In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

There were plenty of predictions to go around yesterday across the NCAA, NBA, and MLB, with our model focusing in on two of those predictions in our Featured Matchups. Those predictions went 2-1 overall, and you can see how each of the models performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 16-4

Over/Under Predictions: 10-10

Spread Predictions: 8-12

Featured Matchup: 1-0

Money Line Predictions: 2-5

Over/Under Predictions: 6-1

Spread Predictions: 2-5

Featured Matchup: 0-1

Money Line Predictions: 0-1

Over/Under Predictions: 1-0

Run Line Predictions: 1-0

Featured Matchup: 1-0

Since there are no bye weeks this week, we have 28 NFL teams set to hit the gridiron today. Our model’s predictions for every matchup can be found below.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders

Model Predicts- Eagles ML, OVER 43.5, Commanders +7

The Philadelphia Eagles will make the short trip south to FedEx Field to take on the Washington Commanders Sunday.

Philadelphia enters this matchup at 6-1, bouncing back from a brutal loss to the Jets in Week 6 with a win over the Dolphins last Sunday. Meanwhile, Washington sits at 3-4 following a 14-7 loss to the Giants last week.

Our model expects the Eagles to take the win today, but it also believes that Washington can keep the deficit to less than a touchdown. Let’s take a look at why that is and see our model’s best bet for this matchup.

Philadelphia Eagles

• Coming off big win against Miami, but we shouldn’t overreact to it

  • All of Miami’s wins are against teams with losing record. Dolphins’ two losses came against Buffalo and Philadelphia. Outscored 79-37 in those games

• Will be third road game in three weeks

  • Win against Rams, loss against Jets in other two road games

  • Score 33.0 points per game at home, but just 21.8 on the road

• Usually win on road, but rarely cover spread

  • 16-6 overall on road since Jalen Hurts became starter, but just 10-12 against the spread

Washington Commanders

• Coming off brutal loss to Giants

  • Scored 7 points. Recorded only 273 yards of offense

  • Went 1-15 on 3rd down. Sam Howell completed 52.3% of pass attempts

• Already kept things close with Philly this season

  • Were up 17-10 at halftime. Lost by 3 in overtime after tying the game as time expired

  • Sam Howell- 71% completion %, 330 total yards

What’s the Play?

Despite what the records may say, we agree with our model that this is going to be a tightly contested game.

The NFL is a week-to-week league, and no team is ever as bad or as good as they were the week before. Look at the Eagles, who just beat the Miami Dolphins by 14 after losing by six against the Jets the week before.

Lots of people are writing off Washington after last week, but the truth is that the Commanders usually give the Eagles some trouble. Giving the home team a seven-point cushion in a divisional battle is a lot, and we’ll back Washington to keep it inside that number.

The Play: Commanders +7

Money Line Trends 💰

• Jacksonville Jaguars- 5-2 overall this season, 3-0 as the away team

• Seattle Seahawks- 4-2 overall this season, 2-1 as the home team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Los Angeles Rams- Under is 5-2 this season, 2-1 as the away team

• Chicago Bears- Over is 6-1 this season with average total of 49.43 points per game

Spread Trends ➕➖

• Jacksonville Jaguars- 5-2 against the spread (ATS) this season, 3-0 ATS as the away team

• Houston Texas- 4-2 ATS this season, 2-1 ATS as the away team

For additional Week 8 NFL bets, check out our analysis with the host of Scalies Media on Youtube.

They also have a newsletter that dives into their best bets for the NFL and NCAA every weekend. You can sign up by clicking below⬇️

💪 Brock Purdy clears concussion protocol in only three days. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who recently entered concussion protocol, has been cleared without any injury concerns and is set to start in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Purdy's participation was uncertain, as he had been in concussion protocol since Wednesday due to symptoms that emerged after the team's loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. If Purdy hadn't passed his evaluations, Sam Darnold would have taken the starting role despite his limited action this season after joining the 49ers from the Carolina Panthers.

