W.C. TOTAL OF THE WEEK • 75% RECORD • EARLY WEDNESDAY

Today’s Free Picks

The PLAY: Both Teams to Score

This has the potential to be one of the most-entertaining games of the group stage. Norway plays tournament favorites France after this, so Erling Haaland and Co. will be anxious to secure a spot in the knockout round without having to worry about getting a result against France. Senegal needs to dig its way out of an early hole after losing 3-1 to France in the opener. We're not expecting to see a defensive clinic in this one, and we are interested in backing both teams to score. In the African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifying, Senegal failed to keep a clean sheet against Morocco (twice), Sudan (twice) and DR Congo (twice). In friendlies, Senegal allowed three goals to the US, two goals to Brazil and one goal to Gambia. Senegal is not a team that can be trusted to keep a clean sheet, and the same is true for the Norwegians. Norway's strength is clearly in attack with Haaland at the top, but they are prone to lapses on defense. Both teams to score has cashed in seven of Norway's last eight matches. Iraq was able to generate eight shots from inside Norway's box in the opening match, and that is a troubling sign for Norway's defense with matches against Senegal and France on the horizon. At the time of posting, both teams to score is available at:

• Caesars -139

• BetMGM -145

• DraftKings -150

• BetOnline -150

The PLAY: Byron Buxton Bases Over 1.5 (-115) Action

Pure talent has never been an issue for Byron Buxton. Staying healthy has been Buxton's biggest issue during his 12-year career, but with a clean bill of health in 2026 (knock on wood), the Twins' center fielder is showing why he's still one of the most-dangerous hitters in baseball. Normally we'd shy away from backing a hitter at home because there's no guarantee that they will get their full allotment of at-bats in the ninth inning, but a) Minnesota is a sizable home 'dog to the Dodgers tonight and will likely be batting in the ninth inning; and b) Buxton is playing so well right now it simply might not matter. Buxton has cleared this 1.5 total bases prop in ten of his last 13 games. Buxton is hitting .324 in the month of June with seven home runs in his last 13 starts. Buxton is hitting .328 at home this season, compared to a .234 batting average away from Target Field. Former Blue Jay Eric Lauer has pitched a little better since being acquired by the Dodgers in late-May, but home runs continue to be a major issue. Lauer has given up a home run in 11 of the 12 games he's appeared in this season, and in the only game where he didn't allow a home run, he was pulled after the second inning. Lauer enters Monday in the bottom-20th percentile among pitchers in expected ERA, expected batting average allowed, whiff rate, strikout rate, barrel rate and ground ball rate. Buxton is 4-for-10 with two home runs and two walks in prior meetings with Lauer.