Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three decades of experience to make weekly picks in his “Ecks & Bacon” column.
MLB Pick
LAS VEGAS - Quick baseball hit this afternoon, and it's Yu Darvish over the Marlins and Sixto Sanchez.
Yu had the most wins of any pitcher in the National League with eight, and a gorgeous 2.01 ERA. He'll also be looking to wash away the UGLY Game 7 start in the 2017 World Series against the Astros when he was pounded for 3 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned, in just 1.2 innings. But the rumor was, Houston CHEATED!!! Since the Cubs lost Game 1 Wednesday, YU know that we'll double up on YU!!!
NBA Pick
In the NBA bubble, sadly, it's OVER. And I'm not talking about the total. With NO Bam Adebayo and NO Goran Dragic, there's NO chance! But since the line has basically doubled, from -5 to now -9.5, and probably higher by game time, count me as NOT interested.
NCAAF Pick
On the college football board, checking in on BYU -24.5 points over Louisiana Tech tonight. Not sure if you wanna lay the bundle, or take the bundle. The Cougars from Provo have been RIDONKULOUS so far, averaging 51.5 points and 622.0 yards per game.
Of course, that was against Navy and Troy, two EH teams. The Bulldogs from Ruston, LA. have won 12 of the last 14, and beat Miami-Florida 14-0 in the Independence Bowl last year. Talking about a small Leaning Tower of Pisa wager to the kids from Louisiana.
NFL Picks
Looking ahead to Sunday, c'mon and step up to the ATM with me and grab the Bengals -3 points over the Jaguars. Going with the Tiger King over The Mustache. Joe Burreaux over Gardner Minshew. Last week, we called Burrow an ATM, and he did not disappoint. Cincy covered the spread in an UGLY 23-23 knot, and that put my man Joe B at 11-3-2 the last year and change.
So just gonna keep riding the Gumbo man. Like any other rookie, it has been a mixed bag for Burrow, but the numbers are pretty sweet. He is hitting on 64.5% of his passes, has gobbled up 821 yards, with 5 TDs and only 1 INT. We saw the Igles pressure him last week, and create eight sacks. Big ouch.
But don't think the Bengals have that much to worry about since Jacksonville is next to last in the league with just three sacks. And even with all that pressure, Burreaux was able to hit on 31-of-44 for 312 yards with 2 TDs and ZERO INTs. This kid is SPECIAL, and this kid is MONEY, which is why there's only one thing left to say. This IS my BEST BET BAABBEEE!!!
Also gonna try DA Bears +2.5 points at home over Colts. Nick Foles is only 31-years-old. Philip Rivers is 38-years-old. Edge Nick. Foles has one kid, Rivers has NINE! Edge, YUGE EDGE, Old Man Rivers. Nick the Quick, that ain't his nickname, but that's the only one we can use in a family paper, brought the Bears back from a 26-10 deficit, and posted a 30-26 W.
Chicago coach Matt Nagy named Foles the starting QB, and with a SWEET 11-3-1 run as a home underdog, my money is all over DA Bears!
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America's Line, with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and over 100 other papers since 1988. You can follow him online at www.americasline.com. He is beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. If you wanna piece of Eck, hit his Email...ben@americasline.com.
