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<p>Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Explorers and Tritons. The game is starting at 1:00 ET on Ball, and it's hosted by the Tritons at Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, FL. Get ready to place your bets! La Salle is the -2 point favorites in this non-conference matchup against California-San Diego. The over/under for the game is set at 143.5 points.</p><h3>LA SALLE EXPLORERS VS CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO TRITONS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: La Salle Explorers -2</p><p>This game will be played at Ocean Center at 1:00 ET on Thursday, November 21st.</p><h3>WHY BET THE LA SALLE EXPLORERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 84-65 in favor of the Explorers.</li><li>Not only will La Salle pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 149 points.</li></ul><h3>Will La Salle Secure A Victory as Road Favorites?</h3><h3>La Salle Explorers Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>La Salle picked up a 71-68 win over Drexel on Saturday, November 16th. The Explorers, who were -4 favorites, didn’t cover the spread, but they did manage to get the win on the road.</p> 

<p>La Salle led 43-31 at halftime but allowed Drexel to score 37 points in the 2nd half while only putting up 28 points themselves. The total points for the game ended at 139, just over the O/U line of 138.5.</p><p>La Salle's offense put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 41.9% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.4%, and they connected on 91.7% of their free throws, going 11-for-12 from the line.</p> <p>Jahlil White led the way, hitting 7 of 9 shots for 19 points, while Jason Drake and Demetrius Lilley each added 18 points. Corey McKeithan contributed 17 points and 6 assists, despite shooting 38.9% from the field.</p><p>La Salle's defense gave up 68 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 45% from the field, hitting 29 of 64 attempts. Inside the arc, the Explorers allowed 23 two-pointers on 45 attempts, a 51% shooting rate.</p> <p>From three-point range, La Salle's defense held their opponents to 6 made threes on 19 attempts, a 31% success rate. They also limited free-throw damage, with opponents shooting just 4/11 (36%). The Explorers gave up 9 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Will the Tritons Exceed Expectations at Home?</h3><p>California-San Diego dropped their recent game to Seattle, losing 84-71 at home. The Tritons were -7 favorites but failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 155 exceeded the O/U line of 140.5.</p> <p>After trailing 49-28 at halftime, the Tritons showed some fight in the 2nd half, outscoring Seattle 43-35, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit.</p><p>California-San Diego's offense put up 71 points, shooting 50% from the field in their last game. Their two-point shooting was a strong 58.3%, while they hit just 31.2% from beyond the arc, making 5 of 16 attempts. At the free-throw line, they connected on 73.7% of their shots, going 14 for 19.</p> <p>Maleek Arington led the way with 21 points and 6 assists, shooting 58.3% from the field. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones added 20 points, and Nordin Kapic contributed 19, hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range. Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe grabbed 13 rebounds, and DaSean Stevens was perfect from the field, making all 5 of his shots, including 3 for 3 from deep.</p><p>California-San Diego gave up 84 points in their last game, with their opponent shooting 50% from the field. The Tritons allowed 21 two-point field goals on 36 attempts, a 58% shooting rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, California-San Diego's defense held their opponent to 5 made threes on 16 attempts, a 31% shooting percentage. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 19 times, where they made 14 free throws, shooting 73%. The Tritons limited offensive rebounds, giving up just 4.</p>

La Salle Explorers vs California-San Diego Tritons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/21/24

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UTEP Miners vs Tennessee Volunteers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

USC Trojans vs UCLA Bruins Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Kentucky Wildcats vs Texas Longhorns Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Washington State Cougars vs Oregon State Beavers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Oklahoma Sooners Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Texas A&M Aggies vs Auburn Tigers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Wisconsin Badgers vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Penn State Nittany Lions vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Rattlers and Horned Frogs. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, TX. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have TCU as the -28 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 141.5 points.</p><h3>FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS VS TCU HORNED FROGS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Florida A&M Rattlers +28</p><p>This game will be played at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena at 8:00 ET on Monday, November 4th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Horned Frogs.</li><li>Even though we have TCU winning straight-up, we like Florida A&M at +28.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 141.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Rattlers Secure A Victory as Road Underdogs?</h3><h3>Florida A&M Rattlers Records</h3> 

