Service Plays Saturday 9/19/20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Emory Hunt

PITTSBURGH -21.5
SYRACUSE @ PITTSBURGH | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
9:55 AM
Last week against North Carolina, Syracuse played really inspired football in the first half. But the Tar Heels' depth and talent was just too much to overcome. Pitt blew out Austin Peay last weekend, but the real story was how the Panthers looked in doing so. They looked in midseason form on both sides of the ball. That level of continuity, along with the fact that Syracuse doesn't have the depth this season, just makes this pick an easy one for me.

7-3 IN LAST 10 CUSE ATS PICKS | +366

4-1 IN LAST 5 PITT ATS PICKS | +290

UCF -7.5
UCF @ GEORGIA TECH | 9/19 | 3:30 PM EDT
9:51 AM
UCF plays every game against a Power 5 opponent with the proverbial 'chip' on its shoulder. This is another opportunity to prove itself against a major opponent, hopefully making a strong enough case to crash the playoff party at the end of the season. QB Dillon Gabriel and the UCF offense will be much more consistent than what Georgia Tech saw last week against Florida State.

5-3-1 IN LAST 9 UCF ATS PICKS | +176

6-4 IN LAST 10 GATECH ATS PICKS | +151

LOUISVILLE -2.5
MIAMI (FLA.) @ LOUISVILLE | 9/19 | 7:30 PM EDT
9:48 AM
This game will feature two of the best and most exciting quarterbacks in the country in Miami's D'Eriq King and Louisville's Micale Cunningham. Louisville's defense was the biggest surprise in Week 1, and that was a big question mark heading into the season. Meanwhile Miami's offense is still working itself out from a consistency standpoint. And that gives me the confidence to trust Louisville.

4-1 IN LAST 5 LVILLE ATS PICKS | +289

5-2 IN LAST 7 MIAMI ATS PICKS | +282

NORTH TEXAS +14
SMU @ NORTH TEXAS | 9/19 | 6:00 PM EDT
9:43 AM
This game will be a back-and-forth affair between two high-flying offensive attacks. I worry about SMU's defense, which had issues against a Texas State offense that was breaking in a new QB. This North Texas team is built like SMU and has the athletic talent on the outside and in the backfield to compete. The defense can run as well, with linebacker KD Davis leading the way. This one will go down to the wire.

6-4 IN LAST 10 NTEXAS ATS PICKS | +270

3-2 IN LAST 5 SMU ATS PICKS | +80

NOTRE DAME -25.5
SOUTH FLORIDA @ NOTRE DAME | 9/19 | 2:30 PM EDT
9:40 AM
Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams was impressive last week against Duke. In what was a rainy, wet day in South Bend, we saw Notre Dame's veteran offensive line take control of the matchup. The biggest mismatch in this game is along the line of scrimmage. South Florida doesn't match up well against the Fighting Irish in that regard.

3-0 IN LAST 3 ND ATS PICKS | +300

3-0 IN LAST 3 SFLA ATS PICKS | +300

MARSHALL +5
APP. ST. @ MARSHALL | 9/19 | 3:30 PM EDT
9:35 AM
These teams used to meet in the FCS Playoffs often as former Southern Conference members. Now they meet in a very good Group of Five matchup in Huntington, W.V. This game will be all about the point of attack and who can win that battle. Marshall's front seven looks a lot like Appalachian State's defense last year. Thundering Herd LB Tavante Beckett is one of the most athletic linebackers in college football and will be able to stop the Mountaineers' potent ground game.

7-2 IN LAST 9 APLST ATS PICKS | +478

OKLAHOMA ST. -23.5
TULSA @ OKLAHOMA ST. | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
9:30 AM
Oklahoma State has aspirations of getting to the College Football Playoffs this year, and the Cowboys have the firepower on offense to do so. With QB Spencer Sanders, RB Chuba Hubbard and WR Tylan Wallace back in the fold, they shouldn't have a problem moving the ball at ease against a Tulsa defense that lost two players to the NFL.

3-0 IN LAST 3 TULSA ATS PICKS | +300

3-1 IN LAST 4 OKLAST ATS PICKS | +189

LOUISIANA -15.5
LOUISIANA @ GEORGIA ST. | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
9:28 AM
Louisiana is coming off of an upset victory over Iowa State, in which we saw the defense take control of the game in the second half and get key stops. Facing a Georgia State offense that will be breaking in a new quarterback, the defense should get off to an even faster start, which means giving the offense more opportunities. I don't trust Georgia State's run defense in this matchup.

