Stephen Nover’s Free Sports Handicapping Picks

Forget the Kings being a defensive-minded, conservative team of years past. The Kings have to be more offensive orientated since their defense is slow and their goaltending is bad.

LA has scored four goals apiece in two of its three games. However, the Kings have allowed 15 goals during their three games.

The Golden Knights are sure to take advantage at home of LA's bad defense. Las Vegas is averaging 4.2 goals in its five games.

So I find an opening total of 6 being too low in a matchup between these two teams.

Nevada nearly upset Air Force last week, losing by three points in overtime, while covering the 5 1/2-point spread. The Wolf Pack rank 16th in pass defense.

But nearly my entire handicap is a fade on UTEP. The Miners are just dreadful. They have played four FBS teams and have been outscored, 197-31, with the latest loss coming to New Mexico, 61-7, in their first-ever Mountain West Conference game last week.

The Miners can't pass and are averaging fewer than 3 yards per carry rushing versus Division I opponents. Their starting quarterback, EJ Colson Jr., is questionable with a concussion.

The Wolf Pack hold edges in every area against UTEP with the exception of possibly wide receiver. So a double digit Nevada victory should be forthcoming. 

Star QB Dante Moore is out for Oregon. Luckily for the Ducks, they have one of the best backups in the country in former Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola. The Ducks also have one of the top receiver groups in the country with Dakorien Moore,  Evan Stewart and tight end Jamari Johnson.

UCLA has not faced an offense of this caliber. The best offense the Bruins went up against is Purdue and the Boilermakers produced 38 points, 488 yards of offense and 8.3 yards per play. UCLA ranks 90th in pass defense.

The Bruins are going to contribute their share of points here, too. Only four teams average more rushing yards than UCLA, which has elite running back Wayne Knight. He is averaging 9.1 yards per carry on 49 attempts and has scored nine touchdowns. Oregon ranks even worse than UCLA in pass defense at 100th.

Both teams were idle last week so the offensive game plans could hold a few surprises.

Toledo is the top scoring team in the Mid-American Conference and 13th best in the nation averaging 42.4 points per game. That average goes up to 48 points a game if you go by the Rockets' last four games. Junior quarterback John Alan Richter leads the MAC in both passing yards (1,362) and passing touchdowns (13).

Buffalo doesn't have the defense to slow down Richter. The Bulls  rank 116th in scoring defense, surrendering 30.6 points a game, are 114th in pass defense and 117th in yards allowed per game at 406.4.

But while I am expecting Toledo to do the heavy lifting in getting this total Over, I would not be involved if I didn't think Buffalo could contribute.

Toledo's defense showed vulnerability giving up 24 points to Ball State last week. That was the most points the Cardinals have scored in their four games against Division I opponents.

Bulls sophomore quarterback Jason Wright is improving and he has two of the best skill position players in the MAC, running back Messiah Burch and wide receiver Chance Morrow. Burch ranks in the top three in the MAC in rushing yards and Morrow is in the top three in receiving yards.

There is a lot at stake for Boise State in this game. Not only do the Broncos have revenge for a 30-7 home loss to Fresno State last year when their starting quarterback, Maddux Madsen, was knocked out of the game after throwing only four passes, but a win here bolsters Boise State's chances of being part of the College Football Playoffs.

The Broncos were 17 1/2-point favorites against Fresno State last season.

Madsen is back and playing well. I have the Broncos as being the best team in the Pac-12. Boise State has won four in a row after losing, 34-27, but easily covering a 25 1/2-point underdog road spread against Oregon in Week 1.

The Broncos are averaging 34.3 points per game and rank 23rd in rushing. They have the nation's leading rusher in Dylan Riley.

Both Boise State and Fresno State are 4-1. But I don't consider Fresno State to be in the Broncos' class.

The Bulldogs could only score two touchdowns against Washington State - the worst team in the Pac-12 - last week, were out-gained by Rice the week before that and needed a plus 4 turnover margin to defeat San Jose State three weeks ago. The Bulldogs also were shut out by USC, 39-0, opening week. The Trojans lost at home to Oregon, 41-27.