Weekend Hot Takes: Iowa State will shock Notre Dame in Camping World Bowl

Is it getting hot in here or is it just our takes? BetAmerica columnists Jeremy Balan, Ryan Murphy and Thomas Tassone share their sizzling picks for this weekend’s sports action. Handle with caution!

NCAAF: Iowa State will topple mighty Notre Dame

Jeremy: Iowa State is the best 7-5 team in the country. The Cyclones have been on the wrong end of several brutal losses—including a one-point defeat to College Football Playoff qualifier Oklahoma, a two-point loss to a standout Baylor squad and another one-point loss to rival Iowa—and with a little luck could have had 10 wins and a top 10 ranking. They’ll have something to prove against a Notre Dame team that hasn’t been challenged since early November and will win outright.

NBA: Golden State will cover against Phoenix

Ryan: Call me crazy (nearly everyone does), but I’m beginning to warm up to Golden State. Steve Kerr’s squad is on a three-game winning streak and beat Houston by 12 points on Christmas Day thanks to some highly inventive defensive schemes that silenced James Harden. They’re clearly not the same team without injured stars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, but you can’t ignore their championship DNA. I expect another big performance from Draymond Green, who scored a season-high 20 points on Wednesday, and from D’Angelo Russell, who’s capable of dropping 30 points in his sleep. Both players should flourish in what promises to be a wide-open, free-flowing affair.

NFL: Seattle will destroy San Francisco

Thomas: Beastmode is BACK! Two weeks ago Marshawn Lynch was serving tequila shots at the final home game in Oakland, and now he’ll be rockin’ that tinted visor and eating Skittles up in Seattle. Although the Seahawks are decimated with injuries, I expect a vintage Beastmode performance as he runs through the 49ers defense and leads Seattle to their second NFC West title in four years. Oh yeah, and that Russell Wilson guy? He’s 16-2 in primetime games and 31-7 after a loss. Give me the Seattle moneyline all day long.