Winners Club: MLB Playoff Action Headlines Loaded Sports Weekend

Plus, Thursday night football bets, college football spreads and fantasy football help.

Good morning! The sports calendar reaches its apex in October and it feels like we’re almost there.

Today, we have MLB playoffs, NFL and college football games, NHL action and we’re gearing up for the start of the NBA season next. Not long after that, college hoops will tip off too.

Buckle in and enjoy the ride.

In today’s Winners Club you’ll find:

• MLB playoffs upcoming schedule
• ALDS best bets for the day
• WAS-CHI TNF betting preview
• Fantasy football Week 6 prep
• CFB Week 7 spreads and title odds

Both NLDS Series Knotted Up, ALDS Resume Thursday

The Mariners-Astros and Guardians-Yankees series resume this afternoon and evening. Yordan Alvarez hit an epic walk-off homer for Houston against Seattle on Tuesday to give his team an early edge in the series, while New York handled Cleveland at home.

Jen Piacenti has her best bet for the pair of ALDS games on the docket today.

And in the NLDS, the Braves blanked the Phillies, 3-0, on Wednesday night to tie the series at one game apiece, and the Padres drew even with the Dodgers after a 5-3 road victory.

David J. Phillip/AP

Thursday
3:37 p.m. ET (TBS): Mariners vs. Astros (-154) | Houston leads series, 1-0

7:37 p.m. ET (TBS): Guardians vs. Yankees (-138) | New York leads series, 1-0

Friday
4:37 p.m. ET (FS1): Braves vs. Phillies | Series tied, 1-1

8:37 p.m. ET (FS1): Dodgers (-133) vs. Padres | Series tied, 1-1

Saturday
2:07 p.m. ET (FS1): Braves vs. Phillies | NLDS Game 4

4:07 p.m. ET (TBS): Astros vs. Mariners | ALDS Game 3

7:37 p.m. ET (TBS): Yankees vs. Guardians | ALDS Game 3

9:37 p.m. ET (FS1): Dodgers vs. Padres | NLDS Game 4

Chicago Hosts Washington on Thursday Night Football

Commanders (-1.5) vs. Bears

8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

There have certainly been some prime-time stinkers through five weeks of football. An 11-10 Broncos' win over the 49ers on Sunday Night Football comes to mind. Still, a Commanders-Bears matchup to kick off Week 6 might be the hardest sell of the season.

Washington is 1-4 and its coach Ron Rivera had to walk back an answer he gave this week about quarterback Carson Wentz being the reason his team has fallen behind in the NFC East. Chicago is 2-3 and is home to the worst passing offense in the NFL by a wide margin. These teams rank 26th and 27th in scoring, respectively, so despite not having lockdown defenses, the over/under for this contest is the lowest of the week: 38!

Abbie Parr/AP

Read Frankie Taddeo’s betting preview of the game. He touches on key information on each team’s performance to date and provides a best bet. Taddeo also has three props for bettors to tail if they don’t like either side in an ugly matchup. Albert Breer, Michael Fabiano and Jen Piacenti got together to analyze all of the most intriguing storylines for this Thursday night showdown.

Some things you should know:

• Washington’s 1-4 mark against the spread (ATS) is tied for the NFL's worst record.
• Chicago is 2-0 at home this season with wins against the 49ers and Texans.
• The under is 11-5 this season in nationally televised prime-time games,
• The Commanders might be shorthanded at receiver with Dyami Brown (groin) listed as questionable and rookie Jahan Dotson (hamstring) already ruled out.
• Chicago has the fifth-best rushing offense in the NFL (157.4 yards per game), led by Khalil Herbert’s 328 yards, which is tied for 15th-most.

Compete in SI Sportsbook’s “Perfect 10” contest this week by making 10 ATS picks for a shot at a $10,000 prize! Taddeo analyzed each available game and provided each team’s ATS record to go over before you make your selections. I’m keying in on the two games of the week: Bills-Chiefs and Cowboys-Eagles.

