🏈 MACtion Is Back. Adam Burke Is Thrilled. Sort Of.
Midweek MACtion returns tonight, so I asked VSiN.com managing editor Adam Burke — a proud University of Akron graduate — for some general advice on handicapping the conference.
Adam’s response:
“All the teams are ass and save your money.”
OK, maybe I need to give Adam a day off.
Fortunately, he wasn’t finished: “Passing offenses are pretty inefficient on the whole in the MAC. A mobile QB or a very strong running game (and especially both) will be a difference-maker.”
Tonight’s MACtion (ET):
7 p.m. — Ohio at Akron (ESPN2; Ohio -14 at Circa)
8 p.m. — Buffalo at Miami (Ohio) (ESPN; Miami -6 at Circa)
Buffalo at Miami (Ohio): Both teams are 3-1 in MAC play, but Buffalo ranks 137th nationally in yards per play, and Miami’s offense has declined since losing its better passing quarterback. Both defenses have improved against the run in conference play — a matchup Adam thinks creates an opportunity.
Ohio at Akron: The Bobcats are unbeaten in MAC play, while Adam’s alma mater is 1-7. Ohio looks like the obvious side, but a couple of recent performances give Adam pause.
» Read Adam Burke’s Tuesday MACtion analysis and best bet
» Explore the Week 10 College Football Betting Hub
🏈 NFL: Bear Down. And a Little Perspective.
It took all my might not to lead today’s newsletter with the Bears’ 34-17 victory in Seattle on Monday night as 3-point underdogs.
Chicago’s Super Bowl odds shortened to +800 at Circa Sports on Monday night, down from +1200 entering Week 8. That puts the Bears third on the board, behind the Bills (+530) and 49ers (+580) — and ahead of the Chiefs (+900).
Yes, recency bias is a thing.
Thursday Night Football: Who’s Playing Quarterback for Baltimore?
The Ravens host Jacksonville on Thursday, but Baltimore doesn’t have a fully healthy quarterback on its 53-man roster. Lamar Jackson (thumb) is headed to injured reserve, Tyler Huntley (toe) is injured, and Joe Fagnano played through an injury Sunday. Coach Jesse Minter hasn’t named a starter.
Jacksonville is now a 10-point favorite at Circa Sports.
Tuley’s Week 8 ATS recap: Favorites finished 10-3 straight up and 8-5 ATS, with Chiefs–Broncos closing at pick’em. Totals split 7-7. For the season, favorites are 75-42-1 straight up, but underdogs lead 59-53-6 ATS. Overs lead 62-57-2.
🎯 Contest Update: 69 Perfect in Average Joe
Sixty-nine contestants went a perfect 7-0 in Week 8 of the EdgeBoost Average Joe Contest. VSiN Pro subscriber Brad Devereaux (GaryLaserEyes) of Nashua, N.H., won the tiebreaker with 144.5 Action Points to finish first for the week.
» Check the Average Joe standings
💵 I Hope Brad Signed Up for EdgeBoost
EdgeBoost is offering its customers a $1,000 bonus with a deposit of at least $100 if they finish first in the weekly Average Joe standings.
Survivor Sweat: $250K Asking Price?
Neither Circa Survivor nor Grandissimo changed Monday night because no entries were pending on Bears–Seahawks. But the Survivor Sweat Marketplace is open for buying and selling.
The biggest asking price: $250,000 for 75% of a Survivor entry, including pick control. That seems a little aggressive, given the entry’s implied value of $41,011.
» Check the Survivor Sweat Marketplace listings
» Get ready for NFL Week 9: odds, injuries and expert picks
🏀 College Basketball: A Calmer Day 3
After a marathon 181 games Monday, college basketball slows to just 29 on Tuesday. But there’s plenty to handicap.
Adam Burke’s Best Bet: Look for Adam’s analysis and top play later this morning. » Find Adam’s college basketball best bet
Steve Makinen’s starred power ratings: See where Steve’s daily numbers flag the strongest potential edges. » Check Steve’s daily power ratings
DONBEST: Keep the college hoops rotation numbers handy. » Get the College Basketball Rotation Book for $4.99
🏒 NHL: A 23-Game Shots-on-Goal Streak
There are 11 games Tuesday, and Jonathon Davis has spotted an intriguing player prop. Washington’s Ryan Leonard has recorded at least two shots on goal in all 13 games this season — and 23 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last season.
Leonard’s 2+ shots prop is priced at -205, but JD has identified a potential parlay partner that would push the payout into plus-money territory.
» Check Jonathon Davis’ NHL Best Bets later this morning
🎾 Tennis: Tuesday’s Best Bets
Zach Cohen has his Rolex Paris Masters predictions and picks. » Read Zach’s Tuesday tennis best bets
Gill Alexander’s latest tennis selections are on the VSiN picks page. » See Gill’s tennis picks
🏈 A Complimentary Pick From Wunderdog, Every Day
From Geoff at Wunderdog: Get a complimentary pick and full write-up by email every day, plus a $50 credit toward Pro Picks in any sport. Every pick has been posted since 2001, so you can check the record.
» Get the daily pick + $50 credit
Doc’s Sports: Strike Point Sports
Strike Point Sports has posted three straight winning football weeks (documented here), including a 7-Unit Iowa winner Saturday. “Mr. Saturday” is 47-27, +8,080 in college football and 41-25, +7,720 overall in football, with +7,840 over the past year (documented here).
