badgerpicks

The Colts finally got a win last week, as they beat the lowly Dolphins to improve to 1-3. But the Colts lost a start off the D line last week and come into this game beat ups and not at all ready to contend with a much better Ravens team that is coming off a big win in Denver. The Ravens are getting their groove back after a rash of running back injuries. The Colts don’t stand a chance.

Predictions: Ravens 27, Colts 13

Georgia’s defense is elite, and I still don’t trust Bo Nix. The Auburn offense had issues getting going against LSU, and they are going to struggle to score in this game. I like Georgia in a 35-10 type of game.

The Steelers shocked the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, but it's been all downhill since. The Green Bay Packers were shocked by the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, but it's been all uphill since.

I really thought Aaron Rodgers had checked out mentally, but he has looked like a MVP in his last 2 starts. On the other side, Ben Roethlisberger is looking like what most would expect a nearing-40-year-old quarterback with an injury history to look like. It has not been pretty.

The Steelers offensive line just can't protect Roethlisberger, and the defense is no longer dominant enough to compensate for that. The Packers know how to bury teams at Lambeau, and the depleted Steelers are extremely vulnerable. This should be a no-brainer.

The Broncos are 3-0 straight-up and against the spread this season, while the Baltimore Ravens are 1-2 ATS against the Lions (despite hanging on to win) and Las Vegas Raiders.

The Broncos may be bound to come back to earth soon. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is off to the best start of his career, but he's now down two receivers with KJ Hamler joining Jerry Jeudy and the absence of Bradley Chubb could catch up to them today.

Lamar Jackson reportedly missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a sore back, but he's expected to be ready to go for this one. I like the Ravens here at a near pick em' to take advantage of a banged up Denver team.

Prediction: Ravens 24, Broncos 21

Why Arkansas Will Win - Arkansas runs well, hits the big play down the field, controls games defensively on third downs, and has been winning the turnover battle. Georgia has turned the ball over seven times already this season in just 4 games. Arkansas needs to come up with a few takeaways on Saturday to have any chance.

Why Georgia Will Win - The Bulldog defense is special, it has only allowed 23 points so far against Clemson, two SEC teams, and a great UAB squad. South Carolina might not be great, but it has a defense. UAB’s D is solid, and Vanderbilt is … uh … Vanderbilt plays in the SEC. The Dawg O came up with over 1,500 yards and 158 in those three games.

Prediction: Arkansas has been phenomenal so far this season and deserve to be ranked, but it there’s a problem with penalties or turnovers the Hogs will have no chance. So if you like Arkansas this week, then you better pray for them to have a perfect game….and against Georgia I just don’t think that’s possible. I’ve got Georgia winning 34-13 and doing just enough to cover this big spread.

*UNDER - This Georgia defense is special and I don’t see Arkansas scoring more than 14 points here. But the Hogs also have a defense and haven’t allowed more than 255 yards in any of the last three games, so I think this is a defensive (low scoring) game.

Carson Wentz is reportedly starting today but he's not 100%. The Titans are coming off of a big win over the Seattle Seahawks and I think last week's game in Seattle really set the tone for the Titans this season.

Tennessee's pass defense continues to be worrisome but with Wentz not 100%, I expectTennessee will pound away with Derrick Henry, hit on a long score to A.J. Brown or Julio Jones and win by at least a touchdown to send the reeling Colts to 0-3.

Goff gets sacked 4+ times today.

Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Week 1 win over Western Michigan. And that is a massive blow for this Wolverines offense. They ran very well against the Broncos, racking up 335 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, but moving the ball against Power Five defenses is going to be much more difficult unless/until they're able to establish a new deep threat or two. Big Blue will miss Bell this week.

And though Washington's offense was a train wreck in a 13-7 loss to Montana, defense has been the Huskies' calling card for the past six years. They were unable to force any turnovers against the Grizzlies, but that could change in a big way in this game.

A Washington win won't make any sense to anyone who watched both of these teams play in Week 1, but neither did Michigan losing to Michigan State in their second games of the 2020 season, after the former stomped Minnesota on the road and the latter lost at home to Rutgers.

With Washington's defense I like the 7 points here. I think this sets up for a closer than expected game and Huskies could win out right. Also think this is a defensive game so taking the UNDER 48.

Prediction: Washington 23, Michigan 17

Can BYU adjust to life after Zach Wilson? New quarterback Jaren Hall was adequate (198 passing yards, 36 rushing yards, two touchdowns) in the opener against Arizona, but that win over a team now on a 13-game losing streak was hardly a suitable litmus test for facing a usually excellent Utah defense.

Utah has won nine consecutive games in this rivalry, though eight of the last 10 in the series have been decided by eight points or fewer. Utah has 5th year Baylor transfer Charlie Brewer under center and the kid was excellent at Baylor and will have complete command of this Utah offense. I think it's going to be a close game determined by turn-overs, but in the end I think Brewer and the Utes are too much for a BYU team that is in a bit of re-building year. This line opened at -6 and got bet up to -7, tough number here but slightest of lean on taking the points.

Prediction: Utah 30, BYU 24

In each of its six games played last fall, Eastern Michigan allowed at least 400 yards of offense (210 passing yards and at least 190 rushing yards). Wisconsin has been held below 370 yards of total offense in each of its last six game so no time like the present to get the Badgers offense going.

