• Detroit comes into Charlotte with a distinct advantage in the trenches and skill-position depth. Jahmyr Gibbs offers explosive run-pass balance, while Detroit's veteran offensive line should give Jared Goff enough time to attack a battered Panthers cornerback group. While Bryce Young has put up strong overall passing numbers, Carolina's offense has struggled with efficiency and turnovers when playing under constant pressure. Expect Carolina to stay competitive early at home, but Detroit's pressure up front and superior big-play capability will prove decisive in the second half. Pick: Detroit Lions -3.5 @ -112 (Caesars)

Good fight - better win. Thanks to those who tailed. See you next week!

Thank you for those who tailed.

4 picks across 3 teams. Chalk is Ravens at 54.2% of the field.

Picks are in. 24 entries still alive, $320,833 implied value.

6,291 picks across 24 teams. Chalk is Vikings at 43.4% of the field.

Picks are in. 6,285 entries still alive, $3,980 implied value.

Patriots and the points (-7) seem to be a very popular pick on Sunday in many contest and I am one of them. As bad as the Patriots have looked this season (I traded Drake May(be) and Christian Watson from my fantasy team for Tyler Schough and Justin Jefferson), this sets up as a cover spot for them and a nice game from May(be). Bills Defense is real suspect and Vrabel might be recalculating things.....this season isn't last season's EASY schedule.

Thursday recap: 0–3. Nola broke my heart. BUT we still got LeBron. Anyway, back to the K department.

Miz is the obvious choice for today’s strikeout leader, but I kinda like Drew Rasmussen:

• Daily K leader (+650)
• 7+ Ks (+117)

Also leaning:
• Messick under 6.5 Ks (-121)

Who does everyone like today? Anyone else looking at Rasmussen, or are we all riding with Miz?

Last week, my followers on the VSIN Community collected with the Washington Commanders notching an outright win over the Seattle Seahawks as underdogs. This Sunday’s betting board has another ‘home dog’ in a spot to cash tickets, with the New York Giants hosting the Arizona Cardinals.

New York moved to 2-1 ‘SU’ and ‘ATS’ with last week’s 12-7 win as 2.5-point home ‘chalk’ against the Tennessee Titans. Giants quarterback Jameis Winston made his first start of the season, completing 14-of-22 passes for 118 yards. The 11-year veteran guided his crew to 35 minutes of possession time, with no turnovers. New York’s Dominic Zvada went 4-for-4 with field goals in an ‘under-fest’ of tough weather for the team’s only scoring.

Arizona pulled off a ‘back door cover’ in last Sunday’s 36-30 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers as 7.5-point road underdogs. The Cardinals trailed the entire game, while penalized 10 times for 86 yards. Although Mike LaFleur’s squad surged to within a two-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Arizona’s defense then allowed a costly 65-yard touchdown drive to ice the 49ers’ victory.

Following last week’s action, Circa Sports’ Jeff Sherman posted a Sunday night line favoring New York by 1 point in its matchup with the Cardinals. The Giants have since shifted to be 2.5-point underdogs in the latest VSiN Odds, with Arizona wagers making up over 75-percent of VSiN Betting Splits handle at both Circa and DraftKings.

I am taking New York and the short ‘number’ here, feeling that public betting is on the wrong side.  While Arizona has had its moments this season, the Cardinals’ sole victory came in Week 1 against the 0-3 Los Angeles Chargers. Both games since then for Arizona have also been out west, and laying points in a cross-country spot can be a high premium.

New York enjoys its second straight week at home here and should improve even more after last Sunday’s win. Winston is expected to be under center again and should move the ball easier against the Cardinals’ defenders, who are giving up a sizeable 362 YPG. Arizona starting linebacker Josh Sweat is listed as “questionable” to play due to a groin injury.

In addition to backing the Giants plus 2.5 points in this duel, I also entered the play as my best bet in VSiN’s “EDGE BOOST Average Joe Contest.” As expected, this has turned out to be a contrarian play with Arizona showing a 300-to-123 margin of choices in its favor. Look for New York to surprise the ‘chalk’ crowd and get the money here.

Courtesy of my colleagues at MLB Network Research..

The winner in Game 1 of a best-of-five postseason series has gone on to win 116 of 160 series (73%) all-time. Across the past four postseasons, this has rung true in 14 of 16 series (the exceptions: 2022 Padres came back to beat the Dodgers; 2025 Mariners beat Tigers).

• This is just the fourth year in 126 seasons of White Sox baseball they won a postseason series. But they won the World Series each of the prior three times: 1906, 1917, 2005 (granted, the World Series was the only postseason series played back in 1906 & 1917).

