Category: Sports

SpreadKnowledge NCAAF Free Pick of the Day – Friday, August 30

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the link above. We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system.

Also, we’re happy to announce that we’re reducing prices this week before the start of NFL season. The prices on our packages are now going from:

– Member + AI Boost: $90.00 to $60.00/month
– Member: $30.00 to $20.00/month
– BRAND NEW FREE PACKAGE: (find details on website)

* Use the Promo Code (SK15OFF) for an additional 15% off your subscription for the next 6 months *

 

[7:00 p.m. EST] #19 Wisconsin Badgers (-10.5) at South Florida Bulls

Paul Chryst and his Badgers head down to Tampa to take on Charlie Strong and the Bulls in an early-season showdown. We’re taking the Badgers in this one, considering there’s one matchup that should control the tempo of this game.

If you know anything about college football, you know that Wisconsin that runs that rock right down their opponents’ throats on a regular basis. Well, things will be no different tonight as running back Jonathan Taylor leads a potent attack against a USF defense that is incapable of stopping the ground attack. Taylor actually accumulated the most rushing yards as a freshman in NCAA history, and then came back last season to have the most yards as a sophomore in NCAA history. Can he break the junior mark now? Time will tell…

Look for the Badgers to stay true to who they are and control the clock all night.

The Bulls have a new offensive coordinator in Kerwin Bell, a Division II national championship-winning coach at Valdosta State. We expect him to have success at some point, but his first bout of installing this new offense at USF could certainly be a rocky one.

Don’t worry about USF having home-field advantage in this one, because honestly – it’s really not much of an advantage. The Bulls play at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and there’s more of a state-fair feel to the crowd rather than a rawkus college atmosphere.

We like the Badgers to take control of this game early and never look back. 10.5 points is a lot to lay on the road, but we feel like the Bulls are a bit overhyped coming into this one.

* Final Score Prediction * Wisconsin Badgers: 31 – South Florida Bulls: 13

SpreadKnowledge NCAAF Free Pick of the Day – Thursday, August 29

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the link above. We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system.

Also, we’re happy to announce that we’re reducing prices this week before the start of NFL season. The prices on our packages are now going from:

– Member + AI Boost: $90.00 to $60.00/month
– Member: $30.00 to $20.00/month
– BRAND NEW FREE PACKAGE: (find details on website)

* Use the Promo Code (SK15OFF) for an additional 15% off your subscription for the next 6 months *

 

[10:15 p.m. EST] #14 Utah Utes (-6.5) at BYU Cougars

Tonight will be the 100th installment of the Holy War rivalry as the BYU Cougars host the No. 14 Utah Utes. This game might not resonate with most of the country, but these two teams from The Beehive State absolutely despise each other and that should make for some great late-night TV on ESPN for us East coast viewers.

Utah won last year’s game by the score of 35-27, having to overcome a daunting 20-0 halftime deficit. The Utes outscored the Cougars 21-0 in the final quarter before walking away with the victory.

That loss was a massive blow for the entire BYU community, and it’ll certainly be in the back of their minds. However, the game is played on the field, and Utah’s personnel (particularly on offense) is much better than that of BYU.

Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley and running Zack Moss both missed last year’s game against BYU and a good chunk of the Utes’ final stretch run in 2018. They’ll certainly be excited to show the Cougars, and the rest of the nation, what people have missing for so long. Add in a very deep, and talented, Utes’ receiving core and new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, and we’ve got smiles from ear to ear for this one.

Expect the ball to get spread around quite a bit tonight for the Utes. In addition to Moss, Utah has other talented running backs that can tote the rock as well.

BYU does have a talented quarterback in Zach Wilson, who completed all 18 of his passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns in the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Western Michigan. However, that defense is nothing like the one he’ll be facing tonight.

Utah’s defensive line boasts numerous guys up front that’ll likely be playing on Sundays in the near future. While BYU’s O-line isn’t one to be considered a slouch, this will certainly make life difficult on their offense. Senior transfer Ty’Son Williams from South Carolina is expected to have a big year, but it could very well get off to a rocky start if Utah’s D-line brings their A-game.

