Sports Handicapper Matt Fargo's Picks & Predictions

This is a play on the WASHINGTON NATIONALS for our MLB Prime Attraction. Washington had won five of six games prior to a pair of losses including a 5-3 defeat last night and we will back the Nationals in a great spot at an overadjusted number. Cade Cavalli has had an outstanding season as he has a 3.12 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 29 starts including a 2.94 ERA and 1.19 ERA in 13 road outings. The Nationals are 8-5 in those 13 games which adds additional value. The Dodgers are coasting along and basically just prepping for the postseason and despite being 27 games over .500, they are -24 units in profit including 14 games over and -18.9 units at home. Tyler Glasnow is coming off a pair of solid starts after missing three and a half months and while he is clearly elite, his 4.08 ERA at home makes him on alert. 10* (961) Washington Nationals

This is a play on the AUBURN TIGERS for our CFB TV Star Attraction. We are very high on Auburn this season and this game will set the tone. It is hard to believe but the Tigers have had five straight losing seasons, the last time this happened was 1946-1950 so it is rock bottom right now. Enter head coach Alex Goesh as we have a situation where a coaching change should boost the value of a team. He comes over from South Florida who turned around a program that was dug into the ground by Jeff Scott and he comes into another program that was going nowhere. While the offense has only one returning starter, several players followed Golesh including quarterback Byrum Brown along with a slew of receivers. While it was another rough season, there is value based on the record from last season and people see that to fade but six of the seven losses were by one possession with the other loss being just 10 points against Georgia. Baylor is another team that has underachieved in some recent seasons and coming off a 5-7 season, head coach Dave Aranda is firmly on the hot seat. Like Auburn, the Bears are hoping a transfer quarterback will help them turn the corner and in their case it is D.J. Lagway who comes over from Florida. He should have a better season but we are not sold and there is a brand new receiving room in place as well. This game is in Atlanta but Auburn will have the fan edge. 10* (210) Auburn Tigers

This is a play on the ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE for our CFB Afternoon Dominator. If any team needs a statement win in its season opener, it is Alabama as the natives are getting restless, fans and boosters alike, now that the Crimson Tide have not been to a National Championship game since 2021. They were hit in the face by Indiana 35-3, their worst loss in 28 years, to close out last season and that has been on the mind of everyone that is back this season and they need a blowout win as a team to get some swagger back. They are the No. 13 team in Experience Rankings which is a big strength this early in the season. On paper, the Tide have huge advantages all over the place especially on the defensive side when going against the East Carolina offense. They have five starters back with another two added from elsewhere and overall they have 61 percent of their production back. They face an East Carolina offense that was gutted as they have only one starter back from last season and that is a slot that made only one start. New offensive coordinator Jordan Davis arrives from North Texas, so ECU is installing a new system while replacing much of its production. The Pirates do have considerably more upside than the raw amount of returning production suggests but this will take shape last in the season when they have played a few games and will have their players into the systems heading into AAC play. 10* (182) Alabama Crimson Tide

This is a play on the FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS for our CFB Signature Enforcer. Florida Atlantic has not had a winning season since 2019 when it went 11-3 (not counting the 5-4 COVID season) and signs are pointing up in Boca Raton in the second year for head coach Zach Kittley. The Owls were 4-8 last season with seven of those losses by double digits so they were not competitive and the difference being in or not in games was the fact they were -21 in turnover margin which was easily the worst in the country. They gave it up 29 times and while 17 of those were interceptions from quarterback Caden Veltkamp, he injured his shoulder early in the season and he was limited while trying to do too much. He still set the school record for total offense which followed up being named the CUSA Offensive Player of the Year the previous season so he can produce when healthy and that he is at this point. Florida will be a popular play this season as a bounce back team, largely in part due to the Gators hiring Jon Sumrall who had successful stints at Tulane and Troy. They bring back a lot and hit the portal hard and come into the season with the #42 ranked team in experience (Florida Atlantic is #14) but there is no experience at quarterback as a pair of backups last season are competing for the starting job. This team will be on every Most Improved List but laying this number? No thanks. 10* (175) Florida Atlantic Owls

This is a play on the MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD for our CFB Contrarian Crusher. Penn St. is a popular team to bounce back after the disappointment from last season and a main reason they are being backed to make the CFP is because the Nittany Lions have one of the easiest schedules in the country. But this is a sneaky tough game and they are still laying a massive number. While they very well may have reloaded, it could take some time for the chemistry to come together. One big concern is their defensive line as they were gutted in the trench as they lost 12 defensive linemen to the draft and the transfer portal. Marshall will surely try to take advantage of this with their expected potent run game. Marshall averaged about 197 rushing ypg last season which was No. 22 in the country and this is a recipe in controlling temp and shortening the game which is important for these big underdogs to stay within the number. Additionally, Marshall returns quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, giving the Thundering Herd some continuity heading into the season. The Marshall defense was a big reason they had a losing record last season but they are expected to be much better  While Penn St. has the much better talent simply because of who they are but this is a tough spot for the Nittany Lions especially with a brand new coaching staff and the fact they are No. 126 in experience. 10* (163) Marshall Thundering Herd