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The Grizzlies will be looking to square up the series after making light work of the Warriors in a shockingly dominant 134-95 win in Game 5. Everybody was scoring for Memphis... Jaren Jackson Jr, Tyus Jones and Desmond Bane all went for 21 points while Dillon Brooks scored 12 points. As a team, the Grizzlies shot an impressive 47 percent from the field and 18 of 41 from the 3-point land. The Grizzlies did all of this without their best player in Ja Morant - they jumped all over the Warriors from the start and were never threatened at all after exploding for 77 points in the first half. The Grizzlies led by as many as 55 points at one point in game 5.

Golden State will be hoping to erase their memories after suffering one of the worst losses in playoff history. Klay Thompson led the team in scoring with 19 points, Jonathan Kuminga added 17 points while Stephen Curry chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Warriors shot 45 percent from the field and 14 of 39 from the 3-point line. They didn't match the intensity of the Grizzlies out of the gate and never found their rhythm on offense. Nobody really shot well in game 5 for the Warriors and they committed 22 turnovers and were terrible on the defensive end, leaking 77 points in the first half.

Pick & Prediction: The momentum is clearly with the Grizzlies now, but I think you can chalk game 5 up to a rare anomaly as you can't predict that the Dubs will play (or shoot) that poorly two games in a row. Golden State is a veteran team with championship experience and they don't want to see this series go to a 7th game. I do have the Warriors winning this series and the loss of Ja Morant is real, but the Grizzlies have shown they can play as a team and have 4-5 guys that can contribute on offense. I predict Golden State wins a close one but 8 points just feels a bit heavy here to lay against a growingly confident Memphis team

Prediction: Golden State 112- Memphis 108

This game will be a little closer than the line predicts. The Hurricanes are 6-1 against the spread and straight up in their last 7 games. On paper the Jayhawks are the better team, but KU didn't exactly run rough shod over the Big 12 this year. I'm just not high on this KU team, I think the Hurricanes make a game of it.

Don't see Saint Peters winning, but think this team is good enough to stay within earshot. Do you believe in miracles? Give me the points.

***SUPER DOG OF THE DAY*** Kansas is over rated...have been all year. I like Providence to win this game out right.

Arkansas has been great in underdog roles this season, going 4-1 ATS, but this is the largest number it has faced this season and it is well justified. I like this Arkansas team a lot, but when backing underdogs at this time of year I start with whether I like that team to win the game and I am just not seeing it here. Gonzaga is just too efficient offensively close to the basket and their interior defense, featuring freshman Chet Holmgren, is excellent too. With Arkansas not being a strong outside shooting team, the Razorbacks could lose touch with the Zags in a burst that creates separation for the rest of the game. Too much Drew Timme and too much perimeter shooting from the Zags - I predict they jump out early and stretch it to double digits.

It was if Texas was waiting to get its season started. For all of the worrying after a three-game losing streak and quick exit from the Big 12 Tournament, it just wasn’t that big of a deal. It lost to Kansas and Baylor – no shame there and it couldn’t get by a TCU team either, but we are seeing that the Frogs are pretty darn good. Purdue wins when it doesn’t miss. It’s 20-1 when it makes 48% or more of its shots, and it’s 24-2 when it’s better than 44% from the field. It’s 2-4 when it doesn’t make more than 43% of its shots. Texas has kept teams under that mark 22 times and has only allowed teams to shoot 48% or better six times. I'm betting on Texas defense stepping up today, as long as Purdue doesn't shoot the lights out, I think this game comes down to the wire.

Score PredictioN: Texas 69, Purdue 67

NCAA TOURNAMENT LONG SHOT **BEST BET***

TCU +30,000 to win the national title. Worth a $50 bet (pays $15,000). The Frogs looked mean down the stretch beating both Texas Tech and Kansas. They are a #9 seed and have #8 Seton Hall in game 1 and have the talent to beat Arizona in round 2. I like the Frogs to be this years Cinderella. Do you believe in miracles?

The Raiders blew out ISU but eked out a 1 point win over OU last night (56-55). KU has been squashing the opposition in Kansas City so far. KU belted West Virginia in the quarters by an 87-63 win as 9.5-point favorites Thursday. They followed that up with an impressive victory against TCU, 75-62.

