When even football betrays me, it’s not going to be a great day, and it certainly wasn’t on Thursday. We almost got out of it with a win from the Pacific Coast Parlay, but the Golden Knights completely neglected to show up in a 6-2 loss to the Kings, so that proved fruitless as well.
But we’re back at it again today with a nice slate of college football as well as Game 1 of the ALCS. Here are my best bets for October 15.
RED SOX-ASTROS O8.5, -110
Chris Sale is not getting the job done in the postseason or postseason-type games. He got lit up by Washington in a must-win game on the season’s final day, and gave up five runs in an inning to Tampa Bay in the ALDS. Framber Valdez isn’t doing a heck of a lot better, so there should be plenty of fireworks in this one. The Astros’ bats got going in a big way against the White Sox, and they should stay hot against Sale.
DEVILS ML, -120
New Jersey is a team that’s slowly on the rise, while Chicago is a shadow of its former selves. The Devils are a year older, they’ve added some talent on the blue line in Dougie Hamilton and they should be able to get a result in this one. It doesn’t help matters that the Blackhawks are crossing two time zones after playing a physical game against Colorado in their opener. New Jersey is fresh and should get a win here.
MARSHALL -11, -110
This shouldn’t be too difficult a test for the Thundering Herd. Marshall got held to just 20 points last week at Old Dominion, but the Monarchs actually have a pretty decent run defense. North Texas isn’t anywhere close to as effective at stopping the ground game, so the Herd should be able to run all over the Mean Green in this one. UNT couldn’t hang within 30 of UAB, and Marshall is around the same talent level as the Blazers.
SYRACUSE +10.5, +120
I’m giving away three points here because Clemson shouldn’t be favored by double digits over anybody in the ACC right now. All of Clemson’s games against FBS competition have been decided by seven points or less, so there’s no way I’m trusting Clemson with a -10.5 point spread, let alone the -13.5 that they’re currently sitting at. I don’t blame you at all if you don’t want to get greedy here and just take the Orange and the two touchdowns, but I think you can get more value here.
SAN DIEGO STATE -10, -110
But I will trust the Aztecs, who come to San Jose with an undefeated record and revenge on their mind after losing to the Spartans a year ago. With Nick Starkel still banged up and questionable to play, I can’t see the Spartans doing much to hurt the Aztecs in this matchup. San Diego State is on track to win the West Division of the Mountain West as long as it takes care of Nevada and Fresno State at home and does its job against lesser league foes, and I think they’ll comfortably do the job against a weakened San Jose State.
