CFB, EPL, Ligue 1, and MLB — The Daily Card

Ole Miss enters this opener healthy and loaded — Trinidad Chambliss is back at QB and Kewan Lacy is 100% after shoulder surgery, giving the Rebels a full arsenal. Louisville, meanwhile, is banged up upfront with likely starter Anwar O'Neal missing and wide receiver Kris Hughes lost for the season, compromising their offensive balance. Talent and health both favor the Rebels, and -6.5 is a number I'll gladly lay against a shorthanded Cardinals squad.

Notre Dame is rolling into this game at Lambeau Field without two offensive linemen (Augustine and Jagusah), a wideout (Porter), and multiple defensive contributors — that's a banged-up squad for a Week 1 opener. Wisconsin's bruising run-first identity under Fickell is built to grind out close, ugly games and keep the score from ballooning, and the Badgers nearly covered a 20.5-point spread just by forcing Notre Dame to lean on a depleted O-line. Everyone's writing off the Badgers, but 20.5 points is a mountain even a healthy Notre Dame squad would struggle to clear.

The public is blindly backing Arsenal at home in a London derby, but they're missing both starting center-backs — Saliba AND Timber — gutting the defensive foundation Arteta's system is built on. Chelsea under Xabi Alonso only need to avoid an outright loss with the +0.5 cushion, and a depleted Arsenal backline with Mosquera also doubtful is exactly the kind of vulnerability the crowd ignores when they see 'Arsenal at the Emirates.' Fade the hype, grab Chelsea at plus-money.

Angers are dealing with a genuine midfield injury crisis heading into this match, with both Haris Belkebla (thigh) and Louis Mouton (knee) confirmed out, while Rennes enter with a fully fit squad — a significant personnel edge in what is otherwise a near pick'em line. Getting Rennes at just -120 to win outright against a shorthanded Angers side is strong value; the market hasn't moved enough to account for Angers losing two key central midfielders simultaneously. Rennes' depth advantage in the middle of the pitch should be decisive in a game where neither side needs to cover more than a half-goal margin.

Kyle Harrison (10-4, 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) has a massive advantage over Brady Singer (5-13, 4.83 ERA, 1.45 WHIP), with Harrison striking out 130 batters in 107 innings versus Singer's struggles across 141 innings. Cincinnati's rotation and bullpen are decimated by injuries — Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft are both on the 60-Day IL, and multiple relievers are also unavailable — leaving Singer with little margin for error and a depleted backend. At even money (+100), Milwaukee covering -1.5 with a top-10 starter against a banged-up Reds squad represents outstanding value.

Ohio State returns a loaded offense headlined by Heisman finalist QB Julian Sayin and star WR Jeremiah Smith, with four offensive line starters back from last season's dominant unit — a recipe for running up the score on a Group of Five opponent. Ball State brings just two returning starters in the secondary against new OC Arthur Smith's scheme, and the Buckeyes are fully healthy entering Week 1. Talent wins, and -49.5 against a MAC squad is a gift for a program coming off a national championship-caliber roster.

Everyone's writing off VMI, but these Keydets run the triple option — a scheme that gives even elite programs nightmares in Week 1 with limited prep time, and Virginia Tech is breaking in a brand new head coach in his debut! The last time these teams met, VT won 54-7, but that's a 42-year-old datapoint and a 55.5-point spread is a MOUNTAIN to climb against a scrappy FCS squad running an offense nobody practices against all offseason.

The crowd is riding Napoli's underdog storyline like it's a religion, but they're rolling into San Siro without Buongiorno, Mazzocchi, AND Marianucci — that's a shredded backline facing Lautaro & Co. at home. Inter gets Neres back and is oozing value at +115 on a -1 line the public is ignoring. Fade the Napoli hype, collect the plus money — the sheep never learn.

New England sits 4th in the Eastern Conference with a strong 11-4-7 record and positive goal differential, while LA Galaxy is mired in a poor run at 6-8-9 — a massive form gap the pick'em line completely ignores. New England does have Langoni and Campana out, but Galaxy's injury list is comparable, and Carles Gil remains the class player on the field. Getting the better-form road side at near-even money on a flat spread is textbook value.

Inter Milan hosts Napoli with a healthy core — Thuram returning, Barella, Bastoni, and Martinez all available — while Napoli travels to the San Siro missing Neres, Anguissa, and Mazzocchi, weakening both wings and midfield. Getting plus-money (+115) on the home favorite covering just -1.0 is a rare structural edge in a fixture where Inter's depth advantage at home is significant. The injury imbalance tips this matchup clearly toward Inter covering a modest one-goal spread.