(#102) Denver Broncos | ATS | . 

While the New England Patriots survived the Divisional Round game against Houston (I had them,) it wasn't entirely convincing. The Texans turned the ball over five times in the contest and I simply don't see Denver making those same mistakes. The Patriots will now go on the road in a hostile environment this weekend for the first time since playing the Jets in December. 

I know that Denver got a bit lucky according to some in the Divisional Round against the Bills on that INT-Catch call. But, as there's nothing that can be done now, I believe that the Broncos have all the momentum in the world. Jarrett Stidham may not have seen any games this season. But, he's more than capable as a starter and I believe that he's going to show up in a massive home game against his old team. 

That's right. Jarrett Stidham used to back up Tom Brady in 2019. I firmly believe that the Broncos defense is stronger than the Patriots and that will be the difference on Sunday afternoon at Mile High. Grab as many points as you can. 

Burns' Prediction: 23-20 Broncos.

(#391) Buffalo Bills | ATS | . 

Here we go again. Last year, Buffalo was able to host Denver with the success that it had during the regular season. In that game, the Bills dominated and won by 24 points. You may be thinking that the Broncos are out for revenge from that game. Well, it's true to an extent. Buffalo's not as strong on paper this year and that makes it less scary of a team. But, there's still Josh Allen who in my eyes, is the best QB in the playoffs this year. 

Denver had a fantastic year and got credited with the #1 seed in the AFC as a result. That being said, Jacksonville was able to expose its defense in the latter stages of the regular season and guess who just beat the Jags? Buffalo did. The Broncos don't run the ball all that well and that's going to hurt them in this game as it's one spot that the Bills struggle. Don't get into a shootout with Allen either as he's capable of simply tearing a part any defense that's in front of him. 

I do believe that the Broncos have an outstanding defense and it's going to be tough with the wide receiving core that the Bills have. But, the Bills should try and establish a run game and I wouldn't be shocked if Allen continues to use his legs a ton. Buffalo's had Denver's number in recent season's I simply believe that Buffalo's going to be able to take advantage of KC not being in the playoffs this year and make another run at glory. Buffalo moves on once again. 

Burns' Prediction: 35-21 Buffalo.

(#339) Miami Dolphins | ATS | . 

Miami might be eliminated from playoff contention but that doesn't mean that it's going to stop trying. The Dolphins beat Tampa Bay last weekend and now have a date against their divisional rivals in the Pats to try and give New England the toughest possible path in the playoffs. Mike McDaniel wants to keep his job and shocking the world with a win on Sunday definitely could help Dolphins fans forget about the sub-par season. 

Like I mentioned in the first paragraph, the Patriots can still move around in the top of the AFC standings. Yes, New England is the much stronger team and are the double digit favorites for a reason. But, this is a tougher game than people are expecting in Week 18. Let's not forget that it was a one score game when these teams matched up earlier in the season. 

No matter the circumstances, a divisional team should always want to beat another divisional team. New England's only focus is on the playoffs right now while Miami's is winning this game. I'm not going to predict an outright win, but this game should be much closer than the line suggests on Sunday afternoon. 

Burns' Prediction: 28-24 Pats.

(#264) Georgia Bulldogs // ATS // . 

Mississippi lit up the scoreboard against Tulane and looked very strong in that game. Even though I very much liked what I saw from new Head Coach Pete Golding in his first game at the helm, this is going to be a massive step up in competition. The Rebels have been great throughout the season but its only loss this year was against UGA. 

Don't get me wrong, the Bulldogs weren't amazing defensively in that contest, allowing 35 points. But, a complete and utter domination of 17-0 in the fourth quarter should most definitely give the Dawgs the confidence they need to come into this game feeling very well. 

Georgia might not be at home on New Year's Day, playing at the Caesars Superdome in Louisiana. But, with a perfect road record and the way Kirby Smart has carried himself in the playoffs, I don't believe that his guys are going to cower come the biggest game of the season. Georgia by at least a TD. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-17 UGA.

(#428) Buffalo Bills | ATS | . 

Even though I know that the defending champions are getting more and more comfortable as the season gets older, I do believe that this is a very tough matchup for the Eagles in week 17. Looking at the standings, this quite possibly could be a preview of the Super Bowl. I mean, things are so up in the air at the moment that any team in either the AFC or NFC could emerge as the Lombardi winners this season. 

Despite its B2B wins, Philadelphia has still lost three of its past five games. The offense has definitely been underwhelming this season and the rush defense is nothing special either. That might be a problem against the current best rushing team in the NFL. 

Josh Allen absolutely loves the spot light and he's definitely going to be in the middle of it this weekend. This has the chance to be an epic matchup. With the Bills having ramped up the offensive pressure lately, I expect more brilliance from Allen and co. on Sunday afternoon. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-24 Bills.

(#124) Denver Broncos | ATS | . 

While I definitely respect what Jacksonville has been able to accomplish this season, currently on a five game winning streak and with a 10-4 record, there's been some very easy games along the way. The Jags had the luxury of playing the Cardinals, Titans, a hurt Colts team and Jets B2B2B2B over the past four weeks. That's very easy. 

Now, the real test comes. Denver finally showed me last weekend what I've been waiting to see all season, especially Bo Nix. That was a wicked performance and I'm expecting more of the same throughout the rest of the season. The Broncos have won 11 consecutive games (very quietly) and will definitely be a problem for anyone in the playoffs. 

Both teams are cruising at the moment, but being at home, at Mile High is definitely going to be something different that the Jags don't experience too much whatsoever. Pat Surtain is going to shut down whatever passing game TLAW has and this will be a massive win for Denver on Sunday afternoon with KC & LAC on deck. Lay the number. 

Burns' Prediction: 33-21 Broncos. 

***This is an AFC Game. But, this is labelled as Burns' #1 NFL GAME OF THE YEAR. So this is the biggest.***

(#295) Alabama Crimson Tide | ATS | . 

When these two teams matched up in November, I believed that Alabama was the better team. Now, although OU was able to win that game and keep its playoff hopes alive, it's going to be extremely tough for the Sooners to beat the same team twice in just over a month. Alabama's hobbled across the finish line. However, having the week off to prepare for this one is going to be an absolutely massive help to this program that's been so good for decades. 

Oklahoma's taking this game seriously and will have the home crowd behind it this time around. That being said, the Sooners offense is nothing special in terms of SEC standards. The defense is what got them here and I don't see Bama's offense being shut down this time around. In that game back in mid-November, the Sooners were outgunned by nearly 200 total yards. 

I know that this isn't the same Nick Saban ran Alabama team. But, with Kalen DeBoer having already been to a National Championship game as a head coach of Washington, I believe that he's going to be hungry to get back there this season. I expect Ryan Williams to get involved and get involved lots in this one. Ty Simpson will make the right plays down the stretch and lead to the first road win of the 12-team playoff format. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-17 Bama.

(#482) Dallas Cowboys | ATS | . 

Minnesota somehow managed to dominate Washington last weekend and have a stellar performance defensively, winning 31-0. This weekend, I expect much different results. The Vikings have been very poor offensively this season and even though last week was a step in the right direction, JJ McCarthy didn't light the stat sheet up at all and Justin Jefferson was non-existent. 

Dallas has one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL despite just a .500 record. The Cowboys lead the league in both total YPG and passing YPG this season. That being said, offense is where Dallas should be able to exploit the Vikings. Playing at home on Sunday Night, give me the Cowboys by at least a touchdown and probably more. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-20 Cowboys.

(#463) Buffalo Bills | ATS | . 

Buffalo is finally starting to wake up. The Bills came back against the Bengals last weekend and I finally saw the Josh Allen that I've been waiting to see all season long. Therefore, I absolutely love the Bills in this matchup to claw back into the AFC East race to claim the divisions top spot. No, a win wouldn't completely do it. But, it would put Buffalo in a fantastic spot as we edge closer and closer to the playoffs. 

New England has been great and I can't take any credit against it. That being said, the Patriots have had one of the easiest schedules of the year of any teams and I believe that it's going to come back to hurt them when it matters most. They've won 10 consecutive games but definitely don't have as strong of an offense as the high powered Bills averaging less total yards, rush yards as well as points. 

Earlier in the season when these sides matched up, NE got the best of Buffalo in a tight three point game. I believe that Josh Allen will take that game personally and dominate offensively this weekend. I'll take the PK line before it goes up. 

Burns' Prediction: 33-26 Bills.

(#138) Las Vegas Raiders | ATS | . 

A few weeks ago, Denver took on LV on a Thursday night and wasn't able to get the job done against the spread. That was the 6th win by one score. Since that game, there's been two more wins and two more wins by less than a touchdown. So in 12 games this season, 10 of those results have been a loss or a win by eight points or less. I believe that the trend of that will continue on Sunday in the Broncos' final divisional game of the year. 

Las Vegas has been eliminated from playoff contention. But, that doesn't mean that Geno isn't going to want to continue to fight of a job somewhere next season. Ashton Jeanty still has something to prove and Brock Bowers didn't get a full season to show his greatness. I believe that the Raiders have a ton to play for still to silence the haters. This is too many points. Hammer the Raiders at home on Sunday afternoon. 

Burns' Prediction: 23-20 Raiders.

(#308975) Prairie View A&M Panthers | ATS | . 

With the FBS being (essentially) like a "Division 1" and FCS being a "Division 2" for CFB fans, not too many people pay attention to the FCS during the season. College Football is fantastic to watch no matter the teams and these guys are still playing for a title. Well, more than just one. This one goes in the SWAC Championship Game. 

Prairie View A&M went 9-3 this year while Jackson State went 9-2. Yes, the Tigers are at home and have been unbeaten on this field for a couple of years now. However, the Panthers have been absolutely dominant defensively over the past six weeks and I believe that this line is way too high. I wouldn't be shocked whatsoever if A&M pulls off the upset (and will predict one) but I'll take the points. 

Burns' Prediction: 24-20 A&M.

(#109) UNLV Rebels | ATS | . 

Although UNLV is the dog in this contest, the offense has definitely been there throughout the season. It's averaging 37.2 PPG which is nearly a touchdown more than what Boise State has done this season. Yes, the Rebels suffered a big loss in October vs. the Broncos. But, that game was many, many weeks ago and the Rebels are a completely different team. 

Boise State barely got past Utah State last weekend, claiming a spot in this game. Both UNM & SDST are probably very disappointed having had the same conference record as both of these teams. The Broncos suffered three defeats by 20+ points this year and that includes a very horrible performance against Fresno State on this field. 

I know that the game is in Boise and the fans will be rocking on the blue field in December. However, I also believe that the Rebels should be able to faze all of the noise out given that they've had a 5-1 record on the road this season. I'll grab the points in what should be a fantastic rematch.

Burns' Prediction: 34-23 UNLV.

(#484) New England Patriots | ATS | . 

Even though I respect the Giants and love how they play, fighting for every single yard and on every single down. However, I do believe that there's definitely a gap in skill from NYG compared to the best of the best. 