These teams split the regular-season series, with the Red Raiders winning 75-67 Jan. 8 in Lubbock, and the Jayhawks won 94-91 in overtime Jan. 24 as the OVER again came in.

Looking at the numbers, the Jayhawks have cashed in six of the past eight games as favorite, while going 6-1 ATS in the past seven. But as good as KU has been playing in the Big 12 tournament, I just think Texas Tech's size presents problems for the Jayhawks. I'm looking past Tech's sluggish game against OU last night and taking them to beat Kansas today and win their first Big 12 title. Defense wins championships. #GunsUP

WVU +10

Big let down spot here for Tech and OSU did just beat Texas by 6 points (before their loss to WVU) as a 3 point dog. Also OSU was competitive against Top 10 KU team, but stumbled late and ended up losing by 11 points in that game. I'll take the points here and hoping the public money moves this line to OSU +9 before tip.

It's hard to beat a team twice in a season, let alone twice within a month. But guess what's harder? To beat Nick Saban in a national championship game. This is his 10th title bout and he's only lost twice, or let's call it a 80% win ratio. When he did lose it was to a Clemson team led by the best quarterback in college football that particular season: Deshaun Watson (2015) and Trevor Lawrence (2018).

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett isn't on that level, and the Tide seem to have found a groove in their bludgeoning of the Bulldogs, 41–24, a month ago in the SEC championship game. Sure, Georgia's defense is generational. But have you seen Alabama's receivers? The Bulldogs' secondary struggled to keep pace the first time around and there's no reason to think it won't have more issues in the sequel. Even without WR John Metchie, Alabama has plenty of talent at receiver with J. Williams and Bolden.

In a game like this I'm betting on the better QB and better coach and that's Alabama and getting +3 points is the icing on the cake.

I still don’t think we saw the best from the Jayhawks on Tuesday, though, and I believe they will be the fresher, more energetic team Saturday based on both health and roster circumstances. Terrence Shannon still out for Tech and not sure they have the offense to hang with a Top 5 team like KU. Bit of a tough spot for KU since back to back road games, but give me KU for the win and easy cover.

Kansas 71, Texas Tech 62

🏈 ***UTAH +4***

This game concerns me for Ohio State for a couple of reasons. First, it’s human nature to have a letdown after your goals are not met in the postseason. The players and coaches are all saying the right things, but the opt outs of four key starters tells a story. I don’t blame them one bit, but it still leads to this game not meaning as much as postseasons past.

Probably more importantly, Utah is a physical bunch that will try to replicate Michigan’s game plan. Look for downhill running with some play action and tight end work mixed in to control the clock and keep the OSU offense off the field. I don’t know how you fix playing physical and motivated in such a quick turnaround, and OSU just got beat physically last time out. Love the points here in a game that Utah can win out right.

The Jets have been hit by injuries and COVID-19, and head coach Robert Saleh is currently sidelined with the virus. On the other side the Jags have lost 15 consecutive road games dating back two calendar years. They're reeling on and off the field and have been destroyed in three consecutive games. The Jets at least put up a fight last week in Miami and are playing at home, but this is still a dumpster fire of a game. Slight lean on Jets -2 if forced to play it.

I am recommending an Over on army navy despite this game has gone Under 17 years in a row. Army can score. Wake Forest beat Army 70-56. WF is ranked 20th and playing Aggies in Gator Bowl. Navy scored especially as season progressed. Lost to Cincy 27-20. Most importantly only game on Saturday and need to feed the vein. You're welcome America.

The Longhorns have lost six straight games, their worst losing streak since 1956. The Wildcats are on a bit of a hot stretch, winners of four out of their last five.

Texas is a 3 point favorite despite not having won a game since early Oct. because KSU QB Skylar Thompson is questionable to play after suffering an injury last week against Baylor. But the Horns have their own issues at QB as both Casey Thompson and Hudson Card left the West Virginia game nursing injuries. Steve Sarkisian has reported that Thompson should be ready to play but likely will not be 100%.

