Deion Sanders returns to primetime as he leads his Colorado Buffaloes into their Big 12 opener against the Houston Cougars at 7:30 p.m. ET, and with the current DraftKings promo code, it's another chance for new users to earn $200 in bonus bets and $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket. Friday also features a full MLB slate, which includes two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom returning to New York to face the Mets with the Texas Rangers. DeGrom has a 2.78 ERA this season, as even at 37 years old, he's one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy. According to the latest MLB odds at DraftKings, the Mets are -113 favorites, while the Rangers are -109 underdogs, but the SportsLine model finds the best value from this matchup in backing a total.
The model is playing Over 7.5 runs scored in Rangers vs. Mets on Friday, despite deGrom starting. The Mets are sending 22-year-old Jonah Tong to the mound for his third career start. The model also likes the Colorado Buffaloes to cover their 4-point spread as the underdog in the latest Friday college football odds at DraftKings. Before locking in your Friday MLB picks or college football picks on your favorite betting sites like DraftKings, be sure to check out the top MLB betting and college football betting picks from SportsLine's proven computer model. Claim the latest DraftKings promo code here, where new users get $200 in bonus bets and $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket:
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It enters Week 25 of the 2025 MLB season a profitable 34-25 on top-rated MLB money-line picks. It has excelled making home run prop picks this season, returning more than 60 units of profit. Anybody following its MLB betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.
Best Friday MLB and college football picks:
- Rangers vs. Mets Over 7.5 total runs (-115)
- Braves (+112) to defeat the Astros
- Colorado (+4) vs. Houston
Combining the model's three picks into a Friday parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +663 (risk $100 to win $663). Bet it at DraftKings here:
Rangers vs. Mets Over 7.5 total runs (-115)
The Mets are playing their worst baseball at the most inopportune time for it, but for sports bettors, it's providing opportunities for the Over to consistently hit with the rate the Mets are giving up runs. The Over is 3-0 in the last three Mets games, and eight of their last 10 contests have had at least eight runs scored. The Mets have lost six straight games, but they've scored at least three runs in three of those contests to contribute toward the Over hitting. The Mets are starting rookie Jonah Tong, who, despite excitement as a top prospect, is making just his third MLB start and the 22-year-old has a 4.09 ERA. deGrom's return to Citi Field will create excitement for the Mets' home fans, and that buzz could lead to offensive success, as the model projects the Over to hit in 69.7% of simulations in a 7:10 p.m. ET start.
Braves (+112) to defeat the Astros
The Braves are going to miss the postseason for the first time since 2017, but they still have a lineup filled with many of the top offensive players who made them perennial powers. Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna are still playing late into a lost season and have the potential to go deep with any swing. The Braves are starting 23-year-old Hurston Waldrep, who is 4-0 with a 1.33 ERA in seven games (six starts) this season. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any game this season, and given how he's throwing and the lineup's potential, the Braves win in 66% of the model's simulations, showcasing strong value at plus-money odds for a 7:15 p.m. ET start.
Colorado Buffaloes (+4) vs. Houston Cougars (-108)
The Buffaloes continue their pursuit of a new QB1 after Shedeur Sanders, Deion Sanders' son, was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft. Deion is making a change this week, elevating Ryan Staub from QB3 on the depth chart to the Friday starter after completing 7 of 10 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns off the bench in a 31-7 win over Delaware last week. Staub backed up Sanders last year, so he knows what to expect from Deion Sanders and the coaching staff, who must have been impressed enough with him at practice as well to trust him as the starter to open Big 12 play. Houston was a double-digit favorite in each of its first two games of the season, as Friday presents a significantly tougher test than its non-conference schedule. With that, the model expects Colorado to play well on Friday, covering the spread in 66% of simulations.
Want more MLB picks and college football picks for Friday, September 12?
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You can also see Friday MLB picks from SportsLine expert Bruce Marshall, who is 142-126-3 (+2798) over his last 271 MLB picks. He's already locked in an MLB pick for Friday. See his best bets right here.
