Sports Betting Picks Today: 4 Matchups to Watch Monday, September 7, 2026
Labor Day brings a four-game ASA board featuring No. 19 SMU visiting Florida State in primetime plus three MLB matchups. The football game presents an unusual early-season information gap, while the baseball board requires patience with all six starting pitchers currently unconfirmed.
Four Labor Day Matchups on the ASA Radar
No. 19 SMU at Florida State
No. 19 SMU Mustangs at Florida State Seminoles
SMU opens its 2026 season under the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium, while Florida State already has a meaningful game in the books. That difference gives bettors something unusually valuable for an early-season matchup: actual current-season Florida State film against an SMU team still making its debut.
Florida State opened with a 34-17 home victory over New Mexico State. Ousmane Kromah rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Ashton Daniels threw for 202 yards and a touchdown with one interception.
SMU counters with substantial experience at quarterback. Kevin Jennings enters the year with a 19-7 record as the Mustangs' starter and is the ACC's active leader in career passing yards and total yards. SMU has also won seven consecutive season openers.
There is recent series history as well. The programs have met only once previously, with SMU winning 42-16 in Dallas in 2024. Monday shifts the matchup to Tallahassee.
Determine how much value to assign Florida State's game experience without overreacting to one result against New Mexico State. On the other side, SMU's quarterback continuity reduces some of the uncertainty normally attached to a team's season opener. The point spread has to price both factors correctly.
Monday MLB Matchup Analysis
MLB currently lists both starters as TBD in all three featured Monday games. Do not manufacture a pitching matchup or treat an early baseball handicap as final before those assignments are confirmed.
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers
Chicago and Milwaukee open another NL Central series with meaningful September context. Milwaukee enters Monday at 87-54, while Chicago sits at 79-62.
The rivalry also carries recent postseason history after Milwaukee eliminated Chicago in a five-game 2025 NL Division Series. That history creates an appealing narrative, but September handicapping still begins with the current pitching matchup and bullpen situation.
Confirm both starters and examine bullpen usage from the weekend. Once those pieces are known, compare the pitching edge and lineup availability against the moneyline rather than betting Milwaukee solely because of its superior record.
Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers
Minnesota travels to Detroit for another divisional matchup after the clubs just completed a series in Minneapolis earlier in the week.
The Twins scored 15 runs in the September 1 meeting before Detroit answered with an 11-6 win the following day. Those results demonstrate how quickly individual baseball games can swing, but they should not replace evaluation of Monday's pitching and bullpen conditions.
Detroit also recently activated three-time All-Star outfielder Riley Greene from the injured list, an important lineup development to monitor as the Tigers enter the final weeks of the season.
Avoid overreacting to the high-scoring games from the previous series. Monday's starters, available relievers and confirmed lineups should determine whether those recent offensive results are relevant to the new betting number.
Toronto Blue Jays at Athletics
Toronto closes the featured Labor Day slate on the road against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. The Blue Jays enter Monday at 70-71 compared with Oakland's 55-86 record.
That record difference will naturally influence market perception, but neither starting pitcher is currently listed. Until those assignments are known, the moneyline and total are missing one of the most important pieces of a baseball handicap.
Wait for both starters and confirmed lineups. If Toronto becomes a significant road favorite, the pitching matchup must justify paying the premium rather than relying on the teams' season records alone.
What Matters Most on Monday's Board?
Game Experience
Florida State already has current-season film while SMU is making its debut. That creates useful information without making one game a complete picture of either team.
Quarterback Continuity
Kevin Jennings gives SMU an experienced returning starter, reducing some of the uncertainty normally associated with a season opener.
MLB Pitching
Six starting pitchers across the three featured baseball games remain unconfirmed. Those assignments can materially change sides, totals and first-five markets.
Price Over Record
Milwaukee has the best record on the featured MLB board, but a strong record does not make every moneyline playable. The price remains part of the handicap.
Re-check SMU-Florida State player availability and the current point spread before kickoff. For MLB, confirm all six starting pitchers, Labor Day lineups and bullpen availability before making a final decision.
What's on the ASA Labor Day Board?
The public analysis above identifies the variables worth monitoring across Monday's college football and MLB matchups. ASA's actual premium selections remain protected for members when a game meets the required price, timing and handicapping criteria.
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Research Sources
Schedule, football matchup information, current records and probable-pitcher status were checked against official team, university and MLB sources.
Sports betting involves financial risk. Advanced Sports Advisors provides sports betting analysis, handicapping opinions and informational content. No pick, prediction or past result guarantees future performance. Verify current injuries, quarterback availability, starting pitchers, lineups, bullpen availability and betting markets before making any wagering decision.