MLB & College Football Free Picks – Thursday, October 1
MLB
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES vs. Houston Astros
Pitching Matchup: Cliff Lee vs. Felipe Paulino
Here’s what you need to know: Lee is only 2-3 with a 6.35 ERA in his last six starts after going 5-0 with a minute 0.68 ERA in his first five starts with the Phillies, but I think he’ll wrap up the season with his 15th win. Paulino is just 1-6 with an 8.37 ERA, and after a string of solid starts, he’s regressed in his last couple and allowed eight runs in five innings in his last start (vs. Cincinnati). Paulino has also gotten nothing in the way of run support, even when he was pitching well, as the Astros have scored only six runs in the last five games he’s started. His record in those games? 0-5.
ATLANTA BRAVES vs. Washington Nationals
Pitching Matchup: Tommy Hanson vs. Garrett Mock
Here’s what you need to know: Hanson is 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in three starts against the Nationals, and he’d be 3-0 if not for the bullpen costing him in a 5-3 loss at Washington on July 4. Mock is 0-5 with a 7.03 ERA in his last six starts.
BOSTON RED SOX vs. Cleveland Indians
Pitching Matchup: Jon Lester vs. Carlos Carrasco
Here’s what you need to know: Carrasco is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his first four major league starts, and I don’t see things going too well for him and the Indians tonight against a Red Sox team looking to bust out of a six-game losing streak. Lester allowed five runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings against the Yankees in his last start on Friday, getting saddled with his first loss since July 19 and breaking a run of nine straight quality starts. But the Indians have lost 11 straight road games, and I like Lester to rebound from Friday’s outing to look more like he has for much of the last few months.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
West Virginia (-17) vs. Colorado
Colorado shocked West Virginia in Boulder last season, winning 20-17 in overtime. Don’t expect a similar result tonight in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers were unimpressive in a 33-20 victory over Liberty in their season opener and fell behind 10-0 early in an eventual 35-20 win over East Carolina, and they’re coming off of a 41-30 loss at Auburn on September 19 in which they led 14-0 inside the first five minutes. QB Jarrett Brown threw four interceptions before exiting in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury, and all told, West Virginia committed six turnovers, taking their total in the last two games to ten.
But while their offense has been turnover-prone, it’s been prolific, averaging 32.7 points and 482 yards per game in the first three games, and that means trouble for a Colorado defense that was torched for 54 points and 624 yards in their previous road game of the season…at Toledo. Brown will play, and he’s capable of making a lot happen with his arm and legs, and he can also get the ball to RB Noel Devine, who has 320 yards and five touchdowns on the ground thus far this season.
Colorado can put up points themselves, but West Virginia has a solid run defense, and that might put the game in the hands of QB Cody Hawkins, which isn’t exactly the best path towards victory, or perhaps even keeping it all that close.
West Virginia covers in this one, and take the over.
Related posts:
- Free Sports Picks – Thursday, September 3
- Free Sports Picks – Friday, September 4
- Free Sports Picks – Thursday, September 10
- Free Sports Picks – Friday, September 11
- MLB & College Football Free Picks – Saturday, October 3
