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Despite the rough start to the season, Fried is still the ace and has the stuff to shut down what has been an inconsistent Nats offense.

Pick: Braves -1.5 (-110)

Arizona might be the best team in the country, but I like this TCU team - I put $25 on TCU as a +30,000 long shot to win the tournament. TCU beat both Texas Tech and Kansas to close out the Big 12 season and the Frogs demolished Seton Hall in their first game. Doubtful TCU wins this game, but if they bring their A game they will scare Arizona today.

I'm expecting a much better performance from Georgia's defense in this game. Michigan wants to run the ball and doesn't have the same skill positions (or quarterback) that Alabama has. At the same time, part of me wonders if Georgia's confidence and swagger took a big hit following the Alabama performance. I'm a little leery about the spread here. I can make cases for either side. What I'm most confident in is a low-scoring game.

Pick: Under 45.5

**PROP LOCKS 🔒**

🔐 Alex Collins OVER 46 yards rushing. (MAX BET). He is the featured back and ran hard last week against Steelers where he carried the ball 20 times for 101 yards. With the weather Collins should get a big work load tonight.

🔐 Marquez Callaway tonight on the over 45.5 receiving yards (2 UNITS). Saints other receiver has been ruled out so Callaway will get a lot of targets tonight.

I think we see some offensive fireworks in this one. Ole Miss enters fresh off a 52-51 win over Arkansas, which was merely its third-highest point total this season. Meanwhile, Tennessee won its last two games against Missouri and South Carolina by a combined score of 107-44. These two offenses have thrown one interception combined this season, and save for Tennessee's game against overmatched Tennessee Tech, neither secondary has been that opportunistic.

The Ole Miss defense has stifled dual-threat quarterbacks Malik Cunningham and Michael Pratt earlier this season, but the Rebels defense got destroyed by KJ Jefferson to the tune of three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. Hooker has been impressively efficient, but he has not yet been asked to throw the ball more than 25 times in a game. That will most likely need to change to keep pace on the scoreboard in this one. I like Corral and the Rebels to win a shootout so laying the -2.5 and playing the OVER 82.5.

Prediction: Ole Miss 45, Tennessee 38

The Tigers were down 21-10 early in the third quarter against Penn State, trailed Georgia State 24-12 at halftime, had to rally from a 13-0 deficit against LSU and never felt like a threat in their 34-10 loss to Georgia. The rushing attack that destroyed Akron and Alabama State through the first two weeks hasn't been there for the past month.

After the Razorbacks' 676-yard, 51-point performance against Ole Miss, there's little question they have the offense to pull away from Auburn if it sleepwalks through another first half.

KJ Jefferson is the real deal Holyfield - he threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia Southern and carried the Arkansas offense to victory over Texas A&M. He accounted for six touchdowns against the Rebels and has come a long way since being ranked by Sports Illustrated as the 12th-best starting SEC quarterback in the preseason.

Despite what it showed against Ole Miss, Arkansas has the better defense in this game, as well as the more proficient quarterback. That said, life is like a Bo(Ni)x of chocolates. You never know which Auburn QB you're gonna get...I don't love this line (or this game) but Arkansas to me has been more consistent and is my pick here. Give me the Hogs (slight lean).

Prediction: Arkansas 28, Auburn 21

Following the marquee road win over Notre Dame, the No. 1 topic this week in college football is Cincinnati's case for inclusion in the College Football Playoff. The Bearcats are flying higher than ever before, and with them playing at home against a Temple squad that has already lost by 25 to Boston College and by 47 to Rutgers this season, a four-touchdown spread doesn't feel like anywhere near enough.

Prediction: Cincinnati 48, Temple 17

Cinci still doesn't have an O-line. Dalvin Cook going to tear em' a new hole.

philly going to be bad this year.

Missouri's defense completely shut down Kentucky last season, holding the Wildcats to 145 yards of total offense. But the Tigers were otherwise nothing special on defense in 2020 and had quite a bit of trouble this past weekend, allowing 475 total yards in a 34-24 win over Central Michigan. Penn State transfer Will Levis threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns in a Week 1 win over Louisiana-Monroe. I expect the Wildcats defense will hold Missouri below 21 points for a fourth consecutive year and get the cover here.

