LA DODGERS @ NY METS (LAD -110, 7.5)
METS ML
Playoff baseball always comes down to the pitching matchups. Tonight is no different. Walker Buehler starts for the Dodgers and Luis Severino takes the mound for the Mets. I would give the edge to Severino who has two playoff quality starts against Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
Buehler gave up 6 ER in his last start against San Diego in the NLDS. It was essentially one bad inning for Buehler and I don't expect he'll be that bad tonight. Still, he is the guy who had a season ERA of 5.67. That number spikes to 6.53 when Buehler is pitching on the road.
The bullpens for these two teams are about even. The Mets are the slightly better defensive team. The Dodgers are the better scoring team. Again, it all comes down to pitching and I would lean in favor of New York.
WESTERN KENTUCKY @ SAM HOUSTON STATE (SH -2.5, 55.5)
SAM HOUSTON STATE ML
This is Year 2 of Sam Houston at the FBS level and it's been a much better year than last. The Bearkats are off to a 5-1 start with their only loss to Power 4 UCF. Western Kentucky is 4-2. It's only losses were to Alabama and Boston College, a game that the Hilltoppers could have won.
Tonight's game will be a contrast of styles. Western Kentucky will sling the ball all over the yard. The Hilltoppers rank 32nd in the nation in pass offense averaging 264.4 yards per game. QB Caden Veltkamp leads Conference USA in passing. He's also second in the conference in interceptions with five, which could be an issue tonight.
Sam Houston ranks No. 8 in the country in rushing offense. The Bearkats average 229 yards per game on the ground. They are also the better defense tonight. Sam Houston is 6-1 SU in its last seven games and 4-1 SU in its last five at home. I like the better running game and defense here.
FIU @ UTEP (FIU -7, 47.5)
FIU (1Q) -1.5
The Miners are currently the worst team in Conference USA at 0-5. The offense is horrendous. UTEP ranks 127th in the nation in scoring, averaging just 14.4 points per game. You won't win many college football games scoring just two touchdowns. The UTEP defense isn't much better. It ranks 120th in scoring defense, giving up 36 points per game.
FIU is nothing special, but the Panthers will be the better team on the field tonight. The Panthers have gotten off to great starts in all six of their games this season. They only trailed once at the end of the first quarter and that was against No. 16 Indiana in the Panthers' season opener. UTEP has lost every first quarter but one. That was the one they played against an FCS team (in a game they ultimately lost). I like FIU to jump on top early in this one.
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