expert picks – Syndication Server

More experts pick Notre Dame-Ohio State

More experts predict Monday’s national championship tilt.

The experts continue to weigh in on the national championship matchup between Notre Dame and Ohio State.

Let’s start with the The Athletic’s Pete Sampson.

Sampson says that while the pregame spread strikes him as about right, he also thinks the Fighting Irish will beat the Buckeyes 21-20.

“There might not be a program in the country that knows itself better than Notre Dame, which means the Irish won’t blink on Monday night,” he writes. “If [head coach Marcus] Freeman can drag his alma mater into a four-quarter rock fight, Notre Dame will be the more comfortable team throwing stones. Ohio State is built to blow you away. Notre Dame is built to grind you down. The latter prevails.”

Other Athletic staffers, however, predict that Ohio State will win while covering the spread. Only one has Notre Dame either winning or losing by less than 8.5.

Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Steve Angeli (18) throws the ball in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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NFL wild-card picks: Who are experts taking in Commanders vs. Buccaneers?

Who are the experts taking in Sunday’s wild-card matchup between the Commanders and Bucs?

The Washington Commanders (12-5) face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) in an NFC Wild Card Weekend showdown on Sunday Night Football. It’s the second meeting of the season, as the teams met in Week 1, with the Bucs coming out 37-20 winners.

What can we take from that game?

Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was phenomenal in the first game. He passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns, finishing with only six incompletions.

On the other side, Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels played in his first NFL game, completing 17 of 24 passes for 184 yards. Daniels also led Washington with 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It was a conservative offensive game plan for the Commanders in Week 1 and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury began to open things up in Week 2.

After that game, Washington would win 12 of its next 16 games, including the final five of the regular season. The Bucs are hot, too, entering Sunday as winners of six of their last seven games.

Who wins on Sunday?

According to NFL Pickwatch, 66% of the experts believe the Buccaneers will also take the rematch. The Bucs are 3-point favorites over the Commanders.

Can Daniels perform another Sunday night miracle like he did two weeks ago?

NFL Week 17 picks: See who experts are taking in Commanders vs. Falcons today

Who are the experts riding with in Week 17?

The Washington Commanders (10-5) host the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) in the Week 17 edition of Sunday Night Football. It’s a game with playoff implications for both teams, but not for the same spot.

With two games remaining, the Commanders hold a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the final NFC Wild Card spot. If the Carolina Panthers beat the Bucs on Sunday afternoon, Washington will clinch a playoff spot before taking the field.

Atlanta is also battling Tampa Bay for a playoff spot, but it’s the NFC South. The teams are tied entering Sunday, with the Falcons holding the tie-breaker advantage.

Sunday’s battle between the Commanders and Falcons features an NFL first. Two rookie quarterbacks, both first-round picks, have never faced off as starters in a prime-time game. Jayden Daniels is the frontrunner for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, while Penix makes his second career start for Atlanta.

Washington is favored on Sunday night, but do the experts agree? According to NFL Pickwatch, 91% of those picking this week’s games believe the Commanders will win their fourth in a row and clinch a playoff spot.

Injuries are something to watch, as Washington ruled out five players for Sunday night, including cornerback Marshon Lattimore and right tackle Andrew Wylie.

Experts pick Notre Dame vs. Indiana in the College Football Playoff

Here’s what the experts think will happen tonight for Notre Dame.

No. 3 Notre Dame is ready to take on No. 9 Indiana about an hour from now and let’s continue to get you ready for the College Football Playoff first-round tilt between the Fighting Irish and Hoosiers with some expert picks.

Let’s start with The Athletic. Unless this author missed it, regular Pete Sampson doesn’t make a pick — instead, the outlet polls its staff.

Said staff is unanimous in picking the Irish to win, though one believes Indiana will at least cover the point spread.

Notre Dame is ready for Indiana. — Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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NFL Week 13 picks: See who experts are taking in Commanders vs. Titans today

Who are the experts riding with in Week 13?

The Washington Commanders (7-5) host the Tennessee Titans (3-8) in one of the most interesting NFL Week 13 games.

In a meeting of teams with first-year head coaches and young quarterbacks, the Commanders and Titans appeared to be heading in completely opposite directions a few short weeks ago. However, Washington has lost three games in a row — all by one score — while the Titans have played much better behind second-year quarterback Will Levis.

Levis led the Titans to an upset road win over the Houston Texans last week, passing for 278 yards and two touchdowns despite being sacked eight times. Meanwhile, the Commanders were disappointing for 55 minutes against Dallas before the offensive came alive with two Jayden Daniels touchdown passes in the final five minutes. Unfortunately for Washington, kicker Austin Seibert missed the extra point, giving Dallas the upset win.

The Commanders enter Sunday as a six-point favorite over the Titans.

We made our picks. What do the experts think?

According to NFL Pickwatch, 89% of the experts’ picks are going with the Commanders. Last week, 99% of the picks came in for Washington over Dallas.

Can the Commanders avoid another upset before their Week 14 bye?

NFL Week 12 picks: See who experts are taking in Commanders vs. Cowboys today

Who are the experts riding with in Week 12?

