Ben Burns

THE PLAY: Alabama -21.0 (-108)

Reports of Alabama's demise were greatly exaggerated. Off their embarrassing Week 1 loss against Florida State, the Crimson Tide responded by smashing UL-Monroe 73-0. The Tide racked up nearly 600 yards of offense while allowing less than 150. I had Alabama in that game (See below) and I'm expecting another big effort from the Tide on Saturday afternoon.

Here's what I said of Alabama before last week's blowout win: UL Monroe is at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Off last week's loss and having had to listen all week about how their effort wasn't there, the Crimson Tide are going to be angry and looking to make a statement. New coach DeBoer noted: "Play with an edge, too, right? We've got something to prove. There's obviously a piece of it where, this weekend, we fell short of what we feel like we're capable of doing, what our potential is. So, go out there and prove it … " They've got mismatches all over the field and I see the Tide keeping the pedal to the metal the entire way. *good up to -37

Alabama secured a 42-10 victory at Wisconsin last season as a 14-point road favorite, knocking out Badgers’ starting QB Tyler Van Dyke early, leaving their offense struggling. Wisconsin’s QB Danny O’Neil, who played as a true freshman at San Diego State last year, faces an extremely difficult test against Alabama’s defense. His toughest game last season was against Boise State, where he completed 14 of 30 passes for 155 yards and threw two interceptions. Now in a new system and on the road facing a loaded Bama defense, one which is coming off a shutout while allowing only nine first downs, expect Wisconsin’s offense to struggle. *Bama by more than three touchdowns

Ben Burns, WagerTalk's reigning football champion, is coming off a 3-0 sweep with his college football.  

THE PLAY: Philadelphia Phillies -120 S Manaea (LHP), R Suarez (LHP) Must Start

The Phillies came through for us yesterday. Today's matchup is more favorable and we're coming right back with Philadelphia. Yesterday, the Phillies were up against Mets rookie sensation Nolan McLean and they had veteran Aaron Nola going for them. McLean's numbers were brilliant coming in while Nola's were poor. Yet, as I suggested he might, Nola turned back the clock and delivered a “vintage” performance. Today, however, the Phillies have a starter in red hot form. Suarez is off a gem and he's got a dominant 0.50 ERA his past three starts. 

After delivering six shutout innings in his last start, Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said this of Suarez: "He was fantastic. Strikes, command, kept them off balance, curveball was really good. I thought he was outstanding, I really did."

On the other hand, Manaea has struggled. After getting roughed up last time out, he had this to say: “Everyone is pulling their weight, everyone is doing their thing and I'm not. It's just very frustrating. I wish I had an answer for it, but I don't …”

With the Phillies 14-6 in divisional home games and with the Mets having scored only 12 total runs over their past five games, this line could easily be higher. 

In addition to being #1 All-Time for NBA and #1 All-Time for CBB, Ben Burns is the reigning football champion.