Sports Handicapper William Burns's Picks & Predictions

(#353) Texas State Bobcats | ATS | . 

Coming into this game as the favorite, many people believe that Texas State is the better side in this matchup. I believe so as well. The Bobcats might be on the road this afternoon. However, they very well could have a 5-1 record instead of 3-3 this season if a couple of bounces went their way. They are an offensive power house that should blow Marshall's O into pieced this weekend. 

Talking about the Thundering Herd, despite the great performance last weekend, I believe that they are going to come back down to earth in week 8. They are a completely newly built team after many transfers came in. Marshall has a fairly bad 14-23 ATS record in home conf games at the moment. I'll lay the couple of points. 

Burns' Prediction: 44-20 TXST.

(#362) Bowling Green Falcons | ML | . 

Despite CMU's slightly better stats overall on the season, I don't believe that the Chippewas have what it takes to go on the road and win this contest against a conference rival. Central Michigan has lost nine of the past 12 games in this series and it's also been quite horrible away from home in recent years. As a matter of fact, the Chippewas are 1-9 SU & ATS since the end of November in 2022 on the road against MAC opponents. 

Looking at Bowling Green, it's played a much tougher schedule so far. Even though the Falcons don't light up the scoreboard, they've been perfect at home on the year including an outstanding win against Toledo last weekend. I won't take any chances on the spread so I'm going with BG on the ML on Saturday at noon. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-17 Bowling Green.

(#45) New York Rangers @ (#46) Montreal Canadiens | UNDER | . 

New York has been very disappointing over its last few games and a three game losing streak has occurred as a result. It's been shut out twice in those games and is coming off an OT loss against the Leafs on Thursday. I don't trust the Rangers lineup to score many on Saturday either having just a goal the past three. 

Montreal has exploded with four consecutive wins. Don't get me wrong, the scoring is definitely there for the Canadiens at the moment, unlike New York. However, I believe that they'll have a bit of a harder time scoring here against a much tougher goaltender (Shesterkin) that they've faced on this run. Give me the "under." 

Burns' Prediction: 3-1 Canadiens.

(#203933) AZ Alkmaar | GOAL SPREAD | . 

While neither team sits in either of the top two positions so far this year, neither have played bad football (soccer.) AZ Alkmaar is just a single point behind Ajax with a 4-3-1 record on the season having lost just one game. It's very capable of playing with the best of the best in the Dutch Eredivisie and Ajax should be worried. 

Talking about the home side, it's also been quite solid this season and I can't take much away from it. Ajax is 4-4-0 yet to taste defeat. However, it hasn't played a top dutch side yet. In the UCL, it's been a completely different story having lost both games while scoring none and conceding six. Give me AZ Alkmaar to at least get a draw on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 2-0 AZ Alkmaar.

(#24422) Matt Frevola . 

In a fight like this, between two guys that are coming off losses and haven't fought in nearly a year, it's sometimes hard to predict. Having said that, I believe that there's definitely value on playing on this matchup. 

Kyle Nelson, the Canadian, actually has a losing 4-5-1 record inside the octagon now. Although Frevola's isn't much better at 5-5-1, his head should still be high considering the level of opponent that he's suffered defeat against. I mean, none of Nelson's losses other than his latest (Steve Garcia) even come close to Frevola's. The level of opponent a guys faced should matter in a fight like this and I'm expecting Frevola to showcase his ability on Saturday evening. Give me the American, even on the "road" in opposing territory. 

Burns' Prediction: Frevola via. 2nd Round KO.

(#382) Auburn Tigers | ATS | . 

Missouri opened the week as an underdog and have switched to be the favorite this weekend. For what reasons? I'm not too sure other than the fact that Auburn has dropped three consecutive games now. That being said, Missouri is also coming off a loss, at home against Alabama. I get that it's got the much stronger record and the much better stats through six weeks. But, I will always stand by it being very difficult to win games on the road in the SEC, no matter who the opponent is. (Georgia and Alabama might be the only exceptions over the years.) Looking at Auburn, both of its road losses were very winnable games and playing against UGA last weekend was never going to be easy. Having said that, Auburn has had one of the best defenses in the country this year allowing 16 points or less in four out of six games. I don't expect Auburn to lose a fourth straight game and B2B at home. I'll grab the couple of points here. 

Burns' Prediction: 27-17 Auburn.

(#413) Oregon Ducks @ (#414) Rutgers Scarlett Knights | OVER | . 

Oregon got humiliated last weekend against Indiana and will want to take all of its anger out on the Scarlett Knights this weekend. There's no question that the Ducks have more talent and should win this game. It's just a matter of by how much. Having said that, Oregon's scored 40+ in half of its games this season and 30+ in all of its wins. 

On the other hand, Rutgers can also light up the scoreboard scoring 34+ in all of its wins. This is a home game for the Scarlett Knights and they should be able to score on a Ducks defense that gave up 30 points at home last weekend. I've got the "over" in this one on Saturday evening in New Jersey. 

Burns' Prediction: 51-27 Oregon.

(#349) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | ML | . 

Many people search for games like this and believe that the perfect play is to take the unranked home favorite against the ranked road team. While, even though I like playing these games myself, I don't mind picking either side. It's about situation and matchups for me. In today's ACC contest, I believe that the value is with the undefeated road dog. Georgia Tech has been phenomenal this year and has displayed an all around game that's been amazing to watch. On the other hand, Duke has been all over the place having great results some weeks and not so good in others. The Blue Devils have looked great recently, I'll give them that. However, they are playing a team that is 14-6 ATS as an underdog over the past four years. With this line being so close, I'm willing to role the dice with Georgia Tech on the money line the way Brent Key has these guys playing. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-21 Georgia Tech .

