Alex Smart

The Toronto Blue Jays can clinch a wild-card spot and win their three-game series versus the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon.

Tampa Bay already has a wild card spot in the play offs and now just want to make sure their lineup is healthy entering the post season. Meanwhile, the Jays still need to guarantee their post season appearance with a victory and will be ready to play all out baseball to get there.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to start left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu (3-3, 3.31 ERA) on Saturday.

The Rays are scheduled to open with right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong (1-0, 1.41 ERA). In 18 career relief outings against Toronto, he is 0-0 with an 8.31 ERA. The Blue Jays got to him for two runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning on Sept. 23 and according to my pitcher vs batting order match up well against him. This will be a bullpen game for the Rays, and players will be rested so the advantage goes to the more motivated side.

Play on Toronto to win 

The Orioles (100-60) had won five in a row before losing 3-0 on Friday, a night after they clinched the American League East title with a 2-0 victory over the Red Sox. They were obviously in a emotional letdown situation in that game , and will be primed to get the win here as they do not want to enter the play offs in a losing mode.QUOTE: "It was a big night for us (Thursday) night, and we just didn't play our best baseball (on Friday), and those things happen," Hyde said. "Hopefully, we'll rebound and play a better game." END QUOTE

Baltimores starter GIBSON is 15-6  against the money line vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse this season. (Team's Record) GIBSON is 22-11  against the money line vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .260 or worse over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

MLB Home teams (BALTIMORE) - with a team batting average of .260 or worse on the season (AL), after a combined score of 3 runs or less 2 straight games are 29-9 L/5 seasons for a 76% conversion rate for bettors.

MLB Road teams (BOSTON) - after scoring 3 runs or less 2 straight games against opponent after a combined score of 3 runs or less 2 straight games are 16-43 L/5 seasons for a go against 73% conversion rate for bettors.

Play on the Orioles to win

Im betting Kentucky has finally arrived as a SEC side to be feared and not because of their talent but their grit  . I know Florida has the bigger brand name and following, but the Wildcats proved recently they can handle the Gators as was evident last season when they took out the Gators on the road and also ended a 14 game home losing streak in this series back in 2021.  FLORIDA is 2-10 ATS   off a home win over the last 3 seasons.

The Wildcats defense has forced multiple takeaways in three of the four tilts and has been solid  against the run and hasn’t allowed anyone to record 100 yards on the ground. Florida Im betting will be forced to be more one dimensional and despite of some good results this season, are in for a more formidable experience here today against a gritty Kentucky football program that plays with pride and passion. 

KENTUCKY is 14-4 ATS  in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

CFB home team vs. the money line (KENTUCKY) - dominant team - outscoring opponents by 17 or more points/game, after leading their last 2 games by 14+ points at the half are 39-2  L/5 seasons for a 95% conversion rate for bettors.

Play on the Kentucky Wildcats 

South Floridas offensive line is horrendous already allowing 19 sacks and that will be their downfall today vs a physical Navy front 7. On the flip-side the Middies Im betting will plough through the Bulls defense via their vaunted one way ground attack. Also after a extra week of rest and now playing at home Im betting we see  Navy at their very best.

NAVY is 10-1 ATS versus good offensive teams - averaging 425 or more  yards/game over the last 3 seasons. NAVY is 13-4 ATS ( against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.

Penn State is the real deal and in my opinion a true national contender, and my thought s were reinforced after watching them slam dunk Iowa 31-0. With that said,  Im betting they will be wide awake here knowing their opponent Northwestern came back form a 31-10 deficit in the 4th quarter last time out for a miraculous 34-31 win vs Minnesota. From a talent and coaching  perspective this line does not do the discrepancies justice, and laying this may points is not a problem for me. Note: Penn State when coming off consecutive SUATS victories , is 13-0-1 ATS in conference tilts. Also NW is 0-7 SU and 1-6 ATS after a SU victory. 

Play on Penn State to cover 

Texas Tech lost West Virginia last time out on the road by a 20-14 count and will now be in bounce back mode at home here today. The Raiders are just 1-3 this season, but in a specific outing against top 10 Oregon they looked like they matched up well and only lost by a 38-30 count and must be respected here against a defensively deficient  Houston side that has already lost to Rice and TCU  while allowing 43 and 36 points respectively. TEXAS TECH is 6-0 ATS  off a road loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons with the average ppg diff clicking in at 12.7 . 

CFB Home favorites vs. the money line (Texas Tech) - off an upset loss as a road favorite, in the first half of the season are 38-1 L/5 seasons for a 98% conversion rate for bettors with the average ppg diff clicking in at +23.2 ppg which easily qualifies on this ATS offering. 

Play on Texas Tech to cover

Rice lost last week  42-29 to South Florida but QB JT Daniels threw for 491 of the Owls’ 492 total yards and is a dangerous man under center. Considering E.Carolinas D was sliced and diced by all three FBS sides they played this season, for 30,31, 43 points respectively including giving up a whopping 702 combined yards passing in those games, Im betting Rices star QB rockn rolls his team to victory here at home.

Bloomgren is 6-0 ATS  in home games after a game where they committed no turnovers as the coach of RICE.

RICE is 26-10 ATS  in home games when playing against a sub par team (Win Pct. 25% to 40%). RICE is 17-4 ATS L/21 in home games after 2 consecutive games with a turnover margin of +1 or better.

CFB Home favorites vs. the money line (RICE) - off an upset loss as a road favorite, in the first half of the season are 38-1 L/5 seasons for a 98% conversion rate for bettors with the average ppg diff clicking in at +23.2 ppg which easily qualifies on this ATS offering. 

Play on Rice to win

Blowing a 31-10 lead in the fourth quarter to a Northwestern program that was on the ropes is arguably the worst loss of head coach P.J. Fleck's time in Minnesota. This kind of embarrassing loss will have Fleck prepared to coach a big game against a lower tier side. Getting off the hot seat is of prime importance and getting the Gopher fans to lay down their pitchforks  I believe Fleck has the personnel to get it done this week in convincing fashion after last weeks gutless sleepy effort. Note: UL Lafayette has allowed an average of 36 ppg so far this season in what looks to be a wide open type of game plan. Im betting that wont work well against this power 5 opponent. 

LA LAFAYETTE is 0-9 ATS  after scoring 37 points or more last game over the last 3 seasons. (they beat Mac side Buffalo last week in a 45-38 shootout) Regression expected. 

CFB Home favorites vs. the money line (Minnesota ) - off an upset loss as a road favorite, in the first half of the season are 38-1 L/5 seasons for a 98% conversion rate for bettors with the average ppg diff clicking in at +23.2 ppg which easily qualifies on this ATS offering. 

Play on Minnesota to cover

Im betting Western Michigans Jalen Buckley,  who has registered 4 TDS already this season  while averaging  125 YPG will be key to the Broncos finding the win column. Considering Ball State just cant move the ball inconsistently and constantly making bad reads on offense as is evident by a  5  interceptions and just  3 TDs.   Ball State is losing the stats battles  an average of 172 YPG including allowing a whopping  40 or more points in their 3 ugly losses. 

CFB  Road underdogs vs. the money line (BALL ST) - slow starting offensive team - scoring 8 or less PPG in the first half, after scoring 3 points or less in the first half last game are 4-60 L/10 seasons for a go against 94% conversion rate for bettors.

Play on Western Michigan