Saturday Betting Bonanza: EPL, MLB, and College Football Picks

It’s Saturday, and we’re heading into the final full weekend of August with a loaded sports lineup—EPL, MLB, and the kickoff of College Football’s Week Zero! 🌟

Matchweek two of the Premier League season offers a wide array of games for bettors to dissect. From projected mismatches like Man City vs. Ipswich, Liverpool vs. Brentford, and Tottenham vs. Everton, to tightly-contested battles like Southampton vs. Nottingham Forest and Brighton vs. Man United, there’s something for everyone. As always, the EPL delivers a smorgasbord of options for bettors to sink their teeth into. ⚽

And that’s not all! The 2024 college football season officially kicks off this weekend, and we’ve got you covered with the best picks to get you started on the right foot. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking for the best value plays, this is your place for top-notch college football picks. 🏈

Let’s not forget the MLB as it winds down its regular season with just five full weeks remaining before glorious October baseball gets underway. With several shoo-ins like the Dodgers, Yankees, Guardians, Orioles, Brewers, and Phillies looking to solidify their postseason spots, the real excitement lies in the dog fights for playoff contention. Competitive division races are heating up, and the elite teams are vying for those crucial top seeds and byes. ⚾

At BrownBagBets, we’re not just about giving you picks—we’re about guiding you through the entire process, helping you understand the strategies behind every wager. So whether you’re betting on today’s EPL, College Football, or MLB games, you’re not just placing bets—you’re making informed decisions backed by our expert analysis.

Let’s dive into this action-packed weekend and keep the momentum rolling! 🚀

English Premier League: Ipswich Town @ Manchester City

Pick: Manchester City -2.5 / Wager: 1%

Team Quality and Historical Performance

Manchester City’s significant quality advantage over Ipswich Town is evident. City, known for their high-scoring games and dominance against lower-league teams, is expected to assert their superiority. Their impressive track record, particularly against teams at the bottom of the league, supports this expectation.

Goal Differential Strategy

City will likely prioritize showcasing their attacking prowess to strengthen their goal differential early in the season. This strategic focus, combined with their historical performances, makes a strong case for a comfortable victory.

Power Rankings

According to the DD power rankings, Manchester City’s top position versus Ipswich Town’s last place highlights the expected disparity. This context reinforces the likelihood of a significant win for City.

English Premier League: Nottingham Forest @ Southampton

Counter-Attacking Effectiveness

Nottingham Forest’s counter-attacking strategy could exploit Southampton’s vulnerabilities, particularly if Southampton is exposed to quick transitions. Forest’s recent resilience on the road and ability to capitalize on set pieces further enhance their chances.

Defensive and Offensive Dynamics

Forest’s defensive organization and ability to exploit weaknesses make them a strong candidate for an away victory. Southampton’s recent struggles, including a failure to score against a reduced Newcastle side, add to Forest’s potential for success.

Power Rankings

The Double Dragon EPL power rankings place Nottingham Forest significantly ahead of Southampton, reflecting Forest’s competitive edge. This assessment aligns with Forest’s potential to secure an away win.

Pick: Nottingham Forest ML / Wager: 1%

English Premier League: Manchester United @ Brighton

Attacking Style

Brighton’s attacking style under Fabian Hurzeler has led to high-scoring games. Key players like Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson contribute to their offensive strength, increasing the likelihood of a high-scoring match.

Manchester United’s Offensive Capabilities

Manchester United’s ability to score, despite occasional defensive lapses, supports the expectation of multiple goals. Players like Marcus Rashford, Garnacho, and Bruno Fernandes provide significant attacking threats.

Recent Head-to-Head Performance

Recent encounters between Brighton and Manchester United have frequently featured over 2.5 goals. This historical trend, combined with both teams’ current form, suggests a high probability of a game with multiple goals.

Pick: United/Brighton Over 2.5 Goals / Wager: 1%

NCAAF: #10 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (Via Dublin, Ireland)

Pick: Under 55.5 / Wager: 2%
Pick: Georgia Tech +11 / Wager: 2%

Scoring Dynamics

Both defenses possess advantages that could limit scoring in this matchup. Florida State has shifted to a run-heavy offense with a strong offensive line and effective backs like Roydell Williams and Lawrance Toafili. This approach will likely lead to fewer possessions and a clock-eating game plan. On the other side, Georgia Tech faces one of the most formidable pass-rushing duos in the country with Pat Payton and Marvin Jones Jr., which could hinder their passing game and further contribute to a lower-scoring game.