(#339) Georgia State Panthers @ (#340) Georgia Southern Eagles | OVER | . 

It's been tough sledding for Georgia State this season, only having one win on the schedule, which was against an FCS opponent. Looking at the defensive side of the ball first, the Panthers are allowing 41.2 PPG. That's pretty absurd through six games (half the season.) It's not like they've been playing the best of the best talent wise either. That horrific number ranks them second last in the country, only by 0.1 points. The offense hasn't been very good either. However, GAST is averaging 20 PPG at home this year. 

On the other hand, Georgia Southern hasn't been too much better on defense either. It's allowing an average of 37.5 PPG, ranking 6th last in the nation and that should give some hope to this GAST offense. Both teams are from the state of Georgia, so travelling won't have too much effect for either. That being said, I'm expecting both offenses to be much better than they've been throughout the year to date and light up the scoreboard on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 44-34 GASO.

(#364) Northwestern Wildcats | ML | . 

This is a matchup between two weaker teams in the Big Ten that many people probably won't be tuning into. However, I believe that there's plenty of opportunities to make cash in this game. These sides are heading in opposite directions at the moment and I'm really not entirely sure why the Wildcats are such a small fav. in this game. 

After playing a "Group of Five" school in week 1 and an FCS opponent in week 2, Purdue has lost four consecutive conference games, including three of them at home. The one road game was a 26pt loss against Notre Dame. Even though the Boilermakers have decent offensive stats, Northwestern's defense will carry it to the win on Saturday. The Wildcats have won three straight, including at Penn State last weekend. Expect the winning to continue on Saturday for the Purple and White. 

Burns' Prediction: 27-13 Northwestern.

(#326) Appalachian State Mountaineers | ATS | .

Coastal Carolina looked solid last weekend, and won against a pretty poor ULM side. That's probably partly why the Chanticleers are not as big underdogs as I expected for this game. CCU does have three wins on the season now in six games. However, it's not been pretty whatsoever. As a matter of fact, it ranks in the bottom five in passing yards and bottom ten in total yards per game in the entire country this season. Not to mention that it's defense allows a ton of yardage too ranking in the bottom 25 in total yards allowed per game. 

On the other hand, App State's numbers looked ridiculously better. With a great passing attack, the Mountaineers are only getting more and more confident. I believe that this team is more than capable of challenging the best in the Sun Belt and go for the Conference title if they keep playing how they have over the past couple of weeks. 

Let's not forget that CCU lost 47-7 in its last road game and has lost by 35+ in all three of its losses this season. I have full confidence in an Appalachian State side that should be winning this game by double digits on Saturday in another expected blowout win. 

Burns' Prediction: 42-14 App State.

(#200045) Arsenal FC | 3-WAY ML | . 

Playing against Fulham has given Arsenal fits at times. On the road in this match, there's no wonder that the Gunners aren't that massive of a favorite. Don't get me wrong, this is still quite expensive. However, it's very, very reasonable considering the talent differential. Talking about the talent, Arsenal has Gyokeres, Eze & Zubimendi as newcomers for this season expected to start today. That should help it find the back of the net a few times. 

No, it hasn't been easy to break a defensive block for the Gunners this year like Fulham will most likely attempt to play. Nonetheless, the international break should be a well needed rest for both teams and that should favor the better side. Fulham has scored only eight goals in seven games. I don't see it scoring today. Arsenal needs a win here to stay atop the table. I'll take my chances. 

Burns' Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal.

(#411) Washington State Cougars | ATS | . 

Despite the sub-par record and the poor stats, Washington State has actually played pretty well over these past couple of games. The Cougars went into CSU and held it to only three points in a 20-3 win. Last weekend, they were well prepared and almost knocked off Ole Miss on the road in a three point game. The defense has been huge for them recently and they are not turning the ball over. 

Virginia, on the other hand, has been great this season, hence why it's ranked in the top 20. The Cavaliers just knocked off Louisville on the road in overtime leading to their 5-1 record on the season. Now, although the offense of UVA has been significantly better than WAZZU's this season, the Cougars have been just as good, if not better defensively. If Louisville didn't bobble a toss play early in the game for six points the other way, Virginia could very well be 4-2 right now. 

All of that being said, I expect a much closer game that the oddsmakers are suggesting here. No, I'm not going to call for the outright upset because that would be a massive dog to win outright. However, I do believe that the Cougars are capable of keeping this one within single digits and have a chance at victory in the late game of this match. The Cavs had the week off last week, but saw B2B OT games & wins against good opponents prior to that. They could be in for a let down game today. I'll grab the points for my 2025-26 CFB UNDERDOG OF THE YEAR. 

Burns' Prediction: 38-30 Virginia.

(#392) Georgia Bulldogs | ATS | . 

Having found immense success so far this season, Mississippi has its most difficult task of the season in front of them this weekend. No matter how good a team is, playing on the road against an SEC opponent is always going to be tough. Especially against Georgia. Ole Miss may have a perfect record this year. However, the Rebels haven't beaten the Bulldogs in Athens at Sanford Stadium in the 2000's (0-5 in those games - 1-4 ATS.) 

Talking about Georgia, it's building more and more confidence again after the loss to Bama at home. Now, even though Georgia lost against Ole Miss last year (I had Ole Miss as a Free Pick,) this is a great revenge spot for the Dogs. Kirby Smart also owns an incredible 53-5 all time record at home. Georgia is one of the best teams in the country and I believe that it will showcase that this afternoon. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-14 Georgia.