College Week 1 Free Picks, MLB, WNBA, Soccer Bets
Free Sports Picks and Betting Predictions for Thursday, September 3, 2026 Today’s free sports picks feature MLB, college football, CFL, soccer and tennis selections from professional handicappers at Picks Depot. Each selection below is credited to the handicapper who released it. For bettors looking to step up to the strongest releases, check out the highest-rated premium […]
Free Sports Picks and Betting Predictions for Thursday, September 3, 2026
Today’s free sports picks feature MLB, college football, CFL, soccer and tennis selections from professional handicappers at Picks Depot. Each selection below is credited to the handicapper who released it.
For bettors looking to step up to the strongest releases, check out the highest-rated premium picks from top-ranked handicappers in their strongest sports.
MLB Free Picks
Calvin King: Toronto Blue Jays -106 vs. Cleveland Guardians
Free Pick: Toronto Blue Jays -106
Calvin King backs Toronto in Thursday afternoon’s matchup against Cleveland. King lists the Blue Jays at -106 as his 1% free play.
Pick: Toronto Blue Jays -106
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Ricky Tran: Kansas City Royals +106 vs. Miami Marlins
Free Pick: Kansas City Royals +106
Ricky Tran sees value with the home underdog in Kansas City. The Royals enter having won six of their last 10 games and seven of their last nine at home. Miami starter Sandy Alcantara, meanwhile, has lost each of his last four starts.
Those recent results give Tran enough reason to take a shot with Kansas City at a plus-money price.
Pick: Kansas City Royals +106
Steve Janus: Baltimore Orioles +122 vs. Boston Red Sox
Free Pick: Baltimore Orioles +122
Steve Janus goes to the underdog for his Thursday MLB free pick, backing Baltimore at +122 against Boston. Janus labels the Orioles his 1* Free Sharp Play.
Pick: Baltimore Orioles +122
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Mike Lundin: Cleveland Guardians -102 vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Free Pick: Cleveland Guardians -102
Mike Lundin takes the opposite side of the Toronto-Cleveland matchup, backing Guardians starter Tanner Bibee.
Bibee enters with a deceptive 5-14 record but a much more respectable 3.88 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in two of his last three outings.
Toronto counters with José Soriano, who owns a 3.45 ERA but has surrendered at least three earned runs in three consecutive starts. Lundin believes Bibee’s recent form and underlying numbers make Cleveland the better value at home.
Pick: Cleveland Guardians -102
Marc David: Cardinals-Dodgers UNDER 8
Free Pick: St. Louis Cardinals-Los Angeles Dodgers UNDER 8
Marc David targets a low-scoring game in Los Angeles.
Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal owns a 3.00 ERA since joining Los Angeles. St. Louis rookie Quinn Mathews carries a 5.03 ERA, but David points to his considerably better 3.08 FIP and his recent 5.2-inning, one-run performance against Pittsburgh.
Another factor is the matchup: both lineups have performed worse against left-handed pitching than against right-handers.
Pick: Cardinals-Dodgers UNDER 8
ProSportsPicks: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5
Free Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-125)
ProSportsPicks takes Los Angeles on the run line against St. Louis. Its data-driven approach points toward the favorite, with the Dodgers entering 8-5 over their previous 13 games while the Cardinals are 4-7 across their last 11.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-125)
College Football Free Picks
R&R Totals: Akron-Wake Forest OVER 48.5
Free Pick: Akron-Wake Forest OVER 48.5
R&R Totals goes OVER 48.5 in Thursday night’s Akron-Wake Forest matchup.
The totals specialist enters this selection on a reported 188-157 run across his last 357 college football picks, a 54% winning rate.
Pick: Akron-Wake Forest OVER 48.5
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Alex Smart: Albany-Buffalo UNDER 48.5
Free Pick: Albany-Buffalo UNDER 48.5
Alex Smart expects Buffalo’s opener to develop into a slower, lower-scoring game.
