Friday’s Best NFL Preseason, MLB & College Football Bets (8/25)

No matter your sport of choice, there's always sports betting action to be had. We'll have you covered each and every day with our daily best bets. Here are all of our best bets across each major sport in action today.

Today's Best Bets

Here are today's best bets.

NFL Preseason Best Bets

Lions vs. Panthers

The Lions are unlikely to play their starters for this matchup with Carolina. This means more of Nate Sudfeld and Teddy Bridgewater at QB. This hasn't boded well for Detroit, as Sudfeld has struggled in both games, and Bridgewater did not look sharp in his first action against Jacksonville. Carolina is expected to play their starters, but they've struggled offensively in both preseason games, no matter who was lining up. It took them until the fourth quarter of preseason Week 2 to score their first touchdown. With both of these offenses being incredibly stagnant throughout the preseason, I don't see this game having many points scored. The under is the best angle for this matchup.

Pick: Under 37 (-110)

-Ryan Rodeman

NFL Preseason Week 3 Odds, Picks & Predictions

MLB Best Bets

Houston Astros (-174) vs. Detroit Tigers (+146) | O/U 8.5 (-122/+100)

Houston Astros lefty Framber Valdez has tumbled down the Cy Young Award odds leaderboard, and it is even surprising to still see him with the sixth-best odds (+4000), given how poorly he has pitched. Valdez has a no-hitter within his last seven starts and has still been roughed up for a 6.18 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Valdez's bread-and-butter, the best ground ball rate of any AL pitcher (53.5%), has not been as big of a weapon lately, as he recorded an alarming five ground-ball outs in his last appearance. That was a disastrous start against the Seattle Mariners, as he allowed six earned runs and was tagged for a season-high ten hits. And Detroit has been a sneaky good offensive team of late, cashing the Over on their team total in 16 of its last 24 games (+7.05 units, 25% ROI).

Most opponents have had little problem elevating Valdez lately, as he has allowed 10 home runs in his previous nine starts after giving up 11 long balls in all 31 starts last year. Meanwhile, Valdez's counterpart, Detroit Tigers righty Matt Manning, should also allow runs in this game. Manning's 6.05 home ERA is 2.48 runs higher than his road ERA, and he faces an Astros lineup that ranks fifth in HR/FB rate and eighth in wRC+ in road games against right-handed pitchers this year.

Pick: Over 8.5 (-122)

Check out our other MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions:

College Football Bets

San Jose State vs. USC

This game features an enormous difference in returning production, with USC bringing back 70% of their offensive production, while San Jose State returns just 35% of their defensive production. The Spartans have some massive holes to fill on that side of the ball but do return quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who threw for 3,250 yards and 23 touchdowns a season ago. The Trojans should have no issues moving the ball against the decimated SJST defense, but Cordeiro could find some success against a USC defense that struggled last year aside from having great takeaway luck. Motivation will likely decide who covers, and I'm guessing USC won't keep its foot on the gas if it builds an early cushion. But my favorite play in this game is the over.

Pick: Over 66.5 (-105)

-Matt Barbato