Sports Handicapper Jim Feist's Picks & Predictions

Every time Blake Snell takes to the hill from here on out you can expect extra effort on the part of the Rays. Snell won his 20th game last time out and is a top contender for the AL Cy Young award. Snell has been amazing, allowing just four runs over his last four starts (24 innings) and not allowing one run or less in 12 of his last 14 starts. The Blue Jays will counter with Ryan Borucki, who is 4-4 on the season with a 3.86 ERA. Borucki has been very good of late, allowing two runs or less in three straight starts. However, the Jays have won just one of those three in support. I'm sticking with Snell here today as I lay the -1.5 runs. Take Tampa Bay -1.5 runs.

 The New Orleans Saints are fortunate to not be 0-2 going into this big division rivalry game at Atlanta. The Saints needed a late field goal to beat the Browns, 21-18. The Saints trailed by double digits in the 2nd half of their game vs the Browns. Both of these clubs are right in the middle of the NFL in offense, while the Saints are 29th in defense and Atlanta is 11th. The Falcons had to play last week without star running back Devonta Freeman, who missed their game vs the Panthers with an ankle injury. Initially it looked like Freeman was out for weeks, but now he's Day-to-Day. The Falcons beat the Panthers last week at home, 31-24. The NFC South looks to be one of the tightest divisions in football this year with Tampa Bay at 2-0 and then the Falcons, Panthers and Saints all at 1-1. I like the points here today with the Saints. The Saints always seem to start the season slow and I look for them to do even better here today. Take New Orleans.

What all can you say about Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes thus far. Mahomes set an NFL record with 10 TD Passes in the first two games of the season. The Chiefs have the 6th best offense so far. The one problem? The defense, it's ranked dead last in the NFL with 508 yards per game average. They have allowed the most passing yards by far of any team. Now of course they have played from ahead and that means teams must throw to catch up to them. The 49ers lost in week one at Minnesota, giving the Vikings all they could handle. Then last week, the Niners returned home where they beat the Lions, 30-27. San Francisco rushed for 190 yards vs the Lions, and easily went over the 48 posted number. Can Mahomes continue his hot streak? I don't see why not. He's back home here today. The 49ers should also be able to put up plenty of points in this one. I'm taking the OVER and enjoying the offensive show. Play OVER.

 The surprising Miami Dolphins are 2-0 to start the season. Miami won at the NY Jets last week, 20-12 even though they ran just 54 offensive plays. The Dolphins used their ground game to rush for 135 yards. The 0-2 Oakland Raiders could have easily won at Denver last week, but a missed extra point and a last second Denver field goal did them in, 19-20. Now the Raiders have to make the cross country trip Eastward to play in the very humid heat of Miami. This will be a tough environment for the Raiders to play in today. What even surprises me more is that the Dolphins are just a three-point home favorite here today. Not sure what the oddsmakers are thinking in this one. Sure, it's still the Dolphins, but until they lose and the Raiders win, I'm stick with the home club here. Play the Dolphins.

 The Denver Broncos could easily be 0-2, but instead are 2-0 as they head East to play the Ravens. The Broncos beat the Seahawks in a back-and-forth battle in week one and then came from behind in the second half last week to beat the Raiders, 20-19 on a last second field goal. Raiders QB Carr was very good in this game, hitting on 29-of-32 passes for 281 yards. The loss of LB Kahlil Mack has really hit this Raiders team hard, no matter what head coach Jon Gruden says. The Ravens dismantled the Bills in week one and then lost to the Bengals last week, 23-34. Three turnovers to none hurt Baltimore in this loss. The Ravens had more yards than the Bengals, 425-373 and more offensive plays 77 to 70. But turnovers can be a killer and those three were big in this contest. The Broncos were lucky to be 2-0 and the Ravens are really unlucky to be 1-1. I believe the Ravens are the much better team here early in the season. Take Baltimore.

 We get to see new Lions HC Matt Patricia play against his old team here as they host the Patriots. Patricia was the defensive coordinator for Bill Belechick for 10 years before taking over as HC of the Lions this year. The Lions offense is ranked 11th in the NFL so far, despite being 0-2. The Lions average 315 yards behind QB Mathew Stafford. Once again it's the lack of a running game that hurts the Lions, as they average just 69 yards this season. They have to solve this issue if they are ever to be a winning team. The Patriots lost last week at Jacksonville, 20-31. They allowed 377 yards to QB Blake Bartels and the Jaguars, something I believe Stafford and the Lions can exploit this week. The Patriots did steal WR Josh Gordon from the Browns, which will add another target for QB Tom Brady. Don't expect a lot of defense in this game as both teams have quick strike ability. I'm taking the OVER here today.

The Philadelphia offense needs something to infuse some life into them. The Eagles are 24th in the league in offense after two weeks and this week they look to be without starting RB Jay Ajayi and Darren Spoles. They are already missing their best receiver in Alshon Jeffrey, who is week to week at this point. The only good news is that it looks like QB Carson Wentz is set to make his return. Will he have anyone to throw to, that's the question? The Colts have looked better now that QB Andrew Luck is back and has a couple of games under his belt. The Colts beat the Redskins on the road last week, 21-9. The Eagles lost at Tampa Bay, 21-27. Even though Wentz is back, he's been off a long time and will need game reps to get back into a groove. I'm taking the Colts here against a still, injured Eagles offense. Play Indianapolis.

 We get our first meeting of this new LA rivalry as the the Rams host the Chargers. The Rams are coming off their shut-out win over the Cardinals last week, 34-0. They lost one of the best place kickers in the league in Greg Zuerlein, who strained his groin. Zuerlein is expected to miss a few weeks. The Chargers lost in week one to the Chiefs, but bounced back last week with a win at Buffalo, 31-20. The Chargers have the third ranked offense right now with the Rams being seventh. Both teams have plenty to offer with the Rams being the better defensive team. The Chargers aren't terrible on defense, currently ranked 9th in yards. I think the seven points is too much here for the Rams to lay to a very good offensive. Play the Chargers.