Prediction: Kentucky 31, Missouri 20

The big question for any team facingMississippi State is: Can you defend the pass? NC State was hit or miss in that department last season, but with most of those defensive backs returning for another season, the Wolfpack secondary was relentless against South Florida in a Week 1 shutout. Granted, facing South Florida's passing game as a warm-up for facing Mike Leach is like swinging at a few slow-pitch softballs before stepping into the batter's box against Aroldis Chapman. Still, I believe NC State gets the necessary stops and interceptions to capitalize on a lackluster MSU defense for a road win.

Prediction: NC State 38, Mississippi State 30

UNDER 7.5 and TB

I don't see Houston losing against Gilbert.

Arizona F5, I have more faith in SD bull pend then I do Yu Garbage

Look at Seattle going to work. 👍

TB is seriously inflated because of the run they've been on over last 30 days. You have to take the plus money and the O's offense is in the top against lefties.

Love the Orioles here. Keegan Akin has been a bright spot since joining the rotation, holding opponents to one earned run over his first 9 2/3 innings. He has a 3.09 ERA as a starter in eight games dating back to 2020. Ryan Yarborough has an ERA right at 4.00 and is 3-3 in his six starts this season. Give me the kid and the +150 odds.

Royals +130

The White Sox's bats were ice cold at Yankee Stadium but against the Cardinals at home in this spot, I expect Chicago to wake up. Giolito just needs to bring his A game to get the win here.

The Mariners' offense is one of the worst in the league but against the A's Cole Irvin, I expect some runs to be scored by Seattle. I don't look for youngster Logan Gilbert to last more than 3 innings, but he has been hit hard in his limited innings.

The Braves are scoring runs the way we thought they would at the start of the season and the bullpen has looked good of late. I take my chances with Charlie Morton here.

The Reds' Tyler Mahle is coming off his worst outing of the year and they have been far too inconsistent for me to back them here against one of the best starters in the league.

Turnbull has been pitching at a high level, recording 33 swinging strikes in his last two starts. Turnbull has allowed just 1 ER in 15 1/3 IP across his last two outings, with a 16/3 K/BB. His most recent performance was a gem, as he pitched a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners.

The Detroit offense ranks dead last in wRC+ vs left-handed pitching, but they haven’t faced many with skills as weak as Hentges. He is walking a lot of batters and allowing consistent hard contact, leading to five homers allowed in his 15 1/3 innings of work.

Detroit is the easy choice here.

A pair of struggling starting pitchers in Keuchel and Taillon will toe the rubber, with both offenses seemingly poised to break out. I think we see some runs today at the Yankee Stadium hitter friendly park with two sub-par hurlers on the hill.

Mr. Trice aside, the Badgers have gone brutally cold from the field and isn’t hitting from three. They only hit 40% or more from three once in their last 13 games, the’ve only hit 40% from the field once in the last five games, and worst of all, the defense has sort of stopped too.

Purdue hasn’t played a slew of killer teams, but it’s shooting incredibly well lately against mediocre teams. Wisconsin is proving to be one of those mediocre teams. Purdue’s defense will outplay the Badger D in a bit of a slugfest.

Lavine Killing this match bro

The Rockets haven’t won a game since Feb. 4, dropping each of their last seven. And now on Monday, they could be without Cousins and may still not have Oladipo back.

The Thunder have won three straight on the road, and four of five games on their recently concluded trip. All four of OKC’s wins on the road trip were as an underdog as three or more points. The Spurs were able to score just 88 points in its eight-point loss at Minnesota Sunday in the second end of a back-to-back. Wrong team favored.

Everything I've read said that Jared Goff "was ready to go today", so Rams will have Goff and Cooper Kupp back for the rubber match after the Week 16 loss at Seattle cost them the NFC West title. The Rams have arguably the best defense in the NFL lead by Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, so look for thhe Seahawks' running game to be contained and Russell Wilson won't see much open downfield for D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The Rams will mix up personnel, running the ball well and spreading it around in the intermediate passing game to Kupp, Woods and the tight ends. I think this fickle Rams team does just enough today. Pick: Rams win 20-17