Back-to-Back Wins with NFL, NHL, and NBA Action Tonight

Back-to-Back Wins and Another Profitable October in Sight

Another winning night is in the books, and the momentum is strong as we head into the final stretch of October. With just 7 days to go, we’re cruising toward yet another profitable month, thanks to smart plays and disciplined strategy. Yesterday’s Champions League picks came through for us, propelling us to a winning day and keeping us firmly on track.

Thursday Night Football and College Action

Tonight, Thursday Night Football takes center stage with the Vikings vs. Rams matchup in the NFL, but we’re also keeping a close eye on two college football games:

• Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion in the Sun Belt: Both teams are fighting for positioning, and we’ve done the deep dive to find the edges.

• Syracuse vs. Pitt in the ACC: It’s an intriguing battle with both teams looking to make a statement as the conference race heats up. We’ve crunched the numbers and are ready to deliver our picks.

NHL and NBA Thursday

After last night’s brief one-game NHL slate, the league is back in action with a full lineup of nine games tonight. Our experts are targeting value in the early part of the evening, and with plenty of matchups on the board, we’re ready to find the best plays to keep our winning streak alive.

In the NBA, Thursday brings a four-game slate, with six teams making their season debuts and the Celtics and Timberwolves playing their second games. We’re keeping things strategic early in the NBA season, waiting for clear trends to develop before going heavy on picks. But rest assured, we’ve got our eyes on a few key matchups.

Staying Disciplined and Focused

At BrownBagBets, we don’t let short-term wins or losses shake our approach. The long game is always the goal, and with two winning nights in a row, we’re sticking to what’s worked all month. With NFL, college football, NHL, and NBA all in play tonight, there’s no shortage of opportunities, and we’re ready to take advantage.

Trust the picks, stay disciplined, and let’s keep October rolling toward another winning month!

NCAAF: Georgia Southern at Old Dominion

Pick: Old Dominion ML / Wager: 2%

Backup QB Leading the Charge

Old Dominion has found momentum with Colton Joseph stepping in as the backup quarterback. His first start was a closely contested match against Coastal Carolina, but since then, the Monarchs have secured two straight wins outright as underdogs.

Defensive Sparks

The defense has been impressive, limiting both Texas State and Georgia State to just 14 points in their recent games. This strong defensive performance has been crucial in boosting the team’s confidence and performance on the field.

Looking to Upset Georgia Southern

With this solid momentum, we believe the Monarchs are poised to hand Georgia Southern their first loss in Sun Belt conference play. Taking Old Dominion on the money line offers great value in this matchup.

NCAAF: Syracuse at Pittsburgh

Pick: Syracuse +6 / Wager: 3%

Surprising Success from Both Teams

Who would have thought that these two teams would enter this matchup with a combined record of 11-1? Syracuse is just a last-second field goal by Stanford away from being 6-0 this season, showcasing an impressive debut for new head coach Fran Brown.

Offensive Firepower

Ohio State transfer QB Kyle McCord is on track for nearly 40 touchdown passes and over 4,000 yards this season—one has to wonder if Ryan Day is reconsidering his decision to let him go. In the backfield, RB LeQuint Allen, a 1,000-yard rusher from last season, has been effective, averaging better than 80 rushing yards per game over the past three outings.

Close Calls for Pittsburgh

On the other side, Pat Narduzzi has led the Panthers to a perfect 6-0 record, bolstered by the performance of Alabama transfer QB Eli Holstein, who has thrown for 15 touchdowns. However, Pittsburgh has had a series of nail-biters, winning three of their games by four points or fewer.

Value in the Points

Given Syracuse’s strong performance and the struggles of Pittsburgh in close games, grabbing Syracuse at +6 presents great value in this matchup.

NHL: St. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs

Pick: Maple Leafs -1 / Wager: 2%

Injury Blow for the Blues

St. Louis received devastating news following their 3-2 home loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday: star forward Robert Thomas has fractured his ankle and will be out for an extended period. The 25-year-old had started the season strong with one goal and five assists, following a career-high season where he scored 26 goals and tallied 86 points.

