Scott Rickenbach Free Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

NFL Sunday 10* Top Play Las Vegas Raiders (-) vs Pittsburgh Steelers @ 8:20 ET - This is more of a play against the Steelers than a play on the Raiders but either way I do like this spot for laying the points with Las Vegas. The line is available at a 2.5 as of early game day morning and the Steelers are on a short week and traveling west and their off a key divisional win. They were heavily outgained by the Browns and so it is a deceiving win for the Black and Gold. This Pittsburgh team is just not that good as I have written before about them heading into this season. The Steelers have been continuing a downward trajectory and I faded them when they were destroyed by the Niners in Week 1. I know that they got the win last week but that was a gift-wrapped game from the Browns and the stats show that Pittsburgh has really struggled early this season. The Raiders are off an ugly loss but they faced an angry Bills team that is one of the best teams in the league. Buffalo was playing its home opener and was off a loss and the Raiders were in the wrong place at the wrong time. From the start of the season until October 9th, this is the only home game for Las Vegas and so they will make the most of this home opener. Also, under coach McDaniels they covered five of six times ATS when facing a team that was off a SU/ATS win like the Steelers are here. Pittsburgh started last season 1-4 and the year before 1-3 and Tomlin is in for another slow start this season and they will not be so lucky again this week like they were hosting Cleveland. First road game of the season for the Steelers and the Raiders have the rest edge and situational edge and roll huge at home. 10* LAS VEGAS (-)

NFL Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys @ 4:25 ET - There are multiple ways to analyze this game, just like any game really of course. But I do feel my angle on this is the right one. This total is around a 43 as of early gameday morning and I feel strongly that it will prove to be far too low. I think Dallas could be a little flat defensively here. They played great in the divisional win at the Giants in Week 1. Then, in week 2, they played great in their home opener. Those were 2 very big, important match-ups. Now this week they have a non-divisional road game against a team projected to be one of the worst in the NFL. Do you really think the intensity level of the Cowboys defense is going to the be the same it was for a season opener against a division rival followed by a home opener? Me neither! At the same time however, the offense was not that good in week 1 as Prescott and everyone was rusty. They looked much better in week 2 and Prescott and company want to keep building on that here and they will take advantage of a very bad Cardinals defense here! As for the Arizona offense, they have been respectable early this season and, keep in mind, the Cowboys defense faced a Giants offense that has now been horrible in 2 of 3 games this season and a Jets offense that lost QB Aaron Rodgers to injury before they ever arrived in Dallas for that week 2 match-up. The Cardinals had nearly 400 yards of offense last week and I feel certain they will move the ball well here at home against a bit of a disinterested Cowboys D that will come in underestimating this team. At the same time, this weak Cards D has no chance of stopping a Dallas offense that is hell-bent on showing improvement with Prescott and Co on a mission early this season to prove the doubters wrong. 4 straight meetings and 6 of the last 7 between these clubs have totaled at least 45 points and this one will too! 10* OVER the total in Arizona

NFL Sunday 10* Top Play Buffalo Bills (-) @ Washington Commanders @ 1 ET - Look around the league at undefeated teams after just 2 weeks of the seasons and one of the surprises is Washington. That is helping give us some value this week because this team is not that good and it is an undefeated team that deserves to be faded now. Adding to the value is the fact that Bills are just 1-1 this season. Buffalo already got knocked off in that OT opener loss to the Jets and they took out their frustration on the Raiders last week in a 38-10 blowout win. They are not done yet because now the mantra is to prove they can win on the road. The Bills will not rest here just because they won big last week at home. This team will be on a mission again here on the road. Also, there are triple perfect angles supporting this play. Note that coach Sean McDermott's teams have won six in a row ATS when they are off a game in which they scored at least 35 points. They will carry momentum here! As for Commanders coach Ron Rivera he has not fared well when his team has at least a .500 record on the season and his team is installed as an underdog as his teams have lost seven in a row ATS in that situation. Also, the Commanders have a divisional foe on deck in the form of the Eagles and they have lost four (or five depending on line) in a row ATS when Philadelphia is up next for them. All this is just situational data but the fact is it further supports our play here. Buffalo has been one of the top teams in the league in recent seasons while these Commanders have not had a winning season since the 2016 season. This line is around a 5 as of early gameday morning and this is in an excellent value. 10* BUFFALO (-)

