Michael Alexander

Rating: 2 Units

Texas has the stronger starting pitcher in this matchup, with deGrom taking the mound at home. Miles has been excellent for Toronto, but the Blue Jays have struggled to consistently generate offense and managed only 2 runs Saturday. DeGrom has collected 194 strikeouts and owns a 1.07 WHIP, which should make it difficult for Toronto to create sustained scoring opportunities. The Rangers don't have an overwhelming offense, but they showed Saturday they can manufacture runs without piling up hits. Texas should create enough offense against Miles and the Toronto bullpen to support deGrom. Look for the Rangers to take control during the middle innings and finish the series with another home victory.

Rating: 2 Units

Non division underdogs of more than six or more points, playing under the Sunday night lights, are 61-39-1 ATS since the inception of Sunday Night Football in 1987. If these same non-division dogs of more than 6 points won 8 or more games the previous season, they ratchet up to 39-19 ATS. Topping it off, if these non-division dogs are facing an opponent coming off a money-making win and-cover win its last game they zoom to 23-6 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Cleveland owns a 7-4 series advantage. The betting ledger offers even more encouragement with the ‘Under’ total going 0-6 ‘Under ‘in the last six meetings. Plus, the underdog is 4-1 ATS in the past five, and four of those five contests were decided by six points or fewer. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay enters on an 0-5 ATS slide at home and stands 1-5 ATS when opening a three-game homestand. Finally, NFL Week 2 road underdogs coming off a double-digit straight-up loss are a remarkable 24-5 ATS since 2014.

Rating: 2 Units

Currently the league’s best under-the-radar team in the league – 5-2 SU and 7-0 ATS since the end of last season when QB Tyler Shough came into his own – New Orleans will soon be a Vegas darling, too. Before it happens, we’ll be front and center with Kelln Moore’s troops and their 6-0 ATS win skein in their last six road games. Additionally, the Big Easy bunch brings a 4-0 ATS into this fray in the second of back-to-back road games, and was 3-0 ATS away last season under Moore vs. non-conference foes. The Black Birds’ 1-4-1 ATS mark in their last six non-conference home games closes the book on this well-designed Saints’ take.

Rating: 2 Units

The Packers are 11-2 ATS coming off a division road game, 6-1-1 SU and 8-0 ATS record in Game Two of the season, while Gang Green is 3-12 ATS versus the NFC North – including 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games – expect the Pack to get back on the track today. Additionally, NFL non-division away teams in Game Two of the season, coming off an outright season-opening and an ATS loss of 4 or more points, are 19-6-1 ATS, including 6-0-1 ATS if they scored more than 21 points in the loss.

AFC Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Payton is ANGRY, and the cocky Jags have the look of a team that’s unwittingly marching into an ambush. We hope the Broncos don’t wear those stupid white helmets again that made them look like FedEx dressed them. That would make Payton angry… and we… you know. The Broncos are 5-1 ATS after division road games, and 10-2 ATS after the Chiefs. The Jaguars are 1-7 ATS away vs. non-division foes seeking revenge.

Rating: 3 Units

The Patriots will have four additional days of rest after opening on Wednesday, but no amount of recovery time can repair careless decisions with the football. New England outgained Pittsburgh, 369-203, in last year’s meeting – a 166-yard advantage – and still lost by seven points. Five turnovers have a way of making the stat sheet lie under oath. Pittsburgh is 4-0 ATS coming off a non-conference home game, and the Pats are 1-5 ATS coming off a loss of 3 or fewer points. Finally, Pittsburgh HC McCarthy is 14-3 SU and 12-4-1 ATS in before Game 5 when his team is coming off a win and the opponent is coming off a loss. Tighten the number to either a favorite of 7 or less or a dog – and the mark jumps to 11-1 SU and 10-1-1 ATS.