• Only the Twins (6-23, .207) have a worse cumulative record in the LDS since its introduction in 1995 than the Padres (9-17, .346) and White Sox (5-9, .357).

• The Dodgers are trying to join the Yankees of 1936-39, 1949-53, and 1998-00 as well as the 1972-74 Athletics as the only teams ever to win three consecutive World Series titles.

• The Dodgers have lost 14 of 16 games vs. teams that made the playoffs dating back to July 31. 1-2 vs. SD | 0-3 vs. ATL | 1-3 vs. MIL | 0-3 vs. CHC | 0-3 vs. BOS

• The Yankees haven’t pulled off too many postseason upsets in the Aaron Judge Era (since his 2017 debut). They’ve won all eight series in that span as the higher seed, but they’ve lost eight of ten series in which they did not hold homefield advantage (2017 LDS, 2020 WCS vs. CLE).

• Yankees since 2017 in PS when holding the higher seed (homefield advantage): 8-0 record.

• Yankees since 2017 in PS when holding the lower seed (no homefield advantage): 2-8 record.

• Air Force enters with greater offensive momentum behind Liam Szarka's explosive dual-threat play making. While Navy’s ground game remains dangerous regardless of whether Woodson or Gutierrez gets the start, ball security issues and playing at altitude give Air Force the decisive edge in a close, hard-nosed rivalry battle. Pick: Air Force -2.5 @ -127 (Caesars)

• Nebraska’s dominant offensive and defensive lines will dictate the pace from the opening kickoff. Expect Nebraska's pass rush to force Maryland into early passing downs, exploiting the Terrapins' offensive line vulnerabilities. Maryland may make a few big athletic plays downfield, but Nebraska’s discipline, trench depth, and home-field advantage will prove too overwhelming. Pick: Nebraska -14 @ -114 (BETMGM)

• Toronto’s elite top-line firepower (Matthews & Nylander) against Ottawa's depleted depth and missing key blue-liner Artem Zub gives the home team the edge. Expect Toronto to capitalize on special teams opportunities at home. Pick: Toronto ML @ -120 (DK)

Pumped to be with you all this week from Noon to 3 PM ET during the early window. If you have YouTubeTV, remember to make us a part of your custom quad box so we can sweat these games out together.

Feels like a week where it’s a little too quiet and chaos will go down. Which team gets upset today?

Here is what I’m riding with early:

West Virginia +2.5

Wake Forest -13.5

Minnesota +6.5

Michigan State +10

First Saturday in October! That usually means 2 things here in the South: The Braves will find a way to blow it in the Playoffs, and College Football Saturdays rule the world. If you are a guy getting married or planning a big get together, don’t you dare allow it to be scheduled for an Autumn Saturday! Wait until next Summer! From Labor Day to NCAA Final Four Weekend, Saturdays are sacred for the Sports Gambler!

Don’t forget to catch all the action today on VSiN. Live Bet Saturday is from 3-6P ET today as Will Hill and I watch the games, go over Live Betting Lines, and have some fun while trying to pick some winners! 

Betting Splits and Lines courtesy of Circa. And Betting Systems data goes back to the 2005 season. 

CAL +2 at UNLV 

To channel my inner Seinfeld, “What’s the deal with THIS line?” Weren’t we all lined up like Kramer at the track to bet Cal last week over once-mighty Clemson? Overreaction?

Betting Splits: 72% of the tickets are on UNLV to cover, but 83% of the money is on Cal. 

Betting System: Short Road Dogs over the years do very well. Blindly taking Road Dogs of 4 points or less cover 54% of the time in a large sample size (1,019-907). 

Best Bet: Cal +2 

FLORIDA STATE +1.5 vs Virginia 

Nothing we have seen this year says Florida State is better than Virginia, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But the market is yelling at us to take FSU here. 

Betting Splits: 79% of the tickets are on Virginia, while 90% of the money is on Florida State. 

Best Bet: Florida State +1.5 

FLORIDA –6 at Missouri 

What’s this? A Conference Road Favorite? You never take them! Never say never! Florida might be the most impressive team so far in 2026.  

Line Moves: Florida was –2.5 on September 23rd, and –3.5 last Sunday. Steam move to the Gators. 

Betting System: When 2 ranked teams get together, the favorites win and cover 56% of the time (515-418) 

Best Bet: Florida –6 

MARYLAND +15.5 at Nebraska 

Maryland lost 54-3 to UCLA last week! How can you back them this week? Makes no sense! Perfect time for a contrarian play on a team that seems to have given up and has no chance! 

