore, she left strawweight behind for flyweight in 2020, and that made all the difference.

She had more speed advantages as a striker, but she also had the physicality to win on the mat. Once she took the belt from Shevchenko, she had arrived.

In their rematch in September 2023, Shevchenko controlled the flow, but Grasso had some big moments in what turned out to be a split draw.

Shevchenko likes to chew up the clock with time on the mat, while Grasso’s penchant for boxing and for taking on all comers will bring her some big moments.

This fight is essentially a coin flip, but Shevchenko’s more advanced age gives Grasso the nod here.

UFC 306 Betting Pick: Grasso wins via decision

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Main Card at Pay Per View

  • Sean O’Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili (UFC Bantamweight Championship)
  • Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko (UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship)
  • Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes (Featherweight)
  • Daniel Zellhuber vs Esteban Ribovics (Lightweight)
  • Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne (Flyweight)
 

Preliminary Card at ESPNews/ESPN+

  • Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont (Women’s Bantamweight)
  • Igancio Bahamondes vs Manuel Torres (Lightweight)
  • Yazmin Jauregui vs Ketlen Souza (Women’s Strawweight)
  • Edgar Chairez vs Joshua Van (Flyweight)
 

Early Preliminary Card at ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass

  • Raul Rosas Jr vs Aori Qileng (Bantamweight)
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Expert Analysis: MLB Week 23 – Top Pitchers to Watch

Which Pitchers should we watch this weekend? Get into the MLB betting analysis we have for you!

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Alex Cobb went on the 15-day injured list on Thursday thanks to a blister on his middle finger.

He came over from San Francisco before the trade deadline and has provided stability in the middle of the pitching rotation.

However, he has also missed time with a broken fingernail on the index finger of his pitching hand, and the blister is a recent development.

If Cobb isn’t available before the middle of September, the playoff pitching rotation could be impacted.

 

MLB Betting Analysis: Top Pitchers to Follow in the Week 23

As we approach the weekend, let’s look at some of the top MLB pitchers to bear in mind as you plan your sports betting.

 

Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

16-3, 2.38 ERA, 213 K, 1.00 WHIP

Chris Sale has moved through 2024 with just one really bad start – that eight-run nightmare against the A’s on June 1.

Since then, he has pitched a combined 99 innings, posting a 1.91 ERA and permitting just a pair of home runs.

As long as the wheels don’t fly off in the last weeks of the season, the NL Cy Young Award is Sale’s (which would be the first in his career), and he could also win the pitching Triple Crown (wins, strikeouts, and ERA) for the senior circuit.

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Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

10-2, 2.10 ERA, 151 K, 0.99 WHIP

Skenes has a 200 ERA+ (which takes the ERA and normalizes it for such factors as ballparks and opponents).

That’s the highest ERA+ for any rookie with at least 20 starts since 1905, when Ed Reulbach posted a 209 for the Chicago Cubs.

In his last start, Skenes struck out nine against the Miami Marlins, giving him the Pirates’ franchise record for strikeouts by a rookie pitcher.

That record had stood since 1935, when Cy Blanton set it.

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Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

16-4, 2.53 ERA, 208 K, 0.95 WHIP

There was some concern about how Skubal would fare after the All-Star break as this is his longest season so far.

However, in nine starts after the break, he has a combined 2.79 ERA, even though he’s way past his previous career mark for innings pitched in a season.

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Framber Valdez, Houston Astros

14-6, 2.97 ERA, 153 K, 1.09 WHIP

Valdez struggled a bit to start 2024, but he has come around at just the right time. He had a 3.66 ERA at the All-Star break; since the break, his ERA is 1.83, or just half of what he had going before the break.

His strikeout rate before the break was 20.3%; since then, it’s jumped to 32.3%. Opponents are batting just .141 against Valdez in the second half of the season.

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Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals

12-9, 3.32 ERA, 211 K, 1.15 WHIP

If Kansas City makes the playoffs for the first time in nine years, Ragans will have played a major role.

He came to town in the Aroldis Chapman trade and has contributed mightily evern since. He beat the Yankees on Wednesday and now is second in MLB in strikeouts (only behind Chris Sale).

He’s just the fifth pitcher in franchise history to hit 200 strikeouts, and the first in 15 years (Zack Greinke did it back in 2009).

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Michael King, San Diego Padres

12-9, 3.06 ERA, 191 K, 1.21 WHIP

March and April were tough for Michael King, but since the calendar turned to May he has a combined 2.51 ERA. Starting July 1, his combined ERA is just 2.18.

You might be tempted to think that pitcher-friendly Petco Park is helping him out, but his ERA is actually 0.59 higher at home than it is on the road (3.39 vs 2.80).

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MLB Week 22 Best Pitchers, 2024
 

Stay up to date with the latest MLB betting analysis we have for you! The Chicago Cubs made history on Wednesday night, as Shota Imanaga and two relievers combined for a no-hitter in a 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cubs had not pulled off a no-hitter at Wrigley Field since 1972. Manager Craig Counsell decided to remove Imanaga after seven innings (and 95 pitches), but Imanaga had no idea that he had not permitted a base hit, so Counsell didn’t have to do much persuading.

The game was an adventure as Chicago third baseman Isaac Paredes committed three errors, including a throwing error on the game’s second play on a ball by Bryan Reynolds that was at first ruled a hit before the change to an error.

Imanaga had seven strikeouts and two walks. Imanaga is now 12-3 and is definitely one of the top MLB pitchers to watch.

As you consider your sports betting in baseball going forward, take a look at these other prominent hurlers.

 

MLB Betting Analysis: Top Pitchers to Follow in the Week 22

 

Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

11-7, 3.55 ERA, 155 K, 1.29 WHIP

Brown had a dreadful start, with a hideous 11.84 ERA for the month of April. The low point came on April 11 when he allowed nine runs on 11 hits and a walk in just ⅔ of an inning in Kansas City.

However, things have improved since then – his June ERA was 1.16 over five starts, three of which were scoreless. In August, he had five starts with a 2-0 record and a 1.45 ERA.

He saw the Royals once again on Thursday, allowing two unearned runs on two hits while striking out four and walking two.

His stuff is up there with some of the Cy Young favorites right now, and his contributions have helped Houston rise from the basement in the AL West, where they spent much of April, to the top.

 

Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants

11-9, 3.43 ERA, 154 K, 1.20 WHIP

Webb had a terrific August, with a 3-0 record and a 2.16 ERA over five starts. His first start of September came on Sunday and was a tough day – six runs on eight hits, including a home run, over six innings in a 7-5 loss to Miami.

However, he didn’t issue a walk, and his ground ball-to-fly ball ratio was 18:4, which is a good way to keep the ball inside the stadium.