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Fantasy Football Prep for Week 6

There are no London games this weekend, so the Sunday slate kicks off at its regularly scheduled time. The fantasy regular season is nearing its halfway point, so it’s important to either solidify your spot near the top of your league’s standings or start making that playoff push ASAP!

To help with that, be sure to read Michael Fabiano and Shawn Childs this week:

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em

Quarterbacks: Kyler Murray is the start of the week against the Seahawks on Sunday.

Running backs: Keep Miles Sanders on the bench if you can against a tough Dallas defense.

Wide receivers: Believe in Gabe Davis in a game that has the highest O/U of Week 6.

Tight ends: Coming off a goose egg, don’t count on Tyler Conklin bouncing back against the Packers.

Kickers and defenses: The Rams’ defense should feast against backup quarterback P.J. Walker.

Positional Rankings

Quarterbacks: Geno Smith is easily a top-10 option against the Cardinals.

Running backs: Rhamondre Stevenson is a smash play with Damien Harris out.

Wide receivers: A.J. Brown is due for a bounceback performance against the Cowboys.

Tight ends: Tyler Higbee has become one of the most reliable players at his position.

Flex: Austin Ekeler is a top-five flex play on the heels of his two-touchdown outing.

Kickers: Tyler Bass leads all kickers this week in what should be a high-scoring game against K.C.

Defenses: The Buccaneers and 49ers draw great matchups this week.

Matt Ludtke/AP

Stat Projections

Quarterbacks: Despite his slow start, Matthew Stafford is primed for a top-five finish against the Panthers.

Running backs: Eno Benjamin should be on your team and in your lineup this week against Seattle.

Wide receivers: Terry McLaurin is due for a big outing in prime time against the Bears.

Tight ends: Pat Freiermuth is a suitable selection against the Buccaneers.

Half Dozen Top-25 Week 7 Matchups Could Shake Up CFB

Pat Forde called this weekend the October blockbuster and it’s difficult to disagree. College football fans will be treated to a pair of top-10 matchups and six contests between ranked teams. This loaded slate includes monumental games from each of the Power Five conferences, including two from the mighty SEC.

The biggest game is taking place in Knoxville, Tenn., where the undefeated Volunteers host the undefeated Crimson Tide. Tennessee has never beaten Nick Saban at Alabama, and this might be its best chance to do so with Heisman quarterback Bryce Young questionable with a shoulder injury.

Top-25 Action

12 p.m. ET (FOX): No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 5 Michigan (-7)

3:30 p.m. ET (CBS): No. 3 Alabama (-7) vs. No. 6 Tennessee

3:30 p.m. ET (ABC): No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 13 TCU (-4)

3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network): No. 15 NC State vs. No. 18 Syracuse (-3.5)

7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network): No. 16 Mississippi State (-4) vs. No. 22 Kentucky

8 p.m. ET (FOX): No. 7 USC vs. No. 20 Utah (-3.5)

Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK

Other Games For Your Consideration

12 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network): Minnesota (-6.5) vs. No. 25 Illinois

7:30 p.m. ET (ABC): No. 4 Clemson (-3.5) vs. Florida State

National Championship Odds Watch

Ohio State (+188) is the favorite to win the national championship at SI Sportsbook, ahead of Georgia (+200) and Alabama (+220). All three powerhouses remain undefeated. Clemson (+900) is the next closest team by title odds after it picked up two top-25 wins in back-to-back weeks. And after the top four teams, USC and Michigan (+1100) are tied for the fifth-best odds to win it all midway through October.

In Other News

ACC Men’s Basketball Preseason Rankings: The conference wasn’t particularly dominant in the regular season last year, but its NCAA Tournament success told a different story. College basketball begins in just a few weeks’ time and UNC and Duke are again atop the ACC in the conference preview.

NBA MVP Odds, Best Bets: The season tips off Tuesday and Luka Dončić again enters the year as the MVP favorite. Will the Mavericks’ star capture the trophy in a crowded field or will another contender pull an upset?

CFB Coaching Carousel Rumors: There are five current vacancies across college football, including Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and Arizona State. Find out the latest on who could fill those openings.

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