Sean Murphy

N.L. Central Game of the Month. My selection is on Chicago over Cincinnati at 6:40 pm et on Saturday.

The Cubs have wobbled a bit lately, going 2-3 over their last five games. Of course, Cincinnati hasn't strung together consecutive wins since September 5th and 6th and is simply playing out the string at this point. We'll back Chicago in a matchup of left-handed starting pitchers on Saturday. The Cubs have handled southpaw pitching well all season and I'm confident they'll get to familiar foe Nick Lodolo in this bounce-back spot. Matthew Boyd has gone winless over his last six starts for Chicago but is 8-5 on the season and has worked at least into the sixth inning in 13 straight outings. Take Chicago (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Akron and Minnesota at 12 noon et on Saturday.

This is a big bounce-back spot for the Golden Gophers after they were blasted 38-13 at home against Mississippi State last week. Known for its defense and ground attack, Minnesota did neither of those things well against the Bulldogs. I do think we'll see the Gophers defense respond here as it hosts 1-1 Akron. The Zips have seen their first two games go 'over' the total, first in a blowout loss at Wake Forest (we actually won with Akron ATS in that contest) and then in a rout of FCS squad Robert Morris. Akron wasn't able to do much against Wake Forest until the Demon Deacons shifted into 'prevent' mode in garbage time. Here, I don't think we'll see Minnesota let its foot off the gas defensively - not after last week's poor showing. Offensively, it figures to remain a bit of a struggle for Minnesota. We can anticipate a return to its ground attack here after it was limited to a ridiculous 13 rushing yards on 15 attempts last week. I think we'll see this game move along at a brisk pace as we see enough long, clock-eating drives to keep the final score 'under' the total. Take the under (8*).

ACC Game of the Month. My selection is on Stanford plus the points over Duke at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Stanford opened the season with a thrilling come-from-behind win over Hawaii in Week 0 but followed that up with a stinker against Miami. The Cardinal enter this contest off their bye week while Duke checks in a perfect 2-0 SU and ATS following an 'upset' win on the road against Illinois last week. The Blue Devils have some rebuilding to do this year but so far, so good. I do think the perfect start including last week's impressive victory leaves them overvalued laying double-digits in this spot. While Duke did score 31 points in last week's victory, it struggled to put the game away when it had the opportunity in the second half, failing to reach the end zone again after scoring a touchdown just over four minutes into the third quarter. Back in Week 1 the Blue Devils produced only 17 points in a win over a rebuilding Tulane squad. While this is a conference matchup, it's an unfamiliar one as these two programs haven't met in 14 years. With that being said, I think there's a certain degree of difficulty setting the pointspread. It looks like a lot of bettors are quick to jump on Duke here at home but I look for the Cardinal to put the Blue Devils on upset alert. Take Stanford (10*).

My selection is on Texas State minus the points over North Texas at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I really like the setup for the favored Bobcats at home on Saturday as they check in desperate for their first victory of the season. Texas State is 0-2 SU and ATS but has faced a couple of tough opponents in Texas and UTSA. North Texas on the other hand has split its first two games, losing in predictable blowout fashion at Indiana before rebounding with an 'upset' win at home against UNLV last week. I feel a letdown is in order for the Mean Green Eagles here off that stunning 44-6 rout of the Rebels last week. North Texas figures to take a step back this season as it lost a lot of talent from last year's team that reached the AAC Championship Game. Meanwhile, Texas State reached a Bowl game (and won) a year ago despite an up and down campaign and returns a lot of the key pieces from that team. This is a rematch of a Bowl game Texas State won 30-28 in January of 2025. Take Texas State (8*).

My selection is on UTSA plus the points over Texas at 8 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with UTSA as it travels to Austin to take on mighty Texas on Saturday. The Longhorns are of course coming off that thrilling come-from-behind win over Ohio State last week. While I wouldn't necessarily count on a true letdown from the Longhorns here, I simply feel that the Roadrunners are good enough to keep things respectable on Saturday night. UTSA is off to a 2-0 start after a big second half secured a minor 'upset' win at Texas State last week. In today's college football landscape, UTSA is a rare breed with continuity at a number of key positions including quarterback where Owen McCown remains the leader of the offense - just as he was two years ago when these two teams last met. Texas won that game 56-7 but I don't think there's any question it will be dealing with a stronger UTSA squad this time around. I do think the Roadrunners can move the football enough on offense to effectively shorten proceedings on Saturday and ultimately stay inside the lofty pointspread. Take UTSA (9*).

My selection is on Arkansas plus the points over Georgia at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Arkansas on Saturday as it hosts Georgia. The Bulldogs are off to a flawless start, winning their first two games in blowout fashion at home. Needless to say, this will be their toughest test to date after hosting FCS squad Tennessee State and Western Kentucky. The Razorbacks are sure to be in a foul mood after they were crushed 43-10 at Utah last week. Arkansas had opened the season with a 31-14 victory over FCS opponent North Alabama in Week 1. I do think the needle is pointing up for the Hogs - it has to be after a miserable two-win campaign a year ago. While I certainly don't anticipate Arkansas pulling off the massive upset here, I do think it can hang tough against a Georgia team that won't hit the road again until October 10th when it travels to Tuscaloosa. Take Arkansas (8*).

My selection is on East Carolina plus the points over Old Dominion at 6 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams last matched up two years ago with East Carolina prevailing by a score of 20-14. It's not desperation time for the Pirates yet but it's getting close as they're off to an 0-2 start after an 'upset' loss at home against Appalachian State last Saturday (we won with the 'under' in that game). It's obviously been a tough start but there's no reason to hit the panic button as the first loss came in an impossible situation on the road against Alabama. Old Dominion is 1-1 after a blowout loss at Virginia Tech last week. The Monarchs are 0-2 ATS if we include their opener against FCS opponent Norfolk State. They did win that first game of the season but it was rather unimpressive as they scored 'only' 31 points in a game where they were favored by north of 40 points. Despite the slow start, I do think ECU has more upside and with a win here the runway is clear to get rolling with games against NC Central and Rice at home up next. Meanwhile, the Monarchs will have one eye on a difficult Sun Belt Conference opener at home against James Madison next week. Take East Carolina (8*).

My selection is on Purdue plus the points over UCLA at 11 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Purdue off its tough overtime loss to Wake Forest last week. UCLA checks in 2-0 off a second straight lopsided victory. The Bruins were actually fortunate to cover against San Diego State last Saturday, however, thanks to a late touchdown on a defensive breakdown from the Aztecs. That victory moved UCLA to a perfect 2-0 ATS on the campaign. I simply feel the Bruins are laying too many points here as they look to stay flawless before a difficult two-game road stretch against Maryland and Oregon. I liked the way the Boilermakers got rolling offensively over the course of last week's eventualy double-overtime defeat. Purdue does have plenty of upside offensively but also a lot of new faces so it figured to take some time to really get in sync this season. Perhaps it hasn't taken quite as long as anticipated. Defensively, the Boilers have the personnel to slow the Bruins. While UCLA did win in lopsided fashion in the end it's not as if its offense lit up the Los Angeles night against a beatable Aztecs defense last week. The Bruins have certainly been run-first on offense to this point. I do think we'll see Purdue force UCLA to take to the air a little more in this spot and I like the matchup for the Boilers experienced secondary. Take Purdue (8*).