<p>Florida A&M finished last season with a 5-22 record, going 4-14 in SWAC play. At home, they were 3-8, with an average scoring margin of -2.9 points per game. On the road, they went 2-14, losing by an average of 17.6 points per game.</p> 

<p>Against the spread, the Rattlers were 9-18, including a 6-10 mark on the road. They were 2-0 straight-up and ATS as the favorite, but struggled as the underdog, going 3-22 straight-up and 7-18 ATS. Their games averaged 141.7 points, and they had an over/under record of 11-16.</p><h3>Florida A&M Rattlers Offense Stats</h3> 

<p>Florida A&M averaged 67.2 points per game last season, ranking 203rd in possessions per game with 66.6. They struggled with shooting, finishing 303rd in field goal percentage at 43% and 319th in effective field goal percentage at 48%. Their 47% two-point shooting ranked 358th nationally.</p> 

<p>The Rattlers made 5.9 three-pointers per game, shooting 34% from beyond the arc. They attempted 17.1 threes per game, ranking 340th in attempts. At the free-throw line, they averaged 11.2 made free throws per game, placing 327th.</p> 

<h3>Florida A&M Rattlers Top Returning Offensive Players</h3> 

<strong>Jordan Chatman: G</strong> 

<ul> 
<li>Games: 29 (Last Year)</li> 
<li>PPG: 5.3 (Last Year)</li> 
<li>Assists: 0.8 (Last Year)</li> 
<li>Rebounds: 4.2 (Last Year)</li> 
</ul> 

<strong>Roderick Coffee III: F</strong> 

<ul> 
<li>Games: 27 (Last Year)</li> 
<li>PPG: 4 (Last Year)</li> 
<li>Assists: 2.5 (Last Year)</li> 
<li>Rebounds: 2.4 (Last Year)</li> 
</ul><p>Florida A&M struggled defensively last season, allowing 77.2 points per game, which ranked 296th in the nation. Opponents shot 32% from three-point range against them, placing the Rattlers 195th in three-point defense. They also gave up 21.5 free throws per game, ranking 284th in that category.</p> <p>In terms of creating turnovers, Florida A&M averaged 6 steals per game, ranking 261st nationally. They also averaged 2.8 blocked shots per game, placing them 276th in the country.</p><h3>Can the Horned Frogs Deliver Being Favored at Home?</h3><h3>TCU Horned Frogs Records</h3> 

<p>Last season, TCU finished with a 21-12 overall record, going 10-10 in Big 12 play. At home, they posted a 13-6 mark, winning by an average of 12.0 points per game. On the road, they were 8-6, with a +2.6 scoring margin.</p> 

<p>Against the spread, TCU went 19-14, including a 9-5 road ATS record. As the favorite, they were 18-6 straight-up and 14-10 ATS. Their games averaged 150.5 points, and their over/under record was 18-15, with an average line of 148.4 points.</p><p>Last season, TCU's offense averaged 79.2 points per game, ranking 92nd in possessions per game with 69.5. They shot 46% from the field, placing 100th in field goal percentage, and had an effective field goal percentage of 51%, ranking 169th. The Horned Frogs made 6.6 three-pointers per game, shooting 35% from beyond the arc, and attempted 18.5 threes per game, ranking 315th in attempts. They also made 15.7 free throws per game, ranking 66th.</p> <p>TCU returns two key players in Trazarien White and Noah Reynolds. White averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 30 games last season. Reynolds averaged 20 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 27 games. Both players will be crucial to TCU's offensive success this season.</p><p>Last season, TCU allowed 71.2 points per game, ranking 145th in the nation. Opponents shot 32.5% from three-point range against them, which was 234th in the country. They also gave up 20.2 free throws per game, ranking 248th.</p> <p>However, TCU was one of the best teams in the nation in steals, averaging 9.1 per game, which was 15th in the country. They also averaged 3.8 blocked shots per game, ranking 123rd.</p>

Florida A&M Rattlers vs TCU Horned Frogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/4/24