10-6 IN LAST 16 LALAF ATS PICKS | +334

3-2 IN LAST 5 GAST ATS PICKS | +78

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tom Stryker

10-1 ATS CFB NON-CONFERENCE BEST BET
SMU

33-10 ATS CFB ELITE SYSTEM SHOCKER
Marshall

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Josh Nagel
SENIOR ANALYST
YESTERDAY 5:02 PM

WAKE FOREST +1
WAKE FOREST @ NC STATE | 9/19 | 8:00 PM EDT
The Demon Deacons gave a respectable performance in a home loss last week against Clemson, and there's little doubt playing the top-ranked team in the country in their season opener prepared them for the rest of the ACC slate. The Wolfpack are looking to bounce back from a four-win season marked by injuries and a youth-laden roster, but Covid issues have limited their preparation. Devin Leary showed some promise in five games as a freshman starter last season at QB. But Wake's Sam Hartman is in his third year and made some plays against Clemson. Look for the more experienced Deacons to prevail.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Norm Hitzges' Picks of the Pole

Louisiana -17
UCF -7
W. Kentucky -14
La. Tech +5.5
Navy +8
Oklahoma State -23

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Stephen Oh

TEXAS +147
TEXAS @ L.A. ANGELS | 9/19 | 9:10 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 10:56 PM
The Rangers have a big pitching edge on Saturday. Starter Lance Lynn is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in two starts against the Angels this season. Meanwhile Halos starter Andrew Heaney is 0-2 with and 8.31 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in two starts against Texas this year. My model says the Rangers win more than 50 percent of the time, so you're getting strong value at this price.

22-12 LAST 34 MLB SIDES | +1234
25-18 IN LAST 43 TEX ML PICKS | +1226

17-8 IN LAST 25 LAA ML PICKS | +876

BOSTON COLLEGE +6
BOSTON COLLEGE @ DUKE | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 10:48 PM
Even though the Eagles lost their starting quarterback and stud running back AJ Dillon from last year's team, a decorated offensive line and running back David Bailey (5.7 yards per carry) return, which should help with the transition in 2020. Duke looked mediocre in its loss to Notre Dame last week and doesn't look like the kind of team that can blow anyone out. My model has BC covering 60 percent of the time, so you're getting strong value at this number.

2-1 IN LAST 3 BC ATS PICKS | +90

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Gold sheet

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Louisville -2'

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Barner
NBA SPECIALIST
9:13 AM

MIAMI +2.5
BOSTON @ MIAMI | 9/19 | 8:30 PM EDT
Despite winning the first two games of the series, the Heat once again find themselves as underdogs considering this spread. That’s exactly the way Jimmy Butler and company like it. Even if Gordon Hayward (ankle) is able to return for the Celtics, expect him to be on a minutes restriction since he hasn’t played in over a month. The Heat have a huge advantage up front with Bam Adebayo and that won’t change even if Hayward does return, so I’ll take the points.

131-78-3 IN LAST 212 NBA ATS PICKS | +4520
12-2 IN LAST 14 MIA ATS PICKS | +980

7-3-1 IN LAST 11 BOS ATS PICKS | +368

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Tierney

SO. MISS -5.5
LOUISIANA TECH @ SO. MISS | 9/19 | 7:30 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 7:15 PM
The teams have weathered turmoil of a different sort. Southern Miss had its coach resign after one game. Louisiana Tech has yet to play after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases on the roster forced the cancellation of its opener. The difference is that the Golden Eagles have had two weeks for interim coach Scotty Walden, 30, to figure things out. The Bulldogs’ issues surfaced just last week, and they were complicated by Hurricane Laura hitting the area. Louisiana Tech would be the projected winner in November, but not on Saturday.

5-2 IN LAST 7 CFB ATS PICKS | +280
5-2 IN LAST 7 LATECH ATS PICKS | +275

UNDER 58
LOUISIANA @ GEORGIA ST. | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 7:09 PM
The Ragin’ Cajuns’ 31-14 shocker over No. 23 Iowa State was not as packed with offense as the score suggests. Two Louisiana TDs came on long special teams returns. The Cajuns’ defense threw a shutout in the second half. Georgia State’s offense in its opener will be unduly impacted with canceled games the past two weeks. QB Quad Brown is a redshirt freshman without a start, and he confronts the No. 1 scoring defense in the Sun Belt a year ago.