🐬 Dolphins activate Jalen Ramsey from IR. The Miami Dolphins have activated cornerback Jalen Ramsey from injured reserve, making him eligible for his season debut in Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. Ramsey had been sidelined since injuring his left meniscus during training camp in July, and subsequently underwent surgery. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has not confirmed whether Ramsey or fellow cornerback Xavien Howard, who is dealing with a groin injury, will start, emphasizing the team's caution in handling their return.

There are six NBA games scheduled to take place throughout this afternoon and evening. Our model’s predictions for all six matchups can be found below.

San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Clippers

Model Predicts- Clippers ML, OVER 228.5, Spurs +9

The San Antonio Spurs will hit the road for the first time this season on Sunday, traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers.

San Antonio enters today’s matchup with a 1-1 record, suffering a loss to the Mavericks on opening night before recording an overtime victory against the Houston Rockets on Friday. L.A. is in a similar position, posting a 1-1 record through two games as well.

San Antonio certainly looks like an improved team through two games, but our model predicts the Clippers to find the win column once more. Let’s take a look at why that is and see our model’s best bet for today’s matchup.

San Antonio Spurs

• Offense has been cooking early on

  • Averaging 122.5 points per game- 3rd most in NBA

  • Offensive Rating sits at 112.4, up from 109.7 a season ago

  • Play fast and efficient- Rank 8th in Pace, shooting 50.3% from the floor

• Victor Wembanyama is living up to the hype

  • Averaging 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in 27 minutes

• Defense is still the team’s weak point

  • Rank 20th in Defensive Rating (113.8)

  • Allowing opponents to shoot 49.7% overall and giving up most points per game in the paint (66.0), per TeamRankings

Los Angeles Clippers

• Normally this team is defensive-minded, but that has not been the case so far

  • Have surrendered an average of 115.5 points per game this season

  • Rank 26th in Defensive Rating (116.1). Up from 113.6 last season

• Offense is lighting it up so far

  • Shooting blistering 43.5% from three on 34.5 attempts per game

  • Making 52.7% of all shot attempts- best in NBA

• Injuries- Terance Mann, Marcus Morris, Brandon Boston

What’s the Play?

Both San Antonio and L.A. have been in shootouts during the first week of the NBA season, and we agree with our model that another high-scoring game is in the cards tonight.

The Spurs can’t play defense and have gotten crushed in the paint, which is a surprise considering the presence of Wembanyama. However, this team has sneaky good offensive depth, with seven players averaging at least 11.0 points per game.

We expect San Antonio’s offense to continue to light things up today, and the star-studded Clippers should have no problems either.

The Play: Over 228.5 (-110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Denver Nuggets- 2-0 overall this season, 1-0 as the away team

• Philadelphia 76ers- 1-1 overall this season, 32-14 at home last season (including playoffs)

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• San Antonio Spurs- Over is 2-0 this season with average total of 246.5

• Los Angeles Clippers- Over is 2-0 this season with average total of 236.0

Spread Trends ➕➖

• Golden State Warriors- 1-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, 1-0 ATS as the away team

🙌 Draymond Green to make season debut Sunday. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has announced his intention to make his season debut on Sunday against the Houston Rockets after missing the first two games due to a left lateral ankle sprain sustained before training camp. Green has been gradually increasing his on-court activities this week, including participation in 5-on-5 play and controlled scrimmages. He expressed a desire to play in both the upcoming games, with the Warriors facing the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, citing the new season rules that require players to participate in 65 regular-season games for postseason award eligibility.

🪑Middleton to sit Sunday against Hawks. Khris Middleton will sit out Sunday's game against the Hawks, with the Bucks carefully managing his return from offseason knee surgery. After a 16-minute performance in the season opener against the 76ers, the Bucks have opted to rest him during back-to-back games, with an expectation of his availability for Monday's match against the Miami Heat. Middleton's limited preseason participation and a history of knee and wrist injuries are factors in the cautious approach, with the plan being to gradually reintegrate him into the lineup.