Only one game on the Week 12 NFL slate features a more significant favorite than the Washington Commanders (7-4) over the Dallas Cowboys (4-7).

The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are an 11-point favorite over the Carolina Panthers. Washington is a 10.5-point favorite over Dallas.

The Commanders were already double-digit favorites over the Cowboys before prominent starters, such as guard Zack Martin, cornerback Trevon Diggs, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks, were ruled out on Saturday afternoon.

The good news for Washington is that playing last Thursday gave the roster a mini-break after losing its second consecutive game. The Commanders have yet to arrive at their bye week. The extra rest days were good news for a banged-up roster, specifically rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Daniels injured his ribs in a Week 7 win over Carolina, and while he didn’t miss any games, he missed some practice time and is coming off his worst NFL performance in last week’s loss at Philadelphia.

So, do the experts agree with the oddsmakers?

According to NFL Pickwatch, the experts do agree, with 98% of the picks going in favor of Washington.

This is the Commanders’ fourth NFC East game of the season. They are currently 2-1 in divisional play.

Experts pick Notre Dame, Army at Yankee Stadium

Here’s how the experts see tonight’s Notre Dame/Army game playing out.

Tonight’s tilt between the No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 18 Army Black Knights at Yankee Stadium in New York City has huge College Football Playoff implications.

The experts who pick these games each week are certainly aware of that. Army has been hot, but also has had a weak schedule, and the Irish have a deeper roster of talent.

On the other hand, Notre Dame has lost to a lesser opponent, at home nonetheless, this year.

So, with that in mind, how are the experts leaning?

Let’s start with Pete Sampson from The Athletic.

“Notre Dame is a huge step up. And Army knows it, which might be to the Black Knights’ benefit,” he writes. “Notre Dame flexes its muscle but never gets inside Army’s head (see: Navy’s six turnovers), which is enough to pull away in the fourth quarter.”

He has the Irish winning 28-14.

Thoughts on Notre Dame’s spot in the third CFP rankings — Nov 16, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser (24) celebrates after a sack against the Virginia Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Experts predict that Notre Dame will roll over Virginia

The experts expect Notre Dame to have an easy one this weekend.

No. 8 Notre Dame should roll over the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday.

So say the experts.

Let’s start with The Athletic’s Pete Sampson, who has Notre Dame winning 35-14.

“After two-plus seasons of searching, it feels like Freeman has found his groove on the sidelines. Mentions of his inexperience are down. Consistent performances are up. That reliability should carry through the regular-season home finale,” he writes. “It’s hard to see the Cavaliers finding much success against one of the nation’s best defenses. It’s also hard to see Virginia bottling up Leonard. It all means the Irish will pull away in the second half, continuing their push toward the Playoff.”

Notre Dame moves up two spots in the AP Top 25 poll after beating Florida State 52-3. — Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Harrison (2) celebrates making a catch during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

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NFL Week 11 picks: See who experts are taking in Commanders vs. Eagles today

It’s overwhelming: The experts believe the Eagles get it done against the Commanders.

It’s not often you get the best NFL game of the week on Thursday night. That’s what we have in Week 11 when the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) host the Washington Commanders in a good, old-fashioned NFC East battle.

The Commanders were in first place for much of the season until last week’s 28-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, the Eagles won their fifth in a row, dominating the wounded Dallas Cowboys on the road.

Washington and Philadelphia are 2-0 in NFC East play, and this is their first meeting in 2024. Both teams have elite offenses, while the Eagles have a stout defense. The Commanders’ defense is improving under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, but they have some holes, particularly at cornerback.

By virtue of being at home, the Eagles are a 3.5-point favorite over Washington.

The experts have weighed in, too, and they side with the oddsmakers. According to NFL Pickwatch, 82% of the picks are in and favor Philadelphia to beat Washington. Two years ago, 99% of the experts picked the then-unbeaten Eagles over the Commanders on Monday Night Football, and we see how that one turned out.

NFL Week 10 picks: See who experts are taking in Commanders vs. Steelers today

The experts weigh in on Sunday’s game between the Commanders and Steelers.

The Washington Commanders (7-2) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) on Sunday from Northwest Stadium in arguably the game of the weekend.

The Commanders and Steelers come into Week 10 riding high on three-game winning streaks. However, Pittsburgh has an advantage, coming off a bye and heading into this game healthy.

Meanwhile, the NFC East-leading Commanders are banged up. Running back Brian Robinson Jr., offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and kicker Austin Seibert are out. Additionally, long snapper Tyler Ott and right tackle Andrew Wylie are questionable. All indications are Ott and Wylie will play.

Washington is a 2.5-point favorite over Pittsburgh, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has a 13-4 record off bye weeks.

So, who has the advantage?

According to NFL Pickwatch, the experts have weighed in, with 58% of the picks coming for the Commanders.

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels will have his hands full against a Pittsburgh defense led by T.J. Watt, Patrick Queen and Cameron Heyward. Will Daniels pull off more magic to lead the Commanders to their fourth straight win?

Both teams run the ball well, and whichever team runs the ball the best on Sunday will likely emerge as the winner.