<p>The Tigers and Dons are set to face off at 10:00 ET on ESPNU. The Dons will host the game at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 154.5 points, with San Francisco being favored by -1 over Memphis.</p><h3>MEMPHIS TIGERS VS SAN FRANCISCO DONS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Memphis Tigers +1</p><p>This game will be played at Chase Center at 10:00 ET on Thursday, November 21st.</p><h3>WHY BET THE MEMPHIS TIGERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-72 in favor of the Tigers.</li><li>Not only will Memphis pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 154.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Tigers Make it Happen on the Road?</h3><p>Memphis improved to 3-0 on the season with a 94-70 win over Ohio on Friday. The Tigers were -12.5 point favorites heading into the game and covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 164, just over the O/U line of 161.</p> <p>Memphis led 43-38 at halftime before dominating the 2nd half, outscoring Ohio 51-32. Their strong 2nd half performance was key in securing the win and covering the spread.</p><p>Memphis put up 94 points in their last game, shooting 56.1% from the field and 72.2% from beyond the arc, hitting 13 of 18 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 66.7%, and they also connected on 77.3% of their free throws, going 17 for 22 from the line.</p> <p>PJ Haggerty led the way with 23 points, shooting 70% overall and 80% from three, hitting 4 of 5 attempts. Tyrese Hunter also hit 4 of 5 from deep, finishing with 21 points and 6 assists, while Ajay Sheldon added 20 points, knocking down 6 threes at a 60% clip.</p><p>Memphis struggled defensively, giving up 70 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 56% from the field. The Tigers allowed 32 made field goals on 57 attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Memphis gave up 13 threes on 18 attempts, a 72% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the line 22 times, where they converted 17 free throws at a 77% rate.</p><h3>Taking a Look at the Dons Chances at Home</h3><h3>San Francisco Dons Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>The Dons cruised to an 82-37 win over Chicago State on Saturday, November 16th. Playing at home, San Francisco entered the game as -29 favorites and covered the spread comfortably.</p> 

<p>San Francisco dominated early, leading 44-12 at halftime. They added 38 points in the 2nd half while allowing 25. The combined points of 119 fell well under the O/U line of 148.</p><p>In their latest game, the San Francisco Dons put up 82 points, shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc, hitting 11 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 56.2%, with a two-point shooting percentage of 55.9%.</p> <p>They also grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and dished out 20 assists. Tyrone Riley IV was a standout, scoring 28 points in 23 minutes, shooting 69.2% from the field and hitting 5 of 6 threes.</p><p>Despite giving up 37 points, San Francisco's defense allowed their opponent to shoot 46% from the field, with 30 made baskets on 64 attempts. Inside the arc, the Dons gave up 19 two-point field goals on 34 attempts, a 55% shooting rate.</p> <p>From three-point range, San Francisco's opponent hit 11 of 30 attempts, shooting 36%. The Dons also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 17 times, where they made 11 free throws, a 64% success rate. San Francisco allowed 14 offensive rebounds in the game.</p>

Memphis Tigers vs San Francisco Dons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/21/24