The run support has been there for Webb this season, and while there are more dominant pitchers, Webb had not lost a decision since July 20 before the Miami setback.

 

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

9-2, 2.13 ERA, 142 K, 0.98 WHIP

Were you waiting for Skenes to succumb to the exhaustion of his first MLB season? You’re going to have to keep waiting.

In two of his last three starts, against the Reds and the Cubs, he has thrown 11 shutout innings combined, scattering six hits while striking out 15.

He did issue four walks against the Cubs on Tuesday, which was one reason he hit 100 pitches after just five innings.

However, he picked up the win and remains a scary pitcher on the hill.

 

Framber Valdez, Houston Astros

13-6, 3.11 ERA, 146 K, 1.11 WHIP

Last September was tough for Valdez as his slider stopped breaking reliably and he got shelled in the postseason.

He has his dominant stuff back, and in starts on August 18 and August 30, he threw 14 combined scoreless innings in wins over the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals.

His outing against the Royals went a hitless seven innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.

In between those starts, he allowed three runs on six hits over 5 ⅔ innings in a 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

As long as that nasty slider holds up, Valdez is a pitcher that you can back.

 
MLB Week 21 Best Pitchers, 2024
 

The 162-game regular season that MLB endures each year is a marathon, and just about all starting pitchers see their fortunes ebb and flow as the summer wears on. This and more in the following MLB betting analysis.

The Philadelphia Phillies started the 2024 campaign red-hot, and now that we’re approaching Labor Day, the NL East leaders are seeing their offense cool off and their starting rotation begin to take on water.

Taijuan Walker, the veteran right-handed starter, is heading to the bullpen after a series of poor outings. His last two starts have lasted just a combined nine innings as he has permitted a dozen earned runs and 21 hits.

His season ERA is 6.50 ERA over 14 starts, and his WHIP is an ungainly 1.642. The Phillies are 0-8 in his last eight starts, and now the team looks to bring up Tyler Phillips from the minors to take Walker’s next turn on Tuesday.

MLB Betting Analysis: Top Pitchers to Follow in the Week 21

 

The starting pitcher is generally a key factor in sports betting decisions for MLB contests, so take a look at the top hurlers for this week.

 

Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

15-4, 2.58 ERA, 193 K, 0.93 WHIP

Skubal is tied for first in MLB in wins and is second in ERA. He’s third in both strikeouts and WHIP. Those 193 strikeouts are just four behind the co-leaders, Dylan Cease of the Padres and Chris Sale of the Braves.

He’s the leader in the American League for the Cy Young Award – at this point, he just has to finish the season consistently.

 

Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

15-3, 2.58 ERA, 197 K, 1.02 WHIP

Sale is just a few thousands of an earned run ahead of Skubal and also has a better win-loss percentage. At the age of 35, he has returned to the form he showed several seasons ago before his spate of injuries.

This is his 14th season, and he’s still looking for that first Cy Young Award.

Chris finished in the top five among vote-getters five times, but the trophy has eluded him so far.

His last 14 starts have lasted a combined 86 innings (averaging over 7 innings per start), and he hasn’t permitted more than two earned runs in any of them. Over that stretch, his ERA is 2.20 with a 116:24 K:BB ratio.

 

Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

12-6, 2.74 ERA, 176 K, 1.000 WHIP

Wheeler’s ERA is third in MLB and is in range to win the MLB title if Sale and Skubal falter down the stretch.

Zack’s ERA has been dropping; over his five August starts, he has put up a 1.97 ERA with 37 strikeouts against just five walks.

 

Blake Snell, San Francisco Giants

2-3, 3.76 ERA, 106 K, 1.11 WHIP

You’re right, that win-loss record is unsightly for a pitcher power rankings list.

However, Snell had four starts in July and posted a 0.75 combined ERA, holding opponents scoreless in three of them. However, his run support was so poor that he registered no decisions.

In August, he finally picked Wins #1 and 2 of 2024 – for Win #1, against Cincinnati, he had to pitch a no-hitter to ensure his win.

He had two more solid starts after that, but in his last start he only made it through three innings, allowing just two hits against Seattle but issuing six walks along the way.

Has he hit problems, or was that just a blip?

 

Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals

14-8, 3.19 ERA, 146 K, 1.12 WHIP

At the end of June, Seth Lugo’s ERA was just 2.17. So he’s taken on some water as of late, but he has also eaten up 56 innings over his last nine outings, including a complete-game win over the White Sox on July 21.

He permitted one run on three hits, fanning six without a walk. He held Detroit to a single run over eight innings on August 1.

So the stuff is there, although the Tigers and White Sox aren’t the toughest lineups in MLB right now.

So if you’re looking at betting on a Lugo start, take a close look at the other team’s offensive stats.

 
MLB Week 20 Best Pitchers, 2024
 

MLB Betting Analysis: Don’t look now, but Blake Snell seems to have found his ace-level stuff. He won the National League Cy Young Award last season with the San Diego Padres, who opted to let him leave via free agency.

The San Francisco Giants finally gave him a short-term deal just before Opening Day, which meant that his 2024 campaign had a delayed start.

He’s been on the Injured List several times and, when he was healthy, he didn’t pitch well. He was activated on July 9 from the latest injury having just started six games and posted an unsightly 9.51 ERA.

Since then, he has posted a 0.99 ERA over seven starts, with 45 ⅓ innings pitched and a 60:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Oh, and he no-hit the Cincinnati Reds on August 2.

Opponents have an average of .097 in 159 plate appearances against Snell over this stretch. So he’s definitely one of the hot pitchers for you to follow.

MLB Betting Analysis: Top Pitchers to Follow in the Week 20, Who’s Hot on the Mound?

 

As you plan your sports betting for MLB this week, take a look at some of the other hurlers to follow as well.

 

Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners

7-9, 2.96 ERA, 155 K, 0.88 WHIP

Yes, that win-loss record is unappealing, but many of those losses were the result of minuscule run support from the Seattle bats.

He did have a poor outing on July 29 in Boston, but he started August with a pair of sparkling games, throwing 13 combined innings and allowing just one run on seven hits while fanning 13.

His best weapon is the splitter; opponents are going just 7 for 72 (.097) with 44 strikeouts and a .181 slugging percentage against it during the 2024 season.

Oh, and that WHIP leads Major League Baseball.

 

Michael King, San Diego Padres

10-6, 3.19 ERA, 161 K, WHIP 1.17

Michael King was part of the Juan Soto deal, which initially looked ridiculous for the Padres, but King’s pitching has come around.

He had a hard time in April, but since May 1, his ERA is just 2.54, and his 2.27 FIP since May 1 is second in MLB, only behind Chris Sale.

In his 17 starts since May 1, the Padres have won 12.