Betting Splits: 52% of the tickets, and 82% of the money is on Maryland. 

Betting Systems: Conference Road Dogs coming off a loss of 24 points or more bounce back, covering 56% of the time (550-453). Also, Nebraska is one of the worst Conference Home Favorites in the nation. Opponents who are Conference Road Dogs cover 64% of the time at Nebraska (34-19). 

Best Bet: Maryland +15.5 

PURDUE +10 at Illinois 

Here’s another team off a huge loss in Purdue. Keep in mind both teams are perfect going Over the Total this season, and that helps the Dogs and gives us a System. 

Betting Splits: 54% of the tickets are on Illinois, but 92% of the money is on Purdue. 

Betting System: As both teams are 4-0 to the Over, the public is betting an Over here. But when a Total rises 3 points or more from the Opening Line, Road Dogs cover 56% of the time 363-302), including 3-1 this season. 

Best Bet: Purdue +10

CLEMSON +15.5 vs Miami 

Somehow, Clemson is 3-1. After their opener against LSU, it seems like a miracle. But this is a Market Play where the line moves and betting splits tell the story. 

Line Moves: Clemson has gone from +18.5 on Sunday to +15.5. 

Betting Splits: More money and tickets are on Miami, and this line has dropped 3 points? Classic Reverse Line Move to Clemson. 

Best Bet: Clemson +15.5 

BAYLOR +4 at Arizona State 

Neither of these offenses have been lighting up this year. That favors the Conference Road Dog. 

Line Moves: Arizona State was –4.5, now -4 

Betting Systems: Road Dogs when the Total is 50 or less cover 54% (1,063-939). 

Best Bet: Baylor +4 

Good luck today! And as always, may the winners be yours..... 

Birmingham Legion of the USL have had a tough season with a 4 -11-10 record. They have struggled to defend, giving up 42 goals in 25 games. Birmingham has really struggled on the road; in the last 8 games they have 0-5-3 record with their last win on the road coming in June. They have to be looking forward to the trip to beautiful Detroit to take on a good Detroit team that has a 12-8-6 record and sits third in the Eastern conference. Detroit home games have been low scoring this season but that might change with the leaky Birmingham defense. I am going to take a shot on Detroit win at -156 and over 2 1/2 and a small play on the over 3 1/2. This game goes Saturday at 6:00 PM central.

:

• Wang Cong presents a dangerous striking threat with proven durability and pressure, but Natalia Silva holds significant edges in cage movement, speed, top-tier Octagon experience, and defensive footwork.

  Having already outpointed elite movers like Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas, Silva has demonstrated the exact game plan required to manage aggressive strikers. Expect Wang Cong to land early hard shots, but Silva's superior speed and lateral angles should allow her to out-land Wang on points as the fight stretches into the championship rounds. Pick - N. Silva by Decision @ -110

• The Braves are resilient and carried momentum out of the Wild Card round, but their heavily depleted pitching staff—combined with high usage of key bullpen pieces—puts them at a distinct disadvantage at Dodger Stadium. The rested Dodgers offense will capitalise on a fatigued Braves pitching corps. Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (Run Line) @ +100

Jaymo because he's due finally score's not one but two TD against the reeling lowly Panthers that's my Best bet this weekend

Saturday’s college football card includes a late-night matchup with the Arizona Wildcats hosting the Cincinnati Bearcats in a Big 12 battle. VSiN Betting Odds show Circa Sports opened Arizona as an 8.5-point favorite, with a ‘total’ of 55. Early action has seen Cincinnati drop to as low as a 6.5-point underdog on other betting boards, while the ‘total’ sits at a widely available 55.5.

The Wildcats picked up their third win of the season last Saturday with a 34-24 victory over the Washington State Cougars. Arizona’s Noah Fifita tied his season-high with four touchdowns through the air, including a pair in the second half to surge ahead from the team’s 17-14 halftime deficit. While Fifita and Co. failed to ‘cover’ a heavy 11.5-point ‘number,’ Arizona now ranks second in the Big 12’s passing with 303.8 YPG.

Cincinnati remained unbeaten this season with its 31-26 upset win last week over the Kansas State Wildcats a 6.5-point ‘dog.’ The victory moved Scott Satterfield’s crew to a 3-1 mark ‘ATS,’ with the ‘total’ going ‘over’ for a third straight game. While the Bearcats have fared well at the betting windows, none of its contests have taken place yet outside the “Buckeye state.”