New England is newly one of the best teams in the NFL. Drake Maye has himself in the MVP conversation this season with how he's playing and I believe that there's a real chance that the Pats win some games in the playoffs this year. They've won nine consecutive games on the year and are one of the best defensive sides in the NFL despite having a great offense as well. 

In the end, a shorthanded Giants side is going to struggle on the road against a healthy 10-2 NE side. NYG is winless on the road through seven games so far and this is not going to be an easy one. I'll lay the points on Monday Night as my MNF. GAME OF THE YEAR. 

Burns' Prediction: 35-23 Pats.

(#477) Buffalo Bills | ATS | . 

I know that it hasn't been a pretty month of football for Buffalo and it's been hard for it to establish any sort of rhythm, I'm not counting this team out whatsoever just yet. The Bills have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the past few years and with Josh Allen at the helm there's no doubt in my mind that this team can win these types of ball games. I mean let's not forget that he won the MVP last season. 

The Steelers defense has been alarming as well, giving up 31 points to the Bears last weekend. Not only that, but the Steelers find themselves with one of the worst offenses in the NFL in terms of total yardage per game as well. Given how great Buffalo's been at stopping the pass, Pittsburgh's going to have to rely on the run game a lot in this contest I'd have to think. 

I believe that Buffalo has the edge on both sides of the ball and even on the road it should prevail with ease. The Bills are 11-3 over their last 14 games coming off a road loss (away or home) since the mid-way point in 2020. I've got Buffalo dominating this football game on Sunday afternoon. 

Burns' Prediction: 33-17 Bills.

(#480) Los Angeles Chargers | ATS | . 

Las Vegas has not had a good season whatsoever and it's as simple as that. The Raiders just fired their Offensive Coordinator (Chip Kelly) and I believe that the interim guy is going to have just as much trouble. The wide receiver core is completely depleted after trading away Jakobi Meyers. 

Los Angeles, on the other hand, needs to bounce back with a big performance. The Chargers were humiliated on the road in Jacksonville a couple of weeks ago, but had the bye week last weekend to regroup and gain some energy to close out the season with. Earlier this season, the Chargers held the Raiders to just nine points on the road. 

With this matchup being in Los Angeles now, at Sofi, I expect the Chargers to look much better than it did vs. JAX. Herbert has been brilliant for the most part this season and he should get back to his great passing ways on Sunday afternoon. Lay the points. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-14 Chargers.

(#387) Alabama Crimson Tide | ATS | . 

Well, well, well. The Iron Bowl has massive implications once again and I believe that this game has turned into one thing. Alabama's right to make the playoffs and Auburn's super bowl. That being said, the Crimson Tide should be feeling very good about this season's matchup considering how the season's have done. Alabama won last year's contest by two touchdowns after barely surviving in 2023. 

Auburn, on the other hand, hasn't been great this season. Don't get me wrong, a bowl game is still available for the Tigers w/ a win in this contest. However, they've lost six out of seven conference games this season and they've all been by six or more points. Let's not forget that they've got an interim head coach as well managing his first Iron Bowl. 

Well it's definitely the case that Auburn has been preparing for this game ever since those early season conference defeats, I don't think that it possesses the overall talent to win this game, even at home. The Tigers are not good against the pass and that's the Crimson Tide's bread and butter. I also know that Bama has failed to cover ATS in four straight Iron Bowls on the road. But, this Bama team feels different and I've got them cruising to a double digit win on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-17 Alabama.

(#364) Michigan Wolverines | ATS | . 

"The Game." There's not much else to say about this game. These schools don't even say the other school's name. By far the biggest rivalry in College Football and maybe in all sports, I believe that there's definitely going to be some amazing physical battles on Saturday at Noon EST. That being said, Ohio State was the team going to the playoffs last year and managed to lose this very game at home. 

Now, Michigan gets to host "The Game." Many people might not count those three wins that MICH has during the "cheating period." However, ever since we hit 2020, the Wolverines are undefeated in the series. 

For the Buckeyes, a perfect season is still on the line. For the Wolverines a playoff berth is on the line. Home field is greatly appreciated in all sports and should help very much on Saturday. I believe that 10 points is way too much considering how these two teams play. Don't even be shocked if MICH pulls off the upset. But, I'll definitely grab the points in a low scoring contest as the total suggests. 

Burns' Prediction: 20-17 Michigan.

(#324) Utah Utes | ATS | . 

Utah had a tough test last weekend playing against a red hot KSU team. Now, this is must win territory for the Utes and I expect a massive performance. Allowing 47 points at home is not something Head Coach Kyle Wittingham is going to be happy about. This should be a much easier matchup for a Utes team defensively. Don't forget that Utah's scored 45+ points in four consecutive games now & 42+ points in six straight wins. 

Kansas, on the other hand, is really struggling as we head towards the finish line. Yes, I know that an upset win would mean bowl eligibility for the Jayhawks. However, with how they are playing at the moment, I'm not sure if there's much of a possibility of that happening. The Jayhawks lost to ISU last weekend by 24 points. Four of their six losses have been by double digits this season and Utah's definitely going to be one of their toughest opponents. 

Still allowing only 18.5 PPG despite the 47 dropped on them last weekend, the Utes are definitely going to rebound. Kansas can't defend the run and Utah runs the ball better than basically every team in the country. Give me Utah in a blowout. 

Burns' Prediction: 47-21 Utah.

(#316) Buffalo Bulls | ATS | . 

Even though I believe that Ohio is probably the better side, they've been quite underwhelming this season on the road. As a matter of fact, the Bobcats have only a single win away from home out of five matchups this season and that win came by less than a touchdown against one of the worst teams in the MAC in Ball State. 

Looking at Buffalo, it needs one more win to reach a bowl game. The Bulls have been tremendous defensively all season long and have been much better than their opponents in terms of yardage so far in MAC play. 

Even though the Bulls have a disappointing record at home this season, I believe that being at home in the final game of the year should motivate them to at least keep this one close. Buffalo needs this win more than anything. I'll take a chance with the Bulls. 

Burns' Prediction: 24-21 Buffalo.

(#140) James Madison Dukes | ATS | . 

I know that Washington State probably had its best game of the season last weekend against LA Tech winning 28-3. However, the Cougars have still had a pretty disappointing season all things considered. They have a really bad offense and are scoring less than 21 PPG this season which is definitely towards the bottom end of the entire country. 

James Madison, on the other hand, has been torching teams offensively this season and have won eight consecutive games. If the Dukes win out and win the SBC title game, there's a great chance that this team ends up in the College Football Playoff. They have much better defensive numbers than WAZZU as well as the offensive ones. 

In the end, I believe that this game could get ugly. Washington State is going to like its chances to get its crucial sixth win next weekend at home vs. Oregon State a whole lot more than this weekend. I'll lay the number with the scorching hot Dukes on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 38-14 JMU.

(#463) Carolina Panthers | ATS | . 

Last weekend definitely wasn't what Carolina hoped for, losing against one of the worst teams in the NFL at home. However, the Panthers are still performing very well this season and let's not forget what happened the last time these sides met up. They hammered the Falcons and shut them out in a 30-0 contest. 

Atlanta might just be the most underwhelming team in the NFL. It's had some great performances. But, four consecutive defeats have the Falcons near the bottom of the NFC and searching for answers. There's not much that ATL can do correctly at the moment and even though it's at home, it's travelling back from Europe so the jet lag could be there. 

I just can't get what happened earlier this season out of my head. Divisional games are supposed to be tough. But, Carolina just seems like the wrong opponent for the Falcons. I've got the Panthers winning outright, but will definitely take the points if I get this line. 

Burns' Prediction: 29-17 Panthers.

(#325) Texas Longhorns | ATS | . 

Well, well, well. Before the season, I had predicted that Texas was going to win the National Title this season. While it didn't look very good to start the year, I still believe that there's a chance. Winning out is necessary though. Otherwise, the Longhorns stand no chance. That being said, this is a massive (multi) revenge game from last season as the Bulldogs knocked off the Longhorns twice last season. 

Georgia has definitely been the stronger team this season, and that's why it owns the better ranking and is the favorite. However, the Bulldogs have definitely not been at their best in recent weeks, beating Florida by just four a couple of weekends ago. This is a spot where coming back home might hurt Georgia considering that it's getting the job done on the road right now. 

I know that the Dawgs have a huge edge in home games. But, they've already lost at home to Alabama this season and there's definitely something in the air that's going to be electric in this game. Sark will have Manning and the guys ready. Are you ready for a big time upset on Saturday night in Athens? 

Burns' Prediction: 31-26 Texas.

(#331) Memphis Tigers | ATS | . 

It was a bad performance from Memphis last weekend against Tulane in a game that it just played horribly in the first half in. Before that game, the Tigers were the Group of Five program that would've been in the Playoff had the season ended then. However, the loss has put a real speed bump in that happening. That being said though, there's definitely still hope. Needing some help still, a win here would put the Tigers right back in the conversation of the AAC Title Game with just a few games remaining. While the stats aren't all in favor of Memphis in this matchup, I believe that its offense is much better than ECU's. 

Don't get me wrong, this winning streak that the Pirates have put together has been fun to watch. Now 4-1 in conference play and very much in the running for the title game as well, this is a huge test for ECU. However, East Carolina hasn't been completely dominant at home this season as it's suffered a 21 point loss here in Greenville earlier this season (vs. BYU.) I believe that the Tigers are going to be pissed after last weekend and end the season very strong. Give me the points on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-27 Memphis.

(#268) Seattle Seahawks | ATS | . 

Even though Jacoby Brissett has done a solid job for the Arizona Cardinals at keeping them within striking distance since taking over for the injured Kyler Murray, I believe that it's simply not good enough. Yes, they won last week against Dallas on MNF. Yes, they've kept all five of their losses within a single score this season. But, this is not a great matchup for ARI against a divisional opponent that's hungry, who has scored so many more points this season. 

Seattle is playing like one of the best teams in the NFL at the moment and I don't expect that to change this week. The Seahawks have won three consecutive games now and each of them have been by more than a touchdown, including last weekends 38-14 win over Washington on SNF. 

In the end, being at home in a division game is key. The Seahawks have the better offense and the better defense already, and with the 12th man in behind them on Sunday, I expect another big win from them in week 10. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-17 Seahawks.

(#177) UNLV Rebels | ATS | . 

Despite being on the road this weekend, I believe that this is a great matchup for UNLV. Yes, it's lost consecutive games after beginning the year w/ a perfect 6-0 record. However, that was maybe slightly expected against Boise State and a tough UNM team last weekend. Now, the Rebels get back to business against a team that's been struggling all season long. Even with the two recent losses, the Rebels have a top offense in the country, really applying pressure on their opponents. 

On the other hand. Colorado State really struggles to score the ball. Yes, the Rams match up a bit better on the defensive side of the ball. However, they still don't have much of an edge, if any at all there. If you recall, I won w/ CSU against Fresno State earlier this season in one of its only wins. I do believe that the Rams are capable of hanging around at times. But, with the rest of the seasons schedule, I don't see the Rams making much of an end-of season run as they've got UNM & Boise on deck. 

