Scott Rickenbach Handicapper Reviews & Picks

CFB Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 62.5 in Oregon Ducks vs Stanford Cardinal @ 11 PM ET - The Ducks got a 44-41 road win last week and now are back home and weather conditions perfect for this one. Unseasonably warm evening in Eugene and a perfect scenario for plenty of points here. The Ducks are a big favorite for a reason and will dictate the tempo and plus the Cardinal don't just always try to ground and pound anymore like the days of old. I don't see the Ducks taking their foot off the gas in this one either no matter the score. That's because last season they were holding on to a late 7 point lead but allowed a late score and then Stanford beat them in overtime by a TD. Ducks seek redemption here and their offense is flying high right now. Oregon has scored 52 points per game the last 3 weeks. The Cardinal just allowed 40 and 41 points in their last two games. Stanford is averaging 30 points per game so the offense has some confidence too. But the defense is likely to be shredded here. Keep in mind though the Ducks are allowing 31 points per game this season and that even includes a game against an FCS school. The Cardinal should hang around enough in this game to force the scoring to keep going. The Ducks will be relentless for the reasons I noted above and that is why this one getting into the 70s would not surprise me in the least. But we should at least eclipse low 60s. 10* OVER 62.5 in Oregon

CFB Saturday 10* Top Play LSU Tigers -8 @ Auburn @ 7 ET - Laying 8 points on the road when in a rivalry game with a history of home team dominance? Must be crazy, right? No, in this case it makes all the sense in the world. LSU has Jayden Daniels at QB and his lower back strain is a minor one and he left last week's game because it was a blowout moreso than it being an injury concern. As for Auburn, the QB situation is much different and is ultra concerning. They ended up being down to their 4th string QB last week and barely got a win versus Missouri last week. Auburn's TJ Finley is listed as doubtful but likely to miss this game and was unable to practice. With Zach Calzada now out for the season, that means Robby Ashford gets the call here. He has 1 TD and 2 INT so far this season and now faces the toughest defense yet. I do not expect this to go well for Auburn given their injury situation at QB and LSU is also 3-1 just like Auburn. But LSU comes in rolling off 3 straight wins and their only loss was by a single point in week 1. Auburn comes in struggling with a blowout loss to Penn State two weeks ago and a nail-biter win last week. LSU has double revenge for home loss last season in this match-up and for ugly loss here at Auburn two years ago. This one is going to go a lot different for sure. Road rout here. 10* LSU -8

CFB Saturday 8* Oklahoma State Cowboys +2.5 @ Baylor Bears @ 3:30 ET - This is a tough spot for Baylor in my opinion. They started the season at home, then went all the way to Utah to face BYU, then home again, then north Iowa to face Iowa State, and now back home again. They face a talented Oklahoma State team that is coming off a bye week. Not only that, they have revenge on their minds from last year's Big 12 Championship Game loss to Baylor. They actually won the yardage battle by about 100 yards in that one but were done in by turnovers and they failed to win despite being favored by nearly a TD. That said, how do they do as a road dog? The last 7 times they have not lost the money a single time! One push and 6 covers as an away puppy and given they have the scheduling edge and the revenge, love the Cowboys in this spot. 8* OKLAHOMA STATE +2.5

CFB Saturday 8* OVER 52 in Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Purdue Boilermakers @ 12 ET - I am expecting Purdue QB Aidan O'Connell to go here in this one but I know he is listed as game time decision. Even if he did not go, note that Boilermakers did notch 21 first downs in last week's non-covering win without him. The key here is that I feel the Golden Gophers defense is a little over-rated. At the same time, Purdue's defense is a weakness and they will not be able to stop this potent Minny attack. But the point is that Minny's defense, while deserving of praise, has feasted on a New Mexico State team that scored 8 points per game in first 4 games this season as well as an FCS school Western Illinois as well as a bad Colorado team that has averaged 12 points per game so far. Though they also faced Michigan State, the Spartans deserved much more than 7 points but were done in by 3 turnovers in the game. Again, this Minny D is very good but some of their stats have been helped by the schedule greatly! If O'Connell is not back here I still think Boilermakers score enough to get this over the total. Last week's experience without him would help in that regard. However, the bigger key is that the Gophers will be piling up points like crazy in this one. The Boilers defense is a proven concern so far this season. 8* OVER 52 in Minnesota