That major comeback from last year’s game isn’t only on the minds of BYU. Expect Utah to come out with lots of energy and not let that same deficit haunt them this time around.

It’s important for bettors to act early and get that 6.5-point Utes’ spread, as opposed to the 7.0 one that might be floating around before kickoff.

* Final Score Prediction * Utah Utes: 31 – BYU Cougars: 20

SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day – Wednesday, August 28

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 224-173-10 (56.5%) *
SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the link above. We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system.

Also, we’re happy to announce that we’re reducing prices this week before the start of NFL season. The prices on our packages are now going from:

– Member + AI Boost: $90.00 to $60.00/month
– Member: $30.00 to $20.00/month
– BRAND NEW FREE PACKAGE: (find details on website)

* Use the Promo Code (SK15OFF) for an additional 15% off your subscription for the next 6 months *

 

Under 9.5 – Atlanta Braves at Toronto Blue Jays
ATL: Mike Foltynewicz – R (4-5, 5.68 ERA/1.40 WHIP)
TOR: Jacob Waguespack – R (4-1, 3.63 ERA/1.17 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day comes to us from the Braves-Blue Jays game. We’re taking the total to go under in this one, considering nine of the last 10 Braves’ games have done just that.

Jacob Waguespack against the Braves is the key matchup here. The rookie right-hander has been absolutely magnificent since the final day of July, allowing two runs or fewer in four of those five starts – the only misnomer coming against the almighty Yankees. In Waguespack’s last start, he pitched seven innings of shutout ball, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out five.

We mentioned these Braves’ games hitting the under a lot lately, but it’s their recent travel schedule that should have these guys in a funk for yet another night. After finishing a three-game series over the weekend in New York, the Braves had to travel out to Colorado for a make-up game before heading all the way up to Toronto for this two-game series.

Obviously, the Braves are well on their way to the postseason, so it makes plenty of sense that they’d be going through the motions at this point.

Now, the wild card to this whole operation is Mike Foltynewicz. After making the All-Star team last season, Folty had a brutal start to the 2019 campaign and was actually sent down to the minors for a little over a month. Since returning, he’s calmed down quite a bit with a 2-0 record to go along with a 3.91 ERA/1.35 WHIP. We’d love to see the walks come down, but it’s worth noting the Blue Jays own the fifth-worst walk-strikeout ratio in baseball against right-handed pitching.

The Braves’ bullpen does own the eighth-best ERA (3.74) in baseball over the last 14 days – hence, why we’ve seen so many unders from their games lately.

* Final Score Prediction * Atlanta Braves: 4 – Toronto Blue Jays: 3

SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day – Tuesday, August 27

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 222-171-10 (56.5%) *

SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the link above. We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system.

Also, we’re happy to announce that we’re reducing prices this week before the start of NFL season. The prices on our packages are now going from:

– Member + AI Boost: $90.00 to $60.00/month
– Member: $30.00 to $20.00/month
– BRAND NEW FREE PACKAGE: (find details on website)

* Use the Promo Code (SK15OFF) for an additional 15% off your subscription for the next 6 months *

 

[8:10 p.m. EST] Under 7.5 – Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros
TB: Charlie Morton – R (13-5, 2.85 ERA/1.06 WHIP)
HOU: Justin Verlander – R (15-5, 2.77 ERA/0.81 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day comes to us from the Astros-Rays game on Tuesday night. We’re going with the under in this game, considering Vegas adjusted the game total from 8.5 to 7.5, with both sides getting significant IRT (implied run total) decreases – Rays: -0.7, Astros: -0.4.

Justin Verlander has endured some of the worst possible luck in recent starts, but he’s still pitching at an elite level. In fact, the electric righty has now posted double-digit strikeout games in each of his last seven outings.