 

Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds

9-4, 2.83 ERA, 162 K, 1.02 WHIP

Greene has always been a power pitcher who has struck out batters in bunches, but that hadn’t led to much in the way of wins for his team, as his 96 ERA+ was not that impressive.

However, the adjustments he made ahead of the 2024 campaign have made him much less hittable.

He still leads the National League in walks and hit batsmen, but opponents are only hitting .185 against him with a .300 slugging percentage, making that WHIP even more impressive.

 

Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres

12-9, 3.46 ERA, 186 K, 1.02 WHIP

Cease is second in MLB in strikeouts – however, he leads in strikeouts via the slider (109), the most for any pitcher on any one pitch type this season.

Cease has been even more impressive in reducing walks. He has a career best in walk rate (7.9%), and he has moved from the 51st percentile in walk rate from 2023 to the 25th so far in 2024.

 

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

7-2, 2.30 ERA, 121 K, 0.97 WHIP

A double-digit losing streak has pushed the Pirates to the very edge of wild-card contention.

This means that the Pirates may take a look at limiting Skenes’ exposure, as the rookie has thrown 119 ⅓ innings so far in his first season in the pros.

He allowed four runs in a start for the first time on Saturday at Dodger Stadium despite fanning eight and walking just one.

 

Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

14-4, 2.49 ERA, 185 K, 0.93 WHIP

Skubal leads MLB in wins and ERA. He’s third in strikeouts and second in WHIP, which means that he has the AL Cy Young in the bag barring some brutal collapse in the last six weeks of the regular season.

Two starts ago, he matched his career high for innings pitched in a season (149 ⅓) that he has set three seasons ago. Can he keep the terrific numbers up anyway?

 
MLB Week 19 Best Pitchers, 2024
 

MLB Betting Analysis: Before the trade deadline, two starting pitchers who seemed certain to head to contenders were Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers and Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox. Both are ace-level hurlers, and both are left-handed.

However, July 31 came and went without them moving. Starting pitching is always at a premium, but the prices that the two teams were asking were too high, and so the contenders passed.

As we head into the second full week of August, let’s look at some starting pitchers that you should have in mind as you plan your sports betting.

MLB Betting Analysis: Top Pitchers to Watch in Week 19 | MLB Odds

Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 6-2, 2.25 ERA, 115 K, 0.96 WHIP

This rookie phenom has been at or near the top of MLB in innings pitched, WHIP, and strikeout rate (33.3% at this writing).

He did get roughed up a bit on Saturday in Los Angeles as the Dodgers touched him up for four runs on six hits over six innings, but the fact that the four runs he gave up were the most he had given up in any start this season just shows his dominance.

Could he be hitting some fatigue? We will see, but his ERA has been slowly creeping up from 1.90 since July 11.

Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers) – 13-4, 2.57 ERA, 171 K, 0.93 WHIP

Skubal has been an innings-eater for the Tigers; in July, his starts averaged 6 ⅔ innings, and he posted a 2.45 ERA while permitting just a .531 OPS.

The Royals got to him for five runs over 6 ⅓ innings on August 2, but he bounced back five days later to hold the Seattle Mariners to a pair of runs over seven innings in a 6-2 victory.

When he’s pitching, the Tigers are still a smart choice.

Chris Sale (Atlanta Braves) – 13-3, 2.75 ERA, 165 K, 1.00 WHIP

Sale has his ace stuff after all this time, and his durability has finally returned as well.

He has only surrendered more than two runs three times all season – and two of those outings came in April, and the third came on June 1. So consistency is the name of the game.

He hasn’t lost a decision since June 27, and that was the definition of a hard-luck loss after he threw seven innings, struck out 11 batters while issuing just one walk, and allowed one run on four hits in what would turn out to be a 1-0 setback.

Dylan Cease (San Diego Padres) – 11-9, 3.41 ERA, 181 K, 1.01 WHIP

Yes, Dylan Cease had the no-hitter on July 25 in Washington. However, that was the third start in a row in which he had pitched at least six innings without permitting a run. Over 22 combined innings, he struck out 30 batters.

Since then, he has allowed just three earned runs over 11 combined innings (two starts and a one-inning relief appearance) in wins over the Dodgers, Pirates and Marlins.

Corbin Burnes (Baltimore Orioles) – 12-4, 2.71 ERA, 137 K, 1.05 WHIP

Burnes’ strikeout numbers aren’t as gaudy as some of the other pitchers on this list, but that can lead to longer outings, as strikeouts tend to raise your pitch count.

August has been a bit rough in terms of runs permitted (eight runs, seven earned, over 11 innings in wins over Cleveland and Tampa Bay), but he’s consistently stacking up quality starts and going deep into games.

His five-inning night against Cleveland on August 4 was the first time since April 20 that he had a start go fewer than six complete innings.

Zach Wheeler (Philadelphia Phillies) – 11-5, 2.78 ERA, 156 K, 1.00 WHIP

Since April 14, Wheeler has only permitted more than two earned runs in a game three times.

In his last two starts (in Seattle and Arizona) he permitted a combined two earned runs over 14 innings on nine hits, striking out 17 while walking just three.

As the postseason approaches, Wheeler looks like he’s locking in for the National League Division Series…and beyond.

 
 
 
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College Football Week 3 Betting Guide: Top Games, Picks, and Calendar

NCAAF Week 3 Betting Guide of the 2024 college football season is here, and in Colorado this season that means that the rivalry game between the University of Colorado and Colorado State University is set for this weekend.

Last year, CSU coach Jay Norvell and Colorado coach Deion Sanders traded talk before the game, which eventually went to Coach Prime and the Buffaloes in double overtime.

That game was a lot closer than the opening line, which had Colorado favored by 27.5 points.

This time around, Colorado comes in after taking a 28-10 whipping from Nebraska in Week 2, and the Buffaloes are only favored by seven points as of this writing.

What can we expect to see this time around? We will find out on Saturday. In the meantime, check out our sports betting guide for the second weekend in September.

 

NCAAF Week 3 Betting Guide – Top Games to Watch and Bet On

 

Nevada Wolfpack (+17.5) at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Saturday, September 14, 3:30 pm ET, Big Ten Network

The Wolfpack were just 2-10 last year, and while they started off 2024 by pushing SMU to the brink of a significant upset. They also beat Troy on the road before seeing that win against Georgia Southern slip away in the late minutes. The offense ranks 23rd in the nation in explosive passes, and the defense is averaging over five tackles for loss per game.

Minnesota has tailback Darius Taylor back, but their offense is still in flux. The unit moves at a slow, grinding crawl. Because of the slow drives that the Golden Gophers mount each game, each team should have fewer than normal possessions, which should keep this line more than manageable. The sports betting market continues to sleep on Nevada, to their own disadvantage.

