Scott Rickenbach

CFL Friday 10* Top Play Edmonton Elks +6.5 vs BC Lions @ 9:30 ET - Great spot for the Elks as a home dog. Both teams off comeback wins last week but the Lions win was particularly improbable. The BC defense has not been what it was earlier this season and the Elks grind the ball on the ground more than the Lions do. I feel they can grind out a win here but, of course, am grabbing the points. Edmonton has been playing better for quite awhile now and have won 4 of 5 and the only loss was by 4 points! As for BC, the Lions have beaten Edmonton by a combined score of 49-0 in the first two games so you know this one has been circled on the Elks calendar. Edmonton wants this game. Keep in mind, the Lions are just 3-3 SU last 6 and one of those wins was by only 4 points. This one goes to the wire and an outright upset would not surprise me in the least. 10* EDMONTON +6.5

MLB Friday 10* Top Play OVER 8 in New York Yankees vs Arizona Diamondbacks @ 7:05 ET - This line has dropped in part because of the wind blowing in because of the approaching tropical storm. However, just because the wind is blowing in does not mean guys can't make contact and spray the ball all over the field. Both these pitchers have had tough seasons. Pfaadt for the Diamonbacks and Weaver for the multiple teams he has been with this season. Both guys have struggled. The Yankees got their sticks going a bit and remember they just faced some tough Toronto pitching. No, the Yankees lineup is not great this season but this is a low total and the Yanks do tend to hit better at home and had been scoring a bit prior to the first couple games of the Jays series. The Diamondbacks have been hot and scoring runs and they should stay hot here. The Dbacks bullpen has not been great this season and Pfaadt unlikely to go deep. Take advantage of the low total here and look for 9 or more as this is a low total when it is not Cole vs Gallen. This total just too low. 10* OVER 8 in New York Yankees

MLB Friday 8* Philadelphia Phillies -155 vs New York Mets @ 7:05 ET - Similar to yesterday, going with an 8* instead of a 10* because prefer the money line option over the risk of a run line option here. It paid off yesterday as the Phillies won by a single run. Though I expect a blowout here I want to again be protected if Philly wins by a slim margin. Walker is facing his former team and has fared well against them this season. Megill will struggle here on the road against a Phillies team that is getting guys hot at the right time as they build up for another post-season run. They have had the homer flying and I expect it to continue here as they get this one in before the tropical storm starts bringing rain to the area. 8* PHILADELPHIA -155

Friday CFB 10* Top Play OVER 53.5 in Purdue Boilermakers vs Wisconsin Badgers @ 7 ET - I am going to take advantage of a low total here. This total is based more on long-term reputation of the Badgers defense but this Wisconsin defense is just not what it once was. Even Georgia Southern threw all over them last week and would have had a lot more points were it not for turnovers. The week before the Badgers allowed 31 at Washington State. The Badgers have scored at least 35 points in both their wins this season and they are favored here for a reason. However, the fact that Purdue has a solid passing game, led by a former UT QB (Card) whom I liked quite a bit there, means that the Boilermakers should turn this into a back and forth high-scoring affair. The Boilers have a solid passing attack but, like the Badgers, they have had some issues on defense. They are allowing about 400 yards per game and they allowed at least 35 in each of their two losses. It will be very nice weather for an over in West Lafayette, IN tonight as well. Light winds and very mild temperatures. Last season these teams totaled 59 points in their meeting and the defenses were better then than they are now. The Badgers offense will continue to get a little better week by week as they have a new head coach in Luke Fickell this season. Wisconsin has averaged scoring 39 points in last 4 meetings with Boilers. Again, the issue is the Badgers defense is not a typical Wiscy defense and we take advantage just as the Boilermakers passing attack will as well! 10* OVER 53.5 in Purdue

Rotation #212437: Bulgaria First League: Friday Free Pick OVER 2 -125 in Botev Vratsa vs Beroe @ 8 AM ET - I am currently in Romania which borders Bulgaria to the south. What I know about both these football clubs so far this season is they are struggle to keep the ball out of their back of their own nets. Botev Vratsa is allowing 2 goals per match this season and no club has allowed more goal than them. Beroe has allowed an average of 1.6 goals per match. I know Botev Vratsa struggles to score goals but they are home here and will take advantage of some leaky defense. At the same time though, their own leaky defense will continue to be exposed. Free Pick OVER 2 -125 in Botev Bratsa

Rotation #206901: Romania Liga 1: Friday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 -105 in Dinamo Bucuresti vs Farul Constanta @ 2 ET - First off when playing an over 2.5 you want to look at draw rates. If a match gets to 1-1 will it end like that or does it have strong odds on getting to at least 2-1? In this case, note that Farul has had NO draws in 8 matches this season. Also, their matches have averaged 3 goals apiece. Dinamo has had some trouble scoring goals this season but they will take advantage of what has been a troubled backline for Farul. Also, the fact Dinamo gets this match at home will also help in the goal-scoring department. They should make the net ripple at least once but they are a dog here for a reason and Farul likely to give them a lot of trouble. Dinamo allowing an average of 2 goals per match and Farul is as well. That is why I am forecasting the winning team to have at least 2 goals and the loser should get on the board as well as you can see with these poor goals-conceded numbers. Farul and Dinamo will both be on the attack here as they are fired up after recent poor performances in the goal-scoring department. They each know they can take advantage of weaker backline play that has been on display for both these clubs so far this season. Look for a wild and entertaining one at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucuresti on Friday night as these city is passionate about this club and now the defending champs are in town! 10* OVER 2.5 -105 in Dinamo Bucuresti

Rotation #206917: Romania Liga 1: Friday 10* Top Play OVER 2 -150 in FCU Craiova 1948 vs Otelul Galati @ 11 AM ET - You can also take over 2.5 goals here at plus money but I would recommend taking 2 goals even at high juice as it is a key number in Romanian Soccer. However, I will say that of course I am expecting 3 or more goals or I would not be making this bet! That said, Galati have been the draw specialists this season as they have had 8 draws in 9 matches. That would lead one to believe a 1-1 draw is a possibility for sure. However, FCU Craiova 1948 has been at the other end of the spectrum with 0 draws in 9 matches! Also, while Galati matches have averaged just 2 goals apiece, FCU Craiova 1948 matches have averaged 4 goals apiece. That is the highest average in the league and they will be pushing hard at home here for a win as they also have a new head coach as they welcome back Paul Raducan. There is going to be strong effort from the home club but I don't see the visitors going away without a fight either. Before last week's scoreless draw, they had scored at least 1 goal in 4 of last 5 matches. Looking for a 2-1 final here at the very least as the hosts will play a relentless style here and be on the attack early and often. 10* OVER 2 -150 in FCU Craiova 1948