Saturday 1-11-20 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jack Brayman

My free play for Saturday is on the Tennessee Titans against the Baltimore Ravens, in what I'm guessing will be a very run-oriented football game. I'm not convinced they will pull this out, but I have more faith in Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill than other critics. I mean, since he took over that offense this has been a different football team, and he did lead the NFL in passer rating this season.

Derrick Henry complements him well in the backfield, and will help us keep the clock moving and the ball out of Baltimore's hands. Henry is tough to bring down, and has been effective in so many situations, that when his number is called, defensive units seem out of place at the wrong time. Henry will make life miserable for the Ravens, and keep them guessing during sustained drives.

Yes, on the other side there is Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who may have led the league with 36 touchdown passes, but will now face a Titans defense that has improved down the stretch and been battle-tested to this point. I fully expect pure pass rusher is Harold Landry - who nobody can effectively gameplan for - to apply pressure all game, and force Jackson into mistakes.

Trust me, the Titans are good enough to win this one, they certainly good enough to cover. A victory undoubtedly hinges on their ability to shorten the game on offense, and keep the Ravens offense on the sideline. That remains to be seen.

Take the big road dog here.

1* TITANS

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bob Valentino

I am a big believer in Chris Mack and this year's edition of the Louisville Cardinals!

That being the case, I have no problem laying a few away from the Bluegrass State with the 'Ville as they play in South Bend versus a Notre Dame team that has split their last 8 games straight up and happen to be coming off a loss at N.C. State on Wednesday night in a game coach Mike Brey used on 6 players in for the 40 minute session.

Rex Pfleuger is expected to be back for this one, but the Irish could likely use maybe Kelly Tripuka or Adrian Dantley today when the face the ranked Cards who just ended a 2 game slide with a convincing thumping of Miami-Florida in which the ACC's leading scorer Jordan Nwora dropped 19 points. The Redbirds limited the Hurricanes to just 27.9% shooting from the floor in that victory as Miami was limited to 58 points.

The Cards lead the conference in three-point shooting - 37% - and shoot it at 46.9% overall from the floor, so expect the Irish to be playing from behind in this game from the early stages.

Louisville is on a 4-game series winning streak over Notre Dame, including double-digit wins and covers in the pair of series meetings a season ago.

I don't see anything changing here today.

Louisville makes it 5 in a row over Our Lady with the road win and cover.

2* LOUISVILLE

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bob Valentino

College hoops comp play for Saturday on the Golden Eagles of Marquette as they do battle with conference rival Seton Hall.

Things are going quite well right now in South Orange, as Kevin Williard's Pirates are back in good health and rolling. The Hall comes into this home game having won and covered in each of their last 5 since suffering back-to-back double-digit losses to Iowa State and Rutgers.

The Pirates have yet to lose in conference play at 3-0, while the Golden Eagles come into this one off a hard-fought overtime 81-80 home loss to the surging Providence Friars. Marquette and star senior guard Markus Howard will have to get back up off the deck in a hurry here and I expect they will do just that in this spot.

I have a feeling Seton Hall and their star guard Myles Powell may get caught feeling a little full of themselves after their double-digit road upset win at Xavier earlier this week. They also have a revenge date with the ranked Butler Bulldogs up next - can you say "sandwich spot"?

These teams split the regular season series meetings a season ago with the host prevailing on both meetings, but the conference tournament meeting in New York City in the "rubber game" went the Hall's way 81-79 in a back-and-forth battle. Coach Wojo's team will well remember that stinging loss and make amends.

Marquette did follow up their conference double-digit loss at Creighton with a bounce-back win over Villanova after their previous loss, I like them to follow up their Providence loss with a staunch effort today against Seton Hall.

Play on Marquette.

4* MARQUETTE