NCAAF Pick: Nevada to cover.

^
 

Connecticut Huskies (+16) at Duke Blue Devils

Saturday, September 14, 7:00 pm ET, ACCNX

Duke was only able to beat FCS opponent Elon by a 26-3 score, and Elon is not an FCS contender. Duke has Maalik Murphy at quarterback, and the transfer has been flinging the ball approximately 40 times per game. Even so, the Blue Devils are only picking up about five yards per play. Their defense is decent enough, but it’s hard to say if their offense can pull away enough to avoid the backdoor cover from the Huskies.

NCAAF Pick: Huskies to cover.

^
 

Indiana Hoosiers (-3) at UCLA Bruins

Saturday, September 14, 7:30 pm ET, NBC/Peacock

UCLA has a new head coach (and staff), and much of their defense from 2023 exited through the transfer portal. They barely escaped Hawai’i with a 16-13 win before an extremely early off week last weekend. Against Hawai’i, they allowed six tackles for loss and threw a pair of interceptions. Indiana rolled over FIU, 31-7, and then demolished FCS opponent Western Illinois, 77-3, in Week 2. Their defensive front is much more imposing than the one Hawai’i showed in Week 1, and UCLA is in real trouble in their Big Ten opener.

NCAAF Pick: Hoosiers to win and cover.

^
 

Colorado Buffaloes (-7) at Colorado State Rams

Saturday, September 14, 7:30 pm ET, CBS/Paramount+

The Rams got obliterated by Texas, 52-0, in their opener. They bounced back against FCS opponent Northern Colorado, 38-17. Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has a 61.4% pass completion rate, but only has 239 passing yards through one game. On the ground, the Rams are picking up 171 yards per game, led by 173 yards from Justin Marshall. The defense is a bit porous – the 17 points allowed to Northern Colorado are more of a concern than the 52 that they permitted against one of the top teams in the nation.

Colorado has just a 4-11 record against the spread in the last 15 games in which they have been favored by at least a touchdown. Shedeur Sanders looks like the real deal at quarterback, with a 68.1% pass completion rate and 689 yards in two games, along with a 5:2 TD:INT ratio. The running attack is pretty much nonexistent, averaging 37.5 yards per game. The top ball carrier has been Dallan Hayden, with just 52 yards on 14 carries. The offensive line is a real problem, and the Buffaloes’ defense is inconsistent as well.

NCAAF Pick: Rams to cover.

^
 

NCAAF Week 3 Betting Guide

Thursday, September 12

  • 7:30 p.m. | Northwestern State at South Alabama | ESPN
  • 7:30 p.m | Arizona State at Texas State | ESPN+

Friday, September 13

  • 7:00 p.m. | UNLV at Kansas | ESPN
  • 8:00 p.m | No. 20 Arizona at No. 14 Kansas State | FOX

NCAAF Week 3 Betting Guide: Saturday, September 4

  • 12 p.m. | No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin | FOX
  • 12 p.m. | Arkansas State at No. 17 Michigan | Big Ten Network
  • 12 p.m. | No. 13 Oklahoma State at Tulsa | ESPN2
  • 12 p.m. | No. 16 LSU at South Carolina | ABC
  • 12 p.m. | Louisiana Tech at NC State | ACC Network
  • 12 p.m. | Central Michigan at Illinois | Peacock
  • 12 p.m. | Memphis at Florida State | ESPN
  • 12 p.m. | Cincinnati at Miami (OH) | ESPNU
  • 12 p.m. | North Texas at Texas Tech | FS1
  • 12 p.m. | Central Connecticut State at Saint Francis (PA) | NEC Front Row
  • 12 p.m. | Lehigh at LIU | NEC Front Row
  • 12 p.m. | North Greenville at The Citadel | ESPN+
  • 12 p.m. | Mercyhurst at Robert Morris | ESPN+
  • 12:30 p.m. | Marist at Lafayette | ESPN+
  • 12:45 p.m. | No. 24 Boston College at No. 6 Missouri | SEC Network
  • 1 p.m. | Massachusetts at Buffalo | CBS Sports Network
  • 1 p.m. | Delaware at North Carolina A&T | FloSports
  • 1 p.m. | Stony Brook at Fordham | ESPN+
  • 1 p.m. | Western Illinois at Illinois State | ESPN+
  • 1 p.m. | Georgetown at Sacred Heart | ESPN+
  • 1 p.m. | Virginia-Lynchburg at Presbyterian | ESPN+
  • 2 p.m. | Coastal Carolina at Temple | ESPN+
  • 2 p.m. | Charleston Southern at Richmond | FloSports
  • 2 p.m. | Holy Cross at Bryant | FloSports
  • 2 p.m. | Idaho State at North Dakota | ESPN+
  • 2 p.m. | Duquesne at Youngstown State | ESPN+
  • 2 p.m. | Stetson at Furman | ESPN+
  • 3 p.m. | Wagner at Delaware State | ESPN+
  • 3 p.m. | Morehead State at Montana | ESPN+
  • 3 p.m. | Morehouse at Howard | CNBC
  • 3:30 p.m. | No. 18 Notre Dame at Purdue | CBS
  • 3:30 p.m. | No. 9 Oregon at Oregon State | FOX
  • 3:30 p.m. | Ball State at No. 10 Miami | ACC Network
  • 3:30 p.m. | Tulane at No. 15 Oklahoma | ESPN
  • 3:30 p.m. | VMI at Georgia Tech | ESPN+
  • 3:30 p.m. | Texas A&M at Florida | ABC
  • 3:30 p.m. | Prairie View A&M at Michigan State | Big Ten Network
  • 3:30 p.m. | Nevada at Minnesota | Big Ten Network
  • 3:30 p.m. | Washington State at Washington | Peacock
  • 3:30 p.m. | West Virginia at Pittsburgh | ESPN2
  • 3:30 p.m. | Morgan State at Ohio | ESPN+
  • 3:30 p.m. | Monmouth at Maine | FloSports
  • 3:30 p.m. | Towson at Villanova | FloSports
  • 4 p.m. | Troy at Iowa | FS1
  • 4 p.m. | App State at East Carolina | ESPNU
  • 4 p.m. | Hampton at Norfolk State | ESPN+
  • 4 p.m. | UAlbany at Idaho | ESPN+
  • 4 p.m. | South Dakota at Portland State | ESPN+
  • 4 p.m. | Abilene Christian at Northern Colorado | ESPN+
  • 4:15 p.m. | UAB at Arkansas | SEC Network
  • 4:30 p.m. | No. 12 Utah at Utah State | CBS Sports Network
  • 5:30 p.m. | North Dakota State at ETSU | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | UConn at Duke | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Virginia Tech at Old Dominion | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | FIU at FAU | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | UTEP at Liberty | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | South Carolina State at Georgia Southern | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | North Carolina Central at North Carolina | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Colgate at Akron | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Gardner-Webb at Charlotte | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Campbell at Rhode Island | FloSports
  • 6 p.m. | William & Mary at Wofford | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Western Carolina at Elon | FloSports
  • 6 p.m. | Stonehill at New Hampshire | FloSports
  • 6 p.m. | West Georgia at Eastern Kentucky | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Mercer at Chattanooga | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Dayton at Indiana State | ESPN+
  • 6 p.m. | Merrimack at Bucknell | ESPN+
  • 6:30 p.m. | No. 5 Ole Miss at Wake Forest | The CW Network
  • 6:30 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman at Western Michigan | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | UTSA at No. 2 Texas | ESPN
  • ​​​​​​​7 p.m. | Vanderbilt at Georgia State | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Jacksonville State at Eastern Michigan | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Kennesaw State at San José State | truTV/Max
  • 7 p.m. | Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Hawai’i at Sam Houston | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | South Florida at Southern Miss | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Austin Peay at Central Arkansas | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Lindenwood at Missouri State | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State at Murray State | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Augustana (SD) at South Dakota State | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Incarnate Word at Southern Illinois | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Alabama State at Samford | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Tennessee State | HBCUGO
  • 7 p.m. | Southern at Jackson State | ESPN+
  • ​​​​​​​7 p.m. | Edward Waters at Alcorn State | SWAC Digital Network
  • 7 p.m. | North Alabama at UT Martin | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Grambling State at Texas A&M-Commerce | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Louisiana Christian at Houston Christian | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Weber State at Lamar | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Eastern Washington at Southeastern Louisiana | ESPN+
  • 7 p.m. | Georgetown (KY) at Alabama A&M | SWAC Digital Network
  • 7:30 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky | ABC
  • 7:30 p.m. | New Mexico at Auburn | ESPN2
  • 7:30 p.m. | Toledo at Mississippi State | ESPNU
  • 7:30 p.m. | Indiana at UCLA | NBC/Peacock
  • 7:30 p.m. | Northern Iowa at No. 23 Nebraska | Big Ten Network
  • 7:30 p.m. | Air Force at Baylor | FS1
  • 7:30 p.m. | Colorado at Colorado State | CBS
  • 7:30 p.m. | UCF at TCU | FOX
  • 7:30 p.m. | Eastern Illinois at Northwestern | Big Ten Network
  • 7:30 p.m. | Indiana Wesleyan at Valparaiso | ESPN+
  • ​​​​​​​7:45 p.m. | Kent State at No. 7 Tennessee | SEC Network
  • 8 p.m. | Maryland at Virginia | ACC Network
  • 8 p.m. | Rice at Houston | ESPN+
  • 8 p.m. | UC Davis at Southern Utah | ESPN+
  • 8 p.m. | Western Oregon at Cal Poly | ESPN+
  • 8 p.m. | Stephen F. Austin at McNeese | ESPN+
  • 9 p.m. | BYU at Wyoming | CBS Sports Network
  • 9 p.m. | Northern Arizona at Utah Tech | ESPN+
  • ​​​​​​​9 p.m. | Nicholls at Sacramento State | ESPN+
  • 10:30 p.m. | San Diego State at California | ESPN
  • 10:30 p.m. | New Mexico State at Fresno State | truTV/Max
^
   