A huge Sunday of football usually means a slow Sunday of hockey, and that will be the case today as just four games are scheduled to take place. You can see our model’s predictions for those matchups below.

San Jose Sharks @ Washington Capitals

Model Predicts- Capitals ML, OVER 6, Sharks +1.5

The San Jose Sharks will end their five-game road trip on Sunday, with the final stop coming in Washington D.C. to take on the Capitals.

San Jose has put together an abysmal performance thus far, entering today’s matchup with a zero in the win column through eight games. Washington hasn’t been all that great either, winning three of its first seven games, but enters today with some momentum after defeating the Devils and Wild on Wednesday and Friday.

The offenses for both squads have been horrific, yet our model is showing quite an edge on the over in this matchup. Let’s dive into why that is.

San Jose Sharks

• Still without a win because of team’s inability to score

  • Rank 32nd in GF/60 in 5-on-5 situations (0.79), per Natural Stat Trick. Generating just 9.68 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in similar situations

  • However, xGF/60 in 5-on-5 sits at 2.11, showing goals are on the horizon

• Doesn’t feel like this team even puts a defense out on the ice

  • Surrendering 37.9 shots on goal and 3.88 goals per game

  • 16.19 high-danger chances against per 60 minutes (HDCA/60) in 5-on-5 is the most in NHL by 3.44.

• Starting goalie- Mackenzie Blackwood

  • Ranks 26th in Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) with +1.4

  • .918 Save % and .814 High-Danger Save % in 5-on-5

Washington Capitals

• Offense may be just as bad as Sharks

  • Rank 31st in GF/60 in 5-on-5 (1.46). Also due for some positive regression as xGF/60 in 5-on-5 comes in at 2.27

  • Generate fifth-fewest shots on goal per game (27.9)

• Defense has some weak points

  • Oftentimes allow pressure in close- 12.41 HDCA/60 in 5-on-5

  • Have struggled shorthanded- allow opponent to score on 25% of power play opportunities

• Starting goalie- Darcy Kuemper

  • .895 Save % and .800 High-Danger Save % in 5-on-5

  • +0.5 GSAx

What’s the Play?

It’s a tough bet to back, but our model is showing an edge on the over and we think that is the best way to go here.

Neither of these defenses is providing resistance near the blue line, which has allowed their opponents to get plenty of shot opportunities near the crease. That oftentimes leads to the scoring floodgates opening, and there is certainly a chance that happens today with several metrics indicating that San Jose and Washington are due for positive scoring regression.

It’s an ugly bet, but both teams will score more goals in the near future and this is a good spot to try to get out in front of that.

The Play: Over 6 (-110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Colorado Avalanche- 6-1-0 overall this season, 4-1-0 as the away team

• Washington Capitals- 3-3-1 overall this season, 2-2-0 as the home team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Edmonton Oilers- Over is 3-2-2 this season with average total of 6.71

Puck Line Trends ➕➖

• Buffalo Sabres- Puck line is 5-3 this season

⛸ Joe Thornton officially hangs up the skate. After a remarkable 24-year career in the NHL, Joe Thornton has officially announced his retirement. The 44-year-old had not played since the 2021-22 season with the Florida Panthers, but confirmed his retirement in response to persistent inquiries from fans. Thornton, who was the first overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft, achieved numerous accolades and ranks among the top players in assists and games played, despite falling short of winning a Stanley Cup during his career.

💪 Rangers extend win streak to four with win over Vancouver. K'Andre Miller notched his first goal of the season on Saturday, securing a 4-3 victory for the New York Rangers over the Vancouver Canucks. Miller's decisive goal, assisted by Chris Kreider, beat Canucks' goalie Casey DeSmith at the 3:48 mark of overtime. The win was the fourth consecutive for New York, simultaneously ending Vancouver’s three-game win streak.