This line opened at Wisconsin -32 but public action has pounded EMU driving this number down to Wisconsin -26. Little leery to keep chasing public sentiment here and I think Wisconsin has shaken off the rust and can win by 4 TD's. More of a fade of a bad Eastern Michigan team.

Prediction: Wisconsin 38, Eastern Michigan 9

Come on Royals lets work man, it's Labor Day. Pay me.

What happened to Corbin? He used to be good.

Virginia Tech is returning all five of its leading receivers from last season and junior quarterback Braxton Burmeister, plus they’re playing at home under the lights inside Lane Stadium. Sure VT has to deal with Sam Howell who is a Heisman contender this year, but UNC lost a pile of players including: Dazz Newsome, Dyami Brown, Javonte Williams and Michael Carter.

Virginia Tech is a very talented football team with bulk of starters returning on both sides of the ball, but the quarterback position is a question mark, but if Braxton Burmeister can play quality football the Hokies will surprise a lot of people, and I think that begins tonight against the Tar Heels. Taking the 6 points here in a game VT could win out right.

Wood has been pretty choppy over his last three games, posting 13 earned runs on 19 hits in a span of 15.0 innings. SF Giants don't deserve to be -200 favs here.

Detroit has played much better baseball over the last two months, but they aren't in Boston's class.

Neither pitcher inspires much confidence but I'll take the MUCH better offense and that's the Angels. If if Howard has a descent game I don't see him getting much run support.

Washington have been good against lefties this season, but Gray should spook Nats bettors here. Gray has coughed up 4 home runs and 6 ER in 8 IP through one start and one relief appearance. Give me Philly -110 with Suarez and the slightly better pen.

New York is going to tee off against Jorge. Yankees win 8-4

Last 3 games Detroit has scored 28 runs and neither starter embodies a lot of trust. I like Detroit to keep the bats going against Alexander Wells who is making only his second-career MLB start.

Even with two pitchers who’ve given up as many hits as Fedde and Paddack have, it’s hard to justify going over a total as high as 9.5 coming out of the break. Yes, Fedde and Paddack are certainly two pitchers any hitter would want to come back against following five days of inaction, but they’ve both shown what they’re capable of over the past two seasons, even if neither has been able to keep it up consistently. Under 9.5 is the play.

Matt Moore hasn’t had the best start to his Phillies career. Moore was excellent in the Rays starting rotation at the beginning of his career, but he has since fallen off as the Phillies are his fourth team in his last four years. He has a 5.40 ERA and has completed only five innings only once this season, the Phillies bullpen will have to come into play which has five arms on the injured list and another one of their arms is the starting pitcher. The price is right with Marlins -127 with Alcantara in the first game of the double header.

Antetokounmpo looks determined to level the series and Khriss Middleton and Jrue Holiday are doing enough in key moments to take pressure off him. I like the Bucks to hold at home again here and eke out the cover.

The Bucks are too one dimensional and defensively have no answer for the triple threat of Paul, Booker and Ayton. Plus Giannis can't shoot free throws. Close game but I've got Phoenix winning (and covering) 110-102.

The Orioles are 0-16 since May 11, 2021 on the road and Harvey was hammered last time out for seven earned runs, eight hits and a walk across only three innings. He has lost six straight across his past seven starts. Quantrill is a bit of a crap shoot and he was smashed for seven runs (five earned) and five hits while retiring just four batters in his last start. I'll take a flyer on Harvey and the O's to break their losing road losing streak but best value is on over 9 as I think this one hits double digits.

While I'm predicting the Clippers to win this series, I think the Jazz defense will be a challenge for LA this whole series and the Jazz have the fresher legs here in game 1.

I actually picked the Nets to win the series in six heading in, but I like the Bucks more after what we saw in Game 1. The shots didn’t fall, but the Bucks answered a lot of the questions I had going in, and the biggest reason I liked Brooklyn was Harden but w/o Harden, these Nets still resemble an AAU team.

And I like the Bucks to come out and get a statement win tonight and get you some Bucks +200 to win the series while you are at it. :)

The under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings between these two teams and 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams in Dallas. The last couple of games has seen the under come in, mainly because of a lack of scoring late after a hot scoring start to the game. I think that’s no different here as I expect this game to be back and forth and tight throughout. You play a team this many times in a row and defenses get a feel of the offenses and only get tighter.

As long as Brett Anderson to have a strong start and brings his A-game then Brew Crew should win bigly. Play: Brewers -1.5 (-105)

The Wizards were roughed up in Game 2 (120-95 score), falling into a 2-0 series hole heading home. To make matters worse Russell Westbrook rolled his ankle and is a question mark for Game 3.

The 76ers were a strong 55.7% from the field in Game 2 and they were just 42.9% (9-for-21) from long distance, but the Wizards were a dismal 2-for-22 shooting night from long distance. That’s just 9.1% from 3.

Philly narrowly missed a cover in Game 1, but covered with ease in Game 2 and with the Wizards troubles with long distance shooting and question mark around Westbrook, you've got to like Philly to flex their muscles in this spot.