I simply believe that the Rebels are going to want this game much more and try and finish the season well. They are already locked in a bowl, but each win down the stretch will make for a better bowl game and more branding. Expect UNLV to cruise to a victory by at least a touchdown this weekend. 

Burns' Prediction: 41-20 UNLV.

(#142) Miami Florida Hurricanes | ATS | . 

Syracuse has been pretty awful in games within the conference so far. I mean, last weekend, the Orange lost to a 3-5 UNC team by 17 points. They were at hoe in that game. That's now five consecutive losses on the season and all of them have been double digits losses. They are a pass first offense that has scored in the occasional game. But, the defense is atrocious and I don't see it scoring much against a hungry Miami FL team. 

Talking about the Hurricanes, I did win against them last weekend w/ SMU. It was a matchup and situational game for me as I believe that they weren't taking SMU as serious as they should have considering that the Mustangs had lost the week prior. Having said that, I expect Miami to get back on track w/ a dominant win this weekend against one of, if not the worst program in the ACC. Miami blew some teams out earlier on this season and will be hoping to do the exact same thing this weekend. 

The defense of Miami is going to be shut down this weekend and that will lead to many short fields for Carson Beck to take advantage of. All of these games down the stretch are must-wins for the Canes and this one should give them to momentum and confidence to have a chance at winning all of them. Expect a blowout. 

Burns' Prediction: 52-13 Miami FL.

(#462) Detroit Lions | ATS | . 

Even though Minnesota still has one of, if not the best Wide Receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson, I believe that this team is in shambles this season. In one of the toughest divisions in football, there's pretty much no room for error and the Vikings have not been very good this season. Carson Wentz is done for the year and who knows what JJ McCarthy is going to be like after this many weeks off. Nobody even knows whether he was "benched" or not.

Looking at Detroit, it's one of the best teams in the NFL again this season. Fresh off the bye week, Detroit needs to keep dominating in order to pass Green Bay in the coming weeks. Like I said, this division is ultra competitive and the Lions are right in the mix at the moment. They've got a very difficult run of games coming up as well, so this one is as big as ever. Give me the Lions to win this comfortably by double digits. 

Burns' Prediction: 37-14 Lions.

(#398) Liberty Flames | ATS | . 

Delaware has shocked me this season with its success and results. The Blue Hens are just two wins away from a bowl game and that would be a massive accomplishment for this program. That being said, this is going to be a very difficult game from them this weekend. Delaware allowed 27+ points in all three games in October and is struggling a tad in CUSA play. 

On the other hand, Liberty is starting to play much better football. I wasn't planning to touch the Flames considering the start that they had. However, times have changed and this team is back consideration for the CUSA title game, but winning must be priority number 1. 

Overall, I believe that Liberty has much more talent. Don't get me wrong, nobody wants to start the season the way it did. But, given the circumstances, this team has fought back and answered tremendously. Expect the Flames to keep rolling at home on Saturday evening in week 10. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-23 Liberty.

(#380) SMU Mustangs | ATS | . 

Even though Miami has shown flashes of absolute dominance this season, it's also had some moments of disappointment. Carson Beck looked very shaky against Louisville a couple of weeks ago and that led to the Hurricanes' first defeat of the season. Yes, they bounce back with a huge win over Stanford last week. However, they only played one game on the road this season and barely beat a 3-4 FSU team that's winless inside the ACC. 

Looking at SMU, last weekend's game was bound to happen, suffering its first defeat in ACC regular season play in its second year (went 8-0 LY.) Now, back at home, the Mustangs should be much more comfortable. Let's not forget that this was a playoff team a season ago. SMU doesn't have the best stats. However, this is a team that knows how to play football and hasn't lost by more than 11 this season. The Mustangs also played great defense in October, allowing 16.25 PPG in four games. I've got SMU and I wouldn't be surprised at all if it pulls off the upset on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 23-20 SMU.

(#279) Dallas Cowboys | ATS | . 

Coming off a commanding victory against Washington, Dallas is in excellent shape at the moment. Getting Ceedee Lamb back in the lineup has been a massive help and the way that Dak Prescott is playing at the moment, there's no doubt in my mind that he's going to continue to play strong, even against this harder defense. 

Pat Surtain will likely draw Lamb for the most part. But, don't forget about George Pickens too. One of them should be open against a Broncos defense that was quite miserable against the Giants for the most part last weekend. If not for the comeback of the decade, Denver would have lost that game. 

I believe that Dallas is in better shape at the moment despite the slightly worse record. The defense has stepped up its game and the offense is blazing on all cylinders right now. I'm big on Dallas this weekend. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-23 Cowboys.

(#269) Buffalo Bills | ATS | . 

Coming off the bye last week, I simply just don't see Buffalo losing a third consecutive game. It's a similar situation as my NFC GOY last weekend on the Eagles. The Bills came into this season as one of the favorites in the AFC and have now been surprisingly under-performing over the past few games. Now, that should all change on Sunday in Week 8 against a Carolina team that I believe is over-performing. 

Talking about the Panthers, they are 4-3 and have won three consecutive games. Even at home, they remain significant dogs this weekend. Having said that, this is not a game that they should win. Carolina has been great at running the ball, but Buffalo's been even better. The Panthers won't have any answers for Josh Allen's improvisation and Buffalo will simply out score them in this massive contest for the standings after NE won again. 

Overall, I'm expecting Allen to take things into his own hands if the offensive game-plan/script isn't working. The Bills will be a popular survivor pick if people still have them available. Expect a double digit win this weekend. 

Burns' Prediction: 37-17 Buffalo.

(#142) Pittsburgh Panthers | ATS | . 

Even though NC State has been pretty solid this season, I'm still not buying the hype around QB CJ Bailey. He can be very careless with the football at times and doesn't use his legs nearly enough for how athletic he is at his height. Notre Dame completely neutralized him and the rest of the Wolfpack in their last game and that left a bitter taste in NC State's mouth going into the bye. 

Looking at Pitt, it's looking like one of the best teams in the country right now, off three consecutive wins. The Panthers dismantled Syracuse on the road last weekend and definitely could be perfect this season if not for an ultimate second half meltdown vs. Louisville and an OT road loss against WVU. That being said, I'm very high on the Panthers through the remainder of the season and with the way the defense played last week, the sky is the limit. 

Yes, the bye week might help the Wolfpack with a much needed rest. But, the quality simply isn't there at the moment and Pittsburgh's great when playing at home. I believe that the Panthers will win this one by double digits with the poor Wolfpack defense on the other side of the ball. 

Burns' Prediction: 38-21 Pittsburgh.

(#110) Los Angeles Chargers | ATS | . 

Last weekend, I played against Minnesota with Philadelphia as my NFC GAME OF THE YEAR. If not for a missed 42 yard field goal, Philly would've won by even more. Having said that, I'm not a big fan of the Vikings right now given the injuries. Aaron Jones has been a big miss and Carson Wentz hasn't been anything special either. On the road now, this is going to be a tough game after flying across the country on a short week. 

Los Angeles started the year very well. Since, the Chargers have cooled right off. Losing by double digits both last week and a few weeks ago vs. Indianapolis & Washington at home are unacceptable. That being said, they remain at home and are still the favorites on Thursday evening. 

I'm hoping that LAC gets Joe Alt back in the lineup for this week. He will be questionable throughout the week and most likely be a game-time decision. This play isn't relying on him one bit, as I believe that this is simply just a great spot for LAC to bounce back. But, I do believe that his presence would help tremendously. Herbert threw for 400 yards over the weekend. Expect another big game through the air against a Minnesota team that allowed tons of deep balls against the Eagles. 

Burns' Prediction: 24-17 Chargers.

(#461) Philadelphia Eagles | ATS | . 

Well it's no secret that Philadelphia is struggling at the moment to find any sort of consistency offensively, it's only a matter of time before it comes alive again. Let's not forget that the Eagles won the Super Bowl last season with a very similar roster. In reality, they should be very good at running the ball (second in NFL last season) and that should be something that they rely on against a weaker rush defense in Minnesota. 

Looking at the Vikings, it's still up in the air whether JJ McCarthy is going to come back this week, or at all. Minnesota has done fine without him and has a winning record. However, the team surely doesn't look as talented on paper as the Eagles, that's for sure. The Vikings missed a lot of their best players last week including Cashman and Van Ginkel on defense. Van Ginkel could return this week but even if he does, he won't be 100%. 

In the end, I simply do not see Philadelphia losing a third consecutive game. The Eagles have the intangibles to beat any team in the NFL and they should get the job done here this afternoon, even on the road. This is a massive game for them to regain full control of the NFC East. Hammer Philadelphia. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-19 Eagles.

(#411) Washington State Cougars | ATS | . 

Despite the sub-par record and the poor stats, Washington State has actually played pretty well over these past couple of games. The Cougars went into CSU and held it to only three points in a 20-3 win. Last weekend, they were well prepared and almost knocked off Ole Miss on the road in a three point game. The defense has been huge for them recently and they are not turning the ball over. 

Virginia, on the other hand, has been great this season, hence why it's ranked in the top 20. The Cavaliers just knocked off Louisville on the road in overtime leading to their 5-1 record on the season. Now, although the offense of UVA has been significantly better than WAZZU's this season, the Cougars have been just as good, if not better defensively. If Louisville didn't bobble a toss play early in the game for six points the other way, Virginia could very well be 4-2 right now. 

All of that being said, I expect a much closer game that the oddsmakers are suggesting here. No, I'm not going to call for the outright upset because that would be a massive dog to win outright. However, I do believe that the Cougars are capable of keeping this one within single digits and have a chance at victory in the late game of this match. The Cavs had the week off last week, but saw B2B OT games & wins against good opponents prior to that. They could be in for a let down game today. I'll grab the points for my 2025-26 CFB UNDERDOG OF THE YEAR. 

Burns' Prediction: 38-30 Virginia.

(#326) Appalachian State Mountaineers | ATS | .

Coastal Carolina looked solid last weekend, and won against a pretty poor ULM side. That's probably partly why the Chanticleers are not as big underdogs as I expected for this game. CCU does have three wins on the season now in six games. However, it's not been pretty whatsoever. As a matter of fact, it ranks in the bottom five in passing yards and bottom ten in total yards per game in the entire country this season. Not to mention that it's defense allows a ton of yardage too ranking in the bottom 25 in total yards allowed per game. 

On the other hand, App State's numbers looked ridiculously better. With a great passing attack, the Mountaineers are only getting more and more confident. I believe that this team is more than capable of challenging the best in the Sun Belt and go for the Conference title if they keep playing how they have over the past couple of weeks. 

Let's not forget that CCU lost 47-7 in its last road game and has lost by 35+ in all three of its losses this season. I have full confidence in an Appalachian State side that should be winning this game by double digits on Saturday in another expected blowout win. 

Burns' Prediction: 42-14 App State.

(#265) San Francisco 49ers | ATS | . 