But even if Skylar Thompson doesn't play today, they are a still dangerous with Deuce Vaughn in the backfield. Gameplanning to stop Deuce Vaughn is one thing, but doing it is another. The Wildcats have been pretty good at running the football this season and Texas has been as bad as there is in the country defending it. If Deuce gets loose then it could be enough to keep K-State in this one.

But I'm going with Texas to win this game. I just can't bet on KSU without Skylar Thompson at t the helm. Plus the Horns are LOADED at wide receiver and even without Bijan Robinson at RB there is another Robinson....Keilan Robinson who is still a top shelf back.

I like Texas here in a high scoring game. I think the 4 headed monster of a receiving corp is going to be hard for KSU's defense to stop and I believe Texas will have a hard time stopping Deuce Vaughn and KSU will have a big day on the ground.

Prediction: Texas 34 - KSU 27

Card is out with high ankle sprain, but Casey Thompson should be a go on Friday - Horns also get back all their receivers: Whittington, Dixon, Xavier Worthy and Marcus Washington. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/texas-football-few-minor-changes-173709875.html

Houston coming off of a big win over Top 25 SMU and has quietly put together a seven-game winning streak with a formidable defense. The schedule featuring games against Rice, Navy, Tulsa, Tulane and Grambling State is far from awe-inspiring, but the Cougars did hold both Texas Tech and SMU below 400 yards of total offense, which is no small feat.

And slowing down South Florida's offense hasn't been much of a struggle for anyone in the past four years since Quinton Flowers left. For the most part, the Bulls have also been woeful on defense this season.

Always beware the possible letdown game when a team enters the Top 25 for the first time all year, but it doesn't seem like it'll be a problem here.

Prediction: Houston 38, South Florida 17

I'm really surprised at this line. Again might be too linear but you have to LOVE Ok State in this spot. The Cowboys are undefeated and looked damn good against Texas last weekend.

Iowa State has losses to Iowa and Baylor and didn't look real dominate against K. State last week. And the Cyclones run defense hasn't been quite as impenetrable in Big 12 play but they still have one of the best front sevens in the country.

I do give the Cyclones the edge at QB as Brock Purdy has only had one dud this season, while Spencer Sanders has only had one good game. You never know what you're going to get with Sanders but the Ok State is undefeated for a reason...they are big up front, a veteran team with no real weaknesses. I'm not ready to put Ok State on upset alert but I do predict a close game that comes down to the final possession.

Prediction: Iowa State 24, Oklahoma State 21

Might be too linear of pick but I like LSU after what I saw from their win over Florida last weekend.

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral left last week's win over Tennessee for a play with an undisclosed injury and Kiffin reportedly said "he's not in very good shape and didn't feel good about him playing.".

If he can't go, would freshman Luke Altmyer get the start? Or would they perhaps put John Rhys Plumlee back there, since he has way more in-game QB experience and because his proven ability to run the ball would be useful against this LSU defense?

Also, did losing wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to a season-ending leg injury somehow force LSU to realize it can run the ball when necessary, or were those 321 yards against Florida's D just a fluke? Tyrion Davis-Price also ran it well the previous week against Kentucky and could be gearing up for another big game against an Ole Miss defense that ranks 111th in rushing yards allowed per game.

This line opened at 10 and has dropped to 8, but if Corral is out (as expected), then give me LSU +8 and sprinkle the ML. Also like the Unders here in this spot if Corral is in fact out.

I am still rolling with the Astros!! I knew that Boston could be a hard team to overcome, but facing the Astros, I had not doubts about that. Astros is still stronger team, their weakness right now is the pitching staff, they supposed to count with McCullers fighting vs Boston, but unfortunately it is not possible. I am not seeing a close game tonight, I am seeing the Astros as the winner, maybe 8-3. If you want to bet to the Over, go ahead, both team will score and Houston will hit at least two home runs. By the way, I have been waiting for a home run from Gurriel since two weeks ago, maybe today is his day. Astros here we go!!!

🏈***NCAAF EARLY WORMS 10/18*** 🐛

Scanning the opening lines vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/ and these games caught my attention. 🔒

🏈WAKE -3.5 - Army tough team but Wake more tested + better offense

🏈SYRACUSE +3 - Orange over VT - The Cuse' 9 points away from being 4-1 this year and have played a tougher schedule.