MLB Sunday 7* Philadelphia Phillies Money Line -170 to -180 range vs New York Mets @ 6:05 ET - Normally in a spot like this I would recommend the run line and go with a 10* Top and not lay any juice. However, the reason for the big juice here is that if a game is rain-shortened but official (goes at least 5 innings but not the full 9 innings) the money line wagers are PAID but run line plays are UNPAID. They have moved the start time of this game from 1:05 ET to 6:05 ET because of Tropical Storm Ophelia. This looks like the best time to get this game in and I am involved again because I want to keep riding the red hot Phillies. They have won 4 in a row and have been hot for an extended stretch in home games while the Mets continue to wrap up on a very disappointing season and they can not wait for it to be over really. I know Jose Butto has some surprising numbers in his limited action at the MLB level but this will come to a screeching halt soon enough. The majority of his work was at AAA level this season and he went 3-7 with a 5.93 ERA there. As for Christopher Sanchez, he is much better pitcher than his record shows and has a 3.55 ERA this season and prior to B2B tougher starts versus Braves, he allowed a total of only 7 earned runs in his last 4 home starts. The Mets most definitely are NOT the Braves! Keep in mind a 10* at -126 juice is the same risk amount as a 7* at a -180 price. This is worth a 7* play in my book and I expect another Phillies winner for us here! 7* PHILADELPHIA -170 to -180

Rotation #200077: English Premier League: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 -130 in Sheffield United vs Newcastle United @ 11:30 AM ET - First off, I like the fact this total opened up at mostly 3 and then plenty of 2.5 became available. I am happy to fade the market move and take advantage of the line value as I fully expect 3 or more goals. Sheffield has both scored and conceded in 4 straight matches in EPL action and all 4 of those totaled at least 3 goals. I also like the fact that Sheffield is at home for this one as well. They come in ready to battle and should score again but I believe Newcastle will be very aggressive here. Since a 5-1 beating of Aston Villa that opened up the season, Newcastle is actually just 1-3 last 4 matches and they scored only 1 goal in that lone win. So now here is a chance to flex their muscles against a weaker foe and they know they must be aggressive here on the road. This should lead to at least a 2-1 final here. 10* OVER 2.5 -130 in Sheffield United

Rotation #200061: English Premier League: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 3 -130 in Arsenal vs Tottenham @ 9 AM ET - Arsenal is scoring an average of 2 goals per match this season. Tottenham is also playing a much more aggressive style this season and they are scoring very well including scoring an average of 3 goals per match in their 3 road matches this season. The last two times these clubs met here, Arsenal won each match 3-1. I am again expecting 4 goals in this one as 3 of last 4 Arsenal matches across all competitions have totaled at least 4 goals. With the attacking style that Tottenham is playing, do not be surprised if we see a 2-2 draw here and, either way, I do like this one to get to 4 goals. 10* OVER 3 -130 in Arsenal

Rotation #206889: Romania Liga 1: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 +120 in Sepsi vs FCSB @ 2 ET - FCSB had the make-up match with Hermanndstadt on Thursday. Having a short time to prepare for this, look for some tired legs on defense and Sepsi will want to take full advantage on their home pitch and will be on the attack. However, FCSB is fired up about blowing a the lead in the 2-2 draw with Hermannstadt and a 2nd half red card did not help matters. This total is posted at 2.5 for a reason on this match and even at more than 2 this a great value considering 3 of last 4 Sepsi matches have totaled at least 3 goals! Also, each of the last two meetings between these clubs have totaled 3 goals. FSCB is at the top of the table and scoring an average of 2 goals per match. FCSB ahs seen 4 of its last 5 matches total at least 3 goals and I like the fact the #1 club in the league is hungry but on the road and could continue having trouble with conceding goals but will also be strong on the attack. Looking for at least a 2-1 final here as expecting both clubs to make the net ripple and then note that Thursday's draw was the first for FCSB this season. The odds of B2B draws is slim to say the least! 10* OVER 2.5 +120 in Sepsi

Rotation #206897: Romania Liga 1: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 2 -125 in Petrolul Ploiesti vs Hermannstadt @ 11:15 AM ET - Hermanndstadt had the make-up match with FCSB on Thursday. Having a short time to prepare for this, look for some tired legs on defense and Petrolul Ploiesti will want to take full advantage. However, Hermannstadt has been scoring well and will battle back here and the value in an over 2 in Romania matches is huge. That is the total posted on this match and is a great value considering 4 straight Hermannstadt matches have totaled 4 goals! Petrolul Ploiesti is off a 1-0 road loss but their last 3 home matches have all totaled at least 4 goals and have actually averaged 5 goals apiece. So the over is 3-0 in last 3 Petrolul Ploiesti matches as a host and 4-0 in last 4 Hermannstadt matches overall. I am happy to test those double perfect runs here. 10* OVER 2 -125 in Petrolul Ploiesti