Despite losing both Purdy & Kittle for some time earlier on in the season, San Francisco has done an excellent job at staying one of the best teams in the NFC with its 4-1 record. That being said, the return of Purdy should be coming in the next couple of weeks, if not this weekend. Whether he plays or not, Shanahan has these guys playing great football and CMC has been a huge part of why. The defense has also stepped up without Bosa. 

On the other hand, Tampa Bay is also dealing with major injuries. With Mike Evans already sidelined, Bucky Irving & Chris Godwin are in doubt as well this weekend. The Buccaneers have been able to win the close games and have their offense simply out score the other team so far. But, none of their wins have been convincing. As a matter of fact, all four wins come within three points or less this season. 

I believe that NFL Sunday's during the regular season have one of the weakest home field advantage of any major sport other than MLB. Yes, playing at home definitely helps. But, it's not going to make a huge difference like College does at times. Expect McCaffrey and the Niners to come to play once again and torch this Bucs defense that allowed 35 last weekend against Seattle. 

Burns' Prediction: 27-21 Niners.

(#172) USC Trojans | ATS | . 

Even though Michigan is always going to be a team that a lot of teams fear, I believe that the school took a huge hit once Harbaugh left. The squad just doesn't seem as determined to win it all anymore. Obviously, that's the main goal from every team. However, I just don't see the electric-ness and/or grit that it takes to go far. 

On the other hand, even though the Trojans tasted defeat against Illinois for the first time on the road in their latest game, I believe that they are still going to do great things this season. USC is now an unranked favorite here at home and the offense is special, that's for sure. Jayden Maiava has turned the ball over just once through the first five games and has 15 touchdowns to his name. 

Overall, both of these teams should be ranked at the end of the season. I believe that the USC defense is going to step up in the key moments this weekend, ultimately leading to a USC win vs. a ranked opponent. This game is absolutely massive and with it being in the evening in Southern California, I've got USC by at least a TD. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-23 USC.

(#192) UTSA Roadrunners | ATS | . 

Even though Rice has the slightly better record (3-3 compared to 2-3) this season, I believe that it's the worse of the two foes in this matchup. The Owls have lost consecutive games, including at home against a 2-3 FAU team last weekend. They are one of the worst passing teams in the league, causing hardly any points to be scored in their games. One thing that the Owls are good at is rushing cause they run so much. But, UTSA's got an excellent rush defense to counter it. 

Talking about the Roadrunners, they are much better than their record suggests. Two of the three losses that they've suffered were on the road and they bring in a 17-9 ATS record coming off a loss into Saturday's matchup. At home, I believe that UTSA will be able to open up the score late and win this one by double digits. Don't be shocked if it's a 20+ point win. 

Burns' Prediction: 38-16 UTSA.

(#161) Alabama Crimson Tide | ATS | . 

The loss to Florida State was one that not too many people saw coming. However, Alabama has sure responded and I really like what I've seen from this school since week 1. Last weekend, Alabama had a revenge game against Vanderbilt and was successful, winning by 16. The week prior to that, the Tide stormed into Sanford Stadium and took down Georgia. This is a team that most definitely is capable of playing for a National Title come the end of the season. 

On the other hand, Missouri has been pretty fortunate with its early season schedule so far. I mean, it's yet to play a ranked opponent, That being said, this is most definitely the Tigers most difficult task ytd. There's no easy games within the SEC really and with this being at home, MISSOU will likes it's chances to keep it close. I just think that Alabama's on a mission and it won't lose this game and win by at least a field goal, likely more on Saturday at noon. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-20 Bama.

(#484) Buffalo Bills | ATS | . 

Through the opening four weeks of the season, it's been a bit of a mixed bag for the Patriots. New England is coming off a phenomenal 42-13 victory against Carolina a week ago. However, the Pats are still considerable underdog's entering this SNF game. They definitely have the edge over the Bills in all-time H2H. That being said, since Brady left, it's been a different story. 

Buffalo has won six of the past eight meetings as well as eight of the past 11 games played at home against NE. The Bills did lose that game in January vs. the Patriots last season. But, that wasn't a very meaningful game. Coming off the bad defensive performance against the Saints a week ago, I'm expecting a whole lot better from Buffalo this weekend, especially in primetime. 

It's always a bit dangerous playing a number like this when a touchdown win can burn you. But, I'm fully confident in a double digit Bills win on Sunday evening at home with the undefeated record still on the line. Hammer Buffalo on SNF. 

Burns' Prediction: 35-10 Bills.

(#345) Ohio Bobcats | ATS | . 

After a couple of difficult opponents to begin the season in Rutgers & Ohio State on the road, Ohio is coming off consecutive wins and are building more and more confidence. I'm very high on the Bobcats in the MAC conference this season and I believe that they are the best team at the moment. The offense is very, very talented. 

For Ball State, I have the opposite mindset. It's 1-3 so far with its only win being a five point win at home against New Hampshire, an FCS opponent. The Cardinals have an even worse defense than Ohio and the offense is also significantly worse. Homefield doesn't really play a factor for Ball State as it's won only six of its past 14 home games. 

Having said that, I believe that this is a great spot for Ohio to grow even more as a team with another blowout victory. The offense is going to be hungry and with Ball State averaging the 7th least amount of PPG in the FBS this season, I don't believe that this contest will be close on Saturday. Hammer the Bobcats. 

Burns' Prediction: 41-10 Ohio.

(#271) Chicago Bears | ATS | . 

Coming off last week's big win over the Cowboys, Chicago could be back in business with another win on Sunday. The Bears are a very talented team, especially with young talent. But, the loss of DB Jaylon Johnson really has put fans in a whirlwind of emotions and people don't know what to think of the Bears anymore. Well, I still believe that they can compete with just about anyone in the league. It's just a matter of Caleb Williams performing up to his capabilities. 

On the other hand, I've been very disappointed with the Las Vegas Raiders so far. The offense looks out of sorts especially. I mean Brock Bowers in supposed to be the main focal point on the team and he got just five targets last weekend. Now, I do expect the rapport between him and Geno to improve as the season gets older. But, given how bad the offense has been, especially the O-Line, there's no question in my mind that Chicago will be able to outscore LV. 

The defense has been solid for the Raiders, especially on the first couple of drives of the game. However, as the game progresses, the defense gets more and more tired leaving tons of openings as we've seen in the first few weeks. Ben Johnson has great schemes and will have the Bears ready for this "must win" contest to get back in the divisional race. Give me the Bears. 

Burns' Prediction: 28-17 Bears .

(#264) Houston Texans | ATS | . 

Tennessee has shown a couple of flashes of good play. However, the defense has been really, really bad, especially ever since week one. The Titans are coming off two home games where maybe they should have done better. But, as the underdogs in both of those games, it wasn't going to be easy. Now, on the road after a failed home stand, this is going to be even harder. 

Despite the rough start, I believe that Houston still has a great chance at being able to reshape its season and come back from the 0-3 record. Not only do the Texans have a much stronger defense than Tennessee. But, I'm not counting CJ Stroud a "bum" yet. He's brought this team to the playoffs multiple times already and he's still a very talented young player. 

In the end, this is going to come down to one simple factor. Defense. Last weekend, the Titans were absolutely miserable on defense and I don't see how that changes here today. Stroud might take a bit to get going. But, once he does, he will not look back. Give me the Texans to pick up their first win of the season and win this game by double digits. 

Burns' Prediction: 23-9 Houston.

(#180) UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns | ATS | . 

Even though Marshall has won consecutive games and has some confidence heading into week five, I believe that this is a very difficult matchup for ot. The Thundering Herd nearly lost all of their players over the offseason. There was tons of rebuilding and this should be considered as a rebuilding season for them. They've shown flashes of strong play. However, winning B2B road games this early in the season will most definitely be challenging. 

Looking at the Ragin' Cajuns, I believe that they are much better than their 1-3 record suggests. They are off two road losses, but still played pretty well last week vs. EMU considering. Back at home, the surroundings will be much more comfortable for the ULL players and that should definitely help it get back on track. 

While both teams play very similar in terms of liking o run the ball, Louisiana's pass defense is going to be able to shut Marshall down completely. Yes, Marshall might find some early success on the ground. But, as the game goes on, the one dimensional attack will be eliminated and ultimately lead to a ULL win. Hammer the Ragin' Cajuns. 

Burns' Prediction: 29-14 ULL.

(#477) Kansas City Chiefs | ATS | . 

It's definitely been a rough start for both of these two teams. Kansas City has yet to find much offensive rhythm, and New York just suffered a devastating OT loss in a divisional game last weekend. While it's definitely going to be tough to recover from the disappointing start, I believe that one of these teams most definitely still has it in them to turn things around. 

That team is the Kansas City Chiefs. We all know that Patrick Mahomes is great. We also know that this team made the Super Bowl last season. Now, yes the Chiefs are 0-2. However, they are always going to be in ball games with a great coach and a great QB. Kansas City plays Baltimore next week, essentially making this game a must-win. 

The Giants keep losing the crucial games and it's probably not going to go so well for the coaching staff if this keeps happening. There's no doubt that they have something in Malik Nabers. But, the defense is quite horrendous other than the defensive line and edge rushers. I believe that the Chiefs O-Line will be able to hold up more than the Cowboys O-Line did a week ago and that should allow KC to cover ATS in this game rather easily on SNF. 

Burns' Prediction: 30-14 Chiefs.

(#452) Tennessee Titans | ATS | . 

Even though the Indianapolis Colts come into this week 3 matchup feeling very good, with a 2-0 record, this is a team that I don't expect to keep this up. Last weekends game definitely could've gone the other way and a questionable flag was thrown late allowing Indianapolis to attempt a much shorter FG for the win. Having said that, this Colts team is beatable. 

On the other hand, Tennessee hasn't been horrible. As a matter of fact, I've actually liked what I've seen from the Titans who have faced two of the best defenses in the NFL to begin the season. They might not be as bad as people think and with Cam Ward behind center, the play is never over until it's over. 

I believe that divisional matchups on the road are extremely difficult. Going into Tennessee this weekend will be tough for the Colts and they might try and rely on the running game with JT. While that could prove to be effective, I like Tennessee's chances much more covering the spread and maybe even pulling off this upset with the clock constantly ticking. 

Burns' Prediction: 23-17 Titans.

(#400) UTEP Miners | ATS | . 

With the week off last week, UL Monroe will come into this game well rested. I'm not sure how much of a difference that will make though. The Warhawks lost 73-0 to Alabama in their most recent game and that's still in the back of their heads even though it was two weeks ago. No, I don't believe that UL Monroe is horrible. But, I do think that this isn't a team that's going to fare too well this season, especially on the road. 

On the other hand, UTEP has played one more game than ULM. Even though it's 1-2, I've liked what I've seen from the Miners. With a former 5-star running the offense at QB, Malachi Nelson should be able to show just why he was that heavily recruited coming into college here this evening. UTEP won its first and only home game so far against Tennessee-Martin by 25 points (as a 7.5 point fav.) 