Potential Flat Spot for St. Louis

With Thomas’s injury compounding their existing injury woes, the Blues are facing a challenging spot as they hit the road for the first time in nearly two weeks. This scenario often leads to a lackluster performance, especially against a formidable opponent like the Maple Leafs.

Maple Leafs’ Opportunity

Toronto will look to capitalize on this situation and assert their dominance at home. Given the Blues’ current struggles and injury issues, backing the Maple Leafs to win by at least two goals is a strong play.

NHL: Minnesota Wild at Tampa Bay Lightning

Pick: Lightning ML / Wager: 2%

Wild’s Impressive Win but Potential Fatigue

While it’s not often that a team can sweep the Florida swing with both the Panthers and Lightning being formidable opponents, the Wild have shown they’re up to the challenge after a solid 5-1 victory against Florida on Tuesday. However, as they enter game five of a grueling seven-game road trip, fatigue could be setting in, especially with key players like winger Ryan Hartman and defenseman Jared Spurgeon sidelined.

Goaltending Concerns for Minnesota

Although Filip Gustavsson has been impressive in net, tonight features veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, who struggled in his only other start this season, giving up four goals to Seattle. His inconsistency raises concerns against a potent Lightning offense.

Tampa Bay’s Edge

With the Lightning back at home and looking to capitalize on the Wild’s potential weariness, they have the advantage here. Expect Tampa Bay to leverage their home ice and strong offensive capabilities to secure the win.

NHL: Florida Panthers at New York Rangers

Pick: Rangers -1 @ +105 / Wager: 2%

Rangers’ Dominance Continues

We’re riding the momentum of the Rangers, who have yet to taste defeat in regulation this season. New York has showcased its offensive prowess, scoring at least four goals in each of its six games. With every line contributing, Artemi Panarin is already making a strong case for the Hart Trophy, racking up 13 points in just six outings.

Revenge Factor

This matchup carries extra motivation for the Rangers, who seek revenge after last spring’s bitter Eastern Conference Finals loss to Florida. They’ll be looking to make a statement on home ice.

Panthers Struggling Early

In contrast, Florida has struggled to find its rhythm early in the season, dropping two of three in their recent homestand. With the Rangers firing on all cylinders, they appear to be the stronger team entering this contest.

The Rangers Are Rolling

As the late Chic Anderson famously remarked about Secretariat, “The New York Rangers are moving like a tremendous machine!” Expect them to continue their winning streak tonight.

NHL: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams

Pick: Cooper Kupp over 6.5 receptions / Wager: 2%

Pick: Under 48.5 / Wager: 2%

Defensive Matchup Influences the Game

The coaching familiarity between Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell may lead to unexpected gridlock on the field. Minnesota’s defense currently sits at #1 overall in defensive DVOA, making it difficult for opposing offenses to find their rhythm. While the Rams’ defense has had its struggles, there’s potential for positive regression on a short week. Historically, teams are 0-4 SU and ATS the week following a matchup against the physical Detroit Lions, suggesting the impact of such encounters can linger.

Defensive Effort and Game Flow

With the Rams in dire need of a victory to reignite their season, we expect their defense to come out with maximum effort. This should help keep the game’s total score under 48.5, especially given the Rams’ penchant for zone defense, which tends to limit explosive plays.

Kupp’s Return to Form

Cooper Kupp (ankle) has not seen action since Week 2 but is on the verge of returning, having practiced last week and almost suiting up in Week 7. As Matthew Stafford’s primary target, Kupp is likely to see a full complement of snaps. With Minnesota’s run defense forcing teams to pass an NFL-high 69% of the time, the Rams may find themselves in catch-up mode, leading to heavy targets for Kupp. He drew 21 targets in the season opener and six targets before his injury in Week 2 against Arizona. Expect him to exceed 6.5 receptions as he steps back into the spotlight.