4-2 IN LAST 6 CFB PICKS | +180
2-1 IN LAST 3 GAST O/U PICKS | +97

NAVY +6.5
NAVY @ TULANE | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 7:00 PM
Since getting hammered by BYU on Labor Day, Navy has labored through highly physical practices with full scrimmages. The Midshipmen should be much improved as QB Dalen Morris makes his second start. Tulane barely got past soft South Alabama after trailing by 18 in the third quarter. Rain is in the forecast, which should favor Navy’s offense that is devoted to the running game.

5-2 IN LAST 7 CFB ATS PICKS | +280
2-1-1 IN LAST 4 NAVY ATS PICKS | +95

[Can'tPickAWinner]

SDQL

HOUSTON -160
ARIZONA @ HOUSTON | 9/19 | 7:10 PM EDT
9:12 AM
The Astros are 9-0 before game 120 as a home favorite of more than -130 and they are one game below .500 on the season. Also, Houston is 11-0 in franchise history as a home favorite of more than -130 when it is off a game in which Yuli Gurriel struck out at least twice. The Astros have won these 11 games by an average of 5.18 runs, and they have averaged 9.8 runs per game in their last five in this spot. The Diamondbacks are 0-7 recently when seeking same-season revenge against their opponent’s starting pitcher. Houston is the play.

32-13 IN LAST 45 MLB ML PICKS | +1028
6-2 IN LAST 8 HOU ML PICKS | +344

3-1 IN LAST 4 ARI ML PICKS | +81

L.A. DODGERS -290
L.A. DODGERS @ COLORADO | 9/19 | 8:10 PM EDT
9:08 AM
The Dodgers are 14-0 as a road favorite after their bullpen allowed multiple runs and 13-0 as a -180-plus favorite with Clayton Kershaw when they used five-plus pitchers the day before. The Rockies are 0-12 when they are off a game as a underdog, they lost their last two, their opponent won their last two and the game is not a series opener. Colorado has lost these 12 games by an average of 4.50 runs. We make the play the Dodgers.

32-13 IN LAST 45 MLB ML PICKS | +1028
5-1 IN LAST 6 COL ML PICKS | +343

12-6 IN LAST 18 LAD ML PICKS | +96

SAN DIEGO -190
SAN DIEGO @ SEATTLE | 9/19 | 9:10 PM EDT
9:05 AM
The Padres are 10-0 before game 95 as a road favorite off a win as a favorite in which they never trailed, winning by an average of 4.9 runs per game. The Mariners are 0-15 before game 115 as a dog of more than +160 in the second game of a series when they had six or fewer hits in the opener. Seattle has been outscored by an average of 5.4 runs per game in this spot. We are on the Padres.

32-13 IN LAST 45 MLB ML PICKS | +1028
3-0 IN LAST 3 SEA ML PICKS | +300

3-1 IN LAST 4 SD ML PICKS | +160

ST. LOUIS -177
ST. LOUIS @ PITTSBURGH | 9/19 | 7:05 PM EDT
9:01 AM
The Cardinals are 14-0 before game 120 as a road favorite of more than -130 when they are off a game as a favorite, they lost by one run in their starter's last start and their opponent is not on a four-plus game winning streak. St. Louis has won these 14 games by an average of 5.21 runs per game. The Pirates are 0-16 before game 105 against a lefty after facing three straight righties and 0-14 as a +160-plus dog when seeking immediate revenge for a five-plus run loss. The Cardinals are the play.

32-13 IN LAST 45 MLB ML PICKS | +1028
5-1 IN LAST 6 STL ML PICKS | +343

2-1 IN LAST 3 PIT ML PICKS | +43

TAMPA BAY -177
TAMPA BAY @ BALTIMORE | 9/19 | 7:35 PM EDT
8:55 AM
The Rays are 11-0 as a favorite before game 92 when they blew a lead in their starter’s last start and lost. They also are 9-0 when Charlie Morton starts as a favorite and they used five-plus pitchers the day before. Baltimore is 0-7 recently against a divisional opponent with more wins. We are on the Rays.

32-13 IN LAST 45 MLB ML PICKS | +1028
6-2 IN LAST 8 BAL ML PICKS | +333

2-1 IN LAST 3 TB ML PICKS | +10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kenny White

WAKE FOREST +1
WAKE FOREST @ NC STATE | 9/19 | 8:00 PM EDT
7:19 AM
Wake Forest comes off of a 37-13 loss to Clemson. North Carolina State had to cancel its game last week because of COVID-19. Wake Forest has gone to four straight bowl games under Dave Clawson. NC State installed a new offense under new coordinator Tim Beck. With only five spring practices and missed time over the summer, the offense will be a work in progress. NC State was 4-8 last year. Wake is the better football team with a game under their belt.