<p>East Carolina and UTSA are both coming into this week five matchup with 2-2 records, and the game is set for 4:00 ET at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville. The over/under line is at 53.5 points, and the East Carolina Pirates are the -4.5 point favorites. ESPN+ will be handling the TV broadcast as the Roadrunners and Pirates look to move above .500 on the season.</p><h3>UTSA ROADRUNNERS VS EAST CAROLINA PIRATES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: East Carolina Pirates -4.5</p><p>This game will be played at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium at 4:00 ET on Saturday, September 28th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES:</h3><ul><li>We have the East Carolina Pirates winning this one by a score of 33 to 26</li><li>Not only do we have the East Carolina Pirates winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at -4.5</li><li>Look for this game to go over the line of 53.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The UTSA Roadrunners Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs</h3><p>UTSA evened their season record to 2-2 with a decisive 45-7 victory over Houston Christian. The Roadrunners were in control from the start, leading 10-0 after the first quarter and extending their lead to 31-7 by halftime. They added another touchdown in the third quarter and closed out the game by keeping Houston Christian off the board in the fourth quarter.</p><p></p><p>There were no betting lines available for this matchup, but the combined score of 52 points would have resulted in a push if there had been an over/under line.</p><p>In their 45-7 victory over Houston Christian, UTSA's offense put up 540 total yards. The Roadrunners' ground game was effective, rushing for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Owen McCown completed 72% of his passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. His passer rating for the game was 139.33.</p> 
<p>Brandon High Jr. led the rushing attack with 74 yards on nine carries, averaging 8.2 yards per attempt. In the passing game, Willie McCoy caught two passes for 85 yards and one touchdown.</p><p>UTSA's defense was dominant in their last game, holding Houston Christian to just 7 points and 180 total yards. The Roadrunners allowed only 53 rushing yards on 31 attempts and limited Houston Christian to 127 passing yards on 13 completions. Overall, UTSA's defense allowed just 12 first downs in the game.</p><h3>Are The East Carolina Pirates Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?</h3><p>East Carolina is looking to bounce back after a 35-24 loss to Liberty on the road. The Pirates, who were +7.5 point underdogs, not only fell short of the upset but also failed to cover the spread. This game's over/under line was 54.5 points, but the teams combined for 59 points, hitting the over. East Carolina is now 2-2 for the season.</p><p></p><p>The Pirates fell behind early, with Liberty taking a 14-0 lead. East Carolina managed to close the gap to 17-7 by halftime and then made it 24-21 in the third quarter. However, they were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter, resulting in the loss.</p><p>East Carolina's offense, led by quarterback Jake Garcia, put up 331 yards in their 35-24 loss to Liberty. Garcia completed 20 of 36 passes for 204 yards, with one interception and a passer rating of 60.42. Chase Sowell was his top target, hauling in five receptions for 72 yards.</p> 
<p>The Pirates' offense moved the chains 21 times but struggled to finish drives, settling for 24 points. On the ground, they managed 127 yards on 32 carries, with Rahjai Harris leading the way with 47 yards on 13 attempts. East Carolina's rushing attack was effective in the red zone, scoring three touchdowns on the ground.</p><p>East Carolina's defense will be looking to improve after allowing 415 total yards and 35 points in their last game. The Pirates were particularly vulnerable against the run, giving up 192 rushing yards and a touchdown. In the passing game, they allowed 223 yards and four touchdowns, while managing to intercept one pass.</p>

UTSA Roadrunners vs East Carolina Pirates Betting Pick & Prediction 9/28/24

The National Football League (NFL) is easily the most popular sport in the United States, especially when it comes to betting. NFL betting puts up the biggest numbers every single year, and bettors are always looking for new betting options.

The NFL was founded all the way back in 1920 in Canton, Ohio, and that is where the Hall of Fame is located to this day. There were only a handful of teams in the league when it first started, but it didn’t take long for the league to grow.

There are now 32 teams in the NFL, and the league is broken up into two conferences and eight total divisions. Since the league just continues to be more and more popular, the league has added an extra regular season game for each team to play in.

NFL teams now play 17 total regular season games, and then the top seven teams in each conference advance to the postseason. The NFL regular season begins in September, and the Super Bowl is now played during the month of February.

When it comes to the NFL, the Super Bowl is the event that draws the most betting attention. This league isn’t going away anytime soon, and it’s actually started to become more of an international competition.

This article will not only cover the best NFL betting sites &amp; sportsbooks, but will also provide some tips on how to bet on the NFL.
<h3>Where to bet on NFL</h3>
Knowing where to find the best NFL sportsbooks is a big key if you want to have some success when wagering on this sport. Here are six of the best NFL sportsbooks to use, and all of them are going to be a little bit different.

&nbsp;

Best NFL Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns Betting Pick & Prediction 11/21/24

Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/25/24

Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Rams Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

San Francisco 49ers vs Green Bay Packers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New York Giants Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

Detroit Lions vs Indianapolis Colts Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