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NCAAF Week 3 Betting Guide

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College Football Week 3 Preview: Top Games, Over/Under Picks, and Expert Analysis

Here we analyze the NCAAF Over/Under Picks in Week 3!

The Pac-2 (still officially the Pac-12 but a much smaller league these days) has now become the Pac-6, as Oregon State and Washington State will be joined by San Diego State, Colorado State, Boise State and Fresno State.

This comes in the wake of a collapse of attempts to build an ongoing football alliance between the last two members of the Pac-12 and the Mountain West Conference.

Instead, these four MWC teams will now leave their league, leaving it in a bit of a problem in terms of competitive quality.

Does this make the Pac-12 a Power 5 conference once again? Not at all, but it does give Oregon State and Washington State a league that has some teeth to it.

 

NCAAF Over/Under Picks from Week 3 – Top Games to Watch and Bet On

Going into Week 3 of the 2024 college football season, let’s look at some sports betting picks on the point total.

 

Utah Utes (-18) at Utah State Aggies (O/U 43)

Saturday, September 14, 3:30 pm ET

Utah was able to hold off Baylor last week despite losing Cam Rising (hand). The offense didn’t do much without Rising. He’s still questionable for this week’s rivalry showdown against Utah State. Bryson Barnes would start in Rising’s stead, and this is a fierce rivalry that has not been renewed since 2015. The last three meetings were decided by single figures, and the questions about Rising’s availability and awareness of the rivalry have combined to bring the line down from its opening (-21.5). Utah State got shut out, 48-0, by USC last week, and with Utah likely to be conservative with Rising in a winnable game, I don’t see a lot of scoring.

NCAAF Pick: Take the under.

^
 

Oregon Ducks (-16.5) at Oregon State Beavers (O/U 51)

Saturday, September 14, 3:30 pm ET

The Civil War rolls on, although it’s an early-season game now after the movement of Oregon to the Big Ten. Trent Bray is in his first season with the Beavers, and his defense has allowed just 15 points in the first two games combined. Oregon comes in with significant inconsistency on both offense and defense so far – and their running game has been stultifying, averaging only three yards per carry. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has the arm to compensate for that in the passing game, but the team is still finding its way, looking anything like a Big Ten contender at this point. This line opened at -14 and has spread, which seems like the wrong way at this point.

NCAAF Pick: Take the under.

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Georgia Bulldogs (-24) at Kentucky Wildcats (O/U 45)

Saturday, September 14, 6:30 pm ET

Georgia enters Week 3 without having permitted a touchdown so far. Kentucky has been a solid offensive team the last few seasons, but after the departure of Will Levis, things have cooled off, and they got drilled by South Carolina last week, 31-6. Brock Vandagriff transferred from Georgia to start at quarterback for Kentucky, and given that Kirby Smart and his defensive staff know Vandagriff and given that it looks like Georgia is going to turn every game into a statement, I don’t see the Wildcats moving the ball much. So can Georgia basically beat this point total by themselves? It wouldn’t surprise me to see something like a 48-0 or 55-6 score here.

NCAAF Pick: Take the over.

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NCAAF Over/Under Picks

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European Soccer: Must-Bet Matches from Bundesliga & Premier League

Soccer Odds | Top European Matches | Is Manchester United ready for a rebuild? Sir Jim Ratcliffe invested in the venerable English Premier League club, picking up 27.7% percent of ownership.

