Will Rogers Handicapping Review & Free Picks Page

The set-up: I think this is a starting match-up on the mound that heavily favors the visitors. The Twins see Jose Berrios toe the slab, while the home side hands the ball to Ariel Jurado.

The pitchers: Berrios (10-6, 3.29 ERA) is 2-4 over his last 11 starts, but he enters off a decent outing, giving up three runs over six innings in a no-decision to the Indians on Sunday. 

Jurado (6-8, 5.31) enters off a 19-4 loss to the Jays on Monday, allowing 11 hits and eight runs over three innings. 

The pick: Minnesota’s won the first two games of this series, 13-6 on Thursday and 4-3 last night. Normally I would consider this a “letdown” spot, but with just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Twins lead over the Tribe is only 1.5 games. Expect the hard-hitting visiting side to keep the foot on the gas.

Minnesota Twins 10* play

The set-up: EPL defending champ Man City took care of business in a 5-0 win over West Ham in east London last weekend, instantly pushing them to top spot on the board. Clearly Manchester City will want to keep the foot on the gas here and its place in the rankings. Tottenham came out slow last week, but a late marker by Harry Kane would guide the home team to a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the end. 

The pick: The Spurs have their work cut out for them here at the Etihad and certainly “sitting back” and waiting for the game to come to them isn’t a strategy that’s going to work vs. Man City, who didn’t even break a sweat vs. the new look Hammers last weekend. With both teams pushing the pace, this one flies over sooner than later in my opinion.

Tottenham/Man City OVER 10* play

The set-up: After a slow start, the Stampeders can ill afford to take the foot off the gas for the rest of the season. Calgary is in the playoff mix and I think it’ll pull away down the stretch for the comfortable cover. A victory today and the Stamps are in a tie for first place in the division, but a loss and they could wind up all the way in fourth. Note that while covering only once in four games at home this year, Calgary is still 3-1 SU. And despite the Als being 9-2 ATS in their last 11, I definitely believe that they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time here. 

The pick: The Alouettes are getting QB Vernon Adams Jr. and RB William Stanback this week, but one has to wonder how effective they’ll be after each sat out last weekend with injury? The Stamps have finally adjusted to QB Nick Arbuckle running the show, entering this one having gone 4-2 SU in their last six. I’m banking on Montreal finally taking a step back here vs. this determined home side. Lay the points.

Calgary Stampeders 10* play

The set-up: These clubs have been practicing against each other all week and I believe that’s going to lead to some heated rivalry in this Week 2 action. Detroit got humiliated at home in Week 1 by the Patriots and they’ll be out to atone for that performance. Especially on the defensive side. In all the Lions offense mustered just a field goal in last week’s loss and I think the unit will have a difficult time moving the chains this weekend as well. Since Matt Patricia took charge in Detroit the Lions are now just 1-4 SU/ATS. Once again starting QB Matt Stafford is expected to see limited to no tie in this one. Houston lost in Green Bay last week. The Texans will be amped up here to play their first game in front of the home town crowd. 

The pick: Houston won’t be playing much (if any) of starting QB DeShaun Watson today either. The Texans are down to third string QB right now after AJ McCarron went down with a thumb injury. This one has “chess match” written all over it.

Detroit Lions/Houston Texans UNDER 10* play