🏈PITTSBURGH -2 - Clemson is legitimately not good.

🏈Oklahoma -38 - KU has thrown in the towel. Sooners will score 60+

🏈OK STATE +7 - This line should be ISU -3 IMO

🏈UTSA -6.5 - I'm sold on this UTSA offense, plus La Tech has been bad last 2 weeks (coming off loss to UTEP).

You see anything that jumps off the page at you this week?

DROP YOUR CFB PICKS ⬇️

PHILLY +7 - I think the Eagles can negate some TB pressure & attack an injured secondary which has been cushioned facing NE (23rd) and MIA (30th) in OFF success. Philly receiving corp is young but potent. Eagles getting 7 where Patriots got 6? No Sir. Fly baby fly.

Over the last decade, If Texas and TCU went on Maury Povich, then Maury would say "Texas, TCU IS YOUR DADDY". The Frogs have won the last 7 out of 10 and have Zach Evans at running back...remember that name as Zach Evans is one of the Top 3 backs in all of college football and is the future of TCU football. But the tides are turning in Texas and the Horns are the most prolific points in college football right now and TCU doesn't have the defense they've had in years past. Even with Zach Evans I think the horns out pace TCU over 4 quarters here today with Casey Thompson at the helm.

Maybe Florida State should just schedule FCS opponents. Oh wait, they’re 0-1 against them as well.

Baylor wasn't supposed to be good this year and Iowa State was supposed to be a Top 10 team, but that hasn't exactly played out as predicted. Baylor has racked up more rushing yards than the total number of yards its defense allowed in each of its first three games. This would be a much more impressive feat if the Bears' first three opponents weren't Texas State, Texas Southern and Kansas, or if they had at least won that opener against Texas State by a more impressive margin than 29-20.

Baylor might be good, though. We simply don't know yet. The Bears certainly put a hurting on the Jayhawks in Week 3. And it's not like Iowa State got out to a great start to the season, barely defeating Northern Iowa before losing at home to a good Iowa team.

The one thing the Cyclones have consistently done well, though, is defend the run, holding each of their first three foes below 1.8 yards per carry. Baylor will fare better than that, but it won't come anywhere close to the 323 rushing yards per game it has averaged thus far. Without that dominance on the ground, the Bears will fall short of pulling off the upset. However, it's going to be a much closer game than anyone would have guessed one month ago. I think Baylor's offense does enough to make this one exciting down to the wire.

Prediction: Iowa State 27, Baylor 24

Unfortunately for Tulane, many of their keys to victory align directly with Oklahoma's strengths as well, which should make a difficult game on the road. Add in that some of Oklahoma's other strengths align with the weakness of Tulane, and it makes the idea of Tulane hanging on in this even more unlikely. 

So bet OU to cover right? Not so fast. Tulane has a new QB under center in Michael Pratt but Pratt got to start 2 games last year and has some experience. The strength of Tulane is their run game and I expect it to be 3 yards and a cloud of dust for the Green Waves today. Tulane will be looking to eat clock and limit OU’s possessions. As such I think the Green Wave find the end zone a couple of times and score 14-17 points here and do just enough to stay inside this thick spread. OU wins 45 -17 game but Tulane covers late.

This is an interesting matchup because both teams have rosters that look incredibly different compared to last year. Nobody knows how well this new-look Michigan State team full of transfers and true freshmen, with a few of last year’s contributors sprinkled in, will perform in 2021.

I understand Northwestern has had some early injuries and their quarterback didn’t look good the last time we saw him, but I totally don’t know what to expect from this MSU team this season. The Spartans brought in a wealth of Power Five transfers, many of whom should see some significant playing time. But I’ll need to see the offense string together some drives before I put my faith in this team.

Pick: I think opening the season with Northwestern is going to be a great measuring stick for the Spartans. I expect this to be a relatively low-scoring game as the offenses work the early season kinks out and the defenses come in more ready to play. UNDER 45.5

Kansas wins their only game of the year tonight.

Cal Quantrill has only allowed 20 hits and five runs in his 31 innings this month, accumulating 34 strikeouts in those games. Eovaldi hasn't been good on the road this season and Cleveland has the better bull pen.