I'm playing NY on the run-line (+1.5 runs) After staving off elimination with last night's 4-1 win, the Yankees are very much alive. I had been planning on playing (and did release a play) on NY in Game 4, when it was supposed to be a 'bullpen day.' However, when that game was ppd due to rain, it allowed the starters to go. I changed courses and successfully backed Houston. However, we're now back to what is essentially a bullpen day and I again very much feel that favors NY. As NY's Zack Britton noted: "We obviously feel good about the bullpen days. We've had a lot of success doing it." While I absolutely do like the Yankees to win, I feel that a 1-run game is also a very real possibility. That said, I'm grabbing the extra +1.5 runs. 

I'm playing on NJ. The Canucks have been on a nice roll. Playing an early game in the Eastern Time Zone and in potential "letdown mode" off a win over the defending champs, I expect their winning streak to come to an end here. Even off the win over the Blues, the Canucks are still just 3-8 the past 2+ seasons, after winning their previous three or more games. During that span, they're also 20-34 (-9.4) after scoring four or more goals in their previous game. The Devils got the monkey off their back with their first win last time out. They handled the Canucks last season incl. a 4-0 win here. Expect them to take care of business once again. 

I'm playing on AKRON. Winless on the season, the Zips see this is a winnable game. They're going to fight with everything they've got to get that first "W." Buffalo is already 0-3 SU/ATS on the road, 0-2 ATS as a road favorite. While the Bulls are off a bye, they're just 3-17 SU (6-13-1 ATS) the past 20 times that was the case. Prior to the bye, the Bulls were off a tough 1-point loss. Their lone win of greater than 16 points was back in August, a home game against Robert Morris. (The Bulls were favored by 41 and won by 28.) Buffalo's last visit here resulted in a 1-point game. Look for Akron to provide a much tougher test than most will be expecting. 

Ben Burns' 2019 REVENGE GAME OF THE YEAR goes Saturday. This is one of Ben's BIGGEST PLAYS OF THE ENTIRE SEASON and its going to be a BLOWOUT. Make sure you're on board!

Off last week's loss, many will automatically assume that an angry Georgia team will destroy Kentucky. It might happen; the Bulldogs are certainly capable. However, I don't expect it to. Last week's loss was devastating. The Bulldogs were 3-TD favorites but fell in double-OT. Fromm and the offense never found a rhythm. That loss killed the Bulldogs' dreams of an undefeated year and changed everything. While the season isn't a write-off, by any means, I feel that its going to be hard to focus on the task at hand. Thats particularly true with Florida on deck next week. The Wildcats beat Arkansas last week and haven't lost a game by more than 17 all season. Consider grabbing the points. 

I'm playing on PHILADELPHIA. Tough start for the Stars and I expect that to continue to be the case for at least another day. The home team won both meetings in this series last season. That was also the case the previous season. The Flyers won the two games here by identical 2-1 scores. Not only do the Flyers have the venue in their favor, they've also got the schedule working for them. The Stars fought hard against the Penguins yesterday, getting off to an early lead but ultimately losing, while the Flyers had the past couple of days off. The Stars' previous b2b situation this season resulted in a loss at Detroit. Over the past five games, all of them losses, the Stars have scored just seven combined goals. Thats not going to get it done. The Flyers are 0-3 on the road but 2-0 here at home. Off a disappointing trip out West, they're going to be angry. Home ice proves significant, again. 

I'm playing on UTAH. The Utes are the superior team. They're playing at home. They're on a roll. Importantly, they've also got payback on their minds. Not only did the Sun Devils beat Utah 38-20 at ASU last season but they also beat the Utes by a 30-10 score, right here, the previous season. Utah, which was favored by -10 points for that game, hasn't forgotten. The Utes have only lost one game this season. That was at USC. Their other five games have all resulted in victories and ALL have come by more than 17 points. While the Sun Devils are off b2b upset wins, they're 0-2 ATS the past couple of seasons, when off b2b SU victories when listed as underdogs. The Utes are 16-9 ATS their last 25 as favorites. Determined to avenge the recent losses, exepct them to keep the pedal to the metal the entire way, en route to another convincing win. 

I'm playing on UTSA. While the Roadrunners couldn't ultimately keep up with UAB, I believe that they'll absolutely be capable of doing so against Rice. The Owls also lost against UAB in their last game and have since had a bye. Now 0-6 on the season, I don't feel that they have any business being favored. UTSA won 20-3 at Rice, last season and 20-7, at UTSA, the previous season. The Roadrunners are 4-2 ATS the past six times that they were off a double-digit conf. loss. I expect them to win outright but will happily grab the points. 

I'm playing on VIRGINIA. The Cavs have had their way with Duke in recent seasons. I expect that to continue Saturday afternoon. Note the Virginia, in addition to playing at home, plays with an extra day's worth of rest. Even with a (SU) victory last time out, the Blue Devils are just 2-7 SU in October the past 2+ seasons. While the Cavs are off a couple of difficult road games, they've been perfect at home. These teams have had one common opponent in Pittsburgh. The Cavs hammered the Panthers, 30-13, at Pittsburgh. The Blue Devils, on the other hand, lost outright, despite playing at home. Knowing they're back on the road for a couple more after this one, look for the Cavs to dig deep, bouncing back and coming away with the important win and cover. 

I'm playing on ILLINOIS. Naturally, I respect the Badgers. They're absolutely playing at a high level. However, that said, I feel that its going to be tough for them to win this one by more than four touchdowns. The Badgers have yet to play a conference road game. Their only road game at all came at South Florida. Remember, they're off a huge win over Michigan State and they've got their biggest game of the season (at Ohio State) next weekend. Given that setup, it should be easy to look past lowly Illinois. That'll prove costly though as the Illini are quietly playing (relatively) well. While they're only 1-3 here, two of the losses came by four points or less. Nobody has beaten them by more than 17 here. The Badgers were laying -29.5 points last time they played here but only won by 14. The Illini battled the whole way last week. Look for them to do the same, doing enough to hang within the generously high number.