Weekend Warriors: Best Bets for Nov 1st and 2nd.

After a busy couple of weeks, we are back with our weekend warriors article to kick off November. October has been a fantastic month, especially in the NFL, and we are looking to keep that going into November. In our last article at the beginning of the month, we went 3-3 overall, dropping both college football bets, sweeping the NFL card, and splitting in NASCAR, although hitting the +120 best bet. That moves our record to 11-13 overall as college football drops to 3-5, NFL improves to an incredible 7-1, and NASCAR goes to just 1-7. With NASCAR wrapping up in Phoenix this weekend, we will be shifting to college basketball bets starting next weekend. Let's get into the plays.

Source: Sports Illustrated

TEX -2.5 (-110) vs VANDY

We are backing the Texas Longhorns for our best bet in college football on Saturday. I know Texas has been a major surprise this season after being the preseason number 1 overall team, but I do not believe this team is as bad as what the majority of the public thinks. They host a Vanderbilt team on Saturday who is America's darling this season, and why not? Vandy has been a nobody for basically my entire existence until last year. They now have a likeable, underdog team led by QB Diego Pavia and are a team who has made a lot of noise in the last 2 seasons, working their way into the top 10. Don't get the rankings twisted though as they really don't mean anything. Vanderbilt is the higher ranked team, but Texas is the higher power rated team, and the line reflects that. Vandy is going to be a very public underdog on Saturday and while I don't blindly fade the public, fading them when they're on a trendy underdog is a profitable long term strategy. The biggest story line heading into this matchup is the health of Texas QB Arch Manning who left last week's game with a concussion. Whether he can go or not, I don't think it matters. I think Texas' defense will shut down Vanderbilt who has struggled on the road and I believe either QB can compete and win this game for the Longhorns. I still like Texas to make the CFP and I think they get a statement win at home against the Commodores on Saturday. Lay the points with the Longhorns.

Honorable Mention: NCST +5.5 -110 vs GT

Source: PFSN

CAR +13.5 (-108) @ GB

For our NFL best bet we are backing the Carolina Panthers on the road against the Green Bay Packers. Per usual, hold your nose. I know it is not the sexy play to fade the Packers in Green Bay but this is the spot to do so. The Panthers had themselves a winning record after winning 3 straight games before getting boat raced by the Bills last Sunday. I really like the Panthers off of that loss. I believe Carolina started feeling that they could compete with the big boys after their 3 game winning streak but were quickly put in their place by the Buffalo Bills. I expect them to head into Green Bay focused and humbled in this matchup. When looking at the Packers, they are in a tough scheduling spot after beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, a win that I was very happy about as the Packers were my best bet last weekend, and they have a Monday Night Football matchup with the reigning Super Bowl Champion Eagles on deck. Let's not forget that that game against the Steelers was the Rodgers revenge game narrative and the Packers lost outright in Brazil in week 1 last season to the Eagles. They may have revenge on their mind. I see Carolina being able to run on this Packers defense which will allow them to control the pace of the game. I think we get a lower scoring effort on Sunday where points will be at a premium. Lastly, NFL favorites cleaned up last weekend as they went 11-2 ATS, I expect dogs to be barking on Sunday. Give me the Panthers with the points as I expect Green Bay to come out of this game with a late win in a 24-17 type of game.

Honorable Mention: WSH +3 (-110) vs SEA

Source: NASCAR.com

R. Chastain Top 10 +130

The NASCAR Championship 4 is set and the final race of the season is set to take place on Sunday in Phoenix. The Cup Series Champion will be crowned to either Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, or Chase Briscoe. While those are the guys that are going to attract the majority of the betting action on Sunday, I am looking outside of that group and feel that I've found some value on Ross Chastain. The watermelon man won't be competing for the Championship, but that doesn't mean he can't go out and win this race, as we saw him do in 2023. While I don't think Chastain will get into victory lane come Sunday, I do think he will finish within the top 10 and at +130, it's a bet I had to fire on. Chastain has an average finish at Phoenix of 9.4 which ranks 3rd amongst active drivers behind just William Byron and Ryan Blaney. He finished 11th at this race in the Spring and outside of that 11th place finish has finished top 10 in 4/6 races here in the gen 7 era, 3 of those being top 5 finishes. Chastain is a driver that I trust to compete as hard as possible in each and every race and I expect him to be in contention for the race win in the final stage. Give me Ross Chastain to finish the season strong by getting himself into the top 10 in Phoenix on Sunday.

Honorable Mention: R. Preece Top 10 +360