Nelly
New Mexico +8 over Colorado State
The Lobos were embarrassed at Fresno State last week and the quarterback situation remains jumbled with freshman Tevaka Tuioti taking most of the snaps in the shutout loss. New Mexico has had success this season behind three different quarterbacks and ultimately that makes the defensive prep work more difficult for Colorado State.
At 3-3 two of the toughest league games are ahead the next two weeks for a critical stretch for Bob Davie’s team, looking to recapture last season’s success. Colorado State is the lone 3-0 MWC team but there is company in the division race with Wyoming and Boise State getting big road wins last week. The Rams won 49-31 at home last season in this matchup and the offensive production has been strong behind Nick Stevens as one of the top passers in the country.
The defense displayed red flags last week however with 42 points allowed against a struggling Nevada team. The Rams did play Alabama this season but the rest of the schedule has been very weak and this will be a third road game in four weeks, on a short week as well with the Friday night contest in Albuquerque.
New Mexico rushed for 285 yards in last season’s loss in this matchup and the Lobos are gaining 5.4 yards per carry this season as a potential home underdog with a rushing edge. The Rams are on a 10-16 ATS run as a road favorite and this is the largest road favorite spread for Colorado State in this series since 1999 even through some very lean years for the Lobos. The big opening win over Oregon State is no longer relevant while New Mexico has played a quality schedule with several teams that have surpassed expectations already.
Rob Vinciletti
Colorado St. at New Mexico
Play: Colorado St. -8.5
The Rams have a big edge on offense and will put up plenty on a fading New Mexico defense that allowed 38 in last weeks shout out loss to Fresno. The Rams have won and covered 8 of the last 10 here and are a solid 14-3 ats after scoring 40 or more and 9-1 ats in the last 10 conference games. The Lobos have failed to cover 20 of 28 after allowing 450 or more yards. Look for Colorado St to cover. at 10:15 eastern on ESPN 2. The Rams have a big edge on offense and will put up plenty on a fading New Mexico defense that allowed 38 in last weeks shout out loss to Fresno. The Rams have won and covered 8 of the last 10 here and are a solid 14-3 ats after scoring 40 or more and 9-1 ats in the last 10 conference games. The Lobos have failed to cover 20 of 28 after allowing 450 or more yards. Look for Colorado St to cover.
OC Dooley
Yankees / Astros Over 7
The American League Championship series returns to Houston where the Astros won a pair of very low scoring 2-1 contests, but for the team to have a legitimate shot at advancing to the World Series their NUMBER ONE ranked regular season offense (runs, batting average, on base and slugging percentage) must come alive. The Astros also ranked #2 in HOMERUNS hit during the regular campaign trailing none other than the Yankees so despite Justin Verlander's ERA since arriving in Houston (around the "one" mark) being spectacular odds are tonight's game will sneak above a deflated number. While Luis Severino of the Yankees was arguably the third-best starter in the entire American League he never has had the PRESSURE of a potential postseason "clincher". Following a brilliant outing holding the opposition to one-or-less earned runs he is 13-4 OVER the total with his offense providing an average of 5.6 runs per contest of support. With UMPIRE Jim Reynolds (both visitors and hosts averaging FIVE runs per contest) his games excluding pushes have gone 17-6 OVER in the past twenty-three chances
Brandon Shively
Washington vs. Detroit
Pick: Washington -125
The Capitals lay low juice Friday night in Detroit.
Washington is a few steps ahead of this Red Wings team in terms of their play on both sides of the puck.
The Caps have one of the most eventful and aggressive offenses in the NHL. Washington is just attack minded, which should cause the Wings a lot of fits.
Alex Ovechkin has racked up 39 shots already this season and he, along with the rest of these forwards, will crash the net consistently. Detroit is already giving up 3.0 goals per game, which certainly doesn't hold well for them against this offense.
This is a lower price than normal on the Caps. They're worth a play.