Quarterback Uncertainty

Florida State’s new quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei, has yet to live up to the high expectations set for him, and he is now on his third school. This ongoing uncertainty at the quarterback position could affect the Noles' offensive efficiency. Despite Florida State's strong team, DJU's performance remains a significant factor, and if he struggles, it could limit the team’s scoring capabilities.

Georgia Tech’s Experience

Georgia Tech returns a substantial amount of experience from last year's offense, which should aid their performance against a Florida State team that has undergone considerable changes. The Yellow Jackets’ new defensive coordinator, Tyler Santucci, is expected to implement a game plan that can mitigate Florida State’s offensive strengths. Given Florida State's significant roster changes, including the departure of key players and an underwhelming spring practice, Georgia Tech is well-positioned to keep the game competitive.

Line Movement and Game Context

The spread has shifted from +13.5 to +11, which reflects some betting adjustments but still provides value. With Florida State returning only eight starters from last year’s unbeaten team and significant changes to key positions, Georgia Tech’s experience and continuity give them a solid chance to cover the spread.

Pick: Under 55.5 / Wager: 2%
Pick: Georgia Tech +11 / Wager: 2%

NCAAF: SMU at Nevada

Pick: SMU -24.5 / Wager: 3%

Team Strength and Depth

SMU is poised to make a significant impact in their inaugural ACC season, bolstered by the return of most of their key starters from a successful 11-win campaign, including quarterback Preston Stone. This continuity and experience position them strongly against Nevada, who struggled mightily last season. Despite Nevada's efforts to overhaul their personnel and coaching staff, these changes may not be sufficient to bridge the gap against a well-established and high-powered SMU offense.

Nevada’s Struggles

Nevada was among the weakest teams in the Mountain West last year and has continued to face challenges in both their roster and coaching. The Wolf Pack's performance has been consistently poor, with only two wins each of the last two seasons. Given their ongoing issues and the early season context, where teams often exhibit sloppy play, Nevada's vulnerabilities are likely to be exacerbated.

SMU’s Offensive Potential

In the latter part of last season, SMU’s offense, led by Preston Stone, demonstrated explosive scoring capabilities, averaging fifty points per game over the final six contests. This trend of high scoring is expected to continue, especially against a team like Nevada, which struggled defensively last year.

Pick: SMU -24.5 / Wager: 3%

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Toronto Blue Jays

Recent Performance and Team Dynamics

The Blue Jays have shown promising signs with their younger players stepping up, providing a boost to their performance. Despite the team’s overall challenges this season, the emergence of these players is contributing to their competitive edge.

Angels’ Managerial Decisions

The Angels’ recent managerial decisions, such as using closer Ben Joyce in an unconventional role, have led to poor outcomes. This mismanagement reflects a broader trend of instability and underperformance in the Angels’ camp.

Pitching Matchup

Toronto’s Bowden Francis has been impressive in his recent outings, resembling the form of past Blue Jays ace Dave Stieb. Over his last three games, Francis has demonstrated strong performance with a 1.42 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and only one walk.

Angels’ Bullpen Situation

The Angels are expected to rely on a pseudo-bullpen approach, including Carson Fulmer, whose recent performance has been inconsistent. This instability in the pitching staff further supports the Blue Jays’ potential to secure a comfortable win.

Pick: Blue Jays -1.5 @ +125 / Wager: 2%

Pitching Effectiveness

With Bowden Francis in strong form and expected to pitch well, combined with the Angels’ use of a bullpen day, the game is likely to see fewer runs. Francis’s recent performances have been marked by strong control and effective strikeouts.

Angels’ Offensive Struggles

The Angels have faced significant offensive struggles, particularly in the context of a bullpen game. Their recent lack of consistent hitting further supports the expectation of a lower-scoring game.

Historical and Contextual Factors

The Blue Jays’ games have shown trends toward lower-scoring matches when facing similar pitching situations. The combination of a solid Blue Jays starter and a bullpen day for the Angels makes the under a reasonable bet.

Pick: Under 9 / Wager: 2%

MLB: Houston Astros at Baltimore Orioles

Pitching Dominance

Framber Valdez has been exceptional in his last seven starts, boasting a 1.84 ERA and leading the Astros to 10 consecutive victories, with 9 of those by 2 or more runs. His dominance on the mound suggests a strong performance against the Orioles.

Orioles’ Offensive Struggles

The Orioles’ offense has been underperforming, struggling with a lack of hot bats and exhibiting desperate swings. This ineffectiveness has contributed to their struggles against the Astros this season.

Bullpen and Run Support

The Orioles’ bullpen has been among the worst since July 1, adding to the challenge of supporting their starters. Meanwhile, the Astros have been capitalizing on these bullpen issues, often winning by multiple runs.

Pick: Astros -1.5 @ +135 / Wager: 3%