Although it was all the way back in March, Verlander dazzled the Rays in seven innings of one-run ball while striking out nine batters. Tampa Bay comes into today’s game after losing two straight games to the Orioles, followed by on off-day, so their bats and minds are still likely to be in a funk on Tuesday night.

Charlie Morton returns to the city that basically reinvented his career, and got him a World Series ring. The veteran righty has talked in recent days about loving it here in Houston and having all the respect in the world for his old teammates, but he’s got a job to do – and more importantly, the Rays are still fighting for that second AL Wild Card spot.

This is a matchup between two of the best arms in baseball, so we should definitely expect these guys to feed off one another. It’s worth noting, many opposing pitchers have done the same in trying to match Verlander, as six of his last seven starts have resulted in the game total reaching seven runs or fewer.

* Final Score Prediction * Houston Astros: 3 – Tampa Bay Rays: 2

SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day – Monday, August 26

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 222-167-10 (57.2%) *

SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the link above. We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system.

Also, we’re happy to announce that we’re reducing prices this week before the start of NFL season. The prices on our packages are now going from:

– Member + AI Boost: $90.00 to $60.00/month
– Member: $30.00 to $20.00/month
– BRAND NEW FREE PACKAGE: (find details on website)

* USE THE PROMO CODE (SK15OFF) TO GET ADDITIONAL 15% OFF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FOR 6 MONTHS!!! * 

[8:15 p.m. EST] Oakland Athletics (ML: -150) at Kansas City Royals
OAK: Homer Bailey – R (11-8, 5.06 ERA/1.39 WHIP)
KC: Brad Keller – R (7-13, 3.95 ERA/1.33 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day comes us to from the A’s-Royals game. Our system likes the A’s to win this one outright, and right the wrongs of their two-game weekend sweep at the hands of the cross-town rival Giants. There aren’t many games on tonight’s slate, so we don’t mind laying a couple of extra dollars on this bet.

Homer Bailey will be making a return to KC, where he spent the first half of this season before getting traded to Oakland. We certainly don’t have to call this a “revenge game,” considering anyone playing for the Royals over the last couple of years would’ve sold their soul to move to a contender.

Bailey’s recent form, though, is no joking matter. In his last two starts (a span of 12 2/3 innings), Bailey has allowed a 0.79 WHIP and only one run while striking out 15 batters. KC’s offense may have scored nine runs yesterday, but this is not something we should get accustomed to. The Royals have an absolutely dreadful .255 weighted on-base average against right-handed pitching over the last 21 days, so Bailey should continue on his dominant ways.

While Bailey has a nice outlook, this A’s offense needs a little kick in the pants. Oakland’s metrics aren’t great against right-handed pitching over the last 21 days, but it’s likely this offense gets it going later in the game against KC’s bullpen, which has the fourth-highest ERA in baseball over the last seven days.

All in all, the margin in talent between these two teams is quite significant. Look for the A’s to take their weekend frustration out on a Royals team making their vacation plans already.

* Final Score Prediction * Oakland Athletics: 4 – Kansas City Royals: 2

SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day – Sunday, August 25

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 220-164-10 (57.4%) *

SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the link above. We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system.

Continue to follow us along in this journey, because there are plenty of good things on the way!

[4:10 p.m. EST] Over 9.5 – Boston Red Sox at San Diego Padres
BOS: Brian Johnson – L (1-2, 6.58 ERA/2.04 WHIP)
SD: Joey Lucchesi – L (8-7, 4.20 ERA/1.18 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day comes to us from the Padres-Red Sox game in San Diego on Sunday afternoon. We’ve got the total going over in this one, considering each of the first two games of this series has done the same.

Brian Johnson won’t pitch long for the Red Sox, but while he does, the Padres’ offense can certainly take advantage of his presence. The lefty has been getting ripped for most of his MLB career, and now this season he’s taking it to another level, allowing baserunners with great regularity.

With the Padres dropping the first two games of this series, you have to imagine their offense will bring a lot more urgency to the plate today.