Yes, it was a bit lopsided in the end. But, UTEP's defense was actually very strong against Texas last week only giving up 27 points. The Miners allowed just 114 yards through the air and picked Arch Manning off as well. ULM just isn't as talented and will get shut down offensively in this one. Expect a lower scoring but simply UTEP win on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-6 UTEP.

(#367) Michigan Wolverines | ATS | . 

Coming off a big 63-3 win last weekend against CMU, I believe that Bryce Underwood is finally starting to get settled in with his new team. He's a true freshman with a ton of pressure on his shoulders. However, with his dual threat ability (rushed of 114 yards on nine rushes and two TDs on the ground last weekend) I believe that he's got the talent to take this team to great heights in 2025-26. The Wolverines are always great defensively and we saw NEB QB Dylan Raiola be limited to much shorter throws in the game at Cincinnati earlier this season in just a three point win for the Cornhuskers. I think that MICH's defense is much better than Cincinnati's so this will be the first test of the season for Dylan. Looking at Nebraska more, it's perfect on the year. However, like I just mentioned, that's what was expected from this fairly simple opening schedule as -5.5 plus favorites in each of those games. Michigan's already played in a hostile environment in OU earlier this year and are used to the atmosphere. Give me the Wolverines on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 28-13 Michigan.

(#280) Las Vegas Raiders | ATS | . 

While a lot of people will probably like the Chargers in this game, after they picked the Chiefs a part last weekend, I believe that this is a great sport for the Raiders on Monday. LAC shocked everyone by slinging the rock around in that game a week ago. But, that's not the kind of football that I'm expecting to see from them this evening. The Chargers love to run the ball and will probably lean on Hampton a lot more considering that his debut is out of the way. 

Looking at the Raiders, they looked very strong against the Patriots in week 1. Brock Bowers went down with an injury and is questionable for this game. I expect him to play. Even if he doesn't though, Geno has weapons and Jeanty looks strong. Last year, LA was able to win both meetings. Pete Caroll wants revenge from those games in his first season as the Head Coach. Getting three points against a division rival at home on Monday Night Football, this is a gift for the Raiders. Don't be shocked when LV wins outright. 

Burns' Prediction: 29-23 Raiders.

(#258) Dallas Cowboys | ATS | . 

New York was somewhat surprisingly (to me at least) a popular pick a week ago when it took on Washington. Ending up on the losing end of that game, I believe that the Giants are in a bit of trouble right now. Wilson didn't get Nabers the ball nearly enough and the running game was non existent. Moving forward, if these issues remain, the Giants are going to be in for a long season. 

Dallas, on the other hand, fought very hard against the defending champs. With multiple chances to win that game, I believe that the Cowboys will still bring some positive energy into its home opener in Arlington. The Cowboys still have one of the deadliest options at receiver in the league and having Javonte Williams score two TD's in the win definitely gives the team some confidence in the running game. 

After the delay in the TNF game, Dallas turned up the heat on the defensive end as well. Even without Parsons, I believe that the Cowboys definitely can still be solid on that side of the ball. Being at home should help Dallas get on the board with its first win of the season and I expect a fairly simple cover on Sunday afternoon. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-14 Cowboys.

(#181) Navy Midshipmen | ATS | . 

Sometimes, when betting against the spread or betting totals, it's hard to predict what the armed forces teams are going to do, considering that it's mostly a run game that will decide your fate. However, this weekend, I believe that Navy is going to absolutely obliterate its opponents. The Midshipmen have been brilliant, as expected so far. The first two wins were definitely supposed to happen, as sizeable favorites in both. However, I believe that having those wins under their belt will definitely help the Midshipmen gain more and more confidence and start dominating everyone coming up. It very much helps that they return QB Blake Horvath from last year who's an excellent runner of the football himself. 

On the other hand, I'm not high on Tulsa whatsoever this season. The Golden Hurricane have done alright so far this season, but were favorites on the road last weekend and fell short against NMSU. In that game, they really struggled on the big downs (3rd & 4th) and even though they out-gained the Aggies by quite a bit, the little things to score points just isn't there. Missing that field goal at the half was not good for the kickers confidence either. This is going to be a rough season for Tulsa in my opinion and I expect it to have all kinds of trouble attempting to stop the Navy option style of play. The last time these teams played was in 2022 when Navy won 53-21. Hammer the Midshipmen. 

Burns' Prediction: 38-10 Navy.

(#470) Atlanta Falcons | ATS | . 

While I do respect the Buccaneers a ton as a team, I'm still not sold on Todd Bowles as the Head Coach. Don't get me wrong, he was an outstanding defensive coordinator, and really knows defense. However, it's been a few seasons now where I believe that the Bucs could have done a lot better than what they've accomplished, especially in the regular season. It helps that this division hasn't been as competitive of course. 

Looking at Atlanta, Michael Penix is now the main piece to this offense. Yes, he's still young and has lots to learn still. However, he's in a great spot and he got to learn under Kirk Cousins last season and even got a couple of appearances under his belt. I expect big things from Penix who's got one of the most explosive RB's in the game in Bijan Robinson to work with, as well as a great WR in Drake London. 

People are also underestimating this defense of the Falcons. In my opinion, Atlanta had one of the best drafts this offseason. Getting both LB Jalon Walker & DE James Pearce Jr to bolster up its explosiveness in rushing the passer/stopping the run and two safeties as well in Billy Bowman Jr. & Xavier Watts. Not to mention that the Falcons also went out and got Leonard Floyd & Divine Diablo on defense. 

Coming into the season, Tampa Bay has a lot of injury woes. It's going to be missing two of its better wideouts, Chris Godwin/Jalen McMillan to begin the season as well as star left tackle Tristan Wirfs (most likely.) Wirfs is a huge miss for this team as the Bucs struggled without him a season ago and he's the heart and soul of this offensive line. 

In the end, I believe that the home Falcons are going to want to come out and send a message on opening weekend at home. I know this isn't a night game and that home field doesn't mean quite as much in the NFL as college. However, this is a great spot for the Falcons, as they should be playing their hearts out in this one. Hammer ATL. 

Burns' Prediction: 27-21 Falcons.

(#375) North Carolina Tar Heels | ATS | . 

Prior to its game on Monday, UNC was a 19pt favorite (opening line.) It was even -21.5 at DraftKings on the 31st of August. Since then, it's dropped all the way down to -12.5. I get that the Tar Heels were quite bad in that game vs. TCU other than the first drive of the game. However, this isn't going to be a team that struggles all season long. I still expect Bill Belichick to have this team at least somewhat competitive in the ACC this season. 

On the other hand, let's not ignore the fact that Charlotte lost its opening game at home against App State by 23 points (34-11.) That was a single digit spread and it's hard to see a non "power four" squad bouncing back from a game against another non "power four" team to play a "power four" team this weekend. Charlotte returned only two offensive starters and even though its QB, Conner Harrell, used to be at UNC, I don't expect much from this team throughout the season. 

Let's also set the record straight that these guys aren't bad that are playing at UNC this season. Bill did an excellent job getting 70 new guys in this organization in just one offseason and there's loads of experience. It's going to take time to become what it wants to become. But, this is a much easier opponent than TCU, even playing away from Chapel Hill. This spread has come down way too much. Expect a much different game and an easy win for UNC to gain some confidence this weekend. 

Burns' Prediction: 33-10 UNC.

(#158) San Jose State Spartans | ATS | . 

Last year, Central Michigan's focus was primarily on the running game. With another HB room that's expecting to do damage this season, I expect that to be the case once again this year. Having said that, the Chippewas will have to go up against an improved defense that was already solid against the run a year ago. 

As a matter of fact, even though the Spartans allowed quite a few rushing touchdowns, they ranked 22nd in the entire FBS in rushing yards allowed per carry in the 24-25 season. San Jose State does lose Nick Nash, one of the best receivers in the country last season. But, his presence improved QB Eget's game tremendously and I expect him to take a big jump this season for the Spartans. 

SJST won its first three games of the season last year, covering ATS in them all. One team is going to try and slow the game down, while the other should look for more opportunities to score points through the big play. Therefore, my CFB GAME OF THE MONTH is on the San Jose State Spartans. 

Burns' Prediction: 36-14 Spartans.

(#144) South Florida Bulls | ATS | . 

While the Broncos of Boise State still should be very competitive this season, losing Jeanty is a big deal and bigger than people are making it seem. He was the majority of the teams offense a year ago and even though they've got a ton of talent that can replace him, the production that he got will probably not be seen again for a while, in all of college sports. The defensive front also gets slightly worse, therefore, USF will no problem getting their speedy offense going. 

Talking about the Bulls, Byrum Brown will be the QB for this high flying offense. He's an excellent player who can use his legs if he finds nothing down the field. Last season, he wasn't the main guy. In 2023, he was outstanding. Expect more stats like he had in 2023 this season as the Bulls look like prime contenders to contend for an AAC title. This will be a great game, but I'm siding with the home team as the dog on Thursday. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-26 USF.

Buffalo Bills (ATS) .. 

It's been a debate all season long about who's the MVP. Well, who is the MVP? In my opinion, it's Josh Allen. From where the man was as a "zero star" player out of high school, Josh Allen has simply outworked his opponents every moment of his life. Now, at Buffalo, he's given belief to a whole fan base that hasn't seen a Super Bowl ever come home. Over the regular season, he accounted for over 40 touchdowns, while having less than eight turnovers and got sacked less than 20 times. That's the first QB in NFL history to do so. 

MVP Race aside, this is the game that NFL fans have been waiting for all season long. The rematch after Baltimore dismantled Buffalo in the first meeting back in week 4. Yes, the Ravens have a great bunch of guys. They went out and got Derrick Henry for these very moments. Having said that, the story of Lamar Jackson in the playoffs hasn't always been too pretty. He's yet to prove that he's a capable QB in the postseason and now has to go into Highmark Stadium, in possible snow, and beat a team that is famous for playing in the freezing cold. 

You may think that Josh Allen hasn't had much success in the playoffs so far either as the QB for Buffalo. Well you're right. However, the NFL practically changed a rule because of him and the Bills in the game against the Chiefs a few seasons ago when KC got the ball in OT first and won the game. Now, in the playoffs, Allen has a passer rating of 102.3 with 2,995 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 playoff games. For Lamar, he has passer rating of 81.2 with 1,499 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions in seven playoff games. 

All in all, I expect this to be a well played football game. However, one QB is simply going to do whatever it takes to win this game and that's Josh Allen. Buffalo has a great leader and he's playing some of the best football of his career at the moment. Bills win this game at home and set up a potential meeting at Arrowhead against his nemesis in Pat Mahomes and the KC Chiefs. 

Score Prediction: 27-20 Bills.

Detroit Lions (ATS) .. 

After playing against these Vikings last weekend and coming up short, I'm playing against them again this weekend as a big play. I've already won a couple of times on Minnesota this season, so I don't think that the Vines are a bad team. However, I do believe that they are still slightly overrated. Led by Sam Darnold at QB (he was a backup last year,) they really aren't anything special other than Justin Jefferson & Aaron Jones. Their defense has their moments, but overall this is a very difficult game to see them winning, especially off nine consecutive wins. 

