Brandon Lee

40* (NBA) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Heat -4) 

We had a really bad beat last night on the Wizards -2.5, as they ended up beating the Pacers 135-134 in OT. It was just brutal. Washington had a 10-point lead going into the 4th quarter and proceeded to score just 17 to send the game to OT, where the Pacers hit a 3 at the buzzer down 4. 

I just really question how much Indiana has left in the tank after playing that OT game against the Wizards. Keep in mind the Pacers played in a uptempo affair on Wednesday against Charlotte (lost 122-123). This will be their 3rd game in 4 nights on no rest. 

Miami on the other hand has only played 1 game this season, which was Thursday's 137-95 blowout win over the Bucks at home. Heat are going to be the much more rested team in this game and on top of that are hands down the better team in this matchup. Miami's got another day off tomorrow before hosting an awful Orlando team on Monday, so there's no reason for them to not show up with a great effort here. Give me the Heat -4! 

40* (CFB) - LSU/Ole Miss SEC PLAY OF THE WEEK (Ole Miss -9) 

This could completely backfire if Ole Miss ends up playing this game without starting quarterback Matt Corral, but I think this line tells you the books feel pretty confident that he will be out there on Saturday. It almost feels like it's more of Lane Kiffin just being a troll by listing him on the injury report and trying to throw off the Tigers. 

You might be asking how you can bet against LSU as more than a TD dog after watching them just upset No. 20 Florida last week 49-42 as a 12.5-point dog. I just think that was more of a result of Florida just not coming to play. With all the guys the Tigers were going to be missing, everyone was calling for a Gators blowout. If you remember, that line moved a ton in favor of Florida leading up to that game. 

I also wonder if the LSU players didn't go into that game thinking it might the last time they got to play for head coach Ed Orgeron. It certainly seemed to mean a lot more to them. 

It would have been one thing if he was fired, but instead it will be Orgeron that finishes out the 2021 season as the guy in charge. It just feels a bit awkward to me that he's sticking around. 

Either way, when a team plays with that kind of emotion and energy in a game like LSU did last week against Florida, it's really hard to come back the next week with that same intensity, especially on the road. 

I just don't see LSU being able to go score for score with Ole Miss in this game. The Tigers secondary hasn't been great this year and they haven't played anything close to the caliber a passing attack as what Ole Miss brings to the table. If we can just a few stops from the Rebels defense, this is going to get really ugly in a hurry. Give me Ole Miss -9! 

40* (CFB) - Oklahoma St/Iowa St Big 12 PLAY OF THE WEEK (Iowa State -7) 

I'm pretty confident that if you were to bet unranked teams who are favored against a ranked opponent, you are going to profit long-term. There's 4 of them on the card this week (Wisconsin, ISU and Air Force are the other three). I'll have money on all 4, but one I really like is unranked Iowa State as a 7-point home favorite against No. 8 Oklahoma State.

This line sticks out like a sore thumb. You got the No. 8 team in the country getting a full touchdown a week after they went on the road and upset No. 25 ranked Texas 32-24 as a 3.5-point dog. 

Keep in mind the public is taking the bait. Everyone is on Oklahoma State and yet we have seen this line go up from -6.5 to -7. The books are flat out telling you who they think is going to cover. 

I can definitely see why the books are putting their stock in this Iowa State team. Since Matt Campbell took over the program, this is a team that year in and year out has only gotten better as the season progresses. 

I thought they played one of their best games of the season last week on the road against a good K-State team. While a spot in the playoffs is likely out of the picture, there's definitely a path back to the Big 12 title game for the Cyclones if they beat the Cowboys. 

I just don't think Oklahoma State is as good as their 6-0 start. Their best win so far is last week's victory against Texas. A game they trailed 17-3 early and were getting Texas in a great spot after the Longhorns had that epic collapse the week before against Oklahoma. 

I just think the Cowboys are really limited offensively and that's a problem against an elite Iowa State defense. Cyclones are only giving up 16.3 ppg, 251 ypg and 4.4 yards/play. They also only give up 2.8 yards/carry against the run and this is not a good passing attack for Oklahoma State. 

I know the Cowboys have a pretty good defense of their own, but this is very good Iowa State offense. Cyclones are averaging 33.7 ppg and that's against opponents that on average only give up 25.4 ppg. If Brock Purdy plays anything close to like he did last week against the Wildcats, this game will not be close. Give me Iowa State -7! 