Joey Lucchesi typically does his best work at home, but this Red Sox lineup that can give him some issues today. After a couple of rough performances, it looks like it did Boston some good to get out on the road, with 16 runs over the first two games of this series.

Not to mention, the Red Sox’ offense has been bopping left-handed pitching lately, posting gaudy .389 weighted on-base average and .255 ISO (power metric) marks over the last 21 days.

All in all, we’re looking for a lot of runs early in this one and that should get bettors of the over off on the right foot.

* Final Score Prediction * San Diego Padres: 8 – Boston Red Sox: 5

SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day – Saturday, August 24

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 217-164-10 (56.9%) *

SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the link above. We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system.

Continue to follow us along in this journey, because there are plenty of good things on the way!

 

[7:10 p.m. EST] Los Angeles Angels (ML: +180) at Houston Astros
LAA: Dillon Peters – L (3-1, 3.92 ERA/1.40 WHIP)
HOU: Wade Miley – L (12-4, 3.18 ERA/1.20 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day comes to us from the Angels-Astros game. We’re taking the Angels as a massive underdog here, considering they’ve been given a +0.6 IRT (implied run total) increase while Astros have been given a -0.1 decrease.

Wade Miley takes the ball for Houston, and he’s been getting absolutely ripped over his last two starts – in a span of nine innings, the lefty has allowed 19 hits and 10 runs (six earned), and this came against the Tigers and White Sox. The IRT increase we discussed at the top certainly has a lot to do with that.

Dillon Peters has done most of his best work since getting back into the starting rotation. That last outing against Texas didn’t go according to plan, but he did have three straight quality starts – two of them coming against solid offenses like Boston and Cleveland.

When looking at the Astros over the last few weeks, they haven’t played their best ball – and some of that came against cellar-dwellers like the Orioles and Tigers. As we come down the homestretch of the season, we’ve already seen some of these top teams take it easy since they know they’ve got huge leads in the division and easy paths to the playoffs.

There will be nights when these teams simply mail it in, and that’s what Vegas is expecting from the Astros. Look for the Angels to pull the upset win, and bettors of theirs to make a nice profit in the process.

* Final Score Prediction * Los Angeles Angels: 7 – Houston Astros: 4

MLB Free Pick of the Day for Friday, August 23

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 216-162-10 (57%) *

SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. We’ve teamed up with Covers and started posting our picks to their site — For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up here or at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the links above. Click on the Covers link above to see the proof of just how well things have been going lately. Also, read the article they posted where we’re mentioned!

We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system. Continue to follow us along in this journey, because there are plenty of good things on the way!

[7:10 p.m. EST] Philadelphia Phillies (1.5-run line: -116) at Miami Marlins
PHI: Vince Velasquez – R (5-7, 4.35 ERA/1.31 WHIP)
MIA: Hector Noesi – R (0-3, 9.39 ERA/1.50 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day comes to us from the Marlins-Phillies game on Friday night. We like Philly to cover the 1.5-run line, especially with two teams trending in very opposite directions.

Vince Velasquez has looked much better since that stint that landed him in the bullpen for an abbreviated time, especially of late. The right-hander has now allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, and we should probably expect that to be six in a row, considering he’ll be facing one of the worst offenses in baseball. The Marlins also own dreadful .276 weighted on-base average, .094 ISO (power metric) and 30% K-rate numbers against right-handed pitching over the last 21 days.

While Velasquez doesn’t typically have a long leash, that’ll work just fine for us tonight. No other bullpen in baseball has a lower ERA (1.80) and only three have a lower xFIP (3.66) over the last 14 days.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Marlins’ bullpen has the worst ERA (9.57) and second-worst xFIP (6.53) over the same span. And they’ll likely be needed quite a bit tonight, considering Hector Noesi has allowed at least five runs in all three of his outings this season.

All in all, this is a Phillies team that looks poised to make that run that we’ve all been waiting on. Tonight, down in Miami, is a great place to keep things rolling and they should do just that.

