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Overall Official Plays: 31–26 (54.4%)

NFL Official Plays: 15–10 (60.0%)

Our Thursday Night Football Official total came up short as Denver defeated Seattle 17–14.

Our free Denver selection won, but that result remains separate from the Official Play ledger.

We track every published Official Play, win or lose. No inflated records, no retroactive upgrades, and no gimmicks.

First Pitch: 8:00 PM ET

Cleveland leads the series 2–1.

The Cleveland Guardians have become one of baseball's hottest teams at exactly the right time.

After falling behind two games to none against Chicago, Cleveland rallied to win three consecutive games and advance to the American League Championship Series.

The Guardians have continued that momentum against Tampa Bay, bringing their current winning streak to five games.

That officially puts Cleveland on The Square Tax Hot-Team Radar.

One of the trends we monitor throughout baseball season is teams riding winning or losing streaks of five or more games.

A team winning five straight deserves additional attention. So does a team losing five straight.

But streaks alone don't determine our selections.

We still evaluate pitching matchups, bullpen availability, lineup production, and sportsbook prices.

Tampa Bay: Nick Martinez

Martinez finished the regular season 15–6 with a 3.10 ERA. His strong road performance makes him an interesting factor in this matchup.

Cleveland: Shawn Armstrong

Cleveland is expected to use Armstrong as an opener, potentially relying on additional pitchers for the bulk of the innings.

That creates a different pitching dynamic than a traditional starter-versus-starter matchup.

Tampa Bay needs a response to avoid falling behind 3–1 in the series.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has an opportunity to move within one victory of the American League pennant.

The question isn't simply who needs the game more.

It's which team offers value at the available number.

Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET

The Memphis Tigers travel to face Tulane in an intriguing conference matchup.

Memphis has established an effective offensive identity around its rushing attack.

Tulane will need to limit explosive running plays and prevent Memphis from controlling possession.

The key will be whether Tulane can force Memphis into difficult third-down situations and generate enough offense of its own.

Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET

Washington travels to Purdue in a game featuring important offensive questions.

Quarterback health and overall execution will be particularly significant for the Huskies.

Purdue has an opportunity to capitalize on its home-field advantage, but both teams must demonstrate more consistency.

Turnovers, third-down conversions, and field position could determine the outcome.

Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET

Another closely priced conference matchup rounds out Friday's college football schedule.

These teams will look to establish offensive rhythm while avoiding the mistakes that frequently decide competitive conference games.

We're watching quarterback execution, defensive adjustments, and scoring efficiency.

9:00 PM ET

Colorado brings one of the NHL's most dangerous offensive groups into this matchup.

Nathan MacKinnon remains a threat every time he touches the puck, while Pittsburgh counters with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Colorado enters as a substantial favorite, which creates an important betting question:

Can a talented favorite still be overpriced?

Absolutely.

That's why evaluating the price matters just as much as evaluating the teams.

10:00 PM ET

Boston and Anaheim meet in a closely priced matchup.

Early-season goaltending, roster health, and special-teams performance will be important factors.

Boston has started the season well, while Anaheim has demonstrated the ability to compete.

We continue evaluating both teams without placing excessive weight on small early-season statistical samples.

Anyone can pick a team.

Handicapping requires more.

It means evaluating matchups, injuries, starting pitchers, quarterbacks, goaltenders, line movement, and the prices available across sportsbooks.

It also means recognizing that a good team isn't necessarily a good bet at every price.

At The Square Tax, we don't chase games simply because they're on television.

We believe patience and selectivity are essential parts of responsible bankroll management.

And when the market doesn't give us a compelling opportunity, we're comfortable sitting out.

If you want more than somebody shouting picks on social media, The Tax Code is built for you.

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THE SQUARE TAX

Stop Betting the Logo. Start Betting the Number.

No locks. No gimmicks. Just disciplined sports betting analysis.