40* (CFB) - Sharp Money ATS SLAUGHTER (UCLA -2) 

I'm pretty confident that if you were to bet unranked teams who are favored against a ranked opponent, you are going to profit long-term. There's 4 of them on the card this week (Wisconsin, ISU and Air Force are the other three). I'll have money on all 4, but the one I really like is UCLA as a 2-point home favorite against No. 10 Oregon. 

The Bruins have taken a big step forward in year 4 under Chip Kelly and it shows with UCLA's 5-2 ATS record thru their first 7 games. They are going to need some help from Arizona State, who they lost to outright in their head-to-head matchup (Sun Devils have a very favorable schedule going forward), but if they can win this game and upset Utah on the road next week, they got a legit shot at winning the Pac 12 South and playing in the title game. 

All I'm worried about is how they will play this week against the Ducks and I think they are going to deliver one of their better showings of the season. 

I'm just not a believer in this Oregon team. Part of it's my lack of trust in quarterback Anthony Brown, but even more so it's the injury to running back C.J. Verdell. If you remember back to their upset of Ohio State, it was Verdell that was the difference in that game. Hre rushed for 161 yards and 2 scores, while also leading the team with 3 catches for 34 yards and a score. 

I really think we learned a lot about Oregon going forward in last week's game against Cal at home. They won the game 24-17, but trailed 10-17 in the 4th quarter of that game. Keep in mind that was with the Ducks coming off a bye following a loss at Stanford. The right team is favored in this game. Give me UCLA -2! 

FREE PICK: East Carolina Pirates +13.5
RATING: 30*
ROT#: 363

I really like East Carolina as a 13.5-point road dog against Houston. I don't think the Cougars should be laying more than double-digits against this Pirates team, but with Houston having won their last 5 games and going 4-1 ATS during this stretch, the books know they can inflate this number and still get the public to lay it with the Cougars. 

If they were so worried about Houston covering in this game, why wouldn't they move this line to 14. They are just enticing you to bet it at 13.5. 

ECU has been up and down this season, but one thing we know about the Pirates is they got some talent on the offensive side of the ball. The Pirates come in just under 30 ppg at 29.5 and are averaging 429 yards/game and 6.0 yards/play. Having an offense like that with a big spread is huge, as it leaves open the back door if it does get a little out of hand early. 

The big thing for me with this Houston team, is what have they done to show us they should be laying this kind of number against a team like ECU. The Cougars 5-game win streak has come against Rice, Grambling, Navy, Tulsa and Tulane. The only decent team they have played is Texas Tech and they lost that game 21-38. Keep in mind that's a mediocre at best Red Raiders team. 

I also think you have to take into consideration the spot for Houston. The Cougars may have a hard time here not looking ahead to next week's game at home against SMU. Not only are the Mustangs ranked, but there's a good chance that game against SMU will decide who gets the right to play Cincinnati in the American Athletic Title game. Give me the Pirates +13.5! 

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50* (CFB) Prime Time MAX UNIT Top Play (TCU -4.5) 

I love the Horned Frogs as a mere 4.5-point home favorite against the Mountaineers. I know it's been rough sledding for anyone that has been on TCU early in the year. The Horned Frogs are just 1-4-1 ATS and have lost 3 of their last 4, including a 34-42 loss at home to SMU as a 9.5-point favorite. 

I just think it's created some value here. It's not like they have lost to bad teams. Their 3 losses are against SMU, Texas and Oklahoma. I know they got destroyed by the Sooners last week, but that's a different Sooners team with Caleb Williams at quarterback and TCU was without their star running back Zach Evans (probable to play this week). 

I also don't understand the love for this West Virginia team. They are returning from their bye with a record of just 1-4, but if you look at the schedule there's reason to be cautious with this team going forward. 

The Mountaineers only win is against Virginia Tech at home 27-21 and the more we have seen out of the Hokies the less impressive they look. WV lost 24-30 to a bad Maryland team in Week 1, lost at home to an average Texas Tech team and got annihilated last time we saw them at Baylor 20-45. 

They did go on the road and give Oklahoma a major scare, losing by a final of just 13-16. However, that's back when the Sooners had Rattler at quarterback. You just can't overreact to that score. Give me TCU -4.5! 