They'll be up against a Detroit team that's hungrier than ever to secure the top spot in this division along with the first round bye in the playoff. Yes, the Lions do have a bunch of injuries which has had me avoiding them for the most part in the second half of this season. However, Detroit is still stacked and the heart that this team plays with is undeniably awesome. The Lions have scored more than 30 points in each of their past four games, even without all of their top guys. Expect their offense to be too much for Minnesota on SNF and for the division. 

Score Prediction: 34-23 Lions.

Seattle Seahawks (ATS) .. 

Despite this game not being necessarily one that means something for these two teams, there's still plenty to play for many of these players. One of those players being Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. As many of you know, he's getting up there in terms of age as a QB. With Seattle missing out on the playoffs this season, Geno's future as a Seahawk is very in danger. Having said that, this is a massive game for him to prove to his coaching staff that he belongs as the QB of this football team. 

On the other hand, the Rams have already clinched a playoff spot. That means, Head Coach Sean McVay should be willing to rest most of his starters in order to keep them healthy for the playoffs. LAR is a solid football team, but rely on its superstars to carry most of the load on offense. Without those guys, the Rams will have trouble moving the ball. 

Yes, this isn't the most ideal spot to be having such a big play. But with the circumstances as they are, this is the perfect chance to get in on the oddsmakers mistake. Seahawks win this one by double digits off of a big game by Geno. 

Score Prediction: 34-14 Seahawks.

Ohio State Buckeyes (ATS) .. 

Back on Wednesday, July 10th of this year in my, "Way-Too-Early NCAAF Predictions & Future Bets to Make:" article, I predicted that we would see this very matchup in the College Football Playoff. Now, I know my prediction had these teams meeting in the final. However, this is practically the final (in my eyes.) These are simply the two best teams in the country right now. Earlier this season, they met in Oregon. What a game that was. I expect round two to be just as good and it's time to take a look at what to expect. 

Lots has changed since that game back in October. Ohio State, who failed to reach the Big Ten Championship after shockingly losing to Michigan in the final game of the regular season, has two losses on the year. However, that loss in "The Game" fuelled them for their first round matchup against Tennessee. The Buckeyes looked as dominant as ever in that game. Ohio State is here to win it this year. 

Now, as the phrase goes, "It's hard to beat the same team twice in College Football." Well, even though I don't always believe so, I'm going by that this time around. Oregon hasn't lost a game this season and I've got to give credit to the Ducks. Having said that, they barely survived an OSU team at home. With this game being played at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, I don't know if the Ducks will be able to live up to the hype. We all know what happened last year in their biggest game of the year. They crumbled against Washington with a trip to the playoffs on the line. 

Dan Lanning is a great coach and has really made an identity for himself and this program. That being said, Ryan Day's job is on the line in this game. He's been in big games, he's had the talent, and this might be his best Buckeyes roster he's had. But, he's never been able to power through and get Ohio State gold. He was in the Natty in 2020-21, and lost. Now's his time to make a name for himself. The bye week will end up hurting the Ducks, who were in a groove. Give me the Buckeyes to advance to the Semi-Final. 

Score Prediction: 37-29 Buckeyes.

University of Southern California Trojans (ATS) .. 

One win is all Texas A&M needed to have a chance at glory. The Aggies' final game of the season against Texas was their chance to get into the SEC Championship game and maybe even sneak into the playoffs. But, having lost that game, they are stuck playing in a bowl game before New Year's. I don't think that the Aggies will all be there mentally and will not be ready for this game. Texas A&M has lost three of its last four to finish the season and will make those numbers worse after today. 

As many of you probably know, I played against this USC team with my CFB Game of the Year on the final game of the season and won with Notre Dame. Having said that, I do believe that the Trojans are better than people think. USC switched quarterbacks mid season and Jayden Maiava has shown flashes of brilliance in his first season. Don't let the 6-6 record fool you. This USC team will be ready for the challenge on Friday evening. 

In conclusion, I think that the ability to both pass and escape pressure by Maiava is going to cause the Aggies problems. Texas A&M play much better at home and I don't believe in their abilities to play away from home, especially with how they played down the stretch. Even with guys leaving due to the transfer portal and preparation of the draft, I'm playing on USC to win the Las Vegas Bowl. 

Score Prediction: 30-17 USC.

Washington Commanders (Point Spread) .. 

Philly, Philly, Philly. Having won 10 consecutive games this season, it's hard to play against them. Having said that, this is a very difficult divisional matchup for them. The Eagles have been dominant, don't get me wrong. However, they still lack in the passing department a bit. Even with the recent success through the air, Philadelphia relies more on its running game. The Eagles will have to go up against a Washington team who has only given up 104 yards (52 YPG) on the ground over their past two games. 

Taking a closer look at the Commanders, they are now back to playing like they were earlier this season. It was a tough win that they had to grind out last weekend vs. the Saints. Nonetheless, they got the job done and have now won consecutive games. The last time WSH saw Philly was in week eleven when Washington was actually leading 10-6 going into the fourth quarter before losing by a touchdown. This is a huge game for them to stay confident and get into the playoffs with ease. 

I believe that Washington has what it takes to win this game. The Commanders are a young team, led by a rookie QB in Jayden Daniels. Daniels has been phenomenal all year and I see him playing his best football this afternoon. At home, my NFC East Game of the Year is on the Washington Commanders ATS. 

Score Prediction: 24-20 Commanders.

Baltimore Ravens (Point Spread) .. 

The last time these teams saw each other was back in November. Pittsburgh won that game on six field goals and no touchdowns. This time around, I'm expecting a much different type of game here this week. The Steelers are off a loss against Philly and didn't look great on either side of the ball. Baltimore offense is one of the best in the NFL and will not get shut down again.

Looking at Baltimore a bit more, Lamar Jackson is putting up MVP-like numbers this season and still isn't getting much respect. He'll have something to prove in this revenge game for the Ravens. Baltimore is entering this game off a 21-pt win over NYG. The Ravens need to build on that with a win here today. With the division & home field in the playoffs on the line, this is a huge game for both teams. 

Baltimore is at home which should help them very much. The Ravens are 1-0 this season at home within the division and should make that 2-0 in week 16. The Ravens also have one of, if not the best rush defense in the league which should contain Pittsburgh's offense just like in the first game. Expect their offense to have more success with the Steelers having given up an average of 26.3 PPG over their last three. Hammer Baltimore minus the points. 

Score Prediction: 29-13 Ravens.

Atlanta Falcons (ATS) .. 

After being paid a ton of money during the offseason for who knows what reason, Kirk Cousins has not looked himself over the past few weeks. He's throwing balls that he doesn't normally throw and his backup, Michael Penix Jr, has already seen a couple of snaps in his replace. Now, Cousins is starting today and will most likely for the remainder of the season. But, the Falcons playoff hopes are starting to slip away and he needs to wake up. 

Luckily for the Falcons, they'll be up against Las Vegas today. The Raiders just lost their best playing in Maxx Crosby for the season and their QB Aiden O'Connell is most likely not going to play today's game either. LV is already 2-11 this season and show no signs in being able to win anything right now. The Raiders will lose their 10th consecutive game today. 

All in all, Atlanta is in desperate need for a win and should get it comfortably on Monday evening. This is most likely going to be a lower scoring game considering how bad the two offenses have been recently. However, the Falcons are favored in this game for a reason and I believe that they win this game by a touchdown at the very least. Expect a monster game from Bijan Robinson. 

Score Prediction: 23-13 Falcons.

Kansas City Chiefs (ATS) ... 

It's now been known that the Chiefs can only win one score games. Well, that may be true in recent. But, there's always changes that happen every single week. This week against the Chargers is as low as a line that we've seen since week one against the Ravens with the Chiefs at home. In that game, KC won by seven and covered ATS as well. I believe that we could be in for another strong performance from KC with this being a primetime game. 

LAC comes into this game with a very strong 8-4 record considering that they've got some flaws. They're lacking in the receiving department (McConkey is questionable as well) and they're without JK Dobbins until the end of the regular season at the very least. The Chargers will try and play this game like they have with every game so far. Time management. Well, that works against weaker teams. But, they weren't good enough against the Ravens in week 12 on MNF and they won't be good enough in week 14 vs. the Chiefs. 

When these two teams met earlier on this season in week 4, it was a seven point win for the Chiefs in LA. Now, we shift to Arrowhead where KC is undefeated this season. Kansas City are also undefeated in divisional games this season. Expect another win by at least a touchdown on SNF for the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Score Prediction: 27-13 Chiefs.

Penn State Nittany Lions (ATS) ... 

As strong as Oregon have been and looked all year long, I believe that this matchup is scary for them. Oregon struggled against a run heavy team in Boise earlier on this season and have had a very close games down the stretch against a 5-7 Wisconsin team. Now, don't get me wrong, the Ducks are undefeated for a reason. However, they will be in for a very tough game against a hungry Penn State team that's eager to silent the doubters that say they haven't beaten anyone good. 

Talking about the Nittany Lions, they are 11-1. Yes, their best win was against a 9-3 Illinois team at home. But, they are still a very talented football team. Thinking about the brand of Penn State, they like to run first. Having said that, Drew Allar has made this team very unique with his excellent ability to pass as well. Penn State are able to beat teams with both and that's why they were oh so close to beating OSU in week 10. 

Like I said before, Oregon will be in for a battle. Three of the Ducks wins came by 3 points or less this season and it hasn't always been easy for them. I'll give the slight edge to Oregon's coach in Dan Lanning. But, with both teams already locked into the CFP Playoff, I expect PSU to find a way to keep this one close up until the very end and possibly upset the Ducks to claim a first round bye. 

Score Prediction: 27-24 PSU.

UL Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns (ATS) ... 

As good as Marshall has been over their six-game winning streak down the stretch, I believe that they are in for a tough game this weekend. They've had a couple of scares over the past two weeks against both JMU and Old Dominion. On the season, they are just 3-3 away from their home-field. That comes into play in this one as the Cajuns are hosting this year's Sun Belt Conference Championship Game. 

Talking about UL-Lafayette, they are coming off an excellent showing against UL-Monroe on the road last week. The week prior to that, they put up 51 points in a dominating performance against Troy. When these two programs last saw each other, ULL was able to win by double digits. I'm expecting a similar result on Saturday. 

As little of a boost it may provide on the field, I love playing on teams at home in the Conference Championship Game. It's a long season and teams get tired with the travelling portion, which makes playing at home always great, especially behind their home fans. The Cajuns will have great home support this weekend and I'm expecting another double digit win. 

Score Prediction: 31-17 UL-Lafayette

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (ATS) ... 

Ever since their shocking loss against Northern Illinois in week 2 of this season, Notre Dame has looked dominant. They crushed both Navy & Army (both entered the matchup undefeated,) hammered UVA, GT, FSU, Stanford & Texas A&M. They also beat Louisville by a touchdown. Although it's not the toughest schedule that some teams have had this season, they've made it look easy for the most part. The Irish will now head to Southern California to take on the USC Trojans who barely beat the UCLA Bruins last weekend. 