Star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who had his own difficult exit from the team, has responded that the team has to “rebuild from the bottom up.”

Ronaldo has moved on to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, in the wake-up an interview with Piers Morgan in which Ronaldo dragged the club for its failure to invest over the last decade and a half.

In 346 matches across two different stints with Man U, Ronaldo scored 145 goals. So far, under the leadership of Ruud van Nistelrooy as an assistant coach under Erik ten Hag, the team are just 1-2 in EPL play.

We have sports betting previews for some key matches from European first-division soccer, including Sunday’s London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

 

Soccer Odds & Betting Analysis: Top European Matches for the Weekend

 

English Premier League

Manchester City -500 vs Brentford +1200

When: Saturday, September 14, 10:00 am ET
Soccer Pick: Draw +650

City have started the 2024-25 EPL campaign on a roll, shutting out Chelsea, 2-0, and then rolling over Ipswich, 4-1 and taking a 3-1 result at West Ham. Striker Erling Haaland is already dominating opponents with a hat trick in each of those last two victories. City will not have Nathan Ake as he went down with an injury during the 2-2 draw between the Netherlands and Germany on Tuesday. Savinho and Phil Foden had withdrawn from international play because of injury and illness. Oscar Bobb (broken leg) is still on the shelf. Rodri is set to come back for his season debut. He started in Spain’s Nations League match with Switzerland on Sunday and figured in the 4-1 win.

Brentford are also impressive thus far, with two wins in their first three matches. The Bees started EPL play with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. They went to Liverpool and were dealt a 2-0 lesson before coming back to beat Southampton at home, 3-1. Kristoffer Ajer is questionable (foot), while Aaron Hickey, Igor Thiago, Rico Henry and Joshua Dasilva are all still on the shelf. While Brentford have started out the season strong, it’s hard to argue that they are ready to pick up a point at the Etihad.

Premier League Pick: City to win.

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Tottenham Hotspur +190 vs Arsenal +125

When: Sunday, September 15, 9:00 am ET
Soccer Pick: Draw +260

Arsenal will likely have to play without Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and captain Martin Odegaard. Rice drew an iffy red card last week against Brighton, and the other two took injuries with their national teams during the international break. Transfer window signee Mikel Merino suffered an injury during his first team training session and is not available after fracturing a shoulder in a collision with center-back Gabriel Magalhaes. Arsenal have two wins and a draw so far, most recently ending up 1-1 with Brighton. Their biggest win came at Aston Villa in 2-0 fashion.

Tottenham has not beaten Arsenal since May 2022 and are off to a slow start, with just one in the first three matches. They drew with Leicester City in their opener and then thumped a so-far dreadful Everton side. They lost to Newcastle in their last EPL match thanks to a late stunner from Alexander Isak. Their main summer transfer window signings, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, both went down with injuries in August. Richarlison is unavailable, while Solanke is questionable for Sunday. The Spurs lead the EPL in possession time per match (68.5%), but they’ve been dithering instead of generating promising chances and putting the ball in the net.

Premier League Pick: Take the draw.

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Soccer Odds Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund -267 vs Heidenheim +600

When: Friday, September 13, 2:30 pm ET
Soccer Pick: Draw +425

Don’t look now, but Heidenheim are off to a smashing start to the 2024-25 Bundesliga schedule. They have won their first two matches by a combined 6-0 score and, at least for now, are on top of the German first division table. They routed Augsburg in their last match, 4-0 despite possessing for just 36% of the match. Furthermore, they were able to generate four glorious chances (and score on all of them) without allowing any similar chances themselves. They have also made it to a European competition for the first time, qualifying for the Europa Conference League. They have an 11-match winning streak across all competitions and including friendlies, and they have four wins and two draws in their last six Bundesliga matches. Likewise, they are also unbeaten in five straight road Bundesliga matches.

Dortmund drew 0-0 with Werder Bremen and have four points out of two matchweeks. In that match, defender Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off in the 73rd minute, but Dortmund’s defense held, permitting just one shot after the side went down to ten players. Now manager Nuri Sahin is working to make Dortmund more of an offensive forward approach. They have won their last three home Bundesliga matches by a combined 11-1 score.

Bundesliga Pick: Take the draw.

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NASCAR Playoffs 2024: Breaking Down the Round of 12 Contenders

Don’t lock your NASCAR Playoffs Picks! Atlanta Motor Speedway hosted the Quaker State 400 on Sunday to open the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 16 races, and Joey Logano locked down a spot in the Round of 12 with his overtime win.

The two-lap shootout ended up making the 2024 playoff opener six laps longer than the posted 260 laps, and Logano was leading by over a car-length when a wreck in the middle of the pack behind him brought the last caution.

Logano now has two wins at Atlanta in his career and two in the Cup Series for 2024.

He sits in fifth place in the playoff standings, but that win means he has advanced to the next round.

Check out our sports betting thoughts about which other drivers will occupy the other 11 slots in the Round of 12.

 

NASCAR Playoffs Picks: 2024 Cup Series Round of 12 Betting Analysis | Odds to Win Championship

  • Christopher Bell +380
  • Kyle Larson +1000
  • Denny Hamlin +1000
  • Ryan Blaney +1000
  • Tyler Reddick +1200
  • William Byron +1200
  • Chase Elliott +1200
  • Joey Logano +1400
  • Martin Truex Jr. +1400
  • Brad Keselowski +1400
 

Locked In: Joey Logano

Book These Berths: Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick

Ryan Blaney is the defending playoff champion, so even though his average finish (15.8) in 2024 is the worst in his career, leaving him just 13 points ahead of the elimination line, it’s hard to imagine him not finding his form now that it’s postseason time.

Denny Hamlin is the two-time defending winner at Bristol, but an L2 penalty before Daytona took away 10 playoff points, so he entered Atlanta just 10 points above the elimination line.

Expect maximum focus and effort as he pursues his first Championship 4 berth in the Next Gen car era.

Kyle Larson has wins on every non-drafting track in the playoff schedule, and has won the most recent races at Las Vegas and Kansas.

Super speedways tend to vex him, but if he can stay out of trouble there, his run should be smooth.

Tyler Reddick won the 2024 Cup Series regular season championship in his fifth season.

He has one of the fastest case very week, and he entered Atlanta with a 23-point lead on the elimination line. He should also be favored to win at Watkins Glen.

^
 

NASCAR Playoffs Picks Likely Locks: Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell

Brad Keselowski has the ability to make a deep run in these playoffs, if he can maximize his points on the super speedways.

The road course races are not his forte. His best road course finish was 13th back at Sonoma, and he has not finished in the top ten in this decade at the ROVAL or Watkins Glen.