<p>Looking to win big? The Gamecocks and Pirates face off at 3:30 ET on Ball. The Pirates are hosting the game at Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, FL. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 134.5 points, with East Carolina being favored by -3 over Jacksonville State.</p><h3>JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS VS EAST CAROLINA PIRATES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: East Carolina Pirates -3</p><p>This game will be played at Ocean Center at 3:30 ET on Thursday, November 21st.</p><h3>WHY BET THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-66 in favor of the Pirates.</li><li>Not only will East Carolina pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 134.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Does Jacksonville State Have What it Takes on the Road?</h3><p>Jacksonville State improved to 2-1 on the season with a 71-53 win over Coastal Carolina on Sunday. The Gamecocks were -2.5 point favorites on the road and covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game were 124, which fell under the O/U line of 133.5.</p> <p>Jacksonville State took control early, leading 38-21 at halftime. In the 2nd half, they scored 33 points while allowing 32, maintaining their lead to secure the win.</p><p>Jaron Pierre Jr. led the way for Jacksonville State, scoring 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. As a team, the Gamecocks shot 51.9% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 57.4%.</p> <p>They connected on 59.5% of their two-point attempts and hit 6-of-17 from three-point range (35.3%). Jacksonville State also shot 75% from the free-throw line, going 9-of-12.</p><p>Jacksonville State put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 53 points on 35% shooting from the field. They limited damage inside, allowing only 11 two-point baskets on 30 attempts (36%).</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Jacksonville State gave up 8 threes on 23 attempts, a 34% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the line 14 times, where they hit 7 free throws (50%). Jacksonville State allowed 6 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Can East Carolina Grab a Win at Home?</h3><h3>East Carolina Pirates Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>The Pirates pulled off a narrow 78-77 win over George Mason on Saturday, November 16th. East Carolina, who entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs, not only secured the victory but also covered the spread. The combined points for the game reached 155, surpassing the O/U line of 137.</p> 

<p>East Carolina led 35-31 at halftime but allowed George Mason to score 30 points in the 2nd half while managing only 26 points themselves. Despite being outscored in the 2nd half, the Pirates held on for the win.</p><p>East Carolina's offense put up 78 points in their last game, despite shooting just 32.9% from the field and 22.2% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 38.2%, but they made up for it with 24 offensive rebounds and 23 made free throws at a 69.7% clip.</p> <p>RJ Felton led the way with 27 points, shooting 8/25 overall and 2/10 from deep. Darius Maddox added 20 points, while Jordan Riley contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds.</p><p>East Carolina's defense gave up 77 points in their last game, despite holding their opponent to just 32% shooting from the field. The Pirates allowed 25 made field goals on 76 attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, East Carolina's defense limited their opponent to 8 threes on 36 attempts, a 22% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 33 times, where they converted 23 of those attempts.</p>

Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs East Carolina Pirates NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/21/24

The Tampa Bay Rays have extra incentive for Wednesday night’s Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics. That is a long flight for a one-game playoff. They’d surely like to fly to Houston after the game instead of make the long, quiet, five-hour flight right back home.

Jokes aside, both teams have a lot of incentive in this game because the hard work of 162 games is all for naught with a loss in this win or go home contest. It will be Charlie Morton vs. Sean Manaea in a battle of two pitchers that have gone through a lot to get to this point on October 2, 2019 when the Wild Card team with the best record hosts the Wild Card team with the second-best record. The Rays needed at least 94 wins to secure this spot and got 96, one fewer than the A’s, who will host a playoff baseball game for the first time since 2013.

The A’s are no stranger to this Wild Card Game. The one-game playoff was instituted in 2012 and this will be Oakland’s third appearance. They’ve been on the short end in both, getting blown out at Yankee Stadium last season and blowing a 7-3 lead after 7.5 innings at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City in 2014. They eventually lost in 12 innings.

Back in 2013, the Rays went on the road and beat Texas in Game 163 to win a trip to Cleveland to face the Indians. They beat the Indians 4-0 behind Alex Cobb and then lost in four games to the Red Sox in the ALDS. This is Tampa Bay’s first playoff appearance since that season.

Oakland won 97 games for the second straight year and could only have one playoff game to show for it. It’s a cruel world in MLB these days. They are, however, the favorites (-135 to -150) to advance for a date with the Houston Astros, who won the AL West by 10 games and finished with the best record in baseball. The total for this game is 7.5.

Rosters will look a lot different for this game than they will for the NL Wild Card Game. In the Senior Circuit, managers need to worry about pinch hitting for the pitchers. In the AL, the benches will be smaller in size, featuring a backup catcher and maybe another utility player or two. The decision makers will load the rosters with bullpen pitchers and high-end starters in the event that matching up is required. Fourth and fifth starters won’t be carried. Only the best of the best from each pitching staff will be involved.

