DENVER @ NEW ORLEANS (DEN -2.5, 37)
BRONCOS -2.5
It's going to be a big night in New Orleans. Sean Payton returns to where it all began for him. He spent 16 years as the Saints head coach leading the franchise to unprecedented success. That included the Saints only Super Bowl championship. Payton's QB Drew Brees will be honored at halftime. That might be the highlight for the Saints tonight.
New Orleans has a banged up offensive line. Their top two wide receivers are out and backup QB Spencer Rattler will start again in place of Derek Carr. It could be a long night for the Saints.
Denver is 3-1 SU and ATS in its last four games. Rookie QB Bo Nix is playing better. Payton is the better coach in this one too, going up against his former assistant Dennis Allen. With the Saints giving up 133.7 rushing yards per game, look for a heavy dose of the run from Denver. New Orleans gave up 277 rushing yards in last week's loss to Tampa Bay. The Saints have now lost four straight and they are 1-3 ATS in those games.
LA DODGERS @ NY METS (LAD -145, 7.5)
F5 UNDER 4.5
Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes on Jose Quintana in this one. Yamamoto bounced back in the Padres series. In Game 1, he gave up 5 ER in 3 IP. In Game 5, he rallied and pitched 5 innings of scoreless baseball in a Dodgers' victory. He did face the Mets once this season, but it was back in April. He pitched 6 innings and gave up 4 runs in a loss to New York.
Quintana has been in great form recently. He has allowed just 3 ER total over his last 8 starts. In two playoff starts, Quintana has pitched 11 innings, struck out 11, and allowed no earned runs. The Mets won both of his starts.
Both teams are on their lesser offensive splits tonight. The weather will be colder tonight at game time, which is going to limit hitters and, ultimately, runs. I like both of these starting pitchers early on.
BOSTON COLLEGE @ VIRGINIA TECH (VT -7.5, 51.5)
BOSTON COLLEGE +7.5
It's the greatest entrance in all of college football. Virginia Tech will take the home field to Enter Sandman tonight. After that, the Hokies are going to have their hands full. BC has one of the more explosive offenses in the ACC and in the nation. The Eagles actually rank second in the country in passing explosiveness. QB Thomas Castellanos runs the BC offense and he is a true dual-threat quarterback.
On the other side, the Virginia Tech defense has allowed a number of explosive plays, especially in the passing game. The Hokies offense will live and die by the run. They run the ball 58 percent of the time. Tonight, they will go up against a BC run defense that ranks in the Top 30 in the nation. When BC takes away the run, the Hokies will have to turn to a passing game that ranks 102nd in the FBS in Passing Success Rate. Once the whole Enter Sandman thing wears off, I think BC will give Virginia Tech all it can handle tonight.
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