It’s a new month, and for me, it’s one of the best months on the calendar. Not only do we have football starting up, but we’ve got plenty of baseball and soccer on the slate as well, giving us a lot of betting options to start off September. Here are my best bets for September 1.
FRANCE AND UNDER 3.5 GOALS, -115
The fact that you still have to pay juice for this underscores just how much better France is than Bosnia, and Les Bleus should have no trouble cruising past the Dragons here. France’s defensive lapses in Euro 2020 do concern me, but this isn’t Edin Dzeko’s high-powered Bosnian side any longer. Dzeko is now 35, and Bosnia has been shut out in six of its past eight matches. They did hold France to a 1-0 result in Sarajevo, but Bosnia are riding a 13-match winless streak, and I can’t see that ending here.
SLOVENIA-SLOVAKIA UNDER 1.5 GOALS, +145
It’s always risky to take such a low total, but these are defensive-oriented sides that are likely to be incredibly cautious from start to finish. Three of the past five meetings between these two have finished with one goal or fewer, and Slovakia will likely be very defensive-minded because a point at Ljubljana would do wonders for the Falcons’ chances of making the World Cup. Slovenia has already seen two of three matches in this campaign end 1-0, and the Green Dragons likely don’t have the attacking ability to improve on that.
ATHLETICS-TIGERS UNDER 9.5, -110
Wily Peralta has been outstanding at Comerica Park this season, boasting a 1.93 ERA when he’s been able to pitch at home. Oakland has scored three runs or fewer in six of its past eight games, and the Athletics likely don’t have two consecutive big games at the plate in them. As long as Oakland’s pitching has a decent day, this should be a solid play.
CHRIS SALE OVER 7.5 STRIKEOUTS, +110
So far, Sale has looked like his old self on the mound, and when Sale pitches like his old self, that means strikeouts. So far, he’s recorded 21 in 15.1 innings of work in 2021, and now he’s facing the Rays, who strike out more than anyone in the American League. As long as Sale can get through five innings, he shouldn’t have an issue topping this number.
UAB-JACKSONVILLE STATE UNDER 47.5, -110
Don’t expect a ton of points in this battle from the Yellowhammer State. UAB only gives up about 22 points a game, and Jacksonville State is down one of its two best running backs, as Uriah West is nursing a shoulder injury. The Blazers are still figuring themselves out on offense, so this game is likely to belong to the defensive units.