MLB Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 7.5 runs in Detroit Tigers vs Minnesota Twins @ 6:10 ET - Action on pitchers. This is a very low total when you consider recent results prior to yesterday's shutout loss for the Tigers. Also, Twins did score 7 runs in that win. Regardless of the starting pitchers I like the over here but I will mention them further below. First off, prior to yesterday's loss, Detroit had won 8 of 9 games and their last 10 games had seen them score an average of 5.2 runs per game. The Twins have won 4 of 6 games and scored an average of 5.5 runs per game during this stretch. Now, about those pitchers. Bundy is worse on the road than at home this season. Also he enters this outing have struggled badly in 3 of last 4 outings and he is not getting many strikeouts. Hutchison is 1-8 with a 5.12 ERA in home games this season and has a 6.20 ERA this month with opponents hitting nearly .300 against him. This one should see plenty of scoring early and often as, regardless of the starting pitchers, these teams have been trending well to see at least 8 runs here. 10* OVER 7.5 in Detroit

CFL Saturday 10* Top Play Edmonton Elks +3.5 vs Montreal Alouettes @ 4 ET - The Elks should win this outright but I am grabbing the value of the 3.5 points here. However, the fact is that Edmonton is hungry for their first home win of the season and this is the perfect spot to get it. The Elks catch Montreal off a big home win over Hamilton. That divisional win could leave them a little flat here plus Edmonton has the rest edge since they are off a bye week. Additionally, Edmonton has been playing better of late. Getting solid QB play from Cornelius and now they get a top WR back from injury this week too. Montreal, on the other hand, will still be without their star RB Stanback here. On defense the Elks also are fired up off a huge performance piling up sacks versus Saskatchewan two weeks ago. Now fresher legs off the bye and note the Als are 2-4 on the road this season while the hosts here have a sweet 3-1 record versus East Division teams this season. Lot to like with the home team in a great spot here. 10* EDMONTON +3.5

EPL Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 in Southampton vs Everton @ 10 AM ET - Southampton has conceded at least 1 goal in all 7 matches this season. The host club has averaged scoring 2 goals per match in the last 4 meetings between these clubs. I am looking for at least a 2-1 final. I know that goal-scoring has not been strong for either of these clubs early this season but sometimes, in a case like this, a break like these clubs just had is the best thing possible. This is the first match for these clubs in two weeks and is going to be played a little more wide open than you might normally expect as a result. This is only the 2nd match for each club in 4 weeks of time so it could be a little sloppy too and this leads to turnovers and creates good scoring chances. The final key is that Jordan Pickford is expected back between the pipes for Everton but he is coming back from a thigh injury. Could this still be bugging him some? I feel Southampton is going to be very aggressive on the attack here as they are at home and off B2B road losses by 1-0 counts. Their last home match was a big 2-1 upset of Chelsea. Everton is off a confidence-boosting victory over West Ham United and they have scored in all of their road matches so far this season. 10* OVER 2.5 in Southampton

EPL Saturday Free Pick OVER 3 goals in Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove @ 10 AM ET - The new manager at Brighton & Hove is known for an attacking style. Brighton was playing so well though and their former manager Potter is now with Chelsea. While Brighton is averaging 2 goals per game, we all know what Liverpool has proven to be capable of too. That said, look for plenty of scoring here. The Reds will be strong at home but I also look for Brighton to possibly be aggressive on the attack early to try and get Liverpool on their heels early in this one. The hosts are known for scoring plenty at home so excellent line value with the total at 3 in this one. Free Pick OVER 3 in Liverpool

EPL Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 in Fulham vs Newcastle United @ 10 AM ET - Fulham has seen each of their last 5 matches in league action total at least 3 goals. Normally I like Newcastle United more at home than on the road when it comes to looking for goal-scoring. However, after all the chances they had in their match against Bournemouth when last on the pitch and yet coming away with another draw, I feel the visitors are going to be very aggressive on the attack here. They had 20 shots and 7 on goal versus Bournemouth but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Their 5th in 7 matches this season. Newcastle United did get some good news on the injury front that should help the attack in this one too as things are looking much better now in that regard. So I am looking for at least a 2-1 final here but with the visitors propensity for draws, 2-2 the more likely final outcome here. 10* OVER 2.5 in Fulham

Romania Liga 1 Saturday 8* U Craiova 1948 money line +126 vs CS Mioveni @ Noon ET - Better team, off a loss and line value because they are on the road. We'll take it. U Craiova 1948 should bounce back here as they were undefeated last 3 matches before a 1-0 loss to FC Voluntari in most recent match. That was the first time in 5 matches that U Craiova 1948 did not score a goal. CS Mioveni and Chindia Targoviste are battling it out to try and remain out of the basement and are tied with the most losses (7) on the season. That is not a category you want to be leading in but, again, this CS Mioveni club struggling badly and their total of 6 goals on the campaign is worst in the league. Look for the visitors to get the win here. 8* U Craiova 1948 money line +126