SAM MARTIN
Ohio State vs. Indiana
Play: Indiana +21½
Buckeyes made it to the College Football Playoffs last year, which was a year earlier than most anticipated after losing a ton of talent to the NFL and having just six returning starters on the roster. This year, Ohio State returns 15 starters, including quarterback JT Barrett to lead a revamped offense led by former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson. We expect very big things from Ohio State this year, but this is not the spot to back them. Indiana is very good offensively and can score some points against an Ohio State team that has their eye on next week's big showdown against Oklahoma. Buckeyes will win this game by a comfortable margin, but they will also not want to tip their hand in terms of formations and blitz packages and keep those plays off film so the Sooners can't get a peek. Too many points to lay on the road against a quality offense in this big "look-ahead" spot, and we'll back the Hoosiers to stay well within this generous number.
BRAD DIAMOND
Tulsa @ Oklahoma State
Play: Over 69.5
Oklahoma State shows off a super 38-8 victory over Colorado (-3) in the Alamo Bowl. However, they play in after losing to Oklahoma and Baylor in 2016, breaking the hearts of their faithful. It’s difficult to assess a Big-12 Championship but, the Pokes do catch the Sooners at home this season. Again, the Pokes offense is loaded led by QB Rudolph and wide out Washington (groin) both seniors and record-breaking players achieving awards. Also, we can’t forget RB Justin Hill who will surely dent the Hurricanes defense that was ranked #102 in yards allowed (466.6) in 2016. The Cowboys come off a super offensive season averaging 38.6 points per game and bring back a huge offensive line. Defensively, they return 56% of their starters and should look improved tonight with the Hurricanes starting only 29% of the 2016 offensive starters. Although Tulsa scored 45.7 points per game last year, they were sullied on the defensive end allowing 29.8 points per game. From the coaching standpoint, a huge edge goes to HC Mike Gundy of the Cowboys who has brought consistent success to Stillwater including, a national championship. Since 2010, State has garnered five ten wins seasons, seven top-ten finishes going back to 2008.
OC Dooley
Phillies / Marlins Over 9
The key to this wager surrounds the most recent start made by Miami's Odrisamer Despaigne (just one earned run allowed) where he was brilliant in an extremely low scoring 2-to-1 home victory against San Diego. But with Despaigne actually beginning his career with the Padres and going up against an opposing hurler Dinelson Lamet who leads rookie hurlers in overall STRIKEOUT production, that low scoring game should not have come as a complete shock. Considering that in his career Despaigne has struggled in the "second half" wearing down (5.56 ERA) odds are strong that the Philadelphia offense will have a big night led by rookie sensation Rys Hoskins (11 homers in a recent 14-game span was historical for a first year player). Nick Williams of the Phillies has had tremendous success (.393 average with 9 RBI) when facing Miami pitching. On the mound for Philadelphia tonight is the same Ben Lively who was on the losing end of a wild 17-to-2 loss against the Cubs last time on the mound. Lively for the most part pitches to "contact" which is bad news as he has to deal with baseball's strongest hitter Giancarlo Stanton and his 51 homers