50* (CFB) Early Bird Saturday MAX UNIT Top Play (Syracuse +3.5) 

I'm a little shocked the Orange are catching more than a field goal on the road against the Hokies. It almost feels like there's this expectation that Syracuse is going to lay an egg after that tough loss to Clemson last week. 

I would maybe buy this being a letdown if they pulled off the upset, but the fact of the matter is they lost their third straight game and are now just 3-4 after starting out 3-1. Keep in mind all 4 losses have been by 10 or fewer. 

If the Orange are serious about making a bowl, this is one they really need to get and it's a game I think they should be favored to win. I don't like what I've seen out of this Hokies team this year. Virginia Tech has a so-so quarterback in Braxton Burmeister, no real threat of a running game and a injury-plagued defense. 

This is also a Hokies defense that has had problems stopping the run. That's a problem here. Syracuse has one of the best backs in the country in freshman Sean Tucker. He's rushed for 100 or more yards in each of the Orange's last 5 games and 6 of 7 overall, including 157 last week against an elite Clemson defense. They also recently made the move to Garrett Shrader at quarterback and he's shown he can run it. Prior to be helding in check by Clemson, he rushed for 178 against Wake Forest and 137 against FSU. 

That lackluster Va Tech offense will be up against a talented Syracuse defense that is giving up just 309 ypg and 4.7 yards/play. It just feels like the Hokies are getting a little too much respect here at home. Give me the Orange +3.5! 

40* (CFB) - Late Night Total SHARP PLAY (Over 63) 

I like the OVER 63 in Saturday's ACC matchup between Georgia Tech and Virginia. I just don't see the Yellow Jackets going on the road with that awful secondary and having any shot of slowing down Virginia's prolific passing attack. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 65% of their pass attempts and are averaging 8.2 yards/attempt. 

Virginia is 3rd in the country in pass attempts per game behind junior quarterback Brennan Armstrong. He's already thrown for 2,824 yards and 19 TDs and is completing 64% of his attempts. Cavaliers are averaging 8.4 passing yards/attempt. 

The only chance the Yellow Jackets have of making a game of this, is to go score for score with Virginia. I don't know if they can, but I do think they can get into the 20s no problem. I know the Cavaliers just shutout Duke last week, but this is not a very good Virginia defense. Give me the OVER 63! 

40* (CFB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Indiana +21) 

I'll take the 3 touchdowns at home with the Hoosiers, as they will host 5th ranked Ohio State under the lights at a sold out Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. I just think we are getting too good a price here with Indiana in this spot. 

No question it's been a disappointing season for the Hoosiers, who come into this game with a mere 2-4 record. However, it's not a big surprise to me. Indiana U7.5 was one of my favorite win total bets in college football this year. 

I don't foresee them winning this game, but I do think there's reason to believe they can keep it within the number. 

With Iowa getting upset last week at Purdue and the Buckeyes seeming to have figured things out since that loss to Oregon with 4 straight wins, the hype has returned in a big way around this Ohio State team. 

I know they have dominated in their 4-game winning streak, outscoring their 4 opponents in this stretch by an average score of 54.5 to 14.3 (40.2 ppg). The thing is, those 4 wins are against Tulsa, Akron, Rutgers and Maryland. 

Keep in mind the Buckeyes were only a 15-point road favorite at Rutgers a few weeks ago, so you can really see how the perception of this team has changed over the last month. 

The key here is that as disappointing as this season has been for Indiana, you know they are going to be up for this game. In fact, I think to them it's almost like it's their Super Bowl, as it's going to take a remarkable finish for them to get to a bowl with their schedule. They can only lose two more and on top of this game have road games at Michigan and Purdue. 

There's definitely some concerns with the Hoosiers offense without Michael Penix Jr under center, but as we saw in the Texa A&M/Alabama game, sometimes bad QBs can have one of those special nights. That's what I'm hoping for with backup Jack Tuttle. 

The even bigger thing for me, is I think this Indiana defense can give Ohio State some troubles. The Hoosiers are only giving up 333 ypg and 5.0 yards/play, which is pretty impressive when you take into account 4 of their first 6 games have come against Iowa, Cincinnati, Penn State and Michigan State. 

I also think it's worth pointing out the books have a history of over inflating the Buckeyes in this matchup. While Indiana is 0-10 SU in the last 10 meetings, they are 8-2 ATS during this stretch. Give me the Hoosiers +21!