Locks

NCAA Football (0.5 Unit) San Jose State Team Total Under 18.5 (-110; Odds via DraftKings): 2:30 PM CT on CBS

San Jose State gets to open their season against consecutive Pac12 opponents, but it will be two extremely different games for them. The defense they saw against USC was one that teams will be shredding all season, and the Trojans really didn’t care about letting SJSU put up 28 points.

Oregon State is built a lot differently, with a focus on defense and running the ball. The Beavers were 122nd in tempo last season, with a two-headed monster at running back and a run-first quarterback in transfer DJ Uiagalelei. They should be able to keep it on the ground in this game, control the clock, and limit the Spartan possessions and points.

MLB (1 Unit) LA Angels/Oakland Athletics Over 9 (-105; Odds via DraftKings): 3:07 PM CT on NBCS-CA

These two enigmatic teams have played a season series with results just as variable as they are. They’re capable of complete offensive duds like yesterday, or break out for a 20-run game. But on the season they’ve averaged 10.5 runs per game against each other, and with this pitching matchup I’m seeing similar results.

Angels starter Tyler Anderson has been showing his true self as the season winds down, posting an 8.10 ERA in August with his starts averaging 13.2 runs. Behind him is a terrible bullpen with September call-up arms ready to get knocked around by even the Oakland offense. But with the A’s starting Kyle Muller and his 7.67 ERA again, plus their laughable bullpen, I have to expect plenty of runs from LA here. I think both teams knock it around the yard all day to get over this moderate total.

Degenerates

No degenerates today.

Tiny Nick is 1472-1318 ATS (+68.2 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage. 

Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games he’s confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.