William Byron has excelled at super speedways (two wins at Atlanta since the reconfiguration, a win at Daytona at the start of 2024, and three straight top-ten finishes at Talladega).

He has also won at Watkins Glen, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Homestead and Martinsville, so he’s an interesting pick to win the whole thing.

However, that slow stretch in the summer makes some wonder if he’s really a title contender.

Chase Elliott

Elliott loves the road courses, so look for him to push to dominate at Watkins Glen and the ROVAL.

He’s been a consistent driver, finishing every lap but one this season until a wreck in Stage 2 at Daytona.

While he should hit the Round of 12, and likely the Round of 8, the tracks at that point aren’t that friendly to him.

Christopher Bell might be the most clutch playoff driver in the Cup Series today, with two straight runs to the Championship 4. He is the defending winner at both Phoenix and Homestead.

However, the super speedways can be his undoing, as he has six DNFs due to crash on those courses this year.

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Room for Optimism: Martin Truex Jr, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman

This is the last year for Martin Truex Jr in the Cup Series as a full-time driver. He has strong showings at just about all the playoff tracks.

At Watkins Glen, he came in sixth last year and unmanaged Denny Hamlin at Bristol back in the spring in a race that demanded elite tire strategy.

The problem is Truex’s lack of wins. No driver has gotten to the Championship 4 without any wins in the season since 2014, when Ryan Newman did it.

Ty Gibbs has some top tens in the last races at Atlanta, Watkins Glen and Bristol, where he led 137 laps in the spring race despite the tire degradation issues.

Since he made it through Atlanta without a disaster, he should be able to stack up the points between now and the next round.

Alex Bowman tied for fourth for top-ten finishes in 2024. He won at Chicago and had a terrific first half to the season.

If he can elevate back to that level, his chances of rolling all the way to the Championship 4 are solid.

However, his last five finishes were all outside the top 15 in the regular season, and he is still looking for his first top-ten at Watkins Glen.

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Maybe Next Year: Harrison Burton, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe

All four of these drivers earned spots in the Round of 16 with race wins – and Harrison Burton’s win got him a job in the Cup Series for next year, as his current team had already sent him packing.

Burton’s win at Daytona wasn’t a fluke – if you look at the last three races of the regular season (Michigan, Daytona and Darlington), he had the most points in any three-race span of the entire season, with 79.

However, he still has an average finish of 25.7 on the year, his worst as a Cup Series driver, and he was dead last among the full-time drivers in Cup Series points.

Austin Cindric has an aggressive style on super speedways. Sometimes it pays off, but sometimes it doesn’t – at Daytona, he got caught up in multiple dustups that ended up hurting his finish.

He did make it to the Round of 12 in 2022, but his failure to win in Atlanta means that he’s likely going to have to win the road-course playoff race to advance. This year, his best road-course result has been 15th.

Daniel Suarez

Suarez has a solid history at both Atlanta and Watkins Glen, so he could climb up into the top 12, but he really needs that road-course win if he wants to secure a spot.

Track house racing will work to help Suarez as much as possible now that Ross Chastain is out of the playoffs.

Chase Briscoe rolled to the round of eight in 2022, only his second season in the Cup Series.

He fell victim to Christopher Bell’s huge playoff run that year. He won the Southern 500 to get into the Round of 16 this year.

Some of his best tracks are coming up, but he needs a win to get in at this point.

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Championship Odds to Win
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UTSA Roadrunners vs Texas Longhorns Expert Analysis, Picks & College Football Game Odds

College Football Game Odds | UTSA vs Texas | If you think last week’s UT-San Antonio (UTSA) loss to Texas State was ugly, this week could be ten times as bad.

The Roadrunners went to San Marcos and laid a 49-10 egg, getting outclassed on both sides of the ball. Now they head a little further north on Interstate 35, going to Austin for a date with the second-ranked Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns could be forgiven if there is a bit of a letdown after they went to Michigan Stadium and routed the defending national champions, 31-12, last weekend.

Even so, this should be a hide-tanning from just about the opening kickoff.

Read on to get our full sports betting preview of this showdown.

 

College Football Game Odds: UTSA vs Texas | Top NCAAF Games to Bet On

When: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 7:00 pm ET
Where: Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN+
NCAAF Opening Lines subject to Change: Texas -35 / O/U 53.5

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UTSA Roadrunners

Can the Roadrunners cover this five-touchdown line? The last time that they met, two seasons ago, Texas won, 41-20, also at home. The Roadrunners did post a 9-4 record in 2023 and should prepare like this national-television showdown is their equivalent of a CFP appearance or a Super Bowl. According to ESPN.com, the Roadrunners have just a 1.2% chance at winning outright, but the point spread is a whole different situation.

Let’s say for a minute that Texas is up four touchdowns at halftime and decides to let the reserves play the second half. Arch Manning isn’t much of a dropoff at quarterback, and having the reserves out there might actually increase the effort level that the Longhorns show in the second half. If you like the Roadrunners, though, you see their execution bouncing back after that humiliation at Texas State, but this is definitely a long bet.

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Texas Longhorns

Texas has already added insult to injury in this game by taking Trey Moore, the top UTSA edge rusher from last year, and adding him to their starting lineup. UTSA doesn’t have an experienced starting quarterback (which played a key role in that big loss to Texas State last week).

The Texas defense has permitted 198 rushing yards in two games so far and has kept running backs out of the end zone. They have allowed just 139.0 passing yards per game, with just one receiving touchdown. The defense already has five takeaways (four interceptions and one fumble recovery). Their 6.0 points permitted per game is seventh in the nation in Division I (FBS). I expect that trend to continue on Saturday.

^

 

UTSA vs Texas Final Score and Prediction

Given the fact that UTSA only scored 10 points against Texas State and that Texas has permitted a grand total of 12 points this season, hitting the over could be a challenge. I see Texas rolling to the tune of a 44-6 victory, covering the spread but not quite hitting the over.

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College Football Game Odds: UTSA vs Texas

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NCAA Football Week 3 Preview: Top Games, Lines, and Expert Analysis

NCAAF Week 3 Top Games for you! | One problem becoming more readily apparent for Coach Prime’s Colorado Buffaloes is the performance of the offensive line.

Against North Dakota State, the Buffaloes stacked up 504 yards of total offense. However, they only managed 2.6 yards per attempt on the ground, running for just 59 yards overall.

On Saturday, that number was even worse against Nebraska, as the Buffs averaged just 0.7 yards per carry for 16 rushing yards.

Pass protection was a nightmare as Shedeur Sanders was sacked five times.

That poor O-line play reminds sports betting enthusiasts of last year, when the Colorado offense was dead last among FBS programs in yards per attempt (2.31) and last among the Power 5 teams in sacks permitted (56).