* Final Score Prediction * Philadelphia Phillies: 8 – Miami Marlins: 3

MLB Free Pick of The Day for Thursday, August 22

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 215-159-10 (57.5%) *

SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. We’ve teamed up with Covers and started posting our picks to their site — For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up here or at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the links above. Click on the Covers link above to see the proof of just how well things have been going lately. Also, read the article they posted where we’re mentioned!

We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system. Continue to follow us along in this journey, because there are plenty of good things on the way!

[7:10 p.m. EST] Under 8.5 – Cleveland Indians at New York Mets
CLE: Aaron Civale – R (1-2, 1.50 ERA/0.96 WHIP)
NYM: Noah Syndergaard – R (8-6, 3.86 ERA/1.21 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge system likes the under once again in tonight’s Indians-Mets game. These two teams have battled hard with one another throughout the first two meetings, and we’d like to think that’ll be three in three nights. The first game of this series might not have looked like it on paper, but a late error from the Indians took the train off the track a little bit .

Aaron Civale has been outstanding since making his MLB debut on June 22 – it actually took him more than a month to make his second, third and fourth starts, but the Indians surely don’t want to send this guy back down to the minors. The rookie has now allowed a total of four earned runs (seven unearned) in 24 innings of work, and now he’ll be facing a team that is quite unfamiliar with him.

Noah Syndergaard has looked great since the All-Star break with seven straight starts of allowing three earned runs or fewer – only two earned runs allowed or fewer in six of those. What’s even more amazing is the fact that Syndergaard has only allowed one home run over that stretch.

While we do like the Indians to avoid the sweep tonight, this should still be a great pitching matchup between two righties. It’ll likely be decided late, and certainly a game that we’ll all want to be around the TV for.

* Final Score Prediction * Cleveland Indians: 4 – New York Mets: 2

MLB Free Pick of the Day for Tuesday, August 20

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh

* 2019 MLB Record: 212-156-10 (58%) *

SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. We’ve teamed up with Covers and started posting our picks to their site — For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up here or at SpreadKnowledge.com.

In order to get access to those same picks that were once in this space, sign up at the links above. Click on the Covers link above to see the proof of just how well things have been going lately. Also, read the article they posted where we’re mentioned!

We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system. Continue to follow us along in this journey, because there are plenty of good things on the way!

[7:10 p.m. EST] Over 11 – Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Red Sox
PHI: Aaron Nola – R (11-3, 3.56 ERA/1.26 WHIP)
BOS: Brian Johnson – L (1-1, 6.45 ERA/2.01 WHIP)

The SpreadKnowledge MLB Free Pick of the Day comes to us from the Phillies-Red Sox interleague showdown. It’s quite interesting to see Boston favored in this game, considering the mismatch of starting pitching, on paper, for Philly. With that being said, we’re taking the over with the thought that more than a few runs will be scored on Tuesday night.

Over the last 21 days, both teams have been doing well against the handedness of starting pitcher they’ll be facing tonight. The Phillies .363 weighted on-base average/.200 ISO (power metric) and Red Sox .383 weighted on-base average/.249 ISO certainly paint a nice picture for the scoreboard being lit up.

Aaron Nola typically gets a sizeable moneyline when facing a low-end starter, so there’s plenty of reason to think things won’t go his way tonight. After all, his 4.63 ERA on the road is quite larger than the 2.94 ERA he posts at Citizens Bank Park.

Brian Johnson doesn’t usually go deep into games, and tonight probably won’t be much different. He’s only maxed out at five innings once this season and gone a total of 8 2/3 innings over the last three starts.

All in all, it’s wise to be skeptical of the line that has been placed in front us. Look for the Red Sox to get to Nola early and then hang some more runs on the Phils’ bullpen. These are two of the more dynamic offenses in baseball, and they’ll show us why this evening.

* Final Score Prediction * Boston Red Sox: 9 – Philadelphia Phillies: 7