Michael Alexander

Rating: 2 Units

I’m on the Yankees in this one. I just think that the Subway Series is a highly competitive series, but the Yankees are the better team and have looked much improved with the return of Aaron Judge to the lineup. The Mets haven’t been as sharp against lefties as they’ve been in recent weeks, and I think the Yankees get the job done here to draw first blood. Give me the Yankees.

NCAAF Gold Play

Rating: 4 Units

Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz has established himself as one of CFB’s rising young head coaches, but he is only 5-10 ATS in games when favored and coming off a win of 25-plus points, as well as 0-3 ATS in his career in road games off a win by the same margin. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks rank No. 39 overall in Returning Production Rankings, including No. 10 on defense, a huge 97-place advantage over Mizzou on that side of the ball. Remember, too, that KU is a conference home dog playing with a costly revenge chip on its shoulder from an 11-point loss in Columbia that contributed to a 5-7 bowl-costing season. Head Jayhawk Lance Leipold is 5-0 outright in season openers, averaging a win margin of more than 29 points per game, which segues nicely into the fact that Leipold is 37-16-1 ATS at home in his FBS head coaching career, including 15-3 ATS when coming off a win of 8-plus points.

Rating: 3 Units

The Wolverines are in rare territory as a home dog in this contest, but Whittingham brings a 24-8-1 ATS ledger into this fray as a dog when coming off an ATS loss, including 7-1 ATS versus undefeated opponents. Yes, the Wolves were gifted last week’s head-scratching “double Hail Mary” win, but they are still the epitome of a live Power Four dog, and coach Whit is in his element. Since 2000, CFB teams in Game Two, coming off a shutout win, are 5-14 SU / 6-12-1 ATS if they are facing a foe that won its previous game but lost the money. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline is the preferred side. Houston owns the lower ERA among the scheduled starters and has already taken two of three meetings this season, so this is not a matchup to dismiss. However, Tampa Bay has the stronger full-season profile, a 47-25 home record and major advantages in team ERA, WHIP, opponent batting average and walks allowed. With the Rays also batting .260 compared with Houston's .241, Tampa Bay has enough advantages on both sides of the ball to back at home.

Rating: 2 Units

Oregon is 17-0 SU and 12-4 ATS in games when coming off an ATS loss under Dan Lanning, and we don’t want to step in front of that with the ‘southbound wreck’ from Stillwater. The Cowboys have now lost 21 consecutive games against FBS opponents, and a 69-3 mauling in Eugene last year doesn’t give us much confidence in the OSU side here. We realize the Pokes had more yards (368-361), first downs (27-15), and total plays (86-57) against Tulsa, but they lost the all important turnover battle 4-1. Indiana, Ohio State and Washington are the only three teams to defeat the Ducks the previous three seasons. We’ll back the Quack Attack today

Rating; 3 Units

The Middies have won nine straight August/September games, and sit 22-5 since 2024 — best among non-autonomy programs — and have held four straight opponents under 300 total yards. Navy is 17-0 since 2021 when it scores on the opening possession. It’s hard to look the other way on a team in this role that’s gone 22-5 the past three-plus seasons. Finally, Navy is 5-0 SU/ATS away under head coach Brian Newberry when coming off a win and facing an opponent coming off a loss.

Rating: 2 Units

The Black Knights pummeled Bryant into submission during their win last weekend, bagging 569 rush yards, 9.3 yards per play, 31 first downs, 6-of-9 on third-down tries and no turnovers. Army gave up just 165 yards on defense with 3.1 yards per play, nine first downs and 3-of-14 on third downs allowed. The Knights are going to rush, rush and rush some more this year—then maybe throw a pass or two. As for South Florida, they didn’t get their offense going too well versus FIU, gaining just 208 yards, 3.7 yards per play and 14 first downs. The Bulls did get three takeaways on defense though, and held FIU to only 80 rush yards. Playing Army, however, will be another matter entirely.

CFB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

The Ohio State coach Day is 25-1 during the month, 20-1 in regular-season nonconference games and 25-1 in the Buckeyes’ last 26 games as the nation’s No. 1 team. His troops have also averaged 42.2 points across their last 31 games against non-Big Ten opponents. Texas owns the revenge motive, the home crowd and an offense capable of turning Saturday night into a track meet. Ohio State counters with the superior recent series history, the nation’s most dangerous receiver and a defense that has allowed the Longhorns only 21 combined points in the last two meetings. Sure, everything is bigger in Texas, including the stakes. But until the Longhorns finally crack the Buckeye code, revenge remains little more than a promise waiting to be delivered. When push comes to shove, consider that Ohio State has never lost in Austin – and Texas has yet to score more than 14 points against the Buckeyes in the last 17 years.