Talking about USC, they've already had a QB change this season. I do believe that Jayden Maiava will be a great QB for years to come in the sport of College Football. However, he's not going to be ready for this Irish defense that is top five in passing yards allowed this season. USC have already clinched a bowl game and don't really have all that much to play for other than spoiler. I do think that they will give it their all considering their coach is Lincoln Riley. That being said, they simply don't have the talent to compete this weekend. 

The Irish are playing like one of the best teams in the country right now and I don't see them having much trouble against a five-loss USC team that lost the last matchup between these teams by a score of 48-20. I've got Notre Dame this Saturday as my #1 CFB GAME OF THE YEAR by more than a touchdown. 

Score Prediction: 38-17 Notre Dame.

Duke Blue Devils (ATS) ... 

The Virginia Tech Hokies have been stuck at five wins over the past few weeks with two losses against Syracuse & Clemson. I believe that they could be in for another disappointment this weekend in a rough environment in Durham (at night.) VT has a solid offense with a capable QB which makes them a threat to win any game. However, they really struggle on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary. Note that both Drones (the QB) as well as Tuten (their RB) didn't practice over the bye week. Assuming they both play this week, they could be not at full health. 

Looking at the Duke Blue Devils, they've had a very solid season. Don't get me wrong, they probably were expecting a little bit more having started 5-0. But, they have still done a great job, and an even job better at home. Duke bounced back in a big way with a road win last week against NC State. They'll look to carry that momentum into this week. 

While the Blue Devils have a much better defense (second best in the ACC according to PPG allowed,) I'm very surprised that Duke is an underdog here by a field goal. The only home loss that Duke has on their schedule is a one-point defeat to an SMU team that has yet to lose within the conference this year. I'll take the Blue Devils +3 as my ACC GAME OF THE YEAR. 

Score Prediction: 34-17 Duke.

Cincinnati Bengals (Against The Spread) ... 

It was a very gut-wrenching defeat for the Bengals last week on TNF against their division rivals (Baltimore.) Flags easily could've been thrown on the final 2pt conversion what would've set up and even easier play to win the game. But, they can't change the past and now sit at 4-6 on the season. That being said, they must win the majority of their games, if not all for the remainder of the season to get into the playoffs. It all begins this week against the Chargers who are surprisingly 6-3. 

LAC won their third consecutive game last weekend against the Titans. Unluckily for them, their schedule gets a lot tougher over these next few weeks (CIN, BAL, @ATL, @KC, TB.) This game would be a huge get for them, but it's not the end of the world if they lose considering they are already in good position in a weaker division. 

The Bengals must treat this game like a must win. It's crucial to win this game and I believe that Burrow and Chase will be ready. LAC's offense is definitely not as strong as Baltimore's and I believe that Cincy will be able to outscore LAC if they have to in another higher scoring game. 

Score Prediction: 34-24 Bengals.

Kansas State Wildcats (ATS) ... 

Despite their recent struggles, this is a great bounce back spot for the Wildcats. This is a Kansas State team that is currently getting slept on right now. As strong as BYU is playing, KState could very well sneak their way into the College Football Playoff. Yes, they'll need some luck with Colorado losing one of their final few games as well as them beating the Cougars in the Big-12 Title Game. But, it very well could happen. Having said that, each game is crucial for them coming down the stretch. 

This weekend, they will be up against a 7-2 Arizona State team with an injured tail-back. Yes, RB Cam Skattebo, who's rushed for over 1000 yards already this season, is set to play. However, he will most likely not be fully 100% for this game. Either way, KState has one of the best rush defenses in the country which will limit damage on the ground. 

Don't get me wrong, it was a very disappointing and poor performance from the Wildcats in week 10 against Houston. However, with the week off and extra preparation, I expect them to prevail vs. the Sun Devils on Saturday evening. The crowd will be a huge factor and I've got KSU winning this game by double digits. 

Score Prediction: 41-17 KSU.

East Carolina Pirates (Against The Spread) ... 

In Tulsa's last game, they were +2 against the UAB Blazers and lost 59-21. I had the Blazers in that game and I believe that Tulsa keeps getting too much respect from the oddsmakers. This is a Tulsa team that has one of the worst defenses in the entire country. Not only do they allow 300+ pass yards a game. But, they also allow the fifth most points by any FBS team this year per game. 

Looking at East Carolina, they made my 'Teams I Expect to Improve' list in my article back on July 10th. As they have very much done so, they can clinch a Bowl Game with a win here today. The Pirates have been scoring very well this season and actually have a really good offense overall. Even though they have been poor on the road, that shouldn't matter in a game like this where the talent between the sides are so far from each other. 

East Carolina absolutely dominated FAU last week on Thursday. They've now scored 105 total points over the past two weeks and should have tons of confidence heading into this one. Tulsa has given up 104 points themselves over their last two games. This could get ugly. My AAC GOY is on ECU (ATS.) 

Score Prediction: 47-17 ECU.

Iowa State Cyclones (ATS) .. 

Don't get me wrong, last week's loss against Texas Tech was quite bad. However, Iowa State still has a top record in the Big-12 this season and I expect them to bounce back here in week 11. The Cyclones might not make it look as pretty as some of these teams in the country. But, they've quietly got one of the most balanced rosters. Their defense is phenomenal, while their offense can be lethal. Kansas blew a lead going into the fourth quarter last weekend and now have to win out to make a bowl game. I don't think that that is realistic though. Talking about the Jayhawks, they are 0-5 in one score games this season. That's very poor. Kansas is also just 2-6 ATS in their past six games at home, dating back to last year. Kansas won't be able to stop the Cyclones on Saturday and they will struggle to get anything going through the air in this game. I've got Iowa State by more than a field goal here today. 

Score Prediction: 31-20 Iowa State

Marshall Thundering Herd (Point Spread) ... 

Southern Miss has actually done a very good job at not getting blown out this season despite their 1-7 record. Having said that, this is a bad matchup for them. Marshall have been heating up in recent weeks beating Louisiana-Monroe a week ago. Led by Sophomore running back AJ Turner, they've got one of the most lethal rushing attacks in the entire country. Turner is averaging 8.3 yards per carry on the road this season. 

Looking at the Golden Eagles a bit more closely, turnovers have been killer for this program. They've thrown 10 INT's this season while only throwing four touchdown passes. That's not what you want to see from a team that is very bad at running the football as well. Southern Miss just isn't the same team without Frank Gore Jr from last season. 

Don't get me wrong, Marshall doesn't have the best of defenses either. However, the Thundering Herd should improve on that side of the ball with USM averaging south of 18 points per game this year. The running game of Marshall will be the difference and they will win this game by more than two touchdowns this Saturday. 

Score Prediction: 37-16 Marshall

Minnesota Vikings (ATS) .. 

The Vikings have lost consecutive weeks. It's time for them the bounce back this weekend. They've had plenty of time to regroup and focus up for this weekends game having played on Thursday Night last week. The Colts just played a very tough game against the Texans and lost by three. At home, the Vikings need to win this game, badly. Let's break it down. 

Before the season began, I had the Colts as a sleeper team to do well this year. Well, they have been the definition average so far this year as they come in with a 4-4 record. However, they've had trouble all season with their offense. Yes, Jonathan Taylor has been out for a few weeks which doesn't help. Nonetheless, they've been poor at QB, especially with Anthony Richardson this season. 

That being said, the Vikings defense should be able to shut down the Indi attack. They've been tremendous against the run and should be able to get some stops vs. the pass against the Colts who are averaging just over 200 pass yards a game. Justin Jefferson will be the best player on the field yet again this week. He will have a big game and I expect the Vikings to win this game by more than a touchdown this evening. 

Score Prediction: 31-17 Vikings. 

**Note that the Colts have now announced to that Anthony Richardson is benched. Joe Flacco will start this weekend. Although that should give them a better overall passing attack, the lack of mobility will be tough for Flacco to overcome this unique Vikings pass rush. Minnesota is hungry this week off consecutive defeats and will respond in a big way.

New York Jets (ATS) .. 

After trading for superstar wide receiver Davante Adams prior to last week's game, everyone thought that the Rodgers/Adams connection would click instantly. While Adams did catch a few passes, he only ended up with 3 for 30. This week, I believe that he'll be ready to go as the top threat against a division rival. Although it technically isn't quite yet, the Jets will have the "must-win" mentality this weekend with their very disappointing 2-5 record. The Pats are currently 1-6, and sit in last in the AFC East. This is a game that New York has to win to get back into the conversation of a playoff contending team. 

Not only are the Pats once again dealing with offensive struggles this season. But, their defense has also been quite bad this season. They've already had to switch QB's this year as well. It was a 24-3 win for the Jets earlier on this year when they met up in week 3. This is another game that NYJ should win fairly comfortably. Expect New York's offense to finally show signs of what we're all expecting this Sunday afternoon. 

Score Prediction: 29-10 Jets.

Penn State Nittany Lions (ATS) .. 

As well as Wisconsin has looked over these past couple of games, they really haven't played anyone all that tough recently. Looking a their record so far, they currently stand at 5-2. Their losses come against Alabama & USC. The Badgers actually got destroyed in both of those losses. Wisconsin's best win comes against Rutgers, who just got embarrassed on their home field against UCLA last weekend (they are now just 4-3.) Having said that, the Badgers do well against the sub-par teams, and fail to impress against the strong teams. 

Talking about strong teams, Penn State is one of them. As one of the few teams left undefeated, they'll be eager to keep their unbeaten record this weekend. The Nittany Lions have played some very solid opponents this season already as well. Like I mentioned earlier, Wisconsin lost to USC earlier on this year. Well, Penn State just beat them on the road last week. They also took out a 6-1 Illinois team by two touchdowns earlier this year. 

When these teams have met in recent history, it's been all Nittany Lions. As a matter of fact, they've won five consecutive encounters dating back to 2012 (covering the spread in all of them.) The Badgers are a running football team and PSU has one of the best ground game defenses in the country this season. With Penn State having a stronger passing attack than in previous years as well, they should have no trouble knocking off Wisconsin this week and go into the big one against OSU on November 2nd with a perfect 7-0 record. 

Score Prediction: 31-14 Penn State.

Appalachian State (ATS) .. 

Both of these two teams have dealt with early season struggles so far. They each own a 2-4 record and are thinking of this game as a must have. Luckily for App State, they are at home in this game. This marks just their third home game so far this season (first in over a month) & it comes at the perfect time. They are fresh off a bye and focused all week to prepare for this one. 

On the other hand, GAST is off a 15pt loss to Marshall last week. The Panthers have yet to win a game away from home this season and it won't start today. Georgia State has also never won against App State in ten games against them. Appalachian State is 7-2-1 ATS over those 10 wins, 9 of them by 14+ & an average win of 26 points. Georgia State also has one of the worst defenses in the country. 