Buffalo averaged 24.0 points per game last season while allowing 23.5. Smart also points toward uncertainty on offense, including a new quarterback and limited returning experience up front. With Buffalo installed as a substantial favorite, a run-oriented, clock-consuming approach could become increasingly likely if the Bulls establish control.
Smart also cites three supporting UNDER trends: Albany road-underdog games have gone 5-0 UNDER since 2025; Buffalo home openers with totals of at least 48 have gone 4-1 UNDER since 2022; and games involving FBS favorites of at least 17 hosting FCS opponents in Week 1 have gone 19-11 UNDER since 2023.
Pick: Albany-Buffalo UNDER 48.5
Kyle Hunter: Colorado-Georgia Tech UNDER 51.5
Free Pick: Colorado-Georgia Tech UNDER 51.5
Kyle Hunter expects both the personnel and offensive approach to favor the UNDER.
Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion brings a run-first philosophy, while the Buffaloes still have questions along the offensive line. Georgia Tech must replace star quarterback Haynes King and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, creating considerable uncertainty about the Yellow Jackets’ offensive ceiling.
Colorado also upgraded defensively through the transfer portal. Hunter expects plenty of rushing attempts and a game script conducive to keeping the clock moving.
Pick: Colorado-Georgia Tech UNDER 51.5
Rob Vinciletti: Arkansas-Pine Bluff-Missouri UNDER 62
Free Pick: Arkansas-Pine Bluff-Missouri UNDER 62
Rob Vinciletti expects Missouri to dominate Arkansas-Pine Bluff without necessarily producing enough combined scoring to send this game OVER 62.
Missouri has a strong defense and could allow very little against an overmatched opponent. Offensively, the Tigers are working with a new coordinator and replacing significant personnel, potentially producing some early-season growing pains.
If Missouri builds the expected large lead, Vinciletti anticipates a second half featuring more clock management and opportunities for players deeper on the roster.
Pick: Arkansas-Pine Bluff-Missouri UNDER 62
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Friday Free Picks
Sean Murphy: BC Lions-Montreal Alouettes UNDER 61.5
Free Pick: BC-Montreal UNDER 61.5
Sean Murphy believes the market has pushed this CFL total too high.
BC enters on a five-game winning streak and has held eight consecutive opponents to 26 points or fewer. Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander is expected to play despite injury concerns, but the Alouettes are coming off a 44-28 loss to Winnipeg that ended their seven-game winning streak.
BC scored 45 last week, but Murphy notes that performance came against a struggling Ottawa team. He expects Friday’s matchup to be considerably less explosive.
Pick: BC-Montreal UNDER 61.5
Joe Duffy: Fresno State +22.5 vs. USC
Free Pick: Fresno State +22.5
Joe Duffy backs Fresno State as a substantial underdog against USC.
The Bulldogs have a situational rest advantage because Fresno State is making its season debut while USC has already played San Jose State. Duffy also points toward coaching familiarity, with Fresno State coach Matt Entz having previous familiarity with Lincoln Riley’s system.
USC allowed San Jose State to score 26 points in its opener, suggesting Fresno State may be capable of generating enough offense to prevent the Trojans from creating the separation necessary to cover more than three touchdowns.
Price matters considerably on this play. Duffy prefers +23.5 or better, considers +22.5 playable, and recommends passing below +21.5.
Pick: Fresno State +22.5
Saturday College Football Free Picks
Doc’s Sports: Marshall-Penn State UNDER 53
Free Pick: Marshall-Penn State UNDER 53
Doc’s Sports expects Penn State’s first game under Matt Campbell to feature a heavy emphasis on rushing, defense, field position and ball control.
Marshall’s best chance of remaining competitive also involves shortening the game and keeping the clock moving. The Thundering Herd finished last season with three consecutive games staying UNDER the posted total.
Pick: Marshall-Penn State UNDER 53
Brandon Lee: Clemson +10 vs. LSU
Free Pick: Clemson +10
Brandon Lee’s Saturday college football free selection is Clemson catching double digits against LSU. Lee lists Clemson +10 as his recommended play.
Pick: Clemson +10
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