Once the Indians fell off the pace both teams knew that they were going to the postseason, so they were able to set things up accordingly. Morton starts for the Rays and all of the key relief pieces are well-rested. Manaea goes for the A’s, who are likely to be very aggressive with their reliever usage.

Shy of using one of the league’s elites, Charlie Morton is a pretty good option for Kevin Cash &amp; Co. Morton had a career year with 6.1 fWAR and a 3.05 ERA, a 2.81 FIP, and a 3.28 xFIP. He struck out 240 batters and only walked 57. Even with the juiced ball, he allowed fewer home runs in 194.2 innings than he allowed last season in 167 innings.

Oakland has a little more balance than in past seasons with some switch hitters in the lineup, but the prominent bats are mostly right-handed. Righties only posted a .247 wOBA against Morton and only hit four of the 15 home runs that he allowed.

The amount of leash that Cash gives Morton could dictate this game. We know that the Rays push the envelope on the pitching side, including their usage of the opener. Morton allowed a .258 wOBA the first time through, but a .304 wOBA and a .407 SLG the second time through. The third time through, he allowed a .239 wOBA, but faced 102 fewer batters the third time through than he did the first and second times through the order.

The Tampa bullpen was among the league’s best in the second half, posting a 3.70 ERA. The 4.01 FIP was a little on the high end, as there were some home run issues. Keep in mind, though, that guys like Austin Pruitt, Ryan Yarbrough, and Jalen Beeks had the home run problems. Those guys served as bulk relievers after openers. This game will feature more matching up and less bulk relief.

What a story Sean Manaea is. During his ascension to the big leagues, Manaea battled a myriad of injuries. He made his pro ball debut in 2014 with 25 starts for the Royals in High-A. He was a late add to the injury list after the 2018 season with an operation that was thought to keep him out most of 2019. It did, as Manaea made 13 starts across three levels, but his five starts at the MLB level were terrific. He allowed four runs on 16 hits in 29.2 innings with 30 strikeouts against seven walks.

The Rays lineup is quite heavy on lefties. The regular lineup has six of them, although, the Rays certainly have enough righties to slide in as platoon options. The A’s bullpen is a lot more balanced with righties and lefties than it used to be thanks to the addition of Jake Diekman and the returns of AJ Puk and Jesus Luzardo. Now Oakland can match up quite well with any sort of lineup, even without guys like Blake Treinen and Lou Trivino.

Offensively, the A’s strike out less, walk more, and hit for more power. The Rays got on base almost as often because they carried one of the league’s highest batting averages on balls in play (BABIP), which is something that they did last season as well. The A’s were fourth in FB%, so they purposely tried to elevate the baseball and hit for power. The Rays were 27th in FB%, as they’ve put a high priority on ground ball contact. The two organizations have very different hitting philosophies, but both have had success this season.

Going into this game, it is hard to know how Manaea will fare. Based on my handicap and what I know about the A’s, I do like the way that Morton matches up. Along with his strikeouts, he’s induced ground balls at a 48.2% clip. That could make it very difficult for the A’s to score a lot of runs. We’ll see how they structure their lineup, but Morton’s dominance over right-handed batters could be a factor in how this game plays out as well.

The plus money price on the underdog Rays is very attractive here. I’d especially be looking at the 1st 5 on Tampa Bay. I’m not sure how the Rays bullpen holds up as the game goes along, but I do like Morton against this lineup over Manaea in a tricky spot for a guy with only five MLB starts this season. Manaea could draw a left-handed-heavy lineup and the Rays were mere percentage points better than the Tigers in K% against left-handed pitchers. Manaea also faced the Yankees, Tigers, Rangers twice, and Mariners in his five starts, so I don’t want to anoint him as a rotation savior yet.

With this game, I’d look at the <strong>Rays at plus money for the 1st 5</strong> and look for live betting opportunities on the full game. If forced to play the full game, I would lean Rays at the current price.

2019 MLB Playoffs AL Wild Card Game Free Pick: Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland A's