Jesse Schule

THE PLAY: Chicago Cubs +1.5 (-138) M Boyd (LHP), M Fried (LHP) Must Start

This is a free play on CHC +1.5. 

The Cubs lost 11-0 in Game 1 of this series in New York, but I think they bounce back in Game 2. This is expected to be a pitcher's duel between Matt Boyd and Max Fried. Overall Fried has better numbers, but he's allowed 3+ runs in three of his last four starts. Boyd on the other hand is 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his last five starts. We will take the runs with the Cubbies, and hope that even if the bullpen lets them down they can keep it within one run. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

THE PLAY: Central Florida -16.5 (-110)

This is a free play on UCF. 

Scott Frost is back in Orlando, where he went 13-0 with the Knights in 2017. The Knights open the season at home against Jacksonville State, which should allow the Scott Frost era to start off on a positive note. The Gamecocks won the C-USA last season, going 7-1 in conference play. Despite their success, they lost their first two games of the season by a combined 63 points to Coastal Carolina and Louisville. Head coach Rich Rod has left to take the job at West Virginia, and he's replaced by Charles Kelly. Despite 30+ years of coaching experience, Kelly has never before been a head coach. He will be starting from scratch, as the Gamecocks rank near last in the country in returning production. I believe there is more than a 16.5 point separation between a rebuilding BIG12 team and a completely gutted C-USA team. Lay it with UCF. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

THE PLAY: Auburn -2.5 (-110)

This is a free play on Auburn. 

Phil Steele has Baylor winning the BIG12 this year? Everybody is high on Bears QB Sawyer Robertson, who threw for over 3000 yards, 28 TDs and 8 INTs last years. The Bears ended last season with six straight wins, before losing 44-31 to LSU in the Texas Bowl. The fact that Auburn won only five games last year, yet is favored on the road at Baylor in Week 1 would suggest that the Bears strength of schedule doesn't match up against the Tigers. Baylor has lost 10 straight versus Top 25 teams. I think the Tigers are favored for a reason. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

THE PLAY: Nebraska -6.5 (-110)

This is a free play on Nebraska. 

Last year there was a lot of hype around Dylan Raiola and Nebraska, but they came up short in a lot of close games. Losing in overtime to Illinois and losing to Ohio State by four points. Their final game of the regular season was a 13-10 loss at Iowa. Raiola should be better with a year of experience under his belt, and with Dana Holgerson at OC. They play Cincinnati at Arrowhead in Week 1, and the Bearcats were just 5-7 last year, and ended the season on a five game losing streak. Nebraska played a BIG12 team last year and beat Colorado by 18 points. I think we see something similar here in Week 1, and Nebraska might cruise to 8-10 wins this season. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule