Big Al McMordie Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

At 1 pm, our selection is on the Washington Redskins + the points over Carolina.  We played against both of these teams last week, and got the cash with the Giants as a touchdown underdog at Carolina, and also with the Saints as a touchdown favorite vs. Washington.  New Orleans blew out Washington, 43-19, this past Monday.  But that defeat sets up our play, here, as home underdogs (or PK) are 72-49 after losing a game in which they gave up 40+ points if they're playing a foe off a straight-up win.  Take the Redskins to bounce back at home this afternoon. NFC Game of the Week. Good luck, as always....Al McMordie.

At 1 pm, our selection is on the Los Angeles Chargers + the points over Cleveland.  The Cleveland Browns were 0-16 last season, and no doubt are improved this season.  But I question whether they have improved enough to be favored over a team like the L.A. Chargers.  Indeed, for my money, the Chargers are flying a bit under the radar.  They're 3-2 on the year, but consider that their 2 losses were to the league's two undefeated teams (Kansas City + the LA Rams).  And the Chargers actually have out-yarded four of their five opponents this season.  Even though they lost to the Chiefs, they actually out-yarded them 541 to 362, but were done in by two turnovers.  For technical support, consider that teams that didn't win 2 (or more) games the previous season have gone 10-22 ATS as a favorite over the past 28 seasons.  Moreover, Cleveland's 10-19-1 ATS its last 30 as a home favorite.  Take the Chargers as a road underdog.  NFL Elite Info Winner.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Boston Red Sox over the Houston Astros. The Astros took game one last night behind some solid pitching and timely hitting, taking advantage of multiple miscues, walks, and hit batsmen by the home team. But the big news is that Chris Sale left the game early with his fastball barely reaching 90 MPH while he showed an uncharacteristic inability to find the strike zone. That puts more pressure on the rest of the rotation, beginning tonight with David Price, whose own post-season struggles have been well documented. If ever there was a way to exorcise his demons, it is for Price to go out tonight and pitch a gem. And the veteran southpaw is more than capable of doing just that. Putting his playoff issues aside for a moment, Price has been very effective against the Astros, going 6-2 with a 2.94 ERA in 12 career games (10 starts) vs. Houston. And for all of his recent problems, Price still owns a career record of 26-7 with a 3.08 ERA at Fenway Park. On the flip side, 'Stros RHP Gerrit Cole is 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts covering 11 innings here. Take the Red Sox. AL Game of the Week. As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 1 pm, our selection is on the 'over' in the Buffalo/Houston game.  The Texans' quarterback, Deshaun Watson has been upgraded to 'probable,' which was all I needed to pull the trigger on this game to go 'over' the total.  Last year, Deshaun Watson made six starts before he suffered a season-ending injury, and the Texans averaged 34.67 points per game.  Not surprisingly, the 'over' was 5-1.  This season, in five starts, the Texans have gone 'over' in two of the five.  Thus, Houston has gone 'over' in seven of his 10 starts.  But it must be noted that, in two of the three 'unders,' the games came extremely close to going 'over,' missing by 2.5 and 4 points.  Overall, his 10 starts have sailed 'over' the total by an AVERAGE of 11.7 ppg.  This will be a high-scoring game.  Take the 'over.'  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 1 pm, our selection is on the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Cincy Bengals.  The Steelers leveled their record at 2-2-1 last week when they blew out the Atlanta Falcons, 41-17, while Cincy won its second straight game -- 27-17 at home vs. Miami -- to move to 4-1 this season.  This series has been completely dominated by Pittsburgh.  Indeed, since 1991, the Steelers are 42-14 straight-up, and 36-18-2 ATS, including 6-0 SU and 4-1-1 ATS since Dec. 2015.  And even though Pittsburgh is regarded as having one of the stronger home field in the league, it's actually been better on the road (20-7-2 ATS) vs. the Bengals, than at home (16-11 ATS).  Finally, the Steelers fall into a 60.8% ATS "contrarian" system of mine which plays on certain road teams with a worse win percentage than their opponent, provided they weren't getting more than three points.  Take the Steelers.

At 4:25 pm, our selection is on the Tennessee Titans + the points over Baltimore.  This is a horrible scheduling spot for the Ravens, who will be playing their 3rd straight road game.  And one of the things I love to do is play against a team in its 3rd straight road game, and especially if it's matched up against an opponent with a winning record.  Since 1980, our road teams are a dismal 53-91 ATS in this situation.  That bodes well for Tennessee as the home underdog, here.   As does the fact that Tennessee was upset as a road favorite last week, given that home underdogs, off an upset loss as a road favorite the previous week, have gone 79-53 ATS since 1980.  Take the Titans

At 8:20 pm, our selection is on the New England Patriots minus the points over Kansas City.  The Chiefs enter this game with the conference's best record, at 5-0.  And they're also 5-0 ATS.  Unfortunately, they're likely to leave Foxborough with their first loss.  Key for me is the fact that the Patriots have gone 36-12 ATS vs. foes with a superior won/loss percentage.  Even better:  New England plays with revenge from a 42-27 upset loss to the Chiefs last season.  But the Patriots are 14-0-1 ATS when playing with revenge from an 8+ point upset loss the previous season.  Take New England.  Perfect 10 Club Play.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 1 pm, our selection is on the 'under' in the Tampa Bay/Atlanta game. Both of these teams have been involved in very high-scoring games of late, which has helped to move this total to a very high number. The problem for both teams is primarily on defense. The Falcons are off three straight losses, and have surrendered 121 points over their last 3 games, while Tampa is off two straight defeats, and has given up 78 points over those two games. The knee-jerk reaction might be to play on the 'over,' but faithful followers know I'm a contrarian at heart. Indeed, NFL teams that gave up 121+ points over their previous three games have gone 'under' the 70.9% over the past 38 years. Last season, for example, the Buffalo Bills gave up 54, 47 and 34 in their previous three games before holding the Chiefs to 10 points, in a 16-10 win (easily going under the 47.5 point total). Likewise, last season, the Broncos had given up 29, 51 and 41 in their previous three games before holding the Bengals to 20, and also going 'under' the total. I look for a similar result, here. Also, Dan Quinn's Falcons have gone 'under' the total in 19 of 29 games off a loss, while the Buccaneers have gone 'under' 31-13-1 off a loss if the line was 46+ points. Take the 'under.' NFL Division Total of the Year. Good luck, as always....Al McMordie. And don't miss my NFL Game of the Month, as we're on a 20-4 Run.

At 4:05 pm, our selection is on the Denver Broncos + the points over the Los Angeles Rams.  The Broncos were upset on the road last week by the New York Jets, and are now on a 3-game losing streak (and a 4-game ATS losing streak).  But I love them to bounce back against the NFL's best team.  Indeed, home underdogs of +6 or more points have cashed 67.8% over the last 38 years off an upset road loss.  And Denver is 30-17-3 ATS as a home underdog (or PK), including 23-11-1 ATS vs. non-division foes.  Finally, undefeated teams (like the Rams) have cashed just 36.8% when laying more than 6 points away from home.  Take Denver + the points.  NFL Game of the Month.  Good luck, as always....Al McMordie.  And don't miss my Red-Hot Winners, as we are 20-4 our last 24 selections.