4-1 IN LAST 5 NCST ATS PICKS | +289

OVER 64.5
MIAMI (FLA.) @ LOUISVILLE | 9/19 | 7:30 PM EDT
7:15 AM
Louisville's Micale Cunningham is my fourth-highest rated quarterback. Last year the Cardinals had a median score of 35-35 at home and 34-35 for all games. Cunningham threw three touchdown passes against Western Kentucky. Miami's D'Eriq King, the Houston grad transfer, looked very good in his first game as a Hurricane. King has a streak of 16 straight games with a passing and rushing touchdown. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was brought in to run a no huddle up-tempo offense.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bill Marzano

OKLAHOMA ST. -23.5
TULSA @ OKLAHOMA ST. | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 11:57 PM
Oklahoma State is stacked offensively and is led by Chuba Hubbard, who rushed for over 2,000 yards. The Cowboys also have Offensive Freshman of the Year Spencer Sanders at QB. Oklahoma State beat Tulsa by 19 points last season, and this Cowboys team is better. The Tulsa defense was 93rd in the nation and allowed over 31 points per game. The Golden Hurricane lost seven starters on defense. Oklahoma State returns 12 of its top 13 tacklers and will be much better on defense. Tulsa is 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 games vs. Big 12 teams. The Cowboys are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 non-conference games and 7-2 ATS in their last nine at home.

2-1 IN LAST 3 CFB PICKS | +90

LOUISVILLE -135
MIAMI (FLA.) @ LOUISVILLE | 9/19 | 7:30 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 11:40 PM
Both of these teams come into this game off solid wins, but the Hurricanes don't match up well here. Miami QB D'Eriq King was decent in his first game and will get better, but I just don't believe he has enough weaponry when compared to the Cardinals. He only managed to throw for 141 yards but did contribute 83 with his legs. Louisville is a well-oiled offensive machine that is going to wear down the Miami defense with its offensive line. The Hurricanes are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 road games and 1-4 ATS in their last five vs. the Cardinals.

2-1 IN LAST 3 CFB PICKS | +90

PITTSBURGH -21.5
SYRACUSE @ PITTSBURGH | 9/19 | 12:00 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 1:32 PM
Syracuse is in for a long season, and after watching the Orange's first game, I have no worries laying this many points vs. a good Pittsburgh squad. This Panthers team has really good offensive and defensive lines. They should be able to push the Orange around and harass Tommy DeVito, who was sacked seven times last week. Pittsburgh will force several turnovers. Syracuse is going to have a hard time scoring points just like last week, this time against a much tougher defense. The Panthers are 7-2-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

2-1 IN LAST 3 CFB PICKS | +90

UCF -7.5
UCF @ GEORGIA TECH | 9/19 | 3:30 PM EDT
YESTERDAY 1:09 PM
UCF comes in having won 35 of its last 39 games overall while returning a ton of talent. Dillon Gabriel set a freshman record for passing yards with 3,653 and threw for 29 TDs with seven interceptions. He is poised for another huge season. The Knights are 0-3 all-time vs. the Yellow Jackets, but will end that streak here. Georgia Tech is feeling good after beating a bad FSU team. The Yellow Jackets have issues in their kicking game and will have a hard time slowing the Knights’ offense. UCF is solid on defense and should be able to force Jeff Sims into some critical turnovers. He tossed two interceptions last week in his first career start.

2-1 IN LAST 3 CFB PICKS | +90
3-1 IN LAST 4 GATECH ATS PICKS | +190

[Duncan]

Insider Sports Report
4* Tulsa/Oklahoma St. OVER 65.5 (NCAAF)
Range: 64 to 68
3* Clemson -45.5 over Citadel (NCAAF)
Range: -44 to -48
3* Middle Tennessee +3.5 over Troy (NCAAF)
Range: +5.5 to +1.5

[Duncan]

Elite Sports Picks
S.M.U./North Texas OVER 68.5 (NCAAF)

[Duncan]

National Sports Service
5* Liberty/Western Kentucky OVER 52 (NCAAF)
3* Louisiana/Georgia St. UNDER 47.5 (NCAAF)
3* Southern Mississippi -5 over Louisiana Tech (NCAAF)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ben Burns

Wake Forest
Western kentucky
Notre dame