I believe that the Mountaineers are much better than their record and will get the job done by double digits on Saturday afternoon. I won't forget to mention that it's homecoming too. 

Score Prediction: 41-23 App State.

Washington Commanders (ATS) .. 

As the weeks go by & the season gets older, we can continuously know that the Panthers just aren't it again this year. They thought a switch in the QB's would do wonders. But, Andy Dalton has been looking very shaky himself over the past couple of weeks now. Is it time to change back to Bryce Young? Honestly, I think so. But, as long as Dalton is in there, I'll gladly take advantage of it. 

Even though Washington lost last week, the Commanders still looked very strong. #2 overall pick in this past draft, Jayden Daniels, has looked every bit as good as Caleb Williams if not better this year. He's a real treat to watch if you get the chance. Having said that, he's led this Washington team to a 4-2 start this season. Not only are they just winning games, but they also put up huge amounts of points, averaging 29.7 PPG which ranks them tied for second in the entire NFL. 

On the other hand, Carolina is near the bottom in PPG averaging just 17.2. The Panthers also have one of the worst defenses in the entire league, currently allowing the leagues most at 33.8 PPG. With these teams having not played since 2021, this is a great opportunity for the Commanders to show Carolina how bad they really are. Now, with the -7.0 line, there is always going to be the possibility of this game landing on a seven point win for WSH. But, I don't see that happening here. This should be an absolute blowout this Sunday. 

Score Prediction: 38-14 Commanders.

Marshall Thundering Herd (ATS) .. 

Although Marshall lost last week @Georgia Southern, they still own a solid 3-3 record on the season. They've had a dominant rushing attack so far this season and should continue that success here against a weaker defense this week. The Herd have also been getting after the Quarterback in recent games. They've got nine total sacks over the past two weeks and are causing havoc inside. That's concerning for a GAST Oline that gave up three sacks last week to a very pool Old Dominion defense. 

Talking about the Georgia State Panthers, they are just 2-3 this season. Having lost consecutive games, they are near the bottom of the SBC East, narrowly above App State at the moment. Like mentioned earlier, their defense is struggling this season. Even though Marshall's defense isn't great either, they have a massive edge on offense. The skill gap is large and home field advantage should play its part. My SBC GOM is on the Thundering Herd to cover the spread at home on Thursday evening. 

Score Prediction: 34-14 Marshall

Florida International (ATS) .. 

Even though this line has gone up, I believe that it could go up even more. FIU is the much stronger team and they should play like it here this week. They've got a better offense as well as defense. UTEP is 0-6 (1-5 ATS) this season under their new head coach and I don't expect that to change any time soon. 

Yes, UTEP managed to win last seasons matchup between these two programs. However, I believe that we will see the better team come out on top this time. The Panthers have been able to score a lot more than the Miners this season. Talking about that, Utep has been outscored by 111 points through six games. That's an average of an 18.5 point loss per game. Expect the Panthers to win this game here by at least a touchdown on Wednesday. 

Score Prediction: 34-14

Boise State Broncos (ATS) .. 

Boise St RunningBack, Ashton Jeanty has taken over college football and I'm all here for it. I mean the guy has 1031 rushing yards on just 95 carries in just five games. That's ridiculous. Having said that, I expect him to dominate once again this week. Hawaii is solid on the defensive side of the ball, but will not be able to outscore the Broncos. Currently averaging 50.6 points per game, Boise leads the entire nation. 

While the Rainbow Warriors have two wins on their record so far, they haven't really played much competition. SDST & UCLA are solid, but they won't be cracking any big bowl games. This week, they get Boise State, a real CFB Playoff contender. When these teams have played in the past, it's been all Broncos. As a matter of fact, they've won eight consecutive meetings, covering the spread in seven of them. 

All in all, this should be a blowout. Hawaii may get some points, but it won't be nearly enough to come close to Boise State. Jeanty may only play a half again, but that will be all they need for them to completely dominate this football game. Give me the Broncos on Saturday night in Hawaii. 

Score Prediction: 51-17 Boise State.

Louisiana Tech (ATS) .. 

Coming into this game, both teams enter this game with just a single win on the season. As I've already played against LA Tech in their last game and won, I believe that there is plenty of value on them this week vs. MTSU. The Bulldogs have had much better defense as they've yet to allow more than 30 points in a game, despite their 1-3 record. On the other hand, Middle Tennessee have allowed 45+ points in three of their five games on the season. 

The home team has won every single meeting between these two teams and have covered the spread in every game but one. The Blue Raiders have also lost eight consecutive road games. Both teams could really use this win, but don't be surprised if Middle Tennessee get caught looking ahead to their next game at home against Kennesaw State (should be a win.) LA Tech will make sure to take this game seriously. With MTSU having a first year head coach at the helm, I believe that their early season struggles will continue in this game on Thursday evening. Play on the home favorite. This is my C-USA GAME OF THE YEAR. 

Score Prediction: 29-16 Louisiana Tech

Dallas Cowboys // 

Even though Micah Parsons just was announced out, I believe that the Cowboys will play this game with the mentality of "must-win" on Sunday. They've been quite disappointing so far this season considering the talk before the season. Yes, they won last week against the Giants. But, they failed to cover. This week, I expect their offense to start clicking on all cylinders. Ceedee Lamb finally had for than five catches last week as he finished with 7 for 98 yards. Look for him to reach the 100 yard mark for the first time this week. 

Pittsburgh struggled on defense against Joe Flacco and the Indy offense last weekend. Dallas has a lot more explosiveness than Indianapolis (in my opinion.) Despite winning the last meeting, the Steelers have lost against the spread in three consecutive meetings with Dallas. Look for the Cowboys to cover again on Sunday evening. 

Score Prediction: 30-17 Cowboys.

Oregon State (ATS) .. 

Like mentioned in the "Promotion" area, I won my college game of the week easily last weekend. Well, that selection was on this very Oregon State team. I'm back with them once again this week as my strongest side selection. They've got one of the best ground attacks in the country to go along with a fantastic defense. Yes, they've lost this season. But, that was against an Oregon team who I expect to make the Championship Game this season (via. my, "Way-Too-Early NCAAF Predictions & Future Bets to Make:" article.) 

This week, the Beavers face off against a Colorado State team that isn't all that great. The Rams beat the now 0-5 UTEP Miners by just ten points at home last week. Their passing attack was quite bad and if not for a couple of big runs by Morrow, they could've easily lost. Oregon St owns an awesome 13-3 ATS record (14-2 SU) as a home favorite since 2021. Expect another big double digit win from these Beavers this weekend. 

Score Prediction: 37-19 ORST.

Detroit Lions (ATS) .. 

Coming off a much needed win on the road against the Cardinals last week, the Detroit Lions are back in business. Yes, they are dealing with some injuries which are big for them. However, they are back at home in a primetime game in tonights meeting with the Seahawks. Talking about Seattle, they've had quite the "easy" start to their schedule. In fact, they've played Denver, New England and a Tua-less Miami team. Having said that, this is a massive upgrade in competition for the home team. 

Detroit is mostly known for their two-headed monster rushing attack w/ David Montgomery & Jahmyr Gibbs. Well, those aren't the only stars in this offensive lineup. Amon Ra St-Brown is one of the premier WR's in all of football. He's also got an excellent QB in Jared Goff throwing to him. For Seattle, Geno hasn't been all that special considering the flawless record. With a 1:1 TD:INT ratio, I don't see him doing all that great on Monday. Expect the Lions to take over this game early and win convincingly.

Score Prediction: 36-17 Lions.

Georgia Bulldogs (ATS) .. 

While the Georgia Bulldogs barely hung on to beat the Kentucky Wildcats in week three, I can almost guarantee that Kirby Smart wasn't happy with that performance. Having said that, they should be fired up and ready for this battle against their conference rivals in Alabama this week. Last season, the Crimson Tide suffered an early season defeat on their home turf against Texas. While this Georgia team might not be as explosive as they've been offensively in the past, they are still one of, if not the top contender to win the whole thing this year. UGA had the week off last week to mentally and physically prepare for this game. They will be determined to revenge this loss from last season that knocked them out of the College Football Playoff. They haven't lost a regular season game since 2020 (42 game win streak.) Alabama has looked sharp this season, don't get me wrong. However, this will be a completely different test for them, without a bunch of guys from last year as well as the GOAT head coach of NCAA in Nick Saban. We will have to wait and see who Saban selects on College Gameday. But, I believe that UGA is much better than the Tide this season and should be able to roll on Saturday. Kirby Smart will have the boys ready to go. Play on the Bulldogs. This is my SEC GAME OF THE YEAR on UGA against the spread. 

Score Prediction: 31-14 Georgia.

Detroit Lions (ATS) .. 

While the Lions lost last week, that doesn't really change how I look at them. They are still one of the best teams in football and I believe that they will prove just that once again here this weekend against a very young Cardinals team. Talking about the Cardinals, they also come into this game with a 1-1 record. Arizona doesn't really have the defense to stop the Lions in my opinion. As a matter of fact, they've allowed 38 points in two games this season. Yes, it was a 41-10 win last week against the Rams for them. However, LAR was depleted at WR for the entirety of that game. Looking back at the Lions, they out-gained the Bucs heavily in yardage last Sunday and managed to pick up 12 more first downs than Tampa. The two INT's really hurt. This week, expect Goff to be much sharper with the ball and feed his superstars in the making in this deadly offense. Detroit is better than this line suggests. Play on the Lions in week 3. 

Score Prediction: 29-14 Lions.

Oregon State Beavers (ATS) .. 

While the Beavers enter this game with a 2-1 record, I believe that they are slightly underrated this season. They've still got a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Yes, they are an inexperienced group that haven't really played with each other much. However, if the first three games are a sign of anything to come, I believe that this team could be very solid this season. Their only loss so far has been against Oregon and that's a tough game for anyone. In fact, I predicted Oregon to make the CFP Championship (via. "Way-Too-Early NCAAF Predictions & Future Bets to Make:" article.) 

On the other hand, Purdue enters 1-1. They got absolutely obliterated by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their last game and I could see them falling apart once again here this Saturday. With Oregon State at home in this game, I believe that they should win this game by at least a touchdown. This crowd will be amped up, especially in an evening game. Play on the Beavers this weekend. 

Score Prediction: 31-14 Oregon State

Detroit Lions (ATS) .. 

While the Rams had a steal in the draft in Puka Nacua last season who ended up as their best receiver, I believe that the Lions have what it takes to go all the way this season. The Lions looked outstanding all season long with their two-headed monster attack at running back (David Montgomery & Jahmyr Gibbs.) They've now got a more experienced receiving core and should be contenders in the NFC for sure. Having said that, I expect them to open the season off strongly at home. 

The LA Rams lost Aaron Donald due to retirement in the offseason. They have a completely different defense than their Super Bowl winning team had just a few seasons ago. Yes, I don't think that they will struggle as much as they did last year. But, they aren't on the level that Detroit displayed near the end of last season. Expect the Lions to win this game on Sunday Night at home. 

Score Prediction: 30-17 Lions.