 

NCAAF Week 3 Top Games to Watch and Bet On

As we head into Week 3 of the college football season, let’s see how issues like that affect the top sports betting picks.

 

#20 Arizona Wildcats (+7.5) at #14 Kansas State Wildcats

Friday, September 13, 8:00 pm ET, FOX

This game pits two of the top-rated teams in the Big 12. However, Arizona is 0-2 against the spread so far this season. Last year, they started the season 6-0 against the spread. Kansas State likes to run the ball and stack the line against the run on the other side. At home, K-State was 6-2 against the spread, but Kansas State’s track record playing at home is impressive, while Arizona just might have been carried a bit by their time in a football-soft Pac-12.

NCAAF Pick: Kansas State to win and cover..

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#4 Alabama Crimson Tide (-16) at Wisconsin Badgers

Saturday, September 14, 12:00 pm ET, FOX

Three weeks of college football, three weeks of huge Big Ten-SEC showdowns. The Badgers welcome the Crimson Tide at Camp Randall and have an upset in mind. Luke Fickell hasn’t gotten the Wisconsin offense up and running since he came over from Cincinnati, while the Alabama offense has scored at will. Jalen Milroe has a 205.6 passer efficiency rating so far, and their offense has been virtually unstoppable. Can the Tide really go up north and win by two and a half touchdowns? Until the Badgers show some ability to play twenty-first century offense, it’s hard to back them.

NCAAF Pick: Alabama to win and cover..

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Arkansas State Red Wolves (+23.5) at #17 Michigan Wolverines

Saturday, September 14, 12:00 pm ET, Big Ten Network

Michigan just took an ugly 31-12 beating from the Texas Longhorns at home this past week, and hext up is a chance to work out some frustrations against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves beat Central Arkansas and Tulsa to start the season, but those were both one-score wins. Playing at the Big House is an entirely different story. Arkansas State allows 199 rushing yards per game, so it sounds like the Red Wolves might not only get a big paycheck for this game but also a big hide-tanning.

NCAAF Pick: Michigan to win and cover..

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#13 Oklahoma State Cowboys (-20.5) at Tulsa Golden Hurricanes

Saturday, September 14, 12:00 pm ET, ESPN2

The Cowboys have a nine-game winning streak in this rivalry, but the average margin of victory over the last three showdowns has been only 11 points. Kirk Francis has been a decent quarterback for Tulsa so far, and they can gang up on teams in the AAC. This is a rivalry game, so OSU should be able to get Ollie Gordon II running downhill.

NCAAF Pick: Oklahoma State to win and cover..

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#24 Boston College Eagles (+17) at #6 Missouri Tigers

Saturday, September 14, 12:45 pm ET, SEC Network

Missouri has beaten two tomato cans without permitting a point; their defense is the best statistically among FBS schools. The BC rushing game is picking up 282.5 yards per game, and Thomas Castellanos is emerging as a dual-threat signal-caller. The Tigers have Brady Cook at quarterback, with both Theo Wease and Luther Burden at wide receiver. Missouri was just 5-4 against the spread last year, though, and this line is failing to respond to the reality of what BC can bring.

NCAAF Pick: BC to cover..

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Must-Bet Games and Expert Analysis: NFL Week 2 Betting Guide

San Francisco 49ers tailback Christian McCaffrey missed the team’s first regular-season game on Monday due to calf and Achilles injuries. He will be available for the NFL Week 2?

Jordan Mason came on in his place and had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown, his highest total of carries since high school.

It looks like the team’s running game is well in hand until McCaffrey returns, which is good – the main problem for McCaffrey is Achilles tendonitis, which can be a tricky injury.

The 49ers rolled over the New York Jets without McCaffrey and look like the team to beat in the NFC so far.

Dominate the Weekend Action: NFL Week 2 Odds and Predictions

 

Let’s look at some must-bet games from a sports betting perspective heading into Week 2.

 

Seattle Seahawks (-3) at New England Patriots (O/U 38)

When: Sunday, September 15, 1:00 pm ET, FOX

Seattle won their opener thanks to the defensive mindset of new head coach Mike Macdonald. You can say the same thing about the upset win the Pats picked up in Cincinnati behind Jerod Mayo. Seattle also got a big day out of tailback Kenneth Walker III, and Geno Smith looked more confident and polished at quarterback. The Patriots’ offense is very workmanlike with Jacoby Brissett running things, but their defense will keep them in this game.

NFL Pick: Patriots to cover.

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N.Y. Giants (+1.5) at Washington Commanders (O/U 44)

When: Sunday, September 15, 1:00 pm ET, FOX

Is it time for the Giants to move on from sixth-year quarterback Daniel Jones? After Week 1, all signs seem to be pointing to Yes, as he was badly out dueled by another long-time struggling quarterback in Sam Darnold last week. Washington got their offense going against Tampa Bay, but it was just too late to overcome the Buccaneers’ onslaught. Expect Jayden Daniels to show that second-half confidence from a week ago from the opening kickoff, and expect the Giants to struggle to move the ball again.

NFL Pick: Commanders to win and cover.

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Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at Denver Broncos (O/U 36.5)

When: Sunday, September 15, 4:25 pm ET, CBS

Russell Wilson (calf) had to miss the season opener, and Justin Fields played reasonably well in his stead. The Pittsburgh defense is such that the team can win if the running game can pound out extended drives, and ball security is an offensive priority. The Steelers bring a physicality to the game that will intimidate rookie Bo Nix, who seems in a bit over his head as the starting quarterback of the Broncos.

NFL Pick: Steelers to win and cover.

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Chicago Bears (+7) at Houston Texans (O/U 45.5) SNF

When: Sunday Night Football, September 15, 8:20 pm ET, NBC

This battle of exciting young quarterbacks shows C.J. Stroud of the Texans to be well ahead of Caleb Williams of the Bears in terms of the NFL learning curve. Even so, the Bears’ defense and special teams picked Williams up and delivered a Week 1 over Tennessee. Williams missed several throws and executed poorly, but the shift in game speed from the Pac-12 to the NFL is significant. Both teams have excellent wide receiver groups, and both teams have stout defenses. The Texans have the edge at tailback with Joe Mixon and should be able to eke this out, but can they win by a touchdown?

NFL Pick: Bears to cover.

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Atlanta Falcons (+6.5) at Philadelphia Eagles (O/U 47) MNF

When: Monday Night Football, September 16, 8:15 pm ET, ESPN/ABC

The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to befuddle new Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins with a variety of coverage and pressure looks, so expect Philadelphia DC Vic Fangio to use a similar approach. The Falcons should be more used to their new starting quarterback and have better synergy, but the Eagles are one of the toughest defenses in the league.

NFL Pick: Eagles to win and cover.

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