Arizona has yet to cash a point-spread ticket this season, but this Saturday’s ‘lumber’ is lower than its prior three spots as ‘chalk.’ This sets up a “buy low” type of spot for the Wildcats, while Cincinnati’s gridiron clocks will need to reset with an 11 p.m. ET start out west.

Based on VSiN Betting Splits, Circa Sports has taken mostly Bearcats bets at its current line of 7 while DraftKings has a majority of its backers laying 6.5 points with Arizona. I will be joining the ‘square’ DK crew with a Wildcats ticket but may avoid using them in VSiN’s “EDGE BOOST Average Joe” contest if Circa’s odds remain a half-point north.

Cincinnati saw a seven-game winning streak last season end with a 45-14 loss in Salt Lake City to the Utah Utes, missing the 11.5-point spread mark by a few ski slopes. Look for the Bearcats to again implode here, with Arizona piling on late points to collect at the ‘books.’

From my colleagues at MLB Network Research..

Looking Ahead: The winner in Game 1 of a best-of-five postseason series has gone on to win 116 of 160 series (73%) all-time. Across the past four postseasons, this has rung true in 14 of 16 series (the exceptions: 2022 Padres came back to beat the Dodgers; 2025 Mariners beat Tigers).

Guardians: Steven Kwan reached base safely in his final 18 regular-season games, slashing .362/.457/.493 (25-69 AB) with 11 runs scored during the streak.

• Kwan led MLB in AVG (.353) and OBP (.443) in the second half (MIN: 200 PA).

• Kwan vs. Chicago in 2026: .357/.460/.500 (15-42 AB), 7 runs.

Dodgers: won Game 1 of any postseason series at Dodger Stadium 12 times in 13 chances since Dave Roberts took over as the team’s skipper in 2016.

Rays: Drew Rasmussen is 9-0, 1.86 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break—all Rays victories. They haven’t lost a game started by Rasmussen since July 9…against the Yankees in TB.

Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski finished his Cy Young campaign with 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings. He hasn’t allowed a run since the first inning vs. the Cubs on September 8.

• Misiorowski finished the season with more strikeouts (252) than his opponents’ SLG (.246).

Dating back to 1979, only 2 teams have started the season 0-3 and made the playoffs

Ironically, those teams are one in the same:

Houston Texans

And they just so happened to do it last year

And here they are again at 0-3…

Solid plus money right now to make the playoffs and flip the script again. Would you back them with your money? And dare I say if they lose Sunday to Dallas, could they be the first team to make it after starting 0-4?????

Minnesota as a home dog is the way to go here. UM may be 3-1 on paper, but everyone in America knows they are actually 2-2. This is also their first trip outside of Ann Arbor. Minny comes back home for an early kickoff after the late night road win in Seattle last Saturday as double-digit dogs. Crazy that for a "trophy game", this contest isn't played on a yearly basis anymore. While UM has won the last 5 games they have played, this goes back to 2015. The last meeting in 2024, was only a 3 point UM win (27-24). Two good defenses here, with the offensive edge going to The Gophers. The momentum is in the Boat Rowers favor, they win the game outright and reclaim The Little Brown Jug.

This game will be played at 2:30 PM central at Protective Life stadium in Birmingham. These two schools are less than a mile apart but are not huge rivals as they play at different levels in football. UAB head coach Alex Mortensen played two seasons at Samford before transferring to Arkansas. I dont see him running the score up on Samford. UAB will win this game but i like Samford +30 1/2 to cover. UAB comes off a huge win vs Navy and has Memphis on deck so maybe its just get a win and get ready for Memphis. Samford is not good but did get their first win last week. UAB likes to run the ball and there is some thunderstorms in the forecast. Some things to like in this game. We will give it a shot with Samford +30 1/2

I like the Under 9 1/2 corners in the Kazakhstan vs Moldova game. Hoping for a midfield game with very few chances. also playing smaller amounts on under 8 1/2 and 7 1/2. This game goes at 9:00 AM central time.

The game was wide open , had no chance on under corners.

• Even without Jarvis, Carolina’s high-volume shooting scheme and structural dominance at home give them a slight edge over Washington. Expect a tight, physical Metropolitan Division battle where special teams play a massive role. Pick - Carolina Hurricanes ML @ -140

• Winnipeg usually brings heavy energy for home openers at Canada Life Centre, but Boston already has a game under its belt, showing early defensive composure behind Swayman. Expect a tight, lower-scoring battle that comes down to special teams execution in the 3rd period or overtime. Pick - Boston Bruins ML @ +107